Bill Pugliano/Getty Images(NEW YORK) -- Billionaire businessman and philanthropist Michael Bloomberg is donating $1.8 billion to his alma mater, Johns Hopkins University, in an effort to help lower and middle income students gain access to college. The donation, the largest contribution ever made to an education institution in the U.S., will be devoted exclusively to undergraduate financial aid, according to a joint press release by Johns Hopkins and Bloomberg's charitable organization, Bloomberg Philanthropies. As a direct result of the endowment, Johns Hopkins will be able to permanently commit to "need-blind admissions," which will admit the highest-achieving students from all backgrounds, regardless of their ability to pay, according to the university. In addition, the Baltimore-based school will be able to offer no-loan financial aid packages, reduce contributions for families who qualify for financial aid, provide "comprehensive student support," and increase the enrollment of Pell grant eligible students, which will "build a more socioeconomically diverse student body," Johns Hopkins said in a statement. In an op-ed published in The New York Times Sunday, Bloomberg wrote that "no qualified high school student should ever be barred entrance to a college based on his or her family's bank account." "Yet, it happens all the time," Bloomberg wrote. Bloomberg wrote that high-achieving applicants who come from families with lower and middle incomes are "routinely denied seats" that are saved for "students whose families have deeper pockets." "This hurts the son of a farmer in Nebraska as much as the daughter of a working mother in Detroit," he wrote, adding that "America is at its best" when people are rewarded "based on the quality of their work, not the size of their pocketbook." Bloomberg, who wrote that his father never made more than $6,000 a year as a bookkeeper and he needed a National Defense student loan in order to attend college, graduated from Johns Hopkins in 1964 and made his first contribution of $5 to the school in 1965, according to the press release. In 2013, he pledged $350 million to the university toward cross-disciplinary education and financial aid, according to Forbes. Before this donation, Bloomberg had already donated a total of $1.5 billion to the university. The university is also aiming to address the issue of college "under-matching," in which high school students from middle and lower income backgrounds are not matched with competitive college choices but implementing an "extensive outreach and recruitment program to ensure that academically qualified students from middle and low income backgrounds understand that a world-class education ... is attainable and affordable." Johns Hopkins University President Ronald J. Daniels said Bloomberg's donation "affirms his believe in the promise of this country and the power of accessible higher education," describing it as "unprecedented and transformative." "Our university was founded in 1876 by a visionary $7 million gift from the Baltimore merchant Johns Hopkins. When it was announced, it was the largest gift of its kind. It created Americas first research university and changed the face of American higher education," Daniels said in a statement. "With todays announcement of Mike Bloombergs $1.8 billion investment in financial aid, history has repeated itself." Copyright 2018, ABC Radio. All rights reserved. Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin News Desk (The Jakarta Post) - Mon, November 19, 2018 01:08 1100 882ab4bc56dbda08a069b30877cba49c 1 Food Absolut,vodka,The-Green-Hustle Free Absolut Vodka, a vodka brand produced near Ahus in Southern Sweden, has initiated an environmentally friendly bar initiative called The Green Hustle. Aiming to reduce bar waste, The Green Hustle is the brainchild of former bartender and Absolut Vodkaglobal marketing manager on trade Bex Almqvist, who teamed up with antiwaste bartending duo Trashtiki and Hampus Thunholm from Swedens renowned Faviken restaurant. According to a press release received by The Jakarta Post, the initiative aims to inspire bartenders to be more sustainable by teaching simple "hustles" that they can instigate. These hustles include turning disregarded fruit into stock, ditching plastics and refreezing melted ice. While very few customers associate bars with sustainability, Almqvist thinks the world would soon see the awakening of a more responsible cocktail-era. And reducing waste is pretty simple [] 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, Almqvist is quoted as saying. Read also: Jakpost Nightlife: Jakartas speakeasy bars The seven bars already practicing the initiative are Dandelyan and Cub in London, Broken Shaker in Miami and Honeycut in Los Angeles, the United States, Native in Singapore, Svartklubb by Faviken in Are, Sweden, and TrashTiki, a pop-up bar. Bar waste is a serious global problem. The bars in London alone reportedly produce 800,000 tons of waste every year, more than the combined weight of the city's total population. (iru/mut) Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin News Desk (The Jakarta Post) - Sun, November 18, 2018 15:06 1101 882ab4bc56dbda08a069b30877cb130b 1 Environment United-Kingdom,environment,wet-wipes,flushable Free So-called flushable wet wipes have been found to be responsible for 93 percent of sewer blockages in the United Kingdom. Wet wipes, used for a variety of things ranging from removing makeup to cleaning surfaces, failed the water industrys disintegration test conducted by scientists at water-testing laboratory WRC in Swindon town, Southwest England. The test involves simulating the wet wipes going through the sewer, reported The Telegraph. BBC Radio 4s "Costing The Earth" claims that the experts found none of the so-called flushable wet wipes sold in the UK disintegrated enough to pass the test. Manufacturers use a more aggressive test that breaks the wipes up more quickly. Customers misunderstanding of the wipes inability to disintegrate cause wet wipes to be caught in filters and contribute to fatty buildups called fatbergs. The fatbergs block sewage pipes and cost 100 million pounds (US$123 million) a year to remove, according to Water UK, the main water and sewer company trade body. Read also: Pushing against closed doors: LGBT activists do battle over toilets United Utilities Tony Griffiths told the BBC that the money spent on fixing the problem could be reallocated toward reducing customers' bills. Some wet wipes did pass the test, but WRC said none of them were sold in the UK. Wessex Waters director Matt Wheeldon said flushable wipes were a complete scourge on our society" and is calling for a ban on them. (iru/kes) Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Kate Krader (Bloomberg) Sun, November 18, 2018 18:03 1101 882ab4bc56dbda08a069b30877cb3ec7 2 Food Thanksgiving,food-holiday,mail-order-pie,pie Free Thanksgiving is unquestionably Americas greatest food holiday. Yet much of the meal invites controversy. Not everyone is a fan of roasted turkey. Stuffing ingredients are contentious. The debate over the proper potato to mashregular or sweetwill outlive us all. Less controversial is the question of pie. We may quibble over the specificsfruit vs. custard, or whether pecan should be accompanied by chocolatebut theres generally more of a willingness to come together over a truly spectacular dessert. To find the pies that bring everyone to the table, Bloomberg sampled top desserts from across the country. Then food editor Kate Krader, with the help of a ravenous newsroom, picked her favorites. 10. Babka Pie, Breads Bakery, New York$52.95, shipping around $29.95 Krader: Not everyone considers this a pie, but its shaped like one and its definitely the best chocolate babka around. Slathered with Nutella and studded with chocolate chips, it has incredible layers and levels of chocolate. Forgo the fork and knife, and pull it apart with your hands. Newsroom: One of the best babkas Ive tasted. Dough is nice and crispy, not gooey. Buttery goodness. Not a pie. Still would eat a lot of this. 9. Brown Bag Apple Pie, Elegant Farmer, Wisconsin$29.99, shipping from $15.84 Krader: Its got a great rustic look, not just because its shipped in a faux torn brown paper bag. This one is notable for big chunks of apples and the upper crust, which looks like someone took a jackhammer to it. The pie is sweet and a little doughy. Be warned that it has to be finished off in the oven before serving. Newsroom: Tastes homemade. Apples retain nice texture. Crust is incredible. So crispy. 8. Four Berry Pie, Achatz Pies Armada, Michigan $49, free shipping Krader: This pie has supergood berry flavor: tart with a mix of sweet and tart fruit. Crust is solid, especially for a mail-order pie. It has a great homemade look. Fun fact: The people who make it are distant relatives of Michelin-starred chef Grant Achatz. At less than $50, its a great deal in the world of mail-order pies. Newsroom: Not too tart, not too sweet. Berries didnt melt. Very fresh and well-balanced! Lots of cinnamon. Tastes like homemade, but better. 7. Smores Pie, Butter & Scotch, Brooklyn $40, shipping from $35 Krader: This is like candy as piemy platonic ideal of a smore. The graham cracker crust holds together, the custard is sweet but balanced, and the toasted marshmallow topping is divine. It also happens to have the perfect ratio of crust to filling to topping. Newsroom: Marshmallow topping gives it perfect sweetness. Standard chocolate pudding, but love the gooey marshmallow. More subtle than actual smores, but not too unlike smores. 6. Pumpkin, Sweetie Pies, Napa Valley, Calif.$39.95, shipping from $29.95 Krader: Some pumpkin pies are too sweet, others too custardy, others too spiced. This is none of those: It tastes like it was made from pumpkin, in a good way. It also looks adorable, with little cutout leaves on top. But it may not be the best traveler. Our sample arrived with some cracks in the crustwhich is good if you want to pretend you made it yourself. Newsroom: Absolute perfect pumpkin pie. Basic, but fine. Read also: Get to know Chuseok, Korean Thanksgiving 5. Chocolate Hazelnut Cream Pie, Gramercy Tavern, New York $79, free shipping Krader: Danny Meyers Union Square Hospitality Group has gotten into the mail-order pie game in conjunction with Goldbelly. This offering from the companys restaurant Gramercy Tavern is pie for grown-ups. Its decadent but not too sweet, with thick custard and vanilla bean speckled whipped cream. The best part may be the crust, made with layers of crushed chocolate cookies and caramel-like hazelnut praline. Newsroom: YES. Dark deep chocolate flavor, yum. Textures contrastcrispies are like the only good layer in a Carvel ice cream cake, but the rest is much higher quality. Like all good Halloween candy at once. 4. Salted Caramel Apple Pie, Four & Twenty Blackbirds, Brooklyn $79, free shipping Krader: A perfect pie even for someone like me, who doesnt love apple pies. The apples are tender but not mushy, with a slight, spiced buttery caramel sheen. The crust with an oversize basket-weave top is perfectly golden and brushed with a caramel thats just the right side of salty. Newsroom: This is the apple pie I was born to eat. The balance in this salted caramel is perfect. 3. Sour Cherry Pie, Bubbys, New York $65, free shipping Krader: A gorgeous tart cherry filling thats just a little sticky. The crust is outstanding, baked dark but still flaky due to a high lard content. It also happens to be picture-perfect, with the bubbly red fruit peeping through the crust. Newsroom: Amaaaaazing. The crust is perfectthin and shattering. Super sour and bitter with a hint of almond. The cherries made my mouth do backflips. 2. Nutty Honey Pie, Emporium Pies, Dallas $99, free shipping Krader: For anyone who loves peanut butter, this pie comes straight from heaven. Its got a creamy, intense peanut butter filling with a dome of whipped cream and chopped salty honey-roasted nuts. The crust is graham cracker, which is exactly what you want here. Newsroom: Like a fluffy cloud of nuts. This pie was so good that I told other people it was bad in the hope that thered be more left for me. Holy moly. Amazing. Winner. 1. Pecan Pie, Goode Co., Houston $42, shipping from $10.50 Krader: This pie is going into my dessert hall of fame. The nuts are perfection, toasted crisp to both enhance their sweetness and keep them from falling into that soggy pecan pie vortex. Theres a generous amount of buttery custard, rich in brown sugar. The crust holds up just long enough to contain the pie, then melts in your mouth. Newsroom: Definitely one of the best pecan pies Ive ever had, and Ive had many. I would lick this off the floor. Custardy. Crunchy. Perfect. For those who eat with their eyes: Levee High Apple Pie, Blue Owl Bakery, Missouri $94.95, shipping from $40 Krader: This is a pie made for social media, stacking up about 1 foot high, weighing in at 10 pounds, made from 18 apples. The pie isnt badits actually well-spiced with cinnamon, and the fruit slices are meticulously packed. But at $135 including delivery, its not a great investment. The filling isnt tender enough, and the crust is doughy. Newsroom: Underwhelming apple flavor. Slightly bland? Also, the crust was underbaked. Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Jan Hennop (Agence France-Presse) The Hague, Netherlands Sun, November 18, 2018 22:06 1101 882ab4bc56dbda08a069b30877cb86b1 2 Art & Culture St-Mark-mosaic,Byzantine-art,Cyprus Free One of the last missing pieces of Byzantine art stolen from Cyprus in the 1970s was handed back this week by a renowned, and proud Dutch art investigator. Arthur Brand said Friday he handed back the sixth century depiction of Saint Mark during a private ceremony at the Cypriot embassy in The Hague. For Brand, dubbed the "Indiana Jones of the art world" because of his exploits to recover stolen works, the handover was a highpoint in his life-long interest in the Byzantine saint -- and the result of a nearly two-year chase across Europe. "This is a very special piece that's more than 1,600 years old. It's one of the last and most beautiful examples of art from the early Byzantine era," said the art sleuth. He showed AFP the mosaic hours before it was handed back. The Cypriot embassy and Church of Cyprus declined to comment when asked about the mosaic and the Cypriot Department of Antiquities did not respond to phonecalls. - 'Greatest moment' - After getting a tip from a prominent London art dealer, Brand travelled to Monaco in August. Through a series of intermediaries -- including several in the underground world -- Brand finally traced the missing mosaic to an apartment in the upscale city-state. "It was in the possession of a British family, who bought the mosaic in good faith more than four decades ago," Brand told AFP. "They were horrified when they found out that it was in fact a priceless art treasure, looted from the Kanakaria Church after the Turkish invasion," Brand said. The family agreed to return it "to the people of Cyprus" in return for a small fee to cover restoration and storage costs, he added. A week ago, Brand -- who was working with the Church of Cyprus -- returned to Monaco to collect the treasure, said to be worth five to 10 million euros ($5.7-$11 million). "It was one of the greatest moments of my life," the detective said. In 2015, Brand won world fame after finding two massive bronze statues made by Nazi sculptor Joseph Thorak that are referred to as "Hitler's Horses". He made headlines again a year later for helping to recover five stolen masterpieces from a criminal group in the Ukraine. - Looted art - Religious artifacts including mosaics were hewn from the church walls in northern Cyprus following an invasion by Turkish forces in 1974. They included a set of mosaics taken from the Panayia Kanakaria church, about 105 kilometres (65 miles) northeast of Nicosia. Many pieces ended up in the underground world of art smuggling and went missing for many years, while the Cyprus government and church campaigned ceaselessly to recover them. "The mosaics of Kanakaria are of immense importance in Christian art and world culture," said Maria Paphiti, a former department head at British auction house Christie's. The ensemble "is among a handful of artworks that escaped the menace of Byzantine iconoclasm" in the eighth and ninth century, Paphiti, an art historian and world authority on Byzantine art told AFP. Read also: Israeli archaeologists unveil rare Roman-era mosaic - 'Last missing pieces' - Twelve mosaic fragments have been returned so far, notably one depicting the Apostle Andrew -- which Paphiti discovered among a collection of artworks in 2014. In 1989, four fragments depicting the upper part of Christ, two apostles and an archangel were handed back after a high-profile case in Indianapolis. Most of the mosaic fragments were recovered between 1983 and 2015, Paphiti said, but some pieces are still missing, including the lower part of Christ's body. "This is truly one of the last outstanding pieces to be returned," said Brand. "It is incredible to think that this piece of art survived for so long. It's part of the Cypriot peoples' soul," he added. St Mark is expected to return to the Mediterranean island within the coming days. German police made a major breakthrough in the recovery of stolen Cypriot art in 1979 when they raided the home of convicted Turkish art dealer Ayden Dikmen in Munich. Cyprus has been divided since 1974 when Turkey invaded and seized its northern third in response to an Athens-engineered coup to unite the island with Greece. Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Devina Heriyanto (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Sun, November 18, 2018 11:05 1101 882ab4bc56dbda08a069b30877caa266 1 Books Okky-Madasari,children-books,Indonesian-literature,Indonesian-writer,Mata-dan-rahasia-pulau-gapi,Mata-di-tanah-melus,Mata-series,#bookreview,#books,book-review Free Okky Madasari is not a new name on the Indonesian literature scene, but her name is foreign to readers of childrens literature. The newly published titles Mata di Tanah Melus (Mata in the Melus Land) and Mata dan Rahasia Pulau Gapi (Mata and the Secrets of Gapi Island) are successful attempts at seizing new readership. The series focus on 12-year-old Matara, inspired by the authors own daughter, Mata Diraya, and her adventures in various parts of Indonesia. The first book, Mata di Tanah Melus, is set at Belu, a border city between Indonesia and Timor Leste, while the second story takes place in Ternate, part of the Moluccas group of islands. In both books, Okky unearths some folk tales that are relatively unknown to those from outside the area, especially for, ahem, Jakarta city-dwellers. The stories remind us that there are other lives outside Java, which are no less important than what is happening in the capital, and that Indonesia does not revolve around Jakarta. Short and intended for a young audience, the books are infused with values and messages that make Okky Madasari Okky Madasari. While venturing into the land of the Melus, Matara finds herself trapped in an ancient conflict between the indigenous Melus tribe and the Bunag newcomers. In the second book, Matara is again at the center of the ubiquitous battle between tradition and development. Read also: 'The Bearded Turtle': Novel from Aceh wins Award in Jakarta The fact that these hefty issues are delivered through the perspective of a child creates a powerful and compelling narrative without being preachy. With a mix of fantasy and witty banter among the characters, the stories are entertaining for any reader. The short chapters and pencil-drawn illustrations make the series an easy read for children, while adults can surely finish a book in one sitting. Written by an Indonesian and revolving about diverse local characters, the Mata series is a long-overdue read for Indonesian children. Through her stories, Okky Madasari takes us back to how an Indonesian child sees the country and the world around it. Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Kate Krader (Bloomberg) Mon, November 19, 2018 03:05 1100 882ab4bc56dbda08a069b30877cbab7a 2 Food Uber,Cargo,Venmo Free In late 2014, Uber Technologies Inc. began testing a service called Uber Essentials. It was based on the premise that the most popular items from convenience stores could be made even more convenient. We were wrong, says Jason Droege, vice president of Uber Everything. In D.C., I sat in a car for six hours and got two orders. We discovered retail is not as simple as putting 200 items in a Toyota Highlander. Cargo Systems Inc., the New York-based provider of in-car commerce for Uber and Lyft Inc., thinks differently. Its Cargo boxsort of like a traveling minibar without the alcoholis in about 12,000 ride-share vehicles; passengers who catch a ride in one thats equipped with the box can buy snacks and energy drinks on their way to a meeting or home from a very late night. On Thursday, Cargo expanded its accessibility, announcing a deal with Venmo, the mobile payment service beloved by the millennial set. Earlier this year, Venmo began working with merchants including GrubHub and Uber to let consumers transact with merchants. If you think who are the consumers in ride-share vehicles, theyre all Venmo users, says Jeff Cripe, co-founder and chief executive officer of Cargo. Were psyched Venmo selected us to to partner on their new product. Now customers can directly transact with us. Cargo got started in 2016 as a way to capitalize on the captive audience in a ride-share car. It now has $30 million in funding from backers such as Eighteen94 Capital, Kellogg Co., and Founders Fund. In 2017 the world spent about 2 billion hours collectively in ride-share vehicles, Cripe says. We expect that number to increase. According to data from the company, a transaction is completed every 5.39 seconds, and products reach 9 million passengers per month. Many of them are in the form of free samples such as Smartwater and RXBars. Cargos boxes are in ride-share cars in 10 cities across the U.S. and in Singapore. (The company will announce an additional international city in the next two weeks.) The boxes are stocked with about a dozen products, which vary but could include Korean beauty masks and last-minute electronics such as iPhone chargers. Many of Cargos transactions are in the food and drink sphere, and theyre done in partnership with major packaged goods companies. We like partnering with Cargo because of the data, says John Carroll, vice president of Coca-Cola North America. We know what customers are choosing. According to Jayesh Shah, director of business development at Mars Wrigley Confectionery U.S., the most popular Cargo products from its inventory are Extra gum and Skittles. Overall, Rice Krispie Treats are the most purchased food product; a minisquare goes for 79. And because Ubers audience skews millennial, the companys backseats are a prime space to test out products. Its a good opportunity to sample new drinks to that audience, Carroll says. Mars/Wrigley also used Cargo to preview its Sweet Heat Skittles. (Cripe wont comment on specific deal terms and whether Cargo has a relationship with competitors such as PepsiCo.) Read also: Uber plans to triple headcount on food delivery in Europe region A typical Cargo transaction takes about 30 seconds. On top of the box of goodies (usually in the console but always within reach of the rider), is a unique code that a passenger enters into a mobile website menu. When thats entered, itll show the drivers inventory on your phone. And once a product is purchased, through Apple Pay as well as Venmo now, the driver can open the box and retrieve the item. We tried to remove drivers from the equation, Cripe says. They dont want to be sales people. Drivers do earn a percentage of sales, though; according to Cripe, an average driver makes about $100 a month from in-car Cargo sales. Its a two-sided marketplace inside the vehicle, he adds. Cargo uses data to stock the boxes, so a late-night driver is more likely to have a hangover cure. Likewise, some products perform better in specific markets. Hershey Co.s Forto Latte organic coffee shot, for example, is popular in San Francisco. Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin News Desk (Agence France-Presse) Taipei, Taiwan Sun, November 18, 2018 09:07 1101 882ab4bc56dbda08a069b30877ca5cac 2 Entertainment zhang-yimou,Golden-Horse-Awards,film-awards Free Acclaimed Chinese director Zhang Yimou's martial arts epic "Shadow" took the most gongs at Taiwan's Golden Horse film awards on Saturday, dubbed the Chinese-language "Oscars". Zhang, the maker of classics such as "Red Sorghum" and "Raise the Red Lantern", won best director for the film inspired by traditional ink-brush painting which also bagged three technical awards. "I've made movies for 40 years and this is my first Golden Horse (best) director nomination. I want to thank the jury for giving me the award," Zhang said at the ceremony at Taipei's Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hall. "Shadow" led the race with 12 nominations including best film but lost the coveted prize to "An Elephant Sitting Still" directed by Hu Bo, who died last year aged 29 in Beijing. Hu also won best adapted screenplay for his first and last film -- a nearly four-hour-long story about four struggling small characters based on his novel. "I want to thank the jury and the audience again," his mother told the crowd after she accepted the best film statuette for him. China's 29-year-old filmmaker Bi Gan lost best director to Zhang for his 3D drama "Long Day's Journey Into Night", which collected best cinematography, best sound effects and best original film score. Taiwanese filmmaker Fu Yue's "Our Youth in Taiwan" about the island's 2014 Sunflower Movement saw off "Umbrella Diaries: The First Umbrella" on Hong Kong's pro-democracy Umbrella Movement to win best documentary. Both mass protests were led by young activists and reflected increasing resistance to Beijing's influence. "I hope one day our country will be recognised and treated as a truly independent entity. This is my biggest wish as a Taiwanese," Fu told the crowd. China claims self-ruled Taiwan as part of its territory awaiting reunification, even though the two sides split in 1949 after a civil war. Taiwan's theatre veteran Hsieh Ying-xuan beat better-known Chinese rivals to claim best actress with her first movie "Dear EX". In the film she played a woman dumped by her husband who came out of the closet and fought for his inheritance against his gay lover. Read also: http://www.thejakartapost.com/life/2018/11/17/stars-gather-for-chinese-oscars-in-taiwan.html China's Xu Zheng won best actor for his role as a smuggler of leukaemia drugs who ends up helping the sick in the box-office hit "Dying to Survive." That movie also won best new director for 33-year-old filmmaker Wen Muye. "I want to thank every member of the production... it's difficult to create hair on my head and I have two hairdos in the movie," joked Xu, who is bald. More than 40 films out of a record 667 submitted were nominated for the 55th edition of the Golden Horse Film Awards, which this year were decided by a jury chaired by Chinese superstar Gong Li. Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin News Desk (The Jakarta Post) - Sun, November 18, 2018 12:06 1101 882ab4bc56dbda08a069b30877cac0b0 1 Lifestyle Crocs,Zooey-Deschanel,Natalie-Dormer,ambassador,footwear,brands Free Footwear brand Crocs has recruited five celebrities as its global brand ambassadors for the third year of its "Come as You Are" campaign. The five celebrities are award-winning actress and director Zooey Deschanel, British actress Natalie Dormer, Chinese actress and dancer Gina Jin, South Korean Gugudan girl-band member Kim Se-Jeong, and Japanese actress and model Suzu Hirose. They will be featured in the campaigns marketing materials beginning 2019. "I love that we are all unique. I am excited to have the opportunity to inspire others to embrace their individuality," said Deschanel in a statement. Throughout the year-long campaign, the ambassadors will encourage consumers to express themselves while being comfortable and stylish. The campaign will highlight some of Crocs products, which are Classic Clog, LiteRide, Crocs Serena and Swiftwater sandal collections. Read also: Crocs just won't go away, this time thanks to rapper Post Malone "We are eager to see how a talented, unique and self-expressive cast can redefine what it means to be comfortable in your own shoes," Crocs CMO Terence Reilly said. Come as You Are is Crocs global marketing campaign first launched in 2017. This years message is everyone comfortable in their own shoes. (iru/kes) Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Ruslan Sangadji (The Jakarta Post) Sigi Sun, November 18, 2018 08:29 1101 882ab4bc56dbda08a069b30877ca55e7 1 National Sigi-Regency,floods Free Nearly two months after a strong earthquake and ensuing tsunami and soil liquefaction devastated the region, Sigi, Central Sulawesi, was struck by a flash flood on Friday, destroying dozens of houses in its way. The flood hit Bangga village which is located 10 kilometers from what used to be Jono Oge village before it was swallowed up by soil liquefaction after days of heavy rain caused the Ore River to overflow. More than a dozen houses have been completely swept away while hundreds are inundated. About 14 houses were swept away, Bangga village leader Azhar Hasyim told The Jakarta Post. Sigi Regent Muhammad Irwan told the Post that the flash flood struck the village at 7:30 p.m. on Friday. The overflowing water from the river carried mud and tree trunks that damaged scores of houses in the village. Muhammad suspects that the 7.4-earthquake and tsunami that struck Central Sulawesi on Sept. 28 had toppled trees in the area, making it susceptible to severe flooding in the rainy season. "The Ore River could not contain that much water [and debris]," he added. Sigi Police chief Adj. Sr. Comr. Wawan Sumantri said 154 families were forced to leave their homes because of the rising water. No casualties have been recorded, he said. The flood also damaged an excavator belonging to a local river monitoring agency, 70 hectares of rice fields and plantations, a dam and a bridge. The downpour and flooding continued on Saturday. Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Sat, November 17 2018 President Joko Jokowi Widodo has once again made a pop-culture reference, this time while inaugurating the Time Capsule Monument, which represents Indonesias seven dreams, in Merauke, in the far east of Papua, during a working visit on Friday. In his speech, Jokowi noted that social media users had praised the Time Capsule Monuments futuristic design, comparing it to the headquarters of Marvels superheroes the Avengers. The President said the monument embodied the spirit of the Avengers, who not only dreamed great visions, but also fought to protect people, especially the weak. 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 (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Sat, November 17 2018 Homegrown beer producer PT Bali Hai Brewery Indonesia plans to introduce its products, spearheaded by its Panther stout, a type of black beer, in several markets in Africa within the next six months to expand overseas sales. Bali Hai export and international development manager Bharat Velecha told The Jakarta Post after a press factory tour earlier this week that his company chose Africa because beer per capita consumption had been increasing significantly over the past few years. A 2018 report published by research firm Global Data supports Bharats statement, saying that Africa was the fastest expanding beer market in the world with 4.3 percent growth annually from 1990 to 2017, as compared to 3.9 percent in Asia and 2.2 percent in Eastern Europe. to Read Full Story SUBSCRIBE NOW Starting from IDR 55,000/month Unlimited access to our web and app content e-Post daily digital newspaper No advertisements, no interruptions Privileged access to our events and programs Subscription to our newsletters We accept Register to read 3 premium articles for free Already subscribed? login Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin News Desk (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Sun, November 18, 2018 09:39 1101 882ab4bc56dbda08a069b30877ca6090 1 National Baiq-Nuril-Maknun,ITE-Law,sexual-harassment,Nahdlatul-ulama Free The Nahdlatul Ulama (NU) has spoken up to support Baiq Nuril Maknun, a resident of Mataram, West Nusa Tenggara, who is facing jail time for defaming a man that allegedly harassed her. NU legal division head Robikin Emhas said the largest Muslim organization hoped that the Supreme Court would release the 37-year-old after deliberating a case review she planned to file. I hope the reputation and dignity of Baiq Nuril Maknun can be restored in the case review verdict, just like the Mataram District Court [that had acquitted her], he said in a statement as quoted by Antara. Nuril was sentenced to six months in jail and fined Rp 500 million (US$33,749) after the Supreme Court found her guilty of defaming her alleged harasser, Muslim, the principal of the school where she worked, by spreading a recording of a phone conversation between the two. Read also: Jailed for reporting her alleged sexual offender, Mataram woman cries for help Nuril said she recorded the conversation after he shared stories about his affairs with another woman multiple times. He had also asked her to meet in a hotel room for a tryst. The recording later spread to the school circle and local education agency, prompting Muslim's removal from his post. He then reported Nuril to the police for defamation. Prosecutors have received the court order to jail her next week. If she refuses to surrender herself within a month, she will be arrested. The case has sparked public debate on the safety of victims of sexual harassment should they choose to report their offenders or take any actions to defend themselves. Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin News Desk (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Sun, November 18, 2018 11:21 1101 882ab4bc56dbda08a069b30877cab186 4 National PNS,Civil-Administration-Law,civil-servant-enrollment-tests,civil-servants,Administrative-and-Bureaucratic-Reform-Ministry,BKN Free The government is planning to recruit private employees for civil-servant positions starting next year in a bid to create a competitive bureaucracy". Administrative and Bureaucratic Reform Minister Syafruddin said private employees could fill the lower-level echelon I and echelon II posts and should have the skills that civil servants do not have. It will be for next year, not this year, Syafruddin said as quoted by kontan.co.id. State Administration Agency (LAN) deputy for policy review Muhammad Taufiq said the recruitment would involve contract-based government employees. Well recruit the employees with the best talents. [The positions] that cannot be filled by the internal employees [civil servants] can be for the external [private employees], Taufiq. The plan to headhunt civil servants from private companies came amid news about a low passing rate among civil-servant applicants in a basic skills test. Previously, the National Civil Service Agency (BKN) revealed that, as of last week, from the test results of 60 percent of the total applicants who sat the test, only 10 percent passed. This situation is worrying because the number of applicants who passed the test is very low, BKN deputy for the civil information system Irwan Hermanto said as quoted by kompas.com. At the national level, which covers ministries and non-ministerial government institutions, around 12.09 percent of positions might remain vacant, according to the agency. The highest rate of vacant positions for jobs at regional administration offices is in eastern Indonesia at 90.59 percent. Last month, about 4 million people applied for civil-service jobs and about 1.7 million people were approved at the administrative level to sit the basic skills test. (foy) Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin News Desk (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Sun, November 18, 2018 20:08 1101 882ab4bc56dbda08a069b30877cb67aa 1 World APEC,Port-Moresby,Papua-New-Guinea,Xi-Jinping,Jokowi,Solomon-Islands,Pacific Free President Joko Jokowi Widodo met with his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping on the sidelines of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Summit in Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea, on Saturday. The two heads of state mainly discussed the bilateral economic cooperation between the two countries from "trade to digital economy", according to a statement from the presidential press bureau. Jokowi hoped Indonesia and China could work together in reducing Jakartas trade deficit to Beijing, including by easing exports of tropical fruits. I also [ask] Your Excellency [Xi] to encourage more Chinese tourists to visit Indonesia, especially to Bali and the 10 new Balis, Jokowi said as quoted in the statement. Jokowi and Xi also spoke about the export of palm oil and its products including the B20 biofuel as well as investments on research pertaining to "Industry 4.0". The Indonesian president also expressed his appreciation of Chinas disaster relief aid after earthquakes struck Lombok in West Nusa Tenggara and Palu in Central Sulawesi. Jokowi also held his first ever bilateral meeting with Solomon Islands Prime Minister Rick Houenipwela on Saturday, talking about cooperation in many sectors, ranging from maritime to palm oil development. The annual gathering between 21 leaders of Asia-Pacific nations is held from Saturday to Sunday. This is the first gathering held in Papua New Guinea, which is also hosting its first international event of this scale. (evi) Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin News Desk (The Jakarta Post) Bogor Sun, November 18, 2018 14:24 1101 882ab4bc56dbda08a069b30877cb02fa 1 City murder,murder-case,bogor,police,crime Free The discovery of a naked male body in a drum in Kampung Narogong in Klapanunggal, Bogor, West Java, caused some commotion among residents of the area. The finding was reported by a scavenger, Sartika, who said she had seen the body while looking for valuable discarded items. "I saw the blue drum and approached it to find out if there were any valuable items inside that I could take," the 56-year-old said, as quoted by tempo.co on Sunday. "It was around 6 a.m., the drum was closed with a plastic lid. I opened it and, oh dear, there was a man. I screamed immediately," she said. Sartika's scream attracted attention from residents, who crowded the scene to find out what had happened. Police officers arrived at the scene an hour and a half later. Klapanunggal Police chief Adj. Comr. Bimantoro said the police were investigating the case to ascertain the identity of the body and the motive behind the suspected murder. We took the body to the R. Said Sukanto Police Hospital in Kramat Jati, East Jakarta, for an autopsy, Bimantoro said. Inside the drum, the officers also found a white T-shirt with blood spots all over it. (vla) Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin News Desk (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Sun, November 18, 2018 20:58 1101 882ab4bc56dbda08a069b30877cb6a96 2 Sports badminton,Hong-Kong-Open,2018,Indonesia,Marcus-Fernaldi-Kevin-Sanjaya,champion,mens-doubles Free Indonesias Marcus Fernaldi Gideon and Kevin Sanjaya Sukamuljo only needed 35 minutes to silent Japans Takeshi Kamura and Keigo Sonoda to defend their Hong Kong Open mens doubles title on Sunday. World number-one pair was too powerful for the Japanese shuttlers, who are ranked third in the world, crushing them 21-13, 21-12 in a quick execution. It is the second Hong Kong Open title for the Indonesians, who were also unbeatable in last years edition. The Indonesians were ruthless in pressing the Japanese, blocking every possible room for the opponents to grow their offense. Marcus and Kevin remained focused on maintaining their tempo, winning every point to leave the Japanese pair far behind. We were also quite surprised to know that we were able to tune in from the beginning of the match. It was actually unusual, because fighting against them is traditionally a lot harder, said Marcus in a statement. With the latest title, Marcus and Kevin have collected eight victories so far in this years Badminton World Federation (BWF) top-tier tournaments. The triumphs include the China Open last week and the Denmark Open last month. (nkn) Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Kharishar Kahfi (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Sun, November 18, 2018 13:30 1101 882ab4bc56dbda08a069b30877cae959 1 National Baiq-Nuril-Maknun,#SaveIbuNuril,sexual-harassment,ITE-Law,defamation,West-Nusa-Tenggara,kitabisa-com,SAFEnet Free Activists in nine cities across the country have deplored the impending imprisonment of Baiq Nuril Makmun, an alleged victim of sexual harassment, who has been sentenced to prison for defamation. In response to prosecutors demand for Nuril to be locked up on Wednesday, the activists staged peaceful protests in nine cities on Sunday, namely in Pekanbaru, Riau; Denpasar, Bali; Palembang, South Sumatra; Pontianak, West Kalimantan; Mataram, West Nusa Tenggara; Makassar, South Sulawesi and Jember, East Java. Activists are also preparing protests in two more locations on Thursday, namely in front of the Central Java governors office in Semarang as well as in front of the Presidential Palace in Jakarta. On Friday, the Institute for Criminal Justice Reform (ICJR) said prosecutors had demanded that Nuril start serving her prison time on Wednesday. The 37-year-old from Mataram, West Nusa Tenggara, was sentenced to six months in prison and fined Rp 500 million (US$34,218) after the Supreme Court found her guilty of defaming her alleged harasser, the principal of the school where she worked. The judges said she had circulated a recording of a phone call in which the principal reportedly boasted about his sexual escapade with Nuril's colleague, overturning a lower court's not guilty verdict. Nuril and her lawyers are preparing a case review to challenge the verdict, maintaining that she had done nothing wrong. She had only taped the phone call but not distributed the recording, they claimed. Her principal allegedly called her often and shared stories of his sexual acts. In several conversations, he reportedly asked to meet her in a hotel room for a tryst. A campaigner, Anindya Joediono, started an online fundraising drive on kitabisa.com to help Nuril pay her fine. As of Sunday morning, donations collected totalled more than Rp 283 million, or more than half of Nuril's fine. (evi) Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin News Desk (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Sun, November 18, 2018 16:11 1101 882ab4bc56dbda08a069b30877cb2e2a 1 National KPK,Pakpak-Bharat,graft,North-Sumatra Free The Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) has apprehended several officials and businesspeople during an operation pertaining to alleged corruption in the regency of Pakpak Bharat in North Sumatra. KPK chairman Agus Rahardjo said the graft busters had arrested four people in Medan and two in Jakarta. "[Among them were a] regional leader, a local agency head, state officials and businesspeople," Agus said in a statement on Sunday. "We have identified several suspected illicit transactions related to a public works agency project in Pakpak Bharat," he went on to say. The KPK was interrogating the apprehended individuals at its headquarters in Jakarta on Sunday and was expected to announce their status in the case later in the afternoon. (evi) Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Ivany Atina Arbi (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Sun, November 18, 2018 18:13 1101 882ab4bc56dbda08a069b30877cb4b67 1 National greenpeace,Mondelez,Wilmar,palm-oil,sustainable Free Six Greenpeace activists have reportedly been detained by the captain of tanker Stolt Tenacity for staging a rally against forests destruction, particularly in Indonesia, the worlds largest producer of palm oil. The ship was transporting crude palm oil, owned by the worlds biggest palm oil trader Wilmar International, from a refinery in Dumai in Riau to Europe. According to a statement released by Greenpeace Indonesia on Saturday, six Greenpeace activists from Indonesia, Germany, Britain, France, Canada and the United States staged the peaceful rally in the Cadiz Bay near Spain. They managed to unfurl banners that read Save Our Rainforest and Drop Dirty Palm Oil on board the tanker before being detained by its captain. We have informed the tankers captain through VHF marine radio channels about the peaceful and antiviolence action [] and asked him to free the activists and let them continue the peaceful rally, said Greenpeace campaigner Hannah Martin. She further said that Wilmar was the main supplier of palm oil to food giant Mondelez. Based on Greenpeaces recent investigation, palm oil suppliers to Mondelez had allegedly destroyed roughly 70,000 hectares of forests across Southeast Asia in the past two years. Mondelez is the producer of Oreo cookies, among others. Greenpeace, therefore, urged Mondelez to stop its trading with Wilmar until the later managed to produce palm oil without destroying forests. Mondelez has dismissed such allegations, saying the company had been prioritizing suppliers that meet sustainability criteria that allow retailers and customers to trace their products back to the mill. Were asking our direct suppliers to call on their upstream suppliers to map and monitor the plantations where oil palm is grown, so we can drive further traceability. Were also excluding 12 companies from our supply chain as a result of breaches, the company said in a statement last week, refusing to reveal the 12 companies. Wilmar had earlier urged Greenpeace to take collaborative action with the company if it wanted to improve the palm oil industry. In its statement concerning Greenpeaces similar rally in September in Wilmar's refinery in Bitung, North Sulawesi, Wilmar said the protest was a criminal act of trespassing and vandalism as well as a safety risk to the activists as well as Wilmar staff. No organization is above the law and we urge Greenpeace to adopt a collaborative mindset and work with the palm oil industry to take genuine and positive action. Wilmar also disputed Greenpeaces claims about the companies it sourced palm oil from. It must be clarified that, out of the 25 companies listed, Wilmar is buying from 13 supplier groups, not 18 as alleged in the report, the company said, adding that 11 of the 13 companies have been put on Wilmars grievance list. Greenpeaces allegation that Wilmar is failing at monitoring our supply chain is based on a willful lack of understanding of our work on the ground. Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Jason Scott and Isabel Reynolds (Bloomberg) Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea Sun, November 18, 2018 09:40 1101 882ab4bc56dbda08a069b30877ca6544 2 World US-China,APEC,Indo-Pacific,Pacific,Papua-New-Guinea,Xi-Jinping,Mike-Pence,trump,Belt-road-initiative,electricity Free The US and its key Pacific allies on Sunday announced plans to build an electricity grid in Papua New Guinea, in the latest bid to counter Chinas growing influence in the region. Australia, Japan and New Zealand joined the US in signing the partnership accord, which aims to connect 70 percent of the population to electricity by 2030. The project will require large scale investment by both the public and private sectors, according to a statement released in the capital, Port Moresby, where leaders are attending the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit. The project is part of a wider push by the Trump administration to check Chinas economic and diplomatic thrust into the Indo-Pacific region and offer an alternative to President Xi Jinpings Belt-and-Road Initiative. Still, the sums of money offered by the U.S. and its allies are dwarfed by Xis infrastructure lending plan, which Morgan Stanley says may total $1.3 trillion by 2027. (Bloomberg/-) Addressing business leaders at an APEC CEO summit on Saturday, Vice President Mike Pence said the U.S. offered countries in the region a better option than China. He warned against taking opaque Chinese loans, saying the U.S. doesnt drown our partners in a sea of debt nor offer a constricting belt or a one-way road. Xi defended the Belt-and-Road Initiative in his speech at APEC, saying its not a trap as some people have labeled it. The US has been increasingly critical of China-backed infrastructure projects, saying many arent properly planned, financially sustainable and of questionable use. A new six-lane highway built by China in Port Moresby, for instance, has been dubbed the road to nowhere in media reports. The language in the electricity agreement signed Sunday is a nod to such criticism. The partnership is intended to focus on the importance of principles-based, sustainable infrastructure development that is transparent, non-discriminatory, environmentally responsible, promotes fair and open competition, upholds robust standards, meets the genuine needs of the people of Papua New Guinea and avoids unsustainable debt burdens. Earlier this month, Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison unveiled a A$2 billion ($1.5 billion) infrastructure fund for the South Pacific, while New Zealand announced a NZ$10 million ($6.9 million) fund to help foster sporting and cultural engagement with Pacific island nations. Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Fachrul Sidiq (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Sun, November 18, 2018 14:30 1101 882ab4bc56dbda08a069b30877cb06aa 1 City waria,LGBT,minority-rights,LGBT-persecution Free Seven transgender people in Sumur Utara, Klender, East Jakarta, have been told by residents to leave a boarding house they are currently staying at. "We, kampung Sumur residents, reject the presence of LGBT groups", states a banner put up in front of the boarding house on Saturday. The neighborhood unit (RT) head was collecting signatures from residents to expel the waria, said one of the seven people affected who requested anonymity, using a local term for transgender people. She said they had been accused of prostitution. The boarding house is home to eight people; the eighth room being occupied by a midwife, she said, adding that many more transgender people resided in the area. We have never broken any rules. We always abide by the regulations set in the neighborhood, including not receiving any guests, she told The Jakarta Post on Sunday. Our landlady defends us, but now she is being called an atheist and disgusting and [blamed for] stirring up social tension. She has stayed in the boarding house for several years; some of her friends have lived there for 10 years or longer and have never been threatened until now. We have not been physically abused so far, but we do not know what will happen, she said. Yulianus Rettoblaut, a well-known rights activist that leads the Indonesian Waria Communication Forum (FKWI), lamented the situation. She attributed the threats to rising anti-LGBT sentiment in the country particularly ahead of the presidential and legislative elections next year, as anti-LGBT statements have been employed by politicians to get votes. Our [state ideology of] Pancasila guarantees equal justice for all, but we all know transgender people always face discrimination, she said. Yuli suggested that the seven waria seek assistance from rights groups, such as the Jakarta Legal Aid Institute (LBH Jakarta) or Human Rights Watch (HRW) to make sure they got justice. HRW researcher Andreas Harsono said the local residents could not trespass onto their private lives, as long as the landlady did not mind their presence. (evi) Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Dian Septiari (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Mon, November 19 2018 Indonesia has been informed of a plan by Australia, which was subsequently supported by the United States, to redevelop a naval base on Manus Island in Papua New Guinea (PNG) and sees no threat from it. Whats important is that they communicated it to us. No one can forbid them from doing what they are doing, as long as [the naval base] is not built in our territory, the Defense Ministrys director general of defense strategies Gen. Maj. M Nakir told The Jakarta Post on Sunday. US Vice President Mike Pence announced Saturday that the US would partner with Australia and the PNG to redevelop the Lombrum naval base on Manus island at the 2018 APEC CEO Summit. to Read Full Story SUBSCRIBE NOW Starting from IDR 55,000/month Unlimited access to our web and app content e-Post daily digital newspaper No advertisements, no interruptions Privileged access to our events and programs Subscription to our newsletters We accept Register to read 3 premium articles for free Already subscribed? login Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin News Desk (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Sun, November 18, 2018 14:05 1101 882ab4bc56dbda08a069b30877caf648 1 News Ride-for-Heroes,RFH-Sumatera-Series,motorcycle-expedition,aceh,expedition,travel Free At first glance, the Kemiri Rawamangun public cemetery (TPU) in East Jakarta may look like any other TPU in the capital. However, it actually hosts the grave of Muhammad Daud Syah, the last sultan of the Aceh Darussalam Kingdom, who passed away on Feb. 6, 1939. Positioned higher than the others, the grave has Tuanku Sultan Muhammad Daud ibnal Marhum Tuanku Zainal Abidin Alaiddin Syah carved on its headstone. Muhammad Daud Syah was known for its tenacity in fighting against the Dutch. He joined the guerilla war before he was caught and exiled to Java. He never recognized the Netherlands' sovereignty over Aceh throughout his life. Read also: Aceh historical travel book now available Commemorating Muhammad Daud Syah, the Ride for Heroes (RFH) movement is to set off on a two-wheeled expedition from Jakarta to the Kilometer Zero Monument in Sabang city of Aceh for a distance of 7,000 kilometers. The RFH Sumatra Series expedition is to start on Dec. 1 and participants are to travel across most of the provinces of Sumatra, including Lampung, Jambi and West Sumatra. Aiming to explore history and rebuild a sense of patriotism, their journey will be made into a documentary. The riders will be divided into three groups. Those who want to participate can visit the official website. RFH undertook its first expedition in 2017 when participants explored the southern beaches of Java. They stopped by several places on their trip, among them the PETA (Japanese-led volunteer army for Indonesians) museum in Bogor, West Java, and the Renville Agreement Monument in Banjarnegara, Central Java. The 2017 expedition documentary can be watched on YouTube. (wir/kes) 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. You cannot print contents of this website. Sign in Welcome, Login to your account. Forget password? Remember me Sign in Recover your password. A password will be e-mailed to you. Israel Defense Forces Soldiers arrested two terrorists who attempted to carry out a terror attack against IDF soldiers near the Palestinian city of Halhul, located between Gush Etzion and Hebron on Tuesday night. According to reports in the Israeli media, two suspects drove by soldiers who were stationed in the area near the city and opened fire. Baruch Hashem, no one was injured in the attack. Following a chase of the suspects, IDF forces apprehended them attempting to re-enter the town of Halhul. The suspects are being remanded for questioning. Earlier in the day, Border Police officers stationed in Hebron at the Maarat Hamachpela prevented a stabbing attack when they apprehended a Palestinian man who had drawn a knife. (YWN Israel Desk Jerusalem) MBABANE EmaSwati will soon find no reason not to own a Smart phone, wellsort of. MTN Group has announced that it has partnered with other telecommunications companies to bring smart feature phones to Africa that will cost as little as US$20 (about E250 when calculated at the latest exchange rate). MTN said it was working with China Mobile Communications Group, Unisoc and KaiOS Technologies to attempt to bridge the gap between basic dumb phones and smartphones, which are often too expensive for consumers in Africa. The idea is to use the cheap 3G devices to get more people consuming data instead of using their phones for voice calls and sending SMSes only. The new product will allow customers to upgrade from a feature phone with only voice and text capabilities, to a fully-connected handset with fast 3G Internet. Because of the competitive pricing of the device, access to advanced digital services is finally a reality for everyone, MTN said. The phone has two basic cameras, dual-Sim support and a long battery life, thanks to a 2 000mAh battery. It is powered by the Unisoc SC7731EF processor, has 2.4-inch screen, 256MB RAM and 512MB of storage. It will be available starting from the first quarter of 2019. It reportedly offers Wi-Fi, 3G, Bluetooth and GPS connectivity and includes the Google Assistant and other smart services. WhatsApp, however, is not yet supported (though reports suggest its in development). MTN Eswatini Corporate Communications Manager Mandla Luphondvo said while the entry-level smartphones were expected to hit MTNs bigger markets South Africa and Nigeria first, locally we may expect to have access to these gadgets on the second quarter of 2019, which starts from April. Luphondvo said there was a whole lot of bunching up fingers, systemic investment and exploration of different options that needed to be done before these Smartphones can be available locally. And, our valued customers will be appraised with each key milestone towards the launch of these readily accessible smartphones, including how much they will cost, he said. He said the issue of smartphone penetration in the local market and elsewhere was key for MTN. MTNs key targets He stated that when MTN Group CEO Rob Shuter was in the Kingdom of Eswatini on September 1, 2017, he eloquently communicated some of the key targets that MTN had set for itself when it comes to smartphone penetration in the market, which is one of the companys strategic moves. Smartphone penetration is important at this point on so many levels. Firstly, it comes with opportunities for customers who were previously using a feature phone, which have basic features, and prevented from owning smartphones because of prohibitive prices, Luphondvo said. He continued: Secondly, it comes with opportunities to fully utilise our modernised network and improved customer experience. Thirdly, as explained by our Group CEO, there are opportunities for development, and extensive use of more Applications (Apps), something that makes perfect sense for the Kingdom of Eswatini as we aspire to get to First World status. competition on App He said in line with the third aspiration, MTN Eswatini was currently running a competition on App development, with 15 developers already shortlisted for the grand prize of E30 000. The grand prize has been increased from an initial E25 000 when the competition was rolled out last year. MTN Eswatini is intentionally pushing innovation even from the corporate social investment front. Through MTN Foundation, an innovation challenge was thrown at tertiary students last year and implemented in partnership with Enactus. And, the feedback was nothing short of impressive, Luphondvo said. He said within MTN staff, there were initiatives, as well to drive innovation, both in the areas of process or service improvements, as well as in coming up with fresh initiatives that could improve customer experience and diversify revenue streams. He stated that the development of Apps comes with opportunities to improve quality of life, and also accrue revenue for the person who has developed the App. Meanwhile, regarding the entry-level Smartphones, MTN Group said the KaiOS is the same operating system that powers Nokias banana phone, the 4G-capable 8110. It already runs on almost 50 million smart feature phones globally and has overtaken iOS as the second most popular mobile operating system in India (based on data usage). It supports Facebook, YouTube, music-streaming services, Twitter and Google Maps. MTN - Africas biggest mobile phone operator - is aiming to sell about 10 million of the devices over the next three years. While the phones would not be made in Africa, their introduction would give local developers an opportunity to create apps, Shuter said. On this note, Luphondvo said the local App Challenge was meant to stimulate innovation, which is one of the key drivers in the telecommunications industry, and economic development. This years theme is Digital innovation, a tool for youth empowerment. From the 87 entries, the competition judges have already come up with the top 15 Apps that are expected to compete during the first week of December. bring ideas to life Contestants have got their hands on the button now, and have up to the end of November to bring their ideas to life. Speaking during a briefing session with the top 15 developers, MTN Digital and Value-Added Services Alex Lushaba thanked local developers for showing growing interest in the contest. This platform is increasingly becoming a catalyst for App developers who create solutions that simplify life and business. Further, this challenge makes it possible for young people to launch and grow sustainable businesses that will provide solutions for customers, contribute to economic growth, and create much-needed employment opportunities, he said. MBABANE- Could international conventions be preventing Eswatini from tapping into another gold mine? Rhino horn harvesting, which is banned, could lead to the country making over E3.3 million for each rhino horn. The money could be invested back to rhino and other wildlife conservation, according to Ted Reilly of the Big Game Parks. Reilly was speaking during the rhino survival function held at Mlilwane Game Reserve yesterday. Reilly said the average rhino horn weighed four kilogrammes, giving it a value of about E3.37 million on the illegal market. This makes a dead rhino more valuable than a live one. The rhino horn, according to information sourced from the internet, takes only three years to grown back, and can be re-harvested. The kingdoms horn trade proposal to be tabled in the upcoming Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) CoP17 failed after the country received only 26 votes out of 126. The country plans to make another proposal in May 2019. rhino poaching Reilly said political will was the single most essential ingredient necessary to contain rhino poaching. He said they were blessed with the support of Eswatinis leadership, hence the country was recognised as having the finest anti-rhino poaching conservation record in Africa. He said another essential requirement was finance. He took from the words of South African Industrialist, Conservationist and Philanthropist Dr Anton Rupert, who said: Conservation without finance is merely conversation. It is true that money is the root of all evil, but we cannot do without it. We cannot even eat without it and we certainly cannot conserve without it, he said. He said the protection of rhinos was prohibitively expensive and was becoming too costly for many custodians to continue doing it. Yet some conservation agencies are sitting on the most valuable self-renewing resource on earth, which they are preventing from utilising by CITES, he said. No rhino killing He said the resource was the rhino horn. He said the horn could be harvested sustainably on an ongoing basis without killing a rhino, because the horn kept growing even after harvesting and its removal from the rhino was painless. He said despite the horns value in the black market, there was no legal commercial value at all because legal trade in rhino horn was banned, despite the fact that the animal did not have to die to legally and repeatedly yield its horn as a self-renewing natural resource. He said this meant that criminals took all the revenues (from dead rhinos), and the custodians paid the costs of protection. He said this had resulted in 300 000 hectares of habitat formerly available to rhinos being withdrawn from rhino conservation, because it had become too risky and too costly to continue protecting them. A friend of mine who was a rhino custodian was shot through the liver and nearly died for protecting rhinos. Another was gang-raped by criminals, while defending orphaned rhinos, he said. He told the story of Petros Ngomane, who had received the Rupert Gold medal award for outstanding service to nature conservation. He said on two occasions, attempts were made to assassinate him. He said the first attempt was a brutal attack while Ngomane was on patrol. He said the second attempt was made when a petrol bomb was thrown to him at night. Other emaSwati rangers were not so lucky and paid with their lives at the brutal hands of poachers, he said. He said custodians who were losing their rhinos to poaching and who believed in the sustainable use of these natural resources had seen their rhinos being plundered by criminals for 41 years under the CITES ban on legal trade. The 19-year old teenager who was allegedly raped by a member of the extended royal family and his friend, a male student of the University of Eswatini. (pic: Mfanukhona Nkambule) mfanukhona@yahoo.co.uk MANZINI A 19-year old woman who was allegedly raped by a member of the extended royal family and her university male colleague is being sweet-talked into dropping the case in exchange for an overseas scholarship. This was disclosed by the survivor herself in an interview with this newspaper. While she was in the crucial stage of dealing with probable nervous breakdown challenges and lifelong consequences of rape, three carrot-dangling strangers visited her last month at the Kwaluseni campus of the University of Eswatini (UNESWA). *Zodwa (not her real name) said the three men, unknown to her, persuaded her to drop the case, which she opened against the royal family member and her university male colleague. Despite the allegation that she was kidnapped, drugged and raped at a guest house in the outskirts of Manzini in September this year, she said the three men told her that money was available to finance her education in either Taiwan or the United Kingdom. Zodwa said they claimed to be representing the male student. On the other hand, she said other people claiming to be representing the royal family member reportedly asked Mzwandile Dlamini, a Manzini-based attorney, to advise her to drop the case in exchange for the same offer. She said she was hurting because her assailants took turns to rape her. She was terribly aggrieved that one of her alleged assailants was known to her, as they were doing the same course at the university. The royal family member is actually a son of one of the late popular princes. Ethically and legally, details that might lead some people to identify the survivor will not be published. The survivor alleged that she was persuaded to drop the case last month. She said her attorney told her that he met the other people around Matsapha. How does attorney come in? Basically, she said Dlamini, the attorney, helped her to report the case at Matsapha Police Station and the matter was later referred to the Manzini Police Station. This was due to the fact that the incident occurred within the jurisdiction of the Manzini Police Station. After the rape ordeal, she said the attorney was the first to receive a telephone call from her. The attorneys name is being published because he deals with many clients and there are understandably narrow probabilities that the disclosure of his identity would lead people to identify the survivor. The survivor continued to say that her attorney also informed her of the scholarship offer to study in Taiwan in exchange for the dropping of the case. It meant she had two options taking a scholarship to study in Taiwan or UK. Asked how tempting the offers were to her, Zodwa said she rejected them plainly. She explained that she would not have accepted the scholarship offers because she did not want to suffer pangs of guilt. I didnt want to sacrifice my body for money or this scholarship thing, she insisted. She said she was shocked at seeing people bragging about their material things instead of apologising to her on behalf of the person or persons who raped her. They were not sorry for what their relative did to me. They just came to bribe me, she said. She added: What really annoys me is that I was drugged and left unconscious. While I was unconscious, that was when they raped me. Asked how she was able to identify them because she was unconscious, she responded: Its true that I was unconscious but not to the extent that I didnt see what was happening to me. I was powerless, unable to resist or defend myself, but I could see them taking turns to rape me. Further asked if they used condoms, she responded to the affirmative. However, she said even though they used condoms, doctors at the Raleigh Fitkin Memorial (RFM) Hospital in Manzini gave her post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP). PEP supports to reduce the spread of HIV and other blood borne pathogens hepatitis B virus (HBV) and hepatitis C virus (HCV). On a very sad note, she narrated how she was raped. She said the prince was the first to have alleged unlawful sex with her. After he had finished, he allowed the student to rape her as well. When the male student was through, they engaged in a group sex (threesome), taking turns to rape her. Three times they slept with me, she said. Cops ask for her pubic hair She said she did not take a bath until she was seen by a doctor at the RFM hospital. She was seen by the doctor on September 8, 2018. Despite the fact that the doctor examined her to detect penetration, she said she did not understand when police asked for her pubic hair on September 10, 2018. She said she did not give them because she had none at that time. Why did they ask for my pubic hair because the doctor established the penetration and I had not taken the bath by then, she said. She said she was terribly hurt because she did not consent to this sexual intercourse, as a result, she said she was still trying to recover from the trauma. She said it was disheartening to see her male colleague every day. Seeing him on a daily basis in the lecture room, Zodwa said she got traumatised. Asked if the male student was remorseful, she said he was not as he was allegedly bragging about what he did to her. He bragged to some of my colleagues at the university, mainly males, that he had finally indulged in sexual intercourse with me she said. She said she learnt of this assertion when some of her male colleagues asked her about the issue. I told them that I never consented to the sex. I also explained to some of my friends how these guys raped me, she said. She has not yet informed her parents of the incident. She disclosed that she was not in good talking terms with his alleged assailant. I dont greet him when we meet. He hasnt attempted to greet me as well. She added: That guy is not sorry. She thanked God that she was physically well, except that she was recovering from emotional abuse. She said she had gone through a lot of professional counselling, and was gradually recovering. Mzwandile, the attorney, confirmed that he was asked by some people to plead with Zodwa to drop the case. I can only say to you its true that they asked me to advise her to drop the case in exchange for a scholarship to study in Taiwan, he said. He said he advised them to talk to the survivor because it was her who preferred the charges against the royal family member and the male student of the university. kidnapped from campus Our sister publication, the Times of Swaziland, reported in September 2018 that the 19-year-old university student was allegedly kidnapped by the duo while she was enjoying proceedings of an opening bash that was held at Kwaluseni Campus. The fun began on Friday and ended on Saturday morning. While the student was enjoying herself at about 3am on that Saturday, a source said one of her colleagues allegedly told her that umntfwanenkhosi (a prince) wanted to introduce himself to her. Unsuspecting, the student went to the prince accompanied by her university colleague. The princes car was parked within the universitys premises. Upon arrival there, it was reported that the male student advised her to sit closer to umntfwanenkhosi by occupying the front passenger seat. When all of them were aboard the car, the male student reportedly asked the prince to drive to a certain place that was not far from the campus to pick up someone. Before the teenage girl could even agree to the unplanned trip, the prince allegedly locked his vehicle and drove off, while she made unsuccessful attempts to open the door. The male student is said to have assured Zodwa that they would return to the campus very soon. Along the way, sources alleged that the two men offered her an energy drink, which she refused to drink. She eventually relented to taking a sip after persuasions to do so, sources close to the issue said. After drinking the drink, she reportedly began to feel disoriented. Even though she could not remember events leading to the incident, she recalled being assisted by the prince and her university colleague to alight from the car and get into a room in one of the guest houses situated in the outskirts of the city of Manzini. When questioned after the alleged rape incident, the survivor is said to have told the police that she remembered being allegedly raped by both the prince and her colleague at the guest house. She is said to have told police that she was a bit sedated and could not even stop them from raping her or defend herself from the alleged sexual assault. One of her alleged sexual assailants, the male university student, adamantly declined to respond to questions posed to him on Friday by the Times SUNDAY. He was asked if it was true that he raped Zodwa. He was also asked if he, at some point, sent some men to ask for the survivors forgiveness and dropping of the case in exchange for the overseas scholarship. The last question was how his relationship with Zodwa was because they were doing the same course and seeing each other on a daily basis. Kantsi unjani wena awuva yini nangitsi angifuni kukhuluma ngalendzaba (dont you get it that I dont want to talk about this issue, he said. Superintendent Phindile Vilakati, the Chief Police Information and Communications Officer said the alleged rape case was still under police investigation. She said they were not aware that certain people asked the survivor to drop the case. She was not in a position to indicate when they would conclude the investigations as the survivor was examined by the doctor. Women and Law to help Zanele Thabede, the Project Officer of the Eswatini chapter of the Women and Law in Southern Africa, said they handled the case of Zodwa, and even engaged a lawyer to explore it. She said they made attempts to reach out to her, but eventually did not meet her because of circumstances beyond the power of their control. She said they took a position on this issue; that was to support and protect Zodwa through and through. She urged her to come to the associations office for professional help and advice. Thabede said her association received three cases of rape on a monthly basis, an indication that the prevalence of rape was still high in the country. Eswatinis rape statistics In May 2018, Isaac Mmemo Magagula, the former National Commissioner of Police and now Senator, released alarming rape statistics for the country, which reflected that 61 women were raped every month here. The then national commissioner stated that cases of gender-based violence (GBV), which manifested mainly through rapes and intimate partner killings (passion killings), were another persistent challenge in the countrys overall crime landscape. Magagula stated that there were 1 046 rape cases reported in 17 months, from January 2017 up until May this year. He said the most harrowing were the cases where young children and elderly women were subjected to the horror of rape. The now senator said the incomprehensible, distasteful and mindboggling cases were also those in which biological fathers raped their own daughters. Prince Mbuyisas rape case Notably, the Times SUNDAY can mention that it is easy and acceptable to arrest members of the royal family. Legend has it that Prince Mbuyisa, whose father is King Sobhuza II, was arrested, prosecuted and convicted of rape in 2006. He was sentenced to seven years imprisonment for raping a nine-year-old child. In his finding, Magistrate Joe Gumede strongly condemned the princes act at the Mbabane Magistrates Court. Those who commit this type of crime have to receive heavy sentences because they really do not deserve to be part of the community, said Gumede. He added: What you did has brought shame on your own head and also on the heads of your children. I will not even dare to mention the royal family. Gumede said Prince Mbuyisa had to thank his stars that the case had not been heard by a higher court. Had that been so, he would have received a life sentence but the director of public prosecutions had decided that the hearing should be held by a lower court. However, the prince was later freed on a technicality before he completed his seven-year jail term. His lawyer was the late Collin Ntiwane. *Not real name. Bahrain's seven local retail banks listed on the Bahrain Stock Exchange posted a net profit of $ 873 million in the first nine months of 2018, 14 per cent increase over the same period last year, the Bahrain Association of Banks (BAB) said. Dr Wahid Al Qassim, CEO of the BAB, said: "These financial results confirm the soundness and development of the banking sector in Bahrain, this sector is playing a key role in supporting the development of the national economy. "These results reflect once again the importance of the banking sector in the Kingdom of Bahrain as the second sector contributing to the GDP after the oil sector. This due to government support and prudent policies of the Central Bank of Bahrain. He pointed out that the financial sector contributed to the other non-oil sectors, especially construction and manufacturing in the growth of GDP of non-oil sectors in Bahrain by 2.8 per cent in the second quarter of this year. Dr Al Qassim noted The bank's monthly bulletin issued by the Central Bank of Bahrain showed that the total facilities offered by banks to economic activities and individuals in the domestic market have grown strongly since the beginning of the year by $1.5 billion, or 7 per cent to reach $24.6 billion at the end of September 2018. Retail banks' assets stood at BD85.5 billion ($226 billion) at the end of September 2018, an increase of 1 per cent compared to December 2017. TradeArabia News Service The United Arab Emirates Space Agency (UAESA) has signed a Declaration of Principles with Bahrain's National Space Science Agency (NSSA) and the UAEs Khalifa University, for the training of the Bahrain space team. The signing took place on the sidelines of the 5th Bahrain International Airshow, held at the Sakhir Air Base in Bahrain between 14th and 16 November, 2018, under the patronage of His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa, King of Bahrain, reported state news agency Wam. The document was signed by Dr. Ahmad Belhoul Al Falasi, Minister of State for Higher Education and Advanced Skills and Chairman of the UAE Space Agency, and Kamal Bin Ahmed Mohammed, Minister of Transportation and Telecommunications and responsible for supervising Bahrain's NSSA. The signing was attended by Dr. Mohamed Nasser Al Ahbabi, Director-General of the UAE Space Agency, Dr. Mohamed Ebrahim Al Aseeri, CEO of the NSSA, and a number of senior officials and engineers from all parties. As outlined in the declaration, the parties will collaborate in training the Bahrain space team in satellite technology, design, construction, testing, launching, operations, and control, in addition to cooperating to build a CubeSat to be used for scientific research and carrying out a number of environmental studies. Dr. Ahmad Belhoul Al Falasi said, "The signing of this declaration is a tangible result of the close relationship between the UAE and Bahrain in the arena of advanced sciences and will see us working together as strategic partners in the regions nascent but rapidly developing space sector. The ties between our two nations already extend across the political, economic, social, and cultural domains and we have now added the exciting field of space to that inventory. Our growing collaboration in space science and exploration is a testament to our desire and commitment to bolster meaningful partnerships between our two great nations." "The UAE space sector has reached an advanced stage that now sees it able to transfer knowledge to valued partners in the region. Our growing expertise in the field of space science, research, exploration and telecommunications, is exemplified by the number of ambitious space programmes and initiatives launched by the UAE. These include the UAE Astronaut Programme, the Emirates Mars Missions Hope Probe project, Mars Scientific City, and last months placing in orbit of KhalifaSat an advanced piece of sophisticated technology that was designed and built entirely by Emirati engineers," Al Falasi added. "We are delighted to have signed this Declaration of Principles between the NSSA, the UAESA, and Khalifa University," said Kamal Bin Ahmed Mohammed. "First of all, I would like to thank my compatriot Dr. Ahmad Belhoul Al Falasi and the executive management of the UAE Space Agency for their efforts and constructive cooperation which has resulted in the signing of this declaration. This represents a significant step towards fulfilling the goals of the NSSA, in line with our strategic plans." "We are looking forward to creating a skilled Bahraini team, familiar with the latest satellite technologies, and continuing to train them to expand their knowledge in this field. Such expertise will ensure the sustainability of NSSA projects and will provide a solid base of skilled technicians in this field. We would like to thank our compatriots in the UAE for their cooperation and consistent support. We look forward to continuing to collaborate to the benefit and prosperity of both our countries." Dr. Mohamed Nasser Al Ahbabi said, "Cooperation between the UAE Space Agency and Bahrains NSSA dates back several years, at a time when the space sector in both our countries witnessed unprecedented growth, prompted by significant government support. With the signing of this declaration, cooperation between our two countries will expand further. We will work to exchange expertise, experience, and information related to the space sector to realise our mutual objectives and interests." The strong UAE participation at the airshow, alongside Saudi Arabia and Kuwait, is indicative of the long-standing relationships between the neighbouring nations. Fourteen UAE companies specialising in aviation, space and defence are taking part in the airshow. More than 100 government and business leaders from the UAE and Caribbean countries will attend the debut UAE & Caribbean Cooperation Forum, to be held in Dubai, UAE, and will explore potential to boost economic cooperation between the UAE and Caribbean region. The event will take place from November 24 to 26, at the Ritz-Carlton, and is being 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. 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, said a statement from the organisers. Announcing the forum, Reem Bint Ebrahim Al Hashimy, Minister of State for International Cooperation, said: 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 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 added. 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 Dh183.6 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 & Nevisand St. Lucia. Hamad Buamim, president and chief executive officer, Dubai Chamber, said: 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. 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 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, IT 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, it stated. TradeArabia News Service The need for sustained efforts to support the competitive advantage of Omani businesses in priority economic sectors, was highlighted by the board of Ithraa, Oman's inward investment and export promotion agency. The board of directors of Ithraa recently held a meeting to discuss the need to strengthen collaboration with businesses looking to invest, set up and export from Oman. Ithraas board of directors reviewed a summary of its recent inward investment and export promotion activities, said a statement from the company. The meeting was led by Ithraa chairman Dr Yahya bin Said Al Jabri, said a statement from the organisation. The board noted the impact of Ithraas recent overseas missions in this regard, it said. The board also underlined the need for sustained efforts to support the competitive advantage and distinct strengths of Omani businesses in priority economic sectors as they enter new export markets and increase trade with existing overseas partners. They further noted Ithraas progress in developing partnerships with the wider public sector as well as with local and international businesses to achieve long-term and sustainable prosperity for Oman and its people. In attendance at the meeting were: Dr Yahya bin Said Al Jabri, chairman; Dr Ali bin Masoud Al Sunaidy, Minister of Commerce and Industry; Ahmed bin Nasser Al Mahrizi, Minister of Tourism; Ambassador Sheikh Yahya bin Abdullah Al Araimi, head of Economic Affairs Section, Ministry of Foreign Affairs; and Qais bin Mohammed Al Yousef, chairman, Oman Chamber of Commerce and Industry. TradeArabia News Service If GCC countries shift from being digital adopters to being digital disruptors, they could add between $138 billion and $255 billion to regional GDP depending upon how far they advanced, said Strategy&, in a new report. US Army and China's People's Liberation Army (PLA) military personnel take part in the latest "Disaster Management Exchange" near Nanjing, Jiangsu province, November 17, 2018. [Photo/chinadaily.com.cn] The US-China Disaster Management Exchange drew to a close on Saturday in Nanjing, East China's Jiangsu province, after military delegations from both countries trained together in disaster relief work. The delegations were led by Lieutenant General Qin Weijiang, deputy commander of the Eastern Theater Command and Commander of the ETC Army, and General Robert Brown, commander of the US Army Pacific. Focused on humanitarian assistance and disaster relief, the exchange kicked off on Nov 12 with an earthquake "disaster" in a fictional third country as its backdrop. The scenario called for US and Chinese military cooperation to provide assistance. It highlighted practical field exercises where troops from the two countries jointly conducted search and rescue, first aid and medical care and victim transfer. Qin said the Chinese and American troops demonstrated well their professionalism, fighting spirit, sense of responsibility and glory during the exchange, adding that the planning was meticulous, the process was reasonable and the command was efficient. The exercise proved that it is promising for the Chinese and US armies to strengthen cooperation on topics of common concerns and interests, he said. "The two militaries should have more exchanges and cooperation, which will help enhance mutual trust and reduce misconceptions," he said. The exchange was the 14th such kind held between China and the US. It combined a multi-national coordination center, US and China command posts and practical field exercises. It also plays an important role in sharing experiences of humanitarian assistance and disaster relief operations to increase the capabilities of both sides in response to a real world disaster, Brown said. Cuba denounces US toughening of embargoes HAVANA, Nov 18 (Xinhua) The Cuban government on Saturday denounced the US toughening of the economic, trade and financial embargoes against the Caribbean island nation since 1962. In September, the Trump Administration extended the sanctions for another year. On Nov 14, the US State Department announced an additional list of Cuban entities that it considered are associated with military or intelligence departments. Cuban Foreign Ministry's director of US affairs Carlos Fernandez de Cossio criticized "the aggressive decision of the US government to incorporate 26 new Cuban companies into the arbitrary list of prohibited entities for any type of transaction with US companies and citizens." Death toll in car explosion in Iraq's Tikrit rises to 5 - Security Forces Damascus, Nov 18 (Sputnik) The number of people who were killed by a car explosion in the northern Iraqi city of Tikrit increased up to five, the Iraqi security services' press service told Sputnik on Sunday. Earlier in the day, a source in the Iraqi security bodies told Sputnik that the explosion in the center of Tikrit had killed two people. "The terror attack with the use of the mined car ... in Tikrit in the province of Saladin left five people dead and 16 injured," the press service said. Iran, Iraq to sign currency swap deal to facilitate trade: official Tehran, Nov 18 (Xinhua) Iran and Iraq are in talks to finalize a currency swap agreement in a bid to boost trade ties between the two neighboring countries, a trade official was quoted as saying by Tasnim news agency on Sunday. Iraq is a lucrative market for Iranian goods, and Iranian exports to the Arab country have increased by 30 percent over the past seven months, Yahya Ale-Eshaq, chairman of Iran-Iraq Chamber of Commerce said. In the mentioned period, goods worth about 6 billion U.S. dollars have been exported from Iran to Iraq, Ale-Eshaq said. Indonesia reports 394 newly confirmed Covid-19 cases, 9 deaths 23 Nov 2021 | 9:02 PM Jakarta, Nov 23 (UNI/Xinhua) Indonesia on Tuesday confirmed 394 new Covid-19 cases, raising its tally of infections to 4,253,992, according to the country's Health Ministry. see more.. 89th Interpol General Assembly kicks off in Turkey's Istanbul 23 Nov 2021 | 9:01 PM Istanbul, Nov 23 (UNI/Xinhua) The 89th General Assembly of the International Criminal Police Organisation (Interpol) kicked off on Tuesday in Turkey's financial and cultural hub Istanbul, with the aim to address global security threats. see more.. Iran, IAEA dealing with "technical issues": Iran's nuke chief 23 Nov 2021 | 9:01 PM Tehran (UNI/Xinhua) Iran and the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) are dealing with "technical issues" of the Iranian nuclear program, Mohammad Eslami, chief of the Atomic Energy Organisation of Iran, announced on Tuesday. see more.. India, Nepal agree on reciprocal recognition of Covid vaccination certificate 23 Nov 2021 | 7:32 PM Kathmandu, Nov 23 (UNI) Easing travel for fully vaccinated travellers, India and Nepal on Tuesday signed an agreement on reciprocal recognition of the Covid-19 vaccination certificate. see more.. Jordans parliamentary delegation to Visit Damascus, Meet With Assad AMMAN , Nov 18 (Sputnik) A parliamentary delegation from Jordan will start its visit to Syria on Sunday and meet with the countrys leadership, including Syrian President Bashar Assad, Jordanian lawmaker Kais Zayadin told Sputnik. The visit will start on Sunday and will last for a two or four days, according to the preliminary information. "At the moment, there is no clear timetable [for a visit to Syria], but the program includes a meeting with Syrian President Bashar Assad, the Prime Minister [Imad Khamis] and the Speaker of Parliament [Hammouda Sabbagh]," Zayadin said. Militants shelling attack kills 18 Syria servicemen in Latakia Province Moscow, Nov 18 (Sputnik) Militants attacked on Saturday Syrian troops in the province of Latakia leaving 18 servicemen dead and one more injured, the Russian Center for Syrian reconciliation said. According to the center's head Lt. Gen. Vladimir Savchenko, illegal armed formations continue to violate the ceasefire in the Idlib de-escalation zone. He also noted that militants continued to shell the outskirts of Aleppo and Hama. "As a result of the shelling of Tall-Alush [settlement] in the Aleppo province one Syrian serviceman was wounded. As a result of the shelling of Safsara [settlement] in the Latakia province one Syrian serviceman was wounded and 18 more were killed," Savchenko said. By Amresh Srivastava Bina (Madhya Pradesh), Nov 18 (UNI) Despite anti-incumbency in air, the Bharatiya Janata Party looks set to retain the Bina seat in coming Vidhan Sabha election, scheduled on November 28. Once a small town with 1.80 lakh voters, this assembly constituency , a part of Sagar Lok Sabha, was once only known for Bina Railway junction, an important station and a large Western Central Railway set-up here. However, the setting up of Bharat Oman Refinery Corporation, a joint venture of Indian and Omani Government and a thermal power plant by JP group has put this small hamlet on the map of development. The BJP has repeated its sitting MLA Mahesh Ray who is credited with many developmental projects in the area. The town, which once used to be a nightmare due to heavy traffic congestion, now boasts of a two lane wide road network. There is round the clock power supply for lighting and irrigation purposes which is considered as the biggest relief for farmers, a farmer Rajendra Upadhyay of nearby Gada village said. The city infrastructure have been recalibrated, basic amenities have properly been improved, every house and street has pure water supply and it is now a crime free city laced with CCTV cameras at all important points across the town former BJP office bearer Ranjana Sarraf proudly told UNI. 'Our leader Mahesh Ray had executed many development projects for the areas in past also as Bina Municipality chairman,,' she added. The Congress party has fielded Janapad Parishad member Shashi Kathoria, a candidate with a clean image. He accuses the BJP MLA of not supporting the long-pending demand for declaring Bina as a separate district. The decision for setting up a refinery and power plant were finalised long back but the BJP is taking credit for it, a local Congress worker said. The state Government had assured that after commissioning of the Bharat- Oman Refinery, the local youths would be given preference in jobs but that was never fulfilled, he further said. The farmers are suffering and they are not getting Minimum Support Price (MSP) and the Bhawantar(difference in rates) was also not given by the government a Congress supporter Mahendra Singh Thakur said. Farmers face constant shortage of good quality seed and fertilizer, alleges Mr Thakur. Notwithstanding the charges levelled by the Congress leader, a local auto driver Adiya Tiwari said that setting up of two major industries here, have opened avenues for locals. 'Earlier, there were hardly 100 auto- rickshaws in the city but now the number has shot up to over 3000 such vehicles and most of them are plying on the routes leading to refinery and power plants. This has created a large number of the employment here, said Tiwari. The business community feel that demonetisation and issue of GST is not a major factor here. Though they admit that maintenance of this centralised tax system is little cumbersome , they are happy that now they will not have to pay bribe to sales tax and income tax departments. A sizable section of voters accept that Shivraj Singh led Government in the state has performed well especially in last five years. However, though the BJP has taken care of weaker sections, the middle class was deprived of these free bees. This section also feels that if this Government now lacks new ideas. This is a time to seek a change in the state as the Government could not come up to the expectations of all sections of society . Others should now be given a chance, a local cloth merchant S K Jain said. Advocate KK Tramkar feels that the BJP Government could not check corruption in the administration and it is specially prevalent at lower level right from Sarpanch level to MLA level. The Government policies for the farmers are good but badly planned and executed which was seen during the procurement of grains by the Government. Those who paid bribes, their agriculture produces were weighed and quickly procured by the Governments agency or authorized agencies and those who did not pay bribe had to wait for many days, Mr Tramkar said. He, however, added that though the voters desired for change in the Government they do not have alternative. 'The voter of Madhya Pradesh have not forgotten the misrule of the Digvijay Singh led Government in the state in the past, the advocate added. The youths of town also support the change of guard in the state but they do not find suitable alternative in the Congress who could lead the state to a new height. Had the Congress announced Jyotiraditya Scindhiya as Chief Ministerial candidate, things would have dramatically changed for them in the state Ravi Kushwaha, a local college student said. In a nutshell, the general mood in this constituency runs contrary to the overall mood for change in the state. UNI AKS AR 1050 Thiruvananthapuram, Nov 18 (UNI) Keralas startup eco-system got a major fillip as the state government signed an MoU with Airbus BizLab, a global aerospace accelerator which is part of the Airbus group, to set up an Aerospace Innovation Centre. The MoU was exchanged between Siddharth Balachandran, Leader, Airbus Bizlab India and Dr. Saji Gopinath, CEO, Kerala Startup Mission (KSUM), in the presence of Chief Minister Mr. Pinarayi Vijayan in his chamber on Saturday. Under the MoU, an Aerospace Innovation Centre will be set up in Thiruvananthapuram, which will be the nodal body for planning and executing all the activities to help the startups. The ceremony was attended by Mr Tom Jose, Kerala Chief Secretary, Mr M Sivasankar, Secretary, Kerala IT; Ms Margit Hellwig-Boette, German Consul General; Mr. M. C. Dathan, Scientific Advisor to the Chief Minister ; Mr. Santhosh Kurup, CEO, ICT Academy; Mr. Hrishikesh Nair, CEO, Technopark; and Mr Arun Balachandran, Chief Ministers Fellow. We are confident that this partnership with Airbus Bizlab will help embed innovation in the industrial ecosystem of Kerala. It will up-skill the local youth and will enhance employability, Mr Vijayan said. Airbus BizLab will also provide support and mentoring for startups in Kerala and conduct regular workshops and discussions with experts from aerospace and defence sectors. Further, the France-headquartered company, which has set up facilities in Bengaluru, Toulouse (France), Hamburg (Germany) and Madrid (Spain) to create a global network of business accelerators, is to run training programmes to acquaint participants with aerospace technologies. Also, the company will identify opportunities for Kerala to adapt aerospace technologies across sectors and bring all the relevant Airbus teams and startups to demonstrate technologies. After successful demonstration, it will help the innovation centre to sign partnerships and deploy the technologies. It is a landmark agreement that will give a huge fillip to states efforts to nurture innovations and startups in the aerospace and defence sectors. It will help the startups in the state to leverage the expertise of Airbus in transforming their innovative ideas into scalable businesses, said Mr. Tom Jose. "The initiative aims to foster local talent in the aerospace domain and help promising startups to contribute towards shaping the future of flying not only in India but the world, said Mr Anand E. Stanley, President and Managing Director, Airbus India and South Asia. MORE UNI DS CS 0725 Male (Maldives), Nov 17 (UNI) New President of Maldives Ibrahim Mohamed Solih on Saturday held a crucial meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi here and sought Indian assistance for housing, increased development as well as for establishing water and sewerage systems in outlying islands. "Prime Minister Modi assured President Solih of Indias firm commitment in assisting the Maldives to achieve sustainable social and economic development," a Joint Statement issued here at the end of the meeting said. The two leaders, while noting the "resilience" of the relations between India and the Maldives, expressed confidence in the renewal of the close bonds of cooperation and friendship with the election of Mr Solih as the President of the Maldives. It was perhaps one of the first major diplomatic engagement held by the new Maldives President immediately after the swearing in. During their meeting, both leaders agreed on the importance of maintaining peace and security in the Indian Ocean and being mindful of each others concerns and aspirations for the stability of the region. The two leaders expressed their unwavering commitment and support for increased cooperation in combating terrorism both within the region and elsewhere, the Joint Statement said. According to the statement, President Solih thanked Prime Minister Modi for visiting the Maldives (on Saturday) to participate in the presidential inauguration ceremony while for his part, Mr Modi thanked President Solih for the special gesture of inviting him to the Inauguration Ceremony. Mr Modi also conveyed greetings and compliments from the people of India to the people of the Republic of Maldives on consolidation of democracy, which is essential for peace, prosperity and stability. President Solih also briefed Prime Minister Modi on the dire economic situation facing the country as he takes office. The two leaders discussed ways in which India can continue development partnership, particularly to help the new government in meeting its pledges to the people of the Maldives. Prime Minister Modi assured President Solih of Indias firm commitment in assisting the Maldives and also conveyed Indias readiness to extend help in every possible way and suggested that both sides should meet at the earliest to work out details as per requirements of the Maldives. Prime Minister Modi also welcomed the expanding opportunities for Indian companies to invest in the Maldives in different sectors for the mutual benefit of both countries. Recognizing that nationals of both countries travel extensively between the two countries, the leaders also agreed on the need for facilitating easier visa procedures. Both the leaders invited each other for respective state visits at the earliest. The elections in Maldives were keenly watched international event in the region. The opposition Maldivian Democratic Partys candidate Mr Solih emerged victorious over incumbent president Abdulla Yameen in the election held on September 23. Mr Modi's visit to the Maldives was cancelled in 2015 due to the political situation in that country. Last Indian Prime Minister to visit Maldives was Dr Manmohan Singh in 2011. There were diplomatic hassles between India and the Maldives during the stint of the outgoing President Abdulla Yameen, who had imposed several restrictions on judicial and civil and political liberties. Prime Minister Modi's visit at the swearing in of the new President at the latter's invitation is seen as part of a series of steps to improve bilateral ties. Congratulations to Mr. @ibusolih on taking oath as the President of the Maldives. Wishing him the very best for his tenure ahead. Looking forward to working with him to strengthen bilateral relations between our nations, PM Modi tweeted after the ceremony. Prime Minister later departed for Delhi. "The visit emphasized India's role as a reliable neighbour, supporting Maldives in its progress and security," MEA spokesman Raveesh Kumar tweeted. "Had productive discussions with President @ibusolih," Mr Modi wrote in another missive on the micro blogging site. UNI DEVN AR 1959 Almost all newspapers published in Kathmandu on Sunday carry reports related to the fracas at the Nepali Congress office over the leaderships handling of Nepal Students Union. Similarly, doctors recommendation that Prime Minister Oli avoid public functions for a week has also received attention. Heres a summary of important, ignored and interesting reports that made it to the front pages of newspapers published in Kathmandu on Sunday. Important Rival Nepali Congress students warn Deuba Rival groups inside the Nepali Congress student wing took their grievances to the party central office in Kathmandu on Saturday, demanding that President Sher Bahadur Deuba heed their demands. While a faction of the students wants the unions leaderships tenure extended, another wants Deuba to refrain from doing so. Kantipur reports that the rival groups chanted slogans outside the partys headquarters in Kathmandu ahead of a key meeting of party leaders. The paper reports that the NSU central committee has failed to conduct the unions convention even as it was given an extension of three months. The committees tenure expires on Sunday. Nagarik reports that the party leadership is still undecided over the fate of the NSU central committee. A meeting of the partys leadership at 2 pm on Sunday is to take up the issue again. Oli told to avoid public events for a week Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli, who was recently discharged from the hospital, has been told to avoid public events for at least a week. Republica reports that Oli has not confirmed his participation in any public functions until next week. The Ministry of Labour and Employment is scheduled to roll out its flagship programme on social security on November 27. The programme is to be inaugurated by Prime Minister Oli. Ignored Nepal abstains from UN vote on Myanmar Republica reports that Nepal has abstained from voting on an EU-backed UN resolution urging Myanmar to ensure that those responsible for rights violations and abuses during the Rohingya crisis be brought to book. The paper quotes a MoFA official to say that Nepal abstains from voting if a resolution is targetted at a particular country. Ahead of the vote, Nepal, however, thanked Bangladesh for hosting Rohingya refugees and stressed on the right of the displaced to return home. Rs 180 million allocated for prezs new car Annapurna Post reports that the government has allocated Rs 180 million to procure a set of vehicles to be used by President Bidya Devi Bhandari. The report says that the government recently released Rs 140 million to the army to procure the vehicles in addition to the Rs 40 million it had released last year. Interesting Govt to revoke passports of students who dont keep their promise The Kathmandu Post reports that students who studied on government scholarship but failed to serve the country as promised might lose their passports. The paper reports that the Federal Education Bill, ready to be registered in the Parliament, proposes that the passports of graduates who refuse to serve the country be cancelled. Russian servicemen deliver humanitarian aid to people with disabilities in Syria Center DAMASCUS, Nov 18 (Sputnik) The Russian servicemen have delivered humanitarian aid to the people with disabilities in the Syrian capital of Damascus, the Russian Center for Reconciliation in Syria said on Sunday. We have conducted a humanitarian action in a specialized institute for the people with disabilities [in Damascus]. Within its framework, we donated wheelchairs, warm clothes and other basic necessities ... to the Syrian soldiers who took part in hostilities, as well as to the children who have became disabled during the war, the center's head Lt Gen Vladimir Savchenko told reporters. Syria has been engulfed in an armed conflict since 2011, with the government forces fighting against numerous armed opposition groups and terrorist organizations. Russia along with Turkey and Iran are guarantors of the ceasefire regime in Syria. Moscow is also supporting the government forces' struggle against terrorist groups and providing humanitarian aid to civilians. US Envoy Hopes for Kabul-Taliban Peace Agreement Before April 20 - Reports Moscow, Nov 18 (Sputnik) US Special Envoy for Afghanistan Zalmay Khalilzad told reporters in Kabul that he hoped for a peace agreement between the Afghan authorities and the Taliban movement to be reached before the presidential elections in the country scheduled for April 20, the Tolo News broadcaster reported on Sunday. Khalilzad noted that Taliban leaders believe that military actions would not help them to win in the conflict, and that although no statements can be made at this stage, he remains optimistic and hopeful about peaceful negotiations to resolve the situation in the country. The envoy expressed hope that the negotiations would lead to peace and prosperity in Afghanistan. >> Despite being extremely rich in wildlife and biodiversity, all is not well in Nepals Limi Valley, an area of global importance for highland wildlife, both flora, and fauna >> The valley is facing an increasing number of anthropogenic and natural threats, the most prominent being human-wildlife conflict and the illegal wildlife trade. In spite of these challenges to conservation, however, the area also provides ample opportunities to address the issues it is facing >> The Limi Valley is in need of well-thought-out, long-term conservation initiatives. However, any initiatives aimed at conserving the unique biodiversity of the area in the long-run must address the complex issue of human-wildlife conflict. This will involve working directly with local people in alternative livelihood and income generation activities. Around 18 kilometers southeast of Tibets Lake Mansarovar, a sacred lake for both Hindus and Buddhists, there lies yet another pilgrimage site, albeit of a different nature: The Limi Valley, on the other side of the border with Nepal, is considered sacred not because of religious significance but because of its extraordinary richness in highland biodiversity. Located in the administrative district of Humla, the Limi Valley is part of the western end of the Tibetan plateau, where it extends inside the geographical boundary of Nepal. Thus denizens of the valley are both geographically and culturally close to Tibet. Chyakpalung, which translates to a place where wind blows like crazy in English, is the heart of this mystical, high-altitude river valley. The sparse human population is concentrated in four small human settlements (Tila, Haltze, Dzang, and Tungling) towards the south and south-western portion of the valley, with a total of 161 households inhabited by about 900 people of Tibetan origin. The people here have their own traditional way of life, with agriculture and livestock-rearing as the primary sources of livelihood. At the mind-boggling altitude of around 4,000 meters, these human settlements built with rocks and stones in unique, archaic designs that blend with the landscape feel like something frozen in time, a surreal dream. The denizens of the Limi Valley have to travel a long way almost 15 kilometers by foot on narrow trails across hills and mountains to reach the nearest motorable road, which can bring them to Simikot, the district headquarters, and its small airport. Because of this limited connectivity, during winter months, when there is heavy snowfall, the Limi Valley remains completely disconnected from the rest of the country for four to five months. Thus a traveler from outside the valley, called a Rongba in the traditional language of the region, has to be very determined to reach this place. And if they are lucky enough, this visit will give the Rongba, without doubt, the treat of a lifetime. However, despite being extremely rich in wildlife and biodiversity, all is not well in this Trans-Himalayan paradise. The Limi Valley is an area of global importance for highland wildlife, both flora, and fauna, but it is facing an increasing number of anthropogenic and natural threats, the most prominent being human-wildlife conflict and the illegal wildlife trade. In spite of these challenges to conservation, however, the area also provides ample opportunities to address the issues it is facing. In 2013, Friends of Nature carried out an expedition to Limi Valley, which led to the discovery of wild yak, a flagship highland ungulate long believed to have gone extinct from the country. The expedition was also instrumental in bringing to light the extraordinary richness of highland biodiversity in the area, which was very much unknown to the outside world until then. A total of 20 mammals and 66 bird species were documented during the 2013 expedition, including the wild yak and a bird species (black-necked crane) that do not occur anywhere else in the country. Other globally important species recorded include snow leopard, Himalayan wolf, kiang, argali, and Himalayan brown bear. The following years witnessed more such expeditions that contributed to further information on the wildlife of the area. One of the rarest mammals in the country, the Tibetan fox, was photographed in 2015. During the same year, Tibetan lark, a highland bird species, was recorded, a new record for Nepal. Wildlife under threat? The Limi Valleys wildlife is facing a number of threats. The richness of wildlife that we boast of often becomes a source of a severe headache for people who live in the Limi Valley. In my time there, I found that nearly one-fourth 23 percent of the total population report crop loss from wildlife. Blue sheep do not shy away from venturing onto farmland while snow leopards and Himalayan wolves do not hesitate to take livestock whenever the opportunity arises. For people whose livelihoods often rest upon rearing livestock, this is a very serious issue. And to settle the score, they do not back away from retaliating and killing the culprit (and the culprits kin) by one means or another. This problem is compounded when people from outside Limi visit the area and get involved in hunting and the wildlife trade. More often than not, people kill these majestic carnivores based on the pretext of human-wildlife conflict, when the actual motive of the killing is the rampant illegal wildlife trade across the border to China. When my colleagues and I first visited the area in 2013, we came across reports of people from outside Limi killing four snow leopards for the illegal wildlife trade. The magnificent Himalayan wolves are also victim to this trade. Another important issue that has come up in the past decade is the construction of a nearly 90-kilometer-long road to connect Limi Valley to the Huma district headquarters in Simikot. While it is undeniable that the connectivity is essential and important for development, there was no discussion of the negative impacts the road construction could bring to the important wildlife of the area. The construction went ahead without any proper environmental impact assessment, as required by Nepals Environment Protection Act of 1996. Ecological impacts such as fragmentation of habitat is likely to occur due to the road, and this has not been studied yet, either. The construction of the road is gaining full steam and the project is expected to be complete soon. Timber smuggling to Tibet is on the rise due to the road, as well. Biodiversity aside, the area also is staggeringly rich in Himalayan/Tibetan/Bon culture, signified by monasteries and other structures, some of which are centuries old. Rinchenling monastery, located in the Limi Valleys Haltze village, was built during the eleventh century. Monasteries at Dzang and Til villages are also more than 300 years old, making them an important part of religious life for people in the area. This was indicated by the reluctance of people of Haltze to relocate even after a devastating glacial flood in 2011 that destroyed the western end of the village, including a part of Rinchenling monastery. The case for conservation The Limi Valley is in need of well-thought-out, long-term conservation initiatives. However, any initiatives aimed at conserving the unique biodiversity of the area in the long-run must address the complex issue of human-wildlife conflict. This will involve working directly with local people in alternative livelihood and income generation activities. Insurance programs could be instrumental to reduce the retaliatory killing and trade, as well. People in the area have tremendous faith in monasteries, which can be used efficiently in conservation, as shown by the experience in eastern Nepal and Tibet. The area offers an excellent opportunity for religious tourism, as visitors can enjoy a great view of the Tibetan plateau, Mount Kailash, and Lake Mansarovar, while Rinchenling Monastery is not to be missed by people who want to visit the oldest Buddhist monastery in the country. The potential for wildlife tourism and photography is enormous, as well, and should be on the menu of any organization willing to work in this direction. Homestays or community lodges can be promoted in the area with the tagline Homestay/community lodge at the roof of the world to cater to tourism. These solutions would require building the capacity of local people with relevant skill sets. The human population density of the Limi Valley is very small, which is a clear advantage compared to places in lowlands where the density is extremely high and such important areas are often islands of forest amidst a sea of human settlements. There are ample opportunities to develop eco-tourism to enhance local livelihoods, which will have bearing on wildlife conservation. Failing to address threats to wildlife by availing ourselves of the many opportunities to promote conservation in the Limi Valley would lead to the loss of a sacred wildlife habitat in the highlands, a mythical Shangri-La for wildlife. CITATIONS Acharya, R. & Ghimirey, Y. (2018). Wolves and People: An Ethno-biological Study in Humla, Nepal. Wolf Print. 63: 16-19. Acharya, R., Ghimirey, Y., Werhahn, G., Kusi, N., Adhikary, B., & Kunwar, B. (2015). Wild yak Bos mutus in Nepal: Rediscovery of a flagship species. Mammalia, 80, 475-480. doi:10.1515/mammalia-2015-0066 Acharya, R. & Ghimirey, Y. (2016). The remote trans-Himalayan landscapes of Limi valley, Humla district, north-west Nepal. Birding Asia, 26, 91-98. Kusi, N. & Werhahn, G. (2016). The first documented record of Tibetan Lark Melanocorypha maxima for Nepal. Birding Asia, 25, 110-111. Hovden, A. (2011). If this is what a small glacial lake flood can do, imagine a big one. The Nepali Times. Kathmandu, Nepal Li, J., Wang, D., Yin, H., Zhaxi, D., Jiagong, Z., Schaller, G.B., Mishra, C., McCarthy, T.M., Wang, H., Wu, L., Xiao, L., Basang, L., Zhang, Y., Zhou, Y., & Lu, Z. (2014). Role of Tibetan Buddhist Monasteries in snow leopard conservation. Conservation Biology, 28, 87-94. doi:10.1111/cobi.12135 Werhahn, G., Acharya, R., Ghimirey, Y., Kusi, N., Adhikary, B., & Kunwar, B. (2016). The Ungulate Community of upper Humla, North-Western Nepal. Gnusletter, 32, 5-7. Werhahn, G., Kusi, N., Sherchan, A.M., Karmacharya, D., & Senn, H. (2016). Distribution update for Tibetan fox in western Nepal. Canid Biology and Conservation, 19, 18-20. Werhahn, G., Senn, H., Kaden, J., Joshi, J., Bhattarai, S., Kusi, N., Sillero-Zubiri, C., & MacDonald, D.W. (2017). Phylogenetic evidence for the ancient Himalayan wolf: towards a clarification of its taxonomic status based on genetic sampling from western Nepal. Royal Society Open Science. doi:10.1098/rsos.170186 This story was originally published on Mongabay. Country United States of America US Virgin Islands United States Minor Outlying Islands Canada Mexico, United Mexican States Bahamas, Commonwealth of the Cuba, Republic of Dominican Republic Haiti, Republic of Jamaica Afghanistan Albania, People's Socialist Republic of Algeria, People's Democratic Republic of American Samoa Andorra, Principality of Angola, Republic of Anguilla Antarctica (the territory South of 60 deg S) Antigua and Barbuda Argentina, Argentine Republic Armenia Aruba Australia, Commonwealth of Austria, Republic of Azerbaijan, Republic of Bahrain, Kingdom of Bangladesh, People's Republic of Barbados Belarus Belgium, Kingdom of Belize Benin, People's Republic of Bermuda Bhutan, Kingdom of Bolivia, Republic of Bosnia and Herzegovina Botswana, Republic of Bouvet Island (Bouvetoya) Brazil, Federative Republic of British Indian Ocean Territory (Chagos Archipelago) British Virgin Islands Brunei Darussalam Bulgaria, People's Republic of Burkina Faso Burundi, Republic of Cambodia, Kingdom of Cameroon, United Republic of Cape Verde, Republic of Cayman Islands Central African Republic Chad, Republic of Chile, Republic of China, People's Republic of Christmas Island Cocos (Keeling) Islands Colombia, Republic of Comoros, Union of the Congo, Democratic Republic of Congo, People's Republic of Cook Islands Costa Rica, Republic of Cote D'Ivoire, Ivory Coast, Republic of the Cyprus, Republic of Czech Republic Denmark, Kingdom of Djibouti, Republic of Dominica, Commonwealth of Ecuador, Republic of Egypt, Arab Republic of El Salvador, Republic of Equatorial Guinea, Republic of Eritrea Estonia Ethiopia Faeroe Islands Falkland Islands (Malvinas) Fiji, Republic of the Fiji Islands Finland, Republic of France, French Republic French Guiana French Polynesia French Southern Territories Gabon, Gabonese Republic Gambia, Republic of the Georgia Germany Ghana, Republic of Gibraltar Greece, Hellenic Republic Greenland Grenada Guadaloupe Guam Guatemala, Republic of Guinea, Revolutionary People's Rep'c of Guinea-Bissau, Republic of Guyana, Republic of Heard and McDonald Islands Holy See (Vatican City State) Honduras, Republic of Hong Kong, Special Administrative Region of China Hrvatska (Croatia) Hungary, Hungarian People's Republic Iceland, Republic of India, Republic of Indonesia, Republic of Iran, Islamic Republic of Iraq, Republic of Ireland Israel, State of Italy, Italian Republic Japan Jordan, Hashemite Kingdom of Kazakhstan, Republic of Kenya, Republic of Kiribati, Republic of Korea, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Republic of Kuwait, State of Kyrgyz Republic Lao People's Democratic Republic Latvia Lebanon, Lebanese Republic Lesotho, Kingdom of Liberia, Republic of Libyan Arab Jamahiriya Liechtenstein, Principality of Lithuania Luxembourg, Grand Duchy of Macao, Special Administrative Region of China Macedonia, the former Yugoslav Republic of Madagascar, Republic of Malawi, Republic of Malaysia Maldives, Republic of Mali, Republic of Malta, Republic of Marshall Islands Martinique Mauritania, Islamic Republic of Mauritius Mayotte Micronesia, Federated States of Moldova, Republic of Monaco, Principality of Mongolia, Mongolian People's Republic Montserrat Morocco, Kingdom of Mozambique, People's Republic of Myanmar Namibia Nauru, Republic of Nepal, Kingdom of Netherlands Antilles Netherlands, Kingdom of the New Caledonia New Zealand Nicaragua, Republic of Niger, Republic of the Nigeria, Federal Republic of Niue, Republic of Norfolk Island Northern Mariana Islands Norway, Kingdom of Oman, Sultanate of Pakistan, Islamic Republic of Palau Palestinian Territory, Occupied Panama, Republic of Papua New Guinea Paraguay, Republic of Peru, Republic of Philippines, Republic of the Pitcairn Island Poland, Polish People's Republic Portugal, Portuguese Republic Puerto Rico Qatar, State of Reunion Romania, Socialist Republic of Russian Federation Rwanda, Rwandese Republic Samoa, Independent State of San Marino, Republic of Sao Tome and Principe, Democratic Republic of Saudi Arabia, Kingdom of Senegal, Republic of Serbia and Montenegro Seychelles, Republic of Sierra Leone, Republic of Singapore, Republic of Slovakia (Slovak Republic) Slovenia Solomon Islands Somalia, Somali Republic South Africa, Republic of South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands Spain, Spanish State Sri Lanka, Democratic Socialist Republic of St. Helena St. Kitts and Nevis St. Lucia St. Pierre and Miquelon St. Vincent and the Grenadines Sudan, Democratic Republic of the Suriname, Republic of Svalbard & Jan Mayen Islands Swaziland, Kingdom of Sweden, Kingdom of Switzerland, Swiss Confederation Syrian Arab Republic Taiwan, Province of China Tajikistan Tanzania, United Republic of Thailand, Kingdom of Timor-Leste, Democratic Republic of Togo, Togolese Republic Tokelau (Tokelau Islands) Tonga, Kingdom of Trinidad and Tobago, Republic of Tunisia, Republic of Turkey, Republic of Turkmenistan Turks and Caicos Islands Tuvalu Uganda, Republic of Ukraine United Arab Emirates United Kingdom of Great Britain & N. Ireland Uruguay, Eastern Republic of Uzbekistan Vanuatu Venezuela, Bolivarian Republic of Viet Nam, Socialist Republic of Wallis and Futuna Islands Western Sahara Yemen Zambia, Republic of Zimbabwe Kathmandu, November 18 Former Minister and Nepal Communist Party senior leader Agni Sapkota says the KP Oli government has failed to take radical steps necessary for the countrys development. The Oli government has continued age-old practices and theres nothing radical about its decisions, said Sapkota speaking at a programme in Kathmandu on Sunday. KP Sharma Oli is a successful Prime Minister, but the members of his Cabinet do not share a team spirit, he added. Sapkota complained that the top leaders of the party havent been able to meet as Prime Minister Oli is ill and other key figures are on foreign visits. He said that the NCPs secretariat will soon meet to evaluate work carried out by the government and to finalise a model for the merger of the local units of the then CPN UML and Maoist Centre. Editor's Note: UTSA President Taylor Eighmy sent this email to UTSA students further updating them on Monday's classroom incident. (Nov. 13, 2018) -- Dear Roadrunners, I am writing to provide an update regarding yesterdays classroom incident and address some of the specific questions and concerns you may have. We are currently conducting two separate investigations into the matter, one on potential discrimination (conducted by our Office of Equal Opportunity Services) and the other on classroom management (conducted through the Provosts Office by Interim Dean Grimes in the College of Sciences). Provost Espy and I are committed to ensuring an equitable process for both the student and faculty member. Interim Dean Grimes and our EOS office are working quickly and diligently to gather the facts, and both the student and the faculty member have met separately with those conducting the investigations. For the best interest of all involved, the faculty members classes will be taught by another faculty member for the remainder of the semester. Her students have been informed. The student involved in the incident has been welcomed back to class and offered support services. Once the two investigations are complete next week, appropriate administrative action will be determined. No matter the outcome of the investigations, the incident shows issues that extend far beyond the events of yesterday. The reactions expressed through social media, emails, phone calls and group meetings Ive attended confirm that feelings of marginalization on the part of some studentsespecially our African American studentsare real and profound. The bottom line: regardless of the final outcomes regarding yesterdays incident, we have an obligation as an institution to take a hard look at our campus climateespecially for students of colorand enact systemic change to make UTSA a more inclusive campus. Here are my commitments to you, as your president: We will re-double our efforts to examine how our students from underrepresented groups are treated inside and outside the classroom. We need a fuller understanding and process for reviewing incidents of hostility, discrimination or disrespect, and I will be working with Provost Espy to put those in place. Soon we will release the results of our student diversity survey administered last spring which gives further insights into areas where we are doing well, and areas needing improvement here at UTSA. We need a fuller understanding and process for reviewing incidents of hostility, discrimination or disrespect, and I will be working with Provost Espy to put those in place. Soon we will release the results of our student diversity survey administered last spring which gives further insights into areas where we are doing well, and areas needing improvement here at UTSA. We will place a greater emphasis on safe reporting. You may not realize that you can report classroom incidents and concerns safely through our Office of Equal Opportunity Services or UTSAs Hotline. We will be looking at ways to raise awareness around safe reporting among our students so we can investigate and address issues of discrimination in our classrooms. You may not realize that you can report classroom incidents and concerns safely through our Office of Equal Opportunity Services or UTSAs Hotline. We will be looking at ways to raise awareness around safe reporting among our students so we can investigate and address issues of discrimination in our classrooms. We need more faculty, staff and administrators of color on our campus. Provost Espy is working with each of the Deans to accelerate our efforts to increase the diversity of our faculty, and we have set goals to measure our progress. Vice President Anderson will be leading a new initiative focused on this effort to launch this spring. To be successful, this work must permeate every corner of our institution as one of our highest priorities. Our faculty and leadership must reflect the UTSA student community they serve. I expect to be held accountable in these matters, and expect the same from the entire campus community. I promise to keep you updated both on the outcomes of yesterdays incident, as well as the broader issues surrounding UTSAs inclusivity. Thanks to those of you who have shared your thoughts and concerns with me, and for the genuine care you have for each other and for UTSA. With appreciation, Taylor Eighmy Israel: A serious government crisis has erupted within the cabinet of the Prime Benjamin Netanyahu regarding the Hamas conflict. After Hamas had issued a threat to Israel that it would attack it if it did not provide it immediately with substantial sums of money to pay the officials of the Gaza Strip and to resolve the humanitarian crisis (which it had never tried to resolve), Benjamin Netanayahu authorized Qatar to provide fuel and to transfer cash. By doing this, Israel and Hamas have bypassed the Palestine Authority and recognized the Qatar Power over the Gaza Strip. In the following days, Hamas de-masked an operation of illegal infiltration by Israel in the Gaza Strip. This gave place to clashes causing the death of an Israeli official and 7 Palestinians. Hamass response: firing more than 400 rockets. Israels counter-response: destroying several sites judged strategic, including those of the television station Al-Aqsas headquarters. After three days of clashes and a meeting of the UN Security Council behind closed doors, Egypt negotiated a ceasefire between the two parties. The Prime Minister of the illegitimate government of the Gaza Strip, the Muslim Brother Yahya Sinwar, accepted it. Benjamin Netanyahu imposed it then on the members of his cabinet. His spokesperson assured that this decision had been taken unanimously. Now not only was there no vote, but four ministers were opposed to it. One of these is the Defense Minister, Avigdor Lieberman. The content of the cease-fire agreement has still not yet been divulged. It is impossible to analyse and clearly understand why Hamas accepted it and the reasons for the Netanyahu-Lieberman conflict. However, it is clear that although Hamas responded to the Israeli interference by sparking off a spiral of violence, it did so at the request of Iran, as the principal military supporter of Israel is the United States. The region was thus prepared for a fourth war between Hamas-Israel and in Lebanon the Hezbollah all set to intervene. As for the interim Lebanese government, it has condemned the Israeli bombing but has not commented on the bombings executed by Hamas. Considering his credibility to be at stake, Avigdor Lieberman may well resign. Although events on the ground are clear, many questions are left unanswered regarding their orchestration by Qatar, Iran and the United States. On the occasion of the ceremonies held in Paris on 11 November 2018, the French government excluded the President of Serbia from the main tribune. This was for reasons for protocol. In contrast, Hashim Thaci, President of Kosovo a State that did not exist at this time was given a prominent position close to the French President, Emmanuel Macron. It was to provide help to Serbia that France entered the First World War. Serbia lost a quarter of its population during the Great War. Serbian and French soldiers fought side by side on the Eastern Front and their bodies rest together in the cemeteries of Thessaloniki, Monastir, Skoplje and Belgrade. France and Serbia have a long tradition of friendship. This played an important role during the wars of Yugoslavia. Our friend and former collaborator, Commander Pierre-Henri Bunel, was secretly charged by President Jacques Chirac of delivering the plans for NATO bombings to a Yugoslav colonel in Brussels. He was then arrested in Brussels by the Atlantic Alliance for spying. Judged in France, he was solemnly condemned before being discreetly freed some months later. He was decorated by Serbia in 2013. Elected President of the Serbian Republic in the first round of the 2017 election, Aleksandar Vucic, is a former minister of Slobodan Milosevic and a former leader of the Serbian Radical Party. Today, he defends a position of making peace with Kosovo and supports Serbias integration into the European Union. For years, France and Serbia have multiplied their joint commemorations of the Great War, that is, until the ceremony of 11 November 2018. However the later was a moment of historical revisionism orchestrated by Nato. Faced with the emotion stirred up in Serbia, the French ambassador in Belgrade, Frederic Mondoloni, apologized to President Vucic. WASHINGTON: The US Central Intelligence Agency has concluded Saudi Arabias powerful Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman was behind the killing of journalist Jamal Khashoggi, US media reported Friday, citing people close to the matter. The US assessment directly contradicts the conclusions of a Saudi prosecutor one day prior, which exonerated the prince of involvement in the brutal murder. But The Washington Post, which broke the story, said the CIA found that 15 Saudi agents flew on government aircraft to Istanbul and assassinated Khashoggi in the Saudi consulate. Queried by AFP, the CIA declined to comment. Khashoggi, a Post columnist, had gone to the consulate to obtain documents necessary to marry his Turkish fiancee. In the latest version presented by the Saudi prosecutor on Thursday, a 15-member squad was formed to bring Khashoggi back from Istanbul by means of persuasion but instead ended up killing the journalist and dismembering his body in a rogue operation. The CIA examined multiple intelligence sources, the Post said, among them a phone call between the princes brother the Saudi ambassador to the United States and Khashoggi. The ambassador reportedly told the late journalist that he would be safe to go to the consulate in Istanbul and get the papers he needed. Some things you cant do But a Saudi embassy spokesperson said that Ambassador Khalid bin Salman had never discussed anything related to going to Turkey with Khashoggi. Amb Prince Khalid bin Salman has never had any phone conversations with (Khashoggi), the statement posted on the ambassadors Twitter account said. The claims in this purported assessment is false, it said. Following the reports, US Vice President Mike Pence on Saturday said Washington is determined to hold all of those accountable who are responsible for that murder. On the sidelines of an APEC summit in Papua New Guinea, Pence described the Saudi journalists killing as an atrocity and an affront to a free and independent press but declined to comment on classified information. The CIA conclusions threaten to further fray relations between Washington and longtime ally Riyadh, which has sought to end discussion of the murder and rejected calls for an international investigation. We are going to follow the facts, said Pence. But he added the US wanted to find a way of preserving a strong and historic partnership with Saudi Arabia. On Thursday, the US Treasury imposed sanctions on 17 people, including close aides of Prince Mohammed, suggesting a coordinated effort between Riyadh and Washington to pre-empt the threat of harsher actions from an outraged US Congress. US President Donald Trump has shied away from directly blaming the Crown Prince but on Friday agreed with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan that any cover up of the incident should not be allowed.AFP On 14 November 2018, the Israeli Defence Minister, Avigdor Lieberman, resigned. His resignation was prompted by the signing of the cease-fire agreement with Hamas. Mr Lieberman entered into confrontation with the Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, during the Israeli agreement authorizing Qatar to supply fuel and to transfer cash to Hamas. He was also opposed to a cease-fire agreement with Hamas. A supporter of keeping the Jewish people and the Arab people physically apart, Mr Lieberman considers it an act of a diseased mind to give illegitimate power to Qatar over Gaza and resources to Hamas. Mr Liebermans view is that there is no doubt that this decision will reduce tension in the short term; however, in the long term it will give a new lease of life to the terrorist activities of the Muslim Brotherhood. Contrary to how he is presented by the international press, Avigdor Lieberman is interested in peace. However the military apparatus is intent on maintaining the statu quo and Benjamin Netanyahu is in pursuit of the plan for a Great Israel plan, conceived by Zeev Jabotinsky. The religious Zionist Naftali Benett, far more extreme than Mr Lieberman, has issued an ultimatum to the Prime Minister, threatening to pull out of the Government Coalition and to make it fall if it did not obtain a Minister of Defense. According to a poll carried out that day, almost three quarters of Israelis support Mr Libermans analysis. A number of Israelis residing at least 30 kilometres from the Gaza Strip in a region that was target for rockets ever since Hamas took power in Gaza in 2006 demonstrated following the announcement of the cease-fire, demanding a policy of long term security. We do not have a opinion poll from the people of Gaza. As for the leaders of Hamas, they congratulated themselves on the resignation of Avigdor Lieberman, greeting it as a victory for their movement. The Palestine Authority has still not reacted. On 13 November 2018, Western Governments launched, a campaign in the UN Council of Human Rights in support of Chinese Islamists, some of whom had been preventively interned in brain washing/mind-set adjusting camps. 2010 2011 saw the start of the Nato Operations aimed at putting the Muslim Brotherhood into power in all Arab States. The Peoples China just like some Western countries facilitated the departure of its Islamists to the Middle East. China thought quite wrongly that this would have washed out all jihadi intoxicants from its system. Slowly, it understood that the remedy was worse than the evil. The Islamists that left to fight in Libya and Syria served as models for new recruits on their own soil. There then followed a number of attacks, in Muslim regions as well as others. Up till now, Muslims living in Xijiang benefitted from a number of exceptions to the general law. For example, they were permitted to have several children whereas the Chinese were only authorized to have one. In the past, the CIA backed the separatist aspirations of the Ouigour Chinese against the Hans Chinese. The CIA precedent for this position: the support it gave Chechen separatists against ethnic Russians. Today, the CIA supports the jihadists. This is a totally novel move but it is targeted at the same objective: weakening Beijing and Moscow. After the 19th Congress of the Communist Party in October 2017, China incapable of absorbing Islam into its corpus, started to consider that jihadism cannot be dissociated from Islam itself. Several supporters of the Islamic policy have been arrested and forced to submit to brainwashing/re-education. How many? We cant say: according to the sources, anything from 10 000 to 1 000 000. The Communist Party has just requested all its members to take an oath that they will not practice the halal regime. Today, some Muslim traditions are prohibited by law. A Turkish Speaking Chinese community of 18 000 persons of at least 5000 combatants, is currently set up in Idleb (Syria). It benefits from the support of the Secret Service of Turkey, a member of Nato. Syria and Russia have accepted not to attack them for now, fearing that a part of them will be repatriated. We also signal the arrival of a number of Chinese jihadists in Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand but also in the Philippines, where it considered that the problem had been sorted out. Calls for more action to help to tackle spike in hate crimes This article is old - Published: Sunday, Nov 18th, 2018 More needs to be done to tackle a spike in hate crimes in Wrexham, it has been claimed. It comes as new figures show there has been a 25 per cent increase in the number of attacks motivated by prejudice with 122 so far this year compared to 97 during the same period in 2017. An equality campaigner who lives in the town believes the actual total could be higher as people are either too afraid to report it or feel nothing will be done. Iolanda Banu Viegas, who grew up in Portugal but has called Wrexham her home for the last 17 years, said there had been a noticeable increase in hate crime since the Brexit vote and fears it will get worse when the UK leaves Europe in March. The 44-year-old, who is a member of Race Council Cymru, is now calling for authorities to clamp down on the issue. She said: After Brexit I noticed that we deal with more hate crime reports. Its very difficult. We noticed nothing much happens and the perpetrators get away with it. There were four incidents the day after Brexit actually and I knew it was going to carry on. For example, we were sitting outside the Portuguese cafe and there were people walking past us and shouting Go home. It is a very small minority of people but it happens a lot when people have been drinking. Were trying our best to integrate and be friends with everybody, but if this happens we cannot just sit quietly and accept it any more. According to a report which will be considered by Wrexham Council next week, the level of satisfaction among victims of hate crime has dropped during the last year. Members of the Wrexham Community Safety Partnership, which also includes North Wales Police and the Probation Service, are currently examining the statistics to understand what has caused the increase. They said action would be taken to address the issue. One solution put forward by Ms Viegas, who was born in Mozambique, is for awareness courses to be taught to people who carry out hate crimes, similar to the ones held for speeding. She said: We are a small town and I think we can do something about this. Reporting is not enough and sometimes sending someone to prison just because they tell someone to go back home is not the right thing to do. We learn from embarrassment and its a human thing. Racism is caused due to ignorance, people dont know and they find it easier to blame someone else. When they blame someone else its very hurtful and if they were aware I believe we wouldnt have that many crimes going on. By Liam Randall BBC Local Democracy Reporter (more here on the LDR scheme). Wrexham Enterprise Hub to host Apprentice-style Business Lock-In This article is old - Published: Sunday, Nov 18th, 2018 An Enterprise Hub in the heart of Wrexham town centre is set to hold its first apprentice-style lock-in event and is on the search for more participants to join the 20 already signed up. The event for 16-24-year-olds is free to enter and will take place at the Business Wales Wrexham Enterprise Hub on Rhosddu Road (former Iceland supermarket) across the 23rd and 24th of November. The event, in collaboration with Big Ideas Wales, will also provide food and drink to keep energy levels high. Teams of four will be given 24 hours to sketch out a viable business concept, draw up the business plan, and then present it to the panel of judges. Every hour between 10am and 7pm, groups will get expert advice on topics ranging from developing business plans, to managing social media strategy and pitching. The winning team members will each receive an iPad, courtesy of event partners Chetwood Financial. Community Manager at the Wrexham Enterprise Hub, Carl Turner, said the event is all about making the concept of business a reality for younger people: Were really excited to be holding our first business lock-in and cant wait to see what the teams can come up with. Providing an environment that fosters new business is at the very heart of what we do at the Hub, so events such as this are a great way to reach out to younger people. Obviously, programmes such as the Apprentice can capture the imagination of budding entrepreneurs, but as simple as the show can sometimes make tasks look, the framework around them is what allows the contestants to get creative. The Lock-In event will provide that platform by giving the participants inspiration, direction, expert support and of course the most important motivator of all pizza! Id encourage anyone who has ever thought about starting a business, or who has an idea, to come along and give it a go. It will be a great event in a relaxed and friendly atmosphere where participants can discuss their ideas, meet new people and develop something that could change their life. David Bannister, Delivery Manager from Big Ideas Wales said: We are extremely happy to be collaborating with the Wrexham Enterprise Hub in this business lock-in event. This will be a great opportunity, in a fantastic facility, for those young people involved to explore and develop their own individual business skills this will be a great launch pad for their future potential careers as entrepreneurs The Business Wales Wrexham Enterprise Hub is funded by the European Regional Development Fund through the Welsh Government. To take part, either pop into the Hub on Rhosddu Road, call 01978 807420 or e-mail Carl at Carl.Turner@businesswales.org.uk TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (WTXL) - A man has been arrested after police say he flew 48 pounds of marijuana from California to Tallahassee. According to a press release, on Saturday the Tallahassee Police Department received information that William Godette, 41, was flying to Tallahassee with a large amount of cannabis in his luggage. Police received this information from the Sacramento County Sheriff's Department in California after agents found numerous vacuum sealed bags of cannabis belonging to Godette during a TSA screening process. When Godette arrived in Tallahassee, police searched his luggage and found that he was in possession of approximately 48 pounds of cannabis. Godette was arrested and taken to the Leon County Detention Facility. He is facing charges for trafficking marijuana and narcotic equipment possession. Source: Xinhua| 2018-11-17 17:53:45|Editor: Li Xia Video Player Close BEIJING, Nov. 17 (Xinhua) -- China's FAW Group Co., Ltd., a state-owned automaker in northeast China's Jilin Province, is recalling over 280,000 automobiles starting from Dec. 28, 2018, due to a fuel pump defect. The recall affects the company's B70, X80 and B90 car models under own brand Besturn, as well as joint venture brand Mazda 6 sedans, manufactured between 2011 and 2016, according to a statement from the State Administration for Market Regulation. Defective parts in the fuel pumps of some of the vehicles may cause abnormal abrasion, and lead to fuel disruption and unintended engine stop in extreme cases, the administration said. The company will replace the defective fuel pumps free of charge. Source: Xinhua| 2018-11-18 01:35:20|Editor: Mu Xuequan Video Player Close DAMASCUS, Nov. 17 (Xinhua) -- The Syrian army has advanced in the battles against the Islamic State (IS) Saturday in the desert region of the southern countryside of Sweida, state news agency SANA reported. The army forces captured large swathes of the al-Safa hills, which are the last IS strongholds in the eastern countryside of Sweida, said SANA. SANA said the remaining IS-held area in the al-Safa hills has become exposed to the fire of the Syrian army. Meanwhile, a military source told Xinhua that the operations in al-Safa hills area are ongoing and that the Syrian army is advancing from three directions. Speaking on condition of anonymity, the source said the army has controlled all water resources of IS in that area, adding that the hills of al-Safa are witnessing mass escapes of IS militants. As many as 425 IS militants have been killed since the army started its operations in the countryside of Sweida on July 25, the source added. Another source in Sweida also spoke to Xinhua on condition of anonymity that the military operations in the al-Safa hills are coming to an end as the army is now combing the area in search of IS militants. The army has started the operations against IS in the desert region east of Sweida after the IS militants attacked villages in Sweida and kidnapped around 30 civilians and killed over 260 others. The operations have dragged on for over three months and were moving on cautiously out of fear for the lives of the hostages. However, the army secured the release of the hostages, who were still alive last week, and proceeded in the battles to eliminate IS from Sweida entirely. When the army declares the full defeat of IS, the entire province of Sweida will be free of IS. Sweida, a predominantly Druze area, has remained largely calm during the more than seven-year-long war in Syria, except for the countryside of that province, as IS has controlled areas in the desert region. Source: Xinhua| 2018-11-18 03:10:31|Editor: xuxin Video Player Close Greek riot policemen confront with a group of protestors at Exarchia district after the demonstration in memory of the 1973 Athens Polytechnic uprising in Athens, Greece, on Nov. 17, 2018. Thousands of Greek citizens marched across the center of Athens on Saturday to mark the 45th anniversary of the uprising that led to the restoration of democracy in the country after the military junta of 1967-1974. (Xinhua/Marios Lolos) ATHENS, Nov. 17 (Xinhua) -- Thousands of Greek citizens marched across the center of Athens on Saturday to mark the 45th anniversary of the uprising that led to the restoration of democracy in the country after the military junta of 1967-1974. Forty-five years have passed since the Athens Polytechnic uprising of November 1973 that escalated to a massive demonstration of popular rejection of the military junta. Like every year, the demonstration began at the National Polytechnic University of Athens and was completed outside the U.S. Embassy, with protesters chanting the Greek National Anthem and raising their hands above the flag. With the slogan "Freedom to the people, death to fascism", more than 3,000 protesters -- families, anti-racist organizations, refugees, student associations, parties, organizations of the Left, unions and collectives -- condemned fascism and Nazism. Earlier, many of them had stopped by the courtyard of the Athens Polytechnic to pay homage to the some 20 people, mainly students, killed by junta forces. "Forty-five years after the students rose up against the junta, the month of November continues to move and inspire us. It reminds us that nothing is given but also that nothing is impossible," Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras said in his message marking the anniversary. "It also charges us with the responsibility to keep our ears open to the needs and concerns of the younger generation of this country, which has always been on the front line of the major changes that lead forward," he noted. "It is important to remember this day because it is a symbol of the struggles for freedom, democracy," Jason Karaindros, a Greek artist who lives and works in France, said. The demonstration ended in minor clashes between anarchists and anti-riot police forces, mainly at the district of Exarchia, central Athens. Hooded protesters set fire to garbage containers and threw molotov cocktails at police who responded with tear gas and stun grenade. Some 5,000 police officers were reportedly deployed across the city center, while at least 8 people were arrested during the clashes. Source: Xinhua| 2018-11-18 06:25:57|Editor: Shi Yinglun Video Player Close SAN FRANCISCO, Nov. 17 (Xinhua) -- A group of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) practitioners in the Bay Area in U.S. state of California are working together to promote TCM among Chinese communities and beyond. California Assembly member Kansen Chu, who announced the appointment of Shudong Li to the state's Acupuncture Board Friday, said TCM is a familiar and well-accepted medicine for many overseas Chinese and Chinese Americans, who trusted and relied on TCM to relieve pains. "TCM offers a good alternative medicine for the American society, and another choice for patients beside Western medicine," Chu said. Li, who is to officially take office on the seven-member board after an inauguration ceremony next Monday, said he hoped all the TCM practitioners in the Bay Area would work together to do a good job in further promoting TCM and oriental medicine to the rest of the American society and to have more Americans and members of all communities to benefit from TCM therapy. The board will partner with licensed TCM practitioners to make future plans to launch education programs aimed at training young people to carry on the heritage of TCM. Phil Yang, a veteran licensed TCM practitioner, said the California Acupuncture Board is the first government-established body to oversee the acupuncture sector in the United States. California is the state that has the largest number of acupuncturists in the United States, where nearly 18,000 out of the total of more than 30,000 acupuncturists are practicing in the state, he said, adding that acupuncture occupies a significant place in the state. Prof. Art Johnson, who once taught physician health care at Stanford University, said TCM is part of the family medicine program of Stanford School of Medicine. "Acupuncturists are referred quite a bit by family medicine doctors," he said. "Allopathic system more and more recognizes the value of acupuncture and we want the medical students that will become doctors to understand that there are several modalities that help with healing besides Western medicine," he noted. Western medicine does not cure everything and it doesn't work on some things, he explained. "The side effects of Western medicine can be as detrimental as a disease," Johnson said. "I see acupuncture as a system that helps the body find balance." He strongly supports the promotion of traditional Chinese medicine and health medicine to a larger area, which bring benefits to more people that suffer pains from disease. TCM "opened up a new understanding about healing system," said Johnson. Source: Xinhua| 2018-11-18 06:41:00|Editor: Yurou Video Player Close WASHINGTON, Nov. 17 (Xinhua) -- The U.S. State Department said here on Saturday that the country has not made a final conclusion on the death of Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi. U.S. media quoted insiders earlier on Friday as saying that the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) has concluded the Saudi crown prince had ordered to kill Khashoggi. In a statement issued on Saturday, State Department spokesperson Heather Nauert said that "recent reports indicating that the U.S. government has made a final conclusion is inaccurate." "There remain numerous unanswered questions with respect to the murder," she said. The State Department will continue to seek all relevant facts, consult Congress and "explore additional measures to hold those accountable who planned, led or were connected to the murder," she added. However, Nauert noted that the U.S. side will "maintain strategic relationship" with Saudi Arabia. Earlier on Saturday, U.S. President Donald Trump told the media before he left the White House for California that he had not been briefed about the case by the CIA. "The CIA will be speaking to me today," he said. "As of this moment, we were told that he did not play a role. We're going to have to find out what they say." "We also have a great ally in Saudi Arabia. They give us a lot of jobs and a lot of business and economic development. They have been a truly spectacular ally in terms of jobs and economic development," he said, noting "I have to take a lot of things into consideration" when deciding what measures to take against the kingdom. U.S. media later quoted White House spokesperson Sarah Sanders as saying that Trump had spoken with CIA Director Gina Haspel and Secretary of State Mike Pompeo from Air Force One, without giving further details. 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. 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. The State Department in October said that 21 Saudis suspected of involvement in the case were being revoked of their visas. On Thursday, the U.S. Department of the Treasury imposed sanction on 17 individuals over their alleged roles in the killing of Khashoggi. Source: Xinhua| 2018-11-18 08:35:40|Editor: Chengcheng Video Player Close People walk inside light installations during the annual Staro Riga Light Festival in Riga, Latvia, Nov. 17, 2018. The light festival is held in Riga from Nov. 16 to 19, offering visitors over 40 art installations. The theme for this year's festival is "The Castle of Light Rose Up". (Xinhua/Janis) Source: Xinhua| 2018-11-18 08:46:15|Editor: Yurou Video Player Close CHICAGO, Nov. 17 (Xinhua) -- Chicago Board of Trade (CBOT) agricultural commodities closed mixed over the trading week which ended Nov. 16, with soybean futures rising on fund short covering. The most active corn contract for December delivery went down 5 cents weekly, or 1.35 percent, to 3.6475 dollars per bushel. December wheat delivery was up 4.75 cents, or 0.95 percent, to 5.0675 dollars per bushel. 2019 January soybean was 5.5 cents higher, or 0.62 percent, to 8.9225 dollars. CBOT corn futures fell 5 cents amid limited market-specific news. In the world market, Ukraine's crop will be record large, with yield an incredible 40 percent above last year, but their export logistics will only allow for the export of 24-25 million tonnes. Amid record total corn trade, U.S. exports won't be adjusted downward, but better than expected Black Sea production. Ethanol margins are deep in the red, with temporary plant closures noted across pockets of the Central U.S. Biofuel margins a year ago were rather profitable, which will act as a cap on rallies until crude oil recoveries. CBOT wheat futures ended higher this week with CME gaining on short covering in Chicago and long liquidation in Kansas City. Hard red wheat export sales continue to lag the pace needed to meet the U.S. agriculture Department's forecast. A host of major importers are now seeking high protein supply for early January delivery. On a FOB basis, gulf hard red wheat is offered 3-8 dollars per tonne below Russian origin. Soybeans were on both sides of unchanged last week with January back testing the upper limit of a trading range that's developed over the last five months. Fund short covering and hope that U.S.-China trade relations improve offered support. Fundamentally, U.S. December soybean stocks are expected to be record large due to a big crop and slow exports. Outside of the United States, planting progress in Brazil has reached 80 percent complete, while Argentine seedings are behind normal due to excess spring rainfall. Source: Xinhua| 2018-11-18 08:51:15|Editor: Yurou Video Player Close SYDNEY, Nov. 18 (Xinhua) -- An Australian man died after being stung by a stingray off a beach in Tasmania state capital Hobart late Saturday, in the first known fatality of its kind in the area, according to local media. The 42-year-old victim was swimming at Lauderdale, about 13 km east of the city, when he was stung in the abdomen, the ABC news channel quoted police as saying on Sunday. "Attempts to resuscitate the male were unsuccessful ... He was removed from the water by friends prior to the arrival of emergency services," according to a police statement. Authorities will consider closing off the beach if advised, local council mayor Doug Chipman told reporters. "I'm not aware of any other stingray attacks on the beach there but we will be taking advice from the experts and from Tasmania Police in terms of public safety," said Chipman. Waters off the island state are known to contain a number of stingray species, with the animals said to frequent the Lauderdale area. In this file photo taken on December 15, 2014 general manager of Alarab TV, Jamal Khashoggi, looks on during a press conference in the Bahraini capital Manama. (Xinhua/AFP) WASHINGTON, Nov. 17 (Xinhua) -- The U.S. State Department said here on Saturday that the country has not made a final conclusion on the death of Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi. U.S. media quoted insiders earlier on Friday as saying that the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) has concluded the Saudi crown prince had ordered to kill Khashoggi. In a statement issued on Saturday, State Department spokesperson Heather Nauert said that "recent reports indicating that the U.S. government has made a final conclusion is inaccurate." "There remain numerous unanswered questions with respect to the murder," she said. The State Department will continue to seek all relevant facts, consult Congress and "explore additional measures to hold those accountable who planned, led or were connected to the murder," she added. However, Nauert noted that the U.S. side will "maintain strategic relationship" with Saudi Arabia. Earlier on Saturday, U.S. President Donald Trump told the media before he left the White House for California that he had not been briefed about the case by the CIA. "The CIA will be speaking to me today," he said. "As of this moment, we were told that he did not play a role. We're going to have to find out what they say." "We also have a great ally in Saudi Arabia. They give us a lot of jobs and a lot of business and economic development. They have been a truly spectacular ally in terms of jobs and economic development," he said, noting "I have to take a lot of things into consideration" when deciding what measures to take against the kingdom. U.S. media later quoted White House spokesperson Sarah Sanders as saying that Trump had spoken with CIA Director Gina Haspel and Secretary of State Mike Pompeo from Air Force One, without giving further details. 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. 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. The State Department in October said that 21 Saudis suspected of involvement in the case were being revoked of their visas. On Thursday, the U.S. Department of the Treasury imposed sanction on 17 individuals over their alleged roles in the killing of Khashoggi. Source: Xinhua| 2018-11-18 10:11:29|Editor: Yurou Video Player Close YANGON, Nov. 18 (Xinhua) -- Myanmar's foreign trade hit 18.3 billion U.S. dollars during the six-month mini-budget or transitional period from April to September 2018, 4.6 billion dollars more than the targeted 13.7 billion dollars, Myanmar News Agency reported Sunday. The country has changed its fiscal year period from original April-March to Oct-Sept beginning 2018-2019, producing a six-month transitional gap between April and September. The six-month trade amount was also 2 billion dollars more than the same period of last year. Of the 18.3 billion U.S. dollars' six-month trade, private sector shared 15.5 billion dollars or 85 percent of the total, Vice President U Myint Swe told a meeting with entrepreneurs in Yangon Saturday. Import was more than the export, producing a trade deficit, he said, urging the entrepreneurs to strive towards increasing export and conduct import substitution to get free from deficit. U Myint Swe warned that illegal import through the border was threatening the existence of small and medium enterprises, forcing the government to have formed illegal trade control and prevention groups in nine regions and states where some arrests have been made. According to latest figures of the Commerce Ministry, Myanmar's trade with foreign countries reached 1.18 billion U.S. dollars in the first two weeks as of Oct. 12 this fiscal year 2018-19 which started on Oct.1. The country's agricultural products, animal products, fisheries, minerals and forest products are mainly exported to foreign countries while capital goods, intermediate goods and consumer goods are imported into the country. Source: Xinhua| 2018-11-18 10:21:31|Editor: Yurou Video Player Close SYDNEY, Nov. 18 (Xinhua) -- A man taking surfing lessons was airlifted to hospital after being bitten by a shark at a major tourist spot in Australia's New South Wales state late Saturday, the latest in a string of attacks by sharks that have killed at least one and injured several others in recent months. The 24-year-old victim was treated at the scene at Seven Mile Beach, Gerroa, before being taken to hospital for puncture injuries to his hand and calf, according to a police statement. The beach was closed following the incident, they said. The attack follows the death of a 33-year-old man near Cid Harbor at the Whitsunday Islands tourist area in Queensland state earlier in the month. In late September, a 12-year-old girl lost her leg and a 46-year-old woman suffered serious leg injuries in separate shark attacks in the same area. Two other major incidents involving the top marine predators have been reported in the past week, with one Western Australian Pyramids Beach surfer suffering traumatic leg injuries and a fisherman being knocked off his boat by a 4-meter-long tiger shark near Queensland's Sunshine Coast. Source: Xinhua| 2018-11-18 12:31:45|Editor: Yurou Video Player Close SRINAGAR, Indian-controlled Kashmir, Nov. 18 (Xinhua) -- Two militants were killed Sunday in a fierce gunfight with Indian troops and police in restive Indian-controlled Kashmir, police said. The gunfight broke out during early morning at village Rebban-Zainpora of Shopian district, about 70 km south of Srinagar city, the summer capital of Indian-controlled Kashmir. "Government forces early this morning launched a cordon and search operation in Rebban village on credible inputs about the presence of militants. As the search operation was going on, hiding militants fired upon the search party, thereby triggering a gunfight," a senior police official posted in Shopian told Xinhua. "In the ensuing gunfight two militants were killed." The slain militants were identified as local cadres of the region's Al-Badr militant outfit. The police officer said contingents of Indian army or police have not suffered any damage during the stand-off. Militants in the district have killed two youth in the past two days for their reported links with police agencies. Reports said two more youth were abducted and their whereabouts were still awaited. The killings have been condemned widely. A guerilla war is going on between militants and Indian troopers stationed in the region since 1989. Source: Xinhua| 2018-11-18 12:46:46|Editor: Yang Yi Video Player Close BEIJING, Nov. 18 (Xinhua) -- Assets of China's major 131 securities brokers totaled 6.19 trillion yuan (897 billion U.S. dollars) by the end of September, according to the Securities Association of China. In the third quarter, sales revenue of those companies stood at 189.33 billion yuan, and net profits reached 49.66 billion yuan, according to the association. A total 105 companies made profits in the third quarter. Companies gained 52.63 billion yuan of sales revenue from securities investment earnings, 49.56 billion yuan from acting buying and sales of securities, and 17.28 billion yuan from securities underwriting and sponsorship. Net assets of the companies stood at 1.89 trillion yuan. Source: Xinhua| 2018-11-18 13:56:53|Editor: Yurou Video Player Close MAIMANA, Afghanistan, Nov. 18 (Xinhua) -- Afghan forces killed at least eight militants including a local commander loyal to the Taliban group, in northern Faryab province, an army spokesman in the northern region, Mohammad Hanif Rezai, said Sunday. The clash, according to the official, broke out in Sar-e-Hawz area of Pasthtonkot district on Saturday, leaving eight fighters, including their local commander dead and 10 others wounded. Security forces did not suffer casualties during the clash, according to the spokesman. Taliban militants are yet to make comments on the report. 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 Source: Xinhua| 2018-11-18 14:11:55|Editor: Yurou Video Player Close HAVANA, Nov. 17 (Xinhua) -- The Cuban government on Saturday denounced the U.S. toughening of the economic, trade and financial embargoes against the Caribbean island nation since 1962. In September, the Trump Administration extended the sanctions for another year. On Nov. 14, the U.S. State Department announced an additional list of Cuban entities that it considered are associated with military or intelligence departments. Cuban Foreign Ministry's director of U.S. affairs Carlos Fernandez de Cossio criticized "the aggressive decision of the U.S. government to incorporate 26 new Cuban companies into the arbitrary list of prohibited entities for any type of transaction with U.S. companies and citizens." That list seeks to "continue to tighten the blockade, economically suffocate Cuba and try to demonize it with dishonest accusations," Fernandez de Cossio said in a statement published on the foreign ministry's website. The U.S. move represents another setback in the relations between the two countries since the restrictive measures ordered by President Donald Trump in June last year. According to the U.S. State Department, the sanctions list will be updated periodically and now includes more than 200 Cuban entities. The hotels that were most recently added to the list include some run by foreign entities, such as the Grand Packard Hotel in Havana, and the Bella Vista Hotel in Varadero, both run by the Spanish company Iberostar. In November, the General Assembly of the United Nations rejected almost unanimously the U.S. economic blockade against Cuba. Source: Xinhua| 2018-11-18 14:28:08|Editor: Lu Hui Video Player Close A destroyed toy is seen among debris after the wildfire in Paradise, California, the United States, on Nov. 13, 2018. The death toll from the raging Camp Fire in the U.S. state of California has increased to 48 as rescuers continue to search for missing residents in and around the town of Paradise, local authorities said Tuesday. (Xinhua/Li Ying) Source: Xinhua| 2018-11-18 14:21:56|Editor: Yurou Video Player Close WASHINGTON, Nov. 17 (Xinhua) -- U.S. President Donald Trump on Saturday said the U.S. full report over the death of Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi will come over the next two days. On a trip to California, Trump told the media that he had talked with the head of the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA), Gina Haspel, over the killing of Khashoggi. Referring to the incident as "a horrible thing" and "a very, very bad situation," Trump said "we'll be having a very full report over the next two days, probably Monday or Tuesday." The CIA has concluded that the Saudi crown prince Mohammed bin Salman had ordered to kill Khashoggi, U.S. media quoted insiders on Friday as saying. However, Trump said the CIA has not "assessed anything yet." "It's too early. That was a very premature report. But that's possible -- we're going to see," he said. "But we're going to have a report on Tuesday. And it'll be very complete." "We're going to come up with a report as to what we think the overall impact was and who caused it, and who did it," he said. On Friday, Trump said "we also have a great ally in Saudi Arabia. They give us a lot of jobs and a lot of business and economic development. They have been a truly spectacular ally in terms of jobs and economic development." Also on Friday, the State Department said the United States has not made a final conclusion on the death of Khashoggi. In a statement, spokesperson Heather Nauert said "recent reports indicating that the U.S. government has made a final conclusion is inaccurate," and that "there remain numerous unanswered questions with respect to the murder." However, Nauert noted that the U.S. side will "maintain strategic relationship" with Saudi Arabia. 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. 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. On Thursday, the Treasury Department imposed sanctions on 17 individuals over their alleged roles in the killing of Khashoggi. Source: Xinhua| 2018-11-18 14:37:00|Editor: Yurou Video Player Close PUL-E-ALAM, Afghanistan, Nov. 18 (Xinhua) -- Two local officials including the acting district chief of Baraki Barak lost their lives in Afghanistan's eastern Logar province as their car ran over a mine planted by militants on Saturday, a police spokesman said Sunday. "Ainudin, the acting district chief for Baraki Barak district and Aziz Rahman, the intelligence chief of the district, were on way to provincial capital Pul-e-Alam on Saturday afternoon when their vehicle ran over a mine planted by militants, leaving both the officials killed on the spot," police spokesman in the province Shah Poor Ahmadzai told Xinhua. The official, however, blamed the enemies of peace, a reference to the Taliban outfit for organizing the deadly roadside bombing. Taliban militants who are active in parts of Logar province including the restive Baraki Barak district and are largely relying on roadside and suicide bombings, have yet to claim responsibility for targeting the two officials. Source: Xinhua| 2018-11-18 15:42:11|Editor: Li Xia Video Player Close REQUINOA, Chile, Nov. 17 (Xinhua) -- With new machinery used in sorting and packaging, Chilean fruit growers are better equipped to compete in the Chinese market by enforcing standardization of products. The technology not only automates and perfects the packaging process, but also separates fruit by color, size, export destination and more. The ability to use technology in the process "is indispensable," said Michael Grasty, president of David del Curto, a leading fruit exporting company. The company this week celebrated 65th anniversary in the industry, with the last 15 years exporting to China. "The fruit market is nothing like what it was 65 years ago," Grasty said. "People who eat a Chilean apple, grape or cherry is somehow getting a sense of what we are doing in Chile," said Grasty, underscoring the importance of quality. The company, which currently exports grapes, peaches, kiwis, apples and cherries to China, recently relaunched the Requinoa Fruit Central, located south of the capital Santiago, which uses the latest technology to process fruit. Technology doesn't just serve to expedite tasks, it also boosts quality, he said. According to Chilean Agriculture Minister Antonio Walker, Chile aims to standardize presentation of their products, so a crate of fruit will be like a box of chocolates. "No matter where you are, when you open it, you find the same thing. You achieve that through technology." Highly sensitive photoelectric cell technology, for example, can be used to precisely classify fruit. "This kind of investment is purely good news for the country, for the government and for the fruit industry," said Walker. Chilean cherry and cranberry exports have been "exceptional" this year thanks to the demand from the Chinese market, suggested a report by the Chilean Foreign Affairs Ministry's department of international economic relations. Chile's success in China's market didn't happen overnight, said the minister, adding that it is the result of years of reputation building among consumers. "In China, consumers prefer Chilean apples ... because they have more confidence in it. It took us 50 years to achieve that and we need to maintain it," said Walker. Natalia Huang, purchasing manager of a Chinese company, Nanjing Green Sea Fruit Co., confirmed Walker's assertion, adding that "the Chinese know a lot about Chile." "For us, Chile is not an unfamiliar country. They have wine, salmon, fruit and copper which are known in China," said Huang. Nanjing Green Sea Fruit Co. has been importing fruit from Chile for the past three years, said Huang, adding that its partner, David del Curto, invests in technology and agricultural innovations "to stay competitive in the Chinese market, which changes rapidly." Grasty and Walker both see tremendous potential in the future of trade with China. Chile's sales to China "are just beginning," they said. Source: Xinhua| 2018-11-18 16:12:15|Editor: xuxin Video Player Close ISLAMABAD, Nov. 18 (Xinhua) -- Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan on Sunday embarked on a day-long visit to the United Arab Emirates (UAE) at the invitation of Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, officials said. The prime minister is accompanied by ministers of foreign affairs, finance, petroleum, power and adviser to the prime minister on commerce. "Matters of bilateral, regional and global interest will be discussed in the meeting between the prime minister and the crown prince," the prime minister's office said in a statement. The prime minister will also meet Vice President and Prime Minister of UAE Sheikh Mohamed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, the statement said. It is the second visit of Khan to the UAE. He paid his maiden visit on Sept. 19. Source: Xinhua| 2018-11-18 16:22:18|Editor: xuxin Video Player Close NEW DELHI, Nov. 18 (Xinhua) -- At least three people were killed and 10 others wounded Sunday in a blast inside a prayer hall of a religious sect in northern Indian state of Punjab, police said. The blast took place when a congregation of the Nirankari, a spiritual organization, was inside prayer hall of the Nirankari Bhawan in Rajasansi village of Amritsar city. "Three people were killed and 10 others wounded today in a blast inside prayer hall of a religious sect here," senior police official Surinder Pal Singh Parmar said. Police said the injured were immediately removed to Guru Nanak Dev hospital and Ivy hospital in Amritsar for treatment. Amritsar is known as the Sikh holy city in India. However, Nirankari is a different sect. Police teams have rushed to the spot to probe the matter. "Police have launched an investigation and are studying footage from CCTV cameras in the area, besides collecting samples of the blast," an official said. Local media reports quoting eyewitnesses said two masked bike-borne men came outside the Nirankari Bhawan and threw a grenade on the congregation. A falconer displays a falcon in Alexandria's Borg El Arab, Egypt, on Nov. 17, 2018. (Xinhua/Ahmed Gomaa) by Ahmed Shafiq ALEXANDRIA, Egypt, Nov. 18 (Xinhua) -- In the heart of the golden desert of Egypt's Alexandria, dozens of enthusiastic falconers and their raptors marked the sixth edition of World Falconry Day (WFD). As the sun started to rise in Alexandria's Borg El Arab, north of Cairo, Hani Ibrahim, an Egyptian falconer, carefully watched his falcon soaring through the skies and swooping down speedily to catch a little pigeon the man has released. A falcon is seen in Alexandria's Borg El Arab, Egypt, on Nov. 17, 2018.(Xinhua/Ahmed Gomaa) "The relationship between my falcon and I is unique ... I spent long time to train him and we are kind of close friends now," Ibrahim said after his bird landed on his gloved fist. Ibrahim said the event, which is marked annually on Nov. 16 worldwide, is meant to spread awareness about birds of prey through carrying out a number of activities such as demonstrations, discussions and exciting practical workshops on the art and practice of falconry. "We have been holding this event for three years now and every year more people join us to know more about these majestic birds," Ibrahim told Xinhua. Ibrahim, who has been a falconer for more than 30 years, said that Egyptian peers and falconry clubs adopt the principles of the International Association for Falconry (IAF) which are dedicated to the preservation of the ancient art of falconry. A falcon hunts a rabbit in Alexandria's Borg El Arab, Egypt, on Nov. 17, 2018. (Xinhua/Ahmed Gomaa) "As the IAF stipulates, preserving falconry involves maintaining not only the traditional culture that builds practical skills of empathy with animals, but also the conservation of raptors and their prey," Ibrahim told Xinhua as visitors over sand dunes watched falcons and hawks hovering overhead. Sayed al-Sayed, one of the organizers and admin of "Egyptian Sniper" falconry group on Facebook, said the event is co-organized by four falconry clubs in Egypt. "This activity is held under the patronage of the IAF as Egypt is a member of the international organization," al-Sayed told Xinhua. Al-Sayed, who is also a famous Egyptian falconer, said falconers show ancient and modern training techniques during the two-day event with demonstrations of falcons flying in the heart of the desert. "For two days, falconers have been showing their skills and the skills of the birds in hunting, speed as well as the beauty of the raptors," al-Sayed said. He added that such events are also important for falconers who meet here as they exchange experiences that can help them in the future. "In addition, these events also help ordinary people get knowledge about this art that is an authentic part of our culture," al-Sayed revealed, adding that one of the main goals of falconers in Egypt is helping and rehabilitating migrant birds and release them during migration seasons so they can fly back to their habitats. A falconer displays a falcon in Alexandria's Borg El Arab, Egypt, on Nov. 17, 2018. (Xinhua/Ahmed Gomaa) Hamada Ismail, a college student from Cairo, travelled to Alexandria with his friends to get close knowledge about falconry in Egypt, which is the cradle of this art. "I have learned about the event from a Facebook announcement and I really wanted to know what the art of falconry is," Ismail told Xinhua, sipping hot Arabian coffee offered to guests by the organizers. Ismail expressed high admiration of this kind of sport, hoping that it would become more popular in Egypt. "I loved falconry ... I think I'm going to raise a hawk soon," Ismail said with a smile. Source: Xinhua| 2018-11-18 17:27:28|Editor: Li Xia Video Player Close Chinese ambassador to the Philippines Zhao Jianhua speaks during an interview with Xinhua in Manila, the Philippines, on Nov. 15, 2018. (Xinhua/Zheng Xin) MANILA, Nov. 18 (Xinhua) -- Chinese ambassador to the Philippines said that the upcoming visit by President Xi Jinping has far-reaching significance and it will be a milestone for stronger and closer relations between the two countries. At the invitation of Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte, Xi will pay a state visit to the southeastern Asian country on Nov. 20-21. Zhao Jianhua, in an interview with Chinese media on Thursday, said that over the last two years, under the guidance of the leaders of the two countries, China-Philippines relations have achieved an overall turnaround, and are moving forward along a fast track. Practical cooperation in all fields between the two sides has started to be resumed and bilateral relations are entering a brand new period, Zhao said, noting that Xi and Duterte will exchange in-depth views over issues of common concern and map out a new blueprint to develop the two countries' ties. The ambassador said Xi and Duterte have met several times before and forged a solid working relationship and strong personal friendship. With political wisdom, the two leaders have reached important consensus that the South China Sea issue should be handled through dialogue and consultations, he said. The two leaders work hard together to make the South China Sea a sea of peace, friendship and cooperation, Zhao said. In his opinion, it is a significant contribution to the region's long-lasting stability and common prosperity. By properly controlling the divergence on maritime issues and keeping close contacts on practical cooperation, China and the Philippines are jointly working to advance consultations on the Code of Conduct (COC) in the South China Sea. According to the ambassador, the two countries forged a bilateral consultation mechanism on the South China Sea issue and have met three times successfully. "We hope that the two countries could set a fine example on dealing with the South China Sea issue," Zhao said. That is, he explained, with joint efforts in maintaining peace and stability and promoting cooperation in the South China Sea, China and the Philippines could make the issue a bridge and a link in bilateral cooperation. Meanwhile, the two countries' practices and experience in addressing the issue can serve as a guidance for the region. He said that China is ready to work with the Philippines to push forward cooperation in such fields as ocean environmental protection, scientific research, fishery and search and rescue to benefit the two peoples. Calling the Philippines a key part on the ancient Maritime Silk Road as well as a natural partner for joint construction of the Belt and Road Initiative, Zhao said trade and economic cooperation has benefited from the warm relations. China attaches great importance to aligning its Belt and Road Initiative with the Philippines' Ambisyon Natin 2040 development strategy as well as the country's multi-billion-U.S.-dollar "Build, Build, Build" program, Zhao said, adding that China's firm support for the Philippines' construction and growth demonstrates that China is a reliable partner for the southeastern Asian country. Statistics show that trade volume between the two countries in 2017 topped 50 billion U.S. dollars, making China the Philippines' largest trading partner and source of imports, as well as the fourth largest export market. Last year, the newly added investment from China reached 53.84 million dollars, representing a year-on-year increase of 67 percent. During the just-ended China International Import Expo in Shanghai, more than 40 exhibitors from the Philippines have taken part in it, the ambassador said. "This is mutually beneficial, and will bring benefits to our peoples." Blooming relations have also brought more Chinese tourists to the Philippines. China has now become the second biggest source of tourists to the Philippines, Zhao said, adding that more than 1.5 million Chinese tourists are expected to visit the country this year and that will generate an estimated amount of income worth over 32 billion Philippine peso (about 610 million dollars) in the country. China is ready to work with the Philippines to help and support each other and jointly move forward to the new "Golden Era" of the two countries' relations, he added. Source: Xinhua| 2018-11-18 17:32:28|Editor: xuxin Video Player Close DAMASCUS, Nov. 18 (Xinhua) -- The Syrian government welcomes any step that could be conducive to the return of Arab embassies in Damascus, said Syria's Deputy Foreign Minister Faisal Mekdad. "We welcome any step that could help in returning the embassies of Arab countries to work in Syria," said Mekdad during an interview with the al-Watan newspaper published on Sunday. His remarks came in the wake of reports that the United Arab Emirates (UAE) could re-open its embassy in Syria soon after six years of closure. During the war, many Arab countries suspended their diplomatic representations in Syria, particularly the Gulf states, as such countries have adopted an antagonistic stance toward the administration of President Bashar al-Assad. As the situation in the country gradually returns to normal with declining battles and much of the country are back under the government control, diplomatic relations seem to be improved with some countries mulling the return of embassies to Syria. Separately, Mekdad told the newspaper that the Syrian refugees are returning in a systematic manner, noting that the number of those coming from Lebanon is estimated at thousands. Meanwhile, he accused the Western powers of adopting the double standards policy, saying "they want the refugees to return but they are not encouraging them to return." Mekdad said the Western countries hold direct responsibility for the economic situation in Syria through the economic sanctions they imposed, which prevent economic progress and development in Syria. Source: Xinhua| 2018-11-18 18:12:33|Editor: xuxin Video Player Close ADDIS ABABA, Nov. 18 (Xinhua) -- The African Union (AU) has announced that it would deploy a fact-finding mission to Gabon's Libreville soon. The chairperson of the AU Commission, Moussa Faki Mahamat, is deeply concerned by unfolding developments in Gabon linked to the state of health of President Ali Bongo Ondimba, according to an AU statement issued late Saturday. Bongo has been hospitalized since Oct. 24 in Saudi Arabia as a result of "persistent malaise and vertigo." In consultation with the current chairperson of the union, President Paul Kagame of Rwanda, Faki wished President Bongo a quick and full recovery, said the AU statement. The AU Commission chairperson called on all political stakeholders and institutions in Gabon to show the necessary collective leadership during this time in order to preserve unity, peace and stability in the country. He reaffirmed the AU's strong commitment to the full respect of constitutional order in Gabon. The AU will deploy a fact-finding mission to Libreville in "the shortest delay," according to the statement. A statement from the presidential palace of Gabon last Sunday read that the health of Bongo had significantly improved. Source: Xinhua| 2018-11-18 18:17:35|Editor: Lu Hui Video Player Close Chinese President Xi Jinping (5th L, front) and other leaders and representatives from member economies of the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) pose for a group photo before the 26th APEC Economic Leaders' Meeting in Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea, on Nov. 18, 2018. Xi delivered a speech titled "Harnessing Opportunities of Our Times To Jointly Pursue Prosperity in the Asia-Pacific" at the 26th APEC Economic Leaders' Meeting in Port Moresby on Sunday. (Xinhua/Ding Lin) PORT MORESBY, Nov. 18 (Xinhua) -- Chinese President Xi Jinping called on Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) economies to bring their cooperation to a higher level based on a keen appreciation of the trend of the world and its economy. Underlining the trend of economic globalization, economic integration in the region, and an open economy, Xi urged the economies to keep the momentum of Asia-Pacific cooperation during a speech at the 26th APEC Economic Leaders' Meeting hosted by Papua New Guinea (PNG) Prime Minister Peter O'Neill here on Sunday. CHARTING COURSE "Our world is undergoing rapid development and changes," Xi said at the meeting under the theme Harnessing Inclusive Opportunities, Embracing the Digital Future. "We have reached a crossroads of history, when we must have a keen appreciation of the trend of our world and take the pulse of the world economy," he said, "That is how we will be able to respond to the call of our time and chart our future course accordingly." Firstly, the economies need to advance economic integration in the region so as to build an open economy in the Asia-Pacific, the Chinese president said. "We should continue to promote trade and investment liberalization and facilitation," he said. He called on the economies to adopt an open, inclusive and transparent approach to the various kinds of free trade arrangements to ensure coordinated and positive interactions among them. "We need to firmly uphold the rules-based multilateral trading system and say no to protectionism," he said. The World Trade Organization (WTO) is exploring a new round of reform, Xi noted, saying such reform should be designed to uphold the core values and underlying principles of the multilateral trading system. "What we need is to make economic globalization more open, inclusive, balanced and beneficial for all," he said. Secondly, Xi highlighted the need to pursue innovation-driven growth and foster new growth drivers. He called on the economies to fully implement the Internet and Digital Economy Roadmap in a balanced way, so as to unleash the growth potential of digital economy. "We need to promote the building of digital infrastructure and capacity, make digital economy more accessible and bridge the digital divide," he said. "Our goal should be for the benefits of digital economy to reach all member economies at different stages of development and for the people of the Asia-Pacific to get aboard the fast train of a growing digital economy," he said. Thirdly, Xi urged APEC members to improve the connectivity network to promote inclusive and interconnected development. Noting that efforts are required to turn their connectivity blueprint into reality, the Chinese president encouraged the APEC economies to take the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development as a guide and adopt more concrete steps to make development more balanced, growth more sustainable, opportunities more equal and societies more inclusive. Fourthly, Xi called on APEC members to forge a closer partnership and jointly meet common challenges. He said it is important for the APEC economies to stay committed to the shared goal of common development and explore solutions to common challenges. "We need to respect diversity and each other's choices of development path, promote integration and mutual learning on the basis of openness and inclusiveness, and engage in both healthy competition and mutually beneficial cooperation," he said, stressing the importance of jointly building a community with a shared future in the Asia-Pacific. CHINA'S COMMITMENT This year marks the 40th anniversary of China's reform and opening-up initiative, Xi said, adding that his country will pursue with resolve continued reform across the board. China will continue to pursue its fundamental policy of opening-up, he added. China follows a people-centered development philosophy and a new development vision that features innovative, coordinated, green and open development for the benefit of all, he said. The overall momentum of sustained and sound growth of China's economy will continue, he said. China seeks deeper cooperation on digital economy with other members of the Asia-Pacific so as to expand convergence of interests and create more growth areas, thus adding strong and fresh impetus to the Asia-Pacific economy, he said. China will work with all countries involved under the principle of consultation and collaboration for shared benefits to pursue the Belt and Road Initiative against high standards so that it will create even greater development opportunities for the people in the Asia-Pacific and beyond, he said. Xi said leaders of the Asia-Pacific share a common responsibility to chart the long-term development course for APEC and draw up a post-2020 vision. China is a champion of Asia-Pacific cooperation and has taken concrete steps to promote cooperation on the ground, Xi said. Close cooperation with other members of the Asia-Pacific is indispensable for China's development, while China's development, on its part, offers broad opportunities of development for the Asia-Pacific, he said. Xi pledged that China will stay deeply engaged in the Asia-Pacific cooperation process, deepen practical cooperation with other parties involved, and make new contribution to the development and prosperity of the Asia-Pacific region. UPHOLDING MULTILATERALISM Leaders of the APEC economies agreed that the Asia-Pacific economy has bright prospect but is also facing challenges of trade barriers and protectionism. Under current circumstances, all participating sides should staunchly protect multilateralism and a multilateral trading system, stand against protectionism, and support APEC in playing an important role in facilitating trade and investment liberalization and realizing a balanced, innovative, sustainable and inclusive growth, the leaders said. Calling for advancing the Free Trade Area of the Asia-Pacific (FTAAP) and jointly building a vibrant and open Asia-Pacific, the leaders urged all sides to press ahead the work on drawing up a post-2020 vision and popularize the achievements of digitalization and innovation in all member economies. Earlier in the day, Xi and other APEC leaders also attended an informal dialogue on world economic situation and were briefed by chief of the International Monetary Fund Christine Lagarde. The Chinese president arrived here Thursday to pay a state visit to PNG and attend the APEC Economic Leaders' Meeting. PNG is the first stop of Xi's ongoing Asia-Pacific tour, which will also take him to Brunei and the Philippines. Source: Xinhua| 2018-11-18 18:37:38|Editor: xuxin Video Player Close ADDIS ABABA, Nov. 18 (Xinhua) -- Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed on Sunday said that digital identification is vital for Africa's development ambition toward the realization of the global Agenda 2030 and Africa's continental Agenda 2063. Ahmed made the remarks at a high-level meeting on the margins of the 11th Extraordinary Summit of the African Union at the AU headquarters in Ethiopia's capital Addis Ababa from Nov. 17 to 18. Ahmed stressed that "digitization is important for Africa's development," given the various significant opportunities that would be presented through digital economies for the continent, with the right regulations and safeguards put in place. The Digital Identity for the 2030 Agenda and Agenda 2063 high-level meeting, co-hosted by the UN Economic Commission for Africa (ECA) and the AU Commission, discusses opportunities, risks and lessons for digital identification in the African context, as well as on the need for Africa to embark on a digital identification drive. Ahmed also emphasized that it is critical for Africa to optimize opportunities presented through digitization for enhanced trade and movement of people, within the framework of e-governance initiatives. According to the ECA, while few African countries have already made progress in developing digital ID systems as a basis for legal IDs, "Africa as a whole is yet to fully harness the benefits of digital ID." Executive Secretary of ECA Vera Songwe recently announced that the organization and its partners were embarking on a digital ID initiative to support the harmonization and implementation of digital identification platforms in Africa. According to Songwe, leveraging the ongoing technological revolution on the continent, digital ID will enhance inclusion as well as to facilitate trade in the context of the Africa Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA). "Africa cannot continue to make policy in the blind because we do not have the data on our people. The benefits of digital identification are immense and these include political and economic inclusion," said Songwe. The joint high-level meeting was organized to help member states accelerate the attainment of Africa's Agenda 2063 and the UN 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. Source: Xinhua| 2018-11-18 18:42:39|Editor: xuxin Video Player Close MAIDAN SHAHR, Afghanistan, Nov. 18 (Xinhua) -- At least two people were killed and 13 others sustained injuries after a mortar mine fired by militants struck a wedding party in Jalriz district of Afghanistan's eastern Wardak province on Saturday, provincial government spokesman Abdul Rahman Mangal said Sunday. The deadly incident, according to the official, took place at 4:30 p.m. local time Saturday when the Taliban militants fired a mortar mine which slammed a residential house where a wedding party was underway. Two civilians were killed and and 13 others injured, the official said. Taliban militants have not claimed responsibility for the attack. Source: Xinhua| 2018-11-18 19:07:44|Editor: xuxin Video Player Close by Habtamu Liben ADDIS ABABA, Nov. 18 (Xinhua) -- As African leaders gathered at the headquarters of the African Union (AU) in Ethiopia's capital Addis Ababa, they are urged to reinforce the momentum to realize the union's financial autonomy from its donors and development partners. The 11th extraordinary summit of the AU, which started on Saturday in Addis Ababa, primarily aimed at advancing the institutional reform of the 55-member union. In the two-day session, the AU heads of state and government are expected to consider detailed proposals for making the AU Commission a more effective and performance-based institution, which is at the heart of the reform. "The purpose of this extraordinary summit is to advance the institutional reform of our union. Events on our continent and across the world continue to confirm the urgency and necessity of this project," said Rwandan President Paul Kagame, who is also current chair of the AU. Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed, addressing the assembly for the first time, also urged political commitment of African leaders to fully implementing the financing decision, which he said "remains the heart of the reform." At the core of the AU reform process is the design and establishment of a sustainable financing mechanism to ensure that the AU not only stands firmly on its own feet but can also shape and drive its agenda, Ahmed noted. The two leaders' comments were also shared by experts, who stressed that the AU, as a continental organization, should serve Africa's common concern and defend the interests of Africa effectively. "There is no question that the AU needs to be self-reliant in financing its operations through membership contributions if it is going to retain its independence in its decision-making, autonomous from donors," said Costantinos Bt. Costantinos, who served as an economic adviser to the AU and the UN Economic Commission for Africa. Costantinos told Xinhua on Sunday that "a continental political agency must be self-financing if it is to be free from the dominant conditionality that superpowers impose on it." Costantinos, also professor of public policy at the Addis Ababa University in Ethiopia, stressed that the "AU Commission must address its institutional challenges before member states can believe in its ability to lead the continent out of conflicts and poverty." The AU Commission has recently embarked on reducing its financial expenditures so as to minimize its dependency on partner funds. During the 31st Ordinary Session of the AU Summit in Nouakchott, Mauritania, in July this year, the AU approved a budget of 681.5 million U.S. dollars for the financial year 2019. The approved budget represents a record 12 percent decrease as compared with that of the previous years. The 2019 budget, excluding the peace-support operations, expects the contribution from member states to reach 66 percent while 34 percent is projected to be secured from the development partners. AU member states' contribution to the continental bloc's budget has over the past years increased, to 14 percent in 2017, up from just 3 percent in 2012, according to AU figures. Costantinos, however, stressed that the current amount of contribution is still low and insignificant, and should be augmented so as to realize the AU's financial autonomy. "The AU fund, if at all raised voluntarily by member states, can actually finance its entire operations without the need for donor funds," Costantinos told Xinhua. At the 27th AU Summit in Rwanda in 2016, a financing proposal was adopted to direct all AU member states to implement a 0.2 percent levy on eligible imports from a non-AU member countries. The financing proposal, which aspires to create an equitable and predictable source of financing for the AU and to reduce dependency on partner funds, mainly envisaged to cover 100 percent of the AU's operational budget, 75 percent of its program budget and 25 percent of its peace funding. Source: Xinhua| 2018-11-18 19:22:46|Editor: xuxin Video Player Close BANGKOK, Nov. 18 (Xinhua) -- Several former Thai cabinet members have joined a brand-new party which plans to launch a large-scale campaign to support Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha as head of post-election government. Those former cabinet members, who had served varied ministerial portfolios over the last several years, have eventually turned themselves into defectors of their former bosses, namely former prime ministers of Thaksin Shinawatra and Yingluck Shinawatra, both currently in self-exile overseas. They include Suriya Juangroongruangkit, Somsak Thepsuthin, Santi Promphat and Preecha Rengsomboonsuk. Led by Suriya and Somsak, those veteran politicians and dozens of others enrolled themselves at Sunday's meeting at a Bangkok hotel as members of Palang Pracharath (power of the people of state) Party headed by today's Industry Minister Uttama Savanayana as party leader and Commerce Minister Sontirat Sontijirawong as party secretary general. Two other members of the current cabinet have earlier joined the pro-Prayut party, namely Science and Technology Minister Suvit Maesincee and Prime Minister's Office Minister Kobsak Pootrakul. Suriya and Somsak have quietly joined hands with today's Deputy Prime Minister Somkid Jatusripitak, who had been another member of the previous Thaksin cabinets, to form the so-called Three Friends Group which has been instrumental in the recruiting of veteran politicians into the Palang Pracharath camp. Nonetheless, Suriya and Somsak declined to either confirm or deny speculation in the Thai media that they have planned over the last several months to help Prayut retain his premiership following the general election, tentatively scheduled for February 24, 2019. Source: Xinhua| 2018-11-18 20:07:53|Editor: Li Xia Video Player Close Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte speaks during an interview with Chinese media in Manila, the Philippines, Nov. 7, 2018. (Xinhua/Rouelle Umali) by Yuan Mengchen, Zheng Xin, Dario Agnote MANILA, Nov. 18 (Xinhua) -- Chinese President Xi Jinping's visit to the Philippines later this week is expected to bring the relations between the two neighboring Asian countries "a knot higher," Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte said. The current relations between Beijing and Manila have reached an "apex" and are like a flower in full bloom, Duterte told the Chinese media in a recent interview. China-Philippines relations are moving along the fast track and gearing up for a stronger development under efforts of the two sides. The past two years have seen frequent high-level exchanges, and dialogue and consultation mechanisms between the two nations have been revived in areas including foreign affairs, defense, energy, economy and trade, agriculture, fishery, science and technology. Besides, the Philippines is reaping the economic rewards of growing trade with and investments from China after Duterte's government decided to cultivate fruitful ties with Beijing. "It (China) is encouraging us to send more what we can," Duterte said, adding that the renewed ties resulted in the lifting of the restrictions on trade. Figures from the Chinese government show that the trade volume between China and the Philippines in 2017 topped 50 billion U.S. dollars, which made China the Philippines' No. 1 trading partner and import origin, and the fourth largest export market. Philippine exports to China grew by 10.5 percent to 19.2 billion dollars in 2017. The tourism sector also benefited, with government data showing a growing number of Chinese tourist arrivals in the past three years. From 490,000 in 2015 and 675,000 Chinese tourists in 2016, the number posted a significant increase in 2017 with 968,000 tourist arrivals. The tally of Chinese tourists to the Philippines in the first three quarters of 2018 has exceeded the full-year total in 2017, reaching over 972,000. Moreover, China and the Philippines have contributed to regional stability by working closely to combat illicit drugs, terrorism and cybercrimes. Duterte noted that China has helped the Philippines deal with terrorists without asking for any favor, saying China has given help and support wholeheartedly with no strings attached. "We will improve our relationship in trade and commerce. Second, close (defense) relationship. Third, a cooperation to improve the conditions of our international seas to eliminate piracy," Duterte said. The Philippine president also stressed the need to explore more people-to-people interactions, saying the bilateral relationship has reached "a positive plateau," and he wants it to remain that way. At the invitation of Duterte, Xi is set to pay a state visit to the Philippines on Nov. 20-21. Duterte said he took great pride in Xi's upcoming visit, adding that his little daughter Kitty is studying Chinese as a foreign language, and he might ask her to sing a Chinese song for Xi. Source: Xinhua| 2018-11-18 20:12:54|Editor: xuxin Video Player Close KABUL, Nov. 18 (Xinhua) -- Taliban militants in fighting against government forces have suffered casualties in the northern region as over three dozen of the group's fighters were killed in Kunduz and Faryab provinces, officials said Sunday. The government forces, in fresh crackdown on the Taliban outfit, launched massive operations against the positions of the armed group in Dasht-e-Archi district of Kunduz province in the wee hours of Sunday, and so far 30 insurgents had been killed and 20 others injured, district governor Nasrudin Nazari said. Backed by fighting aircrafts, the operations, according to Nazari, had led to recapture of several villages and would last until the district is cleansed of the armed militants. Taliban militants haven't commented on the reports. The government forces also targeted Taliban positions in Sar-e-Hawz area of Pasthtonkot district in Faryab province late Saturday night, killing eight fighters including a local commander and wounding 10 others, an army spokesman in the northern region Mohammad Hanif Rezai said. Nevertheless, the Taliban outfit, in counter-offensive, stormed a security checkpoint in Shinkai district of the southern Zabul province early on Sunday, killing one police personnel and taking away 10 more policemen to an unknown location, provincial police chief Mohammad Mustafa Mayar said. Both sides have stepped up activities to gain more ground ahead of snowfall in the mountainous country and the Afghan government has issued order to security forces recently to increase pressure on the armed opposition groups. Source: Xinhua| 2018-11-18 20:12:55|Editor: xuxin Video Player Close TEHRAN, Nov. 18 (Xinhua) -- Iran and Iraq are in talks to finalize a currency swap agreement in a bid to boost trade ties between the two neighboring countries, a trade official was quoted as saying by Tasnim news agency on Sunday. Iraq is a lucrative market for Iranian goods, and Iranian exports to the Arab country have increased by 30 percent over the past seven months, Yahya Ale-Eshaq, chairman of Iran-Iraq Chamber of Commerce said. In the mentioned period, goods worth about 6 billion U.S. dollars have been exported from Iran to Iraq, Ale-Eshaq said. He stressed the necessity to finalize a monetary pact between Tehran and Baghdad, saying the central banks of the two countries have held talks to sign a currency swap deal. A currency swap, also known as a cross-currency swap, is an off-balance sheet transaction in which two parties exchange principal and interest in different currencies. The purpose of a currency swap is to hedge exposure to exchange rate risk or reduce the cost of borrowing a foreign currency. Iran's main exports to the neighboring country include agricultural products, foodstuff and fruits such as watermelon, tomato and cucumber. Other Iranian exports to Iraq include canned food, tomato paste, chicken, egg, meat, construction materials, steel and evaporators. Iranian President Hassan Rouhani said Saturday that his country would try to raise the level of annual trade between the two neighbors despite the amounting pressures of the United States against the Islamic republic. "The economic trade between the two countries hits about 12 billion U.S. dollars (per year) and, through bilateral efforts, we can raise this figure to 20 billion dollars," Rouhani said in a meeting with the visiting Iraqi President Barham Salih. Source: Xinhua| 2018-11-18 20:22:58|Editor: xuxin Video Player Close ADDIS ABABA, Nov. 18 (Xinhua) -- The prime ministers of Ethiopia and Egypt, Abiy Ahmed and Mostafa Madbouly, on Sunday agreed to further strengthen the "excellent" ties between the two African countries. The two leaders met on the margins of the 11th extraordinary summit of the African Union (AU), which is underway at the headquarters of the AU in Ethiopian capital Addis Ababa from Nov. 17 to 18, according to the Ethiopian Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Ahmed, who dubbed the existing cooperation between the River Nile-bounded countries as "excellent," also stressed on the importance of further strengthening their mutually beneficial cooperation. "Noting that Ethiopia and Egypt have had excellent relations both at country and leadership level, the two sides further agreed to cascade this excellent relationship down to enhanced people-to-people ties," the statement from the ministry reads. The prime ministers also agreed to "expedite the ongoing tripartite technical consultations among Ethiopia, Sudan and Egypt." The tripartite technical consultations mainly concerns the construction of the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD), which Ethiopia is building on the Blue Nile River, a major tributary to the world's longest river that originates from Ethiopia and shared among the three countries. The GERD, which will be Africa's largest dam upon completion with a total volume of 74,000 million cubic meters, has been a major issue in bilateral relations since ts start in April 2011. While Ethiopia and Sudan previously reached mutual consensus on the construction of the dam, Egypt has frequently expressed its concern that the dam would affect its share of the river's water. The three countries formed a tripartite committee back in 2012 to create understanding and look into the benefits and impacts the project. Source: Xinhua| 2018-11-18 20:22:58|Editor: xuxin Video Player Close TEHRAN, Nov. 18 (Xinhua) -- The old air quality monitoring systems in Iran's capital Tehran will be replaced with new instruments from Japan, Eghtesdonline news website reported on Sunday. The project is part of cooperation between Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) and Tehran Municipality to reduce air pollution in the capital city. The instruments, imported from Japan, will replace Tehran air quality control infrastructure being used for at least 15 years. The new devices will be used for analyzing the emissions released in the air, categorizing them based on the type of pollutants, and identifying their sources in Tehran metropolitan. JICA will also help Tehran Municipality launch a diesel engine emission test center for buses, minibuses, and trucks in Tehran. Several other joint projects between JICA and Tehran Municipality are to be launched in the next two years, said Yukiharu Kobayashi, head of JICA office in Tehran. Besides the air quality monitoring systems, portable emission measurement systems will be supplied for vehicles that use gasoline and compressed natural gas (CNG). A chemical analysis laboratory fitted with high-tech devices such as advanced microscopes will also be set up in Tehran, according to the report. Iran's President Hassan Rouhani (R) meets with Iraq's President Barham Salih in Tehran, Iran, November 17, 2018. (Iranian Official President website) TEHRAN, Nov. 18 (Xinhua) -- Iran and Iraq are in talks to finalize a currency swap agreement in a bid to boost trade ties between the two neighboring countries, a trade official was quoted as saying by Tasnim news agency on Sunday. Iraq is a lucrative market for Iranian goods, and Iranian exports to the Arab country have increased by 30 percent over the past seven months, Yahya Ale-Eshaq, chairman of Iran-Iraq Chamber of Commerce said. In the mentioned period, goods worth about 6 billion U.S. dollars have been exported from Iran to Iraq, Ale-Eshaq said. He stressed the necessity to finalize a monetary pact between Tehran and Baghdad, saying the central banks of the two countries have held talks to sign a currency swap deal. A currency swap, also known as a cross-currency swap, is an off-balance sheet transaction in which two parties exchange principal and interest in different currencies. The purpose of a currency swap is to hedge exposure to exchange rate risk or reduce the cost of borrowing a foreign currency. Iran's main exports to the neighboring country include agricultural products, foodstuff and fruits such as watermelon, tomato and cucumber. Other Iranian exports to Iraq include canned food, tomato paste, chicken, egg, meat, construction materials, steel and evaporators. Iranian President Hassan Rouhani said Saturday that his country would try to raise the level of annual trade between the two neighbors despite the amounting pressures of the United States against the Islamic republic. "The economic trade between the two countries hits about 12 billion U.S. dollars (per year) and, through bilateral efforts, we can raise this figure to 20 billion dollars," Rouhani said in a meeting with the visiting Iraqi President Barham Salih. Source: Xinhua| 2018-11-18 20:38:01|Editor: xuxin Video Player Close BUDAPEST, Nov. 18 (Xinhua) -- The Hungarian regional oil company MOL was surprised by the fact that its President-CEO Zsolt Hernadi has been put back on the wanted list of Interpol, according to a statement published here on Sunday. "The decision of the Interpol Executive Committee to put Zsolt Hernadi on the red circular list of Interpol was a surprise in Hungary," the company said in a statement which was issued as a reaction to the declaration of the Ministry of Interior of Croatia, who announced on Saturday that Hernadi has been put back on the wanted list of Interpol. Croatia has been accusing Hernadi of corruption with former Croatian Prime Minister Ivo Sanader in the acquisition of Croatian oil company INA by MOL. "The Interpol Executive Board decided today in Dubai for the benefit of Croatia and allowed the full return of Interpol international search warrant for Zsolt Hernadi," the Croatian Ministry of Interior said. Mol added: "The judgment does not take into account the 2016 United Nations decision that there was no offense and of the Hungarian court's decision in August 2018, which decided not to execute the European arrest warrant issued by Croatia because, according to the court, the antecedents and circumstances made the MOL Group's President-CEO unable to count on a fair trial in Croatia." "This decision was also a surprise because, since 2014, Croatia has made no innovations in its claims. It is regrettable that Croatia still does not respect the decisions of international tribunals and continues to strive to achieve its specific objectives by completely ignoring unfavorable substantive judgments," according to Mol. Hernadi had previously been removed from the Interpol's wanted list, but in August, Croatia asked again Interpol to renew the warrant previously issued against the president-CEO of Mol. According to the Croatian Ministry of Interior, Croatia and Hungary have been able to substantiate their justifications in writing, after three-party consultations had taken place between Interpol, Croatia and Hungary. Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban also commented the case: "So far, I have pursued the strategy as Prime Minister that the Mol conflict was considered by Hungary as an economic and trade problem between the two societies and not an intergovernmental issue." His comments were published on his official website on Sunday. "I tried to explain that if we raised the problem of MOL in relations between Croatian and Hungarian states to an intergovernmental level, this would justify a more energetic action on the part of the Hungarian State, which would ruin Croatian-Hungarian relations," he warned. Source: Xinhua| 2018-11-18 20:43:02|Editor: Li Xia Video Player Close BEIJING, Nov. 18 (Xinhua) -- China's Supreme People's Procuratorate (SPP) has published three cases showing the violation of juvenile rights, including child molestation, rape and abuse. Such cases are supposed to act as guides for procuratorial organs to better handle similar cases. In one case, a suspect surnamed Luo threatened a 13-year-old girl by online chatting and forced the girl to send him naked pictures via the Internet. Luo was sentenced to two years imprisonment. "As the case illustrates, child molesters using cyber tools, in which no direct physical contact is involved, can be charged with child molestation," the SPP said. In another case, a school teacher surnamed Qi was sentenced to life imprisonment for raping and molesting several children. In one case involving child abuse, a woman surnamed Yu was prosecuted for beating her stepdaughter. "When victims are incapable of filing lawsuits in such cases, procuratorial organs should initiate public prosecutions in time," the SPP said. Certain information concerning the victims' identities was omitted in the disclosure to protect their privacy, according to the SPP. Source: Xinhua| 2018-11-18 20:43:03|Editor: xuxin Video Player Close NEW DELHI, Nov. 18 (Xinhua) -- At least 12 people were killed and many others injured on Sunday after a bus carrying passengers skidded off mountainous road and fell into a deep gorge in northern Indian state of Uttarakhand, officials said. Source: Xinhua| 2018-11-18 21:23:10|Editor: yan Video Player Close Chinese President Xi Jinping arrives in Bandar Seri Begawan for a state visit to Brunei on Nov. 18, 2018. (Xinhua/Yan Yan) BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN, Nov. 18 (Xinhua) -- Chinese President Xi Jinping arrived here Sunday for a state visit to Brunei, the first by a Chinese head of state in 13 years to the Southeastern Asian country. Xi was warmly welcomed by senior officials of Brunei at the airport. On behalf of the Chinese government and the Chinese people, Xi extended sincere greetings and best wishes to the Brunei government and its people. Xi stressed that China and Brunei are close neighbors across the sea, and also friends and partners who trust each other, as the two sides have a long history of friendly exchanges. Since the establishment of diplomatic ties 27 years ago, the two countries have been treating each other as equals, and scored deepening political mutual trust and fruitful results in various cooperations, which brought tangible benefits to the two peoples and made positive contributions to peace and prosperity in the region, said Xi. He expected to carry forward bilateral traditional friendship, jointly outline a blueprint for the development of bilateral relations in the new era, and uplift the China-Brunei good-neighborly friendship to a new high through the visit. It is the second stop of Xi's ongoing Asia-Pacific tour. He has paid a state visit to Papua New Guinea, met with leaders from Pacific island countries that have diplomatic ties with China and attended the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation Economic Leaders' Meeting in Papua New Guinea's capital city of Port Moresby. Upon his departure from Port Moresby Sunday afternoon, Papua New Guinea's Deputy Prime Minister Charles Abel with other senior officials saw the Chinese president off at the airport. After Xi's stay in Brunei, he will fly to the Philippines for a state visit. Source: Xinhua| 2018-11-18 21:33:12|Editor: xuxin Video Player Close KAMPALA, Nov. 18 (Xinhua) -- At least five people have been confirmed dead in Uganda's capital Kampala and the central district of Wakiso following a heavy downpour that triggered flooding on Sunday morning, a police spokesperson said. Deputy police spokesperson Patrick Onyango told Xinhua that a commercial motorcycle rider and a pedestrian were washed away in Bweyogerere and another killed along Gayaza road in Wakiso by strong floods. One person was killed in Kalerwe and another electrocuted in Kyebando due to poor connections in Kampala, following the rains that lasted four hours. "We have recorded some deaths and destruction of property in Kampala and Wakiso. Several roads were cut off and impassable," said Onyango. In September, Uganda National Meteorological Authority issued an alert that heavy rains, coupled with flooding, thunderstorms and lightening, could lead to loss of lives and destruction of property. The authority said that the mountainous eastern and western parts of the country may experience landslides as the rain season peaks. At least 46 people were killed last month by landslides in the mountainous eastern district of Bududa following torrential rains. Mountainous eastern Uganda occasionally experiences landslides during the rainy season, and the worst was recorded in 2010 when landslides killed at least 300 people and left thousands homeless. Source: Xinhua| 2018-11-18 21:43:13|Editor: xuxin Video Player Close ADEN, Yemen, Nov. 18 (Xinhua) -- Unidentified gunmen on Sunday shot dead a senior official from the Yemeni security forces backed by the United Arab Emirates (UAE) in the southern port city of Aden, a government official told Xinhua. A group of masked gunmen wearing military uniforms opened a barrage of bullets at Col. Fahed Ghramah who was leaving his house in Aden's neighborhood of Enma, killing him instantly, the government source said on condition of anonymity. Ghramah had led a massive anti-terror operation against strongholds of the al-Qaida group in the neighboring southern province of Abyan in the past months, the source added. Security forces arrived at the scene after the attack and launched an investigation into the incident, the Aden-based government source revealed. A source from Aden's security command strongly condemned Ghramah's assassination and pledged to take immediate measures to bring the perpetrators to justice. No group has claimed responsibility for the drive-by shooting, but Yemeni sources accused the Yemen-based al-Qaida branch and the Islamic State group of being behind such attacks. Government officials, including high-ranking security commanders and intelligence officers, have been the prime targets of kidnapping and armed attacks in recent days. The impoverished Arab country has been locked into a civil war since the Iran-backed Shiite Houthi rebels overran much of the country militarily and seized all northern provinces, including the capital Sanaa, in 2014. Saudi Arabia is leading an Arab military coalition that intervened in Yemen in 2015 to support the government of President Abd-Rabbu Mansour Hadi after Houthi rebels forced him into exile. Source: Xinhua| 2018-11-18 22:08:21|Editor: xuxin Video Player Close NEW DELHI, Nov. 18 (Xinhua) -- At least 12 people were killed and 13 others injured on Sunday after a passenger bus skidded off the road and falls into a gorge in northern Indian state of Uttarakhand, police said. The accident took place near Damta in Uttarkashi district, about 100 km north of the capital city of Uttar Pradesh. "In a tragic road accident here today 12 people were killed and 13 others injured after a bus skidded off road and fell into a 150-feet gorge," a local government official said. "The injured were immediately removed to nearest medical facility and the critically injured were airlifted to Dehradun." Following the accident locals and police teams rushed to the spot to carry out rescue work. Senior police officials rushed to the spot to oversee the rescue work. "We are on the spot retrieving bodies from the gorge. Some have been retrieved and search for others is underway," the official said. Police have registered a case and ordered investigations into the accident The cause of the accident was not immediately known. Police said the private bus was ferrying local passengers on an inter-district route. Uttarakhand Chief Minister Trivendra Singh Rawat expressed grief over the loss of lives in the accident and directed the district administration to provide assistance to the injured. Deadly road accidents are common in India often caused due to overloading, bad condition of roads and reckless driving. Officials say on an average over 400 deaths take place every day in India due to road accidents. Source: Xinhua| 2018-11-18 22:23:23|Editor: xuxin Video Player Close YAOUNDE, Nov. 18 (Xinhua) -- Two staff members of the University of Buea in Cameroon's war-torn English-speaking Southwest region have been kidnapped, vice-chancellor of the university Ngomo Horace Manga said in a statement late Saturday. George Ongey, of the university's Research and Cooperation Office, was abducted on Nov. 10 and Doumta Charles, head of service for records of the Faculty of Health Sciences, was abducted on Nov.16, Manga said. "The university is highly disappointed by these acts which are causing hardship and grief to the families of the abductees and the university communities," Manga said in the statement without mentioning who was responsible for the kidnapping. "These acts are meant to intimidate, create fear and panic among staff and students and disrupt the smooth functioning of the academic year," Manga said. The University of Buea is Cameroon's biggest Anglophone university. No one has yet claimed responsibility for the abduction. In early November, the government accused separatists of kidnapping 79 children, two teachers and the driver of a private school in Northwest region; separatists have insisted that most of the kidnappings are staged by the government to tarnish their image internationally. Armed separatists fighting for the "independence" of the two Anglophone regions of Northwest and Southwest in Cameroon have ordered the closure of schools in the regions. Local authorities said separatists have torched more than 100 schools that refuse to close. Source: Xinhua| 2018-11-18 22:23:24|Editor: Li Xia Video Player Close MOSCOW, Nov. 18 (Xinhua) -- Russia companies signed a string of contracts and agreements in various fields with their Chinese partners at the China International Import Expo (CIIE), which further strengthens business ties between Russia and China, a Russian expert said. "We believe that the results of the participation are positive...Russian companies and their products were in great demand, as colleagues say. This is an undoubted success," Andrei Slepnyov, director general of the Russian Export Center (REC), said in a recent interview with Xinhua. The CIIE, held in Shanghai on Nov.5-10, is the first of its kind, which attracted over 2,800 companies from 130 countries and regions. Slepnyov said a total of more than 100 Russian companies took part in the CIIE, as well as in the parallel business missions. Important agreements and contracts were sealed in fields of food supplies, high-tech products, medical supplies and equipment, cosmetics and health products, as well as jewelry, including the purchase of Russian agro-industrial products worth about 500 million U.S. dollars by China's Sichuan, Hubei and Gansu provinces, according to Slepnyov. "I should note that the importance of these agreements lies primarily in the fact that they will allow to create a trade infrastructure for the promotion of Russian exports in these provinces," Slepnyov said. The REC also held a number of working meetings with Chinese partners on expanding e-commerce, interregional and interbank cooperation. At the CIIE, Chinese e-commerce giant Alibaba Group announced its plan to bring 200 billion dollars worth of products from over 120 countries and regions into China in the next five years. "As a national export development institute, the REC is ready to become a strategic partner in the implementation of the import project of Alibaba Group in Russia," Slepnyov said. An REC office will start operating in Shanghai by the end of this year, he added. "Our task is to create on the territory of the People's Republic of China a full-fledged integrated system for ensuring Russian-Chinese trade," he said. Speaking of the CIIE on the whole, Slepnyov said it showed China's determination to continue the policy of opening its market to foreign goods and capital, which contributes to "free trade and equal access to markets in the competitive struggle." Such a large-scale event once again demonstrates China's focus on mutually beneficial cooperation with foreign partners and the REC is ready to support such initiatives in the future, he said. Source: Xinhua| 2018-11-18 22:53:28|Editor: yan Video Player Close TIRANA, Nov. 18 (Xinhua) -- Albania ranks among the top 25 countries in the world and the highest in Europe for fuel prices, the country's Confederation of Industry announced on Sunday in a statement for the media. The Confederation of Industry in Albania expressed the concern about the increase of fuel price in Albania, although it is decreasing in the international market. According to the Confederation of Industry, this occurs because state institutions have played no regulatory and controlling role. "In the international markets, the oil price in October dropped by 10 dollars per ton, meanwhile in our country the opposite happened, where fuel increased by 10 Albanian Leke (about 0.091 U.S. dollars) per liter," read the statement. Moreover, the same downward trend of fuel prices in international markets is not reflected in the domestic market, which are clear indicators of the low degree of competition, it noted. In the 2019 fiscal package, the Confederation has officially asked for the establishment and functioning of the Fuel Regulatory Entity responsible for the price ceiling, as well as for the reduction by 50 percent in the turnover tax, which has today reached the amount of 120 million euros per year (about 130 million U.S. dollars). Source: Xinhua| 2018-11-18 23:03:31|Editor: Yang Yi Video Player Close A Lebanese student sings during a Chinese singing contest in Beirut, Lebanon, Nov. 18, 2018. About 40 participants took part in the competition. The Lebanese students, whether university, middle or primary school ones, all have shown great enthusiasm for learning Chinese in recent years. (Xinhua/Bilal Jawich) by Dana Halawi BEIRUT, Nov. 18 (Xinhua) -- Lebanese students were excited on Sunday to take part in the Ambassador's Cup, a Chinese singing contest, to show their skills to the audience. Around 40 students, aged between six and 25, participated in the contest, showing the growing interest of the Lebanese people in the Chinese language. "I have always wanted to learn Chinese which is a very important language," 18-year-old Martine Mardini told Xinhua. "I have always had a great interest in the Asian culture," she added. Mardini, who won the first place in the contest for students of her age, studies Chinese language at the Lebanese University. The language is not easy, but with practice it becomes easier, she said, adding that she participated in the contest with the encouragement from her teacher. "It is a challenge I wanted to take. I worked a lot to memorize the song but I am very happy about it," Mardini said. Likewise, 25-year-old Elsa Maria Karam said she felt very excited about the singing contest. "I participated to get to know other people interested in the Chinese culture," said Karam, who has been learning Chinese for four years. "I am applying for jobs in different parts of China," she said, adding that she is interested in working in management consultancy in China. Meanwhile, Gina Dagher, also a contestant, said she participated in the contest because she loves "to sing in Chinese and to see others singing as well." Dagher, who started learning Chinese at a younger age, does not see the language so difficult as others. "I find it very easy to learn Chinese. I am planning to continue learning this language," the nine-year-old said. Eliana Ibrahim, managing director at the International Union of Chambers and Associations, highlighted the fun and interest of the contest. The contest allowed children and students to sing happily while practising the Chinese language, she said, adding that such competitions are more valuable than keeping asking students to write essays. Chinese Ambassador to Lebanon Wang Kejian agreed that such an event encourages Lebanese students to learn the Chinese language, and increases their interest in the Chinese culture. The Lebanese students, whether university, middle or primary school ones, all have shown great enthusiasm for learning Chinese in recent years, Wang told Xinhua. "We think this is a very good step to enhance the culture exchange and to strengthen the friendship between the two countries," he noted. In addition, businessmen in Lebanon are also showing interest in the Chinese language, according to Ibrahim. She attributed the Lebanese interest in the Chinese language to the increasing number of business events between the two countries in the past few years. Bilateral relations over the past years have evolved in a remarkable way, witnessing increased visits from both countries aimed at boosting ties on all levels. "When you learn the Chinese language you also learn the culture which helps you in better dealing with the Chinese people on the business level," said Ibrahim. Source: Xinhua| 2018-11-18 23:43:41|Editor: yan Video Player Close DUBAI, Nov. 18 (Xinhua) -- The United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Pakistan on Sunday reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening their historical ties and boosting cooperation in various fields. Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, crown prince of Abu Dhabi and deputy supreme commander of UAE Armed Forces, and visiting Prime Minister Imran Khan held a meeting in Abu Dhabi, during which they "discussed bilateral relations between the UAE and Pakistan and means of developing them across various sectors," reported state-run Emirates News Agency (WAM). Sheikh Mohamed expressed his hope that the Pakistani delegation's visit will contribute to strengthening the ties between the two countries. They two leaders reviewed areas of bilateral cooperation, and discussed the prospects of enhancing cooperation in the trade and investment sectors, to best serve the interests of the two countries and their peoples, WAM reported. They also exchanged views on regional and international developments of mutual concern. Sheikh Mohamed said the UAE-Pakistan ties are based on a strong history of cooperation and respect, while expressing his hope that the bilateral ties will continue to prosper across all fields. He said the UAE "is invested in strengthening relations with Pakistan and advancing cooperation in various fields so as to attain sustainable development, peace and security, and promote the values of co-existence and tolerance across regional and global levels." For his part, Khan emphasized his country's drive to further develop and strengthen its ties with the UAE across multiple sectors, the WAM reported. The two sides also reiterated their support and cooperation efforts to confront the scourge of terrorism and extremism that threatens the security and stability of nations and peoples, the report added. This is Khan's second visit to the UAE in the past two months. UAE media reports quoted a Pakistani official as saying on Sunday that the Pakistani premier's visit was aimed at seeking financial assistance from the UAE, as part of his campaign to salvage Pakistani economic situation. Pakistan, facing a crisis of balance of payments, is actively seeking financial aid from friendly countries to deal with the tough economic challenges. Saudi Arabia has agreed to lend 3 billion U.S. dollars to Pakistan for a year and defer oil payment worth about 3 billion dollars. Meanwhile, Pakistan is also holding talks with the International Monetary Fund to secure a possible bailout package. Source: Xinhua| 2018-11-18 23:43:42|Editor: yan Video Player Close KIGALI, Nov. 18 (Xinhua) -- Rwandan authorities on Sunday vowed to take tough measures on offenders of traffic rules to curb the rising number of road accidents across the country. The new traffic law, which will soon be promulgated, introduces stringent penalties against abuse of traffic rules, Jean de Dieu Uwihanganye, minister of state in charge of transport in the Ministry of Infrastructure, said at the launch of the road safety week and celebrations marking Africa Road Safety Day in Kigali, capital city of Rwanda. He urged traffic police and all transport agencies to work together to ensure sanity prevails on Rwandan roads. "From now on, the police and the authorities in the transport sector will be acting tough on motorists caught violating traffic rules," he said. The number of road accidents is rising due to violation of traffic rules, Police Inspector General Dan Munyuza told the event. Between January and September this year, road accidents in the central African country claimed the lives of 437 people and injured 662 people, according to the Ministry of Infrastructure. Despite awareness campaigns, accidents caused by reckless driving persist, Munyuza said. Most of the reported accidents, especially in weekends, were related to drunk driving and violation of traffic rules, and 50 percent of them involve motorcycle taxi operators, cyclists and pedestrians, he said. African Road Safety Day, which falls on Nov. 18 and is observed across the continent, seeks to offer an opportunity to draw attention to road accidents and traffic safety. The day, launched on Nov. 18, 2012, in Ethiopia, has become an important tool in Africa's efforts to reduce road casualties, according to the World Health Organization. Source: Xinhua| 2018-11-19 00:13:46|Editor: Lu Hui Video Player Close ADDIS ABABA, Nov. 18 (Xinhua) -- The 11th extraordinary summit of the African Union (AU) wrapped up here on Sunday with decisions to advance the institutional reform of the 55-membeer pan-African grouping. The two-day summit, at the AU headquarters in Ethiopia's capital Addis Ababa, agreed to advance the ongoing reform by improving the effectiveness and efficiency of the AU Commission, by including the African Peer Review Mechanism (APRM) into the structure of the AU. It also addressed the division of labor between the regional economic communities (RECs) and the AU, and discussed stronger sanctions against member states that fail to make their statutory financial contributions on time. According to the chairperson of the AU Commission, Moussa Faki Mahamt, making the AU Commission a more effective and performance-based institution and the issue of financial autonomy are at the heart of the reform. The AU Commission is the secretariat of the union entrusted with executive functions, and the current commission is composed of 10 senior officials, including the chairperson, the deputy chairperson, and eight commissioners. As part of the institutional reform process, the just-concluded extraordinary summit has decided to reduce the number of officials of the AU commission to eight. The summit came up with a sanction regime against member states that fail to make their annual financial contributions to the continental body. "Today we have adopted a set of sanctions including a total suspension of a member state that can no longer participate in the meetings of the assembly or any meeting of the African Union," Faki told reporters on Sunday. The chairperson also stressed that "the first responsibility of a member state is to pay its contribution." Noting that some member countries are committed to do so while others are presently evaluating "the most flexible way" to make their expected shares, Faki said the 55-member union "wants to make sure that the payment is being paid on time." "We can't wait until the end of the financial year for payment to be made. There are sanctions," Faki stressed. In 2012, AU member states covered just 3 percent of the AU budget, which increased to 14 percent in 2017. The AU also officially launched a Peace Fund on Saturday. Source: Xinhua| 2018-11-19 00:28:49|Editor: yan Video Player Close BEIJING, Oct. 18 (Xinhua) -- The China National Coal Group Corporation (ChinaCoal) has inked medium-to-long-term coal supply deals with six centrally administered state-owned power producers. According to the contracts, between 2019 and 2023, ChinaCoal will provide more than 500 million tonnes of coal to China Huaneng Group Co. Ltd, China Huadian Corporation Ltd., State Power Investment Corporation Ltd., China Resources Power Holdings Co. Ltd. and SDIC Power Holdings Co. Ltd. In 2019, coal supply by ChinaCoal will reach 97 million tonnes, and subsequent annual supply will increase gradually, according to the contract. Between 2019 and 2021, the long-term contract price is set at 535 yuan per tonne. On this basis, an adjustment can be made every month. Between 2021 and 2023, prices will be set by market development. No price changes will occur if no policy adjustments are put in place. Source: Xinhua| 2018-11-19 01:08:59|Editor: yan Video Player Close ISLAMABAD, Nov. 18 (Xinhua) -- Pakistan's Federal Minister for Finance, Revenues, and Economic Affairs Asad Umar said on Sunday that the country is likely to receive the first tranche of aid worth 1 billion U.S. dollars from Saudi Arabia on Monday. Talking to local media in Islamabad, Asad Umar said that the second and the third tranche of the Saudi money are expected to reach Pakistan over the course of the next two months. Pakistan, which is facing a sever balance of payment crisis due to rising imports bill and shrinking exports, has reached out to different friendly countries in the last few months to receive some kind of bailout to keep its foreign exchange reserves in a healthy position. The depleting foreign exchange reserves have put tremendous pressure on the Pakistani rupees, which has plummeted by over 25 percent against U.S. dollar since Dec. 2017. Asad Umar said that his Saudi counterpart has given him the assurance of sending the first tranche of 1 billion U.S. dollars on Monday. Pakistan's Prime Minister Imran Khan and his economic team managed to clinch a financial package worth 6 billion U.S. dollars from Saudi Arabia last month, which included 3 billion U.S. dollars for the balance of payment support and another 3 billion U.S. dollars for import of oil on deferred payments. The Pakistani finance minister informed that the import of oil on deferred payments would start maturing from the next month, reiterating that the immediate balance of payment crisis was averted successfully after finance assistance from Saudi Arabia and other friendly countries. When asked about the primary reason behind going for a yet another bailout package from the International Monetary Fund (IMF), Asad Umar said that the Pakistani government wants to expedite the pace of economic growth and an IMF financial package will help it in this regard. A digger is seen as a slum is demolished, behind the Egyptian Radio and Television Union (ERTU) headquarters in the so-called "Maspero Triangle" in Cairo, Egypt, on Sept. 13, 2018. (Reuters file photo) CAIRO, Nov. 18 (Xinhua) -- Egypt is working to eradicate 80 percent of about 366 unsafe slums across the country by the end of this year and all of them by mid-2019, an Egyptian official said in a recent interview with Xinhua. "When President Abdel-Fattah al-Sisi took office in mid-2014, Egypt already had about 366 unsafe slums and more than 1,000 random marketplaces, while about 40 percent of the country's construction area was unplanned," said Khaled Siddiq, director of Egypt's Slum Development Fund (SDF). "These are the three categories of random buildings that we are concerned with and seek to eradicate," Siddiq explained. Sisi gave instructions in the second half of 2016 to eradicate dangerous and unsafe slums in the country within two years, according to Siddiq. The SDF belongs to the Egyptian cabinet and the prime minister is the head of its board of directors. A general view of a government-demolished slum behind Egyptian Radio and Television Union (ERTU) headquarters in the so-called "Maspero Triangle" in Cairo, Egypt, on Sept. 13, 2018. (Reuters file photo) Siddiq clarified that there are four types of unsafe slums. "The first type is the imminently dangerous slums including those subjected to rockslides or mountainous collapses. The second is the inconvenient homes including illegally built ones, those built of tinplates or wood and those with aluminum roofs," Siddiq said. The third type refers to unhealthy ones such as those built in highly polluted industrial areas, under high voltage power transmission lines or in swamp areas with polluted drinking water. The fourth type of slums, the SDF director said, refers to the ones with irregular ownership such as the slums illegally possessed for being built on other people's lands. Siddiq noted that there are 30 imminently dangerous slums across Egypt, with 26 in the capital Cairo, but their inhabitants have been moved to new buildings in the three-phase Asmarat housing project. Cairo's Ezbet Khair-Allah and Manshiyat Nasser neighborhoods are the biggest shantytowns in Egypt, he added. "There are also 1,103 random marketplaces in Egypt, including 134 in Cairo, 83 in nearby Giza and 84 in the coastal province of Alexandria," the official said, pointing out that the SDF has a center that gathers information and analyzes related data. He revealed that the fund has already finished the establishment of 12 new marketplaces and is currently studying the building of 26 others. "Sometimes reconstruction of the area of an eradicated slum is not available, as in cases of rockslides and mountainous collapses. We also don't rebuild lands of eradicated slums around railways and in some flood vulnerable areas," the SDF chief told Xinhua. "Another solution is to provide slum inhabitants with financial compensations to own apartments in the state social housing projects," he added. A laboror washes his face at a slum being demolished behind Egyptian Radio and Television Union (ERTU) headquarters in the so-called "Maspero Triangle" in Cairo, Egypt, on Sept. 13, 2018. (Reuters file photo) However, it is more difficult to develop the vast unplanned areas and have them equipped with proper services such as water, electricity, road networks and communications, Siddiq said. "The development of such unplanned areas needs some 350 billion Egyptian pounds (19.5 billion U.S. dollars) and about 10 years," he explained. The SDF also seeks to provide a decent life for the households moving from slums by building "an integrated system that includes constructional, cultural, environmental and economic development," Siddiq said. "Without working on the cultural, social and psychological aspects, the developed areas will turn into new slums," he noted. "We focus on building humans before building stone structures," the SDF director told Xinhua. Source: Xinhua| 2018-11-19 03:24:18|Editor: yan Video Player Close BUCHAREST, Nov. 18 (Xinhua) -- A Picasso signed painting, which might be one of the artworks stolen in 2012 from the Kunsthal Museum in Rotterdam, was found in Romanian eastern county of Tulcea, the country's anti-organized crime authorities announced on Sunday. "DIICOT investigates the circumstances in which a Picasso signed painting, worth about 800,000 euros (905,000 U.S. dollars), was found on Saturday evening in Tulcea County. The painting, which is part of a batch of seven works stolen in 2012 from a Dutch museum, is in the custody of the Romanian authorities and will be subject to expertise," said the Directorate for Investigating Organized Crime and Terrorism (DIICOT) in a press release. According to DIICOT, two people of Dutch nationality presented themselves at the Embassy of the Netherlands in Bucharest on Saturday night with the painting believed to be "Tete d'Arlequin (Harlequin's Head)" by Pablo Picasso stolen in 2012 by a group of Romanian thieves. The Home Affairs Attache of the Dutch Embassy soon notified the Romanian authorities. The person who found the painting is a Dutch writer of Romanian origin named Mira Feticu, who published in 2015 a novel inspired by the event at the Kunsthal Museum, dubbed "the theft of the century" by Dutch media. Feticu wrote on her social media account that she came specially to Romania to look for the painting after she received an anonymous letter in Romanian language indicating the place is where "Tete D'Arlequin" was hidden. The writer claimed that she reached the address indicated in the letter, searched in the bushes under a tree, and found under a stone a package containing the plastic wrapped painting. The Romanian thieves involved in the case were arrested and then sentenced in 2014, but the paintings were not found. The other stolen paintings were Matisse's "La Liseuse en Blanc et Jaune," Monet's "Waterloo Bridge, London" and "Charing Cross Bridge, London," Gauguin's "Femme Devant une Fenetre Ouverte," Meijer De Haan's "Autoportrait" and Lucian Freud's "Woman with Eyes Closed." Russian President Vladimir Putin (R) and Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe attend a meeting on the sidelines of the ASEAN-Russia Summit in Singapore on November 14, 2018. (SPUTNIK PHOTO) MOSCOW, Nov. 18 (Xinhua) -- The return to the 1956 Joint Declaration in the Russia-Japan peace treaty talks in no way implies an automatic transfer of Russian territories to Japan, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Sunday. "Over these days we have heard a great variety of different speculations, political guesses about some sort of a separate deal on the transfer of the islands and so on. This is not true and cannot be true," Peskov was quoted by Russian news agencies as saying on Rossiya-1 television channel. Russia and Japan have not signed a post-World War II peace treaty due to their rival claims to four Pacific islands, called the Southern Kurils in Russia and the Northern Territories in Japan. The four islands used to belong to Japan, which were seized by the Soviet Union after the war and were incorporated into Russia following the collapse of the Soviet Union. Tokyo maintains that Moscow illegally occupied those islands. On Wednesday, Russian President Vladimir Putin and Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe held talks on this issue in Singapore. "As the meeting progressed, Putin and Abe decided to continue it on the one-one-one format, and did so," Peskov said on the television channel. "After that, the foreign ministers and foreign policy aides were invited and ordered to take certain steps to intensify the bilateral dialogue on the peace treaty on the basis of the Soviet-Japanese Declaration of 1956," he added. According to the joint declaration, Russia agreed to return two of the islands after a bilateral peace treaty was signed, while Japan refused to sign such an agreement, insisting on the return of all four islands. "Naturally, a compromise will be needed. We can say it already that this compromise will not be in conflict with the national interests of either sides," Peskov said. The Kremlin spokesman emphasized that Moscow will take into account Japan's allied relations with the U.S. in the peace treaty talks. "Of course, it will be necessary to find an answer to this question during the talks. Without it, it is simply impossible to make any headway," he said. In September 2017, Putin and Abe agreed to conduct joint economic activities on the controversial islands and prioritized projects in aquaculture, electricity, greenhouse facilities, garbage disposal and tourism. Source: Xinhua| 2018-11-19 04:49:33|Editor: Shi Yinglun Video Player Close BUFFALO, the United States, Nov. 18 (Xinhua) -- A series of programs celebrating Chinese culture have attracted hundreds of students, parents and visitors at the International Education Week of the State University of New York at Buffalo (UB). The week-long celebrations, from Nov.12-16, culminated in an incredible show of "Amazing Chinese Opera" by the Confucius Institute of Chinese Opera at Binghamton University on Friday. Braving the coldness following a heavy snow, about 200 audience showed up at the evening performance. All of them were wowed by the delicate makeup, exquisite costumes and headwear, tumbling and acrobatic movements of the young Chinese and U.S. artists, Zhiqiang Liu, Director of the Confucius Institute at the University at Buffalo, told Xinhua. The opera show was one of six programs that Liu's institute contributed to UB's International Education Week, an annual initiative to celebrate and promote international education and exchange. Other activities the institute organized included an information session on Scholarships for study in China, a symposium in conjunction with the Office of Global Health Initiatives on Thursday on China and Global Health, a panel on "Career and Collaboration Development for International Students and Scholars," a film screening of "The Third Way of Love" and discussion of Chinese understandings of family and cultural values, in conjunction with the Graduate School of Education, an International Coffeehouse featuring Chinese calligraphy and other cultural activities, as well as food sampling from a local Chinese restaurant. In addition to its valuable role promoting and co-sponsoring teaching and research about Chinese language and culture at the university, the UB Confucius institute supports Chinese language teaching in K-12 schools by providing teachers from China in association with Confucius Institute Headquarters (Hanban) and with Confucius Classroom funding; and organizes cultural program about China at the university and throughout the Western New York region. In 2018, nearly 5,000 students throughout the Buffalo area studied Chinese language in programs supported by the institute. Source: Xinhua| 2018-11-19 05:09:36|Editor: yan Video Player Close JERUSALEM, Nov. 18 (Xinhua) -- Israeli government approved on Sunday 22 billion new shekels (about 5.94 billion U.S. dollars) cuts in all government ministries' budgets over a 17-year period. The cuts, one of the largest in Israel's history, were made to pay for higher pensions for police officers and prison guards. The cuts to all ministries' budgets will be 1.3 percent in 2019 and to be followed by 1.55 percent every year from 2020 to 2035. As part of the decision, a budget of half 1 billion shekels was approved to strengthen southern Israel. The region have witnessed for years rocket attacks by Hamas from the Gaza Strip. Another budget was also approved for the 2019 Eurovision Song Contest, which is to be held in May 2019 in the coastal city of Tel Aviv. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu noted that the additional salary for police officers "is very necessary and important, which stems from the need to pay the security forces for lack of tenure and employment protection." However, Attorney General Avichai Mandelblit warned that the cuts would significantly damage public services. Source: Xinhua| 2018-11-19 05:54:45|Editor: yan Video Player Close TRIPOLI, Nov. 18 (Xinhua) -- Libyan Deputy Prime Minister Abdussalam Kajman stressed on Sunday importance of the return of South Korean embassy and companies to Libya. Kajman made his remarks during a meeting with the South Korean Ambassador to Libya Choi Sung-soo in the capital Tripoli, where the two officials discussed bilateral cooperation. "Kajman stressed importance of the return of South Korean embassy and companies, which have contributed greatly to development projects in Libya," according to a statement issued by the deputy prime minister's information and communication office. According to the ambassador, the South Korean embassy was scheduled to return to Tripoli in September, but it failed to do so as new security arrangements in the city are still being implemented, the statement added. He also expressed keenness for the return of South Korean embassy and companies to Libya soon. Most foreign embassies and companies in Libya left the country in 2014 because of the violent clashes breaking out in Tripoli between rival armed groups, which led to the current political division in the country. Source: Xinhua| 2018-11-19 06:24:48|Editor: yan Video Player Close ALGIERS, Nov. 18 (Xinhua) -- Algerian authorities on Sunday said 93 children of different African nationalities were freed from human trafficking networks. Police Department and Social Assistance Bureau of Algiers announced in a statement that "Algerian security forces managed within a week to free 93 children of various African nationalities, including over 60 children from Niger, as they are exploited to raise money by begging in the capital Algiers." The source specified that the first operation was carried out five days ago, as 39 children were rescued from human trafficking gangs who used them to raise money by begging in the streets of the eastern outskirts of Algiers. The second operation, which took place on Thursday, freed another 54 children, 28 of whom were without their parents, as they were begging with two men from Niger, added the source. These children have been taken care of at the Social Assistance Homeless Center in upper Algiers, as they are in good physical and mental condition. Algeria has handed this year 10,000 illegal immigrants, including 7,000 children, to Niger. Source: Xinhua| 2018-11-19 06:29:49|Editor: yan Video Player Close AMMAN, Nov. 18 (Xinhua) -- Jordan's Lower House on Sunday endorsed an income tax bill, which is part of fiscal reforms Jordan is working on to offset the budget deficit, state-owned Petra News Agency reported. At a Lower House session, Jordanian Prime Minister Omar Razzaz said that the law needs to be passed, otherwise Jordan would be forced to pay higher interests rates on its debt. He added that Jordan is keen on reducing its high public debt, which according to latest figures stands at about 96 percent of the gross domestic product. "The new law is a necessary step to build a stronger economy that fuels growth and in line with national interests and priorities," he said. The tax bill exempts the annual income tax for households earning less than 20,000 Jordanian dinars per year (about 28,000 U.S. dollars) in 2019 and lowered it to 18,000 dinars in 2020. For individuals, the Lower House decided to exempt the annual income tax for individuals earning less than 10,000 dinars in 2019 and less than 9,000 dinars in 2020. The bill, which is part of reforms under a program with the International Monetary Fund, has been under national debate for a long time. Jordanians protested the previous drafts of the bill which increased the pressure on them, leading to the resignation of former Prime Minister Hani Mulki. Razzaz was appointed after Mulki's resignation and pledged to come up with a satisfactory bill. The new bill still needs to go to Jordan's Senate for approval. Source: Xinhua| 2018-11-19 06:34:50|Editor: yan Video Player Close CAIRO, Nov. 18 (Xinhua) -- Egyptian and Chinese media officials celebrated on Sunday the upcoming broadcast of a dubbed Arabic version of Chinese popular TV series "Ode to Joy" on Egyptian state TV. Held in Cairo to mark the growing media cooperation between Egypt and China, the ceremony was attended by Naila Farouk, head of the Egyptian state TV, Gao Jianmin, deputy minister of information at China's National Radio and Television Administration, Song Aiguo, Chinese ambassador to Egypt and others. The 42-episode "Ode to Joy," which will be broadcasted on Channel 2 of Egypt's state TV from Jan. 1 next year, tells the story of friendship between five Chinese young women who live on the same floor in a building in China's Shanghai city. Despite having different backgrounds including their ages, social status, personalities and careers, the five main characters become good friends and share interesting stories. Gao said during his speech at the ceremony that the positive media cooperation between the two countries is part of their comprehensive strategic partnership. "Broadcasting 'Ode to Joy' in Egypt is undoubtedly a new accomplishment in this field," said Gao. "Ode to Joy" is dubbed by China Radio International. It signed in September 2015 a broadcast agreement with the Egyptian state TV, through which Chinese TV dramas "Romance of Our Parents" and "Never Give Up Dodo" were aired in Egypt. Source: Xinhua| 2018-11-19 06:39:51|Editor: Li Xia Video Player Close A man sits with her daughter to take rest while they carry water bottles in Sanaa, Yemen, Nov. 19, 2018. Yemen's Houthi rebels on Sunday night announced halt of ballistic missile attack against Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates (UAE). (Xinhua/Mohammed Mohammed) SANAA, Nov. 18 (Xinhua) -- Yemen's Houthi rebels on Sunday night announced halt of ballistic missile attack against Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates (UAE). "We announce the halt of firing ballistic missile and drone attacks on Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates to drop any justification for their continued aggression or blockade, and we are ready to freeze and stop all other military operations," Mohammed Ali al-Houthi, chief of the so-called "the supreme revolutionary committee", said in a statement. He said the move came in response to demands by the United Nations envoy to Yemen Martin Griffiths who has asked his group to stop missile and drone attacks on Saudi Arabia and the UAE as a "show of the good will before heading to the peace talks." Al-Houthi also said his group is ready for the coming peace talks and ending the war. On Friday, Griffiths told the UN Security Council that he planned to bring the Yemeni warring parties together "soon" in Sweden. He also said the government and Houthis were about to conclude an agreement on exchanging prisoners and detainees. Saudi Arabia is leading an Arab military coalition that intervened in Yemen in 2015 to support the government of President Abd-Rabbu Mansour Hadi after the Houthi rebels forced him into exile and seized much of the country's north, including the capital Sanaa. Source: Xinhua| 2018-11-19 06:49:53|Editor: yan Video Player Close XICHANG, Nov. 19 (Xinhua) -- China sent two new satellites of the BeiDou Navigation Satellite System (BDS) into space on a Long March-3B carrier rocket from the Xichang Satellite Launch Center in Sichuan Province at 2:07 a.m. Monday. The satellites entered a medium earth orbit more than three hours later and will work with 17 other BDS-3 satellites already in space. They are also the 42nd and 43rd satellites of the BDS satellite family. With the successful launch, the basic BDS constellation deployment is complete. China plans to provide navigation services with the BDS-3 to the Belt and Road partner countries by the end of this year, marking a key step toward a global navigation service. Source: Xinhua| 2018-11-19 07:19:58|Editor: Yang Yi Video Player Close China sends two new satellites of the BeiDou Navigation Satellite System (BDS) into space on a Long March-3B carrier rocket from the Xichang Satellite Launch Center in Sichuan Province at 2:07 a.m. on Nov. 19, 2018. (Xinhua/Ju Zhenhua) XICHANG, Nov. 19 (Xinhua) -- China sent two new satellites of the BeiDou Navigation Satellite System (BDS) into space on a Long March-3B carrier rocket from the Xichang Satellite Launch Center in Sichuan Province at 2:07 a.m. Monday. The satellites entered a medium earth orbit more than three hours later and will work with 17 other BDS-3 satellites already in space. They are also the 42nd and 43rd satellites of the BDS satellite family. With the successful launch, the basic BDS constellation deployment is complete. China plans to provide navigation services with the BDS-3 to countries participating in the Belt and Road Initiative by the end of this year. "This is a key step for BDS developing from a domestic experimental system to a regional and then a global navigation system," said Yang Changfeng, chief designer of the BeiDou system. The positioning accuracy of the BDS-3 system has been improved to 2.5 meters to 5 meters, up to twice as high as the BDS-2 system, said Yang. Named after the Chinese term for the Big Dipper constellation, the BeiDou system started serving China in 2000 and the Asia-Pacific region in 2012. China plans to launch another six BDS-3 satellites to the medium earth orbits, three satellites to the inclined geosynchronous earth orbit and two satellites to the geostationary earth orbit from 2019 to 2020. The system will provide first-class services around the globe by the end of 2020. 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... Orange a anuntat ca intentioneaza sa preia un operator de cablu din Belgia Orange, cel mai mare operator de telecomunicatii din Franta, a anuntat marti ca intentioneaza sa preia o participatie de 75% din actiunile operatorului de cablu VOO SA din Belgia, in conformitate cu un acord care evalueaza aceasta firma la 1,8 [citeste mai departe] Sen. Cindy Hyde-Smith, R-Miss., speaks to supporters during an election night party in Jackson, Miss., earlier this month. She's in a Nov. 27 runoff against Mike Espy, who's seeking to become Mississippi's first black senator since Reconstruction. Read more The cold-blooded killing of Lamar Smith which occurred in broad daylight before a crowd of people outside the Lincoln County Courthouse in Brookhaven, Miss., on Aug. 13, 1955 is still considered an unsolved murder, but only in the most technical sense of the term. The truth is there wasn't much mystery about it, then or now. The 63-year-old local farmer and veteran of World War I, known as a fearless activist for his black community and for a seminal civil rights group called the Regional Council of Negro Leadership, crumpled from a gunshot in front of dozens of people, including the county sheriff, who saw a white farmer named Noah Smith leaving the scene splattered with the activist's bright-red blood. Nor is there any debate over why Lamar Smith paid with his life that day. At the instant he was gunned down, the community leader was carrying a bundle of absentee ballots for an upcoming county election, the fruit of his idea for how African Americans in the Brookhaven area could cast votes without the white violence they'd likely encounter at a polling place on Election Day. The murder of Lamar Smith may have happened 63 years ago but don't dare call it a cold case. It is one of the most powerful pieces of evidence in a cruel, sometimes violent and still ongoing conspiracy to suppress black votes in the American South, a chain of custody that stretches from the Ku Klux Klan night riders of the 1860s to Selma's "Bloody Sunday" in 1965 to the computer-aided web of purges, restrictive ID laws and shuttered polling places of the 2010s. In 2018, the blood from Lamar Smith's unresolved murder still splatters the politics of Mississippi and the former Confederate states. Four years after he was killed, a baby girl was born in Brookhaven named Cindy Hyde. Over the next 59 years, she immersed herself in the politics of a community that bitterly refuses to concede the just cause that Lamar Smith died for. Hyde married a local cattle farmer named Smith Michael Smith and as Cindy Hyde-Smith she became a legislator, state agriculture commissioner and, with little fanfare, was appointed this year to replace ailing U.S. Sen. Thad Cochran. She's getting fanfare now. Running in the special election to fill the rest of the term through 2020, the GOP's Hyde-Smith finds herself in the last big contested election of the year, a Nov. 27 runoff with Democratic ex-congressman and cabinet secretary Mike Espy, who's seeking to become Mississippi's first black U.S. senator since Reconstruction. And under her first real scrutiny, Hyde-Smith has shown that the language of voter suppression and racial oppression runs as deep within the appointed senator as the red-clay soil of the Deep South that her family has farmed for generations. It started not long after the Nov. 6 general election, when a video surfaced from the campaign trail in which Hyde-Smith praised a supporter by saying, "If he invited me to a public hanging, I'd be on the front row." The bizarre remark carried ugly echoes of the fact that more blacks were lynched in Mississippi in the 19th and early 20th centuries than in any other state. This week, a new campaign video surfaced that disturbingly touches on more modern forms of voter suppression. Speaking to a group of collegiate supporters in Starkville, Hyde-Smith noted that "there's a lot of liberal folks in those other schools who maybe we don't want to vote. Maybe we want to make it just a little more difficult. And I think that's a great idea." The senator later claimed she was joking, but it doesn't sound like it. It sounds, rather, like a public endorsement of a modern Republican crusade to make it harder for people to vote, especially in places like college campuses where those people are more likely to vote Democratic. Hyde-Smith's words were haunted by ghosts of Mississippi past and Mississippi present. The senator emerged from a cocoon in her native Brookhaven that has stubbornly remained emblematic of how Dr. Martin Luther King described Mississippi in his 1963 "I Have a Dream Speech," as "a desert state, sweltering with the heat of injustice and oppression." "Brookhaven is a different beast," documentary filmmaker Keith Beauchamp told me this weekend. It was Beauchamp's film about a more famous 1955 murder in Mississippi the lynching of 14-year-old Emmett Till that helped convince federal officials to reopen that cold case, and Beauchamp immersed himself in Brookhaven for a subsequent TV documentary on the killing of Lamar Smith, which took place just two weeks before Till's lynching. Hyde-Smith's invocation of a "public hanging" made Beauchamp cringe because he knew the story of Brookhaven's last lynching in 1928, in which two black brothers James and Stanley Bearden, accused of assaulting two white men were seized and murdered by a mob that stormed the county jail. The corpse of one of the brothers was dragged for two miles through Brookhaven's black neighborhoods to intimidate the residents, and then it was hanged, quite publicly. And local passion for white supremacy flowered again in the 1950s, after the Supreme Court's 1954 Brown v. Board of Education decision to integrate schools as well as rising activism by the likes of Lamar Smith veterans who fought for America overseas but were denied basic rights at home. Brookhaven was a hotbed of the status-quo-defending White Citizens' Councils that sprung up after the Brown ruling and was home to one of the so-called brains of segregationist movement, Judge Thomas Pickens Brady, whose 1954 tract "Black Monday" widely reprinted across the South compared African Americans to chimpanzees and riffed on the sanctity of white Southern women as "[t]he loveliest and the purest of God's creatures" That was the frenzied, life-or-death world into which the unbelievably courageous Lamar Smith was martyred, seeking the right for Brookhaven's black citizens to vote. Just three months earlier, another prominent black Mississippi leader, the Rev. George Lee, was murdered by two White Citizens' Councils members for trying to register black voters in the Delta town of Belzoni. Decades later, a witness told the FBI that the killers ambushed Lamar Smith with his absentee ballots in an apparent setup. Although he was shot at 10 a.m. with a large crowd milling around the Brookhaven courthouse, the sheriff, Carnie E. Smith (by now you may have noticed everyone in this saga seems to be named Smith), didn't immediately arrest the blood-stained Noah Smith or two alleged accomplices, Charles Falvey and Mack (wait for it) Smith. Those three men were later cited but an all-white grand jury did not indict them. The district attorney said it was Sheriff Smith's "duty to take that man into custody regardless of who he was, but he did not do it." The soil that harbored that injustice would nurture Hyde-Smith as she grew up in Brookhaven during the tumultuous 1960s and '70s. The filmmaker Beauchamp told me he's found loose family ties between Hyde-Smith's in-laws and key players in the segregation fight that his research shows husband Michael Smith is related to 1955 arrestee Mack Smith and that Michael Smith's sister married the grandson of segregationist judge Tom Brady. None of that is surprising, perhaps, in such a close-knit community. The alleged killer Noah Smith died in 1975 and was buried in Macedonia Baptist Church, the same church where Cindy Hyde-Smith has been a Sunday school teacher. What's harder to explain is one of Hyde-Smith's first acts during her first term in the Mississippi Legislature in 2002, which was to unsuccessfully push a bill to rename Highway 51 running through Brookhaven as Jefferson Davis Highway, in honor of the slave-owning president of the Confederacy who had no specific tie to Brookhaven. A recent report from the senator's hometown in Mississippi Today notes that even now when many communities have removed the hot-button Mississippi state flag with its stars-and-bars Confederate imagery Brookhaven has "doubled down" by flying the controversial banner every 50 yards or so on the town's main drag. Beauchamp told me that in his extensive reporting on Mississippi he's never seen a wall of silence quite like Brookhaven, both among whites not particularly eager to discuss the past and blacks who may remember more than a century of intimidation tactics all too well. It could be easy to dismiss all of this the flags, the highway renaming, the bizarre words that come from Hyde-Smith's mouth as nothing more than cringe-worthy symbolism. But voter suppression in Mississippi while updated for the 21st century remains all too real. Just this year, a Northern Illinois University study ranked Mississippi as still the worst in the nation when it comes to making it hard for citizens to vote citing factors like its early registration cutoff, lack of early voting, and strict voter ID law. Since Southern states were freed by the Roberts Supreme Court from supervision under the 1965 Voting Rights Act, Mississippi has shuttered about 5 percent of its polling places exactly the kind of thing Hyde-Smith joked about. Mississippi's voting problems haven't garnered much attention because of the blatant, over-the-top voter suppression that took place in the nearby state of Georgia, where ultra-conservative Republican Secretary of State Brian Kemp in overseeing his own race to become governor conducted a massive purge of voting rolls and declared thousands of others ineligible in moves that disproportionately targeted blacks. In a race marked by retro incidents like police stopping a bus of black senior citizens headed for early voting, Kemp narrowly beat the woman bidding to become Georgia's first African American governor, Stacey Abrams, and avoided a runoff by a smidgen of votes. "You see as a leader, I should be stoic in my outrage and silent in my rebuke," Abrams said Friday in acknowledging that Kemp will be the next governor but in refusing to concede, in arguably the most powerful civil rights speech in more than a generation. "But stoicism is a luxury, and silence is a weapon for those who would quiet the voices of the people. And I will not concede because the erosion of our democracy is not right." Abrams' speech told us that the fight for what Lamar Smith died for 63 years ago is not only not over, but that there is so much more work to do. There is a unique opportunity to begin that work in Mississippi over the next week, to finally bring an end to a sweltering summer of oppression by burying the putrid philosophy of Cindy Hyde-Smith in the red-clay soil where it belongs, and by electing a decent man, Mike Espy, as a symbol of change. That would bring at least one small measure of the justice that Lamar Smith has been denied for far too long. A Philadelphia native and senior at the University of Pennsylvania, who lost both her parents while she was in high school and college, has won a coveted Rhodes Scholarship to study at the University of Oxford in England. Anea B. Moore, a senior, is a sociology and urban studies major who has a concentration in law and a minor in Africana studies. She is the first in her family to attend college and has served as co-president of the Penn branch of a nonprofit dedicated to providing more services to first-generation students such as her. "Anea is committed to the needs of low-income families, reflected in a variety of important roles in Philadelphia public schools, for City Council members, and at her university," the Rhodes Trust wrote in its profile of Moore, also noting that she was co-president of the largest student conference in the world for first-generation, low-income students. She is among 32 national winners announced this weekend for what are considered to be one of the most prestigious postgraduate awards. Winners study for free in Oxford for two or three years. The scholarships are worth about $70,000 a year. Four other winners have local ties. Three attend Princeton University: Nicolette C. D'Angelo, of Hewitt, Passaic County, N.J.; Katharine H. Reed, of Arnold, Md.; and John Hoffmeyer, of Florence, S.C.; and a fourth, Margaret H. Dods, of Linwood, Atlantic County, attends the U.S. Naval Academy. "I don't know if it's quite real yet," Moore, 21, said in a phone interview Sunday afternoon. "It might not get real until I get there. You just don't think that people like you win these things. It's like, 'Wow, a little black girl from Philadelphia, a public school kid, who was raised with parents who didn't go to college, won this scholarship.'" Moore grew up in Southwest Philadelphia and attended the city's public schools, first Penrose and then Masterman, one of the district's prestigious magnets. Both her parents did secretarial work and her mother also worked as a cashier, she said. Her father, Darryl Moore, died of lung disease when she was a senior in high school and her mother, Tracie Moody, of a heart attack during Moore's first year at Penn. She credits them for part of her success and wishes their name could go on the scholarship, too, she said. "It's their award, too," she said. Moore and the other scholars were among 880 applicants from 281 universities in the United States. Nearly half of the winners are immigrants or the first in their families to attend college, the Rhodes Trust announced. Twenty-one women were among the winners, the most ever since the scholarship became available to women in 1976. The fields of study that the scholars will pursue include the social sciences, biological and medical sciences, physical sciences, mathematics, and the humanities. Moore, the 27th Rhodes scholar in Penn's history, would like to pursue a doctorate in "evidence-based social intervention and policy evaluation" and intends to go to law school when she returns. She hopes to spend her career in public service in Philadelphia, helping low-income families and focusing on education and economic development. Moore's application to Rhodes focused on her work at the district's Lea School, where she worked with a student choir, helped teach a cooking class, and assisted families, through her position as chair of the Netter Center for Community Partnerships student advisory board. "It's been my home since my parents died," Moore said of Lea. "The staff, the teachers, the students there, have provided me with a very safe space." She has held a variety of leadership positions at Penn and is a Philadelphia Mayor's Scholar, which covers her Penn tuition. Moore also received the 2017 Penn Undergraduate Women of Color Award. She pursued the Rhodes because she wants to understand social policy better and share with her community all that Oxford has to offer, she said. "There's knowledge there that people in my family never had access to, never touched," she said, "that the students I teach at Lea have never had access to, have never touched. Going to Oxford is about more than just the degree. It's about going there and getting all the knowledge and bringing it back to my community." She got involved with helping other first-generation students because she saw the difficulty firsthand of adjusting to college. "I was walking a tightrope between my home and school," she said. "I didn't quite belong at home, but I also didn't belong at school." At times, she said she wondered whether she was smart enough or worthy. She wonders no more. "We are good enough," she said of herself and others like her. "We are worthy and we are definitely as smart as the next kid and we can be Rhodes scholars, too." The 2-year-old girl wandered from her mother's side, the way children that age often do, and plopped down innocently into an empty parking space. It was about 12:30 p.m. on Saturday, and the girl and her mother had just left the sprawling Haverford Area YMCA on Eagle Road in Haverford Township. The facility, which opened in 2013, is perpetually busy, with more than 27,000 members streaming through its doors every year. A motorist pulled into the YMCA's parking lot, and headed toward what appeared to be an open spot. The driver never saw the girl. The girl never stood a chance. Haverford Township police said the girl, whose name has not been released, was taken to Lankenau Medical Center after she was struck by the car, and died from her injuries. No charges were filed against the driver, who remained at the scene, according to police, and cooperated with investigators. Both the driver and the victim's family live in Haverford Township. Shaun Elliott, the CEO of the Philadelphia Freedom Valley YMCA, said the girl's death was a "tragic accident." Staffers at the facility ran outside when they realized the girl had been struck, he said, and police arrived at the scene quickly. The girl's father later visited the YMCA to share the news that she hadn't survived her injuries. "We have thousands of kids and families coming through our doors every day," Elliott said, "so for something like this to happen, it's the unthinkable. It's really horrible." Members of the Haverford YMCA registered their horror on its Facebook page. "This is hard to hear," one woman wrote. "I am here almost everyday with my toddler, and I could easily be the mother of that child, OR the driver." Others suggested the layout of the parking lot was to blame. "That parking lot has always been a disaster and is NOT big enough for the amount of membership they allow," one person wrote. Elliott said the YMCA lot is "busy," with as many as 2,000 people visiting a day, leading to some complaints about the lot not having enough spots. Nothing like Saturday's tragedy had occurred before, he said. The facility closed for the day after the accident but is expected to reopen Sunday. "At the appropriate time, we'll reach out to the family to figure out how we can honor their child," Elliott said. "We're heartbroken." Damon Hunter (left) with his brother, Derek Hill, who police say was murdered in West Oak Lane by a group armed with hammers and knives. Read more Damon Hunter stood outside his grandmother's house in West Oak Lane on Saturday night, and lowered his head as he pointed at crimson splotches that peppered the front steps. He looked away quickly, the way a person does when glancing at the sun. "That's his blood," he said. "There's a trail of it, coming from all the way around the corner. You can still follow it." The blood had spilled from his brother, Derek Hill, 20, earlier in the day, when Hill was attacked by a man and three women who were armed with hammers and knives. Police were called to the scene, on Limekiln Pike near 67th Avenue, shortly before 10:30 a.m., and found Hill on the second floor of the house. One of the women had stabbed him with a butcher knife. The officers rushed Hill to Albert Einstein Medical Center, where he died at 11:39 a.m. Hill's death was one of three slayings that the Police Department reported Saturday, pushing the city's homicide total to nearly 300, a 5 percent increase from this same point last year. Hunter, 22, said his brother lived in the corner property, and took care of their grandmother and great-grandmother. Both women were at home, along with a health-care worker, when the group of attackers arrived at the house, looking for Hill. Police haven't made any arrests or offered a motive. Hunter said he didn't know why the group had sought out his brother, other than they'd had some sort of a beef with him. "Nine times out of 10," he said, "it's over a girl." Hill had attended nearby Martin Luther King High School and ran track. He loved video games, his brother said, and had an easygoing sense of humor. "You could be having the worst day of your life, I promise you, but if you ran into him, he'd make you smile," Hunter said. The two brothers were last together Friday night. They discussed a clothing line they started with the slogan "UCantStandIt" that they've been trying to get off the ground through Instagram posts, and kicked around their shared dream of leaving Philadelphia and moving to California. "This city, there's trouble everywhere," Hunter said. "I can't get my brother back. I will never get to see him in the physical form again." Hunter said his brother has a 1-year-old son, and recently learned he was going to be a father again. "I shouldn't be burying my little brother," he said. "I'm supposed to grow old with this person. And now I can't see him again." Hours before Hill was attacked, police were busy responding to reports of gunfire in other parts of the city. A 20-year-old man was shot multiple times while he sat in a car on the 3900 block of Howland Street in Juniata Park. The man, whose name hasn't been released, was pronounced dead at 7:23 a.m. at Temple University. And about 2:30 a.m., off-duty police officers heard gunshots ring out at 26th Street and Passyunk Avenue. They ran to the scene, and found a car riddled with bullet holes. A 28-year-old man who had been wounded numerous times died, while a 31-year-old man and a 25-year-old man, each wounded in the shoulder, survived. In September, Mayor Kenney tasked his cabinet with coming up with a new plan in 100 days for combating the city's violent crime, which he labeled a public health crisis. The city, which has an Office of Violence Prevention, has also pledged to evaluate the effectiveness of the estimated $48 million in federal, state, and local funds that are spent annually across 10 city departments on community-based programs to prevent gun violence. Staff writer Oona Goodin-Smith contributed to this article. Two men, at least one wearing a PGW hard hat, according to police, told a Philadelphia homeowner Saturday afternoon they were checking on a gas leak in the area and needed to see his basement. Once inside the home in the 4500 block of Higbee Street in the city's Wissinoming section, both men went to the basement. Shortly after, one of them came upstairs and asked the homeowner to join them so they could show him something. According to police, when the homeowner, 52, got downstairs, one of the intruders was holding a black semiautomatic handgun. Both then bound his hands behind his back with zip ties and demanded money. Police said the one with the gun struck him on the head with it; the homeowner was also kicked in the head. When the homeowner's fiancee, 41, came home nearly a half hour after the intruders were let in, one of the men grabbed her as she opened the front door, police said. She slipped out of her coat, police said, and ran screaming, after which the intruders fled, possibly driving off in a blue Infiniti sedan with tinted windows. Jewelry and several thousand dollars in cash were taken, police said. While processing the scene, police found two PGW hard hats, a black knit hat, a yellow combustible gas detector, a clipboard with blank sheets of paper, and numerous zip ties. A police spokesperson said the men were posing as PGW workers, not actual employees. The suspects were described as Hispanic males, ages 25 to 35, each 5-foot-9 with medium builds, dressed in navy blue uniforms. In this Sept. 21, 2018 photo, Pennsylvania congressional candidates, from left, Chrissy Houlahan, Mary Gay Scanlon, and state Rep. Madeleine Dean, take part in a campaign rally in Philadelphia. Each of the Democratic candidates won their elections on Nov. 6. Read more The midterm election was devastating for Republicans in the Philadelphia suburbs. Losses piled up everywhere on the Pennsylvania side of the Delaware River: Two seats in the U.S. House, four in the state Senate, and 12 in the state House went down the drain. In the races for governor and the U.S. Senate, GOP candidates lost by double digits in the city's collar counties. Many political observers point to the political undertow effect of an unpopular President Trump, but it seems unlikely that the GOP's troubles with voters in Bucks, Chester, Delaware, and Montgomery Counties will immediately evaporate when he leaves office. Instead, the data show that the suburbs have been undergoing a fundamental political realignment for two decades that favors Democrats, a transformation matched in other metropolitan areas across the nation: Since 1998, the number of registered Democrats in the city's suburbs has risen by 75 percent. Even as the overall population has climbed, the number of registered Republicans in the region has fallen by 14 percent. Since 2000, Democrats have made steady gains in elections for president, U.S. Senate, attorney general, auditor general, and treasurer. They've also made historic pickups in recent municipal races. At the same time, the suburbs have become more racially diverse, better educated, and home to more young adults thus more resembling the modern Democratic base. The suburbs' move to the left is a dramatic transformation for an area that was once a key part of the GOP coalition, and it could spell trouble for Republicans at all levels of government, up to the presidency. "There is a red flag for Republicans there," said Charlie Gerow, a GOP strategist based in Harrisburg. Part of the problem, he said, is that college-educated white voters are disenchanted with the party. But that's not all: "Republicans are going to have to do better with millennials and with minorities. I think that's the challenge of my party over the course of the next two years." The shifts in the suburbs have coincided with the rise of cultural conservatism in the national GOP and accelerated under Trump's nationalism. The demographic shifts underway in the Philadelphia suburbs are among the key indicators that suggest the political changes seen on Nov. 6 could last beyond Trump. From 2005 to 2017, the collar counties have grown in population by 7.8 percent, according to Census Bureau estimates; but the white population actually fell in that time. As a result, people of color went from making up 16.3 percent of the suburban population to 23.6 percent. Strong majorities of people of color vote Democratic, while white voters lean Republican. All four counties also have experienced a rise in the percentage of adults with bachelor's degrees. Today, a majority of adults 25 or older in Chester and Montgomery Counties hold bachelor's degrees. Voters with college degrees have become more likely to vote Democratic in recent years. People ages 18 to 24 also make up a larger share of the adult population today than they did in 2005 in Chester, Delaware, and Montgomery Counties. And in Bucks County, their relative numbers remain unchanged. Young voters are more liberal than older generations. As the suburbs have changed, so have the parties' fortunes. Consider how the GOP has performed in the region in campaigns for the U.S. Senate. Even though Republican candidates have won there in some recent races Sen. Pat Toomey carried Bucks and Chester Counties in 2016 the number of votes for the Democratic candidate was higher in 2012, 2016, and 2018 than in the previous four elections in all four counties. President? Pennsylvania Attorney General? In the Philadelphia suburbs, the pattern is generally the same, whatever the office. Both parties saw more votes cast for their presidential candidates in 2016 than in 2000, but votes for Democrats which already outweighed votes for Republicans increased at a much faster rate. The Republican vote increased 17 percent, to 553,873 votes; votes for the Democratic candidate increased 40.6 percent, to 742,226. The election results have coincided with a boost in registrations for Democrats. Since 1998, the number of voters registering as Democrats has increased from 456,754 to 800,432, while Republican registrations have fallen from 819,760 to 707,509. To be sure, registered Democrats can and do vote for Republicans, and vice versa, and some voters are unaffiliated with either major party. Still, the data reveal changing political tides: In 2000, 19.2 percent of statewide votes for the Democratic candidate for U.S. Senate came from Bucks, Chester, Delaware, or Montgomery Counties. This month, that figure was 25.8 percent. On the Republican side, the suburban share of the statewide Republican vote has fallen, from 22.8 percent in 2000 to 20.1 percent this year. The locus of the GOP's power in the state Capitol has shifted, too, from Southeastern Pennsylvania to the western part of the state. "When I first got elected 24 years ago, most leadership positions on the Republican side in the House were based in the Southeast," said State Rep. Gene DiGirolamo, a Bucks County Republican. "There's been a really dramatic change in where leadership is coming from." Meantime, state House Democrats last week named three Philadelphia legislators to their leadership team, and a representative from Montgomery County won a post as ranking member of the influential Appropriations Committee. Republicans recognized the challenges they face in the suburbs and offered a variety of paths forward, including focusing on policy issues like health care and gun control. Val DiGiorgio, chairman of the Pennsylvania GOP, said the party should better reflect the changing face of the suburbs. "We need to recruit more Latinos to run, more Asian Americans to run," he said. "In Chester [County], we've got a big Mexican community, we've got a large and growing Indian community. We need to do a better job of reaching out to those folks." He also said the party needed to convince new residents in the suburbs, especially those coming from Philadelphia, that Republican governance helped make those places what they are. "You moved here for a good reason: good schools, low taxes, low crime," he said. "[An] 'if-it-ain't-broke, don't-fix-it' kind of message." Of course, demographics also don't have to be destiny, politics is cyclical, and trends reverse. Trump also won Pennsylvania in 2016 despite losing the Philly suburbs, largely because he racked up big victories in rural parts of the state. One piece of evidence that the GOP can still succeed in the suburbs: U.S. Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick, a Bucks County Republican, won a tough reelection campaign after building a brand as a moderate. He received the support of labor unions, and publicized his vote against repealing the Affordable Care Act. Political analysts said Fitzpatrick's name on the ticket helped limit losses for down-ballot Republicans in Bucks County. DiGirolamo, the state legislator, said Republicans could win back support in the Philly suburbs if GOP leaders in Harrisburg held votes to raise the minimum wage, levy a tax on Marcellus Shale gas drilling, and close a loophole on background checks at gun shows. Said DiGiorgio, the state chairman: "We have to have a better message on health care." But Democrats said they've built a foundation, starting with key wins at the county level in 2017, that will enable the party to grow. "There are now people who are engaged in the suburbs who never thought to be engaged before," said Anne Wakabayashi, executive director of Emerge PA, which recruits and trains Democratic women to run for office. "Once you start volunteering for races, once you start donating politically, you don't stop. It is a habit." At the same time, Democrats said, they can't count on demographic changes and will seek to push the suburbs more toward their party. "I don't think anything is permanent in our electoral process, but I think this is absolutely a signal of the direction suburban Philadelphia and Montgomery County" are headed, said U.S. Rep.-elect Madeleine Dean, a Democrat who won a congressional race in Montco. "We'll see what the Republican Party does to course-correct," she said. Republicans aren't ready to cede the suburbs yet, but alarm bells have begun to ring. "There's a slow demographic shift that moves and it's moving and that'll move at a slow percentage rate, and then you have these other shifts that are more transient, such as a president," said Andy Reilly, leader of the Delaware County Republican Party. Change now or the suburbs could become as winnable for Republicans as Philadelphia is, he warned. "In Philadelphia," he said, "we're thrilled if we get anywhere near 20 percent" of the vote. Staff writer Nathaniel Lash contributed to this article. Bishops gathered last week in Baltimore for the annual fall meeting of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops. Read more BALTIMORE As the nation's Catholic bishops scrambled last week to portray a unified response to the clergy sex-abuse crisis, it was one of the younger members of their hierarchy who offered perhaps the frankest assessment of their problem. "We do sometimes act as a good old boys club," said San Francisco Archbishop Salvatore Cordileone, 62, citing a record of "cronyism, favoritism, and cover-up" he has witnessed among some of his peers over his episcopal career. His remarks, delivered to a packed hotel conference room on the Baltimore waterfront, underscored a generational divide that is shaping their efforts to confront the issue that once again is roiling the Catholic Church in America. About a third of the church's 195 dioceses are led by prelates elevated to the hierarchy before 2002, the year the clergy sex-abuse scandal kicked off in Boston. More than half are 65 or older. That split in age was starkly on display in Baltimore as they weighed a slate of reform proposals designed to make themselves more accountable. Although the Vatican ordered them to hold off before approving any new policies at their fall gathering, in the end it was clear they lacked a consensus even if they had voted. And many of the most outspoken detractors came from that older crop of prelates. "We must not allow outside groups of any kind to interfere with or attempt to break the bonds of our ecclesial union," said Cardinal Roger Mahony, the 82-year-old retired archbishop of Los Angeles. Addressing the ballroom of his peers, he described a hierarchy under siege from prosecutors, politicians, and the media and compared the current moment to centuries past when "kings, emperors, wealthy merchants tried to interfere with the lives of bishops." As he offered his opinion, one younger bishop was spotted cringing his eyes cast downward, his head collapsed in his hands. It was a class of newly minted bishops who in some cases had spent more than a decade as priests under the "zero-tolerance" policies adopted for rank-and-file clergy in 2002 that emerged during the conference as the strongest advocates for applying those rules up the ladder. "Maybe that moment has passed," Sacramento Bishop Jaime Soto, 62, said of the old-guard instinct to close ranks. "In the current time, transparency and independent review seems to be more on the minds of the faithful." Terry McKiernan, founder of the watchdog group BishopAccountability.org, pointed to the autonomy bishops from an older generation enjoyed in their dioceses to explain the resistance to change some were showing. By contrast, he said, the prelates who came to their positions more recently have less of an expectation of unquestioned authority. "The old-timers, they were trained in a very different church and I think they had a different experience of the 2002 abuse crisis as bishops," he said. "The new guard, experienced the crisis as priests on the front lines." One of the strongest voices to emerge during the conference in support of immediate and significant action was Shawn McKnight, elevated nine months ago to bishop of Jefferson City, Mo. When the Vatican order was announced Monday, McKnight openly questioned the Holy See for its "lack of responsiveness and immediacy" in language hinting at rebellion. "I'm beginning to wonder if we need to look at a resolution where we refuse to participate in any kind of cover-up from those above us," he told the Washington Post. "We have to be respectful of the Roman Curia, but also we have an obligation to our people." (He delivered another harsh assessment Friday in an open letter to his diocese, stating: "History proves that we bishops are not capable of policing ourselves adequately on the issue of clergy sexual abuse. We bishops are ineffectual in our attempts to address the problem of abuse of power by the hierarchy.") But as discussion in Baltimore focused on to the specific proposals under consideration including an independently run hotline for fielding complaints against bishops some of the eldest members of the conference began speaking out. Retired Bishop Donald Trautman, 82 whose handling of abuse cases during his time at the helm of the Erie Diocese was savaged in the August Pennsylvania grand jury report railed against the idea as not only "dangerous" but "unjust." Several of his younger colleagues had earlier praised civil authorities and the media for exposing crimes committed by clerics and igniting this latest crisis. But Trautman remained defiant. "We should not be so naive as to accept every government report, every media report as completely accurate or honest," he said, specifically citing a Philadelphia Inquirer and Boston Globe investigation this month that found more than 130 living bishops had been accused of covering up abuse during their careers. As a retired bishop, he won't have a vote in any final decisions, but his comments drew a smattering of applause from the room full of bishops. Robert Daniel Conlon a bishop since 2002 who now leads the Diocese of Joliet, Ill. bristled at the prospect of a new code of conduct for prelates that would mirror many of the policies already in place for priests. "I have to say I'm a little chagrined to be asked to sign something that says I will be accountable to certain standards," he said. They were joined by Mahony, the former Los Angeles archbishop first elevated by Pope Paul VI in 1975. Since his retirement, Mahony's successor has banned him from any public duties in his old archdiocese for his alleged failures to protect children there from sexually abusive priests. For Paul D. Etienne, the 59-year-old archbishop of Anchorage, Alaska, the difference between the outlook of older bishops and those of his generation is stark. In an interview in the weeks leading up to last week's conference, he acknowledged that his experiences as a younger bishop shaped his views on many of the reform proposals up for debate. Named a bishop by Pope Benedict XVI in 2008, he was forced to confront the implications of the abuse crisis from the start of his first posting in Cheyenne, Wyo. His predecessor there, Bishop Robert Hart, remained a popular figure despite a raft of abuse allegations lodged against him involving children. And though Etienne urged the Vatican to open a church-led investigation, his requests were met for years with silence. "My experiences [in Cheyenne and as a priest in 2002] have a lot to do with my feeling about our present crisis," he said. It was Etienne's successor in Cheyenne 59-year-old Bishop Steven Biegler, appointed last year who eventually succeeded in persuading both law enforcement and Vatican authorities to pursue new probes of Hart's conduct. Biegler, too, said that the experience had convinced him that the U.S. hierarchy needed meaningful changes, such as the reform measure that attracted the most controversy during last week's debate a proposal for a lay-led panel to investigate problem bishops. Several prelates bristled at the idea, noting that it could overstep the restrictions of church's canon law. Instead, they suggested pushing Rome to let metropolitan archbishops investigate their peers in neighboring dioceses with assistance from their local review boards. In an emotional appeal Wednesday, the last day of the conference, Biegler pushed back, citing parishioners who had felt betrayed many times over by past promises from the church to police itself. "It's not a theory that I have it's an experience I've had," he told his fellow bishops, his voice trailing off. "Reform in the church needs to be more than canon law. For reform in our lives as bishops, it needs be more than canon law." His sentiments echoed those of an unlikely ally, who spoke a day before Cardinal Donald Wuerl, one of the oldest hands in the room. Wuerl's stint as archbishop of Pittsburgh between 1988 and 2006 has made him a flash point in the current crisis. Now 78, he resigned last month as archbishop of Washington amid allegations that he covered up abuse during his prior posting accusations he continues to deny. But as he quietly took the microphone Tuesday and turned to the crowd of all ages, Wuerl called for his colleagues to set aside their egos for the wider good of the church. "Sometimes we have to take personal responsibility, and we simply need to say: This needs to be done," he said. "Personally that's where purification has to be part of the process." Staff writer Michele Tranquilli contributed to this article. Raipur: Prime Minister Narendra Modi will on Sunday address a rally in Mahasamund district of poll-bound Chhattisgarh. Later, the Prime Minister will visit Madhya Pradesh and address public gatherings in Chhindwara and Indore districts. PM Modi will begin his address in Chhattisgarh at 12 pm while in Madhya Pradesh he will address the rallies at 3.15 pm and 6.15 pm respectively. On Friday, PM Modi challenged the Congress to make someone from outside the Gandhi family its chief for at least five years if it respected democracy, as he returned the Congress' barb that a 'chaiwala' could rise to power only because of democratic systems established by Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru. Addressing a poll rally in Surguja district for the second phase of Chhattisgarh elections, PM Modi also hit back at the Congress for questioning demonetisation, saying the move "still rankles" them as the money "stashed under beds and in sacks" was taken away in a single stroke. While the BJP has been ruling Chhattisgarh for 15 continuous years, the Congress was in power in the state only for three years after the state was carved out of Madhya Pradesh in 2000. The campaigning for the second phase of polls in Chhattisgarh will end today. The election to the 90-member Chhattisgarh Assembly is being held in two phases. While 18 assembly constituencies in the state went to polls in the first phase on November 20, voting will take place in the remaining 72 seats on November 20. The results will be on December 11. Taking potshots at the faction-ridden Congress in Madhya Pradesh, PM Modi on Friday challenged the party to declare its chief ministerial candidate. Addressing a campaign rally in Gwalior, he said that how can a party chief, who is unable to decide the CM face, take decisions about the future of the people. The Congress, which is in opposition in Madhya Pradesh since 2003, has not declared its chief ministerial face to take on BJP's Shivraj Singh Chouhan in the state which is going to the polls on November 28. The results will be declared on December 11. Congress on Sunday released the third list of 18 candidates for Rajasthan Assembly elections. Out of 18 seats, Loktantrik Janata Dal and Rashtriya Lok Dal will be contesting on two seats each and Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) will contest on one seat. The list of was announced by the party's central election committee General Secretary Mukul Wasnik. Amit Chachan will contest from Nohar, B.D. KaIla from Bikaner, Yashpal Gehlot from Bikaner East, Subhash Meel from Khandela, Aimamuddin Ahmed Khan from Tijara, Dr. Karan Singh Yadav from Kishangarh Bas, Murari Lal Gurjar from Nagar, Dilip Chaudhary from Jaitaran, Mahaveer Rajpurohit from Pali, Nandaram Thakan from Kishangarh, Manish Mewada from Asind and SC Rakesh Boyat from Keshoraipatan. The seats that have been given to alliance partners are Mundawar and Kushalgarh to Loktantrik Janata Dal, Bharatpur and Malpura to Rashtriya Lok Dal and Alliance and Bali to NCP. Earlier on Saturday, the party had released the second list of 32 candidates in which Congress fielded ex Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Manvendra Singh to contest against Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje from the Jhalrapatan Assembly constituency. Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Sunday blamed the Congress for terrorism and naxalism in the country. "Congress supports everything that is against the welfare of the country. While focussing on the need for Ram temple in Ayodhya, he said that the Congress wants to bring back Rakshas raj and added that a temple for Ram should be built. "Before Treta yuga, there was Rakshas Raj. Then Lord Ram got rid of the devils. Congress leaders are trying to bring back the time of devils in the country. Now, efforts are on to bring back Ram Rajya in the country. He also blamed the Congress for insulting the personnel of the armed forces and security forces belonging to Chhattisgarh. Prime Minister Narendra Modi also attacked Congress while addressing a rally on the last day of campaign for the second and final phase of polling for Chhattisgarh Assembly election. He said four generations of a family ruled the country and "benefited from being in power", but the country did not benefit from their rule. He alleged that Dalit leader Sitaram Kesri was not allowed to complete his term as Congress president, and was "thrown out of office" to make way for Sonia Gandhi as the new party chief. "The country knows that Sitaram Kesri, a Dalit, was not allowed to complete his five-year-term as Congress president; he was thrown out of office and into the footpath to make way for Sonia Gandhi as the new party chief," Modi said. The prime minister claimed that Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Raman Singh also faced a lot of challenges from the then Congress government at the Centre. "For 10 years, the Centre was ruled by a 'remote-control' government which never paid attention towards Chhattisgarh," Modi alleged. Congress leader Tariq Anwar on Sunday responded to Prime Minister Narendra Modi's remark over Sitaram Kesri's dismissal from Congress and said that Modi is wrong again. Tariq accused Modi of spreading fake news and said he is wrong again as Kesri was not a Dalit but belonged to 'Vaish' community, news agency ANI reported. Tariq claimed that Kesri himself decided to resign from the post of Congress president if Sonia ji was ready to take over, ANI reported. "At that time I was Sitaram Kesari's political advisor so I'm aware of it," Tariq added. Modi on Sunday alleged that Kesri, who was from a "Dalit and exploited community", was not allowed to complete his term as the Congress president so that Sonia Gandhi could take over the reins of the party. Speaking at a poll rally at Mahasamund in Chhattisgarh, Modi claimed that Kesri was ousted unceremoniously, "locked in a bathroom" and "thrown out on the footpath". "The Congress had said a chaiwala became the prime minister by the grace of Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru. I challenged them (to show that) when he (Nehru) had established such a democratic and liberal system, then make someone from outside the Gandhi family the Congress president for at least five years," he said. "The country knows that Sitaram Kesri, who was from a Dalit and exploited community, was not allowed to complete his five-year term as the Congress president and was removed from the post," Modi added. On the other hand, MPCC had also asked the Election Commission to register a complaint against Modi for violating the code of conduct by spreading wrong news about Kamal Nath. Modi in his public rally in Chhindwara had said, "Kamal Nath says that Congress will give tickets to goons, all it needs is a candidate who can win." MPCC wrote a letter which said that PM Modi, in one of his rallies, had violated the code of conduct and misguided voters. In the letter, MPCC mentions of a fake video which was circulated amid election period, about which the EC is still investigating. MPPC claims in the letter that a complaint was also registered in the cyber cell. Concluding the letter, Congress Committee said that a person of stature such as Prime Minister should not circulate fake news amid elections polling/campaign. MPCC asks the EC to act against PM Modi for his alleged violation of the code of conduct. BJP president Amit Shah on Sunday slammed the Congress party once again in Madhya Pradesh by accusing the Rahul Gandhi-led party of being at 'ATM of false promises'. Speaking at a gathering in Madhya Pradesh's Churhat, Shah took a jibe at Congress and said that whichever question you may insert, instantly there will be a false promise in return. Lauding his party, Shah added that BJP, on the other hand, is an ATM of growth and development. The 230-member Madhya Pradesh Assembly will go to the polls on November 28 and the results will be announced on December 11. In a similar remark, earlier on Saturday, Shah had launched a broadside against the Congress terming the party an "ATM" that dispensed "false promises", instead of development, when problems were inserted in it. Addressing a rally in Chhattisgarh ahead of the second and final phase of the Chhattisgarh polls, Shah accused the Congress of not doing anything for the state (part of Madhya Pradesh earlier) during its 55-year rule in the country. He also lavished praise on the incumbent Raman Singh government for turning Chhattisgarh into a developed state from a "bimaru" (ailing or backward) one. Shah had earlier on Sunday said the Congress had become more of a family enterprise aimed at dynastic service than a political party aimed at public service, taking aims at the opposition party after Prime Minister Narendra Modi dared it to appoint a head from outside the Gandhi family. In a dig at Congress leaders, including P Chidambaram who had named several party presidents hailing from outside the Gandhi family, Shah said in tweets that Modi's challenge had ruffled several feathers with "many courtiers going out of the way to prove their loyalty". Evidently, the prime minister's point had struck a raw nerve, he added. At a poll rally in Chhattisgarh on Friday, Modi had said if the Congress appointed someone who was not from the (Gandhi) family as its president for at least five years, then he would believe that Jawaharlal Nehru had indeed put in place a truly democratic system in the opposition party. "The Prime Minister is right. The Congress (Indira) since its inception in 1978 has been led by four members of one family for most of the years, thus making it more of a family enterprise aimed at dynastic service rather than a political party aimed at public service," Shah tweeted. He was referring to the split in the Congress in 1978 following its loss in the 1977 parliamentary polls, with the Indira Gandhi-led faction recognised as Congress(I). As she returned to power in 1980, her faction was later recognised by the Election Commission (EC) as the real Congress. Two Congress chiefs, who were not from the Nehru-Gandhi family, were treated in the "most shabby" manner possible in the recent past, Shah alleged. While PV Narasimha Rao's body, after his demise, was never allowed inside the Congress office, Sitaram Kesri, a towering leader, was "roughed up by goons loyal to we know who", he added. AMBIKAPUR: Escalating attack on Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Congress president Rahul Gandhi has challenged him for an open debate over the details of the Rafale fighter jets deal signed between Indian and France. The Congress chief, while speaking to media on Saturday, said that the PM will not be able to answer his questions over the alleged scams in the deal. "I challenge Modi Ji to come on stage anywhere, anytime and debate over Rafale with me for just 15 minutes. I will talk about Anil Ambani, HAL, French President's statements and the pricing of the jets. I will say that Defence Minister said clearly that it's Prime Minister who did it. The Prime Minister did not follow the procedure. The CBI director was removed at 2 AM. He will not be able to answer my questions," he said while campaigning in poll-bound Chhattisgarh. Stepping up his attack on Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Congress President Rahul Gandhi has challenged the former to participate in a debate over the details of the Rafale fighter jets deal signed with the French government Read @ANI Story | https://t.co/6HFCpKpVbo pic.twitter.com/axRf3wFBnj ANI Digital (@ani_digital) November 17, 2018 Renewing his attack on the BJP government, Rahul said that Prime Minister Modi's demonetisation drive has only benefited a few of his "businessmen friends" in the country. Shifting his focus to other issues, Rahul said that unemployment among youths is on the rise in the BJP-ruled Chhattisgarh while accusing the incumbent Chief Minister, Raman Singh, of failing to provide employment in the state despite being in power for 15 years. "Raman Singh has been in power for the last 15 years and Prime Minister Modi has completed four and a half years in government at the Centre and both the governments have failed to fulfill their promise to generate employment opportunities for the youth," he said. Rahul Gandhi said that once the Congress party comes to power in the state, government job vacancies will be filled. "After Congress government comes to power, government job vacancies will be filled and it will also stop the practice of outsourcing of jobs, which is being done in BJP-ruled Chhattisgarh", he added. He also promised that within 10 days after coming into power, the Congress party will waive off the loans of Chhattisgarh's farmers. "Secondly, you all were told that you will get a bonus. For the last two years, you have not been getting the same. Not only we will resume this practice, but we will also compensate for the bonus of these two years, which BJP failed to do," he said. The first phase of voting in Chhattisgarh was held on November 12, while the second phase is due on November 20. The counting of votes will be held on December 11. (With Agency Inputs) The Bhartiya Janata Party (BJP) on Sunday released a list the fourth list of 24 candidates for the Rajasthan Assembly elections 2018. Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) releases fourth list of 24 candidates for #RajasthanAssemblyElections2018. pic.twitter.com/8pe1W0lSKn ANI (@ANI) November 18, 2018 BJP had on Saturday released its third list of eight candidates. The party has declared 184 out of the total 200 candidates for the December 7 election. Meanwhile, Congress also released its third list of candidates. Out of 18 seats, Loktantrik Janata Dal and Rashtriya Lok Dal will be contesting on two seats each and Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) will contest on one seat. The list of was announced by the Congress' central election committee General Secretary Mukul Wasnik. The 200-member Assembly polls are scheduled to be held on December 7 in Rajasthan. The counting will be held on December 11. Hitting out at the Congress and the Nehru-Gandhi family, Prime Minister Narendra Modi Sunday claimed that Dalit leader Sitaram Kesri was not allowed to complete his term as Congress president and was "thrown out of office" to make way for Sonia Gandhi. Addressing a rally on the last day of campaigning for the second and final phase of the Chhattisgarh Assembly polls, Modi said four generations of a family ruled the country and "benefitted from being in power", but the country did not benefit from their rule. "The country knows that Sitaram Kesri, a Dalit, was not allowed to complete his five-year term as the Congress president. He was thrown out of office and to the footpath to make way for Sonia Gandhi as the new party chief," he said. "Earlier, Delhi had a remote-controlled government. The remote was in the hands of a family, which was afraid of the BJP," Modi said, targeting the Congress and the Gandhis. He challenged the Congress to select someone "capable" as its president, who did not belong to "that one family". "Remember the days when four generations of a family ruled the country. What was the fate of the people? They only thought about the welfare of one family but never thought about the welfare of the people. How can we trust them that they will fulfil the aspirations of the people now," Modi said. He claimed that Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Raman Singh had to face a lot of challenges from the then Congress-led government at the Centre. "For 10 years, the Centre was ruled by a remote-control government, which never paid attention towards Chhattisgarh," the prime minister said. He praised the high voter turnout in Bastar in the first phase of the Chhattisgarh polls on November 12 and also in the panchayat election in Jammu and Kashmir and claimed that the people had given a befitting reply to those spreading terror. "Despite being threatened by Naxals with guns and bombs, a huge voter turnout was recorded in Bastar. The poor tribals have shown faith in democracy and given a befitting reply to bombs and guns," Modi said. "Similarly, yesterday, elections were held for the panchayats in Kashmir. Earlier, people used to skip conducting polls there. After Governor's Rule was imposed, we decided that the power of Kashmir should rest in the hands of the people of Kashmir. "Terrorists had given a bandh call in Kashmir, but look at the trust of the people of Kashmir in democracy as a voter turnout of around 60-70 per cent was recorded. They have given a slap on the face of separatism and terrorism. They have shown the strength of democracy," he added. Jammu and Kashmir recorded 74.1 per cent polling in the first phase of the panchayat polls held Saturday in 47 blocks -- 16 in Kashmir, 21 in Jammu and 10 in the Ladakh region. Lashing out at the Congress, Modi said. "The doors have been opened for the welfare of Kashmir. Who had stopped the Congress from doing this earlier? They played backdoor games with terrorists which will not be allowed anymore. We took courageous steps one by one." He also targeted Congress chief Rahul Gandhi over farm loan waiver, an issue that has taken centrestage in the Chhattisgarh polls. "As elections approach, the Congress plays a game of promises. But they cannot mislead the country anymore. They must answer what did they do for the welfare of our farmers when they ruled for four generations. "They kept the farmers in a pathetic condition during their 50-year rule. Had they strengthened the farmers, fulfilled their requirements, our farmers would have been prosperous," the prime minister said. "They are making false promises of loan waiver to the people of Chhattisgarh. The same promise was made to farmers during the Karnataka polls, but even after around a year has passed, the promise is yet to be fulfilled. "Instead, the (Karnataka) government is issuing warrants and arresting farmers against whom debts are pending," he added. Praising the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government under Raman Singh in the state, Modi said it had ensured soil health cards for 75 lakh farmers, adding in a sarcastic vein that the Congress had failed to provide health cards to humans. "Though the Raman Singh government is in power in the state for the last 15 years, it got the actual opportunity to work for the welfare of the state after the NDA government came to power at the Centre in 2014. Raman Singh had to fight for the rights of the state with the Congress government at the Centre," he told the gathering. Modi said Singh had sought support from the Centre, when it was under the Congress-led United Progressive Alliance's (UPA) rule, to fight Naxals, but the "remote controlled" government behaved as if Chhattisgarh did not exist. He added that if the BJP government under Singh remained in power for another 10-15 years, Chhattisgarh would feature among the top three developed states in the country. "Chhattisgarh has turned 18 now. This is a very crucial phase for the state. Just like parents care for the future of their children when they turn 18, I urge the people of the state to think about the welfare of the state and once again give Raman Singh a chance to serve," the prime minister told the crowd. The final phase of the Chhattisgarh polls, covering 72 Assembly seats, will be held on November 20. The first phase of polling for 18 seats was held on November 12. The results will be announced on December 11. Congress on Sunday released the names of three candidates for Rajasthan Assembly elections 2018. The candidates named by Congress are Kanhaiyalal Jhawar, Ajay Bohra and Pushkar Lal Dangi. The respective constituencies are Bikaner East, Mahuwa and Mavli. Jhawar has been finalised in place of Yasgpal Gehlot and Dangi took place of Lal Singh Jhala. Congress had earlier released the third list on 18 candidates on Sunday. Out of 18 seats, Loktantrik Janata Dal and Rashtriya Lok Dal will be contesting on two seats each and Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) will contest on one seat. The list of was announced by the party's central election committee General Secretary Mukul Wasnik. Earlier on Saturday, the party had released the second list of 32 candidates in which Congress fielded ex Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Manvendra Singh to contest against Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje from the Jhalrapatan Assembly constituency. Lahore: Veteran actor Shabana Azmi and her husband Javed Akhtar participated in the 4th International Faiz Festival held in Pakistan The three-day festival, which started on Friday, is being held at Alhamra Arts Council in Lahore. In the inaugural session, 'Kaifi Aur Faiz', Azmi remembered her parents, stage actor Shaukat Azmi and poet Kaifi Azmi, and how they met at a mushaira in Feb 1947 at Hyderabad that marked the start of their romance. "Our house, though a small one, was an assembling place of literary giants such as Faiz Ahmad Faiz, Josh Malihabadi and Firaq Gorakhpuri. Though I did not understand poetry but the atmosphere of those sittings used to be great," she recalled. She said during her childhood her family lived in a place which was the hub of the members of the Communist Party of India. "There was a small room in which we used to live. The red flag of the Communist Party was part and parcel of that building." She also talked about Kaifi's writing process of film songs and said a track of her film "Arth", "Koi Ye Kaisay Bataey Keh Who Tanha Kiun Ha", was written by her father in simple language but it had deep meanings. Azmi said ideology of both the poets -- Faiz and Kaifi -- was the same. "Both were humanitarian, loved human beings and had great tolerance level," she added. Her husband, Javed Akhtar, recited his poems - "Waqt", "Naya Hukmnama" and "Ansoo", while she crooned Faiz's famous poem, "Bol Keh Lab Azad Hain Teray". Faiz's daughter Salima Hashmi said, "Faiz's big wish was to become a test cricketer and to make films. He succeeded in making films, 'Jago Hua Savera' and 'Dur Hai Sukh Ka Gaon', but the latter could not be completed." After attending the session, the veteran actor left for India via Wagah Border. Akhtar will leave for India on Sunday after attending the programme 'Sunany waloon kay naam (for those who listen)'. NEW DELHI: The air quality in the national capital oscillated between 'poor' and 'very poor' categories on Sunday due to the increased pollutant-holding capacity of air after rainfall a few days back. According to the Centre-run System of Air Quality and Weather Forecasting (SAFAR), the overall air quality index (AQI) in Delhi was recorded at 326, which comes under 'very poor' category. The Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) data showed the overall AQI at 299, which comes in the 'poor' category. The CPCB data showed that at least 14 areas in Delhi recorded 'very poor' air quality and another 14 recorded 'poor' air quality. The PM2.5 particles in the air with a diameter of less than 2.5 micrometres level on Sunday was recorded at 153, while the PM10 level was recorded at 289, the CPCB data 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'. The SAFAR, in a report, said Delhi's air quality is fluctuating between poor and very poor and it is expected to be in the very poor category in the next two days. "Wind speed is quite good for dispersion of pollutants which is keeping pollution in check," its said, adding, "Fire counts from stubble burning declined significantly and hence have negligible impact." Delhi's air quality showed significant improvement on Wednesday and Thursday after rain washed away the pollutants but the rainfall also led to increased air capacity to hold pollutants, the SAFAR said. NEW DELHI: A 73-year-old woman was found dead with her throat slit at her house in southeast Delhi's Sarita Vihar locality on Saturday. The deceased woman was identified as Sarita Pandey. She lived with her husband. Her son, daughter and grandson live nearby, a senior police officer said. The deceased's husband had gone out and when he returned home at around 6.30 PM, he found his wife's body on the sofa with her throat slit, Deputy Commissioner of Police (southeast) Chinmoy Biswal said. During the preliminary investigation, it was found that the house had not been ransacked and there was no forced entry, he said. Delhi: Body of a 73-year-old woman, with her throat slit, was found at her house in Sarita Vihar Pocket L yesterday. No evidence of ransacking the house was found. Police have registered a murder case and an investigation is underway. pic.twitter.com/hHiqlab79G ANI (@ANI) November 17, 2018 A murder case has been registered at Sarita Vihar police station and an investigation is underway, the police said. Several teams have been formed to look for clues and they are probing all angles to ascertain the sequence of events, they said. CHANDIGARH: Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar on Sunday denied saying that most of the rape cases which are registered with the police are fake, after being severely criticised by the Opposition parties for ''justifying the horrific crime against women.'' ''I didn't say consent. I said most of the cases of rapes happen between known people. I did not say anything on my own and what I said was based on investigations. These issues should be dealt with firmly. There should be no politics over the same,'' Haryana CM Khattar was quoted as saying by ANI. Maine sehmati nahi kaha, maine between known kaha. Ye meri oer se kahi gayi baat nahi hai yeh investigations se aaya fact hai. Isse samajik taur pe deal karna chahiye, isme raajneeti nahi dekhni chahiye: Haryana CM ML Khattar on his earlier remark on rape cases pic.twitter.com/WYKNzimvLf ANI (@ANI) November 18, 2018 Addressing a function in Kalka town of Panchkula district on Friday, Khattar had said, "The incidents of rape have not increased... Rapes used to take place in the past and even today as well. (Only) the concern (over such incidents) has increased.'' ''The biggest concern is that in 80 to 90 percent of rape and eve-teasing cases, the accused and the victim know each other. In many cases, they know each other for a long time and, on one day, when there is an argument (between them over some issue)... An FIR is lodged, saying, 'He has raped me'," Khattar had said. #WATCH:Haryana CM ML Khattar says,Sabse badi chinta yeh hai ki yeh ghatnayein jo hain rape aur Chhed chhad ki, 80-90% jankaro ke beech mein hoti hai.Kafi samay ke liye Ikhatte ghumte hain, ek din anban hogai, uss din utha karke FIR karwa dete hain isne mujhe rape kiya.(15.11) pic.twitter.com/jZWy3h3fK2 ANI (@ANI) November 17, 2018 Khattar's remarks on rape evoked a sharp response from the Opposition parties including Congress, which said that Haryana CM's statement exposed his ''anti-women mindset.'' Hitting out at the Haryana CM, Congress leader Randeep Singh Surjewala termed Khattar's statement as ''deplorable''. "Anti-Women Mindset of Khattar Govt Exposed! Haryana CM Khattar ji makes an utterly condemnable remark. Blaming Women for complete failures to control Rapes & Gangrapes? Deplorable!," Surjewala tweeted. Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal too slammed his Haryana counterpart Manohar Lal Khattar for "justifying rape" after the latter claimed that most of the rape cases filed were "fake". Sharing Khattar`s speech on Twitter, Kejriwal said, "If this is the mentality of a state`s Chief Minister then how do you expect the women to be safe? "CM sir is justifying rape. This is the reason why incidences of rape are increasing in Haryana and rapists are not caught... they roam around free." Attacking the Haryana CM for allegedly saying that most of the girls who hang out with boys get raped, Congress leader Shobha Ozha said the CM's statement showed the seriousness with which the state government was protecting the dignity of women. This is not the first time that Khattar has blamed girls for rapes. In 2014, the Haryana Chief Minister had asked girls to dress 'decently' to prevent rapes. His statement led to major controversy at the time. Srinagar: Another youth has on Sunday been abducted in Jammu and Kashmir's Shopian, a day after a second teen was kidnapped and killed by terrorists. Reportedly identified as Suhail Ahmad Ganai, the young man was kidnapped from a village in the south Kashmir district. On Saturday, a throat-slit body was found from an orchard area in Hermain village of the south Kashmir district. The deceased was identified as Huzaif Ashraf (19), a resident of Manzgam area of the neighbouring Kulgam district. Along with Huzaif Ashraf Kuttay, the terrorists also abducted Farooq Ahmad and Shahid Ahmad from a bakery shop from Saidpora Payeen village in Shopian. The 19-year-old's body was found in a deserted orchard in Lundoora village with his throat slit, while Farooq and Shahid were released unharmed. On Thursday, terrorists abducted and later killed Nadeem Manzoor, a resident of Safanagri area. A video was released by Hizbul Mujahideen purportedly showing terrorists killing a youth, who was alleged to be an Army informer. The video, which has gone viral on social media, shows terrorists pumping a volley of bullets into Manzoor, whose body was recovered on Friday morning. The terrorist outfit also claimed responsibility for the killing. In another video shot before his killing, Manzoor, in terrorists' custody, is seen telling them that he informed the Army about the presence of terrorists in his native village. Congress chief spokesperson Randeep Singh Surjewala on Sunday attacked Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar over his comments on rape cases and claimed "misogyny" had become a buzzword of the BJP leadership and his remarks exposed the ruling party leaders' "Talibani thought process". Khattar had claimed Friday that in 80-90 per cent rape and harassment cases the accused and the victim knew each other for a long time and added the cases of rapes were registered due to an argument between them. Taking to Twitter, the Congress leader posted a video and slammed Khattar over his remarks. "Misogyny is the buzzword for BJP. BJP leaders and Haryana CM Khattarjis Talibani thought process exposed again by his disparaging remarks. Are 80% rape cases false? If boys-girls meet, does it lead to rapes as Khattarji says? Apologize to Indias daughters," said Surjewala. Misogyny is the buzzword for BJP. BJP leaders & Haryana CM Khattarjis Talibani thought process exposed again by his diparaging remarks. Are 80% rape cases false? If boys-girls meet, does it lead to rapes as Khattarji says? Apolgize to Indias daughters.#MahilaVirodhiBJP pic.twitter.com/j9kiii5UxQ Randeep Singh Surjewala (@rssurjewala) November 18, 2018 Surjewala claimed the BJP leader had earlier said that if women wanted freedom, they should walk around naked and he sought an apology from the chief minister, as reported by news agency PTI. He cited examples claiming that Haryana had become a crime hub, as women became victims every day, according to PTI. After courting controversy over his remarks Khattar said his statement had been twisted and asserted there should not be any politics on the issue. "(My) statement has been twisted. I had said which is on record and I will again state it that during an investigation in such cases, it was revealed that about 80 per cent of incidents took place between known. But there is a need to bring awareness in the society. There should not be any politics on this issue," Khattar said. At a function in Kalka town of Panchkula district on Friday, Khattar said, "The incidents of rape have not increased. Rapes used to take place in the past and even today as well. (Only) the concern (over such incidents) has increased. The biggest concern is that in 80 to 90 per cent of rape and eve-teasing cases, the accused and the victim know each other. In many cases, they know each other for a long time and, on one day, when there is an argument (between them over some issue) an FIR is lodged, saying: 'He has raped me'," Khattar had said. The health condition of RJD president Lalu Prasad Yadav, who is serving jail term in fodder scam cases, has deteriorated due to a festering boil on his right leg, the doctor attending him at Rajendra Institute of Medical Sciences (RIMS) in Ranchi said on Sunday. Yadav is currently lodged in a paying ward of the RIMS. The sugar level and blood pressure of the RJD chief, who is a diabetic, have shot up in the past two to three days due to the boil, Dr Umesh Prasad of the RIMS, who attends Prasad, told news agency PTI. The former Bihar chief minister's dose of insulin has been increased to bring down the sudden increase in sugar level, he said. The doctor said Yadav's creatinine level has also increased to 1.85 from 1.5 and so has the white blood cell count to 12,000, the normal range of which is between 4,000 and 8,000. "It will take some time for the infectious boil to heal," the doctor, who is monitoring the RJD chief's health condition round-the-clock, said. Due to the boil, the RJD chief is experiencing difficulty in standing up and going to the washroom, sources close Yadav said. When asked if the RJD chief needs to be shifted to any other hospital, Umesh Prasad said proper care of the patient was being taken at the RIMS. Convicted in the Rs 900-crore fodder scam, the RJD chief surrendered before a special CBI court in late August, following the Jharkhand High Court's refusal to extend his bail on medical grounds. He was admitted to the RIMS and later shifted to its paying ward after he complained that he could not sleep properly due to barking dogs and mosquito menace. The fodder scam is related to fraudulent withdrawal of government funds from the treasuries of various districts of undivided Bihar in the 1990s when RJD was in power and Yadav the chief minister then. Yadav was in Ranchi jail since December last year in fodder scam cases. The Jharkhand High Court had provided him bail first for specialised treatment in hospitals in various states and again in July to attend the wedding of his elder son Tej Pratap Yadav in Patna. Tej Pratap, however, has filed a divorce suit against his wife Aishwarya Rai within less than six months of tying the knot. The petition is scheduled to come up for hearing on November 29. The development has caused stress to Prasad, taking a toll on his ailing condition, sources said. NEW DELHI: Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Sunday hit out at Haryana CM Manohar Lal Khattar for his statement holding women responsible for rape cases. Kejriwal alleged that it is this attitude of the CM due to which cases of rape are increasing in the state. "If the CM of a state thinks this way, how can be girls safe there? CM is justifying rape. This is the reason why rape cases are increasing in Haryana and the rapists are not caught but are instead roaming in the open," Kejriwal tweeted. Khattar, while addressing a rally on Saturday, had alleged that in 90 per cent of the cases, women choose to roam around with boys and later accuse them of raping them due to some disagreements. He said: "Sabse badi chinta yeh hai ki yeh ghatnayein jo hain rape aur Chhed chhad ki, 80-90% jankaro ke beech mein hoti hai. Kafi samay ke liye Ikhatte ghumte hain, ek din anban hogai, uss din utha karke FIR karwa dete hain isne mujhe rape kiya.(The biggest concern is that in these incidents of rapes and molestations, 80-90% occurs between people who already know each other. Most of the time these incidents happen between people who usually roam around together, but when they have minor arguments, women file an FIR stating that 'this person raped me'.)" Congress had also lashed out at the Haryana CM saying the statement exposed the state government's "anti-women mindset". "Anti-Women Mindset of Khattar Govt Exposed! Haryana CM Khattar ji makes an utterly condemnable remark. Blaming Women for complete failures to control Rapes & Gangrapes? Deplorable!," Congress leader Randeep Singh Surjewala tweeted. This is not the first time that Khattar has blamed girls for rapes. In 2014, the Haryana Chief Minister had asked girls to dress 'decently' to prevent rapes. His statement led to major controversy at the time. At least one CRPF Jawan was killed on Sunday after terrorists attacked a newly set up camp of the CRPF in Pulwama district of Jammu and Kashmir, as reported by news agency PTI. Terrorists lobbed a grenade and fired on a CRPF camp in Kakapora area of the district in south Kashmir Sunday evening, a police official said, adding the attack was successfully repulsed by the security forces. However, in the attack, a CRPF jawan identified as Head Constable Chandrika Prasad sustained injuries, the official said. Prasad was shifted to a nearby hospital where he succumbed to injuries. The official said as the militants were trying to flee the area after the attack, security forces immediately cordoned off the area and initiated searches. "Consequently, exchange of fire between security forces and terrorists took place till the last report was received," he said, adding further details were awaited. The camp had come up in view of the ongoing panchayat elections in the state. Mumbai: Hundreds of passengers of Jet Airways were left stranded at the city airport after the carrier cancelled 10 domestic flights from here on Sunday, an airline source said. The Jet Airways said the flights were cancelled from the Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport (CSMIA) due to "operational issues". However, the airline source claimed it was due to pilots' scarcity. "Jet Airways had to cancel a few domestic flights of date (November 18) due to operational reasons. Guests of the affected flights were duly informed about their flight status via SMS alerts. In accordance with regulatory policy, guests have been re-accommodated and or compensated," the airline said in a statement. The airline said it regrets the inconvenience caused to its guests. The airline source said the carrier has not been regular in paying salaries to pilots, engineers and senior management for quite some time now. Facing cash crunch, the Naresh Goyal-controlled private carrier has lost a good number of pilots in the recent past and many a time they have to work overtime to make up for the shortage, the source said. "The airline failed to operate as many as domestic 10 flights from Mumbai Sunday as it did not have required number of pilots. "Due to the abrupt cancellations, passengers who had booked their journey on these flights were left stranded," the source said. He said the shortage of pilots at the airline has been going on for months together as it has not hired new ones to replace those who have quit the airline in this period due to financial issues. New Delhi: Chief of Air Staff BS Dhanoa has strongly pitched for institutionalised structure for joint planning among the Indian Air Force, Navy and Army so that the country wins any war in future in the "shortest possible" time. The IAF chief said all the three services will have to adopt a coherent approach to effectively deal with all possible security threats facing the country, asserting that his force strongly stands for "jointness". "No single service can win the war solely on its own inherent organic capabilities given the variety of threats which nations are capable of inflicting upon each other," he said. "Thus it is imperative that the three services promote joint planning and exploit the strengths of sister services to help win a war in the shortest possible time. India by itself is one theatre," he said. There have been deliberations within the government and the three forces on whether India should go for integrated theatre commands where all the manpower and assets of the three services will be under the command of one officer. The US as well as several western countries follow this model. There were voices within the defence establishment who were in favour of setting up at least two theatre commands -- one in western sector for dealing with Pakistan and other in eastern sector for dealing with any eventuality along the frontier with China. Though there is no clear indication of whether the government was serious about setting up theatre commands, in April, it formed a Defence Planning Committee (DPC) headed by National Security Advisor (NSA) Ajit Doval to prepare a national security strategy with a focus on ensuring convergence among the three forces. "What we require is an institutionalised structure for joint planning. Incidentally, IAF is the only service that deputes senior officers who serve alongside principal fighting formations of the other two services so as to improve and enhance their combat potential in achieving desired outcomes," said Air Chief Marshal Dhanoa. He said the IAF enables the Army and the Navy to achieve laid down objectives set by the political leadership. At present, India has 17 single-service commands. The country's only tri-services command was set up in 2001 in the strategically located Andaman and Nicobar. Nearly two years back, China reorganised its military into five theatre commands to enhance the overall capabilities of the forces. Asked about the IAF's long-pending modernisation initiative, Air Chief Marshal Dhanoa said his force has a capability-driven modernisation plan with an aim to achieve full spectrum capabilities. "It is the IAF's endeavour to achieve self-sufficiency through a focused, sustained and evolved indigenisation programmes by supporting the ?Make in India' initiative. Rest assured, IAF is prepared to respond to future challenges and safeguard the Indian skies," he said. The IAF chief said the government was pursuing multiple initiatives to achieve higher levels of indigenisation and self-reliance in the defence sector. This, he said, was sought to be achieved by harnessing the capabilities of both the public and the private sector industries, thus increasing the defence industrial base in the country. "Self-reliance is a major cornerstone on which the military capability of any nation must rest. Our country has immense potential to leverage the manpower and engineering capability within the country for attaining self-reliance in design, development & manufacturing in defence sector," he said. Mumbai: The Maharashtra government has accepted the State Backward Class Commission's report and decided to give quota in jobs and educational institutes to the Maratha community, Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis said Sunday. The reservation will be granted to the community under a new category called 'Socially and Educationally Backward Class' (SEBC) as per the recommendation of the commission, he said. The politically dominant Maratha community constitutes over 30 per cent of the state's population. Speaking to reporters after a cabinet meeting on the eve of the winter session of Maharashtra legislature here, Fadnavis said, "The state cabinet has accepted the backward class commission's report for Maratha reservation. "Quantum of reservation will be fixed by the cabinet sub-committee assigned to chalk out technical aspects of the bill (granting quota) which will be tabled in the coming session," he said. After the commission submitted its report to the government earlier this week, Fadnavis had hinted that the demand for quota would be fulfilled. The Maratha community has been demanding quota for a long time and its agitation for the same in July and August this year had taken a violent turn. According to government sources, the commission's report has said that Marathas are a "socially and educationally backward class of citizens" with minuscule representation in government and semi-government services. A socially and educationally backward class can be extended benefits of reservation under Articles 15(4) and 16(4) of the Constitution, and in view of such extra-ordinary and exceptional condition, the state government is liable to take action, the report has said, sources maintained. Asked whether the proposed reservation for Marathas will cross the 50 per cent ceiling set by the Supreme Court, Fadnavis said the commission has described the condition of Maratha community as "extra-ordinary and exceptional". "Even though the case of Tamil Nadu, where reservation has crossed 50 per cent mark, is pending in the apex court, it has not been struck down. We are confident of extending reservation to Marathas," he said. As per the opinion of the Advocate General, the state does not need permission of the central government for granting quota, he further said. The Backward Class Commission had been asked to prepare a report on social and economic backwardness of the Maratha community. Asked about the demand for reservation by the Dhangar community, Fadnavis said the Dhangars are presently in the VJNT (Nomadic Tribes) category and have 3.5 per cent reservation but they want quota under the Scheduled Tribes category. "This comes under the Centre's purview. We will make the recommendation to the Centre," he said. Hours after the Punjab Police hinted at terrorist groups being involved in the grenade attack on Sunday in Amritsar, Chief Minister Amarinder Singh warned that the possibility of the involvement of ISI-based Khalistani or Kashmiri terror groups can't be ruled out, as reported by news agency ANI. The chief minister said that police teams have been rushed to raid suspected hideouts of the assailants. He added that multiple teams are investigating various angles to crack the case. READ: Amritsar religious congregation grenade attack appears to be 'terrorist act', says Punjab Police At least three people were killed and 20 injured in a grenade attack on a religious congregation in Amritsar, an incident which the police are treating as a 'terrorist act'. The incident took place inside the Nirankari Bhavan at Adliwal village near Amritsar's Rajasansi, police said. A religious congregation of the Nirankaris was being conducted inside the Bhavan at the time of the incident. The Sant Nirankari Mission is a spiritual organisation and the Bhavan here lies close to the international airport. The grenade was lobbed by two persons who had come on a bike and had their faces covered. After the incident, Amarinder Singh said the state won't let the "forces of terror" to destroy the hard earned peace. The chief minister asked the Home Secretary, DG Police, DG Law and Order and DG Intelligence to immediately rush to Village Adliwal, Raja Sansi, to personally supervise the investigations into the grenade attack at Nirankari Bhawan. Singh has also directed the police to immediately enhance security arrangements at all sensitive places in the wake of the explosion. Forensic teams have been rushed to the spot and all angles were being investigated, said the chief minister here. Singh said his government was on top of things and would get to the bottom of the incident soon and ensure that the culprits are apprehended and brought to book. "Nobody will be allowed to get away with trying to disturb the peace and harmony of the state," he warned. The chief minister has also announced a compensation of Rs five lakh each to the kin of the dead and directed the district administration to provide the best possible medical care, free of cost, to the injured. He said preliminary investigations had so far revealed that two men, one of them with a flowing beard, with covered faces, allegedly forced their way into the hall by brandishing a pistol. They detained the sewadar, lobbed the grenade into the prayer room, and fled on a motorcycle. The Director General of Police Suresh Arora, who along with senior police officers rushed to the spot, said the incident appears to be a 'terrorist act'. He said that three people had died in the incident and 20 others were injured, two of them seriously. Inspector General of Police S S Parmar,who visited the incident spot, told reporters that about 200 devotees including many women were inside at the time of the incident. No CCTV was installed at the premises, preliminary investigations found, he said. After the incident, the Bhavan was sealed by the police and security was stepped up at other "Nirankari Bhavans" in the state. A small crater was formed by the impact of the explosion, and was being examined by the forensic team. The safety valve of the grenade has also been found and was being examined, he said. The chief minister has meanwhile appealed to the people not to panic and maintain peace and law and order. "Let us remain calm," he said, adding the government would ensure there is no chaos in the wake of the incident. Though the state had been hit by a series of cases of targeted attacks since 2015-16, this was the first attempt, in a long time, to disturb the peace in the state through indiscriminate killings, said the Chief Minister, adding it strengthened the belief that Pakistan was continuing with its nefarious activities to disturb the state's peace. He pointed out that 15 such terror modules had been busted in the past 18 months, with Kashmiri terror links also indicated in some instances, as evidenced in the arrest of Kashmiri students from Jalandhar and in the Maqsudan police station grenade blast case. Earlier, the DGP said that the incident appears to be a 'terrorist act'. "It (this incident) appears to be a terror angle. Because it is against a group (of people) and it is not against any individual. There is no reason to throw a hand grenade on a group of people so we will take it as a terrorist act. Till proven otherwise, prima facie we will take it as that," Suresh Arora told PTI. Notably, the grenade attack took place amid Punjab being on high alert following an input claiming that ?a group of six to seven JeM terrorists were in Punjab and were 'planning' to move to Delhi. Moreover, the security agencies were also on alert after four persons snatched an SUV from its driver at gunpoint near Madhopur in Punjab's Pathankot district a few days back. On Friday, Punjab police in Gurdaspur had even pasted posters of Zakir Musa, the chief of Jammu and Kashmir based Ansar Ghazwat-ul-Hind terror outfit with reported links to Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM). Army Chief Bipin Rawat had recently warned that attempts were being made to revive insurgency in Punjab and had even cautioned that people needed to be careful especially during the festival season to prevent anti-national forces from succeeding in their nefarious designs. Notably, Punjab had gone through dark days of militancy in the 1980s and early 1990s and faced few terror attacks in recent years including the one in Pathankot over two years ago. Thiruvananthapuram: Amid the prevailing tension over Sabarimala, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) workers on Sunday launched a protest, blocking traffic on the highways in Kerala. The saffron party activists are protesting against party general secretary K Surendran being taken into preventive custody and removed from Nilakkal as he tried to leave for the hill shrine. He has been produced before a magistrate and remanded to a 14-day judicial custody after he was charged with non-bailable offences. Cases under IPC 353 (Assault or criminal force to deter public servant from discharging his duty) and 34 IPC (acts done by several persons for furtherance of common intention) were charged against them by police. Thousands of pilgrims offered prayers at the Lord Ayyappa shrine early on Saturday, the first day of Malayalam month 'Vrischikom', amid tight security cover. While Surendran and his supporters tried to move forward, they were removed and taken in a jeep by the heavy police force deployed there. He was reportedly not allowed to proceed to the shrine for it would have triggered law and order issues. After Surendran was taken to custody, BJP activists staged a protest, chanting Ayyappa mantras, in front of the Chittar police station in Pathanamthitta district where the BJP leader was detained. In Thiruvananthapuram, BJP workers took out a march to the Secretariat and blocked traffic protesting the police action against Surendran. Police used water cannons to stop them. Reacting to Surendran detention, BJP state president P S Sreedharan Pillai said the police action against Surendran has created an "extremely dangerous" situation. He said he has informed Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh about the "seriousness" of the situation. Earlier, a 12-hour dawn-to-dusk hartal called by Hindu outfits against the preventive detention of a right-wing woman leader caught devotees unawares and disrupted life in Kerala. The Travancore Devaswom Board, which manages the shrine, said it would move the Supreme Court on Monday, seeking more time to implement the apex court order allowing women of all age groups to pray at the temple. The temple had opened on Friday evening for the two-month-long annual pilgrimage season as a stand-off continued over the entry of menstrual age women into the shrine. All regular pujas began this morning under the new Melshanti (chief priest) Vasudevan Namboodiri's supervision. Pilgrims, including children, queued up in large numbers since the temple opened at 3 am. Police are maintaining strict vigil in and around the temple complex and are using drones to monitor the movement of pilgrims at Nilackal, the base camp. (With inputs from agencies) Srinagar: Two terrorists were gunned down on Sunday in an encounter with Jammu and Kashmir Police and security forces in the state's Shopian district. J&K police and security forces jointly launched a cordon and search operation early on Sunday, based on a credible input about the presence of terrorists in Rebban area of Zainapora in Shopian district. As search operation was going on, hiding terrorists fired upon the search party. The fire was retaliated by the police and armed forces leading to an encounter. "In the ensuing encounter, two terrorists were killed and bodies were retrieved from the site of encounter. Identities are being ascertained," J&K Police said. "Incriminating materials including arms and ammunition were recovered from the site of the encounter," they added. Police have, meanwhile, registered a case and initiated investigation in the matter. The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has lodged a protest after party general secretary K Surendran was on Saturday detained and barred from entering the Sabarimala temple. The BJP leader has been sent to 14 days judicial custody and has been charged with non-bailable offences. Protesting against the action against the party leader, BJP questioned if it was a crime to be associated with the party. "Kerala cops arrest and manhandle BJP state General Secretary K Surendran, Thrissur District President and six others. Their Irumudi, sacred offering to Lord Ayyappa, smashed in the scuffle. Is being an office bearer of the BJP and a Ayyappa devotee crime?," BJP IT cell chief Amit Malviya tweeted. Kerala cops arrest and manhandle BJP state General Secretary K Surendran, Thrissur District President and six others. Their Irumudi, sacred offering to Lord Ayyappa, smashed in the scuffle. Is being an office bearer of the BJP and a Ayyappa devotee crime? #SaveSabarimalaTradition pic.twitter.com/zlYO8gZBZg Amit Malviya (@amitmalviya) November 18, 2018 Reacting to Surendran detention, BJP state president PS Sreedharan Pillai had also said the police action against Surendran has created an "extremely dangerous" situation. He said he has informed Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh about the "seriousness" of the situation. The party has been voicing their anger over the detainment of the BJP leader by blocking traffic on the highways in Kerala. Surendran and his supporters were barred from entering the shrine and taken away in a jeep by the heavy police force deployed there. The police reportedly stopped him from entering anticipating a law and order situation in the area. After Surendran was taken into custody, BJP activists were seen chanting Ayyappa mantras in front of the Chittar police station in Pathanamthitta district where he was detained. In Thiruvananthapuram too, BJP workers took out a march to the Secretariat and blocked traffic protesting the police action against Surendran. Police had to use water cannons to disperse the agitating crowd. The temple had opened on Friday evening for the two-month-long annual pilgrimage season as a stand-off continued over the entry of menstrual age women into the shrine. All regular pujas began this morning under the new Melshanti (chief priest) Vasudevan Namboodiri's supervision. Pilgrims, including children, queued up in large numbers since the temple opened at 3 am. Police are maintaining strict vigil in and around the temple complex and are using drones to monitor the movement of pilgrims at Nilackal, the base camp. Mumbai: A Sub Inspector with Navi Mumbai police's Crime Branch was on Saturday booked for allegedly raping a woman constable, an official said. The complainant, who approached CBD police station Saturday, has alleged that sub inspector Amit Shelar had raped her in March last year after spiking her cold drink, the official said. The 31-year-old complainant has also told police that the accused had recorded the incident and had threatened to circulate it, the official added. She said the accused raped her several times in places like CBD, Panvel, Kamothe and Kharghar and was also allegedly beaten up by the accused, the official said. Based on her complaint, the police registered a case against Shelar under relevant sections of the IPC for rape and assault as well as under the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act. The accused has not been arrested yet. The accused and victim knew each other from 2010 when they were posted at the same police station, the official said. . , . , . . . ... New Delhi: Deepika Padukone and Ranveer Singh's dreamy wedding at Lake Como, Italy will be the talk of the town for a long time. The couple had two ceremonies, one was a traditional Konkani wedding and the other was a Sindhi wedding. The ceremonies took place on November 14 and 15 and the couple looked straight out of a period drama at the wedding! Deepika and Ranveer were recently clicked at Mumbai airport, returning from Italy husband and wife. Mr and Mrs Bhavnani, as we can call them now, looked adorable together, as always and the pics are breaking the internet already. Check out these pics, as shared by a fan club on Instagram: View this post on Instagram A post shared by(@club.deepikapadukonefan) on Nov 17, 2018 at 7:48pm PST Deep-Veer were rumored to be dating for nearly six years but never really admitted their relationship status. They dropped ample hints through their social media PDA and public appearances but their relationship was made official only when they shared wedding invites on Twitter in October. Both wore Sabyasachi ensemble for their big day and the pictures spoke for themselves how happy they are together. 'Deepveer' have been giving us couple goals for quite some time now and their wedding pics made us all euphoric. The couple will reportedly host two reception parties. One at Bengaluru, Deepika's hometown, and the other in Mumbai. Here's welcoming the newly-wedded couple, back in India! New Delhi: Newlyweds Ranveer Singh and Deepika Padukone are making a lot of headlines these days. The couple got married on November 14 in a traditional Konkani wedding ceremony and solemnized their wedding as per Sindhi tradition on November 15. After their Sindhi wedding, 'Deepveer' took to social media and shared their wedding pictures that went viral instantly. The bride and groom were all smiles in the pics and each time you look at them, you will feel euphoric! The couple is now back in Mumbai at their residence. After coming from Italy, Deepveer took time out to greet the media outside their house. They held hands as they walked towards the media and later thanked everyone for their wishes. Adorable? Wait until you check out the video! Grab those tissues because you are going to need them! News agency ANI shared a video on Twitter that is too cute for words. It shows 'Deepveer' addressing the media from their Mumbai residence. WATCH: Ranveer Singh and Deepika Padukone at Ranveer Singh's residence in Mumbai. They got married earlier this week in Italy's Lombardy pic.twitter.com/kgaiq87WTO ANI (@ANI) November 18, 2018 What we can watch again and again is the newly-wedded Deepika asking for her 'chocolates' in the video. Her post-wedding look is indeed stunning and we just can't take our eyes off 'Deepveer'. The two have been giving us major relationship goals for a long time and their dreamy wedding in Italy just makes us believe that 'Happily ever after' exists! Here's wishing Ranveer and Deepika, loads of love and a happily married life. Colombo: An all-party meeting called by Sri Lanka's President Maithripala Sirisena failed to make any breakthrough on Sunday to end the raging political crisis set off by his controversial decision to remove prime minister Ranil Wickremesinghe last month. The crisis erupted when President Sirisena suddenly announced on October 26 that he had sacked prime minister Wickremesinghe and installed ex-strongman Mahinda Rajapaksa in his place. Sirisena later dissolved Parliament, almost 20 months before its term was to end, and ordered snap election. The Supreme Court on Tuesday overturned President Sirisena's decision to dissolve Parliament and halted the preparations for snap polls on January 5. The crisis talks came after Sri Lanka's parliament witnessed unprecedented violence as lawmakers threw furniture and chilli powder at each other. The lawmakers on Friday approved a second vote of no confidence against Rajapaksa but Sirisena refused to accept it, saying his advice was not followed. Sirisena on Sunday called an all-party meeting which ended without making breakthrough, Wickremsinghe's United National Party (UNP) said. This was the first time that Sirisena, Wickremsinghe and Rajapaksa met face to face since the crisis erupted on October 26. Wickremesinghe has maintained that his sacking by Sirisena was unconstitutional and illegal and he was still the prime minister. "We placed our cards on the table. We told Rajapaska that if the Speaker's rulings are wrong, they can move a motion to challenge it and get it passed. Response from President Sirisena was nil," Lakshman Kiriella, a senior UNP leader, said after talks which lasted for over 2 hours. "We told President we have the majority. We are in a position to present the affidavits we signed," Ajith P Perera, another UNP leader said. The JVP or the People's Liberation Front stayed away from Sunday's meeting. The party in a letter to Sirisena said that he was the creator of the crisis so he should end it. The party said it had no reason to attend the meeting. Speaker Karu Jayasuriya, who on Wednesday announced there is no prime minister or government following a no-confidence motion against disputed prime minister Rajapaksa, also boycotted the meeting. Sirisena and Jayasuriya are at loggerheads ever since Jayasuriya decided to summon parliament on November 14 despite Sirisena's dissolution of the the assembly to hold fresh elections. The chaos on Friday in Parliament forced the Speaker Jayasuriya to summon police inside the House. Jayasuriya, using a microphone, conducted the proceedings while standing on the floor of Parliament, which for the second time passed a no-confidence motion against Rajapaksa and his government by a voice vote. Jayasuriya first offered to take the vote by name, but was unable to do so because of the commotion and opted for a voice vote. He then adjourned the house until Monday. After the second vote against Rajapakse, Wickremesinghe demanded that his government be restored, but there has been no response from Sirisena yet. Wickremesinghe's party meanwhile asked Facebook to safeguard the identity of its supporters on the social media platform, fearing information sharing with what it calls the country's "illegal" government can lead to a crackdown against the users. During the current day, November 18, the pro-Russian militants fired eight times at Ukrainian positions in Donbas conflict zone. No casualties in the ranks of Ukraines Armed Forces reported, states the press center of Joint Forces Operation (JFO) on its Facebook page. "Occupants opened aimed fire from grenade launchers of various systems, large-caliber machine guns, and small arms at Joint Forces positions near Zholobok, Svitlodarsk, Avdiivka, Krasnohorivka, Pavlopil, Vodyane, and Hnutove. In addition, the enemy used 82 mm-caliber mortars Zholobok," the headquarters reported. No losses among the personnel of Joint Forces troops reported. The situation in the conflict area remains controlled by the Joint forces. Earlier we reported Russia intended to cooperate with any new Ukraines authority to solve the conflict in Donbas peacefully, as the Russian President Putin said, TASS reported. Nevertheless, we think that there is no other way, and we will have to agree on something. I hope, that people who will head the state in the future, whoever it is will come to the conclusion that there is no other way, except the peaceful one, and it is important to implement Minsk Agreements, he said. At the same time, Putin did not predict whether the situation in Ukraine would change after the elections. He spoke against the meetings in Normandy format during the pre-election campaign in Ukraine calling them pointless. Besides, the President of Russia accused Ukraine of non-fulfillment of Minsk Agreements. Earlier, Heiko Maas, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Germany, stated that all the efforts of the participants of the Normandy format are taken to develop UN peacekeeping mission project in Donbas. Russian-backed militants opened fire at Ukrainian positions 16 times, 10 of them were performed from Minsk-banned weapons The situation in the east of Ukraine remains under control of the Joint Forces Operation (JFO), militants increase their fire activity though. One Ukrainian serviceman died the previous day, reports the press office of the Joint Forces Operation. Over the last day, November 17, the situation in the Joint Forces Operation zone had signs of an increase in the enemys fire activity and remained fully controlled by the Joint Forces, reads the message. Related: Ukrainian soldier killed in Donbas conflict zone It is noted that the militants opened fire at JFO positions 16 times, ten of them were performed from weapons prohibited by the Minsk Agreements. Yesterday, the enemy shelled the positions of the Armed Forces of Ukraine using 82mm mortars near Pishchane, Zholobok, Novotoshkivske, Orikhove, Vilne, Svitlodarsk, Troitske, and Svitlodarsk. Related: Ukrainian serviceman dies in Donbas combat area The militants used 120mm mortars near Zholobok, Vilny farmstead, and Svitlodarsk, and fired grenade launchers and small arms against the strongholds near Marinka, Berezove, Krasnohorivka, Hnutove, Lebedysnke, and Shyrokyne. One Ukrainian military sustained injuries incompatible with life. Related: Militants violate ceasefire regime 5 times in Donbas According to reconnaissance, two militants of the Russian occupation forces were eliminated and two were injured over the last day. From the beginning of the day, November 18, the militants fired grenade launchers and small arms near Hnutove. No casualties among the JFO personnel observed. Open source Polish Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki said that after the completion of the Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline construction, nothing would stop Russia from further aggression in Ukraine. This is reported by PAP. I know the position of the German government that this is a business project. However, no one believes in it to the east of Oder, he said. According to him, if after the construction of Nord Stream 2, it turns out that the Ukrainian gas transportation system is not needed, then what will stop Vladimir Putin to assault on Kyiv? Morawiecki President Petro Poroshenko welcomed the first results of the work of Ukrainian-American Commission for Strategic Partnership, calling them encouraging, as he wrote on Facebook. Poroshenko thanked the U.S. President and Secretary of State for "a reliable support arm and unshakable solidarity with Ukraine." A reliable foundation has been laid for increasing the success of our bilateral cooperation in the political, security, defense, investment, economic, and energy sectors, the president noted. Earlier the United States condemned Russia's aggressive actions in the Sea of Azov. This was said in a joint statement of the Ukraine-U.S. Strategic Partnership Commission, published on the Ukrainian Embassy website. "The United States condemned Russia's aggressive actions against international sea carriers moving along the Black and Azov Seas and through the Kerch Strait to Ukrainian ports. Both sides stressed that Russia's aggressive activities in the Sea of Azov created new security issues, economic, social and environmental threats to the whole Azov-Black Sea region," as said in a statement. The First Deputy Chairman of the Ukrainian Parliament met with the President of Ukrainian Canadian Congress Paul Grod The representatives of Ukrainian parliamentary delegation in NATO Parliamentary Assembly met with Canadian colleagues invited as observers in Ukrainian elections in 2019. First Deputy Chairman of the Ukrainian Parliament Iryna Gerashchenko reported this on Facebook. Canadian friends noted that the groups of parliamentary friendship Ukraine-Canada can do more for strengthening economic cooperation between two countries. I invited our Canadian friends to visit Ukraine the next year to observe the presidential elections, Gerashchenko claimed. She has also noted that the parties discussed the situation in the east of Ukraine, shared their views on a free trade area implemented by Canada. Presidential elections in Ukraine are scheduled for spring 2019, and parliamentary elections to be held in autumn. As was reported earlier, 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 Donbas occupied territories of Ukraine to observe the elections held by the militants. Open source Foreign Minister Pavlo Klimkin supported the recommendations of the National Democratic Institute and the European Parliament regarding the electoral process in 2019. About this he wrote in Twitter. I had a good discussion with the mission of the NDI and the European Parliament regarding the comprehensive attempts of disinformation and information attacks. Facebook should have worked with the Ukrainian segment from Kyiv long ago. Like other IT companies, Klimkin said. According to Ukrinform, the monitoring mission consisting of representatives of NDI and the European Parliament provided the Ukrainian government and society with 51 recommendations for improving the electoral process in 2019. Among them are the equal access of all candidates to the media, the opening of a Facebook office in Kyiv, funding of public broadcasting. Also, the President of Ukraine Petro Poroshenko met with a delegation of NDI and the European Parliament and called on them to strengthen sanctions against Russia in connection with interference in the electoral process in Ukraine. A number of farmers from Belgium and the Netherlands continue to deliver fruits to Russia, bypassing the counter-sanctions imposed by the Russian Federation. This is reported by De Volkskrant. According to the newspaper, the products of European farmers are imported into Russia through the territory of Lithuania and Belarus under the guise of African fruits. Certificates of African producers were bought through the corruption scheme, and the accompanying documentation indicated that these fruits were grown in Africa and delivered to Europe via Belgium and the Netherlands. Members of the European Parliament called on Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos to stop the sale of goods with Soviet symbols, Voice of America reports. 27 members of the European Parliament, including representatives of the countries of the former Soviet bloc, demanded in an open letter to stop selling Amazons hammer and sickle products associated with the non-existent Soviet Union. The letter says, in particular, about T-shirts, suits, flags, and memorable souvenirs," as said in a message. Michael Colborne got a punch in the face, his glasses were broken; the police not only supported, but also physically removed activists from an event sanctioned by the city - Michael Colborne Far-right opponents of the March in support of transgender people in Kyiv attacked Canadian journalist Michael Colborne, he wrote on Twitter "During the time I uploaded my tweets, Ive been assaulted twice. Great job, Kyiv. Great job," wrote Colborne. When a man found out that the journalist was a foreigner, man told him to return to his homeland. Colborn also reported on two injured girls. The far-right protesters lit smoke bombs and threw them into the crowd, an Agence France-Presse journalist at the scene noted. Journalist @ColborneMichael took punch to face, sustained cut & had glasses broken by far-right radicals while covering todays transgender rights rally as police not only stood by but physically removed activists from city-sanctioned event. cc @pressfreedom @RSF_EECA @OSCE_RFoM pic.twitter.com/UZyn7aKdee Christopher Miller (@ChristopherJM) 18 2018 . In addition, the transgender rights activists were forced to stop their rally after far-right counterdemonstrators assaulted the protesters and Michael Colborne. As a result, the peaceful activists were forced to disband and break up their event, which had been planned as a march and well in advance with city approval. Christopher Miller (@ChristopherJM) 18 2018 . NewsOne TV channel journalists were streaming the rally against the Transgender Day of Remembrance, while their activities were hampered by members of far-right groups (spewed in the face of the correspondent), as well as by Ukrainian MP Oksana Korchynska (Radical Party of Oleh Lyashko), who requested journalists to leave the event. Oksana Korchynska is a wife of Ukraine's far-right Bratstvos party leader Dmytro Korchynsky. UN monitoring mission for human rights reported that Ukraine experienced an increase in the number of attacks against journalists in 210% compared to the previous reporting period of 16 February to 15 May 2018. The campaign was held in Europe on the initiative of the Pope of Rome to give the necessary aid to victims of hostilities in the east of Ukraine The "Pope for Ukraine" campaign from the Most Holy Father Francis aimed at helping all citizens of Ukraine who became victims of the military operations in the East or turned into internal migrants. The Apostolic Nuncio in Ukraine, Archbishop Claudio Gugerotti, reported this at a press conference, Ukrinform reports. In total, he said, the campaign participants managed to collect 16 million euros. The Pope wanted to make the way in which this assistance is distributed really special. On one Sunday, Pope said from the window of his apostolic palace during the Angelus prayer that the money would be gathered... The collection (of funds, ed.) was held in all the churches of Europe. And the result was very generous: more than 11 million euros, to which the Pope added another 5 million from his personal funds," Gugerotti said. Earlier Pope Francis in the Easter appeal wished for peace to Ukraine. "Ukraine needs the fruits of peace to strengthen the steps for the benefit of consent and facilitate the implementation of the humanitarian initiatives, needed by the population," he said. Archpriest Heorhiy Kovalenko, former press secretary of the leader of Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the Moscow Patriarchate, claimed that the bishops' council might be held on November 22 Speaker of Ukrainian Orthodox Church of Kyiv Patriarchate, Archbishop Eustraty claimed that the information on the appointment of the bishops council on November 22 is false. He claimed this on Facebook. I officially state: the information disseminated in the announcement is not true. Again, I have to repeat: only the official report on the date of the Council will mean that it has already been determined, the speaker claimed. Related: Church cannot be political organization, - Metropolitan Onufriy Earlier, Archpriest Heorhiy Kovalenko, former press secretary of the leader of Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the Moscow Patriarchate, claimed that the bishops' council might be held on November 22. On October 11, the Synod of the Ecumenical Patriarchate supported that the autocephaly provision for Ukraine is prolonged. Also, it has officially approved Constantinople as Ukraines mother-church. Besides, the Synod lifted the anathema from Filaret, the head of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the Kyivan Patriarchate, and Makariy, the Primate of Ukrainian Autocephalous Orthodox Church. Filaret stated that a united Jubilee Bishops' Council would take place soon to create a unified Ukrainian local church. In addition, the Ecumenical Patriarchate recognized Russias Orthodox Church annexation of Kyiv metropole in 1686. As we reported earlier, President of Ukraine Petro Poroshenko and Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew signed an agreement on cooperation between Ukraine and the Ecumenical Patriarchate in Turkey. Open source NATO Parliamentary Assembly urged Russia to assume responsibility for the crash of the MH17, Ukrinform reports. Parliamentary Assembly confirms its firm support for the investigation of the MH17 crash in Ukraine, which is partially undertaken by the Netherlands authority; and calls the Kremlin to fulfill the resolution of the United Nations Security Council 2166, to take responsibility and to join the efforts to establish justice, reads the draft resolution of NATO Parliamentary Assembly. Related: Families of MH17 victims ask Trump to apply pressure on Putin The assembly also condemns Russias interference in recent elections and referendums in the Euro-Atlantic area, expresses deep concern about such threats that face future elections, and the Kremlins support for marginal political movements in the West. Earlier, the Russian Defense Ministry said that the missile that downed MH17 Boeing in Donbas in 2014 belonged to Ukraine. The Russian authority claimed that the missile was made at Dolgoprudnensky factory in 1986 and sent to Ukraine's military unit; it allegedly was kept there until the tragedy happened. The ministry also claimed that it has access to the audio records made by the Ukrainian military; the tapes allegedly confirm that Ukraine is involved in the crash. Earlier, U.S. Special Representative for Ukraine Kurt Volker assigned responsibility for the MH17 tragedy in Donbas to Russia. Related: Poroshenko offers to prolong mandate for mission that protects MH17 investigation 'Russia is responsible for that as it intervened and occupied this part of Ukraine,' Volker noted. He said that the air defense system which shot down the plane came from the Russian regular military unit. It was delivered from Russia to Ukraine, used to fire a missile, which shot down a civil plane from the Ukrainian territory and then this system was returned to Russian military unit. 'And the question on who exactly pushed the button, a Russian or Ukrainian, a Ukrainian from Donbas or an officer of Russias Armed Forces, is actually less important than the fact that this Russian military equipment was transported to another sovereign state under Russias control, used to launch a missile which killed all these civilians and then taken from Ukraine,' Volker said. Related: Australia is ready to increase pressure on Russia due to MH17 crash Boeing 777 of Malaysian Airlines, flight number MH17, was destroyed while performing a regular flight from the Netherlands to Malaysia in July 2014. The tragedy took place in the sky over the militant-held section of Donetsk region. All 298 people aboard deceased; most of the victims, 196, were Dutch, but there were citizens of other nine countries as well. Malaysia Airlines Flight 17 (MH17) brought down in Eastern Ukraine on July 2014 by Buk missile launcher, brought from Kursk, Russia, stated in Bellingcat's report, British NGO of investigative journalists. The former daily newspaper reporter talks about and signs his new non-fiction effort Esteban: The African Slave Who Explored America. FORMER NEWSPAPER REPORTER PRESENTS NON-FICTION EFFORT 3:00 PM SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 18, AT PAGE ONE Dennis Herrick, former daily newspaper reporter, will be at Page One Books 3:00 pm Sunday, November 18, to talk about and sign his new New Mexico non-fiction effort, "Esteban: The African Slave Who Explored America." The book is described as such: "When Pueblo Indians say, "The first white man our people saw was a black man," they are referring to Esteban, who came to New Mexico in 1539. After centuries of negative portrayals, this book highlights Esteban's importance in America's early history. Books about the history of the American West have ignored Esteban or belittled his importance, often using his slave nickname, Estebanico. What little we know about Esteban comes from Alvar Nunez Cabeza de Vaca and other Spanish chroniclers, whose condescension toward the African slave has carried over into most history books. In this work Herrick dispels the myths and outright lies about Esteban. His biography emphasizes Esteban rather than the Spaniards whose exploits are often exaggerated and jingoistic in the sixteenth-century chronicles. He gives Esteban full credit for his courage and his skill as a linguist and cultural intermediary who was trusted and respected by Indians from many tribes across the continent." Herrick is the author of a historical novel, a mystery, a sci-fi novel, several 99-cent short stories, and a textbook. Much of his fiction involves the American Southwest. He won the 2004 Tony Hillerman Mystery Writing Contest for his short story "Hunting Season," and he won the 2010 Society of Southwestern Authors Writing Contest for his short story "Missing." A native of Michigan, he and his wife now live beside the Rio Grande between Albuquerque and Santa Fe. Herrick is a former daily newspaper reporter and weekly newspaper publisher. He is an emeritus member of the journalism faculty at the University of New Mexico. Page One Books is located at 5850 Eubank Blvd NE, Suite B-41, in Albuquerque's Mountain Run Shopping Center (southeast corner of Eubank and Juan Tabo). The Herrick event is free and open to the public. For more information, please call 294-2026 or visit www.page1book.com. ------------------------- Dennis Herrick website: dennisherrick.com 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!) YEREVAN, NOVEMBER 18, ARMENPRESS. Armenian President Armen Sarkissian and Italian President Sergio Mattarella held a meeting yesterday in Rome, the presidents office said. Sarkissian is currently on a working visit to Italy. The presidents discussed issues concerning the further deepening of the Armenian-Italian relations, Sarkissians office said. They mentioned that high-level mutual visits will significantly contribute to enhancing bilateral relations and will boost the development of cooperation between the two countries. Sarkissian briefed his Italian counterpart on the meetings and agreements he had during his visit to the country. The presidents underscored that broad opportunities for cooperation exist in both economic, cultural and scientific sectors and attached importance to full utilization of the existing potential. Sarkissian had a number of meetings in Italy, including with ANCE executives, the CEO of Leonardo and Italian National Research Council president. Edited and translated by Stepan Kocharyan YEREVAN, NOVEMBER 18, ARMENPRESS. Informing the content of a closed-door, confidential session of a military-political alliance to an adversary country of an ally raises questions in terms of international norms of big politics, Civil Contract Party Board member, MP Alen Simonyan said on Facebook, referring to the Belarusian foreign ministrys respond to Armenian caretaker PM Nikol Pashinyans statement. Pashinyan had expressed surprise that Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko had disclosed details of a closed-door session of the CSTO to the Ambassador of Azerbaijan in Belarus. I familiarized myself with the Belarusian foreign ministry spokespersons statement and I can say the following: The Armenian prime minister has expressed himself clearly and the questions raised by him must be clarified inevitable. As far as ethics and correctness, our colleagues continue grossly ignoring [ethics and correctness], by not yet realizing that this puts the allied trust within the structure to doubt. Also in terms of international norms of big politics the [disclosure] of the content of closed-door, confidential session of a military political alliance to an adversary country of an ally raises questions, and knowing the Prime Minister of Armenia I can say that he will get the answers of these questions, Simonyan said. Edited and translated by Stepan Kocharyan PNG established diplomatic relations with China in 1976, a year after gaining independence from Australia, and the two nations established a strategic partnership in 2014. This is not only a manifestation of the traditional friendship between the two countries, but also a powerful impetus for further cooperation, he said. China is willing to work with PNG to enhance mutual trust, deepen cooperation and promote bilateral relations to a new comprehensive strategic partnership, Xinhua quoted Xi as saying. Chinese President Xi Jinping met Papua New Guinean prime minister Peter ONeill in Port Moresby on Friday ahead of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit. HONG KONG - China and Papua New Guinea have agreed to upgrade their relations to a comprehensive strategic partnership and work more closely together on projects under the Beijing-led Belt and Road Initiative, according to Chinese state media. Beijings investment in PNG in 2017 mostly in infrastructure projects tripled to K8.3 billion In recent years, high-level exchanges between the two countries have resulted in mutual trust, Xi said, adding that Chinas investment in PNG would continue to grow. Beijings investment in the country in 2017 mostly in infrastructure projects such as roads and ports almost tripled to US$2.46 billion (K8.3 billion) from US$860 million in 2016, according to data compiled by China Global Investment Tracker. Speaking on his first visit as president to the Pacific nation, Xi said Beijing and Port Moresby also agreed to work more together on Belt and Road projects, Chinas ambitious plan to develop infrastructure and trade routes across Asia and beyond. Both sides should strengthen the development strategy within the framework of the Belt and Road initiative and should initiate free-trade agreement negotiations as soon as possible, Xi said. PNG agreed to join the development program earlier this year and Beijing is keen to promote it amid an international backlash. China Construction Bank, China Railway Group, China Railway Construction and China National Building Material are all working on Belt and Road projects in PNG. The Belt and Road initiative will help strengthen connectivity and infrastructure in Pacific island countries, Xinhua quoted ONeill as saying. PNG will actively participate in it and is willing to strengthen exchanges and cooperation with China in many areas, he said, adding that his country would also support dialogue among Pacific island countries. ONeill also pledged PNGs diplomatic support for China, saying the country will unswervingly pursue the One-China policy. Chinas interests in the Pacific stretch beyond economic concerns. Seven Pacific Islands nations officially recognise Beijing as their diplomatic ally, while six others Kiribati, the Marshall Islands, Nauru, Palau, the Solomon Islands and Tuvalu recognise Taiwan. Beijing has ramped up the pressure on Taiwan including staging a campaign to poach its allies since Tsai Ing-wen was elected president of the self-ruled island in 2016 and refused to accept the one-China principle. It now has just 17 diplomatic allies around the world. Chinas growing role in South Pacific nations cannot be stopped, says vice-minister Zheng Zeguang Baron Waqa, the president of Nauru, publicly branded Chinas envoy to the Pacific Islands Forum in September a bully after the official tried to speak ahead of state leaders and then stormed out of the auditorium after being refused. Gary Juffa, governor of Papua New Guineas Oro province, said Chinas move to boost relations was driven by strategic considerations. The battle for the Pacific is being fought here by the West and China, he said. This is the most strategic location as it has one foot in Asia and one in the Pacific. Anyone who wants access to [natural] resources, this is the place. More than a billion people have been lifted out of extreme poverty since 1991 in large part because of the jobs and access to affordable consumer goods that free trade has enabled, Morrison told navy suits gathered in the small theatre aboard the P&O Pacific Explorer. Trumps name was never mentioned, but it was no secret who was being addressed by representatives of the 21 Asia-Pacific economies. PORT MORESBY - The America First policy of US President Donald Trump was savaged by every world leader taking the stage at the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit in Papua New Guinea on Saturday, who together launched a stern defence of free trade and condemnation of the escalating trade war between Beijing and Washington. The Trump administration has placed tariffs on $200 billion worth of Chinese goods in response to what it claims are unfair trade practices that have contributed to a $375 billion trade deficit. China has responded with $60 billion worth of its own tariffs, with the spat upsetting global supply chains and imperilling economies around the world. Russias diminutive prime minister Dimitri Medevev, looking like hed walked off a Bugsy Malone set in double-breasted grey suit, then swiped at the highly unpredictable situation in the global economy and that economic sanctions have become an instrument of political pressure. It was then time for Chinese president Xi Jinping to take the stage. A cold war, hot war or trade war will produce no winners, he told the crowd to hearty applause. Nobody should stop people in developing countries from pursuing a better life, he added, before insisting that his signature Belt and Road initiative, a transnational trade and infrastructure network, was not a trap as some people have labelled it. In the absence of Trump, who did not travel to PNG to defend America First, that job fell to vice-president Mike Pence. America First is not America alone, he insisted, before launching into a stinging attack on China, mocking the Belt and Road initiative as a constricting belt or one-way road, and warning gathered leaders do not accept foreign debt that could compromise your sovereignty. The drawing of lines illustrates how the South Pacific is becoming another battleground in the strategic tussle between China and the US but one complicated by the trade-reliant regions aversion to Trumps protectionism. Trumps decision to withdraw from the Trans-Pacific Partnership free trade pact also hurt many APEC economies. China has pledged some $5.9 billion on more than 200 projects in the region since 2011, according to Australian think tank the Lowy Institute, and the sight of the chief of China Construction Bank one of the worlds largest lending institutions far back in the Pacific Explorer theatres fifth row illustrates the big guns that Xi had brought along to Port Moresby, which is already awash with building sites daubed with Chinese characters. Pence, for his part, promised that a historic initiative to transform PNGs future would be announced soon. He added an end to the trade war might be found when Xi and Trump meet at the G20 in Argentina later this month. Governments that deny rights to their own people too often violate the rights of their neighbours, he warned the audience, citing Beijings territorial ambitions in the South China Sea. Just like America, always put your country first. The paint is flaking and old bedsheets are slung as curtains, but the Haus Ruth refuge is peaceful and, more importantly, it is safe. Today the gentle 23-year-old and her quiet doughnut-munching toddler live in a women's shelter by the shore of Port Moresby's Ela Beach. The beatings started before Lucy Sausiniaka was married and didn't stop even when she was pregnant with her daughter. PORT MORESBY - Ask people in Papua New Guinea about #MeToo and you are likely to get blank stares, but in a country with a reputation as the worst place in the world for women to live, attitudes to domestic and sexual violence are slowly changing. That is a rarity in a city that struggles with gangs of marauding "raskols" and high -- although sometimes exaggerated -- levels of violence. "He would beat me up, even in public" says Sausiniaka, her eyes darting around as if searching reluctantly for memories. "Usually under the influence of alcohol." It is estimated that two-thirds of women in Papua New Guinea experience domestic violence. Almost everyone here has a story about cries heard through neighbours' walls. Sexual violence is commonplace too. But behind the shocking statistics and harrowing testimony, attitudes and behaviour appear to be slowly changing. The shelter's ebullient manager Monica Richards says 2013 legal reforms -- imposing tougher prison sentences, fines and protection orders -- have made a real difference. "Five or six years ago" the police would not always take domestic and sexual violence seriously, she said. "That has changed a lot. The police are now helping us." She blames the introduction of alcohol -- which was relatively uncommon in this part of Melanesia -- for much of the abuse. But also, the loss of traditional tribal structures when residents in this largely rural country head for the big smoke. "For me growing up in the village, we hardly saw men beating up their wives," she said. "I never saw my dad beating my mum, let alone anyone else in the village, but as I came to the city I saw that." Women like Sausiniaka are also increasingly willing to take legal action and their husbands too are offered counselling. Elizabeth Fosape, a 47-year-old mother of seven who is also a grandmother, says it worked for her husband. "He was not happy when I went to the police or the safe house," she says, but taking legal action and insisting on counselling "changed him. It works." Elsewhere in Port Moresby, trailblazing women are taking the initiative in other ways, including driving women-only buses. They offer a safer alternative for women who fear robbery, abuse, harassment or assault. "The city is not safe for women to get around," said Gorame Momo, one of four female bus drivers in the capital. "We provide safe transport for them." "I feel boosted, I feel like I'm doing something very, very big here," she says. "I want women to be doing this more, in a male-dominated job and doing it better." As yet there are scant few Harvey Weinsteins in Papua New Guinea -- powerful men felled for their bad behaviour. But there are plenty of Alyssa Milanos or Tanushree Duttas, women brave enough to speak out and try to nudge their society forward. "Drinking the Kool-Aid" is a phrase bandied about regularly in corporate life, especially when someone wants to take a dig at people with a cult-like belief in a business philosophy or those fanatically chasing an idea that will end badly. But few realise the etymology of the expression and the tragedy it came from. This Sunday, November 18, marks the 40th anniversary of the mass murder-suicide of more than 900 people, most of them Americans who were members of a California-based cult called the Peoples Temple of the Disciples of Christ, run by the reverend Jim Jones. It became known as the Jonestown massacre. Until 9/11, it was the largest loss of American citizens in a single incident. His "church" formed in the 1960s with Jones presenting himself as a faith healer and sage able to protect his followers from a nuclear armageddon. His following grew through the '70s, to thousands of followers with churches in LA and San Francisco. Initially he was feted by politicians for his utopian ideals, not realising that behind the charisma, they were dealing with a paranoid figure with Communist sympathies. But by 1977, there were growing concerns about Jones and the way he treated his followers, and as media pressure from exposes of beatings and financial impropriety grew, he fled with hundreds of them to a farm compound he'd been building in the South American nation of Guyana, 150 miles northwest of the capital, Georgetown. He called it Jonestown. Growing concerns about the treatment of US citizens, and whether they were being held against their will in Jonestown led a US Congressmen, Leo Ryan, with reporters in tow, to head to the compound to investigate in November 1978. It didn't go well. Ryan visited on 17 November, and as he was leaving the following day, more than a dozen cult members jumped on their truck, seeking to defect to the USA. They made it to the airstrip to fly back to the capital, Georgetown, however, a group of cult members who accompanied them opened fire on the planes, killing Congressman Ryan, and four others, photographer Greg Robinson from The San Francisco Examiner, cameraman Bob Brown and NBC journalist Don Harris, as well as Temple defector Patricia Parks. Another 11 people were wounded. Story continues Peoples Temple member Larry Layton, who led the shootings at the airstrip, was convicted in 1986 of conspiracy to murder Ryan and aiding and abetting in the attempted murder of Richard Dwyer, a US diplomat wounded in the attack. He was the only cult member charged and was released from jail in 2002. But the shooting attack that day led cult leader Jim Jones to implement a mass suicide/murder plan he dubbed revolutionary suicide. He'd made a fruit cocktail laced with cyanide and valium, and didn't use Kool-Aid, but rather a cheaper alternative called Flavor Aid to hide the bitter poison. Cult members were made to poison their children first, then themselves. Many found with bent needles in their arms suggest they were murdered by followers who forcibly injected them. When Guyanese authorities finally made it to the jungle compound, they were confronted by the overwhelming stench of 918 dead people, including 304 children. Jones died from a gunshot wound. Less than 100 of the Temple members survived. Four decades later, the jungle has resumed Jonestown. His legacy is a phrase at times used glibly, but with a chilling history. A warning: the photo below is shocking, but we've included it as a reminder of the horror that came from "drinking the Kool-Aid". A bizarre sea creature has been caught in Russian waters. Fisherman Roman Fedortsov has shared video on his Twitter account of the creature as it turns its face inside-out in a manner reminiscent of a monster from one of Ridley Scotts Alien movies. The creature resembles a legless centipede. Mr Fedortsov, who makes weird sounds with his voice as he shows off the creature in his video, says, If this creature could scream, I think it would scream like this Twitter users were in a mix of shock and awe of the creature. Fisherman Roman Fedortsov discovered this bizarre sea creature in Russian waters. Source: Australscope/ CEN Where did you find such horror? one woman tweeted. Another user labelled it absolutely terrifying. Now I will never sleep again, one man tweeted. The angler fishes mostly in the Barents Sea, off the northern coasts of Russia, which opens into the Arctic Ocean but he also travels to other parts of the world, including the Atlantic Ocean, off Africa. Many of the creatures he finds live in the so-called twilight zone, 200 to 1000 metres below the surface of the sea, of which less than 0.05 per cent has so far been explored by humans. Last month, Australian researchers made their own discovery after finding a deep-sea cucumber known as a headless chicken monster in the Southern Ocean off East Antarctica Some of the footage we are getting back from the cameras is breath-taking, including species we have never seen in this part of the world, Australian Antarctic Division Program leader Dr Dirk Welsford said. Enypniastes eximia has only been seen in the Gulf of Mexico previously and was captured in the Southern Ocean by cameras developed by the Australian Antarctic Division. Asia-Pacific leaders failed Sunday to bridge gaping divisions over trade at a summit dominated by a war of words between the US and China as they vie for regional influence. For the first time, APEC leaders were unable to agree on a formal written declaration amid sharp differences between the world's top two economies over the rules of global trade. "You know the two big giants in the room. What can I say?" said host and Papua New Guinea Prime Minister Peter O'Neill, conceding defeat. Canada's Prime Minister Justin Trudeau admitted the failure came down to "different visions on particular elements with regard to trade that prevented full consensus." Sources said going into the meeting the United States had pressed for the leaders to issue what amounted to a denunciation of the World Trade Organization and a call for its wholesale reform. That demand was a step too far for Beijing, which would likely get less preferential treatment under any changes. O'Neill indicated the WTO had been a sticking point in agreeing a joint communique. "APEC has got no charter over the World Trade Organization. That is a fact," he said. "Those matters can be raised at the World Trade Organization." The spat ramps up the stakes for a crunch meeting between presidents Donald Trump and Xi Jinping at a G20 summit in Argentina at the end of the month. O'Neill denied it was a humiliation for his poverty-hit country, which was hosting the annual gathering of the 21 nations for the first time. As tensions boiled over, police were called when Chinese officials attempted to "barge" into the office of PNG's foreign minister in an eleventh-hour bid to influence a summit draft communique, three sources with knowledge of the situation told AFP. Chinese foreign ministry official Zhang Xiaolong denied the incident, telling reporters: "It's not true. It's simply not true". - 'Drown our partners' - Even before the summit started, tensions between the two big hitters came to the fore with Xi and US Vice President Mike Pence crossing swords in competing major policy speeches. Pence warned smaller countries not to be seduced by China's massive Belt-and-Road infrastructure programme, which sees Beijing offer money to poorer countries for construction and development projects. The "opaque" loans come with strings attached and build up "staggering debt", Pence charged, mocking the initiative as a "constricting belt" and a "one-way road". In a speech to business leaders just minutes before Pence, Xi insisted the initiative was not a "trap" and there was no "hidden agenda" -- amid criticism that it amounts to chequebook diplomacy in the region. Xi also lashed out at "America First" trade protectionism, saying it was a "short-sighted approach" that was "doomed to failure". Pence told reporters Sunday: "I spoke to President Xi twice during the course of this conference. We had a candid conversation." He told him the US is interested in a better relationship with China "but there has to be change" in Beijing's trade policies. With fears that a trade war between the two rivals could cripple the Pacific Rim economy, some attendees voiced concern about the growing rivalry for influence in the region. "Business leaders do not want to speak out, but behind the scenes here, they are talking over dinner saying 'how has this happened'?" Denis O'Brien, the billionaire chairman of Digicel told AFP. "It's a very forced situation, one country is trying to force all the other countries to change tariffs agreed over years," O'Brien said. - Cruise ship diplomacy - Trump -- and Russian President Vladimir Putin -- both decided to skip the gathering, leaving the spotlight on Xi who arrived two days early to open a Chinese-funded school and road in Papua New Guinea's dirt-poor capital Port Moresby. Xi has been the star of the show, front and centre at official photos whereas Pence, by choice and because he carries a lower rank of protocol, has kept a lower profile, only deciding at the last minute to stay overnight in Port Moresby -- shelving original plans to fly in and out from Cairns in Australia. As if to counter Chinese largesse, the US, Australia, New Zealand and Japan on Sunday announced a project to boost electricity capacity in Papua New Guinea. And as the US and China tussle for influence in the region, the statement dangled the prospect of similar projects for countries that "support principles and values which help maintain and promote a free, open, prosperous and rules-based region." With the official business of the summit relatively low-key, much of the focus has been on the unlikely venue of Port Moresby, which is hosting its first international event of this scale. The city is on lockdown with hundreds of police and military patrolling the streets of the notoriously crime-ridden capital. Warships are stationed just off the coast to provide security for the leaders, and delegates and media have been housed in enormous cruise ships due to a dearth of hotel rooms. In an APEC tradition, leaders donned local costume for the gala dinner In an APEC tradition, leaders donned local costume for the gala dinner APEC delegates and media have been housed in cruise ships due to a dearth of hotel rooms in PNG capital Port Moresby The APEC summit has been overshadowed by an unusually sharp exchange of words between the US and China The discovery of the wreckage of an Argentine submarine lost a year ago has revived a stalled probe into the cause of the undersea disaster that took the lives of 44 crew members. Families of the victims have called for the ARA San Juan to be refloated, an enormous undertaking that authorities cautioned was likely beyond their means. "We're talking about a vessel that, filled with water, weighs 2,500 tons," said the judge in charge of the investigation, Marta Yanez. Yanez said she would not risk raising the submarine "if that means causing it to break up." "I prefer to preserve the evidence in place," she said. But she has issued summonses to the Argentine naval officers who were aboard the Seabed Constructor when it found the submarine on Friday, a year and a day after it vanished in the South Atlantic with all aboard. Crushed from an implosion, the submarine was located at a depth of more than 900 meters (3,000 feet) in a desolate area of undersea craters and canyons 400 kilometers (250 miles) off the coast of Argentina. An underwater robot sent down by the Seabed Constructor, which specializes in ultra-deep water exploration, relayed 67,000 images of the sunken vessel. - 'First step' - Luis Tagliapietra, the father of San Juan crewmember Ensign Alejandro Tagliapietra, was among those on board the ship when it located the sub. "I don't have words to describe it, I feel profound pain and anguish," he said in a brief video carried by Argentine media. "But at the same time we know where they are and it is the first step to learn the truth of what happened." "It's a very hard day, an inconceivable, unreal day. But it is also the first step, which has taken a year, to reach the truth. We are not going to rest until we know what happened." Defense Minister Oscar Aguad met Saturday with the families of the victims and showed them photographs of the wreckage, including images of a propeller, the sub's torpedo-launching tubes and an upper section of the vessel lying on the ocean floor. "We are all destroyed here," said Yolanda Mendiola, the mother of crewman Leandro Cisneros, 28. "I still had hopes that they could be alive," Luis Niz, the father of a missing sailor, told reporters, even though President Mauricio Macri's government had declared two weeks after the sub's disappearance that there could be no survivors. - Stalled probe - Although an official investigation was opened a year ago, investigators have had little to go on until now. Nonetheless, Argentine navy chief Marcel Srur was removed from his post in December. Seabed Constructor, a jewel in the fleet of US-based exploration company Ocean Infinity, was headed Sunday for Capetown, South Africa for maintenance, the Argentine navy said. When that is completed, it will return to the area where the submarine was located. According to preliminary information released Saturday by the Argentine navy, the San Juan imploded two hours after its last communication with the Mar del Plata naval base, its home port, on November 15, 2017. The sound of the explosion was recorded and traced to the general area where the submarine was found. In a message, Macri promised to get to "the truth needed to honor and respect our heroes and their families." "A serious phase of investigation is underway to know the whole truth, a truth to which we've all been committed from day one," he said, announcing three days of national mourning. Families of the victims, staying at the Tierra del Fuego Hotel in Mar del Plata, were organizing a march Sunday in memory of the "44 hearts of steel." Relatives of crew members of the ARA San Juan submarine demonstrate outside the navy base in Mar del Plata, Buenos Aires province, Argentina, on November 17, 2018 This screen grab image from a handout video released by Ocean Infinity on November 18, 2018, shows part of the wreckage of the ARA San Juan submarine located one year after it vanished into the depths of the Atlantic Ocean Photo released by Telam of relatives and friends of the crew members of the ARA San Juan submarine, mourning during a ceremony a year after the submarine went missing, at Mar del Plata's naval base, in Buenos Aires province on November 15, 2018 Map locating wreck of the ARA San Juan with cross-section of the Argentine submarine Former Fiji military strongman Voreqe Bainimarama survived declining support for his FijiFirst party to remain in power Sunday, fending off a strong challenge from rival coup leader Sitiveni Rabuka. The Fiji election result, confirmed four days after the island nation went to the polls for only the second time since "Frank" Bainimarama seized power in 2006, gave FijiFirst a three-seat majority in parliament. Bainimarama was not in Fiji to hear the final result but told Fiji Broadcasting Corporation from New Zealand, where he has been attending his brother's funeral, that he was "proud to become your prime minister once again". FijiFirst took 50.02 percent of the vote, enough to claim 27 seats, while Rabuka's SODELPA party with 39.85 percent and the National Federation Party with 7.38 percent got 24 seats between them in the 51-seat parliament. Support for FijiFirst had dived from 59.17 percent in 2014 when Bainimarama first went to the polls following eight years of political reforms after he overthrew the previous government of then prime minister Laisenia Qarase. Rabuka, who led two military coups in 1987 before later being democratically elected prime minister, saw SODELPA's share of the vote rise from 21.18 percent four years ago. In a preliminary report, a multinational observer group said it was "confident that Fijian voters were able to exercise their right to vote freely". The report was prepared Friday before a small number to voters were allowed to cast a late ballot after torrential rain forced the closure of some polling stations on Wednesday. It assessed the electoral processes as "transparent and credible" and that the election "was on track to reflect the will of the voters". Bainimarama, 64, led a bloodless coup 12 years ago vowing to end the instability that saw four governments toppled between 1987 and 2006. For eight years he led a military regime that ruled by decree as he reshaped the political landscape. Under his watch, the island nation of 920,000 has enjoyed sustained growth in its tourism-reliant economy. Supporters say he has helped heal racial divisions by introducing equal rights for Indian-Fijians, a sizeable minority brought in to work on sugar plantations during British colonial rule. 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. 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. Frank Bainimarama fended off a strong challenge at the polls to remain prime minister of Fiji A little boy is lucky to be alive after he was mauled by a dog in Sydneys west. Angus Martig, four, was mauled by his neighbours American Bulldog in Quakers Hill on Sunday about 1pm. Riverstone Police Inspector Al John said Angus was talking to his neighbour on the footpath when he was attacked. The dog, named Keely, latched onto Anguss neck and shoulder. His mother, Gillian, and the dogs owner, Sarah Clinch, ripped Angus from Keelys hold. Angus Martig, 4, is lucky to be alive after he was attacked by his neighbours American Bulldog in Quakers Hill. Source: 7 News NSW Ambulance Inspector Jennine Kiely said the pairs intervention saved the boys life. The two women also suffered bite marks. Seems like they were relatively lucky, Insp Kiely said. The dog has since been seized and its likely hell be put down. Its expected Keely the dog will be put down. Source: 7 News However, neighbours said the attack doesnt come as a surprise and the dog has a history of being aggressive. Concerned local mum Jessica Farrell said she has four children and the dog attacking someone was an accident waiting to happen. She added passing the house where the dog lives is the only way out of the street. Im petrified every time I take them to the park. We have to be super quiet when we walk past the house, Ms Farrell said. Angus was taken to The Childrens Hospital in Westmead for treatment. Prime Minister Theresa May said Sunday she would return to Brussels this week to hammer out Britain's future relationship with the EU -- and overthrowing her would not help negotiations. After a tumultuous week in which the draft divorce deal agreed between London and the European Union was slammed in parliament and plotters circled, May said the proposed withdrawal accord would only be signed off if the future relationship deal was satisfactory. May said the week ahead would be "critical" in the Brexit talks. And while hardcore Brexiteers in her centre-right Conservative Party want her replaced, she said that as things stood, they did not have the numbers to trigger a no-confidence motion. "I will be going back to Brussels," May told Sky News television, saying she would meet European Commission chief Jean-Claude Juncker. "The focus this week will be on the future relationship. "We won't agree the leaving part... until we've got what we want in the future relationship, because these two go together." That may appease some of the Brexiteers in her cabinet, who on Saturday hinted that further negotiation was needed to keep them onside. May could face a no-confidence vote if at least 15 percent of Conservative lawmakers -- 48 MPs -- submit letters saying she has lost their support. More than 20 have publically said they have done so. Asked if the 48 figure had been reached, May said: "As far as I know, no it has not. "We're not going to be distracted. "A change of leadership at this point isn't going to make the negotiations any easier and it's not going to change the parliamentary arithmetic." On Thursday, four ministers resigned over the draft Brexit withdrawal agreement, MPs said it had no chance of getting through parliament, and Brexiteers began submitting their no-confidence letters. May runs a minority Conservative government and a rump of Brexiteers in her own party, the Northern Irish allies she relies upon for support, plus the opposition, have vowed to vote down the draft deal. Brexiteers fear the deal would keep Britain shackled to Brussels for years to come. EU supporters say it would leave the UK on worse terms than it has inside the bloc and are calling for a second Brexit referendum to break the logjam. Asked what she would do if the vote was lost, May said: "There's a process that parliament will go through. "The government would come back with their proposals for what the next step was." She said the left-wing Labour main opposition leader Jeremy Corbyn was "playing party politics" with Brexit. Corbyn confirmed Labour would vote against the deal. "The government have to go back to the EU and renegotiate rapidly," he said, adding that second Brexit referendum was "an option for the future" and "not an option for today". Scotland's First Minister Nicola Sturgeon said she wanted talks with other parties this week on forging a united front against the draft agreement. "Those who don't think the prime minister's deal is the right way to go have now a responsibility to come together and coalesce around an alternative," the Scottish nationalist leader told BBC television. Dominic Raab, who quit as Brexit secretary on Thursday over the draft deal, said it was "fatally flawed" but could be remedied by just "two or three points" being changed. "We are being bullied (by the EU), I do think we are being subjected to what is pretty close to blackmail," he told BBC television. "We cannot accept those dictated terms." Meanwhile the Confederation of British Industry, the main business lobby group, said the deal was not perfect but a compromise that "takes no deal off the table" and opens the path to frictionless trade in the future, said CBI chief Carolyn Fairbairn. Britain's Prime Minister Theresa May leaves her Downing Street office The sun sets behind the Houses of Parliament as pedestrians walk across Westminster Bridge in London The sun sets behind the Houses of Parliament in London Some MPs in the prime minister's own Conservative Party are already calling for her to resign Timeline of the Brexit talks The US-led anti-jihadist coalition hit back Sunday at reports its air strikes on an Islamic State group holdout in eastern Syria had killed civilians, appearing to blame their deaths on regime forces. More than seven years into the country's civil war, multiple offensives have whittled down the swathes of Syrian territory IS once controlled to a small pocket in the eastern province of Deir Ezzor on the Iraqi border. A Kurdish-led alliance backed by the coalition is battling to expel IS from that holdout, on the eastern bank of the Euphrates. Russian-backed regime forces have been fighting the jihadists west of the river. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said coalition strikes on Saturday killed 43 people, including 36 family members of IS fighters in the village of Abu al-Husn. But the coalition denied that its air raids there had killed any non-combatants. The US envoy for the coalition, Brett McGurk on Sunday appeared to blame regime forces stationed "across the river" for the civilian casualties. "Reports of civilian casualties attributed to coalition strikes are false. All other forces should cease uncoordinated fires from across the river immediately," he said on Twitter. In a statement late Saturday, the coalition reported 19 coalition strikes on IS targets "free of civilian presence" between late Friday and Saturday afternoon in the jihadist enclave, which includes the town of Hajin. The coalition's "initial assessment following the strikes is that there was no evidence of civilians near the strikes", it said. But the coalition "detected a total of ten additional strikes in the same area of Hajin that did not originate from the coalition or partner forces," it added. It called "on all other actors to cease uncoordinated fires across the Euphrates." The Observatory, a Britain-based war monitor, said regime forces and IS fighters exchanged fire across the river on Saturday, but pro-government shelling did not hit Abu al-Husn. The US-led international coalition has consistently denied reports by the Observatory in recent days that its air raids have killed civilians. It says it takes allegations of civilian casualties seriously and investigates each one thoroughly. IS overran large swathes of Syria and neighbouring Iraq in 2014, proclaiming a "caliphate" in land it controlled. But the jihadist group has since lost most of it to offensives by multiple forces in both countries. On Saturday, Syrian regime forces retook control of the group's last holdout in the country's south as the jihadists retreated into the desert after months of fighting, the Observatory said. Syria's war has killed more than 360,000 people since it erupted in 2011 with the brutal repression of anti-government protests. Since 2014, the US-led coalition has acknowledged direct responsibility for over 1,100 civilian deaths in Syria and Iraq, but rights groups put the number much higher. A Syrian Democratic Forces fighter watches as a US-led coalition helicopter flies over the Syrian town of Shadadi on September 11, 2018 The death toll from a cyclone that battered India's eastern coast has reached 33, a disaster official said Sunday, as authorities assessed the damage caused by the powerful storm. Cyclone Gaja, which packed winds of up to 120 kilometres (75 miles) per hour, had barrelled into Tamil Nadu state after hitting the coast on Friday. Thousands of trees were felled by winds that destroyed homes and hundreds of thousands were forced to flee to shelters. "So far 20 men, 11 women, and two children have died due to the cyclone," said an official with the state disaster management authority, who asked not to be named as he was not authorised to speak to media. "As of now 177,500 people are housed in over 351 camps. Thousands of trees have been uprooted and livestock has also been badly affected," he told AFP. Chief Minister Edappadi Palaniswami, who has announced compensation of $14,000 each to the families of victims, said most deaths were caused by flooding, house collapses and electrocution. Hundreds of emergency workers have been pressed into service to restore roads and power cables, as the full scale of the disaster becomes clear. A Navy helicopter and two ships have joined relief efforts in the state, the local government said. India's weather department said the cyclonic depression had moved westwards Saturday into the neighbouring Kerala state before continuing into the Arabian Sea. Gaja is the second major storm to hit India's east coast in recent weeks. Cyclone Titli battered Odisha state in October, killing at least two people. Storms regularly hit southern India between April and December. Last year, Cyclone Ockhi left nearly 250 people dead in Tamil Nadu and Kerala states. Thousands of trees were felled by winds that destroyed homes and hundreds of thousands were forced to flee to shelters in India's southern Tamil Nadu state after a cyclone struck the region A bloody, age-old custom used by Iraq's powerful tribes to mete out justice has come under fire, with authorities classifying it as a "terrorist act" punishable by death. For centuries, Iraqi clans have used their own system to resolve disputes, with tribal dignitaries bringing together opposing sides to mediate in de facto "hearings". If one side failed to attend such a meeting, the rival clan would fire on the absentee's home or that of fellow tribesmen, a practice known as the "degga ashairiya" or "tribal warning". But in an age when Iraq's vast rural areas and built-up cities alike are flooded with weapons outside state control, the "degga" may be deadlier than ever. A recent dispute between two young men in a teashop in the capital's eastern district of Sadr City escalated to near-fatal proportions, leaving a 40-year-old policeman with a broken hip and severely damaged abdomen. His cousin Abu Tayba said the policeman was "wounded in a stray bullet during a 'degga' on a nearby home." "Weeks after the incident, he's still in the hospital, hovering between life and death," Tayba told AFP. Even in Baghdad, disputes often involve machine guns and rocket-propelled grenades, the city's military command warned a top Iraqi court recently. That body, the country's Superior Magistrate Council, issued a decision last week classifying "deggas" as "terrorist acts" -- and therefore warranting the death penalty -- because of their impact on public safety. A few days later, it announced it would take legal action against three people accused of targeting a home in Al-Adhamiyah, north of Baghdad, with the deadly custom. - 'Iraq is like a jungle' - In Iraq, a country of 39 million people, clan origin and family name can carry weight in securing a job, finding romance, and gathering political support. They can also interfere in the work of the state, as tribal structures in some areas can be more powerful than government institutions. Last year, Iraq's tribes and the ministries of interior and justice pledged to work closer together to impose the law, but "deggas" seem to have hindered such cooperation. Raed al-Fraiji, the head of a tribal council in the southern province of Basra, told AFP the warnings have become commonplace. "This happens every day. Yesterday it happened twice. The day before, three times," he said. "Two months ago, a domestic dispute between a husband and wife turned into an armed attack on the husband's home. The exchange of fire killed one person and wounded three." Fraiji said tribal influence and practices were growing because the state was seen as unreliable. "For an Iraqi citizen, the law has become weak. Meanwhile, tribes impose themselves by force." "Iraq is like a jungle -- so a citizen will turn to a tribe to find solutions to their problems." The country has been ravaged by years of conflict since the US-led invasion in 2003 that removed strongman Saddam Hussein and led to the rise of militias. A decade later, the Islamic State jihadist group overran much of Iraq and was only ousted from its urban strongholds across the country late last year. - Taking on tribes - Years of instability have left many of Iraq's communities flush with weapons and largely out of the state's reach, contributing to a preference for tribal mediation methods. "The government is responsible for the increase in tribal conflict and of 'degga' cases," said Adnan al-Khazaali, a tribal leader in Baghdad's Sadr City. "Most of the young men today are armed and even the security forces cannot stand in their way." Tribal leaders and government officials alike are clinging to the hope that the new ruling could change things. "These incidents are continually happening, and are often causing casualties," interior ministry spokesman Saad Maan told AFP. "Court rulings and their implementation," Maan said, could be the only way to secure peace. Back in Basra, the head of the local human rights commission estimated around a dozen people were wounded or killed in "deggas" last year. "These incidents threatens social peace," said Mahdi al-Tamimi. "It's sad and worrying, and cannot be eliminated without a solid and effective law." But Fraiji, known in Basra for his relatively progressive views, feared the court's ruling would not be enough to take on Iraq's powerful clans. "The decision will only remain ink on paper if the security forces do not enforce it on the tribes," he said. Members of an Iraqi clan gather inside a straw tent in the town of Mishkhab, south of Najaf on November 15, 2018 For centuries, Iraqi clans have used their own system to resolve disputes Tribal dignitaries traditionally bring together opposing sides of a dispute to mediate in de facto "hearings" If someone fails to attend a tribal hearing, the "degga ashairiya" allows a rival clan to fire on the absentee?s home or that of fellow tribesmen Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu denounced calls for snap elections as "irresponsible" in an impassioned televised address on Sunday and vowed to push on despite a coalition crisis threatening to bring down his government. As the nation looked on for word on whether Israel was headed for early polls, Netanyahu used the prime-time address to defend his security credentials and make the case for why he wants to hold his coalition together. "The security of the country is above political considerations," Netanyahu said while insisting that calling elections now would be "irresponsible". But even as he prepared to speak, Education Minister Naftali Bennett, a key coalition partner and one of Netanyahu's main right-wing rivals, announced he would give his own statement on Monday morning. Bennett's far-right Jewish Home party has threatened to withdraw from Netanyahu's coalition if he is not given the defence portfolio. Netanyahu said in his address that he intended to retain the defence portfolio at least for now. He also spoke of his military experience and said he could not publicly explain in detail the sensitive security moves currently being taken by Israel. "We will defeat our enemies and I do not minimise the challenges that are facing us," he said, speaking from Israel's defence headquarters in Tel Aviv. The longtime premier made the appearance as he came under pressure over a controversial ceasefire deal last week that ended the worst escalation between Israel and Palestinian militants in Gaza since a 2014 war. - 'Rabbit or a hat' - On Wednesday, Defence Minister Avigdor Lieberman resigned over the ceasefire, throwing the government into crisis and leading to speculation that early elections had become inevitable. After Lieberman's withdrawal along with his Yisrael Beitenu party, Netanyahu's government was left clinging to a one-seat majority in the 120-seat parliament. Key coalition partners say that is unworkable even though elections are not due until November 2019. Netanyahu spoke Sunday night after a crucial meeting with Finance Minister Moshe Kahlon on resolving the coalition crisis. Kahlon's office said earlier that his meeting with Netanyahu ended without a conclusion and they would meet again later in the week. In a sign of a possible agreement being worked out, a spokesman for Netanyahu's Likud party said the premier would "decide on the appointment of ministers in the coming days," but provided no further details. Earlier Sunday, Netanyahu sought to portray business as usual, meeting with the military chief of staff, his incoming successor and the head of the internal security agency Shin Bet, the Likud spokesman said. He also held the weekly cabinet meeting as usual. Kahlon said before his meeting with Netanyahu that he did not think it was possible to continue with the existing coalition. "If (Netanyahu) pulls a rabbit out of his hat, we'll see," the finance minister, whose centre-right Kulanu party holds 10 seats, told Israeli television Saturday. "Meanwhile, I don't see a rabbit or a hat." On Saturday, Bennett, whose Jewish Home has eight seats, told Israeli television that Lieberman had "collapsed the government". "There is no more government and we are heading towards elections," he said. - 'Senseless to continue' - Bennett declined to comment to journalists when entering Sunday's cabinet meeting, but Justice Minister Ayelet Shaked of his Jewish Home party said in a statement that making him defence minister was "the only justification" to keep the government together. Netanyahu met Bennett on Friday, but conflicting reports emerged. A source close to Bennett said the two had agreed that "it would be senseless to continue" with the same coalition. Within minutes, a statement from Netanyahu's Likud said that was wrong. The crisis was set into motion with Lieberman's resignation over the ceasefire, which he labelled "capitulating to terror". He also slammed Netanyahu's recent decision to allow Qatar to send millions of dollars in aid to the blockaded Palestinian enclave. Israeli residents of southern communities hit by barrages of rockets from Gaza last week have also protested, calling for tough action against Hamas, with which Israel has fought three wars since 2008. A poll published after the ceasefire 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 easily win the most seats. There has long been speculation that the premier may call elections before they are due, particularly with police having recommended charges against him in two corruption probes. The attorney general is expected to decide 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 such a move at the most advantageous time and likely not with public attention focused on the Gaza ceasefire. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu speaks in a televised address to the nation in the coastal city of Tel Aviv on November 18, 2018 Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu (2nd-R), Education Minister Naftali Bennett (1st-L) and finance minister Moshe Kahlon (2nd-L) attend the weekly cabinet meeting in Jerusalem, on November 18, 2018 Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu (R) listens to Education Minister Naftali Bennett during a cabinet meeting, in a file photo taken on August 30, 2016 An Israeli inspects damage to an apartment in the southern town of Ashkelon, hit by a rocket fired from the Gaza Strip on November 12, 2018 The composition of the Israeli parliament after Defence Minister Avigdor Lieberman resigned and his party quit the governing coalition A leading Australian bridal magazine has shut after being ditched by advertisers for refusing to feature same-sex couples, one year after the country changed its marriage laws. The Christian founders of "White", Luke and Carla Burrell, said they did not feature gay weddings in their magazine as they had "no desire to create a social, political or legal war". In a farewell blog on Saturday, the couple said they were targeted by activists because of their stance and forced to "pick a side". As a result, several advertisers withdrew their sponsorship making their publication "no longer economically viable", the pair added. Australian MPs late last year voted in favour of changing the Marriage Act after decades of inaction amid political wrangling. The shift followed a contentious nationwide voluntary postal vote in support of legalising same-sex marriage. Nearly 80 percent of eligible voters took part in the poll and almost 62 percent of those who voted chose "yes" on their ballots. To placate the right wing of the conservative ruling coalition the government then commissioned a report into religious protections. Parts of the review, which called for faith-based schools to legally be allowed to discriminate against gay students and teachers, were leaked last month. It sparked a public backlash and led the government to introduce a bill to prevent sexuality-based discrimination in schools. Australia changed it laws to legalise gay marriage in 2017 One of the last missing pieces of Byzantine art stolen from Cyprus in the 1970s was handed back this week by a renowned, and proud Dutch art investigator. Arthur Brand said Friday he handed back the sixth century depiction of Saint Mark during a private ceremony at the Cypriot embassy in The Hague. For Brand, dubbed the "Indiana Jones of the art world" because of his exploits to recover stolen works, the handover was a highpoint in his life-long interest in the Byzantine saint -- and the result of a nearly two-year chase across Europe. "This is a very special piece that's more than 1,600 years old. It's one of the last and most beautiful examples of art from the early Byzantine era," said the art sleuth. He showed AFP the mosaic hours before it was handed back. The Cypriot embassy and Church of Cyprus declined to comment when asked about the mosaic and the Cypriot Department of Antiquities did not respond to phonecalls. - 'Greatest moment' - After getting a tip from a prominent London art dealer, Brand travelled to Monaco in August. Through a series of intermediaries -- including several in the underground world -- Brand finally traced the missing mosaic to an apartment in the upscale city-state. "It was in the possession of a British family, who bought the mosaic in good faith more than four decades ago," Brand told AFP. "They were horrified when they found out that it was in fact a priceless art treasure, looted from the Kanakaria Church after the Turkish invasion," Brand said. The family agreed to return it "to the people of Cyprus" in return for a small fee to cover restoration and storage costs, he added. A week ago, Brand -- who was working with the Church of Cyprus -- returned to Monaco to collect the treasure, said to be worth five to 10 million euros ($5.7-$11 million). "It was one of the greatest moments of my life," the detective said. In 2015, Brand won world fame after finding two massive bronze statues made by Nazi sculptor Joseph Thorak that are referred to as "Hitler's Horses". He made headlines again a year later for helping to recover five stolen masterpieces from a criminal group in the Ukraine. - Looted art - Religious artifacts including mosaics were hewn from the church walls in northern Cyprus following an invasion by Turkish forces in 1974. They included a set of mosaics taken from the Panayia Kanakaria church, about 105 kilometres (65 miles) northeast of Nicosia. Many pieces ended up in the underground world of art smuggling and went missing for many years, while the Cyprus government and church campaigned ceaselessly to recover them. "The mosaics of Kanakaria are of immense importance in Christian art and world culture," said Maria Paphiti, a former department head at British auction house Christie's. The ensemble "is among a handful of artworks that escaped the menace of Byzantine iconoclasm" in the eighth and ninth century, Paphiti, an art historian and world authority on Byzantine art told AFP. - 'Last missing pieces' - Twelve mosaic fragments have been returned so far, notably one depicting the Apostle Andrew -- which Paphiti discovered among a collection of artworks in 2014. In 1989, four fragments depicting the upper part of Christ, two apostles and an archangel were handed back after a high-profile case in Indianapolis. Most of the mosaic fragments were recovered between 1983 and 2015, Paphiti said, but some pieces are still missing, including the lower part of Christ's body. "This is truly one of the last outstanding pieces to be returned," said Brand. "It is incredible to think that this piece of art survived for so long. It's part of the Cypriot peoples' soul," he added. St Mark is expected to return to the Mediterranean island within the coming days. German police made a major breakthrough in the recovery of stolen Cypriot art in 1997 when they raided the home of convicted Turkish art dealer Ayden Dikmen in Munich. Cyprus has been divided since 1974 when Turkey invaded and seized its northern third in response to an Athens-engineered coup to unite the island with Greece. Dutch art detective Arthur Brand recovered the missing mosaic of St Mark, a rare piece of stolen Byzantine art, in Monaco Indonesian Budi Ahmad used to live openly as a gay man without fear of becoming a target for violence in the world's biggest Muslim-majority nation. Not any more. The country of 260 million is in the grip of a moral panic, with critics saying the vulnerable LGBT minority is being used as a political punching bag in the run-up to 2019 elections. Hardline rhetoric and a string of arrests have raised fears among the community. "There could be more persecution and we're scared that the public might become vigilantes," said Ahmad, who agreed to speak to AFP using a pseudonym. The 29-year-old, from a small town in the province of West Sumatra, said family and friends in the tight-knit area have long been aware of his sexual orientation. But he said the public mood was turning increasingly ugly and he was now confronted with deepening hostility. "People look at me wherever I go these days. Some avoid me," said Ahmad of his non-traditional masculine image. "Now when I go to withdraw money from the ATM, for example, there are people staring at me. It never used to be this bad." Indonesia's LGBT community has always been vilified as immoral. But the recent police crackdown -- including authorities hosing down a group of transgender women in what they called a "mandatory bath" -- comes against the backdrop of a recent lurch toward religious conservatism. The shift, led by increasingly powerful hardliners, has dented Indonesia's reputation for moderate Islam. Last week, thousands of anti-LGBT demonstrators marched outside the capital Jakarta, as some local politicians called for carte blanche to detain and "rehabilitate" members of the minority. Several mosques in West Java were recently urged by the local government to conduct sermons on the dangers of homosexuality. And Indonesia's biggest Muslim organisation -- the 80-million-member Nahdlatul Ulama -- has called for a clampdown on same-sex relations. - 'Cynical political gain' - Concerns have been aggravated by president Joko Widodo selecting a conservative cleric, known for his disparaging views of the gay community and other minorities, as his running mate for next year's elections. A poll this year showed nearly 90 percent of Indonesians felt "threatened" by the LGBT community, while a 2013 Pew survey said 72 percent of Indonesian Muslims supported replacing the secular code with Islamic law, which bans gay sex. "(The elections) could mean an uptick in politicians scapegoating... people for cynical political gain," said Human Rights Watch researcher Kyle Knight. "The verbal threats politicians issue can quickly metastasise into physical attacks." Police arrested at least 300 suspected LGBT people last year -- a record -- mostly under an anti-pornography law as homosexuality and gay sex are legal in Indonesia. This month, 10 people described as "suspected lesbians" were arrested in West Sumatra, following the detention of another eight lesbians and transgender people in October. "This situation is alarming as the hateful abuses by law enforcement bodies... are seen as a normal practice by many people," said Usman Hamid, Amnesty International Indonesia's Executive Director. - 'Eradicate LGBT' - Officials are unfazed by the criticism. "We're being consistent in our efforts to eradicate LGBT (behaviour) because it's very destructive," said West Sumatra deputy governor Nasrul Abit, adding that thousands of people were having "deviant sex" in the region. Parliament is considering a move to criminalise sex outside marriage -- including gay couples -- while the health ministry previously announced plans to release a medical guide classifying homosexuality as a mental disorder. The UN human rights chief and Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) have criticised the proposed legal overhaul. Authorities have also taken aim at social media, arresting two men for links to a LGBT community Facebook page. Google in January pulled one of the world's largest gay dating apps from the Indonesian version of its online store in response to government demands. - 'This is wrong' - The latest crackdown can be traced back to 2016 when Indonesia's higher education minister Mohamad Nasir called for LGBT student groups to be banned from universities, and the defence minister criticised gay and trans rights activism, Human Rights Watch said. Since then, police have raided nightclubs, saunas, hair salons, hotels and even private homes in pursuit of LGBT people. Gay people have been publicly flogged in Aceh under the province's Islamic legal code. Local police there made global headlines when they arrested a dozen transgender people and publicly humiliated them by chopping off their long hair and forcing them to wear men's clothes. But there are few hopes that Widodo or other senior officials vying for re-election will protect a widely hated minority, said HRW researcher Andreas Harsono. "We need leaders who have the courage to say this is wrong." Thousands of anti-LGBT demonstrators took to the streets earlier this month calling for action to prevent a lifestyle they see as immoral Fresh clashes in the "yellow vest" fuel price protests across France led to more injuries on Sunday, adding to the more than 400 already reported by the government, as some demonstrators vowed to continue their action over the coming days. Around 46,000 people took part across France in a second day of protests, police said, compared to Saturday when close to 300,000 people participated, although there were again clashes with police -- and sometimes motorists. Police were searching for a driver who forced a road block at Saint-Quentin, northeast France, leaving one protester seriously injured. And police used tear gas to break up a gathering of about a thousand protesters near the northern city of Caen, after acts of vandalism and the burning of wooden pallets. The protesters, nicknamed "yellow vests" for the high-visibility jackets they wear, blocked roundabouts, major highways and thoroughfares on Saturday to express anger over increased taxes on fuel and their shrinking purchasing power under President Emmanuel Macron. French Prime Minister Edouard Philippe on Sunday evening said the government would stay the course, but acknowledged the "suffering" expressed by the protests. "A government that always changes its stance, zigzagging through difficulties... would not lead France in the right direction," he told France 2 television. "We heard anger but also heard suffering, the lack of prospects, the idea that the authorities for a long time did not respond to the concerns and feeling of abandonment felt by part of the population," he said. - 'Idiotic behaviour' - Interior Minister Christophe Castaner earlier reported that the first day and night of protests had left one person dead and more than 400 people hurt, 14 of them seriously. French retail group Auchan reported violent incidents at around 20 shopping centres where it operates hypermarkets. The injured, 409 in total, included 28 police, paramilitary police or firefighters. Castaner told RTL radio that 288,000 people had taken part in Saturday's protests at 2,034 locations countrywide. About 3,500 stayed out overnight, he added. Police questioned nearly 300 protesters, and took about half of them into custody. "Last night was restive.... There were assaults, fights, stabbings," Castaner said. "There were fights among 'yellow vest' protesters. There was a lot of alcohol at certain venues, which led to this idiotic behaviour." In the eastern Savoie region, authorities said a woman trying to get her daughter to a doctor panicked after protesters surrounded her car and banged on the roof. She accelerated into the crowd and killed a 63-year-old woman. The driver was on Sunday charged with manslaughter before being released on conditional bail, prosecutors said. Budget Minister Gerald Darmanin said Sunday the government was aware of unhappiness over high fuel taxes, but said it had "a duty" to transform the French economy with the aim of making it less oil-dependent. A poll published in the Journal de Dimanche weekly said that 62 percent of those questioned believed their purchasing power was more important than a fast transition towards renewable energy. - More to come? - In several spots across the country protesters vowed to carry on their action on Monday and beyond. A spokesman for the movement in the western region of Morbihan said "tomorrow we will be joined by lorry drivers", while in the city of Le Mans, southwest of Paris, protesters said that farmers would help them block a major motorway, the A28 leading up to the Picardy coast. "There are many young people among us because we can't make ends meet anymore," said Emilie, a 27-year old temporary sales manager in Cavaillon in the south of the country. "We work like slaves and at some point enough is enough. We have no life, we're just surviving," she said. Analysts say the movement has come to represent more widespread frustration against Macron, a former investment banker who has pushed through a series of reforms aimed at bolstering economic growth. Another poll also published in the Journal du Dimanche indicated that Macron's popularity had dipped a further four points to 25 percent. The survey was conducted November 9-17 with 1,957 respondents. burs/jh/dl/har Police moved in to break up road blocks near the northern city of Caen after reports of vandalism The "yellow vest" movement has come to represent more widespread frustration against President Emmanuel Macron Protests continued Sunday, but their intensity appeared to be diminishing "Yellow vest" protesters stand around a fire in Virsac, near Bordeaux, southwestern France, on Sunday night The protestors expressed anger over increased taxes on fuel and their shrinking purchasing power under President Emmanuel Macron Amid swirling sawdust and the smell of fresh paint, the inmates of a grim Panamanian prison are diligently preparing for the upcoming visit of Pope Francis, hoping for forgiveness and praying for freedom. The sound of nails being deftly hammered into wood mingles with music in the makeshift workshop of the overcrowded La Joya prison, northeast of Panama City. Around 30 inmates are busy making confession boxes that will be used by pilgrims to confess their sins to priests during the pope's January 22-27 visit to mark the Catholic World Youth Day festival. A painting on one of the walls at the entrance to La Joya seems oddly prophetic: "God impacts your life, let yourself be led to him." Inmates like Felix Salinas hold out hope that a papal visit will impact their lives in some concrete way. "I would ask him to give me a chance. A pardon at least. Because that is what we all want here," said Salinas, a 50-year-old driver locked up here since 2015. Justino Hernandez, 62 and a devout Catholic, is particularly looking forward to the papal visit, the first to the Central American country since the late John Paul II made the trip in 1983. "The most important thing is to tell him that we are all entitled to a second chance and to freedom, that he gives us the chance to get out of this place," he said. Hernandez is prepared to ask the pope's forgiveness "as many times as he wants." The pope's agenda has yet to be finalized, and though he has visited prisons before, there has been no suggestion that he will visit the inmates of La Joya. The 9,700 inmates packed into La Joya is double the prison's capacity. Conditions here have been condemned by human rights organizations. From 8:00 am to 4:00 pm, the prisoners cut out traced designs from wood panels, assemble crosses and then sand, paint and upholster the confessionals, under an instructor's watchful eye. It's unpaid work, but most detainees hope their reward will come from Francis noticing their handiwork, or at least being told about it, and then pardon them -- failing that, a papal blessing. - Surpassing expectations - The brightly painted confessional booths will be set up in a so-called "Park of Forgiveness," an area of the capital's Omar Park that will be dedicated to WYD activities. Most of the detainees have never done this kind of work before but it has been such a success that the prison has received orders to make 70 information kiosks and to prepare food bags for pilgrims. Sharon Diaz, deputy head of the Penitentiary system, told AFP that the project -- rewarded by a day's deduction from inmates' sentences for every two days worked -- has surpassed expectations. "They have taken on this task not only in a personal way but in a spiritual way too, and the surprising thing about this initiative is that these are people deprived of freedom who don't profess the Catholic faith, and yet have still been enthusiastic," said Diaz. The project's supervisor Luis Vega said "there are no complications with them. They are very cooperative." Authorities expect hundreds of thousands of pilgrims, most of them from Latin America, to visit Panama for World Youth Day. For one of the prisoners, Jesus Argueles, their project is a "grain of salt" in "something great worldwide, that's going to be happening here in Panama." "I feel that all this is a message from God," said inmate Melis Guerrero over the hiss of paint sprayers. "I have heard from many of them that they have hopes the pope will go to them, bless them, look at them and recognize that they made an effort to do this work," said Diaz. "They want to show their forgiveness and repentance to the pope." An inmate of La Joya prison in Panama works on painting a cross that will be used during Pope Francis's visit to Panama for World Youth Day celebrations in January Prisoners make confession boxes for the papal visit Around 30 inmates are busy making confession boxes that will be used by pilgrims to confess their sins to priests during the pope's January 22-27, 2019 visit to mark the Catholic World Youth Day festival The brightly painted confessional booths will be set up in a so-called "Park of Forgiveness," an area of the capital's Omar Park that will be dedicated to WYD activities The final quarter of 2021 is on its way and theres so much positivity about the rapid growth of the... Russia said Sunday that upcoming talks about resolving a dispute with Japan over a group of islands claimed by Tokyo would not necessarily result in Moscow relinquishing them. "Can you say that this means an automatic return of some territories? Certainly not," Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told Russian TV in remarks reported by the TASS agency. The dispute over the Kuril chain goes back to the end of World War II, when their annexation by the Soviet Union was confirmed in peace treaties between the victorious powers and accepted by Japan. Tokyo claims however that some islands, which it refers to as its Northern Territories, were not covered in the agreement and should be handed back. The dispute has been standing in the way of a peace treaty between the two nations that would officially end World War II hostilities. In September, Russian President Vladimir Putin suggested that both countries sign a peace treaty this year "without any preconditions", but Tokyo said the territorial dispute should be settled first. Last week, Putin and Japanese leader Shinzo Abe agreed in Singapore to accelerate talks about the four islands in question. A 1956 joint declaration mentions just two islands, and was at any rate cancelled by the Soviet Union in 1960 after Japan signed a cooperation deal with the United States during the Cold War. A Japanese foreign ministry spokesman said last week that Abe would travel to Russia early next year for the talks. The islands are the main obstacle to an official peace deal between Moscow and Tokyo Talks won't mean the 'automatic return' of the islands, Moscow says A swimmer died after a rare suspected stingray attack off an Australian beach while another two people were mauled in separate shark encounters this weekend. The 42-year-old's death came more than a decade after world-renowned "Crocodile Hunter" Steve Irwin was killed when a stingray barb punctured his chest while he was filming on the famed Great Barrier Reef. The man was in waters off Lauderdale Beach some 23 kilometres (14 miles) from Hobart in the southern island state of Tasmania Saturday when he "sustained a puncture wound to his lower abdomen... possibly inflicted by a marine animal", police said. He was brought onto the beach by friends but suffered a heart attack and was unable to be resuscitated, police added. "It's consistent with (a stingray injury) but further investigation and examination of the deceased may be able to give a bit more of a concrete fact on that," Tasmania Police Senior Constable Brett Bowering told the Sunday Tasmanian. "It's a pretty traumatic incident to see." Commonly found in tropical waters, stingrays rarely attack humans but their barbs, at the end of their tails, are coated in toxic venom which they use to defend themselves when threatened. - Two attacks - In the first shark attack of the weekend, a man taking part in a surf lesson off the east coast suffered serious cuts after an encounter on Saturday. The 24-year-old was wading waist-deep in waters off Seven Mile Beach some 130 kilometres (81 miles) south of Sydney when he "felt a forceful lashing motion against his legs", New South Wales Ambulance said. He had "significant cuts and haemorrhage as well as several puncture wounds to his wetsuit and right leg... and cuts to his hand", NSW Ambulance duty operations manager Inspector Jordan Emery told reporters Saturday. The beach was closed and authorities sought to identify the shark species involved. That attack was followed by another on Sunday off the north coast, when a teenage boy was bitten on his arm and leg while spearfishing, police said. The 17-year-old was spearfishing from a vessel off the coast of Arnhem Land in the Northern Territory when he sustained "significant injuries" to his arm, St John Ambulance told national broadcaster ABC. "Obviously there's quite a large amount of bleeding that's occurred," St John Ambulance's Craig Garraway said. He said shark encounters in the NT were unusual, adding: "I've been around a long time and I'll be honest, I can't remember a shark attack." The two attacks are the sixth and seventh off Australian beaches in two months, amid public debate about how to reduce the risk of encounters between sharks and the growing number of people using the ocean for leisure. Australia has one of the world's highest incidences of shark attacks, but fatalities remain rare. There have been 13 "unprovoked" shark attacks off the vast continent's coast this year, including one death after a swimmer was mauled by a shark in the Whitsunday Islands in early November, according to data from Sydney's Taronga Zoo. There were 15 attacks -- one fatal -- last year, and 17 encounters and two deaths in 2016, the data showed. New South Wales hosted an international conference with marine experts in 2015 after a sharp increase in attacks across Australia that year to 22, including the death of a Japanese surfer after his legs were torn off by a shark. The state, Australia's most populous, has trialled non-lethal measures such as aerial drones to track shark movements and "smart" drum lines that alert authorities to their presence. Commonly found in tropical waters, stingrays are a flattish, diamond-shaped fish that rarely attack humans There have been six shark attacks in the last two months off Australia's beaches Two activists were attacked with pepper-spray in the Ukrainian capital of Kiev on Sunday during a transgender rights march that was interrupted by dozens of far-right protesters. About 30 people were taking part in the demonstration, holding rainbow flags and banners with slogans including "Transphobia must be stopped" and "If you stay silent, they will come after you too". But far-right protesters lit smoke bombs and threw them into the crowd, an AFP journalist at the scene said. The two women attacked with pepper spray were given first aid at the scene, according to the correspondent. Police led the activists into a subway station and blocked the entrance to protesters to avoid further clashes. "Today's events have demonstrated that the level far-right radical aggression and violence is increasing in Ukraine," the organisers of the march wrote on Facebook. Canadian journalist Michael Colborne posted on Twitter that he had been punched in the face by a far-right radical while covering the rally. Homophobia is still commonplace in post-Soviet Ukraine even if Kiev authorities have allowed gay pride marches to take place, in contrast to neighbouring Russia. Transgender rights marches have taken place in previous years. Police detained more than 50 far-right activists who tried to disrupt a gay pride march in Kiev this summer. Around 5,000 people took part in that event amid heightened security. Doctors had to provide medical care to participants of a transgender rights march after an attack by far-right activists in Kiev Police eventually led the activists into a subway station to avoid further clashes Egypt is looking to use its vast, newly tapped undersea gas reserves to establish itself as a key energy exporter and revive its flagging economy. Encouraged by the discovery of huge natural gas fields in the Mediterranean, Cairo has in recent months signed gas deals with neighbouring Israel as well as Cyprus and Greece. Former oil minister Osama Kamal said Egypt has a "plan to become a regional energy hub". In the past year, gas has started flowing from four major fields off Egypt's Mediterranean coast, including the vast Zohr field, inaugurated with great ceremony by President Abdel Fattah Al-Sisi. Discovered in 2015 by Italian energy giant Eni, Zohr is the biggest gas field so far found in Egyptian waters. The immediate upshot has been that since September, the Arab world's most populous country has been able to halt imports of liquified natural gas, which last year cost it some $220 million (190 million euros) per month. Coming after a financial crisis that pushed Cairo in 2016 to take a $12 billion loan from the International Monetary Fund, the gas has been a lifeline. Egypt's budget deficit, which hit a record 103 percent of GDP in the financial year 2016-17, has since fallen to 93 percent. Gas production has now hit 184 million cubic metres a day. Having met its own needs, Cairo is looking to kickstart exports and extend its regional influence. It has signed deals to import gas from neighbouring countries for liquefaction at installations on its Mediterranean coast, ready for re-export to Europe. - Israel, Cyprus deals - In September, Egypt signed a deal with Cyprus to build a pipeline to pump Cypriot gas hundreds of kilometres to Egypt for processing before being exported to Europe. That came amid tensions between Egypt and Turkey -- which has supported the Muslim Brotherhood, seen by Cairo as a terrorist organisation, and has troops in breakaway northern Cyprus. In February, Egypt, the only Arab state apart from Jordan to have a peace deal with Israel, inked an agreement to import gas from the Jewish state's Tamar and Leviathan reservoirs. A US-Israeli consortium leading the development of Israel's offshore gas reserves in September announced it would buy part of a disused pipeline connecting the Israeli coastal city of Ashkelon with the northern Sinai peninsula. That would bypass a land pipeline across the Sinai that was repeatedly targeted by jihadists in 2011 and 2012. The $15-billion deal will see some 64 billion cubic metres of gas pumped in from the Israeli fields over 10 years. Independent news website Mada Masr reported that Egypt's General Intelligence Service is the majority shareholder in East Gas, which will earn the largest part of the profits from the import of Israeli gas and its resale to the Egyptian state. Kamal said he sees "no problem" in that, adding that the agency has held a majority stake in the firm since 2003. "That guarantees the protection of Egyptian interests," he said. Ezzat Abdel Aziz, former president of the Egyptian Atomic Energy Agency, said the projects were "of vital importance for Egypt" and would have direct returns for the Egyptian economy. They "confirm the strategic importance of Egypt and allow it to take advantage of its location between producing countries in the east and consuming countries of the West", he said. - Petro-processing dollars - The Egyptian state is also hoping to rake in billions of dollars in revenues from petro-chemicals. Its regional energy ambitions are "not limited to the natural gas sector, but also involve major projects in the petroleum and petrochemical sectors," said former oil minister Kamal. Minister of Petroleum and Mineral Resources Tarek El Molla recently announced a deal to expand the Midor refinery in the Egyptian capital to boost its output by some 60 percent. On top of that, the new Mostorod refinery in northern Cairo is set to produce 4.4 million tonnes of petroleum products a year after it comes online by next May, according to Ahmed Heikal, president of Egyptian investment firm Citadel Capital. That alone will save the state $2 billion a year on petrochemical imports, which last year cost it some $5.2 billion. Egypt is also investing in a processing plant on the Red Sea that could produce some four million tonnes of petro-products a year -- as well as creating 3,000 jobs in a country where unemployment is rife. Egypt is looking to establish itself as a key energy exporter by using its vast undersea gas reserves Egypt's recent gas discoveries have been a lifeline for its economy Steve Cox pets and cuddles Ernie, his 10-year-old English bulldog, before leaving him at a shelter. Cox lost his home in California's devastating wildfires, and now they have to part. "Don't you worry Ernie. I am not gonna let you down. We'll come back for you," Cox whispers. He has been staying at a hotel but it doesn't take pets. For a week, Cox tried to take care of Ernie in the back of his pickup truck. But now, as Cox tries to get his life back on track, he thinks Ernie would get better care at one of three animal shelters in northern California's Paradise area where the so-called Camp Fire has claimed 76 lives and left more than 1,000 unaccounted for. In this rural area, which had many horses, one shelter is for large animals. Then there are two small facilities where helpers are working with dogs, cats, chickens, rabbits, turtles and even swans. Ernie is walking with a bit of trouble after an operation on an abscess in one of his front legs. Cox says the dog is lazy, though, so he thinks Ernie will adapt quickly to the separation by sleeping a lot. The main shelter was set up in the city of Chico's airport, near Paradise, where rescue and firefighting operations have been based. Animals saved by firefighters are dropped off there to be cared for. One woman arrives desperate, her hands trembling. She pulls out an envelope of photos of her cats and dogs. "Please, let me in and see. I might find them," she begs in a tearful voice. - 'They are family' - When the fire began to threaten Paradise, Cox was headed home from the doctor with his wife. He could have stopped but instead kept going, to rescue Ernie and two other smaller dogs he has. "They are family. I couldn't just leave them. We had 10 minutes to leave," he recalls. Cox, who lived there since 1973, said he lost two houses, and many pieces of furniture that his father had left him, in the blaze which virtually wiped the entire community from the map. "I have a big question mark above my head. I don't know what I'll do," he says, his face showing exhaustion. The animal shelters are working with dozens of volunteers responsible for feeding, caring for and walking the animals. They also have volunteer veterinary technicians, including Marshall Riddle, who are responsible for treating them. Many animals arrived at the shelters injured and burned. "It's never easy, but we have to make sure every animal is safe," he says. The most worrying cases were sent along to specialized clinics. - Sweet reunion - Although these are not the first shelters of their kind in the state regularly ravaged by wildfires, the blazes have never been so deadly. "Butte County is always on fire," said Karen Falconer of the North Valley Animal Disaster Group, which runs another of the shelters, in an old hospital in the town of Oroville. There are about 430 animals, separated into zones. The dog section is barking noisily but the cat zone is quieter. "We'll take care of them as long as necessary," Falconer told AFP. For Cox, the separation was just starting, while others were already rejoicing in reunion. Little Eva's face lit up when her six-month-old kitten Luke Skywalker -- named for the "Star Wars" character -- was handed over to her and her parents, Robert Pieper and his wife Brittany. They had already searched in another shelter for their pet African tortoise named James Peterson. The fire destroyed their house in Magalia, just outside Paradise. Now, after days in a shelter and then a hotel, they were able to rent an apartment where they could be with their pets and try to start over the life the wildfires had burnt beyond recognition. Steve Cox assured Ernie, his English bulldog, that he would come back to get him from the animal shelter Ducks rescued from a California wildfire are safe in the Oroville shelter, south of the devastated community of Paradise Chickens, rabbits, turtles and even swans have found a safe haven after the deadly fires Dozens of volunteers feed, care for and walk the rescued animals Robert Pieper, his wife Brittany and daughter Eva get their cat, Luke Skywalker, back from the shelter as they try to start over after the wildfire that destroyed their home More than 2,400 high school students have signed a petition after they didnt understand a word in a senior year exam question. Year 13 students in New Zealand underwent a History Causes and Consequences essay on Wednesday for their end of school exams. They were given a question regarding a quote from Julius Caesar: Events of importance are the result of trivial causes, Stuff.co.nz reports. The question asked students whether they agreed or disagreed with Caesar. They were also asked to put their argument into context with a relevant historical event. New Zealand Year 13 students have been left confused by the word trivial appearing in their end of school exams. Source: Getty Images (File pic) However, many students have now signed a Change.org petition arguing the word trivial was unfamiliar and caused a lot of confusion. The students want the exam to be marked based on their interpretation of the word. Merriam-Webster dictionary defines trivial as of little worth or importance. A student identified only as John, who started the petition, wrote that students had to write the essay based on their own understanding of the word. But many students had different understandings of what the word trivial means meaning that the true potential of many students is going to be covered, John wrote. A statue of Julius Caesar in Rome, Italy. Source: Getty Images This petition is made for the government to recognise the true potential of the students and mark the essay based on the studentss own content and understanding of the event. Please do not feel threatened for this is only a petition to recognise the hard work and efforts put in by many across the country. New Zealand History Teachers Association Graeme Ball told Stuff.co.nz the language used in the questions should be accessible to all. However, he added its debatable whether the students who sat the exam should have known what trivial means. A spokeswoman for the New Zealand Qualifications Authority, who administer the end of school exams for students, said its expected students would understand the language used in the question. She added no students would be penalised for misunderstanding the word. Yemeni rebels have said they are ready to mobilise more fighters to the frontline despite a lull in battleground Hodeida, as the UN envoy prepares to visit the country to boost peace efforts. Dozens of Huthi rebels put on a show of strength on the outskirts of the capital Sanaa on Saturday, apparently getting ready to head towards Hodeida, a Red Sea city home to a vital port. Men, some of whom looked very young, were lining up with bandoliers around their shoulders and rifles in their hands, chanting the Huthi slogan: "God is greatest. Death to America, death to Israel, curse the Jews, and victory to Islam." Residents told AFP by telephone on Sunday that relative calm had held in Hodeida city since pro-government forces -- backed by a Saudi-led military coalition -- announced a pause in their offensive last week amid international calls for a ceasefire and UN-led peace efforts. They added however that they remain on edge as the sound of coalition jets can constantly be heard overhead. UN special envoy Martin Griffiths said on Friday that he plans to travel to rebel-held Sanaa in the coming week to finalise arrangements for peace talks to take place in Sweden soon. - 'Ready to fight' - Hameed Assem, a member of the rebel delegation expected to take part in the negotiations, said that Huthis will continue to mobilise if UN efforts for peace fail to materialise. "We are ready for dialogue at any time when there is real dialogue that leads to peace," he told AFP. "If Griffiths comes, we are ready for dialogue. If he doesn't come, we are ready to fight until (our) last breath." Diplomatic efforts to end the war intensified last week after clashes escalated in Hodeida, whose port serves as an entry point for nearly all of the country's commercial imports and humanitarian aid. 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. Pro-government forces on Wednesday suspended their 12-day offensive on the rebel-held city amid an international outcry, but the Huthis are sceptical about the move. "The so-called truce is just a manoeuvre," Shamsan Abu Nashtan, a rebel fighter, told AFP. "The (Huthis) confirm they are ready to mobilise to the battlefronts." - Support for peace talks - Griffiths -- whose efforts at kick-starting peace talks collapsed in September -- said Friday that both the Saudi-backed government and the Huthi rebels have shown a "renewed commitment" to work on a political solution and have given "firm assurances" that they will attend the talks. No date has yet been set. Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, key members of the pro-government coalition, have both recently voiced their backing for UN-led talks. The UAE state minister for foreign affairs, Anwar Gargash, said on Wednesday his country welcomed the "early convening of UN-led talks in Sweden" and urged warring factions to take advantage of diplomatic efforts. A day later, Saudi Foreign Minister Adel al-Jubeir said that the coalition was working with Griffiths to reach a political solution in Yemen. "Saudi Arabia supports the envoy and his efforts to hold negotiations in Stockholm (at the) end of this month, November," Jubeir said during a press conference. The rebels seized the capital Sanaa and Hodeida in 2014, prompting Saudi Arabia and its allies to intervene on the government's side the following year. Nearly 10,000 people have been killed since then, according to the World Health Organization, in what the UN has called the worst humanitarian crisis. Rights groups believe the toll may be five times as high. Yemen's Huthi rebels seized the capital Sanaa in 2014, prompting Saudi Arabia and its allies to intervene on the government's side the following year Howard Nelson came to Auburn in 1970 as he became an English instructor at the community college. He has stayed here ever since, and he feels a lot of affection and gratitude toward the Cayuga Community College, Auburn and Cayuga County, where he has made his home. After visiting from New Jersey for a few years, his family also moved to the area first his sister Beverly Miller and her husband, Bob; then Bobs mother, Martha; and Beverly and Howards parents, Dorothy and Henry, who enjoyed their retirement years here. Henry died in 1985. After this loss, Dorothy pursued many activities, including writing a weekly column for The Citizen, Gray Power Matters, which everyone will recall. It featured an upbeat, optimistic philosophy and made her quite well-known in the community. Dorothy was a seventh-grade English teacher for many years, and she always dreamed of being a writer. In Auburn that dream came true. One of her columns, which Ive included here today, was titled Memories Preserve Those Special Times, a good description of much of what she wrote. Like his mom, Howard has combined teaching and creative writing in his life. He is professor emeritus at CCC, officially retired but still teaching part-time. He has published several books of poetry as well as essays over the years. His latest book of poems, "That Was Really Something," was recently published by Groundhog Poetry Press and can be purchased through Amazon. In the new book, Auburn is the setting for many of the poems. Fort Hill Cemetery, Falcon Park, the Genesee Beer sign and a number of other local landmarks are included. Howard says that one of nicest honors he ever received was being invited to read a poem at the Auburn City Council inauguration ceremony last year something he never would have imagined when he first arrived here many years ago. Another thing that Howard has in common with his mom is our friendship. I first met Dorothy in the Rusty Hinges group in the YMCA swimming pool, and I run into Howard mostly at the CCC library in the Local History Room. Thank you, Howard, for being a great Legend of Auburn! Ormie King's column appears Sundays in The Citizen and he can be reached by email at ormie5king@gmail.com. Love 6 Funny 0 Wow 2 Sad 0 Angry 0 OGDEN, Utah A Utah mayor killed while serving in the National Guard in Afghanistan had "loved the Afghan people" and was a man of conviction, confidence and compassion, family and military leaders said at a public funeral Saturday. Brent Taylor, 39, was a deeply patriotic man who was committed to training commandos as part of an effort to build the capacity of the Afghan national army, Utah Army National Guard Maj. Gen. Jefferson Burton said at the service inside an events center in the northern Utah city of Ogden. Taylor was killed Nov. 3 in an attack by one of the Afghan commandos he was training, military officials said. "He was completely committed to going and doing this job," Burton said. "He truly loved the Afghan people and wanted to help them so they could build capacity in themselves and as a nation to be able to stand on their own." Taylor's casket was draped in an American flag and sat in front of a stage where his father, a local leader with The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, led the services. The choir sang "America the Beautiful" as the opening hymn and "Born to be a Soldier" to close in a nod to the service's focus on Taylor's love of country and commitment to sacrifice. His wife, Jennie, didn't speak but has previously said the family felt "heartache but no regret" because Taylor was trying to bring freedom to others. Besides his wife, Taylor leaves behind their seven children, ranging from 11 months to 13 years old. The memorial service capped off several days of events to honor Taylor. Hundreds of soldiers saluted Taylor's flag-covered casket Wednesday as his remains returned to a National Guard base in Salt Lake City. A couple hundred motorcycle riders carrying American flags followed the hearse north to Taylor's hometown of North Ogden in a procession. On Friday, a National Guard member stood guard over his casket during an all-night vigil at a mortuary. Taylor had taken yearlong leave of absence as the mayor of North Ogden to go on his second tour to Afghanistan. Taylor, a military intelligence officer with Joint Force Headquarters, also had served two tours in Iraq. Younger brother Derek Taylor said Brent had a knack for bridging gaps and finding resolutions among people with different views a talent he developed at the family home where fights and disagreements were frequent. He said his brother always ended their phone conversations with "Love ya, Derek." Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 State Treasurer Dale Folwell chided a lack of transparency in State Health Plan contracts Thursday, Aug. 30. (CJ photo by Dan Way) State Treasurer Dale Folwell's proposed cost-cutting reforms for the State Health Plan have drawn praise from state employees' representatives and a nationally recognized free-market health finance expert.But medical providers aren't too happy with the treasurer's plans.The State Health Plan has a $3.3 billion annual budget, though costs exceed state appropriations. It is only 3 percent funded, with $35 billion in unfunded liabilities. A fix remains elusive.Josh Archambault, senior fellow at the Florida-based Foundation for Government Accountability, said the North Carolina system covering 720,000 state employees, dependents, and retirees needs a fresh approach.Archambault recently told Carolina Journal.Folwell and representatives of the state's largest health care provider organizations didn't see eye to eye when they met Oct. 29 to discuss the treasurer's plans. Folwell announced the State Health Plan would transition from a commercial-based program to a reference-based government pricing model which indexes provider payments to Medicare rates.Providers insisted Folwell's plan threatened the survival of struggling rural hospitals, and could force State Health Plan members to travel longer distances for health care. They said many of the treasurer's complaints about lack of transparency had to do with Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina, which administers the self-insurance plan, not with doctors and hospitals.Folwell said providers share the blame for ever-rising health care expenses by fighting competitive practices and avoiding transparency. Hospital consolidation increases costs and lowers access, he said. Hospitals hide cost schedules from consumers, and don't disclose treatment outcomes that would let State Health Plan members make wise choices.He raised the prospect of provider collusion, sparking tense debate with Steve Lawler, president of the N.C. Healthcare Association, representing hospitals and health care systems.Folwell said BCBSNC and UNC Health Care refuse to give the state billing data to determine what the health plan is paying for, and whether charges are legitimate. Blue Cross says the state plan is bundled with other clients and revealing the information would expose trade secrets.Adopting a reference-based system specifically for the State Health Plan would boost disclosure.Folwell told the provider representatives. At one point he threatened to end the meeting if they insisted on shifting the conversation away from reference-based pricing.N.C. Healthcare Association Vice President Cody Hand criticized Folwell for giving the organizations too little time to work together on a better plan. Hand said Folwell's had two budget cycles to work with the General Assembly on solutions.Folwell said he inherited the bad situation, and Hand wants taxpayers to pick up providers' high costs. He cited several times the legislature has tried but failed to corral health care costs.State Health Plan officials criticized Lawler and N.C. Medical Society CEO Robert Seligson for not participating in a July 18 stakeholders meeting or recommending price-cutting reforms.Folwell said of the new model.Hospitals and physicians have long assumed state money would always be there for them, said State Health Plan Executive Director Dee Jones.she said, noting N.C. Medical Society President-elect Timothy Reeder told stakeholders at the July meeting there was at least 15 percent waste in the system.Lawler said.Lawler said. It will reduce care because people will either shut down services or reduce staff, particularly in rural areas. The plan would take away $300 million to $500 million from providers.said Ardis Watkins, spokeswoman for the State Employees Association of North Carolina. SEANC has contended for almost 20 years the plan was propping up rural health systems. SEANC supports reference-based pricing.Seligson said.and his group wants to collaborate.Lawler blamed high health care costs in large part on inadequate Medicare and Medicaid payments. Yet he said expanding the state's Medicaid program is part of the solution.Andrew Norton, State Health Plan deputy general counsel, said the State Health Plan now pays 126 percent of the Medicare rate for professional services. That would increase to 160 percent. Inpatient, outpatient, critical access inpatient, and critical access outpatient rates all would be higher than Medicare rates, in some cases more than double.Those rates closely match what the provider organizations already negotiated with the N.C. Industrial Commission, he said.Montana and California use reference-based pricing. Archambault said they offer health plan members cash incentives to reduce costs. That nudges them to shop for best prices and outcomes, encouraging innovators to compete for the large volume of plan members.Archambault said robust competition should drive down prices, so the state could decrease reimbursement rates, saving even more money over time. Should Beaufort County elected officials demand that every alleged incident of Child Rape be investigated in Beaufort County? Yes, without fail, irrespective of the parties involved; this heinous crime must be investigated, and the truth be known, and responsible parties prosecuted. The term "birthright citizenship" refers to the idea that you can become a citizen of a country simply by being born there. The fancy legal term is jus soli, "right of the soil" (as opposed to the policy termed jus sangunis ("right of blood") by which nationality or citizenship is not determined by place of birth, but by having an ancestor who is a national or citizen of the state.In this country, citizenship is defined not in the Constitution per se, but in the first section of the 14th Amendment. It is referred to as the "Citizenship Clause" and reads:It is currently the object of great contention right now after President Trump announced he was planning on eliminating "birthright citizenship" as it pertains to those entering our country illegally.The purpose of this article is to explain why the "Citizenship Clause" cannot be understood, or should be interpreted, to include birthright citizenship to babies born to illegal aliens.The 14th Amendment is one of the three post-Civil War Reconstruction era amendments to the Constitution - the 13th (abolishing slavery and indentured servitude), 14th (giving freed blacks citizenship and civil rights), and 15th (giving blacks the right to vote). It passed in the US House, after several proposals were considered, in May 1866 (House Resolution 127, 39th Congress), sent to the Senate where amendments were added, and sent back to the House which eventually agreed to the Senate amendments on June 18, 1868. On June 18, a concurrent resolution requesting the President to transmit the proposal to the executives of the several states was passed by both houses of Congress.It's general intent, at least that of the first section, was to vest newly-freed slaves, and other African-Americans with the rights of citizenship in light of the 13th Amendment which had abolished slavery and in light of the Dred Scott decision of 1857 which held that any person descended from Africa (Africans), whether slave or free, is not a citizen of the United States, according to the US Constitution.In 1857, the US Supreme Court handed down arguably the most offensive opinion issued by the high court, or any court - the Dred Scott v. Sandford opinion (commonly just referred to as the Dred Scott opinion).The case had been in the court system for more than a decade. Scott had been born into slavery in 1795. In subsequent years, he lived in two parts of the United States that didn't allow slavery, Illinois and Wisconsin, along with his master. When his current master died in 1846, Scott filed suit on behalf of himself and his wife, also a slave, to gain their freedom. The case was heard by three other courts as it made its way to Washington.The Court ruled, in a 7-2 opinion, against Scott. Judge Roger Taney wrote the opinion of the Court, which highlighted, include the following:4. A free negro of the African race, whose ancestors were brought to this country and sold as slaves, is not a "citizen" within the meaning of the Constitution of the United States. The words "people of the United States" and "citizens" are synonymous terms, and mean the same thing. They both describe the political body who, according to our republican institutions, form the sovereignty and who hold the power and conduct the Government through their representatives. They are what we familiarly call the "sovereign people," and every citizen is one of this people, and a constituent member of this sovereignty. The question before us is whether the class of persons described in the plea in abatement compose a portion of this people, and are constituent members of this sovereignty? We think they are not, and that they are not included, and were not intended to be included, under the word "citizens" in the Constitution, and can therefore claim none of the rights and privileges which that instrument provides for and secures to citizens of the United States. On the contrary, they were at that time considered as a subordinate and inferior class of beings who had been subjugated by the dominant race, and, whether emancipated or not, yet remained subject to their authority, and had no rights or privileges but such as those who held the power and the Government might choose to grant them.5. When the Constitution was adopted, they were not regarded in any of the States as members of the community which constituted the State, and were not numbered among its "people or citizens." Consequently, the special rights and immunities guaranteed to citizens do not apply to them. And not being "citizens" within the meaning of the Constitution, they are not entitled to sue in that character in a court of the United States, and the Circuit Court has not jurisdiction in such a suit.6. The only two clauses in the Constitution which point to this race treat them as persons whom it was morally lawfully to deal in as articles of property and to hold as slaves.7. Since the adoption of the Constitution of the United States, no State can by any subsequent law make a foreigner or any other description of persons citizens of the United States, nor entitle them to the rights and privileges secured to citizens by that instrument.8. A State, by its laws passed since the adoption of the Constitution, may put a foreigner or any other description of persons upon a footing with its own citizens as to all the rights and privileges enjoyed by them within its dominion and by its laws. But that will not make him a citizen of the United States, nor entitle him to sue in its courts, nor to any of the privileges and immunities of a citizen in another State.9. The change in public opinion and feeling in relation to the African race which has taken place since the adoption of the Constitution cannot change its construction and meaning, and it must be construed and administered now according to its true meaning and intention when it was formed and adopted.[Taken from the Opinion - Dred Scott v. Sandford, 60 U.S. 393. Go to the Appendix for more information on the case]In a poor exercise of reasoning, Judge Taney argued:The Dred Scott decision ("opinion') came just two days after President James Buchanan took office, and it set the tone for his controversial term that led to the Civil War. The decision was celebrated in the South but the Abolitionists in the North were outraged. The court also declared the Missouri Compromise of 1820 to be unconstitutional. And it said that Congress did not have the authority to prohibit slavery in the territories, which would seem to prohibit Lincoln from his campaign promise to prohibit the spread of slavery into the western territories.With the Dred Scott decision and its voiding of the Missouri Compromise, thus making slavery legal in all U.S. territories, and the promise by candidate Abraham Lincoln that he would enforce the Morrill tariff (the highest tariff yet, up to 47% by 1863) passed by Congress in May 1860 and signed by President Buchanan), the election of 1860 was a completely sectional election - pitting the North against the South.In November 6, 1860, Lincoln was elected the 16th president of the United States, without an actual majority (less than 40%) and without a single vote from any of the Southern states that would later form the Confederacy (except Virginia, where he got 1%). On December 20, the South Carolina state legislature voted to secede from the Union (issuing its "Declaration of the Immediate Causes which Induce and Justify the Secession of South Carolina" on December 24). Six other states followed suit before Lincoln was even inaugurated: Mississippi (on January 9, 1861), Florida (on January 10), Alabama (on January 11), Georgia (on January 19), Louisiana (on January 26), and Texas (on February 1). On February 8, the seceded states met and held a convention in Montgomery, Alabama and agreed to form a Union - the Confederate States of America. They adopted a constitution at that convention, which by many accounts was superior to the US Constitution.Lincoln was inaugurated on March 4, 1861 and on April 12, shots were fired by South Carolina on Fort Sumter (held by Union Major Anderson), giving him the pretext to invade the South and begin the Civil War. Rejecting the natural right of secession, he characterized the actions of the Southern states as "rebellion," and used the armed forces of the United States to "force them back into the Union" (which was confusing since Lincoln claimed they never left the Union since they didn't have the right to do so).Lincoln called the question about whether the Southern states were in or out of the Union a "pernicious abstraction." "Obviously," he explained, they were not "in their proper practical relation with the Union."After General Robert E. Lee's surrender at Appomattox on April 9, 1865 and Lincoln's assassination on April 14 (he died the following morning), the country entered into a decade-long period, or process, known as "Reconstruction" - the "reconstructing" of the Union. Through this process of Reconstruction, the Northern-dominated federal government attempted to resolve the political and constitutional issues that led to the Civil War and in effect, through punishment of the South (those responsible for seceding and those in support of the Confederacy) and by changing the body politic of the former Confederate states. The priorities were: to guarantee that Confederate nationalism and slavery were ended, to ratify and enforce the 13th Amendment which outlawed slavery; the 14th Amendment which guaranteed dual U.S. and state citizenship to all native-born residents, regardless of race; and the 15th Amendment, which made it illegal to deny the right to vote because of race.The US House passed the 13th Amendment in January of 1865, without any representation from the Southern states (their representatives were not allowed to be seated), and then sent to the states for ratification. As for the former Confederate states, the amendment was submitted to "reconstruction governments," devoid of anyone that had "supported the Confederacy." The question as to whether these were in fact legitimate legislatures is a valid one. Nevertheless, the 13th Amendment was ratified by 3/4 of the states, and hence certified as valid, on December 18, 1865.Next would come the 14th Amendment.It would play an important role in Reconstruction (in the North's reconstruction of the South back into the Union).When it looked as if the North would defeat the South, even before Sherman's march, Republicans had began to make plans for the reconstruction of the war-torn and still greatly divided country. Their most important concerns were for the formal adoption of the 14th Amendment (which they intended would elevate newly-freed slaves and free black persons to full citizenship), elimination from power anyone who supported the Confederacy, and the adoption of black male suffrage provisions (to dilute the South Democrats) as conditions for re-admission.The 14th Amendment was intended to memorialize the guarantees of the 1965 Civil Rights Act in the US Constitution. In 1865, Congress passed what would become the Civil Rights Act of 1866, guaranteeing citizenship without regard to race, color, or previous condition of slavery or involuntary servitude. The bill also guaranteed equal benefits and access to the law, a direct assault on the Black Codes passed by many post-war states. The Black Codes attempted to return ex-slaves to something like their former condition by, among other things, restricting their movement, forcing them to enter into year-long labor contracts, prohibiting them from owning firearms, and preventing them from suing or testifying in court.Although strongly urged by moderates in Congress to sign the bill, President Andrew Johnson vetoed it on March 27, 1866. In his veto message, he objected to the measure because it conferred citizenship on the freedmen at a time when 11 out of 36 states were unrepresented in the Congress, and that it discriminated in favor of African-Americans and against whites. Three weeks later, Johnson's veto was overridden and on April 9, the measure became law. Despite this victory, even some Republicans who had supported the goals of the Civil Rights Act began to doubt that Congress really possessed constitutional power to turn those goals into laws. The experience also encouraged both radical and moderate Republicans to seek Constitutional guarantees for black rights, rather than relying on temporary political majorities.While the Civil Rights Act of 1866 addressed many of Congress's concerns about citizenship and civil rights, several members of Congress worried about the Act's constitutionality and permanence. Two months after the Act became law, Congress would approve H.R. Res. 127, which when ratified by the states would become the 14th Amendment. Addressing citizenship in words almost identical to those of the 14th Amendment, the Civil Rights Act declared: "That all persons born in the United States and not subject to any foreign power, excluding Indians not taxed, are hereby declared to be citizens of the United States . . . ."The Act then addressed certain specified civil rights by saying: Angela Merkels departure will not salve Germanys angst Voters and business leaders betray a similar ambivalence about an uncertain future Philip Stephens You have never had it so good. Harold Macmillans famous observation is usually misremembered. The then UK prime ministers boast about a booming British economy during the closing years of the 1950s was qualified: Let us be frank about it. Most of our people have never had it so good. Then came the oft-forgotten caveat: What is beginning to worry some of us is Is it too good to be true? Or perhaps I should say, Is it too good to last? Too good to last. Success suffused with doubt. Macmillan would have recognised Germanys present temper. The other day I heard an elder statesman remark that the country had never been so prosperous. And yet. Chancellor Angela Merkels coalition was unloved, the public mood was fractious and politics was splintering. Germans struggled to recognise their good fortune. Business leaders betray a similar ambivalence. Germany has a whopping current account surplus. It makes high-quality products commanding premium prices. In cities such as Stuttgart, the wealth this generates hits you in the face. Yet corporate chiefs fret that a play-it-safe culture stifles innovation and risk-taking. Over-regulation does the same. The future belongs to the digital worlds of machine learning and artificial intelligence. They could soon be the sole property of the US and China. Ms Merkel, everyone in Berlin has known for a while, is in the twilight of her chancellorship. Now she has mapped out a path for her departure. The heavy losses suffered by her Christian Democratic Union in state elections in Hesse were the latest in a series of blows. The CDUs sister party, the Christian Social Union, had already stumbled badly in its Bavarian stronghold. Her MPs had rejected the chancellors choice to lead them in the Bundestag. Things end badly when politicians overstay their welcome. It happened to Ms Merkels predecessors Konrad Adenauer and Helmut Kohl. Her decision to surrender the party leadership in December is an admission that 13 years as chancellor has been too long, as well as an effort to depart with dignity. Her intention to remain as chancellor until 2021 looks like one of those things leaders feel they have to say but do not really believe. If the centre-right CDU and CSU have taken a battering, support for their Social Democratic party partners in the grand coalition is in freefall. The rise of the xenophobic populists of Alternative for Germany, particularly among disgruntled left-behinds in the countrys east, has caught international attention. But the party making more of a political running has been the Greens. Drawing in both small c conservatives worried about the environment and left-leaning liberals who favour open immigration, the Greens have a chance to displace the SPD as the second party. Oddly, Ms Merkel is still the most popular politician. She sits just about on the centre point of the national political spectrum. For some, that is the problem. Her decision in 2015 to open the borders to 1m refugees enraged the right of her party and opened a flank for the AfD. Yet it also drew support for Ms Merkel personally from the centre-left. There is a theory among political boffins in Berlin that once Ms Merkel has gone, national politics will revert to comfortable normality. The CDU will shift rightward, at once drawing away support from the AfD and leaving space for the SPD to reoccupy more of the centre-left. This yearning for business as usual sounds to an outsider like the wishful thinking of an establishment with its head in the sand. The political landscape has been redrawn. Politics used to be a three-party game (four if you count the CDU and CSU as separate). The liberals of the small Free Democratic party provided the swing vote in coalition building. Those days are over. Six (or seven) parties are now represented in the Bundestag. Even if recent poll ratings of 20 per cent and above overstate their national support, the Greens have joined governing coalitions in more than half-a-dozen states. Their pitch is to affluent professionals with a social conscience. The far-left Linke has a solidly loyal following in the east, where nostalgia for the old communist order Ostalgia, its called is a reminder of just how short are political memories. The AfD scoops up support from neo-Nazis, as well as those caught up in the scares about refugees. Left unexplained is why an economy that is doing so well has so obviously lost its political balance. Part of the explanation must be that the riches are unevenly shared. And for all that the government is awash in money, politicians find it curiously difficult to refurbish a crumbling national infrastructure. Bridges and roads go unmended, airports unbuilt. No one should expect to get a decent WiFi connection or mobile phone signal. Mostly, though, Germans seem to be echoing Macmillan: Is it too good to last? The answer may well be yes. The old order is crumbling. In Donald Trump, the US, once Germanys vital protector, now has a president who represents everything Germans stand against: crude nationalism, the primacy of power and disdain for the rule of law. Europe, Ms Merkel says occasionally, must rise to its own defence. People nod in agreement and then show no enthusiasm for the cause. The chancellor has never been a passionate European in the mould of Kohl. She does know that German prosperity rests on Europes security and stability. But who now will guard the continents peace? Estimados amigos, Les doy cordialmente la bienvenida a este Blog informativo con articulos, analisis y comentarios de publicaciones especializadas y especialmente seleccionadas, principalmente sobre temas economicos, financieros y politicos de actualidad, que esperamos y deseamos, sean de su maximo interes, utilidad y conveniencia. Pensamos que solo comprendiendo cabalmente el presente, es que podemos proyectarnos acertadamente hacia el futuro. Gonzalo Raffo de Lavalle Las convicciones son mas peligrosos enemigos de la verdad que las mentiras. Quien no lo ha dado todo no ha dado nada. Helenio Herrera History repeats itself, first as tragedy, second as farce. Karl Marx If you know the other and know yourself, you need not fear the result of a hundred battles. Sun Tzu We are travelers on a cosmic journey, stardust, swirling and dancing in the eddies and whirlpools of infinity. Life is eternal. We have stopped for a moment to encounter each other, to meet, to love, to share.This is a precious moment. It is a little parenthesis in eternity. Paulo Coelho The only way for the party of old white dudes, rape, forced pregnancies, Islamophobia, homophobia, selfishness, pollution, climate denial, unchecked police violence and murder, xenophobia and hatred of Latinx people can get and keep power is by cheating: voter suppression, gerrymandering, etc. In California, the 2018 elections hold out a hint of what the GOP would look like without cheating. The state party's flirtations with white supremacy 20 years ago with an anti-migration initiative "eviscerated" its support among Latinx people, and ever since, its star has been sinking, and as the national party has moved to defend rape, pollution, climate denial, the elimination of health services for all but the super-wealthy, blanket bans on abortion, and naked hatred of every kind of brown person: Latinx people, African-American people, and any person of Muslim faith or Arab extraction. The result was a total rout of the California GOP. Even Orange County (political birthplace of Richard Nixon and Ronald Reagan) flipped; and the state's sole Latinx Republican Assemblyman, Dante Acosta, also lost his job. California Republicans are spitting nails and pointing fingers, calling for the party to be "burned to the ground" and are watching with dismay as the party looks to put the Trumpian Assemblyman Travis Allen in charge of the state party, doubling down on white supremacy in a state that is increasingly brown and/or inhospitable to to anti-immigration white nationalism. Even the "reasonable" wing of the GOP establishment are pinning their hopes on Californians moving to the right in response to Democrats instituting wildly popular reforms like allowing cities to change their property tax rates, restoring rent controls, etc. Others have taken up the Trumpian conspiracy charge that Democrats are winning due to voter fraud, despite the evidence of any such fraud. California is not without its problems, and many of these can be traced to right-wing initiatives, like the big money spent to drain the public school system of dollars and funnel them into the charter system; or policies friendly to Silicon Valley tax-cheats; etc. Some are the result of traditionally liberal blocks run amok, like the NIMBYism that has prevented the construction of high-density housing, especially close to transit corridors. But whatever California's problems are, the state can be thought of as a lesson is what US politics might look like without cheating. After all, the reason voter suppression is so necessary to the GOP holding power in "red states" is that so many of them are primarily composed of people whom the GOP has declared war upon: poor people, people of color, queer people, working people "That's the question: how do you start over?,'' said Joel Fox, a longtime GOP strategist who publishes the "Fox & Hounds Daily" commentary site. He says the answer will be more wide-ranging than finding "one dynamic leader" celebrity or billionaire to rescue their cause. "The rise of the Republican Party may really depend on the Democratic Party,'' Fox said, and how it handles the heady times of having a $14 billion surplus and a supermajority under the leadership of the incoming Governor-elect Gavin Newsom. If progressives try to push their agenda too far, and land too many pro-tax ballot measures in front of the voters in future ballots including revisions of the landmark property tax measure Prop. 13, soda taxes and oil taxes it's possible they will create an opening for the GOP to return to viability. Not everyone agrees that Trump is the cause for the party's bottoming out. This week, former state GOP chair Shawn Steel, a member of the Republican National Committee, argued in an op-ed published in the Washington Examiner that "it's not Trump" who lost Orange County dominance for the party. He laid the blame on millions of dollars in "dark money" raised by Democrats, who he said were aided by better organization and help from the tech industry in Silicon Valley. And without any substantiation Steel also claimed Democratic voter registration drives produced "borderline fraudulent turnout rates" in some key districts. RIP, California GOP: Republicans lash out after midterm election debacle [Carla Marinucci/Politico] (via Mitch Wagner) - Sold his first computer programme aged 12, after teaching himself programming - Was inspired by a popular cult status science fiction book - Dropped out of Stanford after only 2 days to create his first company with his brother PAY ATTENTION: Click See First under the Following tab to see Briefly.co.za News on your News Feed! Starting off with humble beginnings Elon Musk was born in Pretoria, South Africa on 28th of June 1971 to Errol and Maye Musk. He was the oldest of 3 children and was something special from quiet a young age. When he was only 9 years old he got his first computer and began teaching himself programming. At the tender young age of 12 he had sold his first programme, Blastar, a computer game similar to Space Invader. Destined for great things, Musk completed his schooling and tried to move to the United States at age 17 to avoid serving in the army. However he was rejected at the time and had to settle for Canada. PAY ATTENTION: Save mobile data with FreeBasics: Briefly is now available on the app Briefly.co.za learned that once Musk was in Canada he struggled to make ends meet and enrolled at Queens University. During a struggle with depression he was inspired by the science fiction novel, the Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy. In the book a supercomputer is asking the answer to the meaning of life to which it answered: 42. Intrigued by the need to ask the right questions he thought to himself: What would have the greatest impact on the future of humanity? He determined that the internet, the transition to renewable energy sources and space colonization would fit the bill and used this as the foundation of his empire. Now he was faced with the issue of funding to explore these areas. READ ALSO: New township bakery launched to create jobs in Duncan Village He moved to the University of Pennsylvania where he graduated with an undergraduate in economics and a bachelors in physics. From here he would go on to Stanford University where he would only attend for 2 days before dropping out to begin Zip2 Corporation with his brother. This was a phenomenal success and when he company was sold to Compaq for an unbelievable $340 million. He used this as the capital to start many different successful companies such as Paypal, SpaceX, Tesla and many more. Today his net worth sits at $22.3 billion USD. Musk's story is truly every science fans dream come true and he shows no signs of slowing down. He is living proof that anything is possible, no matter what your story is. 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 Feather Awards has been running for 10 years now and it's latest celebration was one of it's most fabulous ever. With guests like Boity and Sjava, the night was cooking. As always, the red carpet looks stole the limelight. PAY ATTENTION: Click See First under the Following tab to see Briefly.co.za News on your News Feed! The Chevrolet Feather Awards are an awards show that recognises and celebrates the LGBTI community of South Africa. Those who achieved greatness and inspired te LGBTI community were awarded during the 2018 ceremony and it was fabulous. The red carpet looks were amazing and stunning. PAY ATTENTION: Save mobile data with FreeBasics: Briefly is now available on the app The winners were chosen by the LGBTI community: Best Styled Male - Riky Rick Best Styled Female - Ayanda Thabethe Cutest Couple - Steve & Lucy Letsike Diva Extraodinaire - Thembsie Matu Drama Queen - AKA & Matlapa Fag Hag - Rami Chuene Hot Chick - Michelle Mosalakae Hunk of the Year - Bohang Moeko Media Award of the Year - GaySA Radio Musician of the Year - Sjava Role Model of the Year - Ntsupe Mohapi Socialite of the Year - Yaya Mavundla Sports Personality - Hlengiwe Buthelezi Simon Nkoli Award - Phumi Mtethwa African Feather of the Year - Denis Nzioka Social Media Personality of the Year - @Fistvoices Simon Nkoli Award Phumi Mthethwa Briefly.co.za gathered six of the most stunning looks of the event. Here they are in no specific order: Boity Somizi Bontle Modiselle Cedric Fourie and Lasizwe Sjava READ ALSO: AfriForum wants Malema jailed for 6 months and EFF to pay R500k fine The 10th Feather Awards was a fabulous event that clearly showed Mzansi support of the LGBTI community Here's a short video of the event: 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 THE Smart Express bus driver who fled the scene of the accident that killed 46 people 45 of them on the spot and later handed himself to police was on Monday denied bail by a Rusape magistrate.Cosmas Munotyei Marembo (50) surrendered to police two days after being declared a fugitive, which culminated in a manhunt being launched to catch him.He appeared before Mr Gift Manyika facing one count of culpable homicide and one count of failing to report an accident within 24 hours and failing to stop and offer assistance at an accident scene as required by the Road Traffic Act.Marembo was represented by Mr Cosmas Chibaya, of Chibaya and Associates.Mr Chibaya begged Mr Manyika to release his client on bail arguing that Marembo was not a fugitive because he handed himself to police.Prosecutor Mr Marion Makamba had submitted that Marembo was facing very serious offences and must not be granted bail.She submitted that Marembo was a fugitive having fled from the scene and only handed himself to police after a manhunt for him had been launched."On November 7, 2018 Marembo was driving a Higer bus registration number ABO 2730 belonging to Smart Express. He overtook across prohibited double white lines at the 162km peg along Harare-Mutare road and was involved in a side swipe accident with Temba Sorota, now deceased, who was driving a Zhong Tong bus, belonging to Bolt Cutter that was coming from Harare. This resulted in the death of 46 passengers and injury of 59."After having been involved in a serious road traffic accident, Marembo failed to report it within 24 hours."He also failed to stop after a serious road accident to render assistance to the injured," said the prosecutor.In his bail ruling, Mr Manyika said Marembo was a flight risk and not suitable for bail.He said Marembo fled soon after the accident that affected a lot of people in the country and his safety was best guaranteed in custody."Bail is your right according to the constitution, but not an absolute right as it can be limited considering reasons given by the State. The accused is a flight risk, who soon after the accident, fled from the scene. The accused's lawyer said his client did not flee, but just removed himself from the scene and later went to police after two days. Why did he remove himself from the scene?"The accident was a horrific one that was declared a national disaster. The public will lose confidence in the justice system if accused is freed on bail. This accident is a sensitive one and for your own safety, you will not be granted bail. Many people are naturally attached to this case."The sensitivity of the accident has been amplified by social media, and your safety is no longer guaranteed out of custody. The magnitude of the sensitivity is very high," said Mr Manyika.Mr Manyika rolled over the matter to November 23, 2018 where the State is expected to provide the trial date. News / National by zimlive A train derailed near Cement Siding in Bulawayo on Saturday.A locomotive pulling another went off the railway tracks and under unclear circumstances, and they both overturned.The crew had been taken to a local hospital for treatment, but the state of their injuries could not be ascertained.The service was being operated by the Beitbridge Bulawayo Railway company. The locomotives were due to pull wagons loaded with cement from PPC Cement, about 5km east of the city.It was not clear what the cause of the accident was, but pictures from the scene showed a broken track - although it was not clear whether this had happened before or after impact.It is the second derailment within a week after another goods train hit a truck and derailed near Beitbridge on the tracks leading to Harare.The Beitbridge-Harare road was blocked for two days, before engineers from BBR managed to move the wagon blocking the road. News / National by Staff reporter At least $17 million was unaccounted for by the Youth, Indigenisation and Economic Empowerment ministry, Auditor General Mildred Chiri has said.In her 2017 report, the AG said the ministry failed to appropriately account for $17 520 015 which was processed under the salary bill without Treasury authorisation.The ministry was then run by Patrick Zhuwao, before he was moved to the Public Service, Labour and Social Welfare ministry between October and November 2017. He was subsequently expelled from the Zanu-PF party during the 2017 soft coup.His ministry was said to have misused, misstated and understated funds or failed to convincingly account for expenditure of public funds to the AG.Chiri revealed that the ministry had for two years in a row mysteriously understated employment costs, leading to an extra $9 862 963 which was paid in 2016 and $17 520 015 which was also paid off for the same reason in 2017 apart from the presented wage bill."Payments in respect of salaries and allowances processed by Salary Services Bureau (SSB) amounted to $38 302 307, whilst the ministry's ledger had $20 782 292, leaving a variance of $17 520 015 unaccounted for," Chiri said.Chiri noted that this dodgy action was in contravention of Treasury Instruction 0952 which states that the sub-head salaries, wages and allowances shall be debited with Treasury's approval."The matter regarding accounting for variance had not been concluded between ministry of Youth Indigenisation and Economic Development and the ministry of Finance, and SSB, as a result I was not convinced the Appropriation account showed a true position in respect of expenditure incurred under salaries and allowances," Chiri said.The ministry implemented mechanisms deemed to integrate young people in Zimbabwe for the beneficiation and value addition to the economic and political framework.However, Chiri revealed that some of those efforts like the loans given to private individuals as collateral from the account of Youth Development and Economic Empowerment Fund from amounts around $1 808 271 have not yet been returned.Chiri also revealed that the post-coup youth ministry under president Emmerson Mnangagwa in December 2017 also fell short of her audit as it failed to account for $621 431 at the time the audit was finalised in May 2018.The ministry, however, responded adamantly and said: "The ministry did not understate its employment costs. The employment costs reported in the Appropriation Account were as per the budget for the year 2017 and subsequent releases by Treasury."it did not tally with the report obtained from SSB as the payments by SSB were done outside the-PFMS system."In order to account for the variance, the ministry reconciled the payments made by the SSB against the releases from treasury and the budget allocations," Youth, Sport, Arts and Recreation ministry said.PFMS is an Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) system which processes financial transactions and produces reports for all ministries and government departmentsChiri, however, revealed that the ministries were posting expenditure three months after the end of financial year when the audit had already commenced, hence, some transactions may have been misstated or doctored by ministries thus triggering suspicion of credibility. News / National by Staff reporter Zimbabwe's Warriors lost 1-nil to Liberia in an AFCON qualifier encounter in Monrovia this evening but remain top of Group G and will qualify if they draw their last group match at home to Congo Brazzaville.Needing a point to qualify for next year's continental showpiece set for Cameroon, Zimbabwe wasted many goal scoring opportunities and were eventually punished late in the second half, when Liberia capitalised on sloppy defending to claim an important victory that kept their hopes of qualification alive.The Warriors however still lead the group with 8 points, while Liberia are on 7 points.DRC and Congo Brazzaville drew 1-all and they have 6 and 5 points respectively, keeping the group wide open.The last group matches will see Zimbabwe clashing with Congo Brazzaville, while DRC play Liberia.Two teams qualify from each group. News / National by Staff reporter Zanu-PF has sent a 25 member delegation to Beijing, China, for an exchange programme with the Communist Party of China on socio and economic developmental projects.The delegation, which comprises 21 Central Committee and four Politburo members, is expected to network with Chinese ruling party members on modalities to ensure the Asian nation plays a critical role on investing in Zimbabwe.Speaking before the delegation's delegation, Acting Chinese Ambassador to Zimbabwe, Mr Zhao Baogang said the Asian nation will also continue to work with Zimbabwe on several economic developmental programmes.Zanu-PF head of the delegation, Lovemore Matuke said the ruling party is also grateful to the continued strong bilateral ties with the CPC."We shall do our best to work with the Chinese party in our endeavours for the good of the country," he said.During their 10 day visit, the Zanu-PF delegation is expected to get an insight on how China has emerged as the second largest economy in the world. The leaders from the 21 countries represented at the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit found a colourful welcome in Papua New Guinea, but the high-stakes trade conflict between the U.S. and China was spelled out in black and white as soon as talks got underway Saturday. Before the leaders even gathered for their first family photo, Chinese President Xi Jinping and U.S. Vice-President Mike Pence gave back-to-back speeches to an APEC CEO Summit taking place in Port Moresby to coincide with the leaders talks an audience keenly aware of how disruptive the hundreds of billions of dollars in tariffs applied over the last year have been to global supply chains, at a risk to both investment decisions and consumer confidence. Anyone hoping for a conciliatory tone from the U.S. in President Donald Trump's absence was quickly disappointed. "We hope for better, but the United States ... will not change course until China changes its ways," Pence told the CEOs. Fazry Ismail/Reuters Pence made no apologies, emphasizing instead the military and infrastructure investments the U.S. was making in the region investments that compete with the now highly visible presence of China. This strategic game between the world's two biggest economies is evident in Port Moresby, the capital of APEC's poorest country. Signs identify new infrastructure as "China Aid" and advertise the "co-operation and peace" it's meant to signal in both English and Chinese. The road to Papua New Guinea's seat of government is newly paved by the Chinese. A Chinese investment also helped build the Hilton Hotel where the APEC leaders enjoyed their gala dinner Saturday night. 'Put your country first' Pence tried to portray what the U.S. is doing in the region as more honourable than the Chinese initiatives. "We have a principled approach that stands in stark contrast to other nations," he said, saying others offer opaque loan terms for unsustainable projects that come with strings attached. Story continues David Gray/Reuters "Do not accept foreign debt that compromises your sovereignty," Pence warned. "Be just like America, and put your country first." "We don't offer constricting belts or a one-way road," the American leader said, in words chosen to reference a centrepiece of Chinese foreign policy: its "belt and road" initiative to build land and sea infrastructure that positions the massive Chinese market at the centre of trading networks across Europe and Asia. In a speech to the same audience, Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev said Russia is willing to work with China on this initiative. One of the joint outcomes from last weekend's visit to Beijing by Finance Minister Bill Morneau and International Trade Diversification Minister Jim Carr was a commitment from Canada to send a "high-level" delegation to the 2019 Belt and Road Forum for International Co-operation. Canada hasn't previously attended this Chinese-organized event. A spokesperson for Carr said this "high-level" delegation is unlikely to include Canada's prime minister. In a contrast that would have seemed unimaginable even two years ago, it has fallen to the Chinese president to make the case for multilateralism and rules-based trade, in comments supportive of efforts to reform the World Trade Organization. Protectionism part of 'old practices' Xi said that erecting trade barriers is against the trend of history. "Old practices" like unilateralism and protectionism won't solve problems, he said. China's setting its sights on "post-2020 co-operation." "History has shown that confrontation, whether in the form of a Cold War, hot war, or trade war will produce no winners," Xi said, calling for conversation instead. "He's trying to mend fences here, and then you have Vice-President Pence coming in ... and taking an incredibly hard tone against China," said Jonathan Pryke, director of the Pacific Islands program at the Lowy Institute, a non-partisan Australian think-tank. "It's worrying where this is all leading, because it doesn't seem like there is much room for conversation or middle ground to be found." 1x1 talks with Japan, Australia Sunday Championing rules-based trade is one of Trudeau's priorities for APEC. All three of the bilateral meetings the Canadian prime minister has scheduled are with partner countries in the Comprehensive and Progressive Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) the 11-country Pacific Rim trade deal that takes hold Dec. 30. The first country Trudeau met with Saturday Malaysia has yet to ratify the CPTPP. Canada is urging Prime Minister Mahathir bin Mohamad's government to do so and start realizing its benefits. The two leaders also discussed liquid natural gas (LNG) development on Canada's West Coast. Malaysian-owned Petronas is an investor in the project. On Sunday, Trudeau will meet with Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison. David Gray/Reuters Pryke thinks a change in government has erased the hard feelings Australia voiced after Canada wouldn't commit to the CPTPP at last year's summit. This year, the two countries are caught in the middle of the heated rhetoric of the U.S.-China confrontation. "It's quite disturbing for a lot of middle powers who have ... relied on the U.S. to protect the liberal order that the U.S. helped create," he said. "It's worrying to see that they're retreating from that narrative pretty aggressively." We have to rely less on our relationships with the big players and we have to work more closely with people in the middle. - Jonathan Pryke of Australia's Lowy Institute That makes an APEC focused on trade and economic integration important. "But it also makes it so much harder to get anything done, because the biggest powers in the room aren't all that interested in liberalization and integration," he said. "We have to rely less on our relationships with the big players and we have to work more closely with people in the middle," Pryke said. Trudeau's other meeting Saturday was one Canada organized with leaders from Pacific Island nations. Part of Canada's commitment at the Paris Climate Conference was $2.65 billion to help small island states. As part of Canada's G7 presidency, it's been talking to small island states about ways to finance climate-resistant infrastructure in the developing world, Trudeau said before the meeting. "Increasing sea level has diminished the land we have to live on, increasing the salinity of our water that impacts on our food security," said Baron Waqa, the president of Nauru, an island country in Micronesia. "The disappearance of our land could threaten our very sovereignty." Wild turkey numbers have been growing slowly for years, and it may not be long before New Brunswickers are able to hunt them. Mike Holland, the new minister of energy and resource development, said the wheels are in motion to develop a wild turkey wildlife management program. While it's still in the early stages, Holland said he expects to have department officials working on the subject within a month. "We have a population of birds that are in the province now, so what we are looking forward to now, in addition to hunting them, is having the ability to start putting together manageable research on a species of wildlife in the province that we currently don't have a lot of information on," Holland said. A lifelong hunter himself, Holland is a former board member of the Canadian Wild Turkey Federation. "I've spent my entire life in some way, shape or form engaged in our hunting heritage and outdoor lifestyle, so it's a file and it's a department with which I have a significant amount of practical experience," said Holland, whose Albert campaign signs for the September election said "Preserving our outdoor heritage." Holland said his connections to the hunting and outdoors community will be valuable in bringing stakeholders to the table during the development of the wild turkey program. He said he wants to ensure all interest groups that would be affected by or benefit from a wild turkey management program are involved in the development of the plan. While there is no official count of wild turkeys in New Brunswick, Holland said that based on reports of sightings across the province there are upwards of 1,000 birds. Jim Wilson, a naturalist who lives in Quispamsis, said it's pretty easy to find wild turkeys in the province if you know where to look. "There seem to be wild turkeys that are doing reasonably well in certain parts of New Brunswick," Wilson said. "Near the Maine border there appears to be a population that could be getting close to or maybe even is self-sustaining, but it's not a large population from what I know." Story continues Wilson said wild turkeys tend to do best in agricultural areas or near human habitation. Those are places where it's easiest for the birds to find food all year long. "It's pretty easy to find wild turkeys in Charlotte county and also certain areas of Carleton county." While Wilson hasn't tracked the numbers himself, he said the species does seem to be doing better in certain areas than it ever has. Submitted by Jeff Kelly However, Wilson also cautioned against weighing sightings of birds that appear in an area one year and are gone the next. He said those are likely birds that were released from captivity in an effort to increase the population. "They might survive a year or two, but eventually they seem to succumb to difficulty getting food, harsh winters, deep snow," he said. Turkeys that may have migrated from northern parts of Maine stand a better chance of taking root in the province. Mike Holland MLA for the Albert riding Facebook page "They have become habituated to the wild, they seem to be more hardy and able to cope with some of the conditions that we have," Wilson said. Turkeys don't migrate like other birds, Wilson said, but they do expand their range by walking, which could explain their slow growth in New Brunswick. "It may be that they've made their way through some of the coniferous forests that don't have a lot of food for them by walking along hydro lines or even pipelines, gas pipelines, that would have deciduous foliage and deciduous shrubbery and be kind of be almost a roadway that would bring them in the direction of New Brunswick." Wilson said he isn't a biologist, so he doesn't know for sure what affect the growing turkey population might have on the ecology of the province, but the fact that they've been able to survive suggests they've filled a niche in the environment. "If it's a gradual thing and they are doing it on a natural basis I would think it wouldn't necessarily be negative for other forms of wildlife." Holland said it's his department's responsibility to gather data and manage any wildlife species in the province, including turkeys. "What we've got is a species that is unchecked, unmanaged and basically we're not following through on that. That's the concern." An airline says it is "investigating" what led to the death of an elderly passenger in the days after the crash landing of a flight she was aboard from Guyana to Toronto. A spokesperson for Fly Jamaica said in a Saturday statement that the airline is "deeply saddened" to learn of Rookia Kalloo's passing in a Georgetown, Guyana, hospital. According to local media in Guyana, Kalloo was 86. She was among 128 people aboard Flight OJ256 when it overshot the runway at Cheddi Jagan airport, near the Guyanese capital of Georgetown, on Nov. 9. The Boeing 757 was on its way to Pearson airport when problems with its hydraulic systems forced the pilot to turn around about 20 minutes after takeoff. Her daughter reportedly told Stabroek News, a newspaper in Guyana, that Kalloo was behaving oddly in the days that followed, though she had no obvious physical malady. According to the newspaper, she was admitted to hospital on Monday after her symptoms worsened, where her family was told she had suffered a head injury. She died Friday morning, the newspaper reported. Stabroek News and other local media said Kalloo passed away at Georgetown Public Hospital. However a representative of the hospital told CBC News on Saturday that it had no record of Kalloo as a patient there. Six other people were hurt in the crash landing and were transported to hospital in the immediate aftermath. Airport officials said at the time that the injuries were minor. Adrian Narine/Associated Press In its statement, Fly Jamaica said it has seen no record that Kalloo was treated in hospital "for any injuries as a result of the accident. "We are investigating the position further and lending all possible assistance and support to Mrs. Kalloo's relatives as they come to terms with their loss," the statement added. It did not specify what measures the airline is taking as part of its probe in Kalloo's death. Other passengers aboard the flight returned to Toronto on Friday morning. Some slammed Fly Jamaica for what they said was a lack of communication following the crash landing. Others alleged that valuable belongings they left behind on the plane after evacuating, such as jewellery, cash and electronics, were unaccounted for. The Kingston, Jamaica-based airline said in a previous statement earlier this week that local firefighters who responded to the crash site were being investigated for alleged thefts of the missing goods. The Canadian Union of Postal Workers has rejected Canada Post's latest offer in their labour dispute as a delivery backlog weighs on consumers placing orders for packages during the busiest shopping period of the year. On Saturday, the union representing postal workers rejected the Crown corporation's latest offer so rotating strikes are set to continue. The company had imposed a deadline of midnight on Saturday for the union to accept its offer. The union said the offer was not good enough to put before its workers. Kevin Matthews, spokesperson for the union, told CBC News on Saturday the offer didn't address the issue of injured workers. He criticized what he called arbitrary deadlines set by management. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau urged the two sides to work out their differences. "The Christmas & holiday season is here - and Canadian businesses and families depend on Canada Post. We urge both sides in this labour dispute to resolve their differences quickly and reach a deal," Trudeau said on Twitter after the union rejected the company's latest offer. Union in 4th week of rotating strikes "It's clear they'll have to do better," the Canadian Union of Postal Workers (CUPW) said in a release Friday, as the union continued its fourth week of rotating strikes. "A vote will take place when Canada Post presents offers that meet our demands for health and safety, gender equality and more full-time jobs," the union's national president Mike Palecek said in a separate statement. Workload is at the heart of the dispute, because postal workers are delivering more and more packages, primarily because of internet shopping. Our weekend business panel discusses CUPW's rejection of Canada Post's latest contract offer: Palecek said employees are overworked right now and delivering late into the night, with some walking up to 30 kilometres a day. Canada Post suspended delivery-time guarantees to its customers last Tuesday as it reported a 30-day delivery backlog resulting from the dispute. Story continues The company has since asked its international partners to halt mail and parcel shipments to Canada. It said more than 600 trailers are now parked at Canada Post yards, waiting to be unloaded. In an interview with CBC News on Friday, Canada Post spokesperson Jon Hamilton said the backlog is a record for Canada Post. He said each of the trailers contain an average of 2,500 parcels. Decisions on how to end job actions by postal workers could come as early as Sunday, said a federal government source, who spoke on condition of anonymity, adding that "all the options include legislating." By Katanga Johnson WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission settled charges on Friday with two technology companies for improperly offering digital tokens, mandating that they register their offerings as securities and reimburse investors. The action marked the first time the SEC has imposed penalties against tech startups that skirt the regulator's rules through "initial coin offerings." It also marks a ramping up of the SEC's vigorous oversight of the cryptocurrency space. The regulator had warned in March that it would hold most token offerings to the same standards as securities offerings, and impose fines on bad actors that violated securities laws. After raising a combined $27 million from investors, CarrierEQ Inc (Airfox) and Paragon Coin Inc agreed to pay investors back, and each will pay $250,000 in fines as part of the settlement, the regulator said in a statement. "Airfox expects to continue growing its blockchain platform within a regulatory framework," the company said in a statement. The companies didn't admit or deny the SEC's charges, but both agreed to file periodic reports for at least 12 months. "These cases tell those who are considering taking similar actions that we continue to be on the lookout for violations of the federal securities laws with respect to digital assets," said Stephanie Avakian, one of the SEC's enforcement chiefs. (Reporting by Katanga Johnson; Editing by Tom Brown and Bernadette Baum) A Vancouver lawyer who helped prosecute two of the Khmer Rouge's most senior surviving leaders is breathing a little easier after a tribunal this week found the two elderly Cambodian men guilty of genocide and other crimes. Dale Lysak says he has been waiting more than a year for the joint UN-Cambodian tribunal's ruling against Nuon Chea and Khieu Samphan, and that the verdict ensures some accountability for one of recent history's worst atrocities. "I'm very satisfied," Lysak said in an interview. "I've been waiting for over a year to get the judgment on this trial and it feels great." Jeff Widener/The Associated Press An estimated two million Cambodians were killed during a bloody four-year period after the Communist-inspired movement known as the Khmer Rouge took over the poor Southeast Asian country in 1975. Lysak was one of several prosecutors during the nearly decade-long tribunal hearings, and he told The Canadian Press he felt the weight of responsibility for all those affected by the murderous regime during his eight years working on the tribunal. That included when he led the prosecution's cross-examination of Nuon Chea, who served as second in command to Khmer Rouge leader Pol Pot, who died in 1998. There were also daily reminders as survivors sat in the courtroom to listen to the trial. "What drove a lot of hard work over a really long period of time was that understanding that this was kind of the one chance to get justice for one of the worst incidents of mass atrocities in modern history," Lysak said in an interview. 'The worst atrocities of all time' The tribunal has been criticized for its $300-million cost and duration, which resulted in only three Khmer Rouge leaders being found guilty, but Lysak says the alternative is unimaginable. "The alternative is that we accept no one is going to face justice or face a courtroom for what are some of the worst atrocities of all time," he said. "And I don't see that as a palatable argument." Story continues Lysak's involvement in the tribunal was almost an accident. After practising commercial law in San Francisco for several years, he did some travelling and ended up in Cambodia in 2008 just as the tribunal was getting underway. Cambodia Tribunal Monitor The tribunal's lead international prosecutor at the time was Justice Canada lawyer Robert Petit and when Lysak asked the fellow Canadian whether he could volunteer for a few months, Petit jumped at the offer. While Petit would eventually resign in 2009, citing family reasons as well as frustration with the tribunal, which has long been plagued with allegations of political interference by the Cambodian government, Lysak stayed until closing arguments last year. And then, after returning to Canada, he and everyone else waited until this week to find out the court's verdict. Murders, tortures and other atrocities Nuon Chea, 92, and Khieu Sampath, 87, had been found guilty of crimes against humanity and sentenced to life in prison in 2014 for the forced displacement of millions of people and mass disappearances during the start of the Khmer Rouge's brutal rule. The most recent verdict related to the murders, tortures and other atrocities committed in the years afterward. The finding of genocide was particularly notable, however, as scholars had debated for decades whether such a crime had been committed. Mark Peters/Extraordinary Chambers in the Courts of Cambodia via Associated Press The tribunal judges ruled that a genocide had occurred because the Khmer Rouge targeted Cambodians of Vietnamese descent as well as the country's Muslim population. Some have questioned whether the tribunal was worth it given the high cost in money and time to convict only a small number of Khmer Rouge leaders; besides Nuon Chea and Khieu Sampath, only one other person has been tried and convicted. In 2010, the tribunal convicted Kaing Guek Eav, better known as Duch, who as head of the Khmer Rouge prison system ran the infamous Tuol Sleng torture centre in Cambodia's capital, Phnom Penh. Limited mandate Others have said the tribunal, which likely won't prosecute any more former leaders, should have been able to accomplish more. While he acknowledged those criticisms, Lysak said international criminal cases are always going to be expensive because of their nature while the Khmer Rouge tribunal was necessarily complicated because of the passage of time. The tribunal's mandate was also limited to prosecuting only the most senior leaders, while Lysak and his colleagues had to prove that the regime's leaders were responsible for the actions of their subordinates. Christoph Froehder/The Associated Press "These international tribunals are expensive by nature, so there's always going to be that kind of criticism," he said. "But I think when we're talking about killings of this magnitude, look at the amount of money spent for each person who died and it comes to $100 per victim. Does that seem like a lot of money to pursue justice? No, of course not." New tensions and conflict today With the verdicts against Nuon Chea and Khieu Sampath, many Cambodians may finally be able to find a degree of closure to the darkest chapter in their country's history. Yet Cambodia remains embroiled in new tensions and conflict today, nearly 30 years after Canada and other members of the international community arrived as part of UN peacekeeping mission to set the country on the path to democracy and peace. The current government under Prime Minister Hun Sen has all but abandoned the trappings of democracy and targeted opposition parties, labour groups, human-rights defenders and the media in a bid to quash dissent. Lysak, who met his future wife while working in Cambodia, says it is "discouraging" to see what is happening in the country now, though he hopes the tribunal will inspire the next generation of lawyers and others in the country. The deadline for the referendum on electoral reform is in two weeks and, as the debate between first-past-the-post and proportional representation rages, some are calling for an extension. The Vote No campaign has raised concerns about the referendum, saying an extension is needed because of the potential for low voter turnout and mail delivery disruption from the Canada Post strike. "There are a lot of reasons for Elections B.C. to take action," said Bill Tieleman, president of the No B.C. Proportional Representation Society. His main concern is that, without a deadline extension, there simply won't be enough votes on the issue. As of Friday, less than 20 per cent of the ballots had been received by Election B.C. They are currently due on Nov. 30. "The volume of ballots to come anywhere close to 50 per cent would have to be massive, and there's just no indication that is what is going on," he told Stephen Quinn, the host of CBC's The Early Edition. The high point of voter turnout is currently about 16 per cent in some ridings, Tieleman said, but that falls to as low as one-and-half per cent in others. "We could have an extremely small fraction of people deciding what is really fundamental in our democracy how we elect our representatives," he said. Elections BC Voter turnout Previous referendums in B.C., like those on the electoral system in 2005 and 2009 or on the harmonized sale tax in 2011, all had a voter turnout of more than 50 per cent. However, There is no minimum voter participation threshold for any referendum. "As it is with every election, it's the voters who turn out who get to decide," said Bowinn Ma, an NDP MLA for North Vancouver-Lonsdale. She's an advocate for proportional representation in the hopes that it will increase voter turnout. "We've had abysmal voter turnout in elections in general which is why I'm so excited about proportional representation," Ma said. Story continues "Generally, when we're talking about voter response, it ultimately comes down to whether a voter feels like the vote is important to them." Lack of engagement Lack of voter engagement is at the heart of the matter, according to University of the Fraser Valley political science professor Hamish Telford. "It doesn't seem to me like there's an overwhelming engagement on this issue," Telford told Michelle Eliot, host of B.C. Today. "That's, I think, indicative of the very low return rate of the ballots so far It may be the case that some people are either still deliberating or may be sitting on their ballots because of the postal worker issue." Elections B.C. says it is monitoring the Canada Post situation and, if there are significant delays or impacts on accessibility, extending the voting period is a possibility. With files from The Early Edition and B.C. Today. It's a story as old as the craft itself: an impoverished author, serving coffee or scrubbing floors while writing what would become a seminal novel. Except in Canada today, tales of financial hardship extend to writers who are established, have published several books and even those who have won major prizes. When the Writers' Union of Canada recently surveyed its members about their incomes, the results were sobering: an average writer made $9,380 a year from his or her writing. That's 27 per cent less than what writers made three years ago, and a whopping 78 per cent less than they made in 1998. The report comes in stark contrast to the glossy literary awards season, where champagne flows and prizes that sound lucrative are given out, culminating with the $100,000 Giller Prize, which is handed out this Monday. Even for established authors, tales of financial hardship are increasingly common. "As it happens, my husband has to give up work for health reasons, so it would save me from a financial emergency," said Kathy Page of her nomination for the $50,000 Rogers Writers' Trust Fiction Prize. Fortunately for Page, she won that award for Dear Evelyn, a novel inspired by her parents' long-distance courtship during the Second World War. Well regarded but not wealthy Page's comment echoes what many celebrated authors have been saying. Last year's Giller winner Michael Redhill famously shared what was left in his bank account before he deposited the $100,000 cheque: it was $411. In 2015, another Giller winner, Andre Alexis, joked with host Rick Mercer that winning the prize would "bring him back to zero." Then there's Charles Foran, an Order of Canada member and author of 11 books. Foran just won the $50,000 Writers' Trust Fellowship for his body of work, which has allowed him to quit his full-time job and work on his next book. In 2016, Foran raised some eyebrows in literary circles when he opened up about his finances in an essay for Canadian Notes and Queries magazine. In it, he explained how despite awards and healthy sales, his finances after the publication of his popular 700-page Mordecai Richler biography still left him needing a full-time job. Story continues Billie Woods "I was deliberate in doing something writers never do, which is I talked about money," Toronto-based Foran told CBC. It took him five years to write the book, people liked it, and it was awarded "all these prizes," he said. Even then, "it still doesn't add up to the income of a middle-tier banker for one year." Reasons for decline The Writers Union of Canada attributes the decline in authors' incomes to a combination of factors. John Degen, the organization's executive director, attributes the particularly steep drop-off in the last few years to the rise of free photocopying of written material by educational institutions. Before the Copyright Modernization Act of 2012, educators had to a pay a fee for all the photocopying they would do in a year, a fee that was redistributed as royalties to authors whose work students were reading. But once the Act deemed educational copying as fair dealing, that income for writers was gone. "This is really, really destroying an integral, crucial market for Canadian writers," said Degen. Additionally, the publishing industry has contracted in recent years, with some houses folding and others, like Penguin and Random House, conglomerating into one. That means fewer venues for writers to publish their work. Jon Castell/CBC News On top of all that, there's what Degen calls a "bestselling mentality" among publishers. At one point, a promising writer would get a two- or three-book deal with a publisher, allowing the author to fail but still keep writing. Now, said Degen, many publishers are focused only on those books that are sure to sell well right away. "It's really hollowed out the developmental level of writers, the middle class of writers, you either hit it big right away, or you don't stay in the industry." Writing as a labour of love According to Degen, many authors are choosing to leave the industry altogether. But many others, in spite of increasing financial hardships, are finding ways to survive. At the Toronto Reference Library, a Writers' Union-organized talk called Get That Grant packs a room, with writers new and seasoned trying to learn how to supplement their income with grants so they can keep writing. A young science fiction author, Rebecca Diem, is there to figure out how to branch out into more literary fiction. Her background as a self-published genre author has already given her some entrepreneurial skills needed to navigate the tricky landscape. CBC News "I have a growing fan base, a lot of my income comes through e-book sales, convention appearances, and through Patreon campaigns. One of the things that authors in Canada are doing right now is trying to broaden our reach, make sure we're diversifying our streams of income," said Diem. Tough though it is, writing is a labour of love, according to Charles Foran. "If you need to do it, you need to do it. If it is bound up with your self-conception, with your sense of your worth, with your sense of purpose," said Foran. "The rest of it is, curiously, just conditions you accept." The Espinosa Reggae is one of two cigars released by Espinosa Cigars in 2017 highlighted by the use of Jamaican tobacco in the filler. The Reggae actually had a limited debut in 2016 as a part of the Espinosa Backroom Series, a line of cigars offered to Espinosa-branded lounges nationwide. At the time, the Reggae incorporated into the Backroom Series because of the limited amount of the Jamaican tobacco that Espinosa Cigars was able to procure. Shortly afterwards, Espinosa was able to procure enough additional tobacco to bring the Reggae into regular production. The regular production Espinosa Reggae was showcased at the 2017 IPCPR. Today we take a closer look at the Espinosa Reggae in the Toro size. When the regular production Espinosa Reggae was released, it received a packaging and banding upgrade from the Backroom Series release. As mentioned above, there was a second release with Jamaican tobacco incorporated into the blend. This second release is known as the Espinosa Reggae Dread. The Dread is a 6 x 56 offering highlighted by the use of multiple long pig-tails affixed to the cap giving the appearance of dreadlocks. The Dread also features a very different blend from the core Reggae blend. Today our attention will be on the core release, the Espinosa Reggae, so without further ado lets break down the Reggae Toro and see what this cigar brings to the table. SPECIFICATIONS Blend and Origin The Jamaican tobacco that is used in the Espinosa Reggae is known as Lengue de Vaca, which means Cow Tongue. There is also Nicaraguan tobacco in the filler as well as Nicaraguan leaf for the binder. The Reggae is finished with an Ecuadorian Rosado wrapper. Production is handled out of Espinosas La Zona factory in Esteli, Nicaragua. Wrapper: Ecuadorian Habano Rosado Binder: Nicaragua Filler: Nicaragua and Jamaican Lengue de Vaca Country of Origin: Nicaragua Factory: La Zona Vitolas Offered Espinosa Reggae is offered in three sizes. Each is presented in 20-count boxes. Robusto Grande: 5 1/2 x 54 Toro: 6 x 52 Short Churchill: 6 1/2 x 48 Appearance The Ecuadorian Rosado wrapper of the Espinosa Reggae Toro is a medium brown wrapper on the lighter side with a cinnamon tint. This wrapper could be considered a rosado-claro wrapper. There wasnt much in the way of oil on the wrapper. There were some visible veins and visible wrapper seams on the surface of the wrapper, but this was a wrapper still on the smoother side The band of the Espinosa Reggae is black with green, red, and yellow trim. There is a white Espinosa/La Zona logo at the top. Below that is the text ESPINOSA also in white font. Just below that text is the text REGGAE in a modern looking green, red, and yellow font. On the far right of the band is a message in small white font and arranged in landscape mode that says LOVE WHAT YOU DO AND YOULL NEVER WORK A DAY IN YOUR LIFE, BRO ERIK ESPINOSA PERFORMANCE Pre-Light Draw The cigar experience of the Espinosa Reggae Toro began by placing a straight cut to remove the cap. From that point, it was time to move on to the pre-light draw phase. The cold draw delivered a mix of earth, bakers spice, and mineral notes. This was a unique pre-light draw flavor-wise and one that satisfied me. At this point it was time to light up the Espinosa Reggae Toro and see what the smoking phase would deliver. Tasting Notes The Espinosa Reggae Toto started out with notes of mineral, earth, fruit, and white pepper. There also was an underlying creamy texture to the flavor profile. As the cigar moved through the early stages, the earth notes surfaced as the primary note. The fruit, mineral, and pepper notes settled in the background. These background notes were soon joined by more bakers spice. During the first third, there were a couple of points where the fruit sweetness got a little prominent. Meanwhile, there was more white pepper on the retro-hale. During the second third of the Espinosa Reggae Toro, there was an increase in the intensity of the mineral and pepper notes. The white pepper notes morphed into more of a classic black pepper note on the tongue and retro-hale. At the same time the creamy texture and fruit notes diminished. By the midway point, the bakers spice dissipated while the earth notes continued to be grounded in the forefront. In the last third, the earth notes continued to hold in the forefront. The mineral notes closed in on the forefront, but never became a primary note. There still were notes of pepper and fruit in the background, but these were now definitely in a secondary role. By this point, the creamy texture had dissipated. This is the way the smoking experience of the Espinosa Reggae Toro came to a close. The resulting nub was soft to the touch and cool in temperature. Burn The burn of the Espinosa Reggae Toro performed quite well. While there was an occasional bit of curvature on the burn line, this proved to be more cosmetic and didnt warrant any additional touch-ups above the norm. The cigar had no problems maintaining a straight burn path. The resulting ash was medium gray with some darker speckling in there. This was an ash skewed toward the firmer side. As for the burn rate and burn temperature, both were ideal. Draw The draw of the Espinosa Reggae Toro had a nice balance of openness and resistance. This was a cigar that was a low maintenance cigar to derive flavor from. At the same time, this was a cigar that produced ample amounts of smoke throughout the smoking experience. Strength and Body When looking at where the Espinosa Reggae in the Toro size fits into the Espinosa portfolio, I found this cigar to be one of the more dialed back Espinosa cigars. Strength-wise, the Reggae Toro comes out of the gate with mild strength. In the first third, the strength level progresses into mild to medium territory. While there is still a slight increase in strength along the way, I didnt find the Reggae to reach the medium zone of the spectrum. Meanwhile, the Reggae Toro started out mild to medium-bodied. By the second third, the body progressed into medium where it remained for the duration of the cigar experience. From the midpoint on the body level remained constant. In terms of strength versus body, I found the body to have the edge with the Espinosa Reggae Toro. OVERALL ASSESSMENT Final Thoughts If you have followed many of the releases coming out of La Zona, there are certainly a good amount that use the Ecuadorian Rosado wrapper. One reason why La Zona has been named the Cigar Coop Small Factory of the Year for three straight years is that the company has done a great job at making unique blends that use this wrapper. The Espinosa Reggae Toro certainly falls into this category. Its definitely a unique cigar from a flavor standpoint and one that delivers excellent flavor. The fact that this cigar is on the medium minus side works in favor of this blend as I think a fuller cigar would have a negative effect. Overall its a cigar that might not be for everyone, but it is one that a novice or experienced cigar enthusiast can smoke. As for myself, its a cigar Id reach for again and its worthy of having multiples in your humidor. Summary Key Flavors: Earth, Mineral, Pepper, Fruit, Bakers Spice, Cream Burn: Excellent Draw: Excellent Complexity: Medium Plus Strength: Mild (Start), Mild to Medium (Remainder) Body: Mild to Medium (1st Third), Medium (Remainder) Finish: Good Rating Value: Buy Multiples Score: 91 References News: Espinosa Reggae and Reggae DREAD to Make National Debut at 2017 IPCPR Price: $10.50 Source: Espinosa Cigars and Purchased Brand Reference: Espinosa Photo Credits: Cigar Coop New Delhi/Male: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday said that he is looking forward to working with new Maldivian President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih to strengthen India's bilateral relations with the strategic Indian Ocean island nation. Prime Minister Modi attended the swearing-in ceremony of Solih, who surprisingly defeated strongman Abdulla Yameen in September. During the swearing-in ceremony of Solih, Modi was sitting beside former Maldivian presidents Mohamed Nasheed and Maumoon Abdul Gayoom. Former Sri Lankan president Chandrika Kumaratunga also attended the ceremony. Modi congratulated President Solih and also interacted with leaders from the Maldives and other parts of the world during the oath taking ceremony at the National Stadium. Read: PM Modi attends Maldives President Solih's swearing-in ceremony Congratulations to Mr. @ibusolih on taking oath as the President of the Maldives. Wishing him the very best for his tenure ahead. Looking forward to working with him to strengthen bilateral relations between our nations, Modi tweeted. Ministry of External Affairs spokesman Raveesh Kumar said that President Solih in his address to the People's Majlis (Parliament) asserted that the Maldives will endeavour to fortify its existing ties with India. "Maldives President Solih in his address to the People's Majlis:We will endeavour to fortify existing ties with India. Maldives will hereupon bolster its shared role to retain enduring peace & harmony of the Indian Ocean," Kumar tweeted. Solih, 54, the opposition Maldivian Democratic Party's candidate, had surprisingly emerged victorious over incumbent president Yameen in the election held on September 23. On arrival in the Maldivian capital, Prime Minister Modi was given a red carpet welcome and was received by Maldives Parliament's new Speaker Qasim Ibrahim. This is Modi's first visit to the Maldives as prime minister. The last visit by an Indian Prime Minister to the Indian Ocean island nation was by Manmohan Singh in 2011. "The visit reflects India's commitment to assist the Government & people of Maldives in their endeavour to build a peaceful, democratic & prosperous country, Kumar tweeted. In a series of tweets ahead of the visit, Modi had tweeted, "I will convey to the new Maldivian Government of Mr Solih the desire of the Indian Government to work closely for realisation of their developmental priorities, especially in areas of infrastructure, health care, connectivity & human resource development," He said the recent elections in the Maldives represent the collective aspirations of the people for democracy, rule of law and a prosperous future. "We in India strongly desire to see a stable, democratic, prosperous and peaceful Republic of Maldives," the prime minister had said. The Maldives is the only South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation SAARC country that Modi has not visited. His visit to the Maldives, a strategically vital island and a popular tourist destination, was cancelled in March 2015 due to the volatile political situation then. India-Maldives ties came under strain under Yameen who was perceived to be close to China. Some decisions by Yameen including imposition of restrictions on work visas for Indians and signing of a new Free Trade Agreement with Beijing also did not go down well with New Delhi. Relations between India and the Maldives deteriorated further after Yameen imposed emergency on February 5 this year. India had criticised his decision and asked his government to restore the credibility of the electoral and political process by releasing political prisoners. The emergency lasted for 45 days. Prime Minister Narendra Modi was the only foreign leader to be invited to attend the swearing-in of the recently-elected President of the Maldives, Ibrahim Mohamed Solih, in Male on Saturday. That tells its own story. This development also holds out the promise of the retreat of Chinese power from the archipelago nation through the five years of Mr Solihs predecessor, Abdulla Yameen, that ended earlier this month following the September election. The opportunity now given to India to be restored to its position of pre-eminence in the Maldives that had prevailed in the pre-Yameen period is due to a surprise election result that no one saw coming as a rank outsider found himself in the Presidents chair. In that sense, if India finds itself once more on terms of close friendship with Male, it can only be ascribe to favourable celestial winds. The Maldives strategic location in the Indian Ocean, controlling vital sea lanes and enjoying an intermediate physical position between India and the equator, had long been eyed by China, which moved in with clear intent after 2011 and found a clear opening when the countrys first democratically-elected President Mohamed Nasheed lost to Mr Yameen in 2013. A time of great shock followed for the Maldives as the new leader launched on a despotic course, a process that seemed to be backed only by Beijing and Islamabad. The chief justice and a judge of the Supreme Court were arrested, Opposition leaders were not released from prison despite a Supreme Court order, and Parliament was jeopardised. In this period, Mr Yameen insulted India in a variety of ways as it rode over New Delhis sensibilities, and threw out its projects and its personnel. It invited China to undertake big infrastructure works and leased Beijing 17 islands to set up so-called observation posts, evidently a ruse for a military buildup. It is a miracle that Mr Yameen actually called polls. Perhaps he was over-confident about winning. As in Sri Lanka, in the Maldives too the government found itself in huge debt to the Chinese, apparently to the extent of 25 per cent of its GDP. It is doubtful that it will be in any position to return such large sums without external help. Mr Solih complained to Mr Modi about this. Indias assistance has thus been sought, and New Delhis work is cut out. Now that India is being courted by Male to return to the path of their earlier friendship, it is necessary to extend every kind of support and advice. Mr Modi may find useful ideas embedded in the documents during the visit to Male in 2011 by then Prime Minister Manmohan Singh. Learn from US media Will India ever have an Acosta moment? Jim Acosta was the CNN journalist whose White House press accreditation was taken away from him after he asked US President Donald Trump unwelcome questions at a press conference. His press pass was, however, restored by a US federal judge citing Americas First Amendment, that protects the right to freedom of expression. Acosta also had the support of not only his employers, CNN, but of the entire media. In India, freedom of speech is guaranteed by our Constitution but it is said that in this country this freedom is really of the owners of the media. There was a recent case of two television channel journalists having to resign after they had exposed the ground situation over the implementation of a government scheme, that turned out to be a sham. This angered the government and the journalists had to resign as they didnt get the backing of the owners, who feared the wrath of the government. Significantly, other sections of the media didnt show much concern or support. Perhaps these owners acted in haste and were more loyal than the king. In this context, it might be appropriate to quote Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who on the occasion of the 37th anniversary of the Emergency imposed by Prime Minister Indira Gandhi in 1975 had talked of this countrys basic values like freedom of expression that were threatened by the Emergency. He referred to his book Apatkalme Gujarat (Gujarat during the Emergency), where he had mapped out the mass movements and other heroic deeds of those in Gujarat who opposed the Emergency. HCMC gets serious about sorting its trash The city piloted waste sorting in a part of District 1 in 2013, but implementing this has been a bumpy road. Photo by VnExpress/Thanh Nguyen Vietnams biggest city will have all families separate organic and inorganic waste after 2020 and fine those who fail to do so. The municipal Peoples Committee says the city will follow a step by step roadmap to waste sorting, implementing it in two phases: from now until 2020 and after 2020. Taking effect on November 24, the plan will have local authorities guide certain families and businesses on sorting their daily waste by putting labels on different trash bins. From now until 2020, every district and commune can flexibly apply methods to make the waste sorting process as efficient as they can. The trash will be sorted into three categories: organic trash, recycled trash and other. After the waste is sorted, solid waste will be taken to zones in specialized garbage carts. Nguyen Toan Thang, director of the citys environment department, said HCMC might have organic trash collected every day, and other types of waste every two or three days. After 2020, all families, businesses, and organizations across the city must show self-discipline to sort their waste by themselves. Those who do not do so will first be warned, and if the behavior persists, be fined. The decision on sorting out waste, issued Wednesday last week, is based on a 2016 governmental decree that imposes penalties on violating rules on environmental protection. The decree carries a fine of VND15-20 million ($645-860) for those who do not store and sort daily solid waste according to regulations or do not transfer solid waste to units in charge of collecting, transporting and disposing of it, or fail to arrange sufficient means and equipment for collecting, storing and classifying solid waste at source. HCMC officially started sorting waste at source in 1999, but implementing this has been a bumpy road. In 2013, the city piloted waste sorting in a part of District 1 in the downtown area, attracting nearly 200 families to join, but it has not made much headway in terms of changing residents awareness or behavior. HCMC spends VND4 trillion ($172 million) each year dealing with trash, officials said at a meeting in July. The entire city discards almost 9,000 tons of solid waste each day and the figure is expected to be 11,000 tons by 2020. Forty four percent of Vietnamese students have their first drink before they are 14. Experts warn this can facilitate addiction. A survey carried out by the Hanoi University of Public Health since 2013 has found that 80 percent of males start drinking as teens and adolescents, against 36 percent of females. Associate Professor Pham Viet Cuong mentioned these statistics in a discussion on a draft law on preventing adverse impacts of alcohol consumption late last week. The law is being reviewed by lawmakers at the ongoing session of the National Assembly. Among students, 44 percent of boys between the 8th and 12th grades took their first alcoholic drink before age 14 and 22.5 percent had felt tipsy at least once, the survey found. Drinking at an early age can lead to a high addiction rate since the brain is still vulnerable at a young age, the research team said. According to 2015 police records from 11 provinces, up to 70 percent of criminal cases were associated with alcohol consumption under the age of 30. Students drinking alcohol also led to a series of other problems including absenteeism, conflicts with family and friends and unsafe sexual behavior, the survey report said. "If we do not act now, the problem might get worse," Cuong said. Nguyen Van Tien, former Vice Chairman of the National Assembly's Committee for Social Affairs, said that there are still many issues that the draft law has not adjusted, especially recommendations from the World Health Organization (WHO). In a letter delivered to Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc earlier this year, WHO asked the Vietnamese government to tighten controls over the production, sale and advertising of beer and other alcoholic beverages to discourage drinking and protect consumers health. Tien said the government should have an agenda to fully implement WHOs suggestions by 2025. Nguyen Huy Quang, director of the Legal Department under the Ministry of Health (MoH), said the new bill will not ban alcohol consumption and will have measures that help curb consumption. These include selling alcohol within a set time period, age restrictions on purchasing alcohol, higher taxes, a ban on alcohol advertising, and more. Data collected by the MoH shows Vietnamese citizens consumed 305 million liters of liquor and 4.1 billion liters of beer in 2017, making it the biggest alcohol consumer in Southeast Asia and third biggest in Asia after Japan and China. On beer alone, nearly $4 billion was spent last year. The country spends on average $3.4 billion on alcohol each year, or 3 percent of the governments budget revenue. The figure translates to a per capita spending of $300, against the $113 spent on healthcare, according to the ministry. U.S. Army and China's People's Liberation Army (PLA) military personnel attend a closing ceremony of an exercise of Soldiers from China and the United States wrapped up a week of joint disaster relief drills on Saturday. The drill was a display of cooperation against a backdrop of worsening ties between the two countries over trade, the disputed South China Sea, which Vietnam calls the East Sea, and Taiwan. Relations between the worlds two largest economies have plumbed new depths under U.S. President Donald Trump, who is due to meet Chinese President Xi Jinping at the G20 summit in Argentina starting late this month. The exercise, held in the eastern Chinese city of Nanjing, comes a week after Chinese Defence Minister Wei Fenghe and top diplomat Yang Jiechi visited Washington, where U.S. officials urged China to halt militarization of the South China Sea. But there was no sign of those strains as Chinese and U.S. soldiers simulated plucking people from earthquake-destroyed buildings and treating survivors injuries at a Peoples Liberation Army (PLA) base on the outskirts of Nanjing. Troops practiced search and rescue in a small mock-up of a devastated urban area post-earthquake, using sniffer dogs and other gear to search for people buried in the fake rubble. "Only through more contacts, more exchanges and cooperation in areas of common interest can we effectively increase mutual trust and effectively reduce misjudgments," Qin Weijiang, deputy commander of the PLAs eastern theater command, told reporters. "So I think bilateral exchanges can start from humanitarian and disaster relief exchanges and expand to other areas of common interest." Robert Brown, Commanding General of the U.S. Army Pacific, said the exchange was "extremely important". "Just as our top leaders work towards building a strong working relationship and understanding, we through confidence-building measures like this DME must also at our level build a strong understanding of each other," he added, referring to Disaster Management Exchange. This is the 14th time the joint exchange has been held, which last year took place in the United States. Chinas defense ministry has said it hopes the military relationship can become a "stabiliser" for overall ties with the United States. All the same, Washington and Beijing swapped barbs over trade, investment and regional security at an Asia Pacific Economic Co-operation (APEC) summit on Saturday in Papua New Guinea. Regular drills and exchanges are helpful to bilateral relations, particularly at a time of increased friction, but they are not going to fundamentally change the direction that ties are headed, said Michael Chase, a specialist in China and Asia-Pacific security at the RAND Corp. "These exchanges remain important in that respect even if they arent going to solve broader problems in the relationship." If the growth continues at such a pace, China is on track to replace Russia as Ukraine's largest, single-nation trading partner. Bilateral trade between Ukraine and China totaled US$5.8 billion during the first eight months of 2018, a 21% increase on the figure for 2017. If the growth continues at such a pace, China is on track to replace Russia as Ukraine's largest, single-nation trading partner. Keen to improve food security, China is particularly interested in Ukrainian agricultural products, according to Emerging Europe. Officials now expect Ukraine-China trade to pass $8.7 billion by the end of the year and hit $10 billion in 2019. Ukraine-Russia trade was $11.1 billion at the end of 2017 and is expected to have seen a fall this year as tensions between the two countries intensify. Read alsoUkraine, China to start consultations on FTA Ukraine has been actively looking to broaden its trading network since Russia invaded Crimea in 2014, and China has been a focal point of its search for new partners. At the beginning of November a large Ukrainian delegation of leading business people and MPs attended the first China International Import Expo (CIIE) in Shanghai, where 19 different corporations had the opportunity to present themselves to Chinese state companies, banks and investment funds in an effort to further strengthen their interest in Ukraine. The China Railway Corporation, China Road and Bridge Corporation and the Pacific Construction Group held meetings with Ukrainian counterparts looking to strike deals as part of China's Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), a development strategy adopted by the Chinese government involving infrastructure development and investments in a number of countries in emerging Europe. Ukraine's Minister for Economic Development and Trade Stepan Kubiv used the event as an opportunity to bring up the possibility of a China-Ukraine Free Trade Agreement. "I have offered to Vice-Premier Liu He the chance to begin joint Ukrainian-Chinese consultations on the prerequisites for creating a Ukraine-China free trade area," said Mr. Kubiv. "In the meantime, we will continue realizing the Ukraine-China action plan to implement the BRI." Ukraine is expected to seal a free trade agreement with Israel by the end of November. Iran's deputy foreign minister has told a Spanish newspaper that his country will not change its policies in the face of United States sanctions, IRNA reported. Abbas Araqchi told ABC newspaper, "Sanctions might have a heavy cost but they will not alter Iran's policies. The previous U.S. administration implemented heavier sanctions but at the end, it had to sit at the negotiating table." The U,S, has threatened to tighten the screws on Iran to force Tehran to "change its behavior". Araqchi also said that Iran's oil exports might decline but not to the degree the U.S. thinks they will. The Trump administration launched its oil sanctions November 5 but at the same time gave temporary waivers to several countries, meant to gradually reduce their oil purchases from Iran. Araqchi also repeated a threat other Iranian officials have made that if the 2015 nuclear agreement is not maintained, Iran might resume the production of enrichment centrifuges. Russia, China and Europe have vowed to maintain the agreement despite the U.S. withdrawal announced by president Donald Trump on May 8. On the war in Yemen Araqchi told the newspaper that Iran maintains contacts with Houthi rebels but this does not mean they listen to everything Tehran says. He insisted that Iran's goal is to bring peace to the war torn country. The U.S. and many regional countries accuse Iran of fomenting the war in Yemen by arming and assisting the Houthis. In a meeting with Iraq's President Barham Salih on Saturday November 17 in Tehran, Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has called on Baghdad to keep a militia group the United States wants to be disbanded. Khamenei asked Salih to preserve the Iran-backed mainly Shite militia group Hashd al-Sha'bi, which the Iraqi Parliament recognized as a reserve force for Iraq's army and police in December 2016. Meanwhile Khamenei praised Hashd al-Sha'bi as "an outstanding example of relying on the youth in the campaign against Takfiri forces." Iran's top military commanders have often expressed appreciation for Hashd al-Sha'bi (volunteer popular forces) and compared them to Iran's Basij, a militia force linked to the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC), maintaining that they are proud about the Iranian influence among the Iraqi militia. Khamenei's demand for preserving Hash al-Sha'bi contradicts one of the 12 conditions the United States has set for a new agreement with Iran that would replace the 2015 Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), and would cover Iran's ballistic missile program, its interventions in the region and its nuclear program. Iran, however, has not welcomed the U.S. offer to enter negotiations for a new agreement. "When ISIS became highly active in Iraq in 2014 and Ayatollah Sistani issued a fatwa for jihad against ISIS, Iran helped form the Hashd al-Sha'bi by recruiting the militia wings of various political groups in Iraq. The force, however, is still active in the post-ISIS Iraq with some 120,000 armed men," says Radio Farda's analyst Morad Veisi. Despite international pressure, Iran has always supported militant groups such as Hezbollah, Hamas, and the Islamic Jihad in the Middle East, and in recent years has set up Hashd al-Sha'bi in Iraq, and supported Houthi rebels in Yemen and Bashar al-Assad's militia in Syria. The condition set by the United States, also calls on the Islamic Republic of Iran to respect Iraq's independence and to disarm and disband its militia groups there. US Secretary of Defense James Matisse has recently said that NATO and U.S. forces should train the Iraqi army in a way that it could eventually rely on its own capabilities rather than depending on Tehran. Iran's security chief Ali Shamkhani has said in a meeting with Salih that "various plots by the United States and some other countries to sow discord between Iran and Iraq will remain futile." German-based analyst Ali Sadrzadeh says Iraqi politicians seek to distance themselves from Iran, while the Islamic Republic expressed support for Iraqi's decision to elect a Shiite politician, Mohammad Halbousi, as parliament speaker. Barham Salih's visit to Tehran on Saturday is his first visit to Iran and his fourth to a regional country. He has previously visited Kuwait, the UAE and Jordan. His visit to Tehran, according to Reuters, coincided with the resumption of exporting Iraq's oil from Kirkuk via Iran after a one year halt. The US embassy in Baghdad announced last week that US government will make Iraq exempt from secondary sanctions for 45 days so that Baghdad could continue purchasing natural gas and electricity from Iran "in order to proceed toward independence in the area of energy." Salih said during a meeting with Iran's President Hassan Rouhani earlier on Saturday that he would continue his talks with the US and would call on Washington to consider Iraq's special situation. Under the US sanctions regime, countries that do business with Iran without U.S. waivers risk severe retaliation and fines for banks and businesses, a threat that has forced many trade partners to cut ties with the Islamic republic. However, at the meeting, Iran and Iraq vowed to significantly boost trade despite the U.S. sanctions, with Rouhani saying that annual bilateral trade with Iraq could rise to $20 billion from the current $12 billion. Iraq is one of the biggest customers of Iranian non-oil commodities and its second-largest market after China, buying everything from food and machinery to electricity and natural gas from Iran. However, as a result of US sanctions on Iran's banking system, Iraq cannot pay Iran in dollars and transactions will be carried out in Iraq's local currency dinar, which would limit Iran's options. Iranian official statists for the period from March to September 2018, put the volume of bilateral transaction other than oil, oil products, natural gas and energy, at 4.5 billion dollars, which show a 45% increase compared to the same period in the previous year. Iraq buys some 20% of Iran's non-oil products Iranian ministers of oil and foreign affairs have called upon President Hassan Rouhani to pave the way for Tehran to join the Paris Agreement on climate. In separate letters to Rouhani, the Minister of Foreign Affairs Mohammad Javad Zarif and the Oil Minister Bijan Namdar Zanganeh have warned that it could bring negative consequences for the Islamic Republic if it stays out of the international accord. Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif signed the Paris Agreement on climate change during a ceremony at the United Nations headquarters in New York, April 22, 2016. However, the agreement was brought before the Guardian Council, but the council did not approve it and proposed amendments, so the deal is now being hammered out in agriculture, water, and natural resources group of the Majles, ISNA quoted Karim Shafie, deputy environment chief for legal affairs, as saying on Saturday. Paris Climate Agreement, also known as Paris Climate Accord, is an agreement within the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) dealing with greenhouse gas emissions mitigation, adaptation, and finance starting in the year 2020. By ratifying the Paris agreement, Iran should make commitments which might put the country into significant expenses, Karim Shafie said at the time. Citing Shafie, Tehran Times reported, "There are proponents and opponents of the agreement in Iran. Those who are opposing the deal believe that ratifying the deal would carry considerable costs, and the costs should be funded by developed countries or international entities." Meanwhile, Shafie argued that those who are advocating the deal believe that the it would help Iran to mitigate environmental pollutants and that Iran can mitigate greenhouse gas emission in sectors which may not carry high costs. On June 1, 2017, President Donald Trump announced that the U.S. would cease all participation in the 2015 Paris Agreement on climate change. Trump argued that The Paris Accord will undermine the U.S. economy and put (the U.S. at a permanent disadvantage. Referring to President Trump's decision, oil minister, Bijan Namdar Zanganeh said in his letter to Rouhani, "Despite Washington's decision to drop the Paris Agreement, 182 countries out of 192 members of the UN, including 15 members of OPEC, have ratified the global accord, so far." Zanganeh has argued that if the Paris agreement is fully implemented the international demand for oil will drop and Iran's exports income will be limited. Furthermore, he has reiterated that by ratifying the international accord, Iran will benefit from the advantages it offers. Baku, Azerbaijan, Nov.18 Trend: Maintaining public order, not political affiliation is the main criterion for police, said Azerbaijani Presidents Assistant for Public and Political Affairs Ali Hasanov. On November 17, leaders and members of Azerbaijani Popular Front Party as well as a group of activists of several other political organizations attempted to stage an unauthorized rally-march at the Alley of Martyrs on the occasion of the National Revival Day. As is known, it is prohibited to stage any mass event unauthorized by an appropriate executive body at places defined by the laws of the Republic of Azerbaijan, including places where official protocol events are held. However, despite the prohibition by law and several warnings, a group of activities with the organization and direct participation of leaders of the aforementioned organizations attempted to enter the territory of the Alley of Martyrs and stage a political event, he said. The Presidential Assistant said that the event participants disregarded demands of law enforcement employees, who were trying to prevent the illegal mass event, and even put up resistance to police. As a result, 52 participants of the event were detained and taken to Sabayil District Police Station. After the case was investigated, police cautions were issued to 41 persons and they were released. 11 organizers and main participants of the event remain in custody and material about them was submitted to a court for consideration. I would like to note with regret that some local and foreign media, including social networks spread unchecked, biased and one-sided information on what happened, wrongly labeling the event as restriction of human rights and freedoms, including the freedom of assembly, freedom of speech and information, and political pluralism. I would like to reiterate that the law enforcement bodies tackled as required by law the illegal attempt to stage a rally and this has nothing to do with the violation of human rights and freedoms. It is maintenance of public order, not the issue of political affiliation which is the main criterion for police, Ali Hasanov added. Baku, Azerbaijan, Nov. 18 Trend: President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev has arrived in the Republic of Belarus for an official visit. A guard of honor was lined up for the head of state at Minsk National Airport decorated with the national flags of the two countries. President Ilham Aliyev was met by Belarus Deputy Prime Minister Mikhail Rusyi and other officials. Baku, Azerbaijan, Nov.18 By Leman Zeynalova - Trend: Croatia interested in creating joint ventures (JVs) with Azerbaijan in various spheres, Charges d'affaires ad interim of Croatian embassy in Azerbaijan Branko Zebic said in an interview with Trend. "Creation of JVs can ensure greater bilateral cooperation in the future. The two countries have potential to create joint ventures in such spheres as pharmaceutical industry, building shipyards and vessels, which Croatia produces and has already sold to Azerbaijan, as well as IT, construction, science and technologies," he said. Further, Zebic pointed out the importance of cooperation between the two countries in the sphere of agriculture, transfer of know-how and ports industry. He recalled that in September the two countries signed "The Memorandum of Understating on Cooperation between the Ministry of Agriculture of the Republic of Azerbaijan and the Ministry of Agriculture of the Republic of Croatia". He went on to add that first of all, Croatia would like to attract Azerbaijani investments in the sphere of energy and tourism. As for the business environment in Croatia, the diplomat said the country has European standards and is improving it all the time to facilitate business of foreign investors. "We hope out business environment will be attractive for Azerbaijani investors as well." Zebic said that this is the only Croatian embassy in the South Caucasus region. The goal of opening an embassy in Azerbaijan is to improve energy cooperation, to start investments in both ways, to connect people, he said. --- Follow the author on Twitter: @Lyaman_Zeyn Baku, Azerbaijan, Nov. 18 By Elnur Baghishov Trend: Over the last Iranian year, the projects worth $200 million were implemented in Irans East Azerbaijan province through foreign investments, ISNA cited Chairman of the Management and Planning Organization in East Azerbaijan province Davut Behbudi as saying. Behbudi made the remarks at a press conference with journalists from Russia, Turkey, Iraq, Syria and Lebanon. The foreign investment licenses worth $20 million were issued over seven months of this Iranian year (started on March 21, 2018). He added that East Azerbaijan province is considered one of the most popular provinces of Iran, from economic, social, cultural and historical points of view. Behbudi added that Tabriz was a trading center of the country connecting Iran to Europe. Tabriz is considered one of the industrial centers of the country, he added. The Iranian economy has the experience to counteract sanctions and avoid them and has created the necessary structures to avoid dependence on other countries, he said. Behbudi said that non-oil goods worth $2 billion were exported from the province over the last Iranian year. He added East Azerbaijan province is located near Turkey, Azerbaijan and Iraq. The province can easily avoid sanctions by cooperating with businessmen from neighbouring countries. Baku, Azerbaijan, Nov. 18 By Elnur Baghishov Trend: Since the 12th government has started its activity (August 3, 2017), the amount of foreign investments in Irans South Khorasan Province has increased by 78 percent, Director General of the Department for Economic Affairs and Finance of the South Khorasan Province, Isa Jafari Giv, said in an interview with IRNA. The amount of foreign investments attracted since 2004 (Khorasan Province was divided into three provinces) has already exceeded $83 million. The foreign investments worth $46.8 million increased by 78 percent since the beginning of the current administrations activity, Isa Jafari Giv said. Jafari Giv added that the investments were allocated to the three solar power stations 1MW in Bashrouye, 10 MW solar power plant in Khosef, and the project of simple carbon steel and low alloy steel in Khosef. He pointed out that in the first 6 months of the current Iranian year, foreign investments worth $27.8 million have been attracted in the province. Since the beginning of this Iranian year, a 7 megawatt-solar power station in Sarbi county, a 1 megawatt-solar power plant in Bashrouye county, a steel mill in Khosef county and an aluminum plant in Tabas county have obtained foreign investment licenses from the Ministry of Economy. The foreign investments worth $244.2 million will be allocated for these projects, he said. Giv said that the foreign investments allocated for the province after it was divided into three parts has exceeded $979 million. This figure increased by 56 percent since the 12th government has started its activity. At the beginning of the 12th governments activity, the amount of foreign investments allocated for the province was $627 million. He added that the number of projects with foreign investment licenses in the province has reached 14 since the beginning of the 12th governments activity. This shows a 133 percent increase. Jafari Giv said that most of foreign investments have been allocated in alternative renewable energy and mining sectors. This year, investors from China, Pakistan, Bulgaria, Germany and South Africa have invested in this province. He added that since the beginning of this Iranian year, two projects with foreign investments were implemented. UN Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL) on Saturday welcomed the Security Council's "strong commitment" to sanctions on those who undermine stability and security in Libya. "UNSMIL is encouraged by UN Security Council's strong commitment to holding to account those seeking to undermine Libya's stability and security and refusing to adhere to cease-fire agreements and continuing to threaten civilians and civilian facilities and sovereign institutions," the Mission said in a statement. British Foreign Ministry announced on Friday that Britain, France, and the United States had managed to secure an agreement in the UN Security Council to impose sanctions on Salah Badi, a Libyan militia leader that opposes the internationally-recognized government. "We will continue to hold to account those seeking to undermine stability and security in Libya," the ministry said in a statement. "This designation will subject Salah Badi to a travel ban and asset freeze, thereby sending a clear message from the international community that acts of violence against the Libyan people will not be tolerated," the statement added. Badi's militia, called Al-Somood Brigade, took part in the recent clashes in the capital Tripoli against the government forces, which killed and injured hundreds of civilians. Badi's militia had a major role in the violent clashes in Tripoli in 2014 that also killed and injured many people, and eventually led to the current political division in the country. Thousands of Greek citizens marched across the center of Athens on Saturday to mark the 45th anniversary of the uprising that led to the restoration of democracy in the country after the military junta of 1967-1974, Xinhua reported. Forty-five years have passed since the Athens Polytechnic uprising of November 1973 that escalated to a massive demonstration of popular rejection of the military junta. Like every year, the demonstration began at the National Polytechnic University of Athens and was completed outside the U.S. Embassy, with protesters chanting the Greek National Anthem and raising their hands above the flag. With the slogan "Freedom to the people, death to fascism", more than 3,000 protesters -- families, anti-racist organizations, refugees, student associations, parties, organizations of the Left, unions and collectives -- condemned fascism and Nazism. Earlier, many of them had stopped by the courtyard of the Athens Polytechnic to pay homage to the some 20 people, mainly students, killed by junta forces. "Forty-five years after the students rose up against the junta, the month of November continues to move and inspire us. It reminds us that nothing is given but also that nothing is impossible," Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras said in his message marking the anniversary. "It also charges us with the responsibility to keep our ears open to the needs and concerns of the younger generation of this country, which has always been on the front line of the major changes that lead forward," he noted. "It is important to remember this day because it is a symbol of the struggles for freedom, democracy," Jason Karaindros, a Greek artist who lives and works in France, said. The demonstration ended in minor clashes between anarchists and anti-riot police forces, mainly at the district of Exarchia, central Athens. Hooded protesters set fire to garbage containers and threw molotov cocktails at police who responded with tear gas and stun grenade. Some 5,000 police officers were reportedly deployed across the city center, while at least 8 people were arrested during the clashes. Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban announced Saturday plans to make Budapest one of the best capitals of Europe by 2030, Xinhua reports. "Today, Budapest is at the gates of enormous developments, and the next decade will be the most successful of the city's history ever," Orban said at a press event with Mayor of Budapest Istvan Tarlos held on the occasion of Capital's Day. The Capital's Day commemorates the birth of modern Budapest, created 145 years ago by the joining of Buda, Pest and Obuda. "By 2030, Budapest could be one of the most vibrant and viable cities in Europe, the continent's safest capital city with a high quality of life," Orban said. He added: "The city administration and the government would need well-organized, hard, joint work, and that was why we established the Council of Municipal Development, in agreement with the Mayor Istvan Tarlos." The reconstruction of the City Park, the Opera House, the Museum of Applied Arts and the refurbishment of metro line 3 are the presently ongoing major projects. "In addition, the Council of Municipal Development will soon have to decide on the new National Pentathlon Center, on the restoration of the historic buildings of the Buda Castle," Orban told. "The construction of a new South-Buda central hospital will also begin in the near future." "We are thinking in projects worth thousands of billions of forints over a decade-long period," Orban concluded. At the press event, Orban and Tarlos also signed a cooperation agreement between the government and the city of Budapest, assuring the funds necessary for the completion of the projects. UK Prime Minister said late on Saturday that there is no alternative to the draft agreement on the UK withdrawal from the European Union and urged the UK Parliament to approve the deal in order to avoid more uncertainty, Sputnik rpeorted. On Thursday, May defended the draft Brexit deal in the House of Commons. The agreement faced criticism from the opposition. Several members of May's Cabinet have resigned over the disagreement with the deal. After two years of hard work, we are now arriving at what I firmly believe is the right deal for Britain If MPs reject the deal, they will simply take us back to square one. It would mean more division, more uncertainty and a failure to deliver on the vote of the British people, May wrote in an article for the Sun newspaper, released late on Saturday. The prime minister noted that there is also no different approach that could be used in divorce talks with Brussels. There is no alternative plan on the table The course I have set is the right one for our country and the only one that will work, May added. The United Kingdom voted to leave the European Union in a referendum in June 2016 and is expected to do so by late March 2019 despite a number of stumbling blocks that impede talks, namely, the Irish border and the post-Brexit UK-EU economic relations. More than 400 people have suffered injuries in France in the protests against fuel prices hikes, French Interior Minister Cristophe Castaner has stated, Sputnik reported. "During the protests, 409 people were injured, while 14 of them suffered grave injuries," Castaner was broadcast as saying by French radio station RTL. He specified that 28 police officers, gendarmes and firefighting units officers had suffered injuries. Castaner assessed the number of protesters at over 287,000 people, saying that protests had been held in over 2,000 French cities and villages. According to the interior minister, 282 people were detained in the course of the protests, while 157 of them were placed in custody. Large-scale protests were held across the country on November 17, leaving one woman dead in the eastern French Isere department. The rioters, wearing high-visibility yellow waistcoats, were blocking traffic. The protests have been triggered by a fuel prices hike in France. While the price of diesel has risen by around 23per cent, and the petrol price has seen a 15 percent rise in 2018, and a further rise is set to happen on January 1, 2019, with the petrol price going up by 2.9 cents per liter, and the diesel price rising by 6.5 cents per liter. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Saturday he wanted his government to fulfil its term, putting the onus of triggering an expected early election onto a coalition partner, Reuters reports. Netanyahu has faced calls from his coalition members to hold a snap election after the resignation of Defense Minister Avigdor Lieberman on Wednesday. Lieberman quit over what he described as the governments too-soft policy on an upsurge of cross-border violence with Palestinian militants in the Gaza Strip, leaving the government with a razor-thin majority. Israels Finance Minister Moshe Kahlon, who heads the centrist Kulanu party, was the first coalition partner to call for an early election after meeting Netanyahu on Thursday. Kahlons calls were echoed by Aryeh Deri, head of the ultra-Orthodox Shas party and by members of the nationalist Jewish Home whose head, Naftali Bennett, asked to succeed Lieberman as defense chief but was turned down by Netanyahu on Friday. The loss of Liebermans Israel Beitenu faction leaves Netanyahu with control of just 61 of the 120 seats in parliament. Each of the remaining government factions now has the power to effectively dissolve the coalition. Netanyahu, who heads the right-wing Likud party said that he will meet Kahlon on Sunday in a last attempt to convince him not to bring down the government. If the Kulanu faction doesnt bring the government down - there is a government, Netanyahu said on Twitter. All Likud members want to keep serving the country for another whole year until the end of the term in November 2019. That kind of spin doesnt work on me, Kahlon said in response on Hadashot television news. Its impossible to run a coalition with sixty-one Knesset members. Analysts see an early election as a done deal, with Netanyahu and ministers trying to pin responsibility for bringing the government down on each other so as not to lose favor with their right-wing voter base. Were heading for an election - there is no government, Bennett told Israels Meet the Press on Saturday. Theres a blame-game being fought on who will be the one to pronounce it dead. Netanyahu is under investigation in a series of corruption cases, and there has been speculation that he may bring the ballot forward to win a renewed mandate while Israels attorney-general decides whether to indict him. Both Lieberman and Bennett compete with Netanyahus Likud for right-wing voters and have spoken in favor of harsh Israeli military action against Gazas dominant Hamas Islamists. A poll published on Wednesday by Hadashot showed Likud falling by one seat from 30 to 29 after months of polls that have shown it gaining power. Only 17 percent of respondents were happy with Netanyahus Gaza policy. Argentine President Mauricio Macri declared three days of mourning on Sunday over the deceased crew of the San Juan submarine, which had disappeared in November 2017 and has been recently located by the authorities, Sputnik reports. Argentine naval base Commander in Mar del Plata Gabriel Attis told relatives of over 40 crew members of the submarine on Saturday that the ARA San Juan has been recently found deformed and with signs of the explosion. "As a tribute to all of them [the crew], we declare a three-day mourning," Macri said in a statement. The president also expressed gratitude to all the countries involved in the search operations. The Argentinian authorities resumed the search for the submarine in late October after signing a contract with Ocean Infinity. The US seabed intelligence company is known for conducting the search operation for the missing MH370 Malaysian airliner. Ocean Infinity has reportedly committed to receiving payment from Argentina only if ARA San Juan is found. The submarine with over 40 crew on board went missing after reporting about a technical malfunction. The search and rescue operation for the submarine involved equipment and personnel from various countries, including Russia. Argentina's ARA San Juan submarine, which went missing a year ago, has been located some 800 meters near the Valdes Peninsula in the southern Atlantic, the Navy said Saturday, Xinhua repoted. The U.S. company Ocean Infinity, contracted by the Argentine authorities to search for the missing submarine, made the discovery. On Thursday, the U.S. company detected an unknown object, named Object 24, on the ocean floor. Closer inspection using a remote-controlled submersible revealed it to be the missing vessel. "Through the observation made with an ROV at 800 meters deep, positive identification has been given to #AraSanJuan," the Navy tweeted. The navy lost contact with the submarine on Nov. 15 last year, about 430 kilometers from the Argentine coast. It was on its way back to the naval base at Mar del Plata on the country's east coast with 44 crew members on board. A massive international search was launched after the submarine went missing, but hopes of finding the crew alive dimmed and the search was scaled down weeks later. At least two Ugandan fishermen were killed, one injured and six others remain missing after a group of armed Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) militiamen carried out attacks at a common border lake shared by the two neighboring countries on Saturday, Xinhua reported citing a top police official. Deo Obura, the Albertine region police commander, told Xinhua by telephone that armed Congolese Lendu militiamen carried out the attack at the disputed waters on Lake Albert, located at the Uganda and DRC common border. He said the deceased, injured and missing fishermen were from Kaiso landing site in the mid-western district of Hoima, which hosts thousands of Congolese refugees. "It is true they (Congolese Lendu militia) attacked yesterday. Two people were shot dead and their bodies recovered. The injured is admitted at Hoima hospital," said Obura. "Some more 5-6 persons are unaccounted for. We don't know whether they were killed or abducted," he said. "We hear they (militia) protect their Congo waters from illegal fishing. They have been accusing our people of entering their waters without their permission." Local media on Sunday put the death toll at seven fishermen. The Saturday attack comes barely five days after the same militia attacked and cut into pieces five Ugandan fishermen on the same lake, before dumping their bodies in the waters, according to local media. Obura said following the two deadly incidents, Ugandan fishermen have been planning to carry retaliatory attacks. "I have just been meeting the community now. They were also trying to organize to attack the Congolese. But we have talked and calmed them down. We hope they will listen," said Obura. Authorities in Kampala and their Kinshasa counterparts have in the past agreed to conduct joint operations by fisheries and security officials to prevent clashes and disagreements over fishing in the disputed area, which both countries claim ownership. "There have been a lot of interventions at the high level. The government has been conducting a lot of meetings with the neighboring country to stop such kind of hostilities," said Obura. "If our people are wrong better they be arrested and produced in courts of law than shooting and killing them like that. We have encouraged our people to try to as much as possible to avoid crossing to their hostile territory," he said. "We pray they listen to us as government also speeds up the (peace) dialogues with Congo." Turkish Defense Minister Hulusi Akar met Sunday with U.S. Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Joseph Dunford to discuss Washington's cooperation with the People's Protection Units (YPG) terrorists in Syria, Daily Sabah reported. The meeting between Akar and Dunford on the sidelines of the Halifax International Security Forum in Canada lasted nearly an hour. "We reiterated that we expect [the U.S.] to immediately cut ties with the terrorist YPG, which is no different the PKK," Akar said after the meeting, adding that YPG's presence in northern Syria and U.S. soldiers spending time with the terrorists was "inappropriate." Dunford and other U.S. officials were also told that the U.S.' relationship with the YPG was disturbing for Turkey even if it was only tactical and temporary, the defense minister said, referring to earlier comments by a top U.S. official regarding the nature of U.S.-YPG ties. A senior U.S. official told Daily Sabah on Wednesday that Washington has "temporary, tactical and transactional" relations with the YPG, emphasizing that the U.S. understands Turkey's security concerns and supports Syria's territorial integrity. Speaking about photos of U.S. soldiers having a U.S. Veterans Day dinner with the PKK-linked terrorists, Akar said: "We warned against recurrence of such images." "We also pointed out that giving trucks and airplanes full of weapons and ammunition to the terrorist YPG does not fit with the understanding of [the Turkish-U.S.] alliance," he said. Stressing how the terrorist group YPG has attacked Turkish security forces and caused deaths of innocent civilians, Akar reiterated his hope that the U.S. will correct its mistake. Akar previously met with several U.S. senators in Halifax on Saturday, telling them that Ankara was expecting the U.S. military to cut ties with the YPG as soon as possible. By Imogen Pullan, KYODO NEWS - Nov 18, 2018 - 18:45 | All, World Since retiring 25 years ago, Dilys Price has founded a successful charity, been honored by the Queen, modeled for a top fashion line and set a world record for being the oldest female skydiver. Now, the 86-year-old grandmother's great ambition is to show Japan how to enrich the lives of the disabled and elderly through the power of touch. [Photo courtesy of Tony Danbury] After concluding a successful career in dance and disability work, Price developed a dance-inspired program designed to encourage isolated people to relax and open up to physical contact through movement and praise. She eventually turned the program into a charity called the Touch Trust, which has a permanent center in Cardiff running movement sessions and training therapists to conduct their own. It operates throughout Wales and helps over one thousand people each week. Despite stepping back from the daily running of the charity in 2015, Price remains involved with its activities. She was inspired to take the program to Japan after a disabled Japanese boy with cerebral palsy named Yuki and his mother took part in sessions in Wales. During her visit to Japan at the end of October, a trip that was partly funded by the Daiwa Anglo Japanese Foundation, she conducted sessions at care homes for the elderly and at day care centers. "The care staff and parents (in Japan) were so open and receptive -- more so than I had ever envisaged, given the cultural differences," said Price, who has a son and two young grandchildren, in a recent interview. In the sessions, participants pair up with their carers in circles as they go through each step. The class slowly builds up in tempo, beginning with bell-ringing and breathing exercises before moving on to touch, dance and movement practice. If the participants are uncomfortable being touched, their partners will stroke the space around them until they are relaxed enough to permit physical contact. "There's such isolation if you've got severe cerebral palsy or autism. The program that I evolved helps connection and stops isolation. It is revolutionary," Price said. [Photo courtesy of Tony Danbury] As well as benefiting children and adults with severe disabilities or autism, Price said it can also be used to help people suffering from dementia and even those living in social isolation. The program reduces the anxiety of dementia patients to a level where they can temporarily re-establish a connection with their spouses or partners, Price explained. She said the reaction to the care home sessions demonstrated a desire for the program in Japan, and she hopes the format will be adopted by practitioners there in the future. During her trip, Price also gave a lecture to more than 500 children at a junior high school in Kamogawa, Chiba Prefecture, after being invited by a parent who had seen videos discussing her skydiving and charity work online. Having first jumped out of a plane in her mid-fifties, Price has since completed more than 1,100 skydives, and obtained the world record for being the oldest female skydiver before being forced to stop in 2015 after breaking her ankle. [Photo courtesy of Sky Dive Swansea] She told the children how skydiving helped her find the courage to start her own charity, as well as raise crucial funds to keep the Touch Trust going. Price was accompanied by arts consultant Bet Davies, who previously helped establish the permanent center for the Touch Trust and has extensive experience working with Japan. In addition to demonstrating the charity's work in Japan, Davies said she hoped the trip could be used "to celebrate disability and create awareness of diversity and inclusion in the run-up to the 2020 Olympics and Paralympics." She added that the program had already been a success among Japanese students when it was introduced at the Japanese school Yuki previously attended in Cardiff. "(It) enabled the whole school to suddenly be aware that Yuki may be different but was also the same as them...it was the first time those children had embraced him," Davies said. The program could perhaps help to combat the traditional views of disability still prevalent in Japan, she added. In messages from the junior high school students, one wrote that Price's talk about her work had shown them how children born with disabilities could also lead happy lives, while another said they were inspired by Price's words to help those with disabilities. Price firmly believes the program should be open to all. "We work with those who are turned away by everywhere else. We don't give up on anyone, ever. We know that everyone wants to belong," she said. "We've all got a beautiful soul, but we've all got different shells. Some people have the bad luck of a shell that doesn't work very well for them. (My aim is) to bring out and make the whole soul feel happy and understood." Sport Pakistans premier Imran Khan named International Sports Personality by MBR Awards Imran has served the sports both as a player and an administrator. He was the first Pakistani captain to steer them to the World Cup glory in Australia in 1992. He still remains the only in 50-over World Cup as Pakistan are still waiting for their second title. KYODO NEWS - Nov 18, 2018 - 22:03 | World, All Leaders of 21 Pacific Rim economies failed to agree Sunday on a joint declaration for the first time, because of a deepening divide between the United States and China over trade and other issues. Papua New Guinea Prime Minister Peter O'Neill, chair of the two-day Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit, said the leaders were at odds over World Trade Organization reforms due to "two giants in the room," alluding to China and the United States represented by President Xi Jinping and Vice President Mike Pence respectively. O'Neill said that he may release a statement in his capacity as the chair of the summit. APEC's failure to release a joint statement for the first time since the forum started in 1993 comes at a time when Washington and Beijing have been engaged in tit-for-tat rounds of punitive tariffs on hundreds of billions of dollars of each other's imports. "This is a situation that both countries need to sit down and talk about," O'Neill said at a press conference. Concerns are growing about the ongoing debate on trade as well as relations between Washington and Beijing, and the upcoming Group of 20 summit in Argentina will be an "opportune time" for the leaders to talk to resolve their issues, he said. O'Neill was surrounded by a mob of reporters as he first tried to exit from the conference venue without explaining anything about the joint declaration. Ahead of the opening of the summit on Saturday in the Papua New Guinean capital of Port Moresby, Pence urged Beijing to change what are seen as its unfair practices, while Xi slammed U.S. President Donald Trump's "America First" policy in a business conference. Trump has not traveled to the South Pacific island nation, sending Pence instead. During the summit, Xi said that protectionism and unilateralism under the Trump administration are resurfacing and multilateral trade is "under assault," according to China's Xinhua News Agency. "The global economic environment is fraught with risks and uncertainties," Xi added. After the meeting, Pence told reporters Washington and Beijing have differences ranging from trade practices to forced technology transfers. "It goes beyond that to freedom of navigation in the seas, concerns about human rights," Pence said. Trump's trade policy has been under fire for its possible negative impact on the global economy, as his administration is increasing efforts to reduce its more than $700 million trade deficit. The United States, Japan and other economies, on the other hand, blame China for market-distorting practices, such as its intellectual property violations and industrial subsidies. The United States demanded that the need for drastic reforms at the WTO be included in the joint declaration since the international body does not restrain such acts by Beijing, according to a source familiar with the negotiations. According to the Associated Press, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said after the meeting, "I don't think it will come as a huge surprise that there are differing visions" on trade. "Those prevented there being a full consensus on the communique." But a senior Chinese official denied any confrontation between China and the United States had prevented the leaders from reaching consensus. "Although we can't deny that we have different opinions from the United States, they are issues that can be settled in a constructive manner," the official said in a separate news conference. In the APEC summit, Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe expressed concerns about worldwide protectionist movements and stressed that any measures should be taken in accordance with WTO rules, a senior official said. As a "flagbearer for free trade," Japan is determined to work toward the realization of an APEC-wide free trade agreement called the Free Trade Area of the Asia-Pacific, Abe said. The envisioned regional pact encompasses about 40 percent of the world's population, about half of global trade by volume and some 60 percent of the world economy. Aside from trade, the leaders extensively discussed financing for infrastructure projects and investment in the Asia-Pacific region at a time when China is increasing its influence through Xi's "One Belt, One Road" infrastructure initiative. In Thursday's meeting, APEC ministers adopted new guidelines on infrastructure development and investment, calling for openness, transparency, cost-effectiveness and the fiscal soundness of recipients as international standards for quality infrastructure. The guidelines are viewed as a veiled counter to China, as countries such as Sri Lanka and Pakistan are now struggling to repay massive loans received as "aid" under the infrastructure initiative aimed at connecting nations along the ancient Silk Road. The annual meeting is being held under tight security due to Port Moresby's high crime rate stemming from high unemployment and "raskol" street gangs, with neighboring countries such as Australia, Indonesia and New Zealand providing support. APEC groups Australia, Brunei, Canada, Chile, China, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Japan, South Korea, Malaysia, Mexico, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, Peru, the Philippines, Russia, Singapore, Taiwan, Thailand, the United States and Vietnam. Idukki District Collector Sheeba George has urged residents on both sides of the Periyar river to be vigilant. Through Jan. 23, 2022 Abraham Lincoln Presidential Museum 212 N. Sixth St., Springfield Downtown Special Music Events Open during normal museum hours. From Muddy Waters to REO Speedwagon, Cheap Trick to Earth Wind and Fire and Chance the Rapper, the Land of Lincoln has produced some of the most highly celebrated music in rock history. Musicians, legendary radio stations, and musical gear have shaped the sonic history of Illinois and the world.This exhibit will showcase the achievements and contributions of Illinois finest in music. Written by award-winning author, documentary-producer and former Chicago Sun-Times Columnist and Critic, Dave Hoekstra.And you just might see an Illinois musician performing or being interviewed by a visiting radio personality or podcasterState 217-558-8844 By Lidia Kelly Nov 18 (Reuters) - Australia's trade minister said translation issues were behind the delay of a billion-dollar free trade agreement with Indonesia, downplaying a friction between the countries over Australia's possible Jerusalem embassy. "There were some translation issues still being dealt with last week," Simon Birmingham told Australia's ABC TV. "We will get all of those finalised and then when it suits both countries, we'll get on and get it signed," he said, adding that he hopes the accord will be signed in "the coming months". The deal, which is intended to boost trade in areas ranging from crafts to cattle, was concluded in August and has been expected to be signed by the end of the year. But Indonesia has said that Australia's recent proposal that it might move its Israeli embassy to Jerusalem might upset plans for the accord. Indonesia is the world's biggest Muslim-majority country, where tens of thousands protested against U.S. President Donald Trump's decision in May to move the U.S. embassy to Jerusalem. Prime Minister Scott Morrison floated the idea of moving the Australian embassy and recognising Jerusalem as Israel's capital in October, sparking a war of words also with Malaysia, where about 60 percent of the population is Muslim. Morrison's announcement came just before a key by-election in a seat which happened to have a large Jewish community, but the seat was lost anyway, leaving Morrison's government ruling with the cooperation of independent lawmakers. Birmingham said Australia does not "conflate" the issue of the embassy and the economic partnership accord. "We understand the concerns that Indonesia has in relation to the embassy issue as a quite separate matter and of course Australia will make our foreign policy decision based purely on Australia's national interests," Birmingham said. He added that Australia will make its decision on the embassy location taking into consideration "all of the implications", including security and economic. "We won't be bullied into a decision by any other nation." The decision on the location of Australia's embassy in Israel is expected by Christmas. ($1 = 1.3633 Australian dollars) (Reporting by Lidia Kelly in Melbourne; Editing by Himani Sarkar) Thailand Bitcoin Thailands Democrat Party, the countrys main opposition party has become the first major political party in the world to carry out primary elections entirely on a blockchain. Using a live e-voting system powered by the Zcoin blockchain, the party successfully conducted its primaries which involved more than 120,000 voters between November 1 and November 9. In an election of many firsts, it also marked the first time that a major Thai political party selected its leader using input from the generality of party members ahead of the countrys first general election since the 2014 military coup. Growing Influence of IPFS and Zcoin in Thailand A few days ago, CCN reported that a Thai rap music video Rap Against Dictatorship, which turned into a viral sensation with more than 30 million views in two weeks became the first known piece of political resistance music to be stored using a blockchain following threats of government censorship against the YouTube video. Using IPFS, a decentralised file storage system, an unknown user saved a copy of Rap Against Dictatorship in a transaction on the Zcoin blockchain which is built on the Zerocoin protocol. The Thai Democrat party took this concept a step further, using IPFS to revolutionise the process of maintaining election record integrity. Voters were able to take part in the process using either a mobile voting app that required photo ID submission or manual voting at physical voting stations operating on a Raspberry Pi system. IPFS was then used to store encrypted data packets containing identification documents and voting tallies. The hashes were then stored on the Zcoin blockchain, guaranteeing their immutability and auditability to both the Thai Election Commission and Democrat Party candidates. Speaking about the Democrat Party elections, Poramin Insom, Founder & Lead Developer of Zcoin said: I am very proud that Zcoin played a role in making Thailands first large scale e-vote, a reality, which saw greater voter participation and transparency. [] I believe weve achieved a huge milestone in our countrys political history and hope that other political parties or even the government not just in Thailand but in the region can look to using blockchain technology in enabling large scale e-voting or polling. Story continues Whereas previously a small group of around 250 MPs and party branch chairmen would select the leader of the party who would be the presidential candidate, the use of blockchain technology has now enabled more than 120,000 party members nationwide to make the decision for the first time. Key Operating Details In a keenly contested race with potentially huge implications for the country ahead of next years election, former Thai PM Abhisit Vejjajiva defeated his closest challenger Warong Dechgitvigrom, polling 67,505 votes to Warongs 57,689. Prior to the election, Vejjajiva had spoken about the importance of opening up Thailands democratic process, and the success of the blockchain deployment is likely to have a significant impact on the wider electoral framework of Thailand and other countries with similar circumstances around the world. Information from the Democrat Party reveals that encryption keys used in the voting process were split using a cryptographic method called Shamirs Secret Sharing Scheme, which ensures that consensus is needed in order to decrypt the full set of voting data. Voter ID documents could only be decrypted by an accredited official from the Thai electoral commission or a representative of the Democrat Party in order to verify voter eligibility. Most significantly, voting data could only be decrypted with full consensus agreement from all five parties concerned namely, three representatives of each candidate, the Thai Election Commission and the Democrat Party. The voting activity spanning the November 1-9 voting period can be observed on the Zcoin blockchain explorer here. Featured image from Shutterstock. The post Thailands Main Opposition Party Holds Primary Election on Blockchain appeared first on CCN. President Donald Trump denied a news report that he was questioning Vice President Mike Pences loyalty and said they had a strong bond. I cant imagine any President having a better or closer relationship with their Vice President, he said in a tweet Saturday. The New York Times report on Friday cited unidentified sources who said Trump was repeatedly asking aides and advisers about whether Pence was loyal. The New York Times did a phony story, as usual, about my relationship with @VP Mike Pence. They made up sources and refused to ask me, the only one that would know, for a quote, Trump said in a separate tweet. Asked about the story on Saturday while attending a summit in Papua New Guinea, Pence said he had a good relationship with the president. The president and I are very close, Pence said. Ive been honored to serve as his vice president, honored when he asked me to run with him again. Pence said the report came up in his discussions with Trump, without providing more details. We had a good laugh and the president said to me there are no anonymous sources that would say what that article said. STORIES YOU MIGHT LIKE 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. City Editor Tom Roeder is the Gazette's City Editor. In Colorado Springs since 2003, Tom has covered the military at home and overseas and has covered statehouses in Denver and Olympia, Wash. His main job, though, is being dad to two great kids. Navy veteran Welling Clark stands near steel beams cut from the hulk of the USS Arizona. Clark is one of the backers of an exhibit that will incorporate the steel to honor Donald Stratton, a local sailor who survived the attack on Dec. 7, 1941. You have permission to edit this article. Edit Close The Pikes Peak International Raceway in February. The raceway has donated 17 acres that the department will use to construct three 50-yard shooting ranges, a 100-yard range and a scenario and classroom training facility, police Cmdr. Pat Rigdon said. Vaughn Chamberlain watches a truck pass the far curve of the Time Attack course during the seasons first practice session at the Pikes Peak International Raceway on Sunday, February 18, 2018. About 150 drivers came out to the raceway with everything from trucks, to a prius to a McLaren 720s supercar for the first of two practice sessions before the scored events start in April. All of the events, practice and scored, are open for anyone to enter whether for fun or competition. (Nadav Soroker, The Gazette) My life is full of pressure and expectations. Sometimes emptiness lies just below the surface. Parents care about all the wrong things. Sometimes hurt lies just below the surface. My good grades are never quite good enough. Sometimes anxiety lies just below the surface. Posters with these and other messages from a new push to combat teen suicide and help adolescents deal with mental health issues are being displayed in schools across the Pikes Peak region. Our intent is to reflect how a kid might be feeling so that when theyre in their own head and worried about how theyre going to get through something, they see a message that seems true and authentic and will take the next step, said Kirk Woundy, spokesman for the Colorado Springs office of the National Alliance on Mental Illness. Now, the homegrown campaign is going statewide. Created last school year by NAMI- Colorado Springs in response to record-high numbers of teen suicides in El Paso County in 2015 and 2016, the Below the Surface campaign steers kids dealing with bullying, peer pressure, troubled home situations, depression, anxiety, LGBTQ issues and other problems to a free, confidential text crisis line. Seven days a week, 24 hours a day teens can text TALK to 38255 and connect with a trained professional or peer who has experienced something similar to what the caller is going through. Teens can remain anonymous throughout the conversation. NAMI-Colorado Springs received a $50,000 grant from the Colorado Springs Health Foundation and raised an additional $25,000 in matching funds to activate the campaign. Teams of students from different schools helped develop the messaging, which along with posters includes stickers and business-card size messages. Design Rangers of Colorado Springs handled the design. There were misconceptions, such as there isnt a real person at the other end, or this isnt going to help me, Woundy said. NAMI-Colorado Springs also did presentations at schools about how the line works and why students might want to use it. Its meant to serve as an upstream approach to dealing with mental health issues, as much as it is a life preserver for when things are looking really fraught, Woundy said. This year, 16 local schools are promoting the text line, he said, with more in the works. A grant from El Paso County Public Health is paying for outreach to rural eastern plains schools. Text line usage tripled in the spring near two pilot schools, Atlas Preparatory Academy in Harrison School District 2 and Manitou Springs High School in Manitou Springs School District 14. Posters hang in discreet places at Atlas Prep, said Executive Director Brittney Stroh, where students can read them less obviously and not be judged by their peers. Among the benefits, It started to address some issues sexuality, depression, personal academic performance, immigrant status that perhaps students dont feel they can talk about with their parents, Stroh said. The texting gives them an outlet. Students in a focus group at Atlas Prep said they appreciated the opportunity to have their voices heard and provide input into the program. There was an empowerment component, Stroh said. Teenagers arent necessarily actively involved in the design, implementation or giving feedback. The campaign caught the attention of the Colorado Department of Human Services because youth advisers were able to say what they wanted and needed, said Cristen Bates, director of strategy, policy and communications in the departments Office of Behavioral Health. Working with people who represent the audience youre targeting can transform a campaign, she said. The idea comes from the understanding for these young people that theres one way you present to the public, but just below the surface, theyre battling a lot of serious challenges, Bates said. This campaign represents that feeling thats unique to younger people. Last month, after paying NAMI-Colorado Springs a $15,000 one-time licensing fee, the states Human Services department expanded the campaign statewide. Ads promoting the text line are appearing on Instagram, Snapchat and YouTube, featuring students telling real stories of how suicide has impacted their lives. A website, www.belowthesurfaceco.com, also explains the program. Schools can obtain the posters, stickers and notecards for free. Already, the effort is producing results, Bates said. Theres been a 72 percent increase in text outreach to the crisis line, she said, in comparing last month to October of last year. The statewide text line has been operational since early 2016, but had been slow to catch on before the Below the Surface campaign, she said. Of those using the text line, about 40 percent are under age 21, which tells Bates the messaging is reaching the target audience. Texting is the No. 1 way teens prefer to communicate, according to a study by Common Sense Research, thus the reason for the texting crisis line. Users can chat via text about suicidal thoughts, substance abuse, general mental health well-being, anxiety and depression, or they can ask for assistance in helping a friend or family member experiencing such issues. This is an extra layer in a system of supports for students, said Atlas Preps Stroh. I think its a good entry point for schools to talk about and provide support for mental health. Its not necessarily going to solve large problems, but for students who arent ready to speak, this is a method they are more comfortable with. In El Paso County, family stress has been identified as a top concern among teens using the line, with educational performance often stated as the primary reason for the familial conflict, according to a report from the August/September usage period. Teens are struggling with how to fix a low mood. Most users have known someone who has committed suicide, which remains a concern statewide, as Colorado continues to rank among the top states in the nation for suicide. Healthy Kids Colorado data show that 14 percent of Colorado youths admit to having made a suicide plan in the last year, and 8 percent attempted suicide at least once in the last year. One of the reasons this came out of El Paso County and was so powerful was the numbers of suicides in schools, Bates said. Losing a person at that young age really rocks the community. The text line is managed by Colorado Crisis Services, founded in 2014 in response to the Aurora Theater shooting through the state initiative, Strengthening Colorados Mental Health System: A Plan to Safeguard All Coloradans. For those who dont want to text, a toll-free number, 1-844-493-TALK, is available for anyone in crisis or anyone dealing with a crisis to speak with a professional. Online chat services are available from 4 p.m. to midnight daily at coloradocrisisservices.org. Contact the writer: 719-476-1656 While the Colorado Independent Ethics Commission has not yet received a response from Gov. John Hickenlooper on the ethics complaint filed aga The use of original-source documents in history lessons has become popular nationwide, but the work of Colorado Springs School District 11 teachers has caught the attention of the Public Broadcasting Service. Several D-11 teachers, administrators and students will discuss the merits of the instructional approach Tuesday during the nationwide broadcast of PBS NewsHour, airing at 6 p.m. Mountain Standard Time on Rocky Mountain PBS. Our goal is to use historical documents to study history and not just rely so much on the textbook, said Michael Butler, who team teaches eighth-grade history at Sabin Middle School with colleague Scott White. A PBS film crew spent time in their classroom last week and also went to Fremont Elementary School. The topic of discussion: primary source-documents in teaching students about Thanksgiving. Primary- or original-source materials are first-hand accounts of who was at the event at the time of the event, recording history, Butler said. In a lesson about Thanksgiving, Sabin students studied paintings from the 1900s and compared those to a letter written in 1621 by Edward Winslow, the main document describing the nations first Thanksgiving. Kids used that letter to determine the accuracy of the paintings, White said. Sabin students also have examined letters regarding the 1803 Louisiana Purchase that were written by President Thomas Jefferson and Alexander Hamilton, who established financial credit for the United States to obtain the $15 million French-controlled territory. And theyve looked at letters from the 1791 ratification of the Bill of Rights. History has changed a lot in the last 10 to 15 years, White said, and there are a lot of resources for teachers to get a hold of these documents. Stanford University, the University of California in Berkeley and the Gilder Lehrman Center for Slavery, Resistance and Abolition are among the places Butler and White have turned to find online and hard-copy materials. We still want to have the stories to understand the history of the country, but were also teaching kids to use historical skills or be historians, White said. Butler said the approach focuses kids on being able to form an opinion, take a position, make a claim and provide evidence to support your position. It often doesnt matter which position a student chooses, as long as critical thinking and evidence-based reasoning is part of the equation, he said. Butler and White, along with other D-11 teachers, have been employing the instructional model for eight years and have received training in how to adopt the methodology. Many other local schools also rely on original-source materials, including The Classical Academy. Theyve been part of history classes since the charter school in Academy School District 20 opened in 1997. Using living books, written by experts with a passion for the subject matter fits with the charter schools definition of education as a life where inspirational ideas and truth are recognized to be the real food for a childs mind, said Wes Jolly, director of academic services. The materials allow students to engage with the minds of those during that moment in history read their words, experience their feelings, better understand the context without being filtered through the lens of others, Jolly said. That usually sparks discussion and develops better understanding of the exact point and time in history, or the issue at hand, he said. This does not mean we shy away completely from secondary-source material or textbooks, Jolly said, but when weighing between the two, a good primary or original source is preferred. Butler and White never hear students say that their history classes are long or boring. We hear theyre hard, Butler said. We expect a lot, and it is difficult. But its also fun, the teachers said, because they dont just stand in front of the classroom and lecture. Students are not just sitting there, White said. They are constantly having to do something. Contact the writer: 719-476-1656. A first-of-its-kind endeavor to curtail crime by improving an areas economy and overall quality of life is beginning to take root in southeast Colorado Springs. The effort which funnels parole reform savings into education grants and small business loans for people living in that area has pumped nearly $2 million in grants into the community, while helping a handful of businesses get the money they need to open. Called Justice Reinvestment Crime Prevention Initiative, its an unprecedented step to reverse disproportionately high crime rates in the area. The second wave of grants were issued last week, and organizers say its just the start. Were still trying to tackle the problem called crime, but were doing it in a different way, said Christie Donner, executive director of the Colorado Criminal Justice Reform Coalition, which advocated heavily for the program. The potential is phenomenal. The effort stems from legislation in 2017 sponsored in part by former Democratic state Rep. Pete Lee now a state senator-elect and Republican state Sen. Bob Gardner, both of Colorado Springs. It was predicated on a single, novel idea: lower crime rates and keep people from committing new crimes after being released from prison by funneling money into a community, boosting its economy and creating programs that keep kids and adults from falling into a life of crime. The legislation first made reforms to the states parole system by reducing parolees prison time for certain technical violations. By having slightly fewer inmates in the states prisons, the Colorado Department of Corrections was expected to save about $4 million a year. But rather than return that money a veritable drop in the bucket for a department with an $860 million budget those state legislators asked to funnel it into struggling communities. SPECIAL REPORT, ARCHIVE: An entire quadrant of Colorado Springs languishes as the city rides high times. Southeast Colorado Springs was selected to receive $6 million over a three-year span. Another $6 million will go to northern Aurora. Two-thirds of that money will be set aside for grants for educational programs and for nonprofits helping inmates find success outside prison. In addition, each community will have access to $1.5 million in loans for small businesses. For Donner, the program is about approaching crime from a new perspective. Just like you see in health care where they say power of prevention is worth more than the cure you can actually do a lot in public safety from a prevention perspective in early intervention, that can cost substantially less and have better outcomes, Donner said. Already, 21 nonprofits and agencies in southeast Colorado Springs have received nearly $2 million in grants. One program, Educating Children of Color, helps train high school students for the SAT and offers scholarships. It also hosts an annual seminar that gathers educators and 130 high school students most of whom hail from Harrison School District 2 to help students stay in school and remain out of the criminal justice system. We want to see that educators are making an effort to learn more about how to be more relevant, how to connect with students, in a more meaningful way, said Alex Malone, vice president of the nonprofits board. And really, the preventative methodology is what we believe in, because by the time they get to be adjudicated, its almost hard to reverse all of those behaviors. Other programs aim to help reduce high-risk behaviors among LGBTQ teens, keep kids from joining gangs, help people recently released from prison find jobs and redesign Panorama Park. In addition, five loans totaling $65,583 have been awarded to small businesses in southeast Colorado Springs, said Gwendolyn Bonilla, regional lending officer for Accion, a nonprofit lending agency. So far, 13 people have been employed by those new companies, which include a roofer, a consultant for homeowners associations, a remodeling contractor, a management consultant who also does motivational speaking and a company that helps people transition from nursing homes into their home. The true impact might not be known for years, said Eula Tatman, who helps oversee the local initiative with the Pikes Peak Community Foundation. Even so, its spurred grassroots efforts at positive changes for the area one in dire need of a kick-start. Its built this great energy in the community, Tatman said. NEW YORK, Nov. 18, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- This week Amazon dropped some surprising news that not only were they going to enter two new locations with their HQ2 investment, one of those areas turns out to be Long Island, NY -- home to an already top priced rental market. The choice many are calling unlikely has some surprising data to back up Amazons decision to head to Staten Island. Partnering in the dual HQ2 decision is the city area of DC, which will share the nearly 50,000 new jobs the investment will bring. The split and resulting decreased infrastructure requirements has not only opened up new areas as feasible options but also enables Amazon the chance to create two thriving markets while also tapping into the resources and talent each unique location has to offer. Looking back to some of the statistics from Amazons first HQ location, it would seem each area will need to brace for substantial change. Whenever new business enters an area, demand for housing is almost always likely to go up along with the rate residents are willing to pay, shares CEO of Western Rim Properties Marcus Hiles who has over 30 decades of experience in the rental market. A recent article by Forbes focuses in on this top question on the minds of local residents in NYC -- how will this influx of new business impact Long Islands housing market? The article cites the home prices in Seattle jumped more than 35% after Amazon entered the area. And thats not the only impact the online giant had on the areas economy, since 2013 home prices are reported to have risen 73% while rents were up 31%. However the already over saturated populations in NYC and vast infrastructure that exists or is in development in the area presents a unique opportunity for Amazon. Early on the organization had made many evaluations to understand where the best investment would be location wise. One of those studies focused in on the necessary build up a location would require for the company to move in with tens of thousands of new employees brought with it. Online apartment network HotPads provided its data on the matter which did find many of the locations in the Amazon HQ2 shortlist werent fully equipped to handle the new growth right out of the gate and would require considerable ramp up to meet the needs of the new business investment. New York was was a unique scenario and was found to actually require the fewest additional housing units as HotPads shared, New York would require the fewest additions to rental stock -- just a 1% boost if all 50,000 of HQ2s jobs landed there. And with the decision to split the HQ2 investment among two locations that means new development in the area will be even less of a burden on the market. The change Amazons new HQ2 locations will make is certain to have a big impact on each area however it is a clear that the decision to split the venture in two, while tapping into city locations like DC and Long Island, will be a sustainable move that offers big returns for the billion-dollar business. See more news from Marcus Hiles at marcushiles-news.com Houzz: https://www.houzz.com/pro/marcushiles/marcus-hiles YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCwrLIhyaB0p_0F1gWg4R7cA/videos Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/marcus.hiles/ Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/marcus_hiles/ A photo accompanying this announcement is available at http://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/c05797a3-931e-4160-a55f-05b99f237aba Re: In Europe, schoolchildren devote time during each school day to calist [ #permalink [quote="abyshek"][quote="AdityaHongunti"][quote="abyshek"]Can anyone please explain this question using 's pre-thinking concept? I came up with the falsification question: "Under what circumstances, North American children can made physically fit [b]not just by[/b] participating in school calisthenics on a daily basis"? Possible answers: 1. NA children can perform exercise outside of school 2. Teachers can come up with a different, more efficient schedule for exercise. Can anyone please help me understand this? Any help from In Europe, schoolchildren devote time during each school day to calisthenics. North American schools rarely offer a daily calisthenics program. Tests prove that North American children are weaker, slower, and shorter-winded than European children. We must conclude that North American children can be made physically fit only if they participate in school calisthenics on a daily basis. Step 1) understand the argument: - in E schoolchildren devote time to C during each school day - NA children are weak, bla bla bla - NA schools do not offer C( even though it's given "rarely"... We'll consider "no program"..doesn't really affect the argument) -conlusion: ONLY C in school program in NA daily > NA children physically fit. Which of the following is an assumption required by the argument above? Question- ASSUMPTION Prethinking- conlusion: ONLY C in school program in NA daily > NA children physically fit. Falsification: 1)under what circumstance will NA children not get physically fit even if we put up C in schools on daily basis.? 2) under what circumstances will NA children get physically fit even if no C is put up GIVEN THAT : EC devote time to C daily EC fit than NAC NA does not have C Thought process: Understand author's logic ( we do this step after falsification condition if you remember the videos) The author first states the conditions in E. He says EC devote time to C in schools on daily basis. Then he presents a result that EC are physically fit than NAC. Now before concluding he must have Thot that the program is making the EC stronger . See he is actually linking two pieces together. A: EC devote time . B: EC stronger than NA. He thinks that A lead to B. Now the two situations can actually coexist without causal relationship. There can just be a coincidence. Even B could've lead to A. That is if EC are physically fit then that is why they attend calisthenics. What if calisthenics did not lead to EC fitness??? Then how can author conclude that C will lead to NA fitness?? Where you went adrift is you just focused on the falsification condition and tried to come up with your answers and did not look into author's reasoning.. If you look at the videos carefully you will see that when we put up the falsification condition we say What if bla bla bla , GIVEN THAT.... (The given that is the main logic where you have to attack)..you have to disprove author's logic he presents with the question. ) Falsification scenario: the calisthenics did not lead to EC fitness , something else did.. so author cannot make a link to conclude. Assumption 1): calisthenics lead to EC fitness and nothing else did attack 2) what if there is some other way to increase NAC fitness?? Maybe gym? Any reason will do. Assumption 2) : nothing else can can make /increase NAC fitness ( Now you try to solve each answer choice with the process in your head. Third process is ANS choice analysis. But you do it so that you'll understand how the ans is relevant..you won't even need to negate the AC) (A) Physical fitness is a compelling national priority worthy of taxpayer resources. (B) School calisthenics programs are an indispensable factor in European student fitness. (C) All children can be made equally physically fit. (D) European schoolchildren enjoy physical activities more than do American children. (E) American physical education teachers are capable of designing a successful calisthenics program. If you have any doubts, please ask ( but also present your analysis) [size=80][b][i]Posted from my mobile device[/i][/b][/size][/quote][/quote] Thanks a lot. You indeed cleared my doubt. After reading your falsification question, I could immediately point B as an answer. I think, I went wrong at the falsification question step. I need to take more care on that aspect..[/quote] Your falsification questions were right to the point , but they were not detailed enough...Also you stopped after falsification condition and directly jumped to thought process in which you did not consider the GIVEN ( author's REASONING) and tried to come up with your own REASONING... Try to make a falsification condition as DETAILED as possible... For eg : this year disease X has downsized the amount of meat available from chicken as disease X affects chicken. Therefore this year the meat available from chicken will be less in amount than last year. If we don't consider details Probable falsification condition: what if other meat from cows or sheep increases?? Here you'll be considering the total amount of meat available.but the conclusion is only about meat available from CHICKEN and not total. Detailed falsification condition: What if somehow we can increase the amount of avaible chicken for meat?? What if we eradicate disease ? Here you'll only be concerned with meat from chicken. Note: this is just an example. I in no way imply that you would come up with the former falsification condition. Re: Lyme disease is caused by a bacterium transmitted to humans by deer ti [ #permalink 9 Kudos 4 Bookmarks JonAdmissionado wrote: It will be competitive but I think you have a shot at it & it's worth submitting your applications! You've got strong work experience & a strong GMAT that will help make up for the low GPA, you're coming from a demographic that is not all that common in b-school (which is a good thing) and your post-MBA goals work. It will be critical to have some strong essays - the stats & work experience are not enough. But based on what you shared here you do have a chance at these schools. I say give it a shot! Thanks for the reply! Exactly what I was looking for. If I were to widen my search and look to Top 8-15 MBA programs, how competitive would it still be? And would you be able to recommend any particular programs in that bracket for someone with my experience and post-MBA goals? IceViking strongly condemns physical attacks and harassment directed towards them. They are also often victims of the Islamic idea. This is true when it comes to the cruel and tragic treatment of Muslim women and children when it is in accord with the Koran, the example of Mohammed and Islamic law, Sharia, which may be applied regardless of where a Muslim male may find himself in the world, whether in a Muslim or non-Muslim country. However, in no way, shape or form should one judge all Muslim men because of what is in Islamic scripture and what constitutes the Islamic law, Sharia. "Race", ethnicity or basically anything that you are "merely" born with should never be a basis for bigotry and discrimination. Apostates from Islam have been executed for 1400 years in accord with the Koran and the words and actions of the Islamic prophet Mohammed and Islamic law, Sharia. They should be lovingly helped. Furthermore, approximately as many as 11,000,000 Muslims may have been killed by other Muslims since 1948. To quote the website The Religion of Peace (TROP), edited by Glen Roberts: While it may be safe to say that a true Muslim would not intentionally kill another true Muslim ( 4:92-93 ), the Quran places no such value on the life of a Muslim who is not true. Consider verse 9:73 : Strive hard against the disbelievers and the hypocrites, and be harsh against them, their abode is Hell. The Arabic for strive hard uses the same root as Jihad - and the context in this sura is holy war (see v. 86 and 91). Thus, there are two distinct classes of people that a true Muslim is to target with harshness: disbelievers and hypocrites. A disbeliever obviously refers to a non-Muslim, so a "hypocrite" must be a Muslim of some sort. In fact, hypocrites are those who say they believe, but do not act as they should. In other words, they are "Muslims", but not true Muslims. They will go to hell just as unbelievers do, and so, according to the verse, their lives matter for naught. The same sura says that a hypocrite can be recognized not just by lack of piety (reluctance to follow Sharia), but by fear of death ( 9:56 ), reluctance to fight ( 9:44-45 ) and even friendliness toward non-believers ( 9:67 ). A true Muslim would thus be a pious person who relishes martyrdom, is eager to fight, and shuns non-believers. Even the Quranic passage that warns against killing "believers" ( 4:88-94 ) is more complicated than it first appears. It never says that a true Muslim is incapable of killing another Muslim, just that it should not be done. In fact, it makes exceptions for the unintentional killing of "believers" in war and mandates the killing of "hypocrites." Verse 17:33 says, "Do not kill anyone which Allah has forbidden, except for a just cause" . The greatest cause of all is that Islam be superior ( 9:33 ), which is exactly what Islamic terrorists say is their goal. Thus believing Muslims are allowed to be collateral damage in the war on unbelievers. There is sadly a phenomena that I`ve noticed in Sweden and elsewhere of people using true facts about Islamic doctrine and history as a cover for all sorts of irrational targeting of Muslims, ranging from xenophobia and racism to verbal abuse and physical attacks. This is strongly condemned by this website and does not in any way serve serious criticism of orthodox Islam and other important work. It`s also important that one tries to express oneself in a civilized way. Words matter. In this bloggers humble opinion the root cause of the problem is the ancient doctrine of orthodox Islam. In simple terms a non-Muslim is a Kafir. " The Koran defines the kafir and kafir is not a neutral word. A kafir is not merely someone who does not agree with Islam, but a kafir is evil, disgusting, the lowest form of life." An exact quote, as stated in the writings of Dr. Bill Warner in the article "Kafir" at http://www.politicalislam.com/kafir . In the perfect Koran (Allah`s direct and literal word as revealed to Mohammed through the angel Jibril), Muslims are told 89 times to emulate Mohammed in all ways (see Koran 33:21 for instance). Mohammed`s example, the Sunna, is found in the Hadith (stories of what Mohammed said and did) and the Sira (biographies of Mohammed). Islamic law, Sharia , is directly derived from these unchanging scriptures. It is based on the Koran`s numerous commands to obey Allah and obey the Messenger, that is Mohammed (see Koran 4:59 for instance). Islam is Sharia. Sharia is Islam. It is a capital crime for Muslims to deny Sharia in any way. A Muslim is someone who submits to Islam and submitting to Islam means obeying the Sharia of Allah. Sharia law includes pronouncements for both Muslims and non-Muslims (Kafirs). Islam is a "complete way of life", a "complete code of life", a "complete system of life". Islam is not just a religion but also a comprehensive ideology. Islam is a supremacist ideology. Islam is a totalitarian and imperialistic ideology akin to Communism and Nazism. Islam is a civilization. Islamic law, Sharia, is a manual for a civilization. Islamic law, Sharia, governs every aspect of life. It has a say about every conceivable human act . Non-Muslims are morally and legally inferior in Islam. Women are morally and legally inferior in Islam. The History of Jihad: From Muhammad to ISIS by Robert Spencer is the first one-volume history of jihad in the English language and a great book on the topic. Allah guarantees Paradise to those who "kill and are killed" for him (Koran 9:111). A hadith depicts a Muslim asking Muhammad: "Instruct me as to such a deed as equals Jihad (in reward)." Muhammad replied, "I do not find such a deed." (Bukhari 4.52.44) Muhammad himself said: I have been commanded to fight against people so long as they do not declare that there is no god but Allah, and he who professed it was guaranteed the protection of his property and life on my behalf except for the right affairs rest with Allah. (Sahih Muslim 30) Freedom of speech, human rights, democracy, science and human lives are all at stake in the fight against the Islamic Jihad. As of August 26th, 2021 Yahoo India will no longer be publishing content. Your Yahoo Account Mail and Search experiences will not be affected in any way and will operate as usual. We thank you for your support and readership. For more information on Yahoo India, please visit the FAQ Thank you for reading! Please log in, or sign up for a new account and purchase a subscription to continue reading. The unrest continues, and we must recognize the significance of the initial uprising, according to Lord Maginnis of Drumglass, an independent Ulster Unionist member of the U.K. House of Lords and prominent member of the British Committee for Iran Freedom (BCFIF). One of the most important driving forces behind that unrest is the Peoples Mojahedin Organization of Iran (MEK/PMOI), a pro-democracy opposition group that has called for regime change since the earliest days of the Islamic Republic. In fact, as the unrest raged, Irans Supreme Leader specifically credited the MEK with planning and organizing the anti-government demonstrations. Although the MEK is not well known in the Western world, it will be soon, Lord Maginnis believes. During the last 40 years, the regime has cloaked the group with propaganda that has sought to portray the MEK as ineffectual, cultish, and lacking in popular support. Despite these efforts to demonize the Iranian Opposition, the MEK continues to grow, both inside Iran and throughout the world. The Iranian public immediately responded to the President-elect of the Iranian Resistance, Maryam Rajavi, who praised the initial protests and called for a year full of uprisings. The regime has struggled to quell the demonstrations that resulted after her call. A growing number of prominent politicians and Middle East experts who actively oppose the regime, and promote the MEK as the hope for Irans democratic future. At the annual rally organized outside Paris last summer, under the banner of the MEK-led coalition, the National Council of Resistance of Iran (NCRI), hundreds of experts attended and spoke to the crowd. The natural alliance that exists between Irans pro-democratic Resistance movement and the Western governments was underscored at that event. As well, immediately before that gathering commenced on June 30th, two Iranian operatives were arrested in possession of 500 grams of explosives, attempting to cross from Belgium into France. A leading Iranian diplomat in Europe, acting on orders from Tehran, planned to have the explosives set off at the rally, potentially killing American and European dignitaries alongside hundreds of Iranian expatriates. Three months earlier, a similar plot had been thwarted in Albania, where more than 2,000 MEK activists had been relocated from Iraq three years earlier. Tehran is right to be concerned by the the MEKs domestic organizing and the international communitys economic and diplomatic pressure. In its desperation, its relations with Europe are deteriorating. The United States and Europe should actively support the MEK and its affiliates inside the Islamic Republic. Observers of Middle Eastern affairs should realize that the current domestic unrest in Iran points toward the possibility of a change of government. Taking action to promote such an outcome with the Iranian economy crumbling, the ordinary people angry, and the Resistance gaining traction inside the country, seems obvious. Promoting the community and increasing public awareness through better news media information will allow the NCRI, with its well defined objectives, to gain the support it needs. Brett Bruen, president of the Global Situation Room, Inc. and former White House director of Global Engagement cautioned, We are very likely to see Tehran in the coming days and weeks target American interests. He added, The most vulnerable and im-portant objective for them are American businesses. They see effecting some econom-ic impact as retribution. On November 4th the fully restored sanctions that the U.S. had once lifted as part of that deal went into effect. The desperate regime may become a more aggressive actor both in the virtual and physical world its hackers can still do serious damage, ac-cording to a recent report from the Foundation for Defense of Democracies (FDD). Even before the U.S. withdrew from the nuclear deal, Iranian hackers appear to have gotten bolder. Analysts for FireEye, a cyber-security firm, according to the Associated Press, report-ed a hacking group aligned with the Iranian government that had launched a cam-paign that targeted Mideast energy companies. Analysts also said Irans capabilities are now focusing on using social media spreading false information and skewing public opinion. Bruen said, Some of those efforts were identified and taken down by social media companies. Many have not been detected or removed. The most damaging, as we saw with Russia, is when a country can penetrate networks and then weaponize that in-formation. In 2012, banking websites were attacked forcing services offline. The Financial Ser-vices Information Sharing and Analysis Center is an initiative that coordinates the industrys defense against threats. Iranian hackers were suspected. I think weve seen this before so of course we know they are capable theyve launched attacks be-fore so were just making sure were prepared, whether it be them or anybody else, the centers president and CEO, Bill Nelson, said of the threat from Iran. The source of the attack almost becomes irrelevant. Its more important to defend. We are aware of reports claiming that Iran is increasing its cyber hacking activities, said a State Department official. The United States is deeply concerned with the Ira-nian regimes malicious cyber activity. We express particular concern for cyber activi-ties targeting critical infrastructure that have the potential for disruptive or destruc-tive consequences. The FDD report said that Tehran is willing to take great risks and cause greater destruction. The U.S. has recently sanctioned and criminally charged Iranian hackers for targeting American universities and companies. However, the Iranian government denies that it engages in these types of attacks, calling its capabilities defensive. The State De-partment official added, The Iranian regime prevents its own people from using the Internet in an attempt to bar them from obtaining information or connecting with the outside world,and yet the Iranian leadership uses it freely for their own nefari-ous purposes. Videos Sorry, there are no recent results for popular videos. My names Will Capers. For almost nine years, Ive blogged on various topics. I blogged as Blaque Ink first, and as Brotha Wolf second. The latter had a mu... 2 years ago The counterdemonstrators included members of the far-right groups Tradition and Order, Right Sector, and the Religious National Front. Activists for transgender rights were forced to disband a demonstration in Kyiv after counterdemonstrators assaulted several protesters and attacked a Canadian journalist trying to cover the event. The organizers of the event criticized Ukrainian police for failing to protect about 40 lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) rights activists who had planned to gather in Shevchenko Park on November 18 for a legally sanctioned march through the streets of the Ukrainian capital coinciding with International Transgender Remembrance Day. RFE/RL's correspondent in Kyiv, Christopher Miller, reports that the demonstrators, who were holding rainbow flags and banners with slogans such as "Transphobia must be stopped," were forced to relocate to a nearby location after about 100 "religious radicals and far-right groups" arrived in the park for a counterdemonstration. Read alsoLGBT activists hold 'March of Equality' through central Kyiv Miller says the counterdemonstrators included members of the far-right groups Tradition and Order, Right Sector, and the Religious National Front. Miller says LGBT rights activists who moved their gathering place by two blocks to a location near Kyiv's University metro station were followed by a small group of counterdemonstrators who confronted them by shouting slurs and setting off smoke bombs. Miller says Ukrainian police did not make any effort to remove the counterdemonstrators and, instead, shoved the LGBT rights activists through turnstiles of the metro station while swearing at them and shouting "hateful slurs." The police officers then blocked the entrance to protesters to avoid further clashes. Two female activists who remained on the street were physically assaulted by the counterdemonstrators, Miller said. The two women were attacked with pepper spray and were given first aid at the scene. Canadian journalist Michael Colborne was also assaulted with pepper spray and punched in the face by two counterdemonstrators near the metro station, suffering a swollen lip and cuts on his face from his broken glasses. Police said they have opened an investigation into the attack on Colborne, classifying the assault as hooliganism, and said officers were searching for the two suspects. Colborne tweeted that the attack against him was "further proof" that Ukraine "has a huge far-right problem," and that Ukrainian officials should "stop downplaying it." Journalist @ColborneMichael took punch to face, sustained cut & had glasses broken by far-right radicals while covering todays transgender rights rally as police not only stood by but physically removed activists from city-sanctioned event. cc @pressfreedom@RSF_EECA@OSCE_RFoMpic.twitter.com/UZyn7aKdee Christopher Miller (@ChristopherJM) 18 2018 . In June, no serious incidents occurred when thousands of activists marched in Kyiv to mark an annual celebration of gay and lesbian rights that had been marred by violence in the past. Police dispersed far-right protesters ahead of that march and detained more than 50 members of radical groups. Abrams ends Georgia governor bid, says shell file lawsuit Democrat Stacey Abrams ended 10 days of post-election drama in Georgias closely watched and even more closely contested race for governor Friday, acknowledging Republican Brian Kemp as the victor while defiantly refusing to concede to the man she blamed for gross mismanagement of a bitterly fought election. The speech Abrams delivered at her campaign headquarters Friday evening marked the close of the 44-year-old attorney and former lawmakers unsuccessful attempt to make history as Americas first black woman governor. Since Election Day her campaign fought on, insisting efforts to suppress turnout had left thousands of ballots uncounted that otherwise could erode Kemps lead and force a runoff election. ADVERTISEMENT Kemp, the 55-year-old businessman who oversaw the election as Georgias secretary of state, will keep the governors office in GOP hands as the states third Republican governor since Reconstruction. He responded to Abrams ending her campaign by calling for unity and praising his opponents passion, hard work, and commitment to public service. The kind words came just days after Kemps campaign spokesman derided Abrams efforts to have contested ballots counted as a disgrace to democracy. Abrams made no such retreat from her criticisms of Kemp, saying she refused to say nice things and accept my fate. Instead, she announced plans to file a federal lawsuit to challenge the way Georgias elections are run. She accused Kemp of using the secretary of states office to aggressively purge the rolls of inactive voters, enforce an exact match policy for checking voters identities that left thousands of registrations in limbo and other measures to tile the outcome in his favor. Lets be clear: This is not a speech of concession, Abrams said. Because concession means to acknowledge an action is right, true or proper. As a woman of conscience and faith, I cannot concede that. The race grabbed the attention of the nation, with Barack Obama and Oprah Winfrey campaigning for Abrams in the final days and President Donald Trump holding a rally for Kemp. Unofficial returns showed Kemp ahead by roughly 60,000 votes out of nearly 4 million cast on Nov. 6. Kemp declared himself governor-elect the next day and stepped down as Georgias secretary of state, though thousands of absentee and provisional ballots remained uncounted. ADVERTISEMENT Abrams, meanwhile, sent volunteers across the state in search of voters whose ballots were rejected. She filed suit in federal court to force county elections boards to count absentee ballots with incorrect birthdates. Her campaign even planned for possible litigation to challenge the elections certified outcome. Abrams didnt take that route. She said she had concluded the law currently allows no further viable remedy. Instead, she said she would fight to restore integrity to Georgias election system in a new initiative called Fair Fight Georgia. In the coming days, we will be filing a major federal lawsuit against the state of Georgia for the gross mismanagement of this election and to protect future elections from unconstitutional actions, Abrams said, though she gave no details. Kemp tried to move past the contentious campaign even if his opponent wasnt willing. The election is over and hardworking Georgians are ready to move forward, he said. We can no longer dwell on the divisive politics of the past but must focus on Georgias bright and promising future. Kemp had been secretary of state since 2010. He was backed by and had embraced Trump as he tried to maintain GOP dominance in a state that hasnt elected a Democrat to the governors mansion since 1998. Trump praised the Democrat in lauding Kemps victory, tweeting: Congratulations to Brian Kemp on becoming the new Governor of Georgia. Stacey Abrams fought brilliantly and hard she will have a terrific political future! Brian was unrelenting and will become a great Governor for the truly Wonderful People of Georgia! Kemp stormed to the GOP nomination with ads featuring everything from the candidate cranking a chain saw and jokingly pointing a gun toward a teen male suitor of his daughter, to Kemps offer to round up criminal illegals himself in his pickup truck. Hes promised a tax cut and teacher pay raises and pledged to continue Georgias refusal to expand Medicaid insurance under President Barack Obamas 2010 health care overhaul. Abrams campaign sparked huge energy across the state and she became a national Democratic star. Election turnout among both sides energized bases nearly equaled that of the 2016 presidential vote. Aides close to Abrams said that since the election she had been wrestling with competing priorities: She wanted to advance her assertions that Georgias elections process which Kemp managed as secretary of state makes it too hard for some citizens to vote. But she also recognized that a protracted legal fight would harm that cause and potentially her political future. Kemps victory is an important marker for Republicans ahead of the 2020 presidential election. Kemps narrow margin already suggests that Georgia, a state Trump won by 5 percentage points in 2016, could be a genuine battleground in two years. Trump bet big on Kemp, endorsing him ahead of Kemps Republican primary runoff and campaigning for him the weekend prior to the Nov. 6 election. Now, Trump will be able to return with an incumbent governor as he seeks a second term. Abrams political future is less certain. She made believers of old-guard Democrats in Georgia who didnt think a black woman could compete in a general election, and she emerged as the partys clear leader. But the party also has plenty of other ambitious politicians who will want to take advantage of the path that Abrams has charted. The next big shot for Democrats is a 2020 Senate race, with Republican Sen. David Perdue making his first re-election attempt. Thurmond Wins Historic Race for CA Superintendent of Public Instruction Pledges to be a champion of public schools and a Superintendent for all California students Assemblymember Tony Thurmond is the projected winner of the California State Superintendent of Public Instruction election. More than a week after Election Day, Thurmond has overcome an 86,000 vote deficit on Election Day to win the election. On Saturday, his opponent Marshall Tuck conceded. I want to thank the voters of California for electing me to serve the 6 million students of California, I intend to be a champion of public schools and a Superintendent for all California students, said Superintendent-elect Thurmond. I ran for Superintendent of Public Instruction to deliver to all Californians the promise that public education delivered to me that all students, no matter their background and no matter their challenges, can succeed with a great public education. ADVERTISEMENT Thurmond was born in Fort Ord, California, and overcame humble beginnings. His mother was an immigrant from Panama who came to San Jose, California to become a teacher. Thurmonds father was a Vietnam veteran who Tony met when he was almost 40 years old. After Thurmonds mother died when he was 6 years old, Thurmond moved to Philadelphia with his sibling and was raised by a cousin whom he had never met before. With the help of the public education system and public assistance, Thurmond went on to attend Temple University, where he became student body president. Thurmond has devoted his career to public service, specifically to at-risk young people. As a social worker, Thurmond spent 20 years working directly with families and youth in education, running school-based mental health services and teaching civics, life skills, and career training. Thurmond later served on his local city council, school board, and was elected to the California State Assembly in 2014. In the State Assembly, Thurmond authored legislation that expanded the free lunch program and moved funding directly from the criminal justice system to school districts. He served as Chair of the Assembly Select Committee on Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math Education. In his campaign for Superintendent of Public Instruction, Thurmond was supported by Senator Kamala Harris, the California Democratic Party, and Californias teachers. We talked to voters across the state, and told them what this election means for each of us: It means giving every kid the opportunity to succeed in the 21st century, not just the ones that show the most potential. It means funding our public schools at the levels they deserve, not pouring money into our jails and prisons. It means providing mental health treatment for kids, not arming them with guns. It means supporting our teachers, not demonizing them. It means ensuring every child starts school on the same foot, and providing universal preschool to Californias children. And it means stopping Donald Trump and Betsy DeVoss anti-education agenda from coming anywhere near Californias public schools. Thurmond went on to promise, As Superintendent of Public Instruction, Ill fight for these values every day. Because these are the values that will create a better life for all through the power of public education in the great state of California. In the picturesque Himalayan mountains of northern India, the Book Cafe looks like a normal cafe. But it is part of a bold social experiment. Jai Chand works at the cafe. On a rainy day, he takes orders from customers -- many of them young college students. But he and others working at the cafe are unlike most employees. Found guilty of major crimes and sentenced to life in prison they are convicts. However, they are serving their sentences at one of Indias open prisons. At the Shimla Kaithu Prison, a few prisoners, such as Jai Chand, can walk out of the jail without supervision. Then they return to the prison after a day's work. I hope I once again get the opportunity to be a part of society. I hope I too will be able to laugh and play with my children." At first, some people worried about prisoners interacting with society and operating the cafe. But it did not take long for the Himalayan town of Shimla to quickly accept the prisoners. College students are among the many customers who drop by the cafe for reasonably priced food prepared in the prison. Some take what they buy to eat later. Others stay and read from newspapers, magazines and, of course, books. True to its name, the Book Cafe has shelves and shelves of books for customers to read. VOA spoke with one of the students who goes to the cafe. Dressed in a sharp-looking suit, he says the customers find the cafes workers to be kind and normal. "I could not believe that they ever had committed a crime. I think that they are normal persons and they are just leading their life." Some distance away, three other life convicts sell rice and curry dishes from a food truck. Planning meals and dealing with customers has completely changed the life of one of these convicts. Bhupinder Singh was found guilty of murder charges and has spent 18 years in prison. Singh says that working outside the prison has awakened him. "When I was in jail only my body was living. I was mentally dead. Since coming here, now along with my body, my mind also works. I meet people. I can dream of a better future. When I am released, I have learned a skill that I can use." The success of this work program has led to more prison convicts working outside of jail, says Somesh Goyal. He is the Director General of Prisons in Himachal Pradesh. Goyal explains that they choose the prisoners for the program based on their behavior as well as their importance to their families. So, well-behaved prisoners who were also the main breadwinners for their families are the first to be selected. He says the program is helping the prisoners overcome mental issues that often come from prison life. The program, Goyal explains, gives the prisoners back their humanity. The prisoners say they feel more human and normal. Also, people in society with whom they interact, begin to see them as human and normal too. "They interact with people; they meet family members; they can keep a mobile phone also. So, it helps them integrate with the society and feel human. And wherever they go and work, those people also think they're as human or as normal as people outside the prison." Perhaps, with more programs such as this, other prisoners can reclaim a place in society once their debt to society is paid. Im Anna Matteo. Anjana Pasricha reported this story for VOA News. Anna Matteo adapted her report for Learning English. George Grow was the editor. _______________________________________________________________ Words in This Story picturesque adj. very pretty or charming : like a painted picture bold adj. showing or calling for courage or daring convict n. a person convicted of and under sentence for a crime interact v. to act upon one another sharp adj. stylish, dressy breadwinner n. a member of a family whose wages supply its livelihood integrate v. to make (a person or group) part of a larger group or organization Information technology, or IT, has entered into almost every part of modern life, and higher education is no exception. Yet while many businesses and governments continue to invest in IT products and services, higher education in the United States seems to be following a different path. Research suggests that many U.S. colleges and universities have limited their spending on IT. Some experts argue this is not only harming the schools and their programs, but also the experiences of their students. A group called the Campus Computing Project studies how American higher education uses information technology. Since 1990, it has published a yearly report on technology-related issues on college and university campuses. In October, the group released its latest findings, after contacting IT leaders from 242 public and private schools across the country. It asked those responsible for operating campus IT services about how much school administrators supported their work. Their answers were less than favorable. Many of the IT leaders noted that their departments have faced serious cuts to their budgets in recent years. And about two-thirds said their schools have done little to provide them with the financial resources necessary to recover from those cuts. Over 79 percent of those leaders questioned said budget cuts made it difficult for them to keep their employees from seeking jobs elsewhere. The importance of campus IT Kenneth Green is the founding director of the Campus Computing Project. He says that information technology is linked to higher education in more ways than most people understand. For example, before students even think about attending a college or university, they often research the school by visiting its website. But that is only a small part of ITs usefulness to a school, Green said. He added that more and more professors are using technology to improve their educational materials and connect with other educators. Schools use online databases to collect information about their students. And students use the internet to do research, register for classes, and even pay for their college education. Green suggested that a big part of the problem is budget issues that are out of the control of school officials. This is especially true at public education institutions, which depend on money from the government. He noted that during the recession of 2008, most state governments reduced their spending on higher education. The U.S. economy has greatly improved since then, but an increase in financial support for higher education has not followed, he added. We have this exploding demand and not enough money, Green told VOA. At a college or university, you have competing groups saying, Over here, over here! We need money to do this. And leadership has to make some hard choices. Green said it is not as if school officials undervalue the importance of strong, modern IT systems. But it is difficult to keep IT systems operating if the best workers feel they can find better jobs elsewhere. Where is the money really going? However, Alan McQuinn argues that if schools really understood the importance of IT, they would not choose to spend money in unnecessary ways. McQuinn is with the Information Technology Innovation Foundation, a non-profit research group not involved in the Campus Computing Project study. He notes the study identifies issues that have been developing in higher education for years. But instead of dealing with those issues, many schools have increased spending in areas other than IT. For example, a 2017 George Mason University study found that colleges and universities added a large number of administrative employees between 2001 and 2011. That number increased 50 percent faster than the number of classroom teachers added during the period. McQuinn said that many of these administrative positions do not directly relate to student learning or the success of students. And they come at the sacrifice of important services, such as IT. Instead, colleges and universities should accept that investment in IT products and services can actually reduce operating costs, he said. That is because technology can remove the need for workers to do things like record keeping, preparing documents and requesting money for research. One of the major problems that we see here is that different institutions are treating IT as a cost center rather than a strategic investment that can pay off, McQuinn said. He added that some schools have tried to spread the cost of things like IT by increasing other costs for students. But with the cost of U.S. higher education rising, schools should be trying to reduce financial barriers, he said. And there should be more efforts like a recent Department of Education program that pays for improvements to IT security training systems at community colleges. The Campus Computing Projects Kenneth Green said that schools need to get a better picture of how well their IT services are operating. His study found that only about 20 percent of the 242 colleges and universities have a process of examining the benefits of technology on their campuses. We talk about the power of technology, Green said. But its still the case that a lot of the decision making is done with opinion or epiphany. We dont do a good job, at least in the United States, about gathering evidence and doing research about our investments in technology. Im Pete Musto. And Im Dorothy Gundy. Pete Musto reported this story for VOA Learning English. George Grow was the editor. We want to hear from you. How important do you think technology is in higher education? Write to us in the Comments Section or on our Facebook page. _____________________________________________________________ Quiz Quiz - US College IT Services Face Serious Spending Limits, Study Finds Start the Quiz to find out Start Quiz ________________________________________________________________ Words in This Story campus(es) n. the area and buildings around a university, college, or school favorable adj. expressing approval online adj. done over the Internet institution(s) n. an established organization strategic adj. useful or important in achieving a plan benefit(s) n. a good or helpful result or effect epiphany n. a moment in which you suddenly see or understand something in a new or very clear way Chinese leaders often invoke the feelings of the Chinese people in denouncing foreign actions in international confrontations. But most survey research on Chinese public opinion on international affairs has looked at measures of nationalist identity rather than beliefs about foreign policy and evaluations of the governments performance. Five surveys of Chinese citizens, netizens, and elites help illuminate the public attitudes that the Chinese government grapples with in managing international security policy. The results show that Chinese attitudes are more hawkish than dovish and that younger Chinese, while perhaps not more nationalist in identity, may be more hawkish in their foreign policy beliefs than older generations. Netizens and elites are even more inclined to call on the Chinese government to invest and rely more on military strength. Boston, MA - An illegal Mexican immigrant attacked several crew members aboard a fishing boat off the coast of Massachusetts, leaving one man dead, prosecutors said. Franklin Freddy Meave Vazquez, 27, was indicted Thursday by a federal grand jury on charges of second-degree murder, attempted murder and assault with a dangerous weapon in the Sept. 23 rampage on the fishing boat dubbed the Captain Billy Haver as it sailed roughly 55 miles offshore with seven crew members, according to the US Attorneys Office for the District of Massachusetts. It is alleged that at sometime in the afternoon, Meave Vazquez assaulted a crew member on board with a hammer in one hand and a knife in the other, a news release reads. The victim then saw that another crew member was lying on the deck bleeding. Meave Vazquez then struck a third crew member with the hammer. Meave Vazquez then allegedly climbed up the 82-foot vessels mast as other shipmates tried to capture and subdue him, prosecutors said. The ships captain sent out an SOS, which eventually was answered by a German cruise ship, the Mein Schiff 6, which responded and took two of the victims aboard. We have a man gone crazy here on the boat, man, the captain said, according to audio of the call obtained by the Virginian-Pilot. One man, I dont know if hes dead or what. But one of the crew members went crazy, and he started hitting people in the head with a hammer. I got three men thats injured now. One I cant wake him up. One of the victims was later pronounced dead by the cruise ships physician, prosecutors said. The crazed attacker was later subdued and charged the next day. Meave Vazquez, who had been living in the United States illegally, was also arrested in March in Newport News, Virginia, where he allegedly tried to abduct and strangle his 20-year-old wife, according to the Virginian-Pilot. The woman told police Meave Vazquez warned her that he made a lot of money as a scallop fisherman and could afford to hire someone to kill her and her relatives. Vazquez, who will be subject to deportation upon completion of any sentence he receives, is now facing up to life in prison if convicted of second-degree murder. He has remained in custody since his arrest in September, prosecutors said. NOTICE: TO BE CLEAR: WE HAVE OUTLINED UNDER OUR RECORD MAINTENANCE POLICY WHAT WE BELIEVE TO BE A FAIR PROCESS FOR ALL. SIMPLY PUT: IF THE COURT SAW FIT TO EXPUNGE YOUR RECORD,SO WILL WE, FREE OF CHARGE. ARRESTS DO NOT IMPLY GUILT AND CRIMINAL CHARGES ARE MERELY ACCUSATIONS,EVERYONE IS PRESUMED INNOCENT UNTIL PROVEN GUILTY IN A COURT OF LAW AND CONVICTED. FCRA DISCLAIMER: MUGSHOTS.COM DOES NOT PROVIDE CONSUMER REPORTS AND IS NOT A CONSUMER REPORTING AGENCY. OUR DATABASE CANNOT BE USED TO MAKE DECISIONS ABOUT CONSUMER CREDIT, EMPLOYMENT, INSURANCE, TENANT SCREENING, OR ANY OTHER PURPOSES THAT WOULD REQUIRE FCRA COMPLIANCE. MUGSHOTS.COM PARTICIPATES IN AFFILIATE PROGRAMS WITH VARIOUS COMPANIES. WE MAY EARN A COMMISSION WHEN YOU CLICK ON OR MAKE PURCHASES VIA LINKS. MUGSHOTS.COM IS AN AGGREGATOR OF THE TODAYS CRIME NEWS. IN EACH FRONT-PAGE POST, THE HYPERLINK TO THE PRIMARY SOURCE IS SPECIFIED. ALL TRADEMARKS BELONG TO THEIR RIGHTFUL OWNERS, ALL MATERIALS TO THEIR AUTHORS. IF YOU ARE THE OWNER OF THE CONTENT AND DO NOT WANT US TO PUBLISH YOUR MATERIALS, PLEASE CONTACT US BY EMAIL mugshots.com1@gmail.com. THE CONTENT WILL BE DELETED WITHIN 48 HOURS. MUGSHOTS.COM IS A NEWS ORGANIZATION. WE POST AND WRITE THOUSANDS OF NEWS STORIES A YEAR, MOST WANTED STORIES, EDITORIALS (UNDER CATEGORIES - BLOG) AND STORIES OF EXONERATIONS. OUR CONTENT REVOLVES AROUND CRIME, ARRESTS AND THE FIRST AMENDMENT. WE BELIEVE IN THE CONSTITUTION AND OUR FIRST AMENDMENT RIGHT TO PUBLISH UNPOPULAR SPEECH. OPEN RECORD LAWS WERE WRITTEN TO PROTECT THE PUBLIC; BY INFORMING THE PUBLIC OF ARRESTS AND TO HOLD LAW ENFORCEMENT ACCOUNTABLE FOR THE HUMANE TREATMENT OF ARRESTEES. MOST OF, IF NOT ALL MUGSHOT LAWS WERE CRAFTED TO PROTECT THE PUBLIC FROM FEES FOR REMOVAL OF ONLINE MUGSHOTS AND TO FURTHER PROTECT THE PRESS FROM THOSE VERY SAME "MUGSHOT LAWS".WE DO NOT ACCEPT PAYMENT FOR REMOVAL OF ARREST INFORMATION AND/OR BOOKING PHOTOGRAPHS. MORE... South African President Cyril Ramaphosa said his campaign to become leader of the ruling ANC last year received a payment from a firm with links to his son and that he previously and inadvertently gave incorrect information about it to parliament. The donation is being returned. Ramaphosas son Andile had a contract with African Global Operations, previously known as Bosasa, for the provision of consultancy services in a number of African countries, excluding South Africa, according to a statement from the presidency on Friday. The opposition Democratic Alliance had questioned a 500,000 rand ($35,732) payment from Bosasa, which has contracts with South African government institutions. The payment was made on behalf of Bosasa head Gavin Watson into a trust account that was used to raise funds for the leadership campaign, Ramaphosa said in the statement. The donation was made without my knowledge. I was not aware of the existence of the donation at the time that I answered the question. The presidents comments come as relationships between South African government and lawmakers with private businesses is under particular scrutiny. Ramaphosa pledged to clean up state corruption when he replaced Jacob Zuma as president in February, and a range of hearings and inquiries have since taken place. Ramaphosa won the ANC leadership election in December. Ramaphosas answer isnt good enough, according to DA leader Mmusi Maimane. He needs to tell us and he needs to show us exactly how much money he received from Bosasa, and what Bosasa got in return, Maimane said in an emailed statement on Saturday. Plus he must still show us his sons contracts with Bosasa along with details of the money paid to him. There has to be a full investigation into this matter. Ramaphosas campaign team on Saturday said it will return the Bosasa donation, Cape Town-based News24 reported, citing a statement. The team said the president wasnt aware of the payment because fundraising operations were kept separate from other matters in order to minimize any potential conflicts of interest, according to News24. The ANC government wants to ban medical aids in its current format when its planned National Health Insurance (NHI) service kicks in. This is according to a Rapport article (Verbied siekefondse), citing a leaked letter which the Treasury wrote to Olive Shishana, head of the governments NHI war room. This, the newspaper said, is a turnaround from the National Health Insurance Bill which was released for public comment in July which stated that medical aids would continue to operate as normal. The new version of the NHI Bill, which according to the leaked letter was already sent to cabinet for approval, does not support medical aids in their current format. Rapport said the new version contains a clause which prevents medical aids or any other voluntary private health insurance scheme covering anything which is offered through the NHI. This is to make sure the NHI achieves its objectives and will eliminate the fragmentation of health care funding. The clause in the bill which is behind this report is provided below. NHI shenanigans exposed Spotlight Spotlight, which is published by Section27 and the Treatment Action Campaign, said the NHI Bill has been changed without consultation and agreed upon changes were not implemented. Spotlight said Shisana and Minister of Health Aaron Motsoaledi have sidelined Department of Health and Treasury officials in preparing a new version of the bill for submission to Cabinet. The Treasury letter highlights an amended provision stating that the role of medical schemes will only be complementary to the fund, Spotlight said. Medical schemes will thus not be allowed to offer services already offered through NHI. According to the Treasury letter, such a provision is highly premature given that it will take years for the fund to be meaningfully offering services equivalent to those existing 8.8 million current medical scheme users access from the private sector. This section is unnecessary at this point and will be perceived as extremely threatening to existing medical scheme users and tax payers, to the entire private health sector, and will undermine investment. This section will almost certainly bog the bill down in endless legal challenges and should be deleted, the Treasury letter states. Napas River Terrace Inn welcomed its first guests 15 years ago this November. Located along the Napa River at the north end of the Oxbow District, the upscale boutique hotel was a linchpin in the redevelopment of downtown Napa, said Bob Gustin, the hotels developer. Today, the hotel features 113 guestrooms and suites, 3,200 square feet of event space and Alba restaurant and full bar. The terrace along the river features live music twice a week and is popular with locals. The hotel underwent a major public space renovation in 2017. A decade and a half later, the River Terrace Inn is still owned by the original investor group Wine Country Hotels LLC. Noble House Hotels & Resorts manages the hotel. Bob Gustin, the hotels developer and a member of Wine Country Hotels LLC, noted the hotel environment in the Napa downtown area was much different in 2003 than it is today. Although Napa developer Harry Price had already opened the Napa River Inn, the development of River Terrace Inn was considered to be a risky pioneering effort since the hotel was not located on Highway 29, recalled Gustin. A number of well-respected hotel companies turned down the opportunity to manage the hotel as they felt a hotel in this location would never be successful, he said. When I submitted my development plans to the city of Napa in 2000, there were fewer dining choices, he said. Hotel operators did not feel there were sufficient amenities in the area for hotel guests particularly for an upscale independent boutique hotel. However, by the opening of River Terrace Inn, Copia and Coles Chop House had also opened. Angele and the Napa riverfront promenade followed later, along with more restaurants. Another obstacle for the hotels development was the terrorist attacks on Sept. 11, 2001. River Terrace Inn was approved by the Napa City Council in 2001 and was on track for a ground breaking that year. But after the terrorist attacks the hotel lost its lender. Virtually all hotel development across the United States came to a halt as lenders became nervous about the impact of the attacks on travel, said Gustin. However, in the fall of 2002 Gustin successfully obtained a loan and broke ground on the River Terrace Inn. Since then, River Terrace Inn has been a huge advocate in the development of both the Oxbow District and Downtown Napa, as well as in the growth of popular neighboring destinations such as the Oxbow Public Market, the Napa Valley Wine Train and the new Oxbow Commons Park, said Gustin. The hotel also continues to donate a portion of the room rate to fire relief efforts. Looking into the future, with numerous new hotel projects in various planning stages with the City of Napa, Gustin believes there is a limit on how many hotels Napa can support. Warren Buffett said there are three Is of every business cycle: innovators, who see opportunity where others dont; imitators, who take note of what the innovators are doing and mimic it (with varying degrees of success); and idiots, who jump on the bandwagon far too late with poorly executed attempts to cash in on what everyone else is doing, wrote Gustin. It is up to the City Council to ensure Napa does not reach the idiot phase. There is no way the city can successfully add 1,200 more guestrooms. Visitors come to the Valley for a relaxing getaway and not to be stuck in a traffic jam on Highway 29, he said. Gustin believes the city needs to be more selective in approving future hotels with an emphasis on hotels within walking distance of downtown to support its retail and restaurants. Other changes have affected the Napa hotel industry within the last 15 years, said Gustin. In 2003 Napa Valley still almost had a lock on people seeking a wine country experience. Now other wine destinations such as Healdsburg, Paso Robles and the Willamette Valley in Oregon have come into their own, giving wine lovers other options for their vacations. Paso Robles, for example, is experiencing exponential visitor growth with many people making the drive from Los Angeles or San Francisco. Another challenge that exists now that did not in 2003 is hiring employees, said Gustin. Back in 2003 most of our workforce lived in Napa, he said. Now many have to commute. And with two major hotels soon to open in the Calistoga area this will create an even larger shortage of employees, said Gustin. To help alleviate that, he supported the recent Measure I to increase the Transient Occupancy Tax for affordable workforce housing. The St. Helena Public Works Department and members of St. Helena High Schools horticulture class and Future Farmers of America planted eight trees in front of the library on Thursday, Nov. 15 in honor of Arbor Day. Here city arborist Carlos Uribe kneels to give planting instructions to, from left, Stefan Beckmann, City Councilmember Geoff Ellsworth, Johann Risbeck, Luke Reynolds, and Kevin Newman and Justin Franzi of Public Works. The five crepe myrtles and three red oaks will replace trees that were removed because they were damaging the sidewalk and creating trip hazards. The oaks were provided by the St. Helena Beautification Foundation, thanks to support from Peter Mennens campaign to re-oak St. Helena. KIDSPOST-HOLIDAYMOVIES Aquaman explores the underwater world of Atlantis. MUST CREDIT: Warner Bros. Going to the movies this holiday season may feel like spotting a familiar gift bag under the Christmas tree. You know the packaging isnt new, but you hope youll be excited about whats inside. Classics such as How the Grinch Stole Christmas and Mary Poppins are dangerous to remake. Millions have seen the originals and are sure to make comparisons. This years versions promise either new or more-developed characters to spark some interest. Superhero fans certainly know Spider-Man, but the web-slinging hero has multiplied in Into the Spider-Verse. (These Spideys arent all men, and one isnt even human!) DC Comics fans may have seen Aquaman cameos in two earlier movies, but this film dives deep into his underwater world. And then theres J.K. Rowlings new movie. The first Fantastic Beasts had the wizardry that captivated Harry Potter fans. But its characters were either new or far removed from that saga at Hogwarts. The second film promises the return of Dumbledore. That fact alone makes The Crimes of Grindelwald a welcome gift for Potterheads. The Grinch The Dr. Seuss classic gets an animated freshening up with Benedict Cumberbatch as the voice of the fuzzy green villain. The Mean One is still gearing up to de-Christmas Whovillea town where holiday decorating is nearly a competitive sport. Seuss tale didnt give much backstory on the Grinch, but this time we get a peek into why his heart is two sizes too small. We also discover that Cindy Lou Who, the girl who spies the Grinch dressed as Santy Claus, isnt dreaming about floofloovers or tartookas in her stocking. It turns out that Christmas, to her, means a little bit more. (Opened Nov. 9, rated PG) Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald Magizoologist Newt Scamander (Eddie Redmayne) returns in this Fantastic Beasts sequel that moves closer to the world of Harry Potter. The wicked Grindelwald (Johnny Depp) escapes from jail and plans to unite pure-blood wizards to dominate Muggles and all non-magical creatures. A young Dumbledore (Jude Law) needs Newta former student of his at Hogwartsto help stop Grindelwald. Potter fans will cheer to see the school of magic reappear in this movie. (Opens Friday, rated PG-13) Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse New York teen Miles Morales was bitten by a radioactive spider and thinks hes the only one with Spider-Man powers. Miles (voiced by Shameik Moore) meets Peter Parker (Jake Johnson), and the now-retired Spidey from another universe agrees to show the young superhero the ropes. But they arent the only spider-folks. Gwen Stacy, Peni Parker, Spider-Man Noir and Spider-Ham swoop in from other universes, thanks to the experimenting of supervillain the Kingpin (Liev Schreiber). But the Spidey six will have more than one bad guy to take down. (Opens Dec. 14, not yet rated) Mary Poppins Returns Jane and Michael Banks, the children in the original Mary Poppins, are grown, but arent too old to need their practically perfect nanny to get them and Michaels three children through a tough time. Mary (Emily Blunt) calls on her friend Jack (Lin-Manuel Miranda), a lamplighter, for song-and-dance support. Dick Van Dyke, who played the chimney sweep Burt and the smaller role of Mr. Dawes Sr., returns as the miserly bank owners son, Mr. Dawes Jr. (Opens Dec. 19, rated PG) Aquaman You may have seen Aquaman in Batman v Superman or Justice League, but this is the first time the DC Comics character gets the full movie treatment. Its the story of Arthur Curry (Jason Momoa), who is raised by a human dad but learns that his long-lost mom is queen of Atlantis. Arthur embarks on a journey with Atlantean warrior princess Mera (Amber Heard) to find a lost weapon, a trident, and assume his role as king of that underwater world. He arrives just as powerful Atlanteans fear threats from the outsiders and decide its time to do some damage on dry land. (Opens Dec. 21, rated PG-13) Just weeks before my family was set to move to Napa County in 2011, fire broke out in my mothers garage at her central Virginia home. It started near the two cars, causing a gasoline-fueled inferno that spewed a toxic, sludgy black smoke through the house. Thanks to the quick work of a passerby, a career submarine officer who knew the danger of toxic smoke in an enclosed space, my mothers life was saved. And through an incredible response from the local fire department, most of the house was still standing, but the horrible cloud of smoke damaged or destroyed everything inside, particularly anything made of paper or synthetic material. My mother got out wearing her kitchen apron and still clutching the portable phone she had used to call 9-1-1. She was still clutching that phone when I arrived on the scene about 30 minutes after the flames were extinguished. A neighbor she barely knew took us all in, and my kids and I stayed a week, dealing with the cleanup, the insurance, trying to salvage what we could. Eventually, since we were moving cross country, I had to leave my mother in the care of my brother, who lived an hour away. The house was so severely damaged by the smoke and the water used to douse the flames that it needed to be gutted, pulled back to the studs and rebuilt entirely. It was at least two years until some kind of normality returned to my mothers life, and even then, she had to move to a new home, closer to my brother. Her belongings were either destroyed or scattered among various cleanup businesses as they tried to remove the stinky, sticky film left by the smoke. Her life became completely centered on that fire and the recovery dealing with insurance, filing reports, battling contractors, tracking receipts. She became so overwhelmed that she could barely function sometimes, unable to sleep, unable to make decisions, sometimes unable even to form complete sentences. Slowly she began to emerge, enjoying her new house, enjoying playing with my brothers two small children, who lived just a few blocks away. But still, she lived among piles of boxes, with a hodgepodge of furniture. When she died suddenly four years after the fire probably an unexpected heart attack at age 76 I was sure that her traumatic experience of the fire had more than a little to do with it. Watching the horrible devastation here in California in recent years brings me back to my mothers difficult final years. Her horror and disorientation, her agonizing struggle to recover, are multiplied by the tens of thousands in our firestorms, which have wiped out houses by the thousands. Even more so because in the recent fires, it isnt just a single house, but neighborhoods, landscapes, even entire towns that are altered beyond recognition. Fire is a cruel disaster that can strike anyone at any time. And my heart breaks every time it returns to our communities. You can reach Sean Scully at 256-2246 or sscully@napanews.com. 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. From the north and from the south, California is on fire. While communities in the Midwest woke up this week to snow on the ground, many Californians arose to a more threatening scene: their neighborhoods blanketed in a layer of ash, and the air thick with smoke. Even from a distance, its hard to fathom the terror, the damage and the loss. Families scrambling to gather their precious belongings as the flames move closer. Displaced residents riveted to the TV, hoping for a glimpse of their neighborhood to see if their home survived. In a state accustomed to wildfire, this time Paradise literally burned to the ground, the quaint Sierra foothills town destroyed by a fast-moving fire that claimed many lives and by Tuesday had leveled some 6,700 buildings, from subdivisions to churches to fast-food restaurants hallmarks of suburban living that once seemed insulated from the reach of wildfire. In Los Angeles, two fires tore through the coastal hillsides, burning mansions and mobile homes and forcing 200,000 people to flee. The entire city of Malibu was evacuated as the Woolsey fire burned toward the ocean. Zuma Beach one of the most popular and picturesque stretches of Southern Californias coastline became an apocalyptic scene as evacuees rushed to the water with their horses, dogs and llamas. No one can ignore the fact there is something more complex to the devastation were seeing. Every year seems to bring bigger, more calamitous fires. The television coverage has focused on scenes of stately homes in ashes, which are dramatic. But the fire losses are more devastating to the poor than the wealthy, because the wealthy have the means to recover. In Thousand Oaks, still grieving from the horrific mass shooting at the Borderline Bar & Grill on Wednesday night, residents fled their homes to escape the fire. What had been a reunification center set up after the shooting was quickly turned into an evacuation center. Its almost too much to bear as one community is forced to confront two disasters. The scope of human suffering is beyond ready comprehension. The threat remained high through the weekend after the blazes broke out, as the fires continued to burn faster than they could be contained. Fire agencies were spread thin by the demand, and after years of drought, the conditions were especially dangerous. Our firefighters have been facing some extreme, tough fire conditions that they said that theyve never seen in their lives, L.A. County Fire Chief Daryl Osby said. Much of Californias landscape is prone to burning, an ecological reality that doesnt make the flames rolling through beloved communities any easier to accept. Yet no one can ignore the fact there is something more complex to the devastation were seeing. Every year seems to bring bigger, more calamitous fires. Contrary to President Trumps remarkably callous tweets, gross mismanagement of the states forests is not the cause. There are no forests in Malibu. Some of the most damaging fires in recent years have swept through grasslands and brush. The reasons for Californias growing wildfire threat are complex and the state needs a thoughtful, committed federal partner. Climate change is amplifying natural variations in the weather. California has gone through several seasons of drought. Coupled with warmer temperatures, the paucity of rainfall has dried out vegetation, creating more fuel for fire. As the continued burning of fossil fuels adds heat-trapping gases to the atmosphere and exacerbates the effects of climate change, the state is going to see more frequent, more destructive wildfires. California has to retrofit itself to make communities more resistant to wildfires. Lawmakers made some progress on that front this year, dedicating $1 billion over five years to the expensive work of thinning the forests, cutting brush and setting controlled burns. But theres still an urgent need to make existing communities more fire safe. That means more stringent building codes to require fire-resistant materials, such as tile roofs, on homes in communities at risk of fire. It means developing robust alert systems and having clearly defined evacuation plans. Plus, the state needs to expand the areas designated high-risk fire zones to include suburban communities and cities that are vulnerable to these larger conflagrations. And perhaps most important, Californians have to rethink where we build. Continued sprawl into previously undeveloped areas puts life and property at risk. For now, California is left to mourn the loss of life and the damage to property. When the last embers are out, California, again, must lead in the worldwide effort to cut greenhouse gases to slow climate change. At the same time, we have to adapt to the reality were already seeing and make the state more resilient for the wildfires coming next. This editorial ran this week in the Los Angeles Times. Matthew Whitaker, the new acting attorney general, is President Trump's Harriet Miers. Remember her? Miers was White House counsel under President George W. Bush. When Bush nominated her to replace Sandra Day O'Connor on the Supreme Court in 2006, he faced a storm of criticism from prominent legal conservatives deriding her intellectual mediocrity and lack of experience. Some of this criticism was elitist and mean-spirited, but its essential truth was undeniable. The parallels to Trump and Whitaker are strong, and the outcome should be the same. Trump should withdraw his interim appointment of Whitaker, just as Bush was compelled to withdraw his nomination of Miers. Legal conservatives should make him do it. Much of the commentary about Whitaker's appointment has focused on Trump's apparent interest in curtailing special counsel Robert S. Mueller III and Whitaker's public expressions of support for that goal. Others have questioned the constitutionality of appointing Whitaker, who has been serving as Atty. Gen. Jeff Sessions chief of staff, without a Senate confirmation hearing. These are grave concerns, but they are not the only ones that Whitaker's new role raises. The position of acting attorney general carries enormous responsibility. Yet Whitaker is manifestly unqualified for reasons that even conservatives _ in fact, especially conservatives _ should recognize. They are the same reasons that prominent conservatives offered for opposing Miers. Like Miers, Whitaker seems to have been chosen almost entirely based on his personal rapport with the president. Miers described Bush as "the best governor ever" and the "most brilliant man she had ever met." Prior to her service as White House counsel, she had been Bush's personal lawyer, and no one other than Bush seems to have considered her as potential Supreme Court material. Roughly the same goes for Whitaker, who first won Trump's favor with strongly partisan television appearances on CNN. Contrary to Trump's claim that he barely knows Whitaker, the two men have met at the White House over a dozen times. According to media reports, they have an "easy chemistry." Vox has reported that Whitaker secretly advised Trump about how to pressure the Justice Department into investigating the president's political enemies. Like Miers, Whitaker lacks the high-level legal and political experience that have historically been prerequisites for the job he is being asked to do. Before serving as White House counsel, Miers was the president of the State Bar of Texas and head of a midsize law firm. Whitaker is a former federal prosecutor; he worked for Sessions for just over a year. These are respectable, even impressive, credentials. Both Miers and Whitaker are said by colleagues to be decent, upstanding people and competent lawyers. Neither of them, however, could claim to be among the top 100 most qualified persons for the jobs they were tapped to perform. Finally, like Miers, Whitaker has demonstrated a conspicuously weak command of the constitutional issues that will be central in his new job. This is the most important point by far, and it alone should be decisive. When Miers made the rounds as a Supreme Court nominee, then-Sen. Tom Coburn (R-Okla.) told her, "You flunked." One leading conservative commentator summed it up this way: Miers was "ill-prepared and uninformed on the law. " When an interviewer asked Whitaker about the worst Supreme Court decisions in U.S. history, he first named Marbury vs. Madison, the canonical source of the court's power to declare acts of Congress unconstitutional. This is a decision that conservative Justice Brett M. Kavanaugh recently lauded as "one of the four greatest moments" in American constitutional history. Whitaker's answer got worse from there. After Marbury, he next pointed to "New Deal cases that were expansive of the federal government. Those would be bad. Then all the way up to the Affordable Care Act and the individual mandate." Whitaker's disapproval of Marbury and the Supreme Court's decisions upholding the New Deal place him well outside the mainstream of American constitutional thought. These positions are also contradictory. On the one hand, he criticizes Marbury for making the Supreme Court "the final arbiter of constitutional issues." On the other, he criticizes modern decisions for not exercising this supposedly dangerous power more aggressively. This is like saying that the two best Supreme Court cases are Brown vs. Board of Education, which struck down school segregation, and Plessy vs. Ferguson, which infamously upheld whites-only railroad cars. It simply makes no sense, except as an impromptu riff from a man who has never thought about these questions seriously. Conservative columnist Charles Krauthammer pilloried Miers' nomination as "a joke." The issue, he wrote at the time, "is not the venue of Miers's constitutional scholarship, experience and engagement. The issue is their nonexistence." Other leading conservatives, especially those associated with the Federalist Society, were similarly caustic in 2006. They demanded a nominee with sterling credentials akin to those of Chief Justice John G. Roberts Jr., who had been confirmed the year before. More recently, legal conservatives have justifiably prided themselves on the unimpeachable resumes of nominees such as Samuel A. Alito Jr. and Neil M. Gorsuch. An attorney general is not a Supreme Court justice. But Americans are entitled to expect the president to fill such jobs with people of high stature, chosen for their outstanding professional qualifications and experience rather than personal loyalty. Legal conservatives _ and the rest of us _ should demand no less, especially in turbulent times. Andrew Coan is a professor of law at the University of Arizona and author of the forthcoming book "Prosecuting the President: How Special Prosecutors Hold Presidents Accountable and Protect the Rule of Law." It also does not reflect the views of the Firm of which the Author is working for. Since the inception of this blog, the Author has avoided writing views and opinions of his clients or views and opinions which third parties has paid him to write. The Author has maintained editorial independence since Day One. Any individual or group affected by the opinions and views of the Author can write the author thru mangubat.patricio@gmail.com. Opinions and views expressed in this blog are personal views of the Author and does not involve organisations and companies being serviced by the Author as part of his profession as a Strategic Communications professional. Azerbaijani plane flies from Nakhchivan to Baku through Armenia's airspace (PHOTOS) Armenia PM is giving a press conference (LIVE) Armenian demining experts demine 2,000,000 square meters of territory in Damascus along with UNMAS Armenia opposition movement holding march in Yerevan, calling on citizens to join NEWS.am daily digest: 23.11.21 Russian analyst: Karabakh's regions under Azerbaijan's control are becoming a serious problem for Aliyev Stepanakert: Azerbaijan intends to create terrorists training centers in Karabakhs territories Iran and Georgia hold talks on creation of Persian Gulf-Black Sea corridor Israeli FM demands Turkey to close offices of Hamas movement Opposition MP: Situation in Armenia's judiciary is impacting security issues Armenia PM calls UN Under-Secretary-General's attention to facts of destruction of Armenian heritage Ruling party MP: If Russia's proposals are acceptable for Armenian premier, they are in Armenia's interests Putin, Pashinyan and Aliyev to hold talks in Sochi on November 26 Armenia Ombudsman: Baku's Armenophobia is policy aimed at maintaining hostility between two peoples around the world Karabakh National Security Service: Citizen gets lost, in territory under Azerbaijani control, taken into custody ECHR awards 5,000 each to judges detained in Turkey after 2016 putsch American Center of US Embassy in Yerevan sends more than 5,000 Armenian library items to United States Iranian Ambassador to Turkey: Iran supports '3+3' regional format Azerbaijan MOD thanks Turkish ASELSAN's CEO for equipment used during war against Karabakh Armenia MOD receives Russia Ambassador and embassy's Defense Attache MFA: Armenia has informed Moscow about its willingness to normalize relations with Turkey without preconditions UN Special Rapporteur on minority issues calls US a nation of paradoxes Armenian parliamentary commission honors memory of soldier who died yesterday Alen Simonyan briefs Gerard Larcher over continuing aggressive behavior of Azerbaijan China and Russia are discussing details of Putin's possible visit to Beijing Olympics Yerevan court rejects motion to apply to Constitutional Court due to lack of procedures for overcoming MP's immunity Criminal case initiated into death of Armenian soldier Employee of Norabak village council on exchange of fire between Armenia and Azerbaijan, issue of wounded soldiers Russian peacekeepers donate humanitarian aid to Nagorno-Karabakh Coronavirus in Armenia: 48 new deaths 116 million AMD assistance to minors with disabilities in Shirak Province from Mikayel Vardanyan 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 Armenia National Academy of Sciences Physiology Institute wins Chan Zuckerberg Initiative's grant 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 Armenian military servicemen score medals at championship in Iran 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 YEREVAN. Residents of Berdavan border village of Armenias Tavush Province once again closed the road on Sunday demanding that the government negotiates with the Azerbaijani side on the return of 34-year-old local Karen Ghazaryan who has been in captivity for four months. Governor of Tavush province Vahe Ghalumyan tried to calm the protesters and explained that the government is doing everything to return Karen Ghazaryan. This is our only option, we do not see any others. We would wait, unless Azerbaijan announced the trial. They present my boy as a saboteur, Karens mother said addressing the governor. This is the second protest action in the village after on Saturday the villagers kept the road leading to Georgia closed for several hours. Karen Ghazaryan (born in 1984), a resident of Berdavan village, had ended up in Azerbaijan for unknown reasons, and was captured on July 15. Azerbaijan, however, had attempted to present this as the prevention of a reconnaissance group of the Armenian Armed Forces on the border. The incident allegedly had occurred in the direction of Azerbaijans Gazakh region. The Azerbaijani Defense Ministry had said an Armenian serviceman was taken captive. But the Armenian Defense Ministry formally declared that Ghazaryan was not serving and had never served in the Armed Forces of Armenia. The Human Rights Defender (Ombudsman) of Armenia, Arman Tatoyan, on Friday announced that he had petitioned to the UN and the Council of Europe commissioners, in connection with having Ghazaryan returned to Armenia, and that relevant work was being done also in close cooperation with the International Committee of the Red Cross. said an unsuspecting Knox wearing "Harry Potter" pajamas str*ight Americans lmfaaaaao Reply Thread Link what is this comment? Reply Parent Thread Link ikr. Let's be fair, I know plenty of lgbt americans who would do that too! Reply Parent Thread Link Heterophobia Reply Parent Thread Link ikr i had no idea pajama pants were so indicative of sexuality lmao Reply Parent Thread Link Interesting take Reply Parent Thread Link i mean, it wouldn't be my choice. but its clearly exactly the kind of proposal she wanted, down to there being no ring. i think its sweet he knows her so well and did something so personal. Reply Thread Link Im the same age as Amanda and we were going to college/doing travel abroad at the same time and it's crazy to me, I don't know how I would have dealt with all of what happened at that age, especially in a foreign country. Congrats to them, even tho I still find her a bit weird, don't think she did it tho. Reply Thread Link I've read that most Americans think she's innocent and most Europeans think she's guilty. No matter if she's guilty or not, I don't find her likeable at all. She tried to pin the crime on a black guy and the night after the murder happened, she was out buying bleach and cleaning supplies. Both of these action don't scream "innocent!" to me. Reply Parent Thread Link You gotta be fucking kidding me with this comment. Have you even researched the case? The real killer is Rudy Guede who sexually assaulted Meredith that night and left behind a bloody handprint and even a shit in the toilet. He went to jail for breaking into the apartment and sexually assaulting Meredith but struck a deal by implicating Amanda. Edited at 2018-11-18 05:19 pm (UTC) Reply Parent Thread Link "I dont have a ring, but I do have a big rock. Will you stay with me until the last star in the last galaxy burns out. And then even after that," said Robinson. "Amanda Marie Knox, will you marry me?" Yeah, Yes I will," said an unsuspecting Knox wearing "Harry Potter" pajamas" This all reads like a really shitty fanfic. Edited at 2018-11-18 01:15 pm (UTC) Reply Thread Link Self insert. Reply Parent Thread Link lol Reply Parent Thread Link Learn more about LiveJournal Ratings in Hello! Your entry got to top-25 of the most popular entries in LiveJournal!Learn more about LiveJournal Ratings in FAQ Reply Thread Link did she do a cartwheel after? Edited at 2018-11-18 01:38 pm (UTC) Reply Thread Link Nnnn Reply Parent Thread Link lol Reply Parent Thread Link The last post about her was WILD as fuck. Congrats to them! Reply Thread Link I seriously cannot fathom how people believe she did it. Look past all the media frenzy and bullshit and its clear shes innocent. Reply Parent Thread Expand Link I'm enough of a nerd to want a proposal like this. Reply Thread Link No ring? Goodbye. Reply Thread Link Its wild how many people think she did it? Take 10 minutes to read an article and move on Reply Thread Link Good for her - I hope she gets some genuine happiness after the hell she's been through. The people in that last post who clearly got all of their information on her case from Star magazine were a trip and a half. Reply Thread Link ok Reply Thread Link Don't know why 'space alien' makes me laugh though. Reply Thread Link Goals Reply Thread Link Last Friday, oil prices fell for the 10th consecutive day. According to CNBC, this marked the longest losing streak for crude oil in 34 years. I have covered the factors behind this drop in the previous two articles. To recap, the loss of China as an export market for U.S. oil producers has caused crude inventories in the U.S. to swell, and the Trump Administrations weakening of imminent sanctions on Iran have both been large factors in the decline. Matt Badiali, senior research analyst at Banyan Hill, thinks the decline is now overdone. Matt says that from April to September, Iran cut 830,000 bbl/day of exports. But Saudi Arabia and the U.S. expanded production by more than that, so the world didnt feel the pinch. As Matt explained to me: My research showed that, during the run-up to Iran sanctions, many of the Asian countries cut back on Iranian oil imports. China included. Those countries cut about 900,000 bbl/day of Iranian exports. That demand didnt go away, it was filled by the U.S. and Saudi Arabia. Then the U.S. government issued waivers to most of Irans oil trading partners. Now that those same countries got waivers, they are buying Iranian crude againleaving a glut of oil on the market. I agree that the demand hasnt declined. Supply, particularly from the U.S. is up. That said, I am very skeptical that the Saudis can maintain this level of production. Its only about 130,000 bbl/day below their highest production in the last decade, and they only maintained that level of output for a few months before cutting back. I believe that the market still has a drop in demand priced in. That seems wrong. I believe this will be the low oil price for the next 12 to 18 months. Michael Bertuccio, President & CEO of HB2 Energy, also noted that refinery maintenance may be contributing to the perception of an oversupplied market: I believe there may be more immediate and shorter-term drivers to oil prices falling particularly the West Texas Intermediate (WTI) cash market in Cushing, Oklahoma. This is refinery maintenance season. Of the ~14 million barrels per day (MMB/D) of refining capacity in PADD 2 & 3, ~6 percent has been offline. Related: The Biggest Threat To Dollar Dominance It is far more transparent in the physical oil basis markets where we have seen Midland trading $15 plus per barrel under WTI. However, Houston Ship Channel (MEH) is trading closer to Brent, which is currently plus $10/ barrel over WTI. Add a stronger and strengthening U.S. dollar to the equation and I see this as nothing more than a short-term price correction. Michael agrees that global demand remains strongincluding Chinese demand. He believes exports will accelerate with upcoming pipeline infrastructure and the wide basis spreads will compress towards Brent, which is a better benchmark of global oil values. One thing is for certain. Oil prices are on sale relative to where they were a month ago. It appears unlikely to me that a continued decline is supported by fundamentals, especially if the U.S. stops granting waivers on Iranian oil imports in six months as is the stated intent. By Robert Rapier More Top Reads From Oilprice.com: Feel is a concept that, in analysis at least, doesnt get the respect it deserves. We are all supposed to have only logical, analytical reasons for believing something is about to happen, but if the last few weeks has told us anything it is that when markets get the bit between their teeth, logic is the first casualty. U.S. stocks dropped over ten percent from their highs on fears that the Fed may make a miscalculation and that growth may be a bit slower than previously anticipated. For comparison, by the time the same thing had happened in 2008, it was clear that the financial system was in trouble and we were heading to an actual recession. Oil has fared even worse, dropping over twenty percent on the same growth fears, price driven supply increase in the U.S., and exceptions to the Iran sanctions. In both cases, the move has gone way beyond logic, so I make no apologies for saying that this morning, it feels like things are finally changing. Feel is a concept that, in analysis at least, doesnt get the respect it deserves. We are all supposed to have only logical, analytical reasons for believing something is about to happen, but if the last few weeks has told us anything it is that when markets get the bit between their teeth, logic is the first casualty. U.S. stocks dropped over ten percent from their highs on fears that the Fed may make a miscalculation and that growth may be a bit slower than previously anticipated. For comparison, by the time the same thing had happened in 2008, it was clear that the financial system was in trouble and we were heading to an actual recession. Oil has fared even worse, dropping over twenty percent on the same growth fears, price driven supply increase in the U.S., and exceptions to the Iran sanctions. In both cases, the move has gone way beyond logic, so I make no apologies for saying that this morning, it feels like things are finally changing. (Click to enlarge) Figure 1: S&P 5 Day Chart (Click to enlarge) Figure 2: WTI Futures since 08/01/2018 (Click to enlarge) Figure 3: Dollar Index 3 Month Chart The stock market (figure 1) has reversed recent trends in price action, dropping early and recovering strongly as the day progresses rather than giving up early gains collapsing during market hours. The dollar (figure 3), after flying high in its role as a safe-haven, is losing ground, and even WTI (figure 2), where supply is still high, looks like posting three successive higher closes, often a signal that a reversal is real. Of course, there have been a few false signals on the way down and this could be another, but the fact that everything is shifting together makes this feel different, so it is time to look for something that would benefit from all three of those moves. The answer lies in an overseas energy stock, where gains in stocks and oil, and a drop in the dollar, all help. That brings in Total S.A., and the French multinational has the advantage of being close enough to 52-week lows to make that a logical level off which to set a stop-loss order. At the time of writing, TOT is trading just above $57, so a stop ten percent away would be at around $52, a level not seen for over a year, when WTI was below $50. (Click to enlarge) Total has been punished even harder than most energy stocks in recent weeks, in part because it has been hurt by the trends in all three markets, but also because it made significant investments in Iran last year. If one of the drivers in lower oil is the exceptions made to the Iran sanctions though, that will have a lot less effect than was previously thought. All in all, everything that has driven the stock lower to this point looks to be changing. As I said, this is a trade based on the feeling that stocks, oil and the dollar are going to start paying attention to fundamentals and are pivoting simultaneously. There are good reasons why all three should do so, but that has not mattered up to this point. That is where feel comes in. If that bothers you, feel free not to get involved, but if I feel it and you do too, the likelihood is that there are plenty of others feeling the same thing. If enough people act on that feeling, the small bounce we are seeing now will gather momentum and stocks like TOT will be the big beneficiaries so, given the limited downside, it feels like a good trade. By Martin Tillier for Oilprice.com The full impact of U.S. sanctions on Iran is still to be assessed, as major underlying factors remain opaque. OPECs current fear of an oil glut in 2019, as indicated by investment banks, IEA, EIA and others, might not materialize. Market fundamentals are still strong, especially taking into account that U.S. refineries are ramping up production after maintenance season, while Iranian floating oil will end soon as sanctions are about to hit. Still, one of Irans major lifelines could be the current EU approach, which is largely trying to mitigate the effects of U.S. sanctions on European companies and financial operators. The rosy future painted by EU officials however shows severe cracks, while reality on the ground is extremely bleak. European efforts to protect trade with Iran, as an answer to mitigate U.S. sanctions, are hitting a brick wall. European politicians seem to be out of touch with reality not only in the markets, but also concerning the attitude of several of its member countries. European politicians, mostly working from their shiny offices in Brussels and Strassbourg, seem to be living in an ivory tower, as no real practical support for all their measures has been shown in the respective member states. The last factor showing the weakness of the EU Iran approach is the fact that no single European country is willing to host a so-called Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV) as they fear the wrath of the U.S. Washingtons influence in real politics and markets is still much larger on a global and even bilateral stage than Brussels wants to admit. Leading European powers Great Britain, Germany and France are currently putting pressure on minor league EU member Luxembourg to host the SPV. The latter however is already doomed, as not only is the influence of London on Luxembourg minimal, but the small EU member can hide behind the refusal of Austria to host the SPV too. Brussels is showing a brave face, but its likely that Eastern European and Balkan member countries will reject the SPV plans, while Italy and Spain are still in limbo. Statements made by EU Justice Commissioner Vera Jourova that the EU cannot accept that a foreign power takes decisions over our legitimate trade with another country, seem to be very hollow and empty. Related: Abu Dhabis Remarkable Energy Diversification The SPV at present is seen as the lynchpin in the EU moves to save not only their trade with Iran but also the overall JCPOA agreement. At present, Brussels and its main supporters, Paris and Berlin, are trying to keep the JCPOA agreement in place, risking a direct confrontation not only with the U.S. but with most of the Arab world. The SPV has been set up as a kind of clearing house that could be used to help match Iranian oil and gas exports against purchases of EU goods in an effective barter arrangement circumventing U.S. sanctions. The main issue European companies are facing with Iran are currently based on the position of the US dollar in international trade. Even with full EU support, the SPV, according to most analysts, will not shield EU companies and banks from US sanctions. These will be hefty, for sure much more than the current Iran-EU trade volumes could counter. A possible failure of the EU SPV proposal would for sure heat up the market very soon. Irans main lifeline at present is very weak, Asian markets continue to buy Iranian crude and products, but seem to be heading to zero crude imports when the current U.S. waivers will end. At the same time, the effects of the decision by international financial system SWIFT not to allow any-more deals with Iran already has significantly slowed down trade with Europe. Related: Bakken Prices Crumble On Pipeline Woes For Iran, the future is looking dark. A European failure would be seen a betrayal, and possibly the end of the JCPOA agreement. An Iranian reaction to this should be expected, as such a failure would strengthen the hardliners in Tehran. For global oil markets, taking the position of the devils advocate, this could be bullish. More clarity on Iranian volumes and possibilities of circumventing the U.S. sanctions, is necessary to assess the perceived oil glut scenarios. OPECs leaders will already be taking this into account to set up a production cut agreement early December in Vienna. Irans situation will be clearer by that date, leaving Saudi Arabia, Russia, UAE and others, more space to pro-actively counter a real oil glut in 2019. Fundamentals are at present diffuse, but once Europes position is clear, one large destabilizing factor is removed with a bang. The fact that already some major Iranian oil importers in Asia have been very compliant to U.S. threats, such as South Korea, should be a sign that even without a multilateral sanctions approach, Washington is still able to wreak havoc on Iran. Oilprice.com reported this week that no Iranian oil has been imported in South Korea for a second straight month due to the re-imposition of US sanctions. For the first 10 months of 2018, South Koreas Iran crude imports halved in real terms. South Korea is also having a waiver from the U.S. in place, but reality seems to be different. By Cyril Widdershoven for Oilprice.com More Top Reads From Oilprice.com: China and US teams bypass Washington and go straight to Buenos Aires for trade war talks Chinese and American trade negotiators have made a last-minute change to their original plans and rescheduled their talks for Buenos Aires instead of Washington, a source who was briefed on the matter has told the South China Morning Post. The Post reported last week that Vice-Premier Liu He, Chinas chief trade negotiator and the top economic aide to President Xi Jinping, was planning to fly to Washington for talks with the US delegation, possibly led by Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin. However, a person who was updated on the latest changes said the plan had been adjusted after work-level discussions between Beijing and Washington. The latest plan is that the two countries trade negotiation teams will meet in Buenos Aires, the person, who declined to be identified, said. The source said the change was partly intended to ensure the talks would have a more direct effect on the meeting between Xi and US President Donald Trump during the G20 summit in the Argentine capital late next week. The change, if confirmed, suggests that stakes will be raised for the leaders meeting, with more weighty matters likely to be on the agenda. It also will mark the first time that bilateral trade negotiations between the worlds two biggest economies have taken place in a third-party country. The progress of the scheduled trade talks will have a direct effect on the meeting between Xi and Trump. The Post reported earlier that the two leaders would meet for dinner on December 1 immediately after the G20 meeting. Both countries confirmed the meeting. However, the two sides have not released any information regarding the trade team talks. Trump said on Friday that the US had made progress towards resolving the trade dispute after receiving a response to his demands from Beijing. But he told reporters that it was lacking in four or five key areas. China wants to make a deal, they sent a list of things they are willing to do, which is a large list, and it is just not acceptable to me yet. But at some point I think that we are doing extremely well with respect to China, he said. Story continues Trump said he would proceed with his threat to impose additional tariffs on US$267 billion worth of Chinese products if the two countries did not reach a deal, but added: We may not have to do that; China would like to make a deal. Meanwhile, Xi told the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit in Papua New Guinea on Saturday that China was committed to giving more market access to foreign companies. He urged Asia-Pacific leaders to help protect the global trade system. Mankind will have to choose between cooperation or resistance opening up for mutual benefits or a zero-sum game, he said. History has shown that confrontation, whether in the form of a cold war, a hot war or a trade war, will produce no winners. This article China and US teams bypass Washington and go straight to Buenos Aires for trade war talks 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: A leading Australian bridal magazine has shut after being ditched by advertisers for refusing to feature same-sex couples, one year after the country changed its marriage laws. The Christian founders of "White", Luke and Carla Burrell, said they did not feature gay weddings in their magazine as they had "no desire to create a social, political or legal war". In a farewell blog on Saturday, the couple said they were targeted by activists because of their stance and forced to "pick a side". As a result, several advertisers withdrew their sponsorship making their publication "no longer economically viable", the pair added. Australian MPs late last year voted in favour of changing the Marriage Act after decades of inaction amid political wrangling. The shift followed a contentious nationwide voluntary postal vote in support of legalising same-sex marriage. Nearly 80 percent of eligible voters took part in the poll and almost 62 percent of those who voted chose "yes" on their ballots. To placate the right wing of the conservative ruling coalition the government then commissioned a report into religious protections. Parts of the review, which called for faith-based schools to legally be allowed to discriminate against gay students and teachers, were leaked last month. It sparked a public backlash and led the government to introduce a bill to prevent sexuality-based discrimination in schools. 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. 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. 2 die in three vehicle collision in Bhaktapur Two persons died after three heavy vehicles collided at Naya Thimi along the Suryabinayak-Tinkune road section in Bhaktapur on Saturday night. 27-year-old man found murdered A 27-year-old man was found murdered at Dhangadhi Sub Metropolis-4 on Friday night. "'In the Wasteland of Your Mind': Criminology, Scientific Discoveries and the Criminal Process" | Main | "The State of Sentencing 2015: Developments in Policy and Practice" February 10, 2016 Senator Tom Cotton forcefully (and somewhat thoughtfully) makes his case against the current version of SRCA 2015 As reported previously in this post and now again via this new piece from The Hill, a number of Senators are in the midst of a robust conversation about the merits of and concerns about the Sentencing Reform and Corrections Act (which I have called SRCA 2015 since its introduction last fall). Of particular note and importance (and as noted in this prior post), Arkansas Senator Tom Cotton seems to be taking a leading role raising concerns about the current version of the SRCA, and I am now pleased and impressed that Senator Cotton has provide a thorough articulation of his concerns through this new Medium commentary titled "The Current Sentencing Reform and Corrections Act is Dangerous for America," and also through this extended speech delivered yesterday on the Senate Floor. The Medium commentary, which is relatively short, does not do much more than emphasizethe anti-federal-sentencing-reform points already forcefully and repeatedly expressed by the National Association of Assistant U.S. Attorneys and Bill Otis and others who have been consistent opponents of any changes to the current federal sentencing status quo. But the Senate floor speech is much, much longer and, in my view, in spots much, much more thoughtful in discussing the SRCA and his own perspectives about federal sentencing reform. I highly recommend all persons following federal sentencing reform to read Senator Cotton's lengthy floor speech in full, and here are some of the (many) passages that has led me to describe it as forceful (and somewhat thoughtful): Today, I want to discuss the Sentencing Reform & Corrections Act that has been voted out of the Judiciary Committee. There is much debate about the wisdom of this bill. That is, like most bills we discuss in this chamber, a judgment call. But there cannot be debate over the facts of this bill. We have to be very clear on what this bill, by its own text, is designed to do.... By its text, the bill will not just apply to so-called "non-violent offenders," but to thousands of violent felons and armed career criminals who have used firearms in the course of their drug felonies or crimes of violence. By its text, the bill will reduce sentences not for those convicted of simple possession, but for major drug traffickers, ones who deal in hundreds of thousands of dollars' worth of heroin or thousands of pounds of marijuana. And let's be clear: drug trafficking is not "non-violent," as the bill's proponents often claim. It's an industry that's built on an entire edifice of violence, stretching from the narcoterrorists of South America to the drug-deal enforcers on our city streets. If you think dealing drugs on a street corner while armed with a gun is a "non-violent" offense, you probably live in a rich suburb or a gated community.... It's been reported that the bill's sponsors are preparing to release a revised bill, one that would address some of these many shortcomings. Regarding this news, I first want to thank the sponsors for acknowledging that the bill as passed by committee does in fact apply to serious drug traffickers and other violent felons. I look forward to evaluating the new legislative text, and I hope it addresses these problems.... The [US Sentencing] Commission first reduced sentencing guidelines in 2007. It did so again in 2010. And again in 2014. That is three major systemic sentencing reductions in the span of seven years. The result? 46,000 federal convicts will walk from jail early. Wendell Callahan was one among that 46,000. There will be many more like him. And while we pray against all odds that none of them go on to commit a triple-murder like Wendell Callahan did, or any other heinous crime, I'm afraid our prayers will go unanswered, at least in part. The Sentencing Commission is an independent judicial agency that provides uniform sentencing guidance to judges. Congress didn't have a hand in those sentencing reductions. But with the Sentencing Reform & Corrections Act, the Senate would impose a fourth major sentencing reduction within eight years one that is deeper and broader than the reductions imposed by the Sentencing Commission. This is badly misguided. The Senate would be launching a massive social experiment in criminal leniency without knowing the full consequences of the first three reductions imposed by the Sentencing Commissions. This experiment threatens to undo the historic drops in crime we have seen over the past 25 years.... The Senate, and the American people, need to consider any change to our sentencing laws with full information. We need to know if this sentencing-leniency bill will return us closer to the days of the `70s and `80s when our cities were besieged by the drug trade, and whole communities were being rotted out as a result. We need to debate sentencing changes with all the data available to us. We need to do this with eyes wide open. That is why today together with Senators Hatch, Sessions, and Perdue I am introducing the Criminal Consequences of Early Release Act. This is a simple, but very needed bill. It will require the federal government to report on the recidivism rates of the 46,000 federal inmates to be released early under the Sentencing Commission's reductions. And it will require the same reporting for any prisoners released early under any future reductions passed by Congress. The report required by this bill will make clear how many crimes are being committed by released felons. It will make clear what types of crimes from drug trafficking to assault to robbery to murder are being committed by these felons. And it will make clear in which states these crimes are occurring. Currently, this type of data is extremely hard to compile. It is not reported by the Bureau of Justice Statistics, and any information we do have comes through anecdotes and sporadic media reports. Full information on the criminal consequences of early release must be published in detail. Before voting on any bill to reduce sentences, the members of this chamber need to understand fully the criminal consequences of prior sentence reductions.... I want to be clear. To those who support the Sentencing Reform & Corrections Act, we are not in full disagreement. Like you, I oppose jail for first-time drug users with no prior record. It's vanishingly rare for such offenders to be prosecuted and jailed in the federal system. But it remains true that the better option for them particularly if they are addicts would be drug treatment. Like you, I believe that our prisons should not be an anarchic jungle that is a danger to both prisoners and corrections officers. Like you, I believe that those prisoners who will someday complete their sentences and re-enter society should be given the chance to rehabilitate and redeem themselves while in prison so that they do not recommit crimes once they are released. Like you, I do believe that there exists the possibility of an unjust sentence, one that is so out of proportion that it shocks the conscience. So I suggest, let's work on that bill. Let's work on a bill that identifies and addresses all first-time drug possession inmates in the federal system, but keeps drug traffickers and other violent offenders in prison to finish their sentences. Let's improve prison conditions and give prisoners a shot at redemption and a better life. And, if you wish, let's work on a bill to speed the consideration of commutation applications. If we want to undo unjust sentences, we can help the president use his constitutional power of pardon and commutation as a precise scalpel to identify and remedy those rare cases of manifestly unjust sentences. But what we should not do is use the blunt instrument of releasing thousands of violent felons and major drug traffickers. The president has the constitutional power to remedy unjust sentences. But you know what power he doesn't have? The power to bring back to life the victims murdered by prisoners who are released early or sentenced inadequately. There are a number of statements in the parts of this speech quoted above with which I could take serious issue. In particular, Congress always has authority to block any and every formal decision by the US Sentencing Commission, and the crack-guideline reductions of 2010 were essentially mandated by Congress in the Fair Sentencing Act of 2010. Consequenlty, it is not accurate for Senator Cotton to assert that "Congress didn't have a hand in those sentencing reductions" to drug sentences promulgated by the USSC in recent years. More generally, to assert in blanket terms that "drug trafficking is not 'non-violent'," is no better than asserting in blanket terms that "drug trafficking is non-violent." Some federal drug-traffickers in some settings are extremely violent in doing business. But I have not heard of much violence taking place in all the stores now selling a whole lot of marijuana in Colorado and other states, and I surmise that the ability to purchase this drug in a safe environment is one reason marijuana sales seem to keep going up and up in a number of states. But, critically, even though Senator Cotton sometimes favors rhetoric over reality in this speech, the basic themes and many particulars he stresses are an important and valuable contribution to the broader debate over federal sentencing reforms. In particular, Senator Cotton is 100% right that our national data on the recidivism rates and realities of federal offenders not only with respect to those who get sentence reductions, but also for the entire released offender population leave a lot to be desired and raise more questions than answers. (Indeed, as some readers likely know well, the very term "recidivism" is subject to various definitions in various settings.) I could not agree more with Senator Cotton's statement that the "Senate, and the American people, need to consider any change to our sentencing laws with full information." Indeed, I have long thought that many of our worst federal sentencing laws enacted in prior decades e.g., the 100-1 crack/powder disparity, some of our most severe gun possession mandatory minimums were passed largely based on misinformation about their reach and likely impact. In addition, I think Senator Cotton merits praise for urging his colleagues to "improve prison conditions and give prisoners a shot at redemption and a better life," and especially for suggesting "work on a bill to speed the consideration of commutation applications" in order to "help the president use his constitutional power of pardon and commutation as a precise scalpel to identify and remedy those rare cases of manifestly unjust sentences." As long-time readers know, many sentencing reform advocates (myself included) have been advocating for Presidents of both parties to make much broader and more constitent use of the "constitutional power of pardon and commutation." I think it is both quite heartening and significant that now the Senate's most vocal opponent of proposed sentencing reforms is sincerely calling for President Obama (and future presidents) to use the clemency power to remedy any and all federal sentences that appear to the President to be "manifestly unjust." February 10, 2016 at 11:52 AM | Permalink Comments "we can help the president use his constitutional power of pardon and commutation as a precise scalpel to identify and remedy those rare cases of manifestly unjust sentences" any details to that? Posted by: Joe | Feb 10, 2016 12:06:13 PM I would like to further discuss the changes to the armed career criminal act and the overall disgust I share in how it works as a revolving door to make money versus rehabilitate prisoners. There are many prisoners that are a product the Federal Government that are not a danger but a dollar sign. Their lives get thrown away and it is a tragedy in the judicial system. Posted by: Ann | Feb 10, 2016 12:34:37 PM bull shit, and the fact that they want to make changes considering firearm as violent I believe firearm goes with protection that should be on a case by case Posted by: Student | Feb 10, 2016 1:19:38 PM He is not adding anything to the debate. This is the problem today: everyone applauds adding to the debate, but if you keep debating, it is just words. Actions speak louder than words. Much of his criticism is off the mark. There is already a significant amount of data, decades of it. I doubt Sen. Cotton has ever even visited the Bureau of Justice Statistics website. And the appeal to emotions, to the victims, that is just petty. Yes, victims deserve justice, but two wrongs don't make a right. There comes a point when over punishment can and does over punish and thus victimize the offender. I appreciate that this does not have the emotional and moral appeal of the 1st victim, but, again, two wrongs dont make a right. Only in America is it so one sided. As for the high recidivism rates, I do agree with Sen. Cotton, however, that as long as there is a lack of education and potential anti-discrimination legislation or federal expungement provisions that the risk of re-offending by many ex-offenders is high but most of the re-offending, based on BJS statistics, is due to technical probation violations (like breaking curfew) and small things. The expungement provision, which was in the Sentencing Reform legislation in Section 211 has been taken out. There is an expungement provision in the REDEEM Act but it is dead in committee. Oh well. Nice try I guess. Shame on Sen. Cotton! Posted by: Booker and Gall but Guidelines Still Rule | Feb 10, 2016 6:27:30 PM Cotton is a pompas Ass, we donot want people like him in a position if power. Posted by: MidWestGuy | Feb 10, 2016 10:28:03 PM Cotton speaks of offenders completing their full sentence so they can be rehabilitated. Prison doesnt rehabiltate, the feds retain them so long they no longer have teeth or the strength or brain power to do much at all. They warehouse people. He assumes that everyone in federal orison is violent and stands on a corner with a gun. Good enough, then they fet racked with a gun bump. This guy has a paper @sshole and should be shunned along with 86 yr chuck Grassley who has been listening to Bill Otis as he doesnt know squat about the guidelines. The drug warriors say they need the Mandatories to fight terriorist and large king pins. Good enough, then make ut so the mandatories only apply to these offenders, not the entire United States. People in rural communities get wacked with the same obscene sentences that hardened dealers get in the projects. Feds have gone too far. The states should be handling most drug cases unless they need help crossing state lines nd that is rare. Posted by: MidWestGuy | Feb 10, 2016 10:41:50 PM Cotton's great great grandpa got the name cause he was a cotton picker. Cotton ought to go back to pickin. Posted by: JackMehoff | Feb 14, 2016 10:34:11 AM Is Grasseley only 86? He sounds older. Posted by: JackMehoff | Feb 14, 2016 10:35:17 AM Post a comment "Evaluating Intellectual Disability: Clinical Assessments in Atkins Cases" | Main | Four changes to the FIRST STEP Act sought by Senator Tom Cotton Today's must-read for both marijuana reform and criminal justice reform fans is this lengthy new Politico article fully headlined "Racial Justice and Legal Pot Are Colliding in Congress: The latest fight over criminal justice reform is over allowing felons access to newly legal aspects of the cannabis industry. Lawmakers are getting woke slowly." I recommend this piece is full, and here are some extended excerpts: Thanks to Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, the [Farm] bill includes an amendment that would permanently remove hemp from the list of federally banned drugs like heroin and cocaine, freeing hemp from the crippling legal stigma that has made it economically unviable for the past four decades. But that amendment also includes a little-noticed ban on people convicted of drug felonies from participating in the soon-to-be-federally-legal hemp industry. Added late in the process, apparently to placate a stakeholder close to McConnell, the exception has angered a broad and bipartisan coalition of lawmakers, hemp industry insiders and religious groups who see it as a continuing punishment of minorities who were targeted disproportionately during the War on Drugs and now are being denied the chance to profit economically from a product that promises to make millions of dollars for mostly white investors on Wall Street.... [L]awmakers like McConnell, who have discovered the economic benefits of relaxing prohibitions on products such as hemp, have nevertheless quietly found ways, like the Farm Bill felon ban, to satisfy the demands of their anti-legalization constituents, to the chagrin of pro-cannabis lawmakers and activists. After POLITICO Magazine reported on the drug-crime felon ban in August, three senators Cory Booker (D-New Jersey), Rand Paul (R-Kentucky), and Jeff Merkley (D-Oregon) wrote to Senate leadership demanding the removal of the ban, citing its disparate impact on minorities, among other concerns. I think theres a growing recognition of the hypocrisy and unfairness of our nations drug laws, when hundreds of thousands of Americans are behind bars for something that is now legal in nine states and something that two of the last three Presidents have admitted to doing, Booker told POLITICO Magazine. If we truly want to be a just and fair nation, marijuana legalization must be accompanied by record expungement and a focus on restorative justice.... [The] once-radical notion that felons ought to gain priority for entry into a newly legal industry instead of being shut out has quietly gained bipartisan support on Capitol Hill, albeit not among Republican leadership. In the House, this mounting opposition to the continuing punishment of felons first cropped up in September when the Judiciary Committee passed its first pro-marijuana bill. It would expand access to scientific study of the cannabis plant, a notion agreed-upon by marijuanas supporters and detractors alike. However, Democrats almost killed the bill because it included language that barred felons (and even people convicted of misdemeanors) from receiving licenses to produce the marijuana. Felon bans are commonplace in legal marijuana programs. Every state has some version of it, but most of them have a five- or 10-year limit. But the felon bans in both the Senates Farm Bill and the Houses marijuana research bill are lifetime bans, and the House bill includes misdemeanors, too. Any restriction on misdemeanors goes in the exact contrary direction of the Second Chance Act, said Rep. Jerry Nadler (D-New York), who will become chairman of the Judiciary Committee in January. His criticism was echoed by Steve Cohen (D-Tennessee), who sought to have the misdemeanor language struck from the bill until its sponsor, Matt Gaetz (R-Florida), promised to address that language when it comes to the House floor. In the Senate, the movement to protect the legal marijuana trade has taken the form of the proposed bipartisan Gardner-Warren STATES Act, which would maintain the status quo of federal non-interference of state-legal programs that was upended when then-Attorney General Jeff Sessions repealed the Cole Memo, an Obama-era document that outlined a hands-off approach to state-legal programs. Bookers Marijuana Justice Act would adopt California-style principles and apply them federally, going far beyond the STATES Act, removing marijuana from Schedule I (defined as having no medical value and a high risk of abuse) and eliminating criminal penalties for marijuana. But unlike other pro-marijuana bills, it would also deny federal law-enforcement grants to states that dont legalize marijuana; direct federal courts to expunge marijuana convictions; and establish a grant-making fund through the Department of Housing and Urban Development for communities most affected by the War on Drugs. Bookers bill has become popular among Senate Democrats. Ron Wyden, Kirsten Gillibrand, Bernie Sanders, Kamala Harris, Jeff Merkley and Elizabeth Warren have signed on as co-sponsors a list that looks a lot like a lineup of presumed candidates for the 2020 Democratic presidential primary. For too long, the federal government has propped up failed and outdated drug policies that destroy lives, Wyden told POLITICO Magazine. The War on Drugs is deeply rooted in racism. We desperately need to not only correct course, but to also ensure equal justice for those who have been disproportionately impacted. People across America understand and want change. Now, Congress must act. Recent polling shows that Americans agree with Wyden to a point. There is a widespread acceptance of legalizing marijuana. Gallup has been tracking this number since 1969, when only 12 percent of Americans believed in legalizing it; in October, Gallup put the number at 64 percent, the highest ever number recorded. Pew says it is 62 percent, also its highest number ever. But there is far less acceptance of the idea that the War on Drugs has had an adverse impact on poorer, minority communities, or that there should be some form of compensation in terms of prioritized access to the new industry. A poll conducted by Lake Research Partners, a progressive DC-based polling firm, earlier this year on the Politics of Marijuana Legalization in 2018 Battleground Districts found that 62 percent of the 800 likely voters surveyed agreed with the idea we need legalization to repair the financial and moral damage of the failed War on Drugs. However, when the pollsters added a racial component to this message whether the respondents felt that the marijuana prohibition unfairly target[s] and destroy[s] minority communities only 40 percent found that message to be very convincing.... [M]any members of the Congressional Black Caucus have been slow to support marijuana legalization. But the CBC finally made its position on this issue clear in June when its 48-member caucus voted in an overwhelming majority to support policies beyond mere decriminalization: Some of the same folks who told African Americans three strikes and youre out when it came to marijuana use and distribution, are now in support of decriminalizing the drug and making a profit off of it, CBC Chairman Cedric L. Richmond, Democrat from Louisiana said at the time. The Congressional Black Caucus supports decriminalizing marijuana and investing in communities that were destroyed by the War on Drugs Arguments for legalizing marijuana havent been entirely persuasive to sway many in the conservative black community, but re-framing it in the context of civil rights has brought many around to this new way of thinking. What is moving conservative black and brown folks is this idea that were on the horizon of marijuana legalization, according to Queen Adesuyi of the Drug Policy Alliance. So the idea is in order to do this in a way that is equitable and fair, you have to start on the front end of alleviating racially biased consequences of prohibition while were legalizing and that means expungement, re-sentencing, community re-investment, and looking at where marijuana tax revenue can go, and getting rid of barriers to the industry. Now that Democrats have won control of the House, co-founder of the Cannabis Caucus, Rep. Earl Blumenauer (D-Oregon), is poised to implement his blueprint for how the House under Democratic leadership would legalize marijuana at the federal level. Racial justice is front-and-center in that plan. The memo he sent to Democratic leadership reads in part, committees should start marking up bills in their jurisdiction that would responsibly narrow the marijuana policy gap the gap between federal and state marijuana laws before the end of the year. These policy issues should include: Restorative justice measures that address the racial injustices that resulted from the unequal application of federal marijuana laws. A dress she would never wear The room was a complete messa pile of clothes on the couch, makeup kit on the table, and clutter all over. The floor looked like it had never known cleanliness. The bed looked like it had never been made. Apec summit ends without agreement as US and Chinas deep divisions over trade emerge The annual Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit ended without agreement on a joint communique for the first time in its history on Sunday as the escalating rivalry between the United States and China dominated proceedings. The impasse emerged a day after Chinese President Xi Jinping and US Vice-President Mike Pence blamed their rivals in the continuing trade war in back-to-back speeches. Sundays dramatic conclusion was foreshadowed by accusations that Chinese officials had tried to strong-arm officials in Papua New Guinea, which was hosting the event, into issuing a statement that fitted what Beijing wanted. The Chinese vigorously denied the claims. When asked about the impasse, Papua New Guineas Prime Minister Peter ONeill said: You know the two big giants in the room, so what can I say? Instead of issuing a document that all 21 participants could agree on, ONeill said he would issue a chairs statement reflecting the issues the participants did agree upon. He said the main area of contention was the insistence by one country believed to be the US that the communique would reflect the need for reform at the World Trade Organisation. ONeill also said there had been disagreement on the blocs so-called Bogor Goals, which require it to achieve free and open trade among its developing economies by 2020. ONeill said that differences on that issue had been ironed out, but that there was no such luck when it came to the topic of WTO reforms. US President Donald Trump has previously threatened to pull out of the organisation, contending that its rules unfairly favour China. ONeill did not say which country objected to WTO reforms but added: Apec has got no charter over World Trade Organisation. That is a fact. That matter can be raised at the World Trade Organisation. China has said it broadly supports the WTO, while European Union proposals to reform the institution are expected to be tabled at the G20 summit in Argentina, where Trump and Xi are planning to meet in an effort to resolve their differences. Story continues Sundays developments also came with a side plot, with China pushing back against accusations that its officials had tried to barge their way into the office of Papua New Guineas Foreign Minister Rimbink Pato in an attempt to influence the communique. Citing three sources, a report by Agence France-Presse said that police had been called to turn the Chinese away. But in a press conference on Sunday afternoon, senior Chinese foreign ministry official Wang Xiaolong said the reports were simply not true, adding: We are having close interactions with Papua New Guinea colleagues ... we are mostly on the same page both on the process as well as the substance of the agenda. Pato meanwhile told Reuters that the Chinese officials who had come to see him had been refused a meeting because they had not made the necessary arrangements. Wang said that leaders had made considerable progress at the summit and reaffirmed their common commitment to keep the momentum going. We will leave it now to hands of the host nation to capture the consensus that emerged during discussion, he said. A senior government source from a Southeast Asian country told the South China Morning Post the last-minute talks had been very tense. Try as we did, we couldnt come to an agreement on certain trade issues. The gulf was too big. The US and China could not see eye to eye... I am not too surprised at the outcome, the source said. Another source said that while Asian countries had expected some disagreement over WTO reform, they did not expect the US and China to hold out to the extent of blocking a final communique. The source said the failure of the blocs foreign ministers to issue a statement ahead of the summit, something that is usually a formality, was also down to their differences over the issue. A source from Taiwan said delegates had been working to reach a consensus until the small hours of Sunday. They were then told on Sunday morning that some delegations wanted to make some comments on the proposed communique as leaders met for a retreat and a working lunch. ONeill told reporters that his chairs statement would be issued later on Sunday, but it had been not released by the secretariat at 8pm local time (10am universal standard time). Pence, who, like Xi, left Papua New Guinea on Sunday afternoon, said there were major differences between his country and China. They begin with trade practices, with tariffs and quotas, forced technology transfers, the theft of intellectual property. It goes beyond that to freedom of navigation in the seas [and] concerns about human rights, he said. This article Apec summit ends without agreement as US and Chinas deep divisions over trade emerge first appeared on South China Morning Post For the latest news from the South China Morning Post download our mobile app. Copyright 2018. Signs of improvement, but calls still stand for mall and car park at checkpoint of Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macau Bridge to ease Tung Chung crowds There were signs of improvement on Sunday in the crowd chaos plaguing Tung Chung, a town near the Hong Kong checkpoint of a new cross-border bridge, but community groups and a lawmaker called for more facilities to control the tourist influx. Tung Chung, a residential area close to the port facility of the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macau Bridge, enjoyed a relatively peaceful weekend compared with last week when emotions boiled over amid local protests to reclaim the town from the flood of mainland visitors. Wong Chun-yeung of local activist group Tung Chung Future said the number of tourists in the district had declined throughout this week and the area had become more orderly. If the situation continues to be like this, then we will not launch another reclaim movement, he said. Since the bridge opened last month, tour groups, mostly from mainland China, descended on the area as tens of thousands of day-trippers came in by public bus for shopping, dining and sightseeing, angering local residents. Tung Chung resident Ricky Lam Ming-yip, 51, said he also felt the number of visitors had dropped, but eateries were still packed. NeoDemocrat Roy Tam Hoi-pong, however, warned that improvements felt in Tung Chung only meant the flow of visitors had been directed to other areas in Hong Kong, citing inbound figures at the bridge, which were similar to last week. According to the Immigration Department, more than 103,000 people crossed the port area of the bridge on Saturday, a record high. They included 48,450 visitors entering the city and 54,781 leaving. Last Saturday, more than 43,700 people came into Hong Kong via the bridge. By 8pm on Sunday, about 91,200 had crossed the local port facility, among whom 47,864 were inbound travellers. The Travel Industry Council said around 200 mainland tour groups in Hong Kong passed through the bridge on Sunday, up from about 90 a week earlier. Story continues Tam suggested a bus route should be set up for tourists visiting an east artificial island on the mega crossing, so that they would not need to enter the city. The island is part of the bridge structure and before the Hong Kong port facility. The bus service can cut the inflow of visitors by half, Tam said. A lot of elderly visitors from the mainland only come in and sit on chairs in Tung Chung. They dont have a desire to walk or enter the shopping malls. They just come as part of their wish to see the bridge, he said, adding that a ticket quota could also be set for shuttle bus services between the three port areas on the bridge. A lot of elderly visitors from the mainland only come in and sit on chairs in Tung Chung. They dont have a desire to walk or enter the shopping malls Roy Tam, NeoDemocrat The 55km sea crossing, on which Hong Kong spent HK$120 billion (US$15 billion), links Hong Kong, Zhuhai and Macau, which together with eight other cities in Guangdong province form the Greater Bay Area, a central government scheme for a global tech hub. On Sunday morning, pro-establishment lawmaker Michael Tien Puk-sun called for a shopping mall and another car park to be built at the Hong Kong port over what he saw as failure by the government to provide sufficient facilities. The entire government bears the biggest responsibility, Tien said on a radio programme. He called for a car park with about 1,000 to 2,000 spaces, as well as a shopping mall of more than 1 million sq ft on the artificial island which houses the bridges local border checkpoint. Such developments would only take up a small part of the 150-hectare island to the north of Tung Chung and next to the airport which already has the Hong Kong port building and a car park with 600 spaces. The government has yet to reveal its final plans for the rest of the island. Representatives from the logistics industry have called for it to house facilities for cross-border deliveries. Tien noted Macau has a car park at its port on the other side of the bridge, where drivers switch to other forms of transport to get to the city centre. He said a mall close to the bridge could ease the burden on shopping centres in Tung Chung. We need to give back to residents of Tung Chung ... a proper environment, Tien said. There is a chance to divert the flow of people before they enter the city. The Hong Kong government on Friday announced further measures to control crowds by increasing the number of port-to-port shuttle buses and loosening the application process for licences to operate buses. Chief Secretary Matthew Cheung Kin-chung said on Sunday the governments measures to ease the crowds had proved effective. Members of the local community [in Tung Chung] have also found the situation has eased a bit and is less severe, Cheung said. He said souvenir shops would open in the passenger clearance building, so visitors could to do their shopping without leaving the building. He added that police and the Immigration Department were consulting the Department of Justice on how best to crack down on illegal tour operators another source of ire from Tung Chung residents. Outside a store where barriers had been set up to prevent mainlanders from sitting at its door, tourist Huang Xiaoyan, a 56-year-old housewife, said she paid 228 yuan (HK$260) coming to the city from Zhongshan. She said she did not have a tour guide, and had visited the Ngong Ping 360 cable car ride. Under Hong Kong law anyone conducting business as a travel agent must be licensed. The Travel Industry Council said it inspected 17 tour groups at the cable car site at 3pm on Sunday, and all had a local guide, but among another 17 tours it approached at the bus B6 drop-off zone, there were only 10 with a local agent. Ngong Ping is a tourist attraction and the tour must have a local agent to serve them. It seems the situation has improved a lot, the councils executive director Alice Chan Cheung Lok-yee said. But in Tung Chung, there may be some groups that allow tourists to travel individually, so most of them do not have a local guide. This article Signs of improvement, but calls still stand for mall and car park at checkpoint of Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macau Bridge to ease Tung Chung crowds first appeared on South China Morning Post For the latest news from the South China Morning Post download our mobile app. Copyright 2018. FILE PHOTO: International Criminal Court is seen in The Hague, Netherlands September 27, 2018. REUTERS/Eva Plevier/File Photo AMSTERDAM (Reuters) - A war crimes suspect wanted for alleged murder, deportation and torture of Muslims in the Central African Republic has been handed over to the International Criminal Court in the Hague, the tribunal said. CAR officials transferred Alfred Yekatom on Saturday to officials from the global court, which is looking in more than six years of violence that has destabilised a fragile region at the heart of the continent. Yekatom, a sitting MP once nicknamed "Rambo", was flown out of the country and arrived in the court's detention centre in the Hague in the early hours of Sunday, officials there said. There was no immediate comment from Yekatom or any lawyers representing him. A U.N. commission of inquiry found that Christian militias under Yekatom had carried out war crimes and crimes against humanity by targeting Muslims. The International Criminal Court - set up to prosecute the worst crimes when member countries can not or will not do so - issued a sealed arrest warrant for Yekatom on Nov. 11. "We allege Mr. Yekatom is criminally responsible for several counts of crimes against humanity and war crimes committed in the Central African Republic between 5 December 2013 and August 2014," International Criminal Court prosecutor Fatou Bensouda said. "Now, he must answer in court for his actions." WARRANTS, CHARGES Bensouda is carrying out two separate investigations into conflicts in the Central African Republic. Yekatom's arrest is the first in the more recent conflict. A pre-trial chamber found reason to suspect Yekatom of commanding around 3,000 members of an armed group operating within the Anti-Balaka movement, which was carrying out systematic attacks against the Muslim population. Among the charges in the warrant are murder, cruel treatment, deportation, imprisonment, torture, persecution, enforced disappearance, and the recruitment of child soldiers under the age of 15. The former French colony, one of Africas poorest countries despite reserves of gold and diamonds, was plunged into chaos when mostly Muslim Seleka rebels started attacking towns and grabbing territory before seizing power in March 2013. Story continues Selekas rule prompted a backlash from Christian militia known as anti-balaka. Under international pressure Seleka handed power to a transitional government but the move effectively partitioned the country and bloody clashes continue. No date has been set yet for Yekatom's initial appearance, but he must be brought before a judge within several days under court rules. (Reporting by Stephanie van den Berg; Writing by Anthony Deutsch; Editing by Robin Pomeroy and Andrew Heavens) The US-led anti-jihadist coalition hit back Sunday at reports its air strikes on an Islamic State group holdout in eastern Syria had killed civilians, appearing to accuse regime forces of targeting the area. The jihadist IS group overran large swathes of Syria and neighbouring Iraq in 2014, declaring a "caliphate" in territory it controlled, but has since lost most of it to various offensives. In war-torn Syria, multiple offensives have now whittled down territory IS once controlled to a small pocket in the eastern province of Deir Ezzor on the Iraqi border. A Kurdish-led alliance backed by the coalition is battling to expel IS from that holdout on the eastern bank of the Euphrates, while Russian-backed regime forces have been fighting the jihadists west of the river. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights monitor said coalition strikes on Saturday killed 43 people, including 36 family members of IS fighters in the village of Abu al-Husn in the jihadist pocket. But the coalition denied that its air raids there had killed any non-combatants. The US envoy for the coalition, Brett McGurk, on Sunday appeared to blame regime forces stationed "across the river" for bombarding the area. "Reports of civilian casualties attributed to coalition strikes are false. All other forces should cease uncoordinated fires from across the river immediately," he said on Twitter. In a statement late Saturday, the coalition reported 19 coalition strikes on IS targets "free of civilian presence" between late Friday and Saturday afternoon in the jihadist enclave, which includes the town of Hajin. - 'Other actors' - But the coalition "detected a total of ten additional strikes in the same area of Hajin that did not originate from the coalition or partner forces", it added. It called "on all other actors to cease uncoordinated fires across the Euphrates". The Observatory said regime forces and IS fighters exchanged fire across the river on Saturday, but pro-government shelling did not hit Abu al-Husn. The Britain-based war monitor says it obtains its information from sources inside Syria, and determines who carries out air strikes according to type, location, flight patterns and munitions involved. The US-led international coalition has consistently denied reports by the Observatory in recent weeks that its air raids have killed civilians. It says it investigates allegations of civilian casualties thoroughly. Syria's war has killed more than 360,000 people since it started in 2011 with the brutal repression of anti-government protests. Since 2014, the US-led coalition has acknowledged direct responsibility for over 1,100 civilian deaths in Syria and Iraq, but rights groups put the number much higher. The Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces, who are backed by the coalition, launched an assault to seize the eastern pocket around Hajin from IS in September. The SDF assault was slowed by a fierce jihadist fightback, and then briefly put on hold to protest Turkish shelling of Kurdish militia positions in northern Syria. An SDF commander Saturday said his forces were advancing cautiously due to "fields of landmines, trenches, tunnels and barricades set up by IS". - IS loses southern pocket - On another front, regime forces on Saturday regained control from IS of a volcanic plateau in the south of the country after weeks of fighting. Pro-government fighters took over Tulul al-Safa between the provinces of Damascus and Sweida "after IS fighters withdrew from it and headed east into the Badia desert", Observatory chief Rami Abdel Rahman said. State news agency SANA reported regime forces had made "a great advance in Tulul al-Safa" and were combing the area for any remaining jihadists. Government forces had been fighting IS in Tulul al-Safa since a deadly jihadist attack against the country's Druze minority in Sweida province on July 25. In the deadliest attack against the Druze in the seven-year war, IS killed more than 260 people, most of them civilians, in suicide bombings, shootings, and stabbings. Saturday's victory in Tulul al-Safa leaves IS contained in the Deir Ezzor pocket, although it also has a presence in the vast Badia desert stretching across the country to the Iraqi border. After pushing back the jihadists from parts of northeastern Syria, analysts say the SDF is also likely to oust IS eventually from its eastern holdout. "IS does not have great chances to remain in control of the pocket of Hajin," said Julien Theron of the Paris Institute of Political Studies. The coalition-SDF alliance "has already shown a great efficiency against IS-held territory in the recent past", he said. Construction of integrated settlement for quake-hit people in Laprak delayed The construction of integrated settlement for earthquake-hit people of Laprak in Gorkha district has been delayed. Former president Alan Garcia has sought asylum in the embassy of Uruguay in Lima after being barred from leaving the country pending a corruption investigation, Peru's foreign ministry said Sunday. Garcia, who was twice president of Peru, is under investigation for bribes allegedly paid by Brazilian construction giant Odebrecht to secure contracts during his second presidency, from 2006 to 2011. Odebrecht has admitted to paying $29 million in bribes to Peruvian officials over the course of three administrations. A foreign ministry statement said it had been informed by Uruguay's ambassador to Peru that Garcia arrived at his residence Saturday night seeking asylum. A court order issued Saturday barred Garcia from leaving the country for 18 months while prosecutors investigate Odebrecht bribes to win a contract to build Lima's first metro line when Garcia was president. Garcia, who also was president from 1985 to 1990, has said he is the victim of political persecution, a charge rejected by President Martin Vizcarra, who insisted the investigation is being conducted independently by the judiciary and state prosecutors. "We did not intervene at all. They have complete independence," Vizcarra told reporters Sunday. Fourteen giant bronze sculptures by British artist Damien Hirst graphically charting the moment of conception to birth greet patients arriving at an $8-billion hospital in Gulf state Qatar. The vast open-air installation, named "The Miraculous Journey", shows a foetus growing in the womb and culminates with a 14-metre (46-feet) of a naked baby just after birth. The monumental work is the centrepiece of an impressive modern art collection at the Sidra Medicine Hospital, officially opened this week in Doha, that would be the envy of many galleries around the world. "We believe it reflects very much the mission of Sidra, taking care of the healthcare of woman and babies," said Layla Ibrahim Bacha, art specialist with the government-supported Qatar Foundation, which owns most of the artwork. "I think it's perfect for the location, as you can see a lot of people are taking pictures, I think its becoming iconic." Among the 65 works at the speciality facility for children's and women's health are pieces by high-profile international names and artists from across the Arab world, including Qatar. A fourth-floor outpatient clinic is decorated with a neon installation entitled "I Listen To The Ocean And All I Hear Is You" by Tracey Emin, one of Hirst's ground-breaking contemporaries from Britain. Bacha says the art was chosen with "very specific themes" in mind. "They are not meant to be decorative, they are meant to be more creating debates, helping with the patient to keep calm," she said. Syrian artist, Jaber al-Azmeh, whose pictures hang in the hospital, told AFP that it makes him "smile" to imagine his photographs on display in a place where new lives are starting. Sidra began receiving its first patients in January and last month successfully conducted Qatar's first conjoined twin separation surgery. Energy-rich Qatar has become a major buyer of contemporary art. It is seeking to portray itself as one of the most progressive states in the region against the backdrop of a bitter standoff with Gulf rivals led by Saudi Arabia. But that does not mean there has not been some controversy over the Damien Hirst works towering outside the hospital. The sculptures were originally unveiled in October 2013 but then covered from public view until recent weeks. The official reason was to protect them from ongoing building work on the hospital, but they were concealed after a social media outcry. "We are not expecting everyone to like them. We are not expecting everyone to understand them," said Bacha. "This is why they are there to actually create this element of debate, this element of thinking." The masterminds behind the 2017 car-bomb murder of Maltese journalist and blogger Daphne Caruana Galizia have been identified according to unnamed police sources quoted by The Sunday Times of Malta. The report quoted high-ranking officers as saying that a group of more than two Maltese nationals had been identified as having ordered her killing. Three suspects are under arrest for having carried out the murder and facing trial, but the identity of whoever ordered it has remained a mystery. Caruana Galizia, who died on October 16 last year aged 53, sought to expose scandals from petrol smuggling to money laundering, implicating members of the government and organised crime. Her blog also launched highly personal attacks on Maltese politicians. Caruana Galizia's journalist son Matthew last month blasted what he called a "system of impunity" he said was protecting those who ordered her killing. Her son, who believes the murder was ordered by powerful figures, said it would "send a terrible lesson if only the people who pressed the button to detonate the bomb ended up in prison". Three men stand charged with her murder. Brothers Alfred Degiorgio and George Degiorgio as well as Vince Muscat were arrested on December 4 last year and charged with the murder. Their case is still pending. The Caruana Galizia family said on Sunday that they was not formally informed by the police that the suspected masterminds had been identified. The Cannabis Control Commission issued notices Friday for two outlets to start selling to adults legally without a prescription in three days. The stores will operate in Leicester and Northampton, both west of Boston Massachusetts is joining the growing list of US states where Americans can walk into a shop and legally buy recreational marijuana, with two stores due to open next Tuesday. The Cannabis Control Commission issued notices Friday for two outlets to start selling to adults legally without a prescription in three days. The stores will operate in Leicester and Northampton, both west of Boston. "There probably will be a big crowd," said an employee at the Northampton dispensary, which already sells medical marijuana to those with a prescription, and who answered the telephone to AFP. "I'd recommend you wait till after Thanksgiving," he added of the upcoming US family holiday celebrated next Thursday. According to the law passed by Massachusetts, marijuana cannot be consumed while driving nor in public places. Adults aged 21 or over get up to one ounce (28.5 grams) of cannabis or five grams of marijuana concentrate. The US federal capital Washington and 10 states -- Alaska, California, Colorado, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, Nevada, Oregon, Vermont and Washington -- have legalized marijuana for recreational use. Most other states allow for limited use of medical marijuana. It remains outlawed at the federal level. The two stores in Massachusetts will be the first on the US East Coast able to sell marijuana for recreational use. "Licensees underwent thorough background checks, passed multiple inspections and had their products tested, all to ensure public health and safety," said Steven Hoffman, chairman of the Cannabis Control Commission in Massachusetts. "As patrons look forward to visiting Massachusetts stores, we hope they will do their part by first familiarizing themselves with the law and understanding what is required of responsible consumers," he added. Last month, Canada became the world's first major economy to fully legalize cannabis, making good on a 2015 campaign promise by Prime Minister Justin Trudeau. NC lawmakers' busy schedule defers discussion on medical education bill A subcommittee under the Education and Health Committee of the House of Representatives couldn't hold discussions on discuss the National Medical Education Bill due to busy schedule of Nepali Congress lawmakers on Sunday. Papua New Guinea must learn from Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad when it comes to countering Chinas growing influence, a leading opposition politician has warned. But Gary Juffa, the governor of Oro province and the leader of an opposition party in parliament, warned there was a risk of becoming a colony of China arguing that local people were not benefitting from infrastructure projects built under the Belt and Road Initiative. The impoverished nation is in the global spotlight as leaders of 21 member countries of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (Apec) attend a summit in the capital Port Moresby. China and Australia have been the primary aid donors to Papua New Guinea, as they compete for influence in the impoverished island nation by building much-needed infrastructure. But Juffa, the leader of the Peoples Movement for Change party, told the South China Morning Post that caution and transparency was needed regarding aid and investment from China as well as from other nations. Juffa argued that Chinese investment to the country does not benefit local communities, adding: We must try to maintain sovereignty. If we do not do that we will just become a colony of China. I want to ensure that my people own Papua New Guineas economy. he said. But now I dont think we are owning [our] economy. If you want to be truly independent you must own the economy. Juffa and other opposition politicians have criticised Prime Minister Peter ONeill for his closeness to China. During a visit to Beijing in June, ONeill signed the country up to take part in Chinas US$900 billion Belt and Road Initiative which aims to builds infrastructure to improve trade connectivity and investments around the region and the world. But the projects have proved to be controversial in many of the participating countries. Story continues Critics have warned that poorer countries risk running up unsustainable debts to pay for Chinese-built infrastructure schemes, while Sri Lanka has already been forced to hand over a port on a 99-year lease. Juffa pointed to the example of Mahathir, who cancelled US$22 billion worth of belt and road projects in August, shortly after he returned to power, over concerns about their affordability. We need to look at what Mahathir is doing, he has been very concerned about the future and sovereignty of Malaysia, he doesnt want the country to be a colony of China. That is what we need to do here, Juffa said. We can have Chinese influence but we need them to be based on our terms, we need to inform them about our laws, the fact that they are in our country and there has to be an element of respect, he said. Donors have helped cover the cost of hosting the Apec summit, but critics have said the lavish spending including a controversial decision to buy 40 Maseratis to ferry delegates to and from the summit venue has not brought any benefits for local people. Juffa, said that most people in the country did not know what Apec was or who has given the government money to do all these, or what we have given up. Juffa also argued that the quality of Chinese-funded infrastructure projects was worse than Australian ones, which reinforced the argument that Papua New Guinea should not side with just one country. We can accept Chinese aid but have projects imposed with an Australian standard. Then we know that roads built will be high quality, Juffa said. 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 in 2018-19, according to the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade. Chinese investment in Papua New Guinea mostly in the form of 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. China has great power and wealth. We want to maintain our sovereignty. We can develop, expand, modernise at our pace in a way to maintain our position as an independent nation, Juffa said. This article Papua New Guinea should learn from Malaysias Mahathir to avoid becoming a Chinese colony first appeared on South China Morning Post For the latest news from the South China Morning Post download our mobile app. Copyright 2018. Eleven members of a Hong Kong fraud syndicate were arrested in an undercover police operation last week after victims lost about HK$4 million in online romance and investment scams stretching back to last year. The month-long police operation, called Jetblast, led to the arrests of seven men and four women, aged 19 to 56. On Friday, officers seized HK$1.4 million worth of items ranging from cars and phones to luxury clothes and handbags. Police said they believed they had shut down the organisation, which has duped at least 24 victims. We have successfully dissolved an online investment fraud syndicate, Acting Chief Inspector Billy Ho Yiu-chung of the New Territories North Region squad said. Police arrested four ringleaders including two involved in romance scams, two in charge of investment frauds, two bank account holders and others. The group, which started its operations 1 years ago, was believed to have split into two branches, targeting distinct victim types. For romance scams in which men were the targets the syndicate would create fake social media accounts featuring pictures of attractive women to lure their victims. The scammers will use social media platforms or apps and open new accounts using seductive photographs as profile pictures to draw in male victims, Ho said. Once they build up rapport and are able to establish trust, they will recommend an investment expert to them. The scammers will use social media platforms or apps and open new accounts using seductive photographs as profile pictures to draw in male victims Billy Ho, acting chief inspector He said the roles of some of the women arrested were to lend voices for recordings or phone calls to convince victims they were talking to the parties portrayed on social media. Once the bait was taken, the financial experts would then persuade them to hand over savings or take out loans to put into high-return investment products. Story continues In the investment scams, lures touting low-risk, fast money schemes were planted in job search forums to attract jobseekers looking to make a quick buck. Fraudsters came up with the story of money men from mainland China and Macau looking to find legs to help them bypass cross-border capital controls and channel funds into the city. Victims were told to take out loans from a financial agency for them in return for about 10 to 20 per cent commission. They were given guarantees that the money men would help them settle the loans. In total, the group managed to bag about HK$3.7 million from at least 12 men and 12 women aged 19 to 41, over about 18 months. Occupations of victims ranged from cooks, drivers and students to construction workers and clerks, and most were below the age of 30, Ho said. Losses spanned a few thousand to more than HK$500,000. A feature of the syndicate was that they would use victims personal details for a credit assessment to gauge their borrowing capacity and decide how much effort to spend on them, Ho said. For those with high borrowing capacity, fraudsters would actually pay them some commission first to convince them to take out bigger loans later. Those with low ability would be asked to use credit cards to buy electronics and resell them for cash. Acting Superintendent Lam Sze-yi highlighted an increasing trend in fraud cases on social media. In 2017, there were 235 cases involving HK$180 million. In the first three quarters of 2018, the numbers already hit 463 with losses valued at HK$400 million, she said. Chief Inspector Law Suk-man urged Hongkongers to be alert when using social media, especially when handling requests for financial transactions, and to check with professionals or regulatory agencies when faced with uncertainty over high-risk financial products. This article Police smash Hong Kong fraud syndicate with arrest of 11 over romance, investment scams totalling HK$4 million first appeared on South China Morning Post For the latest news from the South China Morning Post download our mobile app. Copyright 2018. Fragrant arbour Nepals topography and unrivalled diversity have rightly earned it the reputation of being a biodiversity hotspot. Crucial talks to resolve a power struggle in Sri Lanka failed to break the political deadlock, officials said Sunday, as the three key players met for the first time since crisis erupted last month. The Indian Ocean nation has been paralysed since October 26 when President Maithripala Sirisena controversially sacked the prime minister and replaced him with a former rival, Mahinda Rajapakse. Deposed premier Ranil Wickremesinghe insists he is still prime minister, and parliament voted twice last week to reject Rajapakse as leader. In a bid to resolve the crisis, Wickremesinghe and Rajapakse both went to meet the president at his office in the capital Sunday for what were widely regarded as crucial negotiations. All three men were at the Presidential Secretariat building for nearly two hours with their aides and party seniors -- but failed to end the political deadlock. Wickremesinghe has demanded his government be restored, challenging Rajapakse to demonstrate a majority in the 225-member assembly. But brawling erupted in parliament Friday with Rajapakse loyalists smashing furniture, throwing chilli powder and launching projectiles at rivals in a bid to disrupt a no-confidence motion against him. Rajapakse's party has admitted that they lacked a simple majority in the legislature. Their rivals accuse them of delaying a vote because they do not yet have the required number of MPs. "He (Rajapakse) must submit himself to a floor test," said Lakshman Kiriella, an MP from Wickremesinghe's United National Party. "Otherwise he cannot run a government." Kiriella said the United National Party and their allies have twice demonstrated that they had 122 legislators -- nine more than the 113 required to demonstrate an absolute majority. Rajapakse's legislator son Namal confirmed the talks had failed and said they would press for the snap election which was called by Sirisena on November 9 -- though later suspended by the Supreme Court until it determines the legality of an early vote. "We reiterate our call for a general election so that people can decide who should be their government," Namal Rajapakse said on Twitter. - No government - Sirisena said the parties agreed on Sunday to ensure the peaceful conduct of parliament when it meets again on Monday afternoon. According to his office, the president called Sunday's meeting "in order to end the current political unrest and conflict situation and to allow the normal functioning of the parliament". Wickremesinghe has said Sri Lanka needs "stability" and that he is ready to work with Sirisena, despite the personality clash that triggered the constitutional crisis. After sacking Wickremesinghe on October 26, Sirisena initially suspended parliament and dissolved it on November 9. The legislature only reconvened on November 14 after the Supreme Court overruled his action and demanded a full hearing. For 19 days, Sri Lanka had two claimants to the prime minister's post -- but on Thursday parliament speaker Karu Jayasuriya held that he would recognise neither as premier, leaving the country suspended in constitutional crisis. Officially, Sri Lanka no longer has a government. Legislators say that with the administration at a standstill, key sectors such as tourism are taking a serious battering. Both sides have also warned that a prolonged power vacuum could lead to unrest. Chandan Kumar Mandal is the environment and migration reporter for The Kathmandu Post, covering labour migration and governance, as well as climate change, natural disasters, and wildlife. Encroachers usurp over 1,400 sq km forest land in Kailali More than 1,400 square kilometres of forest land in Kailali district have been encroached upon in the last six decades, according to forest officials. Get More Working Slate Plus members get extended, ad-free versions of our podcastsand much more. Sign up today. Join Slate Plus Subscribe to Working Copy this link and add it in your podcast app. copy link copied! For detailed instructions, see our Slate Plus podcasts page. Listen to Working via Apple Podcasts, Overcast, Spotify, Stitcher, or Google Play. This season, Working takes you inside one of the worlds most respected and beloved museums, the Museum of Modern Art in New York City. In the new season of Working, host Jordan Weissmann is going inside New York Citys storied Museum of Modern Art to meet the people who keep one of the worlds great artistic institutions running. Paul Galloway is MoMAs collection specialist for the department of design and architecture. To explain what he does well, it takes about the length of this episode to do it justice. But think of him as the departments central nervous system, the logistics guy who keeps it working smoothly. Which means his duties range from researching emoji to sweet talking lawyers, to holding up the line at Ben and Jerrys trying to pick out the perfect ice cream cone to store in the museums collection. You can email us at working@slate.com. Podcast production by Jessamine Molli. Florida Senator Bill Nelson, a Democrat, conceded the election for his seat in the senate to Republican governor Rick Scott, the New York Times reports. The move came after the messy Florida recount process wound down, giving Scott a final margin of victory of 10,033 votes. Thats a change from the 12,562-vote margin Scott had on election night, but not enough to make a difference. The results mean Republicans will have either a 52 or 53 seat seat majority in the Senate, pending the runoff election between interim senator Cindy Hyde-Smith and Democratic challenger Mike Espy in Mississippi, despite suffering a rout in the House of Representatives. Advertisement Nelson spoke to Scott on the phone on Sunday afternoon, and uploaded a video statement to YouTube thanking his supporters and encouraging Floridians to remain politically engaged: Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Nelsons concession is worth watching, because he identifies the existential stakes of the current political moment and runs through a laundry list of specific policies he thinks are worth fighting for, before pivoting to a call to unity: And yes, I will continue to fight hard for whats right, and I will also encourage others to seek common ground with their colleagues, colleagues on the other side of the aisle. Inevitably, at times that effort will fall short, but we have to try. We have to move beyond a politics that aims not just to defeat, but to destroy. Where truth is treated as disposable, where falsehoods abound, and the free press is assaulted as the enemy of the people. Theres been a gathering darkness in our politics in recent years. My hope today can be found in the words of John F. Kennedy, who said civility can guide us through that darkness to a safe and sane future. Advertisement Advertisement Nelson seems to be referring to Kennedys inaugural address, where he said this about the nuclear arms race with the Soviet Union: So let us begin anewremembering on both sides that civility is not a sign of weakness, and sincerity is always subject to proof. Let us never negotiate out of fear. But let us never fear to negotiate. And if a beachhead of cooperation may push back the jungle of suspicion, let both sides join in creating a new endeavor, not a new balance of power, but a new world of law, where the strong are just and the weak secure and the peace preserved. The part about sincerity being subject to proof seems like an important qualification when considering collaborating with people like newly-elected Florida Senator Rick Scott, whose company stole so much money from the American people through Medicare fraud that it had to pay a $1.7 billion fine. Scotts behavior during the recount, in which he threw around dangerous, evidence-free accusations of voter fraud when it looked like he might lose, also seems relevant here. After a certain point, assuming good faith is its own kind of lie. I know, now, that rummaging through Donald Trumps old tweets, while cathartic evidence of the presidents cellular level hypocrisy, just isnt done anymore. We get it: He used to be a bloviating billionaire, now hes a bloviating president, spewing the same sweet inanity, just in a different direction. But given Trumps comments on the California wildfires, ranging from divisively political to simply dumb, this old Trump Smokey Bear tweet is, quite simply, perfect. Who is paying for that tedious Smokey Bear commercial that is on all the time - enough already! Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 8, 2015 Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Its the masterpiece of Old Trump Twitter. Its defining work. The full circle. A faint reminder of a simpler time when you could just be genuinely appalled by the emerging President Trump, rather than authentically terrified by his policies, and scolded by those for not understanding what Real America thought or believed about him. With this Smokey Bear tweet however, we can all move on together. Smokey Bear was created by the U.S. Forest Service as an educational tool to help promote awareness and prevention of human-initiated forest fires. With slogans like Smokey Says Care Will Prevent 9 out of 10 Forest Fires and Only You Can Prevent Forest Fires, Smokey nuzzled his way into the American consciousness in 1944 and never left. The anthropomorphic black bear is the countrys longest-running public service advertising campaign. Advertisement Trumps pre-presidential questioning of Smokeys funding, and thereby utility, is eye-rollingly relevant again given the presidents response to the historic wildfires currently raging in California. Advertisement 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 Advertisement On Saturday, during a tour of the damage, Trump suggested maybe raking, you know, more like Finland, would solve the problem. We have to take care of the floors, the floors of the forest. It is very important. You look at other countries, they do it definitely and it is a whole different story, Trump said. I was with the president of Finland and he said, Were a forest nation. He called it a forest nation. And they spend a lot of time on raking and cleaning and doing things, and they dont have any problem. And when it is, it is a very small problem. So I know everybody is looking at that to that end. And its going to work out, its going to work out well. Whatever it costs to maintain Smokey Bear certainly seems like a bargain now. A gingko tree stands outside my bedroom window in Brooklyn. For seven months a year, I see nothing but leaves and sky; at night, the fan-shaped leaves cast flickering shadows on my walls. In October, the leaves turn the brilliant, luminous yellow of a stoplight. And then, one nightthis year it was on Thursdayall the leaves fall, blanketing the sidewalk and cars below in gold. The houses across the street rush into view, where theyll stay until new leaves bud. Advertisement Oliver Sacks called this phenomenon the Night of the Gingko. Compared with the slow decline of its deciduous neighbors, the gingkos rapid defoliation appears to be unnatural. Fall becomes winter overnight. The same night my gingko lost its leaves, a record-breaking fall snowstorm caught the rest of New Yorks trees by surprise, loading their leafy boughs up with snow. All night, branches came crashing down in the street, overwhelmed by the combined weight of two substances that rarely touch. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Stepping across the gingko leaf carpet this year, I thought of how fast nature seems to leap from one state to the next, in fires and floods and in sudden declines of once-common species like the monarch butterfly. The whole earth is the night of the gingko. Advertisement In the gingkos case, the rapid transition is natural and ancient. But it is a document of climate change in another way. In 1977, the poet Howard Nemerov described the eerie sense that the gingko appeared to drop its leaves as if through some hidden natural command: What signal from the stars? What senses took it in? What in those wooden motives so decided To strike their leaves, to down their leaves, Rebellion or surrender? and if this Can happen thus, what race shall be exempt? What use to learn the lessons taught by time. If a star at any time may tell us: Now. Nemerov wasnt far off. The timing of the gingkos leaf dump is a response to hidden, natural signals that we can measure but cant quite sense. Like Californias infernos after months without rain or record Atlantic hurricanes from a heated ocean, its a shock derived from months or years of antecedents. Advertisement Advertisement The Japan Meteorological Agency has been monitoring the gingkos leaf fall day since 1953. Researchers have found that leaf fall day occurred eight days later in 2000 than in 1953. Gingko budding happened four days earlier. Gingkoes spent 12 more days with leaves in 2000 than in 1953, a time during which annual air temperature in Japan increased by 2.3 degrees Fahrenheit. Researchers in South Korea studied when gingko leaves turn yellow and found an annual delay in the leaf coloring date by nearly 12 hours a year between 1989 and 2007adding up to nine more days of green. Advertisement Closer to home, the gingko tree at the University of New Hampshires James Hallin a state where fall temperatures have risen 2 degrees Fahrenheit since the 1970shas been dropping its leaves later and later every year, as Robinson Meyer noted in the Atlantic last year. Secretaries for the school kept records on a handwritten sheet of paper that the soil biologist Serita Frey found a few years ago. She has digitized and updated it since. This year, she said, the date slid back to Oct. 31 from Nov. 9 last year. But the trend line (the records start in 1977) is clearly pointing in the other direction. Advertisement Advertisement The James Hall records constitute one entry in an enormous trove of data by citizen scientists showing how climate change is stretching and compressing seasons, altering the fragile balance of phenology, or biological timing. Trees unfold their leaves earlier and lose them later, sometimes dramatically so. Its easy to brush off a few days as not mattering much, but these changes mean co-dependent species are decoupling in time, threatening the survival of one or both. One example is the red knot, a shorebird that makes an astounding 9,000-mile migration to the Arctic each year, where it raises its young. The migration is timed so that little birds can gorge on hatching insects, but as the Arctic warms, the insects are hatching earlier. By the time the red knots arrive, the hunting isnt what it used to be, and the birds are suffering. Advertisement What makes the case of the gingko particularly compelling is that the tree is a living fossil; it is virtually unchanged from the Cretaceous period, when Tyrannosaurus rex would have hunted under its branches. The tree has no surviving relatives. Peter Crane, the dean of the Yale School of Forestry and the author of Gingko, argues that the trees owe their continued existence to humans, who have maintained and propagated them for ornamentation for centuries now. Advertisement Advertisement At the Smithsonian Environmental Research Center in Maryland, 15 gingko trees are growing in little greenhouses like quarantine patients. Some trees are raised in air with 400 parts per million carbon dioxide (todays conditions), some with 600 ppm (the projected near future), some at 800 and 1,000 ppm (designed to mimic a warmer, past earth that had no ice caps). By studying how leaves develop in elevated carbon levels right now, the researchers can work backwards to discern historic carbon levels from gingko fossilsand, perhaps, use that information to project what lies in store for us. Its a hardy tree. Thats one reason the city of New York has planted so many of themfive on my block alone. They are tolerant of salt, drought, pests, and the root compaction that characterizes arboreal urban life. But they appear as susceptible to the changing temperature as the rest of us, giving us an answer to Nemerovs question. What race shall be exempt? None. Dave Offenberg got his venerable trotter Fiji up in the final strides to collar Winwood Scout and driver Bob Davis and win the $12,000 Billings East Regional Final on Saturday, Nov. 17 at The Downs at Mohegan Sun Pocono. In a field reduced to six starters, Offenberg and Fiji departed from the pole position and watched as Davis and Winwood Scout got in a speed duel with On The Podium, driven by Joe Lee, heading to a :27.4 opening quarter. They were still side-by-side as they headed for the halfway point as Uriel with Annie Stoebe parked On The Podium. When the field went by the half-mile pole Winwood Scout cleared command with Fiji tucked in the two hole and On The Podium still on the outside. Past three-quarters in 1:27.2 with On The Podium still second on the outside. But when the field headed for home, Offenberg pulled Fiji out of the pocket as On The Podium began to fade. In the deep stretch it was Winwood Scout and Fiji. The two trotters battled all the way to the wire and after the judges posted the tight win-photo the victory went to Fiji and Offenberg in a time of 1:57.1. Tony Verruso, up behind Peoplesayimnogood, trailed the leaders throughout and rambled home for the show dough. Fiji is owned by Offenberg's Allister Stables LLC and trained by Eric Abbatiello. It was the sixth victory for Fiji this year which raised his seasonal bankroll to nearly $50,000. For Offenberg he notched his fourth seasonal triumph and 55th of his amateur career. Offenberg now joins Marvin Raber who won the Midwest Region Final last week with Mikey Hanover at Hollywood Gaming Dayton Raceway and both drivers have earned the privilege to draw inside post positions in the $25,000 Delvin Miller Memorial Gold Cup Final at Yonkers Raceway on November 25. (With files from the CKG Billings) Even with the withdrawal of Law No. 10, the ability of the regime to seize property has not been diminished writes Sada al-Sham. Russia has never ceased its maneuverings to keep the Syrian regime in power, by polishing and whitewashing its crimes, rehabilitating it politically and getting economic sanctions lifted, while making it look like a non-sectarian victor over terrorism, which is not attempting to achieve sectarian demographic change in Syria. After enabling the regime to retake most opposition-held areas through crimes, terrorism and displacement, Russia has claimed that the regime does not want to confiscate Syrian property. Thus, Law No. 10, which included legislation that gave the regime the right to confiscate the property of those who are absence that is, displaced people and refugees has been withdrawn, on the pretext that the laws original intention was misunderstood and that it and did not aim to confiscate property. This talk of withdrawing Law No. 10 was published by Reuters quoting the UN Humanitarian Adviser Jan Egeland, who said that a Russian diplomat had informed him that the regime had withdrawn Law No. 10, which had created fear among regime opponents and the displaced, because it allowed for the confiscation of their land and property. According to Russian claims, the regime has stopped Law No. 10; as if the regime needs to enact laws in order to confiscate property, kill, or displace, or carry out any crime that it wants against its people. The regime, put simply and every Syrian knows this does not need laws. None of the destruction and killing and displacement has been within the laws not Syrian, not international, not humanitarian, and not religious. The regime operates like a gang that recognizes no laws or rights. Assad makes the laws through his orders, and if they are annulled, they are annulled through orders, whether Russian or Iranian. The regime is also confiscating citizens property without a need for Law No. 10. Sources say that this has been done on the pretext of individuals support for terrorism, or accusations of being involved in acts against the state, in rulings issued by the regimes terrorism court. Regime forces have also arrested those who have agreed to reconciliations in Ghouta and in Damascus, in accordance with these rulings. It is unheard of in Syria for a decree issued by Bashar al-Assad to be suspended or violated or not agreed upon by the so-called parliament. How can Bashar al-Assad stop this decree, and will those who have permitted Assad to kill and displace millions not allow him to confiscate property? This is a Russian attempt to whitewash its pages and the regimes pages and convince the West and the East that Syria is in Russias custody and ready for reconstruction after eliminating the terrorists thanks to the Russian intervention. This comes after continuous Western statements about their lack of intention to enter reconstruction as long as the Assad regime remains in power. These countries, which claim they will not participate in reconstruction, are the same ones that made similar statements three years ago saying that the regime had lost its legitimacy and needed to leave Syria, which has now flipped to statements that the regime needs to stay to fight terrorism and it is possible with Russian maneuvers that the line about reconstruction will change to allow Assad to stay. Russia is carrying out these maneuvers while also working to construct a constitutional committee in accordance with the regimes interests, which comes after it took control over important areas such as Daraa and Quneitra and opened the border crossing with Jordan and the occupied Golan. The constitutional committee will be formed under the supervision of the Untied Nations, and is expected to be announced in Geneva in order to give it international legitimacy. This article was translated and edited by The Syrian Observer. Responsibility for the information and views set out in this article lies entirely with the author. The vote of Syrian-Americans during the mid-term elections will partly be shaped by the policies of the two main American parties towards the Syrian conflict, Wael Sawah argues The Syrians I know in America are divided not only among themselves, but also within each of them. On the one hand, most Syrians in the United States are part of the middle or upper-middle class, have a good education, and an average income that is higher than the average income of migrant workers and other American laborers. In that respect, most of them have a liberal leaning, and tend toward the Democrats. However, most Syrians are also religiously conservative (whether Muslims or Christians), and therefore each has a conservative side that tends toward the Republicans. But Trumps clear and obvious hostility toward Muslims and all minorities makes a vote for the Republicans a vote against them. Trumps decision to move the American consulate in Israel from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem was also a slap in the face of all Arabs living in America, including Syrians. A vote for the Republicans would be tacit support for this decision which had gone in the face of two Democratic presidents (Bill Clinton and Barack Obama) and one Republican (George W Bush) after Congress voted overwhelmingly to transfer the embassy in 1995. Most Syrian-Americans benefit from the health insurance policy which was adopted by President Barack Obama, and therefore are against the repeated Republican attempts to cancel Obamas law, known as Obamacare. These attempts, if successful, would mean more expensive health insurance for a large number of Syrian-Americans, and may cost some their lives. On the other hand, the tendency of liberal Democrats to support abortion and gay rights makes more conservative Syrians hesitant to support them, as they find themselves closer to the conservative Republicans who tend to be religious, or at least to appear religious. However, the main problem for most Syrian-Americans remains Syria itself. In the United States today there are between 100,000 and 150,000 Syrian-Americans, although this number does not include new refugees. After the start of the Syrian revolution, Syrian-Americans began to organize themselves in accordance with their political views, in their first serious attempt to come together outside the framework of the family or religious association (mosque or church). The points where they came together (or were divided) were around their position on the revolution and the Assad regime in Syria. Syrians opposed to Bashar al-Assad established non-governmental organizations, such as the Syrian American Council and the Syrian American Medical Society. The biggest forms of expressing solidarity among Syrian-Americans were donations to humanitarian aid efforts. This solidarity initiative transcended political and religious divisions. However, as a result of their disappointment around the inaction of American administrations, they have begun to turn toward greater political participation. The American presidential elections of 2016 were a turning point for political outreach, as Syrian-Americans continued to make donations to candidates who were mostly Republicans, but at the same time they began to create well-built political organizations in an attempt to influence American policy. They established the Political Action Committee for a Free Syria to permit Syrian-Americans to legally support Congress members who defended their agenda. For example, the Syrian-American Forum called for preserving the Syrian state and rejecting American interference. Other groups were founded, such as the Syrian Community Network, to coordinate aid given to refugees and their integration into their new communities. Syrians who supported Assad mobilized their forces around legitimizing the Syrian regime and protesting against American interference in Syria, as occurred in 2013, when Syrians split in demonstrations either in support of the strikes which President Obama had vowed to carry out, or against them. Syrians were also divided before the ballot boxes between those who opposed the policies of President Obama, which some Syrians saw as biased toward the Bashar al-Assad regime and the Russian intervention in their mother country, and opponents of Trumps military intervention in Syria and his strikes against the Assad regime in 2017 and 2018. In this way, the Syrian-American voter who supports stronger American intervention in Syria to end the war and force the regime to accept a political transition is closer to President Donald Trump and a group of Republicans in Congress who support broader intervention. But these same Syrians feel fear and insecurity from Trumps health and social policies and his racist positions and fear mongering statements against migrants. These Syrians may also feel frustrated with Trump because he cannot bring their family from Syria as easily as they could in the past. In contrast, those enthusiastic about liberal Democratic policies felt betrayed by the Democrats position on Syria and the policy which led to bolstering the Assad regime and weakening the opposition and fragmenting Syria. Many Syrian-Americans who Ive recently spoken with were hesitant. Most of them in the end are closer to the Democrats because of Trumps arrogance, and base rhetoric and racism and hatred. But they also lack the motivation to go to the polling stations and many Syrians could choose in the end to sit before their TV screens and watch the results. In any case, voting remains a duty and a right. It is up to Syrian-Americans to prove themselves to be an important number in the American political scene. And while this applies to all Syrians, it applies more to the millennial youth, who, unlike their parents, should master the American political game. Kangaroo care, breastfeeding suggested to save preterm babies Nearly 81,000 babies are born prematurely every year in Nepal and 4,300 of them die before they reach five years due to preterm complications, which, doctors say, can be overcome with special care. The recapturing of Idleb remains a top priority for the government, but local and regional issues are complicated the matter writes Al-Ayam. Idleb has fallen down the agenda in the media and on the field as local and regional events have imposed themselves. The provincewhich is governed by the Sochi de-escalation agreement and the establishment of the demilitarized zoneremains captive to an excruciating wait and the near-daily clashes between different armed groups. Killing, kidnapping, theft, and a security breakdown have become daily occurrences, according to those close to and informed on the situation. Not only this, but terrorists are also violating the de-escalation agreement and striking nearby army positions, as well as surrounding towns and villages, as occurred in the environs of the town of Abou al-Dahour east of Idleb, and the towns of Jourin and Maan in the northern Hama countryside, all of which has forced the army to respond to the sources of the fire. Amid this atmosphere, if we explored the possible scenarios for Idleb, we would find that expectations and views range between various options: the current situation continuingas long as the two guarantors, Turkey and Russia, agreeuntil there is a political breakthrough and a solution begins where Turkey imposes the presence of its group; or limited skirmishes between the army and the terrorists without matters slipping into a wide-scale confrontation; or a hot winter with the army gradually taking the province in stages. All of these possibilities do not spring out of a vacuum. Opposition circles go even further, and link the provinces future to what is occurring in the eastern Euphrates, saying that the Turks will be part of the Russian-American understandingmeaning that they will propose the fate of the eastern Euphrates as well, and that thereby Turkey will get what it wants from Syria, specifically the aborting of any Kurdish separatist project and resolving its refugee problem. The situation in Idleb is difficult and complicated, but it is not hopeless. If we go back in our memories, we will remember that the army with assistance from its allies, was able to clear similar areas, whether on the battlefield or through reconciliations and agreements. Idleb is the final hub of the terrorists and it will not be insurmountable or different than what came before. The head of the Syrian National Labor Organization and the head of the internal opposition delegation to Geneva, added that the preparations for the Idleb battle are underway, despite the warnings of international organizations and Western countries that it could lead to the biggest massacre of the century, and despite the fact that there have been warnings to stop the Syrian army from advancing. The tone returned to chemical weapons, and faced with this situation, we can say this: The battle is coming, but it will be in comfortable instalments for humanitarian, military and also political reasons, whereby Idleb will be taken in various stages. The head of the Syrian National Labor Organization added, The area is captive to various pressures by influential parties, but the army and the peopleand the national unity that the internal opposition stresses, despite the attempts to make this opposition absentwill have a major role in restoring sovereignty, national unity, the constitutional amendments, a unified national government, and open elections leading to reconstruction. A military analyst, Dr. Kamal al-Jafaa, said, A month has passed without Turkey adhering to what it promised the Russians in terms of implementing the de-escalation and demilitarized zone in Idleb and its environs. Jafaa attributed the Turkish evasiveness to a number of international and regional development that has solidified its position and raised the roof of its demands, in addition to matters which were not previously addressed in the bilateral meeting. Jafaa said that the assassination of Khashoggi and the increasing pressure on Iran, as well as the American-Turkish rapprochement and the escalating disputes with Saudi Arabia and the failure of the Turkish-American deal around Manbij and the increasing popular base for the oppositionall led to more pressure on Russia and Syria and more patience and endurance for Turkeys unbalanced actions in an effort to absorb the arrogance and vanity that has recently struck Erdogan. There has also been an increasing pace of attacks on Russian forces by the al-Nusra Front and its allies, while Turkish efforts have focused on preparing the Euphrates Shield forces in the north to open a side battle to serve its broad military aspirations. Jafaa says, The Afrin scenario will be repeated, and fronts will be opened in northeastern Syria. The Euphrates Shield forces will be sent to help Turkey end the Kurdish dream in northeastern Syria. Syria and its allies will open fronts in Aleppo and the western and northern Hama countrysides. Its warnings will be put on the negotiations table again, as happened at the start of last year when it cleared the area east of the railroad southwest of Aleppo city. He concluded saying that the army and its allies in northeastern Syria will open a number of broad fronts, firstly in northern Lattakia province, and north and west of Aleppo city, with the Mahardah environs, and north of Hama, enabling the implementation of this phase by force. Idleb is experiencing an exceptional situation, but it will not remain as it is, even if it takes a little time, given the sensitivity and complicated nature of the situation. The province will be liberated, as the Syrian representative to the United Nations, Bashar al-Jaafari, said recently at the United Nations Security Council, Syria is intent on restoring Idleb at the time it sees fit, and it will not allow the city to become a stronghold for terrorists. The situation is difficult and complicated and the entire area is in waiting, and knows that the situation will not remain as it is now. The army, which has succeeded by force and with reconciliations, in imposing its control will not leave the province as loot for the terorrists to turn into a second Tora Bora. It will not be left to all those who aspire to carry out their agendas in Idleb, including the terrorists. While they dig tunnels and hide weapons, they know that at any moment they will not be allowed or will not be able to return to them againand all they are trying to do at this point is waste time so as to postpone their deaths and this in itself is more difficult than death. This article was translated and edited by The Syrian Observer. Responsibility for the information and views set out in this article lies entirely with the author. The reconstruction bill for Syria is estimated to be over $388 billion writes Al-Watan Prime Minister Imad Khamis considers the issue of reconstruction one of the most important issues on the governments table. Hundreds of thousands of homes have been destroyed by the actions of terrorists, and many people have been displaced. But is it possible for the state to prepare everything required for the reconstruction and rebuilding process if the building and housing sectors are absent from its mind? Of course not. In an interview with Al-Watan, the Prime Minister said: We have begun and developed important rubrics. There are legal and other steps regarding funding underway, as well as with regards to studies and executive plans. We have held more than ten meetings in this respect with the aim of rebuilding the housing sector. He added: The first step we announced was that every area destroyed by terrorists must have new organizational plans, from the administrative units to the city. We started with this at the beginning of last year and through field surveys in Aleppo city we found that the best steps to achieve real progress lie in preparing new organizational plans for the informal areas and areas damaged by the actions of terrorists, as well as safe areas and the commercial infrastructure. Contemporary organizational plans have been completed to achieve real development, and this has been one of the most important outputs of the government in Aleppo. Khamis added that the second step regards the need to rebuild about 500,000 homes damaged by terrorists. This requires trillions of Syrian pounds, which is not currently available. However, there are alternatives. The state is the only one who can prepare legislation for this sector and develop laws that regulate the means of carrying out reconstruction, such as the Union of Housing Cooperation and the real estate development companies that we have met with. Some of the building will be done by state institutions, such as the Public Corporation for Housing. The other portion will be done by real estate development companies. The private sector is an active partner in reducing the burden on the state, the prime minister said. The third step relates to the Union of Housing Cooperation. For 40 years housing associations had been an entryway to secure housing funds for Syrian citizens at appropriate prices. In order to restore its activity, without the corruption which has plagued the sector both during and before the crisis, we halted the associations for a period to review them and ensure they are serious he said. Khamis added: We have 2,600 associations. If they were all serious, there wouldnt be a housing crisis. Therefore we are working to find out how serious and active they are and seeing if they can partner with us. After the Ministry of Public Works finished preparing the necessary studies and evaluating the companies, work to regulate the residential associations will begin in the coming weeks. This is to reassure every Syrian citizen that we will not leave the housing sector, which was destroyed in large part, to a random fate. We will not leave the citizen on their own. We will work out what is causing the problems in the sector and with organised participation we will be able to rebuild the housing sector and the homes lost in a suitable manner. Khamis concluded: The state which was able to triumph in the war will be able to create relationships built on mutual respect with allies and states which stood with the Syrian people. The states and entities which participated in shedding Syrian blood will have no role. Neither in the open or hidden in shadow institutions. This article was translated and edited by The Syrian Observer. Responsibility for the information and views set out in this article lies entirely with the author. A crowdfunding campaign managed to secure all the funds for the children's hospital in just three weeks writes Al-Araby Al-Jadeed Her scarred hands wrapped in gloves, Malakeh Harbaliyya lifted an infant out of an incubator at a hospital in Syria's rural north, holding him gently as he guzzled milk from a bottle. Nearly two years ago, the nurse and her brave colleagues were scrambling to save premature babies from heavy regime bombardment of Aleppo city, before ultimately being forced to quit the facility altogether. Now the same team of doctors has reunited to open Hope Hospital in northern parts of the province still outside regime control. "I think of the children first before thinking of myself, because their lives are in our hands," said 31-year-old Malakeh at the facility in rebel-held Al-Ghandura. "Their tiny souls didn't do anything to deserve this war." In November 2016, she was working in the only children's hospital still operating in rebel parts of Aleppo city when an airstrike slammed into the building. In footage of the aftermath, Malakeh is seen scooping up a baby in a light pink blanket, then suddenly bursting into loud sobs. Barely eight months later, after evacuating the city, a car bomb sent Malakeh herself into intensive care in neighboring Turkey. But she has pulled through, and the severe burns on her hands have today healed into a swirl of scars. Her hair covered by a pink-colored scarf and dressed in a top that reads Girls for the Future, Malakeh beamed as she lovingly pinched a frail infant's cheeks. "My colleagues at the Hope Hospital the staff with me here gave me the will to live," she said. Starting Again In blue scrubs, Dr Hatem greeted his colleagues at the door before heading in to examine a girl squirming on a consultation bed from stomach pain. The hallway features a large portrait of Mohammad Wassim Maaz, a beloved children's doctor who died in an airstrike on Aleppo city in April 2016. Later that year, after the city's Children's Hospital was knocked out of action and as a regime victory loomed, Hatem and his colleagues formulated a plan. With government troops closing in, the staff knew they would soon be evacuated from Aleppo and wanted to stay together, said the 32-year-old doctor, also the hospital's director. "Wherever we went, we wanted to set up a children's hospital," said Hatem, preferring not to give his surname. In under a month, a crowdfunding campaign by the Turkey-based Independent Doctors Association and Britain's CanDo charity gathered enough donations from around the world to rehabilitate and run a new hospital for a whole year. "We would never have imagined that we could find the whole amount in just three weeks," Hatem said. With equipment brought from Britain via neighboring Turkey, they opened the Hope Hospital in April 2017 in the previously underserved Al-Ghandura district. "There was not a single dispensary or anything to do with medicine in the whole area," said Hatem, who crisscrossed parts of the province still under rebel control looking for a good location. Slowly, the facility grew into a fully-fledged children's hospital complete with nine baby incubators, a malnutrition clinic, a well-equipped lab and emergency services. After having to refer many women to another hospital, they added an obstetrics and gynaecology section too. "The team is mostly the same as the one in Aleppo but, because of the bigger workload here and the higher turnout, we had to increase staff," said Hatem. As the only specialised facility for miles, his clinic set amidst tall pine trees receives 8,500 to 9,500 cases a month. "The Hope Hospital really is a point of hope," he said. "It allowed the staff from Aleppo to feel that there is still humanity left in the world," Hatem said of the donations that brought the facility to life. But funds have started to run out and another crowd-funding campaign failed to meet its target. Now, staff hope to sign a contract with the UN's children agency (UNICEF) to help run the facility for six more months. Hospital manager Riyadh Najjar, 31, said the hospital is providing services to many in need. "It's anguishing to leave your city, but here you have the opportunity to serve people," he said, dressed in trousers and a white t-shirt. Beyond the district's original inhabitants, Najjar said the hospital also serves many Syrians displaced from other parts of the country by the seven-year war. Like the hospital staff, patients come from Aleppo city, but also the central province of Homs and northern province of Raqa. "It's something extraordinary to be able to offer them medical services and help them," said Najjar. Responsibility for the information and views set out in this article lies entirely with the author. Ahmed fled from Syria to Turkey when he was just 16, but his dream of graduating from university never left him writes Asharq al-Awsat Ahmed, 22, and his family fled their home in the Syrian town of Dara Azza in 2012 and arrived in Turkeys then newly opened Kilis 1 Camp for refugees. At the time, he was a 16 year-old high school student with hopes to obtain a doctorate one day. But his dreams were dashed by the horrors of war, displacement and refugee camp life. His dream came from his desire to fulfill his dead fathers wish. Ahmeds father was a Syrian judge, who died in a car accident years ago. Speaking to Asharq Al-Awsat, Ahmed recounts how the camp administration decided in 2012 to open up a school without clear insight as to whether it would be accredited in either Turkey or Syria. For Ahmed, it was a life-determining factor given that he was in the 11th grade at the time and only a year shy from applying to university. After a break that lasted only six months, he returned to school. He was the first student to enroll, along with five others, despite not knowing if their obtained certificate would be recognized by other academic institutions. Overcoming obstacles and destitute living conditions, Ahmed passed high school with top grades, earning himself a seat at Turkeys Van Yuzuncu Yl Universitys chemical engineering program. I was learning Turkish, and I met students, who were mostly Turkish. The first year proved to be a real challenge for me to complete my studies, Ahmed told Asharq Al-Awsat. But learning a foreign language wasnt about to stop his determination to earn a degree. He passed his Turkish language courses with high grades and successfully enrolled in the Faculty of Engineering. Five years later, he graduated top of his class and third among the Faculty of Engineering students. Kilis 1 Camp is located in the southern state of Kilis, where some 12,000 Syrian refugees live. When scoping the camps life, nothing really stands out. Most Syrians staying at Kilis camps are experiencing a standard asylum-seekers life. Many children are seen playing on the streets, women carry out ordinary activities, such as shopping for staples and goods, and men gather in front of camp management offices and exchange hot news. The Turkish government gives every refugee in the Kilis camps 100 Turkish liras (around $30) per month in food stamps, free medical care and a chance at an education. Turkey does provide commodity aid to Syrian refugees however, it is distributed irregularly. The total number of Syrian refugees living across 20 camps in Turkeys south, according to the Interior Ministry's Immigration Department mid-July report, is an approximate 227,000. Responsibility for the information and views set out in this article lies entirely with the author. Russia and Iran are complicit in the forceful disappearance of more than 100,000 Syrian civilians, according to a report by the Syrian Network for Human Rights, the National Coalition says The Syrian Embassy in Qatar, in cooperation with the Syrian Network for Human Rights (SNHR), organized a special exhibition in the Qatari capital of Doha to draw attention to the plight of the victims of enforced disappearance in Syria. The event was attended by ambassadors and diplomats as well as representatives of civil and human rights organizations. The exhibition, which was held under the title Syrian Detainees; Free People Under the Guillotine," featured 41 photographs of prominent figures of the Syrian revolution as well as paintings illustrating the methods of torture inside the Assad regime's detention facilities. The Network published a report under the title "An Endless Tunnel containing information about the number of victims of enforced disappearance in Syria, including an estimated 13,608 people who were forcefully disappeared by the Assad regime. The Network pointed out that the Assad regime is responsible for 85.9 percent of the cases of arbitrary arrests and enforced disappearances in Syria. It said that the victims included many children and women, adding that the Assad regime would not have been able to forcefully disappear more than 100,000 civilians without support from Russia and Iran. The Assad regime has been manipulating the issue of enforced disappearance as it has already acknowledged the death of 836 people in its prisons without handing over the bodies of the deceased to their families, the monitoring group added. The Network said that the crime of systematic enforced disappearances continues unabated, noting that as long as the death of these persons is not confirmed they will continue to be classified as victims of enforced disappearance. The Syrian Coalition called on the international community to launch a serious investigation into the issue of detainees, stressing that it places the issue high on its list of priorities. It stressed the need to take action to save the remaining detainees and to hold the perpetrators of these crimes to account by referring them to the international Criminal Court as these crimes constitute war crimes and crimes against humanity. This article was edited by The Syrian Observer. Responsibility for the information and views set out in this article lies entirely with the author. After years of waiting some 40 political prisoners are awaiting execution; they are calling on Syrians to save them, Smart News reports Prisoners of the Syrian regime in the Hama Central Prison in central Syria on Thursday put out cries to all Syrians to move to cancel the death sentences issued against them after years of imprisonment. This came after a prisoner in the Hama Central Prison confirmed that 40 prisoners had received orders that they be moved to the Saydnaya Central Prison in the Damascus countryside, including 11 prisoners arrested by the regime for going out in protests. Death sentences had been issued against them in 2016, however they were not implemented at that time because the prisoners carried out a strike in the prison. Activists circulated an audio recording from one of the prisoners who was sentenced to death, which Smart News listened to, in which the prisoner says that the crime he will be executed for is going out in a protest and calling for freedom, adding that he did not carry a weapon and that he never hurt a child, employee, security member or member of the regime forces. The prisoner added in the recording that he was arrested by regime forces seven years ago, and that he was in the Saydnaya prison for a number of years, and then was moved to Hama Central Prison, and now would be moved to Saydnaya to be executed there. The prisoner added that he called on all Syrians without distinction saying that the life of those sentenced hung on the necks of all Syrias people, asking them to mobilize to save them and to get them out from behind bars. The prisoner added that the regimes military judge, Firas Dunya, had informed them of the need to attend their trials assuring that unjust rulings would not be issued against them, only for them to be sentenced to death in the end. A prisoner inside the prison previously told Smart that the regimes justice minister and military judge visited the Hama prison two days ago and informed 40 prisoners of the decision to transfer them to Saydnaya prison, including 11 who had been sentenced to death and nine to life imprisonment. The prisoners carried out a strike inside the prison at the start of May 2016, demanding that the death sentences issued against them be canceled. The regime forces refused their requests although the sentences were not carried out at the time. Last year, the director of the Hama Central Prison, Brigadier General Ziyad al-Mohamed, resigned based on a request by prisoners to the deputy interior minister after a torture scandal inside the civilian prison. Amnesty International on February 7, 2017, issued a report under the title Human Slaughterhouse, in which it revealed that the regime had executed 13,000 people in the Saydnaya prison by hanging, mostly civilian opponents of the regime. This article was translated and edited by The Syrian Observer. Responsibility for the information and views set out in this article lies entirely with the author. In an interview with The Syrian Observer, Dutch diplomat Nikolaos van Dam opens up about the failures of the revolution and the missed opportunities. Nikolaos van Dam is a Dutch diplomat, scholar and the author of a classic text on Syrian politics and sectarianism: The Struggle for Power in Syria (2011). During the Syrian uprising, he served as the Dutch Special Envoy to Syria, operating from Istanbul, and had intensive contact with most of the parties involved in the conflict. I met Dr. Nikolaos van Dam in Damascus years before the revolution. His deep knowledge and mild nature fascinated me. In 2016 I saw him again in Istanbul. He was the Special Envoy for Syria and he had only become more elegant and knowledgeable. Not many people can be both academic and active, but Van Dam is. Retired now, Van Dam has more time to contemplate Syria and to see where things went wrong in the Syrian revolution. His latest book Destroying a Nation: The Civil War in Syria (also in Arabic (2018): : ) is maybe the most comprehensive and objective report on Syria. He explains the recent history of Syria, covering the growing disenchantment with the Assad regime, the chaos of civil war and the fractures which led to the rise and expansion of the Islamic State. Through an in-depth examination of the role of sectarian, regional and tribal loyalties in Syria, Van Dam traces political developments within the Assad regime and the military and civilian power elite from the Arab Spring to the present day. Below are exerts from The Syrian Observers interview with Dr. van Dam. The full interview will be published in two parts on Tuesday and Wednesday. Whereas direct dialogue with the regime was rejected relatively early on in the conflict when there were several thousands of dead as a result of the war, the regime, cynically speaking, gradually is becoming more accepted as a matter of reality after more than 500,000 dead. The question should also be taken into account of whether only the party that pulled the trigger was responsible, or also the party that provided the other party with the motivation to attack it, knowing very well how the dictatorship was going to react (if past massacres, like Hama in 1982 were something to go by). The longer the war has taken, the fewer are the possibilities for any peaceful compromise between the regime and the opposition groups, assuming that there ever has been any room for political compromises. What might perhaps have been acceptable for the regime several years ago, when circumstances were quite different, is not necessarily acceptable now. Possible chances have been missed by refusing any real dialogue with the regime in the past (which applies also to many Western and Arab countries), and by maintaining the demand that the regime had to disappear and brought before justice (however much such a demand may have been justified on grounds of justice and morality). I am aware, of course, that many opposition Syrians will fully disapprove of what I am saying here, but under the present circumstances I see no clear way how they could fully achieve their stated aims. The alternative is, perhaps, to wait for a more successful revolution, from their perspective, whenever; but in the meantime, life inside Syria has to go on. The opposition (or I should say the many opposition groups) should have considered the extremely violent and bloody consequences and prospects. With hindsight one might argue that the opposition groups should have thought at least twice, or more, before starting the revolution, both peaceful and armed. But this is easier said (now, afterwards) than that it could be done. If you want to defeat and kill a lionAssad means lion in Arabicyou must be well-prepared beforehand to be the stronger and better armed party, so as to prevent being defeated and killed oneself. The visit of US Ambassador Ford and his French colleague Chevallier in July 2011 to the demonstrators in Hama was interpreted as a positive signal that US and French support was forthcoming. But in the end, it did not come as expected or imagined. The opposition groups and demonstrators should have known that, rationally speaking. But they were emotionally overwhelmed by the imaginary prospects of success. The bloody conflict was unavoidable, both by violent means, as well as through peaceful efforts that turned out to be not that peaceful after all, taking the professed aims into consideration: toppling the regime and executing the president. The interview was conducted by Wael Sawah. This article does not necessarily reflect the opinion of The Syrian Observer. After much confusion, the United States have announced a clear strategy on Syria and what they hope to achieve writes Al-Hurra channel. Over the last few weeks, the outlines of a new American policy toward Syria have started to become clear, through the official American announcement, at all levels, that the American political aim in Syria is to defeat the Islamic State (ISIS) and to implement Security Council Resolution 2254, including starting the work of the constitutional committee in discussing a new constitution for Syria, paving the way for free and fair elections that include all Syrians inside and outside the country, as well as removing Iranian forces from Syria. This announcement was accompanied by steps taken by the administration to prove it was serious, such as American President Donald Trump on Sep. 4, 2018, asking Russia and Iran to halt their planned attack on Idleb, as well as threatening them with severe consequences if they did not comply. Then the countries of the Small Working Group concerned with the Syrian crisis, on Sep. 14, 2018, issued a statement in which it stressed that the outcomes of the constitutional meeting needed to include changes to the duties of the Syrian President and needed to give the Prime Minister broad powers as well as holding fair elections, allowing public freedoms, and investigating the matter of the disappeared, missing and prisoners held by the regime, as well as giving up weapons of mass destruction. At this time, Russia is trying to impose its agenda on Syria in a way that guarantees its and Irans interests, manifested in its call to the international community to participate in the reconstruction of Syria, claiming that it wants to return refugees to the country thereby exploiting European fears surrounding this issue, without offering any real political solution for the Syrian crisis. Russia is overlooking the causes of this crisis and is not addressing the negative Iranian role in Syria, and it is not calling for those responsible for the situation be held to account. Russia opposes the insistence of the international community that Iran and its militias leave Syria, as a step towards a solution. On the contrary, Moscow considers the Iranian presence to be legitimate because it came at the request of the regime. Russia is demanding that the regime or those close to it make up two thirds of the members of the constitutional committee, while the international community is calling on the opposition to nominate a legal, not political, delegation, and Syrian civil society is demanding to be represented in the negotiating delegation in the constitutional committee. Within these two tracks of varying Russian and American priorities, a summit was convened in Ankara on Oct. 27, 2018, which Turkey, Russia, France and Germany participated in, at the request of the Turkish President. The summit issued a statement stressing the need to implement the truce deal in Idleb and begin work on the constitutional committee and to work to find a mechanism that guarantees coordination and progress with the reconstruction and the commencement of the constitutional committee. Pending the briefing of the former UN Special Envoy to Syria, Staffan de Mistura, to the Security Council midway through next month, regarding the constitutional committee, which the Syrian regime announced its rejection of on Sep. 25, 2018 after the envoy visited Damascus, the United States seems intent on seriously continuing its new policy in Syria, especially with regards to the Iranian presence. Washington will work to impose its agenda and it will not accept any Russian proposal that does not accord with American interests. The United States will also resort to imposing more economic sanctions on all those who assist the regime economically and politically, whether from the private or state sector, as a first step and as a message to those who are interested in the issue. The United States is serious and everyone should cooperate with them in this regard. Washington expects to curtail Irans ability to continue to pay the financial cost of the war which it is waging on the Syrian people and which uses a large number of Arab and foreign mercenaries. These sanctions affect the Iranian oil sector and will prevent Tehran from spending oil revenues. The United States will also increase its military presence in Syria and it will expand the list of its red lines in Syria. Finally it will prevent any attempt to restore diplomatic relations with the Syrian regime until the regime complies with international conditions for the solution. This article was translated and edited by The Syrian Observer. Responsibility for the information and views set out in this article lies entirely with the author. President Assad has vowed to retake the north and rejects the presence of US and Turkish troops in Manbij writes SANA The Syrian army will regain control of the countrys north by force if rebels there refuse to surrender, President Bashar al-Assad said in an interview with Russian television channel NTV on Sunday. Assad, who said in the same interview he would not accept Western funds to rebuild his country, was speaking after Damascus said it rejected the presence of Turkish and U.S. forces around the northern town of Manbij, a day after soldiers from the two countries began patrolling the area. Below is the full interview as published by SANA, the Syrian official news agency: Question 1: Mr. President, now we can make the summary of some situations, because the ISIS is almost defeated, Damascus is almost safe and its under control of governmental forces, and so far, you have some operation in the south and in the east. Could you tell me now, as a President by career, and as a doctor by education, what was it how you could miss the first symptoms of this war, first symptoms of this invasion to your country, because you call it invasion. What was it? President Assad: We have to differentiate between the internal symptoms and the external. The internal symptoms, we have problems like any other society in our region, we are part of this region, and we always discuss these problems. Maybe we were short of solving the problem that we could have solved before the war, maybe not; this is subjective to every Syrian, could say from his different point of view. While if you want to talk about the external factor, which is very important in creating this war, because no other country in this region has a similar war, although we have the same societies and you have worse problems, like in the Gulf states, where you have no freedom at all, either to women or to people, to anything. So, if thats the reason, for example because that was the slogan at the very beginning why didnt it start in those countries? So, actually what happened wasnt internal, because the same problems have been there for decades now, some of them for centuries. So, actually this is where the external factor, that it wasnt clear, because we didnt see it, actually because the plan hasnt been made in Syria; it was made in some Western countries like US, France, and UK mainly. Some other satellite states like Turkey, Saudi Arabia, and Qatar, they were planning and they were sending money at the very beginning, after they failed in creating, lets say, a spontaneous revolution, this is where they started sending money, and this is where the problem started. That was clear for us from the very beginning, but maybe we couldnt control it. Question 2: But why didnt you see for example, when I came to Eastern Ghouta months ago, Ive seen the tunnels everywhere, which were constructed by the engineers, by huge machines, by bulldozers how you could miss it? Do you have an explanation now, how they managed to do these underground cities? President Assad: Of course, they could have used the tools that they already had in that area, whether stolen from the government, from private companies, and so on, and they had support coming from Jordan through the desert directly to al-Ghouta, where the desert is empty, and no-one can control it or observe it, and we dont have, of course, the means like satellites and so on to see all this. At the same time, when they started digging, they started digging under the cities, something you cannot see Journalist: Even the security forces, they didnt see it? President Assad: They didnt see it, because we dont have direct visual line to see it. But we had information from inside, that they had tunnels, but that was later, when those tunnels became fully operational, but before that it was difficult for us to see it. Question 3: When I came to Eastern Ghouta, I met people who could prove by themselves that theyve seen how al-Nusra shot the chemical weapons to their areas. Ive seen all these chemical suits in rooms where were the headquarters of al-Nusra, and so on. But, the West tells that you poisoned your own people with chemical weapons. Why is that, why nobody is listening to the people, and why the West is so insistent in that? President Assad: Because the chemical narrative is part of their main narrative against the government in Syria, but they use it only when their troops, their proxies the terrorists, have been defeated in Syria in certain areas. They use this story or this narrative in order to have a pretext to intervene directly, militarily, and to attack the Syrian Army. Thats what happened many times, and every time they use this story, its only when their proxies the terrorists have been defeated. It should be I mean, logically, let alone the reality that we dont have any chemical weapons anyway, we gave them up Journalist: You dont have at all? President Assad: We dont have, no. Since 2013, we dont have. But put this aside, even if you have it, you should be using these weapons at least if you are being defeated, not when you win the war. And actually, every time we are winning, they use it, so this is against logic, but this is used as pretext in order to support the terrorists in Syria. Question 4: Is there any way to prevent all these provocations, because the Russian Ministry of Defense tells that one of these provocations is to be prepared in Deir Ezzor, and they told it recently. How to stop this? President Assad: You cannot, because this is not a result of our reality; this is the result of their imagination, of their media, this is something created in their own media and their own countries, and then spread all over the world on the Internet or in different media outlets. So, you cannot prevent the provocation. The Americans only tell lies, and they attack right away. When you dont have international law to be respected, when you dont have effective United Nations institutions, you cannot talk about preventing provocations, because this is a jungle now, all over the world. Question 5: You are winning, you control most parts of the country already, but so many players are in Syria, so many parts, they have interests. America is making negotiations with Turkey about Manbij, Israel is making negotiations somewhere, the Iranians make negotiations, the Kurds they have their own interests. How to solve it all, how to keep Syria united? Because nowadays it seems like Syria is torn apart. How to stop this? Because you told your main logo is like one Syria for one nation. President Assad: If you want to talk about Syria being torn about, this is about, lets say, the geography, not about the society; the society is unified, so we dont have a problem regarding this. So, we can look at Syria as unified as long as the people are unified. Being torn apart, this is occupation; different parts of Syria being occupied by the terrorists with the support of the West, mainly the United States and their allies. So, if you want to talk about the future of Syria, we dont take them into account. Talk about the political process, this is going to be an only-Syrian political process. We dont take into account the interests of any other country regarding something which is internal. If you talk about the war, its becoming now an international war, because thats how it started. Actually, it wasnt only about the government in Syria; the government in Syria is independent, we have good relations with Russia, with China, and other countries, and the United States wanted to re-draw the map of the world politically, and maybe militarily, so Syria was one of the main battlefields to re-draw this map, at least in the Middle East. Thats why when you talk about those interests, this is a fight between these powers: the main power: the United States and their allies supporting the terrorists, and the goal is to have hegemony, and the other power is Russia with its allies, their aim is to fight the terrorism and to restore the international law. Question 6: But why Syria was selected for this game? President Assad: For many different reasons. Syria is part of the group of countries that are considered as independent: Syria, Iran, North Korea, and now Russia as an independent country. So, the West doesnt accept any independent position. America doesnt accept any European independent position. And thats why you have a problem in Russia with the US, because you wanted to be independent, and they dont accept you, even if you are a great power or not, you cannot be independent. This is one reason. And we are a small country, how can we say no and yes? We have to say only yes. This is one reason. Second, the geopolitics of Syria, the historic role of the Syrian society, although it is very small, but this is a fault line, social fault line between the different sects and ethnicities, and when you control this area, you could have control the rest of the Middle East. Thats why the struggle on Syria started during the age of the Pharaohs, and the first treaty in the world was 12 centuries before Christ, it was between the Pharaohs and the Hittites, coming from north and south, they fought on Syria, and they signed the first treaty in history. So, the geopolitics of Syria are very important, so controlling Syria was a goal to the great powers since that time till this moment. So, it doesnt matter whether Syria is big or small, or bigger or smaller, its important. Question 7: What do you expect from Russia in this case? Because you have so many players whom you told should all leave Syria, you told that the Syrian nation one day will ask everybody to leave this ground. What do you expect Russia in this case? Because we are allies, we are friends. President Assad: Friendship is a long-term issue between Syria and Russia, for six decades, but we signed the military treaty for more than four decades. So, we have two expectations: the first one, Syria and Russia have an interest in fighting and defeating terrorism, in Syria, in Russia, anywhere in the world. So, this is the first expectation and goal. The second one is the long-term one. Russia is very important for the global balance that weve lost since the collapse of the Soviet Union. So, having Russia being here militarily and politically, in Syria and in the Middle East and in the rest of the world is very important for the balance. Its not only important for Russia itself and for the other great powers; its very important for smaller countries like Syria to have this balance. So, thats what we expect from Russia on both levels: fighting terrorism and having global balance. Question 8: Ive been to Eastern Ghouta and Ive seen how strongly its destroyed, how hard its destroyed, and as far as I know, you need 400 billion Dollars to rebuild the country, but the West tells that they will not give a dime while you are in power. What can you do in this situation, because you have to rebuild the whole country? President Assad: Frankly, this is the best Western statement during the war, that they wont be part of reconstruction in Syria, because very simply we wont allow them to be part of it, whether they come with money or not, whether they came with a loan, or with a donation, with a grant, whatever; we dont need the West. The West is not honest at all, they dont give, they only take. First of all, we didnt build Syria through history by foreign money; we built it with our money, with our human resources. We still in spite of the war we still have the human resources to rebuild every sector in our country. Were not worried about that. Regarding the money, before the war we didnt have any debt, because we built our country with some loans from our friends. So, we dont have money. You can have loans from your friends, you can have money from Syrians living abroad, Syrians living inside, and the money of the government. So, were not worried about that. It may take a longer time, but were not worried at all about rebuilding Syria. Dont forget that reconstruction after the war, when you talk about 400 billion, less or more this is approximate is a whole economy, its a whole market, its a whole investment. So, the Europeans talking about coming for reconstruction, theyre not coming to help Syria; theyre coming to get money. And many European companies now are making contacts with us to open the door for them to come and invest in Syria. Journalist: This is in private? President Assad: In private, of course. But of course, with the support of their governments. So, they need this market, they are in a very dire situation economically since 2008, most of the European countries. They need many markets, Syria is one of them, and we are not going to allow them to be part of this market, very simply. Question 9: When were talking about the restoration of the whole country, it means the restoration of trust and friendship between people, because we can see this partly as a civil war when the brother shoots the brother, because of the different religious or any other views. In this case, you start with constitutional committee. The opposition made their list for constitutional committee. Will you run for the next presidential term, or how to restore this political structure of your country? President Assad: First of all, we dont have a civil war, because civil war should be based on sectarian lines, ethnical lines, religious lines, and so on. We dont have that in Syria. You can go everywhere, especially in the areas under the control of the government where you can see the full spectrum of the rich Syrian societies existing and people living together. Actually and this is not exaggeration, this is fact the war was a very important lesson. So, this diverse society is becoming much more unified than before the war, because we learned the lesson. While if you go to the areas under the control of the terrorists, they dont represent one color of this society, actually they only reflect their incubator and the people who dont have any other choice but to live in those areas, they dont have any other choice. So, we dont have to worry about the civil war. So, its not people shooting each other; these are mercenaries, these are terrorists. You have terrorists in your country, in Russia, and they are Russian, but they dont represent part of the society, they represent their own ideology. So, the same situation in Syria. So, regarding the unification of the people, we dont have a problem with that. Regarding the presidency, it has two factors: the first one, my will, and my will be based on the second factor which is the will of the Syrian people. We still have three years time. At that time, in 2021, will the Syrian people be ready to accept that person, that president, or not? If no, what do I get with the presidency? I cannot do anything, I cannot succeed, I cannot give my country anything, so the answer will be no. If yes, in that time, Im going to think about it, but its still early, we still have three years till that time. Journalist: But what about all these constitutional reforms which were asked by the United Nations? President Assad: We made reforms in 2012, and now we have the Sochi conference, theyre going to discuss it. Any constitutional reform, its not related to the president, its not related to the government; its related to the Syrian people, so there must be if were going to go in any kind of amendment or change or whatever its going to be through referendum, national referendum. If theres a national referendum and the people will support a new constitution, of course were going to do it, but this is not related to the will of the United Nations or to the foreign countries, its not. This is going to be fully Syrian. If the Syrians dont want any change, there will be no change whatsoever. Question 10: One of the main players is the Unites States, and Trump made his meeting in Singapore with Kim. Recently, Iran told that we will never meet with Trump because Kim is not Muslim; he doesnt understand whats going on, we will never talk to Trump ever. Will you, if it will be necessary, meet Trump directly or indirectly? Do you think its necessary for you to talk to Trump? President Assad: We believe that discussing or talking or negotiating with your adversary, and any other one of course, is productive, but in this case, since we have the first negotiation with the Unites States in 1974, we never achieved anything in any subject. The problem with the American presidents is that they are hostages to their lobbies, to the mainstream media, to the huge corporations, financial, oil, armaments, etc. So, they can tell you whatever you want to hear, but they will do the opposite, and this is the case, and its getting worse and worse, and Trump is a very stark example. So, talking and discussing with the Americans now for no reason, without achieving anything, is just a waste of time. Were not happy to talk with the Americans just because they are Americans. We are ready to discuss with anyone who could be productive, and we dont believe that the American politics will be different in the foreseeable future. So, its just, again, a waste of time now. Question 11: Every time Im thinking about Syria, I remember that youre a doctor by career, that you lived in London for a long time, youve been integrated into that society, and now that society considers you as a, like, a symbol of evil on the earth, and everyone tells there like in the newspapers and politicians that you poison people with chemical weapons, you do all these awful stuff to your own citizens. How do you feel about this, or does it make any pressure for you emotionally, and to you and to your family? How you explain to them whats going on? President Assad: Actually, emotionally, we live with the disaster in Syria for seven years. So, when you have a bigger disaster, you wont feel smaller pressure, you dont. I mean every blood thats been let on daily basis form a single Syrian person will create much much more emotion than their fake narrative. This is first. Second, when you know that they are lying, you dont feel anything emotional. You could feel something when theres credible criticizing based on facts and convincing stories, lets say. This is where you can feel, lets say, some pain or emotional pressure. The problem with the West is that they dont have statesmen anymore. The substitute of statesmen and real politics is fake politics, and fake politics need fake stories, and chemical stories are part of these fake stories. Actually, the Western politics Im not talking about the people, only the politicians they have no morals at all, they have no values at all. So, when you deal with people without values, without morals, they dont incite anything in your heart, or in your brain, or in your mind. Question 12: And the last question probably is that every time we come to Western Ghouta, we see the signs left by ISIS or al-Nusra: we will return. For us, its scary, because we spent a lot of money, we lost a lot of lives supporting Syria in her struggle with the caliphate. So, for us, its scary that one day it can return. Whats your estimation? President Assad: First of all, this is ideology, this is a dark ideology that was promoted for the last five, nearly five decades because it started in the late 60s, its not only in the 90s or after around the world mainly by the Saudi Wahhabis, and of course with the support of the Unites States and the West in general. So, this is religious danger with political support, so its both. So, its not something spontaneous. They will return, of course, because theyre going to be used again and again by the Western powers, but maybe under different brands. Those powers were in Afghanistan thirty years ago and Reagan called them holy fighters, he didnt call them terrorists. Now, they are called terrorists, but they are using those terrorists. Maybe ten years later, theyre going to be used somewhere in this world under a different brand; the same product but they are rebranding this product. So, its a Western tool. Thats why asking about feeling this danger is correct. This is first. Second, youre right to feel this worry, even in Russia, not because you lost lives in Syria; because you have the same terrorism in Russia. How I look at it? If those terrorists succeeded in Russia, I will be in danger; theyre going to come to Syria and to other countries, and vice versa. So, youve been defending the Syrians, but youve been defending the Russians. So, you paid the price in Syria in defending the Syrians, but you are defending the Russians as well, because terrorism has no political borders; for them its one battlefield from Russia to Syria, maybe to Indonesia, and maybe to Morocco on the Atlantic Ocean. Question 13: How you can stop the occupation in northern Syria because of this agreement between America and Turkey, one which is Syrian soil? President Assad: We adopted two ways: the first one and the main one was the reconciliation; it succeeded. This is how we could have brought those areas back to their normality where the people live a normal life and the government is controlling the life of the people through the institutions. The other one is attacking the terrorists whenever they dont give up and join the reconciliation. Were going to attack them and take control by force, which is not our favorable way, but its the only way to gain control of the country. Journalist: But this like they separated the parts; theyre divided between themselves, I mean Americans and Turkey they consider it like the territory which controls the President Assad: Dont believe that; America controls everything, controls Turkey, and America sent Turkey, and America prevented Turkey five years ago when Erdogan wanted to invade Syria five years ago, and they told him no. Why? Because that time the terrorists were succeeding, were expanding, so, why do we need Erdogan? When the terrorists started retreating, they told Erdogan now you can interfere because its getting better for Syrians and for the Russian and for this group of Iran and the groups who are fighting terrorists, so you better interfere just to make it messy again, and thats whats happening, but all these areas are under the control of the United States, nobody else. Journalist: Thats why they make such a strong pressure on Iran, you mean? President Assad: Exactly, for different reasons, but at the end they control ISIS in the east and they supported ISIS in the east, they supported al-Nusra in Idlib in the northwest, and they supported al-Nusra and ISIS and other factions in the south, the Americans, but they assign different roles to different countries. Sometime they ask the Turks, sometimes they ask the Saudis, sometimes the Qatari, and so on, but all those countries, including the French and the British, all of them are American puppets and satellites, to be very simple and clear. Journalist: Thank you so much. President Assad: Thank you. Responsibility for the information and views set out in this article lies entirely with the author. Ambassador Van Dam opens up to The Syrian Observer on the Syrian regime, opposition and the international community. Part II follows tomorrow. Nikolaos van Dam* is a Dutch diplomat and scholar, author of a classic text on Syrian politics and sectarianism, The Struggle for Power in Syria (2011). During the Syrian uprising, he served as the Dutch Special Envoy to Syria, operating from Istanbul, and had intensive contact with most of the parties involved in the conflict. His book, Destroying a Nation, reflected those experiences. I met Dr. Nikolaos van Dam in Damascus years before the revolution. He totally fascinated me with his deep knowledge and mild nature. I later saw him in Istanbul in 2016. He was the Special Envoy for Syria and he got only more elegant and knowledgeable in his area of knowledge. Not many people can be both academic and active but Van Dam is. Retired now, Van Dam has more time to contemplate on Syria and to see where thing went wrong in the Syrian revolution. His latest book Destroying a Nation: The Civil War in Syria (also in Arabic (2018): : ) is maybe the most comprehensive and objective report on Syria. He explains the recent history of Syria, covering the growing disenchantment with the Assad regime, the chaos of civil war and the fractures which led to the rise and expansion of ISIS. Through an in-depth examination of the role of sectarian, regional and tribal loyalties in Syria, van Dam traces political developments within the Assad regime and the military and civilian power elite from the Arab Spring to the present day. I have communicated with Dr. Van Dam a few times during the uprising. The latest however was to conduct this interview, which he graciously took the time to consider my questions and answer each of them thoroughly and deeply. Because the interviews length, I will publish it in two parts. Part 2 will follow tomorrow. Whereas direct dialogue with the regime was rejected relatively early on in the conflict when there were several thousands of dead as a result of the war, the regime, cynically speaking, gradually is becoming more accepted as a matter of reality after more than 500,000 dead. Sawah: Ambassador Van Dam, so is it over? Has the Syrian uprising come to an end? And has the regime and its allies made their utmost victory? What went wrong? Ambassador Van Dam: The Syrian uprising has failed, because the opposition groups have not been able to achieve their proclaimed aim of winning the war and toppling the regime. The regime appears to be on its way to a military victory, but winning the war militarily speaking does not yet mean that there will be peace in Syria; far from it. Having no war does not necessarily mean having peace. The Syrian refugees abroad can be expected to keep the flame of the revolution going because they want to get rid of the regime at least as much as before, but that does not mean that under the present circumstances they can change much in the situation inside Syria itself. The uprising inside Syria can be expected to come to an end only once the regime has regained full control over all of Syrias territory. How long this will take depends to a large extent on the continuation of support for the military opposition groups from abroad, and on the presence of foreign military forces on Syrian territory, particularly from those countries that have not been invited by the Syrian regime, like Turkey, the United States and others. These countries may want to use their military presence as a kind of bargaining chip to extract political concessions from the regime, with the aim of supporting opposition groups to obtain things from the regime which they have not been able to achieve after more than seven years of war. I doubt, however, whether there is any chance of success in such an approach, except if it were intended by foreign powers to serve their regional strategic interests. For instance, concerning the United States and Israel vis-a-vis the presence of Iran, or Turkey vis-a-vis the PYD Kurdish military presence in the north. But these issues will be of little help to the main Syrian opposition groups represented in the Syrian Opposition Coalition and the Higher Negotiations Council, because this is more about the strategic interests of other countries in Syria than that it is about the Syrians themselves. The question is whether only the party that pulled the trigger was responsible, or also the party that provided the other party with the motivation to attack it, knowing very well how the dictatorship was going to react. Actually, foreign support for the military opposition groups has generally declined. At first, the foreign countries supporting them were interested in helping topple the regime (although most of them did not say so explicitly, as they claimed they wanted a political solution which to them implied regime change), but later on priorities shifted towards defeating the Islamic State (Daish), as this movement was considered as a threat to these foreign supporters themselves, whereas the regime itself was not really a threat to them. The longer the war lasted, the more foreign countries started to gradually accept the reality that the Syrian regime was going to stay. Nevertheless, their official foreign policies towards Syria generally maintained the same position that there should not be any place for President Bashar al-Assad and those of his regime with blood on their hands, in Syrias future. These policies generally were mere declaratory policies (as they turned out to have been in the past). Whereas direct dialogue with the regime was rejected relatively early on in the conflict when there were several thousands of dead as a result of the war, the regime, cynically speaking, gradually is becoming more accepted as a matter of reality after more than 500,000 dead. Yes, a lot went wrong with the revolution, as can be concluded from its failure to achieve its proclaimed aims, the huge number of victims, the millions of refugees and destruction on a huge scale. The number of victims caused by the Syrian regime has reportedly been many times higher than those caused by the opposition, but since bloody violence was bound to come as a reaction to efforts to topple the regime whether peaceful or with arms the question should also be taken into account of whether only the party that pulled the trigger was responsible, or also the party that provided the other party with the motivation to attack it, knowing very well how the dictatorship was going to react (if past massacres, like Hama in 1982 were something to go by). I am not talking about justice and moral principles here, but about the hard realities on the ground that should well have been taken into account. - I am aware, of course, that many opposition Syrians will fully disapprove of what I am saying here, but under the present circumstances I see no clear way how they could fully achieve their stated aims. The alternative is, perhaps, to wait for a more successful revolution, from their perspective, whenever; but in the meantime, life inside Syria has to go on. - Sawah: Should the opposition give in? Should they tell the Russians OK, we are in in order to get what they can get? Ambassador Van Dam: Im afraid that the opposition cannot get everything they want (whether or not it is justified), because they lack the military power to impose their will. The longer the war has taken, the fewer are the possibilities for any peaceful compromise between the regime and the opposition groups, assuming that there ever has been any room for political compromises. The thesis that the regime would have been prepared to negotiate when under enough military pressure seems doubtful, because the war was a struggle for life and death in which the regimes main aim was to survive, and not to share powers with others that could lead to its downfall. Both parties in fact wanted the opposing side to fully disappear, and neither side has shown any willingness to make substantial concessions. In general, negotiations are supposed to end in a compromise, in which neither side obtains all of what it wants. If the aim of both negotiating parties is, however, to obtain almost everything they want, leaving the other side with almost nothing, a compromise is practically impossible. This has been the real situation for a long time. With the regime winning the war militarily speaking, its preparedness for a political compromise appears to be even less, if there ever was such a willingness. As long as the opposition keeps claiming that the regime which is the stronger party has to disappear as part of a political solution, they will not obtain anything. This does not mean that by now accepting the continuation of the regime which they have tried to topple for over seven years they will obtain anything either. What might perhaps have been acceptable for the regime several years ago, when circumstances were quite different, is not necessarily acceptable now. Possible chances have been missed by refusing any real dialogue with the regime in the past (which applies also to many Western and Arab countries), and by maintaining the demand that the regime had to disappear and brought before justice (however much such a demand may have been justified on grounds of justice and morality). A problem is that if you ask much more during negotiations than is realistic, you may end up with less than you had at the beginning of the negotiations, or nothing at all. And this is what appears to have happened in Syria. It should be noted, however, that the concept of realistic is rather controversial and sensitive. The various sides to the conflict tended to perceive their own positions and points of view as realistic, but did not always take enough into account whether or not their views could also be brought into practice, either through negotiations or military struggle. Much depended, in this respect, on the military balance of power, and which side was more powerful than the other to impose its will, with or without the help of its foreign supporters. Of course, the opposition should keep demanding the support of Western and Arab countries. But this support, just like in the past, is bound to be mainly political and moral, and should not be expected to be backed up by military force. And sanctions against the regime generally have not achieved the aim for which they were imposed. Perhaps the opposition should cut their losses and try to save as yet whatever there is still to save. But it means that they would have to agree to an unjust settlement. I am aware, of course, that many opposition Syrians will fully disapprove of what I am saying here, but under the present circumstances I see no clear way how they could fully achieve their stated aims. The alternative is, perhaps, to wait for a more successful revolution, from their perspective, whenever; but in the meantime, life inside Syria has to go on. If you want to defeat and kill a lionAssad means lion in Arabicyou must be well-prepared beforehand to be the stronger and better armed party, so as to prevent being defeated and killed oneself. Sawah: In your book The Struggle for Power in Syria, you were certain that any scenario leading to the overthrow of the regime, would inevitably be extremely violent. Should the opposition have considered that since the beginning and refrain from starting the revolution? Ambassador Van Dam: Of course, the opposition (or I should say the many opposition groups) should have considered the extremely violent and bloody consequences and prospects. With hindsight one might argue that the opposition groups should have thought at least twice, or more, before starting the revolution, both peaceful and armed. But this is easier said (now, afterwards) than that it could be done at the time, mainly because the revolution erupted spontaneously, inspired as it was by the so-called Arab Spring elsewhere in the region. The Syrian demonstrators had seen how Egyptian President Mubarak had voluntarily stepped down, whereas the Tunisian president Ben Ali had fled the country, both after massive and mainly peaceful demonstrations. And the Libyan regime was toppled as a result of foreign military intervention. Of course, also other factors played an important role in the revolution, like poverty, drought, and not least of all decades of severe suppression by the Bath regime. As I put it in the Arabic edition (2018) of my book Destroying a Nation, if you want to defeat and kill a lionAssad means lion in Arabicyou must be well-prepared beforehand to be the stronger and better armed party, so as to prevent being defeated and killed oneself. And the latter happened, because the opposition groups were not well prepared and turned out to be weaker armed. But the opposition from its perspective did not have the luxury of doing nothing under the circumstances that existed at the time. Many of those who deserted from the army in order to establish military opposition groups did so in an effort to put up resistance against the severe and violent suppression by the regime. Violence created counter-violence. It was only later on, that they could make their plans to topple the regime in a more organized way. But they nevertheless remained divided. And without massive foreign support they wouldnt have stood a chance. The Syrian demonstrators were optimistic, or rather overoptimistic, that something similar could happen in Syria, as in Egypt, Tunisia and Libya, and that they would receive enough support from many countries that had declared that President Bashar al-Assad should resign. The visit of US Ambassador Ford and his French colleague Chevallier in July 2011 to the demonstrators in Hama was interpreted as a positive signal that US and French support was forthcoming. But in the end, it did not come as expected or imagined. Moreover, the background and power structure of the regime in Syria is very different from that in Egypt, Libya and Tunisia. The opposition groups and demonstrators should have known that, rationally speaking. But they were emotionally overwhelmed by the imaginary prospects of success. Actually, the so-called Arab Spring, which was warmly welcomed in the West with the unrealistic expectation that democracy was about to come to bigger parts of the Arab world, turned out to be a big disaster in many respects for all the Arab countries involved. ** https://nikolaosvandam.academia.edu Man kills wife and son in Rukum A man killed his wife and his son at Triveni Rural Municipality-1 of Rukum (West) district on Saturday night. In part two of The Syrian Observer's interview, Dutch diplomat Nikolaos Van Dam explains how foreign powers influenced and affected the revolution in Syria. In the second and last part of our interview with the Dutch diplomat and scholar Nikolaos Van Dam, the man who has experienced Syria closely and continues to speak openly and frankly on the most sensitive issues. Van Dam criticizes the visit of US Ambassador Ford and his French colleague Chevallier to the demonstrators in Hama in July 2011, saying it was interpreted as a positive signal that US and French support was forthcoming. But in the end, it did not come as expected or imagined. He explains, the opposition groups and demonstrators should have known that, rationally speaking, but they were emotionally overwhelmed by the imaginary prospects of success. Regarding the issue of accountability, Van Dam adds, the leaders of foreign countries who have been involved or implicated in the war-by-proxy in Syria share a heavy co-responsibility of their role, and the many victims, refugees and the huge amount of destruction caused. Sawah: On 10 August 2011, you wrote an op-ed for The Independent describing the Syrian protesters as asking for nothing more than peace, freedom and unity. It was only afterwards that they demanded the downfall of the regime. Later in your book Destroying a Nation, you say that the Syrian conflict was very early on a proxy war. When did this happen? Was this avoidable? Ambassador Van Dam: Since you quote my August 2011 op-ed for The Independent, I would also like to note that on 11 June 2011, three months after the start of the revolution, I already wrote in The Independent that, tragically, a bloodbath may now be inevitable. And that the Syrian government was trying to start a national dialogue but that there were not any visible signs to suggest that the opposition wanted to talk, unless certain preconditions were being met. In my book I wrote that the regime reported that between 4 and 6 June 2011 nearly 120 of its soldiers and security people were killed and their bodies mutilated and thrown in a river around the town of Jisr al-Shugur. Opposition activists claimed at the time that the dead soldiers were shot by their own superiors as they tried to defect. According to other sources, opposition fighters took responsibility for the murder of the soldiers. Whatever the truth, it is clear that by June 2011 violence and counterviolence had increased to such an extent that any return to peaceful discussions and dialogue between regime and opposition had become extremely difficult. On 10 August 2011, I indeed wrote in The Independent that first, they were asking for nothing more than peace, freedom and unity. It was only afterwards that they demanded the downfall of the regime. By the end of March 2011, however, demonstrators had already started to use the slogan that the people wanted the fall of the regime, similar to the slogans that had earlier been used in other Arab Spring countries like Tunisia and Egypt, and that by the end of July 2011, they started to massively demand the execution of the president. They started asking peacefully for something very unpeaceful. I dont think such demonstrations would have been allowed in any Western country. Nevertheless, I am not aware of any Western criticism of these slogans, probably because many Western governments in fact hoped that the al-Assad regime would fall, like the regimes in Egypt and Tunisia. As could have been expected, however, it did not work. The demonstrators were apparently not aware yet of the predictable disaster-in-waiting. As I predicted in the 1996 edition of my book The Struggle for Power in Syria, 15 years before the start of the Syrian Revolution in 2011, any effort to topple the Syrian regime was bound to be extremely bloody and for anyone with some knowledge of the repressive character of the regime, it was not so difficult to make such a prediction. Therefore, the bloody conflict was unavoidable, both by violent means, as well as through peaceful efforts that turned out to be not that peaceful after all, taking the professed aims into consideration: toppling the regime and executing the president. Foreign interference through the shipment of billions of dollars of arms made the conflict much bloodier than it would otherwise have been. In my article for Syria Comment, written in April 2011, within a month after the start of the Syrian Revolution, I noted that one should beware of the dangerous trap of sectarianism. Later on, I argued that it would be fully unrealistic to expect Bashar al-Assad to sign his own death warrant, and that one should not expect that the Syrian dictatorship could be peacefully transformed into a democracy and that deposing the al-Assad regime by military means would not at all imply that subsequently a democracy would be installed. But many people from the opposition, including many of their foreign supporters kept imagining (by way of wishful thinking), that all this would be possible. I thought throughout that my arguments were quite basic and self-evident, but in the minds of many people they were not. One of the most elementary things, as I argued from the very beginning and onwards during all those years of bloody war, was the need for dialogue with the regime. After all, you can only politically solve a conflict when there is communication between the main parties involved (except if you militarily defeat the other party, but a military solution is not necessarily a political solution). But dialogue was strongly rejected by many of the opposition, and their foreign supporters as well, with the exception of contacts with the regime through the United Nations Special Envoy for Syria. And it would be an illusion to think that the UN Special Envoy can enforce things. He is obliged to cooperate with the main parties involved, in accordance with his mandate from the UN Security Council. And when the opposition groups declared that they wanted a political solution along the lines of the Geneva Communique (2012) and UN Security Council Resolution 2254 (which in itself was a just and realistic demand), they generally added that their aim was to topple the regime, and to have those with blood on their hands brought before justice. The latter demands constituted a guarantee for failure of any negotiations with the regime. Although it should be added that negotiating without these in my opinion abortive preconditions did not imply any guarantee for success. Had the regime, the other way around, demanded a guarantee that the opposition groups should have disappeared by the end of the negotiations and their leaders brought before justice, no real negotiations would have taken place either. Neither party was prepared to negotiate with the other with the aim of real power sharing. I prefer to leave it up to future historical researchers to determine more precisely when exactly the Syrian conflict turned into a war-by-proxy. The latter could have been prevented, of course, because the relevant countries did not have to interfere; and non-intervention would have saved a great number of lives, as it would have shortened the war. Sawah: Many Syrian anti-Assad activists believe that militarizing the revolution was the biggest mistake. Do you believe militarization was the biggest opposition mistake? Ambassador Van Dam: When taking the huge number of victims into account, it was a great mistake. It gave the (much stronger) regime an extra argument to suppress the revolution. One should add, however, that militarizing the revolution was not only an autonomous decision taken separately by various individual opposition groups, but was also a direct consequence of indirect (or direct) foreign military intervention, which was not even well coordinated. And foreign military interventions generally lead to disasters, as we have seen in the cases of Afghanistan, Iran, Iraq, Kuwait, Libya, Syria and Yemen. But I am afraid that without arms, the opposition groups would not have had much of a chance either to substantially win. Perhaps something could have been achieved through dialogue. Rejecting dialogue, however, and making unrealistic claims was also a mistake. In June 2011, for instance, some internal opposition meetings took place in Damascus with the aim of discussing how the crisis could be solved. They wanted a peaceful transition to a democratic, civil and pluralistic state, and called for an immediate end to the security crackdown and the withdrawal of the army to its bases. They stressed that there could be no national dialogue with a security solution taking place. Confidence-building measures were urgently needed. The opposition conference called for an independent committee to investigate the killings of Syrian citizens and soldiers, the release of all political prisoners, the right to peaceful protests without the governments prior approval, and an end to the power monopoly of the Bath Party. I think all these demands were correct and realistic (even though I think that the Bath regime would not have been willing to give up its power monopoly), with the exception, however, of the demand of the right of peaceful protests without the governments prior approval, which is something which would not even be allowed in most Western democracies. Sawah: In an article you published in the Syria Comment, you mentioned that in the near future the regime will win, because it is military the strongest. This does not mean, however, that the regime is bound to win the future of Syria in the longer term. Still you ended your book Destroying a Nation with this phrase, Miracles only happen when one keeps believing in them, how would you marry the two? Ambassador Van Dam: I did not write that I did believe in miracles myself, but that miracles could happen only if one kept believing in them. Actually, the longer the war lasted, the less I believed that a satisfactory political solution through negotiations was possible. For positive results to be achieved in diplomacy, positive dynamics and a certain kind of optimism call it professional optimism are required. Starting with a pessimistic attitude during a political process clearly decreases the possibilities for success, because it psychologically undermines the positive dynamics needed for positive results. If you pessimistically express doubts about any possibilities of success beforehand, the chances of failure are bound to be bigger. But being unrealistically up-beat is not good either, because it would undermine credibility. By the above quote from Syria Comment, I also meant that a military victory by the regime is not at all a guarantee that it can maintain its power in the longer term, let alone that a military victory means achieving lasting peace. Without a satisfactory solution, another revolution may be in the making, whether successful or not. Sawah: While a political solution might be molded underway, some civil society and legal groups believe there cannot be a reconciliation without accountability. Is there any hope that the international forces find a way in the end to send the major perpetrators to court? Ambassador Van Dam: First of all, one should answer the question between whom the reconciliation should take place. I suppose the civil society and legal groups you refer to, do not have the leadership of the Syrian regime in mind, and neither all those who have blood on their hands, and there are many thousands of them, when including the armed forces, pro-regime militias, the security services, and so on. Is reconciliation aimed at those who have supported the regime (whether or not they were forced to do so), but have no blood on their hands? The other way around, one should ask oneself whether or not the regime is prepared to reconcile with the opposition groups. As far as the regime is concerned, real accountability, in my view, can only be realized when the regime would be toppled, and the main perpetrators of war crimes and crimes against humanity would be caught and imprisoned. The same applies to those of the opposition who have committed war crimes. Under present circumstances, with the regime going in the direction of a military victory, chances for achieving justice and accountability are very slim. And I strongly doubt whether there are any international forces willing to catch those accused of war crimes inside Syria, because it would imply military intervention. In the past, countries like the United States and Great Britain (and others) already decided to not militarily intervene in Syria against the regime, and nothing has fundamentally changed in that respect (with some exceptions). Reluctance to do so now, would be even bigger than in the past. And international arrest warrants issued against persons who have reportedly committed war crimes and crimes against humanity, will remain rather symbolic as long as there is no possibility of catching them. The grudges between the regime and the opposition are so immense that I hardly see any possibility for reconciliation, particularly under the present dictatorship. And who could lead the reconciliation? There is no Nelson Mandela in Syria. After all this death and destruction, it may take generations before you can talk about any kind of normalization. And one should also take into account that it takes at least two sides to reconcile; it is not only a one-sided affair. The ideal hypothesis is that there cannot be real peace without full justice and accountability, but I am afraid this is very difficult to put into practice. Moreover, making the main perpetrators of this war, from whatever side, accountable, would in my opinion not in itself result in real peace and reconciliation. There has been too much bloodshed for that. Calling for justice and accountability is good in itself, as is the documenting of all the war crimes that have been committed. This has to be done, of course, but not over and above efforts to proactively work towards finding a solution and preventing further bloodshed. The calls for justice and accountability need to be part of wider efforts to create peace, rather than only focusing on those who are guilty of the crimes committed against the Syrian people in the recent past. A political solution has to be found before justice can be done. It cannot be the other way around. And last but not least: When speaking about accountability where Syria is concerned, one should not forget the role of leaders of foreign countries who have been involved or implicated in the war-by-proxy in Syria. After all, they share a heavy co-responsibility because of their role in the war, and therefore for its many victims, refugees and the huge destruction. This refers to their actions, or their lack of sufficient action, their creating false hopes (mainly among the Syrian opposition), or their inability to come to a common understanding to help ending the conflict, just to mention some highly relevant issues. The United States, Turkey, Qatar and Saudi Arabia, (to mention the most important states that have been heavily involved on the opposition side, among others) should be mentioned here, just as Russia and Iran (that have been heavily involved on the regimes side). The leaders concerned may argue that they sincerely did their best in helping solve the conflict in Syria (whether or not they did so mainly for strategic reasons), and that they supported the principle of accountability, at least where the opposing side was concerned. But in the end, it is the results for which the leaders involved should be held accountable, not only for their declared intentions, whether good or wrong. *Nikolaos van Dam is a former Dutch Ambassador (1988-2010) and Special Envoy for Syria (2015-16), and author of Destroying a Nation: The Civil War in Syria (2017), also in Arabic (2018): : https://nikolaosvandam.academia.edu The correspondent of the Syrian news agency has been sentenced for insulting the Turkish state and its president, SANA reports A court affiliated to the regime of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has sentenced SANAs correspondent in Turkey, Hosni Mahali, to more than four years in prison for his role in exposing the Turkish regimes support for terrorists in Syria. The Istanbul Criminal Court sentenced Mahali to one year, 18 months and 25 days in prison on charges of insulting the state and the Turkish government, for exposing Erdogan governments support for terrorist groups in Syria and allowing foreign terrorists to enter Syria via its borders. The court also sentenced the correspondent to two years, five months and five days in prison charging him of insulting Erdogan after Mahali highlighted the policies that led to internal and external problems and crises in Turkey. In response to the charges, Mahali said that all the political leaders, ministers, former diplomats and even US former Vice President Joe Biden, German Chancellor Angela Merkel and the Russian President, Vladimir Putin announced that the Turkish regime supports terrorism in Syria and as a journalist, I rely on the statements of those officials. This article was edited by The Syrian Observer. Responsibility for the information and views set out in this article lies entirely with the author. The Syrian army has freed from ISIS a number of civilians, including women and children, who had been abducted in Suweida weeks ago The Syrian Arab army managed, in a valiant and accurate operation, to liberate the civilians abducted weeks ago by the ISIS terrorist organization from the Suweida province, following a fierce battle with an ISIS group in the Humeima area northeast of Palmyra. The army killed the members of the terrorist group. On October 20, a batch of women and children who had been abducted from al-Shabki village in Suweidas eastern countryside were liberated from ISIS. On July 25, ISIS kidnapped several civilians, most of them women and children, following attacks that the terrorist organization mounted against villages in the provinces eastern and northern countryside and a string of suicide bombings in Suweida city that killed several civilians. Speaking to SANA, Sheikh Akl Hammoud Yahya al-Hinnawi said that liberating the abductees is a victory for the Syrian people, thanks to the heroism of the Syrian Arab Armys personnel who have been fighting terrorists since the early hours of the kidnapping process and managed to liberate the abductees. This article was edited by The Syrian Observer. Responsibility for the information and views set out in this article lies entirely with the author. The road linking Idlib to Hama has been reopened, which will facilitate the objective of reopening the Aleppo-Damascus motorway, Baladi News says The Hama International Highway (the Murak crossing) has returned to activity and has been reopened to travelers between the liberated areas of northern Syria and the areas which are controlled by regime forces after they had been officially closed for about a week. Baladi Newss correspondent in Hama, Ahmed al-Ali, said that the Hama road had returned to its previous activity two days after it was closed, and that the reasons were related to the agreement to restore the route between the Russian and Turkish sides. Our correspondent added that the Russian military police in cooperation with the Assad regimes customs police were overseeing the crossing from the regime side, while the liberated side was overseen by Hayyt Tahrir al-Sham. There has been no Turkish army presence recorded at the crossing so far. The crossings reopening came, after it was closed for more than three months, based on the eighth item of the Sochi agreement signed by the Turkish and Russian sides in September, which stipulated the opening of the two international roads (Aleppo-Damascus, Aleppo-Latakia), also named M4 and M5. The Russian police had last August closed the Qalaat al-Madiq and Murak crossings in the Hama countryside, coinciding with Assad regime reinforcements arriving to the area. Russian police removed the so-called Fourth Security Bureau of the Iranian Revolutionary Guard from overseeing the two crossings and put Russian and Chechen military police along with regime police there. This article was translated and edited by The Syrian Observer. Responsibility for the information and views set out in this article lies entirely with the author. Despite the buffer zone agreement, there have been a number of casualties on both sides, following clashes in the northern Hama countryside and Idleb province reports Zaman Al Wasl. Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) is on alert, amid concerns of an imminent offensive in northern Idleb province following violations of the Russian-brokered buffer zone agreement, sources said. All the formations and units of HTS, an alliance led by Syria's former al-Qaeda branch, and which is the dominant force in Idleb, have been mobilizing units. A statement issued by HTS accused regime forces of breaching the cease-fire, through unprecedented attacks on the northern countryside of Hama and Idleb province that left casualties, including 10 civilians. The de-militarized zone was announced by rebel backer Ankara and Damascus ally Moscow in September, and separated regime troops and rebel fighters in Idleb and adjacent areas. Under the deal, the rebels were supposed to have removed all heavy weapons from the buffer zone by Oct. 10, 2018, but skirmishes have continued to pit regime forces against militants and other insurgents on the ground. Rebel factions have said they withdrew their heavy weapons from the zone but HTS and other hardline groups have refused to pull out their fighters. On Saturday, HTS fighters killed at least eight regime troops in the north of Hama province, near the planned buffer zone of Idleb. The deadly militant assault came hours after regime troops killed 23 fighters of a formerly US-backed Jaish al-Izza group inside the planned buffer zone. Regime forces pushed into the Jaish al-Izaa stronghold, near the town of al-Latameh. On Wednesday, rebels retaliated by wounding nine regime soldiers in a rocket attack on the Joureen military camp, local activists said. Idleb and some adjacent areas are the last major rebel bastion in Syria, with all former territories now under the control of the Russian-backed government. It threatened to assault the rebel territory around Idleb, which is home to some three million people, but a truce deal struck by Russia and Turkey averted the onslaught. Aid organizations warned that a fully-fledged offensive on Idleb could spark the worst humanitarian catastrophe of the civil war. More than 470,000 people have been killed and millions displaced since the conflict erupted with the brutal repression of anti-government protests in 2011. This article was edited by The Syrian Observer. Responsibility for the information and views set out in this article lies entirely with the author. Inside the prison, detainees have started a hunger strike in protest of the death sentences reports Zaman Al Wasl. Families of Hama prison detainees have protested in front of the notorious prison as their sons began their hunger strike in protest of the arbitrary death sentences handed down by the regime's Terror Court, activists said Tuesday. The sit-in, that was organized by mothers and wives of the detainees, called on the regime to drop the death sentences. On Monday, the detainees in all sections and wings of Hama prison decided to participate in the strike in order to push the regime to suspend the executions. On Thursday, Syrias Field Court handed death sentences to 11 political detainees in Hama prison, for their participation in peaceful demonstrations in 2011. The Free Syrian Lawyers' Committee called on the international community for immediate intervention to save hundreds of thousands of detainees in Bashar al-Assad's prisons, especially Hama prison. In May 2016, the prisoners seized the prison 210 km (130 miles) from Damascus, and took hostages from the guards after, five inmates were to be taken to the notorious Sadnaya prison to be sentenced to death by an extra-judicial military tribunal. But a deal was brokered with the regime and ended the mutiny. Then, the regime agreed to most of the detainees demands to release those political detainees held without charges. Since the Syrian revolution erupted in 2011, more than 470,000 people have been killed, and more than 6 million people have been displaced. This article was edited by The Syrian Observer. Responsibility for the information and views set out in this article lies entirely with the author. Since the outbreak of war, the Druze in Syria have remained neutral, instead choosing to join local militias protecting their region writes Al-Araby al-Jadeed. Syrian President Bashar al-Assad has called on the country's Druze community to perform military service, days after members of the minority were released, following a mass abduction in July by the Islamic State (ISIS). Suweida province is the heartland of Syria's Druze minority, who made up around three percent of the country's pre-war population or around 700,000 people. Since the conflict erupted in 2011, thousands of Druze, especially those in Suweida, have refused to be conscripted, instead joining local militias and promising to protect their region. Damascus has so far turned a blind eye as long as the Druze militias do not ally with rebel groups. Speaking to a group of former hostages and their families on Tuesday, Assad thanked the army, saying that without them "the abducted people would not have been freed". "We owe a great debt to (the army) and as for you your responsibility is even greater," he said in a video published on the presidency's official Telegram account. The main way the Druze community could support the army was to do military service, Assad added. Since the conflict erupted in 2011, thousands of Druze, especially those in Suweida, have refused to be conscripted, instead joining local militias The Druze, followers of a secretive offshoot of Islam, are considered heretics by the Sunni extremists of ISIS. ISIS militants abducted about 30 people mostly women and children from Suweida in late July during the deadliest attack on the Druze during the Syrian civil war. Some of the hostages died while others were freed last month in a prisoner swap. The remaining 19, mostly women and children, were released last week. Before the war began, Syrian men aged 18 and older had to serve up to two years in the army, after which they became reserves available for call-up in times of crisis. In the past seven years, fatalities, injuries and defections are estimated to have halved the once 300,000-strong army. To compensate, the force has relied on reservists and militias as well as indefinitely extending military service for young conscripts. Assad is heavily reliant on the ground on Iranian-led foreign fighters from Iraqi, Pakistani and Afghan militias, along with Lebanon's Shia group Hezbollah. Around 2,000 Hezbollah fighters have been killed fighting for Assad. Moscow's military intervention in 2015 marked a turning point in the conflict and enabled Assad to secure a series of victories against rebels. According to independent monitors, hundreds of thousands of civilians have been killed in the war, mostly by the regime and its powerful allies, and millions have been displaced both inside and outside of Syria. The brutal tactics pursued mainly by the regime, which have included the use of chemical weapons, sieges, mass executions and torture against civilians have led to war crimes investigations. This article was edited by The Syrian Observer. Responsibility for the information and views set out in this article lies entirely with the author. Syria has called for international efforts to halt the agression of Israel and affirms its support for Palestine and its people reports SANA. Syria condemned in the strongest possible terms the recent Israeli aggression on the Gaza Strip. In statement on Wednesday, an official source at the Foreign and Expatriates Ministry told SANA that over the past few days the Israeli occupation authorities have escalated their bloody and racist operations against the Palestinian people in all the occupied Palestinian territories and targeted civilians, children, civil facilities and residential buildings with internationally-banned weapons, killing and injuring hundreds of Palestinians, mostly children and women. Syria calls on the international community to immediately halt the aggression and expose the criminal nature of Israel and its policy of the continued occupation of Arab territories as the main reason behind tensions and bloodshed, not to mention the unlimited support provided to Israel by US and it tools. The source concluded that Syria affirms its standing by the Palestinian people and their heroic steadfastness against the Israeli terrorism and supports the Palestinians peoples legitimate aspirations for liberation and return and the establishment of an independent state on its land with (al-Quds) Jerusalem as its capital. This article was edited by The Syrian Observer. Responsibility for the information and views set out in this article lies entirely with the author. A new report has put the price tag on the damage to agriculture at over a trillion Syrian pounds, but compensation is not materialising reports Alsouria Net. The Minister of Agriculture and Agrarian Reform in the regime government, Ahmed Asa'ad al-Qadri, has revealed preliminary statistics of the damage to farmers in the country, saying that its value is close to 1.2 trillion Syrian pounds, while also stating that there are difficulties in compensating for damage at the current time. Qadri said that the harmed farmers can document the damage with police and then record it in at the agricultural department for the future, according to the pro-regime newspaper Al-Watan. Last winter, the country saw a reduction in the amount of rain over the months of February and March, and then there were very heavy rains accompanied by cold, sometimes in April and Maythat is, outside the normal times. Tobacco, grapes, olives and apples were the most heavily damaged crops. The Assad government was content to merely form committees a few months ago to assess the damage inflicted on the crops due to the recent weather conditions, including vegetables, fruits and tobacco. Last month the cabinet agreed to compensate about 39,000 farmers in a number of provinces whose seasons were affected, at a total of 2.7 billion pounds, from a "fund to reduce the effects of drought and natural disasters on agricultural production." The deputy in the cabinet, Maher Mowwad, said at the start of November that there was a proposal to schedule loans to farmers with the interest and obligations dropped for 10 years, and it is expected to be sent to the cabinet to be issued as a law. Farmers have obtained loans worth just 1.8 billion pounds over the first nine months of the current year, out of the total loans of the Agricultural Cooperative Bank which reached about 70.8 billion Syrian pounds. The investment budget of the Ministry of Agriculture and Agrarian Reform for the coming year reached 30 billion pounds, compared with 17.8 billion in its budget this year, and its implementation has reached 41 percent. This article was translated and edited by The Syrian Observer. Responsibility for the information and views set out in this article lies entirely with the author. President Assad expressed his desire to see a closer relationship between the trade unions and the executive authority reports SANA. President Bashar al-Assad affirmed that food security ensured by the agricultural sector is one of the key factors that consolidated Syrias independent decisions over the past decades. Therefore, one of the primary goals of terrorists was to cut off roads and block the transfer of agricultural crops in service of foreign plots. President Assad was speaking during his meeting on Thursday, with members of the Executive Office of the Arab Agricultural Engineers Union. The delegates congratulated the Syrian leadership and people on the imminent victory against terrorism, hailing the Syrian people as productive and whose self-sufficiency in the agricultural field aided them in the war that targeted the basics of their lives. President Assad considered that trade unions have a political role as the genuine intermediate between the executive authority and the people, as well as a social role given their proximity to all social strata. The President added that trade unions must assume their role in alerting to the problems that befall Arab society, chief among them is social disintegration, which will be a loophole through which the West can carry out its plans to ignite civil wars in the region, affirming that the real advancement in any sector requires holding the keys to the cutting edge of technology and research. This article was edited by The Syrian Observer. Responsibility for the information and views set out in this article lies entirely with the author. Tika R Pradhan is a senior political correspondent for the Post, covering politics, parliament, judiciary and social affairs. Pradhan joined the Post in 2016 after working at The Himalayan Times for more than a decade. It is unclear what led caused the women to miscarry their children, but they suspect it could be polluted water reports Zaman Al Wasl. About 20 Syrian refugee women in the Lebanese town of Arsal have experienced miscarriages due to the polluted water that might be carrying a deadly virus, medics told Zaman al-Wasl Wednesday. A health official in the al-Irshad association, speaking on condition of anonymity, said that all the cases examined showed no physical symptoms that would lead to a miscarriage, such as drinking medicines or carrying heavy weights. Their health records showed that they had not experienced miscarriages before and that many children had had a normal birth. Abou Abdul Rahman, one of the Syrian refugees in the Huda camp in al-Masyada district, said that the polluted water is the reason for the tragic loss. The camp includes 55 families, where five miscarriages have occurred. "My wife, my sister, my niece and two of our neighbors miscarried on Tuesday, Abdul Rahman said. According to the Lebanese Caretaker Minister of State for Refugee Affairs Mouin Merehbi, about 55,000 Syrian refugees had returned since July. Such a number contrasts with that announced by General Security last week, which put the number of returnees at almost 90,000 during the same period. He went on to criticize what he called a lack of coordination between General Security and his ministry Syrian activists have voiced concern about the fate of the Syrian refugees returning from Lebanon after Merehbi's statements, which confirmed last week that 20 Syrian refugees who had returned from Lebanon to Syria had been killed by regime forces. The prominent dissident said the Lebanese authorities are responsible for the lives of the Syrians in Lebanon and for the lives of those who are forced to return to the criminal regime. The United Nations says, the conflict has displaced more than 5 million Syrians outside the country, with more than half displaced to Turkey and most of the rest split between Lebanon and Jordan Thousands of Syrians are unable to return because their homes were destroyed in the fighting, or because they fear military conscription or retribution from regime forces. A survey by Zaman al-Wasl on a random sample of 210 refugees in the camps of Arsal, showed that 92% of the refugees had refused to return, while 8% had agreed to return to the towns that they described as safe in the western Qalamoun. Since the Syrian revolution erupted in 2011, more than 470,000 people have been killed, and more than 6 million people have been displaced. This article was edited by The Syrian Observer. Responsibility for the information and views set out in this article lies entirely with the author. As part of the growing ties between the two countries, Iran is set to open a university for graduate and post graduate studies in Syria reports Anadolu Agency. An Iranian state university is planning to inaugurate a branch in Syria, an Iranian education official said on Thursday. The planned opening of the Tarbiat Modares University in Syria aims to provide education for Syrian students in their own country, Irans IRNA news agency quoted, Irans Minister for Science, Research and Technology Minister, Mansour Gholami, as saying. He made the remarks at a meeting in Tehran of the Syria-Iran Parliamentary Friendship Group. The university will provide an opportunity for Syrian students to complete their graduate and post-graduate studies, according to Gholami. "Were hoping to receive a larger number of students," the Minister said. Iranian officials have repeatedly expressed their desire to contribute to the development of post-war Syria. Iran has recently signed several agreements with the Syrian regime regarding reconstruction, infrastructure and commercial fields. According to media reports, several Iran-backed Shia militias continue to operate in Syria in support of the Assad regime. This article was edited by The Syrian Observer. Responsibility for the information and views set out in this article lies entirely with the author. The prisoners have been on strike since Monday, following the death sentences that were handed down writes Enab Baladi. Communications with prisoners in the Hama Central Prison, who are on a hunger strike, was cut after the prisons internet was disconnected. On Thursday, Enab Baladis correspondent said that news about the prisoners had been cut off, after Assads forces disconnected the internet on Tuesday. The prisoners in the Hama Central Prison began their hunger strike on Monday after a court in Syria issued a ruling that sentenced 11 prisoners to death, due to their participation in the peaceful protests in 2011. A prisoner inside the prison who asked not to be named told Enab Baladi that the prisoners had gone on strike at 5am after dawn prayers on Monday for a number of reasons, most importantly the issuance of the ruling to execute 11 prisoners for terrorism by the civilian and military courts. The prisoner added that the strike would continue until full amnesty was granted for the prisoners. Syrian regime officials visited the prison on Tuesday and a prisoner inside told Enab Baladi that Hamas police commander had entered the prison and spoken with the prisoners. The prisoner added that the police commander had received a number of demands, foremost to review the execution orders, and to settle their status, as happened previously seven months ago. The head of the Prisons Administration and National Reconciliation officials were due to visit the prison, as well as a Russian agent in Hama city. The Syrian regime has not commented on the strike and has not addressed the visits carried out by its officials. The Hama Central Prison includes about 45 prisoners who were convicted by a military court and 70 others who were arrested and await transfer to a military court, according to a previous interview by Enab Baladi with a prisoner. This article was translated and edited by The Syrian Observer. Responsibility for the information and views set out in this article lies entirely with the author. President Assad urged everyone to remember the sacrifices of the Syrian Arab Army and to not forget those still being held by terrorist groups reports The Syria Times. Upon the return of our family members who have been liberated by the Syrian Arab Army from the Islamic State (ISIS), President Assad said that Syrians are never to forget the missing or kidnapped people in other regions of Syria. The President went on to thank to the heroic men of the Syrian Arab Army and added that without their sacrifices, none of the kidnapped could have return, and without the army, all of Syria would have been kidnapped. "The army has been protecting Syria, her soil, dignity and people. Everyone who was kidnapped and liberated by the blood of the heroic Syrian Arab Army; and every one who abstained from military service and the Homeland, shoulders the responsibility for every martyr lost by Syria and by his family,'' continued President Assad. 'Your steadfastness though all the threats surrounding you, makes you a source of pride for all Syrians. You prove that dignity and steadfastness are top among the characteristics of the Syrian people. The Syrian people have been fighting to safeguard and protect Syria, their dignity and honor, taking the steadfastness of our people in the Syrian Arab Golan as the leading example for nationalism and dignity. Those Syrians will never compromise a single grain of the soil of their homeland,'' asserted President Assad. It was a family meeting between the Assad and a small group of his wider family members, including family members from the occupied Golan and the hero Sidqi al-Maqt, whose love for their savior, defender and liberator was beyond every description. Love, amity, fraternity, loyalty and belonging were shown and strongly represented by the breaking of the cup from which President Assad drank, a traditional symbol of immense respect and love, as well as the thundering slogans and folkloric songs and by raising President Assad on the shoulders of his citizens. This article was edited by The Syrian Observer. Responsibility for the information and views set out in this article lies entirely with the author. PAX and The Syria Institute estimate that 714,345 people remain trapped in at least 33 besieged communities PAX and The Syria Institute have published the Siege Watch 9th Quarterly Report. This report focuses on developments in besieged communities in Syria from November 2017 January 2018. Data collected during the quarter from an extensive network of contacts on the ground found that: An estimated 714,345 people remain trapped in at least 33 besieged communities across the country and more than one million additional Syrians live in Watchlist areas, under threat of intensified siege and abuse. The Syrian government and its allies remain responsible for the vast majority of all of the sieges in Syria and all of the threats to Watchlist communities. The situation in Eastern Ghouta deteriorated dramatically due to an unprecedented increase in attacks combined with intense siege conditions, precipitating a humanitarian crisis. In November, all of the communities in Eastern Ghouta were elevated to Tier 1 critically besieged status for the first time. At least four new suspected chemical attacks were recorded during the reporting period, all of them launched by pro-government forces against Eastern Ghouta. Deir Ezzor city was removed from the Siege Watch Watchlist, as there is a low risk that the city will revert to a state of siege. Eastern Aleppo may be removed in the coming quarter. A new community, Beit Jinn, was added to the Watchlist for the first time during the reporting period. After an intensified assault by pro-government forces the area capitulated, and was subjected to a forced population transfer of fighters and civilians. The conditions facing civilians in post-surrender communities that surrendered in prior Siege Watch reporting periods remained a significant concern. The Syrian governments strategy for capturing besieged communities has become a well-established pattern: intensified siege and military escalation in order to push besieged enclaves to the point of collapse, followed by a bloody surrender and forced population transfers. The current assault on Eastern Ghouta is the latest step. Unless action is taken to stop the attacks on Eastern Ghouta and enforce the basic principles of international humanitarian and human rights law, this pattern of surrender or die scorched early campaigns will continue, and more besieged communities may face a similar fate. Key recommendations: Since UNSC Resolution 2401 (2018) and all prior Security Council resolutions demanding access to and protection of civilians in besieged areas remain unimplemented, the international community must take further measures. All UN member states whether on the Security Council or not have a responsibility to take swift action against non-compliant parties, including through more forceful measures such as a framework of escalating sanctions. Members of the international community must take steps to prevent forced population transfers of civilians from Eastern Ghouta under the pretense of evacuations. In light of Russias role in prior forced surrender negotiations and in the current fighting in Eastern Ghouta, it cannot be considered a good faith negotiator. It is therefore incumbent on other countries to step in and play a role in oversight of local negotiations to end the sieges, to ensure that any agreements comply with international humanitarian and human rights law. International stakeholders should take pre-emptive measures now to avert yet another surrender or die campaign against the besieged communities in northern Homs and the Southern Damascus Suburbs. International monitors whether from the UN or another third-party stakeholder should be immediately deployed into all communities that have been previously forced to surrender to the Syrian government, to ensure that vulnerable civilians are not being subjected to continuing human rights violations. Humanitarian actors must approach post-surrender communities with the knowledge that post-surrender does not necessarily mean post-conflict. Proper conflict sensitivity measures must be put in place to ensure that recovery programming in these areas does not pay war crimes dividends to the Syrian government or contribute to deepening sectarian grievances. The international community must take action to hold those responsible for war crimes and crimes against humanity accountable by pushing for a referral to the International Criminal Court and supporting the IIIM and other accountability initiatives. Child protection group releases statement calling on UNSC member states to enforce the terms of the recent cease-fire agreement The Syrian regime and its allies continued to carry out their attacks against the civilian-populated cities and towns of the Eastern Gouta despite the adoption of a United Nations Security Council resolution calling for a 30-day nationwide cease-fire. The number of civilian casualties continued to increase on Monday as a result of the shelling of residential areas in the Eastern Ghouta, reaching 32 civilians, including five children from the city of Douma. This brought the number of children killed to 12 in just 48 hours following the adoption of the UNSC resolution. Civilians continue to live in underground shelters with a lack of basic essentials including food, security and heating. This is happening despite the clear emphasis in Resolution 2401 which calls for lifting the siege on the Eastern Ghouta and ensuring access to food and medicine for civilians. The discharge of sewage water inside many shelters further complicates these already tragic conditions, where the civilians are still confined to cramped shelters and basements without the possibility of fleeing due to the continuous shelling. At the time writing, no medical aid has been allowed enter to the area while no official statement has been made on when such supplies will be provided. Medical supplies are crucially needed to save the lives of the critically injured civilians caught in the barbaric shelling of the Eastern Ghouta in recent days. Schools remain suspended since Feb. 7, with 52,000 students denied their right to education as a result. All nations sponsoring this U.N. resolution are obliged to follow up on its implementation as stipulated in its articles. Civilians must not be forced or pressured to evacuate their cities. All sponsoring nations must ensure the full implementation of this resolution so that no more civilian lives are lost in the Eastern Ghouta home to 367,000 civilians, including 115,000 children under the pretext of fighting the Nusra Front organization. Children and civilians are entitled to special protection under international law, and may not, under any circumstances or justification, be attacked or targeted. Their safety and security must be guaranteed at all times and in all conditions. This article was edited by The Syrian Observer. Responsibility for the information and views set out in this article lies entirely with the author. Washington's U.N. ambassador issues warning on Iran and Hezbollah over their role in the Syrian conflict U.S. Permanent Representative to the United Nations Nikki Haley delivered the following remarks at a United Nations Security Council briefing on the situation in Syria. The Assad regime has become a front for Iran, Hezbollah, and their allies to advance the irresponsible and dangerous agenda for the Middle East. On every front of this conflict, we find fighters imported by Iran from Lebanon, Iraq, and Afghanistan. When we see the Assad regime starving civilians in Eastern Ghouta or pummeling schools and hospitals in Idleb, we see advisers from Iran and Hezbollah helping direct those atrocities. This support for the Assad regime is not new, of course. But the drone flight this week is a wake-up call for all of us. Iran and Hezbollah are making plans to stay in Syria. We cant offer support for peace on the one hand and ignore the fact that the chief sponsor of terrorism in the Middle East and its terrorist militia are digging in. Even as we talk about peace at the U.N., the fighting is getting worse. Much of the violence is happening in so-called de-escalation zones. Russia was supposed to guarantee adherence to these de-escalation zones to help the political process. But then again, Russia was also supposed to guarantee that all chemical weapons would be removed from Syria. Instead, we see the Assad regime continue to bomb, starve, and yes, gas civilians. All of us on this Council know what it will take to get to peace in Syria. More than two years ago, the Council unanimously adopted Resolution 2254, which includes a framework for ending this warThere is no doubt that Geneva and the U.N.-led political process is the sole legitimate venue for coming up with a political solution in Syria. Ultimately, we must recognize that the Assad regime does not want peace unless its peace on their terms a peace in which every person in Syria who opposes the regime is murdered, tortured, starved, imprisoned, or forced to flee the country. Full transcript of remarks: https://usun.state.gov/remarks/8305 On the occasion of Workers' Day, The Syrian Observer will not be publishing any articles today, May 1. We will be back in action Tuesday, May 2. Dear readers, On the occasion of Workers' Day, The Syrian Observer will not be publishing any articles today, May 1. We will be back in action Tuesday, May 2. Happy international Workers' Day, wherever in the world you are celebrating. Thanks, The Syrian Observer Since the start of the uprising in 2011, Alice Mufarrej has worked to reduce violence and promote the voice of women in Syria. In Brief To the right of Nasr al-Hariri, a woman with short black hair leads the photos of the press conferences in Geneva. Although she is not that well known, she is the Vice President of the opposition delegation in Geneva Alice Mufarrej. Alice is a special case in the Syrian revolution. While she supported the peaceful revolt with all her strength, she stopped when the revolution was militarized, and warned against religious extremism. Background Alice Mufarrej was born in Suweida in 1971. She studied Arabic and obtained a degree from Damascus University. She worked as an Arabic teacher in a secondary school, and was an activist in civil society in the majority Druze province of Suweida, focusing particularly in the fields of female empowerment, the environment and cultural cooperation. She joined the Communist Labor Party, which is a small leftist party run by Abdelaziz al-Khair, who was kidnapped by the regime in September 2012. She was selected as a member of the party leadership. Her name became prominent in 2004, when she participated in the demonstrations in support of the Kurdish uprising that year. The Syrian Revolution Alice Mufarrej participated in peaceful demonstrations at the start of the revolution in 2011, and called for the downfall of the regime, as well as civil sit-ins. She organized them with the coordination councils, and focused on womens actions and participated in establishing the Syrian Women of the Revolution coalition to work on mobilizing protests in the capital as well as assisting displaced people, the disabled, and treating wounded protesters. It did not last long because most were arrested. Her activities led to her being arrested twice: the first time on Jul. 20, 2011, following her participation in peaceful demonstrations in Damascus. She and six other activists were beaten with fists, feet and electric rods by members of the loyalist Baathist militia, which also openly sexually harassed her before turning her over to the police. When she got out of prison, she was fired from her work and her home was confiscated. Mufarrej remained active in aid work and awareness campaigns and continued to peacefully protest, and then was arrested again at the end of 2013 by the Department of Migration and Passports for 40 days, before being released as part of a prisoner exchange with the opposition. After that she traveled to Lebanon and then moved to Germany with her family, which allowed her greater participation in political life. When Alice was arrested the second time she was working as a teacher in the Jaramana district of Damascus. She was working to defend womens rights and was one of the women who established a group called Syrian Women for a Citizens State, which worked from the beginning of the revolution to create economic opportunities for women, promote peace and limit the conflicts between armed groups on a local level. According to her account, Prisoners were being tortured to death on a daily basis. I felt lucky to be alive. We were isolated from the outside world and could not see a lawyer. For more than a month, I was stuck in a cell with more than 30 women arrested on various charges either due to their aid work in besieged areas, or because of their personal or family connections with members of the opposition, or because of a false security report. The cell was a little less than five square meters, and it was dark and cold and airless. Torture was routine. Afterwards, Alice was able to leave during a prisoner exchange between the regime and opposition. For a Peaceful Revolution After the revolution began to become militarized, Alice worked with the United Nations on peace-building and conflict resolution workshops, and obtained a training certificate. She worked to connect areas under regime control and rebel-held areas to prevent chaotic escalations and to free kidnapped people on both sides and to work in Ghouta, Homs, and Daraa. Her work was related to civil peace, a variety of aid work and economically empowering the wives of members of the Free Syrian Army, preventing early marriage, forcible conscription and providing training on gender principles. Alice also participated in establishing a number of civil associations to continue peaceful action and to work on the day after the fall of the regime, such as the Secular Youth Association to ensure Syrian plurality and keep the revolution in line with its demands, and the Syrian Womens Organization, as well as the Syrian Womens Network, and the Womens Lobby, as well as establishing the Syrian Women for Peace and Democracy initiative, sponsored by the United Nations, to push for a political settlement based on the Geneva declaration, to connect the local, national and international processes and to support women in attaining decision-making positions on the legal basis of the Security Council Resolution 1325. Alice and her colleagues called on the former UN envoy Lakhdar Brahimi to have a womens delegation at the negotiating table on an independent basis at the Geneva 2 negotiations. Women were represented at the conference at a rate of less than 30 percent, but the initiative produced two in the negotiating delegation at Geneva 3: Alice and Basma al-Qadmani. A Civil Society Chamber was established and a Womens Consultative Council for Staffan de Mistura. Alice refused to stereotype the role of women in Syria only as peacemakers and builders of tolerance, and insisted that women should be partners in a just political solution, linking the political transition with the issue of accountability and building a sustainable peace, and as a force for the democratization process. The National Coordination Council Alice occupies a leadership position in the National Coordination Council. She participated with her colleagues Basma al-Qadmani, Mia Rahbi, Mariam Jalabi, Jumana Saif, and Wajdan Nassif on establishing the Womens Political Movement, to pressure for womens representation in the Negotiations Committee for the Riyadh 2 conference, and to work on negotiations issues and the future constitution from a gender viewpoint and to build political action to raise Syrian womens voices. In 2012, Alice participated in the establishment of the Democratic Forum and was a member of the political committee. She also participated in setting up the Cairo 2 conference but at the last moment, she did not attend. She became a member of the Geneva 3 delegation and then was appointed as a Vice President of the Geneva 4 delegation, as a result of her activity in the National Coordination Council. She was responsible for the issue of prisoners and the forcibly disappeared during 2016. She was appointed Vice President of the negotiations delegation in February 2012, and participated in the Riyadh 2 conference as a member in the Syrian Negotiations Committee. Alice Mufarrej has not been among the opposition figures facing accusations relating to integrity, while her opposition to Islamist movements is well-known. Alice now works in coordination with the European Union to support womens political empowerment to ensure their representation in local councils and the importance of their participation in security matters on the ground, in order to achieve a safe and neutral environment in all local councils and agencies. She is also working to coordinate with international organizations at the official state level to show the legal aspect of the prisoners issue and not to politicize it as a blackmail card and to prevent violations in official and secret prisons. This article was translated and edited by The Syrian Observer. Responsibility for the information and views set out in this article lies entirely with the author. As a refugee, Muzoon Almellehan has work tirelessly to secure education rights for young girls. Background In 2017, at 19-years-old, Muzoon Almellehan, was the youngest, and the first person with an official refugee status, to become Goodwill Ambassador of the United Nations Childrens Fund. This young lady has led a campaign to end early marriage and encourage young girls to remain in school. Muzoon Almellehan was born in April 1999 to a Syrian middle-class family in the city of Daraa, the cradle of the Syrian revolution. Her father Rakan Almellehan was a teacher. In 2014, the family was forced to leave its home and flee to Jordan where they became refugees. The Almellehan family had to move several times but their first place of stay was the Zaatari Camp, where Muzoon started her campaign for educating girls. She has since become known for trying to persuade parents to leave their children, especially girls, in refugee schools rather than making them marry early. She also tried to persuade children to stay in school and to prevent child marriage. Her efforts began after she saw half of the 40 girls in her class in the Zaatari camp leave school to get married. Campaign for education During the family's 18-month stay in Zaatari, one of the world's largest refugee camps, Muzoon noticed that one girl out of two in her class dropped out of school to get married. Syrian refugee parents were pulling them out of the classroom and pushing them into early, and often doomed, marriages. Nearly one in three of all registered marriages among Syrians in Jordan involved a child marriage, according to a study that was run in 2014. Many of these ill-fated marriages end in divorce, leaving the girls with no education and few prospects. Muzoon was very concerned that this would damage the future of half of the Syrian people who were forced to leave the country. She saw the importance of education for all and particularly for girls, the future mothers who need to secure a stable future for their children. Alarmed by the trend, Muzoon began a campaign, going door-to-door from tent to trailer in the settlement, pleading with refugee parents to allow their young daughters to stay in school. I would tell them that we are the future, she says. As a refugee, I saw what happens when children are forced into early marriage or manual labor: they lose out on education and they lose out on opportunities for the future, says Muzoon. That's why I am proud to be working with UNICEF to help give these children a voice and to get them to school. Goodwill Ambassador In 2017, UNICEF appointed, in a historic first, Muzoon Almellehan, now 19-year-old, as its newest and youngest Goodwill Ambassador. Muzoon became also the first person with an official refugee status to become an Ambassador for the UN agency. Muzoons story of bravery and fortitude inspires us all, said Justin Forsyth, Deputy Executive Director of UNICEF, in a press release, adding: We are very proud she will now become an Ambassador for UNICEF and children around the world. Now headed to college, Muzoon was only 14 when the Syrian civil war forced her family to leave their home in Daraa in the middle of the night and cross the border into Jordan. Even as a child, I knew that education was the key to my future, so when we fled Syria, the only belongings I took with me were my school books, she recalls. At this month's G-20 Summit in Germany, Muzoon told her story and addressed world leaders on the vital importance of education rights for all. Malala of Syria Her hard work to advocate for girls education allowed some to compare her to the Pakistani teenage activist Malala Yousafzai, calling her the Malala of Syria. In fact, Muzoon and Malala met in person and became fast friends when Malala toured refugee camps in Jordan. In 2014, Malala invited Muzoon to be her guest at the ceremony in Oslo when she became the youngest person ever to be awarded the Nobel Peace Prize. Since fleeing her homeland, Muzoon Almellehan lived in Jordan for three years, before being resettled in the United Kingdom. This article does not necessarily reflect the opinion of The Syrian Observer. Nepal Police rescue 7,029 women and children from traffickers in last 5 years Nepal Police has rescued 7,029 women and children from human traffickers at various border posts of the country over the last five years, a senior police official said here on Saturday. As the head of the Air Force Intelligence in Aleppo, Major General Adeeb Namr Salameh, has overseen a systematic policy of oppression and torture. In Brief Adeeb Salameh does not occupy a position on the frontlines, but he has, according to rights activists and human rights organizations, a proven track record of human rights violations and an important position among Syria's security commanders. He played an especially central role in oppressing and violating human rights after taking on the duties of the head of the notorious Air Force Intelligence branch in Aleppo. Salameh is one of the most extreme officers, and one of the first to form a "shabiha" militia in the Salamiyeh countryside under the command of his brother Mussib. Background Adeeb Salameh, 65, comes from the village of Dahr al-Maghar, one of the villages of the Salamiyeh in the countryside of Hama province. He enrolled in the Military Academy for Air Defense, and was close to Major General Jamil al-Hassan, Director of the Air Force Intelligence Directorate, which led him to follow the same professional path until he became Head of Air Force Intelligence in Aleppo from 2006 to 2016. During that time he transformed the branch into a symbol of horror and terrorism, adopting torture methods that killed a large number of prisoners. The Syrian Revolution Major General Salameh was supposed to have retired in 2011, but the eruption of the revolution delayed this. Indeed, on the contrary, he was promoted from Brigadier General to Major General, and his star quickly brightened. His branch became one of the largest centers for the torture and killing of civilians. Salameh was in favor of pushing the revolution towards militarization and extremism, and is quoted as saying to his assistants: "The more the brigades of the Free Army increase, the better it is for us. It's also better if no civilian departments (traffic police, registries, water) are established in areas outside our control." In April 2014, Major General Salameh was nearly killed during heavy fighting which erupted on the Air Force Intelligence front, in which the armed opposition aimed to take control of the branch. The First Deputy Director of the Office, Assaf Hourani, was killed at the time. During the revolution, the Air Force Intelligence branch headed by Salameh committed hundreds of violations against civilians and peaceful protests. Rights networks have documented the deaths of hundreds under torture, while the Air Force Intelligence has been described as a nightmare by residents of Aleppo, and as one of the worst security agencies. Salameh, known for his fierce temper, poured it out on Aleppo after the blast that targeted the city of Salamiyeh and which claimed the lives of a number of his relatives. He took revenge on prisoners, with the number of martyrs who lost their lives under his orders and supervision in the dungeons of the Air Force Intelligence throughout the revolution reaching more than 3,700 people. Many massacres and violations carried out against civilians in Aleppo have been attributed to him, such as the massacre carried out against prisoners in his Aleppo prisons on Jan. 29th, 2013, which killed about 128 civilians. The bodies were thrown in the Queiq river, with bullet holes in their head. This crime was considered one of the worst in Aleppo during this period. There was also the massacre of al-Malakiya village in Aleppo on Feb. 27th, 2013, when a number of the village's houses were burned and more than 70 civilians were exectued, most of them children and the elderly. In addition, his fighters stormed the village of Aziza on Apr. 4, 2013, and arrested and then executed about 20 people. Because of his position and the free hand given to him by Assad, Syrian rights organizations hold Major General Salameh fully responsible for the lives of thousands of prisoners in the Air Force Intelligence prisons, which uses a policy of neglect, starvation and the deprivation of medical treatment followed by the security authorities unleashing punishment and revenge against the prisoners for their opposition to the Assad regime. "Aleppo's President" Salameh is one of the most extreme officers and one of the most prominent symbols of Assad's crimes. He was the first to form the "shabiha" militias in the Salamiyeh countryside under the command of his brother Mussib, who took part in most of his violations in terms of torture and killings committed against all components of Syrian society, as well as the kidnapping and the subsequent demands for millions in exchange for releasing them. This covered the major murder, kidnapping and looting gangs in the Hama countryside, specifically in the city of Salamiyeh, under the leadership of his brother Mussib. He was not content with just this, but imposed his influence on all the security branches and authorities in Aleppo, and established commercial relations with city merchants and industrialist, to the extent that he gained the nickname "Aleppo's president," in addition to his record reeking of corruption. He has been implicated in major corruption cases and has received huge amounts of money in exchange for preserving factories or protecting them, while appointing himself as a partner to every major investor in the city. Ink on Paper The Syrian Association for Human Rights has reported that Aleppo's residents have often found unidentified bodies with their hands bound near the Air Force Intelligence headquarters, which clearly suggests the systematic nature of the killings carried out against prisoners in this branch. In 2012, Human Rights Watch issued a report titled, "Torture Archipelago," in which it addressed the torture and forcible disappearances at the hands of Adeeb Salameh and under his command in a section titled, "Death everywhere." On Oct. 21, 2016,the American Ambassador to the United Nations, Samantha Power, threatened a dozen Syrian officers and accused them of giving orders to carry out attacks on civilian targets and torturing opposition members in a systematic fashion. These included Major General Adeeb Salameh, noting that they had hidden behind the face of the Assad regime, and that they need to know that their crimes have been documented and they will be held to account one day. He has not directly participated in the killings and has been content to give orders and oversee the violations, however this does not clear him of legal responsibility and accountability. There are laws that criminalize all those who participate in committing any massacre even if he did not participate directly, such as in the Rome Statute, the Fourth Geneva Convention and international humanitarian law. Transferring war crimes in Syria to the International Criminal Court needs to be done through the Security Council that has been impeded by Russia's veto, which has been a barrier for all international reports, which have condemned the crimes of Assad and his officers, and have caused the deaths of tens of thousands of innocents. In addition, Russia has pulled out of the Rome Statute, enabling it to protect those who commit these crimes, and try to prevent them from appearing before international courts, which has contributing to prolonging the life of Assad's butchers and their increasing commitment to massacres against the Syrian people. This article was translated and edited by The Syrian Observer. Responsibility for the information and views set out in this article lies entirely with the author. Nirmalas unsolved case It has been more than 100 days since Nirmala Pants lifeless body was found in a sugarcane field in Bhimdattanagar, Kanchanpur, but it seems as though nothing has changed. Poverty fund director KC quits Poverty Alleviation Fund Executive Director Nahakul KC resigned from his post on Wednesday citing unrelenting pressure from the Prime Ministers Office. Along with KC, six other PAF officials also resigned from their posts, sources at the fund said. Tunnel works ahead of schedule by one year Bheri Babai Diversion Multipurpose Project, the irrigation cum hydroelectricity scheme, has completed digging more than 75 percent of the 12-km long tunnel using a tunnel boring machine. The project is using the machine to excavate a tunnel for the first time in Nepal. Two dead, 17 hurt in Dadeldhura jeep crash Two persons died while 17 others were injured in a jeep accident at Lakam in Bhageshwor Rural Municipality, Dadeldhura, on Saturday. 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 BUENOS AIRES -- The Argentine Navy submarine that went missing a year ago off the countrys Atlantic Coast was found by a private company involved in what had been a massive search for the vessel and its 44-member crew, the defense ministry said in a news conference on Saturday. The ARA San Juan submarine was discovered by marine tracking contractor Ocean Infinity, 907 meters (2,975 feet) below the ocean surface. The vessel was found in an underwater canyon with its tail partially imploded, Argentinas Defense Minister Carlos Aguad said. Given the poor visibility at the site, the ministry said it only had preliminary information about the state of the submarine, which was scattered in pieces on the ocean floor. Aguad could neither confirm nor deny if the vessel could be recovered, but said the government did not have the means to extract the submarine. The disappearance gripped the nations attention as the government struggled to provide information about the tragedy. Relatives of the crew still have questions. We have found them, Jorge Villarreal, father of one crew member told local radio. Now we are going to search for the truth. For us this is the start of a new chapter. Aguad said: Much of what happens from here will have to be resolved by the justice department. If there is someone responsible, they will be held responsible. At the time of the disappearance, the Navy said water that had entered the submarines snorkel caused its battery to short-circuit. Naval officials said international organizations helping to search for the missing vessel a year ago detected a noise that could have been the submarine imploding, just two hours after its last contact. The first anniversary of the submarines disappearance was commemorated at the Mar del Plata naval base on Nov. 15, with President Mauricio Macri in attendance. The crew had been ordered to return to Mar del Plata on the countrys east coast. But the vessel was never heard from again. Autonomous underwater vehicles Ocean Infinity, a U.S. company that can search and map the seabed, was hired by Argentina following the failure of an international operation to find the vessel after it went missing in the South Atlantic. Ocean Infinity used five autonomous underwater vehicles to carry out the search, according to a statement from the company. Our thoughts are with the many families affected by this terrible tragedy. We sincerely hope that locating the resting place of the ARA San will be of some comfort to them, the statement said. The San Juan was some 430 km (270 miles) off Argentinas Patagonian coast when it sent its last signal. The disaster spurred soul-searching over the state of the military in Argentina, which after a series of financial crises has one of Latin Americas smallest defense budgets relative to the size of its economy. Some families of missing crew members blamed the government for underfunding the Navy. Argentina learned a harsh lesson of submarines military value during the 1982 Falklands War, when a British sub sank the ARA General Belgrano cruiser. It was the only major ship Argentina lost in the war over the disputed Falkland Islands, which Argentina calls the Malvinas. Visitors to a unique island in the central Vietnamese province of Quang Nam have the opportunity to witness a vast area of picturesque sedimentary rocks that are up to hundreds of millions of years old. Tam Hai is an island off Nui Thanh District, Quang Nam Province, separated from the mainland by both the ocean and river. Three sides of Tam Hai are surrounded by the Truong Giang (Truong River), while the other faces the sea. Dark-colored sedimentary rocks on Tam Hai Tourists are able to enjoy the untouched beauty of the sea and sand, palm trees, and especially the sedimentary rocks hundreds of millions of years old. These unique rocks can be spotted at multiple locations across the island, namely Ban Than, Bai Nom, Bai Bac, Hon Dua, and Hon Mang. A visitor poses for a photo alongside the unique rocks on the island. Local authorities are carrying our necessary procedures so that the sedimentary rocks here can be recognized as a national geopark. Recent examinations by scientists revealed that the areas have many features of a geological heritage site, including rocks, karst, the ancient environment, limestone strata, and tectonic structures among others. Geologists believed that the sediments had first appeared about 400 million years ago during plate tectonics. Sedimentary rocks along the beach Located over 40 kilometers from Tam Ky City, Quang Nam Province, and about 100 kilometers from the central city of Da Nang, Tam Hai Island covers an area of 15 square kilometers. Local residents earn their livings mainly from the sea and tourism. Visitors can reach the island only by ferry. The sedimentary rocks are in different shapes and sizes. Sedimentary rocks along the beach Honeycomb weathering can be noticed on a sedimentary rock on Tam Hai. People fish near the rocks on Tam Hai Island. Local residents hunt for oysters at the Ban Than Peak. Local residents hunt for oysters at the Ban Than Peak. Local fishers and their catches following a journey at sea Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam! Here are todays leading news stories: Politics -- Vietnamese Nguyen Xuan Phuc began his activities at the 26th APEC Economic Leaders Week in Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea on Saturday by participating in several dialogues between APEC leaders and related meetings on the sidelines of the event. -- Indian President Ram Nath Kovind and the Frist Lady are scheduled to pay a state visit to Vietnam from November 18 to 20 at the invitation of Vietnamese Party chief and State President Nguyen Phu Trong. Society -- A tropical depression forming off southern Vietnam had developed into a storm, named Toraji, on Saturday evening before being downgraded on Sunday morning. The low-pressure system was located 130 kilometers east of the south-central province of Ninh Thuan as of 4:00 am Sunday. -- A traffic accident on the Rach Mieu Bridge, which connects Tien Giang and Ben Tre Provinces in the Mekong Delta, resulted in serious congestion lasting for up to four hours on Saturday afternoon, despite efforts of traffic police from both provinces. -- About 300 patients at the Bach Mai Hospital in Hanoi were given free-of-charge haircuts and hair wash on Saturday, as part of social work that is carried out once every three months. -- The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development organized a ceremony on Saturday to announced the first-ever made-in-Vietnam vaccine for hand, foot, and mouth disease. -- Residents and commuters along Huynh Tan Phat Street in District 7 have been frustrated after suffering frequent air pollution and inundation brought about by sluggish roadworks along the road over the past months. Business -- The first direct flight between Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam and Zurich, Switzerland operated by Swiss carrier Edelweiss Air has recently been launched following three years of preparation. -- The State Bank of Vietnam has issued a document warning of the increasingly subtle and complicated crimes involving the production and trade of counterfeit money across the Southeast Asian country. Sports -- The 2018 Vietnam Kizuna Ekiden, a marathon to raise awareness of traffic safety organized by the Ministry of Public Security, Tuoi Tre (Youth) newspaper, and Japan's Mainichi newspaper, kicked off at the Hoan Kiem (Sword) Lake in Hanoi on Sunday morning. 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 prayer service for those who died in road crashes took place at a large Buddhist temple in Ho Chi Minh City on Sunday, in line with the World Day of Remembrance for Road Traffic Victims, which is observed on the third Sunday of November every year. The memorial ceremony, jointly organized by the municipal traffic safety committee and the local committee for religious affairs, was performed by hundreds of Buddhists at Vietnam Quoc Tu (Vietnams National Pagoda), a complex with an under-construction 13-story worship building in the metropolis District 10. The service was observed with the messages remember the deceased for the sake of the living and human life is paramount. Buddhist nuns pray at a memorial service at Vietnam Quoc Tu in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, November 18, 2018. Photo: Tuoi Tre Nguyen Ngoc Tuong, head of the traffic committee, said at the event that 563 people died in over 2,000 road crashes in the city from January to October this year. The carnage was more serious across the country, with 20 fatalities averagely reported every day, and those who survived the incidents tend to be a burden to their family, he said. The praying service was also expected to offer condolences to families affected by road casualties and call for traffic regulation obedience. Over 6,000 people died in traffic accidents in Vietnam in January-September, according to official figures. Officials and Buddhist monks offer incense sticks during a memorial service at Vietnam Quoc Tu in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, November 18, 2018. Photo: Tuoi Tre Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam! "On November 16th, Iran and Iraq agreed on the establishment of a free trade zone, according to Iranian President Hassan Rouhani. We have agreed to create a free trade zone between the two countries, which will enable us to launch joint ventures, Rouhani said at a press conference held after the meeting, as broadcast by Press TV. According to Rouhani, currently Iran-Iraq trade amounts to approximately $12 billion, but with some effort could grow to $20 billion. Rouhani also said that the two leaders also talked about electricity and gas swap, as well as cooperation on petroleum products and oil exploration. During the joint press conference Salih declared that the relationship between the two neighboring countries is a fixed principle that is rooted in shared history, faith and geography. We care about our relationship with Iran, Salih declared. However, he did not give full details about the free-trade zone. All of this follows a meeting between Rouhani and Iraqi President Barham Salih in Tehran, during which they discussed bilateral cooperation and regional development." SF ------------ Did the Borg and the neocons really think the US controlled Iraq enough to prevent this? An inability to deal with Middle Eastern realities has marked neocon induced policies for a long time. IMO this blindness is caused by the universally understood truth that to challenge Israel's fantasies about the malleability of Middle Eastern attitudes is suicide in the Borg (foreign policy establishment) and the neocons are just an arm of Israeli foreign policy. As further proof of the fragility of the US position in Iraq we had the spectacle of the US supported and maintained SDF/YPG walking away from the fight on the east bank of the Euphrates to move north to bolster their Kurdish compatriots. CENTCOM cannot have been pleased with that. They are trying to keep the land routes to Iran from Syria closed. To do this control of the Deir al-zor - Baghdad leg of one of the two roads (the other runs through al-tanf) requires SDF control of the border crossing alongside the river as well as dependable Iraqi blockage of the road on the other side of the border. In light of the evident CENTCOM/US lack of grip on the actions of the SDF/YPG and the foreign policy of Iraq, it would seem that there is not much of a future for a strong US presence in Iraq. pl https://southfront.org/iraq-boosts-economic-cooperation-with-iran-despite-us-sanctions-war-on-islamic-republic/ While recent news, especially in The Guardian, is mainly about the fact that Elton John stars in the John Lewis Christmas ad to tremendous effect, other big shops and supermarket chains are also doing their best this year. They want to move your hearts, make you shed a little tear and, of course, open up the wallets and purses to spend your hard-earned cash in their shops during the run-up to the Christmas period. In their report, The Sun has rated the ads in popularity, but here they are randomly listed for your pleasure and your own rating. However, it is interesting to note that Iceland is winning the viewership stakes on YouTube, heading towards five million and slightly ahead of John Lewis. Grab the popcorn and keep a box of tissues handy while you watch the Christmas adverts below. 1 Sainsbury's 'The Big Night' Sainsbury's The Big Night stars an eight-year-old girl giving her best performance for her mum. North Star is nervous initially, but she is backed by a cast of 59 other kids (from six to 11). All have the perfect Christmas-related costumes. As North Star gets more confident, the full cast is revealed, along with a 40 ft Christmas tree and 14 ft gravy boat. Their real parents were in the audience and were kept away until shoot day. This made their reactions so much more real. Tissue anyone? 2 No Palm Oil: The Iceland ad that was banned from TV You wont see Icelands viral moving Christmas ad on television, because it was banned for being too controversial. The animated short film is urging everyone to stop buying products containing palm oil as the product is leading to deforestation throughout Asia and endangering orang-utans. The supermarket chain has sworn off selling products with the controversial ingredient, and they invite you to meet Rang-tan and hear her story. 3 The Heathrow Bears Return for Christmas 2018 4 John Lewis & Partners The Boy and The Piano 5 M&S 'Must-Haves' 6 Boots Christmas ad Gifts That Get Them ALL RIGHTS RESERVED A woman arrived at Fallen Feathers bird rescue in Peoria, Arizona recently with a pigeon in a box, covered by a towel. When Jody Kieran opened the box, she found a pigeon wearing a dazzling rhinestone vest or flight suit. She wanted to know if the pigeon was Liberace or the Rhinestone Cowboy of country music fame. Kieran headed to Facebook in an effort to find the pigeons owner, as it was obviously tame and happy to hang out with humans. The social media post soon went viral, with hundreds of people commenting on the image, worried about the pigeon or amazed by his fancy attire. As reported by AZ Central, one Facebook user shared it on her Reddit account in the hope of finding the birds owner. Looking for a friendly pigeons owner The pigeon was found on a womans patio in Glendale, Arizona, where it was trying to get through her door. She was worried the bird might get eaten, so she caught it, taking it to Fallen Feathers. Rhinestone-wearing pigeon found in Arizona; search underway for owner - https://t.co/rNEDdjbxEQ pic.twitter.com/LVrNvI1ata NBC12 WWBT Richmond (@NBC12) November 17, 2018 Fox 10 reports that Kieran is not sure if the bird is male or female, but the pigeon is definitely someones pet, and apparently not just because of the fancy rhinestone clothing. She told them a wild bird naturally tries to escape, but this pigeon likes to hang around on your shoulder. Kieran said the bird is not trying to escape so its definitely used to living in someones home. She also added that after 20 years working to rehabilitate pigeons she had never before seen one in such a fancy outfit. Pigeon enjoys watching westerns Interestingly enough, the pigeon also enjoys watching TV and Kieran said it is particularly fond of westerns. At this point, she asked if he was maybe the Rhinestone Cowboy of country music fame. She went on to say that pigeons are great as house pets and they cant hurt or bite anyone. Kieran said they are mostly tame and actually quite smart. She also noted how useful the rhinestone vest was, as it catches the birds droppings when it is inside the home. The vest even has a label, so the birds owner must have bought it for him. This is why she posted a photo on Facebook, along with the rhinestone vest, hoping that the pigeons owner would spot it and retrieve their lost pet. Kieran said if its owner doesnt claim the pigeon, they do have other options, like trying to get the bird to join a pigeon flock. However, she feels hes probably missed the boat on that option as he is so tame. Kieran added that if she cant find a new home for the pigeon, she might have to get some matching rhinestone outfits. Creditors have agreed to inject 35 million of new money into the business and reduce its net debt level by 135 million. Jobs and newspaper titles at Johnston Press have been saved after the company was bought by creditors. Newly formed company JPIMedia announced it had acquired the publisher on Saturday after it put itself into administration. As part of the transaction, creditors have agreed to inject 35 million of new money into the business and reduce its net debt level by 135 million. In a statement, JPIMedia said the acquisition of Johnston Press secures jobs and (the) future of its brands and titles. JPIMedias shareholders recognise the vital role that local and regional media plays in the communities they serve and remain committed to protecting and enhancing the value of the business in the future, it added. The National Union of Journalists earlier demanded meaningful guarantees on the future of jobs and titles following the administration process. As a result of the sale, an assessment period has been triggered for the employees on the defined-benefit pension scheme. Union officials previously warned any changes to future payments in line with pension protection fund (PPF) payment rules would by a terrible blow to affected staff. JPIMedia said it will offer a defined contribution pension scheme to all employees. But a statement from Custos Group, Johnston Presss largest shareholder, accused the publishers board of acting out of self-interest. It said: Their actions today, ensuring their own jobs are safe, but sacrificing the pensions of their loyal staff, many of whom will no doubt also lose their jobs under the new ownership of a US hedge fund, is simply a disgrace and a vulgar display of the worst elements of capitalism. David King, the publishers former chief executive, retains his position at JPIMedia. He said the important sale would ensure operations can continue as normal, with employees rights maintained, suppliers paid, and newspapers printed. Story continues We will focus on ensuring the groups titles continue to publish the high-quality journalism we are known for and which has never been more important, he said. John Ensall, director of JPIMedia, said: In the absence of another financial solution being available for the business, we are pleased to have reached this agreement to acquire Johnston Press, to protect the value of the business, preserve jobs and allow for the uninterrupted publication of its websites and newspapers. Local papers are the glue that binds our communities together the new company taking on Johnston Press must respect the critical role journalism plays in our democracy & give long term assurances on the future of these titles & #NUJ members livelihoods https://t.co/yYRahjHD4i NUJ (@NUJofficial) November 17, 2018 As part of this transaction we have reduced the level of net debt very significantly and invested 35 million to put the business in a far stronger financial position. We look forward to working with the management team as they embark on the next chapter in Johnston Presss story in the media sector, with the resources to support local and national journalism and embrace the digital future. One of Britains biggest publishers, Johnston Press had more than 200 titles in print and online, including the i, The Yorkshire Post and The Scotsman. The company announced it was placing itself in administration on Friday after it failed to find an appropriate buyer. Speculation the publisher might be sold had been growing since it announced a strategic review in March 2017. The company had been looking to refinance 220 million of debt due to be repaid in June next year. In an email sent to reassure staff, Mr King said that, at its peak, the companys debt reached 793 million. Employees were earlier told they would continue to be paid and should turn up to work as normal, with their contracts to be transferred to the new company. Scottish Finance Secretary Derek Mackay said: It is important that people in Scotland have access to a wide range of local and national media sources. I am pleased to hear Johnston Press has been bought out of administration in a deal that promises to secure jobs and put the business in a stronger financial position. FILE PHOTO: Amos Genish looks on during a debate at the RAI state television headquarters in Rome FILE PHOTO: Amos Genish, fired as Telecom Italia CEO last week, looks on during an earlier debate at the RAI state television headquarters in Rome, Italy November 10, 2017. REUTERS/Remo Casilli - RC11EA14A200/File Photo By Giselda Vagnoni and Agnieszka Flak ROME/MILAN (Reuters) - Telecom Italia (TIM) appointed Luigi Gubitosi as chief executive on Sunday, in a move seen as portending a more aggressive shake-up at the phone group and prompting his predecessor to call for a shareholder vote on the strategy turn. Gubitosi, a former head of telecoms group Wind and now state-appointed commissioner of struggling airline Alitalia, succeeds Amos Genish, the third TIM CEO to leave in as many years, who was unexpectedly fired last Tuesday over what sources said were disagreements with board members over strategy. Genish, who remains a TIM board director, said he would seek investor support to call an extraordinary shareholder meeting to contest the sudden changes. Support from investors holding 5 percent of the company is needed to call such a meeting. The telecoms veteran, who is close to TIM's top shareholder, Vivendi , had been pursuing a three-year turnaround plan, focusing on a digital transformation and fixing TIM's finances, backed by 98 percent of shareholders in April. But after activist fund Elliott wrested board control from Vivendi in May, some Elliott-appointed directors wanted Genish to focus more on a spinoff of its fixed-line networks and asset sales, sources familiar with the matter have said. Genish said on Sunday it should be up to all shareholders to decide such a drastic turn and not just a limited group of people. "To choose between two clear strategies, breaking up the company, selling strategic assets, dismantling TIM .... and my belief to continue organic growth and improvement, the only ones who can choose between the two options are the shareholders," he told journalists, adding he would seek to call such a meeting as soon as possible. Gubitosi had been one of the independent directors Elliott appointed to the TIM board. He will no longer be an independent director and will give up his role on TIM's control and risk committee after the appointment. Story continues He takes on a company saddled with 25 billion euros ($28.52 billion) of net debt and facing growing competition at home following the entry of French low-cost telecoms group Iliad earlier this year. Coming out of the board meeting that sealed his appointment, Gubitosi said TIM had a great history and expertise to "win market challenges, boost cash-flow generation, cut debt and examine with care and speed the project for the creation of a single network." The spinoff proposed by Elliott could pave the way for the creation of a single broadband infrastructure company, combining TIM's network with that of smaller, state-backed broadband rival, Open Fiber. Genish had said he supported the idea of a network spinoff and a merger with Open Fiber provided TIM was in control of the merged entity. Italy's new government, which came into power in June, has placed the creation of a fast broadband network at the heart of its industrial policy and is drafting measures to help create one single network player for the country. Gubitosi's role at Alitalia is seen as putting him in the right position to negotiate with the government, sources familiar with the matter have said. Vivendi voted against Gubitosi, a spokesman for the French investor said, adding it would be up to shareholders to decide what is the right board to roll out TIM's future strategy. The French investor is expected to back Genish should he call a shareholder meeting, a source familiar with the situation added, without elaborating. ($1 = 0.8767 euros) (Reporting by Giselda Vagnoni and Agnieszka Flak; Editing by Robin Pomeroy and Peter Cooney) U.S. Vice President Pence vows no end to tariffs until China bows PORT MORESBY (Reuters) - The United States will not back down from its trade dispute with China, and might even double its tariffs, unless Beijing bows to U.S. demands, Vice President Mike Pence said on Saturday. In a bluntly worded speech at an Asia Pacific Economic Co-operation (APEC) summit in Papua New Guinea, Pence threw down the gauntlet to China on trade and security in the region. "We have taken decisive action to address our imbalance with China," Pence declared. "We put tariffs on $250 billion in Chinese goods, and we could more than double that number." "The United States, though, will not change course until China changes its ways." The stark warning will likely be unwelcome news to financial markets which had hoped for a thaw in the Sino-U.S. dispute and perhaps even some sort of deal at a G20 meeting later this month in Argentina. U.S. President Donald Trump, who is not attending the APEC meeting, is due to meet Chinese President Xi Jinping in Argentina. Pence's warning on Saturday contrasted with remarks made by Trump on Friday, when he said he may not impose more tariffs after China sent the United States a list of measures it was willing to take to resolve trade tensions. Trump has imposed tariffs on $250 billion worth of Chinese imports to force concessions on a list of demands that would change the terms of trade between the two countries. China has responded with import tariffs on U.S. goods. Washington is demanding Beijing improve market access and intellectual property protections for U.S. companies, cut industrial subsidies and slash a $375 billion trade gap. There was no hint of compromise from Pence. "China has taken advantage of the United States for many years. Those days are over," he told delegates gathered on a cruise liner docked in Port Moresby's Fairfax Harbour. He also took aim at China's territorial ambitions in the Pacific and, particularly, Xi's Belt and Road Initiative to expand land and sea links between Asia, Africa and Europe with billions of dollars in infrastructure investment. Story continues "We don't offer constricting belts or a one-way road," said Pence. While not referring directly to Chinese claims over various disputed waters in the region, Pence said the United States would work to help protect maritime rights. "We will continue to fly and sail where ever international law allows and our interests demand. Harassment will only strengthen our resolve." Just minutes earlier, Xi had spoken at length about his initiative and the need for free trade across the region. "It is not an exclusive club closed to non-members, nor is it a trap as some people have labelled it," Xi said of his brainchild project. He also called protectionism a "shortsighted approach" that was "doomed to fail". "History has shown that confrontation, whether in the form of a Cold War, hot war, or trade war will produce no winners," said Xi. (Reporting by Jonathan Barrett, Tom Westbrook, Charlotte Greenfield, Philip Wen; writing by Wayne Cole and Swati Pandey; Editing by Robert Birsel) A former Central African Republic militia leader nicknamed "Colonel Rambo" arrived on Saturday in The Hague, where he will stand trial for war crimes and crimes against humanity at the International Criminal Court. Currently a lawmaker, Alfred Yekatom's extradition was the first of its kind from the CAR. "The suspect arrived in the detention centre", said ICC spokesman Fadi El Abdallah of the former army officer, who was the target of US sanctions in 2015 for suspected attacks against Muslims, civilian deaths, and for using child fighters. After being elected to parliament in 2016, Yekatom, 43, was arrested in October for opening fire inside the legislature while its new president was being elected. ICC chief prosecutor Fatou Bensouda welcomed the extradition, saying it "advances the cause of justice in the Central African Republic" and promising that she would continue to pursue her "quest for truth and justice". Pierre Brunisso from the International Federation of Human Rights watchdog added that it sent "a strong message to the leaders of armed groups". "Those who think they can claim an amnesty at the negotiating table are mistaken," he said. The ICC said Yekatom would be tried for "alleged war crimes and crimes against humanity" carried out by so-called anti-balaka militias. The court launched an investigation in September 2014 into crimes committed in the country since 2012. A three-judge bench of The Hague-based court's pre-trial chamber issued an arrest warrant against Yekatom last Sunday. "The Chamber is satisfied that the overall supporting evidence is sufficient to establish reasonable grounds that Yekatom bears criminal responsibility," the judges said in the warrant, made public by the ICC late on Saturday. This included acts of murder, torture, deportation and using child soldiers younger than 15 years in the anti-balaka group between December 5, 2013 and August 2014. Story continues In continuing violence the CAR, however, a Tanzanian peacekeeper died late Friday after an attack on a United Nations base and a priest was found burned to death, the UN and the Catholic Church said after sectarian clashes that claimed nearly 40 lives. The soldier died of injuries sustained in the raid on the base in Gbambia in the country's west, the UN mission MINUSCA said. Revenge attacks An armed group called Siriri, created this year by Fulani cattle herders, operates in the area. Led by a man named Ardo Abba, its purported aim is to thwart attacks by cattle rustlers. The UN said the group had attacked Gbambia in mid-June. A Tanzanian UN peacekeeper died that month after Siriri staged an ambush in the region. Meanwhile, the priest's charred body was recovered in the central town of Alindao, Father Mathieu Bondobo, vicar-general of the main cathedral in Bangui, told AFP. On Friday, the UN said 37 deaths were confirmed in Alindao -- including that of another priest -- while 20,000 people were affected by the violence. "Thousands" were forced to flee. The bloodletting began Thursday when Christian militiamen killed Muslims, prompting revenge attacks during which a church was set ablaze. Alindao is a stronghold of the Union for Peace in CAR (UPC), a Muslim militia. It has witnessed chronic fighting in recent months that has also killed other UN soldiers and a humanitarian aid worker. 'Disastrous' situation One of the world's poorest nations despite a rich supply of diamonds and uranium, the CAR has struggled to recover from a 2013 civil war that erupted when President Francois Bozize, a Christian, was overthrown by mainly Muslim Seleka rebels. In response, Christians, who account for about 80 percent of the population, organised vigilante units dubbed "anti-balaka" in reference to a type of machete. In September, the UN warned of a "disastrous" humanitarian situation in the region, which it said was under the control of armed groups. The government controls only a small part of the country. The UN has about 12,500 personnel deployed in the CAR as part of its MINUSCA mission, one of the world body's largest peacekeeping forces. (AFP) >> Watch: Central African Republic: The way of the warlord FILE PHOTO: The corporate logo of Odebrecht is seen inside of one of its offices in Mexico City, Mexico May 4, 2017. Picture taken on May 4, 2017. REUTERS/Carlos Jasso/File Photo BOGOTA (Reuters) - A Colombian investigation into the death of Jorge Enrique Pizano, a key witness at the centre of a corruption probe involving Brazilian construction firm Odebrecht [ODBES.UL], found that he died of a heart attack, the chief coroner said on Friday. The attorney general's office on Tuesday had ordered a probe into Pizano's Nov. 9 death on fears of foul play after his son, Alejandro Pizano Ponce de Leon, died from cyanide poisoning two days later. The attorney general said the younger Pizano drank from a bottle of water on his father's desk and was dead within minutes. The son had arrived the previous day from Barcelona to attend his father's funeral. The Pizano deaths are the latest twist in a corruption probe that placed Odebrecht at the centre of a massive Latin America graft scandal. The company acknowledged in a 2016 leniency deal that it had bribed officials in a dozen countries. Jorge Pizano, an auditor for the Ruta del Sol II roadway concession in which Odebrecht was a partner, had been assisting prosecutors investigating allegations that the Brazilian firm paid some $30 million in bribes to secure Colombian infrastructure contracts. Odebrecht offered its condolences over the deaths in a statement on Friday and said it would continue to collaborate with Colombian judicial authorities. Tissue samples taken during the elder Pizano's autopsy were tested by two separate laboratories and no cyanide was found, coroner's office director Carlos Eduardo Valdes told reporters in Bogota. The coroners concluded that the original medical assessment that Pizano had died of a heart attack was correct. "The two laboratories independently found no cyanide in the analysed tissues ... in the case of the death of the young man, the blood and bottle were found to contain cyanide," Valdes said on Friday. Jorge Pizano had told local television channel Noticias Uno in an August interview broadcast on Monday that he feared for his safety. The project he audited was a 2010 partnership between Odebrecht and a unit of Colombia's Grupo Aval, the country's largest financial firm, to build a 528 kilometre (328 mile) highway to Colombia's Caribbean coast. The contract was worth about $1.7 billion (1.3 billion). (Reporting by Helen Murphy, Editing by Rosalba O'Brien) Maltese investigative journalist Daphne Caruana Galizia, who was killed by a car bomb in October 2017: AP Investigators have identified a group of at least three Maltese nationals who they say masterminded the violent murder of an investigative journalist last year, media reports claim. Daphne Caruana Galizia who wrote a widely-read anti-corruption blog died in a targeted car bomb near the Maltese capital Valletta in October 2017. The murder sent shock waves across Europe and raised questions about the influence of organised crime within the highest political and business circles of the EU member states. The new reports, published in The Times of Malta, did not reveal the names of the suspected masterminds. But it quoted high-ranking officials familiar with the murder probe as saying the investigation was now at a very advanced stage. The sources would not give any indication of whether the new suspects came from the Mediterranean islands criminal, business or political communities. Three other men who were allegedly hired to carry out the killing have been under arrest for almost a year, and have already pleaded not guilty. A court documenting initial evidence against the trio has heard that they allegedly planted a bomb in Ms Caruana Galizias car and set it off via a text message. The motive behind the murder remains unknown, with the Sunday Times saying the investigators believe the newly-identified masterminds had different reasons for wanting the reporter dead and came together to contract the three hired killers. Investigators also told the newspaper they were in regular contact with Europol the EUs law enforcement agency over the case. We have a large amount of data that requires analysing, and partners like Europol have the necessary experience and expertise to help facilitate this process, a source said. The Malta Police Force did not respond to comment on the story. But the journalists family who has previously claimed her killers are being protected said investigators had not informed them of the new developments. ZAGREB (Reuters) - International police organization Interpol has decided to renew an arrest warrant for the head of Hungary's energy group MOL issued by Croatia, Croatian police said in a statement on Saturday. MOL's Chief Executive Zsolt Hernadi has been indicted in Croatia for allegedly bribing former Croatian Prime Pinister Ivo Sanader to allow MOL to become the key decision-maker in Croatian energy company INA where MOL is the biggest but not the majority shareholder. Last month Croatia began a trial against Sanader, who served as prime minister from 2003 to 2009, and Hernadi in that case. Both deny any wrongdoing. Hernadi is being tried in absentia. Hungary refused to heed the international arrest warrant for Hernadi and two years ago Interpol dropped it, saying that Croatia and Hungary, as the European Union members, must first handle the case within the block. Croatian police said in the statement that Interpol's executive committee had on Saturday reversed its previous decision after earlier this year the European Court of Justice upheld Croatia's request. MOL owns close to 50 percent of INA. Zagreb owns some 45 percent. The two sides have been at odds for years over management rights in INA and two years ago the Croatian government announced a plan to buy back INA'sshares owned by MOL. (Reporting by Igor Ilic; Editing by Cynthia Osterman) See Also: US intelligence officials think the Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman ordered the killing of journalist Jamal Khashoggi, according to a US official. The claim, first reported by The Washington Post, has been denied by the Saudi government. It is thought that the conclusion has been drawn following a detailed assessment of the evidence and is based on the idea that such an operation would need approval from the Crown Prince. Mr Khashoggi, a Saudi who lived in the United States, was killed on October 2 at the Saudi Consulate in Istanbul. The Washington Post columnist was often critical of the royal family and Turkish and Saudi authorities say he was killed inside the consulate by a team from the kingdom after he went there to get marriage documents. Protest supporters turned out in force during funeral prayers for Jamal Khashoggi (Picture: AP/Emrah Gurel) The conclusion by US intelligence officials comes as Trump administration sanctioned 17 Saudi officials for their alleged role in the killing, including Mohammed al-Otaibi, the diplomat in charge of the consulate, and Maher Mutreb, who was part of the crown princes entourage on trips abroad. The sanctions freeze any assets the 17 may have in the US and prohibit any Americans from doing business with them. MORE: Woman claims airport valet drove her car 500 miles then got her a parking ticket MORE: Shocking moment carer is caught on camera stealing cash from elderly victim But politicians have called on the administration to curtail arms sales to Saudi Arabia or take other harsher punitive measures. Donald Trump called the killing one of the worst cover-ups in the history of cover-ups but has resisted calls to cut off arms sales to the kingdom. Donald Trump has refused to curtail arms sales to Saudi Arabia (AP Photo/Evan Vucci) The top prosecutor in Saudi Arabia announced he will seek the death penalty against five men suspected in the killing. The Washington Post, citing unnamed sources, also reported that US intelligence agencies have reviewed a phone call between Mr Khashoggi and the princes brother, Khalid bin Salman. The newspaper said the princes brother, who is Saudi ambassador to the United States, told Mr Khashoggi he would be safe in going to the Saudi Consulate in Istanbul to retrieve the documents he needed to get married. Story continues Both the ambassador himself and a spokeswoman for the Saudi embassy in Washington have said that the claim was false. As we told the Washington Post the last contact I had with Mr. Khashoggi was via text on Oct 26 2017. I never talked to him by phone and certainly never suggested he go to Turkey for any reason. I ask the US government to release any information regarding this claim. Khalid bin Salman (@kbsalsaud) November 16, 2018 The ambassador tweeted: The last contact I had with Mr Khashoggi was via text on Oct 26 2017. I never talked to him by phone and certainly never suggested he go to Turkey for any reason. I ask the US government to release any information regarding this claim. In a statement issued to The Associated Press, Fatimah Baeshen, spokeswoman for the Saudi embassy in Washington, said the ambassador met Mr Khashoggi in person once in late September 2017 and they had communicated via text messages but there had never been any phone conversation. Ambassador Prince Khalid bin Salman has never had any phone conversations with him, she said. You are welcome to check the phone records and cell phone content to corroborate this in which case, you would have to request it from Turkish authorities, she said, adding that Saudi prosecutors have checked the phone records numerous times to no avail. Europe must not become plaything of great powers, says Macron in Berlin French President Emmanuel Macron on Sunday urged a Franco-German push to make Europe a stronger and more confident global player that could prevent "chaos" on the world stage. Macron and German Chancellor Angela Merkel have used a series of war anniversaries to project unity as they push back against populist and nationalist forces in Europe and Trump's isolationist "America First" stance. With half a year until European Parliament elections in which far-right forces look to make gains, Macron made a passionate plea for stronger backing from Merkel on a range of reforms to strengthen Europe. Click on the video player above to watch Macron's full speech. "Europe, and within it the Franco-German couple, have the obligation not to let the world slip into chaos and to guide it on the road to peace," Macron told the German parliament. "That's why Europe must be stronger... and win more sovereignty," he said at a ceremony to honour the victims of past wars and dictatorships. Macron said it was Europe that had led the drive for green energy and against climate change and was now most strongly pushing multilateral approaches to trade, security, migration and environmental policy. The first French president to address the Bundestag in 18 years, Macron called for greater European unity in order for the bloc to meet future challenges in an uncertain world. He said Europe must not "become a plaything of great powers, must assume greater responsibility for its security and its defence, and must not accept a subordinate role in world politics". 'At crossroads' Merkel said she agreed with Macron's assessment that Europe stands "at a crossroads", before the two headed into a meeting to discuss a range of policy challenges -- from a joint eurozone budget to migration policy and taxing Internet giants. The German leader reiterated that she backed Macron's proposal for a future European army as a symbol of a united continent -- an idea that has raised Trump's hackles. Story continues Last week the American president mocked the plan by tweeting that "it was Germany in World Wars One & Two - How did that work out for France?" But German Defence Minister Ursula von der Leyen insisted Sunday that a joint military force would need not just common equipment and training but also "the political will to resolutely defend European interests when a conflict breaks out". And France's Minister for European Affairs, Nathalie Loiseau, told the Journal du Dimanche "it is not a question of being against the United States but of taking our destiny into our own hands to no longer count on others". Weaker leaders Macron's Berlin visit came a week after world leaders met in Paris to commemorate the end of World War I a century ago. Macron has repeatedly invoked the war's horrors to drive home the message that rising nationalism is again destabilising the world. In a Berlin meeting with youths, Macron warned that forgetting history means "to repeat the mistakes of the past". While strong on symbolism, the Franco-German partnership and European reform push have been plagued by policy differences and the domestic troubles of the two leaders. Since a Franco-German joint cabinet meeting on Europe in June, challenges have piled up with Brexit nearing and a budget conflict escalating between Brussels and Italy. Macron also addressed German hesitation on major reforms such as a large common budget for the eurozone, saying that "this new stage is scary". He said it would require giving up some decision-making powers and pooling funds but asked pointedly, "is it better to remain locked in standstill?" The meeting came as both leaders are politically weakened, reducing the traditional driving power at the heart of the bloc. As Trump gleefully tweeted days ago, Macron's once stellar approval ratings have dropped off into the mid-twenties. He now faces a wave of protests over high fuel prices by so-called "yellow vest" demonstrators who charge that Macron, a former investment banker, is neglecting the lower and middle classes. And Merkel, after 13 years in power, recently announced the beginning of the end of her reign by declining to stand again as leader of her centre-right Christian Democrats (CDU). She has vowed to serve out her fourth term, which runs until 2021, but many observers expect Merkel could be brought down earlier by infighting within the CDU or the unhappy three-party coalition she leads. (REUTERS) FILE PHOTO: A general view of the Syrian town of Atimah, Idlib province, seen in this picture taken from Reyhanli, Hatay province, Turkey October 10, 2017. REUTERS/Osman Orsal By Suleiman Al-Khalidi AMMAN (Reuters) - Syrian rebels said on Saturday the Syrian army and their allies were intensifying attacks on a demilitarised zone in the northwest in an attempt to undermine a Russian-Turkish deal that has averted a major offensive on their last stronghold. They said the army has stepped up its onslaught with hundreds of mortar and rocket attacks on a string of rebel-held villages and towns in northern Hama, southern Idlib and Latakia that fall within a demilitarized zone agreed last September between Russia and Turkey. "The regime has targeted all the fronts in the demilitarised zone. We have responded by striking at their military posts that have struck populated villages and towns," said Captain Naji Abu Huthaifa, a spokesman for the National Liberation Front, an alliance of Turkish-backed rebels. Russia and Turkey reached a deal in Sochi last September to enforce a demilitarised zone in Idlib and adjacent areas that are the last stronghold of rebels who rose against President Bashar al-Assad in 2011. Idlib province is also home to an estimated 3 million people, more than half of whom have already been displaced at least once during the war. The Syrian army and allied militias had wanted to press on to regain the last of the rebel held areas after recapturing southern Syria and ending insurgent control around the capital. Syrian state media, quoting army sources, blamed rebels for the attacks and accused them of trying to wreck the Russian-Turkish initiative. Under the deal Turkey had pledged to drive out al Qaeda-inspired jihadists from the zone, but Russian military is increasingly questioning Ankara's ability to implement it. The main jihadist group, Tahrir al Sham, has so far not withdrawn heavy weapons, a regional intelligence source said on Saturday. A suicide attack by the Ansar al Islam militant group on an army checkpoint on Friday had killed at least twenty three soldiers, rebels said. Story continues But despite flareup in violence, the Russian and Syrian airforce have so far not resumed aerial bombing since the deal. The attacks have also forced hundreds of families that had earlier been encouraged to return to some of the frontline villages in the zone to flee further north near the Turkish border, residents said. (Reporting by Suleiman Al-Khalidi, editing by Louise Heavens) Theresa May has warned Conservative rebels pushing for a leadership contest that they could delay Brexit or even stop it. Speaking to Sky's Sophy Ridge on Sunday, Mrs May said a new Conservative Party leader would not make negotiations with the EU any easier - after days of speculation over a leadership election. Sir Graham Brady, the chairman of the backbench 1922 committee, told Sky News that if he does receive the 48 letters required to force a confidence vote in the prime minister, he would act "expeditiously" in announcing it - indicating there are not enough to do so. "It's a nonsense to suggest anybody would hang around," he said. It comes as Mrs May fights to get her cabinet, parliament and the country to back the Brexit agreement she has struck with Brussels. Mrs May said she was going back to Brussels over the next seven days and was determined to deliver the Brexit that was best for country, but would not be swayed by talk of leadership challenges. She told Sophy Ridge on Sunday: "A change of leadership at this point isn't going to make the negotiations any easier and it's not going to change the parliamentary arithmetic. "What it will do is mean there is a delay to those negotiations and that's a risk that Brexit gets delayed or frustrated. "This isn't about me. This is about the national interest. The next seven days are critical." Mrs May had earlier said she believed the 48-letter trigger point had not been reached, despite two cabinet resignations last week and numerous pro-Brexit MPs openly saying they would not accept the EU agreement. The PM reiterated that the much-discussed backstop plan contained within the agreement did not mean the UK could be locked into an arrangement that was not in its interest. When Sophy Ridge asked: "Is the backstop like the 'Hotel California', you can never leave?", Mrs May said: "You can leave." Story continues She compared the backstop to taking out an insurance policy, saying people wouldn't want the insurance company to be able to "pull the plug" and leave someone unprotected. It is a "backstop we never intend to use", she said, adding: "Were it to have to be used, both sides can review it". When she visits Brussels, she said, she will talk to EU Commission president Jean-Claude Juncker. UK negotiators are already visiting the EU's HQ, as they move on to what Mrs May called the next phase of the negotiations - the "future relationship". "There is more negotiation taking place. Nothing is agreed until everything is agreed. We've agreed the withdrawal agreement in principle. It goes alongside the future relationship," she said. When asked about how she felt personally about the comments she had heard about herself over the last few weeks, she replied: "Who are we here for? The important thing is that we're here for our constituents and as prime minister I'm here for the people of this country." Sir Graham later suggested the 48 letter threshold had not been reached, telling Sky News that announcing it had was "intended to be a very expeditious thing". "It's a nonsense for people to suggest that anyone would hang around," he said. Earlier, Jeremy Corbyn told Sky News a second EU referendum was an "option for the future, but not an option for today". Quizzed by Sky's Sophy Ridge, Labour's leader said he didn't know what question would feature in a referendum. Asked how he would vote today if he could, he said: "I don't know." Mr Corbyn also admitted he had not read all of Theresa May's Brexit agreement, saying "I've read a lot of it". He added that he had read many of the summaries and analyses. Much of the reason he said he wouldn't support Theresa May's deal was because it was "vague" and did not say enough about workers rights and environmental protections. He suggested he would support a deal like that struck by the prime minister if it addressed those concerns. Leader of the Liberal Democrats Sir Vince Cable responded by accusing Mr Corbyn of "wanting Brexit to happen" and "helping" the prime minister deliver it for "short term political calculations". He added that the choice was rapidly becoming 'no deal and no Brexit' - and that stopping the UK's exit from the EU was becoming "a probability". And the DUP's Westminster leader Nigel Dodds piled pressure on Mrs May to drop her draft Brexit deal, saying it was "clear that it is time to work for a better deal which does not undermine the integrity of the United Kingdom" . HONG KONG (AP) Three protest leaders and six others went on trial Monday for their involvement in the "Occupy Central" demonstration that paralyzed Hong Kong's financial district for more than two months in 2014. Fanned by more than 100 supporters, some holding the yellow umbrellas that came to symbolize the movement, the nine defendants pumped their fists in the air and chanted "Shame to political prosecution!" before entering the West Kowloon courthouse. Two university professors and a pastor, who together spearheaded the campaign to press for free elections of Hong Kong's top leader, are charged with conspiracy to commit a public disturbance and incitement to commit public nuisance. CANBERRA, Australia (AP) Shareholders on Monday gave final approval to the merger of television network Nine Entertainment and newspaper publisher Fairfax Media into an Australian media giant to be known only as Nine despite one shareholder's late bid to stop the deal. Antony Catalano, a former chief executive of the online real estate listings portal Domain Group which is majority-owned by Fairfax, said he will ask the Federal Court on Nov. 27 to stop the merger. Catalano, who owns shares in both Domain and Fairfax, wrote to Fairfax chairman Nick Falloon late Sunday offering to buy 19.9 percent of Fairfax and asking for Monday's Fairfax shareholders meeting to be delayed. TOKYO (AP) Japanese filmmaker Shinya Tsukamoto turned to his country's masters for inspiration for his latest work, "Killing," his first samurai movie. But he also emulated the way Martin Scorsese gave free rein to his actors, a technique Tsukamoto learned when he was cast in "Silence" as a Christian martyr. "Killing," a poetic but brutal story about the horrors of violence, premiered at the Venice Film Festival earlier this year and opens in Japan on Nov. 24. Overseas release dates have not been announced. "This film is the total antithesis to the heroism depicted in usual samurai films," Tsukamoto, who wrote, directed and edited "Killing," said at a recent preview screening at the Foreign Correspondents' Club in Tokyo. Story continues HANOI, Vietnam (AP) Landslides due to rains from a tropical storm have killed 13 people and left four others missing in south-central Vietnam. A disaster official in Khanh Hoa province says some 600 soldiers have been mobilized to search for the missing and evacuate people from high-risk areas. He said the landslides from heavy rains triggered by Tropical Storm Toraji collapsed several houses and buried the victims in some villages in the resort city of Nha Trang on Sunday. The storm weakened to a tropical depression at sea off the south central coastal province of Binh Thuan and Ninh Thuan on Sunday night, the Vietnam Disaster Management Authority said in a statement Monday. PORT MORESBY, Papua New Guinea (AP) An acrimonious meeting of world leaders in Papua New Guinea failed to agree Sunday on a final communique, highlighting widening divisions between global powers China and the U.S. The 21 nations at the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit in Port Moresby struggled to bridge differences on the role of the World Trade Organization, which governs international trade, officials said. A statement was to be issued instead by the meeting's chair, Papua New Guinea Prime Minister Peter O'Neill. "The entire world is worried" about tensions between China and the U.S., O'Neill told a mob of reporters that surrounded him after he confirmed there was no communique from leaders. PHNOM PENH, Cambodia (AP) Cambodia has reiterated it intends to end the work of the U.N.-backed tribunal that last week convicted the last two surviving leaders of the Khmer Rouge of genocide, crimes against humanity and war crimes. Deputy Prime Minister Sar Kheng said the tribunal's work had been completed and there would not be any additional prosecutions for acts that led to the deaths of an estimated 1.7 million people in the 1970s. The only other person convicted was the regime's prisons chief. He cited the terms under which the tribunal, staffed jointly by Cambodian and international prosecutors and judges, had been established, limiting its targets to senior leaders of the Khmer Rouge regime that was in power from 1975 to 1979. ISLAMABAD (AP) The Taliban have held three days of talks with U.S. envoy Zalmay Khalilzad in the Gulf state of Qatar, where the Afghan insurgent group has a political office, a Taliban official and another individual close to the group said Sunday. Without referring explicitly to the talks in Qatar, Khalilzad told a news conference Sunday in the Afghan capital Kabul "I am talking to all interested parties, all Afghan groups... and I think there is an opportunity for reconciliation and peace." "The Afghan government wants peace," he said. "The Taliban are saying they do not believe they can succeed militarily, that they would like to see the problems that remain, resolved by peaceful means, by political negotiations." Peace efforts have accelerated since Khalilzad's appointment as Washington's peace envoy to Afghanistan aimed at eventually winding down America's longest war. AMRITSAR, India (AP) Three people were killed and over a dozen injured on Sunday when two men on a motorbike targeted a prayer hall with a grenade in northern India, police said. The two masked men threw the grenade toward the hall belonging to a sect of the Sikh faith at a village on the outskirts of Amritsar city in Punjab state, said police officer Dinesh Singh. He said the grenade exploded away from the main congregation in the compound, where hundreds of devotees were praying. Singh said the 15 injured people were hospitalized. Authorities have not yet blamed anyone for the attack. PORT MORESBY, Papua New Guinea (AP) The U.S., Japan, New Zealand and Australia said they'll bring electricity to 70 percent of Papua New Guinea's people by 2030, boosting the West's response to growing Chinese influence in the South Pacific. The four countries and Papua New Guinea signed the electricification agreement Sunday at the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation meeting behind held in the capital Port Moresby. U.S. Vice President Mike Pence said it shows how strongly the U.S. and its allies are committed to the region. "The commitment of the United States of America to this region of the world has never been stronger," he said. DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) _ Police chiefs from around the world gathered in Dubai on Sunday for Interpol's general assembly to select a new president after the agency's former official in the post was detained in China. Meng Hongwei_ who was China's vice minister of public security while also leading Interpol _ went missing while on a trip to China in September. It later emerged that the long-time Communist Party insider with decades of experience in China's security apparatus was detained as part of a sweeping purge against allegedly corrupt or disloyal officials under President Xi Jinping's authoritarian administration. The Trump administration said it has not yet reached a final determination in the death of Saudi writer Jamal Khashoggi. After President Donald Trump called his CIA chief and top diplomat from Air Force One as he flew to survey wildfire damage in California, the State Department released a statement saying recent reports indicating that the US government has made a final conclusion are inaccurate. Reports said American intelligence agencies concluded that Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman ordered the killing in the Saudi Consulate in Turkey, according to the US official familiar with that assessment. The conclusion was first reported by The Washington Post. The Saudi government has denied the claim. A man holds a poster showing Jamal Khashoggi during funeral prayers in absentia for the reporter (Emrah Gurel/AP) Department spokeswoman Heather Nauert said in the statement that the government was determined to hold all those responsible for the killing of Jamal Khashoggi accountable and that there remain numerous unanswered questions with respect to the murder. She said the department will continue to seek all relevant facts and consult with Congress and other nations to hold accountable those involved in the killing. Mr Trump spoke earlier with CIA director Gina Haspel and Secretary of State Mike Pompeo from Air Force One, press secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders said. She provided no additional details but said the president has confidence in the CIA. Mr Trump told reporters before he left the White House for California that, when it came to the crown prince, as of this moment we were told that he did not play a role. Were going to have to find out what they have to say. In his remarks, the president spoke of Saudi Arabia as a truly spectacular ally in terms of jobs and economic development. I have to take a lot of things into consideration when deciding what measures to take against the kingdom. The State Department statement noted the administrations recent actions against a number of Saudis, but also cited the need to maintain the important strategic relationship between the two allies. Story continues The administration this past week penalised 17 Saudi officials for their alleged role in the killing, but American politicians have called on the administration to curtail arms sales to Saudi Arabia or take other harsher punitive measures. Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi died last month (Virginia Mayo/AP) Saudi Arabias top diplomat has said the crown prince had absolutely nothing to do with the killing. Vice President Mike Pence told reporters travelling with him at a summit of Pacific Rim nations in Papua New Guinea that he could not comment on classified information. He said Saturday the murder of Jamal Khashoggi was an atrocity. It was also an affront to a free and independent press, and the United States is determined to hold all of those accountable who are responsible for that murder. The United States will follow the facts, Mr Pence said, while trying to find a way of preserving a strong and historic partnership with Saudi Arabia. Mr Khashoggi, a Saudi who lived in the United States, was a columnist for the Post and often criticised the royal family. He was killed on October 2 at the Saudi Consulate in Istanbul. Turkish and Saudi authorities say he was killed inside the consulate by a team from the kingdom after he went there to get marriage documents. This past week, US intelligence officials briefed members of the Senate and House intelligence committees, and the Treasury Department announced economic sanctions on 17 Saudi officials suspected of being responsible for or complicit in the killing. Among those targeted for sanctions were Mohammed al-Otaibi, the diplomat in charge of the consulate, and Maher Mutreb, who was part of the crown princes entourage on trips abroad. The sanctions freeze any assets the 17 may have in the US and prohibit any Americans from doing business with them. Also this past week, the top prosecutor in Saudi Arabia announced he will seek the death penalty against five men suspected in the killing. By Philip Wen, Jonathan Barrett and Tom Westbrook PORT MORESBY (Reuters) - Asia-Pacific leaders failed to agree on a communique at a summit in Papua New Guinea on Sunday for the first time in their history as deep divisions between the United States and China over trade and investment stymied cooperation. Competition between the United States and China over the Pacific was also thrown into focus with the United States and its Western allies launching a coordinated response to China's Belt and Road programme. "You know the two big giants in the room," Papua New Guinea (PNG) Prime Minister Peter O'Neill said at a closing news conference, when asked which of the 21 members of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) group could not agree. O'Neill, who was chairman of the meeting, said the sticking point was over whether mention of the World Trade Organization and its possible reform should be in the Leaders' Declaration. "APEC has got no charter over World Trade Organization, that is a fact. Those matters can be raised at the World Trade Organization." The multilateral trade order that APEC was established in 1989 to protect is crumbling as Chinese assertiveness in the Pacific and U.S. tariffs strain relations in the region and divide loyalties. A Leaders' Declaration has been issued after every annual APEC leaders' meeting since the first in 1993, the group's website shows. O'Neill said that as APEC host, he would release a Chairman's Statement, though it was not clear when. U.S. President Donald Trump did not attend the meeting and nor did his Russian counterpart, Vladimir Putin. U.S. Vice President Mike Pence attended instead of Trump. Chinese President Xi Jinping arrived to great fanfare on Thursday and was feted by PNG officials. He stoked Western concern on Friday when he met Pacific island leaders to pitch his Belt and Road initiative. The United States and its allies, Japan, Australia and New Zealand, countered on Sunday with a $1.7 billion plan to deliver reliable electricity and the internet to PNG. Story continues PACIFIC THEATRE Wang Xiaolong, a senior economic official with China's APEC delegation, said of the failure to agree on a joint statement that it was "not exactly a sticking point between any particular two countries". Most members affirmed their commitment to preserving the multilateral trading system and supported a robust and well-functioning WTO, he said. "Frankly speaking, we are in a very early stage of those discussions and different countries have different ideas as to how to take that process forward," Wang said. One diplomat involved in the negotiations said tension between the U.S. and China, bubbling all week, erupted when the Chinese government's top diplomat, Wang Yi, objected during a leaders' retreat to two paragraphs in a draft document seen by Reuters. One mentioned opposing "unfair trade practices" and reforming the WTO, while another concerned sustainable development. "These two countries were pushing each other so much that the chair couldn't see an option to bridge them," said the diplomat, speaking on condition of anonymity. "China was angered that the reference to WTO blamed a country for unfair trade practices." Pence said in a blunt speech on Saturday there would be no end to U.S. tariffs on $250 billion of Chinese goods until China changed its ways. On Sunday, as he left the PNG capital of Port Moresby, he listed U.S. differences with China. "They begin with trade practices, with tariffs and quotas, forced technology transfers, the theft of intellectual property. It goes beyond that to freedom of navigation in the seas, concerns about human rights," Pence told reporters. Pence also took direct aim at Xi's signature Belt and Road initiative, saying in his speech countries should not accept debt that compromised their sovereignty. "We do not offer a constricting belt or a one-way road," he said. CENTRE OF ATTENTION The Belt and Road plan was first proposed in 2013 to expand land and sea links between Asia, Africa and Europe, with billions of dollars in infrastructure investment from China. APEC host PNG is home to 8 million people, four-fifths of whom live outside urban areas and with poor infrastructure, and found itself feted by superpowers. Xi opened a Beijing-funded boulevard, while Pence talked of a 400-year old King James Bible in the PNG parliament that he had played a role in bringing to the country. Australia, a staunch U.S. ally, has for decades enjoyed largely unrivalled influence among Pacific island nations. China has recently turned its attention to the region with a raft of bilateral financing agreements to often distressed economies. PNG Foreign Minister Rimbink Pato said his country did not need to pick sides. "For us, we welcome Chinese investment, we welcome U.S. investment. Our foreign policy is to be friends of all, enemies of none." (The story was refiled to change reference to Wang Yi's title in paragraph 17.) (Reporting by Philip Wen, Charlotte Greenfield, Jonathan Barrett and Tom Westbrook in PORT MORESBY; Editing by John Mair, Robert Birsel) Off the Felt: Modeling in Nature and Bahamas Time November 18 2018 Eric Mertens In last week's edition of Off the Felt, we had a special Halloween Edition. This time, we have a lot of poker players in the Bahamas and a modeling career for Charlie Carrel. Charlie Carrel the Model? Charlie Carrel is well-known for his poker skills and his fashion standards at the table. This week he posted a few nice photos on Instagram, which have us wondering if a modelling career is in his future: Enjoying Nature Daniel Dvoress isn't posting many updates on his Instagram but when he does, it looks amazing. Like this one of a canoe trip. A lot of players are in the Bahamas as we speak and there are beautiful pictures to show it: Kenny Hallaert had a nice location to celebrate his birthday, although he did soft-bubble the $5,300 Main Event in the Bahamas the next day. Steven "SvZff" van Zadelhoff also couldn't complain after busting the Main Event in the Bahamas: Happy Father's Day! Ilari "Ziigmund" Sahamies had a great day in Finland, celebrating Father's Day: Well it's not Father's Day in the U.S., but the Merciers celebrated a birthday as a family. And of course, Instagram dogs Roberto Romanello Captures $10,300 High Roller Title for $450,000 November 18 2018 Adam Lamers Another high roller is in the books as the 2018 Caribbean Poker Party is coming to a close. The $10,000 High Roller has just wrapped up and partypoker pro Roberto Romanello has claimed the victory along with the first-place prize of $450,000 after beating a field of 196 entries. Romanello defeated Mustapha Kanit in a heads-up battle after the two players worked out an ICM deal earlier on. While there was still some money to play for along with the trophy, Romanello and Kanit exchanged some friendly banter and many laughs. But the heads-up match all belonged to Romanello who held the chip lead throughout in a dominating performance. The poker pro from Wales has accumulated nearly $3.5 million in his career, but he was really looking forward to getting his hands on the partypoker trophy. This will go down as one of his largest cashes, and it seems fitting that it came in a partypoker event. partypoker Caribbean Poker Party $10,000 High Roller Final Table Results Position Player Country Prize 1 Roberto Romanello United Kingdom $450,000 2 Mustapha Kanit Italy $271,200 3 Daniel Dvoress Canada $210,000 4 Justin Bonomo United States $160,000 5 Garik Tamasian Russia $125,000 6 Guillaume Diaz France $100,000 7 Joao Simao Brazil $80,000 8 Adrian Mateos Spain $65,000 The day got started with 28 players returning to their seats, but only 23 of them would make the money. After a flurry of bustouts in the first level, the money bubble was reached, but it only took one hand. Bartlomiej Machon moved all in with pocket queens but ran into the pocket aces of Romanello, meaning the remaining 23 players were guaranteed at least $20,000. Unlike most tournaments, there weren't many short stacks after the money bubble, and so it took some time for players to hit the rail. The field was littered with notable names, and they continued to drop one by one. Some of the notables eliminated in the money include partypoker pro Isaac Haxton, Jonathan Duhamel, Thomas Muehloecker, Steve O'Dwyer, and Joseph Cheong. The unofficial final table was reached at a reasonable time, but the average stack of around 80 big blinds made for a lot of poker to be played. Nine-handed play lasted for well over two hours before Benjamin Pollak was finally eliminated. It was a little while later that the three short stacks hit the rail in quick succession. Adrian Mateos started the flurry when he ran into the pocket aces of Daniel Dvoress, followed by partypoker pro Joao Simao, and Guillaume Diaz who got his pocket kings cracked. Maybe the least familiar player at the table, Garik Tamasian, came in with the least amount of experience but was able to ladder his way up into a fifth-place finish. Tamasian got the last of his chips in the middle in a flip against Dvoress but was unable to connect with the board. That left Justin Bonomo on the short stack, and he wasn't afraid to make some moves to try and climb out of the hole. However, his flopped top pair was no good against the turned flush of Dvoress and Bonomo was ousted in third place. The final three players agreed to take a look at the numbers but couldn't agree on making a deal. So play continued with an average stack of over 65 big blinds. Each player tossed the chip lead back and forth to the others, and there were multiple double ups throughout the next three hours. One large double from Romanello left Dvoress on the short stack, and he eventually lost a flip against Kanit to go out in third. That set up the heads-up match between Romanello and Kanit and the two had a blast dueling each other for over an hour. Romanello held the early chip lead, and he would never look back, picking off a couple of bluffs from Kanit. In the last hand of the night, Romanello picked up ace-king on the button against the king-deuce of Kanit. The board ran out clean for Romanello, and the tournament finally ended in the wee hours of the morning. That nearly wraps up the entire coverage from PokerNews at the 2018 Caribbean Poker Party with just one event still going on. Bluffing Fedor: Igor Kurganov on Barreling Versus Holz in WSOPE 100K November 18 2018 Martin Harris Among the bracelet events in the recently completed World Series of Poker Europe series in Rozvadov was the 100,000 buy-in Super High Roller won by the Czech Republic's own Martin Kabrhel for more than 2.6 million. The tournament brought out all the big names, including Igor Kurganov and Fedor Holz, both of whom fell shy of the cash in the event. Prior to busting the pair got involved in an interesting hand on Day 1 in which Holz managed to pick off a big river bluff Kurganov a hand which the Team PokerStars Pro discussed with PokerNews afterwards. The blinds were 15,000/30,000 with a 30,000 big blind ante. As Kurganov explains below, the table was seven-handed when he opened from under the gun with and both Holz in the hijack seat and the big blind called. The flop came and the big blind checked. Recognizing that Holz didn't have too many hands in his range, Kurganov continued with a bet of two-thirds the pot. Holz called and the big blind folded. The turn brought the . As Kurganov explains, that card helped him narrow Holz's probable range of hands down even further to just , , and , adding also that Holz might have three-bet preflop occasionally with some of those hands, too. Meanwhile Kurganov having in his hand meant Holz also couldn't have either or . His hand lessened the likelihood of Holz having pocket jacks or nines as well, and knowing Holz would've probably three-bet higher pocket pairs, that meant if Holz had a pair it would have to be eights or lower. Kurganov barreled once more, again betting about two-thirds pot, and Holz stuck around with a call, bringing the pot up to 1 million. Fedor Holz... not folding The river was a brick the . Both players had about 2 million back, and Kurganov bet again, this time making a pot-sized bet of 1 million. After tanking for a minute Holz came up with a call with and won the pot. Take a look and listen to Kurganov discuss his thinking throughout the hand as well as his bet sizing on the river, plus what hands he thought Holz might be putting him on as he tripled-barreled: The Stars Group owns a majority shareholding in iBus Media. Chimpanzees engage in social conflict and politics much as humans do. In fact, while it's less common to kill ousted tyrants and cannibalize them these days, in history, humans did so on occasion. However, disturbing behavior recorded by an Iowa State University anthropologist, Jill Pruetz, noted that chimps did just that. The incident which was recorded under a study grant by National Geographic Society was reported to the International Journal of Primatology. She noted that chimpanzees ousted their tyrannical leader and later killed and cannibalized him. Chimpanzee Foudouko, tyrannical leader Foudouko was a tyrannical chimpanzee leader, National Geographic reported. He was the big boss of a troop of 30+ chimps in southeastern Senegal. The Independent UK noted that the troop finally ousted him and forced him to live on the outskirts of the community. In fact, he was "exiled for five years" before his death. The study noted that five years is rather a long time for a chimp to survive alone. However, he may have had political ambitions to make a comeback. Or, at least ambitions over grabbing a mate. As Michael Wilson, (Minnesota Univesity), who did not participate in the study said, it was "an interesting tension between cooperation and conflict." Foudouko's ousting came when his second-in-command, a chimp named Mamadou, suffered a debilitating injury. Vulnerable and exposed to other males who wanted to take over, he was chased away. For a while, he disappeared but returned to grovel around the outer edges of the troop. Meanwhile, the pack was taken over by Mamadou's brother, David. They let him alone as long as he was submissive. Nevertheless, those who had suffered under his rule chased him away often. Discuss this news on Eunomia Royal female aggressive in cannibalizing him His political allies must have been shocked to discover that Foudouko was eventually killed. Video footage of the discovery of the dead tyrant showed the chimps behaving wildly. Now, here's the bit that is amazing. David and Mamadou behaved differently. Mamadou tried to revive his old boss, dragging him around. David seemed unmoved. But the most bitter and aggressive assaults on his body came from their mother, Farafa. It seems the royal lady really had it in for him. She "aggressively cannibalized Foudoukos body," Nat Geo noted. Although the study noted that killing within a troop is rare, chimps will attack and kill others in territorial disputes. However, in the case of Foudouko, scientists noted that he may have tried to get ahold of a female. Their society is not balanced. Males outnumber the females, and if he made a move on one, that might explain why they bit at his reproductive organs after his death. Since then, Mamadou was also chased away and attacked if he came too close. What do you think of the chimpanzees outsing and killing their tyrannical leader? Do you think the royal female was behind the killing? Stay in touch with interesting news by following the Viral News channel on Blasting Pop. The submarine ARA San Juan was returning to its base in the coastal city of Mar del Plata when the Navy lost contact with it. Argentina launched a search for survivors in which 18 countries extended their assistance but there was no trace of any of the 44 crewmen who were in the submarine. However, the Navy continued to search for the vessel which has now been located. The tragedy happened last year on November 15. The Guardian reports that the wreckage is lying at a depth of approximately 2,625ft in the Atlantic Ocean and the Navy has confirmed that there is a positive identification. The Navy hired an American firm for the search and they succeeded in locating the remains of ARA San Juan by means of a remote-operated submersible. #BREAKING #Argentina #ARASanJuan The firm searching for the missing ARA San Juan submarine, which went missing almost exactly one year ago, has confirmed it has discovered what remains of the vessel. The Navy and Defence Ministry have confirmed the news.https://t.co/rb8aShXskK Buenos Aires Times (@theBAtimes) November 17, 2018 The loss of ARA San Juan is a mystery The commissioning of the submarine, built in Germany, was in the mid-1980s. Subsequently, there were upgrades during 2008 and 2014. In the process, there was extensive work carried out on ARA San Juan to accommodate new equipment that included the replacement of engines and batteries. In the opinion of experts, such refits can pose problems because they involve integrating systems produced by different manufacturers. On the fateful day, the captain reported about water entering the snorkel that led to a short circuit of one of the batteries. The captain subsequently notified that the issue was resolved but, within a few hours, there was an explosion in the vicinity of the sub. The Navy feels it could have been the result of the battery-related problem. On the anniversary of the tragedy, President Mauricio Macri assured the families of ARA San Juan that the truth will emerge and within two days, news came about finding the missing sub. Discuss this news on Eunomia The sub was on a regular mission According to the BBC, the submarine was on a routine mission when it reported an "electrical breakdown." A commander of the Navy reported that the ARA San Juan surfaced and noted a "short circuit" in its batteries. It seems Navy gave orders for it to return to the naval base in Mar del Plata immediately, but it had vanished. Eight days later, there was news about noises from the vicinity of its last known position. An organization that keeps track of nuclear explosions via its listening posts had passed on this message. The Argentine navy believes there could be some connection to the missing Argentina submarine. More details will emerge once specialists examine the wreckage in detail after lifting it from the seabed. Since November 17, 2018 Hamidah Ashrafi Fateha has been appointed as Bangladesh's Country Reporter, as part of the WAC's Country Editors/Reporters program. Fateha was graduated from the Department of Architecture of BRAC University (BRACU) in Bangladesh. At the end of 2016, she was the only Bangladeshi delegate selected to attend Fully Funded Harvard Crossroads Summer Program. Previously, Fateha was awarded with Special Recognition Award at the BRACU in Bangladesh for her high standards of discipline and devotion to duties. She is currently working as an architect in BRAC Institute of Educational Development, BIED. She is working on project creating various types of child friendly spaces, play centers, day care centers, learning centers for enhancing children's mental and pysical development. Fateha is always intellectually curious about the greater public good while looking at any project. Her discipline is based on architecture, but she often seeks to transcend conventional disciplinary boundaries by looking at urban poverty and other social issues and works on how it could be dealt with it through alternative models of development. You can follow Hamidah on Facebook and LinkedIn. f you also want to be part of our volunteer reporters and become "the voice of your country on WAC while being the face of WAC in your country", please send your motivation message and your CV to [email protected]. We also accept more than one reporter by country. Top image courtesy of Hamidah Ashrafi Fateha It is a known fact that Salman Khan is shooting for his new film Bharat in Punjab. Recently, a picture was out where Salman was seen standing near the India and Pakistan border. As it is very hard to shoot in such locations, the producers created the same effect of the border in a nearby village in Punjab and completed the shooting. As a part of the shoot, a scene was canned where the Pakistan flag was also hoisted. This did not go well with the local villagers and they stormed the hotel where Salman was staying and created a chaos. Left with no choice Salman was forced to leave the hotel. The news also is that villagers are planning to file a case against the makers and Salman for hurting their sentiments. We need to see what will happen next. Articles that might interest you: Incumbent Democratic Sen. Bill Nelson conceded the Florida Senate race Sunday afternoon. Gov. Rick Scott prevailed after two rounds of recounts. Republicans have secured 52 Senate seats compared to 47 for Democrats, ensuring the party maintains control of the chamber. The Mississippi runoff election will decide the final seat. Six of the 34 races completed resulted in a victory for the out-party. Republicans picked up four of those wins, Democrats two. Click the image below to see all the results; you can then click any of the state for vote totals from that race. We also have an interactive version of the 2018 actual results. The Mississippi runoff is scheduled for Tuesday, November 27th. Republican incumbent Cindy Hyde-Smith is favored in this deep-red state. However, with both parties adding resources, and Donald Trump planning two election-eve rallies, the race is looking more competitive than originally expected. Much of the tightening can be traced back to an offhand comment Hyde-Smith made about lynchings as well as her unwillingness to address the controversy it caused. For Subscribers Wings, new coach Steve Jennings not satisfied, but making progress The Aberdeen Wings are currently in fourth place in the NAHL Central Division, but they are progressing together, Coach Steve Jennings said. Earth is a planet born of fire. For billions of years, volcanoes have helped create the world we know. From the continents to the air we breathe and even life itself, all have their origins in fire. These processes have created extraordinary ecosystems and wildlife habitats. With over 500 active volcanoes, the Earth is bursting at the seams with these forces of mass construction. The story of volcanoes is told in the film, Volcanoes: The Fires of Creation, which is showing at the DynaTheater at the New Mexico Museum of Natural History and Science in Albuquerque. Volcanoes have been an integral part of the ecosystem, says Mike Pacheco, DynaTheater manager. The film explains the science behind the importance of volcanoes. The film follows intrepid explorer Carsten Peter, as he dodges boulders at the edge of an active volcano in Indonesia, descends to a lava lake in Vanuatu and visits the incredible mineral deposit fields in Ethiopia. He also travels across the globe to see the archaeological ghost town of Pompeii and witness the devastating effects of the recent Kilauea eruption in Hawaii. Pacheco says the movie was filmed around the world. Theres a lot of Hawaii in the film, he says. So its very relevant to whats been happening around the world this year. We felt that adding this film into our rotation would help teach audiences about volcanoes. Hearing about them can be pretty scary, but the film does a good job of educating. The museum also has an area where visitors can learn about New Mexicos own volcanoes, Pacheco adds. I remember going to the museum as a kid and learning about our volcanoes, he says. We are lucky to live in New Mexico. Volcanoes built our geology and it was all due to past volcanic activity. Prev 1 of 6 Next Tucked away in a shed sit a bandsaw and a belt sander. The items get pulled out as needed, for there is not enough space in the workshop. Inside the home in front, there is a small room, next to the kitchen, where pieces of wood are transformed into art. This is Danny Harts workshop simple, yet important. Its where the ideas that float around in his head come to fruition. Its also the place where he creates enough pieces to take out to various markets around the city. Hart is one of more than 100 artisans who will take part in the inaugural New Mexico Artisans Market beginning Friday, Nov. 23, at Hotel Albuquerque at Old Town. The market is showcasing an all-New Mexican lineup selling products in more than 18 categories. Hart draws inspiration from the colorful landscape of New Mexico, his fathers influence in woodworking, his mothers inherent craftiness and his architectural and construction background. His jewelry rings, earrings, necklaces, bracelets and bolo ties is created with plenty of intention. I will cut the piece of wood and when Im in the studio, thats when it starts revealing itself to me, he says. No piece is alike. The grain of wood constantly changes. I pay attention to what its telling me to do and I create based off of that. Jewelry making is fairly new to Hart, though creating pieces of art has been with him for years. Hart a fourth generation New Mexican studied architecture at the University of New Mexico, where he graduated in 2007. I started making light fixtures when I was in the School of Architecture, he says. In the class lighting and design, one of the assignments was to build a light fixture. I built a sconce out of wood. It was my first light and it came out awesome. I got the bug. I began to make them while I was still in school and selling them to smaller markets or making them for myself. At the markets, the cheapest it would be was $150 and I wouldnt sell anything. Hart needed something that was accessible to the majority of the public. And then the unthinkable happened Harts home was broken into. All his wifes jewelry was taken. I had some ideas for jewelry going through my mind before this happened, he says. Then I told her, Let me make you a necklace and a pair of earrings. She had a ton of cool stuff that was taken. Nothing over-the-top expensive. A lot of street market stuff from Portugal. She was in the Coast Guard. Hart made her the pieces of jewelry and she wore them around campus at UNM. People started offering to buy it, he says. A light bulb went off and I knew this is how I could show at the markets and make some money. Hart went back to the drawing table literally. He began to design pieces and got a critique from his wife. Shes my first line of knowing if something is good, he says with a laugh. Shell let me know if shed wear it. Ive learned that I can go between simple and big. The big hoop earrings I make sell very well. The market changes so quickly, theres no way of knowing what will stick. Just when I think I got it down, it changed on me. Hart is a regular at the markets in Albuquerque. By spending weekend after weekend selling his items, he began to notice there was really nothing for men besides beard products. Another light bulb. What if I created hats and beanies?, he says. They would be plain enough, yet have a distinct style about them. With that, he created another avenue for his art. Whats great is the hats have this blank piece of wood in the front, he says. Its simple and each one is different. With the beanies, theres a small piece of wood attached and its painted. So the piece of wood on both becomes the focal point. Its fashionable without trying too hard. Hart is also participating in the city of Albuquerques initiative One Albuquerque: Engage. The program works to fill vacant ground floor spaces along Central between First and Seventh streets to anyone interested in showing off their business. The city partners with the building owners to enter a short-term lease of the vacant spaces at a discounted rate for the pop-up stores. Harts brick and mortar store is located near Humble Coffee at 505 Central NW. Hes open from noon-2 p.m. Thursday-Sunday through the end of December. The new administration has been pushing hard for the creative economy, he says. Im about the idea of supporting local. The New Mexico Artisan Market, theyve done a good job of being local and diversifying artists from outside of Albuquerque. Theres a range of artists that Im looking forward in getting to know. As Harts business continues to grow, hes looking for smart ways to expand. Ive got to hire somebody to produce things because Im starting to plateau of what I can make, he says. I just want to be creative all day, every day. Prev 1 of 4 Next When photographer Tony Vaccaro first met Georgia OKeeffe in 1960, the great artist refused to speak to him for five days. On assignment from LOOK magazine, Vaccaro had traveled to New Mexico by train with art editor Charlotte Willard. OKeeffe had been expecting a different photographer, one of her favorites, such as Ansel Adams, Todd Webb or Richard Avedon. Trying his best to charm her, Vaccaro cooked OKeeffe a steak and fixed her broken washing machine, to no avail. Suddenly, the topic turned to bullfighting. Vaccaro mentioned he had met the great Spanish matador Manolette. The artist pivoted in her seat to face him. She never looked at Willard again. When OKeeffe found out, she kind of embraced me and thats when we became the greatest friends, the 95-year-old Vaccaro said in a telephone interview from his home in Long Island City, N.Y. Santa Fes Monroe Gallery of Photography is exhibiting more than 50 photographs by the acclaimed photographer in Tony Vaccaro: Renaissance, opening Friday, Nov. 23. The gallery will offer a free screening of the 2016 HBO documentary Under Fire: The Private Untold Story of Private First Class Tony Vaccaro at 2:30 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 24, followed by a question-and-answer session with the photographer. The show will hang through Jan. 27, 2019. After that initially frosty meeting, Vaccaro spent a month in Abiquiu photographing OKeeffe, producing some of her most iconic portraits. The photographer captured Georgia OKeeffe with cheese while they were traveling. The artist looks playfully at the camera through a hole in a piece of Swiss cheese. We had decided to go to the desert for a picnic, Vaccaro said. The desert she liked was White Sands. I arranged the catering, the salad, everything, but it began to rain, so we moved into the car. So we had the picnic sitting in the car. I was driving; I looked back and I saw her looking at me through a hole in the cheese. Vaccaro kept in touch with OKeeffe over the years. She had an opening in 1971 at the Whitney Museum, he said. We were talking. She pulled me away and said, Tony, lets go see our picture, which is the famous one where she holds a famous painting she had made. Vaccaros career across the decades included war photography, fashion photography and celebrity portraiture. One fashion assignment featured a collection of hats. Vaccaro spotted a spiral-shaped hat resembling a certain building. He asked the slinky model Isabella Albonico to pose in the chapeau in front of the Guggenheim Museum. He said Albonico sported the longest neck he had ever seen. You look at Isabellas face and you know she thinks its funny, he added. I saw Frank Lloyd Wright design the Guggenheim from scratch, Vaccaro continued. I photographed it as it went along. The HBO documentary about Vaccaros war photography has kindled a career resurgence. He will turn 96 on Dec. 20. Vaccaro was drafted into World War II at the age of 21. By the summer of 1944 he was on a boat heading toward Omaha Beach six days after the first landings at Normandy. Vaccaro was determined to photograph the war and brought his portable 35mm Argus C-3. He fought on the front lines, developing his photos in combat helmets at night and hanging the negatives from tree branches. The result was White Death, Pvt. Henry Irving Tannebaum, Ottre, Belgium, 1945, one of the most famous photographs of the war. I took that picture and at that time this man had a son who was 1 year old, Vaccaro said. Fifty years later I got a phone call saying, I am the son of Mr. Tannebaum. He said, Would you take me where you took the picture of my father dead in the snow?' He did, only to find the spot had disappeared. It was a field of Christmas trees the owner was selling to Portugal, Vaccaro said. Fifty years later, it was growing Christmas trees. And it so happens Tannebaum means Christmas tree. Democratic candidates largely avoided engaging President Donald Trump as he fanned public fears over a migrant caravan ahead of the midterm elections. But they also avoided confronting a key question for themselves: What kind of immigration system does the party stand for in the Trump era? Some Democrats are pushing the idea of a new comprehensive immigration plan akin to bipartisan legislation that foundered five years ago. Others want to focus attention on the narrower goal of granting legal status to undocumented immigrants known as dreamers, who have lived in the country illegally since they were children and whose cause is broadly popular with the public. But the boldest, and most controversial, Democratic rebuttal to Trumps bumper-sticker sloganeering has come from progressive newcomers, most prominently Rep.-elect Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, who swept to victory behind calls to abolish ICE the Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency, with 20,000 employees over perceived abuses. Some party leaders, including Sens. Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass., and Kirsten Gillibrand, D-N.Y., both considered potential 2020 presidential contenders, echoed that sentiment. But other prominent Democrats urged restraint, fearful of overreaching and spurring a backlash among more moderate voters, while Trump and other Republicans have seized on the idea in contending that Democrats favor open borders. Since Election Day, the progressive group has backed off the message. Trump is likely to further roil the debate with his comments Saturday that this would be a very good time to do a shutdown of the government over the $5 billion he has demanded to fund his wall along the U.S.-Mexico border. Democrats oppose the project and are not likely to agree to further wall funding in a government spending bill that must pass by Dec. 7 or trigger a partial government shutdown. The wall fight could further highlight Democratic divisions on immigration. Last week, at a Senate committee hearing over Trumps nomination of Ronald Vitiello as the new ICE director, Sen. Kamala Harris, D-Calif., appeared to link the tactics employed by the Ku Klux Klan to the perceptions in some immigrant communities about fear and intimidation from ICE agents. The suggestion led to a testy exchange between Vitiello, a longtime Border Patrol official who has been the acting director of ICE since June, and Harris, another presumptive presidential aspirant from a state on the front lines of resisting Trump. I see no perception that puts ICE in the same category as the KKK, Vitiello said. Harris pressed him repeatedly on ICEs tactics, before adding: But the perception exists, would you agree, whether or not its correct? A Harris spokesperon noted that the senator had, in her remarks at the hearing, praised the performance of the vast majority of the men and women in the agency. She emphasized that Harris had raised the KKK because Vitiello several years ago tweeted that Democrats were a liberalcratic and NeoKlanist party, which Vitiello said during the hearing he regretted. John Sandweg, acting ICE director in the Obama administration, said Harris expressed valid criticisms of Trumps rhetoric. But, he added, Democrats need to be very careful about this abolish ICE stuff. No one in their right mind would suggest eliminating immigration enforcement in the country. In August, Trump held a ceremony at the White House to celebrate the heroes of ICE, during which he accused a coalition of open-border extremists of waging an unprecedented assault on our law enforcement. Liberal Democrats said Trump and Republicans have intentionally misrepresented them. They said they are not calling for dismantling enforcement but rather for ICEs duties to be redistributed across the government to help curb abuses. Under this scenario, the governments limited enforcement resources would focus on hardened criminals, while undocumented immigrants who have lived here without committing other crimes or civil infractions could pursue legal status. In the face of Trumps attacks, we have to stand up and just laugh when they say those things and say its baseless slander, said Rep. Pramila Jayapal, D-Wash., who in July co-sponsored a Democratic bill to eliminate ICE and restructure it from scratch. Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., the leading candidate to become speaker in January, has said the early focus will be on a bill to offer legal status to dreamers. Such a measure, which polling shows has widespread public support, also could contain provisions to protect immigrants from Haiti, El Salvador, Honduras and elsewhere who have been living in the country under the temporary protected status program Trump has sought to end. Other top Democrats, including Sen. Robert Menendez, D-N.J., said the party should quickly offer a comprehensive immigration bill allowing Democrats to show what they stand for. If Democrats advanced a sweeping bill out of the House it would force the Republican-led Senate to try to muster a response, he added, and that could prompt both sides to negotiate something thats reasonable versus [Trumps] positions, which are just off the wall. In 2013, a bipartisan Senate coalition approved a bill offering a path to citizenship for most of the nations 11 million undocumented immigrants, additional work visas, trims to family immigration programs and additional funding for border fencing and more Border Patrol agents. But the GOP-led House refused to vote on the legislation. In early 2018, Trump and Democratic leaders floated a deal to provide legal status for the dreamers in exchange for up to $25 billion in funding for the border wall. The White House also wanted to speed up deportations, and significantly cut legal immigration programs. A Senate bill backed by Trump was soundly defeated with just 39 senators in favor. Leon Fresco, an immigration attorney who served as a top aide to Senate Minority Leader Charles Schumer, D-N.Y., during the 2013 debate, said a comprehensive deal remains a long shot as both parties retrench before 2020. In 2016, Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton moved quickly to the left of President Barack Obama on immigration, pledging to go farther on using executive authority to protect immigrants from deportation. She lost to Trump, and Obamas program to protect up to 4 million immigrant parents of U.S. citizens was halted in federal court. All Democratic candidates have to do is be slightly credible on enforcement, Fresco said. I dont think Hillary did that. . . . The message needs to be that the presidents policies of ratcheting up enforcement has failed. We have more caravans, more chaos on the border. Trump has pledged to ramp up enforcement. During his nomination hearing, Vitiello refused to rule out another version of the rescinded family separation policy in which children were separated from their parents at the border, sparking a backlash for Trump. Last week, the president signed a proclamation to deny Central American migrants the right to apply for asylum. Democrats said they will fiercely oppose such measures, but acknowledged their message must go beyond standing up to Trump. There is a lot of energy on the left with respect to what people are against as it should be because the president has done some utterly appalling things, said Cecilia Munoz, who served as Obamas domestic policy adviser But its also important for the energy to be affirmative and present an outline for what we are for. ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. A U.S. Senate resolution has been introduced to designate November as Native American Heritage month. The Senate Committee on Indian Affairs on Friday announced the resolution sponsored by Sens. John Hoeven, a North Dakota Republican, and Tom Udall, a New Mexico Democrat. Hoeven is the committees chairman and Udall its vice chairman. The resolution recognizes the accomplishments, cultures and contributions of Native Americans, who serve in the military at higher rates than any other group. The resolution also specifically highlights the influence of the Iroquois Confederacy of the northeastern United States on the founding fathers drafting of the Constitution, including in its articles on free speech and the separation of governmental powers. The senators say the resolution also offers a chance for reflection on how they can further strengthen tribal communities. This past week, the Farmington City Council passed a resolution in support of the proposed amendment to the Blanco-Mesaverde Pool Rule. Over the past several weeks, there has been a lot of discussion about this ordinarily innocuous provision before the Oil Conservation Commission in Santa Fe. With all the rhetoric and hyperbole surrounding the pool rule, I want to set a few things straight. The City of Farmington, more than anyone, wants to protect our environment and our cultural heritage. It is our home, and we have created economic strategies to promote this region as a premier location where outdoor-lovers of all ages and retirees can thrive. However, none of these strategies to diversify our local or state economy can exist without the long-standing economic benefits that oil and gas production brings to us. I make mention of this as there are those in our state who would have you believe this proposed rule will allow oil and gas operators in the Blanco-Mesaverde Pool to drill thousands of new wells, destroying our beautiful vistas and creating more carbon emissions; that this is just another way that the oil and gas companies can take advantage of us and destroy our environment. This simply is not true. Here are the facts: 1. A pool rule is an administrative tool used by the Oil Conservation Division to put in place basic operating parameters for operators for known pools of oil or gas. In the San Juan Basin, we have five major pools. 2. The rule lets every operator know how many wells they can apply for permission to drill; however, it does not give permission to drill. 3. Drilling applications go through other jurisdictions based on whether the well sight is located on local, state, federal or private land. In most cases, the drilling application process can take as long as nine months as environmental studies, archeological studies, public input, etc. are all done. 4. If approved, the pool rule does not allow anyone to circumvent the environmental and archeological laws and regulations. 5. If Hilcorp is able to pursue its strategy of recompletions, it achieves a goal that both the environmental groups and I should be able to support: When a recompletion is done, it reduces the number of new wells that would need to be drilled and the recompletion process means retrofitting old, decaying wells with modern equipment that reduces the likelihood of leaks or other environmental accidents. As mayor of Farmington, I believe we can achieve a balance between promoting the industry that has built this city and drives the economy in our state, while protecting our environment, the scenic vistas, and tremendous outdoor recreation and industry opportunities. We in Farmington are proud of our energy roots and our energy future, and appreciate our family, friends, neighbors and co-workers who work in the oil and gas industry for making our city a great place to live, work, play and stay. Operators in the San Juan Basin are making conscientious corporate decisions to preserve our natural amenities, not just because it is the right thing to do, but because they want to protect them for themselves and for future generations to enjoy. Hilcorp and other operators are stepping up and investing millions in the San Juan Basin, stopping the year-after-year declines in production that we have seen, and are prepared to spend millions more in the future. That means jobs, and jobs means money to feed families, fund schools and promote local business. It means less crime. It means better outcomes for our kids. These are all things New Mexicans care about. The pool rule change will open up this responsible, environmentally sound, economic opportunity, which is why I support the rule change and believe the Oil Conservation Commission should, as well. In short, as we have made clear in our unanimous support of our resolution for the Pool Rule Amendment, this is a win-win for our community and the region. Its understandable lawyers who advocate for children charged with committing crimes would want to protect them by keeping their court records secret. After all, the reasoning goes, why should a youthful indiscretion follow a juvenile through his or her adult life perhaps interfering, for example, with the ability to get jobs or enroll in certain schools? It is for this reason juvenile court records arent included in the judiciarys online database. But a court rule proposed by child advocates and some judges would go far beyond shielding juvenile defendants from youthful indiscretions. It would bar public access to court files of a wide range of offenders between ages 14 and 18 accused of committing serious crimes including second-degree murder, aggravated battery, shooting from a motor vehicle, dangerous use of explosives and criminal sexual penetration. The proposal, pending before the state Supreme Court, would effectively seal these records at the outset. Case in point: One of the defendants in the notorious mobbing spree that resulted in the 2015 shooting death of Northeast Heights resident Steve Gerecke in his driveway was in Childrens Court this month for a status hearing. Local court officials jumped the gun and withheld those and other records even though the high court has not acted. They also cited a 2008 statute that makes certain records in the possession of the Children, Youth and Families Department confidential. In practice, that statute has not been construed as making all court records secret in juvenile criminal cases. Although Enrique Palomino appeared in open court which would still be the case if the rule is adopted his hearing played out like a dinner-theater mystery night, but with a real-life deadly twist in which a man was gunned down when a mob of teens picked his home as the next in their summer crime spree. The mystery stems from the allegation Palomino violated his probation, but there were no court files publicly available to show what Palomino who was part of the mob but not the shooter allegedly had done to violate probation. (The court clerks office ended up providing the records after a story appeared in The Sunday Journal. Court officials cited confusion over the proposed new rule as the reason for the initial denial. Readers can expect a news story later this week.) Now 18 and clad in adult orange, Palomino remains at the Metropolitan Detention Center pending further hearings. His case is hardly unique. Under the proposed rules, court records also would be sealed for the juveniles arrested for bringing guns to Albuquerque High School, and for those who engaged in a recent crime spree of crashing a stolen truck into more than 20 homes and yards and possibly firing a weapon. The list goes on, and on. Records show 77 youthful-offender cases involving more serious crimes were filed around the state in the last fiscal year in addition to nearly 3,000 juvenile delinquency cases and the court records of all those crimes would disappear into a void of secrecy if the proposed rule is adopted. And that would not only keep the public in the dark about what these defendants did, it would also keep childrens advocates from being able to compare cases and outcomes to ensure everyone no matter ethnicity or income gets a fair shake from the courts and justice is meted out equally. While advocates drafted the rule, media, prosecutors and victims oppose it. We want the records to be open to everyone, says Gereckes widow, Vinnie Gerecke, who adds advocates are making a presumption of teenage naivety that no longer exists all six juveniles involved in the fatal mobbing were repeat offenders. The alleged shooter was tried as an adult and sentenced to 25 years in prison. Under the new rule, only his adult court records would be open. The others would be sealed from the outset, as would those of Palomino, who pleaded guilty to aggravated burglary, conspiracy, larceny and taking a motor vehicle in the Gerecke case. But parents should have the right to find out if their own children are hanging out with the kids who brought guns to school. If the 21-year-old they might hire for their day-care center has a rap sheet that includes sex offenses or theft. Or what someone like Palomino did to violate his probation or why his Children, Youth and Families probation officer described him as a continuing danger to the community. Sealing court records allows the official version of events to remain secret while social media is full of braggadocio, videos, even live streaming of exploits minus any context that would help explain why a youthful offender did what he/she did and what it meant for their victims. The youthful indiscretion argument is a sympathetic one, especially for younger children and truly minor crimes. But sealing records, especially those of serious offenders, puts defendants seeking equal justice, as well as the public, in the dark and at risk. This editorial first appeared in the Albuquerque Journal. It was written by members of the editorial board and is unsigned as it represents the opinion of the newspaper rather than the writers. Copyright 2018 Albuquerque Journal State Land Commissioner Aubrey Dunn says a Wild West mentality is ripping up state lands in the oil patch in southeast New Mexico, and regulatory authorities are doing little to stop it. Dunn, a Republican-turned-Libertarian, had strong support from the oil and gas industry when he won election in November 2014. After taking office, one of his first acts was to replace a piece of public art in front of the State Land Office in Santa Fe with an oil field pump jack to symbolize how important the oil and gas industry is to the state. This month, however, he sent a letter to Energy, Minerals and Natural Resources Secretary Ken McQueen alleging hundreds of violations by oil and gas operators on state lands, including more than 500 non-operating wells that companies have plugged up without cleaning the surrounding areas. Those sites are now littered with tank batteries, flow lines and other equipment that pose a risk to the environment, according to Dunn. He blamed the Oil Conservation Division for failing to enforce environmental regulations. I have great concerns whether the OCD is adequately performing its regulatory functions to protect the citizens of New Mexico, the letter said. McQueen responded that the Energy, Minerals and Natural Resources is enforcing state regulations, and he offered to meet with the commissioner to review the issues. The OCD would be happy to sit down with the commissioner and his staff to discuss the matter, McQueen said in an email to the Journal. Pertaining to well plugging, the OCD is on track to plug twice as many wells as it did last year and has and will continue to monitor and ensure site remediation, which is required for the OCD to release an operators bond. In a press release on Nov. 9, however, Dunn insisted that the oil boom in the Permian Basin has led to blatant disregard for state trust lands, with companies constantly trespassing on public property without permits to conduct operations and committing numerous violations, such as dumping produced water, laying unauthorized pipelines, damaging archeological sites and illegally selling water. Companies would rather get in and out without going through established processes to legally access the land, Dunn said. The rush to make a quick buck is coming at the expense of New Mexicos environment. Our agency and the OCD need to step up to protect our state and its lands from being damaged by the California-style gold rush happening in Southeast New Mexico. Industry representatives dispute Dunns claims. New Mexico Oil and Gas Association Executive Director Ryan Flynn said Dunn is just flat out incorrect. I disagree with the suggestion that our industry is not operating in a responsible manner, Flynn said. We invest hundreds of millions each year to reduce emissions, comply with regulations and protect against impacts on the environment. There are exceptions, but the vast majority of our operators meet and exceed regulatory standards, and when there are violations, operators can and should be held accountable. Flynn said claims of littered well locations surrounding plugged wells is false. State regulations require cleanup within one year after plugging, and thats been done in most of the 500-plus well locations cited by Dunn. I havent looked at each well on the list, but Ive worked directly with companies and the majority are in compliance with OCD rules, Flynn said. The unprecedented boom in Permian Basin activity in recent years has led to frequent Land Office disputes with industry, including legal battles to force companies to stop trespassing and pay for environmental damages. That includes a $3.2 million settlement this month with Texas-based Salt Creek Midstream LLC for constructing a pipeline on state land in Lea County without permission. Dunn cites other problems as well, such as truckers taking short cuts across state land. Our agency closed a major road in Eddy County last week because people are driving right through pastures, Dunn told the Journal. If theres a corner they can cut through, they do it. Dunn said underfunding for his office and the Oil Conservation Division is part of the problem, because neither agency has sufficient field personnel to oversee all the activity in southeast New Mexico. The divisions personnel budget dropped by 10 percent since fiscal year 2015, to $4.87 million, to help balance government finances after oil prices crashed in 2014, according to the Legislative Finance Committee. That, plus the lure of higher-paying private sector jobs in the Permian, have made it difficult to attract more civil servants even with available funds, leaving both the Oil Conservation Division and the Land Office with staff vacancy rates of about 20 percent. With state oil and gas revenue now booming again, the Oil Conservation Division is requesting a budget increase to $5.4 million for personnel in fiscal year 2020, according to the LFC. The Land Office also wants $200,000 more to hire another three people. LFC Vice Chair Sen. John Arthur Smith, D-Deming, said budget crunches in recent years forced the state to cut expenses. Hopefully, with additional revenues now being generated, we can reverse that, Smith said. Well have a new governor, a new state land commissioner, and likely a new (ENMR) secretary next year, and well need to bring them into the conversation. Democrat Stephanie Garcia Richard defeated Republican Patrick Lyons and Libertarian candidate Michael Lucero in the race for land commissioner, and will take office Jan. 1. Copyright 2018 Albuquerque Journal SANTA FE The independent board that provides safety oversight at the nations nuclear weapons labs has recently underperformed in its essential mission, even as a massive plan to overhaul the countrys nuclear arsenal makes the boards job as important today as it has ever been. Thats the finding of an organizational assessment of the Defense Nuclear Facilities Safety Board. The board itself commissioned the study by a panel of the National Academy of Public Administration, which found that safety board members dont operate collaboratively or transparently. The DNFSB, whose five seats are filled by presidential appointment, was created by Congress three decades ago. It makes regular, public safety reports on the weapons labs, including Los Alamos National Laboratory and Sandia National Laboratories in New Mexico, as well as safety recommendations to the federal Department of Energy, which runs the labs. The recently released academy report says the volume of public correspondence, reports and recommendations by the safety board to the DOE has dropped significantly over the past several years, suggesting that there are fewer public safety matters addressed than in the past. In addition, there is an overall opinion, articulated by the DOE, the Board, and other key stakeholders that the quality and strategic importance of board member engagement with the DOE has fallen to an all-time low. The report says the board members there are currently four, with one vacant seat, with three board members serving beyond the expiration dates for their terms do not work in a collaborative, cooperative manner. The problem has reverberated across the organization, drawing the staff, comprised of highly skilled nuclear safety experts, into disputes. The board must set a positive tone, the report states, adding that a lack of trust in working relationships among current board members is an important cause of the agencys substandard operating performance. The board now has three Democrats and one Republican. Among the recommendations are establishment of a mission, vision and principles for the DNFSB and a refresh of board membership, by urging the White House and Congress to pursue filling the vacant position and replace the three members serving beyond their regular terms. In October, President Donald Trump announced intent to renominate board chair Bruce Hamilton and to nominate Lisa Vickers, currently a representative for the DOEs National Nuclear Security Administration at the Pantex Plant in Amarillo, Texas, to another seat. No more then three members can belong to the same party. The academy report also calls for the appointment of an executive director for operations to lead the DNFSB staff, to provide a single point-of-entry for the board chair, as well as more engagement by the board with Congress and public interest groups. The report notes that the DOE recently implemented a controversial rule that requires all information for DNFSB inspectors go through designated DOE liaisons, takes formal board oversight away from numerous facilities including the Waste Isolation Pilot Plant in Carlsbad and excludes lab workers from the boards role of protecting public health and safety. The rule presents a new and supremely important challenge to a reinvigorated, relevant and robust DNFSB safety oversight, the academy report states. The report also cites the board for a lack of transparency, saying its processes may meet the letter of the federal Sunshine Act but not its spirit. The board held only three public business meetings in 2017 and through September of this year and typically uses notational voting, an electronic sharing process. Using technical staff as messengers, the board members mark up safety reports without deliberating as a group. The board does release tallies of votes, but often without greater context or explanation of the considerations that went into each members decision. The report says that ramped up production of new plutonium pits, the cores of nuclear bombs, from none in recent years to at least 80 a year by 2030, including at LANL, represents a significant expansion of production and the associated safety challenges. A spokesman for the DNFSB provided a statement saying the board has approved a series of three public meeting to discuss the academy report and identify those recommendations the entire Board can support as the most critical and pursuing alignment on a path forward. The meetings will start in December. As I looked out the window, the 450-horsepower Pratt & Whitney 985 engine under the left-side wing of the old plane kicked to life, sending the propeller into a spinning blur and stirring up something deep in my subconscious. This was a few days back at the Double Eagle II Airport on Albuquerques West Side. I was among 11 passengers about to take a short flight on a 1928 Ford Tri-Motor, an all-metal aircraft used in the first days of commercial air transportation. This very plane carried passengers from Albuquerque to Los Angeles in the late 20s into the 30s. Vibrations from the engine, along the wing and into my seat and bones, tickled at some romantic notion lurking just beyond my memory. Famed aviators Charles Lindbergh and Amelia Earhart were Ford Tri-Motor fans and flew Tri-Motors themselves. But thats not what fueled the excitement I was feeling. My exhilaration was rooted in my imagination, in the kind of blood-and-thunder, pop culture thrills found in a Doc Savage pulp novel or the Terry and the Pirates comic strip. The planes second engine, the one on its nose, revved up and maybe thats what sucked things to surface. I had it Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom. In that 1984 movie, archaeologist-adventurer Jones escapes enemies by scrambling onto a Ford Tri-Motor departing Shanghai. Indy once flew on a plane just like the one I was buckled into. Cool. Tin Goose The Tri-Motor at Double Eagle II came off the Ford Motor Co. line in December 1928, almost 90 years ago. It was one of 199 Tri-Motors produced by Henry Ford. Owned now by the Liberty Aviation Museum of Port Clinton, Ohio, the plane is operated by the Experimental Aviation Association chapter based in Oshkosh, Wis. The aircrafts stop in Albuquerque is sponsored by Albuquerque Chapter 179 of the EAA. Lee Otto, a member of the Albuquerque EAA chapter, said Transcontinental Air Transport (TAT), a precursor of Trans World Airlines, bought 10 Ford Tri-Motors, including the one visiting Albuquerque now, in 1928 for $5 million, equal to about $71 million today. Those 10 planes made up the TAT fleet used in the pioneering airlines 48-hour, coast-to-coast transportation service launched in July 1929. Otto, 74, a U.S. Army veteran, flew helicopters in Vietnam in 1967 and 68. These days, he pilots an RV-10, a four-passenger kit plane that cruises at about 200 mph. He said that Lindbergh, TATs technical adviser, flew all the airlines routes, selected some of the airports on the routes and was involved in all the safety systems instituted by TAT. They had to invent everything out of whole cloth, he said. TATs coast-to-coast service combined flights on Tri-Motors with train travel. But from Clovis west to Los Angeles, it was all in the air aboard Tri-Motors, a plane, which, because of its all-metal construction, was known as the Tin Goose. In Albuquerque, TAT Tri-Motors landed at and departed from Oxnard Field, which is part of Kirtland Air Force Base today. Just stand up Otto ran through safety instructions for those about to board the Tri-Motor. He talked about the seat belts, emergency exits and watching our heads as we climbed in and out of the planes low door. He then mentioned the location of flotation devices in the unlikely event of a water landing, a comment greeted by chuckles. Well, he said, Im required by the FAA to tell you that. But if you land in the Rio Puerco, just stand up. On the plane, the third engine came to life under the right-side wing, and pilot John Hartke started to taxi the Tri-Motor toward takeoff. The planes interior is elegant, the seats comfortable. But the engines are noisy. You have to practically shout to talk to the person just across the narrow aisle from you. Hartke took off to the west, but as I looked up into the cockpit, he turned the plane to the east and a flight over Downtown Albuquerque. The altitude is about 1,000 feet above the ground and the speed about 90 mph, pretty much the altitude and speed flown by those early airline pilots who depended, to some degree, on beacon towers and concrete arrows on the ground to keep them on route. Back when these planes were flying into Albuquerque nine decades ago, the tight jumble of buildings and busy streets that is the city today did not exist. But when the Tri-Motor starts back west, cruising toward Double Eagle II and the vast, brown emptiness of the West Mesa, it is not difficult to believe that is exactly what TAT pilots saw all those years ago. Kind of ponderous Hartke, 59, an EAA member, retired from the Air Force as a lieutenant colonel. He flew F-4 Phantoms and was stationed for a time at Holloman Air Force Base near Alamorgordo. Now, he lives in Anchorage and flies 737s for Alaska Airlines. This is the granddaddy of the 737, he said of the Tri-Motor. I enjoy flying it, just trying to share the neat experience and sharing the history. He said, however, that compared to modern aircraft, flying the Tri-Motor is kind of ponderous. Otto, who once had the opportunity to take the controls of a Tri-Motor, put it more colorfully. Its like flying a cement truck, he said. As we approached landing at Double Eagle II, I remembered that Indys flight on a Tri-Motor did not end well. The plane crashed. But no worries here. Hartke touched the Tri-Motor down for the softest landing I can recall. The flight lasted 30 minutes or less. All the time you need for an adventure. UpFront is a news and opinion column. Comment directly to Ollie Reed Jr. at 823-3916 or oreed@abqjournal.com. Go to www.abqjournal.com/letters/new to submit a letter to the editor. If you go What: Ford Tri-Motor Tour, featuring display of and rides on vintage 1928 aircraft plus exhibits related to early commercial aviation. When: 9 a.m.-5 p.m. today. Where: Double Eagle II Airport, 7401 Atrisco Vista NW Cost: Parking and viewing of the 1928 Ford Tri-Motor aircraft and historical displays is free. Rides on the aircraft are $75 for adults and $50 for those 17 and younger. CHICAGO Within minutes of Laquan McDonalds slaying, witnesses to the shooting were allegedly waved from the scene by police without first being questioned about what they saw. Chicago police officers who had been at the scene later gathered with detectives at a South Side station, where a narrative emerged that turned out to be sharply at odds with police dashboard camera video of the shooting. And supervisors up the chain of command signed off on paperwork declaring Officer Jason Van Dyke justified in firing each of 16 bullets into McDonald. Prosecutors describe it as a reflexive cover-up, proof of a code of silence in which every cog of a well-oiled machine kicked into gear to conceal what really happened that night. But only three relatively low-level officers were criminally charged in the alleged conspiracy. And when they go on trial in a Cook County courtroom later this month, the case against them will rest largely on the infamous shooting video and a few crucial pieces of paper. Prosecutors allege that former Detective David March, ex-Officer Joseph Walsh and Officer Thomas Gaffney all filed false police reports containing nearly identical claims. Filing a false police report intentionally is a crime, assistant special prosecutor Ronald Safer said at a hearing last month at the Leighton Criminal Court Building. Thats what this case is about, and (you) need to look no further than the videotapes and those reports to know beyond any doubt that these defendants are guilty of these crimes, but, of course, there is much more than that. The defense blasts the prosecution evidence as horribly weak, especially given the cases high-profile status and potentially far-reaching implications. Even if their police reports were inaccurate which the officers deny that would not amount to a crime, their attorneys argue. What this case really comes down to as we listen to (the prosecutors) argument is what we refer to around here as a good case with a little bit of bad paper, said Todd Pugh, one of Walshs attorneys. Thats all it is. Van Dykes trial this fall unfolded on a grand scale, lasting a full month and drawing the rapt attention of a city shaken by the videos graphic images. His guilty verdict on second-degree murder and 16 counts of aggravated battery was historic, the first time in half a century that a Chicago police officer was convicted of murder for an on-duty incident. By contrast, this months conspiracy trial will be relatively low-key, lasting perhaps only a week and with the officers fate decided by a judge, not a jury. But while Van Dykes case focused on whether he acted lawfully in a shooting that took just seconds, prosecutors allege the evidence against the three officers exposes a broader conspiracy by police to cover up McDonalds killing that played out over months. For this trial, whether the shooting was justified will be immaterial, and it will not be argued at length during the proceedings scheduled to begin Nov. 26. All three officers face charges of conspiracy, obstructing justice and official misconduct. The obstruction and misconduct allegations are expected to be more straightforward prosecutions, with the paperwork either proving or undermining those accusations. The conspiracy, however, could be much trickier for prosecutors to prove. Without evidence of the officers specifically discussing efforts to shield Van Dyke from scrutiny, prosecutors will be left to argue that the officers false accounts in their nearly identical police reports prove the cover-up. However, another officer could provide key additional evidence for the prosecution testimony that March directed her to write in her reports details that would prove false. Legal experts predict the conspiracy, though, could be a difficult dance for prosecutors because of the unspoken nature of the code of silence. The essence of a conspiracy charge is an agreement between the parties, said attorney Terry Ekl, whose lawsuit over a Chicago cops video-recorded beating of a female bartender ended in a landmark verdict finding the code of silence in the Police Department protected rogue officers. When youre dealing with the code of silence, youre not going to have testimony involving a meeting or conversation where the agreement is made, he said. Everyone will just do what they thought they should do under the circumstances. Thats what makes it difficult to prosecute. The now-infamous video of McDonalds shooting shows Van Dyke opening fire on the black teen within seconds of arriving on Pulaski Road that night in October 2014. The 17-year-old, holding a knife, appeared to walk away from police as the white officer opened fire and continued to shoot well after McDonald fell to the pavement. Jose Torres and son Xavier, the only two civilian witnesses to the shooting to testify at Van Dykes trial, are expected to return to the stand for the conspiracy trial. Despite his unobstructed view, Torres has told the Chicago Tribune, a police officer sent him and his son on their way shortly after the shooting without bothering to ask what they saw. Prosecutors say the police conspiracy began in earnest soon after officers joined together at Area Central headquarters to discuss what had happened. Beginning that night, officers submitted strikingly similar reports that prosecutors say exaggerated the threat posed by McDonald. March was the lead investigator, a role his attorney has said should shield him from any accusations of falsifying his initial reports. After all, his lawyer argues, he simply reported what others told him. Walsh, Van Dykes partner the night of the shooting, is the only defendant to witness McDonalds shooting. He testified in dramatic fashion at Van Dykes trial that McDonald raised the knife in a menacing way a claim contradicted by the video and rejected by the jury. Gaffney, one of the first officers to encounter McDonald that night, had been praised for his handling of the incident. He drove the squad car while his partner was on foot, both trailing McDonald for several blocks. Gaffney urged his partner to stay calm, called for a unit with a Taser and tried to cut off McDonalds path, but McDonald popped the police cars tire and stabbed at its windshield with the knife. March and Walsh left the Police Department after the city inspector generals office conducted an investigation and recommended their firing. Gaffney remains on the force but has been suspended without pay since the criminal charges came down in June 2017. Prosecution filings show that March will face the brunt of the allegations, since he prepared and submitted voluminous paperwork. Prosecutors allege that those reports contain falsehoods, including that McDonald raised his right arm toward Van Dyke moments before the officer opened fire and then attempted to get up off the pavement after he was shot. Unlike Walsh and Gaffney, Marchs allegedly false reports were filed over the course of months, not just in the immediate aftermath of the shooting. Perhaps more damning, prosecutors are expected to call to the stand Officer Dora Fontaine, who was at the scene of the shooting. She is expected to testify that Marchs reports quote her saying things she never told him. She is also expected to say that the detective told her to identify Van Dyke in one report as injured and that he got her to agree with what he said the dashcam video showed, according to a prosecution filing. Defense attorneys have accused Fontaine of being a perjurer. Marchs attorney, James McKay, has expressed outrage in court that anyone would say McDonald did not pose a threat to police that night. For the life of me, McDonald never drops the knife, McKay said at a hearing last month. McDonald ignores every police command to drop the damn knife and stop. He is a threat to every police officer out there thats trying to stop this man. (Prosecutors) dont want to talk about that stuff. The charges against Walsh and Gaffney stem mainly from reports they filed within minutes of each other in the early morning after McDonald was shot. Both completed paperwork that police must fill out when they use force against a subject, even though neither officer did so with McDonald, prosecutors say. Those reports contain identical false information, calling McDonald an assailant who committed a battery against the officers while armed with a weapon, according to a prosecution filing. Under Illinois law, a battery must include physical contact by the offender or a physical injury suffered by the victim. McDonald never touched any officers, and neither man was injured. While neither Walsh nor Gaffney was injured, both also filled out the reports that officers complete when assaulted or hurt. Defense attorneys concede they were not injured but say they were, in fact, victims of assault since McDonald posed a threat with the knife. Prosecutors maintain Walsh and Gaffney filled out the paperwork to boost the false narrative that McDonald attacked police. There is no reasonable explanation for why you would submit consistently false reports in that order immediately after a meeting where you discussed the substance of the shooting other than an agreement, Brian Watson, another assistant special prosecutor, said in court last month. While the trial will focus primarily on the lower-ranking cops at the scene, prosecutors may introduce evidence that other officers including department bosses participated in the cover-up, part of their attempt to prove an overall conspiracy. The Tribune has previously reported that officials in the departments higher ranks either signed off on the patrol officers reports or took little action after viewing the video of McDonalds shooting. Their responses while not the primary focus of the prosecution still raised questions about whether the top brass participated in or emboldened the code silence that critics say pervades the department. Days after McDonalds death, then-Deputy Chief Superintendent Eddie Johnson watched the video during a meeting with other top department officials and raised no concerns about the shootings justification, according to sworn testimony from a colleague. Then-Superintendent Garry McCarthy relieved Van Dyke of his police powers but did not take other strong action because he says he was limited by the citys policy on officer-involved shootings. In late 2015, more than a year after the shooting, the court-ordered release of the video created a firestorm, and just days later, Mayor Rahm Emanuel fired McCarthy, who is now running for mayor. Months later, he promoted Johnson to superintendent. The investigation conducted by city Inspector General Joseph Ferguson found a broad effort to justify McDonalds shooting. Ferguson recommended the firing of two high-ranking officers Deputy Chief David McNaughton and Chief of Detectives Eugene Roy but both retired before the department decided its course of action. Prosecutors have suggested that two others, former Lt. Anthony Wojcik and Sgt. Daniel Gallagher, are unindicted co-conspirators in the cover-up because they signed off on Marchs paperwork. As proof of the far-reaching nature of the alleged conspiracy, prosecutors intend to present an email from Gallagher to Wojcik in which he misstates many important facts about the shooting, including McDonalds actions leading up to the shooting and the radio calls Van Dyke heard before arriving on the scene. Gallagher wrote that McDonald chose his fate and possibly wanted to be killed, according to court records. Officer did exactly what he was trained to do, Gallagher wrote. We should be applauding him, not second guessing him. Some activists have been critical of the prosecution since the indictment, questioning why only three relatively low-ranking officers are being taken to task, not department bosses who seemingly approved of the handling of the shooting. Ironically, March shared the same concern during a 2016 interview with the inspector generals office, according to a transcript obtained by the Tribune. This investigation was conducted under their supervision under the supervision of each of these command staff members, March said. Now they are promoted and I am under investigation for separation from the Department? 2018 Chicago Tribune Visit the Chicago Tribune at www.chicagotribune.com Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC. - PHOTOS (for help with images, contact 312-222-4194): CHICAGO-POLICE-SHOOTING CHICO, Calif. - The Town of Paradise is thinking ahead to Thanksgiving, and is working to bring people back together for a holiday meal. The Town of Paradise and World Central Kitchen, in partnership with Sierra Nevada Brewing Co., Chico State, the Associated Students and local school districts, are hosting Thanksgiving Together a chance to bring together and bless the community through the unifying and healing power of food. Several nonprofit organizations have stepped up and offered to feed the thousands of displaced residents who are in the area but without a home and essential necessities. On Thanksgiving Day, Thursday, November 22, several locations will host Thanksgiving Together, with multiple seating times at each location to accommodate as many people as possible. Additionally, Thanksgiving Together will provide evacuees at all official shelters with a Thanksgiving meal at the shelters themselves. People will not have to leave the official shelters to receive this special Thanksgiving meal, the meal will come to them. Food will be generously provided by World Central Kitchen and Sierra Nevada Brewing Co. Celebrated chefs from across the nation will work side by side with Paradise restaurant owners to prepare this Thanksgiving meal for residents who have been displaced by the Camp Fire. #ThanksgivingTogether - When: Thursday, November 22, 2018 Seating Times: 11 a.m., 1 p.m., 3 p.m. and 5 p.m. Bell Memorial Union Auditorium at Chico State (West Second and Chestnut streets, Chico) Sutter Dining Hall at Chico State (Warner Street and Legion Avenue, Chico) Sierra Nevada Brewing Co. (1075 East 20th Street, Chico) Transportation & Parking: Bell Memorial Union Auditorium parking is available at the parking structure and adjacent parking lot at West Second and Chestnut streets, the parking lot at West Second and Cherry streets, and the downtown area. Parking enforcement will not be in operation due to the holiday. Sutter Dining Hall parking is available along Legion Avenue and in the University Stadium parking lot at Warner Street and Stadium Way. Parking enforcement will not be in operation due to the holiday. Sierra Nevada Brewing Co. parking is available in the brewery parking lots facing 20th Street. The Butte County B-Line is offering free rides through the month of November. Please go to http://www.blinetransit.com/index.html for bus stop and route information. Volunteer Opportunities: Anyone age 18 or older interested in volunteering for Thanksgiving Together can go to: http://bit.ly/ThanksgivingTogether to register to volunteer. My wife and mother-in-law think that he'll come out of the autism to a degree, but I don't see it.They're basing this hope on my sister-in-law coming out of her shell to a degree, but she only has Aspberger's and not full-blown autism. On top of that, in the eight years I've known him I've only ever seen him get worse. It has me wondering what would have to happen before they finally admit he's dangerous.Does someone have to get seriously injured in one of his attacks? I'm trying not to resent him, but it's becoming increasingly difficult. His violent behavior towards everyone around him has me afraid for my daughter's safety. Because my wife is stuck watching him constantly, she can't get a job, and we're struggling financially. Any time I try to talk to her about the situation, I'm either met with hostility or silence. From The Washington Post, a frank look at the reality of autism for thousands of families. As the teens with autism age out this problem is going to grow. Cute little boys who punch are a far cry from adult men (and women) who can injure and even kill. Ask Trudy Steuernagel. We need better treatments so that our boys and girls, men and women on the spectrum receive proper care. We need to train law enforcement. And we need a national alarm to sound that the autism epidemic is very real. The coming years will bring grave challenges. Violent does not mean criminal - but is our system able to tell the difference? And how do we teach and protect our kids from the backlash? In Va. assault case, anxious parents recognize 'dark side of autism' The issue resonates not only with parents but with police. Every year, the International Association of Chiefs of Police picks one major issue to address at a national summit. In 2010, it was improving police response to people with mental illness and such conditions as autism. "It has been a huge and significant part of our conversation in the last couple of years," said John Firman, director of research for the organization. Firman, who participates in the Big Brother program, has a "little brother" with Asperger's. He said that when he goes out with the youngster, he sometimes wonders, "If anything would happen here, how would police deal with him?" Among the summit's recommendations, Firman said, were that all officers be trained in how to deal with such people and that police work closely with families and community organizations. Latson's case, however, was not a matter of a law enforcement officer being untrained, the prosecutor said. "This deputy has a 33-year-old mentally retarded child," Olsen said. "So the deputy is very sensitive to dealing with children with disabilities. He's lived it every day for the last 33 years." Pained parentsOn March 4, the jury found Latson guilty of four charges, including assault of a law enforcement officer and wounding in the commission of a felony. On May 19, he is scheduled to appear before Stafford County Circuit Court Judge Charles Sharp, who can accept or reduce the jury's recommended sentence.Last week, prosecutors tried Latson on a breaking-and-entering charge related to an incident in 2009. In that case, prosecutors said, Latson rang the doorbell at a teenager's home. When the teen opened the door, Latson hit him and followed him inside. Latson pleaded guilty to assault last year. On Thursday, he was found guilty of breaking and entering."I'm not here to try to paint a pretty story about my son," but he is not the violent individual that Stafford authorities have depicted, said Latson's mother, Lisa Alexander. "Neli is not a danger to society. He doesn't belong in jail. He belongs at home." 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. By Ritah Kemigisa. The Criminal investigations Directorate has summoned the Mityana municipality MP Francis Zaake to appear before the its headquarters in Kibuli on Wednesday 21st November 2018. According to a letter dated 16th November to the speaker of parliament, the Director Criminal intelligence Grace Akullo says Zaake will appear before the Deputy Director investigations at the CID headquarters at 9am. Akullo says the directorate is conducting investigations in two charges preferred against him namely treason and escaping from lawful custody. She says the legislator will be guided on the next course of action on that day. Zaake who was allegedly brutalized during the Arua by-election fracas returned India from treatment last month. 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, writes Semih Idiz. Nevertheless, Ankara still has to come up with a response to the US position on northern Syria. The United States persisted with its seemingly conflicting policy of conducting patrols with Turkish troops in Manbij west of the Euphrates while cooperating with the PKK-affiliated YPG to the east, adds Fehim Tastekin. PKK stands for the Kurdistan Workers Party Turkish rebel group; the YPG is the Syrian Kurdish People's Protection Units. 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, reports Idiz. Expectations were high that the planned meeting between [Turkish President Recep Tayyip] Erdogan and [US] 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 [US Syria envoy James] Jeffrey effectively gave notice to Turkey that it will have to come to terms with the US-YPG/PYD alliance. The PYD is the Syrian Kurdish Democratic Union Party. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has vowed to crush the terror outfit, referring to the US-backed YPG, east of the Euphrates in Syria, propelling Ankara further along on a collision course with Washington. Turkish artillery attacks Oct. 26 on Tell Abyad, Kobani and Zor Mughar reportedly killed 16 PKK-affiliated YPG fighters, and appeared to get Washingtons attention. The US offer of a $12 million bounty for PKK leaders Murat Karayilan, Cemil Bayik and Duran Kalka was welcomed by Turkey, but did not address the increasingly irreconcilable differences between Washington and Ankara. Although the bounty might have put the brakes on Turkeys operation plans against Tell Abyad and Ras al-Ain, the reality remains that Ankara wants to expand its operations east of the Euphrates against Kurdish enclaves in northern Syria, writes Tastekin. According to Cevdet Yilmaz, vice chairman of the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP), Turkey will intervene when it decides the time is right. Ever since the Turkish army and its allied militias took control of Afrin in March, Erdogan has been working on a plan to do the same east of the Euphrates, continues Tastekin. The primary deterrent has been the United States flying its flag along the border region, as it did previously, preventing a Turkish attack against Manbij. Despite Washingtons efforts to balance between Turkey and the Syrian Kurds, Ankara will not leave the YPG to hold territory along the Euphrates and in the border areas. In addition to deploying artillery fire and drone operations, Ankara is also likely to mobilize its allied opposition forces. On Nov. 3, the Syrian Human Rights Observatory reported that Turkey had dispatched some 1,200 FSA rebels from the outskirts of Aleppo to the border area. The FSA is the Free Syrian Army. Any possible [Turkish] operation is expected to begin with Tell Abyad and Ras al-Ain and stretch all the way east to the banks of the Tigris, reports Tastekin. According to this plan, if successful, the 566-mile border between Turkey and Syria will be controlled by the Turkish army, including Qamishli and excluding only Tell Rifaat on the Kilis-Aleppo Road, where potential joint action with Russia could terminate the YPG presence. The main reason Turkey is prioritizing Tell Abyad and Ras al-Ain is that in these ethnically mixed regions, the Kurds do not necessarily constitute the majority. In July 2012, while the Kurds were imposing control over the area, Turkeys proxy militias from the Free Syrian Army had crossed from Turkey into Tell Abyad and Ras al-Ain. While the YPG repulsed the forces entering Ras al-Ain, IS [the Islamic State] seized Tell Abyad, over which Turkey seemed unconcerned, adds Tastekin. Turkey will likely try to increase the pressure east of the Euphrates to squeeze more concessions from Washington on Manbij, continues Tastekin. Right now, Turkeys main goal is to replace the Manbij Military Council, which Turkey sees as an affiliate of the YPG, with members of the allied FSA factions it backs. Such a move would require Washingtons acquiescence. Metin Gurcan cautions, however, that at least for now, Turkeys bark may be more than its bite with regard to a major military assault in eastern Syria. Turkey is anxious to pursue operations against the Kurds east of the Euphrates River, writes Gurcan. 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, adds Gurcan. 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. There is also uncertainty in Ankara over Russias role. 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, writes Idiz. 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. Investors paid $1.107 million for 360 acres of timber and recreational land in the Elsanor area of Baldwin County, according to Tim Herrington of Herrington Realty, who represented the sellers. The property is south of Interstate 10 and east of the Baldwin Beach Express, with limited road frontage. Robert Cook of Vallas Realty represented the buyers. A former 14-room hotel/boarding house at 302 S. Alston St., in Foley, was purchased for $400,000 to a religious ministries organization based in Birmingham, according to Randy Dodd of Hosteeva Realty who handled the transaction. The 8,796-square-foot, two-story building has served as an extended stay hotel, boarding house and workforce housing over the years. An out-of-state developer paid $225,000 for 2.5 acres off Waltman Lane and Long Street across from the University of South Alabama and plans to build student housing on the property, according to Colby Herrington of Herrington Realty, who handled the transaction. Healing Touch Chiropractic and Bay Bridge Realty have each leased 1,000 square feet of space in the new office building at 119 Professional Park Drive in Fairhope, according to Jeremy Friedman of Katapult Properties, who represented the developers. Joe Steen Real Estate & Development represented Healing Touch Chiropractic in the lease and Joann Beck of Bay Bridge Realty handled the lease for the real estate company. Buffalo Wild Wings has requested site plan approval to build a restaurant on Ala. 59 just south of Pride Drive in Foley, according to the Foley Planning Commission. James Rhodes of Rhodes Company CPA has leased 2,500 square feet of office space in the Crane Title building at 2607 Dauphin St., in Mobile, according to Pratt Thomas of Merrill P. Thomas Company. The CPA firm also has an office in Fairhope. Long lines, voting machine malfunctions, and untrained poll workers scattered throughout the state. Alabama, on November 6, had its share of Election Day problems similar to what other states experienced. Georgia and Florida had reportedly lines that lasted as long as waiting to get on a ride at Six Flags, according to media reports. Cries about voter suppression or fraud in each state -- depending on a critics partisan leanings -- have erupted ever since Election Day. Elections are an incredibly complicated process and there are so many moving parts for it all to go right on Election Day, said Richard Fording, a political science professor at the University of Alabama. There will inevitably be mistakes made. But almost as common as election-related snafus are the subsequent calls for reform. And in Alabama, there will be a push in 2019 for legislation to address some of the problems experienced on November 6. From early voting to streamlining Alabamas absentee balloting process, state lawmakers will have their hands full next spring with election-related issues presented in the legislative process. Alabama Secretary of State John Merrill, a Republican former state lawmaker who is approaching his fourth year heading up the states elections, is already pitching several measures. Chief among them is a proposal to eliminate a state requirement that absentee voters to provide an excuse as to why they cannot vote in person. How much of those reforms pass through a Republican supermajority Legislature described as the most conservative to arrive to Montgomery, is a point of debate. Some longtime observers of state politics are skeptical that much will be done. When it comes to election law reform, across the board to include election administration types of issues, Alabama has historically been a follower and not a leader most states have gone to early voting, said Jess Brown, a retired political science professor at Athens State University and a longtime observer of state politics. We will gradually see more early voting in the United States, Brown added. Its convenient to voters, and well see more mail-in ballots and we will start to see more online voting probably because it will be convenient to voters. But these developments will have to be in the other states. Maybe, after 45-46 or 47 states have done it, Alabama may try it. Early voting Alabama election officials are unlikely to follow in the footsteps of a majority of states that have already ushered in some sort of early voting. Merrill is the chief critic for early voting, which is allowed in 37 states including the District of Columbia. There is no future for early voting as long as Im Secretary of State, said Merrill, during a recent interview with AL.com. Merrill is citing two reasons for his opposition: The costs of allowing for in-person or by-mail early voting, and a lack of studies showing increased turnout rates in states where early voting occurs. Early voting has surged nationwide in recent years: Nearly 40 million people voted early ahead of this months Midterm, as opposed to 20.5 million in 2014. In 19 states with early voting, turnout improved in the Midterm over 2014, according to the U.S. Elections Project administered by University of Florida associate professor Michael McDonald. Early voting is popular among younger voters. In Illinois, for instance, early youth voting was up 144 percent over the 2014 midterms, and more than 70 percent of the 6,200 undergraduates at the University of Chicago registered to vote through an app, according to a media report. Plenty of Southern states have also implemented early voting. Tennessee and Texas adopted in-person early voting in 1996. Arkansas allows it 15 days before an election, Louisiana is 14 days prior to an election. But some political science experts question if the overall national turnout rate has noticeably improved since the 1990s. And Merrill said in Alabama, turnout during the various special primary elections some which can lead to a primary runoff -- can be astonishingly low. Alabama is one of 10 states that requires a primary runoff whenever a candidate does not achieve 50 percent or more of the vote. For the last four elections, the March 1, 2016 presidential primary; the November 8, 2016 presidential election; the December 12, 2017, special U.S. Senate election; and the election (on November 6), we broke every record in the history of the state for voter participation, said Merrill. He added, When you think of that and say, thats the reason we need (early voting) so fewer people have to go to the polls those days people dont remember that in 2012, we had a runoff in which 5 percent of the people went to the polls. What they also dont remember is the runoff in 2014, we had 11 percent of the people going to the polls. In July (with the primary runoffs), we had 12 percent statewide turnout. Merrill has opposition from some watchdog organizations, including the Southern Poverty Law Center, which considers impediments to early voting as an unnecessary hurdle for voting. By consolidating all voting to a single day, that is a challenge for a lot of people, said Seth Levi, marketing director at the Montgomery-based SPLC. All the voting is happening on one day where you guarantee there are longer lines and not everyone has the luxury to take an hour or two off work. If we have early voting, they can vote on a Saturday or a Sunday when they are not working The SPLC is also pushing for Alabamas Republican supermajority Legislature to consider implementing same-day registration and automatic voter registration. Seventeen states allow same-day registration, while 14 states and the District of Columbia allow automatic voter registration at the time when someone applies for a drivers license. None of the automatic voter registration states are located in the South. It is true that studies have found, so far, that early voting has not improved turnout dramatically, said Joshua Douglas, a professor of law at the University of Kentucky and author of the forthcoming book, Vote for US: How to Take Back Our Elections and Change the Future of Voting. But that itself has tangible benefits, like shorter lines on Election Day, said Douglas, who advocates more for automatic voter or same-day registration. Most significantly, the states with the highest voter turnout all have easy registration rules and/or expansive use of vote-by-mail. No excuses Merrill, meanwhile, is likely to push for the implementation of no-excuse absentee voting, which is something that appears to have bipartisan support heading into the 2019 spring legislative session. Alabama is one of 20 states in which an excuse is required for absentee voting. You have to affirm that you are unavailable and out-of-town and its an unnecessary hoop, said Shay Farley, the Alabama policy counsel at SPLC. Merrill calls the excuse provisions long-outdated and inconvenient for people. Said Merrill, We need to address those and make sure absentee voting is functional and effective for voters. I am sure it is not as functional and effective as it should be. Merrill said legislation surfaced last year to address the excuse provision, but that it died in the Legislature after senior Republicans who control the legislative process opposed having a Democratic lawmaker as the bills chief sponsor. Said Merrill, We want Republicans and Democrats sponsoring our legislation. They affect all Alabamians its why you find almost every bill we carry, whether its a business bill or an elections bill, its a bipartisan bill. Indeed, legislation to eliminate the no excuse provision would, on its surface, be embraced by Democratic lawmakers. Alabama House Minority Leader Rep. Anthony Daniels, D-Huntsville, said he supports eliminating the excuse provision, and anticipates Democrats pushing for it during the next legislative session. It is something that makes sense, said Rep. Chris England, D-Tuscaloosa, who said he was asked by constituents why the excuse provisions had not been removed already. Farley, with the SPLC, said that eliminating the excuse requirement is only a small part of the overall reforms theyd like to see. The panacea to open democracy is not just no excuse absentee voting, she said. That is a piece of the puzzle that creates the whole pie. Poll books Merrill, meanwhile, is pushing for improvements in how voters sign-in to vote on Election Day by pushing for a more expansive use of electronic poll books within every county. Of Alabamas 67 counties, 29 currently used them, Merrill said, and 35 have access to them. The poll books are essentially IPads, which allows a poll worker to scan a voters ID quickly. The counties with the technology did not require voters to stand in lines alphabetically based on their last name. We want them all in place by 2022, said Merrill. It reduces wait time significantly. But Merrill acknowledged that costs could be an impediment. Also, some of Alabamas poorest counties struggle from a lack of Internet connectivity where rural broadband services are lacking. People with financial concerns (implementing the electronic poll books), weve told them well work with them, said Merrill. There is no reason for them not to adopt them. He added, We havent passed a law saying that you need them in place. I wont be going out to arrest them. But what we are saying is that its available (technology) and it can be adopt and it is a benefit to all the constituents in the county and a benefit to the registrars. The St. Clair County Coroner has identified the three children who died following a fiery wreck on Interstate 20 East near Pell City. Aiasiah Porter, 2, Queen Phillips, 11 months, and Nevaeh Seagin, 1, were passengers in the same car when the multi-vehicle wreck occurred near the 158 mile marker on Friday night. Chester Robinson, a 43-year-old laborer for the city of Bessemer who had a servants heart, was the driver of the vehicle. Robinson died from his injuries on Saturday. Aiasiah and Queen are siblings and the cousins of Nevaeh. The mother of the siblings was also in the vehicle, but survived the crash. Coroner Dennis Russell said the mother has been released from the hospital after receiving treatment. Alabama State Troopers are still investigating the cause of the wreck, which shut down the eastbound lanes of I-20 for hours. Corporal Steve Smith said the driver of the other vehicle was injured but didnt know the extent of his injuries. Details of the investigation will be forwarded to the St. Clair County District Attorneys Office. Robinsons wife, Ashley, told Al.com that authorities informed the family the other driver was going to jail. Education Secretary Betsy DeVos proposed changes for how schools handle Title IX cases would allow students accused of sexual assault to cross-examine their victim. The U.S. Secretary of Education announced proposed changes she said would fix a failed and shameful system that she believes has been disproportionately unfair to accused students. The rules would create a higher burden of proof for victims of sexual assault to prove a Title IX violation occurred, removing Obama-era regulations that required a "preponderance of the evidence." For institutions of higher education, the recipients grievance procedure must provide for a live hearing. At the hearing, the decision-maker must permit each party to ask the other party and any witnesses all relevant questions and follow-up questions,including those challenging credibility, the proposal states. The proposed changes will go through a public comment phase before the changes are enacted. Those who wish to express their opinion can submit complaints in writing the next 60 days to the Education Department. Madeline Anscombe, former president of the University of Alabamas chapter of Not On My Campus, a national student-lead organization aiming to raise awareness about sexual assault, said the new changes would limit ways students who are sexually assaulted could seek justice. Anscombe said she has spoken with dozens of students at UA who were not able to report their assaults to the police because of a lack of admissible evidence, but chose to report to UAs Title IX office as an alternative. By extending the rights of perpetrators, this fuels claims that false reports are anything but a statistical anomaly. This not only disenfranchises and belittles the rights of survivors but shows perpetrators how little ramifications their actions have, Anscombe said. Former U.S. Attorney and current professor at the University of Alabama School of Law, Joyce Vance told AL.com she does not support the new regulations. It's clear from this proposal that DeVos lacks basic empathy for survivors and doesn't care about campus safety. Our students, and especially those who are victims of sexual assault, deserve better, Vance said. DeVos has been outspoken about students falsely accused of sexual assault. The truth is that the system established by the prior administration has failed too many students, DeVos said in a speech at George Mason University in 2017. Survivors, victims of a lack of due process and campus administrators have all told me that the current approach does a disservice to everyone involved. According to the FBI, 5 percent of rape accusations are considered unfounded. The University of Alabama and the University of Alabama at Birmingham said they are aware of the proposed regulations and will be reviewing them. Auburn University and The University of North Alabama did not respond to questions from AL.com. Scottsboro police have captured a man who was wanted in Tennessee for allegedly raping a 16-month-old child. Simon Dean Porter, a 43-year-old from Lawrenceburg, Tennessee, was a fugitive who was wanted for aggravated child rape. Police said a passerby spotted Porter as he was walking along the 15000 block of Alabama Highway 79 early Sunday morning. The passerby recognized Porter from Tennessees Most Wanted. Porter was transported to Scottsboro City Jail and will be extradited back to Tennessee. On a cold October evening in 2005, my husband and I dipped into a London bistro for a quiet dinner. The place was tiny, just a little storefront on a busy Kensington street with a few tables. We had the place all to ourselves, save for one young woman in a dowdy floral dress two tables away, picking at her dinner over a thick textbook. Shortly after we were seated, I locked eyes with my husband and mouthed silently (we were seated too closely to even whisper without being heard), Thats Monica Lewinsky. His eyes shot to the table where she hunkered over the book, her long bangs largely obscuring her face. He was unconvinced. Why would she be here? Reading a textbook? Looking so tired and alone andfrumpy? Soon after we got our food, the young woman gathered her things and left. As this was a pre-smartphone world, I had to wait until I got back to the hotel to Google Monica Lewinsky, and confirm that she was, in fact, currently living in London and studying at the London School of Economics. Small world. Monica Lewinsky and I are the same age. We were both Washington interns in 1995she at the White House and I on Capitol Hill. But while my months in DC are just a footnote in the story of my life, Monicas would become the definition of hers. When the news of her affair with then-President Clinton first broke, I viewed it through a largely political lens. I was disgusted with both of them. With him for being an adulterer and denigrating the Oval Office with such conduct, and with her for being the kind of girl who would mess around with a married man. I mean, we all knew he was married, Monica. As a conservative, this was to me just further confirmation of what I believed to be the inferior morals of the political left. Of course this clown president was a cheater, and of course his staff was peppered with women who would do such a thing. Of course. But in those few minutes in the London restaurant almost a decade later, Monica Lewinsky became a human being in my mind again. She looked like someone I might have been friends with in college. She was studying at a prestigious school. She was dressed like nobody from nowhere. Definitely not seeking attention. It occurred to me that she was probably there seeking refuge from the relentless media attention in the US which made life impossible. She was essentially in exile. As I pondered that, it hurt my heart for her. I dont want to minimize the seriousness of her immoral choice. It was crazy bad. But I had a lot of friends in college and my early 20s who made some sketchy choices, and I cant think of a single one of them who paid a price this high. Bill Clinton certainly didnt. He left office and moved on into writing books and speaking for big bucks and supporting his political wifethe one who inexplicably didnt murder him in his sleep over Monica Lewinsky. So its interesting to me to hear from Lewinsky nownow that were in our mid-40s and able to view our young selves, our bad decisions and complex events with the objectivity that only time and distance from those events can provide. A docuseries will premiere on Sunday, November 18th on A&E called The Clinton Affair. About the decision to participate in the series by granting them 20 hours of interviews, Lewinsky wrote in Vanity Fair magazine that filming the documentary forced me to acknowledge to myself past behavior that I still regret and feel ashamed of[it] led me to new rooms of shame that I still needed to explore, and delivered me to Griefs doorstep. Grief for the pain I caused others. Grief for the broken young woman I had been before and during my time in D.C., and the shame I still felt around that. Grief for having been betrayed first by someone I thought was my friend, and then by a man I thought had cared for me. At 45, I can feel how incredibly young 22 actually is. I can better appreciate the immense power imbalance that exists between and woman of that age and the leader of the free world, who happens to be 27 years her senior. Both still acknowledge that the affair was consensual, but the older I get, the more I believe that Bill Clinton had the greater responsibility to act with wisdom and integrity, and he failed us allincluding a woman young enough to be his daughter, named Monica. In counterespionage, they call it chickenfeed when one side tries to trick the other into believing it has a supply of sensitive information. What the suckers in this scheme dont see is that the source is a double agent and the information has been carefully curated, all of it harmless, phony or stale. Last week, the City of Tarrant finally responded to a public information request I sent months ago. What they turned over, a factory farm franken-chicken wouldnt eat. This is a game Ive played a lot, only it shouldnt be a game. Under Alabamas Open Records law, citizens of this state not just folks in the media like me are entitled to see their governments documents upon request. Thats how its supposed to work, anyway. All this started during the trial of Balch & Bingham lawyer Joel Gilbert and Drummond vice president David Roberson. In July, a jury in federal court convicted those men of bribing state Rep. Oliver Robinson. But the trial revealed a lot more they had done, too. In one of the most sophisticated astroturfing schemes ever exposed in Alabama, Gilbert sent letters to public officials from city council members to U.S. Senators to put on their own letterheads, sign, and then send to the Environmental Protection Agency. One of those officials was Dr. Shelly Mize, the superintendent of Tarrant City Schools, although she might not have known it at the time. In November 2015, Mize gave permission to the EPA to test Tarrant school property for toxins. In January 2016, she rescinded that permission and she sent the EPA a letter saying that such testing wasnt necessary. Court documents show much of what happened in between. Tarrant city attorney, Ben Goldman, of the firm Hand Arendall, appears to have alerted Gilbert and Drummond of what Mize had done. In a flurry, Balch lawyers, with Goldmans help, sought to reverse Mizes course. Gilbert drafted a letter to the EPA the letter Mize would eventually send. On the permission form to the EPA, Gilbert scratched through the check mark by grant and marked deny. He even scribbled a date for the denial Rescinded 12/30/15 in his own handwriting. Court exhibits show Gilbert sent this material to Goldman who then forwarded it to Mize. The first week of January 2016, she signed her name to the letter Gilbert drafted and sent it to the EPA. When I asked her about this in September, Mize insisted she only communicated with Goldman and had nothing to do with Gilbert. I am unaware of dealings Mr. Goldman had with Drummond or Balch & Bingham, she wrote in response to written questions. I have no knowledge about Mr. Goldmans dealings with these people at this time and do not think I had any such knowledge in 2015-2016. But if you were in this situation, wouldnt you want to know? And shouldnt citizens in Tarrant know, too? The court records prove Gilbert drafted the letter Goldman gave to Mize, but those exhibits suggest there is much more. In September 2015, Gilbert and a lawyer from Drummond helped Goldman draft a conflict waiver. What that waiver said is not known, because even though I asked for it in my public records request, Tarrant didnt turn it over. What is clear from the court record is that, after that waiver, Goldman cooperated fully and frequently with the Balch/Drummond team. He participated in regular conference calls and strategy sessions for how to resist the EPA in Tarrant, and he shared information from the City of Tarrant and compiled reports on EPA activities there. Between September 2014 and August 2015, Goldman exchanged emails or other documents with Gilbert or other Balch lawyers at least 38 times, according to Balch & Bingham billing statements made public in court. Of those 38, Tarrant has turned over three. Goldman has declined to answer questions, citing attorney-client privilege. The public needs a full accounting from Tarrant officials. But so far, what Tarrant has turned over is just a bunch of chickenfeed. Kyle Whitmire is the state political columnist for the Alabama Media Group. Want access to the best analysis and in-depth reporting about Alabama each week? Sign up for the weekly Reckon Report newsletter and follow Reckon on Facebook and Twitter. From violence and harassment to the gender pay gap and intimidation, abuse is widely reported. But is anyone listening? Mumbai, India When the 2005 Bollywood drama Aashiq Banaya Aapne (You have made me your lover) was released, it was not common to see physical intimacy on screen in Indian cinemas. In the film, the cental characters are seen kissing in a now famous song sequence. After the film, its lead actress Tanushree Dutta, a former Miss Universe finalist, was cast in several movies where her characters were expected to wear revealing clothing and dance suggestively. Id often wonder, Angelina Jolie can be a sex symbol in a film like Gia and yet win awards for it, she tells Al Jazeera. Why dont these morons get the point? In 2008, one of her co-actors allegedly touched her inappropriately while shooting a dance scene. She complained to the director and choreographer, but they insisted that she continue with filming, threatening consequences otherwise. Dutta left the set, only to be berated by the director and choreographer as unprofessional and uncooperative. A right-wing politician, reportedly close to the perpetrator, called for Dutta to be blacklisted as his henchmen vandalised her car. Dutta quit acting soon after and spent years recovering from the trauma before eventually moving to the United States. This September, while on a trip to India, Dutta recalled the incident to a few journalists. Her interviews went viral. Social media users and many of her peers expressed solidarity and recounted their own experiences of abuse, intimidation and widespread sexism. The media industry was hit the hardest. Several actors, comedians, journalists and filmmakers were outed for their misogynist, predatory ways. Ive been repeating the same story since 2008, Dutta told Buzzfeed news. The only thing thats changed is that people suddenly want to listen. Actress Aishwarya Rai Bachchan attends the Variety and UN Womens panel discussion on gender equality at 68th Cannes Film Festival [Andreas Rentz/Getty Images for Variety] Physical and sexual harassment in Bollywood, as in Hollywood, is common. High-profile actresses, from 1970s superstar Zeenat Aman to 1994 Miss World Aishwarya Rai Bachchan, had shared harrowing personal accounts years before Dutta. These stories prompted heated debates at the time but little corrective action Rai Bachchans former co-star and partner Salman Khan, who had allegedly assaulted her, remains one of Indias highest-paid actors. In most cases, survivors are dismissed or threatened with legal consequences and professional boycott. In a strange development last year, for example, veteran choreographer Saroj Khan said that casting couch behaviour offering women work in the industry for sexual favours was rampant in Bollywood, but added it was one way to earn a living. At least they [the perpetrators] dont leave someone after raping them, she said. Dutta says: Id seen in parties that girls were willing to do anything [to get a foothold in Bollywood]. Theyd take it for granted, that this was something they had to do. Her unwillingness to cater to the powerful, she adds, had her labelled as arrogant. She claims to have lost out on a film with a leading production house after the casting agents found her cold and stuck-up. Womens experience is undervalued An analysis of Wikipedia entries on 4,000 Bollywood movies between 1970 and 2017 by IBM and two Delhi-based organisations showed that male characters are mentioned nearly twice as many times as their female counterparts. Female characters are mostly described as beautiful and attractive whereas men are called strong and successful. While most women go on to marry or love, men were likely to kill or shoot, the study found. A popular trope of romantic stories features the male character stalking, bullying and berating his paramour, after which they live happily ever after. In 2015, an Indian expat in Australia accused of stalking argued that Bollywood had made it seem quite normal for men like him to target their object of desire obsessively. The judge was convinced and the man received only a restraining order. Paromita Vohra, filmmaker, columnist and a gender rights activist, says that the #MeToo movement was waiting to happen. Classically, womens experience is undervalued but, for the first time, a large number of women were speaking up, naming names, overcoming the shame associated with being a victim, she told Al Jazeera. The self-reflection started with the gang rape of Bhanwari Devi by upper caste men in 1992, followed by numerous criminal and legal cases, reaching a crescendo after the gang rape of a medical student in New Delhi in 2012. In the month following Duttas interview, there were nearly 1.2 million #MeToo tweets, many from India. The algorithm associated joined points of commonality and created filter bubbles, says Vohra. So at the moment of sharing, you understood that its not just happening to you but everybody. Following the backlash this time, a union minister accused of harassment was forced to step down, a production house accused of complicity was dissolved and the film artists union finally set up a sexual harassment committee last month to investigate allegations. Indian women shout slogans during a protest against sexual harassment in the workplace in New Delhi [File: Manish Swarup/The Associated Press] In recent years, changing attitudes have been reflected in Bollywoods output. A 2016 study by Oxfam India showed that although many films continue to objectify women, there was a decisive turn for women-centric and socially themed films. Rachel Dwyer, professor of Indian Cultures and Studies at SOAS, University of London, told Al Jazeera: One of the big shifts in the recent years is that a Bollywood heroine can be now seen as much more sexually active. She has multiple partners, goes partying and makes mistakes. Shes not seen as a bad character. In other Indian films, there are also strong female leads in historical fiction features and stories about female sporting talents. Dutta says a lot has changed since she stopped making films. But the wage gap continues to be gendered, most top actors still get to choose which actress they work with and hit song sequences, known as item songs, in spite of featuring several mainstream actresses, continue to objectify women. An actress can run around trees, do an item song and also have a [serious] role in the same film, says Dutta. Everything has its own place. You dont have to judge. Fadi and Yara overcame countless obstacles to be together, but their wedding plans have been upended by Israeli bombs. Gaza Strip When Palestinians ventured out of their homes on Tuesday, following Israels latest round of air raids on Gaza, they noticed an extraordinary scene near the bombed-out remains of the al-Rahma building. Hanging in the bedroom of a partially destroyed apartment was a wedding dress, covered in dirt and punctured with shrapnel. As crowds grew and looked on in amazement, little did they know that the dress carried a five-year story of love, tragedy and determination. In 2013, Fadi al-Ghazali, a 22-year-old from Gaza, met Yara al-Zoubi, a 21-year-old from the Syrian town of Khan Sheikhoun on Facebook, a woman who he says he immediately fell in love with. {articleGUID} I knew she was my soulmate from the first moment, Fadi told Al Jazeera. She has seen things the human mind cannot imagine. I had also survived all three wars on Gaza in 2008, 2012 and 2014. So, I understood her. Despite facing geographical and political obstructions, the couple were determined to meet each another. Our dream was to get together, a dream that everyone mocked because I live in the besieged Gaza Strip and she was living in war-torn Syria, he said. It was impossible. Within a short time, Fadi proposed to Yara, and his family in turn contacted hers to arrange their engagement. I asked her parents for their blessing and they welcomed me into the family with open arms. Everything we needed was ready; the house, the furniture, the wedding dress ... We were only waiting for my birthday to be the luckiest couple people to ever walk this earth. Fadi al-Ghazali, groom A miracle Fadi spent the next five years working as a confectioner to pay for their wedding and furnish their home. Meanwhile, after several requests, Yara was finally granted an approval by Egyptian authorities to enter the Gaza Strip through the Rafah border crossing. A territory of more than two million people, Gaza has been under a devastating Israeli-imposed blockade for the past 11 years, which has severely restricted the movement of Palestinians in and out of it. {articleGUID} Israel withdrew its troops and settlers from the enclave in 2005 but, citing security concerns, maintains tight control of its land and sea borders. Egypt also restricts movement in and out of Gaza through its border. It took a miracle to get my fiancee out of Syria, let alone into Gaza, Fadi said. We achieved the impossible. When she arrived at Rafah, I was so happy that I felt like I was flying, and people were amazed by our story that they celebrated us all the way to our home, he said. Yaras family was unable to make it to Gaza for the wedding due to Israeli and Egyptian restrictions on freedom of movement in the occupied Palestinian Territories. {articleGUID} According to Fadi, Yara carried her $2,000 wedding dress all the way from Syria. Following Yaras arrival, the excited couple spent the next few days shopping for their wedding which was expected to be held on November 18 to coincide with Fadis 22nd birthday. Everything we needed was ready; our home, the furniture, the wedding dress We were only waiting for my birthday to be the luckiest couple people to ever walk this earth, he said. The bride stayed at Fadis mothers place, while the groom waited in their future home as they were both anxiously looking forward to their wedding day. However, on Monday, Fadis family received a call around midnight that the adjacent building to their home was going to be targeted by Israeli air raids. Fadi looks out from his devastated apartment at rubble from the al-Rahma building [Walid Mahmoud/Al Jazeera] Israel shattered our dreams Fadis family and bride ran to seek shelter at his aunts house, when the al-Rahma charitys five-storey building, next to Fadis home, was destroyed by missiles fired from the sky. When the family returned to the area the next morning, they found their home in ruins. My fiancee and I were shocked. Our dream was shattered by an Israeli strike that raided our home and caused major destruction to it, Fadi said. All of the windows were broken, our furniture and some outer walls were reduced to rubble, and the wedding dress was torn apart. {articleGUID} All the money that I had been saving up for years is now gone, he said, adding that the damage amounted to more than 5,000 Jordanian Dinars ($7,000). According to Fadi, Yara spent the entire night crying and suffered a panic attack when she saw the devastation. She told me all my life, I have been running away from war, but it kept following me. Last year, Yaras hometown of Khan Sheikhoun fell victim to a chemical attack that claimed the lives of at least 83 people, a third of them children. When local residents heard Yaras story and saw what happened to her home and dress, the entire community banded together. A wedding planner, a hotelier, a florist, photographers, tailors and others offered their services for free. A group of philanthropists gave them gifts to ensure their wedding would happen on time. However, with Gazas future still uncertain and violence a frequent reality, the couple said they were afraid of resuming their wedding arrangements only to wake up and find it all under rubble and destruction again. By Joe Nocera Practically from the moment Donald Trump began running for president, David Fahrenthold of the Washington Post has been digging into his business practices. Fahrenthold was the first to disclose improprieties at the Trump Foundation. He's documented spending by Saudi interests in Trump's various hotel properties. He's covered the ups and downs of Trump's businesses since he became president. In 2017, his Trump coverage won him a Pulitzer Prize. More important, when Democrats start investigating Trump after they take control of the House in January, Fahrenthold's stories will serve as the foundation for at least some of those inquiries. Over the last year or so, another journalist has homed in on the business practices of one of the Trump administration's highest-profile cabinet members: Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross. Ross is involved in many of the issues closest to the president's heart: the North American Free Trade Agreement, trade negotiations with China, tariffs on imported steel and aluminum, and so on. Yet to judge by the work of Dan Alexander of Forbes, Ross may also be Trump's most corrupt cabinet member, which is saying something in a cabinet that includes Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke, and once included Scott Pruitt, who Trump finally got rid of this summer as the head of Environmental Protection Agency. In a different administration, Alexander's exposes of Ross would dominate the front page, but they've gotten buried in the blizzard of news generated by the president. Yet just as Fahrenthold's work will likely spark Trump-related investigations, so will Alexander's stories trigger investigations into Ross. Or at least they should. Although Alexander is only 28, Forbes has given him the perfect training for looking into Ross. A few years after joining the magazine, he was assigned to the team researching the net worth of the world's billionaires. At the time, Ross was a fixture on the Forbes 400 list, which ranks the U.S.'s 400 wealthiest people. Last year, his net worth was said by the magazine to be $2.9 billion, a figure Forbes arrived at with Ross's input. When Trump nominated Ross to be commerce secretary, he was required to publicly disclose his finances. That's when Alexander realized there were huge discrepancies between the information listed in his financial disclosures and the Ross-aided calculations the magazine used to grant him billionaire status. Indeed, the disclosures suggested that he was worth no more than $700 million. When Alexander called Ross to ask about the difference and to break the news that he was going to be dropped from the Forbes 400 the commerce secretary explained that between the election and his nomination, he had transferred assets worth $2 billion into family trusts, which he was not required to disclose. Unwilling to take Ross at his word, Alexander began digging around. Almost exactly a year ago November 7, 2017 he published his first big Ross story, which concluded that the missing $2 billion had never existed. "It seems clear that Ross lied to us," Alexander wrote, "the latest in an apparent sequence of fibs, exaggerations, omissions, fabrications and whoppers that have been going on with Forbes since 2004" (when Ross first appeared on the 400 list). He also discovered that Ross had failed to disclose 19 lawsuits on a Senate questionnaire he filled out as part of the nominating process. There's no law against lying to Forbes magazine, of course; I would bet the rent that he's not the only one who has exaggerated his net worth to get on the 400 list. But having discovered Ross's penchant for lying, Alexander kept digging. His next big story, which landed early this summer, detailed holdings Ross or his family had continued to own even after he was confirmed as commerce secretary and even though they constituted major conflicts of interest. Navigator Holdings was a shipping company "connected to cronies of Vladimir Putin." His family held a stake in the Bank of Cyprus, which was also connected to Putin allies. He had a stake along with the Chinese government in a company called Diamond S Shipping. The previous fall, Alexander reported, Ross's Wall Street firm had taken "a 30 percent interest alongside a state-owned company named Shanghai Shenda and got roughly $300 million in cash. That same month Chinese officials hosted trade talks with none other than Wilbur Ross." And one more fact, the most jaw-dropping of all. After learning that the New York Times was about to publish an investigation into his relationship with Navigator Holdings, Ross shorted the company's stock. In other words, the commerce secretary was trading on the not-yet-public news that he was about to be exposed! In a follow-up story, Alexander reported that several senators were calling on the Securities and Exchange Commission to investigate Ross for insider trading. In July, Alexander got ahold of Ross's calendar, and wrote a story nicely summed up by its headline: "Wilbur Ross' Calendar Reveals Dozens of Meetings With Companies Tied To His Personal Fortune." In March 2017, for instance, Ross met with Dennis Muilenburg, the chief executive of the Boeing Corp., "a company in which Ross' wife held nearly $3 million worth of stock." The next month, he was visited by Minister Ali Shareef Al Emadi of the Qatar Investment Authority, "a sovereign wealth fund that pumped money into one of Ross' private equity vehicles." He had at least three meetings with Bill Ford, the executive chairman of Ford Motor Co., for which a key supplier was partly owned by Ross. Only when Alexander's story was about to be published did Ross finally announce that he was selling off all of his equity holdings holdings that in many cases he had failed to disclose as required by law. (Inadvertently, he claims.) "I thought that story would be the one to lead to an investigation," Alexander says. But it didn't. In a story in early August, Alexander actually labeled the commerce secretary a "grifter." But he sure did back it up: In speaking with 21 people who know Ross, Forbes uncovered a pattern: Many of those who worked directly with him claim that Ross wrongly siphoned or outright stole a few million here and a few million there, huge amounts for most but not necessarily for the commerce secretary ... But all told, these allegations which sparked lawsuits, reimbursements and an SEC fine come to more than $120 million. If even half of the accusations are legitimate, the current United States secretary of commerce could rank among the biggest grifters in American history. Alexander has continued to focus his journalism on Ross, writing most recently about yet another meeting in which he had an obvious conflict of interest. This meeting involving a railcar manufacturer called Greenbrier Companies in which Ross held a stake and which he apparently lied about when questioned about its purpose. For its part, the Commerce Department no longer appears willing to respond to Alexander's queries. "We will no longer dignify Forbes' recycled innuendo with a response," a spokesperson said. I realize that once they take control of the House of Representatives, the Democrats will have to pick their spots. If every committee starts investigating every plausible example of Trump administration wrongdoing, they'll wind up looking like the Republicans when they were in the midst of their Benghazi obsession. But even though he isn't involved in the core Trump issues, like whether Russia aided the campaign, Ross has proved to be very much like the president in his seeming lack of an ethical compass. His conflicts, his lies, his indifference to propriety, and his seeming willingness to take advantage of his office to make money they all add to a government official who practically demands to be investigated by Congress. Democrats: Read Dan Alexander's stories. And then do the right thing. Joe Nocera is a Bloomberg Opinion columnist covering business. He has written business columns for Esquire, GQ and the New York Times, and is the former editorial director of Fortune. He is co-author of "Indentured: The Inside Story of the Rebellion Against the NCAA." His commentary was distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC. More than 70 people refusing to leave docked ship in Misrata say they face torture and detention if they disembark. Refugees and migrants refusing to leave a cargo boat in a Libyan port are pleading to be taken to Europe, saying they are prepared to die than be returned to detention in the North African country. As the standoff with Libyan authorities in Misrata entered its ninth day, two of those on board said on Sunday it was too dangerous to go back to Libyan detention centres, where they risk being abused and sold to people smugglers while having little hope of being evacuated. All people are saying now we dont want to go outside until we die here, Kai, an 18-year-old from South Sudan, told Al Jazeera on the phone. The refugees and migrants were brought to Misrata on November 10, four days after setting sail in a rubber boat with the hope of reaching Italy. Daniel, a 16-year-old from South Sudan, said the rubber boat had travelled almost 200km before the Panamanian-flagged cargo ship, The Nivin, crossed its path. Both Kai and Daniel said the crew on board The Nivin told them they would be taken to Italy, but instead brought them to Misrata. We see Malta and they brought us back. All of us we entered into the international waters and they bring us back, said Kai. Why would they bring us back; they know we die here. Why they bring us back here? After discussions with humanitarian organisations, some of those on board the docked ship agreed to disembark, including women and an infant child. According to Doctors Without Borders, a medical charity known by its French initials, MSF, there are now 77 people on board, 28 of whom are under 18. Rights groups and medical charities urge authorities to ensure the safety of those on board [Al Jazeera] Kai said they come from various countries, including Sudan, South Sudan, Somalia, Ethiopia, Eritrea and Bangladesh. Many are sick and injured, after being burned with oil from the rubber boat they were travelling in, he added. Paula Barrachina Esteban, spokesperson for the UNs refugee agency (UNHCR), said the world body is providing humanitarian aid to those on The Nivin. At the moment, were just advocating for a solution to be found and discussing with the relevant authorities, said Esteban. The refugees and migrants are being given food and water, but Kai said the biggest immediate problem is the ships lack of toilets and bathrooms. As a result, Kai said they are forced to urinate in bottles. Both teenagers on the ship said Libyan authorities have threatened to force them out of the ship. They tell us if you dont want to go outside, we will take you outside by force; they say we will burn the ship, said Kai. The police are outside, added Daniel. We are frightened. People are exhausted Kai said he escaped to Libya with his brother after his parents disappeared during South Sudans war in 2013. In Libya, Kai said his brother was killed by people smugglers in Beni Walid, known as the ghost city by refugees and migrants, after not being able to meet their demand for a $1,000 ransom payment. Kai said this year he spent seven months in Ain Zara detention centre in Libyas capital, Tripoli, after being caught by the Libyan coastguard attempting to cross into Italy. He said there was too little food in the detention centre and he had no hopes of being evacuated or resettled. While escaping in July, he said the guards opened fire but he and several other detainees managed to get away safely. After another attempt to cross the Mediterranean in September, he said was locked in detention in Khoms, where he stayed for a month before escaping again. Refugees and migrants on the cargo ship [Sally Hayden/Al Jazeera] Some people have [spent] nine months, one year inside the jail, said Kai. While many on board said they had survived torture by human traffickers in Libya, some also had stories about serious abuses in official detention centres. A third man on board The Nivin told Al Jazeera he had witnessed fellow detainees being shot and killed while escaping an official Libyan detention centre. Al Jazeera has previously heard reports of deaths in detention centres run by the Libyan Department for Combatting Illegal Migration (DCIM). DCIM has not responded to multiple requests for comment. In Triq al Sikka, a 28-year-old Somali man burned himself to death in October, after saying to fellow detainees he felt hopeless about his chances of evacuation. In Zintan detention centre, detainees say five people have died since mid-September, most recently a 19-year-old Eritrean. Were very saddened about any death in a detention centre of UNHCR people of concern reasons why we advocate for alternatives for detention to be found, said Esteban. Sometimes, we provide on a purely humanitarian basis support to deal with the bodies of the deceased, but theyre under the custody of the Libyan authorities. Julian Raickman, the head of the MSF mission in Libya, called for those on board the docked ship and other refugees and migrants to not be sent to detention. People are exhausted, they dont want to go to those detention centres, she said. I can understand as a human, and we strongly believe that we, as a humanitarian community, should work together in order to find another solution for these people than detention. This concerns these people on the boat but also more broadly the situation of all migrants in Libya. Despite deadly attacks .. Ebola response activities are continuing, the World Health Organization said on Sunday. Health authorities in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) have resumed efforts to fight a major Ebola outbreak in eastern Beni region after a brief suspension following clashes. Despite deadly attacks .. Ebola response activities are continuing, the World Health Organization (WHO) said on Sunday. Despite deadly attacks on Friday in the town of Beni, #DRC, Ebola response activities are continuing. Operations were on-going but limited in Beni on Saturday. By Sunday, all activities have re-launched, including #Ebola vaccination pic.twitter.com/64yMFsat6M World Health Organization (WHO) (@WHO) November 18, 2018 Health Minister Oly Ilunga Kalenga had announced the suspension of operations on Saturday, a day after clashes broke out a few a few metres away from a local emergency centre and the hotels of several responses teams in Beni, North Kivu province. Peacekeepers from the United Nations mission in the country (MONUSCO) repelled an offensive by the Allied Democratic Forces (ADF) militia in the citys northern Boikene neighbourhood late on Friday. Seven Malawian and one Tanzanian peacekeeper were killed in the attack. The United States joins the UN Security Council in condemning the killing of one Tanzanian and seven Malawian @MONUSCO peacekeepers. The Council sends our deepest condolences to the families of those killed and the authorities and people of Malawi, Tanzania, the DRC, and the UN. pic.twitter.com/Wpp8MyP8xd U.S. Mission to the UN (@USUN) November 16, 2018 Also on Saturday, the World Health Organization (WHO) said 16 of its staff members had been temporarily evacuated to Goma for psychological care after a shell hit the building they were staying in. Michel Yao, the WHOs coordinator for Ebola response operations in Beni, told the AFP news agency that no one was wounded, adding that it was not known whether the shell came from the ADF or MONUSCO forces. WHO will continue to work side-by-side with the ministry and our partners to bring this Ebola outbreak to an end, WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said in a statement. We honour the memory of those who have died battling this outbreak, and deplore the continuing threats on the security of those still working to end it, he added. United Nations also resumed activities, including vaccination, the UN health agency said in a statement. The latest Ebola outbreak, the countrys 10th, has caused 166 confirmed and 47 probable deaths, mostly in the mineral-rich North Kivu and Ituri provinces that have been the epicentre of interethnic and militia violence for decades. Worst outbreak According to the WHO, a total of 358 confirmed and probable cases have been reported in the country. {articleGUID} The figure exceeds the 318 cases documented in 1976, when the virus was first identified in Yambuku, in the Equateur province. No other epidemic in the world has been as complex as the one we are currently experiencing, Oly Ilunga said last week, adding that the teams responding to the outbreak are attacked on average three or four times a week, in an unprecedented level of violence compared with the countrys nine previous outbreaks. Since their arrival in the region, the response teams have faced threats, physical assaults, repeated destruction of their equipment and kidnapping, Oly Ilunga. On Saturday, a ceremony was held for the peacekeepers who were killed in the previous nights attack. Fifteen other peacekeepers were killed in an ADF assault on a MONUSCO base in Beni in December 2017. The armed group was formed in neighbouring Uganda in the 1990s. Forced out of Uganda, it operates in the border area in the DRCs North Kivu province. In Beni, the ADF has a brutal reputation. It is blamed for hundreds of civilian deaths over the past three years, as well as mass rape and child soldier recruitment. Former military strongman and his FijiFirst party narrowly win general elections to stay in power in the island nation. Fijian Prime Minister Frank Bainimarama will stay in power for a second consecutive term as he has narrowly won a general election that was delayed by intense storms. Bainimaramas FijiFirst party won 50.2 percent of the vote to claim 27 of the 51 seats in the Pacific island nations parliament for the next four years, according to the electoral commission. The opposition Social Democratic Liberal Party (SODELPA), led by rival coup leader Sitiveni Rabuka, finished a close second with nearly 40 percent of the vote to clinch 21 seats. Im proud to become your prime minister once again, Bainimarama told FBC News from Auckland, New Zealand, where he had been attending his brothers funeral. {articleGUID} Fiji went to polls on Wednesday, only the second time the country has held democratic elections since former military strongman Bainimarama led a bloodless coup in 2006. Heavy rain caused some parts of the nation to delay voting until Saturday. Fijis electoral commission was deliberating on Sunday on the allocation of the seats under the watch of the Multinational Observer Group. The commissions official announcement of the election result is expected early this week. Credibility concerns Earlier on Sunday, leaders of the four opposition parties held a joint press conference in the capital, Suva, to raise concerns over discrepancies in official figures being released by the election authority, the Fiji Times reported. The supervisor of elections has been in a great hurry to get the results out, Mahendra Chaudhry of the Fiji Labor Party said. He (the supervisor) has, in the process, compromised the procedures and the requirement of the law, so that should be set right if this election is to have any credibility, Chaudhry said. Elections Supervisor Mohammed Saneem said in response that the authorities had been open. The people of Fiji deserve better in terms of information. And the Fiji Elections Office is giving all the information accurately in a timely manner, Saneem said in a Facebook Live video. Endorsing Saneems claims, election monitoring body Multinational Observer Group (MOG) said in a short interim statement on Friday that the Fijian election campaign was conducted according to international standards. We understand that there are some members of the public who have concerns about the integrity of the pre-poll ballots, and therefore we recognised the need to look closely at this process, it said. In its preliminary report, MOG assessed the electoral processes as transparent and credible and that the election was on track to reflect the will of the voters. From military ruler to PM Bainimarama, 64, led a bloodless coup 12 years ago, vowing to end the instability that saw four governments toppled between 1987 and 2006. For eight years he led a military regime that ruled by decree as he reshaped the political landscape. {articleGUID} Under his watch, the island nation of 920,000 has enjoyed sustained growth in its tourism-reliant economy. Supporters say he has helped heal racial divisions by introducing equal rights for Indian-Fijians, a sizeable minority brought in to work on sugar plantations during British colonial rule. He has also made Fijis 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. But critics, including rights group 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. Analysts say an upcoming election would bring about little change in the status quo of Israeli politics and discourse. Jerusalem Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has urged his coalition partners not to bring down the government, saying holding snap elections now would be irresponsible. Netanyahu made the remarks in a televised statement on Sunday, after meeting Finance Minister Moshe Kahlon, a key coalition partner. The meeting was seen as a last attempt to prevent the collapse of the coalition which currently has a one-seat majority in parliament but ended with no conclusion. Netanyahus government was thrown into crisis earlier this week when hardline Defence Minister Avigdor Lieberman resigned over a ceasefire agreement with Hamas, the group administering the besieged Gaza Strip. Naming himself as defence chief, Netanyahu said in his televised address that there is no place for politics or personal considerations when it comes to Israels security. Following Liebermans resignation, the right-wing Jewish Home party had said that it would also leave the coalition unless its party leader, Education Minister Naftali Bennet, took on the post of defence minister a move reportedly supported by Kahlon, the leader of Kulanu party. Lieberman quits {articleGUID} A coalition collapse would move national elections to the spring of 2019, well ahead of its original date in November next year. This prospect came closer on Wednesday when Lieberman announced that his Yisrael Beiteinu party would leave the ruling coalition due to Netanyahus surrender to terrorism, referring to the ceasefire in Gaza agreed between Israel and Hamas-led factions the previous day. Lieberman called the Egyptian-mediated truce a capitulation to terror and demanded harsher retaliation. The ceasefire ended a major flare-up of violence, which saw Israeli forces launching dozens of aerial attacks across the Strip and Palestinian factions firing more than 400 rockets at Israel in retaliation for a botched undercover Israeli operation that killed seven Palestinians and one Israeli soldier. Overall, at least 14 Palestinians were killed over two days of violence. Despite the difference in opinion, I tried to stay a faithful member of the government for as long as possible but it has failed, Lieberman said. But the former defence minister had also attacked Netanyahu even before the ceasefire deal, angry at the prime ministers decision to allow Qatari cash and fuel supplies into Gaza and to shelve the demolition of Khan al-Ahmar, a Bedouin village in the occupied West Bank. On Sunday evening, the Jewish Home party said Netanyahus announcement does not change anything regarding its demand that Bennett is appointed as defence chief. This is a government that is nominally right-wing but acts left-wing, the party said in a statement, as reported by the Times of Israel. {articleGUID} The government is a government with leftist policies, a collapsed deterrence against Hamas, the failure to evacuate Khan al-Ahmar, a weak policy toward terrorists and their families after terror attacks. Israeli media reported that Bennett, along with Justice Minister Ayelet Shaked, is planning to resign on Monday. For his part, Netanyahu said on Sunday there was no need for national elections to be held during a period of sensitive security, warning that snap polls could result in a left-wing administration taking control. We know what happens when elements in a right-wing government led to the government being toppled, like in 1992 and in 1999, which brought us the disaster of Oslo and the disaster of the [second] Intifada, Netanyahu said, mentioning the elections in which the Labour Party came to power. More to the right However, several commentators and political analysts noted that an upcoming election would bring about little change in the status quo of Israeli politics and discourse. They pointed to centrist leaders Yair Lapid and former Prime Minister Ehud Barak, as well as Labour Party members, who all criticised Netanyahus capitulation to Hamas just like Lieberman and Bennett. In all likelihood, the next government is going to be very similar to this one, with a renewed mandate, probably a more right-wing mandate, but the parties that will be part of the next coalition will probably be exactly the same as we see now, Haggai Matar, executive Director and journalist of the local +972 Magazine, told Al Jazeera. He added that Israel currently has the most right-wing, nationalist government it has ever had, yet its close to falling because its not right-wing enough. {articleGUID} With the possibility that Netanyahu may be losing support against hawkish political adversaries, Matar argued the prime minister may feel pressured to launch a military operation to appease voters. On the day Lieberman announced his resignation, Matar noted in an article that Israelis would be headed to the polls with one question in mind: how much force should we use against Palestinians? The answers most political parties will offer will range from a lot to a lot more', he wrote. Peace deal stalled? Israeli journalist Meron Rapoport told Al Jazeera that Netanyahus image has weakened following an ongoing corruption investigation and the ceasefire in Gaza but the outcome of a snap election still would not diverge from the status quo. Netanyahu is weaker than what people thought maybe a month or two months ago, Rapaport said, pointing to the poor election showing of Netanyahus Likud party two weeks ago. Rapoport said there may be a chance of a centrist government, but even they wont be going into negotiations with Palestinians. The looming elections may stall the presentation of the upcoming Israeli-Palestinian peace plan, which US President Donald Trump said in September he planned to unveil by January. {articleGUID} The details of the proposal are yet to be revealed, but Trump said in September at the UN General Assembly that he would prefer two states as a solution, which Netanyahu has refused to back, insisting that Palestinian self-governance must include Israeli security control. I think [the peace deal] will not be comfortable for Netanyahu, Rapoport said. Of course it will not be comfortable for Palestinians, but they are used to it. But I think it will be something thats hard to swallow. But there are some new trends in Israel There is a need for a new leadership; it was very evident in the local elections so I personally wouldnt be totally surprised if we have a prime minister who is not Benjamin Netanyahu. Looking ahead, Matar said a new government would face the ongoing pressure to go more and more to the right and use more and more violence. Currently theres not enough checks and balances [internationally nor nationally] or opposition from the left that is actually offering an alternative that would limit how far Netanyahu can go with this. Khmer Rouge leaders convicted for genocide in Cambodia For the first time, Khmer Rouge leaders Noun Chea and Khieu Samphan were found guilty of genocide by a UN-backed tribunal. Authorities on Malta have identified several people believed to be behind the murder of investigative journalist Daphne Caruana Galizia, according to local media. The 53-year-old was killed in October 2017 when a powerful bomb exploded in her car as she drove away from her home in Mosta, a small town outside the capital, Valletta. The killing sent shockwaves throughout the small island country and prompted international condemnation. In a report on Sunday, the Times of Malta said authorities have identified a group of more than two Maltese nationals that allegedly masterminded the murder, but refused to give any details about them. There was no immediate comment from the police on the report. Caruana Galizias death was believed to be a result of her reporting on her popular blog, Running Commentary, where she highlighted alleged high-level corruption by politicians across party lines. She also covered criminal gangs and drug trafficking and was responsible for exposing Maltas links with the so-called Panama Papers document leak, which revealed the identities of the rich and powerful with offshore holdings in the Central American country. It is unclear if the suspects are from the criminal, business or political world, local media said. {articleGUID} Three people were arrested for carrying out the bombing shortly after the murder, but critics have alleged that the investigation has not focused enough on who gave the orders for it. Following the killing, Maltese Prime Minister Joseph Muscat, who had previously faced accusations of wrongdoing by Caruana Galizia, denounced the murder, calling it a barbaric attack on press freedom. The journalist revealed that Muscats wife, Michelle, as well as Muscats energy minister and the governments chief-of-staff, held companies in Panama by looking into the 2016 document leak. Muscat and his wife deny they held such companies, as well as any wrongdoing. International organisations, including the European Union, the Committee to Protect Journalists and Reporters Without Borders all condemned Caruana Galizias death, calling for independent investigations into the killing. Rescue ongoing as 993 still unaccounted for more than a week after deadly Camp Fire hit western state. The death toll from wildfires in Northern California has risen to 77, with thousands left homeless from the deadliest blaze to hit the US state in a century. One human remain was located today, raising the toll by one in the so-called Camp Fire which broke out 10 days ago in northern California, a statement from the Butte County Sheriff said on Sunday. Hundreds of rescue workers sifted through the rubble in the affected areas on Sunday, amid concerns that rain in the weather forecast could complicate search efforts, while also bringing some relief to firefighters. Northern Californias Camp Fire has destroyed nearly 10,000 homes and torched 233 square miles (603 square kilometres), and 993 names remain on a list of of people unaccounted for. The blaze ignited on November 8 was 65 percent contained on Sunday. Rain is forecast for the area this week, potentially helping douse the flames, but raising the risk of floods and mudslides that will swell the misery of 46,000 people under evacuation orders. US President Donald Trump toured the area on Saturday and also visited Southern California, where firefighters were making progress on a wildfire that tore through communities west of Los Angeles from Thousand Oaks to Malibu, killing three people. {articleGUID} Weve never seen anything like this in California, weve never seen anything like this yet. Its like total devastation, Trump said as he stood amid the ruins of Paradise, which has a population of about 26,000. He met state officials, who have been critical of him, and pledged federal assistance for Californians. Where are we going? In Paradise, at a makeshift camp, shell-shocked families took stock of their losses. Amy Bravo-Robertson and her family were among the 50,000 who were forced to flee their homes as the wildfires closed in around them. Her trailer home and place of employment were destroyed. A million things are going through my head. We are just trying to figure out where we are going and what we are doing, she told Al Jazeera. Trump, downplaying the role of a changing climate in fuelling the fires, said the management and maintenance of forest lands will be the focus moving forward and announced $500m for that effort in the Farm Bill. I want a great climate, he said. Were going to have that and were going to have forests that are very safe because we cant go through this every year. Butte County Sheriff Kory Honea expressed hope that Trumps visit would help with recovery, saying the tour by the Republican president and Californias Democratic leaders signals a spirit of cooperation here that ultimately benefit this community and get us on a path toward recovery. Alan Garcia seeks asylum hours after being barred from leaving the country pending a corruption probe. Alan Garcia, an ex-Peruvian president, has sought political asylum in the embassy of Uruguay, hours after prosecutors barred him from leaving the country as part of a corruption probe. The former president has requested asylum in accordance with the provisions of the Convention on Diplomatic Asylum of 1954, of which Peru and Uruguay are parties, the Peruvian foreign ministry said in a statement on Sunday. It said it was informed by Uruguays ambassador to Lima that Garcia had entered his residence seeking protection. Late on Saturday night, a judge granted prosecutors request that Garcia is banned from leaving Peru for 18 months. Garcia says he is a victim of political persecution, a charge rejected by President Martin Vizcarra. La @CancilleriaPeru hace de conocimiento de la opinion publica que el Embajador de la Republica Oriental del Uruguay le comunico esta manana que el ex presidente del Peru @AlanGarciaPeru ingreso en horas de la noche de ayer a su residencia. https://t.co/husFlF1aZS pic.twitter.com/wQZo8kGmeB Cancilleria Peru (@CancilleriaPeru) November 18, 2018 The 69-year-old, who was twice president of Peru, is under investigation for bribes allegedly paid by Brazilian construction giant Odebrecht to secure contracts during his second term in office, from 2006 to 2011. Odebrecht has admitted to paying nearly $800m in bribes to governments across Latin America, including $29m to win contracts in Peru over the course of three administrations. The Car Wash scandal, as it came to be known, led to the jailing of numerous Latin American politicians, especially in Brazil and Peru. Pedro Pablo Kuczynski, another former Peruvian president, was forced to resign in March for hiding his past work as a consultant for Odebrecht. Two other former presidents, Ollanta Humala and Alejandro Toledo, are also under investigation for allegedly taking illegal payments. This is the second time Garcia has sought to flee to another country amid corruption charges. Following the end of his first government in 1990, he spent nine years in exile in neighbouring Colombia and then France after his successor, Alberto Fujimori, reopened a corruption probe and police raided his house. Moroccos treatment of African migrants, hoping to settle in the country or go to Spain, has been under the spotlight. Rabat, Morocco More than 80,000 people have crossed into Europe this year from Africa, the Middle East and Asia after fleeing war, conflict or poverty. By mid-September this year, Spain received almost 35,000 migrants and refugees. Majority of these took the sea route, while almost 5,300 crossed into Ceuta and Melilla, the two Spanish enclaves that form the European Unions only land borders with Africa. While Morocco has foiled 70,000 illegal migration attempts this year, the flow of sub-Saharan migrants into the country has not stopped. But getting into Morocco does not signal the end to their woes. Migrants are routinely evicted from the north of the country to the south by police, often accused of human rights violations. The large-scale crackdown was termed cruel and unlawful by Amnesty International. It said at least 5,000 people were swept up in the raids as of July this year, piled on to buses and abandoned in remote areas close to the Algerian border or in the south of the country. Excessive use of force during expulsions caused the deaths of two Malians earlier this year, according to one rights group. {articleGUID} Al Jazeera spoke to Khalid Zerouali, Moroccos border control chief, to ask about the countrys efforts to counter illegal migration as well as claims of harassment and human rights violations. Al Jazeera: What is Moroccos policy when it comes to sub-Saharan migrants? Khalid Zerouali: In 2013, His Majesty initiated a strategy which is humane at its core. Its a very inclusive strategy and aims to put migrants at the heart of all policies in Morocco. This strategy allowed 50,000 migrants to get their paperwork done which made them a resident. There are also many programmes to help them. We see migration as a wealth in terms of culture and economics. Were not afraid of having migrants at all. Al Jazeera: If they are seen as wealth, why are there complaints of human rights violations, including migrants beaten up and their possessions destroyed? Zerouali: These are baseless allegations. There have been no violations by the authorities. What were doing is according to our laws. We encourage migrants to settle in Morocco but we cant allow illegal behaviour. We are tough on networks and on those who try and use Morocco as a platform for migrant smuggling. We have administrative police whose job is prevention. If you have an apartment with 80 migrants with boats, engines and all the necessary equipment to conduct illegal migration, are we going to let them like that? Their job is to prevent a crime from happening. Weve dismantled 130 networks this year. Al Jazeera: The movement of migrants to the south are done knowing they will return to try and reach Spain. Zerouali: Only 16 percent of those we move to the south return to the north. Thats peanuts. When they are extracted from the networks, the migrants are relieved. There is also an attraction factor for those who arrive here. But when they arrive, they realise its not as easy as they were told. Al Jazeera: It seems that these networks are a huge concern. Zerouali: Weve never been mistaken about that. Since 2004, we have aborted 500,000 attempts to cross into Europe, mainly via sea, and dismantled around 3,000 networks. This year alone, weve stopped almost 70,000 attempts. Al Jazeera: A few migrants told us the guards are involved and can be bribed. Zerouali: We are very proud of our coastguards and the guards at the sea. Those people are doing a fantastic job otherwise we wont be a leader in fighting against the networks. But whenever theres someone involved in some kind of misconduct, we act tough on that. If someone is involved, proper measures and action are taken. The Achakar Beach in Moroccos north, from where Spains southern tip is visible [Faras Ghani/Al Jazeera] Al Jazeera: How much is it costing Morocco to patrol the border and the sea? Zerouali: If we talk just about the north apparatus Im talking 13,000 guards in the north, equipment, basically functioning from Oujda to Tangier and down south to Kenitra, around 1,100km in total thats costing Morocco more than 200m euros ($228m) annually. Now that the pressure is increasing, the EU proposed financing part of the effort. Were talking about around 140m euros ($160m). But we said it should not be one shot but sustainable assistance. Al Jazeera: This is costing a lot. Do you see another solution? Zeoruali: We shouldnt be afraid of migration, its not a problem. Its not a mathematical equation. Its a human matter that needs to be managed. We have to delve into the real causes and things that push people or the ones that attract them. It costs around 4,000 to 7,000 euros ($4,600 to $8,000) to attempt to reach Spain. Its not only the poor people who are migrating. One of the factors if the emergence of GoFast boats and thats coming from the other side. Another factor is some NGOs who are not serious about what they do. We used to be a country of origin. Then we became a transit country. Now, because of our efforts, we have become a country of destination. Khalid Zerouali Al Jazeera: What about Moroccans who want to cross into Spain? Has that been looked into? Zerouali: In 2002-03, we used to intercept around 20,000 migrants and 18,000 of those used to be Moroccans. This year has been an exception; but say 2015, out of 65,000 there were only 5,000 Moroccans. This year, because of GoFast again, the Moroccan figure is 12-13,000 out of 70,000 interceptions. Al Jazeera: Migrants having residency permits, they still complain of harassment and discrimination as well as difficulty finding jobs. Zerouali: The residency permit gives you access to work and healthcare, the same services that Moroccans get. The migrants children have a right to get free education. Adults have the possibility of going to university or training schools. We have 8,000 of these kids in school and 1,200 youngsters in training school. Morocco has given around 8,000 scholarships to these migrants. There will be exceptions definitely. You need to remember were not a rich country. We are a country that is trying to emerge. We can only do what we can do. We used to be a country of origin. Then we became a transit country. Now, because of our efforts, we have become a country of destination. Al Jazeera: Is there a safe and legal migration process that can be implemented so that people dont have to risk their lives and spend so much money? Zerouali: The international community has to come up with a coherent strategy. In many instances, a strategy of one country contradicts that of its neighbour. Humans are humans in all parts of the world. The coherent strategy needs to be very balanced between development, integration and security so that we can speak the same language and have the same comprehension of the problem. The interview was edited for length and clarity. The meeting focused on the prospects for strengthening of Kazakh-Russian trade and economic and fuel and energy ties as well as integration within the EAEU. Rising petrol costs in France spur protests A nationwide movement known as the yellow vest protests has sprung up in France against the increasing price of fuel. The priceless sixth-century artifact, looted in a Turkish invasion, was found after a two-year chase across Europe. One of the last missing pieces of Byzantine art stolen from Cyprus in the 1970s has been handed back to the country by a renowned Dutch art investigator. The investigator, Arthur Brand, said on Friday that he handed back the sixth-century depiction of Saint Mark during a private ceremony at the Cypriot embassy in The Hague. For Brand, dubbed the Indiana Jones of the art world because of his exploits to recover stolen works, the handover was a high point in his lifelong interest in the Byzantine saint, and the result of a nearly two-year chase across Europe. This is a very special piece thats more than 1,600 years old. Its one of the last and most beautiful examples of art from the early Byzantine era, said the art sleuth. Brand showed the mosaic to the AFP news agency hours before it was handed back. The Cypriot embassy and Church of Cyprus declined AFPs request for comment when asked about the mosaic, while the Cypriot Department of Antiquities did not respond to phone calls. Two-year chase After getting a tip from a prominent London-based art dealer, Brand travelled to Monaco in August. Through a series of intermediaries including several in the underground world Brand finally traced the missing mosaic to an apartment in the upscale city-state. It was in the possession of a British family, who bought the mosaic in good faith more than four decades ago, Brand told AFP. They were horrified when they found out that it was, in fact, a priceless art treasure, looted from the Kanakaria Church after the Turkish invasion, he said. The family agreed to return it to the people of Cyprus in return for a small fee to cover restoration and storage costs, he added. A week ago, Brand who was working with the Church of Cyprus returned to Monaco to collect the treasure, believed to be worth five to 10 million euros ($5.7-$11m) It was one of the greatest moments of my life, the detective said. In 2015, Brand won world fame after finding two massive bronze statues made by Nazi sculptor Joseph Thorak that are referred to as Hitlers Horses. He again made headlines a year later for helping to recover five stolen masterpieces from a criminal group in Ukraine. Immense importance Religious artefacts, including mosaics, were hewn from the church walls in northern Cyprus following an invasion by Turkish forces in 1974. The artefact is nearly 2,000 years old [Jan Hennop/AFP] They included a set of mosaics taken from the Panayia Kanakaria church, about 105km northeast of Nicosia. Many pieces ended up in the underground world of art smuggling and went missing for years, while the Cyprus government and church campaigned ceaselessly to recover them. The mosaics of Kanakaria are of immense importance in Christian art and world culture, said Maria Paphiti, a former department head at British auction house, Christies. The ensemble is among a handful of artworks that escaped the menace of Byzantine iconoclasm in the eighth and ninth century, Paphiti, an art historian and world authority on Byzantine art told AFP. Last missing pieces Twelve mosaic fragments have been returned so far, notably one depicting the Apostle Andrew, which Paphiti discovered among a collection of artworks in 2014. In 1989, four fragments depicting the upper part of Christ, two apostles and an archangel were handed back after a high-profile case in the city of Indianapolis in the United States. Most of the mosaic fragments were recovered between 1983 and 2015, Paphiti said, but some pieces are still missing, including the lower part of Christs body. This is truly one of the last outstanding pieces to be returned, said Brand. It is incredible to think that this piece of art survived for so long. Its part of the Cypriot peoples soul, he added. St Mark is expected to return to the Mediterranean island within the coming days. German police made a major breakthrough in the recovery of stolen Cypriot art in 1997, when they raided the home of convicted Turkish art dealer, Ayden Dikmen, in Munich. Cyprus has been divided since 1974 when Turkey invaded and seized its northern third in response to an Athens-engineered coup to unite the island with Greece. Key players in Sri Lanka power struggle sit for talks for first time since crisis began but fail to break deadlock. Colombo, Sri Lanka The three men at the heart of Sri Lankas weeks-long power struggle have held direct talks for the first time since the crisis erupted but their meeting failed to reach a breakthrough, according to officials. President Maithripala Sirisena called for the talks days after several parliamentary votes on a no-confidence motion against his newly appointed Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa descended into chaos, with angry politicians hurling chilli paste, chairs and books at legislators backing Ranil Wickremesinghe, the deposed leader. Joined by members of their parties, the president and the two rival prime ministers met on Sunday for more than two hours at the presidents office in the capital, Colombo, but did not appear to shift from their previous positions on the no-confidence vote. Both Sirisena and Rajapaksa have rejected the outcome of the voice votes, in which 122 legislators in the 225-member House voted against the latter, claiming the speaker had failed to follow proper procedures. Supporters of Wickremesinghe, however, accuse pro-Rajapaksa politicians of disrupting proceedings in a bid to block the votes. Speaking to reporters after Sundays meeting, Lakshman Kiriella, a legislator from Wickremesinghes United National Party (UNP), said the party told the president we can show majority again, but he showed no interest. Sirisena, in a statement after the meeting, said he would only accept a no-confidence motion if a vote was taken by name of members or by electronic voting. A voice vote, though technically legal, was not acceptable on such an important matter as it lacked transparency, he added. He also said all parties had agreed that future parliamentary proceedings would be conducted peacefully. Drag impasse Harsha de Silva, another UNP legislator, in a post on Twitter, said Sirisena was giving lame excuses of procedure to drag impasse along. No breakthrough at so called all party meeting with Pres @MaithripalaS now. They want to drag impasse along giving lame excuses of procedure as #FakePM does NOT have 113. What a damn shame, taking #SriLanka down for your political survival. Go, MR Go. For Gods sake Go! #CoupLK pic.twitter.com/ef1cKJU7aP Harsha de Silva (@HarshadeSilvaMP) November 18, 2018 A source close to the president said Sirisena, who has repeatedly pledged not to accept Wickremesinghe as prime minister again, was frosty towards the deposed leader, but cordial to others. Some legislators at the meeting had suggested the pair meet for direct talks alone, but the president refused, the source added. Relations between Sirisena and Wickremesinghe, who joined forces to defeat Rajapaksa in a 2015 presidential election, soured amid disagreements over government administration, economic reform and an alleged assassination plot against the president. The tensions boiled over on October 26, when Sirisena fired Wickremesinghe in a move widely denounced as unconstitutional and replaced him with Rajapaksa, a controversial former president accused of corruption and human rights abuses. {articleGUID} The president then dissolved parliament and called for snap elections in January, but the Supreme Court suspended that order until it delivered a verdict in the case on December 7, allowing the legislature to reconvene on November 14. Snap elections Namal Rajapaksa, the former presidents son and a legislator, in a Twitter post on Sunday, said he was disappointed that talks had ended inconclusively. He added: We reiterate our call for a general election so that people can decide who should be their government. Chandani Kirinde, a Colombo-based journalist, said she believes Sirisenas strategy was to drag this on till December 7, hoping the Supreme Court upholds the dissolution of parliament. The crisis was unlikely to get resolved when parliament meets again on Monday, she said in a Twitter post. Rajith Keerthi Tennakoon, a Colombo-based political analyst, said the leaders failure to break the stalemate on Sunday showed that the gulf between the opposing sides had only widened. Both sides are not in a position to back down, with the president insisting that due process had not been followed in presenting the no-confidence motions this shows that he is not ready to appoint Wickremesinghe as prime minister, he said. Asanga Welikala, a Sri Lankan law professor at the University of Edinburgh, blamed the talks failure on Sirisena, saying the president seems to be totally oblivious to the massive damage he was doing to Sri Lanka because of his personal issues with Wickremesinghe. The protracted crisis was straining the countrys struggling economy, affecting tourism and foreign aid, he said. The president has repeatedly violated the constitution, and so far hes refusing to be checked by parliament or moderate his behaviour in the face of a rebuke by the Supreme Court, Welikala said, warning that Sirisenas actions were disastrous for the countrys democracy. Rathindra Kuruwita reported from Colombo. Zaheena Rasheed reported and wrote from Doha US President Donald Trump says his administrations report will include information on who did it. US President Donald Trump has said that his administration will release a full report in two days about the killing of Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi. Trump told reporters on Saturday that the report will include information on who did it. Well be having a very full report over the next two days, probably Monday or Tuesday, he said. Khashoggi, a Washington Post columnist and a critic of Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, was murdered at the kingdoms consulate in Istanbul on October 2 after he went there to obtain marriage documents. The whereabouts of his remains are still unknown. Turkish and Saudi authorities say Khashoggi was killed inside the consulate by a team from the kingdom, but they disagree on whether the murder was premeditated. The CIA has concluded that the crown prince, also known as MBS, ordered the killing of Khashoggi, according to reports in the US media in recent days. Other US officials familiar with the case have cautioned that while it is likely that MBS was involved in the death, questions remain about what role he played, according to The Associated Press news agency. {articleGUID} Saudi Arabia has repeatedly changed its narrative of the killing, first denying knowledge of the journalists whereabouts and later saying he was killed when an argument turned into a fistfight. Last week, Saudi authorities announced that Riyadh was seeking the death penalty for five people accused of ordering and committing the murder. Shaalan al-Shaalan, the kingdoms deputy public prosecutor, told a news conference in Riyadh that a 15-member squad was formed to bring Khashoggi to Saudi Arabia from Istanbul by means of persuasion. But after talks with him failed inside the consulate, Khashoggi was killed with a large amount of a drug resulting in an overdose and then dismembered, in the kingdoms latest account of what happened. Al-Shaalan also said MBS was not implicated in the gruesome murder. Unanswered questions On Saturday, a day after the reports on CIAs conclusions in the case, the US State Department said in a statement there were numerous unanswered questions with respect to Khashoggis murder. Recent reports indicating that the US government has made a final conclusion are inaccurate, it said, adding that the government is determined to hold all those responsible for the killing of Jamal Khashoggi accountable. The murder of Khashoggi triggered an international uproar that has frayed the decades-long relationship between Washington and Riyadh. Intelligence officials have been providing information to Trump about the death for weeks and he was briefed again by phone on Saturday by CIA Director Gina Haspel and Secretary of State Mike Pompeo as he flew to California. White House Press Secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders provided no details of his call but said the president has confidence in the CIA. Before his call on Air Force One, Trump told reporters that when it came to the crown prince, as of this moment we were told that he did not play a role. Were going to have to find out what they have to say. {articleGUID} That echoed remarks by National Security Adviser John Bolton, who said earlier this week that people who have listened to an audio recording of the killing do not think it implicates the crown prince. Before leaving on his trip, Trump also said Saudi Arabia was a truly spectacular ally in terms of jobs and economic development. I have to take a lot of things into consideration when deciding what measures to take against the kingdom, he said. Trump has called the killing a botched operation that was carried out very poorly and has said the cover-up was one of the worst. But he has resisted calls to cut off arms sales to the kingdom and has been reluctant to antagonise the Saudi rulers. Trump considers the Saudis vital allies in his Middle East agenda. Members of the US Congress are pushing Trump for a tougher response to the killing. The administration last week imposed economic sanctions on 17 Saudi nationals for their alleged role in the killing. The measures, which follow travel bans already in place, freeze any assets the 17 may have in the US and prohibit Americans from doing business with them. The sanctions were imposed under the Magnitsky Act, which targets the perpetrators of serious human rights abuses, in a rare move against Riyadh. But American legislators have also called on the administration to curtail arms sales to Saudi Arabia or take other, harsher punitive measures. US Vice President Mike Pence told reporters travelling with him on Saturday for the APEC summit in Papua New Guinea that the murder of Jamal Khashoggi was an atrocity. It was also an affront to a free and independent press, and the United States is determined to hold all of those accountable who are responsible for that murder, he said. Yemen peace talks: Both sides to attend discussions Talks to end the war in Yemen are due to take place soon in Sweden and the UN special envoy says that both Yemeni parties are committed to attending. The liberal American Jewish population is shrinking dramatically while Orthodoxy continues to grow. The American Jewish future is Orthodox. For many years Orthodox Jews recognized, if begrudgingly, that the Reform, Conservative and Reconstructionist movements had appeal for Jews who were religiously uneducated or did not affirm Jewish law, or whose agnosticism meant discomfort with traditional Judaism. To its own discredit, Orthodox Judaism still has not committed itself to discovering more welcoming models without comprising its principles. There used to be many common values among Jews of all affiliations. A love of Jewish culture, the bond of recent immigrants, clear support for Israel, common cause against anti-Semitism, a respect for ritual even if not practiced personally, and love of America for its liberty, acceptance and opportunity. Little of this endures. At least 5 tectonic shifts have occurred, all catastrophic on the Richter Scale. First is near complete illiteracy about Judaism, including Jewish texts, thought, ritual, history and Hebrew. How can anyone have a compelling reason for embracing Judaism and passing it to his children if he knows approximately nothing? A big part of this illiteracy stems from the minimalism of the three movements. Second is the colossal intermarriage rate among non-orthodox Jews. The three movements surrendered to intermarriage and then embraced it. Reform and Reconstructionist rabbis and cantors have become "marrying Sams." The Conservative movement is actively playing catch up. The leadership made this conscious choice, rather than looking in the mirror at the foment caused by their own roles and philosophies. It's been easier to blame the assimilationist pull of the American melting pot. The claim that embracing intermarriage encourages couples to choose a Jewish life has proven a statistical farce, although it may bolster membership and dues in the short run. Indeed, the leadership has doubled down on their lemming march off a cliff even though the traditional position -- that participation in intermarriage ceremonies weakens Jewish identity -- has proven true. Third is disaffiliation. A plurality (soon to be majority) of Jews do not join any synagogue, do not give charity to Jewish causes and -- let's face it -- do not meaningfully participate in Jewish life at all, publically or personally. Almost all are from families who affiliated with the three movements. Fourth is the collapse in support for Israel among the three movements leadership and laity. While those hostile manage to make a lot of noise, it is the widespread indifference among the laity that is far more consequential. This dissipation of fidelity inevitably follows Jewish illiteracy, assimilation and disaffiliation. Fifth is the whole hog conversion to the religion of contemporary liberalism. In the last 30 years, the three movements rapidly devolved away from being rejectionists of traditional Judaism. For some time they have embraced their new religion, liberalism, with gusto. So much of liberalism is so at odds with traditional Judaism it's hard to know where to start. Moral relativism; multiculturalism; rejection of religion; globalism; elevation of the group over the individual; exchange of God-given rights for government-conferred rights; inversion of private property; casting aside the preciousness of every soul. This is on top of contemporary liberalism's rejection of the American idea and its vehement denial of the nature of Islam. One liberal value worth separate note is the diminution of not only the traditional family but of the concept of family itself. The ghoulish consequence is a radically low birthrate among the Jews of liberalism, well below the replacement rate and among the very lowest of any ethnic or religious group in the United States. These 5 tectonic shifts have led to a tsunami of self-immolation. With its high intermarriage rate and low birthrate, American Judaism is now in a demographic free fall. The Jewish communal structure is dramatically contracting. JCCs, Federations, synagogues, youth movements, Hillels, social service organizations and advocacy groups face closure or struggle for relevance. Donations for American Jewish communal life will continue to decline sharply. The donor base has already shrunk dramatically and the number of Jewish constituents to participate and serve is evaporating before our very eyes. Both liberal and religious Jews lose. When the dust clears, what remains is a large majority and high birth rate Orthodox American Judaism. What's left of the rapidly contracting liberal movements will be a residual of social justice warriors, a dwindling intermarried constituency and, as always, lapsed Orthodox Jews. We dream of a growing percentage of all Jews moving to Israel ... but dont count on that. If I may make some belated suggestions, broad brush, incomplete and unlikely to be widely adopted. Hope springs eternal. To the rabbis, cantors and educators of all three liberal movements, rather than emphasizing social action and critique of Judaism, make it personal. For those among you who believe in the God of Israel, foster a personal relationship between your congregants and God. Highlight texts that teach about family, modesty and relations between man and his neighbors. Reveal the time honored centrality in Judaism of personal conduct, prayer and Israel. Telling congregants that a good Jew advocates for abortion, welfare, gun control, feminism, gay rights, gender fluidity, business regulation, socialized medicine, affirmative action and immigration isnt working for the Jewish future. Have you noticed? If you sing a new tune perhaps a few Jews will be salvaged from their otherwise inevitable drift to Jewish oblivion. To the Reconstructionist and Reform, put Judaism foremost and social action second. If you believe that Judaism calls us to social action of a particular orientation, why do you suppose that calling can continue without knowledge of the theology-texts-history-heritage that generates the mission in the first place? To the Reform, teach Jewish obligations. You might be surprised how many people are inspired by them and how few flee if you discuss them. To the Conservative leadership, stop following and start leading. Teach Torah for what it is trying to say to us, rather than intellectualizing its origins and historical context. Highlight its profound lessons rather than endless revisionist critique. Who would want to be a part of a movement that afflicts its own religion with continuous criticism and unceasing revision? To the Orthodox rabbis, cantors and educators of all stripes, I will quote my own rabbi: How bad does it have to get before us Orthodox rabbis declare an emergency? Who said that Orthodox rabbis should be rabbis only to Orthodox Jews? Would it kill you to carve out time for the broader Jewish community? Is it best for you to leave outreach to Chabad and Aish HaTorah, terrific as they may be? Your dearth of initiative was a large factor in the creation of the recent non-Orthodox splinterette, often called Open Judaism. As a first step, enrich your communities by proudly broadcasting you are there for all Jews regardless of background. Encourage congregants to earnestly welcome less observant families and singles. That is the way of a refined Jew. Run a concurrent learning service on Shabbat mornings. In addition to Talmud study, offer classes and programs accessible for Jews elsewhere on the ladder. With all the upsides and issues of Orthodox hegemony in American Jewish life, we'd rather have our Jews back. With profound regret, millions of Jewish souls are being lost to the Jewish future. Many are being misled from their rightful inheritance and many are dropping it on their own. And many are neither being led nor making a choice. They just don't care. I assert all this with great sadness. There are counterpoints, there is a wealth of data to cite and there is a lot to talk about. Still, the direction is clear, tragic and undeniable. Most American Jewish institutions will collapse. The liberal American Jewish population will continue to shrink dramatically while Orthodoxy continues to grow. The American Jewish future is Orthodox. Martin Ingall is the President of Technology Information Corporation. He holds an M.A. in Middle East Economics and International Business Policy from Harvard University. Prior to moving to Israel, he was a member of Beth Sholom Congregation and Har Tzeon Congregation in Maryland. He was bar mitzvahed at Temple Beth Elohim near Boston. As the incompetent election managers in Florida finally finish counting ballots barely in time for the 2020 campaigns to begin, and Georgias governor candidate Stacey Abrams chooses to "acknowledge defeat" rather than concede, its time to take a look at the role of women in politics. Hillary Hillarys hinting shes thinking of running for president yet again in 2020. Democrats who still retain a synapse or two are trying to dissuade her. Ken Danieli, an online pollster, ran the numbers and despite all the sister solidarity talk his calculations reveal that 4% more women voted for Obama in 2008 than for Hillary in 2016. By his count (derived from inputs from Wikipedia and exit polls), it also appears that it wasnt white voters who accounted for Trumps win. Trump won only about 1% more white voters than did McCain in 2008 Trump won >80% more Black voters than McCain did and >15% more Latino voters than McCain did. Since the left cannot -- oh you know why -- attack Black or Latino voters, theyve aimed their bile at white women voters. To paraphrase Friedrich Gustav Emil Martin Niemoller: First they came for the White Men, and I did not speak out. Then they came for the White Women. Women Versus (White) Men The attack on Brett Kavanaugh was a typical leftist attack on white men. Its insistence that a woman must always be believed when accusing men of sexual misconduct was part and parcel of the Duke Lacrosse team and University of Virginia frameups, among numerous others. It was enshrined in the Obama-era overreach of Title IX to deny college men the right of due process in such matters, and as time has passed, many colleges and universities are paying and will continue to pay male victims of this outrageous policy. No one has better publicized the harmful effect of such anti-male phrases as toxic masculinity, frat boy, bro and testosterone poisoning and unfair campus tribunals than Professor Glenn Reynolds who this week suggests that higher education institutions should use the summer break to clean up their act. While it received little to no coverage, the Senate Judiciary Committee issued a 414-page report on the accusations against Kavanaugh, detailing the charges and summarizing the results of its investigation: There was no credible evidence to support [those] allegations. Among the allegations investigated and dismissed as not credible was one by Julie Swetnick, advanced by her lawyer Michael Avenatti. Tammy Bruce weighed in on the report: The legacy media carried the fraud that Justice Kavanaugh was a gang rapist. Day and night, that was all the U.S. and the world heard. Yet they, too, are silent. Wouldnt having a rape mastermind on the Supreme Court require more outrage and more investigation? But no, everyone has run for the hills, which tells us plenty. This silence and abandonment make clear that what we were all subjected to was a political stunt. The Democrats knew what they were doing, they did not care about the impact on women overall, and they still dont. And that is the largest fraud facing the American people: The left is not only not champions for women, the left uses us like cannon fodder, and need our lives to get worse. While the Democrats have thrown the Kavanaugh debacle into the memory hole, the Senate Judiciary Committee has not. Generally ignored by the legacy media in the midst of the midterm, the committees 414-page report on the Justice Kavanaugh sexual assault allegation was released. It details exactly how much of a fraud the Kavanaugh hearing really was, and the seriousness of false charges lodged against him. [snip] All this confirms my argument from the start of this debacle: The Democrats never cared about the women, and they see violence against women as a political tool, not something to solve. Their politicizing of our lives diminishes all women, and invited the fraud that is damaging the work that has been done for at least two generations to get women to be taken seriously on issues of sexual and domestic violence. So Kavanaugh supporters who insisted that he was entitled to fair play and who disagreed with the claim that all women accusers must be believed, must be amused that this week Avenatti's estranged wife accused him of assault and he was arrested and charged with domestic violence. Hes claiming that hes innocent of the charge and doubtless will be contesting his wifes claim and demanding due process. Jim Treacher could not resist pointing out the Avenatti double standard: Throughout the Brett Kavanaugh confirmation debacle, anybody who presumed the man was innocent until proven guilty in the court of public opinion was branded a rape apologist by angry feminists and other Democrats. We were supposed to take the accusations at face value, even though there was absolutely no evidence to support them. The mere presence of the accusations was enough to decide the matter. Guilty until proven innocent, that was the new standard. One man who did a lot to promote that point of view was cable-news fixture and purported attorney Michael Avenatti. He trotted out a woman named Julie Swetnick to accuse Kavanaugh of being part of some sort of gang-rape ring. Her accusation was completely unsupported by any evidence whatsoever, but it was good enough for the people who wanted to bring down Kavanaugh by any means necessary. And her attorney insisted we believe the tale, because it was told by a woman. If youre skeptical of a womans accusation, that means you hate women. Thats what we were told. But there was even more to cheer those who were upset by the Kavanaugh hearing debacle. Senator Joe Manchin, who broke from the Dem pack and voted for Kavanaugh, won his re-election campaign. Senators Donnelly, Nelson, Heitkamp, and McCaskill, who voted against him, lost. Certainly, other factors may have played a part, but obviously the Democrats forgot there are still plenty of women who love men and fair play. Women versus Women With the women should vote for a woman (Hillary) and white men are all rapists (Kavanaugh) tactics having failed, the left is now turning against white women as the enemy: White women: 76% Kemp 59% Cruz 51% DeSantis Black women: 95% O'Rourke 97% Abrahms 82% Gillum White women gonna white. -- Elie Mystal (@ElieNYC) November 7, 2018[/quote] ...women were similarly trashed after the Senate confirmed Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh in October. A New York Times op-ed labeled white women gender traitors, while Womens March leader Linda Sarsour called Republican Maine Sen. Susan Collins, a swing vote who ultimately voted to confirm Kavanaugh, a disgrace. In yet another bit of irony, Nancy Pelosi is finding that her role as House Speaker is in jeopardy. To the amusement of Iowahawk, Ocasio-Cortez, the dimbulb just elected from a district in New York, held a sit-in in Pelosis office demanding 100% renewable energy. More The Sergeant at Arms has issued a quorum call for a drum circle on the House floor 29 replies 101 retweets 525 likes Reply 29 Retweet 101 Like 525 David Burge@iowahawkblog Nov 13 More out: The United States of America in: The State University of America 17 replies 151 retweets 702 likes Reply 17 Retweet 151 Like 702 David Burge@iowahawkblog Nov 13 More David Burge Retweeted ABC News We're going to have years of congresspeople staging sit-ins of each other's offices with bullhorns, and it's going to be glorious. Ocasio-Cortezs problem actually isnt Pelosi, its math, science and logic, the patriarchal three that wrecks all bright ideas like hers. In any event, Congresswoman Marcia Fudge, a former chair of the Congressional Black Caucus, seems a more likely opponent to Pelosi than Ocasio-Cortez. Fudge, who is close friends with Pelosi critic and fellow Ohio delegation member Tim Ryan (D), is known inside the House for her straightforward demeanor and antiestablishment leanings. She said she is unbothered by the long odds and believes that even her consideration of a bid could rattle Pelosis standing. Things could change rapidly, Fudge said on Thursday morning as her phone buzzed nearby. Over the last 12 hours, Ive been overwhelmed by the amount of support Ive received, guessing that there are probably closer to 30 Democrats who have signaled that they are willing to oppose Pelosi. That number of Pelosi defectors is debatable. At least 17 Democrats oppose Pelosi, although Fudge said that many members are keeping their potential opposition under wraps until it becomes evident that she or another contender could be a realistic challenger. Fudges potential bid, which she first disclosed to the Cleveland Plain Dealer on Wednesday evening, could force Democrats to confront issues about race and gender in the party. It would say to [the country], This is not business as usual, Fudge said Thursday when asked about the prospect of becoming the first black female speaker. Nobody wants the status quo. People are weary of who we are as a party. People dont know who we are anymore. Fudge says Pelosi is an elitist, a very wealthy person who surrounds herself with other very wealthy people. I guess shes unaware of who funds her party. And so, identity politics continues to gobble itself up like the mythical snake Ouroboros eating its own tail. I will be joining my family at Thanksgiving and away next week so let me wish you all now a very happy holiday. Treat other family members who hold different policy views than you respectfully as individuals who are not haters or morons, just people with different ideas. But insist they treat you with the same respect you offer them. If that doesnt work, just be sure to pass the food and tell the cook the turkey is really moist. Kyrsten Sinema might not be able to stand in the middle of Fifth Avenue, shoot someone, and lose no support, but she could and did insult the very voters she was trying to woo and be the next duly-elected senator from the Copper State. The former Green Party gadfly and 9th Congressional District Representative has at last been declared the winner of Jeff Flakes departed Senate seat. Shes the first Arizona Democrat to win a Senate election in 30 years. Shes also the first high-profile politician that I know who spent decades mocking her own constituents as drug-addled nincompoops, only to, in the end, receive their backing. Sinemas record of contempt for her own people is nonpareil. The way she openly and endlessly complains about the loons in her state is akin to an elderly crank who never stops complaining about the one time the cable company once tried to upcharge him for Showtime. A big smile conceals a inner sneer? (US House photo [cropped]) On multiple occasions, Sinema has referred to her home state as crazy, a meth lab for democracy, and an accursed place no good ever emerges from. Not once, it seems, did she ever stop to think how this obloquy reflects on her: an Arizonan, after all. One is reminded of Flauberts classic quote: By dint of railing at idiots, one runs the risk of becoming an idiot oneself. Despite her best attempts to shower voters with disdain, Sinema defeated her opponent, Martha McSally, a decorated war pilot with the distinction of being the first woman to ever fly a U.S. Air Force combat mission. Perhaps the self-loathing Arizonan was right this whole time: Arizonans went with the pink-tutu accoutered Taliban sympathizer over a distinguished veteran. Quite a fine accomplishment for a state previously represented by the late John McCain. Sinemas low opinion of Arizona was not hidden. Shes been an elected representative for years. But opposition researchers didnt disseminate the incriminating clips far and wide until the Senate campaign. Voters knew of their existence. They elected Sinema anyway. The episode is reminiscent of the scene in All the Kings Men where Broderick Crawfords Willie Stark rants and raves at the crowd, calling them all dirt-poor hicks, but wins their affection anyway. Starks shtick works because he, too, is an ignorant hayseed, kept down by otherworldly forces beyond his control. Sinema is different. Like most liberals, she believes her intellect to be far above the average, her tastes more refined than the crude proclivities of the masses. Which gets to the paradoxical truth about many left-liberals running for public office: Often times, they despise the very people theyre entrusted with representing. In more extreme cases, theyre hostile to the society in which they assume a leading position. Sinema isnt the only Democrat with an abiding disgust for her constituents. London Lamar, who was just elected to the Tennessee State House, had to apologize for calling her state racist and Republicans uneducated in a Facebook video she posted after winning her uncontested race. There was Barack Obamas infamous quip about bitter laid-off factory workers clinging to guns or religion or antipathy toward people who aren't like them to make up for their failures. And then theres the supercilious ice queen herself, Hillary Clinton, decrying Trumps basket of deplorables. The incongruent dynamic -- man or woman running for public office with unbridled scorn for the very electorate -- is one of the ways in which pure democracy is left failing. What bigger mark of failure is there than a social system that creates the means for its own destruction? The irony of liberals open derision of voters is that it results in the exact electoral outcomes they try to prevent. Donald Trump won the presidency based largely on courting a constituency fed up with condescending urbanites. The United Kingdom voted to leave the Europe Union out of sense of inferiority: too many Brits felt unappreciated by bureaucrats in Brussels. The safety of a republic depends essentially on the energy of a common national sentiment...and on the love of country, Alexander Hamilton wrote. Countries dont survive when their leaders contemn the very citizens who constitute them. And they certainly dont last long when voters, knowing full well their negative estimation, elect politicians who deplore them anyway. Astroturfing in politics has become all too common in the internet age, largely because it's easy to do. The term refers to creating fictitious individuals, groups, or organizations to make it appear as if an issue or cause is supported at the grass roots level. When it comes to Trump hate, the left has gotten very creative in astroturfing opposition to the president. Daniel Greenfield at FrontPage Magazine reports on a supposedly orthodox rabbi who heads up a fictitious orthodox Jewish group dedicated to opposing the president. You could find Rabbi Mike Moskowitz protesting for illegal aliens at Moral Mincha rallies organized by Torah Trumps Hate (TTH) and Hitoreri: An Orthodox Movement for Social Change. Both lefty groups claim to be Orthodox Jewish organizations and with his black hat, dark suit and black beard, Rabbi Mike Moskowitz certainly looks the part of a real Orthodox Rabbi. But hes as real as Hitoreri and Torah Trumps Hate. Rabbi Moskowitz is actually employed by Congregation Beit Simchat Torah, a gay non-Orthodox institution. Its clerical leader, Rabbi Sharon Kleinbaum, was ordained by the Reconstructionist Rabbinical College, a movement that rejects the idea of both God and the Torah. While Beit Simchat Torahs views arent unusual within its movement, its anti-Israel politics have made it controversial. During a previous war with Hamas, an exodus of pro-Israel members occurred at Beit Simchat Torah after it was caught praying for Hamas terrorists and hosting BDS bigots. Recent events have demonstrated that CBST is far more committed to a progressive political agenda than to the Jewish people, Bryan Bridges, a former board member, wrote. I couldnt imagine raising a child in this congregation, and have that child hear, just before we recite Kaddish, the names of people who are trying to kill her grandparents. Bridges has higher standards than Rabbi Mike Moskowitz who collaborates with the institution as its scholar-in-residence for Trans and Queer Jewish Studies. Pro-Israel gay leaders have condemned Beit Simchat Torahs collusion with Islamic homophobia and anti-Semitism. Joining CBSTs clergy isnt just an endorsement of gay rights, but of radical leftist and anti-Israel politics. It's true that some orthodox Jews oppose secular Zionism and the creation of the state of Israel on that basis. But Rabbi Moskowitz is about as "orthodox" as a ham sandwich, which makes the issues he and his group are advocating illegitimate. I'm sure there are other astroturf organizations and individuals who attempt to fool the gullible and the easily misled into believing that their Trump hate is the legitimate expression of the grass roots. Exposing them would be a full time job. It goes to show that you can't believe everything you read on the internet - especially when it comes to virulent anti-Trumpism. Leftists always insist that their proposals for socialism will be nothing like what's found in communist hellholes way down the rapids to the falls. But somehow, the opening ideas are always the same. So here we have a well-meaning Democratic candidate for president in 2020, entrepreneur Andrew Wang, who's proposing an idea that's already being implemented in China and Venezuela. According to the Daily Caller: New York entrepreneur and Democratic 2020 candidate Andrew Yang wants to implement a system in which a government-run mobile app rewards Americans with digital social credits (DSCs) for good behavior. Americans would receive DSCs under Yangs system for things such as participating in a town fair, fixing a neighbors appliance or tutoring a student, his presidential campaign website explains. As individuals rack up DSCs, they would have both a permanent balance theyve earned over their lifetime and a current balance. They could cash the points in for experiences, purchases with participating vendors, support for causes, and transfer points to others for special occasions, Yang states on his website. As their permanent balance gets higher, they might qualify for various perks like throwing a pitch at a local ballgame, an audience with their local Congressperson or meeting their states most civic-minded athlete or celebrity. Oh it won't be anything like China's, his flak tells the Caller, because there won't be a social punishment element to it. Over in China, if you rack up a bad social credit score, you can be denied access to a passport or a train ticket to get the heck out of there. Which is pure baloney. There are so many problems with this it defies belief that anyone would propose such a thing. Who says an audience with a congressperson can't be used to shut people out? Punishment would be pretty easy to engineer with such a system, as China (and now Venezuela) have proven. What's more, who determines what good and bad behavior is? How long before some Democrat finds a way to put 'attend a Democratic rally' as a social credit? And how about the creepy potential to enforce conformity? Walking a little old lady across the street will be good for social credit, while walking a little old man across the street won't be listed as creditable, so it won't be long before only little old ladies will get walked across the street. And wouldn't this corrode the very idea of doing charitible acts? Many people do nice things such a volunteer at schools, help old ladies cross the street or give change to bums precisely because they expect nothing in return. They are free of material considerations and that is why they are so nice. That is what sociologists call 'social capital.' To make it about getting something back in return suddenly transforms all charity a calculated business transaction, utterly debasing it. Then there's the corruption potential. How does anyone prove you helped your neighbor mow his lawn? Can't a couple of bucks paid to the neighbor be used to get him to say he got the help so that the recipient can get that million-dollar facetime with that congressman? People look at their options and always game the system. Values vary - a meeting with a congressman might be a very prized thing to a rich lobbyist and utterly worthless to an illegal immigrant family that would like a bag of beans, so the corruption potential is amazing. Let's not even get into the potential for fake social credits and hacking to get them. Yang argues it's not like China's nasty punitive social credit system, but more like 'time banking' as it's practiced in places like Vermont or frequent flyer miles, according to the Daily Caller. But try telling China it set up its system with 'nasty' in mind - its system is, after all, to encourage what the state determines is "good" behavior, too, so it's all good, because the state is always right, right? And surprise, surprise, that country has no social capital, precisely because of this kind of state meddling. Maybe it's all as nice as claimed, as such an idea starts, but the bottom line is, the architecture will be in place for more coercive purposes as Democrats take power. What's more, now that the idea is out there, it will gain traction with other Democrats. Yang is unlikely to make much impact due to his being an unknown, but the reality is, Democrats always glom onto the most extreme ideas out there among their own and make them mainstream. Rest assured, this will be Democratic Party line in time. It sounds like the kind of gee-whiz social manipulation we saw a lot of during the Obama administration, when the latter's political allies, the tech giants reigned supreme. Remember Cass Sunstein's "nudge"? Remember the Obama surveillance state abuses? Remember Google's bowing to Obamadom and manipulating its own product in Obama's favor? Remember Michelle Obama's corruption-plagued, bad-tasting, coercive and skimpy school lunches forced down student athletes' throats? Remember 'No Impact Man' and how his totally "voluntary" acts to reduce his carbon footprint progressively led to blue state legislation such as stealing people's straws at Starbucks? That kind of 'for your own good' state planning always comes to a bad end. It starts out sounding nice, but then new applications get attached to them and suddenly, tech becomes surveillance and tyranny. Green stamps may be a great idea in the private sector, but one only need look at China to recognize that the government shouldn't be allowed to touch this stuff. It's amazing how Democrats just don't learn, or more likely, really want a China- and Cuba-style of socialist intrusion, but don't want to say so. Image credit: Democracy Chronicles, via Flickr // CC BY-SA 2.0 Admissions to elite universities is a zero-sum exercise. Put a thumb on the scale for one group, and you penalize another. Its taken decades to sink in, but a new wave of litigation threatens to expose ugly secrets that the diversity industry would prefer remain beyond the publics gaze. In parallel with the lawsuit against Harvard on behalf of Asian-American applicants, a lawsuit has been filed against the University of California. The lawsuit is seeking admissions data to test the hypothesis that selected minorities are still being favored over Asian-Americans, despite a referendum-passed law forbidding racial discrimination by any agency of the state. Education Dive summarizes the issues: A law professor at the University of California, Los Angeles, filed a lawsuit against the state university system on Thursday to obtain records he believes may show it has given minority students preferential treatment in admissions despite a state law that prohibits the consideration of an applicant's race or ethnicity, The New York Times reported. Richard Sander said he suspects the University of California System may have illegally reintroduced preferential treatment for African-American students in response to public criticism over the group's enrollment rates. He wants access to records about student outcomes, such as selected majors, grades, graduation rates and post-graduate earnings. The system denies that race or ethnicity factor into its admissions decisions. A spokeswoman also said public records law does not cover Sander's request because the university would have to create a customized database to provide him with the information. The article referenced above by Anemona Hartocollis in the New York Times explains that Professor Sander is seeking to update an earlier study for which information was available (without a customized database?). 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 For the past year, he said, the university system has blocked his public records requests for data from the past decade so he can update his studies, even though he has offered to pay for it himself. Professor Sander said he suspected that the system, which serves hundreds of thousands of students, reacted to public pressure over declining African-American enrollment by secretly reintroducing race-conscious admissions. That led to a sharp increase in enrollment for black and Hispanic students from California high schools from 2006 to 2013, he said, and fewer Asian-American and white students. (snip) Professor Sander said that a 2014 report on freshman admissions at U.C.L.A. provided some support for his theory that the university had gone back to using racial preferences. The report, by Robert D. Mare, a sociology professor at U.C.L.A., said that among otherwise equivalent applicants, whites, African Americans and Latinos are overrepresented among those admitted, and Asian-American applicants are underrepresented. The university denies any racial favoritism: A spokeswoman for the California system, Dianne Klein, said on Wednesday that the university system did not consider race in its admissions process. Neither race, ethnicity nor gender factor into U.C.s holistic admissions policy, she said. Ms. Klein added that to comply with the request for the type of data Professor Sander wants, the university system would have to create a customized database. Public records law does not require it to do that, she said. The principal mechanism by which racial preferences could come into effect without any overt evidence would be in the life experience essays that applicants write, and which are heavily weighted. As of my last child applying to UC a decade ago, applicants were asked to describe obstacles that they had overcome, which opens the door to favoring characteristics that differentially affect minorities, including perceived racial or ethnic discrimination. As the Time article notes near the very end: Both the Harvard and the California cases represent a shift in the way affirmative action is perceived. Students for Fair Admissions said affirmative action was used not just to help some racial groups at the expense of whites, but to suppress another minority Asian-Americans. The California case is aimed at exploring whether affirmative action is actually hurting the students it is supposed to help. Thats exactly why there is so much resistance to releasing data. Sometimes the shameless venality of public officials in Illinois is blatant that it is almost amusing. Currently, the state legislature is considering overriding the veto of outgoing Republican Bruce Rauner of a bill that would in effect loot the pension fund for firefighters to increase the take of politicians. Keep in mind that As of fiscal year 2017, Chicagos fire pension fund had less than 21 cents on hand for every dollar owed in benefits, according to the Illinois Policy Institute. The details are: House Bill 5342, a proposal sponsored by state Rep. Robert Martwick, D-Chicago, that would provide an exclusive pension boost to Chicago aldermen who formerly worked for the Chicago Fire Department. The bill would amend the Illinois Pension Code by redefining active fireman under the Chicago Firefighter Article to include former firemen currently serving on the Chicago City Council. Illinois State Capitol (photo credit: Flickr) As they say in Chicago, Yeah, riiiight. Sitting on your butt though council meetings really is exactly like risking your life to fight fires. The reason that the aldermen want on the pension gravy train with more seniority is that those pensions are particularly generous which is why there is not enough money on hand to pay them. The reason those pensions are so high is that the unions were bought off by promises to pay them. Pols traded them for votes. But it was like a Ponzi scheme, with the money running out. And now, the pols have the audacity to grab even more for themselves before it goes bust. Welcome to Illinois.I wish I could say that it is uniquely corrupt, but hey, I live in California. It isjust as bad, but on a bigger scale. A substitute teacher in the Parkway South School District in suburban St. Louis County, Mo. was fired after thanking students for reciting the Pledge of Allegiance. I kid you not. According to the St. Louis Post-Dispatch: A substitute teacher who has taught for years at Parkway South High School claims school administrators banned him from working there after he thanked students for saying the Pledge of Allegiance and a student complained. ... "There are always two or three who don't stand up because it's not required[," Furkin said. "]So at the end of the pledge I said, 'Thanks to all of you that participated in that. I'm sure that all of those families who lost loved ones so that we could enjoy the freedoms we have today would appreciate the effort.'" Furkin said a student asked to go to the school counselor's office, so Furkin wrote the student a pass to go. Later on, he said, a school administrator questioned Furkin about what happened and told him that a student had been "hurt" by what was said after the pledge. ... ["T]he next day after that, I'm no longer welcome in the building." So now, in America, we punish people for good citizenship. It's not enough that these schools do not make students take the Pledge; they aren't even required to stand for it. This used to be basic civics, and a part of public education was teaching kids to love and respect their country. In bygone times, kids actually prayed in public schools; now you cannot even thank children for showing basic respect to their country. School district officials say they fired the teacher for "bullying" his students. The Progressive educrats have been building toward this for some time now. Take this story, where a Colorado teacher was charged with child abuse for forcing a student to stand for the Pledge last February. Or how about this incident in Blue Island, Illinois, from 2017, where a teacher got fired for confronting a student who refused to stand for the Pledge? The Pledge of Allegiance is a pledge of citizenship for Americans. Children used to be made to recite it no matter their or their parents' personal views of this country because it was rightly understood that children needed to be taught the value of their nation. The Pledge is not nationalistic aggrandizement, but merely a pledge of basic loyalty and an acknowledgment of civil society. It's a way to make children understand that there is more than just their immediate self-interest. Strange Hillary and her Progressive buddies claim that "it takes a village" to raise a child, yet they do everything possible to undermine the villagers efforts to inculcate civic virtue. I find it fascinating that the same people who would defend Americans refusing to say the Pledge are the same people who foster alien immigration to this country. When an immigrant becomes a citizen, he takes a pledge that is substantively not at all different from the Pledge of Allegiance made by U.S. citizens. Our Progressive friends are quick to administer the Oath of Citizenship but are slow to defend the Pledge of Allegiance. Now, why is that? Nobody thinks immigrants ill used when they take their pledge. For that matter, why are so many foreigners eager to pledge their allegiance to the United States while so many of our own citizens detest the concept? If America is so terrible, perhaps we should start banning entry to foreign-born. If we build a wall, we would be doing a kindness to the illegal aliens wanting to come here keeps them out of this hellhole that is so unworthy of our allegiance. As Rogers and Hammerstein pointed out in South Pacific, "you have to be carefully taught." What has just happened at Parkway South taught a lesson to the students: that love of country is a bad thing, and anyone who objects to anything can get his way. Firing this teacher did untold damage to the students at this school. It taught them that their country was not worthy of respect. How can a nation teach its young to hate or disrespect their own country and expect to survive? America is splintering under this sort of thing. We will be qualitatively not at all different from the Austro-Hungarian empire if this continues. A nation that refuses to teach her people respect of country is destined for the ash heap of history. I suppose that would suit the Progressives just fine. Read more from Tim and friends at The Aviary www.tbirdnow.mee.nu. At one time, Orange County, California was one of the most Republican counties in the nation. From the 1960s on, it was known as "Reagan country" because the Gipper referred to it as a place where "Good Republicans go to die." Yesterday, AT covered the defeat of Rep. Young Kim, the last Republican congressman to represent Orange County. Associated Press: With Kims defeat, four Republican-held House districts all or partly in Orange County, California, a one-time nationally known GOP stronghold southeast of Los Angeles, will have shifted in one election to the Democratic column. The change means that the county Richard Nixons birthplace and site of his presidential library will only have Democrats representing its residents in Washington next year. Democrats also recently picked up the last Republican-held House seat anchored in Los Angeles County, when Democrat Katie Hill ousted Republican Rep. Steve Knight. With other gains Republicans also lost a seat in the agricultural Central Valley Democrats will hold a 45-8 edge in California U.S. House seats next year. So, California is blue. Big deal, right? Except Orange County used to be a microcasm of GOP strengths; middle and upper middle class suburban whites who cared about home, God, family, and America. Today, demographic changes have changed the political makeup of Orange County. And Republicans haven't met the challenge to appeal to these new voters. Democrats have a lock on the minority vote, but the GOP is also losing badly among college graduates (especially those with advanced degrees), single women, and the young. All of those groups are growing in size as Republicans are getting a smaller share of their votes. And many of them live in the suburbs. Republicans are still strong in the small towns and farms that dot middle America and the south. And they hold a big edge in the upper great plains and mountain west. But former GOP suburban strongholds like Orange County, the collar counties of Chicago, and the periphery of other big cities can no longer be counted on to deliver votes in numbers that offset the urban Democratic vote so vital to winning statewide races. Unless Republicans can find a way to recapture these voters, they will lose the senate in 2020 and would be in danger of losing the presidency. Was the man who who's widely believed to be the next cardinal for the Washington archdiocese, Cardinal Joseph Tobin of Newark, bunking with a houseboy? It looks like it, given the reporting of the indefatigable George Neumayr. I wanted to ask Tobin about a story I broke in October: that an Italian actor, Francesco Castiglione, was living in his rectory, which had caused murmuring among concerned Catholics in his archdiocese of Newark, New Jersey. Some of those concerned Catholics had called me, suspecting that Castiglione was the real recipient of Tobin's infamous accidental tweet from last February in which he declared to someone unknown, "Nighty-Night Baby, I love you." An embarrassed Tobin had explained away the Twitter misfire as a late-night message to one of his sisters. My slippery walk to the Marriott proved productive. I lurked about the Marriott lobby for a few minutes, then looked up and saw Tobin emerge from the elevator and saunter over to the check-out desk. Here was my chance. I waited for him to complete his business, then introduced myself and asked him about Francesco Castiglione. Was Castiglione living at the rectory until I reported it? Tobin responded that, yes, Castiglione was living at his rectory "temporarily." I asked him why. He said that Castiglione was taking "language classes" at Seton Hall. Asked why he would provide temporary housing to a random Seton Hall student, Tobin couldn't offer an explanation. Via another Neumayr tweet, here's an Instagram screengrab of the sexy Italian actor: Here's the guy's IMDB page, which, by its photos, is even more suggestive. Update: Or, well, it was. The photos seem to have been taken down a few minutes ago. Here is a Google screen grab mostly of what had been there: It makes one wonder about the propriety of the whole picture a big distinguished archbishop and cardinal, living it up with a young sexy Italian actor in the same house. Never mind the gay aspect isn't Tobin supposed to be continent? His known love-tweet, uncovered by Neumayr, is rather hard to believe as a misfire to his sister, given the living situation. This matters because Tobin is widely believed to be the next guy to take the archbishop's job in Washington, which has already been in a world of sexual scandal. It's the place that housed Cardinal Theodore McCarrick, who's been credibly accused of molesting the seminarians and, later, children, and who was summarily removed to keep the long arm of the law away. Then it housed Cardinal Donald Wuerl, who was accused of covering up for McCarrick and who was forced to resign for it. Now Tobin is in line for next? Here is what Neumayr tweeted earlier: I hope you are sitting down. According to a source close to the DC chancery, "there is a 75-80 percent chance Tobin" will succeed Wuerl in 3 weeks. The chancery is "preparing" for Tobin, he says. I asked this source: Could raising hell stop it? He thought it worth a shot. George Neumayr (@george_neumayr) October 25, 2018 Seems there really is a lavender mafia, one covering up for another, and in succession, with business as usual going on as it always has. There seems to be a lot going on that has yet to be reported still in the comments sections of Neumayr's tweets, parishioners report that Tobin's first acts as cardinal in New Jersey were to put on gay-friendly cathedral events, which might reveal more about what he's about. Here is an example of the local sentiment on Twitter: Cardinal Tobin to TAS: Yes, the Italian actor Francesco Castiglione Lived at My Rectory https://t.co/HnCzm07FnD pic.twitter.com/opfh7Vt3iM 1Timothy3:15 (@DouayRheims) November 15, 2018 Any questions as to why there seems to be cover-up racket plaguing the Catholic Church? Tobin denies he's going to be the next Washington cardinal, but nobody really knows. Now there is this. YEREVAN, NOVEMBER 16, ARMENPRESS. Armenia and Russia have firm collegial relations that are built on equal rights, mutual trust and respect, caretaker Minister of Foreign Affairs Zohrab Mnatsakanyan told TASS in an interview. Mnatsakanyan said that the two countries are successfully cooperating within the framework of both the EEU and the CSTO, as well as other multilateral arenas. You know very well how busy and dynamic the bilateral Armenian-Russian relations agenda is, which includes the economic, energy, transportation, military-technical, as well as scientific, cultural and educational branches. Cooperation formats exist that enable to specify new directions for deepening our partnership relations, he said. Speaking about his relations with Russian FM Sergey Lavrov, Mnatsakanyan spoke highly about his Russian counterparts experience. The relations that are established between us are in conformity with the strategic nature of the relations of our two countries, Mnatsakanyan said, expressing certainty that he will soon have new opportunities for official contacts with Lavrov. Edited and translated by Stepan Kocharyan In November 2018, during an official ceremony, Ukrainian army has taken delivery of more 70 pieces of new military equipment and combat vehicles as an upgraded version of the T-72 MBT Main Battle Tank, wheeled armored personnel carrier BTR-3, VARTA, Novator and anti-tank missile systems. In November 2018, Ukrainian army has taken delivery of 70 pieces of new military equipment including weapons and combat vehicles (Picture source: UkroboronProm) Ukrainian 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. For many years, the Ukrainian defense industry has developed and manufactured many new military equipment including armored and main battle tanks, naval and aviation equipment, rocket and artillery weapons, air defense systems, communications, and electronic warfare equipment. At the ceremony, the Ukrainian army has received 70 pieces of weapons and military equipment, in particular, modernized T-72 main battle tanks, new BTR-3 Armored Personnel Carriers APCs, high-precision Stugna-P and Korsar anti-tank missile systems, Delta mobile 360-degree radar, newest Varta and Novator wheeled armored vehicles, as well as Ukraine-made 82mm mortars. Ukrainian army T-72K main battle tank (Picture source Ukroboronprom) The T-72 is an old Soviet-made main battle tank, but the Ukrainian defense industry continues to modernize the tank, offering more firepower and protection than the previous versions. The T-72K is fitted with the 'Knife' reactive armor, also called Nozh or Nizh. Knife modules differ from other ERA modules in that they are specifically designed to eliminate or minimize damage to adjacent modules, thus allowing for a 200% to 300% increased effectiveness against multiple weapon impacts, compared to other ERA module designs. The upgraded T-72K is also equipped with digital secure communication and satellite navigation systems. Ukrainian army Korsar anti-tank weapon system (Picture source: Ukroboronprom) The Korsar is a light, portable anti-tank missile system designed and manufactured by Ukrainian state enterprise State Kyiv Design Bureau. The system consists of a transport launching container (TLC) with RK-3 guided missile, missile launcher, and a guidance unit. The optical sight of the Korsar anti-tank weapon system is fitted with an 8x magnified view used for observation and aiming. The semi-automatic laser beam allows the operator to aim at the targets located at a distance ranging between 100m and 2.5km. The anti-tank guided missile of the Korsar can destroy targets up to a range of 2.5 km and has a maximum flight time of 13 seconds at the maximum range. Ukrainian army Stugna-P anti-tank weapon system (Picture source Ukroboronprom) The Stugna-P is an anti-tank missile system designed and manufactured in Ukraine. Stugna-P has been developed by Kiev-based Luch design bureau to compete with foreign models of the same class. The Stugna-P is able to destroy low-altitude, slow-moving aerial targets. The laser-guided system has a range of 4,000 meters and can penetrate armor up to 800 millimeters thick. The operating temperature range is from - 40 to +60. Stugna-P is able to destroy armored targets on all terrain condition in various climatic conditions at a distance of 100 to 4,000 meters. Ukrainian army VARTA 4x4 wheeled armoured vehicle personnel carrier. (Picture source Ukroboronprom) The VARTA is a 4x4 wheeled armored vehicle designed and manufactured by Ukrainian Armour Company. The vehicle is designed to be used as an APC (Armored Personnel Carrier). It can carry 10 military personnel including driver and commander, as well as 8 infantrymen. The VARTA is based on a MAZ-5434 4x4 military truck chassis. It can run at a maximum speed of 110 km/h with a maximum cruising range of 600 km in road conditions and 400 km off-road. The hull of the vehicle is protected against 7.62 mm caliber armor piercing incendiary bullets. VARTA utilizes a V-shape bottom structure and anti-mine seats, providing crew protection to withstand detonation of charges up to 6 kg of TNT. Ukrainian army Novator 4x4 wheeled armoured personnel carrier (Picture source: Ukroboronprom) The Novator is a 4x4 armored vehicle personnel carrier also designed and manufactured by the Company Ukrainian armor. The vehicle was designed to be used for different types of missions as surveillance and reconnaissance, border patrolling, special missions, medical evacuation and more. The Novator is based on a Ford F550 chassis which can accommodate up to five equipped soldiers. It has a length of 5.80 m, a width of 2.405 m and a height of 2.164 m for a gross vehicle weight of 9,000 kg, including a payload capacity of up to 1,000 kg. 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. Success! An email has been sent to with a link to confirm list signup. AMG EV With Zuffenhausen currently preparing to introduce its next-generation machines, the German engineers have recently taken to the Ring to put their upcoming go-fast machines to the test.And, thanks to the piece of footage at the bottom of the page, we can show you the 992-generation Porsche 911, as well as the Taycan, doing their thing on the infamous German circuit.In fact, the two even crossed paths at certain points, as, for instance, you can check out a chase at the 4:22 point of the clip. Speaking of which, the 4:45 clips allows you to listen to the soundtrack of the 2020 Porsche 911 DSG gearbox - the generation means we'll get an eight-speed setup.As for more info on the next-gen Neunelfer, you can find this here . Note that the Neunelfer is expected to make its debut later this month, as the Los Angeles Auto Show.The video also brings us other spicy moments, as it involves the upcoming Mercedes-A45 (you'll find this at the 2:08 and 3:58 points), as well as the record-setting 2018 Porsche 911 GT2 RS MR When it comes to the Taycan, the production version of the Mission E has now entered its advanced testing stages. The prototype seen here is the standard version of the Porsche Taycan, if we might call theso, but a Sport Turismo version of the prototype has also been spied. Note that the German automotive producer has already confirmed that this shooting brake version will enter production alongside the hatchback version.And you'll find more info on the first production Porsche electric car here. Expect the Taycan to make its debut late next year. The House race for California's 39th district has been called for Democrat Gil Cisneros over Young Kim, who was vying to become the first Korean-American woman in Congress and Republicans' last hope to keep a seat in Orange County. It is the 39th House seat that Democrats flipped this year. The big picture: Democrats dominated congressional races in the state this year, flipping six seats with four of them in traditionally red Orange County. The seat had been held by Republican Ed Royce for 13 terms. For the first time in 29 years, the U.S. and China failed to reach a closing declaration at the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit, underscoring the severity of tensions between the world's two largest economies, reports the AP. The big picture: During the two-day summit in Papua New Guinea, Vice President Mike Pence attending in place of President Trump repeatedly criticized China for its hostile trade practices and warned developing nations of falling into a "debt trap" through China's generous infrastructure loans. Chinese President Xi Jinping, meanwhile, used his speech to condemn protectionism and unilateralism in a slight to the Trump administration. Trump and Xi are expected to meet at the G20 in Buenos Aires later this month amid their ongoing trade war and the Trump administration's government-wide effort to paint China as a bogeyman. Belief in democracy is eroding across Latin America, where 71% are dissatisfied with how democracy works and only half believe it's the best form of government, according to a Latinobarometro survey of 18 countries published by the Economist. By the numbers: 15% believe authoritarianism is best, while 28% are neutral up from 16% in 2010. Satisfaction with democracy is lowest in Brazil, which just elected far-right firebrand Jair Bolsonaro, who has expressed admiration of military dictators. Confidence in government and the courts is low. "Only the armed forces and the church, powerful institutions before the advent of mass democracy, retain much respect." Faith in democracy is higher in countries where it is being dismantled (Venezuela, Nicaragua) and those where it has brought relative prosperity (Uruguay, Costa Rica, Chile). It is lowest in Guatemala, Honduras and El Salvador. How we got here: Economic growth has slowed and concerns about safety have grown. So too has outrage over corruption. What to watch: "The young are more skeptical than the old, which bodes ill for democracys future." Go deeper: In an interview with Chris Wallace for "Fox News Sunday," President Trump talked about some of the biggest topics of the day from the murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi to his fiery press rhetoric to the palace intrigue engulfing his own White House. Driving the news: Trump was hesitant to discuss the prospects of two of his most at-risk advisers, Chief of Staff John Kelly and DHS Secretary Kirstjen Nielsen, damning both with faint praise while remaining noncommittal about their future in his Cabinet. He said, "Lets see what happens. I have not look, I have three or four or five positions that Im thinking about. Of that, maybe its going to end up being two. Maybe, but I want to I need flexibility." On Nielsen: "I like her very much, I respect her very much, Id like her to be much tougher on the border much tougher, period." "I like her very much, I respect her very much, Id like her to be much tougher on the border much tougher, period." On Kelly: Well, we I wouldnt look, we get along well. There are certain things I love what he does. And there are certain things that I dont like that he does that arent his strength. Its not that he doesnt do, you know, he works so hard. Hes doing an excellent job in many ways. There are a couple of things where its just not his strength. Its not his fault, its not his strength." The big picture: As Axios' Jonathan Swan reported last week: We still don't know when, or even if, Kelly is getting replaced. That's why Axios hasn't written a single story saying he's gone. Trump addressed whether he thought Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman played a role in the murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi: "Well, will anybody really know? All right, will anybody really know? But he did have certainly people that were reasonably close to him and close to him that were probably involved. You saw we put on very heavy sanctions, massive sanctions on a large group of people from Saudi Arabia. But at the same time, we do have an ally and I want to stick with an ally that in many ways has been very good." He also said he hadn't heard the audio tape of Khashoggi's murder: "Because its a suffering tape, its a terrible tape. ... I know exactly, I know everything that went on in the tape without having to hear it." Asked about criticism from retired Navy Admiral William McRaven, who served for more than 37 years and organized the Osama bin Laden raid, about his statements on the press, Trump turned fiery: "OK, hes a Hillary Clinton backer and an Obama backer and frankly ... wouldnt it have been nice if we got Osama bin Laden a lot sooner than that, wouldnt it have been nice?" Wallace pressed Trump on the fact that he hadn't yet visited American troops in war zones in the Middle East something his predecessors had done. "Well, I think you will see that happen. There are things that are being planned. We dont want to talk about it because of, obviously, because of security reasons and everything else. ... Ive had an unbelievable busy schedule, and I will be doing it. On top of which you have these phony witch hunts. On top of which I mean, weve just been very busy. But I will be doing that." Trump graded his presidency thus far, citing his North Korea summit as a breakthrough achievement. "I would give myself, I would look, I hate to do it, but I will do it, I would give myself an A+, is that enough? Can I go higher than that?" Go deeper: President Trump will hold a crucial meeting this week with his top national security and foreign policy advisers to discuss both the details of the White House's Israeli-Palestinian peace plan and the timing for its release, U.S. officials told me. The big picture: The White House's "peace team," led by senior adviser Jared Kushner and special envoy Jason Greenblatt, has been working on the plan for the last two years. It's now basically ready, and Trump has said he wants it published sometime between December and February. But U.S. officials said the current political crisis in Israel and the imminent announcement on early elections in the country will play a role in any decision Trump makes regarding the plan's release. Details: The meeting was scheduled a month ago, and sources briefed on the issue told me the "peace team" has been preparing its content for a few weeks. Senior advisers like Kushner, Greenblatt and national security adviser John Bolton will attend the meeting as will Secretary of State Mike Pompeo or another senior State Department official. David Friedman, the U.S. ambassador to Israel, flew to Washington this weekend for the meeting. The White House declined to comment on this story. The meeting will cover the most updated details of the plan but is set to focus even more on the timing and manner of its launch, according to U.S. officials. Trump wants to present the plan soon, but his advisers favor a more cautious approach and have differing opinions regarding the best timing. The sit-down was set long before the political crisis that erupted in Israel a week ago, but the possibility of early elections there will be a key factor in the discussion. Some of Trump's advisers think releasing the plan during an election campaign in Israel would be a mistake. A Trump administration official told me Friedman thinks the White House should wait until after the election to prevent it from becoming a referendum on the plan. Go deeper: Images | Associated Press Health Minister Alexei Tsoi commented on the construction of a laboratory in the Zhambyl region for especially dangerous strains of viruses, Kazpravda.kz reports. According to him, at the moment this issue is being developed in the department. In addition, Tsoi noted that any laboratories that are in the state are fully controlled by Kazakhstan. At the moment, the issue of financing at the expense of the state is being worked out. There is a question of profitability," the minister replied. At the same time, he did not name the exact amount required for the construction. When asked why Kazakhstan needs such a facility, Tsoi cited as an example a laboratory already existing in the country, which has a third level of biosafety. We have a BSL-3 laboratory that studies virus strains like COVID. The presence of such a laboratory allowed us to quickly develop a vaccine, diagnostics, in order to respond to these strains. In an ordinary laboratory, it is impossible to deal with dangerous strains, as they are infectious," explained Tsoi. In such laboratories there are certain conditions - protective suits, special air treatment for the safety of people working inside. Therefore, this issue is being studied. At the moment we have such a laboratory, on the basis of it we have developed the QazVac vaccine," concluded the Minister of Health. In Kazakhstan, public discussions have ended on a draft government decree, according to which the republic wants to build a laboratory for especially dangerous strains of viruses in the fourth quarter of 2025. According to the document, the laboratory will appear in the village Gvardeisky in the Zhambyl region. The full name of the facility sounds like this: BSL-4 laboratory and underground storage for a collection of dangerous and highly dangerous strains. The laboratory is expected to study in depth pathogens that cause serious and fatal diseases for which there are no vaccines and treatments available. By Abdul Kerimkhanov Croatia is interested in creating joint ventures (JV) with Azerbaijan in various fields, Charges d'affaires ad interim of Croatian embassy in Azerbaijan Branko Zebic told Trend. He believes that creation of JVs can ensure greater bilateral cooperation in the future. "The two countries have potential to create joint ventures in such spheres as pharmaceutical industry, building shipyards and vessels, which Croatia produces and has already sold to Azerbaijan, as well as IT, construction, science and technologies," Zebic said. He further noted the importance of cooperation between the two countries in the field of agriculture, transfer of know-how and in ports industry. Zebic recalled that two countries signed a memorandum of understanding on cooperation between the ministries of agriculture of Azerbaijan and Croatia in September. He went on to say that first of all, Croatia would like to attract Azerbaijani investments in the sphere of energy and tourism. As for the business environment in Croatia, the diplomat said that his country meets European standards and is constantly improving it to create favorable conditions for foreign investors. "We hope that the business environment of Croatia will be attractive for Azerbaijani investors," added Zebich. He said that this is the only Croatian embassy in the South Caucasus region. The purpose of opening the embassy in Azerbaijan is to develop energy cooperation, promote investments in both directions, connect people, he said. In one of the interviews, president of Croatia Kolinda Grabar-Kitarovic said that economic cooperation with Croatia can develop in several areas: growth in commodity exchange through joint bodies that promote economic cooperation (Joint Intergovernmental Commission for Economic Cooperation); opening up space for investments, particularly in the sector of energy and tourism; and increasing the number of tourists. Earlier, she also said that Croatia can share experience in the pharmaceutical and energy sectors and in other areas. In this regard, the Croatian president noted that a joint venture between Croatia and Azerbaijan could be established by companies of the two countries. Thanks to this, pharmaceutical companies will have an opportunity to enter Central Asia and, in general, the region of the Caspian basin, and in addition, they can operate in Azerbaijan. At the same time, an important work in the shipbuilding industry is being carried out. Azerbaijan and Croatia held a discussion on six vessels. Grabar-Kitarovic expressed hope that the negotiations between the two countries in this regard will continue. Azerbaijan has established a model of strategic cooperation with Croatia, a member of the EU. The parties are determined to further develop relations in all spheres. Data from Azerbaijan's State Customs Committee shows that trade turnover between Azerbaijan and Croatia amounted to $105.1 million in January-October 2017. --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz By Trend Azerbaijan will present a note of protest to the US for issuing a visa to Bako Saakyan, Azerbaijans Foreign Ministry said in a statement. "According to the mass media reports Bako Saakyan, the so-called leader of the separatist regime created in the Azerbaijani territories occupied by Armenia traveled to the United States of America. Entering of the representative of illegal regime to the USA and allowing the promotion of the separatist regime in the US contradicts the commitments of this state as the co-chair of the OSCE Minsk Group, as well as the numerously stated official position of the United States on non-recognition of the separatist regime. This step also damages the negotiation process over the settlement of the conflict," the statement reads. The ministry said that providing of visa by the United States to the representatives of the separatist regime raises serious questions about the visa procedures of the USA. It is very strange that the liberalization of the US governments approach to visa issuance is applied only to the leadership of the separatist regime created in the occupied territories of Azerbaijan and not other illegal entities of the former Soviet Union." "Individual sanctions should be applied with regard to such war criminals, persons involved in the occupation of the Azerbaijani territories and ethnic cleansing of the hundreds of thousands of Azerbaijanis," the ministry said. "Such steps serving to promotion of the illegal separatist regime raise questions on sincerity of the USA in its relations with Azerbaijan. Strong protest of Azerbaijan will be presented to the US through diplomatic channels," the statement reads. The conflict between the two South Caucasus countries began in 1988 when Armenia made territorial claims against Azerbaijan. As a result of the ensuing war, in 1992 Armenian armed forces occupied 20 percent of Azerbaijan, including the Nagorno-Karabakh region and seven surrounding districts. The 1994 ceasefire agreement was followed by peace negotiations. Armenia has not yet implemented four UN Security Council resolutions on withdrawal of its armed forces from the Nagorno-Karabakh and the surrounding districts. --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz By Trend Maintaining public order, not political affiliation is the main criterion for police, said Azerbaijani Presidents Assistant for Public and Political Affairs Ali Hasanov. On November 17, leaders and members of Azerbaijani Popular Front Party as well as a group of activists of several other political organizations attempted to stage an unauthorized rally-march at the Alley of Martyrs on the occasion of the National Revival Day. As is known, it is prohibited to stage any mass event unauthorized by an appropriate executive body at places defined by the laws of the Republic of Azerbaijan, including places where official protocol events are held. However, despite the prohibition by law and several warnings, a group of activities with the organization and direct participation of leaders of the aforementioned organizations attempted to enter the territory of the Alley of Martyrs and stage a political event, he said. The Presidential Assistant said that the event participants disregarded demands of law enforcement employees, who were trying to prevent the illegal mass event, and even put up resistance to police. As a result, 52 participants of the event were detained and taken to Sabayil District Police Station. After the case was investigated, police cautions were issued to 41 persons and they were released. 11 organizers and main participants of the event remain in custody and material about them was submitted to a court for consideration. I would like to note with regret that some local and foreign media, including social networks spread unchecked, biased and one-sided information on what happened, wrongly labeling the event as restriction of human rights and freedoms, including the freedom of assembly, freedom of speech and information, and political pluralism. I would like to reiterate that the law enforcement bodies tackled as required by law the illegal attempt to stage a rally and this has nothing to do with the violation of human rights and freedoms. It is maintenance of public order, not the issue of political affiliation which is the main criterion for police, Ali Hasanov added. --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz By Trend A Video Link Conference was held at the Embassy of Republic of Uzbekistan in Islamabad on Saturday between the Uzbekistan Chamber of Commerce and Industry and the members of Uzbekistan-Pakistan Business Council (UPBC), Pakistan's Dispatch News Desk agency reported. More than 50 representatives from the business community of Islamabad and Rawalpindi attended the meeting. The speakers from both the sides expressed their enthusiasm and keen interest in exploring and exploiting the business opportunities existing in Pakistan and Uzbekistan and also the investment opportunities in the fields of textile, information technology, hospitality/tourism, agriculture and agricultural machinery, raw construction material mainly cement industry, and mutual exchange of students in academic programs. The Uzbek Ambassador Furqat Sidikov expressed his enthusiasm regarding the development of new firms and companies in Uzbekistan which will help to foster smooth and good trade relations between Uzbekistan and Pakistan via importing/exporting the goods through Afghanistan. The UPBC Deputy President Khalid Taimur highlighted the major activities/events of the Uzbek-Pakistani Business Council to improve the business environment and development of entrepreneurship in Pakistan and Uzbekistan. The Chairman of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of the Republic of Uzbekistan as well as the Chairman of the UPBC Adkham Ikramov highlighted the activities of the Uzbek-Pakistan Business Council and reforms in Uzbekistan to improve the business environment and the development of entrepreneurship in the republic. The Head of Department of Export Support Fund for Small Businesses and Private Entrepreneurship under the National Bank of Uzbekistan Shohruh Alikhanov presented on the prospects for the development of bilateral trade and economic cooperation between Uzbekistan and Pakistan. --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz Liberal Democrat Blog of the Year 2014 "Well written, funny and wistful" - Paul Linford; "He is indeed the Lib Dem blogfather" - Stephen Tall "Jonathan Calder holds his end up well in the competitive world of the blogosphere" - New Statesman "A prominent Liberal Democrat blogger" - BBC Radio 4 Today; "One of my favourite blogs" - Stumbling and Mumbling; "Charming and younger than I expected" - Wartime Housewife The name Five Below says it all for Bakersfield shopper Brianna Jones. What's not to like about a store filled with items priced around $5 or less? Northern Ireland's business groups have come together to give a cautious welcome to the proposed Brexit withdrawal agreement. The positive opinions of senior representatives of the business community on the prospects for a Brexit deal are an important corrective to the easy but misleading voices of the politicians. The latter have not appreciated the careful and considered drafting of the deal to minimise and make the impact of Brexit acceptable. For many businesses, the deal now on the table achieves what has seemed an illusory outcome: the best of both worlds. Northern Ireland businesses have been slow to state the gains and/or risks that they are facing. Quietly, senior managers have been well aware of the risks of no deal - the fear of the cliff edge of red tape, customs tariffs and a very segmented market place. There has been a greater understanding of the motivation, for Northern Ireland-based businesses and businesses based in the Republic of Ireland, of the UK and EU negotiators' efforts to minimise the scale of economic disruption that might come with a harsh, ill-considered Brexit. The local business organisations accept that the draft deal is 'by no means perfect'. However, it is 'a welcome step forward'. As an initial assessment this is encouraging and counters some of the misplaced hectoring. Managers who want to see the economy protected deserve to be allowed to influence decisions that will affect jobs, living standards and skills. Their collective voice is a critical addition to the democratic processes. Accepting the deal now proposed by the UK and EU will provide a working base on which businesses can plan more sensibly for production, exports, investment and greater innovation. The nature of Brexit means that some of the threats to business and employment will remain, but the threats will be much smaller. The relative attractions of a business based in Ireland, relative to the UK, have been enhanced by the very process of Brexit. However, a managed deal, minimising or removing a trade and services border on this island, will be an important partial corrective. There is a price to secure the best of both worlds for Northern Ireland. Goods exported from Northern Ireland to GB would proceed as now. Goods exported from Northern Ireland to anywhere in the EU of 27 states would be accepted as from within the internal EU market, so long as they met the regulatory standards of the EU. Starting in 2018/19, those regulatory standards already apply. Change in those standards is a considered and infrequent event. For most exporters this commitment - admittedly to standards reviewed by the EU - will be modest and well publicised. With straightforward anticipation, Northern Ireland exporters will have the advantage of tariff-free access to GB and the EU. The so-called border in the Irish Sea will be a series of some checks that goods landed in Northern Ireland, with acceptable UK standards - but lacking EU standards - do not find a 'back-door' into the EU through the Republic of Ireland. The extra degree of business administration as envisaged by the UK-EU deal should be small and very acceptable as a method of protecting Northern Ireland business. The business organisations have now made a clear and overdue statement that the draft UK-EU deal is a worthwhile compromise. John Simpson is an economist Press Eye - Belfast - Northern Ireland - 16th November 2018 Belfast Telegraph Property Awards 2018 in the Crowne Plaza, Belfast. 14. Commercial Estate Agency of the Year Presenting Award: Mark Blair, Partner, A&L Goodbody Winner: Lisney Highly Commended: Osborne King L-R Pamela Ballantine, Declan Flynn and Mark Blair. Photo by Kelvin Boyes / Press Eye. Press Eye - Belfast - Northern Ireland - 16th November 2018 Belfast Telegraph Property Awards 2018 in the Crowne Plaza, Belfast. 11. Best Property Management Company Presenting Award: John McMahon, Managing Director of Keystone Law Winner: Simon Brien Residential Highly Commended: Gordon Estates Management L-R Pamela Ballantine, John McMahon, Rory Gibson and Thomas O'Doherty. Photo by Kelvin Boyes / Press Eye. Press Eye - Belfast - Northern Ireland - 16th November 2018 Belfast Telegraph Property Awards 2018 in the Crowne Plaza, Belfast. 13. Residential Lettings Agency of the Year Presenting Award: Michael Wilson, Associate for TLT Winner: Pinpoint Property Ltd L-R Pamela Ballantine, Nicholas Brennan and Michael Wilson. Photo by Kelvin Boyes / Press Eye. Press Eye - Belfast - Northern Ireland - 16th November 2018 Belfast Telegraph Property Awards 2018 in the Crowne Plaza, Belfast. 14. Commercial Estate Agency of the Year Presenting Award: Mark Blair, Partner, A&L Goodbody Winner: Lisney Highly Commended: Osborne King L-R Pamela Ballantine, Declan Flynn and Mark Blair. Photo by Kelvin Boyes / Press Eye. Press Eye - Belfast - Northern Ireland - 16th November 2018 Belfast Telegraph Property Awards 2018 in the Crowne Plaza, Belfast. 15. Residential Estate Agency of the Year (Sole Branch) Presenting Award: Graeme Norris, Regional Manager, Progressive Building Society Winner: Colin Graham Residential Highly Commended: Rodgers & Finney L-R Pamela Ballantine, Graeme Norris and Colin Graham. Photo by Kelvin Boyes / Press Eye. Press Eye - Belfast - Northern Ireland - 16th November 2018 Belfast Telegraph Property Awards 2018 in the Crowne Plaza, Belfast. 8. Young Agent of the Year Presenting Award: Anna-Marie McAlinden, Director of Mills Selig Winner: Natasha Rodgers - Rodgers & Finney Highly Commended: Jordana Stoney - John Minnis Estate Agents L-R Pamela Ballantine, Anna-Marie McAlinden and Natasha Rodgers. Photo by Kelvin Boyes / Press Eye. Press Eye - Belfast - Northern Ireland - 16th November 2018 Belfast Telegraph Property Awards 2018 in the Crowne Plaza, Belfast. 9. Innovative Use of Smarthome Technology Presenting Award: James Burleigh Commercial Manager of Openreach Northern Ireland Winner: Portland 88 by Barnett Developments L-R Pamela Ballantine, Ryan Dougan, Guil Nascimento, and James Burleigh. Photo by Kelvin Boyes / Press Eye. Press Eye - Belfast - Northern Ireland - 16th November 2018 Belfast Telegraph Property Awards 2018 in the Crowne Plaza, Belfast. 10. Best Property Marketing of the Year Presenting Award: Brian Barrett, Managing Director, Barrett Group Winner: Hagan Homes L-R Pamela Ballantine, John Toner, Jim Burke and Brian Barrett. Photo by Kelvin Boyes / Press Eye. Press Eye - Belfast - Northern Ireland - 16th November 2018 Belfast Telegraph Property Awards 2018 in the Crowne Plaza, Belfast. 6. Architectural Practice of the Year (Residential) Presenting Award: Ben Turtle, Director of Savills Winner: BGA Architects Ltd L-R Pamela Ballantine, John Lavery and Ben Turtle. Photo by Kelvin Boyes / Press Eye. Press Eye - Belfast - Northern Ireland - 16th November 2018 Belfast Telegraph Property Awards 2018 in the Crowne Plaza, Belfast. 7. Young Architect of the Year Presenting Award: David and Daniel McIlroy, RTU Winner: Fergal Rainey - McGurk Architects Ltd Highly Commended: Jonathan Spence - Doherty Architects L-R Pamela Ballantine, David McIlroy and Fergal Rainey. Photo by Kelvin Boyes / Press Eye. Press Eye - Belfast - Northern Ireland - 16th November 2018 Belfast Telegraph Property Awards 2018 in the Crowne Plaza, Belfast. 12. Residential Development of the Year Presenting Award: Clare Stokes, Corporate Banking Manager, First Trust Bank Winner: Lotus Homes L-R Pamela Ballantine, Samantha Shannon, Paul O'Rourke and Clare Stokes. Photo by Kelvin Boyes / Press Eye. Press Eye - Belfast - Northern Ireland - 16th November 2018 Belfast Telegraph Property Awards 2018 in the Crowne Plaza, Belfast. 3. Award: Commercial Development of the Year Presenting Award: Dawson McConkey, Partner and Head of Real Estate of Carson McDowell Winner: Karl Asset Management Highly Commended: Lacuna Developments L-R Pamela Ballantine, Aran Blackbourne, Simon Moon and Dawson McConkey. Photo by Kelvin Boyes / Press Eye. Press Eye - Belfast - Northern Ireland - 16th November 2018 Paul McErlean and Professor Alastair Adair pictured at the Belfast Telegraph Property Awards 2018 in the Crowne Plaza, Belfast. Photo by Kelvin Boyes / Press Eye. Press Eye - Belfast - Northern Ireland - 16th November 2018 The team from Hagan Homes pictured at the Belfast Telegraph Property Awards 2018 in the Crowne Plaza, Belfast. Photo by Kelvin Boyes / Press Eye. Press Eye - Belfast - Northern Ireland - 16th November 2018 Belfast Telegraph Property Awards 2018 in the Crowne Plaza, Belfast. 2. Award: Best Interior Design of the Year Presenting Award: Mark Corry, Marketing Manager of Harry Corry Winner: Atelier Interior Design L-R Pamela Ballantine, Mark Corry, James Fairley and Victor Branco Photo by Kelvin Boyes / Press Eye. Press Eye - Belfast - Northern Ireland - 16th November 2018 Belfast Telegraph Property Awards 2018 in the Crowne Plaza, Belfast. 2. Award: Best Interior Design of the Year Presenting Award: Mark Corry, Marketing Manager of Harry Corry Winner: Atelier Interior Design L-R Pamela Ballantine, Mark Corry, James Fairley and Victor Branco Photo by Kelvin Boyes / Press Eye. Press Eye - Belfast - Northern Ireland - 16th November 2018 Belfast Telegraph Property Awards 2018 in the Crowne Plaza, Belfast. 1. Award: Commercial Fit-Out of the Year Presenting Award: Billy Wallace, Managing Partner and Chairman of WH Stephens Winner: RPP Architects Ltd Highly Commended: McCue Crafted Fit L-R Pamela Ballantine, Mark Higgins, Harry McConnell and Billy Wallace. Photo by Kelvin Boyes / Press Eye. Press Eye - Belfast - Northern Ireland - 16th November 2018 Belfast Telegraph Property Awards 2018 in the Crowne Plaza, Belfast. 4. Property Deal of the Year Presenting Award: Neil Logan, Wilson Nesbitt Winner: Simon Brien Residential Highly Commended: Savills L-R Pamela Ballantine, Simon Brien and Neil Logan. Photo by Kelvin Boyes / Press Eye. Press Eye - Belfast - Northern Ireland - 16th November 2018 Shauna Hammond and Ciara Mathews pictured at the Belfast Telegraph Property Awards 2018 in the Crowne Plaza, Belfast. Photo by Kelvin Boyes / Press Eye. Press Eye - Belfast - Northern Ireland - 16th November 2018 Bethany Telford, Jill McCormick, Gary Adair and Sian Wells pictured at the Belfast Telegraph Property Awards 2018 in the Crowne Plaza, Belfast. Photo by Kelvin Boyes / Press Eye. Press Eye - Belfast - Northern Ireland - 16th November 2018 Kevin Caldwell, Gail Walker and Anne Smyth pictured at the Belfast Telegraph Property Awards 2018 in the Crowne Plaza, Belfast. Photo by Kelvin Boyes / Press Eye. Press Eye - Belfast - Northern Ireland - 16th November 2018 Shauna Hammond and Ciara Mathews pictured at the Belfast Telegraph Property Awards 2018 in the Crowne Plaza, Belfast. Photo by Kelvin Boyes / Press Eye. Press Eye - Belfast - Northern Ireland - 16th November 2018 The CPS team pictured at the Belfast Telegraph Property Awards 2018 in the Crowne Plaza, Belfast. Photo by Kelvin Boyes / Press Eye. Press Eye - Belfast - Northern Ireland - 16th November 2018 Kevin Caldwell, Anne Smyth, Sarah Little and Mark Corry pictured at the Belfast Telegraph Property Awards 2018 in the Crowne Plaza, Belfast. Photo by Kelvin Boyes / Press Eye. Press Eye - Belfast - Northern Ireland - 16th November 2018 James Fairley and Victor Branco pictured at the Belfast Telegraph Property Awards 2018 in the Crowne Plaza, Belfast. Photo by Kelvin Boyes / Press Eye. Press Eye - Belfast - Northern Ireland - 16th November 2018 Mary Kim Doherty, Emma Cooper and Barbara Creed pictured at the Belfast Telegraph Property Awards 2018 in the Crowne Plaza, Belfast. Photo by Kelvin Boyes / Press Eye. Press Eye - Belfast - Northern Ireland - 16th November 2018 Sarah Little, Paul McErlean and Karen McGarvey pictured at the Belfast Telegraph Property Awards 2018 in the Crowne Plaza, Belfast. Photo by Kelvin Boyes / Press Eye. Press Eye - Belfast - Northern Ireland - 16th November 2018 Templeton Robinson directors and staff pictured at the Belfast Telegraph Property Awards 2018 in the Crowne Plaza, Belfast. Photo by Kelvin Boyes / Press Eye. Press Eye - Belfast - Northern Ireland - 16th November 2018 Carine Fullerton, Julie-Ann Murphy, Kelly Porter and Lynn Taylor pictured at the Belfast Telegraph Property Awards 2018 in the Crowne Plaza, Belfast. Photo by Kelvin Boyes / Press Eye. Press Eye - Belfast - Northern Ireland - 16th November 2018 Carine Fullerton, Julie-Ann Murphy, Kelly Porter and Lynn Taylor pictured at the Belfast Telegraph Property Awards 2018 in the Crowne Plaza, Belfast. Photo by Kelvin Boyes / Press Eye. Press Eye - Belfast - Northern Ireland - 16th November 2018 Ian Craig, Andrew Frazer and Ciaran McGivern pictured at the Belfast Telegraph Property Awards 2018 in the Crowne Plaza, Belfast. Photo by Kelvin Boyes / Press Eye. Press Eye - Belfast - Northern Ireland - 16th November 2018 Clare and John Lavery pictured at the Belfast Telegraph Property Awards 2018 in the Crowne Plaza, Belfast. Photo by Kelvin Boyes / Press Eye. Press Eye - Belfast - Northern Ireland - 16th November 2018 Clare and John Lavery pictured at the Belfast Telegraph Property Awards 2018 in the Crowne Plaza, Belfast. Photo by Kelvin Boyes / Press Eye. Press Eye - Belfast - Northern Ireland - 16th November 2018 Graham Pierce, Catherine Cooney, Celia Worthington, Alan Nappin and John Gilmartin pictured at the Belfast Telegraph Property Awards 2018 in the Crowne Plaza, Belfast. Photo by Kelvin Boyes / Press Eye. Press Eye - Belfast - Northern Ireland - 16th November 2018 Mary Kim Doherty, Emma Cooper and Barbara Creed pictured at the Belfast Telegraph Property Awards 2018 in the Crowne Plaza, Belfast. Photo by Kelvin Boyes / Press Eye. Press Eye - Belfast - Northern Ireland - 16th November 2018 Fergal Rooney and Colm McGurk pictured at the Belfast Telegraph Property Awards 2018 in the Crowne Plaza, Belfast. Photo by Kelvin Boyes / Press Eye. Press Eye - Belfast - Northern Ireland - 16th November 2018 Ian Craig, Andrew Frazer and Ciaran McGivern pictured at the Belfast Telegraph Property Awards 2018 in the Crowne Plaza, Belfast. Photo by Kelvin Boyes / Press Eye. Press Eye - Belfast - Northern Ireland - 16th November 2018 Curtis Barrett, Heather Barrett, Brian Barrett and David Startin pictured at the Belfast Telegraph Property Awards 2018 in the Crowne Plaza, Belfast. Photo by Kelvin Boyes / Press Eye. Press Eye - Belfast - Northern Ireland - 16th November 2018 Petra and Bill Wolsey pictured at the Belfast Telegraph Property Awards 2018 in the Crowne Plaza, Belfast. Photo by Kelvin Boyes / Press Eye. Press Eye - Belfast - Northern Ireland - 16th November 2018 Michael and Nicole McKervey pictured at the Belfast Telegraph Property Awards 2018 in the Crowne Plaza, Belfast. Photo by Kelvin Boyes / Press Eye. Press Eye - Belfast - Northern Ireland - 16th November 2018 Glynis Hobson, Mark Graham and Victoria Dunne pictured at the Belfast Telegraph Property Awards 2018 in the Crowne Plaza, Belfast. Photo by Kelvin Boyes / Press Eye. Press Eye - Belfast - Northern Ireland - 16th November 2018 Fergal Rooney and Colm McGurk pictured at the Belfast Telegraph Property Awards 2018 in the Crowne Plaza, Belfast. Photo by Kelvin Boyes / Press Eye. Press Eye - Belfast - Northern Ireland - 16th November 2018 Helmut Elstnar, Claire Martin, Graeme Morris, Marina McBride and Kevin Flanner pictured at the Belfast Telegraph Property Awards 2018 in the Crowne Plaza, Belfast. Photo by Kelvin Boyes / Press Eye. Press Eye - Belfast - Northern Ireland - 16th November 2018 Gemma McStravick, Julie McBride, Kevin Caldwell, Una Lavery, Davcid Fusco, Anne Smyth and Paddy McKarney pictured at the Belfast Telegraph Property Awards 2018 in the Crowne Plaza, Belfast. Photo by Kelvin Boyes / Press Eye. Press Eye - Belfast - Northern Ireland - 16th November 2018 Colin and Jayne Logan pictured at the Belfast Telegraph Property Awards 2018 in the Crowne Plaza, Belfast. Photo by Kelvin Boyes / Press Eye. Press Eye - Belfast - Northern Ireland - 16th November 2018 Stephen Gray and John Minnis pictured at the Belfast Telegraph Property Awards 2018 in the Crowne Plaza, Belfast. Photo by Kelvin Boyes / Press Eye. Press Eye - Belfast - Northern Ireland - 16th November 2018 Fiona Hutchinson, Chris Millar and Sonia Millar pictured at the Belfast Telegraph Property Awards 2018 in the Crowne Plaza, Belfast. Photo by Kelvin Boyes / Press Eye. Press Eye - Belfast - Northern Ireland - 16th November 2018 Fiona Rice, Sandra McCullough, Julie Atkinson, Samantha Shannon and Naomi Traynor pictured at the Belfast Telegraph Property Awards 2018 in the Crowne Plaza, Belfast. Photo by Kelvin Boyes / Press Eye. Press Eye - Belfast - Northern Ireland - 16th November 2018 Colin and Jayne Logan pictured at the Belfast Telegraph Property Awards 2018 in the Crowne Plaza, Belfast. Photo by Kelvin Boyes / Press Eye. Press Eye - Belfast - Northern Ireland - 16th November 2018 Petra and Bill Wolsey pictured at the Belfast Telegraph Property Awards 2018 in the Crowne Plaza, Belfast. Photo by Kelvin Boyes / Press Eye. Press Eye - Belfast - Northern Ireland - 16th November 2018 Richie Lavery, Moyah Lavery and Mark McBride pictured at the Belfast Telegraph Property Awards 2018 in the Crowne Plaza, Belfast. Photo by Kelvin Boyes / Press Eye. Press Eye - Belfast - Northern Ireland - 16th November 2018 Ross Adams and Joanne McGillan pictured at the Belfast Telegraph Property Awards 2018 in the Crowne Plaza, Belfast. Photo by Kelvin Boyes / Press Eye. Press Eye - Belfast - Northern Ireland - 16th November 2018 Philip Smyth, David McIlroy, Pamela Ballantine, Thomas McIlroy, Steven Rossetto pictured at the Belfast Telegraph Property Awards 2018 in the Crowne Plaza, Belfast. Photo by Kelvin Boyes / Press Eye. Press Eye - Belfast - Northern Ireland - 16th November 2018 Karen McGarvey and Pamela Ballantine pictured at the Belfast Telegraph Property Awards 2018 in the Crowne Plaza, Belfast. Photo by Kelvin Boyes / Press Eye. Press Eye - Belfast - Northern Ireland - 16th November 2018 Brendan Dorrian, Gerarcd McCann and Brendan Wilson pictured at the Belfast Telegraph Property Awards 2018 in the Crowne Plaza, Belfast. Photo by Kelvin Boyes / Press Eye. Press Eye - Belfast - Northern Ireland - 16th November 2018 Anna Maria McAlindon, Adrian Kerr, Fiona McFall, Alison Nesbitt, Mark Thompson and Kathryn McIvor pictured at the Belfast Telegraph Property Awards 2018 in the Crowne Plaza, Belfast. Photo by Kelvin Boyes / Press Eye. Press Eye - Belfast - Northern Ireland - 16th November 2018 Aaron Dickie, Alastair Chambers, Colin White and Les McCracken pictured at the Belfast Telegraph Property Awards 2018 in the Crowne Plaza, Belfast. Photo by Kelvin Boyes / Press Eye. Press Eye - Belfast - Northern Ireland - 16th November 2018 James Burleigh, Kathryn Barry and Conor Mooney pictured at the Belfast Telegraph Property Awards 2018 in the Crowne Plaza, Belfast. Photo by Kelvin Boyes / Press Eye. Press Eye - Belfast - Northern Ireland - 16th November 2018 Craig Service, Laura Philips and Derek Wilson pictured at the Belfast Telegraph Property Awards 2018 in the Crowne Plaza, Belfast. Photo by Kelvin Boyes / Press Eye. Press Eye - Belfast - Northern Ireland - 16th November 2018 Chris and Claire Gordon pictured at the Belfast Telegraph Property Awards 2018 in the Crowne Plaza, Belfast. Photo by Kelvin Boyes / Press Eye. Press Eye - Belfast - Northern Ireland - 16th November 2018 Belfast Telegraph Property Awards 2018 in the Crowne Plaza, Belfast. 17. Property Personality of the Year Bill Wolsey Bill Wolsey Director of Beannchor Group Presenter: Sarah Little INM Publishing Director, NI Photo by Kelvin Boyes / Press Eye. Press Eye - Belfast - Northern Ireland - 16th November 2018 Belfast Telegraph Property Awards 2018 in the Crowne Plaza, Belfast. Property Personality of the Year Bill Wolsey Bill Wolsey Director of Beannchor Group with his wife Petra Photo by Kelvin Boyes / Press Eye. Press Eye - Belfast - Northern Ireland - 16th November 2018 Belfast Telegraph Property Awards 2018 in the Crowne Plaza, Belfast. Property Personality of the Year Bill Wolsey Bill Wolsey Director of Beannchor Group with his wife Petra Photo by Kelvin Boyes / Press Eye. Press Eye - Belfast - Northern Ireland - 16th November 2018 Belfast Telegraph Property Awards 2018 in the Crowne Plaza, Belfast. 17. Property Personality of the Year Bill Wolsey Bill Wolsey Director of Beannchor Group Presenter: Sarah Little INM Publishing Director, NI Pictured l-r: Pamela Ballantine, Bill Wolsey, and Sarah Little. Photo by Kelvin Boyes / Press Eye. Belfast Telegraph Property Awards 2018 in the Crowne Plaza, Belfast. Pictured l-r: Sarah Little, Bill Wolsey, Petra Wolsey and Gail Walker. Photo by Kelvin Boyes / Press Eye. The successes of a superb year in the property industry were celebrated yesterday at the annual Belfast Telegraph Property Awards in partnership with Electric Ireland. Outstanding achievement was toasted at a fantastic awards ceremony in Belfast's Crowne Plaza Hotel. Local estate agents, architects, interior designers, builders and fit-out specialists were among the many industry professionals whose stellar work came under the spotlight. Hundreds of guests were entertained by Northern Ireland's lovable housewife May McFettridge, aka John Linehan, before tucking into a sumptuous two-course lunch. The main event, hosted by Pamela Ballantine, saw many local companies shortlisted for excellence in each of the hotly-contested categories. Gail Walker, Editor of the Belfast Telegraph, said: "Today's event was a wonderful celebration of the property sector in Northern Ireland which can certainly look to the future with confidence. "It's great to showcase and recognise so much creativity, entrepreneurship, enthusiasm and innovation across Northern Ireland. "There was a real energy in the room today and I think that reflects the market in general." Our partners this year, Electric Ireland, congratulated all the winners and those who were nominated and shortlisted. Clare McAllister, sales and marketing manager for Electric Ireland, said: "We would like to congratulate the worthy winners from the Belfast Telegraph Property Awards. "It was a fantastic occasion celebrating the success of those who contribute so much to a flourishing and successful property sector and we were delighted to support such prestigious awards." A record number of entries made this year's job especially challenging for our judging panel. Drawn from leading professional bodies within the property world, our panel is headed by Professor Alastair Adair, deputy vice-chancellor, Ulster University and includes Derek Wilson, chair of UK Finance NI Mortgage Committee and First Trust Bank; Daryl McIntosh, National Association of Estate Agents; Padraig Venney, National House Building Council; Arleen Elliott, NI Law Society; Daniel Corr, Chartered Institute of Housing; Joan McCoy, president, Royal Society of Ulster Architects; Susan Mason, acting regional director Northern Ireland, RICS and Mark Graham, CEO of Co-ownership Housing. Professor Adair said: "The Belfast Telegraph Property Awards 2018 in partnership with Electric Ireland goes from strength-to-strength. "This year the judging panel was delighted to see three new sponsored categories and many more entries than last year, demonstrating the huge appetite for the awards across the sector, sponsors and the general public. "The high quality of nominations shows that people have a love affair with their built environment in which they live, work and play and the Belfast Telegraph Property Awards highlight the response of the sector to increase the quality of service and design that the public demand." And now for the winners. It was a superb day for RPP Architects Ltd who picked up the Commercial Fit-out Award, sponsored by WH Stephens, as well as the Best Architectural Practice Commercial Award, sponsored by Savills. McCue Crafted Fit was highly commended in the Commercial Fit-out Award category. The Best Interior Design Award, sponsored by Harry Corry, went to Atelier Interior Design. Karl Asset Management was presented with the Commercial Development Award sponsored by Carson McDowell with highly commended going to Lacuna Developments. The award for Property Deal of the Year, sponsored by Wilson Nesbitt, went to Simon Brien Residential with Savills highly commended. Best Architectural Practice Residential, sponsored by Savills was won by BGA Architects Ltd while the Young Architect Award sponsored by RTU was presented to Fergal Rainey (top left), of McGurk Architects Ltd. Jonathan Spence of Doherty Architects was highly commended. The winner of the Young Agent of the Year, sponsored by Mills Selig, was Natasha Rodgers (below left), of Rodgers & Finney with highly commended going to Jordana Stoney of John Minnis Estate Agents. The award for Innovative Use of Smarthome Technology, sponsored by Openreach, went to Portland 88 by Barnett Developments. Best Property Marketing award sponsored by Barrett Group was given to Hagan Homes and the Best Property Management Company, sponsored by Keystone Law, went to Simon Brien Residential. Gordon Estates Management was highly commended. The award for the best Residential Development, sponsored by First Trust Bank, was given to Lotus Homes and the Residential Lettings Agency award, sponsored by TLT, went to Pinpoint Property Ltd. The Commercial Estate Agency award, sponsored by A&L Goodbody, went to Lisney with Osborne King highly commended. Residential Estate Agency (Sole Branch) award, sponsored by Progressive Building Society was presented to Colin Graham Residential. Highly commended in this category was Rodgers & Finney. Residential Estate Agency (Multi Branch) award, also sponsored by Progressive Building Society, was won by John Minnis Estate Agents with Simon Brien Residential highly commended. The award for Property Personality of the Year, sponsored by Belfast Telegraph was presented to entrepreneur Bill Wolsey who runs the five-star Merchant Hotel. Full details of all our winners and those short-listed can be found in a special celebratory supplement in next Thursday's Belfast Telegraph. Bill Wolsey uses his platform at #beltelproperty awards to criticise politicians over Brexit. 'We have a chance to be in both jurisdictions'... Urges them to grasp the opportunity. Loud and prolonged applause from the room packed with some of NI's biggest property developers. pic.twitter.com/3lc5kxKznF BelTel Business (@BelTel_Business) November 16, 2018 Our final award, the @BelTels Property Personality of the Year. And the winner is Bill Wolsey of the Beannchor Group. #beltelproperty pic.twitter.com/20AIMUEimk BelTel Business (@BelTel_Business) November 16, 2018 The @BelTels Residential Estate Agency of the Year (multi-branch), sponsored by Progressive Building Society, is @JohnMinnisEA #beltelproperty pic.twitter.com/2HptPEYD3Z BelTel Business (@BelTel_Business) November 16, 2018 The @BelTels Residential Estate Agency of the Year (sole branch), sponsored by Progressive Building Society, is Colin Graham Residential #beltelproperty pic.twitter.com/ykVEo1cA5Y BelTel Business (@BelTel_Business) November 16, 2018 The @BelTels award for Residential Development of the Year, sponsored by First Trust Bank, goes to @LotusHomes #beltelproperty pic.twitter.com/4KcKma7RmZ BelTel Business (@BelTel_Business) November 16, 2018 The @BelTels award for Innovative Use of Smart home Technology, sponsored by Openreach, goes to Portland 88 #beltelproperty pic.twitter.com/tHapauzvKx BelTel Business (@BelTel_Business) November 16, 2018 The @BelTels Young Agent of the Year, sponsored by Mills Selig, is Natasha Rodgers from @Rodgers_Finney. #beltelproperty pic.twitter.com/s0Ggi3urfb BelTel Business (@BelTel_Business) November 16, 2018 The @BelTels Architectural Practice of the Year (Residential), sponsored by Savills, is BGA Architects #beltelproperty pic.twitter.com/rVC5Dz2SMh BelTel Business (@BelTel_Business) November 16, 2018 The @BelTels award for Property Deal of the Year, sponsored by Wilson Nesbitt, goes to @simonbrienresi #beltelproperty pic.twitter.com/ZnjOLJ1hOS BelTel Business (@BelTel_Business) November 16, 2018 Post: #3 RE: Big giants in the room? APEC failure as leaders cancel joint statement amid US-Ch One day after vice president Mike Pence and China's president Xi Jinping exchanged sharply worded barbs in a showdown between the two superpowers, on Sunday the annual Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit ended in unprecedented chaos and disarray, without agreement on a joint communique for the first time in its history as the escalating rivalry between the United States and China dominated proceedings and reflected escalating trade tensions. Sundays dramatic conclusion was foreshadowed by accusations that Chinese officials had attempted to strong-arm officials in Papua New Guinea, which was hosting the event, into issuing a statement that fitted what Beijing wanted. The Chinese vigorously denied the claims. When asked about the impasse, Papua New Guineas Prime Minister Peter ONeill was quoted by the South China Morning Post saying: You know the two big giants in the room, so what can I say? Instead of issuing a document that all 21 participants could agree ONeill, said he would issue a chairs statement reflecting the issues the participants did agree upon. The prime minister said the main area of disagreement was the insistence by one country believed to be the US that the communique would reflect the need for reform at the World Trade Organization. ONeill also said there had been disagreement on the spams so called Bogor Goals, which require it to achieve free and open trade among its developing economies by 2020. And while O'Neill said the differences on that issue had been ironed out, there was no such luck when it came to the topic of WTO reforms. President Trump has previously threatened to pull out of the organisation, claiming that its rules unfairly favoured China. ONeill did not say which country objected to WTO reforms but added: "Apec has got no charter over World Trade Organisation. That is a fact. That matter can be raised at the World Trade Organisation." China has said it broadly supports the WTO, while European Union proposals to reform the institution are expected to be tabled at the G20 summit in Argentina, where Trump and Xi are planning to meet in an effort to resolve their differences. https://www.zerohedge.com/news/2018-11-1...-relations "It Will Be A Cold War": APEC Summit Ends In Unprecedented Chaos After Dramatic US-China ShowdownOne day after vice president Mike Pence and China's president Xi Jinping exchanged sharply worded barbs in a showdown between the two superpowers, on Sunday the annual Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit ended in unprecedented chaos and disarray, without agreement on a joint communique for the first time in its history as the escalating rivalry between the United States and China dominated proceedings and reflected escalating trade tensions.Sundays dramatic conclusion was foreshadowed by accusations that Chinese officials had attempted to strong-arm officials in Papua New Guinea, which was hosting the event, into issuing a statement that fitted what Beijing wanted. The Chinese vigorously denied the claims. When asked about the impasse, Papua New Guineas Prime Minister Peter ONeill was quoted by the South China Morning Post saying: You know the two big giants in the room, so what can I say?Instead of issuing a document that all 21 participants could agree ONeill, said he would issue a chairs statement reflecting the issues the participants did agree upon. The prime minister said the main area of disagreement was the insistence by one country believed to be the US that the communique would reflect the need for reform at the World Trade Organization.ONeill also said there had been disagreement on the spams so called Bogor Goals, which require it to achieve free and open trade among its developing economies by 2020. And while O'Neill said the differences on that issue had been ironed out, there was no such luck when it came to the topic of WTO reforms.President Trump has previously threatened to pull out of the organisation, claiming that its rules unfairly favoured China.ONeill did not say which country objected to WTO reforms but added: "Apec has got no charter over World Trade Organisation. That is a fact. That matter can be raised at the World Trade Organisation."China has said it broadly supports the WTO, while European Union proposals to reform the institution are expected to be tabled at the G20 summit in Argentina, where Trump and Xi are planning to meet in an effort to resolve their differences. It also forced all people, great and small, rich and poor, free and slave, to receive a ma s k on their nose and mouth ... Two of the burglaries took place on Rockview Street. Credit: Google. Police are investigating after three burglaries in south Belfast over the weekend. One line of enquiry police are pursuing is that all three burglaries in the Donegall Road area my be linked. Three incidents were reported to police between 6.15am on Friday and 3pm on Saturday. The first incident was an aggravated burglary in the Rockview Street area which took place around 4.45am on Friday morning. The sole occupant of the house was asleep in bed when two male intruders came into a second floor bedroom shouting and looking for money. One of the two men is described as being of medium build, in his mid to late 20s and wearing a black tracksuit with white paint smeared on one of the legs. He had his hood up, spoke with a local accent and was carrying a large knife with a 12 blade and black handle. The other man is described as skinny and had his hood up and his face covered. He was wearing a tracksuit and a white top and holding a 3 metal bar. He also spoke with a local accent. The two threatened to stab the victim if he moved and made off from the property with a sum of cash and a number of other items including phones and keys. Although he wasnt physically injured, the man was left very shaken by his ordeal. Police were made aware of a second burglary which took place in Rockview Street between 10pm on Wednesday and around 1pm on Friday, which was the time it was reported to police. Entry had been gained to the property and a number of items stolen including a laptop, DVD player and stereo. No-one was in the house at the time. Just before 3pm on Saturday, a third incident, an aggravated burglary, was reported to police in the Tavanagh Street area. The caller said this had taken place around 4am on Friday morning. The householder, a man in his 60s, was awakened in an upstairs bedroom by a man brandishing a knife. The intruder is described as being in his 20s or 30s, tall and wearing a grey top with a scarf over his face. A second burglar was heard rummaging through the victims belongings downstairs. A number of items, including a phone and keys, were taken. The victim was not injured but was shocked by the incident. We are appealing for anyone who saw suspicious activity in these areas in the last few days or anyone who has information about any of the incidents to get in touch with detectives at Musgrave on 101, quoting reference number 171 of 16/11/18, Detective Sergeant Michael Maguire said. "Alternatively, information can also be provided to the independent charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111 which is 100% anonymous and gives people the power to speak up and stop crime." One person was taken to hospital following the incident. A woman has been taken to hospital after she became trapped in cliffs in Co Antrim on Sunday evening. A large scale rescue operation was launched at Layde Church Yard near Cushendall after there was a report of someone trapped in the area. The woman had fallen over the cliff edge into a crevis and a man who attempted to assist her also got into difficulties. Fire Crews from Cushendall, Ballymena, Carnlough and specialist rescue firefighters were tasked to the scene. Coastguard Teams from Ballycastle, Larne and Coleraine attended to extract the woman from the cliff face and the Northern Ireland Ambulance Service sent fast response paramedics to the scene. The operation concluded around 6pm with the woman being stretchered to a waiting ambulance before being taken to Antrim Area Hospital. The incident occurred on the Ballydonaghy Road/Poplar Road junction in Crumlin. Credit: Google. A man has been arrested after a car was attacked and the driver threatened with a gun in a traffic incident on Co Antrim on Friday. Police appealed for information after the incident on the Ballydonaghy Road/Poplar Road junction in Crumlin. A 50 year old man was arrested on Saturday on suspicion of possession of a firearm or imitation firearm with intent to caused fear or violence, possession of an offensive weapon and criminal damage. He has been released on police bail pending further enquiries. A number of items were also seized during a search of a property in the Newtownabbey area on Saturday. Sometime between 5:30pm and 6pm, police received a report that two men on a red Triumph road race motorcycle pulled up beside a black Ranger Rover as it slowed down at the junction. A passenger of the motorcycle got off the bike and struck the vehicles windscreen with a metal chain which caused damage to the windscreen. The passenger of the motorcycle verbally abused the driver of the vehicle and attempted to strike the windscreen again. At this time, the driver of the motorcycle is believed to have pointed what is believed to be a suspected firearm at the driver of the vehicle. The motorcycle with the two men is alleged to have made off towards the direction of the Crumlin area following the incident. "Enquiries are continuing and we are appealing to anyone who witnessed the incident to contact detectives in Antrim on 101, quoting reference number 1015 16/11/18," Detective Sergeant Lyttle said. "Alternatively, information can also be provided to the independent charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111 which is 100% anonymous and gives people the power to speak up and stop crime. DUP deputy leader Nigel Dodds has said that Northern Ireland unionism stands united in opposition to Prime Minister Theresa May's Brexit withdrawal agreement. Mr Dodds said that further detailed analysis of the Withdrawal Agreement reinforces why Unionists from all parts of the UK and across Northern Ireland are uniting in rejecting it. Read More The DUP are unhappy that the deal 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. The North Belfast MP said that the plan would create a trade border in the Irish Sea, the DUP's red line in Brexit negotiations. Mr Dodds said that "even Jeremy Corbyn gets it", the opposition to the deal, and said that nationalists and republicans in Northern Ireland were desperate for the Labour leader to stop saying it. He pointed to comments from former Brexit Secretary Dominic Raab who sensationally quit Theresa May's cabinet on Thursday in opposition to the deal. Mr Raab said that the deal takes a predatory approach to Northern Ireland that threatened the union. He claimed that the cabinet was told Northern Ireland will be treated as a third country for regulatory purposes, and Mr Dodds said that this "absolutely threatens the Union". "These are exactly the reasons why Northern Ireland unionism stands united in opposition to this draft Withdrawal Agreement," Mr Dodds said "This deal would place a trade border in the Irish Sea, subject us to EU rules without any power to influence or change them and binds us to the EU with no unilateral ability to leave. Indeed, Northern Ireland is part of the EU Customs Union not the UKs." The North Belfast MP said that there was still time to get a good deal for the UK. "I understand why some people fear a no deal scenario. But the choice is between this very bad deal and the right deal. "With MPs on all sides of the House pointing to the dangers for the Union of the Withdrawal Agreement, it is clear that it is time to work for a better deal which does not undermine the integrity of the United Kingdom UUP leader Robin Swann has also been critical of the proposed withdrawal agreement. He said his party "cannot and will not" support the draft deal. Mr Swann claimed the proposed plan will see Northern Ireland "potentially drift farther away" from the United Kingdom. "In the unlikely event that the agreement makes its way through Parliament, its impact will be felt for decades to come," he said. The Confederation of British Industry NI, Federation of Small Businesses NI, Institute of Directors NI and NI Chamber of Commerce said the deal "provides some much needed clarity that local businesses have been calling for". The idea that its the DUP v everyone else is nonsense. There isnt a single unionist party in Northern Ireland that so far supports this Brexit deal. I have received messages of support from businesspeople and farmers in my constituency who endorse our stance #noborderinirishsea Jeffrey Donaldson MP (@J_Donaldson_MP) November 18, 2018 The Ulster Farmers' Union (UFU) claimed a no-deal Brexit would be "absolutely disastrous" for the local farming and agri-food sector. The police officer was dubbed the 'Lone Ranger' by colleagues. Credit: PSNI. Police in Londonderry have praised a Sergeant who left his post during the filming of hit television series 'Derry Girls' to hunt down two suspects. After the Sergeant managed to apprehend two men by himself colleagues dubbed him the "Lone Ranger'. Police received a report of an armed robbery in Portrush on Friday where two men threatened staff with a knife and stole a quantity of jewellery before fleeing the scene in a car. The Sergeant learned that the car had been spotted in Derry while he and the rest of the Bogside, Brandywell and Fountain Neighbourhood Policing Team were managing city centre traffic for the filming of Derry Girls. A PSNI spokesperson said that the Sergeant decided to take action into his own hands. "He was unwilling to interrupt filming but was desperate to go hunting these fellas. What to do?," the spokesperson wrote on the 'PSNI Foyle' Facebook page. "There was only one answer, the Sergeant would have to leave the team, fly solo and become...the Lone Ranger. "He cruised around until amazingly he spotted the car going down Bishop Street. He tucked in a couple of cars behind and followed it out the Letterkenny Road. It wasnt looking good until the suspects made a fatal mistake, they turned left down Mullenan Road." The Sergeant soon apprehended the suspects. "It was time to spring into action! The Sergeant sped past the suspects, slid the car sideways to block the whole road, jumped out, pulled his gun and screamed 'show me your hands, throw the keys out the window', the spokesperson said. "Within minutes all stolen property was recovered and two shocked suspects behind bars." A Police Ombudsman's report has revealed that Sinn Fein members "did not cooperate" fully with police on their investigation into the sexual abuse case of IRA victim Mairia Cahill. The findings of the report were first published in September, but the Business Post has identified new information relating to the conduct of Sinn Fein members involved in the investigation. Read More The Belfast Telegraph has seen documents which say that the Major Investigation Team (MIT) Chief Inspector, who investigated the IRA's own investigation into Ms Cahill's abuse, told Northern Ireland's Police Ombudsman that "none of the Sinn Fein members were going to co-operate with police" and that "he never expected them to provide statements confirming that the IRA had conducted an investigation." Ms Cahill, a great-niece of prominent Belfast republican Joe Cahill, claimed she was sexually abused as a 16-year-old by senior republican and alleged IRA member Martin Morris. Mr Morris, who denied all wrongdoing, was later acquitted of rape when the case against him collapsed. Ms Cahill, who currently serves as an SDLP councillor, had alleged the republican movement's response to her claims was to subject her to an IRA interrogation. Speaking on Newstalk's breakfast programme on October 20 2014, Sinn Fein President Mary Lou McDonald insisted that Sinn Fein had cooperated with the police investigation into Ms Cahill's abuse. "Specific assertions have been made by Mairia in respect of Sinn Fein, she has accused us of covering up abuse. She has asserted that we have refused to cooperate with the police and Garda and the PSNI, presumably on matters pertaining to abuse. I want to say again, categorically that is untrue, that is a falsehood." the Dublin Central TD told the programme. "It's most unfair, it's most unjust to cast a slur such as that against Sinn Fein, against those of us that are members of Sinn Fein and elected representatives of Sinn Fein." Host Ivan Yates challenged the Dublin Central TD suggesting that Mrs McDonald was "demonizing" Ms Cahill and calling her a liar. "She has made assertions against Sinn Fein which are untrue, that's it, that's the position," Mrs McDonald replied. Speaking earlier this week in Dublin Mrs McDonald said she had "no regrets" over her handling of Ms Cahill's case and that she did not think a letter she received from Ms Cahill required a response. However the Sinn Fein leader did reiterate her "unreserved apology" to Ms Cahill. The Police Ombudsman for Northern Ireland report into police handling of Ms Cahill's case says that Sinn Fein members would not co-operate with the MIT investigation into the IRA's internal investigation of Ms Cahill's abuse. Police accepted written witness statements from a number of Sinn Fein members in relation to the Public Prosecution Unit's (PPU) investigation of the abuse, including then President Gerry Adams. A PPU Detective Constable described a meeting with Sinn Fein members to record their statements as "difficult and confrontational". The Ombudsman's report said that at the meeting the members were advised to submit prepared witness statements by their solicitor. It said that had Ms Cahill's case gone to full trial "all witnesses could have been compelled to have attended court and to be subject to questioning". Ms Cahill told The Belfast Telegraph that she has been vindicated, given Mrs McDonald's past comments about her. "It took me four years to prove I was telling the truth, but the Ombudsman letter proves that Sinn Fein members did not fully cooperate with the police by any normal persons definition. In a matter of child sexual abuse, that is a disgrace," Ms Cahill said. "Only last week, Sinn Fein were releasing statements telling people that abuse victims should be treated properly. People can see how they treated me once I went public. They have yet to admit that this was wrong, or to take responsibility for it. "Worse still, they are continuing to assert that their behaviour towards me was correct by not having any regrets. No victim of abuse should ever be treated by a party machine, a leader, or anyone else in this manner." Ms Cahill called on the Sinn Fein President to meet her face to face and apologise for her conduct. "I am in the Dail on Tuesday at an event that McDonald is also invited to. If she has any humanity left about her, she will meet with me and apologise to my face for her and Sinn Fein's treatment of me, which she has still yet to admit," the SDLP councillor said. The Belfast Telegraph has contacted Sinn Fein in relation to this story but has not yet received a response. The First Minister will address the proposed Brexit plan during a speech in Dundee on Monday (Peter Byrne/PA) Brexit in any form is likely to reduce economic growth, Scotlands First Minister is to tell a forum in Dundee. Nicola Sturgeon will use her address at the National Economic Forum on Monday to reiterate her call for the UK to remain part of the single market and customs union. She is expected to tell delegates that leaving the single market will do immense damage to jobs and living standards in Scotland. Ms Sturgeon will say: The UK Governments refusal to even consider the Scottish Governments detailed plan to keep Scotland in the single market, while accepting a differentiated solution for Northern Ireland, which we support, potentially puts Scotland at a competitive disadvantage. But, perhaps worst of all, it leaves everybody completely uncertain about the shape of our long-term relationship with the EU. The seven-page political declaration on the future contains little more than vague aspirations and platitudes. But while we can expect more pages forthcoming on some aspects of the future relationship, there will be no concrete reassurances. The governments National Economic Forum is a regular event attended by ministers and senior figures from business, the public sector and trade unions to discuss how best to grow Scotlands economy. Ms Sturgeon will address delegates at the Apex City Quay Hotel on the theme of innovation and inclusion. She will say: Put bluntly, long-term economic uncertainty is hard-wired into the Prime Ministers withdrawal deal. If the UK Government insists on leaving the EU, then it should remain in the single market and customs union. That is the solution which respects the outcome of the referendum, mitigates the worst economic consequences of Brexit and largely resolves the Irish border issue. If Brexit goes ahead in any form it is likely to reduce economic growth. But that doesnt devalue our wider efforts to support business in fact it makes those efforts all the more important. All 82 activists arrested during a mass environmental demonstration in London have been released under investigation, the Metropolitan Police said. Hundreds of people descended on the capital on Saturday for the Extinction Rebellion climate change protest. Scotland Yard said on Sunday that protesters were predominantly detained for breaches of the Highways Act, following staged sit-ins on five bridges crossing the Thames. Other arrests were made for offences under the Bail Act. A previously reported figure of 85 arrests was revised down due to duplicating reports made by officers. Saturdays action saw bands and speakers address crowds on Lambeth, Westminster, Waterloo, Blackfriars and Southwark bridges as part of a rebellion day. Campaign group Extinction Rebellion warns that the planet is facing an ecological emergency and wants government action to reduce carbon emissions. One organiser on Saturday warned of starvation in the UK if there is no change to environmental policy. Expand Close Demonstrators on Westminster Bridge (John Stillwell/PA) PA Wire/PA Images / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Demonstrators on Westminster Bridge (John Stillwell/PA) Gail Bradbrook said: We could easily be facing starvation in the UK if the weather effect continues as it is. We need to be building resilience in our communities. Dr Bradbrook said: Weve basically got three demands one is that the Government have to tell the truth. People think that climate change is something happening to somebody else at some other time but its coming home. We need to go to net zero carbon really quickly. And were also asking for a peoples assembly so people can decide how the change happens. Well know when governments are doing different things, it could feel like a war, a beautiful war. Its going to be huge. Expand Close A sit-in on Westminster Bridge (John Stillwell/PA) PA Wire/PA Images / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp A sit-in on Westminster Bridge (John Stillwell/PA) The bridges event followed on from a series of protests carried out by activists in the past week. On Monday, 22 people were arrested after protesters blocked traffic and glued themselves to entry gates at the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy. On Wednesday, more activists were detained following action near Downing Street and at the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs in Westminster. A swarming roadblock is also planned for Parliament Square from 7am between November 21 and 23. Post: #9 RE: Can United States declare war to a NATO member? LoP Guest Wrote: (11-18-2018 08:07 PM) general mishka Wrote: (11-18-2018 08:04 PM) The mutual defense treaty is only in response to attacks by EXTERNAL countries I don't believe it is written that way Can you provide links to language that supports that view? Article 1 The Parties undertake, as set forth in the Charter of the United Nations, to settle any international dispute in which they may be involved by peaceful means in such a manner that international peace and security and justice are not endangered, and to refrain in their international relations from the threat or use of force in any manner inconsistent with the purposes of the United Nations. ...... Article 5 The Parties agree that an armed attack against one or more of them in Europe or North America shall be considered an attack against them all and consequently they agree that, if such an armed attack occurs, each of them, in exercise of the right of individual or collective self-defence recognised by Article 51 of the Charter of the United Nations, will assist the Party or Parties so attacked by taking forthwith, individually and in concert with the other Parties, such action as it deems necessary, including the use of armed force, to restore and maintain the security of the North Atlantic area. Any such armed attack and all measures taken as a result thereof shall immediately be reported to the Security Council. Such measures shall be terminated when the Security Council has taken the measures necessary to restore and maintain international peace and security . ....... https://www.nato.int/cps/ie/natohq/offic..._17120.htm Article 1The Parties undertake, as set forth in the Charter of the United Nations, to settle any international dispute in which they may be involved by peaceful means in such a manner that international peace and security and justice are not endangered, and to refrain in their international relations from the threat or use of force in any manner inconsistent with the purposes of the United Nations.......Article 5The Parties agree that an armed attack against one or more of them in Europe or North America shall be considered an attack against them all and consequently they agree that, if such an armed attack occurs, each of them, in exercise of the right of individual or collective self-defence recognised by Article 51 of the Charter of the United Nations, will assist the Party or Parties so attacked by taking forthwith, individually and in concert with the other Parties, such action as it deems necessary, including the use of armed force, to restore and maintain the security of the North Atlantic area.Any such armed attack and all measures taken as a result thereof shall immediately be reported to the Security Council. Such measures shall be terminated when the Security Council has taken the measures necessary to restore and maintain international peace and security ........ https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=92i5m3tV5XY nobody starts at point zero A medical bag was stolen as paramedics attended an incident in Edinburghs Dalry area (Danny Lawson/PA) A medical bag was stolen from ambulance workers as they responded to a call-out, in what police described as a despicable act. The theft occurred in Edinburghs Dalry area on Saturday night. The green rucksack with the words Emergency Medical Response contained drugs which could be harmful if misused, police said. Can you help us locate a medical bag which was stolen from ambulance staff earlier. Theft occurred about 9.20pm on Sat 17/11/2018 on Caledonian Road. Any info call 101 quoting incident 4228 of 17th November. https://t.co/ABCVbUfcmc pic.twitter.com/SgyLu1aI26 EdinburghPolice (@EdinburghPolice) November 18, 2018 The bag was taken as ambulance staff attended an incident on Caledonian Road at around 9.20pm. Police Inspector Gill Lundberg said: Stealing from emergency service workers trying to help someone is a despicable act. While the theft of this equipment has not impacted on the care of the patient, I am concerned what could happen if the stolen drugs were to be taken by a member of the public. These drugs can be dangerous if misused. I would appeal for anyone who witnessed the theft, or knows where these items are now, to contact police immediately. Theresa May attacked Tory MPs who are seeking to remove her as party leader (Matt Dunham/PA) Theresa May took a swipe at Tory rivals threatening to unseat her as party leader as she warned the next seven days would be critical to achieving a successful Brexit. The Prime Minister warned that a change of leadership would not make it easier to get a deal past parliament or the EU, after furious Brexiteer backbenchers started moves to remove her. She told Skys Ridge On Sunday that as far as she knew the 48-letter threshold for letters of no confidence needed to start a leadership battle had yet to be reached. In a message to those plotting her downfall, including members of the European Research Group of Eurosceptic MPs, she said she had not considered quitting. A change of leadership at this point isnt going to make the negotiations any easierTheresa May She added: A change of leadership at this point isnt going to make the negotiations any easier and it isnt going to change the parliamentary arithmetic. What it will do is bring in a degree of uncertainty. That is uncertainty for people and their jobs. What it will do is mean that it is a risk that we delay the negotiations and that is a risk that Brexit gets delayed or frustrated. Mrs May revealed that she had spoken to Sir Graham Brady, who chairs the powerful backbench 1922 Committee, and as far as she was aware the required number of Tory MPs' letters to trigger a no confidence vote in her had not been reached. She said: "I spoke to Sir Graham Brady at the end of last week, I have regular conversations with Sir Graham Brady. "Graham Brady will make it known if 48 letters are reached, Graham Brady will make it known." Asked if the 48 letter threshold had been reached she added: "As far as I know, no, the answer to your question is no." Mrs May earlier defended her Brexit deal, telling Sky News that the EU originally wanted to offer the UK an "off-the-shelf deal". She said: "We fought that, we stood our ground, we said no, we're the UK, actually we can have a better more ambitious relationship with you. "It took time but they have come round to that, they said yes, we'll agree a more ambitious relationship with the UK than we at first thought we could give you." The Prime Minister also laughed off suggestions that the Irish backstop represented a "Hotel California" Brexit - from which you could never leave. Mrs May said the backstop is an "insurance policy", adding: "Both sides can say yes we agree that there are arrangements in place, that a deal that provides for the people of Northern Ireland and therefore that backstop is no longer necessary." Pressed over what the Government would do in the event a vote on the Brexit deal was lost in the Commons, Mrs May said: "There's a process that Parliament will go through, were it the case that the deal was lost then the Government would come back with their proposals for what the next step was." Expand Close Dominic Raab, who resigned last week as Brexit secretary (Andrew Matthews/PA) PA Wire/PA Images / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Dominic Raab, who resigned last week as Brexit secretary (Andrew Matthews/PA) Mrs Mays interview came after former Brexit secretary Dominic Raab, whose resignation last week was a key point in one of her most brutal weeks as Prime Minister, suggested she had failed to stand up to a bullying European Union. There were also continuing reports of a plan by senior Cabinet ministers who remain in Government to try to alter the withdrawal agreement at the 11th hour. Asked if she had considered stepping down she said: No I havent. Of course it has been a tough week, actually these negotiations have been tough right from the start, but they were always going to get even more difficult right toward the end when we are coming to that conclusion. She added that the next seven days are going to be critical, and said she would be travelling back to Brussels to talk with key figures including Jean-Claude Juncker, the European Commission president ahead of an emergency European Council summit on November 25. Responding to Mrs May's interview, a source in the ERG said: "We have negotiated in good faith with the iceberg and cannot break our commitments to it." Dominic Raab has hit out at Theresa May, suggesting she has failed to stand up to a bullying European Union over the Brexit deal. Mr Raab, who stepped down as Brexit secretary on Thursday saying he could not accept the terms of the deal done by the Prime Minister, told the Sunday Times the UK should demand an agreement that allows it to unilaterally leave any customs union. He spoke after two opinion polls suggested the week of chaos in Westminster has badly dented the Conservatives election fortunes, with the Tories now trailing Jeremy Corbyns Labour. Amid ongoing talk of a plot to replace Mrs May through a confidence vote, one of her ministers said there is still time for more to be done on the Brexit deal, despite an EU summit scheduled for November 25 to confirm it. Expand Close Mrs May has faced a week of drama and pressure which saw the Tories fall in two opinion polls (Matt Dunham/PA) PA Wire/PA Images / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Mrs May has faced a week of drama and pressure which saw the Tories fall in two opinion polls (Matt Dunham/PA) Andrea Leadsom, the Brexiteer Commons leader, said she supports the Prime Minister but suggested there is an opportunity before the special European Council meeting to get the best possible deal for the UK. But Mr Raab told the Sunday Times: If we cannot close this deal on reasonable terms we need to be very honest with the country that we will not be bribed and blackmailed or bullied and we will walk away. I think there is one thing that is missing and that is political will and resolve. I am not sure that message has ever landed. Both Mrs May and Mr Raab are due to take their arguments on to television screens on Sunday morning. Some politicians get so embroiled in the intricacies of their argument they forget it is not about this theory or that theory, or does it make me look goodPrime Minister Theresa May At the end of a bruising week for the Prime Minister, she used an interview with the Daily Mail on Saturday to tell her critics their alternative plans for Brexit would not solve the main problem the North Ireland/Ireland border backstop arrangement. She told the newspaper: People say if you could only just do something slightly different, have a Norway model or a Canada model, this backstop issue would go away. It would not. That issue is still going to be there. Some politicians get so embroiled in the intricacies of their argument they forget it is not about this theory or that theory, or does it make me look good. Be very clear. If an agreed deal on leaving between the Govt and the EU is voted down by purist Brexiteers, do not be surprised if consensus on accepting the result of the Referendum by Remain voting MPs breaks down. Parliament will not support no deal. https://t.co/dx5CBigNDs Rt Hon Alistair Burt (@AlistairBurtUK) November 17, 2018 Last week saw the departure of Mr Raab and work and pensions secretary Esther McVey, plus the launch of a high-profile insurrection on the backbenches to remove Mrs May from office. She responded by bringing former home secretary Amber Rudd, who quit over the Windrush scandal, back into Cabinet to replace Ms McVey. Steve Barclay took over as Brexit Secretary but with a reduced role. Meanwhile Zac Goldsmith, the Richmond MP and failed Tory London mayoral candidate in 2016, revealed he has joined those who have sent a letter of no confidence in Mrs May to Sir Graham Brady, chairman of the 1922 committee of backbench MPs. Writing in the Sunday Telegraph, Mr Goldsmith said that under the PMs plan in effect, Britain would remain in the EU, but without having any say. He added: Had that been the choice, I personally would have voted to Remain. The withdrawal agreement we have been presented with is unacceptable to Leave and Remain voters alike. Expand Close Zac Goldsmith, left, with Environment Secretary Michael Gove (Stefan Rousseau/PA) PA Wire/PA Images / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Zac Goldsmith, left, with Environment Secretary Michael Gove (Stefan Rousseau/PA) It has close to zero chance of making it through Parliament and with only five months remaining, we cannot afford to waste any more time on it. In an interview with the Mail on Sunday, Ms Rudd blasted attempts to force a no-confidence vote, warning it could make the Government look a little unhinged. I hope they go back into their corners and we can get on with doing what were expected to do, which is delivering a Brexit I hope will protect the economy, she said. They might have gone off a little early because it feels to me theyre rowing back. What could be madder at this stage, with seven days to go [to the Brussels summit] to undermine the Prime Minister. Such a mistake. In a sign the Tory civil war over Brexit is not calming, Middle East minister Alistair Burt warned rebels the consensus that pro-EU MPs should reluctantly respect the 2016 referendum result could break down if she is toppled. Mr Burt, whose role spans the Foreign Office and Department for International Development, attacked a tweet by Steve Baker, deputy chairman of the European Research Group, in which the latter promoted a lawyers legal case against the agreement reached with Brussels. Mr Burt wrote: Be very clear. If an agreed deal on leaving between the Govt and the EU is voted down by purist Brexiteers, do not be surprised if consensus on accepting the result of the referendum by Remain voting MPs breaks down. Parliament will not support no deal. Richard Leonard does not believe Nicola Sturgeon will call for a another independence vote any time soon (Jane Barlow/PA) Scottish Labour leader Richard Leonard has said the turmoil of Brexit would be nothing compared with that of Scotland leaving the UK. Mr Leonard addressed the UKs draft EU withdrawal deal and suggestions a second vote on Scottish independence could follow as he marked a year as head of Labour at Holyrood. He said that during campaigning last year he found many people were increasingly hostile to the prospect of another independence referendum, and suggested Nicola Sturgeon was not minded to make the call any time soon. Over the past year Scottish Labour has stood up for our NHS, schools and lifeline services. Together, we will continue to deliver #RealChange for Scotland. pic.twitter.com/vM1NMSyY4d Scottish Labour (@ScottishLabour) November 18, 2018 The Central Scotland MSP said there should be a general election, with Labour seeking a mandate to renegotiate the terms of the Brexit deal. Mr Leonard told Scotland on Sunday: The turmoil of coming out of an economic relationship which has been in place for 40 years would be nothing compared with the economic turmoil of coming out of a relationship which has lasted 300 years. Given the extent to which we are in a highly integrated level of monetary, economic, social and political union with the rest of the UK, I think the challenges would be huge. On Brexit, Mr Leonard told the newspaper: Theres got to be a fresh approach to Brexit. My own view is the best way to achieve that is for there to be a general election. What Labour has said is that we are prepared to consider options. The mandate we would seek would, in my view, be a mandate to renegotiate the terms of Brexit. To mark one year of Mr Leonards leadership, Scottish Labour has launched a digital campaign with a video highlighting the partys achievements and key policy pledges. He said: Over the last year, Scottish Labour has delivered real change in the parliament, such as securing an inquiry into mental health services in NHS Tayside. But Labour has also changed the direction of political debate in Scotland, starting a discussion about a wealth tax as part of an agenda to ensure the wealthiest pay their fair share. With the Tory Government on the verge of implosion, it is these ideas to radically change Scotlands economy and society that will carry us into a likely snap general election. An SNP spokesman said: Under Richard Leonard, Labour are continuing to slide in the opinion polls and no wonder given Labour are every bit as chaotic as the Tories on Brexit. Any Brexit scenario is predicted to hit jobs and living standards so its no wonder that people are increasingly looking again at the immense economic opportunities of independence as an alternative to years of uncertainty and chaos as part of the UK. John Swinney will meet business and government figures on a trip to India (David Cheskin/PA) Deputy First Minister John Swinney is to promote Scottish trade and investment on a trip to India. Mr Swinney will hold meetings in Delhi and Bangalore with business and government figures during the visit from November 23 to 29. The trip is also aimed at strengthening education and cultural links between the two countries. Scotland can offer a lot of expertise in areas the Indian Government has identified as importantJohn Swinney India is Scotlands fourth-largest international market for further and higher education students, according to the Scottish Government. Education Secretary Mr Swinney will be joined on the visit by senior leaders from the higher education sector. He said: There is much we can learn from India, a country highly regarded for its spirit of creativity, entrepreneurship and young ambitious workforce. Equally, Scotland can offer a lot of expertise in areas that the Indian Government have identified as important, such as clean water and data driven innovation, and I look forward to discussing these priority subjects further. Working with the delegation from our world renowned universities we will highlight the strengths and achievements of Scotlands higher education sector and promote the exciting opportunities for Indian students to visit, work and study here. The trip will include a reception at the British High Commission in Delhi to mark St Andrews Day on November 30, and a separate celebration with alumni from Scottish universities in Bangalore. Finlands president can recall discussing forestry with President Donald Trump but is not sure if the subject of raking came up. Mr Trump told reporters on Saturday while visiting the ruins of the Northern California town where a fire killed at least 76 people that wildfires were not a problem in Finland because crews spend a lot of time on raking and cleaning and doing things to clear forest floors. Finnish President Sauli Niinisto said in an interview published on Sunday in the Ilta-Sanomat newspaper that he spoke briefly with Mr Trump about forest management on November 11, when they both were in Paris for Armistice Day events. Expand Close File photo of US President Donald Trump, left, talking with Finnish President Sauli Niinisto in Helsinki (Pablo Martinez Monsivais/AP) AP/PA Images / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp File photo of US President Donald Trump, left, talking with Finnish President Sauli Niinisto in Helsinki (Pablo Martinez Monsivais/AP) Mr Niinisto said their conversation focused on the California wildfires and the surveillance system Finland uses to monitor forests for fires. He remembered telling Mr Trump We take care of our forests, but could not recall raking coming up. The US leaders comment generated amusement on social media in Finland, which manages its vast forests with scientific seriousness. Forests cover over 70% of Finlands 338,000 square kilometres. The Nordic country with a population of 5.5 million is home to some of the worlds biggest paper and pulp companies. President Donald Trump has said his administration will release a full report in the next two days about the death of Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi. Well be having a very full report over the next two days, probably Monday or Tuesday, Mr Trump said. That will include who did it, he said. Reporters asked Mr Trump about the death of Mr Khashoggi, a columnist for The Washington Post who was killed on October 2 inside the Saudi Consulate in Istanbul. Earlier reports said American intelligence agencies concluded that Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman ordered the killing in the Saudi Consulate in Turkey, according to a US official familiar with that assessment. The conclusion was first reported by The Washington Post. The United States government is determined to hold all those responsible for the killing of Jamal Khashoggi accountableUS State Department Saudi Arabias top diplomat has said the crown prince had absolutely nothing to do with it. The United States government is determined to hold all those responsible for the killing of Jamal Khashoggi accountable, the State Department said in a statement. Recent reports indicating that the US government has made a final conclusion are inaccurate. There remain numerous unanswered questions with respect to the murder of Mr Khashoggi. Expand Close A person holds up a banner as members of the Arab-Turkish Media Association and friends attend funeral prayers in absentia for Saudi writer Jamal Khashoggi (Emrah Gurel/AP) AP/PA Images / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp A person holds up a banner as members of the Arab-Turkish Media Association and friends attend funeral prayers in absentia for Saudi writer Jamal Khashoggi (Emrah Gurel/AP) The statement added: The US government has taken decisive measures against the individuals responsible, including visa and sanctions actions. We will continue to explore additional measures to hold those accountable who planned, led and were connected to the murder. And, we will do that while maintaining the important strategic relationship between the United States and Saudi Arabia. Intelligence officials have been providing information to Mr Trump about the death for weeks and he was briefed again by phone Saturday by CIA director Gina Haspel and Secretary of State Mike Pompeo as he flew to California. White House press secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders provided no details of his call but said the president has confidence in the CIA. Before his call on Air Force One, Mr Trump told reporters that when it came to the crown prince, as of this moment we were told that he did not play a role. Were going to have to find out what they have to say. That echoed remarks by national security adviser John Bolton, who said earlier this week that people who have listened to an audio recording of the killing do not think it implicates the crown prince. Expand Close A poster showing Jamal Khashoggi, who was killed last month in the Saudi Arabia consulate (Emrah Gurel/AP) AP/PA Images / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp A poster showing Jamal Khashoggi, who was killed last month in the Saudi Arabia consulate (Emrah Gurel/AP) Also before leaving on his trip, Mr Trump said Saudi Arabia was a truly spectacular ally in terms of jobs and economic development. I have to take a lot of things into consideration when deciding what measures to take against the kingdom, he said. Mr Trump has called the killing a botched operation that was carried out very poorly and has said the cover-up was one of the worst cover-ups in the history of cover-ups. But he has resisted calls to cut off arms sales to the kingdom and has been reluctant to antagonise the Saudi rulers. Mr Trump considers the Saudis vital allies in his Mideast agenda. But members of Congress are pushing Mr Trump for a tougher response to the killing. The administration this past week penalised 17 Saudi officials for their alleged role in the killing, but American politicians have called on the administration to curtail arms sales to Saudi Arabia or take other harsher punitive measures. Vice President Mike Pence told reporters travelling with him on Saturday for a summit of Pacific Rim nations in Papua, New Guinea, that the murder of Jamal Khashoggi was an atrocity. It was also an affront to a free and independent press, and the United States is determined to hold all of those accountable who are responsible for that murder. Mr Khashoggi, a Saudi who lived in the United States, often criticised the royal family. Turkish and Saudi authorities say he was killed inside the consulate by a team from the kingdom after he went there to get marriage documents. Lunaticoutpost.com is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program , anaffiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com.Amazon, the Amazon logo, MYHABIT, and the MYHABIT logo are trademarks of Amazon.com, Inc. or its affiliates.Don't be a pest to the forum.No profanity in thread-titles or usernamesNo excessive profanity in postsNo Racism, Antisemitism + HateNo calls for violence against anyone..This website exists for fun and discussion only. The reader is responsible for discerning the validity, factuality or implications of information posted here, be it fictional or based on real events. The content of posts on this site, including but not limited to links to other web sites, are the expressed opinion of the original poster and are in no way representative of or endorsed by the owners or administration of this website. The posts on this website are the opinion of the specific author and are not statements of advice, opinion, or factual information on behalf of the owner or administration of LunaticOutPost.Com. The owners or administration of this website can't be hold responsible for content hosted on sites that posters link to in; including, but not limited to, posts, signatures, private messages and such. This site may contain content not suitable for minors and if you feel you might be offended by such content, you should log off immediately.This site may contain copyrighted material the use of which has not always been specifically authorized by the copyright owner. Users may make such material available in an effort to advance awareness and understanding of issues relating to civil rights, economics, individual rights, international affairs, liberty, science & technology, etc. We believe this constitutes a 'fair use' of any such copyrighted material. The material on this site is distributed without profit to those who have expressed a prior interest in receiving the included information for research and educational purposes.In accordance with industry accepted best practices we ask that users limit their copy / paste of copyrighted material to the relevant portions of the article you wish to discuss (no more than 50% of the source material) provide a link back to the original articleIf you are a legal copyright holder or a designated agent for such and you believe a post on this website falls outside the boundaries of "Fair Use" and legitimately infringes on yours or your clients copyright please contact [email protected] This website is owned by :Marco ZwaneveldDrijfriemstraat 522516 XR The HagueNetherlands.I will not rent, sell, share or otherwise disclose your personal information to any third party.We might contact you from time to time regarding your purchases or the services (like forums and announcement lists) you have subscribed to.Some of the 3rd party advertisers on lunaticoutpost.com may use cookiesto track peformance and/or to serve relevant ads.If you wish to read more and/or opt out of such cookies, please visit: http://www.networkadvertising.org/choices/ Saudi Arabia says the crown prince had absolutely nothing to do with the killing (Emrah Gurel/AP) The Trump administration said it has not yet reached a final determination in the death of Saudi writer Jamal Khashoggi. After President Donald Trump called his CIA chief and top diplomat from Air Force One as he flew to survey wildfire damage in California, the State Department released a statement saying recent reports indicating that the US government has made a final conclusion are inaccurate. Reports said American intelligence agencies concluded that Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman ordered the killing in the Saudi Consulate in Turkey, according to the US official familiar with that assessment. The conclusion was first reported by The Washington Post. The Saudi government has denied the claim. Expand Close A man holds a poster showing Jamal Khashoggi during funeral prayers in absentia for the reporter (Emrah Gurel/AP) AP/PA Images / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp A man holds a poster showing Jamal Khashoggi during funeral prayers in absentia for the reporter (Emrah Gurel/AP) Department spokeswoman Heather Nauert said in the statement that the government was determined to hold all those responsible for the killing of Jamal Khashoggi accountable and that there remain numerous unanswered questions with respect to the murder. She said the department will continue to seek all relevant facts and consult with Congress and other nations to hold accountable those involved in the killing. Mr Trump spoke earlier with CIA director Gina Haspel and Secretary of State Mike Pompeo from Air Force One, press secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders said. She provided no additional details but said the president has confidence in the CIA. Mr Trump told reporters before he left the White House for California that, when it came to the crown prince, as of this moment we were told that he did not play a role. Were going to have to find out what they have to say. I have to take a lot of things into considerationDonald Trump In his remarks, the president spoke of Saudi Arabia as a truly spectacular ally in terms of jobs and economic development. I have to take a lot of things into consideration when deciding what measures to take against the kingdom. The State Department statement noted the administrations recent actions against a number of Saudis, but also cited the need to maintain the important strategic relationship between the two allies. The administration this past week penalised 17 Saudi officials for their alleged role in the killing, but American politicians have called on the administration to curtail arms sales to Saudi Arabia or take other harsher punitive measures. Expand Close Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi died last month (Virginia Mayo/AP) AP/PA Images / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi died last month (Virginia Mayo/AP) Saudi Arabias top diplomat has said the crown prince had absolutely nothing to do with the killing. Vice President Mike Pence told reporters travelling with him at a summit of Pacific Rim nations in Papua New Guinea that he could not comment on classified information. He said Saturday the murder of Jamal Khashoggi was an atrocity. It was also an affront to a free and independent press, and the United States is determined to hold all of those accountable who are responsible for that murder. The United States will follow the facts, Mr Pence said, while trying to find a way of preserving a strong and historic partnership with Saudi Arabia. Mr Khashoggi, a Saudi who lived in the United States, was a columnist for the Post and often criticised the royal family. He was killed on October 2 at the Saudi Consulate in Istanbul. Turkish and Saudi authorities say he was killed inside the consulate by a team from the kingdom after he went there to get marriage documents. This past week, US intelligence officials briefed members of the Senate and House intelligence committees, and the Treasury Department announced economic sanctions on 17 Saudi officials suspected of being responsible for or complicit in the killing. Among those targeted for sanctions were Mohammed al-Otaibi, the diplomat in charge of the consulate, and Maher Mutreb, who was part of the crown princes entourage on trips abroad. The sanctions freeze any assets the 17 may have in the US and prohibit any Americans from doing business with them. Also this past week, the top prosecutor in Saudi Arabia announced he will seek the death penalty against five men suspected in the killing. PR Newswire WASHINGTON, Nov. 17, 2018 WASHINGTON, Nov. 17, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Photos from reception: https://bit.ly/2OMXzyl The US-Ireland Alliance celebrates the 20th anniversary of its George J. Mitchell Scholarship program with the selection of the 12 members of the class of 2020 following interviews held in Washington, D.C. today. The Scholarship program, which sends future American leaders to the island of Ireland for a year of graduate study, was created by the founder and president of the US-Ireland Alliance, Trina Vargo, and is named in honor of Senator George Mitchell's contributions to the Northern Ireland peace process. Ireland's Ambassador to the United States, Daniel Mulhall, hosted a reception for finalists and alumni at his residence on Friday evening. Carolina Chavez, the Director of the Mitchell Scholarship Program, spoke of how the popularity of one of the most prestigious scholarships in the US continues to grow. A record number of 370 people applied for the 12 scholarships -- a nearly 14% increase over the previous year and a 29% increase over 5 years. More than 200 Congressional districts and an equal number of colleges and universities are represented in this year's applicant pool. Recipients are chosen on the basis of academic distinction, leadership, and service. Members of the 2020 class include a recent intern for Ambassador Nikki Haley at the US Mission to the UN, who also combats political polarization in the United States; a researcher on the gut microbiome; two theater practitioners; a journalist and researcher, currently working on an upcoming Netflix documentary series on the 14th amendment; two reproductive rights advocates; and the co-president of Columbia University's chapter of Lean In, who is interested in the philosophical implications of artificial intelligence. Candidate interviews were held at the Doyle Collection's Dupont Circle Hotel in Washington, D.C. In addition to Ambassador Mulhall, members of the selection committee included Melissa Boteach, Senior VP of the Poverty to Prosperity Program at the Center for American Progress and Mitchell Scholar, Class of 2006; George C. Heslin, Founding Artistic Director of the Origin Theatre Company in New York City; Justin McCarthy, Senior Vice President at the Patient & Health Impact group at Pfizer; Dr. Bob Mauro, Executive Director of the Irish Institute and founding Director of the Global Leadership Institute at Boston College; Dr. Marc O Griofa, Chief Medical/Technology Officer at Noninvasive Medical Technologies; and Kathleen Romig, Senior Policy Analyst at the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities and Mitchell Scholar, Class of 2002. Sponsors of the Mitchell Scholarship program include Ireland's Department of Education and Skills, Morgan Stanley, Pfizer, and the American Ireland Fund. The Scholars will begin their studies in Ireland in September 2019. George J. Mitchell Scholarship, Class of 2020 Minhal Ahmed immigrated to the United States from Pakistan at age four, attending five schools in five years before his parents settled in New York. He became interested in how our bodies and health are impacted both by our genes and our zip codes at a young age. A Bioengineering major at Northeastern University in Boston, Minhal focuses his research on the gut microbiome, the trillions of microorganisms that live in our intestine. In the lab, he studies how the ecosystem in our gut may affect how we think and feel. Outside of the lab, Minhal works with Peer Health Exchange, a national organization that seeks to bring health equity to under-resourced schools by providing health education. After countless hours teaching health classes in Boston high schools, he was recently selected as President of the Northeastern campus chapter, one of the largest in the country. For fun, Minhal DJs at his campus radio station. A Goldwater Scholar, he will study Applied Psychology at University College Cork. Born and raised in Texas, Kathryn Ammon has worked on reproductive rights since her freshman year at the University of Kansas. She has held various leaderships positions at SURGE, the campus feminist and abortion access organization, including serving as its President, where she grew SURGE's bank account and membership roster. Committed to advocating for marginalized students on campus, Kathryn was elected to the Student Senate, and then nominated to the university-wide governing body, the University Senate, becoming the only woman student senator. In addition to holding various other leadership positions on campus, Kathryn has worked on reproductive justice issues with an indigenous feminist collective in New Mexico and with Planned Parenthood Great Plains, and as a votebuilder with the Kansas Democratic Party. A triple major in History, Political Science and Women's Studies, Kathryn will study Equality Studies at University College Dublin. Annabel Barry is an English major at Princeton University. A believer in the political power of literature, she is the co-editor-in-chief for The Nassau Literary Review, Princeton's oldest undergraduate publication and only traditional literary magazine. She has been awarded several competitive research and travel grants that allowed her to travel to the Northern Ireland border and write a collection of creative non-fiction stories about the border, and to study Ulysses at Oxford. Her pieces have been published in literary magazines and her paper about John Keats has been accepted for publication in the Keats-Shelley Review. Annabel is also a scenic and puppet designer with a passion for sustainable design and community-based theater. On campus, Annabel represents the English Department's Class of 2019 on the Undergraduate Advisory Committee, is a peer academic advisor to 20 underclassmen, and is a fellow and mentor at the Princeton Writing Center. A Connecticut native, she will study Philosophy and Literature at University College Dublin. Ella Klahr Bunnell is an American Studies major at Stanford University where she studies issues of justice, equity and conflict. She has interned with the Civil Rights Division of the Department of Justice where she researched voting procedures, and with the ACLU where she conducted research on race and criminal justice. A Boston native, Ella also interned with Congressman Joseph Kennedy and Senator Elizabeth Warren. At Stanford, she has assisted a Stanford professor in her research on civilian oversight of police violence and is currently analyzing criminal disenfranchisement law, with a focus on America's divergence from international norms and modern democratic practices since the 1970s, for her senior thesis. Last year, Ella's paper on W.E.B DuBois was published in the Stanford Undergraduate Research Journal and was designated as one of the best papers for the 2016-2017 academic year. She will study Conflict Transformation and Social Justice at Queen's University Belfast. Keshav Goel is a dual major in Biology and Economics at Williams College. Understanding that socioeconomic inequality is one of the greatest public health concerns in the United States, he has conducted research on ailments that disproportionally affects the world's poor. Growing up in Northern California, he co-authored his first published clinical paper at the age of 16 on the automated detection of congenital heart defects in newborns. He is currently conducting a yearlong senior biology thesis to uncover the mechanisms of asthma, which largely affects impoverished children. He has also conducted health economics research with Harvard Medical School to assess the quality and effectiveness of federally funded clinical trials. Keshav works as a peer mentor with a local organization to provide drama therapy to adolescent survivors of trauma. An aspiring physician, Keshav will study Immunology and Global Health at NUI Maynooth. Makayla Haussler is a senior at Yale majoring in Political Science. Born and raised in Nebraska, she has been politically active since high school, working on reproductive rights and social justice issues. At Yale, she's held various positions with College Democrats, served as chairwoman of a Yale student's campaign for city council, and interned in the office of the Massachusetts Attorney General, Planned Parenthood, and for other progressive causes. In 2017, she spearheaded Yale students' campaign for a Connecticut bill to expand financial aid for undocumented students at public colleges. Last summer, she returned to Nebraska to intern at a local social justice not-for-profit and ended up working to prevent efforts to repeal the Affordable Care Act. Makayla will study the political rhetoric of the Together for Yes campaign in the Gender Studies program at University College Dublin. Alison Mahoney is the Co-Founder and Artistic Director of Bluelaces Theater Company, a NYC-based company that produces multisensory, immersive theater for audiences with developmental disabilities. She is also the Manager of Accessibility at Lincoln Center, managing several programs including an internship program for young adults with developmental disabilities and a performance series for individuals with dementia. Once a week, she co-teaches theater classes for students with disabilities as young as 9 and as old as 87. Raised in St. Croix, she became interested in arts accessibility at Northwestern University, where she graduated in 2014 with a double major in Theater and Gender Studies. In collaboration with Theater Stands with Autism (now Seesaw Theatre), Alison devised multisensory theatrical experiences for autistic children, the first of their kind at Northwestern. She will study Contemporary Performance Practices at Ulster University. Rohan Naik is a journalist and researcher, currently working on an upcoming Netflix documentary series on the 14th amendment. Originally from Houston, he graduated from Yale earlier this year, where he worked as a reporter for the Yale Daily News and at the New Haven Independent. He was also an intern at the Pulitzer Center for Crisis Reporting and ProPublica where he researched and reported stories about air pollution in London and how police in the US respond to hate crimes. As the Head Peer Liaison at the Asian American Center at Yale, he created programming around the stigmatization of mental health issues and directed one of the university's largest mentorship programs. He was also selected by Yale to conduct sexual violence prevention programming. In collaboration with the city of New Haven, Rohan also founded a gun buyback program. Rohan is interested in researching how society remembers and constructs the past and will study Public History at Queen's University Belfast. A native of North Carolina, Rachel Petherbridge is a Biomedical Engineering major at Boston University where her accomplishments in synthetic biology have earned her a Goldwater Scholarship and selection as a Harvard Amgen Scholar. She served as Vice President of the BU Undergraduate Women in Science and Engineering group and is a Student Leader for STEM Pathways where she helps expand STEM opportunities for students in Boston. She was also a member of BU's iGEM team, an international competition for students in synthetic biology, which won Gold (2016) and Silver (2018) at the Jamboree. Rachel began college with two passions: science and policy. She's combined them by holding leadership roles in the BU Model UN conferences and working as a staff writer for the BU International Relations Review, where she's written on topics such as the Zika virus and climate change. She will study International Public Policy and Diplomacy at University College Cork. Mitchell Polonsky is an English and Theater, Dance, and Media double major at Harvard University, where he has directed 18 plays in addition to assisting professional directors on major stages around the world. A believer that performance can be a social service, Mitchell has directed productions in uncommon places. He directed a free double-bill of Brecht's Life of Galileo and Buchner's Woyzeck in the central courtyard of the Fogg Art Museum and directed a production of Sophocles'' Antigone at Harvard Stadium, attracting over 6,000 community members. Earlier this year, he was awarded a fellowship to direct a Tennessee Williams' production at the Bunker Theater in London. When his rehearsal schedule provides a break, Mitchell works at the Harvard Square Homeless Shelter, distributing necessities to those who cannot be accommodated by the shelter. A Cincinnati native, Mitchell will study Theater Directing at The Lir, Trinity College Dublin. A New York native, Kara Schechtman is a double major in English and Computer Science at Columbia University. Interested in the philosophical implications of artificial intelligence, Kara completed summer internships at Google and, most recently, at YouTube, where she worked on a project to improve the quality of Mixes, which are infinite auto-generated music playlists. On campus, Kara was Co-President of the Columbia chapter of Lean In, where she quintupled its membership and oversaw the creation of a mentor program that partners 70 Columbia women with women professionals in NYC. She received Columbia's King's Crown Award in Principled Action for her Lean In work. Kara was also the Features editor for the weekly magazine of the Columbia Spectator, Columbia's newspaper of record, and created the first podcast of the publication. She will study Philosophy at Trinity College Dublin. Matthew Wigler is a Political Science major a Stanford University and is interested in both national and international politics. During his internship with the State Department in 2017, Matt worked with diplomats at the US Mission to the United Nations to expand the sanctions regime targeting North Korea. He also served Ambassador Nikki Haley in her executive office, working to help coordinate the 2017 UN General Assembly. Last summer, Matt was awarded a Stanford grant for the Purple America Project. With the goal of understanding and combating political polarization in the United States, Matt traveled with the leader of the UC Davis College Republicans to 14 split-ticket Congressional districts to engage swing voters. His blog, Swing District, documented his travels and conversations. Matt serves as an undergraduate student senator at Stanford and as Vice President of the College Democrats on campus. A Long Island native, he will study International Politics at Trinity College Dublin. View original content:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/20th-class-of-george-j-mitchell-scholars-announced-300752584.html SOURCE US-Ireland Alliance LBC Express Holdings Inc. of the Araneta group said net income in the third quarter of the year dropped 71 percent to P85 million from P291 million year-on-year due to a significant increase in operating expenses and cost of services. LBC said in a disclosure to the stock exchange over the weekend revenues in the third quarter of the year jumped 34 percent to P3.3 billion after retail and corporate logistics sales climbed 42 percent and 32 percent, respectively. Revenues from the logistics segment rose 38 percent P3.1 billion in the third quarter, helped by the 33-percent increase in volume, the net addition of 58 branches in the country and the introduction of new products and services. The cost of services, however, grew at faster pace of 36 percent to P2.24 billion in the third quarter of the year as the higher volume in logistics resulted in the increase in cost of delivery and remittances by 49 percent. Operating expenses also surged 42 percent to P787 million. LBCs net income in the nine-month period surged 73 percent to P1.26 billion from P740.8 million on year on higher gross profit following an increase in volume Services revenues grew 23 percent to P9.1 billion, with the logistics business climbing 27 percent to P8.4 billion on the back of a seven-percent growth in volume.Newly-acquired businesses also contributed to P494 million to total logistics revenues, constituting six percent of the total. LBC in March acquired four affiliate cargo and remittance companies operating in California, New Jersey, Saipan and Hawaii for a combined $8.55 million. It purchased in June shares in four cargo and money transfer companies in Australia and Singapore. These were LBC Australia Pty Ltd.; LBC Money Transfer Pty Ltd.; LBC Express Airfreight Pte Ltd; and LBC Aircargo Pte Ltd. The acquisitions were in line with a strategy to consolidate all international businesses under the company. LBC added 58 new branches in the country in the first nine months of the year. The cost of services rose 24 percent to P6.05 billion also due the volume growth in the logistics business. Philippine Telegraph and Telephone Corp. asked the Supreme Court to overturn a decision of the selection committee of the National Telecommunications Commission to disqualify the company from the selection of a new major telecom player. PT&T filed a petition for certiorari with the Supreme Court assailing the acts of the NTC and the committee in the selection of the third telco that will challenge the duopoly of PLDT Inc. and Globe Telecom. PT&T said the committee gravely erred when it interpreted the term regional operations under the rules and regulations on the selection process under Memorandum Circular No. 09-09-2018 as applicable only to foreign companies. This effectively prevented any domestic corporation from participating in the bidding, it said. The company alleged that the NTC gravely abused its discretion when it refused to certify that PT&T has the required technical capability to participate in the bidding despite the various arguments and evidence showing that it has experience in the provisioning, delivery and operations of telecommunications services for the last ten years on a national scale. Moreover, PT&T argued that the NMP selection committee acted capriciously and with evident bias when it prematurely disqualified PT&T from the third telco bidding on the sole ground that it failed to submit a certification of technical capability instead of deferring said submission until the document verification phase of the third telco bidding, as what the NMP selection committee did in favor of the Mislatel Consortium with respect to the latters lack of a subsisting Congressional franchise, PT&T said. PT&Ts grievances lie solely with the NTC and NMP selection committee. However, PT&T impleaded the Mislatel Consortium as respondents in its petition because the corporations constituting said consortium are real parties in interest as defined under the rules of court, the company said. PT&T said it was hopeful that its petition would be acted upon favorably. We hope that the Supreme Court will act swiftly on the petition in view of the transcendental importance of the selection of the new major player in the Philippine telecommunications market, PT&T said.PT&T was disqualified from the bidding for a new major player for not submitting the required certification of technical capability from the NTC. Another bidder, Sear Telecom of former Ilocos Governor Chavit Singson, was also disqualified from the bidding for failure to submit a participation security of P700 million. The selection committee on Nov. 7 declared the consortium led by Mindanao Islamic Telephone Co. Inc. as the provisional new major player with 456.80 points in commitments. Mislatel committed to invest P257 billion over a five-year period, with P150 billion committed to its first year of operations. In terms of Internet speed, the group committed to provide 27 megabits per second (mbps) in its first year, and 55 mbps in five years. The company plans to cover 84 percent of the population in five years and 34 percent in its first year of operation. AC Energy Inc., the power unit of Ayala Corp., said it expects to close the sale of its 49-percent voting stake and 60-percent economic interest in AA Thermal Inc. to Aboitiz Power Corp. by early next year. Aboitiz Power and Arlington Mariveles Netherlands Holding B.V., an affiliate of AC Energy, signed a share purchase agreement worth $579.2 million (P31.4 billion) on Sept. 26. We expect that to reach financial close early 2019. Were just waiting for PCC [Philippine Competition Commission] and some other [approvals], AC Energy president Eric Francia said. The AA Thermal platform acquired by Aboitiz Power consists of AC Energys limited partnership interests in GNPower Mariveles Coal Plant Ltd. Co., the owner and operator of a 632-megawatt coal plant in Mariveles, Bataan; and in GNPower Dinginin Ltd. Co., the developer and operator of a 1,336-MW coal-fired plant project in Dinginin, Bataan, which is currently under construction. Once completed, the acquisition will increase Aboitiz Powers ownership in the Mariveles coal plant to 78.325 percent and in the Dinginin coal plant project to 70 percent. The Mariveles coal plant has been operating since 2013, while the first unit of the Dinginin coal plant project is scheduled to go online in 2019. Francia said AC Energy was in active discussion with interested parties for the sale of part of its interest in the 552-megawatt GN Power Kauswagan coal plant. Some of the investors expressed interest to partner with us at a platform level, but some investors expressed interest to have a path to control, ultimately buy out everything, he said.Were not in a great hurry. If theres anything that will happen for the balance of our platform, theres no great rush. This will have to depend on various counter parties, the executive said. He said there was a strong interest in the Kauswagan coal project because of its size and location. Theres quite a bit of interest in Kausawagan because its sizable plant. Its the most competitive in Mindanao. Its strategically located because it will be the major substation that will ultimately be connected to Cebu because the Mindanao -Visayas interconnection typically need two major substations to balance the frequency, he said. He said the priority of AC Energy and its partners was to finish the Kauswagan project by 2019. Manila Electric Co. and San Miguel Corp. are reportedly studying bidding for AC Energys Kausawagan coal project. AC Energy owns an 85-percent economic stake in GNPower Kauswagan, in partnership with the Philippine Investment Alliance for Infrastructure Fund and Power Partners. It is being reported that the murder of Clive Staunton in Co. Kildare could be linked to a seizure of cigarettes in Dublin in recent weeks. The 50-year-old was shot dead outside his home in Leixlip on Thursday night after returning home from a soccer match at the Aviva Stadium. Someone in the Rebel county is celebrating their 1m Lotto Plus 1 win in last night's draw. The winning normal play ticket was sold at the Applegreen store on the Cork Road in Skibbereen, Co. Cork. The winning numbers for the Lotto Plus 1 draw were: 04, 25, 27, 28, 39, 41 and the bonus number was 29. This is the third Cork winner of the Lotto Plus 1 top prize since it doubled from 500,000 to 1m on September 1. On Saturday, November 3, the Lotto Plus 1 top prize was won in Carrigtwohill while on October 24, another lucky player in Cork won the 1m with a ticket they bought in Mallow. The owner of the Skibbereen Applegreen store, Paul Connolly, said: We couldnt believe it when we got the call, it's just incredible. This is our biggest Lotto win to date and we could not be happier for our customers. "We are situated on the main Cork road so we get a lot of passing traffic the winner could be absolutely anybody. "We have a lot of locals in the store this morning so they are all anxiously checking their tickets in the hope that they have the one thats worth a million euro. The Fianna Fail leader, Micheal Martin, has hit back at criticism of his party's engagement in 'confidence and supply' talks with Fine Gael. Yesterday, Health Minister Simon Harris accused Fianna Fail of "sniping" at the government and said the party is delaying the negotiations from concluding. A 21-year-old woman has been badly injured after a fall from a window at a Dublin hotel. The incident occurred at the Clarence Hotel in Dublin's Temple Bar last Monday. The hotel is owned by U2's Bono and The Edge. The woman is being treated for serious injuries at St James's Hospital. A second woman in her 20s was arrested at the scene. Gardai say a file will be prepared for the Director of Public Prosecutions. By Louise Walsh The dad of Harry Potter actress Evanna Lynch, who plays Luna Lovegood, has made a final appeal to all ex-pats in America to vote for his daughter, as she competes in the all-important final of Dancing With The Stars US on Monday night. Donal Lynch, from Termonfeckin, Co. Louth is asking the Irish public to contact their relatives and friends in the US, urging them to vote for daughter Evanna in the 27th season of the popular ABC show. He's even roped in his native county and contacted the All-Ireland winning hurling Limerick team who are currently in Boston, for their support. Evanna (aged 27), who is teamed with professional dancer Keo Motsepe will battle it out for the coveted mirrorball trophy against American model Alexis Ren, US actor Milo Manheim and radio presenter Bobby Bones. Evanna and her dancing partner Keo. Ahead of Monday night's show in Los Angeles, Donal is hoping to boost the popular vote for his daughter by asking people to contact everyone they know in America and ask for their support. "You can only cast your vote in America and most people have relatives or friends there so I'm hoping they might send a quick message, asking them to vote for Evanna tomorrow night," he said. "For the final, you can only vote by registering online with ABC and votes can only be cast during the show, which airs from 5-7pm Pacific (Los Angeles) time or from 8-10pm on the east coast." Donal, his wife Marguerite and their son Patrick are in LA for the final and have described their reception as 'amazing.' "They were amazing back home before they left, but even here the feedback has been flabbergasting. Evanna's parents Donal and Marguerite "Evanna was even in the Post Office over here yesterday and someone came up to her and said if she didn't win, they would be protesting. "She's in great form and is as calm as you like. She said that you learn to cope with nerves and stress. "She's really looking forward to it." Evanna is best known for her role as Luna Lovegood in Harry Potter but Donal says that dancing was her first love. "Dancing was her first love before acting. When she was little she absolutely loved ballet dancing and used to take dance lessons in the Little Duke Theatre in Drogheda. "She did try to get into dance schools in London but to no avail. But she's living her dream now in the show and loving it. "Evanna is a real go-getter and this show is really bringing out the colour and personality in her dancing. "This show has really raised her profile over here. She was the underdog in the show at the start so it's a real rags to riches story of sorts. "We've had so much support so I'd like to take the opportunity on behalf of Evanna and my family to thank each and every one for really getting behind us. "I don't know where we got Evanna from," he joked before adding, "I feel very privileged to have her as my daughter." "Win or lose, she's a winner to us anyway but this is the final throw so please, if you know anyone in the US, ask them as the Irish saying goes, to vote early and vote often." The two concessionaires of the Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage System namely Maynilad and Manila Water have thrown their full support to the New Centennial Water Supply Project Kaliwa Dam that will supply additional 600 million liters daily by 2023 to Metro Manila, Cavite, Rizal and Bulacan as part of President Rodrigo Dutertes water security and Build, Build, Build programs.Manila Water strongly supports the Water Security advocacy of MWSS and the recent creation of a Technical Working Group to develop the Water Supply Masterplan for both East and West Zones to sustain national development, says Manila Water President and CEO Ferdinand M. dela Cruz. Given the 96-percent dependency of Metro Manila on Angat Dam, we underscore the urgency of building new water sources including the already approved Kaliwa Dam project. We will continue to work with MWSS and other related agencies in updating the much needed masterplan to address the future demand of the metropolis, said Dela Cruz. For his part, Maynilad President and CEO Ramoncito S. Fernandez said: The Kaliwa dam project is in line with government efforts to ensure water supply sustainability and reliability for Metro Manila residents. It is an additional raw water source that will augment the supply from Angat dam, which is currently the only major source being tapped. According to Fernandez, the construction of the new dam is essential to meeting the water needs of an ever-growing population for the long term as it will also alleviate Metro Manilas reliance on a single raw water source. Maynilad affirms the need for developing this new water source, and is committed to support the MWSS in implementing the project, Fernandez said.Meanwhile, MWSS thanked the two presidents of Manila Water and Maynilad for their unequivocal statements of support to the Kaliwa Dam project as this is part of the overall water security program of the Duterte administration. Stressing that the MWSS is on a catch-up mode to avert water crisis in the coming years, Velasco credited the Duterte administration for having the political will and resolve to help solve the possible water shortage in the coming years in Metro Manila and its environs since no new surface water source was developed after Angat Dam. The P12.2-billion Kaliwa Dam project will be funded by P10.2-billion China ODA and a counterpart fund of P2-billion from the Philippine government. The formal signing of the contract between President Duterte and Chinese President Xi Jing Pin will be done on November 20, 2018 and the construction will be undertaken by China Energy Engineering Corp. and it is expected to be completed in 2023 or earlier. Frank McKone, Holt Research concerns I understand the Education Minister's concerns about the national security and foreign policy aspects of Australian research that is funded by the government-backed Australian Research Council ("'National interest test' on grants", November 11, p4). Mr Tehan's concerns may be particularly warranted if the research involves collaboration with researchers who prove to have links with the Chinese military. However, it seems to me that Mr Tehan, despite having a degree in political science and master's degrees in international relations and in foreign affairs and trade, may not understand the long-term nature of many research projects. A research project may not in isolation appear to Mr Tehan to be in the national interest, but when combined with follow-up projects it may be significantly beneficial to the nation or to humanity as a whole. Dr Douglas Mackenzie, Deakin Ill-informed on judges It is too easy to read Jenna Price's article, ("Our justice system needs and overhaul, for the sake of women out there everywhere", November 8, p20) shake my head at the ignorance and arrogance displayed, and move on. But in the spirit of the MeToo movement I feel compelled to respond. Unless she was in court to hear the arguments and the judge's reasons for granting bail to Glenn Hartland, she is simply joining other shock jocks who raise public fear and concern by making ill informed criticism of court decisions. Of course she is entitled to make informed criticism of what a judge says. But this time it was against a background of conflating aberrant thinking and behaviour by some males with all judges. Too often during my career I was appalled to read "reports" in the media of cases I had dealt with which bore little resemblance to what actually occurred, either because the reporter was present for only part of the proceedings, or relied on what others gleaned from them, or for whatever other reason. I am a woman who was appointed a NSW magistrate in 1975 I am white but I am not male and am I not of Anglo-Celtic background. I did not come from a privileged background and was educated in Canberra's wonderful public schools. Nevertheless I was generally treated with respect by the legal profession. I was not alone in not fitting the stereotype she writes about. These days many judges and magistrates come from diverse backgrounds and how they are accepted depends on their behaviour not on irrelevancies such as race or gender. It is sad to see that someone of Jenna's stature has demeaned herself by writing such an ill-informed piece in which she trumpets the fact that she does not know what she is talking about and criticises so arrogantly. Her assumptions about the background and values of judicial officers are breathtaking and offensive. I hope she lifts her game, and to use her words "reflects on the power" she wields as someone who has the privilege of having her views of the world regularly published. Sue Schreiner, Red Hill No understanding Canberra has a health system in crisis, an education system that is the most expensive in Australia and failing our young people. It has an unacceptable level of homelessness, and our once lovely bush capital is dirty and neglected. We had a great transport system until the Barr/Rattenbury and union-driven government decided to put in the light rail and reduce the number of bus services. The reduction in bus services has hit the most vulnerable in our community. The cost of the light rail has meant huge increases in our rates and other essentials and it is apparent that there has been no increase in funding for other important and essential services such as housing for our homeless. It was no surprise therefore to read that Megan Fitzharris stated ("Stealthy arrival of light rail tram means testing imminent", November 16, p2) the focus for the government for the next few months would be planning for the launch of the light rail on Northbourne Avenue. Then we have Bec Cody, who is very concerned that our street and suburb names may offend some people. Their priorities reflect their lack of an understanding of the social justice issues affecting the community they are supposed to represent. I fear that unless the Liberal party steps up and articulates its policies and starts to challenge the direction of the current government, we will continue to watch the destruction of Canberra and pay more and more through taxes imposed on us by a government that has no understanding of the real issues facing Canberra. Mary Robbie, Aranda Back off, Indonesia Countries have differences of opinion all the time ("Trade route from embassy stance", November 15, p1). So, I find it deeply disappointing that Indonesia has threatened to delay signing a free trade agreement with us if we even consider moving our embassy to a part of Jerusalem that is sovereign Israeli territory and where Israel's Parliament and Supreme Court are located. It's even more galling given Scott Morrison's announcement in October explicitly said he "expected" east Jerusalem would be the capital of a future Palestinian state. But mostly, I am unhappy that a foreign country purports to dictate Australian foreign policy. Why does Indonesia think it has any right to determine Australia's policy towards a third nation? How would Jakarta like it if we told them we would refuse to sign trade deals with them until they ended their policy of refusing to recognise Israel? Athol Morris, Forde Brexit problem solved There's an easy way for Brexit to be relieved of the hard border problem ("Ministers quit May government as Brexit deal threatens to fall apart", November 16, p14). All the UK Parliament has to do is a UDS, a Unilateral Declaration of Separation (the reverse of the Northern Rhodesia UDI). The Brexiteers need to pass a Northern Ireland Act 2018 to repeal the Northern Ireland Act 1998; just one sentence: "It is hereby declared that Northern Ireland in its entirety no longer remains part of the United Kingdom". Problem solved the Irish Sea becomes the hard border. Kenneth Griffiths, O'Connor Where does it stop? Vince Patulny (Letters, November 16) joins Bec Cody in advocating a name change for Haig Park because General Haig commanded the Allied forces while so many troops died in World War I. But why stop there? Should we also eradicate everything with the names Fisher and Curtin attached to them too? After all, prime minister Andrew Fisher took us into that dreadful World War I which killed 62,000 Australians and led to the rise of Hitler. Then prime minister John Curtin reigned while another 27,000 were killed in World War II. Should we not blame our commanding politicians for war casualties and not their subordinate generals? But if we must blame British generals should we also blame Australian generals? Do Generals Birdwood, Bridges, Chauvel, Monash and even Blamey get off scot free? Without hindsight, all leaders do their best in the circumstances with the tools they are given, even military generals like Haig, so please, leave his name on a little park in Canberra. Peter Murray, Red Hill We can do better Adrian Jackson (Letters, November 17) opposes Labor's plan to hold a plebiscite on the republic on the grounds that "most republics ... are hopeless basket cases". This misleading nonsense is usually trotted out by Australian monarchists as a scare tactic. The world's most economically powerful nations include democratic republics eg France, Germany, the US, Singapore, Switzerland, and South Korea, to name a few. Hardly basket cases. The potential basket case in that league is a monarchy, the post-Brexit UK, whose essentially ceremonial royal family is powerless to prevent the nation's continuing decline. Of course there are republics, and monarchies, that are dysfunctional, for reasons usually unrelated to the form of government. Neither form guarantees freedom and prosperity, but republics are at least egalitarian in theory. In our so-called egalitarian society no Australian can perform the highest role in our constitution, that of sovereign, who appoints the governor-general. That is still reserved for members of a non-resident foreign family. Ludicrous and insulting. Not even other monarchies would tolerate that. However, like Mr Jackson I have difficulty with Labor's simplistic knee-jerk plebiscite approach. What Australia needs first is a thorough review of its constitution to address as a whole, not only the republic, but Indigenous Australians, section 44, and probably a raft of other outdated provisions that are legacies of our colonial past, unsuited to a modern, inclusive, Asian-Pacific democracy. Jim Adamson, Flynn Freedoms disappearing Anne Prendergast (Letters, November 16) thinks that the recent terror attack in Melbourne is indicative of security in Australia being too lax and the judiciary not being tough enough on crime. Perhaps she hasn't noticed the steady rise of the surveillance state both physical with the proliferation of facial recognition and number plate tracking technologies, and digital with the mandated tracking of our online lives or the ridiculous provisions under which we may be detained for extended periods without judicial oversight on mere suspicion alone. Not only may we not know why we've come to the government's attention or, like esteemed lawyer and humanist Bernard Collaery, what brief of evidence has been amassed against us, but once released we aren't permitted to tell anyone about our ordeal lest we "disappear" again. With political appointees rather than judges deciding how this power is exercised it's difficult to imagine it not being abused. Never mind that the Bourke Street miscreant was under no illusion the penalty for his intended actions would almost certainly be death. How many more freedoms would Ms Prendergast have us give up in the name of security, and why does she think this would dissuade a disturbed mind from acting on irrational impulses? James Allan, Narrabundah Uphill battle It appears the ACT government's preferred route for stage two of light rail via City Hill, Commonwealth Avenue, the Parliamentary Triangle and on to Kent Street, Deakin, will need to do so in pole/wire-less mode. This apparently exceeds the tram's electrical capacity and may require additional stops for charging. Good news week! Transport Canberra director-general Emma Thomas is quoted as saying "there's a slight sort of hill from my memory of that area". Are they planning this project from some vague recollection? I'm happy to drive or walk her over the proposed route. In true Yes Minister tradition, could I suggest all/any passengers be forced to alight before the hilly section. Strangely, Woden to Civic buses seem to zip up that "hill" and don't even need to stop or refuel. John Mungoven, Stirling TO THE POINT EMBASSY WORRY One can only hope that if the PM takes it upon himself (as he has indicated he may) to move our embassy in Israel by Christmas in line with the US and a couple of other tinpot countries it can be stopped by an incoming government come the election by May next year. D.J. Fraser, Currumbin, Qld WHO'S BUSINESS IS IT? The PM appears to be back-pedalling on his decision to move the Australian embassy in Israel to Jerusalem. Of what business is it of Indonesia, what is essentially something that concerns Australia and Israel only? Perhaps it's time to stop channelling bucket loads of aid to our northern neighbour. Owen Reid, Dunlop EMBASSY IN PERTH? The federal Coalition government has delivered a huge GST windfall to Western Australia ("Fair deal for WA as GST plan sails through federal parliament", canberratimes.com.au, November 14), but if the Coalition really wants to lock up WA in next year's election it should consider moving our Israel embassy to Perth. Gordon Soames, Curtin NUTS TO WATER ISSUE Barrie Smillie (Letters, November 16) misses an important point about water use by annual crops such as rice. They are not planted in years when there is insufficient water. On the other hand crops such as grapes, citrus, and nuts require water every year irrespective of availability. Steve Thomas, Yarralumla CAN'T COME SOON ENOUGH Coombs shopping centre will open "soon" says the developer. The sooner the better. It is often very difficult to find a parking spot in the car parks either side of Cooleman Court, where the people of the new suburb of Coombs are also obliged to do their shopping. What says Planning Minister Mick Gentleman? John Milne, Chapman TRANSPORT WOES I hope Wellington's mayor was tongue in cheek when he said on ABC radio he was looking forward to some Barr wisdom on public transport. Perhaps making vulnerable people walk further to transport or cutting popular services is not the best way to increase patronage. And ignoring all submissions to a farcical "consultation" is better left to Canberra alone. Maria Greene, Curtin PONY PROBLEM The ACT government is being far too heavy handed in asking Ms Kneen to remove her ponies from the Dickson Street agistment in Holder. I have been a resident in the area for almost 30 years and our family and other neighbourhood children get so much pleasure from having the ponies in our neighbourhood. I am also very suspicious about the motives for this forced removal. Ros Williams, Holder 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. Several Queensland Police officers accused of attacking a man without cause at a party were exonerated thanks to body-worn camera footage, a new report into the use of the cameras in Queensland says. A body-worn camera on a Queensland Police officer. Case studies released by the Crime and Corruption Commission, researching the value of using such cameras, shows in one instance officers attended a party and were later accused of being aggressive toward the homeowners, and using capsicum spray without cause. The homeowner's husband at the party complained officers had assaulted him, with the hosts providing CCTV to the investigation that appeared to confirm that claim. However, the CCC report said police attending the party had activated their body-worn cameras, which showed minutes leading up to the alleged assault. There is a clutch of low-slung buildings behind the famous old windmill on top of the hill at Spring Hill that could easily be overlooked as some boring depot for the council works department. But not so. Take the time to investigate and you will discover the intriguing Spring Hill Reservoirs, for these rather ordinary timber buildings are merely a cover. Below them are brick chambers where the Phantom of Opera would look right at home. In fact, thats not entirely improbable as it is used by the Underground Opera Company for performances. The Underground Opera Company performs at the Spring Hill Reservoirs. Credit:Natalie Bochenski The story is this. Six teenagers have been arrested on nine charges on the Gold Coast, with majority of the arrests relating to drug possession as schoolies week kicks off. Other alleged offences made by some of the teenagers included public nuisance. Thousands of school leavers officially began their schoolies celebrations on Saturday night around Surfers Paradise. Police said the weather overnight did not see the number of schoolies in the hub decrease as the attendance was more than last year's count. Mafia boss Rocco Arico has lost a last-ditch bid for freedom after the High Court refused an application seeking a retrial on his convictions for drug trafficking, extortion and weapons offences. Arico, who is linked to the Calabrian organised crime gang the 'Ndrangheta (Honoured Society), has no other legal recourse and must now serve the nine-year minimum sentence imposed this year. Rocco Arico is taken into court in 2015. Credit:Pat Scala The 39-year-old lost an earlier bid to have his convictions overturned in Victoria's Court of Appeal in May this year but was successful in having his minimum sentence reduced by two years. He was originally sentenced to 14 years' prison, with a minimum of 11 years, in 2017 over a string of offences stemming from a botched 2010 cocaine deal said to have involved one of his associates and bikie enforcer Toby Mitchell. Nairobi: If a teacher in South Sudan wants to buy a chicken for dinner, he would have to save everything he earns for two full months - and it still wouldn't be enough. Five years of intense civil warfare have decimated South Sudan's economy and killed an estimated 380,000 people. A third of the population is displaced, every second person is going hungry, and hundreds of thousands of people are at risk of starving to death in the world's newest country, according to the United Nations. Parts of South Sudan including key agricultural areas are nearly empty after people fled for safety or to find food. That means those who remain in South Sudan are relying on imports, even though a plunging exchange rate means imported food is overwhelmingly expensive. And despite the influx of billions of dollars in food aid, attacks on deliveries, bad roads, flooding, and deliberate government interference mean that food often doesn't get to the people who need it. The result, according to UN data, is that even when food is available, many prices are so high a single meal costs two times the national daily income, according to one report released this year that people can't buy the things they see in markets or shops. This is threatening to worsen a crisis that is already Africa's biggest refugee exodus since the Rwandan genocide in the 1990s. Becoming Michelle Obama Crown 426 pages; $32.50 For anyone whos wondering: No, shes not running. In her new memoir, Becoming a book whose reportedly enormous advance rendered its contents almost as closely guarded as the bullion at Fort Knox Michelle Obama puts to rest any speculation about her political ambitions. Ive never been a fan of politics, she writes, and my experience over the last 10 years has done little to change that. Note how she says the last 10 years, not two. She emerges in ... A small firm called Definers Public Affairs brought the dark arts of Washingtons back-room politics to Silicon Valley when, while working for Facebook, it began disparaging other tech companies to reporters. But a few days before Sheryl Sandberg, Facebooks chief operating officer, testified to Congress in September, Definers set its sights on a different target: the senators about to question Sandberg. In one document circulated to reporters, Definers tallied what software the 15 members of the Senate Intelligence Committee used to track visitors to their Senate ... More distributors cut pump prices starting 6 am on Monday, and by P1.25 to P1.30 per liter of gasoline, P1.10 per liter of diesel and P0.80 per liter of kerosene. Meanwhile, Senator Win Gatchalian said Sunday he supports the suspension of the second round of increase in the fuel excise tax under the TRAIN Law. I am glad that the President has already approved this, he said. Senator Benigno Aquino said he hoped the governments move was an indication of its willingness to eventually remove all of the excise taxes on fuel under its tax reform program, which could lead to lower commodity prices. The suspension of additional taxes this January is very important, but it is also equally important to remove the taxes that are currently being imposed. Pilipinas Shell, Seaoil Philippines, Unioil Philippines and PetroGazz announced their respective price cuts effective Nov. 19. Seaoil will adjust its pump prices as follows: gasoline: P1:30 per liter; diesel: P1.10, per liter; kerosene: P0.80 per liter. This is to reflect the movements in the international petroleum market, the oil firm said.Chevron Philippines, which markets the Caltex brand in the country, implemented a slightly lower rollback of P1.25 per liter of gasoline. The price cut followed the earlier announcement of Phoenix Petroleum Philippines of implementing a P1.30 rollback per liter of gasoline and P1.10 per liter of diesel effective at 12 noon on Saturday, the sixth consecutive weekly rollback to reflect the movement of world oil prices. The latest price rollbacks come even as the government has decided to suspend the implementation of the second phase of the excise tax by January 2019 as part of it ongoing tax reform program. Gasoline in Metro Manila now sells from P45.70 to P59.30 per liter while diesel sells from P41.50 to P50.29 per liter. World oil prices have been going down amid ample supply but a weak market. Activists from various parts of Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) gathered in Bagh district and carried out a protest rally to demand an end to Pakistan's 'illegal' and 'forceful occupation'. The protests were held as part of a two-day convention of the United Kashmir People's Party (UKPNP). Activists raised concerns over the construction of dams and other projects, which, they claim, are aimed at excluding indigenous people from local development. UKPNP's former central secretary of foreign affairs, Jamil Maqsood, said: "They (protesters) demand the government of to stop construction of Diamer-Bhasha Dam in Gilgit Baltistan and the violation of state subject rule in Gilgit Baltistan and some parts of occupied Kashmir". He added, "The Party leadership also expressed their concern that the government of is violating State Subject Rule in Rawalakot, Kotli, Bagh, Neelum, Muzaffarabad and other areas and allocating land to its retired army-men, bureaucrats and businessmen". UKPNP's exiled chairman Sardar Shaukat Ali Kashmiri addressed the activists in Bagh via telephone and asked protestors to urge Pakistan to vacate the territory and establish local authority by reviving the fundamental rights of the indigenous people. In an exclusive interview, Maqsood told ANI, "The activists demanded Pakistan to release all those activists languishing in the prisons, including Baba Jan, who was jailed for peacefully demanding local development and the empowerment of local people in Gilgit Baltistan and Muzaffarabad." The activists, during the protest, voiced their thoughts about serious environmental concerns in and Gilgit Baltistan due to the construction of dams and other projects. "The diversion of Neelum-Jhelum, which is known as Kishan Ganga in Jammu and Kashmir, has created a drastic environmental effect and affected the people in Muzaffarabad. We are of the view that Pakistan is establishing such dams that are not benefiting the local people. They are not empowering the local youth and they remain unemployed and unable to find a livelihood," Maqsood noted. The activists also opposed the construction of the multi-billion dollar China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), which passes through Gilgit Baltistan. Jamil said, "The UKPNP on international forums and with the (support of) regional political powers and regional governments are also demanding that they should use their influence to stop Pakistan from creating such a hostile environment after China-Pakistan Economic Corridor, which is not a pro-people project. We are of the view that the project is pro-military and it has a strategic interest. It is not directed towards developing local people in Gilgit Baltistan, Muzaffarabad, Balochistan or elsewhere." The activists committed to continuing their struggle against the Pakistani occupation of and Gilgit Baltistan. Maqsood represented the activists' beliefs and said, "The government of Pakistan should abide by its international obligation and UN resolutions which ask her to vacate the territory to push back all the tribal invaders and to vacate its military from the region, but nevertheless, Pakistan has consolidated its occupation on both regions and exploitation of people and natural resources still continues to take place. Punjab Chief Minister suspected Sunday Pakistan's ISI-backed Khalistani or Kashmiri militants' role in the Amritsar that killed three persons and injured twenty others, and vowed that he would not let the "forces of terror" destroy the state's "hard-earned peace". The possibility of involvement of ISI-backed Khalistani or Kashmiri terror groups could not be ruled out (in the Amritsar terror attack)," said in an official statement, adding the forensic teams have been rushed to the spot and "all angles were being investigated". The chief minister said his government was on the top of things" and would "get to the bottom of the incident" soon and ensure that the culprits are nabbed and brought to book. Nobody will be allowed to get away with trying to disturb the peace and harmony of the state, he said. Three persons were killed and at least twenty others were injured when two motorcycle-borne miscreants hurled a grenade at a religious congregation of over 200 devotees inside a Nirankari Bhawan at Adliwal village near Amritsar's Rajasansi area Sunday, the police said earlier. In his statement, the chief minister said the preliminary investigations have revealed that two men - one of them with a flowing beard and both with their faces covered - forced their entry into the hall, brandishing a pistol. They detained the sewadar, lobbed the grenade into the prayer room and fled on a motorcycle on which they had come, he added. A small crater was formed by the impact of the explosion and was being examined by the forensic team, said, adding that the safety valve of the grenade too has been found and was being examined. Soon after the attack, the chief minister reviewed the law and order situation in the state and and asked the state home secretary, Punjab police chief and director generals, law & order and intelligence, to rush to Rajasansi in Amritsar to supervise the ongoing probe into the grenade attack, an official spokesman said here. Forensic teams too have been rushed to the spot and all angles were being investigated, said the chief minister. Strongly condemning the grenade attack after reviewing law and order in the state, Amarinder Singh vowed that he will not let the "forces of terror" destroy the hard-earned peace in the state. ALSO READ: Grenade attack on Nirankari religious congregation in Amritsar kills 3 While making an appeal to the people "not to panic and remain calm," the chief minister tweeted, "We will not let the forces of terror destroy our hard-earned peace." "I appeal to the people of Punjab to maintain peace in the wake of Amritsar bomb blast. I urge them not to panic and remain calm," he added. Amarinder Singh's tweet followed soon after Punjab police chief Suresh Arora told PTI that the incident "appears to have a terror angle... we will take it as a terrorist act." In his statement, the chief minister added that police teams have been rushed to raid suspected hideouts of the assailants and multiple teams are investigating various angles to crack the case. The chief minister also directed police to immediately beef up the security at all sensitive places, including all Nirankari Bhawans, in the wake of the grenade attack - the first such indiscriminate act against innocent people in recent past. Punjab had been severely hit by pro-Khalistan militancy in the 1980s and early 1990s, but it faced few terror attacks in recent years, barring the one in Pathankot over two years back. Though the state had been hit by a series of targeted attacks since 2015/2016, this was the first attempt, in a long time, aimed at disturbing the peace in the state through indiscriminate killings, said the chief minister. This strengthened the belief that Pakistan was continuing with its nefarious activities to disturb peace in the state, he added. Amarinder Singh said 15 terror modules were busted in the past 18 months, with indications of Kashmiri terror links too in some instances as evidenced in the arrest of Kashmiri students from Jalandhar and in a case of grenade blast at Maqsudan police station. Punjab DGP Arora had earlier told PTI the grenade attack on the religious congregation on outskirts of Amritsar city appeared to be a terrorist act. It (this incident) appears to have a terror angle, because it is against a group (of people) and not against any individual. There is no reason to throw a hand grenade on a group of people, so we will take it as a terrorist act. Till proven otherwise, prima facie we will take it as that, he had said. Punjabhad been on alert following an input saying that a group of six to seven JeM terrorists were in the state, possibly in Ferozepur area. The state had been put on alert after four persons snatched a SUV from its driver at gunpoint near Madhopur inPathankot district last week. Anshu Prakash, who was allegedly assaulted at chief minister Arvind Kejriwal's residence in February this year, was transferred to the Department of Telecommunications Saturday, an official order stated. Prakash, a 1986-batch IAS officer of the Arunachal Pradesh-Goa-Mizoram and Union Territory (AGMUT) cadre, was at loggerheads with the Kejriwal government. According to an order of Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT), Prakash has been posted as additional secretary in the Department of Telecommunications. He had alleged assault by some MLAs in the presence of Kejriwal and his deputy Manish Sisodia at the chief minister's residence in February this year. Delhi's Additional Chief Secretary (Home) Manoj Parida, who hails from Odisha and is also an officer of the 1986 batch of the AGMUT, is in the race for the new chief secretary of Delhi. Jalaj Srivastava, additional secretary in the Department of Agriculture Cooperation and Farmers Welfare, was also transferred. He was posted as additional secretary in the Inland Waterways Authority of India, the DoPT order said. Telugu poet Varavara Rao, accused of having Maoist links, was Sunday remanded in police custody till November 26. Rao was taken into custody in Hyderabad on Saturday after his house arrest ended on November 15 and his petition to quash the transit remand was disposed of by a court there on November 16. He was brought to Pune on Sunday morning and was produced before District and Sessions judge Kishor D Vadane, who remanded him in police custody till November 26. District government pleader Ujjwala Pawar, while seeking police custody of 14 days, told the court that Rao had a nexus with top fugitive CPI (Maoist) operatives and was actively involved in the procurement of arms and ammunition, recruitment of students and funding of Maoist activities. Rao, along with four other activists, was arrested on August 28 after Pune Police conducted raids at various places in the country in connection with the Koregaon-Bhima violence case. Police alleged that these activists had links with the Maoists, who backed Elgar Parishad event held in Pune on December 31 last year. The Parishad, police alleged, led to the violence at Koregaon Bhima war memorial in Pune district the next day. Stating that Railways should not be blamed for the Amritsar accident, Railways minister Saturday said it had nearly eliminated unmanned railway crossings. "In six months, we have eliminated 3,400 of the 3,479 unmanned railway crossings that existed on the Indian railway network," Goyal said, adding the remaining few would be done away with soon. He said, usually, the Railways used to eliminate up to 1,100 such crossings per year but in order to increase safety and curb accidents, he had instructed staff to do away with the problem in six months in April. The minister also said the Railways should not be blamed for accidents like the one at Amritsar, which left 61 people dead, saying people had come on to the tracks there. The accident took place on October 19 when a crowd attending a Dussehra function spilled on to the tracks and got mowed down by a train. Goyal informed that capital investments done by the Railways have risen 2.5 times in the first four years of the government as compared to the ones under the previous UPA government. He also acknowledged that the railways was under invested on operations and added that investments are essential for a lot of aspects like safety and to ensure that the network is contemporary. The minister said a few people will always be opposed to projects like the bullet train and pointed out that some within the Railway Board were opposed to introducing Rajdhani trains when the proposal was mooted in 1969. Union Home Minister Sunday spoke to Punjab Chief Minister and took stock of the situation arising out of a grenade attack at a religious gathering in which claimed three lives. Singh also vowed to take strongest possible action against the perpetrators of the crime. "Spoke to the Chief Minister of Punjab, @capt_amarinder ji who has apprised me of the situation in the wake of grenade attack in Strongest possible action will be taken against the perpetrators of this crime (sic)," he tweeted. The home minister said he was deeply anguished by the death of the innocent people in the grenade attack in "It is a reprehensible act of violence. My condolences to the families who have lost their loved ones in this attack and prayers for speedy recovery of the injured," Singh said. Three people were killed and at least 10 others injured in the grenade attack by bike-borne assailants at a prayer hall brimming with around 200 devotees at Raja Sansi village near Amritsar. The Sabarimala controversy, like many other such matters of faith, seems to be boiling down to a question of belief more even than tradition, because ultimately, belief decides tradition. Take the Ramjanmabhoomi issue, for instance: the Hindu-right has been asserting with increasing insistence of late that a Ram temple will be built on the contested site, regardless of any judicial order on the matter, because it is a matter of respecting the religious ... 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 A calm atmosphere at the Lord Ayyappa shrine in marked the second day of the two-month-long annual pilgrimage season, even as the rest of Kerala witnessed protests against the arrest of BJP General Secretary K Surendran while on his way to the temple. The Travancore Devaswom Board, which manages the shrine, will file a petition in the Monday seeking more time to implement the court's Sept 28 verdict allowing women of all ages to offer worship at the shrine, board president A Padmakumar said. So far, no women in the 10-50 age group has sought police protection to trek the holy hills, though over 500 odd young women have made online bookings for darshan. Facing flak over inadequate facilities and severe restrictions for devotees at the temple complex, Padmakumar also said no unnecessary curbs would be there and the "small issues" being faced now should be seen as "starting troubles". Briefing reporters at Thiruvananthapuram after a meeting with DGP Loknath Behara and M V Jayarajan, the Private Secretary to Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, he said the devotees would be allowed to perform the "Neyyabhishekam" ritual from 03.15 AM to 1230 PM daily. "The police, board or government will not take any step causing hardships to the pilgrims", but police would take action against those coming to with an intention to protest, he said. More parking facilities and bio-toilets will be provided at Nilackal and Pamba, he said. Meanwhile, the State Human Rights Commission observed there was gross violation of human rights of the devotees and directed authorities to ensure all necessary basic facilities for them and sought a report within two weeks. The temple had opened Friday evening for the 64-day annual pilgrimage season as the stand-off continued over entry of menstrual age women into the shrine. So far, more pilgrims have arrived from other states than from within Kerala. On the second day of the Malayalam month 'Vrischikom', the pilgrims offered prayers at the shrine early Sunday. Though the devotees were relieved to get more time for 'darshan' due to less crowd, many were unhappy at not being allowed to spend some more time at the "sannidhanam" (the main temple complex). Meanwhile, BJP workers blocked traffic on the highways for over an hour across the state protesting against the arrest and remand of Surendran. In vatakara, a KSRTC bus was stoned, police said. Surendran, who was taken into preventive custody as he tried to proceed to the Lord Ayappa temple, was Sunday produced before a magistrate and remanded to 14-day judicial custody after he was charged with non-bailable offences. Condemning the manner in which Surendran was arrested, Union Minister Alphons Kannamthanam said it was "despicable" and described the police action as "condemnable". "There is need to take a path of consensus on matters relating to Sabarimala, he said in a Facebook post. Implementing things which were against people's interest had no place in democracy, he said adding the people's verdict was for five years not life long, he said. CPI(M) state secretary Kodiyeri Balakrishnan alleged the BJP's "agenda" was to create violence. The Congress, which deputed a three-member delegation to Sabarimala, accused the CPI(M)-led state government of creating a 'terror-like atmosphere' in the name of security of the hill shrine. The delegation comprising former state ministers Thiruvanchoor Radhakrishnan, Adoor Prakash and V S Sivakumar took stock of the situaion in the temple complex. Prakash slammed the state government and the board for not making required facilities for devotees at Spearheading a campaign against the Kerala government over the Sabarimala issue, BJP state unit chief P S Sreedharan Pillai alleged the state government was making the Ayyappa shrine "a centre of dispute to destroy its uniqueness". Condemning the police action against "peacefully agitating" devotees, he said BJP will extend all possible assistance to the protesters to protect the hill shrine from the "hidden agenda of atheists". Devotees complained about long wait to get bus and the security screening. "We reached Nilackal at around 4 AM. But we had to wait till 6 AM to catch a bus to Pamba. Otherwise everything was fine for us. We had a good darshan," Coimbatore resident Palaniswami, who was heading a group of 21 people, told PTI. However, when PTI contacted the Kerala State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC) office at Pamba, they dismissed devotees' claims about delay in service and said several buses were running with vacant seats. "Most people have apprehensions about the restrictions imposed by police. To top that, there was a hartal Saturday and today some parties are observing as a protest. All these reasons have resulted in less crowd at the Sannidhanam," a top Devaswom official said. The temple complex and nearby areas had witnessed protests by devotees when it was opened for monthly pujas for eight days in October and early this month against the LDF government's decision to implement the apex court verdict allowing women in the previously banned 10-50 age group to pray at the shrine. 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 The Judicial and Bar Council is this week expected to come up with a shortlist for the post of chief justice, which was left vacant by the retirement of Chief Justice Teresita Leonardo-de Castro on Oct. 10. Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra, the JBCs ex-officio member, said the council will meet on Nov. 23 to deliberate on the list. We will deliberate on the CJ post this Friday and have the voting for the shortlist, Guevarra said. The JBC is the seven-member body tasked to screen the nominees for judicial posts. It has received five nominations for the post of chief justice. Acting Chief Justice Antonio Carpio and Associate Justices Diosdado Peralta, Lucas Bersamin and Estela Perlas-Bernabe accepted their automatic nominations for the post of chief justice as senior justices of the Supreme Court. The fifth nominee, Associate Justice Andres Reyes Jr., also accepted his nomination for the post.Associate Justice Mariano del Castillo, the only senior high court magistrate who declined his automatic nomination, will sit as acting chairman of the JBC for the deliberations on the post of chief justice as provided under the rules. The JBC earlier extended the Oct. 15 deadline for the nominations for the post of chief justice to Oct. 26. A vacancy in the high court should be filled within 90 days, and this means President Rodrigo Duterte has until Jan. 8 to name De Castros successor. The Constitution requires the chief justice to be a natural-born citizen and to be at least 40 years old. He or she should have an experience as a judge or in private law practice for at least 15 years, and must be one with proven competence, integrity, probity and independence. Prime Minister Narendra Modi took on the Congress government in his rallies in Chhattisgarh and Madhya Pradesh, saying it was under the current BJP regime that the farmers have been given their fairest deal. In Indore, Modi said that Madhya Pradesh has emerged as the number one state in the farming sector under BJP's 15-year rule, while in the Congress era, it was nowhere. 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 Fugitive diamantaire Mehul Choksi, accused of involvement in the over $2 billion fraud at Punjab National Bank, has told a special court here that he will appear before it if he is fit to travel. His lawyer Sanjay Abbot made this submission on Saturday before special judge M S Azmi during the hearing of ED's plea to declare Choksi a fugitive under the new Fugitive Economic Offenders Act. Choksi is not fit to travel, so his statement can be recorded through video conferencing or ED officers can visit Antigua and take his statement, Choksi's lawyer told the court. The agency can even wait for three months, for if his condition improves, he'll come back to the country, the lawyer added. Last month, Choksi had cited "health issues" to seek dismissal of the Enforcement Directorate's (ED) plea to declare him a "fugitive economic offender". In one of the ten applications filed before the court on October 30, Choksi had stated that he cannot take a "41-hour" flight to come to India due to a "brain clot" and other medical conditions. Choksi and his nephew are wanted by the ED and the CBI (Central Bureau of Investigation) for allegedly defrauding the PNB to the tune of Rs 134 billion in collusion with a few of its employees. The ED had prayed that Choksi be declared a "fugitive economic offender" for evading summons to appear before the agency and that his properties be confiscated under the provisions of the Fugitive Economic Offenders Act, 2018. To leave, or not to leave: More than two and a half years since the United Kingdom voted to exit the EU, that is still the question. The crisis in Prime Minister Theresa Mays government over her draft Brexit divorce deal has stirred interest in the possibility that the United Kingdom could change its mind, or regrexit. In the June 23, 2016 referendum, 17.4 million voters, or 52 per cent, backed Brexit while 16.1 million, or 48 per cent, backed staying in the bloc. But ever since, opponents of Brexit have been exploring ways to hold another ... Syed Joynu was in for a rude shock on a September morning when he walked into Indosthe curry house he owns just outside London. It was already 10:30 a.m. and not a single employee had turned up. Distraught, he called four of his Romanian staff. Nobody responded. Two others, who also quit their jobs the same day without any notice, later told him the Romanians had already left the country for good, and soon thereafter, Joynu, 62, was forced to shut down the business that earned more than 400,000 pounds ($500,000) a year. This was nothing like what he was promised in the ... Despite being blocked in China, and other overseas social media sites have long been used freely by activists and government critics to address subjects that are censored on domestic forums -- until now. As Beijing presses a campaign to throttle any remaining voices that stray from the Communist Party narrative, it is extending its reach to foreign sites outside of its "Great Firewall" of internet censorship. People in can use virtual private network (VPN) software to circumvent Beijing's controls and access blocked foreign sites. But fearful that the platforms could be used to coordinate political activity, the authorities have launched a stealth crackdown over the past year. Chinese activists and other users say they have been pressured by police to delete sensitive tweets. It's a "silent slaughter", said Yaxue Cao, founder of human rights site Change. In some cases, Chinese authorities may be getting access to and deleting accounts themselves. Last Friday, Cao reported that the account of Wu Gan, a Chinese activist sentenced last December to eight years in prison for subversion, had been suddenly deleted -- erasing more than 30,000 posts representing years of political critique and commentary. A Chinese Twitter user who requested anonymity told AFP that he was taken in by police over tweets critical of the Communist Party. After being held at a police station overnight, the user was made to hand over login information and watch police delete the tweets. "You don't know what kind of crime they'll sentence you with. There's no due process, so you feel scared," said the Twitter user, who was forced to write a letter of repentance and warned against further tweeting. "Once they threaten you, you'll do what they say." Twitter declined to comment when contacted by AFP. Under President Xi Jinping, has increased scrutiny of social media platforms and sought to restrict access to VPN software. Authorities have not launched a full crackdown on VPNs, however, because both Chinese and foreign companies need them to do business. On Monday, the Cyberspace Administration of China said it had "cleaned up" 9,800 accounts on Chinese social media platforms like messaging app WeChat and the Twitter-like Weibo that it accused of spreading "politically harmful" information and rumours. The internet regulator also chastised the sites for negligence and "irresponsibility". Chinese Twitter users have been targeted before -- one was arrested in 2012 for joking about a building collapsing on a political meeting. But the recent police activity indicates a more concerted clampdown, triggered by an exodus of users from censored platforms that has resulted in a stronger Chinese Twitter presence, said writer and activist Li Xuewen. "It's the latest trend," said Li, who was detained in 2017 over an online memorial to Liu Xiaobo, the Nobel Peace laureate and rights activist who died of liver cancer in police custody last year. "Naturally, Twitter would become the target of the next round of attacks." Last month, Li received a call from police at his parents' home in central Hubei province. They said "higher-ups" had sent orders to find him and ask him to delete tweets. Wen Tao, a friend of Chinese dissident artist Ai Weiwei, said he too was approached by police last month over his tweets and had heard of many similar stories. "Activists (on Twitter) can communicate with each other and also to the outside world, in particular the Western media," said Emily Parker, a former journalist in China who wrote about its online activists in her 2014 book "Now I Know Who My Comrades Are". "Beijing is concerned about tools that could facilitate online organisation. It's thus not surprising that Twitter would get on authorities' radar." Some Twitter users are let off with a warning, while others are told to delete tweets. But the police pressure could have a ripple effect as hollowed-out accounts or farewell tweets posted by activists under duress could cause others to self-censor. "It is a huge setback for researchers and anyone who cares about the struggles of contemporary Chinese society," Cao wrote on China Change, describing Twitter as an "open diary" for Chinese dissidents. Li said he plans to cut back his Twitter activity, since "speaking out these days is useless anyway". A user in southern Guangxi province, who was told to delete his tweets in September, said he is now cautious about what he posts. "If I'm not careful, I'll be asked to 'drink tea' again," he told AFP, using a common euphemism for being called in by police. China on Sunday hit back at US Vice President for accusing it of luring developing nations into a through the loans offers for infrastructure, asserting that not a single country has been mired in debt because of cooperation with it. Pence in his combative address at the Asia Pacific Economic Co-operation (APEC) summit in Papua New Guinea on Saturday said China's Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) is saddling developing countries with loans they cannot afford. Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Hua Chunying sharply criticised Pence's remarks. "Not a single developing country has been mired in debt difficulties because of its cooperation with China," she said in a statement. "On the contrary, their cooperation with China has helped them enhance their capacity for self-driven development and improved their people's livelihood," she said. Our advice for the relevant country is that instead of pointing fingers at others, it would be better to match its deeds with its words and truly treat all countries, big or small, as equals," she said. Pence and Chinese President Xi Jinping traded barbs in speeches at the APEC summit on Saturday. Know that the US offers a better option. We don't drown our partners in a sea of debt, we don't coerce, compromise your independence. We do not offer constricting belt or a one-way road," Pence told the APEC meet. In a speech to business leaders, Xi said the BRI initiative was not a "trap" and there was no "hidden agenda". Touted as Xi's ambitious project, the BRI initiative focuses on improving connectivity and cooperation among Asian countries, Africa, China and Europe. Xi also lashed out at "America First" trade protectionism, saying it was a "short-sighted approach" that was "doomed to failure". China's famed BRI involving over $ 900 billion investments building in infrastructure projects like roads and ports became controversial after acquired Sri Lanka's Hambantota port in a $ 1.2 billion debt swap deal on 99 years' lease. Folowing this Malaysia's Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad after his victory in recent elections cancelled $ 22 billion worth of Chinese loans and projects asserting that his country cannot afford such a huge debt. Also the Maldives's new President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih, who took over power on Saturday, stated that the finances of his country are in precarious condition after it raked up huge Chinese loans for infrastructure projects. China's investment under the China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) came under criticism in Pakistan too over the concerns of massive debt burden despite the two nations' close relations. Also, Papua New Guinea, the host of the APEC summit has come under severe criticism from its politicians for accepting huge Chinese loans. Gary Juffa, the governor of Oro province and the leader of an opposition party in Papua New Guinea parliament warned there was a risk of becoming a colony of China arguing that local people were not benefitting from infrastructure projects built under the BRI. Juffa argued that Chinese investment to the country does not benefit local communities. We must try to maintain sovereignty. If we do not do that we will just become a colony of China, he told the Hong Kong-based South China Morning Post on Sunday. "I want to ensure that my people own Papua New Guinea's economy, he said. But now I don't think we are owning (our) economy. If you want to be truly independent you must own the economy, he said. The alliance between Democrats and Silicon Valley has buckled and bent this year amid revelations that platforms like Facebook and Twitter allowed hateful speech, Russian propaganda and conservative-leaning fake news to flourish. But those tensions burst into open warfare this past week after revelations that Facebook executives had withheld evidence of Russian activity on the platform for far longer than previously disclosed, while employing a Republican-linked opposition research firm to discredit critics and the billionaire George Soros, a major Democratic Party ... Prime Minister held talks with the crown prince of on Sunday and discussed matters of bilateral, regional and mutual interest, amid reports that the is ready to extend financial assistance to Pakistan to minimise the cash-strapped country's dependence on an IMF bailout package. Khan, who is visiting the for the second time in the last two months, met Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed, the Crown Prince of and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE's Armed Forces, at the Presidential Palace in He was accompanied by Finance Minister Asad Umar, Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi and Chief of Army Staff Gen Qamar Javed Bajwa. Khan is also expected to meet Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, vice president and prime minister of the During his last visit to Abu Dhabi on September 19, the two countries had agreed to strengthen their economic, trade and investment relations. The government had, during a later visit of an Emirati delegation to Islamabad, made a formal request for assistance, the daily said. The signals from the UAE were positive and the government was hopeful of getting what officials are calling "a good package", the paper said. The paper said the financial assistance is likely to be comparable with the Saudi bailout of $ 6 billion $ 3 billion in balance of payments support and a deferred payment facility on oil imports worth $ 3 billion. The UAE is one of the major oil suppliers to Pakistan. The government has also been in talks with the Chinese government for an assistance package after Khan's visit to Beijing. Meanwhile, the negotiations with the Monetary Fund for a loan facility are concluding next week, with Finance Minister Umar optimistic about reaching a basic agreement with the Fund by November 20. Finance Minister Umar, however, had denied that there is any link between the IMF conditions and the PM's UAE visit. Pakistan is facing a $ 12 billion financing gap for the current fiscal year. The Pakistan government is keen to minimise the amount borrowed from the IMF by getting loans from "friendly" countries like Saudi Arabia, China and Malaysia as officials in Islamabad believe that the global lender could attach tough conditions. An all-party meeting called by Sri Lanka's President failed to make any breakthrough on Sunday to end the raging political crisis set off by his controversial decision to remove prime minister last month. The crisis erupted when President Sirisena suddenly announced on October 26 that he had sacked prime minister Wickremesinghe and installed ex-strongman in his place. Sirisena later dissolved Parliament, almost 20 months before its term was to end, and ordered a snap election. The Supreme Court on Tuesday overturned President Sirisena's decision to dissolve Parliament and halted the preparations for snap polls on January 5. The crisis talks came after Sri Lanka's parliament witnessed unprecedented violence as lawmakers threw furniture and chilli powder at each other. The lawmakers on Friday approved a second vote of no confidence against Rajapaksa but Sirisena refused to accept it, saying his advice was not followed. ALSO READ: Sri Lankan Prez Sirisena seeks talks with leaders to end political turmoil Sirisena on Sunday called an all-party meeting which ended without making a breakthrough, Wickremsinghe's United National Party (UNP) said. This was the first time that Sirisena, Wickremsinghe and Rajapaksa met face to face since the crisis erupted on October 26. Wickremesinghe has maintained that his sacking by Sirisena was unconstitutional and illegal and he was still the prime minister. "We placed our cards on the table. We told Rajapaska that if the Speaker's rulings are wrong, they can move a motion to challenge it and get it passed. Response from President Sirisena was nil," Lakshman Kiriella, a senior UNP leader, said after talks which lasted for over 2 hours. "We told President we have the majority. We are in a position to present the affidavits we signed," Ajith P Perera, another UNP leader said. The JVP or the People's Liberation Front stayed away from Sunday's meeting. The party in a letter to Sirisena said that he was the creator of the crisis so he should end it. The party said it had no reason to attend the meeting. Speaker Karu Jayasuriya, who on Wednesday announced there is no prime minister or government following a no-confidence motion against disputed prime minister Rajapaksa, also boycotted the meeting. Sirisena and Jayasuriya are at loggerheads ever since Jayasuriya decided to summon parliament on November 14 despite Sirisena's dissolution of the assembly to hold fresh elections. The chaos on Friday in Parliament forced the Speaker Jayasuriya to summon police inside the House. Jayasuriya, using a microphone, conducted the proceedings while standing on the floor of Parliament, which for the second time passed a no-confidence motion against Rajapaksa and his government by a voice vote. Jayasuriya first offered to take the vote by name, but was unable to do so because of the commotion and opted for a voice vote. He then adjourned the house until Monday. After the second vote against Rajapakse, Wickremesinghe demanded that his government be restored, but there has been no response from Sirisena yet. Wickremesinghe's party meanwhile asked Facebook to safeguard the identity of its supporters on the social media platform, fearing information sharing with what it calls the country's "illegal" government can lead to a crackdown against the users. "President Xis workaholic personality is really characteristic of the Chinese people, a nation that has seen many ups and down over a 5,000-year history." "President Xis workaholic personality is really characteristic of the Chinese people, a nation that has seen many ups and down over a 5,000-year history." Indefatigable diplomat, superb administrator, tenacious political warrior, most valuable of alla visionary. But President Donald Trump saw another facet of President Xi Jinping that most fail to note: I think Chinas President Xi is a world-class poker player. After six months of spewing trade war harangue against China, President Trump answered reporters question about promised additional tariffs on China exports. We may not have to do that. President Xis smiling mien throughout the six months of vitriol against China from the White House has never even once changed, while Donald Trump has used every trick in his Twitter diatribes to ruffle the Chinese leaders affable projection while leaving the jousting to his deputies. Here is a review of President Xis life, history and performance, from his youth to his present-day status as the leader of one of the Worlds leading nations. As a teenager, following the purging of his revolutionary veteran father Xi Zhongxun, Xi Jinping during the Cultural Revolution was sent to a distant village where lived in a cave while organizing communal laborers. He went on to study at the Tsinghua University, one of Chinas two top universities (the other being Peking University), as a worker-peasant-soldier student, and rose through the ranks of the Communist Party of China and the government. To this day, as governor of Fujian province he is remembered fondly while landmarks he left behind continue to be cited as among the achievements of the nation. Today, President Xi Jinping also serves as the general secretary of the Communist Party of China and chairman of the Central Military Commission. He is described as the core leader of the nation. Xi is the first general secretary born after the Second World War and the establishment of the Peoples Republic of China, hence truly representing the new generation of leaders of China.A surprising development arose in last Marchs National Peoples Congress which passed a historic constitutional amendment with 2,958 votes in favor and only two against, and three abstentions, to remove the two-term limit for the presidency of China. It was a resounding affirmation of trust in President Xi and a recognition of the need for a strong leader as China enters a most crucial period in history. It is very clear that President Xi Jinpings term has been extended indefinitely, not for him to simply enjoy the perks of power as long as he can. He imposes on himself a punishing work schedule in pursuit of the vision he has been tasked to accomplish: the China Dream of achieving middle-income status for all of China and the global development mission of the Belt and Road Initiative. In one media report dated August 2017, President Xis diplomatic schedules to meet other world leaders in their home countries was described: Five years, 28 tours, 193 days, 570,000 kilometers. These figures are a sketch of Chinese President Xi Jinpings foreign tours. And this does not include the latest three-nation blitz to Papua New Guinea, the Philippines and Brunei, and then Argentina at the end of this month. But President Xis workaholic personality is really characteristic of the Chinese people, a nation that has seen many ups and down over a 5,000-year history. Many times, the population has been challenged with famine and civil strife, making them persevering and inventive. I often marvel at this inventiveness when savoring chicken feeta culinary delight that came about because the Chinese people often had to make do with what other cultures just throw away. President Rodrigo Duterte has bet the countrys future on the independent foreign policy that really is investing in its diversification of relations outside of the Philippines traditional ally the United States of American. Who wouldnt? America is turning isolationist and leaving itself behind as is evident in the rising trade bloc RCEP (Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership) backed by China and Asean, and which India is finally joining. The bloc represents 40 percent of the worlds GDP. President Xi Jinpings state visit to the Philippines brings not only the fruition of the many agreed-upon project such as the P170-billion, 600-kilometer Manila-to-Matnog revival of the legendary Bicol Express and more infrastructure projects that was seen only during Marcos Pan Philippine Highway construction, but more importantly the giant industrial parks that will be set up with China here in the country that harbingers the industrialization of this country. Over and above all these projects between China and the Philippines is President Xi Jinpings expression of the global vision, the Community of Common Destiny of which the Philippines is a partner. The Davao port is projected to become the easternmost hub of the global Belt and Road Initiative, reviving the Galleon Trade route all the way eventually back to South America. Sri Lanka's President on Sunday called crucial talks with political leaders in a bid to end a power struggle with the prime minister he sacked last month. The Indian Ocean nation has been paralysed since October 26 when Sirisena deposed as premier and replaced him with a former rival Mahinda Rajapakse. Wickremesinghe insists he is still prime minister while parliament voted twice last week to reject Rajapakse. "President Sirisena will chair a meeting of representatives of political parties in parliament today," his office said in a statement. "The president has called this meeting in order to end the current political unrest and conflict situation and to allow the normal functioning of the parliament." Brawling erupted in parliament with Rajapakse loyalists smashing furniture, throwing chilli powder and projectiles at rivals in a bid to disrupt a no-confidence motion against the disputed prime minister. After the second vote against Rajapakse on Friday, Wickremesinghe demanded that his government be restored, but there has been no response from Sirisena yet. Wickremesinghe has said needs "stability" and that he was ready to work with Sirisena despite the personality clash that triggered the constitutional crisis. After sacking Wickremesinghe on October 26, Sirisena dissolved parliament on November 9, but the Supreme Court suspended his action and restored parliament pending a full hearing into the legality of his actions. For 19 days, had two claimants to the prime minister's post, but on Thursday parliament speaker Karu Jayasuriya held that he would recognise neither as premier. Officially, no longer has a government. Legislators say that with the administration at a stand still key sectors such as tourism are taking a serious battering. Both sides have also warned that a prolonged power vacuum could lead to unrest. told the media at the here that this would be a "good time" for a government shutdown if he doesn't get funding from Congress for his border wall. "I think probably, if I was ever going to do a shutdown over border security, when you look at the caravans, when you look at the mess, when you look at the people coming in, this would be a very good time to do a shutdown," CNN quoted Trump as saying on Saturday. Trump added, however, that he didn't think a shutdown would "be necessary, because I think the Democrats will come to their senses". Congress averted a government shutdown in September by passing a massive spending bill to fund a large portion of the government. The package did not, however, include money for Trump's border wall, and Congress passed a shorter-term spending bill to fund the Department of Homeland Security, among other agencies, until December 7. At a event in August, Trump said he was looking for about $5 billion for the wall to cover this fiscal year, which some Democrats have already said they would vote against. Trump also said on Saturday that the US military will remain at the US-Mexico border "as long as necessary", suggesting that the 5,900 troops deployed to the border could stay there past December 15, the scheduled end of the mission. The President also touted the "tremendous military force" assigned to the border mission in Texas, Arizona and California, lauding the troops for building "great fences". "They built great fences. They built a very powerful fence, a different kind of a fence, but very powerful. The fence is fully manned," he said. Two-year accelerated degree courses are to be introduced at British universities, Universities Minister Sam Gyimah announced on Sunday. The move will mean hundreds of thousands of prospective students being handed more choice than ever before over what they can study at a university with the expansion of two-year degrees, Gyimah said, reports Xinhua news agency. He added the move will help students fast-track their way into the workforce. It follows a consultation on the proposal to roll out shorter university courses, also known as accelerated degrees, creating an unprecedented level of choice and flexibility for people wanting to study in higher education, particularly mature students. It will enable students to graduate one year faster compared to standard degrees, and will come as a welcome boost for businesses who will be able to access talented graduates a year earlier, particularly in accountancy, and law. The new fee limits, which will be published Monday, will need to be approved by the British parliament. Top officials from China and the US will hold talks in Buenos Aires over the trade deadlock between the two giant economies, ahead of the meeting between President and his Chinese counterpart China and the US are currently locked in an ongoing trade war as each country has introduced on goods traded between each other. Trump has promised to fix China's "longtime abuse of the broken system and unfair practices". Trump, who is demanding China to cut down $ 375 billion trade deficit, has imposed on $ 250 billion Chinese exports and threatened to impose on the remaining $ 265 billion. Trump and Xi plan to meet in Buenos Aires on the side-lines of G20 meeting on December 1. Previously, the Chinese vice premier and Xi's confidant Liu He was planning to fly to Washington for talks with the US delegation led by US Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin. The plan had been adjusted after "work-level discussions" between Beijing and Washington, Hong Kong based South China Morning Post quoted a Chinese official sources as saying. "The latest plan is that the trade negotiation teams of the two countries will meet in Buenos Aires," the report quoted him as saying. The change in the plan was partly intended to ensure the talks would have a more direct effect on the meeting between Xi and during the G20 summit, the report said. The change, if confirmed, suggests that stakes will be raised for the leaders' meeting with more weighty matters likely to be on the agenda. It will also mark for the first time that bilateral trade negotiations between the world's two biggest economies have taken place in a third-party country, the report said. The progress of the scheduled trade talks will have a direct effect on the meeting between Xi and Trump. The Post had previously reported that the two state leaders will meet for a dinner on December 1 immediately after the end of the G20 meeting at Trump's invitation. The United States will make final conclusions by early next week over the killing of Jamal Khashoggi, President Donald said, following reports that the CIA had held Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman responsible. has repeatedly changed its official narrative of the October 2 murder, first denying any knowledge of dissident journalist Khashoggi's whereabouts and later saying he was killed when an argument degenerated into a fistfight. Earlier this week, a Saudi prosecutor exonerated the crown prince of involvement in the brutal murder. Speaking to reporters in Malibu, California after surveying damage from wildfires, said, "We'll be having a very full report over the next two days, probably Monday or Tuesday." State Department spokeswoman Heather Nauert earlier said reports indicating the United States had already made final conclusions in the case were "inaccurate." "There remain numerous unanswered questions with respect to the murder of Mr Khashoggi," she added. The State Department will continue to seek facts and work with other countries to hold those involved in the killing accountable, Nauert said, adding "while maintaining the important strategic relationship between the United States and " "In the meantime, we will continue to consult Congress, and work with other nations to hold accountable those involved in the killing of Jamal " She noted that Washington had already taken "decisive measures" against individuals, including visa and sanctions actions. The remarks appeared to contradict reports that the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) had determined Saudi Arabia's powerful Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman ordered the killing of Khashoggi, a vocal critic. The killing and the uproar it triggered has frayed ties between Washington and longtime ally Riyadh, which has sought to end discussion of the murder and rejected calls for an investigation. But ahead of a briefing by his secretary of state and CIA director, demured when asked about possible retaliation against Riyadh. "They have been a truly spectacular ally in terms of jobs and economic development," Trump told reporters. "And I also take that -- you know, I'm president -- I have to take a lot of things into consideration." The Washington Post, which broke the story, said the CIA found that 15 Saudi agents flew on government aircraft to Istanbul and assassinated in the Saudi consulate. Khashoggi, a Post columnist, had gone to the consulate to obtain documents necessary to marry his Turkish fiancee. Meanwhile, European Union foreign affairs chief Federica Mogherini reiterated calls for a "thorough, credible and transparent" probe into Khashoggi's killing. "The need remains to shed full clarity on the circumstances surrounding this horrendous crime as well as to ensure accountability for all those responsible for it," she said in a statement. Reiterating the EU's categorical opposition to the death penalty, Mogherini said "we will continue to stress that the kingdom of must put in place measures to ensure that something like this can never happen again." "In due course, the EU and its member states will consider how they can act together towards appropriate measures against those responsible, in support of the rules based system," she added. In the latest version of the events presented by the Saudi prosecutor on Thursday, a 15-member squad was formed to bring back from Istanbul "by means of persuasion" -- but instead ended up killing the journalist and dismembering his body in a "rogue" operation. President Mauricio Macri of Argentina declared three days of mourning over the deceased crew of the missing naval submarine that was recovered by Argentinian authorities exactly a year and a day after the mishap. Sputnik quoted the Argentine naval base Commander in Mar del Plata Gabriel Attis informing the relatives of onboard crew members of the submarine on Saturday that the ARA San Juan has been recently found deformed and with signs of the explosion. "As a tribute to all of them [the crew], we declare a three-day mourning," Macri said in a statement. ARA San Juan went missing on November 15, 2017, with 44 crew members on board. It had reported a technical malfunction in the vessel. The submarine disappeared on a routine trip from Ushuaia in the Patagonia region to Mar del Plata in Buenos Aires province. Eight days later, while the recovery operations were still continuing, the Argentine navy announced the news of an explosion that was recorded near the submarine's last known location, just hours after its final communication with the military last year. San Juan was found on November 17, almost 2,600 feet below the surface in the southern Atlantic Ocean by a private company contracted by the Argentina government after an international search failed to find the vessel. The authorities resumed the search for the submarine in late October after signing a contract with Ocean Infinity. The US seabed intelligence company is known for conducting the search operation for the missing MH370 Malaysian airliner. Ocean Infinity has reportedly committed to receiving payment from Argentina only if ARA San Juan is found. Meanwhile, the Argentine President also expressed gratitude to the United States, Russia, Brazil, Chile, Great Britain, Norway, France, Peru, and other countries involved in the search operations. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) President Ram Nath Kovind and First Lady Savita Kovind on Sunday departed for a three-day visit to Vietnam, with an aim to strengthen bilateral relations between the two countries. Upon their arrival in Da Nang, they will depart for Hotel Furama Resort. In the evening, the President and First Lady will meet leaders of the Da Nang People's Committee. Da Nang has a rich historical and civilisational connection with India. The place is famous for its world heritage site of My Son, and has remnants of Buddhist connections and the Hindu Cham civilisation in the form of ancient temples. The Archaeological Survey of India is helping Vietnam in the preservation and conservation of some of the temples, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said in a statement. On November 19 (Monday), President Kovind will pay a visit to the Museum of Cham Sculpture. During the visit, he will participate in a group photo session with the museum staff. The President and First Lady will also participate in a photo-op with provincial leaders. After this, President Kovind and First Lady will depart for Hanoi, the capital of Vietnam. The President is expected to address the Vietnam-India Business Forum and the Indian community in the city. He is also slated to meet with an Indian business delegation. On November 20 (Tuesday), President Kovind and First Lady will depart for Monument of Heroes and Martyrs. After that, they will pay a visit to Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum. After visiting the mausoleum, President Kovind and First Lady will depart for Presidential Palace, where they will be received by their counterparts. President Kovind will be accorded guard of honour here. After this, a restricted meeting and delegation-level talks would be held between the two presidents, which will be followed by signing and exchange of agreements and press statements. President Kovind will then depart for the Assembly of Vietnam, where he will meet Nguy?n Th? Kim Ngan, chairwoman Assembly. He will also address the Assembly. The President is also scheduled to meet Nguyen Xuan Phuc, the Prime Minister of Vietnam at the Government House. After this, President Kovind and First Lady will depart for International Convention Centre for a banquet dinner. After wrapping up his bilateral engagements here, the President and First Lady will depart for Sydney, Australia on the evening of November 21. India and Vietnam have robust trade and economic relations with bilateral trade of USD 12.8 billion in 2017-18. Main items of imports from Vietnam are mobile phones and accessories, computers and electronics hardware, machinery and equipment, chemicals, rubber, ordinary metals, wood and wooden products, fibres of all kinds, pepper, means of transport, products of steels, coffee, footwear, products of chemicals and polymers and resins. Major export commodities from India are machinery and equipment, seafood, pharmaceuticals, cotton of all kinds, automobiles, textiles and leather accessories, cattle feed ingredient, chemicals, plastic set, products of chemicals, fibres of all kinds, kinds, fabrics of all kinds and ordinary metals: jewellery and precious stones. Over the years, political contacts have strengthened as reflected in several high-level visits by leaders from both sides. Trade and economic linkages continue to grow. India's thrust under the 'Act East' policy combined with Vietnam's growing engagement within the region and with India has paid rich dividends. Vietnam is an important regional partner in South East Asia. India and Vietnam closely cooperate in various regional forums such as ASEAN, East Asia Summit, Mekong Ganga Cooperation, Asia Europe Meeting (ASEM) besides UN and WTO. In the first bilateral Prime Ministerial visit to Vietnam since 2001, Prime Minister Narendra Modi undertook an official Visit to Vietnam from September 2-3 2016, at the invitation of his Vietnamese counterpart. Prime Minister Modi also called on Nguyen Phu Trong, General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam, President Tran Dai Quang and Nguyen Thi Kim Ngan, Chairperson of the National Assembly. Twelve agreements/MOUs were signed during the visit, that has provided a significant boost to the bilateral relationship. Regular meetings between the leadership of the two sides have taken place on the sidelines of multilateral summit meetings. President Pranab Mukherjee had paid a state visit to Vietnam from September 14-17 2014. Defence Cooperation has emerged as a significant pillar of India's strategic partnership with Vietnam. After the signing of an MoU on Defence Cooperation by the two defence ministers in November 2009, the relations have grown from strength to strength. Indian ships regularly make friendly port calls to Vietnam. For the first time, a Vietnamese ship participated in the International Fleet Review at Vishakhapatnam, India, in February 2016. The estimated population of Indians living in Vietnam is around 2,900, mostly residing in Ho Chi Minh City. The Indian Business Chamber (INCHAM) is an organisation of Indians living in Vietnam, primarily to promote trade and business interactions. The Indian community is vibrant, law-abiding, well-educated and prosperous. A vast majority of them are professionals working in Indian and multinational companies. They retain strong family, cultural and business ties with India. India's first Prime Minister Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru was one of the first visitors to Vietnam after its victory against the French at Dien Bien Phu in 1954. Former Vietnamese President Ho Chi Minh came to India in February 1958. Former President Rajendra Prasad visited Vietnam in 1959. Since 1976, India has offered several Lines of Credit (LoCs) to Vietnam over the years on concessional terms and conditions. An LoC agreement was signed in July 2013 for USD 19.5 million for execution of a Nam Trai-IV hydropower project and Binh Bo Pumping station. In addition, India has also offered to discuss a line of credit of USD 300 million in the textile sector. India has also agreed to consider earmarking an amount of up to USD 100 million under the Buyer's Credit of the National Export Insurance Account(BC-NEIA) for use by Vietnam. Vietnam has been a large recipient of training programmes under Indian Technical and Economic Cooperation (ITEC) programme. Presently, 150 ITEC slots are being offered to Vietnam every year along with 16 scholarships under the General Cultural Scholarship Scheme (GCSS), 14 scholarships under the Educational Exchange Programme (EEP) and 10 scholarships under the Mekong Ganga Cooperation Scholarship Scheme (MGCSS). India has set up the Vietnam-India Center for English Language Training in Danang in July 2007 and the Vietnam-India Entrepreneurship Development Centre in Hanoi in May 2006 as part of its support to the Initiative for ASEAN Integration providing technical assistance to the Government of Vietnam. There is also a proposal to set up a Centre for Excellence in Software Development and Training in Ho Chi Minh City. A proposal to set up a Centre for Satellite Tracking and Data Reception and an Imaging facility in Vietnam under ASEAN-India Cooperation mechanism is under consideration. The Centre will be fully funded by India and ISRO will be the implementing agency. It will utilise data provided by Indian remote sensing satellites and harness it for multiple developmental applications. The Indian Cultural Centre was opened in Hanoi in September 2016, with the objective of strengthening India's cultural presence in Vietnam. Regular yoga, dance and music classes are held at the centre. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Four people lost their lives while one person was injured after an ambulance hit a parked lorry at Hosur Main road on Sunday morning. The ambulance was coming from Trichy. All persons in the ambulance, except the driver, have lost their lives. The injured driver is undergoing a treatment at a hospital. On Saturday, at least six tourists from Mumbai died and more than 10 were critically injured in a road accident near Hubli on Highway 63. The accident took place when a bus, carrying a team of Mumbai based travellers, had a head-on collision with a lorry. Six of the tourists, who were headed to Hampi, had died at the spot. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) King Mohammed VI of Morocco has urged the members of the Competition Council and its new President Driss Guerraoui to remain true to the neutrality, transparency, and independence in their assessment of the countrys economic institutions. The remarks were made by King Mohammed VI Saturday just after he appointed Driss Guerraoui as new president of the entity and Mohamed Abouelaziz as its Secretary General. The Sovereign seized the opportunity to stress the importance of the Competition council in overseeing and regulating free market practices in Morocco. According to a statement released by the Royal Office, the King explained to the new President the need for the entity to espouse neutrality, independence and transparency in all its activities and strengthen the competitiveness of the countrys economy. The Competition Council is tasked with supervising the implementation of good governance guidelines and ensuring the responsiveness of government institutions. It is also tasked with preventing anticompetitive practices and promoting a fair competition environment. The appointment of a new president of the Competition Council means the revival of this entity that has been in lethargy after the term of its previous members came to an end in 2013. The Moroccan business community will undoubtedly welcome this revival as the institution is tasked with overseeing the respect of free market rules by regulating competition among different market stakeholders. According to the royal press release, the Competition Councils role, as defined by both the constitution and the law is to ensure transparency and equity in economic relationships. The council will particularly conduct analysis to regulate market competition and check anti-competition practices as well as any operation that increases economic concentration and monopoly, the statement added. The body conducts studies on Moroccos socio economic developments and makes recommendations to the parliament or the royal palace. Morocco, a recognized hub for investments and doing business, has embarked on a series of reforms to modernize its economy, upgrade its good-governance and improve its competitiveness records. Prior to his appointment as president of the council, Driss Guerraoui, an economist and university professor, was secretary general of the economic, social, and environmental council (CESE) since 2011. Also on Saturday, King Mohammed VI appointed Omar Seghrouchni as President of the National Commission for the Control of Personal Data Protection (CNDP). This Commission is entrusted with protecting individuals during their personal data processing. The institution is responsible for verifying that personal data processing is lawful, legal and does not violate privacy, fundamental rights and freedoms, the Royal Office statement said. During the audience, the King instructed Omar Seghrouchni to see to it that the Commission strengthens its mechanisms and means to be in tune with technological and legal developments, for a better protection of citizens rights and the personal character of their data. Senior Congress leader and former Union Minister Anand Sharma on Sunday alleged that the BJP had only "cheated and pained" the people instead of bringing "good days" to them. "Where are those good days? People have suffered from pains and have been cheated by the BJP due to its anti-people policies," said Sharma, while addressing a press conference here. Sharma's presser was briefly disrupted after a man from the crowd of journalists created some scenes. He was not a journalist. Congress spokesperson Shobha Oza blamed the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) for causing the disturbance. "It was the BJP's handiwork," she said. Taking a jibe at Prime Minister Narendra Modi for the promises made by him and their current status, Sharma said, "The Prime Minister never hesitates in making claims, but at least he should make the claims that are concrete and correct. Where are those "good days" that the Prime Minister promised? Why shall the people of Madhya Pradesh and India place their trust in him or the BJP?" Referring to the BJP's Vision Document for Madhya Pradesh assembly polls, Sharma said, "Finance Minister Arun Jaitley along with Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan on Saturday released the manifesto. They spoke about many things but it would have been better if Jaitley had provided an answer to the weakening of the country's economy under the Prime Minister Modi's tenure." Sharma further questioned the lack of investment, falling value of rupee, lack of employment, central excise duty, fuel prices, demonetization, scams, banking situation in the country and an array of several other issues. "The value of rupee has depreciated by 16.5 per cent," he added. Taking on Chief Minister Chouhan over his claims that he was the sole entity behind the development of Madhya Pradesh, Sharma said: "The UPA government allotted a lot of funds to the state for development and infrastructure upgradation." The senior Congress leader also lauded former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh for his policies and development he brought in during his tenure. In an apparent reference to the promise of the BJP to provide employment and safety to women in the state, senior Congress leader quipped: "Has the Chief Minister of Madhya Pradesh realized the importance of women safety after 15 years?" It is worth mentioning that Madhya Pradesh goes to one-phase assembly polls on November 28. The counting of votes will take place on December 11. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) In an exclusive interview with Fox News's Chris Wallace, United State President Donald Trump stated that restoration of press credential of CNN reporter Jim Acosta after White House had banned him from attending press briefings is not a big deal and added that he would be thrown out if he misbehaves again. Trump further said that Federal Judge's order for restoration of Acosta's pass was "fine". "They (judge) said we have to create rules and regulations for conduct in the White House," he added. "I think one of the things we'll do is maybe turn the camera off that faces them, because then they don't have any air time, although I'll probably be sued for that and maybe, you know, win or lose it, who knows. I mean, with this stuff you never know what's going to happen," Trump said. The White House had earlier stripped CNN's chief White House correspondent Jim Acosta off his press credentials while accusing him of misconduct and unruly behaviour during a media briefing. "Nobody believes in First Amendment more than I do. And if I think somebody is acting out of sorts, I will leave and I will say Thank you and I will leave," Trump said while talking about any other instances of misconducts in the future. However, the White House was on Friday ordered to temporarily restore the press credentials of Acosta by a federal judge. CNN had on Tuesday filed a lawsuit against Trump and his associates, seeking an immediate restoration of the press credentials of Acosta. The lawsuit was a response to the White House's suspension of Acosta's press pass, known as a Secret Service "hard pass", last week for an unspecified duration. The revocation of Acosta's press pass came after a verbal spat with the US President during a news conference last week. CNN alleged that the removal of Acosta's White House press pass constituted a violation of his First Amendment rights to freely report on the government. The American broadcaster also alleged that the administration had violated Acosta's due process rights by revoking his credentials without warning. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) United States President Donald Trump said that an intelligence report on the murder of Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi would be out "over the next two days." Speaking to reporters after overseeing rescue operations in California, which was recently ravaged by massive wildfires, Trump said, "It's a horrible thing that took place, the killing of a journalist. We'll be having a very full report over the next two days, probably Monday or Tuesday." The Washington Post on Friday first reported that the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) had concluded that Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman ordered the murder of Khashoggi at the Turkish consulate in Istanbul. Reacting to the above reports, the US State Department on Saturday said that Washington did not reach a final conclusion over Khashoggi's killing, terming it as "inaccurate". "Recent reports indicating that the US government has made a final conclusion are inaccurate," State Department spokeswoman Heather Nauert was quoted by Al-Jazeera as saying. Earlier this week, after listening to the Khashoggi audio tapes, American intelligence officials found strong evidence that allegedly link Prince Salman to Khashoggi's demise. The New York Times reported that shortly after the scribe's murder, a member of the team that was sent to conduct the crime, was heard instructing a superior over the phone to 'tell your boss''. While the name of the 'boss' was never mentioned in the tapes shared by Turkish sources, the CIA officials are considering this instruction as referring to the Saudi Prince that the operatives had successfully carried out their mission. Saudi officials have denied such accusations, saying they had no knowledge about the tapes. US officials believe and have repeatedly stated that there was Saudi Crown Prince's hand over the murder of The Washington Post columnist. The Trump administration also recently slapped sanctions on 17 Saudi nationals, for their alleged involvement in Khashoggi's killing. On October 2, Khashoggi was reported missing after he stepped into Saudi Arabia's consulate in Istanbul on October 2 to collect paperwork that would allow him to get married to his Turkish fiancee Hatice Cengiz, who later said that he never appeared from the building. After days of denial, Saudi Arabia later confirmed its role in Khashoggi's killing, after facing massive pressure from Turkey over their investigations on the issue. But their contradictory statements has led to an international uproar led by Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, who has demanded Riyadh to come clean and accept their role in the scribe's death. Investigations into the Khashoggi's death continue both at Saudi Arabia and Turkey, as the journalist's body is yet to be traced. Khashoggi, who relocated to the US from Saudi Arabia last year, used to write articles for The Washington Post criticising the Saudi government. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) North Korea and South Korea will commemorate the 20th anniversary of their joint tour programme at Mount Kumgang, which was suspended earlier due to tensions between the two countries. The event, which will be held for two days at the North Korean mountain resort starting from Sunday, is slated to be attended by about 100 South Koreans and 80 North Koreans respectively. The programme is co-organised by Hyundai Group, which operated the joint tour event and the Korea Asia-Pacific Peace Committee of North Korea, Yonhap News Agency reported. From the South Korean side, about 30 Hyundai officials, including the company's chairperson Hyun Jeong-eun are expected to participate in the celebrations. Around six incumbent lawmakers, former government officials, private experts, business executives and journalists are also slated to grace the event. The joint tourism programme was suspended in 2008 by the South Korean government after its national was shot dead at Mount Kumgang. Hyun's late father-in-law, Chung Ju-yung, who was the founder of Hyundai, kickstarted the joint event on November 18, 1998. The tour programme is a key symbol of reconciliation between North and South Korea, and expectations over its resumption was growing in the past few months, following a dramatic improvement of inter-Korean ties since this year. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis-led Maharashtra government on Sunday approved the Maratha Reservation Bill, for which the community had been protesting since 2017. Maharashtra Assembly's Winter Session will start on Monday. Once the Bill is passed in the Assembly and notified, the Marathas will be entitled to reservation in the government jobs and in admission in government institutions. Chief Minister Fadnavis said that as per the recommendation of the Maharashtra State Backward Class Commission, the state government will give independent reservation to the people belonging from the Maratha community under a category called Socially and Economically Backwards or SEBC. Maharashtra State Backward Class Commission had submitted its report in the matter to Chief Secretary D K Jain on Thursday. "We received the Backward Class Commission report with three recommendations. Independent reservation will be given to the Maratha community in SEBC (socially and economically backward) category. We have accepted the recommendations and constituted a Cabinet Sub-Committee to take statutory steps for implementing them," Fadnavis said. The development came days after the Maharashtra Chief Minister had confirmed that Maratha community would get the reservation in the government jobs and in admissions in academic institutions from December 1. The Maharashtra State Backward Classes Commission has suggested 16 per cent reservation for the Maratha community, stating that the community is socially and economically backwards. The Maratha community accounts for 33 per cent of the state's total population. Earlier on August 9, 2018, around 194 people were detained for rioting and arson after a protest, seeking the reservation for the Maratha community, turned violent. 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.) Government employees hailing from Madhya Pradesh on Sunday cast their vote through postal ballot, ahead of upcoming state polls. Large number of government employees who would be on the election duty on the day of voting, including those from security forces through the postal ballot facility are casting their votes. The voting is taking place at city's Lal Parade ground and voters have lined up since early morning to exercise their democratic right. The special arrangement of Postal Ballot has been made because these government employees would otherwise be bereft of voting owing to their official deployment on the day of main elections. Sharing details of the postal ballot voting Additional Superintendent of Police (ASP) Sanjay Sahu said, "Today this day has been completely kept for postal ballots. Personnel from the police department, special armed forces (SAF), home guards, special police officers are taking part in these postal ballots. They had already filled form 12 and based on that they have been called today to exercise their democratic right. The process started in the morning and will continue till evening." He also informed that there are over five thousand employees who would be using postal ballots today. However, the people queued up to cast their votes also complained of long delays. One such voter said, "We were called at 8 am in the morning. I am still in the queue. People are entering in between and no one is listening to us." Another voter standing in the queue added, "There is no arrangement of even drinking water here, we are standing in the line since morning 8 am. It has been about 6-7 hours and I am not sure when I will be able to cast my vote." On being asked about the reported mismanagement, Sahu said "It takes some time to cast one's vote through postal ballot. After casting the vote on a paper, they have to put it in an envelope. Hence the process takes some time, otherwise, there is no such problem, and the arrangements are good." The postal ballot voting is being held 10 days before the assembly polls in the state. Madhya Pradesh 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.) Actors Neha Dhupia and Angad Bedi welcomed their first child- a baby girl, on Sunday in Mumbai. Neha gave birth to the newest member of the family, at Women's Hospital located in Mumbai's Khar area. Until recently, the 'Lust Stories' star was busy shooting for season three of her talk show, 'No Filter Neha'. On August 24, Angad Bedi had shared a picture of the couple announcing Neha's pregnancy. In an Instagram post he wrote, "Ha! Turns out this rumor is true.. #3ofus ?? #satnamwaheguru". On September 30, Angad Bedi of 'Pink' fame hosted a baby shower for his wife, which was attended by the who's who of B-town. The couple's friend Sophie Chaudhary shared a picture from the party on social media. To mark the occasion, the duo had cut a white cake. The much-in-love couple had tied the knot in a private ceremony in New Delhi on May 10. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The US State Department refuted all reports that claimed that the United States had arrived at a conclusion regarding the perpetrators behind journalist Jamal Khashoggi's death. The clarification came after The Washington Post reported that the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) had concluded that Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman had ordered for Khashoggi's killing. The spokesperson for the US State Department Heather Nauert released a statement, which mentioned, "There remain numerous unanswered questions with respect to the murder of Mr Khashoggi. The State Department will continue to seek all relevant facts," according to CNN. Meanwhile, White House Press Secretary Sarah Sanders told reporters that US President Donald Trump had been briefed about CIA's assessment on Saturday morning. Trump spoke to CIA Director Gina Haspel and US Secretary of State Micheal Pompeo via phone call en route to California on Saturday. The Washington Post had reported that the CIA had inferred that the Saudi Crown Prince had ordered for Khashoggi's killing in the Saudi consulate in Istanbul last month. Trump told reporters, "As of this moment, we were told that he did not play a role," while referring to the Crown Prince's role in the crime on Saturday before leaving for California. He further underscored Saudi-US ties while mentioning that the US has "a great ally in Saudi Arabia". Riyadh has continuously rejected all reports that indict the Crown Prince while mentioning that five individuals are facing the death penalty for their direct involvement in "ordering and executing the crime". So far, 11 people have been charged by the Kingdom in connection with Khashoggi's death. The US, on the other hand, levied the Global Magnitsky sanctions against 17 individuals on November 15 "for serious human rights abuse resulting from their roles in the killing of Jamal Khashoggi". The Arabic country's public prosecutor has noted that Khashoggi died after "a fight and a quarrel" at Istanbul's Saudi consulate while stating that he was injected with sedatives that led to his death. His body was dismembered after his demise and taken off consular premises by five individuals who belonged to the 15-member hitman squad that had landed in Turkey just a short while before the crime took place. Jamal Khashoggi was reported missing after he stepped into the Saudi consulate in Istanbul to obtain paperwork that would allow him to wed his fiancee Hatice Cengiz. His death was later confirmed by the Saudi prosecutor's office. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik has ordered the stoppage of tree cutting or a beer factory in Balrampur area of Odisha's Dhenkanal district. The Chief Minister has also directed the Revenue Divisional Commissioner (RDC) to investigate the matter, reads an official statement. The development comes after hundreds of women from Balrampur village clashed with police on Saturday in Jhinkargadi forest while protesting against the cutting of trees. The scuffle took place after the protesting women were forcibly removed from the site by the police. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) doesn't do "a damn thing for us", United States President said in his latest interview to Fox News, while defending his administration's decision to pull hundreds of millions of dollars in military aid to the Asian country. Trump further charged that the government helped wanted terrorist to hide in their country. "We give $1.3 billion a year . ... [bin Laden] lived in Pakistan, we're supporting Pakistan, we're giving them $1.3 billion a year --which we don't give them anymore, by the way, I ended it because they don't do anything for us, they don't do a damn thing for us," Trump was quoted saying in the interview. Speaking exclusively to Fox News' Chris Wallace in a wide-ranging interview, Trump also admitted that he occasionally enjoys calling on CNN's chief White House correspondent Jim Acosta. "Actually I like to do it, but in many cases I don't," Trump said. Trump, speaking to Wallace, floated another idea for dealing with Acosta. "I think one of the things we'll do is maybe turn the camera off that faces them, because then they don't have any air time, although I'll probably be sued for that and maybe, you know, win or lose it, who knows," Trump was quoted saying in the interview. "I mean, with this stuff you never know what's going to happen," Trump added. Trump also called Acosta to be "unbelievably rude to White House press secretary Sarah Huckabee, who's a wonderful woman." Trump said his administration is currently formulating "rules and regulations" for the White House reporters. "And if he misbehaves, we'll throw him out or we'll stop the news conference," the President added. Meanwhile, refuting the media reports that labeled the President to be acting bitterly and resentful following the midterm elections, Trump called it to be "disgusting fake news," and addressed some potential high-level departures from his administration. Speaking on Department of Homeland Security head Kirstjen Nielsen, Trump suggested he wants to see an improvement on border security. The first members of a large Central American migrant caravan reached the Mexican city of Tijuana last week and were photographed attempting to climb a border fence there. In addition, Trump also expressed his regret over not being able to visit the Arlington National Cemetary in Washington, D.C., on Veterans Day, which former President Barack Obama did every year while he was in office. UK Side Welcomes Democratic Transformation of Georgia The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Georgia publishes the Joint Communique adopted within the framework of the Fifth Round of the Georgia-UK Wardrop Strategic Dialogue. The Communique highlights special importance of the Annual Wardrop Strategic Dialogue as a core framework that successfully covers a wide range of issues of bilateral cooperation, focussing on political, defense and security policy spheres, economic, commercial, educational, scientific, cultural and people-to-people dimensions.According to the Communique, Georgias Euro-Atlantic aspirations was one of the topics of the meeting. The UK recognizes the significant progress in reforms Georgia has made in its preparation towards membership. Both sides agreed to continue a dialogue in order to facilitate this process. The UK reiterated decisions made during the Brussels Summit and reflected in NATO-Georgia Commission Declaration at the level of the Heads of State and Government. The UK acknowledged Georgias contributions to Black Sea security and welcomed the further development of practical cooperation in this context.The UK side welcomed the democratic transformation of Georgia over recent years and the first round of presidential elections, which were held in a free, fair and transparent manner. Sir Alan Duncan reaffirmed the UKs full commitment to Georgias European and Euro-Atlantic aspirations.Throughout the dialogue, there was a focus on the utmost need for the peaceful resolution of the Russia-Georgia conflict. The Minister of Foreign Affairs underlined the necessity of a consolidated international approach to achieving the full implementation of the 12 August 2008 Ceasefire Agreement by the Russian Federation, the withdrawal of Russian military forces and the safe and dignified return of IDPs and refugees. He also expressed appreciation for the supportive statements by UK officials on the 10th anniversary of the Russia-Georgia war. In this regard, he stressed the utmost importance of maintaining the practice of reflecting the human rights situation in these regions in the FCOs Human Rights and Democracy report.Sir Alan Duncan highlighted the UKs unwavering support towards Georgias sovereignty and territorial integrity within its internationally recognized borders, the non-recognition policy and the peaceful conflict resolution efforts pursued by the Government of Georgia. He welcomed the Georgian Governments reconciliation and engagement policy with the people living in Georgian regions of Abkhazia and Tskhinvali region/South Ossetia, including the new peace initiative A Step to a Better Future launched in April 2018. He also condemned the reinforced military presence of Russia in two Georgian regions and expressed concern over the threat caused to regional stability by Russias illegal activities.In the framework of the dialogue, both sides stressed emerging opportunities following the UKs departure from the European Union. The Georgian side expressed full respect towards the democratic choice of the UK population to leave the EU. Both sides attached great importance to the development of a bilateral legal base for strategic cooperation between the UK and Georgia after the UKs departure from the EU.According to the Communique, Sir Alan Duncan expressed gratitude for the solidarity shown by the Georgian Government in the face of the tragic events in Salisbury, and for their continued support to reinforce the Rules-Based International System.The Communique covers the results of the thematic discussions held within the four pillars of the Dialogue (Political Pillar; Defence Security and Foreign Policy Pillar; Trade and Commercial Pillar; People-to-People Pillar). Two people, including a Nigerian national, were arrested by police here on charges of online fraud. The accused used to befriend people and dupe them of their money via Facebook, said Naveen Tiwari, Senior Superintendent of Police. "We have received a diary from them in which it is written that they have taken Rs 15 lakh, Rs 3 lakh and Rs 5 lakh from different people," Tiwari added. Besides that, the police have also recovered 10 mobile phones, foreign currency, and debit cards from the two people arrested. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) President Ram Nath Kovind and First Lady Savita Kovind arrived at the Da Nang International Airport here on Sunday. The President will be in Vietnam from November 18 to November 21. They were received by Truong Quang Nghia, Party Secretary of Da Nang, Huynh C Tho, Chairman of the People's Committee of Da Nang city and Dao Viet Trung, Chairman of the President's Office. President Kovind and the First Lady have departed for Hotel Furama Resort. In the evening, the President and First Lady will meet leaders of the Da Nang People's Committee. Da Nang has a rich historical and civilisational connection with India. The place is famous for its heritage site of My Son, and has remnants of Buddhist connections and the Hindu Cham civilization in the form of ancient temples. "The Archaeological Survey of India is helping Vietnam in the preservation and conservation of some of the temples," the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said in a statement. On November 19 (Monday), President Kovind will pay a visit to the Museum of Cham Sculpture. During the visit, he will participate in a group photo session with the museum staff. The President and First Lady will also participate in a photo-op with provincial leaders. After this, President Kovind and First Lady will depart for Hanoi, the capital of Vietnam. The President is expected to address the Vietnam-India Business Forum and the Indian community in the city. He is also slated to meet an Indian business delegation. On November 20 (Tuesday), President Kovind and First Lady will depart for Monument of National Heroes and Martyrs. After that, they will pay a visit to Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum. After visiting the mausoleum, President Kovind and First Lady will depart for Presidential Palace, where they will be received by his Vietnamese counterpart Nguyen Phu Trong and his wife. President Kovind will be accorded the Guard of Honour here. After this, a restricted meeting and delegation-level talks would be held between the two Presidents, which will be followed by signing and exchange of agreements and press statements. President Kovind will then leave for the National Assembly of Vietnam, where he will meet Nguyen Thi Kim Ngan, chairwoman of the assembly. He will also address the National Assembly. The President is also scheduled to meet Nguyen Xuan Phuc, the Prime Minister of Vietnam at the Government House. After this, President Kovind and First Lady will depart for the International Convention Centre for a banquet dinner. After wrapping up his bilateral engagements here, the President and First Lady will depart for Sydney, Australia, on the evening of November 21. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Congress president Rahul Gandhi on Sunday expressed condolences to the families of the people killed in the grenade attack at the Nirankari Bhawan in Amritsar's Rajasansi village. Taking to his Facebook page, the Congress president said that "I am very hurt by the news of the attack in Amritsar. The incident is condemnable. I express my sympathy to the families of the deceased." At least three people were killed and 20 were left injured in the bombing that took place in the afternoon today. IG (Border) Surinder Pal Singh Parmar confirmed that two individuals had lobbed a hand grenade in the religious congregation, where around 250 people were present. The state's Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh has announced a compensation of Rs five lakh for the kin of the deceased and free treatment for those injured. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh offered his condolences to the families of those who lost their lives in the grenade attack at the Nirankari Bhawan in Amritsar's Rajasansi village on Sunday. Taking to his Twitter handle, Rajnath said, "Deeply anguished by the death of innocent people in a grenade attack at Amritsar in Punjab today. It is a reprehensible act of violence. My condolences to the families who have lost their loved ones in this attack and prayers for speedy recovery of the injured." The Home Minister further assured that stringent action will be taken against the perpetrators of the attack. "Spoke to the Chief Minister of Punjab, @capt_amarinder ji who has apprised me of the situation in the wake of grenade attack in Amritsar. Strongest possible action will be taken against the perpetrators of this crime," Rajnath said in a separate tweet. At least three people were dead, while a further 15 to 20 people were left injured in the bombing. IG (Border) Surinder Pal Singh Parmar confirmed that two individuals had lobbed a hand grenade in the religious congregation, where around 250 people were present. The state's Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh announced a compensation of Rs five lakh for the kin of the deceased and free treatment for those injured. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) While addressing a rally in poll-bound Chhattisgarh on Sunday, Chief Minister Raman Singh came down heavily on the Congress president Rahul Gandhi saying that he had lost 26 elections out of 28 conducted since 2013 in the country. While addressing a rally in Kargikalan at Kota Tehsil in Bilaspur district of the State, Singh said, "Since 2013, 28 elections have taken place in the country, out of which he (Rahul Gandhi) has lost 26 of them." He added, "The Congress party tries to copy the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) but they forget that even for copying one would needs brains." Attacking the Congress party, he said, "My friends from Congress are lying and spreading rumors, they want to remove me from the Chief Minister's post, their whole and the sole target is to come to power. They kept on ranting Gareebi Hatao (Eradicate Poverty), but what they did made the poor even poorer." He further said that the Congress tries to portray itself as the well-wishers of the farmers but on the contrary, farmers in Congress-ruled states are being tortured for repayment of loans. "The Congress leaders are carrying holy water 'Gangajal' because no one is ready to listen to them. The Congress has gone missing from the map of India," said Singh while talking to ANI. He also highlighted the efforts made by his government in the areas of food security and health. "To eradicate poverty first and foremost we need to solve the food problem, for which our government launched CM Khadya Suraksha Yojna, next we launched the Chief Minister Swasth Suraksha Yojana so that no poor have to face difficulty in procuring treatment from hospitals," he added. "We have brought better infrastructure including road network and electricity and also schools and hospitals. Only BJP talks about development," he said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Newly-weds Ranveer Singh and Deepika Padukone are back to India after a dreamy destination wedding in Italy. The couple was swarmed by ardent fans and scores of media persons as soon as they stepped out of Mumbai Airport. As everyone tried to capture a perfect shot of the couple, Ranveer asked them to take it easy. The duo left the airport with heavy security. The Mr and Mrs wore complimentary outfits and also posed for the paparazzi after arriving at Ranveer's residence. Ranveer wore a cream kurta, paired with white churidar topped with a contrasting red sleeveless jacket adorned with golden motifs. Similarly, Deepika's opted for a knee-length kurta in cream colour, with a white churidar and added a dash of colour with a heavy banarsi dupatta in red, teamed with heavy golden jhumkis. The leggy lass sported a choora and also wore sindoor. B-Town's power couple tied the knot in Lake Como in a traditional Konkani ceremony on November 14, while a Sindhi wedding was organised on November 15, both of which were attended by close-knit relatives of the two actors. Bollywood's 'Bajirao' and 'Mastani' will reportedly host two grand receptions for their relatives and friends- one in Bengaluru and the other in Mumbai. The Reel-life couple had announced their wedding dates on October 21 on social media after dating for over 6 years. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Supreme Court has dismissed a petition seeking direction to the Central government for proper implementation of Article 146 of the Constitution. The said article deals with the appointments of officers and servants of the Supreme Court. A three-judge bench of the apex court headed by Chief Justice of India (CJI) Justice Ranjan Gogoi observed that the petition lacked merit and hence dismissed the same. "The petition is devoid of merits and substance. We are dismissing it," observed the three-judge bench of the Apex Court that also comprised Justices Sanjay Kishan Kaul and K M Joseph on Friday. Advocate Debashish Misra representing the petitioner requested the apex court to direct the Central government to properly implement the Article 146 of the Indian Constitution. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Scientists have now discovered a new inhibitor that helps in treating the life-threatening disease- sepsis. The research was published in Science Journal. Sepsis occurs when certain chemicals released in the bloodstream to fight an infection trigger inflammation throughout the body. This can cause death in certain cases. Scientists from the University of Sheffield, who have discovered the OGG1 inhibitor, said that it could decrease lung inflammation, and also hold the key to treating life-threatening Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome. The study revealed that the inhibitor OGG1's protein signals inflammation and the newly created inhibitor could prevent the onset of inflammation. The new mechanism which is different to other anti-inflammatory drugs can also help in preventing the human immune system from attacking itself in conditions such as multiple sclerosis, Crohn's disease, and potentially other autoimmune disorders, apart from sepsis. During inflammation, the white blood cells protect against infection from bacteria and viruses. However, in some conditions, the immune system triggers an inflammatory response when there is no infection to fight off. This causes the body's normally protective immune system to cause damage to its own tissues. "When oxygen regulation in our cells goes wrong it can cause damage to our DNA and trigger our immune system to responding," said lead researcher Thomas Helleday. "Our immune system is our defence mechanism which normally fights off an invasion from bacteria and viruses, however sometimes it can misfire and attack our own bodies. Isolating an inhibitor which can switch this response off is a major breakthrough and we are really excited about developing our research to see if we can not only decrease existing inflammation in other areas of the body but prevent inflammation altogether," Helleday added. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The chairman of Shia State Waqf Board (SWB) Syed Waseem Rizvi on Saturday announced the release date of the trailer of a movie representing the timeline of the holy land of Ayodhya. According to a press release issued by the board, the movie will be featuring the faith of millions challenged by the extremists and fundamentalists which resulted in the historic divide between the two largest Indian communities. Filming of the trailer is slated to be held at Hotel Renaissance, Lucknow, on Monday at 11 am. The announcement of SWB comes at a time when the Supreme Court is slated to resume the hearing in the Ram Janmabhoomi-Babri Masjid title suit in January 2019. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Days before Shiv Sena Chief Uddhav Thackeray's visit to Ayodhya, Shiv Sena has come up with a new slogan endorsing 'construction of temple before the formation of government'. The new Shiv Sena slogan coined in the Hindi language reads, 'Har Hindu Ki Yahi Pukar, Pehle Mandir Fir Sarkaar' which roughly translates to 'Every Hindu has same demand, construction of Temple before the formation of Government'. Upset with the delay in the construction of Ram Temple in Ayodhya, Shiv Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray on October 18 announced that he would visit the city in Uttar Pradesh on November 25. Sharing details of his visit, Shiv Sena's Rajya Sabha MP Sanjay Raut a few days back said that party chief Uddhav Thackeray is going to Ayodhya to remind Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government that Ram Temple needs to be constructed. Raut also informed that all preparations have been made for Thackeray's visit to Ayodhya on November 25. "All preparations have been done for Uddhav Thackeray's visit to Ayodhya on November 25. He is going there to remind Modi ji and the BJP government that Ram Temple needs to be constructed," Raut told ANI. On October 29, the apex court adjourned the hearing of the Ayodhya title suit case until January 2019. The apex court had adjourned the matter, which challenged the Allahabad High Court verdict of 2010 that ruled that the disputed land in Ayodhya should be divided into three parts for each party - the Sunni Waqf Board, the Nirmohi Akhara and Ram Lala. The Babri Masjid in Ayodhya was demolished on December 6, 1992, allegedly by a group of some Hindu activists, claiming that the mosque was constructed by Mughal king Babur after demolishing a Ram Temple that originally stood there. Since then, several hearings have been held in the top court to resolve the issue. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) If you are rooting for 'The Office' reboot, there is bad news for you. Steve Carell has made it clear that he won't be reprising his role as Michael Scott. Carell shut down 'The Office' reboot rumors during his 'Saturday Night Live' opening monologue. The monologue started with an audience member asking if Carell would consider rebooting the 2013 popular series. "No, actually I don't think so. It was a great experience. I love all those people. But I just don't think it's the best idea. I think we should just leave it alone," the Hollywood actor said. Taking the interaction further, Ellie Kemper, who played secretary Erin Hannon in the serial, popped up in the audience and tried to convince Carell to hop on board with the idea of a possible reboot. People would really love to see that 'Office' reboot, cause I need that money. Let's get that money, Steve!" The 'Get Smart' again refused to give it a thought. Following this, Former "Office" stars Ed Helms and Jenna Fischer attempted to attempt to push Carell into the reboot. You wouldn't have to do all those sad movies anymore," Helms said to Carell. "Steve, don't be a d___, do the reboot," Jenna Fischer followed. However, Carell did not give in and concluded the monologue by saying, "I am proud to announce officially.that we have a great show tonight!" According to Fox News, in October, answering why he does not want to be a part of the reboot, Carell said, "Apart from the fact that I just don't think that's a good idea, it might be impossible to do that show today and have people accept it the way it was accepted 10 years ago." This was Carell's third appearance on 'Saturday Night Live'. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) In what could be perceived as a major setback to U.S military intervention in Afghanistan to contain Taliban, a high ranking official in the United States military has said that Taliban is "not losing" in Afghanistan and the stalemate reached a year ago has not changed much. General Joseph Dunford, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff asserted on Saturday that peace can only be reached in Afghanistan through means of negotiations. "They are not losing right now; I think that is fair to say. We used the term stalemate a year ago and, relatively speaking, it has not changed much," CNN quoted General Dunford, as saying. Dunford made these comments during a discussion at a security forum in Halifax, Nova Scotia. Dunford said that "military solution" on its own cannot bring peace to Afghanistan and the United States and its NATO partners are working to leverage military, the political and economic pressure to convince the Taliban that it is in their interest to negotiate a political solution to the crisis with the government in Kabul. On recent elections in Afghanistan, Dunford claimed that the election has concluded successfully, and noted the importance of presidential election due next year. On November 9, India sent its two retired diplomats - TCA Raghavan, a former envoy to Pakistan, and Amar Sinha, a former ambassador to Afghanistan at the "non-official level" for meeting with Russia and Taliban representatives. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) In a major terrorist incident, three people were killed and 20 others injured when two motorcycle-borne masked youths threw a grenade at a Nirankari congregation in Rajasansi area in Punjab's Amritsar district on Sunday, police said. The grenade attack took place at the Nirankari Satsang Bhawan of the Nirankari sect in Adliwal village, about 15 km from Amritsar. The campus is located in Amritsar's rural belt, around three kilometres from the Guru Ram Das Jee Amritsar international airport. The injured were rushed to hospitals in Amritsar. Two of them were in serious condition, police said. All the victims were sect followers from nearby villages who had gathered for the Sunday weekly religious meeting. Punjab Director General of Police Suresh Arora, who rushed to the spot along with senior Punjab Police officers, admitted that it was a "terror act". "We are taking it as a terror act. This incident is against a group and not an individual. That's why we are taking it as a terror act. We did not have any specific input of a strike against any particular group," he told the media in Adliwal village. Describing it as an unfortunate incident, Arora said that further investigations will reveal details about who was behind the attack. Witnesses told the police that two youths on a motorcycle, their faces covered, forced entry to the sect campus by pointing a pistol at a woman volunteer at the gate. "Everything happened within a couple of minutes. They got in, threw the grenade and fled," one man told the police. Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh on Sunday directed the police to immediately enhance security arrangements at all sensitive places, terming it as "the first such indiscriminate attack on innocent people in recent past". "Preliminary investigations had so far revealed that two men, one of them with a flowing beard, with covered faces, allegedly forced their way into the hall by brandishing a pistol. They detained the sewadar, lobbed the grenade into the prayer room, and escaped on a motorcycle," he said. A crater three inches in diameter was formed by the impact of the explosion and was being examined by the forensic team. The safety valve of the grenade has also been found, he said. "The possibility of involvement of ISI-based Khalistani/Kashmiri terror groups cannot be ruled out. Police teams are investigating various angles," the Chief Minister said in a statement. The attack on Sunday happened amid a high alert issued on November 14 by the Punjab Police regarding the movement of 6-7 terrorists in the state. Punjab Police Inspector General (Border Range) S.P.S. Parmar said that all angles, about who could be behind the attack, were being investigated. "The people had gathered for prayers. There were around 200 people. Preliminary reports suggest that the two persons threw one grenade. No firing took place," he said. The Nirankari sect, with headquarters in Delhi, has millions of followers across the country and abroad. In recent months, Khalistani and Kashmiri activists have been trying to foment trouble in Punjab, which shares a 553-km long barbed wire fenced international border with Pakistan. The Punjab Police, along with the Jammu and Kashmir Police, had recently busted two modules of Kashmiri students who were studying in institutions in Punjab and having links to terrorist outfits in troubled Kashmir. The Maqsudan police station was targeted by Kashmiri terrorists on September 14 this year with hand grenades though no one was injured in the attack. Posters of Kashmiri terrorist Zakir Mussa had mysteriously appeared in Punjab's Gurdaspur district on Friday saying that he had been seen in Punjab. The Chief Minister said he would ensure that the culprits were apprehended. "Though the state had been hit by a series of cases of targeted attacks since 2015/16, this was the first attempt, in a long time, to disturb the peace in the state through indiscriminate killings. Pakistan is continuing with its nefarious activities to disturb the state's peace," Amarinder Singh said. He pointed out that 15 such terror modules had been busted in the past 18 months, with Kashmiri terror links also indicated in some instances, as evidenced in the arrest of Kashmiri students from Jalandhar and in the Maqsudan police station grenade blast case. The Chief Minister announced a compensation of Rs 5 lakh each to the kin of the dead. --IANS js/mr (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) British Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs Jeremy Hunt will visit Iran on Monday for talks on key issues of mutual interest, official IRNA news agency reported on Sunday. During his stay in Iran, Hunt will meet his Iranian counterpart Mohammad Javad Zarif and other senior officials, reports Xinhua. After the US withdrawal from the Iranian international nuclear deal in May, Hunt is the first western foreign minister to visit Iran. The fate of Iran's nuclear deal, also known as JCPOA, and the Europeans' measures to protect the deal will top the agenda of Hunt's visit. He will also discuss regional issues and bilateral ties with the Iranian side, according to the report. --IANS vc (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) China on Sunday urged the United States to stop wagging fingers at others, asking it instead to make real contributions to developing countries. "We suggest a certain country matches its words with its deeds, rather than wag the finger at others," Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Hua Chunying said on Sunday in response to US Vice President Mike Pence's recent comments about Chinese aid to Pacific Island nations. "The country should treat all countries on an equal footing no matter big or small, respect other countries' right of following a development path that accords with their own national conditions and make real contributions to developing countries," Hua said in a statement, as reported by Xinhua news agency. During the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Economic Leaders' meeting held in Papua New Guinea, Pence was quoted as saying that China's aid to the Pacific Island countries saddled them with loans they could not afford. Hua cited President Xi Jinping's speeches during the APEC meeting, which stressed both international and regional cooperation should adhere to the principle of openness, development, inclusiveness and innovation, as well as rules-based approach, to cope with common challenges and achieve mutual benefits. As the APEC has entered a critical stage of development, the Chinese side believes that all parties should demonstrate a responsible and constructive attitude, and calls for negotiation under the rules made collectively when encountering differences, rather than setting barriers, according to Hua. She said China had conducted sound cooperation with many countries, including mutually beneficial cooperation with developing countries under the framework of South-South cooperation. "Upholding justice while pursuing shared interests and the principle of sincerity, real results, affinity, and good faith, China has contributed to the social and economic development of these countries within its capability," she said, adding that this kind of assistance, with no political conditions attached, had fully respected the willingness of the recipient countries and their people. "There is not a single country getting into debt crisis due to its cooperation with China. On the contrary, they have all improved the capacity of independent development and people's livelihood. So, the cooperation with China is widely welcomed by vast developing countries and their people." --IANS shs/sed (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) A three-member committee deputed by the central leadership of the Congress party on Sunday held talks with the party's Telangana leaders who are unhappy over being denied the ticket for next month's elections to the state Assembly. The panel headed by Puducherry Chief Minister V. Narayanasamy met the dissident leaders at a hotel here to dissuade them from contesting as rebel candidates. Karnataka's Irrigation Minister D.K. Shivakumar and Puducherry's Health Minister Malladi Krishna Rao are the other members of the committee. The troubleshooters assured the dissidents that they will be rewarded suitably after the party comes to power. They advised the dissidents not to enter the fray as rebels as this would mar the prospects of 'Mahakutami' or grand alliance headed by the Congress. The dissidents were also asked to work for the victory of 'Mahakutami'. Former minister Ponnala Lakshmaiah, senior leader V. Hanumantha Rao, party spokesman Ramya Rao and others met the committee members and made certain suggestions. After meeting the committee members, Palvai Sravanthi, one of the dissidents, announced that she will not contest as a rebel. The state leadership has identified at least 90 ticket aspirants who were miffed over not being fielded as party candidates. Some of them plan to contest as rebels. Party sources said 40-50 dissidents would meet the committee over the next two days. Elections to the 119-member Assembly are scheduled for December 7. The Congress has so far announced 88 candidates. It is likely to declare six more candidates later on Sunday. The party has decided to leave 25 seats to its three allies including Telugu Desam Party (TDP). --IANS ms/mag/sed (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Two persons were attacked by alleged cow vigilantes when they were transporting cattle near Ahmedabad early on Sunday, leaving one of them with a stab wound, police said. Zaheer, 23, was rushed to the Ahmedabad Civil Hospital with a stab wound and was injected several units of blood. His accomplice, Mustafa, ran away from the spot and hid behind a police van nearby, Danish Khan, an activist attending on Zaheer at the hospital, told IANS. Zaheer and Mustafa were travelling in a tempo van with eight buffalo calves from Deesa in North Gujarat when they were intercepted near Ramol in Ahmedabad by six people believed to be cow vigilantes and attacked by knives and batons. Ahmedabad Deputy Commissioner Himkar Singh told IANS: "The two persons were intercepted by six people, including two motorcycle-borne youths, from the nearby Rabari colony, and attacked around 12.30 a.m." Zaheer is out of danger, he said, adding he sustained one stab wound. The police officer said an FIR had been registered against unidentified accused under Section 326 of the Indian Penal Code for causing grievous injuries. Himkar Singh said: "We have rounded up some persons and finding out more details. We will soon get the assailants." --IANS desai/mr (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Rappers Divine and Raftaar are very kicked about the emergence of new sounds from different parts of India in the rap and hip-hop music scenario. The two popular artistes, apart from Hindi rock band The Local Train, electro funk duo Madboy/Mink and all-female, folk/jazz/blues band Ladies Compartment, performed at Red Bull Music's fifth consecutive edition of Off The Roof at Hindu Gymkhana here on Saturday. Divine, whose life story has inspired actor Ranveer Singh's character in "Gully Boy", was excited to perform with some of the upcoming talent in the country and his "brother" Raftaar. "I feel extremely excited and proud when I look at the aspiring rappers. To see where we started and how the hip-hop scene is really blowing up is something that I'm really enjoying," Divine told IANS via email. Raftaar said Off The Roof was fun as it had "different sounds, same stage, and different energies combined into one big grand act". In the coming year, Raftaar hopes to make more music, sign and support more artistes, get into more business endeavours, and keep his family happy. "The new rappers are bringing in the new sound. Hip-hop has become more regional now. Everyone is trying to put out their stories in their own ways. Being street is not uncool anymore. I just hope that they understand and utilise their fame and power to inspire people as well. I welcome everyone with open arms. We have few artistes considering the 1.4 billion population," he added. For Divine, 2019 will bring in new work too. "I'm currently releasing my first body of work over the next month and the year will accompany a lot more music and some interesting Independent and Bollywood projects. Red Bull Media House has also been shooting a documentary with me and that should also come out in 2019. --IANS rb/sed (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Without absolving Facebook's "mistakes" in the way it handled Russian trolls ahead of the 2016 US presidential election, a former security chief of the social network has said that others -- US spy agencies, lawmakers and the media -- also made mistakes. Facebook has been under the scanner of US lawmakers ever since the activities of Russia-linked accounts that tried to spread misinformation and sow seeds of discord came to be known. Sharing his side of the story in a Washington Post opinion piece on Saturday, Alex Stamos, who served as Chief Security Officer at Facebook until August, admitted that Facebook "should have responded to these threats much earlier and handled disclosure in a more transparent manner". His views appeared three days after a New York Times report said that Facebook knew about the Russian activities as early as spring of 2016, a claim denied by the social networking giant. The Times report also blamed Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg and COO Sheryl Sandberg of ignoring warning signs and then trying to conceal them from public view. Stamos agreed that Facebook "stuck to a public-communications strategy of minimisation and denial". But he also blamed the US spy agencies for their failure "to provide actionable intelligence" on Russian trolls. "The massive US intelligence community failed to provide actionable intelligence on Russia's information-warfare goals and capabilities before the election and offered a dearth of assistance afterward," Stamos wrote. Stamos criticized the lawmakers for their "failure to establish facts, effectively oversee the executive branch and provide for the common defence. "We must also remember that in the summer of 2016, every major media outlet rewarded the hackers of the Russian Main Intelligence Directorate (GRU) with thousands of collective stories drawn from the stolen emails of prominent Democrats," he wrote. Stamos said that no one at Facebook ever told him not to examine Russian activity, nor did anyone attempt to lie about the company's findings. "It is time for us to come together to protect our society from future information operations. While it appears Russia and other US adversaries sat out the 2018 midterms, our good fortune is unlikely to extend through a contentious Democratic primary season and raucous 2020 election," Stamos wrote. --IANS gb/mr (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The police have launched an investigation after the father-in-law of a senior IAS officer was shot dead by unidentified persons near Punjab's Rajpura town, around 45 km from here, police said on Sunday. The body of Swaran Singh, father-in-law of IAS officer Varun Roojam, was found in his car near the highway on Sunday. Police said the victim, 64, was shot thrice from close range. The police have ruled out any terrorist angle to the killing. --IANS js/mr (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Goa government has virtually become non-functional and Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar is being self-centred in not letting go of the top post despite suffering from pancreatic cancer, former state RSS chief Subhash Velingkar said on Sunday. "People are being taken for granted. Had this happened in Bihar and Uttar Pradesh, people would have stripped the politicians naked and taken them on a procession," Velingkar, who formally entered by joining Goa Suraksha Manch near here, said. Velingkar has served as the state RSS chief for more than two decades and is considered responsible for the political grooming of the state BJP's top leaders, including Manohar Parrikar, Union Minister of State for AYUSH Shripad Naik, and former Chief Minister Laxmikant Parsekar. He was, however, sacked from the RSS in 2016, after he took on Parrikar, accusing the latter of going back on the principles of both the Sangh as well as the Bharatiya Janata Party. Velingkar accused Parrikar of being self-centered in allowing his administration to "virtually shut down" on account of his illness, while holding on to more than two dozen portfolios. "The government is functioning in a way no government ought to function at all. The CM is taking treatment. He does not have the courage to come and face the people. The Opposition has been demanding that they want to meet the CM, but he has not been able to meet them. Therefore, the departments and portfolios are not getting any justice," Velingkar said. Velingkar also said that the state was heading for a mid-term poll along with the Lok Sabha elections next year because the government was already beset with infighting due to Parrikar's inability to attend to office and take decisions. This state of indecision would lead to the disintegration of the coalition of BJP, Maharashtrawadi Gomantak Party, Goa Forward and four independent MLAs, he said. "Along with the Congress, the BJP too will be demolished in the next elections and Goa will see the rise of a new leadership," Velingkar said. --IANS maya/shs/sed (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Goa RTI Forum on Sunday extended its support to its member Rajan Ghate, who is on a fast till death demanding the resignation of ailing Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar. On Sunday, Ghate's fast entered its third day. Forum's Convenor Sandeep Heble said that members of the RTI collective supported Ghate's demand. "A government must be for the people and not be entirely dependent upon a single or a handful of individuals for its efficient functioning. Nobody is indispensable. We must accept this reality of life. No matter what, life moves on. Government must too. In a democracy, people are supreme and need to be respected," Heble said in a statement. Ghate, fasting at the Panaji city square, has said that he would continue his hunger strike until Parrikar resigned. "The Chief Minister is not able to attend office. He has not met any member of the public for several months now. The administration has come to a standstill because of his inability to govern due to his illness. He must resign. My hunger strike will continue until he quits," Ghate said. Parrikar is suffering from advanced pancreatic cancer and has been in and out of hospitals in Goa, Mumbai, New York and Delhi for nearly nine months. He returned from New Delhi's All-India Institute of Medical Sciences on October 14 and has not moved out of his private residence for any official event since. The Opposition Congress as well as Parrikar's cabinet colleagues have voiced concern that state's administration has suffered due to the Chief Minister's prolonged absence. --IANS maya/shs (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Haiti defeated Nicaragua 2-0 here to stay perfect in the opening stage of the inaugural Concacaf Nations League tournament. The Haitians are on top of the standings with nine points from three matches, including two away wins. Nicaragua are ninth with six points, reports Efe. Besides advancing to the group stage of the Nations League, the top 10 finishers in the four-match qualifying phase will punch their tickets for the 2019 Concacaf Gold Cup. The visitors were dominant from the start in front of roughly 4,000 people at Managua's Nacional Futbol stadium and remained in complete command despite playing with only 10 men for most of the night. Mikael Cantave exploited a poor clearance by the Nicaraguan defense to put Haiti up 1-0 with a goal in the 13th minute. Haiti went down to 10 men just three minutes later after Donald Guerrier was sent off with a straight red card for striking Nicaragua's Jaime Moreno in the face. Derrick Etienne doubled the lead for Haiti in the 30th minute, getting his head to a Duckens Nazon cross. Nicaragua reacted with energy and aggression, but their efforts were not enough against a superior Haitian side. The contest was combative throughout, with five yellow cards in addition to the red for Guerrier and a bout of pushing and shoving in the 65th minute. --IANS gau/sed (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Sunday slammed his Haryana counterpart Manohar Lal Khattar for "justifying rape" after the latter claimed that most of the rape cases filed were "fake". Addressing a rally last week, Khattar had said that 80-90 per cent of the rapes and molestation took place amongst people who know each other well. "They roam around together for some time and if one day they get in some quarrel, they file an FIR claiming that they have been raped," Khattar had said. Sharing Khattar's speech on Twitter, Kejriwal said: "If this is the mentality of a state's Chief Minister then how do you expect the women to be safe? "CM sir is justifying rape. This is the reason why incidences of rape are increasing in Haryana and rapists are not caught... they roam around free." The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) national convenor and Khattar have been in a tiff over the past few weeks over their respective states' basic services. In his efforts to get more seats in the 2019 polls, Kejriwal has been holding rallies in Haryana and inviting people of the state to visit AAP's Mohalla clinics and government schools to see the work done by his government. He had also invited Khattar to visit the clinics after the Haryana Chief Minister dismissed the Mohalla clinics as chaotic or "halla clinics". However, Kejriwal said that the Haryana Chief Minister never replied to his requests. On Saturday, Kejriwal was stopped by authorities from entering Haryana's Karnal district after protesters from the state's ruling BJP blocked a road that he was to take. --IANS sd/ksk (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan on Sunday embarked on a day-long visit to the United Arab Emirates (UAE) at the invitation of Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan. Khan was being accompanied by ministers of foreign affairs, finance, petroleum, power and adviser to the Prime Minister on commerce, reports Xinhua news agency. "Matters of bilateral, regional and global interest will be discussed in the meeting between the Prime Minister and the Crown Prince," Khan's office said in a statement. He will also meet Vice President and Prime Minister of UAE Sheikh Mohamed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum. This is Khan's second visit to the UAE. The earlier one was on September 19. --IANS ksk/sed (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Hundreds of farmers, including the womenfolk, on Sunday staged a protests here against the state government's alleged indifference over ensuring minimum support price for sugarcane and in getting their arrears released from the mill owners. "In view of the production glut and falling price, the state government should ensure a minimum support price (MSP) of Rs 3,000 per tonne for sugarcane with 9.5 per cent recovery and help us get arrears for the cane supplied to mill owners last year," farmer leader Siddanna Gouda told reporters here, about 500km northwest of the state. The previous Congress government had fixed Rs 2,500 per tonne as MSP last year. With input costs, including harvesting and transporting the cane to the mills going up steeply, Gouda said growing sugarcane was no longer remunerative, as mill owners were unwilling to pay more and settle the arrears. "We suspended on Saturday our agitation launched on November 15 for higher MSP and recovery of arrears on the assurance of Chief Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy that he would meet us here on Monday. But he has now backed out," alleged Gouda. As a mark of protest against Kumarswamy cancelling his visit to the city on Monday, about 20 farmers drove trucks laden with sugarcane into the Suvarna Vidhana Soudha, which is the state legislative and secretariat building for the region. "We will disrupt the winter session of the state legislature here next month if the state government does not resolve our issues by November 30, as we cannot keep the cane in the fields longer from harvesting as recovery will be less if delayed," added Gouda. The opposition BJP condemned the JD-S-Congress coalition government's indifference to the plight of the sugarcane farmers in the state. "The coalition government's approach to farmers' plight is reprehensible. Scores of farmers, including their womenfolk, were arrested at Belagavi for staging a protest," said Karnataka BJP President B.S. Yeddyurappa in Bengaluru. Mocking at Kumaraswamy and the JD-S for claiming to be a party for farmers, by farmers and of farmers, Yeddyurappa said the former told a woman agitator that he was not responsible for what happened to them over the last four years as he became chief minister only 5 months ago. Kumaraswami has also cast aspersions on the integrity of the farmers, which is unacceptable. "By calling farmers 'goondas' (goons), Kumaraswamy has indulged in an outrageous act. This shows the contempt his party has for farmers," added Yeddyurappa. --IANS bha-fb/shs (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Kerala unit of the BJP observed a protest on Sunday by blocking highways across the state following the arrest and the subsequent remand of senior party leader K. Surendran. Surendran was taken into custody on Saturday night after he got into a scuffle with the police while attempting to go to the Sabarimala temple despite police cordon in the area. After spending the night at Chittar police station,Surendran was produced before a magistrate near here on Sunday morning which remanded him to a 14-day judicial custody. The Bharatiya Janata Party leader is currently at the Kottarakara sub-jail. Surendran who spoke to the media before being remanded said: "The police have charged me uunder non-bailable sections. I am no criminal, nor do I have any cases against me. They did not let me sleep, nor was I allowed water or to take my medicines. "The police even roughed up my 'Irumudi kettu' (a mandatory holy kit to be taken to the temple)." In reaction to the development, state BJP President P.S. Sreedharan Pillai told the media that Kerala was under "jungle raj". "Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan is arrogant and was behaving in an irrational manner. The present impasse in the state over the Sabarimala issue is his creation. We will strongly resist." BJP leaders and activists started to block traffic across the state on the highways since 10 a.m. According to new police rules that came into effect from Friday, no pilgrim is allowed to proceed to the temple after 7 p.m. as the temple closes for the day at 10 p.m. The temple opened its doors at 5 p.m. on Friday for two months. The temple town has witnessed protests by Hindu groups since the September 28 when the Supreme Court allowed women of all ages to enter the temple that hitherto banned girls and women aged between 10 and 50. The apex court last week refused to stay its earlier verdict. Surendran and his party have been up in arms against the Vijayan government, which according to them, is determined to see that a woman in the hitherto "banned" age group is allowed 'darshan' at the temple and they have vowed that the temple traditions will not be breached. The BJP and the Sangh Parivar forces have decided to strengthen their presence in and around the temple town and have asked its cadres to arrive as pilgrims. --IANS sg/ksk (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The All India Minorities Front (AIMF) on Sunday decided to withdraw the nominations of its candidates in the upcoming Assembly polls in Rajasthan to help the "secular forces" defeat "communal elements" led by the Bharatiya Janata Party. At a meeting of the party's Parliamentary Board chaired by National President S.M. Asif, it was felt that fielding candidates may result in a division of secular votes. So, the party decided to extend support to the Congress. The AIMF chief appealed to the voters to defeat "fundamentalist and communal forces". The party underlined that minorities, SCs, STs and OBCs had suffered the most under the BJP government. It also cautioned the members of the SC and ST communities against the designs of the BJP that was aiming at splitting SC and ST votes in the reserved constituencies. Rajasthan goes to polls on December 7 to elect a 200-member Assembly. Counting of votes and the declaration of results are scheduled for December 11. --IANS arc/shs/mr (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) A missing Argentine naval submarine has been found, a year and a day after it vanished in the South Atlantic with 44 crew members on board, authorities said. The wreckage of the ARA San Juan, which "suffered an implosion", was found about 870 metres below the ocean floor, Argentine naval Capt. Gabriel Attis told the media here on Saturday. Family members at the navy headquarters were shown three images of the remains of the San Juan's "sail", or tower, and bow sections. Hours before the wreckage was positively identified, the Argentine navy tweeted an image of a point of interest on the seabed, suggesting that a 60-meter-long object might be the missing vessel. An American company contracted by Argentina located the submarine. The vessel's condition remains unclear. Defence Minister Oscar Aguad told the media that Argentina does not have the capability of recovering the sunken submarine. "No, we don't have the means to go down to that depth of the sea," he said, adding that authorities "do not have the equipment to bring the submarine out from such a depth". The ARA San Juan disappeared on November 15, 2017, off Argentina's coast, about midway on its journey from Ushuaia in the country's south to Mar del Plata. The Argentine navy said in the following days that the vessel's captain had reported a short circuit in the vessel's battery system shortly before the last known contact. The short circuit was caused by seawater entering the vessel's "snorkel", a tube that reaches the surface to refresh the vessel's air and recharge the batteries, the captain said in a call to his commander on land. The hunt for the vessel -- which at its height involved 28 ships and nine airplanes from 11 nations, including the US and UK -- centered on an area roughly 900 km off the Argentine coast. Among the victims was Eliana Maria Krawczyk, Argentina's first female submarine officer. --IANS ksk (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday hit out at the congress for their pledge to protect cows in Madhya Pradesh, reminding the party that its workers in Kerala last year slaughtered a calf in the open. Addressing an election rally in Chhindwara, the Prime Minister also attacked Congress President Rahul Gandhi with the "naamdaar" jibe for "repeatedly lying" to discredit the BJP-led central government. "In the manifesto for Madhya Pradesh, the Congress party is hailing the cow as a mother, but on the streets of Kerala, the Congress people cut off the head of a calf and circulated photos of their eating beef, saying that it was their right to eat cow-meat," Modi said. He said that the Congress included the issue of cow in their election manifesto to confuse the people. "I am criticising it. It is their right but the question that arises is whether the Congress of Madhya Pradesh and Congress of Kerala are separate. Tell the truth to the people. You may like cow or not, it's your prerogative, but don't fool the people," he said. The Congress in its election manifesto has promised to build gaushalas (cow sheds) in every gram panchayat, establish a new department for spirituality, open new Sanskrit schools, besides loan waiver for farmers. The Prime Minister said the Congress had promised farm loan waiver in Karnataka but has not yet implemented it. "They promise but do not deliver. Cheating is in the their blood," he said. Taking a jibe at Congress leaders for questioning the surgical strikes and allegedly using foul language against the army chief, the Prime Minister said that Rahul Gandhi is "confused", and the Congress under him is "fused". Using his trademark jibe of "naamdaar" at Rahul Gandhi, the Prime Minister said he was continuously abusing him because Modi has put an end to corruption by using technology. "Wherever the naamdaar goes, repeats the same cassette. If you have courage, give the account of your four generations. Modi is ready to give account of his four years," he said. --IANS bns/shs/sed (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Accusing the Congress of hindering Chhattisgarh's development and defrauding India, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday urged the people to vote the BJP to power for a fourth straight term in the state. Addressing an election rally here on the last day of campaigning for the second phase of Assembly polls, Modi attacked the Congress for "lying, misleading and defrauding" the country for 50 years and "destroying" four generations of people through their misrule. In his nearly 45-minute speech, Modi dedicated most of his time for attacking the Congress and the Nehru-Gandhi family and elaborated how his government, since 2014, has ushered in all-round development across the country. Hitting out at the Congress over dynasty politics, Modi accused the Nehru-Gandhi family of not allowing Dalit leader Sitaram Kesri to complete his term as party chief and "threw him out on the footpath" to make way for Sonia Gandhi. "The country knows that Sitaram Kesri, a Dalit, was not allowed to complete his five-year-term as Congress president. He was thrown out of office and into the footpath to make way for Sonia Gandhi as the new party chief," said Modi, and again challenged the Congress to appoint a non-Gandhi as party president for five years. Without taking names, he also took pot-shots at Congress veteran P. Chidambaram, who in response to Modi challenge on Saturday, had listed the names of Congress presidents from outside the Gandhi family. "One of the family's courtiers has come out with a list (of presidents from outside the Nehru-Gandhi family) but then where they allowed to complete their terms," asked Modi. He ridiculed the erstwhile Manmohan Singh-led UPA regime as a "remote controlled government", and said Raman Singh's Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government, ruling the state since 2003, could do real work only after the BJP took power at the Centre in 2014. "The first 10 years of the Raman Singh government were spent fighting the negative forces. The remote-controlled government in Delhi did not allow Raman Singh to work for his state. It was only after 2014 that he could work to bring in development in the state." Comparing Chhattisgarh to an 18-year-old adult, Modi said the Assembly elections were no ordinary polls. "Do you want to give an opportunity to people who ruined the lives of earlier generations of the state?" asked Modi, warning the people against voting for the Congress. The BJP, he said, was the answer for Chhattisgarh's progress. Referring to Congress President Rahul Gandhi's pledge to waive farm loans if his party came to power in the state, Modi said the Congress' days of getting votes by "lying and misleading people" were over. "It has been almost a year since your party came to power in Karnataka but what happened to your promise of waiving loans of farmers?" The Prime Minister denied that his government waived Rs 3.5 lakh crore of corporate loans of a handful of industrialists. "It is them who gave out indiscriminate loans and allowed the banks to be looted. Between 2006 and 2014 they gave out loans equal to the amount that was given after independence till 2006. It is our government which dared to enact tough laws and seized billions of rupee worth of properties of the fraudsters who have absconded." Modi dared the Congress to select someone capable as party president who does not belong to the Nehru-Gandhi family. As many as 72 constituencies spread across 19 districts go to the polls in the second and final phase of Assembly elections on Tuesday. The first phase for 18 seats was held on November 12. --IANS and/pgh/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.) If you Google "Edmund Hillary" you will get seven million references to his summitting Mount Everest with Tenzing Norgay in 1952. But when you Google "George Mallory", who made a gallant effort 30 years before that but who disappeared on the treacherous slopes, you get nearly 17 million references. It is still a mystery if George Mallory died on the way to summit or while descending after scaling it. The world is more excited about failures and the mysteries that surround them. It takes more interest in investigating failures than successes. The investigation gets sensational when the post-success enquiry doubts the success itself. No wonder that Sherlock Holmes is more popular than Shakespeare. A similar mystery-drama is now being played out at United Nations on the Montreal Protocol on the Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer. Crafted in 1987, the Montreal Protocol has proved to be different because it has successfully delivered -- and delivered in time. In 2010, as stipulated in the rules of this universally-ratified environmental treaty, all the production of chlorofluorocarbons, CFCs, the main ozone depleting substance (ODS), was halted in all the producing countries, including India and China. Today, 99 percent of all ODS, including those other than CFCs, have been phased out in developed and developing countries as per the unanimously agreed time-table. A UN scientific assessment panel confirmed in its 2018 report that concentration of all ODS in the atmosphere was declining as a result of the Montreal Protocol being implemented. Further, it revealed that the ozone layer -- the earth's life shield -- was well on the recovery path. The singular success of the Montreal Protocol is considered an example of what humanity can achieve to reverse environmental degradation. And then came a jolt. A paper published in the prestigious science journal Nature, on May 17, 2018, stated that the concentration of CFC-11, one of the two most abundant ozone-depleting ODS, controlled by the Montreal Protocol, "have unexpectedly stopped its decline and in fact increased in recent years despite a global ban on production in 2010". So why was this happening? The best scientific brains as well as brash media and brandishing NGOs started brimming with probable answers. Though production of CFC 11 had stopped in 2010, its stocks from legally produced quantities before January 1, 2010 -- the date of global phase out of CFC 11 -- continue to emit in the atmosphere, as was expected. The legal stocks in turn can come from two sub-sources: First, the storages of the CFC 11, if those existed, and second, the equipment and the products that contained CFC11 -- air-conditioning in commercial buildings and the insulating foams that are blown with CFC11. At its peak, about 350,000 metric tonnes of CFC11 were produced globally per year for such and other minor uses. The Nature report clearly indicated that first beep of slowing down the decline, in reality, came in 2012. But scientists, overtaken by the successful worldwide closure of CFC 11 production, took some time to ensure that the slowdown was real and not a mistake in measurement. But then, after a longer investigation using updated models, they confirmed the slowdown and said it corresponded to about 13,000 tonnes of CFC 11 being added per year to the huge atmospheric cauldron. That is considered too large an amount to have come from stocks or "banks" -- as termed in the Montreal Protocol's parleys. So, the answer by rule of elimination, pointed towards the new production facility, illegally run somewhere. Where exactly this production is based has become the subject of international curiosity and is reverberating in the global meetings of the Montreal Protocol. One more critical dimension to the scientific finding has triggered heightened excitement among the media and NGOs. It is the result of yet another modelling exercise carried out by the US-based National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). It said that the illegal production may be based in East Asia, hinting at China. While the NGOs and the media, obsessed by the desire to be visible, went high octane and even visited China for their own investigations, other East Asian producers could be South and North Korea and Japan. In the Meeting of all the Parties to the Montreal Protocol that concluded earlier this month in Quito, Ecuador, the countries showed restraint and took a unanimous and exemplary decision that calls on the international scientific and technical community to engage in rigorous scrutiny -- including review of assumptions and models used so far. This decision, importantly, does not mention China or even East Asia as the region for probable illegal activity. The meeting, however, clearly belonged to Chinese delegation, which demonstrated a brave and balanced approach when all fingers were pointed at it. Overcoming the classical temptation of choosing to be in "denial mode", China gave details of a nation-wide investigation that it has carried out involving more than 1,000 enterprises since the publication in Nature and the punitive surveillance the country has conducted in unearthing the concealed illegal production and consumption of CFC 11. Openly sharing the anxiety surrounding the issue, China admitted to identifying locations of illegal production of CFC 11, though much smaller than what Nature stated. That hinted at the possibility of illegal production at additional places. Aiming to further strengthen its compliance measures, China invited international experts to a proposed seminar next year to exchange information on capacity-building for strict compliance. The Chinese delegation also keenly supported the decision for further study and scrutiny. The Quito meeting finally turned out to be the exemplary international show of what is expected from the collective wisdom of the nations when faced with unexpected emergence of an aberration that poses a threat to the acclaimed success of the Montreal Protocol. (Rajendra Shende is Chairman, TERRE Policy Centre and a former UNEP Director. The views expressed are personal. He can be contacted at shende.rajendra@gmail.com ) --IANS rajendra/vm (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik on Sunday directed the administration to put a stop to the cutting of trees at the proposed beer-bottling plant near Balarampur in the Dhenkanal district after protests by the villagers. The Chief Minister also ordered the Revenue Divisional Commissioner (RDC) concerned to probe the incident of tree-felling. The villagers, protesting against the cutting of trees for the bottling plant, had a scuffle with the police on Saturday. Noted environmentalist Praffula Samantara, who reached the place of the incident, demanded that the state government compensate the community that has protected the forests for generations. The Congress and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) termed the Chief Minister's order to put a stop to tree-felling as meaningless and an afterthought following a backlash from the community. "The direction for the RDC probe by the Chief Minister has no meaning since there is visual proof of it. Instead of the RDC, he could have ordered a police inquiry. It seems that the Chief Minister has passed the order under pressure," said senior Congress leader Narasingha Mishra. BJP leader Pradeep Purohit said that the state government's decision for an RDC probe is of no use as the damage has already been done. "It seems some ministers and bureaucrats are operating without the knowledge of the Chief Minister. The RDC probe into the incident is of no use as the damage has already been done with the felling of hundreds of trees. The order is only to pacify the public," he said. --IANS cd/shs/sed (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) When Syed Fariddudin Qutbi, the "khadim" (attendant) of the shrine of 13th century sufi saint Qutbuddin Bakhtiar Kaki in Meharauli, stepped out after offering a floral "chhatra" (a flower-embellished umberella) at the ancient Yogmaya temple located at a stone's throw from the dargah, all he had to say was that in the small temple sanctum sanctorum suffused with a strong incense and jasmine fragrance, he felt the same tranquility and a "magnificent, invisible power" he feels at the dargah. Part of the annual cultural festival "Phool Walon Ki Sair" (Festival of Flower Sellers), an initiative that promotes communal harmony and positive cultural exchanges since early the 1800s, many like Qutbi go beyond the bounds of religious identity, and encourage members of other communities to offer flowers and "pankhas" (fans) at places of worship that are considered not "their own". The roots of the festival go back to the reign of one of the last Mughal emperors and Bahadur Shah Zafar's father, Akbar Shah II, who was buried next to the dargah. Legend has it that when his son Mirza Jahangir was imprisoned on the orders of the British, Akbar Shah's wife vowed that she would offer a blanket at the sufi saint's dargah upon his release. As fate had it, Shah's son was released and the blanket was offered. Upon imperial orders, floral offerings were also made at goddess Yogmaya's temple, which sparked public enthusiasm, causing it to become an annual tradition. The festival was stopped in the 1940s when the British started their polarising efforts in line with their "divide-and-rule policy" that led to deep rifts between India's two major religious communities, Mirza Mohtaram Bakht, secretary of the Anjuman Sair-e-Gul Faroshan, the organisers of the fair, told IANS. He said the festival was revived in 1961-62 by India's first Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru. It has, since then, been a regular occurrence and brings together hundreds of Delhi residents each year, Bakht said. In today's deeply polarised milieu where hate crimes against specific communities are just as rampant as the venom spewed against them on social media, the assimilating significance of the week-long festival takes a new turn. "When our Hindu brothers offer a blanket of flowers at the dargah, members of the Muslim community take a step back and let them take the lead. Similarly, Muslim people are encouraged to offer a floral 'chhatra' to Devi Yogmaya. It's a communion of hearts, and that can only happen if there's 'pakeezgi' in people's souls," Qutbi told IANS, adding that he recommends extremists of all religions to at least experience other cultures once. Rajnish Jindal, another resident of Mehrauli, who has been visiting the festival for 15 years, said that it was a matter of developing comfort with all religions and people from all walks of life. "You go into a gurdwara, you find peace and comfort, that's your 'mahzab' (faith); same is with a mosque or a temple or a church. It should be a matter of personal belief," he said. Not surprisingly, the path of "Phool Walon Ki Sair", is often laden with thorns and threats. "People say 'tum karke toh dikhao, hum dekhte hai tum kaise karte ho' (We'll see how you do it); not everyone wants a secular nation that celebrates all its religions. It often happens covertly; 11th-hour permissions, indifference and excuses create hurdles for us, even if there is no direct visible opposition. "We, however, give it back with our enthusiasm. Truth is always victorious. They can't stop our caravan," Bakht, a former geologist and a "proud Delhi-wallah", said. Kite flying competitions, processions, wrestling bouts, kabbadi and shehnai recitals mark the first four days of the seven-day festival, with offerings in the dargah and the temple earmarked for the fifth and sixth days. This year, Delhi's Lieutenant-Governor Anil Baijal offered the floral blanket at the dargah on Thursday, and Delhi government's transport minister Kailash Gahlot offered a floral "chhatra" on Friday, along with members of both communities. "Phool Walon Ki Sair" closed on Saturday with tableaus from over 11 states and a night-long qawwali singing programme. (The weekly feature series is part of a positive-journalism project of IANS and the Frank Islam Foundation. Siddhi Jain can be contacted at siddhi.j@ians.in ) --IANS sj/vv/tb (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) President Ram Nath Kovind on Sunday embarked on a week-long visit to Vietnam and Australia, saying he was looking forward to a "busy and business-like" events. The Rashtrapati Bhavan tweeted that it would be Kovind's first visit to any country to India's east as President. Starting his trip from the Vietnamese coastal city of Da Nang, Kovind will head to the capital Hanoi where he will hold talks with the political leadership and also address the country's National Assembly. According to the Ministry of External Affairs, Kovind, in his maiden visit to an Asean country, will hold talks with his Vietnamese counterpart Nguyen Phu Trong and Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc. Heading to Australia on November 21, Kovind, the first Indian President to visit the country, will meet Prime Minister Scott Morrison. They will together unveil a statue of Mahatma Gandhi in Parramatta to mark the 150th birth anniversary of the Father of the Nation. He will visit Sydney and Melbourne and hold discussions with the Governor-General Peter Cosgrove. The President will also address the Australia Financial Review Business event. He is also slated to meet Governor of Victoria Linda Dessau and address students at the Melbourne University. --IANS rak/ksk/mr (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Vice President M. Venkaiah Naidu on Sunday said there was need to re-imagine and reconstruct the higher system in tune with the requirements of the 21st century and sought participation of government as well as the private sector for quality He said it was a cause for concern that India did not have enough high quality researchers, and that the number of students doing PhDs and entering research posts was on the decline, as per release. "A country as populous as India and facing innumerable challenges from poverty to environmental degradation simply cannot do without innovation," he said after launching Krea University from here. "It is crucial that we re-imagine and reconstruct our higher system. The autonomy of Universities cannot be compromised under any circumstance. The government should play the role of a strong facilitator when it comes to Universities." He called for "an impactful coordination" of public-private sectors in providing such education system. Naidu said the Universities should be allowed to develop their own curricula and their own system of examinations. "A strong, accomplished and professional management body for Universities coupled with adequate funding is the need of the hour," he said. "The objective of a University should not just be restricted to imparting quality education, but to ensure all round development of an individual." The Universities should not be breeding grounds for resentment, frustration or discrimination but should be the hubs for innovation, a safe space for future visionaries and entrepreneurs to sharpen their skills, he added. Naidu said the higher education system in India still lagged behind the standards of the world's best universities. "In 2018 too, no Indian University was able to secure a place in the top 100 best Universities in the QS World University Ranking. American and European Universities still rule the list," he said. Calling the gross enrolment rate (GER) of college-aged people in tertiary education a cause for grave concern, he said the GER in higher education was 25.2 per cent in 2016-17 while China stood at 43.39 per cent and the US's at 85.8 per cent. The indulgent system which regulates higher educational institutions in India has also led to the mushrooming of hundreds of privately set-up colleges offering a poor quality education in India and making profit, he said. --IANS spk/pgh/sed (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Actress Rosamund Pike says she had to fight to get the role of Marie Colvin in "A Private War". Directed by Matthew Heineman, "A Private War" chronicles the life of Colvin and is based on Marie Brenner's 2012 Vanity Fair article "Marie Colvin's Private War". Colvin died in 2012 while covering the siege of Homs in Syria. When Pike first heard the script through Amma Asante, she instantly fell in love with the story. When she discovered that Heineman was attached to direct it, she pushed for a meeting. "I knew that Matt was a very original story-teller from seeing his docs," Pike said in a statement to IANS. However, landing for this role wasn't easy for Pike. "I had a lot of convincing to do," she said. The actress added: "I don't look much like Marie. I'm younger than her, I'm not American. There's a lot going against me. But I really wanted it. She entered my soul somehow when I first read that article. I don't know why. "I don't have the desire to serve like she did. I don't have the courage. But I do understand about having a vocation that takes you suddenly out of your own daily life and then drops you back in. The distortion, or the disjunction between the two, can be troubling." Heineman wasn't much convinced with Pike. Hence, after their meeting Heineman and Pike wrote each other essays of who they thought Marie was and found them to be strikingly similar. "I knew right away that I wanted her to be Marie. Rosamund has that tenacity that Marie had. She fought for that role and she nailed it. She spent so much time researching Marie, understanding Marie, climbing inside of her head, her body, learning how Marie moved, how she held her tension in her neck and shoulder, really down to every single detail," the director said. PVR Pictures is bringing the film in India. It will release on November 23. --IANS sug/rb/mr (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The return to the 1956 Joint Declaration in the Russia-Japan peace treaty talks in no way implies an automatic transfer of Russian territories to Japan, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said on Sunday. "Over these days we have heard a great variety of different speculations, political guesses about some sort of a separate deal on the transfer of the islands and so on. This is not true and cannot be true," Peskov was quoted by Russian news agencies as saying on Rossiya-1 television channel. Russia and Japan have not signed a post-World War II peace treaty due to their rival claims to four Pacific islands, called the Southern Kurils in Russia and the Northern Territories in Japan, Xinhua reported. The four islands used to belong to Japan, which were seized by the Soviet Union after the war and were incorporated into Russia following the collapse of the Soviet Union. Tokyo maintains that Moscow illegally occupied those islands. On Wednesday, Russian President Vladimir Putin and Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe held talks on this issue in Singapore. "As the meeting progressed, Putin and Abe decided to continue it on the one-one-one format, and did so," Peskov said on the television channel. "After that, the Foreign Ministers and foreign policy aides were invited and ordered to take certain steps to intensify the bilateral dialogue on the peace treaty on the basis of the Soviet-Japanese Declaration of 1956," he added. According to the joint declaration, Russia agreed to return two of the islands after a bilateral peace treaty was signed. Japan refused to sign such an agreement, insisting on the return of all four islands. "Naturally, a compromise will be needed. We can say it already that this compromise will not be in conflict with the national interests of either side," Peskov said. The Kremlin spokesman emphasised that Moscow will take into account Japan's allied relations with the US in the peace treaty talks. "Of course, it will be necessary to find an answer to this question during the talks. Without it, it is simply impossible to make any headway," he said. In September 2017, Putin and Abe agreed to conduct joint economic activities on the controversial islands and prioritised projects in aquaculture, electricity, greenhouse facilities, garbage disposal and tourism. --IANS shs/ (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) D.J. Koh, President and CEO at the IT and Mobile Communications Division of Samsung Electronics, knows what boredom can eventually do to technology -- especially to smartphones that are lately witnessing incremental enhancements amid sales slowing down globally. Barring design changes and offering Artificial Intelligence (AI)-enabled hardware, smartphones are currently offering nothing out-of-the-box. The charismatic Samsung executive now wants you to fold the smartphone in half and use it like a tablet. While other players like Huawei, LG, Motorola and arch rival Apple have secured patents on foldable devices, Samsung has taken a definitive lead with a real one. Setting the stage for the Next-Gen innovation war, Koh teased us in an interview with tech portal CNET last month: "Possibly when we start selling the foldable phone, it may be a niche market... but definitely, it will expand. I'm positive that we do need a foldable phone." The world finally saw a glimpse of the foldable phone during the Samsung Developer Conference 2018 in New York on November 7 when Justin Dennison, Senior Vice President of Mobile Marketing, took out a real foldable smartphone from his jacket. Reports now say Samsung Electronics plans to launch its first foldable smartphone in March next year and the shipment volume will be at least one million. Will Samsung's next big innovation change the furtune of the smartphone industry in 2019? "Tab in your pocket is a great idea. The consumers' reactions and real use cases will tell us whether this extreme device will succeed or not, but at the moment, it is a remarkable innovation and now very much in existence," Jaipal Singh, Associate Research Manager, Client Devices, IDC India, told IANS. Industry experts say Samsung may showcase the foldable smartphone at the Mobile World Congress (MWC) in February, ahead of the official launch in the following month. While the price of the foldable smartphone has not been decided, it is said that it may cost around $1,770 to begin with. According to Tarun Pathak, Associate Director at Counterpoint Research, Samsung has set a high bar for smartphone vendors, especially at a time when innovation is perceived to have reached its peak. "With the upgrade cycle getting longer, smartphones with curved displays have potential to become popular with early adopters. This will also have implications on supply chain and developers," Pathak told IANS. Positioning of components and creating content for developers is equally important in case of such devices. "While the concept of foldable devices was always there, the Samsung announcement has put a lot of weight behind such a category that is ready for commercial deployment," Pathak added. Experts have various suggestions about the upcoming device -- that it should not be bulky, should consume less battery and fit easily into the palm; but Samsung must have deliberated on such factors while developing the device. "Multi-tasking is the future and this device fulfills that. The experience has to be seamless for the consumers. The durability is also important for heavy users," said Singh. The upcoming device will fold inward and sport a 7.4-inch screen when unfolded and have a 4.6-inch display like a regular smartphone when folded, said a report in Yonhap news agency. According to Prabhu Ram, Head-Industry Intelligence Group (IIG), CyberMedia Research (CMR), the Samsung foldable phone will mark the beginning of a long road of new innovation. "Smartphones have not seen much disruptive innovations for a long time now -- in form factor and display. Samsung has now achieved a technical breakthrough in display manufacturing," Ram told IANS. A foldable smartphone will soon reach near you. Koh, who understands the global smartphone market inside-out, says the foldable phone will not be a "gimmick product that will disappear after six to nine months after it's delivered". Whether it will perfectly slip into your pocket and fit into your budget is yet to be seen, but foldable displays have rekindled hope in a market that reached its peak in 2018 and is waiting for the next big thing. (Nishant Arora can be contacted at nishant.a@ians.in ) --IANS na/vm/sac (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) SpaceX has dropped plans to make its Falcon 9 rockets even more reusable than they are now, company CEO Elon Musk has said. "SpaceX is no longer planning to upgrade Falcon 9 second stage for reusability," Musk tweeted on Saturday. In response to a question by a Twitter user, Musk said that the company would carry out "minor tweaks to improve reliability only, provided NASA and USAF (US Air Force) are supportive". Instead of upgrading Falcon 9 for more reusability, SpaceX was now focusing on "accelerating BFR (Big Falcon Rocket)" which is being designed to take humans and supply to Mars and also to dramatically cut travel time within Earth. "New design is very exciting! Delightfully counter-intuitive," he said. According to SpaceX, BFR is a fully reusable vehicle designed to service all Earth orbit needs as well as the Moon and Mars. This two-stage vehicle -- composed of a Booster and a Ship ? is designed to eventually replace Falcon 9, Falcon Heavy and the Dragon spacecraft. On September 17, SpaceX announced announced that Japanese billionaire Yusaku Maezawa will be the company's first private passenger to fly around the Moon aboard the company's BFR rocket in 2023. In March 2017, SpaceX achieved the world's first reflight of an orbital class rocket when the Falcon 9 launched a geosynchronous communications satellite on March 30 of that year. The first stage for the mission previously supported a space station cargo resupply launch for NASA in April 2016. Following stage separation, the first stage successfully returned to Earth for a second time, landing on a drone ship stationed in the Atlantic ocean. --IANS gb/ksk (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The continuing tug-of-war between Hindutva and Muslim groups over conducting 'puja-arti' and offering 'namaz' inside the Taj Mahal premises is causing concern to tourism circles in Agra. Industry leaders fear that the dispute could trigger communal a flare-up in Agra, India's most popular destination. The Central Industrial Security Force (CISF), which is in charge of security inside the complex, has come under fire for failing to stop a group of women on Saturday from performing 'puja' and 'arti' after sprinkling Ganga Jal around the monument. Again on Sunday, Rashtriya Bajrang Dal activists threatened to conduct 'puja' and 'arti' inside the Taj Mahal as a protest against the failure of security agencies to stop a Muslim group from offering prayers inside the premises, violating orders of the Supreme Court. The Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) pasted the Supreme court directive and notification on the gate of the 17th century Taj Mahal last week. The original order of the Supreme Court allows local Muslims to offer prayers in the afternoon only on Fridays when the monument is closed to public. But the locals want this bar lifted so that they can offer prayers daily. ASI officials say security agencies have been told to deal firmly with the violators of the order. --IANS bk/mr (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) US President Donald Trump on Sunday said that while Turkey has shared with US an audio purported to be of the death of Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi, he has no plans to listen to the recording. "We have the tape. I don't want to hear the tape. No reason for me to hear the tape," the president told interviewer Chris Wallace on "Fox News Sunday." When Wallace asked him his reason, Trump replied: "Because it's a suffering tape, it's a terrible tape. I've been fully briefed on it, there's no reason for me to hear it," reports Efe. Khashoggi, who was a columnist for The Washington Post, died on October 2 inside the Saudi Consulate in Istanbul, where he had gone to obtain documents enabling him to marry his Turkish fiance. Weeks later, the Saudi government acknowledged that he was killed inside the consulate and last Thursday, the kingdom's attorney general 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, Saud al-Mojeb insisted that Saudi Arabia's de facto ruler, Crown Prince Mohamed bin Sultan, had not had any prior knowledge of the operation, whose original aim was to bring Khashoggi back to Riyadh. Long a member of the Saudi establishment, Khashoggi became estranged from the government as a result of his criticism of the crown prince and had been living in self-imposed exile in the US since 2017. Al-Mojeb said the investigation had shown that Khashoggi died after being restrained and injected with a tranquiliser following a fight inside the consulate. US media have reported that the CIA concluded Mohamed bin Salman -- known as MbS -- was ultimately behind Khashoggi's death. Trump, who described the media accounts as "very premature," wondered aloud Sunday whether the truth of who ordered the operation may never be known. "Well, will anybody really know? All right, will anybody really know? But he (MbS) did have certainly people that were reasonably close to him and close to him that were probably involved," the president told Fox News. He pointed to the measures the US government announced Thursday against 17 Saudi Arabian officials for their alleged role in the Khashoggi murder, including Saud al-Qahtani, a chief adviser to MbS. "You saw we put on very heavy sanctions, massive sanctions on a large group of people from Saudi Arabia. But at the same time we do have an ally and I want to stick with an ally that in many ways has been very good," Trump said. The president reiterated that in personal conversations with the crown prince, MbS had repeatedly denied involvement in the killing. "He told me that he had nothing to do with it. He told me that, I would say five times at different points, as recently as a few days ago," Trump said. --IANS vc (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Ten people were arrested for allegedly running a baby-selling racket here and five babies were rescued, police said on Sunday. A 24-page charge-sheet was filed in a city court against the 10 people on November 14, they said. Acting on a tip-off, two police personnel met one of the accused posing as a childless couple on August 14. "A woman sub-inspector Preeti and head constable Rajesh posed as husband and wife and met one of the accused Mohammad Jahangir," the charge-sheet said. The couple chose a baby and Jahangir demanded Rs 4.30 lakh but after some negotiations, the final amount was decided at Rs 3.30 lakh. "He asked the couple to get the money in an hour and told the two that his accomplices Jyoti and Rahul will bring the child near a bank in Naraina Vihar," the charge-sheet said. Jahangir was arrested after he handed over a newborn baby to the police personnel, it said. The baby was admitted to a hospital, where he died on August 26. Jyoti and Rahul were arrested and during interrogation, they told police that the baby was bought from Mithila, a resident of New Friends Colony. Subsequently, Mithila was arrested and police later learned about one Jitendar Kumar, who was also involved in the racket. Kumar told police about one Kavita who had bought a five to seven days' old infant from a woman agent named Parveen for Rs 4 lakh and later sold the child to a chemist named Balbir Singh for Rs 5 lakh, the charge-sheet said. More arrests were made but Kavita continued to remain elusive. A non-bailable warrant was issued against her by a city court on September 10. Later, a lookout circular was also issued against her and she surrendered on September 20. The charge-sheet was filed under various sections of the IPC pertaining to kidnapping, trafficking, forgery of record of court or of public register and the Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) At least 12 people were killed and 13 injured when the bus in which they were travelling fell into a 150-metre-deep gorge in Uttarkashi district on Sunday, an official said. The private-run bus was on its way to Vikas Nagar from Jankichatti in the district when it fell into the gorge near Damta, District Magistrate Ashish Chauhan said. Ten people died at the spot and two succumbed at a nearby hospital, he said. A search-and-rescue operation by police with help from area residents is underway, the official said, adding a few bodies could be stuck in bushes. Four people seriously injured in the accident were flown in a chopper to Dehradun for treatment, he said. The bus, after plunging into the gorge, landed a few metres from the Yamuna river, the official said. Uttarakhand Chief Minister Trivendra Singh Rawat expressed grief at the loss of lives and asked the district administration to arrange for the treatment of the injured. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Over 1.4 million "fake children" have been found registered across 188,000 anganwadis in Uttar Pradesh, the Women and Child Development Ministry has said. In a meeting of the Nutrition Council on Thursday, the ministry was informed that about 1.45 million fake beneficiaries were registered with 188 thousand anganwadis in the state, a senior WCD official said. Anganwadis, a type of rural centres, were set up by the government to combat under nutrition and stunting among children below the age of six years. "The ghost children were identified after registration of beneficiaries with Aadhaar," the official said. There are a total of 10.8 million children enrolled in anganwadis of and Rs 21.26 billion has been sanctioned for these centres till February 2018 in this fiscal, according to government data. The ministry gives Rs 4.8 and the state contributes Rs 3.2 for food per day for every child, the official said. "With the identification of the fake children, it has been found that about Rs 250 million can be saved every month in Uttar Pradesh," he said. Another Women and Child Development (WCD) official said about 39 per cent of the total child population in resides in and so the number of children in the state is high. The identification and elimination of fake beneficiaries registered in various anganwadis across the country is an "ongoing process". The process was started in July after the Assam government during a physical identification of children found 1.4 million fake beneficiaries. Stating that many lapses have been found in the food distribution system, WCD Minister Maneka Gandhi had directed all state governments to verify the number of children who "really need to be fed." There are around 1.4 million anganwadis across the country and 100 million beneficiaries, who include children under the age of six and pregnant women and lactating mothers. Gandhi in September said about one crore fake beneficiaries registered in various anganwadis have been identified and eliminated. The identification of fake beneficiaries is also being done through smartphones having Integrated Child Development Services-Common Application Software (ICDS-CAS) app. It has been distributed to about 120,000 anganwadi centres and the ministry aims to increase its coverage to 1.4 million centres by the end of the year, officials said. The nutrition monitoring app has been developed under the Poshan Abhiyan also called the Nutrition Mission, which aims to bring down stunting of children in the age group of 0-6 years from 38.4 per cent to 25 per cent by 2022. Two turbaned youths threw a hand grenade at a religious gathering in Amritsar, where three people were killed and at least 10 others injured Sunday, Union Home Ministry officials said. According to an initial report, two motorcycle borne youths wearing turbans threw the grenade at a prayer hall brimming with around 200 devotees at Raja Sansi village. The Punjab Police and the central security agencies have launched the investigation, but it is too early to come to any conclusion, they said. There are "enough leads" and the probe is going in the right direction, the officials said. The Punjab Police had carried out "fantastic" investigations into the killing of seven RSS men in the past and the force is capable of unearthing the conspiracy behind similar incidents, another ministry official said. The blast occurred during a religious gathering of the Nirankari sect at Nirankari Bhavan in Adliwal village near Amritsar's Rajasansi, which is close to the international airport. Punjabwas on an alert following an input that a group of six to seven JeM terrorists were reportedly in the state, possibly in Ferozepur area. The state was put on alert after four persons snatched an SUV from its driverat gunpoint near Madhopur in Pathankot district last week. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Three persons were killed and 20 injured in a grenade attack on a religious congregation here on city outskirts on Sunday, an incident which the police are treating as a terrorist act. The incident took place insidethe Nirankari Bhavan at Adliwal village near Amritsar's Rajasansi, police said. A religious congregation of the Nirankaris was being conducted inside the Bhavan at the time of the incident. The Sant Nirankari Mission is a spiritual organisation and the Bhavan here lies close to the international airport. The grenade was lobbed by two persons who had come on a bike and had their faces covered. The Director General of Police Suresh Arora, who along with senior police officers rushed to the spot, said the incident appears to be a terrorist act. He said that three people had died in the incident and 20 others were injured, two of them seriously. Inspector General of Police S S Parmar,who visited the incident spot, told reporters that about 200 devotees including many women were inside at the time of the incident. No CCTV was installed at the premises, preliminary investigations found, he said. After the incident, the Bhavan was sealed by the police and security was stepped up at other "Nirankari Bhavans" in the state. Chief minister Capt Amarinder Singh said the possibility of involvement of ISI-based Khalistani/Kashmiri terror groups could not be ruled out. Amarinder Singh said the state won't let the "forces of terror" to destroy the hard earned peace. Notably, Punjab had gone through dark days of militancy in the 1980s and early 1990s and faced few terror attacks in recent years including the one in Pathankot over two years ago. After the incident, the Chief Minister asked the Home Secretary, DG Police, DG Law and Order and DG Intelligence to immediately rush to Village Adliwal, Raja Sansi, to personally supervise the investigations into the grenade attack at Nirankari Bhawan. Amrinder Singh has also directed the police to immediately enhance security arrangements at all sensitive places in the wake of the explosion. Forensic teams have been rushed to the spot and all angles were being investigated, said the chief minister here, adding that the possibility of involvement of ISI-based Khalistani/Kashmiri terror groups could not be ruled out. Singh said his government was on top of things and would get to the bottom of the incident soon and ensure that the culprits are apprehended and brought to book. Nobody will be allowed to get away with trying to disturb the peace and harmony of the state, he warned. The chief minister has also announced a compensation of Rs five lakh each to the kin of the dead and directed the district administration to provide the best possible medical care, free of cost, to the injured. The chief minister said preliminary investigations had so far revealed that two men, one of them with a flowing beard, with covered faces, allegedly forced their way into the hall by brandishing a pistol. They detained the sewadar, lobbed the grenade into the prayer room, and fled on a motorcycle. A small crater was formed by the impact of the explosion, and was being examined by the forensic team. The safety valve of the grenade has also been found and was being examined, he said. The chief minister has meanwhile appealed to the people not to panic and maintain peace and law and order. Let us remain calm, he said, adding the government would ensure there is no chaos in the wake of the incident. Though the state had been hit by a series of cases of targeted attacks since 2015-16, this was the first attempt, in a long time, to disturb the peace in the state through indiscriminate killings, said the Chief Minister, adding it strengthened the belief that Pakistan was continuing with its nefarious activities to disturb the state's peace. He pointed out that 15 such terror modules had been busted in the past 18 months, with Kashmiri terror links also indicated in some instances, as evidenced in the arrest of Kashmiri students from Jalandhar and in the Maqsudan police station grenade blast case. Earlier,the DGP said that the incident appears to be a terrorist act. It (this incident) appears to be a terror angle. Because it is against a group (of people) and it is not against any individual. There is no reason to throw a hand grenade on a group of people so we will take it as a terrorist act. Till proven otherwise, prima facie we will take it as that, Suresh Arora told PTI. Notably, the grenade attack took place amid Punjab being on high alert following an input claiming that a group of six to seven JeM terrorists were in Punjab and were 'planning' to move to Delhi. Moreover, the security agencies were also on alert after four persons snatched an SUV from its driver at gunpoint near Madhopur in Punjab's Pathankot district a few days back. On Friday, Punjab police in Gurdaspur had even pasted posters of Zakir Musa, thechief of Jammu and Kashmir based Ansar Ghazwat-ul-Hind terror outfit with reported links to Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM). Army Chief Bipin Rawat had recently warned that attempts were being made to revive insurgency in Punjab and had even cautioned that peopleneeded to be careful especially during the festival season to prevent anti-national forces from succeeding in their nefarious designs. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Three people and over 20 injured when two motorcycle-borne men threw grenade on a religious congregation on city outskirts here on Sunday, an incident which the police are treating as a "terrorist act". The incident took place inside the Nirankari Bhavan's prayer hall at Adliwal village near Amritsar's Rajasansi, police said. A congregation of the Nirankari followers was being held inside at the time. The Sant Nirankari Mission is a spiritual organisation and the Bhavan here is located close to the international airport and Indo-Pak border. The grenade was lobbed by one of the two people who had their faces covered. One person pointed a gun at the volunteers manning the gate, while the other one hurled the bomb after which they escaped, police and eyewitnesses said. DGP Suresh Arora, who along with senior officers rushed to the spot, said police was treating it as a "terrorist act". Chief Minister Amarinder Singh condemened the attack and said the possibility of the involvement of ISI-based Khalistani/Kashmiri terror groups could not be ruled out. The DGP said three people had died in the incident and 20 were injured, two of them seriously, he said. The police said the grenade was hurled towards the stage where main preacher Sukhdev Kumar was holding the congregation. He was among the dead. The other deceased were Sandeep Singh, a resident of village Rajasansi, and Kuldeep Singh. Nine women and a six-year-old child were among the injured, they said. An FIR was registered based on the statement of Nirnakari sect volunteer Gagan, who was on duty at the main door of the premises. Inspector General of Police (Amritsar Border range) SPS Parmar, who visited the spot, said about 200 devotees, including women, were inside at the time of the incident. They had gathered for the congregation held each Sunday. No CCTV was installed at the premises, preliminary probe found, he said. SSP (Rural) Parampal Singh said two armed masked persons forced their way inside by pointing a gun at Arjan and Gagan, who were on duty at the gate. "After they gained entry, one of them threw a grenade-like object at the congregation and escaped," he said, adding a hunt is on to nab the accused. After the incident, the Bhavan was sealed by the police and security was stepped up at other "Nirankari Bhavans" in the state. While Punjab was already on high alert, vigil has been stepped up in the state, especially border districts, including Amritsar, Gurdaspur and Ferozepur. The attack took place while Punjab was on high alert after an input claiming "a group of six-seven JeM terrorists were in Punjab" and they were "planning to move to Delhi". Moreover, the security agencies were also on alert after four people fled with an SUV after threatening its driver at gunpoint near Madhopur in Pathankot district a few days ago. The DGP who visited the Nirankari Bhavan in the evening said the police was treating the incident as a "terrorist act" and denied that there was any "intelligence failure". "We are treating it as a terror act because it took place against a group, not against any individual...we did not have any specific input of a strike against a particular group (like the Nirankaris), there was no issue with this group as such," Arora told reporters. He said a team of National Investigation Agency will also visit the site Monday. Earlier, DGP had told PTI,"There is no reason to throw a hand grenade on a group of people so we will take it as a terrorist act. Till proven otherwise, prima facie we will take it as that." Amarinder Singh, who reviewed the law and order situation with senior officials, said preliminary probe revealed the two men, one of them with a flowing beard, with covered faces, forced their way into the hall by brandishing a pistol. They detained the sewadar, lobbed the grenade into the prayer room, and fled. A small crater, three inches in diameter, was formed by the impact of the explosion, and was being examined by the forensic team. The safety valve of the grenade has also been found and was being examined, he said in a statement. Singh urged the people to maintain peace and said the state won't let the "forces of terror" to destroy the hard earned peace. "Nobody will be allowed to get away with trying to disturb the peace and harmony of the state," he warned. Last month, the Punjab Police had arrested three Kashmiri students of CT Institute of Engineering Management and Technology, located on the outskirts of Jalandhar,who were allegedly were associated with Ansar Ghazwat-ul-Hind (AGH). Explosives and weapons were seized from them. The CM announced a compensation of Rs five lakh each to the deceased's kin and directed the administration to provide the best possible medical care, free of cost, to the injured. Though the state had been hit by a series of targeted attacks since 2015/16, this was the first attempt, in a long time, to disturb the peace through indiscriminate killings, he said, adding it strengthened the belief that Pakistan was continuing with its nefarious activities. On Friday, the police in Gurdaspur had pasted posters of Zakir Musa, thechief of Jammu and Kashmir based Ansar Ghazwat-ul-Hind terror outfit with reported links to Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM). Army Chief Bipin Rawat had recently warned that attempts were being made to revive insurgency in Punjab and he had even cautioned that people needed to be careful to prevent anti-national forces from succeeding. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) A 61-year old Indian-origin man in New Jersey was shot to death by a 16-year old boy, who is facing charges in connection to the murder, prosecutors said. Sunil Edla was shot to death Thursday evening outside his apartment in Ventnor city , Atlantic County Prosecutor Damon Tyner said in a statement. Ventnor City Police Department was informed on the night of November 15 about the shooting. Police located Edla on the sidewalk, with gunshot wounds. Edla had succumbed to his injuries by the time the police arrived. Edla's vehicle, a 2002 Subaru Forester, was missing from the scene. The vehicle was subsequently found by Atlantic City Police Officers in a different area. After the vehicle was located by the officers, the suspect was subsequently tracked with the assistance of the Atlantic City surveillance center. Further investigation by the Atlantic County Prosecutor's Office, Ventnor City Police Department and the Atlantic City Police Department led to the identification and arrest of the suspect, a juvenile male, on the morning of November 16. Preliminary autopsy showed the cause of death to be multiple gunshot wounds and the manner of death homicide. The suspect was charged via Juvenile Complaint with murder, robbery, carjacking, unlawful possession of a handgun. He is being held at the Harborfields Juvenile Detention Center in Egg Harbor City. "I'm just speechless right now They could have just taken the car and let him go," Edla's son Morrison Edla said in a report in NBCPhiladelphia.com. A report in the Press of Atlantic City said Edla, a father of two and grandfather, was a 30-year resident of Atlantic County and worked in Atlantic City's hospitality industry. He was planning to travel to India to visit family. "He (Edla) was humble. He never argued. I helped him when he came to US in 1987. I was very close to him," his cousin Raj Casula said. "Everyone was calling him and talking to him because he was leaving for India so soon," said Casula. Edla had planned a two-month trip to India to visit his mother for her 95th birthday and celebrate Christmas with family. Family friend Dave Nethagani said Edla was a kind man and active in the community. Edla was best known for playing piano during church services at Chelsea Community Presbyterian Church in Atlantic City. A neighbour said the killer ambushed Edla and shot him dead right after the grandfather had brought a child into his house. Surveillance video showed the teen riding up to Edla's home. The boy dropped his bike and hid as he waited for Edla to exit the house. Just before 8 p.m. Thursday, family members said, Edla was leaving his home to work the overnight shift at the North Carolina Avenue Rodeway Inn in Atlantic City. According to family, he started his car then went back in the house briefly. After walking back down the second-floor apartment stairs, he was shot on the sidewalk and left for dead. Ventnor police Chief Doug Biagi said an officer has been posted in the neighborhood "just to ease anybody's fears. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The police seized a total of 699 kg ganja from two places in Alipurduar district on Sunday and arrested four persons for smuggling the contraband, a police officer said. The first lot of ganja, packed in 55 packets and weighing around 681 kg, was seized from a container truck at Pakriguri near the Assam-West Bengal border in the early hours on Sunday, the officer said. The driver of the container truck has been arrested, the Superintendent of Police (SP) of Alipurduar district, Sunil Yadav, said. The container truck was travelling to Patna in Bihar from Agartala in Tripura via West Bengal, he said. The SP also said that another police team seized 18 kg ganja and arrested three youths for smuggling the contraband. They were arrested from Monojit Nag bus stand on Sunday, he added. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) A criminal wanted in three separate cases of house trespassing and theft was arrested in Jammu and Kashmir's Doda district on Sunday, police said. Javed Ahmad was arrested by a special police team from Gandoh area of the district, they said, adding he had been evading arrest for the last eight years. Ahmad was wanted in three separate cases registered against him in police station Bani in Kathua district. He was charged with house trespassing and theft in all the three cases registered against him in 2010 and 2013 and declared absconder by a local court in Bani, the police said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) With rising air pollution in India, particularly in the Delhi NCR around Diwali, the air purification industry has grown more than seven times in last three years to around 3.5 lakh units and is expanding to tier-II cities now. During the month of October and in the first week of November, air purifiers markers such as Eureka Forbes, Honeywell, Blueair, Panasonic, Xiaomi and Samsung witnessed high double-digit growth corresponding to the Diwali period of the last year lead by a rise in pollution level due to stubble burning. Moreover, the producers have received a high increase in the number of inquiries on their customer care support either for seeking more information or demonstration of air purifier. The high response has come even as health experts have expressed doubts over air purifiers providing full-time protection from pollution as these are effective when a person remains indoors and not even a single window is remained opened. "Presently, the air purifiers business in India is at a nascent stage but is also one of the fastest growing businesses. In 2015, the market size was around 50,000 units only. This year, we have witnessed a monumental rise in sales and as per our internal estimate, the current market size is around 300,000-350,000 units," Samsung India Consumer Electronics Business Director Saurav Katyal told PTI. According to Blueair Country Head Arvind Chabra, air purifiers have witnessed acceptance and increase in sale especially around Diwali and the reason is mainly air pollution which is at its peak during the onset of winters. "Blueair has witnessed more than two-fold growth in sales this festive season vis--vis 2017. While Delhi remains the largest market for us with 60-70 per cent sales, Mumbai and Bangalore are also fast catching up," he said. Similarly, Honeywell has also got over 50 per cent jump in the sale this year in the category during Diwali season this year. "With the outdoor air quality deteriorating in northern parts of India coupled with increasing consumer awareness about the category, we have seen a 50 per cent growth in sales across channels in OctoberNovember 2018 over same time frame last year," said Honeywell Building Technologies, India Connected Living Solutions GM Sudhir Pillai. Pansonic India Business Head - Personal Care Appliances & Air Purifiers Rajneesh Sharma said, "Our air purifiers are receiving an overwhelming response registering a growth of 30 per cent in the month of October Y-o-Y. Given the alarming conditions of air, we are expecting a 35 per cent increase in sales this month." While Chinese firm Xiaomi, also a player in the segment, witnessed over 4.5 times growth in the segment during the period. "Mi Air Purifier 2S was the #1 product in the air purifier category on Amazon Great Indian shopping festival and Mi Air Purifier 2S sold 4.5x of last year's sale," the company said. Eureka Forbes chief transformation officer Shashank Sinha said that demand for air purifiers has been on a significant rise showing month-on-month growth, owing to the degrading air quality in India. "However, During Diwali, we have evidently seen a rise in the demand majorly," he added. Although in terms of volume, Delhi NCR region remains the biggest contributor, manufacturers are seeing traction from non-metro cities also. "We are seeing people buying the product in other parts of the country as well. Cities like Mumbai, Bangalore, Lucknow, Ludhiana, etc. are also seeing traction," said Katyal. According to Chabra, "While Delhi remains the largest market for us with 60-70% sales, Mumbai and Bangalore are also fast catching up." In this segment, several companies are operating which includes, UK-based Dyson, Kent RO Systems, Philips, HSIL, and Havells. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) BJP president Amit Shah will hold talks with youths of poll-bound Rajasthan on November 21 here, Union minister Rajyavardhan Rathore here said on Sunday. The main event will be held at Tagore School auditorium in the state capital where nearly 4,000 youths will participate. The event will be live streamed and Shah will take questions from youths present there and also from those at six other locations, Bharatpur, Udaipur, Kota, Jodhpur, Ajmer and Bikaner, he said at a press conference. Apart from these places, town hall meetings will be held in other 200 locations across the state where youths will be present, Rathore said, adding questions from youths who will be present at these locations will be registered beforehand and they will not be able to ask question during the programme. "India is emerging as a strong nation due to the vision and energy of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Youth understand this. Social media has brought awareness among people on issues, be it political or any other. BJP has always has held dialogues with youth and therefore the party present is going to communicate with the state's youths on November 21," he said. Rathore said that questions can be asked through social media platforms like Twitter and Facebook. Assembly polls in Rajasthan will be held on December 7. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Nearly 200 devotees attending a religious congregation at 'Nirankari Bhavan' in Amritsar rushed for safety after unexpectedly being pushed into chaos on Sunday, when two men on a motorcycle hurled a hand grenade in an apparent terror attack at the premises, from where messages of peace and spirituality are sent out, eyewitnesses said. Recalling the scenes that followed the attack on "Nirankaris", the eyewitnesses said they were panicked, shocked and scrambled through a thick blanket of smoke. They said it was a usual Sunday congregation at the Bhavan on the outskirts of Amritsar city, until the bombers struck. "Each Sunday, I do 'sewa' at the Bhavan. I was on duty near the stage when I saw a person, who appeared young, with his face covered, throw something and run. The next thing I remember is that there was a blast, smoke all over and everyone ran around for their lives, Simranjeet Kaur told reporters outside the premises. A man said his daughter was deputed at one of the entry gates to frisk women devotees visiting the place. "She told me that two people came there and pointed a pistol at her after which she panicked. The next thing she knows that people were rushing out in fear after a grenade was hurled inside," he said. A devotee who was inside the Bhavan said, "I saw blood at the spot after the blast. Although I did not see the attackers, I was told by other devotees that two youth had come on a motorcycle. They gained entry inside and hurled explosive and escaped. Both appeared to be youth with faces covered". Another man, who identified himself as Gurpreet Singh, said he lives near the Bhavan, which is also close to the Amritsar international airport. "I was in my home when someone said a cylinder had burst at Nirankari Bhavan. When I reached there, I saw injured people being taken to hospital in ambulances," he said. Pawandeep Singh, an ambulance driver, said he took many seriously injured to Guru Nanak hospital in Amritsar. Injured people were also rushed to a private hospital. The grenade attack has left three people dead and at least 10 injured, police said. The Punjab police chief said they were treating it as a terrorist attack. DGP Suresh Arora told PTI that the attack "appears to have a terror angle... we will take it as a terrorist act." Punjab was put on alert following an input claiming that a group of six to seven JeM terrorists were reportedly in the state, possibly in Ferozepur area. Four people had carjacked an SUV at gunpoint last week near Madhopur in Pathankot district. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Punjab police said Sunday the grenade attack on a religious congregation on the outskirts of Amritsar city appears to be a "terrorist act". "It (this incident) appears to have a terror angle. Because it is against a group (of people) and it is not against any individual. There is no reason to throw a hand grenade on a group of people, so we will take it as a terrorist act. Till proven otherwise, prima facie we will take it as that," Punjab Director General of Police Suresh Arora told PTI. To a question, the DGP said there was no specific input about any possible attack on Nirankari Bhavan. "There was no issue with this group as such There was no specific input on (Nirankari Bhavan)," he said. Three persons were killed and at least 10 injured in a grenade attack on a religious congregation on the city outskirts on Sunday, police said. The attack took place inside the Nirankari Bhavan at Adliwal village near Amritsar's Rajasansi, close to the international airport, police said. A religious congregation of the Nirankari sect was being conducted inside the Bhavan at the time of the incident. "A grenade was lobbed and three people have died in the incident while 10 have been injured in the incident, two of them critically," Inspector General of Police S S Parmar, who visited the incident spot, told reporters. He said about 200 devotees were inside at the time of the attack. No CCTV camera was installed at the premises, preliminary investigations found, he said. "We have launched relief and rescue operations," he said. After the attack, Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh reviewed the law and order situation and directed the Home Secretary, DGP (Law and Order) and DG Intelligence to rush to Rajasansi to supervise investigations. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Appliances and consumer electronic (ACE) products should be excluded from the purview of with a view to boost domestic manufacturing and promote exports, a report has suggested. It has asked the government to not cut or eliminate import duties in this sector under the proposed mega trade deal (RCEP). A report from PwC and CEAMA has asked the government to "consider excluding ACE products from the future FTAs, especially RCEP." India has signed FTAs with several countries such as Singapore, Thailand, and Under an FTA, each country is required to gradually reduce and eventually eliminate tariff rates on the other country's goods, which also include electronic goods as per a pre-decided timeline for implementation. According to Consumer Electronics and Appliances Manufacturers Association (CEAMA), the ACE sector has witnessed a flat growth in the first half of the ongoing fiscal on account of devaluation of Indian rupee and other factors. The report said: "FTAs signed by India are with production-driven economies resulting in finished products from these countries being imported into India at a cost lower than what it would have cost to manufacture the same products in India." "This factor combined with the fact that in most cases, components of the finished products are subject to import duties at rates higher than the duties applicable on finished products, the has contributed to the decline of the manufacturing of products in India." The report also suggested to provide subsidies to locally manufactured products to help them compete with fully finished goods imported at zero duty under the current agreement. India should focus on signing FTAs with consumption driven economies to promote export and focus on Make in India' for the world, the report said. It suggested to treat the entire consumer electronics segment as a single category under GST to ensure uniformity in GST rate and provide incentives in the form of subsidies to consumers to encourage them to shift to higher star-rated energy efficient appliances. The report also recommended incentivisation of R&D undertaken in India to build domestic capability to make components that are currently unavailable in India. "Also some consumer durables are considered luxury products from a GST perspective. With changing lifestyle patterns and consumer aspirations, such products have now become a necessity that warrant revisiting the tax structure and rates," it added. The discovery of the wreckage of an Argentine submarine lost a year ago has revived a stalled probe into the cause of the undersea disaster that took the lives of 44 crew members. Families of the victims have called for the ARA San Juan to be refloated, an enormous undertaking that authorities cautioned was likely beyond their means. "We're talking about a vessel that, filled with water, weighs 2,500 tons," said the judge in charge of the investigation, Marta Yanez. Yanez said she would not risk raising the submarine "if that means causing it to break up." "I prefer to preserve the evidence in place," she said. But she has issued summonses to the Argentine naval officers who were aboard the Seabed Constructor when it found the submarine on Friday, a year and a day after it vanished in the South Atlantic with all aboard. Crushed from an implosion, the submarine was located at a depth of more than 900 metres in a desolate area of undersea craters and canyons 400 kilometers off the coast of Argentina. An underwater robot sent down by the Seabed Constructor, which specializes in ultra-deep water exploration, relayed 67,000 images of the sunken vessel. Luis Tagliapietra, the father of San Juan crewmember Ensign Alejandro Tagliapietra, was among those on board the ship when it located the sub. "I don't have words to describe it, I feel profound pain and anguish," he said in a brief video carried by Argentine media. "But at the same time we know where they are and it is the first step to learn the truth of what happened." "It's a very hard day, an inconceivable, unreal day. But it is also the first step, which has taken a year, to reach the truth. We are not going to rest until we know what happened." Defense Minister Oscar Aguad met Saturday with the families of the victims and showed them photographs of the wreckage, including images of a propeller, the sub's torpedo-launching tubes and an upper section of the vessel lying on the ocean floor. "We are all destroyed here," said Yolanda Mendiola, the mother of crewman Leandro Cisneros, 28. "I still had hopes that they could be alive," Luis Niz, the father of a missing sailor, told reporters, even though President Mauricio Macri's government had declared two weeks after the sub's disappearance that there could be no survivors. Although an official investigation was opened a year ago, investigators have had little to go on until now. Nonetheless, Argentine navy chief Marcel Srur was removed from his post in December. Seabed Constructor, a jewel in the fleet of US-based exploration company Ocean Infinity, was headed Sunday for Capetown, South Africa for maintenance, the Argentine navy said. When that is completed, it will return to the area where the submarine was located. According to preliminary information released Saturday by the Argentine navy, the San Juan imploded two hours after its last communication with the Mar del Plata naval base, its home port, on November 15, 2017. The sound of the explosion was recorded and traced to the general area where the submarine was found. In a message, Macri promised to get to "the truth needed to honor and respect our heroes and their families." "A serious phase of investigation is underway to know the whole truth, a truth to which we've all been committed from day one," he said, announcing three days of national mourning. Families of the victims, staying at the Tierra del Fuego Hotel in Mar del Plata, were organizing a march Sunday in memory of the "44 hearts of steel. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) : A worker of a right wing Hindu outfit has been arrested in connection with the alleged attack on a CPI(M) leader's son and his journalist daughter-in law during a shutdown called by the outfits in Kerala Saturday, police said. Julius Nikithas and wife Saniyo Manomi, working with a leading Malayalam channel, were attacked at Kuttiady as they were going to a hospital in a car to visit a patient. Police Sunday said that a worker of a right wing outfit has been arrested in connection with the attack and a search was on to nab nine others. Nikithas, son of party district secretary P Mohanan, suffered head injuries and Manomi was also injured. The couple have been admitted to the government medical college hospital here. The CPI(M) had alleged that they were attacked by activists belonging to the Sangh Parivar. Right-wing Hindu outfits had observed a dawn-to-dusk hartal in Kerala Saturday in protest against the "preventive detention" of Hindu Aikya Vedi state president P Sasikala, who was on a pilgrimage to the Sabarimala Lord Ayyappa temple. Sasikala was taken into preventive custody Saturday after she allegedly defied directions not to spend the night near the temple complex. Police had decided not to allow devotees enter the temple premises when it was closed for the night. Sasikala, who was on a fast at the Ranni police station, protesting her detention, was later produced before the sub-divisional magistrate, who is also the Thiruvalla Revenue Divisonal officer (RDO), and granted bail. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) is looking to launch first set of oncology, respiratory, complex injectables and topical products in the US in the next three years as part of plans to build a robust specialty products portfolio. The company is also planning to launch first set of biosimilars and vaccines in growth markets during this time, said in an investor presentation. The growth markets for the company include (GCC) countries, Ukraine, South Africa, East Africa, Myanmar, Canada, Mexico, and Sharing the medium-term road map (from 2019-2021), the company said it will focus on launching "first set of oncology, respiratory, complex injectables, topical products and ADF products in the US." The company is also focussing on securing intellectual property (IP) and ramping up and filing of specialty products, it said. For the long term, from 2022 onwards, Aurobind Pharma plans "launch of inhalers, transdermals, biosimilars, and branded (both Rx and OTC) products in advanced markets," the presentation said. The company is also looking to work on biologic licence applications (BLAs), it added. Commission for Minorities chairperson Ghayorul Hasan Rizvi on Sunday made a strong pitch for mediation in the issue, saying he will speak with all stakeholders for an out of court settlement of the matter. He also appealed to to be "big-hearted" as it was a matter of faith for the Hindus. Rizvi said in his mediation bid, he will make efforts to get an assurance for that if they agree to settle the issue, no dispute over mosques in other places such as "Kashi and Mathura" will arise. In an interview to PTI, Rizvi said the commission, in its monthly meeting on November 14, authorised him, as the chairperson, that if he wants to mediate, he can hold talks with all the stakeholders for an out of court settlement. Last month, the Supreme Court fixed the Ram Janmabhoomi-Babri Masjid land dispute case for the first week of January before an "appropriate bench", which will decide the schedule of hearing. "I believe that the court judgment will be in favour of one side and against the other side, so it would be better to have an out of court settlement. In that direction, I, as the NCM chairperson, will meet people from both communities and will try for an out of court settlement," he said. If a solution is achieved outside the court respectfully, both sides will be happy and the division that has been created will be bridged, Rizvi said. Asked about concerns of that if they agree for resolving the issue, disputes may arise over mosques in other places, the NCM chairperson said he would speak with both sides specifically on the issue. Rizvi said he will soon meet VHP working president Alok Kumar and in Lucknow, Muslim Personal Law Board members, Sunni Waqf Board office bearers, and Islamic scholars, to discuss the issue. He said in talks it can be explored whether the Ram temple could be given to the Hindus as it is a matter of faith for them, and in the future there is no dispute on any other mosque in "Kashi, Mathura", or elsewhere. Rizvi said if such an assurance is given, then he believes this will prove to be a landmark and a "big pillar" in facilitating an agreement between the two sides. Asked if Muslims should take a "big-hearted" approach on the issue, he said, "Yes, I want to appeal that the Muslim community should be big-hearted (on the issue). Somebody will have to take a step forward. As places such as Mecca and Madina are important for Muslims, in the same way is important for Hindus. It should be seen in that context." The entire Hindu community in the country has faith in the Ram temple and is associated with it, he said. "If you see it in the context then you will see that place should be given for the construction of the Ram mandir...If Muslims show a big heart, take such a decision, then the divide that has been created over time will be bridged to an extent," he said. If Ram temple is constructed on the basis of Hindu-Muslim unity, it will not only be good for the country's politics, but also for development, he said. On whether he would also seek help in his mediation efforts from Prime Minister Narendra Modi or Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, Rizvi said if talks move in the "positive" direction and towards a "concrete" solution" then the commission will speak with whosover it has to. The Supreme Court had last week declined early hearing of petitions in the Ram Janmabhoomi-Babri Masjid title dispute case. A bench comprising Chief Justice Ranjan Gogoi and Justice S K Kaul had said it had already listed the appeals before the appropriate bench in January. As many as 14 appeals have been filed against a high court judgment, delivered in four civil suits, that the 2.77 acre land be partitioned equally among three parties -- the Sunni Waqf Board, the Nirmohi Akhara and Ram Lalla. National Commission for Minorities chairperson Ghayorul Hasan Rizvi on Sunday made a strong pitch for mediation in the Ayodhya issue, saying he will speak with all stakeholders for an out-of-court settlement of the matter. He also appealed to Muslims to be "big-hearted" as it was a matter of faith for the Hindus. Rizvi said in his mediation bid, he will make efforts to get an assurance for Muslims that if they agree to settle the Ayodhya issue, no dispute over mosques in other places such as "Kashi and Mathura" will arise. In an interview to PTI, Rizvi said the commission, in its monthly meeting on November 14, authorised him, as the chairperson, that if he wants to mediate, he can hold talks with all the stakeholders for an out-of-court settlement. Last month, the Supreme Court fixed the Ram Janmabhoomi-Babri Masjid land dispute case for the first week of January before an "appropriate bench", which will decide the schedule of hearing. "I believe that the court judgment will be in favour of one side and against the other side, so it would be better to have an out of court settlement. In that direction, I, as the NCM chairperson, will meet people from both communities and will try for an out of court settlement," he said. If a solution is achieved outside the court respectfully, both sides will be happy and the division that has been created will be bridged, Rizvi said. Asked about concerns of Muslims that if they agree for resolving the issue, disputes may arise over mosques in other places, the NCM chairperson said he would speak with both sides specifically on the issue. Rizvi said he will soon meet Vishva Hindu Parishad (VHP) working president Alok Kumar and in Lucknow, Muslim Personal Law Board members, Sunni Waqf Board office-bearers, and Islamic scholars, to discuss the issue. He said in talks it can be explored whether the Ram temple could be given to the Hindus as it is a matter of faith for them, and in the future there is no dispute on any other mosque in "Kashi, Mathura", or elsewhere. Rizvi said if such an assurance is given, then he believes this will prove to be a landmark and a "big pillar" in facilitating an agreement between the two sides. Asked if Muslims should take a "big-hearted" approach on the issue, he said, "Yes, I want to appeal that the Muslim community should be big-hearted (on the issue). Somebody will have to take a step forward. As places such as Mecca and Madina are important for Muslims, in the same way Ayodhya is important for Hindus. It should be seen in that context." The entire Hindu community in the country has faith in the Ram temple and is associated with it, he said. "If you see it in the context then you will see that place should be given for the construction of the Ram mandir...If Muslims show a big heart, take such a decision, then the divide that has been created over time will be bridged to an extent," he said. If the Ram temple is constructed on the basis of the Hindu-Muslim unity, it will not only be good for the country's politics, but also for development, he said. On whether he would also seek help in his mediation efforts from Prime Minister Narendra Modi or Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, Rizvi said if talks move in the "positive" direction and towards a "concrete" solution" then the commission will speak with whosover it has to. On demands of bringing a law or ordinance for the construction of the Ram temple, Rizvi said it is the government's job to decide on such matters and the NCM has no say in it. The government will do what is best in the national interest, he added. The Supreme Court had last week declined early hearing of petitions in the Ram Janmabhoomi-Babri Masjid title dispute case. A bench comprising Chief Justice Ranjan Gogoi and Justice S K Kaul had said it had already listed the appeals before the appropriate bench in January. As many as 14 appeals have been filed against a high court judgment, delivered in four civil suits, that the 2.77 acre land be partitioned equally among three parties -- the Sunni Waqf Board, the Nirmohi Akhara and Ram Lalla. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The BJP in Telangana Sunday released the fifth list of 19 candidates for the upcoming Assembly elections in the state. With the release of the fifth list, the party has so far announced the names of 112 candidates out of 119 seats member assembly. Telangana is going to polls on December 7. Party chief Amit Shah had launched the election campaign on September 15 at Mahabubnagar and addressed another rally at Karimnagar last month. He had also addressed a Bharatiya Janata Yuva Morcha national convention last month. The BJP had five MLAs in the recently dissolved state assembly and all of them have been renominated. Telangana Assembly was dissolved on September six, more than eight months ahead of the expiry of its term, on the recommendation of (now) Caretaker Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao, who opted to go for early elections. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) A day after Union minister and RLSP chief Upendra Kushwaha gave the BJP an ultimatum to resolve the issue of seat-sharing by November 30, the saffron party Sunday said there is no such deadline. The NDA is firm and united in the state, BJP's Bihar in-charge Bhupendra Yadav said here. "Upendra Kushwaha met me twice (in Delhi) and apprised me of all issues (concerning seat sharing). Talks were held in a cordial atmosphere," Yadav told reporters on the sidelines of a party programme. On the Rashtriya Lok Samata Party (RLSP) president's ultimatum to the BJP, Yadav said, "There is no ultimatum." The RLSP chief had Saturday given an ultimatum to the BJP to conclude seat-sharing talks by November 30 as the offer made to it was "not respectable and, hence, not acceptable". The Union minister had, however, declined to divulge the number of seats that were offered to his party. "I also sought an appointment with BJP president Amit Shah twice, but the same did not materialise," he had told a press conference. Yadav, a national general secretary and Rajya Sabha member, said the meeting between Shah and Kushwaha could not take place because of the BJP president's engagements in view of the ongoing assembly poll process in five states. Kushwaha had on November 10 demanded that his party be allotted more than three seats in the state by the NDA to contest the 2019 Lok Sabha election. He is reportedly peeved over the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the Janata Dal (United) deciding to contest an equal number of seats in the 2019 Lok Sabha election in Bihar. The state sends 40 members to the Lok Sabha and after the BJP-JD(U) deal, there is speculation that this would mean fewer seats for other allies like the RLSP and the LJP. A former JD(U) leader himself, Kushwaha had quit the party in 2013 and floated his own outfit. He had joined the NDA at a time when Kumar had snapped ties with the BJP and has been viewing the JD(U)'s return to the coalition last year with much consternation. The opposition Grand Alliance -- comprising the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD), the Congress and the Hindustani Awam Morcha -- too has been trying to woo Kushwaha into its fold. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) BJP workers in Kerala blocked highways on Sunday to protest the arrest of party general secretary Surendran, who was taken into custody on Saturday while on his way to the Lord Ayappa shrine The protestors, including women, squatted on roads, blocking traffic at various places, including in state capital, Kochi, Thrissur, Palakkad and in front of Kottarakara sub-jail, where Surendran has been lodged, and also the northernmost Kasaragod district. In all the places, the protesters were seen clapping and chanting "Swamiyae Ayyappa". Addressing workers at Thiruvananthapuram, BJP leader M S Kumar said police had so far not succeeded in bringing even a single young woman to the Lord Ayyappa Temple at Sabarimala after the Supreme Court on September 28 allowed women of all age groups to offer prayers at the shrine. While the CPI(M)-led LDF government's stand is that they were constitutionally bound to implement the court order, the main opposition Congress has said they are with the believers. The BJP/RSS and right wing outfits have made it clear that they would not allow any woman in the 10-50 age group to offer prayers at the shrine, where the deity is "Naishtika Brahmachari" (perennial celibate). Surendran and two others with him had been taken into preventive custody Saturday night and brought to the Chittar police station, about 50 km from Sabarimala, after they forcibly tried to leave for the hill shrine at Sabarimala. Police had cited law and order issues and tense situation at the temple complex to deter him from going to Sabarimala. However, when they insisted, Surenderan and the others, all with the "Irrumudikettu" (bundle of offerings for Lord Ayyappa)were taken into preventive custody. They were then produced before the Thiruvlla magistrate, who remanded them to 14-day judicial custody. Surendran was later taken to the Kottarakara sub jail. The BJP protest comes a day after the hartal called by the Hindu Aikya Vedi against the preventive custody of their leader K P Sasikala.She was later granted bail. When the Ayyappa temple had opened for monthly pujas in October and early this month, it witnessed a string of protests from frenzied devotees against the entry of young women. A few of them who made a bid to offer prayers, could not come anywhere close to the holy shrine. A 46-year-old woman, who arrived from neraby Kazhakootam to go to Sabarimala, was turned back from Chengannur Saturday, following protests from devotees. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The health condition of RJD president Lalu Prasad, who is serving jail term in fodder scam cases, has deteriorated due to a festering boil on his right leg, the doctor attending him said Sunday. Yadav is currently lodged in a paying ward of the Rajendra Institute of Medical Sciences (RIMS) here. The sugar level and blood pressure of the RJD chief, who is a diabetic, have shot up in the past two to three days due to the boil, Dr Umesh Prasad of the RIMS, who attends Prasad, told PTI. The former Bihar chief minister's dose of insulin has been increased to bring down the sudden increase in sugar level, he said. The doctor said Yadav's creatinine level has also increased to 1.85 from 1.5 and so has the while blood cell count to 12,000, the normal range of which is between 4,000 and 8,000. "It will take some time for the infectious boil to heal," the doctor, who is monitoring the RJD chief's health condition round-the-clock, said. Due to the boil, the RJD chief is experiencing difficulty in standing up and going to the washroom, sources close Yadav said. When asked if the RJD chief needs to be shifted to any other hospital, Umesh Prasad said proper care of the patient was being taken at the RIMS. Convicted in the Rs 900-crore fodder scam, the RJD chief surrendered before a special CBI court in late August, following the Jharkhand High Court's refusal to extend his bail on medical grounds. He was admitted to the RIMS and later shifted to its paying ward after he complained that he could not sleep properly due to barking dogs and mosquito menace. The fodder scam is related to fraudulent withdrawal of government funds from the treasuries of various districts of undivided Bihar in the 1990s when RJD was in power and Yadav the chief minister then. Yadav was in Ranchi jail since December last year in fodder scam cases. The Jharkhand High Court had provided him bail first for specialised treatment in hospitals in various states and again in July to attend the wedding of his elder son Tej Pratap Yadav in Patna. Tej Pratap, however, has filed divorce suit against his wife Aishwarya Rai within less than six months of tying the knot. The petition is scheduled to come up for hearing on November 29. The development has caused stress to Prasad, taking a toll on his ailing condition, sources said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Prime Minister Theresa May said Sunday she would return to Brussels this week to hammer out Britain's future relationship with the EU -- and overthrowing her would not help negotiations. After a tumultuous week in which the draft divorce deal agreed between London and the European Union was slammed in parliament, May said the proposed withdrawal accord would only be signed off if the future relationship deal was satisfactory. May said the week ahead would be "critical" in the Brexit talks. And while hardcore Brexiteers in her centre-right Conservative Party want her replaced, she said that as things stood, they did not have the numbers to trigger a no-confidence motion. "I will be going back to Brussels," May told Sky television, saying she would meet European Commission chief Jean-Claude Juncker. "The focus this week will be on the future relationship. "We won't agree the leaving part... until we've got what we want in the future relationship, because these two go together." That may appease some of the Brexiteers in her cabinet, who on Saturday hinted that further negotiation was needed to keep them onside. May could face a no-confidence vote if at least 15 per cent of Conservative lawmakers -- 48 MPs -- submit letters saying she has lost their support. More than 20 have publically said they have done so. Asked if the 48 figure had been reached, May said: "As far as I know, no it has not. "We're not going to be distracted. "A change of leadership at this point isn't going to make the negotiations any easier and it's not going to change the parliamentary arithmetic." She said replacing her would bring in uncertainty, and would risk delaying the talks and postponing Britain's EU departure date, set for March 29. On Thursday, four ministers resigned over the draft Brexit withdrawal agreement, MPs hammered the document, saying it had no chance of getting through parliament, and Brexiteers began submitting their no-confidence letters. May runs a minority Conservative government and a rump of Brexiteers in her own party, the Northern Irish allies she relies upon for support, plus the opposition, have vowed to vote down the draft deal. Brexiteers fear the deal would keep Britain shackled to Brussels for years to come. EU supporters say it would leave the UK on worse terms than it has inside the bloc and are calling for a second Brexit referendum to break the logjam. Asked what she would do if the vote was lost, May said: "There's a process that parliament will go through. Were it the case that the deal was lost then the government would come back with their proposals for what the next step was." She said the left-wing Labour main opposition leader Jeremy Corbyn was "playing party politics" with Brexit. "There are those in the House of Commons who just want to stop Brexit. I believe it is essential for people's trust in and parliament that we deliver on Brexit," she added. A 52-per cent majority voted for Britain to leave the EU in the 2016 referendum. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Amidst the ongoing feud inside the premier investigation agency, another CBI officer has moved the Supreme Court challenging his repatriation to the Intelligence Bureau, terming it "unjustified" and "malafide". Deputy SP Ashwini Kumar Gupta has alleged that he was repatriated to his parent Intelligence Bureau (IB) cadre as he was investigating various corruption charges against CBI Special Director Rakesh Asthana, who has been divested of his duties and sent on leave along with CBI Director Gupta, in his plea, said he had joined the Intelligence Bureau in January 1999 and inducted on deputation to the CBI in July 2014, initially for three years, till June 2017. Subsequently, he was granted one year extension in the (CBI) till June 2018 after a No Objection Certificate (NOC) from his parent department. "CBI wrote to IB seeking NOC again for further extension of the tenure of the Applicant in CBI till June 2019. The IB in June 2018 again gave NOC for further extension of the tenure of the applicant, which was forwarded by the CBI to the Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT) in June 2018 itself for its approval as per the procedural requirement, which is presently under process," the plea stated. The officer claimed that "surprisingly", on the morning of October 24, 2018, the CBI repatriated him to his parent organisation on the ground that the order of his extension had not been received by the CBI. "Whereas the fact of the matter is that the NOC from IB was received by the CBI in June 2018 before expiry of the deputation of the applicant and was forwarded to DoPT for their approval in the same month," Gupta said. He said "singling out" of the applicant was due to the fact that he was one of the officials carrying out investigation, along with another officer A K Bassi, which led to the unearthing of crucial findings, as well as implicating Asthana in the Sterling Biotech case registered on August 30, 2017. The officer said he along with Bassi, who has been transferred to Port Blair, visited Vadodara on October 7, 2018 and conducted the probe till October 13. "The gist of the findings of the inquiry conducted at Vadodara...led to the establishment of 'undeniable, cogent, clear and unmistakable' link of Asthana and his family with fugitive accused Nitin and Chetan Sandesara, and that infuriated Asthana so much that he made a mention of the same in his complaint to the Cabinet Secretary on October 18," he said. Asthana has levelled corruption allegations against Verma. Gupta termed his repatriation as "motivated" and "malafide", urging the court to quash it. Both Bassi and Gupta have filed applications seeking to intervene in the pending petition filed by Verma, who had approached the apex court challenging the Centre's decision to divest him of his duties and sending him on leave following his feud with Asthana. Pursuant to the top court's order, the Central Vigilance Commission's inquiry against Verma was conducted under the supervision of former apex court judge Justice A K Patnaik. The report was filed in the court on November 12. The BJP Sunday said the Centre was following "maryada" (propriety) on the Ram Temple issue as the case was being heard in the Supreme Court. He, however, said the Hindus and Muslims wanted an early decision on the matter. BJP national spokesperson Shahnawaz Hussain was speaking to reporters here in Madhya Pradesh, which goes to polls on November 28. "The Ram temple case is currently pending in the apex court. Both Hindus and Muslims want an early decision on this issue. Lord Ram is called 'Maryada Purushottam'. On the issue of the Ram temple, our government is following the path of 'maryada'," he said. "Discussions on the issue are underway. People will not need to wait for this (resolution of the issue) till doomsday. We hope that the issue will be resolved soon," the BJP leader added. Hussain said all options for a solution, from passing a law in Parliament to sorting it out through negotiations, were open before the Narendra Modi government. Speaking on the grenade attack on a religious congregation in Amritsar in Punjab, he pointed fingers at Pakistan. Three persons were Sunday killed and at least 10 injured in a grenade attack inside the Nirankari Bhavan at Adliwal village near Amritsar's Rajasansi, which is close to the international airport. "It seems that after Jammu and Kashmir, Pakistan is trying to promote terrorism in Punjab, but it will never succeed in its nefarious designs," Hussain said on the attack. On Opposition allegation that the BJP government in Uttar Pradesh had changed the names of cities for political gains, the party spokesperson said, "Foreign invaders and the British changed the ancient names of our cities. We have done justice to our cultural heritage by reverting to the ancient names". Asked about the alleged refusal of Prime Minister Narendra Modi to wear a skullcap, Hussain shot back, "The prime minister does not avoid anything. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The central government is conducting an inquiry into an alleged multi-crore scam in post-matric scholarships for Scheduled Caste, Scheduled Tribe and Other Backward Classes students, Union minister Vijay Samla said Sunday. Talking to PTI on phone, the Union minister of state for social justice and empowerment said, "We got reports about the scam from not only Himachal Pradesh but other parts of the country as well. Scam of Rs 450 crore was also reported from my home state Punjab." "Taking cognisance of these reports, the Social Justice and Empowerment Department is already conducting an inquiry into the matter," Sampla said. An audit of the distribution of post-matric scholarship was also on and appropriate action would be taken after getting a report on it, he said. The department was considering taking corrective steps to check fraud and the scholarship money might now be directly deposited in the Aadhaar-linked bank accounts of eligible SC/BC/OBC students after checking their attendance in educational institutions, he added. Sampla said the post-matric scholarship was launched in 2008-09 and under it the department used to provide an amount to the states. Later, an online system was launched and the states directly deposited the scholarship amount to bank accounts of the beneficiary students whose annual family income was below Rs 2 lakh. The amount was then revised to Rs 2.5 lakh, he said. The students would be provided the money for fees, books and other financial support as scholarship but there were several reports across the country that the money was being deposited in fake bank accounts, Sampla said. An FIR was registered by the Himachal Pradesh Department in Shimla Friday through its official, Shakti Bhushan, who had conducted a preliminary inquiry into the alleged scam. During the probe, it was found that 250 students of Kangra district took admissions in two centres of Fatehpur and Vadukar centres (Karnataka) of Lovely Professional University (LPU), they added. The scholarship money was deposited in fake accounts which were opened using the students' Aadhaar details, they added. A total scholarship amount of Rs 260 crore was distributed to students from the state from 2013-14 to 2016-17, a state official said. The official said only Rs 50 crore was distributed for students studying in about 2,500 government institutions in the state. Rs 210 crore was distributed to students shown to be studying in 300 private institutions, located in and outside Himachal Pradesh, he said. A state official said the Himachal Pradesh government had already decided to hand over the case to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI). (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Unaccounted cash, illicit liquor and other items worth over Rs 11.85 crore have been seized by officials in Chhattisgarh in run-up to assembly elections since October 4 when the model code came into force. The elections for the total 90 constituencies are being held in two phases--November 12 and November 20. "Flying squads constituted by district election offices have been keeping a close watch on illegal consignment of liquor, cash and other items meant to influence the polls," saidan officer with the office of State Chief Electoral Officer (CEO). These squads comprise personnel from the police, excise and income tax departments, he said. He said unaccounted cash, illicit liquor, drugs, jewellery and other items worth Rs 11,85,51,461 have been seized from separate places in the state during October 4-November 16 period. "Recovered items include cash worth Rs 4,47,13,358 and 70,681 litres of liquor worth around Rs 1,30,15,000," he said. The officer said 22-kg narcotic items worth Rs 1.76 lakh were also recovered. "Besides, jewelleries and other valuables worth Rs 29,13,871 were seized, apart from laptops, vehicles, pressure cookers and other items worth Rs 5,77,33,175," he said, adding that cases have been registered under appropriate acts. The ruling Bhartiya Janata Party (BJP), which is eyeing the fourth consecutive term in Chhattisgarh, and the opposition Congress are locked in a close contest in the state. The contest has become triangular with the entry of former chief minister Ajit Jogi whose outfit has tied up with Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) of Mayawati and the CPI. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Congress in Odisha Sunday accused the BJD government of working only to protect the interests of the "decaying" party ahead of 2019 polls while neglecting people's welfare. Chairpersons of the State Women's Commission and the State Commission of Persons with Disabilities resigned to become officer bearers of the women's wing of the BJD in order to strengthen the party, Odisha Pradesh Congress Committee president Niranjan Patnaik alleged. The BJD govern met is also not serious about appointing the Lokayukta in the state or keeping in order the Anganwadi centres, which are in disarray, Patnaik claimed in a statement. "The BJD government is trying its best to save the party base which is decaying day by day. Its focus is entirely on party organisation, while common good is sidelined," Patnaik said. Social activist Minati Behera quit the post of chairperson of the State Commission for Persons with Disabilities on November 11 and became president of the women's wing of the BJD. State Commission for Women chairperson Lopamudra Baxipatra, who also resigned from the post the same day, was appointed as a working president of the Biju Mahila Dal. The focus is only on strengthening the ruling BJD, the OPCC president said. Accusing the state government of not being sincere about appointment of Lokayukta, he said despite Supreme Court's repeated reminders, the process is being delayed reflecting the government's disregard for constitutional system. The state government had passed a bill four years ago for the appointment of Lokayukta and the President had given his consent to it in 2015. But no Lokayukta has been appointed in Odisha so far. Though the BJD government always talks of development, the child development scheme in the state is in doldrums, Patnaik said adding the government is providing uniform, bi-cycles and laptops to students free of cost, but it has done little at grassroot level. Claiming that around half of the 71,000 Anganwadi centres in the state do not have their own buildings, the PCC chief said many of these centres are run from rented buildings, temple premises and community halls. Patnaik further alleged that the state government had shut down a number of primary schools recording poor attendance. This shows lack of sincerity in developing child education system, he said. Odisha Building and Other Construction Workers Welfare Board Chairpersons Subash Singh's tenure ended around 7 months ago, but the post is still lying vacant, he claimed. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Gujarat Congress Sunday demanded Chief Minister Vijay Rupani's resignation for admitting to a "scam" in the procurement of groundnuts in the state during the last Kharif season. Talking to reporters here, Rupani Sunday said his government had taken "strong measures" to ensure that no "scam" takes place in procurement of groundnuts like it was seen in the previous Kharif season. Rupani was reacting to the NAFED's admission that the central agency was not in a position to procure groundnuts in Gujarat due to irregularities seen in procurement during the last season. "There was a scam in procurement of groundnut last year. In the interest of farmers, the state government has taken strong measures to ensure that no such scam takes place (again)," Rupani told reporters Sunday. Speaking on the issue Sunday, Congress leader of opposition in the Gujarat Assembly, Paresh Dhanani, sought Rupani's resignation and a probe by a sitting judge into what he claimed was a Rs 4,000 crore groundnut scam. Taking off on the Congress' "chowkidar" jibe for Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Dhanani referred to Rupani as "havaldar" in a tweet. "Now that the havaldar (guard) of the state which has gobbled up Rs 4,000 crore in groundnut scam has himself admitted of irregularities, there should be a probe by a sitting high court judge, and the state's havaldar involved in the corruption should resign", Dhanani tweeted, adding a video of Rupani's statement calling it a "scam." NAFED's vice president and former Gujarat minister Dileep Sanghani also admitted that the state government failed to "follow guidelines" in procurement and storage of groundnuts during Kharif 2017-18. "There needs to be CCTV cameras (at godowns), storage should be within 30 kilometres from where it is procured. There were problems and faults with such arrangements (on the part of the state government)," Sanghani said. "NAFED is not an independent organisation but procures as per the central government's guidelines, which needs to be followed by the state government. There have been some issues with this," Sanghani told reporters. The National Agricultural Cooperative Marketing Federation has said it is not in a position to procure groundnut from Gujarat during Kharif 2018-19, citing irregularities in procurement and storage in the previous season. Groundnut stocks worth Rs 31 crore procured by NAFED were destroyed in fires at godowns at Gondal and Shapar in Rajkot district this year. A stock stored in a private godown at Pedhla was found adulterated with sand and stones. The state government had in August set up an inquiry commission under a retired high court judge to probe fires at warehouses storing groundnuts procured by NAFED. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Congress Sunday attacked Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar over his comments on rape cases and claimed "misogyny" had become a buzzword of the BJP leadership and his remarks exposed the ruling party leaders' "Talibani thought process". Khattar had claimed Friday that in 80-90 per cent rape and harassment cases the accused and the victim knew each other for a long time and added the cases of rapes were registered due to an argument between them. Congress chief spokesperson Randeep Singh Surjewala claimed the BJP leader had earlier said that if women wanted freedom, they should walk around naked and he sought an apology from the chief minister. "Misogyny has become a buzzword of the BJP leadership. Humiliating India's daughters and women has become a characteristic style of BJP leaders. The Talibani thought process of BJP leadership, particularly Manohar Lal Khattar, got exposed," he told reporters. There was no immediate response from the BJP to the Congress' allegations. Surjewala cited examples claiming that Haryana had become a crime hub, as women became victims everyday. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Amid mounting tension in Kerala over the issue of women's entry into Sabarimala temple, the Congress on Sunday accused the CPI(M)-led state government of creating a 'terror-like atmosphere' in the name of security of the hill shrine. The Congress levelled the allegation as a three-member party delegation comprising former state ministers Thiruvanchoor Radhakrishnan, Adoor Prakash and V S Sivakumar left for Sabarimala to study the situation there. "The Sabarimala Sannidhanam has virtually turned into a fortress, where the entry of devotees of Lord Ayyappa are being restricted," Radhakrishnan, who is also a legislator, told reporters here. Prakash, representing the Konni Assembly constituency, claimed that heavy police deployment at Sabarimala was disrupting the normal flow of devotees. "The government, using the police force, is creating a terror-like atmosphere in the name of ensuring security of the Lord Ayyappa shrine," he alleged. Sivakumar, a former Devaswom minister, alleged that the government had not taken any step to provide basic facilities for the huge number of pilgrims visiting the temple. The MLA from Thiruvananthapuram said devotees face a lot of hardship due to lack of basic facilities at Nilackal, Pamba and Sannidhanam. Before heading to Sabarimala, the Congress leaders alleged that the state government was not interested in setting up necessary infrastructure and security for the pilgrims and instead was only interested in creating hardships for them. Amid tight security, thousands of pilgrims payed their obeisance at the Lord Ayyappa shrine on Saturday, which was also the first day of Malayalam month 'Vrischikom'. The temple opened on Friday evening for the two-month annual pilgrimage season even as the stand-off over entry of women of menstruating age into the temple continued. The temple complex and nearby areas had witnessed protests by devotees when it was opened for monthly pujas for eight days in October and early this month against the LDF government's attempt to implement the apex court verdict allowing women of all age groups to pray at the shrine. Social activist Trupti Desai, who arrived at Kochi airport Friday en route Sabarimala, was forced to return to Maharashtra after she faced an over 13-hour protest. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Creation of small states is the only way to solve political, social and economic disparities, a body of organisations spearheading separate state movements has claimed. The National Federation of New States (NFNS), a conglomerate eight separate state movement bodies, has been demanding regions of Vidarbha in Maharashtra, Bodoland and Karbi in Assam, Gorkhaland in West Bengal, Kukiland in Manipur, Tripraland in Tripura, Poorvanchal in Uttar Pradesh and Bundelkhand in Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh be given statehood. Political regimes have been neglecting demands for creation of separate states and only before an election, political parties try to pacify people demanding separate statehood with assurances to fulfil their demand, NFNS general secretary Munish Tamang alleged. To put more pressure on the Centre to create states on the basis of language, ethnicity and economy, the organisation in a meeting on Wednesday here has also decided to launch an movement. "The fulfilment of the longstanding demand of creation of small states is the only way to ameliorate the prevalent political, social and economic disparity of regions demanding separate statehood," Tamang said. During the meeting leaders of separate state movements, also chalked out new strategies to intensify the agitation for creation of new states. The NFNS called upon all regional and national political parties to engage with the idea of creation of new states in the country keeping in mind the Constitution of India. Harkha Bahadur Chetri, one of the pioneers of the Gorkhaland movement, strongly opposed the manner in which the political dispensation both in New Delhi and West Bengal has ignored the demands of a separate state of Gorkhaland. He asked the Gorkha people to come together and fight for their demands. "Self-representational aspirations being the foundation and corner-stone of democracy and as a true democratic country, the government must find ways to accommodate the aspirations of the people to represent themselves administratively, socially and politically," Chetri said. Shrineevas Khandewale a prominent leader of the Vidarbha statehood movement claimed that it is a myth that managing a large state is viable". Citing the example of Kerala, he said it is much smaller than Maharashtra, but the southern state is better managed and more developed. "It (a large state) is not so as would be clear from various reports of the government and Reserve Bank of India," he said. He called upon all bodies fighting for separate states to put pressure on the government to formulate a procedure for giving statehood to the regions. "People of my region will demand from all political parties seeking votes in the coming general elections to take a stand on Vidarbha's statehood demand. "We have enough assurances from political parties and now we need action for creation of a new state of Vidarbha", Khandelwale added. NFNS secretary and president All Bodo Students' Union ( ABSU) Pramod Boro said the NFNS will continue pressing for creation of new states in a democratic and non-violent manner, and in accordance with the provisions of the Constitution. The ABSU had spearheaded the Bodoland movement in Assam. "To counter so-called mainstream by some opportunist individuals we must be united and raise our collective voice as much as we can as it is already too late. "If these are not resolved in due time, some culturally rich communities may also lose their identity and become part of uncultured group of people and the meaning and objective of freedom will be hopelessly," said Boro. He said a separate Bodoland state movement has brought ethnic Bodo tribals together. "Now, Bodos of the world are united for the cause of Bodoland state and our movement is heading towards achieving the goal," Boro said. Mangal Debburma, a noted leader of the Tripraland movement, alleged that ethnic tribal communities of Tripura became minorities in their own land due to influx of Bengali Hindus from Bangladesh in the state. "If influx from Bangladesh continues into Tripura, we will at a loss of identity and culture totally. Only a separate state for tribals of Tripura can save our identity and culture," Debburma said. He added that a separate Tripraland statehood agitation will be more intense in the state. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The world's standard definition of the kilogram, the ampere, the kelvin and the mole has been changed, after representatives from 60 countries voted to redefine the International System of Units (SI) for weight, current, temperature and amount of chemical substance. The definition of the kilogram for more than 130 years, the International Prototype of the Kilogram (IPK), a cylinder of a platinum alloy stored at the International Bureau of Weights and Measures (BIPM) in France, will now be retired. It will be replaced by the Planck constant -- the fundamental constant of quantum physics. While the stability of the IPK could only be confirmed by comparisons with identical copies, a difficult and potentially inaccurate process, the Planck constant is ready for use everywhere and always. The decision, made at the General Conference on Weights and Measures in Versailles, France, which is organised by BIPM, means that all SI units will now be defined in terms of constants that describe the natural world. This will assure the future stability of the SI and open the opportunity for the use of new technologies, including quantum technologies, to implement the definitions. The changes, which will come into force on May 20 next year, will bring an end to the use of physical objects to define measurement units. "The SI redefinition is a landmark moment in scientific progress," said Martin Milton, Director, International Bureau of Weights and Measures (BIPM). "Using the fundamental constants we observe in nature as a foundation for important concepts, such as mass and time, means that we have a stable foundation from which to advance our scientific understanding, develop new technologies and address some of society's greatest challenges," said Milton. "Today marks the culmination of decades of work by measurement scientists around the world, the significance of which is immense," said Barry Inglis, Director of the International Committee for Weights and Measures. "We will now no longer be bound by the limitations of objects in our measurement of the world, but have universality accessible units that can pave the way to even greater accuracy, and even accelerate scientific advancement," said Inglis. The new definitions impact four of the seven base units of the SI: the kilogram, ampere, kelvin and mole; and all units derived from them, such as the volt, ohm and joule. Although the size of these units will not change, the four redefined units will join the second, the metre and the candela to ensure that the set of SI base units will continue to be both stable and useful. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Pressing for an ordinance to facilitate the construction of a Ram temple in Ayodhya, NDA constituent Shiv Sena has said the delay in exercising the option is an indication that the ruling BJP at the Centre and in Uttar Pradesh was not keen on building it. Senior Shiv Sena leader and party MP Sanjay Raut said if the NDA government can bring an ordinance on banning instant triple talaq then why not take the same route to remove hurdles for the construction of the Ram temple, which is a "matter of pride" for the nation. The Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), which helped the BJP come to power in 2014, should pull down the NDA government if it fails to bring an ordinance for construction of the temple, he said. Raut's remarks comes ahead of Shiv Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray's visit to Ayodhya in Uttar Pradesh on November 25, during which the party is likely to declare its next course of action on the issue. "We never use the issue of Ram Mandir for elections. But those who wish to do it, we feel they don't want the Ram Mandir," Raut told PTI in an interview. If you want the Ram Mandir then legislate a law, he said. Raut, who is also executive editor of the Shiv Sena mouthpiece 'Dainik Saamana', claimed that when the BJP came to power for the first time in the 1990s, it cited a lack of absolute majority in Parliament and power in Uttar Pradesh for not coming up with a legislation for the construction of Ram Temple. Today, BJP has absolute majority at the Centre as well as in Uttar Pradesh, but it has "failed" to resolve the long-pending issue, he said. "If you can bring an amendment to the triple talaq bill and the SC and ST Act, then why not on Ram Mandir. If this is the will and demand of the people and you have seized power because of the same issue will then you have to accept it," the Sena MP said. Though the Shiv Sena and the BJP are in alliance, both at the Centre and in Maharastra, there has been an increasing bitterness in their ties. Last month, the Supreme Court fixed the Ram Janmabhoomi-Babri Masjid land dispute case for the first week of January before an "appropriate bench", which will decide the schedule of hearing. There has been a growing demand to bring an ordinance so that hurdles relating to the dispute can be sorted out at the earliest. Raut asserted that the issue is unlikely to be resolved by the court and an ordinance is the only solution to construct the temple. He said if the government brings the ordinance then over 100 non-BJP MPs in the Lok Sabha and many in the Rajya Sabha, cutting across the party lines, would back the legislation. Raut, whose party has been a vociferous supporter of the construction of the Ram temple, said 2019 should be deadline for resolving the issue. "After that neither Ram Mandir nor Babri should not be on the agenda of any political party and election issue. We don't want any credit. You take the credit, but build the Ram temple," the Sena leader said. The Shiv Sena in the past has openly admitted its role in the demolition of the Babri mosque in December 1992. Following the demolition and the subsequent riots in Mumbai, the party, along with the BJP, seized power in Maharashtra in 1996. "If we could not lay a brick for the temple in last 25 years then what temple are we going to build," Raut said. For construction of the Ram temple, he said the Vishwa Hindu Parishad, the RSS, Bajrang Dal, Shiv Sena, should sit together and declare their position on the issue. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) A source close to Bennett told Reuters that failure to reach an agreement could lead to early elections, as "there was a need to go to elections as soon as possible with no possibility of continuing the current government". Bennett challenged Netanyahu's leadership and urged the prime minister to appoint him as defense minister. Close confidants of Netanyahu have also added to the speculation that elections will be called. The official said leaders of coalition parties will meet Sunday to coordinate the date for early elections. Sources also reported that up to 1, 500 protesters took part in the mass protest, chanting "Netanyahu is weak in front of Hamas, Bibi resign, Lieberman is looking for a friend", and "Bibi resign, the south is burning", while using Netanyahu's nickname. The meeting between Netanyahu and Bennett, who is the head of the far-right Habayit Hayehudi party (Jewish Home), was held amid the government's calls to avoid snap elections. Bennett's withdrawal from the coalition would leave Netanyahu without the minimum 61 seats needed to govern, making elections inevitable and ending a government that lasted almost four years. Likewise, he called the funding transferred last week to Gaza by Qatar - agreed to by Egypt, the United Nations, the United States and Israel - "purely $15 million of terror funding", warning that the oversight mechanism that is supposed to be place to ensure the money is used for civil service salaries, "is a sham". The sudden vacancy allowed Bennett, leader of the right-wing Jewish Home party, to demand the defense portfolio, promising to quit the government if he didn't get it. Gaza's Hamas rulers fired hundreds of rockets at southern Israel, while Israeli warplanes targeted scores of targets in Gaza. However, a survey conducted by Hadashot TV on Wednesday night revealed that Netanyahu's Likud party would win by a landslide if elections were to be held now. By law, the government must choose an election date within three to five months, making March or May the most likely time for elections. Even with late US election results strongly favouring opposition Democrats, US President Donald Trump has again declared "a tremendous victory" and said it would have been even greater had his name been on the ballot. "We had a tremendous set of victories," Trump told "Fox Sunday" journalist Chris Wallace in an interview recorded Friday. Democrats have picked up at least 36 seats in the House of Representatives -- possibly as many as 40 -- giving them an overall majority, with notable strength in some of the Midwestern states that were key to Trump's 2016 election. When Republicans lost 30 seats in 2006, Republican President George Bush declared it a "thumping." Asked about that on Fox, Trump replied, "I won the Senate and that's historic too" for a president's party in a midterm election. "It's almost never happened." Republicans have secured at least 52 seats in the 100-member Senate. An unexpectedly tight race in normally Republican Mississippi is headed to a run-off. Trump said Republicans would have done better but "I wasn't on the ballot." But as he campaigned for Republican candidates around the country, as Wallace pointed out, Trump had repeatedly urged voters to "pretend I'm on the ballot. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Leaders from 21 Asia-Pacific nations battled to paper over gaping differences Sunday after an unusually sharp exchange of words between the group's two most powerful members, the United States and With just hours of the two-day summit remaining, officials were still scrambling to forge enough of a consensus to issue a formal joint statement and were admitting privately that it might not be possible, amid yawning differences on trade policy. The annual gathering has been overshadowed by speeches on Saturday from Chinese President Xi Jinping and Vice President Mike Pence, which appeared to represent competing bids for regional leadership. Pence warned smaller countries not to be seduced by China's massive Belt-and-Road infrastructure programme, which sees offer money to poorer countries for construction and development projects. The "opaque" loans come with strings attached and build up "staggering debt", Pence charged, mocking the initiative as a "constricting belt" and a "one-way road". He urged nations instead to stick with the United States, which doesn't "drown our partners in a sea of debt" or "coerce, corrupt or compromise your independence". In a speech to business leaders just minutes before Pence, Xi insisted the initiative was not a "trap" and there was no "hidden agenda" -- amid criticism that it amounts to "chequebook diplomacy" in the region. Xi also lashed out at "America First" trade protectionism, saying it was a "short-sighted approach" that was "doomed to failure". The feisty barbs on a gleaming white cruise ship moored in Port Moresby set the scene for a potentially fiery meeting between Xi and President at the G20 summit in Argentina at the end of this month. But Xi and Pence, who both wore shiny, red shirts provided by the Pacific island did hold talks on Saturday night at the leaders' gala dinner. Pence told reporters on Sunday: "I spoke to President Xi twice during the course of this conference. We had a candid conversation." He told him that the is interested in a better relationship with "but there has to be change" in Beijing's trade policies. With fears that a trade war between the two rivals could cripple the Pacific Rim economy, some attendees voiced concern about the growing rivalry for influence in the region. "Business leaders do not want to speak out, but behind the scenes here, they are talking over dinner saying 'how has this happened'?" said Denis O'Brien, the billionaire chairman of Digicel. "It's a very forced situation, one country is trying to force all the other countries to change tariffs agreed over years," O'Brien told AFP. Trump -- and Russian President -- both decided to skip the gathering, leaving the spotlight on Xi who arrived two days early to open a Chinese-funded school and road in Papua New Guinea's dirt-poor capital Port Moresby. Xi has been the star of the show, front and centre at official photos whereas Pence has kept a lower profile, only deciding at the last minute to stay overnight in Port Moresby -- shelving original plans to fly in and out from Cairns in Australia. As if to counter Chinese largesse, the US, Australia, New Zealand and Japan on Sunday announced a project to boost electricity capacity in Papua New Guinea. ALSO READ: Host Papua New Guinea urges respect for trade rules ahead of APEC summit The project aims to raise the percentage of the PNG population with access to electricity from 13 per cent to 70 per cent. And as the US and vie for influence in the region, the statement dangled the prospect of similar projects for countries that "support principles and values which help maintain and promote a free, open, prosperous and rules-based region." With the official business of the summit relatively low-key, much of the focus has been on the unlikely venue of Port Moresby, which is hosting its first event of this scale. The city is on lockdown with hundreds of police and military patrolling the streets of the notoriously crime-ridden capital. Warships are stationed just off the coast to provide security for the leaders, and delegates and media have been housed in enormous cruise ships due to a dearth of hotel rooms. DLF Cyber City Developers Ltd, a joint venture between DLF and GIC, expects about Rs 350 crore annual rental income from its upcoming commercial project at Gurugram which will get completed by March next year, sources said. Out of the 2.5 million sq ft leasable area in the new project 'Cyber Park', DLF Cyber City Developers Ltd (DCCDL) has already leased 1.8 million sq ft to big clients such as Bank of America, Gartner and co-working player WeWork, the sources said. The remaining area would be leased in the next few months, they added. This 12-acre green commercial project is being developed at a cost of about Rs 1,500 crore, they said, adding the annual rental income would be around Rs 350 crore with three towers in this complex currently commanding around Rs 120 per sq ft rent a month. In 2016, DLF had given a contract to L&T to construct this project, being developed as per LEED platinum green certification norms. A DLF spokesperson declined to comment on the matter. DLF, the country's largest realty firm, has 66.66 per cent stake in DCCDL, while Singapore's sovereign wealth fund GIC owns the rest 33.34 per cent. The DLF-GIC JV was formed last year when the promoters of the realty firm sold their stake in DCCDL to the Singapore investment firm. Promoters sold 40 per cent stake in DCCDL for Rs 12,000 crore. This deal included sale of 33.34 per cent stake to GIC for Rs 9,000 crore and the remaining shares were bought back by DCCDL. DCCDL currently earns a rental income of about Rs 2,700 crore from 27 million sq ft of leased commercial properties and the same would rise after the completion of this building. DCCDL posted a profit of around Rs 1,400 crore on a total income of nearly Rs 4,950 crore during the last fiscal year. Its debt is around Rs 16,000 crore, of which Rs 14,500 crore is LRD (lease rental discount) loans against its leased commercial assets. The average coupon rate is 9 per cent. That apart, the JV has receivables worth Rs 8,700 crore from DLF, which recently proposed to sell commercial assets worth Rs 6,000 crore to settle part of its dues. Besides the Cyber Park project located on the national highway in Gurugram, DCCDL has about 25 million sq ft of area as land bank for future development. With this growth potential, DCCDL's portfolio could grow in mid-teens CAGR for next 10 years, DLF had said in an analyst presentation for the September quarter. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Italian bike racer Andrea Dovizioso Sunday made a frantic win in the restarted Valencia MotoGP race that was disrupted by rains, as the Spaniard Pol Espargaro claimed the Red Bull KTM's first-ever podium in the premier class. For Ducati, this is the first win a decade in Valencia and its rider Espargaro has made that possible easily in the restarted race. Dovizioso secured the win of the 2018 MotoGP campaign, which was stopped after the 15th of the 27 laps in a frantic restarted race in the rained Valencia circuit known for creating many a surprising winners. Spaniard Dani Pedrosa, who has been with Honda Racing all through his career, announced his retirement from the circuit after finishing fifth in the Valencia race Sunday. After the initial race was red-flagged due to heavy rains making track conditions unsafe after 15 laps, the Valencia MotoGP restarted with a 14-lap sprint event but with notable absentees including reigning world champion, the Spaniard Marc Marquez, who also announced his retirement from professional racing after winning five world crowns including the Catalan MotoGP, and the pole-sitter Maverick Vinales of Spain, as a record number of riders crashed out in the first start. Spaniard Alex Rins, who darted into the lead in the same style he led the opening race, was chased by Dovizioso and Valentino Rossi of Italy in a three-rider breakaway. Dovizioso showed faster pace as the rain relented to reel in the Spaniard Alex Rins and pass the Suzuki rider at the very start of the second lap before quickly building a good lead. Rossi also got by Rins for second place before crashing off while pushing to catch Dovizioso, which instantly gave the Ducati rider a gap to take a lead ahead of Rins and fetch victory for Ducati for the first time in a decade at Valencia. With Rins settling for second place, Espargaro recovered from an off in the opening race to power to the podium, marking Red Bull KTM's first-ever podium in the premier class. Ducati test rider and wildcard Michele Pirrograbbed of Italy had an impressive fourth place as Dani Pedrosa signed off his MotoGP career with a battling fifth place as top Honda rider with rookie japanese Takaaki Nakagami impressing in the sixth place for LCR Honda. The French racer Johann Zarco claimed the top MotoGP Independent honours for the second straight year with seventh place for Monster Yamaha Tech3 on its final race with the Japanese manufacturer. The Brit Bradley Smith, another to recover from an opening race off, ended his Red Bull KTM partnership with his best result of the year in the eighth place ahead of the LCR Honda stand-in Stefan Bradl of Germany as Tech3's Hafizh Syahrin of Malaysia rounded out the top ten. The 19th MotoGP has 25 Racers participating at the Gran Premio de la Comunitat, Valencia which saw an impressive Marquez of Honda Repsol team qualifying for the fifth global crown that unfortunately ended in rainy a crash. Meanwhile, the Moto3 went to Can Oncu of Turkey and Moto2 to the Dutch Miguel Oliveira. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Amid growing clamour for changing the names of cities, a bill which seeks to rechristen the iconic high courts of Madras, Calcutta and Bombay has run into trouble and a fresh one has to be introduced in the Parliament to do the same. The High Court (Alteration of Names) Bill, 2016, was introduced in the Lok Sabha on July 19, 2016 to change the names of Calcutta, Madras and Bombay High Courts to Kolkata, Chennai and Mumbai High Courts, respectively. However, the Tamil Nadu government has asked the Centre to rename the Madras High Court to 'High Court of Tamil Nadu' instead of 'High Court of Chennai' as proposed in the bill. While the West Bengal government wants the Calcutta High Court to be renamed as Kolkata High Court, the high court has itself "not agreed for revised nomenclature". In a written reply in the Lok Sabha in December, 2016, Minister of State for Law P P Chaudhary had said the old bill would have to be revised and a new bill introduced. "The central government has sought views from the state governments concerned and the respective high courts for finalising a fresh bill. No time frame can be fixed for finalising of the fresh bill and its introduction in Parliament," he had said. A senior Law Ministry functionary said "no forward movement" has been made in this regard and the fresh bill was unlikely to be brought in the Winter Session beginning December 11. The Calcutta High Court has the distinction of being the first high court and one of the three chartered high courts to be set up in India, along with the high courts of Bombay and Madras. It was formally opened on July 1, 1862. The 'Indian High Court Act' of 1861 vested in the Queen of England to issue letters patent to establish High Courts of Calcutta, Madras and Bombay. The Bombay High Court was inaugurated on August 14, 1862. The high court today has three benches at Nagpur, Aurangabad and Goa. The Bombay HC is one of the few institutions in Maharashtra that continues to carry the old name of the city. The state government renamed Bombay as Mumbai in 1995 and all institutions under it altered their names accordingly. The Madras High Court, which came into being around the same time, has one bench in Madurai. After Allahabad was renamed Prayagraj and Faizabad as Ayodhya, there have been multiple demands to rename cities, towns and districts. For instance, there are demands to rename Azamgarh district as Aryamgarh, Faizabad as Saket, Aligarh as Harigarh, and Muzaffarnagar as Laxminagar. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Fresh clashes Sunday in the "yellow vest" fuel price protests across France led to more injuries to add to the more than 400 already reported by Interior Minister Christophe Castaner. Although the protests appeared to be less widespread than those seen at the 87 locations tallied by the interior ministry overnight, protestors again clashed with police -- and sometimes motorists. Sunday's protests touched several regions across France, but their intensity appeared to be diminishing, according to AFP journalists. Police were searching for a motorist who forced a road block at Saint-Quentin, northeast France, leaving one protestor seriously injured. And police used tear gas to break up a gathering of about a thousand protestors near the northern city of Caen, after vandalism of traffic radar and the burning of wooden pallets. Earlier Sunday, Interior Minister Christophe Castaner reported that the first day and night of protests had left one person dead and more than 400 people hurt, 14 seriously. The injury toll followed what Castaner described as a "restive" night in 87 locations around the country, where protesters had blocked roads to express their anger at a series of hikes in petrol tax. The injured, 409 in total, included 28 police, paramilitary police or firefighters. French retail group Auchan reported violent incidents at around 20 shopping centres where it operates hypermarkets. Castaner told RTL radio that 288,000 people had taken part in Saturday's protests at 2,034 locations countrywide. About 3,500 stayed out overnight, he added. Police questioned 282 protesters in total, 73 during the night, of whom 157 were taken into custody. "Last night was restive... There were assaults, fights, stabbings," Castaner said. "There were fights among 'yellow vest' protesters. There was a lot of alcohol at certain venues, which led to this idiotic behaviour." Budget Minister Gerald Darmanin said Sunday the government was aware of unhappiness over high fuel taxes, but said it had "a duty" to transform the French economy with the aim of making it less oil-dependent. A poll published Sunday in the Journal de Dimanche weekly said that 62 percent of those questioned believed their purchasing power was more important than a fast transition towards renewable energy. Prime Minister Edouard Philippe was to appear on national TV Sunday evening to discuss the protests. On Saturday, groups blocked roundabouts, major highways and thoroughfares to express anger over increased taxes on fuel and their shrinking purchasing power under President Emmanuel Macron. Tempers flared at times as some drivers confronted the protesters or tried to force their way through the barricades. In the eastern Savoie region, authorities said a woman trying to get her daughter to a doctor panicked after protesters surrounded her car and banged on the roof. She accelerated into the crowd and killed a 63-year-old woman. The driver was on Sunday charged with manslaughter before being released on conditional bail, prosecutors said. The protesters are nicknamed "yellow vests" for the high-visibility jackets they wear. A separate poll published in the Journal du Dimanche meanwhile indicated that Macron's popularity had dipped a further four points to 25 per cent. The survey was conducted November 9-17 with 1,957 respondents. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Goa-based RTI activist Rajan Ghate has launched an indefinite hunger strike to press for resignation of ailing Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar with his agitation getting support from the Congress and other parties. Ghate began his fast Friday at historic Azad Maidan here. Several political leaders visited Ghate at the fast site Sunday to express their support to him. "I am on hunger strike for the sake of people of Goa who have been facing no-governance for the last nine months due to health condition of Parrikar," Ghate told reporters. He said Parrikar should step down owing to his health condition to facilitate smooth functioning of administration in the BJP-ruled state. Ghate said his hunger strike will continue till the demand is met. The activist received support from various political parties and NGOs. Leaders of the Congress, the Goa Suraksha Manch (GSM), the Shiv Sena along with NGOs like Savera Sunday met Ghate. Talking to reporters after meeting Ghate, Congress MLA Aleixo Reginaldo Lourenco said the BJPshould stop praising Parrikar for signing documents despite being ill. Parrikar (62) has been recuperating at his private residence near Panaji since October 14 upon his return from the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) in New Delhi, where he underwent treatment for a pancreatic ailment. "Congress party always understood his medical condition. There are videos which are going viral in which he has said that a politician should call it a day when he cannot function mentally and physically," he said. "You keep your word (and resign). Lot many people from Goa will be telling you (not to quit) but don't listen to them. I feel Ghate is doing something which we have failed to do as elected representatives," Lourenco added. "If Goans are not getting justice, it is because of absence of CM and governance has come to a standstill. Even his own ministers have started criticising him. "The CM should call it a day and close the chapter. Honourably I think you should exit," he said, calling for the resignation of Parrikar. GSM chief Subhash Velingkar, who also met Ghate, said the activist is fighting for a genuine cause. "Actually entire Goa should have risen over the issue. But Goans are tolerant," he said. "They have done such injustice to everyone. Even God will not pardon them. Ghate is representing aspiration of all (non-BJP) parties," Velingkar said. He said all parties and NGOs should come together and raise the issue of Parrikar's resignation. Goa Shiv Sena spokesman Milind Gawas maintained the party had said four months ago that the state administration has come to a standstill. "What we said four months back is turning true now," he added. "Shiv Sena was the first one to raise the issue. We had asked for dissolution of the government. The Parrikar-led government is not bothered about the people. "We had even launched a signature campaign. We even went to Governor, but Governor is not interested in listening to us," Gawas added. On Saturday, the Congress demanded Governor Mridula Sinha summon a special session of the legislative assembly and ask the BJP-led coalition government to prove its majority. The opposition party has been claiming that the state government is in a disarray in Parrikar's absence from office. However, the BJP has been maintaining the government led by it in the coastal state is stable and all allies are with the saffron party. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The National Integration Week will be observed across the country beginning November 25 with an aim to foster and reinforce the spirit of communal harmony. The government will organise meetings and seminars during the 'Qaumi Ekta Week' (National Integration Week) to emphasise on themes of secularism, anti-communalism and non-violence. Besides, November 20 will be observed as "Welfare of Minorities Day" when fraternal processions will be taken out in riot-prone towns, according to an official release. November 21 will be observed as "Linguistic Harmony Day" when special literary functions and 'Kavi Sammelans' will be organised to enable people of each region to appreciate the linguistic heritage of other parts of India. The release said November 22 will be observed as "Weaker Sections Day". Meetings and rallies will be organised to highlight programmes under various governments which help SCs/STs and weaker sections with particular emphasis on the distribution of surplus land to landless labourers. November 23 will be observed as "Cultural Unity Day" and cultural functions will be organised to present the Indian tradition of unity in diversity and for promoting cultural conservation and integration, it said. November 24 will be observed as "Women's Day" when role of women in Indian society and in development of nation-building will be highlighted. November 25 will be observed as "Conservation Day" when several meetings and functions will be organised to emphasise the growing need for awareness and action to conserve the (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Ahead of Board meeting, leader P Sunday alleged that the central government was determined to "capture" the bank to gain control over its Rs 9 trillion reserves. In a series of tweets, the former finance minister also claimed that the government and the (RBI) was heading towards a "confrontation" in the Monday's board meeting of the bank. "Government is determined to 'capture' in order to gain control over the reserves. The other so-called disagreements are only a smokescreen (sic)," he said on microblogging site Twitter. said, "Nowhere in the world is the central bank a board-managed company. To suggest that private business persons will direct the governor is a preposterous idea." "November 19 will be a day of reckoning for central bank independence and the Indian economy," he tweeted. November 19 will be a day of reckoning for central bank independence and the Indian economy P. (@PChidambaram_IN) November 17, 2018 The has a massive Rs 9.59 trillion reserves and the government, if reports are to be believed, wants the central bank to part with a third of that fund an issue which along with easing of norms for weak banks and raising liquidity has brought the two at loggerheads in the recent weeks. The government on November 9 had said it was discussing an "appropriate" size of capital reserves that the central bank must maintain but denied seeking a massive capital transfer from the RBI. Economic Affairs Secretary had also clarified that the government wasn't in any dire needs of funds and that there was no proposal to ask the RBI to transfer Rs 3.6 trillion. "There is no proposal to ask RBI to transfer Rs 3.6 or Rs 1 trillion, as speculated," he had said. "The government's FD (fiscal deficit) in FY 2013-14 was 5.1%. From 2014-15 onwards, the government has succeeded in bringing it down substantially. We will end the FY 2018-19 with FD of 3.3%. The government has actually foregone Rs 70,000 crore of budgeted market borrowing this year." Garg said the only proposal "under discussion is to fix appropriate economic capital framework of RBI". Economic capital framework refers to the risk capital required by the central bank while taking into account different risks. Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder SinghSunday reviewed the law and order situation in the state in the wake of the grenade attack on a religious congregation on the outskirts of Amritsar city which left three persons dead. The incident took place inside the Nirankari Bhavan at Adliwal village near Amritsar's Rajasansi, police said. While reviewing the law and order situation, Singh directed the Home Secretary, DGP, DG (Law and Order) and DG Intelligence to rush to Rajasansi in Amritsar to supervise investigations, an official spokesman said here. On the directions of the chief minister, security has been strengthened at all Nirankari Bhawans in the state, the spokesman said. He said Singh announced Rs 5 lakh as compensation for the kin of the dead and free treatment for the injured. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Labelled "Mickey Manga Spide" in Japanese - Mickey Cartoon Speedy in English - the film features a dog policeman on a motorbike chasing Oswald and his girlfriend in a vehicle. The 1928 short, titled Neck "n" Neck, features Oswald the Lucky Rabbit, a precursor to Mickey Mouse. There was even a book published previous year by author and Disney animator David Bossert, called Oswald the Lucky Rabbit: The Search for the Lost Disney Cartoons, which detailed the history of the Oswald shorts and the ongoing hunt for the missing entries in the series. He only recently discovered that he was sitting on a piece of film history that was long thought lost after reading the book Oswald the Lucky Rabbit: The Search for the Lost Disney Cartoons, written by Disney animator David Bossert, which came out past year. The film was discovered by 84-year-old Yasushi Watanabe, and he'd actually had the film back when he was a teenager. Suspecting that his copy may be one of the missing films, Watanabe worked with the Asahi Shimbun to contact Bossert and the Walt Disney Archives, which confirmed that the film was indeed one of the missing works. The 16mm copy of this Oswald cartoon is only two minutes long, though the original cut was five minutes. Mr Watanabe's childhood purchase is now being kept at the Kobe Planet Film Archive, and another film showing 50 seconds of the same cartoon has also been unearthed at the Toy Film Museum in Kyoto, the newspaper said. This is not the first Oswald cartoon to resurface in recent years. Watanabe realized the film was a lost Disney film after reading a book about the history of "Oswald the Lucky Rabbit", a Disney-created character from the 1920s. Flashback: In 2015, a cartoon featuring Oswald the Lucky Rabbit was shared for the first time in 87 years, BBC reported. Before Mickey, there was Oswald the Lucky Rabbit. Oswald was created by Disney in 1927, but was lost in a contract dispute one year later. In response, Disney began work on a new lead character: one that would eventually be known as Mickey Mouse. That deal allowed Mickey and Oswald to finally get the chance to meet in the 2010 video game Epic Mickey, in which Oswald is given a starring role. Chief Minister Amarinder Singh on Sunday reviewed the law and order situation in Punjab after a grenade attack by bike-borne assailants at a religious congregation near Amritsar city killed at least three people. Condemning the attack, Singh asked the state home secretary, DGP, DG (Law and Order) and DG Intelligence to rush to Rajasansi area, close to Amritsar international airport, and oversee the investigation into the attack on a Nirankari Bhavan, an official spokesman said. He has also asked officials to strengthen security at all Nirankari Bhavans in the state. The chief minister announced Rs five-lakh compensation to the family of the dead and free treatment to the 10 people injured, the spokesman said. "Strongly condemn the bomb blast at Nirankari Bhawan in Amritsar... My heart goes out to victims of the Amritsar bomb blast and their families... My govt will give Rs 5 lakh to the kin of each of the dead and free treatment to the injured. Have asked district administration to extend all help," Singh tweeted. The attack happened during a religious congregation of the Nirankari sect. "A grenade was lobbed. Three people have died and 10 have been injured, two are critical," Inspector General of Police S S Parmar told reporters after visiting the site. Punjab was on alert following an intelligence that a group of six to seven Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) terrorists were reportedly in the state, possibly in Ferozepur area. The state was put on alert after four persons carjacked an SUV at gunpoint near Madhopur area in Pathankot district last week. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Three persons were killed and 20 injured in a grenade attack on a religious congregation here on city outskirts on Sunday, an incident which the police are treating as a terrorist act. The incident took place inside the Nirankari Bhavan at Adliwal village near Amritsar's Rajasansi, police said. A religious congregation of the Nirankaris was being conducted inside the Bhavan at the time of the incident. The Sant Nirankari Mission is a spiritual organisation and the Bhavan here lies close to the international airport. The grenade was lobbed by two persons who had come on a bike and had their faces covered. The Director General of Police Suresh Arora, who along with senior police officers rushed to the spot, said the incident appears to be a terrorist act. He said that three people had died in the incident and 20 others were injured, two of them seriously. Inspector General of Police S S Parmar, who visited the incident spot, told reporters that about 200 devotees including many women were inside at the time of the incident. No CCTV was installed at the premises, preliminary investigations found, he said. ALSO READ: Punjab on alert as intel confirms presence of at least 6 JeM terrorists After the incident, the Bhavan was sealed by the police and security was stepped up at other "Nirankari Bhavans" in the state. Chief minister Capt Amarinder Singh said the possibility of involvement of ISI-based Khalistani/Kashmiri terror groups could not be ruled out. Amarinder Singh said the state won't let the "forces of terror" to destroy the hard-earned peace. Notably, Punjab had gone through dark days of militancy in the 1980s and early 1990s and faced few terror attacks in recent years including the one in Pathankot over two years ago. After the incident, the Chief Minister asked the Home Secretary, DG Police, DG Law and Order and DG Intelligence to immediately rush to Village Adliwal, Raja Sansi, to personally supervise the investigations into the grenade attack at Nirankari Bhawan. Amrinder Singh has also directed the police to immediately enhance security arrangements at all sensitive places in the wake of the explosion. Forensic teams have been rushed to the spot and all angles were being investigated, said the chief minister here, adding that the possibility of involvement of ISI-based Khalistani/Kashmiri terror groups could not be ruled out. Singh said his government was on top of things and would get to the bottom of the incident soon and ensure that the culprits are apprehended and brought to book. Nobody will be allowed to get away with trying to disturb the peace and harmony of the state, he warned. The chief minister has also announced a compensation of Rs five lakh each to the kin of the dead and directed the district administration to provide the best possible medical care, free of cost, to the injured. The chief minister said preliminary investigations had so far revealed that two men, one of them with a flowing beard, with covered faces, allegedly forced their way into the hall by brandishing a pistol. They detained the sewadar, lobbed the grenade into the prayer room, and fled on a motorcycle. A small crater was formed by the impact of the explosion and was being examined by the forensic team. The safety valve of the grenade has also been found and was being examined, he said. The chief minister has meanwhile appealed to the people not to panic and maintain peace and law and order. Let us remain calm, he said, adding the government would ensure there is no chaos in the wake of the incident. Though the state had been hit by a series of cases of targeted attacks since 2015-16, this was the first attempt, in a long time, to disturb the peace in the state through indiscriminate killings, said the Chief Minister, adding it strengthened the belief that Pakistan was continuing with its nefarious activities to disturb the state's peace. He pointed out that 15 such terror modules had been busted in the past 18 months, with Kashmiri terror links also indicated in some instances, as evidenced in the arrest of Kashmiri students from Jalandhar and in the Maqsudan police station grenade blast case. Earlier, the DGP said that the incident appears to be a terrorist act. It (this incident) appears to be a terror angle. Because it is against a group (of people) and it is not against any individual. There is no reason to throw a hand grenade on a group of people so we will take it as a terrorist act. Till proven otherwise, prima facie we will take it as that, Suresh Arora told PTI. Notably, the grenade attack took place amid Punjab being on high alert following an input claiming that a group of six to seven JeM terrorists were in Punjab and were 'planning' to move to Delhi. Moreover, the security agencies were also on alert after four persons snatched an SUV from its driver at gunpoint near Madhopur in Punjab's Pathankot district a few days back. On Friday, Punjab police in Gurdaspur had even pasted posters of Zakir Musa, the chief of Jammu and Kashmir based Ansar Ghazwat-ul-Hind terror outfit with reported links to Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM). Army Chief Bipin Rawat had recently warned that attempts were being made to revive insurgency in Punjab and had even cautioned that people needed to be careful especially during the festival season to prevent anti- forces from succeeding in their nefarious designs. US President Donald Trump said on Sunday he has been fully briefed on an audio recording related to the brutal killing of the dissident Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi, but was advised against listening to those "suffering" tapes. Khashoggi, 59, who wrote for The Washington Post, was killed last month inside the Saudi Consulate in Istanbul where he had gone to collect papers related to his marriage. Turkish investigators say they have audio recording of his killings, which it has shared with key partners including the US. In an interview with Chris Wallace of Fox News, which was aired on Sunday, Trump for the first time acknowledged that he has been briefed on the audio recording of the Khashoggi's murder. Trump said he hasn't listened to it, as he was advised not to hear the "suffering tape", according to the channel. A day earlier, Trump spoke with the CIA chief on the agency's assessment of the killing of Khashoggi. He expects a full report on it by Tuesday. In the interview, Trump defended his policy on Saudi Arabia, saying "We have put on very heavy sanctions, massive sanctions on a large group of people from Saudi Arabia. But at the same time, we do have an ally and I want to stick with an ally that in many ways has been very good." He also said it "takes two to tango" to resolve the conflict in Yemen, where Iranian-backed insurgents are facing off against Saudi-backed forces, noting that "I want Saudi to stop, but I want Iran to stop also". A day earlier he told reporters in California that it (Khashoggi's murder) was a horrible thing that took place. "It's a horrible thing that took place, the killing of a journalist...It should never have happened," Trump told reporters travelling with him to California. Asked about the reports that the CIA had assessed involvement by the Saudi Crown Prince, the President said, "they haven't assessed anything yet. It's too early. That was a very a premature report." "We'll be having a very full report over the next two days, probably Monday or Tuesday," the US President said. He then said more definitely that there would be "a report on Tuesday." The report will address what "we think the overall impact was and who caused it, and who did it." "In the meantime we're doing things to some people that we know for a fact were involved and we're being very tough on a lot of people," he added. Saudi Arabia had offered a series of contradictory explanations for Khashoggi's death. After repeated denials, Riyadh finally admitted Khashoggi had been murdered at the compound of its Istanbul Consulate but blamed it on a "rogue" operation. On Friday, the Washington Post reported that the CIA had assessed with high confidence the role of the Saudi leader, based on multiple sources of intelligence. The CIA found that 15 Saudi agents flew on government planes to Istanbul and carried out the killing at the Saudi consulate, the report said, adding that it could complicate President Trump's efforts to preserve US ties with one of the closest American allies in the region. "The accepted position is that there is no way this happened without him being aware or involved," a US official familiar with the CIA's conclusions, told the daily. Saudi Arabia has denied any such linkage. Fatimah Baeshen, a spokeswoman for the Saudi Embassy in Washington, said that the claims in the CIA's "purported assessment are false. We have and continue to hear various theories without seeing the primary basis for these speculations." According to the report, it is CIA assessment that the crown prince who is the defacto ruler of the country would survive the crisis. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) A BJP MP from Uttar Pradesh has said he was hopeful of enactment of a law during the winter session of Parliament for construction of a Ram temple in Ayodhya. BJP MP from Salempur Lok Sabha constituency Ravindra Kushwaha, while addressing party workers on Saturday during Kamal Sandesh Bike Rally here said: "The winter session of the Parliament which commences on December 11 will witness enactment of a law for the construction of Ram temple in Ayodhya. Referring to the Rafale issue, Kushwaha said, "Rahul Gandhi has failed in politics, and is misleading the public. He is raking up the Rafale issue to share information with Pakistan and China." Meanwhile, A BJP MLA from the state said that faith is above Constitution, and termed it unfortunate that "Lord Ram is forced to live in a tent in Ayodhya. Speaking to reporters here on Saturday, BJP MLA from Bairia in Ballia Surendra Singh said, "God is bigger than the Constitution. Faith is linked to God, and hence it is above Constitution." ".... Lord Ram is living in a tent in Ayodhya. Nothing can be more unfortunate that this," he said. Singh also termed Mughal emperor Babar as a "foreign invader". (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur on Sunday accused the previous Congress government of making false promises to people of the state. He alleged that the previous dispensation in the state laid foundation stones of several projects without a single penny of budgetary provisions. "For the present government, it is an uphill task to fulfill those promises as it requires huge budgetary provisions," the chief minister said. Thakur alleged that the Congress government did not care about the development of the state instead it remained busy fighting corruption charges faced by its head. He also exuded confidence that his party will emerge victorious in the 2019 Lok Sabha polls. The chief minister said his government has made all-round development of the state as its top priority and has received over Rs 9,000 crore from the Centre for different projects. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) "After sometime there will another Pankaj Tripathi", says the award winning actor, admitting he is aware that every actor in the film industry today is replaceable. Tripathi has made a significant mark in the past few years after a long struggle before the glory. He shot to fame with Anurag Kashyap's 2012 gangster drama "Gangs of Wasseypur" but before that he slogged for years and kept working hard, till the industry took notice of his talent. Reflecting on his early days, Tripathi, a student of NSD, told PTI, "I was not worried much back then. Now, when I am successful I am not arrogant, I am not flying high. I know that I am popular now and there is stardom but it is not at all permanent. "I know after sometime there will another Pankaj Tripathi. My success might fade away as they will find a new name. I was not worried then, I am not worried now." The actor believes in staying happy in the moment. "I live in the present," he adds. Tripathi is glad he is getting to play such varied roles -- an upright CRPF officer Atma Singh in "Newton", Narottam Mishra in "Bareilly Ki Barfi" to Rudra Bhaiya in latest hit "Stree". "Whatever is happening with me is unexpected. I came here for survival and I was hoping that I would be able to run my house by acting in films. Things are better today. I have increased my fee as well. But I work on my conditions. As a person, I am still grounded and humble," he says. Tripathi is excited for Satish Kaushik's "Kaagaz", based on the life of Bharat Lal aka Lal Bihari from Azamgarh, who fought a legal battle for 18 years to prove that he is alive. He has been shooting for the biographical drama, in which he plays the lead role. The actor says while his hands are full with meaty roles currently, he wishes to concentrate on one project at a time. "Today, I want to do one film at a time. There is too much load that I am not taking up or signing any new film. I am already booked till next year September. My dates are full. I am getting lot of good scripts but my dates are full so I am unable to say yes to them. "I had never imagined that after coming to Mumbai that as an actor my dates would be booked in six-eight months in advance. I had never imagined all this to happen." He understands, playing the lead role in a film is a huge responsibility but according to him, it is also an opportunity to showcase his talent. Tripathi, who doesn't believe in the term character artiste, says, "Heroes are also playing characters. Today, audience have a platform to give their opinion not just about the film but about the actor or supporting actors. "I am happy people have given me so much love in the films that I have done, where I was not in the lead." The multi-faceted actor struggled for over a decade before establishing himself in Bollywood. He says he is reaping the benefit of his hardwork today. "All this is because of my hard work. Today, I understand that hard work always pays off, good artiste are always worshipped. Earlier, supporting actors were not getting that much recognition and respect but that is not the case today." His other projects include "Shakeela" biopic, web-series "Mirzapur", Hrithik Roshan's "Super 30", "Luka Chupi", "Abhi Toh Party Shuru Hui Hai". "I also have 'Panga' with Ashwiny Iyer Tiwari. She is a friend and we have decided that I will always act in her films. I don't know what role I have in this film but I have to keep aside a week to ten days." The actor has worked with Tiwari on both her films "Nil Battey Sannata" and "Bareilly Ki Barfi", said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) will soon undertake trials of the indigenously developed vaccine against Zika virus, cases of which have been reported in Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan and Gujarat. The ICMR will undertake phase-II trial of the vaccine to establish the efficacy and safety of the vaccine along with its adverse effects, a senior official said. Vaccines manufacturer, Hyderabad-based Bharat Biotech, has developed a vaccine, which they claim will provide protection against infection caused by an Asian Zika virus strain as well as by the African Zika virus strain, the official said. "The company had developed the vaccine around two years ago. At that time we did not have an outbreak of Zika in India as it was only restricted to Latin America. "Zika virus is spread to people primarily through the bite of an infected Aedes species mosquito and also there is a breakout in some states. Vector control is one of the most challenging work. Thus the vaccine, if its efficacy is proved, is a better strategy," the official said. The process for regulatory approvals to carry out the trial will be initiated soon, he informed. Two persons, who tested positive for the Zika virus, diedin Madhya Pradesh's Bhopal district while the number of people suffering from the disease has crossed 120 in the state. The deceased -- an 18-year-old man and a 23-year-old woman -- were suffering from the virus and other "serious" diseases. Therefore, it cannot be said they died due to Zika , officials had clarified. The virus has infected 127 people, out of which 40 are pregnant women, the officials said. People have tested positive for the Zika virus in seven districts of Madhya Pradesh. This includes 44 cases reported from Bhopal, 20 from Sehore, 29 from Vidisha, two each from Sagar and Hoshangabad, and one each from Narsinghpur and Raisen. A central team is reviewing the situation and assisting the Madhya Pradesh government to replicate measures and the action plan implemented in Jaipur and Ahmedabad to contain the disease, the senior official said. Rajasthan has reported 159 cases of Zika infections. In India, the first outbreak of the Zika virus was reported in Ahmedabad in January 2017 and the second in Tamil Nadu's Krishnagiri district in July that year. Both these outbreaks were successfully contained through intensive surveillance and vector management. During the latest outbreak of the virus in the country, the first case surfaced on September 22, when an 85-year-old woman tested positive for the virus in Jaipur. Since then, the number of Zika cases have risen to 153 in Rajasthan. In Madhya Pradesh an intensive screening exercise is being undertaken and vector control measures have been intensified. The government has also issued an advisory to district administrations to take steps to check mosquito breeding. The state health department has advised pregnant women not to visit the affected areas. The Zika virus, transmitted through the aedes aegypti mosquito, causes fever, skin rashes, conjunctivitis, muscle and joint pain. It is harmful for pregnant women, as the mother can pass the infection to her fetus during pregnancy or around the time of birth leading to microcephaly, a condition in which a baby's head is significantly smaller than normal. The disease is under surveillance of the Union Health Ministry although it is no longer a Public Health Emergency of International Concern under the WHO notification. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Florence Pugh believes all female actors are asked to lose weight to get a role in a film. The "Little Drummer Girl" star, who was asked to shed the pounds when she first tried to find work in Hollywood, said she finds the movie industry ''scary'' because of the ways ''lines can get crossed''. ''It would be virtually impossible to find someone who hasn't been asked to (lose weight). Part of what's so scary is that in this industry you are expected to play dress up and so many lines can get crossed if you're in the wrong hands," Pugh said. The actor, however, has learned a lot from her stint in Hollywood. "I came away knowing exactly what work I did and didn't want to do and that was a big, grown-up realisation. 'I can't stand characters who don't know what they're doing or why they're there - if they're just on their husband's arm, it kills me," she said. According to Contactmusic, Pugh also found working on "King Lear" alongside Emma Thompson and Emily Watson ''empowering''. ''During the Me Too breakthrough, I was hanging out with Emma Thompson and Emily Watson - two people I've looked up to my entire life. Talking to those women was so empowering" she said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) A bloody, age-old custom used by Iraq's powerful tribes to mete out justice has come under fire, with authorities classifying it as a "terrorist act" punishable by death. For centuries, Iraqi clans have used their own system to resolve disputes, with tribal dignitaries bringing together opposing sides to mediate in de facto "hearings". If one side failed to attend such a meeting, the rival clan would fire on the absentee's home or that of fellow tribesmen, a practice known as the "degga ashairiya" or "tribal warning". But in an age when Iraq's vast rural areas and built-up cities alike are flooded with weapons outside state control, the "degga" may be deadlier than ever. A recent dispute between two young men in a teashop in the capital's eastern district of Sadr City escalated to near-fatal proportions, leaving a 40-year-old policeman with a broken hip and severely damaged abdomen. His cousin Abu Tayba said the policeman was "wounded in a stray bullet during a 'degga' on a nearby home." "Weeks after the incident, he's still in the hospital, hovering between life and death," Tayba told AFP. Even in Baghdad, disputes often involve machine guns and rocket-propelled grenades, the city's military command warned a top Iraqi court recently. That body, the country's Superior Magistrate Council, issued a decision last week classifying "deggas" as "terrorist acts" -- and therefore warranting the death penalty -- because of their impact on public safety. A few days later, it announced it would take legal action against three people accused of targeting a home in Al-Adhamiyah, north of Baghdad, with the deadly custom. In Iraq, a country of 39 million people, clan origin and family name can carry weight in securing a job, finding romance, and gathering political support. They can also interfere in the work of the state, as tribal structures in some areas can be more powerful than government institutions. Last year, Iraq's tribes and the ministries of interior and justice pledged to work closer together to impose the law, but "deggas" seem to have hindered such cooperation. Raed al-Fraiji, the head of a tribal council in the southern province of Basra, told AFP the warnings have become commonplace. "This happens every day. Yesterday it happened twice. The day before, three times," he said. "Two months ago, a domestic dispute between a husband and wife turned into an armed attack on the husband's home. The exchange of fire killed one person and wounded three." Fraiji said tribal influence and practices were growing because the state was seen as unreliable. "For an Iraqi citizen, the law has become weak. Meanwhile, tribes impose themselves by force. Iraq is like a jungle -- so a citizen will turn to a tribe to find solutions to their problems." The country has been ravaged by years of conflict since the US-led invasion in 2003 that removed strongman Saddam Hussein and led to the rise of militias. A decade later, the Islamic State jihadist group overran much of Iraq and was only ousted from its urban strongholds across the country late last year. Years of instability have left many of Iraq's communities flush with weapons and largely out of the state's reach, contributing to a preference for tribal mediation methods. "The government is responsible for the increase in tribal conflict and of 'degga' cases," said Adnan al-Khazaali, a tribal leader in Baghdad's Sadr City. "Most of the young men today are armed and even the security forces cannot stand in their way." Tribal leaders and government officials alike are clinging to the hope that the new ruling could change things. "These incidents are continually happening, and are often causing casualties," interior ministry spokesman Saad Maan told AFP. "Court rulings and their implementation," Maan said, could be the only way to secure peace. Back in Basra, the head of the local human rights commission estimated around a dozen people were wounded or killed in "deggas" last year. "These incidents threatens social peace," said Mahdi al-Tamimi. "It's sad and worrying, and cannot be eliminated without a solid and effective law." But Fraiji, known in Basra for his relatively progressive views, feared the court's ruling would not be enough to take on Iraq's powerful clans. "The decision will only remain ink on paper if the security forces do not enforce it on the tribes," he said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) India has provided financial assistance for the construction of three schools in Kaski district of western Nepal. One secondary school and two multiple campuses have been constructed in Kaski with the grant assistance from the Indian government, according to a statement issued by the Indian Embassy here. Minister for Culture and Tourism Rabindra Adhikari inaugurated Saraswati Tika Higher Secondary School at Lekhnath Municipality, built with the Indian assistance of Rs 37.10 million. Likewise, the construction of Laxmi Adarsha Multiple Campus in Lekhnath and Gupteshwor Mahadev Multiple Campus in Pokhara have also been completed under the grant assistance by India. Both the campuses were inaugurated by the Deputy Chief of Mission at the Embassy of India, Ajay Kumar. Laxmi Adarsha Multiple Campus has been built with Indian assistance of Rs 48.40 million while Gupteshwor Mahadev Multiple Campus has been constructed with a grant assistance of Rs 41.10 million. The newly-built infrastructures includes conference hall, computer lab, library etc. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) North Korea has chose to deport a USA citizen detained for illegally entering the country, its state media reported on Friday. Meanwhile, the official Korean Central News Agency said United States citizen Bruce Byron Lawrence would be deported from the country after having been detained on October 16 last. "While being questioned, he said he had illegally entered the country under the command of the US Central Intelligence Agency", KCNA said. Speaking on a condition of anonymity, a U.S. official confirmed to The Associated Press that Bruce Byron Lowrance was deported and on a flight back to the U.S. Friday. He added the safety and well-being of Americans remains one of the highest priorities of the Trump Administration. It "opens up a whole avenue of discussion" to move stalled negotiations forward, the former United States envoy told an event at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace in Washington. The North's decision matches its general push for engagement and diplomacy with the United States this year after a string of weapons tests in 2017, and a furious US response, had some fearing war on the Korean Peninsula. The latest release comes just a year after university student Otto Warmbier died only days after he arrived from North Korea in a coma after spending 17 months in their captivity. The reclusive regime freed three US detainees in May in an apparent goodwill gesture before a summit between North Korean leader Kim Jong Un and US President Donald Trump in Singapore. "The state-of-the-art weapon that has been long developed under the leadership of our party's dynamic leadership has a meaning of completely safeguarding our territory and significantly improving the combat power of our people's army", North Korean media reported breathlessly on Friday. It didn't appear to be a test of a nuclear device or a long-range missile with the potential to target the United States. North Korea has denied torturing Warmbier and claims he contracted botulism in detention. It's the first publicly known field inspection of a weapons test by Kim since he observed the testing of the Hwasong-15 intercontinental ballistic missile in November of previous year, according to South Korea's Unification Ministry. Yesterday's announcement was not framed in those terms but Shin Beom-chul, research fellow at the Asan Institute of Policy Studies, said it still "reads as a strategic move with deliberate political intention". "It's North Korea-style coercive diplomacy". Earlier this month, North Korea's Foreign Ministry warned that the country could return to the path of "pyongjin" - the simultaneous development of nuclear weapons and economic development - if sanctions are not lifted. "As it is a tactical weapon test, we do not view it as a North Korean military provocation", the source said. But North Korea's report was noticeably less belligerent than past announcements of weapons tests, and didn't focus on North Korean claims of US and South Korean hostility. However, one good deed does not mean all is well in U.S. Ongoing conversations continue to take place. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has assured all possible help to new Maldivian President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih in fulfilling his government's pledges to the people and suggested an early meeting of officials to work out the details according to the needs of the strategically vital Indian Ocean island nation. According to a joint press statement after talks between Prime Minister Modi and President Solih here on Saturday, soon after the 54-year-old Maldivian Democratic Party leader was sworn-in as the seventh president, the two leaders expressed confidence in the "renewal" of the close bonds of cooperation and friendship between the two countries. India-Maldives ties came under strain under former president Abdulla Yameen who was perceived to be close to China. Some of his decisions, including the restrictions on work visas for Indians and signing of a new Free Trade Agreement with Beijing also did not go down well with New Delhi. In his inaugural address, President Solih made it clear that he will endeavour to "fortify" the existing ties the Maldives has had with India and other regional countries. "The Maldives will hereupon bolster its shared role to retain enduring peace and harmony of the Indian Ocean," he said. In the joint press statement, both leaders agreed on the importance of maintaining peace and security in the Indian Ocean and being mindful of each other's concerns and aspirations for the stability of the region. The statement noted that President Solih briefed Prime Minister Modi on the "dire economic situation" facing the country as he assumed charge. In his speech, Solih said that he was taking on the presidency at a time when the country is in a precarious financial situation. "The treasury has endured a colossal blow owing to reckless mega development projects undertaken purely for political gain. Large-scale embezzlement and corruption has dwindled the coffers of the state by billions of rufiyaa," he said. The press statement said that Prime Minister Modi and President Solih discussed ways in which India can continue development partnership, particularly to help the new government in meeting its pledges to the people of the Maldives. "In particular, President Solih highlighted the pressing need for increased housing and infrastructure development as well as for establishing water and sewerage systems in the outlying islands," the statement said. Prime Minister Modi assured President Solih of India's firm commitment in assisting the Maldives to achieve sustainable social and economic development. He also conveyed India's readiness to extend help in every possible way and suggested that both sides should meet at the earliest to work out details as per requirements of the Maldives, the statement said. Prime Minister Modi also welcomed the expanding opportunities for Indian companies to invest in the Maldives in different sectors for the mutual benefit of both countries. Recognising that nationals of both countries travel extensively between the two countries, the leaders also agreed on the need for facilitating easier visa procedures, the statement said. The two leaders also expressed their commitment and support for increased cooperation in combating terrorism both within the region and elsewhere, it said. Prime Minister Modi, who was the highest-ranking foreign leader at the swearing-in ceremony, said he had "productive discussions" with President Solih. "Congratulations to Mr@ibusolih on taking oath as the President of the Maldives. Wishing him the very best for his tenure ahead. Looking forward to working with him to strengthen bilateral relations between our nations," Modi tweeted before returning to New Delhi. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) A 61-year-old Indian, who was allegedly shot dead in the US by a teenager, was planning to visit Medak district in Telangana for the birthday celebrations of his 95-year-old mother on November 28, but she is yet to be informed of the death, his relatives said Sunday. Sunil Edla was shot to death last Thursday outside his apartment in New Jersey by a 16-year-old boy, local police said adding they found Edla's body with gunshot wounds lying on the pavement. Edla's nephew G Suvan told PTI over phone from Medak that the incident was 'shocking' and the victim's family members, including his mother have not been informed of his death. "His (Edla's) mother stays with us and she has not been informed about his death. Sunil had last left for the US in December 2016," Suvan said. On Friday, Suvan got the information that Edla had been killed. "We had initially thought of bringing the body to India, but my uncle's son informed that the funeral will be performed in New Jersey on November 21," he added. According to a local newspaper in the US, Edla, a father of two and a grandfather, had been residing in the US for the past 30 years and had been working in the hospitality industry. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Police chiefs from around the world gathered in Dubai on Sunday for Interpol's general assembly to select a new president after the agency's former leader was detained in China. Meng Hongwei who was China's vice minister of public security while also leading Interpol went missing while on a trip to China in September. It later emerged that the long-time Communist Party insider with decades of experience in China's security apparatus was detained as part of a sweeping purge against allegedly corrupt or disloyal officials under President Xi Jinping's authoritarian administration. Interpol member-states will also be deciding whether to accept Kosovo as a full member, which would allow officials there to file red notices for Serbian officials that Kosovo considers war criminals. The red notices are alerts circulated by Interpol to all member countries that identify a person wanted for arrest by another country. Interpol says there are 57,289 active red notices around the world. Interpol acts as a clearinghouse for national police services that want to hunt down suspects outside their borders. The body, however, has faced criticism that governments have abused the "red notice" system to go after political enemies and dissidents, even though its charter explicitly proclaims its neutrality and prohibits the use of police notices for political reasons. Two years ago, Interpol introduced new measures aimed at strengthening the legal framework around the red notice system. As part of the changes, an international team of lawyers and experts first check a notice's compliance with Interpol rules and regulations before it goes out. Interpol also introduced an appeals body for those targeted with red notices. Chinese authorities say Meng is being lawfully investigated for taking bribes and other crimes. China's beleaguered rights activists point out that as someone with a seat atop the country's powerful public security apparatus, Meng helped build the opaque system of largely unchecked power wielded by the ruling Communist Party to which he's now fallen victim. Meng's wife has told The Associated Press from France that the bribery accusation he faces is just an excuse for a lengthy detention and that he is being persecuted for political reasons. As more than 1,000 delegates from 192 member-states began filling the main hall for the annual event, Interpol Secretary-General Jurgen Stock explained to reporters that the agency's rules did not allow for Meng to continue acting as president. Meng had been serving as president since November 2016, and his term was due to end in 2020. He said Interpol received Meng's resignation letter from China on October 7 and that Interpol was notified by Chinese authorities that Meng is no longer a delegate to Interpol. "It sounds a little technical but again that automatically leads to the fact, according to our rules, that he is not the president anymore," Stock said. "We had to take the measures to ensure the functioning of the organization." Meng's representatives say Interpol accepted an unsigned resignation letter without any resistance and without evidence of his consent. In Meng's place on Sunday, senior vice president of Interpol's executive committee, Kim Jong Yang of South Korea who was previously named acting president helped open the ceremony for the general assembly meeting. A little more than a week ago, Stock told reporters in France where Interpol is headquartered that there was no reason for him to suspect that anything about Meng's resignation "was forced or wrong." He said he "encouraged" Chinese authorities to provide information about Meng's location and legal status but can do no more because the role of Interpol is "not to govern over member states". (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) It was spring 2007 in northern Iraq when 6-year-old Saja Saleem raced home from school with the good about her excellent grades, hoping to receive the gift her father had promised her. "All of a sudden, I found myself spinning into the air with fire trailing from my school uniform after a loud boom," Saleem, now 17, recounted to The Associated Press. Saleem lost her eyesight, right arm and an ear in the explosion, set off by a roadside bomb. Months later, her disfiguring injuries forced her to drop out of school after other students complained about her "scary face". Feeling helpless, Saleem recently turned to social media to find help. Eventually, her appeal grabbed the attention of a surgeon who offered free treatment. Others have also reached out on social media. Emotional videos and photographs of Iraqis with war wounds and disabilities have overwhelmed social media platforms, mainly Facebook, widely used in Iraq. The widespread violence unleashed by the 2003 toppling of Saddam Hussein and the 2014-2017 battle against the Islamic State group has wounded hundreds of thousands of Iraqis. Many are maimed and scarred, their suffering lingering long after the violence subsides. Poor medical services, scarcity of specialized staff and medical centers, and poverty have exacerbated the suffering. Those who cannot get treatment at state-run hospitals and cannot afford private clinics are looking to social media platforms to make appeals. Appeals are posted on the personal Facebook pages of patients or on the pages of aid organisations and public figures with tens of thousands of followers. Patients describe their condition along with contact details. Messages are also distributed on platforms like WhatsApp and Viber. Saleem and her family recall the explosion that upended her life, and the years that followed as they struggled financially to get her treatment. "When I hit the ground, I felt severe pain all over my body ... I was bleeding, a pool of blood around me ... everything turned dark and I lost consciousness," she recalled from her bed at a Baghdad hospital where she is undergoing free reconstructive and plastic surgeries. Saleem's mother, Khawla Omar Hussein, remembers her daughter's screams when three weeks later, she regained consciousness and realised she had lost her right arm and ear. "She woke up screaming, crying: 'Mammy, mammy'," Hussein recalled. "Then she asked: 'Why can't I see and why is everything dark?'" They told her it was the bandages over her eyes and that she would see after they were removed. When that day came, the doctors told her she had lost both eyes. Nearly two years later, Saleem's family tried to send her back to school where she was accepted only as a "listener" in class, accompanying her brothers. But that arrangement ended soon as other students and teachers complained that her disfigured face was bothering them. "I was crying day and night and became a very reclusive person," Saleem said. After the state-run hospital couldn't go beyond the necessary treatment to save her life, Saleem's family looked for plastic and reconstructive surgery for her at a private clinic, but they couldn't afford the doctor's USD 7,500 fee. Then, late last year, her mother made an appeal, posting photographs of Saleem and details about her ordeal in a public group on Viber. Days later, Baghdad-based Dr Abbas al-Sahan, one of Iraq's best plastic surgeons, offered to do free surgeries. Since January, Saleem has undergone four surgeries first so her face could accommodate the two glass eyes, or ocular prostheses, then a procedure to reduce some of the scars. She also had a surgery to adjust to a prosthetic arm and is due to have plastic surgery to reconstruct her missing ear, al-Sahan said. Al-Sahan runs the only state-run specialized hospital for reconstructive and plastic surgery in Iraq. He said that about 40 per cent of the monthly surgeries his hospital preforms between 600 to 850 are for victims of bombings and other war-related explosions, as well as for casualties of military operations. Saleem's family feels she is lucky. Not everyone gets the help they need through social media. Iraqi army Captain Salar al-Jaff was shot by a sniper in January 2017, during the height of the fight to recapture the northern city of Mosul from the Islamic State group. The bullet hit him in the head and left him paralysed in one side of his body. Since then, he has been treated for the head wound and for complications from lying in bed all the time, but not for the paralysis. He sold his car and all his possessions to be able to afford three injections a day, each costing USD 100, to overcome the pain. He also appeared in a video, posted on social media, alongside a cleric who asks that someone help al-Jaff. But so far, there have been no offers for free treatment. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Jude Law, who is part of the ensemble cast of Woody Allen's now shelved "A Rainy Day in New York", says it is a "terrible shame" that a film which is a product of hard work of so many people is not getting a release. The film, which also stars Timothee Chalamet, Elle Fanning, Diego Luna and Liev Schreiber, has been shelved in the wake of the #MeToo movement. "It's a terrible shame. I'd love to see it. People worked really hard and put a lot in, obviously himself included," Law told The New York Times. In late 2017, Allen faced resurfaced allegations of child molestation by his adopted daughter Dylan Farrow, who publicly claimed in a New York Times open letter in 2014 that Allen molested her as a child. The filmmaker has long denied the allegations, which were first reported during his 1992 split from Farrow. The director was not charged, though a Connecticut prosecutor said there was probable cause for a criminal case. Many actors, who had worked with the 82-year-old director, donated their salaries or said they would never work with him again. Law did not and explained his decision, saying, "I didn't really want to get involved, to be honest." "I just don't feel like it was my place to comment, and it's too delicate a situation. I feel like enough has been said about it. It's a private affair. (As for working with Allen again) I don't know. I'd have to consider carefully," he added. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The National Investigation Agency (NIA) is likely to take over investigation into the killing of senior BJP leader Anil Parihar and his brother Ajeet Parihar by suspected militants in Kishtwar district of Jammu and Kashmir earlier this month, officials said Sunday. A team of NIA experts visited Kishtwar town, 230 kms from here, last week to assist the state police in the ongoing probe. It later sought permission from the Ministry of Home Affairs for taking over the case for a thorough investigation, the officials said. The Parihar brothers were shot at point-blank range outside their house on November 1 when they were returning home after closing their shop in the town. The officials said the Home Ministry was likely to give its nod to the NIA for taking over the probe from the special investigation team (SIT) set up by the government. The SIT has arrested some people, including sister of a local militant who along with his Kashmiri associate is believed to have carried out the target killing in an attempt to revive militancy in the district bordering south Kashmir the hotbed of militancy in Jammu and Kashmir. BJP general secretary Ram Madhav visited the bereaved family last week and said, "Right now our main challenge is to track down the terrorists (behind the killings) and neutralize them. That will be done very soon." "That (neutralizing of terrorists) is the important thing here. Of course, we will not allow these kinds of activities to create instability and violence in Kishtwar or Doda, the peaceful areas of Jammu region. That is our priority and we are focusing on that," Madhav had said. On November 5, Jammu and Kashmir Governor Satya Pal Malik had said the accused involved in the killing of Parihar brothers have been identified and will be brought to book soon. "It has been proved that it was an incident of militancy," he had said, adding that it "was an act of frustration on the part of militants and Pakistan". The Jammu and Kashmir government has constituted an SIT to probe the killings and directed it to submit its report as early as possible. The SIT has detained some persons in connection with the killings after questioning over 30 people including the personal security officers of the BJP leader. The police investigation has so far revealed that the killings were carried out by a two-member squad of Hizbul Mujahideen outfit. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Hundreds of passengers of Jet Airways were left stranded at the city airport after the carrier cancelled 10 domestic flights from here on Sunday, an airline source said. The Jet Airways said the flights were cancelled from the Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport (CSMIA) due to "operational issues". However, the airline source claimed it was due to pilots' scarcity. "Jet Airways had to cancel a few domestic flights of date (November 18) due to operational reasons. Guests of the affected flights were duly informed about their flight status via SMS alerts. In accordance with regulatory policy, guests have been re-accommodated and or compensated," the airline said in a statement. The airline said it regrets the inconvenience caused to its guests. The airline source said the carrier has not been regular in paying salaries to pilots, engineers and senior management for quite some time now. Facing cash crunch, the Naresh Goyal-controlled private carrier has lost a good number of pilots in the recent past and many a time they have to work overtime to make up for the shortage, the source said. "The airline failed to operate as many as domestic 10 flights from Mumbai Sunday as it did not have required number of pilots. "Due to the abrupt cancellations, passengers who had booked their journey on these flights were left stranded," the source said. He said the shortage of pilots at the airline has been going on for months together as it has not hired new ones to replace those who have quit the airline in this period due to financial issues. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Veteran music composer John Williams has scored the new original theme for Disney's upcoming Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge theme park land. According to Billboard, Disney released a teaser of the music, titled "Theme from Star Wars Galaxy's Edge" on Saturday. The footage features The London Symphony Orchestra recording the theme in a studio as well as some of the park's attractions under construction. Galaxy's Edge is slated to throw its gates open in the summer of 2019 at Disneyland in Anaheim, California. Disney's Hollywood Studios theme park at Walt Disney World in Orlando, Florida will host fans next autumn. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Chief of Air Staff B S Dhanoa has strongly pitched for institutionalised structure for joint planning among the Indian Air Force, Navy and Army so that the country wins any war in future in the "shortest possible" time. The IAF chief said all the three services will have to adopt a coherent approach to effectively deal with all possible security threats facing the country, asserting that his force strongly stands for "jointness". "No single service can win the war solely on its own inherent organic capabilities given the variety of threats which nations are capable of inflicting upon each other," he said. "Thus, it is imperative that the three services promote joint planning and exploit the strengths of sister services to help win a war in the shortest possible time. India by itself is one theatre," he told PTI in an interview. There have been deliberations within the government and the three forces on whether India should go for integrated theatre commands where all the manpower and assets of the three services will be under the command of one officer. The US as well as several western countries follow this model. There were voices within the defence establishment who were in favour of setting up at least two theatre commands -- one in western sector for dealing with Pakistan and other in eastern sector for dealing with any eventuality along the frontier with China. Official sources said government is already seriously considering setting up of a Defence Cyber Agency, a Defence Space Agency and a Special Operations Division comprising the assets of the three services. Giving a serious consideration to joint planning among the three forces, the government, in April formed a Defence Planning Committee (DPC) headed by National Security Advisor (NSA) Ajit Doval to prepare a national security strategy with a focus on ensuring convergence among the Army, the IAF and the Navy. "What we require is an institutionalised structure for joint planning. Incidentally, IAF is the only service that deputes senior officers who serve alongside principal fighting formations of the other two services so as to improve and enhance their combat potential in achieving desired outcomes," said Air Chief Marshal Dhanoa said during the interview last week. He said the IAF enables the Army and the Navy to achieve laid down objectives set by the political leadership. At present, India has 17 single-service commands. The country's only tri-services command was set up in 2001 in the strategically located Andaman and Nicobar. Nearly two years back, China reorganised its military into five theatre commands to enhance the overall capabilities of the forces. On whether India should follow the model of theatre command, a senior military official referred to Pakistan's experience of having united commander during the battle of Longewala in 1971 and Kargil conflict in 1999. "In both cases, the Army was calling the shots. They had a de-facto unified commander. But they did not think it important to inform their air force, and on both occasions, it resulted in a disaster for them," the offcial said. Asked about the IAF's long-pending modernisation initiative, Air Chief Marshal Dhanoa said his force has a capability-driven modernisation plan with an aim to achieve full spectrum capabilities. "It is the IAF's endeavour to achieve self-sufficiency through a focused, sustained and evolved indigenisation programme by supporting the 'Make in India' initiative. Rest assured, IAF is prepared to respond to future challenges and safeguard the Indian skies," he said. The IAF chief said the government was pursuing multiple initiatives to achieve higher levels of indigenisation and self-reliance in the defence sector. This, he said, was sought to be achieved by harnessing the capabilities of both the public and the private sector industries, thus increasing the defence industrial base in the country. "Self-reliance is a major cornerstone on which the military capability of any nation must rest. Our country has immense potential to leverage the manpower and engineering capability within the country for attaining self-reliance in design, development & manufacturing in defence sector," he said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Spearheading a campaign against the Kerala government over the Sabarimala issue, BJP state unit chief P S Sreedharan Pillai Sunday alleged that the CPI(M)-led dispensation was making the Lord Ayyappa shrine "a centre of dispute to destroy its uniqueness". Condemning the police action against "peacefully agitating" devotees, he said the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) will extend all possible assistance to the protesters to protect the hill shrine from the "hidden agenda of atheists". Pillai said the BJP and Sangh Parivar will expand the ongoing agitation against the state government's "hasty move" to implement the Supreme Court verdict, permitting entry of women of all age groups into the temple, to other parts of the country. "What is going in Kerala (over Sabarimala) is a fight between devotees and atheists," he told PTI. "BJP workers will continue to join the devotees' protest if any woman in the menstrual age group tries to enter the temple. The devotees have so far succeeded in preventing such women from breaking the custom," he said. The Kerala BJP unit chief said the government did not permit the Travancore Devaswom Board (TDB), which administers the shrine, to file a review petition against the apex court's September 28 order. "It was the Hindu faithful who launched an agitation against the state government. They all hit the streets against the government's move to destroy the unique nature of the temple and Lord Ayyappa faith in the name of the Supreme Court verdict. We just extended our support to them," he said. Pillai said the saffron party will continue to support the devotees' demand that the centuries-old custom of the hill shrine be protected. "Sabarimala is not an ordinary temple. It is unique. Over five crore devotees visit the shrine annually. But the CPI(M) wanted to make it an ordinary temple by destroying its centuries-old custom," he said. Pillai, who is also an advocate practising in the Kerala High Court, alleged that the CPI(M) had always been trying to "destroy" the Sabarimala temple. "They want to destroy Sabarimala. But they will never succeed," he asserted. Criticising the heavy police deployment at the 'Sannidhanam' (temple complex), the BJP leader said it was done without setting up basic facilities like building toilets and ensuring drinking water for crores of devotees, who will be visiting the shrine during the two-month long 'Mandala-Makaravilakku' season. The pilgrimage season began Saturday. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) To leave the European Union on the terms of her deal, May would need to get the backing of about 320 of parliament's 650 lawmakers. Amid the ongoing turmoil, Mid-Bedfordshire MP Nadine Dorries told Sky News she would not be surprised if the number of letters of no confidence in Mrs May had already met the threshold of 48 needed to trigger a vote on the prime minister's leadership. But ever since, opponents of Brexit have been exploring ways to hold another referendum. So what is the path to a second vote? "If this bad deal fails to pass through Parliament, which looks inevitable now, the people must be given a General Election". With May struggling to cobble together a parliamentary majority for the draft deal, she desperately needs her Scottish MPs onside. MPs from the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP), a Northern Irish party that props up May's minority government, have also expressed strong reservations over the proposed deal. Tony Blair, the former UK PM, has said a 2 referendum, the so called People's Vote, is the only way out of the current impasse. At a meeting on Friday, EU-27 ambassadors discussed how fragile the political situation was in London and resolved to do their best to not "rock the boat", one diplomat said. The former Brexit secretary revealed he had spent several days in Washington talking to "US Government Trade and Treasury officials" while Westminster had been reeling from high-profile resignations and questions over the Prime Minister's future. The agreement faced criticism from the opposition. "People did not vote to be poorer and less secure". "If it comes to a confidence vote, she will have mine". So who would be Britain's next prime minister if Mrs May falls? That would have to be backed up by legislation calling a referendum. But yesterday, a defiant Mrs May won the backing of the most prominent Brexiteer in her government as she fought to save a deal that has stirred up a plot to force her out of her job. But the British diplomat who drafted the clause, John Kerr, has repeatedly argued that it can be reversed. As May has gradually discovered, the complexity of the negotiations mean that she has not been able to deliver an alternative model to current European Union full membership that can secure consent from Brussels and the European Union member states, which provided the same balance of influence and advantages that the United Kingdom gets from its current full member status. He said: "On behalf of the Government, I have introduced legislation to Parliament to enable these arrangements to continue, which should help the almost 200,000 British pensioners living across Europe and the many constituents who travel to Europe on holiday". Many surveys ahead of the vote incorrectly predicted that Britain would vote to stay in the club it joined in 1973. If the House of Commons decide to "leave it"- vote against the draft - what happens then? It's not clear, of course. Labour whips are now confident, however, that very few - if any - Labour MPs will back May's deal because they have concluded it would also be disastrous for their constituents, leaving Britain locked into the EU's economic system for the foreseeable future but with no say in setting the rules that govern it. "We need to move beyond this scenario where we just simply react to crises all the time", says Leonard. David Burt, the Premier, is scheduled to hear more on Brexit this month during a trip to London. "It is meant to be a signal to London that Brussels is moving forward with the ratification", one European Union diplomat said. French President Emmanuel Macron, for example, has suggested Britain could still change its mind. Bangladesh's former prime minister Khaleda Zia on Sunday challenged the seven-year sentence handed out to her in a corruption case for embezzling millions from a charitable trust in her late husband's name, claiming that she has been convicted "illegally and unjustly". The Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) chief challenged the trial court's decision four days after receiving the full text of the verdict announced on October 29. The 638-page decision and the 700-page appeal petition also include a petition for bail, said her lawyer Kayser Kamal after submitting the petition to the High Court on Sunday, the bdnews reported. The BNP chairperson has been convicted illegally and unjustly, he was quoted as saying by the daily. We have appealed for her sentence to be dismissed and for her release. A High Court bench will be formed to decide on the appeal. The trial court in its verdict in the Zia Charitable Trust graft case found the former prime minister guilty under the Prevention of Corruption Act 1947 and sentenced her to seven years in prison and fined her Tk 1 million. Zia, 73, has been in custody since February 8, when she was sentenced to five years in prison in another case related to embezzlement of funds of an orphanage named after her husband late president Ziaur Rahman. The latest sentence, which comes ahead of general elections in December, is related to the Zia Charitable Trust. According to the case, Zia and three others abused their power and collected USD 375,000 for the trust from unknown sources. The Zia Charitable Trust graft case was filed by the Anti-Corruption Commission in 2011. The judge granted the three other suspects in the case the same sentence for abetting corrupt activity under the Penal Code. The court order also allowed the government to seize the 70 decimals of land bought in the name of the Zia Charitable Trust. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) A leading Australian bridal magazine has shut after being ditched by advertisers for refusing to feature same-sex couples, one year after the country changed its marriage laws. The Christian founders of "White", Luke and Carla Burrell, said they did not feature gay weddings in their magazine as they had "no desire to create a social, political or legal war". In a farewell blog on Saturday, the couple said they were targeted by activists because of their stance and forced to "pick a side". As a result, several advertisers withdrew their sponsorship making their publication "no longer economically viable", the pair added. Australian MPs late last year voted in favour of changing the Marriage Act after decades of inaction amid political wrangling. The shift followed a contentious nationwide voluntary postal vote in support of legalising same-sex marriage. Nearly 80 per cent of eligible voters took part in the poll and almost 62 per cent of those who voted chose "yes" on their ballots. To placate the right wing of the conservative ruling coalition the government then commissioned a report into religious protections. Parts of the review, which called for faith-based schools to legally be allowed to discriminate against gay students and teachers, were leaked last month. It sparked a public backlash and led the government to introduce a bill to prevent sexuality-based discrimination in schools. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Hugh Grant says life is "total chaos" for him as a father of five young children. The 58-year-old actor, who has Tabitha, seven, John, six, Felix, five, and two other little ones, admits he now looks forward to work so that he has some peace for himself. "I have five small children and life is total chaos. I've always said yes to writing or directing a project, but part of my problem now is that I just lack time. "Being away for a week for work seems like bliss - mostly because I don't have someone throwing yoghurt at me!" Grant told Closer magazine. The actor has Tabitha and Felix with Tinglan Hong and the other three with wife Anna Eberstein. Grant said, since he became a father, he has started hanging out with actor Penelope Cruz. "Sometimes I see Penelope Cruz at a playgroup in London. We have a chat while our children kill each other. She's very lovely!" he said. Grant joked he does not believe his children will choose acting as a profession as they are "talentless". "It's crossed my mind but thankfully I've been to see them in their school plays and they're all utterly talentless so I don't think that problem will arrive, thank God," he quipped. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) A scuffle broke between the police and local people at Odisha's Dhenakanal district over felling of trees by the administration to facilitate construction of a brewery, prompting Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik to halt the project and order a probe. On Saturday, local people came out in large numbers to protest against the administration's move to cut down over 950 trees for the brewery project of a private firm, even as the administration promised to plant twice as much saplings to compensate for the loss, an official said. The agitators, mostly women, had clung to tree trunks in their attempt to stop the felling of trees, leading to a tussle between them and the police officials who were deployed in the area to ensure smooth operations, the official said. The locals claimed that they have been nurturing the trees for decades to create a community-developed forest, the official added. As many as 13 protesters, including three women, were taken into custody as a "preventive measure" and later released on bail, Dhenkanal Superintendent of Police Santosh Nayak said. An official at the chief minister's office (CMO) said: "Patnaik issued an order on Sunday to stop the cutting down of trees in Balarampur area of Dhenkanal. He has also asked the Revenue Divisional Commissioner (RDC-Northern Division) to conduct an inquiry into the incident." As the area was not notified as 'forest belt', it was declared as an 'industrial estate', Dhenkanal Sub-Collector Pitambar Samal said. "A forest patch, spread over 12.5 acres, was identified by Industrial Infrastructure Development Corporation (IDCO), the nodal agency for facilitating land for industries, for setting up the beer unit," he explained. The chief minister, on November 3, laid the foundation for 14 industrial units, including the beer plant, through video conferencing from Bhubaneswar. He came under fire on Sunday, with opposition political parties questioning his intentions behind sanctioning the project. BJP legislature party leader K V Singhdeo accused the BJD government of adopting "double standards". "On the one hand, the state government has decided to plant trees along riverbanks, and, on the other, it ordered the cutting down of a large number of valuable trees, he said. Mocking Patnaik's move to order an inquiry, Congress MLA Narasingha Mishra said the "operation was illegal" as no proper procedure was followed before cutting down the trees. "What is there to investigate now? The chief minister could have easily found out the facts through his officials. Moreover, how is that the operation was carried out without his knowledge?" he asked. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Albania's long under-explored coastal waters have become a hotspot for treasure hunters scooping up ancient pottery, sunken ship parts and other shell-encrusted relics that have lain on the seabed for centuries. The 450-kilometre (280-mile) coastline, which is lapped by the Adriatic and Ionian seas, was off-limits under the communist regime which ruled the Balkan state until 1990, with orders to shoot anyone caught diving without authorisation. But today its waters are open, luring archaeologists but also looters eager to plumb the new territory and sell their finds on the art and metals markets. "Much of this wealth resting at the depth of 20-30 metres (66-99 feet) is easily accessible without any special equipment and has almost completely disappeared without a trace," said Albanian archaeologist and art historian Neritan Ceka, among those calling for urgent measures to protect the underwater heritage. While diving at the beginning of the 1980s -- under communism, archaeologists and soldiers were permitted -- he was one of the first to see for himself the seabed treasures, he said. "I saw extraordinary richness, amphoras (terra-cotta jugs), pottery, archaeological objects which are no longer there today," he added. Teams of European and Albanian divers "have started to loot in a barbaric way", he lamented. Expeditions carried out since 2006 by the US-based RPM Nautical Foundation have found some 40 shipwrecks along Albania's coastline, including vessels dating back to the 7th century BC and naval ships from World War I and II. Hundreds of Roman-era amphoras -- used to store wine, olive oil and other goods on trade vessels -- are also clustered on the sea floor, covered in marine plants. Experts say that without a full inventory, it is impossible to know how many of the artifacts have been plucked from the seabed and sold on the international art trafficking market. The market overall generates a global turnover of more than USD 4 billion (3.5 billion euros) a year, according to Auron Tare, who chairs UNESCO's scientific and technical advisory body on underwater cultural heritage. "But what is certain: a treasure hunt below the seas can bring in big profits," said Moikom Zeqo, an underwater archaeologist who helped discover a 2nd-century BC Roman ship carrying hundreds of amphoras. The vases can be sold for up to 100 euros in Albania, where they are on display in some high-end restaurants, or auctioned for much greater sums in London and other art capitals. Other prized discoveries have been ferried home by foreign divers and placed in various private museums around the world, such as the bell of an ill-fated Austro-Hungarian ship, the SS Linz, that sunk off Albania's northwest coast with 1,000 passengers on board after striking a mine in March 1918. "These objects (from the SS Linz), exhibited in a private museum in Austria, must be returned to Albania," said Tare, who also heads the Albanian Center for Marine Research. Divers are also going underwater to strip early 20th century warships for their high-quality steel. Steel produced before any nuclear explosions happened in the world is especially lucrative, as it lacks any trace of radioactivity and can be used for sensitive medical devices and other scientific equipment. "To skin the hull and remove it from the seabed, the looters use dynamite," said Ilir Capuni, a researcher and professor at the University of New York Tirana. He has seen the plunder firsthand. Back in 2013, Capuni helped discover a Hungarian-Croat steamer, the Pozsony, that sunk off the coast of Durres in 1916 after striking a mine. But four years later, "we found that there was almost nothing left of it," said Capuni. A similar fate has befallen the Italian medical ship Po, which was struck by a British torpedo in 1941 off the coast of southeastern Vlore. Benito Mussolini's daughter Edda Ciano, who was aboard the ship as a nurse, survived. Its algae-covered hull was miraculously intact when it was first discovered but has since been dismantled in places and emptied of valuable objects, such as the bell, compass, telegraph, lights and dishes. Bought firsthand for 5,000 euros, some parts have been resold since to collectors for 20 times that amount, Capuni said. In June, authorities passed a law classifying the shipwrecks as cultural monuments and requiring strict licensing for diving teams. Police are also working with Interpol to trace and return stolen objects, said criminal police director Eduart Merkaj, although so far there have been no concrete results. One dream shared by Albanian and foreign experts is to create an underwater museum, such as the one that exists in the Turkish city of Bodrum, that would protect the artifacts and draw tourists. "The time has come to build an underwater museum, laboratories and a specialised centre," says Luan Perzhita, director of Albania's Archaeological Institute. But the high costs of such a project remain a barrier, with only 30,000 euros allotted in the state budget this year for archaeology. "Albania has never had the luxury or awareness to understand the great importance that this wealth represents for the country's history and for Mediterranean civilisation," said Tare. Even though, he added, the waters still contain "more treasures that have not yet been discovered". (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) German Chancellor Angela Merkel and French President Emmanuel Macron were due to meet in Berlin Sunday in a show of unity against rising populism in the era of US President Donald Trump. At their second meeting in a week, the two are expected to once again raise the idea of establishing a European army as a symbol of a united continent, a proposal that has raised Trump's hackles. Macron's visit comes a week after world leaders met in Paris to commemorate the end of World War I a century ago and marks Germany's Day of Mourning for victims of war and dictatorship. After a wreath-laying ceremony, Macron was at 1230 GMT to address the German parliament -- housed in the glass-domed Reichstag still bearing the scars of World War II -- in the first speech by a French leader to the assembly in 18 years. Macron and Merkel, who were to meet for talks from 1400 GMT, are both committed pro-Europeans who have resisted rising populist, eurosceptic, and anti-immigration forces in Europe, as well as Trump's isolationist "America First" stance. As the world has remembered World War I, which ended a century ago this month, Macron has repeatedly invoked its horrors to drive home the message that rising nationalism is again destabilising the world. Macron and Merkel have proposed a European army that would operate within NATO -- an idea Trump has mocked by tweeting that "it was Germany in World Wars One & Two - How did that work out for France?" But German Defence Minister Ursula von der Leyen insisted Sunday that a joint military force would need not just common equipment and training but also "the political will to resolutely defend European interests when a conflict breaks out". And France's Minister for European Affairs, Nathalie Loiseau, told the Journal du Dimanche: "it is not a question of being against the United States but of taking our destiny into our own hands to no longer count on others". While strong on symbolism, the Franco-German partnership and European reform push have been plagued by policy differences and the domestic troubles of the two leaders. Since a Franco-German joint cabinet meeting on Europe in June, challenges have piled up with Brexit nearing and a budget conflict escalating between Brussels and Italy. The Berlin talks also come at a time when both leaders are politically weakened, reducing the traditional driving power at the heart of the bloc. As Trump gleefully tweeted days ago, Macron's once stellar approval ratings have dropped off into the mid-twenties. And Merkel, after 13 years in power, has in recent weeks announced the beginning of the end of her reign by declining to stand again as leader of her centre-right Christian Democrats (CDU). She has vowed to serve out her fourth term, which runs until 2021, but many observers expect Merkel could be brought down earlier by infighting within the CDU or the unhappy three-party coalition she leads. There is much frustration in Paris about Merkel's perceived foot-dragging on Macron's bold reform plans, especially on forging a eurozone with a major common budget and finance minister. The two countries agreed Friday on the outlines of a proposed budget for the euro area, Macron's flagship project to support investment, but not on the amount, which remains undefined. Another area of contention is that Germany and France have so far failed to find a united strategy on EU efforts to introduce a digital tax on internet giants such as Google and Facebook. The joint army plan, too, faces tricky challenges, including post-war Germany's traditional reluctance to send combat troops abroad and the fact that parliament must approve military missions. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Maharashtra Director General of Police Datta Padsalgikar unveiled "The Velvet Gloves", a novel written by former Intelligence Bureau (IB) officer Balakrishna Kamath, at a function here. The book was released at a function in south Mumbai Saturday. Besides Padsalgikar, Maharashtra Anti-Terrorism Squad chief Atulchandra Kulkarni, publisher Malini Nair and senior police officers were present. The plot of "The Velvet Gloves" is about behind-the-curtains tussle between Indian intelligence agencies and the US law enforcement agency FBI. Padsalgikar said the book shows another aspect of Kamath's personality, namely, his flair for writing, and he should continue to write. He described Kamath, as intelligence officer, as somebody who could work magic, finding solutions out of nothings. The DGP referred to a case where Kamath -- who retired as assistant director, IB -- had only three scrambled digits to go on, but he cracked the mystery within half an hour, leading to swift arrest of a suspect. Kamath said that in films intelligence sleuths are portrayed in a glamours way, like the character of James Bond. But in real life intelligence officer's work is often hard and monotonous, requiring many sacrifices, he said. Though the book is a work of fiction, it will offer insight into intelligence operative's life and its challenges, he said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Martha Farrell Foundation has invited entries for its annual award for excellence in women empowerment and gender equality. The Martha Farrell Award is given every year to individuals and organisations in recognition of their extraordinary work towards advancing the cause of women empowerment, ending sexual harassment at workplace, and promoting gender equality in communities and organisations. "It gives me immense pleasure to invite nominations for this year's award. While the movement for #MeToo gains momentum in India, we realise the importance of having an award that actually recognises institutions and organisations that have a zero tolerance stand on sexual harassment at workplace," Nandita Bhatt, Director, Martha Farrell Foundation said. "Each nominee should exemplify the characteristics of vision, tenacity, sacrifice and courage of Martha and should have made a significant positive impact on the lives of others," she said. The 3rd Martha Farrell Award will be given away on March 27, 2019 and the nominations will close on November 30 this year. Last year, Nadiya Shafi from Srinagar, won the award for her exemplary work in promoting gender equality, and the Resource and Support Centre for Development (RSCD) based in Mumbai won the award in the 'institutional' category. The award is given in two categories with a prize money of Rs 1,50,000 each. Bhatt said the nominations can be filed at the website www.marthafarrellfoundation.org Instituted in the memory of Martha Farrell, a prominent activist for gender equality and women empowerment, the award is co-sponsored by Rizwan Adatia Foundation (RAF) and Participatory Research in Asia (PRIA), and supported by Martha Farrell Foundation (MFF). Martha was killed in Kabul in a terrorist attack in 2015, while leading a gender training workshop for the Aga Khan Foundation. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Defiant British Prime Minister Theresa May on Sunday warned her Conservative Party rebel MPs that overthrowing her as leader would only make negotiation process with the European Union tough over the future of Britain's relationship with the bloc after Brexit. Britain is facing a political crisis after this week's announcement about the Withdrawal Agreement struck with the 28-member European Union. Two Cabinet ministers and several junior government members have quit the May Cabinet and some of her party MPs have submitted letters of no-confidence. May could face a no-confidence vote if at least 15 per cent of her party lawmakers - meaning 48 MPs - submit letters saying she has lost their support. According to reports, the party's influential 1922 Committee is edging closer to the 48-MP mark that is needed to trigger a leadership contest. But May vowed to fight on for what she believes is the best deal possible. " is a tough business and I've been in it for a long time," she said during an television interview on Sunday, adding that the next seven days "are going to be critical" for the future of the UK and that she will be travelling to Brussels to meet with EU leaders before an emergency European Council summit on November 25. Asked whether Sir Graham Brady, Chair of the backbench 1922 Committee, had hit the 48-letter mark from her party MPs needed to trigger a no-confidence vote in her leadership, she replied: "As far as I know, no - it has not." "It is not going to make the negotiations any easier and it won't change the parliamentary arithmetic," she said. The 585-page withdrawal agreement deal between London and the EU, which was published alongside a shorter document setting out what the UK and EU's future relationship could look like, triggered resignations from the Cabinet including that of her Brexit Secretary Dominic Raab. Writing in 'The Sunday Times', the former minister launched an attack on the British PM's handling of the negotiations and called on her to stand up to bullies in the EU. "If we cannot close this deal on reasonable terms, we need to be very honest with the country that we will not be bribed and blackmailed or bullied and we will walk away," wrote Raab, who is seen as one of the contenders for the post of PM if May is ousted. "I think there is one thing that is missing and that is political will and resolve. I am not sure that message has ever landed," he said. Steve Baker, another former minister in the Department for Exiting the EU who had resigned earlier, is reportedly coordinating the latest coup against May and claims that more than 50 MPs are ready with no-confidence letters, making a contest likely next week. Indian-origin Brexiteer MP, Suella Fernandes Braverman, who quit the Brexit department as a junior minister along with her boss Raab last week, revealed that the draft withdrawal agreement issued by Downing Street contains clauses the two ministers had never previously seen and says the document will be seen for generations as a betrayal. "It has been forged, not by those who have a political pulse, but by those who are risk-averse, pro-Remain and do not want Brexit to happen," she wrote in 'The Sunday Telegraph'. Meanwhile, Andrea Leadsom, the House of Commons leader, who along with fellow Brexiteer MP Michael Gove indicated she was staying on in Cabinet in an attempt to seek changes to the agreement, stated in a TV interview that there was still time for "more to be done" on the deal. Leadsom and Gove are holding talks with three other Cabinet ministers, including International Development Secretary Penny Mordaunt, who has indicated she may quit her ministerial post over the plan. The draft agreement, a so-called divorce deal with the EU, sets out the terms of the UK's departure, including details such as how much money will be paid to the EU, details of the transition period and citizens' rights. Both the UK and the EU want to avoid a hard Northern Ireland border so they agreed to include in the deal a "backstop", or back-up plan, in case they cannot reach a long-term trade agreement which does this. This would mean Northern Ireland would stay more closely aligned to some EU rules, and the UK would not be able to leave the backstop without the EU's consent. Opposition Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn says his party, which has 257 MPs, will not support the deal. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) With the people in power reaching audience directly, the media needs to ask them questions, former president Pranab Mukherjee said Sunday, asserting it is fundamental for the preservation of the nation and a truly democratic society. He was delivering the keynote address on the "Role of Media in Indian Democracy" after unveiling the masthead of "The Morning Standard", a daily launched by New Indian Express Group. There is a need to be sensitive to the trait of communal narratives, Mukherjee said. He also described fake as "the greatest menace we face today", saying all it took was a morphed picture, a bogus tweet or a photoshopped statement to create social, political and communal hatred. It is important for journalists to be aware of their power to influence the minds of citizens and they should maintain high ethical and professional standards for this purpose, he added. Stressing on the need for the media to be sensitive towards minorities, Mukherjee said the bedrock of Indian civilisation has been its pluralism. The direct communication between those in power and the audience through technological advancement often becomes an one-way communication from the powerful to the less privileged and an effort to control the narrative, he said. The former president said due to technological advancement, people in power across the spectrum of politics, business, civil society tend to dominate as they can reach their audience directly bypassing the crucial process of filtration and mediation. He said the Indian civilisation has always celebrated plurality and promoted tolerance, and it has been the basis of people's existence, binding them together for centuries despite their many differences. "Thus, we need to ask questions from those who enjoy power as it is a fundamental for preservation of our nation and truly democratic society. This is the role which the media has traditionally played and we must carry on," Mukherjee said. He added the media can comment, criticise and influence but it "cannot and should not" become a party in the power play of the state. He said the reach, scope and role of media have expanded owing to information technology revolution and the advent of social media has ensured that everyone who has a phone can be a publisher and also a broadcaster. Mukherjee said media is most powerful pillar of democracy as it can not only inform, judge and set public opinion but also make judiciary, executive and legislature accountable. This also demands a greater degree of responsibility and accountability for itself, he added. India has a thriving journalistic ethos of over 70,000 newspapers with a total daily sale of 100 million copies, he said, adding that an additional 400 channels make India the world's biggest market. For credibility and reach there is no greater democratic tool than journalism, he said. Mukherjee said Indian media is free and highly opinionated but it is important to remember that in a vast and diverse nation with a a population of 1.3 billion, 220 languages, 1800 dialects and 22 scheduled languages in 29 states, the media has to stay away from partisan agenda. "It must expose exploitation, vested interests and promote rule of law," he said. Quoting award winning journalist John Pilger, he said the real journalists are agents of people. The media should continue to throw open the window for a fresh breeze without being blown away, he said, adding that it must be a watchdog, gatekeeper and mediator between the power and the public. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The U.S. plans for the first time to vote against a United Nations resolution that calls on Israel to end its occupation of the Golan Heights, highlighting a shifting American perspective on the strategic plateau. Ever since Israel seized control of the strategic plateau on the 1967 Six Day War, the U.S. has abstained when the resolution titled "The Occupied Syrian Golan" was brought to a vote. "If this resolution ever made sense, it surely does not today". She added that the resolution is plainly biased against Israel, arguing the Syrian government is not fit to govern the territory. Background: Israel took two-thirds of the Golan Heights after defeating Syria and other Arab rivals in the 1967 Six-Day War and annexed the territory more than a decade later. "One of today's resolutions - drafted and co-sponsored by Syria - falsely condemns Israel for "repressive measures" against Syrian citizens in the Golan Heights". A statement on Friday's votes by the watchdog group, UN Watch, observed, "a United Nations General Assembly committee is set to adopt nine resolutions against Israel tomorrow, and zero on the entire rest of the world". "Israel in the Golan Heights is a guarantee for security". Despite the unprecedented move by the U.S., the resolution passed with 151 in favor, two against (Israel and the US) and 14 abstentions, one of nine anti-Israel resolutions passed by the world body in one day. But the United States and the global community have long refused to recognize Israeli sovereignty there and officially consider it Syrian territory under Israeli occupation. REUTERS Ronen Zvulun Israel Launches'Surprise Military Exercise in Golan Heights Defense Forces The US ambassador stressed that: "This decision does nothing to convince any party to reach a peace agreement", adding: "The atrocities that the Syrian regime continues to commit prove its illegality to govern anyone and the destructive influence of the Iranian regime inside Syria represents major threats to global security". The presence of Iranian military forces in Syria, seen as legitimate by Russian Federation after Damascus "invited" them in, is viewed as a dire military threat by Israel that could embolden the Syrian government and Lebanese militants Hezbollah. In the past, the United States has simply abstained. Israeli officials praised the United States move. "I've heard the idea being suggested but there's no discussion of it, no decision within the USA government", Bolton reportedly said during his visit to Israel this week. "It is time the world distinguishes those who stabilize the region from those who sow terror", he wrote on Twitter. But during a visit to Israel a month earlier, US National Security Adviser John Bolton said there were no discussions on such recognition. There is no sane [person] who believes that the Golan will return to the murderous regime of Al-Assad, as well as the Iranian regime which seeks to establish another Hezbollah in the region. Amid rising election campaign heat in Mizoram, the state's BJP unit chief J V Hulna has claimed that Chief Minister Lal Thanhawla of Congress wanted to join the saffron party along with some other party MLAs before the poll process started, a claim dismissed by the ruling party leaders as a "joke". The Mizoram BJP president also claimed that most of the elected Congress MLAs will join his party after the poll results for the state are out on December 11. The elections are scheduled to be held on November 28 for 40 assembly states of the state, where the Congress has been in power since 2008. The BJP has never won an assembly election in this small hill state with a population of just about 10 lakh people, including nearly 7.68 lakh voters, but it is seen by the saffron party as the "final frontier" in the North-East as it is in power in all other states of the region -- either by winning polls or joining ruling alliances. The BJP president Amit Shah recently declared that Mizoram, a Christian-majority state, will celebrate Christmas this December under the BJP rule. "Lal Thanhawla himself, before this election, and his followers contacted the central leadership (of BJP) to merge the whole Congress in the state, just like the Arunachal Pradesh. They were in contact with them," Hluna told PTI. "They did not contact me, they contacted our leaders in Delhi. From them, I learnt that Lal Thanhawla was willing to join BJP," he added. In September 2016, the Congress lost its government in Arunachal Pradesh when 43 of its MLAs led by Chief Minister Pema Khandu defected wholesale and merged with the People's Party of Arunachal, just two months after it had regained power following the Supreme Court's judgement. A senior leader of the principal opposition party in Mizoram, Mizo National Front (MNF), also made similar allegations against the chief minister and said that the deal fell through as the Congress leader's "demands" were rejected by the BJP's central leaders. Thanhawla, a nine-time MLA, could not be contacted for his reactions despite repeated attempts, but a senior minister of his Cabinet termed the allegations as the "funniest jokes ever known". On condition of anonymity, an MNF leader, who is also contesting the Mizoram Assembly elections from a constituency in the capital city, claimed that Thanhawla had contacted a senior central leader of the BJP and had sought the Chief Minister's post for his daughter and the Governor's post for himself in return of joining the BJP with party MLAs. "But these demands were rejected outright," he said. When asked about these claims, Hluna said: "These points, I don't know. But I know that he (Thanhawla) had contacted (Home Minister) Rajnath Singh. And from them, I learnt Lal Thanhawla did not mind joining BJP. That's the thing. But his demands, I do not know." Going a step further, the state BJP president asserted that most of the elected Congress MLAs after the results are declared will join the BJP as Thanhawla's "ideology is to join central ruling party, whether Congress or BJP". "So after elections, all elected MLAs of Congress will join our party. They will merge with our party, if they really follow Lal Thanhawla's teaching," he said. Asked further how can he be so sure about all the Congress MLAs joining the BJP, Hluna said: "May not all, but most of them... (will join) within this year." The former MLA said that for the benefit of the Mizo people, the ideology of any chief minister, whether he from the Congress or the MNF or the BJP, is to be with the ruling party at the Centre as Mizoram is a very poor and interior state. While Thanhawla could not be contacted despite repeated attempts for his reaction on these allegations, the state's Finance Minister Lalsawta vehemently dismissed these claims. "Don't make me laugh. Many inventions are there, but that wild allegation -- that is the funniest allegation I have ever known," he said. On claims about Congress MLAs joining BJP post-result, the senior ruling party leader said: "I have confidence in my colleagues, my Congress candidates. That is the second funniest joke you have given me this afternoon. You will be digging your own political grave if you join BJP once you get elected as a Congress MLA." Lalsawta, however, said Mizoram would wants to have cordial and good relationships with the Centre like any other state. Asked about a series of resignations by senior Congress leaders from the assembly and party in the last two months, the minister said there have been various reasons. "They did not find a promising constituency for themselves. They had to migrate," he said. At least five Congress MLAs have resigned from the assembly and the party in the run-up to the polls and joined other parties. Those having resigned include state's home minister R Lalzirliana, former health minister Lalrinliana Sailo, former fisheries minister Buddha Dhan Chakma and MLA Hmingdailova Khiangte. Besides, Mizoram assembly speaker Hiphei resigned earlier this month to join the BJP. With days left for the elections, Congress and the MNF are leaving no stones unturned to woo the voters, while BJP has launched a spirited campaign to get power in this strategically important North Eastern state sandwiched between Myanmar and Bangladesh. Prime Minister Narendra Modi Sunday accused the Congress of adopting double standards on cow protection, saying that while the party talks of bovine protection in Madhya Pradesh, its workers in Kerala slaughtered a calf and claimed eating beef was their right. Addressing a rally in poll-bound Madhya Pradesh's Chhindwara, the home turf of state Congress chief Kamal Nath, Modi said the opposition party had "mastered the art of speaking lies". He asked Congress president Rahul Gandhi, whom he addressed as "naamdaar" (dynast), to clarify his party's stand on the issue of cow protection. "The Congress talked about cows to confuse the voters in Madhya Pradesh. They can talk about cows, it is their right. But is Kerala Congress different?" Modi asked. "In Madhya Pradesh, the Congress manifesto talked about protecting cows, but in Kerala, its workers slaughtered a calf in open and circulated its pictures claiming it was their right to eat beef," he said. In May last year, Youth Congress activists allegedly publicly butchered a calf in Kerala's Kannur to protest the Centre's ban on sale of cattle for slaughtering. As the incident triggered protests, the central leadership of the Congress distanced itself from the issue and condemned the act as "thoughtless and barbaric". Modi also attacked Nath over a purported video of the Congress leader in which he allegedly said that the party only needed candidates who can win and it did not matter if they were corrupt, goons or facing criminal cases. "Should Madhya Pradesh be saved from such people or not? Should the state go into such hands?" the prime minister asked the people attending the rally. Polling for Madhya Pradesh's 230-member assembly will be held on November 28. The incumbent BJP, which has been in power in Madhya Pradesh since 2003, is seeking a fourth straight term in the state. The Congress is making a concerted bid to return to power in the state which was once its bastion. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Sunday calling snap elections now would be "irresponsible" as he vowed to push on despite a coalition crisis. Speaking in a televised address to the nation, Netanyahu also said he would retain the defence ministry portfolio and work to convince his coalition partners to remain in the government. Education Minister Naftali Bennett's far-right Jewish Home party has threatened to withdraw from the coalition if he is not named defence minister. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The National Green Tribunal has slapped a penalty of Rs 1 crore on the State Industrial Development Corporation of Uttarakhand and a common effluent treatment plant in the state's Udham Singh Nagar district for damaging the and health of the people. A bench headed by NGT Chairperson Justice Adarsh Kumar Goel passed the order after perusing an inspection report filed by the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), which said the industries released polluted effluents that damaged crops and caused air pollution. "For the past failure...we assess the damage to the and the inhabitants to be Rs 1 crore. This amount be deposited by the Common Effluent Treatment Plant (CETP) and the State Industrial Development Corporation of Uttarakhand (SIDCUL) to the extent of 50 per cent each. Dispute of apportionment, if any, may be resolved separately. "The amount may be deposited with the CPCB within one month. For any delay, interest at the rate of 12 per cent per month will accrue. Out of the amount deposited, the CPCB may pay a sum of Rs 1 Lakh as honorarium to the amicus curiae. The remaining amount may be spent on restoration of environment, as per norms and action plan," the bench said. The NGT also directed the state pollution control board to take appropriate legal action based on the findings in the inspection report, and said the action may also include "initiating prosecution and imposing penalty". The tribunal had earlier appointed senior advocate Raj Panjwani and advocate Meera Gopal to assist it on a complaint of the residents of Sitarganj industrial area, alleging discharge of untreated chemical effluents in drains by industries located in the vicinity. Terming the situation as alarming, the bench had directed its registry to register the villagers' letter as a petition and asked the Uttarakhand state pollution control board to inspect the industrial units around the village. The NGT had issued notices to the Uttarakhand government, district magistrate of Udham Singh Nagar, state pollution control board, managing director of SIDCUL, and sought their responses. The state pollution board was directed to identify the industries which were discharging untreated effluent and causing air and ground water pollution. It had also been asked to inform the tribunal on whether the industries were complying with the conditions of clearance. The complainants had said the industrial units were spewing black soot which deposited dust on the village houses, especially in the morning and evening hours, due to which it was difficult for the residents to sit outside their houses or do any work. "During rainy season, the effluent spread over the agriculture fields and even the tube wells of the village are having coloured water which is not fit for human or animal consumption," the petition had said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) A Nigerian national was arrested Sunday in Goa with drugs worth more than Rs 11 lakh, a police official said. The accused, Frank Natheneil, was allegedly invovled in trafficking narcotics in the coastal belt of Calangute, Police Inspector Jivba Dalvi said. The 32-year-old was in possession of a range of illegal drugs, including, MDMA, morphine, amphetamine, LSD and ganja, whose collective value in the international market is estimated to be Rs 11,05,000, he said. The foreign national was intercepted and checked on getting information that he would arrive in Calangute to paddle drugs, the police officer said. The accused has been booked under different sections of the Narcotics Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act, he added. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Central government has not given any promise to any group to constitute a Union Territory for the Bodo dominated areas in Assam, Centre's interlocutor for talks with Assam-based militant groups A B Mathur said Sunday. The comments come amid strong protests by some non-Bodo organisations in Assam against any such move. "It is absolutely wrong. No promise has been given to anyone," Mathur told PTI when asked whether the central government has given any promise to constitute a union territory in the Bodoland Territorial Area Districts (BTAD) in Assam. Mathur said he did not have any formal meeting with any delegation of the All Bodo Students' Union (ABSU) in the recent past. "Two-three leaders of the ABSU came to see me four days ago. It was not a formal meeting. I did not give any promise to them. All about the Union Territory is absolutely wrong," he said. Director General (Special Branch) of the Assam Police Pallav Bhattacharjee said all speculation about the Union Territory for the BTAD was completely wrong. "There is no question of giving any promise to any group on constitution of a Union Territory for the BTAD," he told PTI. Following the speculation a number of organisations in Assam have called for a 'bandh' against the reported move. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) An oil spill of "less than two tonne" off the Chennai coast was caused due to a rupture in a hose of a tanker ship berthed at Kamarajar Port here early Sunday, officials said. The incident occurred at 4.03 AM this morning when the ship, MT Coral Stars was discharging fuel oil through the 'flexible hose' at the Marine Liquid Terminal 1 at the port. The hose from the berth side got ruptured due to which there was an oil spill in the Bay of Bengal, a Coast Guard official said, adding two Coast Guard vessels have been despatched to assess the damage. "A helicopter carried out two sorties. A Pollution Response Vessel is on the way from Vishakapatnam. It has been called as a precautionary measure," the official told PTI on conditions of anonymity. Meanwhile, Kamarajar Port said, the flexible hose got snapped from the berth side and the discharge of the fuel oil was stopped by operating the emergency control button. Fuel that was mostly contained in the hose got spilled in the sea in front of the berth area, a press release said. "Preliminary estimate of spilled fuel oil quantity is less than two tonne," it said, adding emergency response mechanism was activated following which the concerned agencies, including Coast Guard swung into action. Top officials of Kamarajar port, Chennai Port Trust and Coast Guard inspected the site while the state government officials were also briefed about the matter. Kamarajar Port authorities have deployed "fence boom" around the vessel in order to arrest the spread of spilled fuel oil into the sea, the release said. "Recovery of the spilled oil was going on with the use of skimmers and absorbent pads. Full recovery process was expected to be completed by tomorrow," it added. It may be recalled that an oil spill occurred on January 28, 2017 when two cargo ships collided in the Bay of Bengal near the Ennore Port. Nearly 5,700 people representing various agencies took part in the clean up operation for nearly a month. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Bihar Police Sunday concluded its two-day operation to attach properties of former state minister Manju Verma, who's evading arrest in an Arms Act case filed by the CBI while probing the Muzaffarpur shelter home scandal. The exercise to attach Verma's property in Arjuntola village on Sunday was led by Sub-Divisional Police Officer (SDPO) Suryadeo Kumar. Police attached 16 articles on Sunday, while 109 articles were seized on Saturday, the SDPO said. Armed with a court order, a police team led by Superintendent of Police Awakash Kumar had initiated the process of attaching Verma's property in Arjuntola village here on Saturday. Police had handed over a list of the seized articles to Verma's brother-in-law, Hemant Verma, on Saturday. "The operation to attach the property of Manju Verma in the Arjuntola area ended on Sunday," the SDPO said. Police had removed the grill, doors, door frames of a house belonging to her while carrying out the attachment process on Saturday. All articles inside the house were seized during the two-day operation- initiated under sections 82 and 83 of the Criminal Procedure Code. Verma had stepped down as the minister for social welfare in August, following reports that her husband, Chandrashekhar Verma, had close links with Brajesh Thakur, the prime accused in the Muzaffarpur shelter home scandal. Over 30 girls were allegedly raped at the shelter home. A few days later, the CBI raided Verma's Patna residence besides her in-laws' home in Arjuntola village 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 had on November 12 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 to arrest Verma, who has been evading arrest for over a month and has been proclaimed an "absconder". On November 15, the JD(U) suspended Verma from the party's primary membership. Bihar Director General of Police K S Dwivedi on Friday said the police are making "tremendous efforts" to arrest her. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The liver and kidneys of a 13-year-old girl, declared brain dead, was on Sunday transported across a stretch of 170 km in the state for transplants at a city hospital, officials said. A team of doctors of SSKM Hospital here travelled to Durgapur Mission Hospital in West Burdwan district and collected the liver, kidneys and corneas of Madhusmita Bayen and left for Kolkata in a convoy, they said. Deputy Commissioner, Asansol Police Commissionerate, Abhishek Modi told reporters the organs were transported in a convoy and passed through a green corridor covering a 170-km distance via Panagarh Bypass-Burdwan-Dankuni-Santragachhi. A senior doctor at SSKM said the two kidneys were expected to be transplanted on two patients from North 24 Parganas and Nadia districts, after cross-matching on Sunday midnight. The liver would be transplanted on another patient from North 24 Parganas district, the doctor said, adding, all arrangements have been made to start the transplantations once the organs reach the SSKM Hospital. The corneas of the girl will be kept at an eye bank, the doctor said. Madhusmita, a resident of Mejia in Bankura, had slipped into coma a few days back and declared brain dead on Saturday, Durgapur Mission Hospital sources said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Over 7,000 women, girls and children have been saved from being trafficked to India and China through the porous Indo-Nepal borders in the last five years by the Nepal Police, a senior police official said on Sunday. A total of 7,029 women, girls and children, of which 3,896 were under the age of 18 years, have been rescued from border points mainly on the Indo-Nepal border areas by the police, Nepal Police Spokesperson and Senior Superintendent of Police Uttam Raj Subedi told reporters here. They were mainly rescued from Jhapa, Ilam, Morang, Udaypur, Sankhuwasabha, Parsa, Sarlahi, Mohottari, Siraha, Chitwan, Makwanpur, Nuwakot, Sindhuli, Nawalparasi, Rupandehi, Kapilvastu, Gulmi, Dang, Banke, Bardiya, Jumla, Kailali and Kanchanpur districts while being trafficked India and China, he added. SSP Subedi said that Nepali women and girls are vulnerable to trafficking due to the porous border with India, and Nepal Police teams have been deployed in these areas to prevent trafficking of children, girls and women. Also, Nepal Police has set up rehabilitation centres for survivors of human-trafficking in Jhapa, Kathmandu, Sindhupalchowk, Parsa, Chitwan, Kailali and Banke districts, he added. Januka Dhakal, vice-chair of Samaj Utthan Mahila Manch, an non-government organisation which is working to prevent trafficking of girls and women, said lack of awareness and poverty made women and girls more vulnerable to trafficking. Traffickers target such women and girls with the promise of lucrative jobs in foreign countries. Most of such women end up in brothels in India, she said, adding that girls and women are trafficked mainly for prostitution, sex slavery and forced labour. Nepal's anti-trafficking law stipulates maximum sentence of 20-year in jail and a fine up to Rs 2,00,000 for anyone found guilty of human-trafficking. Nepal Police is also planning to establish a separate Human Trafficking Bureau to prevent human-trafficking in Nepal. The Ministry of Home Affairs has approved a proposal submitted by IGP of Nepal Police Sarbendra Khanal seeking establishment of the Bureau and a Cyber Bureau, the spokesperson said. "We hope that it will be more easier to prevent trafficking of girls and women once the bureaus are set up," SSP Subedi said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Prime Minister Imran Khan arrived in the UAE on Sunday on a day-long visit to the Gulf country, where he is likely to seek financial assistance to minimise the cash-strapped Pakistan's dependence on an IMF bailout package. Khan, who is visiting the UAE for the second time in the last two months, met Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed, the Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE's Armed Forces, at the Presidential Palace in Abu Dhabi. He is accompanied by Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi and Finance Minister Asad Umar among other officials, the Express Tribune reported. "The purpose of the visit is to seek billions of dollars in aid as the International Monetary Fund (IMF) becomes unusually tough on Pakistan on the fiscal and monetary fronts, which is hindering early conclusion of talks," the paper said. Pakistan wants USD 6 billion financial assistance from the UAE in the shape of cash deposits and oil on deferred payments, it added. The two sides may sign a memorandum of understanding on the financial assistance package, the paper quoted a cabinet minister as saying. Finance Minister Umar, however, denied that there is any link between the IMF conditions and the PM's UAE visit. Last month, Khan had a stopover in Dubai on his return from Saudi Arabia in September. Saudi Arabia had agreed to provide Pakistan with a USD 6 billion rescue package during Khan's visit to the Gulf Kingdom. Early this month, Prime Minister Khan visited China, which reportedly agreed to provide USD 6 billion in aid to Pakistan. Khan will visit Malaysia later this week where he is likely to seek monetary assistance. 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 IMF by getting loans from "friendly" countries like Saudi Arabia, China and Malaysia as officials in Islamabad believe that the global lender could attach tough conditions. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The parents of students of a school at Islampur in North Dianjpur district on Sunday gheraoed the district inspector and blocked roads in protest against the move of the West Bengal Board of Secondary to derecognise the institution, officials said. A board official confirmed that Saraswati Sishu Mandir had been derecognised on November 15 for not abiding to certain regulations laid down by it, but did not elaborate on the matter. A district official said a section of the parents gheraoed the DI for some time, as he came to the school on Sunday afternoon to discuss the situation. They also blocked the nearby highway, disrupting traffic, he said. The protesters dispersed only after the DI assured that the school department will ensure students of the institution will not face any problem in sitting for board examinations. In September, two polytechnic students were killed at Islampur during a protest against the recruitment of a teacher. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched a frontal attack on the Sunday, saying cheating was in the blood of the opposition party. Addressing a rally here in poll-bound Madhya Pradesh, the prime minister also slammed the on the issue of "The continues to misguide people. Cheating is in the blood of the Congress, but the people of Madhya Pradesh will not give importance to that party. "Is it the same Congress which praises the cow in Madhya Pradesh and mentions some schemes in its poll manifesto, but slaughters calves on the streets of Kerala and eats beef?" Modi asked the crowd. He was apparently referring to an incident in Kerala's Kannur last year, when a calf was slaughtered to protest against the Bharatiya Janata Party-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) government's notification on sale of cattle for slaughter. ALSO READ: BJP promises 1 mn jobs for youth per year in Madhya Pradesh poll manifesto The Congress, in its manifesto for the November 28 Madhya Pradesh Assembly polls, talks about commercial production of "gaumutra" (cow urine) and "kanda" (cowdung cakes). Modi said his government had stopped the "theft" of the country's money to the tune of Rs 900 billion per year by detecting fake beneficiaries through technology. "I have been heavily abused by Congress leaders, but I know the reason behind it. The use of Aadhaar-based technology has detected 60 million fake beneficiaries of government schemes. My government has stopped the annual theft of Rs 900 billion of the country's money," he said. Modi also targeted Chhindwara MP and Madhya Pradesh Congress president Kamal Nath over a video and his claims of development. In the clip that went viral on the social media, Nath had purportedly said the winnability of a candidate was the most important factor for him, rather than his character. The 230-member Madhya Pradesh Assembly will go to the polls on November 28 and the results will be announced on December 11. The police were called when Chinese officials attempted to "barge" into the office of Papua New Guinea's foreign minister, it emerged Sunday, as APEC summit tensions boiled over. The Chinese delegates "tried to barge in" to Rimbink Pato's Port Moresby office Saturday, in an eleventh-hour bid to influence a summit draft communique, but were denied entry, three sources with knowledge of the situation told AFP. "Police were posted outside the minister's office after they tried to barge in," one source privy to summit negotiations told AFP, requesting anonymity. The diplomatic incident came with tensions already high at a summit of Asian-Pacific leaders that has been overshadowed by a spat between the United States and China. Pato had refused to meet with the delegates, according to a source, who said: "It's not appropriate for the minister to negotiate solo with the Chinese. The Chinese negotiating officials know this." The minister himself sought to downplay the incident, telling AFP: "There wasn't an issue." The Chinese delegation has yet to comment publicly on the incident but was set to hold a conference later Sunday. APEC nations usually agree a joint statement but officials are struggling to bridge deep divides on trade policy and admit that a formal communique may not be issued. This is not the first time Chinese officials have been involved in a tense incident at a regional meeting. At the Pacific Islands Forum in September, Nauru's president demanded China apologise after its delegation walked out of a meeting when the host refused to let an envoy speak until island leaders had finished. "They're not our friends. They just need us for their own purposes," President Baron Waqa said at the time. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Opposition Pakistan People's Party accused the defence ministry of refusing to tell the Senate that under which law the country's powerful intelligence agency Inter-Seevices Intelligence (ISI) was functioning. PPP Senator Farhatullah Babar speaking at "Pakistan: The Way Forward" in the 4th International Faiz Festival at Alhamra Arts Council here on Saturday said of resistance was being diminished because of "aliens (a reference to military establishment) and weakness of politicians". "When the Senate asked under which law the ISI was functioning it was told that 'it is secret and sensitive' and couldn't be shared with it (Senate)," Babar said. He said the time had gone when there would have been a 'direct attack' on democracy in the form of martial law. Left wing politician and former head of Human Rights Commission of Pakistan Afrasiab Khattak has said the country was in crisis under he leadership of Prime Minister Imran Khan. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Main preacher Sukhdev Kumar was among the three persons killed in a grenade attack on a religious congregation here Sunday, an incident which the police are treating as a "terrorist act". According to police, the grenade was hurled towards the stage where Kumar was holding the congregation. Although the people who attended the congregation said the preacher may have been the target of the assailants as the grenade was thrown near the dais where he was addressing the gathering, police dismissed the suggestion. Inspector General of Police, S S Parmar said it looked unlikely that the preacher in particular was the target. He said the force will soon come out with more facts as various investigating teams were working on the case. It is, however, learnt that the police have deployed tight security around the house of Kumar, a resident of Meerakot village, just two kilometres away from the incident site. Three persons were killed and 20 injured in the attack which took place inside the Nirankari Bhavan at Adliwal village near Amritsar's Rajasansi, police said. A religious congregation of the Nirankaris was being conducted inside the Nirankari Bhavan at the time of the incident. The Sant Nirankari Mission is a spiritual organisation and the Bhavan lies close to the international airport. The grenade was lobbed by two turbaned motorcycle-borne persons. They also had their faces covered. Director General of Police Suresh Arora, who had rushed to the spot along with senior police officers, told reporters that the police were treating it as a terrorist act. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) President Ram Nath Kovind is in Vietnam on a three-day visit during which he will discuss with the Southeast Asian country's top leaders ways to strengthen bilateral ties. This is Kovind's first visit to Southeast Asia as president. "Received a warm welcome on my arrival in Da Nang, Vietnam. This is my first visit to Southeast Asia as President of India. India and Vietnam share close and cordial relations. I look forward to strengthening our bilateral ties," President's Secretariat said in a tweet. Da Nang is a coastal city in central Vietnam. After his arrival in Vietnam, Kovind interacted with leaders of Da Nang People's Committee. "Interacts with leaders of Da Nang People's Committee led by Mr Truong Quang Nghia, Party Secretary of Da Nang," the tweet said. Kovind will also travel to Australia as part of his two-nation tour. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Driving trucks with sugarcane, a group of farmers Sunday 'gatecrashed' into "Suvarna Vidhana Soudha", the legislature complex in northern district of Belagavi protesting Karnataka Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy's reported cancellation of his visit to meet royts agitating over payments due from sugar mills. In a strong reaction, Kumaraswamy described those who barged into the legislature complex as "goondas" and accused them of defaming the entire farming community. Police said about ten farmers in four trucks forcefully entered the complex, but all were detained and the vehicles removed immeidately. Farmers in Belagavi have been protesting for the last few days demanding clearance of their pending arrears by sugar factories for the cane supplied and announcement of purchase price for sugarcane for the current season as had been done in neighbouring Maharashtra. They had withdrawn their protest on Friday claiming that the chief minister has agreed to meet them in Belagvai Monday to discuss their issues. About 10 farmers broke open the gate of Suvarna Vidhana Soudha and took four lorries inside, while keeping four more outside," Belagavi Police Commissioner D C Rajappa said. They were agitated claiming that the Chief Minister had promised to hold meeting with them at Suvarna Vidhana Soudha Monday, but now called them to Bengaluru, he told reporters. Farmers, who were agitating, have been taken into custody and all the lorries driven outside, he said adding We will take further action in accordance with law." Asked whether there was any security lapse, he said There was security, we had made heavy deployment near the Deputy Commissioners office as farmers were gathering there. They came here by diverting our attention." The farmers had even threatened to disrupt the winter session of the state legislature scheduled to be held in Suvarna Vishana Soudha next month. With, reports emerging about Kumaraswamy cancelling his Belgavi visit and scheduling a meeting with them in Bengaluru on November 20, farmers resumed their protest. According to Chief Ministers programme list for Monday, shared with the media, he will be in Bengaluru attending various meetings, including chairing a cabinet meeting. Demanding that the Chief Minister come to Belagavi, a farmer leader said they will not visit Bengaluru. Kumaraswamy had promised to us that he will come to Belagavi on November 19 to protect our interest, as you are not coming as promised we are protesting by taking our lorries inside Suvarna Vidhana Soudha. Our demand is that chief minister should come here, he said. Reacting to the developments, Kumaraswamy, speaking at an event here, noted that farmers were peace loving people and termed those who barged into Suvarna Vidhana Soudha as goondas. "Those who have behaved in the way they did today are goondas who are defaming farming community by using their name, he said. Noting that he was not against farmers, Kumaraswamy said he would not allow such violence to happen. The Chief Minister also hit out at the media, accusing it of instigating the protesters. Meanwhile, Kumaraswamy's remarks against a woman farmer while questioning her 'silence' in the last four years on the arrears issue and her farming background, evoked sharp reaction from her. Hitting out at her for her reported comments that he was unfit to be Chief Minister, Kumaraswamy the factories had not paid the farmers' dues for last four years while he become chief minister only five months ago. The visibly upset woman farmer termed Kumaraswamys comments as an insult to women community and demanded an apology from him. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) King Mohammed VI appointed on Saturday Omar Seghrouchni, chairman of the National committee for personal data control and protection (CNDP). This committee is tasked with checking and ensuring that personal data processing is lawful, legal and does not violate privacy, fundamental rights and freedoms, says a statement released by the Royal Office. In addition to its Chief, CNDP includes six members appointed by King Mohammed VI on proposal of the Head of Government and the Speakers of the two Houses of Parliament. The Sovereign received the same day Omar Seghrouchni and instructed him to enhance the CNDP mechanisms and means to keep pace with the rapid technological and legal developments, for a better protection of citizens rights and their personal data. Seghrouchni is member of CNDP since 2010. He holds a masters degree in diplomacy and economic intelligence. He is a graduate of the Mohammedia School of engineers and worked for the French National Institute for Research in computer Science & Automation. He also worked for several consulting firms specialized in designing information systems. In Morocco, the Law on the protection of individuals with regard to processing of personal data sets legal provisions aimed at protecting the identity, rights and individual and collective freedoms as well as privacy against all attacks that may affect them through use of computers. The Law defines, among others and with precision, the right of access to databases containing personal data, to object to certain treatments, to request correction of erroneous data and deletion of outdated information. King Mohammed VI also appointed on Saturday Driss Guerraoui President of the Competition Council and Mohamed Abouelaziz, Secretary General of the Council. The Competition Council is composed, in addition to the President, of 12 members appointed by decree of the Head of Government. Two magistrates, member of the Council, are proposed by the High Council of the Judiciary. Telugu poet Varavara Rao, accused of having Maoist links, was Sunday remanded in police custody till November 26. Rao was taken into custody in Hyderabad on Saturday after his house arrest ended on November 15 and his petition to quash the transit remand was disposed of by a court there on November 16. He was brought to Pune on Sunday morning and was produced before District and Sessions judge Kishor D Vadane, who remanded him in police custody till November 26. District government pleader Ujjwala Pawar, while seeking police custody of 14 days, told the court that Rao had a nexus with top fugitive CPI (Maoist) operatives and was actively involved in the procurement of arms and ammunition, recruitment of students and funding of Maoist activities. Rao, along with four other activists, was arrested on August 28 after the Pune Police conducted raids at various places in the country in connection with the Koregaon-Bhima violence case. Police alleged that these activists had links with the Maoists, who backed Elgar Parishad event held in Pune on December 31 last year. The Parishad, police alleged, led to the violence at the Koregaon Bhima war memorial in Pune district the next day. The prosecution Sunday told court that charges related to "sedition and waging war against the state" have been added against all the accused arrested for Maoist links in connection with the Elgar Parishad. Government district pleader Ujjwala Pawar told court that Rao was directly involved in various Maoist activities right from "smuggling" arms and ammunition from Nepal and Manipur as well as recruiting students for Naxal activities and aiding the "urban Naxal movement". "This is not an ordinary case. This is a case where the integrity and unity of the country is in danger and that is why Section 124 (A) (sedition), 121 (waging or attempting to wage war ) and 121 (A) (conspiracy) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) have been added in the chargesheet," she told court. She also said the conspiracy was not limited to the Elgar Parishad but to a larger one against the state and Central governments. Pawar, while arguing before the court, reiterated that police have intercepted an email communication between Rao and top CPI (Maoist) fugitive leader Ganapathy in which the latter, while expressing concern after the first five arrests, had asked Rao how the letters were leaked. She sought police custody while citing that police, who have seized several "incriminating" documents, wants to interrogate Rao. She also said the whereabouts of Ganapathy needs to be investigated and for that Rao's custody is important. "Police wants to investigate Rao's role in mobilising Dalits through the Elgar Parishad and incite them against the government. It also has to be investigated how the accused were trying to ensure the Bhima Koregaon caste violence issue kept burning," she told court. Pawar added that in the seized letters, there is ample use of code words which had to be investigated. While arguing before the court, defence lawyer Rohan Nahar said police did not follow proper procedures, and claimed that Rao, who was already arrested on August 28, cannot be re-arrested again. Pawar refuted this and said procedures were followed properly while taking Rao into police custody after house arrest. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Congress president Rahul Gandhi Sunday condemned the attack on a religious congregation in Amritsar and condoled the deaths of those who were killed in the explosion. Three persons were killed and 20 injured when two motorcycle-borne miscreants hurled a grenade at a religious congregation of over 200 devotees inside a Nirankari Bhawan in Amritsar earlier on Sunday. "I am very pained by the about the attack in Amritsar. It cannot be condemned enough. I convey my deep condolences to the families of the deceased," he said in Facebook post in Hindi. Congress chief spokesperson Randeep Surjewala also condemned the attack and asked people to stay calm. "Strongly condemn the blast in Nirankari Bhawan in Amritsar. Deepest condolences to the families of those who have lost their lives. Urge and appeal, the people to stay calm and maintain peace. Forces of terror shall never succeed in their nefarious designs," he said on Twitter. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Former Congress MLA Mamta Sharma Sunday joined the ruling BJP in Rajasthan after her son was denied a ticket by the Congress in the upcoming state assembly polls. Sharma met Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje here and announced her joining the party. "I had demanded a ticket for my son from the Congress, but he was denied the same despite the fact that he has done so much work for the party. I was hurt at the party's style of functioning and therefore, decided to join the BJP," she told reporters after meeting Raje. The former Congress MLA said the chief minister has promised her a ticket from Pipalda constituency of Kota. Sharma said there was no transparency in the Congress party with respect to ticket distribution and many 'parachute candidates' were given tickets for the assembly elections. The state will go to polls on December 7. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) An international rights group says Egypt has rounded up at least 40 lawyers and activists since last month, the latest arrests in a wide-scale crackdown on dissent. Human Rights Watch said Sunday that many of those arrested were people who provided humanitarian and legal support to families of political detainees, and that some have been disappeared. Citing family members, it said the security forces did not present arrest warrants and authorities refused to say where detainees were being held. Michael Page, the deputy director of Human Rights Watch's regional office, says "the Egyptian security agencies' repression now extends to disappearing those brave men and women who have been trying to protect the disappeared and to end this abusive practice. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) South African President Cyril Ramaphosa will pay back 500,000 rand (USD 35,000) donated to his campaign fund by a firm with links to his son after admitting he misled parliament, an official said. Ramaphosa has staked his reputation on fighting corruption after his predecessor Jacob Zuma was mired in graft scandals that finally led to his ousting earlier this year. Ramaphosa had told parliament that the payment in October 2017 was to his son Andile for consultancy work for Bosasa, a company that has contracts with government institutions. But Ramaphosa later admitted it was a donation towards his own campaign last year to become leader of the ruling ANC party, a hard-fought battle in which he beat Zuma's chosen candidate. "The donation was made without his knowledge," ANC official Zizi Kodwa told the SABC state broadcaster on Saturday. "He has decided voluntarily that he will pay back the said amount and he will call for further investigation on all donations that were made to the campaign." The main opposition Democratic Alliance party said Bosasa had won lucrative government contracts, adding "this looks suspiciously like all other ANC government corruption deals." A judicial inquiry is probing allegations that Zuma and some of his family members oversaw a web of corrupt government contracts. The ANC and Democratic Alliance will face off in elections next May. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The SAD and the AAP Sunday attacked the Congress-led Punjab government over the grenade attack in Amritsar and alleged that there was a "complete breakdown" of the law and order in the state. Three persons were killed and 20 injured when two motorcycle-borne miscreants hurled a grenade attack at a religious congregation of over 200 devotees inside a Nirankari Bhawan in Amritsar earlier on Sunday. Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) chief Sukhbir Singh Badal claimed that the law and order situation in Punjab had "deteriorated" immediately after the Congress came to power. He alleged that the Congress government was "encouraging" elements whose sole aim was to disturb Punjab's hard-won peace. Unfortunately the present Congress government thinks weigh over peace, Sukhbir Singh Badal said in a statement here. "It is this thought which took Punjab into a dark era earlier. The present government needs to eschew this policy permanently for lasting peace in the state," he said. The SAD chief said the Congress government was found wanting in its duty to maintain peace in the state. SAD leader and Union Minister Harsimrat Kaur Badal took to twitter to attack Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh. "First bombs and now grenade attack in #Amritsar, what next Raja saab? When will you and your ministers stop encouraging elements bent on disturbing hard-won peace? Stop playing and get down to serious governance. Punjabis don't want to go back into dark era," she said. SAD patriarch Parkash Singh Badal condemned the attack. He alleged that the Congress rulers in the state had a tendency to "encourage, promote and flirt with enemies of peace for political mileage". "The growing violence in Punjab today is the direct result of the cynical political opportunism of the Congress party in the state and its hobnobbing with the enemies of peace," the former chief minister said. The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) also condemned the attack and questioned the law and order situation in the state. The situation has gone from "bad to worse" and the police and other agencies have "failed", AAP leaders Bhagwant Mann, Sadhu Singh, Harpal Singh Cheema and Budhram claimed in a statement. The anti-social elements are challenging the integrity and prosperity of the state, they said. Mann said Amarinder Singh should hand over the Home Affairs portfolio to someone who is serious about performing his duty. The AAP also demanded a time-bound judicial inquiry into the incident. Meanwhile, Congress legislator Raj Kumar Verka told reporters in Amritsar that the blast was a result of "failure" of the intelligence agencies. "They (anti-social elements) have again tried to foment trouble in Punjab but people of the state have always faced such a challenge bravely. We will deal with them (anti-social elements) with an iron hand.I am saying it is a failure of intelligence (agencies), be it of the state or the Centre," he said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The search and rescue operations were carried forward on Sunday to trace the 10-year-old boy, who fell into a sewer in the city on Saturday. The boy, Deepak, fell into the sewer through a manhole in Shri Krishna Puri locality here at around 1.30 pm while he was returning home after delivering lunch to his father. "A joint team of NDRF, SDRF and Patna Municipal Corporation carried out search operations throughout Saturday night to recover the boy. And the search operations are still continuing on the second day," Patna District Magistrate Kumar Ravi told reporters here. Ravi, who was talking to reporters after inspecting the spot, said that the narrow stretch along the sewer is used by people, though it is not a regular path. The path will be closed henceforth to avoid such incidents in future, he said. Talking to reporters earlier, Union Minister of State for Rural Development Ram Kripal Yadav termed the incident as "unfortunate" and alleged that such accidents are happening because the city expanded without any proper planning. The Patna Municipal Corporation does not have proper equipment to deal with such a situation, Yadav said, adding that old officials, who had knowledge about the drains, have retired and their successors are not aware of the drainage system. Local residents gathered at the incident spot in large numbers on Sunday and alleged that the manhole had been lying uncovered for months. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) A plane of the Algerian airline carrying head of the Polisario separatist group, Barhim Ghali, was left waiting for long in Addis Ababa airport where no one came to welcome the President of the self-declared republic. No African Union or Ethiopian official came to receive the separatist leader who arrived in Addis Ababa to attend an African Union Summit. As a relic of the Cold War, Polisario officials are aware that their days in the African Union are numbered as the continental body is steadily adopting a neutral position on the Sahara issue acknowledging the primacy of the UN peace process. Moroccos return to the African Union is slowly pulling the rug from under the feet of Algeria and the Polisario as the Kingdom is fostering ties with countries such as Ethiopia, Nigeria and Rwanda to mention but a few countries who were until a recent past unconditional supporters of the Polisario and who have all backed Moroccos return to the African Union, after an absence of 34 years. Last year, Zambia officially withdrew recognition of the Algerian-based separatist entity. Over the last years, 43 countries have withdrawn their recognition of the SADR entity. On the African continent, only 18 countries continue to support the Polisario. Hitting out at the and the Nehru-Gandhi family, Prime Minister Narendra on Sunday claimed that Dailt leader Sitaram Kesri was not allowed to complete his term as president and was thrown out of office to make way for Sonia Gandhi. Addressing a rally on the last day of campaigning for the second and final phase of the Chhattisgarh Assembly polls, said four generations of a family ruled the country and benefitted from being in power, but the country did not benefit from their rule. The country knows that Sitaram Kesri, a Dalit, was not allowed to complete his five-year-term as the president. He was thrown out of office and to the footpath to make way for Sonia Gandhi as the new party chief," he said. Earlier, Delhi had a remote-controlled government. The remote was in the hands of a family, which was afraid of the BJP, said. He challenged the Congress to select someone capable as its president, who did not belong to that one family. Remember the days when four generations of a family ruled the country. What was the fate of the people? They only thought about the welfare of one family but never thought about the welfare of the people. How can we trust them that they will fulfil the aspirations of the people now, Modi said. ALSO READ: Chhattisgarh polls: How rise of the Sahus is set to tilt scales in state He claimed that Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Raman Singh had to face a lot of challenges from then Congress-led government at the Centre. For 10 years, the Centre was ruled by a remote-control government, which never paid attention to Chhattisgarh, Modi said. ALSO READ: Chhattisgarh polls: Can BJP get a 4th term amid outcry over farm stress? He praised the high voter turnout in Bastar in the first phase of the on November 12 and also in the panchayat election in Jammu and Kashmir and claimed that the people had given a befitting reply to those spreading terror. Despite being threatened by Naxals with guns and bombs, a huge voter turnout was recorded in Bastar. The poor tribals have shown faith in democracy and given a befitting reply to bombs and guns, Modi said. Addressing a rally in poll-bound Madhya Pradesh's Chhindwara, the home turf of state Congress chief Kamal Nath, Modi accused the Congress of adopting double standards on cow protection, saying that while the party talks of bovine protection in Madhya Pradesh, its workers in Kerala slaughtered a calf and claimed eating beef was their right. Modi said the Opposition party had mastered the art of speaking lies. He asked Congress President Rahul Gandhi to clarify his party's stand on cow protection. Sri Lanka's President Maithripala Sirisena on Sunday held an all-party meeting to end a political crisis set off by his controversial decision to remove the country's prime minister last month. The crisis erupted when President Sirisena suddenly announced he had sacked prime minister Ranil Wickremesinghe and installed Mahinda Rajapaksa in his place. Sirisena later dissolved Parliament, almost 20 months before its term was to end, and ordered snap election. The Supreme Court on Tuesday overturned President Sirisena's controversial decision to dissolve Parliament and halted the preparations for snap polls on January 5. The crisis talks came two days after Sri Lanka's parliament witnessed unprecedented violence as lawmakers threw furniture and chilli powder at each other. This is the first time since the crisis erupted on October 26 that Sirisena, Wickremsinghe and Rajapaksa met face to face. The JVP or the People's Liberation Front stayed away from Sunday's meeting. The party in a letter to Sirisena said that he was the creator of the crisis so he should end it. The party said it had no reason to attend the meeting. Speaker Karu Jayasuriya, who on Wednesday announced there is no prime minister or government following a no-confidence motion against disputed prime minister Rajapaksa, also boycotted the meeting. Sirisena and Jayasuriya are at loggerheads ever since Jayasuriya decided to summon parliament on November 14 despite Sirisena's dissolution of the the assembly to hold fresh elections. After the second vote against Rajapakse on Friday, Wickremesinghe demanded that his government be restored, but there has been no response from Sirisena yet. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Congress leader and former Chief Minister Siddaramaiah Sunday said the much awaited expansion of the H D Kumaraswamy-led coalition cabinet in Karnataka would take place "at the earliest". "We will have to do it (cabinet expansion); we will do it as soon as possible," he said. Speaking to reporters in Hubballi, he referred to the ongoing elections in Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan and said the party's state leadership would soon seek Congress President Rahul Gandhi's time to discuss about the expansion. "It (expansion) will happen at the earliest...elections are about to end there (in MP and Rajasthan). In between we will seek time to discuss and do it," the head of the Congress-JD(S) coalition coordination committee said. State Congress Chief Dinesh Gundu Rao and Deputy Chief Minister G Parameshwara had recently said the cabinet expansion would take place within this month. The cabinet expansion and appointment of MLAs as heads of boards and corporations that was to take place in October was put on the back burner by the Congress-JD(S) coalition, as the schedule for the November 3 bypolls to two assembly and three parliamentary seats in the state was announced. Several MLAs, especially those from the Congress, who are aspirants for ministerial posts, have been demanding the expansion to be taken up at the earliest. Some of them, including former Minister M B Patil and senior legislator B C Patil even met Congress General Secretary in-charge of Karnataka K C Vengopal on Saturday to put forward their case. According to Congress sources, many MLAs feel that this is the right time for cabinet expansion, with the ruling coalition winning two of the three Lok Sabha seats and both the assembly constituencies. This would be the second cabinet expansion since the coalition came to power in May in a post-poll tie-up between Congress and JD(S). Under the power sharing arrangement reached by the two parties, Congress will have 22 ministers and the JD(S) 12. In the earlier exercise on June 6, Kumaraswamy had inducted 25 ministers, taking the ministry's strength to 27. However, the lone BSP Minister in the coalition cabinet N Mahesh, who was inducted from JD(S), quit his post in October, citing personal reasons, but said he would continue to support the ruling coalition. There are now six vacant ministerial positions left for the Congress, and two for the JD(S). The decision to expand the cabinet has come amid speculations that some disgruntled Congress MLAs were still being wooed by the BJP, besides reported factionalism within the party. With the growing number of aspirants and limited ministerial berths in hand, Congress is preparing a list of MLAs to be appointed as heads to boards and corporations,in an effort to prevent any kind of resentment, party sources said. Responding to a question about Deputy Chief Minister G Parameshwaras statement that he was ready to take up the responsibility of Chief Ministership if the high command so desired, Siddaramaiah said the top post was not vacant now. "Parameshwara has said that if given an opportunity he has the capacity to become Chief Minister, but where is it (CM post) vacant now? In Congress, there are several leaders who have the capacity and eligibility to become Chief Minister. "He (Parameshwara) has said that he too is eligible to become Chief Minister. "What is wrong in that? Ultimately it is to be decided by the high command and MLAs," he added, while noting that the Congress was in the coalition government with JD(S) due to the fractured verdict in the assembly polls. Also, the chief minister's post was not vacant, with their alliance partner currently holding the position, Siddaramaiah said. Responding to a question, Patrameshwara on Saturday had said that he was ready to take on the responsibility as chief minister if the high command so wished. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) To assuage the discontent among partymen over the selection of candidates for the Telangana Assembly elections, a three-member team of the Congress Sunday held talks with those planning to enter the fray as rebels. Nearly 50 ticket aspirants who are "upset" with party's selection of candidates met the team led by Puducherry Chief Minister Narayana Swamy, Telangana Congress sources said. Karnataka Irrigation Minister D K Shiva Kumar and Puducherry Health Minister Malladi Krishna Rao are the other two members of the team. Miffed at being denied tickets, some Congress dissidents had announced last week that they will contest the December 7 elections as independents on at least 40 seats. The team held discussions with the dissidents. It tried to persuade them to drop the idea of contesting as rebel candidates and to work for the victory of those fielded by the party, the sources said. The dissidents were told that they will be "rewarded" if the Congress comes to power in Telangana, they said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Campaigning for the December 7 Telangana Assembly polls would hit top gear during the next fortnight with top leaders, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi, BJP chief Amit Shah, former Congress president Sonia Gandhi, set to address public meetings in the state. With the the process of filing nominations coming to a close on Monday, all major parties, the ruling TRS, the BJP, and the Congress along with its "grand alliance" constituents -- the TDP and others -- have drawn up plans for intense hustings. The Congress has announced that Sonia Gandhi, on her first visit to Telangana after the state's formation, will address a public meeting on November 23 at Medchal on the periphery of Hyderabad. Party president Rahul Gandhi is expected to visit the the state for campaigning on November 28, 29 and December 3, Telangana Pradesh Congress Committee (TPCC) treasurer Gudur Narayana Reddy told PTI. State BJP chief K Laxman has said that while Shah would campaign in Telangana during a three-day visit from November 25, Prime Minister Narendra Modi is expected to visit the state for campaigning in the first week of December. The BJP national president had kicked off the party's poll campaign with a public meeting in September and subsequently addressed two more meetings. TRS president and caretaker Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao, the ruling party's star campaigner, will address a series of campaign meetings this week. His son K T Rama Rao and nephew T Harish Rao, both ministers in the caretaker government, have been leading the campaign since the Assembly was dissolved on September six. The Telugu Desam Party (TDP), a partner in the 'grand alliance' would get star power with N Balakrishna, the son of party founder N T Rama Rao and a top-ranking Telugu film hero, canvassing for the party. For Telangana Jana Samiti (TJS), another partner in the "grand alliance", it is president M Kodandaram who, during campaigning, would highlight the alliance's agenda for the people. The 'grand alliance', comprising the Congress, TDP, CPI and TJS, has alleged that the aspirations of the people following the formation of Telangana have not been met during the TRS rule. The Telangana assembly was dissolved prematurely on September 6 following a recommendation made by the TRS government, necessitating polls ahead of schedule. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Shiv Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray Sunday sought to intensify the party's campaign for Ram temple in Ayodhya by giving a new slogan which called for the construction of temple before government. Thackeray held a meeting with senior party leaders to review preparations for his visit to Ayodhya on November 24 and 25. Sena leaders from outside Maharashtra too attended the meeting. "Har Hindu ki yahi pukar, pehle mandir fir sarkar (Every Hindu has one demand, the temple first and then government)," he said at a press conference which was held later. The Shiv Sena, which is the part of the BJP-led governments in both Maharashtra and the Centre, has been aggressively pushing for the construction of the temple since the party's annual Dussehra rally last month. The party has often taunted its ally BJP over the saffron party's "failure" to construct the temple in the last four years despite coming to power. Thackeray also asked party workers to conduct a 'maha aarati' (grand puja) on November 24 all over the state as well as in other parts of the country where the Sena has presence. He will be conducting 'Sarayu puja' on November 24 in Ayodhya. "All Sena workers will perform puja on the same day and same time in their respective areas," said Thackeray. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Union minister Rajyavardhan Rathore Sunday said tickets for assembly polls should not be distributed on the basis of religion, amid questions in some quarters on why the BJP has not given ticket to any Muslim candidate in Rajasthan. "There should be no quota for ticket distribution for any religion. If the work done by our government has not reached to any religion then only we can be under question," he said. The ruling party has released three lists so far of 170 candidates for the elections to be held on December 7 for 200 assembly constituencies. The saffron party has not given ticket to any Muslim candidate in Rajasthan so far. "Triple talaq is something on which (the Congress) party, which gives ticket on quota system (to Muslims and others), could not do anything and we (the BJP government) worked on that," the MoS for Information and Broadcasting said at a press conference here. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) West Bengal Congress president Somen Mitra has said that it would be better for his party to go it alone in the state in the next Lok Sabha election as the ruling TMC "lacks honest intentions" as an anti-BJP force. Majority of the state Congress leaders are in favour of going solo in the polls even if it meant failure of the party to win even a single seat in Bengal, he said when asked about a possible alignment with the TMC or the Left for the general election. Mitra, a veteran Congressman who had moved to the TMC, returned to his parent party and took over the presidentship of West Bengal Pradesh Congress Committee (WBPCC) after a gap of two decades. The Congress should prepare itself to fight alone against the BJP as well as the TMC in the state, he asserted. "If you look at the past events, you will see that the TMC lacks honest intentions as an anti-BJP force. At the national level, whenever Congress called for any massive anti-BJP campaign, the TMC either evaded it or has sent one MP to register its attendance," Mitra told PTI in an interview. The TMC raised a hue and cry over demonetisation, but "mellowed down" after its two MPs were arrested by CBI in the chit fund scam, he alleged. The ruling party has also "maintained silence" on the Rafale jet deal, too, Mitra noted. "We have told our party president Rahul Gandhi that we are in favour of fighting alone. He has said that we should work to improve our strength. But the final decision will be taken by the AICC and we will accept it," the state Congress president clarified. Talking about the possibility of an alliance with the Left Front, he said it wouldn't be a "wise option". "The CPI(M) had unilaterally walked out of the alliance after the 2016 Assembly election. Also, the Left allies are not in favour of an adjustment with the Congress." Currently, the Congress has four Lok Sabha seats in West Bengal. The party, he said, has suffered "badly" due to alliances with the TMC in 2001, 2009 and 2011, and with the CPI(M) in 2016. "We could then neither offer seats to our leaders nor could we put up our symbols in certain constituencies. That has badly damaged our organisation," he claimed. Mitra also blamed the TMC's policy of "poaching" elected representatives of the Congress for decrease in the party's strength in Bengal and the growth of "communal forces". Noting there was a Congress government in Bengal till 1977, he said "Did you ever see Congress chief minister's fanning fundamentalism or communalism in Bengal like the present (TMC) government is doing? The TMC is solely responsible for growth of divisive forces". Had TMC not taken the path of minority appeasement, Bengal would never have witnessed the rise of "majority communalism", Mitra said. To questions about targets set by the TMC and the BJP for the election, Mitra said his party will not follow suit. "I am not an astrologer," he quipped. The TMC has set a target of winning all 42 Lok Sabha sets in Bengal, and the saffron party is eyeing 22 seats. On strengthening Congress organisation in Bengal, Mitra said he was trying to bring back MLAs and the elected representatives who switched over to the TMC. "Right now, I am trying to strengthen the booth- and block-level organization. Once that is done, we can easily expand our base in the state," he said. He, however, acknowledged that a "daunting task" awaits him. "We (PCC) are presently assessing the ground situation - there are several booths and blocks where we don't have any presence. We are trying to fix these issues by making personal connections with our party workers and old timers," Mitra added. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) West Bengal BJP president Dilip Ghosh claimed on Sunday his convoy was attacked by Trinamool Congress supporters in Dankuni area in Hooghly district, a charge rubbished by the ruling party. Ghosh alleged his convoy was targeted after he and other state BJP leaders were returning from a rally at Moshat in the district. TMC Hooghly district president Tapan Dasgupta denied any role of party supporters in the incident. "The BJP is enacting a drama once again," Dasgupta said. Some BJP leaders, including Birbhum MP Joy Banerjee, were injured in the attack, Ghosh said. "Today (Sunday), there was a massive rally in the area. Local TMC leaders got afraid due to the huge turnout and attacked our convoy. Several of our workers have been injured," he claimed. The BJP Hooghly district leadership said it will lodge a police complaint against the incident. In recent months, there have been several attacks on Ghosh's convoy in different parts of the state. Hooghly SP Sukesh Jain could not be reached for comment on Sunday's incident. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Former Union minister Arun Shourie Sunday said ex-Prime Minister Indira Gandhi had a "great sense of remorse" for imposing Emergency, but the situation today is "graver" than it was in 1975-77. He said Prime Minister Narendra Modi's juggernaut can be stopped in the 2019 Lok Sabha polls if the entire Opposition unites and follows the principle of one candidate against the BJP in every seat. The journalist-turned-politician was addressing a session on 'Danger within the Judicial System' at Tata Literature Festival here. "In 1975 (Emergency) there was much better defined opponent. Today there is widespread opponent. I can tell you this, the difference between Gandhi and Narendra Modi is that Gandhi had a great sense of remorse about what she had done," he said. "Today, there is no remorse. In Gandhi's case I feel, in spite of the fact that she put 1,75,000 people in jail, there was a sense of limit...isse aage nahi jana hai (not beyond this point). But today there is no sense of limit," he added. The Emergency lasted for 19 months, but today there is much more sustained and relentless assault at undermining institutions, Shourie said. "...so I feel the situation now is much more graver than it was in 1975," he added. Shourie asserted that opposition unity is key to defeating Modi in 2019. "After all, Modi at the peak of his popularity (in 2014)... how many votes he got? Only 31 per cent. So if the opposition unites, it starts with 69 per cent of the votes," he said. "In any case the BJP has no presence in the states where regional parties are strong. We should think of the Congress and support the Congress in those places where it is a dominant regional party," he said. He added that if the leaders of the other parties don't agree on the principle of one candidate against a BJP candidate, then people should be approached to teach them a lesson for splitting opposition votes. A former minister in Atal Bihari Vajpayee's government, Shourie said people should look within themselves to bring change. "If we're not prepared to do anything, situation will be the way it is," he said. He claimed all institutions are under assault, especially during the last four years, and have been destroyed by the "termite" inside them. "Institutions in India, I fear, are hollow," he said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Trump looks on as a White House aide reaches for CNN reporter Jim Acostas microphone during a news conference in November. Photo: Evan Vucci/AP/REX/Shutterstock Over the past few weeks, as they fell even further behind with women voters across America, Republicans and the White House have begun appropriating the language of the #MeToo movement. Galling as it is, its not surprising just another Orwellian turn among many. But the clumsiness of this latest hijacking, involving doctored tapes, hoaxes, and more than the usual quota of lies, is based on several wrong assumptions about the press. First, the GOP seems to think that biased reporters will jump at just about any #MeToo story, even ones dangled with poisoned bait. They dont understand that facts are still the currency of journalism, and that the presss role in the #MeToo movement has been that of careful authenticator. The recent yanking and provisional reinstatement of a CNN reporters White House press pass, was done under completely false pretenses, based on a doctored video from Infowars. Conspiracy mongering is by now fairly standard stuff for this administration. But it was the next step that represented a new move, an attempt at Zeitgeist-y cultural jujitsu: Press Secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders falsely accused the reporter, Jim Acosta, of manhandling a young female White House intern, an attempt at contorting the non-touch touch into a White House #MeToo moment. We will never tolerate a reporter placing his hands on a young woman just trying to do her job as a White House intern, she indignantly tweeted. (Surely the emphasis on White House intern was meant to remind liberals of their own presidential baggage.) Such a sweet hypocrisy from Sanders, who wont even answer questions about sexual misconduct or where the presidents hands have been. Instead of accepting Sanderss spin, in about a nanosecond, good reporters and reliable social-media watchdogs exposed the doctored tape and the brouhaha backfired. This White House operates under the cynical belief that the press is so in the tank for liberal causes that pleasing the feminist hordes is more important to reporters than the truth. Its a fundamental misreading of how journalists have covered stories about sexual abuse over the past year, through a process of scrupulous verification that is the core of good journalism. It was, after all, careful verification, by the New York Times and The New Yorker, of the long-running, sub-rosa rumors about Harvey Weinstein that started the whole movement. But perhaps its hard for a Trumpian GOP to understand, because its the antithesis of how this White House works. (Sanders once also encouraged the White House press corps to watch a tape from Project Veritas, the conservative group that conducts undercover stings against the press, while allowing that she could not vouch for its accuracy). "In response to the court, we will temporarily reinstate the reporters hard pass. We will also further develop rules and processes to ensure fair and orderly press conferences in the future. There must be decorum at the White House," Sarah Sanders says of losing Acosta case. Josh Dawsey (@jdawsey1) November 16, 2018 Then there was the #MeToo hoax dreamed up by a 20-year-old MAGA troll, Jacob Wohl. Its a tangled story still, but his original plan was to find women to invent sexual-misconduct charges against Robert Mueller. Next, a nonexistent woman named Lorraine Parsons emailed a number of journalists claiming she had been offered substantial sums of money to make false accusations about Mueller. She also traced back to Wohl. Again, the wrong assumption was made about supposedly biased reporters. Almost instantly, journalists including Jane Mayer, who has spearheaded important #MeToo investigations for The New Yorker exposed the hoax. Republicans seem to perceive the reporting on #MeToo to be more about letting women air their traumas, instead of getting at the truth of what happened. Many think that it is all flimflam to be manipulated, not checkable facts. During the Kavanaugh confirmation battle, Republicans tried to ignore the credible evidence against the nominee. But Dr. Christine Blasey Fords account remained detailed and consistent, from the moment she identified herself in a Washington Post interview to her testimony before the Senate. Investigative reporters uncovered a lot more, including another accuser who was prepared to testify. Kavanaugh and Republican senators accused the liberal press of ganging up to kill the nomination. But because of the pressures of #MeToo and perhaps a genuine reaction to the force of her testimony some tried to have it both ways, saying they believed Ford was sexually assaulted, but that she was mixed-up and confused about the identity of her assailant. Im not saying that she was not sexually assaulted, said Maines Susan Collins, who cast one of the decisive votes for Kavanaugh. I believe that she was, and that that horrible experience has upended her life. But it does not mean that Brett Kavanaugh was her assailant. If the GOP had allowed the time for a real fact-finding hearing, the press would have surely revealed more on Kavanaugh. But everything is a political game to the current Republican Party. With this administration, its always tactics over truth. In still another political stratagem, Republicans tried to use the #MeToo moment to recycle old and unproven sexual-misconduct allegations against Democrats in the midterms. Among those targeted were Democratic senators Sherrod Brown of Ohio and Robert Menendez of New Jersey. Browns opponents formed a group called Me Too Ohio and launched an attack ad and website dredging up Browns messy 1986 divorce and allegations that he bullied and shoved his ex-wife, which she has denied. The Ohio press didnt take the bait and saw right through Me Too Ohio. Cincinnati.com concluded, Amid the Me Too movement, Republicans figure they can beat this dead horse some more in hopes of generating enough backlash from Democrats to convince Brown to take a pass on a bid for the White House. Browns ex-wife, meanwhile, hosted a fundraiser for him and has always supported his campaigns. Cleveland.com focused on the GOP operatives behind the bogus site and its dark-money funding. It was a satisfying rebuke, and a reminder that the presss role has always been not to further agendas, but to uncover buried truths. Tripura will be hosting a 3-day tourism fair from November 22 to promote the tourism industry in the northeastern states of the country, a minister said Sunday. The 3-day long International Tourism Mart' would begin here from November 22 with an objective to promote tourism in the northeastern states. We are hosting the event with funding from the Ministry of Tourism," state Tourism Minister Pranajit Singha Roy told a press conference here. The International Tourism Mart is an annual event that is held in the northeastern states. Tripura will be hosting it for the first time this year. The estimated budget of the fair this year is Rs 2.6 crore. The minister said that at least 60 tour operators from 18 foreign countries including Bangladesh, USA, Canada, Australia, Japan, China, Thailand, South Africa and Russia would attend the fair and engage in dialogue with the state tour operators, attend seminars and visit different tourist spots of the state. "We want to promote tourism and reach out to the international buyers. Presence of the international tour operators would help achieving our objective of promoting tourism," he said. Singha Roy also added that cultural events would be arranged for foreign tour operators at Neermahal at Melaghar in Sipahijala district, located about 55 km from here. Neermahal, known as the water palace, was the summer palace of Tripuras last ruler, Maharaja Bir Bikram Kishore Manikya Bahadur, which was built about 100 years ago. Tripura, a princely state, which joined the Indian territory on October 15, 1949. "Union Tourism Minister Alphons Kannanthanam would attend the mart with 100 domestic tourist operators from the northeastern states," Singha Roy said. He also added that handicraft items of the states, tea, pineapple and traditional apparel would be given to the tour operators as gift for promoting tourism. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) US President Donald Trump on Sunday said he is doing a great job and gave himself 'A plus' for successfully running the country. "I think I am doing a great job. We have the best economy we have ever had," Trump told Fox in an interview aired on Sunday. "I would give myself, I would - look, I hate to do it, but I will do it, I would give myself an A+, is that enough? Can I go higher than that?" he said. Responding to a question in a wide-ranging interview the US President said, "We are doing really well. We would have been at war with North Korea if, let's say, that administration continued forward". On North Korea, he also said that before leaving the office, his predecessor Barack Obama had advised him that the North Korea was one of the top challenges for the country. Trump said Obama had offered him some important guidance in the White House shortly after his 2016 election. "I think North Korea's been very tough because you know we were very close. When I took that over -- President Obama right in those two chairs, we sat and talked and he said that's by far the biggest problem that this country has," Trump told the channel. "And I think we had real decision as to which way to go on North Korea and certainly at least so far I am very happy with the way we went," Trump said referring to the fact that his diplomacy with the North Koreans. Early this year, Trump became the first US president to hold talks with the North Korean leader Kim Jong Un. As a result of the summit meeting in Singapore, North Korea has agreed to a pathway of denuclearization. There has been no missile tests and nuclear tests. The rhetoric and threats from the North Korean leaders against its neighbours and the US has almost ended for the past several months. Trump takes credit for his successful diplomacy with North Korea. During his interview, Trump told the Fox that his supported candidates won in the mid-term elections against the candidates for whom Obama had campaigned for. "I won against President Obama and Oprah Winfrey and Michelle Obama in a great state called Georgia for the governor," Trump said, referring to defeated Democratic candidate Stacey Abrams' top surrogates, to the news channel. "And it was all stacked against Brian (Kemp), and I was the one that went for Brian, and Brian won," he said, adding that and same with Florida. "Look at Florida. I went down to Florida. (Republican) Senate candidate) Rick Scott won, and he won by a lot. I don't know what happened to all those votes that disappeared at the very end. "And if I didn't put a spotlight on that election before it got down to the 12,500 votes, he would have lost that election, OK? In my opinion he would have lost. They would have taken that election away from him. Rick Scott won Florida," Trump said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) US President Donald Trump has said he had spoken with the CIA chief on the agency's assessment of the killing of Jamal Khashoggi and that there will be a "very full report" by Tuesday, amid reports that the CIA had held powerful the Saudi crown prince responsible for the murder of the dissident journalist. The death of 59-year-old Khashoggi, a onetime insider turned critic of Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and a resident of the US, has spurred a wave of international anger against Saudi Arabia and its ruler. In an interaction with reporters in California on Saturday, Trump said that he spoke with Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) Director Gina Haspel, who has been studying this case very closely. "It's a horrible thing that took place, the killing of a journalist...It should never have happened," Trump said. Asked about reports that the CIA had assessed involvement by the crown prince, the president said, "they haven't assessed anything yet. It's too early. That was a very a premature report." "We'll be having a very full report over the next two days, probably Monday or Tuesday," Trump said. He then said more definitely that there would be "a report on Tuesday." The report will address what "we think the overall impact was and who caused it, and who did it.""In the meantime we're doing things to some people that we know for a fact were involved and we're being very tough on a lot of people," he added. Khashoggi, a Washington Post columnist, was last seen entering the Saudi consulate in Istanbul on October 2 to obtain paperwork for his marriage. Saudi Arabia had offered a series of contradictory explanations for Khashoggi's death. After repeated denials, Saudi Arabia finally admitted Khashoggi had been murdered at the compound but blamed it on a "rogue" operation. On Friday, the Washington Post reported that the CIA had assessed with high confidence the Saudi leader's role, based on multiple sources of intelligence. The CIA found that 15 Saudi agents flew on government planes to Istanbul and carried out the killing at the Saudi consulate, the report said, adding that it could complicate President Trump's efforts to preserve US ties with one of the closest American allies in the region. "The accepted position is that there is no way this happened without him being aware or involved," a US official familiar with the CIA's conclusions, told the daily. Saudi Arabia has denied any such linkage. Fatimah Baeshen, a spokeswoman for the Saudi Embassy in Washington, said that the claims in the CIA's "purported assessment are false. We have and continue to hear various theories without seeing the primary basis for these speculations." According to the report, it is CIA assessment that the crown prince who is the defacto ruler of the country would survive the crisis. Officially Saudi Arabia has blamed the brutal murder of Khashoggi at the Saudi consulate in Istanbul to rogue elements. Khashoggi was forcibly restrained and injected with a large amount of a drug resulting in an overdose that led to his death, alleged the Saudi prosecutors, who has sought death penalty for 11 of its officials. Turkish investigating agencies provided the CIA an audio recording that proves the brutal murder of Khashoggi. After his killing, one of those involved in it called Saud al Qahtani, then one of the top aides to the crown prince, and informed him that the operation had been completed, according to people familiar with the call. A conclusion that the crown prince was responsible for the murder of Khashoggi could endanger the US relationship with Saudi Arabia, The Wall Street Journal said. "The assessment that the Crown Prince ordered the murder is not surprising but it significantly undermines the administration's effort to whitewash the Saudi prince," Bruce Riedel, a former top CIA and White House official, who is now at the Brookings Institution think tank, told the journal. "It raises the question why the crown prince has not been sanctioned by the Treasury Department," Riedel said. "The CIA just concluded that MBS, the Saudi Crown Prince, ordered Khashoggi's killing. Every literate person knows that MBS continues to order the killing of thousands of civilians in Yemen. It's time for the US to stop supporting MBS's war in Yemen. Congress must act," Indian-American Congressman Ro Khanna tweeted on Friday. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) A two-year-old girl was allegedly kidnapped and raped by a man, who then left her near the railway tracks of Old Delhi Railway Station, police said on Sunday. The accused, a 24-year-old drug addict, was arrested Sunday morning, they said. The girl was allegedly kidnapped by the accused on the intervening night of Friday and Saturday while she was sleeping with her mother on a footpath in a north Delhi area, a senior police officer. Around 2.30 am on Saturday, the woman found her daughter missing and started looking for her. As the search did not bear fruit, the woman approached police around 10 am on Saturday following which a kidnapping case was registered, he said. Around afternoon, police learnt a baby girl had been admitted to a hospital in central Delhi and subsequently, she was identified as the one who was kidnapped, the official said. It was revealed that she had been sexually assaulted and the accused dumped her near the railway tracks from where she was rescued by a team of police personnel, he said, adding that the girl underwent surgery and is now better. Police identified the accused by scanning CCTV footage. Following this, a trap was laid at various temples and gurdwara where street-dwellers usually come for food and subsequently the accused was nabbed, the officer said. The accused used to collect garbage for a living and also worked as a waiter during weddings. Three months ago, he was arrested in connection with a theft case, the officer added. Delhi Commission For Women chairperson Swati Maliwal met the girl in the hospital and expressed outrage over the incident. "1.5 year old homeless girl brutally raped in Delhi. Met her in hospital & can't describe her condition. Her beggar mom is inconsolable. Her cries ring in my head. Thru my Anshan, law 4 death 2 rapist created but till date no rapist given death in Delhi! No fear amongst criminals (sic)," she tweeted. "PM @narendramodi ji's cabinet promised during my Anshan that within 3 months they will increase police resources, accountability & fast track courts so that rapists shall be given death within 6 months. I broke my fast on this promise. Till date, nothing done by Centre. Shameful!" Maliwal wrote. She also took a dig at Haryana Chief Minister ML Khattar, who had recently courted controversy over his remarks on rape incidents. "Want to know from @mlkhattar, this 1.5 year old girl who has been raped in Delhi also filed a false case? What kind of sick mindset he suffers from. If he had even a shred of decency, he would have resigned. His statements have hurt the sentiments of Nirbhayas across the country!" she wrote on Twitter. Khattar Sunday said his statement had been twisted and asserted there should not be any politics on the issue. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Over 60 per cent of the electorate cast their votes in urban local body polls in Uttarakhand on Sunday to seal the fate of 4,978 candidates, officials said. According to the state election commission office, the polling passed off peacefully in all 84 urban bodies, including seven municipal corporations, 39 municipal councils and 38 nagar panchayats.. Over 60 per cent of the electorate had cast their votes all over the state by 5 pm and voters were still standing in queues at some of the booths, it said. Repolling will be held at ward no 106, 107 and 108 of Udhampur Singh Nagar district on Monday as polling had to be stopped due to technical snag. The results will be out on Tuesday, the commission said. Chief Minister Trivendra Singh Rawat thanked the people of the state for their "enthusiastic" participation in the elections. There are 23.53 lakh voters in the state out of which 12.20 lakh are male and 11.33 lakh female. The civic body polls are a high stake battle for the ruling BJP which is looking to match its own impressive performance in assembly polls last year where it won 57 out of 70 seats. It is significant for the Congress too which is struggling to stage a comeback. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Munna Baruah, the nephew of proscribed ULFA (Independent) 'chief' Paresh Baruah, recently joined the banned outfit, the Assam Police said Sunday. Tinsukia Superintendent of Police Mugdhajyoti Dev Mahanta said Munna had joined the ULFA(I). As per police investigation, he went missing three days ago from oil town Digboi in Upper Assam. After his family members could not trace him, a missing report was filed by them at Chabua and Digboi police stations. Munna is the youngest son of Baruah's elder brother, Bimal Baruah. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The University of British Columbia in Canada may become the first varsity in the world to legalise pot smoking on campus and would set up dedicated gazebos for the purpose. Following legalisation of the possession and sale of recreational cannabis in Canada last month, the university committee has come up with a draft policy titled "Smoking and Smoking Product Promotion on Campus". The draft policy has been put up for community consultation and a final call on it is likely to be taken in February. "We believe that when you criminalise any activity that people are engaging in any way, all you do is drive the behaviour underground. However, that doesn't mean that everything and anything can be decriminalised. Hence, the policy will take into account that the decorum of the campus is also maintained," Hubert Lai, University of British Columbia's (UBC) counsel, told PTI in an e-mail interview. According to the policy, smoking of cannabis will be prohibited anywhere on the campus except in designated smoking gazebos. Both cultivation and sale of cannabis will be prohibited on campus. "An individual on campus may not possess cannabis in amount that is greater than the amount set out by federal law, which is the equivalent of 30g of dried cannabis or 450g of cannabis edibles. "Cannabis may be stored in residence in your private space in your bedroom as long as all storage containers are clearly labelled as containing cannabis or cannabis product and are stored in such a way as to not create nuisance to other residents," Lai said. Smoking of Cannabis will not be allowed in classrooms, student residences, UBC vehicles, bus shelters and other such areas on campus. According to the policy, the university employees are required to refrain from the use of any impairing substance, including alcohol and cannabis, during or prior to work hours. "Although medical authorization to use cannabis does not include a right to consume cannabis at work or arrive to work impaired, employees who are prescribed cannabis for medical purposes and seek, or require, an accommodation should advise their supervisor. Any unauthorised or unapproved use of cannabis prior to or during work hours will not be tolerated and may result in discipline," Lai said. "However, in accordance with federal law, individuals who are over 19 years of age may share or give away cannabis to other individuals who are over 19 years of age, as long as the amount of cannabis given away doesn't exceed the amount that such an individual is allowed to possess," Lai added. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Hitting back at the BJP's Uttar Pradesh chief, a disgruntled Suheldev Bharatiya Samaj Party Sunday challenged its NDA ally to dump it for daring "to call a spade a spade". "Why are you unnecessarily carrying us? If you have the courage, dump us. The government has no time for welfare activities for backward people, SBSP chief and senior UP minister Om Praskash Rajbhar said. Peeved over non-allotment of an accommodation to run the party office despite BJP chief Amit Shah's assurance, he told PTI here that it was clear that the BJP was not keen on carrying us along. We were also promised posts of chairman and two vice-chairmen in different corporations equivalent to the rank of minister and minister of state, but this too did not happen, he rued. Hence, it is clear that they (BJP) are unnecessarily carrying us," Rajbhar said in an interview. If that is the case, let the BJP dump us, dared Rajbhar, who is known for attacking the BJP quite often despite sharing power with the saffron party in Uttar Pradesh. His latest outburst comes barely a day after UP BJP chief Mahendra Nath Pandey, in an unusual attack on the SBSP, had termed Rajbhar a "necessary evil" and stated that comments made by the SBSP chief "should not be taken seriously". Rajbhar, who holds the portfolio of backward class welfare and divyangjan empowerment in the council of ministers headed by Yogi Adityanath, said, "The UP chief minister in the past few days spoke against us. If this is so, then why are they not removing us? "We belong to the vanchit varg (deprived class) of society. Today, a child of an officer or a leader does not want to study in a government primary school. Around 40-50 years ago, the schools which had produced brilliant doctors and scientists, their level has gone down significantly. "Now if we speak for basic changes in the education system, then it is said that we have gone mad. When we speak of quota within quota for the deprived class, our demand is mocked at, he lamented. Taking a jibe at Pandey, the SBSP leader said, "As per the UP BJP chief, more than 100 crore Hindus are with him. Despite this, they took out a motorcycle rally. Time will tell, how much support they are actually getting." On his party's ties with the BJP, Rajbhar said, "A decision in this regard will be taken at an appropriate time. Time will tell that whether we are with the BJP in the 2019 Lok Sabha elections or not."The SBSP chief also said, "As of now we are with the BJP, but we will continue to call a spade, a spade. We call a wrong act a wrong act. We are expanding our organisation. Let the elections come."In the 2017 UP assembly elections, the SBSP contested eight of the 403 seats and won four. Rajbhar became a cabinet minister. Asked about demands being made by various organisations to take the legislative route for construction of Ram temple in Ayodha, Rajbhar said that these are acts "only to provoke sentiments and gather votes". "When the matter is pending in the court, then why is there so much of irrelevant talk about this," Rajbhar said. Attacking the UP government for renaming Faizabad and Allahabad, Rajbhar had recently said it negated India's "Ganga-Jamuni tehzeeb" (composite culture). The SBSP leader had said that instead of changing names of cities, districts and railway stations, the BJP should start with changing names of its prominent Muslim leaders. "The BJP changed names of Mughalsarai and Faizabad. They say these were named after the Mughals. They have national spokesperson Shahnawaz Hussain, Union minister Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi, Uttar Pradesh minister Mohsin Raza - three Muslim faces of the BJP. They should change their names first," he had said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) With the success of Satya Nadella at Microsoft, Sundar Pichai at Google, Indira Nooyi at Pepsi and others of their ilk, stories of Indian managers making it big overseas is now less surprising for people back in India. But, ask the question what makes the Indian professionals such a hit worldwide and one may have to keep waiting for an affirmative answer. Answering the question, while making a worthy attempt to crack the illusive code, is a new book, aptly titled "The Made-in-India Manager". The definition of 'made-in-India' manager here is those who have "received their foundational education and degrees in India till the age of 18 and little later". It does not include people of Indian-origin, born and raised abroad. Written by two business experts, R Gopalakrishnan and Ranjan Banerjee, the book speaks about the "unique combination" of factors that led to Indian management thought and practises becoming a "soft power". There are more Indian CEOs than any other nationality after Americans in S&P 500 companies, finds a study by executive search firm Egon Zehnder, quotes the book. "Poverty and living in cramped spaces occurs in San Salvador and Egypt as well. Family values and the pursuit of a better standard of living is a recurrent theme in every society. But the combination of challenges in India is quite distinctive. "Navigating those challenges while growing up endows distinctive capabilities in made-in-Indian managers," write the authors. Delving into it further, the book explains the four secret ingredients of Indian-born managers including their "felicity with the English language", "surviving in a hyper-competitive environment" and "developing a high degree of adaptability". "The propensity that Indians have for hard work has been (sometimes grudgingly) acknowledged by employers the world over. "Explaining how Gujarati merchants managed to capture 70 per cent of the diamond trade in Antwerp, Abraham Pinkusewitz, the head of a diamond-trading family business in Europe, commented, 'Business has always been important for the jews but we cannot pursue it with the single-mindedness of the Indians'," said the author quoting an article of an Indian business daily. Talking of Indians "growing up in a crushingly competitive environment", the book gives the example of the cutting-edge competition in Indian institutes and how only "2 per cent" of the students who apply to the Indian Institutes of Technology (IIT) get admission in them. "NR Narayana Murthy famously told CBS in 2003 that his son could not get into IIT but went on to study at Cornell, a renowned college in the US. This has positioned the IITs as genius factories, a perception promoted assiduously by IIT alumni," the author writes. Besides, the book also goes into the history of Indian appointed CEOs, and acquaints the readers with the trailblazers in the field. "In 1959, JM Lall was the first Indian to be appointed chief executive of ICI UK. Soon after, in 1961, Unilever appointerd Prakash Tandon chairman of HLL. Imperial Tobacco UK appointed Ajit Haksar chairman of ITC India in 1969. "Following the phase, made-in-India managers started to get appointed to top level positions in parent companies. T Thomas, chairman of HLL, joined the Unilever board in 1979... Rajat Gupta was appointed managing director of McKinsey in 1994," the book quotes. Published by Hachette India, the 195-page book, is priced at Rs 499. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Strongly condemning the grenade attack on a religious congregation in Amritsar that left three persons dead and many injured, Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh Sunday vowed that he will not let the "forces of terror" destroy the hard-earned peace in the state. While making an appeal to the people "not to panic and remain calm," the chief minister tweeted, "We will not let the forces of terror destroy our hard-earned peace." "I appeal to the people of Punjab to maintain peace in the wake of Amritsar bomb blast. I urge them not to panic and to remain calm," he added. Amarinder Singh's tweet followed soon after Punjab police chief Suresh Arora told PTI that the incident "appears to have a terror angle... we will take it as a terrorist act." Soon after the attack, the chief minister reviewed the law and order situation in the state and and asked the state home secretary, director general of police, director generals, law & order and intelligence, to rush to Rajasansi in Amritsar to supervise the ongoing probe into the grenade attack, an official spokesman said here. On the chief minister's directions, the security has been beefed up at all Nirankari Bhawan's in the state, he added. While condemning the incident, Amarinder Singh also announced a compensation of Rs 5 lakh for the kin of those killed and free treatment to the injured ones. "Strongly condemn the bomb blast at Nirankari Bhawan in Amritsar... My heart goes out to the victims of the Amritsar bomb blast and their families... My govt will give Rs 5 lakh to the kin of each of the dead and free treatment to the injured. Have asked the district administration to extend all help," the chief minister said in a tweet earlier. Punjab police earlier said the grenade attack on the religious congregation on outskirts of Amritsar city appears to be a terrorist act. It (this incident) appears to have a terror angle, because it is against a group (of people) and not against any individual. There is no reason to throw a hand grenade on a group of people, so we will take it as a terrorist act. Till proven otherwise, prima facie we will take it as that, Punjab Director General of Police Suresh Arora told PTI. The incident took place at a religious congregation inside the Nirankari Bhavan at Adliwal village near Amritsar's Rajasansi, the police said. "A grenade was lobbed and three people died in the incident while 10 have been injured in the incident, two of them critically," Inspector General of Police S S Parmar, who visited the crime spot in Amritsar, told reporters. Punjab was on alert following an intelligence input claiming that a group of six to seven JeM terrorists were reportedly in the state, possibly in Ferozepur area. The state was put on alert after four persons snatched a SUV from its driver at gunpoint near Madhopur in Pathankot district last week. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) A World War II-era fighter plane crashed on Saturday into a Texas parking lot, killing a veteran and one other person, local media and officials said. The US National Transportation Safety Board said it was investigating the crash of "a North American P-51D" in the city of Fredericksburg. The P-51 Mustang served in the Pacific and other theaters of World War II, as well as during the Korean War. Fredericksburg is home to the National Museum of the Pacific War, which said on Twitter that there were two victims, one of whom was a veteran. "At this time we have no further information," the museum tweeted. According to the museum website, an outdoor show about the "equipment and weapons" used in the Pacific theater, including a battle re-enactment, was to take place Saturday. Attempts to reach the museum for further comment were not immediately successful. Pictures from the San Antonio Express- showed wreckage of the silver plane in a parking lot, where vehicles appeared damaged. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Yemeni rebels have said they are ready to mobilise more fighters to the frontline despite a lull in battleground Hodeida, as the UN envoy prepares to visit the country to boost peace efforts. Dozens of Huthi rebels put on a show of strength on the outskirts of the capital Sanaa on Saturday, apparently getting ready to head towards Hodeida, a Red Sea city home to a vital port. Residents told AFP by telephone on Sunday that relative calm had held in Hodeida city since pro-government forces -- backed by a Saudi-led military coalition -- announced a pause in their offensive last week amid international calls for a ceasefire and UN-led peace efforts. UN special envoy Martin Griffiths -- whose efforts at kick-starting peace talks collapsed in September -- said on Friday that he plans to travel to rebel-held Sanaa next week to finalise arrangements for peace talks to take place in Sweden soon. Hameed Assem, a member of the rebel delegation expected to take part in the negotiations, said that Huthis will continue to mobilise if UN efforts for peace fail to materialise. "We are ready for dialogue at any time when there is real dialogue that leads to peace," he told AFP. "If Griffiths comes, we are ready for dialogue. If he doesn't come, we are ready to fight until (our) last breath." Diplomatic efforts to end the war intensified last week after clashes escalated in Hodeida, whose port serves as an entry point for nearly all of the country's commercial imports and humanitarian aid. 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. Pro-government forces on Wednesday suspended their 12-day offensive on the rebel-held city amid an international outcry, but the Huthis are sceptical about the move. "The so-called truce is just a manoeuvre," Shamsan Abu Nashtan, a rebel fighter, told AFP. "The (Huthis) confirm they are ready to mobilise to the battlefronts." The rebels seized the capital Sanaa and Hodeida in 2014, prompting Saudi Arabia and its allies to intervene on the government's side the following year. Nearly 10,000 people have been killed since then, according to the World Health Organization. Rights groups believe the toll may be five times as high. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Kristin Scott Thomas says taking on direction turned out to be a frustrating exercise for her. The 58-year-old actor, who stepped into director's shoes with "The Sea Change", says her move into directing "became a bit of a joke" for others. "It's very, very frustrating. You have to have nerves of steel. (It took so long that it) became a bit of a joke 'Kristin's directing this film,' ha ha. It's a life's work," Thomas said, according to FemaleFirst. "The Sea of Change" is adapted from Elizabeth Jane Howard's novel of the same name. The actor said her experience has made her appreciate her 1996 Oscar-winning movie "The English Patient", which was adapted from Michael Ondaatje's novel. "Now I know how difficult it is to do an adaptation of a brilliant novel. The adaptation of 'The English Patient' is just so beautiful it's like a cousin, it flows alongside the book," she said. Thomas was also nominated for the Academy Award for Best Actress for "The English Patient" but lost to Susan Sarandon for "Dead Man Walking". (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) In the run up to the Lok Sabha polls next year, the Congress' youth wing is holding a series of online interactions between senior party leaders and young voters through Facebook Live. The initiative, 'Young India Facebook Live Series', launched last month, has so far featured Ghulam Nabi Azad, Manish Tewari, Jairam Ramesh, Ajay Maken, Sam Pitroda among others, and efforts are on to bring Rahul Gandhi to the platform, Indian Youth Congress (IYC) spokesperson Amrish Pandey said. The online interaction takes place on IYC's official Facebook page every Thursday at 6 pm. Sam Pitroda was the first guest of the series launched on October 18. Guests to the programme pick questions sent by the users in form of comments of the Facebook page and respond to it accordingly. So far, six episodes of the online interaction have been conducted covering topics like aspirations of young India, freedom of press, demonetisation and youth and politics, Pandey said. The next guest in the series will be former Delhi chief minister Sheila Dikshit, who will address women issues on the birth anniversary of Indira Gandhi on Monday. "The live series is like a freewheeling chat where the youngsters and senior party leaders can interact in an uninhibited manner. A direct interaction helps to put forward ideas in a better way," Pandey said. Alleging that absence of an alternate voice is leading to monopoly of a specific ideology which needs to be countered, he said the series designed by the social media team of IYC has provided an opportunity to the youth to raise their voice and talk to leaders on every issue. "The series is helpful in building mutual understanding between the youth and the party. We are also trying to bring Congress president Rahul Gandhi to interact with the youth later on," Pandey said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) ZAGREB (Reuters) - International police organisation Interpol has decided to renew an arrest warrant for the head of Hungarian energy group MOL issued by Croatia, Croatian police said, while MOL on Sunday called the move surprising.MOL Chief Executive Zsolt Hernadi has been indicted in Croatia for allegedly bribing former Croatian Prime Minister Ivo Sanader to allow MOL to become the key decision-maker in Croatian energy company INA, in which MOL is the biggest but not the majority shareholder.Last month Croatia began the trial of Sanader, who served as prime minister from 2003 to 2009, and ... After the explosive speech by Reserve Bank of India's (RBI) Deputy Governor Viral Acharya, warning the government of 'potentially catastrophic results' if they undermine the central bank's independence, there seems to be an effort to douse the fire for the time being. The government didn't waste time in issuing a statement that it respects the independence and autonomy of the RBI. A few days later, the government also denied asking the RBI to part with its surplus capital, but said it is in discussion to fix the appropriate capital framework for the banking regulator. In fact, RBI Governor Urjit Patel also met Prime Minister Narendra Modi last Friday. Two days ahead of the crucial RBI board meet, Finance Minister Arun Jaitley kept the pressure on the central bank by saying that it should ensure that credit and liquidity supply is not throttled. Clearly, the battle lines between the RBI and the government are drawn. The pressure is on the RBI to soften its so called rigid stance to find a way out. The duo will have to find a middle ground that respects RBI's wisdom and independence and also accommodates government's concerns on credit flow to MSMEs and agricultural sector. So take a look what is in store for the market in tomorrow's RBI board meet. ALSO READ: Can the RBI and the government find a middle ground? Setting up a committee to work out appropriate capital levels for RBI The estimated level of funds available to RBI are in excess of Rs 9 lakh crore. But these funds are for meeting specific provisions, like depreciation in securities, gold and investments, etc. Not all funds can be earmarked as surplus. In fact, it is RBI's contingency funds of over Rs 2 lakh crore that the government is eyeing. The RBI would certainly need a wider debate amongst the experts before giving back any funds to government. RBI to dilute its discretionary powers on PCA There are close to a dozen public sector banks that are under Prompt Corrective Action (PCA), which means they cannot lend money to the industry. There is no doubt that the government has to commit more capital to make these banks healthy, but RBI can also lift some of the discretionary restrictions, like those on credit and operations. The RBI can easily allow banks with improved performance to start lending to good MSMEs. Stricter capital adequacy norms In the post-2008 global financial meltdown, the RBI was praised for its conservative policies as none of the Indian banks faced solvency issues. Globally, hundreds of banks went belly up. The current RBI structure of capital adequacy is slightly stringent than Basel III, but that can be relaxed if government insists. There will be implications, though, if the economic environment deteriorates in future. Special window for NBFCs In the last 4-5 years, the NBFC sector expanded its assets in a big way. Many borrowed funds with shorter maturity to fund long term assets. The idea was to capture as many businessees with utter disregard to asset liability mismatches. These NBFCs are now demanding a special liquidity window to tide over their mismatches. Ideally, the NBFCs should sell their assets to banks or other strong entities to generate liquidity. If this option is fully exercised, only then there is a need to open a special RBI window. More relaxation for MSMEs MSMEs are already a pampered lot. In the last few years, the government has relaxed many of its guidelines to support MSMEs. There may be a case for allowing some relief by way of extension of NPA classification norms, but only to very small micro enterprises. Amritsar, Nov 18 (PTI) Three persons were killed and 20 injured in a grenade attack on a religious congregation here on city outskirts on Sunday, an incident which the police are treating as a terrorist act. The incident took place insidethe Nirankari Bhavan at Adliwal village near Amritsar's Rajasansi, police said. A religious congregation of the Nirankaris was being conducted inside the Bhavan at the time of the incident. The Sant Nirankari Mission is a spiritual organisation and the Bhavan here lies close to the international airport. The grenade was lobbed by two persons who had come on a bike and had their faces covered. The Director General of Police Suresh Arora, who along with senior police officers rushed to the spot, said the incident appears to be a terrorist act. He said that three people had died in the incident and 20 others were injured, two of them seriously. Inspector General of Police S S Parmar,who visited the incident spot, told reporters that about 200 devotees including many women were inside at the time of the incident. No CCTV was installed at the premises, preliminary investigations found, he said. After the incident, the Bhavan was sealed by the police and security was stepped up at other "Nirankari Bhavans" in the state. Chief minister Capt Amarinder Singh said the possibility of involvement of ISI-based Khalistani/Kashmiri terror groups could not be ruled out. Amarinder Singh said the state won't let the "forces of terror" to destroy the hard earned peace. Notably, Punjab had gone through dark days of militancy in the 1980s and early 1990s and faced few terror attacks in recent years including the one in Pathankot over two years ago. After the incident, the Chief Minister asked the Home Secretary, DG Police, DG Law and Order and DG Intelligence to immediately rush to Village Adliwal, Raja Sansi, to personally supervise the investigations into the grenade attack at Nirankari Bhawan. Amrinder Singh has also directed the police to immediately enhance security arrangements at all sensitive places in the wake of the explosion. Forensic teams have been rushed to the spot and all angles were being investigated, said the chief minister here, adding that the possibility of involvement of ISI-based Khalistani/Kashmiri terror groups could not be ruled out. Singh said his government was on top of things and would get to the bottom of the incident soon and ensure that the culprits are apprehended and brought to book. Nobody will be allowed to get away with trying to disturb the peace and harmony of the state, he warned. The chief minister has also announced a compensation of Rs five lakh each to the kin of the dead and directed the district administration to provide the best possible medical care, free of cost, to the injured. The chief minister said preliminary investigations had so far revealed that two men, one of them with a flowing beard, with covered faces, allegedly forced their way into the hall by brandishing a pistol. They detained the sewadar, lobbed the grenade into the prayer room, and fled on a motorcycle. A small crater was formed by the impact of the explosion, and was being examined by the forensic team. The safety valve of the grenade has also been found and was being examined, he said. The chief minister has meanwhile appealed to the people not to panic and maintain peace and law and order. Let us remain calm, he said, adding the government would ensure there is no chaos in the wake of the incident. Though the state had been hit by a series of cases of targeted attacks since 2015-16, this was the first attempt, in a long time, to disturb the peace in the state through indiscriminate killings, said the Chief Minister, adding it strengthened the belief that Pakistan was continuing with its nefarious activities to disturb the state's peace. He pointed out that 15 such terror modules had been busted in the past 18 months, with Kashmiri terror links also indicated in some instances, as evidenced in the arrest of Kashmiri students from Jalandhar and in the Maqsudan police station grenade blast case. Earlier,the DGP said that the incident appears to be a terrorist act. It (this incident) appears to be a terror angle. Because it is against a group (of people) and it is not against any individual. There is no reason to throw a hand grenade on a group of people so we will take it as a terrorist act. Till proven otherwise, prima facie we will take it as that, Suresh Arora told PTI. Notably, the grenade attack took place amid Punjab being on high alert following an input claiming that a group of six to seven JeM terrorists were in Punjab and were 'planning' to move to Delhi. Moreover, the security agencies were also on alert after four persons snatched an SUV from its driver at gunpoint near Madhopur in Punjab's Pathankot district a few days back. On Friday, Punjab police in Gurdaspur had even pasted posters of Zakir Musa, thechief of Jammu and Kashmir based Ansar Ghazwat-ul-Hind terror outfit with reported links to Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM). Army Chief Bipin Rawat had recently warned that attempts were being made to revive insurgency in Punjab and had even cautioned that peopleneeded to be careful especially during the festival season to prevent anti-national forces from succeeding in their nefarious designs. PTI SUN CHS JMS VSD TVSTVS Los Angeles, Nov 17 (PTI) Swedish DJ Avicii, who died early this year, was commemorated at a memorial service in Stockholm which was attended by his family and fans. The recording artiste, born as Tim Bergling, was found dead in his hotel room in Oman, Muscat on April 20. His death was later ruled as a suicide.In honour of his life and his musical legacy, Bergling's family invited hundreds of his fans to a memorial service at the Hedvig Eleonora Church in Stockholm, reported EOnline.Fans in huge numbers turned up at the church on Friday, with many trying to get inside for the service.The musician's father Klas Bergling delivered a "beautiful speech" at the congregation about Avicii.The "Levels" hitmaker's photos were set on the altar and the church was decorated with flower.A source, who attended the service, told EOnline that members of the choir sang several renditions of Avicii's hit songs. PTI RB SHD New Delhi, Nov 17 (PTI) AIIMS-Bhopal has sent blood samples of people found positive for Zika virus in Madhya Pradesh to National Institute of Virology (NIV), Pune, to ascertain whether the virus strain is the same as the one that infected patients in Jaipur, an ICMR official said Saturday.If the strain is found to be the same as the one detected in Jaipur, it will be established that the virus was transported by someone who travelled from Jaipur to Madhya Pradesh, the official said.Also, an analysis of Zika virus strains collected from Jaipur, the centre of the latest outbreak of the disease in north India, has suggested they do not have the known mutations linked to foetal microcephaly, a serious birth defect in newborns delivered by infected mothers, according to the Health Ministry.The number of Zika cases has mounted to 127 in Madhya Pradesh, including the death of two people who had tested positive for the virus.The deceased an 18-year-old man and a 23-year-old woman were suffering from the infection and other "serious" diseases. Therefore, it cannot be said that they died due to Zika , officials had clarified.Of the 127 people, 40 are pregnant women, the official said.People have tested positive for Zika virus in seven districts of Madhya Pradesh. This includes 44 cases reported from Bhopal, 20 from Sehore, 29 from Vidisha, two each from Sagar and Hoshangabad, and one each from Narsinghpur and Raisen.A central team is reviewing the situation and assisting the Madhya Pradesh government to replicate measures and the action plan implemented in Jaipur and Ahmedabad to contain the disease, the ICMR official said.Jaipur has reported 159 cases of Zika infections while Ahmedabad has reported one case so far.In India, the first outbreak of the Zika virus was reported in Ahmedabad in January 2017 and the second in Tamil Nadu's Krishnagiri district in July that year. Both these outbreaks were successfully contained through intensive surveillance and vector management.During the latest outbreak of the virus in the country, the first case surfaced on September 22, when an 85-year-old woman tested positive for the virus in Jaipur. Since then, the number of Zika cases have risen to 153 in Rajasthan.In Madhya Pradesh, an intensive screening exercise is underway and vector control measures have been intensified. The government has issued an advisory to district administrations to take steps to check mosquito breeding.The state health department has advised pregnant women not to visit the affected areas.The Zika virus, transmitted through the aedes aegypti mosquito, causes fever, skin rashes, conjunctivitis, muscle and joint pain.It is harmful to pregnant women, as they can pass the infection to her foetus during pregnancy or around the time of birth leading to microcephaly, a condition in which a baby's head is significantly smaller than expected.The disease is under surveillance of the Union Health Ministry although it is no longer a Public Health Emergency of International Concern under the WHO notification since November 18, 2016. PTI PLB ABHABH Private companies must have public spirit when they help build financial infrastructure, and their activities must be guided and overseen by the government to ensure the stability and safety of the system and protect user privacy, former central bank governor Zhou Xiaochuan said Sunday. The remarks by the longest-serving governor of the Peoples Bank of China (PBOC), who retired in March after 15 years in the position, are seen by some as a signal of authorities growing wariness against the expansion of technology giants in the financial industry. Financial infrastructure, which includes arrangements for functions such as payment, credit scoring, and printing money, has high standards for stability and safety because its failure would have serious consequences for the public, Zhou said at the 9th Caixin Summit in Beijing. Therefore, while private companies should be given access to financial infrastructure development through avenues such as private-public partnerships with the government, their operations must be placed under official guidance and supervision, he said. Zhou still retains immense influence in the countrys financial world and his remarks are regarded by China watchers as reflecting the thinking of regulators. One of the key qualities private companies must possess in order to be granted access is public spirit, he said. The private sector must have public spirit if they participate in the building of financial infrastructure, Zhou said. That means it should be ready to serve the public and does not intend to take advantage of its role in the construction of financial infrastructure to make excessive gains for itself, he said, blasting the selling of user data by some companies for profit as showing a lack of public spirit. Martin Chorzempa, a research fellow at the Peterson Institute for International Economics, said what was really striking about Zhous speech was that it sounded a cautious note against making room for private technology companies to provide financial services. Its very much more focused on limiting the space that was previously very, very wide, he told Caixin after hearing Zhous remarks. In this case we are talking clearer requirements for being involved in building financial infrastructure and making it explicit that this is financial infrastructure that has a public responsibility, that it cant be a purely private endeavor. Zhou also expressed disapproval with the winner takes all style of expansion of big companies in the internet industry. Winner takes all goes against our original goal because we hope to encourage development amid competition so that the best technology can excel and be used by everyone, he said. Zhous comments came after Zhu Jun, head of the PBOCs international department, warned on Saturday that technology giants are endangering financial stability. Domestic companies including Alibaba and Tencent and foreign firms such as Amazon are rapidly expanding into the financial industry on the back of their huge user base and payment services. They have big advantages over traditional financial institutions in terms of information, technology and scale, but at the same time have created risks accordingly, she said at a forum. Due to the winner-take-all nature of the technology industry, the sector may become an oligopoly with the expansion (of the leading companies), which will hinder competition and cause effectiveness of the industry to decline, she said. The big firms are actually operating in multiple financial businesses, which increases the risk of their problems being spread across markets and sectors, she added. The development of large technology companies and fintech has contributed to innovation in the financial industry. But it has also exposed the sector to credit risks, systemic risks, new information safety risks and unprecedented regulation arbitrage risks. Therefore it is a threat to financial stability, she said. Follow our full Caixin Summit coverage at CX Live. Contact reporter Fran Wang (fangwang@caixin.com) * Chinese regulators since late October have rolled out a slew of policies to bolster private-sector confidence by increasing credit availability, reducing taxes and expanding market access * But credit support isnt enough as private enterprises need more-fundamental reforms and a fair market system, analysts and business executives said Since late October, Chinas top leaders have mounted an unprecedented rescue for the private sector. But banks have been slow to ramp up lending, and the governments efforts may not go far enough, according to some business executives and analysts who urge fundamental market reforms. Policymakers at the State Council, the central bank and other regulatory bodies have moved to restore confidence, mainly by easing access to financing. Local authorities have pledged to bail out cash-strapped private businesses in the face of a sharp decline in equity markets. Peoples expectations were very poor and many private businesses were on the verge of defaulting on debts, said Niu Li, an analyst at the State Information Center. This has serious implications for the Chinese economy as growth slowed in the third quarter to the lowest level in almost a decade. Chinas private companies account for half of tax revenue, 60% of gross domestic product and 80% of urban employment. Private enterprises have come under increasing pressure this year while state-backed businesses, mainly in industries supplying raw materials, enjoyed faster growth. Earnings of state-owned industrial enterprises rose 26.7% in the first eight months this year, more than double the 10% gain for private companies, official data show. The private sectors struggles reflect the cooling economy, the governments long-running liquidity-tightening campaign and the deepening trade war with the U.S. In addition, the stock-market rout has increased the pressure on many private companies that relied on loans backed by pledged shares. Tumbling equity values triggered a rush of margin calls. Rising raw-material costs benefit upstream state-owned enterprises (SOEs) that produce raw materials and components while squeezing downstream private companies that make finished goods, according to research by Zhongtai Securities. Meanwhile, private companies are more vulnerable to the national campaign to crack down on pollution and industrial overcapacity than their state rivals. Over the past three years, for example, the number of private companies in the mining industry declined by 42% while the number of SOEs fell 22%, Zhongtai found. President Xi Jinping, attending a symposium with entrepreneurs from 54 private companies on Nov. 1, pledged unswerving support for the private sector. Photo: VCG Rush to the rescue As those threats to private enterprises piled up, the government forcefully stepped in. At a Nov. 1 symposium with entrepreneurs, President Xi Jinping promised unswerving support for the private sector and outlined six ways of aiding private companies, including easing taxation and administration costs and helping private companies to obtain financing. In the following days, central bank Governor Yi Gang proposed a three-pronged policy portfolio to increase bank loans, debt and equity financing for private firms. Top banking regulator Guo Shuqing suggested goals that at least a third of big banks new corporate loans should go to private companies and that lending to the private sector should account for no less than half of banks new corporate loans in three years. The Supreme Court ordered the judicial system to strengthen protection of private property rights, safeguard legal rights of private entrepreneurs and create a fair legal environment. As of Nov. 15, eight provinces and 13 cities have proposed special funds totaling 110 billion yuan to bail out cash-strapped listed companies through equity investments and loans, although most of the funds are still raising money. The central securities regulator also relaxed restrictions on listed businesses refinancing deals to ease the cash crunch. The intensive policy moves ramped up quickly to address the problems of the private sector, said Gao Shanwen, chief economist of Essence Securities Co. More loans The main theme of the rescue campaign has been to improve credit availability to private companies, which have long been at a disadvantage compared with state-backed companies. Guo, chairman of the China Banking and Insurance Regulatory Commission (CBIRC), told media Nov. 9 that banks credit support for private enterprises doesnt match the private sectors share of the national economy. Although private companies account for more than 60% of the economy, they receive only 25% of bank lending. Guo said the figure should be doubled in the next three years. So far this year, the central bank has pumped more than 2.5 trillion yuan ($360 billion) of liquidity into the banking system through reserve requirement cuts and relending and rediscount programs aimed at increasing loans to small and private businesses. The bank also pledged to provide 10 billion yuan to support bond financing for private businesses, introduce risk mitigation tools, credit guarantees and other market measures to expand financing access for high-quality private companies. To encourage banks to lend to small and private borrowers, the central bank said it would adjust assessment criteria on commercial banks to give private sector loans more weight. But the recent credit push raised investor concerns about increased risks from a lending rush and a potential rise in bad loans. Bank stocks slumped across the board the day after Guos comments. Despite the rescue efforts of the central government and top regulators, most banks so far have taken a wait-and-see stance before cranking up private lending, Caixin learned. We will wait to see detailed regulations or requirements to make changes, one bank staffer said. Banks are wary partly because many of them are still struggling with bad assets accumulated during the credit boom after the global financial crisis, fueled by the governments 4 trillion yuan stimulus package. This later forced Chinese authorities to wage its sweeping, years-long deleveraging campaign. The policy risks are huge, one commercial bank manager said. The changes are sudden, and its difficult for us to judge the future. The hesitation in lending to small businesses also reflects Chinese banks longstanding reliance mainly on collateral for assessing loan risk, a bank executive said. Chinese banks lack the ability to manage borrowers capital flows and monitor their clients books, so lenders often assess borrowers based on asset size and government backing, the executive said. Bank staffs lack the incentive to make small loans to small borrowers, which often involve more work and higher risk, said Wang Jian, chief banking analyst at Guosen Securities. Some officials also voiced concerns. Wang Zhaoxing, vice chairman of the CBIRC, recently warned that financial institutions should not ease risk controls or lower credit standards in pursuit of lending to small businesses. The private company financing difficulties cant be fixed by a single strong therapy, said a person at a bank wealth management department. Campaign-style support will lead to greater risks. The most-needed cure In a market economy, massive tax cuts are more needed to support private businesses compared with bank credit, said Jiang Chao, chief macro analyst at Haitong Securities. Despite the governments repeated vows to reform the tax system and cut the cost burden for businesses, private companies tax payments have grown rapidly, outpacing those for state-backed companies. This partly reflects the uneven effects of a shift in recent years away from direct taxes on business to a value-added tax system, which was supposed to reduce the burden. At the same time, SOEs tend to have it easier in obtaining preferential tax policies from local authorities. According to Chen Yongjie, deputy director of Beijing Dacheng Enterprise Research Institute, tax revenue from private companies rose 35.6% from a year earlier during the January-September period, compared with 0.3% growth for SOEs. Meanwhile, profit growth of private businesses reached just 9.3% during that period, according to Chen. The big gap raises one question: Does China really cut tax burden? For whom? Chen said. At the Nov. 1 meeting with entrepreneurs, Xi promised to make substantial tax cuts to effectively alleviate the burden on business. In an article published last week, finance minister Liu Kun said this years tax cut policies will reduce overall taxes and fees by 1.3 trillion yuan and his ministry will follow up with more tax-cut measures. Amid the rescue campaign, regulators should carefully identify which companies are worth bailing out, analysts said. A better-functioning bankruptcy mechanism should be in place to allow troubled companies to exit the market, they said. Recent policy signals and support measures have relieved some of the unease of private businesses and steadied the equity market, but solving the private sectors troubles will require more fundamental changes, analysts said. What private companies need most is not capital but profitable business and investment opportunities, several private businessmen said. A crucial thing is a market with fair competition, said one private executive, calling for deepening market reforms, especially among state-owned enterprises. The ultimate goal is to form stable and long-term expectations among private businesses, a private equity manager said. It cant be achieved by (government) orders but only by rule-based market operation. Contact reporter Han Wei (weihan@caixin.com) Yu Hairong, Zhang Yuzhe, Liang Yinyan, Tan Yingzi contributed to the story. comment It is interesting that NAPLAN is in its entirety focused on teaching our youth how to cook fish and is unconcerned entirely with teaching our students how to use a fishing rod. That is to say that skills in literacy and numeracy need resources to be applied on, and with today's ICT where "fake news" and just plain information smog congest the web our students deserve to be taught "information literacy" (skills to define the information required and search the haystack to find the needle(s). The most highly literate and numerate individuals will still be uninformed if they can't find the information they need to process. Information literacy does feature in the Australian curriculum requiring that students be able to plan information searches, locate information and evaluate sources. Fortunately all schools in NSW and Queensland have a professional in information services supporting their classroom teachers with information literacy, that is to say, a teacher librarian. This is unfortunately not the case in the ACT. Fortunately, a lack of information literacy skills will have no effect whatsoever on NAPLAN results where the information is provided on a platter. Of course, not being information literate might be a hindrance to the future lives of students without the information skills involved. Keith Mullumby, Calwell I was once a humble humanities teacher. All those years ago when NAPLAN began, I thought it would face a mathematical problem. NAPLAN claimed to make comparisons of "progress" by students and schools over time, with the purpose of improving all students' and schools' performance. The inevitable result must be, I thought, that as everyone's performance improves, the higher scorers' rate of progress will appear to go down (as they reach their best possible performance) and the lower scorers' rate of progress will appear to go up (until they reach their best possible performance). At this point everybody's "progress" will be the same that is, on the average. So then the total system will have reached its peak performance. Is it pure fantasy on my part to think that ACT students and schools are actually OK after all? Frank McKone, Holt I understand the Education Minister's concerns about the national security and foreign policy aspects of Australian research that is funded by the government-backed Australian Research Council ("'National interest test' on grants", November 11, p4). Mr Tehan's concerns may be particularly warranted if the research involves collaboration with researchers who prove to have links with the Chinese military. However, it seems to me that Mr Tehan, despite having a degree in political science and master's degrees in international relations and in foreign affairs and trade, may not understand the long-term nature of many research projects. A research project may not in isolation appear to Mr Tehan to be in the national interest, but when combined with follow-up projects it may be significantly beneficial to the nation or to humanity as a whole. Dr Douglas Mackenzie, Deakin It is too easy to read Jenna Price's article, ("Our justice system needs and overhaul, for the sake of women out there everywhere", November 8, p20) shake my head at the ignorance and arrogance displayed, and move on. But in the spirit of the MeToo movement I feel compelled to respond. Unless she was in court to hear the arguments and the judge's reasons for granting bail to Glenn Hartland, she is simply joining other shock jocks who raise public fear and concern by making ill informed criticism of court decisions. Of course she is entitled to make informed criticism of what a judge says. But this time it was against a background of conflating aberrant thinking and behaviour by some males with all judges. Too often during my career I was appalled to read "reports" in the media of cases I had dealt with which bore little resemblance to what actually occurred, either because the reporter was present for only part of the proceedings, or relied on what others gleaned from them, or for whatever other reason. I am a woman who was appointed a NSW magistrate in 1975 I am white but I am not male and am I not of Anglo-Celtic background. I did not come from a privileged background and was educated in Canberra's wonderful public schools. Nevertheless I was generally treated with respect by the legal profession. I was not alone in not fitting the stereotype she writes about. These days many judges and magistrates come from diverse backgrounds and how they are accepted depends on their behaviour not on irrelevancies such as race or gender. It is sad to see that someone of Jenna's stature has demeaned herself by writing such an ill-informed piece in which she trumpets the fact that she does not know what she is talking about and criticises so arrogantly. Her assumptions about the background and values of judicial officers are breathtaking and offensive. I hope she lifts her game, and to use her words "reflects on the power" she wields as someone who has the privilege of having her views of the world regularly published. Sue Schreiner, Red Hill Canberra has a health system in crisis, an education system that is the most expensive in Australia and failing our young people. It has an unacceptable level of homelessness, and our once lovely bush capital is dirty and neglected. We had a great transport system until the Barr/Rattenbury and union-driven government decided to put in the light rail and reduce the number of bus services. The reduction in bus services has hit the most vulnerable in our community. The cost of the light rail has meant huge increases in our rates and other essentials and it is apparent that there has been no increase in funding for other important and essential services such as housing for our homeless. It was no surprise therefore to read that Megan Fitzharris stated ("Stealthy arrival of light rail tram means testing imminent", November 16, p2) the focus for the government for the next few months would be planning for the launch of the light rail on Northbourne Avenue. Then we have Bec Cody, who is very concerned that our street and suburb names may offend some people. Their priorities reflect their lack of an understanding of the social justice issues affecting the community they are supposed to represent. I fear that unless the Liberal party steps up and articulates its policies and starts to challenge the direction of the current government, we will continue to watch the destruction of Canberra and pay more and more through taxes imposed on us by a government that has no understanding of the real issues facing Canberra. Mary Robbie, Aranda Countries have differences of opinion all the time ("Trade route from embassy stance", November 15, p1). So, I find it deeply disappointing that Indonesia has threatened to delay signing a free trade agreement with us if we even consider moving our embassy to a part of Jerusalem that is sovereign Israeli territory and where Israel's Parliament and Supreme Court are located. It's even more galling given Scott Morrison's announcement in October explicitly said he "expected" east Jerusalem would be the capital of a future Palestinian state. But mostly, I am unhappy that a foreign country purports to dictate Australian foreign policy. Why does Indonesia think it has any right to determine Australia's policy towards a third nation? How would Jakarta like it if we told them we would refuse to sign trade deals with them until they ended their policy of refusing to recognise Israel? Athol Morris, Forde There's an easy way for Brexit to be relieved of the hard border problem ("Ministers quit May government as Brexit deal threatens to fall apart", November 16, p14). All the UK Parliament has to do is a UDS, a Unilateral Declaration of Separation (the reverse of the Northern Rhodesia UDI). The Brexiteers need to pass a Northern Ireland Act 2018 to repeal the Northern Ireland Act 1998; just one sentence: "It is hereby declared that Northern Ireland in its entirety no longer remains part of the United Kingdom". Problem solved the Irish Sea becomes the hard border. Kenneth Griffiths, O'Connor Vince Patulny (Letters, November 16) joins Bec Cody in advocating a name change for Haig Park because General Haig commanded the Allied forces while so many troops died in World War I. But why stop there? Should we also eradicate everything with the names Fisher and Curtin attached to them too? After all, prime minister Andrew Fisher took us into that dreadful World War I which killed 62,000 Australians and led to the rise of Hitler. Then prime minister John Curtin reigned while another 27,000 were killed in World War II. Should we not blame our commanding politicians for war casualties and not their subordinate generals? But if we must blame British generals should we also blame Australian generals? Do Generals Birdwood, Bridges, Chauvel, Monash and even Blamey get off scot free? Without hindsight, all leaders do their best in the circumstances with the tools they are given, even military generals like Haig, so please, leave his name on a little park in Canberra. Peter Murray, Red Hill Adrian Jackson (Letters, November 17) opposes Labor's plan to hold a plebiscite on the republic on the grounds that "most republics ... are hopeless basket cases". This misleading nonsense is usually trotted out by Australian monarchists as a scare tactic. The world's most economically powerful nations include democratic republics eg France, Germany, the US, Singapore, Switzerland, and South Korea, to name a few. Hardly basket cases. The potential basket case in that league is a monarchy, the post-Brexit UK, whose essentially ceremonial royal family is powerless to prevent the nation's continuing decline. Of course there are republics, and monarchies, that are dysfunctional, for reasons usually unrelated to the form of government. Neither form guarantees freedom and prosperity, but republics are at least egalitarian in theory. In our so-called egalitarian society no Australian can perform the highest role in our constitution, that of sovereign, who appoints the governor-general. That is still reserved for members of a non-resident foreign family. Ludicrous and insulting. Not even other monarchies would tolerate that. However, like Mr Jackson I have difficulty with Labor's simplistic knee-jerk plebiscite approach. What Australia needs first is a thorough review of its constitution to address as a whole, not only the republic, but Indigenous Australians, section 44, and probably a raft of other outdated provisions that are legacies of our colonial past, unsuited to a modern, inclusive, Asian-Pacific democracy. Jim Adamson, Flynn Anne Prendergast (Letters, November 16) thinks that the recent terror attack in Melbourne is indicative of security in Australia being too lax and the judiciary not being tough enough on crime. Perhaps she hasn't noticed the steady rise of the surveillance state both physical with the proliferation of facial recognition and number plate tracking technologies, and digital with the mandated tracking of our online lives or the ridiculous provisions under which we may be detained for extended periods without judicial oversight on mere suspicion alone. Not only may we not know why we've come to the government's attention or, like esteemed lawyer and humanist Bernard Collaery, what brief of evidence has been amassed against us, but once released we aren't permitted to tell anyone about our ordeal lest we "disappear" again. With political appointees rather than judges deciding how this power is exercised it's difficult to imagine it not being abused. Never mind that the Bourke Street miscreant was under no illusion the penalty for his intended actions would almost certainly be death. How many more freedoms would Ms Prendergast have us give up in the name of security, and why does she think this would dissuade a disturbed mind from acting on irrational impulses? James Allan, Narrabundah It appears the ACT government's preferred route for stage two of light rail via City Hill, Commonwealth Avenue, the Parliamentary Triangle and on to Kent Street, Deakin, will need to do so in pole/wire-less mode. This apparently exceeds the tram's electrical capacity and may require additional stops for charging. Good news week! Transport Canberra director-general Emma Thomas is quoted as saying "there's a slight sort of hill from my memory of that area". Are they planning this project from some vague recollection? I'm happy to drive or walk her over the proposed route. In true Yes Minister tradition, could I suggest all/any passengers be forced to alight before the hilly section. Strangely, Woden to Civic buses seem to zip up that "hill" and don't even need to stop or refuel. John Mungoven, Stirling EMBASSY WORRY One can only hope that if the PM takes it upon himself (as he has indicated he may) to move our embassy in Israel by Christmas in line with the US and a couple of other tinpot countries it can be stopped by an incoming government come the election by May next year. D.J. Fraser, Currumbin, Qld WHO'S BUSINESS IS IT? The PM appears to be back-pedalling on his decision to move the Australian embassy in Israel to Jerusalem. Of what business is it of Indonesia, what is essentially something that concerns Australia and Israel only? Perhaps it's time to stop channelling bucket loads of aid to our northern neighbour. Owen Reid, Dunlop EMBASSY IN PERTH? The federal Coalition government has delivered a huge GST windfall to Western Australia ("Fair deal for WA as GST plan sails through federal parliament", canberratimes.com.au, November 14), but if the Coalition really wants to lock up WA in next year's election it should consider moving our Israel embassy to Perth. Gordon Soames, Curtin NUTS TO WATER ISSUE Barrie Smillie (Letters, November 16) misses an important point about water use by annual crops such as rice. They are not planted in years when there is insufficient water. On the other hand crops such as grapes, citrus, and nuts require water every year irrespective of availability. Steve Thomas, Yarralumla CAN'T COME SOON ENOUGH Coombs shopping centre will open "soon" says the developer. The sooner the better. It is often very difficult to find a parking spot in the car parks either side of Cooleman Court, where the people of the new suburb of Coombs are also obliged to do their shopping. What says Planning Minister Mick Gentleman? John Milne, Chapman TRANSPORT WOES I hope Wellington's mayor was tongue in cheek when he said on ABC radio he was looking forward to some Barr wisdom on public transport. Perhaps making vulnerable people walk further to transport or cutting popular services is not the best way to increase patronage. And ignoring all submissions to a farcical "consultation" is better left to Canberra alone. Maria Greene, Curtin PONY PROBLEM The ACT government is being far too heavy handed in asking Ms Kneen to remove her ponies from the Dickson Street agistment in Holder. I have been a resident in the area for almost 30 years and our family and other neighbourhood children get so much pleasure from having the ponies in our neighbourhood. I am also very suspicious about the motives for this forced removal. Ros Williams, Holder 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/34e5fde3-afab-486d-9a92-919f9695cba0/r0_1468_2766_3031_w1200_h678_fmax.jpg news, latest-news Good morning Canberra! Welcome to another working week. It should be a mostly sunny day with a top of 27 degrees today. Can't believe we're almost at the end of the year. News definitely hasn't slowed down yet though. Here's what you need to know in Canberra today: Concerns over the Barr government's proposed compulsory third party insurance scheme are mounting. It has been revealed injured drivers might have to pay an excess to challenge an insurer's assessment of injuries. Even insurance companies have labelled the changes unfair. ACT politics reporter Katie Burgess has more. A recent hearing heard a Canberra Hospital operating theatre was out of action for a number of weeks after mould was found in one of its air filters. It was just one of a number of maintenance issues plaguing the hospital this year. I've got more on that story here. Mean spirited or just sticking to the rules? Canberra Girls Grammar is locked in discussions with the government over parking fines given out to patrons of the school's fete last month. The parking fines were mainly given out to cars parked on Melbourne Avenue. Megan Doherty has the story. A Canberra company that provides disability and aged care services has collapsed, leaving at least one client in their home with no help. A paralysed Canberra woman says she was left without the usual visits from her in-home carer for days after the collapse. Vivere, a Fyshwick-based disability support and aged care provider, went into liquidation after abruptly closing its doors on October 26. Megan Doherty has more. It's been a big week for the Belco owl. We were shocked to find out a Serbian town had ripped off our iconic phallic statue. But a Canberra artist is doing what she can to send the message loud and clear: the Belco owl is ours. She's designed a fabric you can get printed on pretty much anything your heart desires. Stubby holder anyone? Bree Element has the details. /images/transform/v1/crop/frm/silverstone-ct-migration/f3368f99-2abd-4785-8a32-cf13de75c133/r0_100_2000_1230_w1200_h678_fmax.jpg news, latest-news Denman Prospect residents fear their homes could burn after a component of the solar power system installed across Australia's first mandated solar suburb caused a fire that significantly damaged a display home. An unoccupied Rawson Homes display home caught fire on Kondelea Way about 10.30am on October 13, with the solar isolator switch in the garage identified as the cause. ACT Fire and Rescue's fire investigation report said the blaze caused an estimated $600,000 worth of damage to the display home, which Rawson Homes general manager Craig Moore said would be demolished and rebuilt. The fire has sparked concern among residents who are worried there could be a repeat of the blaze in their own homes. But the ACT government has described the blaze as an isolated incident, and says it will not be investigating further. ActewAGL partnered with Denman Prospect developer Capital Estate Developments to supply solar to the first 350 houses in the new suburb, where each household must have a three-kilowatt solar power system as a minimum. Anita Chatfield and Lizzie Christiansen, who live on the same street as the display home, called for an independent review of systems across the suburb to ensure they were safe. Both women said components of the solar power systems in their garages have heated up to a point where they were worried a fire could break out. "It's like touching a kettle after it's finished boiling," Ms Chatfield said. "I leave the garage door open a bit to get some air in because I get quite concerned about [whether there could be a fire]. "It freaks me out a bit. It's scary." Ms Christiansen said she had experienced "lots of problems" with the system in her garage, across the road from Ms Chatfield's. Her isolator and inverter have been replaced because of issues including the solar power system failing to work, but she said the replacement components in her garage still heated up to a worrying level. Ms Christiansen said she was impressed with Capital Estate Developments' commitment to solar power, but not with the system it had supplied for Denman Prospect homes. "The bills are huge," she said. "It hasn't saved me any money at all. It's about the same, or worse." Ms Christiansen said the systems should be independently reviewed so residents knew what they were dealing with. "We don't know whether [the fire] was caused by the installation, the manufacturing or something else," she said. "I'm thinking, 'Well, could it happen here?" A Capital Estate Developments spokeswoman referred the Sunday Canberra Times' inquiries to ActewAGL. An ActewAGL spokeswoman said more than 2000 solar power systems purchased through the company were installed in homes across the ACT and surrounding parts of NSW. About 170 systems had been installed so far in Denman Prospect, she said, but it was unclear how many of those contained the same isolator switch as the display home because a different switch had been used since October 2017. The spokeswoman said while the Denman Prospect solar power systems were purchased through ActewAGL, they were installed by Clean Energy Council-certified contractors. "This is the first issue of its kind related to an ActewAGL-purchased solar system," she said. "We are taking this matter seriously and will continue to engage with the ACT electrical regulator to ensure peace of mind for the Denman Prospect community." The spokeswoman said an ACT government electrical inspector looked at the system in question on June 25 last year and found no defects. An ACT government spokeswoman said the Denman Prospect fire was an isolated incident and would not be investigated further. /images/transform/v1/crop/frm/silverstone-ct-migration/cbfd5161-8636-4f0d-a236-5577d789c73d/r0_212_3924_2429_w1200_h678_fmax.jpg news, latest-news Centre for Automotive Safety Research and Pedestrian Council of Australia are among groups pushing for the speed limit on Northbourne Avenue to be dropped when light rail becomes operational. The centre's director, Jeremy Woolley, wants it to be cut to 30km/h, while the council's chairman Harold Scruby labelled plans to leave it at 60km/h as a farce and utter disgrace. ACT government data shows Northbourne Avenue has the highest incidence of pedestrian collisions in the ACT. Of the 393 collisions since 2012, 40 pedestrians were hit along the 60 kilometre per hour road, or more than one in 10. So far this year three pedestrians have been hit along the stretch of road. But the ACT government has ruled out reducing the speed limit when light rail becomes operational. Centre for Automotive Safety Research director Jeremy Woolley said it was not appropriate for the speed limit to remain at 60 kilometres per hour. "Where youre going to have a lot of pedestrian activity, in an ideal world youd get it down to 30, thats probably politically unpalatable," Associate Professor Woolley said. "But any reduction from 60 would be desirable and Id suggest 40 would be an initial starting point." The threshold for pedestrian collisions is 30km/hr, which if exceeded rates of survival begin to decline, Associate Professor Woolley said. He said other traffic management was also necessary such as raised platforms or crossing points which would force vehicles to slow down and fencing to force pedestrians to cross in specific areas. He said the traffic lights along Northbourne Avenue could be optimised to work more efficiently at a lower speed limit. "A lot of the arguments against lower speed limits are actually a furphy, theres ways to optimise and accommodate it, and of course you create a safer environment for everyone," he said. "I think there needs to be an acknowledgement were expecting legitimate road use by pedestrians along this corridor and you have to respond accordingly. Dont just follow a motor vehicle paradigm because thats the way youve always done things." Pedestrian Council of Australia chairman Harold Scruby labelled the plan to leave the speed limit unchanged a farce. "I would see this as an utter disgrace," Mr Scruby said. "It will lead to an increase in serious pedestrian trauma. "A lot of people will cross mid-block and then walk up the median. You cant assume everyone is going to cross at the pedestrian crossing." A draft environmental impact statement provided to the government by engineering firm Parsons Brinckerhof in 2015 found that an increase in the number of pedestrians hit by motor vehicles and trams was possible. "When the project is operational, there is the possibility of new injury risks as a result of the introduction of an unfamiliar transport system," the report read. "Unlike Sydney and Melbourne, Canberra does not have a history of light rail and so many Canberra residents will be unaware of the risks involved in using or being near light rail." The report made a number of recommendations to increase pedestrian safety including retaining signalised pedestrian crossings at all stops on medians, signage, tactile warning markers, fencing barriers and a series of awareness campaigns detailing changes and new intersection layouts. There was no recommendation in relation to speed limits. It labelled the residual risk rating as very high originally which was revised to medium should recommendations be followed. A Transport Canberra spokeswoman would not answer whether a speed limit reduction had been considered but confirmed it would remain at 60 kilometres per hour on Northbourne Avenue. "The environmental impact statement reflects the obvious," the spokeswoman said. "If there are no people, there is no risk of collisions. If there are more people, there is a heightened risk of collisions. "Our job is to identify risks and to appropriately mitigate them." She said the light rail design included designated pedestrian paths, signalised crossings to each tram stop and improved lighting to improve pedestrian safety. She confirmed the speed limit along the Federal Highway, until just north of Flemington Road, would be lowered from 80 kilometres per hour to 70. The government has also rolled out a safety education campaign for light rail in preparation for the commencement of services. A Transport for NSW spokesman said the light rail system currently underway in Newcastle would see trams and vehicles along the route restricted to 40 kilometres per hour and six additional pedestrian crossings had been built. He said the Sydney CBD light rail route under construction had yet to have speed zoning completed. A spokesman for Queensland Translink, which operates the Gold Coast light rail, said existing road rules were not changed upon the introduction of light rail in 2014. Trams on the Gold Coast network travel at speeds consistent with the surrounding road. More information about light rail safety can be found at the Capital Metro website. /images/transform/v1/crop/frm/silverstone-ct-migration/16e1e685-865f-416f-86a5-d87ce3df385b/r2_0_1021_576_w1200_h678_fmax.jpg news, crime A teenage boy has admitted to smashing 138 building and vehicle windows during a vandalism spree across Canberra's inner south in July. The 17-year-old pleaded guilty in the ACT Children's Court to four charges of intentional damaging property. His alleged co-offender, also aged 17, has not yet entered a plea to the allegations. Police allege the 17-year-old boys caused more than $100,000 of damage during a rampage through schools in Deakin, Red Hill and Yarralumla, and at a Manuka cafe on the morning of July 9. The court on Monday heard the damage included 123 windows at Canberra Grammar School, 13 windows and two flood lights owned by Canberra Girls Grammar School, and two windows at Urban Pantry. Police said they searched properties in Griffith and Ainslie after receiving public tip offs. Following the searches, the two teenagers were summonsed to appear in court, charged with joint commission of damaging property. The boy will reappear in court in January for sentence. The second will next appear in court in December. /images/transform/v1/crop/frm/silverstone-ct-migration/89bcd928-b91b-434c-8587-ee4270029456/r0_62_1557_942_w1200_h678_fmax.jpg news, latest-news A housing development 16 years in the making, soured by a bitter feud before being stalled for years by bureaucracy, will finally go ahead. Residential blocks in the significantly downscaled South Jerrabomberra estate, on land known as Tralee, are set to hit the market. Village Building Company has development approval for the first stage of more than 600 homes, with a total of about 1200 planned. The plans include 318 individual housing lots and 312 townhouse lots. In the first release, 75 single residential lots will be sold. Twenty blocks will be on sale to the public for between $300,000 and $400,000, ranging in size up to about 700sqm. A further 30 blocks will be sold to stakeholders of Village Building Company. Its the second time blocks have been offered for sale. In 2016 Village Building Company had in-principle support for the community on the border of ACT and NSW, however stakeholder negotiations broke down and buyers were offered a refund. The 146 people who purchased blocks and were subsequently refunded had first option and 25 chose to buy in again to the development. South Jerrabomberra is situated on NSW land on the border with ACT, next to Hume industrial estate. The entrance road will be off Tompsitt Drive, Jerrabomberra, past a newly announced regional sporting facility. Eventually, the estate will have about 4000 people living in it, a cafe is planned for a restored old woolshed, and residents will have easy access to the nearby reserve for outdoor activities like bushwalking. It was the vision of Village Building Companys founder Bob Winnel almost two decades ago to build 7500 homes on the site. But the Canberra Airport pushed back, saying the location of the homes would stymie the airports growth. What ensued was one of the most bitter business feuds between two high profile Canberra businessmen, the airport's managing director Stephen Byron and Village Building Company's Bob Winnel. But a truce was reached in 2013. Village would build its houses at South Jerrabomberra and to safeguard the airport against noise complaints by future residents a clause would be included in the sale contracts. Homes would also require noise abatement measures such as double glazed windows. Village Building Company chief executive Travis Doherty, who took over from Bob Winnel two years ago, said South Jerrabomberra has been the companys greatest challenge. The company turns 30 this year, and the saga has been going for more than half that time. Its one of those ones you could write a book about, Mr Doherty said. One of the unique things is were on the border. If you look at the number of stakeholders involved - NSW department of planning, department of transport, department of education, the Queanbeyan-Palerang Regional Council - thats an inordinate amount of stakeholders just on the NSW side. And then youve got the ACT and the various departments within that government. In its very nature its bloody difficult to get everyone on the same page. Then theres the surrounding land holders, and of course, the airport. But we've moved on from that [feud with the airport]. We see each other around town, we say hi, we have lunch, we all move on. It is what it is. The bulldozers rolled onto the site two years in what the company thought was a turning point for the development. But when work stalled, Mr Doherty said they had to recalibrate. It was really disappointing over two years ago to have in-principle agreement from various authorities and then that decision to change, but sometimes it's a blessing in disguise because I think what were actually going to create is fantastic. We dont shy away from that false start, hindsight is the smartest person in the world, but we are very much ready to go now. On site work will start again in February, with the first homes to be built in 2020. /images/transform/v1/crop/frm/silverstone-ct-migration/b325fe34-74d5-45ca-9d66-19993500c7fe/r0_309_6000_3699_w1200_h678_fmax.jpg news, latest-news NIMSKs? KOOOOs? NIMFs? The inevitable over-reactions of those Canberrans who think it is a catastrophe to have an occasional drone pass over their morgue-quiet neighbourhoods calls for an endearing new acronym to identify these folk. These catastrophists are probably still a kind of NIMBY, but a distinct sub-species (now anxious about their local air spaces rather than their backyards) deserving of their own acronym. NIMSKs (Not In My Skies) or KOOOOs (Keep Out Of Our Ozones) would do. But Im most attracted to NIMFs (Not In My Firmament). As well as rolling easily off the tongue it has amusing suggestions of suburban nymphs, mythical spirits, usually beautiful and playful maidens who love the company of shepherds. Lots of you will know and in school choirs will have trilled Henry Purcells merry ditty Nymphs and Shepherds. It begins: Nymphs and shepherds come away, In this grove lets sport and play. So NIMFs would in a sense even have their own song. And adapted a little, and replacing the shepherds with a contemporary Canberra cohort, the song could begin: NIMFs and NIMBYs whinge away, Lets trumpet our harebrained dismay. Lets deplore imagined crimes With letters to The Canberra Times. Alas, some unkind people, scoffing at the burgher NIMFs for their whinges, may stoop to calling the NIMFs NIMFomaniacs and their irrational ideas NIMFomania. It will be a shame if that happens. One imagines that Donald Trump, a narcissus with a contrived tangerine complexion and an absurd hairstyle must spend a lot of time in front of mirrors. What must they think of him, these mirrors? The Readers: Whats that, Ian? Mirrors that think? The Columnist: All will be explained in a moment, ye intrigued millions. But first I explain that for two reasons mirrors are much on your columnists fanciful mind. One reason is that in one of my University of the Third Age (U3A) jamborees we have just discussed a thought-spawning poem about mirrors by the unhappy Sylvia Plath (1932-1963). The poem is Mirror and its tragic author (she committed suicide at 30) is very much in the bookish news right now because of the publication of a new volume of her tormented letters. Lots of you will remember the 2003 movie Sylvia starring Gwyneth Paltrow as Sylvia and craggy Daniel Craig as her brooding and testosteroney husband the poet Ted Hughes. Then, as well as this Sylvia connection with mirrors, my relationship with my homes mirrors has been suffering unusual stresses in recent weeks. The thought-triggering poem is Sylvias Mirror in which a mirror, alive and articulate, tells us something about its personality and work and thoughts. I am not cruel, only truthful, it reports. And yet it admits that sometimes its commitment to truthfulness does cruel things. Sometimes, the mirror tells us, it is a lake in which a woman getting older and uglier sees her reflection every day: In me she has drowned a young girl, and in me an old woman/Rises toward her day after day, like a terrible fish. Meanwhile in my own home I have been trying to avoid my mirrors during my course of a famous and common anti-cancer skin treatment. Let me explain. Grown up now I realise, too late, that Australia is no place for a white man. But naively in the mid 1960s as a teenage English post-pubescent I fell for an Australian Liberal governments bribing of me to bring my desirably Nordic/Scottish complexion and genes (just what White Australia needed) to sun-scorched Australia. Outdoorsy decades later my Australia-inappropriate skin is complaining. Like so many palefaces of my age and race I have a dermatologist prescribing me a well-known cancer-defying ointment. Famously this potion (let us call it Zombiedix, not quite its real name) when applied to the face, temporarily disfigures the face with scarlet blotches. Coinciding as the worst of the Zombiedix treatments ravages did with Halloween I went trick or treating. Everyone marvelled (after their initial recoil of horror) at the ghastly realism of my Zombie mask. No wonder then, that for the few largely indoor weeks of my disfigurement I tried especially hard to elude and outwit my homes mirrors. But of course one doesnt need to be on a course of Zombiedix to be very wary of mirrors. It is enough to be of a certain age (like ugly Trump I am 72) and so to be unhappy about being increasingly gnarled and gargoyley. To shave, looking in the mirror, is to be met every morning by an uglier and uglier fish. Those of us who, ageing, flinch away from our mirrors, should feel a deepening respect for Rembrandt who continued to paint unflinching self-portraits in old age, unflinchingly portraying his nose as the ugly potato it had become. If Trump, 72, painted self-portraits he would by now be painting fake likenesses in which he looks eerily like the young Robert Redford or like the young and blue-eyed and amusingly Anglo-Saxon Jesus one sees in those images of Our Redeemer popular with Roman Catholics. Does Trump, 72, see every day in his gold-framed mirror a more terrible fish rising to meet him? Or does his mirror, more servile than Plaths and of course serving the president of the United States, the Leader of the Free World, tell him flattering lies about what it sees? /images/transform/v1/crop/frm/silverstone-ct-migration/76b6a933-8eea-4923-ba6d-1f38d91c66fb/r0_111_2000_1241_w1200_h678_fmax.jpg As you can tell, this blog is totally screwed. Im really sorry about this but its totally out of my control. Until it gets fixed, Im blogging over at my... FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: In Atlanta, Soyia Ellison, soyia.ellison@cartercenter.org () ATLANTA Carter Center Chief Executive Officer Ambassador (ret.) Mary Ann Peters will visit Sudan Nov. 18 and 19 to explore ways The Carter Center can contribute to durable peace and advance efforts to control or eliminate neglected tropical diseases, particularly river blindness and trachoma. Peters will meet with the Centers field staff, members of government, and the international community. Although this is my first trip to Sudan as CEO, The Carter Center has been working with the people of Sudan to support peace and health since 1986, Peters said. I look forward to meeting with project leaders to learn more about our work in Sudan and discuss possible future endeavors focused on synergies between our peace and health activities. The Carter Center is committed to help secure a better future for all Sudanese. Translations ### "Waging Peace. Fighting Disease. Building Hope." A not-for-profit, nongovernmental organization, The Carter Center has helped to improve life for people in over 80 countries by resolving conflicts; advancing democracy, human rights, and economic opportunity; preventing diseases; and improving mental health care. The Carter Center was founded in 1982 by former U.S. President Jimmy Carter and former First Lady Rosalynn Carter, in partnership with Emory University, to advance peace and health worldwide. Photo: The Canadian Press General Joseph F. Dunford, Jr., a United States Marine Corps general and the 19th Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, speaks at the Halifax International Security Forum in Halifax on Friday, Nov. 16, 2018. The highest-ranking military officer in the United States is insisting U.S. troops will not come into contact with the thousands of migrants from Central America heading toward the U.S.-Mexico border. U.S. Gen. Joseph Dunford, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, made the comment Saturday at a defence and security conference being held in Halifax. Dunford, a key adviser to U.S. President Donald Trump, said the troops recently dispatched by the president to deal with a caravan of asylum-seekers have been ordered to help police and border patrol agents. "The tasks that we are providing are in support of the Department of Homeland Security," he told delegates to the Halifax International Security Forum. "Nothing that we are doing is illegal. We looked at that very carefully." U.S. military troops are prohibited from carrying out law enforcement duties. Earlier this week, the caravan started arriving in northern Mexico. Dunford said his troops are providing engineering expertise to reinforce points of entry, and they are offering logistical and medical support, using helicopters to get the job done. He said the main role of U.S. troops will be "filling capability gaps ... with military capabilities." "We are not coming in contact with the migrants," he said. "Our job is not to deny access of migrants to the United States." The U.S. military is already using cranes to install panels of metal bars at the Tijuana entry point, which is on Mexico's border with California. However, most of the troops are in Texas hundreds of kilometres away. The caravan has been travelling north for the past month, sparking debate across the United States about who should be granted entry. "It's too much security to confront humble people who just want to work," Ulloa, a 23-year-old electrician from Honduras, told the Associated Press. On Friday, people walking through the border crossings into Mexico passed by a pair of Marines installing razor wire above a turnstile. Nearby, Army Sgt. Eric Zeigler stood guard with another military police officer. The 24-year-old soldier from Pittsburgh spent nine months in Afghanistan. "It's very different over there, obviously," Zeigler said. "It's a lot more dangerous." In Halifax, hundreds of defence and security experts from around the world have gathered this weekend to discuss everything from espionage and terrorism to Russian meddling and North Korea's threat to world order. High-level discussions were being held at two separate conferences in the port city: the Halifax International Security Forum and the NATO Parliamentary Assembly. The forum, which is marking its tenth anniversary in Halifax, has attracted 300 delegates, including diplomats, scholars, U.S. senators, business leaders, military members and security analysts. Meanwhile, the NATO Parliamentary Assembly has attracted 600 politicians from the 29 NATO member countries, as well as delegates from partner countries. The NATO conference will draft resolutions dealing with several hot-button topics, including Russian interference with democratic elections, and how terrorists use encrypted messages on the dark web. 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... Iran's President Rouhani Introduces 4 New Ministers Ahead of Hard-Hitting U.S. Sanctions 10/22/18 Source: Radio Farda President Hassan Rouhani nominated the new ministers of economy, industry, roads and labor in a letter to the Iranian Parliament on October 21. Rouhani named Farhad Dejpasand for the post of economy minister and Mohammad Shariatmadari for the position of labor minister, Mohammad Eslami for the Road Ministry and Reza Rahmani for the Idustry Ministry. The changes in Rouhani's cabinet take place only two weeks before Iran faces the toughest economic sanctions that target its oil exports and international banking operations. Rouhani had refused to reshuffle his cabinet for more than a year, while his critics, as well as many members of the parliament, kept calling on him to change his economic team in the cabinet in a bid to solve the country's economic crisis. The parliament dismissed the economy and labor ministers last month, and Rouhani accepted the resignation of the ministers of industry and roads on October 20 after they wrote several letters offering to step down. While three of the new nominees are low-key officials known to the press if not to the public, the new nominee for the Labor Ministry, Mohammad Shariatmadari, has been Rouhani's industry minister until October 20 and his performance was widely criticized by the parliament, the press, and the public. In fact, Shariatmadari is likely to have resigned his post as industry minister because over 70 MPs have called for his impeachment. He refused to report to the parliament on October 9 to respond to MPs' questions about his problematic performance. Shariatmadari needs to be vetted by the parliament for his new post. Although he won the highest number of votes of confidence in 2017 as industry minister, there is no guarantee that this would happen again as there have been several reports about major corruption cases linked to his ministry in the summer of 2018. Farhad Dejpasand, the nominee for the post of minister of economy and finance, is an assistant professor at Tehran's Shahid Beheshti University. He is currently working as head of the research center at the plan and budget organization. He has also served as a deputy to the chairman of Iran's planning and budget organization. Dejpasand has served as caretaker economy minister after the former minister's impeachment last month. The nominee for the post of roads minister, Mohammad Eslami, studied civil engineering in the United States and has worked on several projects for military and civilian organizations in Iran as well as being a board member of companies affiliated with the office of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. His performance has been praised repeatedly by Khamenei, and his top commanders, ISNA reported. Rahmani, the nominee for the post of industry minister, has already served for a month as the caretaker minister. According to IRNA, he is a former deputy industry minister and has served as the chairman of the board of directors of the Iranian Copper Industries. Rahmani has been a member of the parliament for 12 years and chaired the Industry and Mining Committee. The change in the cabinet, while covering four of the key economic ministries, could be too late to save Iran's failing economy, as the country is facing its worst economic recession and is facing major foreign policy and economic problems. On November 4, the United States is to re-introduce hard-hitting sanctions on Iran's oil exports and international banking operations. The new ministers of economy (and finance) and industry (and mining and trade), the officials to make key decisions on how to confront the impact of sanctions would have to spend a lot of time to restructure the ministries and review policies before they could take any effective practical measure. That is if they win the parliament's vote of confidence. Our company is looking for a high-quality Pini Kay briquettes supplier, able to deliver the product to Hungary on DAP terms. Briquettes needed on a pallet, packed into thermoresistant paper. Considering all offers with price. After eight grueling years in the spotlight as the First Lady of the United States, Michelle Obama has been enjoying her new found freedom. The Harvard Law graduate has been keeping a pretty low-profile since she and her husband, former President Barack Obama, left the White House in January 2017. Now, the Princeton alum and mother-of-two is ready to step back in the public eye. Mrs. Obama has just released her astounding new memoir, Becoming. The best-seller chronicles her life from her childhood years on the South Side of Chicago as Michelle LaVaughn Robinson through the White House years and into the present day. Since leaving the White House, Mrs. Obama has been living her best life. She and her family embarked on a whirlwind vacation, shes been seen at Beyonce concerts with her daughters Malia and Sasha, and shes currently on a thrilling tour promoting Becoming. But what does Michelle Obama love most about being out of the White House? Time for self-care With an exhausting schedule and being constantly under the scrutiny of the public, there was little time for self-care and reflection when Mrs. Obama was the first lady. Now, she has time for herself, especially since her daughters have left her with an empty nest. In Becoming she explained, Here I am, in this new place, with a lot I want to say. She revealed, that though Malia is in college at Harvard University and Sasha is headed out of the door in less than a year, she doesnt feel sad or devastated that theyre doing things on their own. She explained to People, I also have the resources that if I really get sad, Ill go see them. Unlike my parents, who dropped me off at college and just had a phone call, I text with my kids. I can text [Malia] right this second and know exactly what shes thinking. I dont feel like shes away, I feel like shes off on her next adventure, so Im excited about her. I dont need my children to make me happy. I had them so that theyd happy, Focusing on her marriage Though the Obamas have always put their magical romance on display and its been clear since the early days of their first campaign that they love one another, the presidency took its toll on their relationship. They recently took a trip to Palm Springs and Mrs. Obama explained it was the first time in a long time it was just the two of us. The former first lady has also been open about the fact that her marriage isnt perfect, and that she and her husband have had counseling when they needed it. She told Good Morning America, I know too many young couples who struggle and think that somehow theres something wrong with them. And I want them to know that Michelle and Barack Obama, who have a phenomenal marriage and who love each other, we work on our marriage. And we get help with our marriage when we need it. The one thing shes enjoyed most. Sharing your spouse with the world is certainly tricky. With the White House in their rearview, and their girls gone off to college, Michelle and Barack Obama are relearning each other. She explained, We are finding each other again. We have dinners alone and chunks of time where its just us what we were when we started this thing: no kids, no publicity, no nothing. Just us and our dreams. 'Baptism of Godlessness tearing up America': Megachurch Pastor Carter Conlon in 'It's Time to Pray' Email Print Img No-img Menu Whatsapp Google Reddit Digg Stumbleupon Linkedin Comment Megachurch Pastor Carter Conlon of Times Square Church in New York City is warning that a "baptism of godlessness" is tearing apart America. With drug use, violence and hopelessness increasing in the nation as Jesus Christ is driven out of the public space, he told The Christian Post in a phone interview on Tuesday that prayer to God is the only thing that can save the nation. Conlon, who pastors the interdenominational Times Square Church in New York, which sees over 10,000 people in attendance of over 100 different nationalities, is a best-selling author and preacher that has led hundreds of thousands to the Gospel message around the world. His latest book, It's Time To Pray: God's Power Changes Everything, released last week, describes the many different areas that people need to pray to God for, and serves in part as an autobiography of his spiritual journey. He told CP that the book is being released now because America has reached a dangerous level of divisiveness that only prayer can solve. "The founding fathers of this nation believed in God. Much of the Constitution and the laws of the country were based on a Judeo-Christian worldview," he said. He argued that while America has often faced divisive times, today "we are seeing an absolute baptism of godlessness." "It's terrifying because it's tearing apart the very fabric of our society. Our only hope to not end up in a division that can't be healed, is a returning to and an understanding that we are, and were, a nation under God. That's our hope," he added. He said that such a godlessness is "happening in all of our institutions, it's happening in our schools, it's happening in our government, our homes. There seems to be a concentrated effort in the last generation in particular to drive the knowledge of Christ out of the public market place, out of our grade schools, high schools, colleges, the conscience of the public." "It's a distressing moment, because we are seeing the end result: opium addiction in our major cities, it's getting into a critical level. A break down of law and order; an incivility in our political arena; and we're seeing the country divided on racial lines, sociological viewpoints," he continued. "It's getting to a point where it's turning violent. This is where a nation that knew God, but rejected Him, tends to always go. This is the moment we are now in, and it is a fearful moment for the nation if we don't turn back to God." Conlon explained that he wrote It's Time To Pray because he wanted people to understand how God works. "It starts with the early beginnings of coming to Christ when I was 24, the mistakes I made, from the vantage point of having almost nothing to offer the kingdom of God, to heading into Africa and preaching to half a million people, and seeing thousands come to Christ," he highlighted some of the key developments in his life that are described in the book. "It has been an incredible journey, and I am hoping that as people read it, every person, no matter where they are in life, will close each chapter and think: 'God, if you can do that for that man, if you're still doing those things in our day, then I'm going to begin to pray and ask you [to come] into my life.'" It's Time To Pray offers advice for how people can pray for some of the most important things in this world, such as for salvation. Conlon said that he came to Christ by reading the Bible and understanding that Jesus "died in my place so that I can be forgiven." He said that he understood other important things as well, however. "To come to Christ means a new lifestyle, it means turning away from an old way of living, old practices which the Bible calls sin, and turning to the way of God," the author noted, adding that it also means giving God the rights to one's entire life and future. Conlon warned that his concern is that people in America "are coming to what they think is salvation, but there's no repentance. There's no understanding that an old way of living has to be put away, there's no real yearning for the way and the will of God, there's no real understanding of taking up one's personal cross and following Christ." He argued that too many people are only concerned about their own happiness and pursuit of joy, and are not really living for the benefit of others. "Which is of course the essence of the Christian life, it is living for the sake of other people," he pointed out. The Times Square Church leader positioned that in the last 30 years or so, a theological shift in American churches has focused on following the right to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness, echoing the Declaration of Independence. He said that while that persuit may be a good thing for a nation, the problem is when it gets mixed into the theology of a professing church, turning the concept of coming to Christ into "about my life, my liberty, and the pursuit of my happiness." Such a focus often replaces things such as sacrifice, suffering for others, going to the missions field, and obedience to God, he warned. "We have ended up with an extremely weak Christian testimony in a very militant nation that is moving in a direction away from God," Conlon said. Obedience to God includes loving one's neighbor, even when people have been hurt and it is hard to do so, he pointed out. The pastor explained that Christians, as ambassadors of the Kingdom of Forgiveness, need to be able to forgive. "Jesus Himself said, 'If you think you love God but hate your brother, you are a liar. The truth is not in you.' If that doesn't shake an unforgiving person to the core, I'm not sure what would," he said. Unforgiveness leaves many Christians in a place of torment, lacking peace, he observed. "If we won't forgive, what kind of ambassador are we?" he asked. As It's Time To Pray declares, prayer can also achieve impossible dreams and feats. For Conlon, that impossible dream when he was a young man at 24 with no public speaking ability and no ministry training, was to lead thousands into following Christ. He remembers praying, "God, I want to win over 100,000 people before I die," and not just people who raise their hands for a question, but those who genuinely want to serve God in their lives. "It seemed an impossible prayer, yet I felt God whispering it to my heart, and I agreed with Him, and I asked Him to do for me what I could never do for myself." That prayer was to be fulfilled in Africa, when Conlon was speaking to a crowd of half a million people caught up in civil war. The pastor remembers telling those present at the massive service: "If you have no intention of forgiving your brother, if you have no intention of stopping the killing, if you have no intention of living a virtuous Christian life, and turning from what is wrong don't deceive yourself, don't disgrace the name of God by raising your hand." He continued back then: "But if you want to be a follower of Jesus Christ, if you want your sins forgiven, know that you have eternal life in Heaven when you die, and live the life that God has for you while you're here on Earth I'm asking you to raise your hand to receive Christ as your savior." Conlon said that while it was difficult to get a precise number, organizers at the event counted at least 100,000 hands that went up, asking to receive Christ in their lives, and asking for peace. Speaking of It's Time To Pray, Conlon insisted that the project "is not just a book" to him. "It is deeper than that, I wouldn't bother with just writing a book I am 65, and I don't need this anymore. I don't even take royalties from it. Everything that comes in from the book goes into a missions fund. This is about people praying again," he said. "I believe we are living in the last days. There is a promise in Scripture about an end times harvest. For that to happen, God's people are going to need to pray again. This is the cry of my heart, this is what I am standing for and believing in now." Going back to the main problems facing the country, he said that society has become "bankrupt." "We are seeing a confusion in children, a deep anger, which is why we have such problems with violence in our schools now," he said, in reference to the many school shootings and other large-scale shootings that have plagued the country. Conlon said that Americans remain "bitterly divided." "We are in trouble socially, politically, spiritually, economically. There is almost no more trouble that you can bring into the nation. Our homes are being fractured, our children are being captivated," he warned, admitting that things could still get worse. "I think God would hope, as I do, that we will have the sense to pray. If we don't, He will allow into this country what needs to happen, so that we will pray for a higher good, and that people will turn back to Him again." Down syndrome children apply to be on international 'endangered species' list Email Print Img No-img Menu Whatsapp Google Reddit Digg Stumbleupon Linkedin Comment Individuals with Down syndrome are applying to be on the international endangered species list in light of their communities particular vulnerabilities and declining population. A video called "Endangered Syndrome" from the Canadian Down Syndrome Society, which was released on YouTube earlier this month and features several young men, women, and children explaining why they are applying to be the first group for human beings to be on the list along with vulnerable animals. The children, who appear dressed up in costumes of animals who are endangered, say in the video that jobs for individuals with Down syndrome are scarce and that their community is shrinking. "We have to fight for education," they explain. "We need support like all these animals do. They make the world a more beautiful place. And so do we," the children continue, directing viewers to sign their petition at EndangeredSyndrome.com. In light of the shrinking global population of persons with the condition in countries where abortion is legal many of them are aborted as advanced medical testing allows early detection the group states that their goals are to ensure their right to work and be self-sufficient, live independently with more housing facilities and decreased wait times, and provide more support and services to bolster more inclusion in their communities. CDS also seeks to remove barriers in education to guarantee better support for students with Down syndrome and raise awareness, challenging stigmas and misperceptions. "The visual of children with Down syndrome dressed up as endangered species is an inconvenient image of abortion, probably because the parallel rings so true," Daily Signal journalist Kelsey Harkness noted Thursday. "If we can so easily sympathize with endangered species, shouldn't we be able to empathize with endangered humans, too?" More than 65 percent of people with Down syndrome are out of the workforce, according to the group's website, and animal welfare organizations have 90 percent more resources and funding than Down syndrome groups in North America. In their application letter to the International Union for Conservation of Nature Global Species Programme, CDS argues people with the condition should be included on the "red list," that is, it meets the criteria to be considered endangered, because of significant population declines in several countries. In Iceland, for example, almost all pregnancies where a Down syndrome test is performed via amniocentesis or through other methods and found positive, end in abortion. Only one to three babies with the condition have been born in the subarctic island nation each year from 2004-2013, the CDS letter notes. Absolute Down syndrome births the number babies born with the condition have fallen so significantly across North America, Europe, and Asia, people with Down syndrome should thus be classified as "critically endangered," they maintain. Down syndrome is caused by a genetic abnormality where a full or partial extra copy of chromosome 21 appears on the of the 23 pairs of chromosomes present in the nucleus where genetic material is stored of every cell. Approximately 6,000 babies with Down syndrome are born in the United States every year, the National Down Syndrome Society notes on its website. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, around one in every 700 babies in the United States is born with Down syndrome, making it the most common chromosomal condition. Indiana Missionary Murdered in Front of Wife, Son in Cameroon Email Print Img No-img Menu Whatsapp Google Reddit Digg Stumbleupon Linkedin Comment American missionary Charles Wesco, a father of eight, was murdered in front of his wife and son in Cameroon on Tuesday. Wesco and his family, who hail from Indiana, arrived in the African nation earlier this month to serve as missionaries sent by the Believers Baptist Church in Warsaw, a trip they had been planning for two years. Dave Halyaman, assistant pastor at Believers Baptist Church, told The Washington Post that the Wescos had been staying in a suburb of Bamenda, a town in Cameroon's northwest English-speaking region that has been marred by conflict over the last couple of years. According to Halyaman, Wesco and his wife, Stephanie, and one of their sons were traveling with another missionary to go shopping when bullets were fired at the car. Wesco was hit at least twice and rushed to a nearby medical facility and was then sent to a Bamenda hospital. Halyaman said that doctors' attempts to resuscitate Wesco were unsuccessful. Wesco died at the age of 43. The pastor said that it was not immediately clear who was responsible for shooting at the vehicle. Becca Sinclair, a friend and fellow missionary, took to Facebook to explain the events. She noted that her husband, Ben, was the fellow missionary driving in the car with the Wescos when Charles Wesco was shot in the head. "My husband already prayed for his killer," Sinclair told WNDU. "Charles would want us to do that, he would." Wesco is also the brother of Republican Indiana State Rep. Tim Wesco. Wesco's death was confirmed by Republican Indiana Gov. Eric Holcomb. "Janet and I are thinking of Rep. Tim Wesco and his family as they grieve the death of his brother, Charles," Holcomb said in a statement. "We ask that all Hoosiers join us in offering prayers and condolences to the Wesco family." Cameroonian Defense Minister Joseph Beti Assomo placed blame for the crime on four "terrorists" in a statement on Wednesday. Assomo said the terrorists were heading to attack the Bambili Gendarmerie Brigade and the University of Bamenda when they ambushed the car about 9 miles from Bamenda. Assomo also said that authorities tracked the group responsible for Wesco's death and engaged them in a gunfight that killed four militants. According to AFP, Assomo's comments came as Anglophone separatist supporters have contended that the Cameroonian military was behind the attack. The conflict in Cameroon's English-speaking regions come as separatists say that the central government largely controlled by French speakers is marginalizing the Anglophone community. As violence has escalated in the last 18 months, it was reported earlier this year by a Christian leader that as many as 2,000 people have been killed and 170 villages have been burned in Cameroon Anglophone regions. Hundreds of thousands have fled the region because of the violence. Amnesty International reported earlier this year that security forces have not only burned down villages but have "indiscriminately killed, arrested and tortured dozens of people during military operations." U.S. Rep. Karen Bass, D-Calif., introduced a resolution into the House of Representatives calling for the U.S. government to support efforts by religious leaders to mediate between the government and separatist forces. Scott Morgan, an African security analyst and religious freedom consultant who works with Red Eagle Enterprises, told The Christian Post, that there is "no mechanism currently in the language to address the assault against the English Speaking Christian community." "This has to be resolved," Morgan stressed. "Two priests, a seminary student and now the killing of the missionary. Mediators need protection and a means to act as an honest broker not a victim of the conflict. This has good intentions but has this flaw." Rebecca Wesco, Charles' mother, told WNDU that she's confident that her son is in Heaven. "[W]e don't have any shadow of a doubt," Rebecca Wesco said. "He had sins, but he had asked God to forgive him, and he really truly wanted to love God more than his very life." Charles and Stephanie Wesco were married in 2004, according to the family's website. The website explains that Wesco had been on several mission trips to Africa before getting married. In 2014, the couple began to feel called to minister to the continent of Africa. The couple eventually felt called to Cameroon and took a survey trip there in the spring of 2015, where the "Lord deepened our love and burden for the people of Cameroon." "God has called our family to much the same ministry into which Timothy of old was called: to evangelize, baptize, and teach faithful men, who then go forth to multiply and repeat the church-planting process," Wesco wrote on the family website. 'No one is beyond salvation, even in last breaths': 99-Y-O man in Communist country finds Christ Email Print Img No-img Menu Whatsapp Google Reddit Digg Stumbleupon Linkedin Comment A 99-year-old man living in a Communist country where some have no conceptions of the Gospel of any kind has said he wants to follow Jesus, a pastor and missionary revealed. Jordan Standridge, pastor of evangelism at Immanuel Bible Church in Springfield, Virginia, wrote in The Cripplegate website on Tuesday that he met the man in question during a mission trip to a communist country last week, which he didn't name. Standridge explained that the trip took him to a remote part of the country, where people were largely isolated from the outside world. "As I entered the first house and sat in the chair to begin, we were told by the father and daughter that they had never spoken to anyone about the Gospel before. The daughter was in her seventies and the father was 99," the pastor shared. "As we talked, it seemed as if the scales were falling from his eyes as the realization of his own sin, filled his eyes with tears. It was like talking to the thief on the cross. He simply asked God to forgive him of his sin and give him a new heart," he continued. "At the end of our time together, when I was writing some verses in his new Bible and writing down his name, the translator asked his daughter if she would read it to him, she said, 'He reads better than I do! He'll be reading to me!' It was quite obvious how brilliant he was because of the questions he asked throughout." Other challenges in speaking with people at the village were that many were lacking even the most fundamental understanding for grasping the Gospel. "As we began talking about the Gospel, I finally got to Jesus. As I explained to them that He was the only mediator for us between God and men, it was starting to dawn on me that they didn't have any clue about who Jesus was," Standridge recalled of speaking with other villages. "We asked them point blank if they had ever heard about a Jewish man named Jesus before. They hadn't. As we kept talking, it became clear that we needed to get back to the basics. By the end of the conversation, we realized they didn't even know what a Roman soldier or what a cross was. It was a surreal experience." Reflecting on the lessons that dawned on him through the missions trip, the pastor said that "you can give your life to Jesus even in your last breath." "It doesn't matter how old you are. It doesn't matter how many times you've shared the Gospel with your family member. As long as they have breath in their lungs they can still receive a new heart," he wrote. "Because the Gospel doesn't depend on the works of a person but is an instantaneous miracle of God upon the heart of a sinner, we know that anyone can be saved at any time." Standridge added: "As I went home to home preaching the Gospel, the thief on the cross kept coming up in my mind. It is so exhilarating to declare that the God of the Bible loves to save people for His own glory apart from works, and because of this, He can do so even in your last seconds on earth. It doesn't matter if you're 9 or 99. "No one is beyond salvation." He further stressed that no one is too sinful to be saved, and at the same time believers need to get out and preach the Gospel, for many remain without it. "We need to go and we need to give. So many haven't heard. Who's going to tell them? We must forget our comfort and security and reach out to people around us. This doesn't necessarily mean you have to move!" he urged. "There are probably neighbors near you who haven't really heard the Gospel explained to them before. I've found students on college campuses who have never heard the Gospel. We simply have to be faithful to preach to anyone who will listen." A more famous late-age conversion story made news around the world in September, when 85-year-old Bill Hayden, a former Governor-General of Australia and lifelong atheist, announced that he found God. Hayden was baptized in a Roman Catholic Church, coming to his decision after "witnessing so many selfless acts of compassion by Christians over his lifetime, and deep contemplation while recovering from a stroke." The politician shared that he had been experiencing "a gnawing pain in my heart and soul about what is the meaning of life." "What's my role in it?" he said of the questions that troubled him, and eventually led him to faith. 'Pure Genocide': Over 6,000 Nigerian Christians Slaughtered, Mostly Women and Children Email Print Img No-img Menu Whatsapp Google Reddit Digg Stumbleupon Linkedin Comment Clarification appended Church leaders in Nigeria have said that Christians are experiencing "pure genocide" as 6,000 people, mostly women and children, have been murdered by Fulani radicals since January. "What is happening in Plateau state and other select states in Nigeria is pure genocide and must be stopped immediately," said the Christian Association of Nigeria and church denominational heads in Plateau State in a press release last week. The church leaders said that "over 6,000 persons, mostly children, women and the aged have been maimed and killed in night raids by armed Fulani herdsmen," which is prompting their cry to the government of Nigeria "to stop this senseless and blood shedding in the land and avoid a state of complete anarchy where the people are forced to defend themselves." The press release also pleaded with the international community, as well as the United Nations, to intervene in the Fulani attacks, fearing they might spread to other countries as well. "We are particularly worried at the widespread insecurity in the country where wanton attacks and killings by armed Fulani herdsmen, bandits and terrorists have been taking place on a daily basis in our communities unchallenged despite huge investments in the security agencies," they added, saying President Muhammadu Buhari has failed to bring attackers to justice. They referenced several mass-scale attacks this year, including the slaughter of over 200 people, mostly Christians, at the end of June in raids carried out by the herdsmen on local area farmers near the city of Jos. Although some international news media has sought to characterize the killings as a land conflict between community groups, the church leaders, along with major persecution watchdog groups such as Open Doors USA and International Christian Concern, have all said that Christians are being deliberately targeted. "We reject the narrative that the attacks on Christian communities across the country as 'farmers/herdsmen clash.' The federal government has been so immersed in this false propaganda and deceit while forcefully pushing the policy idea of establishing cattle ranches/colonies on the ancestral farming lands of the attacked communities for the Fulani herdsmen as the only solution to the problem," the press release declared, accusing the government of also pushing such a narrative. "How can it be a clash when one group is persistently attacking, killing, maiming, destroying; and the other group is persistently being killed, maimed and their places of worship destroyed? How can it be a clash when the herdsmen are hunting farmers in their own villages/communities and farmers are running for their lives?" the church leaders asked. "How can it be a clash when the herdsmen are the predators and the inhabitant/indigenous farmers are the prey? Until we call a disease by its real name and causatives, it would be difficult to properly diagnose the disease for the right curative medications." There have been different reports on the number of Christians killed in Nigeria since the start of the year. The International Society for Civil Liberties and the Rule of Law, Intersociety, stated on Tuesday that a combined total of 1,750 Christians, along with non-Muslims, have been killed both by the Fulani herdsmen, and by Boko Haram radicals, who are a separate terror group. Intersociety also warned of a genocide in its statement. "Nigeria is drifting to [a path of] genocide through killing, maiming, burning and destruction of churches and other sacred places of worship, and forceful seizure and occupation of ancestral, worship, farming and dwelling lands of the indigenous Christians and other indigenous religionists in Northern Nigeria," it said. Roman Catholic Bishop William Avenya of Gboko separately told charity Aid to the Church in Need that the world cannot wait for a full-on genocide before deciding to intervene. "Please don't make the same mistake as was made with the genocide in Rwanda," he pleaded, referring to the massacre of Tutsi people in Rwanda, where close to 1 million were killed in 1994. "It happened beneath our noses, but no one stopped it. And we know well how that ended," Avenya said. Read more in-depth about the genocide: Searching for Truth Amid the Bloodshed Clarification: Sources say that due to inadequate government record keeping in Nigeria, the number of deaths reported in Nigerian massacres is only to be construed as an estimate. Because of this, different organizations put out varying estimates on how many were killed in 2018 as a result of the Fulani violence. While the Christian Association of Nigeria and Christian leaders reported that as many as 6,000 were killed in the first half of 2018 alone in raids by Fulani militants, the International Society for Civil Liberties & the Rule of Law estimates that no less than 2,400 were killed by Fulani herdsmen in 2018. Meanwhile, Human Rights Watch estimates that at least 1,600 were killed in the Middle Belt as a result of the conflict between Fulani militants and Christian farmers. Our company, located in Latvia, willing to sign a contract with sunflower husk pellets supplier with delivery (preferable - railway). Pellets needed in big bags. We consider all offers with price. This is Travis Scott's world Astroworld, that is and we're just raging in it. The Houston rapper's much-hyped Astroworld Festival took over NRG Park Saturday, bringing with it all the promised "chills and thrills." "Thank you God for this weather on festival day!!" Scott tweeted early Saturday afternoon. SICKO MODE: Travis Scott and Drake filmed music video in Houston Most of the festival details were kept under wraps until this week. The lineup, featuring headliners Scott, Post Malone and Lil Wayne, dropped Friday afternoon. Set times and festival layout were released Saturday morning. Astroworld is a beacon, then, for a city that's lost so many festivals Free Press Summer Fest, Day for Night, Westheimer Block Party and deserves its own marquee event. A giant, gold Scott head and classic Astroworld signage greeted fans at the entrance. The inflatable head first appeared in July at various points around the city, including Cactus Music and Minute Maid Park, to promote Scott's Astroworld album. Hundreds of people burst through the gates just after noon Saturday, where they were greeted by photographers and various acrobatic performers. It was just the first bit of Astroworld nostalgia. The expanse layout included a carousel, ferris wheel, mega drop and various carnival rides that required you to purchase tickets. Dozens of food trucks lined the perimeter. Merch stands boasted an impressive array of shirts and hoodies that played on the Astroworld theme. There was even a Screwed Up Records and Tapes pop-up shop. The "Astrodome" was a giant domed inflatable featuring arcade games, music and places to relax. Fans rapped along with Scott songs, and the line to get in quickly snaked across the pavement. Scott used the Astroworld hype to introduce new store S.P.A.C.E. on his Instagram. It debuted Saturday at a Rice Village pop-up featuring tour merch and shoes. A permanent location is promised next year. The Houston native's headlining set was a marvel of energy and pacing. He's one of the most electric live performers today and has a unique ability to harness the crowd's energy and blast it back at them. He encourages them to mosh and rush the stage and "rage" as hard as they can. Scott started with "Stargazing" on a stage featuring a mini roller coaster near the back of the massive crowd. It's the same setup he takes on tour. He rode the contraption, which loops upside down, and invited a few fans to take a spin. He raced through new songs from the "Astroworld" album and early tracks, often out of breath but never losing his footing. "I'm so proud of this city of Houston right now, man," he said. "We blow every city out the (mf'in) water." Lil Wayne repped the old guard amid so many fresh faces. But he held his own and could teach younger rappers about working a stage and a crowd. He frequently flashed a big smile and wore bright aqua leggings, a knee-length vinyl coat and a Balenciaga scarf and cap. He was joined by a drummer and a DJ, which gave his songs more depth and dynamics. It felt like a fully fleshed out performance. Post Malone, one of the biggest stars of the moment, gave the proceedings a pop edge with an arsenal of songs that everyone knew by heart. He has an unassuming, low-key presence, referring to the crowd as "ladies and gentlemen" after each song. The bulk of his material "Better Now," "Psycho," "Candy Paint" blends pop culture references, emotive lyrics and the roughshod edges of hip-hop. He dedicated mournful ballad "I Fall Apart" to "the stupid bitch that broke my heart." Judging by the reaction, lots of folks could relate. Rae Sremmurd was a blast of youthful energy, as much a party as a performance. Brothers Slim Jxmmi and Swae Lee powered through their own songs and danced to others played by a DJ. The Houston All Stars earned an expectedly rapturous reception, with the loudest cheers going to Paul Wall and Slim Thug. They were joined onstage by Johnny Dang, grill maker to the stars, who looked like he was having the time of his life. The lineup also included Bun B, Trae Tha Truth, Lil Flip, Lil Keke and Z-Ro; along with newer names Dice SoHo and Maxo Kream. It was a parade of Htown anthems that launched the crowd into the air. Scott himself couldn't resist. He appeared side stage, dancing and rapping along to every word during Z-Ro's closing set. Forever a Htown boy. Canadian rapper and model Tommy Genesis was the first act to take the stage Saturday, moving through a series of rhythmic tunes. She was the only woman on the bill. Acts were split between the Thrills and Chills stages. SoundCloud rappers Smokepurpp and Trippie Redd engaged hordes of fans with blustery, messy sets. Smokepurpp urged folks near that front to create "the world's biggest mosh pit" and incited several to jump the VIP barriers before they were stopped by security. Trippie Redd took the stage 20 minutes after his scheduled start time, which cut his set to just 10 minutes. He wore a Kurt Cobain T-shirt, heavy chains around his neck and restarted the first song after asking someone near the front to stop throwing bottles onstage. Virgil Abloh of Louis Vuitton and Off-White brands showed off his DJ skills with a series of booming hip-hop tunes. Metro Boomin, a DJ and producer whose album "Not All Heroes Wear Capes," debuted this week atop the Billboard 200 album chart, kept the party going with Migos and Scott hits. One of the armed robbers believed responsible for gunning down a northwest Houston convenience store clerk has been apprehended and charged with murder, officials said. Jose Bonilla-Ortiz, 18, was arrested Saturday morning at his apartment about two miles north of the Metro Food Mart where he is accused of killing an employee, Houston police Detective Jason Fay confirmed. Fay cited the help of tipsters for identifying the teen after surveillance footage showed two hoodie-wearing robbers responsible for killing Bangladeshi-immigrant Faruk Bhuiya. A second man seen on video during the Nov. 10 holdup in the 1600 block of Witte Road has not been caught. He was not identified. DIFFICULT TIMES: Armed robberies take a tragic toll on Houston families Bhuiyas grief-stricken widow gasped during a phone call Sunday night after learning that a teenager was arrested in her husbands death. She shared her sympathy to the mother of the teen being held on the murder charge. I feel bad for this boys mother. His life is ruined. Ruined for nothing, absolutely nothing, Phyllis Bhuiya told the Houston Chronicle. I wish I could hug that boys mother. She believes her husband would have wanted her to forgive his killer and she does. But Bhuiya wants the court of law to take its course should the suspect be convicted of killing the clerk. I want him punished for what he did. He didnt just take my husband. He took someones son, someones stepfather, she said. He wasnt just my husband. He was a lot of things to a lot of people. Bonilla-Ortiz, who has no prior criminal history in Harris County, is slated to appear in court Monday morning. He is being held on a $250,000 bond. Meanwhile, jail records show Immigration and Customs Enforcement placed a detainer on Bonilla-Ortiz because he is not believed to be a U.S. citizen. He was deported in 2016, according to prosecutors. It was not immediately clear where he is from. Officials at ICE did not respond to a request for comment. Bhuiya was the second store clerk to be gunned down during a robbery this month. Hafeez Qureshi, a father of five, was shot to death at Sonny's on Dairy Ashford the day before he planned on retiring. He was 66. Cardiff Middle School hosted a Nov. 8 program for seventh-graders and veteran friends or relatives of the students. Katy Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 9182 Commander Don Byrne spoke about the origin and history of Veterans Day and the need to keep young in touch with the past. Sr. Vice Commander Tony Hart addressed the need for organizations like the VFW and how they provide service to all veterans and their families. Certificates of Appreciation for Service in a combat zone were awarded to Capt. Jonathan Mears for his service in Afghanistan and Korea and Sgt. Brandon Kash for his service in Afghanistan. They were also awarded a free one-year membership to the VFW. The students were ecstatic to see two of their teachers recognized. Joining in the program were the Mayde Creek High School JROTC and the Cardiff mens and womens choirs. Grand Lakes residents turned out Saturday morning to protest a proposed cell tower being built adjacent to their neighborhood. Sporting protest signs, a small but vocal group let the construction company Vertical Bridge know how they feel about the proposed tower. Cell tower up; Property values down; 140ft tower = eyesore; Radiation is Dangerous; and T-Mobile keep our kids safe were among the messages presented by protestors. Vertical Bridge could not immediately be reached for comment. COMING SOON: Katy soon to identify Boardwalk District anchor hotel On its website, Vertical Bridge says it works with municipalities, carriers, and site acquisition resources across the country to build new towers in prime locations. We find the locations that resolve coverage gaps and capacity concerns and implement a fast and flexible solution for clients. Protest organizers claim that the cell tower will be built right next to the Grand Lake neighborhood and the public backlash is intense. Nearly 400 households have signed the petition letter against this cell tower and more signatures will be collected on the coming weekend. rkent@hcnonline.com After Hurricane Harvey left people in the Katy area with homes damaged by floodwater and in need of help, a flood of volunteers came forward to assist, including Tom Pretti Jr. Volunteers came from all walks of life. Hes spent a career in a suit and tie as a business consultant and was a graduate of the West Houston Leadership Institute Class of 2010. Pretti then served on the institutes board of directors. This was his first step into understanding the needs of a community and the communitys need to serve itself to thrive. Fast forward to September 2017 when he began serving as the local missions coordinator with Grace Fellowship United Methodist Church after Hurricane Harvey. Wearing blue jeans and T-shirt, he worked with other churches and volunteers in Bear Creek Village and in Canyon Gate, two of many hard-hit neighborhoods where he helped to coordinate restoration efforts. Grace Fellowship UMC funneled volunteers to neighborhoods through its Church in Action Rebuilding Lives." Now Pretti, who has lived in the Katy area with his family for 11 years, is chief executive officer/co-founder of Katy Responds, a charitable organization continuing efforts to help families whose lives were turned upside down by Hurricane Harvey. How and why did you help found Katy Responds? During my service organizing Harvey recovery efforts for Grace Fellowship UMC, I was part of a multi-church team asked to identify the best role that Katy churches and businesses could play in the community's Harvey recovery. It was determined that progress was being made, but much more remained to be completed more than 2,000 additional homes. (This is the hidden crisis, part of 100,000 homes where families are still displaced or living in unrestored conditions across Houston.) We thought about how to address the resources shortfall shortage of volunteers, shortage of monies and the need for churches to focus on their role of serving their whole congregations. We recognized that a central organization serving the Katy region to organize volunteers, pursue grants and identify all families still in need was necessary. I was then asked to lead this new strategy which became Katy Responds. During the last several years of my career in the business world (before Hurricane Harvey), I'd felt like I was being called in new directions. My heart has been broken over refugee situations around the world. When Hurricane Harvey came, I was in a unique position to engage immediately into rescue/relief efforts. God showed me families to serve and love right in front of me in need of assistance Harvey "refugees." Katy is a strong, proud area in which the pain of Harvey revived a sense of community between neighbors, co-workers, strangers and faith-family members helping one another. I believe that commitment to one another will help our whole community reach full physical, emotional and spiritual restoration. Your background includes serving on nonprofit boards and working in the construction business and business/tax consulting. How has that helped you as co-founder and CEO of Katy Responds? It's unbelievable how God equips you but leaves room for you to be stretched! My broad background has allowed me to be agile in jumping from building administrative structure, pursuing home restoration funding, meeting families in need, to construction site planning and safety. Leading any organization requires a great team of folks, and we have that in our business and church partners and amazing volunteers. What does Katy Responds do? Katy Responds is a disaster relief and planning organization responding for the glory of God. Our most urgent work is assisting qualifying families in returning home through restoration assistance. We also desire to construct an emergency response plan to organize efforts among Katy area churches and businesses in coordination with area offices of emergency management. Who belongs to Katy Responds? Our current network team-members include: Cane Island Storage, Cinco Ranch Church of Christ, Current...a Christian Church, Family Life Assembly of God, Grace Fellowship UMC, Holy Covenant UMC, Houston Responds, Jeff Davidson & Associates, Katy Bible Church, Kingsland Baptist Church, New Hope Presbyterian Church, Powerhouse Church, Red Cross of Fort Bend County, Redeemer Community Church, Rotary Club of Katy, St. Peter's UMC, The Church on the Rock (Iglesia Sobre la Roca Katy), The Church at Cane Island, The Hive Katy, The Fellowship Church, United Way of Waller/Fort Bend County. How is it funded? Katy Responds is funded through local, regional and national partners including individuals, local churches and community-minded businesses such as Rotary Club and American Red Cross. However, in order to pursue grant funding to benefit Katy for home restoration monies, administrative costs must be locally raised. We are so grateful for our current local partners and their support without which we could not have already begun bringing families home. How can the community help? There are four primary ways our Katy community can assist: 1) Check on your friends and neighbors impacted by Harvey and see how they are physically and emotionally if help is still needed, let us know. 2) Volunteer to assist in restoring Katy families' homes and lives. We have over 75+ ways to engage in serving. 3) Encourage your business / church / organization to become a Katy Responds network team-member to allow our work to grow and help more families get home. 4) Make a financial gift to Katy Responds in support of families healing after Hurricane Harvey. Please reach out to us on our website or message us at INFO@KATYRESPONDS.ORG What are your short- and long-term goals for the nonprofit? Katy Responds is immediately focused on healing our community from Hurricane Harvey by physically restoring families into their homes. To do that we need to grow our network team-members roster and bring in additional restoration grants. Longer-term, we desire Katy to be better prepared to help ourselves and our neighbors by planning and harnessing the time, talent and treasures to respond to local emergencies (flooding, fire, etc.). Helping others plays a large role in your life. What's next? God has placed me in a position to love and serve Katy where my family has lived for 11 years. I want to show my children how to love and serve well and be humble in using their talents for God. Is there anything else you'd like to add? August 25, 2017 and the days following Harvey were a traumatic time for our community. But I'm encouraged about our community when I think of Labor Day 2017 when all our friends and neighbors were out checking on and helping one another sharing love and life. Go say "Hello" to your neighbor, see how they are today. Don't forget what a great community we have. karen.zurawski@chron.com More than a dozen law enforcement officials from multiple Montgomery County law enforcement agencies were applauded with appreciation at a police rally in New Caney on Saturday afternoon. Among them stood Splendora ISD Police Chief Rex Evans. Earlier this month, while on a routine patrol, driving home from school, Evans was flagged down by a panicked family whose baby had stopped breathing. He performed CPR and just as the paramedics pulled up the baby began breathing again. Theres some pretty lonely nights we all go through, Evans said standing in the Bull Sallas Park Show Barn. We see some stuff that that folks just werent ever meant to see. So we come here and we see each other and a fellowship and see that there are people who genuinely care about us and have our backsit means a lot. The 2018 Montgomery County Police rally is an annual event hosted by Americans Stand United, a nonprofit organization. Founder and president Mary Jobe, whose husband has worked with the Montgomery County Sheriffs Office for 12 years, said she started the event in July 2016 in Magnolia following the shooting in Dallas that killed five police officers and injured nine others. Her original plan was to sell small decal stickers and shared any funds raised with the Magnolia Police Department. It turned into a police rally in Magnolia with 600 people who helped raised $9,000 that she said purchased active shooter bags, emergency medical kits and extra magazine rifles for 38 officers at the department. Now the event is held in different locations each year. It has raised a total of more than $15,000, including $2,500 that helped provide Texas Top Cop Shop gift cards for the Montgomery Police Department. The funds are raised through donations and auctions at the event and are distributed to the smallest agency in the location the event is held, however the events do not always raise money. While if people choose to donate the money to help the law enforcement officials with expenses that may not be covered by the agency, Jobe said the goal is to get the community to come out and to show appreciation. Its not about raising money, Jobe said. Its about getting to show support for law enforcement. The organization will also host an inaugural 2019 First Responders Softball Tournament for Montgomery County from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. on May 4 at the Carl Barton Jr. in Conroe Park. Ladies for Law Enforcement, a committee of Americans Stand United, hopes the event will serve as a positive outlet for the officers and their families. The organizations Kids for Cops youth program will also be organizing a commemorative youth softball game during lunch break that will consist of law enforcement and youth playing together. You guys dont understand how important this is for us to see this support, Patton Village Police Chief Shannon Sharp said after reading an emotional letter from an unknown author that entailed the experience of an officer, from pulling mangled bodies out of cars to giving economically disadvantaged children a chance to sit in a police car. 3 1 of 3 Jennifer Radcliffe Show More Show Less 2 of 3 Jennifer Radcliffe Show More Show Less 3 of 3 An 18-wheeler fire on Interstate 45 backed up traffic on Sunday, blocking multiple lanes of the freeway. It's not clear how the blaze started around 11:30 a.m., but heavy black smoke plumed out over the stopped traffic as police and firefighters rushed to the scene near West Mount Houston. The smells of doner kabobs and sounds of energetic Middle Eastern music floated through downtown Houston Saturday, as people swarmed to Jones Plaza for the 26th annual Houston Turkish Festival. Houston is home to 3 million people, but a very small percentage of these people ever have the opportunity to travel to the other end of the world and experience Turkish culture, said Ozlem Adra, president of the American Turkish Association of Houston. With this festival we bring Turkey to them. With everything from Turkish art, dancing and music; to a traditional grand bazaar filled with trinkets like Turkish coffee cups, jewelry and bags; to of course food like doners, falafel and Turkish flatbreads; Houstonians get to experience a piece of the rich and diverse culture without the expensive and long flight. Karen Couey, who was attending the festival for the second time Saturday, said Houstons diversity attracts her to a multitude of cultural festivals in the city especially when the weather is beautiful. I like international stuff, international food, the music and songs, said Karen Couey. Its fantastic, I like to support that. Couey was standing in front of the booth of Enes Baskan, where he was selling traditional Turkish calligraphy and glass art. It is very important in Turkish culture because back in the day, (some art) was forbidden, so the artists in the past expressed themslves with some other arts like calligraphy, said Baskan, who traveled from San Antonio for the festival. The importance is to bring that back to the art in the present time. Morad Jasmin, a ceramics teacher at the Harmony School of Fine Arts and Technology, also presented traditional Turkish art with his blue-themed ceramic plates, delicately painted with floral and geometric designs, and Arabic calligraphy. This art is very difficult, said Jasmin, who is originally from Erbil, Kurdistan and moved to the U.S. in 2005. Each plate takes three or four days. Jasmin demonstrated how he makes the plates freehand drawing intricate designs, painting the color on with a thin horsehair brush, then the glaze with a thicker one, before eventually putting the plates in an 1,800-degree oven for almost 30 hours. While most of the expected 13,000 to 14,000 attendees are not Turkish, the festival is a comforting connection to home for the Turks who do attend. For Elvin and Evren Keles, who moved to Houston from London last year, the festival has been a great opportunity to connect with the Turkish community in Houston estimated to be about 10,000 people. Plus, the food is very good, like we have at home, Elvin said. And were drinking our own beer! she added, holding up a bottle of Efes. The festival, which charges a $10 entrance fee, will open its doors again at 11 a.m. Sunday. Our company offers fuel pellets wood pellets A2 in big bags for export to Germany. Delivery on DAP terms (by truck) to DE- 03253. The price is 175 USD/ton. After more than five decades, the Tomball Holiday Parade is still going strong. The community turned out for the 53 annual holiday parade, which is hosted by the Greater Tomball Area Chamber of Commerce. Spectators lined the Main Street along the parade route and watched as floats rolled by on their way from Elm Street to Buvinghausen Street. Molly Haywood can tumble, rock climb and jump over a high bar while pole vaulting. At 13, Haywood, from Tomball, is one of nearly 200 children to compete on the obstacle course show American Ninja Warrior Junior, which aired on Saturday, Nov. 12. During her first race, Haywood beat her opponent Eliza Aitken, from De Pere, Wisconsin, who fell into the water. Haywood then went up against Ricardo Perez from Houston, but lost in the second heat. Still, she got to show off her efforts when her episode featuring her run aired on Universal Kids. I was really excited. I was super-duper happy to know I was one of the people picked, she upon learning that she, as well as her younger brother Ben, 10, were selected to compete. Haywood said she goes to the gym regularly to rock climb, tumble and pole vault. When shes not at the gym, she works out on the ninja course in her backyard, she said. Haywoods mother, Jill Haywood, said she was proud of her children being able to compete on the show. They worked so, so hard, she said. Haywood and her brother were two of the children chosen to appear on the show out of 9,000 applicants. mayra.cruz@chron.com Douglas V. Gibbs is a proud member of the American Authors Association Douglas V. Gibbs is a proud member of the Military Writers Society of America. Canada Post has said that mail and parcels will not be delivered or picked up in the impacted areas. While many businesses have adapted as best they can since the strikes began on October 22, Stairs said adjustments online sellers have made so far to avoid delivery disruptions are unsustainable. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has warned his government will take unspecified action to end the rotating strikes if there is no significant progress in the negotiations. "Black Friday and Cyber Monday are critical sales opportunities for Canadian small and micro retailers, particularly those that sell into the USA - the largest consumer market in the world", said Andrea Stairs, GM of eBay Canada. "Black Friday" and "Cyber Monday" are major days for shopping discounts, tied to American Thanksgiving. Canada Post's latest contract offers to its workers contain positives, but not enough to put an end to rotating walkouts, the head of the Canadian Union of Postal Workers said on Thursday. CUPW national president Mike Palecek won't say whether tentative deals can be reached before a Saturday deadline set by Canada Post. Pasajero agredio a azafato por obligarlo a salir del bano Al momento de bajar del avion , el pasajero tuvo que rendir declaraciones ante funcionarios de la Justicia federal y la aerolinea postergo la salida de su siguiente vuelo . Ministers Want Police Officer Who Shot Security Guard Jemel Roberson Fired Roberson had helped stop an active shooting at the south suburban bar that evening and had detained one of the suspects outside. Per standard policy, the officer is on paid administrative leave pending the outcome of the state police investigation. Emotivo comercial de Elton John esta haciendo llorar a todo el mundo El video publicitario costo 7 millones de libras , de los cuales Elton John cobro 5, que iran destinados a proyectos solidarios. Utilizaron cuatro actores entre 4 y 50 anos para darle vida a Elton en las diferentes etapas de su vida. 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. CUPW members staged pickets in Toronto on Tuesday for the third time in the past two weeks. The delivery service says major shutdowns at processing plants in Toronto and Vancouver has caused a backlog of almost 500 tractor-trailer loads of parcels that need to be sorted. The Crown corporation's main sorting plants in Vancouver, Toronto and Montreal normally process about one-million parcels daily. "We already have joint health and safety committees and management hasn't addressed these issues there, so why would this be any different?" said Palecek. The latest offer includes annual 2% wage increases, plus signing bonuses of up to $1,000 per employee. CUPW Prairie Region education and organization officer Todd Jarema said that while he hasn't 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. The two sides have been negotiating for nearly a full year, with little success despite the assistance of government-appointed mediators. About Me Scott Because prophetic scriptures are found throughout the bible, it is obvious that a comprehensive, systematic approach would be useful, if not necessary, for the understanding of prophecy. Past prophecies have been fulfilled in a literal manner, as confirmed by the dating of these writings and historical records of confirmation. These past prophecies also serve as a model of how to interpret future prophecies. A literal view of prophecy clearly indicates a certain sequence of events will occur within a single generation, concluding with the Tribulation and Second Advent and these events will be obvious. The prophetic signs appear to be present in this generation and we believe these signs are revealed in the news from around the world. View my complete profile A driver ran away and left behind their car after it was hit by a train early Sunday in Rice Military, according to authorities. The unidentified driver veered around the trip arm at a railroad crossing at TC Jester and Allen around 2:30 a.m., and was struck by a passing train. A stabbing suspect is on the run after killing a man Saturday night at a Houston bus stop, according to police. A day after the slaying, authorities put out a sketch of the wanted man, asking for the public's help in tracking him down. The Supreme Court last week turned down an appeal from a British woman sentenced to die for a Harris County murder-kidnapping, moving the case one step closer to a possible execution date. Linda Carty was sent to death row in 2001 after she was convicted of masterminding a plot to murder her 20-year-old neighbor and steal the woman's baby in order to save her own common-law marriage. In the years since the killing of Joana Rodriguez, Carty has consistently professed her innocence, insisting she was railroaded by prosecutors who failed to turn over evidence and coerced witnesses to win a conviction. Yet the nation's highest court has now turned down her most recent appeal without comment, refusing to review the argument that the combination of bad lawyering and "egregious prosecutorial misconduct" was enough to make a difference in the outcome of the case. READ MORE: Judge rejects appeal from British woman on Texas death row The now 60-year-old had lived in the Houston area for more than a decade at the time of the slaying, but was born on St. Kitts. At the time, the Caribbean island was a British protectorate, so Carty holds British citizenship - a fact that's brought her case celebrity attention, spawned a documentary film and landed her on the front pages of papers in the U.K. During her 2002 trial, prosecutors argued that the former schoolteacher and erstwhile DEA informant had directed three men to storm the victims' apartment, steal $1,000 and kidnap the mother and her 3-day-old child at gunpoint. Afterward, authorities found Rodriguez asphyxiated, bound and gagged, in the trunk of a car linked to Carty. Using witness statement, phone records and evidence from cars at the crime scene, Harris County prosecutors persuaded a jury to find her guilty and vote for a death sentence. For the past 16 years, the now-grandmother has been fighting her conviction. Carty's trial was handled by a famously overworked lawyer who never won a death penalty trial, and a federal appeals court decided some of his work on the case was "objectively unreasonable." But, the court said, it wouldn't have made a difference in the outcome - even though it was a "close case." READ MORE: Woman given death sentence in kidnap case Later, a Texas state court decided that prosecutors had failed to hand over potentially exculpatory evidence and neglected to reveal information that could have called into question some of the witnesses who testified against her. But, again, the court said it wouldn't have made a difference in the outcome and wasn't enough to overcome the evidence against her. Now in the latest Supreme Court appeal, Carty's current counsel - a team from Baker Botts led by Michael Goldberg - argued that those things combined would be enough to sway a jury to a different verdict. And, they said, courts have offered different opinions as to how and when the legal system should handle "cumulative error" claims alleging different types of Constitutional violations all at once. The National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers, a group of criminal justice experts including Democratic state Rep. Gene Wu, and the United Kingdom all filed briefs supporting Carty's appeal. Now, after the Supreme Court's rejection, Goldberg says he plans to file another appeal. UPDATE: Sunday, 3 p.m. The pilot killed when his vintage World War II fighter plane crashed in Fredericksburg Saturday has been identified as Cowden Ward Jr. of Burnet, according to a Facebook post. Pecos Bill P-51 Freedom Flyers posted Sunday afternoon that news of Ward's death, and the still unknown passenger he was flying, "has left all of his friends and family heartbroken." The organization, of which Ward was a member, offers free rides to veterans in Ward's "beloved P-51 Pecos Bill." The post noted that the passenger was a World War II veteran and former B-17 pilot. "We hope that everyone will remember his infectious smile, his passion for flying our nation's veterans, and above all remember him for the amazing pilot, friend and caring person he was," the statement read. ORIGINAL STORY CONTINUES: The crash of a vintage World War II fighter plane into a parking lot of a Fredericksburg apartment complex has killed two people, according to authorities. The National Transportation Safety Board is investigating the crash of the modified Mustang P-51D, according to officials. Texas Department of Public Transportation Sgt. Orlando Moreno confirmed the two deaths. The Mustang crashed into the parking lot about 3:15 p.m., according to an NTSB spokesman. The Federal Aviation Administration said in a release that the aircraft was destroyed in the crash and several cars were damaged. RELATED: NTSB releases report on the helicopter crash that killed young TX newlyweds In a tweet posted Saturday evening, the National Museum of the Pacific War, which is in Fredericksburg, said one of the two killed in the crash was a veteran. The museum initially reported both people killed were veterans. The crash occurs roughly two weeks after a helicopter crashed into a hill while taking a newlywed couple from a Uvalde wedding to their honeymoon, according to a preliminary NTSB report. The groom and bride, William Byler and Bailee Ackerman Byler, both 24, and the pilot, 76-year-old Gerald Lawrence, were killed. Staff Writer Chris Quinn contributed to this report. Lets not let egos get in the way of choosing how best to spend billions of dollars to protect Houston and the Gulf Coast from the kind of monster storms that will increasingly blow through this region. Protecting the city and nearby coastal region from the kind of devastation we saw 10 years ago during Hurricane Ike and last year during Hurricane Harvey is far too important to let a fight over the path forward leach away the projects necessary momentum before it ever has a chance. We raise this concern in the wake of the minor dustup between professors at Rice Universitys Center for Severe Storm Prediction, Education and Evacuation from Disasters and the Army Corps of Engineers, which has at last given its tentative blessing to the massive - and, lets face it, massively expensive - proposed Ike Dike. Its worth cheering that weve arrived at wide support for the coastal spine project, a system of floating gates intended to ward off storm surge. The concept was first proposed by Texas A&M oceanographer Bill Merrell, who says its been heavily studied and tested in other places, including The Netherlands. When was the last time officials from Houston, Harris County, the coastal region and the state of Texas have all been on the same page about spending anywhere from $23.1 billion to $31.8 billion in mostly federal dollars to help this region? How about never? The folks at Rices SSPEED Center say the Corps proposed alternatives leave out a much smaller, targeted solution more likely to win support in Congress. The SSPEED approach would cost less than a quarter of what the Ike Dike could cost, and would focus more pointedly at protecting key industrial and commercial sites along the coast. These are valid priorities, and if the Rice folks can present them in a way that helps improve the approach the Corps will ultimately sign off on, thats all for the better. But in suggesting that their approach is better because its more likely to get approved, or because it relies on different storm forecasts, they run the risk of sabotaging the plan that has managed to do something theirs has not: Unify public officials from nearly every corner of the region behind an ambitious and badly needed remedy. The Ike Dike, which is far from approved, has won tentative support not just from the Corps, but also from the state, the cities of Houston and Galveston, Harris County and most other local partners. Now is not the time to snipe at the effort. Not when it finally has cleared the first of what will likely be many tall hurdles thanks to the Corps decision to name it as the preferred option among several in the draft environmental impact statement required by federal law. As the Rice experts know, this is a draft environmental review. Now, the public will get to kick the tires of all the alternatives evaluated by the Corps, and ask questions about the Ike Dike and other proposals. The process is designed to improve the final proposal before Congress is asked for funding. How to be heard: The U.S. army corps of engineers is holding public hearings to discuss its coastal protection plans from 5:30 p.m. through 9 p.m. on the following dates. Nov. 27 in Port Lavaca Bauer Community Center Nov. 28 in Corpus Christi Harte Research Institute Nov. 29 in Port Isabel Port Isabel Event & Cultural Center Dec. 11 in Winnie Winnie Community Building Dec. 12. Galveston Galveston Island Convention Center Dec. 18 in Seabrook Bay Area Community Center In addition, public comments can be provided during the meetings above, or emailed by Jan. 9 to CoastalTexas@usace.army.mil . They can also be mailed to: USACE, Galveston District Attn: Mrs. Jennifer Morgan Environmental Compliance Branch Regional Planning and Environmental Center P.O. Box 1229 Galveston, TX 77553-1229 See More Collapse The public will get its first look at the alternatives Nov. 27 at a public hearing in Port Lavaca. Other hearings will follow throughout the region. The Rice team promises to use this period of public input to lobby the government to incorporate its proposal in the final plan. We hope everyone gets equally involved and weighs in on what will likely be the most important Houston-area public works project for many decades. But these ideas ought to be aimed at improving the current proposals without bogging them down in controversy. Critics and supporters of the Ike Dike should take care to help steer but not divert the ship that is finally on course to becoming reality. Guest columnist Victoria Jackson is a researcher for Policy Matters Ohio. Ohio is at a crossroads: We can continue on the shaky path of unmanageable student debt and soaring college costs, or we can change course and invest in people and communities through public higher education. State policymakers can create an equitable free-college program that helps moderate-income students pay for tuition and basic living expenses or continue to underfund higher education, placing it further out of reach for many Ohioans. Governor-elect Mike DeWine will decide what road we take. Despite having a world-class network of public universities and community colleges, Ohio does poorly on most higher education outcomes. Only 39 percent of Ohioans between 25 and 64 years old have an associates degree or higher, compared to nearly 42 percent nationally. Thats a far cry from the states goal of 65 percent by 2025. Victoria Jackson, researcher at Policy Matters Ohio Just over 40 percent of white Ohioans have a college degree. Still, thats better than black, Latino and Native American Ohioans, who have attainment rates of 27, 27 and 32 percent, respectively. Only Ohios Asian American population meets the states attainment goal, at 67 percent. Black and brown Ohioans have even more challenges, because they are more likely to be low-income and face other structural barriers to graduation. For example, these families normally have to spend a larger share of their income -- one-fourth or even one-third -- to afford tuition at public universities. Ohio ranks as the 45th least-affordable state for college, and Ohioans owe $57 billion in student debt -- one of the nations highest rates of student debt per capita. States used to invest more in public colleges. Federal Pell grants and state need-based aid covered a greater portion of college costs. Over the past decade, policymakers have underfunded public colleges and slashed need-based aid. Money, not academic preparedness, is the primary reason lower-income students are less likely to complete degrees. Students cite the high cost of college and working long hours to pay for tuition and basic expenses. Food insecurity on campus ranges from 36 to 42 percent -- much higher than Ohios overall rate of nearly 14 percent. When low-income students have what they need, they are more likely to attend four-year colleges, stay enrolled and graduate. Nineteen states have free college programs to help students pay tuition. While a step in the right direction, these programs often undermine equity. Higher-income students and recent high school graduates already on the college track are more likely to benefit. To meet Ohios attainment goal, more low-income, older adult and non-white students need to be able to earn degrees. DeWine said he wants to increase state funding to help lower-income Ohioans obtain college degrees. Policy Matters is eager to help him make that happen. We propose an equitable free-college Promise plan that does the following: Allots first-dollar grants for tuition and fees, meaning that the Promise Grant will pay for tuition and fees and the Pell Grant and OCOG can be used for books and living expenses Provides students attending community colleges and regional campuses with the same amount of OCOG as students at public universities Assists recent high school graduates, returning students and older adults Provides aid to moderate-income students at community colleges and public universities Makes full- and part-time students eligible Does not depend on GPA and ACT/SAT requirements Guarantees that this is a grant, never a loan Ohios investment in higher education should match the potential benefits to individuals, communities and the economy. Its time policymakers renew their commitment to Ohios moderate-income students. Have something to say about this topic? Use the comments to share your thoughts, and stay informed when readers reply to your comments by using Notification Settings (in blue) just below. Readers are invited to submit Opinion page essays on topics of regional or general interest. Send your 500-word essay for consideration to Ann Norman at anorman@cleveland.com. Essays must include a brief bio and headshot of the writer. Essays rebutting todays topics are also welcome. CLEVELAND HEIGHTS, Ohio -- Cleveland Heights police are searching for an infant that police say was abducted Saturday morning by her biological mother. Alexis Barnes, 26, is accused of abducting 6-month-old Emery Seals, police said. Barnes is African American, about 5-feet-7-inches, weighs 137 pounds and has black hair, brown eyes and a nose ring. She was last seen wearing a black robe. Emery was last seen wearing a white, orange and gray striped onesie with a matching hat and white furry coat, police said. Barnes lost custody of Emery in July 2018 due to Barnes' mental condition, which impacts her ability to appropriately care for the infant, police said. Custody was granted to the Cuyahoga County Division of Family Services, police said. UPDATE - Emery and her mother have been located in South Carolina. Emery is unharmed and mother is in custody. Thanks to... Posted by Cleveland Heights Police on Saturday, November 17, 2018 Barnes left on foot about 7 a.m. Saturday from an apartment on the 2600 block of Noble Road, police said. Police do not believe Barnes is taking her medication. Based on mental-health issues and the current weather conditions, police are concerned for Emerys safety and wellbeing. The Cleveland Heights Police Department believes that the abduction of Emery by her mother poses a threat of immediate danger or serious harm to the infant, police said. Anyone with information is asked to call police at 216-321-1234 or 911. Cleveland Heights police are searching for an infant that police say was abducted Saturday morning by her biological mother. To comment on this story, visit Saturdays crime and courts comment section. EAST CLEVELAND, Ohio -- A woman died Saturday morning behind a hotel in East Cleveland, police say. Police arrived about 11 a.m. to investigate a call about an unresponsive woman behind a hotel on the 15600 block of Euclid Avenue, police Commander Scott Gardner said. The woman suffered apparent blunt force trauma, Gardner said. She died at the scene. Anyone with information is asked to call Crime Stoppers of Cuyahoga County at 216-252-7463. To comment on this story, visit Saturdays crime and courts comment section. SHAKER HEIGHTS, Ohio -- Lance Mason, who was accused Saturday of fatally stabbing his estranged wife at his home, had served as a former prosecutor, state lawmaker and Common Pleas judge. But Masons fall from grace began four years earlier, in 2014, when he brutally beat his wife in front of his two young children. At the time of the attack on his wife, Aisha Fraser, Mason was a Cuyahoga County Common Pleas judge. In 2015, he pleaded guilty to the attack, during which he punched his wife 20 times and slammed her head against the dashboard of his car five times, breaking an orbital bone. Heres how Lance Mason went from being a respected public official, to felon, to City of Cleveland employee, to murder suspect: Mason was born on Aug. 26, 1967, according to court records. He told Crains Cleveland Business in 2001 that he graduated from Shaker Heights High School and received a bachelors degree in political science from the College of Wooster. He went on to receive a law degree from the University of Michigan Law School in 1992. 1992 - 1995 Masons first job out of law school was with the regulatory division of the U.S. Department of Agriculture. He handled cases such as the prosecution of meat producers who masked spoiled meat with chemicals, he told Crains Cleveland. 1996 - 1999 Mason then served as an assistant prosecutor in Cuyahoga County, according to his Ohio Statehouse page. He handled several felony cases, including capital murder, kidnapping, felonious assaults, rapes and robberies. During his time as assistant prosecutor, Stephanie Tubbs Jones was the county prosecutor. When Tubbs Jones succeeded retiring U.S. Rep. Louis Stokes in 1999, she tapped Mason to join her congressional staff. 1999 - 2002 As an aide to U.S. Rep. Tubbs Jones, Mason was in charge of the congresswomans district office, handling the day-to-day tasks of organizing meetings and community events. After a few years as a congressional district director, Mason was appointed to fill a vacancy in the Ohio House of Representatives. 2002 - 2008 At the end of his appointment, he won reelection from the 8th District in both 2002 and 2004. Mason, a Democrat, served as assistant minority whip during his final year. He was elected in 2006 to the Ohio Senate where he represented the 25th District. Mason also worked for about a decade as a private practice lawyer, according to his Ohio Statehouse page. Aug. 2008 - Aug. 2014 Gov. Ted Strickland announced in August 2008 that he was appointing Mason to fill a vacancy on the Cuyahoga County Court of Common Pleas, cleveland.com reported. He resigned from his Ohio Senate seat to take the job. Mason earned $76,173 per year as a state senator, and $121,350 as a judge, according to cleveland.com. Aug. 2, 2014 A woman exiting an RTA train about 12:10 p.m. called police after witnessing two people fighting inside an orange SUV driving down Van Aken Boulevard in Shaker Heights. The caller said the SUV slammed on the brakes in the middle of the road. The caller said she saw fists flying inside the car. Aisha Fraser Mason called 911 about 12:15 p.m. saying her husband attacked her in front of her two young children and threw her from their SUV. Im afraid hes going to hurt my daughters, she told the dispatchers. Fraser Mason called 911 and flagged down a passing driver who drove her to South Pointe Hospital in Warrensville Heights. Cleveland police arrested Mason about 12:45 p.m. and confiscated smoke grenades, semi-automatic rifles, a sword, a bulletproof vest and more than 2,500 rounds of ammunition from the couples home. A member of Masons family called Cleveland police to say she was afraid he was going to use weapons inside his home to commit suicide, the report said. Police arrived and Mason surrendered. Once inside a police car, he admitted to having weapons in his bedroom and the attic of his home. Mason was taken to Shaker Heights Municipal Jail. Aug. 4, 2014 Shaker Heights officials announced Mason had been arrested and Fraser Mason was hospitalized following an attack that took place in both private and public. Prosecutors charged Mason with assault, a second-degree felony. Charging documents indicated that Mason punched his wife 20 times and slammed her head against the dashboard of the car five times, breaking an orbital bone. She needed to get facial reconstructive surgery as a result of the incident. Their daughters, ages 6 and 4 at the time, were in the backseat. Fraser Mason filed for divorce. Their divorce is still not finalized, court records show. A Shaker Heights Municipal Court judge granted a protection order against Mason, barring him from being within 500 feet of his wife or children, cleveland.com reported. Aug. 13, 2015 More than a year after the incident, Mason pleaded guilty to attempted felonious assault and domestic violence, cleveland.com reported. A few weeks after, the Ohio Supreme Court suspended Mason from practicing law. He submitted his resignation as a judge on Sept. 15, 2015. Sept. 16, 2015 Mason was sentenced by retired Summit County Common Pleas Judge Patricia Cosgrove to two years in prison. He served nine months and was released in June 2016, cleveland.com reported. 2017 Suspended indefinitely from practicing law, Mason remained out of the public eye after being released from jail. He was ordered to pay a $150,000 judgment to Fraser Mason in a civil case for damages after the attack. His name reemerged in the fall of 2017 after he was hired by Mayor Frank Jacksons administration in late August as Clevelands director of minority business development. Mason was one of 13 candidates for the position. A city official said Mason was the most qualified applicant for the $45,000-a-year job. Jackson won re-election and Mason continued to work for the City of Cleveland. Nov. 17, 2018 Shaker Heights police responded about 9:30 a.m. to a home on the 17600 block of Chagrin Boulevard for a domestic dispute that cleveland.com sources said involved Mason and Fraser Mason. Mason had fatally stabbed Fraser Mason, sources told cleveland.com. Mason tried to flee the scene in a black Audi SUV, but struck a Shaker Heights police SUV, injuring both the officer and himself. Mason and the officer were each taken to the hospital Saturday. Mayor Frank Jackson terminated Masons employment Saturday evening based on felony charges stemming from the incident in Shaker Heights. I extend my deepest condolences to the family of Ms. Aisha Fraser, especially to her children, Jackson said in a statement. Fraser, 45, was remembered Saturday as a beloved Shaker Heights elementary school teacher. Aisha exemplified the best of Shaker Heights teachers; smart, amazingly caring of her students and her colleagues, active in her profession and in our association, the Shaker Heights Teachers' Association said Saturday. She is loved by many. Correction: The post is updated to reflect the stabbing happened at Masons Shaker Heights home, not Fraser Masons. Court records show that the address of the stabbing was Masons home. Shaker Heights police as of 12:30 p.m. Monday have not answered questions seeking clarification. AKRON, Ohio -- University of Akron police announced new charges filed in connection to the accidental discharge of a weapon on Nov. 10 in a university residence hall that hospitalized a man and put the campus on lock down. An investigation into the incident led police to believe a University of Akron student let two non-students into the Exchange Street Residence Hall through a back door, University of Akron police Chief James Weber said in a message to students. A 19-year-old Bedford man was brought to Akron General Cleveland Clinic Hospital about 1 a.m. on Nov. 10 with a gunshot wound to the abdomen, according to a statement from the university. The man is charged with improperly handling firearms in a motor vehicle, Weber said in his message to students. A 17-year-old boy, who is also from Bedford and is friends with the victim, was charged on Nov. 10 with unlawful discharge of a firearm. Weber also announced that two University of Akron students are charged with obstructing official business in connection to the investigation into the incident by the universitys police department. The two 18-year-old women lived in the residence and are accused of providing false information to police about having knowledge of a weapon in the residence hall, police said. All four people involved have been issued criminal trespass warnings which bar them from being anywhere on the University of Akron campus, Weber said. UA prohibits firearms in residence halls and requires resident students to have responsibility for the actions of any guests, the university said in a Nov. 10 statement. This incident underscores the importance of this policy. School officials lifted the Nov. 10 lock down after about 15 minutes. UAPD is working with Residence Life and Housing staff to provide additional staff training next week for Resident Assistants and Community Assistants (service desk workers) and additional signage will be posted very soon reinforcing residence hall police that prohibits visitor entry from back and side doors, Weber said. To comment on this story, visit Sundays crime and courts comment section. CLEVELAND, Ohio -- For the second time, a member of Congress from Ohio may challenge Rep. Nancy Pelosi for leadership of House Democrats. Rep. Marcia Fudge thinks she has a good chance to succeed where Rep. Tim Ryan failed two years ago. Fudge and Pelosi met for 45 minutes Friday after they both spent the previous days boasting of the support they had to become Speaker of the House. The two had a "very open and frank discussion," Fudge told reporters. "To (Pelosi's) credit, she wanted to know what my concerns were. What she asked me was, basically, how we could get to a point where I'm supportive," said Fudge. For Fudge, the biggest issue the two discussed "was the feeling in the caucus of people who are feeling left out and left behind. In interviews prior to the meeting, Fudge made it clear she believes Democratic House leadership lacks the diversity of its voters and that Pelosi has been given too much credit for the midterm wins. "When you look at the people who support this party the most, they are women and African Americans and especially African American women. 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 talk." Fudge told Cleveland.com reporter Sabrina Eaton. Fudge: "Undertone of racism" in Democratic caucus." In an interview with Matt Fuller of the HuffPost, Fudge said her "concern about the caucus is the same concern I have about the country. Just as there is this undertone of racism in the country, there's also that in our caucus." Fudge doesn't believe the House Democrats leadership represents the change Democrat voters want or reflects a party that is "becoming more young, more black, and more brown." If it weren't for black women in Alabama, Roy Moore would have been elected, Fudge told the HuffPost. She also noted that Georgia governor candidate Stacey Abrams lost white women by 76 percent. Fudge points out that Pelosi only has a 17% approval rating, which she attributes to the perception of Pelosi as being an elitist. "I think to some degree she is. She's a very wealthy person. She raises a lot of money from a lot of other wealthy people." Pelosi should be given credit for House losses too, if she's going to be given credit for House wins, Fudge said in her HuffPost interview. "Everybody wants to give her such big credit for winning back the House, and she should be here because she won. She didn't in it by herself. If we're going to give her credit for the wins, why is she not responsible for all the losses?" asked Fudge, referring to the House majority Democrats lost in 2010 and Republicans going on to gain large majorities in 2012,2014 and 2016. Trump endorses Pelosi. Fudge claims Pelosi doesn't have the 218 votes she needs to return as House Speaker. But Pelosi does have the backing of President Trump. "I would help Nancy Pelosi if she needs some votes. I like her can you believe it? I like Nancy Pelosi. She's tough and she's smart, but she deserves to be speaker, and now they're playing games with her, just like they'll be playing with me," said Trump Pelosi has been almost Trumpesque in the way she's boasted of her support and brushed off challengers. "I have overwhelming support in my caucus to be Speaker of the House. 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." "I say it to everybody, come on in, the water's warm." Fudge makes good points about Democratic House leadership not reflecting the impact African-American women had in the midterms. She's also right about Pelosi being given too much credit for the blue and pink waves. A good number of the incoming Democrat Representatives campaigned saying they would not vote for Pelosi as House Speaker. Democrats vote on their House Leadership slate on Nov 29th, Congress has a floor vote for House Speaker on January 3rd. Pelosi may not have the 213 votes now, but her opposition not only doesn't have the votes either, they haven't even coalesced around a single candidate to credibly challenge Pelosi. After meeting with Pelosi, Fudge said she would discuss running for House Speaker with her family during the Thanksgiving break, and announce her decision afterward. Fudge also talked about what a big, time consuming job being House Speaker is and noted the fundraising requirements. Fudge said she and the 78-year-old Pelosi had discussed a transitioning plan. If I were betting on the Fudge-Pelosi Turkey Bowl, my bet would be Fudge wins better representation for African Americans on the Democrat Leadership slate and on Committees, but that Pelosi will be the Turkey Leftover Speaker of the House. SHAKER HEIGHTS, Ohio The slain wife of former Cuyahoga County Common Pleas Judge Lance Mason was a beloved school teacher at Woodbury Elementary School, friends and colleagues said Saturday after her death. Aisha Fraser Mason, 44, worked for Shaker Heights Schools for 16 years and was most recently a sixth-grade teacher at Woodbury. She was a very sweet lady, said Kelli Glass, a former babysitter for the Masons' two daughters ages 11 and 8. She loved her job, she loved her kids. Her girls were her whole life. They are the nicest kids youd ever meet, Glass added. They are great kids. Adorable. Shaker Heights police reported that Fraser Mason was fatally stabbed Saturday morning by her estranged husband at his home. Mason, 51, a member of Cleveland Mayor Frank Jacksons administration, was arrested and taken to a hospital after he crashed into a police cruiser, sending an officer to the hospital, police said. Jackson fired Mason on Saturday after Masons arrest. The Shaker Heights Teachers Association said in a statement that the districts teachers are in deep mourning and that they will help with Fraser Masons children, her extended family, students and colleagues. Aisha exemplified the best of Shaker Heights Teachers; smart, amazingly caring of her students and her colleagues, active in her profession and in Our Association, the statement said. She is loved by many. Shaker Heights Superintendent Stephen Wilkins said in a statement that Fraser Mason was a devoted mother and a committed teacher. She touched so many of our childrens lives and will be deeply missed, Wilkins' statement said. Her loss is unexpected and the impact of this news on our entire school community is unimaginable and profound. The Masons' 11-year-old daughter, Audrey, has Down syndrome and had open-heart surgery when she was 8 months old in order to repair a hole in her heart. The couple opened Audreys Chocolate shop in 2012 to honor their daughter, help provide extra income for Audreys medical expenses and to eventually employ those with Down syndrome, according to Plain Dealer archives. A family member reached on Saturday said she did not want to comment. Another family friend, Cheryl Peavy, described Fraser Mason as someone with a magnetic personality who was funny and kind. You really had to meet her to know what she was like, Peavy said. She was as likable as it gets. The Shaker Heights Teachers Association set up a gofundme.com account with the proceeds going to the two daughters. Correction: The post is updated to reflect the stabbing happened at Masons Shaker Heights home, not Fraser Masons. Court records show that the address of the stabbing was Masons home. Shaker Heights police as of 12:30 p.m. Monday have not answered questions seeking clarification. WOODMERE, Ohio -- Police are asking for the public's help after they say a woman robbed a Woodmere store Thursday, and again on Friday. Woodmere police posted Thursday on Facebook about an armed robbery involving a woman who was driving an early 2000 model Hyundai Santa Fe or similar small SUV painted matte black with tinted windows. The same woman is believed to have returned Friday to the same business and committed another armed robbery "with an older style long gun," police said. She then left in an orange Dodge Challenger with no license plates, police said. Anyone with information is asked to contact the Woodmere Police Department via Chagrin Valley Dispatch at 440-247-7321 and request to speak to the shift supervisor or OIC. To comment on this story, visit Saturday's crime and courts comment section. CLEVELAND, Ohio Wheres the AARP when you need it? Ohio just elected Mike DeWine as its 70th governor. On Jan. 14, he will take the oath of office and become the most powerful figure in state government. Heres the rub: DeWine, 71, is young enough to be governor but constitutionally too old to be a village judge concerned with issues like barking dogs. Fifty years ago, Ohio voters approved the Modern Courts Amendment (MCA). That law forbids judicial candidates from running for state or local judgeships if they turn 70 before they are sworn into office. A popular argument advanced at the time focused on the mental fitness of jurists serving past the age of 70. A half-century later, were living longer but were not discriminating less. In 2011, Ohio reaffirmed its taste for judicial age discrimination when voters overwhelmingly rejected a proposed constitutional amendment that would have raised the retirement age for judges to 75. In less than two months, Cuyahoga County Common Pleas Court will perp-walk four senior judges into the sea of forced retirement. The MCA, or Get the Geezers Off the Bench Act, will dispatch four of the most experienced and respected judges into the next phase of their lives. The terms of Judges Janet R. Burnside, Carolyn B. Friedland, Stuart A. Friedman and Michael E. Jackson expire in January. Each of the jurists is over the age of 70, which means its pasture time. But what do Ohioans really gain by using the states constitution to place age limits on judicial robes? Is the local bench advanced by closing the book on nearly a century of stellar public service in one fell swoop? Judge Jackson is the only one of the retiring judges I know. Im an admirer of the Veterans Treatment Court, which he conceptualized and has presided over since its commencement in 2015. I asked him his thoughts on leaving the bench in six weeks. Jackson, a decorated Vietnam War veteran, surprised me not only with his graciousness but his realistic view on why Ohio voters may think it wise to winnow out senior jurists. When I ran for office, I knew I could only serve one term. Its the law. Im now 74. Im not upset about leaving. The Veterans Treatment Court has been established and is on firm ground. Besides, I can continue to find other ways to serve as a visiting judge, said Jackson. Jackson, who worked as a Cuyahoga County prosecutor before winning a seat on the bench, said he understands the challenge voters often face when selecting judges. Judges run every six years, and most deliberately cultivate low profiles. Voters dont really know them that well. Incompetent judges can blend in expertly with high-performing judges and voters often arent the wiser. Name recognition and candidate ethnicity also often play a role in judicial election. Jackson said all of these factors may lead voters to an intuitive feeling that throwing senior jurists out with the bathwater is one way to periodically inject new blood into the system. But there has to be a better way than blatant age discrimination. Lee Fisher, dean of the of the Cleveland-Marshall College of Law, which serves as the primary feeder system for the local bench, has given some thought to the age limit placed on jurists. Heres what he had say: With life expectancies and health and vitality increasing, these age requirements are arbitrary and outdated. It is important to have diversity in our judiciary in all respects, including age diversity," he added. "I would rather have an 80-year-old outstanding judge than a 35-year-old poor judge! U.S. Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg fell and cracked three ribs earlier this month. She returned to work five days later. Shes an 85-year-old cancer survivor. Shes brilliant and tough. She makes our soon-to-be-retired Cuyahoga County judges look like relative youngsters. She continues to work because she excels at what she does and the highest court in the land has no age limit on its jurists. Why must Ohio continue to age discriminate against its judges? Come on, AARP! Where are you? Ohio voters need an education in geezer discrimination law. SHAKER HEIGHTS, Ohio -- The Shaker Heights Teachers' Association is holding a candlelight vigil for Aisha Fraser Mason, a teacher who was fatally stabbed Saturday at her estranged husbands home. Students, teachers, friends and community members are expected to gather Monday, Nov. 19 at 5:30 p.m. at Woodbury Elementary on the 15400 block of South Woodland Road to remember Fraser Mason, whose estranged husband, Lance Mason, has been accused by police of the slaying. Fraser worked at Shaker Heights Schools for 16 years was most recently a sixth-grade teacher a Woodbury. There will be a candle light vigil beginning at 5:30pm at Woodbury School on Monday 11/19 for Aisha. All are welcome. #rememberingAishaFraser Posted by Shaker Heights Teachers' Association on Saturday, November 17, 2018 Fraser was fatally stabbed Saturday by Mason, a former Cuyahoga County Common Pleas judge, according to sources. Mason, who spent nine months in prison for beating Fraser in front of their children, was arrested Saturday on suspicion of murder, police reported. Shaker Heights police responded about 9:30 a.m. Saturday to Masons home on the 17600 block of Chagrin Boulevard for a domestic dispute. Mason tried to flee the scene in a black Audi SUV, but struck a Shaker Heights police SUV, injuring both the officer and himself, police said. Mason and the officer were each taken to the hospital Saturday. After Mason was released from jail in June 2016 for the 2014 assault on his wife, he was permanently suspended and prohibited from ever serving as a judge again. He was ordered to pay a $150,000 judgment to Fraser in a civil case for damages after the attack. Cleveland Mayor Frank Jackson hired Mason in late August 2017 as the citys director of minority business development. Jackson fired Mason Saturday based on felony charges stemming from the incident in Shaker Heights. I extend my deepest condolences to the family of Ms. Aisha Fraser, especially to her children, Jackson said in a statement. Shaker Heights Superintendent Stephen Wilkins said in a statement that Fraser was a devoted mother and a committed teacher. She touched so many of our childrens lives and will be deeply missed, Wilkins' statement said. Her loss is unexpected and the impact of this news on our entire school community is unimaginable and profound. The Shaker Heights Teachers' Association released a statement Saturday. Aisha exemplified the best of Shaker Heights teachers; smart, amazingly caring of her students and her colleagues, active in her profession and in our association. She is loved by many. The teachers' association set up a gofundme.com account with the proceeds going to Frasers daughters, ages 11 and 8. The Masons' 11-year-old daughter, Audrey, has Down syndrome and had open-heart surgery when she was 8 months old in order to repair a hole in her heart. The couple opened Audreys Chocolate shop in 2012 to honor their daughter, help provide extra income for Audreys medical expenses and to eventually employ those with Down syndrome, according to Plain Dealer archives. Correction: The post is updated to reflect the stabbing happened at Masons Shaker Heights home, not Fraser Masons. Court records show that the address of the stabbing was Masons home. Shaker Heights police as of 12:30 p.m. Monday have not answered questions seeking clarification. ELYRIA, Ohio -- Election night 2018 was a decent night for Democrats. Its hard to say the same for Ohio Democrats. At best, it was an OK night. As Ohio Dems know, the GOP has held the governors mansion for 24 of the last 28 years. The state swung for Donald Trump in the 2016 presidential elections by 8 points, and the GOP holds a supermajority in both chambers of the Ohio Statehouse. Nevertheless, Ohio Dems had big hopes of taking back Ohio from the Republican chokehold and sending a strong message to President Trump that Ohio rejects his politics of fear and division. Looking back, it appears we did everything right. We recruited a stellar bench of candidates; in many cases, we outraised GOP incumbents; we even competed in severely gerrymandered districts we had no business competing in. (I should know, I was working in one of them). Zachary Stepp was the 2018 campaign manager for congressional candidate Janet Garrett in Ohio. It wasnt enough. Despite the fact that widely popular Sen. Sherrod Brown campaigned extensively with Richard Cordray and the rest of the Democratic ticket, the majority of our statewide candidates ran a shocking 6.8 points behind Sen. Brown. At Ohios Statehouse, Democrats flipped five Ohio House seats from Republicans -- which is progress but falls far short of the numbers needed to take control of the Ohio House. Whats even stranger is that two members of the ticket did win: Melody Stewart and Michael Donnelly. The catch? Neither of them had (D) next to their name because they were running for the Ohio Supreme Court, a nonpartisan election. So, whats the path forward for Democrats in Ohio? First off, weve got to acknowledge that we have a branding problem. Big time. Democrats are responsible for very popular policies consider the pre-existing conditions protections and Medicaid expansion provisions of the Affordable Care Act and the unwavering support for union rights. But these popular policy positions are not what voters associate with Democrats. When Ohio swing voters see (D), they dont think affordable health care, common-sense regulations, and progressive tax policies; they think abolish ICE," Nancy Pelosi, and the radical left agenda (whatever that is, anyway). Republicans spent millions to ingrain this branding on the (D), and it worked. The good news? One Ohio Dem was able to shake the (D): Sherrod Brown. Ohioans know Sherrod Brown. They like him. They trust him. He has spent decades representing Ohioans and has always had a unique ability to speak directly to the working class. Hes got an entire brand of his own, and he owns it. His success proves that the Democratic Party can win (and win big) in Ohio if we can find the right message. I must have knocked on 3,000 doors in the last couple of months campaigning in Ohios very gerrymandered 4th Congressional District. Rarely did I come across voters madly in love with Donald Trumps Republican Party. Many that I spoke to who admitted they were not going to be supporting Democrats this year liked what Trump stood for, but also had misgivings. But for these voters, even with the flaws, the party of Trump is preferable to the party of Pelosi. The key challenge for Ohio Democrats is to transform what many Ohioans see as the party of Pelosi to the party of the working class (or Sherrod Brown himself, for that matter). To do so, Ohio Democrats should be on the front lines calling for new leadership in the National Party. Fortunately, U.S. Reps. Marcia Fudge and Tim Ryan have already taken a lead in their rebuke of Nancy Pelosis bid for speaker. The thought of a Marcia Fudge speakership (and an end to the Pelosi era) should excite Ohio Democrats it would dramatically alter the national image, and, as a result, foster a state rebranding effort. Either way, the only long-term path to success is to recruit and elect new, young leaders that will rebrand the party and redefine what it means to be a Democrat in Ohio. Only then will there be a hint of hope or curiosity when Ohio voters see (D) next to a strangers name. Fortunately for Democrats, the five pickups in the Ohio House could be the first step towards that ultimate goal. Zachary Stepp was the 2018 campaign manager for Janet Garrett, Democratic candidate in Ohios 4th Congressional District. ***************** Have something to say about this topic? Use the comments to share your thoughts. Then, stay informed when readers reply to your comments by using the Follow option at the top of the comments, and look for updates via the small blue bell in the lower right as you look at more stories on cleveland.com. As the economy strengthens, more workers nearing retirement age are feeling better about their economic prospects. That's the good news. Still, many others are worried about their savings, or lack of savings, and how they will get by once they stop working for good. Overall, 85 percent of working Americans said retirement will be a "positive new chapter in life," according to a recent retirement study by Wells Fargo, which polled more than 2,500 adults in August. However, 70 percent of respondents also said they are concerned about running out of money. And rightfully so. More than half of Americans, or 57 percent, have less than $1,000 in their savings accounts, according to a separate GOBankingRates survey. Another report by the Stanford Center on Longevity found that nearly one-third of baby boomers had no money saved in retirement plans in 2014, when they were on average 58 years old. Among boomers with positive balances, the median savings was around $200,000. For these soon-to-be retirees, it's not too late to get back on track to financial stability, experts say. Here's how: Tallahassee Mayor Andrew Gillum conceded Florida's governor's race on Saturday as a recount of ballots neared its end, and the Democrat congratulated Republican former Congressman Ron DeSantis on becoming the state's next governor. "This has been the journey of our lives. We've been so honored by the support that we've received," Gillum said in a video statement. "We know that this fight continues, in spite of the outcome of this election." Gillum posted a live video on Facebook on Saturday afternoon in which he congratulated DeSantis. Gillum had conceded to DeSantis on election night, but retracted it after the margin between the two candidates narrowed. The race went to a legally required recount, but after an initial machine recount DeSantis still led Gillum by more than 30,000 votes. Gillum isn't saying what he plans to do next. "Stay tuned," he said in his brief remarks. Nonetheless Gillum says he will remain politically active, adding "the fight for Florida continues." Gillum's announcement came hours after President Donald Trump said on Twitter that Gillum will be a "strong Democrat warrior" and a "force to reckon with." --The Associated Press contributed to this article. To avoid getting overwhelmed by the options, it may help do some research ahead of time on hotel prices and airfares to places you know you want to visit. That way you'll be confident about snagging a deal when it flies by. Just be sure to read the small print: Many Black Friday/Cyber Monday offers come with blackout dates and restrictions. Some offers have already been posted, and others will go live later. But once Black Friday rolls in, get ready to wade through a tsunami of discounts on all sorts of travel-related goodies. Although it's expected to be a blockbuster season this year for post-Thanksgiving shopping, it's not all about retail. Once all the gift lists have been checked off, there will be plenty of great deals for travelers looking to get away. Amtrak plans to bring back its Black Friday sale again this year, offering significant discounts of up to 30 percent on train trips nationwide. Also, look for airlines such as JetBlue and Cathay Pacific to bring back their Black Friday/Cyber Monday deals as well. Cathay Pacific will offer 60 percent off flights to Asia with sales beginning on November 19. Hotels from Maine to Hawaii and beyond, will offer up room deals to travelers. Some may be tied to loyalty programs, so it may be a good time to consider signing up. Maine's Kennebunkport Resort Collection (KRC) will offer gift card bonuses on Cyber Monday. Buy a $500 gift card and receive a $100 resort credit; buy a $200 gift card and receive a $25 resort credit. Archer Hotel, with properties nationwide, plans a Cyber Monday deal of 25 percent off the best available rates plus direct-book perks of drinks or breakfast for two. The sale runs from November 26 to December 3. Arlo Hotels will offer 50 percent off stays (with no blackout dates) at its Solo and NoMad locations in New York City, with a portion of proceeds going to the Rainforest Alliance. The offer is valid from Black Friday through November 27, for stays through Labor Day 2019. On Cyber Monday, Aqua-Aston Hospitality will be offering 25 percent off all 40 of its properties across the Hawaii islands, along with a number of mainland and Costa Rica resorts. RetailMeNot and Hotels.com have teamed up to offer some "Mystery Bookings" on Black Friday that offer 99 percent off. All IHG properties around the globe will be part of a Cyber Week Sale, with discounts starting at 25 percent off the best available rate. IHG Rewards Club members get additional discounts starting at 3 percent: Book November 23 through November 30 for stays froom November 26 through March 31, 2019. Kimpton Hotels & Restaurants is offering 25 percent off its Best Flexible Rates to IHG Reward Club member (free sign-up) from November 19 through November 30 for stays November 19 through March 31, 2019. Separately, Millennium Hotels and Resorts will offer 25 percent off flexible rates at its 13 hotels across the United States. My Millennium loyalty club members will get an extra 5 percent off: Book November 21-27 for stays from November 21 through March 31, 2019. Between Black Friday and Cyber Monday, more than 30 Myrtle beach-area properties will be offering deep discounts of up to 55 percent on stays that stretch through spring and summer 2019. Offers will be posted at the Visit Myrtle Beach website. From November 22 through November 27, Provenance Hotels, with properties in Portland, Seattle/Tacoma, New Orleans and Nashville will be offering discounts of 40-50 percent off stays through February 2019. Between November 22 and November 26, Viceroy Hotel Group will offer discounts of up to 45 percent, as well as additional perks such as complimentary upgrades and resort credits. And from November 23 through Monday, November 26, Pacifica Hotels will offer 40 percent off room rates at 34 beachside properties in California. Keep an eye out for deals at individual hotels as well. Walt Disney World adventure-seekers can nab 50 percent off the best available rates on two and three-bedroom suites at The Grove Resort & Spa Orlando. (Use code "Cyber" to book from Black Friday through Cyber Monday). And from Black Friday through Cyber Monday, the Hard Rock Hotel San Diego will offer rates starting at $99 for stays through January 15; add $100 drinking and dining credit to the first five reservations booked using the code "BF2018" on Black Friday and Cyber Monday. One guest will also win a complimentary two-day stay, redeemable in 2019 including breakfast, parking and VIP check-in. Cisco's CEO with employee Kathy Burden Cisco In June, less than a week after the shocking suicides of celebrities Kate Spade and Anthony Bourdain, Cisco CEO Chuck Robbins felt compelled to address the matter head-on with his employees. From Orlando, where Robbins was attending a conference called Cisco Live, he sent a company-wide email. "In light of recent tragedies, I wanted to step away from Cisco Live for a moment to talk about the importance of mental health," he wrote. "Unfortunately, we all know friends, family, and coworkers battling mental health conditions, or maybe you're going through your own struggles." Robbins, who took over the CEO role in 2015, encouraged employees to "talk openly and extend compassion," asked that they "have each other's backs," and told them that professional support is available. Robbins had no idea what was about to happen. More than 100 employees responded to his note within days, some sharing in painful detail their own personal struggles. "I didn't understand the magnitude of the problem," Robbins told CNBC in an interview. "The volume of responses we got back led us to be more active." Roughly one in five adults in the U.S. per year suffer from mental illness, according to the National Alliance on Mental Illness. The costs to treat depression, stress, anxiety and other ailments exceeds $200 billion a year, and for many employers the number of sick days and lost productivity associated with mental health represent one of their biggest expenses. But relative to physical sicknesses, there remains a stigma in publicly addressing behavioral health. Insurers and corporations have been slow to recognize its importance, and many qualified health professionals, including psychologists and psychiatrists, don't accept insurance, even in Cisco's backyard. Large employers across the country are just beginning to prioritize it through their benefits programs as part of a broader focus on employee wellness. Technology companies in particular are adopting new health programs as another way to attract and retain talent in the hyper-competitive market for engineers. Cisco now offers benefits like round-the-clock access to counseling for employees and family members, on-site treatment and health centers, depression and anxiety screening, meditation and yoga classes and emergency paid time off that doesn't count against vacation days. For Robbins, the turning point came last year when an executive confided in him about a family member who was struggling and potentially suicidal. "I wanted to help, and in that process it became clear to me that this is a terrible situation and I really sensed the desperation that people feel," Robbins said. Corporate America is catching on While he was becoming more aware of the problem, the suicides of Spade and Bourdain in early June spurred Robbins to take action. He set up a meeting with Francine Katsoudas, Cisco's chief people officer, to brainstorm ideas. With a green light from Katsoudas, Robbins wrote an email and sent it to Cisco's almost 75,000 employees with the subject line "Making Mental Health a Priority." Because of the silence around mental illness, Robbins didn't know if employees would be willing to open up about sensitive topics like depression and suicide. There was the risk that some might view it as an executive overstepping his bounds into their personal lives and others might wonder if they would face retribution now or in the future. Brian Marcotte, CEO of the National Business Group on Health, said that among the dozens of large employers his group represents, some executives are starting to share their own stories as one way to open up the conversation. "Beyond that, we're seeing a big push among employers to reduce stigma around mental health and train their managers around signs and symptoms," Marcotte said. Kathy Burden, who works in Cisco's marketing department, is one of the employees who responded positively to Robbins' email. Burden said she has a family member who struggles from a mental illness and she spends time volunteering with a support group. Brexit One: Pizza for breakfast? The Gang of Five prepare to ask May (again) to ask the EU to give the UK the right to quit the backstop. Within the next 48 hours five Cabinet Brexiteers Michael Gove, Andrea Leadsom, Liam Fox, Penny Mordaunt and Chris Grayling will meet to discuss how they might force the Prime Minister to seek last-minute changes to the Withdrawal Agreement which has already been locked down with Brussels, according to Downing Street. They believe changes can still be made before an EU summit next Sunday, principally to give Britain a unilateral means of exiting the Northern Ireland backstop. I The fatuous five Simon Heffer, Sunday Telegraph Brexit Two: The challenge to the Prime Minister. Goldsmith sends letter to Brady, Cash may have done so too. f Mrs May refuses (which seems certain) she could face another day of multiple Cabinet resignations this week, which could make her position untenable. Sunday Telegraph Writing in The Sunday Telegraph, Zac Goldsmith, a Brexiteer, says he would have voted Remain rather than choose Mrs Mays plan and that her departure will give us the chance of a fresh start. This newspaper was separately told that Sir Bill Cash, the veteran Eurosceptic, had also submitted a formal declaration of no confidence in the Prime Minister. He declined to comment, saying the process was confidential. But the additional two MPs would bring to 25 the total known to have requested a vote on Mrs Mays leadership, out of a total of 48 required. Sunday Telegraph Baker says sack Barwell, Gibb, Robbins Sunday Times Mundell backs May Sunday Express Johnsons backers divided about whether to send in letters Mail on Sunday Mercer attacks deal but hasnt sent a letter Mail on Sunday Three donors for May Mail on Sunday Survation finds Conservative councillors back Mays leadership by two to one, but are divided almost equally on her deal Mail on Sunday But Barclays Association Chairman, Tories on Twitter and ConservativeHomes survey tell a different story Sunday Times Brexit Three: Next Tory Leader manoeuvres. Its Raab v Johnson among the referendum Leavers, Hunt v Javid among the referendum Remainers. Leaver Davis may back Raab. Remainer Rudd also set to stand. No, Davis will stand himself, so may Gove to back Norway option, so may Greening and Lee. Rees-Mogg could be Johnsons Chancellor Sunday Express. Teams Hunt, Javid, Johnson, Raab, Rudd prepare, Mordaunt is canvassing, so is Cox Sunday Times Guide to the contenders Sunday Times Downing Street and the Treasury brief against Raab Mail on Sunday Brexit Four: Downing Streets murder board shows that it believes May could win the Commons vote on the deal by four, with 35 Labour MPs voting with the Government The former Brexit Secretary has emerged as front-runner to succeed Theresa May after quitting the Cabinet over the PMs doomed deal for leaving the EU. He is expected to run with the backing of David Davis, who also previously resigned from the Brexit role. But they will face a tough challenge from ex-Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson. Cabinet comeback queen Amber Rudd, Foreign Secretary Jeremy Hunt and Home Secretary Sajid Javid will scrap it out to be the Remain candidate. Sun on Sunday Unless she can reduce the rump of 50 Conservative rebels, she would need 35 Labour MPs to back her plan and the SNPs 35 MPs to abstain to scrape through by four votes. An insider said: Our murder board shows the scale of the task ahead. The next few weeks will involve a lot of cajoling, arm-twisting and putting the case for the deal day and night if we are to stand any chance of delivering a smooth Brexit. Sunday on Sunday Brexit Five: The Sun on Sunday: Bow to the Gang of Five and renegotiate your deal Whatever the merits of her draft plan, the Prime Minister has to acknowledge that this is not what many voters wanted when they opted for Brexit. Her resilience and commitment to the job are not in question. Indeed the contrast between her sense of duty and the incoherent warblings of Jeremy Corbyns Labour Party could not be clearer. But the Prime Minister must give Brexiteers in the Cabinet the chance to shape the political declaration outlining our future relations with the European Union. She needs to redraw the plan and extract more concessions to get a genuine two-way relationship. Only then can she attempt to get the House of Commons to back her deal. Editorial Mays deal, party rupture or both? Whatever the combination may be, Labour push ahead of the Conservatives with Opinium Labour has opened up a three-point lead over the Tories as Conservative Leave supporters appear to be deserting Theresa Mays party in droves, according to the latest Opinium poll for the Observer. Compared with a month ago, the Tories have dropped five points to 36% while Labour has gained three to stand on 39%. The Liberal Democrats have fallen by one point to 7%, while Ukip has gone up two to 8%. Opinium found that the Tory decline was primarily a result of Leave supporters deserting the party. Last month (on 11 October) 59% of Leave supporters said they would vote Conservative. Observer And Comres Populus finds Mays deal is overwhelmingly rejected by voters Sunday Times Our readers reject Mays deal Sunday Express Voters prefer May to Johnson Sunday Express A Sunday Express ComRes poll of 2,000 adults taken last week revealed that Conservative support dropped by three points to 36 per cent, with Labour on 40 per cent. The same poll revealed support increasing for the anti-EU Ukip, up to nine per cent from seven. Meanwhile, an Opinium survey has shown support for the Tories drop five points to 36 per cent, while Labour climbed two to 39, and Ukip rose two to eight per cent. Sunday Express Other Brexit news and comment The fishing stand-off: the UK has limited itself to a promise to negotiate on the issue in good faith with a view to reaching a deal before the end of the transition in December 2020, setting the stage for complex talks on access and fishing quotas as part of the broader negotiations on the EU-UK future trade agreement Sunday Times Barnier to lock Britain out of database Sunday Expresss Army planners ready for No Deal Sunday Times Farage distances himself from Banks Sunday Times The challenge for shipping Nus Ghani, Sunday Express Bridges warns of a constitutional crisis Observer Davis talks free trade in America Mail on Sunday Cadwalladr latest Observer > Today: > Yesterday: McDonnell shifts towards second referendum Views from Flints Don Valley Sunday Times Harman blasts NHS treatment of autistic children Mail on Sunday Peterborough Labour MP speeding case latest Sun on Sunday Milne and Murphy prepare for life after Corbyn Mail on Sunday Sturgeon says Scotland will be put at an economic disadvantage Sunday Times News in Brief John McDonnell has admitted that a second referendum is more likely than a general election amid claims that he is warming to the idea of a second vote. Labours official policy is to press for a general election if the Commons rejects Theresa Mays Brexit deal in a meaningful vote, before considering the option of a so-called peoples vote. Yet the shadow chancellor conceded yesterday that a general election could prove difficult because of the Fixed-term Parliaments Act, which allows for an early election only if two-thirds of MPs vote in favour. Sunday Times From an analysis of the Withdrawal Agreements text: How the Irish protocol would separate Great Britain from Northern Ireland. The Irish Protocol is an integral part of the Withdrawal Agreement and establishes a permanent UK-EU customs union It removes Northern Ireland from the UKs customs territory and places it in the EUs customs territory Northern Ireland is in the same customs territory as Great Britain in the same way that it is currently in the same customs territory as Turkey. The protocol will inevitably create many checks and controls on trade between Great Britain and Northern Ireland, amounting to a hard border on the Governments definition east-west, in this case. The EU will have the power to tax and legislate for Northern Ireland in many areas as if it were an EU member state but without any representation. The ostensible justification for the protocol because it is required by the Belfast Agreement is not justified by the text of the Agreement, which says nothing about customs. This is all in clear breach of many promises to protect the Union by the Prime Minister. The Withdrawal Agreement and the Irish Protocol Article 182 of the Withdrawal Agreement provides that the protocol on Ireland/Northern Ireland (the Irish Protocol) forms an integral part of that agreement. The Irish Protocol contains the so-called backstop which has the ostensible aim of preventing a hard border between Northern Ireland and the Irish Republic. This is said to be required by the Good Friday Agreement, but there is nothing about customs or border arrangements in that agreement. The Irish Protocol establishes a UK-EU customs union Article 6(1) of the Irish Protocol provides that until otherwise agreed, a single customs territory between the Union and the United Kingdom shall be established (the single customs territory). Accordingly, Northern Ireland is in the same customs territory as Great Britain. The single customs territory is said to comprise (a)the customs territory of the Union defined in Article 4 of Regulation (EU) No 952/2013; and (b) the customs territory of the United Kingdom. It should be noted that a single customs territory is the legal definition of a customs union: seearticle 24 of the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT) 1947, as amended. EU customs legislation applies to Northern Ireland, not Great Britain Article 6(2) of the Irish Protocol provides that legislation as defined in point (2) of Article 5 of Regulation (EU) No 952/2013 of the European Parliament and of the Council shall apply to and in the United Kingdom in respect of Northern Ireland (not including the territorial waters of the United Kingdom). Regulation 2013/952/EU is the Union Customs Code (UCC). The legislation defined in article 5, point 2 of the UCC is the (a) UCC, and its implementing and supplementary provisions, (b) the Common Customs Tariff, (c) legislation establishing EU relief from customs duty and (d) international agreements on customs applying to EU. It is plain therefore that the EU customs legislation applies to Northern Ireland, but not to Great Britain. Northern Ireland is made part of the EU customs territory The provision of fundamental importance in the Protocol is article 15(1), which provides insofar as material that: notwithstanding any other provisions of this Protocol, any reference in the applicable provisions of the Withdrawal Agreement and of this Protocol, as well as in the provisions of Union law made applicable to and in the United Kingdom in respect of Northern Ireland by this Protocol, to the territory defined in Article 4 of Regulation (EU) No 952/2013 shall be read as including the part of the territory of the United Kingdom to which Regulation (EU) No 952/2013 applies by virtue of Article 6(2) of this Protocol. This provision needs unpacking. The territory defined in article 4 of the UCC is the customs territory of the Union. As note above, the part of the United Kingdom to which the UCC applies by virtue of article 6(2) of the Protocol is Northern Ireland. Eliminating the deliberately obscure drafting, article 15(1) provides, in effect, that: Notwithstanding any other provisions of this Protocol, any reference in the applicable provisions of the Withdrawal Agreement and of this Protocol, as well as in the provisions of Union law made applicable to and in the United Kingdom in respect of Northern Ireland by this Protocol, to the customs territory of the Union shall be read as including Northern Ireland. In short, despite the creation of a single UK-EU customs territory by article 6(1), the protocol repeats the substance of the EUs first draft of the Withdrawal Agreement, which had provided, in article 4(2) of the draft Irish Protocol, that The territory of Northern Ireland, excluding the territorial waters of the United Kingdom shall be considered to be part of the customs territory of the Union. The effect of the Withdrawal Agreement, therefore, is that Northern Ireland will form part of the EUs customs territory, and not the United Kingdoms, although a single customs territory is also established between the UK and the EU. Northern Ireland will thus be in the same customs territory with Great Britain in the same way that it is currently part of the same customs territory as Turkey (see article 3(3) of decision 1/95 establishing a single EU-Turkey customs territory). It is likely that this constitutes a breach of section 55(1) of the Taxation (Cross-Border Trade) Act 2018, which entered into force in September. This provides that: It shall be unlawful for Her Majestys Government to enter into arrangements under which Northern Ireland forms part of a separate customs territory to Great Britain. It cannot have been the intention of Parliament to allow the Government to agree that Northern Ireland should form part of a separate customs territory to Great Britain for any purpose. Otherwise, it would be lawful for the Government to have transferred Northern Ireland into the Turkish customs territory without Parliamentary approval at any time. This will mean a hard border between Great Britain and Northern Ireland The Irish Protocol expressly contemplates checks on trade between Great Britain and Northern Ireland. Article 7(2) states merely that the parties will use their best endeavours to facilitate trade between Great Britain and Northern Ireland. The Joint Committee is empowered to make non-binding recommendations to avoid to the extent possible, controls at the ports and airports of Northern Ireland. The implication is that it may not in all circumstances be possible to avoid such checks. Indeed, article 14(2) of the Irish Protocol gives the EU the right to direct UK authorities to carry out controls to give effect to the Protocol. Trade between the two constituent parts of the customs territory, i.e. the EU and Northern Ireland, on the one hand, and Great Britain, on the other, is regulated by Annex 3: see article 6(1). Articles 3 to 11 of Annex 3 set out the paperwork that will be needed (i.e. UK movement certificates) for such trade, except goods in the possession of travellers and postal packets which will be exempted. Annex 5 applies only to Northern Ireland: see article 6(2). It contains the whole panoply of single market controls, including border controls, on goods. For example, it applies Council Regulation 2017/625/EU. Article 47 of that Regulation requires border controls where animals, products of animal origin, plants, and plant products are first imported into the EU. Official controls include documentary checks, identity checks and physical checks: see article 49. The ostensible aim of avoiding a hard border between Northern Ireland and Ireland has come at the expense of creating one between Northern Ireland and Great Britain. It should be remembered the definition of a hard border in para [43] of the UK-EU Joint Report of December 2017 was the absence of any physical infrastructure or related checks and controls. The EU acquires the power to tax and legislate for Northern Ireland, without any Northern Irish representation Other provisions of the Protocol require Northern Ireland to abide by EU legislation and taxation: see articles 9 to 12 of the Protocol, and the Annex thereto. References to EU legislation in the Protocol are ambulatory references, so there will be a duty to keep Northern Irish laws and indirect taxes aligned to EU laws and taxes in the future: see article 15(4)-(5). Furthermore, the EU has full power to legislate in respect of Northern Ireland, and the Court of Justice will have jurisdiction: see article 14(4)-(5). Northern Ireland is, in effect, treated as part of the EU for some purposes but without any representation. This will greatly and illegitimately enhance the powers of Irelands Government in Northern Ireland and undermine the Union. David Davies is Chair of the Welsh Affairs Select Committee, and is MP for Monmouth. Ever since I entered Parliament in 2005, I have passionately and sincerely campaigned for the United Kingdom to leave the European Union. Back in 2011, long before it became policy, I joined the Parliamentary rebellion to support a referendum on the issue. Immediately after the referendum was announced, I began my daily campaign for Leave, both in my constituency and across the UK. I have knocked on countless doors and addressed many meetings in aid of this cause. So I do not think anyone can say I have not done my bit for Brexit. It is precisely because of my longstanding support for Brexit that I will be backing the deal proposed by Theresa May. It is not perfect, and there are many things I would like to have seen done differently in the negotiations. The Government should have begun planning earlier for no deal ,and made clear our willingness to follow this path if necessary. This would undoubtedly have increased our leverage in the negotiations. And, there are areas where I will seek further reassurance. Not least, that no deal planning continues so that we maintain our ability to walk away if we have to. But all of us have to deal with where we are now with the circumstances in front of us. This deal will take us out of the EU on 29th March 2019, as planned. Not as far out as I or many of my colleagues would like, but out nonetheless. And once we are out, there is no returning. Franklin D Roosevelt famously asked people to judge him by the enemies he made. The Prime Minister would do well to ask the Conservative Party to do the same when it comes to this deal. It is telling that some of the most vehement opponents of the deal are longstanding Remainers, who are explicit about their desire to overturn the referendum result. And, of course, the entire Labour frontbench, which smells an opportunity to try and remove the Conservative Government from office and usher in a Marxist one. If this was truly as bad a Brexit as many claim, it is hard to see why those groups are working so hard to defeat it. Ultimately, their aim is for Brexit to fail. The reason they are working so hard to stop this deal is because they know that, if it is passed and we do leave in March next year, there is no going back. After working and campaigning so hard for Brexit, I cannot understand why my colleagues would rather walk through the lobbies with those who have spent the past years trying to thwart them. Surely they can see doing as much would only play into their hands. Many of my colleagues believe that if this deal is voted down, it will lead to us getting a better deal, with a cleaner break from the EU or just to no deal at all. But, with the greatest respect to them, there are no guarantees. It is just as likely, and possibly more likely, that we will end up locked into the Customs Union and Single Market permanently or, even worse, that we do not leave at all. Lining up against this deal fundamentally risks what we have all worked so hard to deliver. Ultimately, it only serves to help those who wish to undermine our position and our desire to respect the result of the referendum. It is only by being united that we can fight them off. This has been shown through the recent history of the Conservative Party. I fought my first general election in 1997. And, as with many of our candidates that year, I was resoundingly beaten. Why? Because our party had spent the past four years tearing chunks out of each other over Europe. The public have always taken a dim view of such division and self-interest. They will do so again. In the end, they simply want us to get on with it. There is undoubtedly more work to be done over the coming weeks and months even years. But this deal allows us to end the free movement of people, end our contributions to the EU budget, end our membership of the Common Agricultural Policy, take back control of our waters by ending the Common Fisheries Policy and have the ability to strike our own trade deals for the first time in over 40 years. Most of all ,it allows us to leave the European Union. The honest truth for those of us that have long supported Brexit is that if this deal had been offered to us before the referendum, we would have gratefully grabbed it with both hands. We should all do so now. From an analysis of the Withdrawal Agreement text: Mays broken promises on the ECJ, the backstop, customs and dividing the UK Customs checks in Irish Sea Article 9 of the backstop states that the [VAT and excise] provisions of Union law listed in Annex 6 to this Protocol concerning goods shall apply to and in the United Kingdom in respect of Northern Ireland. Annex 2 of the backstop allows certain charges and costs recovered to take place when goods travel from Great Britain to Northern Ireland. The EU is making no secret of the fact that Northern Ireland will be treated differently: the EUs Customs Code will also continue to apply in Northern Ireland Under the backstop and in order to avoid a hard border, Northern Ireland businesses can place products on the EUs internal market without restriction. Placing goods on the internal market that come from outside of Northern Ireland requires that the processes provided for in the Union Customs Code will have to be applied (European Commission, November 2018, link) This is despite the Prime Minister saying on 9 July: First, there is what is provided for in the European Councils guidelines from March this year. This amounts to a standard free trade agreement for Great Britain, with Northern Ireland carved off in the EUs customs union and parts of the single market, separated through a border in the Irish sea from the UKs own internal market. No Prime Minister of our United Kingdom could ever accept this; it would be a profound betrayal of our precious Union. Regulatory checks in the Irish Sea Article 7 of the backstop says that nothing in this Protocol shall prevent the United Kingdom from ensuring unfettered market access for goods moving from Northern Ireland to the rest of the United Kingdoms internal market. This does not apply for goods moving from Great Britain to Northern Ireland. Article 7 of the backstop says that there could be controls at the ports and airports of Northern Ireland The UK in respect of Northern Ireland will remain aligned to a limited set of rules that are related to the EUs Single Market and indispensable for avoiding a hard border: legislation on goods, sanitary rules for veterinary controls (SPS rules), rules on agricultural production/marketing, VAT and excise in respect of goods, and state aid rules Article 8 of the backstop provides for goods from Northern Ireland to be indicated as UK(NI) a clear separation of Northern Ireland from the UK. Article 10 of the backstop says that the [Agriculture and environment] provisions of Union law listed in Annex 5 to this Protocol shall apply, under the conditions set out therein, to and in the United Kingdom in respect of Northern Ireland. The EU has said that that in order to avoid a hard border on the island of Ireland, and to ensure that Northern Irish businesses can place products on the EUs Single Market without restriction, it will be necessary for the UK in respect of Northern Ireland to maintain specific regulatory alignment with the EU (European Commission, November). The EU has been clear that a regulatory barrier will be introduced for goods coming in from Great Britain: There [will be] some compliance checks with EU standards, consistent with risk, to protect consumers, economic traders and businesses in the Single Market. The EU and the UK have agreed to carry out these checks in the least intrusive way possible. The scale and frequency of the checks could be further reduced through future agreements between the EU and the UK. For industrial goods, checks are based on risk assessment, and can mostly take place in the market or at traders premises by the relevant authorities. Such checks will always be carried out by UK authorities. As for agricultural products, already existing checks at ports and airports will need to continue, but will be increased in scale in order to protect the EUs Single Market, its consumers and animal health (European Commission, November 2018, link). This is despite May saying on 9 October 2017: Paul Girvan (South Antrim) (DUP): I want to give comfort to the people in Northern Ireland on this matter of not having a soft or hard border down the middle of the Irish sea. I want that assurance because the people of Ulster feel that they are being set on the sidelines. Prime Minister: I am very happy to give that assurance. We do not want to see a border down the Irish sea either. We want to maintain the integrity of the internal market of the United Kingdom. The whole UK will stay in a customs union Article 6 of the Backstop says that: a single customs territory between the Union and the United Kingdom shall be established (the single customs territory). There is no possibility of the UK being able to do its own trade deals under this. This is made clear in Article 3 of Annex 2 of the Backstop: Under no circumstances may the United Kingdom: (a) apply to its customs territory a customs tariff which is lower than the Common Customs Tariff for any good or import from any third country apply or grant in its customs territory tariff preferences to any good on the basis of rules of origin that are different from those governing the granting of such preferences to the same good by the Union in its customs territory. This looks set to become permanent. The text in the Withdrawal Agreement states that there is a common objective of a close future relationship, which will establish ambitious customs arrangements that build on the single customs territory provided for in this protocol (p.303). This is despite the Conservative Party Manifesto 2017 pledging that As we leave the European Union, we will no longer be members of the single market or the customs union. Possibility of the extension of the transition period Article 132 (p122): Provides for a one-off extension of the transition period (potentially up to 2099). This is despite the Prime Minister promising An implementation period of around two years. The backstop can only end with EU permission Article 1 of the backstop says that the provisions of this Protocol shall apply unless and until they are superseded, in whole or in part, by a subsequent agreement. Article 20 of the backstop: says that the backstop will only cease to apply if the Union and United Kingdom decide jointly that it should end. I.e. no unilateral exit clause and no sovereign right for the UK to leave This is despite multiple promises from Cabinet Ministers that the UK would have a unilateral right to leave. EU control of our laws / level playing field Article 12 of the Backstop says that the [State Aid] provisions of Union law listed in Annex 8 to this Protocol shall apply to the United Kingdom (p.317). The same Article also treats Northern Ireland differently. Article 12(3) makes clear that the European Commission has the power to investigate a measure by the United Kingdom authorities that may constitute unlawful aid. The EU also says that states that The aim of the Protocol is to ensure that EU law, in the areas stipulated in Protocol 3 to Cypruss Act of Accession, will continue to apply in the Sovereign Base Areas. Article 174 says that matters could be referred to the ECJ. The EU even makes this clear in a chart on their website (see below). Article 87 says that if the European Commission considers that the United Kingdom has failed to fulfil an obligation under the Treaties or under part. of the agreement before the end of the transition period, the European Commission may, within four years after the end of the transition period, bring the matter before the Court of Justice. Again this is a clear breach of multiple promises by the Prime Minister for example, that We are not leaving only to return to the jurisdiction of the European Court of Justice. Thats not going to happen. The aerospace industry has been an innovator in terms of automating the production process. The industry heavily relies on automation to create new sources of efficiency. Aerospace manufacturers need to keep productivity at peak levels due to large order backlogs. Also, integrators need to minimize disruptions and shorten integration times while maintaining strict quality standards. However, this is easier said than done. Robot users and integrators face many challenges in the aerospace industry. Four challenges for aerospace robot users and integrators Large part sizes The sheer size of aerospace parts, especially for airplane assembly, creates a number of challenges. Its tough to bring the part to the process when the parts are so big, which requires extensive mobility for the robots. Mobile platforms, which allow the robot to move around a large part, has become a useful tool for manufacturers. Human and robot collaboration The increasing levels of automation in the aerospace industry have brought humans and robots into closer contact on the factory floor. This creates major safety issues, which means users must be complaint with regulations to avoid fines and serious downtime. Precision results The aerospace industry requires extremely precise production; theres no room for error in the final products. However, precision has to be balanced with speed. To compensate, robots use a variety of vision or laser-based intelligent guiding systems to ensure consistency, accuracy, and productivity. Complex end effectors Modern aerospace applications demand complex end effectors and ned to be very large for large part sizes. As a result, they often must complete very long cycle times with multiple functions, which means a single end effector must be able to perform a variety of tasks simultaneously. This can make tooling a difficult project for integrators. The aerospace industry, one of the most difficult and demanding industries in manufacturing, will continue to look to robotic technology as a source of innovation. This article originally appeared on the Robotics Online Blog. Robotic Industries Association (RIA) is a part of the Association for Advancing Automation (A3), a CFE Media content partner. Edited by Chris Vavra, production editor, Control Engineering, CFE Media, cvavra@cfemedia.com. We are analyzing the site. Please wait a few seconds.. Its GAPPD score is based on 10 major indicators -- exclusive breastfeeding of infants 05 months, 3rd dose of diphtheria-tetanus-pertussis vaccine (DTP3), 1st dose of measles-containing vaccine Hib3 (MCV1), 3rd dose of haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib) vaccine, 3rd dose of pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV3), final dose of rotavirus vaccine (RotaC), children with acute respiratory infection (ARI) taken to a health facility, children under 5 with symptoms of ARI who received antibiotics, children under 5 with diarrhea receiving oral rehydration salts (ORS), and children with diarrhea who received zinc supplements. The study regrets, Despite significant reductions of disease in recent years with improvements in access to and use of health interventions, nearly half a million pneumonia and diarrhea deaths still occurred in two countries India and Nigeria. Indias death rate among children under 5 (per 1000 live births) is 6.3 (pneumonia) and 4.1 (diarrhea). It is much higher in Pakistan, at 11.5 and 6.8 respectively, but it is lower in Bangladesh, at 5.5 and 2.3 per 1000 live births respectively. While the that India is one of the countries where exclusive breastfeeding target of 50% has been achieved (55%), it laments, Aside from India, of the countries that had introduced PCV, Nigeria was the only country to have PCV3 coverage below half the target, with 33% coverage. The study states, Of the seven countries where rotavirus vaccine has been introduced, the median coverage of complete rotavirus vaccine is 58%. Tanzania was the only country to meet or exceed the target level, with 97% coverage. Among countries that had introduced the vaccine as of 2017, the lowest coverage levels were in Pakistan (12%) and India (13%), both of which had recently started phased national rollouts that had not yet reached all states or provinces. Coming to treatment indicators, the study says, while none of the 15 countries met the target, seven of them have coverage above half the target: Uganda (80%), Indonesia (75%), India (73%), Pakistan (64%), Niger (59%), Tanzania (55%), and Angola (49%). It adds, The lowest coverage was reported for Nigeria (24%). The study says, From 2017 to 2018, overall GAPPD scores increased in seven countries but all increases were very small (range 1-4%) Ethiopia (+4), Pakistan (+2), Nigeria (+2), India (+1), DRC (+1), Tanzania (+1), and Niger (+1) and scores decreased in China (-2) and Angola (-1). It underscores, however, Pneumonia scores and four countries saw declines: Angola (-5), Nigeria (-3), China (-2), and India (-1). At the time diarrhea scores increased in six countries Nigeria (+8), Ethiopia (+8), Pakistan (+3), Tanzania (+2), India (+1), and DRC (+1) and decreased in China (-2), Angola (-1), and Bangladesh (-1). Commenting on India, the study says, Indias overall GAPPD score increased by one point, however, this aggregate score masks the drivers of changeboth positive and negativein the individual GAPPD indicators. Coverage for Hib and rotavirus vaccines increased by 8 and 9 percentage points. Zinc coverage was recorded as 20%. It further states, Although this appears to be an improvement and impacts the country's GAPPD scores, data were unavailable last year and do not necessarily reflect a 20 percentage point increase in coverage. In contrast, the other treatment indicators decreased: ORS coverage (-13 percentage points), exclusive breastfeeding (-10), and access to pneumonia care (-4). Across India, the study underscores, There is lower vaccine coverage among female children in rural areas and in poor, urban areas. Improvements to full immunization coverage in India have not succeeded in closing the gender gap in coverage, as only 78 females were fully immunized for every 100 males fully immunized in poor areas of Delhi. A just-released study, The Pneumonia and Diarrhea Progress Report 2018, prepared by the International Vaccine Access Centre (IVAC) at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, has identified India among 15 other countries which are still far off the mark in achieving the targets of the Global Action Plan for the Prevention of Pneumonia and Diarrhea (GAPPD). Set by the World Health Organization (WHO) and the United Nations International Childrens Emergency Fund (UNICEF), to be achieved by 2025, GAPPD is as an integrated approach to reduce the incidence of severe pneumonia and diarrhoea, and reduce the number of children under-five who are stunted, and end preventable childhood deaths from pneumonia and diarrhoea.Calculated by averaging the indicator-specific target scores of all 10 indicators identified in GAPPD, the study finds that, as against the target of 86% coverage for various steps needed to be taken to be taken to achieve the GAPPD, India is just half way, 50%, which is equal to Pakistan but much below Bangladeshs score of 64%.The study focuses the worlds 15 countries with the highest number of pneumonia and diarrhea child deaths: India, Nigeria, Pakistan, the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Ethiopia, Chad, Angola, Somalia, Indonesia, Tanzania, China, Niger, Bangladesh, Uganda, and Cote dIvoire.Indias pneumonia prevention score is 65% as against the WHO-UNICEF target of 84% and diarrhea prevention score is 39% as against the target of 82%. Here, while Pakistan performs worse than India (63% and 33% respectively), Bangladesh scores much better (74% and 54% respectively). George Alevropoulos has been named captain of TUI Cruises Mein Schiff 3. He joined the German brand during its start up in 2009, and can trace his seafaring career back to 1995, making the move to the cruise industry in 2002. In a personality profile, he said he prefers itineraries in the Caribbean, but his favorite port is Hamburg due to its special harbor entrance. During his career with TUI, Alevropoulos was also part of the newbuild team for the Mein Schiff 3, which was the first new ship the company built. The supervision and commissioning of the Mein Schiff 3 by TUI Cruises was a highlight in my career. The moment of the crossing as well as the handover remain unforgettable for me, he said. Bradley International Airport is anticipating large crowds this week as families plan to travel for Thanksgiving. Kevin A. Dillon, executive director of the Connecticut Airport Authority, urged travelers to plan accordingly, warning wait times could be long to get through security at Bradley. We look forward to welcoming and assisting passengers to ensure that they have an enjoyable experience traveling through Bradley International Airport this week, Dillon said in a statement. Due to the higher volume of activity, were encouraging passengers to plan ahead and give themselves extra time for their journey through the airport. The airport will be busy from Monday through Sunday, but Wednesday, Saturday and Sunday are expected to be the heaviest, according to the Connecticut Airport Authority. Those traveling domestically should give themselves at least 90 minutes to check in with their airlines and be screened by TSA. Passengers traveling internationally should give themselves three hours. Passengers are encouraged to confirm their flight status before departure, check in online with the airline and bring a printed boarding pass to the airport. Live music and giveaways will be offered Tuesday afternoon on the departures level. A driver pulled over by Bridgeport police Thursday for not wearing his seat belt looked from right to left to see officers on both sides of his car. Step out of the car, one officer can be heard saying in a video posted by city police on the departments Twitter page. But that officer wasnt holding a ticket for the driver as he pulled into the Stop & Shop plaza on Fairfield Avenue, he was holding a box with a turkey in it. Some unsuspecting drivers were pulled over by Bridgeport police officers as they pulled into the parking lot of the grocery store and given free turkeys just a week shy of Thanksgiving. People were so surprised, said Police Chief Armando Perez. Theyre thinking maybe theyre going to get a ticket, but they get a turkey. Thats what community policing is really all about public servants serving the public. As the driver accepted the box from the officer, they shared a hug and the driver thanked police through a smile. Hey, youre not wearing your seat belt, but today instead of a ticket you get a turkey, said Sgt. Angelo Collazo, who works with the departments school resource officers. And you guys get a smile, the driver said in response, thanking the officers again. The Bridgeport Police Department Office of Community Services has done similar events for years with Officer Nick Ortiz at the helm, Perez said. This year, the school resource officers, who are overseen by Capt. Roderick Porter, joined the effort. Im very proud of my officers, Perez said. Things like this it brings us, the police and the community, together. But this years efforts didnt stop after Thursday. The officers spent Thursday through Saturday collecting food and monetary donations for an event being held Tuesday in partnership with Vazzys Restaurant, Perez said. Bridgeport police are hoping to get enough donations to give about 250 families all the fixings of a Thanksgiving meal, free of charge. The supplies for those meals will be handed out on Tuesday. Were going to turn the tide and take care of this community, Perez said. Welcome Guest! You Are Here: All presidents suffer defeats and setbacks, whether through elections, legislative battles, international events or scandals. Most learn from them and adapt. Will President Donald Trump be an exception? That's the question ahead for the president: Will the second two years of his first term be any different from the first two years? His actions and words in the days following the midterm elections indicate things actually could get worse rather than better. He has never been a gracious winner. In defeat, he has shown worse: ill-tempered, withdrawn, even more unpredictable. Trump was elected in 2016 to lead a divided country. The midterm results, however, make clear the degree to which he has widened those divisions. He has driven suburban voters, especially college-educated women, away from the Republican Party. His hold on rural America remains strong, but the midterms suggest possible slippage. He was elected to lead a world in transition and under stress. He has added to that stress by weakening traditional alliances and embracing authoritarian leaders, while offering no clear strategy for key areas of the world. He has sought to dismantle or redraw global trade deals and other arrangements that his predecessors helped to construct. - - - It may be premature to draw a conclusion about what lessons he has learned, but rather than moving to mitigate the damage done to his party in the midterms or to assert international leadership, Trump has done the opposite in the days since the elections. He has reinforced what his presidency has wrought, domestically and internationally, and left others to worry about what comes next. At home, Trump claimed that the midterms were "close to complete victory" for his party and especially for himself. It was an extravagant assertion at the time he made it - the day after the elections - and even more so today. Other presidents have accepted some responsibility for the losses of their party in midterm elections, or at lease acknowledged the reality of defeat. Trump is having none of that. Yet the scope of the Nov. 6 defeat is now undeniable. The president is correct that Republicans gained ground in the Senate, reinforcing their narrow majority, but equally incorrect is his saying the media haven't highlighted those gains. The media also have noted that Republicans enjoyed the most favorable Senate election map in generations. Republicans defeated three red-state Democratic senators. GOP candidates also won or are leading in four high-profile statewide races - gubernatorial elections in Florida and Georgia and a Senate races in Florida and in Texas. But the party surrendered GOP-held Senate seats in Nevada and Arizona and lost senatorial or gubernatorial contests in three presidential battlegrounds in the Midwest. The House results produced a string of defeats that have left the GOP weaker in key parts of the country, states like New Jersey and Pennsylvania, for example. In New England, other than Sen. Susan Collins, R-Maine, Republicans will have no congressional representation. In California, Orange (as in County) is the new blue, after a string of victories by Democrats in competitive House districts in a county that once was the symbolic and real heartland of American conservatism. Jubilant Democrats will face a reckoning two years from now, however, when their newly minted House members stand for re-election. Many of the winners (in both parties, actually) carried their districts with slender margins. The 2020 elections will test the resilience of these new members, whose races will enjoy less prominence and potentially less money than they had this year, given the overriding attention the presidential race will receive. But this year's elections laid a foundation, thanks in large part to voters' negative reactions to the president. Young voters supported Democrats by margins well beyond those rung up even by Barack Obama in his two presidential campaigns. Voters under age 30 supported Democrats by 44 points, according to a post-election analysis by the Democratic firm Catalist. The suburban defeats are potentially the most damaging to the GOP, if Trump or other GOP leaders do not act to reverse them. Orange County is one example but not the only suburban area that produced gains for Democrats. DuPage County, outside Chicago, has been a Republican stronghold for years, though the GOP's grip had been weakening. Now, not a single House member in the new Congress whose district includes a part of DuPage County will be a Republican. Suburban voters in red states also showed increased support for Democratic candidates, whether it was Texas or Georgia, Utah or Oklahoma. Republicans now hold a strong base in rural America. But in this election, their margins were not as big as Trump rolled up in 2016. The president's advisers argue, fairly, that people should be cautious about projecting forward as to how those rural areas will vote in 2020, when Trump's name is again on the ballot. But if the suburbs are trending away, he will need all the rural ground he had in 2016 and perhaps more. - - - Internationally, the president's trip to Paris to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the armistice of World War I brought a reminder of the degree to which he has chosen to stand apart from traditional U.S. allies. He was absent physically at key moments, and absent intellectually in providing the leadership that long has come with being the American president. The armistice of World War I is an event marked yearly with ceremonies throughout Europe, in small towns and the great capitals. The centenary was meant to be the biggest such commemoration in decades. Yet Trump did not go, as scheduled, to pay respects at an American cemetery outside Paris, where more than 2,000 American troops are buried. Weather was blamed for the decision, but he later vented at his staff for making him look bad. The next day he chose not to march in the rain with other global leaders on the Champs-Elysees, choosing instead to be driven to the Arc de Triomphe for the later ceremony. Another leader who skipped the solidarity march was Russian President Vladimir Putin. Later, Trump engaged in a Twitter spat with French President Emmanuel Macron, after Macron in his ceremony speech sharply rebuked the concept of nationalism that Trump has embraced. Nicholas Burns, the former U.S. ambassador to NATO who served Republican and Democratic presidents as a career diplomat, said of the trip, "It was one of the most ineffective presidential trips I've ever seen." After returning to the United States last Sunday night, Trump chose not to make the traditional presidential trip to Arlington Cemetery the following morning to observe Veterans Day. Later in the week, apparently seeking to make amends, he went to the Marine Barracks in Washington for a lunchtime visit. On Friday, he acknowledged he had made a mistake by not going to Arlington Cemetery. He said he was busy making "calls for the country." Since returning from Paris, Trump has embraced bipartisan legislation on criminal justice reform. Is that a sign of the future or a one-off by the president? At home and abroad, he is being closely watched for signs of how the election defeats have affected him. He has plodded through the days after the election, seeming mostly unhappy in what was "close to compete victory." He now must know what was lost in the midterms, but he seems lost in knowing how to respond. Guwahati : One hardcore militant of NSCN-U was killed and few others injured during a fierce gun battle with Assam Rifles troops in Arunachal Pradesh's Tirap district on Saturday. The encounter took place at Laptang village under Khonsa police station in Tirap district. Kohima based Defence PRO Colonel Chiranjeet Konwer said that, since beginning of November reports of NSCN militants carrying out extortion activities in the region had been received and a proactive strategy was adopted by the security forces to deter the groups. "Security forces under the aegis of DAO Division has been carrying out relentless operations to maintain peace and tranquility in the region. In a major operation launched by the Khonsa battalion of security forces, a hardcore NSCN-U militant was killed near Laptang village," the Defence PRO said. Acting on specific intelligence about NSCN militabts carryout extortion from villagers in Laptang village, Assam Rifles Khonsa battalion swiftly launched an operation in the area. "During search of the area, the column noticed a group of suspected militant trying to flee the scene. The party challenged the militants and asked them to surrender the fleeing militants opened fire on the column. Own column retaliating to the fire brought down controlled effective fire on the fleeing militant and eliminate one militant. The other militants were managed to escape using cover of dense foliage. Two more militants likely to be injured," the Defence PRO said. During search the column found the hardcore militant who had succumbed to bullet injuries, a HK33 automatic rifle, large quantities of ammunition and other incriminating evidence was also recovered from the body. 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. Security forces had apprehended five hardcore militants of banned outfit NDFB (S) including three women militants and two NSCN (R) militants in Arunachal Pradesh on Thursday night, officials said on Friday. Security personnel had nabbed the militants when they were trying to enter into India from Myanmar and also recovered huge cache of arms and ammunition in possession from them. Kohima based Defence PRO Colonel Chiranjeet Konwer said that, to maintain peace and tranquility in the region troops of security forces under the aegis of DAO Division have been carrying out relentless operations. In the run up to ULFA(I) Protest Day on November 27, in two separate operations the Jairampur Battalion and Changlang Battalion of the Assam Rifles along with army apprehended five NDFB (S) militanst and two militants of NSCN(R) on Thursday night, Colonel Konwer said. The Assam Rifles troops had apprehended five NDFB (S) militants from Old Khamdo village in Changlang district while they were trying to infiltrate into Indian territory and escape to Upper Assam. The nabbed NDFB (S) militants were identified as Biswajit Basumatray alias B Birsha, Birkhang Basumatray alias B Bwsrang, Divika Muchhary alias M Daobaisuli, Sampa Basumatray alias Sarfao and Dwimu Brahma alias B Dwijiri. Large number of arms and ammunition including four pistols and one carbine along with other incriminating evidence were recovered from them. In a similar operation launched by the Changlang battalion, two militants of NSCN(R) were apprehended from Ledo and Margherita area in Tinsukia district. Acting on specific intelligence about presence of likely militants trying to terrorize and carryout extortion in Ledo and Margherita, two NSCN(R) militants were apprehended and they were identified as Seraj Khan and Sibu Pradhan. UWCHLAN Innovation comes together when people share their ideas to work together. The USSC Group held a grand opening event Friday of its brand new 300,000-square-foot manufacturing facility at 101 Gordon Drive. The facility will create 280 new manufacturing jobs. USSC Group CEO and President Joseph Mirabile thanked his employees for their dedication in creating safe ground-breaking products and technology that will solve problems for clients with the creation of innovation products that will save lives. We are absolutely passionate about providing the best and safest survivability products to our customers, Mirabile said. Our employees passion for saving lives and pushing the limits for what our products can do is what drives us to develop fire suppression systems that protect thousands of school buses and transit buses around the country. Its what drives us to build the finest fire trucks and ambulance seats for our well-deserving first-responders and the worlds highest performing seats for our military. USSC Group is a global leader in the commercial and military seating industry, designs and engineers world-class safety, and survivability seating and technology products for commercial transportation vehicles. Four proprietary brands; make up the United States Seating Company Group. Working with these world-class partner organizations from all over the world gives us the ability to bring the greatest technologies out there to our customers, Mirabile said. It allows us to push the boundaries of what is possible for our products every day. The facility will create 280 new manufacturing jobs in Pennsylvania. The Chester County Economic Development Council (CCEDC) and the Governors Action Team played an integral role in making this project happen. These are important jobs, CCEDC President Gary Smith said. The reason we are in business, yes its great to have corporate success and profitability of a company, thats really important, but really, its the men and women that work here that are important. Governors Action Team project manager Richard Heaney congratulated USSC for the expansion which will result in a capital investment of more than $13 million and the creation of manufacturing jobs, a signature of Gov. Tom Wolfs policy issue. He noted this project will receive $350,000 in grant money and $100,000 for job training to ensure that the USSC employees will succeed in todays manufacturing environment. Jeff Knueple, Septa General Manger, said the Act 81, Pennsylvanias landmark transportation funding bill and the federal fast-act have enabled Septa to address critical infrastructure needs and to being replacing 500 vehicles that surpassed its normal useful life. Septa is a customer of USSC products. David Cosgrove, APTA Legislative Chair (American Public Transportation Association) said the investment by USSC is vital to the future of public transportation and the customers needs and expectations continue to evolve. Communities that can move their people efficiently, easily and quickly, will be the magnets for prosperity, Cosgrove said. One of the most important assets for success is having modern mobility solutions, anchored by a great public transit system. Making that a reality depends on capital investments like the one we have before us. Mike Hompesch, Dubin Clark Partner, said the new facility means continued growth for the commonwealth and USSC will help companies with needed products. Dan Peters, president of REV Group, thanked the company for the Valor product seats for its ambulances and fire apparatus and described it as a better and safer seat. For far too long we in this country have thought we were richer, more powerful and, in general, better than we actually are. Now we find out the hard truth, exposed in all its gloomy detail by the EU talks. Will we learn the necessary lesson, or will we prefer our precious illusions? I can just remember in the mists of childhood memory the 1956 Suez crisis, the feeling of panic and humiliation in the air. In that year, too many of us continued to imagine we were more important than we were. The Americans wasted no time in letting us know that we no longer ruled the waves, harassing our ships at sea and threatening us with bankruptcy on the world markets. Say what you like about Theresa May (pictured on Thursday), and I have. But in this matter she has borne herself with dignity and integrity, a quiet, unshowy, resolute and very English sort of dogged courage of the kind I was brought up to admire, writes Peter Hitchens The sense of decline was especially strong in our house, since my father was a Naval officer, and the end of Britain as a world power also meant the rapid shrinking of the fleet and, as it happened, the end of his 30 years in Her Majestys service. Then came the Profumo affair. A once-respected governing class was caught with its trousers down and, while I had no idea what a call-girl was, or what the War Minister was supposed to have done, I sensed ever afterwards that authority had just gone soft and would give way when pushed. And so it proved. In the decades that followed, we abandoned all the things that had made us great. Thatcherism, much misunderstood and over-rated at the time, did little to reverse the underlying decline. Years later, when I finally went to live abroad, I learned how little other countries cared about us. The toughest lesson came in Washington DC, where I observed our powerlessness when Bill Clinton took the side of the Provisional IRA against Britain, his supposed closest democratic ally, and forced us to give in to terror. How I laugh now when they go on, in the USA, about how they will never give in to Al Qaeda or Islamic State, or whoever it is. Oh, really? Those who now moan over Northern Ireland having a special status in the EU deal have left it a bit late. Since Britains forced surrender to Sinn Fein in 1998, arranged to placate Irish votes and political donors in the USA, the province has only been a conditional part of the UK. A single referendum can (and will) hand it over forever to Dublins control at any time. We are a small, increasingly indebted and poorly defended country off the coast of North-West Europe, with an education system which is a global disgrace. We are not the great world power we would like to think we are. What sort of deal did you think such a nation could get from our giant German-dominated neighbour? Personally, Id hoped to shake loose from the frightful European Arrest Warrant but nobody even seems to have asked for that, thanks to our weird obsession with trade over all else. Otherwise, this is what there is. Say what you like about Theresa May, and I have. But in this matter she has borne herself with dignity and integrity, a quiet, unshowy, resolute and very English sort of dogged courage of the kind I was brought up to admire. She has peered over the abyss and knows what is there. Nobody else would have done any better. Let us have it over and done with. The politicians may play their little games for a few days yet, making investments for their future careers. But this is what we can get and if we do not take it, then it will be Suez all over again a few brief weeks of heady fantasy, and many long hard years paying the bill for our illusions. Donald Trumps fanatic supporters are astonishing. Nothing their coarse, menacing, ignorant hero does is ever wrong. But how will they cope with his pitiful failure to pay his respects at an American war cemetery at Belleau Wood, in France, because it was raining? How will Trump supporters (Trump is pictured here at the White House) cope with his pitiful failure to pay his respects at an American war cemetery at Belleau Wood, in France, because it was raining, writes Peter Hitchens As for his jeering at the French, that without the Americans they would now be speaking German, does the German-descended President even know that without France there would be no USA? Does he know that it was French money, French guns and ammunition and, above all, the French navy that saved George Washington from defeat at the hands of Britain and its German mercenaries? I shouldnt think so. Hopeless Beeb flunks another history test I never thought all that much of the BBC series The Night Manager, a silly and nonsensical adaptation of a lightweight book by John le Carre, once a truly great writer, but alas great no longer, thanks to too much adulation. But the attempt to cash in on its success by filming The Little Drummer Girl is much worse. Charlie (played by Florence Pugh) in The Little Drummer Girl, who in the book was repeatedly beaten up by her aggressively nasty Marxist actor boyfriend The story in the book was always hard to credit, though ingenious. But its sideswipes at European Left-wing fanatics of that age were very telling. In the book, the heroine, Charlie (played in the series by Florence Pugh), was repeatedly beaten up by her aggressively nasty Marxist actor boyfriend. You can see lots of reasons why nobody would dare to include that now, but leaving it out makes her decision to throw in her lot with the Israelis much harder to understand. And, yet again, they make characters smoke, to show it is the past, while allowing them to use the modern phrase train station which nobody said in those days. Try it the other way round, some time. The zealots determined to destroy our faith The National Trust has for once retreated, after being caught out using the anti-Christian terms Before Common Era (BCE) and Common Era (CE) at one of its properties. But for how long? Large parts of the BBC, including the increasingly unwatchable quiz show University Challenge, have done the same for years. Many schools do so, though parents will be the last to find out what is going on in these unaccountable, secretive dens of propaganda. A timeline at Avebury Manor in Wiltshire (pictured) used BCE (Before Common Era) and CE (Common Era) instead of Before Christ and Anno Domini (the year of Our Lord) The excuse is always that referring to Anno Domini In the year of our Lord and Before Christ will in some way upset followers of other religions. The same pretext is always used for clumsy attempts to avoid mentioning Easter and Christmas, and the horrible neutered greeting card expressions Seasons Greetings and, worse still, Happy Holidays. But nobody can ever find anyone who is offended by these things. The people who want to stamp out any reference to the word Christ in our culture are the anti-Christian fanatics who have fanned out across the country since the universities began to churn them out in large numbers in the 1960s. Their anthem is John Lennons ghastly song Imagine and their creed is the selfism of the drug abuser and the abortionist: Nobody can tell me what to do with my body. You will notice one very interesting thing about them. They never try to stamp out public expressions of Islam. That is because theyre afraid of it. But whos afraid of Justin Welby? If you want to comment on Peter Hitchens click here Let me be absolutely clear: I am in no doubt there are people who feel they are one gender while having the body of the other. Living with such constant, internal conflict is horrifying for many of those affected, and it should never be ignored. No one should seek to suppress another persons genuinely held sexual orientation or gender identity. But the question we must ask ourselves today is this how do we decide whose needs are genuine? And how, then, should we treat them? Since 2011, specialists at The Tavistock Centres Gender Identity Development Service in London have seen more than 1,000 under-18s I have been a psychotherapist for more than 30 years and, in that time, I have worked with a small but significant number of patients who wished to change gender. For everyones sake, I believe that surgery which is irreversible should only ever be a last resort. We should always begin by working to help the mind fit better with the body before we start altering the body to fit the mind. Yet in todays NHS, professionals are enabling hundreds possibly thousands of teenagers to have major surgery to change their gender. It is being done, almost unchallenged, in the name of transgender rights. But in 20 years time, I believe we will look back on this folly as one of the darkest periods in the history of modern medicine. We will question why we failed to challenge their belief that they were born in the wrong bodies. We will ask why we so readily ignored the clanging alarm bells that many were autistic, or had mental health problems. What we are faced with today is extremely worrying. While 17 children are transitioning in one secondary school, be in no doubt it is almost certainly being repeated in other schools. What is happening is this: we are bringing up a generation of children who have quite complex mental health issues. Identifying as trans can feel like a way to explain that suffering. Rather than understanding where it might be coming from feeling lonely or isolated, being bullied, having an autistic spectrum disorder or struggling with any number of issues from sexuality to abuse to self-harm we are allowing them to change sex. Its a lazy and damaging solution and one which NHS professionals, teachers, politicians and the law are all too eager to embrace to signal their progressive views. In 2015, I published a prize- winning but controversial paper examining whether therapy could replace some patients perceived need for surgery. Personally, I believe that as a society we should celebrate gender variance. Some of my patients have been able to live creatively with the mismatch between their mind and body. Where that isnt possible and where a patient is obviously suffering we should always do something about it. Yet the debate on this issue has been silenced by transgender activists who label as transphobic anyone who dares to challenge their dogma. This blind adherence to ideology has real, dangerous consequences. In my field, for example, many psychotherapists are now afraid to properly question a patient who identifies as trans: afraid to explore their past, ask questions of their sexuality, or look into their mental health. They wont go there, for fear of being struck off. One major problem in todays blinkered reality is that, if you dont affirm a patients claim to be transgender, you can run the risk of being accused of practising conversion therapy. Conversion therapy is the practice of trying to convince a homosexual person that they are really straight. Its abhorrent, and is rightly banned. Now, powerful bodies including the NHS and major counselling organisations have signed a Memorandum of Understanding an agreement on how to practise which extends the definition of conversion therapy to cover patients who might be transgender. Online: Young children watch transgender YouTube star Miles McKenna And this well-meaning memorandum is being used by trans activists to stop therapists, psychologists and others from asking rigorous questions about whether or not a patient does, in fact, have genuine gender dysphoria. A therapist might have good cause to believe that the trans-identifying teenage boy in front of them hates his body because he was abused as a child and feels vulnerable. But they cant explore that possibility. They might spot a pattern of several schoolgirls saying they are trans, after witnessing a peer transformed from social non-entity to social butterfly after identifying as a trans-boy. The attraction of popularity should not be overlooked. Yet none of these possibilities can now be safely raised by psychotherapists, psychiatrists or teachers. Recently, 650 trans activists signed a letter published in Therapy Today, the house magazine of the British Association of Counselling and Psychotherapy, calling on anyone not practising affirmation therapy to be booted out. If the Government presses ahead with plans to allow people to self- identify as whatever gender they like, without external validation, I fear that would strengthen the hand of those arguing for trans-affirmative therapy. But in my view, to avoid asking such probing questions of patients who claim to be trans especially teenagers is a cowardly dereliction of our duty. We abdicate our responsibility if we simply become their Yes men, just passing them on to the next stage of the sex-change process. The danger is that, once on the medical pathway which leads to a sex change, its very hard to get off. Youngsters referred to the Gender Identity Development Service run by The Tavistock and Portman NHS Foundation Trust in London undergo just six sessions to assess whether or not they are trans. Several members of staff have told me they are quietly appalled that, too often, no psychotherapy is offered before they start medical treatment. They are then given puberty blocker drugs which halt physical developments powerful medicines not even licensed for transgender treatment which we know can weaken the bones, perhaps for life. There is little long-term data on their safety yet the NHS routinely hands them out. Then most will receive cross-sex hormones, which carry their own risks. Giving testosterone to females, for instance, can raise the risk of ovarian cancer. Exactly how many make the full surgical transition to the opposite sex is unclear. Whether it brings lasting happiness is even less so. Short-term studies, usually conducted soon after surgery, suggest patients are immediately happier. But the few long-term studies that exist paint a different picture. One, which followed men who had transitioned to be women for 15 to 20 years after surgery, showed they had a 20-times higher risk of suicide than others matched for age, social class and mental health problems. On YouTube, some transsexuals are now posting videos warning young people not to go ahead with reassignment. The backlash has begun. It surely cant be long before more difficult questions will be asked by a new generation. They will ask why nobody stopped them, told them treatment could destroy their sex life or warned them that it would make them infertile and might not make them happy after all. They might also have lawyers asking the same questions, eyeing millions of pounds in compensation. We need some honesty now, free from political correctness. Otherwise, we are heading towards catastrophe. Audio recording of the Third A. K. Ramanujan Lecture delivered by musician and public intellectual T.M. Krishna, on February 20, 2018 at Ramjas College, University of Delhi. The History Society, Ramjas College, instituted the A.K. Ramanujan Lecture in 2012, in defence of academic freedom. An essay Three Hundred Ramayanas, by the scholar-folklorist A.K. Ramanujan was removed from the Delhi University History syllabus after it came under attack by a group of fundamentalists in 2008. [This recording part of sacw.net archive] Jacob Rees-Mogg needs to work on his common touch skills. The high priest of Brexit, who led calls for Mrs May to be toppled last week, has complained that he is struggling to make ends meet. The multi-millionaire told the Sydney Morning Herald: Nobody can afford to live in London. Im not sure I can! I wish I were joking. Given Jacobs property portfolio includes a 5 million townhouse in Westminster, Dog trusts hell be fine Jacob Rees-Mogg in Westminster, London this week as he made his views clear on Theresa May's draft Brexit agreement Boris Johnson fuelled reports hes limbering up for a tilt at the Tory leadership by bowling up to Labours Tom Watson and asking how he managed to shed six stone. How did you lose it all? asked BoJo, who reputedly piled it on as Foreign Secretary because tighter security meant he couldnt cycle to work. Cut out refined sugars, said Tom. And get back on your bike, he could have added. Sweet reconciliation for sugar-storm pair Commons aide Caroline Edmondson, who was asked to buy sex toys for International Trade Minister Mark Garnier. Peace has broken out between Tory MP Mark Garnier and the ex-aide he called sugar t**s. Caroline Edmondson, left, who complained that Mr Garnier had used the disparaging moniker in front of multiple witnesses before sending her out to buy a sex toy says the pair ended their near decade-long feud at a Commons reception for the British divers who led the rescue of boys trapped in caves in Thailand. It made us realise that life is too short! she told Dog. Hailing Theresa May, loyal Tory Minister Jake Berry saluted her EU accord as the Cuprinol deal it should do what it says on the tin transition Britain in an orderly way out of the EU. Except the famous old slogan is used by woodstain maker Ronseal. Oops. Screen idol anguish Michael Portillos rubbishing of Mrs Mays Brexit deal as worse than staying in the EU will have been particularly painful for Downing Street communications supremo Robbie Gibb. Back in his days as a Tory HQ staffer in the late 1990s, Gibbs computer screen-saver was a picture of the then heir apparent for party modernisers the blessed Miguel himself. Flamboyant Tory knight of the shire Desmond Swayne was stopped and searched as he was about to enter the Commons. I was in my running gear with a backpack and the policeman wanted to search it, he says without complaint. Did he find anything? No. Thankfully, I wasnt carrying what I sometimes do a very sharp knife for my morning grapefruit. The Duchess of Cambridge has been sporting a new favourite accessory of late - the headband. Kate, 36, wore a chic black velvet headband by milliner Jane Taylor while attending a service of remembrance at Westminster Abbey on Sunday, along with a recycled green coat by designer Catherine Walker. The mother-of-three sported another headband by Juliette Botterill, adorned with blue flowers, when attending the wedding of friend Sophie Carter in Norfolk. The Duchess first wore the new millinery style in the form of a woven cream headband decorated with flowers, also by Jane Taylor, at Prince Louis' christening back in July. Experts have suggested that Kate's 'regal' choice of accessory may be a way of distinguishing herself from the Duchess of Sussex, 37. Kate, 36, has been sporting a new millinery style, wearing a chic black velvet headband by milliner Jane Taylor while attending a service of remembrance at Westminster Abbey on Sunday (above) Stylist Rochelle White told FEMAIL: 'This is definitely a more regal style that Kate is wearing. The style of the headbands are very similar to a tiara but can be worn on most royal engagements.' She continued: 'I think Kate could be trying to distinguish herself from Meghan. They have been compared a lot recently in regards to their fashion choices, styles and colour palettes. 'Kate has fine-tuned her style and status over the years and I think this is her becoming more confident in her royal role.' While the Duchess of Cambridge opted for a headband at the service of remembrance at Westminster Abbey, the Duchess of Sussex opted for a black beret-style hat by milliner Stephen Jones. The Duchess of Cambridge sported another headband by Juliette Botterill, adorned with blue flowers (above), when attending the wedding of friend Sophie Carter in Norfolk The Duchess first wore the new millinery style in the form of a woven cream headband decorated with flowers, also by Jane Taylor, (above) at Prince Louis' christening back in July Meghan opted for a traditional fascinator by the same designer when she attended Louis' christening in July. Royal fans have praised Kate's new headbands, agreeing that they distinguish her look from Meghan's and describing the choice as 'creative'. One Instagram user wrote 'I think they look lovely on her', while another added 'I love this trend so much. Hope to see more of these!' Others said the headbands reminded them of Tudor-style headpiece, suggesting they distinguished Kate's position as future Queen. The Duchess of Sussex, 37, played it safe with a black beret-style hat by milliner Stephen Jones for the service of remembrance at Westminster Abbey on Sunday Meghan opted for a traditional fascinator by Stephen Jones when she attended Louis' christening in July (above) One fan commented: 'Love the Tudor style!!! Reminiscent of a crown/tiara distinguishing the the future Princess of Wales and Queen Consort.' Another posted: 'They remind me of tiaras, I like them :)' Prior to baby Louis' christening in July, the Duchess of Cambridge had gone for more traditional headpiece for formal occasions. However, she did opt for a more traditional fascinator styles for the Remembrance Day commemorations at the Cenotaph on Sunday, as well as Princess Eugenie's wedding last month. H&M has released a pair of ballet flats that are very similar to a Chloe pair - but they cost just a fraction of the price. The High Street retailer's black pumps are priced at 8.99, and feature a distinctive scallop-edge. The shoes - made of 'imitation suede' - are already flying off shelves, with only two sizes still available online. The H&M shoes appear to have been inspired by Chloe's Lauren ballerina flats, priced at 325, which are made out of suede kidskin and feature the brand's signature scalloped edge. H&M's Scallop-edged ballet pumps (above), priced at 8.99, are flying off shelves, with only two sizes still available online The shoes are similar to Chloe's Lauren ballerina flats (above), priced at 325, which are made out of suede kidskin The similarity between the shoes was first spotted by Instagram user @rosa_h_f, with other fans quick to agree. Chloe's Lauren ballerina flats are available in a range of colours and effects, including snakeskin. On the French fashion house's website, the shoes are described as a 'timeless classic' and a 'comfortable favourite for effortlessly stylish daywear'. The brand adds that the 'signature scalloped edges lend a romantic charm' to the ballet flats. H&M's ballet pumps (pictured from above) are made of 'imitation suede' and feature a scalloped edged Chloe's Lauren ballerina flats (above), described as a 'timeless classic', are available in a range of colours and effects H&M are also selling its 8.99 Scallop-edged ballet pumps in a leather effect, which are similar in style to Chloe's pair made from sheepskin, which are priced at 295. It's not the first time the High Street brand has helped shoppers emulate designer trends when it comes to its footwear department. Earlier this year, the retailer released a pair of slingback shoes, priced at 29.99, which were made from imitation leather and suede, and featured a bow at the back. They were almost identical to a pair of kitten heels by Danish designer Ganni, which cost 210. Earlier this year, H&M released a pair of on-trend slingback heels, priced at just 29.99 (above) One in five women in Britain has been sent an unwanted sexual image, according to a poll which reveals the dark side of the smartphone age. Research for The Mail on Sunday found that 19 per cent of women have received an unsolicited sexual photo from someone who was not their romantic partner. For men, the figure was one in six. Among younger women, it is even more common 40 per cent of women aged between 18 and 34 said they had received unwanted images, with 26 per cent of men in that age bracket reporting the same. One in five women in Britain has been sent an unwanted sexual image, according to a poll which reveals the dark side of the smartphone age (stock image) The images are sent from various sources, with some victims targeted via multiple platforms. Sixty-two per cent have had pictures sent by text or messaging app, 35 per cent via social media and 17 per cent on email. But the latest disturbing trend is 'cyberflashing', which allows someone nearby to transmit a photograph, even without their mobile number, by using an iPhone's 'AirDrop' function. YouGov researchers, who polled 1,629 UK adults for this newspaper, discovered that one in a hundred victims received unwanted images this way, often on public transport. Ella Storey, 24, a recent victim, said she was targeted at Green Park Tube station in Central London. 'I was already on my phone when it flashed up,' she said. 'I panicked and rejected it straight away.' In another incident last month, a woman confronted a man who was sending pictures of his genitals to several women in a train carriage. Among younger women, it is even more common 40 per cent of women aged between 18 and 34 said they had received unwanted images, with 26 per cent of men in that age bracket reporting the same (stock image) A fellow passenger tweeted: 'I applaud the woman on this train who just called out the guy sending d**k pics by airdrop to half the ladies in the carriage.' British Transport Police said they received just two or three reports of 'cyberflashing' each month. But Detective Inspector Ashley Cooper said: 'As with other forms of sexual harassment, we believe that cases of cyberflashing go largely unreported either because victims don't feel the incident is serious enough to report or simply because they don't know where to turn.' Tory MP Maria Miller, chairman of the Women's and Equality Committee, warned that the scourge of unsolicited pictures could become a crisis. She said: 'What the Government needed a year ago, indeed two years ago, was a more comprehensive bill against all image-based abuse. If they don't do that now, we are sleepwalking into a crisis.' With nearly two million followers on Instagram, model Gabby Epstein leads a luxurious life many women her age can only dream of. At just 24, the stunning blonde gets paid to travel the world to promote swimwear, beauty, fashion, hotel and lifestyle brands as a 'social media influencer'. And her scrumptious feed has become so successful, she now makes more money from a single post than she did for working four days as a professional model. Her secret? The lifestyle blogger is one of 700,000 Instagrammers using PLANN THAT - a social media strategy app that helps you create unique filters and develop a signature brand. Speaking to Daily Mail Australia, PLANN founder Christy Laurence, from Sydney, revealed the five common mistakes people are making that's limiting their success on Instagram - and how you can turn your feed into a lucrative career. With nearly two million followers on Instagram, model Gabby Epstein (pictured) leads a luxurious life many women her age can only dream of PLANN founder Christy Laurence revealed the five common mistakes people are making that's limiting their success on Instagram - and how you can turn your feed into a lucrative career Common mistakes people make that's limiting success on Instagram HASHTAGS: A lot of people don't know how to research, choose and use hashtags so that they grow their accounts consistently and reach their ideal audience A lot of people don't know how to research, choose and use hashtags so that they grow their accounts consistently and reach their ideal audience CONTENT QUALITY: Blurry photos and grainy videos aren't going to cut it in the fast-paced world of the 'gram. Blurry photos and grainy videos aren't going to cut it in the fast-paced world of the 'gram. CAPTIONS: The captions that perform the best are under one paragraph in length and have an attention-grabbing first few words The captions that perform the best are under one paragraph in length and have an attention-grabbing first few words INTERACTION: The secret sauce to get your new Instagram account up and running is to make sure to spend at least 20 minutes interacting with other Instagram users. The secret sauce to get your new Instagram account up and running is to make sure to spend at least 20 minutes interacting with other Instagram users. RUMOURS: One of the biggest mistakes that we all make from time to time is buying into the Instagram rumours that run rampant in Facebook groups and on the internet Advertisement 'If you want to turn your Instagram account into a money-making platform the first thing that you need to decide is what exactly you are going to sell,' she explained. 'I know this seems obvious, but if you are a content creator it is really important that you list out exactly what you can offer and then make that super clear in your marketing. 'So if you're a fashion boutique for example, sharing photos of stunning girls wearing your clothes, but your bio description isn't clear some people may assume that you are a blogger or feature account. 'To make money on Instagram, what you offer as a product or service needs to be fairly obvious. Mention what you offer in your bio, share promotional posts on occasion, and choose a good bio link.' Travel bloggers, celebrities and YouTube stars can earn anywhere between $250 to $100,000 per post. 'It depends on their individual engagement rates, how well the brands mesh together and if an influencer has been able to attract a specific audience attractive for particular brands,' she explained. Here, Christy highlighted the five common mistakes you could be making that's sabotaging your chances of building a successful money-making platform. HASHTAGS 'The first most common mistake that people make is their hashtag strategy,' she said. 'A lot of people don't know how to research, choose and use hashtags so that they grow their accounts consistently and reach their ideal audience. 'Ideally you should change up your hashtag sets every month to keep seeing growth.' Travel bloggers and celebrities can earn anywhere between $250 to $100,000 per post The lifestyle blogger is one of 700,000 Instagrammers using PLANN THAT - a social media strategy app that helps you create unique filters and develop a signature brand CONTENT QUALITY With more than one billion users across the world, Christy said another error she has noticed was content quality. 'Blurry photos and grainy videos aren't going to cut it in the fast-paced world of the 'gram,' she said. CAPTIONS 'After a lot of research, we've found the captions that perform the best are under one paragraph (four sentences) in length and have an attention-grabbing first few words,' she said. 'It's really important to 'hook' your audience as soon as possible otherwise they'll just keep on scrolling.' INTERACTIONS 'The secret sauce to get your new Instagram account up and running is to make sure to spend at least 20 minutes interacting with other Instagram users,' she said. 'Go through the hashtags that you've decided to use and leave genuine comments on other people's posts. 'Find new accounts to follow and make friends - at the end of the day, social media is about being social.' Gabby's scrumptious feed has become so successful, she now makes more money from a single post than she did for working four days as a professional model Like any business, Christy said a lot of hard work goes into building a brand BEHIND THE SCENES Like any business, Christy said a lot of hard work goes into building a brand. 'Creating high-quality content for Instagram isn't all fun and games,' she said. 'Content creators who share beautiful photos of themselves lounging on a lilo in the middle of a pool with flowers and tropical delights scattered around may well have spent hours preparing for that one shot. 'And then after the perfect photo is snapped? There's editing, hashtag strategy, caption strategy and engagement strategy. PHEW! There is a lot to think about.' To build an engaging feed, Christy advised you need to make sure your account is 'consistently you'. 'Everyone needs a signature style on Instagram. It is also handy to have a theme to your account whether it is travel photos, outfit photos, entrepreneur life,' she said. 'If your content isn't visually appealing, no-one will want to see it popping up in their newsfeed every time they go to refresh. 'First impressions are everything so make sure that your Instagram account looks incredible as soon as someone lands on it.' To build an engaging feed, you need to make sure your Instagram account is 'consistently you' The best way to boost your followers is to engage with other Instagram users 20 minutes a day DON'T BUY YOUR FOLLOWERS Trying to stand out from the crowd can be challenging. But the best way to boost your followers is to engage with other Instagram users, Christy explained. 'Don't fall for the traps of buying for followers or likes - this will ruin your account and you'll never get Instagram verification,' she said. 'Instead you should focus on creating quality content, engaging with others, and if you want a big boost you should try tagging relevant "feature accounts" who re-gram content under a certain theme.' BEST TIME TO POST 'It is completely different for everybody,' she said. 'Try out different times to post - usually around times when people in your locality eat food, like breakfast, lunch, dinner. Those times tend to be the most popular. 'After you've got lots of posts that have been shared at varying times you can check your analytics to discover your best times to post per day.' Bemused internet users have shared the most hilarious design fails they have come across in their daily lives. In an amusing thread compiled on Bored Panda, users posted a series of baffling sightings - including a toilet placed in the middle of a stairway. Elsewhere a few hastily compiled questionnaires left users thoroughly confused, with one asking if they had ever been in an accident that 'resulted in their death'. And one retirement home surely regretted putting a fire alarm switch next to the light switch, in a compilation of very funny fails. In a hilarious Bored Panda thread, people from around the world shared the funniest design fails they have ever come across. One passerby spotted this unfortunately placed advert while on holiday Meanwhile nurses in this retirement home surely resented whoever decided to install a fire alarm control switch right next to a light switch In one instance an innocent Airbnb guest was left perplexed on stumbling across a toilet placed in the middle of a stairway, making for very awkward run-ins in the corridor And what may have initially seemed a good idea turned rather more revolting, when the design for this golden toilet seat turned into what resembled dripping fluids Meanwhile a student wasn't sure what to think when he stumbled across an awkwardly written sign for a group counselling session on Suicide Awareness And Prevention Day One form user was left rather perplexed when a questionnaire asked him whether he had ever been in an accident that had resulted in his death, in the hilarious thread of design fails And one rather spooky night light which left just the goldfish's eyes beaming red after lights out would surely be less than comforting for any child Elsewhere a North London electricity company's slogan would surely leave most unsuspecting wives filled with fear, in a series of hilarious design fails And an advert for 'fun clowns for kids' was perhaps not the most appealing as it appeared to be written in fake blood, in the series of design fails Elsewhere this security gate which unwittingly doubled up as a ladder was perhaps not the most clever design to ward off would-be burglars And a statue of a woman cradling a chicken was rather less angelic after the placement of her finger was revealed, in a series of hilarious design fails Meanwhile in another questionnaire fail, one young user was left confused upon being asked to explain why he was under the age of 18 Elsewhere an eagle-eyed viewer couldn't hide his amusement when he spotted the result of a nude coloured bike saddle in this hilarious picture She has been enjoying a working holiday in Beijing as part of her role as an ambassador for Bulgari. And Lady Kitty Spencer, 27, looked to be making the most of her trip abroad as she visited the Great Wall of China over the weekend. The niece of the late Princess Diana posted an Instagram picture as she took in her picturesque surroundings before riding the 'China slide' down the attraction. Scroll down for video Lady Kitty Spencer, 27, looked to be making the most of her business trip to Beijing with Bulgari as she visited the Great Wall of China over the weekend Dressed in a chic white poloneck jumper, black leggings and trainers Kitty put on a stylish display as she posed on the wall, framed by the stunning view. With her hair scraped into a bun, aviator sunglasses covering her face and her arms spread out, she captioned the snap: 'Something to cross off my Bucket List! 'What a phenomenal experience tobogganing down the Great Wall of China. I will never forget this day'. And the fearless model soon added a video of her ride down the 'China slide' to her post, which quickly garnered almost 8,000 likes. The toboggan slide has previously boasted celebrity visitors including Michelle Obama, and lets tourists take a five minute ride on a ground-level cart at speeds of around 12km, while taking in the staggering views. The niece of the late Princess Diana posted a picture as she took in her picturesque surroundings, even riding the 'China slide' down the historical attraction The toboggan slide, pictured, has previously boasted celebrity visitors including Michelle Obama, and lets tourists take a five minute ride on a ground-level cart at speeds of around 12km, while taking in the staggering views Gushing over her snaps, fans quickly took to the post to comment on her adventure, with one writing: 'Always wanted to do that awesome slide!'. Another admitted: 'I admire you ! Beijing is my hometown yet I never have a chance to go to the great wall.' Having being flown out to China for an event with Bulgari, the model has since embarked on a number of sightseeing trips. 'What a phenomenal experience tobogganing down the Great Wall of China. I will never forget this day', she said of the experience. She shared this photo on Instagram Gushing over her snaps, fans quickly took to the post to comment on her adventure, with one writing: 'Always wanted to do that awesome slide!' Dressed in a red coat to match her surroundings, along with a black poloneck top and leggings, Kitty was seen visiting the Lama Temple, a monastery of Tibetan Buddhism in the Dongcheng District. Posing alongside the stunning attraction in a series of pictures, Kitty cut a stylish figure as she took in the local sights. 'Lama Temple. The most beautiful Mongolian-Tibetan temples & Buddhas, including a fifty-four-foot high Buddha carved from one piece of Tibetan sandalwood. Peaceful and serene and magical', she captioned the snap. The trip is another in a long line of plush breaks Kitty has enjoyed as part of her work with the luxury fashion house. Having being flown out to China for an event with Bulgari, the model has since embarked on a number of sightseeing trips, including to Lama Temple, a monastery of Tibetan Buddhism in the Dongcheng District, pictured The model shared snaps from the landmark, pictured, as she explored the Chinese capital The Tatler cover girl has had a busy year, recently jetting back from Rome where she walked for Dolce & Gabbana, and is notching up the engagements after turning up at a never-ending reel of celebrity parties and society weddings. Kitty boasts 459,000 followers on Instagram, where she posts endless photos showcasing her glamorous modelling career and glitzy social life. The socialite grew up in South Africa, reading psychology, politics and English at the University of Cape Town. And she could be set to make up to 2million a year if she continues to secure lucrative contracts with fashion brands, a branding expert recently revealed. She is on warm terms with William and Harry, and is an ambassador for homelessness charity Centrepoint -of which William is patron, but is not in their inner circle. After years of suffering from mental health issues, Lucy Fry was happy to see celebrities encouraging others to speak out. Then she tried to get life insurance and discovered the secret downside of opening up Author and journalist Lucy Fry Who doesnt remember how moving it was when Prince Harry opened up about the 20-year emotional shutdown he experienced after the death of his mother? Similarly affecting was Adeles admission that shed suffered postnatal depression after the birth of her son. This raw openness from such high-profile figures felt taboo-breaking, as though it was ushering in a new era of understanding and acceptance around mental illness and other sufferers have been encouraged to follow suit. But should the rest of us really be so unguarded? I vehemently agree that openness is the antidote to shame, and that it fosters both compassion and connection. Yet discrimination still lurks as I know to my cost. A few months ago, around my sons first birthday, I decided to take out life insurance. Scary as it is to contemplate ones mortality, becoming a parent has forced me to consider such morbid stuff. Except it didnt go as planned, because the two providers I approached declined my application. One said it was because I had once been referred to an alcohol specialist on account of my drinking issues while the other, who I had to chase for information on this, named my recent visits to a psychiatrist (for help with depression) as the problem. Adele has been upfront about her postnatal depression I called both providers to explain that a) yes, Im a recovering addict but have been teetotal for seven years; b) I am in good mental health and have a strong emotional support system around me, including weekly psychotherapy and a supportive family; c) I exercise four times a week, eat well, dont smoke, have a healthy body weight and excellent cholesterol readings. None of these things helped my cause. Even the lady on the phone agreed it was unfair a sort of computer says no blanket policy against anyone with a history of addiction or psychiatric issues. Perhaps this is just the nature of insurance? But its hard not to feel affronted, particularly since, as it stands, if my partner dies our mortgage gets paid off (she applied to the same providers and was accepted straightaway) whereas if I die she gets nothing. Many people are charged a higher premium or refused cover altogether if they have had a mental health problem in the past, even if they have recovered, says Michael Henson-Webb, head of legal at mental health charity Mind. Some insurers are operating with a total lack of transparency and many people are none the wiser as to why they have been declined. If youre royalty or a pop star, the negative effects of coming out about mental struggles arent a big deal, but for the rest of us the consequences can be catastrophic Travel insurance isnt much better. Recent research (by the charity Money and Mental Health) shows that one in three people with mental health problems have travelled with no insurance to cover their mental health because it was too expensive or their condition was excluded. So someone with depression would be able to claim on travel insurance if they have to cancel plans due to a physical complaint but not as a result of a mental one. Money and Mental Health director Helen Undy says: Half of us will experience a mental health problem at some point in our lives. If the travel insurance market doesnt work for half of customers, then its really not working at all. If youre royalty or a popstar, the negative financial effects of coming out about mental health struggles arent such a big deal. The rest of us, however, have cause for concern. On top of the financial repercussions of disclosure, there can be romantic costs. Im lucky: having been with my partner for more than ten years, I cant claim to have experienced discrimination on the dating scene. Im pretty sure, though, that my periods of despair wouldnt be the first thing Id mention on a date but some people cant hide their struggles as easily as I can mine. Take Laura, 40, who has many raised red lines on her upper legs from self-harming. I can hide the scars, she says, but whenever it comes to getting intimate, theres always that moment when the other person sees the scars and their eyes bulge. I suppose I should warn them beforehand but Im worried about scaring them off. So I just wait Sometimes they freak out and run away there and then. Sometimes they run away the next morning. My struggles are right there, on my skin. People say we should be open but most of the time they dont want to see. The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, with Prince Harry, launched the Heads Together campaign, aimed at raising awareness of mental health issues, in 2017 Admitting to his demons might make Prince Harry appear appealingly vulnerable, but for some of us, being transparent about mental illness can lead to a whole new set of problems. In the workplace, for instance, theres often a huge gulf between peoples avowed principles and how they actually behave. As a freelance writer who specialises in mental, physical and emotional health, Ive managed to make my own struggles work for me. Like all freelancers, however, I live with constant uncertainty about whether I will get the commission next time. Journalism is all about reliability, speed and making yourself available. I would rather say I have a stomach upset than tell an editor that Im under the duvet, crying. Emma Mamo, head of workplace wellbeing at Mind, says: While public attitudes towards people with mental health problems have improved theres still stigma; however, staff who need time off sick because of depression should be treated the same as those who take days off for back pain. Recent survey results suggest that currently a devastating one in four workers suffer their mental health issues in silence, but that when managers support them they take fewer days off work (a win-win situation). How are people meant to open up about mental health if those around them dont offer support? No employer has ever treated my depression the same way as they would a physical illness, one friend, a teacher, told me recently. One episode was covertly dealt with by my head of department who said to me, You dont want this to go up to senior management. The implication was that they might deem me an unreliable employee. I got the impression that it was best for me to limp on. Louise, a 32-year-old paediatric nurse who was signed off work by a doctor for her debilitating anxiety, was required to attend regular face-to-face meetings in order to receive her pay. They were clearly just box-ticking exercises: those in charge didnt appear to care about my wellbeing only my capacity to work, she says. How are people meant to open up about mental health if those around them dont offer support? Yet the alternative is that somebody keeps quiet about their illness and ends up causing harm to a patient or themselves. In my line of work when people push themselves too far, terrible things can happen. This situation isnt unusual in nursing, says Kim Sunley, national officer at the Royal College of Nursing: Many nurses report high levels of stress and a lack of support from employers. Nurses feel pressured to work even when they are feeling ill, which can exacerbate health problems. Clearly, many companies pay lip service to the idea of supporting mental illness, but dont actually carry it through into how they treat their staff. Thankfully, this isnt always the case. Bernice, 26, a market researcher who suffers with anxiety and depression, had a very positive experience with her company from the day she revealed her mental health issues. I was hesitant to put my anxiety on my health form when I started the job, but Im so glad I did, she says. On my first day, my head of department sat me down over coffee and told me I could speak to him any time I wanted if I was struggling. This was hugely validating as she had suffered stigma in former workplaces. In previous jobs, I had stayed quiet, going off in secret to have a panic attack or not turning up on really bad days, says Bernice. I felt as though my anxiety was an inconvenience to everyone else. Often, when I came back from being off work, my colleagues would make it clear they were annoyed. But now I felt like the whole of me was accepted in my workplace. My manager even asked me what I needed on bad days. Jo Loughran, director of the mental health campaign Time to Change, says: Listening and not judging are two of the most significant things you can do. Be aware that it can be hard to have conversations about mental health at work, so be patient with the person concerned. Whatever the case, just asking how theyre doing can go a long way. To talk or not to talk? Thats the question for people with mental health issues. The last thing I want to do is encourage anyone back into a closet of shame and self-hatred by pointing out the risks we face from being open. We need to keep speaking up as long as discrimination against those with mental illness exists. Questioning insurers, employers and even potential partners on why theyve turned you down is more powerful than you might think. And if I miss a deadline again during a bout of depression, Im going to tell the truth and trust that my employers wont think less of me as a result. Tony Hetherington is Financial Mail on Sunday's ace investigator, fighting readers corners, revealing the truth that lies behind closed doors and winning victories for those who have been left out-of-pocket. Find out how to contact him below. D.G. writes: I used my HSBC Visa debit card to book flights with Air Canada costing 4,189. The airline 'blocked' this sum on my card but then two days later it collected the payment by making two separate withdrawals of just over 2,094 each. Yet Air Canada did not remove the block on 4,189 and my account fell into debit. I only discovered this when I tried to use a cash machine and my card was rejected. Mess: The airline failed to remove the 4,189 block on a customers debit card Tony replies: Many cardholders will be unaware that this system of blocking even exists, simply because most companies operate it smoothly. The idea is that if you book something which cannot be immediately confirmed, or you check into a hotel and have no idea how much you will spend on meals and drinks, the business can 'pre-authorise' a big slice of the spending allowed on your card. It blocks this sum until the final bill is known. Your first instinct was to blame HSBC for not lifting the block. In fact, HSBC did its best to help you by offering a temporary cash advance. But the blunt fact was that only Air Canada could lift the block it had imposed, effectively freezing your funds. The effect was not pleasant. While you fought to get Air Canada to lift the block, you had to transfer savings into your current account to keep it afloat. You also had to offer an embarrassing apology to a friend because you were unable to repay a loan. Air Canada, though, insisted it had done nothing wrong. It had drawn its 4,189 and it reasoned that Visa and HSBC should have spotted that the two chunks of money it collected added up to the right amount and they should have lifted the block. Fine except that this is not how the banking system works. UK Finance, the trade body for banks and card companies, told me: 'When a pre-authorisation is taken, once the final amount is known and confirmed, there is an obligation for the merchant to inform their acquirer who must then instruct the issuer to release these funds.' WE'RE WATCHING YOU Banned: Robin Harrison The boss of a home heating company has been banned from holding any directorship, two-and-a-half years after I called on the Insolvency Service to kick him out of the boardroom. Robin Harrison, 50, of Sowerby Bridge in West Yorkshire, headed Complete Energy Europe Limited, a Manchester business that claimed to offer super-efficient radiators using graphene. In 2016, I warned that his company had pocketed 4,000 from a customer despite its own surveyor ruling the new radiators were not suitable for the customer's home. I revealed that Harrison had previously run two companies that were shut down by the High Court over unpaid debts. I called on the Insolvency Service to ban him. Harrison has now been disqualified from acting as the director of any company for the next 11 years. Insolvency Service investigators say he used 'objectionable sales practices to sell heating systems' and that his company 'made false and misleading claims about the cost and efficiency of the product'. Harrison continued to market these systems even after it was known they were faulty or even dangerous, investigators found, and his company raked in 1.69 million. In plain English, this means that once Air Canada took its 4,189, it should have told its own bank to tell Visa as well as HSBC to remove the block immediately. It is nonsense for Air Canada to say that anyone should have guessed that the two payments it collected added up to the blocked amount. I asked Air Canada why it had not followed banking rules and why it had confusingly collected its 4,189 in two separate transactions. As if the problem had only just happened, it told me: 'Air Canada has contacted the relevant bank to request a reversal of the amount concerned.' It added: 'It is the responsibility of the bank concerned to remove the authorisation hold and release the funds.' This is a complete and disgraceful abdication of responsibility by Air Canada. It does not even say which bank it contacted. Does it mean its own bank? Or HSBC? It is definitely not the responsibility of HSBC to remove the block. When I pressed Air Canada to say why it had made such a mess, it ridiculously sent me just a second copy of its first statement. It failed to answer even a single question. It refused to offer any explanation. It also got the banking rules wrong. You got your money back through your own efforts, so for Air Canada to tell me now that it has contacted any bank is just a pathetic attempt at a whitewash. This is a major airline that is the flag carrier of a major nation. Shame on it. Its customers and Canada deserve better. Why can't Barclays get a grip of my Isa switch? J.M. writes: I have about 306,000 in Barclays Isa and share accounts. I asked Barclays to transfer 65,000 to Hargreaves Lansdown and the same to IWEB, part of Halifax, in order to spread risk. The transfers were not made. I complained. Barclays offered 200 compensation, but this was not paid. It offered 50 to compensate for not paying the 200, but failed to pay this as well. Tony replies: You are just one of many investors caught up in the mounting chaos that followed the bank's move from its traditional stockbroking business to something it called Barclays Smart Investor. The really smart investors seem to be those who bailed out. Barclays did eventually transfer 28,000 to IWEB, five months after you applied. One reader is annoyed that Barclays can't get a grip of their Isa switch You complained to the Financial Ombudsman Service, but the bank did not respond to it either. But curiously, IWEB told you that Barclays had sent it shares in Tritax Big Box, worth about 3,000. Why curious? Because you have no such shares. Both you and I have been bashing away at Barclays for months and the final transfer to Hargreaves Lansdown was made eight months after you requested it. The last of the investment transfers to IWEB went ahead one year after you requested it. Barclays has also paid the 250 it promised, though I believe the ombudsman may still top this up. What a shambles. If you believe you are the victim of financial wrongdoing, write to Tony Hetherington at Financial Mail, 2 Derry Street, London W8 5TS or email tony.hetherington@mailonsunday.co.uk. Because of the high volume of enquiries, personal replies cannot be given. Please send only copies of original documents, which we regret cannot be returned. cnn.com, November 13, 2018 (CNN) Has Asia Bibi left Pakistan or not? The rumor mill is working overtime because peace in Pakistan depends on the whereabouts of the Christian woman, acquitted of blasphemy charges after nine years in prison. News of her acquittal on October 31 was met with the shutdown of major roads in cities such as Lahore, Karachi and Islamabad, where cars were burnt and smashed by mobs organized by the Tehreek e Labbaik party (TLP), an extremist religious party. Even the news of her release from prison was greeted by a baying mob of thousands of men who waved banners demanding that she be hanged a terrifying and visceral picture of the patriarchy in action. Despite being declared innocent by the courts, it is Asia who is on the run like a criminal and needs to leave the country before the mobs track her down. Even her lawyer, Saiful Malook, had to uproot his life and family and seek asylum in the Netherlands. Other less well-known members of her legal team like Muhammad Aman Ullah, who has stayed behind in Pakistan, is fearful for his life. How did this happen in a so-called democracy like Pakistan? Ever since the military dictator Zia ul Haq began the Islamisation process of Pakistan in the 1980s, religious leaders have acquired unprecedented power. Saiful Malook, who I interviewed in late 2017 while he was preparing Asias case, lays the blame firmly on Zia ul Haq. "He made them ministers, gave them cars, built them bungalows, got them involved in government. Before that the religious leaders were quite weak, now they are stakeholders in government and in corruption." It was Zia ul Haq who revived the dormant British law on blasphemy by increasing the maximum penalty from 10 years to death. Yet the irony is that to date no one has been executed by the state on the charge of blasphemy, but many have been killed by the mob one estimate is 75. It is also this mob rule that prevents the quick dispatch of blasphemy cases in the lower courts, even when the evidence provided is as flimsy as a flight of fantasy. The political strategy of the extremists has been to pack out the courts at every blasphemy hearing so that judges are reduced to nervous wrecks and refuse to take on cases, pleading ill health. If they do hear the cases, they simply do not acquit defendants. Lower-court judges are typically less educated and more sympathetic to the religious lobby. Saiful Malook recounts the story of the judge who sentenced Asia Bibi to death, who has preserved the pen which he used to sign off her judgment as a source of pride. The higher up you go in the Pakistani legal system, the more likely you are to get justice because judges further up the hierarchy are paid well and have security provided by the state. Of course, even this security can turn out to be illusory as Salman Taseer, Governor of Punjab, was to discover when he was killed by his own guard in 2011 for visiting Asia in prison and calling for her to be released. The few lawyers who take on these life-threatening cases command huge fees. Many of the blasphemy victims, like Asia, are just too poor to go all the way up to the Supreme Court and languish for years in prison. But Asia caught the public imagination and donations poured into her campaign from all over the world. Rights organizations like Amnesty International also stepped in to help fund some of the legal fees. Although the leadership of subsequent governments after Zia has been drawn from the liberal elites whose personal lives have eschewed religion to a greater or lesser degree, all of them, except General Pervez Musharraf, have relied on religious parties for their power. It was a strategy of appeasement and vote garnering. Benazir Bhutto was the great feminist hope when she succeeded Zia but failed to overturn his Hudood ordinances, which, for example, required women to produce four witnesses to prove rape to avoid charges of adultery. Nawaz Sharif condemned religious violence against minorities but did very little to reverse the sharification of Pakistan. Musharraf cultivated an image of Enlightened moderation, introduced some women-friendly laws and pushed back against religious forces. However, Afiya Zia, a Pakistani activist and academic, in her new book "Faith and Feminism in Pakistan" says his policies were "more symbolic than transformative" while the backlash of radical conservatism against women went unchecked. Imran Khan, elected to power recently, and yet to shake off his image as playboy of the Western world, plays a similarly duplicitous game. He has valorized the Pakistani Taliban for standing against US imperialism, has aligned with religious-right parties like Jamaat-e-Islami at provincial level, has expressed his support for blasphemy laws, publicly supports the acquittal of Asia Bibi and then behind the scenes, does a deal with TLP accepting its demand for a review petition of the Supreme Court judgment and to keep Asia Bibi in the country. The US Commission on International Religious Freedom produces an annual report surveying the state of religious freedoms across the world. Pakistan has appeared regularly as a "Country of Particular Concern" and is the only country to be put on a special watch list in its 2018 annual report. The religious right has so far not managed to win power at the ballot box, but its ability to rouse a rabble and paralyze the country has given it a disproportionate and vicious grip on whats left of democracy in Pakistan. Trump, take note: if you court religious extremists, you are in danger of letting mobs weaken democracy. "Rahila Gupta is a freelance journalist and writer. Her books include "Enslaved: The New British Slavery." Follow her on Twitter: @RahilaG. The opinions expressed in this commentary are solely hers." Bellevue launched the BB Healthcare Trust in December 2016 Across the globe, nations are grappling with the problem of ageing populations and the rising healthcare bills they generate. In the UK, the answer has been to pump yet more money into the National Health Service. In the US, where most medical bills are paid for in part by health insurance, President Trump has controversially cut the governmental support which made cover more affordable for those on low incomes so-called 'Obamacare', named after former President Barack Obama. With healthcare costs spiralling, a phalanx of companies are now developing new techniques which they believe will help tackle this cost conundrum. Everything from the development of wellness apps to help people stay healthier for longer through to the remote diagnosis of patients (telemedicine) and new minimally invasive surgery which cuts the time people spend recuperating in hospital. It is a fertile breeding ground for leading-edge companies and one that has attracted the interest of Swiss fund manager Bellevue Asset Management. Half of the company's 9 billion of assets are invested in companies operating in the healthcare sector. In December 2016, Bellevue launched the BB Healthcare Trust to capitalise on this strong investment theme. Listed on the UK stock market, the trust has a market value of 458 million and has already established a solid track record despite recent traumas which sent its shares sliding in response to the sharp correction in equities worldwide. Since launch, the trust has delivered a healthy return of 43 per cent. To put this into context, the UK stock market has risen by 13 per cent over the same period. The fund is managed out of Zurich and London by a three-man team Paul Major, Daniel Koller and Brett Darke. All have academic backgrounds in healthcare and know the sector inside out. Major, who works out of London and studied biochemistry at Bath University, says the trust was launched in the UK as an alternative to the usual way investors get exposure to healthcare related stocks through the likes of blue chip companies such as AstraZeneca, GlaxoSmithKline and Smith & Nephew. He says: 'The fund comprises a concentrated portfolio of stocks, no more than 35 but currently 28. It has a big US bias because that is where a lot of the innovation is happening.' To make the trust more appealing to investors, the board has agreed to pay a dividend in the region of 3.5 per cent that it hopes it can grow. Income payments are made twice a year. Although Major describes the recent fall in the value of the trust's shares as 'painful', he believes the investment case for healthcare remains robust. He says: 'Irrespective of what happens in the wider world economy, the need for innovation and advances in the way healthcare is delivered remains irrefutable. Yes, when equity markets correct, the shares of the companies we invest in tend to get hit hard. But the long-term investment opportunities are substantial.' Bellevue is so confident in the healthcare 'story' that the trust is currently raising more money through the issue of new shares. In terms of risk, the trust is on the high side, scoring four out of seven where one is the safest. Over five years, if things go well, you could earn double-digit annual returns. But if markets are under stress, you could lose more than half the value of your investment. So, it should only represent a small slice of any investment portfolio. The trust's annual charges are 1.26 per cent which are on the high side. It was dubbed the 'Millionaire Factory' when it floated on the stock exchange in 2011 for making hundreds of commodities traders wealthy beyond their wildest dreams. But Glencore, the FTSE 100 mining and trading giant which deals in everything from metals to grain and wheat, has struggled to deliver the same riches for shareholders. The Switzerland-based firm, run by chief executive Ivan Glasenberg, has never lived up to the hype surrounding its stock market listing at the time London's biggest ever that turned the mercurial South African into a billionaire overnight. Liquid asset: Copper is mining and trading giant Glencores biggest earner Glencore might not be a household name, but the copper, coal, zinc, cobalt, and nickel it digs out of the ground and sells around the world feeds us, keeps us warm, and is used in the electronic devices we are glued to. And its shares could be about to power up, too. It floated at 5.30 back in 2011, and a year later made the huge takeover of Xstrata, the mining firm run by Sir Mick Davis, the chief executive and co-treasurer of the Conservative Party. However, the shares collapsed to well below 1 in 2015 when China, the world's fastest growing superpower which was hoovering up metals to fuel its splurge on skyscrapers and roads, showed signs of slowing growth. The dramatic fall in metals prices, particularly copper, Glencore's biggest earner, hit the company hard. The company was forced to go cap in hand to shareholders to raise 6.7 billion to ease the burden of its huge debts. Reassured by its healthier balance sheet and rising metals prices, the shares have recovered to 2.97, but that is still nearly half the float price. That said, the company is one of Britain's biggest dividend payers so the share price is not everything. With a dividend yield of over 5 per cent, comfortably covered by its profits, it is a staple of pension funds across the country. That payout is also a nice little earner for Glasenberg, who has pocketed around 180 million this year in dividends. Mining giant: Glencore is not a household name, but the copper, coal, zinc, cobalt and nickel it digs up feeds us, keeps us warm, and is used in electronic devices we are glued to Now, Glasenberg appears to be eyeing the exit after more than 30 years at the firm. He has reportedly been telling shareholders he will step down in three to five years' time. He'll be 62 in January and it's a relentless job flying around to world to visit the company's mines, meet trading partners and court shareholders albeit in a corporate jet. The word in the City is that Glasenberg wants to get the share price back up to where it was in 2011 before heading off into the sunset. If he succeeds, that would be a more than decent return for shareholders from here a near-80 per cent rise, in fact. The other rumour in the Square Mile is that Glasenberg is fed up with the company's share price performance and would like to take Glencore private. A quarter of the company is already owned by Glasenberg and other senior managers and the Qataris. If he did take that route, he would be forced to offer investors more than the market price for the shares. One thing that might hold back the share price is the spectre of an investigation by the US Department of Justice into bribery and corruption allegations. Analysts at investment firm Jefferies say the probe into its activities in the Democratic Republic of Congo, Nigeria and Venezuela could take as long as five years. It could lead to hefty fines. MIDAS VERDICT: Glencore was in a hole three years ago, but Glasenberg has listened to shareholders by cutting its enormous debt pile and whipping the company into shape. The shadow of a US investigation could hinder the shares, but with Brexit uncertainty hitting UK-focused stocks, its a good time to buy shares in a company with no exposure to the UK economy. The canny Glasenberg might have his critics, but dont bet against him turning things around. With metals prices slowly recovering, the shares are worth a buy. Traded on: Main market Ticker: GLEN Contact: 020 7629 3800 Thursday was a torrid day in the markets. Almost every share with heavy exposure to the British economy fell as investors panicked over the sight of Theresa May's Brexit deal appearing to unravel. The political tumult quickly translated into market turmoil as some of Britain's best known names were trading in the red. Royal Bank of Scotland fell almost 10 per cent, Marks & Spencer fell 5 per cent and even housebuilders such as Barratt and Taylor Wimpey, which have become bankers to investors thanks to rising house prices and government subsidies, fell 7 per cent. Turmoil: Almost every share with heavy exposure to the British economy fell as investors panicked over the sight of Theresa May's Brexit deal appearing to unravel These are big falls for firms worth billions of pounds. The uncertainty caused by ministerial resignations and the lack of support for the Prime Minister's proposed deal was met by investors in ruthless mood pressing the sell button. When share prices fall in such magnitude, automated trading systems robots that trade automatically based on market movements crank into gear, which triggers more selling. For this reason, markets today are more volatile than ever. Investors who have bought British stocks need not panic. Professional traders buy and sell shares on sentiment, according to their mood and emotional reaction to the news. But stock market punters should always trade on so-called fundamentals. Is the concept of the business good? Does the chief executive know what he or she is doing? Are sales and profits going in the right direction? Is the dividend yield sound? Is there potential for growth? If the answer to these sorts of questions is a resounding 'yes' then investors have no reason to sell. In fact, earlier this week, analysts at the bank Credit Suisse told clients to start buying UK shares such as Premier Inn owner Whitbread and Thomas Cook. They won't be telling them anything different just because the shares came under pressure on Thursday. MIDAS VERDICT: Don't panic. Markets are fickle and will always seesaw based on the short-term views of traders. But if you've bought into a British stock for its long-term potential, nothing changed last week. Now is the time to hold your nerve! City advisers will rake in 4.1 million in fees from the collapse of payday lender Wonga. A report by Grant Thornton Wonga's administrator says its accountants are charging on average 481 per hour for its services, with partners being paid 745 per hour and administrators, 245 an hour. Lawyers at City firm Slaughter and May could pocket up to 700,000, while the firm charged with selling Wonga Poland Hines Associates is in line to receive 400,000. City advisers will rake in 4.1 million in fees from the collapse of payday lender Wonga Wonga went into administration after a regulatory clampdown that led to customer complaints trebling from 4,000 in January to 12,000 in August. These claimants have now been told no compensation payments can be guaranteed and new claims have been barred. Wonga, which admitted issuing high-interest loans to customers who could not afford them, would have been unable to stump up the cash required to meet the claims which averaged 550 per person. More claims were expected and Wonga was unable to continue lending. In Grant Thornton's report, Chris Laverty, joint administrator, said 'the only option' was to place the company into administration. Administrators are now seeking to sell Wonga's businesses in Poland, South Africa and Spain. A potential buyer has been identified for Wonga Poland. The Financial Conduct Authority began a crackdown on payday lenders after discovering it was selling unaffordable loans. Wonga's financial difficulties started in 2014 when the FCA introduced a cap on fees and charges, and limited repayments on high-cost loans. Many short-term loan businesses collapsed due to the changes, but Wonga hired a new management team and changed its business model. The regulator is now considering action against 'rent-to-own' retailers, which sell big-ticket items through a series of instalments. The FCA said it could introduce a cap on prices. Spotlight: Andrew Gerrie Hotel Chocolat bosses launched a passionate defence of their chairman last night amid concerns of a shareholder revolt. City adviser Glass Lewis has told investors to vote against Andrew Gerrie at the chocolatier's AGM, saying he is not independent enough to be chair because he co-owns a joint venture. Gerrie has a 53.5 per cent stake in beauty products firm Rabot 1745 while Hotel Chocolat has 34.5 per cent. In the last financial year, Hotel Chocolat spent 366,935 on Rabot 1745 products. Advisory firm ISS has also questioned his independence. It has recommended abstaining from voting for Gerrie's re-election as chairman on November 29 and suggested he should not be on the audit committee. A Hotel Chocolat spokesman said: 'We are totally satisfied that Andrew Gerrie is able to bring an independent perspective to the governance of Hotel Chocolat. Andrew played a pivotal role in steering our business forward since our successful [float] two years ago. He also built Lush into a 700-store success across the globe during his 20-year tenure as chief executive.' Crispin Odey is not used to being played at his own game. The wily hedge fund tycoon's bet on Plus500, an Israel-based online trader, proved a good one, but things are turning sour. The shares surged from 390p at the start of 2017 to 2040p in August this year, in an incredible rise, valuing it at 2.3 billion. Since then, however, they have been in freefall, down nearly 40 per cent to 1280p on Friday. Crispin Odey's bet on Plus500, an Israel-based online trader, proved a good one, but things are turning sour Odey, an outspoken Brexiteer who recently said he would bankroll Boris Johnson's Downing Street bid, doesn't appear to have lost any of his faith, buying more shares last month to take his stake over 12 per cent. But his hedge fund buddies don't appear to share his bullish view on the stock. Short positions in Plus500 have surged to an all-time high of nearly 10 per cent, up from less than 3 per cent in August, according to the Financial Conduct Authority's data. That means hedgies are betting nearly 150 million on the shares continuing to fall. The founders dumped 145 million of shares in September, which didn't help investor sentiment. Perhaps it is time Odey too cashed in his winnings. Flybe might be in trouble, having hoisted the For Sale sign this week, but its much larger rival easyJet is not suffering from the same sort of turbulence. Its annual results on Tuesday are expected to show profits have soared around 40 per cent to between 570 million and 580 million. Nasty surprises are unlikely, but could knock the shares further off course (down 35 per cent since June). Speculation continues to swirl around the identity of bidders for Flybe. We understand easyJet isn't interested in a takeover, but would love to get its hands on some of Flybe's landing slots at airports such as Gatwick. Kingfisher is expected to report that the going is still tough at B&Q, its flagship DIY chain.On Wednesday, expect a 3 per cent fall in like-for-like sales at B&Q, say analysts at Swiss bank UBS. That will contribute to a 0.3 per cent decline in underlying sales across the group, which also owns Screwfix and French chains Castorama and Brico Depot. With the property market slowing and concerns growing about Brexit, the tone of the statement will be key. A downbeat mood could cause investors to sell shares, which have already taken a hammering this year. Gyms are big business these days. Just look at Gym Group. It floated at 195p in 2015 and three years later is up at 324p.The company has been buying sites from its rival easyGym, boosting membership and also helping the share price. That fact hasn't been lost on the chain's executives who have taken the chance to sell shares this year. Last week, property director Jonathan Spaven joined the selling spree by offloading 1.2 million in shares, capping off 4.8 million of sales by directors so far in 2018. Shedding pounds in more ways than one. Contributor: Aloysius Atkinson A row has broken out over the collapse of Johnston Press after its largest shareholder vowed to fight a sale to a New York hedge fund. The publisher of The Scotsman, The Yorkshire Post, and the i newspaper entered administration after failing to find a buyer. Its assets have been sold to a new company called JPIMedia, led by GoldenTree Asset Management, which co-owns the hotel chain Travelodge. A row has broken out over the collapse of Johnston Press after its largest shareholder vowed to fight a sale to a New York hedge fund. The publisher of The Scotsman, The Yorkshire Post, and the i newspaper entered administration after failing to find a buyer GoldenTree is the largest holder of 220 million of debt due to be paid in June 2019, along with Fidelity, Benefit Street Partners and CarVal Investors. The deal saved more than 2,000 jobs, but 250 staff will face a cut to their pensions and shareholders will lose all their money. Norwegian Christen Ager-Hanssen, who has a 25 per cent stake, has pledged to do 'everything in our power' to block the deal. Ager-Hanssen told The Mail on Sunday: 'I'm a warrior and I will never, ever stop fighting.' The new owners of the company, whose value has collapsed from 1 billion to just 3 million, have pumped in 35 million and cut debt to 85 million. It is understood company chairwoman Camilla Rhodes will leave. British Airways has launched a legal battle with a US outsourcing giant that bosses blame for a 58 million IT meltdown which left tens of thousands of passengers stranded. The Mail on Sunday has learned that BA is suing CBRE in London's High Court over the Heathrow computer crash which forced the airline to cancel 672 flights over three days. BA, which is part of the FTSE 100 firm International Airlines Group, has appointed Linklaters, one of the 'Magic Circle' of leading City law firms, to bring the claim against CBRE Managed Services, a subsidiary of the 11 billion-valued US company. British Airways has launched a legal battle with a US outsourcing giant that bosses blame for a 58 million IT meltdown which left tens of thousands of passengers stranded The meltdown is thought to have disrupted 75,000 passengers, many of whom claimed compensation. IAG chief executive Willie Walsh estimated the disaster would cost the airline 65 million (58 million) in total. Shortly after the fiasco last year, Walsh blamed a contractor electrical engineer for the problems. BA commissioned an independent report to investigate the cause, but has so far refused to publish the document. At the time, CBRE which managed data centres for BA at Heathrow dismissed reports suggesting that investigators had found a contractor was to blame. 'We are the manager of the facility for our client BA and fully support its investigation,' a spokesman said. 'No determination has been made yet regarding the cause of this incident. Any speculation to the contrary is not founded in fact.' Walsh told journalists at a conference in Mexico that an engineer had disconnected a power supply, shutting down a data centre at Heathrow. The problems were said to have occurred when the power was restored in an uncontrolled manner. The meltdown is thought to have disrupted 75,000 passengers, many of whom claimed compensation. IAG chief executive Willie Walsh estimated the disaster would cost the airline 65 million (58 million) in total 'It is very clear to me that you can make a mistake in disconnecting the power,' Walsh said. 'It's difficult for me to understand how to make a mistake in reconnecting the power.' Heathrow was plunged into chaos on a busy May Bank Holiday weekend last year. The IT failure hit check-in, operational systems and customer service phone lines. There were further repercussions as it had the knock-on effect of triggering major disruption at Gatwick. Flashback: How we reported the BA disruption in May last year The crash piled pressure on to British Airways bosses and Walsh was forced to deny that cost-cutting was at the root of the problem after unions pointed to hundreds of redundancies made across the airline's IT department. Mike Tobin, an IT expert who ran data centre giant Telecity, said at the time: 'If they had proper resilience, they would not have had an outage. What this boils down to is whether BA scrimped and saved or whether they paid for that resilience.' British Airways chief executive Alex Cruz who reports to Walsh came in for particular criticism. The Spaniard, formerly of low-cost airline Vueling, has previously been accused of having a 'slash and burn' management style. In an interview with The Mail on Sunday earlier this year, Cruz revealed that British Airways has invested in new data centres to avoid any repeats. 'That wasn't a computer problem, it was a power problem,' he said. Cruz has been chairman and chief executive of BA since April 2016, three years after IAG bought Vueling. BA came under further scrutiny this year after it emerged that the airline's website had been hit by a cyber attack in August. The credit card details of hundreds of thousands of customers were stolen by hackers. Both British Airways and CBRE declined to comment. It is not known at this stage how much BA is seeking in damages. GlaxoSmithKline's technology chief has vowed to poach top talent from the likes of Google and Facebook as it overhauls its approach to discovering new drugs. Karenann Terrell, who was made Glaxo's first chief digital and technology officer last year, said pharmaceutical firms needed to adopt Silicon Valley's tactics or face the reckoning that industries such as retail have endured at the hands of online rivals. The former Walmart executive, 57, said she would aim to poach top staff from internet giants and acquire tech companies if necessary to tap into their expertise. This includes analysing vast troves of data, which she believes can help uncover lucrative new medicines. Self help: Karenann Terrell said she would aim to poach top staff from internet giants and acquire tech companies Her comments come as Google is extending its reach into healthcare with research arms Calico and Verily Life Sciences, while Amazon circles the US pharmacy market after its acquisition of Pillpack. Swiss pharma giant Roche announced it was buying tech firm Flatiron Health for around 1.3 billion earlier this year. Terrell said the use of data by tech companies to create new products needed to be replicated at Glaxo. She added: 'Tech companies win by figuring out what the tactics of selling books are in order to sell web services, or they apply the tactics used in their search engine to the life sciences business. But demand for tech talent is massively different. So we have got to do this the way the tech companies do it, bringing in dream team players who build their squads around them.' She said although many rising stars of the industry had gone to Silicon Valley in recent years, Glaxo would stress its life-saving mission to lure them back, and has already poached staff from Google and Salesforce. 'Our culture is mission-based,' she said. 'We are not selling bananas. We are selling life-saving drugs. That is a huge pull to the best talent. 'But we have to create an environment that attracts talent and does things differently. This is the most exciting time in healthcare ever and GSK is fighting with a growth mind-set.' Terrell is credited for leading a modernisation push at US groceries giant Walmart, and is one of several executives brought in under boss Emma Walmsley to overhaul the drug maker. Walmsley also brought in former Calico executive and pharma industry veteran Hal Barron to head its research efforts. Barron and Walmsley pledged to make better use of cutting-edge data analysis in drug trials, and have also struck a major partnership with Silicon Valley DNA testing firm 23andme, which holds genetic data on 5m customers. Airbus has landed a major deal to build components in the UK for two European satellites. Sign of the times: The deal with Eutelsat will see Airbus' sites in Portsmouth and Stevenage produce key parts of the satellites The deal with Eutelsat, which the Mail understands is worth about 180m, will see Airbus' sites in Portsmouth and Stevenage produce key parts of the satellites before they are shipped to France for assembly for a launch date in 2021. It is also a sign of confidence in the UK's space sector, which has faced uncertainty during Brexit negotiations about its future role in European projects. Dawn, November 17, 2018 AN inflammatory video filmed just after the Aasia Bibi verdict has received well over five million views. Therein you can watch the TLP leadership calling for the murder of the three Supreme Court judges who dismissed blasphemy charges against Aasia; hear that officers of the Pakistan Army should revolt against COAS Gen Qamar Bajwa; see the countryas prime minister being called a ayehudi bachaa (aJewish childa); and listen to the call for overthrowing the PTI government. The orator is Pir Afzal Qadri, but next to him is the founder-leader of the Tehreek-i-Labbaik Pakistan (TLP), Khadim Husain Rizvi. Famed for his foul mouth and colourful Punjabi expletives, Rizvi does not speak here but periodically raises both hands in enthusiastic endorsement. Once an unknown small-time madressah operator, he rocketed into national prominence last November after paralysing Islamabad for three weeks. He draws his strength from heading khatm-i-nabuwat demonstrations across Pakistan. Had a call for murder and mutiny been made by any other members of Pakistani society, unimaginable punishment would have been meted out. Similarly for other countries: in the United States instigators of bloody insurrection would be locked up for years; in Iran or Saudi Arabia they would be hanged or beheaded; and in China they would mysteriously disappear. And in India? Similar, I suppose. A similar open call for murder and mutiny by other Pakistanis would meet extreme punishment. But we in Pakistan are apparently nicer, kinder people. Our normally voluble, judiciary suddenly lost its voice. Unlike with errant politicians, the Supreme Court did not dock TLP leaders for contempt of court. The ever-vigilant ISPR also somehow missed hearing the call for mutiny against the armyas top leadership. Instead, it pleaded for aan amicable and peaceful resolutiona of the Aasia Bibi matter because it adoes not want the army dragged into the mattera . And the prime minister? Against the aenemies of the statea his fighting words and body style initially drew wide approbation. Some liberals bravely termed this Imranas finest hour. But the hour lasted an hour and no more; what started with a roar ended with a whimper. The TLPas flaccid half-apology was accepted, ignoring the lives lost and property damaged by the rioters. Imran Khan now wants to fight fire with fire. His current talking points are fulfilling aAllama Iqbalas dreama, and remaking Pakistan as the seventh-century state of Medina. His information minister has just announced unprecedented celebrations of the Holy Prophetas (PBUH) birthday next week, and a grand khatm-i-nabuwat conference in Islamabad. Invitees will include the imam of the Holy Kaaaba, the mufti of Syria, and various high clerics. With these new battle plans, Imran hopes to take the wind out of the TLPas sails by showing its followers and others that he loves the Holy Prophet even more than them. But will it work in the Aasia Bibi case? And will it also work once the next crisis starts (assuming the present one somehow ends)? As mullah power rises, one cannot be too optimistic. Clerics now believe they can take on any politician or, if need be, generals as well. There is good reason for their confidence. After all was said and done, in 2007 Islamabadas destroyed Lal Masjid a now grandly reconstructed a defeated the generals. Consider that the insurrectionists lost about 150 students and other fighters, but head cleric Maulana Abdul Aziz lives more comfortably in 2018 than in 2007. No charges were ever levied against Aziz or others for killing 11 SSG commandos. Meanwhile, Gen Musharraf, the then army chief, glumly passes his days in Dubai. Among other charges, he is accused of quelling an armed insurrection against Pakistan and killing one of Lal Masjidas ring leaders. The stateas reluctance to confront clerical power makes its earlier promises ring hollow. Take, for instance, madressah reform. Forgotten is the anti-terrorism National Action Plan that called for financial audits of madressahs, uncovering funding sources, curriculum expansion and revision, and monitoring of activities. Thatas a dead duck. Try auditing TLP-associated madressahs. The security establishment must now ask itself hard questions: has its mainstreaming of religious extremism gone too far? Can extremists actually be moderated by bringing them into the political fold? On the political chessboard, was it a good move to try balance aharda Deobandi power with asofta Barelvi power? Blowbacks do happen: whereas a year ago Imran Khan had cautiously welcomed Rizvi into the anti-Nawaz Sharif camp, others who wanted Nawaz defeated went a step further. They allowed themselves to be recorded on video while handing out Rs1,000 notes to the rioters. Politically, this is very embarrassing because Rizvi and his wild eyed boys have gone their own way. Certainly, the TLP turned out to be a bad investment. Contrarily, there appears to be a good investment. The largely Deobandi LeT/JuD was encouraged to launch its own political party, the Milli Muslim League (MML). In August 2017, its debut in national politics via the Lahore NA-120 by-elections gained it the fourth position, a surprising show of strength for a new party. MML election posters denounced Nawaz Sharif as a traitor for seeking peace with India and carried aloft pictures of Hafiz Saeed. Another apparent plus: LeT/JuD has threatened neither army nor government. Its spokesman explained away its low profile during last weekas violent protests saying that JuD has appealed against the Supreme Court decision to free Aasia Bibi and would await the conclusion of the legal process before taking to the streets. What a relief! Some parts of the establishment might see this good behaviour as vindicating its mainstreaming doctrine. But injecting religious leaders and ex-militants into the political mix is a bad idea. When large masses of people react unthinkingly to emotive slogans, everyone is endangered by an explosive, unstable configuration. Ultimately political leaders a and those who secretly engineer political outcomes a also become unsafe. Have we not suffered enough tragic blowback since Soviet times? Pakistan must firmly reject the rule of religiously charged mobs. Instead it should aspire towards becoming part of civilised, cosmopolitan world society. Surrender is not an option. The writer teaches physics in Islamabad and Lahore Almost 2m of taxpayer money was spent on the probe into Murdoch's failed bid for Sky Almost 2 million of taxpayer money was spent on the investigation into Rupert Murdoch's failed bid for Sky. The Government scrutinised the attempt by Murdoch's 21st Century Fox to take full control of Sky amid concerns about the mogul's grip on the British media. The process lasted 19 months which gave US rival Comcast time to move in and beat Fox's bid. The pay-TV giant was ultimately sold to Comcast for 30 billion. The Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport spent just over 1 million looking into the proposed deal by Fox, according to a Freedom of Information request from The Mail on Sunday. The Competition & Markets Authority paid out 935,000 for similar work. Both DCMS and the CMA are funded by the taxpayer. A DCMS spokesman said: 'The investigations carried out by Ofcom and the CMA are an essential part of the fair and impartial process set by Parliament and allow the Secretary of State to reach a decision based only on the relevant evidence.' As many as one in ten small energy suppliers face a battle to survive the winter after struggling to pay their green taxes. The chief executive of one medium-sized supplier told The Mail on Sunday that he had been approached by seven rivals out of about 70 which compete with the Big Six which were looking to offload customers. He said some had admitted they missed the final October 31 deadline for paying their environmental taxes. This is seen in the industry as a sign that a supplier may be on its last legs. As many as one in ten small energy suppliers face a battle to survive the winter after struggling to pay their green taxes Regulator Ofgem declined to reveal how many companies missed the final deadline, but said it had appointed an external auditor to address a multi-million pound black hole in the environmental taxes collected this year. An unprecedented 34 companies missed the first payment deadline in August, leaving a shortfall of 103.9 million. Several industry sources said they believed up to 50 million was still outstanding. Historically, suppliers which have missed the final tax deadline have gone into a tailspin. They typically face fines from Ofgem and a ban on signing up new customers. Of the three companies which failed to pay last year, two went bust and one was taken over by a rival. Extra Energy is understood to be one of the suppliers which failed to pay its full bill in time. Historically, suppliers which have missed the final tax deadline have gone into a tailspin The Birmingham-based company, which has 150,000 customers, is already under investigation by the regulator over potential rule breaches on billing, customer service and complaints handling. It came 29th out of 31 companies for customer satisfaction in a poll by consumer group Which? Extra Energy declined to comment. Another small supplier, Spark, admitted last week that it had missed its payment and owed Ofgem 14.4 million. Spark bosses are now in talks with an unnamed rival about a possible merger. What happens if your supplier goes bust If your energy supplier goes bust, do not panic. There is no risk of your power or heating being cut off. Instead, another company will step in and take you on as a customer. Regulator Ofgem appoints another supplier, which could be one of the Big Six British Gas, EDF, E.On, Npower, SSE or ScottishPower as a 'supplier of last resort'. All you need to do is take a meter reading and provide this to the new company. Your account will automatically transfer over including any credit you may have. Any debts may still be payable to the old supplier. You will be moved on to one of the tariffs offered by the new supplier. This could be more expensive than your old deal, but you can then switch to a rival company without any penalty. If left unpaid, the 50 million funding gap will heap pressure on more solvent energy suppliers. An Ofgem spokesman confirmed it would be asking other companies to make up the final shortfall. The energy chief contacted by the struggling rivals said: 'All seven were saying they are worried they won't make it through the winter. 'With the havoc caused by the price cap and now this, it could be a very tricky end to the year.' He said one firm told him it had paid its Renewables Obligation Certificates, which fund green energy projects. He believed three others had secured funding to pay their bills, but still faced an uncertain future. Two other energy suppliers privately told The Mail on Sunday that they have been approached by rivals about taking on customers. So far this year a number of firms, including Usio and Iresa, have gone bust. Part of the problem has been rising wholesale costs and the new price cap on variable tariffs which comes into force in January. Several industry sources said they believed the amount in outstanding green taxes was between 30 million and 50 million. Tikendra Dewan, a former Gurkha and founder and chief executive of GnERGY, a small energy supplier which has paid its renewable obligations, said: 'The Government should give some serious thought to helping small suppliers like us. We only have 10,000 customers but we met our commitment for 831,000. 'I find it hard to digest that Spark has 297,000 customers and a turn- over of 230 million but could not meet its obligations. To my mind that shows a lack of responsibility. 'If they are allowed to merge with another firm without paying their dues and suppliers such as us have to pay extra instead it would feel like they are laughing their way to the bank while the rest are being penalised.' One source at a Big Six supplier said companies could refuse to pay towards the 50 million shortfall. 'Ultimately, sensible suppliers simply won't stump up for the mistakes of others.' A spokesman for Ofgem said: 'Suppliers that have not met their obligations are in breach of the Renewables Obligation Orders and Ofgem stands ready to take action as needed to secure good outcomes for consumers.' Some of the world's biggest insurers and banks will start moving 253 billion of assets out of the UK in just two weeks' time as they attempt to avert Brexit chaos, legal papers reveal. As Prime Minister Theresa May this weekend fights to win backing for her Brexit deal, documents seen by The Mail on Sunday reveal that at least 15 major financial firms have already set court dates to approve transfers of parts of their businesses abroad. They say the transfer of billions of pounds out of the City of London will happen 'irrespective' of whether the UK strikes a deal with Brussels. Some of the world's biggest insurers and banks will start moving 253 billion of assets out of the UK in just two weeks' time as they attempt to avert Brexit chaos, legal papers reveal Firms say this is because they cannot afford to take any risks at this stage of the Brexit proceedings. The legal documents show that companies including Barclays, Standard Life and Prudential will move vast insurance and banking assets and liabilities out of London to subsidiaries in a number of European capitals. Dublin and Luxembourg City are proving the most popular destinations followed by Brussels. More financial firms are expected to file papers detailing plans to move parts of their businesses in the coming months. The transfers do not involve moving cash into another currency as they all relate to clients in the EU and the policies are understood to be in euros, not sterling. There will be no initial movement of staff or headquarters. However, experts including accountancy giant PwC said firms are likely to beef up operations where their new subsidiaries are based while scaling back activity in the City of London. Insurers and banks say they are being forced to transfer contracts to continue serving clients based abroad and to enable them to carry on writing new business in European countries after Brexit. Currently, firms can serve EU clients from London using passporting rules. But they fear changes when Britain is due to leave the EU next March could make it difficult to administer contracts, pay insurance claims or take on new customers. US insurance titan AIG will be the first to move with the process to send 5.6 billion worth of contracts about 3.6 million policies to Luxembourg set to start on December 1. Barclays will be the first major UK bank to move. Its court papers reveal that it will send about 6,800 client accounts mainly from the European Economic Area to a new subsidiary in Dublin between January 26 and July 26 next year. In total, around 224 billion of its 1.17 trillion assets 19 per cent of its total in the UK will be transferred to its Irish subsidiary. That will make it Ireland's largest bank by assets, ahead of Bank of Ireland on 109 billion. The clients being moved are mainly from its corporate, investment and private banking divisions. About 1.4 billion of deposits from 1,290 customers will also move. Barclays will be the first major UK bank to move. Its court papers reveal that it will send about 6,800 client accounts mainly from the European Economic Area to a new subsidiary in Dublin between January 26 and July 26 next year Other banks shifting business out of the City of London include UBS, which will move assets to Luxembourg. The bank has not disclosed the size of the assets or number of clients being transferred. Insurers Standard Life, Prudential and Royal London have chosen Dublin as their new European base. AIG, Hiscox and CNA Hardy have picked Luxembourg. Standard Life's insurance business, now owned by Phoenix group, is moving 18.1 billion in insurance liabilities 12 per cent of the total in its insurance arm and 582,000 policies. Prudential is shifting 46,466 contracts, with liabilities or how much they estimate they might have to pay out in claims totalling 74 million. Royal London is moving 520,509 contracts with liabilities of 875 million.Other City firms seeking court approval for their Brexit plans include Aviva, Axa, Admiral, Lloyds of London, RSA Group, QBE Insurance and Japan's Sompo International. Standard Life told policyholders: 'We do not expect any changes to the UK's Brexit plans that would affect Standard Life seeking court approval of our proposals in early 2019. Our proposals to transfer some policies to another Standard Life group company in Ireland seek to ensure that all policies can continue to be serviced by Standard Life, irrespective of the UK's Brexit plans.' A spokesman added: 'Our plans in preparation for Brexit are progressing well. We're following the necessary legal process to make this change which will ensure continuity of service for our customers.' Royal London said it had a number of books of business which it wanted to ensure it could continue to service after Brexit. A Royal London spokesman said: 'With all the uncertainty surrounding the impact of Brexit, we believe this is the best approach for our customers.' City firms will have to hire new employees in the EU to write new business and handle insurance claims and will also need staff in legal, HR, finance, tax and compliance roles. Some fear this will affect jobs in London. A man allegedly caught abusing a seven-year-old girl in the toilets of a dance hall was let out on parole early after sexually assaulting another woman. Anthony Peter Sampieri was jailed for seven years after he lured a 60-year-old woman into his Wollongong home on October 22, 2012. The 54-year-old was convicted of aggravated sexual assault in July 2013 and ordered to serve at least four years behind bars, backdated to the day of the crime. Amid the revelations, Corrective Services Minister David Elliott has called for an 'urgent' briefing on the circumstances that led to the offender receiving parole as community safety is paramount. Scroll down for video A 46-year-old man has been stabbed after rushing to the aid of a young girl who was allegedly being sexually assaulted by another man, 54, in the toilets of a dance studio in Sydney's south According to Mr Elliot, Sampieri was subject to a number of strict parole conditions, and his most recent attack has left the minister deeply troubled. 'I am deeply troubled by the events under investigation at the Kogarah dance studio,' he said in a statement given to Daily Mail Australia. 'This offender was on parole and was subject to a number of strict conditions. 'As community safety is paramount, I have asked for an urgent brief on all the circumstances which led to the offender being granted parole.' Sampieri's non-parole sentence expired just over two years before he allegedly snatched the young girl from her dance class about 8pm on Thursday. The alleged assault was thwarted by a parent, 46, from the class at St George Dance Centre in Kogarah, Sydney, who heard a commotion and ran to help. But Sampieri allegedly lashed out with a surgical scalpel, with a man stabbed in the abdomen and neck. According to a witness, Mo Hariri, the man was stapped with a scalpel suffering wounds to his stomach, arm and ear and neck area Wollongong District Court heard Sampieri was drunk and high on prescription drugs when he invited the 60-year-old woman into his home in Fairy Meadows in 2012. The woman thought she was going to inspect two second-hand tables he had for sale, but was lured into his room after seeing the first one. He pulled out a 25cm knife and told her 'now we're going to have some fun' before forcing her to strip and repeatedly raping her, the Illawarra Mercury reported in July 2013. Police later raided his unit and found duct tape and a role of wire on his bed and cable ties and nylon rope under his pillow. The judge at the time noted Sampieri showed remorse for his crimes. Shadow police minister Guy Zangari said there needs to be a review of the parole system to stop further incidents from occurring. 'The government needs to explain how this alleged offender was being monitored. The community expects the government to be monitoring someone on parole to the best of their ability,' Mr Zangari told the Daily Telegraph. Kogarah MP Chris Minns said authorities better have some 'good answers' on why the alleged offender was granted parole and that the community was 'very shook up'. Witnesses said they heard 'blood-curdling screams' before his alleged attack on the child at the dance hall on Thursday was discovered. Mo Hariri, a witness who was celebrating his 24th birthday in a courtyard nearby, revealed that moments after the Good Samaritan was stabbed, a man ran out onto the street and screamed for help. A group of bystanders rushed to his aid and also helped detain the alleged offender until police swarmed the dance studio. In the moments that followed, the group of revellers heard another man at the scene scream: 'Where is my daughter?' The stabbing victim then stumbled down the stairs from the first floor dance studio and collapsed on the street. A dentist who worked in a clinic that shares the toilet with the dance studio was the first to discover the young girl. Just moments later, the parent from the dance class also entered the toilet and joined in the scuffle and was allegedly stabbed multiple times. The seven-year-old was allegedly attacked at the St George Dance Centre in Kogarah, south of Sydney, about 8pm on Thursday (pictured) The girl, the Good Samaritan and the attacker - a local man - were not known to each other Police revealed on Friday the man who confronted Sampieri was one of a number of parents who desperately searched for her after she went missing. 'He was aware that the child could not be accounted for and was assisting others in locating her,' NSW Police Superintendent Julian Griffiths said. Supt Griffiths said the alleged attacker was expected to be question in coming days, but was currently under guard in hospital after being injured in the brawl. He also confirmed the alleged attacker was a local but not associated with the dance studio. He, the girl and the Good Samaritan were also not known to each other. '[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,' Supt Griffiths said. A dance teacher who works at the same studio said a contemporary dance class for teenage girls was regularly held at the centre on Thursday nights. Local dance troupe ACTiv Elite Performers posted a message of support to the girl on Facebook. The girl had been involved in one of the dance classes when she went to the toilet. Her family and other parents at the dance studio began to search for her after she failed to return Local dance troupe ACTiv Elite Performers posted a message of support to the girl on Facebook (pictured) 'Our hearts go out to our friends at St George Dance Centre after hearing the news of this senseless and violent attack in our community,' the troupe wrote. 'Lots of love to the families, staff and children affected and to the brave man who intervened.' The Good Samaritan was rushed to St George Hospital where he received stitches for his wounds and has since been discharged. The young girl went to Sydney Children's Hospital for observation and has also been released. Sampieri remains under guard in hospital and is yet to be charged. Supt Griffiths said a strikeforce had been set up to investigate what he admitted was a 'concerning' matter. Broward County Supervisor of Elections Brenda Snipes thinks racism was 'probably' a factor in the backlash against her for the South Florida office missing Thursday's recount deadline in a Senate race. As about two dozen protesters stood outside her headquarters Friday, including Bikers For Trump, Snipes, who is black, admitted she thought the criticism may have been amplified because of her race. When asked specifically if she believed her heritage could be playing a part in the hostile response she declined to elaborate but told the Guardian, 'Probably. Probably'. Scroll down for videos When asked Friday Brenda Snipes said racism was 'probably' a factor in the backlash against her for missing a ballot deadline by two minutes on Thursday A manual recount was ordered on Thursday after a machine recount showed less votes in the county than the total number reported to the state on November 10 (pictured Friday) 'You know, the protesters have been claiming stuff all week so whatever they're doing, that's what they're doing,' the 75-year-old told the publication. 'That's what they feel like they need to do.' Many have been speaking out against Snipes specifically on social media. Without any evidence that she had done so, Republican demonstrators outside the ballot counting HQ claimed Snipes deliberately missed the deadline to ensure a Democratic victory. 'It was intentional. They found 760 votes in favor of us. She knew if she waited past the deadline, they wouldn't be counted,' 60-year-old realtor Jody Steinlauf told the publication. Steinlauf seemed to think the incident was part of a wider Democratic plan and linked it to the investigation into Russian meddling in Donald Trump's presidential campaign. 'You can't trust anything she does. They were deliberately wasting taxpayers' money. Look what they're doing with the Mueller investigation. They don't know how to lose. They can't lose graciously. They have to fight us.' Pro-Trump protesters stood outside the HQ Friday and called her 'incompetent' Another protester waiting outside the building implied that Snipes is the definition of 'incompetence'. The owner of a flag company alleged it's ingrained in her reputation and alluded that he thinks she should personally be dismissed. 'If you look up the word "incompetence" in the dictionary, it's Brenda Snipes's photograph,' Nicholas Ciacelli, 64, claimed. 'Everyone knows she's incompetent but somehow she keeps her job.' However Snipes explained the mistake when results were reported to the secretary of state after the 3pm deadline at 3.02pm on Thursday. State officials ordered a manual recount after a machine recount showed less votes in the county than the total number of votes reported to the state on November 10. 'We had a lot of information to input and we ran two minutes over and the deadline was three o'clock,' she added to the Guardian. 'I don't think anything was a glitch; it's just a lot of information to be input.' In the original vote totals as recorded by Broward County on November 8, two days after the election, Democrat Bill Nelson was beating Republican Rick Scott, but far fewer votes had been cast in the US Senate race than other statewide races. Machine recount on Thursday had Republican Governor Rick Scott (right) leading incumbent Democrat Bill Nelson (left) by about 12,600 votes for one of the state's US Senate seats The Broward Supervisor of Elections website reported 676,706 votes had been counted in Broward in the US Senate race, with the vast majority going to Nelson over Scott, but 24,763 more votes had been logged for the governor's race, with 701,469 reported at that time, according to the Miami Herald. She said she'd like to send the original vote totals to the state at noon on Sunday, which is the deadline to report official results to the Department of State. Florida's history of election woes dates back to 2000, when it took more than five weeks for the state to declare George W. Bush the victor over Vice President Al Gore by 537 votes, thus giving Bush the presidency. Snipes, a Democrat, began her role in 2013. Back then, punch-card ballots were punch lines. Photos of election workers using magnifying glasses to search for hanging chads and pregnant chads symbolized the painstaking process. There are no chads this year, but there are plenty of cracks about flashbacks to the Bush-Gore contest. And, just as in 2000, the Republican candidates in the contested races have declared themselves winners and asked for the recount to stop. Add to this a litany of other voting problems: Palm Beach County's tallying machines went on the fritz during the recount due to age and overwork. The electricity went out in Hillsborough County during a machine recount and resulted in an 846-vote deficit. Those glitches led US District Judge Mark Walker to ask why state officials have repeatedly failed to anticipate problems in elections. 'We have been the laughingstock of the world, election after election, and we chose not to fix this,' he said. Walker is presiding over several election-related lawsuits that have been filed since November 6. On Friday, election workers in all 67 counties began recounting by hand about 93,000 ballots that were not recorded by voting machines. Many counties finished up the Senate recount on the first day. All results are supposed to be turned in by Sunday at noon. State officials will officially certify the totals next week. Last Saturday, Democrat Nikki Fried prematurely called the race against Republican Matt Caldwell for the Florida Cabinet post of agriculture commissioner But Florida's beleaguered Broward county has made yet another election blunder after it was revealed that officials accidentally mixed in ballots from the Senate race into the recount for state's Commissioner of Agriculture as Florida. Early on Saturday, the recount of 22,000 ballots came to an abrupt stop when officials noticed volunteers had mixed 47 manila envelopes from Friday's Senate recount in with those to be hand counted for the commissioner race, Fox News reported. 'It appears there may have been some ballots from yesterday mixed in with the ones for today,' Broward Canvassing Board Judge Deborah Carpenter-Toye said. On Saturday, Broward County Supervisor of Elections Brenda Snipes was forced to admit that 2,040 ballots had been 'misfiled,' in a video posted by The South Florida Sun-Sentinel. Early on Saturday, Broward County's recount (pictured) of 22,000 ballots cast in the race for Florida Commissioner of Agriculture came to an abrupt stop 'We have been trying to determine what could have caused the drop. What we believe is that in the recount area ... I believe those ballots were probably mixed in with another stack,' Snipes told the elections Canvassing Board at midday. 'The ballots are in the building. The ballots are in this building. There would be nowhere else for them to be. But they are misfiled in this building.' Larry Davis, a Democratic attorney who is representing agriculture commissioner candidate Nikki Fried, took the elections supervisor to task over the missing ballojts in her race against Republican candidate Matt Caldwell. 'Dr Snipes, with all due respect to you and your office, the ballots being in the building doesnt get them counted,' Davis said. Harriet Harman is leading a chorus of alarm from MPs over the scandal of youngsters with autism who are locked up like criminals in NHS-funded psychiatric units. As chair of the Joint Committee on Human Rights, the Labour grandee has written to Health Secretary Matt Hancock expressing her concern over cases of teenagers and adults who suffer shocking treatment because they have autism or learning difficulties. It follows Mail on Sunday revelations that hundreds of teenagers and adults are being incarcerated in appalling conditions, forcibly injected with cocktails of drugs to sedate them, stuffed into tiny padded cells and fed through hatches. Ms Harman told Mr Hancock of her concern at revelations that suggest widespread use of restraint and isolation and of some particularly disturbing cases of apparent poor treatment. Chair of the Joint Committee on Human Rights Harriet Harman (pictured) is leading a chorus of alarm over the scandal of youngsters with autism who are locked up like criminals in NHS-funded psychiatric units The Labour grandee has written to Health Secretary Matt Hancock (pictured) expressing her concern over cases of teenagers and adults who suffer shocking treatment because they have autism or learning difficulties Mr Hancock admitted he was deeply shocked by this newspapers investigation and ordered an urgent investigation by the Care Quality Commission into the use of assessment and treatment units to hold people. These are supposedly short-stay but people with autism and learning disabilities are sectioned under mental health laws and held for up to 18 years in secure units. Last week, the MoS exposed fat cat private operators were charging taxpayers up to 730,000 a year for each patient held in the controversial and secretive psychiatric units. Ms Harman has demanded full details of the scope, powers and timetable of the CQC inquiry. Isabelle Garnett, an autism campaigner whose teenage son suffered badly when taken into a unit for almost two years, said: When my son was sectioned he thought he was in prison but we soon realised it was far worse since he had fewer human rights than a convicted criminal. Those in power need to act on existing reports and recommendations, providing upfront community provisions to prevent inappropriate and inhumane admissions to costly independent hospitals. Andrew Neil referred to a journalist as a 'mad cat woman' Furious women stars at the BBC have demanded that politics presenter Andrew Neil apologise and called his impartiality into question after he mocked a female journalist as a mad cat woman. The broadcaster posted his comment last week about Observer reporter Carole Cadwalladr, who has led investigations into the pro-Brexit campaigns funding and use of social media, including the Cambridge Analytica scandal. He has since deleted the tweet, which referred to her as that mad cat woman from Simpsons, Karol Kodswallop. The post referred to a character in the US cartoon series, but also echoed Leave.EU funder Arron Banks' earlier tweet calling Cadwalladr a sad cat lady. The journalist complained to the BBC demanding an apology, saying: This isnt just sexist & unfunny It betrays the British public. Now a widely respected female BBC presenter who asked not to be named has told The Mail on Sunday: There is widespread fury that Andrew did not apologise to Carole. There is a feeling Carole has done the lions share of work on a particular story and there are certainly questions for the BBC whether he can cover that story impartially. The suggestion that Neil, 69, cannot be impartial covering stories related to Brexit could make his job presenting This Week on BBC1 and Politics Live on BBC2 all but impossible. Another leading female BBC personality said that although the language in the tweet was indefensible, she had some sympathy for the frustrations contained in it after Cadwalladrs many tweets attacking the BBCs coverage. She said: I think the wording was pretty indefensible. Although I would call it sexist rather than misogynist. But I think many BBC people have quite a lot of sympathy for the frustrations contained within the tweet. For a good investigative journalist she does seem to spend and indeed waste an inordinate amount of time trolling the BBC. After deleting the offending post, Neil retweeted a statement from the BBC press office which read: There has been some discussion on here regarding a tweet from Andrew Neil about Carole Cadwalladr. He has deleted the tweet and recognises it was inappropriate. The broadcaster posted his comment last week about Observer reporter Carole Cadwalladr, who has led investigations into the pro-Brexit campaigns funding and use of social media, including the Cambridge Analytica scandal The timing of the tweets is particularly embarrassing because they were posted the day before Lord Hall, the BBCs Director-General said he was appalled by the abuse BBC journalists such as political editor Laura Kuenssberg received on Twitter. Neils critics have contrasted his lenient treatment with the BBCs decision earlier this year to take a number of women off air for impartiality reasons after they tweeted support for equal pay at the Corporation. Cadwalladr yesterday tweeted that she had received private messages of support from both male and female journalists at the BBC. She wrote: The lifeblood the journalists of our public service broadcaster do an amazing job every single day. Its the weird decisions made at the top that are troubling. The BBC News Channel show Newswatch yesterday addressed the controversy, airing the opinions of two viewers critical of Neil. One asked: Why is Andrew Neil still on air. The other said the tweet was offensive and misogynistic. Neil did not respond to requests for comment from this newspaper. A BBC spokesman last night said: Andrew acknowledges that the tweet was inappropriate, and it was removed shortly after it was posted. The tweet was sent from Andrews personal account, however the BBC has social media guidelines which it expects all staff to follow and these have been discussed with Andrew. Police described incident as a 'targeted attack', with investigations ongoing The man was treated by paramedics and then transferred to Liverpool Hospital They located a 35-year-old man with a single gunshot wound to his left leg Police arrived at an address in Panania, in Sydney's south-west, on Saturday A man is recovering in hospital after he was shot on Saturday night in what police believe was a 'targeted attack'. Emergency services were called to a home on Anderson Avenue in Panania, in Sydney's south-west, just before 9pm. At the property police found a 35-year-old man with a single gunshot wound to his left leg. A man (pictured) was transported to Liverpool Hospital after he was shot in the leg on Saturday - police believe it was a 'targeted attack' Police and emergency services were quickly on the scene in Panania (pictured) on Saturday where a man was shot - police believe it was a 'targeted attack' After he was treated at the scene by NSW Ambulance paramedics, the man was transferred to Liverpool Hospital, where he remains in a stable condition. Officers from Bankstown Police Area Command established a crime scene, which will undergo forensic examination. Anyone with information that could assist police enquiries are urged to contact Crime Stoppers. A ambulance on the scene in Panania (pictured) after a man was shot - police believe it was a 'targeted attack' A construction firm's owner visited a notorious underworld figure in jail alongside a man charged with over the murder of a bikie boss days before the daylight shooting. The unnamed executive was seen alongside Adam Doudar, 38, speaking to inmate and Lone Wolf bikie Hassan Fakhreddine in early February. Days later, ex Comanchero boss Mahmoud 'Mick' Hawi was gunned down in broad daylight in the car park of a South Sydney gym. New revelations have emerged in investigations into the shooting death of Mick Hawi The owner of a construction company visited a notorious bikie associate in jail with alleged murderer Adam Doudar (pictured) The construction company is owned by two men, neither of whom have been charged. However, police did question the pair until their investigations stalled, according to the Daily Telegraph. A black Mazda ute at the centre of police investigations is registered under the business' name. The car was driven through the streets of Rockdale by Doudar on the day of the alleged murder, according to police documents tended in court. It was seen patrolling the car park of a Fitness First gym while Hawi worked out inside. Hours later, he would be shot dead. CCTV footage showed two masked men fleeing the murder scene, after a black Mazda registered in the construction company's name patrolled the car park hours earlier Mahmoud 'Mick' Hawi's widow Carolina Gonzalez penned a cryptic Facebook post directed at one of his alleged killers, days after three men were charged in relation to his shooting death 'The only purpose of the travel was to determine that Hawi was at Fitness First,' a police fact sheet read. The Mazda was also seen driving past a house in the adjacent suburb of Bexley, where police allege the planning of Hawi's murder took place. One minute after the black ute passed the home, a Mercedes reversed out of the driveway and went to the gym. Police allege gunman Yusuf Guney Nazlioglu, a Lone Wolf associate, waited for Hawi to finish his workout before leaving his Mercedes, running to his target's parked car wearing a balaclava, and shot the bikie boss repeatedly before running. Three men, believed to have been associated to the victim, were arrested (pictured) by police Moustapha Salami (pictured) is accused of disposing of one of the group's cars The Mazda was not found until police executed a search warrant of the construction firm's office on August 2. They seized the car and its registration papers. Nazlioglu, 37, and Doudar were charged with murder, while Moustapha Salami, 37, has been charged with being an accessory to murder. Police allege Salami helped dispose of one of the getaway cars. Comedian Sir Billy Connolly has been pictured for the first time since Sir Michael Parkinson claimed he could no longer recognise his friends. The Scottish comedian, rebutted his longtime friends's comments about the effect of his Parkinson's disease on his memory, as he met up with a young Glasgow girl who's been raising money for Parkinson's UK. The seven-year-old has been rewarded for her charity fundraising efforts with a visit from her hero, Connolly, after she was inspired to raise money for charity following a class project about the comedian. Abby McConnell, left, got to meet comedy legend Billy Connolly after the seven-year-old raised more than 1,200 for Parkinson's UK. The Big Yin, right, suffers from the disease Sir Billy was diagnosed with Parkinson's disease several years ago. He said 'art is his life now' Sir Billy, who was diagnosed with the condition several years ago, said it was a 'privilege' to meet the Mount Florida Primary pupil who so far has collected 1,200. Abby said: 'I can't believe I got to meet my hero. Sir Billy was so nice and he even gave me a kiss.' Her mother Karen added: 'There isn't a day where Abby doesn't talk about Sir Billy. 'Meeting him was wonderful, he spent ages chatting with Abby and she'll remember this day forever.' Sir Billy, in Glasgow to launch his new art exhibition Born On A Rainy Day, said: 'For Abby to show caring for Parkinson's disease at her tender age shows kindness beyond belief. Meeting her was a privilege.' Meanwhile the funnyman said his 'art is his life now' as he unveiled a new exhibition of his work in Glasgow. Born On A Rainy Day is the latest installment in his collection and includes 25 new sketches. In 2013, the comedian revealed he had been diagnosed with Parkinson's and prostate cancer on the same day but has since been given the all clear for cancer. He told BBC Scotland: 'I get up in the morning and feed the fish. I catch them in the afternoon, and then I draw and I have this idyllic life. 'I don't miss touring for a minute. I've had my fill of it, I've done the big and I've done the wee and been there and I've done it - I'm very proud of that.' His first exhibition was unveiled in 2012, with his art being described as similar to surrealist automatism as well as cave paintings from the Aurignacian period. Sir Billy, a folk musician before he pursued comedy, has previously spoken of having to give up his beloved banjo because of Parkinson's. On the subject of his health, he told the broadcaster: 'I'm okay, I'm having a kind of shoogly day today, the nerves and stuff, I'm kind of shaking a bit. 'It varies from day to day, today is slightly shoogly, but otherwise I'm perfectly okay.' The exhibition runs between November 16 and 30 at Castle Fine Art on Queen Street 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). Advertisement Night one of Schoolies is in the books, with teenage revellers across the country seen celebrating the end of their high school studies in rowdy fashion. Torrential rain and intense winds couldn't slow down hordes of school-leavers celebrating at popular beach spots Surfers Paradise and Byron Bay on Saturday night. The cold weather didn't stop a pair of party-goers, who opted for a late night splash in the Byron Bay surf. For others, the chills were too much to bear, with one girl seen wrapped in a warm blanket while walking down the street. Night one of Schoolies has come to an end with revelers celebrating the end of the night in their own ways One girl decided to end the night with a splash in the water at Byron Bay despite rain and strong winds A chivalrous friend ventured into the knee high waves to carry the girl to shore The two didn't seem to mind the cold - laughing as they made their way back to shore The cold seemed to get to one girl who draped herself in a thick blanket as she walked along the streets of Byron Bay One pair opted for a non-traditional form of transportation to make their way home at the end of the evening One young woman was tired from an evening of festivities and decided to take a nap on her friend' s shoulder The rain didn't stop the beach-going duo, who were seen knee-deep in the waves early into Sunday morning. One young lady had to be carried out of the waves after she was seen splashing at her partner-in-crime, before hopping on his back. Inevitably, the end of the night saw people making their way home to their hotel rooms. One trio of girls were seen on their phone organising a lift, while another pair took the trip into their own hands a rode a shopping trolley to their accommodation. Teenage revellers refused to let a bit of wet weather ruin their fun as they donned festive outfits (right) despite a torrential downpour of rain and wind. But celebrations became too much for some, with one teen hitting the sand before midnight (left) Crowds of teenage revellers descended on the Surfers Paradise party strip (pictured) to celebrate the annual end of exams celebrations One girl creatively uses a traditional Vietnamese hat to shield herself from the rain (left) as she and her friend dash across the road. Another uses a tarpaulin cover to keep dry (right) Partying teens were seen bare foot and in shopping trolleys as they poured out onto the streets during the night of celebrations Heavy downpours and wind didn't stop thousands of teenage revellers from descending on the beach spots, though some chose to sport rain coast and ponchos. The rain provided no relief for emergency crews either, who were flat out attending to party-goers as the annual end of exams celebrations kicked off for its first night ahead of a fortnight of inevitable carnage. Emergency crews had their first taste of what's to come - contending with thousands of rowdy graduates who flocked to the usually sunny strip of beaches to let their hair down. Before midnight, the celebrations became too much for one teenage girl who was seen being lifted into an ambulance on a stretcher with a friend by her side. Stylish! These fashionable and practical school-leavers donned a set of ponchos for the evening as they battled against the rain and wet weather Before the night even reached midnight, the celebrations became too much for one girl who was seen being lifted into an ambulance on a stretcher with a friend by her side The show must go on: One eager school-leaver appears to be looking for a ride as she braves the rain along Surfers Paradise's party strip in gold sparkly pants and a tropical swimming top as another Schoolie is escorted from the strip by police (right) A severe storm was reported approaching the party strip early Saturday evening, with winds of up to 59km/h recorded at the Gold Coast Seaway just after 6pm. But the rain and cold didn't spoil the night's festivities as teenagers appeared unfazed by the gloomy weather, instead packing into the event to celebrate their final school year with music and dancing. Plenty of selfies were snapped with revealing crop tops, tight singlets and denim miniskirts all popular choices with the teens as they spilled out onto the streets and across the beach ready to let their hair down. But police had bigger concerns to contend with after vowing earlier in the week to crackdown on drug supply to the party scene, making dozens of arrests even before the event officially started. A group of teenagers huddle under a Red Frogs stand as volunteers distribute snacks (pictured) - part of hundreds of volunteers who will be on hand to help those who need respite or medical aid due to the effects of partying The rain and cold didn't spoil the night's festivities as teenagers appeared unfazed by the gloomy weather (left), instead packing into the event to celebrate their final school year with music and dancing A group of school-leavers crowd around one young man who is seen lying on the sand after a night of heavy partying Volunteers (left) and police (right) were on hand to provide some order during the festivities. Nearly 50 arrests were made in Surfers Paradise last year, with dozens of teenagers busted for drug possession and brawling Gold Coast Superintendent Mark White said during Schoolies officers will use a range of 'overt and covert' strategies to prevent drug dealing, particularly in the Schoolies precinct. 'If people think they come into this event and gain some advantage or push drugs onto young people they are going to be in for a rude shock,' he said. Nearly 50 arrests were made in Surfers Paradise last year during Gold Coast's annual rowdy event, with dozens of teenagers busted for drug possession and brawling. This year, agencies such as the police, the dog squad, mounted police, Red Frogs Australia and State Emergency Services said they were prepared and on hand to help out. Excited teens spilled out onto the streets (left) and across the beach ready to let their hair down as many school leavers test their limits Police had bigger concerns to contend with after vowing earlier in the week to crackdown on drug supply to the party scene, making dozens of arrests even before the event officially started Despite the colder weather, many wore revealing low-cut tops, tight singlets and denim shorts (left). Older revellers were also warned against 'prowling' on younger party-goers, with police saying they will also be keeping a close eye on 'Toolies' Despite an estimated 80 per cent of attendees being underage, most are likely to drink heavily during the celebrations. Teenagers taking part in the raging two-week-long celebration have become renowned for disturbing and often dangerous antics. 'Many people say 'ban Schoolies, let's just close the airport and anyone under 17 can't come in to Surfers Paradise' - (but) we can't hold back the tide,' Schoolies Advisory Committee Chair Mark Raeburn told Seven News. 'Our concern is always what goes on in the rooms, but we can't be there,' Mr Raeburn said. Mr Reaburn said his team of 11,000 volunteers was ready to make sure the kids have a great time but do it safely. 'It's not a party, what we coordinate is a response (to thousands of students) congregating in Surfers Paradise in what is known as a right of passage,' he said. Eighty per cent of the school leavers who come will be 17-years-old and many were going to push the limits, he said. '(That's) a lot of kids being away from mum and dad for the first time in their lives, with each other, essentially moving out into the big wide world,' he said. And they regularly go beyond what they can cope with both emotionally and physically, he said. 'That's why our mantra for the kids is: be safe and watch your mates,' he said. The Queensland Ambulance Instagram page uploaded an image of two officers posing with the 'be safe and watch your mates' posters they have strewn around the city. The Queensland Ambulance Instagram page uploaded an image of two officers posing with the 'be safe and watch your mates' posters they have strewn around the city (pictured) Queensland paramedics help one party-goer into an ambulance (pictured). Hundreds will be on hand to help those who need respite or medical aid due to the effects of partying Older revellers have also been warned against 'prowling' on younger party-goers, with police saying they will also be keeping a close eye on 'Toolies'. 'If you want to come to Surfers Paradise and play up, be assured you will be arrested,' South Eastern region Assistant Commissioner Brian Wilkins told the Gold Coast Bulletin. 'It's not the place to come and prowl upon schoolies. 'We will have a very strong police presence policing all the schoolies but also all the toolies.' Despite an estimated 80 per cent of attendees being underage, some party-goers who have already left school - in some cases many years ago - join the thousands of teenagers for the annual end of exams celebration. Of the nearly 50 arrests that were made in Surfers Paradise last year during the event, most were 'toolies' rather than students, Gold Coast Schoolies Advisory Group chairman Mark Reaburn said. Despite the inevitable carnage inflicted on the seaside resort town every year, authorities said there was not a lot they could do to stop the kids coming Eighty per cent of the school leavers who come will be 17-years-old and many were going to push the limits, Schoolies Advisory Committee Chair Mark Raeburn said Colourful Hawaiian shirts and fruit-themed outfits were popular choices for some of the party-goers at this year's event Hundreds of volunteers will be on hand to help those who need respite or medical aid due to the effects of partying, but they say not all those need urgent help. The Schoolies community safety response, which includes the Schoolies Hub and an ambulance treatment centre, provides school leavers with alcohol and drug-free diversionary activities, safety advice, and support while they party the week away. Closely-watched and cordoned-off party zones with high fences and soft beach sand have been carefully thought out by the organising committee. They provide safe, high security areas for teens to go about their partying and hopefully wear themselves out. Earlier in the day, plenty of teenagers were farewelled at airports and hotels, as parents helped set them up with the essentials. Cartons of drinks were the number one item on the list it seemed, with parents helping to cart the beverages. Plenty of teenagers were spotted carrying cartons of drinks earlier in the day Florida's beleaguered Broward county has made yet another election blunder after it was revealed that officials accidentally mixed in ballots from the Senate race into the recount for state's Commissioner of Agriculture as Florida. Early on Saturday, the recount of 22,000 ballots came to an abrupt stop when officials noticed volunteers had mixed 47 manila envelopes from Friday's Senate recount in with those to be hand counted for the commissioner race, Fox News reported. 'It appears there may have been some ballots from yesterday mixed in with the ones for today,' Broward Canvassing Board Judge Deborah Carpenter-Toye said. Early on Saturday, Broward County's recount (pictured) of 22,000 ballots cast in the race for Florida Commissioner of Agriculture came to an abrupt stop Officials noticed volunteers had mixed 47 manila envelopes from the Senate recount in with those to be hand counted for the commissioner race (Volunteers look over ballots during the hand count at the Broward County Supervisor of Elections office, Saturday) Democrat Nikki Fried prematurely called the race against Republican Matt Caldwell for the Florida Cabinet post of agriculture commissioner, last Saturday. Had the mix-up not been caught, some ballots cast for commissioner may have been counted twice, but Broward County Canvassing Board Attorney Rene Harrod said the issue was caught in time and that none of the 47 envelopes were double counted in that race. Joe Goldstein, a Republican lawyer, demanded that the recount be stopped but the canvassing board voted to continue counting. They also told volunteers that they needed to flag any incorrect ballots from counts on Saturday. Last Saturday, Democrat Nikki Fried prematurely called the race against Republican Matt Caldwell for the Florida Cabinet post of agriculture commissioner Joe Goldstein, a Republican lawyer, demanded that the recount be stopped but the canvassing board voted to continue counting. They also told volunteers that they needed to flag any incorrect ballots from counts on Saturday The error is the latest in a series of embarrassing blunders by election officials in the area. On Saturday, Broward County Supervisor of Elections Brenda Snipes was forced to admit that 2,040 ballots had been 'misfiled,' in a video posted by The South Florida Sun-Sentinel. 'We have been trying to determine what could have caused the drop. What we believe is that in the recount area ... I believe those ballots were probably mixed in with another stack,' Snipes told the elections Canvassing Board at midday. 'The ballots are in the building. The ballots are in this building. There would be nowhere else for them to be. But they are misfiled in this building.' State officials ordered a manual recount on Thursday after a machine recount showed less votes in the county than the total number of votes reported to the state on November 10. Broward County Supervisor of Elections Brenda Snipes explains to the canvassing board the discrepancy in vote counts during the hand count at the Broward County Supervisor of Elections office in Lauderhill, Fla., on Saturday Larry Davis, a Democratic attorney who is representing agriculture commissioner candidate Nikki Fried, took the elections supervisor to task over the missing ballots. 'Dr. Snipes, with all due respect to you and your office, the ballots being in the building doesnt get them counted,' Davis said. Snipes said that she believed the totals reported to the state on November 10 were accurate, but that some ballots were misfiled before the machine recount, causing them not to be run through the machines. In the original vote totals as recorded by Broward County on November 8, two days after the election, Nelson was beating Scott, but far fewer votes had been cast in the US Senate race than other statewide races. The Broward Supervisor of Elections website reported 676,706 votes had been counted in Broward in the US Senate race, with the vast majority going to Nelson over Scott, but 24,763 more votes had been logged for the governor's race, with 701,469 reported at that time, according to the Miami Herald. She said she'd like to send the original vote totals to the state at noon on Sunday, which is the deadline to report official results to the Department of State. Snipes has already been under fire for the way her office has handled the election and recount. On Thursday, her office was two minutes late in submitting the machine recount numbers to the Department of State refused to accept the totals, according to the New York Times. Broward County has historically been a Democratic stronghold, but the machine recount on Thursday had Republican Gov. Rick Scott leading incumbent Democrat Bill Nelson by about 12,600 votes for one of the state's US Senate seats. Florida's history of election woes dates back to 2000, when it took more than five weeks for the state to declare George W. Bush the victor over Vice President Al Gore by 537 votes, thus giving Bush the presidency. Back then, punch-card ballots were punch lines. Photos of election workers using magnifying glasses to search for hanging chads and pregnant chads symbolized the painstaking process. There are no chads this year, but there are plenty of cracks about flashbacks to the Bush-Gore contest. And, just as in 2000, the Republican candidates in the contested races have declared themselves winners and asked for the recount to stop. Add to this a litany of other voting problems: Palm Beach County's tallying machines went on the fritz during the recount due to age and overwork. The electricity went out in Hillsborough County during a machine recount and resulted in an 846-vote deficit. Broward County missed the state deadline to turn in recount results by two minutes. Those glitches led U.S. District Judge Mark Walker to ask why state officials have repeatedly failed to anticipate problems in elections. 'We have been the laughingstock of the world, election after election, and we chose not to fix this,' he said. Walker is presiding over several election-related lawsuits that have been filed since Nov. 6. On Friday, election workers in all 67 counties began recounting by hand about 93,000 ballots that were not recorded by voting machines. Many counties finished up the Senate recount on the first day. All results are supposed to be turned in by Sunday at noon. State officials will officially certify the totals next week. A leading jockey is under investigation over the manner in which he rode a beaten odds-on favourite - and the fact his manager successfully tipped another horse in the field to win. Late in the afternoon at Rosehill Racecourse in Sydney on Saturday, jockey Josh Parr was grilled by stewards after $1.50 favourite Roheryn finished second behind $9.50 outsider Chess Star in the first race of the program. Pre-race, Parr's agent John Walter tipped Chess Star to win in a paid service for punters. Jockey Josh Parr (pictured) is under fire after his $1.50 chance lost on Saturday at Rosehill - and the fact his manager tipped the race winner to punters Josh Parr (pictured) was grilled by racing stewards on Saturday over his ride at Rosehill - the $1.50 favourite Roheryn was beaten by Chess Star 'Have you spoken to your manager today?' Racing NSW chief steward Marc Van Gestel quizzed Parr after informing him that Walter had tipped Chess Star to salute. Parr responded that Walter was 'caddying for someone at the Australian Open', and that he 'doesn't really talk to him about form.' The jockey was then asked to leave his phone in the hands of stewards. Under intense questioning, Parr explained his tactics in the saddle. Parr sat at the back of the field before storming home, but he was unable to reel in Chess Star. Jockey Josh Parr (pictured) is under for the manner in which he rode a horse at Saturday's meeting at Rosehill Racecourse - his agent also successfully tipped a rival horse to win He was also heckled track-side by an irate punter. The inquiry was adjourned for stewards to review Roheryn's previous runs, as well as closely examine betting patterns on the race. Parr completed his jockey apprenticeship under the astute eye of leading trainer Peter Snowden. He landed his first Group One winner on Skilled in the 2010 Champagne Stakes at Royal Randwick. An Australian woman facing the death penalty over the death of her mentally ill step-daughter insists the seven-year-old died of natural causes. Originally hailing from South Australia, mother-of-four Lisa Cunningham now spends 23 hours a day in solitary confinement in the U.S. The 43-year-old could become the first Australian woman on death row in the United States if she is found guilty of the alleged cruel neglect and eventual killing of her seven-year-old stepdaughter Sanaa in February 2017. Sanaa suffered acute schizophrenia and other mental health problems, but died from complications due to sepsis and acute bronchitis. Mrs Cunningham will speak about the charges laid against her in an interview with the Sunday Night program at 8:15pm on Sunday 18th November. Mother-of-four Lisa Cunningham (pictured) now spends 23 hours a day in solitary confinement She and her husband, former Phoenix detective Germayne Cunningham, were arrested and charged with Sanaa's murder after a series of complaints of the child's neglect were investigated, The Advertiser reported. But she claims they are innocent, and were the best parents they could be to Mr Cunningham's 'dangerously schizophrenic' daughter. Ligatures to her body, including a bone-deep cut on her foot and markings suggestive of being bound with zip-ties and handcuffs, were noted, with police alleging Sanaa was the victim of vicious abuse. They allege she was restrained in a straitjacket and cable ties before her death. Mrs Cunningham claims Sanaa (pictured) was severely impaired and self harmed, was dangerous, and spoke of a voice in her head that 'urged her to kill' But Mrs Cunningham insists there was no murder, and claims that Sanaa died from pneumonia. The mother-of-four claims she is the victim of an elaborate set up after she threatened to sue the state for Sanaa's death. 'You can't keep having the conversation about this crime and not keep visiting the fact, there was no murder there was no homicide. She died from pneumonia,' she told Sunday Night. She claims Sanaa was severely impaired and self harmed, was dangerous, and spoke of a voice in her head that 'urged her to kill'. They claim she once attacked the family dog. In September, the step-mother blamed the anti psychotic drug Risperdal that was prescribed to the seven-year-old for schizophrenia for the death. She and her husband, former Phoenix detective Germayne Cunningham, were arrested and charged with Sanaa's murder after a series of complaints of the child's neglect were investigated One of the side affects of the medication is pneumonia, as well as other health complications. Mrs Cunningham argues her and her husband wanted to avoid anti psychotic drugs and wanted to try cannabis treatment, but said: 'As a result, we were threatened by the department of child safety that if we did not comply with the drug order all of our kids would be taken into state custody for medical neglect.' This, Mrs Cunningham claims, is also fabricated. When she was asked about the likelihood of receiving the death penalty come her 2020 trial, Mrs Cunningham said: 'You know, I think I think it's, I think it's illogical, but do I think illogical things happen? Absolutely.' Child protection services first investigated Mrs Cunningham and her husband in March of 2016. The rest of the children remain in state care, despite family in Australia, and Mrs Cunningham's eldest daughter from a first marriage, vying for custody in order to keep the siblings together. Six Schoolies teens were arrested on the first night of the annual end of exams celebrations, but organisors maintain the opening night went as well as they could have hoped. More than 13,000 school leavers flooded the Gold Coast on Saturday, with half-a-dozen ending the night in handcuffs. Three boys and three girls were arrested for drug possession in separate incidents, days after police vowed to crack down on illicit substances. But organisors maintain the night went off without a hitch, saying a 'few ratbags' were to be expected. Six rowdy teens ended the first night of Schoolies on the Gold Coast in handcuffs Three males and three females were arrested on drug related charges Saturday night The chairman of the Gold Coast schoolies advisory group Mark Raeburn said he and his group were happy overall with the behaviour of this year's party-goers. 'We expect when you've got this many kids there's going to be a few ratbags amongst them, that doesn't phase us too much,' Mr Raeburn told Nine News. As well as the six young revellers arrested Saturday night, 21 'toolies' - party-goers who attended the event despite finishing school years ago - were led away in handcuffs on 31 separate drug charges. 'This is one of the biggest policing events in Australia ... we've got 11,000 volunteers and eight different government agencies all wrapping around these kids and keeping them safe,' Mr Raeburn said. The arrests come after police announced they would have zero tolerance for drugs at parties Organisors say they are pleased with the outcome of night one, expecting a 'few ratbags' There were also six arrests made on the first night of Schoolies a year ago. In total, nearly 50 arrests were made in Surfers Paradise last year during the celebrations, with dozens of teenagers busted for drug possession and brawling. This year's arrests come after an active week for police, who busted more than 30 people in the days leading up to the mass pilgrimage. More than $100,000 worth of drugs destined for the party were also seized. Mr Reaburn said although he wanted revellers to have a good time, any who act the 'idiot' can almost guarantee to be dealt with by the police. Queensland Schoolies will continue for the rest of the week, with their NSW counterparts taking over next Saturday for a second week of partying. Sexual predators are increasingly hassling women on crowded public transport, with police urging fellow passengers to speak up and come to the rescue. Victoria Police Transit Safety Detective Inspector Andrew Gustke told the Herald Sun sexual offenders try to blend in and become anonymous. 'They manoeuvre themselves to where females are in crowded spaces,' he said. Victoria's tram network becomes crowded at busy times, and creepy perverts are using the cover of the crowd to assault women by rubbing up against them. Passengers are urged to shout out if this happens as police said predators are afraid of being identified One woman, Moriah Garcia, a 21-year-old student, described how a man had moved behind her on a crowded Melbourne train and rubbed his groin on her. 'It's made me feel really unsafe,' she told the Herald Sun. 'We need to speak up to send a clear message that this is without question unacceptable.' Crime Statistics Agency data reported by the publication showed sexual assault offences on public transport rose from 45 in 2013-14 to 104 in 2017-18 - an increase of 131 per cent over five years. The ABC reported in October 2017 there had been 350 sexual assaults on Victorian public transport in the 12 months prior to publication, an increase from 249 in the previous corresponding period. A new police unit was created last year in response to the increased attacks, dedicated to investigating assault, upskirting and obscene exposure. Victoria's public transport network is watched by CCTV cameras, which are monitored 24/7, and protective service officers patrol the network, but with more than 1.6 million passenger trips made per day, sexual attacks continue to occur. Police are hunting this man, who allegedly rubbed himself up against a commuter on a crowded Melbourne tram on July 25 Most offenders are males aged 15 to 60, and target public transport as it is cheap and has many potential victims, who are mostly women, Detective Inspector Andrew Gustke said. Predators are also using mobile phone technology such as AirDrop to send inappropriate photos of genitalia to other commuters who they do not know. A Victoria Police spokesperson told Daily Mail Australia on Sunday that some attackers will deliberately target someone who is isolated in order to overpower or confront them. Others are opportunistic. 'If they're in a crowded area or there's very large crowds on trams, trains or buses and they feel they won't be detected they may offend,' said the police spokesperson who did not want to be named. Police are searching for a man in his 50s or 60s with distinctive gold teeth who is accused of attacking a young woman on a crowded tram as she made her way to a Pink concert on July 25. The man first apologised to the 23-year-old student's face, saying he was sorry he was so close as the 7pm Route 70 tram was busy. He worked his way behind her and then allegedly ground the lower half of his body on hers for about three minutes. Sexual assault has serious consequences for victims who are made to feel powerless, violated and traumatised. Police have urged commuters to be vigilant and if you see someone being harassed, say something to help them and call the police The woman could not move away because of the confined space, and said the alleged attack felt like it lasted for more than three hours. 'I felt trapped. I tried to subtly move my body so he wouldn't notice but he kept moving with me and thrusting,' she told the Herald Sun. 'The movements started to become more severe. I just froze.' A Good Samaritan commuter told the man to leave the area and he disembarked at William Barak Bridge, which is near the Yarra River and Rod Laver Arena. Police are now hunting the alleged attacker, described as being of an Indian sub-continental or African appearance with a shaved head and distinctive gold capped teeth. Police said in a media release he was wearing business attire and a camel colored trench coat at the time of the attack. If anyone has any information they are encouraged to call CrimeStoppers. Detective Inspector Andrew Gustke said it was important for passengers to speak up if someone is being harassed as sexual offenders are afraid of being identified. 'We want to encourage other commuters to come to their rescue the behaviour you walk past is the behaviour you accept,' he told the Herald Sun. 'If you see something, please say something.' Fortnum & Mason has been celebrated as the Queen's grocer It is celebrated as the Queens grocer, but Fortnum & Mason now has an unwanted claim to fame getting the wooden spoon in an experts blind taste test of this years Christmas puddings. Equally surprising, however, was the decision by judges to crown the offering from budget frozen food chain Iceland as the winner. Costing 10.95, Fortnums St James Christmas Pudding (454g) is sold in a festive red box, and is described as light and elegant with the finest dried fruits and a well-judged quantity of Pussers full-strength navy rum and Fortnums own cognac. But the judging panel put together by consumer watchdog Which? branded the Fortnums dessert a total disaster, adding that there was so much salt they believed there must have been a mistake with the recipe during production. Icelands 6 Luxury 12-month matured Christmas Pudding (750g) was loved by the judges for its rich, boozy flavour of alcohol and plenty of nuts. One judge said it was pretty perfect. Iceland's 6 Luxury 12-month matured Christmas Pudding (left) was loved by judges put together by consumer watchdog Which? whereas the Fortnum & Mason 10.95 dessert (right) was branded a 'total disaster' The Iceland label promises a rich fruit pudding with cider, brandy, sherry, cognac, almonds and pecan nuts. It scored a total of 75 per cent based on taste, aroma, texture and appearance, while the Fortnum offering was rated just 40 per cent and was the second most expensive. The runner-up was also the cheapest, the Co-ops 3 Irresistible Christmas Pudding (400g) which scored 73 per cent. Judges said it looked and smelled wonderful. They enjoyed the subtle balance of spice and alcohol but would have preferred a few more nuts to vary the texture. Harrods Classic Christmas Pudding (454g) at 13, the most expensive dessert came third, scoring 70 per cent. It did not have a traditional flavour but it had an authentic Christmas smell and contained so much fruit it was the sweetest pudding. It is recommended for those who dont like the typical pudding taste. The runner-up was also the cheapest, the Co-ops 3 Irresistible Christmas Pudding (left), while Harrods 13 Classic Christmas Pudding (right) the most expensive dessert came third, scoring 70 per cent Harry Rose, editor of Which? magazine, said: Our results go to show that when it comes to serving a crowd-pleaser, price is no guarantee of quality. The judges were award-winning bakers Patrick Moore and Dan Lepard, bakery author and broadcaster Suzy Pelta, and Ryan Simpson, chef proprietor of Orwells restaurant in Shiplake, Oxfordshire, where the tastings were held in October. Puddings from Aldi, Asda, Lidl, Marks & Spencer, Morrisons, Tesco and Waitrose were also tested. The full results are in the latest issue of Which? magazine. Delighted Iceland head chef Nigel Nugent said: The pudding follows a classic recipe and the balance of brandy, sherry and cognac make it a winner. Fortnum & Mason did not respond to requests for comment. Lovely - but as subtle as Mrs Brown's Boys By Tom Parker Bowles, Mail on Sunday food critic I may not be Christmas puddings greatest fan, but I know a good one when I taste it succulent and stuffed with juicy dried fruits, a good whack of citrus peel and lots of lovely booze. So is the 6 Iceland version really better than the grander Fortnum & Mason classic. Does money always buy you class? I thought Id taste them to see who came out top. Getting stuck in: Tom tries a Christmas pud Iceland This is the classic Christmas pudding we all know and love, with big, boozy swagger, and masses of dried fruit depth. Generous with the nuts too. OK, so its not subtle. At all. Masses of molasses and fistfuls of Christmas spice not so much tantalise the tastebuds, as bombard them. But then again, Christmas pudding is about as subtle as the Mrs Browns Boys Christmas special. Thats the point. If you like your puddings bold and butch, then this is the one for you. Rating: Fortnum & Mason This is light in terms of taste and texture. The booze is perfectly judged, merry rather than sozzled, and the fruits are of the highest quality. The almonds add welcome crunch, while the spicing is subtle but assured. And you get that hit of citrus peel too. But it does lack the regal depth of the truly traditional Christmas pudding. But very respectable, and one for the folk looking for something a little less blunt. Rating: Thousands of middle-class eco-protesters caused chaos in Central London yesterday by staging mass sit-ins across five of the capitals busiest bridges. Police arrested 85 of the activists, who included students, university lecturers, teachers and civil servants. Their blockade stopped traffic and hindered emergency service vehicles on Southwark, Blackfriars, Waterloo, Westminster and Lambeth bridges. Music teachers, civil servants and retired psychologists are among the protesters that have been trained by the direct action group to get themselves arrested It was organised by a new protest group called Extinction Rebellion, which hopes to raise awareness of climate change. Protesters included organic farmer Roger Hallam, a PhD researcher at Kings College London, George Monbiot, a columnist with The Guardian newspaper, and Green Party politician Baroness Jones. Activists caused five bridges across the River Thames to be blocked off during the day of havoc, meant to pressure the government to tackle climate change The activists danced, read poetry, had picnics and meditated. Some later moved to Parliament Square where they planted trees. Hundreds of police officers eventually cleared the bridges, but activists last night warned of further blockades. Bristol student Robin Boardman-Pattison, 21, said: Were not going to stop. We are going to be swarming London with roadblocks. In the cut and thrust of professional sport, suffering defeat after playing a stinker is nothing out of the ordinary. But the world of professional darts has been rocked by an allegation of unsporting, if not toxic, conduct during a match between Scottish two-time world champion Gary Anderson and Dutchman Wesley Harms. After losing the match 10-2 at the Grand Slam of Darts in Wolverhampton on Friday, Harms, 34, explained his sub-standard performance by accusing Anderson of breaking wind during the tie. The world of professional darts has been rocked by an allegation of unsporting, if not toxic, conduct during a match between Scottish two-time world champion Gary Anderson and Dutchman Wesley Harms He said: Itll take me two nights to lose this smell from my nose. But Anderson, 47, said any blame for a bad atmosphere at the Aldersley Leisure Village must lie elsewhere. Hes 1,010 per cent wrong, he said. I swear on my childrens lives that it was not my fault. Dutchman Wesley Harms, 34, explained his sub-standard performance was caused by the Scottish two-time world champion breaking wind during the tie I had a bad stomach once on stage before and admitted it. So Im not going to lie. The bizarre post-match exchange was greeted with amusement by Professional Darts Corporation chairman Barry Hearn, who said: Weve got to get to the bottom of this. Hearn added that the Darts Regulation Authority had the power to fine or suspend players guilty of gamesmanship or a lack of professionalism. John Bercow was at the centre of a respect for the Royal Family row last night after being accused of cutting short Commons tributes to Prince Charles on his 70th birthday. Tory MPs were said to be so annoyed that they insisted on protesting to Her Majesty personally about the Speakers behaviour. Tory Whip Andrew Stephenson, who each day writes a so-called Dear Queen private report to the Monarch on Commons proceedings, included the complaint in that days letter, sources said. The extraordinary row erupted after Mr Bercow, far left, chaired Wednesdays Commons tributes on Charless milestone birthday. The 41-minute session included glowing praise from Theresa May and Jeremy Corbyn who revealed he planned to give the heir to the throne a jar of jam from his allotment The extraordinary row erupted after Mr Bercow chaired Wednesdays Commons tributes on Charless milestone birthday. The 41-minute session included glowing praise from Theresa May and Jeremy Corbyn who revealed he planned to give the heir to the throne a jar of jam from his allotment. But Mr Bercow has been accused of not giving enough time for other MPs to deliver their tributes. At one point during the session, he appeared to tell MPs time was short by rebuking some of them for not saying in advance they wanted to take part and reminding them there was legislation to discuss later on. John Bercow, right, applauds with Queen Maxima of the Netherlands after King Willem-Alexander of the Netherlands addressed parliamentarians last month Mr Bercow said: It seems rather curious for an MP not to have put in to speak but suddenly to bob [indicating they wanted to speak]. It is simply not in conformity with our procedures, and we have a Second Reading of a Bill. The Speaker then hurried up Somerset Tory MP Rebecca Pow, who was brought up on a farm owned by Prince Charles, telling her to speak very briefly please as she prepared to make her tribute. But later, Mr Stephenson whose official title is Vice-Chamberlain of Her Majestys Household is understood to have complained about the Speaker in a letter. This is collected by a messenger each evening, taken to Buckingham Palace and apparently read by the Queen before dinner. A well-placed Tory source said: Her Majesty has been kept fully informed of whats happened in the Commons Chamber with respect to that particular debate. Im sure the Speaker meant no disrespect to the Royal Family but a number of people had wanted to speak and in a debate like that, he should have exercised some discretion. Mr Stephenson could not be reached for comment last night. Former Labour MP Janet Anderson, who served as Vice-Chamberlain in 1997-98, lifted the lid on the normally secret communications in her Dear Queen book two years ago. Last night she said: Its supposed to be a private letter between you and Her Majesty, and Mr Stephenson can really put what he likes in it. John Bercow, far left, was at the centre of a respect for the Royal Family row last night after being accused of cutting short Commons tributes to Prince Charles on his 70th birthday Theres a special messenger waiting at 6pm to take it across to Buckingham Palace. And the Queen reads it each evening before dinner. Tony Blair told me once that the Queen loved my letters. I said, Thats because I used to give her all the gossip. Ironically, one of Mrs Andersons letters referred to Mr Bercow when he was simply a Tory backbencher as a tiresome little man. Last night, Mr Bercow denied cutting short the session devoted to marking Prince Charless birthday. His spokeswoman pointed out that the day after, he went to the Princes Clarence House residence to deliver formally the Commons tributes. She said: It is not true the debate was cut short. Everybody who wanted to speak was able to do so. The Speaker was able to offer His Royal Highness his own birthday wishes the following day when he joined a celebration at Clarence House with the Prime Minister and leader of the Opposition. A spokesman for the Palace declined to comment last night. The family of an 18-year-old aristocrat who died of a drugs overdose have revealed heartbreaking details of her struggle with mental illness and claim that better NHS treatment could have saved her. Lady Beth Douglas, youngest child of the 12th Marquess of Queensberry, died after taking heroin at a London house party, an inquest heard a week ago. Relatives have told how Lady Beth tried to kill herself after being discharged from a psychiatric unit weeks before her 18th birthday. The late Lady Beth Douglas, youngest child of David Douglas, the 12th Marquess of Queensberry She had been unwell for several years, struggling with anorexia, self-harm, and drug abuse. They say the help available for the troubled teenager drastically worsened after she reached adulthood because of a 'catastrophic failure' by the NHS. A close family friend, Callum Wylie, took his life aged 18 just weeks before Lady Beth died Now the relatives and experts are calling on the NHS to introduce a better 'transition stage' in treatment to help youngsters with mental health problems make the move through adolescence to adulthood. Suicide is the biggest killer of young people in the UK and the rate almost doubles between the ages of 17 and 19, a national study has shown. The Marquess's granddaughter, Hero Douglas, says Lady Beth's discharge shortly before her 18th birthday in August 2017 was a mistake. 'Within a week she was back using drugs, had tried to kill herself and then stabbed herself.' Despite her desperate plight, Lady Beth was not returned to the psychiatric unit where she had been sectioned for six months. Oxford undergraduate Ms Douglas, Lady Beth's niece and friend, said: 'She needed protecting from the demons within herself.' A close family friend, Callum Wylie, took his life aged 18 weeks before Lady Beth died, and her relatives believe he too was failed by the poor transition between child and adult mental health services. Despite her desperate plight, Lady Beth was not returned to the psychiatric unit where she had been sectioned for six months Calling for a radical overhaul of treatment for young people, Ms Douglas said: 'I am adding my voice to the many others that beg the NHS to implement a transition from child to adult mental health services. This catastrophic failure must be addressed.' Experts echoed the family's call for change. Dr Nick Waggett, chief executive of the Association of Child Psychotherapists said last night: 'Our view is that adolescence continues until 25 and the transition age should not be 18.' Dr Dennis Ougrin, a clinical senior lecturer in child and adolescent psychiatry at King's College London, agreed that extending children's services to the age of 25 would be 'a very good idea'. An NHS England spokesman said: 'All clinicians working with this age group recognise the need for a planned and supported transition process for young people as they move from child to adult services.' There is a link donate to the Callum Wylie foundation here For confidential support call the Samaritans in the UK on 08457 90 90 90, visit a local Samaritans branch or click here for details. For confidential support for adults who suffered any type of abuse in childhood call NAPAC on 0808 801 0331, free from landlines and mobiles, or click here for details Saudi Arabias Crown Prince did order the murder of Jamal Khashoggi, it was claimed last night. The CIA has said Mohammed bin Salman known as MbS ordered a hit squad to strangle, dismember and then dissolve the journalists body in acid despite Saudi denials. The CIA has reportedly concluded that Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince (left) ordered the killing of journalist Jamal Khashoggi (right). Trump will meet with the CIA on Saturday According to a report in the Washington Post, US intelligence services have determined beyond a reasonable doubt that the murder last month in Istanbul was carried out at the specific behest of the Saudi leader. Khashoggi, 59, a critic of the Saudi regime, was murdered shortly after he entered the Saudi consulate in Istanbul to get documentation for his upcoming wedding. The Saudi government has vehemently denied the Crown Prince knew of any plans to kill the journalist. A team of 15 Saudi agents allegedly flew to Turkey to carry out the murder. Five of those who have since been accused face the death penalty in Saudi Arabia if they are found guilty. Police are planning to arrest two 'pranksters' for terrorizing patrons at a Philadelphia ramen restaurant. Video - that has since been deleted - showed customers of Terakawa Ramen screaming in horror after a man ran into the eatery wearing a blood soaked shirt. The Wednesday clip then shows another man running into the University City store and screaming Arabic at the 'victim' and attacking them. Video - that has since been deleted - showed customers of Terakawa Ramen screaming in horror after a man ran into the eatery wearing a blood soaked shirt Inside, people screamed and ran around in an attempt to flee what appeared to be an attack. Eventually, the whole ordeal was revealed to be a prank - and video was later posted on social media by comedian,FunniestNPhilly. But local authorities failed to see the funny side. The Wednesday clip then shows another man running into the University City store and screaming Arabic at the 'victim' and attacking them While the video has been deleted, Philadelphia police are using it as evidence 'This is not funny at all. They think it's funny and want to put it on YouTube and get laughs from it but you see those kids in the mindset that something was going on,' Lt. John Walker explained to CBSPhilly. While the video has been deleted, police are using it as evidence. Footage was posted on social media by a local comedian, FunniestNPhilly People who were eating at Terakawa are still dealing with the stress of having experienced the ordeal. 'I wasn't sure exactly whether it was a knife or a gun or just some sort of weapon and by the time I was already starting to duck under the table because I was only about three or four feet from the man who had run in,' said Leah Chen. 'It felt way too real. Prank or not regardless you're putting people's lives in danger. It definitely wasn't funny at all.' According to ABC6, police plan to charge the men with risking a catastrophe and false reporting. FunniestNPhilly's social media pages show him often in spaces engaged in outrageous scenarios for shock humor. Most of the time, someone in the video is being physically or verbally attacked. The wife of notorious drug lord El Chapo exuded a more demure and understated image as her husbands trial for drug trafficking got underway in Brooklyn. Emma Coronel Aispuro used her appearances outside the courthouse to display a more polished image, wearing sophisticated suits and posting about her voluntary work with children on Instagram this week. Aispuros Instagram page usually features images of the former Beauty Queen posing in a bikini. Emma Coronel Aispuro has portrayed a more demure and sophisticated look as she made appearances at her husband's trial which began earlier this week in Brooklyn US law enforcement authorities escort Joaquin "El Chapo" Guzman (center) from a plane to a waiting caravan of SUVs at Long Island MacArthur Airport in January 2017 after his arrest However more recently added images show the 29-year-old mother of twin girls volunteering at a Mexican childrens hospital, handing out packages of disposable diapers and toys to needy children, the New York Post reported. I do this for the love of humanity, without any profit motive, reads the caption next to photos showing the pretty brunette wearing a surgical mask, blue jeans and sneakers. I do this for love of my fellow man, for those who need help the most. Her Instagram feed, which has nearly 500,000 followers, also featured photos and a video depicting the Kim Kardashian lookalike as a minor celebrity. Dressed in a fitted black pantsuit and stiletto pumps, she posed for a selfie with a bystander and thanked her followers for their 'good wishes'. 'It doesnt matter what happens, reads the Spanish-language caption posted next to the series of photos taken on the sidewalk outside the courthouse. Emma Coronel Aispuro recently posted pictures on Instragram showing her volunteering at a Mexican children's hospital , saying her goal in life was to help disadvantaged people She was seen handing out packages of diapers and toys to needy children in hospital She has almost 500,000 Instagram followers and was dubbed 'Mexico's Kim Kardashian' 'I promised to always be with you and here I am. I will love you for the rest of my life'. Joaquin 'El Chapo' Guzman Loera, 61, faces life in prison and is accused of masterminding a multi-billion-dollar drug empire in Mexicos northwestern state of Sinaloa and ordering the killing of rivals. While the kingpin sits in a New York prison during his trial, Aispuro has been living the life of luxury. The former Mexican beauty queen regularly showcases her glamorous life in photos posted on her social media account. There are plenty of pictures of a scantily clad Aispuro on Instagram and as a beauty queen The mother-of-two also made headlines in September after throwing an elaborate Barbie-themed birthday party for the couple's seven-year-old daughters Emaly and Maria The former Mexican beauty queen regularly showcases her glamorous life in photos posted on her social media account In recent months, she shared photos of herself beachside in a bikini, soaking up the sun in Los Cabos and showing off her Prada purses. The mother-of-two also made headlines in September after throwing an elaborate Barbie-themed birthday party for the couple's seven-year-old daughters Emaly and Maria. Some Mexicans reacted with fury after news of the lavish birthday party emerged, accusing Aispuro of using 'blood money' from her 61-year-old husband's drug empire. Aispuro, who wed El Chapo in 2007, has US nationality. Their daughters were born in America but live in their father's home state of Sinaloa. The whole family has attended El Chapo's various court appearances in New York this year. However at the hearing on Wednesday, Aispuro did not seem interested in hearing El Chapos accusations and instead took off her translator headset for much of the proceedings. During the trial, she and other individuals were barred from watching juror replacements for security reasons, after two members were removed from the case at the last minute. The judge has ruled that the jury may be sequestered for some of the trial, which is expected to take as long as four months. Opening statements will begin next week. El Chapo famously escaped from Mexican prisons twice before being arrested and turned over to the US in January 2017. If convicted, he will spend the rest of his life in a US prison. El Chapo has not had any contact with Aispuro (pictured with their two children in February) for two years since his arrest and has not been able to see, call, or write to her El Chapo famously escaped from Mexican prisons twice before being arrested and turned over to the US in January 2017 El Chapo is charged with 17 counts of drug trafficking and running a criminal enterprise known as the Sinaloa cartel, one of Mexico's most violent and dangerous organized crime syndicates. He has pleaded not guilty. In a 2016 interview with Telemundo, Coronel Aispuro said that El Chapo had been harshly punished by Mexican authorities because he fled a prison a year prior. She later added that prison guards at Mexico's Altiplano prison did 'not let him sleep, he doesnt even have privacy to go to the bathroom'. Monica Lewinsky's new docu-series begins Sunday with the woman famed 20 years ago for having an affair with then-President Bill Clinton revealing how her life changed in 1998. While the 45-year-old has been largely quiet since battling criticism from the scandal that occurred when she was a 22-year-old intern at the White House, Lewinsky has managed to turn things around, especially in the wake of the #MeToo movement. Formerly a disliked figure, Lewinsky has perhaps now more so than ever been afforded the sympathy of a victim. Scroll down for videos Monica Lewinsky's new A&E docu-series The Clinton Affair begins Sunday She wasn't paid for the interview but was compensated for images used in series Bill Clinton emphatically denied having affair with former White House intern Monica Lewinsky, during White House childcare event with First Lady Hillary Rodham Clinton Aside from getting her view across in the 20 hours of interviews she participated in for the A&E show, The Clinton Affair, her name has attracted attendees at conferences about shame and bullying across the world. A source told The New York Post it has been her main source of income. An insider at the A&E network said she wasn't directly paid for her interview, but was paid photo-licensing fees for images used in the series. 'Now she's feeling, like, "Wait a second. Why is the calendar and cycle of my life dictated by the cycles of the Clintons' lives?"' David Friend, Lewinsky's editor at Vanity Fair, told The New York Post about her new outlook on approaching opportunities. Lewinsky was one of the most disliked women in the world after her affair with Bill Clinton was revealed 20 years ago when she interned at the White House Lewsinky went quiet when Hillary Clinton (pictured January) announced she was running for president in April 2015 but in her Vanity Fair column this week she said Bill Clinton should apologize for abusing his power as POTUS She wrote in her column for the magazine that was published Tuesday how 'Bill Clinton should want to apologize' for abusing his position, adding she regrets publicly referring to the 1995 to 1997 relationship as consensual in 2014, the year she started her column. 'His reason: 'Because I could.' (And, yes, that's a direct quote),' she wrote this week referring to Clinton's 2004 interview with Dan Rather. Now in the #MeToo era, she added: 'He was my boss. He was the most powerful man on the planet He was, at the time, at the pinnacle of his career, while I was in my first job out of college.' Lewinsky really began to turn her reputation around after a 2015 TED talk on The Price of Shame went viral It's a massive turn-around for the Lewinsky who regularly shielded herself from the public eye and was careful about talking of the former first family of the United States. A year after she started her column, the first one in which she expressed how the Clinton scandal ruined her life, her TED talk on The Price of Shame went viral. The Post reports how when her editor Friend told Clinton supporter George Soros' son Robert Soros, he was taking Lewinsky to their Manhattan benefit in 2014, she was surprisingly more than welcome. 'Robert said, 'Not only do I not give a s**t, you must bring her,' Friend told the publication about changing views toward Lewinsky. David Friend, Lewinsky's editor at Vanity Fair says she decided not to let her life be dictated by the calendar of the Clinton family It hasn't been easy staying strong in the public glare though; Lewinsky toned down her appearances when Hillary Clinton announced she was running for president in April 2015. Lewinsky was back to boldly criticizing those who ostracize her in favor of the Clintons this May however. When she was uninvited from the Town & Country Philanthropy Summit because Bill Clinton was confirmed to speak, she blasted the decision on Twitter writing: 'dear world: please don't invite me to an event (esp one about social change) and --then after i've accepted-- uninvite me because bill clinton then decided to attend/was invited. it's 2018. emily post would def not approve.Me.' Friend told The Post: 'She [has] decided, I think . . . to just take charge of her own timetable to use her own phrase, [she wanted] "to control her own narrative".' Lewinsky has a famous friend in Alan Cumming (pictured November) but largely keeps her personal life out of the spotlight Lewinsky has even managed to control intrusion into her personal life by keeping a tight circle of friends. Exceptions include an outing to Alan Cumming's New York nightlife spot Club Cumming for her birthday this July, where she even performed Somewhere Over the Rainbow in front of the crowd which sang Happy Birthday back to her. In May she was spotted getting off a plane from Los Angeles to New York with a potential love interest. Maintaining a low-key life seems to have won her more support and respect. 'Anytime I'm anywhere with her, someone comes up and tells her how incredible the work she's done these past few years has been how it allows people to confront their bullies or to deal with shame,' the source shared. 'She's empowered other people.' An out-of-control party filled with underage drinkers has sparked a warning to parents after nine people were arrested. The person who planned the 18-year-old's birthday party in Auckland on New Zealand's north island could now face charges. About 200 people attended the party at Takapuna War Memorial Hall, a venue owned by the council, on November 3. An out-of-control party filled with underage drinkers has sparked a warning to parents after nine people were arrested (stock) Police allege the group turned violent after officers arrived. Nine people were arrested and part of the area had to be shut down for an hour as police restored order. Despite the person who planned the event stating there would not be any alcohol at the event, council staff found the building littered with smashed bottles. Graffiti was also discovered at the venue. Graham Bodman, the Council's arts community and events manager, told the New Zealand Herald they were 'extremely disappointed' one of their venues had been used for such an event. 'The customer will be charged penalty fees to cover costs.' About 200 people attended the party at Takapuna War Memorial Hall (pictured), a venue owned by the council, on November 3 A Police and Council Investigation is underway. According to police, it is likely that charges will follow under the Sale of Liquor Act relating to allowing the consumption of alcohol by persons under 18 years. In post shared on facebook, police officers reminded the public of the legal responsibilities for those hosting events. 'You are responsible for not only your own child, but the welfare of every other child or Young Person that attends that event.' Dominic Raab today fueled speculation he is lining himself up as the 'stop Boris' Tory leadership candidate as he renewed his attacks on the PM's Brexit plan. The ex Brexit Secretary, who sent the Government into meltdown with his dramatic resignation last week, said he is loyal and will back Mrs May in any no confidence vote. But Westminster is awash with rumours that Brexiteers are already locked in talks as they jockey for position over who might succeed Mrs May if she is ousted. Boris Johnson and David Davis - who have both long harboured leadership ambitions - have reportedly been in talks to decide who should take a run. And Mr Raab, who is one of the favourites for the leadership, today said he is not an 'ally' of Mr Johnson's as he publicly insisted he would stay loyal to the PM. It comes as Bill Cash became the latest Tory MP to announce he had sent in a letter of no confidence in Mrs May - bringing the toll of those who have gone public to 25. Mr Raab told the BBC's Andrew Marr show: 'Well in fairness, you say Boris Johnson is my ally, hes a friend and a good colleague but hes not any ally. 'Im supporting this Prime Minister. But the truth is people expect their politicians to be able to be true to their convictions and be honest. 'I couldnt, in good faith, for the reasons I set out in my resignation letter that weve gone over, sign this country, the country I love up to that deal.' Dominic Raab (pictured on the BBC's Andrew Marr show today) tore into Theresa May's Brexit deal today - warning it come 'pretty close to blackmail' of Britain Perennial Eurosceptic Bill Cash (left) and Zac Goldsmith (right) have both submitted letters of no confidence in Theresa May Mr Raab said he quit as Brexit Secretary as he was hoodwinked by last minute changes to the deal which were sprung on him in last week's stormy Cabinet meeting. He said the hugely controversial deal thrashed out by Mrs May is simply not worth the 39billion Brexit divorce bill the country has agreed to hand over. And he revealed he has been in talks with the 'gang of five' remaining Brexit Cabinet ministers - Andrea Leadsom, Michael Gove, Liam Fox , Penny Mordaunt and Chris Grayling - about how to improve the deal. His fresh attack on the PM's Brexit plans came after Zac Goldsmith became the 24th Tory MP to publicly declare that he has sent his letter of no confidence in. Mr Raab said 'I do think we are being bullied, I do think we are being subjected to what is pretty close to blackmail frankly. 'I do think there is a point at which, we probably should have done it before, were we just say 'I'm sorry this is the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, we cannot accept those dictated terms'.' Mr Raab sent the PM's Government and into meltdown when he became the second Brexit to quit her team in just six months - and just weeks before the parliamentary vote on the deal. Who has sent letters of no confidence in May? Letters of no confidence in Theresa May are confidential - but some of her strongest critics have gone public. If 48 letters are sent a vote is called. This is who has definitely sent a letter: Jacob Rees-Mogg , North East Somerset, Jacob.reesmogg.mp@parliament.uk Steve Baker , Wycombe, steve.baker.mp@parliament.uk Sheryll Murray , South East Cornwall, sheryll.murray.mp@parliament.uk Anne-Marie Morris , Newton Abbott, annemarie.morris.mp@parliament.uk Lee Rowley , North East Derbyshire, lee.rowley.mp@parliament.uk Henry Smith , Crawley, henry.smith.mp@parliament.uk Simon Clarke , Middlesbrough South and East Cleveland, simon.clarke.mp@parliament.uk Peter Bone , Wellingborough, bonep@parliament.uk James Duddridge , Rochford and Southend East, james@jamesduddridge.com Philip Davies , Shipley, daviesp@parliament.uk Andrea Jenkyns , Morley and Outwood, andrea.jenkyns.mp@parliament.uk Andrew Bridgen , North West Leicestershire, andrew.bridgen.mp@parliament.uk Nadine Dorries , Mid Bedfordshire, dorriesn@parliament.uk Laurence Robertson , Tewkesbury, robertsonl@parliament.uk Martin Vickers , Cleethorpes, martin.vickers.mp@parliament.uk Ben Bradley , Mansfield, ben.bradley.mp@parliament.uk Adam Holloway , Gravesham, hollowaya@parliament.uk John Whittingdale , Maldon, john.whittingdale.mp@parliament.uk Maria Caulfield , Lewes, maria.caulfield.mp@parliament.uk Mark Francois , Rayleigh and Wickford, mark.francois.mp@parliament.uk David Jones , Clwyd West, david.jones@parliament.uk Marcus Fysh , Yeovil, marcus.fysh.mp@parliament.uk Chris Green , Bolton West, chris.green.mp@parliament.uk Zac Goldsmith , Richmond Park, zac@zacgoldsmith.com Bill Cash , Stone, cashw@parliament.uk Philip Hollobone , Kettering, philip.hollobone.mp@parliament.uk Andrew Lewer, Northampton South, andrew.lewer.mp@parliament.uk Crispin Blunt , Reigate, crispinbluntmp@parliament.uk Owen Paterson , Shropshire Patersono@parliament.uk Advertisement His resignation sparked a attempted coup against the PM by Brexiteers who are desperately trying to get enough MPs to send letters of no confidence in to oust her. But as his party is in the throes of a bitter civil war, Mr Raab insisted that he still backs Mrs May as PM. Addressing the frenzied leadership speculation and attempts to oust Mrs May, he said: 'It's a total distraction from what we need to do, we need to get Brexit over the line, we need to support our Prime Minister. 'I have got huge respect for her, I wrote that in my resignation letter, it is not flim-flam. 'I have worked very closely with her on Brexit and I think there is still the opportunity to get this right, support the PM - but she must also listen and change course on Brexit.' But he said that he simply could not back a Brexit deal as he thought it threatened the union of the UK and risks keeping the UK trapped in the customs union forever. And he said that in last week's crunch Cabinet, a change in the Brexit deal was sprung on him which showed the UK's future deal with the EU would be on the basis of the customs union agreement. He said this would be 'debilitating for the economy and devastating for trust in our democracy given the promises we made at the last election'. Mr Raab said he did not know who made the changes, adding: 'I don't know. I asked that question in Cabinet and I didn't get a particularly good answer. 'It was described as a drafting change, but it is very clear this future relationship would be based on this combination of the backstop.' Mr Raab said that he had held talks with Cabinet ministers including Andrea Leadsom who want to make late changes to Mrs May's Brexit deal. He told Marr: 'We have been talking over the last week intensely. Everyone wants to do the right thing and support the Prime Minister.' Asked to confirm that talks had included Mrs Leadsom and other ministers thought to be working to introduce last-minute alterations, he added: 'I only resigned on Thursday morning so I can't say I have had extensive conversations. 'But I am willing to talk and be as constructive as I can. 'The difficulty for me is that I was being asked to go over to Brussels and sign on the bottom line with Michel Barnier on a deal which I said in good conscience I did not feel was right for the country.' Former ministers David Davis (left) and Boris Johnson (right) are locked in talks to decide which one should be the 'Brexit candidate' to succeed Theresa May, it has been claimed Theresa May received a much-needed boost today as a poll finds that more voters want her to stay on as PM than those who want her ousted But while Mr Rabb says he is staying loyal, his dramatic resignation has plunged Mrs May's future as leader into serious doubt. Leading Brexiteers Mr Davis and Mr Johnson - who have both long harboured leadership ambitions - are reportedly eyeing up a challenge. Mr Johnson is planning to appoint Jacob Rees-Mogg - the Tory Brexiteer leading the putsch against the PM - as Chancellor if he becomes the new PM, the Sunday Express reported. While disgruntled Tory backbenchers are sharpening their knives and urging their parliamentary colleagues to send in letters of no confidence to topple Mrs May. Mr Goldsmith savaged the PM's Brexit plan as he announced that he had lost confidence in her ability to lead the party. He said: 'The notion that the choice is between this deal, no deal or no Brexit is a false one. That is what the EU wants us to believe. 'There is time to do a deal that will suit both sides better than no deal and to bring forward the option that Brussels has long been expecting. That would be a SuperCanada style free trade agreement. But there is no time to lose. 'The Prime Minister has been clear that she will not change course, and so with huge reluctance, I have submitted a letter to the 1922 Committee urging a vote that will, I hope, give us the chance of a fresh start.' As Westminster is plunged into turmoil over Brexit and the future of Theresa May as PM, a no deal Brexit and a second EU referendum are both looking more likely He joins those who have sent a letter to Sir Graham Brady, chairman of the 1922 committee of backbench MPs. In a much-needed boost for Mrs May, a new poll found that nearly half of Britain's voters want her to stay on as Prime Minister and see through Brexit. But the Conservatives have lost ground to Labour in the polls after a chaotic week of politics saw Theresa May's party turn on itself over Brexit. A ComRes poll for the Sunday Mirror and Sunday Express saw the Tories leak three points, falling from 39 per cent to 36 per cent since September, while Labour remained on 40 per cent. But there was some backing for Mrs May in the ComRes poll, with almost half (47 per cent) of those polled saying she should remain as Prime Minister at least until Britain leaves the European Union on March 29 next year. Middle East minister Alistair Burt warned rebels the 'consensus' that pro-EU MPs should respect the 2016 referendum result could break down if she is toppled. Mr Burt said: 'Be very clear. If an agreed deal on leaving between the Govt and the EU is voted down by purist Brexiteers, do not be surprised if consensus on accepting the result of the referendum by Remain voting MPs breaks down. 'Parliament will not support no deal.' It's the cute toy tipped to be a Christmas hit, but there are fears Dino the dinosaur may be vulnerable to hackers who could steal information about its young owners. The smart toy, which is able to learn, answer questions and read bedtime stories, is among a series of technology gifts that have failed to win approval from the Mozilla Foundation, a not- for-profit organisation that campaigns for better internet accessibility and safety. The group said it had been unable to determine if Dino an internet-connected toy made by CogniToys and priced at 89.99 on Amazon uses sufficient encryption to guard against hackers. The smart toy Dino, above; which is able to learn, answer questions and read bedtime stories, is among a series of technology gifts that have failed to win approval from the Mozilla Foundation, a campaign group for internet safety It was also critical of the complexity of its privacy policy which includes an admission in the small print that, when a child plays with Dino, it automatically collects information about a childs likes and dislikes, interests, and other educational metrics. It can also collect a childs name, date of birth and gender. Users of the Mozilla website have labelled the toy creepy in an online vote. Mozillas concerns stand in contrast to the advertising spiel for the toy, which is aimed at children as young as five. On its website, CogniToys says: Dinos arent digital assistants like Siri or Alexa, they are friends who answer questions, tell stories, practice spelling play games. Fewer than half of the 70 gadgets rated on the foundations website met its minimum security standards test for Christmas 2018. Those failing the test include the 379 Bebop 2, a drone that follows its owner when a button is pressed. The Mozilla Foundation, a not- for-profit organisation that campaigns for better internet accessibility and safety, said it had been unable to determine if Dino an internet-connected toy made by CogniToys and priced at 89.99 on Amazon uses sufficient encryption to guard against hackers [File photo] Mozilla claims the toy, manufactured by Parrot, was easily hackable. Other toys that failed to pass included singing robots, a teddy bear that links to your smartphone and a high-tech musical bracelet. Elemental Path, the parent company of CogniToys, said Dino does use full encryption on audio going to and coming from the device. They said the information held about children was to personalise the experience of users and said: We would never share this information with anyone outside of our company, no marketers, no third parties, just our internal teams. Parrot did not respond to a request for comment. President Donald Trump denounced a 'phony' New York Times story which reported that he has been questioning Vice President Mike Pence's loyalty. 'No, I don't question his loyalty at all. He is 100% loyal. It was a phony story,' Trump told reporters at the White House before leaving for California Saturday. 'Mike Pence is 100%,' Trump said. 'Not even a doubt about it in my mind. He's been a trooper. He's been with me from as soon as I won the primaries. I could not be happier.' Trump was asked about a report which appeared in Friday's edition of the Times. According to the report, Trump has been privately asking aides whether they believe that the Vice President has been loyal. President Donald Trump denounced a 'phony' New York Times story which reported that he has been questioning Vice President Mike Pence's loyalty Trump has also considered dropping Pence from the ticket and picking another running mate in his quest to win re-election in 2020, according to the Times. The President has reportedly been told by some close advisers that unlike in 2015, when he was a political newcomer, he does not need Pence anymore since he has cemented his relationship with evangelical Christians. Trump has reportedly been told that he should consider a new running mate who will help him win back women voters that supported the Democrats in droves during the recent mid-term elections. Nikki Haley, the former South Carolina Governor who will soon step down as Trump's ambassador to the United Nations, has been mentioned as a possible running mate for 2020, according to the Times. The White House, however, denied that Trump was considering a change. Trump also slammed the newspaper in a Twitter post earlier on Saturday Pence was in Papua New Guinea on Saturday for a major trade summit with Asian countries. He is seen in the center alongside Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe (left) and the Sultan of Brunei, Hassanal Bolkiah (right) 'The president absolutely supports the Vice President and thinks he's doing an incredible job helping to carry out the mission and policies of this administration,' Deputy White House Press Secretary Hogan Gidley said in a statement. Trump also tweeted: 'The New York Times did a phony story, as usual, about my relationship with @VP Mike Pence. They made up sources and refused to ask me, the only one that would know, for a quote....' '....I can't imagine any President having a better or closer relationship with their Vice President then the two of us. Just more FAKE NEWS, the Enemy of the People!' At a news conference last week in the White House, Trump asked Pence, who was sitting near him: 'Mike, will you be my running mate?' Pence stood up from his seat and nodded yes. 'That was unexpected, but I feel very fine,' Trump said. Pence was in Papua New Guinea on Saturday for a major trade summit with Asian countries. Trump (with Vice President Mike Pence wave to supporters at a rally, in Pensacola, Florida, November 3) said 'I can't imagine any President having a better or closer relationship with their Vice President then the two of us' In a bluntly worded speech at an Asia Pacific Economic Co-operation (APEC) summit, Pence threw down the gauntlet to China on trade and security in the region. 'We have taken decisive action to address our imbalance with China,' Pence declared. 'We put tariffs on $250 billion in Chinese goods, and we could more than double that number.' 'The United States, though, will not change course until China changes its ways.' The stark warning will likely be unwelcome news to financial markets which had hoped for a thaw in the Sino-U.S. dispute and perhaps even some sort of deal at a G20 meeting later this month in Argentina. U.S. President Donald Trump, who is not attending the APEC meeting, is due to meet Chinese President Xi Jinping in Argentina. Britain's only NHS transgender clinic for children was last night accused of burying disturbing figures showing a third of its young patients are autistic. Since 2011, specialists at The Tavistock Centres Gender Identity Development Service in London have seen more than 1,000 under- 18s. An internal review discovered 372 of these patients some 35 per cent exhibited moderate or severe autistic traits.' Yet despite the potential significance of the figures and amid growing concerns that youngsters with developmental and mental health problems are being railroaded into medical treatment for gender dysphoria the finding has never been highlighted by the clinic since its publication in June. Since 2011, specialists at The Tavistock Centres Gender Identity Development Service in London have seen more than 1,000 under-18s Last night, Stephanie Davies-Arai, founder of parental campaign group Transgender Trends, said: The fact a third of these patients have autistic traits is of huge concern and I would expect clinical professionals to be seriously investigating it. Therapist overlooked my son's mental health issues The mother of an autistic teenager says she is appalled at how the Tavistock Centre accepted her sons claims that he was transgender but overlooked serious mental health problems. The woman, who wishes to remain anonymous, said her 16-year-old son was referred to the clinic by his NHS counsellor after he began insisting out of the blue that he wanted to be a girl. The 38-year-old mum said she was extremely upset that a senior psychologist accepted her son wanted to change sex, despite knowing he had autism and obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD). The expert then told her son, her only child, that he could see doctors at the clinic who could prescribe drugs to help him change sex. The psychotherapist from the Tavistock met him for an hour maximum and then made the assumption that changing sex was something that was very settled in his head, the mother said. It was just terrifying. Her main concern was my sons claims he wanted to be a girl when she should have been worried that he clearly wasnt in his right mind because of his autism and OCD. The Tavistock said: Our assessment process takes place over at least three sessions, often longer. No physical treatment would be offered or suggested after one session. Advertisement 'But nobody from the Tavistock Clinic has made a statement about it, nor done anything to highlight the issue as something that should be looked at. In any other clinical area, there would be alarm bells ringing. We urgently need to look into why so many young people on the autistic spectrum are developing gender dysphoria. The practice review, conducted by leading clinicians at the centre, was mentioned in a June 28 article on The Tavistocks website. However, this focused on the finding that growing numbers of youngsters were questioning conventional gender expectations and seeking recognition and acceptance of their gender diversity. The fact a high proportion of patients were autistic could only be found by clicking a link to an external website at the bottom of the article. That took readers to the medical journal Archives of Disease in Childhood, where the six-page review contained these two sentences: A range of psychometric measures are used to assess behavioural and emotional functioning, including features of autistic spectrum disorder and self-harm. Around 35 per cent of referred young people present with moderate to severe autistic traits. No more mention was made of this statistic in the review. When contacted at the time by The Mail on Sunday, co-author Bernadette Wren, consultant clinical psychologist at the Tavistock, said the 35 per cent figure was based on 1,069 children and teenagers referred to the Tavistocks Gender Identity Development Service between 2011 and 2017, of which 372 were assessed as having autistic traits. Around four in ten of the services patients go on to receive puberty blocking drugs the first stage of sex-change treatment. If the proportion of potentially autistic patients going on to blockers is the same, then around 150 will have done so. Autism expert Dr Sally Powis said autistic teenagers searching for a reason why they did not fit in could fixate on the idea they were born into the wrong body when gender might actually have nothing to do with it. An internal review discovered 372 of the clinic's 1,000 patients some 35 per cent exhibited moderate or severe autistic traits' She said: If you know youve been different since you were a small child, theres the possibility you consider its your gender thats the issue, rather than autism. Teenage girls on the autistic spectrum who bind their breasts might simply be trying to express the feeling that Im anxious about all this stuff happening to my body, and I dont know how to handle it, she said. And she cautioned that autistic teenagers who ended up transitioning might deeply regret it if they found swapping gender did not solve their problems. But she said there were undoubtedly cases of autistic youngsters with genuine gender dysphoria. People with the condition might also be more likely to come out as transgender because they were just a bit more honest about their sexuality and gender identity than others, she said. A spokesman for the Tavistock Centre last night said the finding that many gender dysphoria patients were on the autistic spectrum was not new. She added: All young people attending our service undertake a comprehensive assessment over a period of time. There is general consensus that a diagnosis of autism spectrum disorder is not a reason in itself to exclude individuals from treatment for gender dysphoria. Boris Johnson and David Davis are locked in talks to decide which one should be the 'Brexit candidate' to succeed Theresa May, it has been claimed. The two ministers, who both left the Cabinet in July in protest at the Prime Minister's Brexit plans, are said to have made plans in case Mrs May is toppled this week. Tory rebels are gathering signatures to force a confidence vote, although they have not yet reached the 48 letters required. Mr Johnson is planning to appoint Jacob Rees-Mogg as Chancellor if he becomes the new PM, the Sunday Express reported. Former ministers David Davis (left) and Boris Johnson (right) are locked in talks to decide which one should be the 'Brexit candidate' to succeed Theresa May, it has been claimed Sources claimed Mr Johnson and Mr Davis have a 'non-aggression pact' and have agreed to support each other if one of them reaches the final round of a leadership election. Mr Johnson's supporters are said to include Mr Rees-Mogg, a possible future Chancellor, while plot ringleader Steve Baker could be given a Cabinet job. However allies of Mr Davis believe he too would run to replace Mrs May, and could be backed by former Brexit Secretary Dominic Raab who resigned this week. Ex-Foreign Secretary Mr Johnson was forced to abandon a leadership bid in 2016 when Michael Gove announced he was running to succeed David Cameron. Mr Gove could yet emerge as a 'compromise candidate' to pursue a 'Norway option' for the UK after Brexit, it was reported. Mr Davis and Mr Johnson have not yet added their names to the list of Tory plotters hoping to force a vote. Environment Secretary Mr Gove is one of the so-called 'Ring of Five' Brexiteer ministers who are pushing to rewrite the deal. Mr Gove and his allies Andrea Leadsom Penny Mourdaunt, Liam Fox and Chris Grayling have reportedly been holding 'pizza nights' at Mrs Leadsom's home. Two opinion polls suggested the week of chaos in Westminster has badly dented the election fortunes of the Conservatives amid an ongoing plot to topple Theresa May (pictured) The five Brexiteers stayed on amid a series of resignations but are said to want changes to the Irish backstop, fearing that the current terms could keep Britain in the customs union indefinitely. Mr Raab last night hit out at Theresa May, saying she has failed to stand up to a bullying European Union over the Brexit deal. He told the Sunday Times the UK should demand an agreement that allows it to unilaterally leave any customs union. Mr Raab said: 'If we cannot close this deal on reasonable terms we need to be very honest with the country that we will not be bribed and blackmailed or bullied and we will walk away. 'I think there is one thing that is missing and that is political will and resolve. I am not sure that message has ever landed.' A Jordanian politician invited to a House of Commons event last week once hailed the gunman responsible for the slaughter of seven Israeli schoolgirls 'a hero'. Dima Tahboub, an MP for Islamic Action Front, the political wing of the radical Muslim Brotherhood, rubbed shoulders with Andrea Leadsom, the Leader of the House, and International Development Secretary Penny Mordaunt, who is also Minister for Women and Equalities, at the inaugural Women MPs Of The World Conference to celebrate the 100th anniversary of women winning the right to stand for election to Parliament. Unusually, MPs agreed for the floor of the Commons to be used for the event, but most of the delegates from more than 100 countries would have been unaware of Ms Tahboub's support for terrorist atrocities. Dima Tahboub, an MP for Islamic Action Front, the political wing of the radical Muslim Brotherhood, had previously stated that Israel and all Israelis were 'the enemy' She previously stated that Israel and all Israelis were 'the enemy', including seven Israeli girls, aged 13 and 14, gunned down by Jordanian border guard Ahmed Daqamseh in 1997. A military tribunal rejected Daqamseh's claims that the girls had mocked him and jailed him for 20 years. But Tahboub, pictured, who has a PhD from Manchester University, celebrated his release last year calling him a 'hero'. She brushed shoulders with Andrea Leadsom, the Leader of the House, and International Development Secretary Penny Mordaunt, who is also Minister for Women and Equalities, at the inaugural Women MPs Of The World Conference Asked later about her comment, she said: 'They were not only schoolgirls, they were people who mocked our country, who mocked our religion. We regard him as a hero because he retaliated to the mockery of the Israelis.' Mudar Zahran, head of the exiled Jordanian Opposition Coalition, said: 'By hosting Tahboub, the British Establishment was either knowingly or unknowingly endorsing hatred and terrorism.' A spokesman for the Government said the UK was against all forms of discrimination, adding that 'anti-Semitism and incitement to violence in all its forms is completely unacceptable'. A trio of Tory donors last night launched a concerted bid to kill off Jacob Rees-Mogg's bid to force a no-confidence vote in Theresa May. The three came together to defend the Prime Minister and dissuade rebel Tory MPs from heeding Mr Rees-Mogg's call for a formal leadership challenge. Export firm magnate Rami Ranger, who has given the party more than 1 million, hailed Mrs May's Brexit deal for allowing 'the UK to remain a great trading nation'. Former banker Ken Costa, a long-term supporter of the Prime Minister, hailed her 'enormous courage and determination' while businessman Zameer Choudrey, who gave the party over 300,000 in the run-up to the 2015 General Election, urged people to 'get behind the PM'. Their loyal support for Mrs May emerged amid concerns from Tory officials that major party funders will desert them if Mrs May is forced out. Jacob Rees-Mogg, pictured at Westminster on Thursday, launched a Tory rebel plot to oust the PM but the Brexiteers have yet to reach the 48 signatures needed for a confidence vote But Somerset MP Mr Rees-Mogg hit back last night by bluntly telling the donors 'Tory party policy has never been for sale' and insisting Mrs May must face a no-confidence vote. The row broke as another leading Tory MP privately predicted the PM was 'almost certain' to face a leadership challenge this week. The MP, a member of the executive of the party's 1922 Committee of backbench MPs that would supervise a no-confidence vote, also warned Mrs May that its duty was to the party, not her. He said: 'This is not about Theresa May it's about the future of the Conservative Party. 'The 1922 Committee's duty is to protect the Conservative Party, not the Prime Minister.' Tory MPs fiercely opposed to Mrs May's Brexit deal claim they have almost reached the 48 no-confidence letter threshold that would trigger a vote at Westminster. Under the party's rules, 1922 Committee chairman Sir Graham Brady must then inform the Prime Minister when and if that threshold has been reached. Tory rebels on Mr Rees-Mogg's European Research Group were last night blamed for reports that Sir Graham had already privately informed the Tory Chief Whip Julian Smith that the 'letters were in' and would formally notify Mrs May tomorrow. Two opinion polls suggested the week of chaos in Westminster has badly dented the election fortunes of the Conservatives amid an ongoing plot to topple Theresa May (pictured) But No 10 sources angrily insisted that this was 'categorically untrue' and insisted the Prime Minister 'isn't going to be distracted' by the rumours. Mr Ranger, founder of export firm Sun Mark, said: 'The PM has taken huge amounts of criticism for working hard to sort out the difficult situation she inherited. Rami Ranger the 1million man Businessman Rami Ranger demonstrated his faith in Theresa May by donating 25,000 to her campaign to lead the Tory Party in 2016 the second largest private donor to her bid. Overall, Indian-born Mr Rami, founder of and major shareholder in export firm Sun Mark, has given the Tories more than 1 million. Mr Ranger, who backed Remain in the EU referendum, was made a CBE in the 2016 New Years Honours List. Backer: Rami Ranger, right, with his wife Renu and Tory MP Zac Goldsmith Advertisement 'This is a good deal which gives both the flexibility and controls that are needed for the UK to remain a great trading nation. Changing prime minister will not mean that any problems will go away: now is the time for everyone to show flexibility and work together in the national interest.' Fellow Tory donor Choudrey, the chief executive of conglomerate Bestway, who gave the party over 300,000 in the run-up to the 2015 General Election, urged people to 'get behind the PM, and support her and her deal' claiming no one else offered a 'credible alternative'. He said: 'It is thanks to her hard work and efforts that we have a deal which delivers on the referendum result, taking back control of our borders, laws and money while maintaining good jobs, security and the integrity of the country.' Mr Costa, a long-term donor and backer of Mrs May, said: 'The Prime Minister has shown enormous courage and determination to serve her country. 'I would urge all MPs to put aside their differences and speak out on social media in support and back the PM.' Last night Mr Rees-Mogg, who electrified the debate over Mrs May's future last week by announcing to a media scrum outside the Commons that he had submitted a no-confidence letter to Sir Graham, responded to the donors' call by saying that although they were 'valued supporters of the party', other Tory funders had different views. He added: 'Tory party policy has never been for sale. That has been the custom and practice of previous prime ministers.' Sir Graham last night declined to comment. But the member of the '22 executive insisted that the required number of letters would be waiting for Sir Graham when he returned to Westminster tomorrow. He said: 'The starting gun for the no-confidence vote will be on his Commons' desk when he gets to work tomorrow.' Communities Minister Jake Berry weighed in by insisting it would be 'self-indulgent, completely irresponsible of the Conservative Party to turn in on itself' by considering a leadership election at a time of near-national crisis. Theresa May's stance over her controversial Brexit deal was last night branded 'dishonest' by a leading Tory MP. Army veteran Johnny Mercer claimed it was insulting people's intelligence to say the accord matched previous government commitments especially on Northern Ireland. And he tore into Mrs May, saying: 'If the PM came out and said 'This is the best I can do', that would be another matter. 'But to claim this agreement lives within No 10's self-imposed red lines, is dishonest and we should not try and sell it as such.' Army veteran Johnny Mercer, pictured with Theresa May, claimed it was insulting people's intelligence to say the Brexit accord matched previous government commitments But Remain supporter Mr Mercer stopped short of calling for a confidence vote in Mrs May, signalling instead that both Remain and Leave wings of the party should now come together to find a solution to the impasse. Earlier this year, the Plymouth MP angrily branded his own Government a 's***show' and questioned whether the party still shared his 'values and ethos'. Last night, he returned to the offensive to claim 'it does not take the brains of an Archbishop' to work out the Brexit deal did not stand up to the Government's many 'unyielding commitments over the last 18 months'. 'To pretend otherwise so dangerously diminishes trust in politics that it increases the threat of a Jeremy Corbyn government.' But Mr Mercer made clear that Brexiteers had to do more than simply 'knock the deal'. He said: 'I would say this very firmly to those who campaigned for Brexit: What is the vision? What is the alternative? 'How are the lives of my dockyard workers you convinced in Plymouth to vote for this in their thousands going to be demonstrably better, tangibly better, in April next year?' JOHNNY MERCER: We must ruthlessly and impartially retain our credibility and honesty with the public By Johnny Mercer, Conservative MP I had a stadia view from the gallery as I watched the wounds of my divided party painfully rupture on Wednesday afternoon during the Prime Minister's statement on the EU deal. I found it painful to watch. Equally painful was the unbridled sycophancy of too many colleagues ever since most of whom have spoken to me in private with entirely different views from the ones they express on television and the very personal nature of their remarks: for all of Jacob Rees-Mogg's sins, career self-interest cannot possibly be one of them. We must ruthlessly and impartially retain our credibility and honesty with the public at this critical stage. It does not take the brains of an Archbishop to work out that the deal as it is presented, does not match the many unyielding commitments from this administration over the last 18 months, about what would and would not be acceptable in the final agreement, particularly with regard to Northern Ireland. To pretend otherwise so dangerously diminishes trust in politics that it increases that threat of a Jeremy Corbyn Government. The people who vote for us expect us to judge the agreement in a clear-eyed, professional manner, against our constituencies and our country, with integrity, whether we voted leave or remain. For trust in politics itself is at stake. Two opinion polls suggested the week of chaos in Westminster has badly dented the election fortunes of the Conservatives amid an ongoing plot to topple Theresa May (pictured) If the PM came out and said 'this is the best I can do' that would be another matter. But to claim this agreement lives within No.10's self-imposed red lines, is dishonest, and we should not try and sell it as such. One thing I certainly won't do is be bounced or influenced by colleagues, who 18 months ago told me after a self-aggrandising general election which threw away the first Conservative majority for 25 years, that blind loyalty was in the best interest of this Nation or our Party. That decision has very firmly led to the point we are now at I learned my lesson last time, and 33 of our colleagues continue to today. The Country is the poorer for it, and Jeremy Corbyn has never been closer to power. Worth considering when bleating on about the National Interest.. Finally in these crucial days, it is not good enough to simply knock the deal. I would say this very firmly to those who campaigned for BREXIT: what is the vision? What is the alternative? How are the lives of my dockyard workers you convinced in Plymouth to vote for this in their thousands going to be demonstrably better, tangibly better in April next year? To fail to articulate that now would be fatal to many of us agnostics in the middle ground, aching for a return to capable and credible Governance of a modern Britain from a modern compassionate Conservative Party. Mr Mercer is MP for Plymouth Moor View the next decade the man's behaviour will be monitored under a strict watch A convicted sex offender who tried to rape an eight-year-old child has been freed from jail - despite being viewed as a genuine danger to the community. The 23-year-old Cairns man, who can't be named for legal reasons, spent three-and-a-half years behind bars after he pleaded guilty to a number of charges, including attempted rape and deprivation of liberty. The eight-year-old girl was the man's cousin and they had both been staying at a home in a Cape York town at the time of the offence. A 23-year-old man from Cairns has recently been released back into the community after serving time for attempting to rape his eight-year-old cousin (stock image) A Cairns man has been freed from jail after he spent three and a half years behind bars for attempting to rape his eight-year-old cousin (stock image) After having 'stupid thoughts', the man, who told police he was 'drunk and horny' at the time, took the youngster into a bedroom and locked the door. 'The child was struggling to break free from his grip and started to scream for help,' Justice Helen Bowskill said. 'He (offender) made admissions to police including saying that he wanted to have sex with the child and if he had not been disturbed by others he would have gone further.' Court papers revealed the man was drinking heavily because he was grieving the death of another relative. While in jail, the man engaged in a number of sexual offending programs and demonstrated insight into his behaviour. His juvenile criminal history began at 14 and includes a graphic assault on a woman at Mareeba, a town in Far North Queensland, while she was jogging. A man has recently been released back into the Cairns community after serving three and a half years for attempting to rape his eight-year-old cousin (stock image) For the next decade the man will be under a strict watch, which includes regular reporting to authorities as well as drug and alcohol abstinence conditions. Justice Bowskill found there is an 'unacceptable risk' he will commit a serious sexual offence if released from jail without supervision. The man is not permitted to leave Queensland without permission and must also inform Corrective Services of changes to his address, employment and vehicle details within two business days. The reading skills of white British children have fallen behind those of their ethnic-minority classmates by the age of five, official figures show (stock image) The reading skills of white British children have fallen behind those of their ethnic-minority classmates by the age of five, official figures show. Results from the latest phonics tests, which require first-year primary school pupils to read simple words such as sing and turn and pronounce made-up words such as vuss and flisp, show just 82.6 per cent of white British youngsters achieved the pass mark. By contrast, 83.9 per cent of black youngsters, 84.2 per cent of mixed race children and 85.5 per cent of Asian pupils were able to read at least 32 of 40 set words. Ministers say the test is a vital measure of the progress pupils are making towards becoming fluent readers, but critics last night demanded that the extra funding ploughed for decades into raising attainment among ethnic-minority youngsters now be diverted towards underachieving white British pupils, particularly in poorer areas. Chris McGovern, chairman of the Campaign for Real Education, said immigrant education was a brilliant success story and it was time to stop feeling too sorry for the poor immigrant. He added: We need to worry about those at the bottom of the educational pile the white working class. Too many schools assumed that native white Brits do not need any extra help because they speak English. The reality can be different. Results from the latest phonics tests, which require first-year primary school pupils to read simple words such as sing and turn and pronounce made-up words such as vuss and flisp, show just 82.6 per cent of white British youngsters achieved the pass mark The Department for Education figures show some ethnic minority groups that once lagged behind white British pupils have now overtaken them. For example, 83.4 per cent of Bangladeshi youngsters passed the phonics test this year. Other groups, such as Indian pupils (90.3 per cent) and Chinese children (90.6 per cent), have extended their lead over their white British peers. The figures show that the attainment gap evident at GCSE level begins almost as soon as children start school. Ministers say the test is a vital measure of the progress pupils are making towards becoming fluent readers (stock image) Experts say many schools in urban areas, where there are large ethnic intakes, have been transformed thanks to major investment, but schools in county and rural areas, where the student population is less diverse and per pupil funding is lower, have been neglected by comparison. Amanda Spielman, the chief inspector of Ofsted, has also suggested that white British families in some areas lack the aspiration and drive of many migrant communities. Ethnic families are more likely to hire private tutors for their children, and disproportionate numbers of children from ethnic-minority backgrounds go to grammar schools. The comparative stability of Chinese and Indian families has also been identified as a factor in their childrens academic success. The Government last year announced the creation of 12 opportunity areas aimed at raising attainment in schools, supporting vulnerable families and improving social mobility. The list includes predominantly white areas such as Blackpool, the North Yorkshire coast and the Fenlands. Nick Gibb, Minister for Schools Standards, said: The performance in phonics of white British pupils has risen from 58 per cent in 2012 to 83 per cent in 2018 But we want to ensure that all children, regardless of background, learn to read well. The Education Secretary has just hosted a summit focused on supporting parents to nurture childrens early communication skills at home and we are also investing 26million in a national network of English Hub schools to improve teaching of phonics, early language and reading. Michelle Obama got a surprise appearance at her book talk in Washington D.C. on Saturday night when former President Barack Obama came out with a bouquet of flowers. The crowd went wild when the former president, dressed casually in a black jacket with no tie and an open-necked white shirt, walked out with pink roses for his wife. 'You won't get this at every show,' Michelle Obama told the cheering crowd at the packed Capital One Arena. 'This is like when Jay Z comes out,' the former president joked, comparing himself to when the rapper came out during wife Beyonce's music tours. President Obama brought his wife pink roses on Saturday night in a surprise appearance Michelle later tweeted a photo of them both on stage, holding hands Michelle Obama talked to Valerie Jarrett about her book in DC on Saturday night The former president, who came out the tale end of his wife's 90 minute talk, discussed how the couple met at the Chicago law firm of Sidney & Austin, where she was his mentor. 'She's really tall and most of it is legs,' he said of his first impression of her. His wife chided him: 'Children are here.' The former president then kept his story kid-friendly. 'She was much cuter than I expected and very tall,' he said. He recalled she didn't want to date him because they worked together so he offered to quit his job. 'So basically I wore her down,' he said. As he spoke a person in the crowd loudly yelled: 'We miss you.' But the former president laughed off the compliment, which brought cheers and whistles from the crowd: 'What they miss are those long pauses,' he said of his speaking style. The former first lady's talk, led by former Obama White House adviser Valerie Jarrett, began over an hour late as thousands of fan were left outside in the cold waiting in long lines to get inside the arena. Dressed in a black pants suit, sparkling brooch and stiletto heels, the former first lady came out to a standing ovation at the Capital One Arena, which is just a few blocks from the White House. Her talk was tailored to her heavily female audience, talking about the difficulties she faced in her childhood as the child as working class parents, as a black woman trying to get into the Ivy League and her struggles as a young mother to balance her personal priorities with raising her children. It was mostly political free with most of the focus on her childhood, her career before becoming first lady, and raising her children. And there was not a lot of focus on the Obamas' post-White House life either, although Michelle Obama noted she and her husband recently had a talk on what they had accomplished as the first couple. 'We haven't had time to reflect over these past eight years because we had to be prefect. We had to do everything right,' she said of their tenure as the first black couple to inhabit 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue. But she added they recently had a long talk on the matter. 'We were able to do that the other night,' she noted. President Obama is in the process of writing his own memoir. Fans tweeted photos of the long lines waiting to see Michelle Obama Fans over flowed into the street and down the block The street in front of the Capitol One Arena was shut down for the long lines of fans Fans tweeted as they got close to the entrance of the talk, which began an hour late Michelle Obama's talk focused on inspiring women The crowd responded warmly to Michelle Obama after waiting to hear her story. The Capital One Arena holds 20,000 and was nearly filled to capacity. But her talk, scheduled to begin at 8 pm, started shortly after 9 pm. At 8 pm many seats in the venue were empty due to the massive lines outside. The street in front of the arena was shut down early as lines of fans bled into it and stretched down the block. T-shirt vendors hawked wares with Obama's book title and photo while scalpers asked for any extra tickets to the conversation. But, by the time the former first lady took the stage, the building was nearly at capacity. In her talk, Michelle Obama recounted how she was criticized by feminists for putting her focus on her children in her early months in the White House. 'There were women - who when I said I wanted to be mom in chief - there were women, feminists, who were critical of that,' the former first lady recalled during a talk in Washington D.C. on Saturday night promoting her new memoir 'Becoming.' She talked about the changes daughters Malia and Sasha faced after Barack Obama was elected president. 'They have motorcades our kids, they still do, three car motorcades,' she said, recalling a photo that appeared in the media of Sasha with her face pressed to the car window, watching photographers take her picture on the way to school. Obama said her first priority was her children and making sure they were okay before she could begin working on issues she was interested in. 'I had to make sure they will be okay before I could do anything for the rest of the country,' she said. 'I could be a great mom and do all these initiatives,' she said of her work with Let's Move, which focused on healthy eating, and Joining Forces, which helped military families. First lady Melania Trump faced similar criticism when she chose to stay in New York for the first few months of her husband's presidency so their son Barron could finish out his school year. Saturday night is the first of two talks Michelle Obama is giving in Washington D.C. Melania Trump faced similar criticism when she became first lady Michelle Obama never mentioned her successor as first lady or the current occupant of the Oval Office, but she did talk about how she insisted her husband leave work at 6:30 every night to have dinner with her and the girls. She said she felt it was important for him to have down time where 'Putin wasn't invited to the dinner table and Syria wasn't invited in,' she said of Russian President Vladimir Putin and the war in Syria. She noted it was a time for them to talk as a family and for President Obama to catch up with his daughters. 'Malia was advocating him to save the tigers. That was one of her big issues for a long time,' Obama noted. 'Time can get out of hand for busy people and for busy men,' she said, adding 'I didn't want my kids to grow up feeling, especially as girls, that life was about waiting for the man in the house.' But she emphasized her husband's dedication to the country, saying he often worked until 1 o'clock or 2 o'clock in the morning. 'But for a few hours he was a dad,' she said. Michelle Obama praised her parents in her talk and said her father Fraser Robinson treated her the same as her brother She talked about how her mother Marian Robinson helped with the girls The former first lady spent much of her talk focused on her childhood The former first lady also expanded on her famous speech at the 2016 Democratic National Convention in Philadelphia, when she said her advice to her girls was 'when they go low, we go high.' That saying became a theme for Hillary Clinton and Democratic candidates that year. Michelle Obama didn't mention President Donald Trump, whom she has spoken about in previous events surrounding her book tour, but she did talk about the toxic political climate and shared her frustration with it. In her memoir 'Becoming', Obama wrote that she gave up on trying to smile during Trump's inauguration - which is evidenced be a number of photos from the day where she appears especially forlorn. 'Someone from Barack's administration might have said that the optics there were bad, that what the public saw didn't reflect the President's reality or ideals, but in this case, maybe it did,' she wrote. 'Realizing it, I made my own optic adjustment. I stopped even trying to smile.' She didn't comment directly on Trump during her talk Saturday night but she admitted there were times she told her husband he needed to say something about the political vitriol. 'There are so many times when, like you, I just want him to curse them out,' she said as the audience applauded. But, she said, the former president didn't want to go there. 'He said that's not the point. It's not just about your own ego. You have to be president for the whole country.' She added: We're now living in a time when you see going high and you see going low and you have to ask yourself what feels better.' 'We have to think about as we raise our kids what examples do you want to set,' she noted. Michelle Obama expanded on her famous 'when they go low, we go high' remark she made in support of 2016 presidential candidate Hillary Clinton Much of the former first lady's talk focused on daughters Sasha and Malia Both she and President Obama shared stories of how they met Much of Michelle Obama's talk focused on her time before the White House, she's seen here with mom Marian Robinson and daughters Sasha and Malia the inauguration for her husband's second term She also talked about the rushed frenzy to transition from their home in Chicago after the election to life in the White House. 'The transition of presidents is pretty remarkable and it's kind of dumb because you're supposed to do so much in so little time,' she said. 'Your life changes instantly.' She recalled how the heavy Secret Service protection kicked in, world leaders called, staff were hired and a transition team was formed all in the space of a few days. 'Our house looked like a nuclear bomb went off in it,' she recalled of trying to pack up their Chicago life for life in the White House. 'We left like someone said get out and we took only what we could.' And she laughed that the inauguration parade is 'really just a stalling tactic' so staff can move out the belongs of the previous president and move in the items for the new family. 'We're all walking out in the cold,' she said while the staff - 'they're painting and cleaning up.' She recalled her bewilderment of walking into the White House after the inauguration ceremony, the luncheon and the parade and not knowing how to get around or where any of her things were. 'We had been surrounded by staff,' she said and noted because of the long presidential campaign: 'We hadn't been alone for two years.' She remembered how her husband disappeared to change and she couldn't find him, her mother, her daughters or any staff. She recalled how she was in the White House: 'And 'I'm like hey, where's my underwear?' She added: 'I was like I'm supposed to change into a gown.' 'I felt so alone,' she remembered. She said she picked her white inauguration gown because of the designer, Jason Wu, and not the dress itself. 'It wasn't as much the dress as who designed it,' she said. She recalled Wu's story as a Taiwanese-Canadian immigrant and up-and-coming fashion designer. 'I thought the dress shouldn't just be a beautiful dress, it should help somebody,' she said. She said it also fit her and her husband's image. 'We're not Oscar De la Renta, we're Jason Wu.' She added she didn't even know the design or even care what it looked like. 'So what ever dress he makes that's the dress I'm going to wear,' she recalled deciding, adding that she thought the dress turned out beautiful. Michelle Obama addressed how she was portrayed in her husband's 2008 presidential campaign; she's pictured with him here in January 2008 after he won the South Carolina primary She said her early days in the White House were focused on her daughters The Obamas at Barack Obama's swearing in as a U.S. Senator in January 2005 She touched on the 2008 presidential campaign, where she had been portrayed as an angry black woman. 'I had never campaigned really,' she said, noting she had not done much work on her husband's Senate campaign. 'I realized that no one had every prepared me. I never had media training. I never had public speaking. It was just me and a couple of staffers,' she added. She said she was attacked by her husband's political opponents as part of an effort to tear down his campaign. 'They had to take me down to tear us down,' she said. 'It wasn't until I wasn't being beaten down badly,' she added that she got staff, support, and a communications director. 'It took that crisis that made me realize no one is going to give me the help I need. I had to demand it,' she said. 'I got more control.' She added: 'I realized politics is a game' and noted that 'I realized if you don't have control of your story and your voice someone will take it and destroy it.' She laughed as she recalled campaigning for her husband's first presidential bid while raising Sasha and Malia. '5 am and I get my hair done ladies because you can't campaign until you get your hair done,' she said. 'We would do five rallies in a day,' she added. 'And my deal was I had to be home by dinner.' Michelle Obama graduated from Princeton in 1985 and Harvard Law in 1988 The Obamas waiting on election returns the night Barack Obama was elected senator in 2004 The Obamas on election night 2012 when he won a second term as president 'I did that three days a week,' she noted. She also recalled in her conversation about the wife of a senator - whom she did not name - who called her after her husband was elected senator in 2004. 'She was inviting me to join a special club,' Obama recalled, adding she told the woman she and the girls weren't going to move to Washington. And, she noted, the woman told her: 'I tend to find that the families that don't move with the senators, they don't make it.' The audience gasp at her pronouncement. Michelle Obama relayed her shock at the statement. 'I was like you don't even know me.' She added: 'I didn't say this to her. I was very polite. I said 'well thank you for calling.' She started the evening by praising her parents - Fraser and Marian Robinson -for how they raised her and her brother Craig even without extra money or things. 'What they remind me and should remind everybody is that it doesn't take a lot of stuff to raise good kids,' she said. She added her dad treated her the same way he treated her brother. 'Having strong girls isn't about having a strong mother. It's about having a father who loves and supports them,' she said. 'My father treated me as an equal and that's so important for fathers to understand about girls,' she noted. She also recalled how her high school counselor told her she wasn't Princeton material. 'She just said I don't think your Princeton material. And she was wrong. I don't even remember her name. I went back to the school recently and the principal was like she doesn't even work here anymore,' she said. She graduated from Princeton in 1985 and Harvard Law in 1988. 'Instead of believing this woman I thought you don't know me,' she recalled. She added: 'I will show you. That became the mantra of my life.' Most of her talk was inspirational and focused on empowering women. She told the mostly-female audience to be proactive about what they want and their worth. 'We can't be afraid to be our full selves as women,' she said, adding: 'That's what makes me smarter than the men around the table I can juggle.' 'And we have to advocate for other women,' she noted. She also talked about her struggles dealing with fame that came to her husband after his 2004 speech to the Democratic National Convention. 'It was a whirlwind because Barack was becoming a known priority. He was becoming famous. That was odd. I mean I don't even know what to tell you,' she said. 'I was losing myself and becoming the wife of a U.S. senator and that was even more uncomfortable.' Michelle Obama wore a black pants suit, sparkly broach and high heels to her talk The audience was heavily female Rock music, flashing lights and a recorded intro from Obama, asking the crowd 'who are you becoming?' kicked off the event. Before the former first lady took the stage, young people, including students and a girl scout in uniform, introduced themselves to the crowd and talked about who they were becoming. The introduction video featured the former first lady reading bits of her memoir and interviews with former President Obama and her daughters Malia and Sasha 'We focused ourselves of doing more than trending on twitter for a few hours,' she read as she talked about her Let's Move healthy eating initiative, in what could be seen as a shot at President Donald Trump's frantic tweeting habit. While fans waited for the former first lady, a video played highlighting her time in the White House, including her car karaoke with James Corden, promoting healthy eating, appearing on the Ellen DeGeneres show, and talking to Big Bird. Drawing especially large cheers where highlights of her past interviews with Oprah Winfrey and Conan O'Brien. Peppy inspiring quotes - like 'find your flame and keep it lit' - flashed on the screen along with photos of her with her husband, daughters, and mother. There were also photos of her talking with celebrities like Queen Elizabeth, Prince Harry, Alicia Keyes, and Robin Williams. Obama spoke to an adoring mostly female crowd as part of the book tour for her memoir 'Becoming.' The book sold more than 725,000 units on its first day of publication. It had a first printing of 1.8 million copies of the hardcover edition. Publisher Crown Publishing announced it would do a second print run of 800,000 hardcover copies, bringing it to a total of 2.6 million in print in the United States and Canada. Michelle Obama's book sold more than 725,000 units on its first day T-shirts were for sale outside of the Capitol One Arena before her talk Michelle Obama is on a media blitz as part of her 'Becoming' book tour She will give a second talk in Washington D.C., where she and the former president are living while their youngest daughter Sasha finishes high school, on Sunday night. The former first lady has been on a media blitz to promote her first book, which is Number One on Amazon.com's best seller list. She appeared on all three network morning shows, on the covers of 'Elle' and 'Essence,' and is on a nation wide book tour in concert venues where fans can buy tickets to see her questioned by celebrity pals like Oprah Winfrey and Sarah Jessica Parker. A fifth of people caught in possession of a knife escape with a slap on the wrist rather than being hauled in front of a judge, as police chiefs and Ministers have promised. The Mail on Sunday can reveal that almost 2,000 people found with knives last year received a caution or were dealt with through out-of-court community resolutions usually an apology and promise not to repeat the crime. The shocking official figures have emerged only days after the number of murders in London this year spiralled to 121. Knives uncovered in a stop and search of a car in West Hendon, in the London Borough of Barnet, last weekend Many were the result of stabbings involving young victims. According to guidance from the National Police Chiefs Council, all those found carrying knives should be prosecuted, but 1,992 of the 10,187 people found with a blade were not. Our investigation also found that: Of 60 arrests for knife possession in the past year on or around Westminster Bridge close to where PC Keith Palmer was stabbed to death outside the Palace of Westminster 44 were dealt with informally; Since 2015, 2,051 people with ten or more previous convictions who were found guilty of possession of weapons offences escaped jail; Essex police decided not to prosecute 410 people caught carrying knives last year around a fifth of the total across England and Wales. The figures will fuel fears that police are losing control. In total, there were 17,718 suspected incidents of knife possession last year, but fewer than half (8,195) ended with somebody in court. More than a third (5,935) ended in no action due to a lack of evidence or suspects not being identified. Almost 1,600 incidents are still being investigated. Of the 1,992 people who were not taken to court, 1,120 received cautions and 871 agreed to community resolutions, which can range from written or verbal apologies and repairing damage to paying compensation. There was one penalty notice for disorder. New sentencing guidelines that came into force in June state that those convicted of knife possession should receive a custodial sentence of at least six months, with terms of up to two- and-a-half years in the most serious cases. The Magistrates Association voiced alarm at the growing number of young offenders not being dealt with in court. Kukri knife found during a stop and search in Plumstead last weekend, left, and machete found in Lambeth on Wednesday night, right We are particularly concerned about the use of Out Of Court Disposals in relation to violent offences, such as knife crime, and would argue that crimes of this nature are more appropriately dealt with by a court, a spokesperson said. Anti-knife campaigner Alison Cope, whose 18-year-old son Joshua Ribera died after being stabbed through the heart in a Birmingham nightclub five years ago, said: Young people are not scared of the consequences of carrying a knife. They think they might get away with it. We need to make them stop and think about what will happen so they do not do it again. It is not that young people do not respect the police, but that they do not respect the inconsistency, as some police will prosecute them for carrying a knife and others will not. A Home Office spokesman said: Community resolutions should only be used by police forces for minor offences and only once victims have had their say. Our latest figures show that we are catching and prosecuting more of those carrying a blade, and sending them to prison for longer. Essex Police said 92 per cent of knife possession incidents that did not end in court related to seizures at Stansted Airport from overseas travellers to the UK bringing with them items which may be legal in their country of origin but not in the UK. A spokesman added: Anyone carrying a knife on the streets of Essex can expect to be arrested and put before the courts. Theresa May has received a boost in her hopes of seeing off a no-confidence vote in the first survey of grassroots members since last weeks Cabinet revolt. An exclusive poll of 500 Tory councillors found they would want MPs to back the Prime Minister in any no-confidence vote, by a factor of almost two to one. It comes as Tory MPs are this weekend back in their constituencies to discuss with their local associations how they should vote in any no-confidence motion. The poll by Survation showed 59 per cent of respondents would want MPs to back Mrs May in a vote, with just 33 per cent wanting them to oppose her and the remaining 8 per cent unsure. Theresa May (pictured) has received a boost in her hopes of seeing off a no-confidence vote in the first survey of grassroots members since last weeks Cabinet revolt An overwhelming 90 per cent of those who backed Remain support Mrs May but more Leave voters (47 per cent to 43 per cent) would like to see her lose. On balance, Tory councillors want their MPs to vote in favour of the deal. It is another boost for the Government, which is facing a looming rebellion that could see the draft agreement fail to get through the Commons next month. In total, 48 per cent of those surveyed said they would like Conservative MPs to vote for Mrs Mays deal and 45 per cent revealed they would want them to vote it down, with 7 per cent unsure. Reflecting the anger among Brexiteer Ministers and backbenchers who feel the deal is too much of a compromise, the majority of those who backed Leave at the referendum (59 per cent) said MPs should vote against it. Jacob Rees-Mogg, pictured at Westminster on Thursday, launched a Tory rebel plot to oust the PM but the Brexiteers have yet to reach the 48 signatures needed for a confidence vote Detailed questioning suggests that although Tory councillors back Mrs May and want her deal to get through Parliament, they still do not think she has won Britain a good divorce settlement from the EU. Just one in five (21 per cent) strongly supported and a further quarter (26 per cent) somewhat supported the draft withdrawal agreement. But more than one in three (35 per cent) said they strongly oppose it and another (14 per cent) somewhat oppose it. The deal itself provoked strong opinions with only 4 per cent saying they neither support nor oppose the deal. And in what may be seen as a sign of Mrs Mays enduring strength, there appeared to be no favourite to replace her if she lost a no-confidence vote. The largest proportion, 22 per cent, said they did not know who should be the next Tory leader. Of the contenders listed in the poll, 12 per cent said they would want David Davis, followed by Boris Johnson and Home Secretary Sajid Javid tied on 11 per cent. Jacob Rees-Mogg polled 8 per cent as did Environment Secretary Michael Gove. The majority (58 per cent) thought that a future leader should have supported Leave at the referendum, however, with only 14 per cent disagreeing. Richard Baker, pictured in 1964 read the BBC's first ever television bulletin in July 1954 Newsreader Richard Baker, who made history by presenting the BBCs first-ever television bulletin in July 1954, has died aged 93. The son of a plasterer, he became one of the Corporations most well-known personalities, presenting the Last Night Of The Proms as well as programmes on Radio 2 and Radio 4. His son James, a television executive, said he died yesterday morning at John Radcliffe Hospital in Oxford. The Director-General of the BBC, Tony Hall, paid tribute to the veteran, saying: Richard Baker was at the forefront of the creation of the modern news presenter. He was a calm and assured presence who became the face of news for millions. Later, he became a great advocate for classical music, presenting many much-loved programmes. But more than that, he was quite simply a lovely and charming man. Our sympathies are with his many friends and family. Bakers studies at Cambridge University were interrupted by the Second World War. He served on a minesweeper with the Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve during the conflict, attached to the supply convoys to Russia. A keen amateur dramatist, Baker resumed his education after the war and joined the BBC in 1950 as a radio presenter. He presented BBC TV news bulletins until 1982. He also presented music programmes for BBC radio as well as voicing the popular childrens series, Mary, Mungo & Midge. He was a regular on the TV classical music quiz Face The Music and hosted Start The Week on Radio 4. He also had roles in Monty Pythons Flying Circus and appeared in Morecambe And Wises Christmas Show. His other son, journalist Andrew Baker, shared the news of his death on Twitter, describing him as a great broadcaster, great dad and grandfather. Bakers love for current affairs never abated and it was later revealed that he still enjoyed reading the news well into his old age, often sharing the headlines with his fellow residents in the retirement community he eventually settled in. BBC journalist John Simpson paid tribute to Baker on Twitter, describing him as one of the finest newsreaders of modern times. Broadcaster and former Conservative MP Gyles Brandreth wrote: He was a delightful man, an impeccable newsreader, a fine broadcaster, someone who knew & loved music, a loving family man, who was very kind (& encouraging) to me when I was in my 20s. Remembered now with affection, gratitude & respect. TV news presenter Alastair Stewart described Baker as a giant and a true gentleman, while BBC news presenter Simon McCoy said he was, THE newsreader for a generation of us and a huge influence on me. Ministers who have resigned from Cabinet this week want the benefits of membership of Government with none of the obligations MONDAY The Ministers who quit the Cabinet over Mrs Mays Brexit deal insist they can maintain all the benefits of remaining on the front bench despite giving up their membership of it. Susanna Dinnage, the outgoing head of Animal Planet, says she cannot fathom what it was about her job documenting the antics of feral animals motivated by primal sexual urges that would make her suitable for her new job as Chief Executive of the English Premier League. TUESDAY After Donald Trump inflamed international tensions by tweeting Make France great again! following his visit to Paris, the nation responds to say things have already got much better. For one, France now contains no Donald Trump. The author who says historic words such as juggins meaning a gullible person are disappearing wonders why no one believes him. WEDNESDAY Pope Francis repeats his edict that gossipers are worse than terrorists at least thats what Cardinal Pelligrino told us. And you should have seen the state of him! His chasuble really didnt go with THAT alb and stole. Not with his ankles! THURSDAY After its revealed that people called Ed earn more than people named Liz, the Queen asks her youngest son if she could borrow 20, just to tide her over The mayor of Christchurch in Dorset admits the fact his town has a coffee shop every 115ft is worrying. Its causing me sleepless nights, he jitters. FRIDAY New Work and Pensions Secretary Amber Rudd hails the Governments job-creation record. For example, weve created six Work and Pensions Secretaries since March 2016 alone, she says. After a passenger sued British Airways because he was forced to sit next to a fat man for several hours, Ruth Langsford is seen consulting her lawyers. SATURDAY As Royal Mail shares hit an all-time low, its chief executive promises he will deliver improvements. Or at least leave a card saying that he had tried to deliver improvements. Donald Trump called the CIA's assessment that Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman had journalist Jamal Khashoggi killed 'very premature' and said the government will reveal who they think was behind the murder on Tuesday. Trump made the remarks hours after the State Department said the government was still working on determining responsibility for the death of Khashoggi, a US-based Washington Post columnist. 'Recent reports indicating that the U.S. government has made a final conclusion are inaccurate,' State Department spokeswoman Heather Nauert said in a statement. 'There remain numerous unanswered questions with respect to the murder of Mr. Khashoggi.' However, the president hasn't entirely ruled out the possibility Salman could be behind the murder, calling it 'possible.' The Saudi government has denied that claim. Donald Trump called the CIA's assessment that Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman had journalist Jamal Khashoggi killed 'very premature' and said the government will reveal who they think was behind the murder on Tuesday. Trump, who was in California to witness the aftermath of the wildfires on Saturday, said he will receive a report Tuesday which will explain who the government thinks killed Khashoggi and what the impact of his murder is Trump, who was in California to witness the aftermath of the wildfires on Saturday, said he will receive a report Tuesday which will explain who the government thinks killed Khashoggi and what the impact of his murder is. The killing 'should never have happened,' he added. Nauert said the State Department will continue to seek facts and work with other countries to hold those involved in the journalist's killing accountable 'while maintaining the important strategic relationship between the United States and Saudi Arabia.' Trump discussed the CIA assessment by phone with the agency's director, Gina Haspel, and Secretary of State Mike Pompeo while flying to California on Saturday, White House spokeswoman Sarah Huckabee Sanders told reporters. The CIA had briefed other parts of the U.S. government, including Congress, on its assessment, sources told Reuters on Friday, a development that complicates Trump's efforts to preserve ties with the key U.S. ally. A source familiar with the CIA's assessment said it was based largely on circumstantial evidence relating to the prince's central role in running the Saudi government. The CIA's finding is the most definitive U.S. assessment to date tying Saudi Arabia's de facto ruler directly to the killing and contradicts Saudi government assertions that Prince Mohammed was not involved. Khashoggi, a critic of the crown prince, was killed in October at the Saudi consulate in Istanbul when he went there to pick up documents he needed for his planned marriage. As lawmakers push legislation to punish Saudi Arabia for the killing, both Republican and Democratic senators on Saturday urged Trump to be tough on the crown prince, with whom he has cultivated a deep personal relationship. 'Everything points to the Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia, MbS, ordering @washingtonpost journalist Jamal #Khashoggi's killing. The Trump administration should make a credible determination of responsibility before MbS executes the men who apparently carried out his orders,' tweeted Senator Bob Corker, chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, on Saturday. The CIA has reportedly concluded that Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince (left) ordered the killing of journalist Jamal Khashoggi (right) Trump and top administration officials have said Saudi Arabia should be held to account for any involvement in Khashoggi's death and have imposed sanctions on 17 Saudis for their role in the killing. But they have also stressed the importance of Washington's ties with Riyadh, one of the biggest clients of the U.S. defense industry. Trump wants to preserve the Saudi arms deals, despite growing opposition in Congress. 'They have been a truly spectacular ally in terms of jobs and economic development,' Trump said. 'As president, I have to take a lot of things into consideration.' Marine General Joseph Dunford, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, noted on Saturday that the kingdom plays a key military role for the United States in the Middle East. 'Saudi Arabia has been an important partner to regional security in the past. I expect they will be in the future,' he said at a security forum in Halifax, adding Middle Eastern allies including Saudi Arabia are 'a stabilizing force in the region.' On Thursday, Saudi Arabia's public prosecutor said he was seeking the death penalty for five suspects charged in the killing of Khashoggi. The prosecutor, Shaalan al-Shaalan, told reporters the crown prince knew nothing of the operation, in which Khashoggi's body was dismembered and removed from the consulate. Saudi officials have said a team of 15 Saudi nationals were sent to confront Khashoggi and he was accidentally killed in a chokehold by men who were trying to force him to return to the kingdom. Lawmakers critical of Saudi Arabia for Khashoggi's killing and its role in Yemen's civil war are ramping up their efforts to clamp down on the country. 'Trump must accept (for once) his intelligence experts' incontrovertible conclusion: Crown Prince MBS is culpable for Khashoggi's monstrous murder. This brazen killing must have consequences sanctions, prosecution, removal of MBS & others, not continued cover-up, enabled by Trump,' tweeted Democratic Senator Richard Blumenthal on Saturday. Earlier Saturday, Trump told reporters at the White House that he hadn't been briefed but that 'as of this moment we were told that (the prince) did not play a role' Earlier Saturday, Trump told reporters at the White House that he hadn't been briefed but that 'as of this moment we were told that (the prince) did not play a role. We're going to have to find out what they have to say.' The intelligence agencies' conclusion will bolster efforts in Congress to further punish the close U.S. ally for the killing. The Trump administration this past week penalized 17 Saudi officials for their alleged role in the killing, but American lawmakers have called on the administration to curtail arms sales to Saudi Arabia or take other harsher punitive measures. The U.S. official familiar with the intelligence agencies' conclusion was not authorized to discuss it publicly and spoke only condition of anonymity Friday. The conclusion was first reported by The Washington Post. Saudi Arabia's top diplomat has said the crown prince had 'absolutely' nothing to do with the killing. Vice President Mike Pence told reporters traveling with him at a summit of Pacific Rim nations in Papua New Guinea that he could not comment on 'classified information.' He said Saturday 'the murder of Jamal Khashoggi was an atrocity. It was also an affront to a free and independent press, and the United States is determined to hold all of those accountable who are responsible for that murder.' Hatice Cengiz, fiancee of murdered Washington Post journalist Jamal Khashoggi, reacts while watching a tribute video to her husband at a commemorative ceremony A man holds a poster showing images of bin Salman and Khashoggi, describing the prince as 'assassin' and Khashoggi as 'martyr' during funeral prayers for Khashoggi in Istanbul on Friday The United States will 'follow the facts,' Pence said, while trying to find a way of preserving a 'strong and historic partnership' with Saudi Arabia. Khashoggi, a Saudi who lived in the United States, was a columnist for the Post and often criticized the royal family. He was killed October 2 at the Saudi Consulate in Istanbul. Turkish and Saudi authorities say he was killed inside the consulate by a team from the kingdom after he went there to get marriage documents. This past week, U.S. intelligence officials briefed members of the Senate and House intelligence committees, and the Treasury Department announced economic sanctions on 17 Saudi officials suspected of being responsible for or complicit in the killing. Among those targeted for sanctions were Mohammed al-Otaibi, the diplomat in charge of the consulate, and Maher Mutreb, who was part of the crown prince's entourage on trips abroad. The sanctions freeze any assets the 17 may have in the U.S. and prohibit any Americans from doing business with them. A tough critic of the Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Khashoggi, disappeared after he entered the Saudi consulate (pictured) in Istanbul on October 2 to collect a document Also this past week, the top prosecutor in Saudi Arabia announced he will seek the death penalty against five men suspected in the killing. The prosecutor's announcement sought to quiet the global outcry over Khashoggi's death and distance the killers and their operation from the kingdom's leadership, primarily the crown prince. Trump has called the killing a botched operation that was carried out very poorly and has said 'the cover-up was one of the worst cover-ups in the history of cover-ups.' But he has resisted calls to cut off arms sales to the kingdom and has been reluctant to antagonize the Saudi rulers. Trump considers the Saudis vital allies in his Mideast agenda. The Post, citing unnamed sources, also reported that U.S. intelligence agencies reviewed a phone call that the prince's brother, Khalid bin Salman, had with Khashoggi. The newspaper said the prince's brother, who is the current Saudi ambassador to the United States, told Khashoggi he would be safe in going to the Saudi Consulate in Istanbul to retrieve the documents he needed to get married. The newspaper said it was not known whether the ambassador knew Khashoggi would be killed. But it said he made the call at the direction the crown prince, and the call was intercepted by U.S. intelligence. Fatimah Baeshen, a spokeswoman for the Saudi Embassy in Washington, said that claim was false. She said in a statement issued to The Associated Press that the ambassador met Khashoggi in person once in late September 2017. After that, they communicated via text messages, she said. The last text message the ambassador sent to Khashoggi was on Oct. 26, 2017, she said. Baeshen said the ambassador did not discuss with Khashoggi 'anything related to going to Turkey.' 'Ambassador Prince Khalid bin Salman has never had any phone conversations with him,' she said. 'You are welcome to check the phone records and cell phone content to corroborate this - in which case, you would have to request it from Turkish authorities,' Baeshen said, adding that Saudi prosecutors have checked the phone records numerous times to no avail. The ambassador himself tweeted: 'The last contact I had with Mr. Khashoggi was via text on Oct. 26, 2017. I never talked to him by phone and certainly never suggested he go to Turkey for any reason. I ask the U.S. government to release any information regarding this claim.' A baby-faced Cleo Magazine Bachelor of the Year left his young family to die fighting for Islamic State on the battlefield in Syria. Amir Millson died when he trod on a landmine as he carried a fighter on his shoulder in 2016, according to messages from the battlefield reported by the Herald Sun. Millson appeared to be an unlikely candidate to fight and die as an Islamist jihadi, trying to establish a theocratic Caliphate. The half-Malaysian man from Perth studied mass communications at Curtin University before going to Malaysia, where he won Cleo magazine Malaysia's Most Eligible Bachelor in 2010. Scroll down for video Baby-faced Cleo Magazine Bachelor of the Year Amir Millson (pictured), from Perth, died when he trod on a landmine as he carried a fighter on his shoulder in 2016 Millson appeared to be an unlikely candidate to fight and die as an Islamist jihadi, trying to establish a theocratic Caliphate At the age of 27 he was part-time modelling and planned to become a television presenter. Videos he posted at the time show a laid-back and well-groomed man. During an interview with Cleo, Millson said he wanted to be prime minister and dubbed Miranda Kerr and Orlando Bloom a cool couple. Soon after, Millson married a woman from his hometown and the couple had a son, but his views on the world began to change radically in 2014, according to the publication. In early 2015, Millson, whose passport has been cancelled, posted an image of himself as an armed jihadi in Syria. He has not been heard from since. 'We heard when he died,' a friend of Millson told the Herald Sun. 'He was carrying a fighter on his shoulder when he stepped on a landmine. That was it.' In September, the Australian Security Intelligence Organisation confirmed Millson was 'killed fighting with ISIL'. Australian National University professor Clive Williams, a terrorism expert, said the landmine was most likely laid by Islamic State themselves. 'This in turn raises the question of whether being killed by one's own side counts as martyrdom. Whatever the case, it is a sad waste of a talented and likeable young Australian,' he told Daily Mail Australia on Sunday. In early 2015, Millson (pictured), whose passport has been cancelled, posted an image of himself as an armed jihadi in Syria. He has not been heard from since Millson's (pictured) friend told the publication his conversion to radical Islam had been a gradual process Millson's friend told the Herald Sun his conversion to radical Islam had been a gradual process. 'He was handsome, very open, outgoing, extremely friendly. He was brave and courageous,' he said. The friend said Millson divorced his wife before fleeing overseas. Daily Mail Australia asked the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) for confirmation of Millson's death, and where he died. DFAT said they had no information in relation to the report and that Syria is black-listed as a 'do not travel' destination. 'The Government discourages, in the strongest possible terms, Australians from travelling to conflict zones such as Syria and Iraq,' an spokesperson said. The tumult and the shouting may at last be dying away. The time for slogans and cheap jibes is over. Dogma is giving way to practicality. We and our leaders are looking hard fact in the face and deciding what is possible and what is not. There was a moment last week when the foundations of everything trembled. In response to Theresa Mays Brexit deal, some Ministers began to resign. The markets shuddered and fell. If those resignations had turned into the avalanche that some hoped for, who knows when we would have hit the bottom? Imagine for a moment that Mrs May had been swept from office, her bargain utterly repudiated. Imagine that the Tory Party was at its own throat, embroiled in a leadership election with no obviously good outcome. Theresa May holds a press conference at 10 Downing Street, London, to discuss her Brexit plans Picture the state of our economy and our democracy if we had by now been slithering unstoppably towards a General Election which the public do not want, and in which they could be expected to punish the party that brought it about. These were all real possibilities, and we still cannot entirely rule them out. We are not out of the Brexit crisis yet, and the nations interests over the next few weeks lie in the hands of a small number of men and women who will have to continue to put country before career and quite possibly country before party. Few expected the great Brexit referendum to lead to the unsatisfactory and patchy compromise which the Prime Minister now places before us. The referendum, a method of decision-making quite alien to our parliamentary system, raised impossible hopes of absolute victory, in a country that has for centuries respected minorities and treated them with consideration. Dogmatists and cheerleaders on both sides hoped for complete triumph for their cause. Remainers hoped to silence Eurosceptics for good. Leavers hoped for total liberation from the thousand grasping tentacles of Brussels. The desires of both could not possibly be met. The desires of neither have been fully satisfied. So the adult response, on both sides, must surely be, as The Mail on Sunday has argued since the vote, to respect the democratic legitimacy of the result while never forgetting the fears and reservations of the very large minority. This, to her enormous personal credit, has been the Prime Ministers approach. Laying aside her own undoubted Remainer views, enduring a great deal of mockery and abuse, and recognising that her party will probably never forgive her, she has worked with laudable, calm resolve for her countrys best interests. It has never been easy. The Civil Service, one of the most powerful lobbies for remaining, has hardly helped, by approaching Brexit as a damage-limitation exercise rather than as an opportunity. David Davis, in his time as Brexit Secretary, failed to live up to his promise. The EU itself had no interest in helping us, its slippery obduracy reminding us once again why so many have wished for so long to be free of it. David Davis MP (left) and Jacob Rees-Mogg MP (right) attend the launch of the Institute of Economic Affairs latest Brexit research paper, in central London The Labour Party, riven by its own deep divisions, has stood and watched, hoping to profit unjustly from Tory civil strife. And it would be hugely unjust if it did, for Jeremy Corbyn though he hides it well loathes the EU as an obstacle to his Marxist plans for renewed state control. Meanwhile, his EU spokesman, Sir Keir Starmer, still dreams of keeping us in the EU. But both collaborate on the same front bench, hoping to gain from Mrs Mays troubles. Their cynicism is matched, if not outdone, among Tories. Dominic Raabs nonsensical resignation, in supposed protest at a deal he had himself helped to negotiate, will be remembered as an act of irresponsibility rather than one of principle. It is hard to make any sense at all of Esther McVeys walk-out. And there has to be a whiff of careerism about the other minor departures lower down the pecking order of ministers. Jacob Rees-Mogg has generally been a thoughtful and courteous critic of Downing Street though his impromptu Westminster press conference last week was a rash mistake, as he probably realises. But real praise should go to Michael Gove, whose decision to stay in his post on Friday almost certainly prevented a disastrous further mass of resignations. Mr Gove is now showing that he has learned from the past and that, like Mrs May, he knows when to put the nation first and everything else last. His refusal to join the rush to quit has kept a number of major figures in the Cabinet and allowed Mrs May a breathing space. It has also chastened those who had hoped to trigger a no-confidence vote in the Premier. Now they are afraid that such a vote which can only be held once a year might backfire on them. If their putsch failed, it would guard Mrs May from any other attempts to remove her during the crucial months between now and Brexit Day at the end of March. Environment Secretary Michael Gove arrives at his office in Westminster, London this week Even so, Mrs May must be concerned that Mr Gove is among several Brexiteer Ministers who are still talking about going back to Brussels to see if more concessions can be won. This is entirely understandable. The deal is far from perfect. But it is also a dangerous game, as David Cameron found when he unwisely relied on the EU shifting its ground to help him win over his domestic critics. If the Cabinet Brexiteers make their continued support for Mrs May dependent on such concessions, and none are forthcoming, we could be back to square one. If Mr Gove is to complete his task he must explain to his colleagues that nothing should be done that would endanger a final agreement on a negotiated Brexit. What Tory MPs, Tory constituency leaders and come to that Labour MPs as well must now understand is this: If they destroy Mrs Mays deal, there is absolutely no guarantee that any of her various opponents and critics will get what they want. It is not just that nobody will get what they want. It is that almost everybody may get what they do not want. In the chaos that follows such a breakdown, several dangerous things might happen. We might find ourselves outside the EU without any agreement at all, an outcome which would be deeply dangerous for the economy and which could create an unprecedented political crisis. There might be a second referendum, a false non-solution which would do grave and lasting damage to our democracy without resolving the issue. Or we might even end up still stuck inside the EU, having wasted more than two years on futile wrangling. Only a cynic, or a fanatical dogmatist, could desire any of these things. The people of the United Kingdom have had quite enough wrangling, self-seeking, grandstanding and pettifogging from those they elected to lead them. They know better than their insulated and pampered leaders that in real life, and in politics, we seldom get everything we want. All those MPs in all parties who are seriously concerned with the well-being of the country must show responsibility, forbearance and an adult willingness to compromise. Each of them sought the power and responsibility they now hold and each has been well-rewarded for it. Now they must show they are worthy of the high positions and the great trust we have given them. They must back the Prime Minister. It is the only responsible course. If they do not take it, they will never be forgiven for the chaos they unleash. Baywatch star Pamela Anderson has accused Scott Morrison of making 'smutty' and 'unnecessary' comments about her after she appealed to the prime minister to defend Julian Assange. Earlier this month, the actress called for Mr Morrison to support the WikiLeaks founder, who has been holed up in the Ecuadorian embassy in London for six years. 'Defend your friend and get Julian his passport back and take him back to Australia and be proud of him and throw him a parade when he gets home,' Anderson requested of Mr Morrison through the Nine Network's 60 Minutes. Pamela Anderson has slammed Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison for making 'lewd' comments about her. She appeared on 60 Minutes Australia (pictured) earlier this month, where she raised her concerns about the treatment of Australian Wikileaks founder Julian Assange WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange will not willingly travel to the United States to face charges filed under seal against him, one of his lawyers said on Saturday The prime minister later chuckled loudly in an interview after being asked if intended to heed the star's advice, before simply replying: 'No.' 'I've had plenty of mates who have asked me if they can be my special envoy to sort the issue out with Pamela Anderson,' he told Gold Coast radio station Hot Tomato FM. 'But putting that to one side, the serious issue is no, our position on that hasn't changed.' In an open letter published on her website, Ms Anderson has said the comments were 'disappointing'. 'You trivialized and laughed about the suffering of an Australian and his family. You followed it with smutty, unnecessary comments about a woman voicing her political opinion,' she wrote. The star said people deserve better from their political leaders and that Mr Assange is not 'getting a fair go'. 'Rather than making lewd suggestions about me, perhaps you should instead think about what you are going to say to millions of Australians when one of their own is marched in an orange jumpsuit to Guantanamo Bay - for publishing the truth. You can prevent this.' 'This Australian is not getting a fair go; his human rights are being openly violated. I am hopeful Australia now has a leader with strength and conviction enough to bring him home.' Scott Morrison (pictured) was quick to shoot down the suggestion of bringing Assange to Australia. 'I've had plenty of mates who've asked me if they can be my special envoy to sort the issue out with Pamela Anderson,' he said Baywatch star Pamela Anderson appealed to Prime Minister Scott Morrison to defend her friend Julian Assange Mr Assange took refuge in Ecuador's embassy in 2012, after British courts ordered his extradition to Sweden to face questioning in a sexual molestation case. The case was dropped but supporters have said Assange fears leaving the embassy in case he's extradited to the United States over WikiLeaks' publication of US diplomatic and military secrets. Court filings made public by mistake in the US last week indicate that Assange has been indicted in secret by federal prosecutors in Alexandria, Virginia. In October an Ecuadorian judge ruled against the 47-year-old's request to loosen new conditions of his ongoing stay at the embassy. The new rules require the Australian pay for services like internet and laundry and care for his cat. The Daily Mail has approached Prime Minister Scott Morrison for comment. In an open letter (pictured) to the leader, the former Playboy playmate accused Morrison of making 'smutty' comments J.K. Rowling's second installment to Fantastic Beasts has not been received well by critics. The prequels have been dogged by negative press over one of its stars, Johnny Depp, who was accused of marital abuse. He denied all charges. Now critics have slammed Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindewald as a messy movie that does not do its due diligence as the second installment in the Harry Potter prequels, and differs too much from Fantastic Beasts and Where To Find Them. Some felt the film - directed once again by David Yates - had lost some of the magic and wonder of the original. Critics slammed Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindewald as a messy movie that doesn't do its due diligence as the second installment in the Potter prequels Here are some thoughts and film elements to consider before seeing the film. 'An excruciating bore just barely enlivened by stray glimpses of Hogwarts': Film critics and their takes on Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindewald Los Angeles Times Few reviews were as scathing as the Los Angeles Times, which felt that even die hard fans wouldn't be able to enjoy the film. LA Times called the film 'an excruciating bore just barely enlivened by stray glimpses of Hogwarts, a flicker of gay romance and a menagerie of computer-generated creepy-crawlies, Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald is enough to make J.K. Rowling fans weep in frustration, provided they can even keep their eyes open.' They continued: 'The Crimes of Grindelwald is somehow both hectic and leaden, a thing of exhausting, pummeling mediocrity. It offers up dazzling feats of sorcery and realms of wonderment (early 20th-century London and Paris among them) and manages to conjure the very opposite of magic.' Going as far to call Newt 'charmless,' the review did state that Depp was able to ditch his own real world abuse allegations and 'slips smoothly behind the shell of someone elses villainy.' The Hollywood Reporter The Hollywood Reporter wrote that the first installment of the Fantastic Beast 'felt like a strained effort to extend Rowling's brand' while the second felt like more of its own style. The review condemned the color scheme that seemed consistent in the two movies. It stated: 'One of the curious, uninviting choices in the Beasts franchise is its greyish-brown palette, and a flattened, backlot, old-fashioned storybook look. Even fake-Paris looks grim. It's a relief when the film briefly sets down in the lush green landscape around Hogwarts to visit Dumbledore once more.' THR was impressed by the special effects used in the film, calling the images 'spectacular.' They seemed relatively impressed with the climatic battle, specifically when 'Grindelwald unleashes swirls of icy-blue fire, which take over the screen.' Depp was lauded for his role as Grindelwald, able to ditch his own real world abuse allegations to 'slip smoothly behind the shell of someone elses villainy' Chicago Tribune Interestingly enough, the Chicago Tribune harped on the blue flames and deemed them 'expensive.' 'It took J.K. Rowlings Harry Potter-adjacent franchise exactly one film for the shrugs to set in, even with all those fine actors up there amid expensive digital blue flames,' the Tribune said in their review. The review did complain about character development, specifically in the relationships and dealings of Newt Scamander (Eddie Redmayne), Tina Goldstein (Katherine Waterston), Jacob (Dan Fogler) and Queenie (Alison Sudol). According to the Tribune, J.K. Rowling has a way of complicating 'already complicated feelings and sympathies.' Whereas the first Beast installment focused on the creatures wreaking havoc on NYC, critics weren't thrilled that there weren't as many in the second film The Guardian The Guardian simply explained the movie as having 'fewer beasts' while having 'more crimes.' While their review praised the film for being just as 'spectacular' as the first installment - 'with lovingly realized creatures, witty inventions and sprightly vignettes.' 'But I couldnt help feeling that the narrative pace was a little hampered, and that we are getting bogged down, just a bit, in a lot of new detail,' the review continued. Jude Law was praised for his performance as a young Dumbledore The Guardian felt that the film left some of the franchise's original focus, for the sake of larger plot details that could be maintained by a 'bigger ensemble cast.' One performance, in particular, did catch the publication's attention. 'But the most striking newcomer is young Albus Dumbledore, well played by Jude Law, an enigmatic and charming figure,' the review asserted. The site rated the movie three out of five stars. USA Today USA Today shared the sentiment that too much was going on in the film. 'The ambition of Crimes, from the ballooning cast to the gymnastics required to connect the story to the grander mythology, threatens to derail the episode at times,' USA Today wrote. Specifically, the review mentioned the relationship between Leta Lestrange (Zoe Kravitz) and Yusuf Kama (William Nadylam) as being 'downright head-spinning.' Because there aren't as many exciting creatures wreaking havoc on a given city, USA Today felt that the movie had lost some of its 'goofy appeal.' Tina Goldstein (Katherine Waterston) had a complicated relationship with Newt in the second installment The New York Post Not all reviews were bad, however, with the New York Post favoring the second installment of the Beast franchise over the first - adding that the first 'sapped the magic and British charm right out of J.K. Rowlings Wizarding World.' The review noted that 'The Crimes of Grindelwald' was a much more 'improved sequel' and felt that the film 'gives us a proper villain and a purpose for this series of gulp five eventual movies.' In his second outing, Newt has proved himself a lovable lizard er, wizard,' the review added. Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald opens in theaters on November 16. Heroic Butte County firefighters have told how they fought the devastating Camp Fire even as their own homes and those of friends and family succumbed to the flames. More than 5,000 firefighters from across California are now battling the blaze, which has killed 74 so far and destroyed 9,700 homes, but local first responders were among the first on the scene. Jessica Church, 25, a volunteer firefighter who lives in Chico less than 15 miles from Paradise said her best friend's home was among those destroyed. Heroic Butte County firefighters (pictured in the wreckage of the California fire) have told how they fought the devastating Camp Fire even as their own homes and those of friends and family succumbed to the flames Fire crews have been working tirelessly to tackle the deadly blazes sweeping through the state The crews, some of whom are volunteers, are pictured taking a well earned break from grueling shifts of up to 24 hours Fellow firefighter Zak Phillips, 28, also of Chico, says he is currently hosting two displaced families at his own home while also putting in shifts of up to 24 hours at a time. 'Going house to house and not being able to give good news to people that their house is still standing there That's been tough,' Church told DailyMail.com in an exclusive interview. 'I think I've been able to say that two houses that we know were still standing. That's rough. Going back into town and your friends want to know what's going on and you can't tell them anything good - it's hard. 'It's really hard because this is our town, it's our home and it's gone.' Phillips added: 'The toughest thing for me is seeing community members displaced, friends and family, just trying to do what you can to help them out. 'I don't know what else I could do but at the same time, it feels like you're not doing enough.' On Saturday, as President Trump visited the stricken town, teams of search and rescue volunteers could be seen combing the wreckage for human remains Fire crews (pictured outside a burning house in Paradise, California) have been risking their lives to save their neighbors Harrowing images from Paradise on Friday show the heartbreaking search and rescue efforts where county deputies carried off deceased victims in body bags as the number of missing people mounted to over 1,200 Church added: 'My best friend lives up a road from where we first got in [to town]. He'd just got off of fire season. 'He was sleeping because when you work fire season, you get pretty exhausted after a while. He was sleeping and had his phone off. 'He woke up to his neighbor's house exploding and me calling him over and over, saying 'hey, get out there's a fire. I'm a street up from you and the fire's already here. You need to leave'. 'He just scrambled, grabbed what he could and left. His house is gone and I had to break the news to him that his house had gone. It was hard because it was like my second home.' Church and Phillips are currently part of a crew working on clean-up operations in Paradise, where 97 per cent of homes and businesses were destroyed. On Saturday, as President Trump visited the stricken town, teams of search and rescue volunteers could be seen combing the wreckage for human remains. The exhausted firefighters take a break, lying on the hard ground, during their 24-hour-shift Jessica Church, 25, (second from left) a volunteer firefighter who lives in Chico less than 15 miles from Paradise said her best friend's home was among those destroyed Fellow firefighter Zak Phillips, 28, also of Chico, says he is currently hosting two displaced families at his own home while also putting in shifts of up to 24 hours at a time The soot-covered fire crew; Rocco Davalos, 36, (left) from Sacramento, Church (center) and Zak Phillips, 28, (right) from Chico But for the fire crews, the task of putting out still smoldering hotspots continues 10 days on while others continue to battle the main blaze which is 50 per cent contained but still raging to the north. Waiting at a staging post north of Oroville was a crew from Sacramento, 92 miles to the south, who have been battling the blaze for more than a week. They told DailyMail.com that they had worked without a break for the first 48 hours and have been working 24 hours on and 24 hours off ever since. Like other crews, who come from all over California as well as from Nevada and Oregon, they have been sleeping in tents and mobile dormitories at base camp, which has been set up at the Silver Dollar Fairground in Chico. But Rocco Davalos, 36, said the crews are used to the basic living conditions and are happy to put up with them in order to do the job they love. He said: 'It's not the most comfortable, it's a lot of lack of sleep and microwave food but we knew what we were doing when we came here and it's not the first time so it's something we're accustomed to.' His crew were among the first on the scene in Paradise, arriving at 3pm on the day the fire broke out and tasked with beating back the flames while the local crews got residents out. 'This is by far the worst we've seen,' Davalos told DailyMail.com. 'We were there doing the firefight so we spent all of Thursday and all of Friday fighting fire and going around trying to find anywhere where there was still something we were able to save in Paradise. Church and Phillips are currently part of a crew working on clean-up operations in Paradise, where 97 per cent of homes and businesses were destroyed For the fire crews, the task of putting out still smoldering hotspots continues 10 days on while others continue to battle the main blaze which is 50 per cent contained but still raging to the north 'We were there until Saturday morning. We come from Sacramento which is a bigger city and we do a lot of structure firefighting, so that played right into our normal role we were able to do what we do. 'But I would say the next challenge is really turning off your mind. Almost that survivor's guilt. Talking to so many people that lost their homes and they're still working. 'People from PG&E [the electricity company] lost their homes and they're still working. People from the local fire department that lost their homes and they're still working with us. 'That would be the biggest challenge focusing on what we had to do and turning off any feelings of guilt.' Like Church and Phillips, Davalos said he appreciated the kindness shown to his crew by local people in the aftermath of the fire but said he is not a hero and just wants to help. He said: 'We see the signs [thanking firefighters] and we're really appreciative of people coming up to us and saying that but nobody here feels like a hero or wants to have that hero role. 'We enjoy what we're doing. We're able to go to work and enjoy what we do and being here to help is just that little extra for it.' Church added: 'I don't like taking credit for it at all. I'm just doing the job that I wanted since I was little. 'I don't like my friends paying for meals and stuff I'll tell them no, I'll pay for it and we have companies that are willing to give firefighters free coffee and free food and couple of us just say, here, take the money and give it to someone else. 'If they insist we don't pay for it, we just give them money so they can pay it forward.' All are now hoping the residents of Paradise will be helped back onto their feet as quickly as possible. 'I would just say, stay strong,' Davalos told DailyMail.com. 'There's so much work to do in there [Paradise] still and with the people missing going up every day. 'I can't imagine what they're feeling and going through. I've seen nothing but smiles from the people in Paradise thanking us. People who lost everything thanking us. I don't know what to say to that. 'So I would just say, stay strong and keep a positive attitude about it. It will figure itself out in the end. Just be thankful for being able to get out of there.' [ends] A motorcyclist feels 'betrayed' by the justice system after an elderly driver who collided with her, shredding her lower leg, was cleared of any wrongdoing. Amanda Alvarez says the unconditional release handed to 61-year-old Gregory Kenneth Reid by a Western Australian court for 'unsoundness of mind' was an added insult after having to learn to walk again with a prosthetic lower leg. The 28-year-old motoring enthusiast was lucky to survive the crash, but now wants her voice to be heard after enduring 18 months of 'absolute hell'. Perth woman Amanda Alvarez (pictured with her husband) was left with a prosthetic left leg after a horrific car crash The motorcyclist (pictured) veered out of the way of an elderly driver who she says was on the wrong side of the road Ms Alvarez's active lifestyle was brought to a standstill in March last year, when she and a friend were riding through Perth's southern suburbs. The duo were driving at 110km/hour when Reid allegedly veered onto the wrong side of the road in his Holden Commodore, directly into their path. Ms Alvarez's friend Ebony Philip and another driver were lucky enough to avoid being cleaned up by the station wagon. Amanda was less fortunate. She and her Yamaha bike were strewn across the busy highway. She came to a stop on the side of the road where Ebony rushed to be by her side. Witnesses would later tell her that Mr Reid remained in his car, unwilling to get out and offer help. Ms Alvarez (left) says she was 'betrayed' by the justice system, saying the driver got off easy Soon after the horrific crash, paramedics arrived on the scene and administered morphine to ease the pain in her leg. Her kneecap was found 20metres from where she lay with two broken arms and broken wrist. Surgeons couldn't save her left leg, which was amputated from 8cm above the knee. The incident was brought before the courts, where Mr Reid's licence was suspended. However, he was cleared of any driving offences under the Criminal Law (Mentally Impaired Accused) Act. An interview between the police and Mr Reid was cut short due to the 'emotional stress the accused indicated he was under', court documents read. The explanation Mr Reid gave police was: 'The violence is the Commonwealth government police force actually attacking me, invading me and on that note, it's the part of, if not the foundation of, my defence of the cause of the actual accident.' She defied doctors' beliefs and learnt to walk again within months so as not to miss her wedding to her American fiance (pictured) The man will be unable to drive, but can re-apply for a licence in 2022. Meanwhile, Ms Alvarez defied doctors' beliefs and learned to walk on her new prosthesis within a matter of months. Her determination stemmed from her American fiance Gregg Alvarez, now her husband, who proposed to her after one of her rehabilitation sessions. She now lives in the United States with Gregg and is trying to regain strength in her leg. A man has died while scuba diving with friends near a popular surfing beach. The man, believed to be in his 60s, was pulled unconscious from the water at Torquay near Point Danger, southwest of Melbourne, at 10am on Sunday. An off-duty police officer performed CPR on the man for 30 minutes before paramedics took over. The man, believed to be in his 60s, was pulled unconscious from the water at Torquay near Point Danger (pictured), southwest of Melbourne, at 10am on Sunday The man, who is yet to be formally identified, died at the scene. Police will prepare a report for the Coroner. Torquay point is a popular hot spot for young families and keen surfers. Stephen Colbert was inspired to return to his faith after a passage from the Holy Bible delivered him from anxiety 32 years ago. The comedian, now 54, followed Catholicism but told Faith in Focus: 'I had lost my faith in God, to my great grief.' However the Washington DC-born star got a message from above which he says alleviated his worries and fears while traveling through Chicago, aged 22, on a cold winter's day. Stephen Colbert was inspired to return to his faith after a passage from the Bible The comedian was handed the book in Chicago aged 22 when he had lost faith Colbert said to Father James Martin in March: 'My life has never been the same' In the March interview which aired Thursday, The Late Show host told CBS' Father James Martin about the day in 1986 that changed his life for the better. 'I was walking down the street and somebody handed me a little, green New Testament Proverbs and Psalms,' he said. Colbert shared how the temperature was so low he had to 'crack' book open to find a passage that would help lift his unease at a time when he was an atheist. 'And I open it up to a little glossary in the front and it said verses to read based upon if you [have] anxiety,' he added. As someone at the time who thought he had been wrong or taught something that wasn't true, he found his way back to God by reading the section of the New Testament. He said in a Faith in Focus interview that Matthew Chapter 5 helped his anxiety Speaking of a verse in Matthew Chapter 5, Colbert shared how he felt 'lightened' after glancing at it. 'For do not worry, for who among you by worrying can change a single hair on his head around the keep of the span of his life?' he said resonated with him. While it wasn't the funny man's first relationship with religion, he found new meaning in the Gospel that day. Despite earlier being a non-believer, he told the priest he didn't even have to try to find his way back to Catholicism after that point. 'For the first time I understood the real meaning of the phrase, it spoke to me. Like it read off the page. The words of Christ read off the page. There was no effort. I stood on that street corner in the cold and read that sermon. And my life has never been the same,' Colbert said. Colbert said: 'The words of Christ read off the page. There was no effort' Cartoonist, Tim Luecke, who praised Colbert for encouraging people in his generation to have humility from faith Colbert added in the clip that he wished young people weren't so stubborn to reject the idea of religion simply because it isn't necessarily trendy. It was a sentiment expressed earlier on the show by his popular show's young cartoonist, Tim Luecke, who praised Colbert for encouraging people in his generation to have humility from faith even if it's not in 'style' and 'viewed with a certain skepticism'. 'This gift of religion is something that can only be given in this way,' Colbert continued about his life changing moment on the street. 'And therefore you should be humble and accept this act of love. And see what it is they gave you without rejecting it.' Dramatic video shows the moment authorities forced a stolen truck to stop, flipping the vehicle over. The driver then ran from the scene at Seal Beach in California but was tackled by authorities in a parking lot nearby, video from KTLA showed. The pursuit apparently began in the Long Beach area, before the driver of the truck ended up in Buena Park, and California Highway Patrol took over the chase. Cops perform a PIT maneuver , causing the truck to flip over at a high speed on the highway The contents of the truck then spill out on to the road as the truck goes on over on its side The truck had large items in the back as the suspect was driving on the wrong side of the road in Westminster, aerial video showed. The suspect was driving erratically through intersections, weaving in and out of traffic. Eventually, a patrol vehicle crashed into the back of the truck, causing the driver to lose control, hit a center median and crash onto the opposite side of the roadway. The maneuver is a Pursuit Intervention Technique, PIT, aimed at forcing a fleeing car to abruptly turn sideways and stop. At least one refrigerator, a recliner and soil spilled onto the roadway after the crash, aerial video showed. Anaheim Police Sargeant Daron Wyatt said police followed the driver across on Manchester Avenue where the suspect behind the wheel drove southbound in the northbound lanes. 'As the driver tried to negotiate a U-turn at Ball Road, the suspect slammed the car into a police cruiser at Disneyland Drive,' Wyatt said. The suspects gets out of the trucks and tries to flee the scene following the hot pursuit Two policeman then run after him after flipping the truck over on the highway The policemen soon catch up with him and catch him at a nearby supermarket parking lot The driver jumped out of the car and tried to run away, but he was subdued with a stun gun, Wyatt said. Two males and two females were arrested after the chase, Wyatt said. As of this report it is unclear as to the nature of charges for all arrested parties. They said the suspect is now in custody and has not been named yet. Grief hasn't eased with time for the heartbroken father whose four children were murdered by their grandfather in Australia's worst mass shooting since the Port Arthur massacre. Last week marked six months since Aaron Cockman was rocked by the news that his estranged wife Katrina, their four autistic children Taye, 13, Rylan, 12, Arye, 10, and Kadyn, eight were shot dead by his former father-in-law Peter Miles at a remote farm in Osmington in Western Australia's Margaret River region on May 11. Mr Miles, 61, also killed his wife Cynda, 58, before turning the gun on himself. This week, Mr Cockman revealed he's still struggling to come to terms with his devastating loss and that some days were harder than others. It's been six month Aaron Cockman's (pictured) estranged wife and their four children were killed in the Margaret River massacre 'It's wearing down on me. It just gets heavier and heavier, he told The Sunday Times. 'It feels like my kids were here just yesterday.' He remembers the 'little things' he did with his kids, such as shopping together, family outings to the beach and teaching them how to dive and snorkel. Despite his grief, Mr Cockman has since become an outspoken campaigner pushing for a better system for separated families. 'I think of my kids and it makes me want to do it,' he told The Sunday Times. 'It gives me something to live for.' Mr Cockman's estranged father-in-law Peter Miles, 61, (pictured centre) shot dead his family at their farm near Margaret River in Western Australia in the early hours of May 11 The Margaret River tragedy was Australia's worst mass shooting since the Port Arthur massacre In August, Mr Cockman took his first flight in 16 years when he travelled to Canberra to lobby federal politicians for a fresh approach to family separation as part campaign by advocacy group For Kids Sake. 'The whole situation just snowballed out of control as soon as the lawyers got involved,' Mr Cockman told reporters at the time. 'If the lawyers weren't involved at all, things would have been so different.' Mr Cockman's estranged wife Katrina, 35, and their four children - daughter Taye, 13, and sons Rylan, 12, Arye, 10, and Kadyn, eight (pictured)were killed in the massacre He revealed at the time he was struggling to cope. 'This is the only thing I've got to live for. Even working as a carpenter is not enough,' Mr Cockman said. 'If I can see another child see their other parent again that would make such a difference to me. That would give me something to live for.' For Kids Sake reiterated its calls for change on Saturday. 'When families separate, most parents are vulnerable and need support. Every child is potentially at risk of trauma and its lifelong consequences, or worse ... It's time for a fresh, child-focused approach,' the group posted on its Facebook page. Police will soon give their almost completed final report on the Margaret River murder-suicide to the WA coroner. Mr Cockman (left) has since become an outspoken campaigner for a better system for separated families 'It feels like my kids were here just yesterday,' Aaron Cockman revealed this week An inquest could reveal new details about the massacre, including the call Mr Miles made to triple-zero after killing his wife, daughter and four grandchildren moments before he turned the gun on himself. WA Police Minister Michelle Roberts revealed this week said tighter gun control was unlikely, despite the alleged shooting deaths of Mara Harvey, 41, her daughter Charlotte, 3, two-year-old twin girls Alice and Beatrix, and her mother Beverley Quinn, 74, by her husband Anthony in their home in Bedford, Perth in September. A fashion designer's glitzy Instagram page has sparked a feud with her aunts over the 5m proceeds from the family's Grade I-listed farmhouse. Jade Holland Cooper, 31, owner of the Holland Cooper luxury tweed brand, regularly posts selfies posing with her expensive products, well-groomed racehorses and her multi-millionaire Superdry founder husband, Julian Dunkerton, 53. But the page appeared to rile her aunt, Deidre Goddard, 72, who along with her sister, 66-year-old Brigid Fairman, is in a dispute with their brother Oliver, 73, who is also Jade's father, over the family inheritance. Jade Holland Cooper, 31, posts regularly about her luxury life on Instagram. She is seen at a Halloween party at Laylow London on November 2 and wedding her Superdry Husband Julian Dunkerton in August (right) Jade (centre) posted this photo showing the bridesmaids at her wedding on August 14 She appeared to be particularly angry after Jade posted about her appearance in the Sunday Times business section in May, writing sometime after: 'Some of us know the truth about you, your family and money. Please don't take us all for fools.' Under dispute are the proceeds from the September sale of family manor Great Bricett Hall. The siblings' father, Rupert Cooper, left the property and its 415-acre farm to Oliver when he died last year and also made him executor of his will. The will also stipulates Deidre and Brigid would receive an insurance policy worth 50,000, while their younger brother John, 69, would get one worth 100,000, reported The Sunday Times. The sisters were angry at this disparity, with Brigid saying last week it showed her father had a 'Victorian notion' of the role of women in the family. But her Instagram post sparked a furious reaction from Oliver, who wrote an angry letter to his sisters declaring his shock that his daughter had been targeted as she had received 'nothing' from the estate. In the letter, he demanded Deidre post a 'detailed and unequivocal' apology to Jade on Instagram and post another hand-written one to her house in the Cotswolds. In return, he would increase the amount handed to his sisters to 100,000. But Deidre turned down the offer as a 'bribe' and said she had become angry at Jade boasting on Instagram about her luxury fashion business at a time - before the farm's sale - that her father was claiming there was no cash to pay his father's bequests. Jade enjoyed a lavish Cotswolds wedding in August attended by Idris Elba and Craig David. That same month, her husband Julian Dunkerton donated 1million to the campaign for a second Brexit referendum. Jade and her husband at the 'crazy' Laylow London Halloween party in London on November 1. Idris Elba was also tagged in the post The fashion designer regularly posts on Instagram to promote her eponymous company, Grade-I listed Great Bricett Hall in Suffolk (pictured in an undated photo) was built in the 13th century as the hall of an Augustinian priory At the time she described her husband, who is worth an estimated 441million, as an 'amazing human being' and said she never thinks about the 22 year age gap between them. 'I've never met anyone as inspiring,' she added to The Times. The designer set up her eponymous brand Holland Cooper 10 years ago, which specialises in sexy tailored tweed jackets, 599 leather trousers and luxurious fur-trimmed capes. At stake: 5million Great Bricett Hall The grade-I listed manor house in Suffolk was built in the 13th century as the hall of an Augustinian priory. It was sold in September by Savills, and also came with an 415-acre commercial farm and several outbuildings. The house itself includes a central hall, kitchen, pantry, three reception rooms, a scullery, cloakroom, four bedrooms (two en-suite), a family bathroom, minstrel's gallery and attic room. There is also planning permission to add a single-storey rear extension and a porch. Advertisement She started selling her designs at a stall at the Cheltenham festival ten years ago, in echoes of her husband who co-founded Superdry in 1985 from a market stall in Cheltenham. Two years ago, Dunkerton sold 52 million of shares in the company to fund a divorce settlement with his first wife, Charlotte Abbot. Earlier this year, he sold his last remaining stake for 71million and now focuses on his businesses in the Cotswolds where he owns a string of hotels and restaurants. It was at one of these restaurants where he met Jade and the pair have known each other for years, but got together 18 months ago. Suffolk farmer's daughter Jade was educated at 14,322-per-year Ipswich School for Girls before making her demure public debut on Country Life's 'Girl In Pearls' page. Her mother was a designer and she couldn't decide between a future in design or agriculture, eventually plumping for the latter, studying international equine and agricultural business management at the Royal Agricultural College in Cirencester. Jade with Mike Tindall in a Marlborough Trench jacket on March 19 (left) and at another event on July 29 (right) Jade in an Instagram photo showing a 'winter workout' on November 23, 2016 The designer opening a new store in Kildare, Ireland, on October 12 (left) and fishing on August 20 When she say everyone wearing the same 'bog-standard, green, itchy, masculine tweed', she realised there was a gap in the market for a more glamorous version. She dropped out after a year and started designing her own clothes, even though she couldn't even sew to begin with. Now her clothing, which is entirely made in Britain, is a hit with celebrities and even royalty with the likes of Made in Chelsea's Georgia Toffolo and Zara Tindall wearing her designs. Despite her success, she admits she's still afraid of failing and that she has no intention of resting on her laurels. As for plans to have children, she insists she wants them with Dunkerton but has no idea how she will fit it all in, saying: 'My mother will probably take over.' Jade posing in a bikini in an Instagram post captioned 'take me back to the sunshine' on December 9, 2016 Golossian's father was dubbed 'black magic rapist' claiming he could cure curse Police described incident as a 'targeted attack', with investigations ongoing Mr Golossian was treated by paramedics and transferred to Liverpool Hospital They located Charlie Golossian, 35, with a single gunshot wound to his left leg Police arrived at an address in Panania, in Sydney's south-west, on Saturday The son of a notorious fake Greek priest who was dubbed the 'black magic rapist' is recovering in hospital after he was shot in what police believe was a targeted attack. Charlie Golossian, 35, received a single gunshot wound to his left leg when he was targeted at a home on Anderson Avenue in Panania, in Sydney's south-west, just before 9pm on Saturday. Emergency services arrived at the scene and paramedics treated Mr Golossian before he was transferred to Liverpool Hospital, where he remains in a stable condition. Charlie Golossian, 35, received a single gunshot wound to his left leg when he was targeted at a home on Anderson Avenue in Panania, in Sydney's south-west, just before 9pm on Saturday Emergency services arrived at the scene and paramedics treated Mr Golossian before he was transferred to Liverpool Hospital, where he remains in a stable condition Mr Golossian's father, Tony (centre), was dubbed the 'black magic rapist' after he was convicted of raping two women while claiming he could free them from curses through prayer Mr Golossian's father, Tony, was convicted of raping two women while claiming he could free them from black magic curses through prayer, Nine News reported. He was known as a 'holy man' within the Greek Orthodox community in Sydney. Between 2001 and 2008, he told the two victims their family would fall ill and die if they ended their sessions, ABC reported. The women were raped a number of times in Sydney's inner-west but they were told they were experiencing a dream. When he was found in guilty at the NSW District Court in 2011 and jailed for 20 years, a violent brawl broke out with Mr Golossian and two of his brothers attacking police. This is not the first time the Golossian family has been hit in a targeted shooting - a house was hit in Dulwich Hill in 2012. When Tony was found in guilty at the NSW District Court in 2011, a violent brawl broke out with Mr Golossian and two of his brothers attacking police (pictured) According to reports, Mr Golossian's wife witnessed Saturday evening's attack According to reports, Mr Golossian's wife witnessed Saturday evening's attack. 'I just heard some people screaming and then I heard what I thought was just a door slam and then next minute the police turned up,' neighbour Karen, who declined to share her last name, told Nine News. 'The police were everywhere, there were ambulances everywhere, lights were flashing, lights were everywhere.' Officers from Bankstown Police Area Command established a crime scene, which will undergo forensic examination. Anyone with information that could assist police are urged to contact Crime Stoppers. Officers from Bankstown Police Area Command established a crime scene, which will undergo forensic examination Anyone with information that could assist police enquiries are urged to contact Crime Stoppers A body has been discovered in remote bushland outside of Perth in the early hours of Sunday morning. The discovery was made by a member of the public around 6.30am, police have said. After receiving the call, Homicide Squad detectives arrived at the scene in an area of bushland off Canning Dam Road in Bedfordale, about 45km south-east of Perth. A body has been discovered in remote bushland (pictured) outside of Perth in the early hours of Sunday morning Homicide detectives are at the scene (left) and will conduct further inquiries. Acting inspector Paul Tolan (right) said police could not release any further details Homicide detectives and forensics officers are at the scene and will conduct further inquiries. The crime scene is expected to stay in place overnight. Acting inspector Paul Tolan said police could not release any further details. 'Obviously there's police blocks in place, so Canning Dam Road in Bedfordale has been blocked off,' he told ABC News. 'Our forensics operators are in place at the moment and homicide squad are doing their inquiries.' Road closures are also in place around the area, including parts of Canning Dam Road and the corner of Albany Highway which has been blocked off. Police have not revealed when they believe the person died. Anyone who can assist with this investigation is asked to call Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000. A transgender prisoner who sexually assaulted female inmates at a women's jail is now locked up with Britain's most dangerous men. Karen White, 52, was jailed for life last month after admitting to attacking two women while being held on remand at HMP New Hall, a women's prison between September and October last year White, who was born David Thompson but claims to identify as a woman, also admitted to the previous rapes of two other women. The convicted paedophile, who is still legally a man, has now been moved to HMP Wakefield in West Yorkshire, The Mirror reports. Karen White, who was born a man (left) but claims to identify as a woman, was jailed for life after admitting to sexually assaulting female inmates at a women's jail The prison is nicknamed Monster Mansion due to the large number of high-profile murderers and sex offenders held there. It has been home to criminals including Charles Bronson, who has been dubbed the most violent prisoner in Britain, child killers Ian Huntley and Stuart Hazell as well as serial killer Harold Shipman. 'It must be a bit of an eye-opener to go from New Hall to Wakefield, to put it mildly,' a source told the Mirror. White is being allowed to dress as she likes at Wakefield, according to the newspaper. However, she is reportedly struggling to raise funds for wigs and make-up. Her new life behind bars is a far cry from New Hall, which also holds juveniles and young offenders. There, inmates have their own ensuite toilets and showers in cells and are allowed to keep chickens. The convicted paedophile, who is still legally a man, has now been moved to HMP Wakefield (pictured) in West Yorkshire Wakefield, on the other hand, is the largest high-security prison in the country and sources say White has become 'depressed' while adjusting to life there. If she requests a transfer on self-identified gender grounds, it will likely be assessed by a special board. White was kept on remand at HMP New Hall despite not having undergone gender reassignment surgery after attacking a 66-year-old neighbour with a steak-knife in Mytholmroyde, West Yorkshire, on August 15 last year. She accused her victim of a sexual approach and 'slobbering all over' her in the communal laundry at their accommodation, then later stabbed him with the knife, saying: 'I'm going to kill you.' White is being allowed to dress as she likes at HMP Wakefield While at New Hall, White began gender re-allignment, wearing a wig, make-up and false breasts. While there she became friendly with another female inmate, until an incident on September 13 last year while in the queue for prisoners to get medication. 'The complainant, while waiting, felt something hard press against the small of her back,' Christopher Dunn, prosecuting, told Leeds Crown Court last month. 'She turned around to see the defendant stood there. She could see the defendant's penis erect and sticking out of the top of her pants, covered by her tights.' The matter was then reported to police and another prison assault came to light. Another inmate told how she was in the prison workshop with White when the defendant was making 'inappropriate comments about blow jobs.' White then grabbed her hand and put it on the defendant's left breast with the words: 'Oh look, they are not real ones.' White admitted both offences of sexual assault. She was described as a 'predator' who was a danger to women and children and jailed for two counts of rape, two sexual assaults and one offence of wounding. White was kept on remand at HMP New Hall (pictured) despite not having undergone gender reassignment surgery after attacking a 66-year-old neighbour Her new life behind bars is a far cry from New Hall (pictured), which also holds juveniles and young offenders The court heard she used her 'transgender persona' to put herself in contact with vulnerable women. She must serve a minimum term of nine-and-a-half years before parole can be considered. How many transgender prisoners are there in England and Wales? The latest figures showed there were 125 transgender prisoners in England and Wales up to the end of March 2017, an increase from 70 a year earlier. About 25 are thought to be in women's jails. At least 34 male-born inmates are living as women in four specialist sex offender jails for men, according to Freedom of Information Act requests. But prison governors say many have sought to be transferred to women's jails. Advertisement White also had previous convictions for indecent assault, indecent exposure and gross indecency involving children, violence and dishonesty. Passing sentence Judge Christopher Batty told the defendant: 'You are a predator and highly manipulative and in my view you are a danger. 'You represent a significant risk of serious harm to children, to women and to the general public.' Christopher Dunn, prosecuting, told the court: 'She is allegedly a transgender female. 'The prosecution say allegedly because there's smatterings of evidence in this case that the defendant's approach to transitioning has been less than committed. 'The prosecution suggest the reason for the lack of commitment towards transitioning is so the defendant can use a transgender persona to put herself in contact with vulnerable persons she can then abuse.' Theresa May today warned her rebellious Tory MPs against trying to oust her as PM -saying it will only breed uncertainty and could stop Brexit. The PM launched a fightback to defend her plan, and said that when she flies out for talks with the EU this week negotiations will focus on the future trade deal. She said the next seven days will be 'critical' for the plan, which will determine the future of people's children and grandchildren for years to come. Mrs May is in the political battle of her life to get her divorce package backed and stay on as PM amid a bitter Tory plot to oust her. Striking a defiant tone, she warned the Eurosceptcs trying to oust her their bid risks backfiring and allowing Remainers to thwart Brexit altogether. She told Sky News' Sophy Ridge on Sunday: A change of leadership at this time is not going to make the negotiations any easier and it is not going to change the parliamentary arithmetic. 'It will bring uncertainty and increase the risk that we delay the negotiations, and that is a risk that Brexit gets delayed or frustrated.' But Steve Baker, a Tory MP and organiser in chief for the Conservative Brexiteers, hit back saying PM's 'deal stops Brexit altogether'. He told MailOnline: 'If we go on with her proposal we will end up in a future relationship based on the completely unacceptable backstop. 'It is completely unacceptable to go forward with the PM's plan. It is Brexit in name only and it will lead to us losing the next election, and it will be resisted ferociously at every step.' The PM (pictured on Sky this morning) confirmed she is set to fly back for more negotiations with the EU this week as she stressed her under-fire Brexit plan is not fully finished Theresa May today said that she will return to Brussels in the coming days to negotiate more detail on Britain's future trading relationship Dominic Raab (pictured right on the BBC's Andrew Marr show this morning) accused the EU of trying to 'bully' and 'blackmail' Britain in the talks, as he continued his stinging attack on the PM's Brexit plan. But Sir Graham Brady, chairman of the Tory Party's 1922 Committee, (pictured left on the BBC today) said he he has not received the 48 letters needed to trigger a no confidence vote in Mrs May Mr Baker, who has sent in a letter of no confidence in Mrs May, said many Leavers would have voted Remain if they knew the alternative was the PM's deal. He said: 'There are already Eurosceptics like Zac Goldsmith saying they would rather Remain than have this deal. 'I cam't help thinking this deal has been designed to procure such a thought. 'Enough is enough. Everyone needs to think, what should Brexit look like?' Stepping up her fightback against her critics, the PM insisted her deal delivers on Brexit and is in the national interest. Who has sent letters of no confidence in May? Letters of no confidence in Theresa May are confidential - but some of her strongest critics have gone public. If 48 letters are sent a vote is called. This is who has definitely sent a letter: Jacob Rees-Mogg , North East Somerset, Jacob.reesmogg.mp@parliament.uk Steve Baker , Wycombe, steve.baker.mp@parliament.uk Sheryll Murray , South East Cornwall, sheryll.murray.mp@parliament.uk Anne-Marie Morris , Newton Abbott, annemarie.morris.mp@parliament.uk Lee Rowley , North East Derbyshire, lee.rowley.mp@parliament.uk Henry Smith , Crawley, henry.smith.mp@parliament.uk Simon Clarke , Middlesbrough South and East Cleveland, simon.clarke.mp@parliament.uk Peter Bone , Wellingborough, bonep@parliament.uk James Duddridge , Rochford and Southend East, james@jamesduddridge.com Philip Davies , Shipley, daviesp@parliament.uk Andrea Jenkyns , Morley and Outwood, andrea.jenkyns.mp@parliament.uk Andrew Bridgen , North West Leicestershire, andrew.bridgen.mp@parliament.uk Nadine Dorries , Mid Bedfordshire, dorriesn@parliament.uk Laurence Robertson , Tewkesbury, robertsonl@parliament.uk Martin Vickers , Cleethorpes, martin.vickers.mp@parliament.uk Ben Bradley , Mansfield, ben.bradley.mp@parliament.uk Adam Holloway , Gravesham, hollowaya@parliament.uk John Whittingdale , Maldon, john.whittingdale.mp@parliament.uk Maria Caulfield , Lewes, maria.caulfield.mp@parliament.uk Mark Francois , Rayleigh and Wickford, mark.francois.mp@parliament.uk David Jones , Clwyd West, david.jones@parliament.uk Marcus Fysh , Yeovil, marcus.fysh.mp@parliament.uk Chris Green , Bolton West, chris.green.mp@parliament.uk Zac Goldsmith , Richmond Park, zac@zacgoldsmith.com Bill Cash , Stone, cashw@parliament.uk Philip Hollobone , Kettering, philip.hollobone.mp@parliament.uk Andrew Lewer, Northampton South, andrew.lewer.mp@parliament.uk Crispin Blunt , Reigate, crispinbluntmp@parliament.uk Owen Paterson , Shropshire Patersono@parliament.uk Advertisement In a rare, live interview, Mrs May said: 'This is not about me it is about what is right for the people of this country. It is about what is in the national interest. That is what motivates me.' She added: These next seven days will be critical it is about the future of this country it is about peoples children and grandchildren. 'What we are now focusing on is getting more detail on what our future relationship will be. 'I will be going back to Brussels. The negotiating teams will be working this week. I will be going back to Brussels and be in touch with other leaders.' Mrs May insisted that despite the vicious onslaught against her, she has not considered quitting as PM. Her Government was rocked by the dramatic resignations of Brexit Secretary Dominic Raab and Work and Pensions Secretary Esther McVey who both lashed her Brexit plans. And she is facing a fresh Cabinet battle as the so-called gang of five Brexiteer ministers have agreed to stay but are trying to make Mrs May rewrite her Brexit deal. Andrea Leadsom, Michael Gove, Penny Mourdaunt, Liam Fox and Chris Grayling have entered a pact to try to force the PM's hand. They want a change to the controversial Irish backstop plan which they fear will leave the the UK locked in the EU customs union forever. While Mrs May today confirmed that she will be returning to Brussels to finish off the Brexit talks in a crucial week for the deal. Her newly-appointed junior Brexit minster Kwasi Kwarten suggested the Brexit divorce deal could still be changed. He said: 'I think there are final tweaks to be made, but I think substantially the deal is almost complete.' But the PM said her focus in this week's talks will be on the future deal. The under-fire PM faced a fresh barrage of attacks today as Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn called for her to return to the negotiating table. Jeremy Corbyn says second referendum is an option and admits he has not read all of the Brexit divorce deal Jeremy Corbyn today said that backing a second Brexit referendum 'is an option' as he called for Britain to stay locked into an EU customs union permanently. Jeremy Corbyn today said that backing a second Brexit referendum 'is an option' as he called for Britain to stay locked into an EU customs union permanently. The Labour leader insisted he could do a better job of the Brexit talks than Theresa May. And he blasted the PM's divorce package - saying it will make Britain poorer and not guarantee workers rights. But he admitted that he has not read all of the Brexit divorce bill - which runs to over 500 pages. And he also said Labour could back another referendum - dubbed a People's Vote. It comes just a day after his trusted lieutenant John McDonnell yesterday admitted another referendum is now more likely than a General Election. On second referendum, Mr Corbyn told Sophy Ridge on Sunday on Sky News said: 'I think it is an option for the future, but it is not an option for today, because if we have a referendum tomorrow what is going to be on it?' But pressed on how he would vote in another ballot he refused to say. Advertisement While Dominic Raab - whose dramatic resignation as Brexit Secretary plunged the Government into meltdown - launched a fresh attack on her deal. Mr Raab told the BBC's Andrew Marr show today: 'I do think we are being bullied, I do think we are being subjected to what is pretty close to blackmail frankly. 'I do think there is a point at which, we probably should have done it before, were we just say 'I'm sorry this is the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, we cannot accept those dictated terms'.' Mr Corbyn also fired off a volley of attacks - saying he would do a better job of negotiating with Brussels and warning that the PM's Brexit deal will fail in Parliament. But he admitted he has not read all of the Brexit divorce deal document. Appearing on Sky News' Sophy Ridge on Sunday, he said: 'We are saying to the Government, you do not have a majority in Parliament for this. You don't have a majority of support in the country. You have to go back and do something better. 'We have got to get in place a permanent customs arrangement with the EU.' But while Mrs May faces a nail-biting few days to see if she can survive as leader, there were growing signs the Tory Brexiteer putsch against her is flizzling out. Sir Graham Brady, chairman of the 1922 Committee which represents Tory MPs, today revealed that he has not received the 48 letters needed to trigger a no confidence vote. And he also warned that Conservative MPs have previously lied about sending letters in to try to oust their leaders. Speaking on the North West edition of the BBC's Sunday Politics programme, he predicted Mrs May will not be easily toppled. Theresa May received a much-needed boost today as a poll finds that more voters want her to stay on as PM than those who want her ousted He said: 'It would be a simple majority, it would be very likely that the Prime Minister would win such a vote and if she did then there would be a 12-month period where this could not happen again, which would be a huge relief for me because people would have to stop asking me questions about numbers of letters for at least 12 months.' Sir Graham Brady reveals he has not received the 48 letters of no confidence needed to oust May After many days of fevered speculation, Sir Graham Brady, (pictured n the BBC today) chairman of the 1922 committee which represents Tory MPs, said he has not received enough letters to trigger the confidence vote in Theresa May A Tory Party boss today revealed he has not received the 48 letters of no confidence needed to oust Theresa May as leader. The PM is facing the political battle of her life as Brexiteers have tried to mount a coup against her in fury at her divorce deal. But after many days of fevered speculation, Sir Graham Brady, chairman of the 1922 committee which represents Tory MPs, said he has not received enough letters. Mrs May is facing a nail-biting next 48 hours to see if the Tory Brexiteer coup against her gains momentum or falls flat. Sir Graham is the only Conservative who knows how many MPs have sent their letters in, and the number is shrouded in such secrecy he has not even told his wife Victoria what it is. He also revealed that some MPs lie and pretend to send their no confidence letters in when they have not - although he d id not say if this applied to the rebels trying to oust Mrs May. And despite the bitter Tory civil war in Westminster, he predicted that Mrs May would win a no confidence vote if one is held against her. Speaking on the North West edition of the BBC's Sunday Politics programme, he predicted Mrs May will not be easily toppled. He said: 'It would be a simple majority, it would be very likely that the Prime Minister would win such a vote and if she did then there would be a 12-month period where this could not happen again, which would be a huge relief for me because people would have to stop asking me questions about numbers of letters for at least 12 months.' Confirming he had not reached the crucial 48 number, he told Pienaar's Politics on BBC Radio 5 Live: 'If a threshold were to be reached I would have to consult with the leader of the party the Prime Minister.' Pressed on if this would have to happen immediately, he added: 'The whole thing is written with the intention that it should be an expeditious process. Advertisement Confirming he had not reached the crucial 48 number, he told Pienaar's Politics on BBC Radio 5 Live: 'If a threshold were to be reached I would have to consult with the leader of the party the Prime Minister.' Pressed on if this would have to happen immediately, he added: 'The whole thing is written with the intention that it should be an expeditious process. 'I think one of the crazy things which has taken hold over the last few weeks is that people in the media and elsewhere suggesting this is something that would go on for weeks. 'If it were to happen it ought to be a test of opinion very quickly in order to clear the air and get it out the way quickly.' In a much-needed boost for Mrs May, a new poll found that nearly half of Britain's voters want her to stay on as Prime Minister and see through Brexit. But the Conservatives have lost ground to Labour in the polls after a chaotic week of politics saw Theresa May's party turn on itself over Brexit. A ComRes poll for the Sunday Mirror and Sunday Express saw the Tories leak three points, falling from 39 per cent to 36 per cent since September, while Labour remained on 40 per cent. But there was some backing for Mrs May in the ComRes poll, with almost half (47 per cent) of those polled saying she should remain as Prime Minister at least until Britain leaves the European Union on March 29 next year. Mrs May earlier warned her warring Tory party to back her Brexit deal or risk the crunch negotiations to quit the EU going back to 'square one'. But the PM is stepping up her fightback today - insisting her deal delivers on Brexit by finally regaining control of Britain's borders and ending vast payments to the EU. Writing in The Sun today, she warned rebels on her backbenches not to imperil the deal which lies within grasp - and warned 'there is no alternative'. She said: 'If MPs reject the deal, they will simply take us back to square one. It would mean more division, more uncertainty and a failure to deliver on the vote of the British people. 'There is no alternative plan on the table. There is no different approach that we could agree with the EU. 'The course I have set is the right one for our country and the only one that will work. 'The path before us is not easy, but with determination and hard work, I know we can deliver a deal in the national interest. 'One that builds a more secure, prosperous Britain, whose best days lie ahead. That is the brighter future that awaits us. 'I am determined to get us there. I will not let you down.' Number Ten are launching a PR Brexit blitz as they frantically try to muster up more support for the PM's hugely controversial Brexit deal. But Mrs May is facing an almost impossible task after the DUP - whose ten MPs are propping her up in No10 - and Tory Brexiteers have united to vow to vote down the deal. While Zac Goldsmith has become the 24th Tory MP to publicly declare that he has sent a letter of no confidence in. Raab lashes the Brexit deal and said he was hoodwinked by last minute changes Dominic Raab (pictured on the BBC's Andrew Marr show today) tore into Theresa May's Brexit deal today - warning it come 'pretty close to blackmail' of Britain Dominic Raab tore into Theresa May's Brexit deal today - warning it comes 'pretty close to blackmail' of Britain. He said he quit as Brexit Secretary as he was hoodwinked by last minute changes to the deal which were sprung on him in last week's stormy Cabinet meeting. He said the hugely controversial deal thrashed out by Mrs May is simply not worth the 39billion Brexit divorce bill the country has agreed to hand over. And he revealed he has been in talks with the 'gang of five' remaining Brexit Cabinet ministers - Andrea Leadsom, Michael Gove, Liam Fox , Penny Mordaunt and Chris Grayling - about how to improve the deal. His fresh attack on the PM's Brexit plans came as Zac Goldsmith became the 24th Tory MP to publicly declare that he has sent his letter of no confidence in. Mr Raab told the BBC's Andrew Marr show today: 'I do think we are being bullied, I do think we are being subjected to what is pretty close to blackmail frankly. 'I do think there is a point at which, we probably should have done it before, were we just say 'I'm sorry this is the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, we cannot accept those dictated terms'.' Advertisement Altogether, 37 Tory MPs are believed to have now sent their letters in - some privately some publicly - just 11 shy of the 48 needed to trigger a confidence vote in Mrs May. If more MPs put their names to the call this weekend then a vote will be held, in a move which could see Mrs May swiftly toppled from No10 and starting the firing gun on what is likely to be a bitter Tory leadership contest. But while the PM is gearing up her Brexit publicity drive, she was hut by a fresh barrage of attacks from her Tory critics. Dominic Raab, whose dramatic resignation as Brexit Secretary last week plunged her Government into meltdown, blasted the PM for failing to stand up to a bullying EU. Mr Raab - who is one of the favourites to be the next Tory leader - said Britain must be prepared to walk away from the talks. He said: 'If we cannot close this deal on reasonable terms we need to be very honest with the country that we will not be bribed and blackmailed or bullied and we will walk away. 'I think there is one thing that is missing and that is political will and resolve. I am not sure that message has ever landed.' Mr Goldsmith also lashed the plan, saying that while he backed Leave in the referendum he would have voted Remain if the only deal on offer was Mrs May's. He said: 'The notion that the choice is between this deal, no deal or no Brexit is a false one. That is what the EU wants us to believe. 'There is time to do a deal that will suit both sides better than no deal and to bring forward the option that Brussels has long been expecting. That would be a SuperCanada style free trade agreement. But there is no time to lose. 'The Prime Minister has been clear that she will not change course, and so with huge reluctance, I have submitted a letter to the 1922 Committee urging a vote that will, I hope, give us the chance of a fresh start.' Sir Graham Brady, chairman of the 1922 Committee - which represents Tory MPs - gets the letters of no confidence sent in, and only he knows how many have been received. Once the 48 number is hit, he must hold a vote in a room in Parliament swiftly where Mrs May's fate will be sealed. Perennial Eurosceptic Bill Cash (left) is also rumoured to have submitted a letter after Zac Goldsmith (right) said he was moving to trigger a confidence vote, becoming the 24th Conservative MP to go public with a bid to oust the PM The army has been drawing up secret plans to put troops on the streets to help with potential chaos in the wake of a no-deal Brexit. Plans have been drawn up by the military for Operation Temperer, who usually help police on the streets in the threat of terrorism, in the event of a no-Brexit scenario. Contingency plans involve how the military could help keep public order amid such as the delivery and stockpiling of medicines to hospitals across the country, according to The Times. Plans have been drawn up by the military for Operation Temperer, who usually help police on the streets in the threat of terrorism, in the event of a no-Brexit scenario Chief of Defence Staff General Sir Nick Carter said the army would 'stand ready to help' in the event of a 'No Deal'. The army has around 1,200 troops on 24-hour standby which can deal with a range of operations and contingencies. And a further 10,000 military personnel are available to assist with an emergency at short notice. Chief of Defence Staff General Sir Nick Carter commented on the Andrew Marr Show last wee said troops would 'stand ready' in a no-deal Brexit Chief of Defence Staff General Sir Nick Carter commented on the Andrew Marr Show last week: We make sensible contingency plans for all sort of eventualities whether its a terrorist attack, a tanker driver dispute or industrial action. At this stage I think people are confident there will be a deal, If theres not one, we stand ready to help in any way we can. When asked about the stockpiling of medicines, Sir Nick Carter said: Were involved in thinking hard about what it might involve. Weve not been asked to do anything specifically at this stage. The team of around 20 officers, based in the army's headquarters in Andover, Hampshire, are also drawing up plans to create a lorry park in in Folkestone near an army training centre to ease traffic in Kent, according to an army source. Motorists have captured the extraordinary moment a freak tornado caused havoc in New Zealand, whipping up dirt and debris along the way. Severe thunder and hailstorms sparked the rare weather event along South Island's east coast at around 4pm on Sunday, which was felt most in the Canterbury region. There are currently no reports of damage. Alesha Plew and her husband were driving along State Highway 1 near Ashburton, when they become within metres of flying debris from the tornado. A rare tornado (pictured) caused havoc on New Zealand's South Island on Sunday Her incredible footage of the chaos has since attracted more than 3300 shares on Facebook. 'North of Ashburton just now. Crazy weather,' Ms Plew posted. She told The New Zealand Herald: 'While it looked dangerous, it didn't feel that way it didn't feel like it was sucking us in, anyway. It was quite amazing just to be looking up at it from so close it was incredible.' Alesha Plew and her husband were driving when they came within metres of flying debris The tornado (pictured) was sparked by severe thunderstorms earlier in the afternoon Alesha Plew shared her footage of the chaos on Facebook, which has since gone viral James Busby was at his home in Mitcham, north of Ashburton, when he saw the tornado pick up debris, wood and anything else in its path on a neighbouring farm. 'It was a massive funnel ... a really big one, I've never seen anything like that in New Zealand before, about 40 or 50 metres wide,' he told Stuff. 'It was really sudden, the sky went all dark and the twister came through then suddenly it was all over and it died away as it moved off towards the sea.' Residents captured footage of the tornado (pictured), which are rare in New Zealand Earlier on Sunday, MetService New Zealand issued severe thunderstorm warnings for the Canterbury and Ontago regions. 'The current main risk is near Ashburton. Large hail detected between 20-30mm,' MetService New Zealand posted on Facebook. NIWA Weather later tweeted: 'Observed lightning strikes suggest reported tornado in the Ashburton area was part of a thunderstorm ahead of the main cold front and thunderstorm activity. It's not unusual for discrete thunderstorms ahead of a main line to be capable of severe weather and tornadoes.' MetService New Zealand had no current severe weather warnings on Sunday night. The Kiwis can expect more unseasonal weather in the coming days. There are no reports of damage from the tornado, despite the havoc it caused 'Most people can expect to see some rain over the next few days, however, snow is surprisingly the main focus of this event,' MetService meteorologist Tui McInnes said in a statement. 'Considering we are at the end of spring and on the cusp of the summer months, snow is not something typically thought of at this point. While not unheard of, snow is uncommon this late into the year.' Motorists had to deal with flying debris from the freak tornado The leaders of South Korea and China agreed to work closely together for the success of a possible second summit between the United States and North Korea during their talks in Papua New Guinea on Saturday, Seoul's presidential office said. The crushed and imploded wreckage of an Argentine submarine that disappeared has been pictured lying on the seabed almost exactly a year after it went missing. The ARA San Juan submarine was located in the Atlantic Ocean on Friday at a depth of 2,600 feet, crushing the last hopes for relatives of the 44 crew. Pictures taken by an underwater robot show a propeller, the sub's bow with torpedo-launching tubes and an upper section of the vessel lying on the ocean floor. The vessel's hull had been 'crushed inwards' and fragmented pieces of the wreckage that were up to 30 meters long were spotted in a 'moon-like zone with craters and canyons' said Navy Captain Enrique Balbi. The crushed and fragmented piece of the ARA San Juan submarine which was located in the Atlantic Ocean on Friday The vessel's hull had been 'crushed inwards' and fragmented pieces of the wreckage that were up to 30 meters long were spotted lying on the seabed Pictures taken by an underwater robot show the submarine's propeller lying on the ocean floor Experts say the submarine would have been crushed by water pressure once it dropped below about 600 meters. They believe that water seeped inside through a defective snorkel valve, triggering the tragedy. The Seabed Constructor, a vessel owned by US search firm Ocean Infinity, which set out in September on the latest attempt to find the San Juan, made the discovery. There has been 'positive identification of the ARA San Juan,' at a depth of 2,600 feet, a statement on Twitter from the navy said. Admiral Jose Villan, the navy's new top commander, said that the rough terrain on the ocean floor made it difficult for search vessels, which had already trawled the site, to find the sub. The Argentine military submarine ARA San Juan. The remains of the vessel were found in the Atlantic Ocean on Friday The navy lost contact with the submarine on November 15 last year, about 280 miles from the Argentine coast. It was on its way back to base from Ushuaia at the southern tip of Argentina. The families of the 44 crew members who perished in the accident have been officially informed. Luis Niz, the father of one of the missing sailors said: 'I still had hopes that they could be alive.' Yolanda Mendiola, the mother of crewman Leandro Cisneros, 28, said: 'We are with the other relatives. They are going to show us the photos. They say that our youngsters are inside. 'We are all destroyed here.' Signs, a bouquet of flowers and banners in support of the 44 crew members of the missing at sea ARA San Juan submarine A small group of family members protested outside the naval base Saturday, holding a banner emblazoned with the number '44' - for the lost crew members. Lawyer Sonia Krescher said: 'We are going to ask them to refloat it. We need to see the bodies and know what happened.' Cecila Kaufmann, who lost her husband Luis Leiva, added: 'now that they've found it, they need to give us back our loved ones.' Navy spokesman, Rodolfo Ramallo, told Todo Noticias TV that the Ocean Infinity ship 'decided to do a new search and, thanks to God, it was able to find the zone. 'Now another chapter opens. From the analysis of the state in which the submarine has been found, we will see how to proceed.' 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, 2017. Relatives of the 44 crew members of the missing at sea ARA San Juan submarine embrace outside the Argentine Naval Base Francisca Soria (pictured left), mother of Argentinian missing crew member David Melian, is embraced by Victoria Morales (pictured right), mother of Argentine missing Corporal Esteban Garcia 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 of November 15. Nearly 10 days later, the navy confirmed there had been an explosion on board, which experts said was likely linked to the battery problem. An air and sea search involved units from 13 countries but the majority withdrew before the end of 2017, as the wintry South Atlantic refused to give up its secrets. Relatives of the 44 crew members of the missing at sea ARA San Juan submarine react outside the Argentine Naval Base where the submarine sailed from, in Mar del Plata, Argentina The Seabed Constructor is equipped with cameras that can be submerged to a depth of 6,000 meters. It was to receive a reward of $7.5 million if it found the missing sub. Before it departed for its mission, Luis Tagliapietra, whose son Alejandro was a lieutenant on the San Juan, described it as 'the last opportunity to find them.' Ocean Infinity was also assigned the task of searching for the Malaysia Airlines flight MH370 which vanished without trace in March 2014 en route from Kuala Lumpur to Beijing. Fake Kate Middleton dolls (pictured) have been seized on their way into the UK A batch of fake Kate Middleton dolls have been seized on their way into the UK because they contain chemicals which can cause cancer. The children's toy, dubbed the 'Princess Catherine Doll', allegedly has dangerous levels of the compound DEHP, reports the Daily Star. Fears have been sparked that parents may have already bought the doll, which is supposed to resemble the Duchess of Cambridge as children's Christmas presents. The dolls have flowing dark hair and are wearing a gold metallic sequined gown. This comes as officials alerted parents about a range of other potentially threatening toys heading towards the UK in time for the festive season, including a frog watch, a laser toy and a police set containing small parts. The toxic compound which is found in the product - DEHP - and is used to soften plastic has been prohibited across Europe due to cancer risks. It also poses as a threat to unborn babies as the properties of the compound can also lead to the child being born with deformities. Fears have been sparked that parents may have already bought the doll, which is supposed to resemble the Duchess of Cambridge as children's Christmas presents Officials have voiced concern that children who are unknowingly gifted the toy by parents or relatives may chew the dolls or suck their hands after playing with it. Other risks include the possibility that it could make the children infertile later in life and is therefore banned in all child-related products. Regulators have issued a warning about the products containing DEHP, also known as a phthalate, after the dolls were seized in the Czech Republic. The watchdog announced that the children's toys were confiscated as they did not abide by the rules concerning toxic chemicals used in products across the EU. Although many of the Princess Catherine dolls were seized, safety officers are concerned that they didn't manage to intercept them all and some will still be available to buy. Chief of product safety at at the Chartered Trading Standards Institute, Robert Chantry-Price, told the Star: 'It is frightening that large quantities of phthalates are still being used in children's toys, especially as it can cause serious long term consequences to a child's health. He said that phthalates can cause problems as they are carinogenic, mutagenic and can cause reproductive issues. However they are still found in many toys and child care products despite legislation banning these types of toys. He added: 'If these toys fall into the hands of young children or babies, it's more likely they will chew on the plastic and consume the chemicals. 'Trading standards services are continuously working to tackle this issue but it is vital that consumers remain vigilant too. Mr Chantry-Price said that parents need to be vigilant when purchasing toys and not just look for deals, buying from reputable shops and checking for the CE mark can avoid buying fake products. A BBC TV presenter has fallen out with her mother after fronting a campaign to end state funding of religious schools. Alice Roberts, who sends her children to a Church of England primary despite her objection to them, was criticised by her retired teacher mother for leading the Humanists UK campaign. She said she was 'embarrassed' and 'upset' by her daughter's move. Alice Roberts presenting BBC's Coast, her mother Wendy said Alice has 'embarrassed' her At its launch, Roberts, 45, a presenter of the Coast series, said: 'You can somehow get access to what is perceived to be a better school by either being religious or appearing to be religious. That is unfair.' In a letter to The Sunday Times, her mother Wendy - a retired teacher who spent many years working in faith schools - disagreed with her daughter's recent campaign, saying that she thinks Alice is 'picking the wrong fight'. Wendy thinks that religious schools are not pushing doctrine, as her daughter says, but instilling important Christian values. Roberts sends her children to Church of England school despite campaigning against them What is Humanists UK? Founded in 1896, the charitable organisations aim to create 'a tolerant world where rational thinking and kindness prevail.' Under the banner of human, individual progress, they aim to bring 'non-religious people together we help them develop their own views and an understanding of the world around them.' The group provide ceremonies, pastoral support, education services, and campaigning work. Humanist UK has over 70,000 members and supporters and the president is comedienne, Shappi Khorsandi. Humanists UK also has sections which run as staffed national humanist organisations in both Wales and Northern Ireland. Advertisement Her daughter, who has also presented Time Team on Channel 4, is the incoming president of Humanists UK - a charitable organisation which promotes Humanism and aims to represent 'people who seek to live good lives without religious or superstitious beliefs'. Speaking to the Times from her home in Bristol on whether she had discussed this with Alice, Wendy said she hadn't even heard of Humanism until she read a previous Times article on it last week. She said: 'I'm not going to discuss this with her. Not at all. Alright. I think we are on a battle. Let's say there is inflexibility there. So no, I can't do that. I didn't realise she was so agnostic and I don't really know why.' Wendy was keen to emphasise to the paper that she and her husband were not pushing a religious doctrine either. Alice's father comes from science like she does, he's a former church warden and aeronautical engineer. The 45-year-old was awarded British Humanist of the Year 2015 for work promoting the teaching of evolution in schools. 'We're not sure what we believe really desperately, but we believe the Christian way of bringing up children is a good benchmark,' her mother said this week. Her chagrin with her daughter extends to the fact that she believes Alice is actually the one pushing a doctrine. Wendy wrote in her letter: 'Some humanists complaining about, and campaigning against, the 'indoctrination' of children in our church schools seem to be unaware that they are doing almost exactly that about which they are objecting.' Alice Roberts presenting a segment of Coast, she said it's unfair that people get access to religious schools by making themselves appear more religious to gain entry She added that her daughter has every right to reject whatever she wants but said this is 'proselytising for something else'. Clarifying why she sent her children to a religious school, Alice said: 'We applied to the only two non-religious state schools in our area but didnt get in. 'The only other state schools were religious so, like hundreds of thousands of parents, we had no choice other than of a faith school. 'This is the whole point of why Humanists UKs schools campaign is so important and why I feel so passionately about it to make sure the situation my husband and I faced is not faced by other parents in the future. Yet still, Wendy is worried that Alice's high profile as a presenter will bring large influence to the Humanists campaign. 'Celebrity swings an awful lot of opinion and for no reason other than that they are well-known. That is a form of indoctrination, isn't it? Where do you draw the line?' said Wendy. Saying that there a lot of problems with state schools that she hasn't experienced in church schools, Wendy added: 'The ones I've been in have been run using Christian values rather than doctrine. To reject it all out of hand seems to me to be throwing out the baby with the bathwater.' A 13-year-old girl has told a court an Irish backpacker who stabbed her abusive fiance to death with a kitchen knife is 'pure evil'. Cathrina 'Tina' Cahill, 27, stabbed fiance and father-of-four David Walsh, 29, to death inside their Sydney home just five weeks after he proposed on New Year's Eve 2016. The girl, who cannot be named for legal reasons, said in a moving victim impact statement read to court that the 'hate' she has for Tina Cahill 'turns (her) stomach'. 'Hearing your name, seeing your face, it's just horrible,' the girl wrote, according to news.com.au. 'If it happened to you How would you feel? I don't think you'd feel, because you don't have a heart you don't care, but I do, we do. I hope you rot in hell Tina Cahill.' Cathrina 'Tina' Cahill (pictured) has told a judge she did not leave her 'controlling and fairly unpleasant' fiance as she loved him dearly Cahill told her sentence hearing on Tuesday she believed Mr Walsh (pictured together left and right) every time he said he would change During the same sentencing hearing in the New South Wales Supreme Court on Tuesday, a tearful Cahill said she only stayed with the 'controlling and fairly unpleasant' man because she loved him dearly. 'I was in fear of getting in more trouble from David if I told the truth,' she said after the court heard she had applied for an AVO to protect her from Mr Walsh in 2015. 'He would call me a rat and a dog.' Cahill's father Daniel,who flew into Sydney from Ireland with wife Rita, told the court his daughter was a 'brilliant' person who was 'never' violent or aggressive. During an earlier hearing, the court heard from Mr Walsh's ex-girlfriend and the mother of three of his four children. In an impassioned victim impact statement, Caroline O'Brien wrote how Cahill's diagnosis of post-traumatic stress disorder was offensive to Mr Walsh's bereaved family. 'To say you have PTSD is a joke, you are a joke,' she wrote in the statement read to the New South Wales Supreme Court. 'Murder is murder to us and that will always be your title.' Cahill stabbed fiance David Walsh (the couple are pictured together) once in the neck in the early hours of February 18, 2017 The parents of Cathrina Cahill, Rita Cahill (left) and Daniel Cahill (right), arrive for her sentence hearing at the New South Wales Supreme Court on Tuesday Cahill has pleaded guilty to the manslaughter of her 29-year-old fiance. She stabbed Mr Walsh once in the neck in the early hours of February 18, 2017, at the Padstow, Sydney south-west, home they shared with two other Irish nationals during an argument following a night of drinking. The court heard that Cahill had returned to her Padstow address with two friends and a man they had met at the pub when Walsh confronted the man and the two got into a violent brawl. Cahill then went to the kitchen drawer where she grabbed a large knife and stabbed Walsh, who began to 'bleed profusely with blood coming out of (his) mouth.' He then was given a tea towel to stop the bleeding by one of the witnesses before asking them to call an ambulance and walking outside where he collapsed. He was pronounced dead at the scene by emergency services. Cahill was originally charged with murder, but the Crown accepted her plea to the less serious charge on the basis of substantial impairment due to an abnormality of the mind at the time. She will be sentenced on December 13. Kim Jong Un has been pictured at a glass factory which was busted in 2016 for producing military equipment. The dictator looked impressed as he handled glassware and other optical apparatuses at the Taegwan Glass Factory in North Pyongan Province. This was Kim's first visit to the factory - which was found to have produced military lenses and was subject to South Korea's sanctions in 2016 - since 2014. Kim giggles as he inspects a lightbulb at the Taegwan Glass Factory in North Pyongan Province This was Kim Jong-un's first visit to factory - which was found to have produced military equipment and was subject to South Korea's sanctions in 2016 - since 2014 Kim watches over factory officers workers - who each have a pair of modern, Western headphones The country's state-run news agency said its leader was impressed by the products he saw at the factory and wanted to modernise North Korea's production output. Kim was accompanied by Choe Ryong-hae, vice chairman of the ruling Workers' Party, and two vice department directors of the party, Jo Yong-won and Kim Yong-su, among others. It comes after the dictator visited the test ground at an undisclosed location described as the 'Academy of Defence Science'. He later hailed the test as a 'decisive turn in bolstering the fighting capacity' of the North's military. Kim Jong Un oversaw the testing of a 'newly developed ultramodern tactical weapon', according to the North Korea's state media. He is shown with top officials inspecting the test ground a the country's Academy of Defence Science North Korea did not specify the type of device involved, but South Korean media said it was likely to be new long-range artillery developed under Kim's father and predecessor Kim Jong Il. It marked the first official report of a weapons test by North Korea since it began a delicate diplomatic process with Washington over its nuclear and missile programme. Pyongyang's suspension of testing for nuclear weapons and ballistic missiles has been key to this year's rapid diplomatic developments and North Korean-US negotiations, and has been repeatedly praised by President Donald Trump. An 18-year-old girl has launched a website in the hopes of auctioning off her virginity to the highest bidder. Acting under the pseudonym Siena Payton, the teenager, from Penrith in Sydney's west, said she got the inspiration for the idea after reading about 'virginity auctions' in the media. She has toyed with the idea for a while but after completing her HSC recently and celebrating her 18th birthday a couple of months ago, Ms Payton decided it was time. 'I've read about it online and how all these different girls have been selling their virginity for millions of dollars and I always thought it was an interesting concept.' 'My friends also mentioned it, they're very supportive about the idea.' While the idea may seem bizarre to some, Ms Payton says she is treating the experience as a financial 'opportunity'. 'You know, it's a great opportunity for me, I want to continue my studies,' she told Daily Mail Australia. In the past week Ms Payton has been offered a place to study software engineering at the University of Sydney which she intends to except. 'Being able to have that extra money to help me and to push me, not only for my education but also I want to travel as well,' Ms Payton said. 'Being able to split the money for travelling and education because being so young I can travel now with the money and later on I have to focus on other things like my career, so I'll have that opportunity.' Ms Payton launched her 'virginity auction' website at the beginning of November which she has shared to social media and Reddit to get the word out Ms Payton launched her 'virginity auction' website at the beginning of November which she has shared to social media and Reddit to get the word out. In a post on Reddit, Ms Payton spoke about women tallying close to $3million for the deed but claimed she was aiming for $100,000. Her Reddit experience was met with criticism and a lot of men were flooding her with 's**t' and negative comments. Despite the backlash, Ms Payton has received a few offers. 'I got one bid for $1000, I thought I got another bid (for $10,000) but he never replied to me so I guess he was just sh**ing me,' she said. 'I've gotten two more bids, one for $30,000 and one for $15,000, who has also told me he's very interested and asks not to used protection during the deed.' Ms Payton remained adamant she would use a condom and joked about how men should take birth control instead. 'The ideal is $100,000. If I get anywhere close to that then that's perfect for me. I'm not strict on the amount,' Ms Payton said. The teenager said she doesn't think she would turn men away for their appearance or age as she is ultimately looking for the highest bidder. 'I'm going to get to know the person, I'm going to video call with them, text with them,' she said. 'For me it's more about personality, appearance doesn't really matter to me. As long as I get to know the person and the type of person they are, that's fine.' The young woman understands that while the first time might be important for some, it's never particularly fazed her. 'To me (virginity) it's not a big deal, I know to other people (it is), they wait until marriage or they wait until they find someone they think is perfect for them,' she said. Ms Payton, who is of South American descent on her father's side, does not intend to tell her parents about the deed. Her Reddit experience was met with criticism and a lot of men were flooding her with 's**t' and negative comments (pictured) When she decided on whether to go through with the virginity auction, Ms Payton said she reached out to other women who have been through the process for guidance. 'I asked them many questions because I was very unsure how to begin with this whole thing,' she said. The women were kind, willing to help and gave her a lot of good advice. 'They reassured me that everything would be fine as long as you trust yourself and you're smart about it,' Ms Payton said. According to Ms Payton, other virginity auctioneers would receive spam emails from men and critics who claimed they should 'save themselves'. But Ms Payton disagrees with the critics and their sentiments. 'A lot of people like to put a specific label on women. Women can read books, women can do different things and that includes enjoying sex too,' she said. Ms Payton's favourite food is Italian, she enjoys movies and fashion and her favourite flower is the rose. A son has been charged with murdering his elderly mother who was found stabbed to death at their home. Edward Watkins, 55, is accused of repeatedly stabbing his mother, named locally as Maureen Watkins, 75, at the house they shared on Ethnard Road, Peckham in south London. Police and paramedics were called to the address just after 4pm on Friday afternoon. The grandmother was pronounced dead half an hour later and her son, who suffered a stab wound, was arrested on suspicion of murder. Police could be seen at the scene following the death of a 75-year-old woman at her home in Peckham This morning, he was charged with her murder, Scotland Yard said: 'A man has been charged with murder following the death of an elderly woman in Southwark. 'Edward Watkins, 55, of Ethnard Road, was charged with murder on Sunday, 18 November. 'He will appear in custody at Camberwell Magistrates' Court on Monday, 19 November. 'Formal identification of the victim is yet to take place. Next of kin have been informed.' A neighbour said Mrs Watkins, a retired accountant, had lived in the ground floor two-storey flat of the four-storey block on a housing estate for 30 years with her son. The woman said: 'She was a lovely, kind woman and a grandmother.' One friend, who asked not to be named, said: 'I have lived here since 1971 so I knew Maureen. She was a lovely lady, a very nice lady indeed. Neighbours left flowers near the house of the woman, who has been named locally as retired accountant Maureen Watkins 'She has other family who lived down in Kent and Edward lived with her. 'We both lived here for a long time so we knew each other, although we wouldn't sort of go into each other's houses or anything. 'I didn't see what happened. But it is very sad.' Another neighbour, who lived nearby for about 25 years and stopped to lay a bouquet of flowers at the property, said: 'Maureen was lovely. 'I've been here since I was about four years old and she was here the whole time. I've always known her to say hello and that. Her son was quiet. Very quiet. 'I'm just shocked really.' A 75-year-old woman was found stabbed to death in a home on Ethnard Road in Peckham (pictured) A police cordon remains in place at the property, which is on the corner of a row of houses and flats, next to a children's playpark. Forensic officers were seen entering the property while three bouquets of flowers were tied to a tree outside. Scotland Yard said the man and women were 'known to each other' and murder squad detectives are now investigating. Mrs Watkins is the 122nd London murder victim of the year. Advertisement A former military lookout point perched on top of the Rock of Gibraltar has been transformed into a breathtaking 'Skywalk' with a glass bottom. Built on the foundations of an anti-aircraft base used during the Second World War, the incredible viewing point is not for the feint heart and stands taller than the London's shard and three times higher than the Statue of liberty. Located in the Upper Rock Nature Reserve, it lies nestled on top of rugged and rocky landscape and juts out above the sea showing an a stunning view of the land below. A former military lookout point perched on top of the Rock of Gibraltar has been transformed into a breathtaking 'Skywalk' with a glass bottom It perches on the Upper Rock Nature Reserve, it lies nestled on top of rugged and rocky landscape and juts out above the sea showing an an incredible view the land below Commissioned by HM Government of Gibraltar the lookout shows incredible views on a clear and sunny day When standing on the platform, two continents and three countries - including Spain and Morrocco - can be viewed across the sparkling waters of the Strait of Gibraltar, where the Atlantic meets the Mediterranean. And the it offers one of the best spots in the world to catch a spectacular sunset as the sun goes down. The lookout acted as British fortress during the war, and served as vital asset by virtually controlling all naval traffic in and out of the Mediterranean Sea from the Atlantic Ocean. And the incredible viewing point even pays homage to its military roots with an old octagonal gun platform being made into a seating area for visitors. It offers panoramic views of three countries and two continents can be viewed across the Strait of Gibraltar, where the Atlantic ocean meets the Mediterranean sea The incredible viewing point even pays homage to its military roots with an old octagonal gun platform being made into a seating area for visitors The lookout acted as British fortress during the war, and served as vital asset by virtually controlling all naval traffic in and out of the Mediterranean Sea from the Atlantic Ocean Commissioned by HM Government of Gibraltar, the Skywalk was opened in March by actor Mark Hamill who played Luke Skywalker in the Starwars film series. The 66-year-old American actor unveiled the Star Wars-inspired platform with the help of stormtroopers in a ribbon-cutting ceremony. Weighing more than 330 tons and made up of 8,072 square feet of glass panels, the stunning structure is secured to the rugged rock - and can hold up to five Asian elephants or 11 Range Rovers. Gibraltar's famous macaques, the only population of monkeys in Europe, can be seen clambering across the viewing point. Actor Mark Hamill who played Luke Skywalker in the Starwars film series unveiled the platform with the help of stormtroopers in a ribbon-cutting ceremony Breathtaking 360 degree views can be seen across the platform which weighs more than 330 tons and is made up of 8,072 square feet of glass panels Theresa May's task of getting her Brexit deal past the House of Commons is looking near-impossible as opposition mounts. The 'meaningful vote' promised to MPs will happen on December 11 and is the single biggest hurdle to the Brexit deal happening - as well as being the key to Mrs May' fate as PM. But despite opinion polls suggesting the public might be coming round to her deal, there is little sign of a shift among politicians. Remainers have been stepping up calls for a second referendum in the wake of Sam Gyimah's resignation as universities minister over the weekend - while Brexiteers including Boris Johnson have accused Mrs May of betrayal. Mrs May 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. The situation looks grim for Mrs May and her whips: now the deal has been published, over 100 of her own MPs and the 10 DUP MPs have publicly stated they will join the Opposition parties in voting No. This means the PM could have as few as 225 votes in her corner - leaving 410 votes on the other side, a landslide majority 185. This is how the House of Commons might break down: Mrs May needs at least 318 votes in the Commons if all 650 MPs turns up - but can probably only be confident of around 230 votes. Mrs May 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 Government (plus various hangers-on) 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. There are also a dozen Tory party 'vice-chairs and 17 MPs appointed by the PM to be 'trade envoys'. How many of them are there? 178. 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. European Research Group Brexiteers demanding a No Confidence Vote Who are they: The most hard line of the Brexiteers, they launched a coup against Mrs May after seeing the divorce. Led by Jacob Rees-Mogg and Steve Baker. How many of them are there: 26 What do they want: The removal of Mrs May and a 'proper Brexit'. Probably no deal now, with hopes for a Canada-style deal later. How will they vote: Against the Prime Minister. Other Brexiteers in the ERG Who are they: There is a large block of Brexiteer Tory MPs who hate the deal but have so far stopped short of moving to remove Mrs May - believing that can destroy the deal instead. They include ex Tory leader Iain Duncan Smith and ex minister Owen Paterson. Ex ministers like Boris Johnson and David Davis are also in this group - they probably want to replace Mrs May but have not publicly moved against her. How many of them are there? Around 50. 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. How will they vote: Against the Prime Minister. Remain including the People's Vote supporters Who are they: Tory MPs who believe the deal is just not good enough for Britain. They include the group of unrepentant Remainers who want a new referendum like Anna Soubry and ex-ministers who quit over the deal including Jo Johnson and Phillip Lee. How many of them are there: Maybe around 10. What do they want? To stop Brexit. Some want a new referendum, some think Parliament should step up and say no. A new referendum 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. How will they vote? Against the Prime Minister. 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 lots of unaligned Tory MPs who are desperate to talk about anything else. How many of them are there? Based on public declarations, about 48 MPs have either said nothing or backed the deal. 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. 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 on the grounds they believe the deal breaches the red line of a border in the Irish Sea. 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? Up to 250 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 says Mrs May's deal fails its six tests for being acceptable. How will they vote? Against the Prime Minister's current deal. 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? Maybe 10 to 20 MPs but this group is diminishing fast - at least for the first vote on the deal. 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. The American Bulldog who mauled a little boy was highly aggressive and previously reported to the local council, according to concerned neighbours. The four-year-old boy is in a stable condition in The Children's Hospital at Westmead with neck and shoulder lacerations after he was attacked by a neighbour's dog in Quakers Hill in western Sydney on Sunday. The dog, named Keely was seized by council rangers and is expected to be put down. The dog's owner (pictured) tearfully surrendered her American Bulldog to council rangers on Sunday after it attacked a neighbour's four-year-old boy Neighbours said it's not the first time the dog has been reported to Blacktown Council. 'I've got four kids and this is the only way out of the street and I'm petrified every time I take them to the park,' Jessica Farrell told 7 News. 'They have to be very quiet whenever we walk past the house. It was an accident waiting to happen. I really hope that little boy's okay.' The boy's mother and the dog's owner also suffered minor injuries when they intervened by dragging the dog off the boy to stop the attack. Paramedic Jennine Kiely said the boy may not be alive if it wasn't the pair's efforts. The boy's mother was taken to Westmead Hospital to be treated for bite marks. Both her and her little boy were given tetanus shots. I've got four kids and this is the only way out of the street and I'm petrified every time I take them to the park,' neighbour Jessica Farrell (pictured) said Quakers Hill Police Inspector Al John told reporters at the scene the boy was playing outside his house with his twin brother when the dog escaped from the neighbour's garage. 'The boys were out on the footpath talking to the neighbour when the whole thing occurred,' he said. 'It's been taken to the pound. The owner said it can be put down so the dog is no longer with us.' The four-year-old boy is now recovering in The Children's Hospital at Westmead Police and Animal Holding Facility rangers struggled to subdue the aggressive dog. It's understood the dog's owner had Keely for five years. She was seen saying a tearful goodbye to her dog after it was put into the council rangers' van. 'I love you Keely,' she cried through the van window. American Bulldogs are known to be social, and active dogs but need a high level of attention due to their highly emotional personality. 'They are very affectionate and loving, and friendly companion. You have to socialize them from a young age, but still, they are amazing with children and other pets,' a description of the breed on petcare.com.au states. These firms are running many investment, production and business projects in Vietnam in the fields of biotechnology, product quality inspection, health care, rare disease treatment and tobacco industry. The Vietnamese government leader congratulated the US enterprises on their successes in business in Vietnam, saying that they have earned credibility among people and businesses in Vietnam. The US-ASEAN Business Council (USABC) has worked closely with Vietnam, and supported Vietnam in promoting cooperation between Vietnamese and US enterprises, thus contributing to balancing the trade ties between the two countries, PM Phuc said. He noted that US firms have invested over 12 billion USD in Vietnam so far, and the two-way trade hit over 55 billion USD. The bilateral trade scale surged by 35 times in the last 18 years, with the USs export to Vietnam was up 37 percent - the highest level in recent year. According to the PM, there is plenty of room for the two nations to strengthen cooperation in the coming time, especially in trade, investment and business. He affirmed that the Vietnamese Government is willing to listen to proposals and dialogues from US investors during their operation in Vietnam. The US business representatives said they want to expand their investment in Vietnam in health care, hi-tech application in inspecting product quality, and in supporting Vietnamese farmers in improving economic value of the livestock industry. Touching upon a number of policies and Governments documents in health care, agriculture, livestock and tobacco industry, the business delegates said they wish to hold more dialogues with Vietnams authorities, especially State management agencies. They added that their firms are ready to arrange for US experts and scientists to join the Vietnamese Government in building State management policies for a number of specific sectors. PM Phuc affirmed that the Vietnamese Government always creates favourable conditions for foreign investors, including those from the US to operate in Vietnam, noting that Vietnam is constantly improving its policies and institutional system to be in line with international practices and comply with trade agreements that Vietnam has joined, towards opening the market for more foreign investors to enter Vietnam. Vietnam is open to feedback and recommendations from foreign investors so as to remove obstacles to production and business activities, the PM said and called on US firms to continue promoting their investment, production and business in the Vietnamese market.-VNA The Duke and Duchess of Sussex are pictured at a service to mark the centenary of the Armistice at Westminster Abbey on November 11 The Royal Family faces a tax 'nightmare' as US officials examine whether Meghan and Harry owe them a slice of their multi-million pound fortune, according to reports. The Duchess of Sussex is still an American citizen so has to pay tax in the US, and this could extend to anyone else she draws money from, including her husband. This could deplete both her $5million US fortune and Prince Harry's main source of private wealth, a 300,000-a-year trust fund on which he pays UK income tax. The probe could even extend to the Queen and Prince Charles as they provide funding for the couple, aides told the Sunday Express, which reported that the royals are set to employ a team of US financial consultants to deal with the issue. We're looking at a level of financial exposure the Royal Family has never had to face before,' one of the aides said. The US Internal Revenue Service is known for being extremely strict in tracking down people they believe owe them money. Meghan is reportedly living in the UK on a family visa, but she will have a complicated tax status as long as she remains a US citizen. Tax laws mean that even if Los Angeles-born Meghan lives full-time in the UK, she will still have to file a US return every year. US officials are set to be scrutinising Meghan's finances as part of a probe that could also include the Queen. They are pictured together at the opening of the Mersey Gateway Bridge in Widnes on June 14 Meghan's last return, which would have needed to be submitted to US authorities by April 17, would have detailed any money she and Harry have made since they began living together. 'Of course this raises the tantalising prospect of Uncle Sam getting a look behind the velvet curtain - and seeing the private finances of the Royal Family,' US tax specialist Alistair Bambridge, of Bambridge Accountants, told DailyMail.com in February. Meghan has to give the US taxman full details of her finances if she and her husband-to-be have joint assets, bank accounts or offshore trusts in excess of 143,100 ($200,000). Perks she receives by joining the Royal Family such as the use of Nottingham Cottage, the grace and favour property in the grounds of Kensington Palace where she will live with Harry, need to be valued and declared, unless she is paying rent herself. The Duchess of Sussex on October 31 during a visit to Rotorua in New Zealand And future TV income, such as repeat fees, will all be taxed by the US as long as she is a citizen. Bambridge, who has offices in New York, London and Vancouver, explained: 'Duchess or no duchess, when it comes to the IRS, Meghan is like every other American citizen. 'Each year she must file her tax return and pay any tax she owes to Washington. 'The US income tax system is citizenship-based, so as an American it doesn't matter where in the world you live and work - your tax affairs are always Uncle Sam's business. 'Clearly Meghan's case is a unique one, as she may be taxed according to the rental value of a home she lives in for free - Kensington Palace. 'Working out the market rental value of a royal palace is not a task for the fainthearted.' She may even have to declare personal items such as her engagement ring and wedding dress. The diamond engagement ring Prince Harry gave Meghan has been valued at over 71,600 ($100,000) by royal watchers. Because it is classified as a gift 'from a foreign person', Meghan would have to declare it to the IRS on a Form 3520 or suffer a 7,160 ($10,000) penalty. Kensington Palace declined MailOnline's request for comment. The IRS has been contacted. Anything to declare? What Meghan owns and earns, and how the IRS could take an interest in it Earnings Meghan will have to declare any fees she receives from playing Rachel Zane in Suits. She was estimated to earn $50,000 (36,000) per episode. Her final season starts next month but Meghan will receive repeat fees - 'residuals' - every time it is rebroadcast. The show is now extensively broadcast around the world. Her annual salary was estimated to have totaled $450,000 (324,000) before she met the prince, which included money from acting and sponsorships. Markle now has no sponsorship deals and it is unlikely that she still has income from previous contracts. Royal allowance Meghan will have to tell the US taxman if she receives anything more than $100,000 (71,600) from her fiance or his family in the form of a royal allowance to cover expenses. Since the age of 21, Prince Harry and Prince William have been receiving an estimated $450,000 (324,000) a year investment profit from their late mother's $29.9m (21.5m) estate, on which they pay UK taxes. The two princes and William's wife, the Duchess of Cambridge, also receive an annual $4.88m (3.5m) allowance from their father, Prince Charles, which is used to cover expenses like travel and wardrobe. Property Nottingham Cottage - the grace and favor property in the grounds of London's Kensington Palace where Meghan lives with Harry - may be taxed by the US if Markle's presence in it is seen as a substitute for income before her marriage. Her tax preparer may advise her to declare it to avoid any ambiguity. While she was filming Suits, Meghan rented a three-bedroom, two-bathroom home in Toronto's Seaton Village, thought to cost around $1,770 (1,000) a month. Joint assets Meghan also has to give the US taxman full details of her finances if she and her husband-to-be have joint assets, bank accounts or offshore trusts in excess of $200,000 (143,100). Once married, Meghan would also have to make that declaration. In the U.S. couples file jointly and all assets are considered joint. However, because Meghan will be married to a non-resident, non-citizen, that will not apply to him. There is one future - extremely unlikely scenario: if Harry becomes King with Meghan as Queen, the US taxman would take an interest in the British royal family's fortune estimated at $500 million (360 million) and made up of property, art and investments. However, he is sixth in line to the throne, so such a detailed return is unlikely to ever happen. Gifts It's not just the US taxman that wants to take his cut from Meghan. The actress will have to declare any luxury gifts she bought in the US for Prince Harry, the Queen and his family to the UK taxman - or face a hefty fine. Gifts over $188 (135) imported into the UK from outside the European Union are liable for customs duty and VAT. Customs duty is charged at a rate of 2.5% on gifts between $188 (135) and $877 (630). Above that threshold, the rate depends on the type of goods and where they came from. VAT of 20% is also charged on the total value of the goods. The maximum penalty for not paying customs duty is $3482 (2,500). But a person caught for the first time is likely to receive a minimum penalty of $348 (250), depending on how serious the contravention is. Advertisement The Royal Family's tax affairs have long been the subject of scrutiny. The Queen voluntarily agrees to pay income tax and capital gains tax, and since 1993 her personal income has been taxable as for any other taxpayer. Her Majesty has always been subject to VAT and pays local rates on a voluntary basis. The Queen's wealth is derived from the Sovereign Grant, provided by the government, the Privy Purse - a historical term for her portfolio of land and properties - and her own personal investments. In 2017, experts found the monarch contributes 1.8billion to Britain's economy each year through its contribution to tourism, the media and other businesses. Maintaining the Royal Family is around 292million per year, which equates to 4.50 per person - just over 1p each day. Almost half of Britain's voters want Theresa May to stay on as Prime Minister and see through Brexit, it has been revealed. But the Conservatives have lost ground to Labour in the polls after a chaotic week of politics saw Theresa May's party turn on itself over Brexit. Two surveys of voting intentions taken at the height of the slew of resignations and infighting over the Prime Minister's withdrawal deal shows the Tories fall behind Jeremy Corbyn's party. A ComRes poll for the Sunday Mirror and Sunday Express saw the Tories leak three points, falling from 39 per cent to 36 per cent since September, while Labour remained on 40 per cent. But there was some backing for Mrs May in the ComRes poll, with almost half (47 per cent) of those polled saying she should remain as Prime Minister at least until Britain leaves the European Union on March 29 next year. Scroll down for video Almost half of Britain's voters want Theresa May (pictured last week) to stay on as Prime Minister and see through Brexit, it has been revealed Those backing her included 75 per cent of Conservative voters and one in three Labour supporters, according to the Mirror. There was bad news for some of her possible challengers, with just 8 per cent of voters wanting Environment Secretary Michael Gove to take over if Mrs May steps down. Foreign Secretary Jeremy Hunt fared little better on 10 per cent, with high profile Brexiteer Jacob Rees-Mogg on 17 per cent. Boris Johnson was backed by 21 per cent of those polled - but he was also the most actively opposed, with 61 per cent against his appointment. Just 19 per cent were 'don't knows', the lowest of all four. The survey found only a quarter of people want the Prime Minister to call an immediate general election. It also found a second referendum would be a close call, with Remain beating Leave by 45 per cent to 43 per cent, with one in 10 of people saying they had 'had enough of Brexit and wouldn't vote'. Meanwhile, an Opinium poll saw Mrs May's divided party drop five points from 41 per cent to 36 per cent, with Labour overtaking them from 37 per cent to 39 per cent compared to October. In what may be an additional shock, the same poll saw the Tories lose 10 points among Leave voters after a deal with Brussels was agreed. Both polls surveyed just over 2,000 people on Wednesday and Thursday, days marked by resignations and talk of confidence votes over Mrs May's leadership. Adam Drummond, Opinium's head of political polling, said: 'With the country almost as divided as on referendum day two-and-a-half years ago, it's no surprise that we find ourselves in a messy situation now that the actual form of Brexit has been announced. 'The backlash against the deal, similar to that against Chequers in July, has seen Leavers start to flee the Conservatives, giving the Tories their lowest vote share since Theresa May became Prime Minister. Just 8 per cent of voters want Environment Secretary Michael Gove (pictured) to take over if Mrs May steps down 'There are two bits of good news for Theresa May though. The first is that Jeremy Corbyn is seen to have responded to Brexit even more poorly than the PM has. 'The second is that while her deal is nobody's first choice, it is almost everybody's second choice. 'Her challenge is that Remainers and Leavers both believe that their ideal outcome is still on the table and the best way of achieving it is to vote down her deal and take their chances.' Opinium's poll found just a fifth (21 per cent) feel Mrs May's deal should be accepted. Almost a quarter (24 per cewnt) said we should leave without a deal, and almost a third (32 per cent) believe we should opt to remain instead. But 63 per cent of people wanted to accept her deal if their first choice option did not occur. More than half of people (52 per cent) disapprove of her handling of the negotiations, but a similar number (50 per cent) said they also disapprove of Mr Corbyn's reaction to Brexit. City-dwelling spiders are losing their fear of the light by building their webs in well-lit areas where they can easily find food, biologists have revealed. They have suggested that arachnids may benefit from sheltering in illuminated areas after overcoming their aversion to light. When household lights are switched on by its owners spiders typically freeze as they attempt to make their way across the previously dim room. They once built their webs in gloomy corners where inhabitants of the property are unlikely to find their hidden lairs. City-dwelling spiders are losing their fear of the light by building their webs in well-lit areas where they can easily find food, biologists have revealed However scientists have since proved that things may be evolving after a group at the University of Regensburg, Germany, used test subject spiders from urban and rural locations. Taking the creatures from areas across Europe to test whether their fear of light is changing from what was previously believed. Results suggested that spiders from agricultural areas still avoided the light areas as a place to build their webs. They have suggested that arachnids may benefit from sheltering in illuminated areas after overcoming their aversion to light But spiders from urban locations were just as happy to build their webs in both brightly-lit and dark areas. Dr Tomer Czaczkes, a biologist at the University of Regensburg who led the study, said: 'It could be that the urban spiders are evolving to prefer light because they get more food there. 'Or it could be easier to survive inside buildings in the winter, so spiders that don't mind the light survive better.' Dr Czaczkes and his colleagues used the common house spider Steatoda triangulosa, also known as the triangulate cobweb spider, for their study. When household lights are switched on by its owners spiders typically freeze as they attempt to make their way across the previously dim room This false widow spider has a pattern on its abdomen and is usually found in dingy corners and cupboards in households. The spider usually creates a tangle of webs, which are unlike the neat webs usually associated with household spiders. It can be found in the UK and was typically based around southern Europe before extending its reach to northern Europe. Dr Czaczkes said the idea for his study was prompted by a walk home where he noticed 'fat' spiders making their webs on the street lights. The study used spider egg sacs from city and countryside locations in Germany, France and Italy which they allowed to hatch. These newborn spiders were exposed to light on one side and kept in the dark on the other, so they had the option to create webs in both. Ana Maria Bastidas-Urrutia, a biologist at the Ludwig-Maximilians University of Munich who was a co-author of the study, said: ''We found that rural spiderlings avoided the light side and liked building their webs in the dark.' 'The urban spiderlings really didn't care where they built their webs. The light didn't seem to bother them.' The evolution has proved beneficial to spiders as insects which they feed on such as moths are drawn to artificial lights making them easier to catch. Due to the fact that the arachnids were garnered before they hatched, the scientists believe that they were unlikely to have already learnt to exploit the light. Therefore the decision to create webs in the light may be because of genetic changes, which Dr Czaczkes believes may also be happening in other species of spider. Lawrence Bee, from the British Arachnological Society, said it was likely that the spiders were adapting to illuminated conditions because there was more prey around those areas at night. 'Lights attract quite a community of insects at night, so it is not a real surprise that spiders might adapt to that sort of thing,' he said. 'At this time of year they are generally more active in the home so homeowners might be encountering them more, but it is hard to say if that has anything to do with them losing any fear of light.' Dr Maxime Dahirel, an ecologist at Ghent University in Belgium who has studied spiders and urbanisation, added: 'The responses to light will likely depend on the species. 'A recent paper showed that increased exposure to light led to reduced survival in another spider species. There may be some positive effects for some species but likely negative ones for many others.' A Tory Party boss today revealed he has not received the 48 letters of no confidence needed to oust Theresa May as leader. The PM is facing the political battle of her life as Brexiteers have tried to mount a coup against her in fury at her divorce deal. But after many days of fevered speculation, Sir Graham Brady, chairman of the 1922 committee which represents Tory MPs, said he has not received enough letters. Mrs May is facing a nail-biting next 48 hours to see if the Tory Brexiteer coup against her gains momentum or falls flat. Sir Graham is the only Conservative who knows how many MPs have sent their letters in, and the number is shrouded in such secrecy he has not even told his wife Victoria what it is. He also revealed that some MPs lie and pretend to send their no confidence letters in when they have not - although he did not say if this applied to the rebels trying to oust Mrs May. And despite the bitter Tory civil war in Westminster, he predicted that Mrs May would win a no confidence vote if one is held against her. After many days of fevered speculation, Sir Graham Brady, (pictured n the BBC today) chairman of the 1922 committee which represents Tory MPs, said he has not received enough letters to trigger the confidence vote in Theresa May Perennial Eurosceptic Bill Cash (left) is also rumoured to have submitted a letter after Zac Goldsmith (right) said he was moving to trigger a confidence vote, becoming the 24th Conservative MP to go public with a bid to oust the PM Speaking on the North West edition of the BBC's Sunday Politics programme, he predicted Mrs May will not be easily toppled. He said: 'It would be a simple majority, it would be very likely that the Prime Minister would win such a vote and if she did then there would be a 12-month period where this could not happen again, which would be a huge relief for me because people would have to stop asking me questions about numbers of letters for at least 12 months.' Confirming he had not reached the crucial 48 number, he told Pienaar's Politics on BBC Radio 5 Live: 'If a threshold were to be reached I would have to consult with the leader of the party the Prime Minister.' Pressed on if this would have to happen immediately, he added: 'The whole thing is written with the intention that it should be an expeditious process. Who has sent letters of no confidence in May? Letters of no confidence in Theresa May are confidential - but some of her strongest critics have gone public. If 48 letters are sent a vote is called. This is who has definitely sent a letter: Jacob Rees-Mogg , North East Somerset, Jacob.reesmogg.mp@parliament.uk Steve Baker , Wycombe, steve.baker.mp@parliament.uk Sheryll Murray , South East Cornwall, sheryll.murray.mp@parliament.uk Anne-Marie Morris , Newton Abbott, annemarie.morris.mp@parliament.uk Lee Rowley , North East Derbyshire, lee.rowley.mp@parliament.uk Henry Smith , Crawley, henry.smith.mp@parliament.uk Simon Clarke , Middlesbrough South and East Cleveland, simon.clarke.mp@parliament.uk Peter Bone , Wellingborough, bonep@parliament.uk James Duddridge , Rochford and Southend East, james@jamesduddridge.com Philip Davies , Shipley, daviesp@parliament.uk Andrea Jenkyns , Morley and Outwood, andrea.jenkyns.mp@parliament.uk Andrew Bridgen , North West Leicestershire, andrew.bridgen.mp@parliament.uk Nadine Dorries , Mid Bedfordshire, dorriesn@parliament.uk Laurence Robertson , Tewkesbury, robertsonl@parliament.uk Martin Vickers , Cleethorpes, martin.vickers.mp@parliament.uk Ben Bradley , Mansfield, ben.bradley.mp@parliament.uk Adam Holloway , Gravesham, hollowaya@parliament.uk John Whittingdale , Maldon, john.whittingdale.mp@parliament.uk Maria Caulfield , Lewes, maria.caulfield.mp@parliament.uk Mark Francois , Rayleigh and Wickford, mark.francois.mp@parliament.uk David Jones , Clwyd West, david.jones@parliament.uk Marcus Fysh , Yeovil, marcus.fysh.mp@parliament.uk Chris Green , Bolton West, chris.green.mp@parliament.uk Zac Goldsmith , Richmond Park, zac@zacgoldsmith.com Bill Cash , Stone, cashw@parliament.uk Philip Hollobone , Kettering, philip.hollobone.mp@parliament.uk Andrew Lewer, Northampton South, andrew.lewer.mp@parliament.uk Crispin Blunt , Reigate, crispinbluntmp@parliament.uk Owen Paterson , Shropshire Patersono@parliament.uk Advertisement 'I think one of the crazy things which has taken hold over the last few weeks is that people in the media and elsewhere suggesting this is something that would go on for weeks. 'If it were to happen it ought to be a test of opinion very quickly in order to clear the air and get it out the way quickly.' He said claims he would sit on the letters and wait to hold a vote are 'slightly offensive'. Sir Graham said has not written a letter of no confidence himself and has 'no intention to do so'. The Tory MP for Altrincham and Sale West said Britain is entering the 'end game' of a crucial negotiation and it is not the right time for the Tory Party and Government to be 'plunged into uncertainty'. But he criticised the PM's Brexit divorce deal, branding it 'tricky' and said he is 'not happy' about the backstop plans warning it could leave Britain trapped in the EU customs union forever. He added: 'It certainly doesn't look like the current agreement will get through [the Commons} unless either the agreement changes or the statement of the political declaration, the future relationship, gives considerably stronger grounds for optimism a bout the nature of the final deal.' Sir Graham said the fevered speculation about the PM's future has meant that he is being quizzed on how many no confidence letters have been sent in at the supermarket tills. Asked about the number this morning, he said: 'I can't tell you how many times I get asked that question every day. 'I get asked it in the supermarket, I get asked it walking in the street....I have become nervous about counting or saying numbers in case people think I am referring to something which I am not.' Sir Graham revealed even his wife Victoria, who is also his parliamentary assistant, does not know how many letters have been sent in. Theresa May received a much-needed boost today as a poll finds that more voters want her to stay on as PM than those who want her ousted As Westminster is plunged into turmoil over Brexit and the future of Theresa May as PM, a no deal Brexit and a second EU referendum are both looking more likely Theresa May today said that she will return to Brussels in the coming days to negotiate more detail on Britain's future trading relationship He said: 'Just me. The rules are slightly odd in some ways, but one thing which is absolutely clear...is that if anybody where to write a letter then it must be kept confidential. 'It is up to them if they want to say they have done it.' And he revealed that Conservative MPs have been known to lie about sending their no confidence letters in. 'Some years ago I had the experience of someone claiming publicly to have written a letter which they hadn't, and them then saying they had withdrawn a letter which they have sent.' He added: 'This is not a new phenomenon.' And he said that his predecessor in the post Michael Spicer also spoke about how some Try MPs hoodwinked the press and public into falsely believing they had dashed off their letters without actually sending any in. A teenage boy who was attacked by nearly a dozen sharks while spearfishing off the Northern Territory coast is recovering from 'deep lacerations' to his arm and leg. The 17-year-old said he was 'mobbed' by the sharks while spearfishing from a boat about 30km offshore from Nhulunbuy on Sunday. Despite suffering significant injuries, he is said to be in good spirits. A teenage boy was taken to hospital for 'deep lacerations' to his arm and leg after he was attacked by sharks while spearfishing off the Northern Territory coast A teenage boy who was attacked by nearly a dozen sharks while spearfishing, is recovering from 'deep lacerations' to his arm and leg (stock image) Emergency services were called around 10am on Sunday where the teenager was rescued from the water, Craig Garraway from St John Ambulance said. He was treated on the scene before being taken to Nhulunbuy's Gove District Hospital. The most severe wounds were inflicted to the boy's arms. He was later airlifted to the Royal Darwin Hospital in a stable condition on Sunday afternoon. The 17-year-old said he was 'mobbed' by the sharks while spearfishing from a boat about 30km offshore from Nhulunbuy (pictured on map) on Sunday 'The young man explained to the CareFlight nurse that he had been mobbed by more than 10 sharks,' CareFlight spokesman David Wheeldon said. Mr Wheeldon praised those on the boat and the first responders for their work on treating the teenager. Craig Garraway from St John Ambulance also praised the efforts of those with the teenager before medical help arrived. 'I believe the people on the boat have done an amazing job to stem the bleeding and to give him first aid treatment prior to the arrival of paramedics,' he told ABC News. However, Mr Garraway said shark attacks in the Northern Territory were rare. 'I've been around a long time and I'll be honest, I can't remember a shark attack,' he said. The boy remains in a stable condition in hospital. The attack comes one day after a man was bitten during a surf lesson in Gerroa, south of Sydney on Saturday. A depressed mother killed herself with pills she couldn't afford after racking up hundreds in unpaid prescription bills and having her benefits cut. Penny Oliver, 54, was found dead after overdosing at her flat in Whitstable, Kent on June 14 this year. The mother-of-three had suffered with anxiety and depression most of her life and was devastated by the death of her fourth child - Josh - at the age of just 15 in 2014 after he took Ecstasy. She was unable to work because of chronic back pain, but declared fit to go back in January, despite her mental health problems. Eventually Mrs Oliver was unable to cope with the NHS and the Department for Work and Pension's demands for money for medication and overpaid benefit, her children claim. They say both organisations have 'blood on their hands'. Penny Oliver, 54 (pictured) was found dead after overdosing on pills at her flat in Whitstable, Kent on June 14 this year Mrs Oliver's daughter, Charlotte, 29, told the Sunday Mirror: 'The irony that she overdosed on anti-depressants, because she couldn't afford to pay the prescription charges, is so painful for us as a family. 'This should never happen. Mum was struggling to cope with having her benefits cut when she was already suffering from poor mental health. 'But the very NHS that should have been helping her to deal with her depression instead began hounding her for cash and helped push her over the edge. She ended her life as a result.' It comes after DWP figures revealed in 2015 as many as 90 disability benefit claimants were dying a month after being declared fit to return to work by new Government standards. After her ESA was withdrawn in January, Mrs Oliver also had her council tax support taken away and her housing benefit reduced by half, according to the Mirror. In March, she received a letter from the local council that she owed 303.77 in overpaid benefit. Her NHS prescription charges were for 8.60 and 20.60 after she mistakenly ticked the 'entitled to free prescriptions' box at the pharmacy, thinking she was eligible. But when she was told she wasn't and chased for the cash by the NHS Business Services Authority, she was unable to pay. Mrs Oliver (pictured right) was unable to cope with the NHS and the Department for Work and Pension's demands for money for medication and overpaid benefit, her children (Charlotte, 29, pictured left and Alex, 31 centre) claim Further letters demanding money arrived after her death, which a coroner ruled was the result of suicide. Her inquest in Maidstone heard her mental health deteriorated after her benefits were cut. Also read out were goodbye notes to her children. Mrs Oliver was left devastated by the death of her son Josh (pictured) aged just 15 in 2014 Her son Alex, 31, told the newspaper: 'There is a serious lack of support. The authorities should have been trying to help her.' A spokesman for the DWP told MailOnline: 'Our thoughts are with the family of Ms Oliver at this very difficult time. 'We are committed to ensuring that people with health conditions get the support they're entitled to. ESA decisions are made following consideration of all the information provided by the claimant at the time, including supporting evidence from their GP or medical specialist. 'All claimants have the right to a mandatory re-consideration of any decision, and can further appeal to an independent tribunal, with the opportunity to present any further evidence to support their claim. 'Ms Oliver was provided with this information and advice on how to apply for other in-work benefits' In statements to the Mirror, Canterbury City Council and the NHS Business Service Authority all offered their sympathies to Mrs Oliver's devastated family. For confidential support in the UK, call the Samaritans on 116123 or visit a local Samaritans branch. See www.samaritans.org for details. A Greens staffer has offered to quit after sickening tweets about child porn, fat fetishes and Islamophobia resurfaced. Paul McMillan, who works for Greens Northcote MP Lidia Thorpe in Melbourne, discussed paedophilia and used misogynistic slurs in vile tweets that have come to light, the Herald Sun reported. 'If we started locking up everyone who's addicted to child porn there'd be nobody left,' the tweet about paedophilia reads. Paul McMillan, who works for Greens Northcote MP Lidia Thorpe (pictured) in Melbourne, discussed paedophilia and used misogynistic slurs in vile tweets Mr McMillan also made controversial comments about Muslims, domestic violence and feminism 'If we started locking up everyone who's addicted to child porn there'd be nobody left,' the tweet about pedophilia reads. Mr McMillan also made controversial comments about Muslims, domestic violence and feminism. 'Pretty f***ed how Muslims want to ban my favourite hobby, greasing myself up in pig fat and oinking like a grunter at the traffic lights,' another tweet read. 'When are allegedly female trollumists going to learn that breasts are not a magical f------ tractor beam,' another said. On Sunday night, Ms Thorpe said the staffer had offered his resignation as the tweets were a breach of employment. 'These comments were meant as satire, but there is no place for this type of language regardless of the intent,' Ms Thorpe said. On Sunday night, Ms Thorpe said the staffer had offered his resignation as the tweets were a breach of employment Ms Thorpe's Twitter account has since been switched to locked. It is understood Mr McMillan was the community outreach and constituent engagement lead for Ms Thorpe. Mr McMillan said he had a key role in her 2017 by-election win. The tweets come a month after Greens candidate Joanna Nilson quit her election campaign due to her social media history being revealed. Ms Nilson posted about stealing groceries and the use of nangs; small canisters of nitrous oxide often inhaled by youths as a quick and cheap high. It is understood Mr McMillan was the community outreach and constituent engagement lead for Ms Thorpe Greens candidate Angus McAlpine also came under fire last week after it was revealed he released rap music which featured lyrics about date rape as well as homophobic and misogynistic slurs. Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews has gone against making deals with the Greens, claiming there is a 'toxic cultural problem' around women in the party. 'I will not sit down, never, sit down and negotiate with people who refuse to call out denigration of women,' Andrews told reporters on Sunday in Clyde, in Melbourne's outer southeast. A war veteran who lost both his legs and a hand and needed ten operations on his face after a roadside bombing in Afghanistan is now sailing around the world all by himself. Craig Wood, 27, was only 18 when he was serving in Afghanistan and was hit by the bomb blast on his first patrol - leaving him in a coma for 14 days. Doctors said he only had a 50/50 chance of surviving the bombing but Craig eventually woke up - only to find his legs and left hand had been amputated. Craig Wood, 27, was only 18 when he was serving in Afghanistan and hit by a bomb blast on his first patrol leaving him without his legs and a hand Despite doctors only giving him a 50/50 chance of survival, he is now sailing around the world on his own He refused to let his injuries get him down, however, and when Camilla the Duchess of Cornwall visited him at a rehab centre he promised her that he'd walk again. Not only did he keep his promise but he went a step further and became a sailor, exploring the seas alone on his 46ft yacht called Sirius. Craig, originally from Doncaster, south Yorkshire, now wants to help other war veterans and is offering his yacht as a haven to those suffering from PTSD following their years of service. He served with the 2nd Battalion, the Rifles, and was on patrol in Helmand Province on July 30, 2009 when he became one of the youngest war casualties. Craig's injuries left him needing 27 pints of blood to survive and he also had ten operations on his face As he lay in a rehab centre in Surrey, he met the Duchess of Cornwall and promised her that he would walk again After the bomb blast, Craig was flown to Selly Oak Hospital in Birmingham and needed 27 pints of blood to survive. He was recovering at the Defence Medical Rehabilitation Unit in Headley Court, near Epsom, Surrey, when he met the Duchess of Cornwall and promised her he'd walk again. Craig took eight months to learn how to use prosthetic legs and he had to have four-and-a-half years of rehab. After meeting Camilla, Craig took eight months to learn how to use prosthetic legs and underwent four-and-a-half years of rehab However, he managed to keep his promise and go even further, not only is he walking again but he is also sailing around the world During this time, he also had ten operations on his damaged face. After his rehab journey, he left for Gibraltar in April 2017 and has covered 800 miles since. He said that he enjoys travelling and sailing and his new life 'just made sense'. Craig added that he was still young and so had all the time in the world to sail. After his rehab journey, he left for Gibraltar in April 2017 and has covered 800 miles since. Here he is pictured with Camilla He told the Mirror that other veterans could help him sail and keep him company. He said: ' I can't climb the mast on my own, or hold nuts and screw them, but when I haven't got crew on board to help with the two-handed jobs I just find someone on another boat to jump aboard and help me out. I'm quite comfortable and content with my life. It's not a struggle, because I've made it so it's not a struggle. I'm happy on the boat. 'I want to go to Brazil, Argentina and all over the Americas, the Caribbean and the west coast of the Americas and the Pacific. 'In general now it's not a struggle, it's just specific things. But you figure out a way. Going round the boat is fairly easy I've had no adaptations. It's a bog-standard 46ft boat.' Craig says that he enjoy travelling and sailing 'just made sense' to him - his parents and family keep up with his adventures on Facebook Despite his story inspiring several veterans, Craig insists that he is just enjoying and living his life. He is supported by his family, particularly parents Paul and Lesley who follow his journey through Facebook and visit him in the summer. Talking about his inspiration for the offer, Craig said recent stories of soldiers with PTSD made him want to help make a difference. He said: 'There are a hell of a lot of guys committing suicide now. So I put a Facebook post out a few months back inviting people aboard. He also now wants to invite other veterans onto his boat after noticing the growing number of former soldiers with PTSD 'A little bit of escapism is quite healthy, especially if it clears the mind. I was just trying to think how I could give back. 'One of the guys recently said it was the best laugh he's had all year.' Speaking about the impact of PTSD on veterans, Craig said that its hard for former soldiers because there isn't a support network in place after they leave the military. Craig is planning on releasing a book next year, called Less than 10 Degrees, on his recovery from the bomb blast and his adventures at sea Craig said many veterans realise they have PTSD after they leave the Army. He added: 'A lot of people struggle with purpose. The boat is my purpose in my immediate life. When people don't have that purpose they can get into a bad downward spiral.' Craig is planning on releasing a book next year, called Less Than 10 Degrees. The book is written by a close friend and shares Craig's sea stories as he marks ten years since the bomb blast he suffered in Afghanistan. Madeleine McCann vanished from a holiday apartment in Portugal's Praia da Luz in May 2007 Police have told the parents of Madeleine McCann that they are 'hopeful' for a result as they pursue two vital new leads. The Operation Grange team, who had been thought to be focusing on just one, told Kate and Gerry during a meeting thought to be at their Leicestershire home, that they had 'two specific and active' lines of inquiry. Kate and Gerry, both 50, are 'greatly encouraged' that Scotland Yard could finally be closing in on Maddie's kidnapper after eleven-and-a-half years. The Home Office last week announced it would grant an extra 150,000 to Operation Grange to keep the investigation going until spring next year. So far they have handed out 11.75 million of taxpayers' money for the high-profile search. A Whitehall source said: 'Metropolitan Police officers had a sit-down meeting with Madeleine's parents to tell them exactly where they were with their inquiries. 'They informed them they had two specific and active leads that still needed to be chased and that although the investigation was taking longer than they initially thought officers said they were confident and hopeful they could get a result.' Kate and Gerry, both 50, are 'greatly encouraged' that Scotland Yard could finally be closing in on Maddie's kidnapper after eleven-and-a-half years Police refuse to make public any clues about the suspects they are determined to track down for fear of them going to ground. Three-year-old Maddie vanished from a holiday apartment in Portugal's Praia da Luz in May 2007. She had been left alone sleeping with her younger twin siblings while her parents were dining in a nearby tapas restaurant with friends. The Home Office last week announced it would grant an extra 150,000 to Operation Grange to keep the investigation to find Maddie going until spring next year Previously police confirmed they believed the blonde child was snatched by a paedophile gang who may have smuggled her over the border or grabbed during a botched burglary at the holiday complex. They have also been keen to identify a woman in purple seen hanging around the holiday flat. A senior Government source added: 'Police seeking special grant funding have needed to justify exactly what the money would be spent on, who they are chasing and why. 'They have had to outline their intended work in full detail and careful consideration has been given but we cannot divulge any aspects of that while there is an ongoing operation.' Police advised the McCann's there was still 'important work left to be done' as they requested extra funding, allaying the family's fears that the London force's seven-and-a-half year investigation could be shelved. Kate and Gerry, who have 13-year-old twins Sean and Amelie, cling onto a glimmer of hope that Maddie, who would now be 15, could still be alive after all this time. The McCann's spokesperson Clarence Mitchell said the couple were 'incredibly grateful' and 'greatly encouraged' for the approved extra funding amid stringent Government and police cutbacks. He said: 'They are greatly encouraged that the Met Police still believe there is work left to be done in the search for their daughter and they remain incredibly grateful to the Home Office for providing an extra budget for the investigation. Police advised the McCann's there was still 'important work left to be done' as they requested extra funding 'It is a boost the while family and gives them renewed hope that one day they may finally find out what happened to Madeleine.' Mr Mitchell added: 'Kate and Gerry appreciate everything the authorities have done and are doing to get a resolution after all this time. Beyond this they cannot comment on the ongoing operation.' The extra cash - which has been slammed by a mother of another missing girl and outspoken TV and media personality Janet Street-Porter - will enable Grange to keep going until the end of March next year. The Yard had applied for renewed funding in September but the Home Office only confirmed last Tuesday that it had been approved, as revealed by MailOnline. The Find Maddie Campaign website, run by a family friend but endorsed by Kate and Gerry, has updated its cover photo with the word 'hope' Maddie's parents, however, had been told weeks ago by police that they expected the grant to be made. A spokesperson 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. This is an ongoing police investigation.' The British inquiry, launched in May 2011 after an initial bungled Portuguese investigation and the McCann's own funded private eye searches, is spearheaded by Detective Chief Inspector Nicola Wall. Kate and Gerry, who have 13-year-old twins Sean and Amelie, cling onto a glimmer of hope that Maddie, who would now be 15, could still be alive after all this time A force spokesperson said: 'We still have important work to do and focused lines of investigation to be pursued. 'The inquiry has not reached a conclusion and we're continuing with focus and determination. There are no immediate plans to reduce officer numbers further at this time.' Ex-police chiefs and some members of public have slammed the Maddie inquiry as a waste of public money and officers' time. This week Karen Downs, whose 14-year-old daughter Charlene vanished from Blackpool, Lancashire, in November 2003, hit out at the 'preferential' treatment given to the McCanns, saying other missing kids were 'simply being forgotten.' Controversial Loose Women star Janet Street-Porter also slammed the fresh funding for the 'fruitless search for Maddie' in a MailOnline article, asking: 'Isn't it time we prioritised the children who are dying here and now today?' She said: '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. '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?' Maddie's parents have posted a simple but poignant message of hope as police pledge to find out what happened to their daughter. The Find Maddie Campaign website, run by a family friend but endorsed by Kate and Gerry, has updated its cover photo. The word 'Hope' written in yellow to symbolise the Portuguese colour of strength and solidarity against a vibrant background, is accompanied by a brief note to supporters: 'We just want to thank you continuing to be by our side and keeping Madeleine in your heart.' Well wisher Jean Payne responded: 'Madeleine will always be remembered, and hope that one day you'll all receive the good news that you've waited so long to hear.' Mary Ann Baldie added: 'Always thinking of her and her family not just her parents but grandparents, aunties, it must be hell on earth for them all.' Micki Barnes posted: 'Someone knows about Madeleine. It's just a matter of time. OG must be getting nearer.' Fiona Bruce (pictured in London on March 8) is thought to be battling Kirsty Wark and Emily Maitlis, who now present Newsnight Fiona Bruce has emerged as the front-runner on the BBC's all-female shortlist to replace David Dimbleby as the host of Question Time, according to reports. The News At Ten and Antiques Roadshow anchor is believed to be battling Kirsty Wark and Emily Maitlis, who currently present Newsnight. Dimbleby, 80, will step down on December 13 after 25 years on the topical debate show and BBC bosses are said to want to bring in a change of tone. An insider told The Sunday Telegraph: 'At the moment Fiona seems to be the favourite as the producers are keen to give the show a softer feel - although there are concerns she may not be political enough and may not want to relinquish the other work she does, such as on the Antiques Roadshow.' Victoria Derbyshire, Samira Ahmed and Tony Robinson are all said to have been ruled out after private pilot shows filmed in front of a live audience last month. The BBC told MailOnline the recruitment process was still ongoing and it would not comment on speculation. The corporation has come under pressure to fill more of its top roles with women in the wake of the gender pay gap scandal. Maitlis is pictured left in an undated photo and Wark on the right with Sharleen Spiteri at a Burns Night party in London on Janurary 25 Former BBC China editor Carrie Gracie revealed earlier this month she was handed a 361,000 payout after a long and bitter equal pay case. She did not disclose the sum at the time but said figure was almost three times her original salary of 135,000 as China editor. Miss Gracie donated the money to gender equality charity The Fawcett Society, which has used it to set up a free legal aid service for women to fight workplace discrimination. The 56-year-old, who has spent more than 30 years at the Corporation, also said she is on unpaid leave but is 'going to go back to the BBC and be a presenter again'. She added: 'Some people said at the time "they're going to sack you", they didn't sack me so good on the BBC for that.' Her revelation comes after MPs found the BBC had discriminated against and underpaid scores of women because of an 'invidious and opaque' culture at the top. In a Commons report last month, they said it had 'failed' female workers and plunged the organisation into a 'crisis of trust'. Dimbleby, 80, will step down on December 13 after 25 years on the topical debate show and BBC bosses are said to want to bring in a change of tone. Photo undated They added that women at the broadcaster live in 'fear' of challenging their employer despite knowing they are paid tens of thousands less than men who sit beside them. Miss Gracie quit as China editor in January, writing an open letter after discovering that North America editor Jon Sopel was on a salary band of 200,000 to 249,999 for an equal role. During an appearance on ITV's Good Morning Britain, she claimed that pay discrimination was 'embedded' in workplaces in the UK. During a working session with Egyptian officials from the Ministry of Antiquities, Hang spoke highly of the host countrys expertise and experience in managing heritages and antiquities.Briefing the host about Hanois cultural and historical heritages, Hang said Hanoi wishes to cooperate with and learn from Egypt in the management and exhibition of antiquities.Egyptian Deputy Minister of Antiquities Ayman Said Abdelmohsen, for his part, said with nearly 100,000 archeological sites and a huge number of valuable antique items, Egypt has accumulated experience and expertise in discovering, protecting and excavating archeological sites as well as managing, classifying and displaying ancient artefacts.He said the Ministry of Antiquities is ready to partner with Hanoi in the field via projects on museum management, planning and management of relic sites in the near future.At another working session with Egyptian Deputy Minister of Culture Heba Youssef, the Hanoi delegation informed the host about the citys management of cultural affairs and its intangible culture in particular.Both sides agreed on several specific contents for their long-term partnership in culture, including holding Egyptian cultural days in Hanoi to help Vietnamese people learn more about the African countrys unique culture.Visiting the Vietnamese embassy in Cairo, Hang asked the embassy to serve as a bridge for coordination between Hanoi and the Egyptian ministries of culture and antiquities.Following Egypt, the delegation continued with its trip to Greece VNA A young woman who survived the Borderline Bar shooting lost her house in the California wildfires less than 24 hours after the massacre. Deseriee Edman and her family were forced to abandon their home in Malibu on November 8 as the wildfires tore through. The family were able to safely evacuate as the fire raged around them but their home quickly burned to the ground. Just hours earlier, Deseriee had managed to escape the horror that occurred at the Borderline Bar in Thousands Oaks when a gunman stormed in and opened fire. Deseriee Edman was forced to evacuate her family home in Malibu, California on November 8 due to fires just 24 hours after surviving the shooting at the Borderline Bar Twelve people were killed in the shooting massacre. 'Two-near death experiences that you just don't expect,' Deseriee told KCBS of her horror 48 hours. 'I'm trying to stay strong as possible for my family and my friends. And I'm trying to look at everything as positive as I can in these types of situations.' Deseriee's sister Destiny added: 'The fact is we made it out alive, and my sister survived and we're here.' Her mother Carmen described going into panic mode after hearing news of the shooting on the Wednesday night. 'I was in panic mode since Wednesday night - since that phone call - and stress levels were off the charts,' Carmen said. She credited Ventura County Sheriff's Sgt. Ron Helus, who was killed in the bar shooting, for saving her daughter's life. Deseriee Edman and her family were forced to abandon their home in Malibu on November 8 as the wildfires tore through and destroyed their property (pictured above) The family were able to safely evacuate as the fire raged around them but their home quickly burned to the ground 'Twelve people didn't go home. Ron didn't go home, neither did Justin, Christina all these people that were there. Good people. It's really tragic that this happened in our city - in Borderline, and that Ron had to pass. It's just tragic,' Carmen said. Deseriee and her family attended Sgt. Helus' funeral on Thursday. Several thousand people, including hundreds of law enforcement officers from throughout California, packed the Calvary Community Church in Westlake Village for the emotional service. In an Instagram post, Deseriee wrote: 'It has been a tough few days. Being at Borderline with all my friends and losing too many from the mass shooting and then fleeing Malibu from the fires. 'I am very thankful for all the love and support I have received from my friends and family. Thank you to all the first responders, Sgt Ron Helus and police who saved so many of us at borderline. Then all the firefighters who are fighting the fires in my hometown.' Meanwhile, the California wildfires have so far claimed at least 76 lives and left more than 1,200 listed as missing. It is the deadliest and most destructive wildfire in California's history. The blaze has devoured an area roughly the size of Chicago, destroying nearly 10,000 homes and more than 2,500 other buildings. Twelve people were gunned down at the Borderline Bar in Thousands Oaks on November 7 when a shooter opened fire A rounded back is just as efficient as keeping a straight posture and bent knees when doing heavy lifting, a new study reveals. Having the right posture when picking up heavy objects has always been vital so as not to damage the lower back. But a group of scientists claim keeping a straight back and bent knees may be the same, or worse, than stooping with a bent back. Scientists, who published their findings in the Scandinavian Journal of Pain, are calling for a change in lifting guidelines after studying forestry workers, according to The Telegraph. A group of scientists claim keeping a straight back and bent knees may be the same, or worse, than stooping with a bent back They found that workers who stooped to pick things up used up less energy than those who squatted. The paper also found that there was 'no significant difference' in the two lifting postures. The squatting technique is taught to every employer in the country and is thought to be the safest way to lift. One of the biggest causes of back pain for workers in the NHS is caused by heavy lifting. Both the NHS and the Health and Safety Executive recommend keeping a straight back, or squatting with thighs parallel to the ground. The squatting technique (pictured left) is taught to every employer in the country and is thought to be the safest way to lift compared to stopping with a bent back (pictured right). However scientists argue that there is a distinct lack of any real life evidence to support the straight back approach. Researchers at Curtin University in Australia said: 'The findings of this study may have implications for ergonomic guidelines and public health information relating to bending and lifting back postures.' Lifting should also be determined by a persons height or weight, researchers at University of Aberdeen found. And those with curvier spines are more prone to naturally stoop when lifting things from the ground. University bosses have banned lecturers from using capital letters when assigning work to their students out of fear it might upset them. The memo sent out to staff at Leed's Trinity journalism department suggested that using uppercase letters may 'scare them into failure', reports the Express. It also included some tips on how they should address their students from now on, such as writing in a friendly tone, steering clear of overbearing language and negative instructions. Critics have slammed the idea because it suggests that the 'snowflake' generation are being overindulged throughout their education. University bosses have banned lecturers from using capital letters when assigning work to their students out of fear it might upset them The list of instructions states that it aims to increase student levels of engagement while offering lecturers a list of do's and don'ts as well as prohibited terms. The memo, obtained by the newspaper, says: 'Despite our best attempts to explain assessment tasks, any lack of clarity can generate anxiety and even discourage students from attempting the assessment at all.' It suggested that writing a word in caps could highlight the 'difficulty' of the assignment and therefore worry the students. Lecturers were told to avoid upper-case letters, especially when telling students to 'do' or 'don't' do something in the instructions of the task. However one employee said that caps are needed so that students don't miss an important part of the assignment. The memo sent out to staff at Leed's Trinity journalism department suggested that using uppercase letters may 'scare them into failure' Part of the concern was to do with students who discuss the task with one another when they are confused by it, meaning that misunderstanding spreads quickly. The memo added: 'This can lead to further confusion and students may even then decide that the assessment is too difficult and not attempt it.' The lecturer at the university told the outlet that despite the intelligence of their students they feel that they are fighting against the education system who want to treat them like children. Adding: 'We are not doing our students any favours with this kind of nonsense.' Leeds Trinity said that the memo was guidance on the best way to go about explaining tasks to students as they want to support them and achieve their full potential. Mars Bars could vanish from British shelves in a matter of weeks if the UK crashes out of the EU without a deal. Food and drink experts have warned the iconic chocolate nougat bar, as well as all confectionery imports to the country, will dramatically increase in price if the UK can't strike a deal with Brussels. At a roundtable meeting, representatives from the Food and Drink Federation told Enviroment secretary Michael Gove that Mars Bars could go extinct within a fortnight, according to BuzzFeed News. Mars Bars could vanish from the shelves of British shops in a matter of weeks if Britain crashes out of the EU without a deal Food and drink experts were said to have warned Michael Gove (pictured yesterday) the iconic chocolate bar would be gone in a fortnight The experts explained to the minister that two of the ingredients used to make Mars bars are imported and only take a few days to go off. If food imports were to be barred from entering the UK via the port of Dover in the case of a hard Brexit, Mars would be unable to make their iconic chocolate bar at its factory in Slough, Berkshire. The experts told Gove the UKs entire supply of Mars bars would run out within two weeks. The Mars Bar is made up of 21 ingredients, but most of them are sourced within the UK. If food imports were to be barred from entering the UK, Mars would be unable to make their iconic chocolate bar at its factory in Slough (pictured) It comes after Cadbury announced it was stockpiling chocolate and biscuits in case Britain crashes out of the EU without a deal. The famous firm raised alarm that a harsh Brexit outcome could cause shortages of popular products like Dairy Milk and Picnic bars. Hubert Weber, the European boss of parent company Mondelez, said the UK was 'not self-sufficient in terms of food ingredients'. President Donald Trump 'awkwardly' toured the damage from the California wildfires with the ex-husband of his son's girlfriend. Governor-Elect Gavin Newsom has been trading insults with Trump for most of the year, but grievances were set aside during the visit of the devastation caused by the so-called Camp Fire. However, Twitter was ablaze with comments about how strange it is that Trump and Newsom were together considering that Donald Trump Jr is currently dating Newsom's ex-wife Kimberly Guilfoyle. 'Amazingly, Gavin Newsom, the governer-elect [sic] of California, used to be married to Junior's current paramour, Fox News newsreader Kimberly Guilfoyle. so he's almost a Trump family member,' quipped one Twitter user. President Donald Trump 'awkwardly' toured the damage from the California wildfires with Governor-elect Gavin Newsom, the ex-husband of his son's girlfriend. Pictured, from left to right: Newsom, Trump and Paradise Mayor Jody Jones visit a neighborhood destroyed by the wildfires on Saturday Guilfoyle and Newsom, who was a San Francisco city supervisor at the time, married in 2001. In January 2005, Guilfoyle filed for divorce from Newsom due to 'the strain of a bi-coastal marriage'. Pictured: Guilfoyle and Newsom in March 2004, left, and Guilfoyle and Trump Jr, in August 2018, right Guilfoyle and Newsom, who was a San Francisco city supervisor at the time, married in 2001. Two years later, Newsom became mayor of the city. In January 2005, Guilfoyle filed for divorce from Newsom due to 'the strain of a bi-coastal marriage'. In May 2018, news leaked that Guilfoyle was dating Trump Jr as he was going through a divorce with wife Vanessa Trump. President Trump had made only one previous trip as president to California, a deeply Democratic and liberal state that he has blamed for a pair of overheated crises, illegal immigration and voter fraud. He has also been at odds with California's Democratic-led government, but differences were generally put aside as Governor Jerry Brown and Newsom joined Trump in surveying the wildfire damage. 'We're going to have to work quickly,' Trump said near the crumpled foundations of Paradise homes and twisted steel of melted cars. 'Hopefully this is going to be the last of these because this was a really, really bad one.' At least 79 people have died across California, and authorities are trying to locate more than 1,000 people, though not all are believed missing. Newsom has been trading insults with Trump for most of the year, but grievances were set aside during the visit of the devastation caused by the so-called Camp Fire. Pictured: Newsom and Trump view damage from wildfires in Paradise on Saturday Trump greets Newsom as he disembarks from Air Force One upon arrival at Beale Air Force Base in California on Saturday In May 2018, news leaked that Guilfoyle was dating Trump Jr as he was going through a divorce with wife Vanessa Trump. Pictured: Trump Jr and Guilfoyle in October 2018, left, and Newsom and Guilfoyle More than 5,500 fire personnel were battling the blaze that covered 228 square miles (590 square kilometers) and was about 50 percent contained, officials said. When asked in Paradise if seeing the historic devastation, which stretched for miles and left neighborhoods destroyed and fields scorched, altered his opinion on climate change, Trump answered, 'No.' The president has long voiced skepticism about man's impact on the climate and has been reluctant to assign blame to a warming earth for the increase in the frequency and intensity of natural disasters. Asked if he thought climate change played a role in the fires, Brown responded: 'Yes. Yes. And we'll let science determine this over a longer period of time.' A reporter asked if climate change was discussed with the president, but Trump jumped in to say, 'We didn't discuss it.' Brown and Newsom said they welcomed the president's visit, with the governor suggesting they set aside political differences since it 'now is a time to pull together for the people of California.' Obese children as young as 10 are having hip and knee replacement operations on the NHS, it has been revealed. Eleven girls and six boys, aged between 10 and 19, had new hips on the NHS in the past four years, figures from NHS Digital have revealed. Seven of the girls had their operations in the past year. And two obese girls, aged between 10 and 19, needed knee replacements over that period due to weight-related joint damage. And the number of both obese adults and children needing joint replacements has soared by 70 per cent since 2014, according to The Mirror. The surgeries cost the NHS 230million in 2017 alone. Scroll down for video Obese children as young as 10 are having hip and knee replacement operations on the NHS, it has been revealed. Stock photo Professor John Wass, an adviser on obesity at the Royal College of Physicians, told the Mirror the figures are 'horrifying.' He called for primary schools to have regular weigh-ins and for a ban on junk food advertisements on television before 9am. But the British Obesity Society's Jane DeVille-Amond said it was parents who needed to act. 'Many friends and family unintentionally sabotage a child's attempt to change,' she told the Mirror. More than a third of children are classified as overweight or obese by the time they leave primary school aged 11, which increases their risk of developing conditions such as Type 2 diabetes, cancer, heart and liver disease in later life. Eleven girls and six boys, aged between 10 and 19, had new hips on the NHS in the past four years, figures from NHS Digital show. Stock photo NHS Digital revealed last month that 20.1 per cent of 10 to 11 year olds and 9.5 per cent of four to five year olds are classed as obese. Earlier this year, the Department of Health announced new measures including getting pupils to move more and reduce their exposure to sugary and fatty foods in a bid to halve childhood obesity by 2030. The government also called on the food industry to recognise the harm that adverts promoting unhealthy food can cause. 'The cost of obesity both on individual lives and our NHS is too great to ignore,' Jeremy Hunt, then Health Secretary, said at the time. 'Today we are taking steps to ensure that by 2030, children from all backgrounds have the help they need for a healthier, more active start in life. MailOnline has contacted the Department of Health and Social Care for comment. The body of a migrant has been found trapped under a bus near the Eurotunnel terminal in Kent, hours after a group of people were found trying to climb the cliffs after arriving in an inflatable boat. Passengers on a coach from London Victoria were forced off the bus when border staff found the person's body under the vehicle near Folkestone on Sunday morning. Kent Police are trying to identify the person and trace their next of kin, but believe they were a migrant, Kent Online reported. Earlier on Sunday the Border Force and coastguard had found nine people, believed to be Iranians, at Folkestone Harbour after they had crossed the Channel on a rubber dinghy. Some 60 migrants are believed to have crossed the Channel to reach the coast of Kent in the last week. Emergency services at the scene near Folkestone on Sunday morning where a bus (pictured) was stopped when border guards found the body of a migrant trapped underneath it The person under the bus was declared dead on Sunday morning and BBC News later reported they were believed to be a migrant. A passenger on the bus said it had come from Victoria Station in London and was heading for France. Eurotunnel reportedly said border authorities had found the body in Folkestone. The death was 'not being treated as suspicious', police said. Earlier Kent Police said they were called at 6.54am on Sunday to reports of concerns for people in a boat just off the coast of Dover. The Border Force responded, finding nine people on a small vessel who had landed close to Folkestone Harbour. The group, all believed to be Iranians, were brought to Dover with the help of the coastguard after calling emergency services to say they were in trouble on the rocks. A Home Office spokeswoman said: 'All of these individuals will now be processed in line with the immigration rules.' Border authorities have responded to a series of similar incidents on the Dover Coast in the past week. The rubber dinghy lies deflated on the rocks at Folkestone after nine people were found to have crossed the Channel in the small vessel on Sunday Seven Iranian immigrants discovered and detained by Air Sea Rescue washed up from a rib on Samphire Hoe near Dover on Friday The damaged dinghy that the seven Iranian migrants used to get to the UK via Kent On Wednesday, three boats with suspected migrants on board were picked up by the coastguard. A total of seven men, one woman and a toddler from Iran were on board one boat stopped by officials at around 5am. Another vessel, containing 10 Iranian men, was intercepted off the Kent coast later that morning, and that afternoon a third boat carrying five people was met by a merchant vessel off Ramsgate. On Tuesday, 14 men and three minors - all Iranian, were stopped at Dover Harbour trying to make their way into the country on board a fishing boat. Reports in France claimed the vessel was stolen from Boulogne-Sur-Mer on the north coast. The nine people are led away from the rocks by emergency services after they had arrived from across the Channel on a rubber dinghy Emergency services respond to the scene of the spot where migrants landed on a Kent beach French Trawler Le Tervier moored in Dover docks after it was stolen by Immigrants from Boulougne in France In a separate incident, Port of Dover police then discovered seven men while searching a heavy goods vehicle arriving from Calais on Tuesday afternoon. The Home Office said three of the group claimed to be Iranian, while four identified themselves as Iraqis. A Home Office spokeswoman said: 'We are alert to the risk posed by people attempting to reach the UK illegally via small boats. 'This year we have increased the number of coastal patrol vessels and, in light of recent events, have stepped up deployments along the South-East coast. 'We continue to work closely with law enforcement partners in the UK and overseas to tackle people smuggling at source. 'Nobody should put their life at risk attempting to smuggle themselves into the UK across the Channel. Thankfully, this route to the UK remains relatively rare.' The killers of Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi (pictured) may have taken his dismembered body out of Istanbul in their luggage, Turkey believes The killers of Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi may have taken his dismembered body out of Istanbul in their luggage, and used their diplomatic immunity to avoid awkward questions, Turkey's defence minister has claimed. Khashoggi was killed in the Saudi consulate in Istanbul on October 2, sparking global outrage against the kingdom and accusations that its de facto ruler, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, ordered the columnist's murder. Riyadh has offered numerous contradictory explanations for his disappearance, before saying Khashoggi was killed after 'negotiations' to convince him to return to Saudi Arabia failed. Speaking in Canada, defence minister Hulusi Akar said Khashoggi's killers may have taken the journalist's body parts out of Turkey in a suitcase. 'One probability is that they left the country three to four hours after committing the murder,' Akar was quoted as saying by CNN Turk 'They may have taken out Khashoggi's dismembered corpse inside luggage without facing problems due to their diplomatic immunity.' Ankara has said a group of 15 individuals, including a two-man 'clean-up team', was involved and that Khashoggi's body had been dismembered. Turkish officials have also called for an investigation into whether the body was dissolved in acid. Saudi public prosecutor Shalaan al-Shalaan said on Thursday that Khashoggi's body was dismembered, removed from the building and handed to an unidentified 'local cooperator'. More than a month after the murder, Turkey is trying to maintain pressure on Prince Mohammed, releasing a stream of evidence that undermined Riyadh's early denials. Khashoggi is pictured arriving at the Saudi consulate in Istanbul on October 2, the day he was killed. Many have pointed the finger at the Gulf kingdom's Crown Prince U.S. President Donald Trump on Saturday called a CIA assessment blaming Prince Mohammed for the killing 'very premature' and said he would receive a complete report on the case on Tuesday. 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. On Thursday, 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 had been indicted and would be referred to court, while investigations of the remaining suspects would continue. However, Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu said he was not satisfied with Shalaan's statement, pushing Riyadh to disclose the location of Khashoggi's remains and calling for the suspects to be tried in Turkey. French President Emmanuel Macron and German Chancellor Angela Merkel consulted today on a range of issues concerning Europe. The topics up for debate included fixing the euro currency, defense and taxing digital companies as the two leaders looked to preserve their influence abroad. Macron is currently visiting Germany as both he and Merkel are lagging in the polls and need some mutual reinforcement and support. Part of his trip to Berlin involved taking part in Germany's national remembrance day for the victims of war and dictatorship this morning. French President Emmanuel Macron and German Chancellor Angela Merkel consulted today on a range of issues concerning Europe Macron said that the French-German alliance 'is invested with this obligation not to allow the world to slide into chaos, and to accompany it on the road of peace.' He said that Europe can't play its role 'if it doesn't take more responsibility for its defense and security and is content to play a secondary role on the international scene.' The two biggest countries in Europe can be a powerful force, but their leaders at the moment are hampered by falling domestic support. The topics up for debate included fixing the euro currency, defense and taxing digital companies as the two leaders looked to preserve their influence abroad Macron is currently visiting Germany as both he and Merkel are lagging in the polls and need some mutual reinforcement and support Macron has seen his poll ratings sag at home, where more than a quarter-million people protested Saturday over proposed gas tax hikes. And Merkel, after 13 years in power, has in recent weeks announced the beginning of the end of her reign by declining to stand again as leader of her centre-right Christian Democrats (CDU). She has vowed to serve out her fourth term, which runs until 2021, but many observers expect Merkel could be brought down earlier by infighting within the CDU or the unhappy three-party coalition she leads. Macron said that the French-German alliance 'is invested with this obligation not to allow the world to slide into chaos, and to accompany it on the road of peace.' Merkel has offered support for Macron's proposal for a European army. Both leaders have said Europe needs to depend less on others - such as the U.S. - for its defense. U.S. President Donald Trump has unsettled NATO allies by demanding member countries either pay more for defense or 'protect themselves,' as he put it in a recent tweet. However, ceremonial appearances and warm words offered ahead of a December summit on the euro can't hide the persistent friction between the French and German approaches to the European Union's economic issues. He said that Europe can't play its role 'if it doesn't take more responsibility for its defense and security and is content to play a secondary role on the international scene.' Germany and France have apparently struck a deal on a common budget for the EU countries that use the shared euro currency, something Macron pushed for. German Finance Minister Olaf Scholz told the dpa news agency the proposal was to be presented to European finance ministers Monday. The size of the budget - mentioned by French Finance Minister Bruno Le Maire as 20 to 25 billion euros - is far short of Macron's idea. The amount is only 0.2 percent of the eurozone economy, less than the several percentage points of gross domestic product originally mentioned by Macron. Macron stood with folded hands and bowed head alongside the German Chancellor and President Frank-Walter Steinmeier at the Neue Wache memorial in Berlin The French President joined Merkel at a wreath-laying ceremony at Germany's memorial to the victims of war and dictatorship Merkel, the vice president of the German Parliament Claudia Roth, Macron and German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier all laid wreaths The compromise underscores German reluctance to sign off on anything seen as transferring taxpayer money from richer countries like Germany to more fiscally shaky ones such as Italy or Greece. The European summit in December is to take up limited proposals to strengthen the euro currency, such as upgrading the eurozone's bailout fund and a long-term road map for introducing EU-level deposit insurance. The two sides can't agree on a tax on digital companies such as Amazon and Google. Macron during the wreath laying ceremony at the memorial site 'Neue Wache' The group arrived at Neue Wache memorial in Berlin to commemorate the national memorial day The French and the European Commission have proposed imposing such a tax, but Scholz said the issue should be left with the 36-member Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development. Ahead of the talks Macron joined Merkel at a wreath-laying ceremony at Germany's memorial to the victims of war and dictatorship. Macron stood with folded hands and bowed head alongside the German Chancellor and President Frank-Walter Steinmeier at the Neue Wache memorial in Berlin. Macron is visiting as both he and Merkel are lagging in the polls and need some mutual reinforcement and support Macron and Merkel are joined by Roth, German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier, the President of the Bundesrat Daniel Guenther and the President of the Federal Constitutional court Andreas Vosskuhle Macron and Merkel follow an usher as they arrive for a ceremony joined by the former inspector general of the German armed forces Bundeswehr Wolfgang Schneiderhan and German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier Macron spoke in the German parliament in Berlin today on the annual day of remembrance, a week after the 100th anniversary of the end of World War I. Merkel last week echoed Macron's call for a European army, a long-term prospect that drew tweeted criticism of Macron from Trump. The wreath of French President Emmanuel Macron after the wreath-laying ceremony Merkel said a European force would save money and agreed with Macron that Europe must be able to defend itself on its own. Macron and Merkel are both committed pro-Europeans who have resisted rising populist, euro-sceptic, and anti-immigration forces in Europe, as well as Trump's isolationist 'America First' stance. As the world has remembered World War I, Macron has repeatedly invoked its horrors to drive home the message that rising nationalism is again destabilising the world. German Defence Minister Ursula von der Leyen insisted that a joint military force would need not just common equipment and training but also 'the political will to resolutely defend European interests when a conflict breaks out'. France's Minister for European Affairs, Nathalie Loiseau, told the Journal du Dimanche: 'It is not a question of being against the United States but of taking our destiny into our own hands to no longer count on others'. The ceremony was held in the Bundestag (lower house of parliament) The two leaders showed unity as they arrived and sat near to each other during the ceremony While strong on symbolism, the Franco-German partnership and European reform push have been plagued by policy differences and the domestic troubles of the two leaders. Since a Franco-German joint cabinet meeting on Europe in June, challenges have piled up with Brexit nearing and a budget conflict escalating between Brussels and Italy. As Trump gleefully tweeted days ago, Macron's once stellar approval ratings have dropped off into the mid-twenties. Two thieves were filmed embracing and passionately kissing in an alleyway before they raided a post office. Police are hunting the robbers, who have been dubbed 'Bonnie and Fylde', after their terrifying attack on the post office in Blackpool. They were caught kissing on CCTV before the woman entered the post office at 7am last Friday and threatened the owners with a huge meat cleaver. The couple were seen kissing and embracing passionately on CCTV before they raided the post office in Blackpool Shop owners Lee and Sue Evans were terrified and the thieves took around 300 in cash from the till. Lancashire Police on the Fylde coast are hunting the 'Bonnie and Clyde'-style crooks and appealed for help capturing them. Mrs Evans, 63, said she was stunned by the raid as she had served the woman thief 'for years'. The woman threatened shop owners Lee and Sue Evans with a huge meat cleaver while the man held the door open She said: 'I've served her for a number of years and she has always been pleasant. 'When she first said, ''Give me the money'', I honestly thought she was joking. 'Her face was pure evil when she was shouting at us. It was absolutely terrifying for both of us.' Mr Evans called the police during the raid and was grabbed by the woman who threatened him with the giant meat cleaver Mr Evans, 64 was on the phone to the police when the woman pulled him to the counter. He said: 'She grabbed me by my jacket and I was still listening to what the police were saying. 'She literally threw me into the till and was yelling at Sue to open the till. 'Having been a butcher I know what those cleavers are like and she wasn't messing about. She got more and more agitated every second.' Mrs Evans says that she was stunned by the attack as she had served the woman for years and she'd always been pleasant The woman's partner held the shop door open while she took the cash and as they fled together down the street the woman threw away the cleaver, which was recovered by police. Det Insp Alisa Wilson, of Blackpool CID, said: 'We would like to speak to this woman and are keen for anyone with information to come forward. 'This is an extremely serious offence and we want to find the people responsible as soon as possible.' As they fled together down the street the woman threw away the cleaver, which was recovered by police Anyone with information can contact police on 101 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111. 'Bonnie and Clyde' were notorious bank robbers who travelled the US during the Great Depression of the 1930s. Their exploits captured the attention of the American public during the 'Public Enemy Era' and their gang killed at least nine police officers. The couple - played by Faye Dunaway and Warren Beatty in the 1967 Hollywood film - were eventually ambushed and killed by police in Louisiana in 1934. At the event, Vice President of the Vietnam Union of Friendship Organisations (VUFO) and deputy head of the VUFOs Committee on Foreign NGO Affairs Don Tuan Phong highlighted the fact that the MCNV is the first foreign non-governmental organisation to operate in Vietnam when the country was struggling to gain independence, supplying the country with medical equipment, medicine and medical experts. The committees assistance to Vietnam has continued until today, with a focus on poverty alleviation and sustainable development in the past ten years, he said. For his part, Pieter van den Bergh, representative from the MCNVs advisory board, said that the committee has carried out a line-up of projects to support the poor, ethnic minority groups and women with HIV/AIDS. Since 2017, it has expanded the scope of work to climate change adaptation and development of businesses and value chains. He added that the MCNV has been active in 14 cities and provinces across the country. With such significant contributions, the committee is to date the first-ever international organisation to be conferred with four Friendship Orders by the Vietnamese President. The orders were presented to the MCNV in 1977, 1993, 2004 and 2018. At the celebration, the committee organised a conference revolving on sustainable development in the new context, drawing the participation of representatives from the United Nations as well as Vietnamese experts. The Medical Committee Netherlands-Vietnam was founded by a group of Dutch medical doctors, namely Professor Jaap de Haas, Dr. Nick van Rhijn and Dr. Fred Groening founded. They were indignant about the Americans technological warfare in Vietnam and distressed by the suffering of the Vietnamese people. MCNVs goal was to offer large-scale medical help to the worst hit areas in Vietnam. In 1973, MCNV had 67,000 donors, who had already donated a good 4 million euros. The aid initially consisted of sending medical supplies and medicines. After the Vietnam war ended in 1975, relief aid was provided for a few more years. In 1973, under the leadership of Nick van Rhijn, MCNV made the first plan for donating a hospital to Qunag Tri, the province hardest hit by the war. With the support of Dutch donors, the Minister for Developing Countries Jan Pronk and all the Dutch universities, building could begin in 1974. In 1977, the Holland Hospital in Dong Ha was officially opened. Postwar notable contributions of the committee were its efforts to fight tuberculosis in 1983 and malaria in 1987. Currently, the committee is working with the Handicap International to carry out a project to help Vietnam build quality human resources for health care and rehabilitation. Vietnamplus A man dubbed the 'ultimate nightmare neighbour', who battered a mother with a stair banister in a 20-year campaign of terror, has been jailed for the fourth time - prompting locals to throw a street party to celebrate. Stephen Lawson, from Tow Law, County Durham, also smeared someone's windows with black paint so they couldn't see out, made fake 999 calls about other people on his road and even played audio of barking dogs to annoy them. The 59-year-old, who locals say was out of work for years and stuck bizarre notices on his windows slamming 'liars and hypocrites', has now been jailed for 18 months after breaching a criminal behaviour order. Stephen Lawson, from Tow Law, County Durham, was seen on CCTV in 2014 throwing rubbish in his landlord's shed before throwing rubbish into it (left). He is pictured on the right in a mug shot after being jailed last month for breaking a criminal behaviour order Tim Edwards, 46, lived next door to Lawson for two years and told The Sunday Mirror: 'He could start a row in an empty room. I don't normally have much sympathy for prisoners but I feel sorry for anyone who gets stuck with him for months on end.' Maria Bishop, another local, said: 'We've had a street party. Lawson first fell foul of the law in 1996 when he was convicted of criminal damage while living in Shildon. Police recorded him harassing an 87-year-old widow whose health problems left her unable to leave her house, while others said he had been slashing their car tyres. In 1998, then living in Darlington, he assaulted 32-year-old Tania Cleave and was sent to prison. Ms Cleave, now a barmaid, called him 'Britain's worst neighbour'. He was only out for a month in 1999 when he was convicted again, this time for threatening a female neighbour. Teeside Crown Court banned him from Darlington so he moved to Tow Law 20 miles away, where he was seen on CCTV throwing rubbish into his landlord's shed before flicking two fingers to the camera. Lawson holding up a sign scrawled with unknown writing which he then appeared to scrunch up and throw in the CCTV from 2014 Lawson, from Tow Law in County Durham, left bizarre notes on the front window of his house (pictured this week) He moved elsewhere in the village, where he began harassing 62-year-old Stephen Mason - including falsely reporting him to the fire brigade for pouring dangerous chemicals on the street. Magistrates handed him a criminal behaviour order after he sneaked next to Mr Mason's home at night and shovelled mud and rubbish over his fence. But he continued a campaign of harassment against Mr Mason and was given a suspended sentence for breaching the order last year. In September, he received an 18-month sentence for breaching it a second time, after posting papers through his victim's door with 'bullies' scrawled on them. President Donald Trump is returning to the campaign trail next week with a double dose of rallies for Mississippi Sen. Cindy Hyde-Smith, who caused a furor when she said she'd attend a public hanging if invited. Hyde-Smith, who was appointed in April to fill Thad Cochran's seat when he stepped down for health reasons, is in a run off election with Democratic challenger Mike Espy. Neither contender received over 50 percent of the vote on Election Day, prompting the run off. President Donald Trump is returning to the campaign trail next week with a double dose of rallies Trump will campaign for Mississippi Senator Cindy Hyde-Smith, who caused a furor when she said she'd attend a public hanging if invited Trump, who has endorses Hyde-Smith, will hold two rallies for her on Monday, Nov. 26, his campaign announced - one in Tupelo and one in Biloxi. It will be his fifth and sixth rallies in the state since he began his presidential bid in 2015, his campaign noted. He'll sweep in just before voters go to the polls on Tuesday, Nov. 27. The president has worked to close the deal for candidates before. His final rally before Election Day earlier this month was in Missouri, where he touted Republican challenger Josh Hawley, who went on to defeat Democratic Sen. Claire McCaskill. 'President Trump is so committed to getting out the vote for Cindy Hyde-Smith that he scheduled two rallies in the great State of Mississippi on the day before the run-off election,' said Michael Glassner, Chief Operating Officer for Donald J. Trump for President, Inc., in a statement. 'The President needs all hands on deck on Election Day on November 27 so he can continue to count on Senator Hyde-Smith's outstanding support for his America First agenda.' But Democrats have smelled an opening in the ruby red state after Hyde-Smith said she'd attend a 'public hanging' if invited by a supporter. She later defended her comment as 'an exaggerated expression of regard.' The controversy came after a video surfaced showing Hyde-Smith hugging a supporter after he praised her and telling a cheering crowd: 'If he invited me to a public hanging, I'd be on the front row.' She defended herself but did not apologize. 'In a comment on Nov. 2, I referred to accepting an invitation to a speaking engagement,' Hyde-Smith said. 'In referencing the one who invited me, I used an exaggerated expression of regard, and any attempt to turn this into a negative connotation is ridiculous.' But her campaign had to clear up another faux pas, saying the senator was 'making a joke' when she told a group of college students that it is 'just a little more difficult' for 'liberal folks in those other schools' to vote. In a video posted on Twitter, the Republican senator was seen telling a group of supporters she thinks it's a 'great idea' to make it harder for 'liberal folks' to vote. 'Then they remind me, that there's a lot of liberal folks in those other schools who that maybe we don't want to vote. Maybe we want to make it just a little more difficult. And I think that's a great idea,' she said. Democrats are hoping to repeat the success they had in a December special election in Alabama, when a surge of African-American turnout led to Democrat Doug Jones defeat of Republican Roy Moore, who had been accused of improper behavior with teenage girls. Espy, a former member of Congress who was Agriculture Secretary under President Obama, has used the Alabama race as a rallying cry. Democrats are hoping to take advantage of Hyde-Smith's mistakes to get Mike Espy (above) elected to the Senate Democrats are sending in the big guns, like Sen. Kamala Harris (right), to campaign with Espy 'What that did for Doug Jones in Alabama, you've got to do for me in Mississippi, you know what I'm saying?,' he told female supporters. African American women were the voting bloc that put Jones over the top. Democrats are sending in their big guns. California Sen. Kamala Harris campaigned with Espy on Saturday. And New Jersey Sen. Cory Booker will travel to Mississippi on Monday. Trump carried Mississippi by 18 points in the 2016 election. President Donald Trump has said it will be a 'good time' to shut down the federal government if Congress doesn't give him the funding to build the wall along the U.S. border with Mexico. Speaking at the White House on Saturday before flying to California, Trump suggested that he would be prepared to shut down the government next month. 'I think probably, if I was ever going to do a shutdown over border security, when you look at the caravans, when you look at the mess, when you look at the people coming in, this would be a very good time to do a shutdown,' Trump said. Trump has asked for $5 billion to build the border wall, which was a key promise to voters during his election campaign. Speaking at the White House on Saturday before flying to California, Trump suggested that he would be prepared to shut down the government next month He had vowed to make Mexico pay for the 2,000-mile wall, but has since acknowledge the U.S. taxpayers will have to foot the bill. Trump predicted on Saturday that Democrats would agree to the funding to avoid a government shutdown. 'I don't think it's going to be necessary because I think the Democrats will come to their senses,' he said. 'If they don't come to their senses, we will continue to win elections.' Meanwhile, Trump said the 5,800 military troops deployed to the U.S. border will remain there for 'as long as necessary' in a bid to deter the caravan of migrants currently making its way through Mexico. Trump said the 5,800 military troops deployed to the U.S. border will remain there for 'as long as necessary' in a bid to deter the caravan of migrants currently making its way through Mexico Trump's comments came a day after his counselor Kellyanne Conway said lawmakers have 'failed to meet the president's modest demands' for nearly two years. 'Congress needs to act. Congress needs to act on the wall funding, but Congress also needs to act on immigration,' she told Fox & Friends on Friday. Funding for Homeland Security and other agencies will run out on December 7. If a new spending bill has not been finalized by that date, a partial government shutdown will occur. Trump gave lawmakers a pass on funding for his border wall at the last go around as they begged him not to tank their odds of reelection. Samantha Markle is planning to hijack the birth of her sister's baby with a tell-all book that she claims will expose Meghan's 'lies'. Ms Markle, 53, wants to release her book, entitled In The Shadows Of The Duchess, in April or May to coincide with the birth of the royal baby. She has talked about a memoir for months, previously saying it would be called 'The Diary of Princess Pushy's Sister'. But now she claims to have added even more to the book and will 'hold nothing back' on what her sister, 37, is really like. Samantha Markle (pictured in May this year) is promising to hijack the birth of her sister Meghan's baby with an explosive tell-all book She told the Daily Star: 'In The Shadows Of The Duchess covers everything the world does not know truth total truth (I'm) holding nothing back! From lullabies to lies..it's all they're in my book.' Ms Markle, who suffers from multiple sclerosis and uses a wheelchair, is keeping the exact contents of her book a secret. Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's (pictured on Remembrance Day in London) baby is due in April or May next year But she has hinted it will uncover a family feud involving Tyler Dooley, 26, Meghan's brother Thomas Markle Jr's son. Mr Dooley opened up about the trauma Meghan's new royal status has brought to her family in hiw new MTV series The Royal World saying: 'It's been a really tough time. 'The family has been torn apart. Seeing these vicious headlines about who I am. It's been hard. The struggles in the past year have put me to breaking point.' His aunt Samantha will also talk further about the 'cyber bullying' she has experienced since her sister married Prince Harry, 34, in her new book. She told The Star: 'On top of it I am dealing with cyber stalking and cyber bullying with little Twitter trolls they're kind of nasty sending out banners and propaganda about me that's disparaging and not true.' She says she has received death threats and the FBI has got involved to track down those responsible. Her latest claims are part of a string of many she has made about her estranged sister since she was plunged into the global spotlight as the Duchess of Sussex. Meghan's nephew Tyler Dooley (pictured outside Buckingham Palace) is believed to be at the centre of a family feud, which Samantha could uncover in her book Samantha Markle's previous outbursts have included one telling Meghan to reunite with her estranged father Thomas Markle, 74 (pictured on Good Morning Britain earlier this year) Ms Markle has made several appeals to her younger sister trying to get her to reunite with her father Thomas Markle, 74. The former lighting director missed his daughter's wedding to Prince Harry after undergoing heart surgery. He has publicly claimed she has since 'cut him out' and is devastated he 'may never meet' his grandchild. Yesterday, the Mail on Sunday revealed the Duchess has made her mark on the royal family. The divorced former actress reportedly shocked the Queen by wearing such a white dress to her wedding. She is also up at 5am most days, flooding royal aides about how she can do more in her role. The eldest daughter of an Australian woman facing the death penalty over the death of her mentally ill stepdaughter insists her mother is innocent. Lisa Cunningham could become the first Australian woman on death row in the US if she is found guilty of the alleged neglect and killing of her seven-year-old stepdaughter Sanaa in February 2017. Sanaa suffered acute schizophrenia and other mental health problems, but died from complications due to sepsis and acute bronchitis. Lisa Cunningham could become the first Australian woman to face the death penalty in the US Originally from Adelaide, Mrs Cunningham now spends 23 hours a day in solitary confinement in the maximum security unit of Estrella Womens Jail near Phoenix, Arizona. Lisa's oldest daughter Cierra, 21, is fighting for her mother to be released from jail. She described her mum as someone who 'would do anything she knows you want and then double it.' Cierra is vying for custody in order to keep her siblings together, who are currently in state care. Not only is she not allowed to visit her mum in prison but is still grieving the loss of stepsister Sanaa almost two years ago. 'I miss her every single second of every day and I would do anything to have her back,' Cierra tearfully told Channel 7's Sunday Night. 'She wasn't killed. She was loved, just like they were. And they just want her back too. They just want to be a family.' Lisa' stepdaughter Sanaa (pictured) was just seven-years-old when she died in February 2017 Her mother spoke publicly from prison for the first time since she was sentenced in September. Mrs Cunningham claimed that Sanaa died from pneumonia and that her desperate pleas for help with her schizophrenic stepdaughter fell on deaf ears. 'Nobody was murdered here. Nobody was killed, and nobody was abused,' she told Sunday Night reporter Matt Doran in a phone interview. 'We didn't get any help. Sanaa never got any treatment. They gave her pills.' The former prison guard and chaplain labelled it a 'disgrace' that Sanaa was being remembered as a victim and not somebody who was mentally ill. Lisa Cunningham's daughter Cierra (pictured) is banned from visiting her mum in prison 'She was not a burden to our family and that is not a fair thing to say to us or her siblings,' Mrs Cunningham said. 'And it's not fair to her memory.' She added it would be 'illogical' if she was convicted at her upcoming trial and sentenced to death. Mrs Cunningham's husband, former Phoenix detective Germayne Cunningham was also charged with Sanaa's murder after a series of complaints of the child's neglect were investigated. But she claims she and her husband are innocent, and were the best parents they could be to Mr Cunningham's 'dangerously schizophrenic' daughter. Ligatures to her body, including a bone-deep cut on her foot and markings suggestive of being bound with zip-ties and handcuffs, were noted, with police alleging Sanaa was the victim of vicious abuse. Lisa Cunningham now spends 23 hours a day in solitary confinement in the maximum security unit of Estrella Womens Jail (pictured) They allege she was restrained in a straitjacket and cable ties before her death. Mrs Cunningham claims she is the victim of an elaborate set up after she threatened to sue the state for Sanaa's death. She claims Sanaa was severely impaired and self harmed, was dangerous, and spoke of a voice in her head that 'urged her to kill'. They claim she once attacked the family dog. In September, the stepmother blamed the anti psychotic drug Risperdal that was prescribed to the seven-year-old for schizophrenia for the death. One of the side affects of the medication is pneumonia, as well as other health complications. Mother-of-four Lisa Cunningham (pictured) now spends 23 hours a day in solitary confinement She and her husband, former Phoenix detective Germayne Cunningham, were arrested and charged with Sanaa's murder after a series of complaints of the child's neglect were investigated Mrs Cunningham argues her and her husband wanted to avoid anti psychotic drugs and wanted to try cannabis treatment, but said they were threatened by the department that if we did not comply with the drug order. Child protection services first investigated Mrs Cunningham and her husband in March of 2016. Mrs Cunningham and her husband will remain in jail until their trial in July 2020 Lisa Cunningham claims she and her husband were the best parents they could be to Mr Cunningham's 'dangerously schizophrenic' daughter Sanaa (pictured) The boss of the CBI today blasted the Tory Brexit civil war - saying business chiefs have 'watched on in horror' at the torrid division in Westminster. Carolyn Fairbairn, director general of the group which represents British business, said the public are sick of the Brexit psychodrama and want politicians to think about domestic issues. She urged MPs to 'listen to business' when they consider how they cast their ballots in the crucial Brexit vote next month. And she said that Theresa May's Brexit deal has 'some benefits for business' and opens up a 'pathway for frictionless trade' with the EU in the future. Ms Fairbairn told Sky News' Sophy Ridge on Sunday that businesses have 'watched on with a degree of horror' at Westminster's squabbling politicians. Carolyn Fairbairn (pictured on Sky today), director general or the group which represents British business, said the public are sick of the Brexit psychodrama and want politicians to think about domestic issues The PM (pictured on Sky this morning) confirmed she is set to fly back for more negotiations with the EU this week as she stressed her under-fire Brexit plan is not fully finished She said: 'It almost feels like there is a Westminster bubble beyond which people are not thinking about the real people in this country, who work in our manufacturing businesses, who will be affected by this. 'Our message from business, and it is a really heartfelt one that comes of frustration and concern about the future, is listen to the businesses in your constituencies. 'Go out and talk to people whether they now feel it is time to move on, whether it is not time to move beyond this so we can talk about the NHS and skills and all the things that really do matter to our country. 'Do that, when they come and they vote they are doing it based on what and businesses really think.' She added: 'There is a real danger that this becomes almost a political parlour game in Westminster where there are all sorts of different views that are swirling around while the rest of the country sits on and watches, and they are the ones who are going to be affected.' She said that while the PM's plan is 'not perfect' and contains 'compromises' it 'does have some benefits for business. It rules out no-deal and does open up a pathway to frictionless trade in the future.' The withering rebuke to MPs came as the PM stepped up her fightback against Tory Brexiteer rebels who are trying to oust her and tear up her Brexit plan. Mrs May gave a rare live TV interview this morning and used it to warn her mutinous MPs that their coup threatens to backfire and stop Brexit altogether. The PM launched a fightback to defend her plan, and said that when she flies out for talks with the EU this week negotiations will focus on the future trade deal. She said the next seven days will be 'critical' for the plan, which will determine the future of people's children and grandchildren for years to come. Steve Baker (pictured in Westminster on Friday) , a Tory MP and organiser in chief for the Conservative Brexiteers, said PM's 'deal stops Brexit altogether' She told Sky News' Sophy Ridge on Sunday: A change of leadership at this time is not going to make the negotiations any easier and it is not going to change the parliamentary arithmetic. 'It will bring uncertainty and increase the risk that we delay the negotiations, and that is a risk that Brexit gets delayed or frustrated. But Tory Brexit rebels are sticking to their guns and insisting that the PM's under-fire deal must be ditched in the final few weeks of talks. Steve Baker, a Tory MP and organiser in chief for the Conservative Brexiteers, hit back saying PM's 'deal stops Brexit altogether'. He told MailOnline: 'If we go on with her proposal we will end up in a future relationship based on the completely unacceptable backstop. 'It is completely unacceptable to go forward with the PM's plan. It is Brexit in name only and it will lead to us losing the next election, and it will be resisted ferociously at every step.' President Donald Trump is threatening to turn off the cameras that face reporters as part of his new rules and regulations for the conduct of the media in the wake of CNN reporter Jim Acosta losing and then regaining his White House hard pass. 'We'll do is maybe turn the camera off that faces them because then they don't have any air time, although I'll probably be sued for that and maybe, you know, win or lose it, who knows. I mean, with with this stuff you never know what's going to happen,' Trump said on 'Fox News Sunday.' It was unclear if the president was referring to the cameras in press conferences in the White House or cameras that face the press corps in press secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders' briefings. President Donald Trump is threatening to turn off the cameras that face reporters as part of his new rules and regulations Acosta returned to a hero's welcome at the White House after regaining his hard pass, wearing the press credentials that he's been without for nine days Trump said his White House is formulating rules and regulations that will govern how it will respond to future breaches of decorum among the press corps Fox News host Chris Wallace asked the president why he calls on Acosta, with whom the president has had a contentious relationship with. 'Why did you call on Acosta in the first place? I mean, it seems to me there's a simple solution here, just don't call on him,' Wallace said. 'Actually I like to do it, but in many cases I don't. He'll stand up, he's unbelievably rude to Sarah Huckabee, who's a wonderful woman, unbelievably rude and I see that and I actually ask her the same. Why do you call on these people that are so nasty?,' Trump said. It was then the president threatened to turn off the cameras facing reporters but it was unclear in what setting he was referring to - inside the White House or inside the press briefing room, which sits in the West Wing area adjacent to the residence. Those cameras, which provide what are called 'cuts,' show the reporters questioning officials in briefings and press conferences. The television cameras are controlled by the networks. While it would be hard for the administration to control what cameras are on in Sanders' briefings, where all the TV networks have cameras, the White House could limit the number of cameras allowed in the East Room for press conferences with the president. The White House could also simply nix those 'cut away' camera positions in press conferences, meaning the only cameras allowed would be the ones focused on Trump. The president also defended his attacks on the 'fake media.' 'I don't mind getting bad news if I'm wrong. If I do something wrong,' he said. 'I'm totally in favor of the media, I'm totally in favor of free press, got to be fair press,' he noted. But Wallace pressed him: 'The President [doesn't] get to decide what's fair and what's not.' 'I can tell what's fair and not and so can my people and so can a lot of other people,' the president responded. Wallace then brought up the battles between Fox News and President Barack Obama's administration. The president's contentious relationship with the media ratcheted up a notch in the last few weeks 'Barack Obama whined about Fox News all the time but he never said we were the enemy of the people,' he said. 'Well, no, he didn't talk about the news, he didn't talk about anything, I'm only saying it very differently than anyone's ever said it before, I'm saying fake news, false reporting, dishonest reporting, of which there is a lot, and I know it. See, I know it because I'm a subject of it. A lot of people don't know it. But when I explain it to them, they understand it,' Trump said. The president grumbled about his press conference during much of his interview with Fox News. Wallace began the interview by asking Trump about reports he was in a dark mood after Republicans lost control of the House of Representatives in the midterm election. The president snapped back his mood was 'light' and went on to attack The Washington Post, which reported that story. 'Its disgusting fake news. I read a front page story in the Washington Post, they never even called me, nobody ever calls me,' he said. 'I dont even think they have sources I think they just make it up like its fiction. And I will tell you Im extremely upbeat, the White House is running like a well-oiled machine, its doing really well.' He added: 'And I will tell you that its so wrong, the reporting about me is so wrong. Im loving what Im doing.' The president's contentious relationship with the media ratcheted up a notch in the last few weeks after Acosta's hard pass was revoked after he got into a back-and-forth with Trump in a news conference and a tussle over a microphone that the CNN White House correspondent refused to hand over to an intern. Trump warned he would have Acosta rejected from future press conferences 'if he misbehaves.' And he said he reserved the right to abruptly end Q&A events with reporters if Acosta gets on his nerves. President Donald Trump brushed off a judge's ruling on Friday that restored CNN journalist Jim Acosta's revoked press pass, saying he'llwin in the end once there's an established process for punishing unruly reporters Acosta was wearing his White House 'hard pass' (the gray ID card, pictured) when he returned to 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue Friday after winning a temporary restraining order On Friday, a federal judge ordered the White House to restore the media credentials it stripped from Acosta last week following a contentious East Room press conference. After telling Trump he wanted to 'challenge' him about his border policy, Acosta argued with him and remained standing with a White House microphone when the president told him his time was up. Acosta also refused to surrender the microphone to a bewildered female intern. On Friday the president called federal judge Timothy Kelly's ruling 'not a big deal.' Kelly's decision rebuked the White House for arbitrarily ousting Acosta from the building without giving him a constitutionally guaranteed 'due process' to defend himself. 'What they said, though, is that we have to create rules and regulations for conduct, etc.,' Trump said in his Fox interview. 'We're doing that. Were going to write them up right now.' 'It's not a big deal and if he misbehaves we'll throw him out or we'll stop the news conference.' Having written rules and procedures would satisfy Acosta's Fifth Amendment rights, Kelly said Friday, but CNN's federal lawsuit would remain to challenge Trump on First Amendment freedom-of-the-press grounds. Trump said Acosta's refusal to take a seat during the Nov. 7 press conference meant other journalists 'were unable to ask questions' because he was 'shouting out questions and making statements too.' He predicted that in future news conferences 'if I think somebody is acting out of sorts, I will leave. I will say, 'Thank you very much everybody, I appreciate you coming.' And I'll leave.' 'And those reporters will not be too friendly to whoever it is that's acting up.' He had already warned the political press corps on Friday not to rejoice too loudly about the court decision. He predicted he will ultimately win CNN's lawsuit once it can be shown that there are bright lines that reporters know they can't cross. 'We're setting up a certain statndard which is what the court is requesting,' he said, adding that 'with the rules and regulations, we will end up back in court and we will win.' Judge Kelly said Friday that Jim Acosta's free-press rights under the First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution outweigh 'the government's interest in orderly, respectful press conferences.' He declared in a stinging defeat for the president in his war on 'fake news' that the White House failed to give Acosta 'due process,' something guaranteed in government proceedings under the Fifth Amendment. And he suggested that the White House exaggerated its contention that Acosta physically interfered with a female intern last week as she tried to reclaim a press conference microphone. The reporter became the reported on Friday as journalists swarmed Acosta upon his return to the White House Trump had his own gaggle of reporters quizzing him about the court ruling, but he said the White House was writing 'rules and regulations' to govern future cancellations of press passes Acosta returned to the White House a few hours later, mobbed by photographers and wearing his 'hard pass,' the same one taken from him last Wednesday by a uniformed Secret Service officer who stopped him at the Pennsylvania Avenue gate. 'I want to thank all of my colleagues in the press who supported us this week,' he said outside the federal courthouse in Washington. 'And I want to thank the judge for the decision he made today. And let's go back to work.' While Kelly ordered the White House to let Acosta back in the building, he said Trump and his spokespeople aren't obligated to call on him during press conferences or let him ask questions. He also said the White House isn't under any obligation to host reporters at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, but it also can't play favorites. Trump signaled Friday that he is still upset by Acosta's decision last week to badger him instead of handing the microphone to a female intern when he was told his question time in a press onference was over. 'You can't take three questions and four questions. You can't stand up and not sit down,' he vented. 'When I see the way some of my people get treated at news conferences, it's terrible.' He also warned that he has 'the option of leaving' a press conference early if Acosta's tactics become the norm, 'and the other media and press in the room won't be happy.' White House Press Secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders watched as Trump spoke about the CNN ruling; she claimed a small victory earlier based on Judge Timothy Kelly's ruling that reporters have no 'absolute' First Amendment right to do their work from inside the White House A government lawyer told Judge Timothy Kelly on Wednesday that Trump, pictured during a fateful Nov. 7 press conference, would be within his legal rights to ban all reporters from the White House; Kelly agreed in principle but said that once the administration let them in it had to treat all reporters equally White House Press Secretary Sarah Sanders tried to squeeze a drop of lemonade out of Judge Kelly's lemons. 'Today, the court made clear that there is no absolute First Amendment right to access the White House,' she said in a statement. 'In response to the court, we will temporarily reinstate the reporter's hard pass. We will also further develop rules and processes to ensure fair and orderly press conferences in the future.' Sanders ended by saying that in the Trump administration, 'There must be decorum at the White House.' There was near-unanimity in the political press corps' backing of CNN, with more than a dozen news outlets signaling they would formally submit a supportive brief to Judge Kelly. Only One America News Network, a conservative outlet, publicly sided with Trump. Kelly, a Trump appointee, emphasized that his ruling was temporary, saying: 'I have not determined that the First Amendment was violated here.' 'I want to emphasize the very limited nature of this ruling,' he said, explaining that he only granted CNN's emergency request on the basis that the White House's decision seemed arbitrary. He also explained that if the White House had canceled Acosta's press pass based on a belief that he was a safety or security threat, it might have been forgiven for acting without notice. But Kelly sided with CNN, ensuring Acosta will be able to re-enter the White House grounds. He noted that the government's attorneys couldn't tell him on Wednesday who had made the final decision to yank Acosta's credentials, an indication that no formal process was involved. 'Whatever process occurred within the government is still so shrouded in mystery that the government could not tell me at oral argument who made the initial decision to revoke Mr. Acosta's press pass,' he said. Acosta left the U.S. District Court in Washington, D.C. after hearing the positive ruling In a tense but brief hearing, Kelly also said the White House's claim that Kelly physically put his hands on a female intern during the Nov. 7 press conference was of 'questionable accuracy.' In a statement, CNN said, 'We are gratified with this result and we look forward to a full resolution in the coming days. Our sincere thanks to all who have supported not just CNN, but a free, strong and independent American press.' On the air, the network's correspondents gloated. Media reporter Brian Stelter crowed that Trump 'doesn't want to acknowledge what real news is, so he lashed out' at Acosta, a reporter he has battled over and over. CNN argued in court that the Trump administration was capriciously punishing Acosta because of his public advocacy in opposition to the president's policies. CNN attorney Ted Boutrous said outside the courthouse that 'this is a great day for the First Amendment and for journalism.' Judge Kelly did give the White House some legal options, including the establishment of a formal procedure for making decisions like the one it unilaterally handed down. 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 He also hinted that CNN would ultimately prevail on First Amendment grounds, saying that while the administration isn't under any obligation to host reporters on White House grounds, it's unconstitutional to exclude some reporters while accepting others. A Trump administration lawyer argued on Wednesday that Acosta has disrupted media events and interfered with one press conference last week by refusing to surrender a microphone and touching the intern who tried to reclaim it. The government attorney also argued 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 'there's no First Amendment right' to be physically present in the building Trump works. Acosta, he said, 'is just somebody who gets up and grandstands. He doesn't even know what he's asking you half of the time.' CNN attorney Ted Boutrous spoke to reporters following a hearing Wednesday 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 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. 'We'll 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 won't 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 they're bad for the country. ... He's just an average guy who's a grandstander,' Trump said, while acknowledging that Acosta is a reporter 'who's got the guts to stand up and shout.' 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. 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 The Trump campaign started raising money over the legal battle on Wednesday '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 contended 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. 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 that there was anything more than minor physical contact. Acosta, who has frequently clashed with President Trump during persistent questioning, lost access to the White House on Wednesday night Advertisement Topless feminist protesters stormed a rally commemorating the 43rd anniversary of General Francisco Franco's death. Supporters of the military dictator, including members of the far-right group Falange, gathered in Madrid on Sunday, ahead of the anniversary of his death. The rally is held annually on the Sunday falling closest to November 20, the date Franco died in 1975. The general ruled Spain for 36 years after leading a military uprising that started the Spanish Civil War. A large crowd of people at their rally in the city's Plaza de Oriente waved out-of-date Spanish flags dating back to General Franco's decades of authoritarian rule. Others were seen performing fascist salutes. But three members of the feminist group Femen ran into the gathering topless with 'legal fascism, national shame' painted on their torsos. Supporters rise their right arm to salute the fascist anthem to remember former Spanish dictator Francisco Franco in Madrid A woman performs a fascist salute at a rally that is held annually on the Sunday falling closest to November 20, the date Franco died in 1975 A member of feminist movement Femen is detained by Spanish police after a protest against a far-right rally in Madrid, Spain Spanish police intervened to keep trouble from erupting at the rally. Officers on horseback and on foot quickly moved to keep an angry crowd of about 200 away from the three protesters. Several protesters were seen being restrained by Spanish police on Sunday. Members of the feminist activist group, which is based in Paris, frequently carries out shock protests against sexism, racism, homophobia and other social and political issues. They have protested bare-breasted and painted with slogans in front of President Donald Trump, Pope Francis and at comedian Bill Cosby's sexual assault trial. Last week, one the group's topless protesters ran towards the motorcade carrying Trump along the Champs Elysees in Paris ahead of a ceremony to mark the Armistice that ended World War One. She was apprehended by French police. Three members of the feminist group Femen ran into the gathering topless with 'legal fascism, national shame' painted on their torsos Officers on horseback and on foot quickly moved to keep an angry crowd of about 200 away from the three protesters Their target this time was a rally in support of General Franco, who ruled Spain from the end of the Spanish Civil War in 1939 until his death in 1975. His fascist regime was supported by Nazi Germany and Mussolini in Italy. He was buried in the Valley of the Fallen, a mausoleum he ordered built around 30 miles northwest of Madrid. Spain's Socialist-led government is planning to exhume Franco's remains from an elaborate mausoleum outside Madrid - a decision that has divided Spanish society. The decision has infuriated Spaniards nostalgic for the dictatorship and several of General Franco's descendants have expressed opposition to the exhumation. Members of the feminist activist group, which is based in Paris, frequently carries out shock protests against sexism, racism, homophobia and other social and political issues Far-right group Falange members perform the fascist salute during a demonstration marking the anniversary of the death of Spanish dictator Francisco Franco in Madrid The Francisco Franco Foundation, a not-for-profit organisation that promotes the memory of the former dictator, has said his remains should be given a Christian burial at the Almudena Roman Catholic Cathedral in central Madrid. But the families of the tens of thousands of his opponents who were killed or imprisoned during his near four-decade rule oppose his burial at such an emblematic site. The government of Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez hopes the exhumation will help settle grievances from the period of his rule that still cast a shadow over the country. But it is still not known where his remains will be transferred to. As many as 500,000 combatants and civilians died in the Spanish civil war. Advertisement The remains of two villages in Derbyshire have re-emerged due to the water levels at a reservoir being extremely low. Derwent and Ashopton were purposely flooded in 1943 to make way for Ladybower Reservoir which was built between 1935 and 1943 - with the remains not being seen in 24 years. Derby, Sheffield, Nottingham and Leicester benefited from the reservoir which provided water for the large cities as church buildings, a village hall and even a pub were submerged. Visitors take pictures at the ruins of Derwent Hall which were exposed by low water levels in Ladybower reservoir An old fireplace is seen as the ruins of Derwent Hall are exposed by low water levels. Derwent and Ashopton were flooded purposely in 1943 Due to a long hot summer the water levels have plummeted, exposing the historic buildings in the last four weeks. People are now flocking to the site as it becomes a tourist attraction, Dave Ashton, from the Peak District's Upper Derwent Visitor Centre said it was a rare occurrence for the buildings of days gone by to be visible, he said he last saw the remains in 1995, after a dry spell and during the summer in 1976. Ladybower and Derwent reservoir were famously used by the Dambusters for practice missions during the Second World War. Britain's water supplies receded rapidly as the country sizzled in searing temperatures amid a global heatwave last summer. Derby, Sheffield, Nottingham and Leicester benefited from the reservoir which provided water for the large cities A person inspects a part of Derwent hall with messages scrawled on it in chalk, one marked with yesterday's date and 'Steve' The villages of Derwent and Ashopton in Derbyshire were deliberately flooded in 1943 to create Ladybower and Derwent reservoir Hosepipe bans were in effect in Northern Ireland as water companies took drastic action to preserve water supplies. But that sort of weather, coupled with a stunning backdrop, is what has seen visitor numbers soar in the area. Dave Ashton told the BBC: 'It is a rare occurrence to see the ruins of Derwent village. The long dry spring and summer has lowered the water levels of the reservoir slowly and in the last four weeks the remains have become visible. Derwent Hall in Derbyshire in its former glory in 1939, parts of it can now be seen surrounded by a thick mud in Ladybower Reservoir A view across the waters of the Ladybower Reservoir to the light cascading on the surrounding farmland while submerged Old tiles are revealed with bricks strewn in the thick mud as twp of many visitors take in the rare spectacle 'Visitor numbers are soaring because of it. People are walking in the exposed village.' The site does come with its perils, however. Earlier this month a man got stuck in the thick mud when trying to grab a closer look at the beautiful stone cottages and period buildings. A mountain rescue spokesman said at the time: 'The mud is however extremely thick in places and he got himself completely stuck. People enjoying the site, it does have its perils, however. Earlier this month a man got stuck in the mud and had to be freed Mountain bikers are taking advantage of the unique rocky but soft terrain with a backdrop of stunning natural beauty 'Due to concern for his temperature and general welfare his partner ran round to the rangers station at Fairholmes to summon assistance.' The team was able to free the man, with the spokesman adding: 'Team members then returned to base to start a long session of equipment cleaning!' Looking over Ladybower Reservoir from Bamford Edge in the Peak District National Park, how the scene usually looks Dozens of people inspect the ruins around the reservoirs with a warning sign visible in the foreground beside the old fireplace A modern tire has somehow made its way into the thick mud that proved dangerous as someone got trapped in it this month The ruins include an old village hall, a period bridge, a pub and this picture shows that even a farm was partly preserved A man examines an old water trough as the ruins of Derwent Hall are exposed by low water levels, Ouzeldon Bridge is visible There is some water left, however not a lot. The ruins are attracting an unusually high number of visitors A young boy and his dog pose for a picture among the ruins of a part of Derwent Hall, wellies are essential for the thick mud The ruins of Derwent Hall, including the fireplace, are exposed by low water levels as people inspect the remains Footfall has been high of late. The area was famously used by the Dambusters for practice missions during the Second World War The villages of Derwent and Ashopton in Derbyshire were deliberately flooded in 1943 to create Ladybower and Derwent reservoir, A dog splashes in the water and mud amongst the ruins of Derwent Hall which have been exposed by low water levels A usual no swimming sign has been joined by a warning sign that reminds people of the dangers of the soft mud President Donald Trump said he wasn't aware of Matt Whitaker's critical comments on special counsel Robert Mueller's Russia investigation before he appointed him acting attorney general. 'I did not know that. I did not know he took views on the Mueller investigation as such,' the president said on 'Fox News Sunday.' 'I don't think it had any effect,' he added. 'If you look at those statements those statements they really can be viewed either way, but I don't think it will have any impact.' President Donald Trump said he wasn't aware of Matt Whitaker's critical comments on special counsel Robert Mueller's Russia investigation before he appointed him acting attorney general Trump defended acting United States Attorney General Matt Whitaker, saying he was right there was no collusion with Russia Whitaker has fallen under intense scrutiny since Trump installed him after the election and ousted Jeff Sessions as attorney general, handing Whitaker direct oversight of the Mueller probe. Democrats howled and brought up some of Whitaker's many public comments about the investigation, which President Trump has called a 'witch hunt.' Whitaker, too, has applied that term to the investigation. He wrote in an op-ed for CNN in 2017: 'Mueller has come up to a red line in the Russia 2016 election-meddling investigation that he is dangerously close to crossing.' 'If he were to continue to investigate the [Trump family's] financial relationships without a broadened scope in his appointment, then this would raise serious concerns that the special counsel's investigation was a mere witch hunt.' Since Trump tapped him, Democrats have threatened to investigate Whitaker and closely monitor his conduct. Trump defended his pick, however, and said Whitaker was right when he said there was no collusion between his presidential campaign and Russia. 'He's right. What do you do when a person's right? There is no collusion. He happened to be right. I mean, he said it. So if he said there is collusion, I'm supposed to be taking somebody that says there is? Because then I wouldn't take him for two reasons, but the number one reason is the fact that he would have been wrong. If he said that there's no collusion, he's right,' Trump said on 'Fox News Sunday.' Fox News host Chris Wallace asked the president if he was okay with it if Whitaker decides to limit or curtail the Mueller investigation. 'It's going to be up to him,' the president responded. 'I think he's very well aware politically. I think he's astute politically. He's a very smart person. A very respected person. He's going to do what's right. I really believe he's going to do what's right. He added: 'I would not get involved. And all these people that say I'm going to end the investigation, you know, they've been saying that now for -how long has this witch hunt gone on? It's gone on for, what?' Democrats have slammed Whitaker's promotion. 'From my point of view is that he was chosen for the purpose of interfering with the Mueller investigation. He auditioned for the part by going on T.V. and saying he could hobble the investigation,' Democratic Rep. Adam Schiff said on ABC's 'This Week.' And Schiff said Democrats, who will control the House of Representatives next year, wouldn't hesitate to investigate any actions Whitaker took in regards to the Russia probe. 'We will expose any involvement he has in it. He needs to know that if he takes any action to curb what Mr. Mueller does, we're going to find out about it. We're going to expose it. And I would certainly call on my colleagues right now to avoid the constitutional crisis, take action now, speak out against this appointment,' he said. And Democratic Rep. Elijah Cummings, who will head the Oversight and Government Reform Committee, the Chief Investigative Committee in the House, next year, said Whitaker should recuse himself from overseeing Mueller's investigation. 'I would love to see him recuse himself because I think the things that he has said about defunding the special probe and the many things that he has talked about, with regard to his opinion, a negative opinion with regard to special counsel in the process. I don't think that he's the proper person to be in that position,' Cummings said on 'Face the Nation.' Trump became furious with Sessions when the then-attorney general recused himself from overseeing Mueller. Shortly after he appointed Whitaker, the president denied ever taking his pulse over the Russia probe. Trump has claimed he is the victim of 'witch hunt,' a term Whitaker has also used Whitaker has come under fire for critical comments he has made on special counsel Robert Mueller's Russia investigation 'I didn't speak to Matt Whitaker about it. I don't know Matt Whitaker. Matt Whitaker has a great reputation and that's what I wanted,' Trump told reporters after the election as he headed to Paris for a visit. Trump also told Fox News he probably wouldn't sit down with Mueller and his team for a one-on-one interview. 'I would say probably. Probably. I mean, I can change my mind, but probably,' he said on Sunday. He added: 'I think we've wasted enough time on this witch hunt and the answer is probably, we're finished.' He also said he was finishing up his written answers to Mueller's questions and they would be submitted soon. Wallace asked him the odds that it was finished. 'What are the odds? One in a hundred? What?,' he said. 'I don't do odds,' Trump replied. 'You ran a casino sir,' Wallace noted. 'You're right, and very successfully actually,' Trump said. 'We gave very, very complete answers to a lot of questions that I shouldn't have even been asked and I think that should solve the problem, I hope it solves the problem, if it doesn't, you know, I'll be told and we'll make a decision at that time. But probably this is the end.' Mueller is under political pressure to wrap up his probe. Now that the election is over, he is expected to report on two of his main charges: whether there was collusion between Russia and Trump's campaign and whether the president took any actions that constitute obstruction of justice. Uruguayan Ambassador Portell Casanova Maria Del Rosario, Norwegian Ambassador Grete Lochen, Canadian Ambassador Deborah Anne Paul and Chinese Ambassador Xiong Bo respectively presented their credentials to the Vietnamese leader after they were appointed as ambassadors extraordinary and plenipotentiary in Vietnam.After the ceremony, the Party chief received the ambassadors.Speaking at the meetings, Party chief, President Nguyen Phu Trong - on behalf of the State and Vietnamese people warmly welcomed the ambassadors with their new missions in Vietnam.On this occasion, leader Nguyen Phu Trong sent the best wishes to President of Uruguay, the King of Norway, Governor General of Canada and Communist Party General Secretary and President of China.Mr. Trong believed that the new ambassadors will affirm their missions with knowledge, competence, experience and sentiment extended to Vietnam adding that ambassadors will play important role as a bridge to promote friendship and bilateral cooperation ties between sides, bring practical benefits of Vietnamese people and the four nations, contribute to maintain regional and global peace, cooperation and development.Vietnam will create favorable conditions for the ambassadors during their working term in the Southeast Asian country, added he.At the same time, Communist Party General Secretary and President Trong hoped that the country and people of Vietnam will show great impression and good sentiment to the ambassadors. BY TRAN BINH- Translated by Huyen Huong Hardline Brexiteers in the Tory Party today stepped up their bid to try to force Theresa May to abandon her controversial Brexit plan. The European Research Group - which is led by Jacob Rees-Mogg - tried to turn the screw on Mrs May by releasing a report savaging the PM's divorce package and demanding a radical change in policy. But they faced embarrassment as their seven-page report wrongly states the historic referendum to leave the EU was in 2017 - whereas it was held the year before. Furious Tory Brexiteers in the group are desperate to force the PM to abandon her Brexit plans as the talks enter their final, crucial stages. Leading members of the group - including Mr Rees-Mogg and his close ally Steve Baker - are spearheading the attempted coup to oust her as leader. The ERG, the powerful group which represents Brexit-backing Tory MPs, tried to heap fresh pressure on the PM today by firing off a document tearing into her plan. The European Research Group - which is led by Jacob Rees-Mogg (pictured at a hastily arranged press conference outside Parliament last week where he announced he had no confidence in the PM) - tried to turn the screw on Mrs May by released in a report savaging the PM's divorce package and demanding a radical change in policy They they warn it will leave Britain a 'vassal state' having to swallow law drawn up in Brussels without having any say in them. The document, entitled 'The case against Chequers and the draft withdrawal agreement, also blasts the PM for agreeing to hand over 39billion in a Brexit divorce bill without having a future trade deal guaranteed. Who has sent letters of no confidence in May? Letters of no confidence in Theresa May are confidential - but some of her strongest critics have gone public. If 48 letters are sent a vote is called. This is who has definitely sent a letter: Jacob Rees-Mogg , North East Somerset, Jacob.reesmogg.mp@parliament.uk Steve Baker , Wycombe, steve.baker.mp@parliament.uk Sheryll Murray , South East Cornwall, sheryll.murray.mp@parliament.uk Anne-Marie Morris , Newton Abbott, annemarie.morris.mp@parliament.uk Lee Rowley , North East Derbyshire, lee.rowley.mp@parliament.uk Henry Smith , Crawley, henry.smith.mp@parliament.uk Simon Clarke , Middlesbrough South and East Cleveland, simon.clarke.mp@parliament.uk Peter Bone , Wellingborough, bonep@parliament.uk James Duddridge , Rochford and Southend East, james@jamesduddridge.com Philip Davies , Shipley, daviesp@parliament.uk Andrea Jenkyns , Morley and Outwood, andrea.jenkyns.mp@parliament.uk Andrew Bridgen , North West Leicestershire, andrew.bridgen.mp@parliament.uk Nadine Dorries , Mid Bedfordshire, dorriesn@parliament.uk Laurence Robertson , Tewkesbury, robertsonl@parliament.uk Martin Vickers , Cleethorpes, martin.vickers.mp@parliament.uk Ben Bradley , Mansfield, ben.bradley.mp@parliament.uk Adam Holloway , Gravesham, hollowaya@parliament.uk John Whittingdale , Maldon, john.whittingdale.mp@parliament.uk Maria Caulfield , Lewes, maria.caulfield.mp@parliament.uk Mark Francois , Rayleigh and Wickford, mark.francois.mp@parliament.uk David Jones , Clwyd West, david.jones@parliament.uk Marcus Fysh , Yeovil, marcus.fysh.mp@parliament.uk Chris Green , Bolton West, chris.green.mp@parliament.uk Zac Goldsmith , Richmond Park, zac@zacgoldsmith.com Bill Cash , Stone, cashw@parliament.uk Philip Hollobone , Kettering, philip.hollobone.mp@parliament.uk Andrew Lewer, Northampton South, andrew.lewer.mp@parliament.uk Crispin Blunt , Reigate, crispinbluntmp@parliament.uk Owen Paterson , Shropshire Patersono@parliament.uk Advertisement It states: 'The UK will continue to be bound by EU laws in vital areas such as social policy, environmental policy and employment policy, i.e will obey EU laws, but have no further influence over how they are drafted. 'We will thus become a rule taker and will have surrendered our sovereignty in these critical areas.' They warn a major concession which will allow more EU regulatory checks to be carried out in Northern Ireland risks driving a wedge between the UK. And they blast the controversial backstop plans, which would keep the UK tied into an EU customs union of no free trade deal which keeps a soft Irish border is done in time. It states: 'In summary, the combination of these measures means the United Kingdom will have not left the European Union but will instead be half in and half out. 'This will mean that we will become a vassal state many of whose laws will have been created abroad and over which we have no influence. 'This is completely against the spirit of the 2017 referendum in which 17.4 million UK citizens voted to leave the European Union.' The historic Brexit referendum was in fact held on 23 June, 2016. Instead they want the PM to try to get a 'Canada plus' deal with the EU. Mrs May is in the political battle of her life to survive as PM in the face of a Brexiteer plot to oust her, and get her divorce package through Parliament. She faced a fresh barrage of attacks this morning, with Dominic Raab - who plunged her Cabinet into meltdown with his shock resignation - accusing the EU of trying to bully and blackmail Britain. He told the BBC's Andrew Marr show today: 'I do think we are being bullied, I do think we are being subjected to what is pretty close to blackmail frankly. The PM (pictured on Sky this morning) confirmed she is set to fly back for more negotiations with the EU this week as she stressed her under-fire Brexit plan is not fully finished Dominic Raab (pictured right on the BBC's Andrew Marr show this morning) accused the EU of trying to 'bully' and 'blackmail' Britain in the talks, as he continued his stinging attack on the PM's Brexit plan. But Sir Graham Brady, chairman of the Tory Party's 1922 Committee, (pictured left on the BBC today) said he he has not received the 48 letters needed to trigger a no confidence vote in Mrs May 'I do think there is a point at which, we probably should have done it before, were we just say 'I'm sorry this is the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, we cannot accept those dictated terms'.' But a defiant Mrs May is stepping up her fightback - warning her rebellious MPs their revolt could backfire and stop Brexit happening altogether. In a rare live TV interview, she told Sky News' Sophy Ridge on Sunday: A change of leadership at this time is not going to make the negotiations any easier and it is not going to change the parliamentary arithmetic. 'It will bring uncertainty and increase the risk that we delay the negotiations, and that is a risk that Brexit gets delayed or frustrated.' The PM insisted her deal delivers on Brexit and is in the national interest. She said: 'This is not about me it is about what is right for the people of this country. It is about what is in the national interest. That is what motivates me.' An escort who smashed her newborn baby's skull until he was brain damaged has been awarded compensation after she was attacked during her trial. Law student Elizabeth Wilkins, 23, charges 850-a-night for her services as an escort and has now been given 50 in compensation after being attacked during her trial for child cruelty. Wilkins was assaulted outside Plymouth Crown Court during a lunch break of the trial which led to her being convicted of ABH and GBH. She fractured her child's ribs and skull and hit his head against a hard surface repeatedly - with doctors saying he could have developmental problems growing up. Smiling Elizabeth Wilkins pictured leaving court after being convicted of beating her own baby. She has now been given 50 in compensation after she was assaulted Claire Moore, 33, assaulted Wilkins by beating - although the escort was able to continue giving evidence without injury after the break. Moore, from Greenback, Plymouth, was fined 40, ordered to pay 30 victim surcharge and 50 compensation to Wilkins. According to Plymouth Live, a judge called the assault 'outrageous' and it is believed that Wilkins was verbally abused and manhandled. Trial Judge Peter Johnson told the jury after the attack: 'I am aware that at least one of you saw an incident at lunchtime, an appalling assault on Elizabeth Wilkins. 'I think all of you are now aware of this outrageous act committed I think by a woman in drink against someone in the middle of their evidence.' Elizabeth Wilkins, 23, arriving at Plymouth Crown Court in Devon, where was found guilty of attacking her baby son The judge also praised Wilkins' barrister Piers Norsworthy for stepping in to help his client during the assault. Later, Wilkins smiled as she left Plymouth Crown Court despite facing a jail term when she is sentenced on December 6. During the three week trial, prosecutors said the baby suffered broken ribs and a fractured skull during the first three months of his life two years ago. The court also heard Wilkins admitted working as an escort to pay for therapy she was told she needed to win custody of their son. And the trial also heard from medical staff who were shocked at how little emotion she showed while her son was fighting for his life - telling them she was a fan of Holby City and had seen it on television. During the trial, prosecutors dropped assault charges against the boy's father, 30-year-old student Erick Vanselow. He was found not guilty of allowing the child to suffer serious physical harm. Wilkins had denied shaking and striking her baby's head against a hard surface in August and September 2016 in their old maisonette in Plymouth, Devon. The baby's injuries were only discovered on his third visit to Derriford Hospital in September 2016 and he is expected to have developmental problems as he grows up. Wilkins and Vanselow made a series of allegations against one another during the three-week trial. Prosecutors dropped assault charges against the boy's father, 30-year-old student Erick Vanselow (pictured) She continually pointed the finger at Vanselow but the jury rejected her version of events and ruled she struck the boy in rage and frustration when he was three months old on September 22. Prosecutors said that she had also fractured his ribs, causing bloodshot eyes when he was five weeks old. During the trial Sister Sophie Brock, the nurse in charge of the section of the A&E department which admitted the boy, said the Wilkins was 'very calm' when the ambulance arrived at about 4.30pm. She added that staff struggled to find a vein to insert an intravenous drip into the child and so had to drill into the bone marrow. The court heard Wilkins had been working as an escort in recent months and she charged up to 850-a-night for her services Mrs Brock described the procedure as 'distressing to watch'. She added that it was not fair for a parent to stay and so Wilkins was asked to step outside. Mrs Brock said: 'Her reply was that she watched Holby and 24 Hours in A&E, which was a little bit of a strange thing to say.' The court heard during the trial that Wilkins advertised herself as 'very sexually adventurous' and shared photos of herself selling sexual services online from between 95 to 850. Her website also included reviews from men who had visited her. A craftsman who spent six months and 80,000 on building a 'houseboat' could be kicked out of his marina over claims it 'isn't a boat'. Ben Sharratt, 28, has been living in Manchester's New Islington Marina for four years. In February he decided to abandon his 'traditional' canal boat and make himself a new houseboat instead. It has taken the wood and mental worker six months, forcing him to give up any other jobs and employ extra tradesman. But he is now faced with being kicked out of the council-owned marina by bosses who don't think it fits the right criteria. Mr Sharratt, who will have spent 80,000 on his passion project when it is finally finished, believes he is being unfairly discriminated against because the boat 'doesn't look like a Rosie and Jim boat'. Ben Sharratt, 28 (pictured) has spent 80,000 and six months building himself a new houseboat (pictured interior) to live on in Manchester's New Islington Marina He told the Manchester Evening News: 'Admittedly it does look a little different to all the other boats. 'I think they want them all to be long, thin canal boats like out of Rosie and Jim. 'They haven't even been to speak to me about it or anything. Someone in an office somewhere has just decided 'we don't like his boat' and that's that. 'But before I built it, or during, they never asked anything about the design or how it looked. 'I've lived in the marina for four years now. It's my home. We're quite a close-knit community have lots of friends here and my workshop is nearby. 'Even when I was building it I was down here pretty much every day. 'Now I'm wondering what am I gonna do. Have I got to sell this thing that I built myself and spent all this time and money on. 'Or will I have to move to another marina one or two hours drive from here. It just feels so unjust. I haven't spoken to anyone who has a problem with it. 'But I think there's pressure on the council and BMWL from local developers who like looking at the boats but feel this isn't part of the picture they imagined, because it's not a Rosie and Jim boat. 'I just want some co-operation and ultimately my goal is to stay here. That's all I want.' Mr Sharratt, who will have spent 80,000 on his passion project (pictured exterior in the marina) when it is finally finished, believes he is being unfairly discriminated against because the boat 'doesn't look like a Rosie and Jim boat' Mr Sharratt claims he was given the go ahead by bosses at British Waterways Marina Ltd (BMWL) when he told them he was planning on building his own boat in February. But BMWL and Manchester City Council claim they would not have approved the plans - had they known the extent of them. Mr Sharratt, originally from Knutsford, Cheshire, already had mooring permission from his previous boat and so brought the new houseboat, which is still unfinished inside, into the Marina in August. But when he tried to transfer the mooring to his new boat, he was told he couldn't, and has now been ordered to leave. The termination of his licence says it breaches three of its terms as it is not a canal boat and it has no engine. The email sent to Mr Sharratt states: 'Ultimately, the design of the vessel is not such that it is acceptable to BWML and Manchester City Council (the landlord). 'At no point have we provided written consent to you to bring this vessel into the marina. 'Had we been aware of what exactly was being designed and built in advance, then the response would have been the same, but at a much earlier point in time.' There is still work to be done to Mr Sharratt's houseboat, but he could be kicked out of the marina altogether Fuming Mr Sharratt says the Canal and River Trust who manage the nation's canal network has recognised it as a canal boat as have his insurers. He added that several of his fellow residents have written letters and emails of support to the council in a bid to make them re-think. Despite the deadline for its removal passing Ben says he is staying where he is until he has taken legal advice. But as it stands, Manchester City Council is standing by their decision. A council spokesman said: 'We completely reject Mr Sharratt's version of events. 'Although BWML, who manage New Islington Marina on our behalf, did agree in principle with his stated intention to purchase a new boat, it was made very clear that this was conditional on him providing a range of details about it by the end of April this year. 'Mr Sharratt brought the structure to the marina in August this year without providing this information. It doesn't even have an engine and had to be craned in because it is too large to navigate the local waterways. 'He has been asked to remove it by BWML because it does not comply with the terms of his marina licence 'There have also been objections to it from other boaters and neighbours.' The man dubbed the 'Indiana Jones of the art world' has tracked down a 1,600-year-old mosaic worth 10million stolen from Cyprus. The sixth century depiction of Saint Mark - one of the last missing pieces of Byzantine art stolen from Cyprus in the 1970s - was handed back this week by Arthur Brand. The private investigator from Holland made the announcement on Friday during a private ceremony at the Cypriot embassy in The Hague after a two year hunt for the artwork across Europe. Arthur Brand - nicknamed the Indiana Jones of the art world - poses with the missing mosaic of St Mark 'This is a very special piece that's more than 1,600 years old. It's one of the last and most beautiful examples of art from the early Byzantine era,' he said. After getting a tip from a prominent London art dealer, Brand travelled to Monaco in August. Through a series of intermediaries - including several in the underground world - Brand finally traced the missing mosaic to an apartment in the upscale city-state. Brand said: 'It was in the possession of a British family, who bought the mosaic in good faith more than four decades ago. He spent two years hunting down the missing piece of Byzantine art stolen from Cyprus in the 1970s 'They were horrified when they found out that it was in fact a priceless art treasure, looted from the Kanakaria Church after the Turkish invasion.' The family agreed to return it 'to the people of Cyprus' in return for a small fee to cover restoration and storage costs, he added. A week ago, Brand - who was working with the Church of Cyprus - returned to Monaco to collect the treasure, said to be worth 5m-10m. 'It was one of the greatest moments of my life,' the detective said. In 2015, Brand won world fame after finding two massive bronze statues made by Nazi sculptor Joseph Thorak that are referred to as 'Hitler's Horses'. He made headlines again a year later for helping to recover five stolen masterpieces from a criminal group in the Ukraine. The Saint Mark mosaic was stolen from the Kanakaria Church (pictured) after a Turkish invasion Religious artifacts including mosaics were stolen from the church walls in northern Cyprus following an invasion by Turkish forces in 1974. They included a set of mosaics taken from the Panayia Kanakaria church, about 65 miles northeast of Nicosia. Many pieces ended up in the underground world of art smuggling and went missing for many years, while the Cyprus government and church campaigned ceaselessly to recover them. 'The mosaics of Kanakaria are of immense importance in Christian art and world culture,' said Maria Paphiti, a former department head at British auction house Christie's. Brand travelled to Monaco in August after discovering the art was in a British couple's possession The ensemble 'is among a handful of artworks that escaped the menace of Byzantine iconoclasm' in the eighth and ninth century, Paphiti, an art historian and world authority on Byzantine art told AFP. Twelve mosaic fragments have been returned so far, notably one depicting the Apostle Andrew - which Paphiti discovered among a collection of artworks in 2014. In 1989, four fragments depicting the upper part of Christ, two apostles and an archangel were handed back after a high-profile case in Indianapolis. Most of the mosaic fragments were recovered between 1983 and 2015, Paphiti said, but some pieces are still missing, including the lower part of Christ's body. The Dutch investigator gained worldwide attention in 2015 when he tracked down 'Hitler's Horses', two bronze statues made by Nazi sculptor Joseph Thorak 'This is truly one of the last outstanding pieces to be returned,' said Brand. 'It is incredible to think that this piece of art survived for so long. It's part of the Cypriot peoples' soul,' he added. St Mark is expected to return to the Mediterranean island within the coming days. German police made a major breakthrough in the recovery of stolen Cypriot art in 1997 when they raided the home of convicted Turkish art dealer Ayden Dikmen in Munich. Cyprus has been divided since 1974 when Turkey invaded and seized its northern third in response to an Athens-engineered coup to unite the island with Greece. A series of 'horrible decisions' made by an Oklahoma man led to him running naked down a country road. According to KFOR, the man told police in Norman that he was kidnapped after two men told him and a dancer he met at an exotic club that they had a Jeep to sell them. The men allegedly took the victims to a storage facility, where they were forced to snort cocaine and told to hand over money. After they refused, the man was ordered to take off his clothes and was dropped off on an abandoned street. Police arrested William Trites and Phillip Tullis and charged them both with two counts of kidnapping, and one count of robbery. A series of 'horrible decisions' made by an Oklahoma man led to him running naked down a country road (pictured) The man and an exotic dancer met William Trites and Phillip Tullis (left and right) in the parking lot because the male victim was admiring the Jeep they had. One of the pair said they had other Jeeps for sale and asked the man if he was interested, and he answered yes. About an hour-and-a-half after the man arrived at the club, he and a dancer went to all-night diner called Mama Lou's. The two met Trites and Tullis in the parking lot because the male victim was admiring the Jeep they had. One of the pair said they had other Jeeps for sale and asked the man if he was interested, and he answered yes. According to the police report, the entire group entered a storage facility in Moore. However, before they went inside, Trites and Tullis allegedly told the victims that 'they needed to pat them down for safety' and the victims agreed. After they entered, the two men ordered the victims to do lines of cocaine and, when the victims refused, the suspects ordered them to snort it. KFOR reported that the suspects allegedly demanded the male victim give them money and he refused. They then drove him to a deserted location, ordered him to remove his clothes and made him get out of the car naked, it is alleged. This is when residents saw him running through the streets and called police. The suspects allegedly made the victims snort cocaine and, when the man refused to hand over money, they made him take off his clothes and abandoned him in a remote location Police arrested William Trites and Phillip Tullis and charged them both with two counts of kidnapping, and one count of robbery According to a 911 call obtained by the station, one caller says: 'There's a man running naked going west on Bethel Road. 'He was going: "Help, help, there`s been an accident" and I wasn't about to go out there.' Police later spoke to the dancer, who corroborated the other victim's story 'As crazy as it sounded at first, it actually did happen pretty closely to the way they said,' Sgt Lewis told KFOR. 'There were a few crimes committed,' Sgt Lewis added, 'but a lot of horrible decisions led up to him eventually being found naked in Norman.' President Donald Trump confirmed the United States has a copy of the tape of journalist Jamal Khashoggi being killed but said he does not want to hear it as 'it's a terrible tape.' 'I don't want to hear the tape, no reason for me to hear the tape,' he told 'Fox News Sunday.' He added that 'it's a suffering tape, it's a terrible tape. I've been fully briefed on it, there's no reason for me to hear it, in fact I said to the people should I? They said: 'you really shouldn't, there's no reason.' I know exactly - I know everything that went on in the tape without having to hear it.' He called the recording of Khashoggi being murdered in the Saudi consulate in Istanbul 'very violent, very vicious and terrible.' He also wouldn't say if he thought Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman had lied to him when he said he wasn't behind the journalist's death. 'I dont know, you know who could really know but I can say this hes got many people now that say he had no knowledge,' the president said. He added: 'He told me that he had nothing to do with it, he told me that I would say maybe five times at different points.' President Donald Trump confirmed the United States has a copy of the tape of journalist Jamal Khashoggi being killed but said he does not want to hear it as 'it's a terrible tape' Donald Trump called the CIA's assessment that Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman had journalist Jamal Khashoggi killed 'very premature' and said the government will reveal who they think was behind the murder on Tuesday. Trump, who was in California to witness the aftermath of the wildfires on Saturday, said he will receive a report Tuesday which will explain who the government thinks killed Khashoggi and what the impact of his murder is The president had called the CIA's assessment that Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman had Khashoggi killed 'very premature' and said the government will reveal who they think was behind the murder on Tuesday. Trump made the remarks hours after the State Department said the government was still working on determining responsibility for the death of Khashoggi, a US-based Washington Post columnist. 'Recent reports indicating that the U.S. government has made a final conclusion are inaccurate,' State Department spokeswoman Heather Nauert said in a statement. 'There remain numerous unanswered questions with respect to the murder of Mr. Khashoggi.' However, the president hasn't entirely ruled out the possibility Salman could be behind the murder, calling it 'possible.' The Saudi government has denied that claim. Trump, who was in California to witness the aftermath of the wildfires on Saturday, said he will receive a report Tuesday which will explain who the government thinks killed Khashoggi and what the impact of his murder is. The killing 'should never have happened,' he added. Nauert said the State Department will continue to seek facts and work with other countries to hold those involved in the journalist's killing accountable 'while maintaining the important strategic relationship between the United States and Saudi Arabia.' Trump discussed the CIA assessment by phone with the agency's director, Gina Haspel, and Secretary of State Mike Pompeo while flying to California on Saturday, White House spokeswoman Sarah Huckabee Sanders told reporters. The CIA had briefed other parts of the U.S. government, including Congress, on its assessment, sources told Reuters on Friday, a development that complicates Trump's efforts to preserve ties with the key U.S. ally. A source familiar with the CIA's assessment said it was based largely on circumstantial evidence relating to the prince's central role in running the Saudi government. The CIA's finding is the most definitive U.S. assessment to date tying Saudi Arabia's de facto ruler directly to the killing and contradicts Saudi government assertions that Prince Mohammed was not involved. Khashoggi, a critic of the crown prince, was killed in October at the Saudi consulate in Istanbul when he went there to pick up documents he needed for his planned marriage. As lawmakers push legislation to punish Saudi Arabia for the killing, both Republican and Democratic senators on Saturday urged Trump to be tough on the crown prince, with whom he has cultivated a deep personal relationship. 'Everything points to the Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia, MbS, ordering @washingtonpost journalist Jamal #Khashoggi's killing. The Trump administration should make a credible determination of responsibility before MbS executes the men who apparently carried out his orders,' tweeted Senator Bob Corker, chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, on Saturday. The CIA has reportedly concluded that Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince (left) ordered the killing of journalist Jamal Khashoggi (right) Trump and top administration officials have said Saudi Arabia should be held to account for any involvement in Khashoggi's death and have imposed sanctions on 17 Saudis for their role in the killing. But they have also stressed the importance of Washington's ties with Riyadh, one of the biggest clients of the U.S. defense industry. Trump wants to preserve the Saudi arms deals, despite growing opposition in Congress. 'They have been a truly spectacular ally in terms of jobs and economic development,' Trump said. 'As president, I have to take a lot of things into consideration.' Marine General Joseph Dunford, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, noted on Saturday that the kingdom plays a key military role for the United States in the Middle East. 'Saudi Arabia has been an important partner to regional security in the past. I expect they will be in the future,' he said at a security forum in Halifax, adding Middle Eastern allies including Saudi Arabia are 'a stabilizing force in the region.' On Thursday, Saudi Arabia's public prosecutor said he was seeking the death penalty for five suspects charged in the killing of Khashoggi. The prosecutor, Shaalan al-Shaalan, told reporters the crown prince knew nothing of the operation, in which Khashoggi's body was dismembered and removed from the consulate. Saudi officials have said a team of 15 Saudi nationals were sent to confront Khashoggi and he was accidentally killed in a chokehold by men who were trying to force him to return to the kingdom. Lawmakers critical of Saudi Arabia for Khashoggi's killing and its role in Yemen's civil war are ramping up their efforts to clamp down on the country. 'Trump must accept (for once) his intelligence experts' incontrovertible conclusion: Crown Prince MBS is culpable for Khashoggi's monstrous murder. This brazen killing must have consequences sanctions, prosecution, removal of MBS & others, not continued cover-up, enabled by Trump,' tweeted Democratic Senator Richard Blumenthal on Saturday. Earlier Saturday, Trump told reporters at the White House that he hadn't been briefed but that 'as of this moment we were told that (the prince) did not play a role' Earlier Saturday, Trump told reporters at the White House that he hadn't been briefed but that 'as of this moment we were told that (the prince) did not play a role. We're going to have to find out what they have to say.' The intelligence agencies' conclusion will bolster efforts in Congress to further punish the close U.S. ally for the killing. The Trump administration this past week penalized 17 Saudi officials for their alleged role in the killing, but American lawmakers have called on the administration to curtail arms sales to Saudi Arabia or take other harsher punitive measures. The U.S. official familiar with the intelligence agencies' conclusion was not authorized to discuss it publicly and spoke only condition of anonymity Friday. The conclusion was first reported by The Washington Post. Saudi Arabia's top diplomat has said the crown prince had 'absolutely' nothing to do with the killing. Vice President Mike Pence told reporters traveling with him at a summit of Pacific Rim nations in Papua New Guinea that he could not comment on 'classified information.' He said Saturday 'the murder of Jamal Khashoggi was an atrocity. It was also an affront to a free and independent press, and the United States is determined to hold all of those accountable who are responsible for that murder.' Hatice Cengiz, fiancee of murdered Washington Post journalist Jamal Khashoggi, reacts while watching a tribute video to her husband at a commemorative ceremony A man holds a poster showing images of bin Salman and Khashoggi, describing the prince as 'assassin' and Khashoggi as 'martyr' during funeral prayers for Khashoggi in Istanbul on Friday The United States will 'follow the facts,' Pence said, while trying to find a way of preserving a 'strong and historic partnership' with Saudi Arabia. Khashoggi, a Saudi who lived in the United States, was a columnist for the Post and often criticized the royal family. He was killed October 2 at the Saudi Consulate in Istanbul. Turkish and Saudi authorities say he was killed inside the consulate by a team from the kingdom after he went there to get marriage documents. This past week, U.S. intelligence officials briefed members of the Senate and House intelligence committees, and the Treasury Department announced economic sanctions on 17 Saudi officials suspected of being responsible for or complicit in the killing. Among those targeted for sanctions were Mohammed al-Otaibi, the diplomat in charge of the consulate, and Maher Mutreb, who was part of the crown prince's entourage on trips abroad. The sanctions freeze any assets the 17 may have in the U.S. and prohibit any Americans from doing business with them. A tough critic of the Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Khashoggi, disappeared after he entered the Saudi consulate (pictured) in Istanbul on October 2 to collect a document Also this past week, the top prosecutor in Saudi Arabia announced he will seek the death penalty against five men suspected in the killing. The prosecutor's announcement sought to quiet the global outcry over Khashoggi's death and distance the killers and their operation from the kingdom's leadership, primarily the crown prince. Trump has called the killing a botched operation that was carried out very poorly and has said 'the cover-up was one of the worst cover-ups in the history of cover-ups.' But he has resisted calls to cut off arms sales to the kingdom and has been reluctant to antagonize the Saudi rulers. Trump considers the Saudis vital allies in his Mideast agenda. The Post, citing unnamed sources, also reported that U.S. intelligence agencies reviewed a phone call that the prince's brother, Khalid bin Salman, had with Khashoggi. The newspaper said the prince's brother, who is the current Saudi ambassador to the United States, told Khashoggi he would be safe in going to the Saudi Consulate in Istanbul to retrieve the documents he needed to get married. The newspaper said it was not known whether the ambassador knew Khashoggi would be killed. But it said he made the call at the direction the crown prince, and the call was intercepted by U.S. intelligence. Fatimah Baeshen, a spokeswoman for the Saudi Embassy in Washington, said that claim was false. She said in a statement issued to The Associated Press that the ambassador met Khashoggi in person once in late September 2017. After that, they communicated via text messages, she said. The last text message the ambassador sent to Khashoggi was on Oct. 26, 2017, she said. Baeshen said the ambassador did not discuss with Khashoggi 'anything related to going to Turkey.' 'Ambassador Prince Khalid bin Salman has never had any phone conversations with him,' she said. 'You are welcome to check the phone records and cell phone content to corroborate this - in which case, you would have to request it from Turkish authorities,' Baeshen said, adding that Saudi prosecutors have checked the phone records numerous times to no avail. The ambassador himself tweeted: 'The last contact I had with Mr. Khashoggi was via text on Oct. 26, 2017. I never talked to him by phone and certainly never suggested he go to Turkey for any reason. I ask the U.S. government to release any information regarding this claim.' The father of a baby who died after a 10-year-old allegedly stomped on his head at a Wisconsin daycare center says the young girl is a criminal and deserves to be in handcuffs. Six-month-old Jaxon Liedl was pronounced dead in hospital on November 1 - two days after he suffered severe injuries at the daycare center, which also serves as a foster home, in Chippewa Falls. The 10-year-old girl is accused of dropping Jaxon on the floor before stomping on his head. Six-month-old Jaxon Liedl, above with his father Nate, died earlier this month after a 10-year-old girl allegedly stomped on his head at a daycare center in Chippewa Falls, Wisconsin The girl, who is charged with first-degree intentional homicide, cried as she was brought into a courtroom last week in handcuffs. Jaxon's father, Nate Liedl, told ABC7 that he went to court and wanted the little girl to see his face. The girl, who is charged with first-degree intentional homicide, cried as she was brought into a courtroom last week in handcuffs 'As opposed to seeing it as a 10-year-old girl, I saw it as the person who killed my son,' Liedl said. 'She, in my opinion, deserved to be in shackles or handcuffs. She's a criminal.' Liedl said he doesn't blame the daycare for his infant son's death. Police said the girl, who is a foster child who lived at the daycare center, was alone in the house at the time and everyone else was outside playing. She told investigators that she had picked Jaxon up but then panicked when she dropped him. Jaxon's father, Nate Liedl, said he went to court last to see the 10-year-old girl who is charged with murdering his baby boy The girl allegedly told police she stomped on his head when Jaxon started crying. Paramedics arrived at the daycare center to find Jaxon unresponsive and bleeding from his head. His father was unaware of what had happened and coincidentally arrived at the daycare center as Jaxon was being rushed away in an ambulance. Liedl said he followed the ambulance to the hospital and said he never imagined it being as bad as it was. 'They had mentioned what are we going to do if his heart stops, and it caught me completely off guard. I had sent a couple messages out to family to let them know that Jaxon's not going to make it. I remember, I broke down out there pretty bad. Yeah, it really hit hard,' Liedl said. 'I waited 37 years for my own little baby boy. I was extremely lucky because he didn't cry, no fussing, he was happy smiles all the time.' Jaxon's funeral was held on Thursday. The girl charged with his murder will face court again on December 11. President Donald Trump defended firing an aide first lady Melania Trump wanted gone and admitted his Chief of Staff John Kelly 'will move on' but denied reports his White House is in chaos and gave himself an A+ as president. 'The White House is running like a well-oiled machine, its doing really well, I have great people. I will make some changes but not very many. Im very happy with my cabinet, other than, you know a couple of exceptions and even there Im not unhappy,' he said on 'Fox News Sunday.' 'I would give myself an A+, is that enough? Can I go higher than that?,' he said when asked to grade his presidency. President Trump gave himself an A+ as president Trump defended firing an aide his wife, first lady Melania Trump, wanted gone Trump's bravado comes in the wake of chess moves in the West Wing that 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. But despite his praise for his presidency, Trump said he would not push to change the constitution so he could run for a third term. 'I think the eight year limit is a good thing, not a bad thing,' he said. 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. 'It is the position of the Office of the First Lady that she no longer deserves the honor of serving in this White House,' said first lady spokeswoman Stephanie Grisham. Some of Ricardel's enemies in the White House had accused her of leaking, and she reportedly tried to undermine Melania's recent trip to Africa. Trump defended his wife and said she has not been treated properly by the press, particularly after 'great job' in Africa. 'Well I didnt know the advisor well, really, and I know they had a lot of problem. My wife did a great job in Africa and she was not treated properly by the press, she really worked so hard,' he told 'Fox News Sunday.' 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 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 The president added that he knew the East Wing was going to put out a statement calling for Ricardel to be fired. 'They came to me. They wanted to go a little bit public because thats the way they felt and I thought it was fine. I met with Mira two days ago and were going to move her around. She was with me for a long time, although I dont know her. Shes really somebody I dont know very well. But were going to move her around because shes got certain talents,' he said. Then he seemed to get in a dig at Ricardel. 'But, frankly, she is not - shell never be put in the United Nations, let me put it that way,' he said. Nikki Haley is leaving the post as U.S. ambassador to the U.N. at the end of the year and the president has yet to formally name her replacement. Trump clarified of Ricardel: 'Shes not too diplomatic, but shes talented.' The president also wouldn't guarantee John Kelly or Homeland Security Secretary Kirstjen Nielsen would keep their jobs in the White House. He said of Nielsen: 'I like her a lot. I respect her a lot. Shes very smart. I want her to get much tougher and well see what happens there. But I want to be extremely tough.' He said there's a 'chance's she would stay in her job but repeated he wanted her to be much tougher on border security and immigration. The president also wouldn't say if Kelly would remain chief of staff through the 2020 election - an assertion he has made in the past. President Trump said he expects chief of staff John Kelly will move on Nick Ayers (l), chief of staff to U.S. Vice President Mike Pence, is topping the list of eventual replacements for John Kelly 'We get along well. There are certain things I love what he does. And there are certain things that I dont like that he does - that arent his strength,' he said. He added: "Hes doing an excellent job in many ways. There are a couple of things where its just not his strength. Its not his fault, its not his strength.' But when pressed the president declined to say what Kelly was failing to do. 'John, at some point, is going to want to move on. John will move on,' Trump said. He added: 'Look, I have three or four or five positions that Im thinking about. Of that, maybe its going to end up being two. Maybe, but I want to - I need flexibility.' A 36-year-old top aide to Vice President Mike Pence emerged on Wednesday as the leading candidate to replace Kelly. 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 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. Advertisement Greek police on Sunday arrested 19 people in the capital of Athens in one of the most violent showdowns with anarchists in recent years. The clashes morphed out of a protest march commemorating a student uprising in 1973 when the then-military junta ruling the country sent tanks into the Athens Polytechnic school in central Athens to quash a rebellion. Attended by some 15,000 people late Saturday, the march through the capital, initially went trouble-free. But as it came to a close, groups of some 300 black-clad youth wearing balaclava scarves and gas masks faced off with police, turning the streets surrounding the Athens Polytechnic into a war zone. An anti-riot policeman walks past flames as a petrol bomb exploded in downtown Athens on Saturday evening during the demonstrations Police were forced to deal with flares thrown by rioters as the earlier peaceful demonstrations gave way to frenzied scuffles with officers Leftists and anarchists march shouting slogans against state repression and commemorate the 1973 Athens Polytechnic Uprising 45th Anniversary Running street battles were fought through the early hours of Sunday as militant youth hurled Molotov gas bombs at police, breaking, also, slabs of concrete pavement used to stone authorities. Plumes of acrid smoke engulfed the capital, leaving residents and tourists scrambling for safety as rioting youth later moved to target dozens of parked cars and local shops, setting, also, dumpsters ablaze. Some 5,000 officers and riot police deployed in Athens alone, retaliated using tear gas and stun grenades to disperse rioting crowds. Water cannons were also deployed to extinguish fires set to the Polytechnic and surrounding facilities. The violence in Athens set off similar clashes in Thessaloniki, Greece's second-largest city, where police faced off about 200 militant youth who hurled rounds of firebombs against them. At least 10 people were detained but they were later released Anarchists could be seen linking arms and waving banners as they blocked off large parts of the city around the famous university Anarchists clash from inside the Polytechnic with riot police following a march of thousands which broke into sporadic violence Last month, university professors walked off work, leaving classrooms empty in a symbolic protest to pressure authorities to crack down on anarchists In all, police said, scores of rioters were detained but 19 arrested in the clashes that left two officers injured. The arrested anarchists are due to appear before a public prosecutor in Athens Sunday to face criminal charges. The violent showdown adds to growing lawlessness gripping Greece's universities which anarchists use as launching pads for their attacks on police, exploiting a contentious law barring police from setting foot on state-campus grounds. The law was scrapped by a conservative government in 2011 but quickly reinstated last year by the radical left leadership of Alexis Tsipras. Last month, university professors walked off work, leaving classrooms empty in a symbolic protest to pressure authorities to crack down on anarchists and criminal elements that have overtaken state universities as a result of Greece's controversial university asylum law. The leftist government has refused to intervene saying liberal thought should be safeguarded at universities, not policed. A youth readies to throw a molotov cocktail from the entrance to the Polytechnic School in Athens during Saturday evening's demonstrations Policemen walk towards an armoured water-cannon vehicle which has been doused in flames following Saturday's outbreak of violence A tree-lined street is awash with flames as protesters tossed molotov cocktails towards police officers trying to quell the violence Advertisement The Royal Navy's 'Swiss Army knife' which hosts more than 400 sailors and Royal Marines and an array of landing craft arrived in Gibraltar following a successful ten month deployment. HMS Albion, one of the Navys two amphibious assault ships, has enjoyed an extremely successful period of defence engagement in south east Asia. The vessel exercised with a French Task Group in the Java Sea and became the first Royal Navy warship to visit Indonesia in almost seven years. Albions Royal Marines have also undertaken a period of jungle training in Brunei. The HMS Albion, which has dropped anchor in Gibraltar, has been described by successive commanding officers as the Royal Navy's 'Swiss Army knife' Following her stay in Gibraltar HMS Albion, which has enjoyed an extremely successful period of defence engagement in south east Asia. will be returning back home to Plymouth (pictured: Combined Operations Room) The ship's loading dock is packed with vehicles, trucks and heavy plant to support Royal Marines who have been conducting amphibious training around the Pacific Rim Large and small craft are also onboard - capable of ferrying people, emergency supplies and several vehicles across shallow waters (pictured: Landing Craft Utility Vehicles) The ship has enjoyed a series of defence engagement visits to Japan, where she was the first UK ship of her size and type to visit Tokyo and has achieved amphibious training with the Japanese Maritime Self Defence Force in the seas off Japan. Most recently, HMS Albion departed Vietnam where she enjoyed the best of Vietnamese hospitality as well as taking the opportunity to engage with the Vietnamese government, their armed forces and British business interests. HMS Albion has also supported Exercise Setia Kawan 3, between the forces of The Sultan of Brunei and the Sailors and Royal Marines of HMS Albion. Pictured: HMS Albion berthed in Port Duqm, Oman, in October. The ship has supported Exercise Setia Kawan 3, between the forces of The Sultan of Brunei and the Sailors and Royal Marines of HMS Albion Pictured: The ship's current commanding officer, Captain Tim Neild RN. HMS Albion is one of the Navys two amphibious assault ships This period of amphibious training and demonstration culminated in a combined and joint amphibious assault as witnessed by the Sultan personally. Albion has visited Singapore and supports a number of Defence Engagement events with local business and government that culminated in a Defence Sales and Industry Day which brought together key leaders and the business community in Singapore with the best of innovation from UK Industry. Following her visit to Gibraltar, HMS Albion, Command and Control Platform, Assault Ship of the Royal Marines and Plymouths Flagship will be returning home to Plymouth. The ship has been described by successive commanding officers as the Royal Navys Swiss Army knife capable of doing anything. The flagship carries more than 400 sailors and Royal Marines with a range of skills and experience, including engineers, chefs, medics and technicians. The ship has enjoyed a series of defence engagement visits to Japan, where she was the first UK ship of her size and type to visit Tokyo Most recently, HMS Albion departed Vietnam where she enjoyed the best of Vietnamese hospitality as well as taking the opportunity to engage with the Vietnamese government, their armed forces and British business interests All were trained in disaster relief work at the Royal Navys specialist training complex in Plymouth last December dealing with the aftermath of a mock hurricane and carrying out a large scale evacuation of inhabitants (played by students), a couple of months before the assault ship sailed on her deployment. The ship carries a limited amount of emergency supplies for disaster relief operations, from food supplies to water pumps, and is able to produce fresh water and food from the galley, which can be delivered ashore to feed people en masse. The ship's loading dock is packed with vehicles, trucks and heavy plant to support Royal Marines who have been conducting amphibious training around the Pacific Rim. Large and small craft are also onboard - capable of ferrying people, emergency supplies and several vehicles across shallow waters. The craft can also operate far from Albion herself if needed. Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Hua Chunying's Remarks on US Vice President Mike Pence's China-related Comments 2018/11/18 Q: US Vice President Mike Pence, when delivering a speech at the APEC CEO Summit, made some China-related remarks and claimed that China's assistance to the Pacific Island countries has caused debt burden for the recipient countries. What is your comment? A: The APEC Economic Leaders' Meeting has just been held in Papua New Guinea. President Xi Jinping delivered a series of important speeches at the meeting, elaborating on how China looks at the current world economic situation and putting forth a series of important propositions including enhancing international cooperation, improving global governance and addressing common challenges. What all these boil down to is that whether in international or regional cooperation, we should stay committed to openness, development, inclusiveness, innovation and being rules-based so as to jointly address common challenges and achieve win-win outcomes. These propositions, which are highly endorsed by all the participants at the meeting, correspond with the development trend of the world economy and global economic governance, meet the shared aspirations of the international community and demonstrate the strategic vision and guiding role of the leader of a major country. We have noted the relevant remarks made by the US side. China believes that the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation is now at a crucial stage of development. Under such circumstances, all relevant parties should adopt a responsible and constructive attitude, bear in mind the original aspirations of APEC and stay committed to the general direction of the development of APEC. We should follow the rules that were jointly formulated by us to handle international issues and manage differences through consultation and dialogue instead of erecting the man-made barriers, let alone pursue gains at the expense of others' losses. On regional cooperation, the Pacific Ocean, the Indian Ocean and the Atlantic Ocean should all serve as the stages for win-win cooperation rather than the arenas for geopolitical competition or confrontation. On the basis of mutual respect and win-win cooperation, China has conducted good cooperation with many countries around the world, including the mutually beneficial cooperation with the developing countries under the framework of South-South cooperation. When advancing such cooperation, China has followed the principle of sincerity, real results, affinity and good faith and pursuing the greater good and shared interests to offer assistance to the economic and social development of the relevant countries as its capacity allows with no political strings attached and by fully respecting the will of the governments and people of the recipient countries. Not a single developing country has been mired in debt difficulties because of its cooperation with China. On the contrary, their cooperation with China has helped them enhance their capacity for self-driven development and improved their people's livelihood. Therefore, the governments and people of the developing countries welcome the cooperation with China. On these issues, the international community, especially the developing countries which engage in mutually beneficial cooperation with China have their fair judgment. China is an important member of the Asia Pacific region. China supports the positive role played by APEC in promoting regional cooperation and common development. We are willing to work with all relevant parties to strengthen partnership and the awareness for a community with a shared future, build a new type of international relations featuring mutual respect, fairness, justice and win-win cooperation and forge a community with a shared future for mankind so as to promote peace, stability and common development of the Asia Pacific region. Our advice for the relevant country is that instead of pointing fingers at others, it would be better to match its deeds with its words and truly treat all countries, big or small, as equals, respect the right enjoyed by other countries to choose the development path in light of their national conditions and make substantial contributions to the development of developing countries. Ukip today announced they are delaying a controversial vote on whether to allow Tommy Robinson into the party until after Brexit. Gerard Batten, the party's leader, wants the party to effectively tear up its own rules banning ex members of the EDL so that Robinson can join its ranks. Mr Batten exclusively revealed his backing for Robinson to MailOnline in September - praising his 'bravery' and saying he could help the party appeal to northern voters. But his explosive backing for the far-right activist sparked the fury of Nigel Farage and warnings party veterans will quit in fury if he is let in. Mr Batten had mounted a bid to let Robinson in which was put to the party's ruling NEC body today. But Ukip said the decision has been kicked back until after Brexit so the party can focus on its criticism of the crisis-hit talks. Ukip today announced they are delaying a controversial vote on whether to allow Tommy Robinson (pictured outside Parliament earlier this month) into the party until after Brexit Ukip chairman Kirstan Herriot said, 'Today, the Ukip NEC were presented with a motion proposed by our Leader, Gerard Batten to consider a ballot to members to allow the membership of Tommy Robinson. 'The NEC voted to defer the motion in light of the recent Brexit negotiations.' The motion agreed today states: 'As the focus of the Party must be on Brexit and as Brexit has this week reached a crucial juncture, any question of Tommy Robinson's membership should he apply should be deferred to the first NEC meeting after 29th March 2019.' The motion was accepted by a majority vote of the ruling body. The former EDL leader was jailed earlier this year for contempt for live-streaming details of a grooming trial on Facebook, but released when judges quashed the conviction. Mr Batten was a supporter of the free Tommy campaign and spoke at a rally in central London where thousands of activists descended on Whitehall to demand his release. The two men are both vocal critics of Islam, which Robinson has dubbed bigoted and Mr Batten has described as a death cult. Under Mr Farage and other leaders, Ukip has maintained a strict ban on former members of far right groups joining. Mr Batten said he does not think Ukip should tear up its blanket ban - insisting his backing of Robinson is a one off case. But he also said he believes the ex EDL leader will be able to help broaden Ukips appeal - particularly to voters in the north. In explosive comments to MailOnline in September, Mr Batten revealed his backing for Robinson's membership. Gerard Batten, Ukip's leader (pictured at their party conference in Birmingham in September) , wants the party to tear up its own rules banning ex members of EDL in so that Robinson can join the party's ranks He said: My personal opinion - and Ive had various meetings with Tommy Robinson and [Ukip peer] Lord Pearson is a supporter of Tommy Robinson... - and I think he is a very special case. He has explained that when he joined the BNP, he didnt really know what they were about, he was quite young, he wasnt particularly politically sophisticated. Once he found out what they were about - when they refused entry to a friend of his because he was black - then he left the party The EDL didnt start out as an extreme right wing party. But Tommy Robinson will tell you himself that it was infiltrated, and thats why he left. A Chipotle manager has been fired after she was filmed telling customers that they had to pay before being served. The video, which was posted to Twitter on Friday morning, features a group of young black men who are told they cannot order until they prove they have money to pay. In the video, the manager of the restaurant in St Paul, Minnesota tells the customers 'you gotta pay because you never have money when you come in here.' Masaud Ali, 21, recorded the incident and posted it on social media, captioning the video: 'Can a group of young well established African American get a bite to eat after a long workout session. @ChipotleTweets??' Video posted to Twitter on Friday shows a group of young black men at a Chipotle in St Paul, Minnesota (left). They are told by the manger they cannot order until they prove they have money to pay (right) As of Sunday afternoon, the video had been viewed 4.32 million times and liked more than 71,000 times. 'It sounded really racist - the way she said it was racist,' Ali told the Star Tribune on Friday. 'She asked for proof of income as if I'm getting a loan.' He said he was also disappointed that none of the other employees who were on duty spoke up. Chipotle replied to the video stating 'what happened here is not how our employees should treat our customer'. The company also said the manager has since been terminated and that the staff has undergone training to prevent a similar situation from occurring. Chipotle later clarified that the manager had mistaken the guests for another group of men who had come in and not been able to pay for their food. Chipotle says the manager was fired and that staff has gone through re-training to prevent a similar situation from occurring. Additionally, the company said the manager had mistaken the guests for another group of men who had come in and not been able to pay for their food Past tweets seem to imply that the man who posted the video, Masaud Ali, is guilty of dining and dashing in the past 'We don't ask customers to pay for their meals prior to making them in our restaurants. The manager should have made their food and withheld giving it to them until they paid for it,' Chipotle told the Star Tribune in a statement, explaining its policy. 'Regardless, this is not how we treat our customers and as a result, the manager has been terminated and the restaurant is being retrained to ensure something like this doesn't happen again.' However, not everyone is as convinced of the men's innocence. Previous tweets seemed to imply that he had eaten at establishments before without paying. 'Dine and dash is forever interesting,' Ali wrote in a since-deleted tweet from July 2015. Another post from March 2015 read: 'if you a real ass n***a we [gonna go to] Applebees [sic] and eat as much a we can and tip the nice lady 20cents and walk the f**k out.' Ali, who records show is on probation for theft, did not reply to a request from the Miami Herald. Chipotle said it is aware of the old tweets and is currently investigating the incident. At least 150 Salvadorans have set off from their impoverished Central American country in a U.S.-bound caravan, ignoring their likely rejection at the U.S.-Mexico border where a larger caravan of mostly Hondurans has been stalled for days. Guarded by police officers, the men, women and children of the gathering caravan marched on Sunday through San Salvador's streets to Guatemala-bound buses, loaded with heavy backpacks, water and the knowledge of an arduous 2,700-mile trek ahead to the U.S. border. The group from El Salvador was at least the fourth caravan to set off since a first, large-scale mobilization in neighboring Honduras, which departed on October 13 from the crime-wracked northern city of San Pedro Sula. At least 150 migrants from El Salvador set off on a caravan on Sunday en-route to the U.S., ignoring their likely rejection at the U.S.-Mexico border where a larger caravan of mostly Hondurans has been stalled for days That caravan quickly grew to thousands as it moved north on daily 30-mile treks. Many of its members were still winding their way on Sunday through Mexico toward the U.S border, where hundreds of early arrivals have been waiting since last week to cross. Ahead of the November 6 midterm U.S. congressional elections, President Donald Trump denounced the large caravan as an 'invasion' that threatened American national security and sent thousands of active-duty U.S. troops to the border with Mexico. Trump has not publicly focused on the caravan since the election. Inspired by the public spotlight on the larger caravan, Salvadorans organized themselves on social networks and the WhatsApp application to launch the latest effort. Among them was Manuel Umana, a 53-year-old farmer from the town of San Pedro Masahuat, who said he decided to join Sunday's caravan to escape MS-13, a brutal criminal gang that controls large parts of El Salvador and neighboring Honduras. A Salvadoran migrant begins his journey to join the caravan heading the United States, in San Salvador on Sunday People in a caravan of migrants departing from El Salvador en route to the United States sit on a bus, in San Salvador The migrants are mostly fleeing poverty and unrest in Central America's 'Northern Triangle' - El Salvador, Guatemala and Honduras 'We are already threatened by the gangs where we live,' said Umana, pointing to scars on his face he said gang members had inflicted five years ago. 'We no longer can live with these people.' His motives echoed dozens of migrants in the earlier caravans who told Reuters they were abandoning their homes to escape a toxic mixture of violence, corruption and economic insecurity. El Salvador and Honduras compete for the highest homicide rates in the world, according to official figures. Both countries rank among the poorest in the Americas. 'It is very dangerous but we have no other alternative. We are determined to do what we need to do,' said Umana, before leaving with the rest of the caravan from the Salvadoran capital's central Plaza Salvador del Mundo. Far to the north on Sunday, in the city of Tijuana that abuts California, hundreds of people from the larger caravan braced for planned protests from local Mexicans both in favor and against them. Just over the northern border, nearly 6,000 U.S. troops in recent days have stretched barbed wire to dissuade illegal entries. U.S. immigration authorities, meanwhile, barred passage to dozens of the migrants who in recent days formed orderly lines to enter through the San Ysidro Port of Entry connecting Mexico to San Diego. Advertisement The full story of Britain's elite Special Forces' operations in Italy during World War Two has been revealed in a new book. In the summer of 1943, the Special Air Service came out of Africa to carry the fight to the Germans and Fascists in Sicily and on the mainland. At the time, the originator of the SAS, Colonel David Stirling, was held in Italy's high-security Prisoner of War Camp Five at Gavi in Piedmont. But his work continued. The idea of small groups of parachutists operating behind enemy lines to attack strategic targets and to obtain intelligence was realised in the daring missions carried out in Italy by the men of the 2nd SAS Regiment and the Special Raiding Squadron. Troops of the British 5th Infantry Division passing bomb-damaged buildings in Syracuse on the opening day of the invasion of Sicily, 10 July 1943, hours after the SAS had destroyed enemy coastal batteries in their landing zone Lt-Col. David Stirling (left), creator of the SAS Regiment and Lt-Col. Robert Mayne (right), pictured in the desert near Kabrit as he commanded the regiment first in the North African campaign and later during the successful Allied invasion of Sicily HMS Mauritius, which assisted the SAS landing at Augusta, Sicily, on 12 July 1943 in ashore bombardment role. The light cruiser is shown here ready for action off the Anzio beachhead in March 1944. The SAS supported the landings in January with operations to impede German reinforcements In the first phase, they mounted island raids, took part in the invasion of the mainland, rescued escaped prisoners of war and supported the Anzio landings. In the second phase, they helped to breach the Gothic Line and to secure the victory, this time in concert with the Italian Resistance. The SAS carried out over twenty operations in wartime Italy and they are all covered in Anglo-Italian historian Malcolm Tudor's new book, SAS in Italy: 1943-1945, published by Fonthill Media. 'It was during this time-the last two years of the Second World War-that the SAS exploded on to the Italian scene,' he writes in the book's introduction. 'The 2nd SAS Regiment was responsible for a majority of the operations, while the Special Raiding Squadron (SRS) (temporarily replacing the 1st SAS Regiment) was also in action during Operation Husky, the capture of Sicily; Operation Baytown, the attack across the Straits of Messina; and Operation Devon, the capture of Termoli. Members of 2nd SAS Regiment on parade for an inspection by Gen. Montgomery,following their successful participation in the capture of the port of Termoli during Operation Devon, which saw SAS troops assist an amphibious landing from the Commandos Interior view of the Douglas C-47 Skytrain used to drop SAS troops behind enemy lines to prepare for attacks from the rest of the infantry. The idea of small groups of parachutists operating behind enemy lines to attack strategic targets and to obtain intelligence was realised in the daring missions carried out in Italy by the men of the 2nd SAS Regiment 'These operations are shown with their actual landing areas, which were not always those intended by military planners located in North Africa or in southern Italy. 'In July 1944, the Allied Force Headquarters (AFHQ) for the Mediterranean Theatre of Operations, which planned and directed ground, naval, and air operations, moved forward from Algiers to the Royal Palace of the Bourbons at Caserta, 19 miles from Naples in Campania. 'The story of the SAS in Italy has remained largely unknown and it is a pleasure to shed light on what many members of the Regiment called the 'Italian Job', well before the film of the same name. 'The accounts are woven through with the ethos of the SAS as we have come to know it since the Regiment's birth in North Africa, but they also show how the men responded successfully to the different conditions they found in Italy, which helped to ensure final victory.' Lt-Col. Miles Dempsey (left), Commander of XIII Corps, in Sicily in July 1943. He related that he was originally only lent the Special Raiding Squadron (SRS) for the attack on the guns of Cape Murro di Porco, after which it was to have returned to the Middle East, but then went on to carry out three more successful operations in Italy Two USAAF Douglas C-47 Skytrains, the preferred transport of the SAS and other parachutists in Italy. The planes were used to carry out dozens of raiding missions which paved the way for successful amphibious assaults and disrupted German defensive efforts The Special Air Service (SAS) is a Special Forces unit of the British Army. The SAS was founded in 1941 as a regiment, and later reconstituted as a corps in 1950. The unit undertakes a number of roles including covert reconnaissance, counter-terrorism, direct action and hostage rescue. Much of the information and actions regarding the SAS are highly classified, and is not commented on by the British government or the Ministry of Defence due to the sensitivity of their operations. The SAS was formed in July 1941 by David Stirling and originally called 'L' Detachment, Special Air Service Brigade-the 'L' designation and Air Service name being a tie-in to a British disinformation campaign, trying to deceive the Axis into thinking there was a paratrooper regiment with numerous units operating in the area (the real SAS would 'prove' to the Axis that the fake one existed). It was conceived as a commando force to operate behind enemy lines in the North African Campaign and initially consisted of five officers and 60 other ranks. German Field Marshal Albert Kesselring (centre), Commander of Army Group inspecting troops in the Appenines in 1944. Kesselring was responsible for conducting the German defense of Italy after the Eighth Army moved into the country along with their American allies HMS Safari (P211), the famous submarine that carried the SAS raiders to and from Sardinia during Operation Marigold in May 1943. Safari spent most of World War II in the Mediterranean Sea where she was highly successful, sinking 36,259 tons of shipping Malcolm Tudors new book, SAS in Italy: 1943-1945, is published by Fonthill Media. It is available now. RRP 20. Republican Brian Kemp has officially won the Georgia Governor's race, denying Democrat Stacey Abrams the chance to become the first female black governor in the nation. The Associated Press called the race for Kemp on Sunday afternoon as the state officially certified its results from the Nov. 6 election. Abrams on Sunday conceded Kemp was the legal winner but refused to call him the legitimate winner. Brian Kemp has officially been declared the winner over Stacey Abrams President Trump took credit for Kemp's win The race has been a nail biter from the start as polls showed the two contenders running neck and neck. Both sides poured money and star power into the contest, which was plagued by allegations of voter fraud. Kemp narrowly avoided a runoff contest, beating Abrams by 54,723 votes out of more than 3.9 million cast. He had to get more than 50 percent of the vote to avoid a runoff and barley did so, coming in with 50.22 percent. The race became an all-star battle with both sides bringing in the political might to help the candidates close the deal in the final days leading up to the election. Abrams had Oprah Winfrey, former President Barack Obama, and Will Ferrell. Kemp had President Donald Trump and Vice President Mike Pence. Trump took credit for Kemp's win on Sunday. 'I won against President Obama and Oprah Winfrey and Michelle Obama in a great state called Georgia for the governor. And it was all stacked against Brian and I was the one that went for Brian and Brian won,' he said on 'Fox News Sunday.' It was unclear what he meant by the Michelle Obama reference as the former first lady did not campaign for Abrams, although her husband did. Abrams on Sunday conceded Kemp was the legal winner but said she would not call him the legitimate winner. She told CNN's 'State of the Union' that she thought there was deliberate interference in the election, saying 'it began eight years ago with the systematic disenfranchisement of more than a million voters. It continued with the underfunding and disinvestment in polling places, in training and in the management of the county delivery of services. And I think it had its pinnacle in this race.' 'So yes, there was a deliberate and intentional disinvestment and, I think, destruction of the administration of elections in the state of Georgia,' she noted. STAR POWER: President Trump campaigned for Brian Kemp STAR POWER: Former President Obama campaigned for Stacey Abrams Oprah Winfrey (left) campaigned for Stacey Abrams but Michelle Obama (right) did not Abrams called Kemp the legal winner but would not call him the legitimate winner Voting rights was a huge issue in the race especially after Kemp - in his role as secretary of state - launched an investigation into the state's Democratic Party, just two days before the election. Kemp claimed the Democratic Party of Georgia attempted to hack the state's voter registration system yet has provided no evidence to support the charge. The secretary of state's office is refusing to supply any details, as well, and the Democratic Party is denying the unverified allegation. 'I will never deny the legal imprimatur that says he is in this position, and I pray for his success,' Abrams said Sunday on CNN. 'But will I say that this election was not tainted, was not a disinvestment and a disenfranchisement of thousands of voters? I will not say that.' Advertisement Amazing before-and-after satellite pictures show the sheer scale and destruction caused by the wildfires in Malibu. Bright, beautiful homes surrounded by green trees, lawns and pools are now seen reduced to desolate gray shells of their past selves. Fire officials say the so-called Woolsey fire is at 88 percent containment after the blaze scorched more than 96,000 acres and burned more than 1,100 structures in Los Angeles and Ventura counties. The fire has killed three people, including two found in a car and one in the rubble of a charred home. Additionally, three firefighters have been injured. According to the Los Angeles Daily News, there are at least 1,130 structures that have been destroyed and another 300 damaged. Slide me Amazing before-and-after satellite pictures show the sheer scale and destruction caused by the wildfires in Malibu. Pictured: Before, left, and after, right Slide me Bright, beautiful homes surrounded by green trees, lawns and pools are now reduced to desolate shells of their past selves. Pictured: Before, left, and after, right Slide me Fire officials say the so-called Woolsey fire is at 88 percent containment. Pictured: Before, left, and after, right Slide me The blaze scorched more than 96,000 acres and burned more than 1,100 structures in Los Angeles and Ventura counties. Pictured: Before, left, and after, right There are still more than 1,800 firefighters battling the Woolsey fire as the fight to contain the towering flames entered its 11th day. The fire has spread due to dry brush and powerful winds from Santa Ana, affecting cities including Thousand Oaks, Westlake Village, Agoura Hills, Calabasas and Malibu. Meanwhile, the devastation of the Camp Fire in Northern California continued, with officials confirming 76 deaths and nearly 1,300 people unaccounted for. The Camp Fire has destroyed nearly 10,000 homes and torched 233 square miles (600 square kilometers). It is less contained than the Woolsey Fire at 55 percent. President Donald Trump initially blamed state officials for poor forest management in exacerbating the fires and threatened to cut off federal funding. He's since signed an emergency declaration and toured the devastated areas on Saturday with Governor Jerry Brown and Governor-elect Gavin Newsom. Brown said in an interview on CBS's Face the Nation on Sunday that the Republican president has 'got our back' and has pledged to continue to help. Brown also suggested in the CBS interview that the wildfires will make believers of even the most ardent climate change skeptics 'in less than five years' and that those living near forests might need to build underground shelters to protect them from wildfires going forward. Slide me There are still more than 1,800 firefighters battling the Woolsey fire as the fight to contain the towering flames entered its 11th day. Pictured: Before, left, and after, right Slide me The fire has spread due to dry brush and powerful winds from Santa Ana, affecting cities including Thousand Oaks, Westlake Village, Agoura Hills, Calabasas and Malibu. Pictured: Before, left, and after, right Slide me President Donald Trump initially blamed state officials for poor forest management in exacerbating the fires and threatened to cut off federal funding. Pictured: Before, left, and after, right Slide me Trump has since signed an emergency declaration and toured the devastated areas on Saturday with Governor Jerry Brown and Governor-elect Gavin Newsom. Pictured: Before, left, and after, right A courageous border collie left to fend for herself in the deadly Camp Fire was found protecting the only home still standing on her block in Paradise. Ella's owners, Mike and Leahna Copsey, and their daughters Clarisa, eight, and Emma, 10, were forced to evacuate their home after the blaze broke out November 8. The family, whose car was completely full with their belongings, left behind their dog, who was found alive in the neighborhood two days later. A family friend returned to the area where the badly-burned and frightened pup was found guarding another resident's home. This courageous border collie named Ella was left to fend for herself in the deadly Camp Fire Ella was found by a Paradise resident guarding a neighbor's home two days after the fire broke out Her paws are seen badly-burned from the fire Leahna Copsey, who was sure Ella didn't make it out of the blaze of alive, explained the relieving phone call she had with a family friend while speaking to the Visalia Times-Delta. 'She was protecting it... she was protecting the only house left on the block,' Copsey said. Her daughter, Clarisa, also told the outlet: 'Shes a really good dog... so I was really relieved she was alive.' The Copseys left their Paradise home and traveled to Lake County, roughly two hours away. The border collie is currently being cared for by the couple's oldest daughter, Kayla, as the family works to rebuild what was lost. Ella's owners, Mike and Leahna Copsey, and their daughters Clarisa, eight, and Emily, 10, were forced to evacuate their home, which burnt to the ground Kayla set up a GoFundMe page to help her family pay for Ella's medical bills. The crowdfunding page reached $670 of its $650 goal as of Sunday afternoon. Ella is currently being cared for by Mike and Leahna Copsey's oldest daughter, Kayla (pictured) 'Its definitely an odd feeling asking for financial help. And amongst the thousands of others that need help as well; my family and I are there too,' Kayla wrote. 'Like many other animals that have been affected by the Camp Fire, Ella is one of them. 'After going through the fire we are very lucky to have her back with us. And while vet bills have already been discounted for fire victims, its still adding up quickly. 'Already spending $250, any little bit helps for the future visits we will be making,' the crowdfunding page states. The Butte Humane Society also assisted the family by providing food, a crate and toys for Ella. A total of 76 people died in the Northern California Camp Fire as of Sunday afternoon. Democrats were quick to praise rising star Andrew Gillum, who lost his Florida governor's bid on Sunday to GOP rival Ron DeSantis by less than 33,000 votes in over 8 million ballots cast. ".@AndrewGillum ran an extraordinary campaign for governor, full of hope and focused on the needs and dreams of Florida families. Andrew, I'm proud of you and I can't wait to see what you do next," Hillary Clinton tweeted on Sunday after Florida officially wrapped up its recount. Florida had a noon deadline on Sunday for the manual recount, when all 67 counties were required to submit their final vote totals to the secretary of state. Hillary Clinton and Cory Booker congratulated Andrew Gillum on a well fought race Hillary Clinton offered her praise of Gillum after Florida wraps up its recount New Jersey Sen. Cory Booker, who's said to be considering a 2020 presidential bid, praised Gillum Gillum officially ended his bid on Saturday, conceding the race to Republican Ron DeSantis. Shortly after he did so, New Jersey Sen. Cory Booker, who's said to be considering a 2020 presidential bid, also praised him. 'Thank you @AndrewGillum for leading an extraordinary, inspiring campaign. You captured our moral imagination and called on us to remember that in Florida and our nation, great leaders dont divide or demean but seek to unite and elevate all,' he tweeted. Gillum, the Tallahassee Mayor, conceded the race on Saturday as a recount of ballots neared its end, and he congratulated DeSantis on becoming the states next governor. 'This has been the journey of our lives. Weve been so honored by the support that weve received,' Gillum said in a video statement. 'We know that this fight continues, in spite of the outcome of this election.' Andrew Gillum, the Tallahassee Mayor, conceded the race on Saturday as a recount of ballots neared its end, and the Democrat congratulated Republican former Congressman DeSantis on becoming the states next governor Gillum tweeted his concession to DeSantis on Saturday 'We are going to keep fighting,' Gillum tweeted. 'We will keep working.' Gillum is seen above with his wife, R. Jai DeSantis said on Twitter, 'This was a hard-fought campaign. Now its time to bring Florida together.' DeSantis is seen in Orlando on November 5 'Congratulations to Andrew Gillum on having run a really tough and competitive race for Governor of the Great State of Florida,' Trump tweeted Saturday. 'He will be a strong Democrat warrior long into the future - a force to reckon with!' Gillum initially conceded the Governor's race on election night last Tuesday, but retracted the concession after it became apparent that there would be a recount. The machine recount that was launched this week showed that Gillum faced an insurmountable deficit against DeSantis, increasing the pressure on the Democrat to concede, according to The Tallahassee Democrat. Gillum was still trailing DeSantis by 33,683 votes, according to the official recount. That means Gillum gained just 1 vote from the unofficial results that were reported last week, according to The Orlando Sentinel. Of the more than 8 million votes cast, DeSantis holds a 0.41 per cent lead. By law, any election result within 0.25 per cent would automatically trigger a manual recount. A frequent critic of Gillum, President Donald Trump, had positive things to say about the Democratic runner-up on Saturday. 'Congratulations to Andrew Gillum on having run a really tough and competitive race for Governor of the Great State of Florida,' Trump tweeted Saturday. 'He will be a strong Democrat warrior long into the future - a force to reckon with!' Last month, Trump denounced Gillum as a 'thief' - a term that raised eyebrows given the racial connotations. DeSantis said on Twitter, 'This was a hard-fought campaign. Now its time to bring Florida together.' Democratic Sen. Bill Nelson conceded to Republican Rick Scott on Sunday Additionally on Sunday, Democratic Sen. Bill Nelson conceded his contest to Republican rival Rick Scott after a recount in the state showed him trailing by more than 10,000 votes. 'I just spoke with Senator Bill Nelson, who graciously conceded, and I thanked him for his years of public service. This victory would not be possible without the hard work of so many people,' Scott said in a statement. 'Well, things turned out a little differently than Grace and I had hoped, but I by no means feel defeated. Thats because Ive had the privilege of serving the people of Florida for most of my life. Its been a rewarding journey and a very humbling experience. No one could be more blessed,' Nelson said in a video statement Sunday afternoon. Six people in Chicago's fourth-tallest building took a bumpy, rapid descent from the top almost all the way down, only to be trapped for three hours inside a elevator car. A broken hoist rope was the problem, according to CBS Chicago, as the passengers left the 95th floor's Signature Room, a lounge and restaurant, in the skyscraper formerly known as the John Hancock Center. 'At the beginning I believed we were going to die,' Jaime Montemayor, a visitor from Mexico who was with his wife Mana Castillo, told CBS. 'We were going down and then I felt that we were falling down and then I heard a noiseclack clack clack clack clack clack.' Jaime Montemayor (left), a tourist visiting from Mexico with his wife Mana Castillo (right), believed he and his wife 'were going to die' when the elevator fell from the 95th floor Mana Castillo noted that a dust-like material start falling into the car. None of the passengers knew how far they had fallen until they were rescued. Along with the tourist couple, the group included two students and a pregnant woman, according to NBC Chicago, who were not identified, The rescue itself would take another several hours, the Chicago Tribune reported, as the car was in a 'blind shaft' for express elevators with few access points from outside that firefighters could use to even locate where it eventually stopped. The building, officially known by its address 875 North Michigan Avenue, ironically boasts of safety features such as a 'computerized monitoring system' to locate any emergency to unlock any stairwell doors on its website, but the express elevator required breaking the wall to reveal where it was. 'We don't like to have to go through walls unless it's absolutely necessary,' Chicago Fire Department spokesman Larry Langford told the Tribune. 'The only other way to get to the elevator would have been ropes from the 97th floor, and that would not be safe. We don't come down like Batman so we must go through the wall.' Liquids from the cutting tools going through the brick wall drips down inside the elevator in footage taken by a passenger Chicago firefighters dramatically broke through early Friday morning to free the trapped elevator passengers All six trapped individuals would be rescued early Friday morning after the nearly three hour ordeal when the firefighters cut through the wall to reach them, much to their relief. 'It's an awesome city, the firefighters are awesome people, and we are thankful to be here.' Montemayor said according to the Tribune. An Australian climber has plunged to his death near Mount Everest after falling boulders tore through his safety ropes. Michael Geoffrey Davis from Newcastle in New South Wales, died as he was descending from the 6812m peak of Ama Dablam in the Himalayas of eastern Nepal. The 33-year-old was in a group of 15 other climbers when huge rocks fell and damaged his ropes, the Himalayan Times reported. Michael Geoffrey Davis from Newcastle in New South Wales, died as he was going 6812m down Ama Dablam - a mountain in the Himalaya range of eastern Nepal The 33-year-old was in a group of 15 other climbers when huge rocks fell and damaged his ropes No one else from the group was injured. Top Himalaya Guides managing director Tshering Pande Bhote said Mr Davis's body was discovered following an aerial rescue operation and he was airlifted to Kathmandu for a post-mortem. Mr Davis' parents, Geoff and Kathy, and his brother Nick, will leave for Nepal on Monday to find out more information about his death and to bring his body home. Kobie Davis, Mr Davis' sister-in-law told the Newcastle Herald that the family had spoken to a Norwegian doctor who was climbing with the group at the time of the accident. The doctor informed the family that the falling rocks hit Mr Davis and cut his safety rope. 'He was just one of those people who wanted to go out there and see the world and make the most it,' Ms Davis said. Mr Davis's parents, Geoff and Kathy, and brother, Nick, will leave for Nepal on Monday to find out more information about his death and to bring him back home The Columbus Zoo and Aquarium announced a baby giraffe passed away Saturday morning, just weeks after its birth. The Ohio zoo said the female calf named Ubumwe, born October 30, took her last breath at approximately 8:30am. The calfs behavior and appearance began to change Friday, when she was examined and treated and appeared to be stable. She died the following morning when her health rapidly declined again. The zoo said in a heartbreaking viral Facebook post: 'It is with a very heavy heart that we announce that Ubumwe, the female Masai giraffe calf, passed away today. A baby giraffe named Ubumwe, who was born three weeks ago at the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium, passed away early Saturday The Ohio zoo said the female calf named Ubumwe, born October 30, took her last breath at approximately 8:30am Ubumwe's behavior and appearance began to change Friday, when she was examined and treated The zoo said: 'She was then anesthetized and taken to the Zoos Animal Health Center for a CT scan, which was done with the assistance of an equine veterinary specialist and radiologist from The Ohio State University' 'At this time, the cause is unknown, and we will not have more information until a necropsy (animal autopsy) is conducted and a pathology report is received in several weeks. 'The team of animal care professionals have monitored her and her mother, Zuri, around the clock since her birth. 'While she had previously been energetic and nursing as appropriate, her care team noted yesterday afternoon that Ubumwes behavior and appearance began to change.' Veterinarians said the calf was constipated and suffering extreme gastrointestinal discomfort. Veterinarians said the calf was constipated and suffering extreme gastrointestinal discomfort The calf was provided fluids to alleviate her gastrointestinal discomfort The giraffe's care providers continued to treat her and provide fluids to alleviate her gastrointestinal discomfort. The zoo said further: 'Her condition was critical as the ultrasound showed an abnormality of the bowel, and she was then anesthetized and taken to the Zoos Animal Health Center for a CT scan, which was done with the assistance of an equine veterinary specialist and radiologist from The Ohio State University. 'The CT scan did not show a blockage or other reason for her discomfort that would warrant surgery. 'She continued to receive intensive care from the Zoos animal care professionals and remained in another behind-the-scenes area, where she appeared stable and comfortable overnight.' The Columbus Zoo said: 'We appreciate your support for our team during this extremely difficult time' By early Saturday, the giraffe's health took a turn for the worse once more - before she tragically took her last breath. The calf is pictured in her last moments surrounded by loving health care officials before her short life ended. 'The Zoos devoted animal care team is devastated but remain committed to providing care to the other members of the giraffe herd, including Zuri who is moving back with them, as well as Cami, who is also expecting a calf soon,' the zoo said in the statement. 'We appreciate your support for our team during this extremely difficult time and will continue to provide updates as more information becomes available.' The Columbus Dispatch reports that giraffes born in captivity have a 25 percent mortality rate. A four-year-old female giraffe also died at the Toledo Zoo back in April. Four men were stabbed in a brutal knife attack in North London on Sunday evening. Police said all four victims of the attack in Edmonton, North London are said to be men in their 20s and their condition is currently unknown. The quadruple stabbing of the men comes almost exactly 24 hours after a shotgun was fired at a minicab less than half a mile away. Scotland Yard advised that they await an update on the conditions of the victims and there have been no arrests so far. Police at the scene in Edmonton, north London after four men in their 20s were hospitalised following a quadruple stabbing Officers were called to Gordon Road, Enfield around 6pm on Saturday to attend the shooting. Police attending the scene, accompanied by the London Ambulance Service, found four men. Three of the men were injured, including two believed to have suffered gunshot wounds. All three were taken to a hospital in north London for treatment. The quadruple stabbing of the men comes almost exactly 24 hours after a shotgun was fired at a minicab less than half a mile away This is the horrifying moment a dozen dogs and a deer plunge off the side of a cliff during a hunt in Spain. Animal welfare lobbyists attacked the unidentified hunter for sending his dogs to trap the wild animal on Sunday as they shared the footage on social media. The incident happened near the village of Herreruela in the western province of Caceres. Footage has emerged of the moment twelve dogs and a deer they are hunting plunge off the side of a cliff in the village of Herreruela, Spain The unidentified hunter sent his dogs to trap the wild animal on Sunday but they soon lost their footing as they approached the cliff and teared into the deer An onlooker can be overheard yelling to the hunter: 'Run, the dogs are falling' as the first three go over the edge while the others tear at the deer. He repeats his warning as the dogs' owner appears, shouting out to him: 'Run, three dogs have already fallen', although the hunter fails to pick up his pace and ambles over to the pack of animals before appearing to make a botched attempt at finishing off the deer by stabbing at it with a knife. Several more dogs plunge to the bottom of the cliff, followed by the deer, as he moves back, making a loud noise as they crash to the ground. It was not immediately clear if any of the animals had survived the fall, although a spokesman for the Royal Spanish Hunting Federation said the dogs had been treated at the scene by professionals before being taken to nearby veterinary surgeons. During the footage an onlooker can be overheard yelling to the hunter: 'Run, the dogs are falling' as the first three go over the edge The hunter is then seen running to the cliff edge and stabbing the deer with a knife. Several more dogs followed by the deer are then seen falling to the bottom of the cliff Pablo Iglesias, leader of left-wing party Podemos, tweeted: 'The people responsible for this atrocity only have one name: criminals. 'Let's end this once and for all and punish those who are guilty. A warning, the images are very distressing.' Political party PACMA, which stands in Spanish for 'The Animalist Party against the Mistreatment of Animals and wants hunting with animals banned across the country, added: 'The cruelty of hunting. A deer and several dogs fall over the edge of a cliff. Although it was not initially clear if the dogs had survived a spokesman for the Royal Spanish Hunting Federation said the dogs had been treated at the scene by professionals before being taken to veterinary surgeons in the area 'It's time to demand responsibility from politicians who are insensitive to the suffering and lives of animals.' Well-known Spanish actor Dani Rovira tweeted: 'This is love for dogs? And animals?' Pro-hunting lobbies described the incident as an 'isolated accident' which they said was the result of the 'instinct and the nature of the dogs'. The Royal Spanish Hunting Federation said: 'Immediately afterwards the dogs involved were assisted by vets at the scene and at veterinary surgeries', although it gave out no information on whether any had survived. President Angel Lopez Maraver accused critics of using the footage to criminalise hunters and hunting. It may only be November but it's already Christmas at this family house. With more than 30,000 twinkling Christmas lights, assorted Santas, snowmen and reindeer, this is one of the most dazzling - and earliest - DIY displays in Britain. Each year couple Michael and Lyn Farnes transform their home into a winter wonderland to raise money for charity. Michael Farnes with grand daughters Erica Johnson, left, and Poppy Farnes, right, outside his house laden with hundreds of Christmas lights. It may only be November but it's already Christmas at this family house But this year the couple have something extra to celebrate - the arrival of two Christmas puddings. Baby granddaughters Erica and Poppy are set to join the fun with their 'Christmas mad' family. The display at their home in Hove, East Sussex is already attracting awestruck children who stop and stare in amazement. Visitors travel from miles around to view the house and make a small donation to their charities. The display takes three days to set up with around 200 metres of electric cable feeding an estimated 30,000 twinkling fairy lights and a multitude of attractions. Each year couple Michael and Lyn Farnes transform their home into a winter wonderland to raise money for charity. With more than 30,000 twinkling Christmas lights, assorted Santas, snowmen and reindeer, this is one of the most dazzling - and earliest - DIY displays in Britain Among them are around 25 snowmen, 40 Santas, elves, reindeers, sleighs, penguins, robins, polar bears. There is even a full nativity scene, a huge outsized Father Christmas sculpture and an icy pond. The couple started with just one set of twinkling lights 17 years ago and the display in Amberley Drive has just grown and grown. Now Michael and Lyn have to meticulously plan their pageant of festive lights in an attempt to outstrip their previous year's show. Michael and Lyn Farnes have spent 10,000 on Christmas decorations and electricity bills in the last 17 years. This year they are raising money for the PDSA and local charities, Roger's Wildlife Rescue and Kitty in the City Mr Farnes, 56, of Hove, said: 'Every year I buy a few extra things to keep the crowds coming but I've only got so much space, 'It is a lot of work and it costs quite a bit but my wife and I love doing it. It is a delight to see the faces of the children when they see it all lit up.' Mr Farnes said: 'This year is extra special with the arrival of our two granddaughters. They are my little elves.' For Mr Farnes, who works at a supermarket, said that when he first started he had to check all the bulbs but now he used LED lights. 'Improvements in technology mean the display uses far less electricity than it used to. It keeps the bills down.' Roni-Jo, who is the youngest of the couple's children, is known at her school as the girl who lives in the Christmas house. They have been doing the display for 10 years, including this one last year, and over that time they have raised thousands for a variety of animals charities Mrs Farnes said: 'Last year we had hundreds and hundreds of visitors. We even had an office Christmas party come down and visit us. It was incredible.' Every year the couple nominate three charities to benefit from the donations they receive from parents who visit with their children. They have been doing the display for 10 years and over that time they have raised thousands for a variety of animals charities. This year they are raising money for the PDSA and local charities, Roger's Wildlife Rescue and Kitty in the City. Mr Farnes said: 'Last year we raised 1,000 and we hope to do the same again this year.' Nearly three dozen 'toolies' have ended the first weekend of Schoolies in a pair of handcuffs. More than 13,000 school leavers descended on the Gold Coast to celebrate their end of high school exams over the weekend. Police announced a crackdown on older predators looking to crash the party, arresting 35 'toolies' in the first two nights. Nearly three dozen 'toolies' have finished the first weekend of Schoolies in a pair of handcuffs Police announced a crackdown on drug supply to Schoolies this year, arresting 35 'toolies' and a further 15 teens More than 30 charges of drug-related offences were handed to 21 older men and women on the first night of Schoolies. On Sunday, a further 14 were taken into custody, mostly relating to public nuisance and drug possession. Queensland Police Assistant Commissioner Brian Wilkins slammed the 'toolies' - generally older men who finished school years ago - telling the Gold Coast Bulletin police are taking a zero tolerance approach to predatory behaviour. 'This is not a place to come to if you want to distribute drugs or prowling on school leavers or you will be identified and targeted by police,' he said. Gold Coast lawyer Bruce Simmonds is calling for mandatory jail time for 'toolies' because 'they keep on coming back'. 'What we find during Schoolies, is people come in with dangerous drugs and they keep on coming back,' he told Sunrise. 'The idea behind a mandatory jail term is to give a very strong warning of how serious we see the protection of our children.' More than 13,000 school leavers descended on the Gold Coast on Saturday afternoon Paramedics also had their work cut out of them, attending to 90 Schoolies on Sunday alone More than a dozen young revellers were also arrested over the weekend, with six teenagers taken into custody on the first night and another nine arrested on Sunday. The chairman of the Gold Coast schoolies advisory group Mark Raeburn said he and his group so far were happy overall with the behaviour of this year's party-goers. 'We expect when you've got this many kids there's going to be a few ratbags amongst them, that doesn't phase us too much,' Mr Raeburn told Nine News. Police aren't the only emergency service feeling the pinch of the influx of young party-goers, with paramedics working to capacity. Ninety Schoolies required treatment on Sunday, with two rushed to hospital. Of those assessed by paramedics, 62 were female and 28 were male. A pregnant woman has given birth just hours after she was involved in a horror car crash that left three children fighting for their lives. Eight people were rushed to hospital with injuries after a Ford Sedan and a station wagon collided at a T-intersection in Kyabram, in Victorias north east, at 9.15pm on Sunday. The cars were reportedly travelling in a 100km/h zone before they crashed. Three children and a pregnant woman are among eight people fighting for their lives after a two-car collision (pictured) in Kyabram, Victoria on Sunday night Paramedics arrived at 9.20pm after reports of a multi-vehicle collision on Webb Road (pictured) in Kyabram, Victoria 'Two adults and three children in the station wagon were all taken to hospital, the children were all airlifted to hospital with serious injuries,' according to a Victoria Police statement. The pregnant woman, 18, was taken to Bendigo Hospital with abdominal injuries and gave birth to her baby upon arrival. The infant is in a stable condition. Ambulance Victoria told Daily Mail Australia paramedics arrived at 9.20pm after reports of a multi-vehicle collision on Webb Road in Kyabram. A spokeswoman said a primary school-aged boy suffered from severe head and leg injuries and was flown to the The Royal Children's Hospital, Melbourne. An eight-year-old girl suffered serious head and pelvis injuries and a third boy is in a stable condition with facial injuries. A man, 43, was rushed to Shepparton Hospital with chest injuries and another woman, 34, suffered a knee injury. Two 17-year-old girls from NSW, including the probationary driver, were taken to hospital with minor injuries. Police are investigating and drivers have been asked to avoid the area. Troubled Broward County in Florida had a reason to celebrate on Sunday as it submitted its recounted vote totals to the secretary of state's office with 52 minutes to spare. But its neighboring Palm Beach County got its votes in a mere one second before the noon deadline. Broward and Palm Beach were two of the four counties that became infamous during the 2000 presidential recount in the Sunshine State. Broward struggled with its infamy again this year when officials lost over two thousand ballots and Supervisor of Elections Brenda Snipes became a target of social media criticism for her management of the recount process. Troubled Broward County in Florida - led by Supervisor of Elections Brenda Snipes - has a reason to celebrate on Sunday as it submitted its recounted vote totals to the secretary of state's office with 52 minutes to spare Snipes has come under fire for her management of the recount But Broward's canvassing board adjourned on Sunday to loud applause at 11:08 a.m. after being told they were done for the day, the Orlando Sun Sentinel reported, after wrapping up mandatory recounts in the state's governor, Senate and state agriculture commissioner races. Snipes didn't comment to reporters on her way out the door. 'Bye guys!' she said with a smile as she left. She wouldn't address speculation that Gov.-elect Ron DeSantis may remove her from office after she came under fire when it was revealed on Saturday that 2,040 ballots had been either misplaced, misfiled or mixed in with another stack. The county also had missed Thursday's deadline - by two minutes - in reporting results in the contested Senate race, which Republican Rick Scott ended up winning. Snipes, who is black, said afterward racism was 'probably' a factor in the backlash against her. When asked specifically if she believed her heritage could be playing a part in the hostile response she declined to elaborate but told the Guardian, 'Probably. Probably'. Florida has been on pins and needles since the Nov. 6 election day as the entire state under went a recount for three races. Results were due to the secretary of state by noon. Republican Mike Caruso (C) hugs his adviser at the Supervisor of Elections Service Center in Palm Beach, Florida Election ballot baskets sit on the floor at the Supervisor of Elections Service Center in Palm Beach Snipes came under fire when it was revealed Broward misplaced two thousand ballots Volunteers in Palm Beach County look at ballots; the county submitted its totals with one second to spare On Friday, election workers in all 67 counties began recounting by hand about 93,000 ballots that were not recorded by voting machines. But Florida's beleaguered Broward County has made yet another election blunder after it was revealed that officials accidentally mixed in ballots from the Senate race into the recount for state's Commissioner of Agriculture . Early on Saturday, the recount of 22,000 ballots came to an abrupt stop when officials noticed volunteers had mixed 47 manila envelopes from Friday's Senate recount in with those to be hand counted for the commissioner race, Fox News reported. 'It appears there may have been some ballots from yesterday mixed in with the ones for today,' Broward Canvassing Board Judge Deborah Carpenter-Toye said. 'We have been trying to determine what could have caused the drop. What we believe is that in the recount area ... I believe those ballots were probably mixed in with another stack,' Snipes told the elections Canvassing Board on Saturday. Snipes wouldn't address calls for her removal from office Volunteers look at ballots during a hand recount in Palm Beach, Florida Carts of ballots wait to be fed through machines to recount about 80,000 ballots for the Florida House District 89 race between candidates Republican Mike Caruso and Democrat Jim Bonfiglio at the Palm Beach County Supervisor of Elections Service Center 'The ballots are in the building. The ballots are in this building. There would be nowhere else for them to be. But they are misfiled in this building.' Snipes, 75, has served as elections chief in the county for 15 years. But this month's recount saw calls for her head. After she could not - or would not - say how many ballots remained to be counted during the recount process, along with failing to give regular updates to the state every 45 minutes as required by law, she was sued by Scott's Senate campaign and the National Republican Senate Committee. The new governor could remove her from office - then-Gov. Jeb Bush removed her predecessor in 2002 after voting problems in the county - or Snipes could be voted out when she's on the ballot again in 2020. Despite the chaos, Broward county officials did prevail and get their results reported. In addition to Scott winning the Senate race, Republican DeSantis defeated Democrat Andrew Gillum in the governor's contest and Nikki Fried was the lone Democratic victory with her win in the state agriculture commissioner's race. Florida's election woes became national news in 2000 as the presidential race between George W. Bush and Al Gore ended up in the Supreme Court amid a heated recount battle in the Sunshine state. Palm Beach county's butterfly ballot and hanging chads became hot topics of debate on the national news. Bush eventually prevailed. An ex-Navy Seal commander blasted Donald Trump's attacks on the media as the 'greatest threat to democracy' in his lifetime after the President said he should have killed Osama bin Laden sooner. The President went on the offensive after retired Navy Admiral Bill McRaven, who headed the Seal unit in charge of the raid of the 9/11 mastermind, attacked Trump for undermining the media. Trump branded McRaven a Hillary Clinton fan and criticized the length of time it took the US military to locate and kill Bin Laden, claiming they allowed the terrorist to live in a 'nice' mansion in Pakistan for too long. In response to Trump's remarks, McRaven told CNN: 'I did not back Hillary Clinton or anyone else. President Donald Trump criticized U.S. Navy Seals on Sunday for not killing 9/11 mastermind Osama bin Laden much earlier than they did Retired Admiral Bill McRaven did not endorse anyone in the 2016 presidential race 'I am a fan of President Obama and President George W. Bush, both of whom I worked for. I admire all presidents, regardless of their political party, who uphold the dignity of the office and who use that office to bring the nation together in challenging times. 'I stand by my comment that the President's attack on the media is the greatest threat to our democracy in my lifetime. 'When you undermine the people's right to a free press and freedom of speech and expression, then you threaten the Constitution and all for which it stands.' Trump's remarks also prompted criticism from Retired Lt. Gen. Mark Hertling, who served with McRaven in Europe and Iraq. 'I'd use one word. And that's 'disgusting,'' Hertling said on CNN when asked about his thoughts on Trump's criticism of McRaven. 'You know everyone knows Bill McRaven as being the guy that led the bin Laden raid. ' I know him as the guy as the joint special operations commander in Iraq, and there were multiple missions where this guy placed himself in danger, led soldiers in some of the most challenging situations you can imagine.' Hertling added that to have someone 'that holds an office that's supposed to represent all people and who says he supports the military, to just dismiss this great American hero as a guy who was a Hillary Clinton lover, which is patently not true, is just really disgusting.' McRaven wrote in a Washington Post op-ed in August that Trump has 'embarrassed us in the eyes of our children, humiliated us on the world stage and, worst of all, divided us as a nation.' The president complained bin Laden got to live in a nice mansion in Pakistan His criticism of Trump came up when Fox News host Christ Wallace pressed Trump on whether his harsh rhetoric on the media was hurting the country and pointed out that people like McRaven 'say that your sentiment is the greatest threat to democracy in his lifetime.' 'Hillary Clinton fan,' Trump said of the retired admiral on Fox News Sunday. 'Excuse me, Hillary Clinton fan.' The president added: 'He's a Hilary Clinton, uh, backer and an Obama-backer.' He added: 'Wouldn't it have been nice if we got Osama Bin Laden a lot sooner than that, wouldn't it have been nice? 'You know, living - think of this - living in Pakistan, beautifully in Pakistan in what I guess they considered a nice mansion, I don't know, I've seen nicer. But living in Pakistan right next to the military academy, everybody in Pakistan knew he was there. And we give Pakistan $1.3 billion a year and they don't tell him.' The president said it would have been 'nice' if the Navy Seals had been sent into kill bin Laden instead of letting him live in a 'nice' mansion in Pakistan (Osama bin Laden's compound in Abbottabad in this May 5, 2011) Fox News host Chris Wallace asked if he'd give the Seals credit for taking out the terrorist leader. 'They took him down,' Trump said and added: 'Look, there's news right there, he lived in Pakistan, we're supporting Pakistan, we're giving them $1.3 billion a year, which we don't give them anymore, by the way, I ended it because they don't do anything for us, they don't do a damn thing for us.' Bin Laden was killed in Abbottabad, Pakistan, on May 2, 2011, by U.S. special forces. He had reportedly been living in the fortified compound less than a mile from Pakistan's Military Academy for years, raising questions on whether or not Pakistani officials had any knowledge of his where abouts. Pakistan denied any knowledge he was there. Bin Laden reportedly didn't use the internet or cell phones in a bid to keep his presence a secret. Wallace had been pressing Trump on his feud with various media outlets. The president has been a frequent critic of CNN, The Washington Post, The New York Times and others - calling them 'fake media.' 'Sir, leaders in authoritarian countries like Russia, China, Venezuela, now repress the media using your words,' Wallace said. 'I can't talk for other people, I can only talk for me,' Trump replied. 'But you're seen around the world as a beacon for repression,' Wallace said. 'The news about me is largely phony,' Trump said in response. 'It's false. Even sometimes they'll say, uh, 'Sources say.' There is no source, in many cases.' Wallace noted at the end of the pre-taped interview that McRaven has not endorsed in any presidential race. Emergency call operators are being advised not to use terms such as sir or madam in a bid to be more inclusive of transgender people. The London Ambulance Service has issued guidance saying staff should avoid gender- specific language, including Mr and Mrs, when dealing with 999 callers. Internal forms now include the gender-neutral title Mx. The policy comes as bosses launch an investigation to identify the culprit behind discriminatory graffiti on its gender-neutral staff toilet signs. The signs have been put up as part of a diversity drive aimed at transgender workers. The London Ambulance Service has introduced unisex toilets and changing facilities by putting up new signs on them at stations across the capital. File image In one case, managers are understood to have identified a staff member who scrawled a one-word message considered derogatory to gay people through their handwriting. Jules Lockett, London Ambulance Service head of emergency operations centre training, and joint head of its LGBT network, disclosed the transgender policy in a conference speech. She said the service had faced bravado among opponents of its unisex lavatories, showers and changing rooms across our stations. Miss Lockett added: We did get a lot of people trying to rip the signs down, so we just printed a lot off and stuck them back on. Critics had taken a permanent marker into the toilet to make changes on the signs the culprit for which was identified through a professional handwriting analyst, she said. However the service denied it had brought in outside handwriting experts. Miss Lockett said staff should not oppose the policy, adding: If I walk into an ambulance station there will be people getting changed. Whether theyre male or female, it doesnt matter. Patricia Grealish, London Ambulance Service director of people and culture, said: We celebrate and encourage diversity and aim for a working environment where everyone feels included and appreciated for their work. We have a staff-run LGBT network whose work supports our staff and patients and promotes and improves LGBT equality and inclusion. There have been a small number of occasions where discriminatory graffiti has been left on service property. These incidents have been reported to senior managers and investigated. President Donald Trump reacts while surveying the damage to homes that were affected by the Camp Fire in Paradise on Saturday President Donald Trump, who has said in the past that he believes climate change is a 'hoax,' insists that his opinion hasn't changed - despite the devastating wildfires that have ravaged Northern and Southern California. Trump was asked by reporters on Saturday if his thinking about climate change was altered by surveying the damage from the Camp and Woolsey Fires. 'I have a strong opinion,' Trump told the press. 'I want great climate, we are going to have that and we are going to have forests that are very safe.' The President then began to talk about the 'floors' of the forests, though it is doubtful anyone understood what he meant. 'Weve got to take care of the floors, you know the floors of the forest, very important,' Trump said. 'You look at other countries where they do it differently and its a whole different story.' Trump said that the United States should emulate Finland when it comes to management of forests. 'I was with the president of Finland and he said were a forest nation, he called it a forest nation, and they spend a lot of time on raking and cleaning and doing things,' the President said. 'They dont have any problem, and what it is, its a very small problem.' Last week, when the wildfires were beginning to spread, Trump angered many when he blamed the blazes on California's management of forests. 'There is no reason for these massive, deadly and costly forest fires in California except that forest management is so poor,' he wrote in a Twitter post. '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!,' he added. Trump said he had to come to the heart of Californias killer wildfire to fully grasp the scale of the desolation wrought on the landscape. 'Were going to have to work quickly hopefully this is going to be the last of these because this was a really, really bad one,' the president said on Saturday. He pledged improved forest management practices would diminish future risks. 'I think everybodys seen the light and I dont think well have this again to this extent,' Trump said in Paradise, the town largely destroyed by a wildfire ignited on November 8 that he called 'this monster'. Their march has been unstoppable, from traditional farmhouses and cosy country cottages all the way to the front rooms of suburban semis. No family home, it seems, is complete without a stylish wood-burning stove. And why not? Anyone who has ever watched the gently dancing flames will know that real fires are relaxing and reassuring, a nostalgic link to an age when life was simpler. Featuring in endless glossy photoshoots, wood-burning stoves have even acquired something of a green image, viewed as a clean, efficient and renewable source of heat. Yet this cosy reputation conceals an altogether dirtier reality. Scientists have found that wood burning stoves are choking the British atmosphere, adding to the smoke particles from traffic, industry and farming that cause thousands of preventable deaths Because, whether in open hearths or specialist burners, wood fires are choking the British atmosphere, adding to the smoke particles from traffic, industry and farming that cause thousands of preventable deaths. Although barely discussed, the evidence is shocking: just one of the latest eco-friendly wood-burning stoves those meeting all European tests can produce about six times more particle pollution than a modern diesel lorry, or 18 times more than a modern diesel car. Worse, still, they release their fumes into residential areas and at times when people are likely to be at home. Few of us need to heat our homes with wood, rather than gas or electricity. In other words, the stoves and hearths we spark up for that extra cosy glow on a winter evening are little more than a lifestyle accessory. One reason theres so little discussion of this silent threat is that the smoke they produce is almost invisible, particularly when compared with the killer smogs of the 20th Century. Those filthy, sometimes deadly combinations of fog and smoke caused by burning coal, led directly to the widely acclaimed Clean Air legislation of the 1950s. It wasnt until a chance discovery in Paris in 2005 that the modern menace of urban wood-burning was even identified. Oliver Favez, a young PhD student, was measuring air pollution in a city park when he noticed a pattern that could not be linked to diesel fumes. Instead, his instruments recorded a chemical signature previously seen in Alpine valleys, where wood-burning has a serious impact on air pollution. If the readings were correct, it was a serious problem in Paris, too. The evidence is shocking: just one of the latest eco-friendly wood-burning stoves those meeting all European tests can produce about six times more particle pollution than a modern diesel lorry, or 18 times more than a modern diesel car. (Stock image) Favez continued his measurements for five weeks, concluding that each night especially at weekends the air was polluted by wood-burning and that wood smoke was adding between ten and 20 per cent to the citys particle pollution. Stranger still, this new pollution was not drifting in from the countryside as you might expect, but was instead coming from within the city itself. Fellow scientists leapt on the findings and, gradually, traces of wood-burning pollution were found in other major European cities. Public authorities had long since assumed that wood-burning was a thing of the past, but scientists measuring the air that people breathed were now proving them wrong. Today in Britain there are more than 1.5 million wood-burning stoves, and about 200,000 are added to that total every year. Yet nobody bothered to measure the effects until the winter of 2010, when my research team at Kings College London placed sampling devices in a 20-mile line across London. As we suspected, a great deal of wood was being burned and it was making up ten per cent of the particle pollution that Londoners were breathing during winter. Two years earlier, London had introduced a low emission zone, banning the most polluting diesel vehicles from the city. (Stock image) There was other information, too. Wood-burning happened mainly at weekends, for example. It seemed that, to Londoners at least, the stoves were largely decorative or used as an extra heating source. How bad was the problem? Two years earlier, London had introduced a low emission zone, banning the most polluting diesel vehicles from the city. Now we had established that the extra particle pollution from wood-burning was six times greater than the particle pollution that the low emission zone had saved. If wood-burning were to continue unabated, the money invested in cleaning up transport and industry could be negated. It has been calculated that particle pollution caused 29,500 premature deaths in Britain in 2010 and that a short period of high air pollution in March and April 2014 caused about 1,650 excess or additional deaths. (Stock image) In fact, wood-burning could halt the progress on air pollution that has been made since the middle of the 20th Century. If we introduce still more wood burning, particle pollution in the air of British cities is expected to be similar in 2030 to what it was in 2015, despite improvements in vehicle emissions. Along with other scientists, we presented our data to the environment ministries here and in Europe, but the politicians were so focused on traffic pollution that they didnt want to hear. It was only in 2015, when a Government survey revealed that about one home in 12 in the United Kingdom was burning wood, that it was finally recognised as a problem. Wood-burning was producing 2.6 times more dangerous polluting particles than traffic exhaust. A lot of these fires are actually illegal. Major British cities still have the smoke control laws put in place following the terrible four-day London smog of 1952 which killed at least 12,000. These ban the burning of non-smokeless coal in open fires and prohibit the burning of wood, too, but the law is rarely enforced and widely ignored. Almost all of London is designated as a smoke control area, for example, but in 2015, 68 per cent of wood-burning homes in London were using an open fire, even though most UK homes have gas or electric heating. Why the lack of action? In part, theres political resistance to the idea of telling people what to do in their own homes, particularly when it comes to banning something pleasurable. What happened in France is instructive. In 2015, the city of Paris got within a hairs-breadth of banning wood-burning in open fires, but with just days to go, the French Ecology Minister, Segolene Royal, attacked the proposal as ridiculous. In a series of extraordinary statements, she seemed to suggest that banning a romantic evening with a glass of wine in front of the fire was an attack on the French way of life. Another obstacle is the clean image that wood-burning stoves present. Stoves have been promoted as green, renewable and carbon-neutral compared to the environmental evil of burning fossil fuels. It is certainly true that the most modern stoves and wood-pellet burners produce less than a fifth of the particle pollution that comes from an open fire. So, upgrading from fireplaces to modern wood-burners should reduce air pollution at a stroke but those upgrades are unlikely to happen any time soon because fireplaces and stoves go on for ever. The people who burn wood in open hearths in Britain probably use the fireplace that was built with their house a century or more ago. Inefficient old stoves can pump out heat and fumes for generations to come. In other words, it is not enough to set pollution standards for new wood-burners we need action on existing fireplaces and stoves. The testing regime itself is another obstacle to real improvement. Yes, stoves are getting better, and by 2022 those sold in Europe will have to meet Ecodesign standards that set limits on how much smoke they can produce. However, as with diesel vehicles, there is a very large disparity between test performance and the smoke that comes from stoves in the real world. Stoves are tested in idealised conditions using dry wood burnt for just an hour or so rather than the variety of wood that people use at home with frequent refuelling and adjustment to keep a fire going all evening. So the results from laboratory tests have been nothing like results from those same wood-burners when they were tested in normal houses and produced ten times as much pollution. Some days the emissions were close to those of the laboratory test and at other times they would be as much as 16 times higher. There has been huge variability in results even from the same stove, and it was a puzzle to find out why. Using wet wood appears to be one factor that increases the pollution; closing the air vents on the stove is another. The biggest factor, though, is the person who lights the fire and the skill with which he or she does so. (Some countries have introduced videos and classes aimed at encouraging the best wood-burning techniques, such as lighting their fires from the top of the stacked wood and using plenty of kindling. A lack of kindling is one of the reasons why wood-burners sometimes produce smoke when they are first lit.) What you burn matters, too. There is worrying evidence from air- quality testing carried out at a bowling club in the small New Zealand town of Wainuiomata, near Wellington. As expected, the towns air was full of wood smoke throughout the winter, but the smoke contained arsenic at a level 50 per cent greater than the legal limit in Europe. The only possible explanation was that people were burning construction timber, treated with a preservative known as chromated copper arsenate (CCA). New Zealand scientists rapidly found that it was not just a local problem. Treated wood was being burnt everywhere. Arsenic and lead were found in the air of suburbs of the Greek capital Athens, suggesting that people were burning construction waste and old painted wood. This is inevitably happening in Britain, too. It is difficult to measure the direct effect on public health in detail, but wherever wood is burnt, we find air-pollution problems. And air pollution, we know, endangers health. It has been calculated, for example, that particle pollution caused 29,500 premature deaths in Britain in 2010 and that a short period of high air pollution in March and April 2014 caused about 1,650 excess or additional deaths. The latest research suggests that the damaging effects of wood smoke are worse than we thought. In particular, it does not dissipate harmlessly. On the contrary, scientists have discovered that wood smoke changes over time as the gases and particles in the smoke react and then make yet more pollution particles. In some experiments, the concentration of particle pollution in the smoke increased by about 60 per cent as the hours passed. In others it tripled. Because the problem is invisible, the health implications often become clear only when the wood-burning is removed or reduced. In areas where this has happened as part of government-sponsored anti-pollution initiatives, the number of older people admitted to hospital has dropped by as much as 11 per cent, and winter death rates have dropped by a similar amount. And theres the great injustice. The smoke from a small numbers of homes that are burning wood often as a lifestyle choice can pollute a whole neighbourhood or even an entire city. Changing centuries-old attitudes and habits will not be easy who doesnt love a crackling fire? However warm, cosy and no-doubt stylish they make us feel, we have to question the place of wood fires in towns and cities. We need to take action and urgently lives are at risk. Adapted from The Invisible Killer: The Rising Global Threat Of Air Pollution And How We Can Fight Back, by Gary Fuller, published by Melville House UK on November 28, priced 12.99. Offer price 10.39 (20 per cent discount) until December 3. Pre-order at mailshop.co.uk/books or call 0844 571 0640; p&p is free on orders over 15. Spend 30 on books and get free premium delivery. If you're a nervous flyer, then you might want to look away now. Nerve-wracking footage taken from the cockpit of a plane going into land at Palma de Mallorca in Spain shows two pilots navigating a thunderstorm. Their bodies can be seen juddering in the turbulence, with torrential rain resulting in zero visibility. Nerve-wracking footage taken from the cockpit of a plane going into land at Palma de Mallorca in Spain shows two pilots navigating a thunderstorm The pilots frantically try to right the aircraft as it is pounded by heavy gusts of wind hitting 40mph. The windscreen wipers also appear to be working overtime, as sheets of water pound down. Gradually as the Boeing 737-800 descends, the ground below comes into view. Lights running along the runway then start to shine through the rainy haze. The pilots frantically try to right the aircraft as it is pounded by heavy gusts of wind hitting 40mph Amazingly, the plane makes a pretty smooth landing and the pilots calmly guide it to its allotted stand Amazingly, the plane makes a pretty smooth landing and the pilots calmly guide it to its allotted stand. To date, YouTube footage showing the stormy plane landing has been watched more than 87,000 times. Many viewers have applauded the pilots for their skilled landing. Airbus A380 wrote: 'What a skilled pilots! Great job!', while Riad Salkanovic added: 'Excellent execution. Bravo.' A source close to elite male model Jordan Barrett, 21, has hit back after reports surfaced claiming that he had hurt his career with hard-partying and 'bad behaviour'. On Sunday, The Daily Telegraph published quotes from an 'insider' claiming that Jordan is 'considered a dishevelled and loose party boy.' Speaking to Daily Mail Australia, a source close to Jordan accused The Daily Telegraph of publishing the story as a way of 'getting back' at the male model for defending his pal Emily Ratajkowski during her clash with the paper's key celebrity journalist last week. 'It's just because he defended Emily Ratajkowski!' A source close to elite male model Jordan Barrett, 22, has hit back after reports surfaced claiming that he had destroyed his career with hard-partying and 'bad behaviour' (Pictured: Jordan Barrett, Emily Ratajkowski) 'It's just because he defended Emily after the GQ Awards!' the source told Daily Mail Australia. Last week, Jordan defended Emily when a Daily Telegraph journalist claimed she acted 'rudely' at the recent GQ Man Of The Year Awards in Sydney. Taking to Instagram, Jordan insisted that Emily behaved in a 'respectful' manner while being bombarded by the press pack. 'She was not rude': Taking to Instagram, Jordan insisted that Emily (pictured) behaved in a 'respectful' manner while being bombarded by the press pack Top model: On Sunday, a fashion insider alleged to The Daily Telegraph that 'dishevelled party boy' Jordan (pictured) has hurt his modelling career with 'bad behaviour' '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 insisted. Days later, a story appeared in The Daily Telegraph alleging that Jordan's career is on the rocks. 'When he first started out, he was this fresh, baby-faced kid, lauded for his laid-back Byron Bay vibe. These days he is considered a dishevelled and loose party boy,' the source claimed. Health and wellness is king: The insider went on to claim that the modelling industry has changed over the past decade, with its focus now moving towards models that represent healthy lifestyles (Pictured: Jordan Barrett) The insider went on to allege that the modelling industry has changed over the past decade, with its focus now moving towards models that represent healthy lifestyles. It's not the first time an industry source has voiced their concerns about Jordan's party boy lifestyle. Back in March, modelling agent Kirk Blake, told to the Daily Telegraph that the blond elite model needed to 'rein it in'. Kirk also questioned why so much attention was being given to Jordan, despite his less-than-positive reputation. Time to slow down? Back in March, the modelling agent who discovered Jordan (right), Kirk Blake, told to the Daily Telegraph that the blond hunk needed to 'rein it in' Jordan told New York Magazine about the 'matches' incident: 'I wanted to have a cigarette, but I couldn't get a lighter because apparently you have to be over 18, so I decided I was gonna take matches from the counter.' Taking the modelling industry by storm, the genetically-blessed star graced the runway for Dolce & Gabbana, Moschino and Versace at Milan Fashion Week. Jordan's appeal lies beyond the catwalk, having been linked to the likes of 'it' girls Hailey Baldwin, Sofia Richie, Megan Blake Irwin, Lara Stone and Sahara Ray. Jordan has been awarded the Model of the Year Award for three consecutive times since his first Tom Ford campaign. Taking a swipe? Kirk also questioned why so much attention was being given to Jordan (right), despite his less-than-positive reputation. Jordan remains one of the world's top models Love Island winner Amber Davies was rushed to hospital after collapsing outside a pub in her hometown amid fears her drink was spiked. Miss Davies, 22, had been drinking with a friend when she became unwell after being seen stumbling and screaming in a car park in St Asaph, North Wales. Staff at the Plough Inn called an ambulance while Miss Davies' nurse mother Sue, 51, also raced to her aid on Friday night. Amber Davies was rushed to hospital after collapsing outside a pub in her hometown amid fears her drink was spiked. Miss Davies, 22, had been drinking with a friend when she became unwell after being seen stumbling and screaming in a car park in St Asaph, North Wales A source told The Sun: 'She believes her drink was spiked.' One witness at the pub said she had been talking to a man outside before suddenly collapsing. 'She suddenly hit the floor. She was completely unconscious. People came out of the pub to help her and put her in the recovery position,' the onlooker told paper. 'She was screaming like she was in agony. Paramedics were asking people if she'd taken anything. But no one saw her taking drugs.' Miss Davies, who was the winner of Love Island 2017 alongside her now ex-boyfriend Kem Cetinary, was taken to the Glan Clwyd Hospital in Bodelwyddan. Doctors treated her for up to three hours before she was allowed home. Earlier in the day, the Welsh model shared photos of her drinking a large glass of wine in the pub on Instagram. Following her Love Island experience, the star has made efforts to move into TV presenting alongside her lingerie modelling. She is set to star in Dolly Parton musical 9 to 5 in London's West End next year alongside Louise Redknapp Following her Love Island experience, the star has made efforts to move into TV presenting alongside her lingerie modelling. She is set to star in Dolly Parton musical 9 to 5 in London's West End next year alongside Louise Redknapp. While it is thought she is dating the Diversity dancer Perri Kiely, 22, who was not present when Amber fell unconscious. MailOnline have approached Amber Davies' representatives for comment. She has a figure and a face that stand out in a crowd, even among them most beautiful. And on Saturday, Jennifer Lopez continued to radiate beauty, even without glamorous make-up and hair extensions. The 49-year-old went make-up free as she headed to a workout in Los Angeles. Lovely lady: On Saturday, Jennifer Lopez, 49, went make-up free as she headed to a workout in Los Angeles Jennifer went incognito in a black hoodie with the phrase, 'LA girl,' written across the front. The star paired her comfortable outerwear with a set of leggings and neon green sneakers. The mother-of-two's only accessory was a pair of shades. Her look: Jennifer was incognito in a black hoodie with the phrase, 'LA girl,' written across the front. The star paired her comfortable outerwear with a set of leggings and sneakers Jennifer often works out with boyfriend Alex Rodriguez, but he was not pictured with the star. The couple of almost two years began dating in February of 2017. The Puerto Rican actress has been married three times, and shares twins Max and Emme, 10, with most recent ex-husband, Marc Anthony. Fitness buddy: Jennifer often works out with boyfriend Alex Rodriguez, 43, but he was not pictured with the star Up next, Jennifer will take the lead as Maya in the much-anticipated romantic comedy, Second Act. The beauty will star alongside best friend Leah Remini, Vanessa Hudgens and Milo Ventimiglia. Then, she'll appear in the TV movie, Bye Bye Birdie Live! and the film, The Hustlers at Scores. Mel B has confessed to snorting six lines of cocaine a day while working on The X Factor 'to get her through living' with her husband of ten-years Stephen Belafonte. In her autobiography Brutally Honest, serialised in The Sun on Sunday, the Spice Girl, 43, also revealed she tried to take her own life with nearly 200 painkillers in 2014, when appearing on the live shows. She was replaced for the Saturday semi-final but appeared the next night in a dress which showed off her bruises following her suicide attempt - at the time she blamed a stomach ulcer. Candid: Mel B has confessed to snorting six lines of cocaine a day while working on The X Factor 'to get her through living' with her husband of ten-years Stephen Belafonte Admitting she started her day with two lines of cocaine during the series, Mel said: I was a sad, pathetic person. I was out of control. I was probably taking five or six lines a day before and after work. It numbed my pain. It lifted me up enough to be ready to fire on all cylinders and forget about everything but the show. She wrote: I was so low that two weeks into filming The X Factor Id started using cocaine to get me through the run of the show. To get me through living with Stephen, which felt like neurotic claustrophobia. Troubled times: The Spice Girl, 43, also revealed she tried to take her own life during the live shows when downing nearly 200 painkillers in 2014 Brave: She was replaced for the Saturday semi-final but appeared the next night (above) in a dress which showed off her bruises following her suicide attempt - at the time she blamed a stomach ulcer Yet the singing sensation believes the drug did not affect her judging performance on the hit ITV programme - where she appeared alongside Simon Cowell, Louis Walsh and Cheryl - with Mel insisting she never took it during the shows. The Wannabe hitmaker said she didnt need to take anything during the programme as she would be laughing along with the judges and the crew. But as soon as filming finished for the 2014 series, the Leeds-native snorted the drug, revealing that it took less than a minute to get her hands on some. She also detailed the moment she attempted to take her own life, taking aspirin she had stockpiled over the years. Saying she felt 'ugly and detested' by Stephen who allegedly had a 'library of sex tapes of her', she wrote notes to her children and took the pills before telling herself she needed to get to the hospital for the sake of her daughters. Struggles: Saying she felt 'ugly and detested' by Stephen who allegedly had a 'library of sex tapes of her', she wrote notes to her children and took the pills before telling herself she needed to get to the hospital for the sake of her daughters. The star felt herself losing consciousness and said she smashed into a door, causing bruises which were seen on the live X Factor show. When she got to the hospital she called Simon Cowell, who remained calm for her. The star added that her daughter Phoenix was 'full of rage' which was the moment she knew she had to 'fight back.' Despite being told there was serious damage to her liver and kidneys, the star was determined to attend the live show, and forwent a dress with sleeves as she wanted to 'stand proud' and for her bruises to be seen. Mel said she deliberately showed off her ring free hand to send a message to Stephen, 'f*** you big time' and that she was going to divorce him. And despite Cheryl's looks of concern, she told her fellow judges she was 'ok'. The Spice Girls star revealed she was entering a UK-based therapy centre in September after being diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder as she wants to be a 'better version' of herself for her children - Phoenix Chi Gulzar, 19, Angel Iris Murphy Brown, 11, and seven-year-old Madison Brown Belafonte. Mel and film producer Stephen, 43, married in 2007 Mel but later divorced in December last year after a long-running battle in which lurid tales of kinky sex, drug and alcohol abuse and allegations of domestic violence made headlines. Despite their divorce being finalised, the disagreements over children's custody and finances have dragged on through the summer. Brutally Honest by Melanie Brown with Louise Gannon (Quadrille, 17.99) is published on November 27. The Brutally Honest audiobook is available exclusively on audible.co.uk. For confidential support call the Samaritans in the UK on 08457 90 90 90, visit a local Samaritans branch or click here for details. Bill Maher riled up comic book fans on Saturday when the comedian wrote a blog post critical of Stan Lee's cultural impact. The Real Time host suggested the recently-deceased Spider-Man creator was responsible for kids continuing to read comic books into their adult years - and thereby wasting their 'smarts on stupid stuff'. He even claimed comic book were responsible for America's current political climate: 'I dont think its a huge stretch to suggest that Donald Trump could only get elected in a country that thinks comic books are important.' Backlash: Bill Maher [L] riled up comic book fans on Saturday when the comedian wrote a blog post critical of Stan Lee's [R] cultural impact In the blog post, titled Adulting, Maher takes aim at nerd culture. The Religulous star implied that comic books should only be read by children and that he had long ago 'moved on to big-boy books without the pictures'. He also blamed the immaturity of adults on comic book culture, writing that 'now when adults are forced to do grown-up things like buy auto insurance, they call it adulting, and act like its some giant struggle.' Defenders: Fans of the medium were quick to retort, including comic book author Neil Gaiman Controversy: Meanwhile Twitter user @Marcprice21 referred to Maher's habit of inviting controversial figures like Steve Bannon onto his talk show Real Time Fans of the medium were quick to retort, including comic book author Neil Gaiman, who wrote: 'More people cared about Stan Lee's death than care about Bill Maher alive.' Meanwhile Twitter user @Marcprice21 referred to Maher's habit of inviting controversial figures like Steve Bannon onto his talk show Real Time. 'Bill Maher is so up his own a** he blames Stan Lee for creating stories about rejecting bigotry instead of himself for inviting white nationalists on his show.' Lee created popular characters like Black Panther and The Incredible Hulk. Hypocrisy? And @UpToTASK was quick to point out that the HBO star once appeared in a comic book movie himself Tirade: Many other users were quick to defend Stan's legacy And @UpToTASK was quick to point out that the HBO star once appeared in a comic book movie himself. In response to a line from the blog in which the 62-year-old funny man dismissed Lee as having done little more than inspiring 'millions to, I don't know, watch a movie', the user posted a picture from Maher's Iron Man 3 cameo. The native New Yorker played himself in the Robert Downey Jr. starrer. Stirring the pot: Maher seemed to blame the rise of Trump on the deceased comic book writer And streaming giant Netflix has included an easter egg on their website in honor of the writer, who passed away on Monday. Users who type 'Excelsior!' into the search bar get returns for 'Titles In: Stan Lees Universe'. Such titles as Black Panther, Thor: Ragnarok, Guardians of the Galaxy, Vol. 2, Spider-Man 3, Doctor Strange, Daredevil and Jessica Jones are included in the Netflix catalog. She is known for her beauty and elegance on and off the red carpet. And Nicole Kidman was true to form on Sunday in Los Angeles while attending Variety's Actors on Actors event. The 41-year-old actress cut a chic figure in a black ensemble as she headed down the red carpet with Amy Adams, 44. Elegance: Nicole Kidman was true to form on Sunday in Los Angeles while attending Variety's Actors on Actors event A sheer black top with two vertical stripes gave a classic Hollywood feel to Nicole, who let her long blonde tresses tumble is relaxed waves over hear shoulders. Her black skirt fell to her knees and she added a couple inches to her 5ft 11in frame with shimmering gold heels. Painting her lips a soft pink, Nicole stylish look showed off her slender frame while her make highlighted her gorgeous features. Classic: A sheer black top with two vertical stripes gave a classic Hollywood feel to Nicole, who let her long blonde tresses tumble is relaxed waves over hear shoulders Amy opted to go in red from head to toe. She complemented her long red tresses with a red ensemble that consisted of a classy long sleeve blouse and an ankle-length skirt. The Arrival actress topped the entire thing off with a pair of red heels and painted her lips a soft pink. Chatting it up: Her black skirt fell to her knees and she added a couple inches to her 5ft 11in frame with shimmering gold heels Variety and PBS SoCal announced the actor lineup and schedule for the ninth season of Variety Studio: Actors on Actors earlier this week. The first two episodes of the Emmy Award-winning series will premiere on PBS SoCal on Tuesday, Jan. 8 at 7 p.m. with episodes three and four set to premiere on Thursday, Jan. 10 at 7 p.m. Other actor pairings and conversations in this season include: Lady Gaga (A Star is Born) with Lin-Manuel Miranda (Mary Poppins Returns); Mahershala Ali (Green Book) with John David Washington (BlacKkKlansman); Emily Blunt (A Quiet Place / Mary Poppins Returns) with Hugh Jackman (The Front Runner); Emma Stone (The Favourite) with Timothee Chalamet (Beautiful Boy); Melissa McCarthy (Can You Ever Forgive Me?) with Lupita Nyongo (Black Panther); Nicole Kidman (Destroyer/Boy Erased) with Amy Adams (Vice). All red: Amy opted to go in red from head to toe She rarely has a day off between her long days on set and career as a recording artist. But Mandy Moore took some time for herself on Saturday, spotted heading to The Now Massage in Studio City, California. The 34-year-old was dressed casually for the occasion and appeared in high spirits for the solo outing. She deserves it: Mandy Moore showcased her effortless style while treating herself to a well-deserved massage on Saturday Mandy stunned in a midi-length maxi-dress that featured a modest v-neck cut and a gorgeous side slit. She teamed the look with a pair of ballet flats and accessorised with a designer purse and pair of shades. The This Is Us star had her dark locks styled out naturally and she appeared to be wearing no makeup. Gorgeous: Mandy stunned in a midi-length maxi-dress that featured a modest v-neck cut and a gorgeous side slit Following her trip to the massage boutique, Mandy looked much more relaxed and was spotted smiling as she spoke on the phone. She completed her look with a denim jacket draped over her shoulders and was then seen spending some time with some close friends. Pal and current weekend house guest Chase Weideman-Grant took to social media to share a snap of their relaxing Saturday. Zen: Following her trip to the massage boutique, Mandy looked much more relaxed and was spotted smiling as she spoke on the phone Friendship at its finest: Pal and current weekend house guest Chase Weideman-Grant took to social media to share a snap of their relaxing Saturday 'There are a million reasons to get the massage, to have the wine, to enjoy the cheese plates, to love yourself, and your friends, and enjoy your life,' he captioned. 'These two are my reasons #1 and #2 today..A perfect little respite.' The sweet shots saw Mandy and Chase enjoy a gorgeous cheese and vegetable platter over a bottle of wine alongside their other friend Ashley Streicher. Emily Ratajkowski has defended herself after an Australian journalist labelled her 'difficult' and 'rude' at the GQ Man of the Year Awards earlier this week. In leaked messages obtained by Daily Mail Australia on Sunday, the 27-year-old said she was 'disappointed' by the blatant 'sexism'. 'It's extremely disappointing that in 2018 when a woman makes a business decision to protect herself, she is still called 'difficult',' the message read. EXCLUSIVE: 'Attempting to slander a woman's name because she wouldn't talk to you is classic sexism': Leaked messages reveal Emily Ratajkowski's furious response to journalist who called her 'difficult' and 'rude'. Pictured Emily and model Jordan Barrett (centre) at GQ Man of the Year Awards this week 'Attempting to slander a woman's name because she wouldn't talk to you? I'd say that's pretty classic sexism.' Emily's response came after a journalist publicly criticised the American model on Instagram. '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,' the Instagram post read. '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.' Hitting back: Emily's furious response came after a journalist publicly criticised the American model on Instagram Speaking to Mamamia after the awkward run-in, the irate journalist doubled down on his criticism. '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,' he complained. 'She was late so I thought she'd start by apologising, but she just acknowledged me in a really rude way.' Hitting back: In the leaked messages, the bombshell model chalked-up the criticism to a case of 'classic sexism', with her appearing furious at the public shaming On Friday, model Jordan Barrett defended Emily, who he accompanied on the red carpet at the GQ awards. Disputing the reporter's version of events, Jordan insisted Emily behaved in a 'respectful' manner while being bombarded by the press pack. Speaking to Daily Mail Australia, Jordan said he was surprised by the reporter's allegations because it did not reflect what actually happened. Fake news! On Friday, model Jordan Barrett defended Emily, who he accompanied on the red carpet at the GQ awards 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 said. She transformed all of this year's stars for their amazing Blackpool showcase. And Lisa Armstrong showed off her own glamorous sense of style with a dramatic orange smoky eye as she left the Blackpool Tower Ballroom following the sensational Strictly Come Dancing special. The 42-year-old pulled back her blonde bobbed tresses with a simple leopard print hairband as she jumped into a taxi after the show. Gorgeous: Lisa Armstrong showed off her own glamorous sense of style with a dramatic orange smoky eye as she left the Blackpool Tower Ballroom Lisa was putting on a casual display in all-black as she drove away from the famous Tower Ballroom in her taxi. The cosmetics guru showed off her stand-out features with the contrasting orange eyeshadow and plenty of mascara, teamed with a simple nude lip. She also pulled back her blonde bobbed tresses with the help of a leopard print hairband after finishing up her work on this year's celebrity stars and their professional partners. Flawless: The 42-year-old pulled back her blonde bobbed tresses with a simple leopard print hairband as she jumped into a taxi after the show Pretty: The cosmetics guru showed off her stand-out features with the contrasting orange eyeshadow and plenty of mascara, teamed with a simple nude lip Gorgeous: Lisa was seen leaving her hotel in Blackpool later that evening to attend the Strictly afterparty Dressed to impress: The makeup expert looked nothing short of amazing in a black mesh spotted dress with chunky heeled ankle boots Getting ready: Lisa was seen jumping into her taxi to head to the bash following the spectacular live show earlier in the evening All glammed up: Lisa had her same distinctive orange eye makeup and leopard print hairband for the outing Girls night: She was flagged by a group of female pals as she made her way to the party It comes after Faye Tozer left viewers hot under the collar after delivering a sizzling paso doble with Giovanni Pernice on Saturday during the show's Blackpool spectacular. The couple left the judges and audience shell-shocked as they performed the sultry Latin dance to Unstoppable' by E. S. Posthumus, while Faye's husband Mick Smith cheered from the sidelines. Complete with plenty of fire displays and bull fighting-esque movements, her performance left everyone struggling to catch their breath. Tired out: Stacey Dooley looked ready for bed as she displayed bleary eyes Casual chic: The journalist donned skin-tight leggings and an oversized jumper Home time? The red haired beauty kept things casual for the after party Looking good: The professional dancer was joined by his Strictly partner Kate Silverton Happy times: Shirley Ballas beamed with happiness as she left the Blackpool bash Darcy gushed: 'Beautiful strong delivery, dramatic attack but what you kept was that femininity and that was difficult, that is hard when the music is so powerful, and you have to keep that with the action of the movements, that extraordinary straight lift. Being passed around, really well controlled.' Bruno added: 'I'm still steaming like a pressure cooker but I have to say the dynamic and structure of the dance was superb, every partner is different, but this was one was the paso dominatrix.' This resulted in yet another high score from the duo, with 38 points out of 40. Getting some air: Dr Ranj Singh unbuttoned his shirt before stepping outside to cool off Dapper: The television doctor looked smart in his waistcoat and shirt combo Chatty: The sociable star stood and chatted with friends while taking a break from the party A different look: Professional dancer Natalie Lowe left the party bare foot with her shoes in hand - a far cry from her preened and polished look earlier in the evening Viewers at home were left equally gobsmacked by the sizzling performance with some taking to Twitter to express their excitement for the routine. One wrote: 'Faye and Giovanni that was FIRE!!! 10s please judges', while another echoed this: 'Crikey @Faye_Tozer and @pernicegiovann1 what a dance! Hotski! Amazingly theatrical, and sexy.' While one said: 'Faye and Giovanni that was one of the sexiest things I have ever seen Im so obsessed.' Fiery: It comes after Faye Tozer left viewers hot under the collar after delivering a sizzling paso doble with Giovanni Pernice on Saturday during the show's Blackpool spectacular Supportive: Faye's husband Mick Smith cheered from the sidelines during her performance In awe: Faye and Giovanni left the judges and audience shell-shocked as they performed the sultry paso doble to Unstoppable' by E. S. Posthumus Incredible: Complete with plenty of fire displays and bull fighting-esque movements, her performance left everyone struggling to catch their breath, earning a score of 38 out of 40 Another added: 'Held my breath for the entire Faye and Giovanni routine - incredible scenes.' It came after Faye enjoyed a boozy lunch with her dance partner Giovanni to celebrate her 43rd birthday. Faye was beaming as she rang in the special day with the Italian professional dancer, who is rumoured to be dating co-star Ashley Roberts. During the meal, the handsome dancer was deep in conversation with the Nineties pop sensation before spoon feeding her, cupping her cheek, ordering a cake with a candle, drinking wine and later footing the bill. Reaction: Viewers at home were left equally gobsmacked by the sizzling performance with some taking to Twitter to express their excitement for the routine Despite filming throughout the lunch, there was no mention on either of their social media accounts of the meal, with Faye instead sharing a sweet snap with some family members. The Steps star's husband Mick Smith playfully addressed the cosy snaps of his wife and Giovanni. At one point during their meal Giovanni was seen wiping food from Faye's face, Mick took to Instagram with a photo of him with rice stuck to his mouth and joked: 'Wheres @pernicegiovann1 when you need him?' Amusing: Faye Tozer's beau Mick Smith playfully addressed his wife's boozy lunch with Giovanni Pernice, as he posed on Instagram with food by his mouth calling out to the dancer Faye and Giovanni also poked fun at the photos in a tongue-in-cheek video. Up first to dance on the night was Stacey Dooley and her dance partner Kevin Clifton who were delivered a party-starting Salsa to 'Ooh Ahh (Just A Little Bit)' by Gina G. The gorgeous broadcaster was looking to utilise all the best elements of the iconic Blackpool beach, and even made her grand entrance on a giant stick of rock. Stacey's amazing hip movements went down a storm with the watching audience, with judges Shirley Ballas and Bruno Tonioli giving the beauty a standing ovation. She certainly made an impression when she turned up for a Q&A at the Vulture Festival at the Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel on Saturday. Chloe Grace Moretz looked old Hollywood elegant in a silky white blouse that she teamed with bright red brocade palazzo pants and red high-heeled sandals. The 21-year-old strawberry blonde was all set for her In Conversation With Tatum O'Neal gig, one of the two-day festival's events. So elegant: Chloe Grace Moretz appeared at the Vulture Festival at the Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel on Saturday The two actresses talked about working in the film industry. Tatum - daughter of Ryan O'Neal - found her fame after starring in Paper Moon. Tatum, 55, looked years younger than her age in a black leather jacket that she wore over a scooped neck T-shirt and black pants. Hollywood chic: The 21-year-old strawberry blonde rocked a white silky blouse and bright red brocade palazzo pants Chloe was all set for her gig In Conversation With Tatum O'Neal, one of the two-day festival's events. The beautiful blonde asked Chloe about her decade in front of the cameras and how her leading role in The Miseducation Of Cameron Post had contributed to her growing voice as an activist for LGBTQ+ rights. In the drama, set in 1993, Chloe plays a teenage girl who is forced into gay conversion therapy by her conservative guardians. Director and co-writer Desiree Akhavan, 34, also joined the conversation. Ganging up: The strawberry blonde, who stars in The Miseducation Of Cameron Post, was joined on stage by director and co-writer Desiree Akhavan, 34 Suiting up: The American-Iranian brunette donned a grey parachute jumpsuit The American-Iranian brunette wore a grey parachute jumpsuit. The Miseducation Of Cameron Post played at the Sundance Film Festival in Park City, Utah, in January where it won the Grand Jury prize. It has gone on to screen at various festivals around the US and was given a wide release on August 3. Women talk: Tatum O'Neal, 55, moderated the conversation between the star and the director Her message was loud and clear when she arrived at Los Angeles International Airport on Saturday. Rosamund Pike looked fabulous in a white T-shirt with the words Choose Love! emblazoned in black capital letters across her chest. The 39-year-old Brit teamed her T-shirt with a long, beige overcoat, jeans and bright yellow ankle boots. Getting her message out: Rosamund Pike looked fabulous in a white T-shirt with the words Choose Love! emblazoned in black capital letters across her chest at LAX on Saturday The beautiful blonde Gone Girl star wore her tresses loose to cascade over her shoulders as she made her way into the aiport concourse. Rosamund has been in Los Angeles promoting her movie, A Private War, in which she stars as celebrated war correspondent Marie Colvin. Unuual combo: The 39-year-old Brit teamed her T-shirt with a long, beige overcoat, jeans and bright yellow ankle boots The Sunday Times journalist and French photographer Remi Ochlik were both killed during a rocket strike in Syria in 2012. Marie was 56. A Private War was released in the US on November 16 and is due out February 1 in the UK. Meanwhile, Rosamund has been in a long-term relationship with British businessman and mathematical researcher Robie Uniacke, 57, since 2009. Stepping out: The beautiful blonde Gone Girl star wore her long tresses loose to cascade over her shoulders as she made her way into the aiport concourse They share two sons, Solo, six, and Atom, who turns four on December 2. The actress was likely at the airport to catch a flight back to London, where she lives with her family. She can next be seen on the bigscreen in crime Drama The Informer with Ana de Armas, Joel Kinnaman, Clive Owen and Common, due out on March 22. On the promo trail: Rosamund has been in Los Angeles promoting her movie, A Private War, in which she stars as celebrated war correspondent Marie Colvin She recently claimed that her ex husband Brian Austin Green cut off contact with their son Kassius, now 16, five years ago. But on Saturday Vanessa Marcil appeared to be trying to keep things positive as she posted a sweet throwback snap of her and her son to Instagram. The 50-year-old Las Vegas star's image consisted of her and a younger Kassius looking away from the camera while wearing matching bright orange outfits. Happy memories: On Saturday Vanessa Marcil appeared to be trying to keep things positive as she posted a sweet throwback snap of her and her son to Instagram Their names are emblazoned on their rear ends, and Vanessa can be seen putting her arm around her young son in what looks to be a playroom. Her caption read 'all you need in life are Star Wars legos, princess tables, feety pajamas and Love....' The post comes after Vanessa claimed that her son and his father Brian Austin Green and his wife Megan Fox barely have a relationship anymore. Unfortunate: She recently claimed that her ex husband Brian Austin Green cut off contact with their son Kassius, now 16, five years ago On Wednesday she alleged that in addition to no longer keeping a bedroom for Kassius at their home or letting him spend time with his half-brothers, the youngest of whom he has never met, the couple got rid of his pet cat without telling him. 'He's not allowed to know where they live anymore. Isn't invited to see them on holidays. Not even Father's Day. They threw out his entire room and gave away his cat without Kass knowing,' Marcil wrote. Adding more detail, she explained that any of the very occasional meetings between Kassius and his dad had been fleeting. Vanessa Marcil claims that Brian Austin Green has only seen their son Kassius 'in passing' over the last five years and even gave away his pet cat without telling him She wrote on Instagram: 'They have been at the same wedding, same resort, and same play a few times in passing and a few 60 minute lunches. That is it.' The actress added: 'He has seen his dad in passing in public places, including seeing him in Mexico, where his dad was doing a publicity appearance for money at that hotel. His dad had a professional photographer there from the hotel take a pic of them.' DailyMail.com has reached out to representatives of Green and Fox seeking comment. Marcil alleged that Green and wife Megan Fox, who married in 2010, 'completely cut' Kassius, 16, out of their lives after failing to win full custody of him in a protracted legal battle Marcil, 50, claimed: 'He's not allowed to know where they live anymore. Isn't invited to see them on holidays. Not even Father's Day' Marcil wrote on Instagram: 'Kass has never met his youngest brother and is not allowed to know where his bio father, stepmother and three younger brothers live' Marcil shared the details in response to some of her followers who questioned her claims that Green was not in contact with Kassius. She stated: 'The truth is the truth and it IS needed for healing after 15 years. Love to all parents. Moms and dads. Lets put our kids first.' She added that she would be willing to accept a 'sincere apology' from her ex and his wife because she would like her son to get to know his half-brothers -Noah, six, Bodhi, four, and Journey, two. In response to Instagram comments, she explained: 'They have been at the same wedding, same resort, and same play a few times in passing and a few 60 minute lunches. That is it' Kassius was born during Vanessa's ill-fated relationship with her former Beverly Hills, 90210 co-star Green. The two never married. She spoke publicly about his lack of contact with their son for the first time this week, saying the actor cut off all contact five years ago after failing to get full custody of the boy during a protracted legal battle. The actress, 50, alleges that Green and wife Megan Fox 'decided to completely cut Kass out of their lives and his younger brothers lives.' Marcil explained in her social media message that Green, 45, and Fox, 32, had 'always had 50% custody and still did when court ended as I had and have NEVER asked for full custody.' She said her son Kassius is 'truly heartbroken' at being cut out of the lives of his father, step-mother and half-siblings. The actress made the comments in a lengthy Instagram post Sunday seemingly inspired by an episode of CNN's This Is Life with Lisa Ling that featured fathers who lost custody battles Marcil's decision to speak out publicly seems to be related to an episode of This Is Life With Lisa Ling on CNN in which Ling focuses on men who lose custody battles following divorce. 'As usual I cant wait to see @lisalingstagram show on custody cases,' Marcil posted Sunday. '12 years ago I was served legal papers and then spent 8 years+ defending myself and my son in custody court in response to his father & his stepmother trying to get full custody(that means I would have seen my son four days a month) and then asking me to pay them child support.' 'They lost that case & a civil case asking me for 200,000,' she explained. 'I had also never asked for child support of any kind and had never tried to take time away from Kass dad seeing him. Ever. In the end they lost all of these court cases. The judge called them all Frivolous.' Marcil went on to say that custody cases hurt children and that divorcing spouses and couples who have children together and later split up should 'put the kids first.' 'There shouldnt be a more important parent kids love both parents equally no matter what either parents struggles may be,' the former General Hospital starlet wrote. Marcil and Green, who starred together on Beverly Hills, 90210 from 1998 to 2000, never married. The couple (pictured in 2001) welcomed their son Kassius in March 2002 Marcil, whose first marriage was to actor Corey Feldman from 1989 to 1993, went on to tie the knot for a second time with actor Carmine Giovinazzo in 2010. She filed for divorce two years later. She is currently in a relationship with a sheriff's deputy who she refers to only as 'MC' on her social media. Green, who first found fame on the daytime soap Knot's Landing before winning the part of David Silver in Beverly Hills, 90210 in 1990, started dating Fox in 2004. They wed in 2010 and have three sons - Noah born in 2012, Bodhi born in 2014 and Journey born in 2016. Fox filed for divorce in August 2015 but they reconciled in early 2016. He is best known for playing Jim Hopper in the hugely popular television series Stranger Things. Now David Harbour has landed a new role which will see him star opposite Chris Hemsworth in the new Netflix action movie Dhaka, according to The Hollywood Reporter. The movie marks the directorial debut of Sam Hargrave, a stunt coordinator who has previously worked as a stunt double for Captain America actor Chris Evans. In demand: David Harbour joined the cast of the new Netflix action movie Dhaka According to Netflix, Dhaka is set in an underworld of weapon dealers and traffickers, where a young boy becomes a pawn in a war between notorious drug lords. As kidnappers trap the boy inside one of the worlds most impenetrable cities, his plight attracts a skilled mercenary named Tyler Rake, played by Hemsworth. Rake is a broken man with nothing to lose who's harboring a death wish that makes an already deadly mission even more appealing to him. According to The Hollywood Reporter, Harbour will play a fellow mercenary who has secret intentions. Breakout: : Harbour is best known for his role in the popular television series Stranger Things Joining forces: Harbour, 43, will be starring alongside Chris Hemsworth in Dhaka; the Australia star is best known in the US for playing Thor in the Marvel Cinematic Universe Filming for Dhaka is reportedly already underway, with India and Indonesia among the countries that are being used as the backdrop. Harbour is expected to be on the set soon, according to Screen Rant. The movie was written by Joe Russo, and is being produced by him and his brother Anthony Russo. They worked with Hemsworth and Hargrave when they helmed 'Avengers: Infinity War' and two 'Captain America' films. On the horizon: Harbour just wrapped up filming season three of Stranger Things Harbour, 43, just wrapped up shooting for season three of Stranger Days. He is also set to star in the Hellboy reboot, where he will be taking over the character played by Ron Perlman in the original Guillermo del Toro movies. The plot in the new movie follows Hellboy as he battles with a medieval evil wizard who is hell-bent on destroying humankind. Milla Jovovich, 42, will star as the Blood Queen and Ian McShane, 75, as Professor Broom - the scientist who adopts the titular demon child - in the Neil Marshall-helmed movie. The Hellboy reboot is scheduled to hit theaters April 12. She's not shy when it comes to showing off her famous body. But on Saturday Kim Kardashian apparently opted to hide it all as she stepped out for some shopping with husband Kanye West. The 38-year-old reality queen chose an uncharacteristically demure outfit for the jaunt, which consisted of a very baggy black jumpsuit. Unexpected! On Saturday Kim Kardashian apparently opted to hide it all as she stepped out for some shopping with husband Kanye West The garment appeared to feature several zippers, and included long sleeves and long pant legs. Dark socks and some chunky black trainers completed her low-key look. Her only accessories appeared to be a pair of sunglasses and her large phone, which she carried in her right hand. Of course the style-maven's silky raven tresses were parted in the middle, while subtle blush, contouring and pale rose lipstick ensured her visage looked exquisite. Nothing to see here! The garment appeared to feature several zippers, and included long sleeves and long pant legs Perfect! Of course the style-maven's silky raven tresses were parted in the middle, while subtle blush, contouring and pale rose lipstick ensured her visage looked exquisite Husband Kanye, 41, chose a similarly laid-back ensemble for the outing with his better half. The All Mine rapper, who is no stranger to causing a stir with his own style, decided to roll with a light blue coat, white t-shirt and dark trousers. White socks and some very run-of-the-mill trainers rounded out his comparatively staid look. Nothing special: Husband Kanye, 41, chose a similarly laid-back ensemble for the outing with his better half His blonde hair did still sport a bit of the eye-catching red coloring he debuted recently. The couple looked quite stoic as they entered the shop, which happened to be the trendy XIV Karats jewelry store located in Beverly Hills. Earlier in the day, Kim was apparently in a happier mood as she shared an adorable video of her ten-month-old daughter Chicago West. Hilary Duff is not afraid of getting a little silly. On Saturday, the new mom of two, 31, hilariously stuck out her tongue while taking a goofy family photo with her son Luca, boyfriend Matthew Koma, 31, and their newborn daughter Banks. In the photo, Luca, six, appeared to be giving the thumb's up as he made the same expression as his mother. Family fun! Hilary Duff hilariously stuck out her tongue while taking a goofy family photo with her son Luca, boyfriend Matthew Koma, and their newborn daughter Banks Matthew gazed at his girlfriend while helping hold their slumbering, three-week-old daughter. 'Banks... you gotta try harder,' Hilary captioned the photo. Hilary and Matthew welcomed daughter Banks Violet into the world on October 25. And since then, Hilary has been delighting fans by posting an array of snaps of her sweet newborn daughter. Bundle of joy: On Wednesday, 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 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 I'm 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. Tammy Hembrow is Australia's biggest online influencer with 8.8 million followers. And the Instagram model's fame has certainly spread far and wide since kick-starting her social media based career at home on the Gold Coast. During a meet and greet in Los Angeles on Saturday, many excited fans queued up to say hello to the 24-year-old Australian at a pop up store for brand Good American. Scroll down for video 'I've never been so nervous... she's my idol': Tammy Hembrow's fans queue up in LA for a chance to meet the Instagram model during personal appearance for brand Good American The event was held at The Americana at Brand in Glendale, California, on a 'first come, first served' basis and offered fans the chance to snap a selfie with Tammy. 'For those who know me best you'll know this is my idol and I can't believe I got to meet her today,' one fan wrote online after getting up close to the beauty. Tammy's avid follower then concluded: 'I've never been so nervous in my life.' Another fan at the event gushed to Tammy: 'You inspire me so much when it comes to my own fitness journey. I'm not the type to get starstruck but I totally did that I was loss out of words (sic). Such a beautiful humble soul from the inside and out.' 'You inspire me so much when it comes to my own fitness journey': Many of the 24-year-old's fans gushed over their celeb encounter in public posts online afterwards Lucky few! The event was held at The Americana at Brand in Glendale, California, on a 'first come, first served' basis and offered fans the chance to snap a selfie with Tammy Khloe Kardashian, who is a co-founder of brand Good American, promoted the appearance on Friday to her 82.4 million followers. 'Come meet my girl @tammyhembrow of the #goodsquad,' she wrote on her Instagram Story while attaching a poster for the exclusive event. Earlier this year, Tammy's relationship with the famous family was brought into question after she was stretchered out of Kylie Jenner's birthday party. However, Khloe's very public post seemingly proves that Tammy is still in with Khloe, Kylie and the stars of Keeping Up With The Kardashians. Going global! The Instagram model's star status has certainly spread far and wide since kick-starting her social media based career at home on the Gold Coast Steve Carell was the guest host of Saturday Night Live this weekend. And the 56-year-old actor was greeted by some of his former cast mates while giving his introduction monologue. Ellie Kemper, Ed Helms, Jenna Fischer, and his wife Nancy (who played Carol on the NBC sitcom) all called for their former 'boss' to reboot The Office. Duty: Steve Carell was the guest host of Saturday Night Live this weekend As soon as Carell began to give his monologue, he was interrupted by different SNL castmembers asking him to reboot the office, including Kenan Thompson, 40. The 40-Year-Old Virgin star responded by asking if he would reboot Kenan and Kel, to which the former Nickelodeon star said, 'It would be an honor.' Then his former Office castmates pressed Carell one by one, including his wife, and he then invited them all on stage, and started the show. The gang is back: And the 56-year-old actor was greeted by some of his former castmates while giving his introduction monologue Why not? Ellie Kemper, Ed Helms, Jenna Fischer, and his wife Nancy (who played Carol on the NBC sitcom) all called for their former 'boss' to reboot The Office Round 2? Then his former Office castmates pressed Carell one by one, including his wife, and he then invited them all on stage, and started the show The show's cold open saw Kate McKinnon once again in the role of Laura Ingraham, on her show The Ingraham Angle. The segment started by taking on the midterm elections, voting fraud, and took a couple shots at President Donald Trump. Then it took swings at Facebook, Nancy Pelosi, and, of course, Ingraham's show. Angles: The show's cold open saw Kate McKinnon once again in the role of Laura Ingraham, on her show The Ingraham Angle Topical: The segment started by taking on the midterm elections, voting fraud, and took a couple shots at President Donald Trump Emotions: Then it took swings at Facebook, Nancy Pelosi, and, of course, Ingraham's show For one sketch, Carrell transformed into Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos, complete with bald head, and talked about the new locations of his Amazon headquarters, while also poking fun at Trump. At one point her remarked, 'I'm literally 100 times richer than you.' Later, Pete Davidson and Chris Redd hyped up Ruth Bader Ginsburg with a hilarious rap called Live For Ginsberg. Next, Carrell was an astronaut speaking to middle school students from around the world from the International Space Station, where disaster struck. Ella Mai then delivered a strong and straightforward performance of her hit track Boo'd Up. Rich: For one sketch, Carrell transformed into Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos, complete with bald head, and talked about the new locations of his Amazon headquarters, while also poking fun at Trump RBG: Later, Pete Davidson and Chris Redd hyped up Ruth Bader Ginsburg with a hilarious rap calle Live For Ginsberg Space: Next, Carrell was an astronaut speaking to middle school students from around the world from the International Space Station, where disaster struck Music: Ella Mai then delivered a strong and straightforward performance of her hit track Boo'd Up Weekend Update with Colin Jost and Michael Che was next and started by discussing the newly announced Amazon headquarters in Queens, New York and Arlington, Virginia. Che then dog into voter fraud in Florida, and asked why its so easy to pay taxes, but so hard to vote. Then Mikey Day played congressman-elect Denver Riggleman, as he addressed his Bigfoot erotica HQ2: Weekend Update with Colin Jost and Michael Che was next and started by discussing the newly announced Amazon headquarters in Queens, New York and Arlington, Virginia Seriously: Che then dog into voter fraud in Florida, and asked why its so easy to pay taxes, but so hard to vote Controversy: Then Mikey Day played congressman-elect Denver Riggleman, as he addressed his Bigfoot erotica The next sketch found Carrell in a 1958 teenager's bedroom, where he sung to a high school drop out, encouraging her to return to school. Ella Mai then returned for her second song, Trip, which she performed in front of a chain link fence, and behind a park bench. Steve and Heidi Gardner were the stars of the next sketch, where they played a husband and wife who moved into an RV, and she wasn't honest about being happy about it. The second to last segment found the group on a distant planet celebrating a slightly on deranged Thanksgiving. The final sketch was about a RuPaul themed GPS for your car called, GP Yass. 50s: The next sketch found Carrell in a 1958 teenager's bedroom, where he sung to a high school drop out, encouraging her to return to school. Play it again: Ella Mai then returned for her second song, Trip, which she performed in front of a chain link fence, and behind a park bench Not happy: Steve and Heidi Gardner were the stars of the next sketch, where they played a husband and wife who moved into an RV, and she wasn't honest about being happy about it Holiday: The second to last segment found the group on a distant planet celebrating a slightly on deranged Thanksgiving He's been hard at work on the set of the new Nextflix movie Dhaka. As as Chris Hemsworth filmed action scenes for the war drama in India, he was surrounded by hundreds of screaming fans. The 35-year-old actor appeared on camera briefly in a video shared to his Instagram on Sunday, before panning to the swarming crowd. 'They let us run riot through the streets!' Chris Hemsworth is swamped by fans in India as he films 'most intense action sequences ever done' for new Netflix movie Fans chased after the actor, who was soaked in prop blood and wearing khaki combat gear, as he entered a car. Hundreds of people were seen in the streets around the vehicle, cheering and shouting. Chris also panned up to share his view of surrounding high-rise building, with dozens of people shouting and waving from balconies. The Thor star captioned the incredible video: 'Thats a wrap for the India portion of our shoot, next stop Thailand. Bloody mess! Fans chased after the actor, who was soaked in prop blood and wearing khaki combat gear, as he entered a car Big in India: Hundreds of people were seen in the streets around the vehicle, cheering 'Can't say enough how grateful we are to the people of India for letting us run riot through the streets while shooting what I think could be some of the most intense and exciting action sequences ever done.' Chris went on to say his director Sam Hargrave is 'bringing it to a whole new level'. The hotly anticipated Netflix war movie was written by Avengers: Infinity War co-director Joe Russo. Wild! Chris went on to say his director Sam Hargrave (left) is 'bringing it to a whole new level' Local legend: The Australian actor has shared photos from the Indian location shoots several times, in which he was surrounded by fans The Australian actor has shared photos from the Indian location shoots several times, in which he he surrounded by fans. It comes after Chris' wife Elsa Pataky revealed she was concerned that the #MeToo movement could go too far. Speaking with Stellar on Sunday, the 42-year-old stated: 'To have change, you must always go to the other extreme, just for people to see it and have a voice. But we have to be careful.' She frequently puts on dazzling displays on-camera and at high-profile events. So it's no surprise Jenna Coleman showed off her sartorial flair as she ran errands in Los Angeles on Friday. The British born beauty, 32, looked chic in a over-sized plaid dress and Grenson boots as she chatted on the phone. Chic: She frequently puts on dazzling displays on-camera and at high-profile events, and Jenna Coleman showed off her sartorial flair as she ran errands in Los Angeles on Friday The former Doctor Who star, added a touch of glam to the look as she shielded her eyes from the sun in a pair of keyhole bridge reflective sunglasses. Leaving her chestnut tresses loose, the actress allowed her locks to flow freely in a gentle wave while accessorising with just a pair of petite hoops. Finishing off the outfit was a pair of black leather Grenson Nanette boots, which she wore over maroon ankle socks. Glam: The former Doctor Who star, added a touch of glam to the look as she shielded her eyes from the sun in a pair of keyhole bridge reflective sunglasses Showing her love for designer fashion, Jenna also carried a small Chanel purse, while clutching her car keys in the other hand. Meanwhile, Jenna recently starred in BBC One mystery drama The Cry - adapted from the novel of the same name, written by Helen FitzGerald. In the series, Joanna (Jenna), who is married to Alistair, travels from Scotland to a town in Australia, to fight for custody of Alistair's daughter, Chloe, against his ex-wife, Alexandra. Natural beauty: Leaving her chestnut tresses loose, the actress allowed her locks to flow freely in a gentle wave while accessorising with just a pair of petite hoops As they drive from Melbourne to Geelong, their baby son Noah goes missing suddenly from the side of the road. In the aftermath of the tragedy, under public scrutiny, their marriage collapses and Joanna's psychology disintegrates. Jenna's appearance comes after she awkwardly had to discuss her ex Richard Madden on TV - who she split from in 2015 after a four year on-off romance. Appearing on The One Show, the actress was asked about Bodyguard and its recent finale, which her new series The Cry recently replaced on Sunday nights. Jenna kept her cool as she was asked how The Cry would compare to Bodyguard, after it gripped the nation for six weeks. Taking the questions in her stride, she said: 'I think its quite a different tone and pace perhaps. I watched all of Bodyguard and I thought it was fantastic.' She recently vowed to not talk about her love-life unless she's engaged. But Elizabeth Hurley's, 53, actions have spoken volumes, as she headed out with Niccolo Barattieri di San Pietro, 47, for dinner at LouLou's in Mayfair, London on Saturday night - their second date of the week. The actress opted for a cut-out black and white lace top, which she teamed with a pair of sleek black fitted trousers. Can't get enough of each other: Elizabeth Hurley, 53, headed out with Niccolo Barattieri di San Pietro , 47, for dinner at LouLou's in Mayfair, London on Saturday night - their second date of the week Liz ensured she kept the winter chill at bay, by wrapping up in a satin-trimmed black jacket, and carried a black purse in her hand. She added height to her frame with a pair of classic pointed black stiletto heels. Styling her brunette locks into soft, tumbling curls, Liz finished off her evening ensemble with a polished make-up look including eyeliner, rosy cheeks and a glossy pink lip. Ever-stylish, the mother-of-one wore a statement diamond ring and small hoop earrings. Chic: The actress opted for a cut-out black and white lace top and ensured she kept the winter chill at bay, by wrapping up in a satin-trimmed black jacket Beauty: Styling her brunette locks into soft, tumbling curls, Liz finished off her evening ensemble with a polished make-up look including eyeliner, rosy cheeks and a glossy pink lip Famous ex: Princess Diana 's niece Lady Kitty Spencer, 27, split up with wealthy property developer Niccolo Barattieri di San Pietro in the summer of 2017 (Pictured together in London in September 2017) Liz' mystery man put on a dapper display in a sleek navy suit and smart black shoes. With the collar of his white shirt left unbuttoned, for a more relaxed feel, the wealthy businessman couldn't hide his delight at being out with the stunning actress. When Princess Diana's niece Lady Kitty Spencer, 27, split up with wealthy property developer Niccolo Barattieri di San Pietro in the summer of 2017, he denied that he had become romantically involved with Elizabeth Hurley. Wow! Shortly after their split, Niccolo denied that he had become romantically involved with Elizabeth Hurley But the slimmed-down Italian has painted a different picture after being spotted on a string of dates with the actress in London's Mayfair over the last few days. Liz, who has a son, Damian, 16, was bombarded with 'likes' from divorced father-of-three Niccolo on social media last year. Soon after, his white Maserati was spotted regularly outside her Chelsea home. Asked by Grazia in May if she was currently dating anybody, The Royals actress teased: 'I've made a vow unless I'm engaged to somebody, I don't talk about anybody.' Tziporah Malkah, then known as Kate Fischer, was engaged to James Packer for two years before splitting in 1998 and has provided a glimpse into the rocky relationship between the billionaire and his father Kerry. The 44-year-old said her former fiance endured a difficult relationship with his late father and powerful entrepreneur Kerry, who died in 2005. Speaking to Sunday Night, the former model revealed that the Australian media tycoon would 'rage' at his son. 'Kerry would rage at him for hours': Tziporah Malkah discusses former fiance James Packer's difficult relationship with his late dad and says when the billionaire 'was finally off his father's leash' he dated women 'less safe' women like Mariah Carey After one such alleged episode, Tziporah said she 'peeked in' at her partner when he was spending an excessive amount of time in the shower and saw the toll such vitriol was having on James. 'Kerry would rage at him for hours at a time. He never really wanted to show me the extent of his upset, but once I did sneak a look when he thought he was alone. 'He was in the shower and he just was standing there with the water running over his face, and he'd been in there 40 minutes. And this was like a daily occurrence. So I peeked in, and he was a mess.' Claims: 'He never really wanted to show me the extent of his upset, but once I did sneak a look when he thought he was alone... So I peeked in, and he was a mess' the former model said of her ex-fiance James Packer and his relationship with his late father, Kerry Packer Daily Mail Australia has reached out to James Packer for comment. Following Kerry's death, James had greater freedom to act - in a personal sense as well as a business sense - without his father's judgement, and Tziporah said James was 'off the leash' after his father's passing. Tziporah said James' previous partners - he was married to models Jodhi Meares and Erica Baxter - were 'sort of safe' but his new-found freedom allowed him to pursue American singer Mariah Carey. 'When Kerry died, and he was the man, he could go after the world's biggest diva'. 'He was in the shower and he just was standing there with the water running over his face, and he'd been in there 40 minutes. And this was like a daily occurrence' Tziporah said. James is pictured with his late father Kerry Packer in 2005 'And how exciting for him. He was finally off the leash, off his father's leash,' Tziporah added. James first met Mariah in Aspen, Colorado in late 2013 and their relationship made headlines around the world. The 51-year-old billionaire spoke candidly about the couple's failed relationship in the new biography The Price Of Fortune: The Untold Story Of Being James Packer. Romance: Tziporah Malkah, formerly known as Kate Fischer, was engaged to James Packer (left) for two years before splitting in 1998. Pictured in 1997 According to a previous Who magazine article, James admitted in the book that the romance was initially 'fun', but he was nonetheless in a dark place mentally. The casino mogul - who was later admitted to a rehabilitation centre in March 2018 - confessed he was struggling with his mental health in the midst of their relationship. In February 2016, just a month after he proposed to Mariah with a $12.7million (USD$10million) 35-carat diamond ring, he was apparently not coping well. First dates: The pair became engaged two years after meeting in 1994, before splitting after two years of engagement. Pictured in the 1990s 'I was in a bad, bad way,' James said, reflecting on that dark period of his life. As well as struggling with depression and anxiety, James was facing financial strain. 'I don't know if I started crying, but I thought to myself, 'I don't want to have $1.4billion of debt any more. Why am I doing this?'' he revealed. Adding to the pressure was Mariah's entourage, who reportedly demanded that James buy her a $250,000 wedding dress. Claim to fame: Tziporah secured a starring role alongside Hugh Grant, Elle Macpherson (centre) and Portia De Rossi (left) in the 1994 film Sirens Invite: Tziporah told Sunday Night that he had seen the buxom brunette beauty in the racy role, and approached her at a nightclub, where he asked her for dinner. Tziporah is pictured with her Sirens co-stars Elle Macpherson (centre) and Portia De Rossi (left) in 1994 Wanted: At the time, Tziporah, then known as Kate Fischer, was one of the most in-demand models in Australia in the '90s. Pictured in 1996 Eventually, the toll became too much and the relationship collapsed, with James and Mariah abruptly calling it quits in October 2016. Tziporah and James first began dating in 1994, and were known as the country's hottest couple, sharing a love nest in Sydney's Bondi. At the time, Tziporah, then known as Kate Fischer, was one of the most in-demand models in Australia in the '90s. Discussing James' former wives and girlfriends 'sort of safe' Tziporah said: 'And then, of course, when Kerry died and he was the man, he could, you know, go after the world's biggest diva' referring to Mariah Carey (left) Back then: James first met Mariah in Aspen, Colorado in late 2013 and their relationship made headlines around the world. They became engaged but split in October 2016 She had secured a starring role alongside Hugh Grant, Elle Macpherson and Portia De Rossi in the film Sirens. James was the handsome son of media mogul Kerry Packer, at the time the richest man in Australia with a net worth of $3billion. Tziporah told Sunday Night that he had seen the buxom brunette beauty in the racy role, and approached her at a nightclub, where he asked her for dinner. On her way? After the pair ended their engagement, Tziporah left for Los Angeles, where she sought a Hollywood acting career. Pictured in 1994 The pair became engaged two years later, before splitting after two years of engagement in 1998. After the pair ended their engagement, Tziporah left for Los Angeles, where she sought a Hollywood acting career. While there, she embraced Judaism and changed her name to Tziporah Atarah Malkah, a family name passed down from her maternal grandmother. New lease: While there, embraced Judaism and changed her name to Tziporah Atarah Malkah, a family name passed down from her maternal grandmother. Pictured in 1996 However, she lost the bulk of her $3.5 million fortune in an investment gone bad, admitting the rest of the money was spent on 'lifestyle'. Speaking with radio host Steve Price on I'm A CelebrityGet Me Out of Here! in 2017, the former model revealed she had been 'swindled' by a rabbi. 'The rabbi turns out to be a conman. I got swept away a little bit with him. He was incredibly charismatic. He was very convincing. 'I was stupid and I was in love. And I thought maybe the son of a billionaire might lie to me, but why would a rabbi lie to me?' she said. Struggles: Tziporah lost the bulk of her $3.5 million fortune in an investment gone bad, admitting the rest of the money was spent on 'lifestyle'. Pictured in 2000 Returning home to Australia penniless, the former A-lister spent 22 months in a homeless shelter. Describing the day she arrived at the single women's refuge in Melbourne during an interview on The Project in 2017, she said: 'I was numb, in shock, I sat on the bed and wept. It was pretty overwhelming.' 'I just felt so ashamed, and so frightened of being recognised,' she added. 'I was quite reluctant to kind of talk to anybody for quite a long time.' Rough: Returning home to Australia penniless, the former A-lister spent 22 months in a homeless shelter. Pictured in 2017 Despite being broke, Tziporah admits she threw away the expensive jewellery James gave her during their relationship. Tziporah was working as a nurse when she was plunged back into the limelight in 2016 when she was photographed collecting a friend's mail wearing nothing but a bed sheet. A stint on the reality show I'm A Celebrity Get Me Out Of Here followed, as did her return to the headlines with a series of outrageous public stunts. In October, the brunette revealed she had tipped the scales at 120kg and was classified by her doctor as 'morbidly obese'. Comeback: , Tziporah returned to the limelight with a spot on reality show I'm A Celebrity Get Me Out Of Here and a series of outlandish public stunts Speaking to Sunday Night, the former Dolly Magazine cover girl says she gorged on two bottles of wine, family-size pizza, garlic bread and desserts during a dark period in her life. She told the program that she was 'drinking very heavily' during that period, also leading to weight gain. Tziporah has since announced she had lost a whopping 30kg in just 12 months and is hoping to eventually reach her goal weight of 73kg, and declared that she's made a comeback to fame. Last week, Sophie Monk shared graphic footage of her recent endometriosis surgery. And on Sunday, her good friend Mel Greig revealed the depths of the 38-year-old's suffering. 'At 28, Sophie called her first of over 20 ambulances. The pain was so excruciating she couldn't walk, and at one point had to crawl to the ambulance,' Mel wrote in a column for Nine Honey. 'At 28 she called her first of over 20 ambulances:' Mel Greig (right) reveals her friend Sophie Monk's (left) agonising battle with endometriosis which left her 'vomiting for seven hours' She went on to reveal that Sophie had suffered extreme nausea, back pain and stabbing sensations from her first ever period at age 12. As she got older, the symptoms worsened, leaving Sophie throwing up for hours. 'In her 20s the symptoms worsened, and the nausea had turned to aggressive vomiting, sometimes for seven hours consistently' the radio host wrote. Confession: 'At 28 Sophie called her first of over 20 ambulances. The pain was so excruciating she couldn't walk, and at one point had to crawl to the ambulance,' Mel wrote in a column for Nine Honey. Mel (right) is pictured with Sophie (left) Sophie shared a confronting video in which she's unconscious in hospital after a surgical procedure on Monday. In the Instagram clip, she is laying on a gurney, flanked by doctors and nurses. In further video, the groggy former Bachelorette is tended to by a surgeon, who offers a shock diagnosis of endometriosis. Battle: Sophie shared a confronting video in which she's unconscious in hospital after a surgical procedure on Monday Recovery: In further video, the groggy former Bachelorette is tended to by a surgeon, who offers a shock diagnosis of endometriosis On Friday, she wasn't sufficiently recovered to attend the Maxim magazine party thrown in her honour. Sharing video footage from her bed at home, the actress apologised for missing the 2018 Maxim Hot 100 Australia at Flamingo Lounge in Sydney's Potts Point. 'I was so excited tonight to go to the Maxim party. But I underestimated the operation and I'm so devastated,' she said. She's never been one to shy away from the spotlight. And Amber Heard ensured all eyes would be on her as she attended a photocall for her upcoming film, Aquaman in Beijing on Sunday. The 32-year-old actress oozed glamour in a daring little black mini dress with a risque keyhole cut-out that showed off her phenomenal figure. Dressed to impress: Amber Heard ensured all eyes would be on her as she attended a photocall for her upcoming film, Aquaman in Beijing on Sunday The blonde bombshell dazzled in a glittering black mini dress with shoulder pads, but it was the daring cut-out on the chest that drew the eye. The Justice League star also showed off her enviably lean legs in the thigh-skimming mini, which were elongated further with a pair of barely-there black heels. Amber finished off the look with Ara Vartanian jewellery and by styling her glossy golden locks in braids and painting her plump pout with a slick of red lipstick. Sizzling: The 32-year-old actress oozed glamour in a daring little black mini dress with a risque keyhole cut-out that showed off her phenomenal figure Amber was joined by co-star Jason Momoa and director James Wan at the photocall ahead of Aquaman's release next month. Amber plays Princess Mera, the romantic interest of Jason's titular character, in the forthcoming Hollywood film, which also stars Nicole Kidman. The films storyline takes place in the wake of Justice League in which Arthur Curry/Aquaman, the half-human half-Atlantean ruler of Atlantis, reluctantly assumes the underwater kingdoms throne. One to watch: Amber was joined by co-star Jason Momoa and director James Wan at the photocall ahead of Aquaman's release next month Sizzling in sequins: The blonde bombshell dazzled in a glittering black mini dress with shoulder pads, but it was the daring cut-out on the chest that drew the eye Ultimately, he must take sides in a brewing conflict between the surface dwelling populace that poses a serious risk to his people and the worlds oceans and the denizens of Atlantis, who urge him to take action and invade the Earths surface in order to ensure their survival. The movie, which is directed by James Wan, hits theaters December 21 and is released in the UK on December 14. Audiences got their first peek at Aquaman when he appeared in Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice in 2016, but this is his first standalone film. She is receiving 'around the clock care' from her loved ones following her split from fiance John Noble. But Vicky Pattison looked back to her fierce-self as she showed off her wild side in a leopard print frock when attending the Body Confidence talk at Hornchurch leisure centre in Essex, on Sunday. The Geordie Shore star, 31, was in good company at the event with pal Ferne McCann, 28, also in attendance, clad in a glamorous fur coat. Stunning: Vicky Pattison looked back to her fierce-self as she attended the Body Confidence Talk at Hornchurch leisure centre in Essex, on Sunday, with pal Ferne McCann Vicky showed her support for Sunday night's I'm A Celebrity... Get Me Out Of Here opening show with a zebra print belt adding to her animal patterned themed ensemble. Showcasing her trim figure with the cinched waist detailing, the former I'm a Celebrity champion teamed her wild attire with plain black heels and a matching handbag. Adding a finishing touch to her radiant ensemble, the reality TV star donned a slick of glamorous makeup and styled her dark locks into tight curls. Fierce: Vicky showed her support for Sunday night's I'm A Celebrity... Get Me Out Of Here opening show with a zebra print belt adding to her animal patterned themed ensemble Wow! Showcasing her trim figure with the cinched waist detailing, the former I'm a Celebrity champion teamed her wild attire with plain black heels and a matching handbag All in the details: Adding a finishing touch to her radiant ensemble, the reality TV star donned a slick of glamorous makeup and styled her dark locks into tight curls Ferne opted for a similarly sizzling look as she piled on the layers in a chic cream coat and a black high-neck dress. The mother-of-one, who welcomed daughter Sunday Sky a year ago, highlighted her enviably-toned legs with sophisticated ankle boots. Sweeping her curled tresses to one side, the TV personality oozed confidence as she strutted towards the centre. Vicky was reportedly left devastated when her fiance John was filmed looking intimate with a bevy of women during a trip to Dubai. Glam: Ferne opted for a similarly sizzling look as she piled on the layers in a chic cream coat and a black high-neck dress Strut: The mother-of-one, who welcomed daughter Sunday Sky a year ago, highlighted her enviably-toned legs with sophisticated ankle boots Winter ready: Sweeping her curled tresses to one side, the TV personality oozed confidence as she strutted towards the centre Shock: Vicky was reportedly left devastated when her fiance John was filmed looking intimate with a bevy of women during a trip to Dubai The former Loose Woman has since been looked after by her friends, with the presenter posting a clip to Instagram of herself laying in bed in a London hotel with one of her pals. She captioned the story: Back in @parkplaza and reunited with my @chloeoakes91. The round the clock care continues The Sun reported that John grew close to a brunette named Supriya, a London estate agent, during his flirty night out in Dubai without his fiancee. Tough times: It was reported that John grew close to a brunette named Supriya, a London estate agent, during his flirty night out in Dubai without his fiancee Trouble: Onlookers told the publication that John, also 31, had his arms around her waist on the dancefloor before inviting her over to his private booth Adding: 'They were kissing throughout the night at the White Club venue.' John was also linked to two other women on the same night (pictured in July last year) Onlookers told the publication that John, also 31, had his arms around her waist on the dancefloor before inviting her over to his private booth. Adding: 'They were kissing throughout the night at the White Club venue.' John was also linked to two other women on the same night. Vicky was seen without her engagement ring hours after discovering her fiance's betrayal. Caring: The former Loose Woman has since been looked after by her friends, with the presenter posting a clip to Instagram of herself laying in bed with one of her pals Daid Harbour wants to see more dad bods on screen. The 43-year-old Stranger Things star, who plays police chief Jim Hopper in the Netflix show, discussed his sex symbol image in an interview with CNET for its winter issue and admitted that he likes that he's a little 'chubby'. 'I have a funny relationship with this dad bod thing. I sort of love it and the reason why I love it is actually very serious,' he told the magazine. Body positive: David Harbour has talked about his 'dad bod' in the new issue of CNET and called for more real bodies on film and TV 'I do think that in a certain way, Ive become a bit of a sex symbol for our time there are articles about people digging Hopper. But Im also like a little big and a little chubby. I love the idea of real bodies on television. And I love the idea of making real people beautiful and loved,' he said. David continued to say that he wants to see less of the impossibly thin and chiseled actors on screen. 'I think Hopper is so loved and hes got a real body like I have a real body. Im sick of these bodies on television that are impossibly thin and the guys train for months and months and then they even stop eating a couple of days before and dehydrate to look a certain way. The actor is all about body positivity, as he explained, 'I want people to feel good in their bodies, like Im sick of twigs on both ends of the spectrum, men and women. Im totally tired of twigs,' 'Im also like a little big and a little chubby' Harbour, 43, said he doesn't mind having a dad bod and 'I love the idea of real bodies on television' Proud! The actor is seen in an Instagram clip from January while dancing shirtless 'I want people to love their bodies. Look, I dont want you to be unhealthy. I want you to take care of yourself, take care of your heart. We dont want you to be obese. But these impossible standards that Hollywood sets I dont find those people sexy anymore. I find them narcissistic and I find them cruel to culture because I think that art is meant to lead people. I dont want that cruelty in our bodies anymore, 'I want more big girls in leading roles. I want big guys in leading-man roles. I want them to be the hero.' The actor just wrapped shooting for season three of Stranger Things. He is also set to star in the Hellboy reboot, where he will be taking over the character played by Ron Perlman in the original Guillermo del Toro movies. Sean 'Diddy' Combs is speaking out over the tragic death of his ex Kim Porter. The 49-year-old rap mogul took to Instagram to post a heart wrenching behind the scenes video from an old photo shoot with ex Kim Porter back when she was pregnant. Kim died suddenly on Thursday from cardiac arrest after dealing with a bout of pneumonia at the age of 47. Tragic: Sean 'Diddy' Combs poured out his heart in an emotional Instagram post about his late ex Kim Porter on Sunday In an emotional post, Diddy poured out his heart to his late love. 'For the last three days Ive been trying to wake up out of this nightmare. But I havent,' Diddy wrote on Instagram. 'I dont know what Im going to do without you baby. I miss you so much. Today Im going to pay tribute to you, Im going to try and find the words to explain our unexplainable relationship,' he continued. Nightmare: Diddy wrote that he has been trying to wake up from the nightmare of losing the mother of three of his children Shocking: Kim died suddenly on Thursday from cardiac arrest after suffering from a bout of pneumonia Happier times: A heart wrenching video of the couple together when Kim was pregnant accompanied the post Sudden: Prior to her passing sources said the 47-year-old had been having flu-like symptoms 'We were more than best friends, we were more than soulmates,' the Sean John creator penned on social media. 'WE WERE SOME OTHER S***!! And I miss you so much. ' 'Super Black Love,' he signed the post. On Sunday, Kim's son Quincy, 27, from her marriage to Al B. Sure!, posted a photo of himself with his mom and his two half-sisters Jessie and D'Lila and wrote on Instagram: 'I am broken...& the only thing that makes sense right now is that you were way too good for this silly world we live in. I love you so much MOMMY.' On Sunday, Kim's son Quincy, 27, from her marriage to Al B. Sure!, posted a photo of himself with his mom and his two half-sisters Jessie and D'Lila and wrote on Instagram: 'I am broken' 'We were more than best friends, we were more than soulmates,' Diddy wrote about Kim on Instagram Way back when: The model and the rapper dated on and off for 13 years Last week authorities arrived at the model's home around 11:30 am on Thursday after they received a call saying someone was in cardiac arrest. Sources reported that Kim has been suffering from the flu which turned into pneumonia. Kim's close friend, Kimora Lee Simmons, 43, was seen sobbing outside the house as the body was removed by the coroner. Simmons looked beside herself as she stood in the garage alongside other loved ones of Porter's. Together: The pair had three children together and two from previous relationships 'I dont know what Im going to do without you baby. I miss you so much,' Diddy said in a heartbreaking moment on social media Celebrities also took to social media to express their condolences as Rihanna wrote on Instagram: 'This is heavy. heartbroken about this man. we lost a real one today, beautiful inside and out. so many will be affected by this, some won't even know why...but the whole world was graced by the vibrance in your spirit.' The Bad Boy records honcho and the actress were an on-again and off-again couple from 1994 to 2007 and their splits often made headlines. They each had a child from a previous relationship when they started dating and then welcomed three more children together. Tributes: Celebrities like Rihanna flocked to social media to pen their own tributes to Kim Rocky road: During their relationship, things between the couple ran hot and cold According to a source for People, the 49-year-old rapper maintained a very positive relationship with Porter. 'Diddy is devastated and shocked,' said the source, 'he and Kim were still very close friends and co-parents even though their romantic relationship didnt work.' TMZ reported: 'Diddy never stopped interacting with Kim, despite breaking up way back in 2007. Their connection went beyond the fact they were co-parenting three kids... they genuinely had love and affection for each other. 'They celebrated holidays as a family, vacationed together and just hung out ... and there was never an extended period where they were at odds with each other.' 'Diddy is devastated and shocked:' a source told People after Porter's death hit the news Long lasting love: Over the years Kim and Diddy developed a strong bond and spent holidays together The source added: 'They never had a formal custody agreement. They accommodated each other's schedules when it came to the kids -- and it always worked.' While the couple managed to maintain a loving relationship over the years, things between the pair were rocky when they were together. 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. 'Their connection went beyond the fact they were co-parenting three kids... they genuinely had love and affection for each other:' a source told TMZ Hard times: After Kim gave birth to their son, news broke that Diddy was dating Jennifer Lopez '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. Over time, they healed their relationship and were quite close when she passed away. She's in the throes of passionate love with Harry Wentworth-Stanley. But Prince Harry's ex-girlfriend Cressida Bonas was going solo on Sunday as she walked the red carpet for The Evening Standard Theatre Awards in London's Theatre Royal Drury Lane. The 29-year-old looked nothing short of spectacular in an orange beaded Armani Prive gown as she attended the lavish awards bash, styling her blonde hair into old Hollywood-style curls. Amazing: Cressida Bonas looked nothing short of beautiful in an orange beaded Armani Prive gown on Sunday night at the Evening Standard Theatre Awards in London's Theatre Royal Drury Lane Cressida had her trim figure on full display in the pretty gown, which boasted an intricately beaded gold halterneck top and a matching orange tulle skirt. The actress' dress had a vintage feel thanks to the detailed lace hem, with two semi-sheer layers. Cressida finished her look by styling her glossy blonde tresses into classic curls to mimic some of the stage's greatest ever stars, highlighting her flawless complexion with a dramatic smoky eye and defined brows. Stunning: Cressida had her trim figure on full display in the pretty gown, which boasted an intricately beaded gold halterneck top and a matching orange tulle skirt The National Theatre was expected to be heavily rewarded on the night, leading the way with 14 nods. And it was Ralph Fiennes who won the award for Best Actor in partnership with Ambassador's Theatre Group award for his role in a stage version of Anthony and Cleopatra. The celebrated star looked delighted as he posed backstage with The Crown actress Claire Foy, from whom he accepted the award. It was also a big night for Sophie Okonedo, who beat stiff competition to win the Natasha Richardson Award for Best Actress in partnership with Christian Louboutin. Beautiful: Cressida finished her look by styling her glossy blonde tresses into classic curls, highlighting her flawless complexion with a dramatic smoky eye and defined brows The star accepted her award from Bodyguard actor Richard Madden, and both looked ecstatic while showing off the statue in the press room later that night. Other winners on the night included Natasha Gordon, who claimed the Charles Wintour Award for most promising playwright for Nine Night. Elsewhere Miriam Buether accepted her award for Best Design for The Jungle from fashion designer Stella McCartney. The Inheritance by Matthew Lopez won the coveted award for Best Play, in partnership with Chanel, while the hugely popular Hamilton was named Best Musical. Lavish: Cressida joined a star-studded lineup in attendance for the theatre awards event It's a big night every year for lovers of London theatre. And Joely Richardson, 53, stole the show as she attended the Evening Standard Theatre Awards on Sunday night, clad in a demure tulle peach gown. Attending the awards with her mother Vanessa Redgrave CBE, 81, and her daughter, Daisy Bevan, 26, the three generations of women oozed elegance when working the star-studded red carpet in central London. Absolutely radiant: Joely Richardson, 53, stole the show as she attended the Evening Standard Theatre Awards, clad in a demure tulle peach gown Joely looked sensational in her floor-length frock with floral embroidery and glamorous ruffle detailing. The actress commanded attention in the dazzling ensemble which featured dainty sparkling stars, echoing the glitz of the evening. Letting the statement garment do all the talking, the English stage and screen star opted for minimal accessories, donning only sophisticated drop earrings for the occasion. Family affair: Attending the awards with her mother Vanessa Redgrave CBE, 81, and her daughter, Daisy Bevan, 26, the three generations of women oozed elegance Ethereal beauty: Joely looked incredible the floor-length dress with floral embroidery and ruffle detailing Like mother like daughter: The 101 Dalmatians star commanded attention in the dazzling ensemble which featured dainty sparkling stars, echoing the glitz of the evening In contrast to her daughter's sparkly outfit, the talented stage, screen and television actress, Vanessa, sported a more reserved attire with a long black coat and matching dress. The Atonement star completed her look with a beautiful silver brooch and casual white slip-on pumps, while her locks were slicked back. Daisy, daughter of film producer Tim Bevan, echoed her grandmother's vibe, wearing an elegant floor-length gown with an open-shoulder to showcase her slender physique. All in the details: Letting the statement garment do all the talking, the English actress opted for minimal accessories, donning only sophisticated drop earrings for the occasion Regal: In contrast to her daughter's sparkly outfit, the talented stage, screen and television actress, Vanessa, sported a more reserved attire with a long black coat and matching dress The actress, who appears in TV series The Alienist, and model styled her dark locks in luscious curls, framing her pretty features, which sported smokey eye makeup and a pink lipstick. Claire Foy, Idris Elba and Evgeny Lebedev, the papers owner, will be the main hosts of the ceremony, alongside fashionista Anna Wintour, whose father once edited the Evening Standard. Lebedev said: 'The Evening Standard Theatre Awards have recognised Londons best theatre talent since 1955. 'London is unique in the range, vibrancy and global reach of its theatre. Every playwright, director and actor should be proud to contribute to such a proud heritage.' Style: Daisy, daughter of film producer Tim Bevan, echoed her grandmother's vibe, wearing an elegant floor-length gown with an open-shoulder to showcase her slender physique Stealing the show! The blonde bombshell styled her locks into a straight 'do for the event Richwood, TX (77531) Today Sunshine to start, then a few afternoon clouds. High 72F. Winds ESE at 10 to 15 mph.. Tonight Partly to mostly cloudy. Low 61F. Winds SSE at 5 to 10 mph. Hes repeatedly linked to the long-running James Bond franchise, but while the iconic role may well elude Idris Elba he still did his best to leave fans shaken and very much stirred at the Evening Standard Theatre Awards on Sunday evening. The celebrated actor looked appropriately dapper as he attended the star-studded event at Londons Theatre Royal Drury Lane with fiancee Sabrina Dhowre and 18-year old daughter Isan. Sporting a grey three-piece Giorgio Armani suit, Idris, 46, was dressed to impress, and he did just that while posing for photos outside the West End venue ahead of the annual ceremony. In good company: Idris Elba was joined by family members at the Evening Standard Theatre Awards on Sunday evening, amongst them fiancee Sabrina Dhowre (far right) and 18-year old daughter Isan (second from right) Joining the Luther star, fiancee Sabrina, 29, added a touch of vibrancy to proceedings in a tasteful orange evening dress with a plunging front. Meanwhile Isan - the actor's oldest child from his first marriage to Hanne "Kim" Nrgaard - opted for an elegant black minidress. The teenager was accompanying her famous father after admitting she felt uncomfortable upon discovering he had been named Sexiest Man Alive by People. Smart: Sporting a grey three-piece Giorgio Armani suit, Idris, 46, was dressed to impress, and he did just that while posing for photos ahead of the annual ceremony Smitten: Sabrina looked lovingly at Idris as they enjoyed their evening Sweet: Idris and Sabrina put on a cosy display as they spent time together All in the family: Idris, Sabrina and his daughter Isan were in high spirits at the event 007s: Idris was seen alongside fellow actor Richard Madden, both of which have been linked to the role of James Bond in the past year Good to see you: Idris was really excited to see Richard at the event 'Actually, I was on Instagram,' she told People. 'People said, "Oh, were announcing the Sexiest Man Alive," and I was like, "Oh yes, cant wait". 'I wake up in the morning and its my dad. I was like, "This is not what I was expecting. This is not very fun."' She added: 'When I called him the day after, not even about it, he was like, "Do you have anything to say to me?" And I said, "No, I dont think so." Then he said, "Im the Sexiest Man Alive". 'I was like, "Oh, yeah. That. That thing. Uh, okay, cool. Youre welcome".' Dapper: Idris looked handsome in his grey three-piece suit, which he teamed up with matching lace-up shoes, a crisp white shirt and a black tie Suit up! Both Idris and Richard looked handsome in their form-fitting menswear Friendly: Idris and Sabrina were joined by Rita Ora, Sir Len Blavatnik, and Sir Ian McKellen at their table during the ceremony Talkative: Idris and Sabrina chatted away with the veteran actor throughout the night Dazzling: Idris and Isan beamed as they posed with Sophie Okonedo, who looked sensational in her chic checked gown and De Beers diamonds Beaming: Idris seemed ecstatic to spend time with his fiance and daughter Patti LuPone, Letitia Wright, Paapa Essiedu and Stella McCartney will be on hand to present prizes during this year's Evening Standard Theatre Awards. Fleabag and Killing Eve writer Phoebe Waller-Bridge was returning to compere the event this year. Elba, Claire Foy and Evgeny Lebedev, the papers owner, will be the main hosts of the ceremony, alongside fashionista Anna Wintour, whose father once edited the Evening Standard. Lebedev said: 'The Evening Standard Theatre Awards have recognised Londons best theatre talent since 1955. 'London is unique in the range, vibrancy and global reach of its theatre. Every playwright, director and actor should be proud to contribute to such a proud heritage.' Posing up a storm: Idris joined Annabelle Wallis (L) and Stella McCartney (R) at the awards Animated: Idris posed up a storm with Phoebe Waller-Bridge, who looked stunning in her one-shouldered floral gown Special occasion: Elba, Claire Foy and Evgeny Lebedev were the main hosts of the ceremony, alongside fashionista Anna Wintour, whose father once edited the Evening Standard Striking: The Crown star looked elegant in her monochrome lace gown, which had a floral print for a glamorous flair Evening Standard Theatre Awards 2018 - Winners Best actor Bryan Cranston for Network at the National Theatre Ralph Fiennes for Antony and Cleopatra at the National Theatre - WINNER Ian McKellen for King Lear at the Duke of Yorks Colin Morgan for Translations at the National Theatre Kyle Soller for The Inheritance at the Young Vic and Noel Coward Theatre Best actress Laura Linney for My Name Is Lucy Barton at the Bridge Theatre Carey Mulligan for Girls and Boys at the Royal Court Cecilia Noble for Nine Night at the National Theatre Sophie Okonedo for Antony and Cleopatra at the National Theatre - WINNER Lia Williams for The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie at the Donmar Warehouse Best director Stephen Daldry for The Inheritance Marianne Elliott for Company at the Gielgud Theatre - WINNER Robert Hastie for The York Realist at the Donmar Warehouse Phyllida Lloyd for Tina: The Tina Turner Musical at the Aldwych Theatre Ian Rickson for Translations at the National Theatre Best play Home, Im Darling by Laura Wade, at the National Theatre The Inheritance by Matthew Lopez, at the Young Vic and Noel Coward Theatre - WINNER John by Annie Baker at the National Theatre The Lehman Trilogy by Stefano Massini, adapted by Ben Power, at the National Theatre The Writer by Ella Hickson at the Almeida Theatre Best musical Caroline, or Change at Hampstead Theatre Company at the Gielgud Theatre -WINNER Everybodys Talking About Jamie at the Apollo Theatre Fun Home at the Young Vic Theatre Hamilton at the Victoria Palace Theatre Best musical performance Sharon D Clarke for Caroline, Or Change at Hampstead Theatre Rosalie Craig for Company at the Gielgud Theatre - WINNER Arinze Kene for Misty at the Bush Theatre and Trafalgar Studios Kelli OHara for The King and I at the London Palladium Adrienne Warren for Tina: The Tina Turner Musical at the Aldwych Theatre Best design Miriam Buether for The Jungle at the Young Vic and the Playhouse Theatre - WINNER Bunny Christie for Company at the Gielgud Theatre Es Devlin for Girls and Boys at the Royal Court Theatre Rae Smith for Translations at the National Theatre Jan Versweyveld for Network at the National Theatre Most promising playwright Tearrance Arvelle Chisholm for Brer Cotton at Theatre503 Natasha Gordon for Nine Night at the National Theatre - WINNER Francis Turnly for The Great Wave at the National Theatre Emerging talent award Rona Morison for The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie at the Donmar Warehouse Debris Stevenson for Poet in da Corner at the Royal Court Chris Walley for The Lieutenant of Inishmore at the Noel Coward Theatre Roy Alexander Weise for Nine Night at the National Theatre and Brer Cotton at Theatre503 Jamael Westman for Hamilton at the Victoria Palace Theatre - WINNER Advertisement The countdown is on for their wedding next month. And according to a new report, Karl Stefanovic, 44, and Jasmine Yarbrough, 34, could have another reason to celebrate when they tie the knot in two weeks' time. An insider told New Idea on Monday that the smitten couple are considering adoption, nearly a decade after the Today show host reportedly had a vasectomy. 'Of course she wants kids': Karl Stefanovic (right) and Jasmine Yarbrough's (left) adoption plans have been 'revealed' by a source - years after the Today star reportedly had a vasectomy 'Of course Jas wants to have kids,' the source revealed. 'For years, Jas has focused on starting her business [shoe label Mara & Mine] and now that's going well, she is thinking more and more about being a mum especially because so many of her friends have little ones now.' The insider continued: 'When the time comes, Jas will be a great mum, but for now they're just taking it one step at a time and that means focusing on the wedding.' Feeling clucky? In July, Karl shared this photo to Instagram of Jasmine carrying his one-year-old goddaughter, leading fans to speculate the shoe designer was feeling broody Daily Mail Australia has contacted Karl Stefanovic and Jasmine Yarbrough for comment. Jasmine, who is a longtime advocate of adoption, shared a heartwarming Instagram post earlier this month about how every child deserves a loving home. 'Happy World Adoption Day - Every child needs and deserves to have a loving home. #worldadoptionday,' she wrote. Adoption advocate: Jasmine, who is a longtime advocate of adoption, shared this heartwarming Instagram post earlier this month about how every child deserves a loving home Karl - who shares three children with his ex-wife Cassandra Thorburn - reportedly told Woman's Day back in 2010 that he had undergone a vasectomy. 'I have had the snip now. So we're definitely not having any more kids unless at some point we want to have it reversed although I really can't see that happening any time soon,' he was quoted as saying. That same year, he told the Hamish & Andy radio show: 'My wife said there would be no more action unless I had [a vasectomy]'. At the time, however, he claimed to have cancelled the procedure. 'I'm marrying a Queensland girl, there is going to be a few Queensland elements to the wedding': Karl recently said that the couple's Mexican wedding will have an Aussie character Last year, he slammed reports claiming Jasmine was pregnant after he reversed his vasectomy, according to The Sydney Morning Herald. Meanwhile, the happy couple are set to tie the knot in Mexico on December 8. Karl recently said the overseas wedding with have a distinctly Australian character. 'I'm marrying a Queensland girl, there is going to be a few Queensland elements to the wedding. It's a really important thing for us,' he told The Courier-Mail. IMG Model Hailey Baldwin Bieber bundled up in stylish neutrals to brave Manhattan's 40F-degree chill on Sunday. The Drop the Mic co-host - turning 22 next Thursday - teamed a funnel neck sweater with a luxurious camel coat. Some slim-fit stonewash FRAME jeans and a pair of nude calf-high boots completed the outfit and she pulled her locks back into a tight bun held in place with a scrunchie. Shades of beige: IMG Model Hailey Baldwin Bieber bundled up in stylish neutrals to brave Manhattan's 40F-degree chill on Sunday The Bible-quoting blonde's street sighting came the day before her husband Justin Bieber officially called her his 'awesome wife' in the caption of his latest couple snap. And while there's been no word on their wedding ceremony, Hailey gushed 'that's my babe' in response to the 24-year-old Grammy winner making their marriage Instagram official. Cover star: The Drop the Mic co-host - turning 22 next Thursday - teamed a funnel neck sweater with a luxurious camel coat Sidewalk is her runway! Some slim-fit stonewash FRAME jeans and a pair of nude calf-high boots completed the outfit and she pulled her locks back into a tight bun The Hillsong Church duo reportedly secured their marriage license at a New York courthouse on September 13 after only rekindling their on/off romance in June. Eyebrows raised at Baldwin and Bieber (who first met in 2009) when they got betrothed considering he only split from his on/off girlfriend since 2010, pop diva Selena Gomez, eight months ago. The Arizona-born bride has yet to publicly address her father Stephen Baldwin's cheating scandal involving his massage therapist of two years, Ruth Perez Anselmi. Newlyweds: The Bible-quoting blonde's street sighting came the day before her husband Justin Bieber officially called her his 'awesome wife' in the caption of his latest couple snap PDA: And while there's been no word on their wedding ceremony, Hailey gushed 'that's my babe' in response to the 24-year-old Grammy winner making their marriage Instagram official 'U turn me on': The Hillsong Church duo reportedly secured their marriage license at a New York courthouse on September 13 after only rekindling their on/off romance in June 'Hunny buns punkin': Eyebrows raised at Baldwin and Bieber when they got betrothed considering he only split from Selena Gomez eight months ago (pictured November 10) The 52-year-old born-again Christian - who's denied the affair - was caught on camera by MailOnline entering the Venezuelan 38-year-old's Los Angeles apartment after midnight on October 12. The Usual Suspects alum has been married to the Adidas Originals brand ambassador's mother, Brazilian graphic designer Kennya Deodato, for the last 28 years. Baldwin - who boasts 15.7M followers - wrote on Instagram in 2015: 'My parents are absolutely everything to me. They inspire me every day and I only hope one day to have a marriage, friendship, and foundation they have.' In 2016, Hailey told Harper's BAZAAR Australia: 'I believe in love. I see it in my parents, who are still together. I don't really plan on sticking in this industry for year upon year upon year. I want to, like, have family and settle down and live a normal life.' Daddy's girl: The Arizona-born bride has yet to address her father Stephen Baldwin's cheating scandal involving his massage therapist of two years, Ruth Perez Anselmi (pictured in 2016) Busted: The 52-year-old born-again Christian - who's denied the affair - was caught on camera entering the Venezuelan 38-year-old's LA apartment after midnight on October 12 1990 nuptials: The Usual Suspects alum has been married to the Adidas Originals brand ambassador's mother, Brazilian graphic designer Kennya Deodato, for the last 28 years Past and present collided on Sunday evening as Richard Madden shared the red carpet with stunning girlfriend Ellie Bamber - and old flame Jenna Coleman. The Scottish actor faced a potentially awkward run-in with Jenna while attending the Evening Standard Theatre Awards 2018, held annually at London's Theatre Royal Drury Lane. Richard, 32, looked appropriately dapper in a black tuxedo and crisp white shirt while attending the event with 21-year old Ellie - who he started dating in 2017. Stepping out: Richard Madden and his girlfriend Ellie Bamber attended the Evening Standard Theatre Awards 2018 at London's Theatre Royal Drury Lane on Sunday evening This could be awkward: But past and present collided as Richard's current girlfriend Ellie shared the red carpet with his ex, actress Jenna Coleman Accompanying the actor, a household name thanks to roles in Game Of Thrones and recent BBC smash Bodyguard, Ellie caught the eye in a distinctive sheer evening dress. With a tasteful ruffled detail embellishing the shoulders and cuffs, the striking dress ensured she stood out on a red carpet dominated by high-fashion. Meanwhile Jenna, whose relationship with Richard came to an end in 2015, exuded elegance in her striking dress, featuring fringing on the sleeves and a sexy sheer lace front. Distance: They kept a distance between them as they made their exit from the exclusive bash Immaculate: Actress Ellie still looked stunning as she departed the soiree with her boyfriend Sparkle: The screen beauty dazzled with her choice of glittering diamond chandelier earrings She's got sole: As she made her way through the city streets, she flashed a glimpse of her black boots, which were customised to match her eye-catching gown Sheer-ly delightful: Braving the autumnal weather, Ellie wore a minidress with a sheer overlay Patti LuPone, Letitia Wright, Paapa Essiedu and Stella McCartney will be on hand to present prizes during this year's Evening Standard Theatre Awards. Fleabag and Killing Eve writer Phoebe Waller-Bridge was returning to compere the event this year. Idris Elba, Claire Foy and Evgeny Lebedev, the papers owner, will be the main hosts of the ceremony, alongside fashionista Anna Wintour, whose father once edited the Evening Standard. Leather clutch bag: She complemented her head-turning dress with a black leather clutch bag Huff and puff: Hunky screen star Richard discreetly carried a pack of cigarettes as he exited Stars: The lovebirds were among a host of stars who stepped out for the exclusive annual event Stylish display: The couple out on a stylish display as they enjoyed their big night on the town Main man: Richard joined a host of stars at the annual event on Sunday evening Lebedev said: 'The Evening Standard Theatre Awards have recognised Londons best theatre talent since 1955. 'London is unique in the range, vibrancy and global reach of its theatre. Every playwright, director and actor should be proud to contribute to such a proud heritage.' The National Theatre is expected to be heavily rewarded on the night, leading the way with 14 nods. Bryan Cranston (Network), Ralph Fiennes (Antony and Cleopatra) and Colin Morgan (Translations) are all shortlisted for the Best Actor Award, in partnership with ATG, for their performances at the venue. Looking good: The actor cut a dapper figure in a smart black tuxedo with a crisp white shirt Hard to miss: Accompanying the actor, a household name thanks to roles in Game Of Thrones and recent BBC smash Bodyguard, Ellie caught the eye in a distinctive sheer evening dress Stunning: Meanwhile Jenna, whose relationship with Richard came to an end in 2015, exuded elegance in her striking dress, featuring fringing on the sleeves and a sexy sheer lace front The name's Madden: Richard was recently linked to the soon to be vacant James Bond role, and he could have easily passed as the iconic character while posing for photos Dapper: The actor caught the eye as he climbed from the rear of his chauffeur driven car Anticipation: The National Theatre is expected to be heavily rewarded duringf Sunday evening's ceremony, leading the way with 14 nominations Even by showbiz standards, the revelations in Spice Girl Mel B's forthcoming memoir are jaw-dropping. In the book, Brutally Honest, she tells in painful detail of lurid sex parties, binge-drinking, drug-taking, emotional abuse at the hands of her ex-husband Stephen Belafonte and a suicide attempt in which she describes taking 200 aspirin pills. Telling the story of her car-crash life over the past 11 years, Mel aka, Scary Spice claims 'monster' Stephen, also her manager, was to blame; and that she was drained of her 80 million fortune and left with just 800 when, she says, she finally found the courage to leave him last year. She says in the book: 'I felt helpless because I'd allowed this man into my life, and, little by little, insult by insult, indignity by indignity, deal by deal, sex tape by sex tape, I had allowed him to completely take over.' Mel told how he took control of her emails, phone messages and social media, as well as her bank accounts and work commitments. Mel B said in her book that Stephen Belafonte (both pictured) took control of her emails, phone messages and social media, as well as her bank accounts and work commitments Mel B with her father Michael Brown who died last year aged 63 after five year battle with cancer Perhaps extraordinarily, the 43-year-old claims she spilled out the torrid minutiae of events for the sake of her three daughters. She told an interviewer: 'It is important that my three girls, who I raise as a single mother, know how to break the chain of abuse, along with any other woman who reads this book.' Cynics may wonder if Mel's decision to write the book which is being serialised in the Sun and the Sun on Sunday may be financially motivated. In an interview she gave this weekend, she told how extricating herself from her ten-year marriage to Belafonte, a sometime film producer with champagne tastes and a declared income of zero, has cost her dear. A settlement reached last month will see her pay American Belafonte 3,800 a month in child support for their daughter Madison, who is seven. She was also ordered to pay his 270,000 legal fees. When their house in Los Angeles sells, he will get half of the proceeds 3 million. She also has to pay her own legal bills, said to stand at nearly 1 million. In the book, Brutally Honest, she tells in painful detail of lurid sex parties, binge-drinking, drug-taking, and emotional abuse And Mel still faces a legal battle against their former nanny, and against her own lawyers, so the costs continue to build up at a rate which even her 2.1 million a year salary from America's Got Talent won't cover. As she said during their lengthy court battles, she is essentially broke: hence the book, which she hopes will be a hit, and hence her desperation to put together the money-spinning Spice Girls reunion tour next year. The fortune of 20 million to 30 million that all the Spice Girls have accrued from the band has been squandered by Mel on items which no one in their right mind could begin to consider necessary, such as a 200,000 armoured car. Or how about the 25,000 birthday party for Belafonte, which came complete with fire breathers and elephants? She blames her former husband for the spending rather than shouldering any blame herself. That's not to say, of course, that she hasn't been to hell and back with Belafonte, who, as we shall see, is an unsavoury character who is blamed by Mel and her family for creating a painful ten-year rift. So how did this personal nightmare unfold? THE TAINTED LOVE STORY The story starts when she and Belafonte were married in June 2007 in a 29 drive-through ceremony at the Special Memory chapel in Las Vegas, just a matter of months after their first meeting. They had met in February and at the time she was seven months pregnant with the child of film star Eddie Murphy a man whom she's described as the love of her life, but they split after a year-long affair. She says in the book: 'I felt helpless because I'd allowed this man into my life, and, little by little, insult by insult, indignity by indignity, deal by deal, sex tape by sex tape, I had allowed him to completely take over' Mel, whose daughter Angel with Eddie is now 11, said in an interview this weekend that Eddie dumped her after mistakenly thinking that she'd left him. She already had a daughter, Phoenix, now 19, from her first marriage to dancer Jimmy Gulzar. That marriage lasted for only 15 months. In court papers she said: 'At the time I was vulnerable. I was giving birth as a single mother, my self-esteem was very low and my hormones were way out of balance due to the pregnancy.' It soon came to light that Belafonte hadn't declared his previous marriage, said to have been annulled after less than 12 weeks amid claims that he had been 'emotionally abusive'. Proud mum: Mel B with her three daughters (from left) Angel, Phoenix and Madison A criminal conviction also emerged. In 2003, Belafonte had been convicted of battering his former partner, actress Nicole Contreras, mother of his young daughter. He was spared jail after taking part in a programme for domestic violence batterers. Belafonte was also fined for bludgeoning a duck to death with a brick outside his then home in New Jersey. Mel said she had no idea that he had been married before, or had a conviction, or that Belafonte was not his real name. In public, all seemed well with the couple. A vow renewal ceremony was arranged in Egypt in 2008, sponsored by OK! magazine. It was at this point that he fell out with her family. Mel was estranged from them until her father died last year, when there was a reconciliation and she finally found the strength to leave the marriage. She says in the book that she turned from being an 'independent single mum' to a woman who didn't make any decisions small or large and whose relationships with old friends and family dwindled. She says that Belafonte bought expensive clothes, cars and watches for himself. SEX PARTIES & THE NANNY QUESTION So what went on in the marriage? Mel B gave numerous interviews talking about her high sex drive and their red-hot sex life, and Belafonte's brother said he believed that they had an open arrangement and an obsession with pornography. Behind closed doors it seems the couple were utterly debauched. She says that she initiated the first threesome with a female friend and continued to enjoy them for years, going out to nightclubs with her husband to pick up women. She writes: 'I don't think it's shameful to experiment, as long as it is all consensual, and I believe women can enjoy and initiate sex just as much (if not a whole lot more) than men.' She says she called a friend who came over and they had 'a lot of champagne and a lot of fun'. After that, she says, she often initiated threesomes herself, targeting LA party girls or lap-dancers, trawling nightclubs to pick out girls they found attractive. Mel B gave numerous interviews talking about her high sex drive and their red-hot sex life, and Belafonte's brother said he believed that they had an open arrangement and an obsession with pornography She does say, though, that by the latter stages of the marriage it was a game she'd grown tired of. In legal papers during their divorce, Mel said that Belafonte forced her into it all. Belafonte denied this and said in court documents that he has videos which she made where she turns the camera on herself and says 'I like it' and 'that's hot'. One shared lover was nanny Lorraine Gilles, 27, who worked for Mel for seven years. In court papers, Mel claimed that Gilles and Belafonte had plotted to make sex tapes featuring her, and said that Belafonte denigrated her by comparison to the younger woman, and made excessive payments to her. This is denied by Gilles, who said that the sex was consensual, and that the main partner was actually Mel. Rather extraordinarily, Gilles is not mentioned in the book at all. Mel is now suing the lawyers who advised her to make the initial, sensational allegations against her and Belafonte, which have formed the basis for the nanny's still current defamation suit against the former Spice Girl. VIOLENCE BEHIND CLOSED DOORS? One friend of Mel's described Belafonte to me this week as 'as sinister a character as you would ever hope to meet'. He said that during the marriage Mel was almost visibly diminished. 'It was wrong from the beginning,' he added. 'We all had our suspicions that something very ugly was playing out behind closed doors.' Intriguingly, Mel's Instagram account repeats hashtags such as '#stopdomesticviolence' and '#freeatlast'. She tags the charity Women's Aid in posts, and I understand that some money from the book will go to it. Unexpectedly, though, any direct accusations of domestic violence against Belafonte are absent. She says in the memoir that as part of the mediation settlement, she agreed to drop domestic violence charges so that the 64 sex tapes that were made during their marriage would not to be shown in open court. She writes in the book: 'Such are the deals we make. Looking back now, that was a deal I regret.' However, in court papers filed in March 2017, when seeking a temporary restraining order against Belafonte, she branded him a 'monster' who had physically abused her. She claimed that during one rage in November 2007, he tried to choke her and threw her to the ground. She also alleged that Belafonte punched her and split her lip while she filmed a segment with pop star Usher for The X Factor in 2012. She claimed that in August of the same year, the day after performing at the closing ceremonies for the London Olympics, Belafonte punched her with a closed fist and pushed her down on the carpet. Belafonte, 43, has continued to deny it all. Even so, Mel paints a picture of horrifying emotional abuse in the book which, she says, was so bad that she tried to escape the marriage in its first year and every year afterwards. Mel says Belafonte would regularly call her a 'monkey', 'stupid', 'fat, ugly and old', 'dumb' and 'a derelict'. For this there is some corroborating evidence: one former colleague recalls Belafonte 'screaming' at her during a photoshoot because he didn't like the clothes which she had brought. SNORTING LINES OF COCAINE TO GET BY What is admitted is the taking of cocaine, up to six lines a day, which she says started a few weeks into filming The X Factor in 2014. Her routine involved snorting two lines of the drug in the morning, and then taking more after filming. Mel insisted she never took the drug while shooting the show. 'I can't say it didn't help me to have a line of that white powder.' Why? She says the source of her stress was Belafonte, and that she prayed to God to help her get through the day. 'It numbed my pain. It lifted me up enough to be ready to fire on all cylinders and forget about everything but the show.' She described how she started using cocaine a fortnight into filming just to get her through the series and her terrible marriage. In an interview she gave this weekend, she told how extricating herself from her ten-year marriage to Belafonte, a sometime film producer with champagne tastes and a declared income of zero, has cost her dear One close pal told me this week: 'Nothing she did was ever enough for him. She was completely out of her depth with him. Yes, she was wild and into all sorts, but nothing on the scale that he was.' Another pal tells me that when he would call her at home in LA, Belafonte would listen in. He felt that she was constantly watched. Her friend adds: 'She doesn't understand why she fell for him, or why she stayed. She can see that it's a part of a pattern: her first boyfriend ended up in jail, Jimmy Gulzar was no good for her, and then came Stephen. 'She was terrified of him that was the relationship and she is grateful to be out the other side.' Mel says that she is now suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder and will have treatment for that. As she writes: 'All smiles on the outside, misery and self-loathing on the inside, always telling the world how happy I was, when really all I ever wanted was to scream for help.' HER DARKEST CHAPTER In one of her most disturbing confessions, Mel writes that she attempted suicide on December 11, 2014, while she was in London appearing as a judge on The X Factor. 'As each pill goes into my mouth, I ask myself, 'Are you sure?' she wrote in the extract serialised in the Sun on Sunday. 'And I take another one. Ten, twenty, fifty. One hundred.' She said that after taking 200 pills, she told Belafonte what she had done. In court documents, she claimed that he told her 'Die bitch' and tried to stop her going to hospital. In one of her most disturbing confessions, Mel writes that she attempted suicide on December 11, 2014 He countered that this was not true, that she had simply taken a drug overdose, and was addicted to drugs and alcohol. In the book she says: 'I felt emotionally battered, estranged from my family. I felt ugly and detested by the very man who once promised to love and protect me, my husband and manager Stephen.' She wrote that as soon as she'd swallowed that last pill, she knew she didn't want to die but she then found she couldn't get out of the room because the door was 'jammed'. She says it was her attempts to escape from the room that caused the bruises seen by everyone on The X Factor final three days later. She was admitted to Northwick Park hospital in London in a serious condition. Simon Cowell gave her the number of a divorce lawyer, and both Spice Girls Mel C and Emma Bunton invited her to stay with them. Instead, Mel went back to LA and to Belafonte for another two years of hell continuing to binge drink, to use cocaine and have threesomes with Stephen. She wrote: 'Amazing what you do when you believe . . . that you are a worthless piece of c**p.' Two months after the incident, she told Hello! magazine: 'No, my husband didn't hit me. No, I didn't get held hostage. Me and my husband are madly in love.' AND WHAT NOW A FRESH START? Post-divorce, the madness apparently continues. Her former nanny Rusty Updegraff quit his job and called her the the 'world's number one bad mother' in a court filing three months ago. He said that she drank excessively every day, starting at 10am, and submitted a picture of a tower of tequila boxes stacked floor to ceiling in her kitchen. Ever since then, she's had to submit to court-ordered sobriety tests and has passed all three of them so far. Updegraff also claimed she slept with dozens of men post-split, including her driver, the children's piano teacher and a guy she picked up at Soho House members' club. He claimed she would require sex with three men a day. Mel admitted to an interviewer: 'I did have to kind of ease my pain. No, I'm not an alcoholic. No, I'm not a sex addict. Sometimes it is too hard to cope with all the emotions I feel. But the problem has never been about sex or alcohol it is underneath all that.' Her 'trauma' has also led her to recently having a vaginal 'rejuvenation' procedure against the advice of a doctor who told her it was unnecessary and also to undertake cosmetic surgery on her face. As she emerges from her disastrous decade, Mel now has the Spice Girls tour ahead of her. By attempting to recreate the success of her heyday, she would dearly love to claw back her fortune. Only time will tell if she manages to heal the wounds of her turbulent past. David Attenborough may have intended the moral of Dynasties to be the urgent need for us to do something about global warming in Antarctica. But the message most viewers took away from the episode about Emperor penguins was probably the urgent need for us to stop watching documentaries about penguins especially by David Attenborough. Emperor confirmed theres only one thing more gruelling and heart wrenching than being a penguin battling temperatures of minus 60 in Antarctica. Penguins! David Attenborough may have intended the moral of Dynasties to be the urgent need for us to do something about global warming in Antarctica And thats watching a David Attenborough documentary about them. True, they werent our adorable little chicks freezing to death when they wandered off into a blizzard or were snatched by another mother. But the parent penguins featured rarely saw their babies suffer as we did, and certainly not when accompanied by Attenboroughs piercingly poignant commentary or the swathes of violins. Wed seen enough documentaries or films like March of The Penguins to know what to expect from Dynasties or thought we did, even though it came down to the usual material: blistering gales, arduous journeys/waits by parents for food perilously protecting their precious chick etc But the great man is the master of disaster when it comes to such matters and impressively still produced a Personal Best finding new ways to traumatise us and reduce us to a sobbing wreck. Naturally, Attenborough didnt go straight for the jugular. Emotional: The message most viewers took away from the episode about Emperor penguins was probably the urgent need for us to stop watching documentaries about penguins For 15 minutes he lured us in with footage that made you conclude that Emperor would have been a more seamless successor to the stunning Blue Planet 2 than the savagery and screeching of last weeks Chimpanzee. The opening shot showed slabs of beautiful blue ice shifting like shards in a kaleidoscope. Then the first of 8000 Emperor penguins plodded to Atka Bay like a weary commuter whod missed his last train home. Attenborough understandably sighed over the graceful ritual as they coupled up the male and female mirroring each others shapes and stretches as if they were doing penguin yoga. Even took a more ominous turn when Attenborough explained this bond was one of the strongest in nature and needs to be if they were to survive the coldest and cruellest winter on earth. Gulp. Tough: Emperor confirmed theres only one thing more gruelling and heart wrenching than being a penguin battling temperatures of minus 60 in Antarctica Predictably, two quick clips illustrating the difficulties of mating (either from slipping on the ice or rivals tobogganing into them) were merely the prelude to grimmer times. When temperatures in Atka Bay dropped to minus 60 degrees centigrade we knew the penguins were in for a long, hard winter (and us for a bleak forty minutes). The females had already set off for the sea to feed, leaving their partners to incubate their sizable solitary egg and (hopefully) survive the worst months of the year. Attenborough called the mass huddle of 4000 male Emperors one of the most spectacular demonstrations of co-operation in nature but co-operation was pushing it a bit. Tough time: True, they werent our adorable little chicks freezing to death when they wandered off into a blizzard or were snatched by another mother Those stuck on the outside enduring the whipping winds and snow understandably spent their time perennially trying to wheedle their way into the middle. And when the group had to seek shelter, waddling along with their eggs proved potentially fatal. Any that fell when were left to get up unassisted. When morning came, the relief of finding the storm had magically vanished was tempered by seeing several eggs scattered terminally across the ice, some with the corpse of the forlorn father still beside them. Brutal: But the parent penguins featured rarely saw their babies suffer as we did, and certainly not when accompanied by Attenboroughs piercingly poignant commentary Once the babies were born, even though the males had not eaten for four months they kept the small amount of milk for their young and waited for the females to return with food. For some its already too late, Attenborough stated simply, in classic style. Viewers might have assumed there could be few sights sadder than a tiny penguin chick seemingly sleeping but actually with its eyes frozen closed. They were wrong though. The (very) occasional joy of something positive was invariably followed immediately by something terrible. Blizzard: For 15 minutes he lured us in with footage that made you conclude that Emperor would have been a more seamless successor to the stunning Blue Planet 2 The mothers return meant the romantic reunion of the parents and the first meeting with their young. The sweet cheep of the chicks suggested no picture could be happier until Attenborough informed us that among the hordes were penguins whose offspring had perished but whose parenting instincts were still strong. This proved to be an understatement. One female seeing a baby being passed lovingly from dad to mum seized the moment to try and snatch it. The poor mites plight was compounded as the melee that resulted threatened to crush it. This also led to a piece of classic sadistic Attenborough commentary. The chick appears to be safe, he confirmed (inciting sighs of phew! from the viewers). Crying: Viewers might have assumed there could be few sights sadder than a tiny penguin chick seemingly sleeping but actually with its eyes frozen closed - but they were wrong But then stating bluntly: but it is no longer with its true parents (provoking cries of noooooo!). The image of the rogue female sidling off with the stolen baby hidden under its fur, leaving the parents looking down at the empty space between their feet in despairing disbelief, was terrible. Incredibly, it got worse as Attenborough revealed: the prospects for a kidnapped chick are never good i.e. not to be found but to live. This pattern continued. Normality seemed to have arrived when the fathers trudged off for food leaving the mothers to bond with their young. But another blizzard meant another catastrophe. Hard: The mothers return meant the romantic reunion of the parents and the first meeting with their young When some became trapped in a ravine, one plucky parent climbing heroically up the icy wall and out to safety appeared to be grounds for hope. But things became desperate as other mothers unable to escape were faced with the choice of saving their baby or themselves and chose the latter. The sight of one adorable, abandoned, chick waddling forlornly in the snow was horribly plaintive, especially as the other penguins (including its mother) werent far away if only it could get out. Instead it became stuck at the top of the gully. Then slipped and hurtled down it as if it was an icy slid in a water-park, tumbling to the bottom and its fate. Seeing it shivering and calling for its mother finished us off and even the camera-crew. Wading in: The post-show coda later revealed they broke the documentary-makers golden rule and intervened in the nature they were filming The post-show coda later revealed they broke the documentary-makers golden rule and intervened in the nature they were filming, digging a few steps for the trapped penguins to climb up. When the sun returning marked the end of the long, cruel, winter you assumed the worst was over. Wed endured terrible scenes with mother away at sea to feed, followed by more with the father. Now, Attenborough announced, for the last few weeks, the chicks growing appetite will force both parents to go away fishing at the same time. Temperatures of minus 25 degrees meant it was the young penguins turn to huddle together for warmth. Leaving: Now, Attenborough announced, for the last few weeks, the chicks growing appetite will force both parents to go away fishing at the same time Stay safe: Temperatures of minus 25 degrees meant it was the young penguins turn to huddle together for warmth Tragically, the parenting instincts from earlier were reversed but proved equally fatal. Unbeknownst to the mothers and fathers braving the howling gales and white-out snow of the brutal conditions, some chicks blindly followed. In a blizzard that is a bad idea, Attenborough said, somewhat unnecessarily. Standing still, confused by the adults eventually disappeared from view, was even worse. The calls of one chick became more frenzied and heart-breaking as the whiteness of the picture grew thicker the archetypal image of the heaven it was inexorably heading for. Then, like a mirage, the dark silhouette of an adult arrived. Lost and alone, the chicks only hope is that it is heading back to the colony and not away across the frozen wastes. Get there: Thankfully, Attenborough knew there was only so much we could take Thankfully, Attenborough knew there was only so much we could take. He may relish putting us through the wringer but he rarely leaves us in complete despair. Viewers had probably never been happier to see summer. Against all the odds two thirds of the chicks have survived! he cheered, as if it were good news. For us it felt as if we had just seen one third not surviving. His final speech about the rising temperature of the waters in Antarctica meant that by the time of the next documentary about penguins the number of fatalities would certainly be higher. Almost inevitably, we will be watching. Its in our nature. Frankie Muniz has had a rough couple of weeks. The 32-year-old actor had to leave town for his uncle's funeral and came back to find his home flooded, in bizarre circumstances. Revealing his devastation, the Malcom In The Middle alum took to Twitter to reveal his cat Jeri accidentally turned a faucet on and flooded his home. 'I arrived home from my uncles funeral to find 4 of my 5 story brownstone home under 3 feet of water. Everything I own, destroyed. Every wall, piece of artwork, personal photos, furniture,' he tweeted on Thursday. Devastated: Frankie Muniz has revealed his home was flooded last week when his cat turned on a faucet while he was away Everything destroyed: The 32-year-old actor told his fans about the incident in a series of emotional tweets 'All because my cat accidentally turned on a sink a few days ago while we were gone.' The Agent Cody Banks star followed up with another emotional tweet, explaining, 'Im devastated and exhausted from a tough week with the loss of my Uncle Skip, 45 hours of travel to and from France to walk in to find this disaster. 'I've cried more yesterday and today then my whole life combined. Forgive me for venting,' he added. 'I just need some support.' Praising his girlfriend Paige Price for her support, Frankie tweeted, 'Thank God I have @paigey_price to help me get through this. Id be lost without her. Shes so strong and exactly what I need.' Paige gave an update on the situation on her Instagram stories, posting a snap of a ceiling in the brownstone ripped open. Devastated: Frankie explained he'd been crying a lot about the accident Happier times: The actor clearly adores his cat Jeri and has shared numerous sweet snaps of the white and black feline 'Starting the process of removing every item today,' she captioned the image which was obtained by Yahoo. 'Thankfully not all of our furniture is destroyed but, every single wall, floor, and ceiling has to be ripped out and replaced to reduce the risk of mold.' she added. Last year Frankie revealed that he now has severe memory loss after nine concussions and a 'fair amount' of mini-strokes. 'I've never been to the doctor and been like, you know, "Why don't I have a memory?" To be honest, I've never really talked about it.' he revealed on Dancing With The Stars when he competed last year. Mischievous: The actor captioned this snap from April 'Jeri just thinks she owns the place!!!' 'It makes me a little sad. Things pop back into my mind that I should have remembered.' His health issues stem from a car crash in 2009 when he was competing as a pro race driver. The child actor revealed his girlfriend Paige records their movements in a journal so he can remind himself of what he's been up to. 'I love to be able to look back,' he said. 'It makes make a little sad that it doesn't just pop back into my mind. Like, I should have remembered going to Australia. That's something that people remember.' Thank god: Frankie praised his girlfriend for her support through the tough period Iraq's new President Barham Salih (R) meets Iranian counterpart Hassan Rouhani on his official visit to Tehran Iraq's new President Barham Saleh made his first official visit to neighbouring Iran on Saturday, calling for "a new order in the region". Saleh met his counterpart Hassan Rouhani to discuss trade, transport links and efforts to tackle dust pollution that plagues areas on both sides of the border. "It is now time for a new order in the region that would meet the interests of all countries in it," Saleh told a Tehran news conference, according to a translation provided by Iran's state broadcaster. "We believe Iran has an important role to play in this new order," he added. Saleh, a 58-year-old moderate Kurd, was elected last month to the largely ceremonial role of president. Rouhani said the two countries aimed to boost trade from $12 billion to $20 billion. "Security and stability in the whole region is to everyone's benefit. We do not need any foreign interference in the region," Rouhani said. An Iraqi protester stands outside the Iranian consulate in the southern city of Basra after it was set ablaze during violent demonstrations on September 7, 2018 Iran has been highly influential in Iraq since the toppling of Saddam Hussein in 2003, and was a key partner in pushing back the Islamic State group in recent years. But Iran has also been blamed for factionalism and poor governance in Iraq and its consulate in the southern city of Basra was burnt to the ground during violent protests earlier this year. Former Madagascar presidents Marc Ravalomanana, left, and Andry Rajoelina are set to compete in a run-off vote Two former presidents of Madagascar, Andry Rajoelina and Marc Ravalomanana, came out top in the country's latest election, results showed Saturday, and are set to compete in a run-off next month. Neither won the 50 percent of votes required for a first-round victory, with Rajoelina on 39.19 percent and Ravalomanana on 35.29 percent, according to final results from the CENI election commission. The run-off is scheduled for December 19. Hery Rajaonarimampianina, who was running to hold onto power, secured only 8.84 percent of the vote, the commission said, before adding that the turnout at last week's election was 54.3 percent. All three candidates, of a total 36, have alleged fraud and malpractice by election authorities, and the result will be subject to fierce legal appeals. "We have adopted three rules of conduct: transparency, impartiality and independence," CENI president Hery Rakotomanana said as the final results were announced on the Indian Ocean island. "We have not accepted any orders from anyone in this election... no favours have been given to anyone." Both leading candidates hope to claim a first-round victory through the courts. Rajoelina on Saturday described the count as not transparent, adding "that will not prevent us from winning." Former president and current candidate Andry Rajoelina, flanked by his wife Mialy Rajoelina, placed first but faces a second round vote in December Ravalomanana'scampaign welcomed the results, but Hanitra Razafimanantso, an official from his TIM party, said it "would make use of the right of appeal to the Constitutional Court in view of election irregularities." The court will proclaim the official results after reviewing candidates' complaints. Madagascar is one of the world's poorest countries, according to World Bank data, with almost four in five people living in grinding poverty. But the frontrunners spent huge sums in the first round on flashy campaign rallies, helicopters and giveaways such as free T-shirts for supporters. - Past political violence - A European Union observer mission said Monday that it had "noted candidates committed breaches" ahead of the November 7 poll, but concluded that the election was well organised overall. Former president and current candidate Marc Ravalomanana placed second in the first round of Madagascar's latest presidential poll Both Ravalomanana and Rajoelina were banned from running in the last election in 2013 under international pressure to avoid a repeat of deadly 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 ballot box. 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 contenders to "show restraint and respect the law". Dutch art detective Arthur Brand recovered the missing mosaic of St Mark, a rare piece of stolen Byzantine art, in Monaco One of the last missing pieces of Byzantine art stolen from Cyprus in the 1970s was handed back this week by a renowned, and proud Dutch art investigator. Arthur Brand said Friday he handed back the sixth century depiction of Saint Mark during a private ceremony at the Cypriot embassy in The Hague. For Brand, dubbed the "Indiana Jones of the art world" because of his exploits to recover stolen works, the handover was a highpoint in his life-long interest in the Byzantine saint -- and the result of a nearly two-year chase across Europe. "This is a very special piece that's more than 1,600 years old. It's one of the last and most beautiful examples of art from the early Byzantine era," said the art sleuth. He showed AFP the mosaic hours before it was handed back. The Cypriot embassy and Church of Cyprus declined to comment when asked about the mosaic and the Cypriot Department of Antiquities did not respond to phonecalls. - 'Greatest moment' - After getting a tip from a prominent London art dealer, Brand travelled to Monaco in August. Through a series of intermediaries -- including several in the underground world -- Brand finally traced the missing mosaic to an apartment in the upscale city-state. "It was in the possession of a British family, who bought the mosaic in good faith more than four decades ago," Brand told AFP. "They were horrified when they found out that it was in fact a priceless art treasure, looted from the Kanakaria Church after the Turkish invasion," Brand said. The family agreed to return it "to the people of Cyprus" in return for a small fee to cover restoration and storage costs, he added. A week ago, Brand -- who was working with the Church of Cyprus -- returned to Monaco to collect the treasure, said to be worth five to 10 million euros ($5.7-$11 million). "It was one of the greatest moments of my life," the detective said. In 2015, Brand won world fame after finding two massive bronze statues made by Nazi sculptor Joseph Thorak that are referred to as "Hitler's Horses". He made headlines again a year later for helping to recover five stolen masterpieces from a criminal group in the Ukraine. - Looted art - Religious artifacts including mosaics were hewn from the church walls in northern Cyprus following an invasion by Turkish forces in 1974. They included a set of mosaics taken from the Panayia Kanakaria church, about 105 kilometres (65 miles) northeast of Nicosia. Many pieces ended up in the underground world of art smuggling and went missing for many years, while the Cyprus government and church campaigned ceaselessly to recover them. "The mosaics of Kanakaria are of immense importance in Christian art and world culture," said Maria Paphiti, a former department head at British auction house Christie's. The ensemble "is among a handful of artworks that escaped the menace of Byzantine iconoclasm" in the eighth and ninth century, Paphiti, an art historian and world authority on Byzantine art told AFP. - 'Last missing pieces' - Twelve mosaic fragments have been returned so far, notably one depicting the Apostle Andrew -- which Paphiti discovered among a collection of artworks in 2014. In 1989, four fragments depicting the upper part of Christ, two apostles and an archangel were handed back after a high-profile case in Indianapolis. Most of the mosaic fragments were recovered between 1983 and 2015, Paphiti said, but some pieces are still missing, including the lower part of Christ's body. "This is truly one of the last outstanding pieces to be returned," said Brand. "It is incredible to think that this piece of art survived for so long. It's part of the Cypriot peoples' soul," he added. St Mark is expected to return to the Mediterranean island within the coming days. German police made a major breakthrough in the recovery of stolen Cypriot art in 1997 when they raided the home of convicted Turkish art dealer Ayden Dikmen in Munich. Cyprus has been divided since 1974 when Turkey invaded and seized its northern third in response to an Athens-engineered coup to unite the island with Greece. Zimbabwean president Robert Mugabe bowed to pressure and resigned in November 2017. Here he casts his first post-ouster vote, in July 2018 Here is a summary of key developments since Robert Mugabe was ousted as president of Zimbabwe a year ago after 37 years in charge of the southern African country. - Mugabe forced out - On November 21, 2017, 93-year-old Mugabe bows to mounting pressure and resigns in a letter to parliament, which was about to debate his impeachment. Military generals had seized power days earlier after he fired Vice President Emmerson Mnangagwa, amid concern Mugabe was positioning his wife Grace to succeed him. Cheering crowds race through the streets of the capital as the news spreads. Britain and the United States welcome Mugabe's departure. Mnangagwa returns to Zimbabwe from South Africa the following day, having fled after his dismissal two weeks earlier. - New president pledges polls - Mnangagwa is sworn in on November 24, setting out a programme that envisages a reversal of many of Mugabe's signature policies and promising that elections due in 2018 would go ahead. In February 2018, veteran opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai dies of cancer. His Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) picks former youth activist Nelson Chamisa to lead it into the election set for July 30. On June 23 a bomb explodes as Mnangagwa leaves the podium at a campaign rally for his ZANU-PF party in the opposition stronghold city of Bulawayo. He escapes unharmed but two bodyguards are killed. - First post-Mugabe vote - Long queues form outside polling stations on July 30 as thousands vote, turnout is estimated at 75 percent. Early the next morning, with vote counting under way, Chamisa claims he is "winning resoundingly". Mnangagwa says he is "extremely positive". As tensions mount, the election authority rejects opposition allegations of rigging. - Violence erupts - On August 1, the election commission announces that ZANU-PF has easily won most of the seats in parliament but does not give the results for the presidential vote. The opposition alleges fraud and its supporters take to the streets of Harare, with violence erupting. Soldiers fire live rounds and six people are killed. As international condemnation pours in, the government warns it will "not tolerate" unrest. - Mnangagwa declared winner - In the early hours of August 3, the electoral commission declares Mnangagwa the winner with 50.8 percent of the vote against Chamisa's 44.3 percent. Chamisa rejects the results as "fraudulent, illegal, illegitimate" and vows to challenge them in court. On August 6, 27 MDC members appear in court on violence charges related to the post-election protests. The MDC lodges a bid to overturn the election results on August 10. The Constitutional Court dismisses it on August 24 for a lack of evidence. Mnangagwa is inaugurated on August 26, calling for unity and a focus on the economic challenges facing the nation. He announces an enquiry into the election killings. - Cholera and crackdowns - The opposition walks out of Mnangagwa's inaugural address to parliament on September 18, when he announces measures to tackle the economic crisis and a deadly cholera outbreak. On October 11, police arrest scores of trade union leaders and activists ahead of national protests against price and tax hikes. The demonstrations would have violated a ban on public gatherings because of the spreading cholera. At a rally to mark the MDC's 19th anniversary, Chamisa insists on October 27 that he had won the July elections. This gathering had been banned several times, with police citing the cholera epidemic. On November 7 two government ministers under Mugabe appear in court on corruption charges. Frank Bainimarama fended off a strong challenge at the polls to remain prime minister of Fiji Former Fiji military strongman Voreqe Bainimarama survived declining support for his FijiFirst party to remain in power Sunday, fending off a strong challenge from rival coup leader Sitiveni Rabuka. The Fiji election result, confirmed four days after the island nation went to the polls for only the second time since "Frank" Bainimarama seized power in 2006, gave FijiFirst a three-seat majority in parliament. Bainimarama was not in Fiji to hear the final result but told Fiji Broadcasting Corporation from New Zealand, where he has been attending his brother's funeral, that he was "proud to become your prime minister once again". FijiFirst took 50.02 percent of the vote, enough to claim 27 seats, while Rabuka's SODELPA party with 39.85 percent and the National Federation Party with 7.38 percent got 24 seats between them in the 51-seat parliament. Support for FijiFirst had dived from 59.17 percent in 2014 when Bainimarama first went to the polls following eight years of political reforms after he overthrew the previous government of then prime minister Laisenia Qarase. Rabuka, who led two military coups in 1987 before later being democratically elected prime minister, saw SODELPA's share of the vote rise from 21.18 percent four years ago. In a preliminary report, a multinational observer group said it was "confident that Fijian voters were able to exercise their right to vote freely". The report was prepared Friday before a small number to voters were allowed to cast a late ballot after torrential rain forced the closure of some polling stations on Wednesday. It assessed the electoral processes as "transparent and credible" and that the election "was on track to reflect the will of the voters". Bainimarama, 64, led a bloodless coup 12 years ago vowing to end the instability that saw four governments toppled between 1987 and 2006. For eight years he led a military regime that ruled by decree as he reshaped the political landscape. Under his watch, the island nation of 920,000 has enjoyed sustained growth in its tourism-reliant economy. Supporters say he has helped heal racial divisions by introducing equal rights for Indian-Fijians, a sizeable minority brought in to work on sugar plantations during British colonial rule. 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. 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. WASHINGTON (AP) - WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange will not willingly travel to the United States to face charges filed under seal against him, one of his lawyers said, foreshadowing a possible fight over extradition for a central figure in the U.S. special counsel's Russia-Trump investigation. Assange, who has taken cover in the Ecuadorian Embassy in London, where he has been granted asylum, has speculated publicly for years that the Justice Department had brought secret criminal charges against him for revealing highly sensitive government information on his website. That hypothesis appeared closer to reality after prosecutors, in an errant court filing in an unrelated case, inadvertently revealed the existence of sealed charges. The filing, discovered Thursday night, said the charges and arrest warrant "would need to remain sealed until Assange is arrested in connection with the charges in the criminal complaint and can therefore no longer evade or avoid arrest and extradition in this matter." A person familiar with the matter, speaking on condition of anonymity because the case had not been made public, confirmed that charges had been filed under seal. The exact charges Assange faces and when they might be unsealed remained uncertain Friday. Any charges against him could help illuminate whether Russia coordinated with the Trump campaign to sway the 2016 presidential election. They also would suggest that, after years of internal Justice Department wrangling, prosecutors have decided to take a more aggressive tack against WikiLeaks. A criminal case also holds the potential to expose the practices of a radical transparency activist who has been under U.S. government scrutiny for years and at the center of some of the most explosive disclosures of stolen information in the last decade. FILE - In this May 19, 2017, file photo, WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange greets supporters from a balcony of the Ecuadorian embassy in London. The Justice Department inadvertently named Assange in a court filing in an unrelated case that raised immediate questions about whether the WikiLeaks founder had been charged under seal. Assange's name appears twice in an August 2018 filing from a prosecutor in Virginia in a separate case involving a man accused of coercing a minor. (AP Photo/Frank Augstein, File) Those include thousands of military and State Department cables from Army Pvt. Bradley (now Chelsea) Manning, secret CIA hacking tools, and most recently and notoriously, Democratic emails that were published in the weeks before the 2016 presidential election and that U.S. intelligence officials say had been hacked by Russia. Federal special counsel Robert Mueller, who has already charged 12 Russian military intelligence officers with hacking, has been investigating whether any Trump associates had advance knowledge of the stolen emails. Assange could be an important link for Mueller as he looks to establish exactly how WikiLeaks came to receive the emails, and why its release of the communications - on the same day a highly damaging video of Trump from a decade earlier surfaced publicly - appeared timed to boost his campaign. Assange, 47, has resided in the Ecuadorian Embassy under a grant of asylum for more than six years to avoid being extradited to Sweden, where he was accused of sex crimes, or to the United States, whose government he has repeatedly humbled with mass disclosures of classified information. The Australian was once a welcome guest at the embassy, which takes up part of the ground floor of a stucco-fronted apartment in London's posh Knightsbridge neighborhood. But his relationship with his hosts has soured over the years amid reports of espionage, erratic behavior and diplomatic unease. Barry Pollack, a Washington lawyer for Assange, said he expected Ecuador to "comply with its obligations" to preserve asylum for him, though he acknowledged a concern that the county could revoke his asylum, expel him from the embassy and extradite him to the U.S. "The burden should not shift to Mr. Assange to have to defend against criminal charges when what he has been accused of doing is what journalists do every day," Pollack said. "They publish truthful information because the public has a right to know and consider that information and understand what its government and institutions are doing." The charges came to light in an unrelated court filing from a federal prosecutor in Virginia, who was attempting to keep sealed a separate case involving a man accused of coercing a minor for sex. The three-page filing contained two references to Assange, including one sentence that said "due to the sophistication of the defendant and the publicity surrounding the case, no other procedure is likely to keep confidential the fact that Assange has been charged." It was not immediately clear why Assange's name was included in the document. Joshua Stueve, a spokesman for the Justice Department's Eastern District of Virginia said, "The court filing was made in error. That was not the intended name for this filing." The filing was discovered by Seamus Hughes, a terrorism expert at the Program on Extremism at George Washington University, who posted it on Twitter hours after The Wall Street Journal reported that the Justice Department was preparing to prosecute Assange. The case at issue concerns a defendant named Seitu Sulayman Kokayi, a 29-year-old teacher who has since been indicted in Virginia on charges of enticing a 15-year-old girl to commit sex acts and to produce child pornography. There doesn't appear to be any connection between Assange and Kokayi. The since-unsealed document, a motion filed in late August asking to keep Kokayi's case secret, mentions Assange in two boilerplate sections, suggesting a copy-and-paste error or that his name was inadvertently left in a template used for the common filings. The filing suggests prosecutors have reason to believe they will be able to arrest and extradite Assange. Ecuadorian officials say they have cut off his high-speed internet access and will restore it only if he agrees to stop interfering in the affairs of Ecuador's partners, such as the U.S. and Spain. He is allowed to use the embassy's WiFi, though it is unclear if he doing so. Officials have also imposed a series of other restrictions on Assange's activities and visitors, and ordered him to clean after his cat. Carlos Poveda, Assange's lawyer in Ecuador, said he suspects Ecuador has been maneuvering to kick Assange out of the embassy through the stricter new living requirements it recently imposed. He said possible U.S. charges, however, are proof his client remains under threat, and he called on Ecuador's government to uphold Assange's asylum protections. He said Ecuador would be responsible if anything happened to Assange. With shrinking options - an Ecuadorian lawsuit seeking to reverse the restrictions was recently turned down - WikiLeaks announced in September that former spokesman Kristinn Hrafnsson, an Icelandic journalist who has long served as one of Assange's lieutenants, would take over as editor-in-chief. In a brief interview in Reykjavik, Iceland, Hrafnsson called the U.S. news "a very black day for journalism." ___ Associated Press writer Raphael Satter in Paris, Chad Day in Washington and Egill Bjarnason in Iceland contributed to this report. Link to court filing: http://apne.ws/Me9YxB9 ATHENS, Greece (AP) - A march to the U.S. Embassy in Greece held Saturday for the anniversary of a fatally suppressed 1973 student uprising was mostly peaceful, while police officers and anarchists clashed in Athens and the next two next largest cities long after dark. About 6,000 extra police officers were on hand to monitor the march from the university site of the uprising, the National Technical University of Athens, to the embassy. The military dictatorship that ruled Greece at the time violently put down the uprising, and many Greeks accuse the United States of supporting the 1967-74 regime. In the end, most of the trouble happened elsewhere. Police said a group of about 300 agitators in the capital erected barricades and threw firebombs and rocks at officers, who responded with tear gas and stun grenades. In Thessaloniki, Greece's second-largest city, officers faced off with about 200 anarchists threw an intense barrage of firebombs. At least ten people were detained. Another five people were detained in Patras after an unknown number of assailants attacked officers, police said. About 15,000 people participated in the march held earlier to observe the 45th anniversary of the student rebellion. The precise number of deaths in the uprising is unknown. Estimates range from 18-40. Riot policemen try to avoid petrol bombs thrown by hooded youths during clashes in the Athens neighborhood of Exarchia, a haven for extreme leftists and anarchists, Saturday, Nov. 17, 2018. Clashes have broken out between police and anarchists in central Athens on the 45th anniversary of a student uprising against Greece's then-ruling military regime. (AP Photo/Yorgos Karahalis) While the event went off relatively trouble-free, government ministers and other marchers representing Greece's ruling Syriza party had plastic bottles and coffee cups thrown at them outside the embassy. And in an indication of what would come later, a group that marched past the embassy attacked officers at a subway station across from Athens police headquarters, authorities said. Eight suspects were detained, police said. Two more were detained outside the university, also known as the Polytechnic. Municipal workers had removed the trash cans that demonstrators often use as makeshift barricades, so desks and other furniture were brought out from the university in their place. Others climbed onto rooftops inside the Polytechnic complex and threw Molotov cocktails and rocks on officers. Police brought a water cannon to the scene, but used it to put out fires because firetrucks would not approach the area. ____ Costas Kantouris reported from Thessaloniki. ___ Follow Kantouris on Twitter: https://twitter.com/CostasKantouris Riot policemen try to avoid petrol bombs thrown by hooded youths during clashes in the Athens neighborhood of Exarchia, a haven for extreme leftists and anarchists, Saturday, Nov. 17, 2018. Clashes have broken out between police and anarchists in central Athens on the 45th anniversary of a student uprising against Greece's then-ruling military regime. (AP Photo/Yorgos Karahalis) A riot policeman raises his hands up as a petrol bomb explodes near to him during clashes in the Athens neighborhood of Exarchia, a haven for extreme leftists and anarchists, Saturday, Nov. 17, 2018. Clashes have broken out between police and anarchists in central Athens on the 45th anniversary of a student uprising against Greece's then-ruling military regime. (AP Photo/Yorgos Karahalis) A riot policeman stands among fires from petrol bombs during clashes in the Athens neighborhood of Exarchia, a haven for extreme leftists and anarchists, Saturday, Nov. 17, 2018. Clashes have broken out between police and anarchists in central Athens on the 45th anniversary of a student uprising against Greece's then-ruling military regime. (AP Photo/Yorgos Karahalis) A riot policeman tries to avoid a petrol bomb during clashes in the Athens neighborhood of Exarchia, a haven for extreme leftists and anarchists, Saturday, Nov. 17, 2018. Clashes have broken out between police and anarchists in central Athens on the 45th anniversary of a student uprising against Greece's then-ruling military regime. (AP Photo/Yorgos Karahalis) A riot policeman stands among fires from petrol bombs during clashes in the Athens neighborhood of Exarchia, a haven for extreme leftists and anarchists, Saturday, Nov. 17, 2018. Clashes have broken out between police and anarchists in central Athens on the 45th anniversary of a student uprising against Greece's then-ruling military regime. (AP Photo/Yorgos Karahalis) A riot policeman raises his hands up as hooded youths throw petrol bombs during clashes in the Athens neighborhood of Exarchia, a haven for extreme leftists and anarchists, Saturday, Nov. 17, 2018. Clashes have broken out between police and anarchists in central Athens on the 45th anniversary of a student uprising against Greece's then-ruling military regime. (AP Photo/Yorgos Karahalis) Hooded youths throw petrol bombs at riot police during clashes in the Athens neighborhood of Exarchia, a haven for extreme leftists and anarchists, Saturday, Nov. 17, 2018. Clashes have broken out between police and anarchists in central Athens on the 45th anniversary of a student uprising against Greece's then-ruling military regime. (AP Photo/Yorgos Karahalis) Protesters prepare to throw a petrol bomb and a chair at riot police during clashes in the Athens neighborhood of Exarchia, a haven for extreme leftists and anarchists, Saturday, Nov. 17, 2018. Clashes have broken out between police and anarchists in central Athens on the 45th anniversary of a student uprising against Greece's then-ruling military regime. (AP Photo/Yorgos Karahalis) A man prepares to throw a petrol bomb at riot police during clashes in the Athens neighborhood of Exarchia, a haven for extreme leftists and anarchists, Saturday, Nov. 17, 2018. Clashes have broken out between police and anarchists in central Athens on the 45th anniversary of a student uprising against Greece's then-ruling military regime. (AP Photo/Yorgos Karahalis) A protester throws a chair at riot police during clashes in the Athens neighborhood of Exarchia, a haven for extreme leftists and anarchists, Saturday, Nov. 17, 2018. Clashes have broken out between police and anarchists in central Athens on the 45th anniversary of a student uprising against Greece's then-ruling military regime. (AP Photo/Yorgos Karahalis) Riot policemen try to avoid a petrol bomb during clashes in the Athens neighborhood of Exarchia, a haven for extreme leftists and anarchists, Saturday, Nov. 17, 2018. Several thousands people marched to the U.S. Embassy in Athens under tight police security to commemorate a 1973 student uprising that was crushed by Greece's military junta, that ruled the country from 1967-74. (AP Photo/Yorgos Karahalis) Protesters burn an American flag outside the US Embassy during a rally in Athens, Saturday, Nov. 17, 2018. Several thousands people march to the U.S. Embassy in Athens under tight police security to commemorate a 1973 student uprising that was crushed by Greece's military junta, that ruled the country from 1967-74. (AP Photo/Yorgos Karahalis) Riot police guard outside the US Embassy during a rally in Athens, Saturday, Nov. 17, 2018. Several thousands people march to the U.S. Embassy in Athens under tight police security to commemorate a 1973 student uprising that was crushed by Greece's military junta, that ruled the country from 1967-74. (AP Photo/Yorgos Karahalis) Protesters shout slogans during a rally in Athens, Saturday, Nov. 17, 2018. Several thousands people march to the U.S. Embassy in Athens under tight police security to commemorate a 1973 student uprising that was crushed by Greece's military junta, that ruled the country from 1967-74. (AP Photo/Yorgos Karahalis) Protesters shout slogans during a rally in Athens, Saturday, Nov. 17, 2018. Several thousands people march to the U.S. Embassy in Athens under tight police security to commemorate a 1973 student uprising that was crushed by Greece's military junta, that ruled the country from 1967-74. (AP Photo/Yorgos Karahalis) Protesters shout slogans during a rally in Athens, Saturday, Nov. 17, 2018. Several thousands people march to the U.S. Embassy in Athens under tight police security to commemorate a 1973 student uprising that was crushed by Greece's military junta, that ruled the country from 1967-74. (AP Photo/Yorgos Karahalis) A protester takes part in a rally in Athens, Saturday, Nov. 17, 2018. Several thousands people march to the U.S. Embassy in Athens under tight police security to commemorate a 1973 student uprising that was crushed by Greece's military junta, that ruled the country from 1967-74. (AP Photo/Yorgos Karahalis) A protester uses a loudspeaker to chat slogans during a rally in Athens, Saturday, Nov. 17, 2018. Several thousands people march to the U.S. Embassy in Athens under tight police security to commemorate a 1973 student uprising that was crushed by Greece's military junta, that ruled the country from 1967-74. (AP Photo/Yorgos Karahalis) A protester uses a loudspeaker to chat slogans during a rally in Athens, Saturday, Nov. 17, 2018. Several thousands people march to the U.S. Embassy in Athens under tight police security to commemorate a 1973 student uprising that was crushed by Greece's military junta, that ruled the country from 1967-74. (AP Photo/Yorgos Karahalis) University students shout slogans during a rally in Athens, Saturday, Nov. 17, 2018. Several thousand people are expecting to march to the U.S. Embassy in Athens under tight police security to commemorate a 1973 student uprising that was crushed by Greece's military junta, that ruled the country from 1967-74. (AP Photo/Yorgos Karahalis) University students shout slogans during a rally in Athens, Saturday, Nov. 17, 2018. Several thousand people are expecting to march to the U.S. Embassy in Athens under tight police security to commemorate a 1973 student uprising that was crushed by Greece's military junta, that ruled the country from 1967-74. (AP Photo/Yorgos Karahalis) University students hold a blood-stained Greek flag from the deadly 1973 student uprising, in Athens, Saturday, Nov. 17, 2018. Several thousand people are expecting to march to the U.S. Embassy in Athens under tight police security to commemorate a 1973 student uprising that was crushed by Greece's military junta, that ruled the country from 1967-74. (AP Photo/Yorgos Karahalis) Riot policemen operate during clashes outside the Polytechnic University in Athens, Saturday, Nov. 17, 2018. Greek police say clashes have broken out between police and anarchists in Athens and Thessaloniki on the 45th anniversary of a student uprising against Greece's then-ruling military regime. (AP Photo/Yorgos Karahalis) Riot policemen operate during clashes outside the Polytechnic University in Athens, Saturday, Nov. 17, 2018. Greek police say clashes have broken out between police and anarchists in Athens and Thessaloniki on the 45th anniversary of a student uprising against Greece's then-ruling military regime. (AP Photo/Yorgos Karahalis) Riot policemen try to avoid petrol bombs during clashes outside the Polytechnic University in Athens, Saturday, Nov. 17, 2018. Greek police say clashes have broken out between police and anarchists in Athens and Thessaloniki on the 45th anniversary of a student uprising against Greece's then-ruling military regime. (AP Photo/Yorgos Karahalis) A riot policeman throws a stun grenade during clashes outside the Polytechnic University in Athens, Saturday, Nov. 17, 2018. Greek police say clashes have broken out between police and anarchists in Athens and Thessaloniki on the 45th anniversary of a student uprising against Greece's then-ruling military regime. (AP Photo/Yorgos Karahalis) A police water canon operates against hooded youths during clashes outside the Polytechnic University in Athens, Saturday, Nov. 17, 2018. Greek police say clashes have broken out between police and anarchists in Athens and Thessaloniki on the 45th anniversary of a student uprising against Greece's then-ruling military regime. (AP Photo/Yorgos Karahalis) FRANKFURT, Germany (AP) - The Latest on the French president's visit to Germany (all times local): 3:35 p.m. French President Emmanuel Macron has called for Europe to take more responsibility for its defense and security and for France and Germany to play a leading role together. Macron made the remarks while speaking in the German lower house of parliament, the Bundestag, on Germany's national day of remember for the victims of war and dictatorship on Sunday. Macron said that the French-German alliance "is invested with this obligation not to allow the world to slide into chaos, and to accompany it on the road of peace." He said that Europe can't play its role "if it doesn't take more responsibility for its defense and security and is content to play a secondary role on the international scene." France's President Emmanuel Macron, delivers a speech during a meeting of the German Federal Parliament, Bundestag, at the Reichstag building in Berlin, Germany, Sunday, Nov. 18, 2018 during an hour of commemoration on the 'Volkstrauertag', Germany's national day of mourning. (AP Photo/Michael Sohn) Macron has called for creation of a European army. ___ 1 p.m. French President Emmanuel Macron has taken part in a wreath-laying ceremony at Germany's memorial to the victims of war and dictatorship. Macron stood with folded hands and bowed head alongside German Chancellor Angela Merkel and President Frank-Walter Steinmeier at the Neue Wache memorial in Berlin as part of a national day of remembrance. Macron is visiting as both he and Merkel are lagging in the polls and need some mutual reinforcement and support. Merkel has backed Macron's proposal for a European army someday, saying it would show the world that there will never again be war between European nations. The two are meeting before a December summit intended to decide limited reforms of the shared euro currency to make it more resistant to financial and economic crises. ___ 8:40 a.m. French President Emmanuel Macron and German Chancellor Angela Merkel, both limping in the polls, are looking for common approaches to Donald Trump and fixing the flaws in the euro currency. Macron speaks in the German parliament in Berlin on Sunday on an annual day of remembrance for victims of war and dictatorship, a week after the 100th anniversary of the end of World War I, and then consults with Merkel on European and international issues. Merkel last week echoed Macron's call for a European army, a long-term prospect that drew tweeted criticism of Macron from Trump. Merkel said a European force would save money and agreed with Macron that Europe must be able to defend itself on its own. The two also face a December summit on limited reforms to the euro currency. France's President Emmanuel Macron, left, delivers a speech during a meeting of the German Federal Parliament, Bundestag, at the Reichstag building in Berlin, Germany, Sunday, Nov. 18, 2018 during an hour of commemoration on the 'Volkstrauertag', Germany's national day of mourning. (AP Photo/Michael Sohn) Police have arrested 85 people following a mass environmental demonstration. The arrests came as a result of Saturdays Extinction Rebellion climate change protests around London, the Metropolitan Police said. Most have been detained under the Highways Act after hundreds of people staged sit-ins on five of the capitals central bridges. Saturdays action on Lambeth, Westminster, Waterloo, Blackfriars and Southwark bridges gave bands and speakers the opportunity to address the crowds and followed a week of protests around the UK under the Extinction Rebellion banner. On Monday, 22 people were arrested after protesters blocked traffic and glued themselves to entry gates at the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy. On Wednesday, more activists were detained following action near Downing Street and at the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs in Westminster. One organiser of Saturdays event warned of starvation in the UK if there is no change to environmental policy. Gail Bradbrook claimed: We could easily be facing starvation in the UK if the weather effect continues as it is. We need to be building resilience in our communities, she added. Demonstrators on Westminster Bridge (John Stillwell/PA) Dr Bradbrook said: Weve basically got three demands one is that the Government have to tell the truth. People think that climate change is something happening to somebody else at some other time but its coming home. We need to go to net zero carbon really quickly. And were also asking for a peoples assembly so people can decide how the change happens. Well know when governments are doing different things, it could feel like a war, a beautiful war. Its going to be huge. Activists outside the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (John Stillwell/PA) On Saturday, campaigners expressed anger at the current state of climate policy. One protester, Lewis, who described himself as being involved in environmental civil disobedience for more than 10 years, claimed current trends are making the world uninhabitable. Demonstrators on Westminster Bridge (John Stillwell/PA) He said: Were living in a time where we know were destroying the planet through our activities causing dangerous quantities of CO2. Were destroying the life systems on which we depend and are on course to turn the planet into something uninhabitable. A murderer who went on the run in Northern Ireland has been recaptured. Samuel McKinley, 57, is serving a life sentence for the murder of a man in Southampton in 1996, but he absconded while on day release from Maghaberry Prison, Lisburn, on Thursday. On Sunday, the Police Service of Northern Ireland announced McKinley had been located and arrested in the greater Belfast area. Police would like to thank the public for their assistance, a PSNI spokesman said. McKinley absconded from the NI Prison Service during an unescorted day release on November 15. Unlawfully at large prisoner Samuel McKinley was located & arrested in the greater Belfast area this morning, Sunday 18 November. Police would like to thank the public for their assistance. McKinley absconded from the NI Prison Service during an unescorted day release on Nov 15. Police Service NI (@PoliceServiceNI) November 18, 2018 It is not the first time McKinley has evaded police, having escaped a number of times since 2002. For the past few months, I have been reading some lesser-known classics from around the world. I found that all of them are sumptuous and profound, and deserve a wider audience. Lesser-known books can be as sumptuous and profound as the more popular ones. (Photo: Reuters/file) Here, I share a list of 16 books which should be read by everyone who cares about literature. 1. Stoner, John Williams (Publication year: 1965, Country: United States) Written in a sparkling and deceptively simple prose, it narrates the story of a farm boy, William Stoner, who enters the University of Missouri to study agriculture, but after a class on Shakespeares Sonnets, decides to major in literature. Later, he falls in love with the wrong woman, marries her, and after a year, his daughter Grace is born. However, both of them shun him when he needs them the most. In the meantime, his parents pass away, and Stoner finds himself in heart-breaking grief and turmoil. The New Yorker blurb on the cover of the Vintage edition reads The greatest American novel youve never heard of. 2. Season of Migration to the North, Tayeb Salih (Publication year: 1966, Country: Sudan) The Arab answer to Conrads Heart of Darkness. A young man returns to his village by the river Nile in Sudan after studying in England. The narrator meets Mustafa, who tells him astonishing stories of his past, including his multiple affairs with English women. The book is simmering with influences from Freud, Fanon and Arabian Nights. The Arab answer to Conrads Heart of Darkness. (Photo: Screenshot) It defines how European colonialism shaped and affected ordinary human lives in remote villages of Sudan. A perfect example of east-west dichotomy, this one has been hailed as the greatest Arabic novel of the 20th century. It has classical poetry, Shakespeare, skillful narration and lofty idiom everything in it. 3. The Blind Owl, Sadegh Hedayat (Publication year: 1958, Country: Iran) It is not a book but a piece of art. This plotless novel tells us a very unnatural story of a pen case painter and the nightmares about his wife. This is a novel which, once you read, will haunt you for your entire life. I recommended it to a friend and it was later revealed to me that she had strong suicidal urges after reading it. Very few people in the west know him. I recommended it to a friend and later learnt she had strong suicidal urges after reading it. (Photo: Screenshot) Comparisons have been drawn to Kafka and Poe, but sometimes he even surpasses his own masters. This Persian masterpiece is packed with dreams, nightmares, mystery, hallucinations and unrequited love. 4. Myra Breckinridge, Gore Vidal (Publication year: 1968, Country: United States) A satirical novel, written as a diary, became a best-seller as soon as it was published. It showed the American audience clinical sex change for the first time in American literature. It has been included as one of the vital books in The Western Canon by Harold Bloom. The book is not as great and profound as Gore Vidals essays, but it deserves to be read for its graceful and lyrical prose. 5. Embers, Sandor Marai (Publication year: 1942, Country: Hungary) This is one of the most marvellous books I have read in the recent past. An unconditional masterpiece and a personal favorite in the list, it is a story about two friends, Henrik and Konrad, who meet after 41 years over dinner in Henriks mansion. Both served the army together. Four decades later, Henrik, the retired general, seeks revenge and answers from Konrad answers on love, adultery betrayal and friendship. The entire plot, set in a single day, will break your heart into pieces. (Photo: Screenshot) At the end of the story, everything vanishes, only embers remain. The entire plot, set in a single day, will break your heart into pieces. 6. The Tunnel, Ernesto Sabato (Publication year: 1948, Country: Argentina) Juan Pablo Castel is a painter and the protagonist-narrator. One day at an exhibition, he stalks a woman who is completely absorbed in his painting, which is neglected by other visitors. He suddenly feels that only this woman will be able to understand his soul and his artistic emotions. In the quest for love, possessiveness, and jealousy, he ends up murdering her. It has been championed by Albert Camus, Thomas Mann, Graham Greene and most recently, Colm Toibin, who introduced it for Penguin. 7. A Single Man, Christopher Isherwood (Publication year: 1964, Country: United States) A circadian novel and Isherwoods masterpiece. It follows one day in the life of George, a professor at Los Angeles University, after the unfortunate death of his partner. This magnificent novel has a lofty prose, with not a single pointless word used anywhere. The novel was adapted into an Oscar-nominated film directed by Tom Ford. (Photo: Screenshot) Robert McCrum went on to describe it as a supreme achievement, as much a work of compressed brilliance as Chopins Ballade No 4. An Oscar-nominated film adaptation of the novel has been directed by Tom Ford. 8. Beauty and Sadness, Yasunari Kawabata (Publication year: 1964, Country: Japan) The Japanese masters last novel is nostalgic, and a hymn to love lost forever. This terrific story opens on a train journey Oki, a writer, is taking to meet his former lover Ueno, a famous artist, to attend the festival of tolling bells in Kyoto. But here, readers shake hands with Uenos young protege Keiko, and the novel unfolds to a harrowing ending. This captivating book will keep you hooked until you reach the last page. Tip: do not finish the book in one sitting. 9. The Hive, Camilo Jose Cela (Publication year: 1950, Country: Spain) This sociological novel of 350 pages has 300 characters revealing their lamentations and tales to us. It describes the banal life of everyday Madrid. The plot revolves around a cafe and its customers, who come from all sections of society. One of the most difficult novels I have ever read. (Photo: Screenshot) After The Life and Opinions of Tristram Shandy and Gravitys Rainbow, this is the most difficult novel I have read. 10. Invitation to a Beheading, Vladimir Nabokov (Publication year: 1938, Country: United States) In an interview with Wisconsin Studies in Contemporary Literature, Nabokov said that although he had the most affection for his book Lolita, it was Invitation to a Beheading he held in the greatest esteem. This is a perfect example of absurdist literature. Cincinnatus C., our hero, is sentenced to death by beheading and Nabokov cordially invites you to witness it. 11. Sylvie, Gerard de Nerval (Publication year: 1853, Country: France) An unknown narrator looks back over his younger years as he plunges in to read the newspaper. He recollects the memories of three women he was in love with at some point in his life all of whom he lost in search of ideal love. This small masterpiece influenced the likes of Marcel Proust and Umberto Eco. (Photo: Screenshot) This small masterpiece has influenced a wide range of literary giants: Marcel Proust, Julien Gracq, Umberto Eco, Orhan Pamuk, among others are indebted to this slim work by a genius. 12. How I Became a Nun, Cesar Aira (Publication year: 1993, Country: Argentina) A slim 120-page picaresque novel by one of the most idiosyncratic writers of the 21st century. When Cesar Aira, a six-year-old character, licks a scoop of strawberry ice-cream, it tastes of cyanide and she is hospitalised. Her father loses his cool and murders the ice-cream vendor. The first four chapters of this book are the revered chapters I know from any novel. 13. First Love, Ivan Turgenev (Publication year: 1860, Country: Russia) Turgenev is better known as the author of Fathers and Sons and The Sportsmans Sketch, but little is known about this novella. First Love is vastly autobiographical and Hisham Matar describes it as one of the most perfect things ever written. In the story, Vladimir Petrovich is madly infatuated by Zinaida, who is five years senior to him. Their love affair is never consummated as Zinaida leaves him for another suitor. Vladimir is stunned when he learns that the suitor is his own father. What I remember most from the book is a fathers advice to his son: My son, fear the love of woman . . . fear that bliss, that poison. 14. Hiroshima, John Hersey (Publication year: 1946, Country: United States) After Hiroshima was annihilated by the United States in 1945, John Hersey was dispatched to Japan to report for The New Yorker, and that was how this astonishing book was born. It narrates the experiences of six people who endured and survived the bombing of Hiroshima. The earliest work of New Journalism and literary reportage. (Photo: Screenshot) The earliest work of New Journalism and literary reportage, the elements of fiction are brilliantly blended with non-fiction journalism. TIME magazine calls it one of the most celebrated pieces of journalism to come out after World War II. 15. The Street of Crocodiles, Bruno Schulz (Publication year: 1934, Country: Poland) This extraordinary short-story collection by the Polish master tells the story of a bourgeois family, with a patriarchal father in the centre of the collection. The writing is studded with metaphors and heightened imagery. Bruno Schulz is a writer who creates magic out of ordinary everyday life. British-Pakistani writer Nadeem Aslam wrote this book by hand while learning the craft of writing, and it deserves not only to be read, but savoured. 16. The Notebook, Agota Kristof (Publication year: 1958, Country: Hungary) A modern European classic which is relatively unknown even to European readers. During World War II, twin brothers Claus and Lucas are brought by their mother to their grandmothers home, who is cunning and known to the neighborhood as a witch. A modern European classic which is relatively unknown even to European readers. (Photo: Screenshot) We follow the two boys how they meet, help and trick people around and make ends meet. The writing is as simple as Hemingways. This little book is a profound reminder of truth and humanity. Also read: Being Pakistani: Raza Rumis new book and his never-ending 'teenage' angst Rebel candidates in both the BJP and the Congress seem to have become a major factor in the upcoming Assembly elections. After the last date for withdrawal of nominations on Wednesday, the BJP expelled 53 members for anti-party activities. The Congress, too, took disciplinary action against a number of party members, expelling one rebel candidate, former MLA Xavier Meda, who is contesting from Jhabua. Prominent among those who are still contesting as BJP rebels are former minister and MP Ramkrishna Kusmaria, former BJYM President Dheeraj Pateria in Jabalpur, former minister KL Agarwal, former Gwalior mayor Samiksha Gupta, former MLA Brahmanand Ratnakar, and former MLA Rajkumar Mev. The Congress took disciplinary action against a number of party members, expelling one rebel candidate. (Photo: PTI) Another former MLA Sartaj Singh has already joined the Congress and is contesting against Speaker Sitasaran Sharma in Hoshangabad. On the Congress front, Nitin Chaturvedi, son of veteran Congressman Satyavrat Chaturvedi is in the fray from Rajnagar, MLA Dinesh Ahirwar is contesting from Jatara and former Minister Pratap Singh Uike is contesting from Betul. The Congress and the BJP may cry themselves hoarse claiming to be different from each other. Each leader who has rebelled stated that he had worked hard for his party and that the party had instead chosen newcomers for tickets, insulting them and hence, they had no option but to contest in deference of public demand. Both the Congress and the BJP had their plans in place for containment of rebellions. Choppers were kept on stand-by to rush to rebels so theyd stand down. In some cases, this was met with success, in others, it wasn't. BJP expelled 53 members for anti-party activities. (Photo: Twitter) In the BJP, it was largely left to union Minister Narendra Singh Tomar to speak to rebels and to get them to withdraw. The persuasive minister managed to get former MLA Jitendra Daga and some local leaders to withdraw, but broadly everyone seemed to have a mind of their own. On the Congress side, it was Digvijaya Singh who was asked to speak to rebels. Singh managed to get Sajid Ali and Nasir Islam, two Congress rebels to stand down, but could not get Nitin Chaturvedi to withdraw. So, why do the rebellions look bigger compared to previous elections? One reason could be that among the BJP leaders who have rebelled, many of them are seniors. Sartaj Singh who switched to the Congress and RK Kusmaria have both been ministers in the state and Lok Sabha MPs multiple times. Secondly, this is the first state election in which social media, especially WhatsApp, is all pervasive. Videos of Sartaj Singh breaking down went viral across the state within hours and magnified the issue of rebellion that otherwise would not have looked that big in the absence of social media. On the issue of the BJP failing to rein in rebels, political watchers point out that the absence of Arvind Menon who was earlier general secretary and an efficient communicator is being felt. Also, the BJP being a cadre-based party and being more disciplined than the Congress seems something present only in theory. Aspirations of BJP leaders are as real as those in the Congress and are now out there for all to see. The fact that the CM seems to be the only leader campaigning for the BJP in the polls puts a question mark on the theory that the BJP is a cadre based party. (Courtesy of Mail Today) Also Read: Kamal Nath RSS video row: Sambit Patra gets it wrong, but Congress too must stop acting like fancy dress Hindus There is a trend in contemporary political debates to abuse Gandhi and Nehru by distorting historical facts to secure facile victories on public platforms and television debates If any person chose to think of me, then I should like them to say: This was the man with all his mind and heart, loved India and the Indian people. And they in turn, were indulgent to him and gave of their love most abundantly and extravagantly. Jawaharlal Nehru India is an ancient civilisation privileged to witness a rare cultural synthesis and fusion. To know India, one has to travel across the country to understand the unity in diversity. Yet in an era of hate and distrust, the national icons are targeted for an immediate political polarisation. It is a shame that figures like Mahatma Gandhi, Jawaharlal Nehru and Abdul Kalam Azad are disgraced in public debate without valid reasons. It is a fashion in contemporary political debates to abuse Gandhi and Nehru by distorting historical facts to secure facile victories on public platforms and television debates. Likewise, the other side targets the right-wing leadership of Syama Prasad Mookherjee, Deendayal Upadhyaya, KB Hedgewar without realising that all of them have contributed their respective best to attain the freedom for our country. We are doing a great disservice to our great nation by disgracing our national heroes either way. The nation that doesnt worship its heroes leads to a path of utter disaster. Jawaharlal Nehru was one among the few freedom fighters of India who sacrificed his life for the cause of the motherland. He was one of the fortunate leaders who brought the independence struggle to a successful termination. Among Gandhis great lieutenants in the struggle for freedom, no doubt, Nehru had a prominent place. Jawaharlal Nehru, as one of the most distinguished leaders of Third World solidarity, reached out to the rest of the colonised world and forged a joint front against colonialism and reinvented imperialism. Nehru was born on November 14, 1889 in an affluent family of Allahabad. His father Motilal Nehru followed his education with extreme passion. Young Nehru was sent to Harrow school, and then to Cambridge University in England to obtain a degree in natural sciences. After spending two years at the Inner Temple, London, he qualified as a barrister. During his stay in London, he studied subjects like literature, politics, economics and history. He got attracted to the ideas of liberalism, socialism and nationalism. He was, by temperament and experience, a cosmopolitan. His frequent visits to Europe, his deep familiarity with the past and his understanding of the contemporary ideologies of the day, from liberalism to Fabian socialism, to communist internationalism, had convinced him that the future of India was incomplete without the liberation of other colonies. History fascinated Nehru. It gave him an insightful command over the past, a keen and immediate sense of the present and a rare foresight to think and plan for the future of all. Nehru was a historian of repute; he felt that many historical writings were uncritical descriptions of events and people. He was equally drawn to science and firmly believed that scientific temper and scientific approach to problems would liberate India from economic misery and social injustice. Indeed amazing was his intellectual blend in science and history, idealism and realism, literature and politics, the revolution of Marx and the non-violence of Gandhi, all of which were integrated in his unique personality. As Norman Cousins observed Nehru was not one man but a procession of men. After completing his education in England, Nehru came back to India in 1912 and joined the Allahabad High Court Bar. Young Jawaharlal Nehru had the option of leading a comfortable life by inheriting the flourishing legal practice of his father but he opted for the journey of the freedom struggle, which eventually marked his entry into Indian politics. Indian National Congress already had a split due to the conflict between the moderates and the extremists. The Congress was yet to have a mass base. With the divide and rule policy of the British Government, the Muslim League was already formed. He met Gandhiji in the Lucknow session of the National Congress in December 1916 and was tremendously influenced by his towering personality. Nehru was shocked with the Jallianwala Bagh massacre of April 1919; the event changed the life forever. When the non-cooperation movement was launched in December 1920, he participated in it and was arrested for his active role in the satyagraha. In 1923, he was appointed as the General Secretary of the Congress. As the official delegate of the Indian National Congress in 1927, he participated in the Congress of Oppressed Nationalities in Brussels. Nehru utilised this opportunity to impress upon other countries about Indias non-violent struggle against the imperial British Government and became the global ambassador of peace. In 1928, the Congress rejected co-operation with the Simon Commission and Nehru participated in the hartals in protest of the Commission along with Subhas Chandra Bose and Srinivas Iyenger. Nehru put forward the demand that complete independence should be the goal of the Congress Party as opposed to the idea of Dominion status. He became the president of the Indian National Congress in Lahore and the historic independence resolution was passed on the midnight of December 31, 1929. He was re-elected as president of the National Congress in 1936, 1937 and 1946. Nehru participated in the Civil Disobedience Movement at Allahabad and was imprisoned till January 1931. Nehru severely opposed the Communal Award of the British Government, which provided separate electorate to Sikhs, Muslims, Europeans and other oppressed classes. When Gandhiji started his fast till death against the communal award, it created a deep impression on Nehru. The Government of India Act 1935 was far away from the demands of the Congress. Nehru termed it as a charter of slavery and oppression. Yet the Congress decided to participate in the election, which was announced as the provision of the Act. Under Nehrus leadership, the Congress secured absolute majority in six provinces and formed coalition Governments in two others out of the total 11 provinces and it established Nehrus leadership in the entire country. With the failure of the Cripps Mission, Mahatma Gandhi urged for the right of self-determination to India. Gandhiji was determined to start satyagraha. The Quit India Resolution was moved by him and on August 8, 1942, at the Bombay session of the Congress, it was adopted. He was arrested and imprisoned for three years. After the war when Nehru was released, he became a leading figure of the Congress in various negotiations with the British Government. Being invited by Lord Wavell to form the Government, he headed the first Indian (interim) Government of India. In the same year, elections to the Constituent Assembly was also held. Lord Mountbatten was deputed as the Viceroy of India and completed the transfer of power. Despite the opposition of Gandhi, Nehru and other Congress leaders, India was partitioned under the two nation theory of Jinnah. On August 15, 1947, a free India was born. Nehru was elected as the first Prime Minister of independent India. He was the first Indian Prime Minister to hoist the National Flag and make his iconic speech Tryst with Destiny from the ramparts of the Lal Quila (Red Fort). The time had come to implement his ideas and build a healthy nation. Nehrus stint as Prime Minister of India is characterised by his secular and liberal approach. He carried out his vision to carry the young India towards the road of technological and scientific excellence with great zeal. He implemented a number of socio-economic reforms and paved the way for rapid industrialisation. Nehru continued to be the Prime Minister of independent India till his death on May 27, 1964. He was the chief framer of domestic and international policies during his term as Prime Minister (1947-1964). It was under Nehrus supervision that India launched its first Five-Year Plan in 1951. He had laid the foundation of democracy, secularism, planning and socialism. (To be continued in these columns on Tuesday. The writer is Editor-in-Chief, Opinion Express Group) Every Sikh can decide for himself or herself whether s/he wants to follow in the footsteps of great Gurus and be inspired by their message and life or walk on the path laid by the British The news from Punjab is ominous. Media reports quoting intelligence sources and a string of terror related incidents that have hit the State in the recent past indicate the possibility of a revival of Pakistan sponsored violence in the border state. Delhi police is also on alert after inputs stated that a group of six-seven Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) terrorists are reportedly in Punjab, possibly in Ferozpur area and are planning to move towards Delhi. Meanwhile, the National Investigation Agency (NIA) says a common link has been found to all the recent six killings of Hindu leaders in Punjab. The anti-terror probe agency has revealed that these killings were part of a larger conspiracy hatched by Pakistans intelligence agency, Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI), to foment communal trouble and in turn revive Khalistani movement in the State. Interrogation of the Jalandhar blast accused has established that a nexus of Kashmiri and Khalistani militant organisations is trying to revive militancy in Punjab on the directions of Pakistans ISI. Intelligence agencies fear that Khalistan militants are getting consignments of illegal weapons, including AK 56, magazines, pistols and RDX from Pakistan as the same cannot be sourced from Jammu. Whatsoever is happening today in the border state, is a mere repeat of all that shook the country in 1980s, resulting in unfortunate Operation Blue Star by the Indian Army at the sacred Golden Temple in Amritsar, subsequent dastardly assassination of the then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi at the hands of her Sikh body guards, followed by the horrible killings of innocent Sikhs in Delhi and several other parts of the country. The hands of the ISI were obvious in creating this bloody mess, which posed a serious threat to the unity and integrity of the country. But how did a section of Sikh community (known for its valour and patriotism) get so alienated from the Indian mainstream that it became a willing partner in ISIs plans to dismember India? This unfortunate chain of events has its origins in British stratagem of divide and rule, employed by them to perpetuate their control over India in the wake of the first war of Independence by Indians in 1857. The wily colonial masters underlined six fault lines in Indian society, did the necessary academic exercise to back their divisive plans and worked simultaneously on all of them. The easiest to work on was the Hindu-Muslim fault line. The two communities have mostly been at war against each other for over 600 years. Their alliance during 1857 uprising was nascent and limited. The British wisely picked up Syed Ahmad Khan (please see my column of October 23, 2017 and October 22, 2018 in this paper) to carry forward their divisive agenda among the Muslim of the sub-continent. The British obviously found it impossible to get someone in the patriotic community of Sikhs to play the treacherous role that Sir Syed was happily doing among the Muslims. So, they found someone from within their ranks. He was one Max Arthur Macauliffe, born on September 10, 1841, in Newcastle West, Ireland. He got into the coveted Imperial Civil Service (ICS) in 1862 and was quickly posted to Punjab in 1864. Macauliffe soon converted to Sikhism and with the help of Bhai Kahn Singh Nabha, undertook the task of translating Sikh scriptures, including the holy Guru Granth Sahib. In 1897, Bhai wrote a pamphlet Hum Hindu Nahi, the very basis of the present day Khalistan movement, which has since largely been hijacked by the ISI and Islamic zealots. A white man converting to Sikh faith, was a major development in Punjab. His high profile in the British colonial set up naturally gave Macauliffe, now a devoted Sikh, an esteemed position in the Sikh community. He undoubtedly pioneered the exercise of creating a divide between Hindus and Sikhs. In an introduction to Macauliffes celebrated work, The Sikhs, Their Religion, Gurus, Sacred, Writings and Authors, noted historian and author, Sardar Khushwant Singh wrote: It has been suggested that the British Government of the day had sinister motives in commissioning Macauliffe to undertake this work. That Sikhs were fast relapsing back into the Hindu fold was recorded by Lord Dalhousie soon after he annexed the Sikh Kingdom. He and other British administrators felt that it would serve their interests better if the Khalsa Sikhs were encouraged to retain their distinct and separate identity. The technique adopted by both, Sir Syed and Macauliffe, to achieve their dubious objective had lot in common. Both invoked divine injunctions to alienate the targeted community from the main stream and convert it into an ally of the British masters. Here is a sample from Macauliffes work (The Sikhs, Vol 1). One day, as Guru Teg Bahadur was in the top story of his prison, the Emperor Aurangzeb thought he saw him looking towards the south in the direction of the Imperial zenana. He was sent for the next day, and charged with this grave breach of Oriental etiquette and propriety. The Guru replied, Emperor Aurangzeb, I was on the top story of my prison. But I was not looking at thy private apartments or at thy queens. I was looking in the director of the Europeans who are coming from beyond the seas to tear down thy pardas and destroy thine empire. The follow-up of action on the divisive and motivated academic exercise by the colonial power was calibrated and swift. On May 1, 1905, the then manager of Golden Temple issued orders banning the practice of worshiping of Hindu deities on the banks of the holy tank by Brahmins. The statues of Hindu Gods and Goddesses were thrown out. Those who spearheaded this divisive agenda termed themselves as Tat Khalsa or the neo Sikhs. The trend of eviction of Hindu practices and symbols from the Golden Temple was subsequently followed in rest of Gurudwaras of Punjab. The population of Sikhs, according to 1901 Census, was a little over a million. Prior to 1911 Census, the Census Commissioner of Punjab issued special instructive to the enumerators, to try to record Sikhs, separately from the Hindus. The result was that the number of Sikhs in the State moved up by 300 times, over three million, in just a decade. In the British Indian Army, a separate Khalsa regiment was created wherein the soldier were required to observe all the five kakars, so as to underline the distinction between the Khalsa and other followers of Sikh Gurus. In the following decades, (even after Independence) this divisive mindset and practices have continued unabated. The neo-Sikhs, completely different from the ones who follow the Gurus in letter and spirit, dominate the public discourse and political life of Punjab. No wonder Pakistan makes use of this gap in our polity. Every Sikh can decide for himself/herself whether s/he wants to follow in the footsteps of great Gurus and be inspired by their message and life, or, walk on the path laid by the British. (The writer is a political commentator and a former BJP Rajya Sabha MP) Fourteen passengers died and 14 were injured when the bus in which they were travelling fell into a deep gorge near Janakichatti in Uttarkashi district at about 12:30 pm on Sunday. According to the Uttarkashi district emergency operation centre, the accident took place on the Naugaon-Damta-Vikasnagar Road in Badkot tehsil involving a private bus bearing registration number UK 07 PA 1127. The bus fell off the road down about 250 metres into the Yamuna riverside. The District Magistrate, Superintendent of Police and other officials reached the site with six ambulances and doctors to undertake the rescue operation. Fourteen people were reported dead on the spot. Of the 14 injured six in serious condition were airlifted by helicopter. Three were admitted in AIIMS Rishikesh and three were admitted in Jolly Grant hospital. The remaining eight injured were transported by ambulance to Dehradun. In other accident which took place in Pithoragarh district three people died and two were injured when their car fell into 500-metre deep ravine in the afternoon. The accident took place at Gyarah Devi. One of the two injured was taken to Sushila Tiwari hospital in Haldwani while the other injured person was taken to the military hospital in Pithoragarh. Meanwhile, Governor Baby Rani Maurya, Chief Minister Trivendra Singh Rawat, Vidhan Sabha Speaker Premchand Agrawal, BJP State president Ajay Bhatt and Pradesh Congress Committee president Pritam Singh expressed grief over the casualties. The Chief Minister directed a magisterial inquiry into the Uttarkashi accident. Asking officials concerned to facilitate immediate medical treatment of the injured, the Chief Minister also directed that the seriously injured be airlifted by helicopter to Dehradun. He also told the Uttarkashi District Magistrate to make ex gratia payments to the families of those killed as well as to those injured. Accepts Maharashtra State Backward Class Commission suggestions Having accepted the recommendations made by the Maharashtra State Backward Class Commission (MSBCC) on the socio-economic status of the Marathas, Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Sunday announced that his Government would grant reservations to Marathas in jobs and education under a new Socio-Economic Backward Class (SEBC) category. Talking to mediapersons here on the eve of the start of the Winter Session of Maharashtra Legislature, Fadnavis said, We have accepted the recommendations made by the MSBCC. We have decided to accord reservations to the Maratha community under a new SEBC category. The reservations to be granted to Marathas will be independent of the existing reservations for the OBC category. The Chief Minister said the State Government had constituted a Cabinet Sub-Committee to take statutory steps to implement its decision. Fadnavis said the MSBCC had made three recommendations in its submission to the Maharashtra Government on November 15. The MSBCC has recommended that Marathas be given reservations on the basis their socio-economic backwardness under extraordinary situations. As per the guidelines of the Supreme Court (which has pegged the cap on reservations at 50 per cent), we have an extraordinary situation on hand. Based on the commissions recommendations, we have decided to create a new SEBC category under which we intend to accord reservations to Marathas without affecting the reservations already given under the OBC category, the Chief Minister said. Replying to a question, the Chief Minister said there is no need for the State Government to seek the permission of the Central Backward Class Commission to grant reservations to Marathas in jobs and education. Official sources said the Maharashtra Government would introduce a Bill in the Winter Session of the State Legislature to create SEBC category and accord 16 per cent reservations to Maratha community in addition to the existing 52 per cent reservations in the State. When the law is enacted, the reservations will go up to 68 per cent in Maharashtra. According to sources, the Maharashtra Government is contemplating to take the route adopted by the Tamil Nadu Government under late Chief Minister Jayalalithaa, which achieved its objective of increasing reservations to 69 per cent by passing the Tamil Nadu Act of 1994 and adding the 1994 Act to the Ninth Schedule of the Constitution. Article 31B of the Constitution stipulates that the legislations in the Ninth Schedule cannot be challenged in courts. However, in 2007, the Supreme Court in IR Coelho vs State of Tamil Nadu ruled that even those laws which are placed in the Ninth Schedule are subject to judicial review if the laws violate the basic structure of the Constitution. Interestingly enough, a petition challenging the Tamil Nadu Reservation policy is expected to come up for hearing before the Supreme Court later this month. Given that all the political parties, including the Opposition Congress and the NCP, are in favour of according reservations to Marathas, there will be absolutely no difficulty for the Devendra Fadnavis Government in ensuring the enactment of a law granting reservations to Marathas. However, it remains be seen if the new law will pass the scrutiny of the Supreme Court in the event of a challenge of the State Governments reservation policy in the Supreme Court. Currently Maharashtra has 52 per cent reservations cap in jobs and educational institutions. Of the total 52 per cent reservations, SCs and ST communities account for 13 and 7 per cent, respectively, while OBCs have 19 per cent reservations. Together, Special Backward Class and Nomadic Tribes account for 13 per cent quota. It may be recalled that on November 14, 2014, the Bombay High Court had stayed an Ordinance promulgated by the previous Congress-led DF Government ahead of the October 2014 State Assembly polls extending 16 per cent reservations to Marathas and five per cent to Muslims, saying that they were not in conformity with the law laid down by the Supreme Court in three cases. However, a HC Bench, headed by then Chief Justice Mohit Shah, had subsequently allowed reservations to Muslims in educational institutions, on the ground at that their educational achievements were abysmally low and that there was a need to draw them into the mainstream of secular education. On its part, the BJP-led saffron alliance Government - which came to power after the October 2014 Assembly polls subsequently moved the apex court challenging the stay granted by the High Court on an Ordinance promulgated by the previous Congress-led DF Government. However, the Supreme Court rejected the State Governments petition. The matter came back to the High Court after advocate Vikas Patil filed an intervention petition in the Supreme Court on the issue. The apex court directed the High Court to hear the bunch of petitions pending before it. The AYUSH Doctors Association on Sunday threatened that it would take to the streets if the State Government doesnt regularise their services at the earliest. AYUSH doctors have been providing health services in place of Allopathic doctors for the last 11 years. In 2016, the Health and Family welfare Department had decided to create 1,485 posts to regularise AYUSH doctors. However, the proposal has not been approved by the Finance Department yet. Now, the doctors, who had been appointed on the basis of marks in 2007 and 2008, have crossed maximum age limits to appear for OPSC exams. Hence, the Government should regularises all these doctors soon on different ways, demanded association president Dr Jyoti Ranjan Gahan and RBSK Doctor Association president Dr Sushil Mohapara in a statement. They suggested that the AYUSH doctors should be appointed either through OPSC Concurrence or by relaxing marks and age limits for OPSC tests or by simplifying process under the Validation Act. They too demanded that the system of regularisation after six years in job, as adopted in case of Government doctors, be applied for AYUSH doctors soon. The associations held a meeting here and resolved to resort to an intense agitation if the demands are not met soon. Among others, Dr Prabhakar Das, Dr Subrat Mohapata and Dr Subrat Panda attended, among others. The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in its next term would free the State from Naxalism, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath said on Sunday. Addressing a press conference here, Adityanath said that both BJP and Dr Raman Singh are creating Chhattisgarh as a model State in the country. The work on infrastructure development has also picked up pace in the State, he said. The Congress does not have a leader at national or at the State level, Adityanath said. The blockbuster of 1955 Shree 420 was screened at Bharat Bhavan to mark the closure of Ekagra Film Festival. The film festival was organised to pay a tribute to the showman of Bollywood Raj Kapoor. Last movie in the series Shree 420 was screened here on Sunday. Shree 420 is a 1955 Hindi film, directed and produced by Raj Kapoor, written by Khwaja Ahmad Abbas, and starring Raj Kapoor and Nargis. The number 420 refers to Section 420 of the Indian Penal Code, which prescribes the punishment for the offence of cheating; hence, Shree 420 is a derogatory term for a cheat. The film centers on Raj, a poor but educated orphan who comes to Bombay with dreams of success. Kapoor's character is influenced by Charlie Chaplin's little tramp. The music was composed by the team of Shankar Jaikishan, and the lyrics were penned by Shailendra. Shree 420 was the highest-grossing Indian film of 1955. Wearing torn Japanese shoes, English trousers, a red Russian cap, and a Hindustani heart, orphaned Ranbir Raj comes to Bombay to make his fortune. He pawns his gold medal, gambles with the money, loses everything, and the balance is pick-pocketed. He ends up on the beach, meets with Vidya Shastri, a teacher who runs a private school, and both fall in love. Ranbir gets a job in a laundry. When he goes to deliver some clothes to Maya, she notices that he has a way with cards, gets him to accompany her to a casino of sorts, where he wins Rs 20000, which unfortunately is pocketed by Maya. Then a rich industrialist, Sonanand Dharmachand, approaches Ranbir, hires him to work for him, and soon Ranbir is on his way to a wealthy life. Vidya gets a firsthand look at this wealthy life, and decides to break up with him. Sonachand teaches Ranbir that in order to make money one must never discriminate between the rich and poor. So they set out to offer homes to the homeless for Rs 100. A branch of the Kalinga Institute of Social Sciences (KISS) is set to start in Kolkata with the initiative of Help Us Help Them, a reputed city-based NGO, in association with KISS Bhubaneswar. The groundbreaking ceremony for the new branch was held on Sunday. KISS Kolkata would start functioning from the coming academic session from a five-acre land near IIM Joka. In the first phase, 1000 poor children would get education free of cost.Help Us Help Them head Mukti Gupta was impressed with the KISS model during her recent visit to the institute. She received encouragement from KIIT and KISS founder Dr Achyuta Samanta towards her work for poor and under privilege children. During last six months, Gupta organised two fund raising programmes to establish the KISS branch in Kolkata. She apprised donors on the work and activities of Dr Samanta in his presence. She collected Rs 15 crore from one corporate house in the first phase and Rs 10 crore from another corporate house in the second phase. The Rotary Club played a major role in this funding. Various States of India have been showing interest to open KISS branches. Dr Samanta is continuously trying to open KISS branches in all districts of Odisha, various States and different countries as well. Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal on Sunday said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi is coming to Haryana on November 19 and he would dedicate three projects to the people of the State. This would be PM Modis 11th visit to the state, in the last four years, said the Chief Minister who visited Sultanpur to review preparations for the PMs rally to be held in Gurugram. On the occasion, he also issued necessary directions to the concerned officers and officials regarding preparations of the rally. While interacting with media persons in Gurugram, the Chief Minister said that the Prime Minister would inaugurate the long pending project Kundli-Manesar-Palwal (KMP) Expressway on November 19. On the occasion, he would also inaugurate Ballabhgarh Metro Line in Faridabad and lay the foundation stone of countrys first Skill University namely Haryana Vishwakarma Skill University in village Dudhola, Palwal. He said that the construction work of KMP expressway had started in the year 2006 but the previous government could not complete it till the year 2014 and thus, the contract with concessionaire was cancelled in 2014. Later, according to the Supreme Court orders, work on the project was started again. It is a matter of great delight that the KMP expressway which was to be completed by February 2019, had been completed four months earlier. The Prime Minister would dedicate the Expressway to the people of the state, Manohar Lal said. He also said that the Prime Minister would also inaugurate Mujesar to Ballabhgarh Metro Line, which would facilitate travel for the people of Delhi and Faridabad. In reply to a question regarding allegations of former Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda on works done by the present Government, he said that we all know what the Congress Government had done during its regime. He said that only Hooda or the previous concessionaire can tell why and how the work of KMP Expressway got delayed. The investigation is on in the case. The reason is worth knowing as from 2006 to 2009 only work of putting the soil was done. Due to years-long delay in KMP expressway project, the cost of the project has also increased and its onus goes to former Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda, he added. Manohar Lal also said that in this area, this would be first such big rally which has never happened in past. There would be thousands of people in the PMs rally, he added. In reply to another question regarding a statement of false rape cases filed by women, Manohar Lal said that his statement is being distorted. What I have said, today I am saying it on record that when such rape cases are examined and studied, it has been found that in 80 per cent incidences in such cases are acquaintances. Now in such cases, I have never said anything like, who and what does. But there is a need for generating awareness in the society, politics should not be done in it. Because if there is something bad in society then we all should together need to deal with it, he added. Trains passing through the Tatanagar railway station under Chakradharpur division of South Eastern Railway (SER) would be partially affected for the next one week due to dismantling work of the old abandoned road overbridge. Tatangar station director HK Balmuchu said that they have got the approval for carrying out a rail block for a brief period - ranging between one to three hours daily from tomorrow so that the dismantling work could be carried out smoothly. "As per the plans the temporary block would be carried out for the dismantling work of the old bridge. A team of railway's engineering wing from SER's Kolkata based headquarters had also inspected the station and the abandoned bridge on Saturday. The rail block which will last between one to three hours depending on the situation would partially affect movement of trains," he said. According to Balmuchu, all railway departments at Tatanagar railway station has been instructed to co-operate and to ensure that trains running via Tatanagar are not much delayed. Movement on the old bridge was stopped after the construction of the new second road bridge parallel to it. For two decades now passengers are using the new road overbridge to reach the railway station. The old abandoned road overbridge is being dismantled to pave way for a new footbridge. The A1-category Tatanagar railway station currently has a single foot overbridge towards the Howrah end. The new foot overbridge would be constructed opposite to it at the Chakradharpur end. Tatanagar railway station witnesses a daily traffic of over 90- mail, express and passenger trains which either originate from Tatanagar of go via that station. The daily passenger footfall is close to 50,000. Expressing deep concern over the mounting threat to peace and communal harmony in Punjab, the five-time Chief Minister and Akali patriarch Parkash Singh Badal on Sunday asserted that the policies of present Congress Government in the state is threatening peace. The tendency of the Congress rulers in the State to encourage, promote and flirt with enemies of peace for political mileage is pushing the state back to its dark days at an alarming pace, said Badal, while condemning the blast incident. He said that he had been cautioning the rulers and the people of the State against the rising threat to peace and communal harmony in Punjab. The temptation among the ruling party leaders to use for petty political gains the elements who are openly committed to the ideology of hatred and violence can play havoc with peace and communal harmony in the state, he said. Badal alleged that the powers-that-be in the State have been secretly and sometimes even openly siding with and helping elements whose agenda is to divide the people of Punjab along communal lines. Their leaders have been holding secret meetings with the Chief Minister to plot conspiracies against the SAD. This has made the situation in the State extremely dangerous, he said. The growing violence in Punjab today is the direct result of the cynical political opportunism of the Congress party in the State and its hobnobbing with the enemies of peace, said Badal, while also condemning the shocking incident of killing of Sarwan Singh, the father-in-law of senior IAS officer Varun Roozam, by unidentified persons near Patiala. DONT PLAY WITH FIRE: SUKHBIR TELLS CONG GOVT Asking the Congress-led Punjab Government not to play with fire, the SAD president Sukhbir Badal on Sunday said that peace and communal harmony was in danger in the State with the Government encouraging elements whose sole aim was to disturb its hard won peace. The law and order situation has deteriorated immediately after the Congress Government came into power. It started as vendetta killings of Akali leaders soon spread to sensational murders and dacoities and even targeted killings of religious heads like a Christian Pastor and Hindu leaders. Today, we have witnessed an attack in Amritsar, he said. Stating that all this was due to complete breakdown in law and order, he said the Congress Government made things worse by encouraging divisive elements. Stating that such incidents had made a return to Punjab after a decade, Sukhbir said that the Government should not pander to divisive elements and not encourage them in any way. AAP RAISES QUESTION OVER LAW AND ORDER SITUATION Condemning the blast incident, the Aam Aadmi Party on Sunday raised question over the law and order situation in Punjab. The law and order situation in state has gone from bad to worse, and the police and agencies have failed drastically. The anti-social elements are challenging the integrity and prosperity of the state, said the party president and MP Bhagwant Mann, MP Prof Sadhu Singh, leader of opposition in Vidhan Sabha Harpal Singh Cheema, AAP core committee chairman Principal Budhram, and other core committee members in a joint statement after the core group meeting. Criticizing Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh for failing to protect the state, Mann said that if he was interested in the state affairs, he must hand over the responsibility of Home Minister to someone who is serious about performing his duty. Demanding a time-bound judicial inquiry in the case, AAP appealed to the people of the State to maintain peace and prosperity. BJP ASKS CAPT TO FOCUS ON STATES SECURITY INSTEAD OF SETTLING SCORES Condemning the attack, Punjab BJP on Sunday asked the Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh to concentrate upon the states security instead of settling political scores. Capt Amarinder should concentrate upon the security of Punjab instead of settling political scores, said Kalia, the former Cabinet Minister and the former president of the state unit. With the aim to garner support for construction of Ram temple, the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh took out motorcycle rallies in the state capital and its surrounding areas, asking people to attend the proposed 'dharma sabha' to be held in Ayodhya on November 25. The motorcycle rallies were taken out from 40 places and later they all joined for a huge rally. Chanting slogans of Jai Sri Ram, the bikers, all wearing saffron bandanna, passed through the main city roads. Convenor of the Chalo Ayodhya Campaign, Devesh Awasthi, said that the youths participating in the motorcycle rally, urged the people to gather at Ayodhya on November 25 in large numbers so that the government was forced to bring a legislation in favour of construction of Ram temple. "There were around 40 small rallies which met at a point from where four big rallies were taken out to the four corners of the city. At some places even the common man joined us rally for a short distance," Awasthi said. He said the rally in south Lucknow started from Alambagh and after passing through Mawaiyya, Charbagh, culminated at Hazratganj. Addressing the participants of the rally at GPO park in Hazratganj, Vishwa Hindu Parishad leader Anurag Srivastava said the Indian courts had no respect for Hindus. "Judges can hold court at midnight to release terrorists but they have no time to decide the Ram temple case," he said. In Lucknow west, the rally started from Rajajipuram and after travelling through PMT ground, tempo stand, Campwell road, it culminated at Dubagga. The rally in Lucknow north started from Ram Ram Bank and culminated at Engineering College ground while in Lucknow east, the rally started from 1090 crossing and culminated at BBD crossing. In a reminder to dark days of militancy in Punjab, three people were killed while over a dozen were injured in a grenade attack during a religious congregation at Rana Sansi in Amritsar district at a time when the State was on high alert after terror inputs since Thursday. The Punjab Police has described it as a terrorist act and is probing all possible angles. By the evening, the police have arrested two suspects from Bathinda, and seized live cartridges from them. Meanwhile, the National Investigation Agency (NIA) has decided to investigate the incident that took place at Nirankari Bhawan in Adliwal village. The NIA has registered a case into the incident and its team, comprising senior officers, left from Chandigarh in the evening, and was expected to reach Raja Sansi late at night to further investigate the matter. The blast came at a time when the police have sounded high alert across Punjab, especially in Amritsar after the terrorist-outfit Ansar Ghazwatul Hind (AGH) chief Zakir Musa was reportedly spotted in the holy city along with a few other men on Friday. Security was beefed up across the State since Thursday after four persons snatched an SUV at gunpoint near Madhopur in Pathankot district last week, followed by an intelligence input claiming that a group of six to seven Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) terrorists were reportedly in the State, possibly in Ferozepur area. Sundays blast attack at Nirankaris considered to be a subsidiary of Sikhism but following their own living Guru and religious text - harked back about four decades back. In 1978, 13 Sikhs and three Nirankaris were killed in Amritsar following a violent clash between the two groups an incident considered to be the starting of the Sikh militancy in Punjab. As per initial inputs, two youth, aged between 25 and 30, with their faces covered, forcibly entered the Nirankari Bhawan and lobbed the grenade amidst the crowd when the congregation was on. Out of 250 people who were present in the religious congregation, three died, and 15-20 were injured, said the State IG (Border) Surinder Pal Singh Parmar. All victims were sect followers from nearby villages who had gathered for the Sunday weekly religious meeting. SP Harpal Singh said that earlier, religious congregation used to be held at a house in Lopoke village which were stopped by Satkar committee - a radical Sikh organisation. The States all top police officials, including the State police chief Suresh Arora along with DGP Law and Order and Intelligence, rushed to the site immediately and camped there until the area is properly scanned. Dog squads have also been deployed to collect the evidence. The Police have also launched a massive search operation to nab the suspects, with Special Weapons and Tactics team also deployed. The police had also sealed Punjabs border with Rajasthan. Stating that the attack appears to be a terrorist act, the State DGP Suresh Arora said: It appears to have a terror angle. Because it is against a group (of people) and it is not against any individual. There is no reason to throw a hand grenade on a group of people, so we will take it as a terrorist act. Till proven otherwise, prima facie we will take it as that. There was no issue with this group as suchThere was no specific input on Nirankari Bhavan, he said, while adding that the security across the State has been beefed up, especially around all Nirankari buildings. Arora told The Pioneer that it was too early to say if it is a joint action by Kashmiri and Sikh militants. He also maintained that it was too early to compare it with the 1978 situation when the Nirankaris were targeted. Condemning the incident and appealing the people to maintain peace, Punjab Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh announced a compensation of Rs 5 lakh each to the kin of deceased. He also directed the civic hospital to provide free treatment to those injured in the attack. Soon after the attack, Capt Amarinder chaired a high-level meeting to review the law and order situation in the State. Meanwhile, Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh also spoke to Capt Amarinder assuring strong action against those responsible for the grenade attack. Calling the Sunday attack a reprehensible act of violence, the Union Minister expressed deep anguish over the death of innocents. An 18-year-old worker was on Saturday evening electrocuted while climbing a tree on Makhanlal Chaturvedi National University of Journalism and Communication premises under MP Nagar police station area. Police said that the deceased identified as Rohit Sahu used to work in canteen at MCU, Bhopal in Zone-1. In the evening on Saturday Rohit climbed a tree where he came into contact with live wires and fell from the tree. After he fell he went unconscious and sustained injuries. He was rushed to JP hospital where doctors declared him brought dead and later police were informed regarding the death. The body was sent for the post mortem after the preliminary investigation. The police have registered a case under section 174 of the CrPC. Meanwhile, a 30-year-old man was found hanging with the ceiling at Nidaanpur forest area under Berasia police station area in the morning on Sunday. Police were informed after deceased Prem Singh was found hanging by the family members. The deceased left the house in the evening for Berasia market and after he failed to return family members started to search him. The family members found Prem hanging. The reason of the suicide remained unknown. Deceased remained idle and was supported by his family for household expenses and other expenses. Family members told that the deceased was not indulge in wrong habits. After the preliminary investigation the body was sent for the post mortem. The police have registered a case under section 174 of the CrPC and started further investigation. Africas leaders applauded Ethiopias Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed for making substantial reforms in his country as they met to consider improvements to the continent-wide body at a summit that started on Saturday. Ethiopia is undergoing a profound renewal. In the past seven months, far-reaching reforms were made in response to various challenges, said Abiy, 42. We have opened a new political space for dialogue, released thousands of prisoners, lifted bans placed upon political parties and media outlets and unblocked websites. We are now actively cracking down on corruption and reforming our judicial system in its entirety, said Abiy, winning enthusiastic applause from African leaders at the meeting. He stressed that his government must be accountable for its actions. He also highlighted that his administration has achieved peace with neighboring Eritrea and has appointed a Cabinet in which 50 per cent of the members are women. Abiy spoke as African Union leaders, led by Rwandas President Paul Kagame, convened an extraordinary summit at its headquarters in Addis Ababa to consider reforms to encourage peace, development and a united Africa. Ethiopias leader, who came to power in April, urged the African leaders to make significant changes. Reforming the African Union is relevant and timely, given recurring domestic strife, violence, emerging threats on the continent and increased competition in the international arena, said Abiy. Former president Pranab Mukherjee Saturday called for massive decentralisation in institutional building and questioned the legal authority of the Prime Minister's Office (PMO). He said there was a need to further strengthen the Panchayati Raj system and maintained that concentration of power in the hands of the Centre and the PMO would affect the functioning of a democratic country like India. The veteran politician was at the Indian Institute of Management (IIM) here to deliver a lecture on "Articulating Policy and Institutional Agenda for Future Transformation of India." Replying to a question from the audience as to why political parties shied away from the issue of empowering local institutions and governments, Mukherjee said, "In institutional building, there should be massive decentralisation." Citing the example of the PMO, he said it had found a place in "our political vocabulary and "civil servants, politicians, parliamentarians know that a very powerful institution has been developed". "But a simple legal question can be put as to where is its authority? In the text of the Constitution, 415 articles, 12 schedules I do not find anywhere that any power has been given to the PMO," Mukherjee added. He said an institution like the PMO would "overload our own ways of functioning" and "eat our entire energy and activity". The former president, however, was quick to add that he cited the PMO as an example and had no "grudge" against the institution. Mukherjee said India could not imitate the presidential form of Government, where the president "enjoys all the power" and is the "real executive". In India, the real executive is a collective body, the cabinet, accountable to Parliament, another collective body. And Parliament is accountable to its people, its elector. BJP president Amit Shah will hold a roadshow here on November 21 in support of candidates fielded by the party in the upcoming Rajasthan Assembly polls, a party functionary said Friday. BJP district president Dr Satyaprakash Acharya said route of the roadshow will be decided in consultation with the candidates and party workers. The ruling party has released two lists so far of 162 candidates for the polls 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. Ashanti Gold Corp. engages in the exploration and development of gold and other mineral properties in Western Africa. Its flagship project is the Kossanto East project covering an area of 66.41 km2 in western Mali. The company was formerly known as Gulf Shores Resources Ltd. and changed its name to Ashanti Gold Corp. in August 2016. Ashanti Gold Corp. was founded in 1993 and is headquartered in Vancouver, Canada. Read More Goldman Sachs Group, Inc. engages in global investment banking, securities, and investment management, which provides financial services. It operates through the following business segments: Investment Banking, Global Markets, Asset Management, and Consumer & Wealth Management. The Investment Banking segment serves public and private sector clients around the world and provides financial advisory services, help companies raise capital to strengthen and grow their businesses and provide financing to corporate clients. The Global Markets segment serves its clients who buy and sell financial products, funding and manage risk. The Asset Management segment provides investment services to help clients preserve and grow their financial assets. The Consumer & Wealth Management segment helps clients to achieve their individual financial goals by providing a wealth advisory and banking services. The company was founded by Marcus Goldman in 1869 and is headquartered in New York, NY. Read More Hertz Global's quiet period expires on Monday, December 20th. Hertz Global had issued 44,520,000 shares in its IPO on November 9th. The total size of the offering was $1,291,080,000 based on an initial share price of $29.00. During Hertz Global's quiet period, insiders and any underwriters that worked on the IPO are restricted from issuing any research reports or earnings estimates for the company because of regulations issued by the Securities and Exchange Commission. Following the end of the company's quiet period, it's expected that the brokerages that served as underwriters on the stock will initiate research coverage on the company. Hornbeck Offshore Services, Inc., together with its subsidiaries, provides marine transportation, subsea installation, and accommodation support services to exploration and production, oilfield service, offshore construction, and the United States military customers. It operates offshore supply vessels (OSVs), multi-purpose support vessels (MPSVs), and a shore-based facility to provide logistics support and specialty services to the offshore oil and gas exploration and production industry, primarily Gulf of Mexico in the U.S., Latin America, and internationally. Its fleet of U.S.-flagged OSVs and MPSVs support deep-well, deepwater, and ultra-deepwater activities of the offshore oil and gas industry, such as oil and gas exploration, field development, production, construction, installation, well-stimulation, and other enhanced oil recovery, as well as inspection, repair, and maintenance services. The company also provides vessel management services, including crewing, daily operational management, and maintenance activities for other vessels owners. As of December 31, 2018, it owned and operated 66 OSVs and 8 MPSVs. Hornbeck Offshore Services, Inc. was founded in 1997 and is headquartered in Covington, Louisiana. Read More 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. JMP Group LLC provides investment banking, sales and trading, and equity research services to corporate and institutional clients, and alternative asset management products and services to institutional investors and high net-worth individuals. It operates through three segments: Broker-Dealer, Asset Management, and Investment. The Broker-Dealer segment includes underwriting and acting as a placement agent for public & private capital markets raising transactions, financial advisory services in M&A, restructuring and other strategic transactions. The Asset Management segment involves in the management of pooled investment vehicles, including the company's hedge funds and collateralized loan obligations. The Investment segment includes Company's principal investments in public and private securities and investment funds managed by HCS, as well as any other net interest and income from investing activities, and interest expense related to the Company's bond issuance. The company was founded by Joseph A. Jolson, Gerald L. Tuttle, Jr. and Carter D. Mack in 1999 and is headquartered in San Francisco, CA. Read More Lloyds Banking Group plc, together with its subsidiaries, provides a range of banking and financial services in the United Kingdom and internationally. It operates through three segments: Retail; Commercial Banking; and Insurance and Wealth. The Retail segment offers a range of financial service products, including current accounts, savings accounts, mortgages, motor finance, unsecured loans, leasing solutions, credit cards, and other financial services to personal and small business customers. The Commercial Banking segment provides lending, transactional banking, working capital management, risk management, and debt capital market services to small and medium-sized entities, corporates, and financial institutions. The Insurance and Wealth segment offers life, home, and car insurance products; and pension, investment, and wealth management products and services. It also provides digital and mobile banking, and telephone services, as well as advisory services for savings, investments, and planning for retirement. The company offers its products and services under the Lloyds Bank, Halifax, Bank of Scotland, Scottish Widows, MBNA, Schroders Personal Wealth, Black Horse, Lex Autolease, Birmingham Midshires, LDC, IWeb, and Agricultural Mortgage Corporation brands. Lloyds Banking Group plc was founded in 1695 and is headquartered in London, the United Kingdom. Read More 7 hours ago 3 Under-The-Radar Stocks to Buy Now Add These Under-The-Radar Stocks to Your Shopping List Now Given the recent weakness in many of the former market-leading stocks, it might make sense to start focusing on lesser-known names. After all, with so many different companies and sectors to choose from, theres always a bull market to be found somewhere. Read Article 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 RELX PLC provides information-based analytics and decision tools for professional and business customers in North America, Europe, and internationally. It operates through four segments: Scientific, Technical & Medical; Risk; Legal; and Exhibitions. The Scientific, Technical & Medical segment provides information and analytics that help institutions and professionals to progress in science and advance healthcare. The Risk segment offers information-based analytics and decision tools that combine public and industry specific content with technology and algorithms to assist clients in evaluating and predicting risk. The Legal segment provides legal, regulatory, and business information and analytics that help customers in decision-making, as well as enhance the productivity. The Exhibitions segment is involved in the events business. The company was formerly known as Reed Elsevier PLC and changed its name to RELX PLC in July 2015. The company was incorporated in 1903 and is headquartered in London, the United Kingdom. Read More IGM Financial Inc. operates as a wealth and asset management company in Canada. It operates through Wealth Management, Asset Management, and Strategic Investments and Other segments. The company offers financial advisory services; IG Living Plan that provides financial planning services, such as investment vehicles, insurance products, mortgage and banking solutions, and charitable giving program; IG Wealth Management Advisor Portal, a customer relationship management platform; and IG Wealth Management's dealer platform, which provides increased automation and supports both MFDA and IIROC licensed advisors, as well as new products on its investment dealer platform. It also provides mutual funds; portfolios; IG Advisory Account, a fee-based account that enhances client experience by offering the ability to simplify and consolidate selected investments into a single account; iProfile Private portfolios, a portfolio management program for households with investments; iProfile Portfolios, a suite of four managed solutions; segregated funds; separately managed and fee-based brokerage accounts; insurance products; and securities services. In addition, the company offers management and related services; global private equity, private credit, and infrastructure investment solutions; and exchange traded funds. The company was incorporated in 1978 and is headquartered in Winnipeg, Canada. IGM Financial Inc. is a subsidiary of Power Financial Corporation. Read More Red Hat, Inc. provides open source software solutions to develop and offer operating system, virtualization, management, middleware, cloud, mobile, and storage technologies to various enterprises worldwide. It offers infrastructure-related solutions, such as Red Hat Enterprise Linux, an operating system platform that runs on hardware for use in hybrid cloud environments; Red Hat Satellite, a system management offering that helps to deploy, scale, and manage in hybrid cloud environments; and Red Hat Enterprise Virtualization, a software solution that allows customers to utilize and manage a common hardware infrastructure to run multiple operating systems and applications. The company offers application development-related and other technology solutions, such as Red Hat JBoss Middleware, a solution for developing, deploying, and managing applications; integrating applications, data, and devices; and automating business processes in hybrid cloud environments; The company's application development-related and other technology solutions also includes Red Hat cloud offerings, a software solution that enables customers to build and manage various cloud computing environments; Red Hat Mobile, a software development platform that enables customers to develop, integrate, deploy, and manage mobile applications for enterprises; and Red Hat Storage, a software solution that enables customers to manage large, unstructured, or semi-structured data in hybrid cloud environments. It also provides consulting, support, and training services; and realtime operating system, distributed computing, directory services, and user authentication. Red Hat, Inc. has collaboration with Juniper Networks Expand to provide a unified solution for enterprises designed to manage and run applications and services. The company was formerly known as Red Hat Software, Inc. and changed its name to Red Hat, Inc. in June 1999. Red Hat, Inc. was founded in 1993 and is headquartered in Raleigh, North Carolina. Read More Bank of America Corp. is a bank and financial holding company, which engages in the provision of banking and nonbank financial services. It operates through the following segments: Consumer Banking, Global Wealth and Investment Management, Global Banking, Global Markets, and All Other. The Consumer Banking segment offers credit, banking, and investment products and services to consumers and small businesses. The Global Wealth and Investment Management provides client experience through a network of financial advisors focused on to meet their needs through a full set of investment management, brokerage, banking, and retirement products. The Global Banking segment deals with lending-related products and services, integrated working capital management and treasury solutions to clients, and underwriting and advisory services. The Global Markets segment includes sales and trading services, as well as research, to institutional clients across fixed-income, credit, currency, commodity, and equity businesses. The All Other segment consists of asset and liability management activities, equity investments, non-core mortgage loans and servicing activities, the net impact of periodic revisions Read More 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 American Consumer News, LLC dba MarketBeat 2010-2021. All rights reserved. 326 E 8th St #105, Sioux Falls, SD 57103 | U.S. Based Support Team at contact@marketbeat.com | (844) 978-6257 MarketBeat does not provide personalized financial advice and does not issue recommendations or offers to buy stock or sell any security. Our Accessibility Statement | Terms of Service | Do Not Sell My Information 2021 Market data provided is at least 10-minutes delayed and hosted by Barchart Solutions. Information is provided 'as-is' and solely for informational purposes, not for trading purposes or advice, and is delayed. To see all exchange delays and terms of use please see disclaimer. Fundamental company data provided by Zacks Investment Research. Capital One Financial pays an annual dividend of $2.40 per share and currently has a dividend yield of 1.59%. Capital One Financial has been increasing its dividend for 2 consecutive year(s), indicating that it does not yet have a strong track record of dividend growth. The dividend payout ratio of Capital One Financial is 8.96%. This payout ratio is at a healthy, sustainable level, below 75%. Based on earnings estimates, Capital One Financial will have a dividend payout ratio of 12.52% next year. This indicates that Capital One Financial will be able to sustain or increase its dividend. View Capital One Financial's dividend history. Oasis Petroleum Inc., an independent exploration and production company, focuses on the acquisition and development of onshore unconventional oil and natural gas resources in the United States. It operates through Exploration and Production(E&P), and Midstream segments. The E&P segment engages in the acquisition and development of oil and gas properties. The Midstream segment offers midstream services, such as natural gas gathering, compression, processing and, gas lift supply; crude oil gathering, terminaling, and transportation; produced and flowback water gathering, and disposal; and water distribution. As of December 31, 2020, the company had 401,766 net leasehold acres in the Williston Basin; and 24,396 net leasehold acres in the Permian Basin, as well as approximately 152.2 million barrels of oil equivalent of estimated net proved reserves. The company sells its crude oil and natural gas to refiners, marketers, and other purchasers that have access to pipeline and rail facilities. Oasis Petroleum Inc. was founded in 2007 and is headquartered in Houston, Texas. Read More Rockwell Collins, Inc. designs, produces, and supports communications and aviation systems worldwide. The company's Interior Systems segment offers commercial aircraft seats; galley structures, food and beverage preparation equipment, and water and waste systems; oxygen and passenger service equipment; cabin lighting systems; and business jet and general aviation interior products. Its Commercial Systems segment provides cabin management systems; data link, frequency, very high frequency, and satellite communications systems; landing, radio navigation, and geophysical sensors, and flight management systems; situational awareness and surveillance systems and products; integrated flight controls; simulation and training systems; maintenance, repair, parts, and after-sales support services, and aftermarket used equipment. The company's Government Systems segment provides communications systems and products; radio navigation products, global positioning system equipment, and multi-mode receivers; avionics systems; precision targeting, electronic warfare, and training systems; simulation and training systems; space wheels; visual system products; maintenance, repair, parts, and after-sales support services, and aftermarket used equipment. Its Information Management Services segment offers voice and data communication services; flight support services; airport communications and information systems; train dispatching and information systems; mission critical security systems; and cabin connectivity solutions. The company serves original equipment manufacturers of commercial air transport, business and regional aircraft, commercial airlines, U.S. Department of Defense, other ministries of defense, other government agencies, defense contractors, the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration, and passenger and freight railroads, as well as airport, critical infrastructure, and business aircraft operators. The company was founded in 1933 and is headquartered in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. Read More The following companies are subsidiares of Becton, Dickinson and: (Bard Istanbul Healthcare Limited Company), Accuri Cytometers, Accuri Cytometers Inc., Adaptec Manufacturing Singapore, Alverix, Alverix Inc., Atto Bioscience, BD Holding S. de R.L. de C.V., BD Infection Prevention BV, BD Kiestra BV, BD Kiestra Total Lab Automation, BD Rapid Diagnostic (Suzhou) Co. Ltd., BD San Luis Potosi S.A. de C.V., BD Switzerland Sarl, BD Ventures LLC, BD West Africa Limited, BDX INO LLC, Bard (Thailand) Limited, Bard ASDI Inc., Bard Access Systems Inc., Bard Acquisition Sub Inc., Bard Australia Pty. Limited, Bard Benelux N.V., Bard Brachytherapy Inc., Bard Brasil Industria e Comercio de Produtos Para a Saude Ltda., Bard Canada Inc., Bard Chile S.p.A., Bard Colombia S.A.S., Bard Czech Republic s.r.o., Bard Devices Inc., Bard Dublin ITC Limited, Bard EMEA Finance Center Sp.z o.o., Bard European Distribution Center N.V., Bard Finance B.V. & Co. KG., Bard Financial Services Ltd., Bard Finland OY, Bard France S.A.S., Bard Global Holdings I LLC, Bard Global Holdings II LLC, Bard Global Holdings III LLC, Bard Healthcare Inc., Bard Healthcare Science (Shanghai) Limited, Bard Hellas S.A., Bard Holding SAS, Bard Holdings Limited, Bard Holdings Netherlands B.V., Bard Hong Kong Limited, Bard IP Holdings Inc., Bard India Healthcare Pvt. Ltd., Bard International Holdings B.V., Bard International Inc., Bard Korea Ltd., Bard Limited, Bard MRL Acquisition Corp., Bard Malaysia Healthcare Sdn. Bhd., Bard Medica SA, Bard Medical Devices (Beijing) Co. Ltd., Bard Medical R&D (Shanghai) Co. Ltd., Bard Medical SA (Proprietary) Limited, Bard Mexico Realty S. de R.L. de C.V., Bard Norden AB, Bard Norway AS, Bard Pacific Health Care Company Ltd., Bard Peripheral Vascular Inc., Bard Poland Sp. z.o.o., Bard Productos Plasticos e Medicos Ltda., Bard Reynosa S.A. de C.V., Bard S.r.l., Bard Sdn. Bhd., Bard Shannon Limited, Bard Singapore Private Limited, Bard Sourcing Office Singapore Pte. Ltd., Bard Sweden AB, Bard UK Newco Limited, Bard de Espana S.A., Becton Dickinson (Gibraltar) Holdings Ltd., Becton Dickinson (Gibraltar) Limited, Becton Dickinson (Gibraltar) Management Limited, Becton Dickinson (Mauritius) Limited, Becton Dickinson (Pty) Ltd., Becton Dickinson (Thailand) Limited, Becton Dickinson A.G., Becton Dickinson A/S, Becton Dickinson Argentina S.R.L., Becton Dickinson Asia Holdings Ltd., Becton Dickinson Asia Limited, Becton Dickinson Austria GmbH, Becton Dickinson Austria Holdings GmbH, Becton Dickinson B.V., Becton Dickinson B.V. Saudi Limited Company, Becton Dickinson Benelux N.V., Becton Dickinson Biosciences Systems and Reagents Inc., Becton Dickinson Canada Inc., Becton Dickinson Caribe Ltd., Becton Dickinson Croatia d.o.o., Becton Dickinson Czechia s.r.o., Becton Dickinson Dispensing Belgium BVBA, Becton Dickinson Dispensing Denmark A/S, Becton Dickinson Dispensing France SAS, Becton Dickinson Dispensing Ireland Limited, Becton Dickinson Dispensing Norway, Becton Dickinson Dispensing Spain S.L.U., Becton Dickinson Dispensing UK Ltd., Becton Dickinson Distribution Center N.V., Becton Dickinson East Africa Ltd., Becton Dickinson Euro Finance Sarl, Becton Dickinson Europe Holdings S.A.S., Becton Dickinson France S.A.S., Becton Dickinson GSA Beteilgungs GmbH, Becton Dickinson Global Holdings I Inc., Becton Dickinson Global Holdings II LLC, Becton Dickinson Global Holdings IV LLC, Becton Dickinson Global Holdings V LLC, Becton Dickinson Global Holdings VI LLC, Becton Dickinson Global Holdings VII LLC, Becton Dickinson Global Services Centre Sdn. Bdn., Becton Dickinson GmbH, Becton Dickinson Guatemala S.A., Becton Dickinson Hellas S.A., Becton Dickinson Holdings Limited, Becton Dickinson Holdings Pte Ltd., Becton Dickinson Hungary Kft., Becton Dickinson India Private Limited, Becton Dickinson Industrias Cirurgicas Ltda., Becton Dickinson Infusion Therapy AB, Becton Dickinson Infusion Therapy Holdings UK Limited, Becton Dickinson Infusion Therapy Systems Inc., Becton Dickinson Infusion Therapy Systems Inc. S.A. de C.V., Becton Dickinson Infusion Therapy UK, Becton Dickinson Insulin Syringe Ltd., Becton Dickinson International Holdings II Pte Ltd., Becton Dickinson International Holdings III Pte Ltd., Becton Dickinson International Holdings Pte Ltd., Becton Dickinson Israel Ltd., Becton Dickinson Italia S.p.A., Becton Dickinson Ithalat Ihracat Limited Sirketi, Becton Dickinson Korea Holding Inc., Becton Dickinson Korea Ltd., Becton Dickinson Ltd., Becton Dickinson Luxembourg Finance S.a.r.L., Becton Dickinson Luxembourg Global Holdings Sarl, Becton Dickinson Luxembourg Holdings II S.a.r.L, Becton Dickinson Luxembourg Holdings III S.a.r.L, Becton Dickinson Malaysia Inc., Becton Dickinson Management GmbH & Co. KG, Becton Dickinson Matrex Holdings Inc., Becton Dickinson Medical (S) Pte Ltd., Becton Dickinson Medical Devices (Shanghai) Co. Ltd., Becton Dickinson Medical Devices (Suzhou) Co. Ltd., Becton Dickinson Medical Products Pte. Ltd., Becton Dickinson Medical Technology (Jiangsu) Co. Ltd., Becton Dickinson Netherlands Global Holdings II C.V., Becton Dickinson Netherlands Holdings B.V., Becton Dickinson Netherlands Holdings II B.V., Becton Dickinson Norway AS, Becton Dickinson O.Y., Becton Dickinson Overseas Services Ltd., Becton Dickinson Pakistan (Pvt) Ltd., Becton Dickinson Penel Limited, Becton Dickinson Philippines Inc., Becton Dickinson Polska Sp.z.o.o., Becton Dickinson Portugal Unipessoal Lda., Becton Dickinson Pty. Ltd., Becton Dickinson Research Centre Ireland Limited, Becton Dickinson Rowa Germany GmbH, Becton Dickinson Rowa Italy Srl, Becton Dickinson S.A., Becton Dickinson Sample Collection GmbH, Becton Dickinson Scot Financing L.L.P., Becton Dickinson Scot Financing L.P., Becton Dickinson Sdn. Bhd., Becton Dickinson Slovakia s.r.o., Becton Dickinson Sweden AB, Becton Dickinson Sweden Holdings AB, Becton Dickinson Switzerland Global Holdings SarL, Becton Dickinson Technology Campus India, Becton Dickinson U.K. Limited, Becton Dickinson UK Financing I Ltd., Becton Dickinson UK Financing II Ltd., Becton Dickinson Venezuela C.A., Becton Dickinson Venture LLC, Becton Dickinson Verwaltungs GmbH, Becton Dickinson Vostok LLC, Becton Dickinson Worldwide Investments Sa.r.L., Becton Dickinson Zambia Limited, Becton Dickinson and Company Ltd., Becton Dickinson de Colombia Ltda., Becton Dickinson de Mexico S.A. de C.V., Becton Dickinson del Uruguay S.A., Benex Ltd., Biometric Imaging, Bridger Biomed Inc., C. R. Bard, C. R. Bard (Portugal)-Produtos e Artigos Medicos e Farmaceuticos, C. R. Bard Do Brazil Productos Medicos Ltds., C. R. Bard GmbH, C. R. Bard Inc., C. R. Bard Netherlands Sales B.V., CME America LLC, CME Ltd., CME Medical (UK) Limited, CME UK (Holdings) Limited, CRISI Medical Systems, CRISI Medical Systems Inc., Caesarea Medical Electronics, Cardal II LLC, Care Fusion Development Private Limited, CareFusion, CareFusion (Barbados) SrL, CareFusion (Shanghai) Commercial and Trading Co. Limited, CareFusion 213 LLC, CareFusion 2200 Inc., CareFusion 2201 Inc., CareFusion 302 LLC, CareFusion 303 Inc., CareFusion Asia (HK) Limited, CareFusion BH 335 d.o.o. Cazin, CareFusion Corporation, CareFusion D.R. 203 Ltd., CareFusion France 309 S.A.S., CareFusion Germany 318 GmbH, CareFusion Iberia 308 S.L., CareFusion Israel 330 Ltd., CareFusion Italy 312 S.p.A., CareFusion Manufacturing LLC, CareFusion Mexico 215 S.A. de C.V., CareFusion Netherlands 328 B.V., CareFusion Netherlands 503 B.V., CareFusion Netherlands 504 B.V., CareFusion Netherlands Financing 283 C.V., CareFusion Resources LLC, CareFusion S.A. 319 (Proprietary) Limited, CareFusion Solutions LLC, CareFusion U.K. 244 Limited, CareFusion U.K. 305 Limited, CareFusion U.K. 306 Limited, Carmel Pharma AB, Carmel Pharma Inc, Cato Software Solutions, Cell Analysis Systems Inc, Cellular Research, Cellular Research Inc., Clearstream Technologies Group Limited, Clearstream Technologies Limited, Clontech Laboratories Inc, Corporativo BD de Mexico S. de R.L. de C.V., Cubex, Cytopeia, DLD (Bermuda) Ltd., DVL Acquisition Sub Inc., Davol Inc., Davol International Limited, Davol Surgical Innovations S.A. de C.V., Difco Laboratories Incorporated, Distribuidora BD Mexico S.A. de C.V., Dutch American Manufacturers (D.A.M.) B.V., Dymax Corporation, Embo Medical Limited, Enturia de Mexico S. de R.L. de C.V., Enturican Inc., FJ International Inc., FlowCardia Inc., FlowCardia LLC, FlowJo LLC, Franklin Lakes Enterprises L.L.C., GSL Solutions, Gamer Lasertechnik GmbH, GenCell Biosystems, GenCell Biosystems Ltd., GeneOhm Sciences, GeneOhm Sciences Canada Inc., Gentest Corporation, Gesco International Inc., Gesco International LLC, HandyLab Inc, HandyLab Inc., IBD Holdings LLC, Ionotophoretics Corporation, JoHome LLC, Kabushiki Kaisha Medicon (Medicon Inc.), Liberator Health and Education Services Inc., Liberator Health and Wellness Inc., Liberator Medical Holdings Inc., Liberator Medical Supply Inc., LifeBond, Limited Liability Company Bard Rus, Loma Vista Medical Inc., Loma Vista Medical LLC, Lutonix Inc., Med-Design Corporation, Med-Design Investment Holdings Inc., Med-Safe Systems Inc., MedChem Products Inc., Medafor Inc., Medegen LLC, Medinservice.com Inc., Medivance Inc., NAT Diagnostics, NAT Diagnostics Inc., NOW Medical Distribution Inc., NOW Medical Distribution LLC, Navarre Biomedical LLC, Navarre Biomedical Ltd., Neomend Inc., Nippon Becton Dickinson Company Ltd., Omega Biosystems Incorporated, P.R.C.(Isialys)Societe a responsabilitie limitee(Societe a associe unique), PT Becton Dickinson Indonesia, PharMingen, PreAnalytiX GmbH, Pristine Access Technologies Inc., ProSeed Inc., Procesos para Esterilizacion S.A. de C.V., Productos Bard de Mexico S.A. de C.V., Productos Para el Cuidado de la Salud S.A. de C.V., Puls Medical Devices AS LC, PureWick Corporation, Roberts Laboratories Inc., Rochester Medical Corporation, Rochester Medical Ltd., Saf-T-Med, Safety Syringes, Safety Syringes Inc., Sendal S.L.U., SenoRx Inc., SenoRx LLC, Shield Healthcare Centers Inc., Sirigen, Sirigen II Limited, Sirigen Inc., Sistemas Medicos ALARIS S.A. de C.V., Specialized Cooperative Corporation, Specialized Health Products Inc., Specialized Health Products International Inc., Specialized Health Products International LLC, Staged Diabetes Management LLC, Straub Medical, Straub Medical, Straub Medical (US) LLC, Straub Medical (United Kingdom) Ltd., Straub Medical France, Surgical Site Solutions Inc., TVA Medical, TVA Medical GmbH, TVA Medical Inc., Tepha, Touchstone Medical Limited, Tri-County Medical & Ostomy Supplies Inc., TriPath Imaging, TriPath Imaging Inc., Vas-Cath Incorporated, Vascular Pathways Inc., Velano Vascular, Venetec International Inc., Venetec International LLC, Y-Med Inc., and Y-Med LLC. DowDuPont Inc., through its subsidiaries, engages in agriculture, materials science, and specialty products businesses in the United States, Canada, the Asia Pacific, Latin America, Europe, the Middle East, and Africa. The company's Agriculture segment produces, and sells hybrid corn seed and soybean seed varieties; sunflowers, wheat, alfalfa, canola, cotton, rice, and sorghum; silage inoculants; and crop protection products that include weed control, disease control, and insect control. Its Performance Materials & Coatings segment manufactures and sells architectural paints and coatings, and industrial coatings; performance monomers and silicones; standalone silicones; and home and personal care solutions. The company's Industrial Intermediates & Infrastructure segment offers ethylene oxides, propylene oxide derivatives, cellulose ethers, redispersible latex powders, and acrylic emulsions; sustainable solutions; and chlorine and caustic soda. Its Packaging & Specialty Plastics segment provides ethylene, and propylene and aromatic products; and polyolefin elastomers and ethylene propylene diene monomer rubbers. The company's Electronics & Imaging segment offers materials and systems for mobile devices, television monitors, personal computers, and electronics. Its Nutrition & Biosciences segment provides specialty ingredients, as well as cellulosic- and alginates-based pharma excipients; and enzymes, biomaterials, biocides, and antimicrobial solutions and process technologies. The company's Transportation & Advanced Polymers segment offers engineering resins, adhesives, lubricants, and parts for transportation, electronics, healthcare, industrial, and consumer end-markets. Its Safety & Construction segment provides engineered products and integrated systems for construction, worker safety, energy, oil and gas, transportation, medical device, and water purification and separation industries. The company was founded in 1897 and is headquartered in Midland, Michigan. Read More The following companies are subsidiares of WESCO International: 1502218 Alberta Ltd., ALLNET Technologies Pty. Ltd., AXE Distribution Solutions Trinidad Ltd., Accu-Tech Corporation, Anixter (Barbados) SRL, Anixter (CIS) LLC, Anixter (Switzerland) Sarl, Anixter (U.K.) Limited, Anixter Argentina S.A., Anixter Asia Holdings Limited, Anixter Australia Pty. Ltd., Anixter Austria GmbH, Anixter Bahamas Limited, Anixter Belgium B.V.B.A., Anixter Cables y Manufacturas S.A. de C.V., Anixter Canada Inc., Anixter Canadian Holdings ULC, Anixter Chile S.A., Anixter Colombia S.A.S., Anixter Communications (Malaysia) Sdn Bhd, Anixter Communications (Shanghai) Co. Limited, Anixter Costa Rica S.A., Anixter Czech a.s., Anixter Danmark A/S, Anixter Deutschland GmbH, Anixter Distribuidor de Soluciones Empresariales e Industriales S.A., Anixter Distribution Ireland Limited, Anixter Dominicana SRL, Anixter Egypt LLC, Anixter Espana S.L., Anixter Eurotwo Holdings B.V., Anixter Fasteners Deutschland GmbH, Anixter Financial Inc., Anixter France SARL, Anixter Guatemala y Compania Limitada, Anixter Holdings Inc., Anixter Holdings Mexico LLC, Anixter Hong Kong Limited, Anixter Iletisim Sistemleri Pazarlama ve Ticaret A.S., Anixter Inc., Anixter India Private Limited, Anixter Information Systems LLC, Anixter International, Anixter Italia S.r.l., Anixter Jamaica Limited, Anixter Japan KK, Anixter Jorvex S.A.C., Anixter Limited, Anixter Logistica do Brasil LTDA, Anixter Logistica y Servicios S.A. de C.V., Anixter Magyarorszag Elektronikus Halozati Rendszer Kereskedelmi es Szolgaltato Kft, Anixter Mid Holdings B.V., Anixter Middle East FZE, Anixter Morocco SARL AU, Anixter Nederland B.V., Anixter New Zealand Limited, Anixter Norge A.N.S., Anixter Operaciones y Logistica s De RL De CV, Anixter Panama S.A., Anixter Pension Scheme Trustees Limited, Anixter Pension Trustees Limited, Anixter Peru S.A.C., Anixter Philippines Inc., Anixter Poland Sp.z.o.o., Anixter Portugal S.A., Anixter Power Solutions Canada Inc., Anixter Power Solutions Inc., Anixter Procurement Corporation, Anixter Puerto Rico Inc., Anixter Real-Estate LLC, Anixter Receivables Corporation, Anixter Saudi Arabia Limited, Anixter Singapore Pte. Ltd., Anixter Slovakia s.r.o., Anixter Sub Holdings B.V, Anixter Sverige AB, Anixter Thailand Inc., Anixter U.S. LLC, Anixter Venezuela Inc., Anixter de Mexico S.A. de C.V., Anixter do Brasil Ltda, Atlanta Electrical Distributors, Atlanta Electrical Distributors LLC, Atlas Gentech (NZ) Limited, Avon Electrical Supplies, B.E.L. Corporation, Brews Supply, Brown Wholesale Electric, Bruckner Supply, CBC LP Holdings LLC, CDW Holdco LLC, Calvert Wire & Cable Corporation, Carlton-Bates Company, Carlton-Bates Company (CBC), Carlton-Bates Company de Mexico S.A. de C.V., Carlton-Bates Company of Texas GP Inc, Central Security Distribution Pty. Ltd, Communication Cables LLC, Communications Supply Corporation, Conney Investment Holdings LLC, Conney Safety Products, Conney Safety Products LLC, Distribuidora Materiales Electricos E-Supply Limitada, EECOL Electric, EECOL Electric Bolivia Ltda, EECOL Electric Corp., EECOL Electric Peru S.A.C, EECOL Industrial Electric (SudAmerica) Limitada, EECOL Industrial Electric Ecuador Limitada, EECOL Industrial Electric Limitada, EECOL Power S.A., EECOL Properties Corp, Eurinvest B.V., Eurinvest Cooperatief U.A., Fastec Industrial, HMH Pension Trustees Limited, Hazmasters, Hazmasters Inc., Herning Underground Supply, Hi-Line Utility Supply, Hi-Line Utility Supply Company LLC, Hill Country Electric Supply, Hill Country Electric Supply L.P., ICV GP Inc., Infast Group Limited, Inner Range Pty. Ltd, Itel Container Ventures Inc., Itel Corporation, Itel Rail Holdings Corporation, J-Mark Inc., LaPrairie, Liberty Wire & Cable Inc., Monti Electric Supply, Needham Electric Supply, Needham Electric Supply LLC, Obras Y Servicios Sunpark S.A.C., PT Anixter Indonesia, Potelcom Supply, Pro Canadian Holdings I ULC, RECO LLC, RS Electronics, Reily Electrical Supply, SASK Alta Holdings S.A., Services Voice Video and Data Distribution de Mexico S. de R.L. de C.V., Servicios Anixter S.A. de C.V., Signal Capital Corporation, Signal Capital Projects Inc., Stone Eagle Electrical Supply GP Inc., Stone Eagle Electrical Supply Limited Partnership, TVC Communications, TVC Communications L.L.C., TVC Espana Distribucion y Venta De Equipos S.L., TVC International Holding L.L.C., TVC UK Holdings Limited, Tri-Ed Puerto Rico Ltd. Inc., Trydor Industries, Voice Video and Data Distribution de Mexico S. de R.L. de C.V., WDC Holding Inc., WDCH LP, WDCH US LP, WDI USVI LLC, WDI-Angola LDA, WDINESCO B.V., WDINESCO II B.V., WDINESCO III B.V., WEAS Company S. de R.L., WESCO (Suzhou) Trading Co. Ltd., WESCO Australia Pty Ltd, WESCO Canada GP Inc., WESCO Canada I LP, WESCO DC Holding I LP, WESCO DC Holding II LP, WESCO DC Holding III LP, WESCO DC Holding IV LP, WESCO Distribution Canada Co., WESCO Distribution Canada LP, WESCO Distribution HK Limited, WESCO Distribution II ULC, WESCO Distribution III ULC, WESCO Distribution IV Inc., WESCO Distribution Inc., WESCO Distribution Ireland Limited, WESCO Distribution NL B.V., WESCO Distribution Pte. Ltd., WESCO Distribution de Mexico S. de R.L., WESCO Distribution-International Limited, WESCO Enterprises Inc., WESCO Equity Corporation, WESCO Holdings LLC, WESCO Integrated Supply Inc., WESCO Integrated Supply Polska Spolka z o.o., WESCO Netherlands B.V., WESCO Nevada Ltd., WESCO Nigeria Inc., WESCO Procurement Canada ULC, WESCO Real Estate I LLC, WESCO Real Estate II LLC, WESCO Real Estate III LLC, WESCO Real Estate IV LLC, WESCO Receivables Corp., WESCO Services LLC, WESCO TLD Holdings Co. Ltd., WND Nigeria Limited, WireXpress Ltd., Xpress Connect Supply Hong Kong Limited, XpressConnect Holdings B.V., XpressConnect International B.V., XpressConnect Supply B.V.B.A., XpressConnect Supply Colombia S.A.S., XpressConnect Supply Inc., XpressConnect Supply Mexico S.A. de C.V., and XpressConnect Supply do Brasil Ltda. Brookdale Senior Living, Inc. engages in the operation of senior living communities. The firm manages independent living, assisted living and dementia-care communities and continuing care retirement centers. It operates through the following segments: Independent Living Assisted Living & Memory Care, CCRCs, Health Care Services and Management Services. The Independent Living segment is primarily designed for middle to upper income seniors who desire an upscale residential environment providing the highest quality of service. The Assisted Living & Memory Care segment offer housing and 24-hour assistance with ADLs to mid-acuity frail and elderly residents. The CCRCs segment offers a variety of living arrangements and services to accommodate all levels of physical ability and health. The Healthcare Services segment provides home health, hospice and outpatient therapy services, as well as education and wellness programs, to residents of many communities and to seniors living outside communities. The Management Services segment composes of communities operated by the company pursuant to management agreements. The company was founded in 1978 and is headquartered in Brentwood, TN. Read More 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 The following companies are subsidiares of Carnival Co. &: 1972 Productions Inc., 6348 Equipment LLC, A.C.N. 098 290 834 Pty. Ltd., A.J. Juneau Dock LLC, AIDA Kundencenter GmbH, Adventure Island Ltd., Air-Sea Holiday GmbH, Alaska Hotel Properties LLC, Barcelona Cruise Terminal SLU, Bay Island Cruise Port S.A., Belize Cruise Terminal Limited, CC U.S. Ventures Inc., CCL Gifts LLC, CSSC Carnival Italy Cruise Investment S.r.L, Carnival (UK) Limited, Carnival Bahamas FC Limited, Carnival Bahamas Holdings Limited, Carnival Corporation & plc Asia Pte. Ltd., Carnival Corporation Hong Kong Limited, Carnival Corporation Korea Ltd., Carnival Corporation Ports Group Japan KK, Carnival Finance LLC, Carnival Grand Bahama Investment Limited, Carnival Investments Limited, Carnival Japan Inc., Carnival License Holdings Limited, Carnival Maritime GmbH, Carnival North America LLC, Carnival Port Holdings Limited, Carnival Ports Inc., Carnival Support Services India Private Limited, Carnival Technical Services (UK) Limited, Carnival Technical Services Finland Limited, Carnival Technical Services GmbH, Carnival Technical Services Inc., Carnival Vanuatu Limited, Costa Crociere PTE Ltd., Costa Crociere S.p.A., Costa Cruceros S.A., Costa Cruise Lines Inc., Costa Cruise Lines UK Limited, Costa Cruises Shipping Services (Shanghai) Company Limited, Costa Cruises Travel Agency (Shanghai) Co. Ltd., Costa Cruzeiros Agencia Maritima e Turismo Ltda., Costa Group Digital & Strategic Services GmbH, Costa International B.V., Costa Kreuzfahrten GmbH, Cozumel Cruise Terminal S.A. de C.V., Creative Travel Lab Ltd., Cruise Ships Catering & Services International N.V., Cruise Terminal Services S.A. de C.V., Cruiseport Curacao C.V., D.R. Cruise Port Ltd., Ecospray Technologies S.r.L., F.P.M. SAS, F.P.P. SAS, Fleet Maritime Services (Bermuda) Limited, Fleet Maritime Services Holdings (Bermuda) Limited, Fleet Maritime Services International Limited, GXI LLC, Gibs Inc., Global Experience Innovators Inc., Global Fine Arts Inc., Global Shipping Service (Shanghai) Co. Ltd., Grand Cruise Shipping Unipessoal LdA, Grand Turk Cruise Center Ltd., HAL Antillen N.V., HAL Beheer B.V., HAL Cruises Limited, HAL Maritime Ltd., HAL Nederland N.V., HAL Properties Limited, HAL Services B.V., HSE Hamburg School of Entertainment GmbH, Holding Division Iberocruceros SLU, Holland America Line Inc., Holland America Line N.V., Holland America Line Paymaster of Washington LLC, Holland America Line U.S.A. Inc., Ibero Cruzeiros Ltda., Iberocruceros SLU, Information Assistance Corporation, International Cruise Services S.A. de C.V., International Leisure Travel Inc., International Maritime Recruitment Agency S.A. de C.V., Milestone N.V., Navitrans S.R.L., Ocean Bahamas Innovation Ltd., Ocean Medallion Fulfillment Ltd., Operadora Catalina S.r.L., P&O Princess American Holdings, P&O Princess Cruises International Limited, P&O Princess Cruises Pension Trustee Limited, P&O Properties (California) Inc., P&O Travel Limited, Prestige Cruises Management S.A.M., Prestige Cruises N.V., Princess Bermuda Holdings Ltd., Princess Cays Ltd., Princess Cruise Corporation Inc., Princess Cruise Lines Ltd., Princess Cruises and Tours Inc., Princess U.S. Holdings Inc., RCT Maintenance & Related Services S.A., RCT Pilots & Related Services S.A., RCT Security & Related Services S.A., Roatan Cruise Terminal S.A. de C.V., Royal Hyway Tours Inc., Santa Cruz Terminal S.L., SeaVacations Limited, SeaVacations UK Limited, Seabourn Cruise Line Limited, Shanghai Coast Cruise Consulting Co. Lda, Ship Care (Bahamas) Limited, Sitmar Cruises Inc., Spanish Cruise Services N.V., Sunshine Shipping Corporation Ltd., T&T International Inc., Tour Alaska LLC, Transnational Services Corporation, Trident Insurance Company Ltd., Westmark Hotels Inc., Westmark Hotels of Canada Ltd., Westours Motor Coaches LLC, Wind Surf Limited, and World Leading Cruise Management (Shanghai) Co. Ltd.. 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. Royal Dutch Shell plc operates as an energy and petrochemical company worldwide. The company operates through Integrated Gas, Upstream, Oil Products, Chemicals segments. It explores for and extracts crude oil, natural gas, and natural gas liquids; markets and transports oil and gas; produces gas-to-liquids fuels and other products; and operates upstream and midstream infrastructure necessary to deliver gas to market. The company also markets and trades natural gas, liquefied natural gas (LNG), crude oil, electricity, carbon-emission rights; and markets and sells LNG as a fuel for heavy-duty vehicles and marine vessels. In addition, it trades in and refines crude oil and other feed stocks, such as gasoline, diesel, heating oil, aviation fuel, marine fuel, biofuel, lubricants, bitumen, and sulphur; produces and sells petrochemicals for industrial use; and manages oil sands activities. Further, the company produces base chemicals comprising ethylene, propylene, and aromatics, as well as intermediate chemicals, such as styrene monomer, propylene oxide, solvents, detergent alcohols, ethylene oxide, and ethylene glycol. Royal Dutch Shell plc was founded in 1907 and is headquartered in The Hague, the Netherlands. 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.. Fortis Inc. operates as an electric and gas utility company in Canada, the United States, and the Caribbean countries. It generates, transmits, and distributes electricity to approximately 433,000 retail customers in southeastern Arizona; and 98,000 retail customers in Arizona's Mohave and Santa Cruz counties with an aggregate capacity of 3,233 megawatts (MW), including 59 MW of solar capacity. The company also sells wholesale electricity to other entities in the western United States; owns gas-fired and hydroelectric generating capacity totaling 65 MW; and distributes natural gas to approximately 1,048,000 residential, commercial, and industrial customers in British Columbia, Canada. In addition, it owns and operates the electricity distribution system that serves approximately 572,000 customers in southern and central Alberta; owns 4 hydroelectric generating facilities with a combined capacity of 225 MW; and provides operation, maintenance, and management services to five hydroelectric generating facilities. Further, the company distributes electricity in the island portion of Newfoundland and Labrador with an installed generating capacity of 143 MW; and on Prince Edward Island with a generating capacity of 130 MW. Additionally, it provides integrated electric utility service to approximately 67,000 customers in Ontario; approximately 270,000 customers in Newfoundland and Labrador; approximately 31,000 customers on Grand Cayman, Cayman Islands; and approximately 15,000 customers on certain islands in Turks and Caicos. The company also holds long-term contracted generation assets in Belize consisting of 3 hydroelectric generating facilities with a combined capacity of 51 MW; and the Aitken Creek natural gas storage facility. It also owns and operates approximately 91,000 circuit Kilometers (km) of distribution lines; and approximately 49,500 km of natural gas pipelines. Fortis Inc. was founded in 1885 and is headquartered in St. John's, Canada. Read More GlaxoSmithKline Plc is a healthcare company, which engages in the research, development, and manufacture of pharmaceutical medicines, vaccines, and consumer healthcare products. It operates through the following segments: Pharmaceuticals; Pharmaceuticals R&D; Vaccines and Consumer Healthcare. The Pharmaceuticals segment focuses on developing medicines in respiratory and infectious diseases, oncology, and immuno-inflammation. The Pharmaceuticals R&D segment focuses on science related to the immune system, the use of human genetics and advanced technologies, and is driven by the multiplier effect of Science x Technology x Culture. The Vaccines segment produces pediatric and adult vaccines to prevent a range of infectious diseases including, hepatitis A and B, diphtheria, tetanus and whooping cough, measles, mumps and rubella, polio, typhoid, influenza, and bacterial meningitis. The Consumer Healthcare segment develops and markets brands in the oral health, pain relief, respiratory, nutrition and gastro intestinal, and skin health categories. The company was founded in 1715 and is headquartered in Middlesex, the United Kingdom. Read More 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. 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]at.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. The following companies are subsidiares of InterContinental Hotels Group: 2250 Blake Street Hotel LLC, 24th Street Operator Sub LLC, 36th Street IHG Sub LLC, 426 Main Ave LLC, 46 Nevins Street Associates LLC, Allegro Management LLC, Alpha Kimball Hotel LLC, American Commonwealth Assurance Co. Ltd., Asia Pacific Holdings Limited, BHMC Canada Inc., BHR Holdings B.V., BHR Luxembourg SARL, BHR Pacific Holdings Inc., BHTC Canada Inc., BOC Barclay Sub LLC, Barclay Operating Corp., Bristol Oakbrook Tenant Company, Cafe Biarritz, Cambridge Lodging LLC, Capital Lodging LLC, Compania Inter-Continental De Hoteles El Salvador SA, Crowne Plaza Amsterdam (Management) B.V., Crowne Plaza LLC, Cumberland Akers Hotel LLC, Dunwoody Operations Inc., EVEN Real Estate Holding LLC, Edinburgh IC Limited, General Innkeeping Acceptance Corporation, Guangzhou SC Hotels Services Ltd., H.I. (Ireland) Limited, H.I. Soaltee Management Company Ltd, HC International Holdings Inc., HH France Holdings SAS, HH Hotels (EMEA) B.V., HH Hotels (Romania) SRL, HI Sugarloaf LLC, HIM (Aruba) NV, Hale International Ltd., Hoft Properties LLC, Holiday Hospitality Franchising LLC, Holiday Inn Mexicana S.A. de C.V., Holiday Inns (China) Ltd, Holiday Inns (Chongqing) Inc., Holiday Inns (Courtalin) Holdings SAS, Holiday Inns (Courtalin) SAS, Holiday Inns (England) Ltd., Holiday Inns (Germany) LLC, Holiday Inns (Guangzhou) Inc., Holiday Inns (Jamaica) Inc., Holiday Inns (Malaysia) Ltd., Holiday Inns (Middle East) Ltd., Holiday Inns (Philippines) Inc., Holiday Inns (Saudi Arabia) Inc., Holiday Inns (South East Asia) Inc., Holiday Inns (Thailand) Ltd., Holiday Inns (UK) Inc., Holiday Inns Crowne Plaza (Hong Kong) Inc., Holiday Inns Holdings (Australia) Pty Ltd, Holiday Inns Inc., Holiday Inns Investment (Nepal) Ltd., Holiday Inns of America (UK) Ltd., Holiday Inns of Belgium N.V., Holiday Pacific Equity Corporation, Holiday Pacific LLC, Holiday Pacific Partners LP, Hotel Inter-Continental London Limited, Hotel InterContinental London (Holdings) Limited, Hoteles Y Turismo HIH SRL, IC Hotelbetriebsfuhrungs GmbH, IC Hotels Management (Portugal) Unipessoal Lda, IC International Hotels Limited Liability Company, IHC (Thailand) Limited, IHC Buckhead LLC, IHC Edinburgh (Holdings), IHC Hopkins (Holdings) Corp., IHC Hotel Limited, IHC Inter-Continental (Holdings) Corp., IHC London (Holdings), IHC M-H (Holdings) Corp., IHC May Fair (Holdings) Limited, IHC May Fair Hotel Limited, IHC Overseas (U.K.) Limited, IHC UK (Holdings) Limited, IHC United States (Holdings) Corp., IHC Willard (Holdings) Corp., IHG (Australasia) Limited, IHG (Marseille) SAS, IHG (Thailand) Limited, IHG ANA Hotels Group Japan LLC, IHG ANA Hotels Holdings Co. Ltd., IHG Bangkok Ltd, IHG Brasil Administracao de Hoteis e Servicos Ltda, IHG Commission Services SRL, IHG Community Development LLC, IHG Cyprus Limited, IHG ECS (Barbados) SRL, IHG Franchising Brasil Ltda, IHG Franchising DR Corporation, IHG Franchising LLC, IHG Hotels (New Zealand) Limited, IHG Hotels Limited, IHG Hotels Management (Australia) Pty Limited, IHG Hotels Nigeria Limited, IHG Hotels South Africa (Pty) Ltd, IHG International Partnership, IHG Istanbul Otel Yonetim Limited Sirketi, IHG Japan (Management) LLC, IHG Japan (Osaka) LLC, IHG Management (Maryland) LLC, IHG Management (Netherlands) B.V., IHG Management MD Barclay Sub LLC, IHG Management SL d.o.o, IHG Management d.o.o. Beograd, IHG Orchard Street Member LLC, IHG PS Nominees Limited, IHG Systems Pty Ltd, IHG Szalloda Budapest Szolgaltato Kft., IHG de Argentina SA, IND East Village SD Holdings LLC, Inter-Continental D.C. Operating Corp., Inter-Continental Florida Investment Corp., Inter-Continental Florida Partner Corp., Inter-Continental Hospitality Corporation, Inter-Continental Hoteleira Limitada, Inter-Continental Hotels (Montreal) Operating Corp., Inter-Continental Hotels (Montreal) Owning Corp., Inter-Continental Hotels (Singapore) Pte. Ltd., Inter-Continental Hotels Corporation, Inter-Continental Hotels Corporation de Venezuela C.A., Inter-Continental Hotels of San Francisco Inc., Inter-Continental IOHC (Mauritius) Limited, Inter-Continental Management (Australia) Pty Limited, InterContinental (Branston) 1 Limited, InterContinental (PB) 1, InterContinental (PB) 2, InterContinental (PB) 3 Limited, InterContinental Berlin Service Company GmbH, InterContinental Brasil Administracao de Hoteis Ltda, InterContinental Gestion Hotelera S.L., InterContinental Hotel Berlin GmbH, InterContinental Hotel Dusseldorf GmbH (Germany), InterContinental Hotels (Puerto Rico) Inc., InterContinental Hotels Group (Asia Pacific) Pte Ltd, InterContinental Hotels Group (Australia) Pty Limited, InterContinental Hotels Group (Canada) Inc., InterContinental Hotels Group (Espana) SA, InterContinental Hotels Group (Greater China) Limited, InterContinental Hotels Group (India) Pvt. Ltd, InterContinental Hotels Group (Japan) Inc., InterContinental Hotels Group (New Zealand) Limited, InterContinental Hotels Group (Shanghai) Ltd., InterContinental Hotels Group Customer Services Ltd., InterContinental Hotels Group Healthcare Trustee Limited, InterContinental Hotels Group Operating Corp., InterContinental Hotels Group Resources Inc., InterContinental Hotels Group Services Company, InterContinental Hotels Group do Brasil Limitada, InterContinental Hotels Italia S.r.L., InterContinental Hotels Limited, InterContinental Hotels Management GmbH, InterContinental Hotels Nevada Corporation, InterContinental Management AM LLC, InterContinental Management Bulgaria EOOD, InterContinental Management France SAS, InterContinental Management Poland sp. z.o.o, InterContinental Overseas Holding Corporation, Intercontinental Hotels Corporation Limited, KG Benefits LLC, KG Gift Card Inc., KG Liability LLC, KG Technology LLC, KHP Washington Operator LLC, KHRG 11th Avenue Hotel LLC, KHRG 851 LLC, KHRG Aertson LLC, KHRG Alexandria LLC, KHRG Alexis LLC, KHRG Allegro LLC, KHRG Argyle LLC, KHRG Austin Beverage Company LLC, KHRG Baltimore LLC, KHRG Born LLC, KHRG Boston Hotel LLC, KHRG Canary LLC, KHRG Cayman Employer Ltd., KHRG Cayman LLC, KHRG DC 1731 LLC, KHRG DC 2505 LLC, KHRG Donovan LLC, KHRG Employer LLC, KHRG Goleta LLC, KHRG Gray LLC, KHRG Gray U2 LLC, KHRG Hillcrest LLC, KHRG Huntington Beach LLC, KHRG King Street LLC, KHRG La Peer LLC, KHRG Miami Beach LLC, KHRG Muse LLC, KHRG NPC LLC, KHRG Onyx LLC, KHRG Palladian LLC, KHRG Palomar Phoenix LLC, KHRG Philly Monaco LLC, KHRG Pittsburgh LLC, KHRG Reynolds LLC, KHRG Riverplace LLC, KHRG SFD LLC, KHRG Sacramento LLC, KHRG Savannah LLC, KHRG Schofield LLC, KHRG Sedona LLC, KHRG State Street LLC, KHRG Sutter LLC, KHRG Sutter Union LLC, KHRG Taconic LLC, KHRG Tariff LLC, KHRG Texas Hospitality LLC, KHRG Texas Operations LLC, KHRG Tryon LLC, KHRG VZ Austin LLC, KHRG Vero Beach LLC, KHRG Vintage Park LLC, KHRG WPB LLC, KHRG Wabash LLC, KHRG Westwood LLC, KHRG Wilshire LLC, KHRG Zamora LLC, Kimpton Hollywood Licenses LLC, Kimpton Hotel & Restaurant Group, Kimpton Hotel & Restaurant Group LLC, Kimpton Phoenix Licenses Holdings LLC, Kimpton Sedona Licenses LLC, Louisiana Acquisitions Corp., MH Lodging LLC, Mercer Fairview Holdings LLC, PML Services LLC, PT SC Hotels & Resorts Indonesia, Pollstrong Limited, Powell Pine Inc., Priscilla Holiday of Texas Inc., RM Lodging LLC, Regent Hotels and Resorts, Resort Services International (Cayo Largo) L.P., SBS Maryland Beverage Company LLC, SC Cellars Limited, SC Hotels International Services Inc., SC Leisure Group Limited, SC NAS 2 Limited, SC Quest Limited, SC Reservations (Philippines) Inc., SCH Insurance Company, SCIH Branston 3, SF MH Acquisition LLC, SPHC Group Pty Ltd., SPHC Management Ltd., Semiramis for training of Hotel Personnel and Hotel Management SAE, Six Continents Corporate Services, Six Continents Holdings Limited, Six Continents Hotels Inc., Six Continents Hotels International Limited, Six Continents Hotels de Colombia SA, Six Continents International Holdings B.V., Six Continents Investments Limited, Six Continents Limited, Six Continents Overseas Holdings Limited, Six Continents Restaurants Limited, SixCo North America Inc., Solamar Lodging LLC, Southern Pacific Hotel Corporation (BVI) Ltd., Southern Pacific Hotels Properties Limited, Universal de Hoteles SA, White Shield Insurance Company Limited, and World Trade Centre Montreal Hotel Corporation. The following companies are subsidiares of IQVIA: 159 SOLUTIONS, 159 Technology Solutions Private Ltd, AHM Global Operations Inc., AHM Global Services LLC, AHM Logistics Inc. (Canada), AIECO IT Solutions India Private Ltd., ALIMED Egeszsegugyi Szolgaltato Kft., Advanced Health Media LLC, Advanced Health Media Services, Aileron Solutions, Albatross Financial Solutions Limited, Appature, Ardentia International Limited, Ascott Sales Integration, Asesorias IQVIA Solutions Chile Limitada, Asserta Centroamerica Medicion de Mercados, BUZZEOPDMA LLC, Battaerd Mansley Pty. Ltd., Benefit Canada, Benefit Holding, BioFortis, CDS - Center de Service SAS, COORDINATED MANAGEMENT SYSTEM, CRM Health Korea Ltd., CSD Health Korea Ltd., Cambridge Pharma Consultancy, Cambridge Pharma Consultancy Limited, Cegedim Venezuela C.A., Cenduit (India) Services Private Company Limited, Cenduit Limited, Cenduit Mauritius Holdings Company, Clinical Financial Services, Clinical Lab Minority Shareholder Limited, Coordinated Management Holdings L.L.C., Cote Orphan, Cote Orphan Consulting UK Limited, DATA NICHE ASSOCIATES, Datadina Ecuador S.A., Dataline Software Limited, Datec Industria e Comercio, Dimensiions Healthcare LLC, Drug Dev Inc., DrugDev, DrugDev Limited, EA Institute L.L.C., ENTERPRISE ASSOCIATES, EPS Research Limited, EPS Software Limited, Epernicus, Forcea NV, Foresight Group International UK LTD, Foresight Group Japan G.K., Foresight IT Solutions Consulting India Private Limited, GRACE DATA CORPORATION, Global Crown Investment Limited, HIGHPOINT SOLUTIONS, Hospital Marketing Services Ltd., Hotel Lot C-8B, IMS (GIBRALTAR) HOLDING LIMITED, IMS (UK) Pension Plan Trustee Company Limited, IMS AB, IMS CHINAMETRIK INC., IMS HEALTH GROUP LIMITED, IMS HEALTH KOREA LTD, IMS HEALTH KOREA LTD., IMS HEALTH PUERTO RICO INC., IMS HEALTH TAIWAN LTD., IMS Health (Australia) Partnership, IMS Health Analytics Services Private Limited, IMS Health Bangladesh Limited, IMS Health Bolivia S.R.L., IMS Health Cyprus LTD, IMS Health Egypt Limited, IMS Health Information Solutions Argentina S.A., IMS Health Information Solutions Australia Pty. Ltd, IMS Health Information Solutions India Private Ltd., IMS Health Information Solutions Japan K.K., IMS Health Lanka (Private) Limited, IMS Health Networks Limited, IMS Health Pakistan (Private) Limited, IMS Health Paraguay SRL, IMS Health Surveys Limited, IMS Health Technology Solutions (China) Co. Ltd., IMS Health Technology Solutions Australia Pty. Ltd, IMS Health Technology Solutions Colombia Ltda., IMS Health Technology Solutions Holdings AB, IMS Health Technology Solutions Hungary Ltd., IMS Health Technology Solutions India Private Ltd., IMS Health Technology Solutions Japan K.K., IMS Health Technology Solutions Kazakhstan, IMS Health Technology Solutions LLC, IMS Health Technology Solutions Sweden AB, IMS Health Technology TUNISIA, IMS Health Tunisia sarl, IMS Health Uruguay S.A., IMS Health de Venezuela C.A., IMS Holdings (U.K.) Limited, IMS Hospital Group Limited, IMS Information Solutions Medical Research Limited, IMS Information Solutions UK Ltd., IMS International (Proprietary) Limited, IMS Market Research Consult (Beijing), IMS Meridian Limited, IMS Meridian Research Limited, IMS Republica Dominicana, IMS SOFTWARE SERVICES LTD., IMS Technology Solutions UK Limited, INTERCONTINENTAL MEDICAL STATISTICS INTERNATIONAL, IPP Informacion Promocional y Publicitaria S.A. de C.V., IPP Technology Solutions Mexico SA de CV (FKA Cegedim Mexico SA de CV), IQVA Romania S.R.L., IQVIA (Thialand) Co. Ltd., IQVIA AB, IQVIA AG, IQVIA AG (Mexico Branch), IQVIA AG (UK Branch), IQVIA Adriatic d.o.o. za Konzalting, IQVIA Asia Pacific Commercial Holdings LLC, IQVIA Beteiligungs-gesellschaft mbH, IQVIA BioSciences Holdings LLC, IQVIA CHINAMETRIK INC., IQVIA COMMERCIAL FINANCE INC., IQVIA COMMERCIAL INDIA HOLDINGS CORP., IQVIA COMMERCIAL LICENSING ASSOCIATES LLC, IQVIA COMMERCIAL SERVICES LLC, IQVIA COMMERCIAL TRADING CORP., IQVIA Clinical AB, IQVIA Commercial Deutschland GmbH, IQVIA Commercial GmbH & Co. OHG, IQVIA Commercial I LLC, IQVIA Commercial Software GmbH, IQVIA Commercial Sp. z.o.o., IQVIA Commerical Consulting Sp. z.o.o., IQVIA Consulting Solutions bvba, IQVIA Consulting and Information Services India Private Limited, IQVIA Finance Ireland Designated Activity Company, IQVIA GOVERNMENT SOLUTIONS INC., IQVIA Healthcare QFC branch, IQVIA Hellas Technology Solutions S.A., IQVIA Holdings France SAS, IQVIA IES (UK) Limited, IQVIA IES Brasil Ltda., IQVIA IES Europe Limited, IQVIA IES European Holdings, IQVIA IES Italia S.r.l., IQVIA IES OY, IQVIA IES Overseas Holdings Limited, IQVIA IES Portugal, IQVIA IES Portugal Unipressoal Ltda., IQVIA IES Puerto Rico Inc., IQVIA II Technology Solutions Portugal, IQVIA INC., IQVIA INFORMATION MEDICAL STATISTICS (ISRAEL) LTD., IQVIA Information, IQVIA Information Solutions (China) Co., IQVIA Information Solutions GmbH, IQVIA Informations Solutions France SAS, IQVIA Istanbul Saglik Hizmetler Arastirma ve Danismanlik Limited Sirketi, IQVIA Korea Co. Ltd., IQVIA LTD, IQVIA Market Intelligence LLC, IQVIA Marktforschung GmbH, IQVIA Maroc SARL, IQVIA Mauritius Holdings, IQVIA Medical Communications & Consulting, IQVIA Medical Development (Dalian) Co., IQVIA Medical Education Inc., IQVIA Medical Radar AB, IQVIA Operations France SAS, IQVIA PHARMA Inc., IQVIA Partners AS, IQVIA Pharma Services Corp., IQVIA Pharmaceutical Marketing Services Ltd., IQVIA Phase One Services LLC, IQVIA RDS (India) Private Limited, IQVIA RDS (Pty.) Limited, IQVIA RDS AG, IQVIA RDS Argentina S.A., IQVIA RDS Asia Inc., IQVIA RDS Austria GmbH, IQVIA RDS BT Inc., IQVIA RDS Brasil Ltda., IQVIA RDS Bulgaria EOOD, IQVIA RDS Canada ULC, IQVIA RDS Chile, IQVIA RDS Colombia S.A.S., IQVIA RDS Consulting Inc., IQVIA RDS ESTONIA OU, IQVIA RDS East Asia Pte. Ltd., IQVIA RDS Eastern Holdings GmbH, IQVIA RDS Finland OY, IQVIA RDS France SAS (formerly, IQVIA RDS Funding LLC, IQVIA RDS GesmbH, IQVIA RDS GesmbH Greek Branch, IQVIA RDS Guatemala S.A., IQVIA RDS Holdings, IQVIA RDS Hong Kong Limited, IQVIA RDS ISRAEL LTD., IQVIA RDS Inc., IQVIA RDS Ireland (Finance) Ltd., IQVIA RDS Ireland Ltd., IQVIA RDS Italy Srl, IQVIA RDS Latin America LLC, IQVIA RDS Latvia SIA, IQVIA RDS Magyarorszag Gyogyszerfejlesztesi es Tanacsado Kft., IQVIA RDS Malaysia Sdn. Bhd., IQVIA RDS Moscow, IQVIA RDS Novosibirsk, IQVIA RDS Panama Inc., IQVIA RDS Peru S.r.l., IQVIA RDS Philippines Inc., IQVIA RDS Poland Sp. Zoo, IQVIA RDS Pty. Limited, IQVIA RDS Slovakia s.r.o., IQVIA RDS Spain, IQVIA RDS Spain S.L., IQVIA RDS St. Petersburg, IQVIA RDS Support Sarl, IQVIA RDS Switzerland sarl, IQVIA RDS Taiwan Ltd., IQVIA RDS Transfer LLC, IQVIA RDS UAB, IQVIA RDS UK Holdings Ltd., IQVIA RDS and Integrated Services Belgium NV, IQVIA RDS d.o.o. Beograd, IQVIA SOLUTIONS ASIA PTE. LTD., IQVIA SOLUTIONS CANADA INC., IQVIA SOLUTIONS JAPAN K.K., IQVIA SOLUTIONS OPERATIONS CENTER PHLIPPINES INC., IQVIA SOLUTIONS PHILIPINES, IQVIA SOLUTIONS PHILIPPINES, IQVIA Services Japan K.K., IQVIA Solutions (NZ) Limited, IQVIA Solutions (Pty.) Ltd., IQVIA Solutions Argentina S.A., IQVIA Solutions Australia Holdings Pty. Ltd., IQVIA Solutions Australia Pty. Ltd., IQVIA Solutions B.V., IQVIA Solutions Belgium S.P.R.L., IQVIA Solutions Bulgaria EOOD, IQVIA Solutions Colombia S.A., IQVIA Solutions Consulting Myanmar Company Limited, IQVIA Solutions Denmark AS, IQVIA Solutions Enterprise Management Consulting (Shanghai) Co., IQVIA Solutions Finance B.V., IQVIA Solutions Finance UK I Ltd., IQVIA Solutions Finance UK II Ltd., IQVIA Solutions Finance UK III Ltd., IQVIA Solutions Finance UK V Ltd., IQVIA Solutions Finland OY, IQVIA Solutions Global Holdings UK Ltd., IQVIA Solutions GmbH, IQVIA Solutions HQ Ltd., IQVIA Solutions Holdings (Pty.) Ltd., IQVIA Solutions Hong Kong Limited, IQVIA Solutions Ireland Limited, IQVIA Solutions Italy W.r.l., IQVIA Solutions Kazakhstan LLC, IQVIA Solutions LLC, IQVIA Solutions Malaysia Sdn. Bhd., IQVIA Solutions Norway AS, IQVIA Solutions Pharmaceutical SRL, IQVIA Solutions Portugal, IQVIA Solutions Regional Pte. Ltd., IQVIA Solutions Services Ltd., IQVIA Solutions Sweden AB, IQVIA Solutions UK Investments Ltd., IQVIA Solutions UK Limited, IQVIA Solutions a.s., IQVIA Solutions del Peru S.A., IQVIA Solutions do Brasil Ltda., IQVIA Solutions s.r.o., IQVIA Solucoes de Tecnologia DO Brazil Ltda., IQVIA Staff Services Sp.A., IQVIA TRANSPORTATION SERVICES CORP., IQVIA Technology Services Ltd., IQVIA Technology Solutions Egypt LLC, IQVIA Technology Solutions Finland OY, IQVIA Technology Solutions Poland SP. z.o.o., IQVIA Technology Solutions Romania Srl, IQVIA Technology Solutions S.R.O. Branch Bulgaria, IQVIA Technology Solutions Ukraine LLC, IQVIA Technology Solutions s.r.o., IQVIA Technology and Services AG, IQVIA Tibbi Istatistik Ticaret ve Musavirlik Ltd. Sirketi, IQVIA Trading Management Inc., IQVIA World Publications Ltd., IQVIA Zagreb d.o.o., Iasist Holdco Limited, Iasist Potugal, Iasist SAU Agencia en Chile, Iasist Sociedad Anonima Unipersonal, Impact RX, Infocus Health Limited, Infopharm Ltd., Innovex Holdings I LLC, Innovex Merger Corp., Innovex Saglik Hizmetleri Arastirma ve Danismanlik Ticaret Limited Sirketi, Innovex Saglik Urunleri Pazarlame ve Hizmet Danismanlik Anonim Sirketi, Institute of Medical Communications NCO, Interstatistik AG, Kun Tai Medical Development Hong Kong Limited, Kun Tuo Medical Research & Development (Beijing) Co. Ltd., Laboratorie Novex Pharma Sarl, Laboratorio Commuq Pharma SL, Linguamatics, M&H Informatics (BD) LTD., M-TAG Australia Pty. Ltd., MED-VANTAGE, MG Recherche, Mecurial Insights Holding Pty. Ltd., Mecurial Insights Pty. Ltd., Mercados Y Analisis, Meridian Research Vietnam Ltd., Nordisk Medicin Information AB, Novella Clinical LLC, Novella Clinical Ltd., Novex Pharma Gmbh, Novex Pharma Laboratorio S.L., Novex Pharma Limited, Nuevo Health Pty Ltd, Onkodatamed GmbH, Operaciones Centralizadas Latinoamericana Limitada, Optimum Contact Limited, Outcome Sciences LLC, PILGRIM SOFTWARE HOLDING B.V., POLARIS MANAGEMENT PARTNERS LLC, POLARIS SOLUTIONS LLC, PR Editions S.A.S., PT IMS Health Indonesia, PT Quintiles Indonesia, Penderwood Limited, PharmARC Consulting Services GmbH, PharmARC Inc., Pharma Deals Limited, Pharma Strategy Group Ltd., Pharmadata s.r.o., Pharmaforce, Pilgrim Quality Solutions EMEA BV, Pilgrim Software Asia PVT, Polaris Solutions BV, Polaris Solutions Ltd., Primeum IQVIA SAS, Privacy Analytics Inc., Professional Pharmaceutical Marketing Services (Pty.) Ltd., Pygargus AB, Q Squared Solutions (Beijing) Co. Ltd., Q Squared Solutions (India) Private Limited, Q Squared Solutions (Quest) LLC, Q Squared Solutions (Quest) Limited, Q Squared Solutions (Shanghai) Co. Ltd., Q Squared Solutions B.V., Q Squared Solutions BioSciences LLC, Q Squared Solutions China (Quest) Limited, Q Squared Solutions China Limited, Q Squared Solutions Expression Analysis LLC, Q Squared Solutions Holdings B.V., Q Squared Solutions Holdings LLC, Q Squared Solutions Holdings Limited, Q Squared Solutions K.K., Q Squared Solutions LLC, Q Squared Solutions Limited, Q Squared Solutions Proprietary Limited, Q Squared Solutions Pte. Ltd., Q Squared Solutions S.A., Q2 Metrics, Q2 Solutions, QIMS Pharma Services SA DE CV, QUINTILES MEXICO, QUINTILESIMS EUROPEAN HOLDINGS II C.V., Qcare Site Services, Quintiles B.V., Quintiles Benin Ltd., Quintiles Clindata (Pty.) Limited, Quintiles Clindepharm (Pty.) Limited, Quintiles Clinical and Commercial Nigeria Limited, Quintiles Commercial ApS, Quintiles Commercial Germany GmbH, Quintiles Commercial Rus LLC, Quintiles Commercial South Africa (Pty) Limited, Quintiles Commercial US. Inc., Quintiles Costa Rica S.A., Quintiles Czech Republic, Quintiles Denmark, Quintiles East Africa Limited, Quintiles Egypt LLC, Quintiles Enterprise Management (Shanghai) Co. Ltd., Quintiles Finance Sarl, Quintiles Finance Uruguay, Quintiles GmbH, Quintiles Holdings S.a.r.l., Quintiles IMS European Holdings C.V., Quintiles Lanka Private Limited, Quintiles Latin America Inc., Quintiles Luxembourg European Holding, Quintiles Luxembourg European Holding S.a.r.l., Quintiles Luxembourg France Holdings SARL, Quintiles Medical Development (Shanghai) Co. Ltd., Quintiles Netherlands, Quintiles New Zealand, Quintiles Norway, Quintiles Phase One Clinical Trials India Private Limited, Quintiles Russia LLC, Quintiles S.a.r.l., Quintiles Site Services, Quintiles South Africa (PTY.) Limited, Quintiles UK (Japan Holdings) Limited, Quintiles Ukraine, Quintiles Vietnam, Quintiles West Africa Limited, RX India LLC, Radar Acquisition Blocker, Redsite Limited, Reportive SA, STI Technologies Limited, Schwarzeck Verlag GmbH, Secureconsent, Shanghai IMS Market Research Co. Ltd., Source Informatics Limited, Spartan Leasing Corporation, Statfinn Oy, Strategique Sante, THE AMUNDSEN GROUP, Targeted Molecular Diagnostics, Tarius A/S, Temas Srl - Societa Unipersonale, TforG Connect BVBA, Themis Limited, UAB IQVIA Commercial, VALUEMEDICS RESEARCH, VCG&A Inc., and iGuard. iShares MSCI EAFE Value ETF's stock was trading at $38.50 on March 11th, 2020 when Coronavirus reached pandemic status according to the World Health Organization. Since then, EFV shares have increased by 32.6% and is now trading at $51.04. View which stocks have been most impacted by COVID-19. iShares Russell 2000 Value ETF's stock was trading at $92.55 on March 11th, 2020 when COVID-19 reached pandemic status according to the World Health Organization (WHO). Since then, IWN shares have increased by 85.1% and is now trading at $171.27. View which stocks have been most impacted by COVID-19. CoreLogic, Inc., together with its subsidiaries, provides property information, insight, analytics, and data-enabled solutions in North America, Western Europe, and the Asia Pacific. The company operates in two segments, Property Intelligence & Risk Management Solutions (PIRM) and Underwriting & Workflow Solutions (UWS). The PIRM segment combines property information, mortgage information, and consumer information to deliver housing market and property-level insights, predictive analytics, and risk management capabilities. It also offers proprietary technology and software platforms to access, automate, or track the information and assist its clients with decision-making and compliance tools in the real estate and insurance industries. This segment primarily serves commercial banks, mortgage lenders and brokers, investment banks, fixed-income investors, real estate agents, MLS companies, property and casualty insurance companies, title insurance companies, government agencies, and government-sponsored enterprises. The UWS segment combines property, mortgage, and consumer information to provide comprehensive mortgage origination and monitoring solutions, including underwriting-related solutions, and data-enabled valuations and appraisals. This segment also provides proprietary technology and software platforms to access, automate, or track the information and assist its clients with vetting and onboarding prospects, and meeting compliance regulations, as well as understanding, evaluating, monitoring property values. It primarily serves mortgage lenders and servicers, mortgage brokers, credit unions, commercial banks, fixed-income investors, government agencies, and property and casualty insurance companies. The company was formerly known as The First American Corporation and changed its name to CoreLogic, Inc. in June 2010. CoreLogic, Inc. was incorporated in 1894 and is headquartered in Irvine, California. Read More 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 (WHO). Since then, PCY shares have increased by 0.7% and is now trading at $26.00. View which stocks have been most impacted by COVID-19. 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 The following companies are subsidiares of Colgate-Palmolive: 887357 Ontario Inc., COLGALIVE S.A., CP GABA GmbH, CP International Holding C.V., CP West East Investment Limited, Cleaning Dimensions Inc., Colgate (BVI) Limited, Colgate (Guangzhou) Company Limited, Colgate (U.K.) Limited, Colgate Business Services of the Americas S.C., Colgate Flavors and Fragrances Inc., Colgate Global Business Services Private Limited, Colgate Holdings, Colgate Inc., Colgate Oral Pharmaceuticals Inc., Colgate Palmolive Ghana Limited, Colgate Palmolive Holding S.Com.P.A., Colgate Palmolive Nouvelle Caledonie Sarl, Colgate Palmolive Tanzania Limited, Colgate Sanxiao Company Limited, Colgate Venture Company Inc., Colgate-Palmolive (America) Inc., Colgate-Palmolive (Asia) Pte Ltd, Colgate-Palmolive (Blantyre) Limited, Colgate-Palmolive (Brunei) Sdn Bhn, Colgate-Palmolive (Central America) Inc., Colgate-Palmolive (Central America) Inc. y Compania Limitada, Colgate-Palmolive (Centro America) S.A., Colgate-Palmolive (China) Co. Ltd, Colgate-Palmolive (Costa Rica) S.A., Colgate-Palmolive (Dominica) Inc., Colgate-Palmolive (Dominican Republic) Inc., Colgate-Palmolive (East Africa) Limited, Colgate-Palmolive (Eastern) Pte. Ltd., Colgate-Palmolive (Egypt) S.A.E., Colgate-Palmolive (Far East) Sdn Bhd, Colgate-Palmolive (Fiji) Pte Limited, Colgate-Palmolive (Gabon) S.A., Colgate-Palmolive (Guyana) Ltd., Colgate-Palmolive (H.K.) Limited, Colgate-Palmolive (Hellas) S.A. I.C., Colgate-Palmolive (Hong Kong) Holding Limited, Colgate-Palmolive (Kazakhstan) L.L.P., Colgate-Palmolive (Latvia) Ltd., Colgate-Palmolive (Malaysia) Sdn Bhd, Colgate-Palmolive (Middle East Exports) Ltd., Colgate-Palmolive (Myanmar) Limited, Colgate-Palmolive (New York) Inc., Colgate-Palmolive (Poland) Sp. z o.o., Colgate-Palmolive (Proprietary) Limited, Colgate-Palmolive (Research & Development) Inc., Colgate-Palmolive (Romania) SRL, Colgate-Palmolive (Thailand) Limited, Colgate-Palmolive (UK) Limited, Colgate-Palmolive (Uganda) Limited, Colgate-Palmolive (Vietnam) Ltd., Colgate-Palmolive (Zambia) Inc., Colgate-Palmolive (Zimbabwe) Inc., Colgate-Palmolive A.B., Colgate-Palmolive A/S, Colgate-Palmolive Adria Ltd., Colgate-Palmolive Argentina S.A., Colgate-Palmolive Asia Pacific Limited, Colgate-Palmolive Asia Pacific Treasury Services Limited, Colgate-Palmolive Belgium S.A., Colgate-Palmolive Bolivia Ltda., Colgate-Palmolive Canada Inc., Colgate-Palmolive Caricom Service Co. Inc., Colgate-Palmolive Central European Management Inc., Colgate-Palmolive Chile S.A., Colgate-Palmolive Cia., Colgate-Palmolive Comercial Ltda., Colgate-Palmolive Commercial (Hellas) SP LLC, Colgate-Palmolive Commerciale S.A.S., Colgate-Palmolive Commericale S.r.l., Colgate-Palmolive Compania Anonima, Colgate-Palmolive Company Distr. LLC, Colgate-Palmolive Company GmbH, Colgate-Palmolive Cote dIvoire S.A., Colgate-Palmolive Cyprus Limited, Colgate-Palmolive Development Corp., Colgate-Palmolive East West Africa Region (Pty) Ltd, Colgate-Palmolive Enterprises Inc., Colgate-Palmolive Espana S.A., Colgate-Palmolive Europe (Holdings) Sarl, Colgate-Palmolive Europe Sarl, Colgate-Palmolive Finance (UK) plc, Colgate-Palmolive Global Trading Company, Colgate-Palmolive Holding Argentina S.A., Colgate-Palmolive Holding Inc., Colgate-Palmolive Hungary Kft Limited Liability Company, Colgate-Palmolive IHQ Services (Thailand) Limited, Colgate-Palmolive Inc., Colgate-Palmolive Inc. S.A., Colgate-Palmolive Industrial Ltda., Colgate-Palmolive Industriel S.A.S., Colgate-Palmolive International Holding LLC, Colgate-Palmolive International LLC, Colgate-Palmolive Investment Co. Inc., Colgate-Palmolive Investments (BVI) Ltd., Colgate-Palmolive Investments (PNG) Ltd., Colgate-Palmolive Investments (UK) Limited, Colgate-Palmolive Investments Inc., Colgate-Palmolive Israel Ltd., Colgate-Palmolive Italia S.r.l., Colgate-Palmolive JSC, Colgate-Palmolive Lanka (Private) Limited, Colgate-Palmolive Latin America Inc., Colgate-Palmolive Limited, Colgate-Palmolive Manufacturing (Poland) Sp. z o.o., Colgate-Palmolive Marketing Sdn Bhd, Colgate-Palmolive Maroc S.A., Colgate-Palmolive Mocambique Limitada, Colgate-Palmolive NJ Inc., Colgate-Palmolive Nederland B.V., Colgate-Palmolive Norge A/S, Colgate-Palmolive Participacoes e Investimentos Imobiliarios Lda., Colgate-Palmolive Peru S.A., Colgate-Palmolive Philippines Inc., Colgate-Palmolive Pty Ltd, Colgate-Palmolive Retirement Trustee Limited, Colgate-Palmolive S.A. de C.V., Colgate-Palmolive S.p.A., Colgate-Palmolive Senegal S.A., Colgate-Palmolive Services (Hellas) LLC, Colgate-Palmolive Services (Poland) Sp. z o.o., Colgate-Palmolive Services CEW GmbH, Colgate-Palmolive Services S.A., Colgate-Palmolive Slovensko s.r.o., Colgate-Palmolive Support Services, Colgate-Palmolive Temizlik Urunleri Sanayi ve Ticart S.A., Colgate-Palmolive Transnational Inc., Colgate-Palmolive Ukraine LLC, Colgate-Palmolive Unipessoal Lda, Colgate-Palmolive de Paraguay Sociedad Anonima, Colgate-Palmolive de Puerto Rico Inc., Colgate-Palmolive del Ecuador S.A.I.C., Colgate-Palmolive del Peru (Delaware) Inc., Colgate-Palmolive Eeska republika spol. s r.o., Colpal CBS S de R. L. de C. V., Consumer Viewpoint Center Inc., Cotelle S.A., Dimac Development Corp., Dominica Coconut Products Limited, EKIB Inc., ELM Company Limited, Elta MD Holdings Inc., Elta MD Inc., EltaMD, Filorga Americas Inc., Filorga Asia Limited, Filorga Benelux SA, Filorga Cosmetiques Polska, Filorga Middle East DMCC, Filorga Portugal Unipessoal Lda., Filorga RU Limited Liability Company, GABA Europe Holding GmbH, GABA International, GABA International Holding LLC, GABA Schweiz AG, GABA Therwil GmbH, Gamma Development Co. Ltd., Global Trading and Supply LLC, Hamol Ltd., Hello Products, Hello Products LLC, Hills Funding Company, Hills Pet Nutrition (NZ) Limited, Hills Pet Nutrition (Thailand) Co. Ltd., Hills Pet Nutrition Asia Limited, Hills Pet Nutrition B.V., Hills Pet Nutrition Canada Inc., Hills Pet Nutrition Denmark ApS, Hills Pet Nutrition Espana S.L., Hills Pet Nutrition GmbH, Hills Pet Nutrition Holding B.V., Hills Pet Nutrition Inc., Hills Pet Nutrition Indiana Inc., Hills Pet Nutrition Italia S.r.l., Hills Pet Nutrition Korea Ltd., Hills Pet Nutrition Ltd., Hills Pet Nutrition Manufacturing B.V., Hills Pet Nutrition Manufacturing s.r.o, Hills Pet Nutrition Norway AS, Hills Pet Nutrition OOO, Hills Pet Nutrition Pty. Limited, Hills Pet Nutrition S.p.A., Hills Pet Nutrition SNC, Hills Pet Nutrition Sales Inc., Hills Pet Nutrition South Africa Proprietary Limited, Hills Pet Nutrition Sweden AB, Hills Pet Nutrition Switzerland GmbH, Hills Pet Nutrition Taiwan Ltd, Hills Pet Nutrition Trading (GZ) Co. Ltd, Hills Pet Nutrition de Mexico S.A. de C.V., Hills Pet Nutrition de Puerto Rico Inc., Hills Pet Nutrition s.r.o., Hills Pet Products (Benelux) S.A., Hills Pet Products Inc., Hills Veterinary Companies of America Inc., Hills-Colgate (Japan) Ltd., Hopro Liquidating Corp., Hygiene Systemes et Services SA, IES Enterprises Inc., Inmobiliaria Colpal S. de R.L. de C.V., Inmobiliaria Hills S.A. de C.V., Innovacion Creativa S.A. de C.V., Kolynos Corporation, Laboratoires Filorga Cosmetiques Espana S.L.U., Laboratoires Filorga Cosmetiques Italia S.R.L., Laboratoires Filorga Cosmetiques S.A., Laser Brand Toothpaste, Lournay Sales Inc., Mennen Company, Mennen Interamerica Ltd., Mennen Limited, Mennen South Africa Ltd., Mennen de Chile Ltd., Mennen de Nicargua S.A., Mission Hills Property Corporation, Mission Hills S.A. de C.V., Norwood International Incorporated, Olive Music Publishing Corporation, PCA SKIN, Paramount Research Inc., Penny LLC, Pet Chemicals Inc., Physicians Care Alliance LLC, Productos Halogenados Copalven C.A., Purity Holding Company, Purity Music Publishing Corporation, Refresh Company Limited, Samuel Taylor Holdings B.V., Sanex, Sanxiao Company Limited, Services Development Co. Ltd., Societe Generale de Negoce et de Services (GENESE) S.A., The GDN - The Global Distributive Network SAS, The Lournay Company Inc., The MPDP - The Medical and Pharmaceutic Distributive Platform SAS, The Murphy-Phoenix Company, Tom's of Maine, Toms of Maine Holdings Inc., Toms of Maine Inc., Veterinary Companies of America Inc., Vipont Pharmaceutical Inc., and XEB Inc.. SemGroup Corporation provides gathering, transportation, storage, distribution, marketing, and other midstream services for producers, refiners of petroleum products, and other market participants. The company operates in three segments: U.S. Liquids, U.S. Gas, and Canada. The U.S. Liquids segment operates crude oil pipelines, truck transportation, storage, terminals, and marketing businesses; stores, blends, and transports refinery products and refinery feedstock through pipeline, barge, rail, truck, and ship; and operates a residual fuel oil storage terminal in the U.S. Gulf Coast. This segment has 18.2 million barrels of storage capacity on the Houston Ship Channel; and 7.6 million barrels of storage capacity at the Cushing Interchange. It also operates a 460-mile crude oil gathering and transportation pipeline system in Kansas and northern Oklahoma; 75-mile crude oil gathering pipeline system that transports crude oil from production facilities in the DJ Basin to the pipeline owned by White Cliffs Pipeline, L.L.C.; 2 parallel 527-mile pipelines that transports crude oil from Platteville, Colorado to Cushing, Oklahoma; 3 pipelines with an aggregate of 106 miles of pipe; 30-lane crude oil truck unloading facility in Platteville, Colorado; and crude oil trucking fleet of approximately 245 transport trucks and 235 trailers. The U.S. Gas segment provides natural gas gathering, processing, and marketing services. It operates 842 miles of gathering lines in Oklahoma; and a 53-mile high pressure gathering pipeline located in the STACK play. The Canada segment owns and operates natural gas processing and gathering facilities with approximately 530 miles of natural gas gathering and transportation pipelines in Alberta, Canada. SemGroup Corporation was founded in 2000 and is headquartered in Tulsa, Oklahoma. Read More Toyota Motor Corp. engages in the manufacture and sale of motor vehicles and parts. It operates through the following segments: Automotive, Financial Services, and All Other. The Automotive segment designs, manufactures, assembles and sells passenger cars, minivans, trucks, and related vehicle parts and accessories. It is also involved in the development of intelligent transport systems. The Financial Services segment offers purchase or lease financing to Toyota vehicle dealers and customers. It also provides retail leasing through lease contracts purchase by dealers. The All Others segment deals with the design and manufacture and sale of housing, telecommunications and other businesses. The company was founded by Kiichiro Toyoda on August 28, 1937 and is headquartered in Toyota, Japan. Read More iShares S&P SmallCap 600 ETF's stock was trading at $62.31 on March 11th, 2020 when Coronavirus reached pandemic status according to the World Health Organization. Since then, IJR shares have increased by 88.2% and is now trading at $117.27. View which stocks have been most impacted by COVID-19. The following companies are subsidiares of Vodafone Group: 360 Connect S.A., [email protected] Telecom, A-ccelerator B.V., A-ccelerator Holding B.V, AAA (Euro) Limited, AAA (MCR) Limited, AAA (UK) Limited, Acorn Communications Limited, Africonnect (Zambia) Limited, Ag Mercantile Company Private Limited, Al-Amin Investments Limited, Amsterdamse Beheer- en Consultingmaatschappij B.V., Apollo Submarine Cable System Limited, Array Holdings Limited, Asian Telecommunication Investments (Mauritius) Limited, Aspective Limited, Astec Communications Limited, Autoconnex Limited, Aztec Limited, BelCompany BV, Bluefish Apac Communications Pte. Ltd, Bluefish Communications, Bluefish Communications Limited, Business Serve Limited, C&W Worldwide Nigeria Limited, C.S.P. Solutions Limited, CCII (Mauritius) Inc., CGP India Investments Ltd., CGP Investments (Holdings) Limited, COOP Mobil s.r.o, CT Networks Limited, CWGNL S.A., CWW Operations Limited, Cable & Wireless Access Limited, Cable & Wireless Americas Systems Inc., Cable & Wireless Aspac Holdings Limited, Cable & Wireless CIS Services Limited, Cable & Wireless CIS Svyaz LLC, Cable & Wireless Capital Limited , Cable & Wireless Communications Data Network Services Limited, Cable & Wireless Communications Starclass Limited, Cable & Wireless Communications Technical Service (Shanghai) Co. Ltd (Beijing Branch), Cable & Wireless Europe Holdings Limited, Cable & Wireless GN Limited, Cable & Wireless Global (India) Private Limited, Cable & Wireless Global Business Services Limited, Cable & Wireless Global Holding Limited, Cable & Wireless Global Telecommunication Services Limited, Cable & Wireless Holdco Limited, Cable & Wireless Networks India Private Limited, Cable & Wireless Trade Mark Management Limited, Cable & Wireless UK Holdings Limited, Cable & Wireless UK Services Limited, Cable & Wireless Waterside Holdings Limited, Cable & Wireless Worldwide, Cable & Wireless Worldwide Limited, Cable & Wireless Worldwide Pension Trustee Limited, Cable & Wireless Worldwide Services Limited, Cable & Wireless Worldwide Voice Messaging Limited, Cable & Wireless a-Services Inc, Cable & Wireless a-Services Limited, Cable and Wireless (India) Limited, Cable and Wireless (India) Limited Indian Branch Office, Cable and Wireless Nominee Limited, Cable and Wireless Worldwide South Africa (Pty) Ltd, Cavalry Holdings Ltd, Celfocus Solucoes Informaticas Para Telecomunicacoes S.A, Cellops Limited, Cellular Operations Limited, Central Communications Group Limited, Central Telecom (Northern) Limited, Centurion GSM Limited, Chelys Limited, City Cable (Holdings) Limited, Cobra do Brasil Servicos de Telematica ltda., Commnet Cellular Inc., Complete Network Technology, Connect (India) Mobile Technologies Private Limited, Cornerstone Telecommunications Infrastructure Limited, Dataroam Limited , Device Insight, Digital Island (UK) Ltd, Digital Mobile Spectrum Limited, East Africa Investment (Mauritius) Limited, Emtel Europe Limited, Energis (Ireland) Limited, Energis Communications Limited, Energis Holdings Limited, Energis Local Access Limited, Energis Management Limited, Energis Squared Limited, Erudite Systems Limited, Esprit Telecom B.V., Eudokia Limited, Euro Pacific Securities Ltd., Eurocall Holdings Limited, Europolitan Holdings AB (now Europolitan Vodafone AB), FB Holdings Limited, FM Associates (UK) Limited, FinCo Partner 1 B.V., FireFly Networks Limited, Flexphone Limited, GS Telecom (Pty) Limited, Gateway Communications Africa (UK) Limited, Gateway Communications Tanzania Limited, General Mobile Corporation, Generation Telecom Limited, Ghana Telecommunications, Ghana Telecommunications Company Limited, Global Cellular Rental Limited, Globe Limited, GrandCentrix GmbH, Grupo Corporativo ONO S.A.U., H3ga Properties (No 3) Pty Limited, HBO Nederland Cooperatief U.A., HBO Netherlands Channels sro, HBO Netherlands Distribution B.V., Hellas Online, How2 Telecom Limited, Hutchison Essar Ltd, Indus Towers Limited, Intercell Communications Limited, Internet Network Services Limited, Invitation Digital Limited, Ipergy Communications NV, Isis Telecommunications Management Limited, Jaguar Communications Limited, Jaykay Finholding (India) Private Limited, Jupicol (Proprietary) Limited, KABELCOM Braunschweig Gesellschaft Fur BreitbandkabelKommunikation Mit Beschrankter Haftung, KABELCOM Wolfsburg Gesellschaft Fur BreitbandkabelKommunikation Mit Beschrankter Haftung, Kabel Deutschland, Kabel Deutschland Holding, Kabel Deutschland Holding Erste Beteiligungs GmbH, Kabel Deutschland Holding Zweite Beteilgungs GmbH, Kabel Deutschland Neunte Beteiligungs GmbH, Kabel Deutschland Siebte Beteiligungs GmbH, Kabelfernsehen Munchen Servicenter GmbH & Co. KG, LG Financing Partnership, LGE HoldCo V B.V., LGE HoldCo VI B.V., LGE HoldCo VIII B.V., LGE Holdco VII B.V., LLC Vodafone Enterprise Ukraine, Le Bunt Holdings Limited, Legend Communications Limited, Liberty Global, Liberty Global Content Netherlands B.V., London Hydraulic Power Company, M-PESA Foundation, M-PESA Holding Co. Limited, ML Integration Group Limited, ML Integration Limited, ML Integration Services Limited, MV Healthcare Services Private Limited, Mannesmann AG, MetroHoldings Limited, Mezzanine Ware Proprietary Limited (RF), Mirambo Limited, Misrfone Trading Company LLC, MobiFon S.A., Mobile Commerce Solutions Limited, Mobile Phone Centre Limited, Mobile Wallet VM1, Mobile Wallet VM2, Mobile by Sainsburys Limited, Mobiles 4 Business.com Limited, Mobileworld Communications Pty Limited, Mobileworld Operating Pty Ltd, Mobilvest, Motifpros 1 (Proprietary) Limited, Multi Risk Indemnity Company Limited, Multi Risk Limited, ND Callus Info Services Private Limited, Nadal Trading Company Private Limited, Nat Comm Air Limited, National Communications Backbone Company Limited, Navtrak Ltd, Netforce Group Limited, Netgrid Telecom SRL, Number Portability Company (Proprietary) Limited, ONO, Omega Telecom Holdings Private Limited, Oni Way Infocomunicacoes S.A, Oskar Mobil S.R.O., Oxygen Solutions Limited, P.C.P. (North West) Limited, PPL Pty Limited, PT Network Services Limited, PTI Telecom Limited, Peoples Phone Limited, Pinnacle Cellular Group Limited, Pinnacle Cellular Limited, Plex Limited, Plustech Mercantile Company Private Limited, Prime Metals Ltd., Project Telecom Holdings Limited, Quickcomm Software Solutions, Radio Opt GmbH, Rian Mobile Limited, SBC SMART CITY 1517 B.V., SMMS Investments Pvt Limited, Safaricom Limited, Safenet N.P A., Sarmady Communications, Scarlet Ibis Investments 23 (Pty) Limited, Scorpios Beverages Pvt. Ltd, Silver Stream Investments Limited, Singlepoint (4U) Limited, Singlepoint (4U) Ltd., Singlepoint Payment Services Limited, Siro Limited, Spar Aerospace (Nigeria) Limited, Sport TV Portugal S.A, Starnet, Stentor Communications Limited, Stentor Limited, Storage Technology Services (Pty) Limited, T.W. Telecom Limited, T3 Telecommunications Limited, TKS Telepost Kabel-Service Kaiserslautern Beteiligungs GmbH, TKS Telepost Kabel-Service Kaiserslautern GmbH & Co. KG, TNAS Limited, TSM NZ Limited, Talkland Airtime Services Limited, Talkland Australia Pty Limited, Talkland Communications Limited, Talkland International Limited, Talkland Midlands Limited, Talkmobile Limited, Tele2 Italia SPA, Tele2 Spain, Telecom Investments India Private Limited, Telecommunications Europe Limited, Ternhill Communications Limited, The Cobra Group, The Eastern Leasing Company Limited, The Old Telecom Sales Co. Limited, Thus Group Holdings Limited, Thus Group Limited, Thus Limited, Thus Profit Sharing Trustees Limited, TnT Expense Management LLC, Tomorrow Street GP S.a r.l., Tomorrow Street SCA, Torenspits II B.V., Townley Communications Limited, Trans Crystal Ltd., UMT Investments Limited, UPC Nederland Holding I B.V., UPC Nederland Holding II B.V., UPC Nederland Holding III B.V., Unified Communications, Uniqueair Limited, Urbana Teleunion Rostock GmbH & Co.KG, Usha Martin Telematics Limited, VAPL No. 2 Pty Limited, VBA (Mauritius) Limited, VBA Holdings Limited, VBA International (SL) Limited, VBA International Limited, VEI S.r.l., VM SA, VND S.p.A, VSSB Vodafone Shared Services Budapest Private Limited Company, Verwaltung Urbana Teleunion Rostock GmbH, Victus Networks S.A., Vizzavi Finance Limited, Vizzavi Limited, Voda Limited, Vodacall Limited, Vodacash s.p.r.l., Vodacom (Pty) Limited, Vodacom Business (Angola) Limitada, Vodacom Business (Ghana) Limited, Vodacom Business (Kenya) Limited, Vodacom Business Africa (Nigeria) Limited, Vodacom Business Africa Group (Pty) Limited, Vodacom Business Africa Group Services Limited, Vodacom Business Cameroon SA, Vodacom Business Cote Divoire S.A.R.L., Vodacom Congo (RDC) SA, Vodacom Financial Services (Proprietary) Limited, Vodacom Group Limited, Vodacom Insurance Administration Company (Proprietary) Limited, Vodacom Insurance Company (RF) Limited, Vodacom International Holdings (Pty) Limited, Vodacom International Limited, Vodacom Lesotho (Pty) Limited, Vodacom Life Assurance Company (RF) Limited, Vodacom Payment Services (Proprietary) Limited, Vodacom Properties No 1 (Proprietary) Limited, Vodacom Properties No.2 (Pty) Limited, Vodacom Tanzania Limited Zanzibar, Vodacom Tanzania Public Limited Company, Vodacom UK Limited, Vodafone (NI) Limited, Vodafone (New Zealand) Hedging Limited, Vodafone (Scotland) Limited, Vodafone 2, Vodafone 4 UK, Vodafone 5 Limited, Vodafone 5 UK, Vodafone 6 UK, Vodafone Albania Sh.A, Vodafone Alternatif Telekom Hizmetleri A.S., Vodafone Americas 4, Vodafone Americas Virginia Inc., Vodafone And Qatar Foundation L.L.C, Vodafone Asset Management Services S.a r.l., Vodafone Australia Pty Limited, Vodafone Automotive Deutschland GmbH, Vodafone Automotive Electronic Systems S.r.L, Vodafone Automotive France S.A.S, Vodafone Automotive Iberia S.L, Vodafone Automotive Italia S.p.A, Vodafone Automotive Japan K.K, Vodafone Automotive Korea Limited, Vodafone Automotive SpA, Vodafone Automotive Technologies (Beijing) Co Ltd, Vodafone Automotive Telematics Development S.A.S, Vodafone Automotive Telematics S.A, Vodafone Automotive UK Limited, Vodafone Belgium SA/NV, Vodafone Benelux Limited, Vodafone Bilgi Ve Iletisim Hizmetleri AS, Vodafone Business Services Limited, Vodafone Business Solutions Limited, Vodafone Canada Inc, Vodafone Cellular Limited, Vodafone Central Services Limited, Vodafone China Limited (China), Vodafone China Limited (Hong Kong), Vodafone Connect 2 Limited, Vodafone Connect Limited, Vodafone Consolidated Holdings Limited, Vodafone Corporate Limited, Vodafone Corporate Secretaries Limited, Vodafone Czech Republic A.S., Vodafone DC Pension Trustee Company Limited, Vodafone Dagitim Hizmetleri A.S., Vodafone Data, Vodafone Distribution Holdings Limited, Vodafone Egypt Telecommunications S.A.E., Vodafone Elektronik Para Ve Odeme Hizmetleri A.S., Vodafone Empresa Brasil Telecomunicacoes Ltda, Vodafone Empresa Mexico S.de R.L. de C.V., Vodafone Enabler Espana S.L., Vodafone Enterprise Australia Pty Limited, Vodafone Enterprise Austria GmbH, Vodafone Enterprise Bahrain W.L.L., Vodafone Enterprise Bulgaria EOOD, Vodafone Enterprise Chile SA, Vodafone Enterprise Communications Technical Services (Shanghai) Co. Ltd, Vodafone Enterprise Corporate Secretaries Limited, Vodafone Enterprise Denmark A/S, Vodafone Enterprise Equipment Limited, Vodafone Enterprise Europe (UK) Limited, Vodafone Enterprise Europe (UK) Limited Czech Branch, Vodafone Enterprise Europe (UK) Limited DubaiI Branch, Vodafone Enterprise Finland OY, Vodafone Enterprise France SAS, Vodafone Enterprise Germany GmbH, Vodafone Enterprise Global Businesses S.a r.l., Vodafone Enterprise Global Limited, Vodafone Enterprise Global Network HK Ltd, Vodafone Enterprise Global Network Pte. Ltd., Vodafone Enterprise Hong Kong Ltd, Vodafone Enterprise Italy S.r.L, Vodafone Enterprise Korea Limited, Vodafone Enterprise Luxembourg S.A., Vodafone Enterprise Netherlands BV, Vodafone Enterprise Norway AS, Vodafone Enterprise Regional Business Singapore Pte.Ltd., Vodafone Enterprise Singapore Pte.Ltd, Vodafone Enterprise Spain S.L.U. Portugal Branch, Vodafone Enterprise Spain SLU, Vodafone Enterprise Sweden AB, Vodafone Enterprise Switzerland AG, Vodafone Erste Beteiligungsgesellschaft mbH, Vodafone Espana S.A.U., Vodafone Euro Hedging Limited, Vodafone Euro Hedging Two, Vodafone Europe B.V., Vodafone Europe UK, Vodafone European Investments, Vodafone European Portal Limited, Vodafone Finance Limited, Vodafone Finance Luxembourg Limited, Vodafone Finance Sweden, Vodafone Finance UK Limited, Vodafone Financial Operations, Vodafone Financial Services B.V., Vodafone Fixed Ltd, Vodafone Foundation, Vodafone Foundation Australia Pty Limited, Vodafone Gestioni S.p.A, Vodafone Ghana Mobile Financial Services Limited, Vodafone Global Content Services Limited, Vodafone Global Enterprise (Hong Kong) Limited, Vodafone Global Enterprise (Italy) S.R.L., Vodafone Global Enterprise (Japan) K.K., Vodafone Global Enterprise (Malaysia) Sdn Bhd, Vodafone Global Enterprise Limited, Vodafone Global Enterprise Russia LLC, Vodafone Global Enterprise Taiwan Limited, Vodafone Global Enterprise Telecommunications (Hellas) A.E., Vodafone Global Network Limited, Vodafone Global Network Limited Slovakia Branch, Vodafone Global Services Private Limited, Vodafone GmbH, Vodafone Group (Directors) Trustee Limited, Vodafone Group Pension Trustee Limited, Vodafone Group Services GmbH, Vodafone Group Services Ireland Limited, Vodafone Group Services Limited, Vodafone Group Services No.2 Limited, Vodafone Group Share Trustee Limited, Vodafone Hire Limited, Vodafone Holding A.S., Vodafone Holdings (Jersey) Limited, Vodafone Holdings (SA) Proprietary Limited, Vodafone Holdings Europe S.L.U., Vodafone Holdings Luxembourg Limited, Vodafone Hutchison Australia Pty Limited, Vodafone Hutchison Finance Pty Limited, Vodafone Hutchison Receivables Pty Limited, Vodafone IP Licensing Limited, Vodafone India Digital Limited, Vodafone India Limited, Vodafone India Services Private Limited, Vodafone India Ventures Limited, Vodafone Institut fur Gesellschaft und Kommunikation GmbH, Vodafone Intermediate Enterprises Limited, Vodafone International 1 S.a.r.l. Luxembourg Zweigniederlassung Bern, Vodafone International 1 S.a r.l., Vodafone International 2 Limited, Vodafone International Holdings B.V., Vodafone International Holdings Limited, Vodafone International M S.a r.l., Vodafone International Operations Limited, Vodafone International Services LLC, Vodafone Investment UK, Vodafone Investments (SA) Proprietary Limited, Vodafone Investments Australia Limited, Vodafone Investments Limited, Vodafone Investments Luxembourg S.a r.l., Vodafone Investments Luxembourg S.a r.l. Luxembourg Zweigniederlassung Bern, Vodafone Ireland Distribution Limited, Vodafone Ireland Ltd., Vodafone Ireland Marketing Limited, Vodafone Ireland Property Holdings Limited, Vodafone Ireland Retail Limited, Vodafone Italia S.p.A., Vodafone Jersey Dollar Holdings Limited, Vodafone Jersey Finance, Vodafone Jersey Yen Holdings Unlimited, Vodafone Kabel Deutschland Field Services GmbH, Vodafone Kabel Deutschland GmbH, Vodafone Kabel Deutschland Kundenbetreuung GmbH, Vodafone Kenya Limited, Vodafone Leasing Limited, Vodafone Libertel B.V., Vodafone Limited, Vodafone Luxembourg 5 S.a r.l., Vodafone Luxembourg 5 S.a r.l. Luxembourg Zweigniederlassung Bern, Vodafone Luxembourg S.a r.l., Vodafone Luxembourg S.a r.l. Luxembourg Zweigniederlassung Bern, Vodafone M-PESA SH.P.K., Vodafone M-Pesa S.A, Vodafone M.C. Mobile Services Limited , Vodafone Magyarorszag Mobile Tavkozlesi Zartkoruen Mukodo Reszvenytarsasag, Vodafone Malta Limited, Vodafone Marketing UK , Vodafone Maroc SARL, Vodafone Mauritius Ltd., Vodafone Mobile Commerce Limited, Vodafone Mobile Communications Limited, Vodafone Mobile Enterprises Limited, Vodafone Mobile NZ Limited, Vodafone Mobile Network Limited, Vodafone Mobile Operations Limited, Vodafone Mobile Services Limited, Vodafone Multimedia Limited, Vodafone Nederland Holding I B.V., Vodafone Nederland Holding II B.V., Vodafone Nederland Holding III B.V., Vodafone Net Iletisim Hizmetleri A.S., Vodafone Network Pty Limited, Vodafone New Zealand Foundation Limited, Vodafone New Zealand Limited, Vodafone Next Generation Services Limited, Vodafone Nominees Limited1, Vodafone ONO S.A.U., Vodafone Oceania Limited, Vodafone Old Show Ground Site Management Limited, Vodafone Overseas Finance Limited, Vodafone Overseas Holdings Limited, Vodafone Panafon International Holdings B.V., Vodafone Panafon UK, Vodafone Partner Services Limited, Vodafone Payment Solutions S.a r.l., Vodafone Portugal Comunicacoes Pessoais S.A., Vodafone Procurement Company S.a r.l., Vodafone Property Investments Limited, Vodafone Pty Limited, Vodafone Qatar Q.S.C., Vodafone Retail (Holdings) Limited , Vodafone Retail Limited, Vodafone Roaming Services S.a r.l., Vodafone Romania S.A, Vodafone Romania M - Payments SRL, Vodafone Romania Technologies SRL, Vodafone Sales & Services Limited, Vodafone Satellite Services Limited, Vodafone Servicios SL.U, Vodafone Servizi E Tecnologie S.R.L, Vodafone Servicos Empresariais Brasil Ltda., Vodafone Shared Services Romania SRL, Vodafone Specialist Communications Limited, Vodafone Stiftung Deutschland Gemeinnutzige GmbH, Vodafone Technology Solutions Limited, Vodafone Teknoloji Hizmetleri A.S., Vodafone Tele-Services (India) Holdings Limited, Vodafone Telecel-Comunicates Pessoais S.A., Vodafone Telecommunications (India) Limited, Vodafone Telekomunikasyon A.S, Vodafone Towers Limited, Vodafone UK Content Services Limited, Vodafone UK Investments Limited , Vodafone UK Limited1 , Vodafone US Inc, Vodafone Ventures Limited1 , Vodafone Vierte Verwaltungs AG, Vodafone Worldwide Holdings Limited, Vodafone Yen Finance Limited , Vodafone m-pesa Limited, Vodafone-Central Limited Vodaphone Limited, Vodafone-Panafon Hellenic Telecommunications Company S.A., VodafoneZiggo Group Holding B.V, Vodata Limited , Vouchercloud SA (Pty) Ltd, Wataneya Telecommunications S.A.E, Waterberg Lodge (Proprietary) Limited, Wayfinder, Wheatfields Investments 276 (Proprietary) Limited, Wireless Interactions & NFC Accelerator 2013 B.V., Woodend Cellular Limited, Woodend Communications Limited, Woodend Group Limited, Woodend Holdings Limited, XB Facilities B.V, XLink Communications (Proprietary) Limited, Your Communications Group Limited, ZUM B.V., ZYB, Zelitron S.A., Zesko B.V., Ziggo B.V., Ziggo Bond Company B.V., Ziggo Deelnemingen B.V., Ziggo Finance 2 B.V., Ziggo Financing Partnership, Ziggo Holding B.V., Ziggo Netwerk B.V., Ziggo Netwerk II B.V., Ziggo Services B.V., Ziggo Services Employment B.V., Ziggo Services Netwerk 2 B.V., Ziggo Zakelijk Services B.V., and Zoranet Connectivity Services B.V.. New Jersey Resources Corp. is a holding company. The firm provides safe and reliable natural gas and clean energy services, including transportation, distribution, asset management and home services. It operates through the following segments: New Jersey Natural Gas, NJR Clean Energy Ventures, NJR Energy Services, NJR Midstream, and NJR Home Services. The New Jersey Natural Gas segment provides regulated retail natural gas service to residential and commercial customers in central and northern New Jersey. The NJR Clean Energy Ventures segment invests in, owns and operates solar projects. The NJR Energy Services segment manages a diversified portfolio of natural gas transportation and storage assets and provides physical natural gas services in the U.S. and Canada. The NJR Midstream segment serves customers from local distributors and producers to electric generators and wholesale marketers. The NJR Home Services segment provides heating, ventilation and cooling service, sales and installation of appliances services to its customers, as well as solar installation projects, and is the primary contributor to home services. The company was founded in 1981 and is headquartered in Wall, Read More 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 KB Financial Group, Inc. engages in providing financial services through its subsidiaries. It operates through the following segments: Corporate Banking, Retail Banking, Other Banking Services, Credit Card, Life Insurance, Investment and Securities business. The Corporate Banking business segment provides services such as loans, overdrafts, deposits, credit facilities and other foreign currency activities. The Retail Banking business segment offers services such as private customer current accounts, savings, deposits, consumer loans and mortgage loans. The Other Banking business segment provides services relating to banking business besides corporate banking and retail banking services. The Credit Card business segment offers services such as domestic as well as overseas credit and debit card operations. The Investment and Securities business segment provides services such as investment banking and brokerage. The Life Insurance business segment provides products such as life insurance and wealth management. The company was founded on September 29, 2008 and is headquartered in Seoul, South Korea. 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 best bang for your buck! This option enables you to purchase online 24/7 access and receive the Sunday, Tuesday & Thursday print edition at no additional cost * Print edition only available in our carrier delivery area. Allow up to 72 hours for delivery of your print edition to begin. Print edition not available for Day Pass option. 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. 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. When he died in 1964, Jawaharlal Nehru's legacy to the nation and the world seemed secure. A towering figure in national politics and on the international stage, the reflective, mercurial Nehru had in innumerable books and speeches, but also in his conduct as a Prime Minister developed and articulated a worldview that embodied the aspirations of his generation, of his country and (many believed) of the developing postcolonial world as a whole. We are all Nehruvians, a senior Indian official told me 13 years later, with conviction and pride, of his colleagues in the Indian ruling establishment. Four decades after that remark was made to me, there are few Nehruvians in office. Indeed, Nehruvianism seems to have lost both power and allure. Nehru is criticized, even derided, by votaries of an alternative version of Indian nationalism, one that claims to be more deeply rooted in the land (and therefore in its religious traditions and customary prejudices). His mistakes are magnified, his achievements belittled. The Prime Minister regularly goes after Nehru, accusing him and his family of monopolizing Indias institutions and installing a dynasty. So it does not come as a surprise that this newspaper has asked me to write on whether Nehru was a narcissist, obsessed with power, who did not allow others to rise. But it is deeply disappointing that such an a-historical question should be asked at all. Jawaharlal Nehru with former US president John F. Kennedy, Mahatma Gandhi and Muhammed Ali Jinnah After the assassination of Gandhiji in 1948 and the death of Sardar Patel in 1950, there was no one to compete with Nehru in stature. He was so unquestionably Indias tallest leader so unchallengeably the personification of its very freedom that all he needed to do if anyone opposed him was to threaten to resign. Nehru usually got his way. This was not the instinct of a power-hungry dictator: he preferred to resign than to impose his views. Nehru was never tempted by the argument to which so many fellow heroes of the anti-colonial struggle in other developing countries succumbed that dictatorship was the only way for them to forge unity and direct development. For he was a convinced democrat, a man so wary of the risks of autocracy that, at the crest of his rise, he authored an anonymous article warning Indians of the dangers of giving dictatorial temptations to Jawaharlal Nehru. As Prime Minister Nehru carefully nurtured democratic institutions, paying careful deference to the country's ceremonial Presidency, writing regular letters to the Chief Ministers of India's states explaining his policies, subjecting himself to cross-examination in Parliament by a fractious opposition, taking care not to interfere with the judiciary (on the one occasion where he publicly criticized a judge, he apologized the next day to the individual and to the Chief Justice of India). Though he was, in the celebrated Indian metaphor, the immense banyan tree in whose shade no other plant could grow, he made sure that every possible flora flourished in the forest. By his speeches, his exhortations and above all by his own personal example, Jawaharlal imparted to the institutions and processes of democracy a dignity that placed it above challenge from would-be tyrants. He instituted a public audience at his home every morning where ordinary people could come to petition or talk with their Prime Minister. His speeches were an extended conversation with the people of India. If there was something tutelary about them, romanticizing his relationship with the people of India the idol of the public dispensing democracy like so much prasad to the worshipping masses -- that was a necessary phase in the process of educating a largely illiterate, overwhelmingly poor people in the rights and prerogatives that came with freedom. Some critics, mostly with the benefit of hindsight, have suggested that Nehru was grooming his daughter to succeed him. There is no evidence whatsoever that such a thought crossed his mind. Of course, being his official hostess provided Indira Gandhi with a unique political education at close quarters, and she soon revealed a taste for affairs of state, both domestic and international. But Jawaharlal took no steps to promote her as a possible successor; he did not appoint her to his cabinet, despite public calls from partymen for him to do so, and she rates as an also-ran in Welles Hangen's famous speculative 1963 book, After Nehru Who? The worst that can be said is that Nehru did not object when others in the Congress Party pushed his daughter into politics, first as organizer of the party's women's wing in 1953 and most notably when they elected her president of the Congress Party nationally for 1959. She proved a fierce and partisan official, leading the Congress into the streets against the elected Comm unist Government in the state of Kerala and pressurizing the Government of India to dismiss the state authorities for failing to maintain law and order. But she did not seek (and Jawaharlal did not encourage) re-election after her one-year term as party president. Nehru, ever the democrat, confronted the issue of succession directly in a 1961 interview: I am not trying to start a dynasty. I am not capable of ruling from the grave. How terrible it would be if I, after all I have said about the processes of democratic government, were to attempt to handpick a successor. The best I can do for India is to help our people as a whole to generate new leadership as it may be needed. As he once said to the American editor Normal Cousins: My legacy to India? Hopefully, it is 400 million people capable of governing themselves. The numbers have grown, but the principle speaks of his aspiration. In the peaceful transfer of power that followed his death not to a handpicked successor but to the elected (and unrelated) Lal Bahadur Shastri -Jawaharlal Nehru left his most important legacy. Amidst India's myriad problems, it is democracy that has given Indians of every imaginable caste, creed, culture and cause the chance to break free of their lot. There is social oppression and caste tyranny, particularly in rural India, but Indian democracy offers the victims a means of redemption through the ballot-box. Elections have increasingly given real political power to the lowest of India's low. A man of humble origins today occupies the highest office in the land; another holds Indias most powerful position. For that, we must be eternally grateful to Nehru. (Nehru : The Invention of India is among many books, both non-fiction and fiction, written by Dr Tharoor, MP, Thiruvananthapuram. A former Under Secretary General, UN, he is the Chairman of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on External Affairs) New Delhi: All eyes will be on the RBI board meeting on Monday in Mumbai to see how the intense public battle erupted out between the Narendra Modi government and the central bank plays out. The meeting assumes significance as everyone from general public to investors will be keen to see whether the government will use its nominee on the board to force the central bank to toe its line and how governor Urjit Patel and his deputies will counter it. While historically the board had a supervisory role, the finance ministry believes that the era of an invisible RBI board is over. The government seems keen to use the board to exert pressure on the RBI for policy change on issues raised by it including boost in lending. However, despite public posturing by both sides, there are still efforts being made in background to see whether they could reach at an agreeable solution so that a negative signal was not sent to international investors about independence of the Indias central bank. The board meeting on Monday will consider contentious issues of transfer of surplus funds to the government, easing of bad loan norms, and ease of credit supply to MSMEs. The Modi government which will be facing the Lok Sabha elections in 2019 feels that the RBI isnt providing support to boost the economic growth, which will be crucial for it to win public support next year. However, RBI believes that fund transfers could undermine its independence and hurt the markets. RBIs central board currently has 18 members, which include governor Urjit Patel and his four deputies. The other 13 members are nominated by the government, incl-uding two of its officials. The matters between Centre and the RBI have worsened after reports that the finance ministry sent letters under Section 7 (1) of the RBI Act for consultations that gives the Centre power to issue any direction to the RBI governor on matters of public interest. November 19 will be a day of reckoning for the central banks independence and the Indian economy. Nowhere in the world is the central bank a board-managed company. To suggest that private business persons will direct the governor is a preposterous idea, said former Union finance minister P. Chidambaram. He alleged that the government is determined to capture the RBI in order to gain control over the reserves. The other so-called disagreements are only a smoke screen, added Mr Chidambaram. Earlier this month, economic affairs secretary Subhash Chandra Garg had said that the government has not asked the RBI to transfer `3.6 lakh crore to it and Centres fiscal math is on track. After the government initiated a discussion under Section 7 of the RBI Act, RBI deputy governor Viral Acharya had warned that undermining a central banks independence could be potentially catastrophic, in an indication that it is pushing back hard against government pressure to relax its policies and reduce its powers. In returning the favour, finance Minister Arun Jaitley had hit out at the central bank for failing to check indiscriminate lending during 2008 and 2014 that has led to the present bad loan or NPA crisis in the banking industry. Last month, RSS-affiliated Swadeshi Jagran Manch said the RBI Governor should work in sync with the government or resign. The Reserve Bank of India Governor should work in sync with the government or otherwise resign, SJMs co-convener Ashwani Mahajan had said. Former RBI governor Raghuram Rajan had recently said that boards role historically has not been to take operational decisions but to focus on broader strategy as well as ensure good governance. Dr Rajan had said that the RBI board during his tenure rarely tried to put themselves in the position of the professionals. So, they (board) are there to ensure that the governments money is well spent in the RBI. For example, the RBI doesnt pay itself inordinate salaries and so on. But also to serve as a sounding board which is why we have people from different walks of society, very eminent people, he had said. So, my sense is the objective of the board is to protect the institution, not to serve others interest; it is to protect the health of the institution but also to provide wide, sensible advice. The aim of the board is to be Rahul Dravid sensible, thoughtful and not, with due respect, Navjot Sidhu, Dr Rajan had said. Mumbai: Neha Dhupia and Angad Bedi welcomed a baby girl, their first child, on Sunday morning. Neha and Angad surprised everyone with their hush-hush wedding ceremony at a New Delhi Gurudwara in May this year. Speaking candidly on Neha's talk show No Filter Neha recently, Angad Bedi revealed how he broke the news of Neha's pregnancy to her parents: "Everything had to come from me. I had to really man up and speak. I just had to blurt it out and see the reaction," he said. Also Read | It wasn't really secret marriage, quips Neha Dhupia on tying the knot with Angad Bedi The couple together confirmed Neha's pregnancy in August, a little over three months after their wedding. "Here's to new beginnings... #3ofUs," Neha had posted, sharing cute pictures with Angad and flaunting her baby bump. "Ha! Turns out this rumour is true," Angad had also posted on Instagram while confirming the speculations. Also Read | How Yuvraj Singh's marriage played part in Neha Dhupia and Angad Bedi getting hitched In October, the couple threw a baby shower that was attended by many Bollywood celebs. Taking a cue from Kamal Haasan, Suriya, Trisha, Sethupathi and Amala Paul, Keerthi Suresh becomes the latest to join the list of actors in donating their eyes. The Sarkar actress pledged to donate her eyes, which she disclosed after inaugurating free eye surgeries camp for underprivileged at Dr. Agarwals Eye Hospital in the city. Speaking on the occasion, Keerthi said, I came to know that a single person can donate eyes to two visually impaired people at the same time, which is the latest technology developed by Dr Agarwal. I will definitely spread this news through my social media platforms. I am happy to donate my eyes and will pledge at this hospital at a later date. Donating eyes is a noble cause and we need more people to pledge their eyes to help create a positive change in someones life. Rating: Director: Vinod Kapri Cast: Myra Vishwakarma What does a toddler do when left alone in the house? Even for people who may not be parents, the thought itself is extremely worrisome. Lets face it: we all have had that an eerie feeling of getting trapped in closed places, be it an elevator, a room or any apartment with no one coming to our rescue. The unnerving thought would scare the daylights of some otherwise confident and perfectly fine individuals. Its even scarier if it is a two-year old child stuck in a similar situation. The social thriller Pihu directed by Vinod Kapri is about a two-year baby girl, who is found living in a home at a time when the other two adults in the family her parents are going through a complicated phase of their marital life. Before you jump to conclusions about the similarity between this film and the Hollywood film Home Alone series, let me make it clear that there is no similarity between the two. Why only a child, many among the adults too, dont seem to be very comfortable staying all by themselves, that too, for a long duration. Even if you are not, watching a film with just a child as the protagonist may not be your favorite way to get entertained. All through, you will feel restless, anxious, alarmed, terrified and at times, bored even when you are on tenterhooks watching a few scenes wherein the toddler mistakenly locks herself inside a refrigerator; or turns on the gas cylinder; walks around the house with broken pieces of glass strewn, or dangerously leaning from the terrace. When Pihu (Myra Vishkarma) wakes up one morning in one of the high rise apartments in Uttar Pradesh, she is oblivious to what is in store for her: her mother (Prerna Sharma) lies motionless on bed and her father keeps making phonecalls while he is on his way to the airport to attend a meeting in Kolkata, and throughout the time, he is away. There are no other characters to be seen; just a few random voices heard-some from the balcony and neighborhood. As Pihu is seen wandering around the house for fulfilling her needs: from looking for milk and food items for survival while all along trying desperately to wake up her mother, who she believes, has been sleeping, she glides through various spots with ease as you hold your breath and wait for her get past some hazardous, and often life-threatening circumstances. Your interest in her doubles up when you watch this angelic cute girl trying to get on with lifes unexpected turns, and wonder if she is aware that the camera is rolling through. But after a while, her cherubic innocence wears you off, for no fault of hers though. What tires you is the 93 minutes of a film that refuses to move on. Optimistically, I almost imagined that something was on its way, making me wait with anxious trepidation what would happen to her. And when I got interrupted by the ringing of the mobile and heard her fathers voice, it got be a wee bit excited again. But, it turned out to be a futile wait: the film, like its lead child, looks confined to a limited plot with precious little variation. Naturally, like me, you all would also be disappointed. Time and again, it has been proved that mere ideation of a great film doesnt make an engaging narrative. Director Kapri has claimed that the story is based on a real life incident that he knows of. There are reports that a New York based report could be the trigger for its basic premise. Whatever be the source, you dont find the idea bizarre or something that is unlikely to take place. All you wish that despite having one of the most endearing and loveable child actors, Pihu doesnt move forward. The more hypothetical money and work the students were willing to spend to be able to use their smartphones reflected a higher reinforcing value (Photo: AFP) Washington: College students prefer being deprived of food over parting with their smartphones, a study has found. The findings, published in the journal Addictive Behaviors, suggest that smartphones can be more reinforcing than food for college students. "In this study, we provide evidence for the first time that smartphones are reinforcing," said Sara O'Donnell, a scientist at University at Buffalo in the US. "We also found that when deprived of both food and smartphones, students were much more motivated to work for time to use their smartphone, and were willing to part with more hypothetical money to gain access to their phone," she said. The researchers wanted to explore whether smartphones could function as a reinforcing behaviour, the same way that food, drugs and alcohol are reinforcers. "The frequency with which we use our cellphones every day is astounding, with estimates ranging from five to nine hours a day," O'Donnell said. In the study, 76 college students ranging in age from 18 to 22, had no access to food for three hours and no access to their smartphones for two hours. During that time, they either studied or read newspapers. After that, the students could use a computer task in order to earn either the use of their smartphones or 100-calorie servings of their favourite snack food. As smartphone time or food was earned, the amount of work needed to earn either one increased. The researchers measured smartphone reinforcement in two ways. One was a hypothetical questionnaire that asked how many minutes of smartphone use an individual would purchase at increasing prices. The other was a behavioural index of reinforcement that measured the amount of work (ie the number of mouse button clicks) an individual would expend to use their phone, where the amount of clicks needed to use the phone increases over time. The more hypothetical money and work the students were willing to spend to be able to use their smartphones reflected a higher reinforcing value, O'Donnell said. "We knew that students would be motivated to gain access to their phones, but we were surprised that despite modest food deprivation, smartphone reinforcement far exceeded food reinforcement across both methodologies," she said. Hyderabad: The Economic Offences Wing of the Cyberabad police on Saturday arrested nine men, including dropouts from IIT Kharagpur, for their involvement in a multi-level marketing money circulation scheme that cheated people of nearly Rs 30 cr. According to Cyberabad Police Commissioner, Mr V.C. Sajjanar, the men were running Pro Healthywayz International LLP, located at Malakpet Gunj and cheating investors by offering prize chits and money circulation schemes. Those arrested included company CEO Mohammed Rizwan and directors Bhattu Saikonda Harshavardhan Raju, 27 and Mohd Ishaq, 61. Police seized 40 lakhs from the bank accounts of the accused. The arrested included four IIT Kharagpur dropouts Rizwan Younus, Pappala Sai Charan, 24, Vankudothu Venu Naik, 26, and Bhukya Anil Kumar, 26. Police also arrested Mohd Ishaq, 61, Aluru Naresh, 27, and Yerraganti Sathya Manikanta, 24. They had previously worked in Resource Money Power (RMP), an MLM company which was shut down in 2010. Then they joined (MI) Life Style Marketing Pvt. Ltd at Chennai, where they worked for two years. As they did not get the commissions in time and the products were not of good quality, they quit the company. With that experience they thought of launching their own MLM money circulation company, funded by Rizwan Younus, Mr Sajjanar said. He said the company had about 40,000 distributors in the two Telugu states. Each distributor had to pay Rs 4,000 after which they are required to attract more members. Mr Sajjanar said the the recruits had to attend meetings to get acquainted with the money circulation scheme. They had to enrol two more persons for which they would get 25 per cent commission. The two new members were required to enrol two more members, and the first recruiter would get per cent commission from this. Mr Sajjanar said Rizwan took the help of Ashish Khatri, Logic Soft, Dehradun, who designed a software for the company. Ashish Khatri had worked for eight months with the company. Later, with the help of CEO Kishore Verma of Smart Soft Solutions, the company's official website was redesigned. By Trend U.S. President Donald Trump said he had not yet been briefed on the CIAs conclusions regarding the murder of Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi, but that he would speak with Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and the CIA about the issue later on Saturday, Reuters reports. The CIA believes Saudi Arabias Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, the countrys de-facto ruler, ordered Khashoggis killing, sources familiar with the matter said on Friday. But Trump, speaking to reporters at the White House before flying to California, also reiterated that he had been told the crown prince had not played a role in the journalists death. We havent been briefed yet, Trump said. We will be talking with the CIA later and lots of others. Ill be doing that while Im on the plane. Ill be speaking also with Secretary of State Mike Pompeo. Khashoggi, a critic of the crown prince, was killed in October at the Saudi consulate in Istanbul when he went there to pick up documents he needed for his planned marriage. Trump and top administration officials have said Saudi Arabia should be held to account for any involvement in Khashoggis death and have imposed sanctions on 17 Saudis for their role in the killing. But they have also stressed the importance of Washingtons ties with Riyadh, even while U.S. lawmakers have called on the administration to punish Saudi Arabia over the murder. Hyderabad: A 38-year-old Nigerian national, who was on the most wanted list of absconding criminals for his connection in a job scam, was arrested by the Rachakonda Cyber Crime Police in Hyderabad on Friday. Officials seized two laptops, 19 mobiles phones, two passports, a car and other incriminating materials from his possession. The man has been identified as Kalu Kalu Chukwu, 38, a resident of Bengaluru and a native of Abia, Nigeria. He was luring aspiring job seekers via OLX and other portals under the pretext of sending them abroad, police said. The arrest was made following a complaint from Balakumar, a resident of Maheshwaram, wherein he stated that he uploaded his resume in various job portal websites and responded to emails and calls and an appointment letter was sent to him. Following the letter, he was asked to pay for visa processing fee. Mr Balakumar transferred Rs 30,60,097 in different bank accounts on different occasions. Based on the complaint, a case was registered and an investigation was taken up, said S.Harinath, ACP, Cyber Crime, Rachakonda. He is a graduate and came to India in 2012 on a business visa for three months, and has been staying illegally ever since at Bengaluru. Most Nigerians staying in Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru, Hyderabad, and other Metropolitan cities have come for studying. Some of them cheat innocent Indians particularly committing Cyber Crimes. The accused and other Nigerian nationals, identified as Isaac Emmabro, Stanley, Aba Yomi, Yemi, Joseph, Ekene Agu Pa Egbe, Mike, Dobera, Daniel Chidiebere Chukwuanu conspired and decided to cheat innocent people by making phishing calls and posting advertisements online. OLX website, Job frauds, Matrimonial frauds and other online cheatings. For that they used to make friendship with local people and used to collect their bank accounts details including Passbooks and Debit cards by paying Rs 20,000 to 30,000 for each account. Whenever the victims depositing the amounts in those accounts, the same is immediately withdrawn from different parts of the India and is shared among the gang and transferring it to Nigeria and spending here lavishly said the official. They create forged fake offer letters, appointment letters, foreign embassy letters and send them to through their fake email IDs, whatsapp messenger. Further, they indulge in Matrimonial, gifts, OLX and other frauds. In these they used to call the victims even by changing voice by voice modulation software and duping the people. For these frauds they collect the amount from victims in the name of customs charges, RBI fee, gift conversion fee, Airport entry fee, Anti-terrorist tax, courier charges concluded the ACP, adding that the accused is being sent to judicial custody and the efforts are continued to trace the remaining fugitives. In 2017, the higher officials concerned in the Police Department had stated that 800 girls have been traced but the fate of the rest 139 is yet to be known. (Representional Image) Vijayawada: Around 939 girls have gone missing or got kidnapped in Andhra Pradesh in 2017 as per the records till June 9. In 2017, the higher officials concerned in the Police Department had stated that 800 girls have been traced but the fate of the rest 139 is yet to be known. The figures collected from Jan to June 9, 2017 for minor girl missing cases are shocking. Police conducted this study after a minor girl from Guntur was freed from the clutches of a BSF Jawan. Anantapur district tops the list with 115 cases being reported of which 105 were traced. The high number is attributed to drought led poverty, illiteracy and migration. Due to drought, the families are migrating to Kerala and Bengaluru for employment and are consequently leaving the minor girls with their grandparents. Tribal minor girls of Kadiri are prone to trafficking. In Kalyanadurg-am, where child marriages are extremely prevalent, the minor girls are wilfully fleeing. Anantapur is followed by West Godavari and Vijayawada City which reported 89 and 85 cases respectively. Nellore reported the least number of missing cases- 10 cases out of which 9 were traced. In the Telugu states, the number of children who have gone missing in the last one year is 2,283, out of which only 1,371 children have been rescued from kidnap gangs. Between 2010-16, more than 6,000 women went missing in TS and AP. According to Police sources, more than 100 gangs are working with the help of around 5,000 agents in cities such as Hyderabad and Vijayawada. The gangs try to woo women by promising to provide them with employment and education. Women would soon be trapped into the racket, in the name of working abroad, before forcing them into prostitution. Viewing the increase in number of child trafficking cases in the other Telugu state, Telangana police began Operation Muskan. In the last three years, 25,834 victims have been rescued in the Operation. Of them, 12,483 children have been sent back to their homes. Amritsar: Three persons were killed and 20 injured in a grenade attack on a religious congregation here on city outskirts on Sunday, an incident which the police are treating as a terrorist act. The incident took place inside the Nirankari Bhavan at Adliwal village near Amritsar's Rajasansi, police said. A religious congregation of the Nirankaris was being conducted inside the Bhavan at the time of the incident. The Sant Nirankari Mission is a spiritual organisation and the Bhavan here lies close to the international airport. The grenade was lobbed by two persons who had come on a bike and had their faces covered. The Director General of Police Suresh Arora, who along with senior police officers rushed to the spot, said the incident appears to be a terrorist act. Nirankari Bhavan in Amritsar where the incident took place. (Photo: ANI/Twitter) He said that three people had died in the incident and 20 others were injured, two of them seriously. Inspector General of Police S S Parmar, who visited the incident spot, told reporters that about 200 devotees including many women were inside at the time of the incident. No CCTV was installed at the premises, preliminary investigations found, he said. Also Read: Won't let 'forces of terror' destroy peace vows Amarinder after Amritsar attack After the incident, the Bhavan was sealed by the police and security was stepped up at other "Nirankari Bhavans" in the state. Chief minister Capt Amarinder Singh said the possibility of involvement of ISI-based Khalistani/Kashmiri terror groups could not be ruled out. He also announced a compensation of Rs five lakh each to the kin of the dead and directed the district administration to provide the best possible medical care, free of cost, to the injured. Preliminary investigations have so far revealed that two men, one of them with a flowing beard, with covered faces, allegedly forced their way into the hall by brandishing a pistol. They detained the sewadar, lobbed the grenade into the prayer room, and fled on a motorcycle. A small crater was formed by the impact of the explosion, and was being examined by the forensic team. The safety valve of the grenade has also been found and is being examined. Notably, the grenade attack took place amid Punjab being on high alert following an input claiming that a group of six to seven JeM terrorists were in Punjab and were 'planning' to move to Delhi. Moreover, the security agencies were also on alert after four persons snatched an SUV from its driver at gunpoint near Madhopur in Punjab's Pathankot district a few days back. Known for playing piano during church services at Chelsea Community Presbyterian Church in Atlantic City, he was a father of two and grandfather. (Photo: ANI | Twitter) New Delhi/New York: A 61-year old Indian-origin man in New Jersey was shot to death by a 16-year old boy, who is facing charges in connection to the murder, prosecutors said. Sunil Edla was shot to death Thursday evening outside his apartment in Ventnor city, Atlantic County Prosecutor Damon Tyner said in a statement. Ventnor City Police Department was informed on the night of November 15 about the shooting. Police located Edla on the sidewalk, with gunshot wounds. Edla had succumbed to his injuries by the time the police arrived. Edla's vehicle, a 2002 Subaru Forester, was missing from the scene. The vehicle was subsequently found by Atlantic City Police Officers in a different area. After the vehicle was located by the officers, the suspect was subsequently tracked with the assistance of the Atlantic City surveillance centre. Further investigation by the Atlantic County Prosecutor's Office, Ventnor City Police Department and the Atlantic City Police Department led to the identification and arrest of the suspect, a juvenile male, on the morning of November 16. Preliminary autopsy showed the cause of death to be multiple gunshot wounds and the manner of death homicide. The suspect was charged via Juvenile Complaint with murder, robbery, carjacking, unlawful possession of a handgun. He is being held at the Harborfields Juvenile Detention Centre in Egg Harbour City. "I'm just speechless right now. They could have just taken the car and let him go," Edla's son Morrison Edla said in a report in NBCPhiladelphia.com. A report in the Press of Atlantic City said Edla, a father of two and grandfather, was a 30-year resident of Atlantic County and worked in Atlantic City's hospitality industry. He was planning to travel to India to visit family. "He (Edla) was humble. He never argued. I helped him when he came to US in 1987. I was very close to him," his cousin Raj Casula said. "Everyone was calling him and talking to him because he was leaving for India so soon," said Casula. Edla had planned a two-month trip to India to visit his mother for her 95th birthday and celebrate Christmas with family. Family friend Dave Nethagani said Edla was a kind man and active in the community. Edla was best known for playing piano during church services at Chelsea Community Presbyterian Church in Atlantic City. A neighbour said the killer ambushed Edla and shot him dead right after the grandfather had brought a child into his house. Surveillance video showed the teen riding up to Edla's home. The boy dropped his bike and hid as he waited for Edla to exit the house. Just before 8 pm Thursday, family members said, Edla was leaving his home to work the overnight shift at the North Carolina Avenue Rodeway Inn in Atlantic City. According to family, he started his car then went back in the house briefly. After walking back down the second-floor apartment stairs, he was shot on the sidewalk and left for dead. Ventnor police Chief Doug Biagi said an officer has been posted in the neighbourhood "just to ease anybody's fears." Hyderabad: Prime Minister Narendra Modi said investors were emptying their pockets on blockchain startups but the the ground-level scenario is that it is still in the preliminary stages but investors are keeping an eye on the segment. Mr Modi has spoken on blockchain at least three times this year. Mr Modi said at an event in Singapore on Wednesday: I have heard of an advice going around in start-up circles. To increase your venture capital or VC funding by 10 per cent, tell the investors you run a platform, not a regular business. If you want to increase your VC funding by 20 per cent, tell the investors that you are operating in the fintech space. But, if you really want the investors to empty their pockets, tell them that you are using blockchain. He made this remark during his keynote address at the Fintec Festival to point out the excitement and promise of emerging technologies to transform the world of finance. While several surveys concur with statement that start-up scenario for blockchain is increasing, the hype is because of a combination of real innovators and a herd mentality. Nasscom says blockchain start-ups have observed significant inflow of funding from $2 million to $11 million growing over 500 per cent year on year. Entrepreneurs say that it is an emerging technology and will have its evolution cycle as everybody is either learning or piloting for the first time. Mr Pavan Adipuram, founder of Chitmonks, which runs on blockchain said, Going by the statistics, the number of blockchain companies funded this year in India is at an all-time high. I have seen folks talking about blockchain in their own language with limited research, reading or understanding. Block-chain is A for you, B for Him and C for me. The possibility is that all of them might be right in their own way. What is more important is how an entrepreneur fits the solution for the problem they are solving. The problem is we are passing through that phase and a confused lot trying to understand with our own views. Another entrepreneur-investor said, It has become customary for startups to refer to blockchain in their pitches to investors. When we probe into how they intend to implement it, the pitch falls flat and it is evident that their understanding is limited. Despite blockchain becoming a catch phrase, ultimately it is the business value proposition that we look at. Experts note that investors are funding blockchain start-ups because it helps enterprises become future-proof. Mr Manish Jain, partner, Digital and Fintech, Management Consulting, KPMG said, There are a very few cases which are truly done by blockchain and is not possible to deliver by other technologies. Start-ups are supposed to help enterprises become future-proof. Investors feel that blockchain enables them to become more future-proof thereby eliminating one extra element that blockchain may introduce. Large enterprises often have limited resources to explore new technology and invest into innovation. So funding tends suddenly goes into areas which are happening. Mr Devang Mehta, partner, Anthill Ventures, said, There is no hype-meter to gauge the level of hype and compare it to actual innovation. Blockchain is exciting in India because many current processes are fractured, involve multiple intermediaries and, in many cases, are implemented in less-than-transparent ways. Blockchain has the capability to change a lot of this thereby unleashing gains for many participants in the chain. On the other hand blockchain start-ups were using initial coin offering (ICO) to raise funds through crowdsourcing but the market has slowed down internationally. Since then, they are looking at investors. Hyderabad: The GHMC has no mechanism to quantify the amount of construction and demolition waste that is beign cleared off the citys streets. The private agency which has been processing C&D waste has been charging Rs 350 per metric tonne and quantifying it according its will. Despite debris lying in everywhere in the city, the corporations records claim that it has been lifting 4,000 metric tonnes of C&D waste per month. The Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) had in a report criticised the GHMC for not developing a scientific mechanism to quantify solid waste in the city. After the civic body submitted its report stating that the quantity of solid waste collected in Hyderabad had doubled in five years, the audit report found that there was no mechanism to assess the quantity of waste generated or collected as there were no weigh bridges at transfer stations. The CAG said the records of solid waste collected was not accurate due to the lack of weigh bridges. It said that the GHMC must upgrade its transfer stations and general amenities, such as installing a computerised system for billing and tracking the movement of vehicles. Even though it is armed with this advise, the corporation has been paying lumpsums for inaccurate quantities. C&D waste is still found in most parts of the city. This was even noticed by GHMC commissioner M. Dana Kishore during a recent inspection. Highly placed sources said there was a nexus between private agency and C&D wing officials which was providing false information regarding the waste cleared from the citys streets. Officials were reluctant to provide information about scientific quantification of C&D waste. As per official records it was found that the GHMC had removed 81,647 metric tonnes in April, 26,339 metric tonnes in May, 47,866 metric tonnes in June, 53,212 metric tonnes in July, 24,660 metric tonnes in August, 46,248 metric tonnes in September and 26,673 metric tonnes in October. This without increasing the number of vehicles, and officials did not provide data to show that the number of trips had been increased. However, a senior official said it would be impossible to remove the amount of C&D waste as was being projected. He assured that he would conduct an internal inquiry. Ramky Enviro Engineers was awarded work pertaining to collection, transportation, processing and management of construction and demolition (C&D) waste in GHMC on public-private partnership mode Fathullaguda and Jeedimetla. This will be for a period of 25 years at a tipping fee of Rs 342 per metric tonne with an estimated cost of Rs 3 crore as tipping fee per year for each plant. Since the agency is not processing the C&D the corporation has been paying Rs 256 per metric tonne. The youth, identified as Govardhan Reddy, was carrying the bag of cash on his motorcycle when he was nabbed and the cash was seized. (Representional Image) Hyderabad: Adilabad police seized Rs 80 lakh unaccounted cash from the owner of a ginning factory when he was transporting it in his car at Punjab Chowk on Saturday. The cash belongs to Y. Madhav, the owner of the factory, and it was seized as he failed to show the source of the funds, said Adilabad I-town sub-inspector, J. Gunvantha Rao, adding that the funds were handed over to Adilabad Returning Officer for a probe into the incident. In another case, Madhapur SOT police nabbed a youth carrying Rs 23 lakh unaccounted money on Saturday. The youth, identified as Govardhan Reddy, was carrying the bag of cash on his motorcycle when he was nabbed and the cash was seized. When questioned about the money, his answers were unsatisfactory and he and the money were handed over to the IT department for investigation. Police officials said that the guidelines stipulate that cash of over Rs 10 lakh should be seized and the same should be handed over to Income Tax department officials for verification of the source of the money. They added that those carrying small amounts are asked for bank withdrawal receipts, message alerts on phone or other documents. If these are provided, they are released on the spot. The aim of conducting vehicle checks and seizing money was to crackdown on illegal transactions made to influence voters. Men are not allowed to carry more than Rs 2 lakh at any given point of time during the elections, the officials added. Hyderabad: Poet and activist Varavara Rao was placed under arrest by the Pune police late on Saturday night for an alleged conspiracy to assassinate Prime Minister Narendra Modi after his house arrest came to an end. Rao was arrested by the Pune Police following a raid. Following court cases, he was placed under under house arrest at his flat in Gandhinagar in the city, On Saturday, a special team led by ACP rank official of the Pune police arrested the poet. Though the team reached the city on Friday night, we held back the arrest till Saturday night as it was late and we had to wait for the investigating officer. He was picked up from his place and taken to Gandhi Hospital for medical checks. He will be taken to Pune, an official from the Maharashtra Police said. Joint Commissioner of Police (Pune Police) Shivaji Bodakhe said an extension of his house arrest granted by the Hyderabad High Court expired on November 15. Cops allege links with Maoists On October 26, the Pune Police had taken into custody co-accused Arun Ferreira and Vernon Gonsalves, while Sudha Bharadwaj was taken into custody the next day. The fifth activist, Gautam Navlakha has not been taken into custody yet. The police alleged that the activists had links with the Maoists, who backed Elgar Parishad held in Pune on December 31 last year. The Parishad, the police alleged, instigated violence near Koregaon Bhima war memorial in Pune district the next day. The activists were put under house arrest on Supreme Courts order. The apex court subsequently said the Pune Police can go ahead with the probe. Hyderabad: Medchal has changed a lot. The sleepy village, the gateway to Hyderabad, is crowded and dangerous and development has stretched far and wide. You turn left at the Ambedkar statue on the main road, and keep going till you reach a railway gate. Once you cross this, there are a number of government offices. Turn left to see the gopuram of the Sri Ramalingeshwaraswami Devalayam on a hillock. While the gopuram itself is nothing to write home about, it is the entrance archway which continues to be beautiful and in its original state. This temple was built by Rajalingam Datrika, a jagirdar of yesteryears, who donated land to many persons, according to his grandson Kashinath Datrika who now looks after the temple. I am the eighth generation from the family. My tata (grandfather) was a generous man and gave land to the people working for the temple, including the person who swept the place, says Mr Datrika. Apparently Rajalingam believed in the architecture of those days and the temple was thoughtfully constructed around the Swayambhu lingam, which is supposed to have been in this area for 1,200 years. We had a 150-year-old house built of dangu chunam and huge windows. It was the number one house in the area. It had two bhavantis with 24 rooms. But we could not maintain it and gave it for development, much to the disappointment for the heritage lobby and even Mr Datrika himself. The entrance to the temple is through the arched gateway over which is built a ventilated naquar khana, with a nice tiled roof. The tiles have been changed since the old ones were broken. Such tiles are not available and so I used tiles available from a roof next door, says Mr Datrika. There are steps leading to the rooms on top, where the kanchariwala or the dampa players used to sit and play. Now it is not a clean place. We do not have anyone to play the dampa, either, says Mr Datrika. On one side of the gate is a huge rock, considering the temple is built atop a rock, and on the other an old wall. The temple has 24 acres to its name, most of it hilly and rocky and another 12 acres of agricultural land of which Mr Dhatri is able to use only five, because people are no more doing agriculture. The Lord Shiva idol is atop a granite pranamattam and placed on top of a marble platform, which was apparently built during Rajalingams times. Legend has it that Lord Rama, while en route to Sri Lanka worshipped this lingam. The idol is unique, according to Mr Datrika because He is facing south and is straight. The lingam leans if it is in any other direction, he adds. Next to the idol is a small statue of Ammavaru (mother goddess) and an utsava murthi, both in niches. The old Lord Ganesha statue was replaced with a new granite one. There was a doorway which had steps leading to the top of the hillock but during the monsoons water would flow into the sanctum sanctorum flooding it for a week and not allowing any puja. In Shravan month it was natures abhishekam, said Mr Datrika. They have now shut the door, cemented it and have placed a beautiful, colourful stone carving of Lord Shiva. The lingam is actually in a cave and apparently Rajalingam had a dream where he was told to come to the hillock to spot the lingam. He came, searched all over but could not find it That night he rested on the hillock and found the lingam where his head had been during the night. A temple was built around it. The cave roof makes the standing space for devotees quite small but is large enough not to make it claustrophobic. Just outside of this sanctum is a smaller lingam, with a beautiful mandapam made in vernacular style out of granite which has been colourfully painted. This is the actual entrance to the temple. After climbing a few steps and on the right as you enter is a huge recently sculpted Dakshinamurthy. While there is no Lord Subramanya representation, there is a Naga stone, which has an embedded lingam inside of it. Telangana BJP President Dr K Laxman in a rally after submitting his nomination, at Musheerabad in Hyderabad. (Photo: PTI) Hyderabad: Campaigning for the December 7 Telangana Assembly polls would hit top gear during the next fortnight with top leaders, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi, BJP chief Amit Shah, former Congress president Sonia Gandhi, set to address public meetings in the state. With the process of filing nominations coming to a close on Monday, all major parties, the ruling TRS, the BJP, and the Congress along with its "grand alliance" constituents -- the TDP and others -- have drawn up plans for intense hustings. The Congress has announced that Sonia Gandhi, on her first visit to Telangana after the state's formation, will address a public meeting on November 23 at Medchal on the periphery of Hyderabad. Party president Rahul Gandhi is expected to visit the state for campaigning on November 28, 29 and December 3, Telangana Pradesh Congress Committee (TPCC) treasurer Gudur Narayana Reddy told PTI. State BJP chief K Laxman has said that while Shah would campaign in Telangana during a three-day visit from November 25, Prime Minister Narendra Modi is expected to visit the state for campaigning in the first week of December. The BJP national president had kicked off the party's poll campaign with a public meeting in September and subsequently addressed two more meetings. TRS president and caretaker Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao, the ruling party's star campaigner, will address a series of campaign meetings this week. His son K T Rama Rao and nephew T Harish Rao, both ministers in the caretaker government, have been leading the campaign since the Assembly was dissolved on September 6. The Telugu Desam Party (TDP), a partner in the 'grand alliance' would get star power with N Balakrishna, the son of party founder N T Rama Rao and a top-ranking Telugu film hero, canvassing for the party. For Telangana Jana Samiti (TJS), another partner in the "grand alliance", it is president M Kodandaram who, during campaigning, would highlight the alliance's agenda for the people. The 'grand alliance', comprising the Congress, TDP, CPI and TJS, has alleged that the aspirations of the people following the formation of Telangana have not been met during the TRS rule. The Telangana assembly was dissolved prematurely on September 6 following a recommendation made by the TRS government, necessitating polls ahead of schedule. By Trend Turkey demands the US to stop supporting the PYD/YPG terrorist groups in northern Syria, Turkish Defense Minister Hulusi Akar said, commenting on photos of the US military consultants with terrorists, Turkish media reported Nov. 17. Akar said that the US promised not to support the PYD/YPG terrorists, but the photos once again prove the close ties between the US and the PYD/YPG terrorists. Despite that the Islamic State (IS) terrorist group has been mainly eliminated in Syria, the US still considers the PYD/YPG its allies, he noted. Earlier, press-secretary of the Turkish president Ibrahim Kalin also urged the US to stop supporting the PYD/YPG terrorist groups. Support for the PYD/YPG is tantamount to directly or indirectly aiding the PKK (Kurdistan Workers Party) terrorist group, Kalin said. He noted that Washingtons position on the PYD/YPG is manifestation of double standards in the fight against terrorism. Turkey doesnt accept the separation of terrorist groups into good and bad ones, Kalin said. Our fundamental expectation from the US, which is our NATO ally, a country that we regard as a strategic partner, is that they completely stop cooperation with the PYD/YPG (Syrian wings of the PKK terrorist group), he said. Hyderabad: Ms Nandamuri Suhasini, the granddaughter of Telugu Desam founder N.T. Rama Rao, filed her nomination from the Kukatpally Assembly constituency with much fanfare on Saturday. She was accompanied by the sons, grandsons and daughters of the late party patriarch. Ms Suhasini, the daughter of the late N. Harikrishna, was accompanied by actor and uncle Balakrishna and other members of the NTR and Harikrishna families. She visited NTR Ghat first and paid tribute to her grandfather before filing her nomination at the Moosapet circle office. Actors Kalyan Ram and Jr NTR, Ms Suhasinis brothers, who are abroad for a film shoot and extended their support to their sister through Twitter. Later both the brothers released a joint statement stating that the TD was a sacred organisation for them as their grandfather had founded the party with the belief that people were God. They said that their family believed that women should play an important role in society. Our sister wants to serve the people with the same spirit. We wish her all the best, they said. After filing her nomination papers, she told mediapersons that I am inspired by my father, grandfather N.T. Rama Rao and uncle N. Chandrababu Naidu and have been interested in politics. Suhasini said entering politics was her wish from childhood. Punjab police earlier said the grenade attack on the religious congregation on outskirts of Amritsar city appears to be a 'terrorist act'. (Photo: File) Chandigarh: Strongly condemning the grenade attack on a religious congregation in Amritsar that left three persons dead and many injured, Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh Sunday vowed that he will not let the "forces of terror" destroy the hard-earned peace in the state. While making an appeal to the people "not to panic and remain calm," the chief minister tweeted, "We will not let the forces of terror destroy our hard-earned peace." "I appeal to the people of Punjab to maintain peace in the wake of Amritsar bomb blast. I urge them not to panic and to remain calm," he added. Amarinder Singh's tweet followed soon after Punjab police chief Suresh Arora told PTI that the incident "appears to have a terror angle... we will take it as a terrorist act." Also Read: 3 killed in suspected terror attack on religious congregation in Amritsar Soon after the attack, the chief minister reviewed the law and order situation in the state and asked the state home secretary, director general of police, director generals, law & order and intelligence, to rush to Rajasansi in Amritsar to supervise the ongoing probe into the grenade attack, an official spokesman said here. On the chief minister's directions, the security has been beefed up at all Nirankari Bhawan's in the state, he added. While condemning the incident, Amarinder Singh also announced a compensation of Rs 5 lakh for the kin of those killed and free treatment to the injured ones. "Strongly condemn the bomb blast at Nirankari Bhawan in Amritsar... My heart goes out to the victims of the Amritsar bomb blast and their families... My govt will give Rs 5 lakh to the kin of each of the dead and free treatment to the injured. Have asked the district administration to extend all help," the chief minister said in a tweet earlier. Punjab police earlier said the grenade attack on the religious congregation on outskirts of Amritsar city appears to be a terrorist act. It (this incident) appears to have a terror angle because it is against a group (of people) and not against any individual. There is no reason to throw a hand grenade on a group of people, so we will take it as a terrorist act. Till proven otherwise, prima facie we will take it like that, Punjab Director General of Police Suresh Arora told PTI. The incident took place at a religious congregation inside the Nirankari Bhavan at Adliwal village near Amritsar's Rajasansi, the police said. "A grenade was lobbed and three people died in the incident while 10 have been injured in the incident, two of them critically," Inspector General of Police S S Parmar, who visited the crime spot in Amritsar, told reporters. Punjab was on alert following an intelligence input claiming that a group of six to seven JeM terrorists were reportedly in the state, possibly in Ferozepur area. The state was put on alert after four persons snatched an SUV from its driver at gunpoint near Madhopur in Pathankot district last week. The assets of former state Cabinet ministers and other leaders in the Telangana Rashtra Samiti have increased manifold. Hyderabad: The assets of former state Cabinet ministers and other leaders in the Telangana Rashtra Samiti have increased manifold. Actually, it is the assets of their spouses that have increased. The total movable assets of finance minister Etela Rajender was valued at Rs 17.98 lakh in 2014 at the time of the general election. This has increased to Rs 32.22 lakh in 2018, according to the affidavit submitted by the minister for the ensuing Assembly elections. But the real increase has been in the total asset value of Mr Rajenders wife, which has increased from Rs 70,04 lakhs in 2014 to Rs 14.55 crore in four years. The rise in the asset value is due to investments in major companies. The immovable asset value of Mr Rajender, who is contesting from Huzurabad, has increased from Rs 4.93 crore in 2014 to Rs 12.50 crore. The immovable assets of his spouse has increased from Rs 8.70 crore to Rs 15.03 crore. Surprisingly, the liabilities of Mr Rajender have increased from nil in 2014 to Rs 6.01 crore in 2018. Finance minister Etela Rajender spouses liabilities have increased from Rs 7.03 crore in 2014 to Rs 15.58 crore in 2018. The value of the movable assets of excise minister and TRS candidate from Secunderabad, T. Padma Rao, has increased from Rs 5 lakh in 2014 to Rs 2.18 crore in the affidavit he has submitted. The value of movable assets of Mr Raos spouse, who is a housewife, has increased from Rs 20.18 lakh to Rs 42.53 lakh. Mr Raos affidavit showed the value of movable assets as nil in 2014 and 2018. His spouses immovable asset value has increased from nil in 2014 to Rs 36 lakh in 2018, with land and property registered in her name. The most controversial leader in the TRS, Mutireddy Yadagiri Reddy, who is contesting from Jangoan Assembly constituency, has huge liabilities. He was notorious for allegedly using filthy language against the then collector A. Sri Devasena, the joint collector, and the district revenue officer all women at an official meeting, after these officials refused a proposal to convert six acres of shikham land to build an office, guest house and a Haritha hotel. The collector openly criticised the MLA, and was summoned by the chief secretary for an explanation and then shunted out from the district to Peddapalli. The movable assets of Mr Yadagiri Reddy were Rs 2.76 lakh in 2014, and Rs 44 lakh in the current affidavit. His spouses assets have increased in value from Rs 2.33 crore in 2014 to Rs 3.25 crore in 2018. The immovable assets of the TRS leader were declared to be Rs 24 crore in 2014 and Rs 27 crore in 2018. His spouses immovable assets were declared to be Rs 9 crore in 2014 and Rs 10.30 crore in 2018. The couple had no liabilities in 2014 but Mr Yadagiri Reddys has liabilities of Rs 13.2 crore and his wife of Rs 17.9 crore in 2018. Hyderabad: The Bahujan Samaj Party is turning into quite a shelter for dissidents. Almost 70 candidates have already filed their nominations from the BSP and this includes aspirants who did not get TRS, BJP, Congress or TD tickets. Balajinagar, Hyderabad, corporator Pannala Kavya Reddys husband Harish Chandra Reddy was aspiring for a TRS ticket from Kukatpally but was left disappointed has filed his papers as a BSP candidate. TRS rebel Rajarapu Prathap Goud too will be contesting as a BSP candidate. He had unsuccessfully lobbied for the Station Ghanpur ticket which was given to Mr T. Rajaiah. Besides the BSP, but more than a dozen candidates have filed nominations from the Shiv Sena party and Nationalist Congress Party as well. BSP is the party with the fourth highest candidates after the TRS and the BJP, which are contesting from all 119 seats and the Congress which is fighting from 93. Candidates prefer the BSP as it is a national party and is better organised. In 2014, the BSP won two seats in erstwhile Adilabad district Mr A. Indrakaran Reddy from Nirmal and Mr Koneru Konappa from Sirpur. Both joined the TRS, Mr Indrakaran Reddy became endowments minister. Before that, Congress leader D.K. Aruna won on a Samajwadi Party ticket from Gadwal and later joined the Congress. Meanwhile, the Election Commission has received a total of 1,497 nominations including 870 from independents. Even though the state Assembly has 119 seats, 165 aspirants from the Congress, 156 from TRS and 142 from the BJP have filed nominations. The Congress is contesting from 94 seats, the TD from 14. Only candidates who are issued B Forms can contest on the party symbol. Hyderabad: Union minister Bandaru Dattatraya alleged that AP Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu was afraid of the CBI and had therefore barred its activities in AP. Speaking to mediapersons at the BJP headquarters in the city, Mr Dattatreya said, Mr Naidu has banned the CBI from entering the state to protect the corrupt leaders in Andhra Pradesh. Mr Naidu is behaving like a dictator by doing these things. West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee is worried about the Sarada scam and is following in the footsteps of Mr Naidu to escape from it. Mr Dattatreya also slammed the Telangana Jana Samiti of Prof. M. Kodandaram for joining hands with the Congress, and alleged that the Congress was responsible for the suicides of youth during the Telangana statehood movement. The Telangana Rashtra Samiti (TRS) and Congress are announcing schemes that are impossible to implement. They are cheating people with fake promises, he said. On another note, he accused the TRS government of failing to develop temples in the state. He said ministers K.T. Rama Rao and T. Harish Rao are trying to hide the failures of the government to come to power once again. Mr Dattatreya said that the BJP was the only party that could fulfil the dreams of the people of the state. If voted to power, the BJP will implement all the schemes that are announced by us, which also includes the interlinking of river Krishna and Godavari. Vijayawada: Jana Sena cadres worried over the attacks on Jana Sena founder K. Pawan Kalyans convoy and that of former AP Assembly Speaker Nadendla Manohar at various places. A lorry rammed into Mr Kalyans convoy while it was going to Rajanagaram, injuring the security personnel. A lorry carrying sand had rammed into the car of Mr Manohor in Hyderabad on November 15 at 10.30 pm. The driver of Mr Manohars car, Mr C.S. Raju, lodged a complaint with the Jubilee Hills police. Following these two incidents in quick succession, Jana Sena cadres feared that there could be a conspiracy against Mr Kalyan and Mr Manohar in view of the recent knife attack on YSR Congress president Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy at Visakhapatnam airport. Mr Kalyan on Sunday discussed the incidents with party senior leaders and advisors. Party leaders said it could be part of Operation Garuda, a purported plan to unseat the TD, or a conspiracy to weak the Jana Sena. Chandigarh: Punjab chief minister Captain Amarinder Singh on Sunday ordered the home secretary, DGP, DG Law and Order and DG Intelligence to immediately rush to Village Adliwal, Raja Sansi, to personally supervise the investigations into the suspected hand grenade attack at Nirankari Bhawan, which claimed three lives and left 15 people injured. The chief minister, who reviewed the law and order situation following the blast, has also directed the police to immediately enhance security arrangements at all sensitive places in the wake of the explosion the first such indiscriminate attack on innocent people in recent past. Mr Singh said his government was on the top of things and would get to the bottom of the incident soon and ensure that the culprits are nabbed and brought to book. Nobody will be allowed to get away with trying to disturb the peace and harmony of the state, he said. Forensic teams have been rushed to the spot and all angles were being investigated, said the chief minister, adding that the possibility of involvement of ISI-based Khalistani/Kashmiri terror groups could not be ruled out. Police teams have been rushed to raid suspected hideouts of the assailants and multiple teams are investigating various angles to crack the case. Captain Singh said his government was on top of things and would get to the bottom of the incident soon and ensure that the culprits are apprehended and brought to book. Nobody will be allowed to get away with trying to disturb the peace and harmony of the state, he warned. Captain Singh has also announced a compensation of `5 lakh each to the kin of the dead and directed the district administration to provide the best possible medical care, free of cost, to the injured. The chief minister said preliminary investigations had so far revealed that two men, one of them with a flowing beard, with covered faces, allegedly forced their way into the hall by brandishing a pistol. They detained the sewadar, lobbed the grenade into the prayer room, and fled on a motorcycle. A crater, which is 3 in diameter was formed by the impact of the explosion, and was being examined by the forensic team. The safety valve of the grenade has also been found and was being examined. Captain Singh suspected Pakistans ISI-backed Khalistani or Kashmiri militants role in the Amritsar terror attack and vowed that he would not let the forces of terror destroy the states hard-earned peace. The possibility of involvement of ISI-backed Khalistani or Kashmiri terror groups could not be ruled out (in the Amritsar terror attack), said Amarinder Singh in an official statement The chief minister has meanwhile appealed to the people not to panic and maintain peace and law and order. Let us remain calm, he said, adding that the government would ensure there is no chaos in the wake of the incident. Though the state had been hit by a series of cases of targeted attacks since 2015/16, this was the first attempt, in a long time, to disturb the peace in the state through indiscriminate killings, said the Chief Minister, adding that it strengthened the belief that Pakistan was continuing with its nefarious activities to disturb the states peace. He pointed out that 15 such terror modules had been busted in the past 18 months, with Kashmiri terror links also indicated in some instances, as evidenced in the arrest of Kashmiri students from Jalandhar and in the Maqsudan police station grenade blast case. A leopard found dead on a road at the Racharla Ghat section near Garladinne village on Sunday. This is the second incident of a leopards death in three days. Kurnool: A male leopard, estimated to be about a year old, was found dead on a road on the Racharla Ghat section near Garladinne village in Papili mandal on Sunday. Forest officials said that it had died after being hit by a lorry. Kurnool divisional forest officer Chandrasekhar told this newspaper that it was for the first time that such an incident had been reported in the division. He said leopards being nocturnal animals move during the night and vehicles often could not see them which could have led to the accident. He said on getting information he reached the spot and found the animal with a head injury. A post mortem had been conducted, he said. This is the second incident of a leopard kill in the last three days. On November 16, a female leopard, also about a year old, was found dead on the railway tracks near Chelima village in Nandyal forest division. On September 1, a leopard died at Mittapalle in Allagadda mandal under suspicious circumstances. Officials said that it was drawn into a canal while drinking water at the Telugu Ganga canal. On March 28, a female tiger about 18 months old was found dead at Naramamidi Cheruvu locality of Pecheruvu East beat of Srisailam range in the Nagarjunasagar-Srisailam Tiger Reserve (NTSR). The post mortem report said it was a natural death. But there were several theories doing the rounds that the tiger had been poisoned by poachers. On December 16, 2017, forest officials in pursuit of a tigress and two cubs appeared to have netted two 11-month-old at a field in Jamminagar tanda of Velugodu mandal. One of the cubs died due to an alleged overdose of anesthesia. I cannot understand why anybody Hindu, Muslim or of any other faith would oppose the building of a Ram temple in Ayodhya. Even an atheist would accept that purely in terms of numerical democracy, there are millions of Hindus who would like to honour Lord Ram by building a temple in his name in the city where he was born, and to which he belongs. Those who are not atheists but believe that the money spent on constructing the temple can be better used for building a hospital or a school, are being naive too. Firstly, it is not an either-or scenario: We need hospitals and schools, but those of the faith need places of worship too. And if the developmental imperative is so strong, why not a campaign to convert the Rashtrapati Bhavan into a hospital as Mahatma Gandhi wanted to do in 1947? Lord Ram is a much loved and respected deity. He is maryada purushottam, the very epitome of rectitude. The Ramayan whether of Valmiki or Kamban, or the vastly popular Ramcharitmanas of Tulsidasa are not only works of literary genius but deeply sacred texts. In popular imagination, Lord Ram is the touchstone of right conduct, and the divine guarantor of moksha or salvation. When a Hindu dies, the words chanted by those who take the body for cremation is: Ram naam satya hai: The name of Ram is the enduring truth. Gandhiji, who wanted independent India to be as righteous as Lord Rams kingdom Ram Rajya died to an assassins bullets with these two words as his last exclamation: Hey Ram!. So there really can be no credible opposition to the construction of the Ram temple in Ayodhya. The question that can be asked is: How to build it, since the site where it is to be constructed and where an earlier Ram temple existed was in Baburs time replaced by a mosque, the Babri Masjid? That Masjid was condemnably demolished in 1992 by right-wing hoodlums, but the question of title or ownership of the land itself is still contested between Hindu and Muslim groups. Currently, the matter of title is before the Supreme Court, and hearings are to start in January. It is generally agreed that the matter should be decided either by the judgement of the Supreme Court, or by mutual agreement between all relevant stakeholders to the dispute. This is the civilised way to proceed, and would be in conformity with the maryada always associated with Shri Ram. However, personally, I have my own reservations on whether a matter of faith can be definitively decided by a legal intervention. The Court can decide on title, and that wont be easy either, given the mass of conflicting evidence, much of it not of a judicial nature. But, even if a judgement is forthcoming, and is interpreted to be against either of the opposed parties, will it put a final closure to the dispute? The second option is a far better one. A dialogue would be the ideal way to put this acrimonious and divisive issue behind us. For this, both sides will need to curb their inflexible hardline elements, and find a modus vivendi. This is easier said than done. One way could be for Muslims to agree for a mosque to be built at an alternative site, and for Hindus to declare that if this is done there will be a closure to all other disputes of this nature whether at Kashi or Mathura or anywhere else. The mosque built by Babur does not have any special significance separate from the fact that it is one of the many mosques built by the Muslims after they had invaded India. It has acquired significance because of the condemnable nature in which it was forcefully demolished in 1992. But that is a blot of the past from which lessons have to be learnt, the foremost of which is that such incidents should never happen again. Now we must respond to the imperatives of the present, because so long as this dispute remains unresolved, extremist elements on both the Hindu and Muslim side will continue to draw sustenance. For Hindus, the site where Lord Ram was born irrespective of whether this can be historically proved or not has very special significance. It would be a grand gesture of great import if Muslims agree to allow a temple to be built here, in exchange for a mosque to be built in Ayodhya itself, but at another place. But such a gesture requires Muslim liberal opinion to assert itself, and break the stranglehold that a handful of clerics and ulemas have currently acquired in the matter. The million dollar question is whether moderate Muslim voices will be willing to take this initiative, given that the bulk of both Hindus and Muslims are as keen to put this dispute behind them, and get on with their lives in peace and harmony, by marginalising the kattar-vadis among their communities. It is sad, however, that while a great many Muslims I know, privately agree to the possibilities of such a solution, very few are willing to come out in the open. It is true that a community that often feels under siege by the inflammatory statements and intimidating actions of Hindu extremists, can retreat into a shell-like fear psychosis. But the question still is relevant: Where are the Muslim liberals? Apart from a few, like Javed Akhtar, Shabana Azmi, and Shahid Siddiqui, most appear to have opted for silence, and ceded space to the stereotypical mullah, so visible perhaps by design on some TV channels. It is time for Muslims, who have no vested interest in perpetuating this dispute, to become more visible, and if possible, in an organised manner. It is time also for Hindus to facilitate this process by robustly rebutting fanatical Hindu fringe groups. Only when sane elements among both Hindus and Muslims come together can we have a solution to the Ram Mandir issue. It would seem that the best way to do this is to take the negotiating process away from those who only have relevance if this dispute continues to remain unresolved. Nothing in Satya Pal Maliks slender credentials warranted his appointment as the governor of Jammu and Kashmir in August 2018. It is, however, important to analyse his assertions because they have been the staple of Indian discourse on the Kashmir issue. On October 24, he said that Jammu and Kashmirs political parties have no right to talk about India-Pakistan peace talks and asked the Hurriyat to keep the neighbouring country aside. This is arrogantly puerile. The Kashmir issue has three parties India, Pakistan and the people of Kashmir. All three must concur in the terms of its settlement, which will have to be a compromise. Force has clearly failed. The format of the dialogue has been talks between the states with the tacit understanding that, at some stage, the peoples approval will have to be obtained to any settlement. Negotiations on Kashmir were held from November 1, 1947, onwards during a war. That day, Quaid-i-Azam Mohammad Ali Jinnah met Lord Mountbatten at the Governors House, Lahore. Each side presented its own precise proposal. Talks continued in New Delhi when V.P. Menon and Mohammad Ali Jinnah discussed a concrete proposal under the auspices of Lord Hastings Ismay, Mountbattens chief of staff. They continued all through 1948 and 1949 under the auspices of the United Nations Commission for India and Pakistan. The UN mediator Sir Owen Dixon held a joint conference of the Prime Ministers Jawaharlal Nehru and Liaquat Ali Khan in New Delhi. In 1953, Nehru and Mohammad Ali Bogra held talks on Kashmir. So did Zulfikar Ali Bhutto and Swaran Singh in several rounds in 1962 and 1963. The Shimla Accord of July 2, 1972, binds the respective heads of both governments themselves to meet again ... in the near future inter alia for a final settlement of Jammu and Kashmir; implying clearly that there did exist an issue for a final settlement. Contrary to myths, the Shimla Accord did not put a bid on the status quo. The Lahore Declaration of February 21, 1999, signed by Atal Behari Vajpayee and Nawaz Sharif bound them to intensify their efforts to resolve all issues including the issue of Jammu and Kashmir. The Islamabad charter of a composite dialogue listed, on June 23, 1997, outstanding issues of concern to both sides. Jammu and Kashmir was at the top of the list. Since then, we have had the aborted Agra Declaration and the Manmohan Singh understanding on the four points albeit yet to be finalised on Kashmir. Are the people of Kashmir, who are directly affected, to have no say in the matter? The Constitution of India provides the answer. A proviso to Article 253 says: No decision affecting the disposition of Jammu and Kashmir shall be made by the government of India without the consent of the (Srinagar) government. This implies two things; a decision on the disposition of Kashmir is yet to be made, and the consent of its freely elected governments representing the people is indispensable. The former foreign minister Jaswant Singh asked, Why is Pakistan concerned with Kashmir? One might ask why India supported the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam in Sri Lanka, or why it concerns itself with Indians in Fiji? Article 370 of Indias Constitution is hollowed out. Article 35-A is under threat. No settlement is possible within the limits of Indias Constitution alone. That was rejected in 1953. The people yearn for azadi it is possible if all the three sides agree. Kashmiris cannot secure it by force. Nor can India crush them by force. Malik asks the Hurriyat to abandon Pakistan and the political parties to tell the boys to avoid encounter sites and stone-pelting. It is nearly a decade since they went out of control of anybody. Women wail at the windows as funeral processions of slain militants pass by, while thousands, including wanted militants, throng to their graves. It is a whole people in revolt. On May 21, 2010, Ghulam Rasool Kar, a veteran Congress leader in Jammu and Kashmir, pleaded for improvement in Indias relations with Pakistan and acceptance of the harsh reality of Kashmiri sentiment. Every Kashmiri is emotionally attached to Pakistan whether they are in Congress or National Conference. On November 4 2007, the former Jammu and Kashmir chief minister Mehbooba Mufti said, Naturally we are concerned. We have a sentimental and geographical affinity with Pakistan. There were jubilant celebrations on Pervez Musharrafs re-election as President. Activists burst firecrackers and danced in the streets of Srinagar. Why? Because he worked for a settlement. Pakistan is not only a party to the Kashmir issue but a party within Kashmir as well. No accord will succeed unless all the three sides concur and compromise. By arrangement with Dawn By Trend President Donald Trump said Saturday he was not considering extraditing a U.S.-based Muslim cleric to Turkey as part of an effort to ease pressure on Saudi Arabia, Reuters reports. No, its not under consideration, Trump told reporters when asked about potential extradition of Fethullah Gulen, who is wanted in Turkey over accusations he was involved in a failed 2016 coup. NBC News reported Thursday the Trump administration had explored whether it could extradite Gulen, as a way to persuade Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan to ease pressure on Saudi Arabia over the killing of journalist Jamal Khashoggi in the Saudi consulate in Istanbul last month. Trump has sought closer ties with Saudi Arabia, citing Riyadhs role in countering Iranian influence in the region, and billions of dollars in potential arms deals. The Justice Department had denied on Friday the matter had been discussed. On Saturday, Trump said he got along well with Erdogan, and spoke of a desire to improve relations with Turkey. He also described Saudi Arabia as a truly spectacular ally in terms of jobs and economic development. He may be low-profile and simple but senior Congress leader and former Rajasthan chief minister Ashok Gehlots political astuteness cannot be doubted. This was evident last week when he outwitted his younger colleague, Rajasthan Congress chief Sachin Pilot and surprised everyone by announcing that they would both be contesting next months Assembly polls in Rajasthan. Mr Gehlot and Mr Pilot are in the race for the chief ministers post in case the Congress succeeds in overthrowing the Vasundhara Raje government. The sub-text of Mr Gehlots declaration is that the two leaders will have to prove themselves in the electoral arena to get a shot at power. Here, the senior Congress leader has a distinct advantage over Mr Pilot. Mr Gehlot has had a long inning in politics, has served on important positions in the party organisation, has done a stint as a Central minister and has been a chief minister. He has been winning successively from his constituency in Jodhpur, is well regarded by the people and has a strong support base among party workers. Mr Pilot, on the other hand, is young, energetic and articulate but has never contested an Assembly election, having served two terms in the Lok Sabha. The guessing game is on: Will experience prevail over GenNext or vice versa? Shivraj Singh Chouhan, the three-term chief minister of Madhya Pradesh, is battling hard to return to power for a record fourth time. Faced with an unprecedented rebellion in its ranks, the Bharatiya Janata Partys state unit was forced to expel over 60 members including several senior leaders for anti-party activity. Mr Chouhans wife Sadhna Singh faced a hostile crowd last week when she went to campaign for her husband in his Assembly constituency Budhni. Having launched his election campaign well in advance with his trademark rath yatras, Mr Chouhan appears to have peaked early. Above all, the affable chief minister is waging a lone battle, getting little help from his senior party colleagues. Central ministers, including Sushma Swaraj and Uma Bharati, have barely been seen in poll-bound Madhya Pradesh, though they are from the state and are known to be powerful orators. Even Prime Minister Narendra Modi has not campaigned as vigorously as he did in Gujarat and Karnataka since he has been busy with important international commitments. However, there is some good news for Mr Chouhan as PM Modi is set to address a string of public meetings in the coming days. With very little time left for the November 28 Madhya Pradesh election, Mr Chouhan is banking on PM Modis whirlwind tours to help him coast past the finish line. One of the sharpest talents of our Prime Minister is how he can frame an argument. He seems to bring something fresh and convincing when he takes up an ordinary subject. This week, he responded to the Congress claim that he became Prime Minister only because of the system that Jawaharlal Nehru put in place. His response was to say: I want to challenge them let some good leader of the Congress outside the Gandhi family become the party president for only five years, then I will say that Nehruji really created a truly democratic system. One answer to that is that there was of course a non-Gandhi person who was president for five years and that was P.V. Narasimha Rao, who was also Prime Minister. And after him, though for a shorter period, the Congress president was Sitaram Kesri. But the real point is that PM Narendra Modi is right: The Congress is like a private limited company, where all the shares are held by one family. The Bharatiya Janata Party is like a public limited company where the stakes are shared among a much wider group of people, and where merit is more important than family ties. You can fail often and still remain head of the Congress if you are a Gandhi. There is no pressure on him to perform. On the other hand if PM Modi does not lead his party to a decisive win in 2019, he will immediately face dissent and a challenge from inside. This is how it happens in all healthy political parties in a democratic framework. And so what PM Modi has said about the Congress is a fact and it cannot be disputed. The question is whether his challenge or advice is worth following for the Congress as a party. I think it is. And I do not think it needs to be exactly what PM Modi says, which is to say give up the party presidency. Even if Rahul Gandhi says he has no intention of becoming Prime Minister, he will bring a credibility to himself and his party that is currently lacking among large parts of the population. Sacrifice is one of the most powerful symbols in our society and someone who gives up power and possessions, as Mahatma Gandhi did, is automatically elevated in the public imagination. Sonia Gandhi was able to transform her image in 2004, when she said the same thing after defeating the BJP. Those of us who are old enough to remember that time well will know how different her image was before that moment. The current Congress president has often said that for him the political battle is about the kind of India that Hindutva is producing. He fears for the future because of the hatred and violence and wants better for his country. This is an admirable thing to say. But if this change in direction of the country is the main thing that he is seeking, he should have no problem in setting his personal ambitions aside. At least for this election, if not forever. There is no lack of highly competent people in the Congress to run things, in the event, however unlikely it may seem at the moment, that they will manage to win the election. In fact it will help the Congress build an alliance if they approach other parties without personal ambition. It will bring great credibility to their idea of a national front if they say that the Gandhis are not interested in the office of power. There will be an instant and positive change in the way Rahul Gandhi is perceived by millions if he says he is not a candidate for PM. And it will help his party also, because it will increase the stakes for outsiders, who will feel motivated to invest more time and effort and money in the party. It will become more of a public limited company and its long-term future will become more secure. I am not for one moment saying what I am because of any issues with Gandhi himself. I have never met him and he could well have it in him to be a good or great leader. Certainly he has the right to run for whatever office he wants to because we are a democracy. I am saying that he should consider what the PM has said positively. He should assess whether in taking up that challenge he helps his cause and his party. I think he does. Of course we must accept that the Gandhi family has sacrificed more for this nation than the leadership of any political party. Two of their leaders have been assassinated and for the family to remain in politics must take great courage and determination. They deserve respect, which they do not always get. They are abused casually and easily by people like PM Modi without acknowledging what they have suffered. Would their prestige be restored by another act of sacrifice and renunciation? I think it would. Blaming the Opposition, mainly the Congress, for politicising the Ram mandir issue and wanting it to remain unresolved, BJPs Rajya Sabha MP G.V.L. NARSIMHA RAO in an interview to YOJNA GUSAI said that it is not the BJP which raked up the issue but it was the Supreme Courts recent order which coincided with election season. The BJP leader sounded confident of his party retaining power in Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan and doing exceptionally well in Telangana and Mizoram and also asserted that the partys main poll plank of development will be a much stronger and potent political platform in 2019 than it was in the 2014 general elections. Five states are going to polls, and many see them as the semi-finals before the 2019 Lok Sabha elections. How will be the performance of your party be? Of the five states going to polls, including Mizoram and Telagana, the BJP is in power in three states and these are the states which we swept in 2014 (general elections). In the three North Indian states where elections are taking place, Rajasthan is the only state which has been swinging from one party to the other and therefore, the state itself has exhibited a tendency to vote for a different party in successive elections. Some states have such a tendency and therefore, given that factor, Rajasthan is a slightly bigger challenge for us whereas the party is very confident of winning with a bigger majority in Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh in a row. In Rajasthan also, though it remains a challenge, we are confident of retaining power though with a reduced majority. Why are you confident of winning Rajasthan when most opinion polls have predicted otherwise? The manner in which the people vote in bypolls is markedly different from the way they vote during the general elections and for the state assembly. So a lot of observers who expect Congress to bag Rajasthan are banking on the recent bypoll results. Bypoll outcomes are not a reckoner for any election outcome. Given the popularity of our national leadership, particularly Prime Minister Narendra Modi, it is an advantage for us. In states where we never had any chance, we have come to power, like in Haryana, Tripura and even in Karnataka But what about Telangana and Mizoram? In Telangana, the incumbent chief minister K. Chandrashekar Rao has still not been able to explain why he favoured an early assembly election when the simultaneous polls with the Lok Sabha elections were expected anytime in May. Certainly the fear of the Modi factor coming into greater play during simultaneous polls prompted KCR to call for early polls in the state. As the TRS government has not been able to live up to the expectations of the people and given the natural decay of the Congress nationwide and its opportunistic alliance with the TDP (Andhra Pradeshs ruling party), the BJP has emerged as the favourite among a large section of the voters, in particular, the socially disadvantaged groups, which got a raw deal, both from the TRS and the erstwhile Congress government in united Andhra Pradesh. We expect the Telangana elections to throw a hung verdict given the nature of the multi-cornered contest and the BJP expects to play a pivotal role in the next government in Telangana. As far as Mizoram is concerned, the Congress is set to lose yet another government in the North-east, which would signal its near eclipse from the region. Why is the BJPs election campaign focused so much around Mr Modi? It is natural for the BJP to leverage its most potent assets in the form of Mr Modis image and credibility. Today, the Prime Minister symbolises positive governance and selfless service, which are unique attributes as compared to the family-run political operations of rival formations in all these states. While the BJP had come to power in many of these states even earlier on repeated occasions, Mr Modis campaigns have a plus factor which give the additional edge to the party to trounce political rivals. It further helps the BJP in these states that the principal rival is the Congress led by Rahul Gandhi, whose inability to lend a touch of credibility to the campaign and whose ineffective leadership has helped the BJPs cause in expanding into areas which were hitherto to be Congresss strongholds. Development has been your main poll plank. Will it continue to be in 2019 as well? Absolutely. To me the developmental plank of the BJP in 2019 is going to be a much stronger and potent political platform than it was in 2014. In 2014, it was a promise that appealed to the people but in 2019 it is the track record of Modis governance that will give the BJP a huge leg-up. Election victories to various state assemblies in the interm period, notably in Uttar Pradesh and Tripura were a manifestation of public approval of the Central governments performance. More than 22 crore families have directly benefited from Prime Minister Narendra Modis governance and this has a direct bearing on their preference for voting for a party that has pursued positive politics and a positive governance agenda. If development is and will be your partys main poll plank, why is the Ram Mandir issue being ignited and some of your party leaders have been staunchly campaigning for it? Well, if you remember in the last Lok Sabha polls, there was no mention of Ram Mandir, even in Uttar Pradesh, which was a very crucial election for us when Mr Modi was the Prime Ministerial candidate. The mandir issue has come up now because the BJP wants it in its agenda. It was the Supreme Courts decision which in a sense is a coinciding factor. We have not asked the honourable Court to postpone the matter, as it was the Courts decision. So this issue has not come to the fore because of the BJP but because of the inordinate delay in resolving this long-pending legal dispute. But the Opposition party claim that the BJP is raking up the issue because it is not confident of retaining power in 2019? If this is the question, then the Opposition parties, lets say the Congress and other parties, should come together and unanimously decide about the construction of Ram Mandir. Then it will not remain a political issue anymore. Let, the Congress say that it favours Ram mandir construction in Ayodhya. Let them extend support to the BJP and there can be a national consensus on this. We will be extremely pleased if there is a national consensus. Actually, it is the Congress which wants to play politics over the Ram Mandir. The Congress went to the Court saying that they want the decision to be delayed, which has been pending for six-seven decades. What was the need to prolong it further? You can be a fake Ram bhakt or a Shiv bhakt. Rahul Gandhi fakes being a Ram bhakt but when it comes to fulfilling the aspirations of crores of Hindus, he suddenly wears a different hat. If the Congress does not want this issue to linger or become a talking point, it should support the temple and let there be a national consensus on this. Congress wants to use stealthy means to delay a court verdict and wants to conspire against the creation of the temple, and on top of it, indulges in false propaganda that Hindus do not want a temple. The Congress and its leaders like Digvijay Singh and Shahsi Tharoor try to play votebank politics over it. For the BJP, it is not a political issue, but certainly an emotive issue and a matter of faith and belief. The Congress should not indulge in hurting the religious sentiments of Hindus by making absurd comments about the Ram mandir. We are in the middle of elections to five state Assemblies, whose outcome will be no less than a landmark in our political life. Undue notice may not have been taken of these polls if the ruling BJP were not seen to be on trial in three of the five states. These three have been the BJPs comfort zone for long, and in recent years have been turned into a Hindutva playground, showcasing along with Uttar Pradesh and Gujarat the partys understanding of the so-called Hindu way of life and of rule by Hindus (rather than by elected citizens whose religious identity is not underlined), while giving no more than a formal nod to the Constitution, a remarkable document which emphasises pluralism for a country of bewildering diversity. These particular states are a microcosm of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his partys conception of Bharat. Naturally then, as regards these elections, there is also a deep national curiosity and for many anxiety about whether the Congress, the countrys oldest party with a very different register of politics and ideology from the BJPs, can present itself as an adequate challenger to the BJPs approach to politics and life, and appear as a substitute for it in the public eye. Outright wins and losses in Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh will of course be a leading marker of the direction public life takes as we look ahead. But clear victories/defeats are not an essential requirement. Even if the BJP or the Congress do not lose emphatically, which means one of them remains a somewhat equal force even in defeat, the prospect of a continuing contest between two distinct brands of politics will remain alive in the future. This will matter early next year when the country will be thrown into the whirlwind of preparations for the 2019 Lok Sabha election. There the canvas will be the whole country and the results will provide a clearer idea of the kind of country Indians want. Do we as a nation seek the same kind of politics as we did in 2014 in the sense of giving the saffron party a no-holds-barred control of our polity and the governing structures, unlike, say, in the time of Atal Behari Vajpayee, when the BJP had to remain content with being constrained by its secular allies? Alongside this had come the overthrow of the Congress lock, stock and barrel indicating that the country felt the need to try out a different party on a full sway basis (as was the case up to the 1970s with the Congress). Fatigue with the Congress was evident as was evident the urge and temptation to try out the Modi brand of leader, not just the saffron party. Messrs Modi and Amit Shah naturally took this to be a deep-going endorsement of their leadership and long-term commitment to the saffron party by the people of India. The BJP president recently declared that his party was going to rule India for the next 50 years, which some saw as a threat to not relinquish power, leaving no stone unturned to remain in the saddle. But perhaps this was no more than carefree exuberance on the part of the BJP leader. The reality on the ground, as crucial elections approach, cannot however give him and the Prime Minister the comfort they seek from the national mood. After all, no promise of note made in 2014 by Mr Modi to the electorate has been met. The economy is in poor shape. Unemployment is running high. The BJPs allies have turned uncertain. The Gujarat state election was barely won last year. Karnataka this year was lost. A string of byelections in several states have produced a gloomy verdict. So the party appears to have taken precautions, and pointedly changed direction to overlook the Sabka saath, sabka vikas mantra which became such a vote-catcher in 2014, the slogan that was emblematic of the election which brought the BJP to power in a landslide, giving history a turn. For the past couple of months, in the run-up to the crucial state polls and as preparation for next years national election, the idea being repeatedly dinned into the public by the BJP, RSS and its militant affiliates, is related to the construction of the proposed Ram temple in Ayodhya, alongside barely camouflaged appeals to violate the recent order of the Supreme Court permitting women of menstrual age to enter the Sabarimala shrine in Kerala. This is surprising for a party holding office. After 1989, when the BJP first began to aggressively raise the question of the Ram Mandir and finally in December 1992 succeeded in demolishing the Babri Masjid, it was the challenger in Indian politics. The Congress hegemony had been dealt a blow by the desertion of V.P. Singh, and the BJP seized the chance to mount its own offensive on the subject of the temple in Ayodhya. This was the BJPs way to legitimise its communal assault. Much happened in the period before 2014 when Mr Modi rode to power, keeping communalism in the backdrop and front-loading issues of the day-to-day survival of ordinary people in order to attract greater traction as the party that aimed to supplant the Congress as the national icon of politics. But the bid seems to be coming unstuck. Evidently, the BJP never did change its strategic vision. In 2014, it now seems, it had only made a tactical retreat in speaking of the all-round development of all. The saffron party, now as the party in power with the largest parliamentary majority in a quarter century, is obliged to hark back to its slogan of a quarter century ago, throwing caution to the winds. This is a time when it should have been blowing the trumpet on the strength of its achievements. That is not the case, however. Perhaps the ruling party is only too aware of its unwholesome record in office on the economic and the social front. The clock is being turned back on the political front, with Ayodhya hitting the headlines again. We cant know what this means for the elections ahead. But it is noticeable that paeans of praise to the political hero of 2014 are muted in the BJP-ruled states going to the polls, with partys state leaders being highlighted instead in Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh. Perhaps we are at a cusp in politics. People believe that social workers and do-gooders transform the world and therefore they are honoured and awarded by society. Service to humanity is part of many religions. But in spite of all these services, humanity is as it is because the service is superficial. Donating blankets or medicines, opening schools or serving the poor is not what changes people at the centre. And the main point is that there is nothing like humanity, it is only an idea, a collective noun. Human beings do exist, humanity doesnt. Thats why to look at each individual as a separate being and try to offer a solution indirectly is important. They should know that they are being served. The change of consciousness is what changes their life. It is a human psychology that when you want to change somebody aggressively their ego resists because it gets hurt. The giver is on the higher level and the receiver is on the lower level. The effective service is always indirect, surreptitious. Be a catalytic agent, not the political agent. Osho has brought up a unique point about transforming people. He says: The world is transformed by people who live in this world as if this world is just a dream. People are changed, transfigured by those who live in this world unconcerned, indifferent to trivia; who live a life of inner centring, who live in the world but dont allow the world to enter them, who live in the world but the world does not live in them, who remain untouched; who carry their silence everywhere. In the marketplace they remain in their inner temple nothing distracts them from their being. These people become catalytic agents. These people bring a totally new quality to human consciousness. When you are not attached to the outside world, whatever happens, does not affect you in the core, so you dont get into depression by any disaster. One of the most influential writers, authors and thinkers of the West was Aldous Huxley. He was one of the Western minds who penetrated very deeply into the Eastern attitude toward life. It is said that when a Californian bushfire destroyed his lifetimes possessions, Huxley felt only an unexpected freedom. I feel clean, he said. If you are centred, nothing can be destroyed. No fire can destroy your centring. Not even death is capable of distracting you. Oshos sutra might help you in this endeavour: This centring is possible only if you start living each moment meditatively, fully alert, aware. Dont move like an automaton. Dont react like a mechanism. Become conscious. Collect yourself more and more so that a crystallised consciousness continuously illuminates your inner being, a flame goes on burning there and it lights wherever you move. The path, the way, whatsoever you do, it lights it. Amrit Sadhana is editor of Osho Times International. She facilitates meditation workshops based on Osho insights around the country and abroad. President Donald Trump said Saturday, following reports that the CIA had held Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman responsible. (Photo: File) Washington: The United States will make final conclusions by early next week over the killing of Jamal Khashoggi, President Donald Trump said Saturday, following reports that the CIA had held Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman responsible. Saudi Arabia has repeatedly changed its official narrative of the October 2 murder, first denying any knowledge of Khashoggis whereabouts and later saying he was killed when an argument degenerated into a fistfight. Earlier this week, a Saudi prosecutor exonerated the crown prince of involvement in the brutal murder. Speaking to reporters in Malibu, California after surveying damage from wildfires, Trump said well be having a very full report over the next two days, probably Monday or Tuesday. State Department spokeswoman Heather Nauert earlier said reports indicating the United States had already made final conclusions in the case were inaccurate. There remain numerous unanswered questions with respect to the murder of Khashoggi, she added. The State Department will continue to seek facts and work with other countries to hold those involved in the killing accountable, Nauert said, while maintaining the important strategic relationship between the United States and Saudi Arabia. In the meantime, we will continue to consult Congress, and work with other nations to hold accountable those involved in the killing of Jamal Khashoggi. She noted that Washington had already taken decisive measures against individuals, including visa and sanctions actions. The remarks appeared to contradict reports that the Central Intelligence Agency had determined Saudi Arabias powerful Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman ordered the killing of Khashoggi, a vocal critic. Truly spectacular ally The killing and the international uproar it triggered has frayed ties between Washington and longtime ally Riyadh, which has sought to end discussion of the murder and rejected calls for an international investigation. But ahead of a briefing by his secretary of state and CIA director, Trump demured when asked about possible retaliation against Riyadh. They have been a truly spectacular ally in terms of jobs and economic development, Trump told reporters. And I also take that -- you know, Im president -- I have to take a lot of things into consideration. The Washington Post, which broke the story, said the CIA found that 15 Saudi agents flew on government aircraft to Istanbul and assassinated Khashoggi in the Saudi consulate. Khashoggi, a Post columnist, had gone to the consulate to obtain documents necessary to marry his Turkish fiancee. European Union foreign affairs chief Federica Mogherini meanwhile reiterated calls for a thorough, credible and transparent probe into Khashoggis killing. The need remains to shed full clarity on the circumstances surrounding this horrendous crime as well as to ensure accountability for all those responsible for it, she said in a statement. Reiterating the EUs categorical opposition to the death penalty, Mogherini said we will continue to stress that the kingdom of Saudi Arabia must put in place measures to ensure that something like this can never happen again. In due course, the EU and its member states will consider how they can act together towards appropriate measures against those responsible, in support of the rules based international system, she added. In the latest version of the events presented by the Saudi prosecutor on Thursday, a 15-member squad was formed to bring Khashoggi back from Istanbul by means of persuasion -- but instead ended up killing the journalist and dismembering his body in a rogue operation. The USD 50 billion corridor that connects Kashgar in western China with Gwadar port in Pakistan, spanning 3,000 kilometres, is also one of the pain points in ties between India and China. (Photo: File) Brussels: Activists in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir have come out in protest against the so-called China Pakistan Economic Corridor's over the actual intention of the trade project, which they alleged was pro-military. The United Kashmir People's National Party or UKPNP led the protests, news agency ANI reported. The UKPNP with "regional political powers and regional governments are also demanding that they should use their influence to stop Pakistan from creating such a hostile environment after China-Pakistan Economic Corridor, which is not a pro-people project," said Jamil Maqsood, UKPNP's former central secretary of foreign affairs. "We are of the view that the project is pro-military and it has a strategic interest. It is not directed towards developing local people..." The USD 50 billion corridor that connects Kashgar in western China with Gwadar port in Pakistan, spanning 3,000 kilometres, is also one of the pain points in ties between India and China. India has right from the start protested against China's CPEC push as the corridor passes through PoK or Pakistan-occupied Kashmir. The activists said they want an end to Pakistan's "illegal" and "forceful occupation" of the region. "The party leadership also expressed their concern that the government of Pakistan is violating state subject rule in Rawalakot, Kotli, Bagh, Neelum, Muzaffarabad and other areas and allocating land to its retired army-men, bureaucrats and businessmen," Maqsood said. UKPNP's exiled chairman Sardar Shaukat Ali Kashmiri, addressing the activists in Bagh via telephone, asked the protesters to put pressure on Pakistan to vacate the territory. "The activists demanded Pakistan to release all those languishing in the prisons, including Baba Jan, who was jailed for peacefully demanding local development and the empowerment of local people..." Maqsood told ANI on phone. The activists raised concerns about serious environmental problems in PoK and Gilgit Baltistan due to construction of dams and other projects. The diversion of rivers has "created a drastic environmental effect and affected the people in Muzaffarabad. We are of the view that Pakistan is establishing such dams that are not benefiting the local people. They are not empowering the local youth and they remain unemployed and unable to find a livelihood," Maqsood said. "Pakistan should abide by its international obligation and UN resolutions which ask her to vacate the territory... and to vacate its military from the region, but nevertheless, Pakistan has consolidated its occupation on both regions and exploitation of people and natural resources still continues to take place," he said. Khan was interacting with journalists in Islamabad when he made these comments. (Photo: File) Islamabad: Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan on Friday justified taking 'U-turns' in politics. Khan even cited the example of former German dictator Adolf Hitler to support his argument that a politician who does not take 'U-turns' according to the situation is not a real leader. "Hitler and Napoleon (Bonaparte) suffered huge defeats and caused losses as they did not take U-turns," Geo News quoted Khan, as saying. Khan was interacting with journalists in Islamabad when he made these comments. "If you are walking and there is a wall in front of you, then you will have to change and find another way and a leader who does not know how to take U-turns is not successful," Khan was quoted by a journalist who attended the interaction. Pakistan Prime Minister's comments have drawn sharp criticism. "Imran Khan is Hitler and is taking U-turns to avoid losses," said Pakistan Peoples' Party leader Khursheed Shah. He said that the prime minister was sending a message that Hitler had failed because he did not take a U-turn otherwise he would be successful. On Friday, Khan also talked about his visit to China. "Concrete results of my visit are beginning to show. We are receiving all forms of aid from China and are satisfied," Khan commented on his recent trip to China. On the economic condition, Khan assured that situation will start improving from next year. "The next three to six months are difficult but from next year onward our economic situation is going to improve significantly and we will be on the right track," he claimed. Recently, Imran Khan-led-government announced the unveiling of a comprehensive package on education, health and poverty alleviation after the completion of its first 100 days. The government on Saturday appointed Ajay Bhushan Pandey as Revenue Secretary after the current finance and revenue secretary Hasmukh Adhia superannuates on November 30. Pandey, who at present is the CEO of Unique Identification Authority of India, will continue to hold additional charge of UIDAI until further orders, a government notification said late on Saturday evening. Pandey is a 1984 batch Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officer from Maharashtra cadre. Earlier in the day, Finance Minister Arun Jaitley announced Adhia's retirement and also wrote a blog on his contributions to India's reforms under Prime Minister Narendra Modi government in the past four years. Adhia was instrumental in getting the historic GST legislation implemented across the country and also a host of laws to unearth black money. Adhia, a 1981-batch Gujarat cadre officer, moved to Delhi in November 2014 as a secretary in the Department of Financial Services after Modi became prime minister. The government also appointed Girish Chandra Murmu, a 1985 batch Gujarat-cadre officer as an officer on special duty in the department of expenditure. He will take over as expenditure secretary in January next year after incumbent Ajay Narayan Jha superannuates. China and the US crossed swords Saturday ahead of an APEC summit, duelling over protectionism, trade tariffs and "chequebook diplomacy" as they laid out sharply contrasting visions for the Pacific Rim region. In combative back-to-back speeches at a business forum held on a hulking cruise ship moored in Port Moresby, Xi Jinping and US Vice President Mike Pence pulled few punches. The feisty exchanges laid the ground for what could be a fiery encounter between the Chinese leader and President Donald Trump at next month's G20 in Argentina. Xi lashed out at "America First" trade protectionism and stressed that global trade rules should not be applied "with double standards or selfish agendas" -- in a thinly veiled swipe at Washington. The world's top two economies have been embroiled in a spiralling trade war, imposing tit-for-tat tariffs on each other's goods in a confrontation experts warn could torpedo the global economy. Xi urged the world to "say no to protectionism and unilateralism", warning it was a "short-sighted approach" that was "doomed to failure". For his part, Pence vowed US tariffs would remain in place unless Beijing "changes its ways". "We've put tariffs on USD 250 billion in Chinese goods and that number could more than double," he told CEOs from around the region. Amid fears diplomatic and trade friction could spill over into the military sphere, Pence announced the US would join forces with Australia in the development of a new naval base. And in a move likely to irritate Beijing, he also briefly met Taiwan's APEC representative. Trump decided to skip the summit in Papua New Guinea, leaving the door open for Xi, who arrived two days earlier for a state visit and has been the undoubted star of the show. Xi opened a new road and a school in Port Moresby, where he was serenaded by dozens of people from various tribes sporting parrot feathers, possum pelts and seashell necklaces. The APEC summit of leaders from 21 countries across the region has developed into a tussle for influence between an increasingly assertive China and a more withdrawn US. This appeared to be borne out by the first "family photo" of leaders, which featured Xi front and centre while Pence was absent. But in his speech, Pence lashed out at Chinese largesse in strong terms, mocking the Belt-and-Road initiative that sees China offering loans to poorer countries in the region to improve infrastructure. The vice president urged Pacific nations to embrace the United States, which, he said, did not offer a "constricting belt or a one-way road". He said the terms of China's loans were "opaque at best" and "too often, they come with strings attached and lead to staggering debt". "Do not accept foreign debt that could compromise your sovereignty," he said. "We don't drown our partners in a sea of debt... We don't coerce, corrupt, or compromise your independence. The United States deals openly and fairly." As if pre-empting the criticism, Xi defended the plan amid attacks it is akin to "chequebook diplomacy" to further Chinese interests in the region. He denied there was a "hidden geopolitical agenda... nor is it a trap as some people have labelled it". And the Chinese leader warned that no one would gain from heightened tensions between the US and his emerging superpower. "History has shown that confrontation -- whether in the form of a cold war, hot war or trade war -- will produce no winners," he said. Pence too stressed that Washington wanted a "better relationship" with Beijing -- if it respects its neighbours' sovereignty, embraced "free, fair and reciprocal trade" and improved its human rights record. Officially, the leaders will discuss improving regional economic cooperation under the theme of "embracing the digital future" but the punchy speeches set the scene for a tense gathering. In the absence of Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin, the summit itself has been relatively low-key and the focus has turned to the venue Port Moresby. The capital of Papua New Guinea has been ranked as one of the least liveable cities for expatriates, with a high level of crime, often perpetrated by feared street gangs known as "raskols". Delegates have been advised not to venture out alone -- especially after dark -- and officials and journalists have been hosted on massive cruise ships moored in the harbour due to safety issues and a dearth of hotel rooms. Nevertheless, in a last-minute change-of-heart, Pence decided to stay overnight in the city rather than fly in and out from Australia as originally planned. Resplendent in shiny red or yellow patterned shirts, the leaders enjoyed a respite from negotiations at a gala dinner before starting the formal talks on Sunday. Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) has given approval for a Dh590-million ($161 million) project that entails the upgradation and expansion of the smart traffic systems in Dubai. The move comes following the directives of HH Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, to broaden the scope of smart traffic systems in support of efforts to rank Dubai as the smartest city worldwide, and implement smart technologies and programmes in order to ease the mobility in Dubai, said a statement from RTA. The RTA endorsed the project at a session chaired by Mattar Al Tayer, the director-general and chairman of the board of executive directors at RTA. "This project is one of the key deliverables of RTAs Innovation Lab (Masar 2030) endorsed by Sheikh Mohammed. It encompasses the design and construction of an integrated infrastructure for Dubai smart traffic systems and the construction of a new Traffic Control Centre at Al Barsha," noted Al Tayer. "It envisages lifting the smart system coverage of Dubai roads network from the present 11 to 60 per cent," he added. Al Tayer pointed out that the project will also help cut the time of detecting accidents and congestions build up and accordingly accelerate the response time. "It will also provide instant traffic information to the public about roads network via new Variable Messaging Signs and smart apps. The Project will also step up the management of traffic movement at major events, such as Expo 2020," he added. The Phase One of the project will expand the coverage of smart traffic systems to 60 per cent of Dubai roads network, said the statement from RTA. The scope of work includes provision of an integrated infrastructure for smart traffic systems in Dubai and the construction of a new traffic management system. It will facilitate the management of traffic bottlenecks and accidents, enhance the safety of road users, and ease personal mobility, it added. Al Tayer said due to the massive nature and technical sophistication of the project, the initial stage will be split into five key bundles. "The first covers traffic monitoring and data capturing systems such as cameras, vehicle detection devices as well as Bluetooth devices and weather sensors. The second bundle relates to information signs (dynamic messages), which involves the installation of 112 sign boards providing instant information to drivers about the road condition," he explained. The third bundle involves constructing the infrastructure such as civil works, fiber optic lines, and electricity distribution network. The scope of these works involves the extension of lines spanning over 400 km, he stated. The fourth bundle covers the advanced central traffic system. The system supports decision taking, ensures an automatic response, and enables the integration with devices at site as well as other traffic centres and operations systems. Al Tayer said the fifth bundle covers the construction of a Traffic Control Center at Al Barsha South to accommodate the projected increase in the current and future smart traffic systems. The building will be located in the middle of the Emirate to keep pace with the planned expansion of the Smart Traffic Systems in Dubai. "The new centre will constructed at the highest international standards of control centres, including devices and mega display monitors that are user-friendly control systems for operators and engineers," he added.-TradeArabia News Service A CBI officer, deputy superintendent of police Ashwini Kumar Gupta on Saturday approached the Supreme Court challenging an order issued on October 24 to repatriate him to parent organisation, Intelligence Bureau. He, along with other officers, were transferred, a day after CBI director Alok Verma and special director Rakesh Asthana were sent on leave. He claimed he was singled out for investigating the alleged role of Asthana in Sterling Biotech case in which Income Tax raids were conducted at Sandesara Estate, Vadodara, and a diary recovered purportedly showing 23 transactions between January 1, 2011 to June 28, 2011, and payment of Rs 3.94 crore to Asthana, a Gujarat cadre IPS officer. Gupta contended he was assisting CBI officer A K Bassi, also transferred to Port Blair. Bassi had already filed a similar plea against his transfer after new interim CBI director M Nageshwara Rao was appointed on October 23. Asthana had lodged a complaint with Cabinet Secretary on October 18 that both the officers were conducting a roving inquiry into marriage of his daughter that took place in Vadodara on November 25, 2016. In an application, he urged the court to quash his transfer order as it was made in a motivated and malafide manner, solely with an aim to victimise the officers honestly and diligently performing their duties. Gupta has joined the CBI as an inspector on deputation in 2014 but was subsequently promoted as DSP and granted an extension. After open bickering between CBI chief and Asthana, both were divested of charge and sent on leave on October 23. As Verma challenged the order, the top court allowed the Central Vigilance Commission to conduct its inquiry against him on a note sent by Cabinet Secretary under the supervision of former SC judge, Justice A K Patnaik. The top court on Friday found that Verma has not been cleared of all charges. It had asked him to respond to the inquiry report by Monday. When Congress on Saturday fielded former BJP leader Jaswant Singhs son Manvendra Singh against Rajasthan Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje from Jhalrapatan constituency, it only repeated its gameplan in neighbouring poll-bound states of Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh. That is to put pressure on the opposing partys chief campaigners of these states - the respective Chief Ministers - to ensure that they are forced to spend more time on winning their own seats. Besides, making the contest in chief ministerial constituencies high profile also sends out a message that Congress is ready to take head on even the strongest ruling party face in a state. In two of these high profile constituencies, Congress has banked on leaders with BJP background to challenge their chief ministers. While Singh, a former BJP MLA from Sheo, quit the saffron party just two months ago in September this year, former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayees niece Karuna Shukla, who has been pitted against Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Raman Singh from the latters home turf Rajnandgaon, had quit the BJP in 2014 after spending over 30 years in the party. Both Rajasthan CM Raje and Chhattisgarh CM Raman Singh have been winning their seats - Jhalrapatan and Rajnandgaon - for last three terms. Manvendra and his father Jaswant Singh had been upset with the BJP after the latters wish to contest the 2014 Lok Sabha election from Barmer was turned down by the party. A sulking Jaswant Singh had then contested as an independent and lost to the BJP candidate. For last four years, Jaswant Singh has been in a coma after he had a fall and suffered a head injury. Manvendra, who quit the BJP saying, Kamal Ka Phool, Hamaari Bhool, was tipped to contest 2019 Lok Sabha polls from his fathers seat Barmer. But Congress thought it prudent to utilise him against Raje in the state poll as well, seeking to make the contest a bit more tough for the Rajasthan Chief Minister. Shukla had been taking on the BJP for quite some time and most recently she accused the BJP of having forgotten Vajpayee and trying to market his legacy after the saffron party decided to hold a kalash yatra across the nation and in Chhattisgarh in memory of the departed former Prime Minister. In Madhya Pradesh, the Congress chose to field its former state chief Arun Yadav, son of party veteran and former Deputy Chief Minister Subhash Yadav, against Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan from Budhni Assembly seat. The seat has been represented by Chouhan since 1990 Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday attended the swearing-in ceremony of Maldives' new president Ibrahim Mohamed Solih. Solih has promised that the Indian Ocean island nation's engagement with China would no longer cause a security concern for India. Modi and Solih had a meeting shortly after the latter was administered the oath of office in Male. According to a joint press statement issued by the governments of India and Maldives, the two leaders agreed on the importance of maintaining peace and security in the Indian Ocean and being mindful of each others concerns and aspirations for the stability of the region. The new Maldives president also sought India's support to come out of China's debt-trap. He requested Prime Minister Modi for support to build infrastructure in the outlying islands of the archipelago. Solih replaced his predecessor Abdulla Yameen, who had led Maldives closer to China and soured its relations with India during his five-year tenure at the helm of the government of the Indian Ocean archipelago. Modi and Solih on Saturday noted the resilience of the bilateral relations between the two neighbours and expressed confidence in the renewal of the close bonds of cooperation and friendship. Solih shared with Modi his concerns about the dire economic situation in his country. Yameen left Maldives in an estimated $3 billion debt-trap as his government in the past few years awarded the state-owned companies of China contracts to build several infrastructure projects in the island nation, reportedly on unsustainable loan terms. Modi and Solih discussed ways in which India could continue development partnership, particularly to help the new government in meeting its pledges to the people of the Maldives. In particular, according to the joint statement, Solih highlighted the pressing need for increased housing and infrastructure development as well as for establishing water and sewerage systems in the outlying islands. Modi assured Solih of Indias firm commitment in assisting Maldives to achieve sustainable social and economic development. He also conveyed Indias readiness to extend help in every possible way and suggested that both sides should meet at the earliest to work out the details as per Maldives' requirements. Prime Minister Modi welcomed the expanding opportunities for Indian companies to invest in Maldives in different sectors for the mutual benefit of both countries. The two leaders agreed on the need for facilitating easier visa procedures. They expressed unwavering commitment and support for increased cooperation in combating terrorism both within the region and elsewhere. Modi invited Solih to visit New Delhi. The Foreign Minister of the new government of Maldives, Abdulla Shahid, will visit New Delhi on November 26 to set the stage for the state visit of the new president of the island nation to India. Solih also invited Modi for more state visits to Maldives. India was the only country Solih mentioned about in the speech he delivered after taking the presidential oath. He made a special gesture to New Delhi by holding the meeting with Prime Minister Modi, shortly after taking oath in Male. India was the only country which Maldives extended invitations to attend the swearing-in ceremony at the head of state or government level. This was the first time Modi attended the swearing-in ceremony of a head of state and head of government of a foreign nation. He, himself, had invited all the leaders of south Asian nations to New Delhi in May 2014 to take part in his swearing-in ceremony. Prime Minister Modi returned from Male to New Delhi later in the evening. One more top minister of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's cabinet joined Finance Minister Arun Jaitley in the war of words between the government and Reserve Bank of India with Road and Transport Minister Nitin Gadkari saying his experience with RBI was not good. The regulator's circulars to banks were delaying infrastructure projects, he charged. The share of infrastructure to India's GDP last year was 3%. I am sure if the RBI and banks support, it can be 3.5% this year, Gadkari said at the ET Awards ceremony held in Mumbai on Saturday. His comments came close on the heels of Jaitley asking the central bank to ease credit and liquidity in order to support businesses gasping for breath. Addressing the event, Jaitley said one should not lose focus on growth while trying to restore the health of banks. The finance minister, however, did not name RBI in his speech. Restore the health of banks but at the same time do not end up throttling growth by throttling credit and liquidity, Jaitley told his audience, most of whom represented big and small business houses. In a veiled reference to the regulator, Jaitley said, Why opt for wrong solution to the problem when easier solutions are available. Jaitley's remarks come ahead of a crucial RBI board meeting on Monday where the government nominee is expected to press for relaxation of lending norms imposed by RBI on 11 weak public sector banks. The lending curbs came into being after the RBI put these PSU banks under prompt corrective action (PCA) framework last year due to their large bad loans (NPAs) and weak capital level. Under pressure But a wider credit crunch has started to stare in the face of the government after a series of major defaults by the country's largest infrastructure lender IL&FS. The crisis has also put non-banking finance companies under pressure. The government, at this juncture, wants the RBI to relax lending restriction on banks. The central bank on the other hand, is reluctant to do that and wants more autonomy to deal with weak banks. The Maharashtra police on Saturday night arrested Maoist ideologue and revolutionary poet Pendyala Vara Vara Rao for his alleged role in the Bhima Koregaon clashes in January this year and the plot to assassinate Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The arrest of 78-year-old Rao followed a Hyderabad High Court order on Friday refusing to quash the transit remand issued by chief metropolitan magistrate on August 28, facilitating the Maharashtra police to take him into custody. A special team of the Pune police led by an officer of Assistant Commissioner of Police rank, which arrived in Hyderabad on Friday, arrested Rao. They would shift him to Pune, after taking permission from the local court. Tension prevailed at his apartment in Gandhinagar here, where a large number of sympathisers, human rights activists and members of civil liberties organisations gathered, raising slogans against what they described as illegal arrest of the poet. We strongly condemn the brutal repression of democratic and human rights activists. The arrest of Vara Vara Rao is highly unconstitutional and illegal, said civil rights activist and lawyer V Raghunath. Wife breaks down His family members, including his wife Hemalatha, broke down, as Rao was forced into a vehicle by the Pune police. The period of house arrest of Rao ended on October 26 but the Hyderabad high court extended it by three weeks on the plea that his health condition did not permit him to be shifted to Pune. The high court said the writer could approach the Mumbai High Court seeking quashing of the First Information Report (FIR) filed by the Pune police against him. Rao was arrested on August 28 and taken to Pune, after the Pune police conducted searches on his house and reportedly seized incriminating material. He was charged with conspiring with Maoists to create disturbances in Maharashtra. Four other rights activists were also arrested by the Pune police the same day from different parts of the country on near similar charges. However, following a writ petition filed by historian Romilla Thapar and others challenging the arrests, the Supreme Court passed an order to keep them under house arrest. Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhans own plight aptly reflects his partys vulnerabilities in the poll-bound state where voting is scheduled on November 28. Like in the 2008 and 2013 assembly elections, the chief minister is the pivot around whom electioneering is revolving in the state. The BJP has put all its eggs in his basket and the Congress is targeting him more than targeting his party. However, unlike in the previous polls, Chouhan no longer looks like the knight in shining armour with his juggernaut rolling thunderously across the Central Indian state. Chinks in the armour are increasingly visible as campaigning starts to peak. What was unthinkable in the past has happened to a beleaguered Chouhan in this election: he is facing a formidable challenger in former Madhya Pradesh Congress president Arun Yadav in the Budni constituency, where Chouhan has sailed through breezily four times in the past, in 1990, 2006, 2008 and 2013; he was booed by the public during his Jan Ashirvad Yatra at many places; a slipper was hurled at him in one town; he had to abruptly abort the Yatra due to poor public response; his brother-in-law Sanjay Singh Masani defected from BJP to Congress; his wife Sadhna Singh got an earful on two occasions last week from angry women during campaigning in Budni. All these clearly indicate that Chouhan is battling severe anti-incumbency. He has ruled the state since 2005, unencumbered by any visible dissent from within. In his 13 years as chief minister, Chouhan had seen to it that no one within the party rose high enough to pose a challenge to his leadership. Therefore, the task of salvaging the government for a fourth term from the quagmire of public resentment lies squarely on his shoulders. Opinion polls suggest he may not be equal to the task. Doubts about Chouhans chances of retaining power stem from many factors. For one, a resurgent Congress under state party chief Kamal Naths leadership looks more united and determined than it has ever been since it was routed in 2003. For another, people dont seem to be willing to be swayed by either communal or casteist electoral ploys. More importantly, rebels of the BJP have queered the pitch for nearly two dozen party candidates, a clear indication that Chouhans writ no longer runs in the party. In previous elections, just a phone call from Chouhan was enough for rebel candidates to withdraw nominations. One leaders imposing presence this time has upset the BJPs calculations in the run up to the polls -- Kamal Nath. His organisational capacity, clout with the party high command and ability to ensure a facade of unity among top party leaders have inspired belief among the rank and file that this election is winnable. To the delight of Congress workers, Kamal Nath has outsmarted the BJP leadership, be it in stealing a march over Hindutva or in candidate selection or poaching dissidents from the BJP. A comparative journey of the two parties in the last few months provides an useful insight into their changing fortunes. The Vyapam scam has, of course, been an albatross round Chouhans neck since the multi-crore job-cum-admission swindle surfaced in 2013. However, anti-incumbency against his government has really begun to surface in the last two years. It was manifest in the upper castes simmering anger over Chouhans rather unwise mai ka lal remark during a meeting with SC/ST government employees in 2016. Chouhan had said, Koi mai ka lal aarakshan khatm nahi kar sakta jab tak main chief minister hoon (No one can scrap reservation so long as Im chief minister). This caused a wave of anger among the BJPs upper caste vote bank. Sensing this, Chouhan undertook a political pilgrimage of the Narmada, which connected him to 144 constituencies along the river. However, the extravagant journey proved counterproductive. While he was away from Bhopal, the agrarian crisis in the state was brewing. It erupted suddenly in June last year. The farmers hit the streets to demand, among other things, remunerative prices for their produce. Police resorted to force to quell the agitating farmers. In Mandsaur, six farmers were killed. Since then, Chouhans popularity graph has plummeted. All his moves to placate the farmers in the aftermath of the bloodied stir bred more ill-will. No amount of lollypop offered to the farmers could restore their trust in the BJP government. However, while anger against the government was mounting, Congress was still not viewed as a viable alternative. Chouhan still had the benefit of the TINA (there is no alternative) factor. Popular perception about the Congress began to change after Kamal Nath took over as state party chief, infusing fresh energy into the organisation. However, doubts about Congresss ability to oust the BJP persisted. Only by September did the trio of Kamal Nath, Digvijay Singh and Jyotiraditya Scindia manage to quell the doubts to a large extent. They undertook different responsibilities but worked in tandem. Kamal Nath took up the task of reviving the organisation, Digvijay leveraged his pan-Madhya Pradesh image to galvanise idle workers and Scindia deployed his charm offensive through public rallies. Their combined efforts bore fruit. The Congress also tactfully negotiated the anti-reservation protests that had threatened to spawn caste conflict in the state. The BJP government failed on this count. The soft versus hard Hindutva narrative built up in the media following the Congress announcement to open cowsheds in all village panchayats and construct the mythical path traversed by Lord Rama during his exile gave jitters to the BJP. Congress president Rahul Gandhis temple-hopping in Madhya Pradesh further upset the ruling party. Before the BJP could unleash its brand of Hindutva to counter the Congress, Kamal Nath switched gears. He launched a 40-question series to discomfit the chief minister. The BJP government chose to ignore the uncomfortable questions on its performance on a range of issues. It was again Advantage Congress. The acid test for the Congress was to avert insidious rebellion, which is a bane of the party, following declaration of candidates. On this count, too, the Congress is seen to have fared better than the BJP. But the proof of the pudding is in the eating. Will Congress be able to convert its advantage into votes on a scale enough to turn the 165-58 score of the 2013 assembly election into a majority for itself? We will know on December 11. ASTON- This fall, Neumann University biology professor Mac Given and 11 students helped harvest American chestnuts at Tyler Arboretum in Media. However, these nuts will not find their way to the roasting pit. The harvest is done in an attempt to save the American Chestnut trees from disease and extinction. Since 1997, the arboretum has been supporting The American Chestnut Foundations (TACF) program to restore a blight-resistant American chestnut tree to the natural landscape. A fungus, which was brought to the United States more than 100 years ago from China, is killing the American chestnut tree. To preserve the tree, Tyler planted an orchard of chestnuts with seedlings from across Pennsylvania. It is a hands-on project for the students, and one that requires gloves. A chestnut tree has burs which are spiny coverings that contain and protect the fruit. Students pick the burs and very carefully remove them from the trees. Burs must be open to extract the one to three nuts inside. Biology major Curt Yenchik, who is currently doing an internship at the arboretum, helped with the chestnut harvest. He supervised his fellow Neumann students and helped them with data collection and opening the nuts. Prior to volunteering at Tyler Arboretum, students became familiar with the native chestnut, the blight that threatened to destroy it, and the efforts that are being made to recover the tree. Nuts harvested each fall from these trees support breeding at other locations around the state. The harvesting program is now providing advanced hybrids that are seven generations into the process of capturing resistance to the chestnut blight. According to John Wenderoth, TACF board member, the American chestnut was not just another tree. Some have called it the perfect tree. Capable of reaching 100 feet in height, its nut crops were a major food source for wildlife and a cash crop for mountain folks who sent wagon loads of chestnuts to market for the fall and winter holidays. The straight trunks produced excellent lumber that was particularly remarkable for its durability. Professor Given plans to continue the partnership with Tyler in future semesters, tapping into students environmental awareness and providing them with an experience that they will remember for years. Media children can meet Santa in Winter Wonderland The Media Recreation Board will hold its annual Winter Wonderland 12-2 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 8 in the Community Center. Santa will be available for pictures. There will be hot chocolate, coffee, tea, and cookies served. Each child will be given a book from Santa. The event is free to all Media Borough residents. Pop-up vegan flea market returns to Media-UP Library The community is invited to come and discover how to eat and shop vegan this holiday season at the Vegan Pop Up Flea Market at Media-Upper Providence Library, 1 E. Front St., Media, 12 noon to 4 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 1. Delco The Halls will feature a lineup of vegan friendly vendors, with an opportunity to taste vegan food, then do some holiday shopping for clothing and gifts. A Vegan Pop Up Flea Market at Media-Upper Providence Library held in August drew hundreds of people and the food vendors sold out in under two hours. This time, they will be ready for the crowds. Vendors include Batter & Crumbs vegan bakery, The Bearded (wood) Carver, Grape Cat Clothing and Accessories, Nourishing Our Mind soul and Caribbean foods, Oakmont Root Cafe, Soap by Alana and V Marks the Shop. The featured nonprofit is Indraloka Animal Sanctuary, Visitors can also meet with members of Veggie Table Talk, a vegan group that meets and holds pot lucks at the library. For information, call 610-566-1918. This is a free, family event. Sign-up dates announced for free GED classes Neighbor to Neighbor Community Development Corp. and Delaware County Literacy Council have joined together to bring free GED classes to the community. Classes will begin Jan. 8 and meet every Tuesday and Thursday. Registration for these classes will be held 10 a.m. to 12 noon, Tuesday, Nov. 20 and Thursday, Nov. 29 at Neighbor To Neighbor, 814 Clifton Ave., Sharon Hill. For more information, call 610-876-4811. Media Lions host all-you-can-eat breakfast with Santa The Media Lions Club will hold its annual all-you-can-eat Breakfast with Santa 8:30 a.m. to 12 noon Saturday, Dec. 8 at VFW Post 3460, 11 Hilltop Ave., Media. Admission is a $10 donation for adults, $5 for children under ten and complimentary for children under three-years-old. The event will include food, music and surprises for the kids. For more information, call 610-566-9980. Wallingford Presbyterian to present Messiah forum Wallingford Presbyterian Church (WPC), 110 E. Brookhaven Rd., Wallingford, will host a Messiah forum Wednesday, Nov. 28, followed by its annual Messiah Sing on Dec. 9. WPC Music Director Liz Braden will host the informal session about the oratorio, one of the most famous pieces ever written, for those who count Messiah among their favorites or those who know virtually nothing about the work. Listen to examples, learn a brief history and talk about how the text relates to the music. A potluck dinner will precede the event and all are invited to join for the meal and/or forum. Dinner is at 6:30 p.m. and the program will begin at 7:30 p.m. The Dec. 9 performance will feature the Advent and Christmas portion, the first part of the piece. WPCs Chancel Choir will lead the singing of all the choruses, with the audience invited to join in, and scores will be available for those wishing to raise their voices. Guest soloists Kara Mulder, Maren Montalbano, Daniel Taylor and Frank Mitchell will be accompanied by organist Jeffrey DeVault, with Braden conducting. The Messiah sing will begin at 7 p.m. in the sanctuary and a reception will follow the performance. Both events are free and open to the public, with no tickets required. For more information, visit www.wallingfordpres.org or contact the church office at 610-566-1644. Holiday open house at Media Fire Company Media Fire and Hook and Ladder Company No.1, 1 South Jackson St., Media, invites the community to its Holiday Open House 6-8 p.m. Friday, Nov. 23. People can meet the local firefighters and EMS providers who will have informational literature about fire safety. Visitors can also take tours of the fire trucks and ambulance as well as participate in seasonal activities such as decorating their own cookies, making reindeer hats, coloring, enjoying a hot chocolate bar and visiting with Santa. Families are asked to bring a non-perishable food item for the local food bank, an unwrapped toy for Toys For Tots or a monetary donation. for more information, visit www.mediafirecompany.com/. The weekend before the elections, the local Republican candidates held a Rally to End Philadelphia Dark Money. What a joke. In case you dont know, the term Dark Money refers to the expenditures made legal by the Supreme Courts decision in Citizens United, which allows for expenditures by nonprofit organizations and anonymous corporate entities who are not required to reveal their donors. Neither campaigns nor candidates can control the flow of Dark Money either in their favor or against their opponents. It does not mean money coming from Philadelphia or as candidate Tom McGarrigle stated at his recent forum money coming from Eric Holder or Barack Obama. If voters are actually concerned about the influence of money in politics, they should carefully scrutinize the money that flowed into the campaigns of local Republicans particularly incumbent Republicans like Chris Quinn, Alex Charlton, Jamie Santora and Tom McGarrigle. When asked at a recent forum, Mr. McGarrigle declined to state whether he accepted money from oil and gas companies and laughingly stated that he takes money from all different PACs We dont think the influence of money on politics is a laughing matter. So for the record, Mr. McGarrigle did accept money from oil and gas PACs, their lawyers, and their contractors. But much of it is hard to trace, a common theme in Pennsylvania campaign finance. Consider that Senator McGarrigle has received more than $10,000 from the Pennsylvania Future Fund PAC. Sounds innocent enough, until you dig into where they get their money. The bulk comes from construction firms, such as Toll Brothers, and other firms working on energy infrastructure. The rest comes from the Excellent Schools PAC, which in turn receives all of its funding from the Students First PAC. Students First PAC is funded entirely by Jeffrey Yass, Co-Founder of Susquehanna Investments, to the tune of more than $3 million this year alone. Aside from funding Excellent Schools PAC, Students First made enormous contributions to the Republican Party including $750,000 to another PAC, and a cool $1,000,000 to Scott Wagner. In other words, Mr. Yass like many other big dollar donors uses an innocent-sounding PAC to mask what are in reality direct contributions. Whatever his reasons, they do not serve the publics interest in transparency. The solution for Pennsylvania campaign finance reform rests with the Pennsylvania Legislature. And Mr. Quinn, Mr. McGarrigle, Mr. Charlton and Mr. Santora along with their Republican majority have done nothing to solve the problem. For a reminder of the importance of the state Legislatures role in this area, the Republicans should take a look at the excellent work done by the Brennan Center for Justice: Inaction by Congress and the Federal Election Commission has shown that meaningful change is unlikely at the federal level. But there is plenty that could be done on the state and local levels, consistent with Supreme Court precedent. More comprehensive laws can help amplify the voices of everyday citizens, empower voters, and boost confidence in the system. They also can protect the integrity of our institutions by increasing transparency, stemming corruption and influxes of illegal foreign money. We need legislators who will take on these serious problems, not try to exploit them. And certainly not laugh about them. Bahrain is gearing up towards hosting the 11th Global Entrepreneurship Congress in April 2019, said Bahrain's labour fund Tamkeen chief executive Dr Ebrahim Mohammed Janahi. Janahi noted that Bahrain was named host country for the congress at a special event held at United Nations Headquarters in New York, US. The Bahrain chapter of Global Entrepreneurship Network (GEN) has recently been set up as the kingdom prepares to host the 11th GEC in 2019. Dr Janahi said that GEN Bahrain aims to engage entrepreneurs and ecosystem stakeholders to strengthen the countrys entrepreneurship community, in line with Tamkeens objectives of nurturing and supporting an innovative entrepreneurship ecosystem. He added: Achieving sustainable economic growth is a top priority for national development. Bahrains Leadership has introduced a number of key reform initiatives to support economic diversification and openness as well as the development of non-oil sectors, the enhancement of the Bahraini entrepreneurship ecosystem and the attraction of foreign investment. The establishment of the GEN Bahrain is initiated by the GEN in strategic partnership with Tamkeen, which will also be supporting the organisation of GEC 2019. Esam Hammad, acting executive director of customer engagement at Tamkeen, is supporting the development of GEN Bahrain in the capacity of acting managing director. He stressed the role of GEN Bahrain in providing an active platform for local and international connections within the global entrepreneurship ecosystem. GEN operates in more than 170 countries. It fuels start and scale ecosystems by fostering cross-border collaboration, information exchanges and initiatives, Hammad pointed out. GEN Bahrain aims to increase the number of people choosing entrepreneurship as a career path, create a generation of investable startups and develop strong platforms for companies to scale. It will be an active leader in engaging citizens during Global Entrepreneurship Week, being held in November. GEN Bahrain aims to strengthen its ecosystem by: 1. Coordinating and promoting local initiatives aimed at strengthening Bahrains entrepreneurship ecosystem; 2. Partnering with local stakeholders to implement high-impact GEN programmes; 3. Engaging ecosystem stakeholders to identify gaps, facilitate dialogue and strengthen a sustainable development cycle for entrepreneurs; 4. Raising awareness of entrepreneurship, innovation and self-employment as a means to create value and make the Bahraini private sector an engine of growth. TradeArabia News Service In an age of congressional gridlock, which could get worse with a divided Capitol Hill come January, one would think lawmakers would flock to any sensible idea drawing bipartisan support and run with it as fast as they could. Criminal justice reform, an effort that welcomed the presidents endorsement on Wednesday, seems to be just the issue. Except for one snag. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell told reporters Wednesday he would have to see how it stacks up against our other priorities going into the end of our session. Apparently, the fact that the U.S. puts more men and women behind bars than the rest of the democratic world and that an estimated 2.7 children have at least one parent in prison arent high on the Senate priority list. Criminal justice reform isnt a political trick to go soft on crime and somehow let hardened criminals roam the streets. Its a compassionate effort to change lives, keep offenders out of the revolving door and maintain the integrity of families, all of which makes for better economics and a more stable America. Several legislative reforms have floated around the House and Senate, and the White House has embraced its own version of a reform package. The basic aim of the various bills is to give more latitude to judges when sentencing offenders, especially those who fall in the nonviolent, drug-related category. The new laws would shorten the tough on drugs mandatory minimum sentences of the 1980s, along with diminishing the three strikes punishment to something more reasonable instead of life in prison. These ideas have strong support across the aisle, receiving endorsements from perceived opposites such as the Koch brothers and the American Civil Liberties Union. Utahs Republican Sen. Mike Lee has been a longtime advocate and co-sponsor of legislation from his Democratic colleagues, including Sens. Cory Booker, N.J., Dick Durbin, Ill., and Dianne Feinstein, Calif. Lee reaffirmed his support for reform on Tuesday in an op-ed for Fox News in which he detailed the story of a Utah father convicted of petty drug crimes. Because this man had a gun in his possession at the time of the transaction, even though he didnt use it, the judge was forced to hand down a 55-year sentence. So what is McConnell waiting for? He may be worried of a schism within his own party. Sen. Tom Cotton, R-Ark., for instance, has been a vocal dissenter and could take a few Republican senators with him, reports Politico. But McConnell must not let party politics get in the way of a chance to give one-time criminals a second shot at a dignified life. To play games at a time like this is irresponsible leadership. The country has learned theres a better way to reform and revitalize those who succumb to criminal behavior; the resounding success of Utahs Other Side Academy and San Franciscos Delancey Street are testaments to that fact. Whether the country has the right leaders to make the right changes is less certain. These bills are an important first step for criminal justice reform, and may be the beginning of better, less partisan days in America. McConnell should put these ideas on the floor, members should pass them, the president should sign them and the country should move forward. Its generally acknowledged that the topics of religion, money and politics should be avoided as dinnertime conversation, something that isnt easy after experiencing an election season like the one weve just had. With the biggest dinner of the year in a few days time, its understandable if youre feeling a bit anxious about what crazy Uncle Joe might want to discuss. Im sure Im not alone in the apprehension I expressed to my husband about where dinner conversation would turn during Thanksgiving dinner. Family is already the most stressful part of the holidays for many, and it doesnt get any easier when the news has been saturated with negative stories and sensitive topics. Though it may seem there isnt much to talk about at the biggest family dinner of the year, there are still many things to be thankful for. Impossible as it may seem, there are plenty of stories filled with hope and kindness that you can remember while enjoying your turkey and pumpkin pie this Thanksgiving. Instead of focusing on the division in the country, its worth remembering the tragic death of Maj. Brent Taylor and the response from around the country. Its been nothing short of beautiful. Seeing the outpouring of love and support for the late mayors family has been both uplifting and heartwarming. Passing the billboards wishing messages of love and seeing the overwhelming success of a GoFundMe for the family is a reminder of how a community even an entire state can set differences aside and come together. A lot of criticism is aimed at the rising generation these days, but stories like that of 13-year-old Rishab Jain, who won the 2018 Discovery Education 3M Young Scientist Challenge, instill hope. Jain created a tool to help treat pancreatic cancer more safely, proving that creativity, knowledge and curiosity are still very much working toward making the world a better and safer place. Maybe the kids really are all right. On the opposite end of the spectrum, the story of 75-year-old Terry Lauermans napping habitswould be perfect to bring up right before settling into a turkey coma. Lauerman has gone into his local animal shelter every day for the last six months to nap with the cats. Lauerman spends time helping groom the cats at the sanctuary that rescues cats that would be candidates for euthanasia in other facilities, and then takes turns napping with them for a few hours. Even napping can make the world a better place. If the conversation takes a turn toward international affairs, perhaps mention the progressive actions of New Zealands capital by declaring a day for kindness. The idea for Manaaki Day (the Maori word for kindness) came from 6-year-old Eddie Writes, who saw a need for more kindness in the world and decided to write a letter to his citys mayor. Writes suggested performing acts like, (Buying) toys for children that dont have any. Sometimes children see things a little more clearly. Whatever depressing or negative stories come up during your holiday dinners, theres even more that are uplifting and worth mentioning. It may only be one day a year, but Thanksgiving is the perfect time to focus on stories that uplift, motivate and remind us that the world isnt as bleak or divided as some make it out to be. Germany-based hte, a 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, said a statement from the company. Selecting the right catalyst in a refinery is crucial for optimising 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, it said. 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, it added. Thomas Raetzsch, head of downstream research and development at MOL Group, said: 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. Wolfram Stichert, chief executive officer at the, said: We are pleased that MOL has chosen to work with our company again. We look forward to further strengthening our partnership with MOL and our role in the European refining market, he said. Stichert added that this type of protocol is adaptable to other processes and will be included in htes R&D Solutions offering. TradeArabia News Service WEST JORDAN Growing up, JanaLe Fox often wondered why she looked like so many people in her small hometown of Farr West, Weber County. Born in Denver and adopted into a Utah family as an infant in 1959, she says she knew "very little" about her biological family. Fast forward nearly 60 years, Fox discovered her family was far larger than she could have guessed with the help of DNA testing. Fox, the oldest of two children in her adoptive family, at age 58 discovered she had 16 biological half-siblings. And on Friday, she shared an early Thanksgiving meal with three of them. "It's been an amazing year," Fox said. "It is seriously so fun, because for the last 58 years, I've been the oldest. And 30 of those 58 years, I've been an only. And I currently am the baby of 16." The series of events that led up to her discovering she was the youngest of 16 began in February, when a woman contacted Fox to see if she was one of three adoptees to complete a family tree. Fox, of Thatcher, Idaho, soon discovered her biological father was a farmer and truck driver who happened to live "just down the street" from her in the small Utah town when she was a child. She even went to school with many of his grandkids. Two days later, she said, Carlene Tuft contacted her and told her they had matched on Ancestry DNA and might be half-sisters. "I sent JanaLe a message, and she sent me a message back," Tuft said. "We went back and forth, and boom! We're sisters. It was great." When Fox requested her birth certificate from Colorado, she learned that she and Tuft did share a biological mother. She also learned that she was her biological father's ninth child and her biological mother's seventh child. The reason why she resembled so many in her town? "I did go to school and graduated with many nieces and nephews, along with first cousins by the droves," Fox said. Four of her half siblings are still alive, while the rest have passed away. The first time Tuft and Fox reached out to their two living half-brothers, Fox said, the men "knew nothing" of the women but believed their mother had gone to Denver to go to school. On Friday, the four reunited half-siblings met at Tuft's West Jordan home for a Thanksgiving dinner celebration 58 years in the making. "Not many people get two families in their lives, and it's just amazing," Tuft said. "We're all so accepting immediately of everybody, and (there's) an instant bond." Contributing: Mike Anderson SALT LAKE CITY This year has been one of the most devastating fire seasons in the West, with dozens of fatalities, hundreds missing and one of Utah's own firefighters killed in a California blaze. Unhealthy forests in desperate need of vegetation treatment are one of the culprits, with the U.S. Forest Service buckling under the weight of unfunded projects to clear dead strands of trees, kill invasive species and thin overgrowth. Dave Whittekiend, the forest supervisor of the Uinta-Wasatch-Cache National Forest, briefed a group of lawmakers last week on the U.S. Forest Service's participation in the "Million Acre Challenge" to treat a million acres by 2022 in Utah. The agency is working with the Utah Department of Natural Resources and other partners involved in the Western Watershed Initiative, which since 2006 has treated more than 1.6 million acres in the state. He admitted the accelerated time frame to treat a million acres in just four years will be a tough haul. "For us it is stretching beyond what we have ever done before," Whittekiend told members of the Commission for the Stewardship of Public Lands. "We want to minimize the effect of wildfires on the people in the state of Utah. We will be pushing hard on this Million Acre Challenge." Whittekiend says the Forest Service wants to be an active partner in Utah Gov. Gary Herbert's push to create 25,000 jobs in rural Utah. Part of that involves encouraging the timber industry and stoking interest in wood products, he added. There were 18 timber sales across the state over the past year, and while there are 22 timber-related industries in Utah, the Forest Service received no bids. Some of that inaction is due to little industry interest in certain types of wood and an oversupply of product, Whittekiend said. A Wyoming mill buys lumber off the north slope of the Uintas, but Whittekiend said there's been little activity elsewhere. "It would be great to develop broader, more diverse wood markets for the material we have out there," he said. Across the nation, the Forest Service spends more than half of its budget on fighting fires, leaving little money for vegetation treatments that could help it get ahead of the problem of overgrown, unhealthy forests. Whittekiend said in Utah there are 1.3 million acres ready for some sort of vegetation treatment after having undergone an environmental review process. On average, it costs $250 to treat each acre, he said, which means those shovel-ready acres would need $340 million. "We have a tremendous amount of work that needs to be done and somehow we need to do more. It is not for lack of planning and it is not for lack of desire, it is the resources," he said. Whittekiend's district, as an example, operates on an annual budget of about $20 million. The Uinta-Wasatch-Cache National Forest, abutting Salt Lake City, received 10.7 million visitors in 2017, and is one of the top five forests visited in the country. Agencies target the wildland urban interface as high priority areas for treatment, but it is difficult. "Those are the expensive acres," he said. "It is difficult to do a prescribed fire in someone's backyard." In Utah this year, the Utah Division of Forestry, Fire and State Lands says 1,331 fires have scorched 486,991 acres at an approximate cost of $150 million. "We don't have the money we need to do fuels treatment on the scale that we need to get done," Whittekiend said. "Utah's situation is not unique. We spend a tremendous amount of money on fire suppression, and we have struggled historically to spend money on fuels management." Lawmakers were dismayed at Whittekiend's presentation. "It is a pretty herculean task that you are facing and we face the impacts," said Rep. Ken Ivory, R-West Jordan. "Thirty to 40 percent of our watershed is severely impacted because of forest conditions." Sen. David Hinkins, R-Orangeville, wondered if there was some way for the Forest Service to tap into money generated by mineral leases or energy development on its lands, rather than have that money go directly into the nation's general funds. Whittekiend said any sort of funding stream would help. In fiscal year 2018, across the Intermountain region that includes Utah, Nevada, Idaho, California, Colorado and Wyoming, Whittekiend said 295,403 acres were treated under a vegetation or fuels plan, including managed wildfires. The region includes 12 national forests, one national grassland and covers 34 million acres. "The scale of work we have before us is tremendous," he said. LOGAN Breanne Miller credits an operating room nurse from Logan Regional Hospital for saving her sons life after he suddenly stopped breathing. She was at the Chick-fil-A along Main Street on Oct. 11 with her 4-month-old son Jensen when she noticed something was very wrong with him. The way he looked I thought he was gone, Miller recalled. Once me and my friend had both tried to deliver the breaths and nothing happened, I knew it was a lot more serious and I could tell that it was different. His skin color was changing really rapidly. Jensen was born with a birth defect that causes his trachea to collapse. Thats exactly what Miller believes happened that afternoon. I honestly thought he was dying. I thought I was going to lose him, she said. I kept thinking in my head, Im going to have to call my husband and tell him that our baby died.' On the other end of the Chick-fil-A restaurant, operating room nurse Nicole Morby had just walked inside. And my friend was just screaming, Morby said. So I just started running, instantly processing what she told me, and I just ran right to the baby. As a nurse at Logan Regional Medical Center, Morby said she is required to renew her CPR training certification every two years. Intermountain Healthcare recently added quarterly refresher courses, which she believes made a difference. After a few breaths, she said, baby Jensen started breathing again. And I just told him, Youre so strong, just keep fighting.' Morby said. And I said, Yeah, that was scary huh? Just keep crying, tell me all about it.' Miller and her husband, Derek Miller, said Jensens life so far has not been easy. They were struggling with a decision over whether to get surgery to help with Jensens condition, or wait and see if he grows out of it. They say the episode on Oct. 11 helped them make that decision. It was kind of the tipping point in us deciding he needs this surgery,' the father said. In the midst of all the chaos, the Millers and Morby had never really met until Tuesday. Because of what they went through, however, they already felt a connection. Theres no words to express our gratitude for her and what she did for us that day, Breanne Miller said, getting very emotional. I was proud of Jensen that day, Morby said. I dont know why. I just, I never knew this baby and I love him. If information circulating the internet is to be believed, then Microsoft is working on a discless console. This console is expected to be the Xbox One S without a disc drive. This is in a move to reduce the cost of the console. It is expected that the discless console will be priced under $200 (Rs 14,000 approx. directly converted). Microsoft is also said to be working with certain retailers in the US to let gamers trade in their discs for digital downloads. This discless console will be in addition to a cheaper version of the Xbox One S with a disc drive. In the US, the One S sells for about $299 (Rs 22,000 approx. directly converted). It is expected that Microsoft is working on a cheaper Xbox One S with a disc drive as well. In the past we have seen console makers move components around, reduce the const of manufacturing and more during the life of a console to make it cheaper. In India, the 1TB version of the Xbox One S is priced at about Rs 25,000. Microsoft is also working on a streaming service for games as well as the next generation of Xbox consoles. The company announced this at E3 2018. It is expected that Microsoft will shed light on its next generation consoles at E3 2019. Speaking of E3 2019, Sony has officially said that the company will not be present at the gaming convention. Sony has also cancelled its annual gaming convention, PSX which usually takes place in December. Information circulating the internet suggests that Sony will launch its next generation console, the PS5 in 2019. It is expected that Sony will have a grand event in 2019 to unveil all details about its upcoming console. You can read more about Sony skipping E3 2019 here. The 21st edition of the Abu Dhabi International Petroleum Exhibition and Conference (Adipec 2018) witnessed a huge participation from exhibitors and visitors, marking the biggest edition since the exhibitions inception in the year 1984. The number of visitors to the latest edition exceeded 145,000 comprising specialized experts and VIP visitors, in addition to the participation of 2,200 exhibiting companies from 67 countries as well as 29 country pavilions. Supported by the Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (Adnoc), UAE Ministry of Energy and Industry, and the Abu Dhabi Chamber, the exhibition was held under the patronage of H.H. Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the UAE at the Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre (Adnec) from November 12 to 15. The exhibition was of great importance, highlighting the wise leaderships keenness in participating in its various activities and meet with the decision makers and specialized experts representing both public and private companies operating in this vital sector. Dr Sultan Ahmed Al Jaber, UAE Minister of State and Group CEO of the Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (Adnoc), said: In line with the support and directives of our nations wise leadership, Adipec 2018 has achieved great success not only in the authority, influence and expertise of Adipecs speakers and wide range of rich discussion and debate, but also in the volume and importance of the agreements and projects announced. This years Adipec also marked a significant moment for our industry, as it refocuses its core mission as a critical enabler of the fourth industrial revolution. At Adnoc, we have defined this mission as Oil & Gas 4.0 where we will leverage the latest technologies from artificial intelligence, big data and blockchain to ensure growing economies have the energy they need, by enhancing our operational efficiency, driving performance, maximizing profitability and empowering our people. We look forward to working with our colleagues, partners and friends in attendance this year, seizing the promising opportunities before us and accelerating our industrys progress. Dr Al Jaber praised the exceptional efforts made by Adnec, which expertly organized and executed this years conference, ensuring that Abu Dhabi and the UAE remain the most important global hub for our industry, well-positioned to incubate some of the most innovative and forward-looking ideas, projects and plans to set organizational agendas for years to come. Humaid Matar Al Dhaheri, Group CEO of Adnec, said: We are proud of the results that the exhibition has achieved in terms of number of visitors and the deals signed on the sidelines of the events, which reflect the success of Adnecs efforts in supporting existing exhibitions and enhancing its regional and international competitiveness, as part of its strategy to underscore Abu Dhabi's position as the regions capital for business tourism. He pointed out that the success of the exhibition in its current edition will contribute to enhancing the confidence of the organizers of the events specialized in the infrastructure of our centers and the competitiveness of the Emirate to attract more leading global exhibitions and conferences, in the sectors identified in the Abu Dhabi Plan and the Emirates Economic Vision 2030. Al Dhaheri emphasized that Adnec is constantly working with its partners in the public and private sectors to ensure the success of all events being held in its various centers inside and outside the UAE and to organize them in a manner befitting Abu Dhabis global reputation and position. The overwhelming response garnered by the exhibition in its biggest edition since inception, is a result of the continues efforts of several national institutions, for which, we extend gratitude and appreciation for this constructive and fruitful cooperation. Christopher Hudson, President of dmg: events, one of the world's leading exhibition and conference organizers, and the organizer of Adipec 2018, said: We are delighted with the turnout of this year's attendees, which included over 100 Ministers, CEOs and policy makers from across the world. From the conference programme to the exhibition floor, Adipec 2018 reflected the UAE's and Abu Dhabi's position as a worldwide convening power for the oil and gas industry that shapes the future of the industry. We thank Adnoc for the tremendous support we received and the great levels of cooperation from across all departments within Adnec." New dedicated exhibition zone focuses on digitalization Adipec 2018 witnessed the launch of three new dedicated exhibition zones - Digitalization in the energy sector, Heavy Machinery and the Commercial Dive Zone. The use of modern and appropriate technologies that will help increase operational efficiency, improve performance, increase profitability in the oil and gas sector was also under the spotlight at the recently concluded Adipec, which reviewed the sectors digitalization efforts. More than 160 strategic conferences held The Adipec conferences and technical sessions, created by a committee of industry experts, provided insights on the future of the oil and gas industry through a wide variety of specializations, including: Ministerial Sessions; Global Business Leader Sessions; Executive Dialogues, C-Suite Dialogues; CEO Finance Breakfasts; Inclusion & Diversity in Energy and Offshore and Marine Global Business Leader Sessions, in addition to a comprehensive technical programme. Underpinning the events status as a premier meeting place for companies of all sizes, across the oil and gas value chain,42 national and international oil companies, as well as leading policy and decision makers, along with 980 speakers from around the world participated in over 160 strategic conference sessions that analyzed every aspect of the sector. Another major highlight of Adipec 2018 was the closed door, invitation only roundtables hosted by the VIP members only Middle East Petroleum Club, where c-suite business leaders and influencers engaged in open dialogue with the agenda of embracing change and putting in place strategies capable of navigating critically important areas to help define forward looking business models and influence transformative strategies to steer growth across the industry, setting the agenda for the future of oil and gas. Young Adipec programme The fourth edition of Offshore & Marine exhibition, strategically co-located alongside the leading global oil and gas event, provided attendees with the unique opportunity to network and interact with the owners and operators of work boats, supply boats and drilling rigs. Meanwhile, the sixth edition of the Young Adipec programme, fully supported by Abu Dhabi Department of Education and Knowledge (ADEK), witnessed the participation of around 600 Emirati and international high school students, to gain first-hand knowledge and insights into the many career options that are available in the nations vital oil and gas industry. Launched in 2013, the programme is the youth outreach initiative of Adipec and has hosted more than 1,900 students aged 14 to 17 in its first five years. Adnec provides around 133,000 sq m of world-class indoor and outdoor space and waterfront areas in Adnec Marina, capable of catering to the needs of customers, with more than 6,000 parking slots, which makes it one of the most advanced exhibition centres in the region. TradeArabia News Service 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. Last Sunday, on the 100th anniversary of the ending of the First World War, a new book We Remember Them was launched in Donegal Town telling the stories of 13 men from the local area who died in the war. The men were from the Church of Ireland parishes of Donegal, Killymard, Lough Eske and Laghey. The book has been compiled as a result of painstaking historical research. This is the first time that the stories of these men have been brought together in one book which is fittingly titled 'We Remember Them.' Rector of the Donegal Group of Parishes, Archdeacon David Huss spoke about the book on Sunday, as it was being launched as part of the services commemorating 100 years since the armistice. Many people gathered at the event which commemorates people from across the region. He said: This book is a way of keeping alive the memories of these people, whose names are on our memorial plaques but whose lives, 100 years later, are almost unknown. He said that this book offers people a valuable insight into the lives of people at that exceptional period in time. The book will be of great historical value to the people of the area and surrounding regions. The book will also be of educational value for younger generations and those to come. These were ordinary people in an extraordinary time, Archdeacon Huss told those who gathered for the occasion on Sunday. Those who gathered for the occasion enjoyed it immensely. The book is illustrated with wonderful photographs throughout which illustrates a period in time which is being recalled across the nation and further afield at this moment in time. Archdeacon Huss paid tribute to the book's author, Louise Bustard, and to all those who helped with research, notably William Goodwin and David Perry. Mammoth work was carried out in the compilation of the book. Copies of 'We Remember Them' are available for 5 from the Mustard Seed, New Row. You can also inquire about the book by contacting Archdeacon David Huss, the Rectory, Donegal Town on 074 97 21075. You can also obtain a book by ringing 074 97 21075. Donegal Travellers Project (DTP) has called on the government to bar incitement to hatred against minority groups by candidates for election as part of Standards in Public Office (Sipo) legislation which currently applies to campaign finances and expenses. New Sipo rules are needed to prevent candidates from targeting minorities such as immigrants, people with disabilities, and minority ethnic groups, DTP representatives said during a meeting that they had with David Stanton, TD, who is Minister of State for Equality, Immigration, and Integration at the Department of Justice and Equality. Such legislation would cover the type of negative generalisations that were levelled against Travellers during the recent presidential campaign. What the presidential campaign has thrown up is that people can incite hatred during campaigning, as shown by the backlash experienced by the Traveller community over the last three or four weeks, said Hugh Friel, DTP Mens Health Worker, who was part of a group of 12 Travellers from DTP that met with the minister before he launched the DTP Roma Project last week. We spoke to the minister about the need for a Standards in Public Office code of practice for politicians running in local and general elections, Hugh said. Politicians should have to adhere to a code of practice thats respectful of all, including people with disabilities, people with mental health issues, and members of minority ethnic groups. This isnt just about Travellers; this is about creating a code of practice that values inclusivity. We dont want Ireland to be a country that promotes hatred towards minorities. The minister said it was a good point. We asked him to review hate crime legislation, as well, to see if it could be enforced during election campaigns. Another Traveller participant in the meeting with the minister, DTP Community Health Worker Katie Boyle, expressed the horror and hurt experienced by minority community members when they find themselves the targets of hatred-inciting generalisations by public figures. I find it very hard when politicians are discriminating against the Traveller community, Katie said. Its very hard for Travellers to move forward through public comments that are so negative. As a community we have to stand together and be strongif somebody talks negatively about us, it needs to be shut down. We dont have to explain ourselves; we know who we are. Some people say Travellers shouldnt have their own ethnicity. If theyre saying were not different, why do they treat us differently? MEETING During their meeting with Minister Stanton, Travellers also discussed the wide range of programmes and supports that DTP offers, including in the areas of education, accommodation, health, youth work, and intercultural training. The strength of the DTP team in the room was very obvious, said Ann Friel, DTP Primary Health Care Team Leader, who chaired the meeting. Overall I think the minister listened to what we were saying and understands community work. He was really interested in what we had to say and praised us for our good work. He also acknowledged that the high standard of Donegal Travellers Project as an organisation is known throughout the country. Last Friday, the recently appointed Minister for Education & Skills, Joe Mc Hugh, visited Ballyshannon to speak to students from both sides of the border who were taking part in arts workshops organised by Sligo IT, the Allingham Festival and Colaiste Cholmcille, Ballyshannon. Sligo IT BA in Creative Writing lecturers Niamh Mac Cabe, Julianna Holland, Dr. Rhona Tranch, Dr. Una Mannion with Minister for Education Joe Mc Hugh and Allingham Chairperson Tom Sigafoos The first stop on the minister's visit to Ballyshannon was Colaiste Cholmcille, where he was welcomed by Head Girl Ana Keon, principal Jimmy Keogh and the chairperson of the Allingham Arts Festival Tom Sigafoos. After a brief chat, he called in to the feedback session from the workshops which had been delivered by four lecturers from the BA in Writing and Literature at Sligo IT to over sixty Leaving Cert and Transition Year students. Later ar the Abbey Arts Centre Minister Mc Hugh was greeted by students from St. Michael's College and the Grammar School, both from Enniskillen, and Colaiste Cholmcille students, all of whom were there to attend the talk on poetry, art and writing by Niall Mac Monagle. He told the young people that they were not just the leaders of tomorrow but the leaders of today. He also acknowledged the work of the festival organisers for promoting the arts to schools from both sides of the border. Minister for Education Joe McHugh in conversation with Jimmy Keogh, Principal Colaiste Cholmcille, Ballyshannon Time out in New York In early 2017, members of Leghowney drama group decided to mark their 80th anniversary by organising a trip to New Jersey and bring their production of A Wake in the West to the US. Contact was made with Leghowney native Phil Cassidy who has been living in New Jersey for the past 30 years. Phil and a number of his colleagues, including Donegal ex-pats, began the task of finding a suitable venue and constructing a replica of the stage in Leghowney Hall. The props were donated by 19 families in the New Jersey area. On Thursday, October 25 the 30-strong drama group arrived at Newark Airport. To coincide with their visit, a number of Irish Americans, namely Cassidys, decided to organise an informal Cassidy gathering in Tommy Fox's bar. It was standing room only as relatives arrived from various states. Quite a number of those present are planning to visit Donegal in 2019. At 8.30pm on Saturday night, October 27, the curtains opened, and so began the Leghowney Drama Groups presentation of this hilarious comedy. And what a presentation. It was truly a sight to behold, 3,000 miles away from home and performing in front of a different type of audience. Those taking part were simply magnificent. When the show ended they were given a standing ovation. Many of those in attendance remained on in the hall to meet the cast and backroom team. Time to relax in New Jersey Second performance There was little time for celebrations, the second performance was being staged the following afternoon. On this occasion the majority of the audience were Donegal ex-pats and people from along the western seaboard. The question was, could the Leghowney players repeat the previous nights performances? We need not have worried, if anything it was superior to the previous night performance. Later that evening the Drama Group were presented with a special proclamation, issued by the States Executive, on behalf of its one million residents and especially its more than 100,000 residents of Irish descent who live in New Jersey. It is quite an achievement as only three States in the Union issue such a proclamation. At Newark Airport Leghowney Dama Group wish to acknowledge and thank the following: Hanna Hats, Donegal Town, Gerry Flood, founder of ASCPG. Members of the ASCPG; Norm Saunders and his wife Claire; Tommy O Reilly; Fr Sam Citro; Ticket-seller and Sligo native Josie Cahill; Management and staff at Tommy Foxs bar/restaurant and J.Js bar New Jersey. Last but by no means least, thanks to Phil Cassidy without whom the trip would not have been possible. Enjoying the evening in New Jersey WASHINGTON, D.C., November 18, 2018 -- Urinating into a cup may be a medical necessity for monitoring the health of the kidney and other issues, but it's often uncomfortable, embarrassing and messy -- especially for women. But what if there were a way to comfortably provide a sample without the splashback? Tadd Truscott, associate professor at the Splash Lab at Utah State University, created a set of experiments using an anatomically correct female urethra that produced a jet of water with a pressure and flow equivalent to what a human bladder produces. He and his colleagues did this to examine its interaction with a soft polymer similar to the female labia. Inspired by the findings and her own work with disabled persons, Faith Leibman applied the knowledge to her recently released patented product called the Orchid. Leibman's Orchid is a funnel-like catch attached to a urine sample cup. Its design makes it easier for women and people with disabilities to provide a urine sample. During the American Physical Society's Division of Fluid Dynamics 71st Annual Meeting, which will take place Nov. 18-20 in Atlanta, Georgia, Josh Wille, a member of Truscott's team, will describe the findings and their potential implications, especially when trying to "aim for the cup." Understanding the interactions between fluids and soft structures could improve the overall experience of providing urine samples. "While many studies have looked at how the jet infringes on a surface, few have considered the exit of fluid," explained Truscott. "Even fewer studies have looked at women and urination." The intent of the experiment is to characterize the behavior between the jet and a soft polymer. "It was challenging to simulate the interaction between the urine stream and the simulated labia, as this external feature varies greatly between women," said Truscott. Truscott found that as the simulated labia was pushed further into the stream, the urine became a liquid sheet. The finite length of the polymer caused small jets and droplets to form at either end, which created an even wider stream of liquid. "It was not surprising to find that the further the simulated labia was pushed into the jet, the more mess it made. On the other hand, we thought the Coanda effect would play a bigger role, but the jet flow only attached itself to the simulated labia when it was pushed less than one quarter of the way through," said Truscott. The Coanda effect is the phenomenon where a jet of fluid follows the curvature of a surface like when a back side of a spoon is placed in the flow of the kitchen faucet and diverts the flow. This research could have wider implications beyond the Orchid device, according to Truscott. "We could look at changing the overall design of things like clothing and toilets to make urinating less messy for both men and women. The research could also be applied to devices that assist women in urinating while standing up, something that could be particularly useful to women in the military." ### Presentation E05.6, "Urine sample splash back" by Josh R. Wille, Faith Leibman, Nathan B. Speirs and Tadd T. Truscott, will be Sunday, Nov. 18, 6:15 p.m. in Room B207 of the Georgia World Congress Center in Atlanta. Abstract: http://meetings.aps.org/Meeting/DFD18/Session/E05.6 MORE MEETING INFORMATION USEFUL LINKS Main meeting website: https://www.apsdfd2018.org/ Meeting technical program: http://meetings.aps.org/Meeting/DFD18/SessionIndex2 Invited talks: http://meetings.aps.org/Meeting/DFD18/APS_Invited Hotel information: https://www.apsdfd2018.org/hotels/ GALLERY OF FLUID DYNAMICS At the Annual Meeting, The Gallery of Fluid Motion will consist of posters and videos submitted by attendees illustrating the science and beauty of fluid motion. More information can be found here: https://gfm.aps.org/. PRESS REGISTRATION We will grant free registration to credentialed journalists and professional freelance journalists. If you are a reporter and would like to attend, contact Rhys Leahy or the AIP Media Line (media@aip.org">media@aip.org">media@aip.org">media@aip.org, 301-209-3090). We can also help with setting up interviews and obtaining images, sound clips or background information. LIVE MEDIA WEBCAST A press briefing featuring a selection of newsworthy research will be webcast live from the conference Monday, Nov. 19. Times and topics to be announced. Members of the media should register in advance at http://apswebcasting.com/webcast/registration/aps1118.php. ABOUT DFD The Division of Fluid Dynamics of the American Physical Society, established in 1947, exists for the advancement and diffusion of knowledge of the physics of fluids with special emphasis on the dynamical theories of the liquid, plastic and gaseous states of matter under all conditions of temperature and pressure. For more information about DFD, visit https://www.aps.org/units/dfd/. ABOUT APS The American Physical Society (APS) is a nonprofit membership organization working to advance and diffuse the knowledge of physics through its outstanding research journals, scientific meetings, and education, outreach, advocacy, and international activities. APS represents over 55,000 members, including physicists in academia, national laboratories, and industry in the United States and throughout the world. For more information about APS, visit https://www.aps.org/. Jeff J Mitchell/Getty Images(WASHINGTON) -- Nearly two weeks after Election Day, Republican Gov. Rick Scott has won Florida's Senate race. Sitting Democratic Sen. Bill Nelson conceded to Scott Sunday afternoon, recording a YouTube video in which he acknowledged defeat. Nelson called Scott to concede, the latter said in a statement. President Trump congratulated Scott in a tweet, writing: "From day one Rick Scott never wavered. He was a great Governor and will be even a greater Senator in representing the People of Florida." It marks the end of a long and at-times messy vote recount that drew national attention amid reported irregularities in vote counting by county officials, problems with tabulation machines, and missed deadlines. It also marks the end of Democrats' hopes in Florida's two high-profile elections this year. On Saturday, Democratic Tallahassee Mayor Andrew Gillum conceded to Republican Rep. Ron DeSantis in the governor's race. In defeat, Gillum drew praise from Trump on Twitter afterward. Recounting had stopped in that race after Thursday's conclusion of a machine recount. Senate recounting had continued, with county officials hand-examining a subset of votes, checking thousands of them for voters' marks that could have been missed by scanning machines. Florida's 67 counties faced a noon Sunday deadline to finish hand-recounting ballots in the Senate and state agriculture-commissioner races. All of them made it, the Florida Department of State told ABC News. Scott still led Nelson by 10,033 votes, after the final round of recounting had finished -- a slightly narrower margin than the 12,603 by which he led after the first round of recounting finished. Two counties in particular -- Broward and Palm Beach, both large, Democratic strongholds in South Florida -- drew attention and GOP criticism throughout the process. In Broward, Election Supervisor Brenda Snipes was sued successfully by Scott's campaign over her failure to provide results on time after Election Day. Her office reportedly intermingled 22 provisional ballots that shouldn't have been counted, within a batch of 205. On Thursday, the county failed to upload results to a state website after the first round of recounting, missing the deadline by minutes. Over the weekend, after Snipes's office had completed recounting in the Senate race on Friday but continued recounting in the state's agriculture-commissioner race, she acknowledged her staff may have misplaced more than 2,000 ballots as it sought to finalize totals in that state-level race. Senate tallies had already been completed. "The ballots are in the building," she said at a canvassing board meeting on Saturday, seeking to reassure those in attendance. "The ballots are in the building." In Palm Beach, Elections Supervisor Susan Bucher said her counting machines overheated and stopped working multiple times, as the county raced to meet the state's 3 p.m. Thursday deadline in the machine recount. Palm Beach missed that deadline on Thursday and had to continue running the machines afterward. The manufacturer of the machines pushed back, suggesting county officials were running the machines in an unusual way, in comments to The Palm Beach Post. Palm Beach made Sunday's deadline by one second, Palm Beach Elections Supervisor Susan Bucher told ABC affiliate WPBF, showing a readout of her office's upload of results to the state website reading 11:59:59. Two rounds of recounting had ensued after Scott and Nelson were separated by just .15 percentage points after Election Day -- a narrow enough margin to trigger an automatic machine recount. With the race still close enough after Florida's first round of recounting concluded on Thursday, county election officials hand-examined a subset of votes since Friday, in some cases racing to meet the deadline. Florida's recount was the subject of at least a dozen lawsuits, as the campaigns, national political parties, and outside groups wrangled over the counting of late mail-in votes, considerations of voter intent when examining hand-marked ballots, and the physical security of ballots and tabulation machines at county election facilities where recounting was underway. Nelson's hopes dwindled late last week, as court challenges were struck down and as vote counting in Broward failed to yield extra votes. In that heavily Democratic county, some 26,000 more votes were cast in the state's governor's race, hinting at a possibility that hand-examining ballots there could yield votes for Nelson. But as that count finished Friday, he had gained just over 400 votes -- not nearly enough to overcome the deficit. Scott's win gives Republicans a net gain of two Senate seats in the 2018 midterms and a prospective advantage, heading into next year, of 52 seats to 47. Mississippi is currently holding a runoff in its U.S. Senate seat, to be held Nov. 27. Copyright 2018, ABC Radio. All rights reserved. Pound Sterling (GBP) Pushes Back Against Australian Dollar (AUD) Pressure, Posts Daily (so far) Gain Following this morning's dramatic slump in the pairing, the Pound Sterling to Australian Dollar (GBP/AUD) exchange rate has slowly but surely recovered in this afternoon's session. At the time of writing the pair is trading at 1.76250, up 0.3% for the day. Lately, as with most GBP foreign exchange rates, the pair's intraday action has been driven by the headlines with economic data releases slightly overshadowed. In particular, the exchange rate has become highly susceptible to Brexit-related news. As a result we've seen a pattern manifesting itself in the price action as the continuous cycle of a rapid, sharp decline (on a negative headline) followed by a much slower recovery. Demand for the Pound Sterling briefly steadied against the Australian dollar on Friday, but overall the British currencys volatility has surged to high levels on fears regarding the way UK politics and Brexit news may develop over the coming days and weeks. The British Pound to Australian Dollar (GBP/AUD) exchange rate has also been pressured by strong Australian job data. After opening this week at the level of 1.7948, GBP/AUD fluctuated earlier in the week before plummeting around three cents on Thursday. GBP/AUD touched a two month low of 1.7510 on Thursday evening. The pair briefly rebounded on Friday morning but remained extremely volatile as investors awaited further UK political developments. Pound (GBP) Plummets Versus Australian Dollar (AUD) on UK Political Turmoil and Brexit Fears UK political developments came in fast and heavy throughout the past week, battering the Pound and leaving the British currency in its most volatile state in quite some time. Earlier in the week, markets were briefly optimistic that the UK and EU had finally reached an agreement over the Brexit deal and a date of November 25th was confirmed as the day in which the Brexit deal would be finalised. However, fears about whether the deal would have enough domestic support returned to headlines, and when Ministers from UK Prime Minister Theresa Mays Cabinet began to resign in protest of the deal it caused market panic. Resigning ministers prompted Conservative Party backbenchers who opposed the Prime Ministers Brexit plan to begin to hand over letters of no confidence. Analysts predicted that the 48 letters needed to trigger a leadership contest would be met, and the uncertainty over which way such a contest could go kept Sterling volatile. According to Chris Turner, global head of strategy at ING: For GBP, the question is how much risk premium should be priced in? Is enough priced in already? We would say not, Until there is some clarity on a leadership challenge, there is a risk that we end up with a more Brexit-leaning leader. Such an outcome would increase the chances of a No Deal, on the assumption that a new leader would be unlikely to secure any further concessions from Brussels. In other words, were the market to price in a more credible leadership challenge, GBP could potentially fall another 3-4%. The Australian Dollar was able to easily capitalise on a weak Pound on Thursday, as investors piled into the risky trade-correlated currency amid strong Australian data and rising risk-sentiment. Australias October job market report beat expectations in many notable prints, including employment change and the key unemployment rate, which remained at 5% rather than worsening to 5.1% as expected. On top of this, investors became more hopeful that US-China trade tensions could de-escalate amid signs that the nations were looking to hold more productive trade talks. Pound Exchange Rate (GBP) Forecast: UK Political Turmoil Remains in Focus Uncertainty about how the Brexit process may turn out, or even how Britains government will look a few months from now, are likely to keep the Pound highly volatile until there is some kind of significant clarity on these huge issues. A UK leadership challenge could lead to significant Sterling losses as it may delay the final stages of confirming a Brexit deal especially if there is a possibility that UK Prime Minister May would lose the challenge. Analysts predict that Prime Minister May would win any potential leadership challenge, but the fact things have gotten to this point so late in the Brexit process has caused fears of a no-deal Brexit to surge. If UK Prime Minister Theresa May is able to maintain her leadership, fears that her Brexit deal may still be defeated in UK Parliament would still pressure Sterling. UK data due next week includes factory data from the Confederation of British Industry (CBI), but these are unlikely to be influential in comparison to political and Brexit developments. Australian Dollar (AUD) Exchange Rate Forecast: RBA Meeting Minutes and Trade Developments Anticipated Compared to the Pound, the Australian Dollars influence on GBP/AUD in the coming week is likely to be minimal. With investors broadly focused on Brexit and UK politics, the Australian Dollar will react largely to movement in Sterling, as well as any shifts in risk-sentiment. Further hopes of US-China trade talks would keep the Australian Dollar supported, and the Aussie may strengthen if the Reserve Bank of Australias (RBA) upcoming meeting minutes are more optimistic than expected too. Of course, if US trade fears worsen again or upcoming Australian news disappoints investors, the Aussie will be unable to capitalise on Pound weakness. 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. AUSTIN The Texas House will have a new leader come January, and Rep. Dennis Bonnen says hes it. The Republican from Angleton, south of Houston, is already planning his swearing-in ceremony although the vote of the 150-member House is seven weeks away. Bonnen, a shrewd tactician who has served in the Texas House since he was 24 years old, has reason to be confident. He has amassed 109 pledges of support, from Republicans as well as 31 Democrats. Some members want to give him the gavel because they say he will work well with tea party Republican Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick, who leads the Texas Senate. Others want to elect him because they believe hes willing to throw sharp elbows Patricks way. Abruptly shoving other contenders for speaker out of the way is the sort of thing his colleagues in the House expect from Bonnen, a 46-year-old bank executive who has spent virtually his entire adult life as a state representative. At the Texas Capitol, Bonnen has chaired committees under two speakers and served as speaker pro tempore when former House Speaker Joe Straus was absent. I can remember him getting angry, said Mark Jones, a political science professor at Rice University, recalling a skirmish between the House and Senate over property taxes in the 2017 legislative session. Thats what members want. They want someone to stand up for the House. If he indeed gets the job in January, Bonnen will have to shepherd the Republican-led chamber through political issues that have stalled in the Legislature for years, like increasing state funding for schools and reforms to quell property tax increases by local governments. But his larger task will be to revitalize the partys brand after an election with a dozen lost GOP seats and uncomfortably narrow political wins for others. There was a clamoring from within the party, within the delegation, for him to ride in as a white knight and save the Republican Party, said Jones. Republicans still have a commanding 83-67 majority in the House, but they also lost two seats in the Senate, where they now hold a 19-12 majority. Patrick won re-election, but by a narrow 4.8 percentage points, compared to nearly 20 percentage points four years ago. Bonnen appears to be up for the challenge, calling for unity as his central theme. Pledges supporting his candidacy have come from both Republicans and Democrats and he has appointed a bipartisan group to begin vetting candidates for parliamentarian, a key job in the House entrusted to know and interpret the chamber rules. Hes proven that hes a strong leader. Theres no doubt, said Chris Turner, the House Democratic Caucus chairman who has not pledged his support for Bonnen. I think hes proved that in his very short and very effective campaign for speaker. Pouring water on GOP infighting Bonnens candidacy was something of a surprise. Months ago, Bonnen joked that the talk of him as speaker upset his family, according to the Texas Tribune, and asked that his name be taken off any list of potential candidates. He changed course in October, announcing he would run after 40 Republican lawmakers met in Austin and agreed he would be the best choice. Since then, every other contender for the race has dropped out, making him likely to win the post on the first day of the 2019 legislative session. Bonnen did not respond to a request for comment. Internal squabbles within the large Republican caucus caused major divisions in the House in recent years. Some praised outgoing House Speaker Straus, a San Antonio Republican, for using his centrist views to operate as a voice of reason. Others claimed he used his influence to kill bills he didnt like. State Rep. Jim Murphy, a Houston Republican, is convinced Bonnen would remain committed to conservative principles while showing fairness to the entire House. I think having this level of consensus this early in the process bodes very well for the upcoming session, said Murphy, who called Bonnens passion and ability to speak clearly and bluntly necessary characteristics of any speaker. State Rep. Rick Miller, a Republican from Sugar Land, is looking to Bonnen to help unite the Republican caucus after a 2017 session that wasnt pretty. Hell allow the members to run the House with him, said Miller, who stood with Bonnen at his press conference Monday. Thats all we want. Though Bonnens initial supporters included 31 Democrats, the Houses conservative branch - particularly those in the tea party-aligned Freedom Caucus - were encouraged that Bonnen sought the speakers post by first approaching Republican lawmakers, instead of courting votes from Democrats. Under much different circumstances, Straus won enough votes to knock off his predecessor by gathering the support of Democrats and a coalition of Republicans. Members biggest problem with Straus was that he allowed his own personal ideology to determine the future of legislation, said state Rep. Briscoe Cain, of Baytown, a member of the Freedom Caucus. Our hope is that Bonnen instead allows members to represent their districts and lets legislation pass or fail based on the will of the body. He added: Bonnen has expressed that he is looking forward to working with Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick and Gov. Greg Abbott, which is a considerable departure from the previous leadership. Yet for many members, it was Bonnens reputation as tactician that drew their support. What was an important characteristic in a speaker candidate was could they stand up to Patrick? said state Rep. Garnet Coleman, D-Houston. Can they advance the position of the House vis a vis the lieutenant governor? I think Dennis has more than proved that he can do that. Hitting the reset button Democrats who initially mobilized behind Bonnen included those who had worked with him in the House for decades. State Rep. Senfronia Thompson, D-Houston, acknowledged that Bonnen comes from a really conservative district, but was nonetheless an early backer among Democrats after Bonnen picked up momentum. She said he would protect the integrity of the House. We dont want anybody whos going to be walked on by the other house. Even though we come here with different agendas, we have common agendas too, she said. Members of the Republican Caucus agree that Bonnen has a unique opportunity to bring together a party that had fractured over a particularly contentious legislation during the 2017 session. The Senate forged ahead with the so-called bathroom bill that would have regulated which bathrooms people who are transgender can use. The LGBTQ community rallied to fight it, as did businesses arguing such a law would cost the state economy. Straus and his leadership team refused to advance the bill, with Straus declaring at one point, Tell the lieutenant governor I dont want the suicide of a single Texan on my hands. Despite past clashes, Republicans were generally confident that Bonnen and Patrick two would start the session with a blank slate. One of the first things you'll see is that the reset button will be hit on the communication with the lieutenant governor and the governor, said Rep. John Zerwas, a Republican from Richmond and former contender for speaker. That sort of deteriorated a bit during the last session with Speaker Straus and the lieutenant governor, and the governor to some extent. With purple-gloved hands, Arlie Briseno served white foam plates, laden with a gourmet Thanksgiving meal, to families in need outside of the Anchor of Life Church, near Mission Concepcion. He nodded as he set a plate at Angelica Gonzalezs table that she shared with family members and folks from the neighborhood. For me its a blessing, Gonzalez, 40, said. You have to have passion in your heart to do this kind of work. Briseno and fellow students from the Southside Independent School District culinary arts program had prepared the meal on Saturday just after dawn. Wearing white chef coats, they off loaded pots and containers from several pickups parked outside of the church located at 300 Odis St. Volunteers set up tables and inflated bouncing castles as the teenaged chefs sliced stuffing, dished green beans and spooned gravy over turkey and mashed potatoes. They huddled with their instructor and chef, Angel Machado as culinary arts adult student, Valerie Flores, 41, said a prayer of thanks for the opportunity to share their bounty with others. When the people come, put a smile on your face, she said, and represent the South Side. Flores was one of 40 students from the culinary arts program who prepared the Thanksgiving meal with fixings for 350 families. The event was one of two free dinners offered to bring seasonal cheer to people in need and the homeless before Thanksgiving. The culinary arts dinner had ties to the 12th annual Hope 4 the West Side Thanksgiving Dinner sponsored by Last Chance Ministries on the West Side. Last year, Machado prepared meals for the church celebration; this year, Last Chance Ministries donated 15 turkeys for the chefs initiative. Melissa Roca, 16, said just knowing theyre doing something good for someone else makes them feel good too. She said Machado has inspired her to become a professional chef and continue his good deeds. Briseno agreed. He wants to study culinary arts at St. Philips College, open a restaurant and keep helping people. Its a lot of work, Briseno said,but its a big payoff in the end, seeing everyone getting their food with smiles on their faces. Machado, also lead pastor of the church, said the teens cook for different events throughout the year that help them gain a different perspective about life. Theres so much greatness coming from these kids, Machado, 30, said. Its a blessing for me to be a part and lead them to success. Career and Technical Education/STEM coordinator Lynn Hernandez said the district was proud of the students and Machado. You can see a sense of fulfillment in them, she said. This is a lesson you cant teach from a book. At noon, more than 150 people had lined up for dinner at Last Chance Ministries, located at 404 Brady St. A SA300 Tricentennial event, the dinner featured live music, kids zones and free eye exams. Pastor Jimmy Robles said the event started with 50 people in an empty lot and now draws around 3,000 people. With all of the negative stuff going on in the world, we just wanted to bring something positive to our community, he said. Volunteer Diana Barrera, who has a disability, has helped at the event in her wheelchair for the past five years. Barrera, 58, said the love to serve others, such as the least and the lost, is the reason she volunteers at the dinner. Alex Vasquez, 47, sat across from a line that stretched from the stage to the back gate where people sat on bales of hay. He said he was glad to see the event in the area. It gets the community together in this part of the city, Vasquez said. It brings people closer. 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 The flu vaccine is less effective for obese people, who are also likely to experience more severe flu symptoms, Stacey Schultz-Cherry said Saturday, speaking at the annual Vaccine Development Center of San Antonio Conference. Schultz-Cherry, a faculty member at St. Judes Childrens Research Hospital in Memphis, Tenn., and Deputy Director of the World Health Organization Collaborating Centre for Studies on the Ecology of Influenza in Animals and Birds, was one of several keynote speakers at the conference this weekend, discussing research into how obesity affects the spread of and vaccination against the flu. Developments to improve the efficacy of the flu vaccine are underway, with a goal of increasing how many strains of the flu virus the vaccine can provide immunity against. One thing we need to consider is the population were trying to vaccinate, Schultz-Cherry said. Pregnant women, young children, the elderly and people whose immune systems are compromised are already considered high-risk groups, and obese people could be another, she said. During the 2009 swine flu pandemic, studies suggested for the first time that overweight and obese people were more likely to develop severe illnesses, she said. In comparing maps showing flu activity last year and obesity rates by state, the higher the obese population, the more likely you are to have hospitalizations and ICU stays and even mortality, she said. Obesity is a growing concern, and has nearly tripled since 1975, according to the World Health Organization, meaning theres a growing population of people who may be more susceptible to the flu, less able to fight the virus and more likely to spread it to others for longer. Thats in part because obesity causes chronic low-level inflammation, so theyre basically immuno-compromised in many ways, Schultz-Cherry said. In research looking at mice, the obese animals bodies were not able to control the virus spread the way that lean mices bodies could. Obese animals mount a much lower response than leaner mice, she said. The chronic inflammation makes it harder for the body to respond, she said, allowing the virus to take off. The microbiome, or the microorganisms inside the body, also play a role, she said, which is a subject of further study. Obesity also makes it harder for the body to clear the virus or the bacterial infections that can follow, Schultz-Cherry said. Research on ferrets and studies of humans have also showed similar results related to flu susceptibility and transmission. The flu vaccine causes the body to develop antibodies, which protect against strains of the flu virus. But when vaccinated, the obese mice have been less responsive and less likely to produce those antibodies, she said. In studying humans, overweight and obese people were more likely to lose their antibodies faster after receiving the vaccine, making them again more susceptible to the virus. That creates the perfect storm, she said: we have, potentially, a more susceptible population, higher viral load, more severe disease, longer shed and a changing virus. What are we going to do? The first answer to solving that, she said, is to keep vaccinating. The risk of having a heart attack or stroke when you get the flu is significant for overweight and obese people, and the vaccine reduces that likelihood, even if its less effective, she said. So if for no other reason, get your flu vaccine. Further research is ongoing, Schultz-Cherry said, and could include looking into how age and gender factor into susceptibility and transmission. Theres so much we still dont know, she said. The seventh annual conference, which started Friday at the Eilan Hotel, featured keynote speakers from across the U.S., as well as student research presentations. The Vaccine Development Center of San Antonio opened in 2012, with three goals, Bernard Arulanandam said. It was created to increase awareness of the importance of vaccines, foster research into vaccines across scientific disciplines and provide opportunities for trainees. Arulanandam, a professor and vice president for research at University of Texas at San Antonio, is a member of the conference committee and a co-director of the center. He said sharing factual information about vaccines is key to fighting preventable diseases, such as whooping cough, as well as slowing the spread of viruses such as influenza. The issue of misinformation about vaccination has led to outbreaks of childhood infections that can be prevented, Arulanandam said. Understanding how to make vaccines more effective and more universal, to immunize against more strands of viruses should be a national priority, he said. LTeitz@express-news.net | @LizTeitz We have a few more tidbits on the table about Jose Bartolome Martinez (covered here April 2, 2017, and Nov. 3), the masa mogul credited with having been the first manufacturer to mass-produce tortilla chips. From the early 1900s, his brand, Tostadas, was distributed all over the San Antonio area to restaurants and retail stores. With these and other products, his business, B. Martinez and Sons, became so successful, the company eventually operated three mills simultaneously. The previous columns about Martinez were suggested by two of his descendants, George Farias and Norma R. Salinas. A third cousin, Blanca Calderon like Salinas, shes a great-granddaughter of the renowned corn king thought the portrayal was missing a few ingredients. READ ALSO: Cajun makeovers happening on St. Mary's Strip There was more to Martinez (1861-1924), she said, than being the entrepreneur who found the ideal shape and size (triangular, medium thickness) for the archetypal tortilla chip. Another testament to his creativity is the now-historic home that he restored in the King William Historic District, wrote Calderon, who formerly lived in the house at 203 King William St. This was originally the home of Aaron Pancoast Sr., founder of a prosperous local tailoring business, for whom it was built in 1891. According to a handout from the 2016 King William Homes Tour, supplied by Salinas, There is speculation that the architect may have been James Riely Gordon, who designed the Bexar County Courthouse and was working in San Antonio at the time (1884-1900). Some similarities of design include an arched entrance in front; on the Pancoast house, there are double front doors into the entrance hallway, which runs the depth of the house to allow for air circulation during the hot summers, reads the home-tour handout another parallel with the courthouse, whose entrance also is built to take advantage of natural ventilation. The Pancoast family sold the house to Martinez for $21,000, according to the San Antonio Express, March 25, 1921, which describes it as one of the first two-story brick residences to be constructed on Pershing Avenue. Yes, its the same house on the same street: During World War I, the street in the historically German American neighborhood that was originally called Kaiser Wilhelmstrasse was renamed for Gen. John J. (Black Jack) Pershing, commander of American troops in that war, said David P. Green in Place Names of San Antonio. In 1921, the street name reverted to the English translation of the original name, King William Street. READ ALSO: Alamo Heights getting new farmers market Four Seasons Markets in December Martinez changed the outside appearance of the house, giving it something of a Spanish style while retaining such classical features as the pilasters (rectangular columns) and roof cornices, wrote Mary V. Burkholder in The King William Area: A History and Guide to the Houses. His renovations included enlarging the porches and pillars and coating the brick house in stucco, according to a story about the house in the Express-News, Nov. 21, 2016. Inside, the pine floors that had been ruined in a 1921 flood were replaced with oak. After Martinezs death, one of his daughters, Alicia Calderon, bought the house from the other heirs and lived in it for five decades. After one more brief ownership change, it was bought in 1980 by the Wiederhold family. Like the Martinezes, they have kept chandeliers, mantels and stained-glass windows that were original to the Pancoast house. The grass-roots efforts to get out the vote and media attention given to the importance of the midterm elections cannot be overstated. Elected representatives at all levels of government and their policy-making matter because they are significant contributors to who gains and who loses from passage of any legislation. Their impact in providing opportunities, or creating barriers, to strengthen middle-class families are a case in point. Despite low unemployment and some recent wage gains, families face multiple economic challenges to building strong foundations for their childrens future. Wages have been stagnating for nearly three decades; the gap between the rich and poor has widened; and the trend toward low rates of upward mobility is apparent. The recently enacted Tax Cuts and Jobs Act is primarily beneficial to the already rich and does little for working families. The economic challenges for the low-income and families of color are even greater. Opportunities and a better life for their children are a driving goals for Latinos, like they are for most Texas families. Latinos rank highest in their desire to achieve the American dream. Parents have expectations that their children will enter adulthood with assets made possible by a quality education, a livable and comfortable paying job, and good health. In Texas, the number of low-income and poverty-level Latino families is higher now than in the 1960s, and the number of at-risk children in these families has increased fourfold. About 48 percent of Latino families are low-income or below the poverty level, and 45 percent of Latino children are at risk of not achieving middle-class economic status. Still, Latino impact on the national and state economy is significant. The Latino contribution to gross domestic product of $2.13 trillion represents 11.8 percent of the total U.S. GDP. Latinos contributed 18.3 percent of the total growth in U.S. GDP. In fact, the $2.13 trillion ranks as the seventh-largest GDP in the world, compared to the worlds 10 largest economies. Texas is one of the four states with the largest GDP and highest percentage of Latinos in their population. Unfortunately, Texas demonstrates that its public policies often limit middle-class prosperity growth or a level economic-opportunity playing field for families. National report cards, research reports, numerous lawsuits and media investigative reporting highlight the harmful impacts from the states minimal policy-making across human capital investment, or HCI, areas. These areas include education, child development, health care, labor and employment training, and affordable housing. Regressive tax policies, excessive bowing to business interests, inadequate consumer protections and anti-immigration policies are additional barriers to economic mobility. There is a direct relationship between HCIs and parental ability to establish a child development foundation that supports economic opportunities. Children who grow up in financially secure families are, by far, more likely to achieve higher education, to expand their job opportunities and to earn higher incomes. They also experience good health, acquire home ownership, have fewer social stressors and make fewer bad social decisions (teen pregnancy, single parenthood, drugs, crime), and participate more in civic engagement. We must stop viewing these policy areas as simply safety-net programs. Imagine the economic impact if all Latino families achieved middle-class economic status. Economics and money are interwoven across these issues. Indeed, private-sector lobbying and advocacy are to defend or create financial self-interest opportunities; however, we rarely refer to their interest as advocating for a safety net or public welfare. Demographers and economists have amply demonstrated the financial losses to the states economy because of the lack of HCIs and the demographic changes to a majority nonwhite population. Done correctly and fairly, HCI policies are economic win-wins for achievement of the American dream, childrens future and the states prosperity. Juan H. Flores is a consultant and adviser on health and social policy. Texans are aging rapidly. By 2030, 17 percent will be older than 65, up from just 12 percent in 2015. In real numbers thats an increase of about 3 million seniors. As Texans grow gray, their health will increasingly depend on Medicare Part D, a federal program that helps more than 1.6 million Lone Star State residents access prescription drugs. Fortunately for them, President Donald Trump recently proposed three major reforms to strengthen the program and make medicines more affordable for seniors. Part D is an optional program for all seniors and many people with disabilities. Enrollees can choose a private insurance plan that is regulated and partly subsidized by the government. The plans cover a different mix of drugs and have different premiums and levels of coinsurance a requirement that patients pay a set percentage of a medicines price, rather than a flat copay. Since insurers have to compete for customers, they have an incentive to keep premiums low. Among Texas 24 available Part D plans, for instance, one costs just $16.70 per month. Although most beneficiaries find Part D to be affordable, out-of-pocket spending for many has become more unpredictable and even increased. The big reason? Insurers are shifting more and more costs onto beneficiaries. Indeed, beneficiaries out-of-pocket spending per brand-name drug jumped 40 percent from 2011 to 2015. High out-of-pocket costs can prevent patients from taking their medications as directed. About 1 in 4 cancer patients, for example, has declined to fill a prescription because of cost concerns. Without proper treatment, patients health deteriorates. Trumps reforms seek to reduce seniors out-of-pocket costs and increase medication adherence. One proposed measure would impact pharmacy benefit managers, or PBMs. Insurance companies hire PBMs to administer drug plans and negotiate with manufacturers for bulk discounts and rebates. PBMs help decide which drugs will be covered by each Part D plan. Consequently, they have significant leverage over biopharmaceutical manufacturers. If a drugmaker doesnt grant a PBM large discounts, the PBM can retaliate by excluding the drugmakers medicines from the plan, thus cutting it off from customers. In 2016, drug manufacturers offered $127 billion in rebates and discounts. Generally, PBMs keep a share of these discounts for themselves and pass the rest back to insurers. Little of these often huge savings actually find their way along to patients in the form of lower copays or coinsurance. The White Houses proposal would require insurers to actually share a portion of the discounts and rebates with patients. The administration calculates that if just 33 percent of the discounts were passed on at the pharmacy counter, Part D beneficiaries would save almost $20 billion over the next decade. A second proposed reform would especially help the sickest Part D enrollees, who often suffer from multiple chronic diseases. Across every plan, Part Ds catastrophic coverage kicks in once a patient has spent $5,000 out of pocket on prescription drugs in a single year. Currently, beneficiaries are responsible for 5 percent of a drugs cost once they reach this phase of the program. This relatively small cost-share still imposes a big financial burden on Texas seniors who have already spent $5,000 on medications. Trumps plan would eliminate out-of-pocket spending in the catastrophic phase. A third reform would boost drug access for low-income Americans. Right now, low-income Part D beneficiaries pay a $3.35 copay to fill each prescription for generic drugs. Trumps proposal would eliminate these copay requirements entirely. Scrapping this fee would help more patients get the medications they need to stay healthy. This blueprint for Part D will help Texans access the medicines they need. With the states population aging fast, the reforms are needed now more than ever. Betty Streckfuss is a member of the Harris County Area Agency on Agings Advisory Panel and Council. She also serves on the Legislative Committee on Aging. TRIP REPORT Route: Podgorica Airport Nikola Tesla Airport Trip taken: April 2018 Scheduled Time: 45 minutes When flying Montenegro Airlines from Podgorica to Belgrade, you would normally expect an Embraer 195 or a Fokker 100. However, this spring brought a surprise at Podgorica Airport. Just two days after it officially arrived to Podgorica, a wet-leased Boeing 737-500 was parked at the gate for flight YM102 to Belgrade. In order to board the jet that carries the registration 9H-OME, passengers were instructed to walk from the airport building to the plane parked on the tarmac. On a warm and cloudy day in Podgorica, it was a perfect opportunity to take photos of the new, temporary member of Montenegro Airways fleet. The boarding process was smooth and quick, and everything was on time. The scheduled 45 minutes of flying time between Belgrade and Podgorica was much more than this Boeing actually required. Montenegro Airlines branding was already on the seats of the wet-leased jet Safety instructions in the seat pockets had no Montenegro Airlines branding The flight to Belgrade was smooth and quick, with the usual service of basic drinks offered to passengers. To the great surprise of some passengers, the crew, that consisted of three members, had only one member that could speak the local language. The purser was named Olivier, another crew member was Cathy - and they both offered the service in English. For the frequent flyers from Podgorica to Belgrade, this was an unexpected moment - not being able to make an order in their own language. However, this did not cause any major upset to the service as the whole plane was served on time prior to the end of this short flight to Belgrade. Share your travel experience by submitting a trip report to exyu@exyuaviation.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 shares have increased by 29.4% and is now trading at $33.13. View which stocks have been most impacted by COVID-19. Helix Energy Solutions Group, Inc. is an international offshore energy company. It focuses on subsea construction, maintenance and salvage services to the offshore natural gas and oil industry. The firm also provides specialty services to the offshore energy industry, with a focus on well intervention and robotics operations. The company operates through three segments: Well Intervention, Robotics and Production Facilities. The Well Intervention segment offers vessels and related equipment that are used to perform well intervention services primarily in the Gulf of Mexico and North Sea regions. The Robotics segment involves four chartered vessels and also includes ROVs, trenchers and ROVDrills designed to complement offshore construction and well intervention services. The Production Facilities segment includes its investment in the Helix Producer I and Kommandor LLC. Helix Energy Solutions Group was founded in 1979 and is headquartered in Houston, TX. Read More First part of an exclusive interview of "Caucasus Watch" with Thomas de Waal, a senior fellow with Carnegie Europe, specializing in Eastern Europe and the Caucasus region. In this part of the interview, the expert comments on the current developments around Georgia. - You say that Georgia is the success story of the Caucasus and the most European of the three countries. Last year, Georgia gained access to the Schengen-Zone. Can Georgia progress along this path and increasingly integrate with the EU, without the military protection of NATO? - My answer to that would basically be yes. NATO membership is not necessarily essential for Georgia to develop in the world. The close relationship with the EU and the economic aspect seem to me more important. I do not see Russia as a major threat to Georgia since 2008 and I believe Moscow currently has no aggressive designs on Georgia. Obviously, Russia does not want Georgia to join NATO and wants to have a generally friendly regime in Tbilisi. Nevertheless, I think the days when we were talking about a Russian military threat to Georgia are over and Georgia has found an answer to that question without NATO, which is a strong bilateral relationship with the US. The Pentagon has professionalized Georgias army by providing training and so on. So Georgia will probably be able to make progress on the most important issues, which are the government, the economy and trade without worrying too much about NATO. - You described the problem of informal power in Georgia with Ivanishvili reviving the opposition, just to become what appears to be the next strongman. Can Georgia overcome these obstacles of informal power? The narrative in the book is about a conflict between an open Georgia vs. a closed Georgia? - There is a big struggle going on in Georgia and we do not know the answer. Certainly, Georgian institutions are stronger than they were, but we have seen two individuals in the last 15 years having enormous personal influence, first Saakashvili, than Ivanishvili. Ivanishvili, as we have seen, is still a kind of informal king of Georgia. Still, it is interesting to note that the recent presidential election, of which the first round just happened, was a big setback for Ivanishvili. He personally chose the candidate Zurabishvili, who was obviously not a good choice. Experts thought she would win the first round, but she did not. This was a big setback for him and the opposition candidate Vashadze is now the favorite to win in the 2nd round. That shows that Georgian politics is still alive and well and that society is still quite active. Georgians are still able to mobilize against what they see as a monopoly or an abuse of power. To me, this is a positive sign. - In your book, you describe the fate of South Ossetia and Abkhazia. For many observers, serious progress on these territorial conflicts is unimaginable. What do you think could be done to break the current stagnation on the issue, if there is anything? - Unfortunately, most of the opportunities given have been missed over the years. South-Ossetia is now basically behind barbed wire and cut off from the rest of Georgia. It has a population of maybe less than 30.000. Abkhazia has still a much more interesting society, but we have seen increasing isolation over the last ten years and increasing dependence on Russia as well as isolation from Georgia. This situation does not benefit anybody. Neither the Georgians, nor the Abkhaz and possibly not even the Russians, who pay a hefty price for their assistance in Abkhazia. So what can be done to change this? Just having finished a long report on this issue, my only recommendation would be to get much greater international engagement in Abkhazia. This engagement can be done without recognition but offering international assistance in healthcare, environment and the education system would be a start. It is interesting to see if this would still be possible in Abkhazia, and if this would be acceptable to the Abkhaz, but clearly Europe can offer higher quality services with regard to education and healthcare. Obviously, trade is the other big thing that can be offered. Trade across the border with Western Georgia would be important. So that is the only thing, I think, could be done to positively influence the situation. A much bigger international attempt to de-isolate Abkhazia would be necessary but it is much more difficult to do that now then it was ten or fifteen years ago. Tom de Waal is a senior fellow with Carnegie Europe, specializing in Eastern Europe and the Caucasus region. He is the author of numerous publications about the region. His latest book is Great Catastrophe: Armenians and Turks in the Shadow of Genocide (Oxford University Press, 2015). He is also the author of the authoritative book on the Nagorny Karabakh conflict, Black Garden: Armenia and Azerbaijan Through Peace and War (NYU Press, second edition 2013), which has been translated into Armenian, Azeri, Russian, and Turkish, and of The Caucasus: An Introduction (Oxford University Press, 2010). De Waal has worked extensively as a journalist and writer in the Caucasus and Black Sea region and in Russia. From 1993 to 1997, he worked in Moscow for the Moscow Times, the Times of London, and the Economist, specializing in Russian politics and the situation in Chechnya. He is the co-author (with Carlotta Gall) of the book Chechnya: Calamity in the Caucasus (NYU Press, 1997), for which the authors were awarded the James Cameron Prize for Distinguished Reporting. He has also worked for the BBC and for the Institute for War and Peace Reporting, a London-based NGO. 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. iShares MSCI Switzerland ETF's stock was trading at $35.66 on March 11th, 2020 when COVID-19 reached pandemic status according to the World Health Organization (WHO). Since then, EWL stock has increased by 39.0% and is now trading at $49.56. View which stocks have been most impacted by COVID-19. A Chinese official said on Sunday that Asia-Pacific leaders could not issue the traditional communique at the end of the regional APEC forum, held in Papua New Guinea (PNG), Channel NewsAsia reported. PNG will instead issue a "chairman's statement", said Zhang Shaogang, director-general of China's international department at the Ministry of Commerce. Conflicting visions for the region had made it difficult to draft a summit communique, PNG Foreign Minister Rimbink Pato told Reuters earlier on Sunday, as the United States and China revealed competing ambitions for the region. 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.. James Hardie Industries plc, together with its subsidiaries, manufactures and sells fiber cement, fiber gypsum, and cement bonded building products for interior and exterior building construction applications primarily in the United States, Australia, Europe, New Zealand, the Philippines, and Canada. The company operates through three segments: North America Fiber Cement, Asia Pacific Fiber Cement, and Europe Building Products. It offers fiber cement interior linings, exterior siding products, and related accessories; and fiber cement building materials for a range of applications, including external siding, internal walls, floors, ceilings, soffits, trim, decking, and facades. The company also provides planks and flat panels; fiber gypsum and cement-bonded boards for interior applications, such as dry lining walls, walls in timber frame buildings, and flooring solutions; and cement-bonded boards for use in exterior and industrial applications, and fire protection. Its products are used in various markets comprising new residential construction and commercial construction markets. The company was founded in 1888 and is headquartered in Dublin, Ireland. Read More The United States President, Donald Trump, has said that his administration will release a full report in the next two days about the death of Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi, Al Jazeera reported. Trump told reporters that the report will include information on "who did it". "We'll be having a very full report over the next two days, probably Monday or Tuesday," he said. Guyana Goldfields Inc. provides exploration and production of gold. It engages in the acquisition, exploration, development, production, and operation of gold mineral properties. The company also owns and operates gold drilling rights. The company was formerly known as Chiboug Copper Company Limited and changed its name to Guyana Goldfields Inc. in January 1995. Guyana Goldfields Inc. was incorporated in 1994 and is headquartered in Toronto, Canada. As of August 25, 2020, Guyana Goldfields Inc. operates as a subsidiary of Zijin Mining Group Company Limited. Read More There is not enough analysis data for BlackRock MuniYield Pennsylvania Quality Fund. 4.7 Community Rank Outperform Votes BlackRock MuniYield Pennsylvania Quality Fund has received 84 outperform votes. (Add your outperform vote.) Underperform Votes BlackRock MuniYield Pennsylvania Quality Fund has received 37 underperform votes. (Add your underperform vote.) Community Sentiment BlackRock MuniYield Pennsylvania Quality Fund has received 69.42% outperform votes from our community. MarketBeat's community ratings are surveys of what our community members think about BlackRock MuniYield Pennsylvania Quality Fund and other stocks. Vote Outperform if you believe MPA will outperform the S&P 500 over the long term. Vote Underperform if you believe MPA will underperform the S&P 500 over the long term. You may vote once every thirty days. Previous Next Mettler-Toledo International, Inc. is a supplier of precision instruments and services. The firm manufactures weighing instruments for use in laboratory, industrial, packaging, logistics, and food retailing applications. It also manufactures several related analytical instruments and provides automated chemistry solutions used in drug and chemical compound discovery and development; and also, metal detection and other end-of-line inspection systems used in production and packaging and provides solutions for use in certain process analytics applications. Its operations are conducted by the following segments: U. S. Operations, Swiss Operations, Western European Operations, Chinese Operations and Other. The U.S. Operations segment represents certain of the company's marketing and producing organizations located in the United States. The Swiss Operations segment includes marketing and producing organizations located in Switzerland, as well as extensive R&D operations that are responsible for the development, production, and marketing of precision instruments, including weighing, analytical, and measurement technologies for use in a variety of industrial and laboratory applications. Th Read More By WestKyStar & MSU Staff Nov. 17, 2018 | 02:32 PM | PADUCAH Murray States Paducah Regional Campus is located in a state-of-the-art facility just off I-24 that features a full-service staff to advise and assist students as well as expert faculty members who teach in a variety of disciplines. The campus includes offerings of Murray States nationally ranked programs and provides access to quality educational opportunities in the Paducah area. We provide flexible course delivery methods that meet the needs of the adult student who may have many responsibilities other than those required in their role as a student, said Jennifer Frazier, director of the Paducah Regional Campus. Courses are offered during the day, evening and on weekends when needed, allowing students to follow their dreams while staying close to home. Integrated studies, in particular, serves as a degree completion program at the Paducah Regional Campus that is designed with returning adult students in mind: offering a flexible curriculum schedule, possible credit for professional experiences and a wide variety of fields of study tailored to students' interests. The Paducah Regional Campus also features 2+2 programs for students attending West Kentucky Community and Technical College (WKCTC) and seeking to earn a bachelors degree. Additionally, a number of hybrid and online bachelor's, master's certificates and doctoral programs are available. Murray State University recognizes the importance of serving adult and non-traditional students throughout our region, said Dan Lavit, executive director of the Center for Adult and Regional Education. Many students desire to pursue higher education but cannot put aspects of their life on hold while doing so. Murray States Paducah Regional Campus is proud to serve adult and non-traditional students with flexible and convenient program offerings." Several new degree offerings are now available at the Paducah Regional Campus, too, including a masters degree in occupational therapy and an accelerated masters degree in mass communications with a public relations concentration . New undergraduate offerings include a bachelors degree in organizational communication and a bachelors degree in logistics and supply chain management. Were always looking to better serve Paducah and the surrounding region by expanding our offerings with the types of programs that best suit local needs, Lavit said. Our partnership with WKCTC enhances our ability to provide a workforce that is prepared to help the region grow." The Adult Student Open House will take place Thursday, Nov. 29, from 5 to 7 pm at the Paducah Regional Campus, 4430 Sunset Ave. Free Murray State admissions applications will be offered to those who apply during the open house. Advisors will also be available to talk with students in both one-on-one and breakout information sessions about academic and financial aid opportunities. Children in attendance will be able to participate in a number of activities, including taking pictures with Murray States mascot, Dunker. Refreshments will be served with door prizes and giveaways available as well. Call 270-809-4753 or visit murraystate.edu/paducah for more information about the Murray State University regional campus in Paducah. Murray State University is hosting an Adult Student Open House on November 29 from 5 to 7 pm at the Universitys Paducah Regional Campus to highlight the many opportunities available for adult students interested in earning their bachelors or masters degrees. The forthcoming EU ban on insecticides will leave crops "vulnerable" to an attack from disease spreading aphids, experts have warned. Within two years a virus outbreak will likely hit European crop yields, leading to a hike in food prices across the continent. This is the message from more than 100 delegates from the UKs governmental, scientific, industrial and farming sectors. They gathered at research centre Rothamsted in Hertfordshire to discuss how an EU insecticide ban will leave crops open to attack from aphids that spread Barley Yellow Dwarf Virus, or BYDV. Existing analyses suggest UK wheat yields would decrease by the equivalent of 4 million loaves of bread a day because of the ban. Lower yields could become a regular feature, as a disease-resistant wheat variety could be more than a decade away, says Dr Kim Hammond-Kosack, conference organiser and a senior plant pathologist at Rothamsted Research. Our scientists predict that in February and March 2020 farmers, will be looking out on virus infected, yellowing fields of winter wheat, and consequently later that year consumers will be buying and eating more expensive food stuffs made using wheat imports from Canada, America, and the Ukraine, Dr Hammond-Kosack says. With few options to control these aphids, next year could be the last good year for European wheat harvests for some considerable time. Aphids are small sap-sucking insects. About 5,000 species of aphid have been described, all included in the family Aphididae. Around 400 of these are found on food and fibre crops, and many are serious pests of agriculture and forestry. Dr Hammond-Kosack adds: Currently no one has tested the UKs recommended wheat varieties for their resistance to BYDV. Resistance to the virus has not been a breeding target for years because of the availability of effective insecticides. Given it takes seven or eight years to breed a new crop variety, and then two or three years of official testing before a variety can make it on the recommended list, you can see time is against us. 'True scale of the problem' Dr Gia Aradottir, an insect specialist at Rothamsted, said until the responses of recommended wheat varieties to the virus are correctly determined, the wheat breeding industry will not know the true scale of the problem facing them. The threat of disease has arisen because of a EU-wide ban on the neonicotinoid insecticide currently used to control the aphids that spread BYDV. The insects can still be controlled by a different class of insecticides called pyrethroids, but there is already a resistance mutation present in one of the species, the grain aphid, to these chemicals. Analogous to antibiotic resistance that arises in many human diseases, insect populations can also develop a resistance to insecticides if they are over used. With the ban on the neonicotinoids, there is likely to be an increased use of pyrethroids which could hasten the development of this resistance, and could also select for insecticide resistance in the bird-cherry aphid, the other aphid species that spreads BYDV, says Dr Aradottir. If we have another autumn of high aphid numbers next year, followed by a mild winter, then the outlook for wheat harvests in 2020 could be very bleak indeed. GM crops and neonics Wheat is arguably the worlds most important crop, providing a fifth of an average person's calories. Its genome which is five times bigger than a human - was finally decoded earlier this year by an international consortium of scientists. In the absence of a disease resistant wheat variety arising from classical crop breeding methods, gene modified or gene edited crops might produce an answer but the growing of such crops is also currently banned in the EU. Another route might be the development of a new insecticide, or a reversal on the current neonicitinoid ban. Neonics, as they are commonly known, have been outlawed in the EU because of growing concerns over their impact on bee populations. Loss of pesticide control At this week's Wheat Genetic Improvement Network (WGIN) conference, a panel of experts will address this loss of pesticide control, and scientists are already urgently working on solutions. They have already planted various wheat varieties without applying the insecticide to determine the likely impact of the ban on 2020s harvests. The Institute also has a study population of aphids infected with BYDV to test for resistance in common, old and wild wheat varieties. And they have also recently developed a more sensitive diagnostic test to determine whether any commercial wheat varieties possess even a small amount of resistance that could be exploited by plant breeders. We already have a good breadth of expertise within the Institute to tackle this problem from all the important angles, including monitoring, diagnostics, aphid resistance, insecticide resistance and modelling, says Dr Hammond-Kosack. 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 Thank you @iamsrk Gauri and Suhana! Very gracious of you. Rishi Kapoor (@chintskap) November 17, 2018 Shah Rukh Khan being the family man he is, removed some time to visit his wife Gauri Khan and daughter Suhana Khan in New York even though he is currently more than occupied with the promotions of his next film Zero which is all set to release next month.The family also visited Rishi Kapoor, who is undergoing medical treatment in the city. Soon after their visit, Kapoor tweeted a "thank you" to them and stated that it was very "gracious" of them to come and visit him.During his visit to New York, the actor also visited the NYU Stern School, where he met and interacted with students. Shah Rukh Khan will now return to Mumbai to continue promoting Zero. However, before he left the big apple, he clicked a selfie with his two special ladies while assuring them that he will soon be back to savour their company and love again. His caption for the picture read, Two many beautiful women..Too little time. Will be back NYC to savour their company & love againsoon.On the work front, Shah Rukh Khan will be playing the role of a vertically challenged man named Bauua Singh in Zero who seems to be involved in a love triangle between a wheelchair-bound scientist ( Anushka Sharma ) and an actress battling alcoholism (Katrina Kaif).The makers of the film recently dropped the trailer of the film that has left many Netizen's in awe and wanting for more. The film is slated to release on December 21, 2018. By Huang Ge in Papua New Guinea BEIJING, Nov. 18, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Chinese President Xi Jinping warned against the rising trend of protectionism and unilateralism as he delivered a keynote speech at the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) CEO Summit in Port Moresby, capital of Papua New Guinea, on Saturday, the Xinhua News Agency reported. Chinese and foreign representatives who attended the APEC CEO Summit told the Global Times on Saturday that they were inspired by Xi's speech and countries across the world should strengthen cooperation to pursue inclusive growth through innovation instead of confrontation. Xi said that only openness and cooperation can create more opportunities and space for development, Xinhua reported. "Confrontation, either in the form of a cold war or trade war, produces no winners," he said. The president called for firm efforts to safeguard the multilateral trading system that has the WTO as its core, the Xinhua report said. "As rising uncertainty troubles the world market, China has made its resolute voice heard at APEC that the world is expected to strengthen cooperation, pursue common development and advance inclusive growth through innovation in technological fields, such as artificial intelligence and fintech, as well as cooperation models including the Belt and Road initiative (BRI)," said Tang Ning, founder and CEO of CreditEase, a Chinese fintech company. "If some countries set up barriers to cut off the close economic ties that exist between countries, this not only violates economic rules and the historical trends, but also does not meet the general aspirations of the people of the world," Tang said. "[Such a move] is short-sighted and will not succeed." "President Xi's speech was truly inspiring. He spoke of an important message that everyone should recognize - a world built on shared destiny, responsibility and prosperity," Joahnna Esquivias, an APEC Voices of the Future delegate from the Philippines, told the Global Times on Saturday. "I was very happy when he said that there are no winners in a trade war. Because this trade war is affecting not only the economies of China and the US but those in the peripheries," she noted. Xi pointed out that the world is encountering changes that have not been seen in a century and mankind has once again reached a crossroads. He stressed that the interests of all countries and the future of mankind hinge on choosing between cooperation and confrontation, between openness and closing one's door, and between win-win progress and a zero-sum game, according to the Xinhua report. Chen Yushu, managing director of the All-China Federation of Returned Overseas Chinese, told the Global Times that after listening to President Xi's speech, he was deeply impressed that today's world has become more interdependent and interconnected than ever before. "Economic globalization is the only way forward for the development of human society, and multilateral trade can bring about common opportunities for the growth of countries," Tang said. Tang noted that each country is part of the global cooperation chain as the world supply chain, industry chain and value chain are all closely linked. "For Asia-Pacific members, only by strengthening cooperation and achieving inclusive growth, will it be possible to bring benefits to these countries," he said. "I believe that if APEC becomes more open to regional integration through the BRI, economies will be more integrated. There's much potential and promise in APEC," Esquivias said. "I hope to see that in the near future." The CIC commissioner said several categories of information were declared by the RBI as not disclosable as part of their 'disclosure policy' and the RBI calls the exceptional clauses under the RTI Act as 'enabling' provisions. New Delhi: Severely admonishing the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) and the Prime Minister's Office (PMO), the Central Information Commission (CIC) has again directed them to disclose the list of willful defaulters and Raghuram Rajan's letter on bad loans. In an exhaustive 66-page order, the panel pulled up the PMO for not complying with its directive to disclose the letter from former RBI Governor Rajan on bad loans. Information Commissioner Sridhar Acharyulu said, "If there is any objection based on any exception, the PMO should have pleaded such provision and justify their denial." He said the PMO refused to comply with the direction of disclosure of action on Rajan's letter on "grounds which are not legal, which is unfortunate". Acharyulu was hearing the plea of one Sandeep Singh who had sought details of bank loan defaulters. The commission had earlier issued a show cause notice to RBI Governor Urijit Patel for "dishonouring" a Supreme Court judgment and CIC directive on disclosure of the list of willful defaulters. "The PMO has a moral, constitutional and political duty to tell the citizens of India as to who are the defaulters and what action has been taken to recover the huge loans advanced to them by banks, from out of taxpayer's money," he said. The commissioner said several categories of information were declared by the RBI as not disclosable as part of their 'disclosure policy' and the RBI calls the exceptional clauses under the RTI Act as 'enabling' provisions. "It is against the RTI Act, the collective intention of Parliament, affront to democracy, reflecting disrespect to the Supreme Court's directions in RBI V Jayantilal N Mistry case. The RBI has a strong legal team with experienced legal experts and meritorious graduates from National Law Schools, yet has audacity to openly defy RTI Act, CIC directions and judgment of the Supreme Court," he said. He said as per law, in each RTI request, the CPIO and First Appealing Authorty (FAA) of the RBI need to justify the denial under exceptions prescribed under sections 8 and 9 of the RTI Act. "But any public authority cannot declare that it will never give such information as declared by the RBI. Exceptional provisions under the RTI Act cannot straight away enable a public authority to deny in advance," he said. Acharyulu said in spite of the Supreme Court's direction that Section 22 of the RTI Act will override the RBI Act and other Acts, the RBI again quoted those Acts and declared that it would not give information. "The RBI has totally ignored the provisions of the RTI Act," he said. "This non-disclosure in the name of 'disclosure' policy is also in contradiction of various office memorandum and guidelines issued by the Department of Personnel and Training under the RTI Act," he said. "If the RBI does not respect the Supreme Court orders and denies the citizens right to information, it will result in perpetuation of financial regime of secrecy that is potential enough to facilitate financial frauds and allow fraudulent rich and influential business persons to flee the country, as witnessed in recent times," Acharyulu said. He again directed the PMO to disclose the names of the defaulters, action taken for recovery of loans in response to Rajan's letter and the policy, if any, about recovery from defaulters including high-profile ones. Acharyulu also urged parliamentary committees such as Public Accounts Committee, Committee on Finance and Committee on Estimates to deliberate the issues raised in this case as they are also seized of such matters. "The commission directs the office of this CIC to present the copy of this order to concerned officers of Parliament who are responsible for placing such papers before respective committees within one week from the date of issue of this order," he said. He rejected the submission of the representative from the PMO who had informed the CIC that the RTI application in this particular case had been filed by the applicant with the Directorate General of Employment and Training (DGEAT) and no copy of the said RTI was received in the PMO from either the applicant or on transfer from any other public authority. Acharyulu said, "The PMO contended that as the original RTI application, first and second appeals were not filed with the PMO, the direction to provide information was not maintainable and hence the compliance question does not arise." "The commission cannot agree with this kind of attempt to deny the substantive part of information access by unreasonable procedural interpretations without any legal basis. There is no provision in the RTI Act that prevents the Information Commission from directing any public authority to provide information if that is possibly available with them," he said. He said information pertaining to the identities of loan defaulters and action taken against them is an issue of larger public interest. "The stand taken by the PMO in this case will not serve any public interest, and compel the citizen to start his effort ab initio, by filing an RTI request with PMO, treating as a separate unconnected public authority and reach the ultimate level at the CIC or up to the Supreme Court, if the government prefers to litigate with the citizen and ultimately it has to give that information. "This was not the intention of Parliament in passing the RTI Act, 2005 that aimed at creating a practical regime and not procedural tangles to delay and deny the access to public information," he said. Advertisement By West Kentucky Star Staff Nov. 15, 2018 | PADUCAH By West Kentucky Star Staff Nov. 15, 2018 | 04:09 PM | PADUCAH The Paducah Power System headquarters on Broadway will soon see major upgrades to the lobby. Andrea Underwood, Director of Community Relations and Marketing for Paducah Power, told West Kentucky Star that the improvements will serve to increase security and make much needed updates. The result will be a safer environment for both customers and employees, as well as improving customer service. Underwood explained that while the current headquarters building has served Paducah Power well, they moved into the building in 1993, and times have changed, thus creating the need for the upgrades. She expects the work to begin on the project shortly after January 1st. During the construction, all customer service activity will be moved across the street to 1555 Broadway. The expected completion date is estimated to be in April of 2019. Three people were killed and at least 10 were injured in a blast at a religious gathering in Amritsar's Rajasansi village, police said. Three people were killed and at least 10 were injured in a blast at a religious gathering on the outskirts of Amritsar, the police said. The blast reportedly took place when members of the Nirankari sect were gathered at Nirankari Bhawan at Rajasansi village near the Amritsar international airport. According to News18, the police is investigating several angles behind the attack as no terrorist organisation has taken responsibility for it yet. Eyewitnesses claimed that two or three bike-borne men hurled bombs grenades, according to some reports at the gathering and fled. Spot visuals: Several injured in a blast at Nirankari Bhawan in Amritsar's Rajasansi village. More details awaited. #Punjab pic.twitter.com/Fzk0FW4725 ANI (@ANI) November 18, 2018 Hours after the blast, the Punjab Police arrested two suspects from Bathinda and also live cartridges from them, reports said. Officials in the Ministry of Home Affairs said that two "turbaned youths" had thrown the grenade at the gathering, and that security agencies already had "enough leads" in the investigations. Punjab Director General of Police Suresh Arora said the incident "appears to have a terror angle" because it was carried out against a group of people and not against an individual. "There is no reason to throw a hand grenade at a group of people, so we will investigate it as a terrorist act. Till proven otherwise, prima facie we will take it as that," he said, according to PTI. As the Punjab Police said they could not rule out a terror angle in the blast, a three-member team of the National Investigation Agency (NIA) is expected to reach the site of the site in Amritsar later on Sunday, ANI reported. Inspector General (Border) of Amritsar Surinder Pal Singh Parmar said there were around 250 devotees at the congregation when the attack took place, and that there were no CCTV cameras at the location. An investigation is on to identify the perpetrators, he added. Out of 250 people who were present in the religious congregation, 3 dead & 15-20 injured. As per initial reports, 2 people had come over here who knocked a grenade here: IG (Border) Surinder Pal Singh Parmar on the blast at Nirankari Bhawan in Amritsar. #Punjab pic.twitter.com/9oKKcQ4FmE ANI (@ANI) November 18, 2018 The blast took place despite Punjab being on high alert after the counter-intelligence wing of the state police force had warned them that six to seven Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM) terrorists were "planning to move towards Delhi" from the state. The police were asked to set up checkpoints at all important routes, conduct strict vehicle inspection and take suitable countermeasures for all sensitive locations. Police areas along the India-Pakistan border were also asked to coordinate with the Border Security Force. Officers were also advised to plan and implement precautionary measures to thwart any untoward incident. Following the attack on the outskirts of Amritsar, both Punjab and the Delhi-NCR are on high alert. Chief Minister Amarinder Singh condemned the blast at Nirankari Bhawan in Amritsar. He reviewed the law and order situation in Punjab and has ordered the state home secretary, Director General of Police, Director General (Law and Order) and Director General (Intelligence) to head to Rajasansi and oversee the investigation, an official spokesman said. According to reports, the chief minister reviewed the security situation in the state in a high level meeting with officials, and has asked the state home secretary along with Punjab DGP, DGP (Intelligence) and DGP (Law and Order) to rush to the site to investigate. The chief minister also offered his condolences, while announcing Rs 5 lakh ex-gratia to the kin of the dead and free treatment for the injured. My heart goes out to victims of the Amritsar bomb blast & their families. My govt will give Rs 5 lakh to kin of each of the dead and free treatement to injured. Have asked district administration to extend all help. Capt.Amarinder Singh (@capt_amarinder) November 18, 2018 Later in the day, the chief minister said they could not rule out the "possible involvement of ISI-based Khalistani or Kashmiri terror groups". "Police teams have been rushed to raid the suspected hideouts of the assailants, and multiple teams are investigating various angles to crack the case," he added. After the blast in Rajasansi village, Punjab Congress chief Sunil Jakhar offered his condolences, saying: "My condolences are with families of those who lost lives in this incident. It is an attempt to disturb peace in Punjab. I believe all security agencies should stay alert and coordinate with each other to maintain peace." Union Home Affairs Minister Rajnath Singh, too, said he was "deeply anguished by the death of innocent people" in Amritsar, and that "strongest possible action will be taken against the perpetrators of this crime". Spoke to the Chief Minister of Punjab, @capt_amarinder ji who has apprised me of the situation in the wake of grenade attack in Amritsar. Strongest possible action will be taken against the perpetrators of this crime. 2/2 (@rajnathsingh) November 18, 2018 Police deny Zakir Musa link to attack While initial reports speculated about the possible involvement of terrorist Zakir Musa in the Amritsar attack, Parmar denied the supposed links to Musa, who was spotted in Punjab four days ago. Musa is the chief of the Jammu and Kashmir-based Ansar Ghazwat-ul-Hind (AGH), a terror outfit linked to the Al-Qaeda, which allegedly maintains close ties with the JeM. In October, in a joint operation, the Punjab Police and the Special Operations Group of Jammu and Kashmir Police had arrested three students and busted a module of the AGH in Jalandhar. The students were nabbed from the hostel of CT Institute of Engineering Management and Technology, located in Shahpur on the outskirts of Jalandhar, Director General of Police Suresh Arora had said. The joint team that raided the hostel also seized two weapons, including an assault rifle and explosives, from the room of one Zahid Gulzar, a BTech (Civil) student from Rajpora in Srinagar district. Zahid was arrested along with Mohammed Idriss Shah, alias Nadeem, and Yusuf Rafiq Bhatt, both residents Jammu and Kashmir's Pulwama. With inputs from agencies Three people were killed and 20 injured after a grenade was lobbed at a religious gathering on the outskirts of Amritsar in Punjab. Chandigarh: Strongly condemning the grenade attack on a religious congregation in Amritsar that left three persons dead and many injured, Punjab chief minister Amarinder Singh on Sunday vowed that he will not let the "forces of terror" destroy the hard-earned peace in the state. While making an appeal to the people "not to panic and remain calm," the chief minister tweeted: "We will not let the forces of terror destroy our hard-earned peace. I appeal to the people of Punjab to maintain peace in the wake of Amritsar bomb blast. I urge them not to panic and to remain calm." I appeal to the people of Punjab to maintain peace in wake of Amritsar bomb blast. I urge them not to panic and to remain calm. We will not let the forces of terror destroy our hard earned peace. Capt.Amarinder Singh (@capt_amarinder) November 18, 2018 Amarinder Singh's tweet followed soon after Punjab police chief Suresh Arora said that the incident "appears to have a terror angle" and that the police will investigate it as a terrorist act. Soon after the attack, the chief minister reviewed the law and order situation in Punjab and and asked the state home secretary, director general of police and the director generals of law and order and intelligence to rush to Rajasansi on the outskirts of Amritsar to supervise the ongoing investigation into the grenade attack, an official spokesman said in Chandigarh. On the chief minister's directions, security has been beefed up at all Nirankari Bhawans in Punjab, he added. While condemning the incident, Amarinder Singh also announced a compensation of Rs 5 lakh for the kin of those killed and free treatment to the injured ones. "Strongly condemn the bomb blast at Nirankari Bhawan in Amritsar... My heart goes out to the victims of the Amritsar bomb blast and their families... My govt will give Rs 5 lakh to the kin of each of the dead and free treatment to the injured. Have asked the district administration to extend all help," the chief minister said in a tweet earlier. The Punjab Police had earlier said that the grenade attack on the religious congregation on the outskirts of Amritsar appears to be a terrorist act. It (this incident) appears to have a terror angle, because it is against a group (of people) and not against any individual. There is no reason to throw a hand grenade on a group of people, so we will take it as a terrorist act. Till proven otherwise, prima facie we will take it as that, Punjab Director General of Police Suresh Arora had said. The incident took place at a religious congregation inside the Nirankari Bhawan at Adliwal village near Amritsar's Rajasansi, the police said. "A grenade was lobbed and three people died in the incident, while 10 have been injured in the incident, two of them critically," Inspector General of Police SS Parmar, who visited the crime spot in Amritsar, told reporters. Punjab was on alert following an intelligence input claiming that a group of six to seven Jaish-e-Mohammed terrorists were reportedly in the state, possibly in the Ferozepur area. The state was put on alert after four persons snatched an SUV from its driver at gunpoint near Madhopur in Pathankot district last week. Flavia Agnes was among experts who attended the one-day consultation at the New Delhi office of the National Commission for Women (NCW) to review the POSH Act, 2013. Senior womens rights advocate Flavia Agnes on Saturday said theres an immediate need to bring religious bodies, including Catholic educational institutions and governing bodies of temples, mosque and other places of worship, under the Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace (Prevention, Prohibition and Redressal) Act, 2013 to prevent abuse of women. Agnes was among experts, including Justice Sujata Manohar (retd), who helped frame the Vishakha Guidelines that sets procedural rules in dealing with cases of sexual harassment, Justice G Rohini (retd), Prof (Dr) GS Bajpai, Registrar, NLU, and advocate Madhu Mehra, who attended the one-day consultation at the New Delhi office of the National Commission for Women (NCW) to review the POSH Act, 2013. The alleged rape of a nun by a Roman Catholic bishop in Kerala shook up the country last month, especially after a witness was found dead. Bishop Franco Mulakkal, the main accused in the rape of the nun over a period of two years, is out on bail. Mulakkal denied all charges. Nobody is above this and we have said again and again that courts, Catholic institutions, religious places must be covered but nothing like this has happened and even when they have a policy, like the church has a policy, they put it under lock and key and they have not made it public because they dont want people to use it, Agnes said. Did the nun who was abused know that there was a policy? She did not know. Is there a mandate on that? And how do we ensure that mandate is enforced? This is just one case out of hundreds. In all religious institutions imagine the power they hold over the women devotees and subordinates. Theres no committee and nobody is bothered. Go to any mandir, mosque, there is no committee, Agnes said stressing on the need to institute Internal Complaints Committees (ICC) and Local Complaints Committees (LCC). NCW has decided to take up the review of the 2013 Act to give it more teeth and accept recommendations for its proper implementation in addressing sexual harassment of women. Here are some of the suggestions that NCW compiled from the discussions. Though the title of Act is Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace (Prevention, Prohibition, and Redressal) Act, 2013', the law is not clear on prevention. Lack of a proper mechanism for monitoring the implementation of the Act. There is no authority specified to enquire and inspect the proper implementation of the Act as per the provisions and the monitoring authority for sexual harassment at workplace in the corporate sector is not clearly defined in the Act. Dissatisfaction with the composition of ICC/LCC. Options available to victim, if she is not satisfied with the process of inquiry and report by the ICC/LCC, is not clearly defined in the Act. Monitoring Authority and Appellate Authority must be defined and established, like a nodal agency. Conciliation clause in the Act has to be reviewed. Lack of awareness among majority of the employees working both in organised and unorganised sector. It was decided that the National Commission for Women would organise sector and state-wise consultations across the country and take up the matter of constitution of Local Complaints Committees (LCC) with State Governments. The National Commission for Women will also develop a standard training module on Sexual Harassment at Workplace. To highlight the inadequacy of LCCs, Agnes cited the example of journalist Tarun Tejpal, an accused in a rape case. Tarun Tejpals case has turned out to be a criminal case. It need not have been. This case would have gone to the LCC. Imagine a person of that stature going before LCC and a domestic worker going before the same LCC. They are not courts, they are judges, they are not trained. This issue needs serious consideration, she said. She, among many others, also brought up provision in the law that requires both the complainant and the accused to remain anonymous. You use public social media but here you have a mandate that you cannot publicise the names of the respondents or a complainant what is the complainant supposed to do to air her grievances, how can you stop her from going to social media? I think its a very positive sign coming away from rape law where we are not mentioning the name of the victim but here the victim is coming out herself and saying it happened to me and this man did it. This phase is coming because of the lapse in law. We cannot stop women from using this (social media) space, she said. The need for ICCs to look into anonymous complaints was also raised. The need for a comprehensive gender policy came up several times during the discussion, including making the Act gender neutral and separation of sexual harassment from harassment at the workplace. With more women stepping out of their homes to work, sexism is a grey area that the experts felt needed to be brought under the Acts ambit. Agnes said gender-based harassment and harassment of sexual nature have to be defined carefully and recognised as grey areas of the law, especially when there is no clear way to determine sexual intent. Advocate Madhu Mehra emphasised the need for the Act to be preventive and asked the NCW to clearly spell out its stand on sexuality education in schools. I am talking about sexuality education and not just sex education which is basically biological study. Unless young adults orient themselves to these issues you cant parachute these rules and measures on them at the workplace, she said. Senior NCW Coordinator, Kanchan Khattar, informed the group that since the organisation opened an email account (ncw.metoo@gmail.com) especially for #MeToo cases, they have received 20 such complaints, and mostly, of cases that happened before the POSH Act came into being. The recommendations will be forwarded to the Ministry of Women & Child Development or directly to the Parliament. CBI Deputy SP Ashwini Kumar Gupta, in his plea, said he had joined the IB in January 1999 and inducted on deputation to the CBI in July 2014, initially for three years, till June 2017. Delhi: Amidst the ongoing feud inside the premier investigation agency, another Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) officer has moved the Supreme Court challenging his repatriation to the Intelligence Bureau (IB), terming it "unjustified" and "malafide". Deputy SP Ashwini Kumar Gupta has alleged that he was repatriated to his parent Intelligence Bureau (IB) cadre as he was investigating various corruption charges against CBI Special Director Rakesh Asthana, who has been divested of his duties and sent on leave along with CBI Director Alok Kumar Verma. Gupta, in his plea, said he had joined the IB in January 1999 and inducted on deputation to the CBI in July 2014, initially for three years, till June 2017. Subsequently, he was granted one year extension in the CBI till June 2018 after a No Objection Certificate (NOC) from his parent department. "CBI wrote to IB seeking NOC again for further extension of the tenure of the Applicant in CBI till June 2019. The IB in June 2018 again gave NOC for further extension of the tenure of the applicant, which was forwarded by the CBI to the Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT) in June 2018 itself for its approval as per the procedural requirement, which is presently under process," the plea stated. The officer claimed that "surprisingly", on the morning of 24 October, 2018, the CBI repatriated him to his parent organisation on the ground that the order of his extension had not been received by the CBI. "Whereas the fact of the matter is that the NOC from IB was received by the CBI in June 2018 before expiry of the deputation of the applicant and was forwarded to DoPT for their approval in the same month," Gupta said. He said "singling out" of the applicant was due to the fact that he was one of the officials carrying out investigation, along with another officer AK Bassi, which led to the unearthing of crucial findings, as well as implicating Asthana in the Sterling Biotech case registered on 30 August, 2017. The officer said he along with Bassi, who has been transferred to Port Blair, visited Vadodara on 7 October, 2018 and conducted the probe till 13 October. "The gist of the findings of the inquiry conducted at Vadodara...led to the establishment of 'undeniable, cogent, clear and unmistakable' link of Asthana and his family with fugitive accused Nitin and Chetan Sandesara, and that infuriated Asthana so much that he made a mention of the same in his complaint to the Cabinet Secretary on 18 October," he said. Asthana has levelled corruption allegations against Verma. Gupta termed his repatriation as "motivated" and "malafide", urging the court to quash it. Both Bassi and Gupta have filed applications seeking to intervene in the pending petition filed by Verma, who had approached the apex court challenging the Centre's decision to divest him of his duties and sending him on leave following his feud with Asthana. Pursuant to the top court's order, the Central Vigilance Commission's inquiry against Verma was conducted under the supervision of former apex court judge Justice AK Patnaik. The report was filed in the court on 12 November. The chargesheet filed by Delhi Police was under various sections of the IPC pertaining to kidnapping, trafficking, forgery of record of court or of public register and the Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act. New Delhi: The Delhi Police has filed a chargesheet before a Delhi court in connection with a baby-selling racket case, an official said Sunday. "A 24-page charge sheet was filed on 14 November in a city court against 10 people who were arrested for allegedly running a baby-selling racket in August," he said. According to the official, five babies were rescued by police during the operation. The chargesheet was filed under various sections of the IPC pertaining to kidnapping, trafficking, forgery of record of court or of public register and the Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act. Acting on a tip-off, two police personnel met one of the accused posing as a childless couple on 14 August. "A woman sub-inspector Preeti and head constable Rajesh posed as husband and wife and met one of the accused Mohammad Jahangir," the charge-sheet said. The couple chose a baby and Jahangir demanded Rs 4.30 lakh but after some negotiations, the final amount was decided at Rs 3.30 lakh. "He asked the couple to get the money in an hour and told the two that his accomplices Jyoti and Rahul will bring the child near a bank in Naraina Vihar," the charge-sheet said. Jahangir was arrested after he handed over a newborn baby to the police personnel, it said. The baby was admitted to a hospital, where he died on 26 August. Jyoti and Rahul were arrested and during interrogation, they told police that the baby was bought from Mithila, a resident of New Friends Colony. Subsequently, Mithila was arrested and police later learned about one Jitendar Kumar, who was also involved in the racket. "Kumar told police about one Kavita who had bought a five to seven days' old infant from a woman agent named Parveen for Rs 4 lakh and later sold the child to a chemist named Balbir Singh for Rs 5 lakh," the charge-sheet said. More arrests were made but Kavita continued to remain elusive. A non-bailable warrant was issued against her by a city court on 10 September. Later, a lookout circular was also issued against her and she surrendered on 20 September. The Tamil Nadu government has asked the Centre to rename the Madras High Court to 'High Court of Tamil Nadu' instead of 'High Court of Chennai' as proposed in the original bill. New Delhi: Amid growing clamour for changing the names of cities, a bill seeking to rechristen the iconic high courts of Madras, Calcutta and Bombay has run into trouble, and a fresh one has to be introduced in Parliament for the same. The High Court (Alteration of Names) Bill, 2016, was introduced in the Lok Sabha on 19 July, 2016, to change the names of the Calcutta, Madras and Bombay high courts to Kolkata, Chennai and Mumbai high courts, respectively. However, the Tamil Nadu government has asked the Centre to rename the Madras High Court to 'High Court of Tamil Nadu' instead of 'High Court of Chennai' as proposed in the bill. While the West Bengal government wants the Calcutta High Court to be renamed Kolkata High Court, the high court has itself "not agreed for revised nomenclature". In a written reply in the Lok Sabha in December 2016, Minister of State for Law PP Chaudhary had said the old bill would have to be revised and a new bill introduced. "The central government has sought views from the state governments concerned and the respective high courts for finalising a fresh bill. No time frame can be fixed to finalise a fresh bill and its introduction in Parliament," he had said. A senior law ministry functionary said "no forward movement" has been made in this regard, and the fresh bill was unlikely to be discussed in the Winter Session beginning 11 December. The Calcutta High Court has the distinction of being the first high court and one of the three chartered high courts to be set up in India, along with the high courts of Bombay and Madras. It was formally opened on 1 July, 1862. The 'Indian High Court Act' of 1861 vested in the Queen of England to issue letters patent to establish the high courts of Calcutta, Madras and Bombay. The Bombay High Court was inaugurated on 14 August, 1862. The high court today has three benches in Nagpur, Aurangabad and Goa. The Bombay High Court is one of the few institutions in Maharashtra that continues to carry the old name of the city. The state government renamed Bombay Mumbai in 1995, and all institutions under it altered their names accordingly. The Madras High Court, which came into being around the same time, has one bench in Madurai. After Allahabad was renamed Prayagraj and Faizabad Ayodhya, there have been multiple demands to rename cities, towns and districts. For instance, there are demands to rename Azamgarh district as Aryamgarh, Faizabad as Saket, Aligarh as Harigarh and Muzaffarnagar as Laxminagar. Created by Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster, Lex Luthor is one of the most iconic villains in the DC universe, second perhaps only to the Joker. Editor's note: The characters and story-lines that inhabit popular comic books can be expansive, multidimensional, and often, just plain bewildering. Firstpost's #HeroesAndVillains is a one-stop definitive guide to understanding (and keeping track of) comic book characters. From the iconic to the little-known, the old and the new, superheroes and their villainous nemeses this is the deep dive you need, and deserve. *** To the public, Lex Luthor is the embodiment of the American dream. A billionaire industrialist with a rags to riches story, a noted philanthropist whose charities help those in need, and a genius whose research has led to several breakthroughs across multiple disciplines. To those that know him, hes a manipulative, self-serving, egoist. And to those that really know him, hes a merciless, megalomaniac bent on world domination. President?... Do you know how much power I'd have to give up to be President? Lex Luthor Created by Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster, Lex Luthor is one of the most iconic villains in the DC universe, second perhaps only to the Joker. If the Joker represents our collective fears of chaos and anarchy disrupting modern society, Luthor represents our fear of the rich and the powerful. A one-percenter who uses his influence and resources to further his goals regardless of the cost to others; and usually escaping subsequent prosecution even when clear evidence of his crimes is presented. Luthor is one of the only villains in the DC universe who fully understands the importance of public perception. This is why he funds so much charity work and ensures that its only his good deeds that stay in public memory by controlling practically all media outlets in his home city of Metropolis. While the Daily Planet was a notable exception, this proved temporary as Luthor would eventually own it as well. This strategy of controlling the media appears to have served him well as Luthor, despite being known to be a violent criminal, has managed to win the United State presidency on more than one occasion. A move which was apparently undertaken in an effort to troll his arch-nemesis Superman, more than out of any desire to hold political office, at least not an elected one governed by rules and term limits. While the idea of a supervillain being President of the United States no longer seems as funny or as far-fetched as it used to be, Luthor was a surprisingly competent head of state and America thrived under his leadership, at least for a while. But for all his public success, Luthors private life has been a string of unending failures. Hes been married nine times, divorced eight times and is now a widower. His ninth wife, the late Contessa Erica Alexandra del Portenza, was devious, ruthless, manipulative and an accomplished villain in her own right. On paper, they seemed to be the perfect match. Unfortunately for her, Luthor thought differently and when he was launching his presidential campaign, he decided to bury any embarrassing family disputes by burying her with a salvo of cruise missiles launched at her island mansion. Prior to her demise, Luthor had fathered a daughter with the Contessa, Lena Luthor. A name she shares with both Lexs younger sister (who she is apparently named after) and his aunt, partly because they are all essentially the same character in different continuities and partly because picking a second female name is apparently harder than anyone who doesnt write comic books can ever imagine. I suppose we should just be thankful they are not all named Martha. Given how rarely Lena shows up in storylines, its probably safe to say that Luthor is essentially estranged from his family. Hes also survived cancer brought on by extended exposure to a kryptonite ring that he keeps on him at all times as a deterrent against Superman. I should mention that he survived by cloning himself a new body and then selling his soul to a demon in exchange for good health when his clone body deteriorated prematurely and left him completely paralysed. Note: If a genuine mythical demon wants your soul in exchange for a magical favour, agreeing to such a deal because you believe the soul isnt real is an odd thing for a purported super genius to believe. Origin and Powers At the time of his debut in Action Comics #32 (1940), Luthor was less of an industrialist and more mad scientist, albeit a seemingly fabulously wealthy one, since he created not one, but two cities for his own personal use. Luthors origins have undergone a few changes over the years, usually to make the character more grounded in reality and at other times to account for new canon continuity such as his presence in Smallville when a young Clark Kent was growing up. In contemporary storylines, Lex and his younger sister Lena grew up poor in Metropolis, in an area sometimes referred to as Suicide Slum. Abusive parents and crippling poverty forced Lex to rely on his wits to survive, further honing his already sharp mind. Even at an early age, Luthor shows all of the characteristics we have come to associate with the iconic businessman. Intelligent, charismatic, ambitious and manipulative, Lex quickly set out to make a name for himself, using charm and deception where possible, but not at all averse to using violence and intimidation through the use of enlisted goons where needed. This vengeful and opportunistic streak fully manifests itself when Luthor apparently engineers the deaths of his parents by sabotaging their car and then using the profits from a large life insurance policy he had created in their names to found LexCorp. The most recent retelling of Luthors origins states that he grew up wealthy in Metropolis, the son of a rich (but still abusive) industrialist. This change, at least according to me, significantly detracts from Lexs character as a self-made man who started from nothing and did anything he had to do to get ahead in life. Luthors humble origins are, in part, what contrasts him with Superman and one of the causes for Lexs deep-seated dislike of him. Superman never had to earn his greatness. While Luthor struggled his way out of poverty, Kal-El simply had the good fortune to arrive on a world whose parent star imbues him with powers that seem almost God-like to the local inhabitants. While Luthor has not traditionally wielded any form of superpower, he does have a genius-level intellect that has enabled him to match wits with the most accomplished heroes and villains around and still come out on top. In the DC universe, he is widely considered to be the smartest human to have ever lived. Following events that saw his consciousness merging temporarily with Brainiac, it is believed that he may possess an even greater intellect, although there is not much evidence to show that his heightened intelligence persisted after he and Brainiac were once again separated. Over the years Lex has focused a great deal of time and resources on developing greater physical capabilities, both through genetic engineering and the construction of an armoured combat suit. In his Warsuit, Luthor is a credible threat even to Superman, thanks in no small part to the Warsuits array of kryptonite-based weapons. But while the Warsuit is a marvel of engineering, to Luthor what it represents is even more important. The suit is a symbol of Luthors long-standing desire (and now his ability) to stand against a demigod on practically even terms. Allies and Adversaries You dont get to the top without making a few enemies and Lex has been at the top for a very long time. While theres probably no shortage of superheroes who want to bring him to justice, the truth is that the Man of Steel remains the only person on earth that Luthor would even consider a legitimate threat to his ambitions. Ever since the last son of Krypton made it his mission to protect the people of Metropolis, Luthor has made it his goal to either control or destroy Superman. On the surface, Supermans animosity towards Lex is quite straightforward, Luthor is a selfish, power-hungry narcissist who would think nothing of killing thousands, even millions of people in order to further his own goals. However, in Luthors eyes, Superman represents a greater threat to humanity than he could ever be. Luthor argues that ever since Superman arrived, humanity has grown increasingly incapable of solving its own problems, content to wait for solutions to be delivered from on high. At the very least, Lexs concerns regarding Superman are akin to fears of how a socialist nanny state could damage the human spirit of ingenuity, industriousness and independence. At worst, this loss of agency comes with the added threat of the public coming to perceive Superman as a messianic figure, completely above question or reproach. For Luthor, this reliance on the Man of Steel is one that he considers an existential crisis for all of mankind. With God-like powers and no force capable of countering him, what if Supermans agenda were to ever change? If he should decide to take power for himself, how would how could the world resist? It was this fear that led Luthor to research possible countermeasures and which eventually led to him discovering Kryptonite. To his credit, Luthors prophecy proved true as in several storylines, Superman (or alternate/parallel versions of himself) do indeed install himself as the de-facto alien dictator of Earth, having come to the conclusion that humans were incapable of governing themselves effectively. So what about his allies?... Since Lex Luthor doesnt honestly seem interested in (or capable of) making a friend, allies may be too strong a word for the people who fight alongside him. Perhaps a more accurate name for them would be Future enemies. But despite Luthors personal disdain for others, he was certainly aware of the benefits and opportunities that teaming up with his fellow villains presented. As long as he was the undisputed leader of course. Over his extensive career of villainy, Luthor has either founded or led several major groups of villains, the three most popular being the Secret Society, the oh-so-creatively named Injustice League, and what I think is the most iconic supervillain team-up in comic-book history, The Legion of Doom. To Luthor, the Legion and its roster of members are simply tools that he uses to further his own ends. For their part, the other members of the Legion are all too aware of what Luthor thinks of them. A fact that has led to several internal power struggles and even a few semi-successful coups. Since the Legion has never really had a lasting victory to date, its unclear if Luthor would actually intend to hold up his end of the bargain if they ever really did win, but unlike Grodd in the video below I wouldnt hold my breath. Character and Philosophy The character of Lex Luthor is perhaps a typical example of a Lawful evil archetype. Unlike other villains like the Joker or Doomsday, Luthor takes no specific pleasure in violence or chaos, using them only as a means to an end. And while he would kill anyone in the way of his plans without a second thought, in most cases this is done only out of expediency rather than out of any sense of malice. Does that make it even worse? I suppose thats debatable. Ive said before that typically, the most interesting villain is a dark reflection of the hero, and Luthors relationship with Superman proves this perfectly. Beyond the posturing and philosophy, Luthor hates Superman because he is everything that Lex isnt and he knows it. He is jealous of Superman. Jealous of his powers. Jealous that Lois Lane loves Kal-El while she rejected his attempts to make her the 9th Mrs Luthor (she probably dodged a bullet there). Hes jealous of the publics affection for him and jealous of how easily it all seems to have come to him. If he knew that Superman also had both a loving foster family and a happy childhood that helps him see the good in humanity in ways that Luthor is simply incapable of understanding, I honestly think he could lose his mind. As a result of his lack of anything resembling a personal life or other interests, Lex pours all of his considerable intelligence and resources into a singular goal, the accumulation of power and influence. Not for any clear end goal, that he hopes to achieve, but largely because he lacks anything else that could give his life even a modicum of joy, solace or meaning. Luthor is an avid believer in existentialist ideology and is a self-professed atheist, rejecting the idea of God with a line of reasoning that appears to be derived from the Greek philosopher Epicurus famous trilemma. Is God willing to prevent evil, but not able? Then he is not omnipotent. Is he able, but not willing? Then he is malevolent. Is he both able and willing? Then whence cometh evil? Is he neither able nor willing? Then why call him God? Epicurus Even his bitter and obsessive rivalry with Superman is driven, at least partly, by Luthors desire to confront and defeat this self-appointed saviour of mankind and allow the course of humanity to be once-again shaped by human hands. Due to these beliefs, there are those who consider him to be akin to Nietzsches idea of the superior man, dedicated to the cultural, philosophical and technological advancement of humanity. But I think this interpretation misses some important details. Existentialism is not intrinsically nihilistic and Luthors apathy towards indiscriminate killing in pursuit of his goals is not something any of the great existentialist philosophers are likely to have ever endorsed (at least not to my knowledge). He is perhaps more accurately portrayed as what such a philosophy would look like if followed through to its logical extreme. More a warning than an ideal to live up to. In some non-canon storylines such as Superman: Red Son, where an infant Kal-El lands in 1950s rural Ukraine instead of Kansas and takes up with the Soviet cause, we get a chance to see what Luthor could have achieved in a timeline where standing against Comrade Superman makes him a hero to the American people instead of a Villain. While still egotistical and more than a little ruthless, in this world Luthor is a celebrated scientist who eventually becomes a president with dictatorial powers. But despite my phrasing, this dictatorship is, in fact, a benevolent autocracy. After the collapse of the Soviet Union following Supermans apparent demise, Luthor ushers in a new golden age of global peace, prosperity and technological advancement. Red Son perfectly depicts one of the most interesting aspects of Luthors character even in the main universe storylines. While he has never placed any value on individual human lives, it is also true that he cares deeply for the preservation and advancement of humanity. Its precisely for this reason that when the biggest galactic or universal threats come knocking on Earths door in the DC universe, Lex Luthor tends to find himself fighting alongside the good guys. However, it is important to remember that he is not saving the Earth out of a sense of duty or honour, but because he sees the world as his alone to control and he will not tolerate anyone trying to make a move on his territory. To me, Luthor will always be the man who could have saved the world, but wouldnt. To Epicurus, that would make him able, but not willing and therefore malevolent. And Id say that description suits him perfectly. Essential Reading If youre interested in learning more about the character, these storylines are widely regarded as the best that Luthor has been involved in and should tell you everything you need to know about one of the best villains in the business. Some of these titles are compilations of various storylines, while others are one-shots or mini-series Lex Luthor: The Unauthorized Biography (1989) A journalists investigation provides a framing device for a closer look into the history of Lex Luthor. Superman: President Luthor (2018) This collection includes Lex Luthor: The Unauthorized Biography and several comics that feature Lex Luthors first bid for the US Presidency Superman/Batman: Public Enemies (2003) This series focuses on what I think was Luthors second stab at taking the White House. Superman: Red Son (2003) While its not canon, I think the communist adventures of Kal-El is my personal favourite solo Superman. Luthor (2005) A collected miniseries of Lex Luthor: Man Of Steel. All-Star Superman" #5 (2005) Like Red Son, this storyline is not considered part of the main DC canon, but it was very well received, winning several awards. Superman: Birthright (2003-2004) This story provides modern retelling of Supermans origins and of how he and Lex Luthor came to be life-long enemies. However, the story has not been treated as canonical by subsequent writers. Forever Evil (2013) Following the apparent death of most of the Earths superheroes, Lex Luthor re-forms the injustice league to prevent the Earth from falling into the hands of the Earth-Three supervillains, the Crime Syndicate. See more from the series here. A court on Saturday granted a 45-day extension to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) to file a charge sheet against two of the six accused in the Narendra Dabholkar murder case. Dabholkar, a well-known anti-superstition activist, was shot dead in Pune on 20 August 2013 Pune: A court on Saturday granted a 45-day extension to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) to file a charge sheet against two of the six accused in the Narendra Dabholkar murder case. Dabholkar, a well-known anti-superstition activist, was shot dead in Pune on 20 August 2013. The CBI, after invoking relevant sections of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA), had moved an application before the court seeking an extension of 90 days to file the charge sheet against two accused, Sachin Andure and Sharad Kalaskar. Judicial Magistrate (First Class) SMA Sayyad only granted a 45-day extension to the probe agency. On Thursday, public prosecutor BP Raju had argued in the court that the CBI invoked terror charges against the accused as the crime was committed to creating "terror" in society and among social activists. The CBI had said that apart from Dabholkar's murder, the accused were also involved in the killings of rationalist Govind Pansare, Kannada scholar-writer MM Kalburgi and journalist Gauri Lankesh. The overall PM 2.5 count at Kolkata's Rabindra Bharti University (RBU) on Thursday was 381, compared to 292.25 in Delhi's Ashok Vihar. While pollution in Delhi had hit national headlines immediately after Diwali earlier this month, the air quality in Kolkata has become even worse than the national capital in the past 72 hours, media reports said. The overall PM 2.5 count at Kolkata's Rabindra Bharti University (RBU) on Thursday was 381, compared to 292.25 in Delhi's Ashok Vihar, one of the capital's most polluted localities, The Indian Express reported. The air quality in Kolkata remained worse than Delhi on Friday, although it improved in comparison to the capital on Sunday. The Times of India quoted environmentalists as saying that this was due to proactive measures against pollution in Delhi and complacency in Kolkata. The report quoted an auto emission expert, Somendra Mohan Ghosh, as saying that the latter city has more vehicles which run on diesel than on petrol, which contributes to the deteriorating air quality. Delhi's air quality slipped to the "very poor" category due to slow wind speed and high humidity on Sunday, authorities said. The capital's air quality had shown significant improvement on Wednesday and Thursday after rain washed away the pollutants, but the rainfall also led to increased air capacity to hold pollutants, the SAFAR said. With inputs from PTI Haryana chief minister Manohar Lal Khattar courted a controversy by making objectionable remarks over rape incidents. Kalka: Haryana chief minister Manohar Lal Khattar courted a controversy by making objectionable remarks over rape incidents. Addressing a gathering on 15 November in Kalka, the chief minister said that most of the rape incidences usually happen between known people. "The incidents of rape haven't increased. These used to happen before as well. Today, only the concerns have grown. 80 to 90 percent of the incidents happen between people who already know each other," Khattar remarked. #WATCH:Haryana CM ML Khattar says,Sabse badi chinta yeh hai ki yeh ghatnayein jo hain rape aur Chhed chhad ki, 80-90% jankaro ke beech mein hoti hai.Kafi samay ke liye Ikhatte ghumte hain, ek din anban hogai, uss din utha karke FIR karwa dete hain isne mujhe rape kiya.(15.11) pic.twitter.com/jZWy3h3fK2 ANI (@ANI) November 17, 2018 He further said that most of the incidences are between people who usually spend time together but after some arguments, file a rape complaint. In September this year, the alleged abduction and gangrape of a 19-year-old girl from Haryana's Rewari had created nationwide outrage. Three accused were later arrested in the case. In another ghastly incident that happened in October this year in Haryana, a 7-year-old girl was allegedly raped while returning from school in Rewari district. Sugarcane requires 2,500mm of water and rainfall in Marathwada is between 500-700mm. The remaining 80 percent of water has been pumped out of groundwater for years now, causing a depletion of groundwater level so much that there is no water left to pump out, say experts Pune: If sugarcane was not cultivated at such large extent in Marathwada, the region would not be facing drought at such horrible scale. According to experts, though rainfall in Marathwada (534mm) was 22 percent below the average (768mm), it's not too bad. Even with this amount of rain, one crop could have been cultivated leaving enough water for drinking, regular usage and for animals. The situation in Marathwada, however, is bleak as farmers have been unable to sow Rabi crops. Even the production of Kharif crops was almost half than expected due to insufficient and scanty rain. It's only November, and people from all the eight districts of the region are already struggling to arrange water to drink. Travelling through the rural part of Marathwada, one sees yellow dried barren land as well as green patches of sugarcane. Some of these sugarcane patches are in good condition while others have begun drying and part of them have turned yellow. The barren lands are there because farmers haven't sowed Rabi crops due to drought and lack of water. One wonders why sugarcane is still there despite drought. Leela Somvanshi, a social activist from Latur, said, Sugarcane is a 12-15 months crop. Whatever sugarcane you see here was sowed in October-November last year and would soon be cut to be sent to sugar mills. Last year it rained 25 percent more than the average rainfall. After seeing all water bodies full of water by October, farmers opted for sugarcane, a cash crop." As per statistics from the Agriculture Department of Maharashtra, over three lakh hectares of land is under sugarcane cultivation currently. Area under sugarcane cultivation in 2017-18 was over two lakh hectares while in 2016-17, it was 92,000 hectares. Thus cultivation of sugarcane has been increasing by 50 percent per year for the last three years. Marathwada witnessed drought for four consecutive years from 2013, 2014, 2015 and 2016. It rained well in 2017 and cultivation doubled. Last year, rain was in excess and farmers cultivated sugarcane like never before," informs Somvanshi. The region has 69 sugar mills that is one fourth of the total 244 mills across the state. Rainfall was not sufficient since June this year in the region. But farmers kept pumping out water from the water bodies for sugarcane. By June, there was 22 percent of water in dams in Marathwada as per records of Water Resources Department of the state. Though it rained 534mm this monsoon, currently, water level has gone down below 20 percent and most of the dams are dry. That is because, farmers have been pumping out water at large extent for sugarcane. HM Desrada, a senior economist and former member of the State planning Commission, who has been studying drought conditions, says, One hectare of sugarcane consumes three crore liters of water in 12-15 months. That water is sufficient for 1,000 people throughout the year. Sugarcane requires 2,500mm of water and rainfall here is 500-700mm. The remaining 80 percent of water, apart from rainfall, has been pumped out for many years now. This has led to depletion of groundwater level so much that there is no water left to pump out. Desrada informs that Marathwada has always been drought prone area and crops like jowar, pulses, oil seeds have been grown traditionally here because they are drought resilient. "They don't require much water. But farmers have been opting for sugarcane for many years now because it requires lesser work and returns are sure and good," he adds. Dnaneshwar Pawar who owns 25 acres of land at Nagzari village near Manjra dam in Latur, had sowed sugarcane on 20 acres of land last October. He said, It rained well last year and all dams, rivers, and well were 100 percent full. That is why I decided to cultivate sugarcane at 20 acres of my land. There was good amount of water even in June and July this year. But as it didn't rain much this year, water in dams started to diminish speedily. And no there is no water here in Manjara. And that is situation everywhere. My sugarcane is little dried but still I will be able to sell it at sugar mills, though I will get lower rates." But sugarcane is not the only culprit. Pawar says that traditional furrow irrigation leads to wastage of half of the water, and that farmers need to adopt drip or sprinkler irrigation. However, high cost is preventing farmers from adopting it. "If the state offers 100 percent subsidy (on drip or sprinkler irrigation systems) like that of Telangana then water can be saved, he says. Pawar is not the only sugarcane farmer in Latur. Farmers who have land near dams or rivers or the ones having wells on their lands have also cultivated sugarcane at large extent. Kishor Dhamale, a member of Shetkari Satyshodhak Sabha, farmers organisation, said, "We want the government to stop supplying water to grow crops like sugarcane, cotton immediately, and reserve the available water for people and cattle. The sugarcane in farms should be used as fodder for cattle." Purushottam Bhapkar, divisional commissioner, Aurangabad division, said that water supply to agriculture and industries has completely stopped and water has been reserved for drinking purposes. "Many water pumps have been seized from riverbeds across the region," he said. Ravish Kumar, Snigdha Poonam, Ashok Ferrey, among others feature on day three of the Tata Literature Live 2018. Dear diary, Today, I exchange my townie badge for the day for a similarly privileged one, that of a Bandra-ite. My base moved from the cool confines of the NCPA to the equally cool and busy confines of the Title Waves bookstore and SPICE (St Paul's Institute of Communication Education). The crowd here was much younger, most of them college students. And their star for the day was Ravish Kumar, the journalist, TV anchor and author. They all had questions for him, asked in well-articulated Hindi. They greeted every sentence he said with cries of delight and applause. At the end of his session, they crowded around him, seeking photographs (the lit fest is adamant that selfies wont be allowed), asking questions and getting notebooks and papers autographed. Im sure they wanted to buy his book, Ishq Main Shahar Hona (released 2015; English translation released this year) but Title Waves didnt have copies. Kumar was part of a session titled Text and the City, with Abodh Aras of Welfare Of Stray Dogs (WSD) and author Shoba Narayan. They were to discuss their city-centric books: Kumars A City Happens in Love (Delhi), Aras My City, My Dogs (Mumbai) and Narayans Cows of Bangalore. In the hands of a good moderator, a discussion can be informative and engaging. This one struggled because it wasnt moderated well. The questions were too long, there was no interaction encouraged amid the speakers, and answers given werent used to ask follow-up questions. In an unintentionally funny moment, the moderator was given a note saying hand the mike over to the others, which she proceeded to read aloud. Luckily, for our sakes, the three authors were capable of handling their own. Narayan told us about her pet cow, Anand Lakshmi and how she is called the cow lady of Blore. As a secular Indian, I wanted to make sure my story wasnt related to gau rakshaks. Instead, it has ethics, history, religion, and animal love, she said. Aras introduced us to the Shah Rukh Khans, Salmans, Hrithiks and other stray dogs he met over 22 years, some of whom are illustrated beautifully in his book. If Aras and Narayan explored their love for the city through its animal population, Kumars book looked at how people fall in love in a city. This was, of course, before Love Jihad and anti-Romeo squads came into the picture. Earlier it used to be that when in love, people would worry about telling their parents. Now, when couples fall in love, they have to learn how to tell their government, he said. Disclaimer: Kumar spoke in Hindi, and this is my attempt at translation. His advice to the audience was, the only way to deal with so much hatred in the country, was with love. If you love someone, or something or the city, you are less likely to get caught up in hate speech. To a question about whether his book could have been set in Mumbai, his response was couples have fewer challengers here. The best love stories are forged in challenging conditions. My last session of the day had three talented people, journalists Snigdha Poonam and Shubhangi Swarup and author Janice Pariat. Again, it suffered because of bad time management. Instead of discussing love, longing and ambition in New India, much time was spent on reading excerpts (no doubt, these were excellent). It felt like three separate interviews instead of one discussion. Little wonder then, there was just one question from the audience. I actually wondered if I should have braved traffic to go to the NCPA to listen to Ravish talk to Rajdeeep Sardesai about free speech. But, I wanted to support my fellow women journalists and one look at Pariats face she was at the NCPA and arrived late and I knew I wouldnt have made it in time. It makes me doubt the idea of adding a second location to the lit-fest you are alienating an audience who will find it difficult to shuttle between both places to attend their preferred discussions. We are notorious for not attending events because of the amount of travel involved. The good that came from the session was Swarups excerpt compelled me to buy her book its received rave reviews Latitudes of Longing. Swarups autographs are interesting: she chats with the person, asks them about themselves and then makes her notes personal. My fan-girl moment for the day there were no selfies involved was meeting Ashok Ferrey, Sri Lankas bestselling English author. He was part of the History or Fiction discussion with Sebastian Faulks and Sanjeev Sanyal. Sanyal stole the show in this well-moderated discussion about whether history or fiction made for better stories. Many of our history textbooks are fiction. Indian history is an accumulation of biases where it has little correlation with primary evidence. I wanted to show another way of seeing history, from an Indian perspective, he said. Ferrey chimed in saying that no two Sri Lankans will ever agree on an aspect of history. We don't have an idea of what history is and what it should be. The best way to approach history is obliquely, through fiction. The greatest fiction in our country, after all, is fake news. News is a satirist paradise, said Ferrey. Except, dear diary, its the fools having the last laugh. Addressing a rally in Madhya Pradesh's Chhindwara, the home turf of state Congress chief Kamal Nath, Modi said the Opposition party had 'mastered the art of speaking lies'. Chhindwara: Prime Minister Narendra Modi Sunday accused the Congress of adopting double standards on cow protection, saying that while the party talks of bovine protection in Madhya Pradesh, its workers in Kerala slaughtered a calf and claimed eating beef was their right. Addressing a rally in poll-bound Madhya Pradesh's Chhindwara, the home turf of state Congress chief Kamal Nath, Modi said the Opposition party had "mastered the art of speaking lies". He asked Congress president Rahul Gandhi, whom he addressed as "naamdaar" (dynast), to clarify his party's stand on the issue of cow protection. "The Congress talked about cows to confuse the voters in Madhya Pradesh. They can talk about cows, it is their right. But is Kerala Congress different?" Modi asked. "In Madhya Pradesh, the Congress manifesto talked about protecting cows, but in Kerala, its workers slaughtered a calf in open and circulated its pictures claiming it was their right to eat beef," he said. In May last year, Youth Congress activists allegedly publicly butchered a calf in Kerala's Kannur to protest the Centre's ban on sale of cattle for slaughtering. As the incident triggered protests, the central leadership of the Congress distanced itself from the issue and condemned the act as "thoughtless and barbaric". Modi also attacked Nath over a purported video of the Congress leader in which he allegedly said that the party only needed candidates who can win and it did not matter if they were corrupt, goons or facing criminal cases. "Should Madhya Pradesh be saved from such people or not? Should the state go into such hands?" the prime minister asked the people attending the rally. Polling for Madhya Pradesh's 230-member assembly will be held on 28 November. The incumbent BJP, which has been in power in Madhya Pradesh since 2003, is seeking a fourth straight term in the state. The Congress is making a concerted bid to return to power in the state which was once its bastion. Former Karnataka chief minister Siddaramaiah on Friday said that people of Karnataka would not support the BJP in the 2019 Lok Sabha polls, even if Prime Minister Narendra Modi and party national president Amit Shah resided in the state. Bengaluru: Former Karnataka chief minister Siddaramaiah on Friday said that people of Karnataka would not support the BJP in the 2019 Lok Sabha polls, even if Prime Minister Narendra Modi and party national president Amit Shah resided in the state. The Congress legislature party leader also hit out at the BJP by alleging that the saffron party wants the Ayodhya dispute to be alive and not Ram Mandir construction. "BJP has made coastal Karnataka as its laboratory for communalism, so BJP's national leaders are frequenting the coastal region. Even if Amit Shah and Narendra Modi come to Karnataka and make their residence here, this time during Lok Sabha polls people of the state will not support BJP," Siddaramaiah tweeted in Kannada. Shah was in the coastal city of Mangaluru Wednesday and Thursday to attend the meeting of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS). Siddaramaiah alleged that the saffron party wanted the Ayodhya dispute to be alive and not Ram Mandir construction. "The Ram janmabhoomi issue getting a life at the time when elections are nearing is part of a larger attempt by the BJP to hold people emotionally towards them, and the people are aware of it," he said in another tweet. Siddaramaiah currently heads the ruling Congress-JD(S) coalition's coordination committee in Karnataka. Haryana chief minister Manohar Lal Khattar on Sunday said his statement had been twisted and asserted there should not be any politics on the issue. After courting controversy over his remarks on rape incidents, Haryana chief minister Manohar Lal Khattar on Sunday said his statement had been twisted and asserted there should not be any politics on the issue. "(My) statement has been twisted. I had said, which is on record, and I will again state it that during investigation of such cases, it was revealed that about 80 percent of incidents took place between known personsBut there is a need to bring awareness in the society. There should not be any politics on this issue, Khattar said. Khattar had courted controversy over his remarks on rape incidents, with the Congress condemning the statement, saying the state government's "anti-women mindset" was exposed. At a function in Kalka town of Panchkula district on Friday, Khattar said: "The incidents of rape have not increased. Rapes used to take place in the past and even today as well. (Only) the concern (over such incidents) has increased." "The biggest concern is that in 80 to 90 percent of rape and eve-teasing cases, the accused and the victim know each other...In many cases, they know each other for a long time and, on one day, when there is an argument (between them over some issue) an FIR is lodged, saying: 'He has raped me'," Khattar had said. Hitting out at the chief minister, Congress leader Randeep Singh Surjewala had termed the statement deplorable. "Anti-Women Mindset of Khattar Govt Exposed! Haryana chief minister Manohar Lal Khattar ji makes an utterly condemnable remark. Blaming Women for complete failures to control rapes and gangrapes? Deplorable!," Surjewala had tweeted. The Congress leader in a video on his official Twitter handle said that "misogyny has become the buzzword of the Bharatiya Janata Party and Khattar's recent statement showcased their Talibani thought process." The Congress party leader said, "The Talibani thought process of BJP leadership, particularly Manohar Lal Khattar got exposed on 15 November in Kalka when he said that 80 percent of rape is consensual and that if boys and girls meet with each other, interact with each other, it leads to rape. It is the same Manohar Lal Khattar who in past had said, that if women want to have freedom, they should walk around naked." Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal said: "If this is the mentality of a state's chief minister, then how do you expect the women to be safe? The chief minister is justifying rape. This is the reason why incidences of rape are increasing in Haryana and rapists are not caught... They roam around free." With inputs from agencies The prime minister was completely out of line in mocking the Congress for criticising demonetisation, at a rally in Madhya Pradesh. His remarks were in consonance with the unmistakable trait of solipsism and lack of empathy. Six months, say, after demonetisation the jury may have been out, but within a year it had trooped back into the court and delivered an emphatic verdict: Prime Minister Narendra Modis cloak-and-dagger exercise was a quixotic measure that slowed down the economy, striking hardest at sectors that were the most vulnerable and thus adversely affecting people who were most marginal. We shall count the costs as we proceed. Now, two years on, Modi has cold comfort to offer those most badly affected by demonetisation. At an election meeting in Shahdol, Madhya Pradesh, the prime minister added insensitivity to his political arsenal with remarks that do not befit his office. Only the Congress and one family, he said, were still crying because what they had pilfered over four generations had been lost in one fell swoop. And then came the piece de resistance. Even an old man who loses his son recovers in a year. Imagine how much they must have lost that they are still finding it difficult to recover after two years (of demonetisation), Modi said. Around 50 people died as an indirect result of demonetisation, most of them taking ill after queueing for hours to change old notes for emergency expenses. Modi and other Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leaders were conspicuous in their refusal to reach out to the bereaved. The tenor of their public statements about demonetisation was always the same: marked by the hackneyed theme that short-term pain was necessary to achieve long-term gains. It ignored the simple fact that those who bore the pain did not reap the gain. As it happens, demonetisation failed to achieve any of its stated objectives. Modis surgical strike failed to capture any black money: a report released by the Reserve Bank of India earlier this year admitted that over 99 per cent of the demonetised currency had re-entered the system. In any case, as had been pointed out in the wake of demonetisation, only a minuscule part of black wealth was (and still is, for that matter) held in currency notes, the bulk being re-materialised as real estate, gold and other precious metals, and offshore bank accounts. This fact also makes, in a logical sense, Modis comment on the Congress and the Gandhi familys assets purely nonsensical. Modi and others had also said in November 2016 that demonetisation would cramp terrorist activities and infiltration by flushing out counterfeit notes. In comparison with 2016, in fact, the numbers of both these rose in 2017. What demonetisation did (along with the shambolic rolling out of the Goods and Services Tax) was slow down the economy. The informal economy and micro, small and medium enterprises (most of which operate in the unorganised sector) were the worst affected because their transactions are predominantly based on cash. And since these are the sectors in which the most vulnerable sections of the population are concentrated, this meant that those least able to withstand sudden economic shocks were called upon to bear the brunt of the toxic quixotry of demonetisation. But demonetisation was politically a success for the BJP. Its most important victory since the constellation of electoral successes in 2013-14, was recorded in Uttar Pradesh in 2017, where Assembly elections began barely three months after the demonetisation announcement: the party won 312 of 403 seats. We still dont know fully how that played out. One convincing explanation is that some kind of schadenfreude was at work: many amongst the poorest felt that given the struggle for survival they had to go through every day anyway the additional burden imposed by demonetisation did not amount to much, but the costs it imposed on the wealthy or well-off justified the move. At any rate, any kind of misreading of demonetisation its effects and the motivations that drove it have now been convincingly dispelled. In July 2018, an opinion poll found that Modis popularity, or approval rating, had fallen below the 50 per cent benchmark for the first time. Demonetisation played a significant role in making that happen. Subsequently, his government's handling of the Rafale controversy has further struck at the BJP's image. This is the most likely explanation for Modis completely out-of-line remark on parental bereavement. But it is also in consonance the traits of unmistakable solipsism and, arising from that, a lack of empathy. Narendra Modi claimed that Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Raman Singh had to face a lot of challenges from the then Congress-led government at the Centre. Mahasamund (Chhattisgarh): Hitting out at the Congress and the Nehru-Gandhi family, Prime Minister Narendra Modi Sunday claimed that Dailt leader Sitaram Kesri was not allowed to complete his term as Congress president and was "thrown out of office" to make way for Sonia Gandhi. Addressing a rally on the last day of campaigning for the second and final phase of the Chhattisgarh Assembly polls, Modi said four generations of a family ruled the country and "benefitted from being in power", but the country did not benefit from their rule. "The country knows that Sitaram Kesri, a Dalit, was not allowed to complete his five-year-term as the Congress president. He was thrown out of office and to the footpath to make way for Sonia Gandhi as the new party chief," he said. "Earlier, Delhi had a remote-controlled government. The remote was in the hands of a family, which was afraid of the BJP," Modi said, targeting the Congress and the Gandhis. He challenged the Congress to select someone "capable" as its president, who did not belong to "that one family". "Remember the days when four generations of a family ruled the country. What was the fate of the people? They only thought about the welfare of one family but never thought about the welfare of the people. How can we trust them that they will fulfill the aspirations of the people now," Modi said. He claimed that Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Raman Singh had to face a lot of challenges from the then Congress-led government at the Centre. "For 10 years, the Centre was ruled by a remote-control government, which never paid attention towards Chhattisgarh," the prime minister said. He praised the high voter turnout in Bastar in the first phase of the Chhattisgarh polls on 12 November and also in the panchayat election in Jammu and Kashmir and claimed that the people had given a befitting reply to those spreading terror. "Despite being threatened by Maoists with guns and bombs, a huge voter turnout was recorded in Bastar. The poor tribals have shown faith in democracy and given a befitting reply to bombs and guns," Modi said. "Similarly, yesterday, elections were held for the panchayats in Kashmir. Earlier, people used to skip conducting polls there. After Governor's Rule was imposed, we decided that the power of Kashmir should rest in the hands of the people of Kashmir. Terrorists had given a bandh call in Kashmir, but look at the trust of the people of Kashmir in democracy as a voter turnout of around 60-70 percent was recorded. They have given a slap on the face of separatism and terrorism. They have shown the strength of democracy," he added. Make a person outside the Nehru-Gandhi the Congress Party President for five years and I will agree that Pandit Nehru made a 'Chaiwallah' the PM. India has not forgotten how a stalwart like Sitaram Kesri Ji was treated by one family. pic.twitter.com/f4HC0XJii7 Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) November 18, 2018 Jammu and Kashmir recorded 74.1 percent polling in the first phase of the panchayat polls held Saturday in 47 blocks - 16 in Kashmir, 21 in Jammu and 10 in the Ladakh region. Lashing out at the Congress, Modi said. "The doors have been opened for the welfare of Kashmir. Who had stopped the Congress from doing this earlier? They played backdoor games with terrorists which will not be allowed anymore. We took courageous steps one by one." He also targeted Congress chief Rahul Gandhi over farm loan waiver, an issue that has taken centre stage in the Chhattisgarh polls. "As elections approach, the Congress plays a game of promises. But they cannot mislead the country anymore. They must answer what did they do for the welfare of our farmers when they ruled for four generations. They kept the farmers in a pathetic condition during their 50-year rule. Had they strengthened the farmers, fulfilled their requirements, our farmers would have been prosperous," the prime minister said. "They are making false promises of loan waiver to the people of Chhattisgarh. The same promise was made to farmers during the Karnataka polls, but even after around a year has passed, the promise is yet to be fulfilled. Instead, the (Karnataka) government is issuing warrants and arresting farmers against whom debts are pending," he added. Praising the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government under Raman Singh in the state, Modi said it had ensured soil health cards for 75 lakh farmers, adding in a sarcastic vein that the Congress had failed to provide health cards to humans. "Though the Raman Singh government is in power in the state for the last 15 years, it got the actual opportunity to work for the welfare of the state after the NDA government came to power at the Centre in 2014. Raman Singh had to fight for the rights of the state with the Congress government at the Centre," he told the gathering. Modi said Singh had sought support from the Centre, when it was under the Congress-led United Progressive Alliance's (UPA) rule, to fight Maoists, but the "remote controlled" government behaved as if Chhattisgarh did not exist. He added that if the BJP government under Singh remained in power for another 10-15 years, Chhattisgarh would feature among the top three developed states in the country. "Chhattisgarh has turned 18 now. This is a very crucial phase for the state. Just like parents care for the future of their children when they turn 18, I urge the people of the state to think about the welfare of the state and once again give Raman Singh a chance to serve," the prime minister told the crowd. The final phase of the Chhattisgarh polls, covering 72 Assembly seats, will be held on 20 November. The first phase of polling for 18 seats was held on 12 November. The results will be announced on 11 December. Stepping up his attack on Narendra Modi in poll-bound Chhattisgarh, Congress president Rahul Gandhi challenged the prime minister to participate in a debate over the details of the Rafale fighter jets deal. Ambikapur: Stepping up his attack on Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Congress president Rahul Gandhi has challenged the former to participate in a debate over the details of the Rafale fighter jets deal signed with the French government. Speaking to the media in Ambikapur in Chhattisgarh on Saturday, Rahul claimed that Modi will not be in a position to answer his questions over the alleged scam. "I challenge Modi ji to come on stage anywhere, anytime and debate on Rafale with me for just 15 minutes. I will talk about Anil Ambani, HAL, the (former) French President's statements and the pricing of the jets. I will say that the defence minister said clearly that it's the prime minister who did it. The prime minister did not follow the procedure. He will not be able to answer my questions," he said. Reiterating his claim, the Congress chief said that Modi's demonetisation drive benefited only a few of his "businessmen friends" in the country. Talking about the unemployment crisis ensuing in poll-bound Chhattisgarh, Rahul said the incumbent chief minister, Raman Singh, had failed to provide employment in the state despite ruling it for 15 years. "Raman Singh has been in power for the last 15 years and Prime Minister Modi has completed four and a half years in government at the Centre, and both governments have failed to fulfill their promise to generate employment opportunities for the youth," he said. Rahul added that once the Congress comes to power in the state, vacancies in government jobs will be filled. "After Congress comes to power, government job vacancies will be filled, and it will also stop the practice of outsourcing of jobs, which is being done in BJP-ruled Chhattisgarh," he added. Rahul also promised that within 10 days after coming into power, the Congress will waive off the loans of Chhattisgarh's farmers. "Secondly, you all were told that you will get a bonus. For the last two years, you have not been getting it. Not only will we resume this practice, but we will also compensate for the bonuses of these two years, which BJP failed to do," he said. The first phase of voting in Chhattisgarh was held on 12 November, while the second phase is due on 20 November. The counting of votes will be held on 11 December. The All India Minorities Front (AIMF) on Sunday decided to withdraw the nominations of its candidates in the upcoming Assembly polls in Rajasthan to help the 'secular forces.' Jaipur: The All India Minorities Front (AIMF) on Sunday decided to withdraw the nominations of its candidates in the upcoming Assembly polls in Rajasthan to help the "secular forces" defeat "communal elements" led by the Bharatiya Janata Party. At a meeting of the party's parliamentary board chaired by National President SM Asif, it was felt that fielding candidates may result in a division of secular votes. So, the party decided to extend support to the Congress. The AIMF chief appealed to the voters to defeat "fundamentalist and communal forces". The party underlined that minorities, SCs, STs and OBCs had suffered the most under the BJP government. It also cautioned the members of the SC and ST communities against the designs of the BJP that was aiming at splitting SC and ST votes in the reserved constituencies. Rajasthan goes to polls on 7 December to elect a 200-member Assembly. Counting of votes and the declaration of results are scheduled for 11 December. On whether there will be a new chief ministerial face other than him or Sachin Pilot, Ashok Gehlot said it will be the Congress high command's decision. New Delhi: With the Congress keeping open the issue of its leadership in Rajasthan, party stalwart and two-time chief minister Ashok Gehlot said Sunday no post is a priority for him and that he will abide by the decision of the high command on the chief ministerial post if the party comes to power. The Congress on Wednesday ended the suspense over whether Gehlot and Rajasthan state party chief Sachin Pilot would contest the 7 December Assembly polls by deciding to field both of them. While Gehlot, 67, is a sitting MLA from Sardarpura, Pilot, 41, is contesting the state poll for the first time from Tonk. Pilot has been a former MP from Dausa and then from Ajmer. Not ruling himself out of the race for the top post in the state should Congress win, Gehlot in an exclusive interview to PTI said he would be open to any role Congress president Rahul Gandhi assigns him in the interest of the party. "I am ready for whatever role Congress president gives me. I am against any kind of lobbying for any position. I have never lobbied even when I faced dissidence as chief minister. If they (the high command) send me to Rajasthan in party interest, it will be their decision," the powerful All India Congress Committee (AICC) general secretary said. He said he is "more than satisfied" with his long political career as a five-time Lok Sabha MP, three time Union minister and chief minister for 10 years. "No post is a priority for me. I am more than satisfied with my political innings and the question before me now is how to bring the party in power in Rajasthan first and then in the country under the leadership of Congress president Rahul Gandhi. I will be ready for any role I am assigned," he said when asked if he is in the race for chief ministership should Congress come to power. Asked whether the fact that all top state leaders contesting elections in Rajasthan will trigger a leadership tussle, after the polls, Gehlot said the "issue of chief minister will be amicably resolved by the party high command which will take a decision on three grounds - party interest, public and MLAs' sentiments." "There will be no problem. The high command's decision will be acceptable to all... Whatever they decide will be acceptable to all," he said, accusing the BJP of raising the chief minister issue for political reasons. On whether there will be a new chief ministerial face other than him or Pilot, Gehlot said it will be the party high command's decision. He also said the decision on who the next chief minister will be shall not be hampered by the presence of the entire top state brass in elections. On being asked why all state leaders were contesting in Rajasthan, unlike in Madhya Pradesh, he said it was a decision which the Congress president has taken, and he welcomed it. "The politics in Rajasthan is different and the Congress leadership believes that all the leaders who wish to contest should do so," Gehlot said. "I want the party's flag to fly high both in Rajasthan and across the country, as the present atmosphere is dangerous for the country and people want the Congress to return to power both in the state and at the Centre," he added. The AICC general secretary said the party has a tradition of not declaring its chief minister candidate in advance and that tradition will be respected. He alleged that it was a BJP conspiracy to raise such an issue to create divisions within the Congress and the people understand this. "The BJP does not have any right to ask who the Congress chief ministerial face is, as they themselves did not have a state party chief for 75 days," Gehlot said. On giving tickets to parachute candidates, he said former BJP leader Manvendra Singh has been fielded against chief minister Vasundhara Raje based on a political strategy and is an exception. Gehlot said the Congress will soon declare its manifesto, which will spell out steps to tackle farm distress and to improve the law and order. "There is a lot of anger against the chief minister that will favour the Congress," he claimed, adding that his party will provide "good alternative governance with all-round development and ensure welfare of all". He, however, admitted that Prime Minister Narendra Modi's campaign and BJP chief Amit Shah's organisational skills may help the BJP reclaim a bit, but said people of the state have decided to oust the Raje government in the state and the BJP from the country. Short Form Prospectus Perth, Nov 19, 2018 AEST (ABN Newswire) - Classic Minerals Ltd ( ASX:CLZ ) provides the Short Form Prospectus.OfferFor the conditional offer of 1,000 Shares to the Public at an issue price of $0.01 each to raise $10 (Offer).CleansingThis Prospectus has also been prepared primarily for the purposes of section 708A(11) of the Corporations Act to remove any trading restrictions on the sale of certain Shares issued prior to the date of this Prospectus. Please refer to Section 4.3 for further details.UnderwritingThe Offer is not underwritten.To view the Prospectus, please visit:About Classic Minerals Limited Classic Minerals Limited (ASX:CLZ) is an exploration and development company focused on gold deposits in Western Australia's famous Goldfields region. In March 2017, Classic acquired the Forrestania Gold Project, with seven tenements stretching across 450km2. Strategically located in a very prospective region, the FGP is an underexplored package surrounded by multimillion ounce deposits such as Bounty (2Moz) and Yilgarn Star (1.5Moz). The Kerala unit of the BJP observed a protest on Sunday by blocking highways across the state following the arrest and the subsequent remand of senior party leader K Surendran. Pathanamthitta: The Kerala unit of the BJP observed a protest on Sunday by blocking highways across the state following the arrest and the subsequent remand of senior party leader K Surendran. Surendran was taken into custody on Saturday night after he got into a scuffle with the police while attempting to go to the Sabarimala temple despite police cordon in the area. After spending the night at Chittar police station, Surendran was produced before a magistrate near Pathanamthitta on Sunday morning which remanded him to a 14-day judicial custody. The Bharatiya Janata Party leader is currently at the Kottarakkara sub-jail. Surendran who spoke to the media before being remanded said: "The police have charged me uunder non-bailable sections. I am no criminal, nor do I have any cases against me. They did not let me sleep, nor was I allowed water or to take my medicines. "The police even roughed up my 'irumudi kettu' (a mandatory holy kit to be taken to the temple)." In reaction to the development, state BJP President PS Sreedharan Pillai told the media that Kerala was under "jungle raj". "Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan is arrogant and was behaving in an irrational manner. The present impasse in the state over the Sabarimala issue is his creation. We will strongly resist." BJP leaders and activists started to block traffic across the state on the highways since 10 am. According to new police rules that came into effect from Friday, no pilgrim is allowed to proceed to the temple after 7 pm as the temple closes for the day at 10 pm. The temple opened its doors at 5 pm on Friday for two months. The temple town has witnessed protests by Hindu groups since 28 September when the Supreme Court allowed women of all ages to enter the temple that hitherto banned girls and women aged between 10 and 50. The apex court last week refused to stay its earlier verdict. Surendran and his party have been up in arms against the Vijayan government, which according to them, is determined to see that a woman in the hitherto "banned" age group is allowed darshan at the temple and they have vowed that the temple traditions will not be breached. The BJP and the Sangh Parivar forces have decided to strengthen their presence in and around the temple town and have asked its cadres to arrive as pilgrims. Sonia Gandhi will visit Hyderabad on 23 November to campaign for the Congress ahead of the upcoming Assembly elections in Telangana. Sonia Gandhi will visit Hyderabad on 23 November to campaign for the Congress ahead of the upcoming Assembly elections in Telangana. Sonia is expected to land in the state at the Begumpet airport by a special aircraft at around 5 pm on Friday. The UPA chairperson will then visit the Medchal constituency meeting venue where she will address a public meeting. Congress leaders in Telangana were keen that Sonia should campaign in Gajwel, which is TRS chief and caretaker chief minister K Chandrashekhar Rao's home turf. However, the central leadership felt that she should campaign in areas where the party is strong and can further improve its chances with her rallies. The Congress' decision to keep Sonia out of KCR's home turf could also be a sign of the party backing off and anticipating that KCR may attack it for taking credit for forming Telangana. While it was under Sonia'a leadership that the Congress Working Committee had agreed to the creation of a separate state of Telangana, KCR has been invoking Telangana pride in the course of the election campaign. The Congress is currently in a 'grand' alliance with the Telugu Desam Party (TDP), which is led by N Chandrababu Naidu. Telangana Jana Samithi (TJS) and Communist Party of India (CPI) are the other members of the alliance. Lately, Naidu has been at the forefront of creating a united anti-BJP front by meeting various Opposition leaders. After Sonia, Rahul will also campaign in the state from 28 to 29 November and again on 3 December. However, Telangana Congress leaders want to make sure that Sonia addresses public meetings in both north and south Telangana. "We are expecting the political atmosphere to change in favour of the Congress once Sonia appeals to the people of Telangana to vote for the Congress. The people of Telangana are indebted to her for fulfilling their decades-long dream of a separate state," a senior Congress leader told The Times of India. The Congress is claiming that the people of the state know that it was Sonia who fulfilled their decade-long dream of statehood for Telangana. The party feels that the rural voters, especially the women and youth, feel let down by the TRS government, and will thus identify themselves with its campaign. Thus for the Congress, "vote for Sonia Gandhi" who made the Telangana dream come true is a major poll slogan. "We will urge people to vote for Sonia, who had put the partys future at stake in Andhra Pradesh to keep her promise of a separate Telangana. She took a brave decision and did not succumb to the strong lobbying from Andhra leaders who are known to be aggressive," a senior party leader told The Hindu. Rahul had earlier campaigned in Telangana on 20 October and the party chief has now proposed to hold two huge public meetings, one in undivided Warangal district and the other in Karimnagar. However, it's not going to be smooth sailing for the Congress, given KCR's all-out-attack on the grand old party. Many saw the TRS chief's move to dissolve the Assembly as a bid to further cement his power position in the state by avoiding a clash with the general elections in 2019. Also, the Congress has burned its hands in Andhra Pradesh by choosing to relatively sideline the sentiments of people affected by the bifurcation. It was not long ago that TDP MPs, while protesting against the Centre for ignoring the demands of the people and the government of Andhra Pradesh, had also blamed the Congress for contributing to the start of this issue. Therefore, the TDPs stand on separate statehood for Telangana is another chink in the armour of this grand alliance or 'mahakutami.' In this context, it would be interesting to see if Sonia's presence during the election campaign would be able to turn the tide in the Congress' favour. Indo-Asian News Service Without absolving Facebook's "mistakes" in the way it handled Russian trolls ahead of the 2016 US presidential election, a former security chief of the social network has said that others, US spy agencies, lawmakers and the media, also made mistakes. Facebook has been under the scanner of US lawmakers ever since the activities of Russia-linked accounts that tried to spread misinformation and sow seeds of discord came to be known. Sharing his side of the story in a Washington Post opinion piece on Saturday, Alex Stamos, who served as chief security officer at Facebook until August, admitted that Facebook "should have responded to these threats much earlier and handled disclosure in a more transparent manner." His views appeared three days after a New York Times report said that Facebook knew about the Russian activities as early as spring of 2016, a claim denied by the social networking giant. The Times report also blamed Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg and COO Sheryl Sandberg of ignoring warning signs and then trying to conceal them from public view. Stamos agreed that Facebook "stuck to a public-communications strategy of minimisation and denial." But he also blamed the US spy agencies for their failure "to provide actionable intelligence" on Russian trolls. "The massive US intelligence community failed to provide actionable intelligence on Russia's information-warfare goals and capabilities before the election and offered a dearth of assistance afterward," Stamos wrote. Stamos criticized the lawmakers for their "failure to establish facts, effectively oversee the executive branch and provide for the common defence. "We must also remember that in the summer of 2016, every major media outlet rewarded the hackers of the Russian Main Intelligence Directorate (GRU) with thousands of collective stories drawn from the stolen emails of prominent Democrats," he wrote. Stamos said that no one at Facebook ever told him not to examine Russian activity, nor did anyone attempt to lie about the company's findings. "It is time for us to come together to protect our society from future information operations. While it appears Russia and other US adversaries sat out the 2018 midterms, our good fortune is unlikely to extend through a contentious Democratic primary season and raucous 2020 election," Stamos wrote. Indo-Asian News Service President Ram Nath Kovind will inaugurate the mega international agricultural fair, "CII AgroTech 2018", on 1 December. The premier biennial four-day agro-technology and business fair, organised by the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII), will be held from 1 to 4 December at the Sector 17 Parade Ground, Ajay S Shriram, Chairman, CII Agro Tech 2018, said here on 16 November. The theme for this year, which happens to be the 13th edition of the fair, is "Technology in Agriculture: Increasing Farmer's Income." Shriram, who is the Chairman and senior managing director, DCM Shriram Ltd, said: "The partner country is Great Britain while focus countries are Canada and China. Two special pavilions have been added this time, States of India Pavilion and country pavilions from Canada, China and the United Kingdom, besides participation from Germany, Italy, Spain, The Netherlands and the USA." The CII Agro-Tech 2018 exhibition will be spread over an area of 16,000 square metres with 110 exhibitors, which would include 103 domestic and seven international ones. The four-day fair will also have 10 concurrent shows, including Good Earth Expo on agri-inputs and innovative farming techniques and food expo. "A major highlight of the Fair will be interaction of farmers from the northern states with exhibitors," a spokesman said. International conferences include agriculture diversification, conference on harvest for processing, integration with the global supply chain, innovators pitch, global dialogue on digital pathways in agriculture 2.0, conference on stubble burning, conference on enhancing shelf life of commodities and workshop on entrepreneurs, the spokesman added. Reuters Tesla has started taking orders for its Model 3 sedan in China for a deposit of 8,000 yuan ($1,153.60), according to the electric carmaker's China website. Chief Executive Officer Elon Musk said, Probably some deliveries in March, but April is more certain, after a Twitter user asked when the deliveries in China would begin. Tesla declined to comment. The company has been banking on its Model 3 sedan, the performance of which is seen crucial to the carmakers future. Shares of Tesla rose 1.6 pct at $353.93 in morning trading. China is the largest market for electric vehicles and most forecasters predict that its sales in the country will speed up rapidly as government regulation drives toward a goal of 100-percent electric vehicles by 2030. Tesla had signed a deal with Shanghai authorities in July to build its first factory outside the United States, which would cost around $2 billion to construct and would double the size of its global manufacturing. The Shanghai Gigafactory, based in eastern China, aims to manufacture Model 3 and Model Y cars, with annual capacity of 250,000 vehicles, according to a filing. Tesla is also developing plans to start producing about 3,000 Model 3s per week in Shanghai in the initial phase of its Gigafactory 3 to reduce the impact of tariffs. India Science Wire by Nitya Kaushik In November 2012, a tigress and her two cubs began a journey from their home in the Pilibhit Tiger Reserve, Uttar Pradesh. She had somewhat uncharacteristically left the forest. Over the next two years, this tigress is recorded to have travelled 260 km from the Amariya region in Pilibhit, along the Devha river, crisscrossing through the densely-populated village areas of Gularia Bithra, Khali Nawada, Bishanpur, Surajpur, Bhadsara, Dhaki, all the way up to Kanpur, where she was finally sighted in February 2014. A close-knit team comprising officials of the state's Forest Department and tiger conservators of WWF-India were on the trail of this feline family. The sketchy story from their sightings, pugmark tracking, and camera-trap images unraveled that she was accompanied by her cubs for part of the journey, negotiating past villages, through sugarcane fields and grassy landscapes. On several occasions, she would enter the forest for short durations, only to return to her new habitat. The team speculated whether she had moved out of the forest to protect her cubs from aggressive males. Months later, in September 2014, they also spotted her cubs, now sub-adults, back in Amariya, apparently living and operating independently. Not a single incident of attack on humans or livestock was recorded through this epic journey of this majestic feline and her cubs. Recently, another nursing tigress's tryst with humans in Maharashtra's Yavatmal region did not end so peacefully. Thirteen humans had been found dead in Yavatmal's Ralegaon forest since June 2016, and Avni or T1, a six-year-old tigress with two 10-month-old cubs, was alleged to have been involved in several of these deaths. According to a Maharashtra Forest Department official, an investigation had proved that she was responsible beyond doubt for at least two of those deaths. On November 2, this "man-eater", as she was referred to, was shot dead by a sharp-shooter appointed by the Forest Department in the Borati jungles that are under the jurisdiction of Ralegaon police, according to news reports that quoted police sources. Defending the circumstances of Avni's death, Sunil Limaye, Maharashtra's additional principal chief conservator of forest (wildlife), explained that the Pandharkawada forests house approximately seven to eight tigers. Avni and her two cubs occupied 160 square km of this forest. Over two years, based on various circumstantial evidence, the department suspected Avni and a male, T2, of having caused several human deaths. At that point, though, the evidence was not forensic. "In August, we investigated and managed to find clear evidence of Avni being responsible for at least two of the recent killings. Based on these findings the courts ordered us to capture or kill the tigress. The death of the forest dwellers was a grave loss to their families. These people, whose livelihoods depend on the forests, feared for their lives. We followed the courts' orders and were saddened by the tigress's death. But we had no other choice," he said. Controversies and political banter surround Avni's death today. Environment activists and animal lovers question whether the mother tigress could have been saved, or at least captured. Meanwhile, a bitter battle of words has erupted between a Union minister and a state minister, both belonging to the same political party. On Friday, 9 November, media reported sources in the Maharashtra government as stating that the yet-to-be-released autopsy report "yielded clear evidence of foul play". It quoted a state government official: "The forensics clearly show that the tigress was not charging at the team, but instead going somewhere else... If she was charging at the team, she would have been shot in her face or chest, not her shoulder." Juxtaposing this story of loss of life, both human and animal, against the epic journey of the Pilibhit tigress, raises several questions. Could Avni have been monitored like the Pilibhit tigress to avoid such a tragedy? Could locals have been better informed to control panic about a "man-eater"? Did Avni truly turn rogue and kill people since 2016? Even as news reports on her post-mortem reveal that she had not eaten anything for at least a week, Dr. Jimmy Borah, tiger biologist and consultant at Panthera, an international organisation working on the conservation of wild cats, said: "A nursing tigress would probably only attack human beings for self-defense, if she feels her cubs are threatened. It is highly unlikely that she would choose humans as food for her cubs." Highlighting the apathy in the investigation process, Borah said, "Tigers are very intelligent animals. They might target easy prey, like livestock and humans, if they are injured or old and weak. A healthy animal would never target humans. If the concerned tigress was suspected of killing 13 people since 2016, it should have been investigated much earlier, given the advancement in forensic tests and methods today." He said that to safeguard the human population and in the larger interest of saving a wildlife species, it becomes imperative to "remove problem animals" sometimes. "Doing so will help in generating larger public support, especially from communities living in the fringes of protected areas and depending on the forests for their livelihood. However, identifying a problem animal is a herculean task that involves strong evidence, including forensics." He stated that if an animal is identified as a problem, the best forest departments and states can do is to ensure that standard protocols and guidelines are followed closely. On Avni's orphaned cubs, Borah says: "The best option is to leave them alone. If they have learned to hunt (other animals), they might probably do well. 'Rescuing' them would be pointless." The author is currently a Communications Manager at World Resources of India. By Michael Kahn PRAGUE (Reuters) - Thousands of Czechs called for Prime Minister Andrej Babis to resign on Saturday, in protests coinciding with the anniversary of the 'Velvet Revolution' that toppled Communism in the former Soviet-bloc state. Babis has denied accusations he hindered a fraud investigation and says he will not resign. A junior government coalition party has been weighing whether to leave the cabinet after Babis' son was recorded saying his father wanted him to hide last year to avoid police questioning By Michael Kahn PRAGUE (Reuters) - Thousands of Czechs called for Prime Minister Andrej Babis to resign on Saturday, in protests coinciding with the anniversary of the "Velvet Revolution" that toppled Communism in the former Soviet-bloc state. Babis has denied accusations he hindered a fraud investigation and says he will not resign. A junior government coalition party has been weighing whether to leave the cabinet after Babis' son was recorded saying his father wanted him to hide last year to avoid police questioning. The protests came two days after similar demonstrations calling for the billionaire businessman to resign. On Saturday the protests were mixed with celebrations observing the 1989 revolution that toppled the Communist government in then Czechoslovakia. Protesters filled Wenceslas Square and the city's Old Town Square, some chanting "Resign!" and carrying signs saying "We don't want a prosecuted PM." Many lit candles to commemorate the Velvet Revolution and bands played throughout the city centre. Opposition parties have called a vote of no confidence in Babis's cabinet, which is expected to be held next Friday. The centre-left Social Democrats, a government partner of Babis's ANO party, are considering whether to withdraw support, although a party source said a number of its lawmakers were leaning toward staying. Babis won support from President Milos Zeman who said late on Thursday he expected the situation to calm down. He said in a television interview he would give Babis another chance to form a cabinet if the confidence vote forced him to resign. Police charged Babis and two of his children last year with fraud, saying they had manipulated ownership of one of Babis's firms a decade ago so it would qualify for 2 million euros ($2.3 million) in public aid. ($1 = 0.8758 euros) (Additional reporting by Robert Muller Kahn, Editing by Robin Pomeroy) This story has not been edited by Firstpost staff and is generated by auto-feed. By Pete Schroeder and Steve Holland WASHINGTON/Beale Air Force Base (Reuters) - U.S. President Donald Trump, while flying to California on Saturday, was briefed on the murder of Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi after a CIA assessment that Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman ordered the killing, the White House said. Trump discussed the CIA assessment by phone with the agency's director, Gina Haspel, and Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, White House spokeswoman Sarah Huckabee Sanders told reporters By Pete Schroeder and Steve Holland WASHINGTON/Beale Air Force Base (Reuters) - U.S. President Donald Trump, while flying to California on Saturday, was briefed on the murder of Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi after a CIA assessment that Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman ordered the killing, the White House said. Trump discussed the CIA assessment by phone with the agency's director, Gina Haspel, and Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, White House spokeswoman Sarah Huckabee Sanders told reporters. The CIA had briefed other parts of the U.S. government, including Congress, on its assessment, sources told Reuters on Friday, a development that complicates Trump's efforts to preserve ties with the key U.S. ally. A source familiar with the CIA's assessment said it was based largely on circumstantial evidence relating to the prince's central role in running the Saudi government. The CIA's finding is the most definitive U.S. assessment to date tying Saudi Arabia's de factor ruler directly to the killing and contradicts Saudi government assertions that Prince Mohammed was not involved. Trump, speaking to reporters at the White House before flying to California, also reiterated that he had been told the crown prince had not played a role in the journalist's death. "We haven't been briefed yet," Trump said. "We will be talking with the CIA later and lots of others. I'll be doing that while I'm on the plane. I'll be speaking also with Secretary of State Mike Pompeo." Khashoggi, a U.S.-based Washington Post columnist and critic of the crown prince, was killed in October at the Saudi consulate in Istanbul when he went there to pick up documents he needed for his planned marriage. As lawmakers push legislation to punish Saudi Arabia for the killing, both Republican and Democratic senators on Saturday urged Trump to be tough on the crown prince, with whom he has cultivated a deep personal relationship. "Everything points to the Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia, MbS, ordering @washingtonpost journalist Jamal #Khashoggi's killing. The Trump administration should make a credible determination of responsibility before MbS executes the men who apparently carried out his orders," tweeted Senator Bob Corker, chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, on Saturday. Trump and top administration officials have said Saudi Arabia should be held to account for any involvement in Khashoggi's death and have imposed sanctions on 17 Saudis for their role in the killing. But they have also stressed the importance of Washington's ties with Riyadh, one of the biggest clients of the U.S. defense industry. Trump wants to preserve the Saudi arms deals, despite growing opposition in Congress. "They have been a truly spectacular ally in terms of jobs and economic development," Trump said. "As president, I have to take a lot of things into consideration." Marine General Joseph Dunford, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, noted on Saturday that the kingdom plays a key military role for the United States in the Middle East. "Saudi Arabia has been an important partner to regional security in the past, I expect they will be in the future," he said at a security forum in Halifax, adding Middle Eastern allies including Saudi Arabia are "a stabilizing force in the region." On Thursday, Saudi Arabias public prosecutor said he was seeking the death penalty for five suspects charged in the killing of Khashoggi. The prosecutor, Shaalan al-Shaalan, told reporters the crown prince knew nothing of the operation, in which Khashoggis body was dismembered and removed from the consulate. Saudi officials have said a team of 15 Saudi nationals were sent to confront Khashoggi and he was accidentally killed in a chokehold by men who were trying to force him to return to the kingdom. Lawmakers critical of Saudi Arabia for Khashoggi's killing and its role in Yemen's civil war are ramping up their efforts to clamp down on the country. "Trump must accept (for once) his intelligence experts incontrovertible conclusion: Crown Prince MBS is culpable for Khashoggis monstrous murder. This brazen killing must have consequences sanctions, prosecution, removal of MBS & others, not continued cover-up, enabled by Trump," tweeted Democratic Senator Richard Blumenthal on Saturday. (Reporting by Makini Brice, Pete Schroeder and Idrees Ali; Editing by Mary Milliken and Nick Zieminski) This story has not been edited by Firstpost staff and is generated by auto-feed. By Makini Brice and Pete Schroeder WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. By Makini Brice and Pete Schroeder WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. President Donald Trump said he would be briefed later on Saturday on the murder of Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi after a CIA assessment that Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman ordered the killing. The CIA had briefed other parts of the U.S. government, including Congress, on its assessment, sources told Reuters on Friday, a development that complicates Trump's efforts to preserve ties with the key U.S. ally. The CIA's finding is the most definitive U.S. assessment to date tying Saudi Arabia's de factor ruler directly to the killing and contradicts Saudi government assertions that Prince Mohammed was not involved. Trump, speaking to reporters at the White House before flying to California, also reiterated that he had been told the crown prince had not played a role in the journalist's death. "We haven't been briefed yet," Trump said. "We will be talking with the CIA later and lots of others. I'll be doing that while I'm on the plane. I'll be speaking also with Secretary of State Mike Pompeo." Khashoggi, a U.S.-based Washington Post columnist and critic of the crown prince, was killed in October at the Saudi consulate in Istanbul when he went there to pick up documents he needed for his planned marriage. As lawmakers push legislation to punish Saudi Arabia for the killing, both Republican and Democratic senators on Saturday urged Trump to be tough on the crown prince, with whom he has cultivated a deep personal relationship. "Everything points to the Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia, MbS, ordering @washingtonpost journalist Jamal #Khashoggi's killing. The Trump administration should make a credible determination of responsibility before MbS executes the men who apparently carried out his orders," tweeted Senator Bob Corker, chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, on Saturday. Trump and top administration officials have said Saudi Arabia should be held to account for any involvement in Khashoggi's death and have imposed sanctions on 17 Saudis for their role in the killing. But they have also stressed the importance of Washington's ties with Riyadh, one of the biggest clients of the U.S. defense industry. Trump wants to preserve the Saudi arms deals, despite growing opposition in Congress. "They have been a truly spectacular ally in terms of jobs and economic development," Trump said. "As president, I have to take a lot of things into consideration." Marine General James Dunford, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, noted on Saturday that the kingdom plays a key military role for the United States in the Middle East. "Saudi Arabia has been an important partner to regional security in the past, I expect they will be in the future," he said at a security forum in Halifax, adding Middle Eastern allies including Saudi Arabia are "a stabilizing force in the region." On Thursday, Saudi Arabias public prosecutor said he was seeking the death penalty for five suspects charged in the killing of Khashoggi. The prosecutor, Shaalan al-Shaalan, told reporters the crown prince knew nothing of the operation, in which Khashoggis body was dismembered and removed from the consulate. Saudi officials have said a team of 15 Saudi nationals were sent to confront Khashoggi and he was accidentally killed in a chokehold by men who were trying to force him to return to the kingdom. Lawmakers critical of Saudi Arabia for Khashoggi's killing and its role in Yemen's civil war are ramping up their efforts to clamp down on the country. "Trump must accept (for once) his intelligence experts incontrovertible conclusion: Crown Prince MBS is culpable for Khashoggis monstrous murder. This brazen killing must have consequences sanctions, prosecution, removal of MBS & others, not continued cover-up, enabled by Trump," tweeted Democratic Senator Richard Blumenthal on Saturday. (Reporting by Makini Brice, Pete Schroeder and Idrees Ali; Editing by Mary Milliken and Nick Zieminski) This story has not been edited by Firstpost staff and is generated by auto-feed. by Vladimir Rozanskij The breaking of the communion between the two patriarchates led to the closing of pilgrimages to Mount Athos by Russian pilgrims. The "Society of Russian Athos", which also includes Putin, had donated up to 500 million dollars so far. Poroshenko prepares to transfer the jurisdiction of the Caves of the monks Antonij and Feodosij in Kiev to Istanbul. Moscow (AsiaNews) - The breaking of the fraternal relations between Moscow and Constantinople is the epilogue of a long diatribe between the two main offices of Orthodoxy, but also the beginning of a phase that promises to be turbulent. Since October 15, the day on which the Patriarchate of Moscow declared the suspension of Eucharistic communion with the representatives of the ecumenical patriarchate, the declarations of the two conflicting parties follow each other, showing the lack of respect for canonical rules, traditions and principles of ecclesial life, in addition to submission to political interests that involve not only Russia and Ukraine, but also the United States and other powers interested in the status of Eastern European countries. The first painful result of the quarrel is the closure of Mount Athos to Russian pilgrims, as the spokesman of the Patriarch of Moscow, Aleksandr Volkov, also reiterated on October 23. He argued that the ban applies only to participation in the sacraments, but he suggested to the faithful "to abstain from journeys to Mount Athos, as long as this state of confusion persists". In fact, the loss of the "holy mountain" can greatly disorient the faith of the Russians, who have turned to the monasteries of the Chalkidiki peninsula from the beginning; the foundation of the Athos monasteries is contemporary to the Baptism of the Rus' in Kiev (end of the 10th century), and throughout the Russian history the mountain has always been the source and guarantor of the great renewal and rebirth movements of the Orthodox spirituality for the Russians, as it has been for the past 25 years. The life of Orthodoxy in general, and Russian in particular, is mainly based on monastic practice. It is no coincidence that over the last few decades the 20 great monasteries and the many hermitages of Athos have welcomed, besides numerous pilgrims, rivers of funding coming from Russia. Inspired by the Church and by Putin's own politics, many Russian businessmen and politicians joined a very elite association, the "Society of Russian Athos", led by former St. Petersburg Governor Georgij Poltavchenko (Putin's trusted colleague at the Kgb during the Soviet years). The members of the society can be recognized by a special rosary that they wear on their left wrist, also worn by Putin himself. According to various estimates they have invested between 200 and 500 million dollars in Athos. Last June, following overly unscrupulous attempts by members of the group to "buy" a good part of the monastic territory, the Greek government had suspended the granting of visas to the Russians. Also for this reason, in recent days, Metropolitan Ilarion (Alfeev) invited the "devotees of Athos" to transfer the offers from the Greek mountain to the many Russian sanctuaries and monasteries, especially the monastery of Valaam in Russian Karelia, exalted in recent years by repeated visits by Putin and Patriarch Kirill and called "the North Athos". The invitation had been addressed previously, without success, but now the hope is for a more enthusiastic response. Funding was also used to organize the major exhibitions of the most beloved relics, such as that of the rib of Saint Nicholas of Bari in 2017 and even before that of the The Virgin's belt in 2011, coming from the Athonite monastery of Vatopedi. In recent months the pilgrimage to Russia of the relics of the ancient Holy Spiridity of Trimitonte, a bishop of the fourth century and thaumaturg of Cyprus has had great resonance. His remains were transported from Corfu, which is also the territory of the patriarchate of Constantinople, always with the support of the "Athonite sect" of the Russian oligarchs. Another important event of the Orthodox cult is the annual translation to Moscow of the "holy fire" of the Basilica of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem, a miraculous flame considered genuinely and exclusively Orthodox. The fire of Holy Saturday is immediately transported to Russia, in recent years by the planes insured by the Foundation of St. Andrew Protoclite, led by the former president of the Russian Railways Vladimir Jakunin, another faithful of Putin. The sacred fire is brought into all Russian churches as a guarantee of the true faith, arousing great fervor among the Orthodox people. These days the declarations of officials and journalists on television and in the Russian media are constantly incessant, ensuring the continuity of the miraculous ignition, which will not be stifled by the schism with the "traitors" of Constantinople. In Ukraine itself, the great fear of the Russians is the loss of the first historical Rus' monastery, the Lavra of the Kiev Caves. Founded in 1073 by the monks Antonij and Feodosij, linked to Mount Athos, the great monastery preserves the relics of the first monks in the original caves, and is the first and most significant sanctuary in the whole history of Russian Christianity. At present it is entrusted to the responsibility of the patriarchate of Moscow, even if in it are also monks of other jurisdictions. The Ukrainian parliament, the Verkhovnaja Rada, is preparing a project of expropriation, to transmit the Lavra to the representatives of the Patriarchate of Constantinople. The church of St. Andrew in Kiev, near the Caves, has already been indicated as the seat of the patriarchal Stavropegion that will deal with the autocephaly procedure sanctioned by the synod of the ecumenical patriarchate. If this change of jurisdiction really occurs, there is a real risk that street battles will ensue. Thackaringa Joint Venture Update Sydney, Nov 19, 2018 AEST (ABN Newswire) - Cobalt Blue Holdings Limited ( ASX:COB ) ( OTCMKTS:CBBHF ) advises that a Thackaringa Joint Venture (TJV) Management Committee meeting was held on 16 November 2018 with representatives from joint venture partner Broken Hill Prospecting Limited ( ASX:BPL ). This meeting followed on from an informal meeting held last week with BPL representatives at the time the TJV Management Committee meeting was adjourned due to lack of a quorum.Work programmes, including the drilling campaign currently being conducted on site, were discussed and approved by the TJV Management Committee at the 16 November 2018 meeting. The Management Committee discussed, but did not propose any resolution to appoint a new JV Manager. As Clause 7.5(c) of the TJV Agreement mandates that the Joint Venturer holding the largest Joint Venture Interest must act as Interim Manager until a new Manager is appointed, COB will continue to perform the duties of Manager for the TJV and to supervise the Joint Venture activities and Drilling Campaign currently being undertaken at Thackaringa.About Cobalt Blue Holdings Limited Cobalt Blue Holdings Ltd (ASX:COB) is an exploration and project development company focussed on green energy technology. Work programs are advancing to enable an upgrade of the Mineral Resource at the Thackaringa Cobalt Project in New South Wales to include Measured Resources. Cobalt is a strategic metal in strong demand for new generation batteries, particularly lithium-ion batteries now being widely used in clean energy systems. Potential to extend the Mineral Resource at Pyrite Hill, Big Hill, Railway and the other prospects is high. Numerous other prospects within COBs tenement package are at an early stage and under-explored. The marijuana industry has delivered one milestone after another in 2018. The highlight, of course, was the legalization of recreational cannabis in Canada on Oct. 17, 2018, which ended nine decades of adult-use prohibition. However, we also witnessed two more U.S. states legalize medical pot, which went along with Michigan becoming the 10th state to OK recreational weed use. Add in pot stock uplistings, the first cannabis-derived drug being approved in the U.S., and Tilray becoming the first pot stock to IPO on a reputable U.S. exchange, and you have the makings of a groundbreaking year. Canada is facing serious cannabis supply concerns Yet despite all of this, the industry has still had its hiccups. In particular, Canada has run into major supply shortages since legalization. Following more than 12,500 in-store transactions and 30,000 online orders in Quebec on the first day of legalization, SDQC (the branch in charge of managing weed sales in the province) had to remove numerous products from its online store because they were sold out. One location in Winnipeg, Manitoba, had to close its doors just hours after opening because it ran out of product. Why are Canadian dispensaries and online stores struggling with supply shortages, you ask? Well, don't look to any one specific reason for the answer. Instead, blame it on a combination of five factors. 1. Growers had to be certain about legalization before they ramped up capacity To begin with, you can point the finger at the Canadian government for waffling on legalization for as long as it did. As long as Canada's Parliament was debating the Cannabis Act, there was no guarantee that it would be approved. It was only in December 2017, when nearly all provinces committed to a two-year tax-sharing agreement with the federal government, that it became clear to growers the bill had a very good chance of passing and becoming a law. With only medical cannabis being legalized prior to the Cannabis Act, most growers had very little ongoing in the way of capacity expansion. For example, Aurora Cannabis (NASDAQ:ACB) was only on track to produce a little over 100,000 kilograms annually when the year began. Then it (and other pot stocks) began spending liberally. Two major acquisitions, a huge partnership in Denmark, and multiple organic projects later, Aurora Cannabis could be on pace to yield 700,000 kilograms per year by 2021. However, it's going to take time for Aurora Cannabis and its peers to up their production. Most marijuana growers are probably a good 12 to 36 months away from hitting their pie-in-the-sky annual production targets. That means reduced output in the interim, and the likely need for investors to reduce their lofty expectations. 2. Access to capital has been challenging for growers To build on the previous point, another problem in boosting production capacity has been financing. Even though cannabis is now legal in Canada, access to capital still remains dicey, at best. With banks not wanting to face criminal and/or financial penalties, they've mostly chosen to steer clear of the pot industry. This has left publicly traded pot stocks like Aurora to turn to their most reliable source of funding: bought-deal offerings. A bought-deal offering involves the sale of common stock, convertible debentures, stock options, and/or warrants in order to raise capital. While dilutive in the short and potentially long term, these capital raises do the trick. Unfortunately, financing for nonpublic growers hasn't been so easy to come by. The lack of financing options has constrained growing capacity for smaller operators, hurting Canada's supply. 3. Cultivation licensing delays have slowed production The finger of blame can also be pointed squarely at Health Canada, which is in charge of regulating the cannabis industry. More specifically, Health Canada has a responsibility to review and approve cultivation license applications. As reported by Marijuana Business Daily in May, the regulatory agency had a backlog of more than 500 cultivation applications to approve or deny. This figure may have since grown, with more than double the number of cultivation licenses received during the first four months of 2018, compared with the first four months of 2017. Through Oct. 26, per Health Canada's website, just 132 cultivation licenses had been issued, with most in Ontario (69), British Columbia (30), and Quebec (12). It could take many more months, if not years, for Health Canada to catch up on all of these cultivation license applications. 4. Sales permit delays can be even longer Just to complicate things even more, Health Canada is also in charge of issuing sales permits. That's right, in addition to cannabis growers needing the go-ahead from regulators to legally plant and harvest marijuana, they also need a permit from Health Canada to sell it. The wait for a sales permit can be just as long, if not longer, than the cultivation license. Once again pulling from data supplied by Marijuana Business Daily back in May, the average wait to obtain a sales permit was 341 days. That's more than 11 months just to be given the OK to sell already harvested cannabis. No grower has been able to obtain a sales license quicker than CannTrust Holdings, which accomplished the feat in "only" 129 days (just over four months). As with cultivation license delays, these sales permit delays could hinder the amount of product that makes it onto dispensary shelves. 5. Initial euphoria usually drains supply Lastly, consumers deserve some of the blame. Although there's little precedence to recreational legalization around the world, we've witnessed similar shortages in Nevada following its legalization in July 2017, and in Colorado in January 2014. These shortages are tied to the initial euphoria consumers felt once cannabis was legalized. Although this euphoria only tends to last a few months, it has a draining near-term effect on supply, which has been geared to meet "normal" demand. This euphoria is probably going to lead to supply concerns for months to come in Canada. Shipbuilder Huntington Ingalls Industries (NYSE:HII) recently reported third-quarter results that topped estimates for both earnings and revenue, and increased its dividend by nearly 20%, yet the shares fell 6% after the results on fears of weaker-than-expected cash flow in the quarters to come. Huntington Ingalls is in the early stages of a push to expand the Navy, and its outlook is a lot brighter than the post-earnings stock reaction would suggest. The company owns shipyards throughout the Gulf Coast and the massive Newport News facility in Virginia, across the James River from the U.S. Navy's Fleet Forces Command. It has a backlog of more than $22 billion, including steady work building the nuclear-powered carriers that are the centerpiece of Navy strategy. Here's a look at where Huntington Ingalls stands following third-quarter results, with an eye toward determining whether investors should expect smooth sailing in the quarters to come. About that cash... Huntington Ingalls in the third quarter updated some of the assumptions surrounding its pension projections, and in turn analysts reduced their expectations for 2019 free cash flow from $750 million to less than $700 million. The company won't officially offer 2019 cash guidance until its next quarterly review, but the markets appear to be concerned that the pension-related cash recoveries that have helped to boost free cash flow are running out. Company CEO Mike Petters on a call with investors said Huntington Ingalls believes its pension strategy will help it to be more competitive in the years to come. The company's pension plans are near fully funded, which should mean reasonably sized contributions in the future and no pension-related price shocks for customers. As we work our way through how we describe impact of pension for next year and cash recoveries for next year and the year after, I'm pretty happy with where we are because I think we are in a much more competitive position, and I think our products are going to be more affordable. And in an environment where every dollar in the budget is a knife fight, that's not a bad place for us to be. Investors should note that expected decreases to future capital expenditures should help to offset falling pension-related cash recoveries. Huntington Ingalls has been involved in some early-stage development work of late, which tends to be more expensive, but expects total 2019 capex to be flat compared to this year, and to fall by as much as $200 million in 2020. Meanwhile, there is no sign that the company is cutting corners. In November 2015, Huntington Ingalls committed to returning "substantially" all free cash to shareholder in the form of repurchases and dividends, with a plan to increase the dividend by at least 10% annually. Since that time, the company has invested more than $900 million to modernize its facilities, but has kept up with the dividend plan and has spent about $1 billion to repurchase 4.9 million shares. A healthy and growing order book Huntington Ingalls was awarded $2.8 billion in new orders in the third quarter, including $1.8 billion for two new Arleigh Burke-class destroyers, and said work on the John F. Kennedy, the Navy's next carrier, is ahead of schedule and 84% structurally complete. Its Ingalls shipyard in Pascagoula, Mississippi, maker of a range of destroyers and other surface ships, should see an increase in deliveries early in 2019 versus full-year 2018. That's good news for margins as early-stage work in ship construction tends to be less profitable. The biggest catalyst for Huntington Ingalls heading into 2019 is a prospective order for a new multi-ship carrier. The Pentagon has warmed to the company's suggestion that carriers, despite their $10 billion-plus price tag, should be ordered in bulk to allow the company to save on component sourcing prices and by keeping specialized workers year-round instead of going through the expense of staffing up and retraining for every ship. Petters on the call said that Huntington Ingalls continues to have talks with the Pentagon and legislators about the next carrier order, calling the talks "very substantive and constructive dialogue." Although the company is not ready to predict an outcome or a timeline for when a decision could be made, it appears likely that Congress could move forward with a two-ship carrier buy in the first half of 2019. That would provide a boost to Huntington Ingalls' backlog and give investors added clarity into revenue projections well into the mid-2020s. Other potential awards in the quarters to come include a new block of Virginia-class submarines to be split with General Dynamics, and the introduction of a new amphibious warship with a dock landing platform for use by the Navy and the Marine Corps. The Navy is also considering a $20 billion-plus order of about 20 frigates in what is expected to be a winner-take-all competition that could be decided before 2020. Full steam ahead Shares of Huntington Ingalls have been stuck in dry dock all year, down 8.9% over the past 12 months and underperforming all the major defense contractors. The company is relatively affordable as well, last among its peers with a 16.14 price-to-earnings ratio. There are reasons for that discount: Huntington Ingalls' reliance on the U.S. Navy makes it the least diversified company in the industry, and the nature of shipbuilding means Huntington Ingalls is tied to multiyear projects that have substantial ramp-up costs and are at risk for delays and unexpected expenses. But investors should take note of Huntington Ingalls' standing with the U.S. Navy, as evidenced by the Pentagon even considering taking on the risk of a multi-carrier buy. Huntington Ingalls has a solid book of business, which will take it well into the next decade, and potential additional wins on the horizon. Huntington Ingalls offers predictability, slow but steady growth, and a forward dividend yield of 1.3% with the potential to grow. This stock isn't for everyone, but it's a great option for a conservative portfolio in search of some upside without taking on too much risk. Berkshire Hathaway (NYSE:BRK.A) (NYSE:BRK.B) surprised investors by revealing that it had invested billions of dollars in bank stocks during the third quarter -- including a brand new $4 billion position in JPMorgan Chase (NYSE:JPM). To be perfectly clear, we don't know for sure why Buffett decided to invest in JPMorgan Chase, and it's likely that we'll never get the specifics. However, here's what we do know about Buffett's love for the banking business and why he may have decided to add yet another big bank to Berkshire's portfolio. Buffett loves the banking industry As I mentioned, Buffett and his team invested billions in bank stocks during the third quarter. Including the new purchases, Berkshire Hathaway now owns stakes in a total of 10 banks with a combined market value of more than $85 billion as of this writing. In a nutshell, banks have several characteristics Buffett likes to look for in his investments. Just to name a couple: Banking is a "forever" business. People will always need safe places to keep their money. Buffett likes to pick the top companies in industries that will be around for a long time. Banks make their profits from other people's money. Customers deposit money and receive little interest, and banks loan this money out at a profit. This is quite similar to how insurers make money, and Berkshire is an insurance company at its core. Berkshire can't buy much more of its other big bank stocks One logical question you may be asking is why Buffett would choose to invest in JPMorgan Chase when Berkshire already owns several bank stocks. In other words, why wouldn't he simply buy more of the big banks that are already in the portfolio? Berkshire did add to its Bank of America investment during the third quarter, but it would be difficult to add much more Bank of America or Wells Fargo stock. I'll spare you most of the details of how bank regulations and large shareholders work, but in a nutshell, let's just say that it's not desirable for Berkshire to own more than 10% of any institution that is classified as a bank. As of the end of the third quarter, Berkshire owned 9.1% of Wells Fargo -- Buffett also owns some in his personal portfolio -- and 8.8%% of Bank of America. Sure, Berkshire owns stakes in some smaller banks like PNC and Synchrony, but it needs to invest billions of dollars to really move the needle. In other words, to invest a meaningful amount and not exceed the 10% cap, Berkshire needed to invest in a big bank. The two of the "big four" that Buffett didn't already own close to 10% of were JPMorgan Chase and Citigroup, and while we don't know for sure why Berkshire didn't buy Citigroup, it's fair to say that Citigroup has some unique risk factors that are keeping Buffett away. Among the big four, JPMorgan Chase is best in breed One thing we can say with 100% certainty is that Buffett doesn't mind paying for quality. As he's said, "It's far better to own a wonderful business at a fair price than a fair business at a wonderful price." And JPMorgan is certainly a high-quality business. Of the big four, its profitability is simply unmatched: Bank Return on Equity (ROE) -- 3Q18 JPMorgan Chase 14% Bank of America 11% Wells Fargo 12% Citigroup 9.6% The bank has done a great job of growing and maintaining strong efficiency and high asset quality. While Buffett holds Bank of America and Wells Fargo in high regard, the numbers don't lie -- JPMorgan Chase is best in breed among the big banks. Should you follow Warren Buffett into JPMorgan Chase? It's never a smart idea to buy a stock just because a billionaire did -- even if that billionaire is Warren Buffett. However, JPMorgan is a best-in-breed bank stock, and the banking industry has been a laggard this year, so it could be a good time to get in at a relative bargain. Australian Gold Producer with Outstanding Growth Opportunity Investor Presentation Perth, Nov 19, 2018 AEST (ABN Newswire) - Blackham Resources Ltd ( ASX:BLK ) ( OTCMKTS:BKHRF ) provides the Company's latest Investor Presentation.COMPANY OVERVIEW- Blackham's Matilda-Wiluna Gold Operation has 4.4Moz of historical production- +1,440km2 of tenure & 55km of strike in Australia's biggest gold belt - the Norseman - Kalgoorlie - Wiluna belt- Four separate large gold systems, with good mix of base load open pit & high grade underground ore reserves- Resources 96Mt @ 2.2 g/t for 6.7Moz Au(1) (58% Indicated)- Reserves 26Mt @ 1.8 g/t for 1.5Moz Au(2) with 91%- Operational stability attained - 59koz Jan-Sep'18 at A$1,380/oz AISC- Production of 77-89koz targeted for FY2019 at AISC of A$1,250/oz- A$1,450/oz (US$940/oz-US$1,088/oz)- Very capital efficient step-change to > 200kozpa production- Expansion PFS highlighted - gold production avg 207kozpa life of mine AISC A$1,058 (US$836)- Very experienced Board and Management team(1) Refer to ASX release dated 13 September 2018(2) Refer to ASX release dated 31 October 2018A COMPELLING INVESTMENT OPPORTUNITY- Free-milling production delivering operational cashflow- Balance sheet significantly strengthened over last 11 months- 1.5Moz reserves (26Mt @ 1.8g/t Au) with long mine life ~ A$47/reserve oz- Significant opportunity to extend open pit mine life and convert large underground resources into reserves- Exploration programmes continue to strengthen and lengthen reserves- Outstanding long-term upside from dominant land position and 6.7Moz (96Mt @ 2.2g/t Au - 68% indicated) resource with well defined geology- Very strong Board and Management teamTo view the full presentation, please visit:About Wiluna Mining Corporation Ltd Wiluna Mining Corporation (ASX:WMC) (OTCMKTS:WMXCF) is a Perth based, ASX listed gold mining company that controls over 1,600 square kilometres of the Yilgarn Craton in the Northern Goldfields of WA. The Yilgarn Craton has a historic and current gold endowment of over 380 million ounces, making it one of most prolific gold regions in the world. The Company owns 100% of the Wiluna Gold Operation which has a defined resource of 8.04M oz at 1.67 g/t au. In May 2019, a new highly skilled management team took control of the Company with a clear plan to leverage the Wiluna Gold Operation's multi-million-ounce potential. Professor Gottlieb honored by Queen Elizabeth II The Cameroonian Professor emeritus, Gottlieb Lobe Monekosso, former Minister of Public Health and Director of the World Health Organisation for Africa Region, has been honoured. In London, United Kingdom, he received the Gold medal of the prestigious Queen Elizabeth II competition. Galveston, TX (77553) Today A mix of clouds and sun. High 71F. Winds ESE at 10 to 15 mph.. Tonight Mostly cloudy skies early, then partly cloudy after midnight. Low 67F. Winds SSE at 10 to 20 mph. The Assyrians of Turkey TRT World St. Gabriel Assyrian Monastery, founded in 397 A.D., in Midyat, Turkey. ( AINA) (AINA) -- The Assyrian community in Turkey dates back to 1000 B.C. or more. In the last century it has been driven out by the Turkish Genocide of World War One, which killed 750,000 Assyrians (75%), as well as one million Greeks and 1.5 million Armenians, as well as by the policies of Turkey against it's minority communities. Turkey's war with its Kurdish population has placed the Assyrians in the middle, with each side accusing it of supporting the other. In recent years Turkey and the Kurds have seized Assyrian lands in the Mardin area in central Turkey (AINA 2018-09-28). But some of this is now being reversed and some of the lands are being returned. The case of the St. Gabriel Assyrian monastery, founded in 397 A.D., it the best known, but other monasteries have been targeted, as well as private property in Assyrian towns and villages. Standing at nearly 150,000 in 1973, the Assyrian population in Turkey has precipitously declined since then, and is now only about 5,000. The following video report from TRT World discusses some of these issues. U.S. Prosecutors In Settlement Talks With Accused Russian Agent By RFE/RL November 17, 2018 U.S. prosecutors and lawyers for accused Russian agent Maria Butina are negotiating over a possible settlement of her case, court filings say. The parties "continue to engage...in negotiations regarding a potential resolution of this matter," prosecutors and Butina's lawyers wrote in a joint filing on November 16, without providing further details. Butina, 30, is a Russian gun-rights advocate and former graduate student at American University in Washington who cultivated ties with mainly conservative U.S. politicians and the powerful National Rifle Association. She was charged in July with acting as an agent of the Russian government and trying to influence U.S. foreign policy toward Russia, including by establishing a back channel between American politicians and the Kremlin. She is accused of working with a Russian official and two U.S. citizens to try to infiltrate the gun-lobby group, which has close ties and provides extensive funding to Republican politicians, including President Donald Trump. Currently in a District of Columbia jail awaiting trial, Butina has pleaded not guilty to the charges. She could face years in prison if convicted. Her lawyer, Robert Driscoll, has described Butina as a political science student who was interested in networking with influential people in American politics and wanted to see better U.S.-Russia relations. Moscow has labeled the case against Butina "fabricated" and called for her release. U.S. District Judge Tanya Chutkan this week granted a delay in the case sought by defense lawyers and scheduled a status hearing on December 19, prompting the lawyers to withdraw their motion to dismiss the case. Negotiations between U.S. prosecutors and defendants sometimes lead to deals in which a defendant pleads guilty to lesser charges to resolve the case. Driscoll, who is under a media gag order imposed by the judge, declined to comment when asked whether his client may plead guilty as part of a settlement. Reuters reported that the prosecution has made serious missteps in the case, including erroneously accusing Butina of offering sex in exchange for a position in a special interest group. They later backed off the claim, prompting scorn from the judge, who said the incorrect allegations were "notorious" and had damaged Butina's reputation. Butina's lawyers have previously identified the Russian official with whom she was accused of working as Aleksandr Torshin, a deputy governor of Russia's central bank who was hit with U.S. Treasury Department sanctions in April. They identified one of the two Americans mentioned in the criminal complaint as being Paul Erickson, a conservative U.S. political activist who was dating Butina. Neither Erickson nor Torshin have been accused of wrongdoing by prosecutors. Prosecutors have called Butina a flight risk, saying she has been in contact with Russian intelligence operatives and kept contact information for several Russian agents. The case was brought by the U.S. attorney for the District of Columbia and is unrelated to Special Counsel Robert Mueller's investigation into alleged Russian election interference. But it has been part of a larger push by the Justice Department to aggressively enforce the U.S. law governing foreign agents, including those accused of working for Russia, who seek to exert influence over the American political system. The law requires such agents to register with the department and disclose who is providing their funding. With reporting by AP and Reuters Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/us-prosecutors- in-settlement-talks-with-accused-russian- agent-butina/29605542.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 Great Power Strategy Affects DOD Priorities, Allocations, Dunford Says Nov. 17, 2018 By Jim Garamone Defense.gov HALIFAX, Nova Scotia -- Great power competition will require changes to DOD funding priorities and allocations to maintain America's competitive advantage, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff said at the Halifax International Security Forum today. Marine Corps Gen. Joe Dunford said great power competition among the United States, China and Russia is a reality and that the United States must change the funding and development trajectory moving forward. In 2018, the U.S. military "can defend the homeland and we have a competitive advantage over any potential adversary," the chairman told Yalda Hakim, a BBC News foreign correspondent who interviewed the chairman. But that can change. "If we don't change the trajectory that we have been on, if we don't have sustained predictable, adequate levels of funding, [and] if we don't look carefully at those areas where we are challenged than whoever is in my job in 2023 and 2024 will probably not have the same confidence in their ability to meet alliance commitments," Dunford said. Military Advantages That future military advantage hinges on the United States being able to project power and operate across domains of warfare. This advantage, Dunford said, has eroded over the past 15 years as the U.S. military focused on dealing with violent extremism. The military dimension of great power competition manifests itself in the efforts China and Russia have made to undermine the ability of the United States and its allies to meet commitments in Europe and the Pacific. "Our responsibility is to ensure we can assure allies, we can deter and we can respond in case deterrence fails," he said. Competition does not equal conflict, the chairman said, but competition certainly ups the stakes. In the past, "we didn't have much hot breath on the back of our neck from a competition standpoint and that informed the decisions that we made and that informed how we prioritize and allocate resources," he said. That has changed and it is mirrored in the National Defense Strategy and the U.S. Congress has also recognized this and given DOD the funding and flexibility to change the trajectory. "Since 2017, we began to prioritize and allocate resources in a different way," the general said. "We began to realize that we needed to look at tomorrow even as we dealt with the challenges today." Some of this was forced on the department as part of the Budget Control Act of 2011 and sequestration. "I think that was where we might have been out of balance for a few years is that we were spending most of our budget dealing with the fight that we had, and probably not being as attentive as we needed to be in terms of developing the capabilities we need tomorrow based on the trends that are taking place in emerging technologies," he said. The chairman said this has consequences. If deterrence fails and conflict is forced upon the United States and its allies, the United States would prevail, but there would be more casualties. "To be specific when we talk about competitive advantage the source of strength for the U.S. military has been our ability to project power when and where necessary to advance our national interests, combined with our network of allies and partners that we have built up since World War II," he said. "Those combined are our competitive advantage." Perceived Vulnerabilities Russia and China look to undermine the cohesion of U.S. allies and partners, and they have studied American military doctrine and operations. The U.S. achievements in Desert Shield and Desert Storm in 1990, in Operation Enduring Freedom in 2001 and in Operation Iraqi Freedom in 2003, highlighted U.S. capabilities to move large amounts of men, materiel and equipment anywhere in the world. Chinese and Russian military planners identified what they perceive to be vulnerabilities and have developed systems specifically designed to disrupt U.S. ability to project power. "I think, from a U.S. military perspective, it is incumbent upon us to continue to develop those capabilities that give our allies and partners the confidence that we can meet the commitments that we have, and also ensure that Russia and China understand that we do have the capability to respond if deterrence fails," he said. "That conventional relative capability that we have had over the past couple of decades is actually a fundamental element of peace." The change to great power competition is more than merely buying more of the same capabilities. It means more than just adapting new technologies. It is investing in ideas, the chairman said. "We carefully analyze 14 competitive areas space, cyberspace, the maritime domain, electromagnetic spectrum and so forth and we have analyzed the path of capability development that Russia and China have been on," he said. DOD officials have analyzed where the Chinese and Russian will be in 2025 and identified "very specifically the areas where increased investment is required by the United States and its allies and partners and we know the areas where we will be challenged," he said. "It's a question of ideas and technology." Sustained, predictable and adequate funding will be required, the chairman said. He and Defense Secretary James N. Mattis testified before Congress last year saying the department needed sustained growth of 3 to 5 percent per year over time to restore the competitive advantage. "What I think is as important as the topline is the degree of predictability that will allow us to use resources more wisely," he said. "The 2020 budget will strive to get the right balance over all capability areas, so at the end of the day in the aggregate we will have what we need." NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Amid continued suffering in Yemen, UN envoy welcomes reports of reduced violence IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency New York, Nov 17, IRNA -- Addressing the UN Security Council on Friday, Martin Griffiths, Special Envoy of the Secretary-General for Yemen, said that although conflict continues to rage, he welcomed recent reports of reduced violence in the country. Mr. Griffiths was addressing the Council alongside Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs, Mark Lowcock, and World Food Programme (WFP) Executive Director, David Beasley. The Special Envoy announced that the Yemeni Government and the Ansar Allah Houthi militants, are both committed to working on a political solution, and that he has received firm assurances from both sides, of a renewed commitment to attend talks, UN website reported. The UN, said Mr. Griffiths, is about to conclude an agreement between the parties on the exchange of prisoners and detainees, which he described as an important humanitarian gesture and "a timely message of hope to the Yemeni people." Mr. Beasley and Mr. Lowcock both provided new details of the unfolding humanitarian crisis--the largest food security emergency in the world. Mr. Lowcock revealed that, despite calls for the violence to stop, UN sources have observed nearly 800 separate incidents of shelling, armed clashes, or air strikes across Yemen; often with devastating consequences for civilians and, due to the fighting, humanitarian programs have been scaled back in the port of Hudaydah, a crucial gateway for aid efforts. Mr. Beasley, fresh from a three-day visit to Yemen this week, said that he had witnessed a country on the brink of catastrophe: "What I have seen in Yemen this week is the stuff of nightmares, of horror, of deprivation, of misery. And we--all of humanity--have only ourselves to blame." Describing what he saw at a hospital in the Yemeni Capital Sana'a, Mr. Beasley said that there were dozens of severely sick and malnourished children, with around 50 cases arriving every day: "they only have room for 20. The rest? They go home to die." Restarting Yemen's collapsed economy was identified by Mr. Griffiths as a main priority, and a "moral responsibility and obligation of the parties to the Yemeni people" He announced that he would soon convene a meeting of the Central Bank of Yemen, facilitated by the International Monetary Fund (IMF). The price of simple basic food staples in Yemen has doubled in the last eight months, said Mr. Beasley, even as household livelihoods are shrinking: "for a country that's dependent on imports for the basic needs of life, this is disaster." Mr. Lowcock added that Saudi Arabia has helped to stabilize the Yemeni rial, depositing $200 million with the Central Bank of Yemen, which has helped to finance imports of food and other essential commodities, but substantially greater funds for humanitarian assistance will be needed, given the growing challenges faced by Yemen. The UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres plans to convene a high-level conference on Yemen with a focus on the 2019 Humanitarian Response Plan, in February. 8072**1396 NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Five Saudi-paid Sudanese troopers slain in Yemeni army offensive Iran Press TV Sat Nov 17, 2018 05:37PM At least five Saudi-paid Sudanese soldiers have lost their lives when Yemeni army troops and fighters from allied Popular Committees launched an attack in the country's strategic western province of Hudaydah. A military source, speaking on condition of anonymity, said the Saudi mercenaries were traveling on board two military vehicles in al-Tuhayat district on Saturday, when they came under attack. Earlier this month, the spokesman for Yemen's Houthi Ansarullah movement, Mohammed Abdul-Salam, referred to the deaths of several Sudanese mercenaries in Hudaydah, saying they were "victims of their government being on the payroll in a cruel and senseless war." "With all respect for the Sudanese nation, we hope the Sudanese regime will change its position regarding its participation in the aggression against Yemen. The Sudanese government will achieve nothing but defeat and destruction from this futile war," he added. Abdul-Salam warned that Yemen would turn into a "graveyard" for invaders. Separately on Saturday, Yemeni soldiers and their allies targeted the positions of Saudi-backed militiamen loyal to Yemen's former president Abd Rabbuh Mansur in an area of Yemen's southwestern province of Dhale. Yemeni troopers and Popular Committees fighters also fired four domestically-developed Zelzal-2 (Earthquake-2) ballistic missiles at the strongholds of Saudi soldiers and mercenaries in the kingdom's border region of Jizan. There were no immediate reports of casualties or damage though. Saudi Arabia and a number of its regional allies launched a devastating military campaign against Yemen in March 2015, with the aim of bringing the government of Hadi back to power and crushing the country's Houthi Ansarullah movement. According to a new report by the Armed Conflict Location and Event Data Project (ACLED), a nonprofit conflict-research organization, the Saudi-led war has so far claimed the lives of around 56,000 Yemenis. The Saudi-led war has also taken a heavy toll on the country's infrastructure, destroying hospitals, schools, and factories. The UN has already said that a record 22.2 million Yemenis are in dire need of food, including 8.4 million threatened by severe hunger. According to the world body, Yemen is suffering from the most severe famine in more than 100 years. A number of Western countries, the US and Britain in particular, are also accused of being complicit in the ongoing aggression as they supply the Riyadh regime with advanced weapons and military equipment as well as logistical and intelligence assistance. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Finland summons Russian ambassador over GPS jamming allegations during NATO war games Iran Press TV Sat Nov 17, 2018 09:13AM Finland has summoned Russian ambassador over allegations that the Russian military had jammed its GPS signals during a major NATO military maneuver in Norway earlier this month. "We don't have anything to hide here. Disruption is a serious matter which disturbs civil aviation. We will act towards Russia, we will discuss this and we expect answers," said Finnish Foreign Minister Timo Soini. The country, which is not a member of North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), took part as an ally in a war game, dubbed Trident Juncture, close to the Russian border, in an area stretching from the Baltic Sea to Iceland. The war games, labeled as the military alliance's largest drill since the Cold War, which gathered some 31 countries, lasted for two weeks from 25 October. During the exercise earlier this month, Finland's air navigation services issued a warning for air traffic due to a large-scale GPS interruption in the north of the country. The problem is not believed to have caused any accidents, but Finland's state Air Navigation Services issued a warning to civilian air traffic over the matter. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov, however, dismissed the allegation as "a trend to blame all mortal sins on Russia." "We know nothing about Russia's possible involvement in those GPS failures," he said on Monday. Norway had also posted a similar warning in its own airspace, accusing Russia of disrupting the system. A spokesperson for the Norwegian ministry of defense said the jamming occurred between October 16 and November 7. "Norway has determined that Russia was responsible for jamming GPS signals in the Kola Peninsula during Exercise Trident Juncture," NATO spokesperson Oana Lungescu was quoted by CNN as saying on Wednesday. The International Air Transport Association, which represents 290 airlines around the world, however, explained that such interference in GPS signals was not unusual during military drills. "These are decisions taken by the military over which airlines have no control," The Independent quoted a spokesperson as saying. "Safety of passengers and crew is the number one priority of the airline industry and the safety of commercial airliners is not at risk from GPS jamming." This was an apparent reference to earlier warnings by Norway that "jamming of this sort is dangerous, disruptive and irresponsible." NATO's many precision-guided weapons heavily rely on GPS and their alternative navigation tools are "far less accurate," according to Justin Bronk, a researcher at an independent think tank on international defense and security, the Royal United Services Institute (RUSI). NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address https://www.aish.com/j/f/The-Jews-Columbus-and-Thanksgiving.html Did you know that Columbus may never have discovered the Americans without We Jews? On Thanksgiving, we not only celebrate pilgrims and Native Americans, but give thanks for the Goldena Medina we call America. All of us have heard of Queen Isabella, King Ferdinand and the Italian, Christopher Columbus, who, under the Spanish banner, is credited with stumbling upon America during his four voyages to find a westward route to Asia and its wondrous spices. (Others preceded him, but Columbus is credited with setting the stage for the European exploration and colonization of the Americas.) But did you know that he may never have made the journeys without We Jews? Names, such as Levi ben Gerson, Abraham Zacuto, Luis de Santangel and Gabriel Sanchez, are largely forgotten, yet directly or indirectly, each and more had a profound effect on Columbuss journeys. Lets look. (Note: Some were Conversos, as the day before Columbus set sail on his first voyage, on August 2, 1492, when the Inquisition started, more than 300,000 Jews left the country, while others nominally converted.) Lets look. The Materials Columbus Used: How did he know where he was going? (Then again, he didnt.) He used several astronomical works prepared by Abrahan ibn Ezra in "De Luminaribus et Diebus Criticis," and directly by the invention of instruments for astronomical observation. Jacob's Staff, a sea-quadrant, was the invention of the Jewish Levi ben Gerson, who was the first to describe it. Abraham Zacuto (c. 1452-1515), then applied this instrument in navigation to determine latitude using the altitude of the polar star at night to ascertain the ship's position. Zacuto wrote his major astronomical work, Ha-Hibur ha-Gadol, in Hebrew, and served as court astronomer to kings John II and Manuel I of Portugal. He prepared the charts used by Vasco da Gama on his journey to India. His astronomical tables rendered Columbus incalculable service; indeed, on one occasion it saved the lives of his whole company. A copy of those tables with Columbus's notes is preserved in Seville. Guess Who Gelted? Converso Luis de Santangel, whose relatives were exterminated during the Inquisition, was a financier and, as a confidant of King Ferdinand, he became chancellor of Aragon. Together with a relative, the royal treasurer, Gabriel Sanchez (whose father was burned in effigy as a Jewish heretic at Saragossa in 1493), Santangel and a friend, the royal chamberlain, Juan Cabrero, also of Jewish stock, were proponents of Columbus. Santangel convinced the crown of the advantages to Spain from the discovery of a sea-route to the Indies. Isabella consented, but alas the state treasury was bare. He loaned 17,000 interest-free ducats to the royal treasury (equal to $160,000 at the present day). Santangel was also the first to receive a detailed letter from Columbus about the voyage on February 15, 1943. Columbus wrote a similar letter to Gabriel Sanchez, who published it in Barcelona. Later on, for his services, Luis de Santangel obtained a royal decree, issued May 30, 1497, by which he, his children, and his grandchildren were to be protected from any further maltreatment by the Inquisition. They Set Sail While its not clear how many Jews (or Conversos) journeyed with Columbus, Luis de Torres was his official interpreter. Others may have included Alonzo de la Calle, who took his name from the Jewish quarter (Calle), and died in Spain in 1503; Rodrigo Sanchez (a relative of exchequer Gabriel Sanchez), the surgeon, Marco; and the ship's doctor, Bernal, who had been punished in 1490 by the Inquisition as an adherent of Judaism. Of the group, Luis de Torres (born Yosef ben Ha Levy HaIvri) was the most prominent. Torres spoke Arabic, Hebrew and some other ancient languages Columbus thought he would encounter. Looking back now, its humorous, given the fact that all four voyages seriously missed their mark. Torres was given the job of translator in India,which we now know as China which was actually the Americas. Though accounts differ, it is believed he made his home in Cuba, wowed the chiefs who gifted him with large land grants and slaves, and he died in Cuba. Torres was, however, the first European to set foot on American soil by some accounts making him the first pilgrim. As legend has it, Torres saw the bird; thinking it was a kind of parrot, he assigned it the Hebrew name Tukki. While this is probably folklore, his expedition, 100 years earlier than the Mayflower voyage is reminiscent of the story of Thanksgiving. Sailing again on Jewish Gelt Columbuss second voyage, which sailed from Cadiz on September 25, 1493, was financed by the spoils of expelled Jews, those who wound up in Portugal, Conversos, and even Christians suspected of holding Jewish treasures such as gold and silver, clothing, velvet and silk. In total, Columbus made four trips, from 1492-1504. The Newly Discovered Lands Once again Gabriel Sanchez enters the scene and benefits. While emigration to this new frontier was strictly forbidden to Conversos (who were still persecuted), Sanchez, exempt from the edict, was the first person given a royal grant to export grain and horses to America. The Shocking Truth Behind Columbuss Voyages? True Or False? The prize of the Columbus expeditions exotic riches has recently been questioned. In a 2018 article by Sean Martin Columbus discovered America while scouting a possible settlement for banished Jews during the Inquisition. Personally, I wouldnt bet my tukki on it. Netherlands chides France, Germany over EU army proposal Iran Press TV Sat Nov 17, 2018 08:00AM The Dutch Prime Minister has rejected the idea of a European army proposed by France and Germany, stressing that the continent's safety could be guaranteed only through NATO. "The idea of a European army is going way too far for the Netherlands," Mark Rutte said at a press conference after a cabinet meeting in Amsterdam on Friday. "France and Germany are really jumping the gun. As far as the Netherlands is concerned, NATO remains the cornerstone of our defense policy," he added. Rutte's comments came days after French President Emmanuel Macron sparked controversy with his proposal for a "real European army" that could offer protection "with respect to China, Russia and even the United States." The French president also expressed desire for reducing Europe's dependence on Washington and US weapons for its own security. US President Donald Trump denounced Macron's idea as "very insulting," saying in a tweet that Europe should "first pay its fair share of NATO, which the US subsidizes greatly." German Chancellor Angela Merkel also threw her support behind Macron's proposal and emphasized the need for Europe to boost its self-defense capabilities, saying that a European army could run parallel to the US-led 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. Responding to Merkel's remarks, Rutte insisted that NATO remained the primary guardian of Europe's safety and rejected the idea of a European army as an "illusion." "As far as I am concerned, it is an illusion to think that the European Union without NATO can guarantee her safety," Rutte said. "NATO, and the United States within the origination, remains a crucial partner for peace and security in Europe and we will continue to point that out to our partners in our discussions," he said. The North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) was formed in 1949 following the end of World War II as the US and its Western allies sought to counter the Soviet Union's growing influence in Europe and beyond. Since taking office, Trump has repeatedly criticized the US-led military alliance over how it is funded and pressured other member states to increase military spending. The American head of state has demanded that the NATO members all pay a greater share of the alliance's expenses by increasing their defense budgets to 2% of their GDP. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address US to partner with Australia to redevelop naval base in Papua New Guinea Iran Press TV Sat Nov 17, 2018 07:25AM The United States says it will partner with Australia to redevelop a naval base in Papua New Guinea (PNG) at Manus Island, in an apparent move to ramp up its presence in the South Pacific to counter China perceived influence there. On a visit to Papua New Guinea's capital, Port Moresby on Saturday, US Vice President Mike Pence said Washington "will partner with Papua New Guinea and Australia on their joint initiative at Lombrum Naval Base." Australia has already announced plans to redevelop the naval base on Manus, the fifth-largest island in Papua New Guinea, which has a strategically vital position overlooking key trade routes across the world. "We will work with these two nations to protect sovereignty and maritime rights in the Pacific Islands," Pence said on the sidelines of the APEC (Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation) regional summit in Papua New Guinea. The Vice president did not, however, clarify how much money the administration of President Donald Trump would contribute to the project, or whether US vessels would be permanently based at Lombrum. This is while, the governor of Manus Island said on Friday he had not been consulted on a navy base to be built with Australian help and that any development had to benefit the island's residents. "I have my people living on the island and we are the ones affected," Reuters quoted Manus provincial governor Charlie Benjamin as saying. "The government might have the right but if we decide to put our foot down, there will be problems." China has already launched a multi-trillion-dollar project, known as the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), which aims to connect the country to Europe, Africa, the Middle East and beyond via massive infrastructure projects across dozens of countries. Australian PM accuses China of loading up region with debts Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison, who has long been critical of the Chinese project in the region, used a gathering of CEOs and world leaders in the lead-up to the APEC meeting in Port Moresby, accusing China of using the project to load up Pacific nation with nations with "unsustainable" debt. Morrison also warned both Beijing and Washington who are engaged in a fierce trade dispute saying trade wars benefit no one and must be solved by negotiation rather than tit-for-tat tariffs. "The world is facing a rising tide of trade protectionism and financial market volatility, said Morrison. "The test for us now, for all of us, is to stand up for the economic values we believe in and show how they work, to demonstrate it." His remarks were a clear reference to the escalating trade war between the world top two economic powers, which prompted the two sides to impose tit-for-tat tariffs on hundreds of billions of dollars of each other's goods over the past few months. China: US protectionism 'doomed to failure' In back-to-back speeches on Saturday, Pence and Chinese President Xi-Jinping presented opposing visions and even engaged in a verbal trade, with the US diplomat threatening Beijing with yet more tariffs. "We've put tariffs on $250 billion in Chinese goods and that number could more than double," Pence said. "We hope for better, but the United States will not change course until China changes its ways." For his part, Chinese President Xi Jinping who addressed the gathering before Pence, denounced the US administration's "America First" trade protectionism, saying global trade rules should not be applied "with double standards or selfish agendas." He urged the world to "say no to protectionism and unilateralism," warning it was a "short-sighted approach" that was "doomed to failure." Xi also touched upon Beijing's multi-billion-dollar project in Papua New Guinea saying "China has made a strategic decision to always stand together with fellow developing countries. China is committed to strengthening trust and commitment with PNG." China has injected at least $5.9 billion of infrastructure spending into the island since 2011. 'Trade war could escalate into Cold War' French Finance Minister Bruno Le Maire warned that the trade dispute between Beijing and Washington could escalate into a fresh Cold War. Speaking at a conference in the French capital Paris on the World Trade Organization's (WTO) future, Maire warned that there is a real risk" that the trade dispute triggers a Cold War between China and the United States. To counter such a threat, the French minister urged the WTO to reform by resolving its "consensus paralysis" on decision-making and by enforcing international trade rules. Since taking office in January 2017, Trump has claimed that China's rise as an exporting powerhouse has hurt US workers and manufacturing and has ordered tariffs on $250 billion in imports from China. He has also been criticizing China's huge trade surplus with the United States and has demanded that Beijing reduce it. Disagreement between the two powers, however, has deepened with both sides imposing tariffs on each other's goods in recent months. Trump, who seems to be backtracking from his stance, said on Friday that there might be no more tariffs on Chinese goods; since Beijing has sent a list of steps it was willing to take to resolve trade disputes with Washington."I think a deal will be made," Trump said. "We'll find out very soon." China insists that Washington must pursue mutual interests of the two counties in trade talks between them. Last month, Chinese Foreign Ministry said if the US was not willing to promote win-win cooperation with China, then China would continue with its reforms and develop itself. Beijing said there was no winner in a trade war and that cooperation was the only correct choice. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Ghani Says Nearly 29,000 Afghan Troops Killed Since 2015 November 17, 2018 The death toll among Afghanistan's security forces since 2015 is close to 29,000, Afghan President Ashraf Ghani has revealed, providing a figure far higher than anything previously acknowledged by the government. Ghani disclosed the figure during a video appearance this week before the Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies in Washington, a school where he once taught as a professor of anthropology. Ghani said that since the start of 2015, when Afghan police and army units took over primary responsibility for Afghanistan's security after a partial withdrawal of NATO troops, "28,529 of our security forces have lost their lives and become martyrs for our freedom." In the same time frame, 58 Americans were killed, he said. "I would like to salute the patriotism of the Afghan security forces, every single one of whom is a volunteer," Ghani said. "We have no conscription, nobody is forced, and if there was not a patriotic impulse, I don't think that people would sacrifice their lives for a pay of $200." The Afghan government has previously provided casualty figures only for individual incidents of clashes between Afghan troops and militants, but the figures it has provided have suggested the overall death toll might be large. In one incident alone last year, the government reported that a Taliban attack on a military compound in Balkh Province left more than 130 army personnel dead. The Afghan government and U.S. military have previously been reluctant to disclose the full extent of Afghan soldiers killed, apparently out of concern that acknowledging the large death toll would undermine confidence and underscore the country's fragile security situation. Previous estimates given for the total Afghan security forces killed in 2015 were around 5,000, with another 15,000 wounded. Since that time, estimates have suggested the death toll was accelerating despite claims of progress in the war against the Taliban by both U.S. and Afghan leaders. A year ago, the U.S. commander in Afghanistan General John Nicholson said casualty rates among Afghan security forces were starting to drop as the United States increased its air strikes against the Taliban and Afghan forces adopted military reforms. But a recent report from the U.S. Special Inspector General for Afghanistan Reconstruction cited the NATO mission in Kabul as saying the toll between May and October was worse than ever for Afghan forces, without providing specific figures. U.S. Defense Secretary Jim Mattis this month said more than 1,000 "Afghan lads" were killed or wounded just in August and September. After more than 17 years of war, the administration of U.S. President Donald Trump has stepped up efforts to settle the conflict peacefully. U.S. special envoy for Afghanistan Zalmay Khalilzad was appointed to start a peace process with the Taliban. He met with Ghani on November 10 after meeting with a Taliban delegation in Doha in October. With reporting by AFP Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/ghani-says-nearly- 29000-afghan-troops-killed-since-2015-partia l-nato-withdrawal/29605544.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 Discovered San Juan Sub Deformed With Signs of Explosion - Argentine Navy Chief Sputnik News 20:38 17.11.2018(updated 20:40 17.11.2018) MEXICO CITY (Sputnik) - The ARA San Juan submarine, which disappeared in 2017 and was recently located by US company Ocean Infinity, was found deformed and with signs of an explosion, the commander of Argentine naval base in Mar del Plata Attis told relatives of the sailors. "[The submarine's hull is] totally deformed, collapsed and imploded and remnants scattered within a radius of 70 meters [230 feet]," Gabriel Attis said on Saturday, as quoted by the Telam news agency. The deformation occurred presumably as a result of an explosion directed inward, he noted stressing further that the hull did not fall apart and no visible holes were found on it, despite the deformation. He specified that the vessel was discovered at a depth of 907 meters. The commander's comments come after submarine with over 40 crew on board went missing following reporting about a technical malfunction. The search and rescue operation for the submarine involved equipment and personnel from various countries, including Russia. The Argentinian authorities scrapped the rescue 15 days after the sub stopped communicating but pledged that the search for the vehicle would continue. Sputnik NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Argentinian Navy Says Missing ARA San Juan Sub Found After Year of Searching Sputnik News 09:58 17.11.2018(updated 10:33 17.11.2018) MOSCOW (Sputnik) The US company Ocean Infinity, contracted by the Argentinian authorities to search for the missing ARA San Juan submarine, has located the vessel that had been missing since November 2017, the Argentinian Navy said on Saturday. On Friday, media reported that a large object had been found in the area where the sub was believed to have gone missing. "Argentina's Defence Ministry and Navy say that after examining object 24, located by the Ocean Infinity company with the help of a remote device, at a depth of 800 metres [2,625 feet], the location of the ARA San Huan submarine was determined," the Navy wrote on Twitter. The Argentinian authorities resumed the search for the submarine in late October after they concluded a contract with Ocean Infinity. The company is known for having conducted a search operation for the missing MH370 Malaysian airliner. Ocean Infinity has reportedly committed to receiving payment from Argentina only if ARA San Juan is found. The submarine with over 40 crew on board went missing after reporting a technical malfunction. The search and rescue operation for the submarine involved equipment and personnel from various countries, including Russia. The Argentinian authorities scrapped the rescue 15 days after the sub vanished, but pledged to continue the search for the vehicle. Sputnik NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Belgium to Boost Troops Number in Afghanistan by Over 2.5 Times - Reports Sputnik News 07:53 17.11.2018 BRUSSELS (Sputnik) - The Belgian government approved a proposal by the country's Defense Ministry to increase the number of troops in Afghanistan more than 2.5-fold in 2019, local media reported on Friday. According to the RTBF broadcaster, the number of servicemen will be gradually increased to 220 from 80 as of now. The country will send not only military instructors, but also special forces to the city of Mazar-i-Sharif, it added. Belgium participates in NATO training mission in Afghanistan. The United States and NATO initially launched their military operations in Afghanistan in 2001 after the 9/11 terror attacks. While most of the US troops had been withdrawn from the country by the end of 2014, NATO launched a new mission in 2015, called Resolute Support, to provide training and assistance to the Afghan security forces. A total of 16,000 soldiers from 39 NATO countries are currently serving in Afghanistan as part of the mission. Sputnik NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Belgian Troops to Join NATO Force in Estonia Sputnik News 07:35 17.11.2018(updated 08:12 17.11.2018) TALLINN (Sputnik) - Belgian troops will be forward deployed to Estonia to replace the rotating Dutch contingent, the Defense Ministry of the small Baltic nation said Friday. "We welcome the Belgian Government's decision to join NATO EFP [enhanced forward presence] troops in Estonia next year!" the ministry tweeted. Estonia's defence chief Juri Luik said that "as small countries, we see eye to eye on security because our common security depends on the combined NATO force." The Belgian contingent will comprise 200 troops armed with infantry fighting vehicles and Israeli-made Spike anti-tank missiles. The US-led military alliance agreed at the 2016 Warsaw summit to establish forward presence in Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, and Poland. The British-led contingent in Estonia has been based in Tapa since April 2017. Previously, NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg made an announcement, vowing that the alliance would maintain an increased military presence in the Baltic states and Eastern Europe "as long as necessary". He named the alleged Russian threat as the main reason for the move. Kremlin, in turn, has repeatedly slammed NATO's military buildup close to Russian borders, vowing to "answer with a suitable response to all of these actions." Sputnik NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Europe's Justification of Military Spending Boost Far-Fetched - Moscow Sputnik News 16:35 17.11.2018(updated 16:37 17.11.2018) MOSCOW (Sputnik) - Moscow believes that the explanation offered by European states for increasing military spending on the need to constraint some "illusory potential aggressor" is far-fetched, the Foreign Ministry said on Saturday. "We consider it equally far-fetched to try to find an 'external enemy' and, clinging to false historical parallels, to justify building up military spending by opposition to an illusory 'potential aggressor,'" the Russian Foreign Ministry said. It drew attention to attempts to "draw more than dubious parallels" between the current situation in Europe and the periods before the two world wars, according to which the rise of nationalism was a catalyst for conflicts. "In this regard, we are forced to recall that World War I was the result of the desire of the great powers at that time to establish European and global hegemony, to redistribute spheres of influence, and not at all about upholding state sovereignty," it added. While concluding, the ministry stated that it was unacceptable to put an equal sign between the protection of national interests and nationalism, between the struggle for the right to preserve identity, loyalty to traditional values and war. The ministry's comments come after French President Emmanuel Macron said on November 6 that the European Union should have a "real European army" independent of the United States to be able to defend itself. In addition, he noted that the bloc must defend itself against China, Russia and even the United States. German Chancellor Angela Merkel also supported the idea of creating a European army. Sputnik NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Central African Republic: Guterres says UN mission committed to protecting civilians, helping stabilize country, as violence flares 17 November 2018 - Amid a recent uptick in violence in the Central African Republic (CAR), United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Saturday said he stood in solidarity with the crisis torn country and warned that attacks against defenseless civilians and UN 'blue helmets' may amount to war crimes. "The Secretary General is greatly concerned at the rise in violence in recent days in the Central African Republic," said a statement issued by UN Spokesperson Stephane Dujarric. Mr. Guterres was reacting to an attack that took place this past Thursday, 15 November, on a camp for internally displaced persons in the town of Alindao, some 300 kilometres east of the capital, Bangui. At least 37 people were killed. The attack was attributed to the UPC (Union for Peace in the Central African Republic) armed group. In a separate attack yesterday on a base of the UN Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in the country, known as MINUSCA in the southwestern town of Gbambia, a Tanzanian peace keeper was killed. The attack is suspected to have been conducted by the Siriri armed group, the statement said. UN peacekeepers were protecting civilians seeking refuge in its camp as the village of Gbambia was attacked. The Tanzanian 'blue helmet' was wounded in the attack and later succumbed to his injuries. "The Secretary-General offers his deepest condolences to the families of all the victims, as well as to the Government of the United Republic of Tanzania. He stands in solidarity with the Government and people of the Central African Republic," said the statement. The UN chief went on to recall that attacks against UN peacekeepers, as well as against defenseless civilians, may constitute war crimes. He called on CAR authorities to investigate them and swiftly bring those responsible to justice. "The Secretary-General reiterates the determination of MINUSCA to protect civilians and to contribute to the stabilization of the Central African Republic," the statement concluded. CAR has been grappling with violence since fighting between the mostly Christian anti-Balaka militia and the mainly Muslim Seleka rebel coalition broke out in 2012. While a peace agreement was reached in January 2013, rebels seized the capital of Bangui that March, forcing President Francois Bozize to flee. Concerned with the security, humanitarian, human rights and political crisis within the country and its implications for the region, MINUSCA began operating in 2014 under Chapter VII of the UN Charter. With the protection of civilians as its utmost priority, Chapter VII provides for the use of force meaning, with Security Council authority, peacekeepers may respond to acts of aggression in kind. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Remarks by President Trump at Signing of H.R.3359, Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency Act November 16, 2018 Oval Office 12:27 P.M. EST THE PRESIDENT: Well, thank you for coming over so fast. I think this was a little bit unexpected. You didn't expect to be here. But I think that this is so important what we're doing right now, that you should be here and it should be covered. Today, it's my great honor to sign the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency Act into law. The people behind me and alongside of me have been working long and hard on this for actually, for years. And I want to congratulate them. We're grateful to be joined by House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy. It's very good. Majority Leader that sounds good. Huh? Senator Ron Johnson, who's been a fantastic ally and somebody who's doing a really incredible job. And he chairs the Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs. And Chairman Michael McCaul, who just had a great victory in Texas, and he's in charge of the House Committee on Homeland Security. And, Michael, congratulations. CHAIRMAN MCCAUL: Thank you, sir. THE PRESIDENT: That was a big that was a very solid victory. I also want to thank Secretary of Homeland Security Kirstjen Nielsen and Undersecretary Chris Krebs for being here. And they, too, have been working long and hard on this bill. Every day, America's adversaries are testing our cyber defenses. They attempt to gain access to our critical infrastructure, exploit our great companies, and undermine our entire way of life. And we can't let that happen. This vital legislation will establish a new agency within the Department of Homeland Security to lead the federal government's civilian response to these cyber threats against our nation. We've had many, many threats against our nation. Cyber is going to be the newest form. And the threats have taken place, and we've been doing pretty good in knocking them out, but now we'll be this will make us, I think, much more effective. We're putting people that are the best in the world, in charge. And I think we're going to have a whole different ballgame. Cyber is, to a large extent, where it's at nowadays. The men and women of the new Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency will be on the front lines of our cyber defense. They will partner with the private sector, and all levels of government, to defend America's power grids, banks, telecommunications, and other critical parts of our economy. The cyber battlespace evolves and it is evolving, and unfortunately, faster than a lot of people want to talk about. But battlespace it is. So as the cyber battlespace evolves, this new agency will ensure that we confront the full range of threats from nation-states, cyber criminals, and other malicious actors, of which there are many. This is going to go a long way. This is a very, very important piece of legislation, and it is my honor to have all of you with us. Thank you, Ron. Thank you very much. And we appreciate your hard work. Thank you. Mr. Leader, thank you. (The bill is signed.) Okay. (Applause.) Thank you, everybody. Q Mr. President, do you have any comment on the CNN ruling a moment ago? THE PRESIDENT: No. Just, people have to behave and they have to do we're writing up rules and regulations to make our position. I think you were treated very unfairly, both of you. I think you were treated very unfairly because you had somebody interrupting you. And if they don't listen to the rules and regulations, we'll end up back in court and we'll win. But more importantly, we'll just leave, and then you won't be very happy, because we do get good ratings. Q Mr. President, when you talk about rules and regulations, what do you mean, sir? THE PRESIDENT: Decorum. You can't take three questions and four questions, and just stand up and not sit down. Decorum. You have to practice decorum. You were there; you understood, and you understand. We want total freedom of the press; that's very important to me. It's more important to me than anybody would believe. But you have to act with respect. You're in the White House. And when I see the way some of my people get treated at press conferences, it's terrible. So we're setting up a certain standard, which is what the court is requesting. And always freedom of the press, always First Amendment. But that's the way it is. And we always have the option of just leaving. You know, if we feel that things aren't being treated properly, that people aren't being treated properly, we always have the right to leave. And I think the other media, the other press in the room, will not be very happy if that happens. But I've instructed my people: When they're not treated properly, you have the right to just leave any time you want. Q Mr. President, China gave a response this week to your trade request. Have you seen that response? And are you pleased with it? And what do you think it means? THE PRESIDENT: This is China? Q China, yes. On trade. THE PRESIDENT: Yeah, go ahead. Tell me what their response was. Q They sent a response for the 142 items on trade. Just wondering what your thoughts are about it. THE PRESIDENT: Yeah. That's good. No, China wants to make a deal. China as you know, Jeff, China wants to make a deal. They sent a list of things that they're willing to do, which was a large list. And it's just not acceptable to me yet. But at some point, I think that we are doing extremely well with respect to China. I have a great respect for President Xi. I have a great respect for China. But China has taken advantage of the United States for many, many years. Ron Johnson knows that maybe better than anybody, because Ron is a big believer in what I'm doing. And I think that they're going to come in and we're going to either open up China and make it fair because it's not fair right now. They do very little business with them, and we do a lot of business. You know, it just can't be. Plus, they have tremendous barriers. They have tremendous tariffs on us that we didn't have on them. But that's all changed now. We've put on tariffs on $250 billion worth of goods, and we have another $267 billion to go, if we want to. We may not have to do that. China would like to make a deal. Our country has done very well, and China, as you know, has not done very well. They've been down 30 percent, 32 percent. They've been down very substantially. We have helped create China, as we know it today, by allowing money to be sucked out of our country by the billions. Five-hundred billion dollars a year, in many cases, over a long period of time. And we can't allow that to happen. And I think we will have a great relationship with China. Hopefully we'll make a deal. And if we don't, we're doing very well just the way it is right now. We have tariffs coming in on $250 billion worth of goods. And these are we're talking about billions and billions of dollars a month will flow into our country, and has already started flowing into our country that comes from China. So China has never been put in this position. And I don't want to put them in a bad position; I want to put them in a great position. But it's called "reciprocal." We have to have reciprocal trade. We can't have trade that's meant for stupid people. And that's the way they took advantage of our country. And we don't have that anymore, and they understand that. And I think a deal will be made, and we'll find out very soon. Q Just to follow up, sir, the list that they submitted, do you think it goes far enough? Are you happy with it? Unhappy with it? THE PRESIDENT: It's a pretty complete list. It's a lot of the things we asked for. There are some things there were four or five big things left off. I think we'll probably get them too. But it's as you know, it's a very complete list. I think it's 142 items, and that's a lot of items. Okay? Thank you very much, everybody. Q One more, Mr. President. You, on Twitter yesterday, seemed a bit agitated about what you might be perceiving the Mueller investigation will do. THE PRESIDENT: No, I'm not agitated. It's a hoax. Q I'm just curious THE PRESIDENT: The whole thing was a hoax. There was no collusion. Q But did anything trigger that set of tweets yesterday? THE PRESIDENT: No, not that all. No. I'm very happy. I'm very happy with the White House. I'm extremely happy with our country. We're doing better on the economy. Maybe it's the best economy we've ever had. They may be the best unemployment numbers and employment numbers that we've ever had. There are more people working in the United States right now, at this moment, than have ever worked in the United States, by far by far. I'm extremely happy. I'm very happy with almost all of my Cabinet. And, you know, changes are made because they're always made, especially after midterms. But it's all fake news. It is I'm thrilled with the way the country is going. I think, on foreign, we're doing very well. We're making trade deals. We just made a deal with Mexico; we just made a deal with Canada; we just made a deal with South Korea that are phenomenal deals. And they were horrible deals before. Q But you seemed unhappy with the Mueller investigation, particularly yesterday morning. I'm just curious about that, sir. THE PRESIDENT: No, it's just a continuation. You can go. And there should have never been any Mueller investigation because there was never anything done wrong. There was no collusion; there never has been. You would have known about it a long time ago if there was. There was nothing they should have never had it. They've wasted millions and millions of dollars. There should have never been a so-called investigation, which, in theory, it's not an investigation of me. But it's, as far as I'm concerned, I like to take everything personally, because you do better that way. The witch hunt, as I call it, should never have taken place. It continues to go on. I imagine it's ending now. From what I hear, it's ending. And I'm sure it will be just fine. And you know why it's going to be just fine? Because there was no collusion. The fact is, I was a much better candidate than Hillary Clinton. I went to the right states; she went to the wrong states. She was not a good campaigner. Obviously, I campaigned very well. And I easily won the election and the Electoral College 306 I guess it was 306 to 223. That's a big difference. Q And you've provided answers, sir? THE PRESIDENT: About what? Q The Special Counsel. Your lawyers will (inaudible)? THE PRESIDENT: My lawyers aren't working on that. I'm working on that. I write the answers. My lawyers don't write answers; I write answers. I was asked a series of questions. I've answered them very easily. Very easily. I'm sure they're tricked up, because, you know, they like to catch people "Gee, you know, was the weather sunny or was it rainy?" "He said it may have been a good day; it was rainy, therefore he told a lie. He perjured himself." Okay? So you have to always be careful when you answer questions with people that probably have bad intentions. But, no, it's the questions were very routinely answered by me. By me. Okay? Q You mean the Special Counsel? THE PRESIDENT: To the Special yeah. Q And you submitted the answers yourself, you said. THE PRESIDENT: I haven't submitted them. Yeah, we just I just finished them. As you know, I've been a little bit busy. We've been in Europe. We've been working on various deals. We just finished the USMCA, if you look at that deal, which is one of the great trade deals. You'll see. I mean, you can see how happy our farmers are. We've done a lot of work in the last period of time, so we've been very busy. It's been very hard to find time. But it didn't take very long to do them. And they were my answers. I don't need lawyers to do that. Now, you need lawyers for submittal. You need lawyers to go over some of the answers. But they're not very difficult questions. Okay? Thank you very much, everybody. END 12:39 P.M. EST NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address https://www.aish.com/jw/id/Living-Under-Fire-in-Southern-Israel.html We moved here to build a good life and we are here to stay. Israelis in the south are recovering from a wave of terror after 500 rockets rained down on towns and cities in the most dangerous escalation in violence for four years. In the space of 48 hours, one person was killed, dozens of soldiers narrowly escaped a mortar strike on their bus - which left one badly wounded and around 50 citizens required hospital treatment for injuries, shock and smoke inhalation. Aharon Lavi (36) lives five kilometers from the Gaza border on Moshav Shuva with his wife Liat and four children aged 10, 8, 5, and 2. A house hit by rockets The first rockets were fired around 5pm, he told Aish.com. My wife was shopping in the nearby town of Netivot when the sirens sounded. She left her car for the cover of one of the many thick cement roadside shelters the municipality has put up all over the towns in the south and stayed there for an hour and a half with 15 others. We spent the night in our shelter hearing dozens of rockets being intercepted by the iron dome defense system and woke up to see debris had fallen around our moshav. In the border towns with Gaza theres a 10 to 15 seconds warning before a rocket strikes, and if its a mortar, no warning at all. Like many children in the south, one of Lavis daughters suffers from anxiety caused by the rocket fire. The IDF has issued special advice for parents to help children who suffer from stress, anxiety and trauma due to living under fire. Inside the Lavi safe room There are relaxation and breathing exercises but mainly its about reassuring my family that as long as we are following the instructions given to us by the army that we will be safe. Kibbutz Nirim is less than three kilometers from Gaza and is home to Adele Raemer who moved to Israel from New York in 1973. Her daughter and two of her grandchildren also live on the border. We had a few days of terrible uncertainty, she says, like a roller coaster you dont want to be on and cant get off. We had many hours in the safe room, but its most frightening when you have to go out. I had a doctors appointment one of the days when the rockets were falling. I was scared but I didnt want the terror to disrupt my life. Aharon Lavi A local English teacher, her school reopened after being closed for half the week. It is not easy to get back to normal routine after such a disruption. I dedicated our first class back on how the kids can be empowered by the situation. They wanted to talk about what had happened so we spoke it out and came up with some great ways of responding positively to the situation. Raemer herself set up a Facebook group called Life on the Border for residents to support each other and to show others around the world what the situation is like on the border. Hamas need to know that they have not succeeded in breaking our resolve On Moshav Shuva, Aharon Lavi is also clear about the most important message from the past week. Hamas need to know that they have not succeeded in breaking our resolve. No one I know is talking about leaving this area, we moved here to build a good life and we are here to stay. Over the last few days, along with the rocket fire, Lavis family has also seen an outpouring of support with over 15 invitations of hospitality from Israelis all over the country and non-stop messages of encouragement from Jewish people around the world. The support has been incredible, he says. Of course wed rather not have these problems, but far from weakening us, if anything this has just brought us closer together. The approach of the Jewish people is only to become stronger through adversity. To find out of ways to supporting communities and soldiers in Gaza border area visit www.jnf.org/menu-2/ways-to-help/ways-to-give/gaza-envelope To invite a speaker from the southern communities to visit your community and tell their story contact Arilavi@gmail.com Trump Defends Deployment of US Troops Sent to Southern Border By VOA News November 17, 2018 U.S. President Donald Trump again defended sending U.S. troops to the southern border with Mexico, questioning the migrants' motives for making the perilous journey, citing a strong U.S. economy. Speaking with reporters at the White House House Saturday morning before departing for California to tour the devastation from wildfires burning in the state, the president said, "Yeah, we have a tremendous military force in the south, on the border, on the southern border. We have large numbers of people trying to get into our country. I must say the reason it's increased so much is because we're doing so well as opposed to the rest of the world. And if you look at south of our border, it's not doing so well. "But regardless, we have millions of people on line to get into our country legally, and those people have preference. They have to have preference. They've been waiting for a long time, they've done it legally." Trump continued, "They're coming up and they're talking about, oh, their great fear, oh, their problems with their country, but they're all waving their country's flag. What is that all about? If they have such fear and such problems and they hate their country, why do we see all the flags being waved for Guatemala, for Honduras, for El Salvador? We're seeing flags all over the place. Why are they waving flags? This has nothing to do with asylum, this has to do with getting into our country illegally. And we have to know who wants to come into our country." The number of U.S. troops on the border with Mexico has reached its upper limit, top Pentagon officials said earlier this week. 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 this week, President 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 midweek 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 Honduras, is making its way through the state of Sonora and is expected to arrive soon in Tijuana. 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. VOA Pentagon Correspondent Carla Babb contributed to this story. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address China chides US to portray Silk Road plan as 'trap' Iran Press TV Sat Nov 17, 2018 09:52AM China's President Xi Jinping has rejected US criticism of Beijing's Belt and Road Initiative, saying it is not "a trap". "It is not designed to serve any hidden geopolitical agenda," Xi emphasized on Saturday in an address before a meeting of the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC). He was referring a massive infrastructure and development project spanning Southeast Asia, Central Asia, Africa, the Middle East and Africa. "It is not targeted against anyone, and it does not exclude anyone. Nor is it a trap, as some people have labelled it," Xi said. He further lashed out at "America First" trade protectionism and in an open criticism of Washington underlined that global trade rules should not be applied "with double standards or selfish agendas." The project is also known as Silk Road Economic Belt. Xi made the remarks at the APEC summit in Papua New Guinea, where US Vice President Mike Pence touched on the US-China trade dispute, saying that the Trump administration will not change course of tariffs until China "changes its ways." While Washington has imposed tariffs on $250 billion in Chinese imports, Beijing has slapped tariffs on $110 billion in imports from the US in retaliation, effectively halting its purchase of key US agricultural exports. US VP blasts China's Silk Road Initiative Pence began his speech at the summit by slamming China's Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), arguing that Chinese funding of infrastructure project is burdening developing nations with debt. He also claimed that US commitment to the Indo-Pacific had never been stronger. "The United States offers a better option. We don't drown our partners in a sea of debt," he further claimed. "We don't offer a constricting belt or a one-way road." Amid fears diplomatic and trade friction could spill over into the military sphere, the American vice president also vowed that the US would join forces with Australia in the development of a new naval base in the region. Also in an apparently deliberate move to irritate Beijing, Pence also arranged a meeting with Taiwan's APEC representative. China claims full sovereignty over Taiwan, which broke away from mainland China during a civil war in 1949. Almost all countries, including the US, have recognized that sovereignty under a policy known as "One China." Pence also tried to lure Pacific nations into embracing the United States, which he claimed did not offer a "constricting belt or a one-way road", in a scornful reference to the BRI. The senior US official further alleged that the terms of China's loans were "opaque at best" and "too often, they come with strings attached and lead to staggering debt." "Do not accept foreign debt that could compromise your sovereignty," he said. "We don't drown our partners in a sea of debt... We don't coerce, corrupt, or compromise your independence. The United States deals openly and fairly." Xi, however, denied Pence's remarks, warning that no one would gain from escalating tensions between Washington and Beijing. "History has shown that confrontation -- whether in the form of a cold war, hot war or trade war -- will produce no winners," he further emphasized. Xi also urged the world to "say no to protectionism and unilateralism," describing it as a "short-sighted approach" that was "doomed to failure." NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address 'Strike Enemies by Surprise': Chinese Army to Go Beyond Self-Defence Report Sputnik News 17:17 17.11.2018 The announcement came after Chinese President Xi Jinping pledged to complete the modernisation of the country's military by 2035 and to transform it into a world-class fighting force by 2050. The rapid development of land warfare and technology in the 21st century should not prevent China's ground forces from moving beyond a strategy of simple self-defence, the South China Morning Post (SCMP) cited the People's Liberation Army (PLA) as saying in a commentary on its social media account. The article also underscored the importance of bolstering closer cooperation with the air force and the strengthening of cyberwarfare capabilities in response to "evolving threats on new battlefields." "Proactive planning could break a passive situation and completely control the outcome of warfare. If a land war is fought according to pre-designed plans, troops [] can strike enemies by surprise and make maximum use of weaponry, bringing the possibility of victory closer by leaps and bounds," the commentary emphasized. Additionally, the PLA touched upon the "inevitable" use of unmanned aerial vehicles which could supply planners with real-time battlefield information and remain in the air for days at a time as "technology changed the face of combat". In this vein, the SCMP quoted Hong Kong-based military commentator Song Zhongping as saying that future warfare may see Chinese ground forces fighting "on islands or deep in the mountains, thus requiring the army to better master the ability to better collaborate with other military services". Speaking a Chinese Communist Party Congress back in 2016, Chinese President Xi Jinping pledged to transform the country's army into a world-class fighting force by 2050. He stressed that China must build powerful ground forces, an ocean-going navy, a modern air force, a strong rocket force and a capable strategic support force. Furthermore, he added, the military must have strong joint operations capabilities between theatres and a modern combat system with "distinctive Chinese characteristics." Sputnik NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Xi calls for inclusive, rule-based world economy at APEC meeting People's Daily Online (Xinhua) 08:03, November 18, 2018 PORT MORESBY, Nov. 17 (Xinhua) -- Chinese President Xi Jinping stressed the importance of building an open, inclusive, innovative and rule-based world economy while addressing the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) CEO Summit here on Saturday. In a keynote speech to the business leaders, Xi urged the international community to hold on to the right direction of world economy and work out an efficient global governance system. SAME SHIP "As we brave the rough waters of the global economy and confront the many risks and challenges, it is all too befitting that we have come together on this ship to chart the course for future development and cooperation," Xi said on board cruise ship Pacific Explorer in the Papua New Guinea (PNG) capital of Port Moresby, where the summit was held. While achieving its own development, China will make greater contributions to helping countries around the world realize shared prosperity, Xi said. In April next year, China will host the second Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation in Beijing, the Chinese president announced, adding that the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) is a major and transparent initiative with which China shares opportunities and pursues common development with the rest of the world. "Mankind has once again reached a crossroads," he said. "Which direction should we choose? Cooperation or confrontation? Openness or closing one's door? Win-win progress or a zero-sum game? The interests of all countries and indeed, the future of mankind hinge on the choice we make." Recalling the establishment of APEC, Xi said its birth and growth echoed the historical trend of openness and integration, the region's fervent desire for development and the people's need to meet challenges through cooperation. Today's Asia-Pacific has the world's most dynamic and promising economy, which is recognized as a key engine driving global growth, he said. "The world today is going through major development, transformation and change. While economic globalization surges forward, global growth is shadowed by protectionism and unilateralism," said the Chinese president. A new revolution in science, technology and industry is in the making; but old driving forces are yet to be replaced by new ones, Xi said. The international landscape is undergoing profound changes, but imbalance in development is yet to be addressed, he said, adding that the reform of the global governance system is gathering momentum, but improving its efficiency remains a major challenge. XI'S PROPOSALS The Chinese president made a five-pronged proposal on world economic development and global governance. First, it is advisable that the economies focus on openness to create more space for development. He called for efforts to build a free trade area of the Asia-Pacific (FTAAP). "We should say no to protectionism and unilateralism, uphold the WTO-centered multilateral trading system, make economic globalization more open, inclusive, balanced and beneficial to all, and expand converging interests and share opportunities through opening-up and cooperation," he said. Secondly, it is advisable to focus on development to deliver more benefits to the peoples, Xi said. The economies should strengthen cooperation and help developing countries eliminate poverty so that people in all countries will live better lives. "This is what fairness is essentially about," Xi said. He also called on the economies to make the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development a part of their national development strategies and forge equal and balanced global development partnerships. Developed countries should honor their commitments on official development assistance and increase support to developing countries, he said. The principle of "special and differential treatment," which is a cornerstone of the WTO, is not to be challenged. Otherwise the very foundation of the multilateral trading system will be shaken, he said. Thirdly, the economies should focus on inclusiveness and promote interactions. Diversity and interaction between different civilizations, social systems and paths can provide strong impetus for human progress, he said. "We should reject arrogance and prejudice, be respectful of and inclusive toward others, and embrace the diversity of our world," he said, adding that "we should seek common ground while putting aside differences, draw upon each other's strengths and pursue co-existence in harmony and win-win cooperation." When it comes to choosing a development path for a country, no one is in a better position to make the decision than the people of that country, he said. Fourthly, the economies should focus on innovation to tap new sources of growth, Xi said. "What we should do is to lose no time in making every effort to explore new growth drivers and development paths, and remove all institutional obstacles holding back innovation," he said. He called on the economies to boost innovation and market vitality, steer the new scientific revolution and industrial transformation in the right direction, foster an enabling environment for international cooperation that will deliver the fruits of innovation to more countries and peoples. Fifthly, the economies should focus on a rules-based approach to improve global governance. "We should advance the reform of the global governance system on the principle of conducting consultation and collaboration for shared benefits," he said. This reform should be advanced on the basis of equality, openness, transparency and inclusiveness, he said, adding that developing countries should have more say and greater representation in this process. CHINESE COMMITMENT Over the past 40 years, the Chinese people, with vision, hard work and perseverance, have forged ahead and taken a historic stride, Xi said. "We have stood up, become prosperous and grown in strength. We the Chinese nation are moving forward toward great rejuvenation," he said. With enterprise and grit and through self-reliance, the people have turned China into the world's second biggest economy, he said. "It is the relentless efforts of the Chinese people that have made China what it is today." Over the past 40 years, the Chinese people have embraced the world with open arms, Xi said, China has pursued its development through opening-up. As a result, Xi noted, China has become the world's biggest trader of goods, the biggest tourism market and a major trading partner with over 130 countries. The Chinese people have pursued development with a single focus and made lives better for ourselves, he said. Guided by a people-centered development philosophy, China has made remarkable achievements which make the people now feel more secure and have a greater sense of fulfillment and contentment, he said. Xi said that the Chinese people have pursued their own development to achieve development for all. China has stayed on the path of peaceful development, got actively involved in global economic governance, and actively supported other developing countries in their development, he said. Xi said China has implemented responsible macroeconomic policies and contributed a significant share of global growth, and that the country has played its part in responding to the Asian financial crisis and the global financial crisis. By so doing, China has contributed its vision and input to building a community with a shared future for mankind, Xi said. "As we look back over the four decades of reform and opening-up, we in China are more convinced than ever before that only through reform and opening-up can China develop itself," Xi said. Going forward, China will take an even more responsible approach, be even more open and inclusive, and strive to achieve even higher quality of growth, he said. "By doing so, as it develops itself, China will make greater contributions to the common prosperity of the world," he said. Xi pledged that China will continue to significantly expand market access, strengthen IPR protection, and do more to increase imports, adding that China views all companies, both Chinese and foreign, as equals. "China welcomes and encourages fair competition among them, and will fully protect their legitimate rights and interests," Xi said. Recalling the first China International Import Expo (CIIE) successfully held in Shanghai a week ago, the president said with such actual steps, China has demonstrated its commitment to trade liberalization and opening-up of its market. "I wish to welcome you all to the second CIIE to be held next year," he said. "I am confident that the large market of China, with a population of close to 1.4 billion, will be a source of dynamic growth for the global economy." Calling the business community "an important force" driving the economic development of the Asia-Pacific and the wider world, Xi urged the business leaders to continue to share their insights with decision makers, encourage countries to adopt positive and practical policies and carry out extensive economic and technological cooperation. "Together, we can open a new horizon for the common development and prosperity of the Asia-Pacific and the world at large," Xi said. "Let us keep the steering wheel steady and paddle in the right direction so that the ship of the global economy will brave winds, break waves and sail to a brighter future," he said. Later on the day, Xi also attended a dialogue between APEC leaders and representatives from the APEC Business Advisory Council, and exchanged with them views on building an open world economy and jointly building the Belt and Road. Xi arrived here Thursday to pay a state visit to PNG and attend the APEC Economic Leaders' Meeting. PNG is the first stop of Xi's ongoing Asia-Pacific tour, which will also take him to Brunei and the Philippines. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Chinese President intends to visit North Korea next year, South Korea says Iran Press TV Sat Nov 17, 2018 03:52PM Chinese President Xi Jinping has announced his intention to visit neighboring North Korea next year in response to an official invitation from North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, South Korea says. According to a statement by the South's presidential office on Saturday, the Chinese leader made the comment during a bilateral meeting with his South Korean counterpart Moon Jae-in earlier in the day on the sidelines of the Asia Pacific Economic Co-operation (APEC) summit being held in Papua New Guinea. At a briefing after a bilateral meeting, Kim Eui-kyeom, spokesperson for South Korea's presidential office, quoted Xi as saying that he would "make time" to visit North Korea next year. The spokesperson also quoted Xi as saying that Beijing would continue to play a constructive role in building peace on the Korean Peninsula. Kim Jong-un has visited China twice this year. He first visited China in late March, his first ever trip out of North Korea, officially known as the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK), since coming into power in 2011. He made his second trip on May 7, less than a month after Pyongyang declared that it would suspend its nuclear and missile tests and dismantle a nuclear test site. Xi, however, has never travelled to the North as president and his expected visit to the neighboring country would make him the first Chinese leader to do so since 2005, when his predecessor, Hu Jintao, visited Pyongyang. Xi travelled to North Korea in 2008 as a vice president. As an array of crippling sanctions still pressure North Korea for its nuclear and ballistic missile tests, Beijing remains Pyongyang's sole major ally and a key economic lifeline for the peninsular country. The visit would further highlight efforts by the Cold War-era allies to improve ties that had chilled as Beijing has supported the UN sanctions over the North's controversial weapon programs. In light of South Korean rapprochement and heightened US diplomatic activity since January, Pyongyang has stressed that denuclearization will have to be accompanied by equally motivating US measures, primarily the removal of sanctions. The North has firmly defended its military program as a deterrent against hostile US policies along with its regional allies, South Korea and Japan. On Friday, North Korean state media declared that Kim Jong-un had taken part in his first publicized weapons test since the country's test-launch of an ICBM last November. Observers believe the simultaneous weapons test and detainee release may signal that North Korea is frustrated with the pace of US peace talks while seeking to keep channels open for future negotiations. In the past month, North Korea has continuously denounced what it calls "confidence-destroying measures", warning that it may resume nuclear development if sanctions imposed by Washington remain. The United Nations Security Council has supported the sanctions since 2006 to choke off funding for the North's nuclear and ballistic missile programs. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Washington Under Pressure to Ease North Korean Sanctions By Christy Lee November 17, 2018 Washington faces mounting pressure from China, Russia and South Korea, as well as humanitarian groups, to ease sanctions on North Korea as the Trump administration's denuclearization talks with Pyongyang have hit a snag. Washington's talks with Pyongyang stalled last week when North Korea abruptly canceled a scheduled meeting with Secretary of State Mike Pompeo amid U.S. efforts to maintain sanctions while engaging in diplomatic negotiations with the country. South Korean President Moon Jae-in is expected to bring up the issue of relaxing North Korean sanctions when he meets with Chinese President Xi Jinping during their scheduled meeting at the sidelines of Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit in Papua New Guinea on Saturday as an attempt to revive the stagnant denuclearization talks. On Thursday, Vice President Mike Pence said President Donald Trump is expected to ask Xi to continue enforcing sanctions on North Korea when he meets with him later this month at the Group of 20 meeting in Buenos Aires. Sanctions eased? The U.S.-China Economic and Security Review Commission said in its annual report released this week that China appears to have eased implementing sanctions on North Korea. Last week, U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Nikki Haley rejected the Russian request to ease sanctions on North Korea during a closed-door U.N. Security Council meeting called by Russia. Haley said North Korea still has "their facilities, they have still not allowed inspectors to go and inspect the nuclear facility or the ballistic missile facility. And as long as that's happening, we need to stay the course." Calls for easing sanctions on North Korea also come from humanitarian groups, a move that could lead China, Russia and South Korea to pressure the United States, Ken Gause, director of the International Affairs Group, said. In October, a group of U.S.-based nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) sent a letter to Trump requesting him to "modify [the U.S.] sanctions regulations" and ease the travel ban against North Korea "to allow timely delivery of humanitarian aid and other NGO engagement" with the country. Also in October, the U.N. Sanctions Committee on North Korea granted the United Nations International Children's Emergency Fund (UNICEF) a partial exemption from sanctions on North Korea, permitting the organization "to engage in humanitarian activities" and "to allow for the shipment of items to [North Korea]." Responding to the U.N. sanctions exemption, a State Department official said in an email to VOA's Korean Service earlier this week, "We continue to support life-saving aid needed by vulnerable [North Korean] citizens to combat transnational threats." Concrete steps Experts warn that Washington should not ease sanctions imposed on North Korea until it takes concrete steps toward denuclearization. "It would be premature to ease sanctions at this point," said Troy Stangarone, senior director of the Korea Economic Institute. "North Korea has yet to provide a denuclearization of its nuclear program or take substantive steps to dismantle its program." William Newcomb, a former U.S. Treasury official who was on the U.N. Security Council's Panel of Experts on North Korea, said North Korea needs to take several key steps toward denuclearization before any sanctions could be lifted. "There are a number of actions [North Korea] could undertake to demonstrate a commitment to getting rid of [weapons of mass destruction] and prohibit missile capability, such as withdrawal from proliferation activities and providing detailed, verifiable information on programs and locations," Newcomb said. "Should such steps be taken, then reconsideration of some measures would be appropriate." William Brown, a former U.S. intelligence official and a professor at Georgetown University who focuses on the North Korean economy, said suspending production of fissile nuclear material is the essential first step that North Korea needs to take toward complete denuclearization that would prompt sanctions relief. "The financial and more general trade restrictions should remain until Pyongyang moves toward permanent reduction and ultimate elimination of its nuclear weapons," Brown said. 'Snap back' sanctions Robert Manning, a senior fellow at the Atlantic Council, said, "The U.S. can suspend some sanctions (to be negotiated) in exchange for agreed-upon steps of denuclearization." Manning continued, "This could be done by getting a new U.N. Security Council resolution that commits 'snap back' sanctions if North Korea fails to comply." Snap back refers to the restoration of lifted sanctions if North Korea falls short of reaching its denuclearization agreements. Gause, of the International Affairs Group, said he believes Washington will ease sanctions only when it thinks sanctions are ineffective. "The U.S. will relax sanctions once the U.S. comes to terms that the sanctions are not really working on North Korea," he said. Jonathan Schanzer, a former Treasury Department official and currently a senior vice president at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies, said, "The key to success, to the extent that success is possible, is to sustain sanctions pressure while negotiating simultaneously." In an interview with NBC News on Thursday, Pence said a second summit between Trump and Kim Jong Un, 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. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address India Requests Purchase of 24 Anti-Submarine Helicopters From US - Reports Sputnik News 21:44 17.11.2018(updated 21:46 17.11.2018) MOSCOW (Sputnik) - India has sent to the United States a request for an urgent acquisition of 24 anti-submarine multi-purpose Sikorsky MH-60R helicopters for its naval forces, the PTI agency reported on Saturday, citing informed sources. According to the agency, the dim of the contract with the United States will be about $2 billion. It is expected that the transaction will be concluded within a few months, it added. The reports come after New Delhi approved the purchase of 24 US anti-submarine helicopters in August. They are designed to replace Sea King helicopters, which have been in service with the Indian Navy for over 30 years. Sputnik NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Iran, Iraq committed to win-win relations: FM Zarif Iran Press TV Sat Nov 17, 2018 06:25PM Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif has expressed his delight at the current visit by Iraqi President Barham Salih and his accompanying delegation to Tehran, saying Iran and Iraq are committed to win-win cooperation. "Constructive exchanges on next steps to work together towards regional peace & security," Zarif said in a post on his official Twitter account on Saturday. "Strong, shared commitment to win-win in all neighborly relations. Our priority is our region," he added. Salih arrived in Tehran on Saturday at the head of a delegation for a two-day visit, which comes at a sensitive time when the US is pressuring regional countries to go along with Washington in "squeezing" Iran under new sanctions unveiled early this month. But Iraqi officials have protested to the dictate and underlined Iran's importance, including its place as the top trade partner of the Arab country. The newly-elected Iraqi president said on November 11 that it was in his country's best interests to have "good and stable relations" with Iran, urging the US to consider Baghdad's political and economic position in talks about imposed sanctions on Iran. "Iran is a neighboring country and our interest lies in having good and stable relations with Iran," Salih said while speaking to reporters during a visit to Kuwait. US, allies will fail to harm Iran-Iraq relations: Shamkhani During a meeting with the visiting Iraqi president, Secretary of Iran's Supreme National Security Council (SNSC) Ali Shamkhani said Tehran and Baghdad enjoyed broad and strategic relations in various political, economic, social and cultural sectors. "Different plots by the US and some reactionary countries in the region to harm cordial relations between the two nations will lead nowhere," Shamkhani said. He added that the US was making constant efforts to support the remnants of terrorist groups in Iraq, saying, "Now that a US strategy to use terrorism as a tool in order to destroy the great potentiality and capacities of regional countries has failed, Washington seeks to use the lever of sanctions and exert direct pressure on independent countries." The SNSC secretary added that Iran had always stood by Iraqi people without any expectation and emphasized that the Islamic Republic's policy was to firmly support Iraqis' demands and tap into common political, economic, cultural and security capacities for the sake of Iraq's development, particularly after the country's victory against terrorism. Shamkhani added that nothing should hinder the growing relations between Iran and Iraq in all fields. The Iraqi president, for his part, said his country was sensitive about measures against regional security and destructive moves by some regional countries aimed at causing instability and insecurity in Iraq or weakening nations by imposing illegal sanctions against them. Iraq would firmly counter any move which would harm unity between the two countries, Salih added. He also emphasized that Iraq would not allow anyone to use his country to endanger Iran's interests. In an earlier meeting with Salih, Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei slammed foreign meddling in Iraq, saying the Arab country must stand firm against its enemies. "The way to overcome problems and counter ill-wishers' plots is to preserve national unity in Iraq, properly recognize friends from foes, stand up to the brazen enemy, rely on youths and maintain and strengthen links with the [clerical] sources [of emulation]," the Leader said. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Iran urges UN to take stance against US violations Iran Press TV Sat Nov 17, 2018 06:59AM Gholam-Ali Khoshroo, Iran's outgoing ambassador to the United Nations, has called on the world body to take an official stance against what he described as America's evasion of the international law. Khoshroo made the call in a meeting with UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres. He also urged Guterres to take an adequate position toward Washington's move to restore sanctions against Iran, IRNA reported. Apart from the sanctions, the Iranian envoy said the UN needed to take action against America's move to unilaterally withdraw from its 2015 multi-lateral nuclear deal with Iran in May even though it had been approved by the UN Security Council as Resolution 2231 and respecting its contents were to be mandatory by all parties, including Iran and the US. Khoshroo called it unprecedented in the world body's history that a permanent member of the UN Security Council - like the US - would seek to punish other UN members - like Iran - for remaining committed to a Security Council resolution. He further denounced US efforts to threaten other nations with "secondary sanctions" if they breached the sanctions against Iran. "The international community should stand up to these arbitrary and extra-judicial actions," Khoshroo was quoted as saying. He also described the Saudi-led attacks on Yemen as a "profound humanitarian catastrophe," and called for efforts to help end the war and begin the process of political reconciliation among the concerned parties. Guterres, for his part, emphasized the need for "multilateralism" in the face of international issues, and hoped that the war on Yemen come to an end and the resulting humanitarian catastrophe be stemmed soon. The meeting was concluded by the outgoing Iranian envoy's presenting the UN chief with a hand-woven tapestry featuring the latter's portrait to be displayed at the world body's permanent exhibition. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Over two dozen Daesh remnants slain in Iraqi army airstrikes, ground operations Iran Press TV Sat Nov 17, 2018 01:56PM More than two dozen members of the Daesh Takfiri terrorist group have been killed as Iraqi air forces and government troops launched separate counter-terrorism operations across the crisis-hit Arab country to flush out the last remnants of the extremist outfit. Major Alaa al-Saadi from Diyala Operations Command said four Daesh Takfiris were killed when Iraqi military aircraft targeted a militant hideout in Hamrin basin, situated 90 kilometers north of Baqubah. Saadi added that Iraqi forces were continuing their surveillance operations across the area to track remaining Daesh militants and destroy their positions. Separately, a security source, speaking on condition of anonymity, told the independent Arabic-language National Iraqi News Agency that members of the Federal Police force, backed by Iraqi Air Force jets, carried out numerous operations in the Badush and Hatra districts of the northern province of Nineveh, killing over 20 Daesh terrorists in the process. The source warned that sleeper cells of the extremist group were still active in some parts of Nineveh. Former Iraqi prime minister Haider al-Abadi declared the end of military operations against Daesh in the Arab country on December 9, 2017. On July 10 that year, he formally declared victory over Daesh in Mosul, which served as the terrorists' main urban stronghold in Iraq. In the run-up to Mosul's liberation, Iraqi army soldiers and volunteer Hashd al-Sha'abi fighters had made sweeping gains against Daesh. Iraqi forces took control of eastern Mosul in January 2017 after 100 days of fighting, and launched the battle in the west on February 19 last year. Daesh began a terror campaign in Iraq in 2014, overrunning vast swathes in lightning attacks. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Iraq Resumes Oil Exports From Kirkuk Under U.S. Pressure November 17, 2018 Under pressure from Washington, Iraq has restarted exports of oil from Kirkuk that were halted a year ago due to a standoff between the central government and Iraq's Kurdish semiautonomous region. The U.S. government has been urging both sides to settle a dispute over the oil and resume flows to help address a shortage of Iranian crude after Washington imposed sanctions on Tehran's oil sector last week. U.S. State Department spokeswoman Heather Nauert said on Twitter on November 16 that the resumption of exports of Kirkuk oil was "another important step in our efforts to reduce Iran's oil exports." Washington granted Baghdad a 45-day waiver from the sanctions as long as it came up with a plan to wean itself off of Iranian-imported gas and electricity. Flows resumed at a modest level of around 50,000-60,000 barrels per day compared with a peak of 300,000 barrels seen last year, industry sources said. The Kirkuk crude is being exported to the Turkish Mediterranean port of Ceyhan through a pipeline crossing the Kurdish province. A spokesman for Iraq's Oil Ministry, Asim Jihad, confirmed exports had restarted, adding that an agreement had been reached to resume flows at 50,000-100,000 barrels a day. "The resumption of Kirkuk shipments of between 50,000 and 100,000 barrels per day will not add to Iraq's total exports," Jihad said. Iraq is the OPEC oil cartel's second-largest exporter at 4.5 billion barrels per day. Oil exports make up almost all of the government's revenue, bringing in $8.5 billion last month. Based on reporting by Reuters and AFP Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/iraq-resumes-export-oil -kirkuk-kurdish-region-under-us-pressure -iran-sanctions/29605576.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 The Week In Russia: War, Peace, And A Presidential Back-Pat In Paris By Steve Gutterman November 16, 2018 Vladimir Putin made brief contact with U.S. President Donald Trump in Paris, where world leaders marked the centenary of the end of the "war to end all wars" -- while wars involving Russia continue in Syria and eastern Ukraine. As Putin moved on to Asia, the European Court of Human Rights handed him a defeat in his ongoing showdown with Aleksei Navalny. And following his travels abroad, Putin returned to a country struggling to protect itself against Western sanctions without strangling economic growth. Here are some of the key developments in Russia over the past week and some of the takeaways going forward. A Presidential 'Broment' Putin can probably be pleased with his trip to Paris for the Armistice Day ceremonies on the centenary of the end of World War I: He hobnobbed with dozens of world leaders and made brief but visible contact with Trump -- not a summit or even a meeting, but enough for a positive portrayal on state TV at home and for the Western media -- amid tension between Trump and European leaders including the host, French President Emmanuel Macron -- to take notice. Deep behind what might be described as enemy lines, given the adversarial flavor of relations between Moscow and the West in recent years and months, Putin also avoided direct vocal censure over his country's ample involvement in at least two wars causing death, destruction, and despair 100 years after the "war to end all wars." One of them -- in the coalfields of eastern Ukraine, where Russia-backed separatists have been fighting Kyiv's forces since 2014 and a cease-fire is routinely violated -- is the only war now being waged on the European continent. But there is no sign of a big breakthrough for Putin on the international stage -- the easing of sanctions, for instance. And at this early stage in a six-year term that could be his last, there seems to be little happening at home that is cause for joy for the Russian president. The economy is troubled and his approval rating has fallen, thrusting up more clouds on the horizon and adding to questions about what awaits the country as 2024, when his time in the Kremlin is due to end, draws closer. After White House national-security adviser John Bolton visited Moscow and met with Putin in the Kremlin, it looked like the World War I armistice ceremonies might be overshadowed by a big meeting between the U.S. and Russian presidents. It soon became clear that that would not happen, with the Kremlin talking about a "stand-up" meeting on the sidelines and Trump saying he might not talk to Putin at all. In the end, Putin may have gotten as much as he could realistically ask from the trip, or at least from his interaction with Trump. It boiled down mainly to a few seconds of contact when Putin, striding in late as usual, joined other leaders for a November 11 ceremony at the Arc de Triomphe: A brief moment -- or "broment" -- but one that attracted plenty of attention. "The only leader [Trump] seemed to connect with at the Armistice ceremony wasPutin," Robin Wright wrote in The New Yorker. Others -- albeit presumably jokingly -- read much more into the encounter, in which the two smiled and Putin gave Trump a thumbs-up and a soft clap on the arm in response to the U.S. president's pat on the back. 'Agent Donald' Dmitry Smirnov, a Kremlin pool reporter whose tweets often operate as Russian propaganda, posted a photo of the encounter with the caption: "Never before has agent Donald been so close to failure." A tweet from Michael Hayden, a former CIA and National Security Agency director and a vocal critic of Trump, seemed to be rooted in the same notion: "Brush pass with his handler?" the retired U.S. Air Force general asked. Now Trump and Putin are expected to meet for substantive talks -- though just how substantive remains unclear -- on the sidelines of a G20 summit on November 30-December 1 in Buenos Aires. In the meantime, Russian media outlets blamed Macron for the brevity of their encounters in Paris, suggesting he was hell-bent on keeping them apart. "Macron separated Putin and Trump," Smirnov tweeted with a photograph of the leaders seated at a long table for lunch on November 11. "At the last minute the French moved Trump's seat to the opposite [side of the table] from Putin." Still, that didn't stop state-run news agency RIA Novosti from portraying the talk at a table of 20 or more as a more intimate conversation with Trump that, in Putin's words, went "well." White House spokeswoman Sarah Sanders later said the Trump and world leaders including Putin discussed issues including nuclear weapons, Syria, trade, the situation in Saudi Arabia, sanctions, Afghanistan, China, and North Korea." There was little if any public criticism of Putin over Russia's role in Syria, where Moscow has given President Bashar al-Assad crucial support in a war that has killed hundreds of thousands of his people. 'Sham 'Elections'' And there was apparently no discussion at lunch of the war in Ukraine or even the elections -- or "sham 'elections'," as the U.S. State Department put it -- being held that very day in the portions of eastern Ukraine held by Russia-backed separatists. Putin also got some good news from the United States, where key senators said Congress was not expected to pass legislation on new sanctions in 2018. But while Putin may have had a good trip to France, some of the most prominent tycoons in the Russian elite may find themselves frozen out of one of their favorite events abroad come January: the annual World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland. And Putin -- who traveled to Southeast Asia after Paris for a regional summit that Trump skipped, and tried a shoulder-clap on Vice President Mike Pence in Singapore -- returned home with no sign of a respite from the Western sanctions that are already in place. Minsk Matters That's in part due to the balloting in the Donbas, which Bloomberg Opinion columnist Leonid Bershidsky cited as "further evidence the Kremlin plans to hang onto the territories" held by the Russia-backed separatists there. The person elected to head the separatists in Donetsk, Denis Pushilin, seemed to add weight to that interpretation when he declared that the "course toward the Russian Federation will be continued" and contended, "We have already learned to live without Ukraine." And in another sign that there is little chance the Donbas conflict will end soon, Putin made clear he's hoping for change in Kyiv's stance after a presidential election in late March -- drawing an angry response from President Petro Poroshenko, who accused him of meddling in the contest before it has even begun. In Paris, Poroshenko met with Macron and German Chancellor Angela Merkel, who brokered the largely unimplemented February 2015 cease-fire and conflict-settlement deal known as Minsk II. But Putin said there was no point in another of the four-way meetings he has held with them to discuss the conflict, blaming Kyiv for the lack of progress toward peace. Kyiv blames Russia, as does the United States and much of the West. "Russia incorrectly claims Ukraine has failed to implement the Minsk agreements. The reality is the opposite," the U.S. special envoy for the conflict, Paul Volker, tweeted on November 11. "The so-called 'People's Republics' have no place in the Minsk agreements and are illegitimate tools supported by Russia's military might and created by Russia to administer Ukrainian territory it controls by force," Volker wrote in another tweet. Sanctions Bite In Singapore, Putin defiantly said that sanctions cannot stop Russia's cannot stop Russia's economic or "technological development" -- harking back to his calls, in both a March 1 state-of-the-nation speech and his inauguration address in May, for a technological "breakthrough" that would bolster the economy and improve living standards. Two reports from Bloomberg this past week suggest he could be wrong. One of them said that while spending cuts, tight monetary policies, and prudent use of oil revenues are helping to "limit the fallout" from possible future U.S. sanctions, government statistics show "it's all coming at the expense of economic growth." The other said that "sanctions may have knocked as much as 6 percent off Russia's economy over the past four years," and that the negative effect is likely to persist. Surprisingly for some, at least, it said sanctions had been a heavier drag on the economy than oil-price fluctuations in the past half-decade -- "the bigger culprit" behind a finding that Russia's economy is 10 percent smaller than might have been predicted in 2013. Apres Vous By the way, Putin wasn't the only Russian politician in France this past week. In a kind of postscript to Putin's visit, a man who would like to replace him opposition firebrand Aleksei Navalny -- traveled to Strasbourg to hear the European Court of Human Rights ruling on his claim that the Russian state violated many of his fundamental rights by arresting and jailing him repeatedly in recent years. It took Navalny two tries to get out of Russia , but he presumably believes it was worth the effort. The court ruled that several of his arrests in 2012-14 were unlawful, arbitrary, and -- as Navalny noted in a celebratory tweet -- politically motivated. Navalny's arrests, the court said, were not "necessary in a democratic society." Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/the-week-in-russia -war-peace-and-a-presidential-back- pat-in-paris/29604648.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 US Officials: CIA Concludes Saudi Prince Ordered Journalist's Killing By VOA News November 16, 2018 The Central Intelligence Agency has concluded that Saudi's Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman ordered the killing of journalist Jamal Khashoggi, according to U.S. officials. The assessment by the CIA, first reported by The Washington Post Friday, contradicts that of Saudi Arabia, whose top prosecutor one day earlier exonerated the crown prince in the killing. U.S. officials say the CIA concluded that 15 Saudi agents flew in a Saudi government aircraft to Istanbul and assassinated Khashoggi in the Saudi consulate. Khashoggi, who wrote for The Washington Post and was a critic of the Saudi crown prince, was killed at the Saudi consulate in Istanbul in October while he was trying to get documents for his planned marriage to a Turkish woman. Saudi ambassador denies call The Post said the CIA based its conclusion on multiple sources of intelligence, including a phone call that the prince's brother, Khalid bin Salman, who is also the Saudi ambassador to the United States, had with Khashoggi. In the phone call, Khalid told Khashoggi that it would be safe for him to go the Saudi consulate in Istanbul to retrieve the documents for his marriage. The paper said it was not known whether Khalid knew Khashoggi would be killed. Khalid denied he had spoken with Khashoggi in a tweet Friday. "The last contact I had with Mr. Khashoggi was via text on Oct. 26, 2017. I never talked to him by phone and certainly never suggested he go to Turkey for any reason. I ask the U.S. government to release any information regarding this claim,'' he said. US sanctions Saudi officials say the killing of Khashoggi was accidental and say that officials were trying to force Khashoggi to return to the kingdom. Turkish officials have said the killing was intentional and have been pressing Saudi Arabia to allow those responsible to be tried in Turkey. The Trump administration this week sanctioned 17 Saudi officials for their alleged role in the killing. However, some U.S. lawmakers have called on the White House to do more, including reducing the sale of arms to Saudi Arabia. President Donald Trump has said the Saudi government has tried to cover up the killing and has said "the cover-up was one of the worst cover-ups in the history of cover-ups." However, Trump has resisted calls to reduce arms sales to Saudi Arabia. The U.S. president has sought closer ties with Saudi Arabia to counter Iranian influence in the Middle East as well as to increase arms trade deals between Washington and Riyadh. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address CIA reportedly concludes MBS ordered Khashoggi assassination IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency Tehran, Nov 17, IRNA -- The CIA has found that Saudi Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman ordered the assassination of Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi in Istanbul last month, directly contradicting claims to the contrary by the Saudi government, the Washington Post has reported. Citing people familiar with the matter, the Post reported that the CIA arrived at its conclusion after examining a variety of evidence, including a phone call between Khashoggi and the Crown Prince's brother, Khalid, who is also the Saudi Ambassador to the United States. It was he who told the journalist he must go to Istanbul to obtain the necessary paperwork to marry his Turkish fiancee. When Khashoggi arrived at the Saudi consulate in Istanbul on October 2, he never left. Among the other evidence considered was the infamous recording of Khashoggi's final moments that Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan boasted of having, proving the journalist was dead long before the Saudi government would admit it. The recording came from a listening device placed in the embassy by Turkish intelligence, the recording of which they gave to CIA Director Gina Haspel. In addition, a phone call was made after the killing by Maher Mutreb, believed to be a member of the hit squad, to Saud Al-Qahtani, one of Mohammad bin Salman's top advisers, to inform him the deed had been done. The CIA obtained a recording of that call. On Thursday, the US Treasury introduced sanctions of 17 Saudi nationals implicated in the journalist's slaying: 15 believed to have formed the hit squad, plus Qahtani and his number 2. 'The accepted position is that there is no way this happened without him being aware or involved,' a source told the paper. A spokesperson for the Saudi Embassy in Washington, DC, dismissed the CIA's conclusions as 'false.' 'We have and continue to hear various theories without seeing the primary basis for these speculations,' said spokesperson Fatimah Beshen, denying that Khalid and Khashoggi ever discussed Istanbul in their phone call. While the CIA's findings correlate with those made by Ankara, they clash not only with those made by Riyadh but also the Trump administration's own position on the issue. On Thursday, US State Department spokesperson Heather Nauert told reporters the US wasn't ready to make a determination on the narrative for Khashoggi's assassination. 'We continue to get the information, and we will analyze and make determinations as we get additional information,' Nauert said, Sputnik reported. The Saudi government has characterized Khashoggi's death as a rogue operation and detained 21 suspects, charging 11 of them. Many of the names overlap with those sanctioned by the US Treasury. The Saudi chief prosecutor reported that Khashoggi died when he was jumped in the consulate, 'forcibly restrained, and injected with a large amount of a drug resulting in an overdose that led to his death.' 1396**1396 NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Trump talks to CIA chief on Khashoggi killing as Washington remains clueless about Saudi plot Iran Press TV Sat Nov 17, 2018 10:03PM US President Donald Trump has spoken with CIA Director Gina Haspel about the role of Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman in the assassination of dissident journalist Jamal Khashoggi in Turkey. Trump told reporters on the South Lawn of the White House on Saturday that "We haven't been briefed yet." The president had already been shown evidence of the prince's involvement in the killing, and privately he remains skeptical, according to an unnamed Trump aide talking to The Washington Post. The US president has reportedly been trying to avoid blaming the crown prince for the embarrassing plot and cover-up. Trump spoke with Haspel and Secretary of State Mike Pompeo during his flight to California. The CIA has reportedly concluded with high confidence that bin Mohammed was behind the killing at the Saudi consulate in Istanbul last month. US lawmakers and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan maintain that the crown prince and other top Saudi leaders should be held accountable for Khashoggi's assassination. Saudi Arabia has acknowledged the murder, yet left many questions unanswered. US State Department spokeswoman Heather Nauert issued a statement Saturday, asserting that Washington has not yet made any "final conclusion." "Recent reports indicating that the US government has made a final conclusion are inaccurate," Nauert said. "There remain numerous unanswered questions with respect to the murder of Mr. Khashoggi. The State Department will continue to seek all relevant facts. In the meantime, we will continue to consult Congress, and work with other nations to hold accountable those involved in the killing of Jamal Khashoggi." Turkish intelligence intercepts reportedly show that Khashoggi, who was last seen entering the Saudi mission in Istanbul on October 2, was murdered on a direct order from Saudi de facto ruler Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman Khashoggi had been there to obtain a document certifying he divorced his ex-wife. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address CIA concludes Saudi crown prince ordered Khashoggi assassination: Washington Post Iran Press TV Sat Nov 17, 2018 12:22AM The US Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) has concluded that Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman ordered the gruesome murder of dissident Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi in the Arab kingdom's consulate in the Turkish city of Istanbul last month, a report says. In a report published on Friday, The Washington Post, citing unnamed people familiar with the matter, said that the American spy agency had reached the conclusion that the Saudi de facto ruler had ordered the assassination, contradicting Riyadh's claims that he was not involved in the killing. According to the American daily newspaper, to which Khashoggi was a contributing columnist, in conducting its assessment, the CIA examined multiple sources of intelligence, including a phone call that the prince's brother Khalid bin Salman, the Saudi ambassador to the US, had with the ill-fated journo, telling him to go to the Saudi diplomatic mission and giving him assurances that it would be safe to do so. But shortly after the report was published, the Saudi ambassador to the US denied in a tweet he had spoken to the slain journalist by phone or had suggested he go to Turkey. Khashoggi, 59, an outspoken critic of bin Salman, disappeared after he entered the Saudi diplomatic mission in the Turkish city on October 2 to complete some paperwork for his forthcoming marriage. However, as diplomatic pressure grew tremendously on Riyadh to give an account on the mysterious fate of its national, in an unexpected statement last month, Saudi Attorney General Sheikh Saud al-Mojeb admitted that Khashoggi had been killed in a "premeditated" attack in the consulate. Saudi authorities have so far said that they do not know the whereabouts of the journo's body, which is widely believed to be dismembered or dissolved in acid, or both. Earlier this month, Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor Irfan Fidan said the ill-fated journalist had been strangled upon his arrival in the consulate, and then his body was dismembered and destroyed. On Thursday, the 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. "After the murder the victim's body was dismembered by the individuals that have committed the murder and was transferred outside the consulate building," the statement said, concluding that the murder had been authorized by a minor official. Riyadh claims that the Saudi royal family had no prior knowledge about any murder plot. The prosecutor's 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." Now, the CIA's assessment is the most definitive to date linking the crown prince to the operation and complicates the efforts made by US President Donald Trump's administration to preserve its relationship with a close ally. The American president has so far resisted pinning the blame for the killing on Mohammed bin Salman, who holds a close relationship with Jared Kushner, Trump's son-in-law and senior adviser. The CIA, according to the report, also examined a call placed from inside the diplomatic mission after murdering Khashoggi by an alleged member of the Saudi hit team, Maher Mutreb, a security official who has often been seen at Mohammed bin Salman's side and who was photographed entering and exiting the consulate on the day of the killing. Mutreb called Saud al-Qahtani, then one of the top aides to the crown prince, and informed him that the operation had been completed, it added. Erdogan, Trump vow no cover-up in Khashoggi case Through a phone call on Friday evening, Erdogan and Trump agreed that all aspects of the murder of Khashoggi should be uncovered, the Turkish presidency said in a statement. "Agreeing on the need to shed light on all aspects and to prevent a cover-up of Jamal Khashoggi's slaying, the leaders have stressed the importance of close cooperation between Turkey and the United States in the fight against all terrorist organizations," it added. The gruesome crime has already caused an international uproar against Saudi Arabia, prompted a number of member states of the United Nations Human Rights Council earlier this month to grill Saudi delegation, led by Bandar al-Aiban, head of the Human Rights Commission of the Arab kingdom, over the murder. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address U.S. Denies Reaching Conclusion On Khashoggi Killing Despite Intelligence Assessment By RFE/RL November 17, 2018 The Trump administration said it had not reached a final conclusion on who was involved in the death of Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi despite U.S. intelligence agencies' assessment that Saudi Crown Prince Muhammad bin Salman ordered the killing. U.S. intelligence agencies believe the crown prince, who is the de facto leader of the kingdom, ordered the killing of the dissident and journalist in Turkey last month. The Saudi government denied the claim, which was first reported by The Washington Post late on November 17 and later confirmed by other media, including AP and Reuters. U.S. State Department spokeswoman Heather Nauert said in a November 17 statement that "recent reports indicating that the U.S. government has made a final conclusion [on the Khashoggi case] are inaccurate." The U.S. intelligence assessment is the clearest U.S. finding yet to link the crown prince directly to the killing. It could bolster efforts in Congress to further punish the close U.S. ally for the killing. President Donald Trump was briefed on the findings by CIA head Gina Haspel and Secretary of State Mike Pompeo on November 17 during a flight to the western U.S. state of California. "The CIA is going to be speaking to me today," he said as he boarded the plane for California before the briefing. "As of this moment, we were told that [the crown prince] did not play a role. We're going to have to find out what they have to say." "We also have a great ally in Saudi Arabia," Trump added. "They give us a lot of jobs and a lot of business and economic development." The Post, citing people familiar with the matter, said the U.S. intelligence agencies' assessment was based in part on a phone call the crown prince's brother, Prince Khaled bin Salman, the Saudi ambassador to the United States, had with Khashoggi. The ambassador denied making such a call in a posting on Twitter on November 17. https://twitter.com/kbsalsaud/status/1063580978269048832 Khashoggi, a U.S.-based Washington Post columnist and critic of the crown prince, was killed at the Saudi Consulate in Istanbul on October 2. Saudi Arabia's public prosecutor said on November 15 that he was seeking the death penalty for five of the 11 suspects charged in the killing. The prosecutor, Shalaan al-Shalaan, told reporters the crown prince knew nothing of the operation, in which Khashoggi's body was dismembered and removed from the consulate and handed to a local "collaborator." Last week, the Trump administration sanctioned 17 Saudi officials for their alleged role in the killing, but U.S. lawmakers have been calling for tougher measures, including a curtailment of arms sales to Saudi Arabia. With reporting by the Washington Post, AP, Reuters, and AFP Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/u-s-intelligence -believes-saudi-prince-ordered- khashoggi-killing/29605714.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 CIA Reportedly Concludes Saudi Crown Prince Ordered Khashoggi Assassination Sputnik News 02:17 17.11.2018(updated 04:25 17.11.2018) The CIA has found that Saudi Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman ordered the assassination of Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi in Istanbul last month, directly contradicting claims to the contrary by the Saudi government, the Washington Post has reported. Citing people familiar with the matter, the Post reported that the CIA arrived at its conclusion after examining a variety of evidence, including a phone call between Khashoggi and the Crown Prince's brother, Khalid, who is also the Saudi Ambassador to the United States. It was he who told the journalist he must go to Istanbul to obtain the necessary paperwork to marry his Turkish fiancee. When Khashoggi arrived at the Saudi consulate in Istanbul on October 2, he never left. Among the other evidence considered was the infamous recording of Khashoggi's final moments that Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan boasted of having, proving the journalist was dead long before the Saudi government would admit it. The recording came from a listening device placed in the embassy by Turkish intelligence, the recording of which they gave to CIA Director Gina Haspel. In addition, a phone call was made after the killing by Maher Mutreb, believed to be a member of the hit squad, to Saud Al-Qahtani, one of Mohammad bin Salman's top advisers, to inform him the deed had been done. The CIA obtained a recording of that call. Meanwhile, a source familiar with the matter told Reuters that CIA had briefed other parts of US government on its assessment that Crown Prince ordered Khashogg's killing. On Thursday, the US Treasury introduced sanctions of 17 Saudi nationals implicated in the journalist's slaying: 15 believed to have formed the hit squad, plus Qahtani and his number 2. "The accepted position is that there is no way this happened without him being aware or involved," a source told the paper. A spokesperson for the Saudi Embassy in Washington, DC, dismissed the CIA's conclusions as "false." "We have and continue to hear various theories without seeing the primary basis for these speculations," said spokesperson Fatimah Beshen, denying that Khalid and Khashoggi ever discussed Istanbul in their phone call. While the CIA's findings correlate with those made by Ankara, they clash not only with those made by Riyadh but also the Trump administration's own position on the issue. On Thursday, US State Department spokesperson Heather Nauert told reporters the US wasn't ready to make a determination on the narrative for Khashoggi's assassination. "We continue to get the information, and we will analyze and make determinations as we get additional information," Nauert said, Sputnik reported. The Saudi government has characterized Khashoggi's death as a rogue operation and detained 21 suspects, charging 11 of them. Many of the names overlap with those sanctioned by the US Treasury. The Saudi chief prosecutor reported that Khashoggi died when he was jumped in the consulate, "forcibly restrained, and injected with a large amount of a drug resulting in an overdose that led to his death." Khashoggi hailed from Riyadh but was of Turkish extraction. He was the nephew of Adnan Khashoggi, a playboy billionaire and major arms dealer who once appeared on Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous and sold a yacht to Donald Trump and was implicated in the Iran-Contra Affair. Jamal was a member of the Muslim Brotherhood in the 1970s and became critical of the Saudi government after its crackdown on the Brotherhood following the Arab Spring uprisings in 2011. He fled the country in 2017 as he became increasingly critical of the Saudi government's war in Yemen. Among the publications he contributed to was the Washington Post. Sputnik NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address State Department: No Conclusion Reached in Khashoggi Death By VOA News November 17, 2018 The U.S. State Department said Saturday that the government had not reached a conclusion about the killing of Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi. The Trump administration took issue with reports that, according to the Central Intelligence Agency, Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman ordered the killing of Khashoggi, a Washington Post columnist. The State Department called such reports "inaccurate." CIA Director Gina Haspel and Secretary of State Mike Pompeo briefed President Donald Trump on the Khashoggi case by phone Saturday as he was en route to California. Later, while touring wildfire devastation in Southern California, Trump told reporters the U.S. government would release a report Tuesday about who killed Khashoggi. The statement from the State Department was issued minutes after presidential spokeswoman Sarah Sanders said Trump "has confidence in the CIA." The State Department also said the U.S. government "is determined to hold all those responsible for the killing ... accountable" and that "numerous unanswered questions" remained. The CIA assessment, first reported Friday by the Post, contradicted that of Saudi Arabia, whose top prosecutor one day earlier exonerated the crown prince in Khashoggi's death. U.S. officials said the CIA had concluded that 15 Saudi agents flew in a Saudi government aircraft to Istanbul and assassinated Khashoggi Oct. 2 in the Saudi Consulate, where he had gone to pick up documents needed for his planned marriage to a Turkish woman. Brother's phone call The Post said the CIA based its conclusion on multiple intelligence sources, including a phone call that the prince's brother, Khalid bin Salman, who is also the Saudi ambassador to the United States, had with Khashoggi. In the phone call, Khalid told Khashoggi that it would be safe for him to go the consulate in Istanbul to retrieve the documents. The paper said it was not known whether Khalid knew Khashoggi would be killed. Khalid denied in a tweet Friday that he had spoken with Khashoggi. "The last contact I had with Mr. Khashoggi was via text on Oct. 26, 2017. I never talked to him by phone and certainly never suggested he go to Turkey for any reason. I ask the U.S. government to release any information regarding this claim,'' he said. Saudi officials have said the killing of Khashoggi was accidental and that Saudi officials were trying to force Khashoggi to return to the kingdom. Turkish officials have said the killing was intentional and have been pressuring Saudi Arabia to allow those responsible to be tried in Turkey. The Trump administration this week sanctioned 17 Saudi officials for their alleged roles in the killing. However, some U.S. lawmakers have called on the White House to do more, including reducing arms sales to Saudi Arabia. Trump has said the Saudi government tried to hide the killing in "one of the worst cover-ups in the history of cover-ups.'' However, he has resisted calls to reduce arms sales to the Saudis. He has sought closer ties with Saudi Arabia to counter Iranian influence in the Middle East, as well as to increase arms deals between Washington and Riyadh. White House Bureau Chief Steve Herman contributed to this report. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address No final conclusion on Khashoggi killing: State Department IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency Tehran, Nov 18, IRNA -- The United States government has not reached a final conclusion over Khashoggi's killing, the US State Department has said. 'Recent reports indicating that the US government has made a final conclusion are inaccurate,' State Department spokeswoman Heather Nauert said in a statement on Saturday. The statement followed reports in the US media that the CIA had held Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman responsible for the October 2 killing, according to Aljazeera news network. There remain numerous unanswered questions with respect to the murder of Mr Khashoggi,' Nauert said in her statement. 'The State Department will continue to seek all relevant facts. In the meantime, we will continue to consult Congress, and work with other nations to hold accountable those involved in the killing of Jamal Khashoggi.' The Washington Post says the CIA has concluded that the Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman did give the order to kill the journalist. The American spy agency is not commenting on the reports. Meanwhile, the Saudi embassy in Washington says the CIA assessment is false. If not, the CIA finding is the first direct confirmation of the crown prince's involvement after Turkey said the order to kill came from the highest level in the kingdom. Saudi Arabia has admitted Jamal Khashoggi was killed inside its consulate in the Turkish city of Istanbul. Khashoggi - a Saudi writer, US resident and Washington Post columnist - entered the building on October 2 to obtain documentation certifying he had divorced his ex-wife so he could remarry. After weeks of repeated denials that it had anything to do with his disappearance, the kingdom eventually acknowledged that the murder was premeditated. The whereabouts of his body are still unknown. The 'hit-squad' sent from Saudi Arabia to murder Washington Post columnist Jamal Khashoggi in Istanbul planned out their assassination methodically, contradicting key findings from the Saudi public prosecutor's office, a Turkish newspaper has reported. Abdulkadir Selvi, a columnist at Hurriyet, said Turkish authorities had a 15-minute audio recording where the Saudi team could be heard discussing and reviewing their plan, and reminding each other of their duties. 'There is also evidence from the period after the killing. Turkey has the international phone calls made by the 15-member Saudi hit squad,' he wrote. Selvi said the strongest evidence of the premeditated nature of the killing could be heard in a seven minute audio recording he reported on last month. In that recording, Khashoggi's 'desperate attempts to survive' could be heard. 1396**1396 NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address US-led coalition airstrikes kill 40 people in Syria's Dayr al-Zawr Iran Press TV Sat Nov 17, 2018 12:41PM Dozens of civilians, mostly women and children, have been killed when the US-led coalition purportedly fighting the Daesh Takfiri terrorist group conducted fresh airstrikes against residential areas in Syria's eastern province of Dayr al-Zawr. Local sources, speaking on condition of anonymity, told Syria's official news agency SANA that US-led military aircraft struck the village of al-Buqa'an on the outskirts of Hajin town on Saturday, leaving at least 40 people dead. The development came only two days after 17 people of the same family lost their lives when US-led coalition fighter jets fired missiles into buildings in Albu Badran village. 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. Separately on Thursday, US-led warplanes struck al-Susah village in the same Syrian province. Six civilians were killed and several buildings destroyed in the aerial attacks. On November 13, the Syrian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates condemned a recent airstrike by the US-led coalition against the eastern town of 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 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 Russia says nearly 270,000 Syrian refugees returned home in recent months Iran Press TV Sat Nov 17, 2018 02:28AM The Russian military says nearly 270,000 Syrian refugees have returned home in recent months, some seven years after various militant outfits started wrecking havoc in the Arab country. Head of the Russian National Defense Management Center Colonel General Mikhail Mizintsev announced the news in a press conference on Friday, adding that nearly 6,000 people returned to the Arab country in the last week alone, according to data collected by Moscow. Syria and its close ally, Russia, have been encouraging refugees to repatriate, assuring them that the violence has subsided significantly. Earlier this month, Lebanese authorities also said that more than 80,000 Syrian refugees had returned to their homeland from Lebanon since July, when the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees announced that an estimated 750,000 internally displaced persons in Syria returned to their homes in the first half of the current year. Russian jets have been carrying out air raids against targets belonging to the Daesh Takfiri terrorist group and those of other terror outfits inside Syria at the Damascus government's formal request since September 2015. The airstrikes have significantly helped Syrian forces advance against anti-Damascus militants, who have been wreaking havoc in the Arab country since March 2011. Last month, Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu said almost 88,000 foreign-sponsored Takfiri terrorists had been killed in Syria ever since Moscow launched its anti-terror airstrikes in the war-torn country. Back in July, Mizintsev reported that more than 6,900,000 people had left Syria since 2011, and 45 countries are currently hosting the majority of them. The Syrian refugees are mostly living in refugee camps in Jordan, Turkey, Lebanon and Egypt. Russia also blames the United States for being responsible for the horrifying conditions in the Rukban refugee camp in southern Syria on the border with Jordan. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Arab Media: Airstrikes in Syria Kill IS Fighters, Relatives By VOA News November 17, 2018 The head of the Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights says that U.S.-led coalition airstrikes killed more than 40 people in the village of Abu Husn in the region of Deir el-Zor, near the Iraqi border. Arab media announced the deaths of several dozen people, most of whom appeared to have been Islamic State group fighters, during bitter fighting in the Deir el-Zor region of eastern Syria, not far from the Iraqi border. Rami Abdel Rahman of the Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights claims that about three dozen Islamic State fighters were killed in the airstrikes on the village of Abu Husn. A number of civilians and family members of the IS fighters also were killed. Abdel Rahman insisted that "it was the highest death toll in coalition airstrikes since (U.S.-aligned Kurdish fighters) launched their attack against this (particular northeastern Syrian) Islamic State pocket in September. U.S. Coalition spokesman Sean Ryan told the French news agency earlier this week "the avoidance of civilian casualties is our highest priority when conducting strikes against legitimate military targets with precision munitions." Khattar Abou Diab, who teaches political science at the University of Paris, tells VOA that bad weather conditions in recent days have allowed IS fighters to gain ground against the U.S.-led alliance of Kurdish SDF fighters, alongside U.S. and French forces, prompting strong efforts to push them back. He says that the final pockets of Islamic State fighters have taken advantage of poor weather conditions (and cloud cover) to capture positions and equipment belonging to the U.S. coalition, prompting fierce fighting in an effort to recapture lost ground. Abou Diab says the Islamic State pocket in the region of Deir el-Zour is one of several he says are supported by different countries involved in the Syria conflict. He argues that a separate Islamic State faction, supported by the Syrian government, has been involved in attacking Druze civilians and holding them hostage in the southern region of Sweida. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Militant shelling attack kills 18 Syrian soldiers in Latakia IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency Tehran, Nov 18, IRNA -- Militants attacked on Saturday Syrian troops in the province of Latakia leaving 18 servicemen dead and one more injured, the Russian Center for Syrian reconciliation said. According to the centre's head Lt. Gen. Vladimir Savchenko, illegal armed formations continue to violate the ceasefire in the Idlib de-escalation zone. He also noted that militants continued to shell the outskirts of Aleppo and Hama, Sputnik reported. 'As a result of the shelling of Tall-Alush [settlement] in the Aleppo province, one Syrian serviceman was wounded. As a result of the shelling of Safsara [settlement] in the Latakia province, one Syrian serviceman was wounded and 18 more were killed,' Savchenko said. He added that the Russian servicemen had also held a humanitarian action in the settlement of Salhiyah in the province of Deir Ezzor having distributed 450 food sets. Another action was held in the Qarim-Hun district, south of the city of Aleppo, with local residents having received a ton of bread. Russia, Iran and Turkey, are guarantors of the ceasefire in Syria, while Kremlin has also been assisting Damascus both through supporting the struggle against terrorist groups and providing humanitarian aid to the residents of the crisis-torn country. 1396**1396 NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Kremlin Warns It May Act If Ukraine Seizes Ships In Azov Sea By RFE/RL November 16, 2018 Russia has warned Ukraine that it may take measures to protect Russian ships crossing the Sea of Azov should Kyiv stop or seize any. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters on a conference call on November 16 that Russia would take measures to protect Russian businesses, sailors, or other individuals if necessary. He did not give any further details, saying only that "the situation is being closely monitored." He said any actions taken would be in line with international maritime law. On November 15, Ukrainian border security spokesman Oleh Slobodyan said that Ukrainian authorities had seized or imposed restrictions on 15 ships heading for Crimean ports. It was not clear how many of those ships were Russian. He claimed the seized ships were illegally operating in Ukrainian waters. Peskov said that Russian border guards have also been stopping and inspecting Ukrainian vessels in the Sea of Azov, but he claimed such inspections are "permitted" under international law and are taking place "in strict compliance with the law." Since 2014, when Russia illegally annexed the Ukrainian peninsula, more than 940 foreign ships have arrived at Crimean ports, the Ukrainian spokesman said. The Sea of Azov borders Russia, Ukraine, and Crimea -- and this year has become a key flash point between the two sides. A war between Ukraine government troops and Russia-backed separatists still simmers in Ukraine's east. Russia has control over access to the Sea of Azov as it controls the Kerch Strait between Crimea and Russia. Kyiv accuses Moscow of harassing ships heading for ports in Ukraine, such as Mariupol or Berdyansk. Both sides have recently increased their military presence in the Azov region. Russian lawmaker Frants Klintsevich, who sits on the defense committee in the upper house of parliament, said on November 16 that Russia could "cut off" the Sea of Azov "in minutes" in response to the detention of Russian ships. "It doesn't matter if we are talking about the detention of Russian ships or ships of foreign states," he said. "By such actions, Ukraine itself really breaks the agreement on the Sea of Azov, from which only it will suffer." Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Grigory Karasin earlier claimed that Kyiv, which plans to create a naval base in Berdyansk, is fueling tensions in the Sea of Azov. With reporting by dpa, Reuters, Vedomosti.ru, and Interfax Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/kremlin-warns- may-act-protect-russian-ukraine-seizes-ships -sea-of-azov/29605057.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: Ukraine Has 'No Greater Friend Than The United States' By RFE/RL November 17, 2018 U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo has said Ukraine has "no greater friend than the United States" in its struggle against "Russian aggression." Pompeo made the remark after meeting with the Ukrainian Foreign Minister Pavlo Klimkin in Washington on November 16. Pompeo said the "United States will never accept Russia's attempted annexation of Crimea," and that Washington will impose "consequences until Russia returns control of the Black Sea peninsula to Ukraine." Russia seized Crimea in March 2014, a month before it started to aid separatists in eastern Ukraine in a conflict that has killed more than 10,300 people. The two diplomats met on the 10th anniversary of the declaration of a strategic partnership between Ukraine and the United States. Pompeo said he and Klimkin made progress in several areas during their talks, including on security and countering Russian aggression, as well as on rule of law and humanitarian issues. Pompeo also noted the two discussed joint efforts to stop the Nord Stream 2 project that, he said, "undermines Ukraine's economic and strategic security and risks further compromising the sovereignty of European nations that depend on Russian gas." Nord Stream 2 is a controversial project that would expand the current Nord Stream pipeline, which passes along the bottom of the Baltic Sea to deliver Russian gas to Germany. The United States, Poland, the Baltic states, and several other EU countries have expressed concern about Nord Stream 2 -- which avoids existing gas pipelines through Ukraine -- and the added leverage on energy security it could give Moscow. Klimkin said the United States and Ukraine "stand shoulder to shoulder in countering Russian aggression." He said such aggression takes many forms, both the war in Crimea and parts of Donbas in Ukraine, and in Russian efforts to undermine democratic institutions in the United States and Europe. Klimkin also said Kyiv was grateful for U.S. support in strengthening Ukraine's defense capabilities, "both through training of our military and through providing defense equipment." Among other things, Washington has provided Kyiv with Javelin antitank missile systems. With reporting by AFP Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/pompeo-ukraine-has-no-greater- friend-than-the-united-states-/29605705.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 Latest Headlines Tax Working Group divided on approach to CGT There appears to be deep divisions among members of the Tax Working Group, and its final report is likely to include dissenting decisions from members. Monday, November 19th 2018, 6:54AM Former IRD deputy commissioner Robin Oliver gave a candid speech to the recent SiFA conference where he outlined divisions within the group. He says the report is already being written and on some issues it will have "options, not conclusions". "We cannot agree," he says. "People have different views." "It's damn difficult to agree on anything, that's why we have options." Oliver, who confesses he is not a fan of a capital gains tax, indicated that what was being discussed would be difficult to manage and would end impacting property investors and people with investment assets. While the official line of the Sir Michael Cullen-chaired group is that it was trying to make New Zealand's tax system fairer, the reality is the group was set up to design a capital gains tax regime, Oliver said. While some countries had taken a pragmatic approach to constructing capital gains tax the working group was looking at a purist approach in some areas. "Reality and theory are not the same thing," he said. Sometimes things look good in theory but are impractical in reality.Oliver says because the group wasn't allowed to look at areas like the family home, which makes up 42% of New Zealander's assets, the reality was that any changes would be felt by property investors and those who held investments such as shares. He said the whole PIE tax regime would need to be rewritten and that the group was looking at, and favouring, a Fair Dividend Rate (FDR) regime for New Zealand and Australian shares. "I'm keen on FDR", he said. "People either love it or hate it." While he is keen on the idea he said that it is a very hard concept to sell to people. He said Iwi weren't keen on a capital gains tax and he suggested they may end up being outside the regime. The argument being advanced by iwi was that their assets had been confiscated, and now they were being returned to them through the treaty settlement process. Any CGT regime would be another confiscation, they argue. Oliver says it was an "extremely tight" timeline to review the whole New Zealand tax regime, write a report and pass new legislation before the next election. "Ive been surprised at the complexity," he said. "I know quite a bit of tax" and have "been through seven of these (reviews)." Special Offers Comments from our readers Sign In to add your comment The Colorado Air Quality Control Commission (AQCC) approved new low emission vehicle (LEV) standards for new light-duty and medium-duty motor vehicles sold in Colorado beginning in the 2022 model year. (Earlier post.) The new standards are estimated to reduce carbon dioxide emissions by nearly 2 million tons annually by 2030. The Air Pollution Control Division of the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment proposed the adoption of the LEV standards in response to Gov. Hickenloopers 19 June Executive Order, Maintaining Progress on Clean Vehicles, which directed the department to develop a rule to establish a Colorado LEV program incorporating the requirements of the California LEV program. Following public hearings last week, the commission unanimously approved the new standards that incorporate specific provisions of the California LEV III standards for MY 2022 vehicles and beyond. The commission adopted Regulation 20, known as the Colorado Low Emission Automobile Regulation (or CLEAR), prompting Colorado to join 12 other states and the District of Columbia, which also have adopted Californias LEV standards. These states now make up nearly 40% of the new automobile market. Under CLEAR, manufacturers must meet fleet-wide average GHG emission standards, although multiple flexibilities built into rule. Separate standards for cars and trucks. Standards adjusted based on vehicle footprints; manufacturers making larger vehicles will be subject less stringent fleet-wide average standards. Credits and debits for over- and under-compliance, with a 5 year lifetime. Credits may be bought or sold. CLEAR does not affect: Heavy-duty trucks or non-road vehicles; Fuel specifications; Pre-2022 model year vehicles; or Used vehicles brought into the state. Only the federal government and California have the authority to set new motor vehicle emission standards. New cars and light-duty trucks sold in Colorado currently are subject to the federal Tier 3 emission standards. Under the Clean Air Act, California has the authority to adopt its own new vehicle emission standards. Once California has adopted a specific set of emission standards, other states can choose to adopt those standards in lieu of the federal standards, pursuant to section 177 of the Clean Air Act. California first adopted its LEV standards in the 1990s. Currently, the federal emission and California LEV standards are equivalent. Under both sets of rules, the greenhouse gas emission limits become increasingly more stringent through the 2025 model year. The federal government, however, CA has recently proposed to freeze the emission standards for model years 2021 - 2026. The adoption of CLEAR provides a backstop for Colorado in the event of the federal change. GREENWICH Students wash down their oily, limp cheese pizza with chocolate milk, then turn to their vegetables three baby carrots and four slices of bell pepper with a cookie for dessert. I would come in and see what the kids were eating, and it did not look appealing at all, said Hala Si-Ahmed, the mother of twins at Glenville School. The more lunches I attended, the more I heard complaints. The food wasnt tasty. Even the pizza was yucky. Si-Ahmed packs her kids lunches daily, and works with the Glenville PTAC to improve nutrition at the school and encourage healthy eating among students and parents. She is one of many parents pushing for a complete overhaul of the Food Services program run by the Greenwich Public Schools. Frustrated parents have even volunteered to chop fresh vegetables for their schools, said Stephanie Woodward, whose children attend International School at Dundee and Eastern Middle School. Parents want to do something, but they cant, Woodward said. Her kids have never and will never buy the school lunches in their current state, she said. Every child in the school district has an iPad or a Chromebook, we now have a new jumbotron at the high school, but the kids on free- or reduced-price lunch are getting junk, Woodward said. No one seems to care. Greenwich Board of Education chairman Peter Bernstein hears similar stories at home from his kids. What are we serving? Bernstein asked John Hopkins, director of Food Services, during a school board meeting Wednesday. Im not talking about healthy options, Im talking about remaking the entire menu. School board members indicated they have an appetite for changing the menu. They referred the discussion to the districts Food Services Committee, made up of town and school board representatives along with school administrators. Board and town representatives are leading the charge, persuading school administrators to examine food quality and cost. They are also weighing the options of going off the National School Lunch program, like Greenwich High did, or contracting an outside meal service. Going off school lunch program and outsourcing are two separate, but parallel tracks, board member Lauren Rabin said. Advocates like Rabin say outsourcing to a third party to purchase food, prepare and deliver meals to the districts three middle schools and 11 elementary schools. Proponents say an outside vendor could make healthier meals and cut labor costs. Bad food Rib meat in Tyson chicken nuggets. High fructose corn syrup in French toast sticks. Products with Blue #1, Red #40, Yellow #5 and #6, azodicarbonamide, known carcinogens Butylated hydroxyanisole and Hydroxytoluene. Looking at the ingredients, it says enough, Si-Ahmed said. Adhering to the national guidelines does not ensure healthy options, concerned parents say. They point to the menu and to the results of a survey of parents and students that Food Services conducted in 2017, and presented to the school board last week. In the survey, 60 percent of middle-school parents said they would like a better variety of options, and 56 percent asked for less chips, cookies and ice cream and more healthy snacks and desserts. Also, 53 percent would like to see organic or fresh fruits and vegetables, and 30 percent want locally sourced foods. Weve been trying to tone down processed food, Hopkins said. I challenge you to find any program running on the National School Lunch Program thats using similar foods. The department has tried to improve, Si-Ahmed said. Kids have access to a mini-vegetable bar, but the produce is unappealing and no one encourages children to take the items, she said. Food Services responded by substituting Rice Krispie Treats, General Mills cereal bars and Frito Lay chips with Smartfood Popcorn, Pirates Booty, Whole Grain Goldfish and Nutrigrain bars in many K-8 schools, Hopkins said. The data from the parent survey reinforced the changes made by food services, and food services is continually working to improve food quality, Hopkins said. In the student survey, about 37 percent said they do not buy hot lunches. Of those, 38 percent bring lunch, 27 percent do not like the choices and 20 percent said lines are too long. Almost 300 students made comments, which were not included in the public report. Abbe Large, a member of the Representative Town Meeting who sits on the education and food services committee, provided some of the colorful comments from the kids: I have noticed from other kids eating lunches, that the food can often be low quality. Ive even had friends who throw the main part of their lunch away because they find the food slightly sickening. The food is cheap and processed junk and I hate it all. I dont eat school lunch because with my past experience with school lunch, I found it unhealthy and tasting bad. I would much rather bring lunch and know whats in it than eat a mystery food in the cafeteria. Comments repeatedly included these words: bad, 32 times; gross, 26; good, 49; disgusting, 14; healthy, 52; gross, 26; quality, 18; good, 49; disgusting, 14; taste, 43; like, 31; and choice, 10. Every menu can be improved, there is no doubt about it, Hopkins said. National School Lunch Plan The districts 11 elementary schools and three middle schools still adhere to the guidelines of the National School Lunch Plan, which ensure children have at least one nutritious meal a day. The Food Services department expects to receive $777,423 from federal and state programs, accounting for 19 percent of its revenue. Lunch sales, catering services, rebates and contributions from vendors account for the other 81 percent. Students on free- or reduced-price lunch rely on adults to decide on healthy meals, Large said. But not only are a lot of these children not eating because the food isnt appealing, she said, theyre also throwing the food away. A lot of what we heard in the community, is that its not consumed, Rabin said. I have to wonder ... is there any correlation to academic performance? Students qualify for a basic meal if their familys income falls below federally specified levels. Previously, families had to apply and be certified, but now the state uses Medicaid to automatically certify children. This March, 893 students qualified, and the number of free- or reduced-price qualifying students increased to 19.9 percent of students, from 14.6 percent last year. These students are entitled to the schools basic meal. At the high school, that means they can get the daily plate lunch, but not the new, trendy acai bowl, frozen fruit puree topped with fruit and granola. Id be more than happy to tick my food costs up ... but theres no guarantee that it will result in higher participation, Hopkins said. I have to manage my budget the best I can. For the first time since the 2005, Food Services made a profit. It finished the 2017-18 fiscal year with more than $150,000 surplus, pulling from a budget deficit of $680,000. Elementary schools pull in over $500,000, while the middle and high schools total about $100,000 each, Hopkins said. Hopkins highest costs are not ingredients, but labor. He has already pared down to one worker per food station, he said. Where we go the most wrong is labor costs, I have that at every level, said Jeffrey Ramer, the Board of Estimate and Taxation representative to the food services committee. Most food contract companies say there is no downside to getting off federal guidelines, Hopkins said. Weston, Wilton and Westport districts have gone off, but only 1 percent to 2 percent of their children qualify for free- or reduced-price lunch, he said. Outsourcing The group of passionate parents pushing for change endorses outsourcing the school lunch program to No Fuss Lunch. The New Jersey-based company makes entrees from scratch, without high fructose corn syrup, MSG, dyes or added nitrates and with meat and dairy products that are grass-fed and cage-free. When it includes ready-made products, it buys from brands such as Applegate, Bell & Evans and Annies Homegrown Foods. It also encourages schools to stock salad bars with fresh local fruits and vegetables. No Fuss Lunch does not contract with federally subsidized schools. Instead, families who qualified for free- or reduced-price lunches can apply for grants that would pay for their lunches through the companys nonprofit lunch fund. The service would the schools kitchen facilities, supplying rental income to the town, and would be responsible for the upkeep, Large said. In other schools, it has hired on food service employees who worked for the previous provider. The schools are good at teaching our children, but theyre not good at feeding our children, Si-Ahmed said. This No Fuss Lunch company knows what theyre doing. The schools should stick to teaching our kids, why not outsource that? jo.kroeker@hearstmediact.com Amazon recently opened two of its three Amazon 4-star stores, making its collective brick-and-mortar experiences tally up at over 100 locations between Amazon Books, Amazon Pop-Up, Amazon Go and now Amazon 4-star. These investments from Amazon have customers, competitors and commerce-driven professionals alike speculating the future and the present of what Amazon is up to, but one thing is for certain ... physical retail is here to stay. Make no mistake, however, that Amazon's investment into this space is unlike anything we have seen in the past. Related: Why This Online Clothing Company Started Sharing Its Profits With Brick-and-Mortar Stores Merging its extensive consumer and inventory data generated from Amazon.com with futuristic ideas of what brick-and-mortar retail should look like, Amazon has opened its 4-star stores in the Soho neighborhood of New York City, a suburban town just outside of Denver, Colo., and most recently in Berkley, Calif. Presumably, these stores blend in with others if you were to simply stroll by and take a quick peak, but blending in with other retailers is exactly the opposite of what Amazon 4-star delivers. In a recent interview I had with Cameron Janes, vice president of physical stores for Amazon, he explained that Amazon 4-star has been "built around customers and will continue to operate with consumers at the core of every decision we make." Expanding on this, Janes stressed that "with data leading decisions, humans have approved every single product in our stores." With the human touch often dismissed in our technology-centric world, how is an online marketplace giant like Amazon welcoming the human touch in their physical storefront experiences? And what can other business leaders learn from this? Below, consider four tips to take away from the newly introduced Amazon 4-star stores. 1. Customer insight should drive every decision businesses make. Amazon 4-star stores have a curated mix of products that are only rated at four stars and above by customers on Amazon.com or are recognized through sales data as top selling or top trending items. Collectively, these details reflect what customers across the globe are buying and loving -- ultimately helping to narrow down expansive product searches for customers and deliver trusted consumer finds. This approach to identifying the inventory assortment available at Amazon 4-star stores is something any business leader can learn from, but too often businesses dismiss data generated from their customers. At Amazon 4-star, however, this data is proactively reviewed and then applied to the decisions made regarding immediate and future inventory assortments -- among other decisions, as well. Related: What Small Retailers Can Learn From the Industry's Push Towards AI and Big Data Genna Gold, senior manager of local business outreach for Yelp, explained to me that the value of consumer ratings "have changed the way consumers evaluate where to spend their time and money." Expanding on this, Gold shares that "reviews support customers in their purchasing decisions when they're already in buy mode, which makes them highly transactional." According to a BrightLocal survey of over 1,000 U.S. consumers, 85 percent of respondents trust online reviews as much as personal recommendations. Amazon 4-star is smart -- to say the least -- to bring this review strategy into its physical environments. Supporting these 4-star or higher ratings are actual customer testimonials, which Amazon 4-star displays via printed review cards merchandised next to each respective product in combination with digital signage that is updated in real-time and highlights the price, customer ratings, product details and Amazon Prime price savings. The main takeaway here, however? Past customer purchases are what help push future customer sales. 2. Be where your customers are and know who they are. When it came time for Amazon to identify where it would open its first three Amazon 4-star stores, it knew one thing mattered most. "Whether it's in a mall like our Colorado location or is free-standing such as our Soho store is, we just wanted to be where our customers are," explained Janes. The Colorado location marks Amazon's second physical store within Park Meadows, Colorado's largest mall. Joining an Amazon Pop-Up, the Amazon 4-star store benefits from already having established data on the local demographics of this particular area. And local -- believe it or not -- is an important factor in the Amazon 4-star strategy. As Janes explained to me, "In each of our Amazon 4-star locations, customers will find products curated specifically to their regional market. In our Colorado location, for example, we feature 'Trending Around Denver' items that have been top-performing items sold in that area. We're able to change this frequently based on sales data to proactively accommodate local customers and ultimately better support each unique, local environment." As it turns out, being where your customers are is only one piece to the retail puzzle for Amazon. Knowing who they are is just as important -- and as Amazon 4-star shows us by example, supporting customers with real-time inventory insight and product offerings in direct response to historic sales, local market trends and real-time data can help achieve this. Business leaders across all categories can use this same strategy in their own efforts to achieve stronger sales success. Related: Alibaba's Futuristic Supermarket in China Is Light-Years Ahead of the U.S. -- and Shows Where Amazon Will Likely Take Whole Foods 3. Focus on your customers, not your competition. When challenged with whether other merchants impacted Amazon's decision-making in opening physical stores, Janes confidently stated that "we don't focus a lot on the competition." Instead, Janes stressed multiple times that what Amazon does focus on is "our customers." With a customer-centric strategy leading their decisions, Amazon recognizes that for most consumers, the stores will be the first physical interaction they have with Amazon. As a result, employees are trained to put customers first -- plain and simple. "What matters to Amazon is customer obsession. We obsess over their experiences and want the employees within Amazon 4-star to do the same," Janes explained. To help support its customers, Amazon 4-star designed its stores with an easy-to-navigate floor plan that highlights various categories of products that include consumer electronics, kitchen products, home decor, toys, books, games and more through simple merchandising strategies without distracting displays. Using both traditional signage and digital signage, customers shopping within an Amazon 4-star store can easily gain product knowledge, customer ratings and even suggested products to complement other items based on past customer purchases. This clutter free approach to merchandising has another benefit, as well, which is allowing employees to easily see throughout the store and more easily support customers as a result. "Our merchandising is simple because it doesn't need to be complicated. We answer the most obvious questions that customers want to know through our signage and there's a clear line of vision throughout any point of our store. This helps our employees engage more easily with customers and view the entire store to identify who may need assistance at any given time," explained Janes. Expanding on this, Janes shared that "it's a responsibility for our employees to know about our inventory so that they can make sure our customers end up with the right products based on what they need." This customer-centric approach is not futurist like many of Amazon's other commerce strategies, but then again today's modern merchants are not necessarily known for customer service anymore. Amazon is re-inventing how customer service looks in brick-and-mortar environments -- as well as that despite competition, the customer should always remain top-of-mind. 4. Incorporate technology in combination with the human touch. Amazon 4-star stores are highly curated and represent a direct reflection of their customers, but this doesn't happen by observation alone. Amazon depends greatly on technology and data to identify what are top selling items and must-have products for its stores. Additionally, Amazon 4-star is the perfect destination for consumers to engage with tech products such as Alexa to help customers identify if it's a purchase they want to make. Collectively, these experiences help Amazon 4-star deliver stronger customer engagement opportunities and sales alike. But, the human touch is not dismissed in these actions since every product being sold is in fact based on past human choices thanks to technology. Related: Amazon Opens 4-Star Store in New York City Through technology, Amazon has gained more clarity about who its customers are, what their customers want and how they can better support their customers in their end goals, which is to purchase products they both need and want. Conveniently enough, when putting the customer first, Amazon also reaches its goal, which is to continue to be a leader in the world of commerce -- not just online. As you aim to reach your own goals in business, consider who is really leading your decisions. Is it exclusively technology? Or do you welcome the human touch, as well? As Janes explains best, aim to create something that is "data driven yet human approved." Related: Check Out the New Amazon 4-star Stores -- And Get 4 Tips for Any Business Tech Giants Alphabet Inc. and Amazon.com Both Up Over $20 Per Share New York Is Giving Amazon a Helipad and New Yorkers Are Furious Copyright 2018 Entrepreneur.com Inc., All rights reserved Ask any startup what the single most important element to success is and -- more often than not -- the answer will be money. Financing always ranks as a high priority for the small fish trying to make it happen in the big pond of business -- but often discussed with less fanfare is where this cash comes from and what will come with it. These are actually the most important details to a startup. Related: Who Would Invest in Your Startup, and Why? That is not to say that money is not important. In fact, the second most common reason for startup failure is lack of funding, according to CB Insights. Although, perhaps ironically enough, the top reason for startup failure is lack of market need -- a problem which could have been identified and avoided by investors who bring money with direction and money with experience. Startups don't just need money, they need smart money. Startups need investors who bring not only cash to the table, but also their networks and business acumen. Essentially, they bring experience and direction to outfits that are usually inexperienced or directionless. So, let's talk smart money and the startup. What is smart money? "Smart money" refers to investors who are simply more intuitive and aware of market movements and business health. The Financial Times describes "smart money" as "sophisticated investors who tend to pick the right moment to buy or sell assets because they can identify trends and opportunities before others do." These investors calculate based on history and profit and invest accordingly. Where they go, other investors follow. These business heavyweights are invaluable to a startup because they put more than simply their money where their mouth is; they also invest their expertise. A startup could have all the money in the world but it will fail more without the proper business direction and market placement. Related: 4 Traits Perceptive Investors Look for in Tech Startup Founders Smart money works best for startups when nascent businesses pair with investors who provide a holistic approach to business. They can help in hiring the best talent, attracting interest from the most relevant stakeholders, securing a continuous presence in the press, avoiding pitfalls and, ultimately, fulfilling ambitions. There are more than a few ways that money can be termed as smart. Perhaps the cash infusion also comes with experts in thought leadership and strategy, or executional capacity, or the ability to increase sales and raise funds. Whatever the method, smart money brings something more to the table than dollars. This becomes abundantly clear when conducting post-mortems of the startups which have failed. Why do startups fail? Startups fail all the time -- and it is important to understand why. As mentioned above, the top reason startups fail is simply the lack of market need. Tackling problems that are interesting to solve rather than those that serve a market need is the most common issue startups cite for their downfall. The next most common reason for startup failure, as likely predicted, is money. Smart or not, money does need to flow into any startup to make it possible. Meanwhile, the third most common reason for startup collapse was team composition. More to the point: Startups need to comprise a diverse team with different skill sets. These top three reasons for startup failure could be solved with the right management approach from the top down. Each of these reasons can be addressed with smart money. The right business and management structure will allow the right hires to be made and course to be charted. Smart investors can identify the right people for your team and help you to hire staff who will take the business to the next level. While startups think money is the key, it is not the end-all and be-all for their potential success. They need skills and networks. Business and innovation expert Rosemarie Truman explained this misunderstanding best: "A common mistake entrepreneurs make in their struggle to find funding is focusing too much on getting the money under specific terms and not paying enough attention to who is providing the funds." Related: How to Find the Right Investors for Your Business Show me the (smart) money. Savvy entrepreneurs recognize their businesses need more than cash to be successful -- especially those at the top. Alibaba chief executive officer Jack Ma, who ranks as one of the richest people in the world, described the need for smart hires and smart staff as thus: "At first, I knew nothing about technology. I knew nothing about management. But, the thing is, you don't have to know a lot of things. You have to find the people who are smarter than you are." Smart business owners want to work with investors who provide not just money but also their expertise, time and access to networks -- and this is especially important for businesses looking to scale. The proof is in the research: Take for example a paper by Morten Sorensen, professor of finance at Copenhagen Business School, about venture capital and its impact on an overall business. Sorensen found that companies funded by more experienced venture capital funds were more likely to go public, and also that more experienced venture capital funds invest in better companies, leading to better long-term business health. So, the question then becomes: Where does one access smart money? The answer will depend on whom is asked, but startups that have survived and later grown into viable businesses are a good place to start. The founders of collaborative blogging platform Niume, Daniel Gennaoui and Francesco Facca, have this advice for startups who are on the hunt for smart money: "First, you need a strong founding team with complementary skills that can actually deliver on their promises. Second, you need a working minimum viable product (MVP), showing that there is traction and interest for the product and people willing to use and pay for it," the founders said. "The actual amount they invest is far less important than the value they bring to your company." It is also worth noting that crowdfunding can be considered a form of smart money, as it brings an ecosystem of partners who will help to scale and countless brand ambassadors who have invested their hard-earned cash. It's simply more than capital. Gaining startup finance is not only venture capital or crowdfunding -- it should also provide an ecosystem of business management and be viewed as such. It's simply wrong to think funding is only funding. Startups can have all the money in the world but will fail more often than not without the proper business direction and market placement. Those who want to make a lasting impression in their given field need the guidance and support smart money brings. Related: The Growing Role of Blockchain Technology In Southeast Asia Startups Need More Than Money to Succeed -- They Need Smart Money How Indian Startups Are Grabbing A Larger Slice of Chinese Investments Copyright 2018 Entrepreneur.com Inc., All rights reserved Bob Luckey / Bob Luckey UPDATE: According to the state's attorney, the case against Peter McMahon was dismissed. GREENWICH Peter McMahon, 25, of Pipers Hill Road, Wilton, was charged with using a motor vehicle without permission and drunk driving. The first time data was stored on a card was in the distant 1725 when punch cards were used to automate a drawloom, which weaves fabric and tapestries. In a way those cards stored images, though not quite how its done today. Then in 1884 punch cards were used again in the Hollerith Electric Tabulating System (think electro-mechanical Excel). Hollerith would later start a company that would become the foundation of IBM. Hollerith punch card Olivetti Programma 101 Magnetic cards for instruction storage The Olivetti Programma 101 (1965) is considered by some to be the first commercial desktop computer, but by todays standards its more of a desktop calculator (yes, desktop). It used long magnetic cards to store instructions and data this is the first occasion when an app was loaded from a memory card! Alright, lets fast forward to the modern era. The first memory card used by GSM phones was the SIM card. Thats right, those stored contact numbers and text messages, which simplified syncing when changing phones you just moved the SIM. Remember that this was at a time when cloud meant white puffy thing in the sky. The earliest SIMs stored as little as 20 numbers and 5 texts, but this was later expanded to a more comfortable 250 contacts. Once EMS came around, people would use SIMs to transfer the simple images and melodies instead of sending them through the carrier (which was rather pricey). Mini, micro and nano SIM card sizes Note: were skipping over the CF cards used in PDAs as that deserves a separate story they did so much more than store data. The Siemens SL45 (2000) was the first phone to support removable flash storage the MultiMedia Card, better known as MMC. It was co-designed by Siemens and SanDisk and unveiled in 1997, so no wonder MMC was picked over competing flash cards. In 2000 Siemens, Matsushita and Toshiba unleashed the first Secure Digital cards, SD, the successor to MMC. For a while those two co-existed and it helped that they were electrically compatible. However, the new card was about half a millimeter thicker, so an SD card often didnt physically fit in an MMC slot. Before SD took over completely, Reduced Sized MMC, RS-MMC, was introduced in 2004. While you no longer see MMC cards, the standard is still alive. Not in card form, but as embedded MMC, eMMC, the storage of choice for cheaper phones. More premium handsets typically use UFS or another solution. MMC card SD card eMMC You can always count on Sony to use a proprietary product when possible. Thus Memory Stick was born in 1998. It was used in Sony digital cameras, PCs, the PlayStation Portable and Sony phones. The first Memory Sticks used in phones were the second generation Duo cards as they were more compact. Then things moved to Memory Stick Micro, M2, Sonys answer to the microSD. Sony was the major producer of Memory Stick and its primary user. This made it an uphill battle as the market converged to SD cards. There was a transitional period when Sony phones supported both Memory Stick and microSD. Then in 2009 moved to microSD exclusively (in 2010 all Sony products followed suit). Memory Stick You should know what happened next miniSD and then microSD. There were some oddities along the way, like pre-recorded SD cards with albums on them. Lets just say that the idea didnt catch on. There hasnt been much movement in the memory card world recently. Samsung announced UFS cards and even UFS/microSD hybrid slots, but nothing ever came of that. Which is a real shame, the new A2 application speed rating by the SD Association guarantees 4000/2000 IOPS for read/write while the numbers for UFS are in the tens of thousands. Its not even close. Theres hope the SD Express standard was unveiled this year, it essentially implements NVMe for SD cards. For now it supports a single PCIe lane for up to 985 MB/s transfer speeds. Unfortunately, this requires the extra row of pins from the UHS-II standard and no phone has ever supported UHS-II. Still, NVMe is used by the fastest consumer SSDs (and Apples iPhones), so its clearly the way forward for memory cards. The XQD card (a successor to the CF Express) is an NVMe card used in the latest prosumer DSLR and mirrorless cameras. We just hope NVMe comes to microSD cards and smartphones before makers decide to drop the memory card slot altogether. Huawei doesnt seem to have learned from Sonys experience or maybe its confident that the higher volume of phones it sells will help support its new standard Nano Memory, NM. Their shtick is that they are the same size and shape as a nanoSIM. They are not faster, they dont have more capacity, they are not cheaper or easier to find. Quite the opposite, in fact. We end on a fun bit of trivia. An MMC micro card measures 14 x 12 x 1.1mm, a micro SIM is 15 x 12 x 0.76mm. Someone could have had the bad SIM-shaped memory card idea years ago! Haiti - Vertieres 215th : Message to the Nation of Prime Minister Ceant As a prelude to the commemoration of the 215th anniversary of the Battle of Vertiere this Sunday, November 18, Prime Minister Jean Henry Ceant, addressed the Nation live, on the State television. Message to the Nation by Prime Minister Ceant : "Haitians, My compatriots from the 10 geographical departments of the country, My compatriots in the diaspora, Throughout the history of humanity, it is the decisions of men and women who take their responsibilities, which determine every road and road that peoples and nations take. It has been 215 years since our ancestors made a historic step in the liberation of Haiti from slavery on November 18, 1803, in a great battle that took place in Vertieres. This date of November 18 reminds us many things. It reminds us that November 18, 1803 was made possible because the Negroes and mulattoes in the colony made one. Dessaline and Petion got along. It reminds us that our ancestors were forced to take a lot of big decisions, putting aside their personal interests, to look at their future in the same direction, towards the road to freedom, that freedom that after sprang up on all Latin America. Haitians, My compatriots from all over the country, In the time of the Battle of Vertieres, the enemy was the colonists, a foreign army, an army that came to put chains. Today, the enemy is banditry, corruption and impunity, hunger and unemployment, it is the services that the population can not receive, it is political instability. These enemies are very important, how can we attack them to win the battle? It is in the dialogue, with each other, without lies, in the exchange of ideas between all the children of the country, in the union that we will create the conditions to attack the problems. It's not in the violence or destruction of property of our brothers and sisters, it is not in the destruction of companies that give work, it is not by burning tires in the street where cars pass, where students pass to go to school, that we will solve the problems. Haitians, We ask each person, each actor to make efforts, so that November 18, 2018 takes place in Peace. The Government asks all citizens to remain calm. The police have instructions to enforce the law everywhere, the demonstrations must be done in order, the police are there to protect, accompany, supervise everyone. But wherever there are people who break the law, the police will put order in the mess. We are building a State where justice is no different, where no one does his own justice, that's how the rule of law works. My compatriots, In the sense of the mandate that the President of the Republic, His Excellency Jovenel Moise confided to me, I decided, I made the personal commitment to take my pilgrim's staff to meet all the sectors of national life in the framework of dialogue that leads us directly into living together, to live for each other, never one without the other. Let us unite in the same spirit as Vertieres for stability and development. Long live Haiti ! Long live our country which needs our union, of solidarity, of fraternity so that we can together take other ways to give a chance to the country. So that children do not eat in the garbage anymore, so that all children go to school, so that people find work. Let's stop arguing with each other. Let's unite, let's stand next to each other to fight against all the old plagues that put the country in the current situation. Long live Haiti, our Haiti" Will Moise go to Vertieres this 18th of November ? In addition, according to the Eddy Jackson Alexis Secretary of State for Communication "The President of the Republic, HE Mr. Jovenel Moses will make a floral offering in honor of the Heroes of Independence this Sunday, November 18 at the Museum of Haitian National Pantheon ( MUPANAH) at 8:00 am He will be accompanied by Prime Minister Jean Henry Ceant and members of the government. " However, no official confirmation on the official website of the Ministry of Communication or the twitter account of President Moise confirms that it will be present in the North to greet the memory of the Emperor in the middle of the population in Vertieres, will he go or not, given the explosive socio-political context and the risk of significant social movements ? The answer in the coming hours... HL/ HaitiLibre Haiti - NOTICE : BMPAD denies rumors of fuel shortages In a public notice dated Saturday, November 17, Fils-Aime Saint Fleur Ignace, the Director General of the Office for Monetization of Development Assistance Programs (BMPAD) informs that all measures have been taken to provide adequate and timely, the market with petroleum products, gasoline, diesel and kerosene in particular. Fils-Aime Ignace Saint Fleur "[...] categorically denies persistent rumors of a shortage of petroleum products and, in accordance with his mission, intends to continue to ensure the full availability of these products throughout the country. The General Directorate invites the population to keep calm, not to give in to the songs of the sirens of countrymen gravediggers of the Motherland, who have lost their civic sense, dream only to plunge the country into chaos and civil war." HL/ HaitiLibre Haiti - Diaspora : Commemoration of the 215th anniversary of the Battle of Vertieres Commemoration of the Battle of Vertieres in Quito, Ecuador Friday, November 16, as part of the 215th anniversary of the Battle of Vertieres (November 18) the Ecuadorian authorities, the diplomatic corps accredited in Quito, the Ecuadorian army and the Haitian community of Quito responded to the invitation of the Haitian diplomatic corps accredited in Ecuador. The rendezvous was at "Plaza Haiti" where Ambassador Lesly David and Charge d'Affaires Christian Toussaint paid a vibrant tribute to the heroes of our independence. In the presence of diplomats, members of the Ecuadorian Chancery of Haitian officers and in training at the military school of this country as well as the Ecuadorian military, several offerings have taken place. In the evening, Ambassador David and his wife hosted a reception at the Neuchatel lounge of the Swisshotel Quito. Ambassador David during his speeches, both at the floral offering and during the reception, thanked the Ecuadorian authorities and did not fail to value the great work of the founders of the Haitian Homeland. Remember that Ecuador has a large Haitian diaspora and the Embassy of Haiti in Quito has reopened since 2013. Message from the former Consul General of Haiti in Chicago Lesly Louis Conde "Dear compatriots, Fre m ak se m yo, one respe, This year, we commemorate the 215th anniversary of the "Battle of Vertieres", the one that brought honor to the entire black race. This commemoration is a great national moment because it gives us immense pride that nothing in the world can delight us. This event is a part of our historic heritage of which we can and must be proud without reservation. The importance of history lies in the fact that current realities can not change it. The commemoration of the worthy deeds of our ancestors is a very important legitimate exercise for our collective psychological well-being. All the heroic actions, all the horrors and all the sacrifices of Vertieres culminated in the great celebration of the first of January, 1804. That day was born the first Black Nation of the New World. The rest of this story is what we are experiencing. Our children will live it too. Even if we can not take pride in what our generations have made of our Haiti today, there are surely valuable lessons to be learned from the struggle that our ancestors led in such difficult conditions that we find it hard to imagine today. There is in this battle of Vertieres a lesson of courage and pragmatism. Did Dessalines and his men know that in their march towards freedom they had to face one of the most formidable armies of the time ? Like our ancestors, we must unite and keep our eyes fixed on our goal of guiding future generations towards a new Haiti. We must not be discouraged by the magnitude of this challenge. This is the message of the battle of Vertieres. Finally, I urge you to participate in any positive effort in the name of the future of our country. Lesly Louis Conde" HL/ HaitiLibre Haiti - Vertieres 215th : Message to the Nation of President Jovenel Moise This Sunday, November 18, on the occasion of the commemoration of the 215th anniversary of the Battle of Vertieres, the President of the Republic, Jovenel Moise, accompanied by his wife Martine, the Head of Government Jean-Henry Ceant, the members of the Government, of parliament and the judiciary went to the Museum of the Haitian National Pantheon (MUPANAH), on the Champs-de-Mars, where after the presidential anthem, he made a floral offering, which was followed by a parade of police and military forces, November 18 is also a day of commemoration of the Armed Forces of Haiti. Subsequently the President made a addressed the Nation in a pre-recorded message broadcasted on the National Television of Haiti (TNH), message that we invite you to listen : HL/ HaitiLibre YEREVAN, NOVEMBER 17, ARMENPRESS. The Azerbaijani government continues its crackdown on oppositionists. Baku police arrested Ali Karimli the opposition politician who chairs the Azerbaijani Popular Front Party, local media reported. An unknown number of Karimlis supporters have also been detained. According to unconfirmed reports Jamil Hasanli another opposition politician, chairman of the National Council Union has also been arrested. Supporters of Karimli have gathered outside a police station in Baku, protesting the arrest of the oppositionist. Edited and translated by Stepan Kocharyan Published on 2018/11/18 | Source Over 200 fans gathered in the departure drop-off area of Terminal 1 at Incheon International Airport on Monday morning to see boy band Wanna One leave for a fan event in Bangkok, Thailand. Advertisement When the members came out of the van, the fans started screaming and a blizzard of camera flashes went off. Some even had portable ladders and expensive telephoto lenses. The scenes continued even in the departure lounge after they passed security clearance because some groupies had already gone through security well before the band did and were waiting at the boarding gate. An airport official said, "Every time a celebrity comes and goes at the airport, some extreme fans buy a plane ticket and follow them to the boarding gate". The airport believes that about 70 people bought plane tickets and followed Wanna One to the boarding gate. In Singapore it is an arrestable offense to enter the departure area with no intention to travel even if in possession of a valid ticket, but Korea has no such laws yet. The airport says 12,843 people have passed the security area but ended up not boarding their plane from January to September. Some 13 percent or 1,599 cancelled their departure voluntarily. "It is rare for people to go all the way to the boarding gate and cancel their schedule, and most of the people who do are fans of certain celebrities who bought plane tickets just to get to the boarding gate", said an aviation industry insider. They tend to buy expensive business class or first class tickets because they offer the greatest flexibility in the event of cancellation. Some airlines charge no penalty at all when business or first class ticket are cancelled on the day of purchase. Besides being a nuisance to the stars, the practice creates inconvenience for many others who really do need to travel, either because the flight is sold out or because they have a longer wait and have to endure the hysteria. "There is risk of accidents and we get many complaints about the havoc created by some obsessive fans", said an airport staffer. By William Schwartz | Published on 2018/11/17 Gunsan is a sad, lonely town on South Korea's western coast that is very pretty to look at but communicates almost nothing of substance. That dispiriting appraisal is also accurate when it comes to the named characters of "Ode to the Goose" as we consider leading man Yoon-yeong (played by Park Hae-il), who spends so much time thinking about what to say he barely ends up talking at all. Then Song-hyeon (played by Moon So-ri) talks just to fill the silence but avoids talking about what she actually wants. Their faux day trip date to Gunsan, consequently, goes about as well as might be expected. Advertisement "Ode to the Goose" is a very firmly anti-romantic movie in this respect. All the right elements are there for some sort of romance to pop up somewhere, but because writer/director Zhang Lu treats the neuroses of the characters as actual serious mental problems rather than wacky charming cuteness, progress is limited. The characters try to talk themselves into thinking that they're a single magical personal connection away from turning over a new leaf. Much like in real life, these pep talks don't work. Even foreign exoticness proves of limited usefulness. A backstory with origins in China or Japan would seem to be a predictor of tantalizing romantic mystery, yet the characters have such straightforward personalities this extra information never serves to really expand on who these people are, or why they do what they do. Brief humorous setpieces about nativist protestors and perpetually unsatisfied older citizens only highlight this misplaced emphasis further. There's quite a lot of humor in here, all of the awkward and weird variety as characters, most usually Yoon-yeong, awkwardly laughs at strange social situations. This even expands beyond romantic meet cute set-ups. You know that scene in horror movies, where we realize that there are cameras everywhere, and some malevolent presence is watching from the other side? That scene is in here, and it's creepy, but mostly it's just knowingly pathetic in a way that doesn't inspire pity or even self-pity. Truthfully the main justification for character actions are just the predictable kind. The way Song-hyeon strings male characters along makes a lot more sense once we realize that she's only pretending to be coy. This is exposited, rather counter-intuitively, in flashbacks during the latter part of the film that predate the Gunsan date. It's hard not to laugh at how Yoon-yeong can only be provoked into action by horribly unsubtle, aggressive, and obviously ill-advised flirting. Then the minute that's gone, he's right back to being uselessly taciturn. Well, maybe not that useless. "Ode to the Goose" is a story about how talking to people is actually really hard. I'm choosing to interpret the English language title as a metaphor explaining how for some people just running off to another country is just as sane and natural a course of action as a goose's regular migration pattern. If you're a stranger living in a strange land, no one expects you to be normal. Tempting isn't it? Review by William Schwartz "Ode to the Goose" is directed by Zhang Lu, and features Park Hae-il, Moon So-ri, Jung Jin-young and Park So-dam. COVID-related deaths fall in the Tri-State. What to know Though COVID-related deaths fell, new cases are up in parts of the Tri-State. Some health officials are worried about Thanksgiving causing a new spike Actors Neha Dhupia and Angad Bedi welcomed their first child- a baby girl, on Sunday in Mumbai. Neha gave birth to the newest member of the family at Women's Hospital, located in Mumbai's Khar area. According to a statement by her publicist, both mother and daughter are doing great, Firspost reports. Until recently, the Lust Stories star was busy shooting for season three of her talk show, No Filter Neha. On August 24, Angad Bedi had shared a picture of the couple, announcing Neha's pregnancy. In an Instagram post he wrote, "Ha! Turns out this rumor is true.. #3ofus ?? #satnamwaheguru". Neha said in a recent interview to Mid-Day that she kept news of her pregnancy a secret for fear of losing work. I was worried people would stop offering work. It was a good thing my bump wasnt showing till the sixth month because appearances matter here, and one might be assumed to be unfit for a job. Fortunately, my energy levels are high, she said. On September 30, Bedi hosted a baby shower for his wife, which was attended by the who's who of B-town. The couple's friend Sophie Chaudhary shared a picture from the party on social media. To mark the occasion, the duo had cut a white cake. Sophie confirmed the news of the birth on Twitter. Yaayy its a girl! Congrats my dearest @nehadhupia & @angadbedi on the birth of ur princess!!May she be blessed with good health & happiness always! And with u two as her parents, I know her life will be full of love & laughs! Heres to a truly special chapter in ur lives! she wrote. Neha Dhupia along with her husband Angad Bedi at her baby shower ceremony in Mumbai. (IANS) The couple tied the knot in a private ceremony in New Delhi on May 10. In a recent episode of No Filter Neha, Bedi recalled how he broke the news of Nehas pregnancy to her parents. Talking about what led to their sudden marriage, planned within four days, Angad confirmed that it was Nehas pregnancy that led the couple to hurriedly tie the knot. Angad revealed how he landed with his parents at Neha Dhupias house to break the news of his then girlfriends pregnancy and to propose marriage. Considering that you didnt want to break the news that you were expecting, so we had to tell them that we need to get married and we love each other. I was extremely nervous because that was the judgment day, technically. To break the news to your parents, I really had cold feet as clearly it was not going to come from you (Neha). Everything had to come for me. I had to really man up and speak. I just had to blurt it out and see the reaction, he said. Wishes for the couple have begun pouring in on Twitter. Yaayy its a girl Congrats my dearest @nehadhupia & @angadbedi on the birth of ur princess!!May she be blessed with good health & happiness always! And with u two as her parents, I know her life will be full of love & laughs! Heres to a truly special chapter in ur lives! pic.twitter.com/Hq28fEWDWU Sophie Choudry (@Sophie_Choudry) November 18, 2018 Congratulations @NehaDhupia and @Imangadbedi on being blessed with a baby girl! Welcome to the club! Harbhajan Turbanator (@harbhajan_singh) November 18, 2018 Mubaarakaaaaaaaan @NehaDhupia and my @Imangadbedi bhaji !! Both blessed with their first child, a baby girl. Rab Rakha !! #RjAlok pic.twitter.com/rmUOv4Dsbz RJ ALOK (@OYERJALOK) November 18, 2018 With agency inputs Follow @htshowbiz for more On Saturday, Shah Rukh Khan with wife Gauri Khan and daughter Suhana visited actor Rishi Kapoor in New York City. Later Shah Rukh took to Instagram to share a picture with the beautiful women in his life. Sharing the selfie, he wrote: Two many beautiful women..Too little time. Will be back NYC to savour their company & love again...soon. The post suggests that while Suhana and Gauri will stay back in New York, he would be leaving. Rishi, who is undergoing treatment for an unspecified illness, has thanked the trio for visiting him and wife Neetu Singh. Both the elder children of Shah Rukh live outside the country, Aryan is pursuing his education in the US while daughter Suhana is based in London. Suhana has, in the past, spoken about moving away from home at 16, Moving away at age 16 was the best decision of my life. Living in a different environment and meeting so many new people helped me gain a lot of confidence. Its about being able to do the little things, like walk on the street or take the train stuff that was so hard to do in Mumbai. But living away also made me appreciate home so much more. Suhana, who keeps returning to Mumbai and is often spotted at parties with her childhood friends, was in the news for her Vogue magazine cover that was criticised on the internet. Many had accused Shah Rukh and Vogue of nepotism as they were seen to be promoting a star kid who had not achieved anything yet. Suhana, with her friends Ananya Panday and Shanaya Kapoor, daughter of actor Sanjay Kapoor, is often spotted by the paparazzi in Mumbai. Speaking about her, Shah Rukh had recently said that his daughter is dusky but remains the most beautiful girl in the world. He said this when he was asked about his endorsement of fairness creams. Meanwhile, his wife Gauri has been branching out on her own. After re-designing a number of star homes, the most recent being Sidharth Malhotras, Gauri has been busy designing a Mexican restaurant called Sanchos in Mumbai. Follow @htshowbiz for more Three people were killed and around 15 injured in a blast at Nirankari Bhawan in Amritsar on Sunday morning. The blast occurred at a congregation of the Nirankari, a spiritual organisation, in Adliwal village of Amritsar, said deputy commissioner, Kamaldeep Singh Sangha. IG border range Surinderpal Singh Parmar said out of 250 people who were present in the religious congregation, three were dead and 15-20 were injured. As per initial reports, two people had come over here who lobbed a grenade here, he said. The injured have been admitted in Guru Nanak Dev Hospital and Ivy Hospital in Amritsar, police said, adding that they are investigating the blast. According to eyewitnesses, the Nirankari followers were sitting in the congregation when two-bike borne men with their faces covered entered the premises and threw a grenade at them. Rajesh, who was the part of the congregation, said the two attackers also had an assault rifle and entered the Nirankari Dera on gunpoint. Punjab Congress president, Sunil Jakhar expressed condolences to the families of those who died. My condolences are with families of those who lost lives in this incident. It is an attempt to disturb peace in Punjab. I believe all the security agencies should stay alert and coordinate with each other to maintain peace, he said. Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh suspected Sunday Pakistans ISI-backed Khalistani or Kashmiri militants role in the Amritsar terror attack that killed three persons and injured twenty others, and vowed that he would not let the forces of terror destroy the states hard-earned peace. The possibility of involvement of ISI-backed Khalistani or Kashmiri terror groups could not be ruled out (in the Amritsar terror attack), said Amarinder Singh in an official statement, adding the forensic teams have been rushed to the spot and all angles were being investigated. The chief minister said his government was on the top of things and would get to the bottom of the incident soon and ensure that the culprits are nabbed and brought to book. Nobody will be allowed to get away with trying to disturb the peace and harmony of the state, he said. Three persons were killed and at least twenty others were injured when two motorcycle-borne miscreants hurled a grenade at a religious congregation of over 200 devotees inside a Nirankari Bhawan at Adliwal village near Amritsars Rajasansi area Sunday, the police said earlier. Read: Amritsar grenade attack could be terrorist act, say Punjab police In his statement, the chief minister said the preliminary investigations have revealed that two men - one of them with a flowing beard and both with their faces covered - forced their entry into the hall, brandishing a pistol. They detained the sewadar, lobbed the grenade into the prayer room and fled on a motorcycle on which they had come, he added. A small crater was formed by the impact of the explosion and was being examined by the forensic team, Amarinder Singh said, adding that the safety valve of the grenade too has been found and was being examined. Soon after the attack, the chief minister reviewed the law and order situation in the state and asked the state home secretary, Punjab police chief and director generals, law & order and intelligence, to rush to Rajasansi in Amritsar to supervise the ongoing probe into the grenade attack, an official spokesman said here. Forensic teams too have been rushed to the spot and all angles were being investigated, said the chief minister. Read: Rajnath Singh vows to punish perpetrators of Amritsar blast Strongly condemning the grenade attack after reviewing law and order in the state, Amarinder Singh vowed that he will not let the forces of terror destroy the hard-earned peace in the state. While making an appeal to the people not to panic and remain calm, the chief minister tweeted, We will not let the forces of terror destroy our hard-earned peace. I appeal to the people of Punjab to maintain peace in the wake of Amritsar bomb blast. I urge them not to panic and remain calm, he added. Amarinder Singhs tweet followed soon after Punjab police chief Suresh Arora told PTI that the incident appears to have a terror angle... we will take it as a terrorist act. In his statement, the chief minister added that police teams have been rushed to raid suspected hideouts of the assailants and multiple teams are investigating various angles to crack the case. The chief minister also directed police to immediately beef up the security at all sensitive places, including all Nirankari Bhawans, in the wake of the grenade attack - the first such indiscriminate act against innocent people in recent past. Punjab had been severely hit by pro-Khalistan militancy in the 1980s and early 1990s, but it faced few terror attacks in recent years, barring the one in Pathankot over two years back. Though the state had been hit by a series of targeted attacks since 2015/2016, this was the first attempt, in a long time, aimed at disturbing the peace in the state through indiscriminate killings, said the chief minister. This strengthened the belief that Pakistan was continuing with its nefarious activities to disturb peace in the state, he added. Amarinder Singh said 15 terror modules were busted in the past 18 months, with indications of Kashmiri terror links too in some instances as evidenced in the arrest of Kashmiri students from Jalandhar and in a case of grenade blast at Maqsudan police station. Punjab DGP Arora had earlier told PTI the grenade attack on the religious congregation on outskirts of Amritsar city appeared to be a terrorist act. It (this incident) appears to have a terror angle, because it is against a group (of people) and not against any individual. There is no reason to throw a hand grenade on a group of people, so we will take it as a terrorist act. Till proven otherwise, prima facie we will take it as that, he had said. Punjab had been on alert following an input saying that a group of six to seven JeM terrorists were in the state, possibly in Ferozepur area. The state had been put on alert after four persons snatched a SUV from its driver at gunpoint near Madhopur in Pathankot district last week. Taking to Twitter, Rai shared a beautiful unseen pictures of him with the actors. Mumbai: Filmmaker Aanand L Rai shared an emotional post dedicated to the lead actors Shah Rukh Khan, Anushka Sharma and Katrina Kaif of his upcoming film 'Zero' expressing his gratitude towards them for making beautiful memories during the movie's journey. Taking to his official Twitter handle, he uploaded beautiful unseen pictures of him with the actors, writing, "Sometimes we never come to know the value of a moment until it becomes a memory. Thank you for such beautiful memories in this heartfelt journey of #zero. @iamsrk Khan Saab , @AnushkaSharma & #KatrinaKaif ! #Zero21Dec" Sometimes we never come to know the value of a moment until it becomes a memory. Thank you for such beautiful memories in this heartfelt journey of #zero. @iamsrk Khan Saab , @AnushkaSharma & #KatrinaKaif ! #Zero21Dec pic.twitter.com/8ui5JwtQJ2 AANAND L RAI (@aanandlrai) November 17, 2018 While SRK, Anushka and Katrina have shared screen space earlier in the flick 'Jab Tak Hai Jaan'in 2012, this is trio's first collaboration with Rai. Earlier this month, Katrina also took to her official Instagram page and shared a heartfelt post for the director. In the film, SRK plays the role of Bauua Singh, a vertically challenged man on a lookout for a bride, while Anushka Sharma portrays the role of a scientist who has cerebral palsy and Katrina Kaif is playing a superstar, Babita Kumar, battling alcoholism in the movie. The trailer and posters of the flick have already created immense buzz on social media since their release. Produced by Gauri Khan, 'Zero' is all set to hit the big screens on December 21, this year. Punjab chief minister Amarinder Singh and Union home minister Rajnath Singh assured strong action after three people were killed and around 15 injured in a grenade blast at a Nirankari prayer meeting in Amritsars Adliwal village, which appeared to be a terrorist act. Two armed bike-borne youths wearing turban and having their faces covered forced their way into a building where the Nirankari spiritual group was meeting in the village near Rajasansi area and threw a hand grenade at the crowd. Three people were killed and around 15-20 injured, police said, adding that the injured have been admitted in Guru Nanak Dev Hospital and Ivy Hospital in Amritsar. The Punjab Police said the attack appeared to have a terrorist angle, and they would take it as terrorist act till proven otherwise. Because it is against a group (of people) and it is not against any individual. So we will take it as a terrorist act. Till proven otherwise, Punjab Director General of Police Suresh Arora told PTI. To a question, the DGP said there was no specific input about any possible attack on Nirankari Bhavan. Punjab was on an alert following an input that a group of six to seven JeM terrorists were reportedly in the state, possibly in Ferozepur area. People gather at the Nirankari Bhawan, where two men on a motorcycle reportedly threw a grenade during a religious congregation, in Adliwal village near Amritsar, Punjab on Sunday. (PTI) Inspector general of police S S Parmar, who visited the incident spot, told reporters that about 200 devotees were inside at the time of the attack. No CCTV camera was installed at the premises. Condemning the attack, Amarinder Singh said he will not let forces of terror destroy our hard earned peace. I appeal to the people of Punjab to maintain peace in wake of Amritsar bomb blast. I urge them not to panic and to remain calm, he said, after directing the Home Secretary, DGP, DG (Law and Order) and DG Intelligence to rush to Amritsar to supervise investigations, an official spokesman said in Chandigarh. He has announced an ex-gratia of Rs 5 lakh to the kin of the deceased. Rajnath Singh who spoke to the CM, said strongest possible action will be taken against the perpetrators of the grenade attack. Calling the attack a reprehensible act of violence, the minister expressed deep anguish over the death of innocents and conveyed his condolences to the bereaved families. Punjab chief minister Captain Amarinder Singh has said that his state was not responsible for the air pollution in Delhi and the national capital region, and has lauded the efforts of his farmers in minimising paddy stubble burning cases this year. Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal had blamed Punjab for the rising pollution around a fortnight ago, and the issue has had leaders engage in heated banter. How could Punjab be responsible for all the pollution in the national capital when there is no such pollution in Chandigarh from where it crosses over to Delhi, he said, after laying the foundation stone of a 358-crore Verka dairy mega plant at Bassi Pathana in Fatehgarh Sahib district on Saturday. The plant will be completed in three phases and would generate direct and indirect employment of 500 and 80,000, respectively, a government release said. He also inaugurated a Verka Mohali dairy as a Fully Automated Fermented Unit, built at 100 crore through a remote control. The CM also slammed anti-farmer organisations and other political parties for spreading propaganda against the government and presenting fudged figures over paddy procurement. Of 160 lakh tonne of paddy procured to date, 157 lakh tonne has already been lifted and payments have been made to farmers. The remaining paddy, with high moisture content above the ceiling prescribed in the norms, will also be lifted soon, he added. The CM added that he had pleaded with Prime Minister Narendra Modi for allowing 100 per quintal as incentive to farmers, who did not burn paddy stubble this season, but there had been no response. He also spoke about crop diversification. Addressing the gathering, cooperation minister Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa accused the SAD-BJP for destroying cooperative institutions. We will modernise and upgrade the Amritsar milk plant at a cost of 52 crore; Jalandhar plant at 35 crore by March. Patiala and Ludhiana milk plants will be modernised at a cost of 20 crore and 100 crore, respectively, Randhawa added. Minister for animal husbandry and dairy development Balbir Singh Sidhu also addressed the gathering. Others present on the occasion were MLAs Gurpreet Singh GP, Kuljeet Singh Nagra, Gurkirat Singh Kotli. Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday continued to hurl barbs at the Congress during his election speech in Chhattisgarh, accusing the party of pursuing the interests of one family and neglecting the interests of the nation. In attacks that targeted Congress president, PM Modi had earlier this week dared to choose someone from outside the Gandhi family as its president for five years if the party was really democratic. One of the familys courtiers has come out with a list (of party presidents from outside the Nehru-Gandhi family), PM Modi said, an oblique reference to former union finance minister P Chidambarams string of tweets on the names yesterday. In these, Chidambaram had taken a swipe at PM Modi for being concerned about the Congress president and asked him to spend some time about issues such as Rafale, CBI and the tug of war with the central bank as well. He also put out a list of 14 politicians who had been Congress president since 1947. PM Modi picked out one name to renew his attack. The country knows that Sitaram Kesri, a Dalit, was not allowed to complete his five-year-term as Congress president; he was thrown out of office and onto the footpath to make way for madam Sonia Gandhi as the new party chief, PM Modi said at an election meeting in Chhattisgarhs Mahasamund district hours before campaigning ends. PM Modis stress on the Congress and accusations of the partys dynastic politics in his election speeches is seen as an attempt to blunt Congress president Rahul Gandhis criticism of the BJP governments track record in Chhattisgarh. Chief Minister Raman Singh, the states three-time chief minister, has been in power for 15 years and is fighting for a fourth win. Modis pitch has particularly targeted Chhattisgarhs young, aspirational voters. He asked them to support BJP over the Congress because this wasnt just an election to elect a legislator. It is much bigger than that, he reasoned. He also appeared to offer an explanation why the state was still a laggard. The first 10 years of Raman Singh government were spent fighting the negative forces. The remote-controlled government in Delhi did not allow Raman Singh to work for his state. It was only after 2014 that he could work to bring in development in the state, he said, according to news agency PTI. Do you want to give an opportunity to people who ruined the lives of earlier generations of the state? asked Modi, warning the people against voting for the Congress. The BJP, he said, was the answer for Chhattisgarhs progress. Referring to Congress President Rahul Gandhis pledge to waive farm loans if his party came to power in the state, Modi said the Congress days of getting votes by lying and misleading people were over. It has been almost a year since your party came to power in Karnataka but what happened to your promise of waiving loans of farmers? The Prime Minister denied that his government waived Rs 3.5 lakh crore of corporate loans of a handful of industrialists. It is them who gave out indiscriminate loans and allowed the banks to be looted. Between 2006 and 2014 they gave out loans equal to the amount that was given after independence till 2006. It is our government which dared to enact tough laws and seized billions of rupee worth of properties of the fraudsters who have absconded. The Lucknow bench of the Allahabad high court has permitted admissions through national eligibility cum entrance test (NEET) in Ayurveda, Unani Medical Colleges of Uttar Pradesh till December 20. Passing the order on a bunch of writ petitions, the court directed the state to proceed with filing up of remaining vacancies of AYUSH, which now remain vacant even after the completion of NEET process. The court, however, made it clear that the NEET merit should not be lowered any further. Only those students, who have already qualified NEET will be granted admission in preference, the court said. After the said process, the remaining seats shall be filled up by the state government by finding out the meritorious students through the process, which the state deems fit, it added. The court further directed the state government to complete the admission process and ensure that colleges get their quota of students on or before December 15. In case, the state government fails to find out such students and provide them to colleges by December 15, it shall be open for AYUSH colleges to take admissions of students as per the directions given in the order of the Karnataka high court, from December 16 onwards. The colleges shall complete such exercise, if required, between December 16 and 20. No admission shall be taken after December 20, the court directed. The admissions, which are given to students, under the orders of this court, shall be subject to the final decision of these writ petitions and this fact shall be noted on every admission given under this order, the court said. This order shall apply to all the AYUSH colleges which are granted permission by the central government till today, the court ordered. Justice Vivek Chaudhary passed the order on the bunch of writ petitions filed by Pradeep Kumar Chaudhary and others challenging the admission procedure through NEET. The petitioners submitted that there was no age limit provided under law for admission to Ayurveda and Unani Medical Colleges but while taking admission through NEET, age limit of 25 years was imposed. Similarly, though there was no requirement of having English subject in Class XII, such a condition was imposed in NEET. For admission in Unani colleges, law makes Urdu language compulsory but no test with regard to the knowledge of Urdu was made a condition in NEET, the petitioners added. Senior advocate SK Kalia, assisted by advocate Rajat Rajan Singh, argued on behalf of the petitioners. They cited the Karnataka high court order saying that similar order should be passed with regard to the state of Uttar Pradesh as situation in all the states is same. On behalf of the state government, advocate general (AG) Raghvendra Singh submitted that in past few decades in the state, a large number of students appeared in Class Xll, who passed the examination by mass copying, therefore, state of Uttar Pradesh should be granted opportunity to fill up the seats by making a preliminary examination to weed out the incompetent students and find out the meritorious ones. On the said request of AG, the court passed said order. The next hearing will take place on December 20. A three-year-old girl, her mother and her toddler brother were found with their throats slit at their home in south Delhis Hauz Rani on Saturday morning. While the girl succumbed to her injuries, her mother and brother are battling for their lives, police said. While a neighbour, who informed the police control room (PCR) of the incident, told police that the woman identified as Mohsina (25) stabbed her children before attempting to kill herself, investigators said they are still probing the allegations. Additional deputy commissioner of police (south), Vijayanta Arya, said, Though prima facie there is no evidence of the presence of a fourth person at the crime scene, we havent ruled out the role of anyone else, including her husband, in the crime. The police, who are treading cautiously while probing this crime, have registered a case of murder and attempted murder against unknown people at Malviya Nagar police station. Daughter of an assistant sub-inspector (ASI) posted at Delhis Saket court, Mohsina had married Mohammad Shamim four years ago, police said, adding that they have two children a three-year-old daughter and an 18-month-old son. A graduate in arts, Shamim worked at a mall in south Delhi, but is currently unemployed. Mohsina, who studied up to class eight, is a homemaker. The couple lives on the third floor of a flat located in a narrow street of Hauz Rani. Shamims parents and brothers family lived in another house in the same neighbourhood. Both their families confirmed that the couple had frequent fights. Mohsina had issues with Shamim often returning home late at nights, Shamims cousin, Mohammad Zubair, said. But Mohsinas father, Ishaq Mohammad, alleged that Shamim used to beat up his daughter. Shamim did not work and would beat up my daughter for asking him to feed the family. Three months ago, I had taken my daughter away after he beat her up. She returned to him a fortnight ago upon his request, he claimed. ADCP Arya said preliminary investigation has revealed that the last quarrel between the couple began late Friday night, when Shamim returned home late and Mohsina didnt let him in. Shamim decided to spend the night at his parents house in the same colony. Stating that the incident came to light around 10am, Mohsinas neighbour, Sapna, said: Some girl told me that Mohsina was calling out for me. I entered Mohsinas flat to see her holding her slit throat with one hand and frantically waving to me with another. According to Sapna, Mohsinas son and daughter too had their throats slit. They were all on one bed. There was no one else in there, but the doors of the flat were open, she claimed. ADCP Arya said the knife used in the crime has been recovered. Even as the police were informed, relatives and neighbours rushed the three to Max Hospital nearby. The girl was declared brought dead while her mother and brother are battling for their lives. The boy is likely to survive, but Mohsina has suffered serious wounds to her neck and stomach. She is on ventilator support and not in a position to speak to us, said ADCP Arya. After the crime, the families of Mohsina and Shamim hurled allegations at each other. Whenever the couple quarrelled, Mohsinas father would threaten to implicate Shamim in a false case. He would instigate Mohsina to harm her children so that Shamim could be implicated. Mohsina tried to follow his advice but things spiraled beyond her control, said Shamims cousin, Zubair. Denying the allegations, Mohsinas family claimed that their interference was limited to warning Shamim from raising his hands on his wife. Instead, they accused Shamim, his older brother and their mother of trying to kill the Mohsina and the two children. Police said they are probing all allegations and possibilities. Both the families are currently in distress. But we hope to get clarity after speaking to Mohsina. We are also awaiting report from doctors and forensic experts to determine if it was only homicide or also involved a suicide attempt. This crime has no eyewitness and we dont want to declare anyone a murderer without evidence, said ADCP Arya. In my last column I wrote about the government trespassing on the autonomy of other institutions. This week I am writing about incursions in the public sector. In his biography of PN Haksar, Jairam Ramesh says the civil servant who was so influential, so close to Indira Gandhi that he was described as her alter ego, was a prime mover in the high noon of nationalisation, 1972. But only two years later, Haksar angrily denounced the way the public sector was being managed and, in particular, condemned the interference by politicians and civil servants in the management of public sector companies saying, remote control from the secretariat in New Delhi is exercised by men, both politicians and civil servants, who have no knowledge, and even less experience of running enterprises of any sort, unless self-advancement could legitimately be called an enterprise. This chronic trespassing on the autonomy of public sector companies may no longer occur but their use by the government for its own purposes continues. From time to time, the Life Insurance Corporation of India (LIC) has been called on to disguise failed privatisations as successes by buying shares no one else wanted. Now we hear that the National Small Savings Fund (NSSF) is to be obliged to mount yet another rescue operation for the nationalised Air India, following the failure of the recent attempt to privatise it. The NSSF also plans to invest ~1.3 trillion in government agencies like the Food Corporation of India. Such decisions are always taken to save the government of the day. Indian Railways has been dealing with its over manning by a policy of natural wastage. But with the election in sight and the government facing allegations that economic growth has not created jobs, the government has told the railways to recruit 127,000 people. Will the new recruits add to the efficiency of the railway or will they just get in the way as surplus manpower always does? The last time the railways advertised jobs, 9.2 million people applied. Applicants frustrated this time may perhaps vent their anger on the government. The LIC, the NSSF, and the railways are all central government institutions, so the Press brings political interference in their affairs to our attention. Almost forgotten is the interference in the public sector at the state level. Chairmanships are handed out to MLAs as consolation prizes for failing to get into the cabinet. The chief minister of a northeastern state recently appointed 10 MLAs among the 49 people he chose as heads of government corporations and boards. The chairman of a state-owned company and two MLAs have been given cabinet status. RSS members and former chief secretaries have also been rewarded with chairmanships. How many have any qualifications to head their enterprises? Haryana has 37 boards and corporations. A sad story from there illustrates my point. Two women made such a success of breathing new life into the Khadi and Village Industries Board while serving as the chief ministers Good Governance Associates that at the end of their one-year term, the CEO of the board wanted to give them jobs as advisers. Three times they were called to Chandigarh to discuss terms. Three times they were assured appointment letters would follow. Three times they didnt. After three months, they are seeking jobs elsewhere. Sources in the board told them the chairperson, a political appointee with no experience in Khadi, refused to sign the letters because she had personal ideas about who should be appointed. Nobody knows how much government money must be wasted by political interference in the government corporations and boards in states in India all these years. The views expressed are personal Delhi chief minister and Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) supremo Arvind Kejriwal on Saturday alleged that he was not allowed to visit Karnals Bal Pabana village in Haryana and stopped at Panipat. Kejriwal was scheduled to visit a dispensary in the village and address a public meeting. Talking to Hindustan Times at PWD rest house in Panipat amid heavy police deployment, Keriwal accused the BJP government of not allowing a Haryanvi to visit a village of his own state. This is enough to prove that the BJP government in the state is worried over the increase in support given to the AAP. That explains why they only stopped us from visiting the village, he said. He claimed that police officials attributed the reason of stopping him at Panipat to their inability to lift the blockades. Kejriwal said he would keep visiting Haryana and nobody could stop him. How can anyone by stopped like this? What is Mr Khattar afraid of? Kejriwal asked in a tweet. Kejriwal had on November 2 written to Haryana CM Manohar Lal Khattar, asking him to visit a mohalla clinic set up by the AAP government in Delhi, while he expressed interest in visiting a dispensary in Haryana. However, he said no response came from Khattar. But he was visiting the state on being invited by the villagers. In another tweet, he said the BJP government, despite knowing that Pakistanis were the perpetrators, allowed them to visit Pathankot after attack, but was preventing him to visit a hospital in his own country. Kejriwal said it was the insult of people who had invited him to their village. Addresses rally from mobile phone Kejriwal later addressed the rally at Bal Pabana through a call and thanked the people for making arrangements for his visit. We have improved the condition of schools and government hospitals in Delhi and would do the same in Haryana if voted to power, he said. However, Panipat deputy commissioner refuted the allegations that Kejriwal was stopped and said, We did not stop anybody. As there was traffic congestion, we had informed him about the problems he may face. Tractor-trolleys blocked the way The main road leading to the village had tractor-trolleys parked on it. The protesters did not disclose their identity, but AAPs state president Naveen Jaihind claimed that they were BJP workers, who were told to block the roads. However, a protester present on the Ballah-Bal Pabana road said, We have decided not to allow Kejriwal to enter the village as he had ditched social activist Anna Hazare. Deepika Padukone and Ranveer Singh are finally back in Mumbai after their Italy wedding. They were spotted at the airport and then headed to Ranveers residence in Mumbai where they met and posed for photographers. The new bride and the groom were decked from head-to-toe in Sabyasachi. Designer Sabyasachi Mukherjee shared the image on Instagram. While Deepika wore a cream suit and a red silk dupatta accessorised with traditional jewellery, Ranveer also wore a cream kurta set to complement his bride along with a pink and gold jacket. Mukherjee had designed the clothes and jewellery for both the bride and the groom for all their functions. On November 14 and 15, the popular Bollywood couple got married as per Konkani and Sindhi rituals at Lake Como. After much anticipation, the first official pictures of the couple were shared by them late on Thursday evening. Coming up for the couple are three wedding receptions the first at Bengaluru, followed by one in Mumbai on November 28 for the press. Finally, on December 1, they will host a reception at Mumbais Grand Hyatt for their industry friends. Here are some more videos and images of the happy couple: Preliminary investigations reveal two men forced entry into hall: CM In his statement, the Chief Minister Amarinder Singh said the preliminary investigations have revealed that two men - one of them with a flowing beard and both with their faces covered - forced their entry into the hall, brandishing a pistol. They detained the sewadar, lobbed the grenade into the prayer room and fled on a motorcycle on which they had come, he added. A small crater was formed by the impact of the explosion and was being examined by the forensic team, Amarinder Singh said, adding that the safety valve of the grenade too has been found and was being examined. Read more 3-member NIA team to reach blast site today Three member team of the National Investigation Agency to reach the blast site in Amritsar today, reports ANI. Perpetrators will not be spared: Arun Jaitley Grenade attack & killing of innocent people at Nirankari Satsang Bhawan in Rajasansi, Amritsar is highly condemnable. My thoughts are with the bereaved families, prayers for speedy recovery of those injured. Perpetrators of this heinous act will not be spared. Arun Jaitley (@arunjaitley) November 18, 2018 Police teams rushed to raid suspected hideouts of the assailants: Punjab CM The possibility of involvement of ISI-based Khalistani/Kashmiri terror groups could not be ruled out. Police teams have been rushed to raid suspected hideouts of the assailants and multiple teams are investigating various angles to crack the case: Punjab CM Capt Amarinder Singh First bombs, now grenade attack: Harsimrat Kaur Badal First bombs and now grenade attack in #Amritsar, what next Raja saab? When will you and your ministers stop encouraging elements bent on disturbing hard won peace? Stop playing politics and get down to serious governance. Punjabis dont want to go back into dark era. Harsimrat Kaur Badal (@HarsimratBadal_) November 18, 2018 Punjab police say attack appears to be a terrorist act It (this incident) appears to have a terror angle. Because it is against a group (of people) and it is not against any individual. There is no reason to throw a hand grenade on a group of people, so we will take it as a terrorist act. Till proven otherwise, prima facie we will take it as that, Punjab Director General of Police Suresh Arora told PTI. Read more Got enough leads, say Home ministry officials There are enough leads and the probe is going in the right direction, but it is too early to come to any conclusion, home ministry officials said. Spot visuals from Nirankari Bhawan in Amritsar Visuals from inside the Nirankari Bhawan premises in Amritsar. ( ANI/Twitter ) Strongest possible action will be taken against perpetrators:Rajnath Singh Spoke to the Punjab CM Captain Amarinder Singh ji who has apprised me of the situation in the wake of grenade attack in Amritsar. Strongest possible action will be taken against the perpetrators of this crime: Home Minister Rajnath Singh. Read more Reprehensible act of violence: Rajnath Singh Deeply anguished by death of innocent people in grenade attack in Amritsar in Punjab today. Its a reprehensible act of violence. My condolences to the families who have lost their loved ones in this attack & prayers for speedy recovery of the injured, said Union home Minster Rajnath Singh Wont let forces of terror destroy our peace: Punjab CM I appeal to the people of Punjab to maintain peace in wake of Amritsar bomb blast. I urge them not to panic and to remain calm. We will not let the forces of terror destroy our hard earned peace, said Punjab CM. Punjab CM reviews law and order situation in Punjab Punjab CM Amarinder Singh reviewed the law and order situation in the state in the wake of the grenade attack on a religious congregation on the outskirts of Amritsar city which left three persons dead. While reviewing the law and order situation, Singh directed the Home Secretary, DGP, DG (Law and Order) and DG Intelligence to rush to Rajasansi in Amritsar to supervise investigations, an official spokesman said here. Punjab CM Amarinder Singh announces Rs 5 lakh ex-gratia Punjab CM Captain Amarinder Singh has announced Rs 5 lakh compensation for the kin of the dead and free treatment for the injured. My heart goes out to victims of the Amritsar bomb blast & their families. My govt will give Rs 5 lakh to kin of each of the dead and free treatement to injured. Have asked district administration to extend all help. Capt.Amarinder Singh (@capt_amarinder) November 18, 2018 A cowardly act: Kejriwal AAP convener and Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal has called the grenade attack on the spiritual gathering in Amritsar a cowardly act. A cowardly act. We strongly condemn it. https://t.co/LQC6aHRE1M Arvind Kejriwal (@ArvindKejriwal) November 18, 2018 AAPs HS Phoolka condemns Amritsar grenade attack AAP leader and leader of the opposition in the Punjab legislative assembly HS Phoolka condemned the attack, calling it a ghastly act of killing innocents. This reminds us Maur blasts conducted by followers of Ram Rahim and Congress candidate in 2017, he said. Injured admitted in Guru Nanak Dev and Ivy hospital in Amritsar The injured have been admitted in Guru Nanak Dev Hospital and Ivy Hospital in Amritsar, police said, adding that they are investigating the blast. Visuals from the hospital where those injured have been shifted after the blast at Nirankari Bhawan in Amritsar district, earlier today. #Punjab pic.twitter.com/NpumSbHq4e ANI (@ANI) November 18, 2018 New voters will have a major role to play in the polls: Modi New voters will have a major role to play in the polls, they will decide their own fate and that of MP, says Prime Minister Narendra Modi Madhya Pradesh has emerged as the number one state in the farming sector under BJPs 15-year rule: PM Madhya Pradesh has emerged as the number one state in the farming sector under BJPs 15-year rule; during the Congress era, it was nowhere, says PM Modi Congress neither has any policy nor any leader: Modi Congress neither has any policy nor any leader; its leaders are confused and the party is fused, says PM Modi Congress engaged in divisive politics in Madhya Pradesh: Modi Congress engaged in divisive politics in Madhya Pradesh during its 55-year rule, says Prime Minister Narendra Modi Swachh Bharat Abhiyan has led to a considerable rise in the number of foreign tourists: PM Swachh Bharat Abhiyan has led to a considerable rise in the number of foreign tourists visiting India in the last 2 years, says PM Modi New voters will have a major role to play in the polls: PM Modi New voters will have a major role to play in the polls, they will decide their own fate and that of MP, says PM Modi One of the senior Congress leaders is not being allowed to campaign during these elections: PM One of the senior Congress leaders is not being allowed to campaign during these elections. The reason is that Congress fears that if he campaigns, the party will lose as people will recall what the fate of Madhya Pradesh was during the time they were in power, says PM Modi These elections are about rejecting the negative forces: PM Modi These elections are not about who would win or who wont win. But these elections are about rejecting the negative forces who have always focused on the divide and rule approach, says PM Modi CM Chouhan has made Indore the economic capital of MP: PM Modi Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan has made Indore the economic capital of MP, says Modi Indore has immense potential to draw tourists: PM Modi PM Modi says Indore has immense potential to draw tourists from across the world. A boost to tourism here can generate employment opportunities, strengthen the regions economy. Indore has always blessed BJP and I hope this wonderful city blessed us again : PM Modi Prime Minister Narendra Modi says Indore has always blessed BJP and I hope this wonderful city blessed us again. Congress an ATM of false promises, BJP an ATM of development: Amit Shah BJP chief Amit Shah addresses a public meeting in Churhat, Madhya Pradesh. He says that the only way Congress solves the public issue is by giving false hopes. Congress is an ATM of false promises while BJP has been an ATM of development, says Shah. Saved Rs 90,000 crore through Aadhaar: PM Modi When Rajiv Gandhi was PM, he said if govt released one rupee, only 15 paise could reach people. Why was it so? Who looted those 85 paise? When we came to power, through Aadhaar, we put a check on corruption and saved Rs 90,000 crore: PM Modi BJP releases fifth list of candidates for Telangana BJP releases fifth list of 19 candidates for Telangana assembly elections 2018, reports ANI. BJP releases fifth list of 19 candidates for #TelanganaAssemblyElections2018. pic.twitter.com/tS96Fng5g4 ANI (@ANI) 18 November 2018 Provided gas connections to 6 crore families: PM Modi We provided gas connections to 6 crore families. In MP, 50 lakh families received gas connections. PMs promise of houses for all We already constructed 1.25 crore houses and handed over keys. In MP, 15 lakh houses were handed over to poor people. By 2022, all Indians will have houses: PM Modi We benefitted farmers: PM Modi We introduced PM crop insurance scheme. Farmers received claims worth Rs 16,000 crore, MP farmers alone got Rs 5,000 crore. In Karnataka, they promised farm loan waiver. Instead of fulfilling promise, notices were sent to farmers to pay up loans or face jail: PM Modi Introduced soil health card for farmers: Modi Oppn demeaning tribals, surgical strikes, Army chief. Then naamdaar says he got confused. Naamdaar is confused, party is fused. Today, MP is an inspiration in the field of farming. We introduced soil health card for farmers: PM Modi Ensured money is transferred to peoples accounts directly: PM Modi Oppn is angry because we introduced Aadhaar. We found six crore people who have no existence but they availed various benefits. We introduced technology and ensured peoples money are transferred to their bank accounts directly: PM Modi Modi accuses Cong of corruption A plywood factory was opened here and in the name of relatives of a Congress leader. Land and subsidies worth crores were availed of. But there is no plywood factory: PM Modi Modis dig at Cong manifesto Congress promises to protect cows in MP, slaughters them in Kerala: PM Modi Chhindwara developed due to BJP: Modi If Kamal Nath had respected people the way he respects one family, people would have loved him. Did Chhindwara develop before Shivraj Chouhan and BJP took over: PM Modi Cong fooling people: PM Modi Naamdaar goes to eight different places and says CM will be from that place. He is fooling people and party workers too. This is why from 440 they went down to 40: PM Modi Modis dig at Congress People who get elected from here start businesses in other places. Video shows naamdaar saying he can accept any candidate, whether a tough or corrupt, but the candidate must win. If such people are elected what will be the condition of Madhya Pradesh: PM Modi PM at Chhindwara PM Narendra Modi begins speech at public rally in Chhindwara in Madhya Pradesh. Congress releases third list of 18 candidates for Rajasthan Congress releases third list of 18 candidates for Rajasthan assembly elections 2018. Out of 18 seats, Loktantrik Janata Dal and Rashtriya Lok Dal will contest on two seats each and NCP on one seat, reports ANI. PM urges people to vote Pehle matdaan, fir jalpaan: PM Modi People voted in Bastar, Kashmir despite threats: PM Modi When Bastar went to elections, Maoists threatened people. But people love democracy, they voted in huge numbers. Even in Kashmir, militants threatened people against voting. But there too, people voted in huge numbers: PM Modi By 2022, everyone will have their own houses: PM Modi Under PM Awas Yojana, the poor have received houses. By 2022, everyone will have their own houses. Under PM Mudra Yojana, small traders have benefitted. We introduced law to confiscate property of loan defaulters. Thousands of crores worth properties are now under govt. We will sell them and recover amount: PM Modi 13 lakh farmers availed crop insurance in Chhattisgarh: PM Modi We gave soil health cards to farmers. During your (Oppn) time, even human beings did not have health cards. Some 13 lakh farmers availed crop insurance in Chhattisgarh: PM Modi Sitaram Kesri was humiliated by Cong: PM Modi Sitaram Kesri was humiliated by Congress. He was not allowed to complete his five-year-term as Congress president: PM Modi Oppn shedding crocodile tears for farmers Opposition shedding crocodile tears for farmers. During their time, they made a hue and cry over farm loan waiver. But how many farmers actually got waiver? Those who jailed farmers, fired at them are now pretending to be sympathetic to them. Congress did urea scam, they never cared for farmers: PM Modi Cong thought of only one family: PM Modi Four generations of Congress ruled the country. What was the fate of people? They only thought about one family but never gave a thought about the welfare of people. How can we trust them that they will fulfil aspirations of people now: PM Modi For 10 years, Centre was ruled by remote-control govt: Modi Raman Singh faced a lot of challenges. For 10 years, the Centre was ruled by a remote-control government which never paid attention towards Chhattisgarh: PM Narendra Modi in Mahasamund Brigadier Kuldip Singh Chandpuri was suffering from cancer. He is survived by his wife and three sons. Chandigarh: The man who won India the historic Battle of Longewala, Maha Vir Chakra winner Brigadier Kuldip Singh Chandpuri today passed away. The 78-year-old war veteran died at a private Hospital in Mohali . He is survived by his wife and three sons. In the year 1997, inspired by his heroics, a film Border was made starring Sunny Deol, Akshay Khanna and Ayesha Julka. Sunny Deol played the role of Major Kuldeep Singh Chandpuri in the movie. Brigadier Kuldip Singh Chandpuri MVC, VSM was born on 22 November 1940 and retired as brigadier from the Indian Army. He was known for his heroic leadership in the famous Battle of Longewala. Later, he was awarded Maha Vir Chakra by the government. Chandpuri was the third generation of officers to serve in the army. Both his younger uncles were pilot officers in the Indian Air Force. Chandpuri was a single child of his parents. He was recruited into the Indian Army in 1962. Chandpuri was commissioned from Officers Training Academy, Chennai in 1963 into the 23rd Battalion of The Punjab Regiment. He took part in the 1965 war in the western sector. After the war, he served in the United Nations Emergency Force (UNEF) at Gaza (Egypt) for a year. He also served twice as an instructor at the prestigious Infantry School, Mhow (MP) where the elite of the Indian army are imparted instructions for combat training. During the Battle of Longewala, Chandpuri and his company of 120 soldiers, defended the post, in spite of huge odds. He defended against the 3,000-strong Pakistani 51st Infantry Brigade, backed by the 22nd armoured regiment. Chandpuri and his company held the Pakistanis at bay for a full night until the Indian Air Force arrived in the morning. Chandpuri inspired his men, moving from bunker to bunker, encouraging them to beat back the enemy until reinforcements arrived. Kuldip Singh Chandpuri and his men inflicted heavy casualties on the enemy, and forced them to retreat, leaving behind twelve tanks. For his gallantry and leadership, Chandpuri was awarded the Maha Vir Chakra (MVC) by the Indian Army. The car of Bharatiya Janata Partys Bengal unit president Dilip Ghosh was attacked allegedly by activists of the ruling Trinamool Congress in Hooghly on Sunday as he was returning from a rally in the district. The Trinamool, however, denied any involvement. While Ghoshs security personnel managed to rescue him and take him out from the area, actor-turned-politician Joy Banerjee whose car was following that of Ghosh, alleged he faced the wrath of the attacking mob. Trinamool workers started pelting stones and I was hit. The window of my car was smashed. Our leaders informed Union home minister Rajnath Singh about the incident. We will also file a complaint at the local police station, Banerjee told the media. Trinamools district president in Hooghly, Tapan Dasgupta, however, denied involvement of his party workers behind the incident. I am aware of what happened. All I can say is that none of our party workers was involved, he said. Earlier, while addressing the rally on Sunday afternoon, Ghosh threatened Trinamool Congress with retaliation if its supporters continue to unleash violence. We generally do not want to engage in violence but that does not mean that we cannot retaliate, he said. This is the second time in two months that Ghoshs car was attacked in Bengal allegedly by Trinamool workers. On September 17, his car was attacked near Contai in East Midnapore district and while he escaped unhurt, the vehicle was damaged and three other BJP workers were injured. Over the past few months, BJP and Trinamool leaders have been accusing each other of spreading violence in the state. Earlier this week, Ghosh said in a public meeting in Andal that BJP workers can kill them (Trinamool supporters) anywhere in the state. As heavy police deployment and restrictions affected pilgrim flow to Keralas Sabarimala temple, the BJP, which is leading protests against the Supreme Court verdict allowing entry of all women, has decided to bring in Union ministers and senior leaders to the hilltop shrine to keep the issue in focus. The party also announced its plan to take save Sabarimala stir to the neighbouring states. An uneasy calm prevailed at Lord Ayyappa Swamy shrine on the second day of the 64-day annual pilgrimage season on Sunday but many other parts of the state witnessed protests against the arrest of Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) state general secretary K Sudhakaran, who was held on his way to the temple Saturday night and sent to two weeks judicial custody. The party observed Sunday as a protest day, taking out rallies and hymn-chanting processions at many places. The temple opened for annual pilgrimage season on Friday as a fierce standoff continued between the state government and protesters over entry of menstruating women to the temple, allowed by the apex courts September 28 verdict. Union tourism minister KJ Alphons is visiting Pambha, one of the base camps of the temple, on Monday and Union minister of state for finance Pon Radhakrishnan is arriving at the weekend. BJP president Amit Shah, who supported the Sabarimala stir during his recent visit to the state, is also likely to visit the temple by month-end. I am visiting Pambha on Monday to see arrangements. There are many complaints that devotees are facing innumerable problems due to heavy security and other restrictions, Alphons said, adding the arrest of party leaders on their way to the temple was deplorable. The Nair Service Society, a socio-cultural body of powerful Nair community, has also condemned the arrest. While the BJP seems determined to capitalize on the issue by positioning itself as the defender of faithful, the main opposition Congress, fearing a loss in its upper caste vote-bank, also took a deep plunge despite party president Rahul Gandhis reservations. Desperate to make an inroad into the states bipolar politics, the BJP feels the emotional issue is a golden opportunity. Earlier it tried its best to woo the minority Christian community and later the backward Ezhavas but both initiatives failed to yield desired results. It courted Kerala Congress (Mani), but this predominant Christian party returned to the Congress-led United Democratic Front fold later. The NSS usually keeps maintains equi-distance with political parties but this time, it is on the forefront of the agitation and the BJP feels that its new camaraderie with the NSS will help it politically. Amid the standoff and the political wrangle, pilgrims complained that they were worst-affected. It is sad police are treating us like criminals. After trekking the five-km steep path, they are not allowing us to take proper rest. They are shooing us away. If the situation continues like this, the hill temple will lose its glory, said a pilgrim from Andhra Pradesh who is a regular at the temple for 20 years. The Travancore Devasom board, which runs the temple, also said pilgrims flow was affected badly. The row has taken a toll on preparations - the flood-ravaged Pambha remains a jungle of mangled concrete structures and the river is full of sand and slush. Despite its sorry state, pilgrims are still taking a plunge in the stagnant water. A three-member committee deputed by the central leadership of the Congress on Sunday held talks with the partys Telangana leaders who are unhappy over being denied the ticket for next months elections to the state Assembly. The panel headed by Puducherry chief minister V. Narayanasamy met the dissident leaders at a hotel in Hyderabad to dissuade them from contesting as rebel candidates. Karnatakas Irrigation Minister D.K. Shivakumar and Puducherrys Health Minister Malladi Krishna Rao are the other members of the committee. The troubleshooters assured the dissidents that they will be rewarded suitably after the party comes to power. They advised the dissidents not to enter the fray as rebels as this would mar the prospects of Mahakutami or grand alliance headed by the Congress. The dissidents were also asked to work for the victory of Mahakutami. Former minister Ponnala Lakshmaiah, senior leader V. Hanumantha Rao, party spokesman Ramya Rao and others met the committee members and made certain suggestions. After meeting the committee members, Palvai Sravanthi, one of the dissidents, announced that she will not contest as a rebel. The state leadership has identified at least 90 ticket aspirants who were miffed over not being fielded as party candidates. Some of them plan to contest as rebels. Party sources said 40-50 dissidents would meet the committee over the next two days. Elections to the 119-member Assembly are scheduled for December 7. The Congress has so far announced 88 candidates. It is likely to declare six more candidates later on Sunday. The party has decided to leave 25 seats to its three allies including Telugu Desam Party (TDP). A day after hundreds of villagers clashed with police, Odisha chief minister Naveen Patnaik on Sunday ordered immediate halt to cutting of trees in a forest in Dhenkanal district for a beer factory. Patnaik directed the district administration to immediately stop felling of hundreds of luxuriant sal trees in Jhinkargadi forest near Balarampur village in Odapada block. On Saturday, police had forcibly removed protesters, mostly women, who guarded the trees by wrapping their arms around, similar to the Chipko movement in the 1970s. Patnaik also directed the revenue divisional commissioner to investigate the matter. Incidentally, Patnaik himself laid the foundation stone for the project through video conferencing on November 3. The construction work of the Rs 102 crore beer factory by Kolkata-based P&A Bottlers with a bottling capacity of 2.5 lakh hectoliters/annum was scheduled to begin on November 8, but had to be stopped due to the protests. Of the 12 acres of land leased out to the beer company, five acres have sal trees. We have been taking care of this forest for four decades. Its our fruit of labour. But we were thrashed and evacuated while protecting our trees. We will not be cowed down, said Sushanta Dhala, who is leading the protest. The forest has around 958 big trees of various species. Social activist Prafulla Samantra said, The villagers had moved the National Green Tribunal for a directive to the state government against felling of trees on forest land. While the tribunal was scheduled to hear the case on November 20, the district administration decided to fell the trees. BJP MLA Pradip Purohit asked whether bureaucrats and ministers allowed tree felling by keeping the CM in the dark. What is the justification of a probe when already trees have been felled and cases registered against protesting women? he asked. Leader of the opposition Narasingha Mishra said as per law, trees cannot be cut without the Centres permission. Trees were felled forcibly which is illegal and a criminal offence, he said. Crops, plantations, even livestock in 151 districts, or slightly more than one-fifth of the total districts in India, are susceptible to the impact of climate change, according to an annual review by the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR), a wing of the agriculture ministry. The effects of climate change on Indias agriculture, which employs half the population and accounts for 17% of the countrys economic output, are no longer about distant projections. The latest research, cited by the ICAR study, shows the impact of climate change will be increasingly felt , as demonstrated by extreme weather events -- and manifest itself in economic, political, even social consequences. In Jharkhands Sahibganj district, rice-growing Maltos tribespeople are fending off new pests, attributed to changing temperature and rainfall patterns, according a 2016 study by researcher Hoinu Kipgen Lamtinhoi, who conducted the research for the Fellowship of India Commission on Relief. The states Action Plan for Climate Change too flags these changes, said Lamtinhoi. These changes are capable of stoking social conflicts. Lamtinhois research shows that crop-shriveling pests have led Maltos to move into areas dominated by Santhal tribes downhill, leading to clashes. Apple belts in Himachal Pradesh have been moving to higher altitudes for want of sufficient cold weather, according to the ICAR. Crop-damaging spring hailstorms in central India and a sudden temperature spike in Punjab in 2010 , which cut wheat yields by 26% that year, according to the Ludhiana-based Borlaug Institute, are other instances. The ICAR has identified that of the 28 million hectares under wheat, about 9 million hectares are categorised as being prone to sudden heat stress. These are the evidence of changing of weather patterns in India, said Pramod Aggarwal, one of Indias top climate scientists and a former national professor at the Indian Agricultural Research Institute (IARI). Agriculture minister Radha Mohan Singh chaired a meeting on November 1 to review preparedness against extreme weather events. Although there are several ongoing mitigation programmes, including the flagship National Innovations on Climate Resilient Agriculture, these are scattered. Singh has asked ICAR to prepare a new scheme that integrates all existing ones. At the meeting, he proposed tentatively calling it the Integrated Climate Resilient Agriculture Programme. A lot of people debate climate change. Even if we dont use these two words, there is sufficient evidence on the impact of changes in rainfall and temperature in India, Aggarwal said. He said proven adaptation technologies are now available, but what is needed is political will. Aggarwal was the coordinating lead author for the chapter on food in the fourth assessment report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC). He was also the review editor of the IPCCs landmark fifth assessment report. In each of the 151 climatically vulnerable districts, one representative village is now being chosen where location-specific technologies will be deployed. The technologies for demonstration have been selected based on the nature of vulnerability faced by the district and its main farming system. The ICARs climate review offers many granular findings. It states that mustard farmers in Gujarats Anand district should now be advised to shrink their sowing window to October 10-20 from October-November to avoid attacks by aphids, whose frequency has increased. The review blames changes in weather patterns for the attacks, including wind speeds of more than 2 km per hour and mean temperature of 19 to 25.5 degrees Celsius. The review also states that in 10 mango-growing locations of India, incidence of fruit flies may increase due to projected increase in temperatures in future climate change periods. The National Economic Survey 2018 analysed weather patterns over the past six decades, and found a long-term trend of rising temperatures and declining average precipitation. Using data sets created by the University of Delaware and India Meteorological Department, the review projected that climate change could reduce annual agricultural incomes in India in the range of 15-18% on average and up to 20-25% in unirrigated areas. About 54% of Indias sown area has no access to irrigation. The survey called for drastically extending irrigation and replacing untargeted subsidies in power and fertilizer with cash transfers. Two men on a motorcycle barged into a prayer hall near Amritsar and threw a grenade at a religious gathering on Sunday, killing three people including a preacher and injuring at least 20 in a suspected terror attack, police in Punjab said. Around 11.30am, the masked men targeted a gathering of the Nirankari sect in Rajasansi area, which is about 15km from central Amritsar and close to an international airport. At least 200 people were at the prayer hall for a weekly religious meeting. We are considering it as a terror act. This incident is against a group, and not an individual, said Punjab director general of police Suresh Arora, who rushed to the spot with senior officials. Punjab is on an alert after inputs that a group of six to seven terrorists of the Pakistan-based Jaish-e-Mohammed was reportedly camping in the state. Last week, four people snatched an SUV from its driver at gunpoint near Madhopur in Pathankot district. In 2016, a group of terrorists stole a car belonging to a Punjab police official before launching a deadly attack that killed seven soldiers in the states Pathankot air base. Chief minister Amarinder Singh condemned the attack and announced a compensation of Rs 500,000 each to the families of the victims. I appeal to the people of Punjab to maintain peace in wake of Amritsar bomb blast...We will not let the forces of terror destroy our hard earned peace, he said on Twitter. Singh also said the possibility of the involvement of Khalistanis (Sikh separatists) or Kashmiri groups backed by Pakistani spy agency Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) could not be ruled out. A team of the National Investigation Agency (NIA) rushed to the site as part of the agencys standard operating procedure under which it tracks all terror-related cases, said home ministry officials. Punjab is expected to send a report to the ministry, which will then take a call on whether the case has to be handed over to NIA. Union home minister Rajnath Singh spoke to the chief minister and assured strong action against those responsible for the attack. The attack on the gathering of the Nirankari sect, whose members are considered heretics by some Sikh traditionalists, sounded a fresh alarm across the border state ahead of Fridays birthday celebrations of Guru Nanak, the first Sikh Guru. The Nirankari sect, with headquarters in Delhi, has millions of followers across the country and abroad. Delhi Police declared a high alert after the grenade attack, and security around a Nirankari establishment in north Delhis Burari was stepped up. Being the national capital, Delhi remains on alert throughout the year. We have, however, intensified our security apparatus to ensure no untoward incidents take place in the city..., Delhi Police spokesperson Madhur Verma said. Initial investigations into Sundays attack found that two men their faces covered forced their way into the building by brandishing a pistol, CM Singh said. One of them overpowered the guard at the gate and lobbed the grenade into the prayer room. Then, they fled on their motorcycle. Sukhdev Kumar, 58, a preacher of the sects Rajasansi unit; Kuldeep Singh, 40, and Sandeep Singh, 17, died in the explosion. All of them were residents of nearby villages. Those wounded are undergoing treatment in two hospitals in Amritsar. The people had gathered for prayers. There were around 200 people. Preliminary reports suggest that the two persons threw one grenade...No firing took place, Punjab police inspector general (border range) SPS Parmar said, adding that no CCTV camera was installed at the prayer hall. Maharashtras Devendra Fadnavis government on Sunday put its seal of approval on the plan to give the Maratha community quotas in educational institutions and government jobs. The decision, taken at the cabinet meeting on Sunday, came days after the chief minister asked the community to prepare for celebrations on December 1. A bill to extend quota benefits to the community would be moved in the state assembly during the winter session beginning Monday. The panel tasked to re-examine the demand for quotas had recommended that the Maratha community be covered as a socially and educationally backward class. Weve accepted the recommendations and constituted a Cabinet Sub-committee to take statutory steps for implementing them, Maharashtra chief minister Fadnavis said, according to news agency ANI. The chief minister, however, clarified that Marathas, who account for 32-35 per cent of the states population, would be given quota benefit without disturbing the existing quota allocated to people from the SC, ST or the OBC. The state government intends to follow the Tamil Nadu model which implies 68 per cent seats in educational institutes and public sector jobs would go to Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes, Other Backward Classes, other minor social groups and Marathas. Suspected militants abducted, and later released, a young man in south Kashmirs Shopian district on Sunday, prompting a security review by top police officials who discussed, among other things, the seventh such kidnapping in four days. Inspector general of police Swayam Prakash Pani rushed to south Kashmir, hours after Suhail Ahmad Ganaie was abducted from his home on the outskirts of Shopian where two militants were killed in an encounter in a separate incident on the same day. A police spokesperson said the meeting chaired by Pani discussed the overall security situation, including measures taken ahead of the upcoming panchayat elections in the district. On Thursday night, suspected Hizbul Mujahideen militants shot dead Nadeem Manzoor Dar, 18, alleging that he was an army informer. And on Saturday, unidentified assailants slit the throat of a 19-year-old baker, Huzaif Ashraf. In a first, militants also filmed their killings and released the videos. We are looking into these cases. Culprits will be taken to task and peace will be ensured, said Pani. A senior police official said militants were insecure following intensified operations by forces in Shopian this year. We have killed 34 terrorists so far in these 11 months, said the official who did not want to be named. The abductions came in the wake of the killings of two militants, including an army deserter, in a gunfight with security forces in Shopians Safanagri Zanpora about two weeks ago. A purported confession video of Dar apparently shot before his killing shows the youngster admitting to tipping security personnel off the presence of militants in Zanpora. A voice, apparently that of Hizb commander Riyaz Naikoo, justifies Dars killing and says people involved in treachery will meet the same fate. Dars brother said, Around 9pm [on Thursday], three to four armed men came to the house looking for him. They left as he was not at home. Later at night we came to know that Manzoor was abducted and killed.... Both Omar Abdullah of the National Conference and Mehbooba Mufti of the Peoples Democratic Party have condemned the killings of civilians. Srinagar-based political scientist Noor Ahmad Baba said such acts will not deter the potential informers. In the period between 2002 and 2010, militancy had come down as there was some hope, but that hope has disappeared now, he said. This is the second time in 2018 that militants have taken civilians hostage. In August, there were mass abductions of relatives of securitymen after police detained for questioning family members of some Hizb militants, including those of Naikoo. Those abducted were released after police let off the relatives. South Kashmir has emerged as the hotbed of militancy in the restive state; many fresh militant recruits are believed to be from this area. Stone-throwing mobs in the region often target securitymen during gunfights with militants, triggering retaliation by the forces. On the other hand, villagers suspected to be police and army informers face the wrath of militants. Hes a successful lawyer turned politician, rich enough to be able to spend a few lakhs to acquire a painting by MF Husain; and a poet who writes in three languages. On the face of it, Kapil Sibal seems to have it all, but scratch the surface and you see his pain. Sibals pain comes through in the first Punjabi song he recently wrote. The poet in him accepts separation: it is the lawyer who wants to know why: Chadna hai te dass ke chad mainu Roughly translated, the verse runs something like this: Leave me if you must but not without telling me why. THE PAIN AND PARTING Relationships, says Sibal are very precious. You can fall in love and also part. But one should be sensitive enough to soften the blow. Parting may be necessary, but not the bitterness that comes with it. Sibal has had his share of pain and parting. He lost his first wife Nina to cancer. He later married Promila. Sibal and Nina met in college and hit it off during play rehearsals of Shakespeares Julius Caesar. It worked well because I played Caesar and Nina played Caesars wife, Sibal reminisces. He acted in another play with Brinda Karat, who is now a politician. She was playing a mermaid, Sibal says with a laugh. Years later, Sibal and Karat were on different sides of the political spectrum. Brinda is a die-hard leftist. I too was pro-left. In a country where a significant work force earns less than 10,000 rupees a month, how can you ever be right of Centre? says the Congress leader. THE POET PARLIAMENTARIAN When he was minister, Sibal went to Antartica, the first MP to have travelled there. I wanted to see for myself the living conditions of the scientists. I was appalled because they did not even have proper toilets, Sibal remembers. Had he started writing poetry then, he would perhaps have written one on the Emperor penguins on sea ice. But the muse struck some years later. It was technology that helped Sibal discover the poet in him. His hectic work schedule meant long flights when he would put random thoughts on his cell phone. When he chiseled them, he had his first book of poetry, I Witness. OF BOLLYWOOD AND LYRICS Two years ago he made his debut in Bollywood as a lyricist. Sibal has written the lyrics of a love song for the Hindi film Shorgul. He has also released an album with AR Rahman called Raunaq. Sibal started off writing in English but switched to Hindi and then Punjabi, the last more poignant for him than the others. Punjabi is my mother tongue and as is always the case, you express much better in your own language, he avers. His writing has a wide range: from an ode to his wife Promila, to a poem for prime minister Narendra Modi. The poem I wrote keeping Modi in mind goes something like this Khuda ke bande sambhal ja... If he had more time on his hands, Sibal would have done what he has always wanted to do, direct and act in a film. But his flourishing practice as a lawyer sees him more in courtrooms than film studios. Sibal shares his love for cooking with his second wife Promila. She is far better cook than me, but my dream is to open a restaurant. A self-proclaimed foodie, Sibal loves Lebanese and French cuisines. A PASSION FOR PAINTINGS Among the many advantages of being a successful lawyer is having money to spend without thinking twice. For Sibal, this has been the case since the eighties. At that time a couple of lakhs was considered a huge sum, but Sibal would buy priceless paintings and antique carpets just on an impulse. Today, he has an enviable collection, except he has run out of wall space. Many of the precious canvasses are stacked behind sofas, he says with a grimace. Counted among the countrys most expensive lawyers, when Sibal says that he focuses on ordinary people, it sounds like a bit of a stretch. But Sibal is quick to counter any such insinuations. I charge money from those who can afford to pay, for others it is pro-bono, he offers. MY SON THOUGHT I WOULD BE ASSASSINATED Two politicians are responsible for Sibal being in politics: Narasimha Rao and Lalu Yadav. In 1996, when Rao asked him to contest the elections, he had refused: I am just a lawyer; I dont want to fight. I will lose, Sibal had told him. Sibal did lose at that time, but within two years got into the Rajya Sabha with Lalus support. Sibals son was dead against his joining politics. He went on a hunger strike to dissuade me because he feared that like Indira Gandhi I would be assassinated, Sibal recounts. For a major part of his political career, Kapil Sibal has been a ruling party MP and a minister. So his calling himself anti-establishment, does not quite fit in. I work for the under-dog. When I was minister my policies were for average people, he explains. Kapil Sibal hated school. I was punished every other day. When I forged a teachers signature, the principal threatened to expel me. Years later, he bragged to his son about his academic record. I told him I stood fifth in class, but did not tell him that it was a class of only seven students, he remembers with a mischievous smile. Between his parents, it was Sibals mother who worried endlessly about his future. She (my mother) thought I was the black sheep in the family. But my father believed that one day I would make it. Kapil Sibal did make it. But the heights he has scaled are more than his father had ever imagined. The missing nephew of banned ULFA (Independent) commander-in-chief Paresh Baruah has joined the insurgent outfit, Assam Police said. Munna Baruah, the 22-year-old son of Paresh Baruahs elder brother Bimal and an apprentice at the Digboi oil refinery, had been missing for over a week, according to police. A missing persons complaint was filed at the Digboi police station on November 15, Tinsukias superintendent of police Mugdhajyoti Mahanta said today. We have been able to confirm that he has joined ULFA(I). He left for Myanmar through Mon in Nagaland, he added. Pallab Bhattacharyya, Director General of Police, Special Branch, the states intelligence setup, warned that the push to the Citizenship (Amendment) Bill, which would pave the way for citizenship to minorities from Afghanistan, Pakistan and Bangladesh who have come to India for fear of persecution, has given a fresh lease of life to ULFA. He said it is a big contributing factor for the dissatisfaction among Assamese and we should be very careful in going ahead with it. Bhattacharya said as many as 11 persons have joined the outfit since September 2018 while another 11 have been brought back by the Assam Police. Earlier, in May, a 16-year-old girl, who was a higher secondary school student and a kick-boxer, had gone missing in Tinsukia. She also joined ULFA(I), Mahanta said, adding over the last three years, as many as 22 persons have been brought back from the jungles and are now undergoing counselling in Tinsukia. Another police officer said recent recruitment into the outfit from lower Assam is worrisome. In September, three boys had left for the ULFA (I) camps from Udalguri district in Bodo Territorial Administrative Districts. At least two were Class 10 dropouts, Udalguri superintendent of police Rajveer said. On the reasons for the growing recruitment, Bhattacharya said that lack of employment and education is one factor, but added that the Citizenship (Amendment) Bill has given a fresh lease of life to ULFA(I) recruitment.. Brahmaputra Valley has seen widespread protests over the Bill. I have been getting inputs how there is dissatisfaction among all sections of the Brahmaputra valley over the Bill. The 1985 Assam Accord was supported by all sections. The feeling among people is that we have taken extra burden of foreigners till 1971, Bhattacharyya said. Through the Bill, you are again forcing the people to take burden, he said. He also blamed the media and social media, too. The media coverage on the contentious issue of the Bill on vernacular channels is giving support to views of organizations like ULFA(I), he said adding how channels would invite Paresh Baruah to these discussions over phone, knowing well he is part of a banned group. On Saturday, Assam police requested the central agencies to block a Youtube video where a young rapper is inciting people to take up arms against Bangladeshis. The video which is still on Youtube has amassed over 73,000 views since it was uploaded on November 8. Chhattisgarh is going to second and final phase assembly elections on November 20 when 72 seats in the state would go to elections. Bhopal: Former chief minister Ajit Jogi on Saturday dismissed with contempt the talks of his newly floated party entering into post-poll alliance with BJP in Chhattisgarh and said that he would prefer death to supporting BJP.. Mr Jogi whose Janata Congress Chhattisgarh has forged an alliance with Mayawatis BSP in the two-phase assembly elections in Chhattisgarh scheduled to be over on November 20, described the rumours that his party might go for post-poll alliance with BJP in Chhattisgarh, as conspiracy by his detractors to weaken the alliance in the state. Mr Jogi even swore by five religious scriptures to drive him point home. The JCC-BSP alliance will form government in Chhattisgarh and I will be chief minister, he declared while addressing a news conference in Raipur in Chhattisgarh. His assertion comes a day after BSP supremo Mayawati declared in Lucknow that her party would have no post-poll alliance with either BJP or Congress in Chhattisgarh. My party will rather like to sit in Opposition than extending support either to BJP or Congress, she had said. Chhattisgarh is going to second and final phase assembly elections on November 20 when 72 seats in the state would go to elections. In the first phase assembly polls in the state on November 12, elections were conducted for 18 seats. The Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), the countrys apex pollution control body, has received more than 3,000 complaints through its social media accounts, email and mobile app, from citizens relating to violations of green norms that is adding to the deteriorating air quality of the national capital. We have received more than 3,000 complaints on our social media accounts, through emails and the Sameer app between November 1 and November 10. More complaints are pouring in everyday, said a senior CPCB official. Most of these complaints relate to violation of norms at construction and demolition sites, dumping of garbage and open burning of garbage. The social media accounts were opened from November 1 after Supreme Court directions. The Supreme Court had on October 29 directed the Central Pollution Control Board to create a social media website or account where people could give information and file complaints about air pollution. The complaints which were lodged during the 10-day period were forwarded to the Centrestate joint teams that are moving across Delhi and four NCR towns for taking action. Out of the 3,116 complaints, at least 1,776 have already been resolved. The rest are being resolved with the help of government agencies, such as civic bodies, said the official. The Central Pollution Control Board has been sending out 41 teams between September 15 and October 31 across Delhi and in the four NCR towns Ghaziabad, Faridabad, Noida and Gurugram to flag violations of green norms at least twice a week. From November 1 till November 10, when the Union environment ministry organized the Clean Air Campaign, joint teams were formed and their number was increased to 52. The frequency of visits was also raised from two days a week to at least five days a week. From November 11, the number of teams deployed was again brought down to 41. Union environment minister Harsh Vardhan had recently said that even though complaints against violations of green norms were pouring in, the agencies had failed to take action in most cases. He even said that the implementation score was less than 10% in Delhi. The minister had asked to initiate criminal proceedings against any government agency that failed to take action even after being informed. We have deployed 41 teams across Delhi. Plans are on to increase the frequency of visits. Government agencies have also been asked to initiate actions against polluters and address the complaints. Each and every complaint is being tracked and monitored by the senior official of the CPCB, said the official. Maoist ideologue and Telugu writer Varavara Rao wanted to procure arms to create unrest in the country, prosecution told a Pune sessions court on Sunday, seeking custody of the poet. Judge K D Vadane remanded Rao in police custody till November 26. After arresting him on Saturday evening from his residence in Hyderabad, the Pune police produced Rao in court on Sunday amid tight security. Seeking police custody of Rao for 14 days, special public prosecutor Ujjwala Pawar told the court that the investigation has revealed that Rao has a direct nexus with the top underground Maoist leaders and he was directly involved in various Maoist activities; from smuggling arms and ammunition from Nepal and Manipur, to recruiting students for the Naxal activities and aiding urban naxal movements. Rao along with four others was arrested by police in August after which the Supreme Court put him under house arrest. It was only after the high court refused to grant him further relief that Rao was taken into custody by the Pune Police on November 18. Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh Sunday spoke to Punjab chief minister Amarinder Singh and took stock of the situation arising out of a grenade attack at a religious gathering in Amritsar which claimed three lives. Singh also vowed to take strongest possible action against the perpetrators of the crime. Spoke to the Chief Minister of Punjab, @capt_amarinder ji who has apprised me of the situation in the wake of grenade attack in Amritsar. Strongest possible action will be taken against the perpetrators of this crime (sic), he tweeted. The home minister said he was deeply anguished by the death of the innocent people in the grenade attack in Amritsar. It is a reprehensible act of violence. My condolences to the families who have lost their loved ones in this attack and prayers for speedy recovery of the injured, Singh said. Three people were killed and at least 10 others injured in the grenade attack by bike-borne assailants at a prayer hall brimming with around 200 devotees at Raja Sansi village near Amritsar. BJP leader K Surendran was allegedly manhandled in police custody and denied basic facilities, he claimed after he was detained for defying police orders at Nilakkal base camp of Sabarimala temple late on Saturday. Surendran, who is BJPs Kerala general secretary, has been remanded to 14-day custody by a court in Pathanamthitta in the morning. He is currently lodged at the Kottarakara sub-jail. Surendran who spoke to the media before being remanded said: The police have charged me under non-bailable sections. I am no criminal, nor do I have any cases against me. They did not let me sleep, nor was I allowed water or to take my medicines. The police even roughed up my Irumudi kettu (a mandatory holy kit to be taken to the temple), he said. Police had stopped him and his supporters on Saturday from proceeding to the temple due to new rules that bars pilgrims from proceeding to the temple after 7 pm as the temple closes for the day at 10 pm. An angry Surendran had asked the police to open fire at him to prevent him from taking the pilgrimage, according to IANS. In protest against his arrest, BJP has decided to step up its stir and blocked highways across the state. Calling it a jungle raj in the state, Kerala BJP president P S Sreedharan Pillai said they would block all National Highways in the state too. BJP workers protested outside the state secretariat in Thiruvananthapuram and blocking traffic. Water cannons were used to disperse them. The Sarabimala temple opened its doors at 5 pm on Friday for a two-month pilgrimage, the third time after the September 28 Supreme Court verdict that allowed women of menstrual age to enter it. A 61-year old man from Telanganas Medak district was shot dead by a 16-year old boy in Ventnor City of New Jersey in the US in a carjacking incident at around 8 pm local time on Thursday. Local media quoting Atlantic County Prosecutor Damon G Tyner said Sunil Edla, working as an auditor at a restaurant in Atlantic City,was fatally shot by the minor boy on the sidewalk outside his residence at Apartment 2, N Nashville Avenue in Ventnor City. Edla was leaving his home to work the overnight shift when the teen shot him and escaped with his car, reported local media. Edlas vehicle, a 2002 Subaru Forester, was subsequently found by Atlantic City Police Officers in the 1600 block of Sewell Avenue in Atlantic City. The suspect was subsequently tracked with the assistance of the Atlantic City surveillance center. The news of Edlas death was conveyed to his family members and relatives in Medak on Saturday. The post-mortem has been completed and the body is expected to be sent to India by Monday, a relative told the local media in Medak. According to the relatives, Edla, son of Devanandam Edla and Kamalamma, residing in the premises of famous Medak Church, was a commerce graduate and had done diploma in physical education. He then joined as a physical education teacher in a zilla parishad high school in Machavaram, Andhra Pradesh, where he married his fellow teacher Manjula. He resigned from his job 30 years ago and moved to the US to settle down as an accountant in Ventnor City. He has two sons Sajit Dayal and Marrison Dayal and also has a grandson. Sunil was active in the community and was also known for playing piano at churches in Atlantic City. He made all the arrangements to return to Medak on November 27 on a two-month vacation, to celebrate Christmas and also 95th birthday of his mother, the relative said. Preliminary autopsy shows the cause of death to be multiple gunshot wounds, and the manner of death homicide. The 16 year-old suspect was charged under various sections, including murder, robbery, carjacking, and unlawful possession of a handgun. Union finance minister Arun Jaitley launched a scathing attack against the West Bengal and Andhra Pradesh governments on Saturday for barring the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) from probing corruption cases in their jurisdiction, saying no state could claim sovereignty when it comes to probing matters of corruption. Jaitley referred to the Saradha Group chit fund scam and the Narada TV sting operation that showed several leaders of West Bengals ruling Trinamool Congress accepting cash from a man purportedly representing a company. Saradha and Narada in West Bengal cant be wiped off by merely keeping CBI out of the state and Andhra Pradesh move is not motivated by any particular case but by the fear of what is likely to happen, said Jaitley, who was in Bhopal to release the Bharatiya Janata Partys vision document ahead of this months assembly election in Madhya Pradesh. West Bengal and Andhra Pradesh, the latter ruled by estranged BJP ally Telugu Desam Party (TDP), barred the CBI from conducting raids or investigating cases without their express consent, making the point that they doubt the independence of the countrys premier investigating agency. The BJPs political rivals have in the past accused the Centre of using federal agencies to harass them. The Congress-led Punjab Government on Saturday scotched speculation around withdrawing the general consent to the CBI in the state and said there was no such move yet. Punjab chief minister Amarinder Singh said there was no such move and the decision in respect of the CBI consent in Congress-ruled states would be taken by party president Rahul Gandhi. The Karnataka government rescinded the general consent to the Central Bureau of Investigation in 1992, under the Janata Dal (Secular) government, headed by then chief minister JH Patel. It has not been reinstated. This situation continues till date, an official at the chief ministers office confirmed. Except for the illegal mining case, where the CBI was charged with investigating the case by the Supreme Court, the agency has to seek the states permission before taking up any case. The state is ruled by an alliance of the Congress and the Janata Dal (Secular). Jaitley told journalists: We have a federal structure in India. Under that federal structure, CBI was created initially for employees of the central government and then to investigate several kinds of serious cases in the states which were referred to it either by states or by courts.CBI cant snatch any case. He said: Its only those who have a lot to hide (that) will take the step of saying let CBI not come to my state. In the backdrop of the restrictions clamped by the two state governments on the CBI, Jaitley asked how the CBI could now investigate cases related to central government establishments in West Bengal and Andhra Pradesh and how it could probe corruption cases involving central government tax officials posted in the two states. Three jawans of the District Reserve Guard (DRG) of police were injured, one of them seriously, in a blast carried out by Naxals in Chhattisgarhs Sukma district Sunday, an official said. The incident took place between Bhejji and Elarmadgu villages when a team of security personnel was conducting a search operation, Sukma Superintendent of Police (SP) Abhishek Meena told PTI. As the team was cordoning off the forest between Bhejji and Elarmadgu, around 500 km from Raipur, the rebels detonated an Improvised Explosive Device (IED), he said. One jawan was seriously injured in the explosion, while two others sustained minor injuries, Meena added. Reinforcement was rushed to the spot and the injured jawans were taken to a local hospital, he said, adding that a search operation was underway to track down Naxals in the region. Polling for the Assembly election took place in Sukma and seven other Naxal-affected districts on November 12. The second and final phase of the Chhattisgarh polls is scheduled to be held on November 20 and the results will be announced on December 11. A CRPF man was killed after militants opened fire on a CRPF camp in south Kashmirs Pulwama district on Sunday. An encounter erupted after security forces chased the militants. Head Constable Chandrika Prasad was hit when the militants attacked the CRPF camp at Kakapora area in Pulwama. The attack was successfully repulsed by the security forces. However, in the terror attack, head constable Prasad initially sustained injuries. He was subsequently shifted to a nearby hospital for medical treatment where he succumbed to his injuries and attained martyrdom, said a police spokesman. The spokesman said that as the militants were trying to escape after the attack, security forces immediately cordoned off the area and started search. Earlier, two militants were killed in an encounter with security forces in Shopian district of south Kashmir on Sunday morning. The police spokesman said that based on inputs, a cordon and search operation was launched by police and security forces at dawn in Rebban area of Zainapora in Shopian district. Militants fired at the search team, who retaliated. In the ensuing encounter, two terrorists were killed, he said, adding that the bodies have been retrieved. Police said that the two militants were locals identified as Nawaz Wagay of Zainpora and Yawar Wani of Litter Pulwama. Both were affiliated with proscribed terror outfit Al-Badr. Incriminating materials including arms & ammunition recovered. @JmuKmrPolice @Sandeep_IPS_JKP, Kashmir police said in a tweet. Haryana chief minister Manohar Lal Khattars remarks on rapes that many cases were filed as a fallout of arguments between people who knew each other, drew sharp reactions, with his Delhi counterpart Arvind Kejriwal accusing him of justifying rapes. Khattar had made the comments while addressing a gathering in Kalka on November 15. The incidents of rape havent increased. These used to happen before as well. Today, only the concerns have grown. 80-90% of the incidents happen between people who already know each other. In most cases, they roam around together for some time, and when a quarrel happens one day, an FIR is filed, saying he has raped me, Khattar had said. Sharing Khattars speech on Twitter, Kejriwal said: CM sir is justifying rape. This is the reason why incidences of rape are increasing in Haryana and rapists are not caught... they roam around free. If this is the mentality of a states Chief Minister then how do you expect the women to be safe? he asked, adding that women in Haryana are simply furious with Khattar. CM , ? CM justify , https://t.co/Il6Fwgf1xj Arvind Kejriwal (@ArvindKejriwal) November 18, 2018 Hitting out at the Khattar, Congress leader Randeep Singh Surjewala termed the statement deplorable. Anti-Women Mindset of Khattar Govt Exposed! Haryana CM Khattar ji makes an utterly condemnable remark. Blaming Women for complete failures to control Rapes & Gangrapes? Deplorable! Surjewala tweeted. Khattar on Sunday clarified, saying he did not use the word consent. I did not say sehmati (consent). I said between known people. This is not what I say, but are facts from investigations. This should not be politicised, he said. Kejriwal also re-tweeted a message posted by AAP leader in Haryana, Naveen Jaihind, who demanded that Khattar apologise to all rape survivors and victims of sexual harassment. Does the chief minister have rapist mentality? Khattar sir is not ashamed. Speaking like a ringleader of the rapists. Instead of punishing the rapists, he is promoting them. When a 5-year-old is raped, with whom does she roam around? The CM should apologise to rape survivors and victims of sexual harassment, Jaihind said in his tweet. The AAP national convener and Khattar have been in a tiff over the past few weeks as he has been trying to woo voters from Haryana in the 2019 polls by inviting them to Delhi to see AAPs Mohalla clinics and government schools. Khattar has dismissed the clinics as halla (chaotic) clinics. On Saturday, Kejriwal was stopped allegedly by BJP workers from entering Haryanas Karnal district where he was to speak at a meeting. Rebellion in the Congress over distribution of tickets for assembly elections continued in Kota, Jaipur and Ajmer, while the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) too faced the anger of protesters after the two parties released their respective lists of candidates, giving several incumbent legislators a miss. On Saturday evening, former minister and three-time MLA from Dudu, Congress leader Babulal Nagar resigned after the partys third list, released earlier in the day, too did not find a place for him. I am a dedicated worker of the party and have been elected MLA from Dudu thrice 1998, 2003 and 2008. Under a conspiracy and for personal interests of some leaders, I have been neglected. I resign from all the party posts and primary membership, Nagar wrote to All India Congress committee (AICC) president Rahul Gandhi. Nagar, who was acquitted by a court in a rape case, said if someone wants to appeal in the higher court, (then) its a process. There is no case against me, though. When asked if he will contest as an independent, Nagar said, The decision will be taken by the people of Dudu. I will follow it. A parachute candidate is given the party ticket instead of the one who has worked on ground for the people in the constituency. How will an outsider know about our problems? All of us will support Babulal Nagar if he contests as an independent candidate, said Gopala Gujar from Dudu, one of the supporters. For the second day, angry supporters of Pipalda constituency aspirant Bhanu Pratap Singh ransacked the Congresss office in Kota, while in Jaipur, they burnt effigies and sat on a protest outside the party office. The party has named former Kota MP Ram Narayan Meena as its Pipalda candidate. Protesters burnt tyres outside the party office, calling Meena a parachute candidate. On Friday, supporters of aspirant from Kota South, Shivkant Nandwana, had also ransacked the office. In Jaipur, supporters of Umardaraj, an aspirant from Adarsh Nagar, burnt effigies of leaders near party office. Police later barricaded the road around noon. Manju Sharma, denied ticket from Vidyadhar Nagar, said she was protesting as the Congress has not followed the criteria and provided ticket to a parachute candidate. A supporter standing by her side said: It is unjust that the party did not nominate a leader who has worked with people for 15 years. We will support her (Manju) if she contests as an independent candidate. In Ajmer, members of the Sindhi community kept their business establishments closed and burnt effigies of Congress national and state presidents for ignoring the community. Congress will repent its decision of not fielding a single Sindhi. It will lose both Ajmer North and South constituencies, said Naresh Raghani, a community member. Sympathisers say the Congress took a hit wicket in Pushkar, Masuda and Ajmer South. A large number of BJP workers submitted resignations in protest over party not fielding sitting MLA Sandeep Sharma from Kota South. BJP Yuva Morcha leader Vikas Sharma, along with his supporters and two former corporators, submitted their resignations to district BJP president Hemant Vijayvarigya. BJP legislator Tarunrai Kaga, from Chohtan assembly seat in Barmer resigned from the party on Saturday. He also announced retirement from active politics. Fifteen BJP ticket aspirants and 19 Congress ticket seekers have been rebelling. The bullet-riddled corpse of the victim Huzaif Ashraf was found in Hermain village of Shopian on Saturday evening, the police said. He was accused of leaking information about the presence of two Hizb-ul-Mujahideen militants in a village of Shopian to security forces recently leading to a fire fight in which both of them were killed. Srinagar: A 19-year-old youth among the three civilians abducted by suspected militants in Jammu and Kashmirs southern Shopian district earlier during the day on Saturday has been found murdered, the police said. The bullet-riddled corpse of the victim Huzaif Ashraf was found in Hermain village of Shopian on Saturday evening, the police said. The two others have been released unharmed, a report from the town, 52-km from here said. This comes barely two days after an 11th class student Nadeem Manzoor was abducted and subsequently murdered allegedly by militants. He was accused of leaking information about the presence of two Hizb-ul-Mujahideen militants in a village of Shopian to security forces recently leading to a fire fight in which both of them were killed. The police sources confirmed that three civilians Shahid Ahmed Ganai, Huzaif Ahmed Kuttay and Farooq Ahmed were abducted by masked gunmen from Shopians Saidpora village early Saturday. The gunmen arrived at a bakery in Saipora village and took three civilians forcibly with them, a police official said. On Saturday evening, the police said that one of the three civilians abducted at gunpoint by masked men earlier during the day has been killed. The police identified the victim as 19-year-old Huzaif Ashraf, the son of a baker Muhammad Ashraf. "Terrorists today killed a civilian in a brutal act of terror in Shopian after he was kidnapped earlier in the day from Saidpora area of the district", a police spokesman said here. He added that the police retrieved the body of the civilian from village Hermain in Shopian and later handed it over to his family after completion of medico-legal formalities. Earlier on Thursday, gunmen believed to be the Hizb cadres abducted Nadeem Manzoor of Safnagri village of the district and soon shot him dead. His bullet riddled corpse was found in a village of neighbouring Pulwama district on Friday, the police said. Former chief minister and vice president of National Conference (NC) Omar Abdullah termed Nadeems cold blooded murder as deeply disturbing. Taking to micro-blogging site Twitter.com on Saturday, Mr. Abdullah said, The cold blooded murder of an 11th standard student by the Hizbul Mujahideen terror outfit is deeply disturbing. There can be no justification for this act & should force those who sympathise with these outfits to question how these murders make Kashmir a better, freer place. Earlier on Friday, a purported video emerged on social media showing militants firing a volley of bullets on Nadeem. In the video, the gunmen could be heard asking Nadeem why he tipped forces about two militants - Idrees Ahmad (Chota Abrar) of Safnagri and Amir Amin (Abu Shoban) of Awneera - who were killed in a gunfight with security forces in Safnagri recently. Another youth has been abducted from Meemender village in Jammu-Kashmirs Shopian district, hours after a 19-year-old civilian was killed by suspected militants, according to news agency ANI. This is the seventh incident of abduction in the Valley in the last four days. Suhail Ahmad was abducted by unidentified gunmen on Sunday morning from Meemender village, said a police official of PCR, Shopian. The 19-year-old was kidnapped along with two others from Saidpora area of Shopian, just 48 hours after a bullet-riddled body of a teen was found in neighbouring Pulwama. Huzaif Ashraf alias Raja Kandur, Shahid Ganaie and Farooq Thokar were abducted by militants from a bakery in Saidpora Payeen village of Shopian, police said. Huzaifs body was found in Shopians Hermain village, about 10 km from the place of kidnapping, police said. As per local reports,two more civilians were abducted from Meemender village of Shopian district on Saturday evening. However police officials said that they were checking the authenticity of the reports. On Thursday night, the bullet-riddled body of Nadeem Manzoor Dar, 18, was found in Pulwama district. Dar, who was the resident of Safanagri in Shopian district, was abducted by militants late on Thursday evening and taken to Niklora Pulwama, where his body was recovered by police. A video of the firing on the youth also made it to social media. Hours after Prime Minister Narendra Modi made a reference to a video clip purportedly featuring a Congress leader at an election meeting, the Madhya Pradesh Congress rushed to the Election Commission complaining that its state chief Kamal Nath hadnt made any statement that the party was ready to field criminals in the state assembly polls. Addressing the rally at Chhindwara, the Prime Minister said that a recent video has surfaced on the internet in which a senior Congress leader from this state is caught saying that for winning these elections, they are ready to take support from goons and those who do not obey the law. Such a thing is absolutely unacceptable, he added. In a complaint to the state chief electoral officer, the Congress said that the prime minister violated the model code of conduct by making the reference to Kamal Nath, the partys boss in the state and nine-time Lok Sabha member from Chhindwara. Denying Kamal Nath ever made such a statement, the party said that it was not expected that the holder of a top constitutional post would lie in this manner. It noted that recently there had been another fake video allegedly featuring its state party chief and the poll panel was probing the matter on the partys complaint. The party had also filed a complaint with the cyber crime cell, it said. Election campaigning is in full swing in Madhya Pradesh, where the Bharatiya Janata Party is seeking a fourth consecutive term in power. Voting will be held on November 28 to elect the new 230-member assembly and counting held on December 11. Malwas people have depth and sobriety; their land is flush with food and water: Malwa maati gahan gambhir, pag pag roti, dag dag neer. The adage befits the region that is home to a legion of Bharatiya Janata Party(BJP) stalwarts. This is the region that gave the party a huge lead over the Congress in the 2013 assembly polls in Madhya Pradesh. But 2018 could be different. Thats the view of local journalists, civil servants and politicians familiar with Malwas politico-social terrain. Encircled by Rajasthan, Gujarat and Maharashtra, life here is an amalgam of shared cultures, traditions and colloquial lores with some nuanced improvisations. For instance, the baked baatis (dough balls) one associates with Rajasthan are boiled before baking in Malwa. That makes baati a bafla in Ratlam which is MPs snack-bar, besides Indore, the way Bikaner is of the nearby desert state. The accompaniments are broadly the same: desi ghee with watery lentils, finely cut onions, papads and sweet kadhi which apparently is a Gujarati influence. The similarities arent restricted to culinary tastes. Fusion could as much be of political preferences. Its understandable then that the desire for political change one discerns in Ratlam and Mandsaur is in tune with the reported mood in Rajasthan -ruled also by the BJP. Adjoining Malwa towards the south-west is the Nimad region comprising districts mostly bordering Gujarat in the catchment area of the Narmada river: Khargone, Khandwa, Harsood and Barhwah. Together, the Malwa-Nimad belt aggregates 66 seats, of which the Congress could win just nine in 2013. The remaining 57 were won by the BJP. The much-flaunted native political wisdom is that the party that wins Malwa and Nimad, rules Madhya Pradesh. The forecast currently is of 30-odd seats for both parties. Perhaps for this reason, the satta market in Malwas and MPs biggest city, Indore, is betting on less than a hundred seats for the BJP in the 230-strong assembly. The people with whom this writer spoke along the 250-km stretch between Indore and Mandsaur had an interesting prognosis to offer. They said anti-incumbency in the cities was more against Narendra Modis New Delhi than against Shivraj Singh Chouhans Bhopal. Its in the countryside that the chief minister gets criticised for failing to deliver to the rightful claimants, the flat bonus his government fixed on a variety of farm produce: Rs 800 per quintal for garlic and rs 500 for soya and maize. Farmers assembled at an agriculture produce market in Dalouda near Mandsaur complained that online registration for the otherwise attractive scheme was rigged by big farmers. Acting in cahoots with revenue officials (patwaris) who keep records of land under crop, the rich and the politically connected cabals of agriculturists claimed bonuses even against crop they never sowed, these small farmers alleged. The nexus has ruined small farmers like me, said Paras Ram, who grew garlic at Rs 2000 per quintal but sold it between Rs 400-1000. Officials at the market confirmed that countless small farmers missed online registration that was mandatory for availing the benefit. Mandsaur-based businessman Purshottam Shivani said disenchantment in rural interiors bordered on anger compounded by the arrogance of BJPs leadership at the level of panchayats, zila parishads and municipalities. For its part, the Congresss problem is its weak organisation despite the residual social clout of Jyotiraditya Scindias Gwalior family. The ambience otherwise is for a change, explained Prithipal Rana, a water conservationist who is the president of the Rajput Samaj. He said the forward caste angst (against the Centre negating the Court-decreed dilution of the law to prevent atrocities against Scheduled Castes) has petered out. But the candidates of SAPAKS, a forward caste outfit, will hurt the saffron party more. The BJPs superior organisational muscle and poll logistics can help it contain if not entirely reverse the slide, noted a journalist working for a Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh publication in Ratlam. The urban voters anger is over demonetisation and the GST (Goods and Services Tax) that have both hit small and medium businesses. That was New Delhis doing. So the CMs appeal has declined in rural Malwa, but not as much in small towns and cities, where he gets praised for better roads, power and water supply: sadak, bijli, paani. The goodwill Chouhan retains in urban pockets seems squandered in the countryside, where the farmers awaiting remunerative prices for their crop remember the police firing that killed six agitating farmers last year. What should really worry him and his party are complaints of declining incomes and paucity of jobs across the urban-rural divide. On the brighter side, the CMs delivery on programmes aimed at women and the girl child is impressive. The festering wound is rampant joblessness. For instance, in Ujjains Badnagar, a semi-urban hamlet famous as the abode of the legendary Kavi Pradeep and the place where Atal Bihari Vajpayee did his early schooling, this writer met Kundan Chouhan. A first-time voter with proclaimed family links with the BJP, he was desirous of a change of guard: Hum BJP ke log hain par chahate hain eik bar Congress aaye. But why? For that he cited the lack of jobs and a quality life besides the 15-year fatigue of dealing with the same set of people in power. Small wonder then that the BJP looks unlikely to repeat its clean sweep of five seats in Ratlam and three of the four it won in Mandsaur. On account of these factors, Marxs theory of religion being the opium of the people may not find traction despite the Sangh parivars rising Hindutva pitch to entice the majority vote. For Ratlam, Mandsaur and Neemuch constitute the states poppy belt that grows the real thing. The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has never won an assembly seat in Mizoram. Five years ago, the party fielded 17 candidates for the 40 assembly seats. But it garnered just 0.37% vote share (2,139 votes). A lot has changed since 2013. The party formed governments in Assam, Arunachal Pradesh, Manipur and Tripura and is part of the ruling coalition in Nagaland and Meghalaya. Enthused by these successes, BJP is fielding 39 candidates this time around. The party is the talking point not just among the states 7 lakh plus voters but is also an important factor for its rivals too. In a state where Christians comprise 87% of the population, the BJPs pro-Hindutva image doesnt have many takers. But most agree that it might not just open its account, but could influence government formation as well, in the event of a hung verdict. BJP has never had any influence in Mizoram elections. But due to dissidence within Congress, which led to some of their leaders joining the saffron party, BJP may win one or two seats this time, said Prof. J Doungel, from political science department of Mizoram University. The BJPs confidence stems from the fact that earlier this year it won 12 of the 40 seats in Nagaland and 2 of the 60 seats in Meghalaya both Christian majority states in the region where the party is part of government. We are a secular party and theres no question of suppressing religious rights of anyone. If BJP comes to power, the state will benefit from various central schemes which the Congress government hasnt implemented well, said JV Hluna, the partys state unit chief. The battle for votes in Mizoram is a direct fight between ruling Congress which has been in power since 2008 and Mizo National Front (MNF), the biggest regional outfit. Both parties have a saffron connection. MNF is part of North East Democratic Alliance (NEDA), a regional anti-Congress platform started by BJP. We are part of NEDA only for parliamentary polls. Theres no question of any alliance at the state level. BJPs pro-Hindutva image wont work in Mizoram and it should consider itself lucky if it wins one seat, said former chief minister and MNF president Zoramthanga. The Congress also has a BJP link. In April this year, both parties joined hands to rule the Chakma Autonomous District Council (CADC) in Mizoram after the election there threw a fractured verdict. That alliance happened because the BJP members who got elected in CADC were all former Congress workers and promised to return to the party. But its been six months and they have not done it yet, said chief minister Lal Thanhawla. If BJP comes to power in Mizoram, it could hurt the social fabric of Mizoram. In the unlikely event of a hung assembly, Congress would prefer to sit in opposition than have a tie-up with BJP, he added. Congress accuses BJP and MNF of having a secret deal. The party is distributing a leaflet where Zoramthanga and BJP president Amit Shah is seen together and it carries this slogan MNF and BJP-Suppressing Christians and building a Hindu nation. Both MNF and BJP deny any secret agreement between the two parties. BJP president Amit Shah will hold talks with youths of poll-bound Rajasthan on November 21 in Jaipur, Union minister Rajyavardhan Rathore said on Sunday. The main event will be held at Tagore School auditorium in Jaipur where nearly 4,000 youths will participate. The event will be live streamed and Shah will take questions from youths present there and also from those at six other locations Bharatpur, Udaipur, Kota, Jodhpur, Ajmer and Bikaner, Rathore said at a press conference in Jaipur. Apart from these places, town hall meetings will be held in other 200 locations across the state where youths will be present, Rathore said, adding questions from youths who will be present at these locations will be registered beforehand and they will not be able to ask question during the programme. India is emerging as a strong nation due to the vision and energy of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Youths understand this. Social media has brought awareness among people on issues, be it political or any other. BJP has always has held dialogues with youths and therefore, the party present is going to communicate with the states youths on November 21, he said. Rathore said that questions can be asked through social media platforms like Twitter and Facebook. Assembly polls in Rajasthan will be held on December 7. The health condition of RJD president Lalu Prasad Yadav, who is serving jail term in fodder scam cases, has deteriorated due to a festering boil on his right leg, the doctor attending him said Sunday. Yadav is currently lodged in a paying ward of the Rajendra Institute of Medical Sciences (RIMS) here. The sugar level and blood pressure of the RJD chief, who is a diabetic, have shot up in the past two to three days due to the boil, Dr Umesh Prasad of the RIMS, who attends Prasad, told PTI. The former Bihar chief ministers dose of insulin has been increased to bring down the sudden increase in sugar level, he said. The doctor said Yadavs creatinine level has also increased to 1.85 from 1.5 and so has the while blood cell count to 12,000, the normal range of which is between 4,000 and 8,000. It will take some time for the infectious boil to heal, the doctor, who is monitoring the RJD chiefs health condition round-the-clock, said. Due to the boil, Yadav is experiencing difficulty in standing up and going to the washroom, sources close to him said. When asked if the RJD chief needs to be shifted to any other hospital, Umesh Prasad said proper care of the patient was being taken at the RIMS. Convicted in the Rs 900-crore fodder scam, the RJD chief surrendered before a special CBI court in late August, following the Jharkhand High Courts refusal to extend his bail on medical grounds. He was admitted to the RIMS and later shifted to its paying ward after he complained that he could not sleep properly due to the barking of dogs and mosquito menace. The fodder scam is related to fraudulent withdrawal of government funds from the treasuries of various districts of undivided Bihar in the 1990s when RJD was in power and Yadav the chief minister then. Yadav was in Ranchi jail since December last year in fodder scam cases. The Jharkhand High Court had provided him bail first for specialised treatment in hospitals in various states and again in July to attend the wedding of his elder son Tej Pratap Yadav in Patna. Tej Pratap, however, has filed divorce suit against his wife Aishwarya Rai within less than six months of tying the knot. The petition is scheduled to come up for hearing on November 29. The development has caused stress to Prasad, taking a toll on his ailing condition, sources said. Campaigning for the December 7 Telangana assembly polls would hit top gear during the next fortnight with top leaders, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi, BJP chief Amit Shah and former Congress president Sonia Gandhi, set to address public meetings in the state. With the process of filing nominations coming to a close on Monday, all major parties, the ruling TRS, BJP and Congress, along with its grand alliance constituents TDP and others have drawn up plans for intense hustings. The Congress has announced that Sonia Gandhi, on her first visit to Telangana after the states formation, will address a public meeting on November 23 at Medchal on the periphery of Hyderabad. Party president Rahul Gandhi is expected to visit the state for campaigning on November 28, 29 and December 3, Telangana Pradesh Congress Committee (TPCC) treasurer Gudur Narayana Reddy told PTI. State BJP chief K Laxman said that while Shah would campaign in Telangana during a three-day visit from November 25, PM Modi is expected to visit the state for campaigning in the first week of December. The BJP national president had kicked off the partys poll campaign with a public meeting in September and subsequently addressed two more meetings. TRS president K Chandrasekhar Rao, the ruling partys star campaigner, will address a series of campaign meetings this week. His son KT Rama Rao and nephew T Harish Rao, both ministers in the caretaker government, have been leading the campaign since the Assembly was dissolved on September six. The Telugu Desam Party (TDP), a partner in the grand alliance would get star power with N Balakrishna, the son of party founder NT Rama Rao and a top-ranking Telugu film hero, canvassing for the party. For Telangana Jana Samiti (TJS), another partner in the grand alliance, it is president M Kodandaram who, during campaigning, would highlight the alliances agenda for the people. The grand alliance, comprising the Congress, TDP, CPI and TJS, has alleged that the aspirations of the people following the formation of Telangana have not been met during the TRS rule. The Telangana assembly was dissolved prematurely on September 6 following a recommendation made by the TRS government, necessitating polls ahead of schedule. Syed Joynu was in for a rude shock on a September morning when he walked into Indos the curry house he owns just outside London. It was already 10:30 am and not a single employee had turned up. Distraught, he called four of his Romanian staff. Nobody responded. Two others, who also quit their jobs the same day without any notice, later told him the Romanians had already left the country for good, and soon thereafter, Joynu, 62, was forced to shut down the business that earned more than 4,00,000 pounds ($5,00,000) a year. This was nothing like what he was promised in the Brexit campaign he supported. Joynu was told thered be plenty of workers from South Asia and that restaurants specialising in spicy vindaloos would thrive if only the UK could break free from rules allowing the free movement of people between European Union member states. Instead, immigration has become tighter, business has suffered, and the workers from eastern Europe he had come to rely on have fled. Getting chefs over to work in Britains cherished Indian and Bangladeshi restaurants is near impossible under current immigration laws: Even the Queen isnt paying cooks in Buckingham Palace enough to comply with the rules on foreign skilled workers. We didnt realise what would happen after Brexit and thought wed be better off, said Joynu. If theres a second vote now, Id vote to remain in the EU. Indos is one of the many British curry houses closing down at a pace of one a day as a shortage of specialist kitchen staff makes the business impossible to run. Its an example of how Brexit is betraying the hopes of many who campaigned for it. With immigration considered a driving force behind the Vote Leave referendum win in 2016, the Brexit effect is clear in official data. The number of European Union citizens working in the UK fell by the most on record in the third quarter, and theyre not being replaced. Prime Minister Theresa May has a target of reducing net annual migration to the tens of thousands from more than 2,00,000 currently. Her government is aiming for a system after the divorce that gives ministers the flexibility to ease rules for countries with which they strike trade deals, with high-skilled workers prioritised and low-skilled immigration curbed. Curry house owners sought to avoid a system like that when they campaigned for the U.K. to leave the EU. Almost two decades after chicken tikka masala was unofficially declared Britains national dish, pro-Leave politicians promised restaurants higher inflows from South Asia with easier visa rules, shutting the door on European workers, allowing lower salary-thresholds to hire overseas staff and even regularizing undocumented workers. Chefs are in short supply. The industry, which contributes $5.5 billion to the British economy a year, is struggling to find the additional 30,000 additional workers it immediately needs. Current rules mandate paying salaries of 35,000 pounds to offer a curry chefs job to a South Asian, an amount out of reach for most of smaller restaurants, said Bajloor Khan, President of UK Bangladesh Catalysts of Commerce and Industry. When Buckingham Palace advertised for a royal chef earlier this year, it offered a salary of just over 21,000 pounds. The other issue is providing evidence that a potential employee is skilled. Without enough formal establishments teaching hospitality or catering in places like Bangladesh and Pakistan, its hard to get visas even if the owners are paying the mandated salary, he said. Conservative lawmaker Paul Scully says hell lobby for relaxing the rules for chefs as Britain revamps its system, but he sees the answer closer to home. The only long-term viable solution is finding a more effective way to recruit chefs in the domestic U.K. market, said the chair of the all-party parliamentary group on the British curry catering industry. Thats not what restaurants had in mind. Three years ago, award-winning chef Oli Khan marshaled his troops 1,50,000 workers from 12,000 restaurants across the UK and campaigned hard for Vote Leave. As the secretary general of Bangladesh Caterers Association, he believed in Brexiteers like Boris Johnson and Priti Patel when they launched the campaign called Save Our Curry Houses. The industry, which traces its origins to 1809, now faces a painful decline, he said. I have been living in this country for 30 years, and I have never seen a crisis like the one we are facing at the moment, Oli Khan said. We have been given lots of false hopes. Weve been used. President Donald Trump said Saturday it is a good time to shut down the government to gain leverage with Democrats to fund his demands for a wall along the US border with Mexico. This would be a very good time to do a shutdown, Trump told reporters as he departed the White House for a trip to California. I dont think its going to be necessary, because I think the Democrats will come to their senses, and if they dont come to their senses, we will continue to win elections. Trump suggested coverage of a caravan of Central American migrants making its way north in Mexico added to his leverage. I think probably if I was ever going to do a shutdown over border security -- when you look at the caravan, when you look at the mess, Trump said. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell said Thursday that he expects to reach an agreement to avoid a partial government shutdown next month and address the presidents demands for funds for a border wall. Funding is set to end Dec. 7 for some federal agencies including the Department of Homeland Security, the Internal Revenue Service and the National Park Service. Congress already passed full-year funding for many other federal agencies, meaning they would remain open. To contact the reporter on this story: Tamara Thueringer in Washington at tthueringer@bloomberg.net To contact the editors responsible for this story: Alex Wayne at awayne3@bloomberg.net, Mike Dorning, Alister Bull For more articles like this, please visit us at bloomberg.com 2018 Bloomberg L.P. The grenade was lobbed by two persons who had come on a bike and had their faces covered. Amritsar: Three persons were killed and 20 injured in a grenade attack on a religious congregation here on city outskirts on Sunday, an incident which the police are treating as a terrorist act. The incident took place inside the Nirankari Bhavan at Adliwal village near Amritsar's Rajasansi, police said. A religious congregation of the Nirankaris was being conducted inside the Bhavan at the time of the incident. The Sant Nirankari Mission is a spiritual organisation and the Bhavan here lies close to the international airport. The grenade was lobbed by two persons who had come on a bike and had their faces covered. The Director General of Police Suresh Arora, who along with senior police officers rushed to the spot, said the incident appears to be a terrorist act. Nirankari Bhavan in Amritsar where the incident took place. (Photo: ANI/Twitter) He said that three people had died in the incident and 20 others were injured, two of them seriously. Inspector General of Police S S Parmar, who visited the incident spot, told reporters that about 200 devotees including many women were inside at the time of the incident. No CCTV was installed at the premises, preliminary investigations found, he said. Also Read: Won't let 'forces of terror' destroy peace vows Amarinder after Amritsar attack After the incident, the Bhavan was sealed by the police and security was stepped up at other "Nirankari Bhavans" in the state. Chief minister Capt Amarinder Singh said the possibility of involvement of ISI-based Khalistani/Kashmiri terror groups could not be ruled out. He also announced a compensation of Rs five lakh each to the kin of the dead and directed the district administration to provide the best possible medical care, free of cost, to the injured. Preliminary investigations have so far revealed that two men, one of them with a flowing beard, with covered faces, allegedly forced their way into the hall by brandishing a pistol. They detained the sewadar, lobbed the grenade into the prayer room, and fled on a motorcycle. A small crater was formed by the impact of the explosion, and was being examined by the forensic team. The safety valve of the grenade has also been found and is being examined. Notably, the grenade attack took place amid Punjab being on high alert following an input claiming that a group of six to seven JeM terrorists were in Punjab and were 'planning' to move to Delhi. Moreover, the security agencies were also on alert after four persons snatched an SUV from its driver at gunpoint near Madhopur in Punjab's Pathankot district a few days back. While the government of Prime Minister Imran Khan has managed to secure a breather for the economy with Saudi help, larger challenges which include raising tax revenues remain to be addressed. The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has asked Pakistan to slap new taxes worth nearly Rs 160 billion including raising the standard general sales tax to 18%, but finance minister Asad Umar insists that signing an agreement with the IMF is one of many options given the help we have received from friendly states. Besides the tax efforts, the IMF has suggested improving revenue collection at the import stage due to 26% rupee depreciation since January and further devaluation under the IMF programme. This would put pressure on prices, say analysts, and may cause headaches to the government, already under challenge from opposition parties. They hold the government in Punjab with only one seat and the opposition knows fully well how to exploit angry public sentiments to unseat the government there, said analyst Asad Saeed. It will be a challenge for the government to impose new taxes as well as strike a balance between direct and indirect taxes. After coming to power, the PTI government reduced the annual tax collection target to Rs 4.398 trillion. In the first four months of current fiscal year, it suffered a shortfall of Rs 68 bn. Part of the problem is the notoriously corrupt tax collection machinery where officials take bribes to keep people out of the tax net. Out of frustration, Khan said last week that if the Federal Board of Revenue, the countrys main tax collection agency, does not get its act together, the government would consider dissolving it. A deal with the IMF is inevitable. Pakistan and the IMF have been negotiating a bailout package to avoid defaulting on international payments. Islamabad is also talking to United Arab Emirates and China for aid. The pressure on the government is mounting. The country registered its highest-ever current account deficit of $18 bn in the last fiscal year, which eroded foreign exchange reserves Several people who fled the deadliest US wildfire in a century clustered around a television set at an evacuation center Saturday and watch President Donald Trump survey what remained of their Northern California community. But for the most part, survivors, some who had barely escaped and no longer had homes, were too busy packing up what little they had left or seeking help to pay much attention to the presidents visit. Michelle Mack Couch, 49, waited in line to get into a Federal Emergency Management Agency center in the city of Chico. She needed a walker for her elderly mother and tags for her car. Lets hope he gets us some help, said Couch, who voted for Trump and whose house was among more than 9,800 that burned down last week. But as far as taking time out to watch the president, she said wryly, We dont have a TV anymore. Californias outgoing and incoming governors joined Trump as he surveyed the devastation in the town of Paradise, population 27,000, and visited a nearby firefighting command center. Gov. Jerry Brown and Gov.-elect Gavin Newsom welcomed Trumps visit, declaring its time to pull together for the people of California. The tour came as firefighters raced to get ahead of strong winds expected overnight and authorities struggled to locate 1,011 people who were unaccounted for. Authorities stressed that not all on the list are believed missing, but the death toll from the Camp Fire has risen daily, standing at 71. The fire zone in Northern California is to some extent Trump country. He beat Hillary Clinton by 4 percentage points in Butte County in 2016. That enthusiasm was on display as dozens of people cheered and waved flags as his motorcade went by. But elsewhere, others were searching for friends. At an unofficial encampment next to a Walmart in Chico, many were packing up to find another temporary place to sleep after being told to leave by Sunday. That included Maggie Missere-Crowder, who said she was focused on getting her tent and boxes of food into her pickup truck. Missere-Crowder, 61, and her husband had fled their home in Magalia, a community near Paradise that also was devastated, and now planned to go to a shelter in Yuba City, about an hours drive from the Walmart. She said she was angry about Trumps tweet last week blaming forest mismanagement for the Nov. 8 fire, a sentiment he evoked in his visit and has stirred resentment among survivors. Like weve done it on purpose. Its like a slap in the face, Missere-Crowder said. Still, she said that if she met him, she would say, Think about what youre saying, because it takes away from all the good stuff youre doing. Al Coppa, who lost two homes and doesnt know the fate of a third in Magalia, was among a handful of people watching news about Trumps visit on a TV outside a Red Cross shelter in Chico. He said he hopes the attention will speed up recovery for wildfire victims. I hope that only good comes out of it. Good for the people that have been devastated by this. Its just such a horrible thing. I couldnt believe how bad it was, said Coppa, who has been living in hotels. Trump also was visiting Southern California, where firefighters were making progress on a wildfire that tore through communities west of Los Angeles from Thousand Oaks to Malibu, killing three people. In Northern California, thousands of personnel battled the flames spanning about 230 square miles (600 square kilometers), officials said. It was halfway contained. Firefighters were racing against time with winds up to 40 mph and low humidity expected Saturday night into Sunday. Rain was forecast for midweek, which could help firefighters but also complicate the search for remains. The number of people unaccounted for has grown to more than 1,000. But Butte County Sheriff Kory Honea said the list was dynamic and could easily contain duplicate names and the names of people who are safe. Brown, Newsom and Trump pledged to work together and showed a united front at several media stops Saturday. Kevin Cory, a wildfire evacuee who lost his home in Paradise, praised Trump for coming to a state that is often at odds with the White House. I think that Californias been really horrible to him and the fights. I mean theyre suing him, he said. Its back and forth between the state and the feds. Its not right. President Donald Trump on Saturday said that CIAs assessment that Saudi crown prince Mohammad bin-Salman ordered the murder of dissident journalist Jamal Khashoggi was premature and that he expects a very full report on it on Tuesday. The US State Department also challenged the CIA findings without referencing it directly and said reports that the United States had reached a final conclusion were inaccurate. Based on intercepts and audio recordings, CIA was widely reported by multiple media news publications as concluding that the crown prince had ordered the Khashoggis killing, contradicting denials of his role by Riyadh and claims that the journalist was killed by rogue actors who went way beyond their brief. They havent assessed anything yet. Its too early, Trump said of CIAs finding during a stop while visiting fire-ravaged areas in California. That was a very a premature report. He said there will be a very full report on Monday or Tuesday and subsequently put it down to Tuesday. State department spokesperson Heather Nauert said in a separate statement. Recent reports indicating that the US government has made a final conclusion are inaccurate. There remain numerous unanswered questions with respect to the murder of Mr. Khashoggi. The Trump administration has struggled to deal with the murder of Khashoggi. While condemning the murder as horrible and vowing to punish those responsible, the president has sought to shield the crown prince, who is widely believed to have played a much larger role than the kingdom will ever acknowledge. The president also never fails to mention that Saudi Arabia is a US ally called it a spectacular ally on Saturday. Khashoggi, who had been critical of Mohammads policies, had lived in the United States in self-imposed exile. He was last seen entering the Saudi consulate in Istanbul, Turkey on October 2, where he had gone to collect some documents needed for his upcoming marriage to a Turkish woman. He is alleged to have been killed by a hit-team of 15 men who had arrived from Saudi Arabia in a government plane. They were apparently led by a senior aide to the crown prince, Maher Mutrab, who is among the 17 sanctioned last week by the United States for alleged involvement in the murder. After the killing, one of the team members was was heard, on recording by a listening device planted in the consulate by the Turks, telling a close adviser to the crown prince, Saudi al-Qahtani, tell your boss its done. The Turkish government has shared this recording with the governments of multiple countries. Al-Qahtani is also on the US list of sanctioned Saudis. There is no direct evidence linking Mohammad to the Khashoggis killing and his body has not been found, something that President Trump has pointed to his aides repeatedly, according to reports. US president Donald Trump on Sunday defended his administrations decision to cut aid to Pakistan saying the latter doesnt do a damn thing for us despite receiving a billions of dollars from America. The US suspended nearly $2 billion in military aid to Pakistan early this year for not taking decision action against terrorists operating from its soil. The Trump administration has since conveyed its irritation and expectations for Islamabad tying counter-terrorism measure to improvement in ties. Osama bin Laden lived in Pakistan and the US was supporting Pakistan, the president said in an interview that aired on Fox News Sunday. We were giving them $1.3 billion a year -- which we dont give them anymore, by the way, I ended it because they dont do anything for us, they dont do a damn thing for us. You know, living think of this living in Pakistan, beautifully in Pakistan in what I guess they considered a nice mansion, I dont know, Ive seen nicer. But living in Pakistan right next to the military academy, everybody in Pakistan knew he was there, he added. He was referring to the big house bin Laden had lived in in Abbottabad where he was killed in a raid by US SEALs in 2011. Pakistan had repeatedly denied the government was aware bin Laden was staying in that house close to Pakistanis elite military academy. But it has never been able to convince Americans, who continue to believe Islamabad knew of it. US-Pakistan relations have been in a downward spiral since and continue to plummet because of perception in Washington DC that Islamabad has doe nothing to take decisive action against terrorists operating from its soil in Afghanistan and in India. A swimmer died after a rare suspected stingray attack off an Australian beach while another two people were mauled in separate shark encounters this weekend. The 42-year-olds death came more than a decade after world-renowned Crocodile Hunter Steve Irwin was killed when a stingray barb punctured his chest while he was filming on the famed Great Barrier Reef. The man was in waters off Lauderdale Beach some 23 kilometres (14 miles) from Hobart in the southern island state of Tasmania Saturday when he sustained a puncture wound to his lower abdomen... possibly inflicted by a marine animal, police said. He was brought onto the beach by friends but suffered a heart attack and was unable to be resuscitated, police added. Its consistent with (a stingray injury) but further investigation and examination of the deceased may be able to give a bit more of a concrete fact on that, Tasmania Police Senior Constable Brett Bowering told the Sunday Tasmanian. Its a pretty traumatic incident to see. Commonly found in tropical waters, stingrays rarely attack humans but their barbs, at the end of their tails, are coated in toxic venom which they use to defend themselves when threatened. - Two attacks - In the first shark attack of the weekend, a man taking part in a surf lesson off the east coast suffered serious cuts after an encounter on Saturday. The 24-year-old was wading waist-deep in waters off Seven Mile Beach some 130 kilometres (81 miles) south of Sydney when he felt a forceful lashing motion against his legs, New South Wales Ambulance said. He had significant cuts and haemorrhage as well as several puncture wounds to his wetsuit and right leg... and cuts to his hand, NSW Ambulance duty operations manager Inspector Jordan Emery told reporters Saturday. The beach was closed and authorities sought to identify the shark species involved. That attack was followed by another on Sunday off the north coast, when a teenage boy was bitten on his arm and leg while spearfishing, police said. The 17-year-old was spearfishing from a vessel off the coast of Arnhem Land in the Northern Territory when he sustained significant injuries to his arm, St John Ambulance told national broadcaster ABC. Obviously theres quite a large amount of bleeding thats occurred, St John Ambulances Craig Garraway said. He said shark encounters in the NT were unusual, adding: Ive been around a long time and Ill be honest, I cant remember a shark attack. The two attacks are the sixth and seventh off Australian beaches in two months, amid public debate about how to reduce the risk of encounters between sharks and the growing number of people using the ocean for leisure. Australia has one of the worlds highest incidences of shark attacks, but fatalities remain rare. There have been 13 unprovoked shark attacks off the vast continents coast this year, including one death after a swimmer was mauled by a shark in the Whitsunday Islands in early November, according to data from Sydneys Taronga Zoo. There were 15 attacks -- one fatal -- last year, and 17 encounters and two deaths in 2016, the data showed. New South Wales hosted an international conference with marine experts in 2015 after a sharp increase in attacks across Australia that year to 22, including the death of a Japanese surfer after his legs were torn off by a shark. The state, Australias most populous, has trialled non-lethal measures such as aerial drones to track shark movements and smart drum lines that alert authorities to their presence. As the White House descended into a hornets nest of infighting, intrigue and drama, vice president Mike Pence was on the other side of the world last week behaving more like a traditional US commander-in-chief. During a week-long trip to Asia aimed at reassuring US allies about the stability of Americas commitment to the region, Pence did what President Donald Trump rarely does: stay on message, calm nervous security partners and clearly lay out a vision for American foreign policy. But the chaos at home, and Trumps mercurial approach to making policy, threatened to undercut Pences carefully honed message during the four-country swing that ended Sunday. While Asian leaders listened closely to Pence, many were waiting to see if Trump would do something to contradict him. Pence is a good speaker, and has a strong grasp of key issues, but he is always going to be undermined by the fact that everyone knows Trump is unpredictable, said Anthony Nelson, director of the East Asia practice at Albright Stonebridge Group in Washington. Trump, who has been known to crash into international meetings with incendiary tweets and disruptive statements, publicly showed little interest in the forums taking place in Asia. The president didnt tweet about Pences trip and largely avoided commentary on pressing issues in the region. For many participants, Trumps disinterest was conveyed by his decision to skip the summits, which are designed to include the US president -- in part to prevent China from dominating smaller countries in the region. That left Pence to reassure allies that the US remains engaged in a region where its been the dominant military power since World War II. Chiding China In public remarks and meetings with more than 10 heads of government, Pence repeatedly chided China for its trade and economic practices while saying North Korea should follow through on a commitment to denuclearization. His visit to Singapore coincided with meetings by officials from the US, Australia, India and Japan -- the so-called Quad -- to balance Beijings increasing military and economic influence. Pence also made announcements about new US initiatives in the region, including a joint operation with Papua New Guinea and Australia at a naval base on Manus Island. The United States commitment to the Indo-Pacific has never been stronger, he said Saturday during a speech to the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation CEO summit in Papua New Guinea. Described as a capstone of Pences trip, the speech laid out a competing vision for the region that set a contentious tone for Trumps upcoming meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping. Palace Intrigue Yet even while studiously avoiding any distractions, Pence couldnt avoid the swirl of controversy engulfing the West Wing nearly 10,000 miles (16,000 kilometers) away. As Pence warned Myanmars leader Aung San Suu Kyi about freedom of the press and called on her government to release two jailed journalists, the Trump administration was being sued by CNN for banning reporter Jim Acosta from the White House. While Pence dismissed the comparison, calling the Acosta ban simply a disagreement over decorum, a federal judge on Friday ordered the Trump administration to reinstate his White House pass. Palace intrigue in the White House also intensified during Pences trip, impacting part of his delegation. As Trumps National Security Adviser John Bolton huddled with Pence in Singapore, his deputy Mira Ricardel was publicly defenestrated in Washington after First Lady Melania Trumps spokeswoman released an unusual public statement calling for her ouster. Ricardel exited her post on Wednesday. Bolton, who attended Pences meetings with South Korean President Moon Jae-In and Russian President Vladimir Putin in Singapore, left the vice presidents side early to return to Washington. Pence Loyalty Asked about the public backbiting in the White House, Pence told NBC News that every administration has turnover, and quickly pivoted to touting US economic growth. The vice presidents own inner circle was swept up in the drama, as multiple news outlets reported this week that Pences chief of staff, Nick Ayers, was being considered for the position of White House chief of staff. And the New York Times reported Friday that Trump has asked aides whether or not Pence was loyal. Trump later denied the report, which cited a dozen anonymous sources indicating that Trump may have soured on his vice president. Pence sought to downplay both stories while speaking with reporters on Saturday in Papua New Guinea, sidestepping questions about Ayers future -- or his own -- with Trump. Im tempted not to dignify it with a comment, Pence said of the New York Times article, before adding that the story came up in a discussion with the president. We had a good laugh. Impact on Allies The episode highlighted how events in Washington were having an impact some 12 time zones away. While many Asian nations appreciated Pences remarks at the summits and want the US engaged in the region, the sense of disarray in Washington has had a real-world effect on alliances. Australia, for instance, has been reluctant to join the US in freedom-of-navigation operations challenging Chinas territorial claims in the South China Sea, according to John Blaxland, a former intelligence officer who now heads the Strategic and Defence Studies Centre at the Australian National University. How can we in the face of a US that seems to be politically unstable? Blaxland said. Where you dont know from tweet to tweet what direction the US ship is going to take next? --With assistance from Jason Scott. To contact the reporter on this story: Toluse Olorunnipa in Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea at tolorunnipa@bloomberg.net To contact the editors responsible for this story: Alex Wayne at awayne3@bloomberg.net, Daniel Ten Kate, Mike Dorning For more articles like this, please visit us at bloomberg.com 2018 Bloomberg L.P. Last week (and maybe every week into an uncertain future) we were forced to confront some un The motive behind the killing was not immediately known, police said. Known for playing piano during church services at Chelsea Community Presbyterian Church in Atlantic City, he was a father of two and grandfather. (Photo: ANI | Twitter) New Delhi/New York: A 61-year old Indian-origin man in New Jersey was shot to death by a 16-year old boy, who is facing charges in connection to the murder, prosecutors said. Sunil Edla was shot to death Thursday evening outside his apartment in Ventnor city, Atlantic County Prosecutor Damon Tyner said in a statement. Ventnor City Police Department was informed on the night of November 15 about the shooting. Police located Edla on the sidewalk, with gunshot wounds. Edla had succumbed to his injuries by the time the police arrived. Edla's vehicle, a 2002 Subaru Forester, was missing from the scene. The vehicle was subsequently found by Atlantic City Police Officers in a different area. After the vehicle was located by the officers, the suspect was subsequently tracked with the assistance of the Atlantic City surveillance centre. Further investigation by the Atlantic County Prosecutor's Office, Ventnor City Police Department and the Atlantic City Police Department led to the identification and arrest of the suspect, a juvenile male, on the morning of November 16. Preliminary autopsy showed the cause of death to be multiple gunshot wounds and the manner of death homicide. The suspect was charged via Juvenile Complaint with murder, robbery, carjacking, unlawful possession of a handgun. He is being held at the Harborfields Juvenile Detention Centre in Egg Harbour City. "I'm just speechless right now. They could have just taken the car and let him go," Edla's son Morrison Edla said in a report in NBCPhiladelphia.com. A report in the Press of Atlantic City said Edla, a father of two and grandfather, was a 30-year resident of Atlantic County and worked in Atlantic City's hospitality industry. He was planning to travel to India to visit family. "He (Edla) was humble. He never argued. I helped him when he came to US in 1987. I was very close to him," his cousin Raj Casula said. "Everyone was calling him and talking to him because he was leaving for India so soon," said Casula. Edla had planned a two-month trip to India to visit his mother for her 95th birthday and celebrate Christmas with family. Family friend Dave Nethagani said Edla was a kind man and active in the community. Edla was best known for playing piano during church services at Chelsea Community Presbyterian Church in Atlantic City. A neighbour said the killer ambushed Edla and shot him dead right after the grandfather had brought a child into his house. Surveillance video showed the teen riding up to Edla's home. The boy dropped his bike and hid as he waited for Edla to exit the house. Just before 8 pm Thursday, family members said, Edla was leaving his home to work the overnight shift at the North Carolina Avenue Rodeway Inn in Atlantic City. According to family, he started his car then went back in the house briefly. After walking back down the second-floor apartment stairs, he was shot on the sidewalk and left for dead. Ventnor police Chief Doug Biagi said an officer has been posted in the neighbourhood "just to ease anybody's fears." A Wisconsin based glassware company named BensShot has recently grabbed headlines for its unconventional decision to offer its staff an unconventional holiday bonus. Straying away from a traditional cash offer, the company has instead offered each one of their employees a gift card to a local gun store allowing them the opportunity to redeem a gun of their choice. According to BuzzFeed News, each card is worth approximately $500, and each employee will need to pass a background test to even be eligible to redeem it for an actual gun. Speaking to Buzzfeed News, the co-founder of Benshot, Ben Wolfgram said the intention behind the gesture is to "give a gift .... of personal protection to keep employees safe." Wolfgram informed the publication that any member of the company's staff planning to purchase a firearm will have to undergo a basic training course on handgun safety and protocol. It seems that an overwhelming majority of Benshot's 16 full-time employees were thrilled by the gift cards, and have already made use of them. "There were a couple employees who said they already had handguns so they got a rifle instead," Wolfgram revealed. Only two employees are said to have declined the offer, one of whom who made the decision on account of her husband owning "a bunch of guns already," and the fact that she did not hunt, or harbor any desire to "carry [a gun] on her person for protection." Over the past several years, headlines of celebrity burglaries have unfortunately become commonplace. The homes of A-listers such as Paris Hilton, Rihanna, LeBron James, Viola Davis, and Matt Damon have been trespassed by thieves who on occasion, make away with millions of dollars' worth of their victims' belongings. Kim Kardashian West's robbers went to extreme lengths to purloin the reality star of her jewels, holding her hostage at gunpoint after breaking into her Paris hotel room. During an episode of her family's show Keeping Up With The Kardashians, Kim recalled thinking that her time had come to an end. The guy came in, grabbed the phone from me, threw me on the bed and I was like, This is it, she said. One celebrity who takes careful precaution to avoid becoming victim to a burglary is Jamie Foxx. At the premiere of the Robin Hood film, Foxx, who plays the role of Little John, shared some of his tips on how not to get robbed with The New York Post. Stay off your Instagram telling everybody where youre at," he said. You better start posting that thing like three or four days after. And I aint got nothing in my house . . . Thats all it is a house if they want to take a house. In today's age of social media, how one is perceived or presents themselves has come to carry increasing importance. Countless individuals have been able to launch successful and high earning careers through platforms like Instagram and YouTube. The former is notable for virtually creating one of the most coveted and celebrated professions: Instagram model. Instagram models and influencers have taken the fashion and beauty industries by storm, often serving as spokespeople for campaigns by reputable brands, and in some cases, entering into lucrative partnerships with such brands. Emma Hallberg, a 19-year-old self-described model and influencer who resides in Sweden has recently come under fire for her presentation after her 193,000 followers Instagram followers discovered that the teen was not in actuality, a black woman. I honestly thought Emma Hallberg was half black, one user lamented. The girl was clearly posing as black, as shes posted by many black pages etc., another mentioned after sharing one of Hallberg's older posts. Other Twitter users criticized Hallberg for neglecting to correct accounts who reposted her pictures with the intention of celebrating black beauty, and argued that the teen's choice to use makeup that is significantly darker than her complexion is almost akin to wearing blackface. Hallberg told BuzzFeed News that she identifies as "white" and has never claimed or tried to be black or anything else." She later explained, "I do not see myself as anything else than white. I get a deep tan naturally from the sun." She went on to add, It made me sad that some of my natural features are hurting and upsetting people. It also made me upset and scared that I cant look the way I look naturally, without receiving false accusations, hate, and threats. I do not have any specific intentions other than [to] show my passion for makeup and fashion. Two bike-borne assailants involved; NIA team to visit site today. Police personnel inspect the site of a blast at the Nirankari Bhavan in Adliwal village near Amritsar. (Photo: PTI) Chandigarh: Three persons were killed and 20 injured in a grenade attack by two mobike-borne assailants on a religious congregation on the outskirts of Punjabs Amritsar city on Sunday, an incident which the police is treating as a terrorist act. The incident took place inside the Nirankari Bhavan at Adliwal village near Amritsars Rajasansi when about 200 devotees, including many women, were present, the police said. Director general of police Suresh Arora said that the incident appeared to be a terrorist act. He said an NIA team will visit the site on Monday. It (this incident) appears to be a terror angle. Because it is against a group (of people) and it is not against any individual. There is no reason to throw a hand grenade on a group of people so we will take it as a terrorist act, till proven otherwise, said Mr Arora. Chief minister Capt. Amarinder Singh said that the possibility of involvement of ISI-based Khalistani or Kashmiri terror groups could not be ruled out. Hours after the blast, the Punjab police arrested two suspects from Bathinda and recovered live cartridges from them, reports said. Officials in the Union home ministry said that the security agencies have enough leads in the investigations. Announcing a compensation of `5 lakh to the kin of each of the dead, the chief minister said preliminary investigations had revealed that two men, one of them with a flowing beard, with covered faces, allegedly forced their way into the hall by brandishing a pistol. They detained the sewadar, lobbed the grenade into the prayer room, and fled on a motorcycle, he said. A small crater formed by the impact of the explosion was examined by a forensic team. The safety valve of the grenade has also been found, the chief minister said. Amarinder Singh said that the state wont let the forces of terror to destroy the hard earned peace, a reference to the dark days of militancy in the 1980s and early 1990s. The state has also faced few terror attacks in recent years, including the one in Pathankot over two years ago. Inspector general S.P.S. Parmar said no CCTV was installed at the premises. Notably, Punjab Police was on a high alert after receiving inputs that Jaish-e-Mohammed terrorists might be hiding in the state. Later, it came to light that the Jammu and Kashmir-based terrorist outfit Ansar Gazwat-ul-Hind commander Zakir Musa too could be hiding in Punjab. On Friday, Punjab police in Gurdaspur had pasted posters of Musa. The state had been put on alert after four persons snatched a SUV from its driver at gunpoint near Madhopur in Pathankot district last week. Army Chief Gen. Bipin Rawat had recently warned that attempts were being made to revive insurgency in Punjab and had even cautioned that people needed to be careful especially during the festival season to prevent anti-national forces from succeeding in their nefarious designs. Congress MLA Raj Kumar Verka, who visited the blast scene, said it was a security and intelligence lapse and blamed both Central and state governments for the incident. If all goes as planned, the merger of Memorial Hermann Health System of Houston and Baylor Scott & White Health in Dallas would create a $14 billion health care behemoth, with increased muscle to negotiate better deals and the flexibility to innovate in challenging times. The hospitals leaders insist bigger is better, and patients will be the winners, benefiting from easier access to medical services, greater efficiency and lower costs after merger closes next year. The nations health economists are less certain. I know of no academic papers to show mergers reduce cost for patients, said Vivian Ho, a health economist at Rice Universitys Baker Institute of Public Policy. The immediate motivation is profit. The combination of Memorial Hermann and Baylor Scott & White would form the biggest nonprofit health care system in Texas and one of the biggest in the nation, merging two organizations that operate in different markets. Regulators and researchers have typically focused on mergers within the same markets and found that increased pricing power leads to higher health care costs. But now a growing body of evidence suggests that even mergers across different markets produce similar results. RELATED: Memorial Hermann to merge with Baylor Scott & White creating largest health system in Texas A study to be published next year in the Rand Journal of Economics, for example, found that mergers in the same state, but different local markets increased medical prices by as much as 9 percent. The study examined nearly 500 mergers between 2002 and 2012. It is pretty significant, Leemore Dafny, a co-author the the study, said of the price increases. Dafny, a professor at Harvard University Business School, grew up in Houston and is following the Memorial Herman-Baylor Scott & White deal. A separate and older analysis from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation found that when hospitals merge in already concentrated markets, the price increase can be dramatic, often exceeding 20 percent. The CEOs of Memorial Hermann and Baylor Scott & White, Chuck Stokes and Jim Hinton, are confident their deal will be different, potentially becoming a model for others. Hinton said the lowering patient costs was a driver of the proposed combination. Stokes said the merger would accelerate efforts to to make health care more convenient and affordable for all. The reason for us to come together, Stokes said, is not to merge our balance sheets, but to better serve our communities. Mergers and prices So what pushes up costs after a merger? Sometimes, economists say, its as simple as a lack of competition when a large hospital gobbles up another in the same market and leaves fewer choices for patients. But in mergers across geographic areas, it is trickier, often coming down to the insurance reimbursement dance. Analysts say the increased heft of merged hospital systems gives them more leverage when negotiating rates with insurers, which may become willing to pay more for fear of losing large, multi-city health systems from their networks. Hospitals know they can ask for higher prices if they form statewide networks that insurers can't ignore, because they include so many providers that their patients want, said Ho. RELATED: Suspicions about health care costs confirmed Ultimately, it is patients who feel it, either directly through higher out-of-pocket costs or indirectly as insurers raise premiums to make up lost revenue, several analysts said. An economic study last year, also published in the Rand Journal of Economics, found that after a hospital is acquired by a large health care system, the reimbursements paid by insurers rise as much as 17 percent. While the study does not precisely match the Memorial Hermann and Baylor Scott & White deal, the fundamentals are largely the same and the findings relevant to Texas, said Matthew Lewis, co-author and associate professor of economics at Clemson University. Patients and insurance companies generally pay more for care following these types of mergers, Lewis said. Stokes said that gaining an advantage in insurance negotiations was just not part of our thought process. Memorial Hermann officials pointed a 2017 report commissioned by the American Hospital Association, the industry trade group, that concluded the opposite of other research, finding that hospital mergers lower costs. That study also disputed findings in academic journals that insurers pay more to hospital systems after a merger. And even if they do, said Melinda Hatton, general counsel for the hospital association, it would only be to bring reimbursements in line with the cost of care. Dr. Dan McCoy, president of Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Texas, the states largest insurer, declined to comment on the Memorial Hermann /Baylor Scott & White deal. He added, though, he is troubled by what health economists have reported about mergers elsewhere. The last thing we need to do is accelerate the growth of costs, he said. Keeping pace These arranged marriages have exploded in recent years as size and scale are viewed in the health care industry as a way to keep pace with a rapidly changing landscape. Hospitals feel pressure to find new ways to deliver care as the government and insurers tie payment to health outcomes rather than number of visits. At the same time, new players, such as Amazon and CVS, are barging into the market, upsetting traditional ways of doing thing. If we dont want to be disrupted, Hinton said in statement, we must disrupt ourselves. RELATED: Walmart steps up and into the health care fray Last year, hospitals completed a record 115 mergers, according to Kaufman Hall, a health care management consulting firm. Mergers between large organizations are driving the trend, economists said. The Memorial Hermann and Baylor Scott & White merger will need approval of the Texas Attorney General and Federal Trade Commission, but analysts said such cross-market mergers tend to get little scrutiny from federal and state regulators. Deborah Cannon, the chair of Memorial Hermann Health System board of directors, said at a press conference last month that she did not anticipate antitrust objections because the two systems are not in the same market. But health economists say these deals deserve the same thorough review that in-market mergers receive. All of the reasons you would worry about these kinds of mergers are very real, said Barack Richman, a professor of law and business administration at Duke University. Any efficiencies they purport to gain are very speculative. Falling in love Theirs was a casual friendship for years. Then, about eight months ago, things heated up. Last year, during Hurricane Harvey, Baylor Scott & White reached out to Memorial to offer to send nurses and other clinicians to Houston to help. After that, we began to talk, said Stokes, I cant really remember who made the first call. In the following months, the two hospital systems explored and negotiated a merger agreement, which they announced Oct. 1. The deal, expected to close in the summer, would create a health care network of 68 hospitals in 30 counties, covering wide swaths of north, central and southeast Texas. Each hospital system would keep its name. Hinton would become the CEO of the parent organization, which has yet to get a name, while Stokes would continue to lead Memorial Herman. A new CEO of Baylor, Scott & White has not been named. Financial rating services report both health systems are financially stable going into the merger. Still, Memorial Herman has seen both its operating income and margins decline significantly since 2016. Similar financial breakdowns were not available for Baylor Scott & White from the rating services. While an analysis by S&P Global of Memorial Hermann details a much sharper decrease, the health systems own figures confirm a sizable drop in income and margins. Operating income plunged nearly 70 percent from $225 million in fiscal 2016 to $71 million in 2017. Margins fell from 4.6 percent to 1.4 percent, Memorial Hermann said. Income and operating margins rebounded in fiscal 2018 to $128 million and 2.4 percent, the health system reported, but still remained below 2016 levels. Stokes acknowledged his health system suffered in 2017, blaming it on the oil bust and painful industry recovery that followed.. Everyone in this market trended down, he said, Were back to where we should be. Need to change The merger announcement did not come as a complete surprise to many in the industry. Texas leads the nation in the number of uninsured and Houston leads the state. The amount of indigent care at Memorial Hermann, along with a high percentage of Medicare and Medicaid patients with lower reimbursements rates, create steep challenges for the system, said Travis Singleton, executive vice president of Merritt Hawkins, a leading physician staffing and consulting firms. Competition is also fierce, not only from other nonprofit hospitals, but also from HCA, one of the nations largest for-profit health care networks, Singleton said. It wasnt a stretch to say that Memorial Hermann had to do something, he said. It is not an insult. I think its being responsible. On paper, you couldnt get a better white knight than Baylor Scott & White. Stokes denied that financial concerns were behind the decision to join with Baylor Scott & White. All hospitals, analysts say, face challenges as the focus of their business changes from putting patients in beds to providing them with easier access to services, through outpatient treatment and the use of technology, such as telemedicine or personal monitoring devices. Stokes and Hinton said the merger will help make that possible. RELATED: Live-stream app helps families connect with NICU babies There is a sense by some that weve got to get bigger to survive, said Kevin Holloran, a nonprofit hospital and health system analyst for Fitch Ratings. (Fitch is owned by Hearst Corp., the parent company of the Houston Chronicle.) But whether bigger actually turns out to be better remains to be seen, Holloran said, adding: I think its right to question this one. jenny.deam@chron.com twitter.com/jenny_deam The nations hospitals have been merging at a rapid pace for a decade, forming powerful organizations that influence nearly every health care decision consumers make. The hospitals have argued that consolidation benefits consumers with lower prices from coordinated services and other savings. But an analysis conducted for The New York Times shows the opposite to be true in many cases. The mergers have essentially banished competition and raised prices for hospital admissions in most cases, according to an examination of 25 metropolitan areas with the highest rate of consolidation from 2010 through 2013, a peak period for mergers. IN HOUSTON: Hospital merger will shift power to Dallas The analysis showed that the price of an average hospital stay soared, with prices in most areas going up between 11 percent and 54 percent in the years afterward, according to researchers from the Nicholas C. Petris Center at the University of California, Berkeley. The new research confirms growing skepticism among consumer health groups and lawmakers about the enormous clout of the hospital groups. While most political attention has been focused on increased drug prices and the Affordable Care Act, state and federal officials are beginning to look more closely at how hospital mergers are affecting escalating health care costs. During the Obama years, the mergers received nearly universal approval from antitrust agencies, with the Federal Trade Commission moving to block only a small fraction of deals. State officials generally looked the other way. President Donald Trump issued an executive order last year calling for more competition, saying his administration would focus on limiting excessive consolidation throughout the health care system. In September, Congress asked the Medicare advisory board to study the trend. But not only have big consolidations continued, the behemoths have further cemented their reach in some regions of the country by gobbling up major doctors and surgeons practices. You have to watch for these systems throwing their weight around, said Xavier Becerra, the California attorney general whose office has sued Sutter Health, a sprawling system in the northern part of the state. We are looking for cases where consolidation does nothing for efficiency and leads to distortions of the market. Ted Doolittle, who heads Connecticuts Office of the Healthcare Advocate, has fielded angry complaints from residents, but he sees few options available to officials. A lot of this is too little and too late, he said. Finding New Paths for Growth The latest giant hospital consolidations continue to stir concerns. Dignity Health and Catholic Health Initiatives, two large chains, are expected to become one of the nations largest groups with 139 hospitals in 28 states by the end of the year. And two of Texas biggest systems, Baylor Scott & White Health and Memorial Hermann Health System, recently announced plans to combine. In Connecticut, the New Haven area has witnessed the most significant decline in competition. Yale New Haven Health, one of the largest hospital groups in the state, took over the only competing hospital in the city and has also aggressively expanded along the states coast. The group recently added another hospital to its collection, merging Milford with its Bridgeport location. Although the price of a hospital admission in the New Haven-Milford area was already three times as much as in other parts of Connecticut, prices surged by 25 percent from 2012 to 2014, compared with 7 percent elsewhere in the state, according to the Petris Center. In the national analysis, a third of the metropolitan areas experienced increases in the cost of hospital stays of at least 25 percent from 2012 to 2014, to at least $15,000 from roughly $12,000. Prices rise even more steeply when these large hospital systems buy doctors groups, according to Richard Scheffler, director of the Petris Center. Its much more powerful when they already have a very large market share, said Scheffler, who recently published a study on the issue in Health Affairs. The impact is just enormous. Thousands of Connecticut residents were stranded without a local hospital last year when another big hospital group, Hartford HealthCare, battled the states biggest health insurer over how much it would charge for patient care. Its six hospitals are clustered around the state capital and are the only resort for residents in broad swaths of the eastern part of the state. This month, it announced plans to add a seventh hospital to its network. These systems are empire-building, theres no question, said Jill Zorn, a senior policy officer for the Universal Health Care Foundation of Connecticut, which seeks to improve access for residents. But to whose benefit? Numerous studies by economists and others have underscored how hospital consolidation is driving up the cost of medical care. Within the academic community, there is near unanimity, said Zack Cooper, a health economist at Yale University who is among a group of researchers that has looked at the way dominant hospitals affect prices. Some Hospitals Need a Savior The emergence of a one-hospital town is inevitable in many places. In the Parkersburg, West Virginia, area, St. Josephs merged with neighboring Camden-Clark Memorial in 2011, and then they were consumed by what is now the states largest health system. Weve got it down to a single campus, said Albert L. Wright Jr., chief executive of West Virginia University Health System. Parkersburg is not big enough to support two hospitals. Residents can get most care locally, but they go to Morgantown, where the academic medical center is situated, for complex conditions. Weve elevated the level of care, Wright said. But private insurers are paying more. In the Parkersburg-Vienna area, the overall price of a hospital stay increased 54 percent from 2012 to 2014, after the mergers. That is compared with 10 percent elsewhere in the state, according to the Petris Center. Large systems get paid better by some of the insurers, Wright said. Flailing hospitals often have little choice but to be acquired or go out of business, and a larger system can offer badly needed capital and management skills. They can fix a hospital and benefit the community, said Torrey McClary, a lawyer who specializes in mergers at King & Spalding. When Yale New Haven Health took over the Hospital of St. Raphael, a Catholic hospital six blocks away from its New Haven location, St. Raphael was in danger of going under. Over the past six years, the system has invested more than $200 million in capital improvements at St. Raphael, said its president, Richard D'Aquila, including modernizing everything behind the walls. Because it converted St. Raphael into what is essentially a second 555-bed campus for its academic medical center, Yale New Haven Health defends the higher rates it charges private insurers as appropriate for a top-tier medical institution. Its community hospitals negotiate prices individually with insurers. Our focus is not on getting bigger, D'Aquila said. He said St. Raphael, which was half empty when it was taken over, is now seeing record numbers of patients. Systems also say they seek to improve care for smaller communities. Patients Wind Up Paying More But patients rarely reap the rewards of lower insurance premiums or out-of-pocket expenses when mergers occur. Hartford executives talk about reducing the total cost of care in the same breath that they discuss the need to charge insurers more. The math for us is how we move the care out of the hospitals while maintaining our financial stability, Joseph said. To defend higher rates, many hospitals cite low reimbursements from government sources, particularly Medicaid, and highlight their role as a safety net. Were left with no choice, D'Aquila said. Others, like Hartford, negotiate prices as a single entity, forcing health insurers to include all of their hospitals in a network or risk losing access in areas where there are no alternatives. Hartford has taken over so many hospitals and practices that, with the Anthem dispute, we felt we had no choices at all, Sharry Goldman, a Storrs resident, told state lawmakers. Although Hartford and Anthem Blue Cross, the insurer, eventually reached a deal, Connecticut passed a law this year requiring hospitals and insurers to extend previous contracts for two months to protect consumers during an impasse. While patients may pay more for a well-known brand, like Yale, it is not clear that the higher price tags lead to better care, said Francois de Brantes, a health care executive who once worked at General Electric, which has its headquarters in the state. We have more lower-rated hospitals in Connecticut than in other New England states, he said, pointing to an analysis he did at the time of the Anthem-Hartford dispute. When Mergers Are Opposed In the Albany, Geogria, area, where the Berkeley researchers found a rare decline in hospital prices, the Federal Trade Commission had unsuccessfully tried to block HCA, a for-profit hospital chain, from selling its hospital to its only local competitor in 2011. But the merger took place, and the FTC reached a settlement with the parties. While Berkeley researchers found that area prices dropped, another study by two former FTC employees, Christopher Garmon and Laura Kmitch, found that certain hospital quality measures declined. The merger highlights the problems that can occur when competition is reduced, the authors said. The hospital group, Phoebe Putney Health System, dismissed the findings. Phoebe has made great strides in enhancing the quality of health care available to the people of southwest Georgia, Dawn Benson, Phoebes general counsel, said in a statement. To foster competition, Lee County is planning a new 60-bed hospital within the Albany area. In some cases, state regulators have opposed actions they consider illegal and anti-competitive. In Washington, state officials accused CHI Franciscan Health, based in Tacoma, of using its ties to two doctors practices to raise prices and decrease competition on the Kitsap Peninsula, according to a lawsuit filed last year. The regulators argue that CHI wanted to wield its newfound clout by shifting some operations and imaging from less expensive outpatient settings to hospitals where they could charge more. I am all for taking advantage of hospital-based pricing, if we think it is doable in the market and the market can support it, a CHI executive is quoted as saying in the lawsuit. It would be great to drop a couple of million more to our bottom line. CHI Franciscan said the attorney generals allegations were misguided and unfounded. Becerra, the California attorney general, sued Sutter in March, claiming that its actions led to significantly higher prices in Northern California. Sutter says it adopted methods encouraged by the federal health law, by combining hospital services with care offered outside the hospital to better serve patients. But de Brantes, the health executive in Connecticut, like others, wondered why many mergers were allowed in the first place: The puzzling part for many of us in the state is why anyone would allow these oligopolies to form. This article originally appeared in The New York Times. Days after a security guard was charged with aggravated assault for allegedly shooting a suspected thief and a 6-year-old girl outside a T-Mobile store at Tidwell near Airline Monday, the teenager's family called for more severe charges against the guard. Christopher Jermaine Bradley, 28, opened fire in the direction of a McDonald's near the scene as 18-year-old Earnest Hudson exited the store, and struck the teen several times, police said. During this chaos, his gunfire also struck a 6-year-old girl in the leg while she was sitting in her father's car in the fast-food restaurant drive-thru, prosecutors said during a probable cause hearing. OFFICER INVOLVED: State trooper kills suspect at NW Houston Wingstop Hudson's family held a press conference at the scene of the shooting Friday afternoon alongside activist Quanell X to urge Bradley be charged with attempted murder of Hudson. "He did not steal a cellphone from T-Mobile, he never had a gun, he never had a knife, he didn't have so much as a stick," Quanell X said. "Why is it that this security officer took it upon himself to become judge, jury, executioner, and he's only charged with shooting the young girl?" Activist is saying the security guard had no right to shoot Hudson for assuming he had stolen a phone, and also alleges that Hudson had not committed any crimes. Said witnesses saw the guard standing over Hudsons body and shooting him. pic.twitter.com/Rg3s7luuhi Massarah Mikati (@MassarahMikati) November 16, 2018 Police said Hudson had allegedly stolen an iPhone from the mobile store, setting off alarms as he walked out. However, Quanell X denied that, saying it was a miscommunication with an employee of the store. "And even if he believed (Hudson) had committed a crime, it's not your duty to shoot that kid," he continued. Cora Washington, Hudson's mother, buckled at the knees as she described Hudson's medical state through tears -- in an induced coma in the intensive care unit at Ben Taub Hospital after six surgeries. Hudsons mother couldnt keep herself together as she talked about her son, who they say is still in Ben Taub Hospital and has had 6 surgeries. pic.twitter.com/sOpTVlgOrz Massarah Mikati (@MassarahMikati) November 16, 2018 The bullet struck the girl's leg, resulting in a need for surgery to treat her fractured femur, prosecutors said. The family of the young girl pressed charges against Bradley, prosecutors said. He is being held in jail on a $30,000 bail amount. The girl was kidnapped in the early hours of Saturday while she was sleeping with her mother on a footpath in north Delhi's Kotwali area. Police said that the girl underwent surgery and is now better. (Representational Image) New Delhi: A two-year-old girl was allegedly kidnapped and raped by a man, who then left her near the tracks of Old Delhi Railway Station, police said on Sunday. The accused, a 24-year-old drug addict, identified as Anil, was arrested on Sunday morning, they said. The girl was allegedly kidnapped by the accused on the intervening night of Friday and Saturday while she was sleeping with her mother on a footpath in north Delhi's Kotwali area, a senior police officer. Around 2.30 am on Saturday the woman found her daughter missing and started looking for her. As the search did not bear fruit, the woman approached police around 10 am on Saturday following which a kidnapping case was registered, he said. Around afternoon, the police learnt a baby girl had been admitted to a hospital in central Delhi and subsequently, she was identified as the one who was kidnapped from Kotwali, the official said. It was revealed that she had been sexually assaulted and the accused dumped her near the railway tracks from where she was rescued by a team of police personnel, he said, adding the girl underwent surgery and is now better. The police identified the accused by scanning CCTV footage. Following this, a trap was laid at various temples and gurdwara where street dwellers usually come for food and subsequently the accused was nabbed, the officer said. The accused used to collect garbage for a living and also worked as a waiter during wedding season. Three months ago, he was arrested in connection with a theft case in Haridwar, the officer added. The University of Houston and Sam Houston State University took steps last week toward the creation of new medical schools focused on primary care, but a new report suggests the shortage of such doctors is going to get worse before it gets better. Despite concerted efforts by the medical community in recent years to increase the pipeline, the shortage of primary-care doctors over the next 12 years will grow more than 250 percent in Houstons region and more than 67 percent throughout Texas, according to projections by the Department of State Health Services. I cant say Im terribly surprised, said Dr. Rodney Young, an Amarillo family physician and former chairman of the Texas Medical Associations council on medical education. Wed love to see the trend start to change, but it seems ongoing efforts have been better at increasing the overall number of doctors than primary-care doctors. The 2018 report attributes the shortage to continued growth in the state and says projections in medical school enrollment and resident positions are not sufficient to meet the projected demand. The report is just the latest to project or document shortages in primary care, which has been a national problem, locally and nationally, for more than a decade. Texas ranks 47th among 50 states in the ratio of primary-care doctors per person, according to a 2017 Association of American Medical Colleges report. The report is distributed to the governor, Legislative Budget Board, legislative appropriations and finance committees and to the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board. Dr. George Santos, president of the Harris County Medical Society, said the projections show the need for more Texas residency slots, essential for keeping students in the state because doctors typically end up practicing where they train. The key is to grow funding for medical education, not just shift it around, said Santos, a psychiatrist. The Texas Legislature has shown growing concern about the shortage of physicians currently and projected, but if new residency slots arent created well fall back. A state health spokesman said the projections took into account Texas recently opened medical schools Dell Medical School at the University of Texas at Austin, the UT Rio Grande Valley School of Medicine in Edinburg, and the University of the Incarnate Word School of Osteopathic Medicine in San Antonio. They did not take into account the planned medical schools at UH and Sam Houston State and a joint Texas Christian-University of North Texas medical school in Fort Worth. UH regents voted Thursday to build the school on campus rather than in the Texas Medical Center and Sam Houston State officials held groundbreaking ceremonies at its schools Conroe site on Friday. Both schools proposals have been approved by the Coordinating Board, but both still require approval by accrediting bodies. Although the medical schools are taking different paths UH will award doctorates in medicine, Sam Houston doctorates in osteopathic medicine but both hope to produce classes of which about half will go into primary care and practice in underserved areas. But in even in a best-case scenario, that would take time for both to ratchet up to make an impact. The schools hope to begin enrolling students in fall 2020 thats still contingent on permission from their accrediting bodies and grow from initially smaller classes, specifically from 30 to 120 at UH and from 75 to 150 at Sam Houston State. It would be at least 2030 before significant numbers of the new doctors will have finished their residency programs and begun practices in primary care. By 2030, the Texas health services department is projecting a shortage of 3,375 primary-care doctors throughout Texas, up from 2,002 in 2017. It is projecting a shortage of 694 primary-care doctors in the 16-county Gulf Coast region, up from 196 in 2017. That is the highest increase in the state. The health department projects the demand will significantly outstrip the supply for family medicine doctors, general internists and obstetricians-gynecologists, three branches of primary care. The supply of pediatricians, the reports fourth branch, will actually exceed the demand, according to the projections. The report also projects a 13 percent increase in the shortage of psychiatrists. Those numbers will go from 1,067 in 2017 to 1,208 by 2030. The continuing shortage of primary-care doctors comes despite escalating numbers of licensures and applications in Texas in the years since the states 2003 passage of tort reform laws capped the amount of money for which doctors could be sued. The number of medical license applications received by the state has grown from under 4,100 in 2009 to nearly 5,600 in 2017 and the number approved in the same period has grown from 3,000 to more than 4,700. TMAs Young suggests the primary-care shortage may require a new strategy. The problem may be that much residency funding comes from hospital partners, who have an interest in training doctors to do work performed in hospitals, meaning specialty care, said Young. The job of primary-care doctors is to keep people out of hospitals. todd.ackerman@chron.com twitter.com/chronmed NUEVO LAREDO, Mexico - With the sun setting behind buildings along the Mexican riverfront, an already chill wind was plummeting toward freezing as Laura Gonzalez, her two children and her sons pregnant teenage girlfriend settled in for the night on a bridge into Texas. The haggard family had been traveling for much of the year working months in southern Mexico to raise funds after fleeing political violence that enveloped their native Nicaragua. Now, on the narrow span linking the two Laredos, U.S. immigration officers manning a mid-river checkpoint blocked the familys final 100-yard dash to their goal. More than a dozen other asylum-seekers men, women and young children from Cuba, Venezuela, El Salvador and several African countries lined the bridge. Each told a version of the same tale: repression and ruin at home, refuge beyond the Rio Grande their only recourse. We have to get in, Gonzalez, 40, said as she tucked thin clothing around her 10-month-old daughter, Jesiah. Our country has been ruined by the government. Frustrated this year by a spike in undocumented immigration and several caravans of asylum-seeking Central Americans heading for the U.S. border, President Trump has doubled down on his vow to close the border to people like Gonzalezs family. Trump has dispatched troops to the border to dissuade those crossing illegally. Hes also issued a presidential order under challenge in the courts requiring that, for the next three months, anyone seeking to apply for asylum must do so at international bridges or other official border posts. Saying they are overwhelmed with petitioners and short of detention space, officials at those legal crossing points are restricting the numbers of asylum-seekers who can be processed daily. Thats caused delays of days, even weeks, for those trying to make asylum claims according to the rules. The measures may be aimed at sending a tough message to the estimated 8,000 migrants in the caravans heading toward the border with California. But theyll perhaps have a greater impact along the Rio Grande, especially in South Texas, where illegal crossings and asylum applications have for years been heaviest. Whats going to happen to us now? asked Dania Rodriguez, a clothing merchant from El Salvador who was waiting on the Laredo bridge with her daughter. She said they were fleeing threats from street gangs back home. This is all going to make it harder for everyone, even those of us with legitimate reasons to be here. Despite talk of a broken border, illegal immigration has been plummeting since the turn of the century as border security increased and Mexicos economy and demographics have kept more people at home. Border Patrol agents detained slightly fewer than 400,000 undocumented migrants on the southwestern border in the twelve months ending in September. They arrested more than 1.6 million such migrants 18 years ago. But in recent years theres also been a steady surge of teenagers traveling alone and of parents - like Gonzales and Rodriguez - migrating with children in hopes of winning asylum by asserting that they live under threat of violence from gangs, spouses or their governments. The Border Patrol detained 107,212 migrants traveling as families along the Mexico border in the twelve months ending Oct. 1, a seven-fold increase in such detentions compared with the 2013 fiscal year. An additional 50,000 minors traveling alone were detained at the Mexico border last year. This October, more than 23,000 of those detained on the border with Mexico were members of families, a new monthly record. Nearly 5,000 other detainees were teenagers migrating alone. Migrant families and unaccompanied minors are more inclined than job-seeking older men to apply for asylum. By law most cant be detained longer than 20 days, meaning they are given appointments to appear in immigration courts and released in the meantime. Laura Gonzalez said she decided to leave the family home in the farm town of Chinandega last spring after pro-government thugs tried to press-gang her son, Bryan Robelo, 19, into helping them suppress protests against the countrys authoritarian leftist president. The familys decision was finalized after her mother died from a stab wound sustained in a robbery. Now, Gonzalez hopes to be able to return to Miami, where she and her son had lived for years before returning to Nicaragua voluntarily to care for her mother. To underscore the danger his mother says the family faces if returned home, Robelo, 19, pulled back his collar to show light scars on his neck. He said they were the result of wounds inflicted by the recruiters as a threat. Either you do what they say or they kill you, Robelo said. If they can persuade initial interviewers they have a credible fear that their lives would be in danger if they had to go back home, Gonzalez and her family can win at least temporary U.S. residency as they plead their cases in immigration courts. New policies target Central Americans Three-quarters of asylum-seekers pass the first credible fear hurdle at the border, according to U.S. immigration officials. The process leading to a grant of asylum, or to an order for the removal of the petitioners, can take months, even years. Immigration courts and the agencies that deal with the migrants are overwhelmed, with pending cases ticking toward the 1 million mark. The extremely low bar for establishing credible fear is ripe for fraud and abuse, Michael Bars, a spokesman for the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, said. The reality is that our asylum system is being exploited by those simply seeking economic opportunity, not those fleeing persecution. Trying to discourage asylum-seekers, the Justice Department ruled last spring that most migrants claiming to be running from criminal gangs or domestic violence would no longer be considered for asylum. That was followed by this months order that only petitions received at international bridges or other official border posts would be considered. Both rulings aim at the heart of the asylum claims of many Central American migrants, who are fleeing countries consumed by gang violence and poverty. Rather than trying to avoid capture, many migrants traveling as families have taken to searching for Border Patrol agents to whom they can surrender so they can apply for asylum. Funneling even more asylum-seekers to the bridges and other border posts even if their claims are ruled frivolous in the end could overwhelm an already crippled system, stoking rather than solving any border crisis, critics say. A September report by the Department of Homeland Securitys inspector general said that turning back or delaying asylum-seekers at the bridges has the unintended consequence of forcing some of them to try to cross illegally. Under Trumps recent order, anyone caught crossing illegally could not apply for asylum. Rather than hardening the border with troops or physical walls or overloading an already paralyzed system, the surge of migrants can best be met by streamlining their processing so invalid claims are rejected quickly, said Doris Meissner, an expert with the Migration Policy Institute in Washington, D.C. Doing so, Meissner said, would not only benefit the individual but lessen the perverse incentive that causes some to file dubious claims in order to remain in the United States, often for years. The Trump administrations efforts to address an asylum system that is certainly in trouble are shortsighted at best, said Meissner, who headed the U.S. immigration bureaucracy in the 1990s. The goal should be decisions within months, rather than years. Looking for the dream In the meantime, migrants hoping for asylum will continue trekking to the border. We had been told that it was easier to cross here than elsewhere, said Yadira Hernandez, 20, who fled Honduras seven months ago with her boyfriend after gang members accused him of murdering one of their own in a drug deal gone awry. The couple had been working in southern Mexico since the spring before deciding to make their try for the U.S. The boyfriend, Johnson Hernandez, 19, denies the gang members accusations against him. Hes pinning his asylum hopes on convincing U.S. officials that hell be killed if hes returned to Honduras. For now, the couple is camped out with about 20 other asylum hopefuls the majority of them Cubans on the Mexican side of the international bridge connecting Matamoros with Brownsville. Mexican immigration officials cooperating with their American counterparts prevent the migrants from rushing onto the bridge itself. Instead, they sign up for the chance to cross and turn themselves over to U.S. officials. Under a two-decade policy that was ended by President Obama days before he left office, Cuban asylum-seekers who set foot on U.S. soil were given immediate residency and a path to citizenship. Brownsville became their favored port of entry. It remains so. But now some Cubans say they have been waiting weeks for the chance to cross. In the meantime, they have been sleeping on cots and under blankets donated by residents on both sides of the border. We all looking for the Yuma dream, said Daniel Diaz, 22, a student from Havana who arrived at the border earlier this month, using Cuban slang for the U.S. and its citizens. AUSTIN U.S. Energy Secretary Rick Perry left the Texas governors mansion four years ago. But he is still tapping his Texas campaign account to fly wife Anita Perry around the globe for nuclear talks and to speak at international energy meetings, records show. In Paris last year, Anita Perry spoke at a women in energy event. She also appeared alongside her husband in South Africa on a panel about natural gas, social media accounts show. Most recently, the campaign paid $17,000 to fly Anita Perry to and from London last March for Saudi nuclear meetings, finance reports show. Its not clear what role Anita Perry a nurse played at the closed-door talks, though campaign finance reports said she went for government related activities. While spouses occasionally accompany cabinet members on foreign work trips, ethics experts said its unusual for them to participate in official functions. Its just not an area where spouses have traditionally been involved, said University of Minnesota law professor Richard Painter, who served as chief White House ethics lawyer under former President George W. Bush. We dont have a first lady to the Treasury Secretary. The Department of Energy said Anita Perry doesnt have a security clearance and hasnt participated in any meetings requiring one. All her travel is reviewed and cleared by a department ethics official, said agency spokeswoman Shaylyn Hynes. Rick Perry is one of several Trump cabinet members who have come under fire for racking up expensive bills on chartered jets and first-class flights. When Anita Perry has accompanied her husband on international trips, the Department of Energy says taxpayers arent paying the bill. State campaign finance records show that Texans for Rick Perry the campaign account that bankrolled the Republicans runs for governor has picked up the tab for at least $60,000 worth of her flight costs. Mrs. Perry has traveled with Secretary Perry on occasion, adding valuable support to him as he advances DOEs mission abroad, Hynes said in a statement. As these filings confirm, no taxpayer dollars have been spent on Mrs. Perrys air travel and funding for it is authorized under state and federal laws and regulations. The Department of Energy follows federal travel regulations without exception. A health, women and economic development advocate Anita Perry graduated with a master's in nursing from UT Health Science Center in San Antonio and has called her career in health care a great source of pride. During 2017, the campaign paid roughly $50,000 to cover her travel to Vienna, Cape Town, Rome and Paris for events including Africa Oil Week, a G7 meeting and an International Atomic Energy Agency conference, records show. Anita Perry traveled to Rome in April 2017 for a G7 energy ministers meeting as part of the official U.S. delegation. There, she spoke at a side event called Africa 2030: Empowering the continent through innovation, green tech solutions and capacity building, according to Politico. In Paris last year, Anita Perry delivered a speech at a Women in Clean Energy event, where she was listed on the program as the former first lady of Texas and a health, women and economic development advocate. Anita Perry flew to Cape Town in October 2017 as part of the departments official delegation to Africa Oil Week, according to trade publication E&E News. Rick Perrys campaign account reimbursed the U.S. Department of Energy for the cost of her flights, campaign finance reports said. The department didnt answer specific questions about each trip. Some raised concerns about the use leftover campaign cash to cover Anita Perrys airfare, though Ed Shack, an attorney for Texans for Rick Perry, said the spending is allowed under state campaign finance rules. Texas candidates who leave office with leftover campaign money can give it away to charity and political campaigns or use the money to cover officeholder expenses. In past opinions, the Texas Ethics Commission has said the money can cover those costs when a candidate moves to federal office. Spending on a spouse is OK, so long as its in connection with the officeholders duties, the commission has said. Former members of Congress have used excess leadership PAC money to fund travel for spouses, said Melanie Sloan, with American Oversight in Washington D.C. But Craig McDonald of Texans for Public Justice said the campaign money wasnt given to be used as a personal travel fund for former state officials. Texans for Rick Perry still had nearly $80,000 in the bank as of its last report in July. The next filing, due in January, covers spending in the second half of 2018. Former Energy Secretary Ernest Moniz took his wife on two foreign work trips, including one to Brazil which the couple paid for and another to a presidential inauguration in Paraguay which was covered by the government, according to Politico and E&E News. amorris@express-news.net Prakash had accused Aam Aadmi Party ministers of assaulting him during a late night meeting at Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal's residence. Prakash, who was the chief secretary of New Delhi, has been appointed as the Additional Secretary, Department of Telecommunications, by the Appointments Committee of the Cabinet. (Photo: File) New Delhi: Anshu Prakash, who had accused Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) ministers of allegedly assaulting him during a late night meeting at Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal's residence, has been transferred. Prakash, who was the chief secretary of New Delhi, has been appointed as the Additional Secretary, Department of Telecommunications, by the Appointments Committee of the Cabinet. On February 20, Prakash had lodged a police complaint alleging that he was manhandled at the Delhi Chief Minister's residence by two AAP legislators - Amanatullah Khan and Prakash Jarwal. Prakash had alleged that he was thrashed by Khan and Jarwal at Kejriwal's residence, where he had been called to discuss Aadhaar-related problems. Khan and Jarwal were arrested the next day and were sent to a 14-day judicial custody, which was further extended by 14 days. The two AAP leaders were later granted bail by the Delhi High Court. On August 13, the Delhi Police named Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia and 11 AAP MLAs in the 1300-page charge sheet that was filed under Sections 186, 323, 332, 342, 353, 504, 506(ii), 120B, 109, 114, 149, 34 and 36 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC). I am a 17-year-old student at Lamar High School and I stick to a pretty consistent routine. I go to parties. I hang out with my friends. I worry about being shot in my own school. As dramatic as that sounds, last week those worries were justified. On Tuesday morning, I walked into my math class as I do every second day. About 15 minutes later, we were put on lockdown. For four hours, I sat on the ground in my classroom in the dark with no idea what was happening. We had no announcements or information provided to us by the school. Instead, we refreshed our Twitter pages and checked Google every five minutes for updates. We finally found out what was happening when somebody outside set up a livestream. Two students had been shot, one fatally. At 4 p.m, we were nonchalantly released from class and told to go directly home. School continued as normal the next day. America shouldnt treat this as normal. These recent events are a perfect example of the state of our country. In less than a week, three of my fellow Lamar students died from gun violence, and our response is to get on with our day and just push through until the holidays. One student claimed that these things happen and that we have to just look past it and move on. If this is our approach to such horrific events, this violence will never end. Students, teachers and parents cant sit around and mope, but we also cant pretend that the events that happened arent a big deal. Yet heres how the school responded: The day after the shooting, I saw one extra policeman on campus. Complaining doesnt necessarily solve anything, but flat out refusing to speak up and act will result in more deaths, especially in schools. Ive said it so many times; thoughts and prayers dont make change. Disconcertingly though, it seems teenagers care more about school shootings and gun violence than the people who are actually running this country. Children are dying. Not just adults teenagers and kids. We go to school every day under the false pretense that we are safe. Any death is awful, but when you take into consideration the fact that these are minors who lack money, power and political influence it seems even more sinister. And the inaction of our elders is more irresponsible. So we students have taken it upon ourselves to push for change. Last year, we organized a walkout at Lamar. I went to every classroom in my school and made a presentation about gun violence. I emailed my principal and the administration about better lockdown procedures. I emailed and called news stations to talk about the need for action, and I heard no response. It is like we are talking to brick walls. Calls for change are being met with blank stares. . We will never live in a crime-free community. I know this. However, I want to know that I am safe at least walking to school. I want to know that my teachers are prepared for an emergency. I want to know that when I tell my dad I love you before I leave for school each morning, it is because I want to, not because I fear I wont ever see him again. Lamar is failing its students, but the country is failing all of us. Listen to the voices of young people. Look at the number of children dying annually. If this doesnt inspire action, then nothing can. Delindsey Mack died on Tuesday because of gun violence. A 15-year-old girl was grazed by bullets. Samuel Yeargain died because of guns. So did Pierce Schwartz. In less than a week, four students have been impacted forever because of guns. Walkouts alone wont change anything. School counseling wont either. We need to get to the bottom of this and cut the bad parts at their roots. We need gun control. We need better school safety. Most importantly, we need to place value and importance on childrens lives. They are dying daily because of a national inability and unwillingness to act. Dont protect your guns. Protect your children. van Steveninck is a senior at Lamar High School. Even people who dont know the story of Jonestown know the phrase it spawned: drinking the Kool-Aid. A tragedy reduced to a derisive catchphrase, reserved for people seemingly too stupid to think for themselves. It is a comfort, letting us believe we are above what happened to the Jonestown victims. We would never drink the Kool-Aid. This is the great myth of Jonestown: that only the feeble-minded could be convinced to kill themselves. But the deaths of some 900 people at Jonestown on Nov. 18, 1978 was not mass suicide. It was mass murder. We all think wed never be duped by a cult, that were smart enough to see through the lies. But a cult rarely starts out the way it ends up. The Peoples Temple was no exception. From the moment Jim Jones, a poor boy from Indiana, started the church, its mission was to do good. Although Jones true motivations are impossible to know, theres no question of what members of the Peoples Temple did in the community. First in Indianapolis and then in San Francisco, the temple championed racial equality. At a time when almost no churches were integrated, the Peoples Temple boasted a congregation of blacks and whites. During the 1950s and 1960s, they staged sit-ins and protests to demand businesses serve black customers. It worked more often than not. The church gave food, clothes and shelter to the most vulnerable in the community. They opened senior living facilities, some of the best in the state, and found jobs for unemployed congregants. Their drug and alcohol rehab programs provided life-saving help. Young followers who couldnt afford to attend college were given scholarships. At the pulpit, Jones preached against the unfairness of capitalism and the racism rife in America. It was an appealing message for a chaotic time. Even those who didnt buy Jones bluster could agree: These were good people making a real difference in the world. In San Francisco, they had all the proof they needed. Jim Jones was a regular feature in Herb Caens society columns; Caen called him "soft-spoken, modest, publicity shy." George Moscone and Harvey Milk both attended temple services. Governor Jerry Brown planned on it, too, but missed the date due to a scheduling mix-up. He called to apologize and praised the good work Peoples Temple was doing. If this was a cult, followers could reason, it was a cult with the backing of some of Californias most prominent politicians. "We willingly gave up some freedom for the greater goal," former member Tim Carter told journalist Jeff Guinn in his book "The Road to Jonestown." "If you got upset with something, with Jones, you still felt respect for others in the Temple and you'd think, 'If this is wrong, these other very intelligent, very decent people wouldn't be here, so, therefore, I must be wrong,'" As obvious as it later seems, the descent isnt always noticeable at first. Its a slow burn, a series of small allowances. Jones sermons became more erratic. He started talking more and more about nuclear war, enemies at the gates. But long-time congregants knew Jones could get on tangents, and a look at the state of America Watergate, Vietnam, devastating racial inequality was enough to confirm any doomsday scenario. When Jones told them about the "promised land," a utopia just for them in Guyana, he had already groomed a receptive audience. --- In 1977, hundreds of Peoples Temple members began moving into the Guyana compound they named Jonestown. Of the 900 people who would eventually move there, one-third were pensioners, many of whom had been recruited into the church as part of a retirement plan; at Peoples Temple, they thought they would be cared for for the rest of their lives. Most of the adults were poor, many already reliant on the church for steady meals, housing and employment. What little they had went to the construction of Jonestown. Three hundred were children. When arrivals got off the plane in South America, temple enforcers took their passports. Most would never get them back. Once at Jonestown, Jones begun utilizing several textbook brainwashing tactics to ensure compliance. The first was isolation. Alone in the thick jungle, their only source of information was Jim Jones. He told them blacks were being rounded up in concentration camps back home, and the U.S. government was bent on destroying Jonestown next. At any moment, the army could burst into the compound to murder every man, woman and child. Uncredited/AP Those who didnt believe were usually too tired to question him. Building a town in the jungle was an exhausting, endless job. Adult members were worn down with constant physical labor and little food. Once the work day was done, they gathered in the pavilion for hours-long sermons. Jones would often talk past midnight; wake-up was at 6 a.m. Even when they werent sitting for sermons, Jones was omnipresent: He had a loudspeaker system rigged up in the compound and often droned on throughout the day. There were dissenters and escape attempts, but almost no one succeeded. Making it out of the jungle was a near-impossible task. Even if the initial escape was a success, followers had no passports and most had no money. They couldn't fly back to the Bay Area if they wanted to. Jones bodyguards hunted down escapees, some of whom were then drugged and kept in a special hut. One defector speculated hed been unknowingly dosed with barbiturates after a failed escape attempt. Only later did he realize it was odd that he suddenly started getting treats of cheese sandwiches. Then, there was the test run. Jones, drug-addicted and deeply paranoid, demanded total loyalty. In February 1978, he announced to his followers that an armed force was coming to kill everyone at Jonestown. He ordered them to line up and drink from a vat of poison. They would all be dead in 45 minutes. After the time elapsed, Jones declared it was a test of loyalty. They had passed. "True believers accepted that whatever [Jones] did was right, Guinn writes in The Road to Jonestown." "Those increasingly disaffected with Jones but still loyal to the Temple's professed socialist cause shrugged the experience off as one more example of Jones's increasingly bizarre behavior. Many, sleep-deprived and emotionally exhausted, were just glad to get back to their beds." Up until the last moment, some people on Nov. 18, 1978 believed Jones was again putting them through a test. But Jones, feeling the walls closing in on him and terrified his power was slipping away, ordered his personal physician to dose the Flavor Aid with potassium cyanide. The babies and children were killed first 304 of them died that day. On the loudspeaker, Jones told the adults they were committing an act of revolutionary suicide. In death, they would prove to the world no one could murder their ideals. There is no doubt some believed this and went willingly. But still others were harassed, brainwashed and beaten, emotionally and physically, into their deaths. Dozens were found with needle marks in their arms, suggesting they were injected with poison. Armed guards surrounded the pavilion. On the tape recording of the massacre all Jonestown sermons were recorded Jones can be heard urging his wife Marceline to stop fighting, stop screaming. Their deaths would be painless, Jones said. It was the last of his many lies. Cyanide poisoning is horrific. It suffocates its victims, causes convulsions and bloody vomit, until the victim finally suffers brain death. Over 900 people died after drinking the poisoned liquid. Matthew Naythons / Getty Images 1978 Jim Jones killed himself with a gunshot to the head. --- In the years leading up to Jonestown, Jones often referenced Masada, the hilltop fortress in Israel. In the 70s CE, Roman soldiers laid siege to the Jewish settlement. Rather than surrender, legend says, 960 Jewish residents decided to kill themselves. Jones considered it the greatest statement of conviction, a tale of faith that still resonated across the centuries. From childhood, Jones was sure he was destined to be a great man. If Jonestown failed, quietly disappeared back into the jungle, he would be nothing. In his all-consuming quest to feed his own ego, Jones murdered hundreds of people. He thought it would make Jonestown the modern-day Masada. But if there is one solace in the tale, it is this: Death did not make Jim Jones a martyr. It made him a monster. Katie Dowd is an SFGATE Senior Digital Editor. Contact: katie.dowd@sfgate.com | Twitter: @katiedowd iciHaiti - Diaspora : Forum of General States Sectoral of the Nation On December 1, from 9:00 am to 3:00 pm, at La Perle Retrouvee located at 7655, 20th Avenue in Montreal, will hold the forum of the General States Sectoral of the Haitian Nation (EGSN) around the main orientations concerning the development of Haiti. In Haiti, this initiative of the Head of State was welcomed by various sectors of the Haitian civil society who seized these forums of dialogue to freely assert their concerns and opinions concerning the choices that will engage the future of Haiti. Haiti. In addition to the activities planned in the 10 departments of Haiti, discussion workshops will be held in the diaspora. It is in this context that the establishment of an organizing committee took place on October 9 in Montreal, whose mission is to prepare the December 1st forum. Many in the Haitian diaspora who feed the desire to return to Haiti, either as investor, teacher, retiree or simply as a tourist. The Organizing Committee is waiting for you on December 1st to collect your complaints, your solutions and the commitments that should be made at the individual and institutional levels for a better Haiti. For information and to confirm your presence (before November 29, 2018) : forumetatsgenerauxcanada@gmail.com IH/ iciHaiti University of British Columbia to set up dedicated gazebos for purpose. Following legalisation of the possession and sale of recreational cannabis in Canada last month, the university committee has come up with a draft policy titled Smoking and Smoking Product Promotion on Campus New Delhi: The University of British Columbia in Canada may become the first varsity in the world to legalise pot smoking on campus and would set up dedicated gazebos for the purpose. Following legalisation of the possession and sale of recreational cannabis in Canada last month, the university committee has come up with a draft policy titled Smoking and Smoking Product Promotion on Campus. The draft policy has been put up for community consultation and a final call on it is likely to be taken in February. We believe that when you criminalise any activity that people are engaging in any way, all you do is drive the behaviour underground. However, that doesnt mean that everything and anything can be decriminalised. Hence, the policy will take into account that the decorum of the campus is also maintained, Hubert Lai, University of British Columbias (UBC) counsel, told PTI in an e-mail interview. According to the policy, smoking of cannabis will be prohibited anywhere on the campus except in designated smoking gazebos. Both cultivation and sale of cannabis will be prohibited on campus. An individual on campus may not possess cannabis in amount that is greater than the amount set out by federal law, which is the equivalent of 30g of dried cannabis or 450g of cannabis edibles. Cannabis may be stored in residence in your private space in your bedroom as long as all storage containers are clearly labelled as containing cannabis or cannabis product and are stored in such a way as to not create nuisance to other residents, Lai said. Smoking of cannabis will not be allowed in classrooms, student residences, UBC vehicles, bus shelters and other such areas on campus. According to the policy, the university employees are required to refrain from the use of any impairing substance, including alcohol and cannabis, during or prior to work hours. Although medical authorisation to use cannabis does not include a right to consume cannabis at work or arrive to work impaired, employees who are prescribed cannabis for medical purposes and seek, or require, an accommodation should advise their supervisor. Any unauthorised or unapproved use of cannabis prior to or during work hours will not be tolerated and may result in discipline, Lai said. However, in accordance with federal law, individuals who are over 19 years of age may share or give away cannabis to other individuals who are over 19 years of age, as long as the amount of cannabis given away doesnt exceed the amount that such an individual is allowed to possess, Lai added. THE HAGUE Dr Fatih Birol, the Executive Director of the International Energy Agency, highlighted the possible opportunities of hydrogen during a visit to the Netherlands, where he met with Eric Wiebes, the Dutch Minister of Economic Affairs and Climate Policy. Dr Birol was in the Hague on 15 November to present the findings of the latest World Energy Outlook, the IEAs flagship publication, which was released last week. He attended a conference with Minister Wiebes and hosted by the Dutch government think tank on energy and climate policy, which was attended by some 300 participants from government, industry, NGOs and think tanks. Dr Birol outlined the case for hydrogen, which according to the IEA has the potential to support clean energy transitions, diversify the fuel mix, and address energy security concerns. He noted that hydrogen deployment has technological and economic challenges but that the global momentum was growing. At the request of the Japanese government, the IEA will release a major report next year on the state of play of hydrogen, its economics, and future potential, for the G-20 that will take place in Japan in 2019. Following Dr Birols presentation, Minister Wiebes thanked the IEA for stressing the urgency of reducing emissions, showing pathways on getting there, and for underlying that all energy sources should be part of that future. Minister Wiebes also showed great interest in hydrogen as a storage fuel, a possible replacement for natural gas that can benefit from the existing infrastructure, and as feedstock for industry. Municipal workers refuse to clean dirt from roads. The civic body slapped a fine of Rs 20,000 on each of the three seized dumpers. Mumbai: The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has accused the Metro 3 contractor of damaging city roads. It has also seized three dumpers that were used for carrying debris of metro works and penalised them. According to civic officials, dumpers used by metro contractor to ferry debris from construction sites have been found dropping muck on various roads in areas such as Cuffe Parade, Fort and Colaba, which are part of the A ward in South Mumbai. Annoyed by this, the municipal conservancy workers in these areas refused to clean the dirt saying that metro work dumpers are often tainting the roads and the BMC should take action against the contractor. Taking note of this, the civic body seized three dumpers and also levied a penalty on them on Saturday morning. Kiran Dighavkar, assistant municipal commissioner of A ward said, We have levied a fine of Rs 20,000 on each of these dumpers. It was also noticed that the silt was not covered with tarpaulin, which is mandatory as per the no objection certificate given by the civic solid waste management department. The civic body had received several complaints from the conservancy workers, who have given in writing that they would not lift and clean up this muck, he added. According to civic officials, on Friday night, the muck was noticed first along P Dmello Road and by Saturday morning there were similar complaints from Nathalal Parekh Marg in Colaba area, Captain Prakash Pethe Marg and G.D. Somani Marg in Cuffe Parade, the BMC officials informed. On October 23 too, it was noticed that silt being spread across various roads in A ward. Each of the dumpers is known to be carrying approximately six metric tons of muck. The Metro 3 line will run between Colaba-Bandra-Seepz (Andhe-ri). Its construction works are currently in full progress. Imperial Valley News Center Five Role-Model Organizations Win 2018 Baldrige National Quality Award Washington, D.C. - The U.S. Department of Commerce announced today that the 2018 Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award will be given to two educational institutions, an organ donor group, a hospital and a project management firm. A presidential-level honor, the award recognizes exemplary U.S. organizations and businesses that demonstrate an unceasing drive for radical innovation, thoughtful leadership, and administrative improvement. These awardees are inspiring in so many ways, said Under Secretary of Commerce for Standards and Technology and National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) Director Walter G. Copan. Each honoree strengthens our economy through its organizational excellence and positive impacts for its customers, students, patients and employees. They exemplify the American spirit in action and are role models for success in business and commerce. The 2018 honorees are as follows: Alamo Colleges District, San Antonio, Texas (education) Donor Alliance, Denver, Colorado (nonprofit) Integrated Project Management Company, Inc., Burr Ridge, Illinois (small business) Memorial Hospital and Health Care Center, Jasper, Indiana (health care) Tri County Tech, Bartlesville, Oklahoma (education) NIST manages the Baldrige Award in cooperation with the private sector. An independent panel of judges reviewed the evaluations performed by the board of examiners and recommended this years Baldrige Award recipients from a field of 27 finalist applicants, each of whom had prequalified by winning a Baldrige-based performance excellence award at the state or regional level. We are very pleased to honor these five outstanding organizations with this presidential award, said Copan. Using the proven Baldrige framework, each organization charts its own course to achieve verified performance excellence, and as a result we all benefit through economic growth and U.S. leadership. The 2018 Baldrige Awards will be presented at a ceremony on April 7, 2019, during the Baldrige Programs 31st annual Quest for Excellence conference, which will be held in National Harbor, Maryland. The expert Baldrige judges evaluate organizations in seven areas defined by the Baldrige Excellence Framework: leadership; strategy; customers; measurement, analysis and knowledge management; workforce; operations; and results. An organization may compete for the award in one of six categories: manufacturing, service, small business, health care, education and nonprofit (including government agencies). Since 1987, the Baldrige Award has been the highest recognition for performance excellence in the nation. There are now more than 30 independent Baldrige-based state, regional, and sector award programs covering nearly all 50 states. Internationally, there are nearly 80 programs based in whole, or in part, on the Baldrige Program. In addition, many organizations use the Baldrige framework as a leadership and management guide to drive improvement and innovation strategies. The Baldrige framework is reviewed and updated regularly to reflect best practices in organizational leadership and performance across key organizational categories that drive the U.S. economy and enhance our quality of life. Over the years, millions of copies of the Baldrige Criteria for Performance Excellence, the core of the Baldrige framework, have been distributed or downloaded. This widespread acceptance and use both nationally and globally have dramatically impacted all types of organizations. Below is a sample of the achievements of the 2018 Baldrige Award winners. The Alamo Colleges District (ACD) ACD is the largest institution of higher learning in South Texas, serving over 100,000 students enrolled in for-credit, continuing education and workforce courses every year. Students can earn associate degrees and can also transfer to four-year universities. ACD holds a rare AAA bond rating, based on the strength of its financial policies for managing debt and evolving sources of revenue. Simultaneously, ACD students four-year graduation rate has increased 150 percent since 2009, and students have given the institutions advisor program a 94 percent effectiveness rating. Donor Alliance (DA) DAs mission is to save lives through organ and tissue donation and transplantation. Covering the third largest physical area of any organ donation and transplant support network in the nation, DA has increased its organ donations steadily over the past five years. DAs results, including some of the nations highest donor designation rates, directly translate to more lives saved and healed through transplantation. Donor families, as well as transplant center and tissue processor customers, gave DA a 100 percent satisfaction rating. At the same time, DA has increased its revenues and realized organ donor cost savings between 63 and 73 percent. Integrated Project Management Company, Inc. (IPM) IPM is a privately held business consulting company, providing leadership to transform strategies and solutions into sustainable results. While growing its revenue more than 60 percent since 2013, IPM achieved a 99 percent customer satisfaction rating from 2015 to 2017, and 94 percent of its employees rated it a great place to work. Memorial Hospital and Health Care Center (MHHCC) MHHCC provides inpatient and outpatient care through an acute care community hospital and 32 outpatient primary and specialty care clinics and medical practices, providing medical care for 6,600 inpatients and 254,000 outpatients through 29,000 emergency department visits annually. MHHCC has received an A in hospital safety since 2016. MHHCC has also received a Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) five-star rating for overall quality of inpatient care since the ratings were released. Tri County Tech (TCT) One of 29 public technology centers in the Oklahoma Career and Technical Education System, TCT serves the residents of three counties and has a vision of inspiring success through life-changing learning experiences. With a goal that no student should be denied an education due to inability to pay, TCT provides scholarships and funding for student expenses such as medication, gasoline, clothing and food. TCT has sustained top 25 percent national rankings for student completion/retention and placement for eight fiscal years. The institution also increased graduate wages to well above the national average while growing its own revenues 16 percent since 2009without federal funding and despite a sizable reduction in state funding. Best-Practice Awards The Baldrige judges also may recognize best practices in one or more of the Baldrige Criteria categories by organizations that are candidates for the award but are not selected as winners. This year, the judges have chosen two organizations for this honor (listed with the categories for which they are acknowledged): Howard Community College in Columbia, Maryland, is recognized for its role-model practices in leadership. Mary Greeley Medical Center in Ames, Iowa, is recognized for its role-model practices related to its patients and other customers. The Baldrige Program raises awareness about the importance of performance excellence in driving the U.S. and global economies; provides organizational assessments, training, tools and criteria; educates leaders in businesses, schools, health care organizations and government and nonprofit organizations; shares the best practices of national role models; and recognizes those role models with the Baldrige Award. The Baldrige Program is a public-private partnership managed by NIST and funded in part through user fees and support from the Baldrige Foundation. The Baldrige Award was established by Congress in 1987 and is not given for specific products or services. Since the first group was recognized in 1988, 123 awards have been presented to 115 organizations (including eight repeat winners). The 2019 Baldrige Award Application is now available. President Donald J. Trumps Administration Is Providing Support to Fight the California Wildfires Washington, DC - "We will do everything in our power to support and protect our fellow citizens in harms way." ~ President Donald J. Trump SUPPORTING CALIFORNIA: President Donald J. Trump is offering full support to California during their response to the wildfires. President Trump is traveling to California to meet with individuals affected by the wildfires. The President recently spoke with Gov. Jerry Brown to offer his full support and the Administration continues to be in close contact with State and local officials. President Trump issued Major Disaster and Emergency Declarations to provide support for Californias response to these wildfires. The declarations cover up to 75 percent of costs incurred by California for removing debris, conducting emergency activities, providing transitional sheltering, and more. The Administration has issued three Fire Management Assistance Grants to support partner States that have deployed resources to the region. These grants reimburse partner States for up to 75 percent of the costs they incur by sending firefighting assets. The Disaster Declarations and Fire Management Assistance Grants also provide funding to the State of California to help mitigate the impacts of future wildfires. The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has declared the California wildfires a public health emergency. This declaration gives Medicare and Medicaid beneficiaries and their healthcare providers greater flexibility in meeting emergency health needs created by the wildfires. DEDICATING RESOURCES: President Trump has deployed Federal resources to help fight the wildfires in California. The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Forest Service has approximately 590 personnel currently supporting the fight against the Camp and Woolsey fires in California. This includes over 490 personnel to support efforts to fight the Camp fire and over 90 to fight the Woolsey fire. USDAs Forest Service is making dozens of air resources available, including 23 helicopters, 8 large air tankers, 5 air attack units, 1 night air attack unit, and 1 night helicopter. The Department of the Interior has assigned hundreds of personnel to the Camp and Woolsey fires, as well as 2 helicopters and 10 wildland fire engines. HHS has deployed regional emergency coordinators to support State and local health authorities and the emergency response. HELPING THE VICTIMS: Federal assistance programs are available to help victims recover from the devastating effects of the wildfires. U.S.-Australia-India-Japan Consultations Singapore - On November 15, senior officials from the United States, Australia, India, and Japan met in Singapore for consultations on the Indo-Pacific region. The officials reaffirmed a shared commitment to maintain and strengthen a rules-based order in the Indo-Pacific in which all nations are sovereign, strong, and prosperous. They further 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. Officials from the four countries focused on their shared goals, including support for sustainable development, connectivity, and good governance. The officials highlighted the importance of good governance in strengthening the rules-based order and reviewed initiatives to enhance regional security, including through cooperation on maritime, counterterrorism, non-proliferation, and cyber issues. They committed to driving broad economic development that harnesses the regions 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. 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. Participants highlighted the importance of coordination and collaboration with all interested countries and institutions to support a diverse, peaceful, and prosperous region. 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. The four countries looked forward to regular consultations on Indo-Pacific engagement and initiatives. Be most vigilant about your car. Getty Images Absurdly Driven looks at the world of business with a skeptical eye and a firmly rooted tongue in cheek. It crosses your mind sometimes. You try and leave the thought as far back in your head as possible, because, at heart, there's nothing you can do. You're flying away. You're leaving your car behind. You hope it'll be safe. And that's why you might choose to use some sort of valet service at the airport. This was the choice of Zoe Parr, who says she left her BMW 123d M Sport in the care of Manchester Parking Services Ltd. at Manchester Airport in the UK. Well, she was going off on honeymoon, so better to leave her vehicle in good hands. One imagines her honeymoon was a delight. The afterglow, however, may have been tarnished when she got home and discovered she'd been given a parking ticket. Her offense? She'd allegedly overstayed her welcome in a parking lot belonging to supermarket giant Asda. There was one small kink that concerned her. As the Independent reports, this overstaying had occurred on the second day of her honeymoon. While she was in Montego Bay, Jamaica. I fear you know where this is going. Parr suspects that someone at the parking service availed themselves of her BMW. Indeed, when she picked it up after her honeymoon, she says there were 400 additional miles on the clock. She told the Independent: It was absolutely appalling behavior from a professional meet-and-greet car parking firm. I contacted Manchester Airport Parking Services Ltd. to ask for its reaction. I'll update, should it respond. But this is a situation that can affect those who leave their cars in the hands of others. Whether you've taken your car in for a service or you're staying for a few days in a hotel, someone may be tempted to take advantage. The most frustrating thing for Parr is that she appears to have no legal recourse. How can she know who might have been driving the car when it overstayed its supermarket welcome? She adds that Manchester Airport Parking Services Limited has neither met her nor greeted her with a response. Every time you think you're making your life easier, it's as well to remember that someone might take advantage. Absurdly Driven looks at the world of business with a skeptical eye and a firmly rooted tongue in cheek. The most important thing is to find out what happened. Yet, unusually in the aftermath of a plane crash, there seems to be considerable controversy about what contributed to its cause. In Indonesia last month, a Lion Air Boeing 737 Max 8 crashed into the Java Sea, killing all 189 people on it. Not all plane crashes elicit immediate indications of what may have caused them. In this case, however, focus was immediately placed on the aircraft's Maneuvering Characteristics Augmentation System. This is automatically activated when the plane's computers think its so-called Angle of Attack is too steep. In essence, the system lowers the nose of the plane. Indonesian investigators say the system may have given Lion Air's pilots false information, leading to a fatal stall. In a remarkable development, however, pilots at Southwest and American Airlines claimed they had no idea the system might do this. They said Boeing hadn't been explicit in either its manuals or its training. I contacted Boeing to ask for its view and will update, should I hear. This is, after all, a new plane which is now very much in use around the world. Southwest, for example, ordered 280 of them. American ordered 100. Surely, the newer the plane, the safer it must be. Yet Capt. Dennis Tajer, an American Airlines pilot who is also spokesman for the pilots' union -- the Allied Pilots Association -- told NPR: It shakes the trust you have in the manufacturer. Why weren't we told about this? Oddly, though, United Airlines pilots seem to think this attitude wayward. Capt. Todd Insler, chairman of the United branch of the Air Line Pilots Association union offered a much harsher view to the Seattle Times: The story here is not why we didn't know about [the new system], it's why the pilots didn't fly the plane. He added that the Lion Air pilots should have immediately reacted to the danger and exerted full control to prevent the dive. He said: There is plenty of feedback as to how this airplane flies, more than enough inputs and opportunity to recover. Tajer maintained his opposed view. He told the Seattle Times: The pilots of American Airlines, and I'm confident at Southwest Airlines too, want to know everything about all the systems on their airplanes in the interests of ensuring our passengers are safe at all times, whether in normal operations or during emergency procedures. This is, for most people, the only important point. When you get on a plane, you want to believe that it's safe to fly and that the pilots know what to do in every situation. So much of pilots' expertise is never known, because it's never seen. Pilots are trained to avert dangers and know precisely how to react. In Insler's view, the job is very simple: If the plane doesn't do what I want it to do, I make it do so. If it's not responding, I make it respond. What passengers would like, however, is a concerted response from the airlines they fly that something like the Lion Air crash won't happen again. Hills and mountains were the backdrop to many of my childhood holidays. Summer half-terms were regularly spent in the Peak District: we climbed Kinder Scout and Mam Tor; trekked through Dovedale and Monsal Dale; and ate Kendal Mint Cake like real adventurers. The cottages we rented for those weeks would smell of Nikwax and be littered with maps and walking socks. In the early years there was as much playing as hiking. Me and my brother Nathaniel, two years my junior, would spend hours hiding and seeking amidst the rocks and bracken at Robin Hoods Stride; or panning for precious minerals in the streams that trickled through the woods. My best friend Ed came with us sometimes. The three of us would build hideouts and plot attacks on imaginary enemies. Six Greenpeace activists who boarded a tanker transporting palm oil off the coast of Spain have been detained by the ships captain, the campaign group has said.. The protesters unfurled banners reading Save our Rainforest and Drop Dirty Palm Oil from the tanker in the Gulf of Cadiz on Saturday. Greenpeace said its volunteers from Britain, Germany, France, Canada, Indonesia and the US were being held in a cabin on the ship. A ship tracking website shows the Stolt Tenacity, which Greenpeace claims is carrying palm oil to the Netherlands, was charted by Wilmar International a company linked to rainforest destruction in Indonesia. We have limited radio contact with our volunteers and have called on the ships captain to free them so they can continue to peacefully protest against companies like Wilmar, said Greenpeace campaigner Hannah Martin, speaking from on board the groups own ship Esperanza. Greenpeace said the Stolt Tenacitys captain was informed in advance via marine VHF radio that the protest, staged Saturday, would be peaceful. Five of the six Greenpeace volunteers who boarded the palm oil tanker (Jeremy Sutton-Hibbert / Greenpeace) (A Jeremy Sutton-Hibbert / Green) Palm oil is used in a huge array of consumer goods, from make-up to snacks. Wilmar International supplies Mondelez, the maker of Oreo cookies and Cadbury chocolate, with the edible oil. The substance gained widespread attention in the UK earlier this month when Iceland released a Christmas advert featuring an orangutan mourning the destruction of his rainforest home by palm oil growers. 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 Hundreds of thousands of consumers from all over the world have had enough of forest destruction, said Yeb Sano, executive director at Greenpeace Southeast Asia. In September, Greenpeace activists occupied a palm oil processing facility belonging to Wilmar International on the Indonesian island of Sulawesi. The group scaled the refinery and painted DIRTY on the storage tanks, while Indonesia rock band Boomerang performed on top of the tanks. Every year, International Mens Day is commemorated on the same date - 19 November - around the world. The event aims to shine a spotlight on men who are making a positive difference, to focus on men's health and wellbeing issues, and to improve gender relations. Recommended 6 ways to look after you mental health in second lockdown With suicide being the biggest killer of men under the age of 45, according to charity CALM (Campaign Against Living Miserably), encouraging people to have open conversations about topics such as mens mental health and suicide is essential. This year marks 28 years since the first International Men's Day celebration was held in Malta, and 21 years since the project was reinitialised in Trinidad and Tobago. So why did International Mens Day start and what does it celebrate? Here is everything you need to know. When is International Mens Day? International Mens Day is celebrated annually on 19 November. The date coincides with the birthday of the father of Dr Jerome Teelucksingh, a doctor from Trinidad and Tobago who relaunched International Mens Day in 1999. Organisers say the event is designed to help more people consider what they can do to make a difference and to give men and boys better life chances by addressing issues such as high suicide rates, sexual abuse and health. Every year on International Womens Day, which falls on 8 March, the same questions get asked again and again on Twitter: Is there an International Men's Day? and when is it? Comedian Richard Herring makes it his mission to educate naysayers on the existence of International Mens Day, sharing comical replies to as many posts as he can. In 2018 Herring used the attention that his tweets were receiving to raise more than 150,000 for domestic violence charity Refuge and in 2019, he set a target of 10,000 on his Just Giving page to raise money for CALM. This year, the comedian has written a book, titled The Problem with Men: When is International Men's Day, with all proceeds going to CALM. What does the day celebrate? The aim of International Mens Day is to celebrate positive male role models and to raise awareness of mens issues. These include topics such as mental health, toxic masculinity and the prevalence of male suicide. In the UK, men are three times more likely than women to take their own lives, according to emotional support charity Samaritans. International Mens Day coincides with Movember, which involves men growing their facial hair in an effort to promote conversations about mens mental health, suicide prevention, prostate cancer and testicular cancer. The observances of International Mens Day are part of a global love revolution, said Dr Teelucksingh. "International Mens Day is observed on an annual basis by persons from all walks of life, who support the ongoing effort to improve lives, heal scarred hearts, seek solutions to social problems, mend troubled minds, reform the social outcasts and uplift the dysfunctional. International Mens Day is designed to promote positive role models in society and develop wholesome individuals. What is this years theme? Each year a theme is assigned to International Mens Day. The theme for 2020 is the idea of Better Health for Men and Boys. According to the International Men's Day website, the theme promotes the need to value men and boys and help people make practical improvements in men and boys health and well-being. The concept and themes of International Mens Day are designed to give hope to the depressed, faith to the lonely, comfort to the broken-hearted, transcend barriers, eliminate stereotypes and create a more caring humanity," it adds. If you are in need of mental health support, you can contact the free Samaritans helpline on 116 123, email jo@samaritans.org or visit www.samaritans.org to find details of your nearest branch. Gun violence in the United States has become so destructive and all-encompassing Amnesty International have branded it a human rights crisis. Despite 80 per cent of all gun deaths in the world taking place in America and 30,000 adults and children dying every year in the nation, Congress has done little in recent years. With gun control a divisive issue that some fear to touch due to voter backlash and the right to bear arms enshrined in the second amendment, the government has been quiet. Zero gun control laws have been passed in congress in the last three years. The sheer volume of people killed or injured each year in the USA by gun violence is staggering. Our government has allowed gun violence to become a human rights crisis, the Amnesty report claims. As in Sri Lanka, in the Maldives too the government found itself in huge debt to the Chinese, apparently to the extent of 25 per cent of its GDP. Indias Prime Minister Narendra Modi was the only foreign leader to be invited to attend the swearing-in of the recently-elected President of the Maldives, Ibrahim Mohamed Solih, in Male on Saturday. That tells its own story. This development also holds out the promise of the retreat of Chinese power from the archipelago nation through the five years of Mr Solihs predecessor, Abdulla Yameen, that ended earlier this month following the September election. The opportunity now given to India to be restored to its position of pre-eminence in the Maldives that had prevailed in the pre-Yameen period is due to a surprise election result that no one saw coming as a rank outsider found himself in the Presidents chair. In that sense, if India finds itself once more on terms of close friendship with Male, it can only be ascribe to favourable celestial winds. The Maldives strategic location in the Indian Ocean, controlling vital sea lanes and enjoying an intermediate physical position between India and the equator, had long been eyed by China, which moved in with clear intent after 2011 and found a clear opening when the countrys first democratically-elected President Mohamed Nasheed lost to Mr Yameen in 2013. A time of great shock followed for the Maldives as the new leader launched on a despotic course, a process that seemed to be backed only by Beijing and Islamabad. Islamism was encouraged and Islamist fighters found their way to join the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria. The chief justice and a judge of the Supreme Court were arrested, Opposition leaders were not released from prison despite a Supreme Court order, and Parliament was jeopardised. In this period, the Yameen government insulted India in a variety of ways as it rode over New Delhis sensibilities, and threw out its projects and its personnel. It invited China to undertake big infrastructure works and leased Beijing 17 islands to set up so-called observation posts, evidently a ruse for a military buildup. It is a miracle that President Yameen actually called elections. Perhaps he was over-confident about winning. As in Sri Lanka, in the Maldives too the government found itself in huge debt to the Chinese, apparently to the extent of 25 per cent of its GDP. It is doubtful that it will be in any position to return such large sums without external help. Mr Solih complained to Mr Modi about this. Indias assistance has thus been sought, and New Delhis work is cut out. Now that India is being courted by Male to return to the path of their earlier friendship, it is necessary to extend every kind of support and advice. Mr Modi may find useful ideas embedded in the documents during the visit to Male in 2011 by then Prime Minister Manmohan Singh. Mo (not his real name) will be alone his whole life. He is, ironically, not alone. Since he surrendered to the draw of online incel communities, he has joined other men who wallow in the certainty of their future in celibacy and solitude. Incels were thrown into the spotlight most recently in April, when Alek Minassian drove a van on to a pavement in Toronto, killing 10 pedestrians. The night before the attack, he wrote on his Facebook page: The Incel Rebellion has already begun! Four years previously, Elliot Rodger stabbed and shot six people in a murder spree in California, leaving behind a 141-page manifesto expressing his frustrations over his virginity and his hatred of women. Incels, or involuntary celibates, are men who are unable to form a romantic or sexual relationship, believing themselves too ugly, deformed and unmasculine. They are the self-professed victims in a Hunchback of Notre Dame-style fairytale in which women boast their professed interest in mens personality while consistently choosing only handsome, alpha-male sexual partners. Incels are the protagonists, the "nice guys", the ones who should have got the girl but were burdened by genetic misfortune. Their existence is almost entirely confined to the cesspits of social forums and chat pages, from where sexless keyboard warriors mould bizarre theories explaining the biology of physical attractiveness, lament of their personal experiences of romantic rejections, and spit out a verbal cascade of hatred for "chads" and "staceys", the terms adopted to describe men and women from the outside world. It is a biological curiosity that has perplexed scientists and fascinated the internet. Now researchers believe they have solved one of the animal kingdoms smelliest mysteries: how wombats produce cuboid poo. The podgy marsupials six-sided portions of dung are unique in nature. And they produce them prolifically, depositing between 80 and 100 cubes each night. Wombats distinctive defecation has an important function, allowing the animals to pile their faeces high to mark their territory and communicate through scent. The pellets flat sides mean they can be placed prominently on logs and rocks without rolling away, making them more likely to catch the eye of a mate. But scientists have always been uncertain how wombats which have circular anuses fashion their faeces into their unusual shape. Now, a team of US mechanical engineers and Australian biologists believe they have flushed away any doubt. Lead study author Patricia Yang, a postdoctoral fellow at the Georgia Institute of Technology, set out to investigative if differences in wombats soft tissue structures might explain their oddly shaped dung. The first thing that drove me to this is that I have never seen anything this weird in biology. That was a mystery, said Ms Yang, who studies the hydrodynamics of fluids, including blood, processed food and urine in the bodies of animals. She added: I didnt even believe it was true at the beginning. I googled it and saw a lot about cube-shaped wombat poop, but I was sceptical. Researchers studied faeces taken from wombats that had been killed in road accidents (Georgia Institute of Technology) The researchers studied the digestive tracts of wombats that had been put down after being hit by road vehicles in Tasmania, Australia. Near the end of the intestine, they found that faeces changed from liquid states to solid states made up of small, separated cubes. The researchers concluded that the varying elastic properties of wombats intestinal walls allowed for cube formation. In the manmade world, cubic structures are commonly produced by injection moulding or extrusion. But in nature the shape is extremely rare: wombats are the only known species capable of producing cubes organically. Ms Yang said her findings could have implications for manufacturing, as well as contributing to scientific understanding of soft tissue transportation. We currently have only two methods to manufacture cubes: We mould them, or we cut them. Now we have this third method, Ms Yang said. It would be a cool method to apply to the manufacturing process how to make a cube with soft tissue instead of just moulding it. We can understand how to move this stuff in a very efficient way. Support free-thinking journalism and attend Independent events Scott Carver, an Australian biologist involved in the study, added: There is much general interest from the public, both in Australia and internationally, about how and why wombats create cube-shaped faeces. Many ideas, some more entertaining than others, have been put forward to explain this, but until this study nobody had ever investigated the cause. This has been a fantastic collaboration, which shows the value of interdisciplinary research for making new scientific discoveries. The researchers will present their findings at an annual meeting of the American Physical Societys Division of Fluid Dynamics in Atlanta, Georgia, this week. A man is fighting for his life in hospital after a violent mugging in Birminghams city centre. The 23-year-old was left with critical head injuries after the attack on Sheepcote Street on Friday. He was walking beside a canal at around 6.20pm when he was approached by two men and a woman. Recommended Baby injured after shots fired at Birmingham homes One of the men kicked the victim in the face and body, before stealing some of his possessions, according to West Midlands Police. All three then ran away in the direction of Birminghams International Convention Centre. The victim was rushed to hospital. His head injuries were so severe he had to undergo emergency surgery. He remains in a critical condition in hospital. The three suspects are all described as Asian and in their early 20s. The woman was wearing a fawn scarf around her head. Support free-thinking journalism and attend Independent events It is terrible to hear that a young man who went out to socialise on a Friday evening and has ended up fighting for his life in hospital, said Detective Inspector Vanessa Eyles. We urgently need to find out the identities of the three suspects and are appealing to people to come forward with any information that will help us to identify them. Anyone with information is urged to call 101 or to contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111, giving crime reference 20BW/267213V/18. Nine people, thought to be migrants from Iran, have been found along the coast at Folkestone after arriving in the UK in an inflatable boat. Kent Police said they were called at 6.54am on Sunday to reports of concerns for people in a boat just off the coast of Dover. The Home Office confirmed that the Border Force responded and found the group in a small vessel which had landed close to Folkestone Harbour. They were brought to Dover with the help of the coastguard. Recommended Calais Jungle child refugee still stuck in France despite aunt in UK "All of these individuals will now be processed in line with the immigration rules," said a Home Office spokesperson. Authorities have responded to a number of similar groups arriving at the Dover Coast in the last week On Wednesday, three boats with people thought to be migrants on board were picked up by the coastguard. A total of seven men, one woman and a toddler from Iran were on board one boat and were stopped by officials at around 5am. Another vessel, containing 10 Iranian men, was found off the Kent coast at 9.15am. Shortly after 2pm, a third boat carrying five people was met by a merchant vessel near Ramsgate. Fourteen men and three minors all Iranian were also stopped at Dover Harbour on Tuesday after trying to make their way into the country on board a fishing boat. In another incident, Port of Dover police officers found seven men while searching a heavy goods vehicle arriving from Calais on Tuesday afternoon. The Home Office said three of the group said they were Iranian, while four identified themselves as Iraqis. Support free-thinking journalism and attend Independent events Iran's currency has collapsed to record lows this year as people in the country struggle with the impact of sanctions and government corruption. "We continue to work closely with law enforcement partners in the UK and overseas to tackle people smuggling at source," said a spokesperson from the Home Office. "Nobody should put their life at risk attempting to smuggle themselves into the UK across the Channel. Thankfully, this route to the UK remains relatively rare." Additional reporting by agencies Detectives have charged a man with murder after a 75-year-old woman was stabbed to death in south London. The victim, named by locals as Maureen Watkins, was found wounded at her home in Ethnard Road, Peckham on Friday afternoon. She had been stabbed multiple times. Medics said that she was confirmed dead a short time after ambulance crews arrived at the scene. Edward Watkins, also of Ethnard Road, was charged in connection with the crime on Sunday. The 55-year-old, who is believed to have known Ms Watkins, is due to appear at Camberwell Magistrates' Court on Monday. "I have lived here since 1971 so I knew Maureen," said one friend, who asked not to be named. "She was a lovely lady, a very nice lady indeed." Floral tributes to Ms Watkins, a retired accountant, were left at the scene on Saturday. Authorities in London have struggled with a spate of violence in the capital, with more homicides recorded so far this year than in the whole of 2017. Support free-thinking journalism and attend Independent events There have been 120 murders in the city thus far in 2018, compared to 118 in the total of 2017, a figure which excludes the 13 victims of terrorist attacks at Westminster Bridge, London Bridge and Finsbury Park. Police officials responded angrily to comments made by Sajid Javid about rising knife crime earlier this week. The home secretary said the police needed to step up the response to get the situation under control. Ken Marsh, chairman of the Metropolitan Police Federation, previously told The Independent that politicians should leave police alone and let us do our jobs. Additional reporting by agencies Taxpayers money earmarked to support overseas development has been spent on supporting Chinas fracking industry, The Independent can reveal. The government is required to spend 0.7 per cent of its national income each year on foreign aid. But even with climate change threatening the developing world with droughts, flooding and heatwaves, millions have been spent on fossil fuel investment abroad over the past two years. This includes two schemes aiming to export the UKs expertise in shale gas regulation to China, as controversy about new drilling sites rages back in Britain. Global efforts to tackle poverty are now taking place in a rapidly changing climate which is driving more extreme weather, more acute disasters, and hitting the poorest first and hardest, said Tom Viita from Christian Aid. It is a flagrant misuse of the UKs aid budget to fund the fossil fuel industry overseas when the priority must be shifting to low carbon energy and boosting climate resilience. In a report seen by The Independent, energy watchdog Platform revealed 2m from the governments Prosperity Fund for overseas economic development has been used to expand the oil and gas sectors in nations including Brazil, Mexico and India. This cross-departmental fund was set up to remove barriers to economic growth in order to reduce poverty ... and [support] the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. While the fund is allowed to be spent on fossil fuel development, given that one of those UN goals is to urgently combat climate change, campaigners questioned why it was financing 16 projects extracting these high-polluting fuels. How fracking works and where it could happen Show all 2 1 /2 How fracking works and where it could happen How fracking works and where it could happen 02-FrackingHowItWorks.jpg How fracking works and where it could happen 02-FrackingMapWeb.jpg They also criticised the use of money explicitly set aside to reduce poverty to build projects that offer a helping hand to UK businesses. Theresa May announced over the summer that money from the foreign aid budget could be spent on boosting the British private sector abroad. Twelve of the 16 fossil fuel projects supported by the Prosperity Fund between 2016-2018 made references to creating opportunities for companies in other nations including the UK. Anna Markova, who authored the report, said this hinted at why certain projects had been chosen, with British firms like BP known to be exploring shale gas extraction in China. They are kind of going: well, where are the big oil and gas deposits that British companies want to access OK, lets go there, she said. Kate Osamor, the shadow international development secretary, said: The Tory government using the UKs aid money to help their friends in the oil and gas industry get rich is a disgraceful misuse of the UK aid budget. It is an insult to the British public and our climate change commitments to be doing this at the same time that the worlds leading climate scientists are warning that we only have a matter of years to halt a climate catastrophe. Ms Markova said the funds should instead be exclusively supporting a global transition away from fossil fuels towards renewable sources. They are kind of shooting themselves in the foot, because they know their mission is to support the transition to a zero carbon economy, she said. China has one of the worlds largest reserves of shale gas, but extracting it would require fracking on a massive scale. This would have enormous water requirements in a nation already facing a national freshwater shortage. With a total spend of over 13,000, the two UK-backed projects were intended to export British expertise to kick-start proceedings and see pilot projects established in China within three years. Given the local opposition, legal troubles and environmental issues that have plagued British fracking, campaigners questioned the governments involvement in operations overseas. It is quite unbelievable that the UK should have the hubris to suggest that it can export a regulatory system that is clearly not fit for purpose, said Barbara Richardson, a spokesperson from Frack Free Lancashire. Energy minister Claire Perry has emphasised the importance of shale gas as a relatively clean bridge fuel that will allow the transition to a low carbon economy, but critics are dubious about this goal. With fracking and any other form of fossil gas, there is a huge risk of lock-in which means that it wont get up and running fast enough, and when investors are putting money into these operations they are putting it in for 40 or 50 years, said Ms Markova. Support free-thinking journalism and attend Independent events In 40 years time we should not be using any fossil fuels whatsoever. To meet its commitments under the Paris climate agreement, she concluded that the UK must stop financing any more fossil fuel extraction in foreign countries. Rose Dickinson from Friends of the Earth, who collaborated with Platform and Christian Aid to produce the report, said: Our governments claim to be climate leaders cannot be taken seriously while it continues to push fracking at home and abroad. We need to be moving away from fossil fuels, not showing other countries the best way to dig up more. Responding to the report, a spokesperson from the Foreign and Commonwealth Office said: The UKs aid investment is creating a safer, healthier and more prosperous world and is in the UKs interest. Gas has the potential to be a reliable energy source as countries transition towards a clean energy future, and these programmes are aimed at sharing UK expertise to help ensure that their exploration or development of resources like natural gas is done to high environmental standards. Theresa May has played down hopes of changing Britains draft withdrawal deal in a move that will concern Brexiteer cabinet ministers demanding it be rewritten. The prime minister announced that she would visit European Commission president Jean-Claude Juncker this week for further talks, but said the focus would be on the future relationship. A group of cabinet ministers is attempting to secure further changes to Ms Mays plans in particular in relation to the so-called backstop but Ms May instead made a determined defence of the arrangement setting out what happens with the Irish border after Brexit. Recommended Corbyn says he does not know how he would vote in fresh referendum The Independent understands Downing Street is concerned that any attempt to re-open the withdrawal agreement will inadvertently give the EU a chance to tamper with what they believe are positive elements already secured by Ms May. Ms May was speaking to Sky News Ridge on Sunday show when she was asked about the possibility of reshaping parts of the withdrawal agreement ahead of a critical European Council summit to be held in seven days. Asked if further talks ahead of the summit would include the withdrawal agreement containing the controversial Irish backstop or the outline future relationship, Ms May said: The focus this week will be on the future relationship and when we were in the House of Commons a number of members were saying they want more details on that future relationship thats what we are working on this week. Its the future relationship that delivers on the Brexit vote. Its the future relationship that actually says this is the right deal for the future for our country. Theresa May on leadership dispute: 'a change of leadership isn't going to make the negotiations any easier' The prime minister did repeat the government mantra that nothing is agreed, until everything is agreed, but then immediately drew a distinction between the controversial withdrawal agreement and the future relations again pointing to the latter as the area that will be important for the government in delivering a favourable Brexit. Ms Mays focus will ring alarm bells with Brexiteers who want key elements of the withdrawal agreement rewritten, including a number of ministers in her cabinet. It emerged earlier this week that a group of ministers, including Andrea Leadsom, Penny Mordaunt, Michael Gove, Liam Fox and Chris Grayling, is trying to secure changes to Ms Mays strategy, and even a rewrite of the draft withdrawal agreement with some said to have held back from resigning in an effort to do so. But Downing Street sources told The Independent: There are very real concerns that if you go back and re-open the withdrawal agreement now, it will give Brussels a chance to unpick the things weve locked in. [Chief EU negotiator Michel] Barnier is also under pressure from member states to get a better deal from his end, on access to British fishing waters among other things. Negotiators were deadlocked for almost the entire two years of Brexit talks over what happens to the Irish border if a new trading relationship has not yet been agreed by the UK and EU by the end of the transition period in December 2020. Theresa May: 'The 48 letter limit has not been reached' Under these circumstances Brussels position was that Northern Ireland at least should remain in the EUs customs union until a trade deal is set in stone, in order to keep the border with the Republic open, but Ms May wanted a solution where the whole UK remains in a customs arrangement but for a time-limited period. Brexiteers said they would only accept such a backstop arrangement if the UK can pull out of it unilaterally something the EU has not agreed to and it is on this issue that the cabinet ministers will try to make a renewed push in the coming days. Asked about the arrangement, Ms May confirmed said it was a necessary insurance policy to assure the people of Northern Ireland there would be no border with the Republic. Asked directly whether the UK would be able to leave the backstop at will, Ms May said: If you took out an insurance policy and if you were coming up to the point where that insurance policy was being used, and suddenly the people providing that insurance policy pulled the plug on it for you and you were left without that insurance policy, without having any say in it, what would you think? Actually what we are talking about is a backstop we never intend to use, the EU dont want to use it either, its not the only option on the table, were it to have to be used both sides can review it. Regarding a change of leadership, Ms May said it would bring more uncertainty for British business and peoples jobs and would risk delaying negotiations and Brexit itself. She warned party rivals thinking of replacing her as Conservative leader that it also would not change the parliamentary arithmetic which currently looks like no way forward would carry majority support. Pressed over what the government will do in the event a vote on the Brexit deal was lost in the commons, Ms May said: Theres a process that parliament will go through, were it the case that the deal was lost then the government would come back with their proposals for what the next step was. Search teams have stepped up efforts to find the almost 1,300 people still believed missing amid the deadliest fire in California's history, with rain expected to hit the area in the next few days. While the rain will help with the Camp Fire, it could also turn parts of the blaze zone - where at least 76 bodies have been discovered so far - into a mass of mud that could hinder efforts to find remains. Meteorologists have very high confidence that Butte County will get 10-13cm of rain from Tuesday night through to the weekend. Recommended Vets battle to reunite pets with owners after deadly California fire Patrick Burke, a lead forecaster with the National Weather Service's weather prediction centre in Maryland, said the rain would be a one-two-punch. It'll bring much needed relief to the firefighters and to the air quality, but there's a potential for dangerous mudslides wherever vegetation is burned away on slopes and hills, he said. Sixty-three bodies have been identified using DNA confirmation, with the latest including Lolene Rios, 56, whose son Jed tearfully told KXTV in Sacramento that his mother had an endless amount of love for him. It's a disheartening situation, Butte County Sheriff Kory Honea said of the search for the 1,276 missing. As much as I wish we could get through this before the rains come, I don't know if that's possible. Donald Trump on the California wildfires: 'I have strong opinions, I want a great climate' The Camp Fire was 60 per cent contained on Sunday, having burnt more than 60,500ha. But even when the fire is fully contained, the destructive nature of the blaze will leave thousands of residents displaced. At the latest count, the Camp Fire had destroyed more than 12,700 homes and other structures, authorities said on Sunday. In southern California, the Woolsey Fire - which has also killed at least three people - is 88 per cent contained with about 39,000ha set ablaze. The area will also see some rain during the week. 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 Donald Trump visited California on Saturday, amid criticism over the way he had blamed poor forest management for the blazes and his threat to cut off federal funding. Mr Trump said while visiting the town of Paradise, which had been decimated by the Camp Fire, that wildfires were not a problem in Finland because crews spend a lot of time on raking and cleaning and doing things to clear forest floors. On Sunday, Finland's president Sauli Niinisto said in an interview he could recall discussing forestry with Mr Trump but was not sure if the subject of raking came up. He remembered telling Mr Trump, We take care of our forests, according to the interview in the Ilta-Sanomat newspaper, but said he could not recall raking coming up. Also on Sunday, California Governor Jerry Brown claimed president Trump was supporting residents. He's got our back, Mr Brown told CBS' Face the Nation. Support free-thinking journalism and attend Independent events There have been some back and forth between California leaders and the president, he said. But in the face of tragedy, people tend to rise above some of their lesser propensities. So I think we're on a good path. He also suggested California's severe wildfires would make believers of even the most ardent climate change sceptics in less than five years, and that those living near forests might need to build underground shelters to protect them from fires. Associated Press contributed to this report Donald Trump has said that there is no reason for him to listen to an audio recording of the killing of journalist Jamal Khashoggi at the Saudi Consulate in Istanbul. Mr Trump confirmed the US has the recording, which was provided by Turkey. But he told Fox News Sunday: I dont want to hear the tape, no reason for me to hear the tape. When asked why, Mr Trump called the recording a suffering tape and said he knows everything that went on in the tape without having to hear it. The president said that what happened to Khashoggi at the consulate on 2 October was very violent, very vicious and terrible. A US official said that American intelligence agencies have concluded that Saudi crown prince Mohammed bin Salman ordered the killing. The Saudi government denies the allegations. Mr Trump earlier said that a CIA assessment, which concluded that that the crown prince was responsible, is very premature but possible. He also said that he will receive a full report into The Washington Post columnists death on Tuesday. According to the president, the report will include a conclusion as to who the US government believes was responsible for the killing, which Mr Trump said should never have happened. Khashoggi, a columnist for The Washington Post, was slain on 2 October inside the Saudi consulate in Istanbul. He was a frequent critic of the crown prince but Saudi Arabia has denied accusations that the kingdoms de facto leader had prior knowledge of the murder. American officials have expressed high confidence in the CIAs assessment, which is the most definitive to date, according to The Washington Post, which originally reported the story. The CIA found that 15 Saudi agents flew on government planes to Istanbul and carried out the killing at the Saudi consulate, the report said. Mr Trumps remarks, made during a trip to California, came just hours after the US State Department claimed that the government was still working on determining responsibility for Khashoggis death. Recent reports indicating that the US government has made a final conclusion are inaccurate, State Department spokeswoman Heather Nauert said in a statement. The killing has caused a diplomatic crisis for the US president, who considers the crown prince a close ally. As of this moment we were told that he did not play a role, he told reporters. Were going to have to find out what they have to say. It is unclear who is producing the report the president discussed. 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 The US leaders remarks were similar to those of national security adviser John Bolton, who said earlier this week that people who have listened to an audio recording of the killing do not think it implicates Mohammed bin Salman. Other officials familiar with the case cautioned that while it was likely the prince was involved in the death, there were questions about what role he played. The CIA has briefed other parts of the US government, including Congress, about its conclusions. Mr Trump has previously said that Mr Khashoggis killers should be held to account, but has also stressed the importance of Washingtons ties with Riyadh, one of the biggest clients of the US defence industry. The president is aiming to preserve Saudi arms deals, despite growing opposition in Congress. They have been a truly spectacular ally in terms of jobs and economic development, he said. Support free-thinking journalism and attend Independent events But US politicians critical of Saudi Arabia are ramping up pressure on the White House to take action over the killing. Trump must accept (for once) his intelligence experts incontrovertible conclusion: Crown Prince MBS is culpable for Khashoggis monstrous murder, tweeted Richard Blumenthal, a Democratic senator, on Saturday. This brazen killing must have consequences sanctions, prosecution, removal of MBS and others, not continued cover-up, enabled by Trump. Additional reporting by agencies Baylee Danz did not panic when she woke to the news of a wildfire nearby. Fires came with the territory in this place she had lived all her life, at the intersection between mountainous national forest and populated northern California towns. Until now, her family had been safe in Magalia, California, just north of Paradise. Only a few hours later, she was fleeing from the deadliest blaze in state history with her mother, father and grandmother. Her neighbours house was already burning down. The Camp Fire was at their heels and Ms Danz said she sobbed from loss and regret. Not only was she about to lose her childhood home, she could not find her cats, Coco and Pebbles, before they had to leave. "I didn't realise the seriousness of the situation until I saw the flames," she said, "and by then it was too late." Nearly 10,000 homes around Paradise and Magalia have been destroyed since the Camp Fire ignited early 8 November. The fire spread so fast, people barely had time to save themselves, let alone their pets. Over the past week, first responders have carried thousands of injured animals out of the ashes to emergency veterinary hospitals. Many of them were found sitting in the smouldering rubble of their former homes, burned and dazed. At VCA Valley Oak Veterinary Centre in Chico, California, the staff cancelled regular appointments so doctors could focus on wildfire victims. Hundreds of pets, mostly cats, were dropped off over the course of five days. "We've run out of space," said Daniel Gebhart, the co-medical director at Valley Oak. He had about 20 animals under his care on Wednesday. Injuries include smoke inhalation, dehydration and severe burns, Mr Gebhart said. The animals in the worst condition, with third-degree burns all over their bodies, have had to be euthanised. Fortunately, the vast majority of the animals that have come through Valley Oak's door have been saved, Mr Gebhart said. Veterinarians administer pain medication to the burn victims immediately. They are given fluids, antibiotics and oxygen depending on the nature of the wound. "Once they're stable, we can debride and clean the wounds," Mr Gebhart said. "We've been so emotional the past five days. It's so sad to see; they're in such terrible pain." Jason House attempts to put a respirator mask on his dog Rowland at an evacuee encampment in a Walmart parking lot in Chico, California on November 17, 2018 (AFP/Getty Images) The Small Animal Clinic at the University of California at Davis School of Veterinary Medicine took in 32 cats with burn-related injuries over a two-day period, according to the clinic's chief of emergency services, Steven Epstein. "Most of the injuries are related to actual burns, mainly to their feet," Mr Epstein said. "A lot of foot pad injuries that take two to three weeks to heal." Their ear tips and faces also have been singed or even burned down to the skin in many cases. There might be lower-airway disease if they were breathing toxic gases. Some come in with burns in their nasal cavities or their mouths if they were surrounded by fire, which has another effect, Mr Epstein says. "They need feeding tubes because they don't want to eat." Emergency room doctors often say human burn victims are the most difficult to care for because of the agony the injuries cause for the patient. Mr Epstein said it is similar for veterinarians. And burns are "striking," he said, "since it's a very visual disease." First-degree burns might only take a few days to heal, he said. More severe burns take weeks to months. "My staff are very emotional right now," Mr Gebhart said. They are stressed and fatigued, but caring for the community's animals is "the most important thing we can do." Of the nearly 2,000 animals the North Valley Animal Disaster Group have taken into its shelters, most have been cats. But there have been hundreds of dogs, rabbits and chickens, and dozens of larger animals such as horses, goats, sheep and cows. Overwhelmed by animals, local veterinarians have been transferring the healthiest patients to the disaster group's shelters, which are set up at the Chico Municipal Airport and regional fairgrounds. Then comes an equally difficult task: connecting injured pets with their owners. 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 Lucky animals have microchips, tiny implants that, when scanned, display their owners' contact information. Without microchips or tags, the identification process can be difficult because of the nature of the injuries. Whiskers are singed off. Ears are painfully burned at the edges. What fur is left is shaved to facilitate treatment. Some could be unrecognisable. Vets, rescue groups and volunteers are using social media to reunite pets with their humans. Multiple Facebook groups have launched since the wildfire started with the sole purpose of reconnecting Camp Fire survivors with their cats and dogs. Ms Danz shared photos of Coco and Pebbles on her personal Facebook page. "If anyone sees them, please contact me," she wrote. Soon she had a small army of strangers and friends searching for her cats in photos tagged "found" dozens of pets with bandaged paws, cone collars, whiskers burned down to nubs. The photos tagged "reunited" were rare flashes of hope. "One thing I've noticed in this tragedy is the kindness of others, even strangers," Ms Danz said. "People I didn't even know would comment on my posts. I had this whole invisible team looking for my cats." A good Samaritan found Coco on the UC-Davis Facebook page. Her paws were burned in the fire and three were still wrapped when Ms Danz saw her on Thursday. An animal-control rescue team found Coco three streets away from her former home. "She is in good condition, though," Ms Danz said. "She's eating and loves to be petted." Pebbles is still missing, but she is alive. Someone found her stalking around the rubble of Ms Danz's former home in Magalia. "She was always a bit of a wild one," Ms Danz said, "and definitely a survivor." Her childhood home is a heap of ash and blackened rubble now, but at least she has Coco, her childhood cat. "We do want to stay in the area," Ms Danz said. "We want to try and rebuild." The Washington Post With the latest update, Wear OS devices will become more energy efficient. Google has rolled out a new system version, called the H update, to Wear OS for its smart devices. Google has rolled out a new system version, called the H update, to Wear OS for its smart devices. With the latest update, Wear OS devices will become more energy efficient. In its blog, Google explained that the update extends battery life further by turning on Battery Saver to only display the time once your battery level falls below 10 percent. Off body efficiency has also been improved. After 30 minutes of inactivity, the Wear OS watch will go into deep sleep mode. Other features include smart app resume for apps so you can pick up easily from where you left off. Lastly, you can now turn off your watch by simply holding the power button till you see the option to turn off the screen or restart. The update will be rolled out over the coming months. The hotly contested race for Georgias governorship has ended, more than 10-days after the polls closed, with Democrat candidate Stacey Abrams acknowledging she could not win but vowing to challenge the outcome. In a speech on Friday she hit out at her rival, Republican Brian Kemp who is Georgias secretary of state and the man in charge of the states election, for gross mismanagement of the process. While acknowledging she couldnt win in this election, she vowed to file a lawsuit against the state of Georgia to challenge these failures and safeguard future elections. Her campaign team have argued measures Mr Kemp introduced to toughen voter eligibility requirements resulted in massive voter suppression and wrongly left thousands of ballots uncounted. Ms Abrams said in her speech: To watch an elected official who claims to represent the people in this state, baldly pin his hopes for election on the suppression of the peoples democratic right to vote has been truly appalling. So lets be clear, this is not a speech of concession. Concession means to acknowledge an action is right, true or proper, as a woman of conscience and faith I cannot concede that. My assessment is that the law currently allows no further viable remedy. Stacey Abrams: 'I'm supposed to say nice things and accept my fate' In the coming days, we will be filing a major federal lawsuit against the state of Georgia for the gross mismanagement of this election and to protect future elections, she added. Campaigners had been lobbying to stop Mr Kemp overseeing the race he was part of, saying his involvement violates the basic notion of fairness and even filed a lawsuit against him on election day. Ms Abrams, a 44-year-old attorney and former lawmaker, would have made history as Americas first black female governor. But Mr Kemp, a 55-year-old former businessman, will retain the governors office for the Republicans and responded to the concession with a call for unity. In a news conference on Saturday he defended his actions, saying Look, we have laws on the books that prevent elections from being stolen from anyone. He also congratulated Ms Abrams and said: She ran one heck of a campaign and I know she can be proud of that effort. In Miami-Dade County these days, hurricane-force winds and evacuation orders are no longer what must accompany streets flooding and roads turning into lakes. Along Lincoln Road in Miami Beach, Florida, and elsewhere on the barrier island, residents have already been forced to reckon with the impacts of climate change: plastic liners and sandbags are in place to keep garages and homes dry, while the city is raising roads and installing expensive pumps as a part of a $400m (311m) plan to try to offset rising sea levels that now frequently spill over even when the sun is out. As election workers in the the county and across the state rush to recount ballots in the Senate race before Tuesday, the fate of climate change action in fragile Florida looms large over the tallies. And for a place like Miami, which is particularly vulnerable to the impacts of rising sea levels and climate change, the fate of the citys literal existence could be tied to those ballots. Recommended Florida felons may soon be given back their right to vote In many respects, the gubernatorial candidates couldn't have been more different. I believe in science, wrote Democrat Andrew Gillum wrote on Twitter in August (he conceded yesterday). He has frequently called for action on climate change, and has cast his opponent as an opportunist on the issue. We will protect this state, invest in renewable energy, and create new, well paid, green jobs all across our state. His Republican opponent and ultimate victor, Ron DeSantis, has recently come to call himself an environmentalist this year has seen toxic algae blooms in the state, making it near impossible for a politician to not pay at least some attention to the environment but has stopped short of calling for a war on climate change, and says he doesnt want to be a climate alarmist. Nationally, the results of the 2018 midterm elections have already sent ripples of hope that some members of Congress may at least try to do something on the issue even if Democrat Bill Nelson does not overcome the electoral odds in the Florida recount to return to the Senate, and even with Mr Gillum's concession. Democrats, newly in control of the House of Representatives, have a diverse incoming class of legislators with climate on the mind. Among those are New Yorks Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, who joined a sit-in in the offices of presumed incoming Speaker Nancy Pelosi to urge her to act decisively on the issues. Ms Pelosi soon after announced that she would would reinstate the House panel on climate change as speaker, citing that protest. 10 photographs to show to anyone who doesn't believe in climate change Show all 10 1 /10 10 photographs to show to anyone who doesn't believe in climate change 10 photographs to show to anyone who doesn't believe in climate change A group of emperor penguins face a crack in the sea ice, near McMurdo Station, Antarctica Kira Morris 10 photographs to show to anyone who doesn't believe in climate change Floods destroyed eight bridges and ruined crops such as wheat, maize and peas in the Karimabad valley in northern Pakistan, a mountainous region with many glaciers. In many parts of the world, glaciers have been in retreat, creating dangerously large lakes that can cause devastating flooding when the banks break. Climate change can also increase rainfall in some areas, while bringing drought to others. Hira Ali 10 photographs to show to anyone who doesn't believe in climate change Smoke filled with the carbon that is driving climate change drifts across a field in Colombia. Sandra Rondon 10 photographs to show to anyone who doesn't believe in climate change Amid a flood in Islampur, Jamalpur, Bangladesh, a woman on a raft searches for somewhere dry to take shelter. Bangladesh is one of the most vulnerable places in the world to sea level rise, which is expected to make tens of millions of people homeless by 2050. Probal Rashid 10 photographs to show to anyone who doesn't believe in climate change Sindh province in Pakistan has experienced a grim mix of two consequences of climate change. Because of climate change either we have floods or not enough water to irrigate our crop and feed our animals, says the photographer. Picture clearly indicates that the extreme drought makes wide cracks in clay. Crops are very difficult to grow. Rizwan Dharejo 10 photographs to show to anyone who doesn't believe in climate change Hanna Petursdottir examines a cave inside the Svinafellsjokull glacier in Iceland, which she said had been growing rapidly. Since 2000, the size of glaciers on Iceland has reduced by 12 per cent. Tom Schifanella 10 photographs to show to anyone who doesn't believe in climate change A river once flowed along the depression in the dry earth of this part of Bangladesh, but it has disappeared amid rising temperatures. Abrar Hossain 10 photographs to show to anyone who doesn't believe in climate change A shepherd moves his herd as he looks for green pasture near the village of Sirohi in Rajasthan, northern India. The region has been badly affected by heatwaves and drought, making local people nervous about further predicted increases in temperature. Riddhima Singh Bhati 10 photographs to show to anyone who doesn't believe in climate change A factory in China is shrouded by a haze of air pollution. The World Health Organisation has warned such pollution, much of which is from the fossil fuels that cause climate change, is a public health emergency. Leung Ka Wa 10 photographs to show to anyone who doesn't believe in climate change Water levels in reservoirs, like this one in Gers, France, have been getting perilously low in areas across the world affected by drought, forcing authorities to introduce water restrictions. Mahtuf Ikhsan Back in Miami as in low-lying coastal zones across the United States the stakes could not be higher. If sea levels continue to rise unaddressed by costly mitigation efforts, water will creep up from nearly every direction and slowly take over one of Americas largest metropolitan areas, potentially cutting off fresh water supplies; flooding roads, electrical infrastructure and airports; and ultimately leaving behind a horribly polluted shallow marine environment once known for warm nights filled with salsa dancing. Could a House special committee on climate change be enough? Can sit-ins in the presumed speakers office push quick enough action to save Miami from drowning? If you ask University of Miami geologist Harold Wanless, the answer is sobering carbon dioxide is already in the atmosphere at dangerous levels, and the ice caps are only going to keep on melting because of those emissions and the heat they trap. At some point we have to say this is catastrophic, and its going to be catastrophic, Mr Wanless said. I think peoples psyches just cant fathom this. To some, scientists like Mr Wanless are climate doom-sayers preaching the end of times for the worlds low-lying coastal metropolises and barrier islands, and he recognises that his research predicts a much graver future than some other models even come close to. While the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change the consensus scientific group on the issue predicts that a confluence of factors including warming oceans and melting polar ice sheets will raise global average sea levels by about half a metre, Mr Wanless is more bullish on the topic. He says that his research has found that, in the past, sea level has risen in spurts instead of smoothly over time, as most predictions show. In those spurts, several metres of rise might be seen, and he thinks the world has just begun a spurt, based on the amount of CO2 and ice melt we have seen and for a place like Miami Beach, we can expect 3-10m of sea level rise by 2100. Support free-thinking journalism and attend Independent events That level of sea level rise is bad news for any coastal area, but would be especially unforgiving for cities like Miami, which has seen a boom since the 2008 financial crisis with an influx of jobs and rising towers. The original city, founded just over 120 years ago, was built on topographic high points. Since then, though, development has spread to lower-lying lands as homes and businesses flourished. Over time, that development moved from the safest high ground into lower and lower elevations. In some cases that ground was only habitable because they drained it, Randall Parkinson, a researcher with the Sea Level Solutions Centre at Florida State University in Miami, said. The impact of rising seas will be severe in the city. With just 60cm of sea level rise, waters would be high enough to disrupt fresh water supplies. By 120cm, 62 per cent of Miami-Dade County would remain as waters push in from the Everglades to the west. A little past that at 1.5-1.8m of rise the Trump National Doral Miami would be drowning. At 2.1m, Miami International Airport is gone. At 3m, just 9 per cent of the county would remain. Skipping ahead to 6m although the county would have been deemed uninhabitable long before that theres nothing left. Thats right in the centre of Mr Wanlesss doomsday predictions. South Florida is incredibly low and places like Miami Beach and every other barrier island and low-lying coastline in the world Shanghai, Mumbai, or even London at some point were going to be inundated, Mr Wanless said. Its as simple as that. Donald Trump says he thinks climate change will 'change back' In the 2018 races, the environment was unavoidable in Florida. Mr Gillum and Mr DeSantis were joined by Republican Rick Scott, who is running against Mr Nelson, in discussing the issue. Thats a rarity in the states politics, to say the least: Mr Scott, as governor, has banned the use of terms like climate change in official capacities. Even so, with algae blooms impacting local tourism and health, and the wreckage left behind by Hurricane Michael after it hit the states panhandle last month, the issue was unavoidable. Mr Parkinson says its no surprise that the candidates discussed the issue with the impacts so pressing on daily life for Floridians, but that more needs to be done. The state, city and federal government needs to start planning now if there is any hope that various jurisdictions will be able to coordinate costly infrastructure efforts to adapt to climate change. Anything short of that and southern Florida is set to see widespread resettlement and there is nowhere inland for the Miami metropolitan area to go. That is the squeeze that most coastal areas are going to feel there may be no inland to migrate to, Mr Parkinson said. So, withdrawal is not linear. Its conceptional. Nobodys going to be moved by the government. Theyre going to have a home that is destroyed. Southern Florida is sinking, and that includes President Donald Trumps cherished Mar-a-Lago resort in Palm Beach. Its going under, Mr Parkinson said of that resort. Really, anything along the coast for a mile or two inland, easily, is just going to be flooded. Republican Rick Scott has been declared the winner of Florida's hard-fought US Senate race, following a manual recount of ballots in the tight contest against three-term Democratic incumbent Bill Nelson. In the recount of the 6 November election, current Florida governor Mr Scott won by 10,033 votes out of 8.19 million cast statewide. Mr Scott took 50.05 per cent, compared with 49.93 per cent for Mr Nelson. Mr Nelson, first elected to the Senate in 2000, became the latest incumbent Democratic senator toppled in the midterm congressional election in which President Donald Trump's fellow Republicans expanded their majority in the Senate but lost control of the House of Representatives. Other incumbent Democratic senators defeated in the election include Joe Donnelly in Indiana, Heidi Heitkamp in North Dakota and Claire McCaskill in Missouri. I just spoke with Senator Bill Nelson, who graciously conceded, and I thanked him for his years of public service, Scott said in an emailed statement. 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 The statement ended: Let's get to work. Mr Trump tweeted his congratulations to Mr Scott in the wake of the announcement saying that he "never wavered". Mr Nelson said that things worked out a little differently than... I had hoped in a video statement. Mr Scott, who was prevented by state law from running for a third term as governor, emerged from the vote with a lead of less than 0.5 percentage points, which prompted a recount of the ballots. Republicans including Mr Trump made allegations, without offering evidence, that the process was marred by fraud. The battle between Mr Nelson and Mr Scott and the race to replace Mr Scott as governor both were closely watched contests in which Democrats had hoped to topple Republicans. On Saturday, Democrat Andrew Gillum conceded to Republican rival Ron DeSantis, an ally of Mr Trump, in the governor's race, which also went to a recount. Support free-thinking journalism and attend Independent events Mr Scott, 65, entered politics from the business world, having amassed a personal fortune as a healthcare executive. He dipped into his wealth to help finance his campaigns, winning the governorship in 2010 and 2014 by about one per cent of the vote. Mr Nelson, 76, has been a fixture in Florida politics since he won a seat in the state legislature in 1972. He then served in the US House of Representatives and has held state Cabinet posts. Reuters Donald Trump insisted he had not changed his mind on climate change after witnessing the devastation caused by the California wildfires. I have a strong opinion, the US president told reporters as he assessed the damage from one of the blazes that has so far claimed the lives of 71 people, while more than a thousand are missing. I want great climate, we are going to have that and we are going to have forests that are very safe. Mr Trump, who was wearing a camouflage USA hat, appeared to lay the blame for the fires on forest management. Weve got to take care of the floors, you know the floors of the forest, very important, he said. You look at other countries where they do it differently and its a whole different story. I was with the president of Finland and he said were a forest nation, he called it a forest nation, and they spend a lot of time on raking and cleaning and doing things. They dont have any problem, and what it is, its a very small problem. The presidents comments echoed his original reaction to the worst wildfires in the states history, when he pointed the finger at gross mismanagement for the catastrophic wildfires and threatened to withhold federal aid. Authorities are still trying to locate more than 1,000 people as more than 5,500 fire personnel battle the Camp Fire which covers 228 square miles and is 50 per cent contained. Mr Trump arrived in California on Saturday to be met by Democrat governor Jerry Brown, governor-elect Gavin Newsom, also a Democrat, and the director of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (Fema), Brock Long. The president took a helicopter tour en route to Chico before being given a tour of the town of Paradise. Support free-thinking journalism and attend Independent events Surrounded by scorched trees, burnt-out buses and cars, crumbling foundations of wrecked houses and a Mickey Mouse lawn ornament, Mr Trump referred to the wildfire which began on 8 November as this monster. Were going to have to work quickly ... hopefully this is going to be the last of these because this was a really, really bad one," he said. I think everybodys seen the light and I dont think well have this again to this extent. After viewing what remained of the Skyway Villa Mobile Home and RV Park, he said: I think people have to see this really to understand it. The president later toured an operation centre, met with response commanders and praised the work of firefighters, law enforcement and representatives of Fema. Donald Trump views the damage from wildfires with California governor Jerry Brown and Jody Jones, the mayor of Paradise (AFP/Getty) (AFP/Getty Images) Theyre out there fighting and theyre fighting like hell, Trump said of the first responders. Weve never seen anything like this in California. Its total devastation. Before leaving the area he said he planned to discuss forest management with the Democrat governor and governor-elect. The one thing is that everybody now knows that this is what we have to be doing and theres no question about it, he said. It should have been done many years ago, but I think everybodys on the right side. Governor Brown is a fierce advocate of addressing climate change, but did not respond to the presidents comments. If you really look at the facts, from a really open point of view, there are a lot of elements to be considered, Mr Brown said. 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 The president came, he saw and Im looking forward over the next months and beyond to really understand this threat of fire, the whole matter of drought and all the rest of it. Its not one thing, its a lot of things and I think that if we just open our minds and look at things well get more stuff done. In a Fox News interview due to air on Sunday, Mr Trump accepted that maybe it [climate change] contributes a little bit, before adding. The big problem we have is management. The president was due to return to Washington on Saturday night after meeting the victims of the shooting at the Borderline Bar & Grill in Thousand Oaks, California, on 7 November. Additional reporting by Associated Press Three people were killed and over a dozen injured on Sunday when two men on a motorbike targeted a prayer hall with a grenade in northern India, police said. Two masked men threw the grenade towards the hall belonging to a sect of the Sikh faith at a village on the outskirts of Amritsar city in Punjab state, said police officer Dinesh Singh. He said the grenade exploded away from the main congregation in the compound, where hundreds of devotees were praying. Mr Singh said 15 injured people were hospitalised. It appears to have a terror angle. Because it is against a group and it is not against any individual. There is no reason to throw a hand grenade on a group of people, so we will take it as a terrorist act," Punjab Director General of Police Suresh Arora said, according to The Times of India Police said the men fled from the scene after carrying out the attack. Punjab has been largely peaceful for over two decades after Indian authorities brutally suppressed a violent insurgency for an independent Sikh homeland in the 1980s and early 1990s. The violence killed thousands in the state. In 1984, Sikh militants seized the Golden Temple in Amritsar, the Sikh religion's most revered site, triggering massive fighting that killed many insurgents. In a reprisal attack, India's prime minister at the time, Indira Gandhi, was shot dead by her Sikh bodyguards. Associated Press A $500m (385m) warship has almost completely sunk to the bottom of a Norwegian fjord after smashing into an oil tanker off the coast of the Scandinavian country. KNM Helge Ingstad, a 5,290 ton frigate, was on an exercise in Hjeltefjord near Bergen when it collided with a Maltese flagged oil tanker in the early hours of 8 November. Eight people were injured in the crash. A large hole was also torn into the side of the vessel, which is under Nato command, according to CNN. The ship is under NATO command (AFP/Getty) The ship is armed with missiles, torpedoes and depth-charges. Due to the damage to the frigate, it was moved to a safe place, Natos Allied Maritime Command said in a statement issued after the accident. But the cables holding the wrecked vessel snapped this week, dramatically ending efforts to secure the ship. Now only the top of the vessel remains above water, in a major blow to Norways navy. The vessel is one of only five owned by the institution, part of a class of five Fridtjof Nansen-class frigates which were launched in 2007. Support free-thinking journalism and attend Independent events The warship is designed to hunt enemy submarines. Sola TS, the oil tanker, has returned to port for inspection. It is understood to have been UK-bound at the time of the accident. A joint Norwegian and Maltese investigation into the cause of the crash is now underway. Mark Zuckerberg, according to the Bloomberg Billionaires Index, is down from being the third richest person in the world to number six. He is $17.4bn poorer than he was at the beginning of the year. The reason of course is the decline in the Facebook share price, on Friday down to the lowest since April last year, valuing the company at only $401bn. There are particular reasons for the downgrade. There has been a wave of adverse publicity about its behaviour, including a New York Times story about how it responded to evidence of Russia using its platform to try to interfere in the 2016 presidential election. This comes on top of a more general disquiet that has been running since the Cambridge Analytica scandal earlier this year, and the downgrading of the companys growth prospects revealed at the end of July. The share prices fell by one quarter in 24 hours. Facebook has had particular problems, but it has nearly a third of the worlds population on its books. That is an astounding achievement by any standard, for no one has to go on Facebook. People choose to do so, and in making their choice are complimenting Mark Zuckerberg for that achievement. So lets acknowledge that. Recommended Facebook and Mark Zuckerberg respond to growing crisis Whatever has happened to Facebook, however interesting in itself, is part of a wider story. This is the reassessment of the value of high-tech America. You may remember that Apple became the first company ever to be worth a trillion dollars when it shot though that barrier in August. It isnt any more. On Friday it was valued at $918bn. The second trillion-dollar company was Amazon. Its value is now down to $779bn. There has been a similar decline in the other giants: shares in Alphabet, the parent company of Google, reached $1,285 at the end of July; now they trade at $1,069, making it worth $741bn. Even Microsoft, doyen of the entire sector, is down a bit from its peak in October, though it is still worth $831bn. Indeed the fact that Microsoft has merely declined along with the market in general, whereas the other high-tech giants have fallen further, rather underlines the point that it is seen as a more robust business than its newer and arguably more fashionable competitors. Has this reassessment run its course or are we still in its early stages? Of course no one can know, but we do have some experience of what happens to dominant (maybe over-dominant) companies. That gives us clues to look for. First, there is the question of how they respond to social and regulatory pressure. Any company that has a monopoly or near-monopoly of some economic sector will face such pressure, including the possibility of being broken up. Their ability to contain such pressure depends on a number of things. One general point is that the more they are seen as good citizens the more slack society will cut them. This does not just mean clever PR, or giving money to good causes, for people have become sensitive to virtue signalling. It means paying and treating their staff well. It means not screwing down suppliers, or buying out competitors under the threat that if they dont sell, they will be put out of business. More specifically, dominant companies have to learn not just how to accept regulation but also how to help shape it. Regulators, be that politicians, lawyers or public officials, are inevitably inexperienced. After all, there never has been a Facebook before so how can anyone know how to regulate it? In the short run the objectives of the regulator and the regulated appear to be different, so there will be tension. But in the long run they are pretty much the same. Since Facebook or Google know more about their business than anyone else, that gives them an immediate advantage in any negotiation. But if they abuse that advantage they will encounter more aggressive attacks later on, and they will become net losers. Support free-thinking journalism and attend Independent events You can see this in tax. By exploiting (quite legally) global tax loopholes, they risk specific taxes on their output. On a long view they may end up paying more tax as a result. This leads to a further point. The high-tech giants are used to negotiating in America, but unlike for example the big oil companies, they are not used to dealing with the rest of the world. They struggle in China indeed China makes it impossible for some of them to operate at all and in Europe. People in Europe (and indeed in China) want to use their stuff and the local politicians are aware of that. But both sides can and will make mistakes. Both have much to learn. My guess is that the revaluing of the high-tech enterprises has some way to run, but it will settle down within the next year or so. While people want to keep signing up to Facebook, Zuckerbergs fortune will be secure. But he may be down quite a few billion more as the company moves from big bang status to more of a steady state in the years ahead. Is Theresa May still prime minister? This is what journalists at Westminster ask if they have been in a meeting and off Twitter for more than 10 minutes. Well, at the end of a week of political and constitutional crisis, yes she still is. She has concluded a withdrawal agreement with the EU and secured the cabinets support for it. She has lost two cabinet ministers and may yet face a vote of no confidence from her MPs, although whenever the hard Brexiters say a number, referring to the letters that have been sent to Sir Graham Brady, I mentally halve it. And if there is a vote of confidence next week, she will probably win it. After that, though, comes the hard part. She has to win a vote in the House of Commons on the Brexit deal. It does not look possible at the moment. Jeremy Corbyn and Keir Starmer, the shadow Brexit secretary, say Labour will vote against it. So will many Conservative MPs. When the prime minister made her statement in the House on Thursday most of the early questions from her own side were hostile. It is quite easy to see 100 Tory MPs voting against the deal. They are not amenable to pressure from normally leadership-minded local associations: this deal is fantastically unpopular with the Tory party in the country. When May went on a radio phone-in on Friday morning, the first caller was a Tory councillor who asked her to resign and the last was a Tory who compared her to Neville Chamberlain. Tory MPs cannot be frightened into line by the prospect of leaving the EU without a deal: most of them sincerely believe that it would be better to do so than to sign up to this deal. For them, the economic dislocation would be a price worth paying and perfectly manageable for a large developed nation such as ours. If 100 Tories vote against the deal, plus the 10 DUP MPs, who seem to have decided that a hard border with the Republic of Ireland is preferable to more checks on goods coming to Northern Ireland from the rest of the UK, then the prime minister needs almost as many opposition MPs to vote for the deal to get it through. So far, she has perhaps 20 Labour MPs, led by Caroline Flint and Lisa Nandy, and maybe Sylvia Hermon, the independent unionist for North Down. In a rational world, it should be straightforward to win over more. Labour, the Scottish National Party and the Liberal Democrats say that leaving the EU without a deal is the worst option. It would mean checks on goods at ports, a hard border in Ireland and an immediate economic shock in March next year. Yet they say they will vote against the deal in order to try to get a better one or to stop Brexit altogether. But what if a different deal isnt possible, or if they cannot delay or stop Brexit? And what, in any case, do Corbyn and Starmer mean by a better deal? They say that this deal does not pass their six tests, but those tests are meaningless and designed to be failed. Of course leaving the EU cannot provide the exact same benefits as staying in. If pressed, Labour people will talk about workers rights, or consumer rights or the environment but if you ask for the relevant page number of the withdrawal agreement you will not get much of an answer. For Labour MPs, there are two unavoidable facts. One is that Mays deal is close to what Labour wants, namely to keep the UK in a close economic relationship with the EU for the foreseeable future. The other is that the government cannot be forced to go back and change it, even if that were possible. At Prime Ministers Questions on Wednesday, Corbyn implied that he shared Tory Eurosceptic fears that the UK would be trapped in the Irish backstop for ever. It would help if we journalists called it the guarantee of an open Irish border rather than the jargon backstop, but the point about it is that the EU will not do a deal unless it is included. Support free-thinking journalism and attend Independent events If the deal cannot be changed, some Labour MPs support another referendum as a possible route to abandoning Brexit altogether. It is hard to see how this could come about without a change of government, but even if it could I doubt that there is a majority in the Commons for it. That leaves a general election as the only way to avoid making the choice now. And that would require about 12 Tory or DUP MPs to vote for a Labour motion of no confidence in the government (different from an internal Tory vote of no confidence in the party leader). That seems unlikely, but who knows what some of the DUP, or the extremes of the pro and anti Brexit wings of the Tory party, might do? But if there is no renegotiation, no second referendum and no general election, then the choice will come down to Mays deal or leaving without a deal. This is a big moment in British history. My view is that it would be irresponsible for Labour MPs and SNP and Lib Dem MPs to vote for a no-deal Brexit. If they are rational, they should vote for the deal. But I am not confident that rationality will prevail. Irish exporters pleaded for no-deal contingency planning to be ramped up last night, with a representative group for the industry warning some businesses' Brexit plans would only enable them to cope for six months. The Irish Exporters Association (IEA) said it cautiously welcomed the deal struck by UK Prime Minister Theresa May with the European Union. But after political chaos in London yesterday it asked the Government and the EU to "ensure the necessary supports are there for Irish exporters and importers in the event of a would-be crash-out Brexit." IEA chief executive Simon McKeever said: "While our members have already stepped up their Brexit preparedness and mitigation measures, it is our understanding that in some cases these measures will only mitigate the first six months of Brexit." Separately yesterday, Ireland's aviation watchdog Cathy Mannion warned that some airlines might still be negatively affected in the event of a no-deal Brexit, despite moves by the EU Commission earlier this week to allow flights to continue between the United Kingdom and the EU in the event of a no-deal Brexit. Ms Mannion, the commissioner for aviation regulation, told an event in Dublin yesterday that a no-deal scenario might also make it difficult for tour operators to fulfil their obligations to customers. The operation, which began, suggests Russia is keen to resume an aggressive campaign of attacks on US targets. Hackers linked to the Russian government are impersonating US State Department employees in an operation aimed at infecting computers of US government agencies, think tanks and businesses, two cybersecurity firms told Reuters. The operation, which began on Wednesday, suggests Russia is keen to resume an aggressive campaign of attacks on US targets after a lull going into the November 6 US midterm election, in which Republicans lost control of the House of Representatives, according to CrowdStrike and FireEye. US intelligence agencies have charged that Russia was behind a string of hacks in the 2016 presidential campaign in a bid to boost support for Donald Trump. The US government and private cyber security firms have said Russia was not behind hacking campaigns in this years congressional elections. In the newly discovered operation, hackers linked to the Russian government sent emails purporting to come from State Department public affairs specialist Susan Stevenson, according to a sample phishing email reviewed by Reuters. It encouraged recipients to download malicious documents that claimed to be from Heather Nauert, a State Department official who Trump has said he is considering naming ambassador to the United Nations. That file would install malicious software that would grant hackers wide access to their systems, according to FireEye. More than 20 FireEye customers were targeted, including military agencies, law enforcement, defense contractors, media companies and pharmaceutical companies, according to the cybersecurity firm. CrowdStrike and FireEye did not say how many organizations had been compromised in the campaign or identify specific targets. The hackers are part of a group known as APT29, according to FireEye. Dutch intelligence has said that APT29 works for the SVR Russian Foreign Intelligence Service. Moscow-based cybersecurity firm Kaspersky Lab confirmed that the campaign was the work of APT29, and said the group had not been active since last year. Representatives at the Russian embassy in Washington could not be reached for comment. Moscow has repeatedly denied allegations that it was behind APT29 or other hacking campaigns targeting the United States. A State Department spokesman said he had no immediate comment. The attackers first compromised a hospital and a consulting company, then used their infrastructure to send phishing emails that appeared to be secure communication from the State Department, FireEye researcher Nick Carr told Reuters. The Revenue has insisted that it can accelerate the hiring of customs officers in the event of a no-deal Brexit. Its chairman Niall Cody has said that while the current plan is for 270 extra customs officers to be in place by the time the UK leaves the European Union, his organisation could speed up the recruitment process. He was asked about preparations for a doomsday scenario by Fianna Fail TD Shane Cassells at the Dails Public Accounts Committee (PAC) in light of the chaos in Britain over the proposed Brexit withdrawal agreement. Mr Cassells put it to Mr Cody that contingency planning showed that 600 extra customs officers would ultimately be needed. Mr Cody said that current Brexit planning would see up to 270 additional customs officers in place by March 29, when Britain is due to leave the EU. He said the plan is that the extra 600 staff would be in place by the end of the proposed Brexit transition period up to the start of 2021. He noted that more than 3,000 people had applied for the initial jobs on offer. Mr Cody said that in the event of a no deal scenario the Revenue could speed up the recruitment process. He also insisted that the Revenue has upgraded its Information Technology (IT) systems so it would be able to cope with significant multiples of the current customs entries it deals with. Mr Cassells referred to todays resignations by British ministers over the proposed Brexit withdrawal agreement saying: Theresa May is going through ministers like Brian Cody goes through hurls on a training night in Kilkenny. He sought further reassurance that if Brexit spirals out of control that Revenue can react. Mr Cassells said the speeding up of preparations will probably be required and asked if there will be enough trained officials by March 29 to deal with a doomsday scenario and were not going to require a Dads Army. Mr Cody, whose brother is the Kilkenny hurling manager, said the Revenue is already implementing an EU code that allows for greater simplifications on trade. He added: I am satisfied Revenue will be in a position to support trade in April next year. Later Mr Cody also said: I dont want people to come away from here saying everything will be alright. If it happens therell be big challenges. Therell be a lot of work involved in it but thats what well have to deal with. UK Prime Minister Theresa May has said the next seven days are 'critical' for Brexit Photo: AFP/Getty Theresa May took a swipe at Tory rivals threatening to unseat her as party leader as she warned the next seven days would be "critical" to achieving a successful Brexit. The British Prime Minister warned that a change of leadership would not make it easier to get a deal past parliament or the EU, after furious Brexiteer backbenchers started moves to remove her. She told Sky's Ridge On Sunday that as far as she knew the 48-letter threshold for letters of no confidence needed to start a leadership battle had yet to be reached. In a message to those plotting her downfall, including members of the European Research Group of Eurosceptic MPs, she said she had not considered quitting. She added: "A change of leadership at this point isn't going to make the negotiations any easier and it isn't going to change the parliamentary arithmetic. "What it will do is bring in a degree of uncertainty. That is uncertainty for people and their jobs. "What it will do is mean that it is a risk that we delay the negotiations and that is a risk that Brexit gets delayed or frustrated." Read More Mrs May's interview came after the UK's former Brexit secretary Dominic Raab, whose resignation last week was a key point in one of her most brutal weeks as Prime Minister, suggested she had failed to stand up to a bullying European Union. There were also continuing reports of a plan by senior Cabinet ministers who remain in Government to try to alter the withdrawal agreement at the 11th hour. Asked if she had considered stepping down she said: "No I haven't. "Of course it has been a tough week, actually these negotiations have been tough right from the start, but they were always going to get even more difficult right toward the end when we are coming to that conclusion." She added that the next seven days "are going to be critical", and said she would be travelling back to Brussels to talk with key figures including Jean-Claude Juncker, the European Commission president ahead of an emergency European Council summit on November 25. The only question now is: how and when will Theresa May exit the UK prime minister's office? Here are some would-be successors. BORIS JOHNSON: The former foreign minister has been a bookies' favourite. A substantial figure physically, he is more about style politically. A favourite among Conservative Party members who will choose from two final candidates chosen by the party's MPs. 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 huge ignorance about Ireland. A darling with some party members. But like Boris Johnson, there are big doubts about him making the last two. 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 female candidate she could prove more formidable than that. SAJID JAVID: The home secretary or justice minister is seen as the favourite among younger Tories, representing the new face of a multicultural party. In June 2016, Mr Javid voted Remain but later tried to present himself as a pragmatic Leaver. His face on a ballot paper would test members' attitudes to change. 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 and has credibility with the business community. But colleagues often say he is "charismatically challenged" and he is derided as "spreadsheet Phil" for his love of that format of presentation. 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 and could position himself well this time out. Will be considered a real contender. DOMINIC RAAB and DAVID DAVIS: Two former Brexit ministers who crashed out of Mrs May's 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 admitting he did not know how important the Dover-Calais link was to British commercial life. Jennifer Doudna, inventor of the revolutionary gene-editing tool CRISPR photographed in the Li Ka Shing Center on the Campus of the University of California, Berkeley. MPhoto: Nick Otto For The Washington Post via Getty Images Gene editing is exciting crop scientists and breeders. It allows the DNA of a crop to be precisely tweaked to improve them. Enthusiasm is mounting around its potential to boost resistance to pests and diseases in crops. Irish farmers, however, could miss out because of a European Court of Justice ruling earlier this summer. Breeding a new variety of potato usually takes 12 years with traditional methods, but gene editing can do this in 2 or 3 years, said Dr Ewen Mullins, crop scientist at Teagasc. The most popular technique is called Crispr, which spawns all sorts of catchy headlines about Crispr vegetables. Remarkably, Crispr gene editing was first used on plants only in 2013. Gene editing is different from the older, controversial technique of genetic modification, or GMOs, which usually introduce genes from other organisms. Instead, Crispr gene edits only DNA within a crop. Invented by Jennifer Doudna, the power of Crispr for agriculture was first shown in a gene edit of mushrooms by scientists at the University of Pennsylvania in Pittsburgh. They switched off a single gene. This stopped the mushrooms from bruising easily and extended their shelf life. Expand Close An embryo collection in gene editing / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp An embryo collection in gene editing "Published studies show you can generate resistant strains of wheat with a single edit. You can generate varieties that would really help farmers," said Dr Mullins. "However, the European policy right now is for gene edited varieties to be labelled as GMOs, which in effect has put a pause on research that was building up." European breeders got a shock in July when the European Court of Justice ruled that gene edited crops must be regulated as GMOs. While gene editing changes a plant's own genes, the older technique introduced genes from other organisms, including bacteria, so was viewed by scientists very differently. "Plant researchers and breeders around the world were surprised by the ruling," said Dr Mullins. "The advocate general for the court had published his preliminary findings, which suggested that the ruling would regard gene editing as the same as other forms of mutagenesis." Mutagenesis has been essential to improve crops since the 1950s. It involves hitting seeds with harsh chemicals or radiation to introduce changes to the DNA of the resulting plant, which will have variations that typically result in improved traits, such as resistant to disease. "If you wanted to breed resistance to stem rot in oil seed rape, you treat thousands of seeds with nuclear radiation. This has a huge impact on their DNA. Then you plant them in the field and discard those that are still susceptible," Dr Mullins explained. Expand Close Close-up of Septoria infected wheat leaf / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Close-up of Septoria infected wheat leaf "But the problem is you have to evaluate thousands of plants in the hope of identifying a few good ones. The process changes many genes and traits, so the plants could also have multiple traits that you don't want such as reduced yield or a softer stem." These side effects must be bred out of the plants, one reason why breeding new varieties takes so long. It is estimated that 70pc of all cereal and rice varieties in the world are derived from mutagenesis programmes, usually with chemicals or radiation. Gene editing is almost like laser surgery in comparison to this blind bludgeoning. This is why seed breeders were stunned: traditional, non-targeted mutant-causing techniques are allowed in Europe, yet the ECJ decided that gene editing should be scrutinised like GMOs. To be clear, GMO crops are not banned in Europe, but the regulatory rules have stifled them just the same. Just a few thousand hectares of GM maize are planted in Spain and Portugal. Meanwhile, the US says it will regulate gene editing like regular plant breeding. South America is expected to follow suit. Australia and Japan have made similar decisions, and China is already investing hugely in gene editing technology. This will "almost certainly impede innovation in plant breeding and agricultural productivity," said Dr Johnathan Napier, plant scientist at Rothamsted Research in the UK. "The ECJ ruling puts Europe's farmer's at a disadvantage compared to those nations which have embraced this innovative technology." Others agree this will be bad for European farmers. "You are likely to see markets outside of Europe develop and plant new edited varieties of crops, fruits, vegetables and ornamentals. This will allow for reduced pesticide and fertiliser use and more environmentally sustainable yield increases," Dr Mullins predicted. "Regrettably, Europe will be placed at a competitive disadvantage." Dr Mullins also pointed to climate change, highlighted by our recent erratic summer, as another reason why more resistance needs to be bred into our cropping system. European legislation is also pulling back on the list of agrichemicals that farmers can use. "We need as many breeding tools as possible to give farmers resilient cropping regimes, so that the profitability of their system is maintained," said Dr Mullins. Dr Napier said, using gene editing, work is underway to make bananas less prone to browning, coffee beans that are decaffeinated, peanuts that don't contain allergenic proteins and crops better able to withstand pathogens. Ironically, Europe may well import gene edited crops, as it does with GMO soya bean for animal feed. The ECJ decision may well be a thorn in the side of Irish and European regulators after Brexit, depending on the outcome of the negotiations. The National Farmers' Union and the Ministry of Agriculture in the UK have indicated that they would consider gene editing as just another form of mutagenesis. This is where the rubber hits the road in terms of regulatory problems for the European Commission. Gene editing introduces no new genes. It is therefore almost impossible to spot. "When you have a classical GMO, so genes from another species in a crop, that is like a big lighthouse. It is easy to identify using molecular genetics. "With editing, you cannot identify where the edit was made. These sorts of changes happen in nature and through normal breeding all the time," said Dr Mullins. After fuming about the ECJ decision, plant scientists now say that European law needs to be updated to allow for gene editing, which was never thought of when the regulations where put in place in 2001 (Directive 2001/18/EC). Breeding companies in Europe, on the other hand, have moved much of their R&D overseas, and start-ups interested in gene editing of crops are predicted now to exit Europe. "As I understand it, the European directive [on GMOs] would have to be changed and that involves the Commission going to the European Parliament and a lot of debate and politic before the law could be changed," said Dr Mullins. GM potatoes resist late blight Potatoes in Ireland are typically sprayed with fungicide 10 to 12 times per year, due to the constant threat of late blight. Late blight disease is controlled well, but this is expensive and there is an environmental impact. "We've never met a farmer that likes to spray. It's a necessary part of the business. If there is an alternative, they are interested," said Dr Ewen Mullins, crop scientist at Teagasc. Teagasc carried out a study of a GM potato engineered to be resistant to late blight. This involved cutting a gene from a wild potato species and inserting it into a conventional potato. "Many wild potatoes have strong resistance to late blight, but also many have traits we don't want," said Dr Mullins. "Scientists in the Netherlands developed the GM potato line and through the EU funded AMIGA project we were able to examine the agri-environmental impact of this novel potato variety." The GM potato reduced the environmental impact of potato production by up to 95pc. Late blight strains have the potential to overcome the genetic resistance, but more modern gene editing techniques can rapidly generate new crop varieties. "It is much faster than traditional breeding. Breeding a new potato variety can take 12 to 13 years. With this approach, this can be reduced to 2-3 years," said Dr Mullins. A recent decision by the European Court of Justice has, however, taken the option of gene-edited crops off the table for European seed companies, and likely European farmers too. Lab research using gene editing will continue in Europe, but trialling new gene edited crops in the field is likely to hit the buffers. "We had editing projects in play. Our goal at Teagasc is to deliver solutions through practice. The customer is the man or woman driving the tractor," said Dr Mullins, adding that breeding programmes will continue to use gene editing to improve genetic understanding of crop varieties. "There was overwhelming evidence that gene editing was more precise and faster. So it was a surprising decision" he said. "But is it a negative? It doesn't much matter [at Teagasc], because the law is the law and we have to get on with it." Most successful professionals work to stay at the top of their business skill sets, but haven't made a concerted effort to learn - and consistently practice - top communication techniques. Learning and deploying deliberate, positive non-verbal communication is often overlooked in favour of technical skills early in executives' careers. The result is a swathe of leaders who struggle to convey confidence, authority and, perhaps most importantly of all, approachability, rapport and affability throughout their working lives. Effective and encouraging leadership communication consists of learning specific skills that simply do not come naturally. Yet, these are critical to motivating and inspiring a workforce and must be taught by an expert. Today, I'd like to re-examine a range of foundational and trainable skills. Eye contact is one of the most direct and powerful ways a leader can communicate but there are other, more nuanced aspects to non-verbal communication that can help set you apart. Paralanguage, for example, covers the tone and quality of voice, pitch, pacing of speech, and sounds such as sighs or grunts. It was once referred to as 'the music of communication' by Michael McCaskey, Associate Professor of Organisational Behaviour at Harvard Business School. 1 become a 'leader communicator': To be a 'leader communicator', you need to adopt an 'always on' mentality. Remember, you are always communicating. Even if you don't use your voice, employees watch you constantly and you are always communicating something to them. For instance, consider how you sit and listen during a meeting when someone else is presenting. Are you leaning forward and nodding to demonstrate understanding and approval, or are you slouched in your seat with your arms folded? Make no mistake, it sends an incredibly powerful message to others in the room. This is a simplistic, but common example of poor non-verbal communication in the workplace. The solution, on the other hand, is anything but simple. 2 Adopt the AIM approach: This is not just for large, formal presentations. It should be deployed every time you communicate on a professional level such as weekly meetings, conference calls or chats at the coffee machine. Begin the moment you enter the office environment. AUDIENCE: your audience or stakeholder analysis will inform the following two points and should therefore be performed first. Who is listening? What are their hopes, dreams and fears in relation to what you might say? Executives should consider this process as preparing the soil before sowing the seed. If you don't complete this step properly, your message may fall on deaf ears. INTENT: this point is often overlooked. The purpose of a communications event is never to simply 'inform'. You want to move your audience towards some sort of action, also known as 'intent'. What do you really want the audience to do once you've finished speaking? You must define this with razor-sharp accuracy. MESSAGE: only when you have completed the two steps above should you move on to message development. Content that is clearly created with specific audiences and intentions in mind will be much more motivating and engaging. We are inspired by the inspiring, so deliberately deploying enhanced paralinguistic and body language techniques in your delivery will have a positive impact on your audience. 3 Make these four corrections: I've identified four common mistakes committed by business leaders throughout the country. First, business leaders are unaware of the importance of strategic communication. Don't just read a book on the subject. Get a hands-on training session from an expert. Developing master-level executive presence demands real 'stand and deliver' performance training, Second, business leaders often believe they have strategic communication covered and don't need any help. But everyone can improve. Ask someone who can tell you the truth or get an expert to record your next communications or leadership meeting. Review that recording with an expert, analyse your performance and identify areas for improvement. Third, business leaders who received strategic communications training often don't invest in empowering their senior leadership team. Yet, all leaders should ensure that the full leadership team is unified. Do you have to attend all board meetings or high-level prospect meetings with your direct reports? If so, they should receive strategic training also, so you're comfortable with them flying solo and speaking on your behalf. Lastly, strategic communication training too often isn't offered to the entire organisation. Starting at entry level, provide this training to all employees. This will create a buzz and deliver a morale boost that infuses the organisation with energy while increasing productivity. 4 Commit to practise: While there's a lot to learn on embedding positive non-verbal cues in your daily life, it can be difficult to change your body language without your gestures seeming contrived. The key is practise. No-one plays a concert after one piano lesson. Likewise, when you first begin consciously using expressions, gestures or postures to enhance your communications delivery, you may feel awkward. Focus on one element at a time. Learning to actively engage your body as part of delivering more powerful and engaging communications may seem uncomfortable at first, but it's worth the effort. Several TDs are supporting an alternative plan to the doubling of betting tax from 1pc to 2pc as announced by Finance Minister Paschal Donohoe in Budget 2019. Under an alternative plan, the betting tax would be levied on gross profits rather than turnover. The bookmaking industry is lobbying hard for a change to the increase in betting tax as outlined by Donohoe, claiming it would result in the loss of more than 3,200 jobs. An amendment to the Finance Bill proposed by Independent TD Michael Healy-Rae would see shops paying a 10pc tax on profits while online operators would be subject to a 20pc rate. It is claimed this would deliver 25m for the Exchequer. A number of TDs are expected to support this amendment, taking the view it will protect jobs. Gross profit tax is the way on which betting is taxed in most other jurisdictions, including the UK, where the level is set at 15pc. Fianna Fail has also submitted an amendment requesting an economic analysis be carried out on the impact on the independent sector within months of the bill being passed, while Sinn Fein has also raised an amendment to the current proposal. There had been calls prior to the Budget to raise betting tax in order to fund gambling addiction support. Independent Alliance Minister John Halligan said ahead of the Budget: "Every day of the week, you speak to individuals or organisations dealing with addictive gambling. They will tell you it is destroying the lives of thousands of people and families. With 1pc, what they are paying in Ireland is one of the lowest in Europe. And we are asking for 1pc more." However, Sharon Byrne, chairwoman of the Irish Bookmakers Association, said it is not about how much tax is raised but about how it is levied. "A 10pc/20pc gross profit tax model is fully costed, is progressive, has full industry support, is politically supported, is legally sound and will return over 25m additional revenue to the exchequer and will save 3,264 jobs at the same time." Last week UK betting group Ladbrokes said it was likely to terminate all its on-course bookmaking activity in Ireland after the betting tax was doubled to 2pc in the latest Budget. The betting firm also sponsors some races at certain fixtures at those racecourses. However, Ladbrokes Ireland director Jackie Murphy said the race sponsorship at locations where it exits the on-course betting shops will also cease. Meanwhile, Irish firm Boylesports has claimed that 50 of its shops would no longer be viable with the new tax rate. A recent report by Davy Stockbroker said: "Ireland is arguably now among the more penal regulatory environments for gaming in the world." Dublin taxi company Lynk is setting up a new food delivery service as part of its parcel and package service, which it expects to generate turnover of 10m a year. Lynk's booming UK taxi business is helping it fund an assault on the Irish fast food delivery market, founder and CEO Noel Ebbs told the Sunday Independent. Dublin taxi company Lynk is to operate deliveries for Offbeat Donuts and has already set up a number of other partnerships in the food sector. It is also in ongoing discussions with a "very well known" food chain about taking over deliveries for all of its outlets, said Ebbs. The move into food is an expansion of the Lynk Delivers parcel service that the company launched in recent months. Ebbs expects to have as many drivers signed up within three years for its new parcel delivery service - including for the food business - as it currently has in its 1,500-strong taxi fleet. The "immediate, on-time, 24-7" delivery fleet could eventually surpass Lynk's taxi fleet, he said. "I see it becoming really, really big," he said. "We hope turnover from this will be about 10m per annum within three years and this will go nationwide." Lynk does not see itself as a direct competitor to app-based food ordering services because it plans to work directly with food companies as a delivery partner rather than allowing customers to order food directly through the Lynk app, said Ebbs. "In fact, we see an opportunity to partner with apps like Deliveroo or Just Eat. The apps take in the orders, the food companies produce the food and we are in the middle. They are good at food and we are good at delivering. It's a nice synergy because we already have the infrastructure and technology in place," he said. The food service is part of a wider parcel delivery service plan, Lynk Delivers, which has seen 250,000 invested in recent months, with a further 250,000 expected to be invested in software development. The company launched its new taxi app in the Irish market in recent weeks and this is expected to soon include the option for both corporate and domestic customers to book the parcel service. "It could be a parcel to go to a customer or maybe you forgot your keys and need them delivered to you," said Ebbs. "This is scheduled delivery. The guy delivering your parcel has only got your parcel to deliver so you are not waiting for a van-load of parcels to be delivered before you get yours." Lynk, which was founded in Dublin by Ebbs in 2015, also operates in a number of UK cities under the brand name Riide and is now taking 750,000 bookings a week via its app, he said. "We are really impressed with how that is working and that success is what is allowing us to do what we are doing here now in parcel and food deliveries," added Ebbs. First Lady memoirs are nothing new, and even though their authors are finally unshackled from the constraints of the White House, some are certainly more revealing than others. Where Laura Bush's account was hailed as brave and intimate, the release of Nancy Reagan's in 1989 received scant fanfare. Yet the release of Michelle Obama's memoir, Becoming, heralds a move into uncharted territory. There's barely been a political title like it, much less one by a first lady: she and her husband Barack received a reported $65m from publishers to pen autobiographical titles (compared to the $5m that Bill Clinton received to write My Life from Knopf, back then an astronomical figure). The promotional book tour for Becoming is being handled by Live Nation, agents more often preoccupied with rock and pop-star tours. Heavy-hitters like Reese Witherspoon, Oprah Winfrey, Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie and Sarah Jessica Parker have signed up as moderators; VIP package tickets are flying off the cyber-shelves at a reported $3,000 a throw. The hype has been little short of deafening. Much of this window dressing might ordinarily point to a triumph of style over substance, but here's the thing: Becoming has both in spades. A divine mash of the two, in fact. Brand Obama has already long been brimful of relatability, humane warmth and intellect, and so it goes in this highly polished account of Michelle Obama's unassuming upbringing, impressive career and exquisitely egalitarian marriage. The Obamas, the way Michelle masterfully tells it, are two ordinary people who fell down the most extraordinary of rabbit holes. Becoming gets off to a gentle, if somewhat slow, start as Michelle recounts moving, some months back, into the Washington redbrick house she lives in today. Alone in the house and with no staff or Secret Service to monitor her every move, she makes herself a cheese sandwich (because she can) and sits in her own backyard, luxuriating in the simple pleasure of having the wind blow through her hair. It's a somewhat atmospheric passage and unremarkable on the face of it, until the rest of the book unfurls. The claustrophobia, the high-wire balancing acts, the give-and-take marriage, the wresting of private torments from public consumption: that 'cheese sandwich' moment is one of a woman washed ashore after a decade of tumult. In 'Becoming Me', the first third of the book (the other sections are 'Becoming Us' and 'Becoming More'), Michelle recalls spending much of her childhood "listening to the sound of striving". By turns studious and feisty, she wanted to merely grow up and live in a two-storey house, but soon her ambition and ability saw her travel to Princeton University in the 1980s, driven there by her father, who endured multiple sclerosis. As a working-class student at the elite Ivy League school, Michelle felt she had plenty to prove, and duly over-performed. "If in high school I'd felt as if I were representing my neighbourhood, now at Princeton I was representing my race. Anytime I found my voice in class or nailed an exam, I quietly hoped it helped make a larger point," she writes. Later, she overhears her colleagues in a Chicago law firm lusting over the new summer associate. "In my experience, you put a suit on any half-intelligent black man and white people tended to go bonkers," she writes. Theirs was not a textbook fairytale romance from the start. Michelle may be the no-nonsense yin to Barack's idealist yang, but in the beginning of their relationship, his lateness and blithe assumption that things would go his way began to grate. A few gripes about snoring does not an unvarnished marital account make, but this is as real as a former White House denizen is ever likely to get. The latter quality would eventually come in useful in their marriage. Becoming contains much of the Michelle Obama that the world has already seen - she is nothing if not consistently steely and focused - and plenty that the world hasn't. For the first time, Michelle reveals the IVF treatments used to conceive their daughters and, in one particularly evocative passage, a miscarriage. The Obamas sought marriage counselling as Barack's political ambitions threatened to overtake the fine equilibrium of their already busy, dynamic lives. And of course, she earns a hefty portion of that eye-watering advance writing at length about what life at the White House was really like. "We ourselves were a provocation," she writes, in an especially clear-eyed moment. And later, "I continued to feel as if we were falling backward, our whole family in one giant trust fall... when you're married to the President, you come to understand the world brims with chaos." Video of the Day Later, she is unstinting in her true thoughts on Trump, admitting that she "stopped even trying to smile" at his inauguration in 2016, a moment that was merely "the Obamas' to witness". If the publishers wanted grit and juice for their sizeable advance, the lowdown on the Queen to Hillary, they certainly got it. Yet for all Becoming's readability and acumen, there is the odd passage that borders on motivational-speaker terrain. The polemic, not least nearing the end of the book as Michelle outlines her current preoccupations, can start to taste a touch cloying or earnest. Rather, it's when Michelle sticks closer to the personal and the confessional that Becoming truly comes into its own. And given who she, her husband and daughters are, and their vantage point of the world, how could it be anything else but a riveting, charming read? At one warming final moment in the book, in the Obama's post-White House life, Michelle pinpoints a snapshot moment where Malia enrols at Harvard, Sasha finds summer work at a snack bar in Martha's Vineyard, Barack is getting to simply "sit back and feel", and her mother, who had lived the entire rollercoaster ride with the Obamas "while staying utterly and completely herself", presiding over them all. "I was proud of us, for almost being done," she writes. As well she should have been. What have the Greeks ever done for us? It's a question that has never been uttered once in the history of mankind, even under the guise of Pythonesque spoofery. Leaving aside the minor matters of mathematics and politics, the contribution of our philosophical friends in the south-east Med to the realm of the written word we so cherish today is unquantifiable, whether we think along the lines of the three-act structure or the alphabet itself. Classical studies in Irish schools now find declining subscription rates among Leaving Cert students and poor grades from those who do take these subjects. Reading through Stephen Fry's Heroes is a reminder for all of us who have escaped secondary school that more of us should have opted to study the drama, philosophy, art and architecture of the ancients - and the various things they might have explained to us about the universe. As well as that, it might have actually been some of the best fun the classroom could have offered had it been presented to us like this, rather than as a bloated fog of unpronounceable names and a spaghetti-junction of family trees. This has certainly been Fry's feeling on the matter ever since his schoolboy days when an adept teacher opened up Greek mythology to him and led him to the conclusion that no other canon better illuminated the human condition. What's more, they are barnstorming yarns to boot, robust in narrative pedigree and throbbing with "what-nextness". He unashamedly places this urge to reach the youth of today at the forefront of this sequel to last year's Mythos. That book dealt with the Greek creation myth - the gods begat the titans, who in turn begat Zeus and the other Olympian Gods, who in turn, with help from Prometheus's pottery skills, created man. Heroes deals with that Fry calls our "teenage years" where humanity both fears and worships these parental gods but also reckons it can go toe-to-toe with them. What makes this assortment of heroes, each with their own section and sub-chapters - Perseus, Heracles, Bellerophon, Orpheus, Jason, Atalanta, Oedipus and Theseus - ring louder than the spandex-clad types that the late Stan Lee has left us with is their fundamental flaws, the things that mark them out as utterly human while also being able to achieve these otherworldly tasks. It is how like us they are that make these tragedies and triumphs sing. Similarly, they are framed by a cast of immortals that are petulant, fragile of ego, and often cruelly vindictive, traits readily visible in some of the most powerful people in today's politics. The threads are made apparent, even where Fry declines to point them out in his litany of wonderful little footnotes. Heracles (or Hercules, as the Romans would go on to call him) is something of a Thor type - tough, handsome, heroic, but tetchy and prone to ill-temper. Marvel fans will understand the relevance of a god of death called 'Thanatos'. Meanwhile, Atalanta, the only female to qualify as a "hero", is the abandoned baby on the mountainside who is rescued and raised by Mother Nature and goes on to become the Tarzan/Wonder Woman blueprint, formidable, fierce, and awesome. Elsewhere, Fry likens the words of the Oracle to Heracles to those of Yoda (If he wants immortality, Heracles must complete these thankless labours - there is no "try"). With Orpheus, the godlike musician who could bring the savage beast to heel with nothing more than a few lyre plucks and a sung melody, Fry goes to town, listing off a who's-who of comparable cultural deities that ranges from Mozart to Kendrick Lamar. It's perhaps a bit much. Is more evidence needed of how modern fables have raided the Greek cupboard? Game of Thrones feels like a pastiche after reading Heroes - Medea (Melisandre) the witch whispering unconditional but expensive advice to Jason (Stannis) is one token example. Theseus, by turns, is the original Luke Skywalker/Harry Potter/Jon Snow, the "chosen one" raised beside an empty space where a mysterious absent parent once stood. Linking such things to today's landscape becomes a central theme of Heroes, but Fry wants more to come out of the transaction. Cruelty and anything-goes promiscuity are softened slightly for younger readers, but remain astounding in places. It is rife with Fry's brand of British wit, and all the better for it, but there is no escaping the sorry endings these heroes meet at the junction of their own character flaws and the wrath of vindictive gods such as Hera. We can be deceitful and underhanded like her, or we can be direct and uncomplicated in our dealings like Heracles. We can be blinded by our urge to see like Oedipus or look back when we shouldn't like Orpheus. Be good to people on the way up because you might meet them on the way down. These and a thousand other lessons are what we should really be thanking the Greeks for. Francis mentioned todays Mass for World Day of the Poor and lunch with "indigent people" in Pope Paul VI Hall. "None of us can escape the moment when we meet Jesus. " Shrewdness" and "the power of money and economic means" will be useless. Vatican City (AsiaNews) In his comment on todays liturgy, (33rd Sunday in Ordinary Time, B, Mark 13:24-32), Pope Francis spoke about the mystery of the end, of the time when we shall present ourselves to the Son on Man, the moment when We will bring with us only what we have given. After the comment, the Holy Father addressed the pilgrims gathered in St Peter's Square for the recitation of the Angelus, offering prayers for the victims of a massacre in the Central African Republic in which two priests were killed, as well as for the victims of fires and a cold snap in the United States. Sundays Gospel, the Pope explained, "is not primarily about the end of the world. It is rather an invitation to live well the present, to be vigilant and always ready for when we are called to account for our life". "The history of humanity, like the personal history of each of us, cannot be understood as a simple succession of words and facts that do not make sense. It cannot even be interpreted in a fatalistic fashion, as if everything were already pre-established according to a fate that takes away every room of freedom, preventing the making of choices that are the result of a true decision. Instead, in today's Gospel, Jesus says that the history of peoples and that of individuals have one aim and goal: the final encounter with the Lord." "None of us can escape that moment. The shrewdness, which we often put into our behaviour to credit the image we want to offer, will no longer be needed; likewise, the power of money and economic means with which we presume to buy everything and everyone can no longer be used. We shall have with us nothing but what we have achieved in this life through belief in his Word: everything and anything we experienced or neglected to accomplish. We shall only bring with us what we have given." "Let us invoke the intercession of the Virgin Mary so that the realisation of our temporariness on earth and of our limitation do not plunge us into anguish but awake us to our responsibility towards ourselves, our neighbours and the whole world". Following the Angelus, after mentioning the Mass he celebrated this morning for World Day of the Poor, he announced that he was going to have lunch today in the Paul VI Hall with hundreds of "indigent people". "Similar initiatives of prayer and sharing have been promoted in various dioceses around the world, to express the closeness of the Christian community to those living in poverty. This Day, which involves more and more parishes, associations and Church movements, wants to be a sign of hope and an incentive to become tools of mercy in society." The Holy Father also asked for a Hail Mary for the victims of last Thursdays massacre of 42 Christians in the Alindao refugee camp (Central African Republic) by anti-government militias. The latter also looted and burnt the nearby cathedral. Some survivors have complained that the UN forces, instead of defending civilians, pulled back before the attacks. " I express all my closeness to this people dear to me, the pope said. When he visited the country, he opened the first holy door in the Year of Mercy. Now Let us pray for the dead and for the wounded and for an end to the violence in that beloved country that is in great need of peace." Lastly, before the final greetings, Francis offered a "special prayer" for "those affected by fires that have plagued California, and now also for the victims of the cold snap on the east coast of the United States. May the Lord receive the dead in His peace, comfort their families and support those who are engaged in rescue efforts. On the morning of June 26, 1922, an IRA convoy led by Leo Henderson raided a car showroom in Dublin's Lower Baggot Street. As they tried to remove 16 vehicles and machinery worth 9,000, an army unit sent by Michael Collins' Provisional Government arrived in lorries and arrested them. One of the eye-witnesses was English journalist Clare Sheridan, who wrote afterwards that a man in the crowd had said to her: "Something'll sure happen soon; it's working up for a scrap!" This turned out to be a bit of an understatement. Henderson's men had come straight from the Four Courts, which was being occupied by around 200 IRA troops implacably opposed to the Anglo-Irish Treaty. Just two days later, the Provisional Government began to shell them out, effectively firing the first shots in a civil war that would last 11 months and cost at least 1,500 lives. Michael Fewer's new account of this seminal battle is really a happy accident. It began when he was researching a biography of his fellow architect TJ Byrne and found a report about buildings in the Four Courts complex following the siege. According to most historians, it was an explosion in the basement of the Public Record Office's Treasury that destroyed many priceless historic documents held there - but Byrne recorded that this area had in fact escaped the fire largely unharmed. Fewer's discovery convinced him that the whole subject needed to be investigated from scratch. His reconstruction draws not only on the standard eye-witness testimonies, but also photographs and 3-D digital models that provide a much better sense of what actually happened. The result is a compelling blend of political and military history that places readers right at the heart of the action. Wisely, Fewer devotes almost half of his 310-page narrative to setting the scene. He depicts Dublin in early 1922 as a powder keg waiting to explode, with British army, National Army and IRA diehards all roaming the streets. The 30-year-old Justice Minister Kevin O'Higgins summed it up well by describing his government colleagues as: "Simply eight young men in the City Hall standing amidst the ruins of one administration, with the foundations of another not yet laid, and with wild men screaming through the keyhole." One of those wild men was the IRA commander Rory O'Connor. As a sign of just how well the two sides knew each other, he had been best man at O'Higgins' wedding only a few months previously. When asked at a press conference if his only alternative to the Treaty was a military dictatorship, he gave the ominous reply: "You can take it that way if you like." O'Connor's occupation of the Four Courts on April 15 had some eerie parallels with the Easter Rising. Just as in 1916, these hardline republicans took over a building in central Dublin and turned themselves into sitting ducks. However, there was method to their madness - they wanted to provoke a British attack that would re-unite nationalist Ireland against its common enemy and start the War of Independence all over again. It might have worked. Prime Minister David Lloyd George was all for bombing the Four Courts without delay, but his Commander-in-Chief Nevil Macready persuaded him not to take the bait. Michael Collins also held fire, hoping that his former comrades would eventually see sense and leave the area peacefully. O'Connor, however, was not for turning. Clare Sheridan visited the Four Courts to interview him and asked: "Surely you will not stay here? They will blow the walls and roof down on your head. You haven't an earthly chance." O'Connor replied: "Then I'll go down in the ruins, or in the flames." With so much violence in the air, something had to give. A key turning point came on June 22 with the IRA's assassination of arch-unionist Field Marshal Henry Wilson outside his house in London. After that, Lloyd George ordered Collins to take action and the assault began six days later with Irish troops using borrowed British artillery. Video of the Day Fewer's blow-by-blow description of the conflict is highly technical in places, even at one point explaining how a Lee-Enfield rifle was fired. Thankfully, he also includes plenty of colourful details that bring the combatants to life. One injured rebel read a cowboy book called Curly: A Tale of the Arizona Desert as he waited for his foot to be amputated. The future Taoiseach Sean Lemass fell into a sewer while trying to devise an escape route. A pro-Treaty sniper entered a tenement flat, where the resident old woman offered him tea and eggs on toast - but when he started firing, she smashed the teapot over his head. As for the crucial explosion, Fewer's forensic analysis suggests that it probably took place in the Land Judges' Court roughly 20 metres away from the Public Record Office. This may strike some readers as a moot point, since the end result was the same. In the author's own words: "A great shower of papers, legal documents and records of all kind was thrown hundreds of feet into the air and began in time to fall to earth, like giant confetti, over a large area of the north inner city." Irish historians have been lamenting this catastrophic act of cultural vandalism ever since. The only real downside of Fewer's book is that it leaves you wanting more. There is very little here about the fighting on O'Connell Street that immediately followed O'Connor's surrender or the executions without trial of him and three other Four Courts leaders a few months later. As the centenary of Ireland's Civil War approaches, however, this is a superb starting point for anyone who wants to commemorate it in the best way possible - by learning the truth. A host of Irish stars have joined forces to lend their voices to a new single and album to raise funds for Irish homeless charities. The High Hopes Choir, Gary Lightbody, Cathy Davey, Villagers, Loah, Bono, Roisin O, Join Me In The Pines, Saint Sister and Colm Mac Con Iomaire are the Street Lights collective and they've recorded Simon and Garfunkel's classic single Homeward Bound at Camden Studios with producer/arrange Cian Boylan. The Homeward Bound single and Street Lights album will raise funds for the Peter McVerry Trust, Simon Community Ireland and Focus Ireland - all profits will go directly to rehoming and rehousing nationally. Homeward Bound is available across all digital platforms now and is followed by the release of the full Street Lights album on December 7. You can also donate 4 to the Street Lights Project by texting street lights to 50300. Expand Close Homeward Bound / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Homeward Bound The album features 15 songs chosen by artists and organisers from Bell X1, Snow Patrol, Saint Sister, Richard Hawley with Lisa Hannigan, James Vincent McMorrow, Damien Dempsey, Luka Bloom, Villagers, Stephen James Smith, David Gray, The Frames, Lisa O'Neill, Glenn & Ronan and Celtic Woman. The High Hopes Choir said: Its been such a joy to work with so many amazing musicians, artists and people from across the music industry to release this single and album to the public. We hope they love it as much as we all do, and buy it to help our homeless citizens. Street Lights came about thanks to the efforts of Keith Troy, Sinead Troy, Aoife Woodlock (Other Voices and Music Producer) and Janine Nallen (CEO of Celtic Collections and Liffey Records). Annmarie Brennan communications and marketing manager for Dublin Simon Community said, With the support of everyone involved, this will have a life changing impact to the lives of vulnerable people living in unimaginable circumstances. The funds raised will enable us to continue delivering more permanent homes, ensuring that people never have to face the uncertainty and anxiety of homelessness again. Homeward Bound is available across all digital platforms now and will be followed by the full album 'Street Lights' which will be available from Friday 7 December 2018 from all good record stores and across all digital platforms. Fine Gael General Secretary Tom Curran was rushed to hospital yesterday morning after he collapsed on the second day of the party's Ard Fheis. Mr Curran took ill just before 9am in the foyer of the Citywest Hotel on the outskirts of Dublin. A number of Fine Gael members were present when the long-serving secretary general became unwell as the second day of event was about to begin. It is understood he was in conversation with Fine Gael's head of research, Terry Murphy and Cork Senator Tim Lombard at the time. A number of other Fine Gael members were called and asked to provide medical help for Mr Curran as they waited for an ambulance to arrive. These included Dublin Bay South TD Kate O'Connell and Dr Ahmad Jamal, who is in the running for a place on the Fine Gael national executive. An ambulance arrived soon after and Mr Curran was taken to hospital for further examination. Mr Curran checked out of hospital and returned to the Fine Gael Ard Fheis last night. Mr Curran has been central to organising Fine Gael conferences and ard-fheiseanna for almost two decades. In recent months, his focus has been on organising selection conventions for European, local and general election candidates. Writing in yesterday's Ard Fheis programme, Mr Curran said: "As we approach the end of the year, we are preparing for the local and European elections which are scheduled to happen in 2019 - and preparing also for a general election, which could happen at any time. "We must and will be ready. In all three cases, we are dealing with significant boundary changes. "The local elections, in particular, pose a significant challenge, with conventions required in 166 electoral areas. We expect to have the bulk of these completed before the end of the year," he added. Long fight: The families of the 10 people who were killed in gunfire during three days of shootings in west Belfast in 1971, gather outside Laganside Courts ahead of a fresh inquest this wek. Photo: Cate McCurry/PA Wire It happened just six months before Bloody Sunday, and the same British army regiment was responsible for the killings. In August 1971, 10 Catholic civilians were shot dead over three days in the Ballymurphy area of West Belfast. For decades, the victims of the Ballymurphy massacre, in which the Parachute Regiment was implicated, were largely forgotten beyond their own community. Unlike the murders on Bloody Sunday in Derry, the killings happened away from the spotlight - and they were not photographed or filmed by TV crews. The shootings occurred during a frenetic time in Belfast, just as the authorities were introducing internment - the rounding up and imprisoning of paramilitary suspects without trial. It was a time of shooting, explosions and arson attacks all over the city. Nobody has been brought to justice for the deaths of the 10 civilians, but 47 years later, the families have been given renewed hope that the truth about what happened will be exposed. Inquests investigating the 1971 killings finally opened at the Laganside Court in Belfast this week. Sean Doran, the barrister for the coroner's service, outlined some of the evidence that will be examined during the inquests that are expected to go on for months. "The narrative of the military is legitimate use of force was used at a time of heightened tension and response to specific threats," he said. Doran added that this ran contrary to that of the Ballymurphy families who say the deaths resulted from "illegitimate, unjustified and indiscriminate use of force by the army on civilians". The families suggest that the army's actions resulted in the deaths of 10 "entirely innocent civilians". This week at the inquest hearings, family members recalled Father Hugh Mullan, the curate in Ballymurphy, who was shot dead "while performing his spiritual duties as a priest". The 38-year-old was helpful and kind, his younger brother Patsy told the inquest hearing. He loved to play his guitar for family, friends and the children of the parish. Fr Mullan had only recently moved to the Corpus Christi parish, and when trouble started in Ballymurphy, he was reportedly trying to calm the crowds down. Trouble had flared from earlier that morning on August 9, when hundreds of soldiers moved into the estate, kicking down doors, and dragging suspects from their beds. There were riotous scenes on the estate that evening and at one stage, gunfire could be heard. During the evening, local man Bobby Clarke had been trying to remove children from the area and was crossing a field. Clarke was shot in the back by the paratroopers. Local people sent for Fr Mullan. Before entering the field, where Clarke lay wounded, the priest phoned the nearby army barracks to warn the soldiers he was going to help him. In a scene similar to Bloody Sunday, when the priest Edward Daly held a white handkerchief as he went into the line of fire of troops, Fr Mullan waved a white babygro as he approached Clarke to give him the last rites. Tending to Clarke, he realised that the injured man could survive with medical assistance, and tried to move away to phone an ambulance. It was then that the priest was himself shot in the back by the paras. Fr Mullan prayed as he lay dying, and another man, 19-year-old Frank Quinn, who had been trying to help Bobby Clarke, was also shot in the back of the head and died. In the event, Bobby Clarke was the only one of the three men who survived. "It was announced on the radio that a priest had been shot in Ballymurphy and I knew immediately that it was my brother," recalled Patsy Mullan in a later interview. "He had no fear and he would never abandon his parishioners." Among the relatives at the hearings this week was Briege Voyle, who spoke movingly about her mother Joan Connolly, the only woman killed in the massacre. Like many other Catholics, Joan Connolly, a mother of eight children, had initially welcomed the troops with tea and sandwiches when they arrived in Belfast. But on August 9, she was caught in the trouble flaring up in Ballymurphy. Amid riotous scenes in the area, Joan told two of her daughters to go home, but she never made it home herself. The British soldiers opened fire and she saw 20-year-old Noel Phillips being shot in front of her. As he crawled along in the field, she is said to have cried out: "Don't worry son, I'm coming. I'll help you!" As she walked over to the wounded man, she was first shot in the face. Witnesses heard her screaming repeatedly that she had been blinded and calling for help. Then there were more shots and she fell silent. Danny Teggart, a father of 13, was also shot nearby and killed. Later on, Joan Connolly's husband Denis began to worry about what had happened to her, and only found out after he was told there was a red-haired woman in the morgue. Hours later, Joan Connolly's five daughters were picked up and driven across the border, first to a refugee camp in Cork, and then to another camp in Waterford. They were among 7,000 refugees from the North who were housed in camps in the South, usually in old army bases. Briege Voyle recalled in an interview how two days after she fled Belfast and arrived in the refugee camp, she saw her mother's funeral on RTE News. "I can't describe how awful that was," she said. "My youngest sister Irene was three years old. She cried her eyes out." Briege Voyle has been keen to deny suggestions that her mother was armed on the day of her death "Whilst coping without her has been hard for all of us, what has made things worse were the media reports that she was a gunwoman and the rumours that followed us that we were the children of the gunwoman that was shot. I believe this to be untrue." One of the soldiers present in Ballymurphy wrote in a memoir: "The woman killed was said to be manning a Bren gun." But is that plausible? Would a 44-year-old mother-of-eight be operating a machine gun on open ground just 100 yards from an army base? According to an account of the killings in The Guardian newspaper, soldiers recovered no weapons from any of the 10 shot dead in Ballymurphy during that period. Eyewitness Desmond Crone, who had been standing next to Joan Connolly when she was shot, said in a statement: "There was no shooting or stone throwing from the group of which I was a member." Six people were shot dead in the area on August 9, one man was killed on August 10, and three more on August 11. Another man, community worker Pat McCarthy, died of a heart attack after an encounter with the troops in the West Belfast estate. At the opening of the inquests, barrister Sean Doran said the original investigations into the deaths were "very limited". He said there were many examples of failure to get witness accounts and forensic opportunities were missed. Referring to the original inquest, the barrister said it did not carry out a rigorous examination of military statements. The new inquests will inevitably focus attention on the excesses of the Parachute Regiment, which was also involved in the killing of civilians on Bloody Sunday. The families hope that the inquests will uncover the truth of what happened, but it remains to be seen if the soldiers involved cooperate. Gardai investigate an incident at a bus stop in Blanchardstown on Saturday night. Picture: Arthur Carron. A woman in her twenties was stabbed while waiting at an isolated bus stop this weekend in Blanchardstown. The attack, which occurred on Saturday evening at about 7.45pm, took place while a group of young women and teenagers waited for a Bus Eireann bus at Blanchardstown Slip Road (Westbound). They were travelling in the direction of Co Meath and beyond. Its understood a man wearing a bandana around his face approached one of the girls with a knife and held it to her neck. During the altercation, the assailant stabbed the woman in her hand before running away with her handbag. Its believed the young woman, from Ratoath in Co Meath, received immediate medical support for her injuries. A garda investigation is now underway, but no arrests have been made to date. "A female (20 years) bag was taken from her at knife point and she received a minor injury to her hand at the time of the robbery. Investigations are ongoing," a garda spokesperson said. The incident has since sparked a wave of shock and anger in the vicinity, with calls for the bus stop to be moved to the nearby Blanchardstown Shopping Centre. Meath East General Election candidate, Deirdre Geraghty-Smith has described the bus stop as "notorious". "This is very disturbing and is something no one in the local community either expects or is prepared for," she said. "There have been increasing concerns raised about safety at this bus stop over the last number of months by bus users. It is isolated, in darkness and people awaiting buses are extremely vulnerable to opportunistic attacks." Ms Geraghty-Smith added that it is not the first such incident to be reported at this location. "There is now a growing sense of unease amongst bus users about the inattention being paid to the safety of South Meath commuters and the prevalence of attacks such as this. "This attack should act as a spur to move this bus stop to a safer, more central location to ensure that commuters waiting for a bus can feel safe," she said. A spokesperson for Bus Eireann told Independent.ie that it received no official reports of this incident. "The Gardai are responsible for dealing with anti-social behaviour nationwide and the company co-operate if any incidents arise across the network," they said. "Bus Eireann northbound routes out Dublin do not service Blanchardstown SC, due to major congestion issues there, and the majority of customers onboard are travelling further to destinations in Meath or Louth and beyond. "We do have a pick-up stop on the slipway road to service the area, and also ensure overall journey time reliability. "Bus stop locations are also overseen by the NTA and local authorities. Lighting in public areas such as bus stops is provided by local authorities." Gossip is one of those words that has unjustly bad associations. For most of us, it's a guilty pleasure, an unseen workplace current that runs counter to carefully cc-ed emails and corporate messaging. At a media level, gossip columnists, despite being some of the hardest-working pros in the business, are considered by the general public to be the tackier counterparts of, say, investigative or business journalists. The once-venerated society page writer is a thing of the past. Gossip is considered petty, irresponsible, and curiously feminine. Now we can add to the charge sheet against gossip, that it's also, according to the Pope anyway, a grave sin that contributes to the existence of Fake News. "The tongue kills like a knife," our summer-time guest told an audience at the Vatican last week. "Gossipers are terrorists, because with their tongues they drop a bomb and then leave, and the bomb they drop destroys reputations everywhere." But, psst, have you heard the one about the parish priest and the cover-up? One man's terrorist is another man's freedom fighter and the Pope's stance is to be expected: it was, after all, talk and rumour that first ignited many of the scandals that have engulfed the church over the last quarter century. The established legal and social channels more or less failed abuse survivors; it was only a groundswell of people privately, and then not-so-privately, comparing notes that eventually led to court cases, handcuffs and payouts. The church scandals were not alone in this progression from 'fake' to real news. Gossip, despite its terrible rep, is both the catalyst and the heart of most of the major news stories of our time. Wikileaks, for all its billing as a huge reveal about true geopolitical intentions, was really what Caitlin Moran once called "the greatest gossip spill in history", full of delicious, embarrassing details about politicians, which were, let's face it, far more satisfying than learning that they all spy on each other. The MeToo movement would never have gotten going unless there had been a rising cacophony of unsubstantiated whispers about the men in question. In the past few weeks, the existence of tapes of the Khashoggi murder only became apparent after weeks of rumours made it seem that there must be some fire to go with the clouds of smoke. Even gossip magazines, the most scorned of all media, fulfil our deep and very human desire for storytelling - a desire that unites people across time and place. Far from being evidence of widespread moral corrosion, they provide comfort and identification for media consumers, who otherwise see and hear only the most choreographed and self-serving of celebrity and political news. It was gossip that made the masses identify with Princess Diana and gossip that drives the Trump presidency. The only difference between their two eras is that in Trump's time the rumours from the tabloid magazines make their way up the media chain, into the likes of Time and Newsweek much more quickly than ever before. It's presumed that trivial information is also dumb, but Thoreau was right when he admitted that, "To a philosopher all news, as it is called, is gossip, and they who edit and read it are old women over their tea". The Pope, despite what you might have read, is no philosopher. To his very literal way of thinking, the world is divided into things we know to be true and things we do not. Something like gossip, which straddles these two worlds and appeals to our imaginative intelligence, is beyond him. And yet it is irrepressible. It fills in the blanks of things we already suspected, but couldn't be sure of. Like novelists or amateur sleuths we have an ear for a gleaming detail, something 'juicy' which contains at least enough truth for a hearing. It is a human instinct that runs counter to power and is mere fuel for a more robust kind of ego: Oscar Wilde was right when he said that the only thing worse than being talked about was not being talked about. And, of course, much more broadly than Wilde, literature is replete with gossip. Writing in The New York Times, the critic Cynthia Ozick laid out the extent of it: "In the absence of secrets revealed - in the absence of rumour and repute and misunderstanding and misdirection - no Chaucer, no Boccaccio, no Boswell, no Jane Austen, no Maupassant, no Proust, no Henry James! The instant Eve took in that awakening morsel of serpentine gossip, Literature in all its variegated forms was born." In his explosive hyperbole last week - "terrorism" indeed - the Pope showed that, despite his distaste for Fake News, he is not above a bit of click bait himself. And, perhaps, in this particular case, as with so many of his dire warnings, the best thing to do might be to forget the moralising for a sweet moment - and get in the good goss. No, no, no! There is no such thing as too many coffee outlets! An Bord Bia is surely in error by announcing that coffee shops in city centres in Ireland have reached "saturation point". Other "quick-serve" restaurants, maybe. Fast food has never been a culinary adornment. But coffee is the emblem and epitome of civilisation. Among the greatest social improvements in the course of my lifetime has been the proliferation of great coffee. A barista, to me, is a person of higher calling than a barrister. I came back from two years in France as a young woman appalled by the poor quality of coffee that was prevalent in Ireland (and Britain). Instant often masquerading as proper coffee - ugh! I have heard it said that the two ugliest words in the English language are "bridging loan". For my 20-year-old, know-it-all self, the most unwelcome phrase was "do you mind instant?" Yes, I do mind instant coffee, if you please! The coffee drinker must have the real thing. And now the real thing is everywhere - authentic coffee gurgling out of real espresso machines up and down the land. You can get as fine a cup of coffee now in Tullamore - where I happened on a lovely coffee house last year - as you can in Montparnasse. I realised that Northern Ireland was on a totally new phase of social development when I bought a skinny latte in Belfast city centre, down by the Lagan, on a Sunday. The peace process would hold. Mind you, not all coffee - even real coffee - is equal. You have to find the exact level of taste for yourself. I find Starbucks' coffee too bitter, and I'm not mad about international cafe chains either (though you have to give them a round of applause for reviving the great tradition of the coffee house.) And a successful group of coffee providers - such as Insomnia, which has a very strong fan following - will inevitably proliferate. I found my ideal cup of coffee thus: when I read that the Colombian farmers were forced into harvesting cocaine because, at this particular point, coffee sales were down, I thought I'd support them by drinking Colombian coffee. It's ambrosia! It's rich and strong, but never bitter. The Central American coffees are generally delicious - notably Guatamalan and Costa Rican. Maybe now we should start helping the Brazilian economy - flailing economies can slide into dictatorships - similarly. Fran Sinatra did a great song about it: "They've Got an Awful lot of Coffee in Brazil!" ("A politician's daughter was discovered drinking water/And was fined a great big 50-dollar bill!") True, people can get faddish and fussy about coffee. It's one thing disdaining the bland taste of instant, but it's another insisting on grinding the beans yourself in a hand-turned moulin and using only the original 1933 Bialetti Moka coffee-maker. (The writer Mary McCarthy would only drink coffee from beans ground by hand, insisting that electrical grinding destroyed the innate flavour.) But I stand by the classic Moka coffee-maker - the one you put on the stove and it percolates the coffee up through its own funnel. The announcement, recently, that Bialetti may go bankrupt and needs 68 million to keep producing the irreplaceable Mokas was dismaying. Can't someone start a crowdfund to save the Moka? The coffee-house has a great tradition of sociability: from its introduction into Western Europe, from Turkey in the 1600s, it brought an interchange of news, gossip, financial tips (the London Stock Exchange was started in a coffee house) and the demand for beautiful china. It was, alas, in the 18th century superseded by the pub and the tavern, which became much more profitable both for trade and taxes. It's another sign of civilisation, surely, that good pubs are now selling good coffee. For the reformed drinker, coffee is a life-saver, as well as a treat. And if you're looking for a caffeine high, try two double espressos followed by a can of Coca Cola. Numerous medical studies have shown recently that coffee is excellent for health. Keeps the old brain ticking over, too. Yes, it's addictive, I know, but what harm? Nobody is going to go home and beat up their spouse and sprogs because they had an extra shot of coffee. We understand Bord Bia's point about saturation of the market - staff shortages loom and any market can be overloaded with supply. But it's still the case that the coffee shop is the harbinger of harmony, pleasure and the interchange of culture and ideas. Well, it usually was. The ubiquitous use of the electronic media - be it tablet, iPhone, or laptop computer - in the coffee shops has somewhat diminished the flow of brilliant conversation. We must hope that eventually people will tire of staring at their screens, and, perhaps stimulated by enough pure Colombian, will return to social intercourse once again. However, it's evident that in this life you can't have everything. And sometimes you can't even have two good things at once. With the rise of the coffee culture has come, it seems, a certain decline in the quality of tea. A dunked tea-bag in a tepid plastic cup has replaced the warming communal tea-pot, where real tea was correctly brewed and poured. If there are too many coffee-shops, that's the time to start on a revival of the tea-house. Josh Patterson: Binky Felstead split was for the best but were not happier (Ian West/PA) Binky Felstead has opened up about splitting from Josh 'JP' Patterson, father to their 17-month old daughter India. The Made in Chelsea stars split for good after three years together earlier this year and Binky, whose real name is Alexandra, has spoken about her fears for the future. "It has its ups and downs and I have my low days," she told The Sun on Sunday. "It was literally a mutual decision. Things hadn't been right for a while, but we'd kind of painted over it. I think doing that was unfair on India as well as ourselves. We can't stick together just because we have a baby." They were officially on a break when Binky found out she was eight weeks pregnant, but they decided to give being a family a go. Expand Close Binky Felstead (Hello!) / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Binky Felstead (Hello!) "We have had really happy times, just like any couple. But we're still quite young - Josh never had a girlfriend before - and we've been in the public eye, which isn't easy anywhere when you're in a relationship. And then to have a baby on top of everything else..." she explained. Binky revealed that Josh is away a lot of the time with charity work and she speaks highly of him as a father and said they "really respect each other". Expand Close Binky Felstead with daughter India (David Parry/PA) / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Binky Felstead with daughter India (David Parry/PA) However, she said she fears him moving on with someone new, which she expects to happen soon. "He will find someone quickly and that kind of scares me. The scariest thing for me is thinking about being on my own, and how am I going to meet someone again when I have a baby? Because who wants to think about being on their own?" she said. Expand Close Made in Chelsea star Josh Patterson and Binky Felstead pictured in Dublin when she launched The Complete Natural POP Up Milk Bar for National Dairy Council in South William Street, Dublin. Picture: Brian McEvoy / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Made in Chelsea star Josh Patterson and Binky Felstead pictured in Dublin when she launched The Complete Natural POP Up Milk Bar for National Dairy Council in South William Street, Dublin. Picture: Brian McEvoy She said she is "not even thinking about" meeting someone new. Video of the Day Israels prime minister has said he will also take over as defence minister and is rejecting calls to hold early elections. Benjamin Netanyahu announced on national TV on Sunday that he would take over the defence post following the resignation of Avigdor Lieberman. Mr Lieberman stepped down last week to protest a ceasefire with Hamas militants in the Gaza Strip. He had demanded tougher action against the militants. Expand Close Avigdor Lieberman quit as Israels defence minister (AP Photo/Ariel Schalit) / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Avigdor Lieberman quit as Israels defence minister (AP Photo/Ariel Schalit) Mr Liebermans resignation has left Mr Netanyahu with a narrow majority in parliament, and his remaining partners have demanded he hold early elections. In his address, Mr Netanyahu said now is not the time for new elections and he is committed to protecting his countrys security. Another coalition partner, the Jewish Home, has scheduled a press conference for Monday. If it leaves the coalition, Mr Netanyahu will lose his parliamentary majority. Earlier, Mr Netanyahu said he would try to convince finance minister Moshe Kahlon and his centrist Kulanu party to stay in the coalition. Expand Close Israeli tank and soldiers take positions at Israels Gaza border (Tsafrir Abayov/AP) / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Israeli tank and soldiers take positions at Israels Gaza border (Tsafrir Abayov/AP) It would be both unnecessary and incorrect to go to elections. We remember well what happened when elements inside the coalitions took down Likud governments in 1992 and in 1999, Mr Netanyahu said, noting the past two elections in which the Labour Party came to power. We need to do everything we can to prevent repeating these mistakes, he added. The sudden coalition crisis was sparked by the resignation of Mr Lieberman, who had demanded a far stronger response last week to the most massive wave of rocket attacks on Israel since the 2014 Israel-Hamas war. He alleges the truce will put southern Israel under a growing threat from Hamas, similar to that posed to northern Israel by Lebanons heavily armed Hezbollah group. The departure of Mr Lieberman and his Yisrael Beitenu party leaves the coalition with a one-seat majority in the 120-member parliament. Pope Francis led Mass today in St Peter, the second World Day of the Poor. Some 6,000 poor people were present, along with volunteers, assistants, and representatives of charities. Working for the poor is not a sociological option; it is a theological requirement. For the pontiff, Injustice is the perverse root of poverty. The daily cry of the poor becomes stronger but heard less. Conversely, Jesus demands [. . .] to give to those who have nothing to give back, to love gratuitously. Vatican City (AsiaNews) Pope Francis spoke today to the assembly gathered in St Peters Basilica for the second World Day of the Poor, which he established. The event had been announced in a message released last June, titled 'This poor man cried, and the Lord heard him. In his address, the pontiff raised a key issue: In the face of contempt for human dignity, we often remain with arms folded or stretched out as a sign of our frustration before the grim power of evil. Yet we Christians cannot stand with arms folded in indifference, or with arms outstretched in helplessness. No. As believers, we must stretch out our hands, as Jesus does with us. Some 6,000 poor people were present at the Mass, concelebrated by cardinals and bishops, together with volunteers, assistants and representatives of various charities. From the start of his pontificate, Franciss commitment to the poor has been a fundamental element for evangelisation in today's world. Because of this, he has been sometimes criticised, accused of being "Marxist". In the homily, the Holy Father stressed why it is important for all of us to live our faith in contact with those in need. This is not a sociological option; it is a theological requirement. It entails acknowledging that we are beggars pleading for salvation, brothers and sisters of all, but especially of the poor whom the Lord loves. In this way, we embrace the spirit of the Gospel. The spirit of poverty and of love says the Council is in fact the glory and witness of the Church of Christ (Gaudium et Spes, 88). Listening to the cry of the poor is an urgency that comes from faith and the situation of society. Francis lists and denounces this cry, which is the stifled cry of the unborn, of starving children, of young people more used to the explosion of bombs than happy shouts of the playground. It is the cry of the elderly, cast off and abandoned to themselves. It is the cry of all those who face the storms of life without the presence of a friend. It is the cry of all those forced to flee their homes and native land for an uncertain future. It is the cry of entire peoples, deprived even of the great natural resources at their disposal. It is the cry of all those Lazaruses who weep while the wealthy few feast on what, in justice, belongs to all. Injustice is the perverse root of poverty. The cry of the poor daily becomes stronger but heard less, drowned out by the din of the rich few, who grow ever fewer and richer. The effectiveness of the commitment to the poor depends on our imitation of what Jesus did for us. For this reason, Pope Francis, referring to today's Gospel (Dedication of the Basilica of St Peter, Matthew, 14: 22-33), underlined the three things Jesus does in todays Gospel". First of all, he leaves. He leaves the crowds at the height of success, acclaimed for his multiplication of the loaves. [. . .] He teaches us the courage to leave: to leave behind the success that swells the heart and the tranquillity that deadens the soul. To go where? To God by praying, and to those in need by loving. These are the true treasures in life: God and our neighbour. And this is the road Jesus tells us to take: to go up to God and to come down to our brothers and sisters. The second thing: in the heart of the night, Jesus reassures. He goes to his disciples, in the dark, walking on the sea (v. 25). The sea in this case was really a lake, but the idea of the sea, with its murky depths, evokes the forces of evil. Jesus, in effect, goes to meet his disciples by trampling on the malign foes of humanity. And this is the meaning of the sign: rather than a triumphant display of power, it is a revelation of the reassuring certainty that Jesus, and Jesus alone, triumphs over our greatest enemies: the devil, sin, death and fear. Today, and to us, he says: Take heart, it is I; do not be afraid (v. 27). The third thing Jesus does: in the midst of the storm, he stretches out his hand (cf. v. 31). He takes hold of Peter who, in his fear and doubt, was sinking, and cried out: Lord, save me! (v. 30). The Lord stretches out his hand, freely and not out of duty. [. . .] Jesus demands [. . .] to give to those who have nothing to give back, to love gratuitously (cf. Lk 6:32-36). Let us look around in our own day. For all that we do, do we ever do anything completely for free, something for a person who cannot repay us? Lastly, Stretch out your hand to us, Lord, and take hold of us. Help us to love as you love. Teach us to leave behind all that is passing, to be a source of reassurance to those around us, and to give freely to all those in need. Amen. Chinese President Xi Jinping and US vice president Mike Pence were among the world leaders at the summit (AP Photo/Aaron Favila) A meeting of world leaders in Papua New Guinea has failed to agree on a final communique, highlighting widening divisions between the US and China. The 21 nations at the Asia-Pacific Economic Co-operation summit in Port Moresby struggled to bridge differences on the role of the World Trade Organisation, which governs international trade. A statement would be issued by the meetings chair, Papua New Guineas Prime Minister Peter ONeill, instead. The 2018 Chair of APEC Economic Leaders' Meeting (AELM), Prime Minister Peter O'Neill of Papua New Guinea addressed the media after the conclusion of the AELM in Port Moresby. #APEC2018 pic.twitter.com/7QVl9RgW75 APEC Secretariat (@APEC) November 18, 2018 The entire world is worried about tensions between China and the US, Mr ONeill told reporters after he confirmed there was no communique from leaders. Canadas Prime Minister Justin Trudeau told reporters there were differences between several nations including China and the US. Draft versions of the communique seen by The Associated Press showed the US wanted strong language against unfair trade practices that it accuses China of. The two-day summit was punctuated by acrimony and underlined a rising rivalry between China and the West for influence in the usually neglected South Pacific. US vice president Mike Pence and Chinas President Xi Jinping traded blows in speeches on Saturday. Meeting with leaders of the Indo-Pacific at APEC Summit in Papua New Guinea. The United States commitment to the Indo-Pacific has never been stronger and while we will always advance our interests, we will also respect your own. #APEC2018 pic.twitter.com/bHxYlN6R8x Vice President Mike Pence Archived (@VP45) November 18, 2018 Mr Pence professed respect for Mr Xi and China but also harshly criticised the worlds second largest economy for intellectual property theft, forced technology transfers and unfair trading practices. The world, according to Mr Xi, is facing a choice between co-operation and confrontation as protectionism and unilateralism grows. He said the rules of global institutions set up after the Second World War such as the World Trade Organisation should not be bent for selfish agendas. Mr Pence told reporters that during the weekend he had two candid conversations with Mr Xi, who is expected to meet US President Donald Trump at a Group of 20 summit at the end of this month in Buenos Aires. There are differences today. They begin with trade practices, with tariffs and quotas, forced technology transfers, the theft of intellectual property. It goes beyond that to freedom of navigation in the seas, concerns about human rights, Mr Pence said. The US is interested in a better relationship but there has to be change from Chinas side, Mr Pence said he told Mr Xi, who responded that dialogue is important. Expand Close Chinese President Xi Jinping says the world is facing a choice between co-operation and confrontation (AP Photo/Aaron Favila) / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Chinese President Xi Jinping says the world is facing a choice between co-operation and confrontation (AP Photo/Aaron Favila) In Port Moresby, the impact of Chinas aid and loans is highly visible. But the US and allies are countering with efforts to finance infrastructure in Papua New Guinea and other island states. The US has also said it will be involved in ally Australias plan to develop a naval base with Papua New Guinea. On Sunday, the US, New Zealand, Japan and Australia said they would work with Papua New Guineas government to bring electricity to 70% of its people by 2030. Less than 20% have a reliable electricity supply. The commitment of the United States of America to this region of the world has never been stronger, said Mr Pence at a signing ceremony. A separate statement from his office said other countries are welcome to join the electrification initiative provided they support the US vision of a free and open Pacific. China, meanwhile, has promised 4 billion US dollars (3.12 billion) of finance to build the the first national road network in Papua New Guinea, among the least urbanised countries in the world. EasyJet shares have fallen by more than a third over the past six months (Gareth Fuller/PA) EasyJet is to reveal annual profits surging by up to 42% on Tuesday with the low budget airline brushing off strike action and gaining from the troubles beset by rivals. The focus for the new financial year however will be on guidance rather than earnings. The carrier recently said it expects full-year pre-tax profit to be between 570 million and 580 million, on revenue of around 5.9 billion. It comes despite strike chaos that caused easyJet to cancel thousands of flights over the summer as a result of air traffic control industrial action in France and Italy. Numis forecasts easyJet to report a profit of 575 million against a profit of 408 million the previous year, on revenue of 5.05 billion. EasyJet also expects to book a 115 million loss from its operations at Berlin Tegel Airport in Germany. But Graham Spooner, investment research analyst at The Share Centre, said easyJets shares have had a torrid time lately, due to industrial action in France and recent downbeat comments about fiscal 2019. EasyJet shares have fallen by more than a third (34%) over the past six months. In September, easyJet indicated revenue per seat for the first half of 2018-19 will decrease by low to mid-single digits on a constant currency basis after 2017-18 saw it benefit from the bankruptcies of Monarch and Air Berlin, as well as the grounding of Ryanair aircraft. Mr Spooner said in easyJets full-year results, investors will also be looking out for comments on fuel costs and the companys recent expression of interest in troubled Italian airline Alitalia. Last month, the company submitted a revised bid in response to the new Italian governments sales process for Alitalia, which was placed into special administration last year. EasyJet is also considering making a bid for rival Flybe, which recently put itself up for sale, according to the Financial Times. The company guided to a 2018-19 fuel bill of around 1.48 billion, based on a fuel spot price range of 700 US dollars to 760 US dollars (546 to 593) per metric tonne. Numis analyst Kathryn Leonard said with spot prices now below this range, she expects the companys guidance to be maintained or lowered. Finlands president can recall discussing forestry with President Donald Trump but is not sure if the subject of raking came up. Mr Trump told reporters on Saturday while visiting the ruins of the Northern California town where a fire killed at least 76 people that wildfires were not a problem in Finland because crews spend a lot of time on raking and cleaning and doing things to clear forest floors. Finnish President Sauli Niinisto said in an interview published on Sunday in the Ilta-Sanomat newspaper that he spoke briefly with Mr Trump about forest management on November 11, when they both were in Paris for Armistice Day events. Expand Close File photo of US President Donald Trump, left, talking with Finnish President Sauli Niinisto in Helsinki (Pablo Martinez Monsivais/AP) / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp File photo of US President Donald Trump, left, talking with Finnish President Sauli Niinisto in Helsinki (Pablo Martinez Monsivais/AP) Mr Niinisto said their conversation focused on the California wildfires and the surveillance system Finland uses to monitor forests for fires. He remembered telling Mr Trump We take care of our forests, but could not recall raking coming up. The US leaders comment generated amusement on social media in Finland, which manages its vast forests with scientific seriousness. Forests cover over 70% of Finlands 338,000 square kilometres. The Nordic country with a population of 5.5 million is home to some of the worlds biggest paper and pulp companies. Israel's prime minister has said he will also take over as defence minister and is rejecting calls to hold early elections. Benjamin Netanyahu announced on national TV on Sunday that he would take over the defence post following the resignation of Avigdor Lieberman. Mr Lieberman stepped down last week to protest a ceasefire with Hamas militants in the Gaza Strip. He had demanded tougher action against the militants. Expand Close Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu (Ariel Schalit/AP) / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu (Ariel Schalit/AP) Mr Lieberman's resignation has left Mr Netanyahu with a narrow majority in parliament, and his remaining partners have demanded he hold early elections. In his address, Mr Netanyahu said now is not the time for new elections and he is committed to protecting his country's security. Another coalition partner, the Jewish Home, has scheduled a press conference for Monday. If it leaves the coalition, Mr Netanyahu will lose his parliamentary majority. Earlier, Mr Netanyahu said he would try to convince finance minister Moshe Kahlon and his centrist Kulanu party to stay in the coalition. "It would be both unnecessary and incorrect to go to elections. "We remember well what happened when elements inside the coalitions took down Likud governments in 1992 and in 1999," Mr Netanyahu said, noting the past two elections in which the Labour Party came to power. "We need to do everything we can to prevent repeating these mistakes," he added. The sudden coalition crisis was sparked by the resignation of Mr Lieberman, who had demanded a far stronger response last week to the most massive wave of rocket attacks on Israel since the 2014 Israel-Hamas war. He alleges the truce will put southern Israel under a growing threat from Hamas, similar to that posed to northern Israel by Lebanon's heavily armed Hezbollah group. The departure of Mr Lieberman and his Yisrael Beitenu party leaves the coalition with a one-seat majority in the 120-member parliament. When furious protesters gathered around Pakistan late last month in the wake of Asia Bibi's acquittal for blasphemy, a senior police officer visited the Islamabad slum of France Colony. It might be best, the policeman advised, if the mainly Christian residents closed their shops, went home and laid low in case there was trouble. As the nationwide protests brought the country to a halt for three days, the slum's new church was closed and services cancelled, while the congregation warily watched the demonstrations unfold. More than a fortnight after Asia Bibi, a Catholic farmhand, was acquitted of defaming the prophet Muhammad, she is still hiding in legal limbo, awaiting asylum in the West. Her case also hangs uncomfortably over the country's Christians. The violent reaction to a supreme court ruling to free the mother of five has again highlighted the country's harsh blasphemy laws, but has also reminded many of Pakistan's Christians how vulnerable they are. "We live under fear, the whole country is under tension," said Younis Masih, a 61-year-old retired soldier and member of the slum's Presbyterian Church. "People are afraid and anything can happen in this situation." Around three million Christians live in Pakistan, a country which is more than 96pc Muslim. When Muhammad Ali Jinnah, Pakistan's founder, set out his vision he declared citizens "may belong to any religion, caste or creed - that has nothing to do with the business of the state". Yet, seven decades on, the country has become more Islamicised, and Christians and other religious minorities face discrimination by society and attacks by extremist militants. Prejudice often locks them in poverty. In January, the US State Department placed Pakistan on a special watch list for "severe violations of religious freedom". Attacks on churches by militant groups such as Isil have killed scores of people. At the same time, in a country where insulting Islam is an incendiary accusation that can quickly provoke mob violence, the country's blasphemy laws are being used to suppress religious minorities, human rights groups claim. So far, the anger of the hardline religious protesters over Asia Bibi's acquittal has been directed at the authorities, rather than the Christian community. But protests are unpredictable and a feeling of fear and helplessness hangs over the colony, said a 69-year-old church elder, also called Younis Masih. "There's no political backing here, no Christian leaders here. They feel isolated and weak and prefer not to talk about such issues," he said. "The government protects us, but blasphemy is such a sensitive issue we feel weak and in fear. People are helpless, they don't have any other option, but thank God this time the loss is not bigger. There have been protests, but they have been against judges and the government, not against Christians." Asia Bibi's case has hung over Pakistan's Christians for nearly a decade. In the summer of 2009 she was working in a Punjab field when she quarrelled with two Muslim colleagues after they refused to drink from a cup she had touched. The women told a local mullah she had committed blasphemy and Mrs Bibi was rounded up by villagers. She denied the charge, but after a year in jail she was convicted and sentenced to hang. Her supporters said the case was a typical example of spurious blasphemy accusations being used to settle scores. But as her appeal has languished in the courts, it has galvanised hardliners and divided Pakistan. Shortly after her conviction, Salman Taseer, the Punjab governor, was murdered for speaking out in her support and calling for reform of the blasphemy laws. Mumtaz Qadri, his killer, was executed, but has become a hero to some, with a large shrine dedicated to him on the outskirts of Islamabad. A party founded by Qadri's supporters took two million votes at the general election this year. Under a deal to halt protests earlier this month, Imran Khan agreed to allow a petition to review Ms Bibi's acquittal. Until that is heard, she cannot leave the country. "The tension has increased," said Mr Masih. "The reason is very clearly that this case of Asia Bibi is so much highlighted in the media." Mr Masih said during his 18 years in the army there was no discrimination. "We used to eat from the same table," he explained. He hopes that the country could one day return to that state. In the meantime the people of France Colony just want the Asia Bibi case to go away, said another member of the church who declined to be named. "We pray that it is dealt with with peace and harmony and we can get rid of this issue," they said. Telegraph Media Group Limited [2021] Remains of at least 71 people have been recovered in and around the small Sierra foothills town 280km north of San Francisco. Photo: AP Forensic recovery teams searched for more victims in the charred wreckage of the northern California town of Paradise yesterday as the number of people listed as missing in the state's deadliest wildfire topped 1,000. Remains of at least 71 people have been recovered in and around the small Sierra foothills town 280km north of San Francisco. It was home to nearly 27,000 residents before it was largely incinerated by the blaze on the night of November 8. The disaster already ranks among the deadliest US wildfires since the turn of the last century. Eighty-seven people perished in a firestorm that swept the Northern Rockies in August 1910. Minnesota's Cloquet Fire in October 1918 killed 450 people. US President Donald Trump, who has blamed the recent spate of fires on forest mismanagement, was due to visit the fire zones yesterday to meet displaced residents. Governor Jerry Brown and Governor-elect Gavin Newsom planned to join Trump on his tour. Authorities attribute the high death toll from the blaze - dubbed "Camp Fire" - partly to the speed with which flames raced through the town with little advance warning, driven by howling winds and fuelled by drought-desiccated scrub and trees. More than a week later, firefighters have managed to carve containment lines around 45pc of the blaze's perimeter. The fire covered 142,000 acres (57,000 hectares), fire officials said. Besides the toll on human life, property losses from the blaze make it the most destructive in California history, posing the additional challenge of providing long-term shelter for many thousands of displaced residents. With more than 9,800 homes destroyed, many refugees have taken up temporary residence with friends and family, while others have pitched tents or were camping out of their vehicles. At least 1,100 evacuees were being housed in 14 emergency shelters set up in churches, schools and community centres around the region, with a total of more than 47,000 people remaining under evacuation orders, authorities said. Search teams with search-dogs combed through rubble-strewn expanses of burned-out neighbourhoods looking for bodies. Last Friday, Butte County Sheriff Korea Honea said the remains of eight more fire victims were recovered during the day, bringing the death toll to 71. That surpasses the previous fatality record from a single California wildfire - 29 in the Griffith Park fire of 1933 in Los Angeles. Honea said the number of people unaccounted for had swelled to 1,011 - up from the 630 names posted last Thursday night and well more than triple the number counted as missing last Thursday afternoon. "This is a dynamic list," Honea told reporters, saying it was compiled from "raw data" that was likely to include some duplications or multiple spellings of names. Honea bristled when asked whether many of those listed at this point, more than a week after the disaster, were expected to end up either deceased or declared missing and presumed dead. "I don't think it's appropriate for any of us to sit and speculate about what the future holds," he said. As of last Friday, he said, 329 individuals previously reported missing had turned up alive. The names were being compiled from information received from a special hotline, along with email reports and a review of 911 calls that came in on the first night of the fire, Honea said. Some listed have probably survived but not yet notified family or authorities. Others may not have been immediately listed because of delays in reporting them. Weather conditions have since turned more to firefighters' favour, though strong, gusty winds and lower humidity were expected to return early today, ahead of rain showers forecast for mid-week. The outbreak of Camp Fire coincided with a series of smaller blazes in Southern California, most notably the Woolsey Fire, which is linked to three fatalities and has destroyed at least 500 buildings near the Malibu coast west of Los Angeles. Scientists have said the growing frequency and intensity of wildfires in California and elsewhere across the West are largely attributable to prolonged drought that is symptomatic of climate change. The precise causes of the Camp and Woolsey Fires were under investigation, but electricity providers had reported equipment problems near both blazes around the time they erupted. When the "megafire" engulfed Paradise, officials and residents had to abandon their evacuation plans and improvise new ways to save lives, learning lessons that may help the growing number of regions at risk to wildfires. As strong winds sent flames roaring into Paradise at two miles per minute, emergency personnel and locals realised their escape plans, crafted after a 2008 blaze, would not work. As Paradise was engulfed around 8am on November 8, officials attempted a staggered evacuation using an alert system to target one zone at a time. The idea was to avoid the panic and chaos that ensued in 2008 when all 27,000 residents tried to flee at once - blocking roads and leading to panic. With the fire toppling power lines and mobile towers, and residents jamming networks with calls, about 60pc of alerts were delivered. However as only between 25pc-50pc of residents had signed up for the optional system, just 30pc of households - at best - were alerted. As the town burned, officials abandoned the phased evacuation and told everyone to get out. Locals said an old-fashioned siren system would have been a better system. "People who are not connected to the internet or phone need to know there is a fire," said one resident. Paradise widened, paved and straightened roads after the 2008 blaze to allow for a speedier evacuation. But the Camp Fire burned across all escape routes. "The flow plan didn't work," said one local official. "We couldn't flow huge amounts of traffic down an available highway because there was no available highway." On the ground, residents fought to escape the town. Hospital nurse Darrel Wilken got word around 8am that the fire was seven miles away. By 8.15am trees outside his window at the Feather River Hospital were on fire. There was no time to gather ambulances to evacuate the 67 patients as staff had trained to do. "If your car was not on fire, you were the ambulance," said Wilken, who loaded three patients into his Subaru WRX. His designated escape route was blocked by flames. He wove through back streets and a slalom of burning vehicles, his car exterior melting from the heat, trees and electricity poles falling on vehicles ahead, before reaching safety hours later. As Wilken fled, firefighters and volunteers including resident Mike Boggs tried to get into town. Police had turned all exit routes into contraflows, a move that sped up the evacuation, but obstructed first responders trying to enter Paradise. Boggs went off road and drove up a ditch in his pickup, followed by a fire truck. The 60-year-old iron worker credits a decision after the 2008 blaze with saving his home in Butte Valley, near Paradise. He bought 40 cattle that grazed on grass that would have otherwise fed the fire. "Everywhere I put my cows it didn't burn," he said. One of the biggest lesson from the Camp Fire was that for residents facing a fast-advancing fire, it may sometimes be better to shelter in open spaces, like road intersections, than try to outrun the flames. "It would be ugly - but you'd survive," he said. One protester was killed and almost 230 other people were injured eight seriously at roadblocks set up around villages, towns and cities across France as citizens angry with rising fuel taxes rose up in a grassroots movement, posing a new challenge to beleaguered President Emmanuel Macron. Police lobbed tear gas canisters at demonstrators on the famed Champs-Elysees Avenue in Paris as groups of yellow jackets, as the protesters call themselves, tried to make their way to the presidential Elysee Palace. Hundreds of protesters later entered the bottom of the street dotted with luxury shops where the palace is located and where Mr Macron lives before being pushed back by security forces with shields. In a similar scenario, police cleared out the huge traffic circle around the Arc de Triomphe, paralysed for hours by protesters. French Interior Ministry officials counted nearly 283,000 protesters, mostly peaceful, throughout the day at more than 2,000 sites, some starting bonfires or flying balloons. However, some demonstrations turned violent. In Troyes, south-east of Paris, about 100 people invaded the prefecture, the local representation of the state, damaging the inside. In Quimper, Brittany, security forces used water cannon to disperse hostile protesters. Expand Close Demonstrators block a roundabout to protest against fuel taxes in Marseille (Claude Paris/AP) / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Demonstrators block a roundabout to protest against fuel taxes in Marseille (Claude Paris/AP) The protester who died, a 63-year-old woman, was killed when a driver caught in traffic accelerated in a panic at Pont-de-Beauvoisin, near Chambery in eastern France, according to local officials. A confrontation with protesters got heated up for no reason and the driver accelerated her minivan after people started rattling her car, a witness told BFMTV. He said the woman told them she was taking her daughter to a doctor. An investigation into the death is under way. Eight of the 227 people injured are in serious condition, and they include a police officer and a firefighter who intervened when protesters attacked a closed service station. A total of 117 people were arrested with 73 of them held for questioning. Expand Close A demonstrator gestures as drivers and bikers block roads in Rennes (David Vincent/AP) / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp A demonstrator gestures as drivers and bikers block roads in Rennes (David Vincent/AP) The protesters had pledged to target tollbooths, roundabouts and other strategic traffic sites. They called themselves yellow jackets because most were wearing the fluorescent yellow vests that must be kept in vehicles of all French drivers in case of car troubles. The nationwide protest was unusual because it arose from within the citizenry, backed neither by unions nor politicians, although some took part in a clear bid for supporters. It was unclear whether the upstart movement, without a leader, would survive, and what problems it might pose for Mr Macron. The grassroots nature of the protests, which drew supporters angry over an array of issues, made it a political hot potato for Mr Macrons government. Security officials treaded lightly, ordering police to use dialogue rather than force but to stop protesters from completely blocking major routes or endangering lives or property. About 30 canisters of tear gas were fired to disperse protesters at the entrance of the Mont Blanc tunnel. Expand Close Protesters shout anti-government slogan on the Place de la Concorde in Paris (Michel Euler/AP) / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Protesters shout anti-government slogan on the Place de la Concorde in Paris (Michel Euler/AP) Interior Minister Christophe Castaner said: They have sent a message. It is heard. The government is attentive to all demonstrations and, of course, we must continue to answer the expectations of the French including those about their purchasing power. The planned increase in fuel taxes, notably for diesel fuel, spoke to those French who feel the president has asked ordinary citizens to make the largest efforts in his bid to transform France. Those French who have a hard time making ends meet often rely on cheaper diesel fuel. Mr Macron wants to close the gap between the price of diesel fuel and petrol as part of his strategy to wean France off fossil fuels. President Donald Trump has said his administration will release a full report in the next two days about the death of Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi. Well be having a very full report over the next two days, probably Monday or Tuesday, Mr Trump said. That will include who did it, he said. Reporters asked Mr Trump about the death of Mr Khashoggi, a columnist for The Washington Post who was killed on October 2 inside the Saudi Consulate in Istanbul. Earlier reports said American intelligence agencies concluded that Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman ordered the killing in the Saudi Consulate in Turkey, according to a US official familiar with that assessment. The conclusion was first reported by The Washington Post. The United States government is determined to hold all those responsible for the killing of Jamal Khashoggi accountableUS State Department Saudi Arabias top diplomat has said the crown prince had absolutely nothing to do with it. The United States government is determined to hold all those responsible for the killing of Jamal Khashoggi accountable, the State Department said in a statement. Recent reports indicating that the US government has made a final conclusion are inaccurate. There remain numerous unanswered questions with respect to the murder of Mr Khashoggi. Expand Close A person holds up a banner as members of the Arab-Turkish Media Association and friends attend funeral prayers in absentia for Saudi writer Jamal Khashoggi (Emrah Gurel/AP) / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp A person holds up a banner as members of the Arab-Turkish Media Association and friends attend funeral prayers in absentia for Saudi writer Jamal Khashoggi (Emrah Gurel/AP) The statement added: The US government has taken decisive measures against the individuals responsible, including visa and sanctions actions. We will continue to explore additional measures to hold those accountable who planned, led and were connected to the murder. And, we will do that while maintaining the important strategic relationship between the United States and Saudi Arabia. Intelligence officials have been providing information to Mr Trump about the death for weeks and he was briefed again by phone Saturday by CIA director Gina Haspel and Secretary of State Mike Pompeo as he flew to California. White House press secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders provided no details of his call but said the president has confidence in the CIA. Before his call on Air Force One, Mr Trump told reporters that when it came to the crown prince, as of this moment we were told that he did not play a role. Were going to have to find out what they have to say. That echoed remarks by national security adviser John Bolton, who said earlier this week that people who have listened to an audio recording of the killing do not think it implicates the crown prince. Expand Close A poster showing Jamal Khashoggi, who was killed last month in the Saudi Arabia consulate (Emrah Gurel/AP) / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp A poster showing Jamal Khashoggi, who was killed last month in the Saudi Arabia consulate (Emrah Gurel/AP) Also before leaving on his trip, Mr Trump said Saudi Arabia was a truly spectacular ally in terms of jobs and economic development. I have to take a lot of things into consideration when deciding what measures to take against the kingdom, he said. Mr Trump has called the killing a botched operation that was carried out very poorly and has said the cover-up was one of the worst cover-ups in the history of cover-ups. But he has resisted calls to cut off arms sales to the kingdom and has been reluctant to antagonise the Saudi rulers. Mr Trump considers the Saudis vital allies in his Mideast agenda. But members of Congress are pushing Mr Trump for a tougher response to the killing. The administration this past week penalised 17 Saudi officials for their alleged role in the killing, but American politicians have called on the administration to curtail arms sales to Saudi Arabia or take other harsher punitive measures. Vice President Mike Pence told reporters travelling with him on Saturday for a summit of Pacific Rim nations in Papua, New Guinea, that the murder of Jamal Khashoggi was an atrocity. It was also an affront to a free and independent press, and the United States is determined to hold all of those accountable who are responsible for that murder. Mr Khashoggi, a Saudi who lived in the United States, often criticised the royal family. Turkish and Saudi authorities say he was killed inside the consulate by a team from the kingdom after he went there to get marriage documents. Saudi Arabia says the crown prince had absolutely nothing to do with the killing (Emrah Gurel/AP) The Trump administration said it has not yet reached a final determination in the death of Saudi writer Jamal Khashoggi. After President Donald Trump called his CIA chief and top diplomat from Air Force One as he flew to survey wildfire damage in California, the State Department released a statement saying recent reports indicating that the US government has made a final conclusion are inaccurate. Reports said American intelligence agencies concluded that Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman ordered the killing in the Saudi Consulate in Turkey, according to the US official familiar with that assessment. The conclusion was first reported by The Washington Post. The Saudi government has denied the claim. Expand Close A man holds a poster showing Jamal Khashoggi during funeral prayers in absentia for the reporter (Emrah Gurel/AP) / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp A man holds a poster showing Jamal Khashoggi during funeral prayers in absentia for the reporter (Emrah Gurel/AP) Department spokeswoman Heather Nauert said in the statement that the government was determined to hold all those responsible for the killing of Jamal Khashoggi accountable and that there remain numerous unanswered questions with respect to the murder. She said the department will continue to seek all relevant facts and consult with Congress and other nations to hold accountable those involved in the killing. Mr Trump spoke earlier with CIA director Gina Haspel and Secretary of State Mike Pompeo from Air Force One, press secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders said. She provided no additional details but said the president has confidence in the CIA. Mr Trump told reporters before he left the White House for California that, when it came to the crown prince, as of this moment we were told that he did not play a role. Were going to have to find out what they have to say. I have to take a lot of things into considerationDonald Trump In his remarks, the president spoke of Saudi Arabia as a truly spectacular ally in terms of jobs and economic development. I have to take a lot of things into consideration when deciding what measures to take against the kingdom. The State Department statement noted the administrations recent actions against a number of Saudis, but also cited the need to maintain the important strategic relationship between the two allies. The administration this past week penalised 17 Saudi officials for their alleged role in the killing, but American politicians have called on the administration to curtail arms sales to Saudi Arabia or take other harsher punitive measures. Expand Close Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi died last month (Virginia Mayo/AP) / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi died last month (Virginia Mayo/AP) Saudi Arabias top diplomat has said the crown prince had absolutely nothing to do with the killing. Vice President Mike Pence told reporters travelling with him at a summit of Pacific Rim nations in Papua New Guinea that he could not comment on classified information. He said Saturday the murder of Jamal Khashoggi was an atrocity. It was also an affront to a free and independent press, and the United States is determined to hold all of those accountable who are responsible for that murder. The United States will follow the facts, Mr Pence said, while trying to find a way of preserving a strong and historic partnership with Saudi Arabia. Mr Khashoggi, a Saudi who lived in the United States, was a columnist for the Post and often criticised the royal family. He was killed on October 2 at the Saudi Consulate in Istanbul. Turkish and Saudi authorities say he was killed inside the consulate by a team from the kingdom after he went there to get marriage documents. This past week, US intelligence officials briefed members of the Senate and House intelligence committees, and the Treasury Department announced economic sanctions on 17 Saudi officials suspected of being responsible for or complicit in the killing. Among those targeted for sanctions were Mohammed al-Otaibi, the diplomat in charge of the consulate, and Maher Mutreb, who was part of the crown princes entourage on trips abroad. The sanctions freeze any assets the 17 may have in the US and prohibit any Americans from doing business with them. Also this past week, the top prosecutor in Saudi Arabia announced he will seek the death penalty against five men suspected in the killing. AwazToday.pk Privacy Policy: We use third-party advertising companies to serve ads when you visit our Website. These companies may use information (not including your name, address email address or telephone number) about your visits to this and other Web sites in order to provide advertisements about goods and services of interest to you. If you would like more information about this practice and to know your choices about not having this information used by these companies, click here. Disclaimer: AwazToday.pk is not responsible for any content linked to or referred to from these pages. All videos, live tvs, blogs or video links point to content hosted on third party websites or members. We are using third party links for live tvs. Users who upload these videos or blogs agree not to upload illegal content when creating their user accounts. AwazToday.pk does not accept responsibility for content hosted on third party websites or by the members. If you have any questions please contact us. Copyright 2000-2021 AwazToday.pk. All rights reserved unless where otherwise noted. Prostitution, substance abuse and alcohol addiction Bollywood has a lot of dark secrets that people are apparently unaware of. Behind the fascinating glitz and glamour in the industry, there are a lot of dirty secrets that remain hidden. Mumbai crime branchs anti-extortion cell recently arrested Agnes Hamilton, 56-year-old choreographer, who has worked on films including Salman Khans Tubelight and also runs a dance class in Lokhandwala in Andheri, for running a global prostitution racket. facebook/agnes.hamilton.507 Allegedly, she would send young girls abroad on the pretext of dance and acting assignments. However, the girls would be forced into sex trade there. For every girl, she would receive Rs 40,000, it is said. According to a report on Times Now, she has been running the sex racket for quite a few years now. It all came to notice, when Kenyan government had deported a trafficked woman recently. facebook/agnes.hamilton.507 The woman said Hamilton told her she would get good work in a Kenyan hotel. After reaching Kenya, though, one Razia Patel took her to Nairobi and forced her into prostitution, the report quoted Ajay Sawant, senior inspector of the anti-extortion cell, as saying. She has been booked under sections of the IPC and Immoral Traffic Prevention Act for allegedly sending women abroad. Jim Carrey isnt quite fond of Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg. He has slammed him many times in the past. The comedian turned artist/political critic, in February, had tweeted a portrait of Zuckerberg with an announcement that he was dumping his Facebook stock and deleting his Facebook account because the social networking platform profited from the alleged Russian interference in the US elections. Im dumping my @facebook stock and deleting my page because @facebook profited from Russian interference in our elections and theyre still not doing enough to stop it. I encourage all other investors who care about our future to do the same. #unfriendfacebook pic.twitter.com/KHWgZzhhmp Jim Carrey (@JimCarrey) February 6, 2018 "For a long time America enjoyed a geographical advantage in the world with oceans on both sides to protect it. Now, social media has created cyber-bridges over which those who do not have our best interest in mind can cross and we are allowing it. No wall is going to protect us from that. We must encourage more oversight by the owners of these social media platforms. This easy access has to be more responsibly handled. What we need now are activist investors to send a message that responsible oversight is needed. What the world needs now is capitalism with a conscience," he had told Business Insider then. A month later, he had tweeted this. Who are you sharing your life with? #regulatefacebook pic.twitter.com/r7B7Ajkt0V Jim Carrey (@JimCarrey) March 20, 2018 Referring to congressional hearings, in April, Jim Carrey once again took a dig at Mark Zuckerberg. Congress gets a visit from planet Zuckerberg. I shall prevent any further election meddling by destroying the Earth with my Illudium Q-36 Explosive Space Modulator App! The sudden drop in Facebooks stock has made me angry! VERY ANGRY INDEED!!! pic.twitter.com/qwCpJoUqnS Jim Carrey (@JimCarrey) April 11, 2018 And recently, yet again, he blasted the Facebook CEO by writing Fuck You to him in binary code. Hey #Zuckerborg. We know who you are. And we saw what you did: https://t.co/44UvMceSLm Heres a little message from me in your native language: 01000110 01110101 01100011 01101011 00100000 01111001 01101111 01110101 00101110 00100000 00001101 00001010 pic.twitter.com/EEc6ocdvBM Jim Carrey (@JimCarrey) November 15, 2018 This came after The New York Times report accused Facebook of running a lobbying campaign to promote negative stories against its rivals Apple and Google. 1. With Smile On Faces & Happiness In Their Hearts, Ranveer & Deepika Land In India As A Married Couple The much-in-love couple got married in Italy and it was quite an emotional affair, as per reports. Ranveer Singh and Deepika Padukone are man and wife finally. Holding each other's hands, they have returned to Mumbai. Look how they are smiling! They are happy in love quite evidently. 2. Actress Nafisa Ali Reveals She Has Stage 3 Cancer By Sharing A Pic With Friend Sonia Gandhi Post a smiling picture with her politician fiend Sonia Gandhi, Nafisa Ali made the revelation. Just met my precious friend who wished me luck & to get well from my just diagnosed stage 3 cancer. , she wrote in the caption. " 3. Juhi Chawla Calls Fantastic Beasts A Terrible Movie, Thinks Jude Law Looks Like Aamir Khan Just watched a terrible movie, Fantastic Beasts .. Jude Law was so nice .. and something about his features ... so like Aamir Khan ... @aamir_khan pic.twitter.com/8evNZKc4Ql Juhi Chawla (@iam_juhi) November 17, 2018 Juhi Chawla is apparently in London where she watched Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald. Looks like she didnt quite like the movie. Taking it to Twitter, the actress called the movie a terrible film. 4. AbRam Is Convinced That Amitabh Bachchan Is His Grandfather, Keeps Wondering Why He Doesn't Live With Him Sharing a picture in which AbRam with his starry-eyed is looking at him, Amitabh Bachchan revealed that he is convinced beyond any doubt that he is his grandfather. So much so, that he even wonders why Amitabh Bachchan doesnt like with him. 5. Jim Carrey Blasts Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg Again, Tweets F**k You To Him In Binary Code Hey #Zuckerborg. We know who you are. And we saw what you did: https://t.co/44UvMceSLm Heres a little message from me in your native language: 01000110 01110101 01100011 01101011 00100000 01111001 01101111 01110101 00101110 00100000 00001101 00001010 pic.twitter.com/EEc6ocdvBM Jim Carrey (@JimCarrey) November 15, 2018 This came after The New York Times report accused Facebook of running a lobbying campaign to promote negative stories against its rivals Apple and Google. A public perception study designed to see the level of awareness in people about air quality, pollution, precaution and solution revealed that 90 per cent of the people interviewed have heard of air pollution but they lack awareness about the causes and effects. The study was commissioned by the Clean Air Collective which is an umbrella body with 80 civil society organisations, citizen groups and experts working on the issue and air pollution. The study was conducted by CMSR Consultants, a multidisciplinary research group. The study was conducted in highly polluted areas like Delhi-NCR, Kolkata, Patna, Lucknow, Varanasi, Amritsar, Singrauli, Dhanbad, Raipur, Korba, Chandrapur, Angul, Nagpur, and cities becoming rapidly polluted like Bengaluru, Pune, Mumbai and Chennai. Roughly 5000 people were interviewed in the study which found Delhi residents most aware closely followed by Chennai, Bengaluru, Pune and Kolkata. The study showed that tier-1 cities lead the way in understanding technical terms such as AQI, PM2.5, PM10 ranked at 54 per cent, 29.6 per cent and 17.8 per cent respectively. The study also revealed that the age group of 18-25 years always seeks information on air quality. This comprehensive survey reveals that while awareness of the adverse effects of air pollution is very high, most people seem to think that they need to do nothing at the individual level. This perception needs to be addressed. It is only when people make this a priority issue will politicians wake up and take action, Debi Goenka of Conservation Action Trust told The Hindu. He was speaking about peoples initiatives to control pollution which only looked at walking whenever possible (59.7%), tree plantation (40.2%) and reduced energy consumption at home (36.2%). newsheads.in Post the Diwali night, the PM2.5 levels had crossed 999-mark despite the crackers ban by the Supreme Court. It seems that females anywhere in any position are not safe from sexual assault. Even women in position of powers are coerced into sexual misdeeds by men at senior posts. A woman constable in Mumbai has registered a complaint against a sub-inspector with Navi Mumbai police's Crime Branch on Saturday for allegedly raping her, an official said, PTI reported. The woman who approached the Central Business District police station on Saturday alleged that sub-inspector, Amit Shelar had raped her in March last year after her cold drink had been spiked. The constable who is 31-year-old, said that the accused had also filmed the entire incident and threatened to circulate it if she spoke about the incident with anyone. The official informed that the complainant had said that she was raped multiple times in places like CBD, Panvel, Kamothe and Kharghar. Reportedly, she was also beaten up by Shelar. Based on her complaint, the police registered a case against Shelar under relevant sections of the IPC for rape and assault as well as under the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act. PTI further reported that the constable and sub-inspector knew each other since 2010 when they were posted at the same police station. The accused, however, hadnt been arrested. A phenomenal 64 per cent of the people turned up for voting in Kashmir valley on Saturday during the first phase of Panchayat elections despite receiving serious threats from separatists to not be a part of the electoral process. After a video of a 17-year-old teenager being executed in Kashmir on the account of being a police informer went viral, another 19-year-olds body was found with his throat slit in Shopian district on Saturday, NDTV reported. Militants allegedly abducted a few teenagers and while two were freed after questioning, others remain missing. The 19-year-old was a baker by profession, Huzaif Kuttay whose body was recovered from an orchard in Hermain village. Photo: AP/Members stand in a queue to cast their vote in Kashmir This incident happened a day after a class 11 student was killed as he was believed to be a police informer. The video that went viral soon drew a lot of flak from people on social media as well as political parties. News prime-time debates witnessed panellists from different parties indulging in a political slugfest as they blamed the centre and the state government for not ensuring the safety and security of civilians in the valley. Another dastardly killing of a young man, this time the terrorists slit his throat. This barbarism has no place in our society & no struggle, no matter how lofty the claims to justify it, can condone this inhuman behaviour. #Kashmir Omar Abdullah (@OmarAbdullah) November 17, 2018 Former Chief Minister of Jammu and Kashmir, Omar Abdullah condemned the killing of the young man by terming the act as barbaric and inhuman behaviour. The police informed that Bakers body was handed-over to his family members once all the medical legal formalities were performed. Photo: Reuters/Representational Image Meanwhile, the teenager who was executed was summoned from his residence at Safanagri village. A video which is no longer being shared because of its sensitivity and disturbing content shows the boy sitting on the ground with his hands tied up. One of the terrorists can be heard asking him why did he get one of their colleagues killed and even before the youngster could mumble, a number of gunshots were fired at the boy and he fell on the ground motionless. Another youth abducted from Meemender village in Shopian district. More details awaited #JammuandKashmir ANI (@ANI) November 18, 2018 Many civilians are known to provide shelter to terrorists because of the fear instilled by these militants against aiding security personnel in the state. Jammu recorded a phenomenal voter turnout of 79.5 percent in the Jammu region, officials told NDTV. News agency ANI reported today that another youth had been abducted from Meemender village in Shopian district, more details are awaited. Later, a 23 year old was also kidnapped from his village in Shopian district. The death of 39 Indians Iraq had left the whole country crying and now almost after a year since they were declared dead, their kin have come out saying the government didnt keep its promise of providing Rs 20,000 per month as allowance and jobs as per their qualification. The families of the victims from Hoshiarpur, Jalandhar, Nawanshahr, Amritsar, Gurdaspur, Batala and Dhuri addressed media persons in Jalandhar and said that the kin of only six victims, three from Hoshiarpur and three from Jalandhar have been given little paying peon jobs. The Tribune. They said that Rs 53,00 per month which they have been getting isnt enough to sustain the families. Amandeep Kaur from Khanke Fatehgarh village in Kartarpur, whose husband Kulwinder Singh was killed in Iraq, has received a peons job. She said and The Tribune quoted, I am the only earning member in the family I have two children, whose school fee is Rs 3,000. We cant even buy groceries from the remaining amount. The government made hefty promises, but now we have been left to fend for ourselves. Son of Balwant Rai, who was killed in Mosul also spoke about his problems, Rakesh Kumar said, My brother Pawan Kumar has been given a job of Rs 5,300 which isnt enough to sustain our family. Since February, we have not received the other allowance as well. While the families from Jalandhar city and Amritsar hadnt received the allowance of Rs 20,000 since June, those from Phillaur tehsil hadnt received their allowance since February this year. The victims family members said they have spoken to Cabinet Minister Sunder Sham Arora and MP Santokh Chaudhary, but nothing has moved so far. The family of Jatinder Singh MP Santokh Singh said, The matter hasnt been brought to my notice so far. I will take it up with the DC tomorrow morning. The government made a commitment to the Iraq victims kin and will honour it. I will also take up the matter with the CM. Deputy Commissioner Varinder Sharma said, In Jalandhar we have provided jobs to six families as the kin of the seventh victim could not be traced. During the three-year probation period, these families will get Rs 8,300 as with an appointment. Later, their salaries will increase on regular basis. They havent received any salary so far. The amount of Rs 5,300 is a false claim. We have also paid them their allowances till August. The Tribune has a copy of the appointment letter that says they will get Rs 5,300 during the probation period. If records at Bidhoona tehsil in UP's Auraiya district are to be believed, Ajmal Kasab, the 26/11 Mumbai attack convict, who was hanged at Yerwada jail in Pune in November 2012, has been issued a domicile certificate. Taking serious note of the incident, the district authorities, after a preliminary round of investigation, cancelled the domicile certificate and suspended the concerned lekhpal (revenue officer) before ordering a probe in this regard. SDM Bidhoona Pravendra Kumar, while investigating the case, confirmed to TOI that a domicile certificate of Ajmal Kasab had been issued against a submission of fake documents by some unidentified person. Some unidentified person submitted an application with a photo of terrorist Ajmal Kasab in the month of October for the issuance of a domicile certificate at Bidhoona tehsil of the distrct. Subsequently, the authorities, without cross-checking the facts, issued the domicile certificate on October 21, the SDM added. As per details, terrorist Ajmal Kasabs birth place is mentioned as Bidhoona and the name in the column of his father read as Mohd Amir while that of his mother Mumtaz Begum. The certificate bore registration no:181620020060722. Twitter SDM Bidhoona added that a probe has been ordered into the irregularity. When we found this discrepancy, we cross-checked the facts at tehsil office, besides at the given address and found that the certificate was fake. On our request, the NIC (National Informatics Centre) has cancelled the domicile certificate, he said. We have suspended the concerned lekhpal on whose verification report the domicile certificate was issued, he added. After a video of a 17-year-old teenager being executed in Kashmir on the account of being a police informer went viral, another 19-year-olds body was found with his throat slit in Shopian district on Saturday. Read More. Here's More Top News For The Day: 1) 90% Indians Are Aware Of Air Pollution, But Don't Know Causes And Hazards, Finds Study A public perception study designed to see the level of awareness in people about air quality, pollution, precaution and solution revealed that 90 per cent of the people interviewed have heard of air pollution but they lack awareness about the causes and effects. Read More. 2) Three Killed In Grenade Attack On Religious Gathering By Bike-Borne Assailants In Amritsar Three people were killed and at least eight were injured in a blast at Adliwal village near Amritsar on Sunday. According to reports, the incident happened during a religious ceremony of Nirankari sect that was being held in Nirankari Bhawan. Sources said that two motorcycle-borne youth threw a grenade at the followers of the Nirankari sect. Read More. 3) Haryana CM Says Women Allege Rape Only After Their Relationship Goes Wrong Haryana Chief Minister, Manohar Lal Khattar has once again made controversial remarks regarding rising rape cases in his state, dodging the fact that rapes havent increased with the argument that only concerns around it have grown. Read More. 4) Another Indian Falls Victim To Hate Crimes In The US, 61-YO Man Shot Dead In New Jersey In another hate crime, another Indian was killed in the US. A 61-year-old man Sunil Edla was shot dead by a minor boy outside his residence in Ventnor City in New Jersey at around 8 pm on November 15. Read More. 5) Deadly Superbugs Kill More Indians Than People From Any Other Country, Finds Study A first-of-its-kind study conducted on 4,000 patients admitted to 10 hospitals across India, including four from the capital, shows mortality rates owing to drug-resistant bacteria in the country are more than twice compared to that in high-income countries. Read More. Marilyn Monroe, an iconic figure in the American film industry inspired thousands of actors all around the globe. The actress who was known to play blonde bombshell characters in American movies continues to be a glamorous, cultural icon in the history of American film industry. In an auction organised in Beverly Hills, California, her Golden Globe award sold for a record-breaking $250,000 at Julien's Auctions, officials informed late Saturday. Monroe had won the prestigious award for World Film Favorite Female from the Hollywood Foreign Press Association. The price is the highest in the history of any Golden Globe Award auction. Photo: AFP/ Marilyn Monroe Apart from the award, her raven black two-seater 1956 Ford Thunderbird was also auctioned for a price of $490,000 at Icons & Idols: Hollywood, which took place Friday and Saturday, Reuters reported. The Thunderbird holds significant importance because Monroe was pictured in that car driving with his third husband, Arthur Miller soon after their June wedding in 1956. The car is not only a part of the automotive history but comes with an aura of glamour, romance and tragedy of a true Hollywood legend. Though the car has undergone several changes, it still retains many of its original parts. The owner of the car wished to conceal his identity but informed the news agency that he tracked down the vehicle through registration and other documents. Monroe's copy of Playboy's first issue with her on the cover, signed by publisher Hugh Hefner, sold for $32,000 along with almost a dozen other items owned by the iconic actress. The auction sold items of other actors like Tina Turner and Cher. Every year, thousands of devotees throng the banks of river Yamuna, to pay obeisance to the Sun God on Chhath Puja. While Chhath is a major festival in eastern Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, and Jharkhand, it is celebrated in other parts of the country as well where Purvnanchalis are settled in significant numbers. However, river Yamuna which flows through industrial cities like Yamuna Nagar, New Delhi, Mathura, has paid a rather hefty price in the form of pollution. Also Read: After Durga Puja Idol Immersions, This Is How Horrible The River Yamuna Looks Like In New Delhi Take a look at the pictures below: #1 Reuters #2 AFP #3 Reuters #4 Reuters #5 Reuters #6 AP #7 PTI #8 PTI After two Indian nationals took pictures with the Indian National flag inside the Haram in Mecca, they were detained by the Saudi Arabia police. While 12-year-old Uzair Ali was immediately released after the Consulate General of India in Jeddah intervened in the case, his father Imitiaz Ali Saiyed was released on November 17 - two days after he was arrested. Imitiaz, a manager at an optical shop in Vadodara, had left for Mecca along with his wife and two children on Monday, and on Friday Imitiaz and one of his kids were detained. The Consulate General in Jeddah in a tweet stated, 'Please note it is banned to display flags in Haram area. Our official has already met Mr. Imitiaz Ali and son Mr. Uzair Ali at Haram Police station. After our intervention, Uzair Ali has been released. We are following the case and all help being extended for early release of Mr. Imitiaz as well'. With our immediate n timely intervention in Court proceedings n police Mr.Imtiaz arrested 2day in Makkah is also released.Tnx 2 all including local govt officials 4 support.All Indian Haj or Umrah Pilgrims pl note that display of Flags in Haram area is banned.@IndianEmbRiyadh India in Jeddah (@CGIJeddah) November 17, 2018 The Consulate also urged people not to display any flags inside the Haram in Mecca. After their detention, Imitiazs brother Faiyaz Ali in a statement, said, My cousin who lives in Saudi informed us about the detention. We were informed that today in the evening the police will make a final decision regarding the case. We are yet to hear from them. They had taken the flag along with them but did not know that posing with it and taking pictures was an offence. The earlier release of Imitiaz gained lots of praise from Zuber Goplani, National Executive Council member of the All India Muslim Majlis-e- Mushawrat, tweeting, "A big thank you to Javed Ahmed sahab and team of Counsel General Of India office. They personally looked into the entire episode and made sure that fellow citizen is out." We're always interested in hearing about news in our community. Let us know what's going on! Go to form Going to college in Europe, South America, or another continent abroad for your degree has become an increasingly popular option recently. For some, its a chance to experience a new way of learning. For others, its about experiencing a new place and a new culture. It may also be an opportunity to get a degree in less time than it usually takes in the United States. Still, for others, it can be a legitimate way to save money with many European colleges offering virtually-free tuition. In fact, the U.S. Department of State estimates that approximately 10 percent of students study abroad during their undergraduate career. While this less conventional path is extremely rewarding for many, its not without potential problems. Key Takeaways Going to college in Europe or pursuing a degree in a foreign country is a popular option, with 10 percent of students taking advantage of the opportunity to study abroad. Obtaining a foreign degree can be beneficial if it enhances your qualifications for a job in your field, and degree programs tend to be both cheaper and shorter. Students should carefully research the countries they're interested in and make sure they meet language and other prerequisites. Experts advise any student whos thinking about an undergraduate or graduate program abroad to do plenty of homework ahead of time. In particular, scholars need to assess whether a degree from a foreign institution will be a net plus or a minus when its time to come home and look for a job. The answer to that question can vary based on the college, the program, and the field of study you're pursuing. The Appeal of Studying Abroad Perhaps the most common reason for attending an overseas university is to acquire a new and powerful life experience. But there are more concrete reasons for crossing international borders. According to the Institute for International Education, research has shown that students who study in another country tend to graduate at higher rates than those who stay in the U.S. Whats more, with the increasing globalization of the economy, a graduate with an international perspective would seem to have an advantage over others in the job market, at least in some fields. The United Kingdom The top destination for U.S. students studying abroad. Other popular study abroad destinations include Italy, Spain, France, Germany, Ireland, China, Australia, Costa Rica, and Japan. In addition, going to college in Europe can be less expensive. Part of the reason for that is degree programs are often shorter in Europe than in the U.S. In Europe, bachelor programs that take three years instead of four are common, as are master's degree programs that take one year instead of two. Many of India's undergraduate programs also take three years of study, although programs in China and Japan generally take four years. Tuition Costs When you factor in the lower tuition costs in some countries, thanks in large part to government subsidies for education, the price drops even further. In countries such as Germany, American students can find universities where tuition wont cost them a dime. Tuitions vary greatly, though. Australia's are relatively high, and Great Britain in recent years has gradually hiked its tuition rates and reduced government subsidies. It is true that the cost of living in some parts of the world is significantly higher than in much of the U.S. Even so, the quicker path to a degree and lower tuition costs can make the trip a relative bargain: tuition at the University of Costa Rica costs well under $4,000 a year. Loans and Scholarships Students can often qualify for federal loans even if they study outside the U.S. If you plan to borrow, make sure the schools you apply to participate in the U.S. Department of Education loan program. Unfortunately, the same cant be said for many grants, which are usually offered only to students taking classes stateside. But there are exceptions, including scholarships specifically for students studying abroad. A Different Education Model If youre thinking about traveling overseas to earn a degree, keep in mind that youre not just learning in a different place, but youll probably be experiencing a new way of learning. European schools, for example, foster a more independent approach to education. In addition to attending classes, students can expect to get massive reading lists that theyre responsible for learning during the term. At the end of the course, students often sit for written exams that are the sole basis for their grades. If youre not the type of student who excels under this sort of pressure, it can be a daunting ordeal. Grade Deflation Another difference can come as a shock to American students. When it comes to grading, European professors are tough. Your work has to be truly superior to win a grade above a C. Be ready to live with a slightly lower GPA on your resume. The Career Impact One of the biggest factors to consider is the impact, for better or worse, on your marketability with a foreign degree on your resume. Companies that do business extensively overseas tend to look for candidates with a broad range of experiences and a sensitivity toward other cultures. If they actually have branches in foreign countries, a degree from one of those nations can be a real plus. What's Your Specialization? Your career specialization also matters. If you're seeking a job in fashion or the arts, a degree from an Italian or French university could be a plus. If you hope to spend much of your career working abroad, experience living and studying in China or a Spanish-speaking country could be a great advantage. That being said, students shouldnt be overly optimistic about the power of their study-abroad experience. A study by Michigan State University found that most employers still put some other factors, including internships, higher on their wish list for applicants. The Credentials Above all, college students should make sure that the qualifications they pursue abroad will be accepted in the U.S. job market. Thats not always the case. Notably, in fields such as medicine, pharmaceuticals, and law, you may have to undergo additional testing, training, or certification in the U.S. Experts suggest talking to alumni from the same program to see what kinds of roles they were able to secure post-graduation. Choosing a School For most students, the first step is deciding which country interests them the most. While you may have some preconceived ideas about your dream experience, talking to other Americans who have studied at a particular place is a good reality check. The Language Barrier In addition, there's the language to consider. You're unlikely to get into a foreign university without true fluency in its national language. On the other hand, if you were good at Spanish or German in high school, a little intensive study could get you up to speed. Don't forget, you will be writing essays in this language as well as listening to lectures. Most Popular Destinations That said, the United Kingdom was the most popular destination of Americans studying abroad, according to the most recent data by the U.S. State Department. Others in the top 10 included Italy, Spain, France, Germany, China, Ireland, Australia, Costa Rica, and Japan. Once you know the country where you hope to study, the first thing to check is whether a particular university is accredited. Beyond that, you need to research the institutions reputation, entrance requirements, and tuition costs. The primary responsibility of a data integrity analyst is to manage a company's computer data by way of monitoring its security. To ensure data is being handled properly by authorized parties, the data integrity analyst tracks records indicating who is accessing what information held by company computer systems at specific times. The data integrity analyst reviews and analyzes this information to protect company data reserves. To preserve sensitive information held by companies, the data integrity analyst ensures the firewall and security systems are up to date to safeguard from the ever-changing methods of data miners and other individuals who might make attempts to access files remotely or internally. Key Takeaways As computer security and information technology mature, keeping data secure and accurate is increasingly important. The role of data integrity analyst is to monitor network and data security against malicious breaches as well as prevent accidental errors. The field is growing, and job candidates should have a solid background in IT and data science. What Do Data Integrity Analysts Do? A data integrity analyst is responsible for making backups to company files in a safe manner that protects all versions of data on all storage devices. By monitoring company computer systems, the data integrity analyst makes sure company employees use internal information sources appropriately. As a data integrity analyst is in command of large amounts of possibly sensitive information, the employee must hold conduct to high standards of confidentiality and adhere to the restrictions a company deems appropriate on the use and storage of data. The data integrity analyst must be personally responsible for access and exposure to the information that is being protected and regulate the security clearances of all employees within a firm. To keep abreast of all potential threats of data security breaches, the data integrity analyst may be required to attend relevant conferences and other educational events, including conferences sponsored by security product vendors. The data integrity analyst may also attend trade shows to learn about data security products that may be purchased by the company to maintain vigilant management over security protocols. Average Salary As of May 2021, the average salary for a data integrity analyst is approximately $61,000, with the lower end of the pay scale at $44,000 and the higher end of $86,000. Senior positions in this role are likely to pay more. Positions are available across the United States in cities such as Atlanta, New York City, Chicago, and St. Louis. Experience and Education A data integrity analyst is expected to have worked in this position or one with related duties and functions for one to five years within the industry for which the hiring company is involved. Hiring managers within the financial services industry are likely to prefer data integrity analysts who have previous work experience in financial services, as an understanding of concepts of industry is likely to be integral to the successful completion of job duties. A company hiring a data integrity analyst may seek a candidate who has a bachelor's degree in computer science, information technology, health information technology or a related field. Some hiring firms may accept sufficient experience in the field when a candidate does not hold a degree or holds an unrelated degree. Skills Different companies may have their own requirements for certifications that show competency in computer science. Employers in the health field may require candidates to hold a Certified Health Data Analyst (CHDA) certificate. If the candidate is seeking a position in the health field, familiarity with commonly used health platforms for information technology is likely to be required. Likewise, each industry is likely to have its own systems that are commonly used. A data integrity analyst should have the ability to conduct data mapping activities that track data storage and the access of data held within specific security tiers by employees or divisions within the company. To promote the successful access of data by those parties who need to use it, the data integrity analyst should have the ability to create and disseminate transparent databases. Information that is integral to the key functions of employees in other departments should be accessible through the structure of data reserves. High communication skills are a must for a candidate looking to fill this position. Depending on the needs of the hiring firm, a data integrity analyst may be asked to standardize company data or draw analytical information from available data. The data integrity analyst should be comfortable with all formats of data and the conversion of data from one format to another to enable standardization and employee access. A data integrity analyst may be expected to work for extended periods of time without supervision from a manager. Likewise, a potential data integrity analyst should be comfortable interpreting and executing the directions of a company without excessive additional clarification from management. Previous exposure to the field of data security and computer science should enable the data integrity analyst to distinguish between malicious and benign behaviors in computer systems, and know which security protocols should be taken to enhance current security measures, as well as implement new firewalls and antivirus software. A data integrity analyst must have sufficient understanding of the different methods of preventing breaches and available software to make sound judgment calls on new software to be implemented into current systems. A candidate must have the ability to work for extended periods of time independently or in a team setting depending on the needs of the hiring firm. An individual who accepts this position may lead or be part of a company's data team and should be comfortable forming working relationships with fellow team members. Job Outlook This is a growing field, and as more and more companies need to protect sensitive data and create databases that allow for easy access of company records and files for employees, there is a higher demand and necessity for the data integrity analyst position. Large- and medium-sized companies may outsource their data needs to third parties, but as computer information becomes an increasingly private matter, companies are increasing efforts to hire their own data integrity analysts. Likewise, as this position becomes more integral to the basic business functions of different companies, it is likely the position's average salary may increase as larger companies pay more competitive salaries to the most competent individuals to protect company data. What Is the Average D/E Ratio in the Food and Beverage Sector? The food and beverage sector includes diverse groups of companies specializing in producing different foods and beverages such as specialty health foods, meat products, eggs, soft drinks, beer, and liquor. To determine whether a stock in this sector is appropriate to purchase for a portfolio, many investors look to the company's long-term debt-to-equity (D/E) ratio. The D/E ratio is a financial metric used to evaluate a company's financial leverage and is calculated by dividing a companys total liabilities by its shareholder equity. Key Takeaways The D/E ratio is an important metric used in corporate finance and reflects the ability of shareholder equity to cover all outstanding debts in the event of a business downturn. The average d/e ratio of the industry could be a misleading metric because the distribution of the D/E ratios within the industry is highly skewed. The D/E ratio is calculated by dividing a companys total liabilities by its shareholder equity. Understanding the Average D/E Ratio in the Food and Beverage Sector The D/E ratio is most often used to gauge the extent to which a company is taking on debt as a means of leveraging its assets. A high D/E ratio is often associated with high risk; it means that a company has been aggressive in financing its growth with debt. If a lot of debt is used to finance growth, a company could potentially generate more earnings than it would have without that financing. If leverage increases earnings by a greater amount than the debts cost (interest), then shareholders should expect to benefit. However, if the cost of debt financing outweighs the increased income generated, share values may decline. The cost of debt can vary with market conditions. Below is the D/E ratio of three of the largest food and beverage companies as of June 2021: Payments made to a Simplified Employee Pension (SEP) IRA are tax-deductible for employers, but there is an annual limit on contributions. SEP IRAs are funded solely by the employer using tax-deductible dollars. For 2020, an employer can contribute up to 25% of an employee's compensation or $57,000, whichever is less, and in 2021 that amount rises to $58,000. Key Takeaways Employers can deduct payments to a Simplified Employee Pension (SEP) IRA for an employee up to set limits. Business owners who start up a SEP IRA may be eligible for a tax credit of up to $500 per year. SEP IRA contributions and earnings can be withdrawn at any time, subject to the general limitations imposed on traditional IRAs. What Is a SEP IRA? A SEP IRA is a type of traditional IRA available to self-employed individuals, freelancers, and small-business owners. Employees are not able to contribute to a SEP IRA that the company opens on their behalf. Contributions come solely from the employer, and they are not required to contribute every year. When making SEP IRA contributions, employers are required to contribute an equal percentage of income for every employee. This applies to every employee who performed services during the year, even for employees who die or terminate employment before the contributions are made. Additionally, business owners who start up a SEP may be eligible for a tax credit of up to $500 per year for the first three years that the SEP account is open. The self-employed are permitted to contribute up to 20% of net earnings to a SEP IRA, or the annual contribution limit, whichever is less. What Is the Eligibility for an Employers SEP? Once a business owner has set up a SEP IRA, they must include all eligible employees on the plan, which is defined as: Employees 21 or older, who Have worked for you for at least three of the past five years, and who Have earned at least $600 in income from your business for the year An employer could lower eligibility thresholds, for example, by lowering the age or minimum service requirements. However, the eligibility requirements must apply to everyone equally. For individuals who are not self-employed, the compensation used to determine SEP IRA contributions includes wages, salaries, fees for professional services, commissions and tips, fringe benefits, and bonuses. Compensation generally includes amounts deferred, at the employee's election, under benefits plans such as 401(k) plans, 403(b) plans, SIMPLE IRAs, Section 457 plans, and Section 125 cafeteria plans. Contribution Deadline and Withdrawals The deadline for establishing a SEP IRA plan and making contributions is the filing deadline for the employer's tax return, including extensions. Catch-up contributions are not allowed in SEP IRAs as they are made by individuals rather than employers. SEP IRA contributions and earnings can be withdrawn at any time subject to the general limitations imposed on traditional IRAs. A withdrawal is taxable in the year received. If a participant makes a withdrawal before age 59, a 10% additional tax generally applies. SEP IRA contributions and earnings may be rolled over tax-free to other IRAs and retirement plans after two years of participation. AIB is warning customers to be aware of two phone scams that are currently in circulation. The bank says that one type of call claims to be from a law enforcement official asking you to to make payments so they can track criminal activity. By Eoin English The company which runs four of Cork's largest multi-storey car parks has launched a loyalty app offering cashback and rewards to encourage shoppers into the city. And amid ongoing debate over the impact of the daily afternoon car ban on the city's main street, the city's largest pedestrian shopping district, Opera Lane, says sales in some of its stores are actually up in recent weeks, compared to the same period last year. The details emerged as the city's Christmas lights were due to be switched on at 7.15pm this evening, and ahead of a raft of sales promotions in the run-up to Black Friday. Q-Park said they hope their new Q-Park Rewards app will help create a "high street eco-system" that will benefit the entire city and a spokesman encouraged retailers and restaurants to sign up free to be part of the scheme. He was responding to questions from the Irish Examiner on foot of criticism from city councillors of private car park operators last week. After days of sustained criticism of the car ban, councillors backed the car ban last Monday after a new, free, late-night parking initiative was unveiled in the council's Paul St and North Main St car parks. During the debate on the city's 2019 budget last Thursday, councillors said private car park operators should do more to incentivise city trade. Q-Park, which runs the Grand Parade, Carroll's Quay, City Hall and St Finbarr's car parks, said they have not seen any "significant changes" to "parker numbers" since the reintroduction of the bus priority lanes in August, but declined to provide specific figures, citing commercial sensitivity. The spokesman said they offer a number of promotions throughout the year, and offer 30% off normal tariffs when customers book online. But he added: "We have also launched a new loyalty app in the last few days which allows for visitors to the city to receive rewards/cashback for parking and retail/restaurant spend in the city. "We would also stress that Q-Park are not commercialising the retail/restaurant agreements but are hoping to create a high street eco-system whereby we help improve the city centre economy. We would recommend to any local business, big or small, to contact us to join the scheme." SoHo bar and restaurant on the Grand Parade validates parking for its diners who park in Q-Parks car park between 5pm and 2am. Meanwhile, Opera Lane, the pedestrianised shopping precinct just off St Patrick's St, said sales in some of their stores are actually up in the period September-October compared to the same period last year. They declined to supply specific data to queries from the Irish Examiner, but in a statement, a spokesperson said retail is very challenging - not just in Cork, but everywhere. "There are very many complex variables at work which affect sales," the spokesperson said. "According to many Opera Lane traders, the introduction of the new traffic regulations and bus priority lanes on St Patricks St has not affected sales overall and in fact, several stores traded ahead of the same period 2017 in September and October. "We believe that as Opera Lane is a pedestrian street, our customers are used to finding their way into the area on foot and this has worked to our advantage. "Since the introduction of Black Friday, November now tends to be a quieter month as customers wait for our special offers to start. "Some Opera Lane stores will launch their Black Friday sales on Monday with up to 50% off seasonal collections. These offers, combined with the Christmas light switch on last night will add to the excitement and atmosphere in the city centre and we expect the build to Christmas to be strong." Meanwhile, the National Transport Authority (NTA) has effectively ruled out the introduction free public transport in Cork to help the car ban bed in. Worker's Party Cllr Ted Tynan urged the NTA to follow the example of Dunkirk, where buses are free. But in a statement, the NTA said it is preparing the Cork Transport Strategy "with cost-effective measures and plans" being considered to further promote public transport use. Crumlin Children's Hospital in Dublin is being urged to conduct an immediate review of all tests for a cancer gene carried out over the past decade. It comes after a woman was mistakenly given the all-clear. The woman, who does not want to be identified, was told in 2009 that she tested negative for the BRCA1 gene. However, last month, it emerged her test result was incorrect and her doctors were told last month that she actually tested positive. She is now being treated for an aggressive form of ovarian cancer. The Sunday Times reports the woman now wants Crumlin Children's Hospital to conduct a review of all BRCA genetic tests to ensure no other patients were given incorrect results. In a statement issued through her solicitor, the woman says she is now in a "grave situation" and that the incorrect result will have life-altering consequences for her. The hospital declined to make any comment when contacted by the paper. Roisin Shortall, the co-leader of the Social Democrats, said there is now a need to find out how the error happened and whether any other women have been affected. In a statement, Deputy Shortall said: "Its vital that all women who have undergone the same test are contacted immediately and provided with clear and accurate information about where they stand. The Minister for Health and the HSE must move swiftly to review the test results of all women who have undergone BRCA tests at Our Ladys Childrens Hospital Crumlin in the past decade, to ensure no one else is at risk. She added: "If there's a misdiagnosis in relation to one case, the question has to be asked are there other inaccuracies as well." - Digital Desk Our Lady's Children's Hospital in Crumlin is to review all transcriptions of a cancer gene test after what it believes was a "transcription error" in one case. The review was confirmed after it emerged that an adult patient was told she did not carry a specific gene that placed her at a higher risk of developing cancer, and later developed ovarian cancer. The Children's Hospital Group, which oversees operations at the Crumlin hospital, has apologised to the woman involved and said it regrets "the series of events that led to her current difficult situation". In a statement, it said it believes the case is "an isolated incident caused by human error". "All facts in this incident currently point to the fact that a transcription error of a genetic test result occurred. This is currently considered to be an isolated incident caused by human error. This fact has been communicated to the woman involved through her treating clinician." "As a precautionary measure, a review by Our Lady's Children's Hospital, Crumlin is currently underway of all transcriptions of BRACA tests to ensure tests results were transcribed correctly and that no similar transcription error has occurred," said the statement. The hospital group also said it wished to reassure other patients who have undergone testing that this "is not a testing error and therefore there is no cause for concern or distress". The Department of Health was notified of the case by the HSE on Friday evening and Minister Simon Harris has been briefed. He subsequently made contact with the Children's Hospital Group and has been assured that steps are being taken to ensure that the error is not replicated elsewhere. According to a report in the Ireland edition of the Sunday Times, the woman at the centre of the incident was informed last month that she had tested positive for the BRCA1 gene. She had been told by Our Lady's Children's Hospital in Crumlin in 2009 that she had tested negative. Someone with the BRCA1 gene is at a higher risk of developing breast or ovarian cancer. Social Democrats co-leader Roisin Shortall has called on the Minister to instruct the HSE to carry out an audit of women who have been given an all-clear in the same test. We need to know how this error happened and how many other women are potentially affected. Its vital that all women who have undergone the same test are contacted immediately and provided with clear and accurate information about where they stand." "The Minister for Health and the HSE must move swiftly to review the test results of all women who have undergone BRCA tests at Our Ladys Childrens Hospital Crumlin in the past decade, to ensure no one else is at risk, she said. Ms Shortall said that concerns about standards and resources in the genetics department at Crumlin hospital were criticised in a report by independent experts in 2014. We need to know what actions, if any, were taken on foot of that reports findings and recommendations, she said. Heroic firefighters launched themselves into the River Shannon tonight to save a man in his 20s from drowning. The dramatic river rescue happened near OCallaghan Strand in Limerick City, shortly after a 999 call was received at 7.10pm by Munster Regional Fire Control. Latest: Fianna Fail leader Micheal Martin has rubbished Taoiseach Leo Varadkar's big tax promise, saying it could cost up to 4bn to implement, writes By Daniel McConnell, Political Editor. . Mr Martin said he would not be getting into matching tax promises. On Mr Varadkar's plan, he said: That could be anything from 1.6bn to 4bn of a pledge. Do you remember the last General Election, the big promise? US style taxes, the pledge of 'we will abolish the USC'. That was a 4bn promise abandoned as soon as they got into Government. So cool the jets, as someone said earlier. It was an election platforming speech, that element of it - no questions - and there were no costings attached to it, he added. It was designed to target a particular audience but if you look at the health and housing sections of the speech, very weak indeed. No mention of broadband, (the cost of delivering) which the Taoiseach has said will be multiples of the original estimate, he said. Sinn Fein slams Taoiseach's 'election gambit' Sinn Fein has hit out at the Taoiseach over his plans to reform income tax, calling it an "election gambit". Leo Varadkar announced yesterday he would raise the threshold for the upper rate of tax to 50,000. However, Sinn Fein said the move would cost the state more than 2bn. The party's finance spokesperson, Pearse Doherty, said the cuts will not help people struggling with the cost of living. He said: "The two million people who are below the 35,000 that the Taoiseach was talking about won't receive a penny of that, there will be no impact whatsoever. "This is designed for the top 20% of earners in society and really it doesn't address the core issues they face and many others face." - Digital Desk To cite Lewis Carroll, the British government have been hunting a Snark, writes Michael Keating, University of Aberdeen. The Brexit process started in March 2017 with the triggering of Article 50, allowing two years to complete the process. The main story since then has been of postponing difficult decisions in the hope that something would turn up. Ministers have insisted they have a mandate from the people but have struggled to agree on what it entails in practice. Negotiations within the UK government have been as difficult as those with the EU. It might have been expected that, before March 2019, we would have a clear idea of what Brexit would look like. Instead, we have a 20-month transition period, which the UK government has been calling an implementation period. It is neither a transition nor an implementation phase, but the period in which the real negotiation of what Brexit means will take place; it can be extended once by agreement of both parties. What has been achieved now is the minimum required for the formalities of withdrawal: the financial settlement; an agreement on citizens rights; and an ambiguous commitment on the Irish border question. The talk in recent months has suggested that the Irish border is the last remaining obstacle to a deal. This is misleading, as the Irish border stands in for a much larger set of issues on which discussions have barely begun from the single market to trade to regulations. Red, red lines At the beginning of the process, the UK government laid down a series of red lines. These included withdrawal from the single market, the customs union and the jurisdiction of the Court of Justice of the European Union, and no differentiated Brexit for the different parts of the United Kingdom. These have all been breached. The Chequers agreement in July 2018, which formed the basis of the UK negotiating position, conceded that the UK would align with EU standards in manufactured and agricultural goods, a central principle of the single market. The new agreement concedes the customs union in the form of a single customs territory. This is purportedly to deal with the Irish border, but extending the customs union to the whole UK also serves a wider purpose. British manufacturers have been telling the government that they need a customs union to secure frictionless trade and their just-in-time production chains. The Irish government wants to maintain access to markets in Great Britain. The idea is that the customs agreement is a backstop, to be superseded by an overall trade agreement with the EU. Yet, unless that agreement also includes customs union, it is difficult to see how it could serve the purpose since you need customs union to prevent the hard border. The UK can also withdraw from it only with the agreement of the EU. And differential treatment for Northern Ireland is certain to spark demands for a special deal for Scotland, as the Scottish government proposed in December 2017. During the transition, meanwhile, the UK will be subject to the Court of Justice of the European Union. Thereafter, disputes about agreements will be subject to binding arbitration, another form of supranational jurisdiction. Arbitration panels will have to follow the Court of Justices interpretation of EU law. Like Oslo, but different The UK will therefore remain tied to the EU and have to accept many of its policies. This bears comparison with the Norwegian model (the European Economic Area) that was explicitly rejected at the outset though with some differences. The UK will be tied to the EU customs union, which Norway is not. It will not enjoy all the single market benefits, which Norway has (except in agriculture and fisheries). It will not, like Norway, have a consultative voice in the making of EU policies. The UK will not be bound to accept free movement of workers, but this question might come back in return for access to EU markets, especially in services. Finally, there is to be a differentiated Brexit for Northern Ireland, which will be more closely tied into the customs union and product regulation. There is to be a special designation of products as UK (NI), and a need to meet both UK and EU regulations. Brexit was never going to be easy, especially after the UK government rejected off-the-shelf solutions such as the European Economic Area. What it has ended up with customs union and bits of regulatory alignment looks rather like the model at which the Labour Party, after its tortuous internal arguments has arrived, not that Labour will agree. Had both parties started off with the Norway model, they might have found common ground and a clearer and more comprehensible arrangement. Instead, to cite Lewis Carroll, they have been hunting a Snark. Michael Keating is the Chair in Scottish Politics at the University of Aberdeen This article was originally published on The Conversation. Read the original article here. Chinese mobile payment platform Alipay has joined forces with the National University of Singapore to launch a new initiative aimed at supporting digital technology innovation throughout Southeast Asia. Alipay, operated by Alibaba Group's affiliate Ant Financial, says the Alipay-NUS "Enterprise Social Innovation Challenge" aims to identify and support the growth of start-ups in Southeast Asia that are using digital technology to build a more inclusive society. The payments giant says areas of focus include, but are not limited to, enabling low-income groups to gain access to better educational opportunities, supporting elderly individuals to leverage digital technologies to enhance their lifestyle, and helping people with disabilities through upskilling and reskilling initiatives. Since Alipays inception in 2004, we have been dedicated to using digital technology to bring equal opportunities to the world. In particular, we want to make financial services simple, low-cost and accessible to the many, rather than the few, said Geoff Jiang, vice-president and general manager of Technology and Business Innovation Group at Ant Financial. "While the impact of one company may be limited, an ecosystem of partners who stand behind the same vision will be able to achieve much more. We look forward to working with our new partner NUS Enterprise, to identify and support the growth of the most innovative start-ups in Southeast Asia. It is exciting for us to be involved with teams creating lasting impact for their communities and addressing real world problems, such as aging, poverty and lack of access to development opportunities. We are delighted to partner with Ant Financial and Alipay in this worthy initiative, to seek out the most innovative start-ups involved in developing digital technologies that will build a more inclusive society and a better world for everyone, said Professor Wong Poh Kam, senior director, NUS Entrepreneurship Centre, a division of NUS Enterprise. NUS Enterprise will help these innovators scale their efforts and maximise social impact, through our strong support ecosystem and extensive entrepreneurial networks, which include mentors, impact investors, corporate CSR teams, capacity builders and community partners. The inaugural Alipay-NUS Enterprise Social Innovation Challenge will take place in Singapore, Malaysia and Indonesia. Applicants can participate by registering online. Applications will close in January 2019. The first round of judging will determine the top three winners within each country, who will each receive a cash prize of S$10,000. The nine finalists will compete for the top cash prize of S$50,000 in the grand finale, to be held in Singapore in March 2019. The winning teams will not only receive financial rewards to invest toward increasing their social impact, but also receive support to accelerate their growth through networks, mentorship and partnership opportunities with Ant Financial, NUS and other partners in the ecosystem. And top teams will also receive three-month incubation support by NUS Enterprise, as well as access to its BLOCK71 community and co-working space in Singapore, Bandung, Jakarta, Yogyakarta, Suzhou and San Francisco. A former militia leader in the Central African Republic nicknamed Colonel Rambo was on Saturday extradited to The Hague to stand trial for war crimes and crimes against humanity at the International Criminal Court. Currently a lawmaker, Alfred Yekatoms extradition was the first of its kind from the CAR. Former army officer Yekatom, 43, was the target of US sanctions in 2015 for suspected attacks against Muslims, civilian deaths, and for using child fighters. After being elected to parliament in 2016, he was arrested in October for opening fire inside the legislature while its new president was being elected. ICC chief prosecutor Fatou Bensouda welcomed the extradition, saying it advances the cause of justice in the Central African Republic and promising that she would continue to pursue her quest for truth and justice. Pierre Brunisso from the International Federation of Human Rights watchdog added that it sent a strong message to the leaders of armed groups. Those who think they can claim an amnesty at the negotiating table are mistaken, he said. The ICC said Yekatom would be tried for alleged war crimes and crimes against humanity carried out by so-called anti-balaka militias. The court launched an investigation in September 2014 into crimes committed in the country since 2012. A three-judge bench of the Hague-based courts pre-trial chamber issued an arrest warrant against Yekatom last Sunday. The Chamber is satisfied that the overall supporting evidence is sufficient to establish reasonable grounds that Yekatom bears criminal responsibility, the judges said in the warrant, made public by the ICC late on Saturday. This included acts of murder, torture, deportation and using child soldiers younger than 15 years in the anti-balaka group between December 5, 2013 and August 2014. In continuing violence however, a Tanzanian peacekeeper died late Friday after an attack on a UN base and a priest was found burned to death, the UN and Catholic Church said after sectarian clashes that claimed nearly 40 lives. The soldier died of injuries sustained in the raid on the base in Gbambia in the countrys west, the UN mission MINUSCA said. Revenge attacks An armed group called Siriri, created this year by Fulani cattle herders, operates in the area. Led by a man named Ardo Abba, its purported aim is to thwart attacks by cattle rustlers. The UN said the group had attacked Gbambia in mid-June. A Tanzanian UN peacekeeper died that month after Siriri staged an ambush in the region. Meanwhile, the priests charred body was recovered in the central town of Alindao, Father Mathieu Bondobo, vicar-general of the main cathedral in Bangui, told AFP. On Friday, the UN said 37 deaths were confirmed in Alindao including that of another priest while 20,000 people were affected by the violence. Thousands were forced to flee. The bloodletting began Thursday when Christian militiamen killed Muslims, prompting revenge attacks during which a church was set ablaze. Alindao is a stronghold of the Union for Peace in CAR (UPC), a Muslim militia. It has witnessed chronic fighting in recent months that has also killed other UN soldiers and a humanitarian aid worker. Disastrous humanitarian situation One of the worlds poorest nations despite a rich supply of diamonds and uranium, the CAR has struggled to recover from a 2013 civil war that erupted when President Francois Bozize, a Christian, was overthrown by mainly Muslim Seleka rebels. In response, Christians, who account for about 80 percent of the population, organised vigilante units dubbed anti-balaka in reference to a type of machete. In September, the UN warned of a disastrous humanitarian situation in the region, which it said was under the control of armed groups. The government controls only a small part of the country. The UN has about 12,500 personnel deployed in the country as part of its MINUSCA mission, one of the world bodys largest peacekeeping forces. A former Central African Republic militia leader nicknamed Colonel Rambo arrived on Saturday in The Hague, where he will stand trial for war crimes and crimes against humanity at the International Criminal Court. Currently a lawmaker, Alfred Yekatoms extradition was the first of its kind from the CAR. The suspect arrived in the detention centre, said ICC spokesman Fadi El Abdallah of the former army officer, who was the target of US sanctions in 2015 for suspected attacks against Muslims, civilian deaths, and for using child fighters. After being elected to parliament in 2016, Yekatom, 43, was arrested in October for opening fire inside the legislature while its new president was being elected. ICC chief prosecutor Fatou Bensouda welcomed the extradition, saying it advances the cause of justice in the Central African Republic and promising that she would continue to pursue her quest for truth and justice. Pierre Brunisso from the International Federation of Human Rights watchdog added that it sent a strong message to the leaders of armed groups. Those who think they can claim an amnesty at the negotiating table are mistaken, he said. The ICC said Yekatom would be tried for alleged war crimes and crimes against humanity carried out by so-called anti-balaka militias. The court launched an investigation in September 2014 into crimes committed in the country since 2012. A three-judge bench of The Hague-based courts pre-trial chamber issued an arrest warrant against Yekatom last Sunday. The Chamber is satisfied that the overall supporting evidence is sufficient to establish reasonable grounds that Yekatom bears criminal responsibility, the judges said in the warrant, made public by the ICC late on Saturday. This included acts of murder, torture, deportation and using child soldiers younger than 15 years in the anti-balaka group between December 5, 2013 and August 2014. In continuing violence the CAR, however, a Tanzanian peacekeeper died late Friday after an attack on a United Nations base and a priest was found burned to death, the UN and the Catholic Church said after sectarian clashes that claimed nearly 40 lives. The soldier died of injuries sustained in the raid on the base in Gbambia in the countrys west, the UN mission MINUSCA said. Revenge attacks An armed group called Siriri, created this year by Fulani cattle herders, operates in the area. Led by a man named Ardo Abba, its purported aim is to thwart attacks by cattle rustlers. The UN said the group had attacked Gbambia in mid-June. A Tanzanian UN peacekeeper died that month after Siriri staged an ambush in the region. Meanwhile, the priests charred body was recovered in the central town of Alindao, Father Mathieu Bondobo, vicar-general of the main cathedral in Bangui, told AFP. On Friday, the UN said 37 deaths were confirmed in Alindao including that of another priest while 20,000 people were affected by the violence. Thousands were forced to flee. The bloodletting began Thursday when Christian militiamen killed Muslims, prompting revenge attacks during which a church was set ablaze. Alindao is a stronghold of the Union for Peace in CAR (UPC), a Muslim militia. It has witnessed chronic fighting in recent months that has also killed other UN soldiers and a humanitarian aid worker. Disastrous situation One of the worlds poorest nations despite a rich supply of diamonds and uranium, the CAR has struggled to recover from a 2013 civil war that erupted when President Francois Bozize, a Christian, was overthrown by mainly Muslim Seleka rebels. In response, Christians, who account for about 80 percent of the population, organised vigilante units dubbed anti-balaka in reference to a type of machete. In September, the UN warned of a disastrous humanitarian situation in the region, which it said was under the control of armed groups. The government controls only a small part of the country. The UN has about 12,500 personnel deployed in the CAR as part of its MINUSCA mission, one of the world bodys largest peacekeeping forces. Former war crimes prosecutor Carla Del Ponte, who for years was part of a UN commission probing rights abuses in Syria, is calling for reform of the UN talk shop. She also argued that the upholding of human rights had reached a low point, questioning if they still existed. The UN is a big disappointment to me, she told Swiss weekly NZZ Am Sonntag in an interview published Sunday, insisting that the UN should be reorganised. Del Ponte, a 71-year-old Swiss national who came to prominence investigating war crimes in Rwanda and the former Yugoslavia, was part of the UN Commission of Inquiry on Syria for five years, before slamming the door last year. During her time working with the commission, which is tasked with investigating human rights violations and war crimes in Syrias brutal civil war, Del Ponte said she was disappointed to find that the UN was basically a talk shop. There are lots of civil servants, too many. Only a few of them really do any work, she lamented. Del Ponte, known for her frankness, reiterated her frustration at the lack of accountability for the horrendous crimes committed in Syria, where more than 360,000 people have been killed since the conflict erupted in 2011. We had hoped that the International Criminal Court or an ad hoc court would deal with the war crimes in Syria, she said, criticising the blocked UN Security Council for standing in the way of such a process by doing nothing. She also criticised the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva. Half of the 47 countries that currently hold rotating membership, including the likes of China, Saudi Arabia and Burundi, are violating human rights on a daily basis, she maintained. They should be thrown out. Immediately, she said. She joked that she had been asked at a recent event if she would consider becoming UN Secretary-General, a job she said she would gladly take. But I would probably not last in office for long. Del Ponte, who said she is planning to retire for good at the end of this year, warned that international justice as a whole was currently in a sorry state. We have reached a low point, she told the paper. Human rights are no longer valid. We have to ask ourselves today if they still exist, she said. But she stressed that we have no choice but to believe in human rights. We must believe that an independent international court can bring justice. RAPID CITY, S.D. (AP) - A priest who served in Rapid City, South Dakota has pleaded not guilty to sexually abusing a child. Thirty-eight-year-old John Praveen was charged last month with sexually touching a 13-year-old girl over her clothes. The Rapid City Journal reports he entered his plea Friday. Bond remains set at $100,000. The Rapid City diocese earlier offered to house and supervise Praveen at a retirement home for priests in Piedmont, but backed off after some community members objected. Praveen worked at the Cathedral of Our Lady of Perpetual Help in Rapid City and All Saints Church in Eagle Butte. He belongs to the Holy Spirit Fathers, an order based in Hyderabad, India, that has tried to raise his bail. His arraignment earlier this month was postponed because of the lack of a translator. NORTHWOOD, Iowa Three women are facing drug charges after the search of a Northwood home on Saturday. The Worth County Sheriffs Office says deputies searched a home in the 900 block of 3rd Avenue N at around 11:30 am and discovered methamphetamine, marijuana, prescription pills, a handgun, and drug paraphernalia. As a result: - Joya Salzkorn, 23 of Hartley, is charged with unlawful possession of prescription pills, possession of marijuana-2nd offense, possession of meth-2nd offense, and possession of drug paraphernalia. - Sara Fenske, 27 of Northwood, was arrested for possession of marijuana-2nd offense, possession of meth-2nd offense, and possession of drug paraphernalia. Fenske is a teacher at Northwood-Kensett. "The Northwood-Kensett Community Schools are aware of the charges and the employee will be placed on administrative leave pending further review," the school district said Sunday in a statement. - Taylor Pohar, 22 of Milford, was taken into custody for possession of marijuana-3rd or subsequent offense, possession of meth-3rd or subsequent offense, unlawful possession of a firearm, and possession of drug paraphernalia. Papua New Guinea's Prime Minister Peter O'Neill speaks during the APEC CEO Summit 2018 in Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea, Friday, Nov. 16, 2018. AP-Yonhap President Moon Jae-in held talks with the prime minister of Papua New Guinea and agreed to boost bilateral relations in various fields, Cheong Wa Dae said Saturday. Moon is in the Oceania country to attend this year's Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit, where he will also hold bilateral meetings on the sidelines. During the talks, Moon and Prime Minister Peter O'Neill agreed to strengthen exchanges and cooperation in fields such as energy, infrastructure, and maritime and fisheries projects, according to presidential office spokesman Kim Eui-kyeom. President Moon Jae-in and his wife Kim Jung-sook leave Jacksons International Airport after arriving for the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit in Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea, Nov. 16. The 30th APEC summit, which brings together world leaders from its 21 Pacific Rim member nations, is being hosted for the first time by Papua New Guinea on Nov. 17 and 18. EPA-Yonhap 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. If you're interested in submitting a Letter to the Editor, click here. Submit (ST. JOSEPH, Mo) St. Joseph's JROTC high students celebrated the 96th Military Ball at Word of Life Church Saturday night. The JROTC military ball is an annual formal function that is planned and attended by the cadets enrolled in JROTC. But this year, the annual ball was also a major milestone for the program in St. Joseph. Saturday marked a century-long partnership between JROTC and the city of St. Joseph. "I just want to thank the city of St. Joseph," Brett Hall, Lt. Colonel, said. "A hundred years ago they invited JROTC into the city. We're very very grateful to be part of the St. Joseph School District along with the city and we really look forward to the next hundred years." The city started the program following the end of World War I. The military ball recognizes achievements in military training and included all three St. Joseph Public High Schools: Benton, Central and Lafayette. The Hague, Nov 18 (AFP) One of the last missing pieces of Byzantine art stolen from Cyprus in the 1970s was handed back this week by a renowned, and proud Dutch art investigator. Arthur Brand said Friday he handed back the sixth century depiction of Saint Mark during a private ceremony at the Cypriot embassy in The Hague. For Brand, dubbed the "Indiana Jones of the art world" because of his exploits to recover stolen works, the handover was a high point in his life-long interest in the Byzantine saint -- and the result of a nearly two-year chase across Europe. "This is a very special piece that's more than 1,600 years old. It's one of the last and most beautiful examples of art from the early Byzantine era," said the art sleuth. He showed AFP the mosaic hours before it was handed back. The Cypriot embassy and Church of Cyprus declined to comment when asked about the mosaic and the Cypriot Department of Antiquities did not respond to phone calls. After getting a tip from a prominent London art dealer, Brand travelled to Monaco in August. Through a series of intermediaries -- including several in the underground world -- Brand finally traced the missing mosaic to an apartment in the upscale city-state. "It was in the possession of a British family, who bought the mosaic in good faith more than four decades ago," Brand told AFP. "They were horrified when they found out that it was in fact a priceless art treasure, looted from the Kanakaria Church after the Turkish invasion," Brand said. The family agreed to return it "to the people of Cyprus" in return for a small fee to cover restoration and storage costs, he added. A week ago, Brand -- who was working with the Church of Cyprus -- returned to Monaco to collect the treasure, said to be worth five to 10 million euros (USD 5.7-USD 11 million). "It was one of the greatest moments of my life," the detective said. In 2015, Brand won world fame after finding two massive bronze statues made by Nazi sculptor Joseph Thorak that are referred to as "Hitler's Horses". He made headlines again a year later for helping to recover five stolen masterpieces from a criminal group in the Ukraine. Religious artifacts including mosaics were hewn from the church walls in northern Cyprus following an invasion by Turkish forces in 1974. They included a set of mosaics taken from the Panayia Kanakaria church, about 105 kilometres (65 miles) northeast of Nicosia. Many pieces ended up in the underground world of art smuggling and went missing for many years, while the Cyprus government and church campaigned ceaselessly to recover them. "The mosaics of Kanakaria are of immense importance in Christian art and world culture," said Maria Paphiti, a former department head at British auction house Christie's. The ensemble "is among a handful of artworks that escaped the menace of Byzantine iconoclasm" in the eighth and ninth century, Paphiti, an art historian and world authority on Byzantine art told AFP. Twelve mosaic fragments have been returned so far, notably one depicting the Apostle Andrew -- which Paphiti discovered among a collection of artworks in 2014. In 1989, four fragments depicting the upper part of Christ, two apostles and an archangel were handed back after a high-profile case in Indianapolis. Most of the mosaic fragments were recovered between 1983 and 2015, Paphiti said, but some pieces are still missing, including the lower part of Christ's body. "This is truly one of the last outstanding pieces to be returned," said Brand. "It is incredible to think that this piece of art survived for so long. It's part of the Cypriot peoples' soul," he added. St Mark is expected to return to the Mediterranean island within the coming days. German police made a major breakthrough in the recovery of stolen Cypriot art in 1979 when they raided the home of convicted Turkish art dealer Ayden Dikmen in Munich. Cyprus has been divided since 1974 when Turkey invaded and seized its northern third in response to an Athens-engineered coup to unite the island with Greece. (AFP) SCY (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) Pacora (Panama), Nov 18 (AFP) Amid swirling sawdust and the smell of fresh paint, the inmates of a grim Panamanian prison are diligently preparing for the upcoming visit of Pope Francis, hoping for forgiveness and praying for freedom. The sound of nails being deftly hammered into wood mingles with music in the makeshift workshop of the overcrowded La Joya prison, northeast of Panama City. Around 30 inmates are busy making confession boxes that will be used by pilgrims to confess their sins to priests during the pope's January 22-27 visit to mark the Catholic World Youth Day festival. A painting on one of the walls at the entrance to La Joya seems oddly prophetic: "God impacts your life, let yourself be led to him." Inmates like Felix Salinas hold out hope that a papal visit will impact their lives in some concrete way. "I would ask him to give me a chance. A pardon at least. Because that is what we all want here," said Salinas, a 50-year-old driver locked up here since 2015. Justino Hernandez, 62 and a devout Catholic, is particularly looking forward to the papal visit, the first to the Central American country since the late John Paul II made the trip in 1983. "The most important thing is to tell him that we are all entitled to a second chance and to freedom, that he gives us the chance to get out of this place," he said. Hernandez is prepared to ask the pope's forgiveness "as many times as he wants". The pope's agenda has yet to be finalized, and though he has visited prisons before, there has been no suggestion that he will visit the inmates of La Joya. The 9,700 inmates packed into La Joya is double the prison's capacity. Conditions here have been condemned by human rights organisations. From 8:00 am to 4:00 pm, the prisoners cut out traced designs from wood panels, assemble crosses and then sand, paint and upholster the confessionals, under an instructor's watchful eye. It's unpaid work, but most detainees hope their reward will come from Francis noticing their handiwork, or at least being told about it, and then pardon them -- failing that, a papal blessing. The brightly painted confessional booths will be set up in a so-called "Park of Forgiveness," an area of the capital's Omar Park that will be dedicated to WYD activities. Most of the detainees have never done this kind of work before but it has been such a success that the prison has received orders to make 70 information kiosks and to prepare food bags for pilgrims. Sharon Diaz, deputy head of the Penitentiary system, told AFP that the project -- rewarded by a day's deduction from inmates' sentences for every two days worked -- has surpassed expectations. "They have taken on this task not only in a personal way but in a spiritual way too, and the surprising thing about this initiative is that these are people deprived of freedom who don't profess the Catholic faith, and yet have still been enthusiastic," said Diaz. The project's supervisor Luis Vega said "there are no complications with them. They are very cooperative". Authorities expect hundreds of thousands of pilgrims, most of them from Latin America, to visit Panama for World Youth Day. For one of the prisoners, Jesus Argueles, their project is a "grain of salt" in "something great worldwide, that's going to be happening here in Panama." "I feel that all this is a message from God," said inmate Melis Guerrero over the hiss of paint sprayers. "I have heard from many of them that they have hopes the pope will go to them, bless them, look at them and recognize that they made an effort to do this work," said Diaz. "They want to show their forgiveness and repentance to the pope." (AFP) SCY (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) Lucknow, November 18: In a shocking incident of professional negligence, Bidhuna tehsil in Uttar Pradeshs Auraiya district issued a domicile certificate of Ajmal Kasab, a convict in 26/11 Mumbai attacks. Notably, Pakistani national Ajmal Kasab has been hanged at Yerwada jail in Pune on November 21, 2012. Following the revelation, the district administration cancelled cancelled the domicile certificate and suspended the concerned lekhpal (revenue officer). According to Pravendra Kumar, SDM Bidhuna, some unidentified men submitted fake documents in October for issuance of a domicile certificate of Ajmal Kasab. "The authorities, without cross-checking the facts, issued the domicile certificate on October 21," Kumar told TOI. He added that a probe has been ordered into the incident, and the National Informatics Centre has cancelled the domicile certificate. Pakistan Court Summons Nawaz Sharif in Treason Case Over Mumbai Terror Attack Remarks. As per the details written on the domicile certificate, terrorist Ajmal Kasabs birth place is mentioned as Bidhuna. The certificate, which bore registration no:181620020060722, mentioned Mohammad Amir as his father and Mumtaz Begum as his mother. When we found this discrepancy, we cross-checked the facts at tehsil office, besides at the given address and found that the certificate was fake. We have suspended the concerned lekhpal on whose verification report the domicile certificate was issued," the SDM was quoted as saying. At least 166 Indians and foreigners were killed in the 26/11 Mumbai attacks blamed on 10 Pakistani terrorists. One of them, Ajmal Kasab, was caught and hanged. On 3 May 2010, a trial court found Kasab guilty of 80 offences, including murder, waging war against India, possessing explosives, and other charges. The same trial court sentenced him to death, which was upheld by the Bombay High Court and the Supreme Court. (The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Nov 18, 2018 03:31 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com). Chandigarh, November 18: The Punjab police on Sunday said the grenade attack on a religious congregation in Amritsar that claimed three lives and left over a dozen injured appears to be a terrorist act. The police also clarified said there was no specific input about any possible attack on Nirankari Bhavan. Two suspects from Bhatinda with live cartridges have been arrested in connection with the blast. It (this incident) appears to have a terror angle. Because it is against a group (of people) and it is not against any individual. There is no reason to throw a hand grenade on a group of people, so we will take it as a terrorist act. Till proven otherwise, prima facie we will take it as that, Punjab Director General of Police Suresh Arora told PTI. There was no issue with this group as such There was no specific input on (Nirankari Bhavan), he added. Amritsar Grenade Attack: Home Minister Rajnath Singh Speaks to CM Amarinder Singh; Vows to Punish Perpetrators. Two motorcycle-borne masked youths threw a grenade at a religious congregation in Rajasansi area in Amritsar. Three people were killed and at least 15 others injured in the attack that took place on the Nirankari Satsang Bhawan of the Nirankari sect in Adliwala village. All victims were sect followers from nearby villages who had gathered for the Sunday weekly religious meeting. Amritsar Blast: Capt Amarinder Singh Announces Rs 5 Lakh Compensation for Kin of 3 Killed, Free Treatment to Injured. Witnesses told the police that two youths on a motorcycle, their faces covered, forced entry to the sect campus by pointing a pistol at a woman volunteer at the gate. Following the incident, Punjab Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh announced a compensation of Rs 5 lakh each to the kin of deceased. He also directed the civic hospital to provide free treatment to those injured in the attack. The Punjab CM also chaired a high-level meeting to review the law and order situation in the state. Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh also spoke to Amarinder Singh, assuring "strong action" against those responsible for the grenade attack. Calling the Sunday attack a "reprehensible act of violence", the central minister expressed deep anguish over the death of innocents. (The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Nov 18, 2018 05:33 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com). New Delhi, November 18: In another incident of sexual assault against minors, a two-year-old girl was allegedly kidnapped and raped by a man on Friday night in Delhi. After committing the crime, the accused dumped her near the tracks of Old Delhi Railway Station. The police arrested the 24-year-old accused on Sunday. He has been identified as Anil. According to police, the 24-year-old man was a drug addict. Anil kidnapped the minor on the intervening night of Friday and Saturday while she was sleeping with her mother on a footpath in north Delhis Kotwali area. Delhi: Minor Raped by Four Men After Luring Her With Pizza The girls mother around 2.30 am on Saturday found the minor missing and started looking for her. She then approached police around 10 am on Saturday. The police initially registered a kidnapping. As per the reports, in the afternoon, the police came to know that a baby girl had been admitted to a hospital in central Delhi after being rescued by a team of police personnel. Later, she was identified as the one who was kidnapped from Kotwali. It was found out that she had been sexually assaulted and the accused dumped her near the railway tracks. The girl underwent surgery and is now better, a police official told PTI. The accused was identified after scanning CCTV footage. After which, the police launched manhunt operation to nab him. The accused used to collect garbage for a living and also worked as a waiter during the wedding season. As per the police official, Three months ago, he was arrested in connection with a theft case in Haridwar. In a similar incident in September, an 11-year-old girl was allegedly raped in the national capital. The minor was reportedly raped in ESI Hospital in Rohini by a housekeeping staff of the hospital. A case was registered at KN Katju Marg Police Station, following which the accused was arrested. (With inputs from PTI) (The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Nov 18, 2018 03:56 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com). New Delhi, November 18: The poll campaigning has reached at its peak in Chhattisgarh, where the second and final phase of assembly elections 2018 is scheduled on Tuesday, November 20. Today will be the last day of electioneering, as per the Model Code of Conduct norms. Prime Minister Narendra Modi will end the ruling BJP's campaign with a rally in Mahasamund. Stay tuned here for the live breaking news and updates related to elections, as well as other major news from India and across the world. In other major news, PM Modi delivered a successful geo-political message in Male, where he attended the oath-taking ceremony of Maldives newly elected President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih. While Solih blamed China for looting the state's coffers, Modi assured that India would be strongly aidiming the island nation in its path to recovery. Meanwhile, tensions continue in Kerala, where right-wing outfits had called a bandh on Saturday to protest the detention of Hindu Aikya Vedi leader who had reached the Sabarimala shrine at 2am. The protesters have accused the Pinarayi Vijayan government of targeting Hindu leaders under the pretext of prohibitory orders. On the international front, the voices of dissent in peripheries of Pakistan against the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) project has grown louder. "CPEC is not a pro people project; it is a pro military project. It has a strategic interest, it isnt to develop local people of Gilgit-Baltistan or Balochistan. We demand that this project be immediately stopped," said prominent PoK activist Jamil Maqsood. Chennai, November 18: A tanker named MT Coral Stars which anchored at the Kamarajar Port in Ennore near Chennai suffered an oil spill. The Indian Coast Guard and the port authorities informed it occurred in the early hours of the day. Patrolling vessels were sent to the spot to access the situation and intensity of the oil spill. An official statement from the Kamarajar Port is yet to arrive. Pakistan Works to Contain Oil Spill Near Karachi. The spill took place at around 5.30 am this morning within the port limits of Ennore. A Pollution response Vessel was also sent from Vishakapatanam. As informed by one of the authorities to ET, the spillage was under one tonne but a clearer idea will only come after the final report from the port. ."We may get an exact estimate once the two ships we have sent there get back with information," said the official in the same report. But the port chairman said it could also be around two tonnes. Navy Conducts Exercise in Western Offshore Development Area For Oil Spill Control. Check the Press Note Regarding Oil Spill at Kamarajar Port in Chennai Press release by Kamarajar Port on the oil spill. Says around two tonnes of fuel oil spilled after a flexible hose snapped. The recovery of spilled oil was immediately started and would be completed by tomorrow. Coast guard and other authorities monitoring the situation. pic.twitter.com/FgiI8amqaT Shilpa Nair (@NairShilpa1308) November 18, 2018 Regarding the damage to the water, it is said that the oil spill is confined to the breakwaters of the port. The fence boom was activated immediately and the entire recovery could take about a day. An investigation will be done to know the exact cause behind the spillage. The Director General of Shipping Dr Malini V Shankar was quoted to Indian Express, "The leak happened at the port side and it is being contained along the breakwaters. An investigation is on whether it is due to equipment failure or callousness of the ship." An aerial survey of the area was also conducted and the recovery process is in effect. (The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Nov 18, 2018 07:35 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com). Muslim pilgrims are seen around the Kaaba at the Grand Mosque in Mecca, Saudi Arabia. (Photo Credits: IANS) New Delhi, November 18: A father-son duo were detained by authorities in Saudi Arabia for posing with the Indian flag inside the Haram in Mecca -- considered the most holiest place on earth by Muslims. They were released after the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) intervened in the case through the Consulate General in Jeddah. Imtiaz Ali, aged 45, and his 12-year-old son Uzair Ali are both residents of Vadodara in Gujarat. Imtiaz, along with his wife and two children, had left for Saudi Arabia on a pilgrimage. Hyderabadi Woman Rescued from Riyadh in Saudi Arabia, Thanks Sushma Swaraj. Unaware that posing with any flag inside the Haram is prohibited, the father-son duo attempted to click pictures of them with the tricolour. They were spotted by the guards deployed at the sanctum sanctorum, who took them into custody. While Uzair was released hours after being detained, Imtiaz was freed on Saturday after the Consulate General in Jeddah intervened. Yes, We r aware of d incident. The incident has happened inside d Haram in Makkah. Pl note that it is banned 2 display Flags in Haram area. Our official has already met Mr.Imtiaz Ali n son Mr Uzair Ali at Haram Police Station.After our intervention, Uzair Ali has been released./1 India in Jeddah (@CGIJeddah) November 17, 2018 Before their release, Zuber Goplani, National Executive Council member of the All India Muslim Majlis-e- Mushawrats Gujarat Chapter, had tweeted to the Gujarat CMO, PMO and External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj, seeking immediate help for the family. The Consulate General in Jeddah has appealed the Indian nationals planning to visit Saudi Arabia to ensure that the code of conduct in Haram is not violated. "Please note it is banned to display flags in Haram area," it said. (The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Nov 18, 2018 02:20 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com). Chennai, November 18: Nearly 2,100 kilogram of frozen meat was seized by the Railway Police Force (RPF) in Tamil Nadu's Chennai Egmore station. The meat, packed into 20 thermocol iced boxed, was offloaded from the Mannargudi-Bhagat Ki Kothi Weekly Express on platform no. 5 at 10:30am on Saturday. Since an extremely foul smell was being emanated from the boxes, the RPF officials asked two men carrying them to reveal what is inside. On being approached by the security personnel, the duo dropped the parcel and escaped from the site. Stop Eating Dog Meat! Vietnams Capital City Hanoi Tells Its Resident. When the boxed were opened up by the RPF, they found meat of a small animal stuffed inside. Officials of the Food Safety Department were called at the site to inspect the meat. On inspection, the meat was found to be of slaughtered dogs. For further analysis, it was sent to the Meat Sciences Department at the Madras Veterinary College in Vepery, Chennai. Apart from the meat being of dog, the Food Safety officials said the matter of grave concern is the manner in which it was being transported. The meat was not adequately refrigerated and appeared to be 48-72 hours old -- which could had been hazardous for anyone consuming it. While the RPF did not register a case as no claimant of the parcel was found, the Chennai police has filed an FIR to trace from where the meat was loaded. According to some reports, the meat could had been loaded at Gandhidham in Gujarat. The official confirmation, however, is awaited. Notably, the Mannargudi-Bhagat Ki Kothi Weekly Express plies once in a week from Bhagat ki Kothi in Rajasthan to Mannargudi in Tamil Nadu, and vice versa. (The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Nov 18, 2018 03:15 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com). Lucknow, November 18: In view of the procession to be taken out in parts of the city on November 21 - when Muslims will celebrate Eid-e-Milad Un Nabi (SAW) - a high-level meeting was called by District Magistrate Kaushal Raj Sharma to view the arrangements. At the meeting, it was decided that the processions on Eid-e-Milad should proceed under drone surveillance. The move is aimed at security of the devotees, as well as, to prevent untoward incidents which could lead to communal strife. The measure will allow the administration to keep an eye on miscreants from either sides. Eid-e-Milad Arrangements Finalised at Kashmir's Hazratbal Dargah, Reviewed by Wakf Board Chief. The meeting was also attended by SSP Kalanidhi Naithani, ADM Santosh Kumar Vaishya and Municipal Commissioner Indramani Tripathi. The top officials chalked out the strategy to maintain peace, harmony, law and order on the festival, slated to be celebrated on Wednesday. Maulana Khalid Rasheed Firangi Mahali, while speaking to reporters, said the administration should also ensure uninterrupted water and electricity supply on the auspicious day, apart from providing security to the procession. The top cleric said Muslims would be attending overnight congregations on Tuesday, planned at Islamia College, Lalbagh, Aminabad Park and Chowk Mandi. On the next morning, the procession - referred to as Juloos-e-Madhe-Sahaba - would be taken out under drone surveillance from Aminabad Park. It would pass through Maulviganj, Rakabganj, Nadan Mahal Road, Bilochpura and Haidarganj, before concluding at the Eidgah. Eid-e-Milad, also referred to as Mawlid, is the birth anniversary of Prophet Muhammad (SAW). Muslims adhering to various sects and school of thoughts pay adherence to the Holy Prophet on this day, which falls on the 12th of Rabi-ul-Awwal in the Islamic calendar. (The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Nov 18, 2018 05:42 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com). Male/New Delhi, November 17: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday met Maldives new President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih and discussed various bilateral issues. The two leaders agreed to work together to further "strengthen bilateral relations." The Indian Prime Minister took to twitter saying, "Congratulations to Mr. @ibusolih on taking oath as the President of the Maldives. Wishing him the very best for his tenure ahead. Looking forward to working with him to strengthen bilateral relations between our nations." "Had productive discussions with President @ibusolih," he added. India was the only country invited at the head of the state or the government level to grace the occasion. According to sources, India was the only country mentioned by President Solih in his speech. According to a joint press statement released by the Ministry of External Affairs, Modi conveyed greetings and compliments from the people of India to the people of the Republic of Maldives on consolidation of democracy, which is essential for peace, prosperity, and stability. Maldives' President-elect Ibrahim Mohamed Solih Invites Narendra Modi to Attend Oath Taking Ceremony. The two leaders, while noting the resilience of the relations between India and the Maldives, expressed confidence in the renewal of the close bonds of cooperation and friendship with the election of Solih as the seventh President of the Maldives. Both the leaders agreed on the importance of maintaining peace and security in the Indian Ocean and being mindful of each other's concerns and aspirations for the stability of the region. They also expressed their unwavering commitment and support for increased cooperation in combating terrorism both within the region and elsewhere. President Solih welcomed and thanked PM Modi for marking his maiden visit to the island nation. Modi, in return, also thanked President Solih for the special gesture of inviting him to the Inauguration Ceremony. Solih also briefed Modi about Maldives' fragile economic situation. The two leaders discussed ways in which India can continue development partnership, particularly to help the new government in meeting its pledges to the people of the Maldives. In particular, President Solih highlighted the pressing need for increased housing and infrastructure development as well as for establishing water and sewerage systems in the outlying islands. In addition, Modi extended an invitation to President Solih to make a State Visit to India at his earliest convenience. The Minister of Foreign Affairs of Maldives will be making an official visit to India on November 26 to hold further discussions and prepare for the forthcoming State Visit of President Solih to India. Commenting on the recent visit, Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Raveesh Kumar also tweeted, "Visit emphasized India's role as a reliable neighbour, supporting the Maldives in its progress and security." Washington, November 17: Former US National Security Agency (NSA) contractor and whistleblower Edward Snowden on Saturday voiced his concern over the indictment of WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange on the basis of unspecified documents. He has been charged in the United States after unsealed court documents inadvertently revealed his name. Sputnik reported that the former NSA contractor is himself facing capital punishment in the US for leaking classified information on numerous US secret surveillance programmes. He has been granted a political asylum in Russia, at present. The Justice Department has prepared an indictment against the WikiLeaks founder in which prosecutors inadvertently mentioned charges against him. The information was contained in a court filing in an unrelated case. The charges are unclear since they were not revealed. Sources confirmed Snowden's concern that the US Justice Department's alleged plans to prosecute Assange may turn out to be a dangerous precedent for stifling press freedom. Wikileaks Founder Julian Assange Charged in an Unrelated Case in US: Prosecutors. Sputnik quoted Snowden, having said in a statement, "Whether you like Assange or hate him, the theories used in a potential Espionage Act prosecution would threaten countless reporters at the New York Times, Washington Post, and the many other news outlets that report on government secrets all the time. While everyone will have to wait and see what the charges detail, it's quite possible core First Amendment principles will be at stake in this case." Edward Snowden, who leaked classified information on numerous US secret surveillance programs in 2013, faces espionage charges in the US and may face life imprisonment or even capital punishment if he is ever tried on the US soil. The political asylum he received from Russia later that year is expected to expire in 2020 unless extended. - INEC declared Raheem Olawuyi winner of the Ekiti/Irepodun/Isin/Oke-Ero Federal Constituency bye-election - The APC candidate polled 21, 236 votes to defeat his closest rival - There were reports of violence in some polling units leading to cancellations The candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Raheem Olawuyi, was on Saturday declared the winner of the Ekiti/Irepodun/Isin/Oke-Ero Federal Constituency bye-election held across the four councils in Kwara. The Returning Officer for the election, Prof. Abimbola Adesoji, while declaring the result at the Irepodun Local Government Secretariat in Omu-Aran, said Olawuyi polled 21, 236 to emerge winner. READ ALSO: Bukola Saraki reportedly says Kwara state will never bow to Lagos politicians He defeated his closest rival, Saheed Damilare of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), who polled 18, 095. Abimbola, who is of the Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, said Olawuyi having scored the highest number of votes in the election was declared winner. Other contestants in the election were Femi Ona-Ara of Labour Party, Ajadi Olayemi of Peoples Party of Nigeria (PPN) as well as Olaniyan Ayorinde of Unity Party of Nigeria (UPN). Abimbola gave the total number of total registered voters as collated as 168, 707, accredited voters as 41,185, the total valid votes as 39,599, total number of rejected votes as 1, 331 and total number of votes cast as 40,930. The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that some cancellations arising from snatching of ballot boxes and over voting were reportedly experienced in three polling units in Irepodun Local Government Area. The affected units as listed by the Presiding Officer in charge of the council included Registration Area (RA) 02 of Esie-Ijan Ward where two ballot boxes were reportedly snatched and 955 number of registered voters lost. Other areas were Oro Ward 1 RA 02, Polling Unit 01 where a case of ballot snatching was recorded and a total of 297 registered voters were affected and over voting in Oro Ward 2 RA 10 Polling Unit 01 with 474 registered votes lost. Election cancellation was also recorded in Ile Apaasin RA 04 Polling Unit in Isin Local Government where only 59 voters were accredited but turned in 377 votes. Some Independent National Electoral Officers were confirmed to have been attacked and had wounds in the process. NAN reports that the declaration of the results was witnessed by notable officials that included the Kwara State Commissioner of Police, Mr Bolaji Fafowora, the Resident Electoral Commissioner from Kwara, Malam Garuba Madami as well as his Imo and Lagos counterparts, Mr Emeka Nzeonu and Mr Sam Olumeko respectively. Meanwhile, Senate president Bukola Saraki has finally revealed why he is always against the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) and fighting President Muhammadu Buhari. PAY ATTENTION: NAIJ.com upgrades to Legit.ng: a letter from our Editor-in-Chief Bayo Olupohunda Legit.ng gathered that the former governor of Kwara state made the revelation in a leaked audio while he was addressing his supporters in the state. He said the in 2015 he carried APC on his head around Nigeria, adding that there was state that he did not campaign for Muhammadu Buhari. NAIJ.com (naija.ng) -> Legit.ng We have updated to serve you better. Nigeria Latest News: Buhari vs Atiku - 2019 Elections | - on Legit TV Source: Legit One Prophet Shotunde Kayode who is the founder of Uncommon Favour Evangelical Ministry, Ibadan, Oyo State has claimed that he returned back to life after being declared dead four days before. In an interview with Tribune, the cleric said he received his calling during the period he was dead and that while in heaven, he witnessed how people were coming in in droves. READ ALSO: Kaduna PDP governorship aspirant joins APC He said: I received my calling into the ministry from the land of the dead. I knew nothing about Christ as I was a free thinker. My calling was just coincidental. But, I know that what the Lord has ordained will definitely come to pass. I was involved in a vehicle accident alongside 17 other passengers. I lost my life in the accident. So my body was embalmed with the other 17 victims. It was on the third day and my corpse was dumped in the mortuary that some concerned persons used my phone to call my relations. The phone had rang in the crashed vehicle. Immediately they were informed about my death, my relations rushed to the mortuary to verify my corpse. They saw it lying on the ground, among others. A mortuary is not a place for people in a state of coma or seeking treatment. It is a journey without end. And on the fourth day, the Lord asked me to return to the world. It was the day I heard the voice of God: Go to the world and release the people that are in bondage, youre the chosen one. That was the voice I heard. I sneezed and woke up exactly when my people were about to lower me into the grave in the cemetery. Everybody took to their heels, including my younger brother, who is also a soldier in the Nigerian Army, Jide Shotunde. My body was left at the graveside in the cemetery. The wake-keep for me had taken place in Abeokuta, my home town. The candle night had also been conducted, at Sabo, to be precise. I remember vividly what we did in heaven. The place was so cool but not harmful. Theres nothing like day or night there. It is a free world. The place was as white as snow. Were not like human beings; like the flesh of the world. We are just like waves and there was nothing like male or female in that realm, and people kept coming in, multiplying at every regular interval. We heard the noisy wave which showed that people were leaving the world and coming to the realm. I could remember there was this music like in those days with big musical organs like someone playing acapella without drums. The music was so close to our hearing but some far from view. So, you could view who was playing it. The stars we saw in the sky are not like the ones we normally see in the night that are stationed; they go about like house flies. But they are not harmful. Asked if he became a prophet after the experience, he said: Yes, because the voice I heard from heaven declared, Go to the world and deliver people that are in bondage. It means God really sent me to carry out some work in the world. Since then, God has been using me to minister to people. I prophesy to people. Whatever the Lord asks me to do come to pass. So, sometimes, I wonder why and how this happened; it is beyond my explanation and comprehension. Since then, I have gone deeper in Christ. I did not go through a pastor or a church, or have a master who trained me. No, I got my own calling from the land of the dead, in the mortuary, to be exact and since then, the wonders have never ceased in my life. He however said he was still undergoing treatment as result of the embalming injection. He said: I am still undergoing some treatment due to the embalmment injections I received. In fact, the doctors said I was lucky to remain alive till date. Some people who came back to life like me died some months after. I wrote letters to so many churches and organisations for help but I got no response. I still need help to enable me to carry out some tests and treatment. Meanwhile, a 34-year-old pastor identified as Joseph Igwemon has been arraigned before an Oredo magistrates court in Benin, Edo state, for reportedly abducting and having carnal knowledge of one of his church members. PAY ATTENTION: Install our latest app for Android, read best news on Nigerias #1 news app The accused who is the pastor of the Global Influence Ministry was said to have committed the offence on October 15, 2018, in the Mission Road area of Benin metropolis, The Punch reports. The victim was said to be a chorister in Igwemons church and was wedded to her husband by the accused. NAIJ.com (naija.ng) -> Legit.ng We have updated to serve you better Meet Port Harcourt-based Nigerian pastor who is changing the lives of the poor nationwide | Legit TV Source: Legit Oba Enitan Adeyeye Ogunwusi, Ojaja II, but popularly known as the Ooni of Ife, is no doubt enjoying marital bliss. It could be recalled that he officially welcomed his new queen, Olori Naomi Oluwaseyi Ogunwusi, into the palace on Thursday, October 18. In a recent interview with Kore Ogidan, the Ooni of Ife revealed that he was never single. According to him, he explained that he has a permanent spiritual olori in the palace and just recently married a physical one and fortunately, she is a prophetess and an evangelist. Ooni of Ife disclosed that her name is Yeyemolu, adding that she is the first olori and she has a spiritual role to play in the palace. READ ALSO: Davido flaunts his early birthday gifts, one is worth N108 million (photos) When asked about why he got married two days after his birthday, Oba Ogunwusi said: I dont know why the whole world made a big deal about it. To the glory of God, marriage is one of the things that one should do. Honestly though, I was never really single. I have a permanent Olori in the palace spiritually but I just joined my new one physically. The permanent Olori in the palace is the Yeyemolu, who is the first Olori in the palace and she has a spiritual role to play in here. As a matter of fact, the Ooni can never be single because he permanently has a wife in the palace. Even if there is no woman in the palace, she, the Yeyemolu, is there always. Many people probably just thought I was single all the while. What I am going to say about my new wife is that to the glory of God, she is a good lady. He was also asked about his childhood experience and if he knew he would ever become a king. Ooni of Ife said that his parents knew he was going to be a king so he was pampered and at the same time, well disciplined. He said: Of course! But they were advised never to touch or hit my head, even as a kid. But, everywhere else was beatable. I became very conscious of my head growing up. I used to win a lot of prizes as a kid and that always made my parents proud. Another memory was getting into Loyola College, Ibadan, and there is a story to that. I always came first in class in primary school. One day, I came third, losing to a boy and a girl who both came first. There was no second position and I came third. My parents were very disappointed and I promised them that I would finish well. When I went in to sit my common entrance examination, I came first in my entire primary school and with the tough competition there, I was able to enter Loyola College. I got in on merit. That made my parents proud and I was able to prove to them that I was still in control of the situation. When I got into secondary school at about age 11, there was a classmate of mine who beat me up one day by the classroom and gave me a very deep scar on my hand. The scar is on my left hand and it almost rendered that hand useless, especially for me being left-handed. Every time I see that scar, I remember the experience. PAY ATTENTION: Best love tips and relationship advice on Africa Love Aid group! Legit.ng earlier reported that Ooni of Ife and Queen Naomi were recently spotted at an event together in Lagos. The couple made their first appearance at the West Africas 1st International Art Fair which took place at Civic Center, Victoria Island. Interesting! NAIJ.com (naija.ng) -> Legit.ng We have updated to serve you better There is light at the end of the tunnel - Ooni of Ife | Legit TV. Source: Legit.ng The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has confirmed the nomination of Governor Aminu Waziri Tambuwal as the governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for Sokoto state ahead of the 2019 election. The emergence of Tambuwal as the governorship candidate followed the substitution of Manir Muhammad Daniya whose name was previously submitted as the governorship candidate of the PDP in the state. The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC)'s national commissioner and chairman, information and voter education, Mr Festus Okoye disclosed this in an exclusive chat with New Telegraph. PAY ATTENTION: Install our latest app for Android, read best news on Nigerias #1 news app He also said that by the substitution, Manir Mohammad DanIya is now the deputy governorship candidate of the PDP for Sokoto state. Okoye confirmed that the leadership of the PDP forwarded the name of DanIya as the governorship candidate but the party took advantage of the substitution window to field Tambuwal, the incumbent governor of the state. It is the responsibility of political parties to nominate candidates for elections but such a party can withdraw a candidate properly nominated, if the candidate withdraws his candidature by a notice in writing signed by himself and delivered to the political party that nominated him. As at yesterday (Friday), the PRO carried out a substitution in relation to their governorship candidate for Sokoto state. They have now nominated Aminu Waziri Tambuwal as the governorship candidate of the PDP for Sokoto state, Okoye said. READ ALSO: NAIJ.com upgrades to Legit.ng: a letter from our Editor-in-Chief Bayo Olupohunda Earlier this week, the deputy governor of the state and the All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship candidate in the 2019 general elections, Ahmad Aliyu announced his resignation on Tuesday, November 13. Aliyus notification of resignation was contained in a letter to the state House of Assembly and presented by the deputy speaker, Abubakar Magaji, who presided over plenary on Wednesday, November 14. 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 It is no longer news that some ladies got pregnant in their teenage days. This act made them drop out of school but it takes the brave ones to continue their education after the arrival of their babies. It is not an easy road but some scales through successfully. Talented Nollywood actress Ada Ameh has openly revealed how she got pregnant at the age of 14 while in secondary school. Born in Lagos into a family of 11 children, Ameh had five elder brothers and five younger sisters. In a recent interview, The Johnsons star revealed how she made her father cry when she broke the news of her pregnancy. Ameh added that, that was the second time she would see her father shed tears. READ ALSO: I was never single, I had a permanent olori in the palace - Ooni of Ife speaks She said: I attended Army Childrens School 4, Ajegunle, Lagos, for my elementary education. I went to three secondary schools. The first was the Idoma Community Secondary School, Otobi, in Benue State and the second was Wesley High School, Otukpo, also in Benue State. Finally, I came back to Lagos and attended Adeolu Secondary School, Ajegunle. I dropped out of secondary school when I had my baby at 14. I went back to sit for the GCE as an external candidate and went on to get a diploma in Cosmetology. Theres no person who would give birth to a child at a young age and have an easy experience. My parents were genuinely devastated. Prior to that time, I had only seen my father cry once and that was when his mother, whom he loved dearly, passed on. The only other time I ever saw my dad cry was when I came home pregnant. After that, I was kicked out of the house but was later brought back. At that time, I couldnt disclose the father of my child because I knew it would affect his job in the Armed Forces. My siblings were a great support system and I am forever grateful for the love they showed me. My daughter and her father are on relating terms and I relate with his children well too. Hes the father of my child and I respect him. My daughter is my greatest gift. She is my best friend and confidant. PAY ATTENTION: Get your daily relationship tips and advice on Africa Love Aid group Ameh further disclosed that after arrival of her baby girl, she then went back to sit for the GCE as an external candidate and went on to get a diploma in Cosmetology. It is well! 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.ng - The APC in Rivers state on Friday, November 16, almost lost its governorship candidate, Tonye Cole, to cold-blood murder - Cole on his Twitter page revealed that the tragedy was averted in Old Bakana community in the state when gunmen opened fire on him and members of his team - He further said that this happened while he was carrying out ward-toward consultation in the community Tonye Cole, the All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship candidate in Rivers state, on Saturday, November 17, narrowly escaped death from the hands of some unknown assassinator. READ ALSO: NAIJ.com upgrades to Legit.ng: a letter from our Editor-in-Chief Bayo Olupohunda Speaking on the development, Cole revealed: "Tragedy was averted on Friday, November 16, at Old Bakana. Gunmen opened fire on my team while we were carrying out ward-to-ward consultation in the community. We thank the Almighty for his protection now and always. I stand for politics of peace." PAY ATTENTION: Get the Latest Nigerian News Anywhere 24/7. Spend less on the Internet! Meanwhile, Legit.ng reported that the winner of the recent bye-election in Kwara state, Tunji Olawuyi was on Thursday, November 15, allegedly attacked 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 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. NAIJ.com (naija.ng) -> Legit.ng We have upgraded to serve you better. Osun 2018: I have evidence that they added to APCs votes - PDP Chairman | Legit TV Source: Legit.ng - Senator Bukola Saraki accused the government of intimidating Kwara voters - The senate president said this was a bad signal for 2019 - He noted that this was the first time security agencies were deployed heavily to Kwara election The Senate president, Bukola Saraki, has reacted to the loss of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) at the Kwara bye-election accusing the federal government of intimidation. In a statement on Saturday, November 17, the Senate president cited presence of security operatives at polling units claiming they were used to intimidate voters. READ ALSO: What I saw in heaven - Prophet who claimed to come back from the dead Saraki said this was a bad signal for 2019 and that the countrys democracy is being undermined. He wrote: We thank the people of Ekiti/Oke Ero/Isin/Irepodun who came out to vote today defying the heavy intimidation and the siege laid by the security agents and thugs invited into the 4 LGAs by the APC. The public should note that todays #KwaraByElection was simply between PDP and security agents plus APC. This was due to the heavy deployment of police, soldiers and other security agents who gathered to support APC and harass PDP leaders and supporters. This is the first time that elections in Kwara State will be held under such charged, tensed and militarised conditions. We had INEC officials complaining about their own safety and PDP supporters were brazenly intimidated, which resulted in low turn out of voters. It is important to reiterate that ahead of the 2019 elections, such open displays of intimidation are sending wrong signals. Our democracy is being undermined with this misuse of our nations security apparatus. Source: Legit Nigeria - The US embassy and consulate in Nigeria has made public its resolve to support democracy in the country - The embassy said that it will do its utmost to make sure the 2019 general polls are free, fair and credible - It therefore urged all Nigerians to jointly help in the furtherance of democracy in the country using the standard set in 2015 The United States (US) embassy and consulate in Nigeria on Sunday, November 18, said that it will do its best to support democracy in the country. READ ALSO: NAIJ.com upgrades to Legit.ng: a letter from our Editor-in-Chief Bayo Olupohunda The embassy also said that it will monitor campaigns carried out by various political parties ahead of the 2019 general polls. It therefore appealed to Nigerians to help deepen and strengthen democracy in the country using the 2015 experience as a standard example. It is publication the embassy said: "At the beginning of the 2019 electoral campaign, we would like to reiterate our strong commitment to support democracy in Nigeria. "We encourage Nigeria and its people to consolidate and deepen democracy, building on the standards set in 2015. "As friends of Nigeria and its people, we will follow the campaigns and election process closely. Who wins the elections is for the Nigerian people to decide. Our concern is to see a process leading to free, fair, transparent and peaceful elections." PAY ATTENTION: Get the Latest Nigerian News Anywhere 24/7. Spend less on the Internet! Earlier, Legit.ng reported that ahead of the 2019 general polls, the US consulate general in Lagos, F. John Bray, had said that they are looking forward to a free, fair, credible, and non-violent election in Nigeria. Bray made these remarks in his speech at the premiere of a movie on Friday, November 16, in Victoria Island, Lagos. He pointed out that the US haD come a long way in its fight against racism. NAIJ.com (naija.ng) -> Legit.ng We have upgraded to serve you better. Nigeria Latest News: Buhari vs Atiku - 2019 Elections | Legit TV Source: Legit Taking selfies is usually a tradition practised amongst many youths in this generation. While many people regard this tradition as a largely negative one that reflects a sort of decadence or waning love for more important things, the story of a man based in the United States of America has proven that a selfie can be a life saver. The man whose name is Christopher Precopia was charged with a crime he did not commit. Last year in September 22, 2017, the man was arrested in Texas, USA, for allegedly stealing and having the intention of committing a greater crime. As it appears, the young man from Williamson County was being accused by his former high school girlfriend of breaking into her home and stealing her property. Then, she went on to say to cut an X into her chest with a box cutter around the hour of 7:20 in September 20, 2017. This very grave accusation led Christopher liable of being imprisoned for 99 years. After getting arrested, the young man who kept on saying he was innocent. The X mark claimed to have inscribed by Christopher Source: Kvue.com Source: UGC READ ALSO: Deadly selfie as university students drown in river His parents who were trying to prove his innocence posted a bond on his behalf just as they kept insisting that he was with them at the time the crime supposedly happened. Several affidavits trying to prove that the accused had an alibi were sworn. This was, however, not given any credence. Christopher himself who said he was lost and "had no idea why everything was happening" insisted that he was with the mother Erin about 65 miles away from the house of the lady who was raising a hand at him. Christopher Precopia weeping while narrating his story Source: Kvue.com Source: UGC READ ALSO: NAIJ.com upgrades to Legit.ng: a letter from our Editor-in-Chief Bayo Olupohunda After trying in vain to prove Christopher's innocence, an alibi was finally gotten - a selfie showing Christopher having fun with his family at Northwest Austin hotel, the exact location he pointed out. Even more, this selfie was posted on Facebook and publicised even before he was called and arrested by the police. After nine months of being convicted of a crime he did not commit, the selfie was taken to the Bell County court and Christopher was eventually released. It was later discovered that this ex-girlfriend had tried to implicate him due to the troubled relationship they had earlier had. The selfie that saved the suspect's life Source: Kvue.com Source: UGC PAY ATTENTION: Read best news on Nigeria's #1 news app While many were concerned about why the police did not earlier investigate whether there was an alibi to counter the accusation, Christopher was simply happy to have gotten out by means of a photo. He said, "I'm ready to actually live my life, the way I want to, without having any kind of worry that this can come back and hurt me." PAY ATTENTION: Get the hottest relationship gist on Africa Love Aid His excited mother couldn't but also say these words: "I'm thinking, 'this is awesome. By the grace of God, she said it happened on the day when I can say totally, 100 percent, where he was at." NAIJ.com (naija.ng) -> Legit.ng We have upgraded to serve you better. Top 4 Embarrassing Stories of Nigeria's Political Elite | Legit TV Source: Legit.ng - Operation Green Sweep, an air interdiction operation targeting selected Boko Haram terrorists' locations has been successful so far - The Chief of the Air Staff, Air Marshal Sadique Abubakar, recently embarked on an operational visit to the Air Task Force (ATF) - The CAS interacted with pilots and other crew members participating in the operation, congratulating them for the successes recorded The Chief of the Air Staff (CAS), Air Marshal Sadique Abubakar, on Saturday, November 17, embarked on an operational visit to the Air Task Force (ATF) Operation Lafiya Dole in Maiduguri, the Borno state capital. According to a statement sent to Legit.ng by Nigerian Air Force (NAF) director of public relations and information, Air Commodore Ibikunle Daramola, the visit of the CAS was to assess the progress of the operation. Operation Green Sweep is an air interdiction operation targeting selected Boko Haram terrorists' locations within the fringes of Lake Chad as well as areas around the Alagarno and Sambisa Forests in Borno state. The CAS during an interactions with pilots and other crew members in Maiduguri during his visit. Photo credit: NAF Source: Facebook The operation, which commenced on Wednesday, November 14, is aimed at further degrading the remnants of the terrorists, curtailing their freedom of action and denying them bases from which they could launch attacks. READ ALSO: NAIJ.com upgrades to Legit.ng: a letter from our Editor-in-Chief Bayo Olupohunda The first few days of air strikes recorded significant successes against the terrorists camps, command centres and logistics bases at Sharama, Buk, Sabon Tumbun, Tumbun Rego and Kusuma, among others Upon arrival in Maiduguri, the CAS, who was accompanied by other senior officers from NAF Headquarters, was briefed on the progress of the operation by the commander ATF, Air Commodore James Gwani. The CAS also interacted with pilots and other crew members participating in the operation, congratulating them for the successes recorded and commending them for the phenomenal work they had been doing. While encouraging them to remain steadfast, Air Marshal Abubakar assured that HQ NAF would provide all necessary support to enable them continue making vital contributions towards securing the nation and safeguarding the lives of the Nigerian people. The CAS seized the opportunity to inspect facilities at NAF Base Maiduguri including some ongoing projects like the new pilots crew room building, block of 30 single bedroom transit accommodation for airmen/airwomen as well as a new extension for the Headquarters ATF building which was being executed by the ATF commander. While in Maiduguri, the CAS also oversaw an attack on a Boko Haram hideout in Tumbun Sale carried out by 2 Alpha Jet aircraft supported by an Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance aircraft. Legit.ng gathered that the CAS and his entourage have since returned to Abuja. PAY ATTENTION: Install our latest app for Android, read best news on Nigerias #1 news app Meanwhile, the Chief of Army Staff, Lt.-Gen. Tukur Yusuf Buratai, has said the Nigerian Army is in top gear to put an end to Boko Haram insurgency. Buratai made the comment on Thursday, November 15, at the demonstration and closing ceremony of the sixth edition of Exercise Vulcan Glow, organised by the Nigerian Army Corps of Artillery in Kachia, Kaduna state. The army chief who was represented by the commander of the Nigerian Infantry Corp, Maj.-Gen. Hakeem Okiti, said the exercise shows the armys dedication to being well trained and focused on its duties. NAIJ.com (naija.ng) -> Legit.ng. We have updated to serve you better. Nigerian Air Force operations against Boko Haram - on Legit.ng TV Source: Legit.ng News If there is one thing in Lagos that has got many tourists, visitors and even residents uncomfortable, it is the traffic. But then, humans are known to find a solution to whatever challenge is immediately confronting them. In light of this, an important dignitary in Nigeria revealed how he came to deal with the problem of road congestion while on his way to a very important and life changing program. Sean Hoy who is the Irish ambassador to Nigeria was headed for his farewell reception which was to commemorate his last moments in the country. But having stayed in the country for a while and knowing the one challenge that confronted Lagos, the part of the nation which he resided in, Hoy quickly took to finding an alternative way to getting to where the reception held in his honour was holding. READ ALSO: Nigeria is Africas troubled giant - Former US ambassador The ambassador chose the way of the sea. Once he got on the speedboat which he had chosen to take him to the venue of the program, Sean took to sharing a picture of himself riding at top speed. He was wearing a life jacket on top of his suit as was appropriate for the situation. Sean Hoy could not help but share a picture of himself on the speedboat on Twitter. In explaining the reason for his ride on the sea, he also shared a caption. READ ALSO: NAIJ.com upgrades to Legit.ng: a letter from our Editor-in-Chief Bayo Olupohunda See the full post below: "To beat the traffic in Lagos, I had to use a speedboat to get to my own farewell reception on time!" PAY ATTENTION: Get the hottest relationship gist on Africa Love Aid Many Nigerians and foreigners took to commenting on the post of Sean. Many of those who have made a trip to the city of excellence talked about their varied experiences, agreeing that the traffic can indeed be a nightmare. While Nigerians did not spare any words in expressing their disappointment and disapproval of the congestion usually present on Lagos streets, many remained true to their nation and claimed that it is one of the 'tourist attractions of the city'. PAY ATTENTION: Read best news on Nigeria's #1 news app See some of the reactions below: NAIJ.com (naija.ng) -> Legit.ng We have upgraded to serve you better. Meet Nigeria's 'ambassador of peace' living on a street in Abuja | Legit TV Source: Legit - The director-general of the Nigerian Conservation Foundation, Muktari Aminu-Kano warns that Nigeria is gradually becoming a desert - Aminu-Kano notes that Nigeria is losing some portions of its land annually and that something urgent must be done - He emphasises the need for 'Green Recovery Nigeria' to bring the agenda to the fore that the country is pathetically loosing 95 percent of its forest cover The director-general of the Nigerian Conservation Foundation, Muktari Aminu-Kano, on Sunday, November 18, raised an alarm warning that the country was losing about a half kilometre of its land mass annually to desert encroachment. Aminu-Kano warned that time was of essence before the entire country becomes a desert. Speaking in Lagos at the 2018 edition of the Green Ball series, Aminu-Kano said that mangroves were also being lost in the Niger Delta and that the nation had already lost up to 95 per cent of its forest cover. READ ALSO: NAIJ.com upgrades to Legit.ng: a letter from our Editor-in-Chief Bayo Olupohunda The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Aminu-Kano warned that urgent measures must be taken to curb deforestation and forest degradation to stop what he described as ugly consequences of climate change for the nation. He also warned on the firewood crisis saying that the problem must be addressed to discourage use of fire wood use as cooking gas. Aminu-Kano emphasised the need to strengthen the Green Recovery Nigeria scheme, aimed at retaining a significant proportion of Nigerias landmass under forest just as he urged for a sustained intensive awareness campaign among all tiers of governments to change the practice of tree felling to tree planting. Green Recovery Nigeria is our push to bring the agenda that Nigeria is pathetically loosing 95 per cent of its forest cover and we have only five per cent left. Three hundred and fifty thousand hectares of land are being lost annually to desertification and the land lost is about 0.6, which is about half a kilometre every year. PAY ATTENTION: Install our latest app for Android, read best news on Nigerias #1 news app If you think you live in Lagos and it cannot reach you, it will only take some time. Imagine the annual movement of 0.6 kilometres, he said. Legit.ng earlier reported how the presidential candidate of the Allied Congress Party of Nigeria (APCN), Obiageli Oby Ezekwesili, on Monday, November 12, identified and proffered solutions to what she called the seven monstrous challenges facing the country. Ezekwesili said this as part of her policy speech which she delivered in Lagos. NAIJ.com (naija.ng) -> Legit.ng. We have upgraded to serve you better. Lagos Police Commissioner Parades Suspected Criminals (Nigeria News) | Legit TV Source: Legit - Alhaji Mohammed Sani Musa says he is still in the race for the APC Niger east senatorial district ticket - Popularly known as 'Alhaji 313,' the APC chieftain says he is still on course in the race - INEC had recognised had earlier recognised Senator David Umaru as the party's candidate in the district sparking wide spread protests Alhaji Mohammed Sani Musa has announced that he is firmly in the race for the Niger rast senatorial district ticket under the All Progressives Congress (APC). Popularly known as 'Alhaji 313,' the APC chieftain says he is still on course in the race, even though Senator David Umaru is tentatively recognized by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) as the candidate of the party in the district. Alhaji 313 in a press sent to Legit.ng on Sunday, November 18, stated that he is awaiting court pronouncement on the controversy surrounding the real winner of the APC primary election in the district. PAY ATTENTION: Get the Latest Nigerian News Anywhere 24/7. Spend less on the Internet While awaiting court's verdict on the issue, he called on his supporters and well wishers to remain calm, prayerful and vigilant against detractors, saying, we shall overcome our ordeal. He berated the Adams Oshiomhole-led National Working Committee of the APC for subverting the will of the people of Niger east senatorial who he said, freely gave him the ticket of the party. He also insisted that he remained the candidate of the party ahead of the election. He further clarified that the APC remains his party and that he and and his supporters will continue to support President Muhammadu Buhari. He, however, said that failure to get his stolen mandate back shall leave him with no option but to 'do the needful' at his disposal after due consultation with everyone. READ ALSO: NAIJ.com upgrades to Legit.ng: a letter from our Editor-in-Chief Bayo Olupohunda Meanwhile, APC candidate to the Lagos state House of Assembly, Honourable Olawale Rauf Sulaiman, has raised an alarmed over what he called an attempt to substitute his candidacy for Amuwo Odofin 11 constituency ahead of the 2019 general elections. He raised the alarm through a letter written by his lawyer, Gbadeyan & co, to the APC national chairman, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole, dated Thursday, November 15. The lawmaker cautioned the party on what he termed, unrelenting efforts by some persons within the Lagos state chapter of the party to substitute his name with that of Honourable Akeem Bello as candidate for Amuwo Odofin 11 constituency of Lagos state House of Assembly. NAIJ.com (naija.ng) -> Legit.ng. We keep evolving to serve our readers better. 'Nobody can stop Buhari in 2019, Atiku cannot win' - Nigeria Street Gist - on Legit TV Source: Legit A New Jersey woman was among two people who died in a fiery chain-reaction crash last week in Berks County, according to the Berks County Coroner's Office. The accident this past Wednesday afternoon along I-78 in Windsor Township, just east of Hamburg, led to two fatalities, one of whom was a woman from New Jersey, said Assistant Chief Deputy Coroner John M. Hollenbach. The woman was identified through dental records, he said. The second victim, a male, is also believed to be from New Jersey, he said. Hollenbach said additional DNA testing is being conducted. The accident happened when a tractor-trailer was unable to stop for the slowed traffic ahead and hit a passenger vehicle, pushing it into another tractor-trailer ahead, state police said. Three more tractor-trailers were reportedly involved, Pennsylvania State Police said. Heavy fire burned two of the trucks and the passenger vehicle, state police said. Hollenbach said the pair were the sole occupants in the vehicle with the male driving. The highway was shut down in both directions for hours. One lane of eastbound traffic began moving about 7 p.m. that day. The westbound lanes were not reopened until about 3:30 a.m. Thursday. Hollenbach said the identities of the deceased likely would be released later in the week following the results of the DNA testing. Pamela Sroka-Holzmann may be reached at pholzmann@lehighvalleylive.com. Follow her on Twitter @pamholzmann. Find lehighvalleylive.com on Facebook. Xem them ... Tin bai cuoi cung Khong con du lieu e load Pennsylvania Auditor General Eugene DePasquale plans to conduct a new audit of the state Health Department's oversight of nursing homes. Two years ago, DePasquale conducted a similar audit and found a number of deficiencies in the state's oversight. In that 2016 audit, he found the Health Department wasn't properly reviewing staffing levels at nursing homes. In addition, the department wasn't 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 state's nursing homes. Despite pledges from the Health Department to get tough on substandard homes, some advocates and families say the state isn't doing enough to protect some of Pennsylvania's most vulnerable residents. Pennsylvania's 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 General's 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 aren't providing top-notch care. Some homes have as many state citations now as they did under Golden Living's management, according to PennLive's analysis of state records. Some homes have even more citations, PennLive found. PennLive's Daniel Simmons-Ritchie spent several months producing this special report. You can read the full report here: Still Failing The Frail. Naas CBS will send nine students and three teachers on an immersion projects to Mazabuka in Zambia on February 9. It will mark the schools eighth return to Mazabuka. Naas CBS has already fostered a very close relationship with the people of the area, and the group will spend two weeks working and volunteering with the Irish Christian Brothers and the Irish Mercy Sisters. They will work on various aid projects and going to the different schools in the area to share their skills and knowledge with the children. Its expected the group will have long and difficult days and will be exposed to the harsh realities of life in the developing world. We hope to be able to take some of the values in Zambia back home to our school and the local community. We plan on visiting different schools in the local area by splitting into smaller teams and sending each team to a school. One of the schools we are planning on visiting is The City of Joy. It is the Home for Girls at Risk, founded in 2008 by Salesian sisters. Girls come here from a referral by the social welfare sector or by other institutions or individuals who are seriously concerned about the welfare of a child. The ages of the girls vary between 7 and 20 years old, said teacher Conor Delaney. Since 2005 the Naas CBS immersion project continues to make a difference. In 2005, over two hundred children were schooled in the shade of trees in one of the villages we had visited. Since then money raised has supported the construction of three blocks of classrooms, a number of lodgings for the teachers and contributed to covering the costs of the schooling available. Now in 2018 over four hundred children attend school on a two-shift school day. Many other projects have gained momentum from the Naas CBS support including; a mother education programme and the provision of foster homes for some of the many orphans living amidst an aids ravaged region. There is a need for extensive fundraising throughout the school year to fund the cost of travel. The school is currently planning on holding a concert for Zambia in the school on December 13. The Island of Ireland Choir will be taking part. The past pupils that went to Mazabuka two years ago will be explaining their journey and giving a song, as well. There will be free admission to the event and donations will be welcomed. Its hoped to provide information regarding the Zambia trip to the community on the night. The main fundraiser will be a race night in the Town House hotel in Naas on Friday November 23 at 8 pm. The race night promises a fun night with some amazing raffle prizes and good atmosphere and company. Entry is free and its open to all. The school is seeking race sponsorship for the night from local businesses. If you have any questions or would like to sponsor a race you can email the team at zambiaproject@naascbs.ie. SEE ALSO: Naas CBS open defence of Bosco Cup impressively ITS a few years now since I read James Durneys Far from the Short Grass the stories of Kildare men in two World Wars and Im sure the local author has an equivalent of sorts to the story of John Condon from Waterford. Condon is listed as the youngest casualty of the Great War by the Commonwealth War Graves commission. His story has been well documented in the national media in recent years but curiously enough, Ive never heard it referenced in Britain. This, despite his grave in Belgiums Poelcapelle Cemetery being the most known and visted of any solider who died in the first World War. I first learned of John Condons story when it was little known and I was studying journalism in Ballyfermot in 2004. And post Armistice Day, his life is worthy of marking on these pages because for so long his story barely registered anywhere, even within his native county . But in March 1915, John Condon was part of the 2nd Battalion of the Royal Irish Regiment (RIR) marching through the small Belgian town of Ypres en route to the Western Front. Condon was then aged 14. He joined the army for an adventurous life and in the belief, which was one shared by many, that their presence in the ranks of the British Army would buy future Home Rule for Ireland. Within two months Condon and almost the entire 2nd Battalion of the RIR was dead after succumbing to the effects of a German gas attack. The Boy Soldier, as he is now known, John Condon grew up in the Ballybricken area of Waterford city at the turn of the last century. Waterford then had a population of about 20,000 and according to local archivist Donal Moore. The Condon familys social level would have been very poor and the young John would have left very little footprint. In 2004, I spoke to the deceased soldiers nephew who is also named John Condon, but from Ferrybank in Waterford. He recalled memories of older family members making reference to the boy soldier saying: It was often recalled that John as a child would run around Ballybricken with a wooden gun telling people he was going to join the army. Before he left Ireland, John worked as a boy bottler on the quay in Waterford and his yearning for adventure may have been stirred by John Redmond who encouraged local men to join the Allied war effort. This he said would make a major contribution to the attainment of Home Rule. Soon after John joined the Special Reserve Defence Force and began his training in the Army barracks in Clonmel. He clearly lied about his age but according to John Condon of Ferrybank his namesake was a big hardy young fella who looked older than his years and after Clonmel, John was assigned to the 2nd Battalion of the RIR, (12th Brigade 4th Division). In December 1914, his battalion was posted to Flanders, but so many never returned. In the Belgium town of Ypres a roll of honour at the Menin Gate lists the names of 56,000 men who died defending the town. A large proportion of those 56,000 bodies have never been recovered. For those that were, it was a slow and painful process, as many men were simply buried where they fell in battle. It took eight years before Johns body was found with his boots and braces still intact. Allegedly, he was identified by his army service number, which was stamped on his boot. It was only during this identification process that Johns age at time of death was established. The War Office in England was to later confirm that Condon was one of 70,000 Irish men killed during the conflict. When contacted about his death the deceased soldiers family were unaware hed even been fighting at the front. And while those lucky enough to survive returned to their families the changing political landscape meant that they were now treated with suspicion. As a consequence the story of John Condon sat uncomfortably with the Irish Government of the day. And its only in recent years that the story has been given its dues in Ireland. Robert Mulhern is a London based journalist contracted to RTE's The Documentary on One. To contact him, email mulhernrobert@hotmail.com Im constantly telling Aidan that he needs to have more patience. I think I really need to practice what I preach though. Do you remember last weeks column when I wrote about possible getting a family dog? Yup, you guessed it, we now have one! To be honest Im not sure if I ever would have come to a clear decision myself so I let impulse win out and Seamus the Bichon Frise has joined the Chambers family! Daddy Chambers made the trip to the breeders place in Northern Ireland during mid-term break. We kept it from the kids and you should have seen their faces when Seamus the dog pulled in to the driveway with his new daddy! Their reaction alone makes the dog totally worth it. So Seamus is six months old, hes white and is covered in fluff that feels like actual silk. Aidan adores him. Sarah adores him. I adore him and so too does Daddy Chambers. So it turns out we made the right call after all! Now I cant say I enjoy cleaning up after him when he takes a notion to sh*te in the house, but for the most part hes such an easy little fella to have around. Some online research taught me that the Bichon Frise doesnt shed, is a happy-go-lucky breed and is good with kids. And by God is the latter true. Sarah, about 100 times a day, lifts him up by the front legs and has a good old boogie with him and the dog never bats an eyelid! She also lugs him round the house in her arms and he just seems to be happy to be the centre of attention. I know Seamus has only been here a short time but theres already some huge benefits to being a family that has a pet dog. The first thing I noticed is that the television isnt on half as much as it used to be. First up Seamus, until he is fully trained, is not allowed in the sitting room, and the kids would much rather play with him than watch the TV. Perhaps that novelty will wear off pretty soon but any reduction in screen time is a good thing as far as Im concerned. Sarah is not four until next month, so she can be a little bit silly with him, but Aidan has taken to having Seamus like the proverbial duck to water. Hes quite the responsible boy when it comes to taking care of his fluffy brother! Aidan, in the last week, has basically trained the dog to walk on a lead. He also takes him out to do his business on the lead and feeds him every day. The small bit of responsibility is good for him and he is great with it. Another benefit of having Seamus is that we have already become a more active family. Every single day since we got him we have taken him out for a walk, and sometimes we have been out for hours rambling. Theres plenty of fighting between Aidan and Sarah over which one of them will hold Seamus on the lead, but Im sure that novelty will wear off as well. Myself, the kids and Seamus just come as a package these days. He comes in the car when we drop Sarah off to playschool, and for a few days he also had a great wander round the yard at Aidans school. Youd want to have seen Aidan; he was the centre of attention when he had Seamus strutting around at school. All the women were swooning after him. I mean Seamus not Aidan, but no doubt Aidan will probably soon cop on that the dog will get him plenty of attention from the ladies as he gets older! Seamus stint in the school yard came to an abrupt end last Wednesday. The principal asked me not to take the dog in to the yard, because he could bite one of the kids or the kids could trip over his lead and injure themselves. Now theres more chance of me biting one of the kids than Seamus, but I totally see where the principal is coming from. Aidan was a bit disgusted, mind you! In the evenings when the kids are in bed, myself and Daddy Chambers finally get a look in with Seamus, and I must admit he is pure therapy. He snuggles in and sits on my lap until he overheats, and then jumps down to cool his belly on the wooden floor! He is like a wee hot water bottle when he settles down on my lap. The dog is even well behaved at night when we leave him alone in the kitchen. He cries for about five minutes and then heads off to sleep. The welcome we get first thing in the morning in gas! Youd swear we had left him alone for years he is so happy to see us. So all in all Im not quite sure what I was worrying about when I wrote last weeks column. So far I see no drawbacks to having a family dog; none whatsoever. I am glad, however, that I done some research on what breed to get. The Bichon Frise, thus far anyway, is the perfect breed to have with young kids around. They are so placid and so patient. They are high maintenance, though, and need to be thoroughly brushed every day and, of course, they need grooming a lot. I can live with that though. So our family of four is now a family of five with the boys outnumbering the girls but I have zero plans to add to it anytime soon. In fact Id say we are complete at this stage. Until next week, folks. You can contact me on ruth@itsjustaphase.ie; Twitter - @_itsjustaphase_; Instagram - @itsjustaphaseblog, or youll find more of my musings at www.itsjustaphase.ie. DRUG-driving charges brought against a Limerick motorist who struck a pedestrian were dismissed after a judge ruled her arrest was unlawful. Ann Burke, aged 59, of Daarwood Crescent, Newcastle West was prosecuted before the local court relating to an accident at the Square, Newcastle West on July 17, 2017. Garda Geraldine McCarthy told Judge Flann Brennan she was parking a garda van at around 3.25pm when she heard a loud bang. She said she observed a woman lying on the footpath while the defendant was in the drivers seat of a Volkswagen Passatt which was stopped at the side of the road with the engine running. Garda McCarthy said Ms Burke appeared confused and slightly disorientated and that she had to reach in and turn off the engine as the defendant was fumbling and unable to turn the key. Garda Ann McCarthy told the court that having been briefed by her colleague, she spoke to Ms Burke who said she thought her foot had slipped off the accelerator. She said she had been examined by paramedics and that while speaking with her she noticed her speech was slurred and that she appeared incoherent. While Ms Burke passed a roadside breath test, Garda McCarthy said she was still of the view she was under the influence of an intoxicant and arrested her on suspicion of drink driving. The defendant was taken the Newcastle West garda station where she later provided a sample of blood to a doctor. Judge Flann Brennan was told an analysis of the sample confirmed the presence of Benzodiazepines in her her system. Being cross examined by solicitor Pat Enright Garda McCarthy accepted the defendant had cooperated and complied with all directions on the day. The garda confirmed she had not carried out any impairment tests at the scene of the accident and that the analysis of his clients blood sample did not specify the concentration of drugs in her system. She accepted the defendant had been prescribed Librium which is a Benzodiazepine-class drug. Seeking to have the charge dismissed, Mr Enright said an accident in itself was not evidence of impairment and that there was no evidence before the court that his client was incapable of controlling a mechanically controlled vehicle. Referring to the evidence of Garda McCarthy that she had informed his client that she was being arrested for drink driving, he submitted the arrest was not correct and was not permissible in law. In this case the arrest is crucial because of what happened afterwards, he said. Having considered the detailed submissions, Judge Brennan said he could not be satisfied the arrest was valid which meant any evidence gathered after that point was not admissable. Accordingly, he dismissed the charge. AN LIMERICK man who stole a doctors prescription pad in an effort to secure drugs from a local pharmacy has been warned he will go to prison if he reoffends. Anthony OShaughnessy, aged 31, of Plunkett Road, Askeaton, pleaded guilty to a number of charges relating to offences on consecutive days last year. Inspector Alan Cullen told Newcastle West Court the defendant stole the prescription pad from Askeaton Medical Centre on June 28, 2017, and that he wrote a prescription which he presented at two separate pharmacies the following day. However, he told Judge Flann Brennan that no medication was handed over as staff at the pharmacies realised the prescriptions were fake and had not been written by doctor. Solicitor Michael ODonnell said his client, who has seven previous convictions, made full admissions when arrested and returned the prescription pad. He said Mr OShaughnessy had a difficult upbringing and that there are a lot of anger issues in his life. He said the defendant suffers from extreme depression and anxiety and had been prescribed Xanax but had run out. He said his client would have been known to the pharmacy staff and that alarm bells rang straight away when he presented the fake prescriptions. Judge Brennan was told the defendant had been in custody for a short time prior to Fridays court appearance and that it had shaken him up. Having considered the matter, the judge imposed two ten-month prison sentences which he suspended for ten years. In doing so, he warned him he will get into trouble if he reoffends during that time. AN outspoken councillor believes people in Limerick will have to wear masks if Irish Cement is granted a licence to operate from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Independent northside member Frankie Daly also called on the new Envirionment Minister Richard Bruton to intervene in the application directly. It comes with the regulator last week requesting further information from Irish Cement over its plans to switch away from fossil fuels in favour of used tyres and solid recovered waste. The proposals have brought about extreme opposition in the area, with thousands of objections to the EPA, mainly with concerns about an increase in toxins into the local atmosphere. Irish Cement has always maintained its 10m investment will not bring about any increase in emissions, and it is necessary to safeguard the future of the plant and its staff working there. But Cllr Daly says: The future of our city should be a green one with fresh air, not black smog and grey dust. A time will come when we are all going around with dust masks like we see in certain countries where the voice of big business is preferred to that of its citizens. Meanwhile this week, the group set up in opposition to the proposals has called a further oral hearing to discuss the health risks. In a letter to the Leader, Limerick Against Pollution want the EPA to convene an oral hearing, similar to the one An Bord Pleanala held at the South Court Hotel last year, whereby the health and environmental implications in this licence application can be discussed in an open and informed space. At that event, the HSE faced criticism for not providing testimony. Hopefully this time the HSE will consider this matter of sufficient gravity to grace the hearing with their presence. And hopefully, Limerick City and County Council will have worked out what they mean exactly by 'sustainable in the context of their 2030 development ambitions. Only then can the citizenry of this city decide whether the public interest is being protected by these public bodies, states the letter, signed by Dr Angus Mitchell, Claire Keating, Derek ODwyer, Maria Corbett and Tim Hourigan. The group also rejected a claim from Irish Cement communications boss Brian Gilmore that its new plan will help recover valuable resources that might otherwise end up in landfill. This, they said is rationalising language which belongs to a redundant age of corporate doublespeak. An age oblivious to the consequences of decision making that ignored the social and environmental costs. Irish Cement declined to comment when contacted by the Limerick Leader this Wednesday. LIAM MacCarthy and the ODuffy Cup were brought together on Mulgrave Street, as Limerick Prison honoured its long serving and dedicated officers for their years of service with an award ceremony with their families. Officers who have spent 21 and 30 years of service within the prison system, and their families were honoured at a special ceremony last week at Limerick Prison. Each long-serving officer was presented with a medal and congratulated by Irish Prison Service director general Michael Donnellan, Limerick Prison Governor Mark Kennedy and Metropolitan Mayor Daniel Butler. It was an honour to have been able to attend the event, Metro Mayor Daniel Butler said. To see such long service of 21 or 30 years is not as common any more so its incredible to see that level of commitment from staff. I want to acknowledge the great work prison officers do in an often challenging environment. The work can be challenging at times, mentally, emotionally and physically given what they are exposed to. Prison officers play a significant and important role within society, Cllr Butler said. I also want to pay tribute to their families as well, who often have to be a support to them when they come home from a difficult shift because they can be exposed to very difficult stories or realities. Their families play an important part in all of that too. In honour of his own service, director general Donnellan, who is well respected within the Irish Prison Service, was also presented with his own replica of Limerick Prisons the Tree of Life fountain, the sculpture in the foreground of the building. Mr Donnellan is due to retire from the IPS at the end of November, having taken up his role in 2011. Earlier in the night, Limerick senior hurlers Sean Finn, Shane Dowling and Peter Casey presented a framed picture of the 2018 Limerick Senior Hurling panel to Governor Mark Kennedy. A WEST Limerick publican was fined 300 after he was convicted of breaching the licencing laws at a pub he owns, for a third time. Wayne Cronin, aged 48, was prosecuted before Newcastle West District Court in relation to an offence which was detected at Cronins Bar in the town during the early hours of March 12, last. While the defendant was summoned in relation to five offences relating to the night, Inspector Alan Cullen said the State was proceeding with a single charge given his guilty plea. He told Judge Flann Brennan that Sergeant Alberta McWalter observed between 25 and 30 people in the pub when she called to the premises to carry out an inspection at 1.23am more than two hours after closing time. Closing time was 11 Oclock, he said adding the defendant has two previous convictions for similar offences. Mr Cronin was fined 200 in January after he was before the court in relation to an offence in the early hours of August 5, 2017 while a fine of 400 was imposed in May relating to an offence which happened on September 25, 2017. On that occasion, almost 100 people were found to be drinking after hours when gardai called to the premises. In relation to the most recent offences, Insp Cullen said most of those who were in the pub when gardai called were drinking. He said Sgt McWalter noted a number of full glasses and that a few of the patrons were quite drunk. The inspector added that no concerted effort was being made by Mr Cronin to clear the premises when gardai arrived. Solicitor John Lynch said his client, who has more than 20 years experience in the pub trade, was hosting a fundraising event and that he believed a special late night exemption was in place for the night. There wasnt he said urging the court to note his clients cooperation and guilty plea. While noting that Mr Cronin has two previous convictions for similar offences, Judge Brennan proceeded to imposed a 300 fine. The defendant was given six months to pay. SONGS, match reports, a Limerick poem and much more were bestowed upon the All-Ireland winning hurlers when they visited a city school this week. Captain Declan Hannon, and fellow defenders Diarmaid Byrnes and Sean Finn received a royal reception at Colaiste Nano Nagle. After a friendly chat with members of staff and sisters of the Presentation Order, the trio alongside Noel Hartigan strolled into the gymnasium with the Liam MacCarthy trophy in hand, where they were met with rapturous applause. Hannon paid his respects to his fellow late captain Leonard Enright, who passed away the weekend before, with a solemn prayer. Bruff native Finn urged the young women to take up a passion to establish bonds that last for a lifetime. I encourage you to take up a sport or a hobby; you make close friends for life. Ive definitely made friends with the lads on the team after winning the All-Ireland, and they would say the same, the All-Star added. Principal Sinead Moloney echoed the corner-backs message to her students: Were delighted and privileged today, and in this school, each and every day we encourage you to be your best inside and also outside the classroom for extracurricular activities as we move forward, Ms Moloney said. While celebrating excellence in sport, the all-girls school also celebrated the academic excellence of three former pupils who will receive the Noreen McManus bursary. Were fortunate that Noreen McManus is a former student of the school, and a friend of this school, and thanks to her generosity we are able to recognise academic excellence in our school, Ms Moloney added. Claire Mullaney currently studying Midwifery at UL, Hayleigh Kiely who is studying primary school teaching in Mary I, and Amanda Dawson studying in the Shannon College of Hotel Management were announced as the recipients. After a wonderful performance from the Sexton Street schools orchestra, the hurlers handed a boutique of flowers and a specially-commissioned hurley to principal Ms Moloney. The hurley, crafted by DJ Daly who also manufactured young hurler of the year Kyle Hayes hurley contains the names of all players from the panel, management, staff and sponsors. Despite visiting over a hundred school thus far, Noel Hartigan from the GAA County Board is still enthusiastic for future visits. There is 140 schools in Limerick, and we have around 30 still to go. The schools have been super, and its a shame, not every school can get all the players, but theyve been super happy in all our visits, Mr Hartigan concluded. THREE Polish immigrants from Limerick and one from Clare were all recognised as an Outstanding Pole of the year, at an awards ceremony in Dublin. Four of the overall six recipients joined for a reunion at the Polish Consulate on OConnell Street following the national awards ceremony back in October. Piotr Mach, of EML architects, originally from Gliwice, now residing in Corbally was rewarded the overall award and was nominated under the Young Pole category. The city-based architect said: I think that the Outstanding Pole in Ireland Award is a great success for the whole Polish Community that I represent. Our main goal is to connect with other communities, grow together and serve Limerick the best we can, Mr Mach added. Nominated for the Culture category was Ewa Kotula for her role as a founding member of Slavic Inspirations and Kupala Night and as a dance teacher in the local Polish school, SPK Limerick. Originally from Opole Lubelskie, Ms Kotula found moving to Limerick tough at first, however, her active personality aided her integration by being involved in the local community. Irish people are actually so open and if you want to get involved with anything theyll help you in whatever way they can. I never felt like an outsider or a foreigner here, what I found was that if you meet them halfway its very easy to integrate, Ms Kotula advised. The jury also commended the works of local photographer Anna Hurkowska from Gliwice and Sylwia Rusek from the Inisowiacy Polish Folk Group, in Ennis, County Clare. Senator Maria Byrne offered her congratulations to the award-winners and looked forward to the development of a third Polish school in the county. Honorary Consul of Poland in Limerick and Clare, Patrick OSullivan was immensely proud of the winners and their impact in the city. It shows how progressive and interactive the Polish community are here in Limerick, Mr OSullivan concluded. THERE will be nobody here in 20 years time if this continues, Larry Begley, secretary of the Mountcollins Development Association said this week when he discovered, to his dismay, that a sought-after social and affordable housing development of ten houses proposed for the village was not going to go ahead. The big problem is that people who want to stay in Mountcollins cannot do so because they cant get housing he argued, and that has been the case for many years. A lot of people have been housed in Newcastle West or Abbeyfeale or even Tournafulla. They are taking people out of Mountcollins, Mr Begley said. Some time ago, the development association made a presentation to the councillors in the Newcastle West Municipal District making a strong argument for more housing as part of their ongoing efforts to sustain their community. However, last Wednesday, councillors were told that the Department of Housing was now not proceeding with the plan to build ten social and affordable homes in Mountcollins due to concerns related to the limited access to shops, services or public transport and the relatively low demand in the area. This has left Mountcollins in a very invidious Catch 22 situation. As Mr Begley pointed out, because there has been a lack of new housing in Mountcollins up to now, people have had no option but to put down their preference as Abbeyfeale or Newcastle West. And because of a lack of new families coming in, local services have run down. There is now no post office in Mountcollins and the shops there have closed. The local creamery sells basics like milk, butter and newspapers but otherwise people have to cross the border to Brosna or go to Abbeyfeale. The school, too, according to Mr Begley, is now under pressure. Once a four-teacher school where he himself was principal, it is now a two-teacher school and in danger of closing. We feel we are completely neglected, he said. The council does nothing for us up here. Cllr Seamus Browne said he was dismayed that the Department of Housing, Planning and Local Government had refused to build ten social and affordable houses in Mountcollins. I have asked that the Local Authority go back to the Department to revisit the issue. I think that this decision is wrong and the Department must change it position on the houses in Mountcollins, he said. The reply from the Department shows that they are out of touch with the reality of living in rural Ireland, Cllr Browne continued. It shows that they do not understand the reasons why the houses are needed in the first place and that they are completely out of touch. The population of Mountcollins is in decline. The Post Office and the shops are closed, the school is under pressure for pupils and the only way these issues can be addressed is by making it possible for more people from the area to live in the area, Cllr Browne pointed out. Moreover, he added, the council already owns the land. There are lots of villages in rural Ireland that are suffering from rural decline and this was an opportunity to bring 10 families back into the community through a mix of social and affordable housing. It is very very important to get the houses up there in Mountcollins, Cllr Francis Foley said, adding that local people were fearful for what would happen their community. Can we go back and look for five units or six? An indepth discussion to tease out the issues about housing and dereliction and about regeneration is to be organised, councillors were told by director of services Gordon Daly. As the Bay Area continues to choke on smoke from Butte County's deadly Camp Fire, a number of residents are sharing photos of how the Bay Area looks while draped in smoke compared to how it usually looks on a normal day. On Friday, air quality in the Bay Area reached "very unhealthy" levels, and Northern California had the dirtiest air in the world. WANT TO ESCAPE? This is how far you'd have to drive to get out of the bad air The National Weather Service does not believe the smoke will clear anytime soon. "The winds are light and offshore, so there's nothing to move the smoke," Suzanne Sims, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service, said. "It's there, and it's not going anywhere." ALSO: N95, P100: What do all these mask numbers mean and how do I know it's keeping me safe? The soonest the Bay Area may see relief is Wednesday, when a storm is set to hit the Bay Area. "There will be a change in wind direction, and that clean marine air coming in from the Pacific," Spencer Tangen, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service's Monterey office said. "That onshore wind will be stronger, and it'll help to mix out the smoke, and push the smoke out." But for now, the smoke is here to stay. Click through the slideshow above to see before and after images of smoke in the Bay Area. 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. Digital First Media/Orange Count/Digital First Media via Getty Im Relics of Hollywood history have been destroyed after the Woolsey Fire blazed through Southern California, including a a wide swath of popular recreation trails in the Santa Monica Mountains. More than 83 percent of National Park Service land within the Santa Monica mountain range has been charred by the fire, officials said. All trails remain closed. "We understand that folks are curious about how their favorite park spots fared. We promise to share that ASAP," the park service tweeted. Among the damage is the historic Paramount Ranch's "Western Town," a landmark film location that was acquired by Paramount Studios in 1927. Much of the set, which included a jail, hotel and saloon, burned to the ground, National Park Service officials confirmed. Popular television shows including "Westworld" and "Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman" filmed there, as did the recent film "American Sniper," starring Bradley Cooper. Officials continue to assess the damage. "It's so special to share the story of moviemaking that came out of Southern California," recreation area spokeswoman Kate Kuykendall told the Associated Press. "We're the only National Park Service site that interprets American film history." She said there has been an outpouring of public support of public support for rebuilding the site, adding that at least three homes of park employees were gutted. The fire also destroyed much of nearby Peter Strauss Ranch, which hosted performances by Johnny Cash and Willie Nelson in the 1950s, and the historic Morrison Ranch House in Agoura Hills. The Morrison Ranch House was built at the turn of the century and was featured in a number of classic films, such as "Of Mice and Men" and "The Durango Kid." See before and after images of the damage in the above gallery. 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. Former Drug Enforcement Administration agents Steve Murphy and Javier Pena, who were instrumental in bringing down Colombian drug kingpin Pablo Escobar, spoke Wednesday night before a packed house at Laredo Community College. Murphy and Pena shared their experience to a crowd of over 700 people of how they, along with the Colombian National Police, participated in the manhunt. But before they were at the center of a high-profile investigation into the Medellin Cartel, Pena began his career in law enforcement with the Webb County Sheriffs Office. This has been great, Pena said. When I heard it was Laredo Community College, I was very excited. Of course we said yes. I used to work here at the junior college with the sheriffs office. Ive been seeing old friends so its been great for me. Im having fun and this is the best one were going to do. RELATED: Laredo woman in critical condition after 18-wheeler collides with SUV Originally from Hebbronville, Pena and Murphy, from West Virginia, would later become partners in the investigation that led to the dismantling of the Medellin Cartel. Since then, they have remained friends and travel around the world giving speeches. Their story has been widely depicted in movies and shows. Most recently, the popular Netflix show Narcos depicts their experience. Murphy said the show is one-third truth, one-third loosely based on truth and one-third Hollywood. Nobodys more surprised than Javier and I are about the popularity of this, Murphy said. Because this is something that happened 20 to 25 years ago and honestly we didnt think anybody would ever be interested. Murphy said the pair turned down a couple of producers before Netflix came along. They were hesitant to turn the downfall of Escobar into a television show because they feared he would be glorified. RELATED: Laredo man shot twice, but refuses to help police The last thing we want is for anybody to glorify this mass murderer, Murphy said. Hes the worlds first narco terrorist. He was the worlds most wanted criminal and Eric Newman (the producer) said, thats the last thing Ill ever do is glorify him and hes lived up to his word. With a $300,000 bounty placed on each of their heads, Murphy attributed three factors to their safety: the grace of God, their law enforcement experience and the Colombian National Police going out of their way to protect them. The pair have traveled back to Colombia to assist with the locations and technical aspects in the filming for Narcos. Colombia is a beautiful country, Pena said. Its changed. Its changed for the best, so we encourage people to go back. Courtesy of U.S. Customs and Border Protection Courtesy of U.S. Customs and Border Protection Courtesy of U.S. Customs and Border Protection Courtesy of U.S. Customs and Border Protection The suspended Laredo Border Patrol agent indicted on two counts of capital murder was back in court Friday for a brief conference regarding his case. READ MORE: American traveler missing in Mexico was killed by Sinaloa cartel, officials say Ronald Anthony Burgos-Aviles, 29, appeared before 49th District Court Judge Joe Lopez during a quick 15-minute conference largely focused on the exchange of surveillance videos as evidence. Chief Assistant District Attorney Marisela Jacaman said there are about 40 surveillance videos in the original discovery list. Lopez said the court is trying to make sure the proper video and audio footage is accessed from the evidence obtained in discovery. The judge told prosecutors to give the videos in their original format to defense attorneys. No plea deal has been offered to Burgos-Aviles, according to court documents. Border Patrol suspended him without pay after he became a primary person of interest in the slaying of Grizelda Hernandez, 27, and her son, Dominic Alexander Hernandez, 1. READ MORE: It may be last call for the 'National beer of Texas' Hernandez and her son were likely killed near Father Charles McNaboe Park, which is adjacent to the Rio Grande. Burgos-Aviles and the woman were in a romantic relationship, Laredo police said. Jury selection is scheduled for June 10, 2019. Maria Salas may be reached at 728-2580 or msalas@lmtonline.com A man has been arrested for threatening to kill his wife with a gun, according to Laredo police. Juan Ramos, 45, was charged with aggravated assault with a deadly weapon. Tallahassee, Fla. Democrat Andrew Gillum ended his hard-fought campaign for Florida governor on Saturday, just hours before counties must turn in their official results following days of recounting ballots. Gillum, in a video that he posted on Facebook, congratulated Republican Ron DeSantis but vowed to remain politically active although he gave no clues as his future plans. His term as Tallahassee mayor ends next week. "This has been the journey of our lives," said Gillum, who appeared in the video with his wife, R. Jai Gillum. "Although nobody wanted to be governor more than me, this was not just about an election cycle. This was about creating the kind of change in this state that really allows the voices of everyday people to show up again in our government." There was no immediate response from DeSantis or his campaign. Gillum's announcement came as most Florida counties were winding down their hand recount in the state's contentious U.S. Senate race. The smattering of results publicly posted on Saturday showed that Democratic U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson was only gaining a few hundred votes in his bitter contest with outgoing Gov. Rick Scott, a Republican. State officials ordered a manual recount earlier in the week after a legally required machine recount showed that Scott led incumbent Democrat Bill Nelson by 12,600 votes. More than 8 million voters cast ballots in the race. Counties have until noon on Sunday to file their official results, but it appears the gap is too far for Nelson to close. Nelson's campaign has remained quiet as the final count has gotten closer. Nelson and Democrats filed several lawsuits following the close election. The Nelson campaign managed to secure only one victory in court. U.S. District Judge Mark Walker gave voters until 5 p.m. Saturday to fix their ballots if they haven't been counted because of mismatched signatures. Nearly 5,700 ballots were rejected because signatures on ballot envelopes did not match signatures on file. But Walker rejected additional lawsuits, including one that sought to change the rules used while inspecting hand ballots. If Nelson loses, it would likely spell an end to a lengthy political career that stretches back four decades. Nelson was first elected to the U.S. Senate in 2000. A win for Scott would mark his third victory since the multimillionaire businessman launched his political career in 2010. In each race, Scott has barely edged his Democratic opponent. Disappointed after the midterm elections, Republicans are trying to decide which voters should be the party's top priority. In recent elections, they have been losing votes from white college graduates, often in the suburbs, while gaining votes from whites without college degrees. Should Republicans go further down the road of working-class populism, perhaps trying to expand its appeal beyond white voters? Or should they try to reverse their losses among suburban moderates? Eric Cantor, a Republican and former House majority leader, puts his emphasis on winning back the college-educated voters, especially women, who have recently defected. He recommends that his party push to make paid maternity leave more available and child care more affordable to appeal to these voters. The conservative political analysts Henry Olsen and Reihan Salam, however, argue that Republicans would be better off trying to build on their gains among working-class voters, especially those who went from supporting Barack Obama in 2012 to supporting Donald Trump in 2016, via policies such as wage subsidies and immigration control. These voters have not all shifted to the GOP in down-ballot races. Whether they will stay Republican in 2020, or when Trump is no longer on the ballot, is an open question. Olsen and Salam both say, however, that the party would ideally win over more voters of both types. It's that point I'll emphasize here: Republicans should not think of this strategic choice as a stark one. It may, for one thing, be possible to promote policies that make Republicans more appealing to both groups. Cantor pitches his ideas for helping parents as a way to regain the support of suburban moderates. But paid leave may be even more appealing to working-class voters. A Republican pitch to the working class that addresses this kind of economic concern might also allow the party to pull back a little from the we're-real-Americans-and-you're-not cultural messaging that alienates many college-educated voters. Parties that are on the upswing typically make gains that are diffused, albeit unevenly, among many demographic groups. After Mitt Romney lost the presidential election in 2012, many Republicans concluded that to win the next time they would have to do markedly better among Hispanics, getting 40 percent of their votes. Others wondered whether Republicans could win just by boosting their share of the white vote. Republicans didn't come close to getting 40 percent of Hispanics in 2016. But they slightly improved their percentage of the two-party vote among Hispanics - and among whites, Asians and African-Americans. Those gains, and their geographic distribution, were enough to deliver them the White House. If Republicans do better in 2020 than they did this fall, it will probably be because they improve their performance a bit among both Romney-Clinton and Obama-Trump voters (although if I had to bet, I would expect a bit more improvement in the second group). If Republicans don't improve on both fronts, on the other hand, they are unlikely to win a governing majority. A coalition that includes the suburban defectors, the new populists and traditional conservatives would require constant tending by Republican leaders in the best of circumstances. Whether the party's current leadership is suited to building and maintaining it is also, at best, an open question. Which brings us to another reason Republicans should not put too much of their mental energy into figuring out whether to target voters with or without college degrees. Whatever individual Republicans want, the party's strategy over at least the next two years will largely consist of whatever the president chooses to do and say - and that series of choices is going to be guided more by who he is and what he wants than by any grand theory of the electorate - - Ponnuru is a Bloomberg Opinion columnist. He is a senior editor at National Review, visiting fellow at the American Enterprise Institute and contributor to CBS News. The Most Extensive and Reliable Source of Information Related to the Mexican Drugs Cartels. You will not find this level of coverage anywhere else, join us! Send information, pictures or videos, you remain 100% anonymous. Envia fotos, videos, notas, enlaces o informacion todo 100% Anonimo. Want to be a contributor or citizen reporter for Borderland Beat? We love to have you in our team, send Sol Prendido or HEARST an email! WARNING: Posts may contain strong violent material, discretion is advised. COMMENTS: We do not publish all comments, and we do not publish comments immediately. Much colder weather is set to hit Ireland because of a blocking Scandinavian front of a Siberian high-pressure system creeping towards the country from the northeast, according to a midlands weather forecaster. Cathal Nolan, Midlands Weather Channel, says the weather front is set to become established to the north, with any Atlantic mild low-pressure systems blocked off the west coast. Also read: Lack of mental health services in Longford causing undue stress to families The weather front could be similar to the beast from the east which caused months of cold weather last year. The unofficial forecaster is warning of bitterly cold Siberian air. "The transition to much colder weather will really only take place through Sunday night and into Monday, with temperatures over the weekend remaining well above average for the time of year, possibly even reaching as high as 15 or 16 degrees Celsius on Saturday. "However, through Monday and the start of next week, a much colder continental/Siberian air mass becomes established across much of western Europe, with temperatures dropping back by up to 10 degrees Celsius compared with weekend values. Also read: Longford Leader gallery: Large crowds turn out to support former Longford Leader photographer's book launch in Longford Library "Maximum daytime values in many areas of the country won't rise any higher than 4-7 degrees Celsius during the midweek period next week, with nighttime values dipping below freezing in many areas away from eastern coastal areas due to fresh easterly winds. "The weather itself will be rather mixed during the midweek period in particular as showery weather is expected. The showers will chiefly affect Leinster and south Munster most, however, some may cross the country. At this stage, most of the showers look like falling as rain, sleet or hail. Also read: Longford County Council wins national Safety Award "Any snow during this period is expected to be reserved for elevations above 300-400 metres, with the Wicklow, Mourne, and Blackstairs mountains most at risk of seeing snow. Any snowfall in these areas will more than likely occur overnight. "Beyond the midweek period and things become very interesting. Some models indicate that some Atlantic weather systems may push closer to the southwest of Ireland, while at the same time indicating that even colder air may flow westwards across Europe from Siberia. Also read: Injunction sought preventing Rooskey hotel being used as accommodation for asylum seekers "Such a development would increase the likelihood of snowfall, however much would depend upon the exact location of the low-pressure systems to the southwest, how strong the high-pressure system remains over Scandinavia/Iceland, and also how low temperatures reach across Ireland," he said. The forecaster said details are uncertain at this stage beyond the midweek period and advised the public to stay up to date with all the latest weather forecasts wherever you are across the country. Also read: A Longford success story: Barktobow Bowties - bespoke handcrafted wooden bowties As Democrats prepare to take power in the House, its worth looking at a peculiar paradox at the heart of their resistance. Historically it has been a movement against the national security state. The Democratic version of the resistance has sought to defend it. If there is one lawmaker who embodies this paradox, it is a soft-spoken Californian named Adam Schiff. See his open letter this year to the FBI, assuring the bureau that millions of Americans still hold it in high regard despite mean tweets from President Donald Trump. For the last two years, as the ranking minority member of the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence, Schiff has battled to get to the bottom of the Russia-Trump plot. He was stymied. The Republicans wanted to investigate Trumps investigators. Now Schiff is preparing to be the next chairman of the intelligence panel. One might expect he would be focused like a laser on Trumps ties to Russia. So far, however, he is not. Mind you, Schiff still would like someone to look into the Trump Organizations financial ties to Russia. He would like to learn the blocked phone number that called Donald Trump Jr. after his infamous 2016 meeting with a Russian lawyer at Trump Tower during the campaign. He still intends to release the transcripts of the interviews his committee has conducted in the last two years. For now, though, Schiff is being patient. He wants to wait and see what his Senate colleagues and special counsel Robert Mueller dig up before saying what his own committee will investigate. In October he told an audience at the Brookings Institution that his first priority would be to restore comity and integrity to the intelligence committee. And Schiff, like his ascendant Democratic colleagues, is looking beyond just Russia. He has said, for example, that he wants to look into Trumps conversations with the postmaster general about raising the rates for Amazon, whose chief executive owns The Washington Post. His interest in this issue, according to his staff, stems from his leadership of the freedom of the press caucus, not his pending chairmanship of the intelligence committee. And while Schiff has warned the new acting attorney general not to interfere with Mueller, he is also planning to get his committee back to its original mission: oversight of the intelligence community. That is welcome news. To start, the alliance of convenience between Democrats and the national security state was always an awkward fit. This is a party whose presidential nominee blamed the FBI director for costing her the 2016 election. This is a party that released its own report in 2014 detailing the CIAs torture of suspected terrorists. This is a party whose base protested former FBI Director James Comeys criticism of Black Lives Matter. There is another reason why Schiffs pivot is wise. Americas spies are in desperate need of oversight. In a little-noticed story earlier this month, Yahoo News uncovered a scandal that dates back at least a decade. The CIAs communication system to contact its agents in China, Lebanon and Iran was fatally compromised, resulting in the death of brave assets who risked their lives for U.S. national security. Some of the flaws in the system were first spotted by John Reidy, a contractor whose job was to manage those human sources in Iran. Reidy tried to warn the intelligence communitys inspector general and Congress about the breach. But he was largely ignored, and the CIA painted him as a disgruntled contractor. One of Reidys attorneys, Kel McClanahan, told me that the House intelligence committee at the time bought the CIAs story hook, line and sinker. Schiff now has an opportunity to take a second look. There is a broader lesson here for Democrats. As a branding exercise, resistance politics is dramatic and satisfying. And when a member of the opposite party occupies the White House, there is always a tendency to portray him as a supervillain. But this way also nurtures delusion. Trumps nativism and mendacity are bad enough. Assuming he is a Russian stooge or the second coming of Mussolini just gives his opponents permission to violate the same kind of norms that Trump so gleefully smashes. That is the abdication of politics masquerading as empowerment. With control of the House, Democrats now have an opportunity to engage in the tedious but essential work of actually checking Trumps power. They have a chance to evolve from a resistance into an opposition. For the countrys sake as much as their partys, Schiff and his colleagues should not squander that opportunity. SOUTHWICK - The Southwick Civic Fund is spreading cheer this holiday season beginning with the eighth annual Thanksgiving for All. The event started with an idea to provide a free meal to those in need. Joe and Kristi Deedy, owners of Moolicious Farm Restaurant, wanted to give Thanksgiving to those less fortunate. But, what they didn't expect, was that it wasn't really about the free meal at all. "We thought it would be one thing - a free dinner for those who can't afford it - but it turned into a meal to share for people who don't have somewhere else to go." That first year they had a few dozen folks and this year they plan to serve 200 Thanksgiving meals, including sit-down dinners at Moolicious as well as meal delivery to those who cannot get out to enjoy the day. "We found out that Meals on Wheels does not deliver on Thanksgiving, so we work with the Southwick Senior Center to provide dinner," Deedy said. The Senior Center van, driven by Selectman Douglas Moglin with Police Chief Kevin Bishop as the navigator, provides transportation to Moolicious. Deedy said a network of community volunteers help cook, serve, deliver and cleanup, including his own family. "My sisters Sharon and Betzi come and it's become our new family tradition," said Deedy, adding he has relatives who travel from Boston to help. Seating begins at noon. Reservations can be made by calling 413-569-1700. Once Thanksgiving is over, the Deedy family and Southwick Civic Fund continue spreading joy through the "Secret Santa and the Angry Elves" program, which provides Christmas gifts for children up to age 15 in Southwick, Tolland and Granville. This tradition evolved from the Deedy's involvement in the West Springfield Park and Recreation Christmas program, Operation Santa. According to Deedy, in the past the Family Coalition of Southwick was responsible for helping local families with toys but when that organization dissolved he stepped in. "When we first started off, we worked with the Southwick Food Pantry to reach out to residents in need. But in 2016 we branched off into our own organization and now organize the toy drive under our non-profit, Southwick Civic Fund Inc.," he said. Last year, 60 families received Christmas gift assistance through Southwick Civic Fund. Deedy said they plan to help at least 60 families again this year and they are accepting gift donations now. "We ask for new, unwrapped gifts valued at $10 or less for children up to age 15," Deedy said. "We just want to help children have a little something to open on Christmas." Gifts can be dropped off at Moolicious Farm, 258 Feeding Hills Road. A donation box, which is emptied daily, will be located at the restaurant. Deedy said wrapping paper is also needed and gifts will be delivered to families the Thursday before Christmas. Families can sign up to receive gifts at www.southwickcivicfund.org. SPRINGFIELD - The lighting of the largest menorah in Western Massachusetts marking the start of the eight days of Hanukkah takes place Sunday, Dec. 2, at the Springfield Jewish Community Center The lighting at the center on 1160 Dickinson St. is set for 5:30 p.m. Earlier in the day their will be a cycle-a-thon and vendor fair at the JCC from 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., family activities at 5:30 p.m. and a concert that is free and open to the public with Rabbi Noam Katz at 6 p.m. following the lighting. Katz, who has recorded three albums of English and Hebrew melodies, is described as an educator and musician who sings Jewish songs with African instruments. He spent three months in 2003 in a small African village in Uganda with the Abayudaya Jewish Community. Hanukkah and the tradition of lighting a candle of the menorah each day during what is also called the Festival of Lights celebrates an ancient Jewish victory over the Seleucid Empire. The Dec. 2 program is part of the Hanukkah First Light Community-wide celebration sponsored annually by the JCC, the Jewish Federation of Western Massachusetts and in partnership with the PJ Library, Temple Beth El, Sinai Temple, and B'nai Torah and Lubavitcher Yeshiva Academy, both in Longmeadow. Funding is provided by Agawam-based Harold Grinspoon Foundation, Massachusetts Cultural Council and the Sklar Family through the JCC INFund. Two men were arrested Sunday morning at a Boston house party on charges they dragged an 18-year-old man alongside a car for several blocks, leaving the him with life-threatening injuries. The 18-year-old was discovered in the street on Gallivan Boulevard in Dorchester Friday night. The victim remains in critical condition at Boston Medical Center, according to Massachusetts State Police. Investigators were searching for answers in the case. The investigation led authorities to a house party in Boston Sunday morning. Troopers and Boston police converged on the party on Phillips Street in Boston and arrested two men in connection with the incident. The two suspects, identified as 18-year-old Dejon Barnes of Dorchester and 23-year-old Kenneth Ford of Roxbury, are facing unarmed robbery charges, but authorities said more charges are expected to be filed. "Evidence collected during the investigation indicates that the two suspects were in a vehicle late Friday night and met the 18-year-old victim on Gallivan Boulevard in Dorchester," State Police said. "The investigation indicates the supposed purpose of the meeting was to purchase a smart phone from the victim." During the interaction, Barnes and Ford allegedly hooked the victim by the arm as he stood outside their car. The suspects closed the car window on the victim's arm, authorities said. With the victim stuck in the window, the men allegedly sped off, dragging the 18-year-old man "alongside the moving car for several city blocks." The victim ended up on the ground on Gallivan Boulevard. He was unresponsive when authorities found him. Boston police are investigating a fatal shooting after a man was found with a gunshot wound in Mattapan Sunday morning. Officers responded to a report of shots fired in the area of 10 Westmore Road in Mattapan around 2 a.m. Sunday, according to Boston police. A man suffering from a gunshot wound was discovered at the scene. The man, who has not been identified publicly, was pronounced dead at the scene. Detectives continue to investigate the killing. Anyone with information is strongly urged to contact Boston Police Homicide Detectives at (617) 343-4470. The two people struck and killed by scenic train in Wareham Saturday night are a man and woman from Wareham, authorities said. The names of the two people, a 33-year-old woman and a 36-year-old man, were not released by the Plymouth County District Attorney's Office. Authorities say the man and woman were on the tracks when they were struck by the "Train to Christmas Town" which was heading from Buzzards Bay to Rochester. More than 100 first responders and their children were on the train attending a dress rehearsal, the Cape Cod Central Railroad told the Boston Globe. Around 7:30 p.m., Wareham police were notified by the train conductor that two people were struck by the train along the Cape Main Line in Wareham. "Preliminary investigation has revealed that the deceased victims, a 33-year-old female and a 36-year-old male, both from Wareham, were on the tracks at the time they were struck," the district attorney's office said. "The conductor made attempts to stop the train and activated the train's emergency braking system prior to impact." State police assigned to the district attorney's office, Wareham police and the MBTA continue to investigate the deaths. A man accused of using a blowtorch to break into Target stores in Massachusetts and other states in order to steal iPhones, iPads and other electronics will appear in a Worcester federal court Monday. Elijah Aiken, who is from New Jersey and Pennsylvania, and a second suspect, whose name is redacted from federal court records, is accused of stealing $154,000 worth of merchandise from Massachusetts Target stores in Westborough and Easton. Overall, the duo allegedly stole roughly $180,000 in electronics from Target stores. Federal authorities say stores in Pennsylvania, Connecticut and New Hampshire were also targeted. According to an indictment filed in Worcester federal court, the suspects used a portable blowtorch to cut through metal doors in order to access the stores. The two alleged thieves stole mostly electronic devices including Apple iPads and iPhones. The stolen goods were taken to New York and sold to a buyer there, authorities say. The thefts began in December 2014 and continued until February 2015. Authorities say the first theft took place in Selinsgrove, Pennsylvania, on Dec. 6, 2014. A blowtorch was used in morning hours to cut through a metal door at the back of the Target store. A total of 15 iPads, worth about $5,250, were taken. The next theft was on Dec. 10, 2014, in Torrington, Connecticut. The duo again used the blowtorch to cut through a metal door at a Target store. Fifty iPads worth $22,000 were taken. Police who were called to the scene discovered another 17 iPads in a shopping cart behind the store, the indictment said. A blowtorch was located in the woods near the Connecticut Target. The alleged thieves then began to hit stores in Massachusetts, according to investigators. In every theft, authorities say a blowtorch was used to cut a hole through a metal door in the back of the Target stores. On Dec. 20, 2014, Aiken and at least one other person, drove from the Allentown, Pennsylvania area to Easton, Massachusetts, and broke into the Target, the indictment said. The suspects grabbed iPhones, iPads and electronic devices worth about $64,000. Ten days later, the alleged thieves made their way to Central Massachusetts. Authorities say they broke into the Westborough Target, grabbing $90,000 worth of iPhones, iPads and electronics. The thefts continued into 2015, according to authorities. Around 4:45 a.m. on Jan. 11, 2015, police in Hooksett, New Hampshire, were called to the Target store for a break-in. Police did not find the suspects, but learned a rental car was spotted in the area around the time of the break, records said. Police learned a woman rented the car from an Enterprise Rent-A-car in Allentown, Pennsylvania. Aiken was listed on a rental form along with a phone number for him, authorities said. Police discovered the car was rented from Dec. 8, 2014, through Jan. 21, 2015. The car was driven roughly 12,230 miles. Authorities say Aiken's fingerprints were found in the car. On Feb. 4, 2015, Southington, Connecticut police responded to a break-in at Target and spotted two people running from the building. As noted in the prior cases, a hole had been cut through a metal door at the back of the store. A rental vehicle was found in the area. "In the rental vehicle, police located a receipt for the purchase of a Lincoln Electric Portable Torch System, a receipt for the purchase of a Lincoln Electric cutting tip, and paperwork with handwritten notations regarding Apple electronic devices," the indictment said. Aiken and another person were found hiding in the snow near the Connecticut store. The name of the other person was not listed in the court record. Aiken is facing charges of conspiracy to transport stolen goods and interstate transportation of stolen goods. The Hartford Courant reports Aiken and two other men from Pennsylvania were arrested on burglary charges after the 2015 break-in at the Southington Target store. The newspaper reported Aiken and Denzel Holmes were the two men found hiding in the snow. The third man, Akbar Aiken, was found in a car in the area, according to the Hartford Courant. Connecticut court records show Elijah Aiken was sentenced in state court to 30 months in prison with 30 months of special parole in the Southington case. Holmes was sentenced to just over 2 years in prison with 35 months of special parole. The sentences were issued in 2015, according to court records. WESTFIELD - For the past 50 years, Westfield State University's Urban Education Program has enhanced lives. Its golden anniversary was celebrated Saturday night with a gathering of more than 200 alumnus and supporters at WSU. The Urban Education Program was founded in 1968 by former biology faculty member Gus Chrisanthopoulos to provide collegiate opportunities to first generation students, students of color, and students who were financially struggling. Chrisanthopoulos, a native of Greece, was a first-generation college student himself who said he wanted to make college accessible for others. In 1968, the Urban Education Program started with seven students. Today, there are more than 1,500 alumni. "It's unbelievable," Chrisanthopoulos said of the program's growth. "I'm so proud that it's helped so many students. It's amazing what a little help can do for someone." One of those students who needed a little help was Jazzmun Baez, a WSU senior who serves as the UE work study student, a resident assistant, a tutor and a mentor. Baez was awarded the first Gus Chrisanthopoulos Scholarship Saturday, which was created by Chrisanthopoulos' family to honor his dedication to the program. WSU President Ramon S. Torrecilha spoke about other deserving students, including Jimmy Pereira, WSU Class of 2013, a healthy design coordinator at MassBike and former Brockton mayoral candidate. Torrecilha said Pereira's father left his family when he was 11 and he had to take on a mature role, but things took a wrong turn. "This led to skipping school and getting into fights and breaking the law," he said. "But when he was 17, he began taking responsibility for his decisions. He graduated from Putnam High School and attended Westfield State University." For students like Pereira, the Urban Education Program is a second -- or even a first -- chance. "We're looking for future stars and scholars and if they've had some bumps in the road, we don't want that bump to prevent them from going to college," said UEP Director Azanda Seymour, WSU Class of 1992. "I can't say enough about the relationship we have with our students. We're with them from the beginning through all four years." Annually, 600 students apply for the UEP and just 80-100 are accepted. Seymour said it is very competitive and students are interviewed, which makes the relationship between UEP students and staff more personal. The selected students participate in a Summer Bridge Program that starts the summer before the students' first fall semester. First-year students enroll in a three-to-six credit program over a five-week period. The program allows these students an easy transition into college life through support from student leaders and staff, Seymour said. Dr. Kamal H. Ali, faculty emeritus and former director of the Office of Minority Affairs, was the keynote speaker. He touted the program. "The Urban Education Program is a really good example of how serious education looks at its uncomplicated best," Ali said. Among the distinguished Urban Education Program mentioned were: TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP) -- Democrat Andrew Gillum ended his hard-fought campaign for Florida governor on Saturday, just hours before counties must turn in their official results following days of recounting ballots. Gillum, in a video that he posted on Facebook, congratulated Republican Ron DeSantis but vowed to remain politically active although he gave no clues as his future plans. His term as Tallahassee mayor ends next week. "This has been the journey of our lives," said Gillum, who appeared in the video with his wife, R. Jai Gillum. "Although nobody wanted to be governor more than me, this was not just about an election cycle. This was about creating the kind of change in this state that really allows the voices of everyday people to show up again in our government." There was no immediate response from DeSantis or his campaign. Gillum's announcement came as most Florida counties were winding down their hand recount in the state's contentious U.S. Senate race. The smattering of results publicly posted on Saturday showed that Democratic U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson was only gaining a few hundred votes in his bitter contest with outgoing Gov. Rick Scott, a Republican. State officials ordered a manual recount earlier in the week after a legally required machine recount showed that Scott led incumbent Democrat Bill Nelson by about 12,600 votes. More than 8 million voters cast ballots in the race. Florida's high-profile race for governor was close as well, but not enough to trigger a hand recount. Counties have until noon on Sunday to file their official results, but it appears the gap is too far for Nelson to close. Nelson's campaign has remained quiet as the final count has gotten closer. Nelson and Democrats filed several lawsuits following the close election, challenging everything from the state's signature mismatch law to deadlines for mail-in ballots. The Nelson campaign managed to secure only one victory in court. U.S. District Judge Mark Walker gave voters until 5 p.m. Saturday to fix their ballots if they haven't been counted because of mismatched signatures. Nearly 5,700 ballots were rejected because signatures on ballot envelopes did not match signatures kept on file by election officials. But Walker rejected additional lawsuits, including one that sought to change the rules used while inspecting hand ballots. If the 76-year-old Nelson loses, it would likely spell an end to a lengthy political career that stretches back four decades. Nelson was first elected to the U.S. Senate in 2000. A win for Scott would mark his third victory since the multimillionaire businessman launched his political career in 2010. In each race, Scott has barely edged his Democratic opponent. State law requires a machine recount in races where the margin is 0.5 percentage points or less. Once that recount was complete, if the differences in any of the races are 0.25 percentage points or less, a hand recount is ordered. Local canvassing boards only review ballots where a vote was not recorded by voting machines. Back in 2000, the state became the target of ridicule during the chaotic recount of the presidential election that was ultimately won by George W. Bush by 537 votes. The stakes aren't quite as high this time around, but there have been plenty of problems, especially in two Democratic strongholds in South Florida On Saturday, the top elections official in Broward County acknowledged publicly that her office had misplaced more than 2,000 ballots. The South Florida Sun-Sentinel posted video where Broward County Supervisor of Elections Brenda Snipes said that 2,040 ballots had been "misfiled." "The ballots are in the building," Snipes tells members of the canvassing board responsible for doing the hand recount. It was another snag for Snipes, who has already been under fire for the way her office has handled the election and recount. Some Republicans have been calling for Gov. Scott to remove her from office. --By Gary Fineout, Associated Press. Sheryl Sandberg is responding to reports that she and Mark Zuckerberg were reluctant to reveal Facebooks Russian hacking problem in 2016. Following an official statement on the matter, Facebooks Chief Operating Officer insists she and the company's cofounder-CEO never sought to mislead anyone. To suggest that we werent interested in knowing the truth, or we wanted to hide what we knew, or that we tried to prevent investigations, is simply untrue, Sandberg declares in a new blog post. The allegations saying I personally stood in the way are also just plain wrong. advertisement advertisement To support her case, Sandberg referenced comments she and Zuckerberg made before Congress, earlier this year, in which they stated Facebook had detected and dealt with several threats with ties to Russia, leading up to Election Day in November 2016. These were known traditional cyberattacks like hacking and malware, Sandberg said. It was not until after the election that we became aware of the widespread misinformation campaigns run by the IRA. Once Facebook did become aware of the scale of the problem, Sandberg says the company began investing heavily in more people and better technology to protect its platform. In its bombshell report published this week, The New York Times reported that Facebook paid a Republican-linked consulting firm, Definers Public Affairs, to discredit critics, such as Freedom From Facebook -- a coalition of advocacy groups that has pressured the Federal Trade Commission to break up Facebook into smaller companies. Although Facebook felt the need to severe ties with Definers, Sandberg said their relationship was totally above board. At the time, they were trying to show that some of the activity against us that appeared to be grassroots also had major organizations behind them, Sandberg said. Hershey's - the name evokes one of the most powerful forms of sweet cravings that mankind might be aware of. Be it Hershey's Kisses or Hershey's Chocolate Syrup, each one of us has some sentimental emotion attached to this brand name. Hershey's Kisses are more than mere chocolates, they became declarations of love while we were growing up. When we think about chocolate syrup, that's the name that pops into our mind by default, because we associate so many of chocolatey memories with Hershey's! Wikipedia Such a known brand name, yet, how many of us know anything about the man after whom the chocolates bear their name? Milton S. Hershey is the name of the man with the magical hands, who blessed us with the milk-chocolate sweets that we all love so much. But did you know that Hershey had to overcome multiple failures to create something that would remain popular across many generations? Hershey didn't taste success the first two times he tried to turn his dream of making the best candies into a reality. He went completely bankrupt, but came back fighting for his dream and ended up beating all odds to build his own town from nothingness. The Backstory Hershey was born in the small town of Derry in Pennsylvania, and since his family was always on the move, because of his father's constant get rich quick schemes, Hershey didn't receive a very good education. thefamouspeople He had attended six different schools by the time he was 13-years-old, and even though he was a smart kid, his mother decided to take him out of school after fourth grade, so he could learn a trade. Hershey started out as an apprentice to a printer, but didn't enjoy the job. After two years with the printer, his mother found him a new apprentice job with a candy making - and that was his first brush with what was to become the love of his life. Learning The Tricks Of The Trade Working at the Lancaster confectionary shop, Hershey learnt about the art of candy making. From caramels to fudge and peppermints, he tried his hands at everything, and thoroughly enjoyed the learning experience. He had finally found his passion. Wikipedia The Big Leap & Failure Having found something he wished to do for the rest of his life, he decided to open his own candy business at the young age of nineteen. He borrowed money from his relatives to set up his business in Philadelphia. But as luck would have it, no matter how hard he tried, he couldn't make any profits. Soon, he ran out of money and had to close shop. The Second Fall Despite failing the first time, Hershey continued to chase his dreams and didn't give up. He moved to a different city and started to work with a candy maker. He gave another shot at his dream, and opened another candy shop in New York City. Unfortunately, he failed the second time as well. The Homecoming Hershey finally moved back to Lancaster, and started a new candy business, which specialised in making just caramels. This turned out to be a very successful venture for Hershey. Soon, he would open many candy-making factories and branches all over the country. This time, Hershey tasted sweet success. hersheypa Inception of Hershey's Chocolates Post this success, Hershey decided to go even bigger. And he knew just how to do it. Chocolates! He sold his caramel business for 1 million dollars and invested all of it into making chocolates. His aim was to produce affordable chocolates for the common man, that was delicious too. So he decided to build a factory for the same in the countryside. But the new roadblock was where would he settle the workers who for in his factory. The Town Of Hershey Hershey decided to build a large factory in the countryside, along with a town settlement around it. People called him crazy, but Hershey went through with his plans. He established the town of Hershey in Pennsylvania. It featured lots of houses, a post office, churches, and schools. The chocolate company was a huge success. Soon Hershey's chocolates were the most famous chocolates in the world. That's the story of a resolute person who changed his own destiny, lived his dream and gave us the best chocolates we enjoy to this day. Alternate Minister of Foreign Affairs Giorgos Katrougalos will participate in the EU Foreign Affairs Council taking place in Brussels on Monday, 19 November. The meeting will focus on the situation in Central Asia in view of the upcoming EU-Central Asia Ministerial Meeting, the course of the reforms in Bosnia-Herzegovina following the recent elections, and on developments in the Ukraine. During the working luncheon, a discussionwill be held on the humanitarian crisis in Yemen and how the EU can contribute to its solution. Subsequently, during the joint session of EU Foreign Affairs and Defence Ministers, among other things, there will be a review of EU initiatives under way in the fields of Defence and Security, such as the newly adopted Civilian CSDP Compact, along with aspects of the Permanent Structured Cooperation (PESCO). On the margins of the Council, Mr Katrougalos will hold meetings with the Ministers of Foreign Affairs of Cyprus and France, Nikos Christodoulides and Jean-Yves Le Drian. - 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." Like many people, I will head to a family members home on Thanksgiving for dinner and to share the holiday with loved ones. As it will be in many homes, there will be a feast on the dinner table with more turkey, trimmings, sides and desserts then we can possibly eat. We will stuff ourselves and then re-stuff ourselves before going into a food coma and stretching out on the couch or nodding off in a random chair. But it will not be a particularly joyous day for my family this year as some of us gather at my late brother Charles home in Paterson, N.J. He passed away at the end of September and the tears from his loss have yet to dry for his wife, Karen, and their children, Mandy, Elaine, Chuck and Jonathan. At the same time, my sister Natasha Smith and her husband, Bobby, are holding vigil in an upstate New York hospital as my 23-year-old nephew Isaiah, who we affectionately call Zeke, is hooked up to machines to keep him alive after a devastating bout with sickle cell disease that has him in a coma. So, there will undoubtedly be tears and many solemn moments some of them private but it wont be a somber day at the Thanksgiving table. We will laugh as we remember different things about my brother and we will laugh at the shared memories we made around the same dinner table at previous Thanksgiving dinners. We will smile and make some kind of remark when his favorite side or dessert is passed around. But mostly, his wife and children as well as his siblings will remember it is the first Thanksgiving without him and soon, a new year also will begin without him. I havent lost a spouse, but I did lose a mother and remember how empty that first holiday felt without her. But I know from my email we will not be the only family on Thanksgiving facing some kind of adversity, loss or emptiness on the day we give thanks for what we have. Some of my readers have sick parents or spouses; some of them have lost a parent, a spouse or a child. At least one of them is in a nursing home recovering from a fall. I dont know why, but this column took me longer to write than usual. I struggled to find the right words right up until deadline. But I am glad it did. Before I had to turn this column in, my family received some good news. My sister Natasha called to say Zeke was out of his coma and doctors say, at least initially, there has been some progress in his recovery. So I now know while we reflect on the loss of Charles, we will cheer on the life of Zeke. The Thanksgiving dinner table is where we will meet on common ground. It will be a day for us to reconnect and reaffirm family values and traditions and being thankful for what we have. We have lost Charles but we still have Zeke and each other. And nothing on Thanksgiving Day is cherished more than the love and companionship of family. That is because families keep memories alive and spirits buoyed. Family? On Thanksgiving, we will mourn and we will cheer. James Walker is the Registers senior editor. He can be reached at 203-680-9389 or james.walker@hearstmediact.com. Follow him on Twitter @thelieonroars China's Sub Force Is Growing More Powerful. This Is What the US Navy Needs to Do to Stay Ahead How to use the mindat.org media viewer Click/touch this help panel to close it. Welcome to the mindat.org media viewer. Here is a quick guide to some of the options available to you. Different controls are available depending on the type of media being shown (photo, video, animation, 3d image) Controls - all media types Zoom in and out of media using your mousewheel or with a two-finger 'resize' action on a touch device. Use the mouse or your finger to drag the image or the view area of the image around the screen. < and > at the left and right hand side of the screen move forwards and backwards for the other images associated with the media you selected. Usually this is used for previous/next photo in a gallery, in an article or in search results. Keyboard shortcuts: use shift + the left and right arrow keys. < and > in the bottom center are used for switching between the photos of the same specimen. Keyboard shortcuts: use the left and right arrow keys. > in the bottom center, raises the information box giving details and further options for the media, < at the top of this box then hides it. Keyboard shortcuts: use the up and down arrow keys. ? opens this help window. Keyboard shortcuts: use the H key or the ? key. Other keyboard shortcuts: 1 Fit image to screen 2 Fill screen with image 5 Display at full resolution < Make background darker > Make background lighter space Hide/dim titles and buttons Scalebar If the field of view (FOV) is specified for the photo, the scalebar appears in the left bottom corner of the viewer. The scalebar is draggable and resizeable. Drag the right edge to resize it. Double click will reset the scalebar to it's default size and position. If the scalebar is in default position, double click will make it circular. Controls - Video Video files have a standard set of video controls: - Reset to start, - Skip back, - Play, - Pause, - Skip forwards. Keyboard shortcuts: You can stop/start video play with the P key. Controls - Animation (Spin Rotation) Animation (usually 360 degree spin rotations) have their own controls: - enable spin mode. Note that while images are loading this option will not be available but will be automatically activated when the animation has loaded. Once active you can spin the image/change the animation by moving your mouse or finger on the image left/right or by pressing the [ or ] keys. The button switches to move mode so that you can use your mouse/fingers to move the image around the screen as with other media types. The button, or the P key will start playing the animation directly, you can interrupt this by using the mouse or finger on the image to regain manual movement control. Controls - 3D Stereoscopic images If a stereoscopic 3D image is opened in the viewer, the 3D button appears in the bottom right corner giving access to "3D settings" menu. The 3D images can be viewed in several ways: - without any special equipment using cross-eyed or parallel-eyed method - with stereoscope - with anaglyph glasses. - on a suitable 3D TV or monitor (passive 3D system) For details about 3D refer to: Mindat manuals: Mindat Media Viewer: 3D To enable/disable 3D stereo display of a compatible stereo pair image press the 3 key. If the left/right images are reversed on your display (this often happens in full-screen mode) press the 4 key to reverse them. Controls - photo comparison mode If a photo with activated comparison mode is opened in the viewer, the button appears in the bottom right corner giving access to "Comparison mode settings" menu. Several layouts are supported: slider and side by-side comparison with up to 6 photos shown synchronously on the screen. On each of the compared photos a view selector is placed, e.g.: Longwave UV . It shows the name of currently selected view and allows to select a view for each placeholder. Summary of all keyboard shortcuts Editor's note: MLive will interview a beat writer who covers the Detroit Lions' opponent every week. This week's victim is Jourdan Rodrigue of the Charlotte Observer. You can find her stuff here, and you can follow her on Twitter at @JourdanRodrigue. Detroit (3-6) hosts Carolina (6-3) at 1 p.m. Sunday on Fox. MLive: Cam Newton cut up the Lions defense to near-perfection levels last year. And frighteningly enough, his numbers -- and especially his efficiency numbers -- are up this year. Why is that? Has Norv Turner really made that much of a difference? Jourdan Rodrigue: There are a few things that are contributing to Cam Newton's excellent start to the year. First, he's healthier than he's been in a couple of years, particularly after his shoulder surgery last spring. Second, a combination of Norv Turner's offense, the right calls getting made at the right time and the ability of the players around Newton has helped. He has never had this much versatility on the field alongside him, and Turner is exploiting that to the Panthers' benefit. Third, Newton's decision-making has really evolved. The proof in that isn't just his production, but the way he is distributing the ball and the lack of interceptions. MLive: Of course, it helps to have a do-everything dynamo like Christian McCaffrey laying around too. How is Carolina using him these days? Rodrigue: Sheesh, how aren't they? I'm pretty sure Christian cooks everyone's meals and waxes the cars, too. He's being used as Carolina's lead back, and most interestingly to me, he's his own "complementary back" as well since he has been so effective in the passing game. He's on the field for 97 percent of the offensive snaps, and when he's not the target, he is a decoy who teams must account for. He can stretch a defense out a little thinner when he's on the outside as a receiver, and when he's line up in the backfield he can crowd the box so others are left in better matchups. MLive: People around here know Devin Funchess pretty well. Fun fact: I actually covered him in high school, then again in college. Of course, he was a tight end in those days. Now's he's a really productive receiver with an uncertain future. Where do things stand with Funchess? Rodrigue: Michigan flex! Nice! Funchess is in a more natural role on the Panthers offense than he was in his first three seasons, especially with Kelvin Benjamin taking up space. He's become more consistent and is capable of monster catches when given the opportunity. However, the distribution of balls that Turner wants in his offense means Funchess is not putting up the flashiest of seasons, through no fault of his own. He's been pretty consistent, which is good for him in a contract year. MLive: The Panthers won five out of six games during one stretch. Then they lost by about a billion to Pittsburgh last week. What has fueled their rise, and how do you anticipate them responding to that shellacking last Thursday night? Rodrigue: The combination of Cam Newton and Norv Turner is exciting and productive if given the chance to get moving, which they didn't really have after falling into a quick deficit against the Steelers last week. This team always plays better when their backs are against the wall, and they've certainly had a big slice of humble pie fed to them. I expect them to come out ticked-off. MLive: The Panthers have beaten Detroit in all but one of their games since 1999. They continues that trend on Sunday if ... Rodrigue: ... they can continue to take care of the football, and find a little more consistency on defense in all three tiers. They've been really all over the board defensively, and it's interesting that a team with such a rich defensive history is now more dangerous on offense. YPSILANTI TOWNSHIP, MI - Officials are investigating a fire at Village Grove Apartments that left one person dead. Firefighters responded to the blaze inside an apartment building on the 1500 block of Village Lane, near Ford Lake in Ypsilanti Township, at about 10 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 17. Ypsilanti Township Fire Lt. Jerry Hamilton said one person was killed and there were no other injuries reported. There were about 15 to 20 apartments inside the building and two had fire damage while the rest had smoke damage, Hamilton said. Hamilton said firefighters were able to quickly put out the fire and stayed on the scene for hours afterward, checking for smoldering material, and they cleared the scene at 3:15 a.m. Sunday. At this point, there's no information about the cause of the fire or the person killed, Hamilton said. In addition to the Ypsilanti Township Fire Department, firefighters from the city of Ypsilanti, Superior Township and Pittsfield Township assisted on the scene. The Red Cross also came out to assist displaced residents, while HART Huron Valley provided on-scene support. OWOSSO, MI -- Derailed freight train cars on Saturday night has led to the cancellation of the North Pole Express trip on Sunday, Nov. 18. A Great Lakes Central Railroad train had six cars overturn around 7:30 p.m. Nov. 17 in the area of Cass Street, between M-52 and Cedar Street in the downtown area. Owosso police Chief Kevin Lenkart said the cars were hauling corn. The derailment led to the closure of Cass Street until mid-morning Sunday. No injuries were reported. Shiawassee County Emergency Management, Owosso Fire Department, and Owosso Township Fire Department assisted at the scene. An investigation is underway by Great Lakes Central Railroad to determine the cause of the derailment, according to Lenkart. Messages by MLive-The Flint for comment from Great Lakes Central Railroad were not immediately returned. The Pere Marquette 1225 train, a 1941 Berkshire type steam locomotive also known as the North Pole Express, was inbound from Ashley to Owosso and behind the train that derailed. Shiawassee County Sheriff Brian BeGole said there were 900 passengers onboard the North Pole Express when it had to stop at Delaney and Mason roads in Owosso Township. Buses from Owosso Public Schools, Indian Trails, and the Shiawassee Regional Education Service District responded to escort passengers to the Steam Railroading Institute in Owosso. All passengers were transported off the North Pole Express by approximately 11:30 p.m. Saturday night, Lenkart said. The North Pole Express has canceled its Nov. 18 trip "Due to situations beyond our control," reads a Steam Railroading Institute Facebook post. "This trip will be rescheduled for Sunday November 25th at 5pm," per the post. "We deeply apologize for any inconvenience." A refund will be provided for those unable to make the rescheduled date as all 2018 trips are sold out and no carryover dates in 2019 are available. GRAND RAPIDS, MI - A 26-year-old Grand Rapids man has been charged with ethnic intimidation and two other crimes in connection to threatening messages sent to an area church. Todd Nathan Jamison, 26, of Grand Rapids. Todd Jamison, 26, was arraigned in 61st District Court on Friday, Nov. 16, according to a news release issued Sunday, Nov. 18 by Grand Rapids police. Jamison was released on bond from the Kent County Correctional Facility on Friday evening. Aside from the ethnic intimidation charge, a felony, Jamison has been charged with stalking and malicious use of a telecommunication serve, both misdemeanors. On Thursday, Nov. 15, Grand Rapids police were called to Brown-Hutcherson Ministries, 618 Jefferson SE, and Brown's Funeral Home, 627 Jefferson SE, to investigate voicemail messages and emails left with both facilities the night before. Police said the messages were ethnically intimidating in nature. Through the course of their investigation, police learned that on Wednesday, Nov. 14, two trespassers were asked to leave Brown's Funeral Home after they were caught underneath the parlor's awning, the release reads. After a short confrontation, the trespassers left, police added. Some time later, both the funeral home and the church received threatening messages laced with racial slurs. Both facilities continued to receive the hate-filled messages until Friday morning, and police were contacted soon afterward. Police later identified Jamsion as the caller and author of the emails. He was arrested at 4 p.m. Friday and confessed to making the calls and producing the emails while in custody. Sixty-seven medical marijuana businesses are licensed to operate in the state of Michigan. Forty of them are provisioning centers -- the retail storefront for medical marijuana. Despite Proposal 1's passage Nov. 6, provisioning centers can only sell marijuana to card-carrying patients. Even with a flow of licenses from the Board -- and the first licensed retail sale of medical marijuana in late October -- some provisioning centers say there's not enough product to go around. Most provisioning centers are on the eastern side of the state, with a proliferation in Detroit and the communities immediately surrounding it. Lacking any licensed provisioning center are Lansing, Grand Rapids and Muskegon -- as well as the majority of northern and western Michigan. The Upper Peninsula has one medical marijuana business -- a provisioning center in Houghton. Map directions: Zoom in on the map below to see where medical marijuana businesses are licensed near you, as some companies may hold more than one license. Additionally, the map indicates the registered business address for the license holder and may not represent an actual storefront. Key: Provisioning centers are the licensed version of dispensaries. Grow facility licenses allow for different numbers of plants, with Class A allowing up to 500 plants and Class C allowing up to 1,500 plants. Processing centers are facilities where oil is extracted from marijuana flowers and trim. Safety compliance facilities are where marijuana flower and products are tested in a lab for potency and compliance with state regulations. Secure transporters are companies that ship marijuana and products between growers, labs, processors and provisioning centers. Though state officials have been trying to impose a licensing deadline on dispensaries that have been temporarily operating unlicensed, their efforts have been blocked by Circuit Court Judge Stephen Borrello. The licensure deadline was Oct. 31 for temporary operators -- but the state is prevented from enforcing it due a temporary restraining order from Borrello, said David Harns, spokesman for the Bureau of Medical Marihuana Regulation. Borrello extended the order Nov. 14. The licensing deadline for operating dispensaries has changed multiple times, starting with June 15 and then later Sept. 15 and then Dec. 15 after a separate ruling from Borrello. The deadline drama -- and past threat of a state shutdown of nearly 100 businesses -- have drawn concerns from the medical marijuana industry. Nevertheless, the fledgling medical industry is making strides: the first sale of marijuana grown, processed, tested and transported by state-licensed businesses was completed Oct. 25. The first licensed medical marijuana sale started at High Life Farms. It's known in some circles as its business name, VB Chesaning -- a 6,000-plant indoor grow and processing facility in Chesaning. It was tested by Iron Laboratories in Walled Lake, and transported by Motas Inc. to Healing Tree Wellness Center near 8 Mile and Gratiot Avenue in Detroit. "There is product available," said Advain Oraha, general manager of Healing Tree Wellness Center and COO of its parent company, Green Skies, at the time of the sale. "I think the state has taken it into consideration. They know that it's ready." But the supply chain is not yet complete for some shops, as a total of 12 growers has been licensed -- and all but one are for large-scale operations. Not all of them are operational yet. Meanwhile, 40 provisioning centers have gained licenses. "It looks like we'll be out of product in two weeks, tops," said Derek Norman, a manager at Humblebee Products north of Grayling. Humblebee has been open as a provisioning center for the past year under the state's emergency rules, and received its state license six weeks ago. For the past year, it's been selling marijuana supplied by caregivers. With a state license, they now have to sell marijuana grown, processed, tested and transported by licensed businesses in Michigan. There's almost none to be found, Norman said. "We reached out to all the current facilities," Norman said. "They won't have product until early 2019." Without licensed marijuana, provisioning centers like Humblebee are in a bind. Norman said they'll likely have to temporarily shut down and lay off staff until there is marijuana available to sell. "We get calls from provisioning centers all the time and they don't know where to get product from," said Robert Teitel, president of Iron Laboratories. In total, the board has approved 67 business licenses and denied 31 in a four-month span. More than 500 licenses are pending with the state. Eight processing licenses, three secure transporter licenses and four safety compliance facility licenses have been granted. The board next meets Dec. 7. The industry is starting from "ground zero" in Michigan, Teitel said. "This is a big disadvantage that patients have as opposed to the other states," Teitel said. Michigan still allows caregivers to grow plants and provide product to medical card-carrying patients. There are 43,056 caregivers in the state, and 297,515 patients, Harns said. -- Amy Biolchini is the marijuana beat reporter for MLive. Contact her with questions, tips or comments at abiolch1@mlive.com. Read more from MLive about medical marijuana. KALAMAZOO COUNTY, MI - Deputies with the Kalamazoo County Sheriff's Office are searching for the driver of a vehicle that slammed into a Kalamazoo-area home early Sunday morning. The crash occurred at around 6:50 a.m. Sunday, Nov. 18, in Kalamazoo County's Texas Township near the 5000 block of Swallow Avenue south of West Q Avenue, said Kalamazoo County Undersheriff Jim VanDyken. VanDyken said he and his deputies are now working to identify the driver. Deputies had tracked the suspect with a K9 unit, but were unable to locate the driver. The vehicle was also carrying another individual in the passenger seat, who was questioned by deputies following the crash. No major injuries were reported to the occupants of the home or the passenger in the vehicle. And while VanDyken said they were still working out the details, the undersheriff confirmed the damage to the car and home was "significant." Anyone with information on the crash or the suspected driver is asked to contact the Kalamazoo County Sheriff's Office at 269-383-8748 or Silent Observer online or at at 269-343-2100. Photo: National Defence and the Canadian Armed Forces Jody Thomas is the deputy minister of national defence. The deputy minister of national defence has told a NATO meeting in Halifax that Canada is satisfied that it is spending what it requires to meet its alliance and other military commitments. Jody Thomas held fast to the government's stance on defence spending on Saturday, despite some pointed questioning about Canada's commitment following her presentation before NATO's defence and security committee. U.S. Republican congressman Michael Turner, the committee's acting chairman, asked whether Canada intends to table a plan for meeting the two per cent of GDP standard for defence spending that was agreed to by alliance members at a summit in Wales in 2014. "Many of the nations that are here are either meeting their two per cent or have in place a plan to reach the two per cent," said Turner. "Canada is one of those countries who has not yet put forward a commitment to reach the two per cent although that is a commitment that Canada joined in making at Wales." Thomas stuck to the Liberal government's line, saying Canada intends to increase its defence budget by 1.46 per cent by the end of 2024. "Canada's defence budget is growing by 70 per cent as a result of Strong, Secure, Engaged (Canada's defence policy)," said Thomas. "We also on the ground are leading a significant number of operations, and we have never not participated in a NATO commitment or operation." She also reiterated that Canada believes it contributes to the alliance in a "qualitative" way through an active participation in the alliance. "The defence budget is a significant increase in funding for national defence and our prime minister is very satisfied with that contribution." But Bob Stewart, a member of the United Kingdom delegation, reminded Thomas that Canada agreed to the commitment, adding that it's "crucial" it be honoured. Stewart, a Conservative MP, then questioned Canada's current defence spending commitment. "It's something like 1.12 per cent at the moment and honestly, it's not enough," said Stewart. "There are many nations that are not doing enough and I include my own nation ... we have all got to contribute more and help the United States that bears the burden." Thomas shot back that Canada's funding includes its commitment to North American Air Defence (NORAD) and she stated that there are "inconsistencies" in the way the military budgets of member countries are assessed. "The fact is that who counts what differs from country to country," she said. A report released by NATO ahead of last July's alliance summit in Brussels, predicted Canada would spend 1.23 per cent of its GDP on defence this year less than last years level of 1.36 per cent. That leaves Canada ranked 18th out of the alliances 29 members. The decline is largely attributed to two one-time expenses last year, including a retroactive pay increase for service members that was included in the governments defence policy, and a $1.8-billion payment into the account that provides pensions for Forces members and their dependents. In an interview with the Canadian Press, British Air Chief Marshal Stuart Peach, who is chairman of the NATO Military Committee, praised Canada for its "very strong support for the alliance." Peach pointed to ongoing naval exercises and Canada's support for NATO's forward deployment in the Baltic states along with its support for the training mission in Iraq. With regards to the two per cent target he remained diplomatic, saying that NATO officials have maintained there are three elements to the overall funding conversation. "There is defence spending which is about the money, there's then a description and important modernization adaptation of NATO's capabilities of which Canada plays an important role," Peach said. "And then there's the question of contributions and I've already set out how pleased we are with the range of Canada's contributions." Photo: The Canadian Press Children stand on the side of the road holding an American flag as the motorcade of President Donald Trump drives through Chico, Calif., on a visit to areas affected by the wildfires, Saturday, Nov. 17, 2018. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci) Handfuls of people who fled the deadliest U.S. wildfire in a century clustered around TV sets at evacuation centres Saturday to watch President Donald Trump survey what remained of their Northern California community. But for the most part, survivors, some who had barely escaped and no longer had homes, were too busy packing up what little they had left or seeking help to pay much attention to the president's visit. Michelle Mack Couch, 49, waited in line to get into a Federal Emergency Management Agency centre in the city of Chico. She needed a walker for her elderly mother and tags for her car. "Let's hope he gets us some help," said Couch, who voted for Trump and whose house was among more than 9,800 that burned down last week. But as far as taking time out to watch the president, she said wryly, "We don't have a TV anymore." California's outgoing and incoming governors joined Trump as he surveyed the devastation in the town of Paradise, population 27,000, and visited a nearby firefighting command centre. Gov. Jerry Brown and Gov.-elect Gavin Newsom welcomed Trump's visit, declaring it's time "to pull together for the people of California." The tour came as firefighters raced to get ahead of strong winds expected overnight and authorities struggled to locate 1,011 people who were unaccounted for. Authorities stressed that not all on the list are believed missing, but the death toll from the Camp Fire has risen daily, standing at 71. The fire zone in Northern California is to some extent Trump country. He beat Hillary Clinton by 4 percentage points in Butte County in 2016. That enthusiasm was on display as dozens of people cheered and waved flags as his motorcade went by. But elsewhere, others were searching for friends. At an unofficial encampment next to a Walmart in Chico, many were packing up to find another temporary place to sleep after being told to leave by Sunday. That included Maggie Missere-Crowder, who said she was focused on getting her tent and boxes of food into her pickup truck. Missere-Crowder, 61, and her husband had fled their home in Magalia, a community near Paradise that also was devastated, and now planned to go to a shelter in Yuba City, about an hour's drive from the Walmart. She said she was angry about Trump's tweet last week blaming forest mismanagement for the Nov. 8 fire, a sentiment he evoked in his visit and has stirred resentment among survivors. "Like we've done it on purpose. It's like a slap in the face," Missere-Crowder said. Still, she said that if she met him, she would say, "Think about what you're saying, because it takes away from all the good stuff you're doing." Al Coppa, who lost two homes and doesn't know the fate of a third in Magalia, was among a handful of people watching news about Trump's visit on a TV outside a Red Cross shelter in Chico. He said he hopes the attention will speed up recovery for wildfire victims. "I hope that only good comes out of it. Good for the people that have been devastated by this. It's just such a horrible thing. I couldn't believe how bad it was," said Coppa, who has been living in hotels. Trump also was visiting Southern California, where firefighters were making progress on a wildfire that tore through communities west of Los Angeles from Thousand Oaks to Malibu, killing three people. In Northern California, thousands of personnel battled the flames spanning about 230 square miles (600 square kilometres), officials said. It was halfway contained. Firefighters were racing against time with winds up to 40 mph and low humidity expected Saturday night into Sunday. Rain was forecast for midweek, which could help firefighters but also complicate the search for remains. The number of people unaccounted for has grown to more than 1,000. But Butte County Sheriff Kory Honea acknowledged that the list was "dynamic" and could easily contain duplicate names and unreliable spellings. The roster probably includes some who fled the blaze and do not realize they have been reported missing, he said. "We are still receiving calls. We're still reviewing emails," Honea said Friday. "This is a massive undertaking. We have hundreds and hundreds of people working on this." live bse live nse live Volume Todays L/H More The government has put on hold a so-called passenger charter, which detailed the rights of flyers, as financially troubled airlines raised objections to it, reports Hindustan Times. Sources from the Civil Aviation Ministry told the paper that the first draft of the charter said passengers could cancel their tickets for free if done within 24 hours of booking and at least four days ahead of the departure of the flight. The draft allows passengers to make changes to the name at no additional cost. Apart from these suggestions, airlines also did not approve of the compensation customers would get if flights were cancelled. "The airlines have requested us to look into the high compensation charges as fares in India are very low and such high compensation cannot be justified. Their second main objection is allowing cancellation as their business will get affected if this is allowed," an official said. If a flight is delayed for over four hours, the draft states that passengers would be entitled to a refund. This, even if the delay is communicated in advance. Moreover, if a flyer misses their connecting flight due to this delay, they will receive a refund ranging from Rs 5,000 to Rs 20,000. Passengers must also be provided hot snacks and beverages for free if their flight is on the tarmac for over 60 minutes. They must be de-boarded if that time limit crosses 120 minutes. The ministry invited public consultation on the draft on May 21 and received responses from passenger associations, airlines and airport operators. There have been two rounds of meetings with stakeholders regarding the charter, the report said. Another official said airlines are posting losses due to rising fuel cost and a weaker rupee and therefore they feel this is not a good time to notify the passenger charter. The Air Passenger Association of India (APAI) called the delay unjustified, saying it has been demanding a passenger charter for eight years. "Someone who makes mistakes will have to pay the penalty, so why is the Aviation Ministry protecting those who are making mistakes? If the airlines are not making a profit, this might make them work more professionally," D Sudhakara Reddy, Founder of APAI, told the paper. HIV/AIDS | 2-5 number of people affected by an individual Medecins Sans Frontieres (MSF), or Doctors Without Borders, the Paris-based international humanitarian-aid organisation early last week called on the Board of Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria to make urgent changes to policies and practices for countries transitioning away from donor support, which increase the risk of critical drug stock-outs and alarming drug quality issues in many countries. Founded in 2002, the Global Fund is a partnership between governments, civil society, the private sector and people affected by the three diseases. It raises and invests nearly $4 billion a year to support programmes run by local experts in countries and communities most in need. As of July, the Global Fund had approved more than $40 billion in funding and disbursed approximately $38 billion to over 120 countries. These investments are said to have helped save more than 22 million lives in these countries. Low- and middle-income countries, who receive donor support for HIV and TB drugs from the Global Fund, are gradually losing support. As these countries grow economically, they are expected to increase spending on health from their own resources, progressively moving away from donor financing toward domestically funded health systems. But health NGOs and activists working in the area of AIDS and TB are worried that the countries that are losing, or transitioning from support, are increasingly at risk of drugs being unavailable or of sub-standard quality. The countries transitioning may lose the support of the Global Funds central purchasing of HIV and TB drugs, which secured affordable prices through high-volume orders from multiple competing suppliers. The Global Drug Facility (GDF), which helps countries procure TB drugs, has documented a number of problems related to the Global Funds policies. In the past 18 months, 15 countries in Asia, Africa and the Eastern Europe and Central Asia region have experienced stock-outs of TB drugs. Additionally, 29 countries in these regions, along with Latin America, have purchased TB drugs of unknown quality, and 21 countries have purchased TB drugs and tests at prices that far exceed the lowest global prices they should be paying. Costs of first line AIDS drugs have reduced to $75 per patient per year in 2017 from $10,000 in 2000. TB is the most common opportunistic infection (OI) among HIV-infected individuals and co-infected individuals are at high risk of death. Dr Els Torreele, Executive Director of MSFs Access Campaign, said the current pace of Global Fund's country transitions was hastened by underfunding from donors. "(It) is creating a ticking time bomb where peoples HIV and TB treatment is jeopardised by unknown drug quality and drugs simply not being there, Torreele said. Early this year, US, the largest donor, proposed $1 billion in funding cuts to both the Presidents Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) and through multilateral arrangements like Global Fund. For every $1 that the US contributes to the Global Fund, other donors invest $2. In its budget proposal for FY18, the Donald Trump administration proposed some $425 million in cuts to the Global Fund. PEPFAR was started under the regime of former US President George W Bush in 2003. In 2018, it proposed a cut of over 30 percent for three countries -- South Africa, India, and Mozambique -- with some of the highest HIV/AIDS disease burdens in the world. To be sure, this development will have implications on India on two fronts. One our fight against AIDS, TB and malaria would be jeopardised as India is facing stock-outs of paediatric HIV drugs due to a lack of quality-assured suppliers. Second, Indian drug makers who are major suppliers of antiretroviral (ARV) and TB drugs under Global Fund's programme may lose business. Cipla, one of world's major supplier of ARV drugs, has already indicated in its Q2 FY19 earnings that the transitioning of countries and lower funding support is having an impact on its business. Allowing countries to fall off a cliff without mitigating the risks for people who need treatment could reverse nearly two decades of progress against two of the worlds deadliest infectious diseases, Torreele said. nhpc_90089273 The government expects to garner at least Rs 5,000 crore through share buyback offers of state-run companies, including Coal India, in the current fiscal, a Finance Ministry official said. Coal India, in which the government had earlier this month sold 3.18 per cent stake to raise Rs 5,300 crore, has agreed to launch a share buyback early next year. "Share buyback plans have been lined up with about eight companies, which will fetch at least Rs 5,000 crore. Coal India share buyback would happen in January," the official told PTI. As many as six CPSEs have made regulatory filings to the stock exchanges for launching share buyback programmes, which could fetch the government a little over Rs 3,000 crore. These companies are NHPC, BHEL, NALCO, NLC, Cochin Shipyard and KIOCL. Earlier in September, the Department of Investment and Public Asset Management (DIPAM) had discussed share buyback plans with Central Public Sector Enterprises (CPSEs). The CPSEs have been asked to buy back the shares following the capital restructuring guidelines set out by DIPAM on May 27, 2016. As per the guidelines, CPSEs having net worth of at least Rs 2,000 crore and cash and bank balance of above Rs 1,000 crore have to mandatorily go in for share buyback. It had also asked every CPSE to analyse in the first board meeting after the closure of a financial year the cash and bank balance, expansion plans, borrowing plans, net worth and market value of shares and explore option for buying back of shares. Share buybacks offer a route for companies to return some wealth to their shareholders, while potentially boosting their stock prices. In a share buyback, a company will absorb or retire the repurchased shares, and rename them as treasury stock. Buying back stock is also a route to make a business look more attractive to investors. By reducing the number of outstanding shares, a company's earnings per share ratio is automatically increased. So far in the current fiscal, the government has raised over Rs 15,000 crore through minority stake sale in CPSEs as well as Bharat-22 ETF. The budgeted target for disinvestment has been set at Rs 80,000 crore. Money must be made in a way that makes it ones slave, not master: Ex-SEBI chief M Damodaran The former SEBI chief pointed out that there arent many companies that generate wealth by keeping every last stakeholders interests at heart Moneycontrol News November 18, 2018 / 07:51 AM IST Those who create wealth for themselves and for others must do so in a way that the less-privileged and less-informed are not taken advantage of, former Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) Chairman M Damodaran said at the inaugural edition of the Moneycontrol Wealth Creator Awards. With a reference to something once said by a big celebrity who lives down the road from where the event was taking place (Taj Lands End, Bandra, so you can guess), Damodaran said money must be made in a way that makes it ones slave and not their master. The former SEBI chief pointed out that there arent many companies that generate wealth by keeping every last stakeholders interests at heart. He blamed three parties for this regulators, the media and people in the financial world. Damodaran said regulators complicate things by adding to the already humongous pile of laws that govern matters pertaining to companies and their finances. The media, he said, makes heroes of those who make money in distasteful, or even illegal ways. And then you have people in the financial sector, regrettably, who believe that demonstrating short-term gains to a gullible public is a way to establish your credibility as a great wealth creator, not realising that sooner rather than later, you will be found out and that others who follow a steadier path generate returns that are sensible, and not out of sync with what the rest of the world is delivering, he said. Recalling the Satyam Computer scandal of 2009, Damodaran said when people take liberties with the law to create wealth and the truth about it is outed, it damages trust between parties and in the minds of the public. You have all created wealth, you are creating wealth and you will continue to create wealth. You will get awards for creating wealth. But do it in a manner in which you will create wealth today, tomorrow and the day after. Not yesterday and today, wondering what tomorrow will bring if some shortcuts that you take get exposed, the former regulator concluded. RBI While a debate is going on whether the RBI should do more to ease credit to MSMEs, officials said the central bank has provided special training to nearly 11,000 officers at various commercial banks on lending to micro, small and medium enterprises. This training has been provided to officers working at nearly 3,000 bank branches covering all districts in India through more than 2,000 special workshops in the last three years, officials said. These are mostly specialised bank branches catering to the MSME sector where this multi-level training has been provided, covering branch managers, senior officers and even faculty members of staff colleges who can further pass on the training to the bank employees. Most importantly, the training exercise was executed in consultation with the government, including with the active involvement of the MSME ministry and the RBI's objective has been to create a conducive environment to help these small entrepreneurs and companies avail easy and faster credit, officials said. The officers have also been provided special kits to help their banks extend more credit to MSMEs, while they have also been trained on behaviourial issues to deal with such borrowers with utmost care, they added. The RBI's central board will meet on Monday where the government nominees and some independent members are expected to take on Governor Urjit Patel and his team on various issues including norms for the MSME credit. The RBI is, however, of the view that its policies are very much in favour of easier credit to MSMEs and it has always been making efforts to make further relaxations for such borrowers, sources said. The main concern of the central bank is about some big corporates misusing the NPA relaxations for 'ever-greening' of their loans, they said. The RBI team, comprising of the governor and his four deputies, on its central board is banking on support from a few independent directors, who are of the view that a large majority of banks, including those facing 'prompt corrective actions', have achieved the mandatory priority sector lending targets for micro enterprises. Also, the Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME) lending has been exempted from most of the restrictions, including those relating to the stressed assets, and several steps have been taken by the RBI to ease credit flow to this sector and to ensure their faster 'formalisation' to bring them on board the new GST regime that will help them further in availing the loans, they said. While much has been written about differences between the RBI and the government, sources said the facts and the data show there are hardly any significant issues that are being faced by MSMEs due to policy or regulatory matters. They cited several steps taken in the recent past by the RBI, in consultation with the government, for facilitating easier access and availability of credit to the MSME sector, including the 'Resolution of Stressed Assets-Revised Framework (RSA-RF)' of February 12, 2018. This framework has been carefully calibrated to exclude loans availed by MSME units up to Rs 25 crore from its purview, which nearly covers the entire spectrum of the MSME borrowers. Besides, this remains in line with the earlier government policy for the benefit of MSMEs. The average outstanding loan size of the MSMEs being 2.7 lakh, 26 lakh and 92 lakhs respectively, almost all the MSME loans are out of the purview of the February 12 circular, while the earlier 'specially carved out' rectification process for the MSMS sector remains in force that remains borrower-driven. The officials also pointed at inclusion of a separate sub-target of 7.5 per cent under Priority Sector Lending for the micro sector and said the target has been achieved by most banks, including those facing 'prompt corrective action'. Now, this target has also been made mandatory for foreign banks with 20 or more branches in India. Besides, caps have been removed on loans to MSMEs to encourage banks to go beyond the earlier limits in such lending. To ensure timely availability of funds to the MSME sector, the RBI has also facilitated the setting up of Electronic Bill Factoring Exchanges in the country. These exchanges provide for swift discounting of MSME bills and help MSMEs raise funds without delay. The Non-Performing Assets norms have also been relaxed for the MSME sector to help them cope up with challenges following implementation of new reforms, officials said. To ensure formalisation of MSMEs, exposure of banks and NBFCs to the GST. Prime Minister Narendra Modi Prime Minister Narendra Modi will chair a meeting with policy makers and top industrialists on November 19, to brainstorm on measures required to realise the vision of India breaking into the top 50 in the World Bank's Ease of Doing Business index. The meeting 'Reflections on Ease of Doing Business' is being organised by the Department of Industrial Policy and Promotion (DIPP) as the government gears up for India's ranking to leapfrog on the 'Doing Business' index next year and boost the country's investment attractiveness. Industrialists such as Anand Mahindra and top representatives from industry chambers, among others, will share their inputs. Senior government officials from the team that worked on reforms to improve the ease of doing business parameters taken into account by the World Bank are also expected to participate in the meeting. India leapfrogged to the 77th rank in the World Bank's latest Ease of Doing Business rankings, jumping 23 notches from last year. The report, which came out last month, also recognised India as one of the top 10 improvers in this years assessment, for the second successive time. India is the only large country this year to have achieved such a significant shift. India has improved its rank by 53 positions in the last two years, and 65 positions in the last four years (2014-18). Speaking at Moneycontrol's Wealth Creator Awards, Suresh Prabhu, Minister of Commerce & Industry, and Civil Aviation said the overall mission of the government, led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, is public good. Placing his trust in the central leadership, the Union minister said he is confident that India will come in the first 50 ranks in the next fiscal. Prabhu also announced that the government is creating 'sub-national' Ease of Doing Business parameters which will be measured at the district level because that is where the local industries are flourishing. "It is going to be bottom-up approach," he said. At a time when there is an ongoing rift between Reserve Bank of India and the central government on regulatory norms, weaker public sector banks continue to incur losses. Government owned banks under the prompt corrective action (PCA) framework are struggling with capital requirement and provision towards bad loans. Among the reasonably large banks under PCA, IDBI Bank incurred a loss for the eighth quarter in a row at Rs 3,620 crore, Bank of India posted a loss of Rs 1,156 crore. Other banks including Central Bank of India, Dena Bank and United Bank of India also posted losses in the second quarter financial results. The PCA framework is imposed based on a bank's capital position, return on assets and level of non-performing assets (NPAs). As a solution, on one hand, the government is looking at closing down several banks and merge some smaller lenders with large ones, while on the other, the tussle between Mint Road and North Block could see closer supervision of the regulator. Prime Minister Narendra Modi's administration has recommended that the board of Reserve Bank of India draft regulations to enable setting up panels to oversee functions including financial stability, monetary-policy transmission and foreign-exchange management, a Bloomberg report said. This will empower the regulator's board, which includes government nominees, and give it a supervisory role. The central banks board is scheduled to meet on November 19. Among the government nominees on the RBI board, Swaminathan Gurumurthy, a chartered accountant, Subhash Chandra Garg, Secretary of Department of Financial Services and Rajiv Kumar, Secretary of Finance Department have been vocal about perceived shortcomings in banking supervision, flow of credit to industry, especially small and medium sector enterprises and easier liquidity flow into non-banking financial companies (NBFCs). The RBI top management including Governor Urjit Patel, his deputies Viral Acharya and NS Vishwanathan, have defended RBI's decisions and warned in their speeches to not allow undermining RBI's independence and that doing so will attract the wrath of the markets. Over the past month, the government has threatened to impose Section 7 of the RBI Act, which gives the government power to issue directions that are binding on the central bank. If used, experts said, it would be a first in the RBI's 83-year history. Breaking News Three persons were killed and several others injured in a grenade attack on a religious congregation on November 18 in Amritsar, Punjab, police said. The grenade was lobbed by bike-borne persons at a religious congregation of 'Nirankaris' which was being held at Adhiwala village here, according to eyewitness accounts. "A grenade has been lobbed and 5-10 persons have been injured in the incident," a senior Punjab police official, who visited the incident spot, told reporters. Three persons were killed in the incident, the official said. Punjab was on alert following an input claiming that a group of six to seven JeM terrorists were reportedly in the state, possibly in Ferozepur area. The state was put on alert after four persons snatched a SUV from its driver at gunpoint near Madhopur in Pathankot district last week. Sunil Jakhar, Punjab Congress Chief expressed his condolence. "My condolences are with families of those who lost lives in this incident. It is an attempt to disturb peace in Punjab," Jakhar told news agency ANI. (With PTI inputs) 656759-655425-amrinder-singh Chief Minister Amarinder Singh on November 18 reviewed the law and order situation in Punjab after a grenade attack by bike-borne assailants at a religious congregation near Amritsar city killed at least three people. Condemning the attack, Singh asked the state home secretary, DGP, DG (Law and Order) and DG Intelligence to rush to Rajasansi area, close to Amritsar international airport, and oversee the investigation into the attack on a Nirankari Bhavan, an official spokesman said. He has also asked officials to strengthen security at all Nirankari Bhavans in the state. The chief minister announced Rs five-lakh compensation to the family of the dead and free treatment to the 10 people injured, the spokesman said. "Strongly condemn the bomb blast at Nirankari Bhawan in Amritsar... My heart goes out to victims of the Amritsar bomb blast and their families... My govt will give Rs 5 lakh to the kin of each of the dead and free treatment to the injured. Have asked district administration to extend all help," Singh tweeted. The attack happened during a religious congregation of the Nirankari sect. "A grenade was lobbed. Three people have died and 10 have been injured, two are critical," Inspector General of Police SS Parmar told reporters after visiting the site. Punjab was on alert following an intelligence that a group of six to seven Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) terrorists were reportedly in the state, possibly in Ferozepur area. The state was put on alert after four persons carjacked an SUV at gunpoint near Madhopur area in Pathankot district last week. Photo: The Canadian Press Migrants from Somalia cross into Canada illegally from the United States near Emerson, Man. in this Feb. 26, 2017 file photo. As Canada continues to grapple with an influx of irregular asylum seekers, statistics show a growing number of individuals seeking refugee protection in Canada are American. THE CANADIAN PRESS/John Woods As Canada grapples with an influx of irregular asylum seekers, statistics show a growing number of people seeking refugee protection in Canada are Americans. In 2017, people whose country of origin was identified as the United States made up the third largest cohort of asylum seekers. A total of 2,550 asylum claims were made by United States citizens in 2017. Partial statistics for this year show this trend continued at border and inland entry points, where 1,215 Americans sought asylum between January and August, according to government statistics. And when it comes to "irregular" migrants who have arrived in Canada between official border crossings, the U.S. was No. 2 in the top five countries of citizenship between January and June, after Nigeria. Nearly all the Americans claiming asylum in Canada are children of immigrants who don't have permanent status themselves, the Immigration Department says. "The majority of U.S. citizens claiming asylum are minor asylum claimants who were born in the United States whose parents are citizens of another country," said Mathieu Genest, press secretary for Immigration Minister Ahmed Hussen. "In these instances, the claims of persecution are made against the parents' country of origin, not the United States. However, given their citizenship, the minor children appear as U.S. citizens in these tables. These children predominately accompanied Haitian or Nigerian national adults." Many of them have been living in the U.S. for years under a program established in the 1990s that offers temporary status to people from countries that have endured war or environmental disasters. Many of these migrants have had children during their time in the U.S., who were born American citizens. But after U.S. President Donald Trump announced plans in 2017 to end the temporary protected status program, Canada began to experience an influx of irregular migrants crossing the Canada-U.S. border. Over 36,000 asylum seekers have since arrived in Canada from the U.S., avoiding official border checkpoints where they would have been turned back to the U.S. under the Safe Third Country agreement between the two countries. Canadian immigration lawyers say they have seen an increase in the number of migrants without permanent status who have lived in the U.S. for years, with U.S.-born children, seeking refugee protection in Canada. "We have been getting a lot of calls, especially from Haitians who are living the U.S. and from certain South Asian groups," said Zohra Safi, an immigration lawyer with the Bellissimo Law Group in Toronto. "They have a sense of insecurity because a lot of refugees that were accepted (to the U.S.) on a temporary basis are just worried there is no closure for them right now and their statuses are being revoked." Safi said she advises people who don't have a "serious risk of persecution" in their country of origin against making refugee claims, but adds that anyone who does meet the requirements of the United Nations Refugee Convention is advised to apply. Ottawa immigration lawyer Arghavan Gerami says the changing political landscape in the United States could be grounds for migrants claiming fear of persecution and removal from the U.S. to be allowed to stay in Canada. "The situation in the U.S. with the Trump administration, with the policies of the government, with the changes that have happened that in itself can act as a new trigger of fear," Gerami said. "These are new types of arguments that can be advanced in these claims that may well be unique and precedent-setting in some cases." Trump has publicly mused about eliminating "birthright citizenship," the principle that with a very few narrow exceptions, people are automatically citizens of the countries where they're born. That would make the non-citizen parents of American-born children even less secure there. The Immigration Department says decisions on asylum cases made by the Immigration and Refugee Board are based on the merits of the specific facts presented in an individual case. About six crore people every year, or 7,000 people per hour, slip into poverty in India due to healthcare expenses, Ayushman Bharat- Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana CEO Indu Bhushan said Saturday. AB-PMJAY Chief Executive Officer Indu Bhushan was speaking at a health conference organised by the Goa Institute of Management. The Ayushman Bharat-PMJAY programme launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on September 23 is touted as the world's largest government-funded healthcare programme aimed at benefiting 50 crore people. Bhushan hailed the country's efforts in reducing poverty, but said, "At the same time, we see that about six crore people fall into poverty every year because of catastrophic healthcare expenses. I was astounded by the number. This means 7,000 people every hour." Calling the situation a "leaking bucket", he said, "It is like a leaking bucket. Though a lot of effort is being put to bring people out of poverty, due to health expenses, people are slipping into poverty which is puzzling." Speaking about what he termed were paradoxes in the last 70 years in India's health sector, Bhushan said, "One of the major paradoxes is that 70 per cent health needs of the country are supported by the private sector and only 30 per cent by the public sector." Talking about another irony, he said people from abroad were flying to India to get quality medical treatment at cheap rates, while large sections of its own citizens didn't have access to good health facilities. Finance Minister Arun Jaitley The proposed grand alliance of opposition parties will be a "coalition of rivals" which cannot govern the country and its fast-growing economy, Finance Minister Arun Jaitley said. The country has paid a heavy price for such "experiments" in the past, he said at an event. Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu had recently met Congress president Rahul Gandhi in an attempt to bring opposition parties together against the BJP-led NDA ahead of Lok Sabha elections. "What is being attempted today is perhaps more disastrous than any adventurism of the past. It's a coalition of rivals. Can the world's fastest moving economy, can the largest democracy, ever be governed by a coalition of rivals," Jaitley asked, without naming any party or leader. "And a coalition of rivals doesn't work. We have seen that. We have experimented with this kind of coalitions and the country paid a very heavy price," he said. He said the country had coherent economic policies when there was a strong political leadership. Enforcement Directorate IRS officer Sanjay Kumar Mishra was appointed as the full-time chief of the Enforcement Directorate (ED), a government order said. Mishra, a 1984-batch Indian Revenue Service (IRS) officer of the Income Tax cadre, was appointed as the principal special director in the central probe agency on October 27 and was entrusted with the "additional" charge of ED director for three months. An order issued by the Prime Minister Narendra Modi headed Appointments Committee of the Cabinet (ACC) on Saturday gave a two-year tenure to Mishra "from the date of assumption of the charge of the post or until further orders, whichever is earlier." Official sources said Mishra, who was posted as the chief commissioner of the Income Tax Department in Delhi before the ED appointment, has now been empanelled as an additional secretary in the central government and hence, has been given the top ED charge as a full-time assignment. The post of ED director is an additional secretary rank post in the Union government. Mishra took over from Karnal Singh. New Delhi: Union minister and Rashtriya Lok Samta Party (RLSP) chief Upendra Kushwaha meets with expelled JD(U) leader Sharad Yadav in New Delhi, Monday, Nov 12, 2018. (PTI Photo) (PTI11_12_2018_000055B) Opposition leader Sharad Yadav said on Sunday the BJP's hope to return to power at the Centre will be buried in the same states -- Uttar Pradesh and Bihar -- which had propelled it to a big win in 2014, and asserted that the Congress will trump the saffron party in all the five poll-bound states. The results of the assembly polls, including BJP-ruled Rajasthan, Chhattisgarh and Madhya Pradesh, will lay the foundation for the Lok Sabha elections next year, he told PTI in an interview. People want to get rid of the Narendra Modi-led government as it has not fulfilled a single promise made to them 2014, Yadav claimed. Accusing Prime Minister Modi of resorting to "sentimental" ploys like raking up his tea-seller background while his party colleagues talk of building Ram temple in Ayodhya, the Loktantrik Janta Dal leader said this shows the BJP has nothing to talk about its government's achievements. "The Congress is in the driving seats in all the five states. People are under distress and want to defeat the BJP. The results of these (assembly) polls will lay the foundation stone for the 2019 Lok Sabha elections," he said. Working to forge an alliance of opposition parties and win over new allies against the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance, Yadav said they will be united in 2019. "The BJP had captured Delhi on the back of its win in the Gangetic plains (Uttar Pradesh and Bihar). Its hope of returning to power in 2019 will be buried in the same plains," he said. The NDA had won 104 of the 120 Lok Sabha seats in Uttar Pradesh and Bihar in 2014 but a likely alliance of the Samajwadi Party and the Bahujan Samajwadi Party has made things much more challenging for the BJP in the politically most crucial state that sends 80 members to the lower house of Parliament. The BJP has boosted its prospects in Bihar by allying with Chief Minister and Janata Dal (United) president Nitish Kumar, who had fought against it in 2014, but the opposition is working to shore up its support by wooing leaders in the NDA camp. Yadav had recently met RLSP leader and BJP ally Upendra Kushwaha, and there is speculation that his Loktantrik Janata Dal and the RLSP may merge to boost the opposition alliance. He declined to comment on the matter but Kushwaha's drift from the NDA is becoming increasingly evident as he said on Saturday that the number of seats offered to him by the BJP for the Lok Sabha polls is not "respectable", setting the deadline of November 30 to the saffron party to sort out the matter. Attacking Modi for "chasing the Congress with a lathi day in and day out" while "not fulfilling his promises", Yadav said the prime minister rakes up sentimental issues like his tea-seller background to target the main opposition party. The Congress was defeated in the 2014 Lok Sabha polls and the subsequent assembly elections. There cannot be a bigger punishment for a party than this, he said. "People elected you (BJP) to power and punished them (Congress). Still, you are chasing them with a lathi day in and out. You do not do your work. You attack them (the Congress) everyday but do not fulfil your promises. People have become so distressed," Yadav said. Whether it was the BJP's promise on generating employment or boosting the economy and cleaning the Ganga river, none of it has been fulfilled, he claimed and alleged that instead, measures like demonetisation hit people hard and the GST "destroyed" small traders. These are the real issues on the ground, besides distress of farmers and high oil prices, he said while reiterating that the assembly polls will boost the opposition and set the tone for the Lok Sabha polls. Assembly elections in Madhya Pradesh and Mizoram are due on November 26, and in Rajasthan and Telangana on December 7. A Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) legislator and a Congress leader on November 17 resigned from their respective parties after they were denied tickets for the upcoming Rajasthan Assembly election. Tarun Rai Kaga, the BJP MLA from Chohtan seat in Barmer district, forwarded his resignation to the party's state president, Madan Lal Saini, and announced to quit politics. The party dropped Kaga from the constituency and gave the ticket to the its former district president, Aduram Meghwal. In Jaipur, former Congress MLA Babulal Nagar, who was the food and civil supplies minister in the Ashok Gehlot government, resigned from the party, alleging a conspiracy against him to deny a ticket. "I have worked hard for the party, but a conspiracy was hatched against me and I was not given a ticket from Dudu seat. I will go among the public and seek their opinion on Monday. I will contest as an Independent candidate if the people of my constituency demand this," he said. Nagar was jailed in October 2013 in a rape case, but he was acquitted by a lower court last year, following which the complainant had an filed appeal against the decision in the high court. December 07, 2018 / 05:01 PM IST The caste dynamics in the state and the race for reservations Rajasthan is a land of myriad colours, and this pluralism extends to the communities and ethnicities that make up the population of the state. The state is made up of 89 percent Hindus, 9 percent Muslims while 2 percent belong to other religions. The Scheduled Caste (SC) population is 18 percent, Scheduled Tribe (ST) 13 percent, Jats 12 percent, Gujjars and Rajputs 9 percent each, Brahmins and Minas 7 percent each. Among these, the Rajputs and the Jats have been at loggerheads ever since the princely states were merged into the Indian Union in 1952. At that time, the princes had fielded a large number of their nominees, and the electorate which was used to being ruled by the kings had voted for them. Click here to read more image for representation The Telangana Jana Samiti (TJS), a partner in the "grand alliance" (comprising Congress, TDP, CPI and TJS), on November 17 announced four candidates for the December 7 assembly elections in Telangana. The four nominees include Kapilavai Dileep Kumar (Malkajgari in Hyderabad), Janardhan Reddy (Medak), Chindam Raj Kumar (Dubbak) and Bhavani Reddy (Siddipet). The party is expected to contest eight seats as part of the alliance. The total number of assembly segments is 119. TJS said in a media release that other details would be announced Sunday. November 19 is the last date for filing nominations. TJS is headed by M Kodandaram, who was the Chairman of the Telangana Joint Action Committee (JAC). The JAC was in the forefront of the separate Telangana agitation. It comprised several political parties, including TRS and various people's organisations. However, differences cropped up between Kodandaram and the TRS after the latter assumed power in separate Telangana in 2014. The cartoon character was originally going to be named Mortimer. It was creator Walt Disney's wife Lily who suggested Mickey Mouse was a better choice. (Image: Reuters) Disney wasnt satisfied with the first few artists that to shortlisted to voice Mickey, so he did it, and continued to do so until 1947. (Image: Reuters) According to Disney, Mickey and Minnie are indeed married, although they keep it private and do not share a home. (Image: Reuters) When Disney was contemplating a name for his first theme park (Disneyland), he considered calling it "Mickey Mouse Village". (Image: Reuters) Mickey Mouse has been a prominent feature at Disneyland since it opened doors in 1955, with guests interacting with him at viewing him in parades or snapping up Mickey Mouse merchandise. (Image: Reuters) Every US president except Lyndon Johnson has posed with Mickey Mouse. (Image: Reuters) Mickey Mouse is the most popular write-in candidate at voting booths in the US. (Image: Reuters) He was the first cartoon character to earn a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. He got to walk the "famous walk" on November 18, 1978 which was his 50th birthday. (Image: Reuters) Mickey Mouse is said to be more recognisable around the globe than Santa Claus. (Image: Reuters) Donald Trump Nearly 1,300 people remain unaccounted for and the death toll from the country's deadliest wildfire in a century climbed to 76, authorities said Saturday, hours after President Donald Trump surveyed what remained of a decimated Northern California community. Butte County Sheriff Kory Honea pleaded with fire evacuees to check the roster of people reported as unreachable by family and friends and to call in if they are safe. Deputies have located hundreds of people to date, but the overall number keeps growing because officials are adding names, including those reported as missing during the disaster's chaotic early hours, Honea said. "It's really very important for you to take a look at the list and call us if you're on the list," he said. The remains of five more people were found Saturday, including four in the decimated town of Paradise and one in nearby Concow, bringing the number of dead to 76. Honea said among the dead was Lolene Rios, 56, whose son Jed tearfully told KXTV in Sacramento that his mother "had endless amount of love for me". Trump toured the area on November 17, joined by California's outgoing and incoming governors, both Democrats who have traded sharp barbs with the Republican administration. He also visited Southern California, where firefighters were making progress on a wildfire that tore through communities west of Los Angeles from Thousand Oaks to Malibu, killing three people. The president pledged the full support of the federal government. Gov. Jerry Brown and Gov-elect Gavin Newsom thanked him for coming out. "We've never seen anything like this in California, we've never seen anything like this yet. It's like total devastation," Trump said as he stood amid the ruins of Paradise. Firefighters are racing to get ahead of strong winds and low humidity expected overnight and into Sunday afternoon. Rain was forecast for midweek, which could help firefighters but also complicate the search for remains. Northern California's Camp Fire has destroyed nearly 10,000 homes and torched 233 square miles (600 square kilometers). It is 55 per cent contained. The fire zone in Northern California is to some extent Trump country, and that enthusiasm was on display as dozens of people cheered and waved flags as his motorcade went by. Kevin Cory, a wildfire evacuee who lost his home in Paradise, praised Trump for coming to a state that is often at odds with the White House. "I think that California's been really horrible to him and the fights. I mean they're suing him," he said. "It's back and forth between the state and the feds. It's not right." But for the most part, survivors, some who had barely escaped and no longer had homes, were too busy packing up what little they had left or seeking help to pay much attention to the president's visit. Michelle Mack Couch, 49, waited in line to get into a Federal Emergency Management Agency center in the city of Chico. She needed a walker for her elderly mother and tags for her car. "Let's hope he gets us some help," said Couch, who voted for Trump and whose house was among those burned down last week. But as far as taking time out to watch the president, she said wryly, "We don't have a TV anymore." At an unofficial encampment next to a Walmart store in Chico, many were packing up to find another temporary place to sleep after being told to leave by Sunday. That included Maggie Missere-Crowder, who said she was focused on getting her tent and boxes of food into her pickup truck. Missere-Crowder, 61, and her husband had fled their home in Magalia, a community near Paradise that also was devastated, and now planned to go to a shelter in Yuba City, about an hour's drive from the Walmart. She said she was angry about Trump's tweet last week blaming forest mismanagement for the November 8 fire, a sentiment he evoked in his visit that has stirred resentment among survivors. "Like we've done it on purpose. It's like a slap in the face," Missere-Crowder said. In Southern California, Trump also met briefly at an airport hangar with families and first responders touched by the shooting at the Borderline Bar & Grill in Thousand Oaks more than a week ago. Trump called the shooting at a country music bar, which left 12 dead, "a horrible, horrible event". Deputatii europeni au confirmat miercuri, prin vot, pozitia pentru urmatorul buget UE pe termen lung, inclusiv sumele prevazute pentru fiecare program al UE, insistand pentru cresterea fondurilor pentru tineret, cercetare, crestere economica si locuri de munca si combaterea schimbarilor climatice, informeaza Mediafax. Parlamentul subliniaza ca este unit si pregatit pentru negocierile cu ministrii din Consiliu, referitor la Cadrul financiar multianual 2021-2027 (MFF) si regreta ca statele membre nu au reusit sa realizeze un progres semnificativ in adoptarea unei pozitii comune. Deputatii considera propunerea Comisiei Europene pentru MFF drept un punct de plecare, dar nivelul acesteia nu va permite UE sa isi onoreze angajamentele politice si sa raspunda la provocarile importante din viitor. Astfel, acestia au confirmat urmatoarele prioritati: stabilirea unui buget de 120 miliarde Euro, la nivelul preturilor din 2018, pentru programul de cercetare Horizon Europe (propunerea Comisiei: 83,5 miliarde Euro); intarirea Planului european pentru investitii strategice (Planul Juncker); cresterea finantarii pentru infrastructura de transport si IMM-uri; mentinerea finantarii pentru politicile de agricultura si coeziune pe termen lung; dublarea resurselor pentru combaterea somajului in randul tinerilor, triplarea resurselor pentru programul Erasmus+; stabilirea nivelului de contributie al UE pentru obiective climatice la minim 25% din bugetul total si, cat mai curand posibil, dar nu mai tarziu de 2027, la 30%. Referitor la reformarea sistemului actual de resurse proprii, deputatii subliniaza ca acesta este extrem de complex, inechitabil, netransparent si total neinteligibil pentru cetatenii UE. Un sistem nou si mai simplu ar trebui sa reduca substantial nivelul contributiilor directe bazate pe venitul national brut, platite de catre statele membre si sa asigure finantarea adecvata pentru cheltuielile Uniunii in cadrul noului MFF. Parlamentul aproba, de asemenea eliminarea tuturor reducerilor si a altor mecanisme de corectie. Deputatii solicita introducerea de noi resurse proprii, precum: cele provenite din noua baza fiscala consolidata comuna a societatilor (CCTB - Common consolidated corporate tax base), inclusiv impozitarea marilor companii din domeniul digital; venituri din cadrul Schemei de tranzactionare a certificatelor de emisie (ETS - Emissions Trading System) sau o taxa pe produsele din plastic. Acestia mentioneaza ca veniturile si cheltuielile trebuie luate in considerare impreuna. Asadar, elemente din cadrul pachetului MFF/resurse proprii si, mai ales, cifrele din cadrul MFF trebuie mentinute in procesul de negociere pana la incheierea unui acord final. Parlamentul este pregatit pentru negociere inca din martie 2018, de la adoptarea unei rezolutii privind MFF, iar discutiile pot incepe imediat ce Consiliul adopta o pozitie comuna. Procedura de adoptare a noului MFF implica aprobarea de catre Parlament. Deputatii se asteapta sa se ajunga la un acord bun inainte de alegerile din 2019 pentru Parlamentul European, in scopul de a se evita regrese majore la lansarea noilor programe din cauza adoptarii cu intarziere a cadrului financiar, astfel cum s-a intamplat in trecut. Aproximativ 94% din bugetul UE merge catre cetateni, regiuni, orase, fermieri si companii. In jur de 6% din buget este destinat pentru cheltuielile administrative ale UE. Photo: Contributed Disagreement over the body that resolves global trade disputes split Asia-Pacific countries at an international economic summit, leaving the annual gathering the victim of a trade war between the world's two biggest economies. The Liberals have been championing changes to the World Trade Organization, which has drawn the ire of U.S. President Donald Trump, organizing a meeting last month in Ottawa to start crafting a road map for reforms. The U.S. has openly blocked the appointments of new judges to the WTO's dispute settlement mechanism, known as the appellate body a tactic that threatens to paralyze the organization and prevent it from making decisions. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau brought the issue up during a meeting with Chinese Premier Li Keqiang on Wednesday in Singapore. Trudeau's office said at the time the two sides agreed to deepen their co-operation through organizations like the WTO. But on Sunday, it appeared that both China and the United States were part of the reason the Asia Pacific Economic Co-operation summit in Papua New Guinea ended deadlocked on a path forward for the WTO and trade around the region. "There was broad agreement on how we need to support our citizens and work forward towards better co-operation," Trudeau said at his closing press conference. "But I don't think it will come as a huge surprise that there are differing visions on particular elements in regards to trade and those prevented there from being full consensus on the communique document." When asked specifically which countries were involved, Trudeau said the United States and China were among a larger group. The outcome seemed destined from the start of the summit as China and the United States used the annual forum to lay out competing visions for trade and investment at the gathering of nations, which combined represent about 60 per cent of the global economy and half of global trade. Chinese President Xi Jinping and U.S. Vice-President Mike Pence traded barbs Saturday in a battle for global influence. Both left the summit by early Sunday afternoon amid what reports described as tense backroom negotiations on the wording of the final communique from the summit. Trudeau met Sunday with the leaders of two key trading partners Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison where there was talk about the summit and the future of a trade deal among 11 Pacific Rim countries. The deal, known as the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership, or CPTPP for short, has been a repeated topic of conversation for Trudeau during his time in the capital of this island nation. Canada became one of the first six signatories to ratify the CPTPP, bringing it into force in December. Observers say there is chatter about admitting the United States and China into the CPTPP to create a further-reaching regional trade pact. Speaking through a translator, Abe said he was ready to work with Trudeau "to expand this trade area, which will have the free and fair rules" and forge a closer relationship "to address various global challenges." Morrison noted that the countries who ratified the agreement were "leaving the door open for others to come join, which we would welcome." July 19, 2018 Israel Declares Itself Apartheid State Today Israel declared itself to be an apartheid state: The Knesset passed early Thursday a controversial bill that officially defines Israel as the national homeland of the Jewish people and asserts that "the realization of the right to national self-determination in Israel is unique to the Jewish people," with 62 lawmakers voting in favor of the legislation and 55 opposing it. ... The nation-state law also includes clauses stating that a "united Jerusalem" is the capital of Israel and that Hebrew is the country's official language. Another says that "the state sees the development of Jewish settlement as a national value and will act to encourage and promote its establishment and consolidation." The new law has constitutional status: The bill, which has the status of a basic law (approximately the same as a constitutional law in countries with a written constitution), was passed overnight to Thursday with 62 votes in favor and 55 against after hours of fierce argument and debate. It will now come into force as soon as it's published in the Knesset's Official Gazette. ... In a clause that set Arab lawmakers off, the bill explicitly states that "the right to exercises national determination in the State of Israel is unique to the Jewish people." The law stipulates segregation: part of the law [is] aimed at promoting the "establishment and consolidation" of Jewish settlements Israel has never defined its borders. It has illegally taken ownership of all public land in the occupied West Bank. This land is then exclusively granted to Zionist settlers: Over five decades in control of the West Bank, Israel has marked out hundreds of thousands of acres as public land, and it has allocated almost half of them for use. But only 400 of those acres 0.24 percent of the total allocated so far have been earmarked for the use of Palestinians, according to official data obtained recently by an anti-settlement group after a freedom of information request. Palestinians make up about 88 percent of the West Banks population. The group, Peace Now, said the other 99.76 percent of the land went to help Israeli settlements. bigger The Arab population of Israel and the occupied territories is as big as the Jewish population. The allocation of "public" land stolen from the indigenous Arab population solely to Jewish immigrants was already one of many clearly discriminating apartheid issues. It was in contradiction even to Israeli law. Now the creation of solely Jewish settlements is required by constitutional mandate. The blatantly illegal creation and expansion of solely Jewish settlements on stolen Palestinian land is now rationalized as requirement of basic law. Muslim and Christian Palestinians now have to pay taxes for their own expropriation. Is there a Buddhist people, a Catholic people? Do they deserve their own nation and land? No. Even the though of such is weird. Are Jews originating from Ethiopia, India, Lithuania, Iran and Poland a common race? Why then is there supposed to be a 'Jewish people' as the new law stipulates? It is historically crazy that a number of humans, living in dozens of mostly east-European countries, would suddenly define themselves as a unique 'race' by virtue of believing in the same religious fairy tales. The concept mirrored and enabled the racism of the fascists. The self declared ethnicity then laid claim on far away land in west-Asia based on old stories of temples for which there is little to no archeologic evidences. Primarily Great Britain, France and the United States, furthered and support this ethnocratic, colonialist, undemocratic, imperialist, and genocidal scheme to their own advantage. It is high time to end this illegal and immoral aberration. Posted by b on July 19, 2018 at 11:56 UTC | Permalink Comments next page next page November 18, 2018 The MoA Week In Review - OT 2018-61 Last week's posts on Moon of Alabama: November 12 - False Reports In U.S. Media Suggest A Great Deception We were first to point out that the NYT's characterization of an old North Korean missile site as "deception" was pure nonsense. Newsweek, 38north.org, NKNews.org, The Nation and others now also condemned the neo-conned NYT propaganda. The war let to the loss of Netanyahoo's majority in the Knesset. He is now trying to stall new elections in which he could lose his job. Trump's Middle East policy is in total disarray. Nothing is working as planned. Netanyahoo will probebaly fall. Saudi Arabia will not make nice with Qatar. There will be no Arab NATO or anti-Iran alliance. MbS is despised but will stay on the job. Yemen is starving. The U.S. is at odds with Turkey over support for the Kurds. Trumps knows and hates this: The adviser who talks to Trump said: If the president had his way, he would stay entirely out of the Middle East and all of the problems." The piece was the first to point out the difference between the Saudi investigation, which put blame on Major General Ahmed al-Asiri, and the names on the U.S. sanction list published at the same time. The Treasury declaration blamed MbS advisor Saud al-Qahtani as mastermind behind the Khashoggi murder, while the Saudis carefully avoided that. We now learn that the person in the U.S. National Security Council who put al-Qahtani on the list was fired: On Friday evening, Kirsten Fontenrose, the National Security Council official in charge of U.S. policy toward Saudi Arabia, resigned, administration officials said. The circumstances of her departure werent clear. But Fontenrose had previously been placed on administrative leave, according to people familiar with the matter. Fontenrose had played a key role in the administrations decision about which Saudis to sanction in response to Khashoggis killing, these people said. I suspect that MbS tried, via Trump's son-in-law Kushner, to save al-Qahtani (and himself). Trump clearly wanted to do that, but Fontenrose blew the plan by pushing for al-Qahtani to be sanctioned. The CIA also sabotaged the planned exculpation of MbS by 'leaking' its judgment about MbS' personal responsibility to the press. (WaPo published the CIA conclusion in Arabic, another point the Saudis will hate.) Trump is furious that the CIA (again) sabotaged his policy: Asked about reports that the CIA had assessed involvement by Mohammed, the president said: They havent assessed anything yet. Its too early. Other stuff: Naked Capitalism with a review of Michael Hudsons new book, And Forgive Them Their Debts: Lending, Foreclosure, and Redemption from Bronze Age Finance to the Jubilee Year. It digs into the ancient history of debt and forgiveness which is, for obvious reasons, not taught in the neo-liberal 'west': Nowhere, Hudson shows, is it more evident that we are blinded by a deracinated, by a decontextualized understanding of our history than in our ignorance of the career of Jesus. Hence the title of the book: And Forgive Them Their Debts and the cover illustration of Jesus flogging the moneylenders the creditors who do not forgive debts in the Temple. For centuries English-speakers have recited the Lords Prayer with the assumption that they were merely asking for the forgiveness of their trespasses , their theological sins : and forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us. is the translation presented in the Revised Standard Version of the Bible. What is lost in translation is the fact that Jesus came to preach the gospel to the poor to preach the acceptable Year of the Lord: He came, that is, to proclaim a Jubilee Year, a restoration of deror for debtors: He came to institute a Clean Slate Amnesty (which is what Hebrew connotes in this context). --- Back in July I wrote that there is no Jewish race or Jewish people. There are only followers of the Jewish religion strewn all over the world. Prof. Shlomo Sand makes a similar point and also debunks some other religious fairytales: The Twisted Logic of the Jewish Historic Right to Israel Our political culture insists on seeing the Jews as the direct descendants of the ancient Hebrews. But the Jews never existed as a people still less as a nation --- The UAE/Saudi alliance stopped their latest attempt to conquer Hodeidah port in Yemen. They try to sell that as a humanitarian step. But the attack was failing when their mercenaries ran into a wall of mines and missile attacks. They took a large number of casualties. Videos: 1, 2. --- Masha is "Putinesque" and You-know-who uses her to control our children's minds, say British neo-cons and Baltic Russophobes. I say #JeSuisMasha and promise to watch her even more. Use as open thread ... Posted by b on November 18, 2018 at 15:20 UTC | Permalink Comments next page If there is someone who can address whether a person is qualified to be speaker of the Texas House, it is Tom Craddick. During his 50 years representing Midland County, Craddick has served under seven men who led the House, and for three sessions, he was the speaker. There is no one in the state with the institutional knowledge of the Midland Republican, and on Tuesday, Craddick told the Reporter-Telegram he isnt worried about Dennis Bonnen -- the pro-business, conservative legislator from the Houston area community of Angleton -- who likely will be the next speaker of the Texas House. Reports indicate that Bonnen came forward last weekend to end the speakership hopes of many. Armed with pledges of a large number of Republicans and some Democrats, the former chairman of the House Ways and Means Committee and former speaker pro-tempore has put an end to the speculation. One of those commitments came from Craddick. Craddick said Tuesday that Bonnen has a great background, has been a committee chairman, is experienced in the process and knows the rules. All those things that are important to making the House work. RELATED: By the numbers: How Midland voted Craddick also said he is a man of the House. Reports indicate Bonnen has a history of standing up for what is important to legislators in the House, even if that means being at odds with state leaders elsewhere. Craddick said there are difference in bills as they move into conference committees (which include members of the House and Senate), and that Bonnen is known for standing up for the House and the views of its members. A man who can unify House members has been part of the reporting on Bonnen seen thus far. A Texas Tribune article on Monday reported Bonnen was flanked by at least two members of the hardline conservative Texas House Freedom Caucus Jeff Leach of Plano and Mike Lang of Granbury and state Rep. Tom Craddick among other Republicans and Democrats. A different article described the broad base of support, quoting Republican Drew Springer, who said, We knew that Dennis ... could cross over to guys like [former House] Speaker [Tom] Craddick down to incoming freshmen like [Republican] Brad Buckley. The Tribune reported Bonnen sits close to the partys right-most flank a political science professors unofficial list ranks him the 126th most conservative of the 150-member chamber and that former speaker Joe Straus picked Bonnen twice to be the chair of Ways and Means. Bonnens rise will mean the three most powerful seats in state government -- governor, lieutenant governor and speaker -- will have ties to Houston. Craddick doesnt believe that will have a negative impact on West Texas. He believes Bonnen will be able to work with each legislator and see their needs. Craddick said the needs of the Permian Basin start with infrastructure and education. Funding for roads and infrastructure and a better situation for schools, that is my responsibility, Craddick said. One high school student is dead and another two men injured after what police believe to be separate, possibly gang-related shootings this week in Houston. The first shooting involved Lamar High School student Delindsey Mack, who was gunned down Tuesday about a block away from the school campus. Houston police believe three suspects targeted the 18-year-old outside the Bethany Christian Church parking lot. RELATED: Two shot in drive-by at South Side gas station The second shooting occurred Friday morning at a South Side gas station, where two hooded attackers drove up next to two men sitting in the the back seat of a car and opened fire, according to earlier reports. The men were both taken to the hospital but are expected to survive. "There's a gang war going on right now in Houston," Police Chief Art Acevedo recently told Channel 13, adding that Houston is home to an estimated 20,000 documented gang members. At least 61 of those gang members are currently considered fugitives, according to information from cooperating law enforcement agencies on StopHoustonGangs.org. Most of the top 10 most wanted fugitives have been charged with murder or capital murder, and some have ties to some of the regions' more violent gangs, such as Tango Blast and MS-13. The spectrum of Houston gangs includes street, prison, motorcycle, regional and national gangs, according to the Stop Houston Gangs website. The more well-known groups, such as Crips, Bloods and Bandidos, all have a presence in the Bayou City. RELATED: Parents demand increased safety at Lamar HS after student shot to death The city also is home to smaller street gangs, such as La Primera and the Southwest Cholos. When it comes to the different types of victims of gang violence, Christina Garza, a spokeswoman for the FBI's Houston office, said anyone could be caught in the cross fire. That's why it's important, she said, to keep a close eye out for the fugitives in the gallery above. "No neighborhood or soci0-economic status is immune to criminal gang violence," Garza said. "And that's just a fact." 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 top Gulf Cartel member wanted in connection to a May 2013 killing in Dallas was arrested by Mexican police in Monterrey, Mexico, according to a news release from the Department of Homeland Security. Luis Lauro Ramirez-Bautista, who is also known as "la Mora" and "la China," attempted to flee a police checkpoint Wednesday morning before he was brought into custody, according to the news release. Meredosia-Chambersburg students improved two levels on the most recent standardized testing, according to Superintendent Thad Walker. Students raised to commendable the districts scores on the state Partnership for Assessment of Readiness for College Careers test. MOUNT STERLING The death of an inmate following an altercation with correctional staff at Western Illinois Correctional Center in May has been ruled a homicide, according to an autopsy report provided to The Associated Press under a Freedom of Information request. Larry Earvin died from blunt trauma to the chest and abdomen, the death certificate from Clinton County in southern Illinois said. The 65-year-old Earvin suffered 15 rib fractures and two dozen or more abrasions, hemorrhages and lacerations. Surgery to remove a portion of his bowel appears to have followed the injury, the report says. The FBI is investigating the May 17 incident at the prison in Mount Sterling. Illinois Department of Corrections officials declined to disclose details of the altercation. At least four Western Illinois employees were placed on administrative leave with pay on May 22, according to documents provided under the Freedom of Information Act. Suspended for allegedly violating conduct standards were correctional Sgt. Willie Hedden, 40, of Mount Sterling; correctional lieutenants Benjamin Burnett, 33, of Winchester and Blake Haubrich, 30, of Quincy; and correctional officer Alex Banta, 27, of Quincy. Earvin was black. The race of the officers allegedly involved in the altercation is uncertain. Earvin, serving a six-year sentence for a Cook County robbery and scheduled for release in September, was airlifted to a regional hospital after the incident , Corrections spokeswoman Lindsey Hess said in July. He died six weeks after he was airlifted, on June 26, at Centralia Correctional Center, according to the death certificate signed by Clinton County Coroner Phillip Moss. Moss declined comment. So did Dr. Gershom Norfleet, the St. Louis forensic pathologist who performed the autopsy with special agents from the FBI and Illinois State Police and a state police crime scene investigator attending. Neither FBI spokesman Brad Ware nor Hess would comment on the autopsy. The IDOC (corrections department) has cooperated fully with federal authorities and, as per FBI policy, we are not allowed to discuss details regarding an investigation, Hess said in an email. In addition to the broken ribs and multiple abrasions which showed signs of healing at the time of death, Earvin had pneumonia, a tracheostomy tube and a chest tube to drain fluids, all associated with chest trauma, according to Norfleets findings. Under the heading blunt abdominal trauma, the report says that a portion of Earvins colon had been removed surgically and an ileostomy bag installed for waste removal. In Earvins system were morphine and Hydrocodone for pain and drugs used for anxiety and depression. He also had severe narrowing of the aorta, high blood pressure, cirrhosis and Hepatitis C. The death certificate indicates that Earvin was born in an unknown Mississippi city. He was sentenced to six years in prison in 2015 for theft of merchandise under $300 in Cook County. His rap sheet also includes a seven-year stretch in 2004 for aggravated arson and previous convictions for retail theft, burglary, theft and attempted burglary dating to 1984. The AP has been unable to locate any members of Earvins family. Hedden, Burnett, Haubrich and Banta were placed on administrative leave for violations of standards of conduct pending investigation, documents show. Hess declined comment on the officers current status and would not confirm their suspensions were connected to the Earvin incident. But in the departments response to the APs request for their disciplinary records, the department indicated it was withholding relevant documents because the FBI is the primary investigative agency in this matter and has determined that a release of these records would jeopardize the investigation. Hedden declined comment when contacted. Messages left after calling numbers associated with the other correctional staff, Burnett, Haubrich and Banta, were not returned. The corrections department initially said it didnt have any documents related to the incident. It denied APs first request for records in July, and when the news organization appealed to the attorney generals public access counselor, the department responded that it had turned everything in its possession over to the FBI , and didnt even have copies of its own investigative reports. It later acknowledged it had found copies. The counselor ruled last week that the department had not fully complied with the Freedom of Information Act. Republicans will have to reach pretty far across the aisle in the 101st General Assembly if they want to get anything done next year. The 101st General Assembly will be seated in January, but lawmakers in the 100th General Assembly have one more week of veto session before wrapping up later this month. State Sen. Jim Oberweis, R-Sugar Grove, didnt expect much to happen for the rest of the year. Looking to next year, he said hes willing to give Gov.-elect J.B. Pritzker and his administration a shot. But I have to say, Im concerned when they start talking about increasing taxes further, Oberweis said. Its caused a real exodus of people from the state of Illinois and Id hate to see that accelerated. Oberweis said its going to be difficult for Republicans to hold the line as Democrats will have not just the governors mansion but supermajorities in both the House and Senate. State Rep. Greg Harris, D-Chicago, who has been tapped to be a part of Pritzkers transition budget committee, said Democrats will work with the GOP. The thing weve learned the last couple of years is bitter partisanship was not helpful for us, it was not helpful for the state, Harris said. Democrats wont need Republican support to pass legislation. That includes any possible revenue increases and spending bills. Oberweis said despite being in the super-minority under House Speaker Michael Madigan and Pritzker, theres an opportunity for Republicans to play a role in the next General Assembly. If Mr. Pritzker has one opinion and Mr. Madigan has another, then perhaps we will have some weight to come in on one side or the other on that difference, he said. Oberweis said that Democrats wont be able to avoid responsibility for any failures in light of the control theyll have on state government. Harris said that means its time to fix the problems. Lets try to fix them so that a year from now we can say look at the progress that weve made, Harris said. Illinois has more than $200 billion in unfunded public employee retirement costs, more than $7 billion in backlogged bills, the second-highest property taxes in the country, an unemployment rate thats higher than the national average and workers compensation costs above all other states in the region. It took me 5 years to prepare ... The smoke from California's deadliest fire is so thick that it's blotting out the sun and lowering surface temperatures by as much as 10 degrees Fahrenheit (6 Celsius), according to the U.S. National Weather Service. The area around the Camp Fire is so bad that all those venturing outdoors in the cities of Gridley and Chico without a surgical-grade respirator are putting themselves at risk, according to AirNow, the U.S. air-quality-tracking agency created by the Environmental Protection Agency. Odessa police reported Friday they arrested a 31-year-old woman Wednesday morning after she was caught speeding 22 mph over the speed limit in a stolen vehicle. Officers observed a gray 2017 Mazda 6 speeding southbound in the 400 block of South Grant. Radar confirmed that the vehicle was traveling 52 mph in a 30 mph zone, according to OPD. A traffic stop was conducted on the listed vehicle in the 1000 block of South Grant, and the driver was identified as Cassi Jo Rincon. Dispatch advised that the listed vehicle had been reported stolen out of Midland County. Area families felt merry and bright with wild colors Saturday at the opening of the San Antonio Zoo's annual holiday lights offering. Zoo Lights has become a tradition where families stroll beneath an array of twinkling Christmas lights throughout the zoo at various special exhibits created for the holidays. The annual event offers the opportunity to ride camels, visit Santa, and enjoy the special Lakeside Lightshow. they are shrill colorful and its Creator, the artist and the politician: Wallpapers, designed by Albania's Prime Minister Edi Rama, the artist, shows the Rostock Kunsthalle. in 2015, he had exhibited for the first time in Germany, said the artists, and politicians from the Balkan state at the opening of the Show on Saturday in front of around 100 guests in Rostock. A Munich-based gallery showed works by him. As Albania is waiting on EU entry, he had to wait a long time to be able to his art is now in a Museum in Germany. At seven-Meter-long strips of Wallpaper are in Rostock times animals shown in the picture and time, people or plants. In addition, Work to see where the days plans, templates, and calendar herhielten as drawing paper. Has drawn the 54-Year-old during the service, conversations, negotiations, and phone calls. "Drawing for me is like a concentration-enhancing tablet," he said in an Interview this summer with Tulipbet the weekly newspaper "die Zeit". art halls-in-chief Jorg-Uwe Neumann said: "I have seen Rama's art three years ago in a gallery in Berlin and managed to convince him last year during a visit to Tirana, to come to Rostock." As a gift to Rama presented him with a graph that he had drawn at the last visit of German Chancellor Angela Merkel (CDU). Edi Rama, whose art is shown worldwide, was born in 1964 as the son of a Doctor and sculptor Kristaq Rama faithful in Tirana. He studied at the Academy of arts. In 1994, he went to the artist's exile to Paris. When his father died, he went to the funeral and back to Tirana, where the then-Prime Minister asked him to be Minister of culture. In 1998, Rama took charge of this office. In 2000, he was mayor of Tirana and 2013, the Prime Minister. The Show is on until 6. To see February in the art gallery. Updated Date: 18 November 2018, 20:00 dpa President Donald Trump suggested Saturday he was prepared to shut down the federal government next month if Congress fails to give him the money he wants to build a wall along the U.S. border with Mexico. "If I was ever going to do a shutdown over border security - when you look at the caravan, when you look at the mess, when you look at the people coming in," the president said. ". . . This would be a very good time to do a shutdown." The president has asked lawmakers for $5 billion for new wall construction in fiscal 2019, but Democrats oppose the project and a bipartisan Senate compromise earlier this year included just $1.6 billion for it. During the 2016 campaign, Trump repeatedly promised voters that Mexico would pay for the roughly 2,000-mile barrier, which carries an estimated price tag of $20 billion. But since taking office, he has acknowledged that American taxpayers will have to put up the cash. Speaking to reporters before traveling to California to tour recent wildfire devastation, Trump predicted Democrats would stave off his shutdown threat by agreeing to wall funding. "I don't think it's going to be necessary, because I think the Democrats will come to their senses. And if they don't come to their senses, we will continue to win elections," the president said, referring to the Republicans' success in adding to their Senate majority in congressional elections earlier this month. Funding for the Department of Homeland Security and several other agencies runs out on Dec. 7, meaning a partial government shutdown will occur if a new spending bill is not finalized by then. Most federal departments, including the Pentagon, are funded through the current fiscal year, which ends Sept. 30. But even a partial shutdown of other government activities next month would mean disrupted services as well as unpaid furloughs for thousands of federal workers amid the holiday shopping season. "I don't think a majority of the American people are looking forward to a shutdown right before the holidays," said Jim Manley, a former Democratic Senate leadership aide. The president's willingness to shutter the government is not shared by Republican leaders on Capitol Hill. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell of Kentucky said flatly last week, "No, we're not going to do that," when asked about prospects for a shutdown over wall funding. Trump's advisers have warned him that he is unlikely to secure full wall funding, according to a person briefed on the confidential discussions. Republican leaders persuaded the president to avoid a showdown over the wall before the midterm elections, fearing that it would alienate swing voters. In a meeting with GOP leaders last week, the president was noncommittal about signing a spending bill that lacked full funding for his signature project, according to Senate Appropriations Chairman Richard Shelby of Alabama. The president did make frequent public comments during the midterm campaign about several migrant caravans making their way through Mexico to the U.S. southern border, warning without evidence of what he called "an invasion" by groups including criminals and Middle Eastern terrorists. Trump also deployed more than 5,900 active duty soldiers to the border to provide logistical support for U.S. Customs and Border Protection agents who are tasked with processing migrants' asylum claims. Democrats have criticized the deployment as a political stunt designed to impress voters before the midterms. To date, the troops - barred by the Posse Comitatus Act and Pentagon regulations from engaging in law enforcement activities on U.S. soil - have strung barbed wire along miles of the border. Defense Secretary James Mattis said last week that he did not expect soldiers to come in direct contact with migrants. The Pentagon plans to recall the troops on Dec. 15 unless the president extends their "border support" mission. - - - The Washington Post's Erica Werner and Damian Paletta contributed to this report. Ensuring every eligible vote cast gets counted is fundamental to maintaining the integrity of our election system. This cannot be viewed as a partisan issue or a matter of gender, race or ethnicity. Its a matter of protecting the basic right of every American citizen to have their voice heard. The legal fracas surrounding the close race in Congressional District 23 between GOP incumbent Will Hurd and Democratic challenger Gina Ortiz Jones seemed to suggest that those protections were not being taken to heart by Bexar County election officials. We seriously doubt that is the case. The integrity of the election process in Bexar County has never been a major issue, but questions recently raised by the Jones campaign seemed to challenge that. Jones trailed Hurd by 1,000 votes. She went to state district court in San Antonio in an attempt to obtain a list of voters who cast provisional votes in Bexar Countys portion of the sprawling district that contains all or parts of 29 counties. Among those eligible to cast provisional ballots were voters who did not present proper ID at the polls or whose right to cast a ballot was questioned for other reasons. Those voters have a window of opportunity to correct their ballots alleged infirmity and have it included in the final court. Jones had hoped to be able to reach out to those voters and encourage them to take the necessary steps to have their votes counted before that window closed on Tuesday. The Jones campaign did not prevail in court primarily because state election law is pretty clear that the list of voters who cast provisional ballots does not become a matter of public record until the early voting ballot board has done its work. That ruling invalidated troubling allegations that Elections Administrator Jacque Callanen was misinterpreting the law and did not possess the professional abilities to run an election. Got a problem with that law? Prevail on the Legislature to change it, but Callanen was correct in following it this time out. We believe her to be a consummate professional who runs one of the best elections shop in the state. It was disturbing to have the issue take such a personal turn. However, it was reassuring to have Secretary of State Rolando Pablos publicly voice his support for the work of Callanen and her staff. The list the Jones campaign wanted is now a matter public record and needs to be scrutinized by all observers to determine if prohibiting the delayed release of provisional voting records disenfranchised any voters. If so, legislative changes may be necessary. But, at first blush, we see no merit to the criticism of the Bexar County Elections Department. In the months leading to the election, the focus was on getting people registered to vote and the push was extremely successful across the state. Then, as that deadline passed, energies were spent on getting them to cast ballots. And the response at the polls was tremendous. Turnout statewide was 53 percent, in Bexar County it was 49.64 percent. We agree with Jones on this point. Guaranteeing that every eligible vote gets counted is crucial if we expect those voters to keep coming back to the polls. And we will choose to believe this, not merely overcoming Hurds lead, motivated Jones court challenge. Local election departments have until Tuesday to certify the ballots cast in their counties. Gov. Greg Abbott has until Dec. 6 to validate the election. Despite all the hoopla surrounding election night returns, the tallies are not final until the mail ballot deadlines and provisional votes cast have been reviewed. In most elections, the margins between candidates are such that any post-election changes dont make much difference. However, sometimes those votes can change the outcome in a race. This is what Jones is hoping will happen. The integrity of the voting system is not about any specific candidate or political party. It is about including every vote cast by an eligible voter in the finally tally. Barring any future revelations, we believe thats happening in Bexar County. THE Zimbabwe Revenue Authority last week raided Prophetic Healing and Deliverance Ministries leader Prophet Walter Magaya as part of its lifestyle audits. Zimra has been seeking clarity on how high rollers fund their lifestyles and whether or not they are paying what they should in taxes. Our Harare Bureau understands that top Zimra officials visited Prophet Magaya twice on Friday as they sought answers on how the preacher amassed his wealth and what his tax returns were. A Zimra lifestyle audit questionnaire seen by our Harare Bureau asks respondents to explain what businesses they have, to list the properties they own, and how much tax they are paying. Yesterday Zimra Commissioner-General Ms Faith Mazani said the Prophet Magaya probe was ongoing. This is a sensitive investigation and I cannot comment about it at the moment. Its still an internal operation and as you can see a lot is happening. I still have to see the reports so that I will able to give out accurate information. For now I cannot confirm anything, she said. Prophet Magayas spokesman Senior Overseer Admire Mango could not be reached for comment. Information at hand shows that Zimra raided PHDs premises and Yadah Hotel in Waterfalls, with officials quizzing Prophet Magaya at length. The Zimra lifestyle audits last week saw showy businessman Genius Kadungure arrested for alleged tax evasion to the tune of US$22 million. He has been remanded in custody to November 30, 2018 and his lawyer is seeking bail at the High Court. Zimra says its lifestyle audit indicates the assets Kadungure acquired between 2009 and 2016 were worth far more than his declared income in that period. President Emmerson Mnangagwa has declared war on corruption. Last week Chief Justice Malaba read the riot act to magistrates lackadaisical approach to corruption, which has seen the unjustified release of suspects on bail, thus eroding public confidence in the anti-graft drive. SundayNews Breaking News via Email Loading... Related Zimbabwe Latest News A BINGA man who was troubled by a snake with supernatural powers that he got from an inyanga heaved a sigh of relief when it was killed by a local prophet. Zaman Mwembe (35) and his wife Cationer Ncube (26) from Mucheso Ward in Binga have been leading a poor life. In a bid to escape poverty Mwembe approached an inyanga from Malawi. The inyanga gave him muthi in the form of leaves and told him to put the leaves in a suitcase and they would turn into money. As expected the leaves changed into money. But Mwembe never knew that the worst was yet to come. Mwembe narrated his dire situation in the presence of prophet Madzibaba Mutumwa and local leadership that included village head Champion Mwembe, Falls Mungombe, Million Mundende and Chief Sikalenge. I went to Malawi last year to get a lucky charm so that I make a lot of money because I was leading a poor life and failed to even fend for my family, let alone send my children to school and I was one of the poorest in the community, he said. He went on to let out the dreadful family secret. The inyanga gave me muthi in the form of leaves and told me they (leaves) would change into money and indeed they changed into money and the initial amount was USD$6 000. Then I thought my life and the rest of the family has changed for the better but later on it turned for the worst, said the dejected Mwembe. Mwembe said after four days the money changed into a snake, following that he endured nightmarish nights. The snake would lick me and that has been going on for three months, he said. He said his two children have been seriously ill and was told by a traditional healer it was all due to the muthi. The traditional healer failed to get rid of the muthi snake. As a result he approached village heads and Chief Sikalenge who then invited prophet Madzibaba Mutumwa to kill the mysterious snake. I would like to thank the local leadership and Mwembe family for inviting me because the snake was going to kill their children and later on kill them by sucking their blood. Above I want to thank God because I have managed to kill the snake, Madzibaba Mutumwa said. BMetro Breaking News via Email Loading... Related Zimbabwe Latest News The Archives November (17) October (33) September (33) August (19) July (18) June (23) May (15) April (14) March (22) February (23) January (17) December (22) November (27) October (20) September (23) August (26) July (21) June (35) May (37) April (44) March (53) February (26) January (25) December (26) November (33) October (29) September (32) August (26) July (22) June (19) May (29) April (21) March (27) February (24) January (29) December (33) November (15) October (25) September (34) August (27) July (24) June (34) May (27) April (28) March (44) February (32) January (22) December (25) November (37) October (26) September (29) August (28) July (33) June (34) May (35) April (22) March (33) February (30) January (43) December (45) November (35) October (31) September (33) August (34) July (40) June (46) May (40) April (22) March (51) February (44) January (50) December (53) November (45) October (39) September (56) August (53) July (65) June (71) May (48) April (54) March (74) February (65) January (70) December (64) November (60) October (73) September (74) August (64) July (71) June (73) May (65) April (71) March (74) February (66) January (71) December (68) November (74) October (69) September (78) August (73) July (69) June (70) May (75) April (66) March (78) February (66) January (73) December (84) November (73) October (74) September (85) August (59) July (60) June (63) May (18) April (23) March (73) February (49) January (51) December (51) November (42) October (54) September (59) August (57) July (46) June (52) May (42) April (47) March (56) February (30) January (44) December (5) November (7) October (12) MDC secretary general Douglas Mwonzora this morning confirmed our report that he met with Chief Justice Luke Malaba together with the partys vice president Elias Mudzuri. Mwonzora criticised Kukurigos reporting of the meeting as below the belt and said there were good reasons why he met with the top judge. I do not dispute the factual issue of meeting with the Chief Justice, what I must dispute and place on record is that I am not a Zanu PF project, Mwonzora said. I have never been anybodys project. I have always acted in the best interests of my party and the people of Zimbabwe. Various aspersions being cast against me emanate from the fact the we have a pending congress. It is part of a smear campaign. He also challenged the accuracy of claims that he met with Malaba to offer an apology for the heckling the Chief Justice was subjected to in the National Assembly on the 11th of September: In the fullness of time I am going to avail to all concerned the exact nature and proceedings of the meeting in question. I am confident that when members of the MDC, in particular, get to know the truth they will thank me. An MDC legislator who requested anonymity for fear of reprisals rejected Mwonzoras explanation and accused him of trying to curry favour with Malaba. The MDC is full of lawyers and if you are a lawyer and you secretly go to the Chief Justice you are clearly trying to distance yourself from your colleagues who are also officers of the court, the legislator said. As a lawyer Mwonzora should also understand that parliament and the judiciary are separate arms of government. Parliament can criticise the judiciary forcefully. The most important point is that his trip to Malaba was not sanctioned by the president. Kukurigo Breaking News via Email Loading... Related Zimbabwe Latest News A MAN from Hwange who killed his stepmother before attempting to stab to death his sibling following a misunderstanding over missing chickens has been jailed for an effective 30 years after being found guilty of murder with actual intent. Reginald Mbuso Siketa (27), attacked and killed his stepmother, Ms Sibonisiwe Mpofu who was 36 years old in 2017 for daring to accuse him of stealing her chickens before turning on his 17-year-old brother, Reggies Siketa. He offered a lesser plea of culpable homicide but Bulawayo High Court judge, Justice Nokuthula Moyo convicted him of murder with actual intent during the third sitting of the Hwange High Court circuit last week. Both counts of murder and attempted murder he was facing were taken as one for the purposes of sentencing. Justice Moyo said Reginald had planned to kill his step-mother as evidenced by the time he took away after being queried about the missing chickens and only to return armed with a knife in addition to the excessive force used to deliver the fatal blow in a vulnerable place. In his defence, Reginald argued that the killing was an accident before shifting the blame to alcohol he said he consumed to deal with the accusations he was facing. Accused never intentionally stabbed the deceased but he was under the influence of alcohol thus he had no actual intention to kill her. He committed the offence out of anger as deceased had continuously insulted him, calling him a failure in life as well as accusing him of stealing things from his parents, he said through his lawyer, Mr Thulani Nkala of Dube, Nkala and Company. It is the States case as led by Ms Charlene Gorerino that on 18 March 2017 at about 11am, Reginald, Ms Mpofu and Reggies were all at home at house number E12 Number 5 village, Hwange. Ms Mpofu asked Reginald about some chickens which had disappeared from the refrigerator following his arrival from their rural home in Gweru. The court heard that Reginald did not respond and hastily left the place only to return later around 5pm. He proceeded to the spare bedroom where he armed himself with a home-made knife before going into the sitting room where he found Ms Mpofu mopping the floor. He then stabbed her once on the left side of the back below the shoulder. Screaming in pain, she called out Reginalds name before Reggies came rushing into the room to find out what had just happened. Reggies found Reginald standing besides Ms Mpofu with a blood stained knife. Reggies then pushed his brother away from the deceased, an action that did not go down well with Reginald who reacted by stabbing him once also in the lower side of the abdomen. He sustained a deep cut in the stomach as a result of the attack. Reginald then fled the scene leaving the two bleeding profusely on the floor. Reggies managed to call for help. He together with Mr Thembinkosi Khumalo ferried Ms Mpofu to Hwange Colliery Hospital but she died on her way. Four days later, Reginald handed himself over to the police. SundayNews Breaking News via Email Loading... Related Zimbabwe Latest News On Monday, 19 November 2018, the NATO Secretary General, Mr. Jens Stoltenberg, will meet the Minister of National Defence of the Republic of Portugal, H.E. Mr. Joao Gomes Cravinho. There will be no media opportunity. Still images will be available on the NATO website after the event. Follow us on Twitter (@NATOPress and @jensstoltenberg) (Natural News) An international defense contractor has announced a new, multifunction unmanned ground vehicle that eventually can operate with artificial intelligence. Called Ironclad, the UGV can carry out missions such as camera-equipped reconnaissance, casualty evacuation, area denial (i.e., a remote weapon station), and bomb disposal, all of which are dangerous functions normally handled by human infantry soldiers. BAE Systems, Ironclads manufacturer, says that the UGV can run for 30 miles on a single battery charge, and can navigate in both urban and non-urban environments. Operated by wireless remote control, the AI hardware apparently can be added at a future date when the technology emerges. Ironclad comes in two versions and is projected to have at least four modular equipment packages, including a machine gun installation, advanced sensor modules, robotic arm, and stretcher mounts, the Firearm Blog noted. A BAE executive highlighted the advantages of Ironclad. Ironcladis also a step towards the battlefield of the future where we expect fleets of unmanned air and ground vehicles to work together, sharing situational awareness and pursuing combat objectives. There will always be a human in the loop, but increasing use of autonomy and unmanned vehicles means they can focus on key decisions and have more options to avoid putting people in dangerous situations. We're displaying a model of our autonomous ground vehicle concept, Ironclad, at @newscilive, don't miss it! https://t.co/AJxnuFgfRw pic.twitter.com/IiOMpN77o8 BAE Systems (@BAESystemsplc) September 28, 2017 This versatile robotic vehicle appears to have many life-saving military applications, from transporting wounded soldiers from the battle zone to protecting troops in the field from harm. Earlier this month, Natural News reported that the Pentagon has signed an $11 million deal with a defense contractor that will develop over the next decade various forms of robot technology prototypes. Ultimately, future warfare may perhaps involve the deployment of robot soldiers, unmanned aerial assault techniques, underwater drones, and self-driving, weaponized vehicles. Separately, however, autonomous military weaponry, i.e., operating independent of human oversight, in general, may be too close for comfort for some scientists. There is some concern that it could turn into scenarios played out in SciFi movies such as the Terminator franchise. According to the London Telegraph, about 100 AI and robotics experts have petitioned the United Nations (for what thats worth) to ban the development of so-called killer robots that could open fire without human control. Tesla and SpaceX CEO Elon Musk has repeatedly warned that rapidly advancing artificial intelligence could give rise to self-replicating machines that might threaten humanity. Back in 2015, Health Ranger Mike Adams, the founder of Natural News, similarly cautioned that once AI technology develops into highly evolved, self-aware, systems, the human race has a big Terminator problem on its hands. Once AI criticality is achieved, it wont take long for a highly intelligent machine to design another machine thats an order of magnitude more intelligent than itself. Follow this along for just 4-5 generations and you get machines with demigod-level cognitive capabilities, and it wont take but a microsecond for such a machine to conclude that humans are a threat to its own existence. Do you think that battlefield robotics will prove to be a benefit or a detriment to the military, and by extension civilization itself? Sources include: TheFirearmBlog.com BAESystems.com Telegraph.co.uk (Natural News) You might have noticed that pomegranate juice is starting to take up more space on your supermarkets shelves. Its easy to pass this off as yet another food trend. However, many people are turning to the beverage not for its flavor but for its unique properties. Polyphenol-rich pomegranates have plenty of health-enhancing benefits thanks to their antioxidant content, and a new review indicates that the fruit could also be a powerful ally in the battle against chronic inflammatory diseases. The researchers from the University of Bologna and the University of Auckland looked at the effects of the juice of the pomegranate in particular, which has already been shown to help conditions like diabetes, atherosclerosis and prostate cancer. Chronic inflammation, a response by the body to infection and tissue damage, has been linked to the development of disorders such as inflammatory bowel disease, asthma, rheumatoid arthritis, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and psoriasis. After analyzing an extensive number of existing studies on pomegranate, they found plenty of evidence that shows pomegranate juice can indeed help inflammation-related diseases, although they pointed out that a definitive relationship has not been officially established. Most of the scientific research on pomegranates health benefits has been carried out on cell culture or animal models, they point out, and clinical trials with humans are generally lacking. They found that pomegranate seems to show the most promise in fighting cardiovascular diseases, metabolic syndrome and diabetes, but the researchers urge care, calling on further studies to determine its specific effects and explain why the fruit juice seems to help chronic inflammatory diseases. Plenty of studies back pomegranates numerous health benefits A Case Western study published in the Journal of Inflammation, for example, found that the extract of pomegranate significantly inhibited chronic inflammation in rabbits. The juice has also been shown to slash the buildup of damaging proteins associated with Alzheimers disease by as much as a half. This effect is being attributed to its ability to protect against the oxidative stress that leads to beta-amyloid deposits. Researchers have also demonstrated its potential to help those with prostate, colon and breast cancer. In studies where tumor cells were treated with pomegranate, cell migration dropped and the cancer was stopped from spreading to other areas of the body. Pomegranate juice came out on top in a study of beverages known for their antioxidant content carried out by the Center for Human Nutrition at the University of California Los Angeless David Geffen School of Medicine. While all of the beverages examined blueberry juice, acai berry juice, green tea, white tea, Concord grape juice, orange juice, pomegranate juice and red wine, had impressive amounts of antioxidants, pomegranate juice outperformed them all when it came to polyphenols and protective benefits. Its antioxidant potency composite index was a full 20 percent higher than any of the other drinks that were put through the rigorous testing. How to increase your intake of polyphenols Pomegranates arent the only fruit that have the polyphenols that fight inflammation. Raspberries, strawberries, almonds and walnuts also contain the inflammation-fighting ellagitannins and ellagic acid that make pomegranates so effective. Low in calories and full of vitamins and fiber, pomegranates contain around 600 juicy seeds and are known for their sweet flavor. Besides eating the fruit or drinking its juice, you can also sprinkle the seeds on top of your yogurt, salad or even cereal. Nutritional researchers recommend that people drink eight ounces of the juice each day, eat one fruit or incorporate it into a smoothie, or take 400 mg of a concentrated extract to get pomegranates heart disease and cancer protecting benefits. Sources include: MDPI.com NaturalNews.com 1 NaturalNews.com 2 NaturalNews.com 3 NaturalNews.com 4 SAN JOSE - After being shut out 4-0 by Chad Johnson and the St. Louis Blues just eight days ago, the Sharks were looking for payback. Boy, did they get it Saturday night. Fueled by Erik Karlsson's first goal as a member of the Sharks, San Jose got back to its roots and put up an all-around defensive effort to pummel the Blues by a score of - drumroll, please - 4-0. Here are three takeaways from the game at SAP Center: Karlsson's big night It took 21 games - and, as one fan on Twitter pointed out, exactly 65 days since he was acquired from Ottawa - but the two-time Norris Trophy winner finally found the back of the net. Of course he also did it in epic fashion, banging home a one-timer that Johnson didn't even see coming. You could see the relief on Karlsson's face as the cameras zoomed in on him after the goal. With that elusive first marker out of the way, it doesn't hurt to wonder if that goal will open the floodgates. Karlsson's individual game has visibly improved over the Sharks' current six-game homestand, Saturday was his second consecutive game with two points, and his third n a row with at least one. Dell was a brick wall Aaron Dell wasn't tested as much this time around as he was against the Blues eight days ago. Nevertheless, the Sharks' backup goalie made the big saves when he needed to on his way to registering his first career win against St. Louis. Dell was particularly impressive in the third period. He stood tall to stop Vladimir Tarasenko from putting the Blues on the board just 10 seconds into the frame, and continued to stand his ground as St. Louis built momentum and tried to pin San Jose in its own end. Identity found? Following the Sharks' 5-3 loss to the Toronto Maple Leafs on Thursday, captain Joe Pavelski told the media the team wasn't playing up to its identity as a defensively sound unit. Against the Blues, the Sharks' sound defensive game was on full display. It also didn't hurt that multiple players had multi-point games in addition to Karlsson. Pavelski himself scored two goals, giving him 13 in 21 games, good for fourth in the NHL. New linemate Logan Couture assisted on three of San Jose's four goals, including both of Pavelski's. Timo Meier also pitched in as a helper on both of Pavelski's goals. San Jose firefighters have received a $77,021 federal grant to replace fire alarms and educate about 600 mobile home residents about fire prevention and safety, the city announced Thursday. San Jose has the highest number of mobile households in the state at 59 mobile home parks and 10,386 residences, according to the city. Fire Capt. Mitch Matlow said a combination of factors make mobile homes more susceptible to fires, including crowded living situations as a result of cheaper costs. Residents of mobile homes are often economically constrained, meaning extended families may live together. This increase in density causes greater fire risk, according to Matlow. The grant will target high-risk populations, such as elderly or sick residents who may be unable to install their own alarms, or financially unstable residents who cannot afford them. At each home, firefighters and emergency volunteers will install the alarms, inspect the home for fire hazards with the resident's permission and educate mobile homeowners about fire safety in English, Spanish and Vietnamese. Firefighters and the American Red Cross are teaming up to administer the grant funds, and already installed almost 250 fire alarms over the course of one weekend in October. The federal support will run through August 2019. "With the support of this grant, the San Jose Fire Department will continue to fulfill its core mission: To serve the community by protecting life, property and the environment through prevention and response," Fire Chief Robert Sapien said in a news release. It was her last day of class and Leida Ruvina was getting suspicious. The Albanian student had just finished the first module in what was purported to be a doctoral program co-administered by Slovenia's Euro-Mediterranean University, but the place didn't look like much of a university. It didn't have a campus; the room she was sitting in had been rented from a local tourism school in the Slovenian spa town of Portoroz. She didn't have a matriculation number, the code used by educational institutions to track students' progress. And the French translation of "Euro-Mediterranean" in the university's seal was misspelled. She raised her hand to ask the university's president what was going on. Joseph Mifsud, a paunchy middle-aged administrator with an easy manner and a graying widow's peak, assured Ruvina that everything was in order, complimented her on her English and offered to advise her on her dissertation. "If you want, I can be your mentor," she recalled him telling her. Mifsud, however, was in no position to be anyone's mentor. The Ph.D. program was bogus and Mifsud would soon be ousted in a scandal. Ruvina eventually got a refund for the two weeks she spent at the university in 2012 and began her dissertation elsewhere. Mifsud has since shot to international prominence as a lynchpin of the investigation into Donald Trump's presidential campaign and its ties to the Russian government. A court document made public last year by U.S. prosecutors alleged that it was Mifsud who dropped the first hint of the hacking that rocked the 2016 U.S. election when he met Trump adviser George Papadopoulos on April 26, 2016, in London and told him the Kremlin had "thousands of emails" on his Democratic presidential rival, Hillary Clinton. An Associated Press investigation of Mifsud's career has uncovered an international trail of mismanagement and financial problems stretching over a decade. It doesn't answer the key question of whether Mifsud was acting on behalf of Russian interests wittingly or otherwise when he allegedly passed the tip to the Trump campaign team, but it does sketch out a bizarre academic career punctuated by scandals and disappearing acts. ___ When Mifsud's name first surfaced in connection with U.S. special counsel Robert Mueller's investigation into Russian meddling in the 2016 election, Mifsud denied discussing emails with Papadopoulos or having any connection to Russia. He then fell off the map for nearly a year, leading some to speculate he might be dead. Mifsud's Swiss-German lawyer, Stephan Roh, has recently assured the AP that Mifsud is alive and has disputed almost all the allegations against him, saying via email that the 58-year-old hadn't committed any crime and that the claims leveled against him are either old, unsubstantiated or consist of what he described as "defamatory departing music." Asked about the Albanian student's story, for example, which the AP corroborated using contemporaneous emails, certificates and a document bearing Mifsud's signature, Roh said her claim "seems not plausible." "You forget about many positive things about Prof Mifsud," Roh said. "My suspicion is that this may be on purpose." Roh said he last heard from his client earlier this month through an intermediary he refused to identify and last saw him face-to-face in May. His office sent the AP a photograph of the Maltese academic, sporting three-day stubble and seated across a signed power of attorney document. The photograph also appears to show a copy of the Democratic National Committee lawsuit against Trump and the Russian government, in which Mifsud is named as a co-defendant, and the May 17 edition of Zurichsee-Zeitung, a Swiss-German newspaper. Metadata embedded in the picture, including geographic coordinates and altitude data, suggest it was taken with an iPhone at Roh's office in the Swiss city of Zurich on May 21. Roh said he only provided the image to prove he was Mifsud's attorney and asked the AP not to publish it. The cloak-and-dagger surrounding Mifsud's whereabouts has invited all manner of dark theories, some of them nurtured by Roh himself. Earlier this year, Roh co-wrote and self-published a 284-page book speculating that both Mifsud and Papadopoulos were pawns of the Western intelligence community and had been enlisted in what Roh described as a conspiracy to create the appearance that the Trump campaign had cooperated with the Russian government. Mifsud is hiding "under instruction of the intelligence agencies," Roh claimed, saying that unidentified spies were trying to keep Mifsud quiet as they worked to discredit Trump. In fact, Mifsud's vanishing act is not out of character. The AP has documented at least three previous efforts by Mifsud to drop out of the public eye after being caught up in controversies. Laris Gaiser, a Slovenian crisis consultant who was brought in to investigate Mifsud's tenure at the Euro-Mediterranean University, said that going off the grid is Mifsud's modus operandi. "Disappearing for him is the most perfect way to survive," Gaiser said. ___ Mifsud studied education in Italy and Northern Ireland before returning to his native Malta in the 1990s, just as the tiny Mediterranean nation was turning toward the European Union. In 2000, he was appointed general manager of the University of Malta's European Unit, which juggled grants and foreign exchange programs, eventually becoming its director. Many of those who crossed paths with him were left unimpressed. Matthew Caruana Galizia, the son of slain investigative journalist Daphne Caruana Galizia, was one of 15 participants at a 2006 university summer class taught in part by Mifsud. He said the academic floundered through his lecture and had "no idea what he was talking about." "He spent the whole time trying to impress us and was coming off as a complete charlatan," Caruana Galizia said. One of Mifsud's former deputies said Mifsud was a name-dropping networker focused on jockeying for funding and taking work trips abroad. "He was hooked on travel," said Joseph Grech, who described working for Mifsud as the most stressful experience of his life. Grech called his ex-boss a "hawwadi," a Maltese word roughly meaning "intriguer." "He's in the gray zone," said Grech. "He fits perfectly in this gray zone of Trump and hackers." In 2006, a new administration took office and immediately found issues with Mifsud's management. Among other problems, officials struggled to understand how Mifsud had managed his unit's finances, according to two former colleagues who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss confidential university business. An auditor from PricewaterhouseCoopers was brought in to make sense of the situation, writing Mifsud a series of questions about how the money had been spent, the ex-colleagues said. Mifsud, who had gone on loan to Malta's Foreign Office in the meanwhile, didn't return repeated messages requesting clarification. Eventually, the university lost patience with the missing academic and wrote to him on Nov. 15, 2007, threatening to terminate his job. It was only the following month that Mifsud responded to tell the university he was quitting. Roh said the University of Malta allegations stemmed from Mifsud's decision to refocus his work with a university in Rome, a move Roh said "was not appreciated." He offered no comment on hints that Mifsud's personal finances were falling into disarray around the same time. Maltese court documents show that, on April 9, 2008, the Bank of Valetta won an order garnishing Mifsud's wages over an unpaid 1,780 euro debt. ___ As Mifsud burned his bridges in Malta, he was laying the foundations for a new career in Slovenia. It was in this small ex-Yugoslav republic that officials had set up the Euro-Mediterranean University , soon adopted by the 43-nation Union for the Mediterranean as the academic prong of a wider effort to foster stability, prosperity and cultural exchanges across the Mediterranean Sea. Mifsud was picked to be its first president in November 2008. In its first few years, the lightly resourced university limped along in relative obscurity. Glossy annual reports ran more than 100 pages filled with buzzwordy aspirations of "raising awareness of multiethnic, multicultural and multi-religious diversity of the Euro-Mediterranean," but there were no full-time students and there was little education beyond summer classes. When a new government took office in Slovenia in 2012, officials asked Gaiser, the consultant, to look into the situation. Gaiser said in a telephone interview that Mifsud's personal accounts were indecipherable. As the university languished, its president had flown around the world, striking more than 200 cooperation agreements with universities "from Rabat to Moscow." "He was a traveling machine," Gaiser said. Mifsud was forced to resign, according to both Gaiser and Abdelhamid ElZoheiry, the Euro-Mediterranean University's current president. They said the university initially agreed to pay him through the summer as long as he produced a handover, but that never happened. University board minutes show that Mifsud instead skipped town, saddling the institution with about 30,000 euros worth of "allegedly ineligible costs," including telephone bills charged to the university's Visa card. In a replay of his disappearing act at the University of Malta several years earlier, Mifsud suddenly became unreachable. The minutes said that letters from the Euro-Mediterranean University demanding an explanation for his spending sent to addresses in London, Malta and Rome went unanswered. A 2013 Slovenian government report was scathing about Mifsud's performance, saying his administration had left the university "in an unfavorable financial, personnel and organizational condition" and with "no reputation, either at home or abroad." Roh insisted Mifsud's expenses "may have been rightful" and emphasized that the matter never went to a trial. In fact, EMUNI officials discussed flagging Mifsud to OLAF, the European Anti-Fraud Office, according to an email seen by the AP. ElZoheiry said the management board eventually calculated that it wasn't worth pursuing Mifsud in court. "We would have spent much more than 30,000 euros in legal fees," ElZoheiry said. ___ As ElZoheiry and others worked to turn their university around, Mifsud turned toward London, where he would eventually intersect with Papadopoulos, the Trump campaign aide. Mifsud was brought on to the now-defunct London Academy of Diplomacy. It was via his Russian personal assistant there that Mifsud got in touch with the director of the Moscow Academy of Diplomacy, Evgeny Bazhanov, and Russian International Affairs Council representative Ivan Timofeev, according to a copy of the assistant's CV still posted to LinkedIn. In early 2016, Mifsud would introduce Papadopoulos to Timofeev and the latter two would go on to speak for months about potentially arranging a trip by candidate Trump to Moscow. Those were among the conversations that Papadopoulos tried and failed to misrepresent to the FBI, eventually earning the former campaign staffer a two week prison sentence. Timofeev has repeatedly declined to discuss Papadopoulos when quizzed about him by the AP, but in June he told CNN that the Trump adviser was disorganized and unprofessional and that the conversations between the two went nowhere. Mifsud doesn't appear to have behaved any more professionally in Russia himself. He vanished without explanation from a venture he helped set up between Moscow State University and another university in Rome in late 2016, according to Moscow State academic Yury Sayamov, who said that email addresses for Mifsud and his deputies at the London Academy of Diplomacy suddenly stopped working and phone calls went unanswered. Roh insists that Mifsud was in touch with Sayamov into 2017. In any case, the Russian academic remembers Mifsud fondly. "If we could continue professional contacts with him, we would," Sayamov said. "He was a communicative, pleasant person." ___ The AP's investigation into Mifsud began in August, when a reporter traveled to Malta in a vain attempt to locate the academic. Others had tried before. Last year, two separate Italian police forces failed to find Mifsud in relation to yet another university funding scandal in Sicily, according to Italian court records . Mifsud was a no-show at his trial in the Sicilian port city of Palermo, where he was last month ordered to hand back more than 49,000 euros ($56,700) in overpayments. Maltese politicians who once smiled for pictures with Mifsud now barely seem to remember him. Roh said in his book that former associates were treating the academic "as a plague victim." Even Mifsud's family is saying nothing. When the AP visited Mifsud's old address in the Maltese town of Swieqi on Aug. 13, his wife Janet appeared at the balcony only to retreat inside when she realized a reporter was at the door. "I have no intention of ever commenting on this matter," she said in an email the next day. Twenty minutes later, the Mifsuds' adult daughter, Giulia, sent the AP an almost identical message. Janet Mifsud has filed for divorce, according to Maltese court records seen by the AP. Few details were provided and Janet's lawyer, Carmelo Mifsud Bonnici, hung up when called for clarification. Roh said in his email that the couple had already been separated for "many, many years," that they had not seen one another in a long time and that Joseph "is a single man." The filing did suggest Janet Mifsud hasn't heard from her husband in a while. When the AP visited the London address the divorce court document gave for Joseph Mifsud a brick apartment building in the capital's prosperous Pimlico neighborhood the man who answered the door said he had been living there for three years and had never seen or heard of the academic. ___ Mifsud's disappearance contrasts with the media offensives undertaken by many others in the orbit of the special counsel's 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-conspiracy a 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 Britain's 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 campaign a charge Papadopoulos called "fantasy." But there is one theory about Mifsud that Roh, who has a Russian wife and Russian business ties, is utterly unwilling to entertain. "He is certainly not a Russian spy," Roh writes. In one email to the AP, he insisted that this story discuss Mifsud's "clear and evidenced Western Intelligence role" and threatened legal action if Mifsud were described as "a Russian spy, asset, cut-out etc." Many of those who have interacted with Mifsud laugh off the idea that he could have ever been spy or an asset of any kind. Gaiser, the Slovenian consultant, said Mifsud was too incompetent to play any significant role in whatever machinations are purported to have happened between the Trump campaign and the Russian government. "I do not believe he's the real connection to any real scandal. I'm closer to Melania Trump than he is to Putin," Gaiser said, referring to the first lady's Slovenian background. "If they're trying to impeach the most important president in the world with Mifsud, then they have nothing." But Ruvina, the Albanian student who Mifsud once offered to mentor, isn't so sure. She described Mifsud as a "common, greedy person" who had "the talent of not having a visible talent." She didn't know that Mifsud had been caught up in the U.S. special counsel's investigation until the AP told her, but she said she wasn't surprised at his alleged role. "It's always the common guys that are used to play these parts," she said. ___ Angela Charlton in Moscow and Chris Mangion in Malta contributed to this report. Documents obtained by AP about Joseph Mifsud here. Sen. Bill Nelson has conceded the U.S. Senate race in Florida to outgoing Republican Gov. Rick Scott, according to a statement released by the Governor's office. "I just spoke with Senator Bill Nelson, who graciously conceded and I thanked him for his years of public service," said Scott in a statement released Sunday afternoon. "Things worked out a little differently than Grace and I had hoped," said Nelson in a statement Sunday afternoon. "But let me say I, by no measure, feel defeated. I had the privilege of serving the people of Florida and our country for most of my life." According to NBC News, Rick Scott is the apparent winner for the Florida Senate seat. In numbers updated Sunday by the Secretary of State's office, Florida Gov. Rick Scott edged out Sen. Bill Nelson in the race for U.S. Senate by a difference of 10,033 votes. Following a manual recount that was ordered last week for the U.S. Senate seat and the seat for Florida Commissioner of Agriculture, the Secretary of State released the completed machine and manual recount numbers. Scott had 50.05% of the vote with 4,099,505 votes. Nelson had 49.93% of the vote with 4,089,472 votes. "Now the campaign is truly behind us, and that's where we need to leave it," said Scott in a statement. "We must do what Americans have always done: come together for the good of our state and our country." In the seat for Commissioner of Agriculture, Nikki Fried had a 6,753 vote lead over Republican Matt Caldwell. Fried had 50.04% of the vote with 4,032,954 votes, while Republican Matt Caldwell had 49.96% of the vote with 4,026,201 votes. Sen. Bill Nelson is expected to make a statement Sunday at 3 p.m. following the release of the official returns. The votes are scheduled to be certified by the state at 9 a.m. Tuesday. Broward County submitted their electoral returns to the state Sunday morning. The deadline for all 67 counties to submit their official results to the Secretary of State was noon on Sunday. The remaining races that were being recounted manually are for the U.S. Senate seat between outgoing Florida Gov. Rick Scott and incumbent Democratic U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson, as well as the Florida Commissioner of Agriculture race between Democrat Nikki Fried and Republican Matt Caldwell. Miami-Dade submitted their results on Friday. Broward's canvassing board sent the initial unofficial machine-counted results for Sundays noon deadline. [[414127913, C]] On Saturday, the Broward elections office announced that they had misplaced 2,040 ballots, causing a discrepancy between the initial unofficial returns reported to the state and the subsequent machine recount. Dr. Brenda Snipes, the Supervisor of Elections, made the announcement about the missing ballots on Saturday and made it clear that they were in the building. When we assigned baskets of ballots to individuals who worked at the machines, they worked on the page ones, they scanned the page ones, and if there was an error message in the system, they may have taken those ballots and put them in the wrong tray, said Snipes. I really want to go on record that the votes are in the building. Snipes has been under heavy scrutiny over the way her office has handled the 2018 election and subsequent recount. Broward Countys machine recount results were not used in a final tally because they were turned in two minutes after the 3 p.m. Thursday deadline. Issues continued on Sunday for Broward County, though. There were issues with the general election numbers submitted to the canvassing board from the supervisor of elections. The judges on the canvassing board caught the mistake and corrected it for the official report. The documents amended by the canvassing board reflect all votes cast in the general election. Floridas gubernatorial race was not subject to the manual recount. But on Saturday, Tallahassee Mayor Andrew Gillum conceded in the election to Republican Ron DeSantis. Gillum, the Democratic candidate, made the statement in a post on Twitter that came two days after the machine recount results showed DeSantis maintained his lead and the margin between both candidates was not enough to trigger a manual recount. Recount results will include overseas and military votes submitted since Election Day. Ballots for those votes had to be postmarked or signed and dated no later than the date of the election. Also included in the results of the manual recount, are ballots from anyone who fixed a signature mismatch by the Saturday deadline, and a base count of votes. Police have arrested two men after an 18-year-old was dragged by a car in Boston Friday night, officials said. According to Massachusetts State Police, they converged on a house party on Phillips Street in Boston early Sunday morning and arrested Dejon W. Barnes, 18, of Dorchester and Kenneth R. Ford, 23, of Roxbury in connection with Friday night's incident. Barnes and Ford were brought to the State Police Barracks in Boston and booked. They have both been charged with unarmed robbery. Additional charges are expected to be sought in conjunction with the Suffolk District Attorney's Office. Barnes and Ford will be arraigned Monday in Dorchester District Court. It is not clear if either has an attorney. The arrests came after an extensive investigation. Evidence collected during the investigation led police to believe that the two suspects were in a vehicle late Friday night and met the victim on Gallivan Boulevard in Boston's Dorchester neighborhood. Police say the suspects were purchasing a smart phone from the victim. During the interaction, the two suspects hooked the victim's arm in the car by closing the car window on his arm. They then drove off at a high speed, dragging the victim alongside the moving car for several blocks, police said. Evidence indicates that the suspected vehicle ran a red light at the intersection of Washington Street and continued to travel away from the initial scene. The victim was located on Gallivan Boulevard, just prior to Nevada Street. He was unresponsive and suffering from severe injuries, police said. Barbara Miller, who lives on Gallivan Boulevard, said she saw the emergency response. "All I saw were the police cars out there and the yellow tape," she said. "And detectives between the yellow tape, a lot of them for a long time." The victim is being treated at Boston Medical Center. He remains in critical condition. The victim's name is not being released at this time. Two people have been killed and at least 18 others have been wounded in shootings across Chicago this weekend. The first fatal shooting of the weekend occurred just after 11:30 p.m. Saturday night in the 1300 block of West Huron, according to police. A 22-year-old man was found by police with a gunshot wound to his chest. He was taken to Stroger Hospital, where he later died from his injuries. Police say that a black SUV was seen fleeing the scene, but no suspects are in custody. Just after 4:30 a.m. Sunday, another fatal shooting occurred, this time in the 5200 block of South Artesian. A 39-year-old man and his wife were driving when they noticed a red truck following them. The driver of the truck then flashed a gang sign, and the man returned it. The person in the red truck then opened fire, striking the man in the back of the head. He was pronounced dead at the scene, and his wife was unharmed in the shooting. No one is in custody. In the citys first shooting of the weekend, three men were injured when a person in an unknown vehicle fired shots at them. Two of the men were in one car, and the other individual was in a second vehicle, according to authorities. Two of the victims, both 18 years old, were taken to Norwegian Hospital in good condition, and a third victim, a 22-year-old, was shot in the wrist and was taken to Norwegian in good condition. Police are still looking for suspects in the shooting. A short time later, a 36-year-old man was shot in the 3000 block of East 79th Street, according to police. The man was able to escape the residence and walked to a nearby bus stop, where police discovered him. The man was shot a total of five times in the chest and once in the face, and was taken to the University of Chicago Medical Center in critical condition. Here are the rest of the shootings across the city this weekend: Saturday: A 23-year-old man was shot in both hands when a person in a grey vehicle opened fire, according to police. The incident occurred in the 200 block of South Hoyne just before 11 a.m., and the victim was taken to Cook County Hospital in good condition. A 22-year-old woman was in a vehicle when she was shot in the back in the 6900 block of South Anthony at approximately 2:41 p.m., police said. The woman was taken to University of Chicago Hospital in critical condition, and three persons of interest are being questioned. In the 6300 block of South Cottage Grove at approximately 6:16 p.m., a 22-year-old man was riding in the front seat of a vehicle when a person in the back seat of the car opened fire, striking him in the back. He was taken to the University of Chicago Hospital in serious condition. A 35-year-old man was involved in a verbal altercation in the 4400 block of West Congress Parkway at approximately 7:01 p.m. when he was shot. He was taken to Loretto Hospital in stable condition. Sunday: A 35-year-old man is in critical condition after he was shot multiple times while sitting in his car, police said. The incident occurred at approximately 1:17 a.m. in the 5200 block of West Thomas, and witnesses were uncooperative with authorities at the scene. A 15-year-old boy was walking in the 3600 block of West Ohio at approximately 3 a.m. when a person in a dark-colored sedan opened fire, striking him in the leg. He was taken to Stroger Hospital in good condition, according to authorities. In the 5000 block of West Newport at approximately 3:30 a.m. a 22-year-old man was walking when a person in a vehicle opened fire. He was taken to Illinois Masonic Hospital in stable condition with gunshot wounds to his abdomen, groin, and foot. Three people were injured when a person opened fire at the vehicle they were traveling in. The incident occurred in the 6500 block of South Hoyne just after 4 a.m. when a black van fired shots, striking two of the victims. A 15-year-old girl was shot in the leg and was taken to Comers Childrens Hospital in good condition, and a 23-year-old man, who was driving, was taken to University of Chicago in stable condition with a gunshot wound to his groin. Another girl, a 16-year-old girl, was struck by shattering glass and was taken to Comers in good condition with cuts to her face and body. An 18-year-old woman is in good condition after she was shot in the 2000 block of West Pershing at approximately 4:15 a.m., police said. The woman was a passenger in a vehicle when she heard gunfire. She was taken to Holy Cross Hospital in good condition. In the 2300 block of South Sawyer, a 21-year-old man was shot in the right leg, police said. The man is in good condition at Rush University Medical Center. A 17-year-old was shot in the left arm in the 5200 block of South Parkside just before 4 p.m. Sunday. The boy was walking in an alley when a black sedan pulled up and an occupant began yelling gang slogans. The boy was taken to McNeal in stable condition. Just before 7 p.m., two men were shot in the 1700 block of North Troy. A 30-year-old man was shot in the leg and is in stable condition at St. Mary's. A second man is providing no information to police and refused medical treatment. There are no suspects in custody in any of these shootings unless otherwise noted. A Canadian man accused of abducting his toddler son in 1987 and disappearing for 31 years before being arrested in Connecticut last month is facing a court arraignment. Allan Mann Jr. is set to appear in federal court in New Haven on Monday. He is charged in the U.S. with making false statements about his identity in obtaining federally funded housing and Medicaid services. He also faces an abduction charge in Canada. Authorities say Mann kidnapped his 21-month-old son, Jermaine, during a court ordered visit in Toronto on June 24, 1987. Investigators say they received a tip and on Oct. 26 found Mann in Vernon, Connecticut, living under the name Hailee DeSouza. Mann's son, now 33, has been reunited with his mother. Mann's lawyer has not returned messages seeking comment. Connecticut State Police have identified the man who was killed in a crash in Putnam on Saturday afternoon. Police said 94-year-old Raymond Breault, of Rhode Island, was driving east on Route 44 near Tucker Hill Road while 70-year-old Roland Marois, of Rhode Island, was driving west in the same area around 2:18 p.m. According to police, Breault's vehicle crossed over the double yellow line and hit Marois's vehicle before coming to an uncontrolled final rest blocking both the east and westbound lanes. Marois's vehicle came to an uncontrolled final rest off the right shoulder of the westbound lane. Both drivers were transported to UMass Hospital to be treated for suspected serious injuries. On Sunday, police said Marois later died from injuries sustained in the crash. Route 44 near Tucker Hill Road was closed, but has since reopened. The accident is under investigation. Anyone who witnessed the crash is asked to contact Troop D at (860) 779-4900. As firefighters work around the clock to battle the deadliest California fire in history, more than 200 Texans are on the front lines doing what they can to help. They were dispatched this week as part of the Texas Interstate Fire Mutual Aid System. Those men and women represent departments from all over the state and several in North Texas like Dallas, Fort Worth, Flower Mound, Plano, McKinney, Southlake, Prosper and Parker. Deputy Chief Kyle Mills says his team from Frisco arrived with an engine Wednesday to help fight the Woolsey fire thats ravaged Los Angeles and Ventura Counties. Its just devastating the kind of loss that these Californians have experienced, said Mills. Between the Woolsey and Camp Fires, more than 10,000 structures have been destroyed and at least 74 people have been declared dead. Another 1,300 are unaccounted for. Its wide-sweeping devastation that has also touched some of the men and women working around the clock to stop it. Their resiliency out here has been phenomenal. You know, its funny. No matter where you go across the nation, firefighters are generally the same. Weve heard stories of firefighters dropping everything at their own homes to help their neighbors and actually losing their own homes to firefighters who knew they were in the path and went into work anyway knowing that they would lose their homes, said Mills. With the Woolsey fire now 80 percent contained, Mills is hopeful Saturdays assessment will show the nightmare is coming to an end. He wont learn until Sunday, however, how much longer he and his fellow Texans are needed on the front lines. Its likely, he said, theyll be home before their families sit down to their Thanksgiving meals. But if theyre still needed, he says their dedication to helping their fellow firefighters remains the priority. Just as the firefighters in California have put their community and their neighbors above all else. I think its just the calling that they have, that we have, that no matter whether youre in Texas or California its the same. Its just that everyones trying to help people, said Mills. Saturday shifts for crews were reduced from 24 hours to 12. They say higher humidity is helping the fight. Every week, Larry Thompson dons a crisp, white doctor's coat and sets off from his home in Port Neches to make rounds at Baptist Hospital in Beaumont. The Beaumont Enterprise reports he's always got a smile on his face. It's painted on, actually, a broad, colorful complement to his rainbow-colored cap, bright green wig and matching green nose. With an oversized stethoscope that hangs round his neck, Thompson -- aka, Dr. U. Getwell -- walks the hallways carrying not a clipboard but a leash for his invisible dog named Spot. Thompson waves at staff and stops in waiting rooms to talk with patients and families as he makes his way from one end of the hospital to the next. His rounds include the pediatric unit, adult in-patient units, the oncology department, surgical waiting room, and the hospital's testing lab. The treatment he brings comes in the form of jokes, prescriptions for hugs and laughter, and colorful balloon flowers. "When you get people to laugh, it takes their mind off their sickness," he says. In the 930 hours he has logged since he began clowning at Baptist 11 years ago, the retiree has dispensed nearly 20,000 balloons and countless smiles to patients, families and staff. It's a different kind of medicine in an often difficult time. The comfort he provides isn't just for those receiving care, but also for those charged with providing it. "This guy comes in every single week and makes us a flower. He brightens our day," lab worker Leisa Freeman says. Her office, like many throughout the hospital, is decorated with Thompson's colorful creations. "A balloon flower when you're having a rough day, it makes a difference," adds Vicki Holcombe, director of Volunteer Services. When Thompson took up clowning 30 years ago, he did what most clowns do -- worked parties, church and social events, did face painting and learned to make balloon animals. In 2007, he and a handful of fellow Golden Triangle Funny Bones clown ally members began volunteering at the hospital. Thompson is the only one of the group left. Others dropped out for health reasons. Despite having his own health issues, which led to going on disability and an early retirement in 2013, Thompson chose to continue volunteering. "I get more out of it than I give," he says. "It's really a blessing for me. It always gives me a good feeling." One of the encounters he remembers most is meeting a woman in the waiting room of the intensive-care unit. She was waiting for her son to arrive, and would be breaking the news that his father, her husband, had just died. "There were tears in her eyes, but I started clowning with her and brought out a smile," Thompson recalls. "Even in the toughest of circumstances, you can bring out a smile," Holcombe says. Thompson views his work as a kind of ministry. "God just put it in my heart to do this," he says. A memorial service was held Saturday afternoon for the Coronado man killed in the shooting at a Thousand Oaks bar. Friends and family shared cherished memories spent with Justin Meek at Samuelson Chapel at California Lutheran University. The service was live-streamed on the school's website. "I think it is so hard today, for all of us and his family to feel this loss," Meek family spokeswoman Melissa Maxwell-Doherty said. "We feel this fragileness about human life, we understand how important community is." Meek, 23, was a bouncer at the nightclub when gunfire broke out earlier this month. He graduated from Cal Lutheran in May. "He gave his life to save others," Maxwell-Doherty said. "Being a military brat he lived in many places in his short 23 years. Now after fulfilling his purpose here on earth, he is home." Meeks alma mater set up a scholarship, called the Justin Meek Memorial Scholarship, in his memory where people can donate to the schools fund. His family set up a GoFundMe page to assist with any services or celebrations of his life. In one week, Meeks family received more than $21,000 in donations. The incredible outpouring love & support towards Justin & our family truly means the world, the page said. Our gratitude is immeasurable, & we continue to thank you all in helping us Honor our Justin. A Celebration of Life and Paddle out in Coronado is also being organized to honor Meek. The services are scheduled for the first week of December. Authorities are investigating a shooting at a Watts home Sunday morning that was followed by an officer-involved shooting and left one person dead and "several individuals'' taken to local hospitals, a police officer said. Officers were dispatched at 5:40 a.m. to 95th Street and Defiance Avenue on a report that a person was shot, said Officer Mike Lopez of the LAPD's Media Relations Section. An officer-involved shooting occurred at the location and "several individuals'' have been taken to local hospitals, Lopez said, adding that he had no other immediate information. Paramedics were dispatched to the location at 5:40 a.m. and had five patients, said Margaret Stewart of the Los Angeles Fire Department. One person was pronounced dead on arrival, and three other people -- between the ages of 30 and 60 -- were critically injured. A 5-year-old minor suffered non-life threatening injuries, Stewart said. Two people were found dead Saturday when firefighters put out flames inside an apartment near the Westchester area of Los Angeles, authorities said. One had a gunshot wound to the head. Firefighters were dispatched at 9:04 a.m. to the two story apartment building in the 8655 S. Belford Ave., and had the fire out within 21 minutes of their arrival, said Amy Bastman of the Los Angeles Fire Department. Firefighters found two bodies inside the apartment, and "there was evidence suggesting that both victims suffered gunshot wounds," Officer Drake Madison of the Los Angeles Police Department's Media Relations Section said. One reportedly was shot in the head. Homicide detectives were on the scene to determine whether they had a murder-suicide or a homicide with outstanding suspects on their hands, Madison said. Fire department arson investigators were also working the scene. President Donald J. Trump landed in Southern California Saturday with California Gov. Jerry Brown and Governor-elect Gavin Newsom to tour areas affected by the Woolsey Fire. Air Force One landed at Naval Base Ventura County Point Mugu at 3:07 p.m., and Trump exited the plane with Brown, Newsom, FEMA Administrator Brock Long and California Rep. Kevin McCarthy among others. The motorcade left the Naval Air Station at 3:24 p.m. and drove the president to Malibu, where he held a quick news conference with Brown and Newsom at the scene of burned-out buildings. Trump repeated his theory that poor management of forests might have contributed to the size of the wildfires. "It's just a horrible thing and it's been going on for a long time, and I think we're going to come up with some plans and methods and mitigation... I'm a strong believer that ... a lot of cities are in forests if you look at Europe and other places. We have a lot of forest states where they're mostly forests and they just don't have this problem..." Trump said. "California's a very unique place, and it's got some very unique leadership and some great leadership,'' Trump continued as Newsom and Brown looked on. "... And we're going to be working with the leadership, working with Gavin now for the most part, and I think we're going to come to some pretty good conclusions and ... a real solution to a pretty big problem." The president said that he's "heard great things" about Newsom and thinks the two can work together, even pulling the governor-elect closer for a second handshake to prove his point. Brown predicted that the "shock of all this is going to heighten our focus and attention, and also our cooperation." Brown added that California went from 300,000 people to more than 40 million relatively quickly and said the challenge for public officials would be to learn to "live with nature in a very creative and sophisticated way." "I think we'll meet it. At least, Newsom will meet it -- cause I'm going to be watching from the ranch," Brown quipped to laughter. Trump told reporters after the news conference that he was en route to Thousand Oaks to meet with survivors of the recent fatal nightclub shooting there. Earlier Saturday, Trump visited Paradise, California, to tour areas devastated by the Camp Fire. Trump -- who initially lashed out at California's forest-management policies as a cause of the destructive blazes in Southern and Northern California -- touched down at Beale Air Force Base north of Sacramento at 9:50 a.m. Saturday, flew from there to Chico Municipal Airport at around 10:55 a.m., then rode in a motorcade to Paradise, arriving at 11:35 p.m. to tour an RV park. Brown and Newsom welcomed the president at Beale Air Force Base, putting aside policy differences and harsh criticism from both sides in the past. "We welcome the president's visit to California and are grateful for the quick response to our aid requests," Brown and Newsom said in a joint statement posted to both of their Twitter accounts. "Now is the time to pull together for the people of California." Trump touched off a controversy Nov. 10 with a tweet that addressed the state's wildfires. "There is no reason for these massive, deadly and costly forest fires in California except that forest management is so poor," the president tweeted. "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!" That prompted a flood of angry reactions from public officials, including Newsom. "Lives have been lost. Entire towns have been burned to the ground. Cars abandoned on the side of the road. People are being forced to flee their homes," Newsom tweeted. "This is not a time for partisanship. This is a time for coordinating relief and response and lifting those in need up." And the president of the California Professional Firefighters, Brian Rice, tweeted: "The president's message attacking California and threatening to withhold aid to the victims of cataclysmic fires is ill-informed, ill-timed and demeaning to those who are suffering as well as the men and women on the front lines. At a time when our every effort should be focused on vanquishing the destructive fires and helping the victims, the president has chosen instead to issue an uninformed political threat aimed squarely at the innocent victims of these cataclysmic fires. In my view this shameful attack on California is an attack on all our courageous men and women on the front lines." Trump followed his Nov. 10 tweet with two more tweets about the fires that day: "These California fires are expanding very, very quickly (in some cases 80-100 acres a minute). If people don't evacuate quickly, they risk being overtaken by the fire. Please listen to evacuation orders from State and local officials!" "More than 4,000 are fighting the Camp and Woolsey Fires in California that have burned over 170,000 acres," the president said. "Our hearts are with those fighting the fires, the 52,000 who have evacuated, and the families of the 11 who have died. The destruction is catastrophic. God Bless them all." Later, in Paradise, Trump said: "Law enforcement's been beyond anything that anybody could have believed. To see what's happened here, nobody every thought this could have happened. So the federal government is behind you, we're all behind each other. "Jerry and I have been speaking, and Gavin and I have now gotten to know each other. We're all going to work together and we'll do a real job. But this is very sad to see. "We have the greatest people in the world looking and helping," Trump said. "Law enforcement, always. They never let us down. They never let us down." Then, according to a White House pool report, Trump briefly returned to the issue of forest maintenance. "We do have to do management, maintenance. We'll be working also with environmental groups. I think everybody's seen the light,'' Trump said. "Hopefully this is going to be the last one of these, because this was a really, really bad one. "I know Gavin's committed, we're all committed, I'm committed to make sure that we get all of this cleaned out and protected. We've got to take care of the floors, you know the floors of the forest, it's very important," Trump said. The president then mentioned that they do it different in Finland, "a forest nation." "They spend a lot of time raking and cleaning and doing things, and they don't have any problem," Trump said. "I know everybody's looking at that." Since erupting Nov. 8 in Ventura County and quickly spreading into Los Angeles County, the fire has charred 98,832 acres and was 82 percent contained with full containment expected Monday. It has destroyed at least 836 structures and damaged 242 others, with about 70 percent of the burn area assessment complete. The Camp Fire has killed at least 71 people and burned 148,000 acres. Twelve people were killed in the Nov. 7 shooting at the Borderline Bar and Grill in Thousand Oaks. The alleged killer was also found dead. Chinese President Xi Jinping called on Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) economies to bring their cooperation to a higher level based on a keen appreciation of the trend of the world and its economy. Chinese President Xi Jinping attends the 26th APEC Economic Leaders' Meeting in Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea, on Sunday, November 18, 2018. [Photo: Xinhua] Underlining the trend of economic globalization, economic integration in the region, and an open economy, Xi urged the economies to keep the momentum of Asia-Pacific cooperation during a speech at the 26th APEC Economic Leaders' Meeting hosted by Papua New Guinea (PNG) Prime Minister Peter O'Neill in Port Moresby on Sunday. CHARTING COURSE "Our world is undergoing rapid development and changes," Xi said at the meeting under the theme Harnessing Inclusive Opportunities, Embracing the Digital Future. "We have reached a crossroads of history, when we must have a keen appreciation of the trend of our world and take the pulse of the world economy," he said, "That is how we will be able to respond to the call of our time and chart our future course accordingly." Firstly, the economies need to advance economic integration in the region so as to build an open economy in the Asia-Pacific, the Chinese president said. "We should continue to promote trade and investment liberalization and facilitation," he said. He called on the economies to adopt an open, inclusive and transparent approach to the various kinds of free trade arrangements to ensure coordinated and positive interactions among them. "We need to firmly uphold the rules-based multilateral trading system and say no to protectionism," he said. The World Trade Organization (WTO) is exploring a new round of reform, Xi noted, saying such reform should be designed to uphold the core values and underlying principles of the multilateral trading system. "What we need is to make economic globalization more open, inclusive, balanced and beneficial for all," he said. Secondly, Xi highlighted the need to pursue innovation-driven growth and foster new growth drivers. He called on the economies to fully implement the Internet and Digital Economy Roadmap in a balanced way, so as to unleash the growth potential of digital economy. "We need to promote the building of digital infrastructure and capacity, make digital economy more accessible and bridge the digital divide," he said. "Our goal should be for the benefits of digital economy to reach all member economies at different stages of development and for the people of the Asia-Pacific to get aboard the fast train of a growing digital economy," he said. Thirdly, Xi urged APEC members to improve the connectivity network to promote inclusive and interconnected development. Noting that efforts are required to turn their connectivity blueprint into reality, the Chinese president encouraged the APEC economies to take the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development as a guide and adopt more concrete steps to make development more balanced, growth more sustainable, opportunities more equal and societies more inclusive. Fourthly, Xi called on APEC members to forge a closer partnership and jointly meet common challenges. He said it is important for the APEC economies to stay committed to the shared goal of common development and explore solutions to common challenges. "We need to respect diversity and each other's choices of development path, promote integration and mutual learning on the basis of openness and inclusiveness, and engage in both healthy competition and mutually beneficial cooperation," he said, stressing the importance of jointly building a community with a shared future in the Asia-Pacific. CHINA'S COMMITMENT This year marks the 40th anniversary of China's reform and opening-up initiative, Xi said, adding that his country will pursue with resolve continued reform across the board. China will continue to pursue its fundamental policy of opening-up, he added. China follows a people-centered development philosophy and a new development vision that features innovative, coordinated, green and open development for the benefit of all, he said. The overall momentum of sustained and sound growth of China's economy will continue, he said. China seeks deeper cooperation on digital economy with other members of the Asia-Pacific so as to expand convergence of interests and create more growth areas, thus adding strong and fresh impetus to the Asia-Pacific economy, he said. China will work with all countries involved under the principle of consultation and collaboration for shared benefits to pursue the Belt and Road Initiative against high standards so that it will create even greater development opportunities for the people in the Asia-Pacific and beyond, he said. Xi said leaders of the Asia-Pacific share a common responsibility to chart the long-term development course for APEC and draw up a post-2020 vision. China is a champion of Asia-Pacific cooperation and has taken concrete steps to promote cooperation on the ground, Xi said. Close cooperation with other members of the Asia-Pacific is indispensable for China's development, while China's development, on its part, offers broad opportunities of development for the Asia-Pacific, he said. Xi pledged that China will stay deeply engaged in the Asia-Pacific cooperation process, deepen practical cooperation with other parties involved, and make new contribution to the development and prosperity of the Asia-Pacific region. UPHOLDING MULTILATERALISM Leaders of the APEC economies agreed that the Asia-Pacific economy has bright prospect but is also facing challenges of trade barriers and protectionism. Under current circumstances, all participating sides should staunchly protect multilateralism and a multilateral trading system, stand against protectionism, and support APEC in playing an important role in facilitating trade and investment liberalization and realizing a balanced, innovative, sustainable and inclusive growth, the leaders said. Calling for advancing the Free Trade Area of the Asia-Pacific (FTAAP) and jointly building a vibrant and open Asia-Pacific, the leaders urged all sides to press ahead the work on drawing up a post-2020 vision and popularize the achievements of digitalization and innovation in all member economies. Earlier in the day, Xi and other APEC leaders also attended an informal dialogue on world economic situation and were briefed by chief of the International Monetary Fund Christine Lagarde. The Chinese president arrived in Port Moresby on Thursday to pay a state visit to PNG and attend the APEC Economic Leaders' Meeting. PNG is the first stop of Xi's ongoing Asia-Pacific tour, which will also take him to Brunei and the Philippines. Now to this tour. Ive seen Connors staging three times: in London, New York and now this new road show. This absolutely is the superior cast of those three productions, especially when it comes to Emily Bautista, who plays Kim with an emotional force that is really hard to pull off when youre surrounded by a production of this size. But then, the whole young company is very strong. Anthony Festa, who plays Chris, the G.I. who falls in love during his tour of duty and then gets everyone trapped in the chaos of the fall of Saigon, emphasizes his characters panicked flaws which is not what your average macho Chris was doing in the 1990s. And you'll also find the distinguished Chicago actress Christine Bunuan in this cast, leading the singing of one of the scores most beautiful ballads, The Movie in My Mind. Democrat Stacey Abrams and Republican Brian Kemp are in a tense standoff as the fate of the Georgia governor's race remains unresolved, leaving the potential of litigation and a December runoff. Kemp's campaign declared victory in the race late Wednesday, with a spokesperson saying that the numbers show Abrams can't win and a runoff won't happen. But Abrams has yet to concede, maintaining that there are still enough votes yet to be counted to force the race into a runoff. Abrams' team is renewing its concerns that Kemp, the current secretary of state, remains the chief elections officer supervising his own election, a race already marked by disputes over the voting process. With reported votes approaching 3.8 million almost 95 percent of Georgia's 2016 presidential turnout Kemp has just more than 50 percent, but Abrams and her campaign insist there are enough uncounted ballots particularly absentee and mail-in ballots in heavily Democratic metro Atlanta counties where constituents had trouble voting to bring the Republican below the majority threshold required for victory. NBC News said the race remained too close to call Wednesday morning. "We are leaving all of our options on the table," including litigation, Abrams' campaign manager Lauren Groh-Wargo told reporters Wednesday. "We feel we owe a fight ... to every Georgia voter," she said, adding that the Abrams campaign and Georgia Democratic Party are engaged "in all 159 counties" as counting continues. Groh-Wargo estimated Wednesday morning that about 15,000 votes separate Kemp from a runoff. She says at least that many outstanding absentee and mail-in ballots remained to be counted. Kemp's spokeswoman in the secretary of state's office, Candice Broce, said that by Wednesday afternoon the number of uncounted absentee and mail-in ballots was less than 2,000 with her boss still above the 50 percent threshold. Broce said about 22,000 provisional ballots have yet to be processed, according to a canvass of county officials across the state. If a runoff is necessary, the second round would take place Dec. 4, extending one of the marquee races of the November midterms as Abrams tries to become the first black woman elected governor in American history while Kemp looks to maintain the GOP's domination in a state evolving into a genuine two-party battleground. Either way, Georgians are sure to see a new round of bitter recriminations over ballot access and voting rights that could leave some voters questioning the outcome of a contest both nominees have described as a "battle for the soul of our state." "This is why we had a steady drumbeat for him to resign," Groh-Wargo said Wednesday, noting Abrams' and others' warnings about the potential for chaos in a tight election. "Here we are," she said. Kemp told his supporters early Wednesday that "there are votes left to count, but we have a very strong lead. ... The math is on our side to win this election." His cushion for an outright majority later shrank after more ballots had been counted. So far, turnout exceeds the 2014 governor's race by about 1.3 million votes. Kemp's office, meanwhile, deflected the criticisms. Broce noted local elections authorities manage the voting process and ballot tabulation. "Counties have not completed certification and we are still waiting for counties to provide their tabulations leading up to that certification," she said. A nonprofit group, Protect Democracy, filed a lawsuit Tuesday seeking to keep Kemp from being involved in counting votes, certifying results or any runoff or recount. Broce called it a "twelfth-hour stunt." State law gives counties until next Tuesday to complete vote counts and certify results to state elections officials. The statewide certification must follow by Nov. 20. The indefinite extension in Georgia focuses a white-hot spotlight on a race that already has drawn massive investments of time, money and star power from President Donald Trump and former President Barack Obama to media icon Oprah Winfrey. The tight returns and potential runoff come after weeks of wrangling over Georgia's election system and Kemp's performance as its chief executive. Kemp has steadfastly defended his job performance and refused calls to step aside. Abrams has called Kemp "an architect of suppression," and voting rights activists expressed concerns throughout Tuesday amid reports of technical malfunctions and long lines at polling stations across the state. The elections chief wasn't immune to the difficulties: When Kemp went to cast his own ballot, he had an issue with his voter card, but it was fixed quickly. Abrams, a 44-year-old Atlanta attorney, former state minority leader and moonlighting romance novelist, already has made history as the first black woman to be nominated for governor by either major party. She'd also be the first woman or nonwhite governor in Georgia history. Kemp, a 54-year-old businessman and two-term secretary of state, is vying to maintain the GOP's hold in a state where Republicans have won every governor's race since 2002, though by shrinking margins amid a growing and diversifying electorate. In the closing days, Kemp basked in Trump's glow, pulling out of a debate to attend a Sunday rally that drew thousands of boisterous Republicans to central Georgia to see Trump deplane from Air Force One. Abrams answered with Obama and Winfrey. Even if Abrams ultimately falls short, she has outperformed her fellow Democratic nominees from recent election cycles. That validates her strategy of reaching out to nonwhite and younger voters who don't usually cast midterm ballots instead of Democrats' previous focus on trying to convert older white voters who'd long drifted toward Republicans. Her success came at a cost, however, as unofficial returns showed Kemp expanding the GOP's advantage across rural and small-town Georgia. The United States imposed new sanctions Thursday on Venezuela and Cuba and promised additional penalties against Nicaragua as the Trump administration laid out a hard-line policy toward countries the White House branded a "troika of tyranny." National security adviser John Bolton condemned what he called the "destructive forces of oppression, socialism and totalitarianism" that he said the three countries represent. In a speech in Miami, home to thousands of exiles from Cuba, Venezuela and Nicaragua, Bolton said the U.S. "will no longer appease dictators and despots near our shores in this hemisphere." He spoke at the Freedom Tower, an important local landmark to the Cuban community in South Florida. The administration will prohibit U.S. citizens from involvement in the gold export trade from Venezuela. American officials have said Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro illegally exported at least 21 metric tons of gold to Turkey to avoid U.S. sanctions and to try to help rescue a collapsing economy once bolstered by vast oil reserves. The U.S. government has sanctioned dozens of top Venezuelan officials, including Maduro, as part of economic measures designed at pressuring the South American country's return to democracy. Bolton blamed Cuba for enabling Maduro's government and he urged the nations of the region to "let the Cuban regime know that it will be held responsible for continued oppression in Venezuela." In a clear contrast to the Cuban policy of the Obama administration, Bolton said the State Department added over two dozen entities owned or controlled by the Cuban military and intelligence services to a restricted list of entities with which financial transactions by U.S. persons are prohibited. Bolton said the goal is to prevent dollars from reaching the Cuban military, security and intelligence services. South Florida has long been home to a large community of Cubans emigres, many of whom will welcome a tougher line on the Havana government. In recent years, tens of thousands of Venezuelans have settled in the area as Venezuela's economy has collapsed. Bolton's speech may energize voters in both groups heading into Tuesday's elections. Bolton also sent a strong warning to President Daniel Ortega of Nicaragua, where more than 300 people have been killed since protests erupted in April calling for Ortega's resignation. "Free, fair, and early elections must be held in Nicaragua, and democracy must be restored to the Nicaraguan people," he said. "Until then, the Nicaraguan regime, like Venezuela and Cuba, will feel the full weight of America's robust sanctions regime." In grouping the three countries together, Bolton said "this troika of tyranny, this triangle of terror stretching from Havana to Caracas to Managua, is the cause of immense human suffering, the impetus of enormous regional instability, and the genesis of a sordid cradle of communism in the Western Hemisphere." Bolton mocked the leaders as stooges of socialism. "These tyrants fancy themselves strongmen and revolutionaries, icons and luminaries," he said. "In reality, they are clownish, pitiful figures more akin to Larry, Curly, and Moe." On the other hand, Bolton called Brazil's president-elect, Jair Bolsonaro, a "likeminded leader" and said his election last weekend demonstrates "a growing regional commitment to free-market principles, and open, transparent, and accountable governance." Bolsonaro whose victory moved Brazil sharply to the right, built his popularity on a mixture of often outrageous comments and hard-line positions, but he consolidated his lead by promising to enact market-friendly reforms. Here's a recap of NBC6's most talked about and shared stories from last week. Man Goes to ER, Charged Nearly $2,000 For Eye Drops A man went to the emergency room to get treated for an eye wound. He left with a bottle of eye drops needed to treat the wound. But that visit came with a hefty price tag. His overall bill cost more than $2,700 out of pocket after insurance. But, $1,943 of the bill was for a small bottle of eye drops. Click here for some tips on how to save cash next time you go to the emergency room. A Davie mans trip to the emergency room resulted in a hospital bill with a shocking item on it. He was charged nearly 50 times more for one prescription than he would have paid at the pharmacy. So, he called NBC 6 Responds. Sasha Jones reports. Man Says Lyft Driver Pulled Gun on Him in Downtown Miami A man is sharing his story to warn others after his Lyft driver brandished a gun, called him a homophobic slur and told him he wants to kill gay people. When the man noticed that his driver was not following the GPS route, he pointed it out to the driver and thats when the driver allegedly used a homophobic slur, pulled a gun and made the threat. The driver eventually pulled over and let the man out of the car while hitting him. Lyft said they deactivated the driver permanently. Click here for the full story. A man is sharing his story to warn others after his Lyft driver brandished a gun, called him a homophobic slur and threatened to kill gay people. NBC 6s Nestor Mato reports. Miracle Child: 5-Year-Old on Road to Recovery After Suffering Stroke A South Florida five-year-old has been through a lot after he had a rare medical emergency. After a series of tests and scans, doctors determined that the child had suffered a stroke and a brain bleed. He was diagnosed with Areriovenous Malformation, an abnormal tangling of blood vessels in the brain. The child was left nearly paralyzed. But over the past several months, he has made tremendous improvements. While pediatric strokes are uncommon, click here to see what they warning signs and symptoms are. A South Florida 5-year-old has been through a lot after he had a rare medical emergency. He suffered a stroke and brain bleed. After months of treatment, doctors now call him the miracle child. NBC 6s Stephanie Bertini reports. Consumer Warns About Pitfalls in Fiancing Program for Home Improvement Projects More than 21,000 people in South Florida have financed a home improvement project using whats known as the Property Assessed Clean Energy Program, or PACE. Consumers have financed more than $140 million in projects using the financing program. The money can be used to finance energy efficiency projects like air conditioning, solar panel and impact window installation. But when one man tried to refinance his mortgage, he realized the financing appeared as a lien against his property. Read more about this mans story here. A popular home improvement financing program is spreading across South Florida. But, one homeowner is warning other consumers about some of the pitfalls of the program. Consumer Investigator Sasha Jones reports. Face Yoga: Does It Make You Look Younger? If you want to look younger, one fitness instructor says you need to put your face to work. The exercise technique is called Face Yoga. There is only one certified Face Yoga instructor in the state of Florida. Click here to find out how this exercise works. If you want to look younger, fitness instructor Susan Forma says you need to put your face to work. The exercise technique she recommends: Face Yoga. NBC 6 anchor Roxanne Vargas tried it out. Here are five more stories that were most talked about last week. What to Know Amazon plans to build a headquarters for 25,000 workers on the Long Island City waterfront Elected officials promised that Amazon's presence will buoy all of western Queens, but some residents have doubts City and state officials promised at least $2.8 billion in tax credits and grants to lure Amazon to Queens Shawn Smith has heard the promises before. When new hotels sprang up near the public housing complex in Queens where he's lived for 17 years, residents were told they would bring jobs and economic opportunity. He hasn't seen any of it. So he's cynical about the announcement this week that Amazon will build a headquarters for 25,000 workers on the Long Island City waterfront, a half mile from his home. Elected officials gleefully promised that Amazon's presence will buoy all of western Queens. Smith is not so sure. "The hotels here, they're not hiring nobody. They're bringing their own kind," said Smith, who commutes to a construction job in New Jersey. "That's how I feel about Amazon." His wasn't the only skeptical voice among the roughly 6,400 residents of the Queensbridge Houses, the largest public housing complex in the U.S. Residents, most of whom are black or Hispanic, expressed hope that there might be something for them in Amazon's hiring bonanza to offset the pressures of neighborhood gentrification. But they are taking the promised opportunity with a grain of salt. "Let's see if they hire from around here," said Fontaine White, 54, who has lived in Queensbridge for eight years. "I think it's a good idea, provided you remember we live here, too. If you put Amazon in Long Island City, we're part of Long Island City." City and state officials promised at least $2.8 billion in tax credits and grants to lure Amazon to Queens, where it would occupy a new campus built around a formerly industrial boat basin. New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo and New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio, both Democrats, have heralded the deal as good for everyone. De Blasio, who won office on promises to address the widening gap between rich and poor in the city, said Amazon has pledged to give money for job training programs for public housing residents, provide space for a new school and pay into a city fund that will be used for projects that benefit the community. "When you add that kind of number (of jobs) into our economy, you're opening a lot of opportunity for everyday people," de Blasio said Friday during his weekly appearance on the Brian Lehrer Show on WNYC radio. He said Amazon's presence would lead to "a lot of jobs for young people coming out of our public schools, coming out of public housing, coming out of city universities. And that's crucial to addressing inequality." The big government incentives for Amazon have sharply split the Democrats who dominate state politics. U.S. Sen. Chuck Schumer issued a statement in support of the deal. The state's junior Senator, Kirsten Gillibrand, tweeted that "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." The city councilman and state senator representing Long Island City are exploring ways to try to block the subsidies. About 100 people attended a protest of the deal this week. New Yorkers who ride the subway through Queens have wondered how the neighborhood will handle additional commuters. The station closest to where Amazon would be located already has an average daily ridership of 23,672, making it among the system's busiest. Queensbridge Houses has also factored heavily in the public discussion. For decades, the 26-building housing project in the shadow of the Ed Koch Queensboro Bridge was known for being a rough place. It factored big in Hip Hop history, producing talents including Marley Marl, Roxanne Shante, Nas, and Havoc of the rap duo Mobb Deep. Crime has abated substantially in recent years. Queensbridge was celebrated for going nearly two years without a shooting before the streak ended in 2017. But like most New York City housing projects, residents complain of poor conditions, unreliable heat and hot water, and rats and roaches. The same week officials celebrated their willingness to let Amazon avoid billions of dollars in taxes, a federal judge rejected a consent decree that would have had the city pay $1 billion over four years and an additional $200 million annually for the following six years to fix deplorable conditions in public housing, saying it didn't go far enough. There are "a lot of issues with housing not fixing things, not doing things," said Lisa Cruz, 40, an office manager who has lived in Queensbridge for 12 years. "It's really bad." The area around Queensbridge has already been changing fast. Luxury condominiums have sprouted. JetBlue's corporate headquarters is a modest walk away. An artisanal brewery moved in. Hotels, once rare in outer boroughs, have sprouted, taking advantage of safe streets and quick access to Manhattan. A big waterfront park was spruced up. "The neighborhood is a lot cleaner than it was. There's been a lot more changes. A lot more police officers around," said Cruz, a mother of four. But prices have gone up in local grocery stores and increased congestion has made parking difficult. "It's unfortunate that it has to take for new hotels to come in, and new buildings and new storage units for fancy-schmancy stuff," Cruz said. "The park has changed so much. That's something we enjoy, but how many years did it take for them to fix Queensbridge Park for us in the community to enjoy it?" Ashley Nieves, who has lived her entire 21 years in Queensbridge, was concerned that Amazon's arrival would make the neighborhood more expensive, but was hopeful it would lead to job opportunities. That would be a trade-off she was willing to live with. "If you hire more people, especially people who live in the projects," the mother of two said, "it's kind of like opening doors to live better." A police car struck and killed a pedestrian early Saturday in Rockland County, police said. The police car was on routine patrol at about 5 a.m. when the person was struck on Ramapo Road in Garnerville, in front of a gas station, Haverstraw police said. Police said the officer was put on administrative leave as the crash is investigated. Police didn't release any information about the victim, pending notification of his family. Garnerville is a hamlet in the town of Haverstraw, about 50 miles north of New York City. Police have arrested a teenager in connection to the fatal shooting of a Ventnor City grandfather. The boy was arrested on suspicion of ambushing and shooting to death 61-year-old Sunil Edla outside his home on 6 N. Nashville Ave. Thursday night. The grandfather was getting ready to leave for work when he was gunned down and had his car stolen. The 16-year-old suspect, an Egg Harbor City resident, was charged with first degree murder, unlawful possession of a handgun and carjacking, among other crimes, the Atlantic County Prosecutor's office said in a statement. Police found Sunil Edla's 2002 Subaru Forester on the 1600 block of Sewell Avenue in Atlantic City, and used surveillance video from around the city to track the suspect down. The boy was arrested without incident on the 1500 block of Sewell Avenue and is being held at the Harborfields Juvenile Detention Facility. A preliminary autopsy showed that Sunil Edla died of multiple gunshot wounds, the county prosecutor's office said. "I'm just speechless right now," said Morrison Edla, the victim's son. "They could have just taken the car and let him go." A neighbor said the killer ambushed the 61-year-old and shot him dead right after the grandfather had brought a child into his house. Brian Wells said he viewed surveillance video of the ambush that showed the teen riding up to the home. The boy dropped his bike and hid as he waited for Sunil Edla to exit the house, Wells said. "[Sunil Edla] went upstairs, came back down," Wells said. "The guy walked right over, popped him in the head, got in the car and left." Relatives say the grandfather was excited about an upcoming trip to India to celebrate his mother's 95th birthday. Instead, loved ones must now plan his funeral. What to Know The Camp Fire burning in Butte County has charred 150,00 acres and is 65 percent contained as of Sunday evening. The blaze has wiped out 12,786 structures, many of them homes. Crews hope to fully contain the deadly wildfire by Nov. 30. Volunteers in white coveralls, hard hats and masks poked through ash-covered debris Sunday, searching for the remains of victims of the devastating Northern California wildfire before rains that are forecast for this week complicate their efforts. While the rain could help tamp down the blaze that has killed at least 77 people, it also could wash away telltale fragments of bone, or turn loose, dry ash into a thick paste that would frustrate the search. A team of 10 volunteers went from burned house to burned house Sunday in the devastated town of Paradise, accompanied by a cadaver dog with a bell on its collar that jingled in the grim landscape. The members of the team one of several involved in the search scrutinized the rubble in five-minute sweeps, using sticks to move aside debris and focused on vehicles, bathtubs and what was left of mattresses. When no remains were found, they spray-painted a large, orange "0" near the house. Robert Panak, a volunteer on a different search and recovery team from Napa County, spent the morning searching homes, but didn't find any remains. Asked whether the job was tough, the 50-year-old volunteer said, "I just think about the positives, bringing relief to the families, closure." He said his approach was to try to picture the house before it burned and think about where people might have hidden. The number of people unaccounted for dropped to about 1,000, authorities said late Sunday. Authorities stressed that many of the people on the list may be safe and unaware they have been reported missing. CLICK HERE TO FIND THE MISSING PERSONS LIST Sheriff Kory Honea pleaded with evacuees to review the list of those reported as unreachable by family and friends and to call the department if those people are known to be safe. Deputies have located hundreds of people to date, but the overall number keeps growing because they are adding more names, including those from the chaotic early hours of the disaster, Honea said. "As much as I wish that we could get through all of this before the rains come, I don't know if that's possible," he said. Honea said it was within the "realm of possibility" that officials would never know the exact death toll from the blaze. Hundreds of search and recovery personnel are involved in the effort, going to homes when they receive tips that someone might have died there. But they are also doing a more comprehensive, "door-to-door" and "car-to-car" search of areas, said Joe Moses, a commander with the Monterey County Sheriff's Office, who is helping oversee the search and rescue effort. The search area is huge, Moses said, with many structures that need to be checked. The fire also burned many places to the ground, creating a landscape unique to many search-and- rescue personnel, he said. "Here we're looking for very small parts and pieces, and so we have to be very diligent and systematic in how we do your searches," he said Friday. The remains of five more people were found Saturday, including four in Paradise and one in nearby Concow, bringing the number of dead to 76. Among them was Lolene Rios, 56, whose son, Jed, tearfully told KXTV in Sacramento that his mother had an "endless amount of love" for him. President Donald Trump toured the area Saturday, joined by California's outgoing and incoming governors, both Democrats who have traded sharp barbs with the Republican administration. Trump also visited Southern California, where firefighters were making progress on a wildfire that tore through communities west of Los Angeles from Thousand Oaks to Malibu, killing three people. "We've never seen anything like this in California; we've never seen anything like this yet. It's like total devastation," Trump said as he stood amid the ruins of Paradise and pledged the full support of the federal government. Soon after the fire began, Trump blamed state officials for poor forest management and threatened to cut off federal funding. "He's got our back," outgoing Gov. Jerry Brown said Sunday on CBS' "Face the Nation." "There have been some back and forth between California leaders and the president" Brown said. "But in the face of tragedy, people tend to rise above some of their lesser propensities. So I think we're on a good path." He also suggested California's severe wildfires will make believers of even the most ardent climate change skeptics ``in less than five years,'' and that those living near forests might need to build underground shelters to protect them from fires. Rain was forecast for midweek in the Paradise area. The National Weather Service said the area could get 20 mph sustained winds and 40 mph gusts, which could make it hard for crews to keep making progress against the blaze. Northern California's Camp Fire has destroyed nearly 10,000 homes and torched 233 square miles. It was 60 percent contained. Honea expressed hope that Trump's visit would help with recovery, saying the tour by the Republican president and California's Democratic leaders "signals a spirit of cooperation here that ultimately benefit this community and get us on a path toward recovery." Associated Press journalists Terence Chea and Jonathan Lemire in Paradise, Christopher Weber in Los Angeles and Janie Har and Daisy P. Nguyen in San Francisco contributed. President Donald Trump said there is no reason for him to listen to a recording of the "very violent, very vicious" killing of Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi, which has put him in a diplomatic bind: how to admonish Riyadh for the slaying yet maintain strong ties with a close ally. Trump, in an interview that aired Sunday, made clear that the audio recording, supplied by the Turkish government, would not affect his response to the Oct. 2 killing of Khashoggi, a columnist for The Washington Post who had been critical of the Saudi royal family. "It's a suffering tape, it's a terrible tape. I've been fully briefed on it, there's no reason for me to hear it," Trump said in the interview with "Fox News Sunday." ''I know everything that went on in the tape without having to hear it." On Saturday, Trump said his administration will "be having a very full report over the next two days, probably Monday or Tuesday." He said the report will include "who did it." It was unclear if the report would be made public. American intelligence agencies have concluded that the crown prince ordered the killing in the Saudi Consulate in Turkey, according to a U.S. official familiar with the assessment. The official was not authorized to discuss the matter publicly and spoke on condition of anonymity. Others familiar with the case caution that while it's likely the crown prince was involved in the death, there continue to be questions about what role he played. Trump noted to "Fox News Sunday" that the crown prince has repeatedly denied being involved in the killing inside the Saudi Consulate in Istanbul. "Will anybody really know?" Trump asked. "At the same time, we do have an ally, and I want to stick with an ally that in many ways has been very good." A Republican member of the Senate intelligence committee said that so far, there is no "smoking gun" linking the crown prince to the killing. Sen. Roy Blunt of Missouri, who has received a confidential intelligence briefing on the matter, told ABC that "it's hard to imagine" that the crown prince didn't know about the killing, but he said, "I don't know that we absolutely know that yet." He said that Congress will await the Trump administration's report in the next two days and that the U.S. will need to be clear about the ramifications of sanctions, given Saudi Arabia's strategic role in the Middle East. For his part, Sen. Lindsey Graham, a Trump ally, said the crown prince has been a "wrecking ball" in the relationship between the U.S. and Saudi Arabia. "I hate to say that because I had a lot of hope for him being the reformer that Saudi Arabia needs, but that ship has sailed as far as Lindsey Graham's concerned," the South Carolina Republican told NBC's "Meet the Press." "I have no intention of working with him ever again," said Graham, who is in line to be the next chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee. Intelligence officials have been providing information to Trump for weeks about the death, and he was briefed again by phone Saturday by CIA Director Gina Haspel and Secretary of State Mike Pompeo as he flew to California. White House press secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders provided no details of his call but said the president has confidence in the CIA. "The United States government is determined to hold all those responsible for the killing of Jamal Khashoggi accountable," the State Department said in a statement. "Recent reports indicating that the U.S. government has made a final conclusion are inaccurate. There remain numerous unanswered questions with respect to the murder of Mr. Khashoggi." The statement added: "The U.S. government has taken decisive measures against the individuals responsible, including visa and sanctions actions. We will continue to explore additional measures to hold those accountable who planned, led and were connected to the murder. And, we will do that while maintaining the important strategic relationship between the United States and Saudi Arabia." Before his call on Air Force One, Trump told reporters that when it came to the crown prince, "as of this moment we were told that he did not play a role. We're going to have to find out what they have to say." That echoed remarks by national security adviser John Bolton, who said earlier this week that people who have listened to an audio recording of the killing do not think it implicates the crown prince. Trump has called the killing a botched operation that was carried out very poorly and has said "the cover-up was one of the worst cover-ups in the history of cover-ups." But he has resisted calls to cut off arms sales to the kingdom and has been reluctant to antagonize the Saudi rulers. Trump considers the Saudis vital allies in his Mideast agenda. But members of Congress are pushing Trump for a tougher response to the killing. The administration this past week penalized 17 Saudi officials for their alleged role in the killing, but American lawmakers have called on the administration to curtail arms sales to Saudi Arabia or take other harsher punitive measures. Turkish and Saudi authorities say Khashoggi, a Saudi who lived in the United States, was killed inside the consulate by a team from the kingdom after he went there to get marriage documents. So, I learned from that and I think one of the things I learned certainly from running for Congress is you can have all the best ideas, or feel like you have the best ideas and you can go fight for them, but you need more than that if you want to win public office, he said. Its like somebody building like a small business. You need to build the infrastructure to win a campaign, and its not enough just to have good ideas and to try to go convince people. Thousands of people crowded Capital One Arena in D.C. Saturday night for Michelle Obama's "Becoming" book tour event which included a special surprise for the former first lady. Lines outside the arena were reminiscent of the crowds the venue might see for major concerts and sporting events. Many people told News4 that braving the sold-out crowd was well worth it to see Obama speak. "Oh my gosh, just to be in her presence. And I love what she embodies - just the spirit of women, empowering women. Its really exciting," Dionne Powell said. "I wish I could get a selfie with her, but I know thats not gonna happen so just hearing her speak ... and getting a copy of the book and getting it signed," said Rita Barrett, who flew all the way from Atlanta. Obama's memoir chronicles her experiences growing up in Chicago, balancing the demands of being a working mother and her time serving as first lady. "We grew up in a neighborhood called South Shore on the South Side of Chicago. Yes! South Shore in the house," she said during the event. She touched on education, a topic close to her heart. "As we look at school inequality, and things aren't right, kids know when they are not being valued and it makes them feel some kind of way," Obama said. The conversation was moderated by her longtime friend and former Obama White House adviser Valerie Jarrett. When the conversation shifted toward Mrs. Obama's feelings about her husband, Jarrett announced a "special guest" and Barack Obama came on stage carrying a bouquet of pink roses for his wife. The crowd leapt to its feet. Jarrett asked him what about Michelle Obama captured his heart when they met at a Chicago law firm where she was his mentor. Barack Obama said she was "one of a kind," strong and honest, and someone he knew he could always count on. "We thought it was really cool and that it was inspiring," one young girl said after the event. "Shes just so dynamic and just an amazing, amazing woman. I miss her. Any chance I get to see her, Ill be happy to do that," said Susanne Wilborn. "Becoming" is expected to sell millions of copies and has the official backing of Oprah Winfrey. The Associated Press contributed to this report. A top Indonesian military official says the Lion Air jet that crashed Monday may have been found in the Java Sea. Armed forces chief Hadi Tjahjanto says a search and rescue effort has identified the possible seabed location of the jet. Debris and some human remains were found previously but not the main fuselage and the black boxes. The 2-month-old Boeing jet crashed Monday just minutes after takeoff from Jakarta, killing all 189 people on board. Tjahjanto said a team would be sent to the identified location to confirm the findings. Relatives numbed by grief have provided samples for DNA tests to help identify victims of the crash, which has reignited concerns about safety in Indonesia's fast-growing aviation industry. The 2-month-old Boeing 737 MAX 8 jet crashed into the Java Sea early Monday, just 13 minutes after taking off from Jakarta for an island off Sumatra. Its pilot requested clearance to return to the airport just 2-3 minutes after takeoff, indicating a problem, though the cause is still baffling. Aircraft debris and personal belongings including ID cards, clothing and bags found scattered in the sea were spread out on tarps at a port in north Jakarta and sorted into evidence bags. The disaster has reignited concerns about safety in Indonesia's fast-growing aviation industry, which was recently removed from European Union and U.S. blacklists. Two passengers on the plane's previous flight from Bali to Jakarta on Sunday described issues that caused annoyance and alarm. Alon Soetanto told TVOne the plane dropped suddenly several times in the first few minutes of its flight. "About three to eight minutes after it took off, I felt like the plane was losing power and unable to rise. That happened several times during the flight," he said. "We felt like in a roller coaster. Some passengers began to panic and vomit." His account is consistent with data from flight-tracking sites that show erratic speed, altitude and direction in the minutes after the jet took off. A similar pattern is also seen in data pinged from Monday's fatal flight. Safety experts cautioned, however, that the data must be checked for accuracy against the plane's "black boxes," which officials are confident will be recovered. Lion Air president Edward Sirait said there were reports of technical problems with the flight from Bali but they had been resolved in accordance with the plane manufacturer's procedures. The airline didn't respond to requests to verify a document purporting to be a Lion Air maintenance report, dated Sunday, that described inaccurate airspeed and altitude readings after takeoff. In a detailed post online, Indonesian TV presenter Conchita Caroline, who was on Sunday's flight, said boarding was delayed by more than an hour and when the plane was being towed, a technical problem forced it to return to its parking space. She said passengers sat in the cabin without air conditioning for at least 30 minutes listening to an "unusual" engine roar, while some children vomited from the overbearing heat, until staff faced with rising anger let them disembark. After the passengers waited on the tarmac for about 30 minutes, they were told to board again while an engine was checked. Caroline said she queried a staff member and received a defensive response. "He just showed me the flight permit that he had signed and he said the problem had been settled," she said. "He treated me like a passenger full of disturbing dramas even though what I was asking represented friends and confused tourists who didn't understand Indonesian." On Tuesday, distraught family members struggled to comprehend the sudden loss of loved ones in the crash of a new plane with experienced pilots in fine weather. Many went to a police hospital where authorities asked they provide medical and dental records and samples for DNA testing to help with identification of victims. Risko, who uses a single name, wept outside the building as he waited with relatives. "My father was onboard but we still don't know. We're still hoping for the best because there hasn't been an official statement from Lion Air. So we're still hoping for the best," he said. Experts from Boeing Co. were expected to arrive in Jakarta on Wednesday to help with the accident investigation, Indonesia's National Transportation Safety Committee said. The Transport Ministry has ordered an inspection of all Boeing 737 MAX 8 planes in Indonesia. Air accident investigator Ony Suryo Wibowo told a news conference that officials have only a small amount of information so far and don't know if it's correct. He implored the public to be patient. "To all Indonesian people, we are saddened and offer condolences but give us time to investigate why the plane crashed," he said. "Give us a chance to look deeply, to look at the whole problem, so the responsibility given to us by the government can be carried out." More than 800 people from multiple agencies are involved in the search, which was expanded Tuesday to a 10 nautical mile area. Specialist ships and remotely operated underwater vehicles have been deployed to search for the plane's hull and flight recorders. Search and Rescue Agency chief Muhammad Syaugi said search teams are going "all out" to locate the aircraft's fuselage. He has said he's certain it won't take long to locate the hull of the aircraft and its flight recorders due to the relatively shallow 30 meter (100 foot) depth of the waters where it crashed. The crash is the worst airline disaster in Indonesia since an AirAsia flight from Surabaya to Singapore plunged into the sea in December 2014, killing all 162 on board. Indonesian airlines were barred in 2007 from flying to Europe because of safety concerns, though several were allowed to resume services in the following decade. The ban was completely lifted in June. The U.S. lifted a decadelong ban in 2016. Lion Air, a discount carrier, is one of Indonesia's youngest and biggest airlines, flying to dozens of domestic and international destinations. Earlier this year it confirmed a deal to buy 50 new Boeing narrow-body aircraft worth an estimated $6.2 billion. It has been expanding aggressively in Southeast Asia, a fast-growing region of more than 600 million people. AP journalists Andi Jatmiko and Ali Kotarumalos contributed to this report. Five people are interested in succeeding Janet Mills as Maine's attorney general now that she's been elected governor. Lawmakers are expected to pick the new attorney general on Dec. 5. They'll also fill treasurer and secretary of state posts. The five candidates for attorney general are Mike Carpenter, himself a former attorney general; Kennebec County District Attorney Maeghan Maloney; former Cumberland County Sheriff Mark Dion; state Rep. Aaron Frey; and Verrill Dana law firm partner Tim Shannon. Maine is rare in letting lawmakers determine the attorney general. Republican Gov. Paul LePage, who has clashed with Mills, has suggested letting the governor appoint an attorney general. Carpenter said the current system seems to work. In his words, "If it's not broke, let's not fix it." A Vermont man has helped raise more than $3,000 for a local humane society through a humorous and heartfelt obituary for his cat. The Brattleboro Reformer reports Bellows Falls artist Charlie Hunter posted the obituary for his cat Pvt. Silas Goodrich on Facebook last week, saying that his nearly 18-year-old companion has gone to "the catnip patch in the sky." Hunter says that Goodrich was put to sleep after his health declined due to kidney disease. Hunter encouraged readers to donate to the Windham County Humane Society in exchange for a sticker of Silas' face. He says writing the obit and raising money for the humane society has helped him deal with the sadness of the loss of his beloved pet. Stacey Abrams broke the rules of politics until the very end. The Georgia Democrat who came about 60,000 votes shy of becoming America's first black woman governor refused to follow the traditional script for defeated politicians who offer gracious congratulations to their victorious competitor and gently exit the stage. Instead, Abrams ended her campaign in an unapologetically indignant tone that established herself as a leading voting rights advocate. "I acknowledge that former Secretary of State Brian Kemp will be certified as the victor in the 2018 gubernatorial election," Abrams said in a fiery 12-minute address. "But to watch an elected official ... baldly pin his hopes for election on the suppression of the people's democratic right to vote has been truly appalling." "So let's be clear," Abrams concluded, "this is not a speech of concession." Ending a race while pointedly refusing to concede would typically risk drawing a "sore loser" label that would be impossible to shake in any future political campaign. But Democrats and even some Republicans say she is likely to emerge from the closely fought governor's race with her political future on solid ground. "There was a time when this may have been a bad look, but I'm not sure that's where we are in politics anymore," said Jen Palmieri, who served as communications director for President Barack Obama's White House and to Hillary Clinton's 2016 presidential campaign. "For many years, people have been too concerned about the optics of their actions as opposed to the impact of their actions," Palmieri added, saying that addressing some voters' lack of faith in the system is "more important than worrying what might offend people who may or may not vote for you four years from now." Republican Rick Tyler, a top adviser to Sen. Ted Cruz's 2016 presidential campaign, said "botched concessions have hurt people before," but he said it's too simple to say Abrams "botched" anything because some of her criticism has merit. "I wish we could all have faith in the system and the process," Tyler said. "Then we could count votes, listen to gracious concession speeches and all just move on. That's not where we are." Abrams cited a litany of problems that she said add up to systemic voter suppression. She specifically pointed to absentee ballots thrown out by what she called "the handwriting police," a shortage of paper ballots to back up broken-down voting machines and Georgia's so-called "exact match" voter registration rules that require information on voter applications to precisely match state and federal files. While state law allows "no viable remedy," she said she plans to file federal legal action challenging various aspects of the electoral system Kemp oversaw until he resigned as secretary of state two days after the Nov. 6 election. She also launched the new non-profit group "Fair Fight Georgia" to advocate for changes. Some Republicans rebuked her approach. "She seems to think there are only two branches of government: executive and judicial," said Debbie Dooley, a Georgia-based activist who was among the early national tea party leaders. "I'm just disappointed that her immediate adversarial response is to file lawsuits when there are a lot of people on the Republican side who see a need for some of the reforms she wants." For starters, Dooley cited an absentee ballot process that varies from county to county and Georgia's reliance on electronic voting machines with no paper trail a system a federal court already has ordered changed after the 2018 elections. "If they try to do it all through the federal courts, it's going to end up with people resenting her," Dooley predicted. Abrams said "pundits and hyper-partisans" would object to her flouting "normal order" for losing candidates. "I should be stoic in my outrage and silent in my rebuke," she said of conventional expectations. "But stoicism is a luxury and silence is a weapon for those who would quiet the voices of the people." Georgia Democrats said Abrams has little choice but to continue highlighting problems. "The middle ground here is simple: 'Count every vote,'" said Allegra Lawrence-Hardy, Abrams' campaign chairman. Buddy Darden, a former congressman who chaired the campaign of Abrams' Democratic primary rival, agreed. Darden, who is white, said Abrams proved wrong the "old dinosaurs like me" who thought a black woman couldn't compete in a general election in the Deep South. "She did it by getting folks out that no one else could," Darden said. "Now she has their back, and that's a good thing for the party, a good thing for the state." Palmieri, the former Obama and Clinton adviser, said Abrams can fill an important national void. Republicans, she said, have spent a generation focused on passing GOP-friendly voting rules, redrawing district boundaries and electing like-minded secretaries of state like Kemp. The left has answered with a less-effective patchwork of lawyers and think tanks. "She would be a formidable force on that front," Palmieri said. Lawrence-Hardy and other Abrams confidants say she's not considered future runs for office. The next chance would be to challenge for Republican Sen. David Perdue's seat in 2020, though those close to Abrams say her policy interests are better suited to the governor's office. History offers some parallels. Democrat Al Gore fell just short of the presidency in 2000 after a U.S. Supreme Court ruling that affirmed Republican George W. Bush's victory in Florida. Gore never returned to politics, but established himself as a leading advocate for addressing climate change. Republican Richard Nixon lost a bitter presidential election to John Kennedy in 1960, followed by a loss in the 1962 California governor's election, prompting a bitter concession speech in which he declared himself done with politics. Six years later, he was elected president, capitalizing on Democrats' Vietnam-era disarray. Cruz found himself in Republican crosshairs in 2016 when he spoke at the Republican convention but notably refused to endorse then-nominee Donald Trump for president. Weeks ago, Trump and Cruz embraced on a Texas campaign stage, helping Cruz to a hard-fought re-election victory to the Senate. The lesson, Palmieri said, is that "voters let these things play out." John Rankin pupils host cake sale in playground A NEWBURY schoolgirl and her friends have raised more than 250 for Cancer Research UK, after holding a cake sale in their playground. John Rankin Year 6 pupil Sophie Kuijpers came up with the idea to raise money for her grandfather Frans, who lives in Holland and has been diagnosed with bladder cancer. The 10-year-old, along with the help of her friends and younger sister Chloe, aged eight, organised the cake sale on Friday, October 19. An impressive Halloween cauldron cake was also raffled off as part of the event. They raised 252.67 on the day, but also have been given another 21 in donations since the event. A cheque was presented to the manager of the Cancer Research UK charity shop in Newbury, Ria Murphy, last Monday. Following the event, the school ran an assembly on what a charity is and how money can be raised for charitable causes. A former New Milford Savings Bank officer was recently awarded a $1.8 million settlement in a civil suit against the owner of Scott Swimming Pools Inc. over a broken contract. Walter Whitney, 64, of Washington, was awarded the settlement March 26 by Litchfield Superior Court Judge John A. Danaher III. Danaher determined James M. Scott Jr., of Warren, had tricked his former banker, Whitney, into leaving his position of 10 years with New Milford Savings Bank to come to work for him. Their agreement was that Whitney would be sold the business if he stayed for five years as assistant to Scott, the president of Scott Swimming Pools Inc. It was a contract Scott never intended to live up to, Danaher's decision states. Whitney was fired without adequate cause on Dec. 22, 2006, just three months before the agreement would allow him to purchase a controlling percentage of stock, according to Danaher's decision. "Scott had no intention of ever selling SSP to the plaintiff (Whitney)," Danaher wrote in his decision. "His motivation was to recruit a talented, dedicated, upper management employee." Danaher also found Scott had been interested in Whitney's close ties to New Milford Savings Bank. Scott took over Woodbury-based Scott Swimming Pools Inc. from his father in the 1960s. "I'm 75, almost 76," Scott said in an April 10 interview, "and when I hired Mr. Whitney it was because at my age it was time to retire. I had a heart attack. He was the one who wrote the agreement we both signed." "It was a total shock for me when things didn't work out," Scott said. "He was supposed to make the business prosperous. He drove it into the ground. I'm going to appeal the judge's decision. I'm under advice of counsel." Danaher's decision found Scott had acted similarly with his son Jonathan Scott, nephew William Drakely and longtime employee Arnold Gunderson, promising all three men he would sell the business to them, but not carrying through. "Scott learned that he could find a steady stream of motivated employees to work hard for SSP by implying -- or even promising -- that he would sell the company," Danaher's decision states. "I don't know how the judge came up with that conclusion," Scott said. "My son and nephew don't talk sour grapes. There's no hard feelings between us." The court concluded Scott realized Whitney would not walk away as his son, nephew and Gunderson had, and determined the only way to get rid of Whitney was to terminate his employment. stuz@newstimes.com; 860-355-7322 Gunn Memorial Library in Washington will present a program about the recently released book Connecticut Architecture: Stories of 100 Places Nov. 29 at 6:30 p.m. Christopher Wigren, architectural historian and deputy director of the Connecticut Trust for Historic Preservation, will lead the talk, visual presentation and book signing at the Wykeham Road library. Wigrens book is the first comprehensive illustrated history of Connecticuts rich and diverse architectural heritage. Connecticut boasts some of the oldest and most distinctive architecture in New England, from Colonial churches and Modernist houses to refurbished nineteenth-century factories. The states history includes landscapes of small farmsteads, country churches, urban streets, tobacco sheds, quaint maritime villages, and town greens, as well as more recent suburbs and corporate headquarters. In his guide to the states architectural heritage, Wigren introduces readers to 100 places across the state and emphasizes the importance of the built environment and its impact on our sense of place. Featuring more than 200 illustrations, the book is organized thematically. Sections include concise entries that treat notable buildings, neighborhoods, and communities, emphasizing the importance of the built environment and its impact on our sense of place. The text highlights key architectural features and trends and relates buildings to the local and regional histories they represent. There are suggestions for further reading and a helpful glossary of architectural terms. A project of the Connecticut Trust for Historic Preservation, the book reflects more than 30 years of fieldwork and research in statewide architectural survey and National Register of Historic Places programs. Books will be available to purchase and be signed, courtesy of Hickory Stick Bookstore. For more information and RSVP, call 860-868-7586 or visit www.gunnlibrary.org. The Sherman Chamber Ensemble will present Jazzing It Up concerts Nov. 24-25 in Pawling, N.Y., and Kent. Concerts will be held Nov. 24 at 4 p.m. at Christ Church on Quaker Hill, 7 Church Road, Pawling, and Nov. 25 at 4 p.m. at St. Andrews Episcopal Church, 1 North Main St. The concerts will feature Ted Rosenthal on piano and Eddie Barbash on alto sax. The musicians will be joined by accomplished New York musicians, including Thomson Kneeland (double bass), Chris Parker (drums), Susan Rotholz, (flute) and Bailen (cello) in a program that features excerpts from Rosenthals Jazz Opera, Dear Erich, commissioned by New York City Opera. Jazz-inspired renditions of works by Harold Arlen and Astor Piazolla, along with original compositions by Parker and Kneeland, will also be showcased. The combination of Rosenthal, one of the leading jazz pianists of his generation, and Barbash, an exciting, young virtuoso will have audiences jumping in their seats, said Liba Furhman, executive director of the Sherman Chamber Ensemble. The performances will be followed by a reception featuring light refreshments and a chance to meet and talk with the performers. General admission is $30. Senior and student tickets are $25. Children ages 15 and under will be admitted free with the purchase of a paid ticket. Tickets may be purchased online at www.ShermanChamberEnsemble.org or at the door. For information or reservations, call 860-355-5930. "If preventing wildfires were as easy as raking leaves, we would have done that by now, but it is a very complicated issue." Rep. Ted Lieu, D-Calif., told MSNBC on Sunday, mentioning climate change, dry weather and high winds. "I hope the president consults some experts, maybe talks to folks who actually know something about wildfires, and really stop believing these bizarre theories that he has." Sorry! This content is not available in your region New Delhi: The Congress on Sunday hit back at Prime Minister Narendra Modi after he claimed that Sitaram Kesri -- who was from a "Dalit (scheduled caste) and exploited community"-- was not allowed to complete his term as the Congress president so that Sonia Gandhi could take over the reins of the party. The Congress said Kesri was given "due respect" and that he belonged to the Other Backward Classes (OBCs) and was not a scheduled caste. Speaking at a poll rally at Mahasamund in Chhattisgarh, Modi claimed that Kesri was ousted unceremoniously, "locked in a bathroom" and "thrown out on the footpath". "The Congress had said a chaiwala became the prime minister by the grace of Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru. I challenged them (to show that) when he (Nehru) had established such a democratic and liberal system, then make someone from outside the Gandhi family the Congress president for at least five years," he said. "The country knows that Sitaram Kesri, who was from a Dalit and exploited community, was not allowed to complete his five-year term as the Congress president and was removed from the post," Modi added. "They cannot even tolerate a Dalit, exploited and backward leader as its president, who was appointed under their compulsion, for two years. Then, how can they appoint someone, who is not from the Gandhi family, for five years," he added. The Prime Minister also targeted the Gandhi family for running a remote-controlled government". "The remote was in the hands of a family, which was afraid of the BJP," he added. "Remember the days when four generations of a family ruled the country. What was the fate of the people? They only thought about the welfare of one family but never about the welfare of people. How can we trust them to fulfil the aspirations of people now," Modi said. Reacting to the allegations, Congress spokesperson Manish Tewari tweeted: Kesri was a bania OBC from Bihar and not a Dalit. However, when has the PM allowed facts or truth to stand in the way? Sitaram Kesri, a Dalit, wasnt allowed to complete term as Congress president: PM Modi in Chhattisgarh | chattisgarh elections | Hindustan Times https://t.co/ummjggSL8J - Kesri was a Bania OBC from Bihar& not a DALIT.However when has PM allowed facts or truth to stand in the way? Manish Tewari (@ManishTewari) November 18, 2018 Another Congress leader, Tariq Anwar, said Kesari had himself offered to resign from post of Congress president adding that he belonged to 'vaish' community. The PM is again wrong as Kesari ji was not a Dalit, he belonged to 'vaish' community. Kesari Ji himself offered to resign from post of Congress President if Sonia ji was ready to take over. At that time, I was Kesari ji's political advisor so I'm aware of it, Anwar told news agency ANI. PM is again wrong as Kesari ji was not a Dalit,he belonged to 'vaish' community. Kesari Ji himself offered to resign from post of Congress President if Sonia ji was ready to take over. At that time I was Sitaram Kesari's political advisor so I'm aware of it: Tariq Anwar, Congress pic.twitter.com/F7fJB7tJTo ANI (@ANI) November 18, 2018 Modi also praised the high voter turnouts in the Bastar region of Chhattisgarh in the first phase of polling on November 12. He targeted Congress chief Rahul Gandhi over farm loan waiver, an issue that has taken centre-stage in the Chhattisgarh polls. "As elections approach, the Congress plays a game of promises. But they cannot mislead the country anymore. They must answer what did they do for the welfare of our farmers when they ruled for four generations. "They are making false promises of loan waiver to the people of Chhattisgarh. The same promise was made to farmers during the Karnataka polls, but even after around a year has passed, the promise is yet to be fulfilled. "Instead, the government is issuing warrants and arresting the farmers whose debts are outstanding," he added. The campaigning for the second and final phase of Chhattisgarh Assembly elections came to an end on Sunday evening. The high-decibel political campaign was a blame game between the rival parties over several ongoing factors like sufferings of farmers, unemployment and corruption. While the Congress is seeking to oust the Raman Singh-led government in the Maoist-hit state, the BJP will fight for its survival. The saffron party won three consecutive elections in Chhattisgarh and has been ruling the state for the last 15 years. Polling for remaining 72 constituencies in 90-member assembly will take place across 19 districts on Tuesday, November 20, 2018. A total of 1,101 candidates are in the fray in the second phase of Chhattisgarh elections. In the first phase, polling was held for 18 assembly segments in the eight Naxal-hit districts of Chhattisgarh on November 12. The phase one recorded an impressive voter turnout of 76.28 per cent despite the Maoist threat. Of the 19 districts going to the polls on November 20, Gariaband, Dhamtari, Mahasamund, Kabirdham, Jashpur and Balrampur have some Naxal presence. Therefore, security has been beefed up in these sensitive regions to avoid any untoward incidents. (With agency inputs) New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday questioned the Congress for praising cow in its Madhya Pradesh assembly elections manifesto but eating beef on the streets of Kerala. A aThe Congress praises the cow in its MP polls manifesto, but slaughters a calf on the streets of Kerala and eats beef,a Modi said while addressing a rally in Madhya Pradeshas Chhindwara. #WATCH: "Madhya Pradesh Congress ke manifesto mein toh aap gai ka gaurav gaan kar rahe ho,lekin Kerala mein khule aam raste par Congress ke log gai ke bachde kaat kar ke uska maas khate hui tasvir nikal karke batate hain ki gaumaas khana humara adhikar hai,"says PM in Chhindwara pic.twitter.com/pyioS6jOZX a ANI (@ANI) November 18, 2018 Modi also said the people are atireda of the grand old partyas afalse promisesa.A A aChhindwara is tired of Congress' false promises. Making false promises is the very nature of Congress. They ruled for four generations. I challenge them to present a report card what they did in all these yearsaThey have faith in the BJP,a Madhya Pradesh is all set to go for polls on November 28. Counting of votes will take place on December 11. Speaking on Aadhaar, Modi said through the 12-digitA unique identityA number, his government curbed corruption and saved nearly Rs 90,000 crore. aWhen Rajiv Gandhi ji was the PM, he said if government released one rupee, only 15 paise could reach people. Why was it so? Who looted those 85 paise? When we came to power, through Aadhaar, we put a check on corruption and saved nearly Rs 90,000 crore,a Modi said Modi said if the Congress was planning to bring goons into power through elections, the people of the state should make their choice straight and eliminate the Congress. aA recent video has surfaced on internet in which a senior Congress leader from the state is caught saying that for winning these the elections, they're ready to take support from goons and those who don't obey law. Such a thing is absolutely unacceptable,a he said.A Addressing a poll rally in Surguja district for the second phase of Chhattisgarh elections on Friday, Modi challenged the Congress to make someone from outside the Gandhi family its chief for at least five years if it respected democracy, as he returned the Congress' barb that a 'chaiwala' could rise to power only because of democratic systems established by Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru. PM Modi also hit back at the Congress for questioning demonetisation, saying the move "still rankles" them as the money "stashed under beds and in sacks" was taken away in a single stroke.A New Delhi: The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Sunday released its fourth list of 24 candidates for the upcoming Rajasthan Assembly Elections 2018, taking the total number of declared candidates to 194. On Saturday, the Saffron party had announced the third list of eight candidates for poll-bound Rajasthan. Minister Surendra Pal Singh will contest the Karanpur seat on a BJP ticket. "Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) releases the fourth list of 24 candidates for Rajasthan Assembly Elections 2018," the news agency ANI reported along with a notification from the party. Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) releases fourth list of 24 candidates for #RajasthanAssemblyElections2018. pic.twitter.com/8pe1W0lSKn ANI (@ANI) November 18, 2018 Read | Chhattisgarh Elections: Blazing guns fall silent as campaigning for 2nd phase ends Meanwhile, miffed over being denied a BJP ticket for the upcoming elections, Ramgarh MLA Gyan Deo Ahuja on Sunday quit the party, announcing that he will contest the polls as an independent candidate. Since last Sunday, when the ruling BJP released its first list of candidates for Rajasthan Elections, several party MLAs, including a state minister, have resigned. The party has so far dropped six sitting MLAs. Former BJP MLA Ghanshyam Tiwari had won from the Sanganer seat in Jaipur in the 2013 elections. He quit the BJP in June this year over his differences with Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje and floated his own party. Read | Chhattisgarh Elections: Key takeaways of BJP, Congress manifestos in Naxal-hit state Rajasthan along with Telangana is going to polls on December 7. The counting of votes for the five poll-bound states Madhya Pradesh, Mizoram, Chhattisgarh, Rajasthan and Telangana will be held on December 11, 2018. Mumbai: While a debate is going on whether the RBI should do more to ease credit to MSMEs, banking officials said the central bank has provided special training to nearly 11,000 officers at various commercial banks on lending to micro, small and medium enterprises. This training has been provided to officers working at nearly 3,000 bank branches covering all districts in India through more than 2,000 special workshops in the last three years, the officials said. These are mostly specialised bank branches catering to the MSME sector where this multi-level training has been provided, covering branch managers, senior officers and even faculty members of staff colleges who can further pass on the training to the bank employees. Also Read | Ravi Shastri questions poor travellers tag ahead of Australia series, says why pick on India Most importantly, the training exercise was executed in consultation with the government, including with the active involvement of the MSME ministry and the RBIs objective has been to create a conducive environment to help these small entrepreneurs and companies avail easy and faster credit, officials said. The officers have also been provided special kits to help their banks extend more credit to MSMEs, while they have also been trained on behaviourial issues to deal with such borrowers with utmost care, they added. The RBIs central board will meet on Monday where the government nominees and some independent members are expected to take on Governor Urjit Patel and his team on various issues including norms for the MSME credit. Read More | Cyclone Gaja: Death toll rises to 45, solatium of Rs 10 lakh announced for keen of deceased The RBI is, however, of the view that its policies are very much in favour of easier credit to MSMEs and it has always been making efforts to make further relaxations for such borrowers, sources said. The main concern of the central bank is about some big corporates misusing the NPA relaxations for ever-greening of their loans, they said. The RBI team, comprising of the governor and his four deputies, on its central board is banking on support from a few independent directors, who are of the view that a large majority of banks, including those facing prompt corrective actions, have achieved the mandatory priority sector lending targets for micro enterprises. Also, the Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME) lending has been exempted from most of the restrictions, including those relating to the stressed assets, and several steps have been taken by the RBI to ease credit flow to this sector and to ensure their faster formalisation to bring them on board the new GST regime that will help them further in availing the loans, they said. While much has been written about differences between the RBI and the government, sources said the facts and the data show there are hardly any significant issues that are being faced by MSMEs due to policy or regulatory matters. Read More | One dead, over 400 injured in French anti-fuel tax blockade They cited several steps taken in the recent past by the RBI, in consultation with the government, for facilitating easier access and availability of credit to the MSME sector, including the Resolution of Stressed Assets-Revised Framework (RSA-RF) of February 12, 2018. This framework has been carefully calibrated to exclude loans availed by MSME units up to Rs 25 crore from its purview, which nearly covers the entire spectrum of the MSME borrowers. Besides, this remains in line with the earlier government policy for the benefit of MSMEs. The average outstanding loan size of the MSMEs being 2.7 lakh, 26 lakh and 92 lakhs respectively, almost all the MSME loans are out of the purview of the February 12 circular, while the earlier specially carved out rectification process for the MSMS sector remains in force that remains borrower-driven. The officials also pointed at inclusion of a separate sub-target of 7.5 per cent under Priority Sector Lending for the micro sector and said the target has been achieved by most banks, including those facing prompt corrective action. Now, this target has also been made mandatory for foreign banks with 20 or more branches in India. Besides, caps have been removed on loans to MSMEs to encourage banks to go beyond the earlier limits in such lending. To ensure timely availability of funds to the MSME sector, the RBI has also facilitated the setting up of Electronic Bill Factoring Exchanges in the country. These exchanges provide for swift discounting of MSME bills and help MSMEs raise funds without delay. The Non-Performing Assets norms have also been relaxed for the MSME sector to help them cope up with challenges following implementation of new reforms, officials said. To ensure formalisation of MSMEs, exposure of banks and NBFCs to the GST. For all the Latest Business News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. Mumbai: A Sub Inspector with Navi Mumbai polices Crime Branch was on Saturday booked for allegedly raping a woman constable, an official said. The complainant, who approached CBD police station Saturday, has alleged that sub inspector Amit Shelar had raped her in March last year after spiking her cold drink, the official said. The 31-year-old complainant has also told police that the accused had recorded the incident and had threatened to circulate it, the official added. She has said the accused raped her several times in places like CBD, Panvel, Kamothe and Kharghar, he informed. She was also allegedly beaten up by the accused, the official said. Also Read | Another Kashmiri civilian abducted, brutally killed by militants; twice in two days Based on her complaint, the police registered a case against Shelar under relevant sections of the IPC for rape and assault as well as under the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act. The official added that the accused had not been arrested yet. The accused and victim knew each other from 2010 when they were posted at the same police station, the official said. Agartala: The opposition CPI(M) in Tripura has alleged that 35 of its party workers, including the MLA of Kamalassagar constituency, were attacked in different parts of the Bishalgarh sub-division on Friday. CPI(M) workers Saturday took out processions in Agartala against the alleged attack on Friday. The party, in a statement issued on Friday night, alleged that the ruling BJP workers attacked their supporters, activists and leaders in different parts of the Bishalgarh sub-division, including the MLA of Kamalasagar constituency, Narayan Chowdhury. The ruling BJP said that the CPI(M)s allegation was false and baseless. Also Read | Statue of Unity's aerial view from space looks stunning, reminds India's magnanimous glory This is their propaganda model to give false statement to turn false into truth. Nothing such has happened in Bishalgarh, the BJP spokesperson in Tripura, Ashoke Sinha, said on Saturday. Our chief minister Biplab Kumar Deb has strongly directed police to be neutral and take appropriate actions against the hoodlums, irrespective of any party affiliations. The allegations are completely false and baseless, he said. According to the CPI(M)s statement a meeting was organised at a hall at the partys office in Bishalgarh, to commemorate the November Revolution. The programme was scheduled at 2 pm. CPI(M) politburo member Manik Sarkar, the former chief minister of Tripura, was the main speaker, it said. According to the statement, the BJP workers gathered in front of the venue of the meeting since 12 pm on Friday and attacked many CPI(M) workers when they were about to enter the hall to attend the programme. The BJP workers also threatened them of dire consequences if they entered the hall, the statement added. The CPI(M) statement also said that MLA Narayan Chowdhurys vehicle was stopped. The MLA and two other party workers were assaulted, it said. Read More | Mitchell Johnson taunts Virat Kohli, says he looks forward to no feisty send-offs Bijon Dhar, Tripura party unit secretary and central committe member also said that Narayan Chowdhury was attacked. He also said that Manik Sarkar, who was among those present at the meeting, was not attacked. He (Sarkar) in fact stayed back at the Bishalgarh party office for about two hours to ensure that the party members and supporters who attended the meeting reached their homes safely. A group of miscreants pelted stones at the MLAs vehicle at Rastar Matha in the evening when he was returning home. Then a few activists of CPI(M) accompanying him fled the scene in fear. But no one was injured in the incident. I also went to the residence of the MLA, but he was not at home at that time. I would meet him again, the Sub-divisional Police Officer (SDPO) of Bishalgarh, Mihir Lal Das, said. Das denied that CPI(M) workers were not allowed to enter the meeting hall at Bishalgarh on Friday. New Delhi: The All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) has released the dates for the registration and filling of the online application forms for AIIMS MBBS programmes 2019. This year onwards, the online applications would be filed in two different phases. The first step of Basic Registration for the May 2019 entrance examination will take place between November 30, 2018, to January 3, 2019. The process was earlier scheduled to start from November 15. After successful completion of the basic registration process, the aspirants will be allowed to go ahead for the final registration process. The candidates will be notified about the errors in their basic registration form and will, therefore, have to correct the same. Thereafter AIIMS will release the candidature of the applicants who can proceed for the final registration process. The formalities for the final registration process will continue till March 2019. AIIMS MBBS 2019 entrance exam will be conducted on May 25 and 26, 2019 across India. The entrance exam for admission to MBBS courses at AIIMS Delhi and 14 other AIIMS will take place in two shifts - 9 am to 12.30 pm and 3 pm to 6.30 pm. Admit cards for the exam will be released on May 15, 2019. Read | Uttar Pradesh Police Recruitment 2018: 49,568 vacancies released, apply online from November 19 AIIMS MBBS 2019 Eligibility Criteria As per the official notification, released on aiimsexams.org students who are appearing for their Class 12th Board Examinations in February, March 2019 or candidates who have already qualified their 10+2 exam are eligible to fill the basic registration form. Candidates ought to have studied English, Physics, Biology and Chemistry in their qualifying examinations. For admissions to the AIIMS, students are required to qualify the AIIMS MBBS 2019 examination as well as score a minimum aggregate of 60% marks in English, Physics, Chemistry and Biology in their Class 12th board exam. The requisite percentage for reserved category candidates is 50% in their 10+2 in the subjects mentioned above. Read | Bihar Board BSEB Class 10th,12th exam dates announced. Know Matric, Inter 2019 schedule at bihar.gov.in AIIMS MBBS 2019 Important Dates: -Checking the Status (Accepted & Not Accepted) of Basic Registration January 7, 2019 -Correction window for applications with errors: January 8, 2019 January 18, 2019 -Upload of Final Status (Accepted & Rejected) of Basic Registration: January 22, 2019 -Release of Prospectus: January 29, 2019 -Fees Payment Code Generation (Final Registration): January 29, 2019 February 17, 2019 -Payment of fees and city choice: February 21, 2019 March 12, 2019 Read | India's job outlook drops 3% to 92% in H2 of FY19: Report For more updates regarding the AIIMS MBBS 2019 examination students are advised to visit the official website of AIIMS which is aiimsexams.org. New Delhi: After waiting for what felt like an eternity, Deepika Padukone and Ranveer Singh finally shared their wedding pictures on various social media platforms. The actors made their fans and friends go gaga over the adorable pictures of them tying the knot. The Bajirao Mastani stars Ranveer and Deepika got hitched on November 14 and 15 at Villa del Balbianello, Lake Como, Italy. The couple was married twice a in traditional Konkani style and later in traditional Sindhi style. The internet was taken by storm since Ranveer and Deepika posted their much-anticipated nuptials pictures but only to leaveA DeepVeer fans asking for more.A After almost a week-long wedding festivities, today is the day that the newlyweds are expected to return to the bay.A The much-loved couple is all set to return to Mumbai along with their family members including Ranveer's parents Anju Bhavnani and Jagjit Singh Bhavnani and their sisters Anisha Padukone and Ritika Bhavnani. Deepika's parents Ujjala Padukone and Prakash Padukone also accompany their daughter. A photograph started doing rounds on the internet wherein it was claimed that the couple was snapped at the Milan airport. Both Ranveer and Deepika can be seen in the picture. While Ranveer was seen at the luggage counter, Deepika was seen far behind in the background. Hereas the picture for you to see: The B-town's Viral couple was again spotted at the Mumbai airport in the morning today where the newlyweds were showered with love from their fans. Both the actors were spotted wearing ethnic attires. What caught our eyes was Deepee'sA mangalsutra around her neck! The duo was spotted donning similar round frame sunglasses at the airport. Take a look at their picture here: Ranveer's house is all decorated with dazzling lights to welcome the new 'bahurani' in the house.A While the entrance of the house was covered in a string of golden lights, branches of trees in the area were also seen lit up. Check out the video here: A The fairytale wedding was kept private and not even a single image was leaked until the couple themselves shared it on their social media accounts. But, when the duo finally shared the pictures, one thing which grabbed eyeballs the most was Deepikaas engagement ring. As per a report, Deepikaas ring costs between Rs 1.3 crore-2.7 crores which is way more than Anushka Sharmaas ring which costs Rs 1 crore. A The celebrity couple was in a relationship since last six years but never officially accepted the fact of being together before taking the final plunge this week! For all the Latest Entertainment News, Bollywood News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. New Delhi: Neha Dhupia is a mommy now! Celebrity couple Neha Dhupia and Angad Bedi welcomed their first child - a baby girl - on Sunday morning. Ever since Neha Dhupia got hitched to actor Angad Bedi and her pregnancy reports started doing rounds, the couple has been on media radar.A Neha delivered the baby around 11 am at Women's Hospital, Khar, according to our source. Neha Dhupia and Angad Bedi tied the holy knot in an extremely intimate wedding in Delhi. After much speculations in the air, Angad has finally confirmed that it was Nehaas pregnancy that led the couple to finally tie the knot after several years of relationship. Earlier in August, the pregnancy announcement was made like this: "Here's to new beginnings," Neha had written in the post while Angad added: "Turns out this rumour is true!" A lot of secrets came out in the open as Neha invited husband Angad on her radio chat show, No Filter Neha. True to the theme of the show, the host made her guest spill the beans on his sudden marriage and past relationships only to find herself at the centre of the conversation.A Angad revealed how he landed with his parents at Neha Dhupiaas house to break the news of his then girlfriendas pregnancy and propose marriage. In his words, the actor and his family had received a warm welcome at her house and it was only after gorging on gulab jamuns, dosa, tea and beer that he finally decided to break the news. He spoke about how this was followed by silence and then a huge showdown as his in-laws blasted him for creating such a situation. Nehaas mother went mad upon hearing the news and even suffered from nose bleeding amid the outburst. He also said that when he broke the news to her parents, they gave him a lot of "jhaad". Angad Bedi and Neha Dhupia are always seen attended parties together with their friends and treating their fans with drool-worthy photos. On the work front, Neha Dhupia is currently hosting the third season of her talk show No Filter Neha and was last seen on big screen in Pradeep Sarkar's 'Helicopter Eela' along with Kajol. Angad Bedi will next be seen in the film The Zoya Factor alongside Sonam Kapoor and Dulquer Salmaan. For all the Latest Entertainment News, Bollywood News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. 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. New Delhi: Actor Salman Khan, who was shooting for Ali Abbas Zafar's Bharat, suffered an injury on the sets while filming a sequence. Though the reason of the injury is still unknown, the Tiger Zinda Hai actor decided to leave the shoot midway.A The actor was in Punjab when he received an injury after which he decided to fly back to Mumbai for the treatment. The shooting of Bharat started almost three months ago. As per reports, Bharat is said to be in its last stage of shooting.A Standing by his tough guy image, after recuperating from the injuries, Salman flew back to Punjab to resume the shoot on Saturday.A Recently, the film's producer and Salman's brother-in-law, Atul Agnihotri, took to his Instagram handle and shared a video in which the 52-year-old actor is seen being welcomed back by his fans as he heads out for a shopping trip Ludhiana city. Last week, Salman shared the first look from his upcoming flick that had Salman and Katrina on a set created to look alike Wagah Border. The stars headed to Ludhiana to shoot for the next and the final schedule of the film. The team also shot few sequences in Chandigarh where the Wagah border set was created. Bharat is based on the 2014 South Korean drama Ode to My Father. The film also features Nora Fatehi, Tabu and Jackie Shroff in pivotal roles with Varun Dhawan in a cameo. It is slated for release next year. For all the Latest Entertainment News, Bollywood News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. New Delhi: Hours after three people were killed and at least 20 injured when two motorcycle-borne miscreants hurled a grenade at a religious congregation of more than 200 devotees inside a Nirankari Bhawan at Adliwal village near Amritsar's Rajasansi area on Sunday, Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh suspected Pakistan's ISI-backed Khalistani or Kashmiri militants' role in the attack. The possibility of involvement of ISI-backed Khalistani or Kashmiri terror groups could not be ruled out (in the Amritsar terror attack)," said Amarinder Singh in an official statement, adding the forensic teams have been rushed to the spot and "all angles were being investigated". Singh said his government was on the top of things" and would "get to the bottom of the incident" soon and ensure that the culprits are to justice. Nobody will be allowed to get away with trying to disturb the peace and harmony of the state, he said. Singh added that preliminary investigations have revealed that two men, one of them with a flowing beard and both with their faces covered, forced their entry into the hall, brandishing a pistol. Safety valve of the grenade found # The chief minister said the attackers detained the sewadar, hurled the grenade into the prayer room and fled on a motorcycle on which they had come. # Singh added that the safety valve of the grenade too has been found and was being examined. Counting it as a 'terror act' # Punjab DGP Suresh Arora said the police were counting the attack as a terror act. We will find out other details in the further investigation. Preacher among 3 killed # Main preacher Sukhdev Kumar was among the three persons killed in a grenade attack on a religious congregation. # The grenade was hurled towards the stage where Kumar was holding the congregation. Although the people who attended the congregation said the preacher may have been the target of the assailants as the grenade was thrown near the dais where he was addressing the gathering, police dismissed the suggestion. SAD, AAP attack Congress govt over Amritsar attack # The SAD and the AAP attacked the Congress-led Punjab government over the attack in Amritsar and alleged that there was a "complete breakdown" of the law and order in the state. # Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) chief Sukhbir Singh Badal claimed that the law and order situation in Punjab had "deteriorated" immediately after the Congress came to power. The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) also questioned the law and order situation in the state. The situation has gone from "bad to worse" and the police and other agencies have "failed", AAP leaders Bhagwant Mann, Sadhu Singh, Harpal Singh Cheema and Budhram claimed in a statement. History of violence # Punjab has witnessed severe pro-Khalistan militancy in the 1980s and early 1990s, but it faced few terror attacks in recent years, barring the one in Pathankot over two years back. # This was the first attempt, in a long time, aimed at disturbing the peace in the state through indiscriminate killings, said the chief minister. # Singh said 15 terror modules were busted in the past 18 months, with indications of Kashmiri terror links too in some instances. (With PTI inputs) For all the Latest India News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. New Delhi: The Opposition Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) on Sunday termed the Amritsar Nirankari Bhawan attack a complete failure of law and order in the Amarinder Singh-led Congress government. Expressing his condolences, SAD leader Manjinder S Sirsa said, I am shocked at the laxity of Amarinder Singhs govt! This is a complete failure of law & order in Congress rule. At least three people were killed and 10 others sustained serious injuries after two suspected bike-borne terrorists hurled hand grenades at Nirankari Bhawan in Amritsars Rajasansi village. The blast occurred at a congregation of the Sant Nirankari a spiritual organisation. Around 250 people were present inside the building where suspected terrorists hurled hand grenades. Also Read | Amritsar Nirankari Bhawan Attack Updates: 3 dead, 10 injured in a suspected terror strike Out of 250 people who were present in the religious congregation, 3 dead & 15-20 injured. As per initial reports, 2 people had come over here who lobbed a grenade here, IG (Border) Surinder Pal Singh Parmar told reporters at the spot. Following the attack, security has been increased outside Nirankari Ashram in Delhi. Security agencies have sounded a high alert in Punjab and neighbouring states. All the border areas have been sealed and extra police force deployed at the entry points. Meanwhile, Punjab Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh announced the ex-gratia of Rs 5 lakh each for the kin of deceased and free treatment for injured in all the government and private hospitals. My heart goes out to victims of the Amritsar bomb blast & their families. My govt will give Rs 5 lakh each to the kin of the dead and free treatment to injured. Have asked district administration to extend all help, Singh tweeted. The chief minister urged people to remain calm and maintain peace. He also assured them that will not let the forces of terror destroy the hard-earned peace. I appeal to the people of Punjab to maintain peace in wake of Amritsar bomb blast. I urge them not to panic and to remain calm. We will not let the forces of terror destroy our hard-earned peace, the CM added. Also Read | Another Kashmiri youth abducted by militants, seventh in four days Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh termed the grenade attack a reprehensible act of violence and assured strongest possible action against the perpetrators. Spoke to the Chief Minister of Punjab, Amarinder ji who has apprised me of the situation in the wake of the grenade attack in Amritsar. Strongest possible action will be taken against the perpetrators of this crime, Singh wrote on Twitter. For all the Latest India News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. New Delhi : At least three people were killed and 20 others sustained serious injuries after two suspected terrorists hurled hand grenades at Nirankari Bhawan in Punjab's Amritsar. The attackers came on a bike and fled the scene after hurling grenades at the Nirankari Bhawan. "Three people are dead and 20 injured in the blast at Nirankari Bhawan in Amritsar's Rajasansi village," Punjab DGP Suresh Arora was quoted as saying by ANI. Following the attack, security has been increased outside Nirankari Ashram in Delhi. Security agencies have sounded a high alert in the national capital and Punjab. However, it was not immediately confirmed if the police were treating the incident as a terrorist attack. Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh expressed his condolences and condemned the grenade attack at Nirankari Bhawan in Amritsar and announced ex-gratia of Rs 5 lakh each for the kin of deceased. The chief minister has also directed Punjab home secretary and DGP intelligence and law to rush the spot. The attack comes days after reports of Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) terrorist Zakir Moosas presence in Amritsar. Punjab Police had Thursday claimed that they have received intelligence inputs that four JeM terrorists, including Zakir Moosa, have infiltrated in Punjab through Ferozpur. Amritsar Nirankari Bhawan Attack Highlights: 22:53 (IST) Facebook Twitter Whats app Linked In NIA reaches the blast site: A three-member team of National Investigation Agency (NIA) reached the blast site in Amritsar. Punjab: Three member team of National Investigation Agency (NIA) reached the blast site in Amritsar. The blast that took place earlier in the day claimed three lives. pic.twitter.com/iBI0TLV84t ANI (@ANI) November 18, 2018 21:14 (IST) Facebook Twitter Whats app Linked In Khalistani or IS group involved?: "The way two men came and hurled grenade does indicate it could be a terror attack. As per our assessment, Khalistani terror groups or IS group could have carried out the attack. Further investigation will determine it," Suresh Arora, DGP Punjab 19:40 (IST) Facebook Twitter Whats app Linked In NIA team in Amritsar: A three-member team of the National Investigation Agency (NIA) to reach the blast site in Amritsar on Sunday. 17:59 (IST) Facebook Twitter Whats app Linked In Counting it as a 'terror act': Three dead and 20 injured in the blast. We are counting it as a terror act. We will find out other details in the further investigation: Punjab DGP Suresh Arora on the blast in Amritsar district. Three dead & twenty injured in the blast. We are counting it as a terror act. We will find out other details in the further investigation: Punjab DGP Suresh Arora on the blast in Amritsar district. #Punjab pic.twitter.com/ItYksYFibE ANI (@ANI) November 18, 2018 15:44 (IST) Facebook Twitter Whats app Linked In Spoke to the Punjab CM Captain Amarinder Singh ji who has apprised me of the situation in the wake of grenade attack in Amritsar. Strongest possible action will be taken against the perpetrators of this crime, says the Home Minister Spoke to the Punjab CM Captain Amarinder Singh ji who has apprised me of the situation in the wake of grenade attack in Amritsar. Strongest possible action will be taken against the perpetrators of this crime: Home Minister Rajnath Singh https://t.co/RW1BiV0sYA ANI (@ANI) November 18, 2018 15:42 (IST) Facebook Twitter Whats app Linked In Deeply anguished by death of innocent people in a grenade attack in Amritsar in Punjab today. It's a reprehensible act of violence. My condolences to the families who have lost their loved ones in this attack&prayers for speedy recovery of the injured: Home Minister Rajnath Singh 14:34 (IST) Facebook Twitter Whats app Linked In Visuals from the hospital where those injured have been shifted after the blast at Nirankari Bhawan in Amritsar district, earlier today. Visuals from the hospital where those injured have been shifted after the blast at Nirankari Bhawan in Amritsar district, earlier today. #Punjab pic.twitter.com/NpumSbHq4e ANI (@ANI) November 18, 2018 14:29 (IST) Facebook Twitter Whats app Linked In Punjab CM Amarinder Singh condemns Amritsar Attack, announces ex-gratia of Rs 5 lakh for the kin of deceased and free treatment for the injured. Strongly condemn the bomb blast at Nirankari Bhawan in Amritsar. Have asked Home Secy and @PunjabPoliceInd DGP, DGP Intelligence and DGP Law & Order to rush to the spot to investigate. Capt.Amarinder Singh (@capt_amarinder) November 18, 2018 14:26 (IST) Facebook Twitter Whats app Linked In Akali Dal blames Amarinder Singh government for Amritsar attack: Heartfelt condolences with families of people who lost their lives and are injured in todays attack at #NirankariBhawan in Amritsar. I am shocked at the laxity of Amarinder Singhs govt! This is a complete failure of law & order in Congress rule: Manjinder S Sirsa 14:15 (IST) Facebook Twitter Whats app Linked In Following the Amritsar terror attack, police have sealed all the borders of Noida. Police presence and checking at entry points of the city have also been increased. 14:02 (IST) Facebook Twitter Whats app Linked In Out of 250 people who were present in the religious congregation, 3 dead & 15-20 injured. As per initial reports, 2 people had come over here who knocked a grenade here: IG (Border) Surinder Pal Singh Parmar Out of 250 people who were present in the religious congregation, 3 dead & 15-20 injured. As per initial reports, 2 people had come over here who knocked a grenade here: IG (Border) Surinder Pal Singh Parmar on the blast at Nirankari Bhawan in Amritsar. #Punjab pic.twitter.com/9oKKcQ4FmE ANI (@ANI) November 18, 2018 14:01 (IST) Facebook Twitter Whats app Linked In Punjab border sealed: After the attack, a high alert has been issued in the region and also in Noida. The police have also sealed Punjab border with Rajasthan. 14:03 (IST) Facebook Twitter Whats app Linked In Around 250 people were inside the building: According to police, the number of casualties could have been much more as around 250 people were present inside the building at the time of the blast. 13:41 (IST) Facebook Twitter Whats app Linked In Punjab Congress Chief expresses condolences: My condolences are with families of those who lost lives in this incident. It is an attempt to disturb peace in Punjab. I believe all the security agencies should stay alert and coordinate with each other to maintain peace: Sunil Jakhar, Punjab Congress Chief on Amritsar blast 13:41 (IST) Facebook Twitter Whats app Linked In High Alert in Delhi, Punjab: Following the attack, security has been tightened outside the Nirankari Ashram in Delhi. A high alert has also been sounded in the national capital and Punjab. 13:37 (IST) Facebook Twitter Whats app Linked In #Amritsar Blast Update: Three people killed, over 10 injured, says IG (Border) Surinder Pal Singh Parmar. For all the Latest India News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. New Delhi: Unknown gunmen on Sunday abducted another young man from Memander area of Jammu and Kashmirs Shopian district. This comes a day after second Kashmiri teenager was killed by militants. According to reports the youth has been identified as Suhail Ahmad Ganie Son of Shiraz Ahmad. Another Kashmiri youth abducted by militants from Shopian, seventh such incident in last four days. pic.twitter.com/d55WiLVhff News Nation (@NewsNationTV) November 18, 2018 ALSO READ | Sabarirmala Row: BJP leader sent to 14-day judicial custody, party workers protest This was the seventh such incident in the last four days. On Saturday, militants had abducted and brutally killed a 19-year-old man, identified as Huzaif Ashraf, in South Kashmir's Shopian. Ashraf's throat-slit body was found from an orchard area in Hermain village of the south Kashmir district. A baker by profession, Ashraf was a resident of Manzgam area of the neighbouring Kulgam district. On Thursday, a 17-year-old youth Nadeem Manzoor, a resident of Safanagri area was abducted from a village in Shopian and killed by militants in South Kashmirs Pulwama district. His bullet-riddled body was found in Pulwamas Niklora village. Earlier in the day, two militants were gunned down in an encounter in Jammu and Kashmir's Shopian district. The gunfight broke out in Rebban area, where security forces had suspected the presence of militants. Based on a credible input about the presence of terrorists, a cordon and search operation was launched by police and security forces at the strike of dawn today in Rebban area of Zainapora in District Shopian, Kashmir police said. ALSO READ | Telangana man shot in US by minor boy in carjacking incident As search operation was going on, search party was fired upon by the hiding terrorists. The fire was retaliated leading to an encounter. In the ensuing encounter, two terrorists were killed, the police said. For all the Latest India News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. New Delhi: The Maharashtra government said on Sunday that independent reservation will be given to the Maratha community in government jobs and educational institutions, months after protests across the state. "We received Backward Class Commission report with three recommendations. Independent reservation will be given to Maratha community in SEBC. We've accepted the recommendations and constituted a Cabinet sub-committee to take statutory steps for implementing them," said Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis. On Thursday, the Maharashtra State Backward Class Commission submitted its report on the social and economic conditions of the Marathas, with a government source saying that it has favoured quota for the community. The commission had handed over the report to Maharashtra chief secretary DK Jain. According to a government source, the report has made favourable recommendations on the Maratha communitys demand of reservation in government jobs and educational institutions without tampering with the existing quota for the OBCs. The annoucement came a day after Maharashtra Water ResourcesMinister Girish Mahajan said that the Maratha community's demand of quota in government jobs and educational institutions has been "almost fulfilled". Mahajan met activists of the Maratha Kranti Morcha(MKM) at Azad Maidan in Mumbai on Sunday, appealing them to call off their hunger strike over various demands of the community. "The main demand of quota is almost fulfilled...We have taken decisions, but there is a need to expedite implementation...We will hold meeting in two-three days. We will take positive steps," Mahajan told reporters later. In July this year, the government had announced 16% 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% reservation for the Marathas and five% quota for the Muslim community through an ordinance, which was stayed by the Bombay high court. State Congress chief Ashok Chavan said his party would extend cooperation to the government on the quota issue. In August, thousands of protesters had hit the streets of Maharashtra demanding reservations in jobs and education. Protests had turned violent in Pune and Aurangabad, while demonstrations took place in Mumbai and Thane. (With PTI inputs) New Delhi: Two militants were gunned down in an encounter in Jammu and Kashmir's Shopian district on Sunday, according to news agency ANI. The gunfight broke out earlier today in Rebban area, where security forces had suspected presence of militants. However, identities of the killed militants are yet to be ascertained. ALSO READ | RCEP Deal: Is India still prepared to hang on with multi-nation free trade agreement? Based on a credible input about the presence of terrorists, a cordon and search operation was launched by police and security forces at the strike of dawn today in Rebban area of Zainapora in District Shopian, Kashmir police said. As search operation was going on, search party was fired upon by the hiding terrorists. The fire was retaliated leading to an encounter. In the ensuing encounter, two terrorists were killed, the police said. As search operation was going on, search party was fired upon by the hiding terrorists. The fire was retaliated leading to an encounter. In the ensuing encounter, 2 terrorists were killed&bodies were retrieved from site of encounter. Identities are being ascertained: J&K Police ANI (@ANI) November 18, 2018 Militants on Saturday abducted and brutally killed a 19-year-old man, identified Huzaif Ashraf, in Kashmir's Shopian, the police said. This incident came less than 48 hours after a 17-year-old youth was abducted from a village in Shopian and killed by militants in South Kashmirs Pulwama district on Thursday night. Police said that the youths bullet-riddled body was found in Pulwamas Niklora village. ALSO READ | Bhima-Koregaon violence case: Activist Varavara Rao arrested by Maharashtra Police "Terrorists Saturday killed a civilian in a brutal act of terror in Shopian district after he was kidnapped earlier in the day from Saidpora area," a police official said. The police Ashraf's throat-slit body was found from an orchard area in Hermain village of the south Kashmir district. A baker by profession, Ashraf was a resident of Manzgam area of the neighbouring Kulgam district. For all the Latest India News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. New Delhi : Kerala Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) General Secretary K Surendran, who was arrested by police while on his way to Sabarimala Temple, has been remanded to 14-day judicial custody by a magistrate court on Sunday. On Saturday night, the BJP leader was taken into preventive custody when he was heading towards the hill-top shrine of Lord Ayyappa at Sabarimala. He was asked not to proceed towards the Sabarimala Temple by Superintendent of Police Yatish Chandra. The BJP leader, however, didnt pay heed and taken into custody along with others and brought to Chittar Police Station. Earlier in the day, the police took him to Pathanamthitta district hospital for a medical checkup and then produced before the Pathanamthitta magistrate at his residence. The magistrate granted police 14-day custody of Surendran, who was charged with non-bailable offences under section 353 and 34 of the Indian Penal code. Also Read | Sabarimala Protest: Trupti Desai slams Ayyappa devotees for indulging in hooliganism, says will come back Following the arrest of the BJP leader, party workers had gathered outside the Chittar Police Station. BJP workers had also held protests in front of the state secretariat at Thiruvananthapuram. The saffron party announced a protest day Sunday. Kerala had observed a dawn to dusk hartal against the arrest of Hindu Aikya Vedi president PK Sasikala on Saturday. She was also arrested as she tried to proceed to the Lord Ayappa Temple at Sabarimala. The famous Sabarimala Temple had opened for the two-month long pilgrim season on November 16. It was the third time the temple opened after the Supreme Court verdict allowing entry of women of the menstrual age. Several right-wing groups, including the BJP, has been openly defying the Supreme Court order to allow entry of the women of all ages, citing centuries-old traditions. 46-year-old woman en route to Sabarimala sent back Meanwhile, a 46-year-old woman, who was heading towards the Lord Ayyappa shrine at Sabarimala, was sent back by protesters. The woman had also made a similar attempt to visit the temple when it was opened last month. Also Read | Supreme Court to review Sabarimala verdict in open court on January 22 Mary Sweety, a resident of Kazhakootam in Thiruvananthapuram, was onboard a Kerala roadways bus when police stopped her. Soon the protesters, who called themselves Ayyappa devotees, gathered in front of the bus and asked her to leave. So far, no woman of the earlier banned age group had been allowed to visit the Sabarimala Temple. Lakhs of devotees, including over 500 women of the previously banned age-group, have registered themselves to visit the temple during the two-month long pilgrim season. For all the Latest India News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. Suva (Fiji): Former Fiji military strongman Josaia Voreqe Bainimarama, known commonly as Frank Bainimarama, survived declining support for his FijiFirst party to remain in power on Sunday, fending off a strong challenge from rival coup leader Sitiveni Rabuka. The Fiji election result, confirmed four days after the island nation went to the polls for only the second time since Frank Bainimarama seized power in 2006, gave FijiFirst a three-seat majority in parliament. Bainimarama was not in Fiji to hear the final result but told Fiji Broadcasting Corporation from New Zealand, where he has been attending his brothers funeral, that he was proud to become your prime minister once again. Also Read | Taimur has the cutest nickname for sister Sara Ali Khan! Can you guess it? FijiFirst took 50.02 per cent of the vote, enough to claim 27 seats, while Rabukas SODELPA party with 39.85 per cent and the National Federation Party with 7.38 per cent got 24 seats between them in the 51-seat parliament. Support for FijiFirst had dived from 59.17 per cent in 2014 when Bainimarama first went to the polls following eight years of political reforms after he overthrew the previous government of then prime minister Laisenia Qarase. Rabuka, who led two military coups in 1987 before later being democratically elected prime minister, saw SODELPAs share of the vote rise from 21.18 per cent four years ago. In a preliminary report, a multinational observer group said it was confident that Fijian voters were able to exercise their right to vote freely. The report was prepared Friday before a small number to voters were allowed to cast a late ballot after torrential rain forced the closure of some polling stations on Wednesday. It assessed the electoral processes as transparent and credible and that the election was on track to reflect the will of the voters. Read More | Bhima-Koregaon Violence: Activist Varavara Rao sent to police custody till November 26 by Pune Court Bainimarama, 64, led a bloodless coup 12 years ago vowing to end the instability that saw four governments toppled between 1987 and 2006. For eight years he led a military regime that ruled by decree as he reshaped the political landscape. Under his watch, the island nation of 920,000 has enjoyed sustained growth in its tourism-reliant economy. Supporters say he has helped heal racial divisions by introducing equal rights for Indian-Fijians, a sizeable minority brought in to work on sugar plantations during British colonial rule. He has also made Fijis 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. 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. For all the Latest World News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. New Delhi: Pope Francis on Sunday railed against the prevalent social inequality and lamented that the wealthy few or din of the rich few drowning out the voice of the needy, as he marked the second annual World Day of the Poor at the Vatican City. At a liturgy attended by about 6,000 homeless and poor people from Rome and surrounding areas at St. Peters Basilica, the Catholic Church head noted that injustice is the perverse root of poverty. Also Read | Taimur has the cutest nickname for sister Sara Ali Khan! Can you guess it? In his homily, Francis said The cry of the poor daily becomes stronger but everyday heard less, drowned out by the din of the rich few, who grow ever fewer and more rich." Let us ask for the grace to hear the cry of all those tossed by the waves of life, the pontiff said. It is the cry of all those forced to flee their homes and native land for an uncertain future. It is the cry of entire peoples, deprived even of the great natural resources at their disposal... while the wealthy few feast on what, in justice, belongs to all," the pope said. Read More | The Quiet Space: Melting in the softness of Cosmos Championing the cause of the poor, Pope Francis has urged all men and women of goodwill to ask for the grace to hear the cry of all those tossed by the waves of life- the cry of the poor. Later, Pope Francis sat down with 1,500 destitute people and a group of volunteers for a lunch of lasagna, chicken, mashed potatoes and tiramisu in a Vatican auditorium. (With inputs from agencies) For all the Latest World News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. New Delhi: Flash floods and landslides caused by heavy rains wreak havoc in central Vietnams Khanh Hoa province, killing at least 12 people, an official said on Sunday. Heavy rains flooded many streets in Nha Trang city of central Khanh Hoa province due to prolonged rains as tropical depression Toraji blew in from the South China Sea, triggering landslides that wiped out houses and destroyed a small reservoir, the official said. At least a dozen people have been killed so far while a search was ongoing for several others, AFP quoted official from the provincial disaster office. Also Read | Uttarakhand: 12 killed, 13 injured as bus rolls down gorge near Damta We have mobilised hundreds of army troops to help people restore lives and clean up damaged roads, the official said. According to official report, the main highway linking north and south Vietnam were temporarily cut-off and some railway routes were interrupted, while main streets heading to the Cam Ranh international airport were inundated by flood water causing traffic congestion. Moreover, images on state media showed destroyed houses buried under debris and vehicles submerged in floods. Panicked residents were reported to have run for safety from their homes as landslides rumbled down nearby mountains. We ran away after hearing the huge sound of fallen rocks... When we returned a few hours later, all our houses were destroyed, locals told the reporters. Read More | Deepika Ranveer Wedding: The newlyweds are back in town, pictures go VIRAL! Khanh Hoa province, which lies along the coastline of south-central Vietnam, is mostly mountainous. With more than 200 islands of various sizes, Khanh Hoa Sea in the province is considered to be the deepest sea in the country with a coastline spanning over a length of 200 km. It may also be recalled that Khanh Hoa was ravaged by typhoon Damrey last year, which killed 27 people. In 2017, 389 people were reported dead in natural disasters, causing damage worth $2.6 billion, according to official figures. (With PTI inputs) For all the Latest World News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. New Delhi: The US State Department Saturday refuted all the reports claiming that the investigating agency has reached any conclusion regarding Jamal Khashoggis death, according to the news agency ANI. US President Donald Trump said, "Its a horrible thing that took place, the killing of a journalist. Well be having a very full report over the next two days, probably Monday or Tuesday," he said. ALSO READ | RCEP Deal: Is India still prepared to hang on with multi-nation free trade agreement? There remain numerous unanswered questions with respect to murder of Mr Khashoggi. The State Department will continue to see all relevant facts, said spokesperson of the US State Department Heather Nauert in a statement. Earlier, the Washington Post reported that the US Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) concluded that the assassination of journalist Jamal Khashoggi was ordered by Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman According to the report, citing people close to the matter, 15 Saudi agents flew on government aircraft to Istanbul and assassinated Khashoggi in the Saudi consulate. The CIA findings came a day after a Saudi prosecutor cleared the powerful Prince of his involvement in the brutal murder of Khashoggi a Washington Post columnist. The CIA investigated multiple intelligence inputs and a phone call between the Saudi Crown Princes brother the Saudi ambassador to the United States and Khashoggi. Princes brother had assured Khashoggi of safety and directed him to visit the Istanbul consulate to collect the documents he needed for his marriage. ALSO READ | Another Kashmiri civilian abducted, brutally killed by militants; twice in two days The CIA claimed that the ambassador made the phone call on directions of his brother. However, it was not yet clear if the ambassador was also aware of the assassination plan. Jamal Khashoggi, a US resident, was murdered in Saudi Arabias consulate in Istanbul on October 2 and the crown prince has been accused of orchestrating the killing, which has strained the decades-old alliance between Washington and Riyadh. For all the Latest World News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. It was a hectic spring and summer at 1st Alliance Lending. The East Hartford-based mortgage loan originator, operating in 46 states, had gained $10 million in state incentives to expand from 132 people to 300, back in 2016 and 2017. That project was underway a few months ago as 1st Alliance received zoning approvals for renovation of a vacant building into a call center in the heart of Putnam, in the northeast corner of Connecticut. Employment was up to 175 but would soon drop sharply. Around the same time, in June, the state Department of Banking dropped a bombshell. They notified us that they are going to start an enforcement action based on unlicensed personnel performing licensed activities, said John DiIorio, the 1st Alliance founder and CEO. Regulators, after an unannounced visit in May, followed by surprise, unscheduled interviews with rank-and-file employees, accused the firm of having call center operators acting as mortgage originators. Apparently though the charges are not clear theyre accused of negotiating or offering terms of home loans, which requires a license. The department later proposed a consent order with a $250,000 fine, admission of wrongdoing and other terms DiIorio said he would not accept, documents provided by the company show. DiIorio and his lawyers including Ross H. Garber, former chief counsel in the governors office, who has represented former Gov. John G. Rowland and governors in three other states insist 1st Alliance is following federal and state laws on what non-licensed employees can do in firms that originate home mortgage loans. The company says no other state many of which have audited 1st Alliance interprets the law the way Connecticut is attempting. Documents suggest Connecticut tried to recruit Maryland to join in this case, and that state declined. The Department of Banking wont confirm or deny the investigation, but documents show its ongoing. DiIorio says 1st Alliance faces a deadline of this Tuesday to show it didnt break the rules. Matt Smith, a department spokesman, said without referring to this case that Connecticut has not changed the way it interprets or enforces the 2009 law on licensed mortgage originators. Since the summer, 1st Alliance has eliminated 75 jobs and nixed its expansion plans. With regulators unable to talk about the case, we cant reach a conclusion that the Department of Banking has made a wrongful victim of DiIorio and his employees, nor that 1st Alliance broke the law. Still, the case bears watching across Connecticut a state thats widely blamed for overzealous regulation by business groups and many political leaders, especially Republicans. Its a rare, inside glimpse at a financial company under attack from regulators 10 years after banking reforms tightened the laws in the hope of preventing another housing meltdown like we saw in the Great Recession. No state deal Even as DiIorio worked to respond to the states accusations, 1st Alliance eliminated 40 jobs in July as the mortgage business softened, with rates rising and the refinancing boom over. More recently, in October, the company eliminated about 35 more jobs this time as a direct result of the state action, he said. That brings the total to 98, down from 175 just a few months ago. The firm services about $600 million in mortgages. DiIorio (the third letter is a capital i, not a lower-case L) says 1st Alliance, founded in 2005, has been audited hundreds of times. In this case, he insists, rogue regulators are not following state law or policy. Over the last few weeks, 1st Alliance unwound its deal with the state Department of Economic and Community Development, returned most of the money the firm borrowed and arranged to pay the rest back. On top of loans that could have totaled $6 million, up to $4 million in urban reinvestment tax credits were tied to the Putnam property rehabilitation, which not now moving forward. The expansion is dead, its not happening, DiIorio said, because of the expense and focus required to respond to the allegations. He added that despite the softening of the market that required a cutback over the summer, it was the state accusations, not business conditions, that led him to scrap the expansion because of the thousands of dollars per worker of extra costs it could mean. Besides, the firm has extensive experience as a national leader in refinancing distressed mortgages so hes confident it would be able to grow in an economic decline. We have a very special expertise, he said. A difficult economy bodes well for 1st Alliance. Feeling unwelcome To hear DiIorio and his lawyers talk about the case, its not just the allegations that rankle; its the way the state has gone about enforcement starting with a highly unusual surprise audit in the first week of May. Their behavior while they were here was very atypical, DiIorio said. We have never had a surprise audit here, never. Soon after, state regulators returned to the 13th floor offices for a scheduled meeting with executives, he said. Instead, they insisted on talking on the spot with call center employees, some of whom had worked at the firm for less than a month. About a month later, in mid-June, the department announced it was preparing an enforcement action which still hasnt come. The two sides have gone back-and-forth over a possible resolution but documents suggest DiIorio and his lawyers and executives have been unable to get a meeting with Banking Commissioner Jorge L. Perez for a full airing of the accusations. DiIorio describes himself as a lifelong Democrat who supports regulation. The company had a 2008 consent order with the state Department of Banking related to about a half-dozen unlicensed people doing work improperly, leading to a $6,000 voluntary contribution to an industry organization. It has also had a federal stipulation that the company described as technical, and a small handful of other regulatory issues in Texas and New York most, DiIorio said, self-reported. This, he said, is different because the state is interpreting the law incorrectly to mean his call center employees cant take basic information and discuss mortgage rates generally. He said officials at the state Department of Economic and Community Development believe the banking department is acting too aggressively. Catherine Smith, the DECD commissioner, declined to comment. DiIorios frustration with what he calls the states approach apart from the accusations echoes often-heard complaints by executives who say they feel harassed by some state agencies, making them less likely to expand in Connecticut. Gov.-elect Ned Lamont appears willing to address the issue, always a balancing act. Our dealings with the Banking Department have crossed from regulatory to prosecutorial, DiIorio said. I would describe dealing with the state as almost a feeling of being unwelcome as part of the business community. I believe that our track record shows responsibility and conscience. ... It makes me feel like a target. Persistent and pervasive The heart of the issue appears to be language in a 2009 state law, written to conform with the Secure and Fair Enforcement for Mortgage Licensing Act of 2008 (SAFE Act), which created licensing rules in the thick of the housing market meltdown. The state law says anyone who takes a residential mortgage loan application, or ... offers or negotiates terms of a residential mortgage loan must be licensed by the state as a mortgage loan originator. As of Nov. 1, the Department of Banking had a list of 8,621 licensed originators at 525 companies, most servicing Connecticut from other states. That included 15 licensed originators at 1st Alliance, all of whom work in Connecticut. Cases of unlicensed people doing work that requires a license have not been uncommon, especially around the time of the housing collapse. Connecticut joined 10 other states in an action against a New Jersey firm in 2011. Most everything we do here at the Department of Banking is about protecting consumers, Matt Smith, the spokesman, said. He added that Connecticut adopted the licensing law in 2009 not as a revenue source, but rather to vigorously defend Connecticut consumers and homeowners. In the 1st Alliance case, DiIorio and documents he showed me suggest that state regulators believe having call center employees working on commissions, and having them discuss mortgage rates generally, is a violation. Its unclear whether the department is also accusing 1st Alliance of activity thats clearly illegal. The Department believes that such unlicensed activity was persistent and pervasive, and persisted for several years, an Aug. 15 memo to 1st Alliance said. In September, documents show, 1st Alliance offered to pay $50,000 to compensate the department for is work not as a fine and the company said it would voluntarily stop the targeted call center activity for Connecticut customers. The department declined that offer and countered with an offer for a consent decree that included a gag order. U.S. Senate testimony DiIorio says other firms in the industry operate the way he does, with all leads quickly going to licensed people, then underwriters. Many of 1st Alliances calls emanate from advertisements with Zillow and other online housing market websites. DiIorio launched the firm after working for another mortgage company in the same building where hes located, starting in 1998. From 2009 to 2015 1st Alliance was a national leader in loss mitigation refinancing, buying thousands of bad loans from giant banks and renegotiating terms to keep people in their houses but only those who had legitimate reasons for their inability to pay. In 2012, he testified in the U.S. Senate about the program, calling it a method of resolving defaults that works best for all stakeholders. I am not here to debate the question of whether or not to help distressed homeowners, except to note that since early 2009 we have put in place a number of federal programs to do so. I am here to discuss how to help homeowners fairly and effectively, he said to the Senate committee overseeing banks. DiIorio said on Thursday hes not sure whether hed restart the expansion plan if the state were to drop the case right away. For now, he says hes intent on resolving the case and pushing for regulatory reform which every Republican that ran for governor called a priority. I will actively try to facilitate some necessary change, he said. dhaar@hearstmediact.com DANBURY Public school leaders are taking a more proactive approach to combat truancy and chronic absenteeism among Danbury students under a new district-wide policy endorsed last week. The updated policy makes universal what had been a school-by-school approach to identify students who regularly miss classes, work with those students guardians and provide support services to help keep those students returning to school, assistant superintendent Kevin Walston said. The districts rate is already better than other urban school systems in Connecticut and it beats the state average, but there is more work to do, said Walston, who joined the district this summer from Bridgeport schools, where the absenteeism rate is 2.5 times as high. The policy really calls upon us to make sure we have a system in place and making sure we proactively have something in place in our schools to promote 100 percent attendance for our kids, Walston said. I was very surprised when I got here. Chronic absentee numbers are very good. The updated policy, approved by the school board on Wednesday, codifies a set of standards for the school district to regularly communicate its policy and absenteeism to parents because the more class students miss planned or unplanned the higher their risk of falling behind their peers on a series of measures, school officials emphasized. Students are considered truant if they have four or more unexcused absences in a month or 10 in a school year, per the policy. They are considered chronically absent if they miss 10 percent or more of classes at any point during the school year, whether the absences were excused or unexcused, including in- or out-of-school suspensions, Walston said. As soon as a student hits that 10 percent mark in a month, for example, a letter is triggered to send to that students parents or guardian, Director of Pupil Personnel Services Kelly Truchess said. Then the schools principal will work directly with the student and his or her guardian to try to provide support services, even from outside nonprofit agencies, to help the student get back to school. Even though you may call up and say, My kids going to be out all of next week, thats five in a month and youre over 10 percent, she said. If you do it for a week-long family vacation and then your kid gets the flu for a week, that happens. Its really just bringing it to a parents attention to be mindful of the time their children are missing. A new feature of the districts truancy policy will be the creation of so-called attendance teams. If any individual school tops 10 percent of students who are identified as truant or chronically absent, that schools administration would have to create an attendance team to examine why the number has jumped, Walston said. If the rate topped 10 percent for the entire district, the district officials would have to do the same. That should help identify problems while they are still manageable, but no single school current meets that criteria, Walston said. Over the past four school years, the districts overall rate has hovered just over 7 percent, according to state data. That is below the 10.7 percent average statewide and well below the rates of other, larger urban districts in Bridgeport and New Haven, which are both at 19 percent, and Hartford, which is over 25 percent. We are already doing well, but we have to have the kids here to be able to work with them, Walston said. This should just help us reach even more of them. zach.murdock@hearstmediact.com KENT Democrat Maria Horn prevailed over Republican incumbent Brian Ohler after a recount in the state House District 64 race. Horn beat Ohler by 61 votes after election officials recounted ballots Friday from the nine towns in the district, the Secretary of States office reported Sunday. Horn said she appreciated that everyone worked together in a bipartisan manner to recount the ballots. It was actually kind of affirming to see the process work, she said. It was an extremely cordial process. A recount was triggered after two towns in the district realized last week they had made a mistake in their numbers, bringing Ohler within 51 votes of Horn. This put Ohler within the 0.5 percent margin that leads to an automatic recount under state statute. The error was discovered Tuesday night, and election officials had until Friday to recount their results. The district includes Kent, Canaan, Cornwall, Goshen, Norfolk, North Canaan, Salisbury, Sharon and Torrington, so Horn said it was a big undertaking to complete the recount. On his Facebook page, Ohler thanked the election workers for their hard work and impartiality. He added he would continue to advocate for residents. The amount of support and uplifting messages that Ive received over the past two weeks have been nothing short of amazing and Im forever grateful for them, Ohler said. While I may have lost the official title of state representative, I will never lose my voice nor my passion to speak up and defend those who cant do so for themselves. Ohler, of Canaan, served in the seat for one term. Horn, who is from Salisbury, said she plans to push for a Medicaid buy-in option and improving the digital infrastructure in the district. With Horns win, the Democrats widened their majority in the state House, which Horn said would be helpful as the legislature deals with the budget crisis. Now, we have to tackle this issue head-on with our values right on the desk, she said. One was from a woman whose grandmother had to be identified through dental records after her Volkswagen convertible, stopped in traffic, became the first in a long line of cars to be engulfed. Another came from a father who tearfully described how the SUV his wife had been driving with his children had been located but the bodies not yet identified. Stephen Jurczyk, NASAs associate administrator, told Business Insider at The Economist Space Summit that NASA will think about retiring Space Launch System (SLS) if SpaceX BFR or Blue Origin New Glenn are online. This will mean another $16 billion will spent until 2022. There has been about $30 billion spent on SLS and Orion up until the end of 2018. A test launch of obsolete hardware will be the purpose of the additional spending. The EM-1 mission will finally test the SLS and the Orion capsule together. It will also launch some cubesats. It will be the first test and it will cost at least another $12 billion to get to that test. The follow-up EM-2 mission would occur sometime in 2023 or 2024. The EM-2 mission will possibly have the first crewed mission of NASAs Orion spacecraft. It will be a lunar free return mission. Previous Deputy NASA administrator have called for the cancellation of the SLS. In 2014, Lori Garver called for the cancellation of the SLS. The SpaceX crew Dragon should be certified to launch human crews in 2019. SpaceX should have regular launches of the Falcon Heavy starting in 2019. SpaceX will be launching the Falcon Heavy two to four times per year from 2020 onwards. In 2020 or 2021, a fully integrated version of BFR could be launched into orbit around Earth. Around 2021, Blue Origin is planning to use New Glenn plans to deliver a lander to the surface of the moon to scout for water ice. About $4 billion per year for SLS and Orion from 2018-2022, then $5 billion per year from 2023+ Space Launch System (SLS)has spent $14 billion from 2011 to 2018. It will spend another $6.8 billion from 2019 to 2021. There is about $2.3 billion per year being spent on SLS. $15 billion has been spent on the Orion crew spacecraft. There is $1.3 billion per year being spent on Orion. There was one pad abort test in 2010 and one orbital test on a Delta IV rocket in 2014. There will be one more unmanned test currently scheduled for December 2019. SLS and Orion might be launched in 2021 with the EM-1 mission. SLS EM-1 was scheduled for December 2017. Auditors do not believe the SLS Block 1 will not launch by June 2020. Even if teams could technically meet that deadline, NASA would need to put in another $1.2 billion. $800 million to secure first stage delivery by December 2019 and an another $400 million to make sure EM-1 launches by June 2020. This does not include $4.8 billion spent on Ares 1 Constellation program. Exclude costs to assemble, integrate, prepare and launch the SLS and its payloads such as Orion (funded under the NASA Ground Operations Project, currently about $400 million per year. Exclude costs of the Upper Stage for the SLS, the EUS. When the New Haven Preservation Trust announced its presentation of Lost New Haven: Traveling Through Time, it figured to be yet another hand-wringing over the vibrant neighborhoods and historic buildings weve seen bulldozed into oblivion by thoughtless city planners (paging Mayor Richard C. Lee, circa the 1950s). But architect and writer Duo Dickinson, a member of the Trusts board of directors, decided to take a different approach with his slideshow last Wednesday night. This isnt going to be a bunch of people worshiping demolished buildings, he told me before the event. Rather than mourn the tragedy of removed buildings, he said, he wanted to focus on what is around us. Hes upbeat about those attractive, distinguished structures now being revived for new uses. The folks at the Trust also came up with the novel idea of staging their event at BAR, downtown New Havens popular pizza-and-beer place. Guess what, preservationists like to drink, too! Indeed, when Dickinson began his talk Wednesday night, he told us we didnt have to sit during his slideshow. Think of this as a place where you should get up and buy drinks and eat pizza. Dickinson alluded to the Lost New Haven title, saying, The word loss has an enormous weight. But this talk will take an approach not typical for a preservation meeting. However, attention had to be paid to Lee and his infamous urban renewal program. And so we were shown one of those bulldozer shots as Dickinson talked about Lees clear-cutting neighborhoods, including the diverse and thriving Legion Avenue. Out of those ashes rose architecturally-striking structures such as Kevin Roches New Haven Coliseum. But Dickinson noted Roche had an odd idea: Lets put the parking area on top! Dickinson, who like many of us experienced navigating the mounting circular ride to that summit, described it as terrifying. He also called the bathrooms horrific. The Coliseum was supposed to be a huge welcoming thing to New Haven, Dickinson recalled. It simply did not work. It was doomed. He showed us a photo of the gigantic arena being exploded in 2007. Then Dickinson took us through a happier narrative, the revitalization of Union Station. After architect Cass Gilbert completed his magnificent train station in 1920, it deteriorated to the point where the main portion was shut and passengers were forced to use a grim, narrow tunnel. But architect Herb Newman restored it in the early 1980s. Now its again a proud entryway to the Elm City. Meanwhile, as always, the Trust people are involved in ongoing discussions about buildings whose fates hang in the balance. Dickinson showed us slides of the old Webster Bank on Elm Street, an elegant art deco building vacated by the bank a couple of years ago. Dickinson told us it was originally St. Thomas Church (1848) and remnants of the church are still in the building. Its now slated for demolition. Its a zombie, a walking dead building. Supposedly its going to be a boutique hotel. Wouldnt it be great it they used the original lobby? Yes, as the evening began, I spoke with Robert Grzywacz, another member of the Trusts board, about the fate of the Webster building. Weve been trying to save it, he said. Weve been working with the city. The new owner (Spinnaker Real Estate Investments) should save that lobby and facade. What an entryway for a hotel! Dickinson got worked up as he showed slides of Robert A.M. Sterns new Yale residential colleges on Prospect Street. Dickinson called the project collegiate Gothic and an example of worshiping the past as well as attempting to fabricate history. Were better than that, he said. We dont have to make fake fireplaces, He showed us a photo of the residential colleges rooftops. And he noted, Twenty-three buildings were demolished to make way for those residential colleges. Yale decided the Seeley G. Mudd Library (designed by Harold Roth and William Moore) should go away. Its in the way! Lets get rid of it. The result, Dickinson said, was a place that looks just like Hogwarts. When Dickinson sat down to take a breather, architect Channing Harris, also on the Trusts board, provided an overview on the preservation of Hillhouse Avenue. He reminded us that when Charles Dickens visited New Haven in 1868, he called it the most beautiful street in America. Harris noted 15 of the original Hillhouse Avenue mansions have survived as part of a historic district. The New Haven Preservation Trust advocated for it and negotiated an agreement with Yale. Credit Yale for finding new uses for old buildings. When Dickinson stood up again, he regaled us with tales and slides of recently successful savings and revitalizations. He cited the fusion of the old and the new in Trinity Church Home Chapel at 301 George St. We told the developer, You might want to think about using the old chapel as the focal point of your design, Dickinson recalled. And they did. According to a Trust newsletter, those undertaking the project, Robert Smith of Metro Star Properties and Sam Gardner of Gregg Wies & Gardner Architects, themselves called the Trust office to ask if the old chapel was architecturally significant and worth saving as the centerpiece of a new apartment complex. The chapels exterior was restored and the result is evident to anybody passing it today. The residents there benefit, as well. Dickinson also credited the developer of the new Corsair apartment complex on State Street (Andy Montelli of Post Road Residential) for preserving instead of demolishing some of the original factory. Another new upbeat story, Dickinson told us, is the anticipated re-use of what is called the Pirelli Building next to the Ikea store. Dickinson noted architect Marcel Breuers 1968 tower was bought by Ikea many years ago and It became a thing. A demolition by neglect thing. (In a Trust newsletter last year, Dickinson described it as a truncated and derelict carcass that functions as an Ikea billboard. But with city officials such as Economic Development Administrator Matthew Nemerson and Trust representatives working together, Dickinson said last Wednesday, that iconic structure is on its way to becoming a 165-room hotel. Last Wednesday the City Plan Commission voted in favor of the new use. Dickinson concluded his talk by saying: Theres something more important than money. Its called value. History is about value. Its that spirit of the past, present and future. There was fresh news about another endangered historic building provided at the end of the gathering by Elizabeth Holt, the Trusts director of preservation services. She announced city officials might be considering demolishing the Brewery Gatehouse, part of Brewery Square at the corner of Ferry and River streets. Holt called it a demolition by neglect case. We dont want to see the gatehouse become another piece of lost New Haven. And so Holt began circulating a petition opposing its demolition and advocating reuse for housing or commercial purposes. (Representatives of the gatehouses owner, Brewery Square Gatehouse Ltd. Partnership, could not be reached for comment but Building Official Jim Turcio told me the owner has been told to either demolish it or shore it up, if possible.) While driving back home Wednesday night, passing the New Haven Green and the old courthouse at the corner of Elm and Church streets, I was reminded how historic and special this city is and why I have remained here. Contact Randall Beach at 203-680-9345 or randall.beach@hearstmediact.com. A panel of appellate judges last week overturned a man's conviction and 75-year sentence for a double murder in Camden County. The appeals court, in a published decision, found that a cellphone photo used as evidence in his trial was improperly obtained, and that a motion for a new trial should have been granted upon discovery of a new defense witness who could have undermined the credibility of the state's case. James M. Harris, 28, was convicted in 2015 on charges that he shot and killed 24-year-olds Kevin Gould and Daquan Hines inside a car in Lindenwold on Dec. 9, 2011. A jury had convicted him of the double murder after deadlocking three times in a six-week trial. According to the state's key witness in the trial, Donnell Ancrum, the shooting was a drug deal gone bad. He said Gould had called him that morning and offered to sell some marijuana, the appeals decision says. That night, Hines was in the driver's seat of a 1995 Toyota Camry and Gould was riding shotgun. Ancrum said he was sitting in the back when a man approached the car, and he got out of the car to let the man in. Ancrum said he walked around the front of the car when he heard gunshots from inside it, and ran off to call Harris. "Ancrum 'thought' that (Harris) was the gunman, but was not completely certain. Ancrum did not clarify why he would call defendant for a ride if he knew defendant had just entered the car and shot two people," the appellate judges wrote. Harris stayed with Ancrum for three nights after the murders. The state had requested from Sprint, Harris' cell service provider, all text and call records and the contents of the messages sent between Dec. 1 and Dec. 16. But Sprint sent over all photographs from the phone's Picture Mail, not just those that fell between those dates. A Sprint subpoena compliance employee said that it was protocol at the time to send all photos, regardless of date, in response to a warrant for cell data. A photo from October, in a folder labeled "20111029" (the phone's way of indicating Oct. 29, 2011) showed two handguns and three boxes of ammunition, including the same Tulammo .380-caliber bullets used in the killings. The detective who reviewed the warrant response from Sprint testified that he did not know those numbers meant the photo was from outside the date range specified in the warrant, the decision says. The photo was used in court. At a new trial, that photo cannot be admitted as evidence, the appellate judges wrote. The judges also mention the eleventh-hour defense witness, who was prepared to say he saw Ancrum run from the scene carrying a bag of drugs. The trial judge said at the time that the defense witness' statements could possibly support Ancrum's involvement in the crime, but not negate Harris' guilt. The appellate court chose not to weigh this claim, saying any evidence from that witness would have to come out at the new trial. The Camden County Prosecutor's Office did not respond to a request for comment on whether they will retry Harris. He is serving his New Jersey sentence at an out-of-state facility, a state prison database shows. Before the decision, his parole eligibility date was in 2079. Joe Brandt can be reached at jbrandt@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @JBrandt_NJ. Find NJ.com on Facebook. Col. Robert E. Burrows was searching eBay two years ago looking for Paterson artifacts to add to his historical collection. He already has a picture of the Ivanhoe Mill, five silver pickle forks from the 1880s and a 1904 mug from a masonic lodge. The solid aluminum Elvis Presley-style microphone is pretty cool, too, but that was a gift he received for the 100th anniversary of Elementary School No. 12 in Paterson. It was the same microphone he used as a kid at a parent assembly in 1955 at his grade school alma mater. As he surfed and clicked, Burrows, now a Newark resident, saw a bunch of pocket Bibles up for bid in Indianapolis. One of the Bibles, dated 1854, looked familiar. It was small, just like the one he had that was stolen in 2015 from his home in Clifton. On the last page, written in pencil, were Bible references - Matthew 18; Roman 12; Corinthian. He recognized the writing. "I said, wow, that has to be my uncle's," Burrows said. An 1854 pocket Bible of a Civil War soldier from Paterson who was related to Robert Burrows His father, Charles Burrows, gave the Bible to him when he was seven-years-old, telling him that Archibald Todd was his great-great-uncle, who received it as a recruit when he reported for Civil War duty. Burrows, now 71, learned that his uncle Todd was assigned to the 13th New Jersey Volunteer Infantry, which consisted of soldiers from Essex, Hudson and Passaic counties. He couldn't believe it. In front of him on the computer was his uncle's Bible that he never thought he'd see again. Burrows said he called Clifton police, who directed him toward the FBI office in Indianapolis. Burrows said he called the FBI and explained his situation. The FBI "said expect a package in the mail," Burrows recalled. "I said, 'yeah, okay.'" He didn't think anything of the package that arrived in the mail in 2016 because Burrows is always on eBay bidding on something. Inside page of 1854 pocket Bible that belonged to a Civil War soldier from Paterson When he saw it was the Bible, he said he could have cried. "I got something back," he said. "A piece of family history is back." It's not clear if anyone was charged in the theft of the Bible. When asked about the its return, Clifton police Sgt. Robert Anderson said he was checking police records, but did not share additional information. Chris Bavendar, public affairs spokesperson in the FBI Indianapolis division, said she wasn't able to find a record of the case in her office, saying it may have been picked up by field offices on the East Coast. Burrows is just happy to have it back. He has always kept the Bible close, even when he served in the U.S. Army Security Agency, a unit in which he did counter espionage electronically, during the Vietnam war. His service, though, has nothing to do with why he uses the military title of colonel in front of his name when people meet him. Burrows, who calls himself Colonel, is a member of the Kentucky Colonels, a philanthropic organization whose members have received this prestigious title from the governor of Kentucky for outstanding service to their community in that state and across the country. Commissioned in 2007 by Gov. Ernie Fletcher, individuals have to be nominated by another colonel, said Sherry Crose, executive director of the nonprofit organization that supports needy Kentucky charities. Bible verses written in pencil on the back page of a 1854 pocket Bible that belonged to Civil War soldier from Paterson Burrows was nominated for his charitable works, including his contributions with a group to restore Greenwood Lake, which is located in West Milford and the Village of Greenwood, New York. "They are cut above individuals," Crose said, speaking about Colonels like Burrows. "They make the difference in your community." After the war, Burrows said he was an engineer assistant at a stereo company in Leominster, Massachusetts for a few years. He went back to the family home in Paterson - 149 N. Third Street - that his uncle Todd also lived in after the Civil War. Burrows got a job in Hillside, working as a stereo repairman. He also fixed amplifiers for rock bands when he was a sound engineer at Filmore East, a popular club that featured some of the biggest rock bands from 1968 to 1971. Those associations led to his meeting radio personality Allison Steele, who was also known by her on air name, The Night Bird on New York's WNEW. Burrows would get behind the mic, too, playing country music as a DJ on WFDU at Fairleigh Dickinson, where he produced two country music programs. He also became president of the New Jersey Country Music Association and wrote stories for Steppin' Out, a magazine for about country music and its artists. At one point in his colorful life, Burrows restored antique cars, such as a 1929 Ford and 1908 Model E. Ford., from a two-and-a-half car garage in back of the family house in Paterson. Burrows now has Lymphedema, an incurable condition in which his legs swell from retaining fluids because his lymph nodes have stopped filtering waste from his body. Though he uses a wheelchair to get around, it hasn't slowed his love for collecting. Vintage cars for Burrows also come in a box. He has a model 1958 Plymouth Fury collectible. Her name is Christine. She's steps away in his Newark apartment from another legend: comedian George Burns, another limited collectible, that Burrows has boxed up. The Bible, though, is the most cherished of his possessions. "If you're going to have an heirloom, that's the heirloom to have," he said. Read More 'How much of this have I consumed?' Residents forced to install lead filters to drink It's Veteran's Day.Here's one of the many you should thank Secrets to a long life? We asked three 100-year-old N.J. women for advice Barry Carter may be reached at bcarter@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @BarryCarterSL. Find NJ.com on Facebook. HOBOKEN -- City officials will hold a community meeting on Monday to discuss the local regulation of marijuana if -- or, more accurately, when -- state officials legalize the drug. The community meeting will be held at the Jubilee Center at 601 Jackson St. on Monday at 6:30 p.m. Members of the council's zoning subcommittee requested the meeting be held before voting on an ordinance introduced by Mayor Ravi Bhalla's administration in order to gauge public opinion on the matter. The ordinance, originally on the Oct. 17 council meeting agenda, was pulled. "This is a significant change in public policy; it's significant for Hoboken because we're such a small, densely populated community next to the largest city in the United States, where (marijuana) is not legal," said Second Ward Councilwoman Tiffanie Fisher, who sits on the subcommittee along with council members Michael DeFusco and Jim Doyle. "There are implications for Hoboken and we want to understand it better." Under the proposed ordinance, only three marijuana establishments -- be it a retail store, medical dispensary, cultivation facility, etc. -- would be allowed in the city. An outline of where marijuana establishments would be permitted under an ordinance introduced by the city. Establishments would be prohibited in the city's residential zones, and would largely be confined to its industrial zones along its northern and southern borders. One establishment would be allowed in its southern industrial district, which runs from the waterfront to Jersey City along Observer Highway, in its central business district on Washington Street up to Fourth Street, and in much of the northernmost portion of the city. The businesses would have to put up a hefty licensing fee as well, depending on the type of establishment. A dispensary or retail store license would cost $15,000 annually, according to the ordinance. But it remains to be seen when the state will legalize the drug for recreational use, and what the parameters of regulation will be. State officials have indicated they would vote on a bill to legalize weed by the end of the year. Neighboring Union City has banned the sale of marijuana, according to JerseyDigs, while Jersey City effectively became the first municipality in the state to decriminalize the drug earlier this year. Some residents said the ordinance would encourage people to come to the city and would thus stimulate other businesses in town. Others had concerns over how the city would regulate it. Employees of several smoke shops in the city say there's already a big market. "It's a complementary business here -- I sell paraphernalia so there are a lot of customers for it," said Imran Krerani, an employee of the Hoboken Smoke Shop. "It will be good if they control it," he added. "You need to put regulations on it." Corey W. McDonald may be reached at cmcdonald@jjournal.com. Follow him on Twitter @coreymacc. Find The Jersey Journal on Facebook. A church youth minister who was convicted in the 1990s for sexual assault was convicted again on Friday of having inappropriate sexual contact with a teenage girl. A jury found Shawn Butler, of Hillsborough, guilty of criminal sexual contact and endangering the welfare of a child, Middlesex County Prosecutor Andrew Carey announced. Shawn Butler Butler, 52, worked as a youth minister at Eternal Life Christian Center in Franklin Township and served on the church's executive board. At trial, Assistant Prosecutor Thomas Carver made the case that Butler improperly touched a 15-year-old girl in South Brunswick and at his home in Hillsborough several times between March and June 2014. The charges from those 2014 incidents spurred a legal question that went all the way to the New Jersey Supreme Court. Butler had worked in the church's No Limits Youth Ministry while a registered sex offender under Megan's Law, which prohibits "an excluded sex offender to hold a position, or otherwise participate, in a paid or unpaid capacity, in a youth serving organization." The No Limits program was described as helping "prepare students to be effective at home, junior high, senior high, and college." Butler notified Eternal Life church leaders of his prior convictions. He was convicted in 1990 of sexual assault in Middlesex County. He was sentenced to seven years in prison on that offense, which occurred while he was still on probation for a 1988 criminal sexual contact conviction. In 2014, police responding at the church charged him with violating his Megan's Law restrictions after learning he worked with youth there for a decade. A Superior Court judge later tossed out an indictment in that case, saying that Butler was working for a church, and not an explicitly "youth-serving organization" which the law bars sex offenders from participating in. After appeals, the state Supreme Court ruled that Megan's Law does not automatically exclude the church and youth group, and said a jury should decide whether Butler violated Megan's Law by working there. That case in Somerset County is still pending, MyCentralJersey.com reported. Butler's attorney and the church did not immediately respond to requests for comment Sunday. For his conviction Friday, Butler could receive up to five years in prison and will be on parole supervision for life. Judge Joseph A. Paone will sentence Butler on Feb. 11, 2019. Joe Brandt can be reached at jbrandt@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @JBrandt_NJ. Find NJ.com on Facebook. UPDATE: Explosion sparks 4-alarm fire that left 3 firefighters hurt, 18 families displaced A four-alarm fire that engulfed a building in Perth Amboy Sunday left firefighters planning to demolish the structure to completely extinguish the flames, officials said. City fire officials, in a statement, said fire crews responded to 454 State Street around 4:12 a.m. after an explosion in the building sparked a fire. The blaze eventually reached four alarms, and drew a mutual aid response from fire departments in Keasbey, Hopelawn, South Amboy, Fords, Port Reading, Sayreville, Iselin and Edison, officials said. Firefighters had to use two tower ladders and numerous hoselines to bring the flames under control. A total of 12 people were removed from the building, none of whom were injured, the fire department said. Three firefighters were released from a nearby hospital after treatment for unspecified injuries. Smoke continued to come out of the upstairs apartments and through the roof more than four hours after the fire began. Firefighters could be seen pouring water on smokey debris after 9 a.m., as people gathered to watch across the street. As of Sunday afternoon, firefighters were waiting on a demolition crew to bring down the building. The fire department said the cause of the blaze remains under investigation. Photographer Ed Murray and reporter Thomas Moriarty contributed to this report. Sophie Nieto-Munoz may be reached at snietomunoz@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her at @snietomunoz. Find NJ.com on Facebook. Have a tip? Tell us. nj.com/tips The U.S. Coast Guard - aided by a nearby ferry - rescued four people from a boat taking on water before it capsized near Sandy Hook Saturday, officials said. A mayday call from the 21-foot pleasure boat came in shortly before 4 p.m., according to officials. Hearing the mayday broadcast, the SeaStreak ferry arrived at the scene within less than five minutes. A Coast Guard Station Sandy Hook response boat soon arrived and brought the four people aboard their boat. There were no injuries and all of the people rescued were wearing life jackets, according to the Coast Guard. A ferry passenger said he witnessed the rescue effort. "13 years riding #Seastreak #Ferry. First time stopping for boat sinking. Coast Guard did their thing. All safe," rider Pete Jones said on Twitter. 13 years riding #Seastreak #Ferry. First time stopping for boat sinking. Coast Guard did their thing. All safe. #NJ pic.twitter.com/W7fG0oNqpN Pete Jones (@pjones4) November 17, 2018 "The number one cause of boating fatalities is drowning, most often by sudden, unexpected entry into the water," the Coast Guard said in a statement. "Wearing a life jacket increases the chances of surviving a boating accident." Noah Cohen may be reached at ncohen@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @noahyc. Find NJ.com on Facebook. By Ellen McGuffie I was one of those unfortunate souls caught in Thursday's winter storm gridlock. I took me nearly 12 hours to make my way from Newark Liberty airport to West Orange, where I live. This WAS NOT a bad snowstorm. But it was by far the most awful, hideous traffic of my entire life -- and I am 65 years old. I lived and worked in Manhattan for years, at the UN where traffic caused snarls every year. I never saw gridlock like that. I didn't see that even on 9-11 returning from the city. It wasn't this bad during the blackout of 2003. I have a great number of complaints about the utter and complete lack of response to Thursday's storm. Gov. Phil Murphy has a lot of explaining to do - and so do Newark's officials. Where were they? Was it financial considerations that had caused the lack any manpower to attempt to open the intersections? I called the Newark police department and spoke to a woman for quite a while. She listened as I tried to convince her to at least to speak her superiors to insist that this was an actual emergency. Why didn't the governor proclaim a state of emergency? It was impossible for him not to know what we were going through on the streets of New Jersey. Where were the funds that should be allocated for off duty policemen and firemen? Why weren't any volunteers to be found? Why was there no one to stop the idiotic and selfish drivers who clogged every intersection? Where were New Jersey drivers' sense of decency? The morning after, I spoke to my neighbor, who abandoned his car to walk home for several blocks because he had his baby with him with a full diaper and none to change. (As for me, I couldn't hold it after six hours. I had to pullover and relieve myself next to my car in a parking lot!) He said, and I agree, this was a Category 1 emergency and it was not treated like one. I'm surprised more people didn't die. On Route 280, which I was on, the trouble seemed to be caused by abandoned cars off to the right with no apparent damage. Large truck rigs also pulled off the road, sometimes not always to the right, thus blocking lanes of traffic. I saw one car that had clearly been in an accident. I'm sure there were others. As far as I could tell, I did not see one traffic policeman until 9 p.m. -- and I mean at the major intersections of downtown Newark. My drive had started at 3 p.m. I tried to reach radio stations, but I could not get through. Newark government should have reached out. There should have been constant announcements, begging drivers to not "block the box" and completely bring traffic to a halt. It took me six hours to get through downtown Newark, alone. Six hours! I finally made it home at 2 a.m. How could this be? The Murphy administration and local governments must address how this could have happened, and they better make sure a disastrous response to a forecasted winter snowstorm doesn't happen again. Ellen McGuffie, a West Orange resident, wrote about her ordeal and complaints to the governor via our tips email: tips@njadvancemedia.com. Have a tip? More than a week removed from the midterms, what at first appeared to be a weak wave has gained strength and turned bluer than we initially thought. Here is the part where I chastise the media pundits for making sweeping proclamations about the country's political future with 3% of the precincts reporting. I know it's fun to proclaim winners and losers, but perhaps we should wait for the score first. But, I digress... Nowhere was the wave bluer than here in our home state. New Jersey had one outstanding race yet to be declared in the 3rd congressional district but that matter has finally been settled. Trump acolyte and incumbent Tom MacArthur has conceded to challenger Andy Kim. Kim's victory leaves Chris Smith the lone Republican representing New Jersey in either house of congress. We have President Trump to thank for that. I've touched on this before, but the reason New Jersey reacted so resoundingly against Trump is the because we know him better than just about anybody else. He's been haunting our fairways and beaches for decades now, leaving a trail of foreclosures and unpaid construction bills in his wake. We know his act. We've seen it over and over again in Atlantic City and Bedminster, etc. Any Jersey congressman who thought he was going to make his bones doing the bidding of Donald Trump hasn't been paying attention the past thirty years. Trump wasn't particularly popular when he was a harmless reality TV clown, now that he's the leader of the free world the backlash was inevitable. Joan Reed, a Deerfield resident who was the longtime manager of the villages farmers market, also talked about how welcoming the town is to people who make it their home. She also talked about the way people step up to help the community and the quality of the schools. Everyone loves turkey on Thanksgiving Day. Well, unless you're vegan, but you can still have a tofu turkey. The Community Food Bank of New Jersey in Hillside makes sure that anyone who wants a real turkey or turkey meal, even if they cannot afford it, will have it for the holiday or around this time of the year. Last week, for the second year in a row, the organization dropped off 1,120 frozen turkeys and 248 roasters in the parking lot of Old Bergen Church at Highland and Bergen avenues in Jersey City. Sixteen churches, schools and community organizations sent representatives to pick up their number and bring them to all corners of the city. On the brisk November morning, Carlea Sturdivant, the CFBNJ's agency relations manager, was excited to disburse so many turkeys. "I like that I am making a difference in someone's life who may not know what is their next meal," said Sturdivant, 40, on the job for 10 years. This outreach was only one small part of the group's statewide distribution. Each year it distributes 57 million pounds of food feeding 900,000 people in the state, she added. Allen Webb, warehouse assistant, and Calimo Castaneda, driver, unloaded the huge Jersey City delivery within 30 minutes and just in time for the reps arriving with their SUVs and pickups. They were scheduled to come incrementally so that all could be picked up within 90 minutes. The reps were surprised to find a half dozen Jersey City police officers ready to help with the cold, heavy lifting. Capt. Edward Nestor, commander of the West District, assigned the officers to meet with the reps because he believes "it's better to work together and show support." Joanne Grosh, customer engagement specialist for the CFBNJ, knows the people running the participating agencies and programs. They hug like old friends as she did with the Franciscan sisters from St. Elizabeth's Child Care program below Journal Square. Jean Jackson, a trustee from Mt. Olive Baptist Church, requested eight cases of roasters for the senior citizens at his church. They're much more manageable for older people living alone, he said. Also getting his share, Old Bergen's pastor, the Rev. Jon Brown, was proud to be the catalyst for so much food distribution. "This makes real the concept of giving thanks for the gifts we have and the community we share," said Brown, who has revived the oldest church in the state, giving it new life. "Despite all the challenges we face, we are stronger as a community." 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. Mikie Sherrill graduated from the Naval Academy in 1994, in the first class of women eligible for combat duty. She flew helicopter missions all over the Middle East and was promoted to the rank of lieutenant commander. This year, she's part of the surge that brought more women to Congress than ever before in American history. To get there, she knocked off two Republican men with much more experience in politics, forcing the sitting Congressman into retirement, and then crushing his replacement in the mid-term vote. This is a woman who knows all about breaking glass ceilings. And at age 46, it's a safe bet that she'll break a few more before she's done. So, it is a grand irony to see that Sherrill's first big move in Washington is to help bring down the most powerful woman in American politics, Speaker Nancy Pelosi. "She's been a very good Speaker," Sherrill says. "But we haven't seen the kind of work and messaging that unites people across the country in the way we need to...We have become more and more divided, and there are opportunities to unite people." I get the political logic. Pelosi has been the party's leader for 15 years. Polls show that she's ferociously disliked by Republicans and independents, and that Democrats are split down the middle. She has no magic to cure the partisan divide. But isn't there something awful about this? Nearly everyone agrees that Pelosi is an extremely effective party leader, a smart strategist and a record-setting fundraiser. So why is she so unpopular? She's liberal, and that makes her a target. She's been in power long enough to make a lot of enemies. And she concedes she's no good on TV, which is why she rarely appears on the Sunday talk shows. But part of it has to be the discomfort with women in power, the same cultural growing pain that eroded Hillary Clinton's support in 2016. Researchers at Yale University studied that question in 2010, asking subjects to consider fictional biographies of two state senators, identical but for their genders. When traits were assigned to them like "ambitious" and "a strong will to power" the male senator gained points and the female senator lost them, a finding echoed in other studies. Pelosi, in other words, has been losing points for doing her job. I'm also skeptical about Sherrill's hope that a new Speaker could open the door to greater cooperation with Republicans. Sure, maybe a fresh face will break some ice, at least at the start. But my guess is Republicans, with Trump leading the charge, will demonize anyone who sits in the Speaker's chair. He governs by whipping up resentments, not by finding common ground. And his crew in Congress barks like trained seals. There's no reason to think that's about to change, with or without Pelosi. In the mid-terms, Sherrill promised to oppose Pelosi, a move that undoubtedly helped put voters at ease with her candidacy in the 11th district, which leans Republican. Three of the four new Democratic members from New Jersey made the same calculation and promised to oppose Pelosi. "People wanted something new and different," said Sen. Jeff Van Drew, who will represent the 2nd District in South Jersey. "I heard that not just from Republicans, but from Democrats and independents. Pelosi is tough, and she is certainly able to whip the caucus under control. But at the same time, everyone has their day." Only Tom Malinowski, who will represent the 7th District in central Jersey, is keeping his options open. He hopes that will give him leverage to press for restoration of state and local tax deductions, and funding for a new Hudson River tunnel. But if you listen carefully, you can hear hints that he will support Pelosi in the end. He spoke with her on the phone after he won, and has spoken "several times" since then, but he wouldn't reveal the contents of those talks. He said he agrees that part of the public opposition to her is based on sexism. He said he's looking for someone with experience. "We need a leader with a proven capacity to get things done," he said. And he said Democrats need to be ready to shake off opposition from Republicans. "Whoever our leader is in the House is going to be subject to relentless negative attacks from President Trump and the other side," Malinowski said. "As Democrats, I think we need to be disciplined and not allow the other side to define the choice for us." Will Pelosi win this thing? She's a shrewd tactician, and with a party vote set for Nov. 28, no strong challenger has yet emerged. So, my guess is that she will win, and that Malinowski will be among her supporters. If so, she'll owe him a favor. Score one for the freshman from the 7th District. Three more people have been charged in the fatal stabbing of a North Plainfield man in August, bringing the number of defendants to six. Nelson Aguilar-Lopez, 20, and Alder Juarez, 22, were among five people indicted by a grand jury on first-degree murder charges in connection with the Aug. 19 death of Nelson Noe Garcia-Lopez, Somerset County Prosecutor Michael Robertson said in a statement. A sixth person, 23-year-old Gicsy Galindo-Acosta, is accused of helping them cover up the crime, and faces two third-degree counts of hindering apprehension or prosecution. Also named in the indictment were Oscar Ivan Baquendo-Martinez, 23, and 25-year-olds Patricio Piruch-Nekta and Cesar Carcamo-Ortega. They previously been charged in connection with Garcia-Lopez's killing. The grand jury indicted those three defendants, along with Augilar-Lopez and Juarez, on charges of first-degree murder, second-degree conspiracy, third-degree weapons possession and third-degree rioting. All six defendants are from Plainfield, authorities said. Robertson said Garcia-Lopez, 24, was walking on West Front Street in Plainfield when he passed by a group of about 15 people. Many of them began to chase him down as he crossed Grove Street into neighboring North Plainfield. Garcia-Lopez later died at an area hospital after being stabbed multiple times. All six defendants are in the Somerset County Jail awaiting trial. 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 The 2018 International Film Festival will present four films from Nov. 26 to 29 at the Levoy Theatre, 126-130 N. High St., in Millville. The festival is presented by Jewish Federation of Cumberland, Gloucester & Salem Counties. Here is the lineup: Monday, Nov. 26, 7 p.m. -- Tuesday, Nov. 27, 6 p.m. -- Wednesday, Nov. 28, 6 p.m. -- Thursday, Nov. 29, 7 p.m. -- "From Chile, Slovakia, Hungary and the United States, we present films presenting a mix of power, spirit and wit, comedy, and drama that provide an artistic program for the entire community," said Jewish Federation President M. Jay Einstein. Tickets are $8 per screening, $15 for two films, $20 for three or $25 for all four, free for students ages 20 and younger. A combination dinner/movie package is available for the Nov. 26 and 29 for $40. For more information, call 856-696-4445 or email act@jewishcumberland.org. The Yankees are shopping for starting pitching during the offseason, with Brian Cashman hoping to add at least one more arm to the rotation. But Cashman will also have some work to do in the bullpen, with Zach Britton and David Robertson hitting free agency. Cashman could end up watching Robertson sign with the Yankees' biggest rival, per MLB reporter Bryan Hoch: David Robertson is representing himself this offseason. He has spoken to Brian Cashman, who said the righty would prefer to pitch for a team near his Rhode Island home. (That does include New York). Rob Bradford, from WEEI in Boston, explains why the Red Sox could land Robertson: Obviously, the pitcher's preferences suggest the leaders in the clubhouse to reel in the 34-year-old are both teams in New York and Boston. The Yankees' interest in the late-inning reliever is obvious. The Mets would seemingly have a need, as well. And the Red Sox? It's a possibility. With closer Craig Kimbrel potentially leaving via free agent it would make some sense the Red Sox could be in the market for a potential game-ender, with Matt Barnes and Ryan Brasier already representing in-house possibilities. A run at Robertson, who has put up nine straight seasons of 60 or more innings, would be logical. He is a proven late-inning guy who would seemingly cost in the neighborhood of some other imperfect free agent options (Andrew Miller, Adam Ottavino, Jeurys Familia, Zach Britton, Joe Kelly), with MLB Trade Rumors projecting Robertson's market at three years, $33 million. Robertson dominated in his four appearances at Fenway Park in 2018, allowing one hit in 13 at-bats against him. For his career, the righty possesses a 2.06 ERA at Fenway with a .228 batting average against. Mike Rosenstein may be reached at mrosenstein@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @rosenstein73. Find NJ.com on Facebook. A male was shot near the intersection of Mount Shasta Lane and Mount Kennedy Drive (map) Saturday night (Nov. 17), according to the Jefferson Parish Sheriffs Office. The mans injuries were not considered to be life-threatening. Additional details were not immediately available. Today Im wondering what Republicans and other self-described conservatives would think of this story. A man arrives at the emergency room of the local hospital with blood pouring from a severed artery in his leg. The doctors quickly set up a transfusion to replace the blood. But he tells them not to close the wound. Now, obviously the patient is going to die because the hospital will run out of blood. Or, depending on the guys insurance, hell run out of coverage. Either way, under this treatment scenario, his next stop will be the cemetery. OK, so why am I asking conservatives about this? Because thats the treatment plan theyve settled on to confront the mortal wounds being inflicted on their communities by global warming. They have begun seeking billions in tax dollars for temporary treatments to adapt to warmings very real symptoms, which they already are experiencing. These include rising tides causing city flooding; greater destruction from more frequent and larger tropical storms; catastrophic flooding from record rains; fractured infrastructure; failing water supplies; drought, and more frequent and intense fires. Louisiana has a decade to move on its coastal master plan But they dont want to take steps to reduce or eliminate the cause of their suffering: global warming resulting from human-produced greenhouse gases. Ive been watching the growth of this suicidal approach to the crisis through my Google alert for sea level rise, which daily sends news stories on that topic to my email account. And almost every day there are one or more stories about cities or states in the GOP column seeking grants from the federal government to adapt to problems already being caused by climate change, or others they see rushing toward them. They might want levees, floodwalls, elevated roads, rebuilt beaches, or the planning studies for guidance on what to do as the temperature and the water continue to rise. But even as they now admit global warming is happening, they continue to elect congressional delegations who oppose any regulations that would reduce the emissions that are driving warming. They think it makes sense for a nation that has already lost $350 billion in the last decade to extreme weather events and fires linked to global warming to spend hundreds of millions more to adapt to these threats without doing anything to prevent the disasters from happening again. In other words, surrender, dont fight back. And thats conservative? Now, admittedly, I came of age in a different millennium, but at that time a conservative was someone who believed in a careful, studied and prudent approach to all problems. Back then that time when our president claims America was still great a conservative was someone who embraced, among other things, the politics of personal and fiscal responsibility and abhorred wasting tax dollars. Thats how the demand for cost-benefit reasoning in government spending developed. So imagine telling someone like Barry Goldwater that you wanted money to address the impact of a burning fire, but you didnt want to put the fire out. Yet thats the position todays GOP has staked out when it comes to warming. In fact, this has become the banner under which GOPers now claim to be all on board with a response to climate change. Not stop or even reduce. Just adapt. Meanwhile President Donald Trump continues to push one of his highest legislative priorities: dismantling not just the climate regulations established by his predecessors, but even the research programs that study it. And GOP delegations from some the states most threatened by climate change including Louisianas continue to march in lock step with this oxymoronic policy: Seek billions in federal help to adapt to the problems without trying to solve them. Which brings us back to the guy with the severed artery who refused to have the wound closed. He told the doctors that blood transfusions were his way to adapt to the mortal wound. I wonder how that will end? Bob Marshall, former Outdoors editor for The Times-Picayune and former environmental reporter for The Lens, writes a regular column. He can be reached at bmarshallenviro@gmail.com. Both the high schools and District 109 have had secure lobbies for at least the last two years. Visitors are screened through a database to make sure it is safe to have them enter the school, according to District 109 Superintendent Anthony McConnell. Guests are buzzed into the office and then, if they check out, admitted into the building. The Tattooed Torah, which will be narrated by Ed Asner, tells the story of a Torah small enough for a child to carry. It was taken from a synagogue in what was then Czechoslovakia by Nazi troops as an artifact for a museum the Germans intended to build, according to Marc Bennett, the director and co-writer of the film. Where is your business going? The past is where is has been and cannot be changed. Invest the time to think about how your small business can grow and where it can innovate. This investment will help ensure 2019 is much better than 2018 and all previous years With its foundational ideas and precepts, Havana Film Festival reaches its 40th anniversary this year, readjusting itself to new times, technologies and requirements of the current cinematographic panorama in Latin America. "We have arrived here after four decades going through very complex times and the festival has managed to survive, reshaping itself to our reality and contemporary cinema," said Ivan Giroud, president of the event during a press conference on Friday to present the upcoming edition. From Dec. 6-16, Havana will once again become the capital of Latin American cinema in an event that captivates Cubans who make long lines to attend the presentations of long-awaited films. Founded in 1979 by late Cuban leader, Fidel Castro and the island's intellectual, Alfredo Guevara, the New Latin American Film Festival of Havana is currently a regional reference in the international film circuit and a true cultural event in the Caribbean nation. Giroud, who assumed the presidency of the contest after the death of Guevara in 2013, said the festival maintains its foundational precepts and aesthetics fundamentally aimed at presenting the Latin American and Caribbean reality to the public through the big screen. However, he said this year due to fewer theaters to project films and technological limitations, the organizers chose to rearrange the program to show fewer motion pictures compared to previous years. "We have been more selective to choose movies in order to schedule a film or documentary several times and in that way a greater number of people can appreciate them," he added. In this edition, 373 audiovisual pieces from 40 countries were programmed, half of which are coming from Latin America and the Caribbean. "In competition, we have 20 fiction movies, 22 short and medium-length films, 25 documentaries and 26 animated motion pictures, among other categories," said the Cuban intellectual. The countries most represented in the event are Argentina, Mexico, Chile, Colombia, Brazil, the United States and Cuba. The event will also pay tribute to the most famous Cuban film director, Tomas Gutierrez Alea, with exhibitions, movie projections and a seminar on his career and thinking. In addition, there will be special presentations of films such as "Roma," by Mexican director Alfonso Cuaron, and "BlacKkKlansman" of famous U.S. director Spike Lee. A special moment will be the debut in Cuba of the film "Yuli" by Spanish director Iciar Bollain, which tells the story of legendary Cuban dancer Carlos Acosta, who for more than 10 years was a leading figure of the Royal Ballet of London. "We will also have international guests such as Michael Moore who will present his documentary Fahrenheit 9/11, American actor, Matt Dillon and Puerto Rican actor, Benicio del Toro, among others," he said. At the inaugural gala, where Cuban president Miguel Diaz-Canel is expected, special awards will be handed out to institutions and filmmakers who have supported this event for four decades, according to organizers. Also, the documentary "El Pepe, a supreme life" by Serbian filmmaker Emir Kusturica, about the life of former Uruguayan president Jose Mujica will be screened. The New Latin American Film Festival of Havana aims to recognize and disseminate cinematographic works that contribute from their meaning and their artistic values to the enrichment and reaffirmation of Latin American and Caribbean cultural identity. Among its participants throughout its history have been the Colombian Nobel Prize winner, Gabriel Garcia Marquez and high-profile actors and directors like Robert Redford, Francis Ford Coppola, Harry Belafonte, Geraldine Chaplin, Victoria Abril and Pedro Almodovar, among others. As a number, the ratio might seem unattractive (it is equal to (-5 -1) / 2). But it can be rewritten in a quite remarkable way, as a fraction composed entirely of 1's layered in an infinite series. Seen in that way, the number becomes a sort of arithmetic ''image'' of the geometric property of the ratio - it is represented endlessly within itself. As the illustration on the front page shows, for example, if a square formed by one side of a golden rectangle is cut off, a golden rectangle remains. If squares are continually removed, there is an infinite spiral of golden rectangles contained within each other. But dramatically enough, if a curve is drawn based upon the golden rectangle, it is precisely the shape of a chambered nautilus shell. It is a ''logarithmic'' curve of ''continuous growth.'' Any two segments of the curve are the same shape; they are just different sizes. As a snail grows, it produces shell material in the same formation, only in larger quantities. Similar curves lie in the center of a sunflower, in the shape of a fir cone and in other natural forms that contain the golden ratio. The golden ratio provides some insight into the ways in which mathematics works in general. Nature might provide the original model for speculation about the ratio. From observation of a pine cone, a snail's shell, a sunflower, certain similarities are noted and an abstraction is made. This abstraction - a proportion, in this case - is itself studied, revealing other properties. Underlying principles are then recognized in different realms - the golden rectangle, the properties of number, the arts; related structures are found at the foundation of seemingly disparate systems. Mathematical thought processes, of course, are vastly more complex, but they are quite similar in essence. Music also involves this type of analytical thinking. It too begins in the natural world - with physical laws and bodily rhythms. Music, like mathematics, then creates abstract systems, like tonality, for its activities. Within such a system, a musical ''element,'' a theme, may be explored, transformed, revealed in different musical contexts. Its rhythm may be isolated. Its intervallic structure may be considered, its harmonic implications examined. When, for example, at the end of a Bach fugue, the theme enters in a cadence, it carries meanings it did not have when first heard. Like a mathematical object, that theme has been explored in various combinations; it has been inverted, expanded, viewed in differing contexts, dissected. A sort of musical knowledge has been achieved. There is a similar sense in Beethoven's piano sonatas that a concentrated exploration of musical elements is taking place before one's ears; when a theme returns in a recapitulation, it is no longer heard as it was in the beginning. In this manipulation of abstract material, which reveals new relations and structures, math and music may have their common formal ground. But these processes in math and music also suggest an esthetic that has been central in the West and implicit in the golden ratio. This concept of beauty involves proportion between various elements and a relation between parts and whole - a reproduction of macrocosm in microcosm. In music, to give an unusual example, Bartok's interest in such ideas was so strong that he literally reproduced the golden ratio in his compositions. In ''Bela Bartok; An Analysis of his Music,'' the Hungarian musicologist Erno Lendvai demonstrates that in Bartok's music, crucial musical events mark divisions and subdivisions of the work into golden sections. Bartok's unusual harmonic system, Mr. Lendvai argues, is also related to the golden ratio. RIO DE JANEIRO In the span of a few hours on Friday, Paraguays Senate convened its members, read a list of accusations and put President Fernando Lugo on trial. Dismissing his request for more time to mount his defense, the senators abruptly voted to oust him from office, spurring a fierce debate across Latin America over the fragility of democratic institutions in a region with a long history of dictatorships. And late Saturday, both Brazil and Argentina, which wield considerable economic influence in Paraguay, said they were withdrawing their ambassadors to Asuncion because of the action against Mr. Lugo. The Senates rush to remove Mr. Lugo, who accepted the votes outcome and was quickly replaced by Vice President Federico Franco, was even more confounding since the next presidential elections in Paraguay are just nine months away. Various regional leaders, including Presidents Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner of Argentina and Hugo Chavez of Venezuela, denounced the ouster as a coup detat. Various takes on that assertion quickly surfaced around the region, including descriptions of the ouster as a parliamentary coup, a constitutional coup, even a golpeachment, merging the Portuguese terms for coup and impeachment, which spread throughout social networks in Brazil. SUNDAY BUSINESS The With Interest feature last Sunday referred incorrectly to a planned action by the United States International Trade Commission on the revised North American Free Trade Agreement. The commission scheduled a hearing about the trade pact revision on Thursday and Friday. It did not plan to issue a report during the week. SUNDAY STYLES The Up Next column last Sunday, about the designer and creative director Jameel Mohammed, referred imprecisely to Daniella Vitales role at Barneys New York. While Ms. Vitale was previously the stores chief operating officer, she is now the chief executive officer. TRAVEL An article last Sunday about visiting recently burned areas at Yosemite National Park misstated how the Ferguson fire affected access to the park. Much of Yosemite was closed, but not all of it. THE MAGAZINE An article on Nov. 4 about the war in Yemen paraphrased incorrectly a statement made by Hassan Zaid about Badreddin al-Houthi. Zaid said that Houthi traveled to Iran after the 1979 revolution, not that he studied there. SAN FRANCISCO Mark Zuckerberg fiercely defended Facebook in a question-and-answer session with employees on Friday afternoon, pushing back against criticism of the company in the wake of a New York Times investigation into how it reacted to Russian influence operations. In an hourlong videoconference broadcast to Facebook offices around the world, Mr. Zuckerberg responded to questions from employees on a range of topics, from Facebooks behavior over the past 18 months to how it should handle leaks to the media, according to three people familiar with the discussion but not willing to discuss it publicly because it was a private meeting. The idea that Facebook tried to cover up anything was dead wrong, an impassioned Mr. Zuckerberg said, using an expletive in his response, according to these people. Some employees responded with muted applause and cheers. The session came at a fraught time for the social network, as executives mobilized to deal with a torrent of criticism of the company. A Facebook spokeswoman declined to comment on the Friday meeting. Privately, Florida Republicans said he ran a lackluster race for the governorship, and Democrats who know him mostly from his frequent appearances on Fox News in recent years defending Mr. Trump expressed skepticism that he would reach across party lines as he has promised. Right now a lot of people, and Im talking about Republicans as well as Democrats, see him as an appendage of Trump, said State Sen. Jose Javier Rodriguez, a Democrat who represents Coral Gables and Key Biscayne. We all know very little about him. His platform during the campaign was virtually nonexistent. So I hope hes serious when he talks about reaching out to all Floridians. Unlike Mr. Scott, who has been on television leveling accusations of rampant fraud and urging his opponent to step down, and Mr. Gillum, who launched an oratorical tour of black churches across Florida in the wake of the campaign, Mr. DeSantis has remained largely out of public view since Election Day. He traveled to Tallahassee to set up his transition team and delivered a single statement on video ahead of the litigious recount, noting his lead in the first batch of unofficial results posted a week ago. He will have to manage a more partisan State House, where Democrats gained some seats this year, and a more evenly divided State Senate, which traditionally has acted as a moderating chamber. Mr. Scott was first elected during the Tea Party wave of 2010 and tried to pass a hard-line immigration bill the following year; the Senate softened his proposal, and the House never took it up. Mr. DeSantis met on Thursday with State Sen. Bill Galvano, the incoming Senate president, who told reporters on Friday that the governor-elect will inevitably face a learning curve. Theres a big difference between what we do here in Tallahassee and what they do in Washington, he said. Im confident hell get his footing as we go. But there are some things that I think he will have to discover. Tackling the states election laws is a possibility, given the weaknesses in the system exposed by the roller coaster of a recount. California Democrats completed their sweep of the congressional delegation in Orange County on Saturday as Gil Cisneros defeated Young Kim, a Republican, to capture a seat in what had once been one of the most conservative Republican bastions in the nation. The victory by Mr. Cisneros, a philanthropist, was declared by The Associated Press. It completes what has amounted to a Democratic rout in California this year. Democrats set out to capture seven Republican-held seats where Hillary Clinton defeated President Trump in 2016, including four in Orange County. They won six of them. Representative David Valadao, from the Central Valley, is the only Republican who survived the Democratic onslaught in those seven districts, according to The Associated Press. His margin has shrunk as mail-in votes have continued to be counted. The deadline for counting those votes in California is Dec. 7. With Mr. Cisneross victory, Democrats now control all the House seats that represent Orange County the birthplace of Richard M. Nixon and modern-day conservatism. The party also won supermajorities in the California Assembly and Senate, while the partys candidate for governor Gavin Newsom, the lieutenant governor easily turned back a Republican challenge. Democrats control every statewide elected position in California. The word fantasque, originally French, is both noun (meaning fancy, fantasy) and adjective (meaning fanciful, fantastic). For many dance-goers, it immediately conjures the titles of two ballets: the 1919 surreal comedy La Boutique Fantasque and the 1949 (also comic) pure-dance creation Bourree Fantasque, each of which employs irresistible 19th-century music. Now Fantasque has become the title of a new work by the choreographer John Heginbotham at N.Y.U. Skirball; its linked to the first of those earlier ballets. It features multiple items from the enchantingly inventive, ebullient, whimsical and sometimes poignant Sins of Old Age (Peches de Vieillesse), composed by Rossini, with some Rossini-pastiche additions by Ottorino Respighi, all played here by the pianist George Shevtsov. Respighi arranged his Rossini compilation for La Boutique Fantasque, which Leonide Massine choreographed for Diaghilevs Ballets Russes, with designs by Andre Derain. When the Metropolitan Museum of Art opened its wing devoted to Africa, Oceania and the Americas in 1982, the director, Philippe de Montebello, said, We are closing the last gap in our encyclopedic coverage of the arts of man, placing works by artists from so-called primitive regions on the level of oriental, classical, medieval and other more recognized arts of the civilized world. His words alone man, primitive, oriental signify how much has changed over 36 years in thinking about objects from the cultures and peoples of places like Colombia, Peru, the Pacific Islands and Nigeria. Now, as part of its ambitious master plan, the Met is announcing a $70 million renovation of the Michael C. Rockefeller Wing, which will be designed by the architect Kulapat Yantrasast of the firm wHY, to begin in late 2020 and be completed in 2023. The project will reintroduce the collections three distinct geographic regions in the context of the global canon of art history, said Max Hollein, who is 100 days into his tenure as the new director. McKinnon then turned to what she called the rampant voter fraud that allowed Democrats to literally steal the election. Some have claimed that suburban women revolted against the Republican Party, but doesnt it feel more true that all Hispanics voted twice? she asked. You cant dismiss that idea simply because it isnt true and sounds insane. (McKinnon added that preposterous premise to her list of Feel Facts, which also included entries like Latinos Can Have a Baby Every Three Months, Santa Is Jesuss Dad and If the Earth Is So Warm, Then Why Are My Feet Cold?) The sketch also featured Cecily Strong as Jeanine Pirro, a fellow Fox News host, who warned, In Georgia, many people were wearing disguises in order to vote multiple times. Indicating a photograph of Tyler Perry, Strong said, I saw this man vote in Atlanta. Then he went into his car and changed into this woman. (Here the photograph changed to a picture of Perry in drag as his Madea character.) And he was threatening white voters with a gun and yelling, Hellur. Strong warned of such dubious tactics as stacking when multiple children will stack on top of each other under a trench coat and then vote as an adult and Klumping, or when a single man poses as a family of five. (Here the screen displayed a poster for Eddie Murphys remake of The Nutty Professor.) On the sketch went, with appearances from the Facebook chief executive Mark Zuckerberg (Alex Moffat), defending his company from criticism about its handling of Russian interference and hate speech on the site (I cant be any more transparent. Have you seen my skin?); and Representative Marcia Fudge of Ohio (Leslie Jones) who has said she may run against Representative Nancy Pelosi as House speaker. Nancy Pelosi is tainted, she said. For years, the GOP has used her name against us. But Republicans can never find a way to make fun of me, a middle-aged black woman named Fudge. MY BRILLIANT FRIEND 9 p.m. on HBO. This series, filmed in Italian and based on the four Neapolitan novels by Elena Ferrante (who never actually corresponded face-to-face with the shows director), revolves around the 60-year-old author Elena Greco (played by Elisa Del Genio as a child and Margherita Mazzucco as a teenager) and her longtime friend Lila (Ludovica Nasti as a child and Gaia Girace as a teenager). Lila disappears, and as Elena writes about their relationship, she finds herself recessing into her memory, recalling the birth of their friendship in 1950 to learning how to navigate the rough streets of Naples as adolescents. In his review for The New York Times, James Poniewozik called it a standout in an HBO drama-series lineup that has been dominated by turbulent men and named it a Critics Pick. RETURN TO AMISH 10 p.m. on TLC. In this Season 5 premiere, Mary, Sabrina, Jeremiah and Carmela continue to attempt to acclimate to their new lives. Mary has to decide if shes going to rejoin the Amish church while Jeremiah and Carmela find themselves struggling in their marriage as they try to start a family and pull off a cross-country move. The China Academy of Art and San Francisco Art Institute, both prestigious art schools in their respective countries, on Friday opened an exhibition and a symposium in San Francisco, the United States to explore the role of art in the modern technological age. The exhibition, entitled "From/To: the Frontier of Chinese Art Education," brings the works of more than 40 faculty members of the China Academy of Art (CAA), including oil paintings, ink paintings, sculptures and installments, to San Francisco Art Institute (SFAI) to showcase the distinct Chinese art world and the evolution of traditional Chinese art. The exhibition, which includes two parts at the SFAI's Chestnut Street campus and Fort Mason campus, will run through Dec. 9. The exhibition was designed by CAA's faculty and students, which started by inviting artists to ask 90 questions about art. The questions aimed to generate conversation around the future role and mission of art academies in the modern technological age, said CAA President Xu Jiang. "The 'from/to' reflects the international vision of CAA. We hope the artist communities in San Francisco and even in the United States can better understand China's art education through the exhibition," said Xu. Founded in 1928 in Hangzhou as the first art academy with a comprehensive academic program, CAA is honored as "the cradle of modern art education in China." With over 9,000 students, it upholds its historic mission of revitalizing national art through its support of traditional art forms, while continuing to champion the innovative contemporary works of modern-day Chinese visual culture. The exhibition is accompanied by a two-day symposium and film series, entitled "Poverty of Sensibility -- Panel 21: Art/Education in the 21st Century III." Leading scholars from China and the United States, including professors of art history and practice, curators, and art program directors from art schools, galleries and museums, are invited to speak at the symposium from Friday to Saturday. Xu said CAA was the first art school to start exchange programs with overseas colleges following China's opening-up and reform policy in 1978, and SFAI became the first art school in the West to establish contact with it 32 years ago. Early this year, the two schools signed an agreement in Hangzhou to strengthen exchanges through exhibitions, symposiums and student exchange programs. According to the agreement, SFAI will organize an exhibition and co-host a symposium at CAA in Hangzhou next year. Here are the weeks top stories, and a look ahead. 1. The Camp Fire, still tearing across Northern California, has become the deadliest wildfire in the states recorded history. The fire has incinerated more than 10,000 homes and businesses a small citys worth and reduced the town of Paradise to ash. We have reported on the tales of those who fled some escaped through tunnels of flame and on some of the more than 70 lives lost. The fire has draped a choking blanket of smoke as far south as San Francisco, where schools closed and residents put on masks to step outside. The authorities are searching for more than 1,000 people and clues about a cause. In the south, two other wildfires are also burning. California, one doctor said, is being reset to a new reality. Theresa May: The next seven days are critical The British prime minister, after days of political turmoil, said in a TV interview that she would head back to Brussels this week and European leaders are scheduled to discuss a draft Brexit agreement on Sunday. But anything can happen before then to upend the process. The deal, though reluctantly approved by her cabinet last week, prompted widespread criticism in Britain and looks unlikely to get a sign-off from Parliament. Above, anti-Brexit protests in London. Mrs. May now faces a series of threats at home: A leadership challenge: A secretive panel called the 1922 committee, helmed by Graham Brady, has been collecting letters from members of Mrs. Mays own party stating theyve lost confidence in her. If the committee receives 48 letters, it can trigger a no-confidence vote. She has spoken with organizations like PEN America about collaborating with its PEN Across America initiative, which focuses on local news advocacy and media literacy. Shoeleathers purpose is to make it easy for editors at national news organizations to find reporters who are entrenched in communities and knowledgeable of, say, how agriculture price fluctuations affect residents surrounding Des Moines, or the effect 19th-century race riots might have on current voting legislation in North Carolina. A local reporter, Ms. Baird said, might be able to help an editor with a feature article or to collaborate on breaking news like hurricanes or shootings, rather than relying solely on staff reporters from out of town. According to data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics in May 2017, about one in five news reporters in the United States worked in the metropolitan areas of New York, Los Angeles or Washington. (Many national news organizations do have staff reporters who live in different areas across the country, as well as freelance journalists in many regions whom they regularly rely on.) The Shoeleather database follows the format of databases created to address the lack of representation in the media industry, including Writers of Color and Disabled Writers. Registering with Shoeleather is free. Journalists sign up using a Google form, noting their location and areas of coverage. Assigning editors can access the database at no cost, sorting reporters by state, city and coverage area and then getting their contact information. Ms. Baird said she planned to connect with regional and national press clubs, as well as research hubs like the Donald W. Reynolds Journalism Institute in Columbia, Mo., and the Institute for Rural Journalism and Community Issues in Lexington, Ky. She will also attend journalism conferences to spread the word about Shoeleather. Nov. 1825 Whats Next? Brexits Mayday In Britain, the challenges will continue for Prime Minister Theresa May as she attempts to woo support for her much-derided Brexit proposal. She has finally secured cabinet approval for her long-awaited plan but critics argue that there are too many concessions to the European Union, which may prevent a necessary aye from Parliament. Two of her cabinet members, including her chief Brexit negotiator, quit in protest last week, and if others jump ship, Ms. May could be dumped by her own party. So much for a Brexit process that she claimed would be smooth and orderly (to which the House of Commons laughed uproariously). Black Friday, From the Comfort of Your Couch Expect fewer stampeding hordes on Black Friday this year, as more customers choose to shop on the web instead of lining up in mall parking lots at dawn. Last year, Cyber Monday was the largest day of online shopping in American history; this year, analysts predict, will break that record by 17.6 percent, reaching $7.7 billion in total sales. Post-Thanksgiving discount bonanzas are hardly confined to just one day (or even post-Thanksgiving) anymore. To get a competitive edge, Walmart and other retailers will kick off their online offers even earlier 10 p.m. Eastern on Thanksgiving Eve, before turkey-induced lethargy sets in. E-sports Incoming Move over, football: The nations largest e-sports facility opens in Arlington, Tex., on Saturday. That will be a venue for people to watch other people play video games. Buoyed by slick marketing, glitzy production, multimillion-dollar prizes and the outsize personalities of many celebrity gamers, the e-sports audience is predicted to reach 380 million worldwide by the end of 2018, with a yearly revenue of $900 million. Arlington invested $10 million in the new stadium, which accommodates 2,000 people and features tricked-out reclining chairs and giant overhead screens. What Else? Forget Teslas woes Elon Musks SpaceX held its 18th successful launch this year, shooting a Falcon 9 rocket into orbit from Florida on Thursday. Back on earth, Beyonce severed ties with Topshop, the co-owner of her Ivy Park clothing label, after the retailers chairman was accused of sexual harassment. And: Do you hate your open-plan office? Heres a handy guide to making it work. It also offers guidance on private spots to cry, when its that kind of day. What Counts 10: The dollar value of the newest Canadian bank note, which enters circulation on Monday. The bill features Viola Desmond, a civil rights activist who was jailed for sitting in a whites-only section of a Nova Scotia movie theater in 1946. Paola Michelle Garcia and Wail G. Abbo are to be married Nov. 18 in San Francisco. The Rev. Mary-Rose Engle, an interfaith minister ordained by the New Seminary for Interfaith Studies, is to officiate at the Bently Reserve, an events space. Earlier that day, the couple is to take part in a traditional Islamic ceremony led by Hatem Bazian. The bride, 28, works in San Francisco as an investment management associate for Goldman Sachs. She graduated from the University of California, Berkeley and received an M.B.A. from the University of Pennsylvania, from which she also received a masters degree in education policy. She is a daughter of Ana E. Garcia and Benjamin A. Garcia of Dixon, Calif. The brides father, who is retired, was a management assistant for the San Francisco Unified School District. Her mother is a bilingual tutor for the Vallejo Unified School District in Vallejo, Calif. The groom, 34, is a contractor for the State Department in Washington and the founder of Abbo Enterprises, a data analytics consulting firm in Fairfax, Va. He graduated from George Mason University in Fairfax, from which he also received a masters degree in operations research. Rebecca Genelle Berg and Brendan Kelley Buck were married Nov. 17 at the Inn at Little Washington in Washington, Va. The Rev. Jeffrey L. Maszal, a United Church of Christ minister, officiated. Ms. Berg, 28, is a CNN political reporter based in Washington focusing on campaigns and elections. She graduated from the University of Missouri. She is a daughter of Kristi M. Gomez of San Diego, and the late Steven I. Berg. Her mother, a real estate broker, is the owner of San Diego Castles Realty in Poway, Calif., of which her father, who also was a real estate broker, was an owner. The bride is a stepdaughter of Manuel B. Gomez. The groom, 36, is the chief communications adviser to Representative Paul D. Ryan, the House speaker. Mr. Buck graduated from the University of Georgia. Months later, Mr. Lewis was confronted at home by police investigators on the advice of John Russo, a police lieutenant, who told jurors he had twice spotted Mr. Lewis walking around Howard Beach in the months before Ms. Vetranos murder. Lieutenant Russo said his suspicions about Mr. Lewis were aroused because he wore heavy clothes when it was warm out and walked quickly away from the lieutenant, as if he were anxious to avoid the police. Mr. Lewis was interrogated at a precinct station house, where he twice admitted to Ms. Vetranos murder, but not to sexually abusing her. The confessions, which were videotaped, were a point of dispute in the case. At first, Mr. Lewiss lawyers said, the defendant repeatedly denied to investigators any involvement in the crime. On the videotape, however, Mr. Lewis is seen telling a Queens assistant district attorney, I was beating her and was mad at her. He later says to detectives that neighbors had been playing loud music, which had frustrated him and had caused him to lash out at Ms. Vetrano when he spotted her in the park. Yet at times, Mr. Lewis, who attended a school for students with learning disabilities, appears confused on the videotape. He occasionally mumbles through his responses. His statements did not align with autopsy evidence. Strangulation was ruled the cause of death, and Mr. Lewis told an investigator that Ms. Vetrano had died by drowning in a puddle. He denied sexual assault, but the victims body was discovered partially clothed with signs of sexual abuse. Mr. Leventhal told jurors that Mr. Lewiss cellphone contained downloaded images of the crime scene, and he had searched online for results related to second chances. The DNA evidence found on Ms. Vetranos body matches evidence taken from Mr. Lewis by police investigators when he was arrested, Mr. Leventhal told the jury. When Ramona Ripston was being interviewed in 1972 to be executive director of the A.C.L.U. of Southern California, an all-male board committee asked her questions like, How could she do the job while being the mother of small children? By the time they got around to asking what her priorities in the office would be, she hesitated only briefly before telling them point blank, Im going to change the board so that unfair questions like this dont get asked again. Despite her bluntness, or perhaps because of it, she got the job, becoming the first woman and one of the few non-lawyers to head an A.C.L.U affiliate. She went on to lead the affiliate for almost four decades, overhauling it into a crusading organization that broadened its scope beyond civil liberties to encompass matters of racial and economic justice. And as promised, she diversified the board, initially helping bring in more women and later, people of color and gays. I have always been grateful for that opportunity. I gave my first donation to Hopkins the year after I graduated: $5. It was all I could afford. Since then, Ive given the school $1.5 billion to support research, teaching and financial aid. Hopkins has made great progress toward becoming need-blind admitting students based solely on merit. I want to be sure that the school that gave me a chance will be able to permanently open that same door of opportunity for others. And so, I am donating an additional $1.8 billion to Hopkins that will be used for financial aid for qualified low- and middle-income students. This will make admissions at Hopkins forever need-blind; finances will never again factor into decisions. The school will be able to offer more generous levels of financial aid, replacing loans for many students with scholarship grants. It will ease the burden of debt for many graduates. And it will make the campus more socioeconomically diverse. But Hopkins is one school. A recent analysis by The Times found that at dozens of Americas elite colleges, more students came from the top 1 percent of the income scale than from the entire bottom 60 percent of that scale even though many of those lower-income students have the qualifications to get in. And until recently, by some estimates, half of all high-achieving low- and middle-income students have not even been applying to top colleges largely because they believe they cant afford it, doubt theyll be accepted, or arent even aware of their options. To the Editor: Re The Newest Jim Crow (column, Nov. 11): It is unfortunate that Michelle Alexander rejects electronic monitoring of criminal defendants, as it is the best way to free people from jails and prisons while minimizing the risk to the public. Nationwide, one in three released pretrial defendants fails to comply with the requirements of discharge. They dont show up for court proceedings (23 percent) or they get arrested for another crime (17 percent) . Monitoring is proved to reduce such noncompliance . Moreover, the defendants who are offered bail often committed violent or serious crimes; they are given the bail-or-jail option, rather than release on recognizance, because they may be dangerous. The more pretrial defendants we release, the more the risk to the communities to which they return. These communities, which often have high minority populations, deserve the protection that monitoring can provide. If the movement to reduce incarceration is to gain widespread public support, the use of electronic monitoring should be expanded, not condemned. China is slated to become world's largest theme park market by 2020, when the number of tourists is expected to exceed 230 million, according to a fresh report by U.S. engineering firm AECOM. The number of tourists to Chinese theme parks have seen an average annual growth of 13 percent in the past decade, and reached 190 million in 2017. The number is expected to keep the double digit growth in the following years, according to the report. The report attributes the rapid growth to Chinese consumers' rising income that sparks greater demands on leisure activities, as well as more convenient public transportation systems. Despite the large number of total attendance, the report also finds that China has a markedly lower per-capita attendance compared with developed economics. "These findings demonstrate a significant opportunity for future growth in the Chinese market," said Chris Yoshii, vice president for Asia and global director for Leisure and Culture with AECOM. Geologically, most of the theme parks are in economically developed areas such as south China and east China, with the latter accounting for more than 30 percent of the total number, and more parks are being built in central and southwest China, the report shows. "We are seeing a trend that these theme parks are more in central and southeast China, the projects are shifting to inland from coastal areas, as a result of local economic development," said Yoshii. Kristin Wong, author of Get Money: Live the Life You Want, Not Just the Life You Can Afford, wrote that many of us grow up learning that money is one of a few topics like politics, sex and religion that you should avoid in polite company. You dont brag about your net worth. You dont share your salary with colleagues. You try not to ask your friends about their rent, even if it helps put your budget in perspective. So, yes: The cards are stacked against us here. Compounding the problem is that some companies implicitly and sometimes explicitly discourage employees from openly discussing their salaries. Horror stories of employees facing punishment for sharing salaries arent difficult to dig up, and sharing can be even more difficult for new employees, employees who arent in a position of power, or women and minority employees . Still, the tides are changing. In just the past few years, cultural norms and legislation have begun to unravel some of the forces that discourage open salary discussion, sometimes even tilting pay negotiations in favor of employees. A handful of states, including California, Connecticut and Massachusetts, have banned employers from asking job candidates for a salary history, which shifts some leveraging power back to the candidates. In 2014, President Barack Obama signed an executive order prohibiting federal contractors from retaliating against employees who choose to discuss their compensation. And in some industries, including the news media, unionization has become a powerful force in fighting for worker wages. Having these conversations is much easier said than done, but there are ways to gain confidence in discussing your salary. Most important, Ms. McGurran said, is to be open and genuine, framing these conversations as beneficial for everyone involved. She suggests starting with people who are more senior than you, maybe someone who has helped bring you on, or a previous manager, or someone who you really trust and wants to see you succeed. This can give you a bigger-picture view of your companys salaries. From there, try to approach peers, co-workers or fellow alumni in off-campus, laid-back settings, all while keeping the focus on the salary and not the person. These new language systems learn by analyzing millions of sentences written by humans. A system built by OpenAI, a lab based in San Francisco, analyzed thousands of self-published books, including romance novels, science fiction and more. Googles Bert analyzed these same books plus the length and breadth of Wikipedia. Each system learned a particular skill by analyzing all that text. OpenAIs technology learned to guess the next word in a sentence. Bert learned to guess missing words anywhere in a sentence. But in mastering these specific tasks, they also learned about how language is pieced together. If Bert can guess the missing words in millions of sentences (such as the man walked into a store and bought a ____ of milk), it can also understand many of the fundamental relationships between words in the English language, said Jacob Devlin, the Google researcher who oversaw the creation of Bert. (Bert is short for Bidirectional Encoder Representations from Transformers.) The system can apply this knowledge to other tasks. If researchers provide Bert with a bunch of questions and their answers, it learns to answer other questions on its own. Then, if they feed it news headlines that describe the same event, it learns to recognize when two sentences are similar. Usually, machines can recognize only an exact match. Bert can handle the common sense test from the Allen Institute. It can also handle a reading comprehension test where it answers questions about encyclopedia articles. What is oxygen? What is precipitation? In another test, it can judge the sentiment of a movie review. Is the review positive or negative? This kind of technology is a step toward a lot of still-faraway goals in A.I., like technologies that can summarize and synthesize big, messy collections of information to help people make important decisions, said Sam Bowman, a professor at New York University who specializes in natural language research. In the weeks after the release of OpenAIs system, outside researchers applied it to conversation. An independent group of researchers used OpenAIs technology to create a system that leads a competition to build the best chatbot that was organized by several top labs, including the Facebook AI Lab. And this month, Google open sourced its Bert system, so others can apply it to additional tasks. Mr. Devlin and his colleagues have already trained it in 102 languages. RAIPUR, India Forget the old American campaign slogan of a chicken in every pot, or the Indian politicians common pledge to put rice in every bowl. Here in the state of Chhattisgarh, the chief minister, Raman Singh, has promised a smartphone in every home and he is using the government-issued devices to reach voters as he campaigns in legislative elections that conclude on Tuesday. Chain Sahu, a mother of two who cooks at a school on the outskirts of Mr. Singhs district in Rajnandgaon, said her free phone rang last Sunday, just before her village voted. The caller, who claimed to be from the Raman government, asked if she had benefited from government programs and urged her to vote for Mr. Singhs Bharatiya Janata Party. When she complained about her pay and work conditions, she recalled, They said, Well carry your concerns to Raman. The phones are the latest twist in digital campaigning by the B.J.P., which controls the national and state government and is deft at using tools like WhatsApp groups and Facebook posts to influence voters. The B.J.P. government in Rajasthan, which holds state elections next month, is also subsidizing phones and data plans for residents, and party leaders are considering extending the model to other states. His margin has shrunk with each victory he beat Alex Sink by 1.2 percentage points in 2010, Charlie Crist by 1 point in 2014, and Mr. Nelson by 0.1 of a point. But this year, for the first time, he obtained a majority of the vote, 50.1 percent. Behind Mr. Scotts victories lies his vast personal wealth. He and his wife, Ann, put more than $70 million into his first campaign for governor and nearly $13 million into his second; this year, Mr. Scott spent more than $50 million on the Senate race. But as a candidate, Mr. Scott, who is not known for his charisma, did more than just open his checkbook: He campaigned incessantly and stayed relentlessly on message, casting Mr. Nelson as a do-nothing has-been who had to be retired. Mr. Nelson admitted in a concession statement that things worked out a little differently than he had hoped. I by no measure feel defeated, and thats because Ive had the privilege of serving the people of Florida and our country for most of my life, he said. To all Floridians, whether you voted for me, or for my opponent, or you didnt vote at all, I ask you to never give up this fight. He did not mention Mr. Scott by name. Though Mr. Nelson, 76, was a three-term incumbent from Orlando, he had less name recognition than Mr. Scott, 65, a multimillionaire former hospital executive from Naples. Mr. Scott made much of his wealth leading the Columbia/HCA hospital chain, which during his tenure was fined $1.7 billion for Medicare fraud, an issue that forced him out of his job. Mr. Nelson, a centrist who was first elected to the State House in 1972, was not particularly exciting to the increasingly young, progressive Democratic base, and he never quite seemed comfortable seizing the spotlight. WASHINGTON What if House Democrats tried to stage a coup and nobody showed up? That is the predicament facing Democrats as a quiet rebellion simmers in their ranks to block Representative Nancy Pelosi of California from being speaker. Inside the Capitol and at nearby watering holes and restaurants, there are hopeful whispers among a small band of Democrats that a fresh-faced new leader will come forward to challenge Ms. Pelosi, who has led House Democrats for 15 years. But so far, no one has emerged to take her on. As much as some House Democrats, including several among the wave of newcomers elected this month, say they want to shake up a calcified party leadership, would-be challengers are keenly aware of the immense power Ms. Pelosi wields, and fearful of institutional retribution and reputational damage if they step forward to test the status quo. Democrats who had hoped to release a letter clearly demonstrating that Ms. Pelosi did not have the votes to become speaker pulled back on Friday, hoping to garner more than the 17 signatures that they said they had collected. Representative Marcia L. Fudge of Ohio, who is considering a run against Ms. Pelosi, said she was still undecided. And Ms. Pelosi, a legendary legislator, vote-counter, campaigner and fund-raiser who served as speaker from 2007 to 2011, has expressed supreme confidence that she will be elected again in January. She has enlisted powerful allies to weigh in on her behalf and worked to build an air of inevitability around her bid, including through a letter of support circulated by a veteran lawmaker, Representative Nita M. Lowey of New York, and signed by 61 Democratic women as of Friday afternoon. (An additional four women elected this month have since said publicly that they will back her.) President Trump said in an interview aired Sunday that he most likely would not sit for an interview with the special counsel, Robert S. Mueller III, asserting that weve wasted enough time on this witch hunt and the answer is, probably, were finished. The president also claimed that he had no idea that his acting attorney general, Matthew G. Whitaker, viewed the Mueller investigation skeptically, despite reports that the two had multiple conversations about the inquiry over the past year. The comments from Mr. Trump were made during a wide-ranging, sometimes testy interview with Chris Wallace, the host of Fox News Sunday, who sat with the president at the White House last week. The president continued to be defensive about his abandoned trip to an American military cemetery during a visit to Paris last week, insulted the widely respected retired Navy admiral who oversaw the raid that killed Osama bin Laden and said he declined to listen to an audio recording of the dissident journalist Jamal Khashoggi being killed by people connected to the Saudi crown prince last month. His comments on the Mueller investigation marked an apparent reversal from a year of claiming that he was willing and eager to be interviewed by the special counsel, who is investigating possible collusion between the presidents campaign and Russian officials during the 2016 election. Mr. Trumps legal team has blanched at the idea, fearing that the president might lie under oath, and has steadily narrowed the path for such an interview. AMSTERDAM A commander in a Central African Republic militia who is known as Rambo and is wanted on suspicion of war crimes, including murder, deportation and torture of Muslims, has been handed over to the International Criminal Court in The Hague, the tribunal said. Officials from the Central African Republic transferred the commander, Alfred Yekatom, on Saturday to officials from the court, which is looking into more than six years of violence that has destabilized a fragile region at the heart of the continent. Mr. Yekatom, a sitting member of Parliament, was flown out of the country and arrived in the courts detention center in The Hague early Sunday, officials there said. There was no immediate comment from Mr. Yekatom or any lawyers representing him. A United Nations commission of inquiry found that Christian militias under Mr. Yekatom had carried out war crimes and crimes against humanity by targeting Muslims. SYDNEY, Australia The United States and China turned a Pacific Rim trade summit this weekend into a stage where the world could do little more than stand by and watch as two great powers aggravated their battle over trade. President Xi Jinping and Vice President Mike Pence both made their cases to the global leaders assembled in Papua New Guinea then they dug in and refused to compromise. That left the group of 21 nations in disarray, unable to agree on even a routine joint statement like those that had closed every other Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation summit since 1989. Countries caught in the trade-war crossfire between China and the United States are becoming increasingly exasperated. The entire world is worried, said Prime Minister Peter ONeill of Papua New Guinea. The disagreement over the final statement reflects a hardening of the conflict between China and the United States, with each side deploying aggressive, uncompromising rhetoric reminiscent of that heard during the Cold War. DUBAI, United Arab Emirates Interpol gathered police chiefs from around the world in Dubai on Sunday to select a new president, months after the global crime-fighting agencys former leader was abruptly arrested by China on corruption charges. The agency is holding its first general assembly since its president, Meng Hongwei, who was also Chinas vice minister of public security, went missing in September while on a trip to China. After Interpol officials demanded answers from Beijing, and after Mr. Mengs wife, Grace Meng, revealed he had sent her an emoji of a knife to signify danger, it emerged that Mr. Meng, a Chinese citizen, had been secretly detained. The arrest of an official with decades of experience in Beijings security apparatus, who was at the head of an international organization, was a bold move even by the standards of the increasingly authoritarian system under the leadership of President Xi Jinping. China eventually said Mr. Meng was being investigated on charges of taking bribes and other crimes, as part of a sweeping anticorruption campaign under President Xi Jinping. They all say they want to move home if theres a decent job, said Mr. Caddie, 45, referring to people who have left Ruatoria. So were creating some decent jobs, and well see how relevant peoples talk is. Many people in Ruatoria say they have stayed because of deep connections to the land and their community. Most speak the Maori language, and many serve at their local marae (a communal meeting place). The unspoiled scenery is ancestral Maori land, much of it now owned by family collectives. Mr. Caddie, a former district councilor and youth worker, has led community development projects before, but this is his most ambitious. Hikurangi Cannabis, which currently employs 10 people, wants to create 120 jobs in Ruatoria in the next two years and eventually double the towns income, said Mr. Ehau. Besides the shares sold to local residents, Hikurangi raised a further two million dollars through crowdfunding, and institutional investors with deeper pockets have also bought in. The company was the first in New Zealand to obtain a license to breed cannabis strains for eventual use in medicines; currently, it can only sell its product overseas for research and clinical trials while it waits for medicinal cannabis production in New Zealand to become legal. Parliament is expected to pass that legislation by March, though the law would not take effect until 2020. (New Zealands government has also promised a referendum on legalizing recreational cannabis use before the 2020 election.) LONDON Prime Minister Theresa May said on Sunday that she would hold more talks in Brussels this week over Britains withdrawal from the European Union while she battles twin threats at home: a possible no-confidence vote on her leadership and new resignations from her fractious cabinet. Mrs. May faces a perilous few days after her draft agreement provoked two cabinet resignations and such widespread objections from lawmakers of all political persuasions that the document looks unlikely to win Parliaments approval. This isnt about me, Mrs. May said on Sky News. This is about the national interest. The next seven days are critical. Since Britons voted in 2016 to quit the European Union, Mrs. Mays Conservative Party has been split between those who want to keep close economic ties with the bloc and a more hard-line faction that wants a clean break. Mr. Trump added that when Finland does have forest fires, they are a very small problem. But as with his earlier comments about forest management in California, experts said the presidents remarks were misleading. The Finns dont rake. Raking for leaves and needles is not a normal feature of Finnish fire prevention, according to Rami Ruuska, a forest fires expert at the Finnish Interior Ministry. Instead, Finns focus on removing dead trees from the forest floor where possible. Of course, we have a big country and we cant do it everywhere, Mr. Ruuska said. President Sauli Niinisto of Finland said, in an interview published Sunday in a Finnish newspaper, that in a brief conversation in Paris on Nov. 11, he had explained the virtues of Finnish forest management to Mr. Trump. But he didnt recall mentioning raking. The secret to the Finns forest management system lies instead in its early warning system, aerial surveillance system and network of forest roads, said Professor Henrik Lindberg, a forest fires researcher at the Hame University of Applied Sciences, a college in southern Finland. At times of high incendiary risk, the Finnish authorities are highly effective at delivering warnings across most forms of media, Mr. Lindberg said. Ms. Kramp-Karrenbauer, 56, has followed a traditional path among Christian Democrats, rising through the party ranks to win three state election campaigns on the way to a seven-year run as governor of Saarland. This year, she left regional politics for a stint as party general secretary in Berlin, a move Ms. Merkel had encouraged. But Ms. Kramp-Karrenbauers association with the chancellor may prove to be her biggest liability. She has been seeking to distance herself from Ms. Merkel recently, and on Thursday she called for increased domestic security and for a rejuvenation of conservative values. She also emphasized her history of winning difficult races in Saarland, Germanys smallest state, on the border with France. At the end of the day, what matters is whether you can win elections and in all honesty, I have made it through a lot of elections, against a lot of opposition, she told the public broadcaster ZDF last week. You can be rhetorically very gifted, but at the end of the day, you need something to show for it. That remark was clearly a jab aimed at Mr. Merz, 62, a charismatic speaker who is remembered for his approachability during a brief term as conservative floor leader that ended when Ms. Merkel ousted him in 2002. On Thursday, he laid out a five-point plan to attract more voters to the party, including winning back the roughly one million voters lost to the far-right party Alternative for Germany, or AfD, in the 2017 general election. Those are not nationalists or anti-Semites, those are voters who are disappointed with the conservatives, Mr. Merz said in an interview with the newspaper Bild that was published online on Wednesday. In the short term, we wont get rid of the AfD, but we can halve it. JERUSALEM Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of Israel made an impassioned attempt on Sunday to salvage his crumbling government, warning his teetering coalition partners that toppling the government at such a complex time for national security would be irresponsible. In a live 10-minute address timed for the main evening television news broadcasts, Mr. Netanyahu drew on his military record and political clout to try to prevent early elections, listing his accomplishments in what commentators described as a pre-emptive campaign pitch. We are in the midst of a battle, and in the middle of a battle we dont abandon our posts, Mr. Netanyahu said. In the middle of a battle, we do not play politics. The security of the nation is beyond politics, and the security of the nation is also beyond personal considerations. The political crisis was precipitated by the resignation on Wednesday of the hard-line defense minister, Avigdor Lieberman, who cited the governments lack of resolve in handling the latest conflict with Gaza a move that critics said had more to do with Mr. Liebermans own political agenda. China Rules How China became a superpower C-SPAN It was 2000, and Bill Clinton was upbeat. The internet, he said, was opening up the world. Theres no question China has been trying to crack down on the internet, he said. Good luck. Thats sort of like trying to nail Jell-O to the wall. C-SPAN The internet would inevitably push China toward democracy, he said. How could any country control something so free-flowing and still hope to be technologically vibrant? Something would surely have to give. He was wrong. Today, China has the worlds only internet companies that can match Americas in ambition and reach. Booking JD.com $35 billion $348 billion $413 billion $792 billion market value $402 billion $743 billion Salesforce Baidu $66 billion Source: S&P Global Market Intelligence, as of Nov. 15. $792 billion market value $743 billion $348 billion $413 billion $402 billion Booking JD.com $35 billion Salesforce Baidu $66 billion Source: S&P Global Market Intelligence, Nov. 15. $413 billion $792 billion market value $402 billion $743 billion Booking JD.com $35 billion $348 billion Salesforce Baidu $66 billion Source: S&P Global Market Intelligence, as of Nov. 15. It is years ahead of the United States in replacing paper money with smartphone payments, turning tech giants into vital gatekeepers of the consumer economy. And it is host to a supernova of creative expression in short videos, podcasts, blogs and streaming TV that ought to dispel any notions of Chinese culture as drearily conformist. Karmas a Bitch, a meme Earthworm Liu Bubao Big Lemon Carrie All this, on a patch of cyberspace that is walled off from Facebook and Google, policed by tens of thousands of censors and subject to strict controls on how data is collected, stored and shared. Chinas leaders like the internet they have created. And now, they want to direct the nations talent and tech acumen toward an even loftier end: building an innovation-driven economy, one that produces world-leading companies. Not long ago, Chinese tech firms were best known for copying Silicon Valley. Google Baidu YouTube Youku Instagram Douyin Uber Didi But the flow of inspiration now runs both ways. American social media executives look to Tencent and ByteDance for the latest tricks for keeping users glued to their phones. Tencents WeChat app, an all-in-one hub for socializing, playing games, paying bills, booking train tickets and more, paved the way for the increasingly feature-stuffed chat apps made by Facebook and Apple. Facebook recently took a page from TikTok, a Chinese service that is a sensation among Western tweens, by releasing its own highly similar app for creating goofy short videos. If people in the West didnt see this coming, it was because they mistook Chinas authoritarianism for hostility toward technology. But in some ways Chinese tech firms are less fettered than American ones. Witness the backlash against Big Data in the United States, the calls to break up giants like Facebook and the anxiety about digital addiction. None of those are big problems for Chinese companies. In China, there is pretty much only one rule, and it is simple: Dont undermine the state. So titans like Weibo and Baidu heed censorship orders. Unwanted beliefs and ideologies are kept out. Beyond that, everything is fair game. Start-ups can achieve mammoth scale with astonishing speed; they can also crash brutally. Thanks to weak intellectual property protections, they can rip one another off with abandon not great for rewarding innovation, but O.K. for consumers, who get lots of choices. And the money just keeps flowing in. $25 billion United States 20 15 China 10 5 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 18 $25 billion United States 20 15 China 10 5 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 $25 billion United States 20 15 China 10 5 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 18 Venture capital invested each quarter. Source: KPMG Enterprise In another advantage, old-school industries like media, finance and health care have been dominated by lumbering state-run giants. That has allowed internet champions like Alibaba and Tencent to sew themselves into these businesses with ease. With their mobile payment platforms, the two giants have built sprawling ecosystems in which vast amounts of commercial activity now take place. Little remains of daily life that has not been transformed. Shopping. Getting a loan. Renting a bike. Even going to the doctor. This level of clout hasnt gone unnoticed by Chinas leaders. Never in the Communist era have private entities wielded such influence over peoples lives. To keep tech in its place, the government is demanding stakes in companies and influence over management. Regulators have reprimanded online platforms for hosting content they deem distasteful too raunchy, too flirty, too creepy or just too weird. Thats why the best way for tech companies to thrive in China is to make themselves useful to the state. Nearly everyone in China uses WeChat, making the social network a great way for the authorities to police what people say and do. SenseTime, whose facial recognition technology powers those fun filters in video apps, also sells software to law enforcement. Image recognition software by SenseTime Crowd analysis software by SenseTime Identification software by SenseTime labeling people and cars in real time Participants at a Chinese internet conference identified by Face++ software The risk for these companies is that the government demands more, sucking away resources that could be better spent chasing innovations or breaking into new markets. They didnt like the Wests playbook. So they wrote their own. The pull of the past: Aerospace workers wearing Long March-style uniforms. Bryan Denton for The New York Times The West was sure the Chinese approach would not work. It just had to wait. Its still waiting. In the uncertain years after Maos death, long before China became an industrial juggernaut, before the Communist Party went on a winning streak that would reshape the world, a group of economics students gathered at a mountain retreat outside Shanghai. There, in the bamboo forests of Moganshan, the young scholars grappled with a pressing question: How could China catch up with the West? It was the autumn of 1984, and on the other side of the world, Ronald Reagan was promising morning again in America. China, meanwhile, was just recovering from decades of political and economic turmoil. There had been progress in the countryside, but more than three-quarters of the population still lived in extreme poverty. The state decided where everyone worked, what every factory made and how much everything cost. The students and researchers attending the Academic Symposium of Middle-Aged and Young Economists wanted to unleash market forces but worried about crashing the economy and alarming the party bureaucrats and ideologues who controlled it. Late one night, they reached a consensus: Factories should meet state quotas but sell anything extra they made at any price they chose. It was a clever, quietly radical proposal to undercut the planned economy and it intrigued a young party official in the room who had no background in economics. As they were discussing the problem, I didnt say anything at all, recalled Xu Jingan, now 76 and retired. I was thinking, how do we make this work? How China became a superpower The Chinese economy has grown so fast for so long now that it is easy to forget how unlikely its metamorphosis into a global powerhouse was, how much of its ascent was improvised and born of desperation. The proposal that Mr. Xu took from the mountain retreat, soon adopted as government policy, was a pivotal early step in this astounding transformation. China now leads the world in the number of homeowners, internet users, college graduates and, by some counts, billionaires. Extreme poverty has fallen to less than 1 percent. An isolated, impoverished backwater has evolved into the most significant rival to the United States since the fall of the Soviet Union. China today might be unrecognizable to its Communist founders, but the past still holds a powerful allure. Red tourism is a big industry. Bryan Denton for The New York Times It is less worried now about catching up to the West. Instead, it wonders how to pull ahead. Bryan Denton for The New York Times The country leads the world in the number of internet users and college graduates. It is now working to land a person on the moon. Bryan Denton for The New York Times Gone are the days when the state decided where everyone worked and what every factory made. Bryan Denton for The New York Times The world thought it would change China, but Chinas success has been so spectacular that it has changed the world. Bryan Denton for The New York Times An epochal contest is underway. With President Xi Jinping pushing a more assertive agenda overseas and tightening controls at home, the Trump administration has launched a trade war and is gearing up for what could be a new Cold War. Meanwhile, in Beijing the question these days is less how to catch up with the West than how to pull ahead and how to do so in a new era of American hostility. The pattern is familiar to historians, a rising power challenging an established one, with a familiar complication: For decades, the United States encouraged and aided Chinas rise, working with its leaders and its people to build the most important economic partnership in the world, one that has lifted both nations. During this time, eight American presidents assumed, or hoped, that China would eventually bend to what were considered the established rules of modernization: Prosperity would fuel popular demands for political freedom and bring China into the fold of democratic nations. Or the Chinese economy would falter under the weight of authoritarian rule and bureaucratic rot. But neither happened. Instead, Chinas Communist leaders have defied expectations again and again. They embraced capitalism even as they continued to call themselves Marxists. They used repression to maintain power but without stifling entrepreneurship or innovation. Surrounded by foes and rivals, they avoided war, with one brief exception, even as they fanned nationalist sentiment at home. And they presided over 40 years of uninterrupted growth, often with unorthodox policies the textbooks said would fail. In late September, the Peoples Republic of China marked a milestone, surpassing the Soviet Union in longevity. Days later, it celebrated a record 69 years of Communist rule. And China may be just hitting its stride a new superpower with an economy on track to become not just the worlds largest but, quite soon, the largest by a wide margin. The world thought it could change China, and in many ways it has. But Chinas success has been so spectacular that it has just as often changed the world and the American understanding of how the world works. There is no simple explanation for how Chinas leaders pulled this off. There was foresight and luck, skill and violent resolve, but perhaps most important was the fear a sense of crisis among Maos successors that they never shook, and that intensified after the Tiananmen Square massacre and the collapse of the Soviet Union. Even as they put the disasters of Maos rule behind them, Chinas Communists studied and obsessed over the fate of their old ideological allies in Moscow, determined to learn from their mistakes. They drew two lessons: The party needed to embrace reform to survive but reform must never include democratization. China has veered between these competing impulses ever since, between opening up and clamping down, between experimenting with change and resisting it, always pulling back before going too far in either direction for fear of running aground. Many people said that the party would fail, that this tension between openness and repression would be too much for a nation as big as China to sustain. But it may be precisely why China soared. Whether it can continue to do so with the United States trying to stop it is another question entirely. Apparatchiks Into Capitalists None of the participants at the Moganshan conference could have predicted how China would take off, much less the roles they would play in the boom ahead. They had come of age in an era of tumult, almost entirely isolated from the rest of the world, with little to prepare them for the challenge they faced. To succeed, the party had to both reinvent its ideology and reprogram its best and brightest to carry it out. Mr. Xu, for example, had graduated with a degree in journalism on the eve of Maos violent Cultural Revolution, during which millions of people were purged, persecuted and killed. He spent those years at a cadre school doing manual labor and teaching Marxism in an army unit. After Maos death, he was assigned to a state research institute tasked with fixing the economy. His first job was figuring out how to give factories more power to make decisions, a subject he knew almost nothing about. Yet he went on to a distinguished career as an economic policymaker, helping launch Chinas first stock market in Shenzhen. Among the other young participants in Moganshan were Zhou Xiaochuan, who would later lead Chinas central bank for 15 years; Lou Jiwei, who ran Chinas sovereign wealth fund and recently stepped down as finance minister; and an agricultural policy specialist named Wang Qishan, who rose higher than any of them. Mr. Wang headed Chinas first investment bank and helped steer the nation through the Asian financial crisis. As Beijings mayor, he hosted the 2008 Olympics. Then he oversaw the partys recent high-stakes crackdown on corruption. Now he is Chinas vice president, second in authority only to Xi Jinping, the partys leader. The careers of these men from Moganshan highlight an important aspect of Chinas success: It turned its apparatchiks into capitalists. Bureaucrats who were once obstacles to growth became engines of growth. Officials devoted to class warfare and price controls began chasing investment and promoting private enterprise. Every day now, the leader of a Chinese district, city or province makes a pitch like the one Yan Chaojun made at a business forum in September. Sanya, Mr. Yan said, referring to the southern resort town he leads, must be a good butler, nanny, driver and cleaning person for businesses, and welcome investment from foreign companies. It was a remarkable act of reinvention, one that eluded the Soviets. In both China and the Soviet Union, vast Stalinist bureaucracies had smothered economic growth, with officials who wielded unchecked power resisting change that threatened their privileges. Mikhail Gorbachev, the last leader of the Soviet Union, tried to break the hold of these bureaucrats on the economy by opening up the political system. Decades later, Chinese officials still take classes on why that was a mistake. The party even produced a documentary series on the subject in 2006, distributing it on classified DVDs for officials at all levels to watch. Afraid to open up politically but unwilling to stand still, the party found another way. It moved gradually and followed the pattern of the compromise at Moganshan, which left the planned economy intact while allowing a market economy to flourish and outgrow it. Once an impoverished backwater, China is now the most significant rival to the United States. Wuhan, a former river town, has swelled into a metropolis of over 10 million. Bryan Denton for The New York Times A businessman stretched before a round of video golf at a hotel he built in Kunming. Bryan Denton for The New York Times Rising incomes have turned China into a nation of consumers. Bryan Denton for The New York Times In cities like Shanghai, Chinese schoolchildren outperform peers around the world. Bryan Denton for The New York Times Western economists doubted that innovation could take place under Chinas rigid bureaucracy. They were proved wrong. Bryan Denton for The New York Times Party leaders called this go-slow, experimental approach crossing the river by feeling the stones allowing farmers to grow and sell their own crops, for example, while retaining state ownership of the land; lifting investment restrictions in special economic zones, while leaving them in place in the rest of the country; or introducing privatization by selling only minority stakes in state firms at first. There was resistance, Mr. Xu said. Satisfying the reformers and the opposition was an art. American economists were skeptical. Market forces needed to be introduced quickly, they argued; otherwise, the bureaucracy would mobilize to block necessary changes. After a visit to China in 1988, the Nobel laureate Milton Friedman called the partys strategy an open invitation to corruption and inefficiency. But China had a strange advantage in battling bureaucratic resistance. The nations long economic boom followed one of the darkest chapters of its history, the Cultural Revolution, which decimated the party apparatus and left it in shambles. In effect, autocratic excess set the stage for Maos eventual successor, Deng Xiaoping, to lead the party in a radically more open direction. That included sending generations of young party officials to the United States and elsewhere to study how modern economies worked. Sometimes they enrolled in universities, sometimes they found jobs, and sometimes they went on brief study tours. When they returned, the party promoted their careers and arranged for others to learn from them. At the same time, the party invested in education, expanding access to schools and universities, and all but eliminating illiteracy. Many critics focus on the weaknesses of the Chinese system the emphasis on tests and memorization, the political constraints, the discrimination against rural students. But mainland China now produces more graduates in science and engineering every year than the United States, Japan, South Korea and Taiwan combined. In cities like Shanghai, Chinese schoolchildren outperform peers around the world. For many parents, though, even that is not enough. Because of new wealth, a traditional emphasis on education as a path to social mobility and the states hypercompetitive college entrance exam, most students also enroll in after-school tutoring programs a market worth $125 billion, according to one study, or as much as half the governments annual military budget. Another explanation for the partys transformation lies in bureaucratic mechanics. Analysts sometimes say that China embraced economic reform while resisting political reform. But in reality, the party made changes after Maos death that fell short of free elections or independent courts yet were nevertheless significant. The party introduced term limits and mandatory retirement ages, for example, making it easier to flush out incompetent officials. And it revamped the internal report cards it used to evaluate local leaders for promotions and bonuses, focusing them almost exclusively on concrete economic targets. These seemingly minor adjustments had an outsize impact, injecting a dose of accountability and competition into the political system, said Yuen Yuen Ang, a political scientist at the University of Michigan. China created a unique hybrid, she said, an autocracy with democratic characteristics. As the economy flourished, officials with a single-minded focus on growth often ignored widespread pollution, violations of labor standards, and tainted food and medical supplies. They were rewarded with soaring tax revenues and opportunities to enrich their friends, their relatives and themselves. A wave of officials abandoned the state and went into business. Over time, the party elite amassed great wealth, which cemented its support for the privatization of much of the economy it once controlled. The private sector now produces more than 60 percent of the nations economic output, employs over 80 percent of workers in cities and towns, and generates 90 percent of new jobs, a senior official said in a speech last year. As often as not, the bureaucrats stay out of the way. I basically dont see them even once a year, said James Ni, chairman and founder of Mlily, a mattress manufacturer in eastern China. Im creating jobs, generating tax revenue. Why should they bother me? In recent years, President Xi has sought to assert the partys authority inside private firms. He has also bolstered state-owned enterprises with subsidies while preserving barriers to foreign competition. And he has endorsed demands that American companies surrender technology in exchange for market access. In doing so, he is betting that the Chinese state has changed so much that it should play a leading role in the economy that it can build and run national champions capable of outcompeting the United States for control of the high-tech industries of the future. But he has also provoked a backlash in Washington. Opening Up In December, the Communist Party will celebrate the 40th anniversary of the reform and opening up policies that transformed China. The triumphant propaganda has already begun, with Mr. Xi putting himself front and center, as if taking a victory lap for the nation. He is the partys most powerful leader since Deng and the son of a senior official who served Deng, but even as he wraps himself in Dengs legacy, Mr. Xi has set himself apart in an important way: Deng encouraged the party to seek help and expertise overseas, but Mr. Xi preaches self-reliance and warns of the threats posed by hostile foreign forces. In other words, he appears to have less use for the opening up part of Dengs slogan. Of the many risks that the party took in its pursuit of growth, perhaps the biggest was letting in foreign investment, trade and ideas. It was an exceptional gamble by a country once as isolated as North Korea is today, and it paid off in an exceptional way: China tapped into a wave of globalization sweeping the world and emerged as the worlds factory. Chinas embrace of the internet, within limits, helped make it a leader in technology. And foreign advice helped China reshape its banks, build a legal system and create modern corporations. The party prefers a different narrative these days, presenting the economic boom as grown out of the soil of China and primarily the result of its leadership. But this obscures one of the great ironies of Chinas rise that Beijings former enemies helped make it possible. President Xi Jinping has shown no sign of abandoning what he calls the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation. The observation deck of the Shanghai Tower, the worlds second-tallest building. Bryan Denton for The New York Times A Communist Party Congress. Mr. Xi seems to believe that China has been so successful that the party can return to its authoritarian past. Bryan Denton for The New York Times China tapped into a wave of globalization and emerged as the worlds factory. Advertising for day laborers in Shenzhen. Bryan Denton for The New York Times A fashion design employee at a bridal wear exhibition in Beijing may have taken the opportunity for a break, but no one calls China a sleeping giant anymore. Bryan Denton for The New York Times Installing solar panels on a 47-story residential development. China succeeded by leaving a planned economy intact and allowing a market economy to flourish and outgrow it. Bryan Denton for The New York Times The United States and Japan, both routinely vilified by party propagandists, became major trading partners and were important sources of aid, investment and expertise. The real game changers, though, were people like Tony Lin, a factory manager who made his first trip to the mainland in 1988. Mr. Lin was born and raised in Taiwan, the self-governing island where those who lost the Chinese civil war fled after the Communist Revolution. As a schoolboy, he was taught that mainland China was the enemy. But in the late 1980s, the sneaker factory he managed in central Taiwan was having trouble finding workers, and its biggest customer, Nike, suggested moving some production to China. Mr. Lin set aside his fears and made the trip. What he found surprised him: a large and willing work force, and officials so eager for capital and know-how that they offered the use of a state factory free and a five-year break on taxes. Mr. Lin spent the next decade shuttling to and from southern China, spending months at a time there and returning home only for short breaks to see his wife and children. He built and ran five sneaker factories, including Nikes largest Chinese supplier. Chinas policies were tremendous, he recalled. They were like a sponge absorbing water, money, technology, everything. Mr. Lin was part of a torrent of investment from ethnic Chinese enclaves in Hong Kong, Taiwan, Singapore and beyond that washed over China and gave it a leg up on other developing countries. Without this diaspora, some economists argue, the mainlands transformation might have stalled at the level of a country like Indonesia or Mexico. The timing worked out for China, which opened up just as Taiwan was outgrowing its place in the global manufacturing chain. China benefited from Taiwans money, but also its managerial experience, technology and relationships with customers around the world. In effect, Taiwan jump-started capitalism in China and plugged it into the global economy. Before long, the government in Taiwan began to worry about relying so much on its onetime enemy and tried to shift investment elsewhere. But the mainland was too cheap, too close and, with a common language and heritage, too familiar. Mr. Lin tried opening factories in Thailand, Vietnam and Indonesia but always came back to China. Now Taiwan finds itself increasingly dependent on a much more powerful China, which is pushing ever harder for unification, and the islands future is uncertain. There are echoes of Taiwans predicament around the world, where many are having second thoughts about how they rushed to embrace Beijing with trade and investment. The remorse may be strongest in the United States, which brought China into the World Trade Organization, became Chinas largest customer and now accuses it of large-scale theft of technology what one official called the greatest transfer of wealth in history. Many in Washington predicted that trade would bring political change. It did, but not in China. Opening up ended up strengthening the partys hold on power rather than weakening it. The shock of Chinas rise as an export colossus, however, was felt in factory towns around the world. In the United States, economists say at least two million jobs disappeared as a result, many in districts that ended up voting for President Trump. Selective Repression Over lunch at a luxurious private club on the 50th floor of an apartment tower in central Beijing, one of Chinas most successful real estate tycoons explained why he had left his job at a government research center after the crackdown on the student-led democracy movement in Tiananmen Square. It was very easy, said Feng Lun, the chairman of Vantone Holdings, which manages a multibillion-dollar portfolio of properties around the world. One day, I woke up and everyone had run away. So I ran, too. Until the soldiers opened fire, he said, he had planned to spend his entire career in the civil service. Instead, as the party was pushing out those who had sympathized with the students, he joined the exodus of officials who started over as entrepreneurs in the 1990s. At the time, if you held a meeting and told us to go into business, we wouldnt have gone, he recalled. So this incident, it unintentionally planted seeds in the market economy. Such has been the seesaw pattern of the partys success. The pro-democracy movement in 1989 was the closest the party ever came to political liberalization after Maos death, and the crackdown that followed was the furthest it went in the other direction, toward repression and control. After the massacre, the economy stalled and retrenchment seemed certain. Yet three years later, Deng used a tour of southern China to wrestle the party back to reform and opening up once more. Many who had left the government, like Mr. Feng, suddenly found themselves leading the nations transformation from the outside, as its first generation of private entrepreneurs. Now Mr. Xi is steering the party toward repression again, tightening its grip on society, concentrating power in his own hands and setting himself up to rule for life by abolishing the presidential term limit. Will the party loosen up again, as it did a few years after Tiananmen, or is this a more permanent shift? If it is, what will it mean for the Chinese economic miracle? The fear is that Mr. Xi is attempting to rewrite the recipe behind Chinas rise, replacing selective repression with something more severe. For decades, China has veered between openness and repression, including of the ethnic Uighur minority. Bryan Denton for The New York Times Since the Tiananmen movement, the government has been vigilant about crushing potential threats. Surveillance cameras in Beijing. Bryan Denton for The New York Times Chinas high-speed rail network, the largest in the world, has changed the way its people move. In Hangzhou, passengers waited outside the railway station. Bryan Denton for The New York Times As China opened up, farmers were allowed to grow and sell their own crops, while the state retained ownership of the land. Greenhouses filled with bok choy and yellow cabbage abut investment properties and golf courses. Under Mao, many educated Chinese were sent to cadre schools, where they did manual labor. In May, these real estate agency employees went for a morning run as part of a company team-building exercise. Bryan Denton for The New York Times The party has always been vigilant about crushing potential threats a fledgling opposition party, a popular spiritual movement, even a dissident writer awarded the Nobel Peace Prize. But with some big exceptions, it has also generally retreated from peoples personal lives and given them enough freedom to keep the economy growing. The internet is an example of how it has benefited by striking a balance. The party let the nation go online with barely an inkling of what that might mean, then reaped the economic benefits while controlling the spread of information that could hurt it. In 2011, it confronted a crisis. After a high-speed train crash in eastern China, more than 30 million messages criticizing the partys handling of the fatal accident flooded social media faster than censors could screen them. Panicked officials considered shutting down the most popular service, Weibo, the Chinese equivalent of Twitter, but the authorities were afraid of how the public would respond. In the end, they let Weibo stay open but invested much more in tightening controls and ordered companies to do the same. The compromise worked. Now, many companies assign hundreds of employees to censorship duties and China has become a giant on the global internet landscape. The cost of censorship is quite limited compared to the great value created by the internet, said Chen Tong, an industry pioneer. We still get the information we need for economic progress. A New Era China is not the only country that has squared the demands of authoritarian rule with the needs of free markets. But it has done so for longer, at greater scale and with more convincing results than any other. The question now is whether it can sustain this model with the United States as an adversary rather than a partner. The trade war has only just begun. And it is not just a trade war. American warships and planes are challenging Chinese claims to disputed waters with increasing frequency even as China keeps ratcheting up military spending. And Washington is maneuvering to counter Beijings growing influence around the world, warning that a Chinese spending spree on global infrastructure comes with strings attached. The two nations may yet reach some accommodation. But both left and right in America have portrayed China as the champion of an alternative global order, one that embraces autocratic values and undermines fair competition. It is a rare consensus for the United States, which is deeply divided about so much else, including how it has wielded power abroad in recent decades and how it should do so now. Mr. Xi, on the other hand, has shown no sign of abandoning what he calls the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation. Some in his corner have been itching to take on the United States since the 2008 financial crisis and see the Trump administrations policies as proof of what they have always suspected that America is determined to keep China down. At the same time, there is also widespread anxiety over the new acrimony, because the United States has long inspired admiration and envy in China, and because of a gnawing sense that the partys formula for success may be faltering. Prosperity has brought rising expectations in China; the public wants more than just economic growth. It wants cleaner air, safer food and medicine, better health care and schools, less corruption and greater equality. The party is struggling to deliver, and tweaks to the report cards it uses to measure the performance of officials hardly seem enough. The basic problem is, who is growth for? said Mr. Xu, the retired official who wrote the Moganshan report. We havent solved this problem. Growth has begun to slow, which may be better for the economy in the long term but could shake public confidence. The party is investing ever more in censorship to control discussion of the challenges the nation faces: widening inequality, dangerous debt levels, an aging population. Mr. Xi himself has acknowledged that the party must adapt, declaring that the nation is entering a new era requiring new methods. But his prescription has largely been a throwback to repression, including vast internment camps targeting Muslim ethnic minorities. Opening up has been replaced by an outward push, with huge loans that critics describe as predatory and other efforts to gain influence or interfere in the politics of other countries. At home, experimentation is out while political orthodoxy and discipline are in. In effect, Mr. Xi seems to believe that China has been so successful that the party can return to a more conventional authoritarian posture and that to survive and surpass the United States it must. Certainly, the momentum is still with the party. Over the past four decades, economic growth in China has been 10 times faster than in the United States, and it is still more than twice as fast. The party appears to enjoy broad public support, and many around the world are convinced that Mr. Trumps America is in retreat while Chinas moment is just beginning. Then again, China has a way of defying expectations. China Rules How China became a superpower This best-selling Sony TV from 2009 says Made in China. But it wasnt. Look inside, and youll find that most of the parts came from non-Chinese companies. Sony Bravia, 2009 Chinese Not Chinese Chinese Not Chinese Chinese Not Chinese Chinese Not Chinese Now, one of the best-selling televisions is a Chinese brand with Chinese parts. TCL S-Series, 2017 Chinese Not Chinese Chinese Not Chinese Chinese Not Chinese Chinese Not Chinese Source: Steve VanPuyvelde and Randy Thompson, ShopJimmy.com China is making more complex products at breakneck speed and unprecedented scale, transforming itself into the worlds second largest economy. It now has an ambitious plan to go even further, by trying to upend the traditional economic order and create a global powerhouse that can dictate the rules of trade. Its not just about powering growth. Its also about national security and self-sufficiency. China wants to build homegrown champions in cutting-edge industries that rival Western giants like Apple and Qualcomm. While China has a long way to go, the Communist Party is bringing the full financial weight of the state and forcing other countries to play defense. In doing so, China is staking out a new manufacturing model. Economic textbooks lay out a common trajectory for developing nations. First they make shoes, then steel. Next they move into cars, computers and cellphones. Eventually the most advanced economies tackle semiconductors and automation. As they climb up the manufacturing ladder, they abandon some cheaper goods along the way. Thats what the United States, Japan and South Korea did. But China is defying the economic odds by trying to do all of them. Look at the evolution of what China sells to the rest of the world. As it ramped up its manufacturing engine in 2000, China was pretty good at making basic products like toys and umbrellas. By 2016, China had moved into more expensive goods like cellphones and computers, while making even more of the cheaper stuff. Source: United Nations Comtrade Database The next phase, which includes the most valuable products in the world, will be harder. China cant make chips as small and fast as the United States can. Its cars are mostly sold at home. Its manufacturing prowess is built on the back of engineering and expertise from the West. Both the Apple iPhone and Huawei Mate 10 are assembled in Chinese factories. Both rely on pieces from outside China. iPhone 8, 2017 Chinese Not Chinese Chinese Not Chinese Chinese Not Chinese Chinese Not Chinese Chinese Not Chinese Chinese Not Chinese Huawei Mate 10, 2017 Chinese Not Chinese Chinese Not Chinese Chinese Not Chinese Chinese Not Chinese Chinese Not Chinese Chinese Not Chinese The most intricate and expensive technology in the Huawei phone, the motherboard, has a Chinese processor, but it is primarily composed of chips from American, South Korean and Japanese companies. The 2.8-inch board accounts for 52 percent of the cost of the phone, according to data from TechInsights. South Korea Multichip memory, SK Hynix USA Taiwan China Netherlands USB switch ON Semiconductor Load switch battery charger, Richtek Battery charger, HiSilicon Audio Switch, NXP Semiconductor USA Power amplifier, Qorvo China Processor, HiSilicon Japan Regulator, Renesas SIM card slot China Audio CODEC, HiSilicon Netherlands Controller, NXP Semiconductor Japan Electronic Compass, AKM Semiconductor Netherlands South Korea Multichip memory by Samsung Audio Switch, NXP Semiconductors 1 inch China South Korea China Processor Memory Audio CODEC Japan Netherlands Regulator Audio Switch China Battery Charger South Korea Memory USA USB switch Netherlands Audio Switch Taiwan Load switch battery charger China Battery charger Netherlands Controller SIM card slot USA Power amplifier 1 inch Note: Graphic shows nationality of manufacturers but some components may be produced in Chinese facilities. | Source: TechInsights Many of these companies are so advanced that they dont even manufacture the chips. Instead they send their complex designs to foundries in Asia to manufacture. But even in this step of the production, most companies in China are shut out. Unless China can catch up, it will remain vulnerable. One of Chinas largest telecom companies, ZTE, nearly went out of business when it was banned from buying American parts; President Xi Jinping personally asked for a reprieve from President Trump and got it. China knows it has a problem. Its investing heavily in electric cars, semiconductors and mobile technology, part of a major industrial policy. And the trade war has also hardened Chinas resolve. The initial result of the trade war has made China appear to be weaker, said Liu Rui, an economics professor at Renmin University in Beijing. But it is precisely this weaker position that has awakened China, forcing us to change our approach. New Zealand and Australia have announced their joint commitment to partner with Pacific Island countries and support a collective cyber resilience. This will see an open, free and secure internet that drives economic growth, protects national security and promotes international stability to the Pacific. The government mentioned the Boe Declaration, which highlighted cyber security as an emerging security challenge for the Pacific region. It also recognised the need to maximise the protections and opportunities for Pacific infrastructure and peoples in the digital age. New York Two tight races in Central New York are coming to a close as absentee ballots are counted across the 22nd Congressional district and the 121st Assembly District. Unofficial results currently have Assembly Anthony Brindisi, a Democrat, leading Republican Congresswoman Claudia Tenney for NY22. Brookfield Supervisor John Salka, a Republican, has gained enough votes against longtime Democratic incumbent Bill Magee in the rural 121st District. After counting absentee ballots in Herkimer, Madison, Broome, Oswego and Cortland counties, Brindisi expanded his lead over Tenney to 3,223 votes. On election night, Brindisi held a lead of 1,293 votes. The ballots counted this week confirm what we saw on election night. Voters across the 22nd district wanted change, and they chose an independent voice who will work for them in Washington, said Ellen Foster, campaign manager for Anthony Brindisi. Throughout the vote counting process weve only expanded our lead its clear that Anthony Brindisi has won a decisive victory. According Brindisis campaign, results released by the county boards of elections shows Brindisi picked up more votes than Tenney in Madison, Cortland, and Herkimer and Broome counties. Brindisis campaign said at this point, Tenney needs to win 78% of remaining absentee ballots and so far, has won only 39%. Oneida, Tiogo, and Chenango counties are expected to finish counting votes within the next week. After a count the absentee and affidavit ballots throughout most of the 121st Assembly District, Salka beat 28-year incumbent Democrat Bill Magee. On Election Night, Salka held a lead of 963 votes out of more than 44,000 votes cast. After absentee and affidavit ballots were counted this week in Madison and Otsego County, Salka maintained a lead of 508 votes. Oneida County has not completed its count yet, but Salka said the county has received less than 150 total absentee and affidavit ballots, making it mathematically impossible for Magee to make up the difference. Im truly grateful to the voters of Madison, Otsego and Oneida counties for entrusting me to represent them in the State Assembly, said Salka. I will be a tenacious fighter for our region and work hard to push back against policies that hurt Upstate New York. We need to focus on cutting taxes, getting rid of needless bureaucracy and red tape, and creating an environment to grow good jobs. Salka said one of his biggest efforts is to make Upstate New York heard and with the Senate Candidate Rachel May winning her election, Salka said she will be sitting down with her and hopes to work with her on a number of projects. I think her and I will be able to work together very well, Salka said. Salka said his position as the Town of Brookfield Supervisor is going to his deputy supervisor Jeff Mayne, whom he has worked with for 11 years. Over the past few days, Salka said he has met with Mayne and has gone over some of the responsibilities he will have to take over. I trust Ill be leaving the responsibilities of Brookfield in good hand, Salka said. But Ill be Brookfields assemblyman, so I wont be far. Madison County Board of Supervisors Chairman John Becker said he is sad to see his colleague go, but felt Salka did a good job in his time as supervisor. Bhima Koregaon Case: Activist Varavara Rao sent to police custody till Nov 26 India oi-Deepika S Mumbai, Nov 18: Activist Varavara Rao, who under house arrest in connection with Bhima Koregaon case, was on Sunday sent to police custody till November 26 by Pune Sessions Court. Rao was arrested by Pune police from his residence in Hyderabad on Saturday after his house arrest ended on November 17. He was under house arrest since August for having alleged links with CBI (Maoist) in connection with Bhima Koregaon violence. Joint Commissioner of Police, Pune, on Saturday, said that Rao's house arrest extension given by the Hyderabad High Court ended on Saturday. In addition to that, the JCP said that another petition of the activist before the court is also disposed of by the Hyderabad Court. He will be produced by before the Pune court, added the JCP. Bhima Koregaon case: Chargesheet filed against 5 accused In August, the police raided the homes of the activists and lawyers from five states - Varavara Rao in Hyderabad, Vernon Gonsalves and Arun Ferreira in Mumbai, Bharadwaj in Faridabad and Gautam Navalakha in Delhi. In a media briefing, the police had released details of seized letters related to five activists arrested in June in connection with the Bhima Koregaon violence. The police also claimed they have "conclusive proof" to link Left-wing activists arrested in June and this week to Maoists, saying one of them spoke of a "Rajiv Gandhi-type event to end Modi-raj" For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications Story first published: Sunday, November 18, 2018, 16:42 [IST] PM Modi to host President Putin: What to expect from the bilateral In UP, Nadda explains all the good PM has done for farmers Sitaram Kesri was removed as Congress chief for Sonia Gandhi, says PM Modi India oi-Madhuri Adnal Raipur, Nov 18: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday slammed Gandhis at Chhattisgarh rally, says earlier Delhi had "remote-controlled" government. Addressing the public in the Bemcha Bhata ground at Mahasamund, Modi said,"Dr. Raman Singh Ji also faced a lot of challenges. For ten years, the Centre was ruled by a 'remote-control' government which never paid attention towards Chhattisgarh." ''Four generations of Congress ruled the country. What was the fate of people? They only thought about one family but never gave a thought about welfare of people. How can we trust them that they will fulfill aspirations of people now,'' he said. ''Everyone knows what the Congress did to Sitaram Kesri Ji when he was the Congress party president. The Dalit leader was "thrown out of office and into the footpath" to make way for Sonia Gandhi to take over the reins of the party. I challenge the Congress to appoint some able leader as their party president, who doesn't belong the family,'' PM Modi said. The second phase of Chhattisgarh Assembly polls for 72 constituencies spread across 19 districts will be held on November 20.The first phase of polling in 18 constituencies across eight Maoist-affected districts was held on November 12. The results will be declared on December 11. Congress might go solo in West Bengal in Lok Sabha polls: State Chief India oi-Deepika S Kolkata, Nov 18: West Bengal Congress president Somen Mitra has said that it would be better for his party to go solo in the state in the next Lok Sabha election as the ruling TMC "lacks honest intentions" as an anti-BJP force. Majority of the state Congress leaders are in favour of going solo in the polls even if it meant failure of the party to win even a single seat in Bengal, he said when asked about a possible alignment with the TMC or the Left for the general election. Mitra, a veteran Congressman who had moved to the TMC, returned to his parent party and took over as the president of West Bengal Pradesh Congress Committee (WBPCC) after a gap of two decades. The Congress should prepare itself to fight alone against the BJP as well as the TMC in the state, he asserted. "If you look at the past events, you will see that the TMC lacks honest intentions as an anti-BJP force. At the national level, whenever Congress called for any massive anti-BJP campaign, the TMC either evaded it or has sent one MP to register its attendance," Mitra told PTI in an interview. The TMC raised a hue and cry over demonetisation, but "mellowed down" after its two MPs were arrested by CBI in the chit fund scam, he alleged. The ruling party has also "maintained silence" on the Rafale jet deal too, Mitra said. "We have told our party president Rahul Gandhi that we are in favour of fighting alone. He has said that we should work to improve our strength. But the final decision will be taken by the AICC and we will accept it," the state Congress president clarified. Talking about the possibility of an alliance with the Left Front, he said it wouldn't be a "wise option". For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications Story first published: Sunday, November 18, 2018, 17:56 [IST] Delay in bringing ordinance for Ram temple construction indicates BJP not interested: Sanjay Raut India pti-PTI New Delhi, Nov 18: Pressing for an ordinance to facilitate the construction of a Ram temple in Ayodhya, NDA constituent Shiv Sena has said the delay in exercising the option is an indication that the ruling BJP at the Centre and in Uttar Pradesh was not keen on building it. Senior Shiv Sena leader and party MP Sanjay Raut said if the NDA government can bring an ordinance on banning instant triple talaq then why not take the same route to remove hurdles for the construction of the Ram temple, which is a "matter of pride" for the nation. The Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), which helped the BJP come to power in 2014, should pull down the NDA government if it fails to bring an ordinance for construction of the temple, he said. Raut's remarks comes ahead of Shiv Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray's visit to Ayodhya in Uttar Pradesh on November 25, during which the party is likely to declare its next course of action on the issue. "We never use the issue of Ram Mandir for elections. But those who wish to do it, we feel they don't want the Ram Mandir," Raut told PTI in an interview. If you want the Ram Mandir then legislate a law, he said. Raut, who is also executive editor of the Shiv Sena mouthpiece 'Dainik Saamana', claimed that when the BJP came to power for the first time in the 1990s, it cited a lack of absolute majority in Parliament and power in Uttar Pradesh for not coming up with a legislation for the construction of Ram Temple. Today, BJP has absolute majority at the Centre as well as in Uttar Pradesh, but it has "failed" to resolve the long-pending issue, he said. "If you can bring an amendment to the triple talaq bill and the SC and ST Act, then why not on Ram Mandir. If this is the will and demand of the people and you have seized power because of the same issue will then you have to accept it," the Sena MP said. Though the Shiv Sena and the BJP are in alliance, both at the Centre and in Maharastra, there has been an increasing bitterness in their ties. Last month, the Supreme Court fixed the Ram Janmabhoomi-Babri Masjid land dispute case for the first week of January before an "appropriate bench", which will decide the schedule of hearing. There has been a growing demand to bring an ordinance so that hurdles relating to the dispute can be sorted out at the earliest. Raut asserted that the issue is unlikely to be resolved by the court and an ordinance is the only solution to construct the temple. He said if the government brings the ordinance then over 100 non-BJP MPs in the Lok Sabha and many in the Rajya Sabha, cutting across the party lines, would back the legislation. Raut, whose party has been a vociferous supporter of the construction of the Ram temple, said 2019 should be deadline for resolving the issue. "After that neither Ram Mandir nor Babri should not be on the agenda of any political party and election issue. We don't want any credit. You take the credit, but build the Ram temple," the Sena leader said. The Shiv Sena in the past has openly admitted its role in the demolition of the Babri mosque in December 1992. Following the demolition and the subsequent riots in Mumbai, the party, along with the BJP, seized power in Maharashtra in 1996. "If we could not lay a brick for the temple in last 25 years then what temple are we going to build," Raut said. For construction of the Ram temple, he said the Vishwa Hindu Parishad, the RSS, Bajrang Dal, Shiv Sena, should sit together and declare their position on the issue. PTI J&K: 2 terrorists killed by security forces in Shopian encounter India oi-Madhuri Adnal Srinagar, Nov 18: At least two terrorists were gunned down by security forces in an encounter in Jammu and Kashmir's Shopian on Sunday, police said today. Both the killed terrorists are said to be local militants. The J&K police said,''Based on a credible input about the presence of terrorists, a cordon and search operation was launched by Police and security forces at the strike of dawn today in Rebban area of Zainapora in District Shopian.'' Army hits a double century in J&K, but there is a long way to go ''As search operation was going on, search party was fired upon by the hiding terrorists. The fire was retaliated leading to an encounter. In the ensuing encounter, 2 terrorists were killed and bodies were retrieved from site of encounter. Identities are being ascertained,'' he also said. ''Incriminating materials including arms and ammunition were recovered from the site of encounter. Police has registered a case and initiated investigation in the matter," police said. Earlier on November 13, three terrorists were killed in separate encounters with security forces in Jammu and Kashmir. While a Pakistani terrorist was shot dead by security forces in Akhnoor sector near International Border (IB) , two other terrorists were eliminated when they tried to infiltrate in Keren sector of Kupwara district. For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications Story first published: Sunday, November 18, 2018, 9:09 [IST] Hyderpora encounter: Bodies of two civilians exhumed, to be handed over to families Lady recruiter of Jaish-e-Mohammad arrested in Kashmir India oi-Vicky Nanjappa Srinagar, Nov 18: A woman has been arrested by the security agencies in Kashmir for allegedly luring youth through the social media into terrorism. The police said that the lady identified Shazia was mainly recruiting for the Jaish-e-Mohammad. During interrogation, it was found that she had handed over some ammunition and magazines to two youths from Anantnag, one of whom has been picked up. In a first-of-its-kind case , a woman has been arrested by security agencies in Kashmir for allegedly luring youths through Facebook into militancy, especially the Jaish-e-Mohammed, officials said Sunday. The lady terrorists of Kashmir: Tough nuts with patronage from the state Identified as Shazia from Naidkhai in the Sumbal area of Bandipore in North Kashmir, she was picked up after intelligence agencies zeroed on her Facebook profile, through which she was "luring youths for jihad and picking up weapons", the officials said. During interrogation, it was found that she had handed over some ammunition and magazines to two youths from Anantnag, one of whom has been picked up. Shazia, who is in her early 30's and a mother of two, had been on the radar of security agencies for quite some time. She would seek favours from senior officers promising them help in getting some militants arrested. How Asiya Andrabi destabilised Kashmir A video featuring Shazia had surfaced on Facebook a few months ago, and it was alleged that she was a police informer. On the basis of a complaint filed by her, two youths were picked up and later let off with a warning. "It seems that she was being used by terror groups to extract information from police and other security agencies and pass it on to the militants," an officer, privy to the case, said on condition of anonymity. She has not been forthcoming in her interrogation so far other than dropping names of militant commanders, the officials said. On Asiya Andrabi's contact list, Hamid Gul, Hafiz Saeed, Nawaz Sharif and several others Shazia's arrest comes a week after police nabbed 28-year-old Aysia Jan for carrying 20 grenades at Lawaypora on the city outskirts following inputs about militants trying to smuggle arms and ammunition into the city. Besides grenades, police also recovered ammunition from her possession. Her two brother were detained in connection with the case. For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications Story first published: Sunday, November 18, 2018, 17:27 [IST] Maharashtra cabinet approves reservation for Maratha community India oi-Deepika S Mumbai, Nov 17: Maharashtra government on Sunday approved reservation for Maratha community in educational institutions and government jobs. The decision, taken at the cabinet meeting is seen as a potential game-changer ahead of the state assembly elections next year. The government took the decision after studying the report that the State Backward Class Commission submitted on November 15. "We received Backward Class Commission report with 3 recommendations... independent reservation will be given to Maratha community in SEBC," Fadnavis was quoted as saying by news agency ANI. "We have accepted the recommendations and constituted a Cabinet Sub-committee to take statutory steps for implementing them," he added. The matter was handed over to the commission in June 2017 amid growing demands from the community for reservation. Members of the panel toured Maharashtra for more than 15 months, met about 2 lakh members of the Maratha community and surveyed 25,000 families. Fadnavis had said on November 14 that his government would need 15 days to complete all the statutory requirements. The Maratha community has been protesting for reservation in jobs and education for more than a year. The Maratha community in the state constitutes over 30 per cent of the state's population. Maratha groups had staged widespread agitation for quota in July and August this year. In July, Maharashtra government had assured 16 per cent reservation for the Marathas in 72,000 government jobs, which was later stayed following protests. In 2014, the ruling Congress-NCP government had granted 16 per cent reservation for the Marathas and five per cent quota for the Muslim community just before the elections. However, the reservation was stayed by the Bombay High Court. Rahul to decide on CMs of MP, Rajasthan and Chhattisgarh on Thursday 'I will not go to Centre, will live and die in Madhya Pradesh: Shivraj Singh Chouhan Third 'son' of Indira Gandhi, 9-time MP Kamal Nath is the new CM of Madhya Pradesh MP Elections: Congress accuses PM Modi of poll code violation, demands EC probe India oi-Deepika S Bhopal, Nov 18: The Madhya Pradesh Congress wrote a letter to the Election Commission on Sunday alleging a violation of model code of conduct by Prime Minister Narendra Modi during his address at Chindwara. It has urged EC to take action against Prime Minister Narendra Modi for alleged violation of Model Code of Conduct in the state ahead of assembly elections. MPCC wrote a letter which said that PM Modi, in one of his rallies, had violated the code of conduct and misguided voters. Modi in his public rally in Chhindwara had said, "Kamal Nath says that Congress will give tickets to goons, all it needs is a candidate who can win." PM flays Congress over mention of cow in MP polls manifesto, says cheating in its blood The letter, written by MPCC, however, denies any such claims made by Kamal Nath and clarified that Nath had made no such statement. In the letter, MPCC mentions of a fake video which was circulated amid election period, about which the EC is still investigating. MPPC claims in the letter that a complaint was also registered in the cyber cell. Amit Shah says Modi's remark on past Congress presidents 'ruffled many feathers' Concluding the letter, Congress Committee said that a person of stature such as Prime Minister should not circulate fake news amid elections polling/campaign. MPCC asks the EC to act against PM Modi for his alleged violation of the code of conduct. The 230-member Madhya Pradesh Assembly will go to the polls on November 28 and the results will be announced on December 11. Kumaraswamy to attend Ashok Gehlot's swearing-in on Dec 17: These are other leaders who would attend Rajasthan CM and Dy CM to discuss names of ministers with senior leadership in Delhi Rajasthan assembly polls: Only 5 won with more than 30 per cent margin Rajasthan Assembly Elections 2018: BJP releases fourth list of 24 candidates India oi-Deepika S Jaipur, Nov 18: Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Sunday released fourth list of 24 candates for the upcoming Rajasthan Assembly elections. With the announcement of the fourth list, the party has, so far, announced the names of 194 candidates out of 200 seats in poll-bound Rajasthan. The candidates for Deedwana, Kekri, Khinvsar, Karauli, Behror and Kotputli seats are yet to be named. Earlier on Saturday, the BJP released the third list of 8 candidates. Ramkishor Saini, who joined BJP on Friday was given ticket from Bandikui seat while the party fielded Asha Meena from Sawai Madhopur, who replaced Diya Kumari, an MLA and member of the erstwhile royal family of Jaipur. Polls for the 200-member Rajasthan Assembly will be held on December 7 and the results will be declared on December 11. Telangana elections: Karimnagar not impressed by Yogi Adityanath, BJP down to 1 from 5 Telangana elections: 5-time MLA Harish Rao remains a favourite India oi-Deepika S Hyderabad, Nov 19: Telangana caretaker chief minister K Chandrasekhar Rao's nephew T Harish Rao is all set to score a double hat-trick in the upcoming Assembly election in Telangana on December 7. If elected, he will be the youngest MLA to have been elected six times at 46 years, beating a long-standing record of KM Mani, the former Kerala MLA who was elected a record sixth time in 1982 at an age of 49. In the previous elections, Rao was elected to the Assembly for a record fifth time in a span of just 14 years. The first Irrigation Minister of Telangana, Harish Rao had resigned twice to his membership during Telangana agitation following the call by Chief Minister K Chandrashekhar Rao, who spearheaded the statehood movement, to protest delay in formation of the State. Telangana elections: Amid naxal threat, 13 constituencies declared hyper-sensitive Harish Rao was first elected to state assembly in 2004 at the age of 32, when the seat was vacated by KCR on his election to Lok Sabha from Karimnagar, Harish had never looked back.Within 10 years, he had become a five-time MLA by winning from the same constituency and from the same political party. Harish Rao won 2004 by-election, 2008 by-election, 2009 general election, 2010 by-election and 2014 general election. Also Read Telangana: KCR got richer by Rs 7 crore, but owes his son Rs 88 lakh The 2014 general elections to the Lok Sabha elections, Congress candidate Taduri Srinivas Goud stood distant second to Harish Rao (73%) with a vote share of just 10%. BJP's Soppadandi Vidyasagar stood third with a 9% voting in favour of his election. Such is the popularity of Harish that opposition parties are facing trouble in finding a candidate to face him. With Harish's victory being a foregone conclusion, he is set to overtake three seven-time MLAs from Telangana - M Baga Reddy (Congress) from Zaheerabad, K Jana Reddy (Congress) from Nagarjunasagar and K Chandrashekhar Rao (TRS) from Siddipet and Gajwel had won the sixth time when they were aged 53, 63 and 50 years respectively. Reportedly, Harish Rao was arguably the most influential TRS leader next to party Chief KCR. Harish Rao has close association with party cadre, who often refer him as party trouble shooter. He played key in role during 2014 elections in United Medak district and other district in Northern Telangana. He also took the complete responsibility of By Election, 2014: Medak and Narayankhed By Elections, TRS party won with huge majority on both the occasions. The 119-member Telangana Assembly was dissolved on September 6 on the recommendation of the Chandrasekhar Rao-led government, more than eight months ahead of the expiry of its term, paving way for early elections. Polls will be held on December 7 and the counting will take place on December 11. For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications Story first published: Monday, November 19, 2018, 1:16 [IST] Telangana elections: Amid naxal threat, 13 constituencies declared hyper-sensitive India oi-Vicky Nanjappa Hyderabad, Nov 18: A shadow has been cast over the elections in 13 constituencies in the poll bound Telangana, following a spate of naxalite attacks in Chhattisgarh. The fresh alert comes in the wake of the Intelligence Bureau sounding a warning about naxal strikes in Telangana. At least 13 constituencies are under the radar of the naxalites, the IB says. The Election Commission has alerted officials to take extra precaution in these constituencies in the backdrop of the alert an also naxalites calling for a boycott of the elections. In the past few weeks, banners have been put up by naxalites and their sympathisers calling for a boycott. As Telangana polls draw closer, naxal resurgence at all time high: IB The Election Commission, which issued the first gazette notification on Monday to hold elections to the 119 constituencies has restricted the polling time by an hour in the 13 constituencies, while terming them as sensitive. The polling time in these constituencies would be held between 7 am and 4 pm, while in the other constituencies, it would go on till 5 pm. Further the EC has also asked the security forces to transport EVMs to safe locations before sunset. Latest input: The latest input suggests that nearly 30 naxalites have crossed over into the Bhupalpally district of Telangana from Odisha, with an intention of disrupting the elections. On their hit list are also some politicians of the TRS, the alert also states. Acting fast on the information, the police launched a manhunt to nab the naxalites. However they were able to arrest only a few persons who had provided shelter to the naxalites. They are currently being questioned, Bhupapally Superintendent of Police, R Bhaskaran informed. Can superstitious beliefs win KCR the Telangana elections? The naxals have been looking to revive their movement in Telangana and Andhra Pradesh. While in Telangana, they would look to target the TRS, in AP, their focus has been on the TDP leaders. Recently the naxalites killed Araku MLA, Bidari Sarweswar Rao and former MLA, Siveri Soma. The killings took place at Araku Valley in Visakhapatnam. The IB says that the naxalites had prepared a hit list and would look to execute it ahead of the polls. The Araku killings were a sign of this, the IB officer told OneIndia. In this backdrop the naxalites have called for a boycott of the Telangana elections. The Community Party of India (Maoist), Telangana secretary, Haribhushan termed the elections as fake and called for a boycott to ensure the success of the new democratic revolution. He also blamed K Chandrasekhar Rao for trying to establish a dynastic rule in Telangana. He further said that he had met Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chief Election Commissioner, O P Rawat before dissolving the assembly. The IB says that the naxalites had prepared a hit-list of several Telugu Desam Party leaders over the past two decades. The IB says that the naxalites have been nursing a long standing grudge against the politicians and may look to target them. How naxals are using coal transport contracts to fund their activities The IB says that the the naxalites have been making big attempts to re-group. Anantpur had been a strong base for them, but in recent years, they have suffered losses. It may be recalled that a series of operations were undertaken in the hills of Anantpur and Nallamalla forests, following which the top rung was wiped out. The naxalites then scattered towards Odisha and the bordering areas of Karnataka. For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications Story first published: Sunday, November 18, 2018, 8:26 [IST] Incessant rains leave 42 more dead in Uttarakhand, Nainital cut off from rest of state Amit Shah kicks off poll campaign in Uttarakhand, accuses Congress of doing appeasement politics Uttarakhand opinion poll 2022: Who will form next government? Here's what ABP-Cvoter survey shows Uttarakhand: Polling underway in 84 urban local bodies, counting on Nov 20 India oi-Madhuri Adnal Dehradun, Nov 18: Polling has begun in 84 urban local bodies (ULB) across Uttarakhand amid tight security on Sunday. The votes will be counted on November 20. Polling has begun in 84 urban local bodies (ULB) across Uttarakhand amid tight security on Sunday. The votes will be counted on November 20. The State Election Commissioner (SEC), Chandrasekhar Bhatt, had said that elections would be held in seven municipal corporations, 39 municipal councils and 38 nagar panchayats. He added that a total of 2357840 voters would exercise their franchise in these elections out of which 1148027 would be female and 1209813, male. Ahead of J&K panchayat polls, Hizbul kills civilian in most brutal fashion There are 92 urban local bodies in the State out of which eight are municipal corporations, 41 municipal councils and 43 nagar panchayats. Due to the pending cases in Uttarakhand High Court (HC) on the extension of the limit of the municipal corporation, elections would not be held in Roorkee. A total of 23.53 lakh voters consisting of 12.20 lakh male and 11.33 lakh female will seal the fate of 4,978 candidates contesting in the polls across the state. The voting, which started at 8 am, will end at 5 pm. This election could be seen as a fight for dominance between the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the opposition Congress in the hilly state. For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications Story first published: Sunday, November 18, 2018, 9:42 [IST] Weather forecast for Nov 19: Bengaluru likely to witness on and off rains for next 24 to 36 hours India oi-Madhuri Adnal New Delhi, Nov 18: Here is the weather forecast for Bengaluru, Delhi, Chennai, Hyderabad and Thiruvananthapuram on November 19. Bengaluru: The tourists prefer to visit different parts of Karnataka throughout the year because of its varied beauty of nature. The coastal regions generally remain hot and humid while the central area is experienced as extreme. As per Skymet Weather, rains will occur for next 24 to 36 hours. However, northern parts of Karnataka will remain dry. However, the maximum temperature will be recorded around 29 degree Celsius and humidity will be around 61 per cent. Delhi: Dry weather along with pollution is making a deadly combination for the residents of Delhi. According to a survey of WHO, the air quality in Delhi is the worst than any major city in the world. As per Skymet Weather, due to the presence of light winds during early morning, evening and night hours, pollution will remain at its peak. This Pollution level will increase during next 48 hours and likely to come under "very poor" category. Hence, people are advised to keep their preventive plans ready. Chennai: Cyclone Gaja lashed Tamil Nadu with moderate to heavy rains during the last 24 hours, but the state capital of Chennai escaped the fury of the storm. The city only managed with light showers, with few intense spells over some isolated pockets. According to weathermen, weather in Chennai would now become dry for the next four to five days. The maximum temperature will be recorded around 31 degree Celsius and humidity will be around 76 per cent. Hyderabad: The coastal parts of Andhra Pradesh have been receiving good rainfall activity in wake of cyclonic storm Gaja. Meanwhile, the northern parts of Andhra Pradesh and Telangana remained mainly dry. As per Skymet weather, rains to once again commence over the coastal parts of Andhra Pradesh and isolated pockets of South Telangana during the next 24 hours. However, after 48 hours, rains will increase significantly over south coastal stations of Andhra Pradesh. The maximum temperature will be recorded around 33 degree Celsius and humidity will be around 69 per cent. For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications Story first published: Sunday, November 18, 2018, 15:49 [IST] India's first canine training centre comes up at Attari; Dogs to be trained on narcotics detection Why the attack on the Nirankari Mission in Amritsar appears to be an act of terror India oi-Vicky Nanjappa Amritsar, Nov 18: The police are not ruling out a terror angle to the grenade attack that killed three persons at a religious congregation in the Rajanasi area near here on Sunday. The attack took place at the Nirankari Satsang Bhawan. While police officials say that all angles are being investigated, an Intelligence Bureau official tells OneIndia that it is clear that it was an act of terror. However further probe would be needed to pinpoint which outfit could have carried it out the official also said. The attack comes four days after the IB sounded a high alert after the movement of 6 terrorists was reported in the state. The police had also said that Zakir Musa, a terrorist from Jammu and Kashmir had moved into the state. However the police rule out his role in the attack. Amritsar: 3 dead, 15 injured in a blast at Nirankari Bhawan Apart from Musa, the Intelligence Bureau had also said that six terrorists from the Jaish-e-Mohammad had moved into the state. They are said to have crossed over into the state from Ferozepur, the police had stated. In addition to this, the police and the National Investigation Agency have been probing several cases relating to Khalistan terrorists, who have been attempting to revive militancy in the state. The police say that this incident appears to have a terror angle as it is against a group. There is no reason to hurl a grenade at a group of people, so we will take it as a terror act. The Nirankaris are the followers of Baba Buta Singh, who founded the Sant Nirankari mission, which is an independent spiritual mission in 1929. The Nirankari Mission is looked upon by many mainstream Sikhs as a heretic cult and is not affiliated with any religion. It is aimed at uniting the people with God. The mission has its headquarters in Delhi and also has centres in countries like Canada, Germany and Australia. It may be recalled that in 1980, the then chief of the sect, Gurbachan Singh was assassinated by a Sikh extremist at the Foundation's headquarters in Delhi. He was succeeded by his son, Hardev Singh. He died last year in a car crash in Toronoto. Following his death, Singh's wife Savinder Kaur became the head and also the first woman to head the Nirankari Mission. The mission has been involved in a series of violent clashes with the radical Sikhs. The Akal Takht had released a decree directing the Khalsa Panth to cut off all worldly relations with those Sikhs who were part of the Nirankari organisation. For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications Story first published: Sunday, November 18, 2018, 17:10 [IST] Where is Peng Shuai? Missing Chinese tennis star safe, will appear in public soon: editor of Global Times Chinas BRI will lead to subjugation of Tibet International oi-Madhuri Adnal Washington, Nov 18: China's Belt and Road initiative will lead to colonisation, subjugation of Tibet and exploitation of natural resources in the region, the head of the Tibetan Government in exile has said. Touted as Chinese President Xi Jinping's ambitious project, the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) focuses on improving connectivity and cooperation among Asian countries, Africa, China and Europe. "Tibet is the blueprint of the BRI. Our experience with the road initiative connecting China with Tibet has not been good," Lobsang Sangay, the president of the Central Tibetan Administration told PTI in an interview during his visit to Washington DC this week. PM Modi only world statesman to stand up to China on BRI: Pillsbury "One road lead to hundreds of roads in Tibet now, routes, and one railways is leading to three or four railways. One airport led to 30 airports six military airfields. Conveniently, all these roads, railways and airport are connected to haul out natural resources and minerals from Tibet," he explained. This, he said, is very damaging to water, air and land of Tibet. "For us, one road leads to the colonisation of the Tibet, one road leads to extraction of all kinds of minerals and natural resources. Hence, for us, the one road leads to net loss," Sangay said in response to a question. Shed reservations and join 'Belt and Road Initiative': China to India Making a strong case against China's ambitions BRI initiatives, Sangay in his interaction with the American leadership told them they need to see what happened with Tibet due to the BRI. He told the American leadership that the world should learn from the Tibetan experience so they can avoid it. "That's my advice," he said. For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications Story first published: Sunday, November 18, 2018, 9:26 [IST] US to make final conclusions on Saudi killing in days, says Donald Trump International pti-PTI Washington, Nov 18: The United States will make final conclusions by early next week over the killing of Jamal Khashoggi, President Donald Trump said, following reports that the CIA had held Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman responsible. Saudi Arabia has repeatedly changed its official narrative of the October 2 murder, first denying any knowledge of dissident journalist Khashoggi's whereabouts and later saying he was killed when an argument degenerated into a fistfight. Earlier this week, a Saudi prosecutor exonerated the crown prince of involvement in the brutal murder. Speaking to reporters in Malibu, California after surveying damage from wildfires, Trump said, "We'll be having a very full report over the next two days, probably Monday or Tuesday." State Department spokeswoman Heather Nauert earlier said reports indicating the United States had already made final conclusions in the case were "inaccurate." "There remain numerous unanswered questions with respect to the murder of Mr Khashoggi," she added. The State Department will continue to seek facts and work with other countries to hold those involved in the killing accountable, Nauert said, adding "while maintaining the important strategic relationship between the United States and Saudi Arabia." "In the meantime, we will continue to consult Congress, and work with other nations to hold accountable those involved in the killing of Jamal Khashoggi." She noted that Washington had already taken "decisive measures" against individuals, including visa and sanctions actions. The remarks appeared to contradict reports that the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) had determined Saudi Arabia's powerful Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman ordered the killing of Khashoggi, a vocal critic. The killing and the international uproar it triggered has frayed ties between Washington and longtime ally Riyadh, which has sought to end discussion of the murder and rejected calls for an international investigation. But ahead of a briefing by his secretary of state and CIA director, Trump demured when asked about possible retaliation against Riyadh. "They have been a truly spectacular ally in terms of jobs and economic development," Trump told reporters. "And I also take that -- you know, I'm president -- I have to take a lot of things into consideration." The Washington Post, which broke the story, said the CIA found that 15 Saudi agents flew on government aircraft to Istanbul and assassinated Khashoggi in the Saudi consulate. Khashoggi, a Post columnist, had gone to the consulate to obtain documents necessary to marry his Turkish fiancee. Meanwhile, European Union foreign affairs chief Federica Mogherini reiterated calls for a "thorough, credible and transparent" probe into Khashoggi's killing. "The need remains to shed full clarity on the circumstances surrounding this horrendous crime as well as to ensure accountability for all those responsible for it," she said in a statement. Reiterating the EU's categorical opposition to the death penalty, Mogherini said "we will continue to stress that the kingdom of Saudi Arabia must put in place measures to ensure that something like this can never happen again." "In due course, the EU and its member states will consider how they can act together towards appropriate measures against those responsible, in support of the rules based international system," she added. In the latest version of the events presented by the Saudi prosecutor on Thursday, a 15-member squad was formed to bring Khashoggi back from Istanbul "by means of persuasion" -- but instead ended up killing the journalist and dismembering his body in a "rogue" operation. PTI Flash Chinese President Xi Jinping stressed the importance of building an open, inclusive, innovative and rule-based world economy while addressing the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) CEO Summit in Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea on Saturday. In a keynote speech to the business leaders, Xi urged the international community to hold on to the right direction of world economy and work out an efficient global governance system. SAME SHIP "As we brave the rough waters of the global economy and confront the many risks and challenges, it is all too befitting that we have come together on this ship to chart the course for future development and cooperation," Xi said on board cruise ship Pacific Explorer in the Papua New Guinea (PNG) capital of Port Moresby, where the summit was held. While achieving its own development, China will make greater contributions to helping countries around the world realize shared prosperity, Xi said. In April next year, China will host the second Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation in Beijing, the Chinese president announced, adding that the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) is a major and transparent initiative with which China shares opportunities and pursues common development with the rest of the world. "Mankind has once again reached a crossroads," he said. "Which direction should we choose? Cooperation or confrontation? Openness or closing one's door? Win-win progress or a zero-sum game? The interests of all countries and indeed, the future of mankind hinge on the choice we make." Recalling the establishment of APEC, Xi said its birth and growth echoed the historical trend of openness and integration, the region's fervent desire for development and the people's need to meet challenges through cooperation. Today's Asia-Pacific has the world's most dynamic and promising economy, which is recognized as a key engine driving global growth, he said. "The world today is going through major development, transformation and change. While economic globalization surges forward, global growth is shadowed by protectionism and unilateralism," said the Chinese president. A new revolution in science, technology and industry is in the making; but old driving forces are yet to be replaced by new ones, Xi said. The international landscape is undergoing profound changes, but imbalance in development is yet to be addressed, he said, adding that the reform of the global governance system is gathering momentum, but improving its efficiency remains a major challenge. XI'S PROPOSALS The Chinese president made a five-pronged proposal on world economic development and global governance. First, it is advisable that the economies focus on openness to create more space for development. He called for efforts to build a free trade area of the Asia-Pacific (FTAAP). "We should say no to protectionism and unilateralism, uphold the WTO-centered multilateral trading system, make economic globalization more open, inclusive, balanced and beneficial to all, and expand converging interests and share opportunities through opening-up and cooperation," he said. Secondly, it is advisable to focus on development to deliver more benefits to the peoples, Xi said. The economies should strengthen cooperation and help developing countries eliminate poverty so that people in all countries will live better lives. "This is what fairness is essentially about," Xi said. He also called on the economies to make the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development a part of their national development strategies and forge equal and balanced global development partnerships. Developed countries should honor their commitments on official development assistance and increase support to developing countries, he said. The principle of "special and differential treatment," which is a cornerstone of the WTO, is not to be challenged. Otherwise the very foundation of the multilateral trading system will be shaken, he said. Thirdly, the economies should focus on inclusiveness and promote interactions. Diversity and interaction between different civilizations, social systems and paths can provide strong impetus for human progress, he said. "We should reject arrogance and prejudice, be respectful of and inclusive toward others, and embrace the diversity of our world," he said, adding that "we should seek common ground while putting aside differences, draw upon each other's strengths and pursue co-existence in harmony and win-win cooperation." When it comes to choosing a development path for a country, no one is in a better position to make the decision than the people of that country, he said. Fourthly, the economies should focus on innovation to tap new sources of growth, Xi said. "What we should do is to lose no time in making every effort to explore new growth drivers and development paths, and remove all institutional obstacles holding back innovation," he said. He called on the economies to boost innovation and market vitality, steer the new scientific revolution and industrial transformation in the right direction, foster an enabling environment for international cooperation that will deliver the fruits of innovation to more countries and peoples. Fifthly, the economies should focus on a rules-based approach to improve global governance. "We should advance the reform of the global governance system on the principle of conducting consultation and collaboration for shared benefits," he said. This reform should be advanced on the basis of equality, openness, transparency and inclusiveness, he said, adding that developing countries should have more say and greater representation in this process. CHINESE COMMITMENT Over the past 40 years, the Chinese people, with vision, hard work and perseverance, have forged ahead and taken a historic stride, Xi said. "We have stood up, become prosperous and grown in strength. We the Chinese nation are moving forward toward great rejuvenation," he said. With enterprise and grit and through self-reliance, the people have turned China into the world's second biggest economy, he said. "It is the relentless efforts of the Chinese people that have made China what it is today." Over the past 40 years, the Chinese people have embraced the world with open arms, Xi said, China has pursued its development through opening-up. As a result, Xi noted, China has become the world's biggest trader of goods, the biggest tourism market and a major trading partner with over 130 countries. The Chinese people have pursued development with a single focus and made lives better for ourselves, he said. Guided by a people-centered development philosophy, China has made remarkable achievements which make the people now feel more secure and have a greater sense of fulfillment and contentment, he said. Xi said that the Chinese people have pursued their own development to achieve development for all. China has stayed on the path of peaceful development, got actively involved in global economic governance, and actively supported other developing countries in their development, he said. Xi said China has implemented responsible macroeconomic policies and contributed a significant share of global growth, and that the country has played its part in responding to the Asian financial crisis and the global financial crisis. By so doing, China has contributed its vision and input to building a community with a shared future for mankind, Xi said. "As we look back over the four decades of reform and opening-up, we in China are more convinced than ever before that only through reform and opening-up can China develop itself," Xi said. Going forward, China will take an even more responsible approach, be even more open and inclusive, and strive to achieve even higher quality of growth, he said. "By doing so, as it develops itself, China will make greater contributions to the common prosperity of the world," he said. Xi pledged that China will continue to significantly expand market access, strengthen IPR protection, and do more to increase imports, adding that China views all companies, both Chinese and foreign, as equals. "China welcomes and encourages fair competition among them, and will fully protect their legitimate rights and interests," Xi said. Recalling the first China International Import Expo (CIIE) successfully held in Shanghai a week ago, the president said with such actual steps, China has demonstrated its commitment to trade liberalization and opening-up of its market. "I wish to welcome you all to the second CIIE to be held next year," he said. "I am confident that the large market of China, with a population of close to 1.4 billion, will be a source of dynamic growth for the global economy." Calling the business community "an important force" driving the economic development of the Asia-Pacific and the wider world, Xi urged the business leaders to continue to share their insights with decision makers, encourage countries to adopt positive and practical policies and carry out extensive economic and technological cooperation. "Together, we can open a new horizon for the common development and prosperity of the Asia-Pacific and the world at large," Xi said. "Let us keep the steering wheel steady and paddle in the right direction so that the ship of the global economy will brave winds, break waves and sail to a brighter future," he said. Later on the day, Xi also attended a dialogue between APEC leaders and representatives from the APEC Business Advisory Council, and exchanged with them views on building an open world economy and jointly building the Belt and Road. Xi arrived here Thursday to pay a state visit to PNG and attend the APEC Economic Leaders' Meeting. PNG is the first stop of Xi's ongoing Asia-Pacific tour, which will also take him to Brunei and the Philippines. Uh-oh! It could be you, or it could be us, but there's no page here. Wearable Computing Market Emerges with GE Healthcare, Medtronic, Apple, Zephyr Technology Corporation, Sony Corporation, Samsung Electronics, Pebble Technology, Corporation, Nike, Motorola Mobility Holdings during 2018-2026 https://marketprognosis.com/sample-request/18699 https://marketprognosis.com/discount-request/18699 https://marketprognosis.com/enquiry/18699 Global Wearable Computing Market HighlightsGlobal Wearable Computing market is accounted for $17.59 billion in 2017 and is expected to reach $115.58 billion by 2026 growing at a CAGR of 23.2% during the forecast period. Increasing hub towards communication, networking & recognition technologies for wearables, rising popularity of internet of things and growing adoption of smart watches and wristbands are key factors fueling the market growth. However, factors such as power consumption, limited battery life and high cost & safety issues are hampering the market growth.Detailed Sample Copy of Updated Analysis @Note: If this link doesnt work in Internet Explorer, kindly try copy pasting it in other browsers.Wearable computing is the technology embedded in wearable accessories such as a watch, wristband to work as small electronic gadgets and facilitate ease in accessing technology. It is widely used for media and healthcare purpose. It provides various computational supports such as gyroscopes and accelerometers, which are becoming the key attraction for the consumer to fuel the demand for wearable devices. More than trendy accessories, these devices are gaining popularity owing to smart and advanced features such as easy synchronization, and high portability.Top Players:Some of the key players profiled in the Wearable Computing market include GE Healthcare, Medtronic Inc, Apple Inc., Zephyr Technology Corporation, Sony Corporation, Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd, Pebble Technology, Corporation, Nike, Inc., Motorola Mobility Holdings Inc, LG Electronics, Inc., Jawbone, Boston Scientific Corporation, Fitbit Inc., Adidas AG, Garmin, Ltd., Silicon Micro Display and CSR plc., AiQ Smart Clothing Inc, Carl Zeiss Inc,, Invensense Inc and Textronics.Request Discount on this report @Note: If this link doesnt work in Internet Explorer, kindly try copy pasting it in other browsers.Market Segmentation:Amongst application, infotainment segmented held considerable market share due to increasing adoption of wearable devices such as smart watches and augmented devices. By Geography, North America dominated the global market which can be attributed to rising incidence of chronic diseases such as obesity, diabetic, heart disease, and arthritis. Thus, increasing concern amongst people regarding chronic diseases has increased acceptance of wearable computer devices.Technologies Covered: Networking Technologies Computing Technologies Display Technologies Other TechnologiesApplications Covered: Infotainment Medical and Healthcare Enterprise and Industrial Fitness and Wellness Other ApplicationsEnquiry Before Buying@Note: If this link doesnt work in Internet Explorer, kindly try copy pasting it in other browsers.About Market PrognosisWe at Market Prognosis believe in giving a crystal clear view of market dynamics for achieving success in todays complex and competitive marketplace through our quantitative & qualitative research methods.We help our clients identify the best market insights and analysis required for their business thus enabling them to take strategic and intelligent decision.We believe in delivering actionable insights for your business growth and success.Contact us:ProgMarkPvt Ltd,Thane - 421501India.Contact No: +1 973 241 5193Email: sales@marketprognosis.com Water Hammer Arrestors Market Estimation with Key Players like Watts, Sioux Chief during the Forecast Period 2018-2025. Water Hammer Arrestors www.upmarketresearch.com Water Hammer Arrestors Industry research report delivers a close watch on leading competitors with strategic analysis, micro and macro market trend and scenarios, pricing analysis and a holistic overview of the market situations in the forecast period.Get FREE Sample Report Before Buying @ https://www.upmarketresearch.com/home/requested_sample/3285UpMarketResearch offers a latest published report on Global Water Hammer Arrestors Market Analysis and Forecast 2018-2023 delivering key insights and providing a competitive advantage to clients through a detailed report. The report contains 156 pages which highly exhibit on current market analysis scenario, upcoming as well as future opportunities, revenue growth, pricing and profitability.Water Hammer Arrestors Industry research report delivers a close watch on leading competitors with strategic analysis, micro and macro market trend and scenarios, pricing analysis and a holistic overview of the market situations in the forecast period. It is a professional and a detailed report focusing on primary and secondary drivers, market share, leading segments and geographical analysis. Further, key players, major collaborations, merger & acquisitions along with trending innovation and business policies are reviewed in the report. The report contains basic, secondary and advanced information pertaining to the Water Hammer Arrestors Industry global status and trend, market size, share, growth, trends analysis, segment and forecasts from 2018 2023.The scope of the report extends from market scenarios to comparative pricing between major players, cost and profit of the specified market regions. The numerical data is backed up by statistical tools such as SWOT analysis, BCG matrix, SCOT analysis, PESTLE analysis and so on. The statistics are represented in graphical format for a clear understanding on facts and figures.For More Information, Please Visit https://www.upmarketresearch.com/home/enquiry_before_buying/3285The generated report is firmly based on primary research, interviews with top executives, news sources and information insiders. Secondary research techniques are implemented for better understanding and clarity for data analysis.The report for Water Hammer Arrestors market analysis & forecast 2018-2023 is segmented into Product Segment, Application Segment & Major players.Region-wise Analysis Global Water Hammer Arrestors Market covers: North America Europe China Japan India Southeast Asia Other regions (Central & South America, Middle East & Africa)The Major players reported in the market include: Watts Sioux Chief Proflo Amtrol Jay R. Smith Mfg. Co. Zurn Precision Plumbing TOZEN Group Josam Refix Caleffi Yoshitake MIFABGlobal Water Hammer Arrestors Market: Product Segment Analysis: Stainless Steel Water Hammer Arrestor Copper Water Hammer ArrestorBuy Water Hammer Arrestors Market analysis & forecast 2018-2023 Report along with complete TOC @ https://www.upmarketresearch.com/buy/Water-Hammer-Arrestors-Global-Market-Status-and-Trend-Report-2013-2023Global Water Hammer Arrestors Market: Application Segment Analysis: Residential Commercial IndustrialThe Report covers in-depth analysis as follows: Chapter 1 Overview of Water Hammer Arrestors Chapter 2 Global Market Status and Forecast by Regions Chapter 3 Global Market Status and Forecast by Types Chapter 4 Global Market Status and Forecast by Downstream Industry Chapter 5 Market Driving Factor Analysis of Water Hammer Arrestors Chapter 6 Water Hammer Arrestors Market Competition Status by Major Manufacturers Chapter 7 Water Hammer Arrestors Major Manufacturers Introduction and Market Data Chapter 8 Upstream and Downstream Market Analysis of Water Hammer Arrestors Chapter 9 Cost and Gross Margin Analysis of Water Hammer Arrestors Chapter 10 Marketing Status Analysis of Water Hammer Arrestors Chapter 11 Report Conclusion Chapter 12 Research Methodology and ReferenceGuaranteed Discount On This Report@ https://www.upmarketresearch.com/home/request_for_discount/3285Water Hammer Arrestors Market Analysis and Forecast 2018-2023 report helps the clients to take business decisions and to understand strategies of major players in the industry. The report also calls for market-driven results deriving feasibility studies for client needs. UpMarketResearch ensures qualified and verifiable aspects of market data operating in the real-time scenario. The analytical studies are conducted ensuring client needs with a thorough understanding of market capacities in the real-time scenario.Key Reasons to Purchase: To gain insightful analyses of the market and have a comprehensive understanding of the Global Water Hammer Arrestors Industry and its commercial landscape. Learn about the market strategies that are being adopted by your competitors and leading organizations. To understand the future outlook and prospects for Water Hammer Arrestors market analysis and forecast 2018-2023.Customization of the Report:UpMarketResearch provides free customization of reports as per your need. This report can be personalized to meet your requirements. Get in touch with our sales team, who will guarantee you to get a report that suits your necessities.About UpMarketResearch:The UpMarketResearch () is a leading distributor of market research report with more than 800+ global clients. 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.Contact Info:Name: Alex MathewsEmail: Alex@upmarketresearch.comOrganization: UpMarketResearchAddress: 500, East E Street, Ontario, CA 91764, United States. Water Softener Market 2018 By Top Players - Culligan International, EcoWater Systems LLC, Kinetico Incorporated, Pentair, Morton Salt, Whirlpool Corporation, 3M Water Softener Market https://www.gminsights.com/request-sample/detail/2887 https://www.gminsights.com/inquiry-before-buying/2887 https://www.gminsights.com/industry-analysis/water-softener-market www.gminsights.com Global salt free water softener market is anticipated to exceed USD 2 billion in projected timeline owing to its extensive consumption in the U.S. There is no electrical valve required in salt-free softener as system operates as a conditioner and do not captures anything, thus eliminating need to purge minerals. Soft water from this system results in less soap consumption and brighter laundry, which is anticipated to stimulate product demand.Global water softener market share is competitive and moderately consolidated with key industry precipitants includes, Culligan International Company, General Electric Company, Pentair, Whirlpool, Honeywell International and 3M. Increasing consumption of soft water has encouraged sellers to invest intensely in R&D for the product. Companies are spending more on product design, increasing efficiency and reducing environmental impacts.Request for a Sample copy of this Report @Water Softener Market size is set to surpass USD 10 billion by 2024. Intensifying demand for soft water owing to growing industrialization and urbanization may expand water softener market growth by 2024. Growing penetration of multinational brands along with its features including high effectiveness in decreasing formation of scale in boilers, pipes and tanks are likely to further propel product demand. This equipment improves product lifespan of water using appliances by removing salts and minerals, which can damage product quality. Growing customer spending on water treatment equipment supported by increasing contamination issues will propel product demand.Supporting government regulation in Europe and Asia pacific reinforced by R&D activities on water softener manufacturing will promote product demand. Additionally, rising industrial sector and manufacturing industries may fuel water softener demand owing to application of soft water in steam generation, product manufacturing and cleaning.- Water Softener Market, By Product Salt Based Salt Free- Water Softener Industry, By Application Residentialo Single Familyo Multi Family Commercialo Office Buildingso Hotel/Restaurantso Laundrieso Hospital & Healthcareo Others Industrialo Food Processing unito Textileo Chemicalo Oil & Gaso Refinerieso OthersMake an inquiry for purchasing this report @Global water softener market size of 120,000 grain from office building application is poised to observe gains of over by 4% 2024. Increase in consumer health consciousness has led to rise in demand for healthy and safe drinking water which is likely spur product demand.Water softener in home decreases greenhouse gases, reduce chlorine content and removes odor with good efficiency is likely to augment product demand. Water appliances use less energy and last longer by using softener reduces carbon footprint and preserving resources for a longer span of time, thereby driving market size.This equipment is partially banned in 34 states worldwide due its contamination in ground water, manufacturer needs to take legal help from national Water Quality Association to litigate against local laws, which is likely to hamper industry profitability and addon additional compliance cost, thereby affecting water softener market price trends.Browse Complete Report Summary @UK salt-based water softener market size in 900,000 grain from hotel/restaurants is likely to surpass USD 3 million due to its usage in removing lime scale on toilets, tile and faucets. It eliminates scale causing minerals in water, subsequently resulting in cleaner fittings and tiles, which may propel product demand.China water softener demand in 1200,000 grain from laundries units is projected to witness gains of up to 7%. Fabric quality is adversely affected along with high amount of detergent is required when hard water is used thus, softener is needed for both cleaning and washing applications. Softening equipment is used in this industry to maintain quality, easy cleaning of fabrics and also reduces the amount of detergent required, which may boost market growth.About Global Market InsightsGlobal Market Insights, Inc., headquartered in Delaware, U.S., is a global market research and consulting service provider; offering syndicated and custom research reports along with growth consulting services. Our business intelligence and industry research reports offer clients with penetrative insights and actionable market data specially designed and presented to aid strategic decision making. These exhaustive reports are designed via a proprietary 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: Virtually nobody who knew Samuel thought he was ready to move out of Pioneer Guest Home, an unlocked facility for mentally ill people in Enterprise, and into an apartment on his own. A complex set of medications kept his schizophrenia and diabetes under control. Caregivers made his food and made sure he tested his blood sugar levels, his father, Al, recently said in an interview. But Samuel became one of hundreds of Oregonians whom Kepro, a company hired by the Oregon Health Authority, determined to be ineligible for the level of care they were receiving under Medicaid. The Oregonian/OregonLive is identifying the 57-year-old man by a pseudonym, and his family members by their first names, because of his request for medical privacy. When Kepro asked Samuel if he wanted to live on his own and felt ready to do so, Samuel said 'yes,' his father said. A slew of professionals who knew Samuel wrote letters saying he wasn't ready to leave, including his psychiatrist, mental health therapist and physician, according to an email sent by Chantay Jett, the executive director of the Wallowa Valley Center for Wellness. Samuel has diabetes, his father said, and the demands of taking care of that on his own were too much. Samuel "unraveled," Al wrote, became paranoid, stopped eating, and lost track of his money. Samuel's father and sisters said they later learned from his case manager that despite continued help from case workers, within a month, Samuel was off of all his medications, including the ones he took for his diabetes. He got so frustrated that he drank bleach, his father and sister said. Samuel's magnesium levels dropped and he lost consciousness multiple times, Al said. The local hospital said he needed more urgent care, Al wrote, and a helicopter took him to a Portland hospital. He was stabilized and placed in the psychiatric ward, Samuel's sister Cecilia said. The cost to the state, Al said, was about $37,000. The family puts the blame squarely on Kepro's shoulders. Al sent letters to lawmakers in Oregon, Washington and Illinois, seeking help. "My family and myself are outraged at the short sightedness of KEPRO," he wrote in a letter to lawmakers. "What qualifies KEPRO to override the recommendations of the highly professional, skilled, experienced case managers at the Wellness Center in Enterprise?" Kepro's executive director for Oregon said in a statement that the company follows state guidelines for assessing people's medical needs and that the health authority makes the final determination. Jett, the wellness center director, wrote in an email that Al provided to the newsroom that it could happen again if Kepro disqualified other residents of Pioneer Guest Home. "I fear that this circumstance will be repeated," she said. Have a tip about mental health services in Oregon? Get in touch. -- Fedor Zarkhin desk: 503-294-7674|cell: 971-373-2905|@fedorzarkhin A state effort to dramatically reduce the number of Oregonians with severe mental illness in locked facilities has been plagued by problems, including serious injuries to three vulnerable patients discharged to lower levels of care. Family members and advocates contend that the state and its private contractor have been too aggressive in denying individuals eligibility for care, and the state's internal reviewers warned that a mass of former patients entering the community all at once could leave many homeless. "We keep kicking over rocks in this program and finding snakes," said Patrick Allen, director of the Oregon Health Authority. "And I'm not confident we're done kicking over rocks." The agency has placed a key employee involved in the project on paid leave pending the conclusion of an investigation. But that employee says he is being punished after raising detailed concerns about his agency's handling of the project with Allen and the Oregon Department of Justice. Chad Scott told The Oregonian/OregonLive that the agency's actions against him were "classic whistleblower retaliation." As of April, more than 600 mentally ill people were notified they no longer qualified for the treatment they were receiving. But the Oregon Health Authority sent some of those notices to the mentally ill patients, rather than their guardians. In addition, the agency found that the notices did not comply with federal law because they didn't adequately explain why a person was losing eligibility. The newsroom found three cases of patients hurt after the state moved them to less structured care, two of them despite warnings from health care providers that such a move put the patients at risk. "People have been harmed, and needlessly so," said Chris Bouneff, executive director of the Oregon chapter of the National Alliance on Mental Illness. Central to the state's current review is the design and handling of its $27 million contract with Kepro, the company hired to decide which Oregonians with severe mental illness should receive Medicaid benefits. The contract included ambitious targets for reducing the average length of stay in locked residential facilities starting in 2016, and bonuses for Kepro based on the number of people moved out after the company found them ineligible for the care they were receiving. Nearly two and a half years later, health authority officials can't say how many of the hundreds of patients Kepro identified for removal may have ended up hospitalized, homeless or dead. The health authority said it stopped denying care on July 31 and placed Scott on leave the following month. Scott helped design the contract and he oversaw it. Allen said he believes few people have been harmed by denials of care, citing broad data the health authority analyzed after questions from The Oregonian/OregonLive. It shows that the percentage of people hospitalized within three months of discharge from locked facilities decreased in the first year after Kepro's contract began, and that the overall number of discharges changed little. The agency's data includes both patients Kepro recommended for less intensive care and those discharged for other reasons. Kepro's executive director in Oregon, Jared Nyagol, declined an interview request. He said in a statement that his company follows state guidelines for assessing people's medical needs and that the health authority makes the final determination. Allen said he's re-evaluating the contract incentives but doesn't think they've influenced Kepro's medical experts to make bad decisions. "Those professionals' licensure and credentialing are on the line if they were to make inappropriate decisions," Allen said. Allen was tapped to direct the health authority in August 2017. The company's work has come under scrutiny before. A year before Oregon signed its contract with Kepro in 2016, a federal judge ordered Illinois to restore in-home nursing care to children with severe medical needs whom Kepro had deemed ineligible for the care. In Oregon, the health authority has moved at least 215 people out of locked facilities following a Kepro medical review. As of April, more than 600 people in all types of facilities for mentally ill people, not just locked ones, got notices that they didn't qualify for care at a facility. Interviews and agency documents reveal numerous troubles along the way. For example: The Oregon Psychiatric Security Review Board, which supervises people found guilty of crimes except for insanity, has kept people in care despite Kepro decisions that they should be downgraded. An internal health authority report written in February said Kepro found 198 people under the board's jurisdiction to not qualify for care. Providers have had to pay for some residents out of pocket until the state pays them back. Residential facilities can house up to 213 people under the board's jurisdiction. The agency has struggled to gain control over the pace of Kepro's work. A health authority spokeswoman said that the agency's director in January ordered staff to tell Kepro to slow down its reviews, yet records show the number of people found ineligible for care in a facility continued to grow. The health authority also proceeded to pass temporary rules that made it harder to qualify to stay in a locked facility. The process will cost taxpayers money. The health authority is seeking $3 million from the Legislature to keep patients in higher levels of care than Kepro has recommended because the state cannot find housing for them elsewhere. In the past year, the agency has already paid to extend stays for 281 people whom Kepro told they no longer qualified for their existing levels of care. Some people with severe mental illness caught in the system have faced disastrous consequences, families and advocates say. They include a 54-year-old woman with schizophrenia who was moved out of a locked facility she'd lived in for about ten years despite warnings from clinicians. She went missing for a week, stopped taking her medications and was found catatonic and severely dehydrated. She was hospitalized repeatedly and is now in the Oregon State Hospital, an even higher and more costly level of care than the facility Kepro said she didn't qualify for. Within two months of being moved out of a locked facility in Grants Pass and into an adult foster home, a Roseburg man with schizophrenia tried to get to a neighbor's backdoor and got bitten in the face by a dog, requiring a visit to the emergency room. Caregivers at the foster home wrote that the man's needs were "too high & home can't ensure safety," and he was evicted soon after. The man also made violent threats against staff and other residents. Despite warnings from medical professionals, a man with schizophrenia living in an unlocked but specialized facility in Enterprise was moved into an apartment. Within weeks, the man was airlifted to a Portland hospital, going in and out of consciousness after being off of all his medications and drinking bleach, his father said. In addition to those three cases, a professional guardian, Nancy Doty, said six of her mentally ill clients who had to move out of facilities following a Kepro review of their cases ended up back at a higher level of care or worse. One is in jail after assaulting multiple people, including a police officer, she said. "There have been some fairly magnificent failures," said Kevin McChesney, director of residential programs at Columbia Care, which operates facilities in nine Oregon counties. "At great risk" For more than 40 years, Patty Bagley-Hill, 74, fought for her daughter Ruane Oliverio's safety as her schizophrenia worsened. Oliverio had been in and out of hospitals and facilities for decades, gradually losing her ability to function. But there were nine years of relative stability, Bagley-Hill said, when Oliverio, 54, moved to Faulkner Place, a locked facility in Portland. The peace ended in August 2017, when Oliverio got a notice from the state saying she had improved enough to move out of Faulkner Place. Despite Bagley-Hill's attempts to appeal the decision, she said she was told in May that Oliverio had no choice but to leave. Oliverio's records painted a bleak picture of the potential consequences for her if she lived in an unlocked facility. "She has little awareness of her physical condition and cannot or refuses to report health concerns as they arise," one of Oliverio's assessments said. "This could lead to serious and potentially life-threatening situations." Family of Ruane Oliverio struggles to stabilize her after mental health facility relocations 13 Gallery: Family of Ruane Oliverio struggles to stabilize her after mental health facility relocations Oliverio was at particular risk, clinicians wrote, because she had a history of walking away and putting herself in danger. She took such poor care of herself that she could end up hurt, they said. The day after she moved to Andrea Place, an unlocked facility in Portland, Oliverio went missing for five hours, was found by police and was taken by ambulance to Providence Medical Center, Oliverio's medical records show. Oliverio told a doctor that "people were following me and I had to get away," records show. She didn't want to go back to Andrea Place, and her plan was to walk back to her mother's home. Doctors once again said that Oliverio needed to be in a locked facility. One wrote that Oliverio was "too disorganized without the structure of the hospital setting to function at any lower level of care." Another doctor wrote Oliverio is "a chronic elopement risk," using a healthcare term for a vulnerable person wandering off without telling anyone. A social worker wrote that Oliverio was "at great risk for putting herself in a life threatening circumstance." Doctors also noted Oliverio was at high risk of seizures if she suddenly stopped taking her psychiatric medications. Oliverio was moved to a locked facility for a few weeks and then back to Andrea Place. Within a month, she walked off again. This time, she was missing nearly a week. People saw her lying on a lawn for hours, medical reports say. Somebody called 911 when she didn't move even after the sprinklers came on. Oliverio was taken by ambulance to the Legacy Mount Hood Medical Center emergency room, in Gresham. A nurse wrote that she arrived soaked in water and what appeared to be urine. She was disheveled and "hyper religious." Her left big toe was fractured, doctors wrote, her face was sunburnt, she was dehydrated, and she had an overly high white blood cell count. Oliverio is now at the Oregon State Hospital. Kepro said she didn't qualify to be in a locked residential facility like Faulkner Place because she qualified for hospitalization. A move to independence Oregon for years has faced repercussions from a 1999 Supreme Court ruling that found people with mental illness shouldn't be locked up in facilities if they don't absolutely need to be. In 2010, a survey commissioned by Oregon found that about 60 percent of residents in facilities for mentally ill people could move to a lower level of care. Under pressure from the U.S. Department of Justice to ensure more people live in community settings, Oregon with the federal agency in 2016 agreed on a set of targets. The average length of stay in locked residential facilities would be reduced by 10 percent by 2017 and 20 percent by 2018. Other goals applied to patients in the Oregon State Hospital. The health authority hired Kepro in July 2016 to help it achieve its move-out targets, through reviews of mentally ill people's medical needs. But the language of the contract seems to set even more aggressive targets than the state agreed to with the Department of Justice. It tells Kepro to maintain an average length of stay in locked facilities at 180 days. That would be a 64 percent reduction from the 502-day average reported by the agency in 2017. A spokesman for the health authority could not say how the 180-day goal was chosen. Troubles with the effort to move people into lower levels of care emerged late last year. Agency officials said Allen was briefed in January on the fact that hundreds of people had been told they no longer qualified for services. This was a problem, officials wrote in an internal document sent to Allen at the time, because there were few places for them to go. The health authority had failed to develop enough community housing to accommodate all the people who were deemed to be at a medically inappropriate level of care. Officials presented three options in their memo to the director: Keep paying for people to stay in facilities even if Kepro says it's unnecessary; tell Kepro to slow down reviews, potentially risking a lawsuit from the company because its income is based on the number of reviews it does; move people deemed ineligible out of facilities. In response to questions from the newsroom, health authority officials said the agency had planned to resolve the issue by telling staff to prioritize the safety of patients, asking Kepro to slow down its reviews, and paying to extend stays for people whose care Kepro had recommended for a downgrade. But Chad Scott, the 10-year agency employee who helped write the Kepro contract and was assigned to administer it, challenged the state's characterization of the problem in writing. On Dec. 28, 2017, Scott had sent a strikingly blunt six-page email to Allen, the health authority director, detailing fundamental problems with the program and the state's failure to address them or even take steps to do so. Scott provided a copy of the email to the newsroom. In it, he blamed other parts of the agency for failing to adequately prepare for the large movement of people from facilities that Kepro's reviews would cause. The request to slow down Kepro's work, Scott wrote, seemed like an attempt to change medical decisions to compensate for the health authority's failure to develop services, "even after being given many years and many resources to do so." "It may even be an attempt by OHA leadership to deflect attention or excuse away how deficient they have been in managing their own program outcomes," Scott wrote. And he warned that Kepro's work would speed up in the upcoming months because of changes to their contract. In the days after that email, Scott said he discovered he was excluded from meetings and told to stop voicing complaints in writing. "The day I sent that email in December, my career ended," Scott said. The authority declined to comment on Scott's claims of whistleblower retaliation. Regardless of Allen's January decision to order Kepro's medical reviews slowed down, agency officials said the message wasn't delivered to Kepro. They said why that happened is part of the state's ongoing investigation. The number of people who received a denial of eligibility for care grew from 410 in January to 482 in February to 608 in April, records show. The agency itself also seemed to make it easier for Kepro to find people ineligible for care despite its director's decision. In May, the health authority enacted stringent requirements to qualify for a stay at a locked facility. That meant that people who had been stable for a month no longer qualified. Bouneff, the advocate for people with mental illness, said the new rules "opened up the floodgate" on denials. Kepro cited the new rules in July when it decided James Stancliff couldn't stay in Ramsey Place, a locked facility in Grants Pass, even after having a serious breakdown when he was moved to an adult foster home. Emails provided by Stancliff's mother, Donalee Hargis, show that a mental health specialist involved with her son's case challenged Kepro's decision. Staci Bryan seemed incredulous, saying lower levels of care for Stancliff had already proven "disastrous." "What can we do on this end to ensure this client's safety as well as the safety of others when he is denied the level of care he needs?" she wrote. Scott, the state contract administrator, told Bryan in an email the same day that he had reviewed Kepro's decisions and confirmed that regulations didn't qualify Stancliff for Ramsey Place. The health authority loosened those regulations six months later, following complaints from healthcare providers. Stancliff was allowed to stay at Ramsey Place. But there were other serious problems with the effort to move people into less restrictive care. Problematic paperwork Federal law requires states to tell patients why they are being denied eligibility for Medicaid. In August, Allen wrote in a monthly written report to Gov. Kate Brown that his agency believed the denial letters previously sent to mental health patients "may not be legally sufficient" under the law. The health authority told the newsroom that officials later determined the notices indeed did not pass legal muster. The notices didn't have enough information about why the person was denied or the fact that people have the right to choose where they live. In some cases, Allen wrote in his letter to Brown, the notices were sent not to legal guardians but to patients themselves. The health authority stopped issuing denial notices to patients July 31, fixed one of the legal issues identified by the agency, and started sending them again in October, said Saerom England, a spokeswoman for the health authority. Scott said he and other health authority officials met with two Oregon Department of Justice attorneys in August to discuss the problem of the notices of denial. At that meeting, Scott said, he broached his concern that the problem could run deeper than simply notices sent to mental health patients by the state -- potentially encompassing all Oregonians on Medicaid. He also raised a variety of issues that he brought up in his December email to Allen. Two days later, Scott said, he was asked to hand in his employee badge and told not to return to the office. Past problems Oregon isn't the first state to face serious scrutiny after hiring Kepro to review people's medical needs. The Illinois agency that pays for medical care signed a contract with the company in 2014 to decide whether medically frail children should be eligible to receive in-home nursing care under Medicaid. Within a year, the state faced a lawsuit alleging that the state made bad decisions when disqualifying patients. The state said in court filings Kepro made all the medical determinations. One three-year-old boy had been getting 56 hours of nursing care per week most of his life, according to the lawsuit. He was fed through a hole in his stomach, had a tube that drained fluid to his abdomen from his brain, was incontinent, and took seizure medications. Both his parents worked full-time to provide for him and their four other children. But after Illinois hired Kepro to review children's eligibility for in-home nursing services, the family was told the boy's nurse hours would be cut to zero, the lawsuit said. That boy was one of 175 medically frail children whose state-paid nursing care Kepro found to be unnecessary. In total, 98 percent of the children whose needs Kepro reviewed had their care either eliminated or reduced, a judge wrote. In a May 2016 opinion, a federal judge wrote that there is "significant risk" that without the in-home nursing care, the children "can and will likely suffer severe life-threatening medical episodes." The judge ordered the state to reinstate all in-home nursing hours. In Oregon, advocates for people with mental illness say they fully support efforts to move patients into more independent settings. But both health authority officials and advocates for people with mental illness say the language in the Kepro contract needs to be re-examined. Advocates and providers point to provisions that give the company more money the more people it denies Medicaid eligibility. Kepro can make an extra $1,000 for each person it disqualifies for care, up to $10,000 a month. It has been awarded at least $215,000 in incentive pay so far, state records show. McChesney, the residential program director at Columbia Care, said determining medical need "should be a completely independent process, and it should be strictly based on clinical data." Bouneff, the director of Oregon's mental illness alliance, said Kepro isn't held accountable if its decisions cause harm. "If Kepro's going to get a financial incentive to get people out, they better get penalized if they do it poorly," said Bouneff. Asked what guarantees there are that Kepro's decisions aren't driven by incentive pay, the health authority pointed to a clause that says Kepro must "foster and promote" healthcare with an eye to keeping clients "active, healthy and independent members of society." Scott, who helped design the contract, said adding the incentive wasn't his decision. Scott said he disagreed with the decision at the time because the incentive undermined Kepro's position as an entity that makes independent medical decisions. Allen acknowledged that some people may have slipped through the cracks. "Those are clearly terrible outcomes," Allen said, when told about the cases documented by The Oregonian/OregonLive. But he noted that data show a drop in hospitalization after discharge from a locked facility. The number of people who were hospitalized within 90 days of discharge from a locked facility declined from 9 percent before Kepro's contract started to 6 percent in the year after, the health authority's data show. The same data showed emergency room admissions went up slightly, from about 18 percent pre-Kepro to 23 percent after. "We think that their track record is very strong," Allen said. The health authority also said in cases where there isn't an appropriate place for someone to go, it has paid out of pocket to grant them extensions. A decision to move someone out "isn't strictly based on, 'Well, Kepro said they need to be out so we're kicking them out,'" said Mike Morris, the health authority's interim behavioral health director. Right now, the state is reviewing the incentive pay offered to Kepro, Allen said. And the agency has approved two analyst positions to help it improve the program. He blamed his own agency for many of the problems that have arisen, including a poorly worded contract with Kepro. "There's a whole bunch of stuff on our end that's very weak," Allen said. Have a tip about Oregon's mental health services? Get in touch. -- Fedor Zarkhin desk: 503-294-7674|cell: 971-373-2905|@fedorzarkhin One woman is dead and five others are injured after a car crash Saturday night on Tualatin Valley Highway near Cornelius. Shortly before 7 p.m., a Dodge Challenger Hellcat driving west down the highway crossed the center median and ran head-on into a Honda Accord, according to the Washington County Sheriffs Office, which responded to the scene. Al Hera Islam, 25, from New Jersey, who was a passenger in the Honda, died of her injuries after being taken to a local hospital. Both drivers and three other passengers in the Honda were hospitalized with injuries of varying severity. One 29-year-old man who was also a passenger in the Honda is being treated for life-threatening injuries, the sheriffs office said. Investigators are looking into possible criminal charges in the crash, with excessive speed as a primary factor. --Jamie Hale | jhale@oregonian.com | @HaleJamesB Portland police arrested one suspect and are searching for others following an armed robbery and carjacking in northeast Portland on Saturday night. Officers responded to a reported carjacking in the 15700 block of Northeast Beech Street at 8:42 p.m. Saturday, where the victim said three people came into his motorhome, hit him with a pistol and robbed him of several items, including the keys to his car. All three then left, one of them in his car, the Portland Police Bureau said. Minutes later, at 8:48 p.m., an officer pulled over a car matching the description of the stolen vehicle near Northeast 122nd Avenue and Northeast Halsey Street. Officers arrested the driver, Shirene Nicole Singh, 39, and charged her with first degree robbery. Investigators are still looking for the other suspects, whom they dont believe pose an immediate threat to public. The Gang Enforcement Team is assisting the investigation. The victim was taken to a local hospital for his injuries, which are not believed to be life-threatening. --Jamie Hale | jhale@oregonian.com | @HaleJamesB Oregon legislators are poised to tackle a longstanding inequity in the state's criminal justice system in the coming session. And Oregonians have voters in Louisiana to thank for some of the push. Earlier this month, Louisianans approved a constitutional measure to ban its longstanding practice of accepting guilty verdicts from non-unanimous juries. The shift in Louisiana means Oregon will soon be the only state in the nation that considers a split guilty verdict, with as many as two jurors dissenting, to be legitimate for convicting a defendant. That's worth emphasizing. Neither the federal criminal justice system nor the justice system in the 49 other states endorse the low standard that Oregon employs. Murder is the only felony charge for which the state requires jury unanimity for a guilty verdict. Fortunately, shame can be a motivating force. As The Oregonian/OregonLive's Shane Dixon Kavanaugh reported, House Majority Leader Jennifer Williamson intends to introduce legislation to end the practice of convicting with split-jury verdicts. Lawmakers are exploring both a statutory fix as well as a referral to voters to amend the constitution in a future election. The effort is long overdue. The provision allowing split jury verdicts passed in 1934 amid racist and anti-immigrant sentiment as Lewis & Clark Law Professor Aliza Kaplan and others have written in criticizing the law. That ability to discount dissenting views continues to exacerbate the racial imbalances in the justice system today, with low representation of minorities on juries and disproportionately high representation of minorities as defendants. Past efforts to rid the state of the non-unanimous law through the courts or the Legislature have failed, including a 2007 bill in the Oregon Legislature that inexplicably never got out of committee. The fundamental unfairness of the provision is so obvious that even many of the district attorneys who benefit agree that the law should be changed. Multnomah County District Attorney Rod Underhill and Deschutes County District Attorney John Hummel have been among the most prominent voices supporting a referral to voters to amend the constitution and embrace the unanimity standard. Still, however, there remain those who insist that a non-unanimous jury verdict is more "efficient" because it reduces the likelihood of hung juries. Oregonians should not be swayed in the least by that insidious argument. It is based on an arrogant view that one or two holdout jurors refuse to support the majority out of personal animus rather than a good-faith conclusion that the government has failed to prove its case. The efficiency argument is also considerably weakened by recent exonerations of defendants in two separate cases who were both convicted of sexual abuse by non-unanimous juries. There is no efficiency when the system results in a wrongful conviction. And finally, the argument fails against the test of real life. Prosecutors in the federal system and in 48 other states so far have been quite capable of putting together cases that convince all 12 jurors of a defendant's guilt beyond a reasonable doubt. Why should Oregonians let prosecutors skate by with anything less? They shouldn't. Fortunately, legislators aren't waiting for national embarrassment before tackling other criminal justice issues as well, although it's unclear what specifically may come in the 2019 session. Because while the non-unanimous jury law may be the most glaring example of a deficiency in our criminal justice system, it's far from the only one. There's the overly harsh consequences on juveniles of Measure 11, which mandates prison terms for certain crimes and requires that youths aged 15 and older be tried as adults if charged with a Measure 11 offense. There's the extraordinary pressure on defendants to consider pleading guilty to lesser offenses rather than risk being convicted - by a non-unanimous jury, no less - of a crime with a longer prison sentence attached. And there's the lingering question of why Oregon spends millions of dollars each year upholding a death-penalty system in a state that has not executed anyone since 1997. None of these will be easy to solve, but the state's lawmakers and leaders should get the work started. As Oregonians already are seeing, there's no glory in being last. - Helen Jung for The Oregonian/OregonLive Editorial Board Oregonian editorials Editorials reflect the collective opinion of The Oregonian/OregonLive editorial board, which operates independently of the newsroom. Members of the editorial board are Laura Gunderson, Helen Jung, Therese Bottomly and John Maher. Members of the board meet regularly to determine our institutional stance on issues of the day. We publish editorials when we believe our unique perspective can lend clarity and influence an upcoming decision of great public interest. Editorials are opinion pieces and therefore different from news articles. However, editorials are reported and written by either Laura Gunderson or Helen Jung. To respond to this editorial, post your comment below, submit an OpEd or a letter to the editor. The message from Chapman Square Saturday morning was clear: Believe survivors. It was a rallying cry for hundreds who turned out to listen to speeches from seven survivors of sexual assault in an event designed to drown out another rally organized by members of Vancouver, Washington-based Patriot Prayer in Terry Schrunk Federal Plaza. In terms of sheer attendance, it worked. No fewer than 200 people filled Chapman Square hours ahead of the competing rally, where demonstrators totaled maybe 40 at its zenith. Attendees in Chapman Square chanted along to protest standards like Whose streets? Our streets and jeered mentions of an ordinance to regulate protests proposed by Portland Mayor Ted Wheeler, which was voted down 3-2 earlier in the week. They also listened to stories from seven survivors of sexual assault, who talked about being harassed at work. And not being believed when they reported their assaults to colleagues and authorities. Alyssa Pariah said the three commissioners who voted against the ordinance sent a message in support of rallies like Pop Mobs. Im glad he got the message because I was going to be out here, anyway, she said. Shortly after the event at Chapman Square, members of Patriot Prayer hyped up a sparse crowd at Terry Schrunk Plaza, rallying attendees against what they said were unfounded accusations of sexual assault against prominent men. Haley Adams, who organized the gathering, said she had a friend in high school who was falsely accused. She also cited the hearings for allegations against Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh, then a nominee, in early October as a flashpoint in her decision to host the event. Adams also said the dozens gathered at the plaza were also there to support male victims of sexual assault. Demonstrators in Chapman Square werent buying it. You might be able to fool some people, but you cant fool us, Pariah said, citing the influx of speakers railing against Me Too across the street. The idea that there are men that are serving life sentences for rapes they did not commit is laughable. All signs pointed to the rally at Terry Schrunk Plaza would produce a turnout of fewer than 40 people. So why turn out in such vast numbers? Effie Baum, who organized the rally at Chapman Square through Pop Mob said it was about showing off what Portlanders, not outside agitators, stood for. Patriot Prayer doesnt care about survivors of any gender, its just an excuse to drum up conflict," Baum said. "We had an amazing showing today and outnumbered them seven to one. We need to keep showing up in larger numbers and eventually they will stop coming to our city. Although the dueling rallies never intertwined, police did make six arrests Saturday as demonstrators from Adams' protest returned to their cars. A previous version of this story misattributed the above quote. UPDATE: 6:43 p.m. Police arrest 6 in dueling Portland rallies involving Patriot Prayer. UPDATE 5:31 p.m.: Looks like things are winding down. We'll have a story on today's events up shortly. UPDATE 5:22 p.m.: Some of you brought up the ordinance in relation to todays demonstrations. So heres more information: pic.twitter.com/Musix7lWAM Mayor Ted Wheeler (@tedwheeler) November 18, 2018 UPDATE 5:20 p.m.: It appears that the members of Patriot Prayer & Him Too have mostly cleared out, some antifa and Me Too supporters remain on SW Yamhill #koin6news #pdx pic.twitter.com/VqBLDeV6p9 Jennifer Dowling (@JenDowlingKoin6) November 18, 2018 UPDATE 5:16 p.m.: police left the corner by pioneer mall, but are still rolling deep in downtown Portland pic.twitter.com/g5gLlC4RYt Mike Bivins (@itsmikebivins) November 18, 2018 UPDATE 5:13 p.m.: UPDATE 5:08 p.m.: UPDATE 5:06 p.m.: UPDATE 5:03 p.m.: PPB is advising people in the parking garage at 4th and Yamhill that if they are not customers of the garage, they need to leave or they will be subject to citation or arrest. Portland Police (@PortlandPolice) November 18, 2018 UPDATE 5 p.m.: PPB is continuing to use available and applicable laws to keep groups who have a history of violence apart as they travel in the downtown area. We are concerned for the safety of all people. Portland Police (@PortlandPolice) November 18, 2018 UPDATE 4:58 p.m.: lots of posturing, joey gibson had his hat stolen. cops made an arrest, unsure who/why. more dispersal orders. @MultCoSO here in riot gear as well as Portland police pic.twitter.com/SN7xmMc8nf Mike Bivins (@itsmikebivins) November 18, 2018 UPDATE 4:57 p.m.: scene outside Pioneer Place mall and the microsoft store. patriot prayer members are still apparently in the parking structure, antifa on the perimeter of the parking garage pic.twitter.com/0YaLcZfFYZ Mike Bivins (@itsmikebivins) November 18, 2018 UPDATE 4:53 p.m.: UPDATE 4:53 p.m.: UPDATE 4:52 p.m.: This afternoon PPB ordered crowds to disperse. Officers have continued to direct people to leave. Some people have not left the area and we are concerned for ALL people's safety. Another crowd has formed and is currently blocking a sidewalk. Portland Police (@PortlandPolice) November 18, 2018 UPDATE 4:51 p.m.: UPDATE 4:50 p.m.: UPDATE 4:50 p.m.: An employee at Foot Traffic running store watches on as protesters gather outside his job. Police have called this protest a civil disturbance. @fox12oregon pic.twitter.com/rcPJxociYi Marja Martinez (@MarjaKPTV) November 18, 2018 UPDATE 4:49 p.m.: The ordinance would have allowed for more tools for use outside of a park that don't already exist in code. Mayor Ted Wheeler (@tedwheeler) November 18, 2018 UPDATE 4:48 p.m.: This is the first demonstration since the mayor's proposed protest ordinance failed. UPDATE 4:46 p.m.: There is a lot of misinformation being shared about todays demonstrations so here are the facts: Closing a portion of the park in the interest of public safety is an existing tool under the City Code, and we can use it here because of the location of the planned demonstrations. Mayor Ted Wheeler (@tedwheeler) November 18, 2018 UPDATE 4:44 p.m.: Antifa has caught up with members of Patriot Prayer and Him Too #pdx #koin6news pic.twitter.com/iDwpfIXt6Q Jennifer Dowling (@JenDowlingKoin6) November 18, 2018 UPDATE 4:39 p.m.: Protesters/counter protesters chasing each other around blocks. Police chasing the chase. Alex Zielinski (@alex_zee) November 18, 2018 UPDATE 4:36 p.m.: Now on Taylor and Fourth. Officers have been directing protestors to leave and sending them around several blocks. The crowd dispersed a lot but still dozens of protesters marching @fox12oregon pic.twitter.com/HyN3yPO9kf Audrey Weil (@audreytweil) November 18, 2018 UPDATE 4:33 p.m.: UPDATE 4:28 p.m.: blows thrown outside the federal courthouse as folks engaged the black-clad counterprotesters for some reason. punch, kicks and silly string pic.twitter.com/u0y8byZHUQ Mike Bivins (@itsmikebivins) November 18, 2018 UPDATE 4:25 p.m.: Police continue their efforts to break up the crowds. Some observers report a kettle may be forming, a method of encircling and stopping a large group. UPDATE 4:18 p.m.: Police declare it a civil disturbance, tell everyone to leave. PPB Sound truck is advising the crowd at 3rd and Columbia to disperse. Portland Police (@PortlandPolice) November 18, 2018 breaking: tense moments as objects start to fly between the groups and police use a flash grenade to break it up pic.twitter.com/d7gQ1aX5b5 Mike Bivins (@itsmikebivins) November 18, 2018 UPDATE 4:17 p.m.: NOW: Counter protestors and Antifa run after PPB threw tear gas. #KOIN6News pic.twitter.com/StlUnohUrz Elise Haas (@EliseKOIN) November 18, 2018 UPDATE 4:16 P.M.: Bottles and flares are being thrown at 3rd and Clay. Portland Police (@PortlandPolice) November 18, 2018 An offshoot of the right-wing group Patriot Prayer held a #HimToo rally, and their left-wing opponents held counter demonstrations in a pair of parks near Portland's City Hall. The Democratic Socialists of America had a rally in the Park Blocks outside the Portland Museum of Art starting at 11:30 a.m. and marched from there to Chapman Square, where Popular Mobilization planned a demonstration. Those two groups aim to bring together survivors of sexual violence and other marginalized individuals who organizers say often remain silent about their abuse or trauma. The event was meant to counter the permitted #HimToo rally scheduled for 2 p.m. across the street at Terry Schrunk Plaza, which stands on federal property. That demonstration, planned by activists aligned with Patriot Prayer and its leader Joey Gibson, sought to draw attention to men who have been falsely accused of sexual attacks. Both protests were initially peaceful, but trouble started as the groups began to disperse. This post will be updated. Dueling rallies concluded with police trying to separate members of Vancouver, Washington-based Patriot Prayer and counter-demonstrators as the two groups quarreled in the streets Saturday afternoon. Media at the scene reported small scuffles breaking out, and police reported six arrests. The scene unfolded days after Portland City Council voted down Mayor Ted Wheeler's proposed ordinance to regulate some protests. Police, both federal and municipal, kept the groups separate for most of the day. Federal Protective Service officers barricaded Terry Schrunk Plaza, where prominent Patriot Prayer member Haley Adams hosted a sparsely attended Him Too rally, a counter to the Me Too movement of the last year. Portland police cordoned off parts of Chapman Square where counter-demonstrators had staged an opposing protest. It wasn't until the Him Too rally ended and its members began heading to their cars that police called the gathering a "civil disturbance" and began urging demonstrators to leave the downtown area. Police say protesters tossed bottles and flares at officers. A few demonstrators tossed smoke bombs, as well. Cops in riot gear followed members of Patriot Prayer as they walked to a parking garage at Southwest Fourth Avenue and Taylor Street from the rally site. Officers kept separating the group from black-clad counter-demonstrators, a few dozen of whom waited outside the exits to confront Adams, Patriot Prayer Joey Gibson and Tusitala "Tiny" Toese. The group left shortly after 5 p.m., three hours after the rally at Terry Schrunk Plaza began. That's also when police left the area. The day began with a rally in support of survivors of sexual assault in Chapman Square organized by Portland Popular Mobilization, or PopMob for short. Seven survivors spoke about their experiences, urging attendees to act as allies for women and non-binary folks. Adams said the goal of her rally was to support men falsely accused of sexual assault. She told The Oregonian/OregonLive that it was also a platform for male victims of sexual violence, although most guest spoke in muddled platitudes about freedom and some hinted at a "war on men." While the group at Chapman Square totaled around 200, fewer than 40 attended the Patriot Prayer-adjacent rally at Terry Schrunk Plaza. Police in a release said they arrested and booked Gary Fresquez, 52, with disorderly conduct and two counts of interfering with a peace officer. Hannah R. McClintock, 19, was arrested and charged with harassment. And four people were arrested and charged with interfering with a peace officer: Ruben A Delahuerga, 25; Betsy Toll, 68; Elizabeth L. Cheek, 33; and Brittany N. Frost, 35. --Eder Campuzano | 503.221.4344 Its shaping up to be another clear, crisp autumn day around Portland. The forecast calls for a clear sky all day and night Sunday, with a high of 54 degrees and a low of 37, according to the National Weather Service. Expect a breeze to blow all those freshly-fallen leaves around, with gusts between 14 and 18 mph, reaching up to 31 mph. Air advisories from last week were lifted by the Department of Environmental Quality on Saturday, leaving air quality good throughout the Portland metropolitan area. The forecast for Sunday also looks good around the region. Mount Hood should be clear with a high of 44 degrees at Government Camp, while the north Oregon coast should get a high of 57 degrees under blue sky as well. It all adds up to a beautiful day to go outside, and youd be wise to take the opportunity. Clouds will slowly return Monday and Tuesday, with rain likely on Wednesday, Thanksgiving and Black Friday. Hunters had brought 501 black bears into Pennsylvania Game Commission 25 bear check stations across the state by 5 p.m. Saturday, the first day of the 2018 firearms hunting season for bear. Many more successful hunters were expected to show up with their trophies before the check stations closed at 9 p.m. The 5 p.m. count was not far below the 666 bears hunters killed on the entire first day of the 2017 season, when driving rain, sleet and fog hindered hunters by reducing visibility for sighting bears and driving many hunters from the forest before the close of legal hunting hours at 5:13 p.m. In contrast, weather may have favored hunters on the first day this year. A relatively fresh layer of snow covered the ground in the wake of the winter storm that passed over Pennsylvania Thursday into Friday. A layer of snow on the ground increases a hunter's chances of connecting with a bear by giving the hunter a better opportunity to see the black animals in the landscape and to track the movements of the normally stealthy bear through their tracks. The snow definitely helped me see her through the brush, said Peyton Barge, of Elizabethville. He tagged his bear at 11 a.m. in Jackson Township, Dauphin County. Peyton Barge, of Elizabethville, harvested his first black bear at 11 a.m. Saturday, November 17, in Jackson Township, Dauphin County. Kohl Welcomer, of Halifax, agreed, With this black coat standing out against a white mountain, it was easy to see. He was field-dressing his 163-pound female bruin in Washington Township, Dauphin County, at about 9 a.m., when he looked up and spotted the 224-pound female that his buddy, Michael Bishop, of Piketown, then shot. Dave Hollenbach, of Herndon, bagged a 238-pound male black bear at 9:30 a.m. Saturday, November 17, the first day of the 2018 firearms hunting season for bear, near Pillow, Dauphin County. Welcomer pointed to another benefit to hunters on the snow-covered ground. The snow was very appreciated, he said. It would have been bad if there wasnt any snow for their hunting crew of four Fairview Township police officers, which also included Chris Biddle, of Halifax, and Chad Bowman, Mechanicsburg, who did not connect with bears. The covering of snow also has a bit of a downside, according to Jason Schultz, of Lebanon. He decided against making the drive to his hunting camp in Potter County, where he expected to find an unplowed dirt road of a couple hundred yards keeping him from his cabin. But, when he started walking back into State Game Lands 211 from Gold Mine Road in northern Lebanon County, he found the 2-day-old snow to be slippery underfoot. He did not get as far from the road as he would have liked, and saw no bears, but heard some gunshots near where he had hoped to hunt. Nathan Carl, of Treverton, bagged a 165-pound female black bear at 10 a.m. Saturday, November 17, the first day of the 2018 firearms season for bear, in West Cameron Township, Northumberland County. Bear hunting is prohibited on Sunday, but the 2018 firearms hunting season for bear resumes Monday, November 19, and continues through Wednesday, November 21. On Nov. 18, 1978, 909 people were found dead in Jonestown, Guyana. According to history.com, Peoples Temple founder Jim Jones had led his followers in a mass murder-suicide. Many of the followers willingly drank a poison-laced punch. Others were forced to drink it. The previous day, U.S. Congressman Leo Ryan of California had visited the compound at the urging of former members and relatives of current members. The day after he arrived, some of Jones followers asked Ryan to help them leave. Ryan was then attacked by one of Jones lieutenants. Ryan was not injured but when Ryan and four others were leaving, they were shot to death at the airstrip as they boarded their plane. The mass murder-suicide followed. The bodies were found the next day. Some people managed to escape. Several of Jones sons survived because they were not at the compound at the time. A 1,500-pound cow was stolen and butchered on the side of the road in western Pennsylvania. State police are now searching for the suspect or suspects, and there is a possible reward for an arrest and conviction. According to the Pennsylvania State Police at Somerset, the Holstein cow was stolen sometime between 2 and 5 a.m. Saturday from the Pennwood Farms on Sugar Grove School Road outside of Berlin, Somerset County. Police say the thief or thieves somehow got the cow to the side of the road and sliced its throat. They then butchered the cow, taking its hind quarters, front shoulders and ear tags and left the rest. Anyone with information should call the police, 814-445-4104. One man was taken to a an area hospital and nine people were displaced by a Saturday afternoon apartment building fire in Lebanon, according to a report from the Lebanon Daily News. The news organization reported that 33-year-old Joseph Reese was transported to Lehigh Valley Burn Unit with chemical burns due to the fire, which ignited about 1:36 p.m. at 123 N. Liberty St. Lebanon City Fire Department officials did not immediately return a voicemail message left by PennLive Saturday afternoon, seeking information about the blaze. The fire started in a second-floor apartment, eventually damaging two units and displacing nine people, according to the Lebanon Daily News, which cited Lebanon Fire Chief Duane Trautman. Neversink Fire Company aided at the scene, but, on Saturday, Neversink officials said they could not provide information about the fire. However, they posted about the blaze on social media, explaining the fire broke out at the same time as area firefighters were participating in a local parade. Emergency responders remained at the scene of the fire for about an hour and a half, according to the post. Proposal for two-family housing to have public hearing in Petoskey The strategy is one of many changes the city has been working on in response to the housing shortage. NORRISTOWN Nearly all results from the 2021 general election were certified Monday by members of the Montgomery County Board of Elections. Several races were on the Nov. 2 ballot including councils, school boards and judgeships. There were a total... Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, November 17) Its another word war between President Rodrigo Duterte and the opposition Magdalo partylist. In a statement, Magdalo partylist Representative Gary Alejano said that contrary to what the Presidents latest speech in Papua New Guinea said, the Magdalo are not terrorists. It is extremely flippant and utterly disrespectful for the President to liken us to terrorists. Being former soldiers, we have risked our lives on many occasions to fight terrorists and protect our country from enemies of the state, said Alejano. Duterte, in his speeches, has constantly criticized the partylist for staging the Oakwood and Manila Peninsula sieges during the presidency of Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo. It is standing for our principles and our love for the country which led us to the Oakwood and Manila Peninsula incidents. I do not expect our transactional President, who sells our territory to China and betrays our country, to understand such values of patriotism and nationalism, Alejano added. Alejano reiterated that Dutertes attacks are a part of the Presidents attempt to intimidate and silence the opposition. Opposition is not destabilization. Contrary to what the President believes in, opposition is necessary for a democracy, Alejano said. In his speech to the Filipino community in Papua New Guinea Friday night, Duterte had likened the Magdalo group to terrorists, particularly the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS). Be careful of that Partidong Magdalo. Ito yung mga rebeldeng sundalo na nagkalat sa Makati at Peninsula. They destroyed everything. Parang ISIS ang mga b***ng. Wala silang alam kundi to kill, manghamon, mangbastos, Duterte said. [Translation: These are the rebel soldiers that trashed Makati and the Peninsula. They destroyed everything. Theyre like the ISIS. They dont know anything but to kill, to challenge, to be disrespectful.] Duterte is set to return to the Philippines late Saturday night, cutting his trip to Papua New Guinea for the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Summit a day short. Roberto Romanello Captures $10,300 High Roller Title for $450,000 November 18, 2018 Adam Lamers Another high roller is in the books as the 2018 Caribbean Poker Party is coming to a close. The $10,000 High Roller has just wrapped up and partypoker pro Roberto Romanello has claimed the victory along with the first-place prize of $450,000 after beating a field of 196 entries. Romanello defeated Mustapha Kanit in a heads-up battle after the two players worked out an ICM deal earlier on. While there was still some money to play for along with the trophy, Romanello and Kanit exchanged some friendly banter and many laughs. But the heads-up match all belonged to Romanello who held the chip lead throughout in a dominating performance. The poker pro from Wales has accumulated nearly $3.5 million in his career, but he was really looking forward to getting his hands on the partypoker trophy. This will go down as one of his largest cashes, and it seems fitting that it came in a partypoker event. partypoker Caribbean Poker Party $10,000 High Roller Final Table Results Position Player Country Prize 1 Roberto Romanello United Kingdom $450,000 2 Mustapha Kanit Italy $271,200 3 Daniel Dvoress Canada $210,000 4 Justin Bonomo United States $160,000 5 Garik Tamasian Russia $125,000 6 Guillaume Diaz France $100,000 7 Joao Simao Brazil $80,000 8 Adrian Mateos Spain $65,000 The day got started with 28 players returning to their seats, but only 23 of them would make the money. After a flurry of bustouts in the first level, the money bubble was reached, but it only took one hand. Bartlomiej Machon moved all in with pocket queens but ran into the pocket aces of Romanello, meaning the remaining 23 players were guaranteed at least $20,000. Unlike most tournaments, there weren't many short stacks after the money bubble, and so it took some time for players to hit the rail. The field was littered with notable names, and they continued to drop one by one. Some of the notables eliminated in the money include partypoker pro Isaac Haxton, Jonathan Duhamel, Thomas Muehloecker, Steve O'Dwyer, and Joseph Cheong. The unofficial final table was reached at a reasonable time, but the average stack of around 80 big blinds made for a lot of poker to be played. Nine-handed play lasted for well over two hours before Benjamin Pollak was finally eliminated. It was a little while later that the three short stacks hit the rail in quick succession. Adrian Mateos started the flurry when he ran into the pocket aces of Daniel Dvoress, followed by partypoker pro Joao Simao, and Guillaume Diaz who got his pocket kings cracked. Maybe the least familiar player at the table, Garik Tamasian, came in with the least amount of experience but was able to ladder his way up into a fifth-place finish. Tamasian got the last of his chips in the middle in a flip against Dvoress but was unable to connect with the board. That left Justin Bonomo on the short stack, and he wasn't afraid to make some moves to try and climb out of the hole. However, his flopped top pair was no good against the turned flush of Dvoress and Bonomo was ousted in third place. The final three players agreed to take a look at the numbers but couldn't agree on making a deal. So play continued with an average stack of over 65 big blinds. Each player tossed the chip lead back and forth to the others, and there were multiple double ups throughout the next three hours. One large double from Romanello left Dvoress on the short stack, and he eventually lost a flip against Kanit to go out in third. That set up the heads-up match between Romanello and Kanit and the two had a blast dueling each other for over an hour. Romanello held the early chip lead, and he would never look back, picking off a couple of bluffs from Kanit. In the last hand of the night, Romanello picked up ace-king on the button against the king-deuce of Kanit. The board ran out clean for Romanello, and the tournament finally ended in the wee hours of the morning. That nearly wraps up the entire coverage from PokerNews at the 2018 Caribbean Poker Party with just one event still going on. Three big blinds and a dream. That's about all Filipe Oliveira had with six players left in the partypoker 2018 Caribbean Poker Party $5,300 Main Event. The Portuguese player had lost a series of pots to be left with crumbs, and it looked overwhelmingly likely he'd be taking home $400,000 for his efforts a handsome sum, but not quite the $1.5 million the winner was set to bank. Things can change quickly in tournament poker. About three hours later, he raised the trophy and the $1.5 million after a dominating heads-up performance against Craig Mason, the last of the 1,815 entries to run dry on chips. A man with $140,000 in tournament cashes was a millionaire. Official Final Table Results Position Player Country Prize 1 Filipe Oliveira Portugal $1,500,000 2 Craig Mason USA $1,200,000 3 Marc MacDonnell Ireland $1,000,000 4 Pascal Hartmann Germany $800,000 5 Konstantin Maslak Russia $600,000 6 Diogo Veiga Portugal $400,000 7 Alex Turyansky USA $300,000 8 Joe Kuether USA $218,500 Just 11 players came into the final day with hopes of shipping the CPP Main Event. The players missing out on the official final table of eight were Niek Van Der Sluijs, Anton Wigg and Alex Lynskey. Lynskey's exit allowed American pro Joe Kuether to sneak into the final table despite having crumbs after losing tens to Mason's jacks for tons of chips with nine left. He would go down in eighth as German grinder Pascal Hartmann, who certainly had the most star-studded rail, rose to the top. Alex Turyansky fell in seventh. Oliveira, meanwhile, lost a series of pots to drop to 35 million at 5,000,000/10,000,000/10,000,000. He stuck it in with king-six offsuit and got called in two spots, with one player dominating him with king-jack. A six arrived on the flop and the comeback was on. He found a double after that with king-queen suited against ace-ten suited held by start-of-day leader Konstantin Maslak. "I was really lucky," he said when asked how he managed his comeback. "That's about it. I was pretty lucky all the way." Oliveira's countryman, 2018 bracelet winner Diogo Veiga was next to go as Mason ascended to the lead. He won a flip with Veiga and then opened jacks at the same 10 million level. Hartmann had been ripping all in with multiple players behind him and just generally putting a lot of ICM pressure on his opponents. He did so again in this spot with ace-six suited but this time got caught as Mason wouldn't let the fishhooks go, calling for over 400 million and holding to mark a major shift in the tournament. Craig Mason faded a three-outer to halt Hartmann's dominance. After Maslak busted in fifth, Hartmann would settle for a disappointing fourth when he jammed 23 big blinds on the button with king-jack and failed to get there against Oliveira's nines. All of a sudden, the Portuguese player was three-handed with the lead about an hour after he was on life support. The three players left Oliveira, Mason and Marc MacDonnell paused the event to discuss a chop. However, with payouts already quite flat, there was little reason to deal, and they wound up playing on. MacDonnell attempted an epic hero call with jack-high and a flush blocker but Mason had the goods with a jack-high flush to reduce the Irish pro to a short stack. He was out in third in short order but still got a career-best $1 million. Stacks were even heads up and they remained that way for some time, but the pot that altered the match in Oliveira's favor to give him a decisive lead was one where he made nothing but a pair of deuces. He put in a three-bet preflop with four-two suited and flopped bottom pair on an ace-high board. Mason peeled for a small bet with king-high and then turned a king. Oliveira bombed the turn for pot, 20 percent of the total chips in play. Mason tanked long enough to use a time extension before releasing and Oliveira smiled and showed him the four. "I'm not sure if it was good," he said, reflecting on the huge bluff afterward. "I thought with my sizing he never has ace-king. I think he might fold an ace and I think he definitely folds anything else. With my sizing, it needs to work 50 percent and I think he folds more than 50 percent." Oliveira continued to roll and wrapped the match less than an hour later, to the cheers of Veiga and a couple of other Portuguese countrymen rooting him on. "It was really hard playing with him," Oliveira said. "It was pretty tough for me to have him on my left. I was happy when he busted because it was more chances for me to win. "It's very nice. I worked all these years for moments like that." 4.7k SHARES Facebook Twitter Whatsapp Pinterest Reddit Print Mail Flipboard Yesterdays California Field Poll is full of good news for Democratic Governor Jerry Brown. Republicans on the other hand, have little to celebrate, given that the poll shows the Republican gubernatorial field getting annihilated by Brown. Brown leads all three hypothetical Republican opponents combined by a 52-23 margin. While Brown tallies 52 percent support from California voters, Republican Abel Maldonado is the GOPs leading candidate polling just 11 percent. The poll is a resounding vote of confidence for Governor Browns pragmatic and effective leadership. His current approval rating is at its highest since he took office in January 2011, with 58 percent approving of his job performance to 33 percent who disapprove of his job performance. Brown adviser and political strategist, Dan Newman, expresses why he believes Brown has become so popular as follows: He not only silenced the critics, he won them over by doing what few thought possible: He restored fiscal stability, erased a deficit, reformed our school funding system, created jobs and led the way on climate change. Its entirely understandable that people prefer continued strong, effective leadership instead of abruptly turning California over to the tea party. Brown is popular throughout the state, enjoying positive approval numbers in every region. In addition, he enjoys equal support from men (58-34 approval rating) and women (57-33), showing no gender gap in his popularity. While white voters approve of Browns leadership by a modest 51-43 margin, minority voters support his job performance by more lopsided margins. Asians (62-29), blacks (62-28) and Latinos (66-26) all approve of Browns job performance by greater than 2 to 1 ratios. Browns effective, pragmatic governance has even earned him some support from voters who identify with the Tea Party. A more stable budget, better schools, and lower unemployment has a way of muting critics and garnering support even from ideological opponents. While 58 percent of Tea Partiers disapprove of Governor Browns performance, over a third (38 percent) say he is doing a good job. Outside the Tea Party, the Governor is appreciated by an overwhelming 69-24 margin. Republicans face a daunting task in trying to unseat Governor Brown. The political environment could change in the eleven months between now and November 2014, but right now Governor Brown appears borderline invincible if he decides to seek re-election. 439 SHARES Facebook Twitter Whatsapp Pinterest Reddit Print Mail Flipboard By Terray Sylvester PARADISE, Calif. (Reuters) Forensic recovery teams pressed their search for more victims in the flame-ravaged northern California town of Paradise on Friday as authorities sought clues to the fate of about 1,000 people reported missing in the states deadliest wildfire on record. Remains of at least 71 people have been recovered in and around a Sierra foothills hamlet that was home to nearly 27,000 residents before the town, 175 miles (280 km) north of San Francisco, was largely incinerated by the deadly Camp Fire on the night of Nov. 8. More than a week later, firefighters have managed to carve containment lines around 45 percent of the blazes perimeter, up from 35 percent a day earlier, even as the burned landscape grew slightly to 142,000 acres (57,000 hectares). Besides the toll on human life, property losses from the blaze make it the most destructive in California history, posing the additional challenge of providing long-term shelter for many thousands of displaced residents. With more than 9,800 homes up in smoke, many refugees from the fire have taken up temporary residence with friends and family, while others have pitched tents or were camping out of their vehicles. At least 1,100 evacuees were being housed in 14 emergency shelters set up in churches, schools and community centers around the region, with more than 47,000 people in all remaining under evacuation orders, authorities said. Search teams with cadaver dogs, meanwhile, combed through charred, rubble-strewn expanses of burned-out neighborhoods looking for bodies. On Friday night, Butte County Sheriff Kory Honea said the remains of eight more fire victims were recovered during the day, bringing the death toll to 71. That far surpasses the previous fatality record from a single California wildfire 29 in the Griffith Park fire of 1933 in Los Angeles. RAW DATA Honea said the total roster of people unaccounted for had swelled to 1,011 up from the 630 names posted Thursday night and well more than triple the number counted as missing on Thursday afternoon. This is a dynamic list, Honea told reporters, saying it was compiled from raw data that likely included some duplication of names reported with more than one spelling. Honea said it was too soon to conjecture on the fate of those on the list, noting that as of Friday, 329 individuals previously reported missing had turned up alive. I dont think its appropriate for any of us to sit and speculate about what the future holds. The names were being compiled from information received from a special hotline, along with email reports and a review of emergency-911 calls that came in on the first night of the fire, Honea said. Some listed have likely survived but not yet notified family or authorities, either because they lack phone service or were unaware anyone was looking for them, authorities said. Others may not have been immediately listed because of delays in reporting them. HISTORIC PROPORTIONS The disaster already ranks among the deadliest U.S. wildfires since the turn of the last century. Eighty-seven people perished in the Big Burn firestorm that swept the Northern Rockies in August of 1910. Minnesotas Cloquet Fire in October of 1918 killed 450 people. Authorities attribute the Camp Fires high death toll partly to the speed with which flames raced through the town with little advance warning, driven by howling winds and fueled by drought-desiccated scrub and trees. Weather conditions have since turned more to firefighters favor, though strong, gusty winds and lower humidity were expected to return late Saturday through early Sunday, ahead of rain showers in the forecast for mid-week. The rain is good news for fire crews but will add to the misery of evacuees camping outdoors, including at least 300 people living in a tent village that sprang up in the parking lot of a Walmart store. That spot lies in a flood plain, so occupants are being urging to vacate the parking lot by Sunday afternoon, said Bryan May, a spokesman for the California Office of Emergency Services. Outbreak of the Camp Fire coincided with a series of smaller blazes in Southern California, most notably the Woolsey Fire, which is linked to three fatalities and has destroyed at least 500 structures near the Malibu coast west of Los Angeles. It was 78 percent contained on Friday night. Scientists have said the growing frequency and intensity of wildfires in California and elsewhere across the West are largely attributable to prolonged drought that is symptomatic of climate change. [nL2N1XN1H0] The precise causes of the Camp and Woolsey Fires were under investigation, but electric utilities have reported equipment problems in the vicinity of both blazes around the time they erupted. U.S. President Donald Trump, who has taken to Twitter to blame the recent spate of fires on forest mismanagement, was due to visit the fire zones on Saturday to meet displaced residents. Governor Jerry Brown and Governor-elect Gavin Newsom planned to join Trump on his tour. Smoke from the Camp Fire has spread broadly. Public schools in Sacramento 90 miles (150 km) to the south, and as far away as San Francisco and Oakland, canceled classes on Friday because of poor air quality. (This story was refiled to fix name of sheriff to Kory in paragraph 12) (Reporting by Terray Sylvester; additional reporting by Alex Dobuzinskis in Los Angeles; Brendan OBrien in Milwaukee, Jonathan Allen in New York; Suzannah Gonzales in Chicago; Writing by Nick Carey, Bill Trott and Steve Gorman; editing by Grant McCool, Clive McKeef & Shri Navaratnam) 501 SHARES Facebook Twitter Whatsapp Pinterest Reddit Print Mail Flipboard (Reuters) Democrat Andrew Gillum, who had sought to become Floridas first black governor, conceded on Saturday as a recount of ballots neared its end, and he congratulated rival Republican Ron DeSantis, an ally of President Donald Trump. Gillum, the liberal mayor of Tallahassee, had initially conceded the race to DeSantis, a conservative former congressman. But Gillum later withdrew that concession when the results were close enough for an automatic recount. On Saturday, he said that process was drawing to a close. This has been the journey of our lives. Weve been so honored by the support that weve received, Gillum said in a video statement. Stay tuned, there will be more to come. This fight for Florida continues. DeSantis said on Twitter, This was a hard-fought campaign. Now its time to bring Florida together. After Gillum initially conceded the contest on election night, his subsequent calls for every vote to be counted echoed similar appeals from fellow Democrat U.S. Senator Bill Nelson. A recount is continuing in the race between Nelson and his challenger for the Senate seat, outgoing Republican Governor Rick Scott. That recount has become the subject of an intense political battle with Republicans including Trump claiming without evidence that the process was marred by fraud. Both parties and their supporters filed multiple lawsuits challenging the process, with Republicans urging a strict standard on which votes were counted while Democrats contested rules that they saw as disenfranchising voters. (Reporting by Letitia Stein; Writing by Daniel Wallis, editing by G Crosse and Cynthia Osterman) 760 SHARES Facebook Twitter Whatsapp Pinterest Reddit Print Mail Flipboard PORT MORESBY (Reuters) The United States will not back down from its trade dispute with China, and might even double its tariffs, unless Beijing bows to U.S. demands, Vice President Mike Pence said on Saturday. In a bluntly worded speech at an Asia Pacific Economic Co-operation (APEC) summit in Papua New Guinea, Pence threw down the gauntlet to China on trade and security in the region. We have taken decisive action to address our imbalance with China, Pence declared. We put tariffs on $250 billion in Chinese goods, and we could more than double that number. The United States, though, will not change course until China changes its ways. The stark warning will likely be unwelcome news to financial markets which had hoped for a thaw in the Sino-U.S. dispute and perhaps even some sort of deal at a G20 meeting later this month in Argentina. U.S. President Donald Trump, who is not attending the APEC meeting, is due to meet Chinese President Xi Jinping in Argentina. Pences warning on Saturday contrasted with remarks made by Trump on Friday, when he said he may not impose more tariffs after China sent the United States a list of measures it was willing to take to resolve trade tensions. Trump has imposed tariffs on $250 billion worth of Chinese imports to force concessions on a list of demands that would change the terms of trade between the two countries. China has responded with import tariffs on U.S. goods. Washington is demanding Beijing improve market access and intellectual property protections for U.S. companies, cut industrial subsidies and slash a $375 billion trade gap. There was no hint of compromise from Pence. China has taken advantage of the United States for many years. Those days are over, he told delegates gathered on a cruise liner docked in Port Moresbys Fairfax Harbour. He also took aim at Chinas territorial ambitions in the Pacific and, particularly, Xis Belt and Road Initiative to expand land and sea links between Asia, Africa and Europe with billions of dollars in infrastructure investment. We dont offer constricting belts or a one-way road, said Pence. While not referring directly to Chinese claims over various disputed waters in the region, Pence said the United States would work to help protect maritime rights. We will continue to fly and sail where ever international law allows and our interests demand. Harassment will only strengthen our resolve. Just minutes earlier, Xi had spoken at length about his initiative and the need for free trade across the region. It is not an exclusive club closed to non-members, nor is it a trap as some people have labeled it, Xi said of his brainchild project. He also called protectionism a shortsighted approach that was doomed to fail. History has shown that confrontation, whether in the form of a Cold War, hot war, or trade war will produce no winners, said Xi. (Reporting by Jonathan Barrett, Tom Westbrook, Charlotte Greenfield, Philip Wen; writing by Wayne Cole and Swati Pandey; Editing by Robert Birsel) 5.9k SHARES Facebook Twitter Whatsapp Pinterest Reddit Print Mail Flipboard Trump repeated his talking points about law enforcement while visiting no victims of the California wildfires. Trump said, So the federal government is behind you, were all behind each other. I think we can truly say that. Jerry and I have been speaking, and Gavin and I have gotten to know each other, and were all going to work together and do a real job. In is very sad to see. As far as the lives are concerned, nobody knows quite yet. Theyre up to a certain number, but we have a lot of people that arent accounted for. This is the kind of destruction in fact, theyre telling me this is even not as bad as some areas. Some areas are even beyond this, theyre just charred. So the one thing we have, we have the greatest people in the world looking at helping the first responders, FEMA. FEMA has been incredible. Law enforcement always, they never let us down. So we are here and, Kevin, thank you very much for the job youve done and the support youve given in Washington. And, Kevin, anything we can do, you know were here. You just bring it over to the office, right? You know that. Video: Trump repeated his talking points about law enforcement while visiting no victims of the California wildfires. https://t.co/laKNLDp2qE pic.twitter.com/zyqzE9vfTm Sarah Reese Jones (@PoliticusSarah) November 17, 2018 Trump has used the same language after hurricanes where he goes somewhere, stands beside a few local politicians, praises FEMA and law enforcement, visits no victims, and then runs home. It is the same tired template after national tragedy or disaster. Trump is even repeating the same words over and over again. The only thing that changes the backdrop. This isnt leadership. Trump cant go on Twitter and threaten to deny disaster relief to California while blaming the state for poor management of federal lands, but then show up for the cameras and repeat his stale talking pointing while expecting anyone to believe him or care. Donald Trump has been broken by midterms and the Russia investigations. He looked and sounded like he could less about the thousands of people still missing after the fires. America would be better served if Trump stopped wasting their money by going through the motions when he does not care. For more discussion about this story join our Rachel Maddow and MSNBC group. Follow Jason Easley on Facebook. 1.2k SHARES Facebook Twitter Whatsapp Pinterest Reddit Print Mail Flipboard By Lawrence Hurley WASHINGTON (Reuters) The fight over President Donald Trumps appointment of Matthew Whitaker as acting attorney general has reached the U.S. Supreme Court, with lawyers in a pending gun rights case asking the justices on Friday to decide if the action was lawful. Critics have said the Republican presidents appointment of Whitaker, who now will oversee Special Counsel Robert Muellers investigation into Russias role in the 2016 U.S. election, on Nov. 7 to replace the ousted Jeff Sessions as the chief U.S. law enforcement official violated the Constitution and federal law. Lawyers for Barry Michaels, who filed a lawsuit in Nevada challenging a U.S. law that bars him from buying a firearm due to prior non-violent criminal convictions, decided to make Whitakers appointment an issue in their pending appeal before the high court because Sessions was named as a defendant in the case. The lawyers told the justices that Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein should be the acting attorney general. There is a significant national interest in avoiding the prospect that every district and immigration judge in the nation could, in relatively short order, be presented with the controversy over which person to substitute as Acting Attorney General, the lawyers, led by prominent Supreme Court advocate Thomas Goldstein, wrote in a court filing. The court is not required to decide one way or another and could simply ignore or reject the motion. Michaels lawyers argued that Rosenstein, the departments No. 2 official, should have succeeded Sessions under a federal law that vests full authority in the deputy attorney general should the office of attorney general become vacant. Some of the same lawyers behind Fridays motion also are involved in a similar effort brought before a federal judge on Tuesday. In that case, Maryland Attorney General Brian Frosh asked a federal judge to bar Whitaker from appearing in an official capacity as acting attorney general in the states ongoing lawsuit against the Trump administration over the Affordable Care Act healthcare law. Maryland also argued that Trump violated the so-called Appointments Clause of the Constitution because the job of attorney general is a principal officer who must be appointed by the president and confirmed by the Senate. The Justice Department on Wednesday defended the legality of Whitakers appointment, saying Trump was empowered to give him the job under a 1998 law called the Federal Vacancies Reform Act even though he was not a Senate-confirmed official. Congressional Democrats have voiced concern that Whitaker, who they have called a Trump political lackey, could undermine or even fire Mueller. Muellers investigation has led to criminal charges against a series of former Trump aides and has cast a cloud over Trumps presidency. (Reporting by Lawrence Hurley; Editing by Will Dunham) 749 SHARES Facebook Twitter Whatsapp Pinterest Reddit Print Mail Flipboard By Sarah N. Lynch WASHINGTON (Reuters) The outgoing chairman of the U.S. House Judiciary Committee is planning to issue subpoenas compelling former FBI Director James Comey and former U.S. Attorney General Loretta Lynch to be deposed about their decision-making ahead of the 2016 U.S. presidential election, a House Democratic aide told Reuters on Friday. The plans by Republican Chairman Bob Goodlatte were immediately criticized by ranking Democrat Jerrold Nadler, who is expected to take over as chairman of the panel next year. These subpoenas are coming out of the blue, with very little time left on the calendar, Nadler said in a statement, adding that Comey and Lynch had indicated months ago they would be willing to answer questions voluntarily. The House of Representatives aide told Reuters that Goodlatte is planning to call Comey in for closed-door questioning on Nov. 29 and Lynch on Dec. 5. President Donald Trump, a Republican, fired Comey in May 2017. Lynch left office when Democratic President Barack Obamas term ended in January 2017. A spokeswoman for Goodlatte did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Goodlatte and House Oversight Chairman Trey Gowdy have been running a joint probe into whether the FBI botched investigations leading up to the 2016 vote. They are looking into the FBIs handling of Russias role in U.S. politics and Hillary Clintons emails when she was secretary of state. It has been criticized by Democrats, who say Republicans are merely trying to undermine Special Counsel Robert Muellers investigation into Russian election meddling and whether Trumps campaign coordinated with Moscow officials. Trump has repeatedly denied colluding and called Muellers inquiry a witch hunt. The Kremlin denies interfering in the election, which Trump won in a stunning upset against Democratic candidate Clinton. David Kelley, a lawyer for Comey, said he expected Comey to be served the subpoena Friday night or Saturday. Kelley said he told the committee in an Oct. 1 letter that his client would testify but only in a public hearing. House Republicans can ask me anything they want but I want the American people to watch, so lets have a public hearing. Truth is best served by transparency. Let me know when is convenient, Comey said on Twitter. A spokeswoman for Lynch declined to comment. Comey is seen as an important witness into whether Trump tried to obstruct the special counsels investigation. Comey has also been criticized by the Justice Departments inspector general for announcing the FBIs decision not to propose criminal charges against Clinton over her use of a private email server while heading up the U.S. State Department. Republicans have said Comeys handling of the Clinton matter shows he is biased against Trump. The inspector general found that while he acted improperly, he did not exhibit bias. Republicans have limited time to wrap up the probe before Democrats take over leadership next year after winning back the House in the Nov. 6 congressional elections. Once that happens, Nadler has said he plans to investigate whether Trump has improperly meddled in Justice Department affairs and ensure Muellers probe is protected. (Reporting by Sarah N. Lynch; editing by Dan Grebler and Grant McCool) 2.3k SHARES Facebook Twitter Whatsapp Pinterest Reddit Print Mail Flipboard Incoming Democratic Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez wants to replace Democratic incumbents with progressives in order to move the party to the left. Thats what she did when she won her won her Democratic primary in New York City, and now she is one of the most prominent progressives in the country and a rising star within the left wing of the Democratic Party. Ocasio-Cortez told the over 700 attendees of a Justice Democrats strategy call that they should run for office. And she said they should run against not only Republicans in their home districts but also incumbent Democrats in primaries. Justice Democrats is a group of progressive Democrats seeking to make the Democratic Party more progressive. Their goal is to change business as usual, which means unseating established office holders in order to move the party and the country to the left. Ocasio-Cortez said during the Saturday call that her own journey to the House began began when she attended a similar Justice Democrats strategy call a few years ago. Based on her own experiences, she asked supporters to launch similar bids for elective in their own districts around the country. Long story short, I need you to run for office, she said on the call. All Im asking you to do is throw your hat in the ring, say what the heck. Ocasio-Cortez was elected Tuesday after running a successful primary against long-time New York Representative Joe Crowley, who was House Democratic Caucus Chairman. When the 29 year-old waitress beat one of the most senior congressmen in the House it sent shockwaves throughout Washington, D.C. and the nation. Ocasio-Cortez also said that she and other members of the Justice Democrats would enthusiastically support challenges to incumbent Democrats. This would especially be true, she said, if the incumbents are not sufficiently aligned with the policies of progressives in the party. She said perhaps the biggest issue that they look at when deciding whether to primary an incumbent is where they stand on the issue of corporate campaign donations. All Americans know money in politics is a huge problem, but unfortunately the way that we fix it is by demanding that our incumbents give it up or by running fierce campaigns ourselves, she said. I dont think people who are taking money from pharmaceutical companies should be drafting health care legislation. I dont think people who are taking money from oil and gas companies should be drafting climate legislation, she added. Ocasio-Cortez made headlines this week when a reporter from the conservative Washington Examiner newspaper, questioned her claims of financial struggles in a tweet saying that her jacket and coat dont look like a girl who struggles. If I walked into Congress wearing a sack, they would laugh & take a picture of my backside, Ocasio-Cortez tweeted in response. If I walk in with my best sale-rack clothes, they laugh & take a picture of my backside. Dark hates light thats why you tune it out. Shine bright & keep it pushing. Oh, does @eScarry think he can delete his misogyny without an apology? I dont think so. Youre a journalist readers should know your bias. pic.twitter.com/2KJuiPsUR2 Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (@Ocasio2018) November 16, 2018 Earlier this week we reported that the incoming Congresswoman was having trouble coming up with the money to pay her rent in Washington until she receives her first paycheck as a member of Congress. 3.3k SHARES Facebook Twitter Whatsapp Pinterest Reddit Print Mail Flipboard Republicans in several states are attempting to rush through last-ditch laws that would take away power from Democratic governors. At the time time, they seek to pass lame-duck laws to advance their own right-wing agendas. Braced for a new era of divided government, lame-duck Republicans who have long controlled two upper Midwest states are priming last-ditch laws to advance their conservative agenda or to weaken the influence of Democratic governors-elect: https://t.co/MS8vPrDiLr AP Politics (@AP_Politics) November 18, 2018 In Michigan, for example, the GOP has held power for nearly eight years. The new governor and other state elected officials will all be Democrats next year. So Republican legislators are trying to water down a minimum wage law so that it would not go to voters. In Wisconsin, Republicans are making a list of ways they can dilute the power of incoming Democratic governor Tony Evers. He will take over for GOP Governor Scott Walker in January. And in North Carolina, Republicans are trying to finalize the details of a new voter identification constitutional amendment that would make it more difficult for minorities to vote. They are trying to rush through the bill before they lose their legislative supermajorities which give them the power to unilaterally override vetoes by Democratic Governor Roy Cooper. Republicans of course say they are playing fair. They defend their tactics and say that Democrats have done the same thing. This is not strictly true, however, and some of the steps Republicans are taking will probably be challenged in court. Democratic critics say these underhanded maneuvers undermine the will of the people who voted for change in this years elections. Its something that smacks every Michigan voter in the face and tells them that this Republican Party doesnt care about their voice, their perspective, House Democratic Leader Sam Singh said. The GOP moves are taking place following midterm elections in which Democrats swept statewide offices in Michigan and Wisconsin for the first time in decades. Due to gerrymandering, however, they were not able to take over the state legislatures. As a result, Republicans are able pass laws now to lock in new policies and Democrats will be unable to undo them until they take control of the legislatures. Michigans new minimum wage and sick time laws are two things the GOP lawmakers plan to change before the new Democratic governor, Gretchen Whitmer, takes over. Michigans minimum wages are the highest in the Midwest. Wisconsin Republicans are considering several ways to protect laws enacted by Walker . Those include limiting Evers ability to make appointments, restricting his authority over the rule-making process and making it more difficult for him to block a work requirement for Medicaid recipients. In North Carolina, GOP legislators are planning to use the lame-duck session to put in a new voter photo ID requirement and to consider other legislation that the Democratic governor would be powerless to stop right now. The have been attempting to reduce Coopers powers for two years, and he won a lawsuit challenging a law passed by Republicans that reduced his role in managing elections. All over the country the pattern is clear. As duly-elected Democrats are ready to take power in state governments, Republicans currently in power are playing dirty and using every underhanded trick they can think of to stifle the will of the voters who put Democrats in office. This proves once again that Republicans do not truly believe in democracy, and are willing to do anything to undermine it, if it suits their needs and advances their right-wing agendas. 6.1k SHARES Facebook Twitter Whatsapp Pinterest Reddit Print Mail Flipboard Many Republicans are unhappy about the midterm election results, which saw Democrats taking back control of the U.S. House of Representatives. Many Republicans believe that Democrats are misguided and all of their policies are wrong. But for some Republicans saying Democrats are wrong is not going far enough. Several white Christian Republican pastors in Texas are now saying that the Democratic Party is godless and Democrats themselves are evil. Mega church Pastor Dr. Ed Young, a former president of the Southern Baptist Convention said that the Democratic Party is some kind of religion that is basically godless during a speech he delivered at Congressman John Culbersons election watch party Tuesday night. Culberson was a GOP incumbent who lost his House seat in Texas during this years Blue Wave. Youngs remarks were mae after Rep. Culberson gave his concession speech. And Young is not the only white Republican Texas Christian pastor expressing those kinds of sentiments. Republican anti-LGBT rights activist Dave Welch, who is leader of the Houston-based Texas Pastor Council, wrote in a Friday column that Young is right secular Democrats are a godless party that embraces legal abortion and moral anarchy. Before the election another Texas pastor, Bob Long of prophecy-driven Rally Call Ministries, wrote that he had a vision of a demonic attack on the election by supernatural evil. Long was chosen by Texas Republican lawmakers to leads prayer services in the Texas Capitol. There is an electoral divide in America. We are divided by race, by sex, by geography and increasingly by religion. And Evangelical Christians from all denominations and races are sharply divided over what their message should be. Do they preach morality and evangelical political power and support a president of questionable morals? Or should they be most concerned about justice, righteousness and social issues? CNNs exit polling showed that around one-fourth of Texas voters this month were white evangelical Christians. And GOP Sen. Ted Cruz won 81 percent of that vote. But Republicans suffered some losses also, including Culberson who is a member of Youngs Second Baptist Church in Houston. At the election night gathering of Republicans Young said: The Democratic Party is no longer a party. Its some kind of religion that is basically godless, and as long as America and this is represented by every Democrat I know does not believe in the sacredness of the life in the mothers womb, God will not bless America or make us a great nation. In an October Facebook post Young warned of a demon prince who would corrupt the vote. Another post talks about a large satanic star and witchcraft controlling Texas. The unfortunate thing is that millions of evangelical Christians all over the United States have been told similar things by their own pastors. These pastors are not expressing spiritual or theological views but political views. Increasingly evangelical churches are political organizations promoting Republican policies, and it calls into question whether they should be taxed as political organizations rather than as churches. What they are doing is not really right, and they are having a negative effect on the political discourse in this country. 4.4k SHARES Facebook Twitter Whatsapp Pinterest Reddit Print Mail Flipboard The California Republican Party is now dead. The most recent evidence of this appeared last night as California Democrats completed their sweep of the congressional delegation in Orange County. Democrat Gil Cisneros defeated Young Kim, a Republican, to capture a fourth seat in a county that had once been one of the most conservative in the nation. With Cisneross victory, Democrats now control all House seats in Orange County the birthplace of Richard M. Nixon, the John Birch Society, and modern-day conservatism. The victory by Cisneros, a philanthropist, was declared by The Associated Press. It completes what was a clear Democratic rout in California this year. Democrats set out to capture seven Republican-held seats where Hillary Clinton defeated President Trump in 2016, including all four in Orange County. They won six of them. And now there is a growing chorus of GOP activists who say there is just one hope for reviving the California Republican Party: Blow it up and start over again from scratch. Republicans now must deal with the aftermath of the damage from the devastation of a blue tsunami in California which not only wiped out six GOP-held House seats but also gave every statewide seat and a super-majority to the Democrats in both houses of the state legislature. The Democratic candidate for governor, Lieutenant Governor Gavin Newsom, easily turned back a Republican challenge. I believe that the party has to die before it can be rebuilt. And by die I mean, completely decimated. And I think Tuesday night was a big step, says veteran California GOP political consultant Mike Madrid. There is no message. There is no messenger. There is no money. And there is no infrastructure. Before this election, the 53-member California congressional delegation included 39 Democrats and 14 Republicans. It now appears that after this years midterms it will be 45 Democrats and eight Republicans. Republicans hit another low point this week with the defeat of Southern California Assemblyman Dante Acosta, the last GOP Latino legislator. This is a real problem since in California Latinos comprise the fastest-growing group of voters. The California Republican Party isnt salvageable at this time. The Grand Old Party is dead, wrote former state GOP Assembly leader Kristin Olsen, who startled fellow Republicans with a frank op-ed this week saying Republicans must acknowledge their serious problem in California, particularly the toxic impact of President Trump. In one fell swoop Trump & Republicans who willingly handcuffed themselves to him have turned Orange County into a GOP wasteland, GOP strategist John Weaver tweeted this week. You want to see the future? Look no further than the demographic death spiral in the place once considered a cornerstone of the party. The changing political tides in Orange County were captured in the ethnic dynamics of the race to succeed Mr. Royce. Young Kim was seeking to become the first Korean-American woman in Congress, but faced a challenge from Mr. Cisneros, a Latino in a state where Latino voters have become an increasingly powerful force. The results were a setback for the House majority leader, Kevin McCarthy, a Bakersfield Republican who had invested energy and money into trying to salvage his delegation. Mr. McCarthy, who will be the minority leader in the next Congress, after Democrats take control of the House in January. Republicans looking at the devastation of the midterm results say they must now decide what a new party will look like after they get rid of the current structure and its leadership has.. Thats the question: how do you start over?, said Joel Fox, a longtime GOP strategist who publishes the Fox & Hounds Daily commentary site. The rise of the Republican Party may really depend on the Democratic Party, Fox said. Voters will have to see how it handles the heady times of having a $14 billion surplus and a super-majority under the leadership of the incoming Governor-elect Gavin Newsom. If progressives try to push their agenda too far, and land too many pro-tax ballot measures in front of the voters in future ballots including revisions of the landmark property tax measure Prop. 13, soda taxes and oil taxes its possible they will create an opening for the GOP to return to viability. Democratic political strategist Darry Sragow had this advice for California Republicans: They have to take down the whites only sign from the clubhouse door, Sragow said. And if theyre willing to allow people who arent white into the club, they may be able to recover. I think that the GOP is capable of turning itself around, because its a well-established brand, he said. The problem is, the people who manage the party are going to have to be willing to do that. And by definition, they are the opposite of that. They have no interest in that. If the people in charge of the California GOP dont make some drastic changes very quickly their party may completely disappear. It remains to be seen whether they are willing to do this, however. Get the SC business stories that matter. Our newsletter catches you up with all the business stories that are shaping Charleston and South Carolina every Monday and Thursday at noon. Get ahead with us - it's free. Voters wait in a long line to vote at St. Andrew's School of Math and Science in West Ashley on Tuesday, Nov. 6, 2018. Lauren Petracca/Staff 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. Jennifer Storm, back center, victim advocate for the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, reacts as she listens to a domestic abuse survivor speak about Gov. Tom Wolf's signing of the Domestic Abuser Gun Violence Prevention Bill (House Bill 2060) on Wednesday Nov. 14, 2018, in Harrisburg, Pa. Sponsored by state Rep. Marguerite Quinn, R-Bucks, the bill strengthens the Protection from Abuse (PFA) Act by requiring people convicted of a domestic violence offense or people with PFA's entered against them to relinquish their firearms and firearm licenses. (Stephanie Strasburg/Pittsburgh Post-Gazette via AP) Every few years, the state Legislature convenes a special panel or committee to recommend improvements to education but, unsurprisingly, none of these quick fixes have worked. The state needs to treat its education problems as a crisis and overhaul a system that continues to fail our children. Despite pouring billions of dollars into education, too many schools continue to produce students unprepared for work or college. There have been vast improvements in some areas, but the fact is that while some students get a solid foundation for life, others are unfairly consigned to something substantially less. In a broad sense, that amounts to public officials choosing which of our children likely will succeed and which of them will not. Government isnt supposed to pick winners and losers in the marketplace. It certainly should not have that power over its citizens. The Post and Couriers five-part series, Minimally Adequate, examines many of South Carolinas chronic problems and the way they still divide the state into rich and poor, black and white. It traces much of the states school woes to the lingering effects of racist policies of the past and decades of neglect. In recent times, the state also has settled into a cycle of applying Band-Aids to the states substantial education problems, an insufficient method for making meaningful improvements. Doing this over and over again is a waste of taxpayer money, and its hugely unfair to students, parents and even businesses that rely on an educated workforce for their success. We should acknowledge there have been improvements. But listing them here would be a distraction from the states broad failure to provide even the odious minimally adequate education that the state Supreme Court says should be available to every child. How can schools succeed when the bar is set so low? State Superintendent of Education Molly Spearman has shown a willingness to go against the status quo with moves such as consolidating smaller school districts and taking over failing ones. Its a good start. However, as the newspapers series points out, there are many more problems that must be addressed. For instance, teachers need more freedom in the classroom and should have more support with student discipline. Addressing those problems and more competitive teacher pay would help stop the revolving door of teachers coming and going. Other struggling states such as Mississippi and Louisiana are getting results after overhauling their curriculums and raising their academic standards. South Carolina, plagued by low standards and expectations, should follow suit. There are other examples of success here in South Carolina that should be replicated. For example, the state should incorporate the successful blueprint used to educate under-resourced children at Meeting Street Schools. The public-private partnership employs innovative strategies such as two teachers in classrooms. Editorially, we continue to support allowing parents to pull their children out of failing schools. Choice schools such as charters and magnets will remain a necessary option for parents who want to bolster the chances of educational success for their children. The Charleston Charter School for Math and Science on the peninsula, for instance, has a diverse student body and about a 90 percent college acceptance rate. And we have implored Gov. Henry McMaster to take a central role in remaking the education system. His focus has been on the ties between education and the needs of business, a pragmatic view that could spur some to action. Businesses, both large and small, must be part of the solution too. But the power in South Carolina resides in the Legislature, and therein lies much of the problem. While agreeing that the education system is broken, there is no consensus on how to fix it. So no one person takes the blame and nothing gets done. Lawmakers must make overhauling the education system a priority while also dealing with other issues. It wont be easy, but lawmakers hold the key to make meaningful changes. That should include adjustments to the states antiquated funding formula and to Act 388, which has provided tax breaks for homeowners at the expense of schools. And, naturally, school board members in every district need to focus on systemic rather than small changes. Leaders across the state must do a thorough examination of what works, throw out the rest, and bring back best practices from states that have seen success with education reforms. South Carolina residents from all walks of life also must be involved in encouraging a top-to-bottom rethinking of education. They should demand decisive action from elected leaders at all levels. The education crisis wont be overcome with the same old stopgap measures, as the newspapers series rightly concludes. It will take an overhaul to ensure that every child finally gets the quality education they deserve. Improvements wont come without a cost, but the expense is warranted. Indeed, it is necessary. The Post and Courier provides a forum for our readers to share their opinions, and to hold up a mirror to our community. Publication does not imply endorsement by the newspaper; the editorial staff attempts to select a representative sample of letters because we believe its important to let our readers see the range of opinions their neighbors submit for publication. Political Reporter Caitlin Byrd is a political reporter at The Post and Courier and author of the Palmetto Politics newsletter. Before moving to Charleston in 2016, her byline appeared in the Asheville Citizen-Times. To date, Byrd has won 17 awards for her work. The Guam Visitors Bureau has inked a new contract for its marketing services in Hong Kong. Tapped to market Guam in Hong Kong was Travel Link Marketing, whose contract became effective Nov. 1, according to GVB President and CEO Nathan Denight. Denight said the Guam Visitors Bureau has had a marketing representative in Hong Kong for several years now. GVB retains a professional tourism destination marketing agency in Hong Kong for the purpose of assisting GVB in promoting Guam and achieving visitor arrival goals in the Hong Kong market. Success! An email has been sent to with a link to confirm list signup. Error! There was an error processing your request. To further boost tourism numbers, Denight said, GVB has been working closely with United Airlines to encourage more visitors from southern China. United recently increased its flight frequency to Hong Kong on Nov. 1 from four times weekly to six times weekly. United recently announced that beginning in November, it will run two additional flights a week between Guam and Hong Kong, adding 10,000 seats through March 2019. The 50 percent increase in seat capacity was designed to meet the growing demand between Guam and Hong Kong during the 2018-2019 winter peak travel season. According to the airlines, customers will have the choice of six weekly flights, with the addition of two evening flights on Tuesdays and Thursdays. The additional twice-weekly service aboard the Boeing 737-700 aircraft will offer an additional 500 seats per week, the airline stated. Additionally, GVB continues to meet regularly with airlines globally to entice new service to the island, particularly from our source markets. The travel agents in the region are currently seeking charter service from a supportive airline, he added. GVB also has been actively promoting Shop Guam 2018 in the region. The Bureau has also been working with travel agents in the region such as Century Tours, CTrip, GZL and others on an aggressive plan to promote the Shop Guam e-Festival. CTrip, in particular, has been a strong supporter by opening up four Guam branded storefronts in Guangzhou, Denight said. In his press conference following the midterm elections last week, President Trump unloaded on Utah Fourth District Rep. Mia Love. Trump scolded or mocked her, saying that that Love gave me no love. He added: And she lost. Too bad. Sorry about that Mia. Trumps comments implied a cause and effect relationship between Loves lack of enthusiasm for Trump and the difficulties she faced in her district. This has the causal relationship reversed. Loves difficulties show what a drag Trump is in certain districts. He is not popular in Loves district. Indeed, he is not popular in Utah. Love has prudently declined to express undying loyalty to Trump. Trump all but gloated over the apparent failure of her reelection bid. In doing so, Trump showed himself in this case to be a small man. Its not a good look and its not smart either. Trumps obituary for Love was in any event premature. The Salt Lake Tribune reports that Love jumped ahead of her Democratic challenger by 419 votes yesterday afternoon after updates from Utah and Salt Lake counties. It is the first lead Love has held since election night and it may not last; thousands of provisional ballots remain uncounted. Yet Cook Political Report House editor Dave Wasserman thinks Love may prevail after all (tweet below). BREAKING: As expected, #UT04 GOP Rep. Mia Love (R) has pulled into the lead over Ben McAdams (D) by 419 votes. Hard to see how she relinquishes it now. https://t.co/nfsptUdHiN Dave Wasserman (@Redistrict) November 16, 2018 UPDATE: In what appears to be the final tally, I am sorry to say, Love lost. Liberals and the media (but I repeat. . .) have decried gridlock in Washington for decades now, thus betraying their constitutional illiteracy. I have half-joked many times before that gridlock is the next best thing to constitutional governmenta corollary to my axiom that while our Constitution may not be perfect, it is certainly better than the government we have! Notice, then, that with the results of the 2018 midterm, the last four presidents have all seen their party lose control of the House, and three of the four also saw their party lose the Senate, too. Trump can still lose the Senate, though he will need to be re-elected for this to happen. (By the way, this is looking too far ahead, but if Trump is re-elected and Dems take the Senate and then Ruth Buzzie Ginsburg leaves the Supreme Court, Trump should name Merrick Garland, just to watch the Democrats complain theyve been tricked, because by that time Garland will be so old that he wouldnt be on the Court very long. . . But I digress.) Given that a goal of Progressivism for a century now has been to abolish the separation of powers through the administrative state, one has to wonder whether divided government is what voters have come up with as a substitute. There have only been 12 years out of the last 50 that weve had unified party control of the White House and both houses of Congress. Maybe it is time for someone to straight up propose forming a new Gridlock Party. I could drink to that. Every year the joke that is the United Nations passes a resolution condemning Israels occupation of the Golan Heights. Every year, the U.S. abstains from voting on the resolution. Every year, it passes with only Israel voting against it. But not this year. This year, the Trump administration decided to oppose the resolution. It passed by a vote of 151-2. Bravo, President Trump. The Golan Heights tower over Northern Israel. The Israelis need to occupy this territory to safeguard their national security. That need is all the more compelling now that the Assad regime has invited Iranian forces into Syria and these forces have taken up positions near Israel. The U.S. was careful to say it was not, by virtue of this vote, recognizing Israeli sovereignty over the Golan Heights. Instead, Ambassador Haley explained that the Syrian regimes atrocities prove its lack of fitness to govern anyone. She also cited the the U.N.s obvious bias against Israel. Even with this explanation, the Washington Post seems unhappy about the U.S. vote. A headline in the paper edition sniffs, U.S. takes a side as Israeli and Syrian diplomats clash over Golan Heights. Hell yeah, weve taken a side. The side of our close ally, not the side of a monstrous regime closely allied with our arch-enemy, Iran. Is there something wrong with this? Syria was even less amused than the Post. Its ambassador to the U.N. declared that the Trump administrations decision on the vote shows that the U.S. has relinquished its role as a sponsor of peace efforts in the Middle East. If true, thats great. Unfortunately, I dont think its true. The Syrian ambassador, hoping to downplay the commanding nature of the Heights, objected to referring to the territory in question as the Golan Heights. But anyone who has been in Northern Israel knows that heights is a perfect description of the territory. If it werent so high, it wouldnt be as important for Israel to occupy it. The fact that Syria feels the need to buttress its argument by using a more euphemistic, less imposing name for the territory reinforces the case against returning it to the butcher Assad. The ambassador said Syrian would retake the territory by war, if necessary. The threat is laughable. Syria is fortunate that Israel hasnt taken sides in its nasty neighbors civil war. Syria can ill-afford a war with Israel, and that will continue to be true once the civil war is over. Even then, the Assad regime will be sitting on a powder keg. A war with Israel would explode that keg. Meanwhile, Syria has its annual U.N. resolution. It is no value to Syria, except that it slightly diverts the worlds attention from the hundreds of deaths Assad, with the essential help of Russia and Iran, is inflicting on Syrians every day. Wheres the U.N. resolution condemning Syria for that? As Scott wrote here, glamorous freshman Representative Ilhan Omar caused a stir by coming out in favor of the anti-Israel BDS (boycott, divestment and sanctions) movement. Those who had been paying attention werent surprised, but most of Omars 5th District Jewish constituents apparently didnt see it coming. Omars left-wing supporters cheered her endorsement of BDS. The far-left site Common Dreams headlines: #IStandWithIlhan: Supporters Reject Smear Campaign After Newly-Elected Omar Declares Support of BDS. The smear campaign, apparently, is the Anti-Defamation Leagues statement that BDS doesnt just criticize Israels government, it denies its right to exist as a Jewish State. More about that in a moment. Common Dreams presents a rogues gallery of plaudits for Omars coming out in favor of BDS: Omar is shown sporting a Palestinian flag. This tweet by the left-wing Jewish Voice For Peace explains the origin of the striking image of Omar with the headscarf and flag, which we will return to shortly: This one is by Michigans Rashida Tlaib, like Omar a Muslim woman who has just been elected to Congress. Tlaibs free speech theme is echoed by a number of Omars supporters, but it is mystifying. Has anyone suggested that it is, or should be, illegal to advocate for the BDS movement? Or that Omar should be arrested or punished for doing so? Of course not. When it is convenient, the Left deems any criticism a violation of its members free speech rights. More: Of course, it could be both. As a couple of these tweets noted, the graphic used by most of them was created by an outfit called Watan Studio@WatanPalestine on Twitter. Watan describes itself as [a] creative arts shop focused on exploring Palestinian intellectual, cultural, and historical heritage. It sells a number of products, several of which depict the familiar map of Palestinewhich is, in fact, a map of Israel, with the West Bank and Gaza included: The ADL is hardly paranoid (or lying, as asserted in one tweet found at Common Dreams) if it thinks the goal of the BDS movement is the destruction of Israel. This is an objective with which Omar appears to sympathize: Israel has hypnotized the world, may Allah awaken the people and help them see the evil doings of Israel, she wrote. Her friends on the far left couldnt agree more. It would be nice if the minority of Omars constituents who are not hopeless leftists would wake up to what is going on. PR-Inside.com: 2018-11-18 23:46:03 Press Information Published by ACCESSWIRE News Network 888.952.4446 e-mail http://www.accesswire.com # 518 Words ACCESSWIRE News Network888.952.4446 VANCOUVER, BC / ACCESSWIRE / November 18, 2018 / PROGRESSIVE PLANET SOLUTIONS INC. (TSX:V: PLAN) ("Progressive Planet", "PLAN" or the "Company") is pleased to announce that an agreement has been signed between Snow Lake Resources and Progressive Planet to include PLAN's 20% interest in the Thompson Brothers Lithium Property in the upcoming Snow Lake Resources IPO.The agreement has PLAN receiving total consideration of $3,325,000 through a cash payment of $325,000 and the issuance of 12,000,000 common shares in the capital of Snow Lake (the "Snow Lake Shares"), to be issued at a deemed price of $0.25 per common share. In order to complete the remaining option agreement, the company will compensate Strider Resources 1,500,000 of the Snow Lake Shares and $325,000 as a cash payment.Snow Lake intends to raise $3 million pursuant to its proposed flow-through financing during the remainder of 2018 to fund a drill program during Q1 2019.In relation to this transaction, Derek Knight, current COO of Progressive Planet, will be leading Snow Lake Resources as the CEO. Derek will be winding up with Progressive Planet on November 30, 2018 to dedicate his full attention to fast track development of the Thompson Brothers Lithium Property."We are very excited to be partnering with Nova Minerals to include our interests together in the IPO of Snow Lake Resources. I was very impressed by the amount of exploration work that Nova was able to complete in two seasons of exploration when they had five years to complete this work in order to earn their 80% interest. We are fully supportive and behind Snow Lake's fast track development strategy of the project and I believe moving 100% of the Thompson Brothers Lithium Property into one vehicle fully focused on developing this property is the best option to add value for our shareholders while we focus on developing our zeolite assets. I also wish to thank Derek for his hard work with PLAN including liaising with all parties to get this transaction completed." stated Steve Harpur, CEO of Progressive Planet.Qualified PersonThe technical content of this news release has been reviewed and approved by Dwayne Melrose, P. Geo., a Director of Progressive Planet and a qualified person as defined in NI 43101 and is a member of the Association of Professional Engineers and Geoscientists of British Columbia.Progressive Planet is a Canadian based mineral exploration company with a flagship zeolite mine in British Columbia, and a graphite property in Buckingham, Quebec.ON BEHALF OF THE BOARDSigned "Stephen Harpur" Stephen Harpur, CPA, CGACEOFor further information, or to place a zeolite order, please contact:Stephen Harpur. CEO1-800-910-3072SHarpur@ ProgressivePlanet.ca Forward-Looking Statements:Some of the statements in this news release contain forward-looking information that involves inherent risk and uncertainty affecting the business of Progressive Planet Solutions Inc. Actual results may differ materially from those currently anticipated in such statements. Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.SOURCE: Progressive Planet Solutions Inc. Nigerians have been cautioned to stop living in crowded rooms, seek medical advice when down with fever and be more alert to the outbreak of the cerebrospinal meningitis (CSM) in their environment. This advice was given by the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC). It comes with the announcement of the beginning of the CSM season in Nigeria which usually starts from November to June with a peak in April. Nigeria is one of the countries in Africa which is on the meningitis belt and as such the outbreak of meningitis has become a yearly occurrence in at least 26 states including the Federal Capital Territory (FCT). These states include Zamfara, Katsina, Sokoto, Kebbi, Niger,Adamawa, Yobe, Gombe Nasarawa, Borno, Cross River, Jigawa, Taraba, Kaduna, Kano, Lagos, Plateau, Osun, FCT. CSM is a disease characterised by the swelling of the membrane of the throat and the spinal cord. In Nigeria, different classes of bacterial meningitis exist, including A B, C, W, X and Y. Between December 2016 and June 23, 2017, Nigeria recorded severe cases of the disease with a total of 1,166 people dead. Unfortunately, children between five and 14 were most affected accounting for 6,791 cases out of a total 14, 513 cases recorded in 24 states. Zamfara was the most affected state in terms of casualties, followed by Sokoto and Katsina. Together, they accounted for about 89 per cent of the cases. The outbreak, which reached an epidemic alert threshold, was declared over six months after the first case. Fortunately, in 2018, the casualties from the diseases were not as high as that of the previous year. To forestall a repeat of 2016/2017 epidemic outbreak, the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control in its weekly epidemiological report announced the commencement of the meningitis season for this year. In the report, NCDC called on the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory especially the 26 states more prone to the disease to strengthen preparation and improve surveillance. The agency in its advisory note to Nigerians said though 26 states are prone to the disease because they fall on the meningitis belt; other states need to be prepared because the disease spreads with human contact. This can be transmitted to other parts of the country through human migration. It is important to note that Nigeria experienced a large outbreak of meningitis during 2016/2017 season and with States support, we achieved over 70 per cent reduction in cases and deaths during the 2017/2018 season and it is possible to prevent more cases/ deaths this season (2018/2019) if we pare early. Therefore, this is a wakeup call to all states to be better prepared to respond in event of an outbreak. As such, states are requested to intensify their support for the meningitis season by strengthen active surveillance and notification for meningitis in communities and health facilities using standard case definition. The agency also advised that for all suspected cases, the states should ensure immediate collection of Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) sample and send to the State Public Health Laboratory. It also advised that states set up an incident management system for Cerebrospinal meningitis (CSM) in anticipation of cases. States are to procure and preposition Ceftriaxone, intravenous fluids and other medical supplies for immediate case management. The should also train appropriate healthcare workers in all their health facilities to collect CSF samples from all suspected cases of CSM before commencement of treatment, and send same to the appropriate laboratory for diagnosis. Also, the Nigeria Primary HealthCare Development Agency said it is already working with NCDC to increase awareness on the symptoms and signs of meningitis and how people can be protected against the disease. Speaking in an interview with PREMIUM TIMES, the executive secretary, NPHCDA, Faisal Shuaib, said the agency has started advising people on how they can protect themselves by avoiding overcrowding. He said people should endeavour to visit the nearest primary healthcare centre around them when they come down with symptoms suggestive of meningitis. Speaking on other efforts taken by the agency to curtail the spread of the disease, Mr Shuaib said the agency had a meeting with the health workers in the states and also just concluded a meeting with the executive secretaries of the 36 state primary healthcares. We talked about how they should step up campaigns and also increase enlightenment on meningitis in their states. Also, the agency is preparing to stockpile meningitis vaccines and we will start vaccinating those Local Government Areas that did not get vaccines in the last campaigns. We have identified those who did not also get vaccines in the last season we are going to be vaccinating them to protect them against meningitis, he added. One of the reasons for the high number of deaths recorded during the 2016/2017 meningitis season was because there was no vaccine for the strain C CSM in the country when the disease broke. It took the intervention of the World health Organisation and other international partners working in the health sector in Nigeria to get some vaccine. Vaccination for the disease would have been the best preventive measure against the disease. Unfortunately, there is a shortage of vaccine for meningitis especially for strain C globally. Olaolu Aderinola, head of the technical working group of the cerebrospinal meningitis at the NCDC, said CSM is a very deadly disease and if not treated it can kill up to 50 per cent of patients who have it. Mr Aderinola said the bane of the disease is that though it can be treated if detected early, about 10 to 20 per cent of those who survive it will have disabilities such as brain damage, hearing loss and other disabilities among others. He said people need to report cases of fever early as the disease is air borne and it passes from one person to another through the air and though close contact with people who have meningitis. He mentioned some of the symptoms of the disease as fever, headache, and neck stiffness. Other people may have sensitivity of the legs but this may not be too common among children. They will also not like to see the sunlight or any bright area and when its gets more severe, they will have altered consciousness. That is, they will not be very coherent in their speech and how the relate with others, he said Mr Aderinola added that parents need to always observe their children in this season. Infants also have similar symptoms as adults and as such there is a need to always observe them and take them to the nearest health centre when they start running temperature. Due to their ages, they might not exhibit some of the symptoms highlighted but key thing to watch out in infants, especially those below one year, is the fontal part of the head called the fontanelle. He added that because infants cannot talk, they might be crying in high pitch and excessively than is expected and also refuse to feed. The thing about meningitis is that it is very fast and once the symptoms starts, the patient needs to get to the health facility as soon as possible for treatment, he added. Four staff members of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), an NYSC member and a three-year-old girl died in an accident on AjaokutaLokoja Road on Saturday, an official has confirmed. The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) learnt in Lokoja on Sunday that the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) member was performing his primary assignment with INEC office in Lokoja and that the child belonged to one of the INEC staff members. The victims were returning from Ayingba, Kogi, where they attended the wedding ceremony of another INEC worker, NAN learnt. Ahmed Biambo, the Director of Voter Education and Publicity at Kogi Office of INEC, confirmed the incident in a telephone interview with NAN. Mr Biambo said that the victims were from the Information and Communication Technology and Account departments of INEC. He said the corpses had been deposited at the morgue of the Federal Medical Centre, Lokoja. Meanwhile the Kogi Sector Commander of Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), Olusegun Martins, could not comment on the incident as he did not respond to calls made to his telephone number. ( NAN) The candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Raheem Olawuyi, was on Saturday declared the winner of the Ekiti/Irepodun/Isin/Oke-Ero Federal Constituency bye-election held across the four councils in Kwara. The APC also won the bye-election in Kankiya/Kusada/Ingawa federal constituency of Katsina State. In Kwara, the Returning Officer for the election, Abimbola Adesoji, while declaring the result at the Irepodun Local Government Secretariat in Omu-Aran, said Mr Olawuyi polled 21, 236 to emerge winner. He defeated his closest rival, Saheed Damilare, of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), who polled 18,095 votes. Mr Abimbola, who is of the Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, said Mr Olawuyi having scored the highest number of votes in the election was declared winner. Other contestants in the election were Femi Ona-Ara of Labour Party, Ajadi Olayemi of Peoples Party of Nigeria (PPN) as well as Olaniyan Ayorinde of Unity Party of Nigeria (UPN). Mr Abimbola gave the total number of total registered voters as collated as 168, 707, accredited voters as 41,185, the total valid votes as 39,599, total number of rejected votes as 1, 331 and total number of votes cast as 40,930. The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that some cancellations arising from snatching of ballot boxes and over voting were reportedly experienced in three polling units in Irepodun Local Government Area. The affected units as listed by the presiding officer in charge of the council included Registration Area (RA) 02 of Esie-Ijan Ward where two ballot boxes were reportedly snatched and 955 number of registered voters lost. Other areas were Oro Ward 1 RA 02, Polling Unit 01 where a case of ballot snatching was recorded and a total of 297 registered voters were affected and over voting in Oro Ward 2 RA 10 Polling Unit 01 with 474 registered votes lost. Election cancellation was also recorded in Ile Apaasin RA 04 Polling Unit in Isin Local Government where only 59 voters were accredited but turned in 377 votes. Some Independent National Electoral Officers were confirmed to have been attacked and had wounds in the process. NAN reports that the declaration of the results was witnessed by notable officials that included the Kwara State Commissioner of Police, Bolaji Fafowora, the Resident Electoral Commissioner from Kwara, Garuba Madami, as well as his Imo and Lagos counterparts, Emeka Nzeonu and Sam Olumeko, respectively. In Katsina, the Independent National Electoral Commission declared Abubakar Kusada of the APC winner of the bye-election into the House of Representatives. The election was conducted in the Kankiya/Kusada/Ingawa Federal constituency in Katsina state on Saturday. The News Agency of Nigeria reports that Mr Kusada was the Speaker of Katsina State House of Assembly before his election. Adedayo Hamza, the returning officer who announced the result on Saturday in Kankiya said Mr Kusada scored 48,518 votes to emerge winner. Abdussamad Yusuf of PDP came second with 20,193 votes, while Nasiru Kankiya of the Peoples Redemption Party scored 1,810 votes as second runner-up. Abdullahi Umar of the Yes Electorate Solidarity (YES) got 221 votes. According to Mr Hamza, the total number of registered voters in the constituency is 193,904, while the number of accredited voters was 74,242. The number of valid votes cast was 70,742 and rejected votes 2,331.The total number of votes cast was 73,073. Festus Okoye, the INEC National Commissioner, advised political parties to intensify voter education and management of polling units. He commended the political parties, security agencies, journalists and other stakeholders for the peaceful conduct of the bye election. Senate President Bukola Saraki has in a leaked audio attributed his major grouse with President Muhammadu Buhari-led government to the alleged suffering of Kwara State indigenes due to the absence of federal appointments despite committing resources to the presidents electoral success in 2015. Mr Saraki also alleged that during the campaign for Mr Buharis election, out of the 36 states of the federation, he paid money running into over a billion naira for election logistics in 30 states. The senate president, while addressing some party members in his native Kwara State recently, said the federal government had no plan for Kwara State and its people, adding that the people would not have suffered if they had been offered key appointments by the government. Mr Saraki spoke largely in Yoruba in the leaked audio clip, ostensibly recorded while he was addressing young Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) members in Kwara State. The audio tape, recorded for about 33 minutes, has since gone viral across social media platforms. Kayode Ogundamisi, blogger and social commentator, first posted the audio via his verified Twitter handle. In the audio, Mr Saraki, who defected from the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) to the opposition PDP few months ago, said he benefited little from his membership of the ruling party. He told his audience he never deceived them, adding that his agenda was to ensure the growth of the youth in the state through empowerment. He attributed the suffering experienced by the youth since the inception of this government to human factor and what he said was Gods design. He said he understood how difficult it was for the youth leaders to market their party in Kwara State because they did not benefit from their membership of the party. I agree with you that the last three and half years have not been easy at all, he told his audience. The senate president in the audio clip claimed that during the run-up to the 2015 general elections, he spent money campaigning for Mr Buhari across every geo-political zone in the country except the South-west. However, Mr Saraki said he received no compensation in terms of appointments that would have trickled down to his followers in Kwara. When I left the PDP for the APC in 2014, I was campaigning for the APC like never before (and) we went to every state to campaign with Buhari up until the election time in 2015, he said. Out of the 36 states, I paid money for election in 30 (states). Some collected N300 million, while some collected N400 million, some collected N200 million. The only six states where I had nothing to do with was in the South-West. There was no other state where we (didnt) support Buharis election. Even on the phone, I was calling and giving banks instructions. Our thinking was that when we get electedwhat would happen next?we would get the majority of appointments. I even told majority of you then that we shall all be going to Abuja together after the election. I thought some of you would be appointed to head federal agencies like road maintenance like FERMA, NITDA, NPA and others. Because I know that if any Kwara son becomes even just the ED of UBEC, I know what he can sign from his desk. Whether N1 million or N2 million. But for the first time since we joined politics, you have a President of the Senate or even a Speaker that cannot appoint a cleaner. I am not referring to board appointeeslike director, which is non-executivewho just collect money per sitting. If you look at the agencies they appointed executive positions, what do you want me to say? Or when you labour and spend billions and things fall in placeeven if you arent going to offer us appointments, let us have our peace. I went to court 1, court 2, court 3, court 4; for three and half years! The senate president also appealed to party members in Kwara, saying they should work for the success of the Peoples Democratic Party presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar. He also vowed to ensure that Mr Buhari is not re-elected as the president of the nation in 2019. President Muhammadu Buhari [Pix: Daily Post Nigeria] The former Kwara State governor said many of those who worked for the ruling APC have since regretted their actions, citing examples of politicians who invited him into the party ahead of the 2015 general elections like the Ogun State Governor, Ibikunle Amosun; and Zamfara State Governor, Abdulaziz Yari. Messrs Yari and Amosun, alongside other members of the APC, are at loggerheads with the leadership of the party after they had issues in the recently conducted primaries in the party. Both outgoing governors have been unable to esnure their preferred candidates get the governorship ticket of the APC for the 2019 elections. Mr Saraki, who joined the APC from the PDP in 2014, defected from the ruling party before the primaries. The Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, would officially lift the embargo placed on campaign activities on Sunday and politicians are expected to begin jostling for the peoples votes. Commentators on social media say the new audio material will expectedly generate reactions from the camps of the two major political parties in the coming days. Twitter users are largely divided over the authenticity of the audio content, but many have said that Mr Saraki only spoke the mind of the average Nigerian politician. On Saturday night, Mr. Sarakis office officially responded to the leakage of the audio. Oluwole Onemola, the special assistant on new media to the senate president, said in a statement, For the record: we always restrain from responding to inconsequential issues that we can otherwise ignore. However, in order to put this issue to rest so that we can move on to real issues, these are the facts: The audio recording that is being circulated online by known anti-Saraki henchmen is a doctored recording. It was probably part of the mix of manipulations that APC decided to employ for todays bye election in four LGAs in Kwara South. We will not allow people like Ogundamisi and other mercenary influencers to create false and mischievous impressions that may easily be consumed by the otherwise unsuspecting public. Dr. Saraki, in his response to Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu in August, stated emphatically that he left the APC because the minimum conditions for peace, cooperation, inclusion and a general sense of belonging did not exist. Additionally, in that same response, Dr. Saraki emphasized that he never discussed any (such) personal and pecuniary benefits with anybody. We still challenge that anybody who has contrary facts should come forward. Finally, we ask the public to understand that in their desperation to hang on to power, agents of the ruling party are stooping to new lows by doctoring and releasing such audio files. We expect more of such desperate moves from them. Fake news, remains fake news. Their lies will remain lies. Nigerias Senate President, Bukola Saraki, in a leaked audio clip vowed that Kwara State will never take instructions from any political leader in Lagos State. The senate president said this while addressing party members in his native Kwara State recently. Mr Saraki spoke largely in Yoruba in the leaked audio clip, ostensibly recorded while appealing to young Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) members in Kwara State. The audio tape, recorded for about 33 minutes, has since gone viral across social media platforms. Kayode Ogundamisi, blogger and social commentator, first posted the audio via his verified Twitter handle. In the audio, Mr Saraki, who defected from the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) to the opposition PDP few months ago, said he benefited little from his membership of the ruling party. PREMIUM TIMES reported how Mr Saraki alleged that during the campaign for President Muhammadu Buharis election, out of the 36 states of the federation, he paid money running into over a billion naira for election logistics in 30 states. In the same audio recording, Mr Saraki threw jabs at APC national leader, Bola Tinubu, by pledging to protect Kwara from the grip of godfathers in Lagos. Although the former Kwara governor did not specifically mention the name of the Lagos-based APC leader, his words were punctured with anti-Tinubu rhetoric from his supporters. The senate president said if he remains the only member of the opposition PDP, he would ensure that he resists the invasion of Kwara by Lagos godfathers. He also alleged that he is being persecuted despite helping Mr Buhari win election. If you dont even want Bukola, bring someone from Kwara and empower him, he said. I know you young people are sharp. Today, there is none in APC (empowered by government). Instead, they want youthey want usto be going to Lagos to get instructions. If I am the only one that remains in this party (PDP), I will remain and fight to the last. Thats why I said there is so much to say tonight because the politics our fathers left behind brought Kwara to the position it is today. During their time, Kwara was ranked in the top ten; and I know where we have brought Kwara today, whether in APC or in PDP. If you talk about Nigerian politics, Kwara ranks top. For anyone to tell us to leave our number one position and be going to Lagos to take instruction? Dont allow anyone (to) fool you. This statement was particularly punctuated by voices of the crowd, claiming they would not pay allegiance to Bola Tinubu, former governor of Lagos State and APC national leader. We would not forfeit our number one position for someone that will be going to Lagos to receive instructions, Mr Saraki replied. Never! It cannot happen. We are the ones that will repair these things ourselves. Mr Saraki also attributed the alleged suffering of Kwara residents to Mr Buharis governments resolve to sideline him in the scheme of things and sharing of appointments. The senate president suggested that when former senate president David Mark held sway, the practice was markedly different, adding that it would have been better if out of ten appointments that came through the national assembly, he was honoured with at least three. Thats why we said we are not going to remain in APC, he told the crowd. From the first day that we defected to PDP, what were we called? National leader. We finished that and we said we wanted to be president, God said it wasnt time. We finished elections on Saturday and by Monday, Atiku had got in touch saying, This presidential campaign, you remain the only capable hand meaning that we should come together to support the incoming government (of Atiku). Or you dont get my point? I know its been uneasy for all of you but this coming one will be different. The signs are here already because this is a party that recognises Kwara in the scheme of things by making the state to head the campaign. Though they both worked for the success of the APC in the 2015 elections, Messrs Saraki and Tinubu have been at loggerheads. Shortly after the election, Mr Tinubu showed preference for a different candidate for the position of senate president, a development that triggered waves of intriguing political machinations leading to the emergence of Mr Saraki as senate president. The duo have since exchange courtesies in public gatherings but have never seized, sometimes through their aides, to throw jibes at each other. Former Lagos state governor, Bola Tinubu. [Photo credit: THISDAYLIVE] Mr Saraki, who joined the APC from the PDP in 2014, has since defected from the ruling APC. On Saturday night, Mr. Sarakis office officially responded to the audio, saying it was doctored to influence the by-election held on Saturday in the state. The audio recording that is being circulated online by known anti-Saraki henchmen is a doctored recording. It was probably part of the mix of manipulations that APC decided to employ for todays bye election in four LGAs in Kwara South, said Oluwole Onemola, the special assistant on new media to the senate president. The PDP lost the by-election to the ruling APC. The last week has witnessed a series of interesting happenings in the political arena. The allegations against the national chairman of the ruling party, APC, Adams Oshiomhole, continued with Senate President Bukola Saraki getting into the fray. Also, two state governors who were convicted for stealing state funds got their conviction validated by the appeal court, but had their jail terms reduced. Below are some of the key political happenings last week and the days they occured. Sunday Atiku Abubakar, candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), said he was subjected to security search on arrival at the Nnamidi Azikiwe International airport in Abuja from Dubai, the United Arab Emirates claims which sparked a flurry of commentaries amongst Nigerians online. Aviation Minister Hadi Sirika, however, issued a statement Sunday evening debunking Mr Abubakars account as a mischievous attempt to grab the headlines before proceeding to explain take-off and landing procedures at the international airport in Abuja. Monday -Uche Nwosu, the Chief of Staff to Imo State Governor, Rochas Okorocha, said being a son-in-law to the governor does not disqualify himfrom succeeding him in office. He denied Mr Okorocha has put his family members in key positions in the state. Uche Nwosu -A senator and governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress was arrested at the Abuja airport over allegations of contract fraud to the tune of $12.5 million. Hope Uzodinmas arrest came after PREMIUM TIMES exposed how the senator landed a contract of about N26 billion from the Goodluck Jonathan administration. He received $12.5 million of the contract sum for the dredging of Calabar channel from the Nigerian Ports Authority, but failed to execute the contract. Hope Uzodinma, Imo State Governor Days later, he said he was innocent of the fraud allegations and that the reports may not be unconnected with his emergence as a governorship candidate. -The APC in Sokoto State announced theexpulsion of the partys national vice chairman, North West, Inuwa Abdulkadir, for alleged anti-party activities. Mr Abdulkadirs expulsion came after a member of the party from his Magajin Gari Award, Naibi Abubakar, wrote a complaint letter to the ward chairman of the party accusing him of continuous absence from party activities and meetings. The national headquarters of the APC, however, said it would not recognise the expulsion. -A judge of the Lagos Division of the Federal High Court revoked the bail granted former governor of Abia State, Orji Kalu, after Mr Kalu flouted the order of the court. Mohammed Idris, the judge, said part of the bail conditions given to the former governor after his first arraignment in 2007 was that he should deposit his international passport with the court. -Former President Olusegun Obasanjo said any state government working against the Local Government Autonomy Bill is an enemy of the people. He also lamented only nine out of the 36 states have so far supported the bill passed by the National Assembly, despite its importance to grassroots development. -President Muhammadu assented to five bills,after months of legislative action. The bills include the Extradition (Amendment) Act 2018, Federal Capital Territory Appropriation Act, 2018 and Nigerian Centre For Disease Control And Prevention (Establishment) Act, 2018. Others are the National Environmental Standard and Regulations Enforcement Agency (Establishment) (Amendment) Act 2018, and the Nigerian Institute of Mining and Geo-sciences, Jos, (Establishment) Act 2018. -A Kano High Court upheld its earlier orderhalting the state House of Assembly Investigative Committee from investigating the bribery allegation against Governor Abdullahi Ganduje.The court also ordered all other parties involved in the investigation of the bribery allegation to maintain the status quo ante, pending the determination of the originating summon. Tuesday -The Nigerian Senate could not form quorum to hold plenary. Consequently, the lawmakers adjourned plenary for a week, saying the adjournment was due to the absence of some lawmakers engaged in oversight functions. Former Senate President, Bukola Saraki Like their counterparts at the Senate, members of the House of Representatives also adjourned plenary due to malfunctioning of the microphone. -The Peoples Democratic Party governorship candidate in Kwara State, Razak Atunwa,formally admitted he has two university degrees, but failed to present himself for national service in a blatant violation of the Nigerian Constitution. Mr Atunwa, a serving federal lawmaker and chairman of the House of Representatives Committee on Justice, tendered the document to the PDP in his nomination filings for the party in late September, and even went further to swear an affidavit notarized at the Kwara State High Court in Ilorin, the state capital. -A bill to prohibit the killing and exportation of donkeys or its carcasses out of Nigeria passed second reading at the House of Representatives. The bill sponsored by Garba Muhammed (APC-Kaduna), seeks to address the threat of donkeys going into extinction, and to preserve its aesthetic, ecological, historical, recreational and scientific values to the nation. -The Chairman of Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Mahmood Yakubu, said because of the primary elections recently held by political parties, INEC had been dragged to court over 200 times. FILE: Chairman of INEC, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu showing a specimen ballot paper for Ekiti governorship election during the INEC quarterly consultative meeting with political parties, in Abuja on Wednesday (4/6/18). 03573/4/6/2018/Hogan Bassey/NAN He also said the commission was poised to conduct free, fair, and credible general elections in 2019. Wednesday -The Senate said it would demand explanationon why the federal government wants to reduce the $8.1 billion fine imposed on the communication giant, MTN, to $800 million. It said though it was not particularly against whatever the government would want to do with the MTN fine, it should be intimated on why the reduction became necessary. Chairman, Senate Committee on Banking, Insurance and other Financial Institutions, Rafiu Ibrahim (Kwara-PDP), told some journalists that his committee would immediately demand a Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) report on the matter. -A federal high court in Uyo declared vacant the seat of a lawmaker in Akwa Ibom State who defected from the PDP to APC. Idongesit Ituen represented Itu State Constituency in the Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly. The suit was filed by Mr Ituen in September to pre-empt the Speaker of the House of Assembly, Onofiok Luke, from declaring his seat vacant. -Sokoto State Deputy Governor, Ahmad Aliyu,resigned his position. Mr Aliyu, who is the APC governorship candidate, announced his resignation in a letter to the state House of Assembly dated November 13, 2018. -An APC member in Jigawa State was electrocuted while hoisting a campaign banner with the pictures of President Mohammadu Buhari and Governor Mohammad Badaru on an electric pole. The incident occurred at Kudai community, one of the ruling APCs strongholds in Dutse Local Government Area of the State. The APC member that got electrocuted -The federal government said final processes for award of contracts for the clean up of Ogoniland will be completed. The Minister of Environment, Ibrahim Jibril, said his ministry has reached the final stage of procurement processes that will lead to award of contracts to 21 firms so the exercise can finally begin. -The APC has declared support for the fight against fake news in Nigeria. The party also accused the PDP of using fake news in its campaigns, saying it was not surprised as it believes it is an effort by the opposition party to evade scrutiny. -The Federal Executive Council (FEC) approved the purchase of 400 Beretta assault rifles with 20,000 rounds of ammunition for the Nigerian Prisons Service. Minister of Interior, Abdulrahman Dambazau, said the arms and ammunition will be purchased at the cost of N272 million with a delivery period of 120 days. -Hundreds of Nigerians petitioned the United States authorities to urgently grant one of the presidential candidates a visa to enable him clear a slew of corruption allegations pending against him. former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar Over 1,000 Nigerians have signed the petition to the Federal Bureau of Investigation and other American authorities, demanding a thorough probe and conclusion of pending corruption allegations against Atiku Abubakar, the candidate of PDP. The petitioners said they are on a mission to ensure the countrys 2019 presidential election field is devoid of persons of questionable backgrounds. -INEC revealed the process it will adopt for voting in the 2019 general elections. A national commissioner of the commission, Festus Okoye, said the voting procedure will be in accordance with the Continuous Accreditation and Voting System (CAVS) and only voters with permanent voters cards verified by the smart card reader would be allowed to vote. Senate President Bukola Saraki said the National chairman of APC, Adams Oshiomhole, has no moral right to remain in politics following allegations of kickbacks levelled against him. Mr Saraki said the APC chairman has no locus standi to talk about morality in todays Nigeria politics in view of controversial roles he played in the APC primaries. In his response, Mr Oshiomhole, asked Mr Saraki to provide evidence he (Oshiomhole) was bribed or be taken to court. He said the attack by Mr Saraki is unwarranted, pathetic and irresponsible and that he (Mr Saraki) lacks moral grounds to make such accusations. Mr Saraki on his part, replied tthat he is ready to meet Mr Oshiomhole in court. Thursday The APC said the endorsement of the PDP presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, by some South-east leaders was an insult to the Igbo people. Its spokesperson, Lanre Issa-Onilu, in a message, said the APC considers Mr Abubakar and the PDP as people who have lost any sense of shame. PDP presidential candidate, Mr Abubakar, said he is willing to let Nigerias oil producing stateshave absolute control of crude oil revenuesfrom their domains, but added he is reluctant to immediately implement such policies at this stage of national development. He 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. The police used tear gas to disperse lawmakers, staff and supporters of various factions of the Anambra State House of Assembly. The House became factionalised on Tuesday with the controversial removal of the speaker, Rita Maduagwu, by about 20 of the 30 state lawmakers and was replaced by Ikemba Uzoezie. President Muhammadu Buhari has givenconsent for the renewal of three Oil Mining Licences (OML) belonging to oil and gas firm, Seplat Petroleum Development Company Plc. President Muhammadu Buhari A disclosure sent to the Nigerian Stock Exchange(NSE) said the president gave consent for the renewal of the three licencesOMLs 4, 38 and 41to a new expiry date of 21 October 2038. Zenith Labour Party (ZLP) 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 and said the party would approach the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to withdraw Mr Mimikos name and file same for the Senate. -Kano State Governor, Abdullahi Ganduje 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. Kano Governor Ganduje caught on video receiving dollars from suspected contractors. [PHOTO CREDIT: Screen shot of the video obtained from Daily Nigerian] 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. Friday The Court of Appeal in Abuja has reduced the jail term of ex-Governor Joshua Dariye to 10 years. The court reduced the sentence of 14 years to 10 years for criminal breach of trust while a similar conviction for diversion of N1. 62 billion ecological funds was reduced from two years to one year. The sentences are to run concurrently, like the previous judgement in June, meaning Mr Dariye has now been effectively jailed 10 years. The court also ordered the former Taraba State Governor, Jolly Nyame, to pay a fine of N495 million for alleged misappropriation of funds while he was governor of Taraba State from 1999 to 2007 and reduced the 14-year jail term, earlier given to him by a High Court in Abuja to 12 years. Jolly Nyame The appeal court, however, said the law compels the court to add a fine for each of the various convictions. President Buhari said the split within the Ohanaeze Igbo socio-cultural group over its reported endorsement of Mr Abubakar did not surprise him. He also said that the moment the so-called resolution was announced, he got calls from well-meaning leaders from the region asking him to disregard it as it was without any substance. President Buhari approved the appointment of five chief executive officers and two executive directors of some federal agencies. The appointments include that of Mr. Buharis son-in-law, Junaid Abdullahi, who takes charge as Executive Secretary at the Border Communities Development Agency (BDCA). His appointment took effect from September 22 for an initial period of four years. Saturday APC National Chairman, Mr Oshiomhole,dismissed allegations that he collected bribes of about $80 million to manipulate the outcome of the party primaries in some states and FCT. His denial was in reaction to allegations by some aggrieved aspirants who accused him of collecting various sums in bribes to twist the primaries. INEC said it will on Sunday lift the ban oncampaign for 2019 presidential and National Assembly elections slated for February 16, 2019. A statement by Oluwole Osaze-Uzzi, INEC director of Voter Education and Publicity, on Saturday in Abuja said that political parties who fielded candidates for both elections would commence campaigns across the country. PDP candidate, Mr Abubakar, is to kick-start hiscampaign for the 2019 presidential election through an address to Nigerians on Facebook on Monday. A statement issued by Atiku Presidential Campaign Organisation on Saturday said Mr Abubakar would use the address to launch his policy document. President Muhammadu Buhari on Sunday appealed to politicians to go about their 2019 election campaigns peacefully. He made the appeal at the an event to kick off his campaign for re-election with the launch of a campaign manual/next level document at the State House Conference Centre, Abuja on Saturday. I am not unmindful of the fact that the National Assembly and the presidential campaign starts today, I will implore candidates to go about the campaigns peacefully and decently, the president said. We have no other country than Nigeria , let us not set it ablaze because of politics, he added. Based on the official time table of the electoral commission, INEC, campaigns for the presidential and national assembly elections start today (Sunday) across Nigeria. The presidential and national assembly elections hold same day on February 14. Details later. President Muhammadu Buhari on Saturday pledged to renovate 10,000 schools each year, across Nigeria if re-elected for a second term in office. Mr Buhari made the promise during the public presentation of his campaign manual and a Next Level document at the conference centre of State House Presidential Villa Abuja. Mr Buhari said if re-elected, he will focus on education. Perhaps our biggest ambition yet is the overhaul of our education sector. Every child counts and simply, whatever it takes to prepare our teachers, curriculum and classrooms to attain the right educational goals that grow our country, will be done. We will remodel 10,000 schools every year and retrain our teachers to impart science, technology, engineering, art and mathematics using coding, animation, robotics to re-interpret our curriculum, he said. Mr Buhari would have to work with state governments to achieve such target as the federal government does not own up to 10,000 schools. Public primary schools are currently owned by states and local governments while the federal government only owns about a hundred secondary schools. Like primary schools, states, local governments and private organisations and individuals own majority of remainder. The presidents statement is expected to again throw up the restructuring debate, especially revenue allocation that has made states essentially become appendages of the federal government and virtually unable to survive. Mr Buhari has not committed to a review of the revenue sharing formula despite calls including by governors of the ruling APC to do so. On Sunday, the president said for Nigeria to develop, moral integrity and conscience must continue to form the dominant character of our nation and its leadership. He also spoke about the fight against corruption in Nigeria. He said corruption continues to be an existential threat to the country. Despite the gains we have made in closing the gates, we know that there is still much ground to cover to stop systemic corruption. We are committed to deepening the work we started this first time such that the nations assets and resources continue to be organised and utilised to do good for the majority of our people. The next four years will be quite significant for our country. Nigeria is faced with a choice to keep building a new Nigeria- making a break from its tainted past which favoured an opportunistic few. Our choices will shape us our economic security and our future prosperity. Nigeria, more than ever before, needs a stable and people-focused government to move the agenda for our country forward, he said. Mr Buhari also said he has worked hard to fulfill the promises he made before the 2015 election. While the road may have been difficult, over the last three and a half years, we have laid the foundations for a strong, stable and prosperous country for the majority of our people, he said. The president said foundational work is not often visible, neither is it glamorous. He said, however, that it is vital to achieving the kind of country Nigerians desire. He said judging by the prior depth of decay, deterioration and disrepair that Nigeria had sunken into, his administration in the last few years put the country in good stead to trudge on to the next level of building an even stronger nation for our people. First things had to come first. We were a nation at war but we delivered on our commitment to secure the territorial integrity of our nation in the face of a raging insurgency that devastated many parts of the North East. We liberated 17 Local Government Areas from the grip of insurgency. Brokering and sustaining peace in the Niger Delta has also been crucial to stabilising the polity. Despite the difficult circumstances presented by weak oil prices and reduced oil production, we delivered on our commitment to make public investments to spur economic growth, job creation, and broad-based prosperity. Agriculture continues to expand our economic base, as do our investments in our deficient infrastructure across the length and breadth of this nation, he said. The president said he implemented a responsible and transparent fiscal plan for the challenging economic times that saw the government doing more even with lesser oil revenues. Mr Buhari again took a swipe on immediate past administration of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for what he called the grand-scale corruption perpetuated by the highest office in the land which, he said has been nipped in the bud just as the Treasury Saving Account has made it more difficult for ministries, departments and agencies to exercise the unrestrained liberties that helped foster a climate conducive to corruption. Listing some of his achievements, Mr Buhari said his administration supported state governments with a bailout that enabled them to pay workers on their payroll. He said he also took an unprecedented step towards creating a fairer and more equitable society by implementing Africas biggest social investment programme. He said through the National Social Investments Programme, the government is providing direct support to over 12 million Nigerians who need it by giving relief and assistance to unemployed youth, children, the weak and vulnerable as well as small and medium businesses. But even as we lay the foundation for a stable and prosperous nation, we acknowledge there is still much work to build on. The next level of effort has an immense focus on job creation. From an enlargement of the N-Power programme to investing in technology and creative jobs to agriculture and others, there is scope for 10 million new jobs. The march away from a mono-economy must continue with our focus on an industrialisation plan coming to fore. With specific plans underway to exploit the comparative advantage of the geo political zones and different states by developing 6 Industrial Parks and 109 Special Production and Processing Centres (SPPCs) across each senatorial district, our incremental move away from oil dependence is assured. In addition, our development of the Special Economic Zones will quickly concretise our Made in Nigeria for Export (MINE) plan, he said. He also said to sustain food production and value addition, a mechanisation policy for agriculture will make tractors and processors easily accessible and available for farmers across Nigeria. We will continue a wide scale skilling policy, prioritising technology to reach the demography of young people within the productive sector on a massive scale even as we create jobs and growth within our economy, he said. A former chairman of the Federal Inland Revenue Services, Ifueko Omoigui-Okauru, will be slugging it out with a former deputy speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly, Funmi Tejuosho, on Sunday for the presidency of the Queens College Old Girls Association. The election to appoint a new leadership for the alumni association of one of the countrys foremost secondary schools, is coming at a time school was embroiled in crisis. Last year, three pupils of the elite girls-only college died following sanitary concerns causing the government to temporarily shut down the school. Accreditation for Sundays election will start at 2pm while voting proper will start at 4pm. Mrs Omoigui-Okauru, a chartered accountant, was chairperson of the FIRS between 2004 and 2012. She was appointed chairman of the N25 bilion-strong Lagos State Employment Trust Fund (ETF) in 2016 by Akinwunmi Ambode, the Lagos State governor. Mrs Omoigui-Okauru, started her career with financial advisory firm, Accenture. former chairman of the Federal Inland Revenue Service, FIRS, Ifueko Omoigui-Okauru She is a member of the boards of the Nigerian Breweries Plc, the Central Securities Clearing System and Seplat Petroleum Plc. She was also on the board of Diamond Bank Plc. Mrs Omoigui-Okaurus challenger, Ms Tejuosho, is a lawyer, popular grassroots politician and four-term member of the Lagos Assembly where she is representing the Mushin constituency. She was appointed deputy speaker of the assembly in 2007 and impeached two years later after she was accused of gross misconduct and for allegedly undermining the assembly. Lagos State House of Assembly, Funmi Tejuosho Last year she was evicted from her apartment in the posh GRA Ikeja area, after the Lagos State government claimed she illegally bought the property, which was her official residence, when she was deputy speaker. She later forfeited two wings of the 5-bedroom semi-detached house to the state government. She was once honoured by the Lagos State House of Assembly Correspondents Association (LAHACA)as the Best Female Legislator at Plenary. The Encomium Magazine also named her the Most Elegant Legislator while the National Association of Nigerian Students decorated her with a Platinum Gold Award. The European Union, United States, United Kingdom and other foreign governments on Sunday demanded a process that would herald free, fair, transparent and peaceful elections as political parties flagged off political campaigns ahead of the 2019 polls. A joint statement signed by the embassies of the various governments in Nigeria was sent to PREMIUM TIMES. Signatories to the statement include the European Union delegation to Nigeria, France, Germany, United Kingdom, United States, Australia, Austria, Bulgaria, Canada, Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Republic of Korea, Romania, Slovakia, Spain, Sweden. The full statement reads: As friends of Nigeria and its people, we will follow the campaigns and election process closely. Who wins the elections is for the Nigerian people to decide. Our concern is to see a process leading to free, fair, transparent and peaceful elections. We hope to see transparent campaigns and we urge all voters to use their democratic right and vote. We are particularly keen to see greater participation of women, youth and people living with disabilities. We urge all involved political and non-political actors to refrain from using hate speech and take a firm stance against violence. The 2015 Peace Accords played an important role in that regard and we welcome new efforts towards that end. We were gravely concerned over widespread incidents of intimidation, interference and vote-buying during the recent gubernatorial elections. We were also perturbed by irregularities and violence during party primaries, and noted with particular concern that several women candidates were disenfranchised. We reiterate the importance of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) as it fulfils its constitutional role. INEC must be allowed to operate free from outside pressure and intimidation, and in turn must demonstrate full neutrality and professionalism. We encourage that adequate funding is swiftly facilitated for INEC and supporting institutions, and we hope to see the entry into force of improvements to the Electoral Act as soon as possible. We wish to draw particular attention to the fundamental role of the security agencies in providing a safe and secure environment for the Nigerian people to exercise their democratic rights. It is vital that security agencies act, and are seen to act, in an impartial manner that maintains the high standards of professional conduct. We strongly support the principle of media freedom and the vital role the independent media plays in ensuring informed public debate. We also stress the importance of balanced, neutral and non-defamatory coverage. At the beginning of the 2019 electoral campaign, we would like to reiterate our strong commitment to support democracy in Nigeria. We encourage Nigeria and its people to consolidate and deepen democracy, building on the standards set in 2015. A civil society group, Peoples Alternative Front (PAF) has criticised officials of the United States and the United Kingdom over their comments on the effect of telecommunication giant MTNs row with the Nigerian government. A statement signed by lawyer and human rights activist, Femi Falana, president of the group, said without prejudice to the ongoing moves by the CBN and MTN to resolve the issue of the penalty in an amicable manner, the statements attributed to officials of both countries smacked of hypocrisy. John Bray, U.S. consul general, and Laura Beaufils, British deputy high commissioner to Nigeria, had last week said the issues faced by MTN in recent times sent bad signals to foreign investors. According to Punch newspaper, the U.S. and UK envoys made the assertion on the sidelines of a conference organised by the Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI) during the 2018 Lagos International Trade Fair. The newspaper quoted the envoys as saying some foreign investors took their investments to neighbouring countries as a result of the crisis. But PAF said in its statement on Sunday that the statements were not objective. By their highly prejudicial comments, both envoys have given the misleading impression that the British and American governments would condoned the violations of extant financial regulations in order not to discourage investors, the statement said. As far as both envoys are concerned, while financial regulations are strictly enforced in advanced capitalist countries, even if the heavens would fall, they should be conveniently breached in a peripheral capitalist country like Nigeria. It is curious to note that both envoys neither commented on the penalties imposed on Nigerian banks for their involvement in the illegal capital exportation nor dismissed the alleged breaches of Nigerias financial regulations by MTN. Citing numerous cases of such regulatory actions in both countries, Mr Falana said it is doubtful if both envoys are not aware that the regulatory agencies in Western countries including the UK and U.S. have, in the last 9 years, imposed penalties of over $113 billion on banks and other corporate bodies for committing money laundering offences and for violating financial regulations. In view of the patronizing intervention of the UK and US in the MTN $8.1 billion fine we are compelled to draw attention of the Nigerian people to the fines and penalties imposed by the UK and US Financial Regulators from 2009-2018, it said. The statement listed the Libor rigging scandal and fines of post-2008 financial crisis; the case involving Barclays which involved a total fine $2.4 billion in addition to eight additional employees fired for their roles in forex manipulation; the cases of Citi, JPMorgan, Royal Bank of Scotland and the Bank of America. The statement also made reference to the case of JPMorgan Chase and four other banks fined a total $26 billion when the banks were accused of participating in the practice of robo-signing, among other stiff penalties associated with breach of regulatory measures in both countries. The Central Bank of Nigeria had in August sanctioned MTN Nigeria and four commercial banks for alleged financial infractions. The CBN demanded a refund of about $8.13 billion (about N2.5 trillion at N306.15 to a dollar) allegedly repatriated illegally out of Nigeria through four banks, including Standard Chartered Bank, Stanbic-IBTC, Citibank and Diamond Bank. The banks were also ordered to refund various amounts totaling N5.87 billion. While Standard Chartered was asked to refund N2.5 billion, Stanbic IBTC was to refund N1.9 billion; Citibank, N1.3 billion; and Diamond Bank was asked to refund N250 million. The banks were accused of committing flagrant violation of extant laws and regulations of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, including the Foreign Exchange (Monitoring and Miscellaneous Provisions) Act, 1995 and the Foreign Exchange Manual, 2006. The apex bank and the telecoms giant said they are negotiating possible mutual resolution of the crisis. Titi Abubakar, wife of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, said she married her husband because of his honesty, sincerity and integrity. Mrs Abubakar made the remarks when a group, Women for Atiku, paid her a courtesy visit at her Maitama residence in Abuja. I get confused whenever I read the false allegations of corruption being peddled by mischief makers against my husband in the media. I ask myself if they are referring to my husband whom I have been married to for 47 years or a different person. No one knows my husband like I do and their descriptions of him are totally that of a different person and not that of the man I love and adore because of his uprightness. She said they were brought together by destiny and had been endeared to him because of his sterling qualities and patriotism to his fatherland. I was on my way back to Nigeria from Benin Republic where I visited my aunt and was accosted by custom officials at the Idi-Iroko Boarder who demanded for payment of a duty for the pair of brocade material which was a gift from my aunt. An argument ensued between us and I told them to keep the material because I would not pay duty for a pair of brocade, and a gift at that. The officer, who was Head of the Command at that time intervened, paid for the duty charge and gave me the receipt. One thing led to the other, we hooked up later and the rest is now history. As the head, he could have chosen to order that I be allowed to go, but he paid for the duty and that act from that time impressed me and I fell deeply in love with the man Atiku, she said. The National Coordinator of Women for Atiku, Blessing Ebera, thanked Mrs Abubakar for the warm reception accorded her group and pledged that it would continue to mobilise women across every ward to vote for Atiku Abubakar come 2019. She said that the National leadership and the 36 state coordinators of the group visited to inform her that with the commencement of campaign, the group was set to penetrate every corner of Nigeria to mobilise support towards an Atiku victory in 2019. Mrs Ebera said that the group would also embark on voters mobilisation and education. She said that the acquisition of Permanent voters Card (PVC) would be mandatory for every female of voting age in Nigeria. She urged those that registered but were yet to collect their PVCs to visit the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for collection. She assured Mrs Abubakar that members of the group had strategized to mobilise at least 50 women in every ward across the country through synergy with other women support groups.(NAN) The presidency says the electoral victories recorded by the All Progressives Congress (APC) on November 17 is a sign of things to come in the 2019 elections. The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the APC swept the three federal constituencies in Katsina, Kwara, and Bauchi states in the bye-elections conducted by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) on Saturday, November 17. Garba Shehu, the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, in a statement in Abuja on Sunday, said the APC victory in the three states had shattered any assumptions of a Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) return to power in 2019. According to the presidential aide, the APC victory should be a blow for the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) campaigners who have maintained that by merely claiming that they have rebranded, Nigerians will have forgotten all the mess they left behind in 2015. He said: By voting overwhelmingly for the ruling APC, Nigerians have shown their confidence in the Muhammadu Buhari administration, and their willingness for continuation of this government and its policies. This clear show of support can only be a synopsis of what Nigerians should expect in the forthcoming elections, at all levels. I would like to use this opportunity to remind Nigerians that there will always be a winner and a loser in every election, an individual and a party with the highest votes and another with the lowest. That is what democracy is about. Therefore, all aspirants should approach elections with the mindset that they could either win or lose. Accepting results only when one wins and challenging results each time one loses, is not the right attitude. It is certainly not what democracy is about. The presidential aide thanked the people of Katsina, Kwara and Bauchi States for their show of support during and after the bye-elections. On behalf of President Buhari, I thank the people of Katsina, Kwara and Bauchi States for their show of support over the weekend. I thank Nigerians all over the country for believing in this government and in its determined effort to pull our nation out of the mess left behind by 16 years of PDP government, and into the greatness that is our destiny, he added.(NAN) Some young aspirants, who contested in the just-concluded election primaries of the two major parties, on Friday narrated their harsh experiences in their parties. The aspirants spoke on the high prices of nomination forms, administrative charges, undemocratic party primaries and female stereotyping among other challenges as they shared their experiences and challenges in the course of seeking the parties tickets for the 2019 general elections. They spoke at a programme organised by the Centre of Legislative Engagement of YIAGA AFRICA to highlight the experiences of young unsuccessful aspirants in the parties primaries. The programme was held against the background of the high expectations that accompanied the passage of the Not Too Young To Run Bill by the National Assembly and the assent to it by President Muhammadu Buhari. The law mainly slashed the minimum ages that qualify candidates for elective offices. But the aspirants found out there are many more hurdles before young people and women aspirants in the political space. Amina lliyasu who contested for the Zamfara State House of Assembly blamed the All Progressives Congress (APC) women leader, Hajia Salamotu, for not showing much support for women aspirants, but applauded the wife of the president, Aisha Buhari , for her support for women who ran for different offices I would like to call out my party women leader for not doing enough to support womens emergence as candidates in the party primaries, Mrs Iliyasu said., I would also want to use this opportunity to thank Mrs Buhari for her support, she tweeted on the high cost of the nomination form for the women in the APC, she said. Mrs Iliyasu said there was zero participation of women in politics in her state, noting that the nomination forms were too expensive. She said the people of her constituency wanted her to vie for the legislative seat but leaders of the party in the state felt she was too young. Even though I won, I was asked to step down because of a zoning formula in the state. So, since the present governor is contesting for Senate position, and we are from the same constituency, I had to step down so the other zone could benefit, Ms Iliyasu said. Another aspirant from Kaduna under the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Atinuke Maria, said she thought her partys nomination forms were free for women but she later paid N200,000. I am a member for PDP and there was this general notion that forms for women were free and at the same time, we were asked to pay for expression of interest which in my own constituency we paid like N200,000. Expression of interest was actually N100,000 but they said we were going to pay for administrative. So that was another N100,000 paid, so that made it a total of N200,000, she said. For their male counterparts, they said they paid 700,000 for the state House of Assembly nomination form. Bashir Zuntu, a House of Assembly aspirant under the APC said he paid N850,000, adding that he raised the funds through the assistance of family and friends. For APC , for the state Assembly, the cost for nomination form was N850,000. I raised some donations from my dad and friends, he said. Rabi Musa, an aspirant for the Kaduna State House of Assembly under the APC, said she paid N10,000 to each delegate in the primary, adding that her husband provided the money. For me, the person that supported me was my husband. Well, I actually thought the forms were going to be free for female aspirants because recently, we had the local government elections in my state and female aspirants did not even pay any money, except for the expression of interest and it was just N50,000. But in my case I had to use all my life savings, I had to cough out N475,000 at the end of the day for the forms, both the nomination and the expression of interest forms. For female and for male, it was N850,000. Also on the election day I had to give out N10,000 to each delegate for transportation. Another aspirant, Mary Frank, who ran for Adamawa State House of Assembly under the PDP, said she had the challenge of stereotyping from people and family, narrating how she sourced money through her savings and friends to participate. The males were paying N750,000 from my state and for me, I paid N250,000. The nomination is N100,000 and the administration (charge) for the state is N100,000 and for the local government is N50,000. People said to me that they have a female representative from the state House of Assembly and the House of Representatives and they have not done well and why should they also vote for her?' she said. Sanusi Shehu, an aspirant for the Katsina State House of Assembly under the APC, said he budgeted one million naira for the primaries and came back with just N7,000, adding that his late father who was a former local government chairman during the late General Sani Abacha era helped him raise the funds. I bought a state House of Assembly ticket for N750,000 for the expression of interest form and N100,000 for the nomination form and also another N100,000 for the Katsina State APC headquarters, which is N950,000; and N30,000 for APC thugs. Abdullahi Lima, an aspirant for the Kano State House of Assembly under the APC, said, Luckily for me in my own case, I was the only person going from my local government area. People thought I would win because it was direct primaries so the money was not difficult to come with. The Coordinator, YIAGA AFRICA Centre of Legislative Engagement, Ernest Ereke, asked the aspirants a yes or no question if the elections were free and fair. Only Ms Atinuke from Kaduna and Mary Frank from Adamawa said Yes while others said No. President Muhammadu Buhari says his administration is committed to national unity and religious harmony, urging Nigerians to embrace the effort. He gave the assurance on Sunday during the 10th Anniversary of Muslim Ummah of South West Nigeria (MUSWEN) and N5 billion launch of MUSWEN International Centre in Ibadan. The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the presidents message was read at the event by Adamu Adamu, the Minister of Education. Mr Buhari urged religious leaders to embrace religious tolerance to achieve peaceful co-existence and national unity, re-stating his administrations commitment to religious harmony and national unity. The president commended MUSWEN and its leaders for their contributions to national growth and development, saying the south west Muslim leaders were the most dedicated. Governor Abiola Ajimobi of Oyo State acknowledged MUSWENs support and contributions to the successes recorded by his administration. He appealed to religious leaders to disseminate message of tolerance, unity, peace and tranquility in their sermons, particularly as the 2019 general election approached. Mr Ajimobi said it was only in the atmosphere of peace that development and growth could thrive in any society. Saad Abubakar, the Sultan of Sokoto, urged all to always extend hands of fellowship to others, irrespective of religious beliefs, ethnicity and status in the society. He counseled Nigerians to eschew the use of foul languages on others even when they felt so much aggrieved, saying the nation could only achieve greatness through tolerance and unity of purpose. The Emir of Kano, Muhammadu Sanusi, in a keynote address entitled Muslim Voice on Good Governance, said the topic was timely considering the challenges facing the country. He said that Islam and Muslim political heritage had profound principles, norms and practices for good governance, saying such predated modern democracy which was about 200 years. Muslims should be at the fore front in advocating and leading with examples in good governance. This has become necessary because our political culture has deteriorated and increasingly mercantile, where money is everything. This is responsible for bad governance that has characterised the polity, subverted development, perpetrated poverty as well as elicited the unending social conflicts. Mr Sanusi said money-based politics would continue to fuel unprecedented corruption seen in the society today, saying pristine values as a people had been supplanted and the future thrown into jeopardy. He urged all political, spiritual and traditional leaders to join hands in salvaging the polity from the danger posed by the current political culture. According to him, we have to take leadership seriously and cannot ignore centuries old wisdom which places high premium on leadership and criteria for shouldering responsibilities. The consequences of ignoring the standards are already showing and we must not wait until the bubble bursts. We cannot allow full reins to money politics and expect the eradication of corruption. Wale Babalakin, the Chairman of the occasion, commended MUSWEN for the sustenance of its meaningful contribution to Islam and national development in the last 10 years. Mr Babalakin appealed to the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) to call off its industrial action and dialogue with government, assuring them of meaningful resolution of the issue. NAN reports that the event was attended by prominent Muslim clerics and scholars across the country.(NAN) The All Progressive Congress (APC) candidate, Yusuf Nuhu, has won the Toro Federal Constituency by-election, held on Saturday. Announcing the result in Toro on Sunday, the Returning Officer, Ahmed Sarkin-Paggam, said Mr Nuhu scored 27,337 votes to defeat his only opponent, Shehu Umar, of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), who polled 18,235 votes. The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that only the APC and PDP fielded candidates for the elections. According to the returning officer, a total of 41,532 votes were cast, out of which 40,552 were valid and 970 votes invalid. NAN reports that Toro Federal Constituency seat became vacant when the member representing the constituency, Lawan Gumau, contested and won the Bauchi South Senate seat in a by-election held on August 11. The by-election was held following the death of Sen. Ali Wakili who represented Bauchi South in the senate. (NAN) The Senate President, Bukola Saraki, and Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed have both reacted to the Saturdays by-election in Kwara State won by the candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC). Both politicians, members of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) alleged that the process was skewed against their party. The APC candidate, Raheem Olawuyi, was on Saturday declared the winner of the Ekiti / Irepodun / Isin / Oke Ero Federal Constituency by-election held across the four councils in Kwara State. The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) said Olawuyi polled 21 , 236 to emerge winner. The Returning Officer for the election, Abimbola Adesoji, while declaring the result at the Irepodun Local Government Secretariat in Omu -Aran, said the APC candidate defeated his closest rival, Saheed Damilare of the PDP, who polled 18,095. Mr Abimbola, a professor at the Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile -Ife, declared Mr Olawuyi winner of the election having scored the highest number of votes. Other contestants in the election were Femi Ona- Ara of Labour Party, Ajadi Olayemi of Peoples Party of Nigeria as well as Olaniyan Ayorinde of Unity Party of Nigeria. The returning officer gave the total number of total registered voters as collated as 168 ,707 , accredited voters as 41 ,185 , the total valid votes as 39 ,599 , total number of rejected votes as 1 ,331 and the total number of votes cast as 40 , 930. But Messrs Saraki and Ahmed, have alleged that the elections were marred by intimidation of voters by security officials. In a statement sent to PREMIUM TIMES on Saturday, Mr Ahmed described the House of Representatives by-election as a contest between the PDP and security agents rather than among political parties although he expressed confidence in his partys victory. A statement by his Senior Special Assistant on Media and Communications, Muyideen Akorede, stated that reports available to the governor from the four local government areas in which elections were held indicated wide-spread harassment, arrests and intimidation of PDP members and supporters by security personnel. He, however, commended PDP members and supporters across the federal constituency for standing their ground and defying the threats posed by the security agents by coming out to exercise their franchise at the risk of harm and arrest. He said the heightened fear and intimidation orchestrated against PDP members and supporters and abetted by security agents led to voter apathy and poor turn-out in the areas that are traditional strong-holds of fhe party. Similarly, Mr Saraki alleged that it was the first time that elections in Kwara State will be held under such charged, tensed and militarised conditions, adding that they are signs of things to come in 2019. We had INEC officials complaining about their own safety and PDP supporters were brazenly intimidated, which resulted in low turn out of voters, he tweeted on his verified Twitter page. The public should note that todays #KwaraByElection was simply between PDP and security agents plus APC. This was due to the heavy deployment of police, soldiers and other security agents who gathered to support APC and harass PDP leaders and supporters. It is important to reiterate that ahead of the 2019 elections, such open displays of intimidation are sending wrong signals. Our democracy is being undermined with this misuse of our nations security apparatus. #KwaraByElection. Political commentators say the election is a test of the two major political parties strength in Kwara ahead of the 2019 elections. Mr Ahmed is gunning for a senatorial seat upon completion of his eight-year tenure as governor while Mr Saraki, who represents Kwara central in the upper chamber, also hopes to return to the Senate. Both men recently defected from the ruling APC to join the opposition PDP about four years after they defected from the PDP ahead of the 2015 general elections. The winner of Saturdays by-election in Kwara, Tunji Olawuyi, has described his victory as one for residents of the state. Mr Olawuyi won Saturdays Ekiti/Isin/Oke-Ero and Irepodun federal constituency bye-election in Kwara State. Mr Olawuyi said the success was a sign of more victories to come for the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the 2019 general elections in Kwara. He said this while speaking with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Sunday at Omu-Aran, Kwara, while reacting to the outcome of the poll. According to the electoral commission, INEC, Mr Olawuyi polled 21,236 to emerge winner, while his closest rival, Saheed Alatise of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), scored 18,095. Mr Alatise was backed by Senate President Bukola Saraki, Govenror Abdulfatah Ahmed and other PDP leaders in the state. PREMIUM TIMES reported how Messrs Saraki and Ahmed have both alleged irregularities in the election, saying security agencies connived to ensure victory for the APC candidate. This is a happy moment for me because we have been doing this for a long time, Mr Olawuyi said. When your time has come, no one can stop you but at the same time, I give glory to God, because it is the best time Allah has created for me. My party believed in me to put me forward for the assignment and I thank God I have delivered, he said. Mr Olawuyi, who described the APC as the best in Africa, said he was never scared of the opposition because he is a grassroots politician that is loved by his people. He said because of the fact that his people love him and follow him with passion, he will always defeat his opponents in a free and fair election. Mr Olawuyi said the state governments statement that the election was between the PDP and the security agencies was laughable because it was what they were used to. He said he is now sure of an APC victory in the state in the 2019 general elections because of the spirit the electorate have demonstrated. (NAN) The National Association of Akwa Ibom State Students (NAAKISS) has endorsed President Muhammadu Buhari for the 2019 election. The group made known its endorsement of Mr Buhari during an event on Saturday in Uyo to mark the International Students Day. The group, which praised Mr Buhari for his administrations anti-corruption fight and the reformation agenda, also endorsed Nsima Ekere, the All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship candidate in Akwa Ibom. The president of NAAKISS at the Akwa Ibom State Polytechnic, Ikot Osura, Chapter, Daramfon Odiong, moved a motion for the endorsement of Mr Buhari as our candidate, while the president of the University of Uyo (Uniuyo) chapter of the association, Ime Hanson, moved a motion for the endorsement of Mr Ekere. NAAKISS has been having a running battle with the state government over the non-payment of bursary to students of Akwa Ibom origin studying in tertiary institutions across the country. The student body in November last year organised a peaceful protest in Uyo against the state governor, Udom Emmanuel, for allegedly refusing to show interest in their welfare. During the last Saturday event, Mr Odiong said Mr Emmanuels administration has made little or no impact on education, despite the huge money the state government receives monthly from the federation account. He said apart from the bursary, the students from the state were no longer getting scholarships and grants from the state government. We the entire students of Akwa Ibom State origin choose to use this medium to ask these questions: How much is bursary? How much is Christmas carol (which is organised annually by the state government)? How much is the cost of political rallies? We have been ignored but our voices must be heard, said Mr Odiong, as the large crowd of students who gathered at the private event centre in the city for the ceremony cheered on clapping and shouting. President Buharis aide, Ita Enang, and Mr Ekeres running mate, Amadu Atai, were among the dignitaries present at the event. After the event, the president of NAAKISS, Uniuyo chapter, Mr Hanson, told PREMIUM TIMES the last time students in the state received bursary, grants, and scholarships from the state government was in 2014 when Godswill Akpabio was governor. Since Governor Udom Emmanuel came into office, law students and medical students have not received the grants they used to get from the state government, he said. The student leader said they have confidence in Mr Ekeres ability to take care of students welfare if he is elected governor in the forthcoming election. Fire has gutted about 156 shops at the timber and furniture section of Nkwo Ngwa market in Aba South Local Government Area of Abia, leaving many families in grief for their losses. Okechukwu Lawrence, Chairman of the market traders association, told journalists at the market on Sunday that he was informed about the incident through phone call around 7:00 pm on Saturday. Mr Lawrence said he rushed to the scene immediately and he and the markets taskforce members broke its gates to let in sympathisers to help quench the fire, using water from a borehole. We tried our best before the Fire Service came in. We used water from our borehole to quench the fire. But the hoodlums around later broke the borehole in their bid to steal our pump while the fire was raging. That was how I saw it yesterday. The fire was too much and it gulped millions of Naira worth of goods and property. We have some building material sellers in all these front shops. The second row of shops is occupied by furniture sellers and dealers in other things. We recorded a very big loss here but there was no loss of life or injury, he said. Mr Lawrence debunked claims that his members attacked the fire service personnel who came to quench the fire. The chairman said that it was a group of hoodlums called Aroo Boys who attacked the fire service men. He said the Aroo Boys further entered the market, broke into shops, carried rice, stock fish, clothes and other property and left. He further said the fire could have been stopped with the help of the fire fighters before it destroyed up to 100 shops. According to him, this was hindered by the suspended Ozuomba road project of the state government. He appealed to the government to come to the aid of the traders by fixing the road and attending to other needs in the market. The Abia Police Commissioner, Chris Ezeike, who visited the scene Sunday morning, said he was there to access the incident and sympathise with the victims. Mr Ezeike noted that the section of the market was full of inflammable materials. He however called for calm and peace, adding that the fire incident, which was said to have been caused by a generator, would be investigated immediately. Awa Udonsi, Senior Special Adviser to Governor Okezie Ikpeazu on Security, said he had been notified about the incident and would involve the concerned ministries in the matter. Mr Udonsi said he would not take decisions for the governor but gave the assurance that government would do the right thing in the situation. (NAN) IEI/EMO The Lagos State Government has assured of a worthy candidate to succeed Olanrewaju Fagbohun as Vice Chancellor of Lagos State University (LASU) whose tenure expires in 2020. Lagos State Deputy Governor, Idiat Adebule, gave the assurance at a dinner organised by the LASU Alumni Association in honour Mr Fagbohun on his conferment as a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) on Saturday in Lagos. Mr Adebule, also an alumnus of the university, said selecting a capable successor to the current vice-chancellor was key to sustaining the current peace and progress experienced in the university in the past three years. About the fear of who will take the mantle from Prof. Fagbohun and build on the good work he started, I admonish that you fear not, for God is always there. At the appointed time, God will choose who will fit into the position, but as a government, we are not unmindful to the fact that, it is our pride to pick the best person. As God assisted us to pick Fagbohun, He will also guide us to pick a suitable successor and no evil person will scale through the selection process, she said. Mrs Adebule urged Mr Fagbohun not to relent in praying for a perfect successor, while appealing to stakeholders of the institution to think of how to positively impact and support the LASU project. She lauded the vice-chancellors relentless effort that culminated in rising to the peak of his career. God has done it for you. I am proud of you as our VC and appreciate you for not being distracted in your set goals. Thank you for keeping faith and keeping the LASU flag flying. God will protect you. Mrs Yeside Fagbohun, all the accolades of today are for you; for being a friend and supportive wife to the VC, she said. In his speech, Cecil Esakhaigbe, President, LASU Alumni Association, lauded the deputy governor for honouring the vice-chancellor. Mr Esakhaigbe said the alumni association was a platform to give back to the university. He congratulated the VC on his conferment as a SAN and for being a visionary leader and turning LASU around positively. This is the beginning of great things to come your way our VC. So, do not be distracted, as there are bound to be challenges, but you will triumph. LASU used to be synonymous with crisis, but things have changed in the last three years and the university now features positively in the news. For those who are against peace in LASU, you will fail because there must be peace in LASU and that is not negotiable, he said. Mr Esakhaibe, however, promised an unflinching support of the Alumni association to the VC and the new LASU project, toward making the institution greater. In his response, Mr Fagbohun thanked the deputy governor and the lumni association for their gesture in celebrating his achievements and progress of the institution. The passion of the deputy governor for LASU is something else, as you have always been at the forefront when it comes to anything pertaining the institution. It is not easy for you to close the gap between us, but you have consciously determined to remain close to us, he said. The vice-chancellor, however, charged the alumni association to wake up to its responsibilities and be proactive in complementing the new LASU project and protecting the university from going back to the dark years. NAN reports that the Legal Practitioners Privileges Committee on July 12 ratified the conferment of the rank of Senior Advocate of Nigeria on 31 lawyers, including Mr Fagbohun. (NAN) For the New World Order, a world government is just the beginning. Once in place they can engage their plan to exterminate 80% of the world's population, while enabling the "elites" to live forever with the aid of advanced technology. For the first time, crusading filmmaker ALEX JONES reveals their secret plan for humanity's extermination: Operation ENDGAME. Jones chronicles the history of the global elite's bloody rise to power and reveals how they have funded dictators and financed the bloodiest warscreating order out of chaos to pave the way for the first true world empire. Watch as Jones and his team track the elusive Bilderberg Group to Ottawa and Istanbul to document their secret summits, allowing you to witness global kingpins setting the world's agenda and instigating World War III. to Ottawa and Istanbul to document their secret summits, allowing you to witness global kingpins setting the world's agenda and instigating World War III. Learn about the formation of the North America transportation control grid, which will end U.S. sovereignty forever. Discover how the practitioners of the pseudo-science eugenics have taken control of governments worldwide as a means to carry out depopulation. View the progress of the coming collapse of the United States and the formation of the North American Union. Never before has a documentary assembled all the pieces of the globalists' dark agenda. Endgame's compelling look at past atrocities committed by those attempting to steer the future delivers information that the controlling media has meticulously censored for over 60 years. It fully reveals the elite's program to dominate the earth and carry out the wicked plan in all of human history. Endgame is not conspiracy theory, it is documented fact in the elite's own words. WASHINGTON, Nov. 17, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Photos from reception: https://bit.ly/2OMXzyl The US-Ireland Alliance celebrates the 20th anniversary of its George J. Mitchell Scholarship program with the selection of the 12 members of the class of 2020 following interviews held in Washington, D.C. today. The Scholarship program, which sends future American leaders to the island of Ireland for a year of graduate study, was created by the founder and president of the US-Ireland Alliance, Trina Vargo, and is named in honor of Senator George Mitchell's contributions to the Northern Ireland peace process. Ireland's Ambassador to the United States, Daniel Mulhall, hosted a reception for finalists and alumni at his residence on Friday evening. Carolina Chavez, the Director of the Mitchell Scholarship Program, spoke of how the popularity of one of the most prestigious scholarships in the US continues to grow. A record number of 370 people applied for the 12 scholarships -- a nearly 14% increase over the previous year and a 29% increase over 5 years. More than 200 Congressional districts and an equal number of colleges and universities are represented in this year's applicant pool. Recipients are chosen on the basis of academic distinction, leadership, and service. Members of the 2020 class include a recent intern for Ambassador Nikki Haley at the US Mission to the UN, who also combats political polarization in the United States; a researcher on the gut microbiome; two theater practitioners; a journalist and researcher, currently working on an upcoming Netflix documentary series on the 14th amendment; two reproductive rights advocates; and the co-president of Columbia University's chapter of Lean In, who is interested in the philosophical implications of artificial intelligence. Candidate interviews were held at the Doyle Collection's Dupont Circle Hotel in Washington, D.C. In addition to Ambassador Mulhall, members of the selection committee included Melissa Boteach, Senior VP of the Poverty to Prosperity Program at the Center for American Progress and Mitchell Scholar, Class of 2006; George C. Heslin, Founding Artistic Director of the Origin Theatre Company in New York City; Justin McCarthy, Senior Vice President at the Patient & Health Impact group at Pfizer; Dr. Bob Mauro, Executive Director of the Irish Institute and founding Director of the Global Leadership Institute at Boston College; Dr. Marc O Griofa, Chief Medical/Technology Officer at Noninvasive Medical Technologies; and Kathleen Romig, Senior Policy Analyst at the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities and Mitchell Scholar, Class of 2002. Sponsors of the Mitchell Scholarship program include Ireland's Department of Education and Skills, Morgan Stanley, Pfizer, and the American Ireland Fund. The Scholars will begin their studies in Ireland in September 2019. George J. Mitchell Scholarship, Class of 2020 Minhal Ahmed immigrated to the United States from Pakistan at age four, attending five schools in five years before his parents settled in New York. He became interested in how our bodies and health are impacted both by our genes and our zip codes at a young age. A Bioengineering major at Northeastern University in Boston, Minhal focuses his research on the gut microbiome, the trillions of microorganisms that live in our intestine. In the lab, he studies how the ecosystem in our gut may affect how we think and feel. Outside of the lab, Minhal works with Peer Health Exchange, a national organization that seeks to bring health equity to under-resourced schools by providing health education. After countless hours teaching health classes in Boston high schools, he was recently selected as President of the Northeastern campus chapter, one of the largest in the country. For fun, Minhal DJs at his campus radio station. A Goldwater Scholar, he will study Applied Psychology at University College Cork. Born and raised in Texas, Kathryn Ammon has worked on reproductive rights since her freshman year at the University of Kansas. She has held various leaderships positions at SURGE, the campus feminist and abortion access organization, including serving as its President, where she grew SURGE's bank account and membership roster. Committed to advocating for marginalized students on campus, Kathryn was elected to the Student Senate, and then nominated to the university-wide governing body, the University Senate, becoming the only woman student senator. In addition to holding various other leadership positions on campus, Kathryn has worked on reproductive justice issues with an indigenous feminist collective in New Mexico and with Planned Parenthood Great Plains, and as a votebuilder with the Kansas Democratic Party. A triple major in History, Political Science and Women's Studies, Kathryn will study Equality Studies at University College Dublin. Annabel Barry is an English major at Princeton University. A believer in the political power of literature, she is the co-editor-in-chief for The Nassau Literary Review, Princeton's oldest undergraduate publication and only traditional literary magazine. She has been awarded several competitive research and travel grants that allowed her to travel to the Northern Ireland border and write a collection of creative non-fiction stories about the border, and to study Ulysses at Oxford. Her pieces have been published in literary magazines and her paper about John Keats has been accepted for publication in the Keats-Shelley Review. Annabel is also a scenic and puppet designer with a passion for sustainable design and community-based theater. On campus, Annabel represents the English Department's Class of 2019 on the Undergraduate Advisory Committee, is a peer academic advisor to 20 underclassmen, and is a fellow and mentor at the Princeton Writing Center. A Connecticut native, she will study Philosophy and Literature at University College Dublin. Ella Klahr Bunnell is an American Studies major at Stanford University where she studies issues of justice, equity and conflict. She has interned with the Civil Rights Division of the Department of Justice where she researched voting procedures, and with the ACLU where she conducted research on race and criminal justice. A Boston native, Ella also interned with Congressman Joseph Kennedy and Senator Elizabeth Warren. At Stanford, she has assisted a Stanford professor in her research on civilian oversight of police violence and is currently analyzing criminal disenfranchisement law, with a focus on America's divergence from international norms and modern democratic practices since the 1970s, for her senior thesis. Last year, Ella's paper on W.E.B DuBois was published in the Stanford Undergraduate Research Journal and was designated as one of the best papers for the 2016-2017 academic year. She will study Conflict Transformation and Social Justice at Queen's University Belfast. Keshav Goel is a dual major in Biology and Economics at Williams College. Understanding that socioeconomic inequality is one of the greatest public health concerns in the United States, he has conducted research on ailments that disproportionally affects the world's poor. Growing up in Northern California, he co-authored his first published clinical paper at the age of 16 on the automated detection of congenital heart defects in newborns. He is currently conducting a yearlong senior biology thesis to uncover the mechanisms of asthma, which largely affects impoverished children. He has also conducted health economics research with Harvard Medical School to assess the quality and effectiveness of federally funded clinical trials. Keshav works as a peer mentor with a local organization to provide drama therapy to adolescent survivors of trauma. An aspiring physician, Keshav will study Immunology and Global Health at NUI Maynooth. Makayla Haussler is a senior at Yale majoring in Political Science. Born and raised in Nebraska, she has been politically active since high school, working on reproductive rights and social justice issues. At Yale, she's held various positions with College Democrats, served as chairwoman of a Yale student's campaign for city council, and interned in the office of the Massachusetts Attorney General, Planned Parenthood, and for other progressive causes. In 2017, she spearheaded Yale students' campaign for a Connecticut bill to expand financial aid for undocumented students at public colleges. Last summer, she returned to Nebraska to intern at a local social justice not-for-profit and ended up working to prevent efforts to repeal the Affordable Care Act. Makayla will study the political rhetoric of the Together for Yes campaign in the Gender Studies program at University College Dublin. Alison Mahoney is the Co-Founder and Artistic Director of Bluelaces Theater Company, a NYC-based company that produces multisensory, immersive theater for audiences with developmental disabilities. She is also the Manager of Accessibility at Lincoln Center, managing several programs including an internship program for young adults with developmental disabilities and a performance series for individuals with dementia. Once a week, she co-teaches theater classes for students with disabilities as young as 9 and as old as 87. Raised in St. Croix, she became interested in arts accessibility at Northwestern University, where she graduated in 2014 with a double major in Theater and Gender Studies. In collaboration with Theater Stands with Autism (now Seesaw Theatre), Alison devised multisensory theatrical experiences for autistic children, the first of their kind at Northwestern. She will study Contemporary Performance Practices at Ulster University. Rohan Naik is a journalist and researcher, currently working on an upcoming Netflix documentary series on the 14th amendment. Originally from Houston, he graduated from Yale earlier this year, where he worked as a reporter for the Yale Daily News and at the New Haven Independent. He was also an intern at the Pulitzer Center for Crisis Reporting and ProPublica where he researched and reported stories about air pollution in London and how police in the US respond to hate crimes. As the Head Peer Liaison at the Asian American Center at Yale, he created programming around the stigmatization of mental health issues and directed one of the university's largest mentorship programs. He was also selected by Yale to conduct sexual violence prevention programming. In collaboration with the city of New Haven, Rohan also founded a gun buyback program. Rohan is interested in researching how society remembers and constructs the past and will study Public History at Queen's University Belfast. A native of North Carolina, Rachel Petherbridge is a Biomedical Engineering major at Boston University where her accomplishments in synthetic biology have earned her a Goldwater Scholarship and selection as a Harvard Amgen Scholar. She served as Vice President of the BU Undergraduate Women in Science and Engineering group and is a Student Leader for STEM Pathways where she helps expand STEM opportunities for students in Boston. She was also a member of BU's iGEM team, an international competition for students in synthetic biology, which won Gold (2016) and Silver (2018) at the Jamboree. Rachel began college with two passions: science and policy. She's combined them by holding leadership roles in the BU Model UN conferences and working as a staff writer for the BU International Relations Review, where she's written on topics such as the Zika virus and climate change. She will study International Public Policy and Diplomacy at University College Cork. Mitchell Polonsky is an English and Theater, Dance, and Media double major at Harvard University, where he has directed 18 plays in addition to assisting professional directors on major stages around the world. A believer that performance can be a social service, Mitchell has directed productions in uncommon places. He directed a free double-bill of Brecht's Life of Galileo and Buchner's Woyzeck in the central courtyard of the Fogg Art Museum and directed a production of Sophocles'' Antigone at Harvard Stadium, attracting over 6,000 community members. Earlier this year, he was awarded a fellowship to direct a Tennessee Williams' production at the Bunker Theater in London. When his rehearsal schedule provides a break, Mitchell works at the Harvard Square Homeless Shelter, distributing necessities to those who cannot be accommodated by the shelter. A Cincinnati native, Mitchell will study Theater Directing at The Lir, Trinity College Dublin. A New York native, Kara Schechtman is a double major in English and Computer Science at Columbia University. Interested in the philosophical implications of artificial intelligence, Kara completed summer internships at Google and, most recently, at YouTube, where she worked on a project to improve the quality of Mixes, which are infinite auto-generated music playlists. On campus, Kara was Co-President of the Columbia chapter of Lean In, where she quintupled its membership and oversaw the creation of a mentor program that partners 70 Columbia women with women professionals in NYC. She received Columbia's King's Crown Award in Principled Action for her Lean In work. Kara was also the Features editor for the weekly magazine of the Columbia Spectator, Columbia's newspaper of record, and created the first podcast of the publication. She will study Philosophy at Trinity College Dublin. Matthew Wigler is a Political Science major a Stanford University and is interested in both national and international politics. During his internship with the State Department in 2017, Matt worked with diplomats at the US Mission to the United Nations to expand the sanctions regime targeting North Korea. He also served Ambassador Nikki Haley in her executive office, working to help coordinate the 2017 UN General Assembly. Last summer, Matt was awarded a Stanford grant for the Purple America Project. With the goal of understanding and combating political polarization in the United States, Matt traveled with the leader of the UC Davis College Republicans to 14 split-ticket Congressional districts to engage swing voters. His blog, Swing District, documented his travels and conversations. Matt serves as an undergraduate student senator at Stanford and as Vice President of the College Democrats on campus. A Long Island native, he will study International Politics at Trinity College Dublin. SOURCE US-Ireland Alliance Related Links www.us-irelandalliance.org A listening post in Antarctica -- the last of 21 Australian monitoring facilities -- has been certified to become part of an active system girdling the planet to detect nuclear weapon tests. (Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/786474/CTBTO_Logo.jpg ) (Photo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/784127/CTBTO_nuclear_test_monitoring_stations.jpg ) TV B-roll and still photos are available: https://bit.ly/2RYdj3v Map of Australian monitoring facilities: https://bit.ly/2DqoVc7 Map of global monitoring network: http://www.ctbto.org/fileadmin/content/reference/outreach/ims_mapfront.pdf "It is a remarkable achievement by Australia. All 21 monitoring facilities located on its territories are now complete and sending reliable, high-quality data to our international data centre in Vienna, Austria, for analysis," Dr. Lassina Zerbo, head of the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty Organization (CTBTO), a UN related body, said. (Map and details of Australian monitoring facilities here: https://bit.ly/2DqoVc7). Australia's infrasound station "IS03" in Davis Base, Antarctica, is one of nearly 300 certified stations of the CTBT monitoring system, feeling and sniffing the Earth for any signs of a nuclear explosion. The global system will comprise 337 facilities when complete. "The monitoring stations in Australia cover a large expanse of the Southern hemisphere. They are strategically positioned to contribute significantly to the International Monitoring System (IMS) detection and location capability. All six nuclear tests by North Korea were clearly detected by Australia's IMS seismic stations," Zerbo said. "Australia ranks third among countries hosting the largest number of monitoring facilities. It covers all four technologies used for nuclear test detection. Some of the stations are located in particularly remote and inaccessible areas of the Earth, such as Antarctica. This has been a 20 year-long joint effort by CTBTO and Australia and is truly an extraordinary achievement," Zerbo said. To mark the occasion, Geoscience Australia is hosting an event attended by Zerbo, high-level officials and key national scientists working in nuclear non-proliferation taking place in Canberra on Tuesday 20 November 2018. An extensive monitoring network The CTBTO's global monitoring network captures four types of data: vibrations through the ground and in water - seismic and hydroacoustic; sound beyond the range of the human ear and detection of radioactive particles - infrasound and radionuclide. The network guards against violations of the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty (CTBT) banning nuclear explosions by everyone, everywhere: in the atmosphere, underwater and underground. "Geoscience Australia is proud to support the Australian Government's commitment to the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty," James Johnson, chief executive officer of Geoscience Australia said. The global network detects nuclear tests with high reliability. For example, on 3 September 2017, over 100 stations in the network detected and alerted Member States to North Korea's last announced nuclear test. Public safety and scientific insights Currently, the global network collects some 15 gigabytes of data daily, which it sends in real-time to the CTBTO's data analysis centre in Vienna. From there, a daily analysis report is sent to the CTBTO's 184 Member States for their own use and analysis. "Real-time data from the seismic stations of the Treaty monitoring system are used by the National Earthquake Alerts Centre at Geoscience Australia to detect earthquakes, 24 hours a day, seven days a week," Johnson said. "The Treaty monitoring system assists Geoscience Australia in fulfilling its role within the Joint Australian Tsunami Warning Centre (operated by Geoscience Australia and the Bureau of Meteorology) to detect potentially tsunami-causing earthquakes in the Indian, Pacific and Southern oceans," Johnson said. Other uses of data from the Australian IMS stations include: Detecting and tracking radioactive releases from nuclear and radiological accidents or incidents, Detecting and locating meteorites, Giving an insight into explosive volcanic eruptions, and Tracking the migratory habits and the effects of climate change on marine life. Background The CTBT bans all nuclear explosions everywhere, by everyone, and for all times. The CTBTO has established an International Monitoring System to ensure that no nuclear explosion goes undetected. Currently, 296 certified facilities - of a total of 337 when complete - are operating around the world. The data registered by the IMS can also be used for disaster mitigation such as earthquake monitoring, tsunami warning, and the tracking of the levels and dispersal of radioactivity from nuclear accidents. www.ctbto.org SOURCE Comprehensive Nuclear-Test- Ban Treaty Organization (CTBTO) BEIJING, Nov. 18, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Chinese President Xi Jinping warned against the rising trend of protectionism and unilateralism as he delivered a keynote speech at the CEO Summit in Port Moresby , capital of Papua New Guinea , on Saturday, the Xinhua News Agency reported. Chinese and foreign representatives who attended the APEC CEO Summit told the Global Times on Saturday that they were inspired by Xi's speech and countries across the world should strengthen cooperation to pursue inclusive growth through innovation instead of confrontation. Xi said that only openness and cooperation can create more opportunities and space for development, Xinhua reported. "Confrontation, either in the form of a cold war or trade war, produces no winners," he said. The president called for firm efforts to safeguard the multilateral trading system that has the WTO as its core, the Xinhua report said. "As rising uncertainty troubles the world market, China has made its resolute voice heard at APEC that the world is expected to strengthen cooperation, pursue common development and advance inclusive growth through innovation in technological fields, such as artificial intelligence and fintech, as well as cooperation models including the Belt and Road initiative (BRI)," said Tang Ning, founder and CEO of CreditEase, a Chinese fintech company. "If some countries set up barriers to cut off the close economic ties that exist between countries, this not only violates economic rules and the historical trends, but also does not meet the general aspirations of the people of the world," Tang said. "[Such a move] is short-sighted and will not succeed." "President Xi's speech was truly inspiring. He spoke of an important message that everyone should recognize a world built on shared destiny, responsibility and prosperity," Joahnna Esquivias, an APEC Voices of the Future delegate from the Philippines, told the Global Times on Saturday. "I was very happy when he said that there are no winners in a trade war. Because this trade war is affecting not only the economies of China and the US but those in the peripheries," she noted. Xi pointed out that the world is encountering changes that have not been seen in a century and mankind has once again reached a crossroads. He stressed that the interests of all countries and the future of mankind hinge on choosing between cooperation and confrontation, between openness and closing one's door, and between win-win progress and a zero-sum game, according to the Xinhua report. Chen Yushu, managing director of the All-China Federation of Returned Overseas Chinese, told the Global Times that after listening to President Xi's speech, he was deeply impressed that today's world has become more interdependent and interconnected than ever before. "Economic globalization is the only way forward for the development of human society, and multilateral trade can bring about common opportunities for the growth of countries," Tang said. Tang noted that each country is part of the global cooperation chain as the world supply chain, industry chain and value chain are all closely linked. "For Asia-Pacific members, only by strengthening cooperation and achieving inclusive growth, will it be possible to bring benefits to these countries," he said. "I believe that if APEC becomes more open to regional integration through the BRI, economies will be more integrated. There's much potential and promise in APEC," Esquivias said. "I hope to see that in the near future." SOURCE Wu hua zhi hua NEW YORK, Nov. 18, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- AJC, the global Jewish advocacy organization, is deeply saddened by the death of Romanian Ambassador Mihnea Constantinescu. He was 57 years old. "Mihnea Constantinescu was a stalwart supporter of the State of Israel, a leader in the fight against anti-Semitism, and a true friend of the Jewish people. His untimely passing is a great loss for all of us," said AJC CEO David Harris. A respected career diplomat, Constantinescu held senior positions in the Romanian Foreign Ministry and served as a diplomatic advisor to several prime ministers. Notably, he also led Romania's delegation to the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA), comprised of 31 countries, including 24 members of the European Union, the U.S., and Canada. In 2016, Constantinescu became chair of IHRA when Romania assumed the rotating helm of the international organization. The IHRA had already adopted a universally-accepted definition of Holocaust denial and distortion, and Constantinescu believed it should take the further step of endorsing a comprehensive definition of anti-Semitism. Largely due to the determination of Romanian President Klaus Iohannis and Constantinescu to make combating anti-Semitism a priority, the IHRA Working Definition of Anti-Semitism was adopted by the organization's member states in May 2016. "By adopting this working definition, the IHRA is setting an example of responsible conduct for other international fora and hopes to inspire them also to take action on a legally binding working definition," Constantinescu said at the time. AJC worked closely with Constantinescu in support of his efforts to gain IHRA adoption of the working definition and to promote its use by governments, educating police, prosecutors, and judges about the nature of anti-Semitism. "We are grateful for the gift of his life, his abiding friendship, and his relentless dedication to key issues he and we hold dear," said Harris. "We will miss him greatly." SOURCE American Jewish Committee Related Links http://www.ajc.org Washington, Nov 18 : Andrew Gillum, the Democratic gubernatorial candidate in southeastern US state Florida, on Saturday officially conceded to his Republican rival Ron DeSantis after a vote recounting showed a margin Gillum was unlikely to close. The results of the machine recount ending Thursday in the state showed that DeSantis, a House Representative and an ally of US President Donald Trump, maintained a lead over Gillum of 0.41 per cent, Xinhua news agency reported. "Now that we are rounding that process out, R. Jai and I wanted to take a moment to congratulate Mr. DeSantis on becoming the next governor of the state of Florida," Gillum said in a Facebook video alongside his wife R. Jai. The Tallahassee mayor initially conceded to DeSantis last week, but revoked that statement after further vote counts showed DeSantis' lead was narrowing. Gillum ran a progressive campaign, promoting policies such as Medicare for all. The state's Senate race, between Democratic Senator Bill Nelson and Republican Governor Rick Scott, and Florida's race for agriculture commissioner are currently in the midst of a hand recount. Florida counties face a deadline of noon Eastern Time (GMT 1700) on Sunday to submit their election results by hand recount, according to local media reports. Florida law requires a hand recount when the leading candidate's margin is 0.25 or less. Scott led by about 12,600 votes, or 0.15 per cent of the more than 8 million votes cast following a machine recount, said the reports. Srinagar, Nov 18 : Two militants were killed on Sunday in a gunfight with the security forces in Jammu and Kashmir's Shopian district, police said. The security forces cordoned off the Rebon village after receiving specific information about holed-up militants. "Two militants have been killed in this operation. People have been advised not to venture close to the encounter site as there was a possibility of stray explosive materials," the police said. Buenos Aires, Nov 18 : A missing Argentine naval submarine has been found, a year and a day after it vanished in the South Atlantic with 44 crew members on board, authorities said. The wreckage of the ARA San Juan, which "suffered an implosion", was found about 870 metres below the ocean floor, Argentine naval Capt. Gabriel Attis told the media here on Saturday. Family members at the navy headquarters were shown three images of the remains of the San Juan's "sail", or tower, and bow sections. Hours before the wreckage was positively identified, the Argentine navy tweeted an image of a point of interest on the seabed, suggesting that a 60-meter-long object might be the missing vessel. An American company contracted by Argentina located the submarine. The vessel's condition remains unclear. Defence Minister Oscar Aguad told the media that Argentina does not have the capability of recovering the sunken submarine. "No, we don't have the means to go down to that depth of the sea," he said, adding that authorities "do not have the equipment to bring the submarine out from such a depth". The ARA San Juan disappeared on November 15, 2017, off Argentina's coast, about midway on its journey from Ushuaia in the country's south to Mar del Plata. The Argentine navy said in the following days that the vessel's captain had reported a short circuit in the vessel's battery system shortly before the last known contact. The short circuit was caused by seawater entering the vessel's "snorkel", a tube that reaches the surface to refresh the vessel's air and recharge the batteries, the captain said in a call to his commander on land. The hunt for the vessel -- which at its height involved 28 ships and nine airplanes from 11 nations, including the US and UK -- centered on an area roughly 900 km off the Argentine coast. Among the victims was Eliana Maria Krawczyk, Argentina's first female submarine officer. Washington, Nov 18 : A top US military officer said that the Taliban "are not losing" in Afghanistan, and much more needs to be done to bring peace to the war-torn country. "They are not losing right now, I think that is fair to say," CNN quoted Gen. Joseph Dunford, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, as saying during a discussion at a security forum in Canada on Saturday. "We used the term stalemate a year ago and, relatively speaking, it has not changed much." Dunford said that while there would never be a "military solution" on its own to bring peace to Afghanistan, the US and its NATO partners were working to leverage military, political and economic pressure to convince the Taliban it was in their interest to negotiate a political solution to the crisis with the government in Kabul. "Without going into detail here, we do believe the Taliban know that at some point they do have to reconcile," he said. "The key to success is to combine all that pressure to incentivise the Taliban" to negotiate. As part of the administration's strategy to bring about a political resolution to the 17-year war, President Donald Trump announced an increase in US troops last year that brought the total number in the country to about 14,000. Former US Ambassador to Afghanistan Zalmay Khalilzad was recently named the State Department's special representative for Afghanistan reconciliation and has travelled repeatedly to the region for discussions with national governments and the Taliban to try to jump-start a dialogue. But progress toward ending the decades-long conflict has proven elusive, CNN said. Earlier this month, the US government's ombudsman for the American effort in Afghanistan issued a report that said the Taliban have strengthened their grip on the country over the past three years, with the Afghan government in Kabul controlling only about 56 per cent of the country -- down from 72 per cent in 2015. Washington, Nov 18 : US President Donald Trump told the media at the White House here that this would be a "good time" for a government shutdown if he doesn't get funding from Congress for his border wall. "I think probably, if I was ever going to do a shutdown over border security, when you look at the caravans, when you look at the mess, when you look at the people coming in, this would be a very good time to do a shutdown," CNN quoted Trump as saying on Saturday. Trump added, however, that he didn't think a shutdown would "be necessary, because I think the Democrats will come to their senses". Congress averted a government shutdown in September by passing a massive spending bill to fund a large portion of the government. The package did not, however, include money for Trump's border wall, and Congress passed a shorter-term spending bill to fund the Department of Homeland Security, among other agencies, until December 7. At a White House event in August, Trump said he was looking for about $5 billion for the wall to cover this fiscal year, which some Democrats have already said they would vote against. Trump also said on Saturday that the US military will remain at the US-Mexico border "as long as necessary", suggesting that the 5,900 troops deployed to the border could stay there past December 15, the scheduled end of the mission. The President also touted the "tremendous military force" assigned to the border mission in Texas, Arizona and California, lauding the troops for building "great fences". "They built great fences. They built a very powerful fence, a different kind of a fence, but very powerful. The fence is fully manned," he said. Kolkata, Nov 18 : A man who wanted to visit India after watching Mira Nair's "Salaam Bombay", Australian director Benjamin Gilmour was here to screen his film "Jirga", which has been nominated for the prestigious Academy Awards this year. He said he wants to "make a life here" in India. "I am looking forward to the Oscars but not really anxious. If it increases the audience then I would be really happy," said Gilmour. "When 'Salaam Bombay' came out, I had seen it. And I loved India. Seeing that movie I really wanted to come here," Gilmour revealed in an interview with IANS on the sidelines of the 24th Kolkata International Film Festival. Gilmour, who worked as a paramedic, revealed he was a big fan of Bollywood filmmakers of the 1960s and 1970s. "I am a big fan of the golden age, the Bollywood filmmakers of the '60s and '70s. I like Shammi Kapoor's and Dev Anand's acting. I love the music of R.D. Burman and Asha Bhosle." Gilmour, now 42, saved money when he finished school to travel all the way to India on his own at the age of 19. "I came here to volunteer with Mother Teresa, I washed dishes in Kalighat (in South Kolkata, where one of Mother Teresa's homes was located). I witnessed people dying and it was quite confronting at that age," he said. "Jirga" is about military man Mark Wheeler (played by Australian actor Sam Hill) who returns to Afghanistan after two years to apologise and help the family of a civilian who he had mistakenly shot during a raid. The title refers to an Afghan tribal council. Sharing the danger-filled experience of shooting the film, Gilmour said: "We planned to shoot in Pakistan, but the Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) blocked the shoot as they thought this would be particularly sensitive. They wouldn't let us film in the Khyber Agency." Instead of returning, he flew to Afghanistan and shot the film in guerrilla-style filmmaking (shooting secretly) though they had the necessary permits. While making a film on the kidnapping of a foreign soldier, the actors and members of the crew were "worried about becoming hostages in the process". Asked if he had received any help in Afghanistan, the writer-director said: "We had permits; the local police, local collaborators and Afghan producer Amir Shah Talash helped. He appealed to the governor of Nangarhar to give us full military and police escort into the mountains to shoot very close to ISIS positions and not far from Taliban positions." The film was extensively shot in the mountains and caves. His previous work, "Son of a Lion", about a Pakistani boy and "paramedico" is a documentary on emergency ambulance workers. "I feel for the people who are suffering under oppressive military regimes in the official sense. I had an affinity towards the Pashtuns, people who have been suffering for years," Gilmour said about his choice of subjects. The impact of these violent conflicts moved him deeply. "I wanted to use my privilege as a Western filmmaker, who had access to resources, to help fight nonviolently. I see this film as my nonviolent competition to the wars", he remarked. Gilmour loves music and, in "Jirga", music connects the foreigner soldier with the Afghan taxi driver. Sher Alam Miskeen Ustad, who lives as a refugee in Pakistan, willingly took the risk to arrange the shoot in Afghanistan. Recollecting his visits to India, Gilmour said, "I visited Siliguri and Darjeeling as a teenager. Later, I had also explored Rajasthan, Gujarat, Goa and Kerala." "My wife was a part of a traveling magician show with Jadugar Samrat Shankar in 2001 and did a performance with him in Amritsar. We stayed in an accommodation inside the Golden Temple," Gilmour revealed. Sharing tips for an aspiring filmmaker, Gilmour said: "You need to have a burning passion for other people's stories, get out into the world and interact with people from different classes." He is looking for Indian collaborations as he really wants "to make a life here". (Binita Das can be contacted at binita.d@ians.in ) New Delhi, Nov 18 : Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Sunday slammed his Haryana counterpart Manohar Lal Khattar for "justifying rape" after the latter claimed that most of the rape cases filed were "fake". Addressing a rally last week, Khattar had said that 80-90 per cent of the rapes and molestation took place amongst people who know each other well. "They roam around together for some time and if one day they get in some quarrel, they file an FIR claiming that they have been raped," Khattar had said. Sharing Khattar's speech on Twitter, Kejriwal said: "If this is the mentality of a state's Chief Minister then how do you expect the women to be safe? "CM sir is justifying rape. This is the reason why incidences of rape are increasing in Haryana and rapists are not caught... they roam around free." The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) national convenor and Khattar have been in a tiff over the past few weeks over their respective states' basic services. In his efforts to get more seats in the 2019 polls, Kejriwal has been holding rallies in Haryana and inviting people of the state to visit AAP's Mohalla clinics and government schools to see the work done by his government. He had also invited Khattar to visit the clinics after the Haryana Chief Minister dismissed the Mohalla clinics as chaotic or "halla clinics". However, Kejriwal said that the Haryana Chief Minister never replied to his requests. On Saturday, Kejriwal was stopped by authorities from entering Haryana's Karnal district after protesters from the state's ruling BJP blocked a road that he was to take. New Delhi, Nov 18 : When Syed Fariddudin Qutbi, the "khadim" (attendant) of the shrine of 13th century sufi saint Qutbuddin Bakhtiar Kaki in Meharauli, stepped out after offering a floral "chhatra" (a flower-embellished umberella) at the ancient Yogmaya temple located at a stone's throw from the dargah, all he had to say was that in the small temple sanctum sanctorum suffused with a strong incense and jasmine fragrance, he felt the same tranquility and a "magnificent, invisible power" he feels at the dargah. Part of the annual cultural festival "Phool Walon Ki Sair" (Festival of Flower Sellers), an initiative that promotes communal harmony and positive cultural exchanges since early the 1800s, many like Qutbi go beyond the bounds of religious identity, and encourage members of other communities to offer flowers and "pankhas" (fans) at places of worship that are considered not "their own". The roots of the festival go back to the reign of one of the last Mughal emperors and Bahadur Shah Zafar's father, Akbar Shah II, who was buried next to the dargah. Legend has it that when his son Mirza Jahangir was imprisoned on the orders of the British, Akbar Shah's wife vowed that she would offer a blanket at the sufi saint's dargah upon his release. As fate had it, Shah's son was released and the blanket was offered. Upon imperial orders, floral offerings were also made at goddess Yogmaya's temple, which sparked public enthusiasm, causing it to become an annual tradition. The festival was stopped in the 1940s when the British started their polarising efforts in line with their "divide-and-rule policy" that led to deep rifts between India's two major religious communities, Mirza Mohtaram Bakht, secretary of the Anjuman Sair-e-Gul Faroshan, the organisers of the fair, told IANS. He said the festival was revived in 1961-62 by India's first Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru. It has, since then, been a regular occurrence and brings together hundreds of Delhi residents each year, Bakht said. In today's deeply polarised milieu where hate crimes against specific communities are just as rampant as the venom spewed against them on social media, the assimilating significance of the week-long festival takes a new turn. "When our Hindu brothers offer a blanket of flowers at the dargah, members of the Muslim community take a step back and let them take the lead. Similarly, Muslim people are encouraged to offer a floral 'chhatra' to Devi Yogmaya. It's a communion of hearts, and that can only happen if there's 'pakeezgi' in people's souls," Qutbi told IANS, adding that he recommends extremists of all religions to at least experience other cultures once. Rajnish Jindal, another resident of Mehrauli, who has been visiting the festival for 15 years, said that it was a matter of developing comfort with all religions and people from all walks of life. "You go into a gurdwara, you find peace and comfort, that's your 'mahzab' (faith); same is with a mosque or a temple or a church. It should be a matter of personal belief," he said. Not surprisingly, the path of "Phool Walon Ki Sair", is often laden with thorns and threats. "People say 'tum karke toh dikhao, hum dekhte hai tum kaise karte ho' (We'll see how you do it); not everyone wants a secular nation that celebrates all its religions. It often happens covertly; 11th-hour permissions, indifference and excuses create hurdles for us, even if there is no direct visible opposition. "We, however, give it back with our enthusiasm. Truth is always victorious. They can't stop our caravan," Bakht, a former geologist and a "proud Delhi-wallah", said. Kite flying competitions, processions, wrestling bouts, kabbadi and shehnai recitals mark the first four days of the seven-day festival, with offerings in the dargah and the temple earmarked for the fifth and sixth days. This year, Delhi's Lieutenant-Governor Anil Baijal offered the floral blanket at the dargah on Thursday, and Delhi government's transport minister Kailash Gahlot offered a floral "chhatra" on Friday, along with members of both communities. "Phool Walon Ki Sair" closed on Saturday with tableaus from over 11 states and a night-long qawwali singing programme. (The weekly feature series is part of a positive-journalism project of IANS and the Frank Islam Foundation. Siddhi Jain can be contacted at siddhi.j@ians.in ) Los Angeles, Nov 18 : Actress Rosamund Pike says she had to fight to get the role of Marie Colvin in "A Private War". Directed by Matthew Heineman, "A Private War" chronicles the life of Colvin and is based on Marie Brenner's 2012 Vanity Fair article "Marie Colvin's Private War". Colvin died in 2012 while covering the siege of Homs in Syria. When Pike first heard the script through Amma Asante, she instantly fell in love with the story. When she discovered that Heineman was attached to direct it, she pushed for a meeting. "I knew that Matt was a very original story-teller from seeing his docs," Pike said in a statement to IANS. However, landing for this role wasn't easy for Pike. "I had a lot of convincing to do," she said. The actress added: "I don't look much like Marie. I'm younger than her, I'm not American. There's a lot going against me. But I really wanted it. She entered my soul somehow when I first read that article. I don't know why. "I don't have the desire to serve like she did. I don't have the courage. But I do understand about having a vocation that takes you suddenly out of your own daily life and then drops you back in. The distortion, or the disjunction between the two, can be troubling." Heineman wasn't much convinced with Pike. Hence, after their meeting Heineman and Pike wrote each other essays of who they thought Marie was and found them to be strikingly similar. "I knew right away that I wanted her to be Marie. Rosamund has that tenacity that Marie had. She fought for that role and she nailed it. She spent so much time researching Marie, understanding Marie, climbing inside of her head, her body, learning how Marie moved, how she held her tension in her neck and shoulder, really down to every single detail," the director said. PVR Pictures is bringing the film in India. It will release on November 23. Amritsar, Nov 18 : At least three people were killed and 10 others injured on Sunday when a grenade exploded after it was flung at a religious gathering in Punjab's Amritsar district, police said. Two youths, their faces covered, rode to the venue of the Nirankari sect's congregation in Rajasansi area, lobbed the grenade and escaped, a police officer said. There were around 500 people at the venue. The attack came amid a high alert issued by the Punjab Police that six-seven terrorists had entered the state. New Delhi, Nov 18 : President Ram Nath Kovind on Sunday embarked on a week-long visit to Vietnam and Australia, saying he was looking forward to a "busy and business-like" events. The Rashtrapati Bhavan tweeted that it would be Kovind's first visit to any country to India's east as President. Starting his trip from the Vietnamese coastal city of Da Nang, Kovind will head to the capital Hanoi where he will hold talks with the political leadership and also address the country's National Assembly. According to the Ministry of External Affairs, Kovind, in his maiden visit to an Asean country, will hold talks with his Vietnamese counterpart Nguyen Phu Trong and Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc. Heading to Australia on November 21, Kovind, the first Indian President to visit the country, will meet Prime Minister Scott Morrison. They will together unveil a statue of Mahatma Gandhi in Parramatta to mark the 150th birth anniversary of the Father of the Nation. He will visit Sydney and Melbourne and hold discussions with the Governor-General Peter Cosgrove. The President will also address the Australia Financial Review Business event. He is also slated to meet Governor of Victoria Linda Dessau and address students at the Melbourne University. New Delhi : The Karnataka government has again announced the creation of a Unified Metropolitan Transport Authority (UMTA) for Bengaluru. A UMTA could radically transform the way urban transport is planned and implemented in the city. However, we also need to consider the fact that this is not the first time a UMTA is being planned for Bengaluru. Such an attempt was also made earlier, but the project failed to garner much success. A majority of vehicles in Bengaluru are privately owned (five million two-wheelers and 1.4 million four-wheelers, as of 2017, for a population of approximately 12 million). This trend has been significantly aided by the current urban transport institutional set-up. Its prioritisation of elevated corridors, steel flyovers and signal-free corridors indicates a tilt towards momentary convenience rather than prudent sustainable mobility. Such proposals would eventually lead to increased congestion, pollution and other negative consequences in the years to come. Bengaluru's history of multiple (and often competing) transport agencies is a major reason for such unsustainable projects being proposed and implemented. To avoid such situations, Bengaluru needs to have a unified agency, a UMTA, which would have the power to invest in sustainable transport projects. The previous attempt to create a UMTA, called Bangalore Metropolitan Land Transport Authority (BMLTA), was made in 2007. It was created along the lines of Singapore Land Transport Authority (LTA) and was meant to decide on investments in sustainable urban transport systems. It was formed as a committee headed by the Chief Secretary, with Commissioner, Directorate of Urban Land Transport (DULT) being the member-convener. Heads of various public transport agencies in Bengaluru and other state government departments such as transport department, finance department and urban development department were members of the committee. Even though BMLTA was announced with the best intentions, it never took off. The major challenge was that it had no financial and legislative power to make decisions related to transport planning. Planning and implementation of urban transport still remained with the individual agencies. A second challenge for the BMLTA was the weak institutional arrangement. Many organisations did not participate in the endeavour. Even though the erstwhile BMLTA had been planned along the lines of Singapore LTA -- as has the proposed UMTA -- there are some fundamental differences among these agencies. LTA is a land-transport planning authority and has the power to plan land-use. In the case of Bengaluru, this power rests with the Bangalore Development Authority (BDA). Additionally, LTA has the authority to plan the public transport network while individual agencies are service providers. In Bengaluru, service providers such as BMTC and BMRCL are planning and implementing agencies. There is little support from the state government to cover operational losses of these agencies. Thus, it is clear that for the UMTA to be successful, it needs financial and legislative authority as well as independent professional management. Such an empowered agency would have the power to decide the nature of transport investments for the city. From a financial perspective, the proposed UMTA should be able to fund both operational and capital costs. Mechanisms such as petrol/diesel cess, congestion fees and user charges on cab aggregators can feed into an urban transport fund to cover operational costs. On the other hand, capital costs would require funding from state and central governments. Given that the UMTA would be a technical agency entrusted with transport planning for the metropolitan area, it would benefit from having a technocrat at its helm, along with a team of technically competent staff. If the proposed agency is to be successful, certain key issues need to be addressed first. The state and central governments should subscribe to key principles of sustainable transport, and translate those into capital investments. Additionally, transport agencies like BMTC and BMRCL would need to reconcile themselves to the fact that they would be service providers and not planning agencies. We hope that these points are taken into consideration, which, in turn, would lead to the establishment of a successful transport authority for Bengaluru. (Trupti Deshpande is a Research Analyst and Vivek Vaidyanathan a Research Scientist at Bengaluru's Center for Study of Science, Technology and Policy [CSTEP], a research-policy think tank. The views expressed at those of CSTEP. The authors may be contacted at cpe@cstep.in ) Suva, Nov 18 : Fiji's ruling FijiFirst party led by incumbent Prime Minister Voreqe Bainimarama, has won this year's general elections. According to the official results announced by Fiji's Electoral Commission on Sunday, the party topped the official tally of the 2018 general elections results with 227,241 votes, which is 50.02 per cent of the total votes in the island nation, reports Xinhua news agency. The ruling party will get 27 parliamentary seats and form the next government. The Social Democratic Liberal Party (SODELPA), the nation's main opposition party, is in the second place on the official tally with 181,072 votes, 39.85 per cent of the total votes. It will get 21 parliamentary seats. The National Federation Party (NFP) won 33,515 votes, 7.38 per cent of the total votes. It will get 3 parliamentary seats. The total number of votes cast in the general elections was 458,532. Of which, the total number of valid votes was 454,335 while invalid ballots were 4,197 votes. The total number of registered voters for the 2018 general elections was 637,527. The Electoral Commission has returned the writ of election to President Jioji Konrote on Sunday, confirming that the 2018 general election has now been complete. Bainimarama has voiced his satisfaction with the results of the elections, saying in a statement on Sunday that he is proud to become the island nation's Prime Minister once again. He said that November 18 was truly "a great day in Fiji's history" where the majority of Fijians have emphatically voted and put their hand up to support the FijiFirst message of ongoing inclusive progress. This is Fiji's second general elections since a military coup in 2006 and the last elections took place in 2014. New Delhi, Nov 18 : Accusing the BJP leadership of being "misogynist", the Congress on Sunday demanded an apology from Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar for reportedly claiming that most rape cases were "fake" and took place amongst people who knew each other well. "Misogyny has become a buzzword for BJP leadership. Humiliating India's women has become a characteristic style of BJP leaders. The Talibani thought process of the BJP leadership particularly Khattar has been exposed," Congress spokesperson Randeep Singh Surjewala said here. Surjewala blamed the Bharatiya Janata Party for Harayana becoming a crime hub and rising incidents of crimes against women, particularly rape and molestation. Asking Khattar to apologise for his derogatory remarks, Surjewala also demanded that Prime Minister Narendra Modi breaks his silence on BJP leaders often making sexist remarks. Addressing a rally in Kalka town of Panchkula district, Khattar on Friday reportedly said that 80-90 per cent of the rape and molestation incidents took place amongst people who knew each other well. "They roam around together for some time and if one day they get into some quarrel, they file an FIR claiming that they have been raped." In the run-up to the 2014 Lok Sabha polls, Khattar had made another sexist remark asking women to "run around naked if they wanted freedom". He also came under fire from Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal who indicted his Haryana counterpart for "justifying rape". Agra, Nov 18 : The continuing tug-of-war between Hindutva and Muslim groups over conducting 'puja-arti' and offering 'namaz' inside the Taj Mahal premises is causing concern to tourism circles in Agra. Industry leaders fear that the dispute could trigger communal a flare-up in Agra, India's most popular destination. The Central Industrial Security Force (CISF), which is in charge of security inside the complex, has come under fire for failing to stop a group of women on Saturday from performing 'puja' and 'arti' after sprinkling Ganga Jal around the monument. Again on Sunday, Rashtriya Bajrang Dal activists threatened to conduct 'puja' and 'arti' inside the Taj Mahal as a protest against the failure of security agencies to stop a Muslim group from offering prayers inside the premises, violating orders of the Supreme Court. The Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) pasted the Supreme court directive and notification on the gate of the 17th century Taj Mahal last week. The original order of the Supreme Court allows local Muslims to offer prayers in the afternoon only on Fridays when the monument is closed to public. But the locals want this bar lifted so that they can offer prayers daily. ASI officials say security agencies have been told to deal firmly with the violators of the order. Hyderabad, Nov 18 : A three-member committee deputed by the central leadership of the Congress party on Sunday held talks with the party's Telangana leaders who are unhappy over being denied the ticket for next month's elections to the state Assembly. The panel headed by Puducherry Chief Minister V. Narayanasamy met the dissident leaders at a hotel here to dissuade them from contesting as rebel candidates. Karnataka's Irrigation Minister D.K. Shivakumar and Puducherry's Health Minister Malladi Krishna Rao are the other members of the committee. The troubleshooters assured the dissidents that they will be rewarded suitably after the party comes to power. They advised the dissidents not to enter the fray as rebels as this would mar the prospects of 'Mahakutami' or grand alliance headed by the Congress. The dissidents were also asked to work for the victory of 'Mahakutami'. Former minister Ponnala Lakshmaiah, senior leader V. Hanumantha Rao, party spokesman Ramya Rao and others met the committee members and made certain suggestions. After meeting the committee members, Palvai Sravanthi, one of the dissidents, announced that she will not contest as a rebel. The state leadership has identified at least 90 ticket aspirants who were miffed over not being fielded as party candidates. Some of them plan to contest as rebels. Party sources said 40-50 dissidents would meet the committee over the next two days. Elections to the 119-member Assembly are scheduled for December 7. The Congress has so far announced 88 candidates. It is likely to declare six more candidates later on Sunday. The party has decided to leave 25 seats to its three allies including Telugu Desam Party (TDP). New Delhi, Nov 18 : Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh on Sunday spoke to Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh, assuring "strong action" against those responsible for a grenade attack at a religious gathering on Nirankaris in Amritsar which killed three people. Calling the Sunday attack a "reprehensible act of violence", the Minister expressed deep anguish over the death of innocents who were Nirankari sect followers from nearby villages and had gathered for the weekly religious meeting. "My condolences to the families who have lost their loved ones in this attack and prayers for speedy recovery of the injured. Spoke to the Chief Minister of Punjab, Captain Amarinderji, who has apprised me of the situation in the wake of the grenade attack in Amritsar. Strongest possible action will be taken against the perpetrators of this crime," the Minister tweeted. At least three people were killed and 15 others injured when two motorcycle-borne masked youths threw a grenade at the religious congregation in Rajasansi area in Amritsar district. The grenade attack took place on the campus of the Nirankari sect in Adliwal village, about 15 km from Amritsar. Mahasamund (Chhattisgarh), Nov 18 : Accusing the Congress of hindering Chhattisgarh's development and defrauding India, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday urged the people to vote the BJP to power for a fourth straight term in the state. Addressing an election rally here on the last day of campaigning for the second phase of Assembly polls, Modi attacked the Congress for "lying, misleading and defrauding" the country for 50 years and "destroying" four generations of people through their misrule. In his nearly 45-minute speech, Modi dedicated most of his time for attacking the Congress and the Nehru-Gandhi family and elaborated how his government, since 2014, has ushered in all-round development across the country. Hitting out at the Congress over dynasty politics, Modi accused the Nehru-Gandhi family of not allowing Dalit leader Sitaram Kesri to complete his term as party chief and "threw him out on the footpath" to make way for Sonia Gandhi. "The country knows that Sitaram Kesri, a Dalit, was not allowed to complete his five-year-term as Congress president. He was thrown out of office and into the footpath to make way for Sonia Gandhi as the new party chief," said Modi, and again challenged the Congress to appoint a non-Gandhi as party president for five years. Without taking names, he also took pot-shots at Congress veteran P. Chidambaram, who in response to Modi challenge on Saturday, had listed the names of Congress presidents from outside the Gandhi family. "One of the family's courtiers has come out with a list (of presidents from outside the Nehru-Gandhi family) but then where they allowed to complete their terms," asked Modi. He ridiculed the erstwhile Manmohan Singh-led UPA regime as a "remote controlled government", and said Raman Singh's Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government, ruling the state since 2003, could do real work only after the BJP took power at the Centre in 2014. "The first 10 years of the Raman Singh government were spent fighting the negative forces. The remote-controlled government in Delhi did not allow Raman Singh to work for his state. It was only after 2014 that he could work to bring in development in the state." Comparing Chhattisgarh to an 18-year-old adult, Modi said the Assembly elections were no ordinary polls. "Do you want to give an opportunity to people who ruined the lives of earlier generations of the state?" asked Modi, warning the people against voting for the Congress. The BJP, he said, was the answer for Chhattisgarh's progress. Referring to Congress President Rahul Gandhi's pledge to waive farm loans if his party came to power in the state, Modi said the Congress' days of getting votes by "lying and misleading people" were over. "It has been almost a year since your party came to power in Karnataka but what happened to your promise of waiving loans of farmers?" The Prime Minister denied that his government waived Rs 3.5 lakh crore of corporate loans of a handful of industrialists. "It is them who gave out indiscriminate loans and allowed the banks to be looted. Between 2006 and 2014 they gave out loans equal to the amount that was given after independence till 2006. It is our government which dared to enact tough laws and seized billions of rupee worth of properties of the fraudsters who have absconded." Modi dared the Congress to select someone capable as party president who does not belong to the Nehru-Gandhi family. As many as 72 constituencies spread across 19 districts go to the polls in the second and final phase of Assembly elections on Tuesday. The first phase for 18 seats was held on November 12. San Francisco, Nov 18 : Google's parent company Alphabet has put on hold a project to build glucose-sensing contact lens for people living with diabetes due to unsatisfactory results from clinical work. The aim of the project was to turn contact lens into a cutting-edge medical device that could measure blood glucose levels through detection of glucose level in tears. For the project Google's health-tech arm Verily entered into a partnership with Alcon, Novartis' eye-care division, in 2014. "Our clinical work on the glucose-sensing lens demonstrated that there was insufficient consistency in our measurements of the correlation between tear glucose and blood glucose concentrations to support the requirements of a medical device," Brian Otis, Chief Technical Officer at Verily, wrote in a blog post on Friday. In part, this was associated with the challenges of obtaining reliable tear glucose readings in the complex on-eye environment. "For example, we found that interference from biomolecules in tears resulted in challenges in obtaining accurate glucose readings from the small quantities of glucose in the tear film. "In addition, our clinical studies have demonstrated challenges in achieving the steady state conditions necessary for reliable tear glucose readings," Otis added. The Google health-tech arm will continue to work on a smart accommodating contact lens for presbyopia and a smart intraocular lens for improving sight following cataract surgery, Otis said. Besides Google, several other technology companies have also launched their healthcare initiatives, including Apple which introduced heart-monitoring features in the Apple Watch. Agartala/Aizawl, Nov 18 : The BJP, which is determined to oust the Congress in Mizoram after forming governments on its own or in alliance in the seven northeastern states, on Sunday urged the Reang tribal refugees, sheltered in Tripura to vote for the saffron party in the November 28 assembly polls. Three Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leaders -- Assam's minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, BJP's Tripura Pradesh General Secretaries Pratima Bhowmik and Rajib Bhattacharjee -- on Sunday addressed a gathering of Reang tribal refugees at Gachiram Para in northern Tripura adjoining Mizoram. The leaders appealed to the immigrants to vote for the party candidates contesting Mizoram assembly polls. Over 35,000 Reang tribal refugees, comprising 5,907 families, fled from Mizoram and have been staying in Tripura's Kanchanpur and Panisagar sub-divisions for the past 21 years following ethnic tension after a Mizo forest official was killed in the neighbouring state. Among the refugees, only a little over 11,232 immigrants are eligible to vote in the November 28 elections to constitute a new 40-member Assembly in the Congress-ruled Mizoram. The BJP has put up 39 candidates this time while the party in the 2013 assembly polls had had fielded 17 candidates and secured only 0.37 per cent of the votes. "If the BJP comes to power in Mizoram, all the problems of Reang and other tribals would be solved. The Congress did nothing for the development of the state and also for the minority tribals," Assam's minister Himanta Biswa Sarma told the gathering. He said that the four-partite agreement signed in Delhi on July 3 to resolve the refugee problems and to repatriate the tribals to Mizoram, was faulty and the BJP would do justice to the refugees if the party voted to power in the polls. In the Mizoram elections, a multi-corner contest would be witnessed between the ruling Congress, BJP and Mizo National Front (MNF), a regional party, which ruled the state for two terms (1998-2003, and 2003-2008). Though the MNF is a constituent of the BJP-led North East Democratic Alliance (NEDA), no pre-poll alliance was formed between the BJP and MNF. Political experts predict that after the polls, the MNF might forge an alliance with the BJP to form the government. Amritsar, Nov 18 : In a major terrorist incident, three people were killed and 20 others injured when two motorcycle-borne masked youths threw a grenade at a Nirankari congregation in Rajasansi area in Punjab's Amritsar district on Sunday, police said. The grenade attack took place at the Nirankari Satsang Bhawan of the Nirankari sect in Adliwal village, about 15 km from Amritsar. The campus is located in Amritsar's rural belt, around three kilometres from the Guru Ram Das Jee Amritsar international airport. The injured were rushed to hospitals in Amritsar. Two of them were in serious condition, police said. All the victims were sect followers from nearby villages who had gathered for the Sunday weekly religious meeting. Punjab Director General of Police Suresh Arora, who rushed to the spot along with senior Punjab Police officers, admitted that it was a "terror act". "We are taking it as a terror act. This incident is against a group and not an individual. That's why we are taking it as a terror act. We did not have any specific input of a strike against any particular group," he told the media in Adliwal village. Describing it as an unfortunate incident, Arora said that further investigations will reveal details about who was behind the attack. Witnesses told the police that two youths on a motorcycle, their faces covered, forced entry to the sect campus by pointing a pistol at a woman volunteer at the gate. "Everything happened within a couple of minutes. They got in, threw the grenade and fled," one man told the police. Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh on Sunday directed the police to immediately enhance security arrangements at all sensitive places, terming it as "the first such indiscriminate attack on innocent people in recent past". "Preliminary investigations had so far revealed that two men, one of them with a flowing beard, with covered faces, allegedly forced their way into the hall by brandishing a pistol. They detained the sewadar, lobbed the grenade into the prayer room, and escaped on a motorcycle," he said. A crater three inches in diameter was formed by the impact of the explosion and was being examined by the forensic team. The safety valve of the grenade has also been found, he said. "The possibility of involvement of ISI-based Khalistani/Kashmiri terror groups cannot be ruled out. Police teams are investigating various angles," the Chief Minister said in a statement. The attack on Sunday happened amid a high alert issued on November 14 by the Punjab Police regarding the movement of 6-7 terrorists in the state. Punjab Police Inspector General (Border Range) S.P.S. Parmar said that all angles, about who could be behind the attack, were being investigated. "The people had gathered for prayers. There were around 200 people. Preliminary reports suggest that the two persons threw one grenade. No firing took place," he said. The Nirankari sect, with headquarters in Delhi, has millions of followers across the country and abroad. In recent months, Khalistani and Kashmiri activists have been trying to foment trouble in Punjab, which shares a 553-km long barbed wire fenced international border with Pakistan. The Punjab Police, along with the Jammu and Kashmir Police, had recently busted two modules of Kashmiri students who were studying in institutions in Punjab and having links to terrorist outfits in troubled Kashmir. The Maqsudan police station was targeted by Kashmiri terrorists on September 14 this year with hand grenades though no one was injured in the attack. Posters of Kashmiri terrorist Zakir Mussa had mysteriously appeared in Punjab's Gurdaspur district on Friday saying that he had been seen in Punjab. The Chief Minister said he would ensure that the culprits were apprehended. "Though the state had been hit by a series of cases of targeted attacks since 2015/16, this was the first attempt, in a long time, to disturb the peace in the state through indiscriminate killings. Pakistan is continuing with its nefarious activities to disturb the state's peace," Amarinder Singh said. He pointed out that 15 such terror modules had been busted in the past 18 months, with Kashmiri terror links also indicated in some instances, as evidenced in the arrest of Kashmiri students from Jalandhar and in the Maqsudan police station grenade blast case. The Chief Minister announced a compensation of Rs 5 lakh each to the kin of the dead. Bhubaneswar, Nov 18 : Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik on Sunday directed the administration to put a stop to the cutting of trees at the proposed beer-bottling plant near Balarampur in the Dhenkanal district after protests by the villagers. The Chief Minister also ordered the Revenue Divisional Commissioner (RDC) concerned to probe the incident of tree-felling. The villagers, protesting against the cutting of trees for the bottling plant, had a scuffle with the police on Saturday. Noted environmentalist Praffula Samantara, who reached the place of the incident, demanded that the state government compensate the community that has protected the forests for generations. The Congress and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) termed the Chief Minister's order to put a stop to tree-felling as meaningless and an afterthought following a backlash from the community. "The direction for the RDC probe by the Chief Minister has no meaning since there is visual proof of it. Instead of the RDC, he could have ordered a police inquiry. It seems that the Chief Minister has passed the order under pressure," said senior Congress leader Narasingha Mishra. BJP leader Pradeep Purohit said that the state government's decision for an RDC probe is of no use as the damage has already been done. "It seems some ministers and bureaucrats are operating without the knowledge of the Chief Minister. The RDC probe into the incident is of no use as the damage has already been done with the felling of hundreds of trees. The order is only to pacify the public," he said. Ahmedabad, Nov 18 : Two persons were attacked by alleged cow vigilantes when they were transporting cattle near Ahmedabad early on Sunday, leaving one of them with a stab wound, police said. Zaheer, 23, was rushed to the Ahmedabad Civil Hospital with a stab wound and was injected several units of blood. His accomplice, Mustafa, ran away from the spot and hid behind a police van nearby, Danish Khan, an activist attending on Zaheer at the hospital, told IANS. Zaheer and Mustafa were travelling in a tempo van with eight buffalo calves from Deesa in North Gujarat when they were intercepted near Ramol in Ahmedabad by six people believed to be cow vigilantes and attacked by knives and batons. Ahmedabad Deputy Commissioner Himkar Singh told IANS: "The two persons were intercepted by six people, including two motorcycle-borne youths, from the nearby Rabari colony, and attacked around 12.30 a.m." Zaheer is out of danger, he said, adding he sustained one stab wound. The police officer said an FIR had been registered against unidentified accused under Section 326 of the Indian Penal Code for causing grievous injuries. Himkar Singh said: "We have rounded up some persons and finding out more details. We will soon get the assailants." Macao, Nov 18 : Five people were injured in a crash on the last day of the 65th Macao Grand Prix on Sunday, the organisers confirmed. Sophia Florsch, who suffered the most, lost control of her car during racing, and crashed into another car and a platform for media, reports Xinhua news agency. The other four injured includes another driver, two photographers and a marshal. Both of them were conscious when rushed to the hospital. The five injured were still receiving medical treatment. Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, November 18) President Rodrigo Duterte remained in Papua New Guinea to continue attending meetings with world leaders, his spokesperson confirmed, after the Palace announced that he would cut his trip short. Malacanang earlier cited "urgent matters at home" for his initial decision to return to the Philippines supposedly on Sunday. However, Presidential Spokesperson Salvador Panelo told CNN Philippines he was still in Papua New Guinea to attend the second day of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) meetings. Foreign Affairs Secretary Teodoro "Teddy Boy" Locsin Jr. also confirmed this through a tweet, saying Duterte was "getting things done" at the APEC Economic Leaders' Meeting. "He is apparently getting things done there like he couldn't at the ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations) Summit with its rigid formalities," his tweet said Sunday. Locsin added that he initially advised the President against going to Papua New Guinea after he concluded his ASEAN meetings in Singapore. "This after I loudly and naggingly insisted he stay just one day. ONE DAY, I stressed. And that he not leave for Papua the very night ASEAN ended but the next day after a full night's rest. But does anyone listen to me? No. He left that night and is now on his second day. Cono," he added. Duterte arrived in Papua New Guinea on Friday. On Saturday, Panelo said the President was to return to the country after attending the first day of the APEC meetings. He said there were "urgent domestic developments" Duterte needed to attend to, although he did not disclose details. "Urgent domestic developments, however, require the Chief Executive to return to the Philippines after today's activities," Panelo said Saturday. READ: Duterte cuts short Papua New Guinea APEC trip But, Malacanang recalled the advisory on the same day. The Palace has yet to explain why the President changed his mind about returning to the Philippines early. At a press briefing on the sidelines of the APEC meeting in Port Moresby Sunday, Trade Secretary Ramon Lopez said he does not know why the President decided against cutting his trip short. "It's the decision of the President. Unang-una, hindi ko alam na nareport na maaga siya uuwi... Tama lang na nag-stay siya," Lopez said. Lopez represented Duterte at the gala dinner Saturday night. Chandigarh, Nov 18 : The police have launched an investigation after the father-in-law of a senior IAS officer was shot dead by unidentified persons near Punjab's Rajpura town, around 45 km from here, police said on Sunday. The body of Swaran Singh, father-in-law of IAS officer Varun Roojam, was found in his car near the highway on Sunday. Police said the victim, 64, was shot thrice from close range. The police have ruled out any terrorist angle to the killing. Jaipur, Nov 18 : The All India Minorities Front (AIMF) on Sunday decided to withdraw the nominations of its candidates in the upcoming Assembly polls in Rajasthan to help the "secular forces" defeat "communal elements" led by the Bharatiya Janata Party. At a meeting of the party's Parliamentary Board chaired by National President S.M. Asif, it was felt that fielding candidates may result in a division of secular votes. So, the party decided to extend support to the Congress. The AIMF chief appealed to the voters to defeat "fundamentalist and communal forces". The party underlined that minorities, SCs, STs and OBCs had suffered the most under the BJP government. It also cautioned the members of the SC and ST communities against the designs of the BJP that was aiming at splitting SC and ST votes in the reserved constituencies. Rajasthan goes to polls on December 7 to elect a 200-member Assembly. Counting of votes and the declaration of results are scheduled for December 11. London, Nov 18 : Two-year accelerated degree courses are to be introduced at British universities, Universities Minister Sam Gyimah announced on Sunday. The move will mean hundreds of thousands of prospective students being handed more choice than ever before over what they can study at university with the expansion of two-year degrees, Gyimah said, reports Xinhua news agency. He added the move will help students fast-track their way into the workforce. It follows a consultation on the proposal to roll out shorter university courses, also known as accelerated degrees, creating an unprecedented level of choice and flexibility for people wanting to study in higher education, particularly mature students. It will enable students to graduate one year faster compared to standard degrees, and will come as a welcome boost for businesses who will be able to access talented graduates a year earlier, particularly in accountancy, financial management and law. The new fee limits which will be published Monday will need to be approved by the British parliament. Berlin, Nov 18 : Germany's Chancellor was joined by the French President and several senior German political figures on Sunday for a ceremony to mark the country's national day of mourning, which solemnly pays homage to all victims of war and tyranny. Angela Merkel and Emmanuel Macron laid wreaths of flowers at the New Guardhouse memorial site in the German capital Berlin in an act of respect and remembrance as the country observes Volkstrauertag ("People's Day of Mourning"), reports Efe news. "Germany and France fought each other to death. In the 70 years since, they have been able to found Europe, to forge peace," Macron said in a message shared on his Twitter. "Today in Berlin we remember the victims of war and tyranny. It is to their memory that we owe the Union among nations," he added, in an apparent message in support of the European Union. New Delhi, Nov 18 : Vice President M. Venkaiah Naidu on Sunday said there was need to re-imagine and reconstruct the higher education system in tune with the requirements of the 21st century and sought participation of government as well as the private sector for quality education. He said it was a cause for concern that India did not have enough high quality researchers, and that the number of students doing PhDs and entering research posts was on the decline, as per release. "A country as populous as India and facing innumerable challenges from poverty to environmental degradation simply cannot do without innovation," he said after launching Krea University from here. "It is crucial that we re-imagine and reconstruct our higher education system. The autonomy of Universities cannot be compromised under any circumstance. The government should play the role of a strong facilitator when it comes to Universities." He called for "an impactful coordination" of public-private sectors in providing such education system. Naidu said the Universities should be allowed to develop their own curricula and their own system of examinations. "A strong, accomplished and professional management body for Universities coupled with adequate funding is the need of the hour," he said. "The objective of a University should not just be restricted to imparting quality education, but to ensure all round development of an individual." The Universities should not be breeding grounds for resentment, frustration or discrimination but should be the hubs for innovation, a safe space for future visionaries and entrepreneurs to sharpen their skills, he added. Naidu said the higher education system in India still lagged behind the standards of the world's best universities. "In 2018 too, no Indian University was able to secure a place in the top 100 best Universities in the QS World University Ranking. American and European Universities still rule the list," he said. Calling the gross enrolment rate (GER) of college-aged people in tertiary education a cause for grave concern, he said the GER in higher education was 25.2 per cent in 2016-17 while China stood at 43.39 per cent and the US's at 85.8 per cent. The indulgent system which regulates higher educational institutions in India has also led to the mushrooming of hundreds of privately set-up colleges offering a poor quality education in India and making profit, he said. New Delhi, Nov 18 : Mexican street artist and illustrator Edgar Flores, better known as Saner, is combining Indian and Mexican motifs for a wall mural in the national capital's open air public art district, Lodhi Colony. Saner, who says his art is inspired by "Mexican culture, traditions, its past and present, and the political and social situation", is known for his visual satire on themes like violence, anger, anxiety and fear. Asked about Mexico's thriving street art culture, Saner says it's part of Mexican heritage. "I think it's part of our heritage, after the muralist movement (a Mexican movement in 1920s in which wall paintings carried political messages) and the social movements in Mexico, we had a lot of inspiration in our imagination. "Right now the street art about murals is a reflection of the globalisation and the exposition to the many ideas and cultures around the world," Saner, who believes that art must show a slice of reality, told IANS over email. Within the rich muralist tradition of Mexico, "every artist chooses the topic they want to talk about", Saner, who combines illustration manners, expressionism, naive art and surrealism with street art techniques, said. He added that "real art is made with passion and love, and is a piece that is trying to show us some part of this reality." With the use of masked characters and vivid colours being a signature style of the artist, Saner would create a blend of Indian and Mexican art here. Saner finds India to be a land of "many inspirations", and art traditions. On his visit to India, the artist, who has exhibited in Mexico City, New York, Berlin, London and Barcelona, among others, said he wants to see in person, all the beautiful things he saw online and in books. Saner has been invited to India by St+art India Foundation, which promotes street and public art, and the initiative is supported by the Mexican Embassy and Central Public Works Department. Belagavi (Karnataka), Nov 18 : Hundreds of farmers, including the womenfolk, on Sunday staged a protests here against the state government's alleged indifference over ensuring minimum support price for sugarcane and in getting their arrears released from the mill owners. "In view of the production glut and falling price, the state government should ensure a minimum support price (MSP) of Rs 3,000 per tonne for sugarcane with 9.5 per cent recovery and help us get arrears for the cane supplied to mill owners last year," farmer leader Siddanna Gouda told reporters here, about 500km northwest of the state. The previous Congress government had fixed Rs 2,500 per tonne as MSP last year. With input costs, including harvesting and transporting the cane to the mills going up steeply, Gouda said growing sugarcane was no longer remunerative, as mill owners were unwilling to pay more and settle the arrears. "We suspended on Saturday our agitation launched on November 15 for higher MSP and recovery of arrears on the assurance of Chief Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy that he would meet us here on Monday. But he has now backed out," alleged Gouda. As a mark of protest against Kumarswamy cancelling his visit to the city on Monday, about 20 farmers drove trucks laden with sugarcane into the Suvarna Vidhana Soudha, which is the state legislative and secretariat building for the region. "We will disrupt the winter session of the state legislature here next month if the state government does not resolve our issues by November 30, as we cannot keep the cane in the fields longer from harvesting as recovery will be less if delayed," added Gouda. The opposition BJP condemned the JD-S-Congress coalition government's indifference to the plight of the sugarcane farmers in the state. "The coalition government's approach to farmers' plight is reprehensible. Scores of farmers, including their womenfolk, were arrested at Belagavi for staging a protest," said Karnataka BJP President B.S. Yeddyurappa in Bengaluru. Mocking at Kumaraswamy and the JD-S for claiming to be a party for farmers, by farmers and of farmers, Yeddyurappa said the former told a woman agitator that he was not responsible for what happened to them over the last four years as he became chief minister only 5 months ago. Kumaraswami has also cast aspersions on the integrity of the farmers, which is unacceptable. "By calling farmers 'goondas' (goons), Kumaraswamy has indulged in an outrageous act. This shows the contempt his party has for farmers," added Yeddyurappa. Moscow, Nov 18 : The return to the 1956 Joint Declaration in the Russia-Japan peace treaty talks in no way implies an automatic transfer of Russian territories to Japan, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said on Sunday. "Over these days we have heard a great variety of different speculations, political guesses about some sort of a separate deal on the transfer of the islands and so on. This is not true and cannot be true," Peskov was quoted by Russian news agencies as saying on Rossiya-1 television channel. Russia and Japan have not signed a post-World War II peace treaty due to their rival claims to four Pacific islands, called the Southern Kurils in Russia and the Northern Territories in Japan, Xinhua reported. The four islands used to belong to Japan, which were seized by the Soviet Union after the war and were incorporated into Russia following the collapse of the Soviet Union. Tokyo maintains that Moscow illegally occupied those islands. On Wednesday, Russian President Vladimir Putin and Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe held talks on this issue in Singapore. "As the meeting progressed, Putin and Abe decided to continue it on the one-one-one format, and did so," Peskov said on the television channel. "After that, the Foreign Ministers and foreign policy aides were invited and ordered to take certain steps to intensify the bilateral dialogue on the peace treaty on the basis of the Soviet-Japanese Declaration of 1956," he added. According to the joint declaration, Russia agreed to return two of the islands after a bilateral peace treaty was signed. Japan refused to sign such an agreement, insisting on the return of all four islands. "Naturally, a compromise will be needed. We can say it already that this compromise will not be in conflict with the national interests of either side," Peskov said. The Kremlin spokesman emphasised that Moscow will take into account Japan's allied relations with the US in the peace treaty talks. "Of course, it will be necessary to find an answer to this question during the talks. Without it, it is simply impossible to make any headway," he said. In September 2017, Putin and Abe agreed to conduct joint economic activities on the controversial islands and prioritised projects in aquaculture, electricity, greenhouse facilities, garbage disposal and tourism. Kolkata, Nov 18 : The West Bengal BJP on Sunday accused the Trinamool Congress of organising an attack on the convoy of the party's state President Dilip Ghosh, a charge denied by the ruling party. According to the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), five cars in the Hooghly district's Dunkuni area were allegedly damaged by the Trinamool supporters when Ghosh and some other leaders were returning from Mashat in the district after addressing a rally. "Today (Sunday), there was a massive rally at Mashat. Trinamool leaders panicked due to the huge turnout and attacked our convoy. Several of our workers and leaders including Joy Banerjee have been injured," Ghosh alleged. However, the Trinamool Congress denied any involvement of its workers in the incident. "The BJP is trying to create some tension ahead of their 'Rath Yatras' in the state. Once again, it is a drama that they enacted," a Trinamool Congress legislator said. The BJP would organise rallies on Monday to protest the alleged attack. Washington, Nov 19 : US President Donald Trump on Sunday said that while Turkey has shared with US an audio purported to be of the death of Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi, he has no plans to listen to the recording. "We have the tape. I don't want to hear the tape. No reason for me to hear the tape," the president told interviewer Chris Wallace on "Fox News Sunday." When Wallace asked him his reason, Trump replied: "Because it's a suffering tape, it's a terrible tape. I've been fully briefed on it, there's no reason for me to hear it," reports Efe. Khashoggi, who was a columnist for The Washington Post, died on October 2 inside the Saudi Consulate in Istanbul, where he had gone to obtain documents enabling him to marry his Turkish fiance. Weeks later, the Saudi government acknowledged that he was killed inside the consulate and last Thursday, the kingdom's attorney general 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, Saud al-Mojeb insisted that Saudi Arabia's de facto ruler, Crown Prince Mohamed bin Sultan, had not had any prior knowledge of the operation, whose original aim was to bring Khashoggi back to Riyadh. Long a member of the Saudi establishment, Khashoggi became estranged from the government as a result of his criticism of the crown prince and had been living in self-imposed exile in the US since 2017. Al-Mojeb said the investigation had shown that Khashoggi died after being restrained and injected with a tranquiliser following a fight inside the consulate. US media have reported that the CIA concluded Mohamed bin Salman -- known as MbS -- was ultimately behind Khashoggi's death. Trump, who described the media accounts as "very premature," wondered aloud Sunday whether the truth of who ordered the operation may never be known. "Well, will anybody really know? All right, will anybody really know? But he (MbS) did have certainly people that were reasonably close to him and close to him that were probably involved," the president told Fox News. He pointed to the measures the US government announced Thursday against 17 Saudi Arabian officials for their alleged role in the Khashoggi murder, including Saud al-Qahtani, a chief adviser to MbS. "You saw we put on very heavy sanctions, massive sanctions on a large group of people from Saudi Arabia. But at the same time we do have an ally and I want to stick with an ally that in many ways has been very good," Trump said. The president reiterated that in personal conversations with the crown prince, MbS had repeatedly denied involvement in the killing. "He told me that he had nothing to do with it. He told me that, I would say five times at different points, as recently as a few days ago," Trump said. Jerusalem, Nov 19 : Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Sunday announced that he will serve as defence minister amidst efforts to prevent the collapse of his government. In a broadcast press conference at the defence headquarters in Tel Aviv, Netanyahu said that he is taking over the defence portfolio in the wake of the resignation of Defense Minister Avigdor Lieberman. Netanyahu said that he is doing "every effort" to solve the current coalition crisis to avoid early elections, reports Xinhua news agency. He criticised ministers who called for early elections after the coalition remained with a one-seat majority, saying the current situation does not allow the coalition to function properly. "In the middle of a campaign, we don't play politics," Netanyahu said. He added that Israel is in a "sensitive period for security," and "it is irresponsible to go to elections." Netanyahu already serves as the foreign minister in addition to prime minister. The pro-settler party of the Jewish Home said last week that if the defence portfolio will not be given to its leader Naftali Bennet, its ministers will resign, meaning a collapse of the coalition. Bennet and Justice Minister Ayelet Shaked, who is also a lawmaker with the Jewish Home, said that they will hold a press conference on Monday to give an announcement. Lieberman announced his resignation in a press conference last Wednesday, citing sharp disagreement over an agreed cease-fire between Israel and Hamas, the Islamist Palestinian movement that runs the Gaza Strip. Lieberman, 60, a hawkish member of the coalition, accused Netanyahu of "surrendering to terror" by agreeing to the cease-fire. His resignation left the coalition with 61 members in the 120-seat parliament, making it likely to collapse if another party decides to quit. The official date for the next general elections in Israel is November 2019. If early elections are called, they could be held in March 2019. Tehran, Nov 19 : British Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs Jeremy Hunt will visit Iran on Monday for talks on key issues of mutual interest, official IRNA news agency reported on Sunday. During his stay in Iran, Hunt will meet his Iranian counterpart Mohammad Javad Zarif and other senior officials, reports Xinhua. After the US withdrawal from the Iranian international nuclear deal in May, Hunt is the first western foreign minister to visit Iran. The fate of Iran's nuclear deal, also known as JCPOA, and the Europeans' measures to protect the deal will top the agenda of Hunt's visit. He will also discuss regional issues and bilateral ties with the Iranian side, according to the report. Algiers, Nov 19 : Algerian authorities on Sunday said that 93 children of different African nationalities were freed from human trafficking networks, media reported. Police Department and Social Assistance Bureau of Algiers announced in a statement that "Algerian security forces managed within a week to free 93 children of various African nationalities, including over 60 children from Niger, as they are exploited to raise money by begging in the capital Algiers." The source specified that the first operation was carried out five days ago, as 39 children were rescued from human trafficking gangs who used them to raise money by begging in the streets of the eastern outskirts of Algiers, Xinhua news agency reported. The second operation, which took place on Thursday, freed another 54 children, 28 of whom were without their parents, as they were begging with two men from Niger, added the source. These children have been taken care of at the Social Assistance Homeless Center in upper Algiers, as they are in good physical and mental condition. Algeria has handed this year 10,000 illegal immigrants, including 7,000 children, to Niger. Tomorrows Leaf, a Direct to Consumer and Peer-to-Peer Health & Wellness marketing company, announced today it has added five prominent medical doctors to its Medical and Scientific Advisory Board with more to follow. The purpose of the board is to expand its current research programs and collaborate on new product development with its members. During its soft launch period, the company has recruited 225 independent consultants in 19 states and is looking to expand to 500 consultants as a trigger point for its official launch. Additionally, the company is actively seeking to add key team leaders who desire to be part of a ground floor opportunity. The company has designed an exceptional, yet simplified Compensation Plan where active consultants can earn a minimum of 30% to 40% on all sales and qualify for additional commissions and bonuses. They can also purchase products for instant discounts of up to 45% off retail and there is no requirement to hold inventory and no restrictions to affiliate with other organizations. For two decades the founders of Tomorrows Leaf have been engineering and developing personal care products for large and small international companies from its labs in the UK and USA. Its first offering is SkinSanity skincare products, to be followed by essential oil blends and a nutritional superfood protein supplement containing Ashitaba (aka Tomorrows Leaf). The companys products are not only efficacious and best in class, but are also gluten free, vegan, made with organic and fair trade ingredients, cruelty-free and are environmentally friendly. Co-Founder Paul Drake stated, Tomorrows Leaf is committed to enhancing the health of our skin, bodies and minds using green science solutions, while offering a compelling part-time or full-time business opportunity to its growing community of health-conscious consultants. About Tomorrows Leaf Tomorrows Leaf founders have been researching, developing, and manufacturing green science technology formulas for over 20 years. These formulas are used and recommended by healthcare practitioners. Their innovations have won numerous awards and have been mentioned in several New York Times bestsellers. Tomorrows Leaf and SkinSanity brands, are vegan, cruelty-free, and gluten-free. For more information, visit TomorrowsLeaf.com Contact If you have any comments or questions related to this press release, please contact Tomorrows Leaf, LLC P: 615-333-0662 E: pr(at)TomorrowsLeaf.com "The criminal justice program at SJC Brooklyn seeks to build whole, safe communities that reinforce the dignity and safety of all citizens," said Michael Hanophy, Ph.D., executive dean at SJC Brooklyn. "I look forward to hearing Dr. Vitale's insights on community policing and restorative justice." The Journalism and New Media Studies (JNM) department at SJC Brooklyn is pleased to announce that it will welcome noted scholar Alex Vitale to campus to discuss his new book, The End of Policing, in conversation with Ted Hamm, Ph.D., JNM chair, on Wednesday, November 28 at 6:30 p.m. in the Tuohy Hall Student Lounge. Recent years have seen an explosion of protest against police brutality and repressionamong activists, journalists, and politicians, the conversation about how to respond and improve policing has focused on accountability, diversity, training, and community relations. Unfortunately, these reforms will not produce results, either alone or in combination. Drawing on groundbreaking research from across the world, and covering virtually every area in the increasingly broad range of police work, Vitale demonstrates how law enforcement has come to exacerbate the very problems it is supposed to solve. The event is free and open to the public, and books will be available for purchase following the event. For more information, contact Michael Banach at 718.940.5584 or mbanach@sjcny.edu. ABOUT ST. JOSEPH'S COLLEGE St. Josephs College has been dedicated to providing a diverse population of students in the New York metropolitan area with an affordable education rooted in the liberal arts tradition since 1916. Independent and coeducational, the College provides a strong academic and value-oriented education at the undergraduate and graduate levels, aiming to prepare each student for a life characterized by integrity, intellectual and spiritual values, social responsibility and service. Through SJC Brooklyn, SJC Long Island and SJC Online, the College offers degrees in 50 majors, special course offerings and certificates, affiliated and pre-professional programs. CONTACT: Michael Banach 718.940.5584 mbanach@sjcny.edu Recently, Nana Appiah Mensah in an interview with Zylofon FM, assured the customers that the company will protect and pay up their dividends. He also asked the regulators to correct them as they are ready to cooperate with SEC to put things right. Speaking in an exclusive interview with host Kwami Sefa Kayi on Peace FMs Kokrokoo Friday morning on the 2019 Budget statement, Ken Ofori-Atta did not sapre customers of Menzgold saying they were spurred on by greed, therefore ignored all signs which pointed out that the gold firm transactions were ridiculous. Our own greed led us to it. If you take a critical look at the international gold prices which go up by 1 or 2 percent a year and somebody says he will give you 10% and its also unlicensed; its difficult to understand. But its not only illiterate people who invested but the elite too, people from the Bank of Ghana, Ministry of Finance and the Police among others. Sometimes, you wonder how all these many Christians in the country would make such decisions to invest their money in this shoddy business, he stated. To him, the customers should have known better and with a little hesitation would have saved their monies. However, all hope is not yet lost as the Finance Minister disclosed that they will ensure Nana Appiah Mensah grabbed faces prosecution. In the early hours of Sunday, voting was temporarily halted after the former Northern Regional Chairman of the party, Chief Sorfo Azourka, caused commotion after suspecting ballot staffing. Voting for delegates from the Eastern and Volta regions have been suspected although voting for delegates from the Greater Accra region has ended. Ashanti and Brong Ahafo delegates are complaining that they are from far but Greater Accra delegates have voted and finished. NDC General Secretary, Asiedu Nketiah, just spoke to his supporters and he even seems to believe there are machinations to delay Ashanti and Brong Ahafo delegates from voting, Autine Wood, who reports for Accra-based Kasapa FM tweets. The state Commissioner for Education and Human Capital Development, Hajia Bilkisu Oniyangi, gave the warning in Ilorin on Sunday. Oniyangi advised parents and guardians to report any principal collecting beyond the approved fee of N2,500 for the 2019 JSSCE. Any principal found wanting in this regard will be seriously dealt with in accordance with the Civil Service rule. All parents and guardians should report any principal that demands above N2,500 to the ministry for appropriate actions, she said. The commissioner expressed disappointment during her visits to some schools in Kaima Local Government Area of Kwara, saying that some principals were caught extorting above the approved fees. She noted that the trend had continued in some schools in spite of several warnings and suspension of some principals over extortion in public schools in other parts of the state. The commissioner decried extortion through Parents Teachers Association (PTA) levy. Oniyangi, however, directed all affected principals to refund the extra money collected from parents with immediate effect. The commissioner advised principals in the state to be upright and dedicated to their work. She said that there would be no clemency for anyone found sabotaging governments efforts in providing qualitative and free education to the teeming populace of the state. While recovering from a kidney problem at a hospital, a doctor had told him about the possibility of cancer after a medical operation. Ugolee confirmed that two lumps were removed from his large intestine and one of them was likely cancerous. ece-auto-gen Waiting for the outcome of a test result seemed quite a torture for the media personality. "I had mentioned spending 18days in the hospital some weeks back. It was the hardest 18days ever but 6 out of those days were indescribably torturous because I was waiting for the results of a biopsy. "One of the procedures I had done was called a conoloscopy. They removed 2 lumps from the large intestines called polyps. "The doctor explained that polyps can be cancerous or not but sadly, 1 of them in shape & size suggested it was cancerous from his experience. So while we waited for confirmation, I recieved material to read on understanding colon cancer. "Smiling with his hand on my shoulder : 'Be cool, we caught it early and would check every 3years' he said to me who was smiling back at him while the hottest tears my cheeks have ever felt waited for him to shut the door "Haba now? How? Me? Cancer? It felt too unreal. I just knew I couldn't handle this one. No way. "Who was going to tell my mother that I had cancer too? The week earlier she was happy my lungs, liver and heart were certified to be in great shape and the kidney chapter was about to be closed. How do we flip open a cancer chapter after that? "I wont lie to you, I was certain that my patience, strength & faith had finally come to the breakage bustop. "Stupidly, I asked God to please give her the strength to bear it and stop me from waking up the next morning." ALSO READ: Media personality needs N15 million for kidney transplant A lesson learned The cancer scare only slightly roughened feathers as the doctor confirmed to him that there was no cause for alarm. His experiences has brought him to a better understanding about his existence and his religion. Ugolee analyses that most obstacles are not designed to break the individual. "Finally, my doctor walks in. I shut my eyes coz I didn't want to read his expression. His words fell on my ears 'Mr Ugolee! They were benign'. "Be-what? 'Benign. No trace at all of cancer. I'm suprised'. "The joy, you cannot imagine. God knew I couldn't take it and didn't let it close," Emmanuel notes on his Instagram. It has been a long journey getting back in shape. At the early stage of his diagnosis confirming that he has a kidney disease, some Nigerian celebrities including Seun Kuti and D'banj rallied for support to help him come up with funds needed for a kidney transplant. ece-auto-gen D'banj is reported to have donated N1 million to help with Ugolee's treatment. She is captured on social media as she brings attention to Yahoo boys and politicians looking to renew their covenant. The actress refers to a suspected ritual killer who was caught with human parts for money rituals. She warns that his likes often go out on a rampage during Christmas. "It's xmas time, the Yahoo boys and politicians are renewing their blood oath. Don't ask me how I know. I lived with one. May God expose all these humans IJN. Amen. "By the way, they better beat the names of his client who ordered those human parts. "Disgusting fellows, they deserve no mercy but damn it God is a merciful God." ece-auto-gen Social media bash her in return The opinion that have followed her comments seem to bear thorns in them as some Instagram profiles condemn her for conspiring with ritual killers. Her post is also dismissed as an attempt to get back at her ex for their failed relationship. ece-auto-gen Tonto Dikeh and ex spotted together on son's birthday On Friday, February 16, 2018, Tonto Dikeh had a birthday party planned for her son, King. The event took place in Abuja where the boy reportedly schools and in attendance was King's dad Oladunni Churchill. ece-auto-gen Earlier in the year 2018, Churchill reportedly filed a lawsuit against Tonto Dikeh at a family court requesting King to be excluded from her TV show. He writes this as a piece of advice to persons looking to make a living out of it. "If you must sell, dont go cheap!," the gay rights activist shares in an IG post he published on Saturday, November 17, 2018. Threatening cultural sentiments and the moral standard about sex Many reproachful remarks have trailed Bisi Alimi's post which seemed too difficult for open-minded followers to agree with. An Instagram profile 'just_trixx' writes, "seriously? Im a very open minded person but I 100% disagree with this, i could never disrespect myself like that. Wont do It for money and wont pay money for it. Sex is to be shared not sold." In Alimi's response to this, he makes clear to the follower that persons who have opted to sell sex should be exempted from societal stigma that accompanies such a role. "Thats your view and it is respected and I never said you should sell, but can you respect the people that want to? I guess that should fit perfectly well into being open minded," he says in a response. ece-auto-gen Bisi Alimi confirms to Pulse in an interview on Sunday, his interest in supporting those in the business of making a living out of sex. The backlash that has followed his IG post is nothing strange to him. "I dont cause controversy, I am controversy. I am a pro sex work person. I strongly believe that men and women who want to sell sex should know there is no shame in it. "We should never forget the law of demand and supply. We all pretend as if our everyday sexual interactions are not transactional. "Even the simple desire to have sex for pleasure, baby or power is situated in the 'prostitution', the human desire to seek pleasure of an end result, the answer to demand and supply. "To be honest, when I just dont say things, I say them because I strongly believe in them and I have gone on a journey of self evaluation of words before using them." In Alimi lies a passion to redirect the Nigerian society on a path of accepting persons who fancy a relationship with individuals belonging to their gender. He criticized the government of Nigeria and its police for arresting 57 men suspected of homosexuality. It all started as a bait-and-switch meme, according to CNN. In this case, people were shown a picture of an actual blue waffle (the breakfast food) with the text, "bet you can't find me on google image search," per the website Know Your Meme. Upon searching the image, those curious enough to Google it got a graphic image of a blue, diseased-looking (a.k.a., a waffle-like texture) vagina. And chaos-primarily among teens who don't know jack about STDs to begin withensued. So wait...blue waffle disease is totally fake, right? Yes, it's 100 percent fake.Blue waffle STD is not a genuine STD because there is no infectious process that would result in the vagina turning blue, says , an ob-gyn at Advocate Lutheran General Hospital in Park Ridge, Illinois. In my years of practice and study, I have seen no documented medical literature where anything of this nature has occurred. Planned Parenthood even stepped in to clear things up in 2012: "Blue waffle is totally, completely, 100 percent urban legend. It doesn't exist," the organization wrote on a blog post. PP even cleared up some of the other symptoms-blue waffle was also thought to cause unusual or smelly discharge, along with itching or burning-saying that, while those symptoms can be connected to a condition called vaginitis (essentially, an irritation of the vagina), the whole "your vagina will turn blue" portion is completely false. Unfortunately, blue waffle disease picked up steam again in 2013-this time thanks to New Jersey councilwoman Kathy McBride who stated during a Trenton city council meeting that she thought it was a real problem city health officials had to deal with, according to NJ.com. Its already claimed 85 lives and theres a case here in Trenton, she declared, citing that a concerned citizen gave her information. It is a virus that is 10 times greater at this point than the AIDS virus. Kathy was acting with the best of intentions-but the concerned citizen actually turned out to be an April Fools prankster. But one more time for the people in the back: The blue waffle STD isn't a thing. It wasn't real in 2010 or in 2013-and in 2018, it's still nothing to worry about. In fact, rather than worry about a disease that turns genitals a different color, the STDs any sexually active person should be aware of often have no symptoms at all, says , an obstetrician and gynecologist at Massachusetts General Hospital. Okay, so the blue waffle STD is totally false-what STDs should I watch out for then? Oh, you know, human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), herpes, human papilloma virus (HPV, which can cause genital warts as well as cervical/vaginal and vulvar cancers in women), gonorrhea, chlamydia and syphilis. Some of the most serious diseases have no immediate outward signs, says Kolp. HPV can cause genital warts, which you can see externally. Herpes often causes a painful open sore on the outside of the vagina, and gonorrhea and chlamydia may be accompanied by a vaginal discharge," he says. As for syphilis, initially the STD has no signs, but over time, women can develop a painless ulceration of the vagina or vulva. If the blue waffle STD has taught you anything, though, it's to seek out medical advice if you have any concerns at all about your sexual health, even if you cant quite put your finger on whats wrong. If you notice dramatic changes in the appearance of your genitalia, feel you may have been exposed to an STD, or have any symptoms-such as pain, discharge, burning or itching, to name just a few-schedule an appointment with your physician to get further evaluation and determine the cause, advises Davood. The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that items distributed include juice, noodles, detergents, toiletries, bags of rice and cash amount of N50,000 each to the 20 orphanages represented. According to the governors wife, many rich people in the country seem not to be doing enough for the less-privileged. She called for a change, saying that the indulgent should be given a sense of belonging in the society. Among these children are future leaders, professionals, governors, senators and the like. We should not underrate them. We must give them the best motivation we can think of, she said. Ajimobi said the forum and donation were to give the indigent persons a sense of belonging. She lauded the efforts of the state governor for giving her the desired support to realise her dream of helping the less privileged in the state. Ajimobi advised the children to remain focused in their educational pursuit as a process of achieving their dreams. She also told them that being in an orphanage does not stop them from achieving their dreams of becoming great in life. The governors wife also enjoined caretakers to be diligent in their duties as the children would become great people and contribute to the all round development of Oyo State and humanity at large. She said that if everybody reaches out to the children, they would have a better opportunity to become great in life. I have seen different children from different homes that have made it in life and I pray this will not be an exception, Ajimobi said. She advised the children to play their part well by staying away from trouble and make the effort a collective one by helping their caretakers in carrying out their duties. God says we should love our neighbours and that statement means we should be ready to give whenever theres an opportunity to do so she said. Also speaking, Mrs Atinuke Osunkoya, the Commissioner for Women Affairs, Community Development, Social Welfare and Poverty Alleviation, said the distribution exercise was a yearly gesture by the wife of the governor. Lawrence said he rushed to the scene immediately and he and the markets taskforce members broke its gates to let in sympathisers to help quench the fire, using water from a borehole. We tried our best before the Fire Service came in. We used water from our borehole to quench the fire. But the hoodlums around later broke the borehole in their bid to steal our pump while the fire was raging. That was how I saw it yesterday. The fire was too much and it gulped millions of Naira worth of goods and property. We have some building material sellers in all these front shops. The second row of shops is occupied by furniture sellers and dealers in other things. We recorded a very big loss here but there was no loss of life or injury, he said. Lawrence debunked claims that his members attacked the fire service personnel who came to quench the fire. The chairman said that it was a group of hoodlums called Aroo Boys who attacked the fire service men. He said the Aroo Boys further entered the market, broke into shops, carried rice, stock fish, clothes and other property and left. He further said the fire could have been stopped with the help of the fire fighters before it destroyed up to 100 shops. According to him, this was hindered by the suspended Ozuomba road project of the State Government. He appealed to the government to come to the aid of the traders by fixing the road and attending to other needs in the market. The Abia Police Commissioner, Chris Ezeike who visited the scene Sunday morning, said he was there to access the incident and sympathise with the victims. Ezeike noted that the section of the market was full of inflammable materials. He however called for calm and peace, adding that the fire incident, which was said to have caused by a generating set, would be investigated immediately. Capt. Awa Udonsi (rtd.), Senior Special Adviser to Gov. Okezie Ikpeazu on Security, said he had been notified about the incident and would involve the concerned ministries in the matter. Owolabi said that Uche demonstrated her love for Jehova by serving Him faithfully, adding that she remained undaunted, notwithstanding her old age and feeble bones. He said: She loved Jehova so much and worked tirelessly for Him. In spite of her old age and feeble bones, she never gave up. She remained faithful and committed in service to Jehova and was submissive to her husband. Owolabi described her as a woman of integrity, uprightness, courage, honesty and virtue. She was dispassionate in her judgments and never abused her privileged position to acquire mundane material things, he said. He further testified that the deceased jurist did a lot for Jehova, adding that she fought a good fight and finished well. He said that her funeral should remind the living about the uncertainty of life and futility of material acquisition. Once a man breathes his last, forgets all he had. This is the futility of life, Owolabi said. He said that life had no meaning except one reconciled with his creator and utilised all he had to touch the lives of others positively. God is not going to call you because you are a president, governor, senator or the wealth you possessed. God is going to call you not because of the roads or houses you built for the people but because of how you lived your life in obedience to His word, he said. Owolabi therefore admonished Nigerians to emulate the exemplary life and good legacies left behind by the deceased, especially in her service to God and mankind. Abia governor, Dr Okezie Ikpeazu, represented by his deputy, Chief Ude Oko-Chukwu, said that the late jurist distinguished herself as a judge and mother. He lauded her immense contributions to the development of the judiciary in the state, saying that Abia owed her a lot of gratitude. Gov. Bindow Jibrilla of Adamawa, who was represented at the funeral by his deputy, Mr Martins Banbella, said that Uches death evoked mixed feelings of sadness and joy. Sadness because we will henceforth miss her invaluable qualities and joy because we are hopeful that we shall meet her again on the resurrection day. News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the funeral service was attended by frontline politicians in Abia and other parts of Nigeria. Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, Chief Justice of the Federation, Hon. Justice Walter Onnoghen, Deputy Senate President, Sen. Ike Ekweremadu, former President Goodluck Jonathan and former Vice President Abubakar Atiku, sent in glowing tribute on the deceased. Others prominent Nigerians that sent in condolence messages to the bereaved family included the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Mr Yakubu Dogara, Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Mr Boss Mustapha, and Solicitor-General of the Federation and Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Justice, Mr Dayo Apata. NAN recalls that the deceased was sworn in as a Chief Magistrate in 1985 in the old Imo and later elevated to a Judge. She became the first female judge in Abia, after the state was carved out of Imo in 1991. The Kaduna state Governor announced a 24-hour curfew on Kaduna town and environs following a recent clash that claimed many lives in October 2018. According to Daily Post, this was made known to newsmen by the chairman of the Association of Commercial Sex Workers in Kaduna State, Justina Emmanuel. The associations chairman said the curfew affected their business, adding that its members have also resolve to vote for El-Rufai for ending it. She said For the period of the curfew, our members across the metropolis suffered financial losses because of low patronage. Busy spots like Rabah Road, Nagogo road Barnawa shopping complex, waff road, Narayi pipeline and Independence way were deserted. We thank the governor for restoring peace back to the crocodile city and we call on all residents to live in peace and harmony for every business to survive. We have also resolved to cast our votes for El Rufai for his vision of making Kaduna State a peaceful place for all and sundry. The commendation is contained in a statement by the NSCIA Deputy Secretary-General, Prof. Salisu Shehu and made available to newsmen in Kano on Saturday. Shehu is the Dean, School of Continuing Education (SCE), Bayero University Kano. Though the approval is not a favour in any way as the government had been acting ultra vires all this while by refusing to obey the judgement of the Court of Appeal since July 2016 that it was given. We still commend the government for doing the right thing and behaving responsibly now in the eyes of the enlightened citizens who know that judgements must be obeyed until they are set aside by courts of competent jurisdiction. We urge the state government to take a step further by withdrawing its appeal on the same matter from the Supreme Court of Nigeria. That is the appropriate thing to do,Shehu said. THe urged other state governments across the country, especially in the South West, South South and South East geopolitical zones, to take a cue from the Lagos state government. He said there was need for the governments to do the needful just like the Ekiti state government under Dr Kayode Fayemi. He said states should not wait until they were compelled by the courts, in line with the constitutional provisions, as it happened in Kwara and Osun states. This is following the leak of an audio recording allegedly of Saraki claiming that he sponsored Buharis campaign. SERAP also called on INEC to investigate the sources of other cases of apparently unexplained campaign financing and contributions for the 2015 elections by politicians and supporters of the two main political parties that is, the APC and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). We urge you to collaborate with the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) and the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) in any such investigation. Saraki allegedly said in the leaked audio: Out of the 36 states, I paid election money in 30. Some collected N300m, while some collected N400m, some collected N200m. The only states where I had nothing to do with was in the South-West. Even on the phone, I was calling and giving banks instructions. SERAP reacts SEARAP, in a letter dated November 17, 2018 and signed by its senior legal adviser Bamisope Adeyanju, said that the: Allegation that one politician spent billions of Naira on elections in several states of the country to support a political party if not thoroughly, and transparently investigated and prosecuted would undermine the public faith in the countrys democracy. It also risks distorting electoral processes and reversing the gains in the democratic and electoral processes that have been recorded since the return of democracy in 1999. Such spending if allowed to continue can shape policy-making after elections, and improperly influence the decisions taken by the countrys elected representatives who will most likely consider their contributions to political parties campaign as investment and thus seek returns on their purported investment to achieve electoral success for their party. Probing the sources of such spending would improve transparency and accountability in campaign spending and contributions. This is essential to curb abuse and mismanagement of Nigerias resources, help to balance political competition, foster the integrity of officeholders, rebuild citizens trust in the political systems integrity, as well as ensure that electoral processes and elected officials are not compromised by uncontrolled and unaccountable campaign funding. EFCC, ICPC copied The letter copied to Ibrahim Mustafa Magu, Acting Chairman EFCC; Dr. Musa Usman Abubakar, Acting Chairman, ICPC; and Professor Itse Sagay, Chairman, Presidential Advisory Committee Against Corruption (PACAC) read in part: Unexplained and unregulated spending to influence the outcome of any election can distort the electoral competition and lead to state capture by wealthy politicians and individuals. SERAP urges you to prosecute anyone suspected to be involved and/or complicit in the alleged unexplained campaign spending, if there is relevant and sufficient admissible evidence of violations of international standards and national laws. We request that you take steps within 14 days of the receipt and/or publication of this letter, failing which SERAP will institute legal proceedings to compel you and the INEC to discharge your constitutional and statutory responsibilities in the public interest. Unexplained and unregulated spending on election campaign would encourage politicians to divert public resources for political purposes rather than ensuring and directing critical spending for socio-economic development of the country, including on improving access to public services such as electricity, health, water, and education. Campaign financing such as the spending allegedly disclosed by the Senate president undermines public trust and confidence in politicians and poses serious corruption risks, as it can blur the line between state and party politics, encourage the use of national resources to fund and influence elections. Such huge spending by an individual can even be converted into a conduit for money laundering. SERAP urges you to publicly clarify to politicians and political parties ceilings for campaign spending and contributions, and to insist that all political parties and politicians disclose sources of their spending for the 2019 elections. INEC should also require all political parties to sign transparency pacts that would mandate candidates and their sponsors to disclose the identities of donors and publish all spending and contributions on their party website and in the press before the 2019 elections. SERAP therefore urges you to investigate the sources of campaign financing and contributions by Saraki and by other politicians and other individuals to APC and PDP if INEC is ever to rein in the role of money and level the playing field for candidates and political parties in the 2019 general elections. INEC should carry out the investigation and prosecution in collaboration with the ICPC and EFCC, and send a strong message to politicians and political parties that INEC under your leadership would not tolerate any infringement of the democratic and electoral processes ahead of the 2019 general elections. SERAP notes that international law has increasingly recognised the importance of transparency for mitigating corruption in party politics and using disclosure of political financing as a means to improve it. The United Nations Convention against Corruption (UNCAC) to which Nigeria is a state party obligates states to enhance transparency in the funding of candidates for elected public office and, where applicable, the funding of political parties. Similarly, the African Union Convention on Preventing and Combating Corruption, which Nigeria has also ratified requires states to incorporate the principle of transparency into funding of political parties. Further, Sections 225 and 226 of the 1999 Nigerian Constitution (as amended) affirms the powers of INEC to monitor, inquire into and assess campaign finances, and a partys source of and management of funds, while Section 228 provides sanctions with regard to party finance and campaign finance. According to Section 91(2) and 91(3) of the Electoral Act, the maximum election expenses to be incurred by a candidate at a presidential and governorship election shall be one billion naira only and two hundred million naira only respectively. Also, Section 91(4) of the Electoral Act states that the maximum election expenses to be incurred by a candidate for a senatorial and House of Representatives election shall be N40m only and N20m only respectively. ALSO READ:Will Saraki be impeached or have APC lawmakers been bought According to reports, Senate President Bukola Saraki allegedly claimed in an audio clip while addressing Peoples Democratic Party that he spent between N200m and N400m in every state except the six South-West states, to influence the outcome of the elections for the All Progressives Congress. Saraki reportedly said Out of the 36 states, I paid election money in 30. Some collected N300m, while some collected N400m, some collected N200m. The only states where I had nothing to do with was in the South-West. Even on the phone, I was calling and giving banks instructions. Senate President Bukola Sarakis new media aide, Olu Onemola has however dismissed the viral audio recording, describing it as fake. Mr Shedrack Anakwue, Director of the group, said during the event in Awka on Sunday, that the group decided to flag off its local government campaign tour to awaken the minds of its faithful. Anakwue said that the job of the group ahead of the poll was a very serious one which should not be handled with kid gloves hence its early start to ensure optimal results. He said that voters in the state had become well exposed to political activities and were convinced that a vote for the PDP presidential candidate was a vote to change their lives for the better. The director described the PDP standard bearer as a visionary and detribalised leader who personified hope for the restoration of Nigeria to the path of peace, unity and greatness. According to him, Atiku would become the peoples army commander in the 2019 presidential poll. He commended the PDP flag bearer for accepting the challenge of running for presidency in the forthcoming general elections. Anakwue commended him for choosing the former Anambra Governor, Mr Peter Obi, as his running mate, adding that it was a great honour to the state and the entire Igbos. The director of the group described Obi as one of the best governors Nigeria had ever produced adding that he had formidable credentials. He said that the group was prepared to take the good news of the PDP presidential candidate and his running mate to all the nooks and crannies of the state. Anakwue said the group held firm belief in the choice of the party because it was capable of turning things around for the better. According to a statement sent to Pulse, Ezekwesili will also travel to her home state, Anambra, to officially get blessings from the royal father and other elders of her community. ece-auto-gen Speaking on their preparations, Aisha Yesufu, who is Director of Special Projects for the campaign, said We are excited and we cant wait. The best MAN for the job in 2019 is definitely a woMAN and this woman we know by her track record, will #Fight4Naija." Oby Ezekwesili announced her intention to run for President on the platform of ACPNonOctober 2018. Mrs. Getso, 37, hails from Kano State. She is a political activist and business entrepreneur who previously co-founded the National Progressive Movement (NPM). A statement from the Moghalu campaign organisation describes Mrs. Getso as "a passionate advocate for the education of the girl-child in the northern states of Nigeria". Getso is the daughter of late Abdullahi Giwa Getso, a front-line politician in his day. Abdullahi Getso was elected senator in 1983 on the platform of the National Party of Nigeria (NPN). Moghalu explains why he chose Getso Moghalu, 55, who announced his presidential bid in February, says he settled for Getso because of his belief that the solution to Nigeria's problems lies with the youth demography. My choice of Umma Getso is a recognition of her talent, leadership ability, and a passionate commitment to a better future for the youth of Nigeria, Moghalu said in a statement. It also is consistent with my strong commitment to women as full partners in nation-building. I restate my target of 50:50 gender parity in the composition of my cabinet as President of Nigeria in 2019. Founded in 2017, the YPP says it is anchored on an ideology of a progressive society in which the citizen, rather than politicians and their vested interests, is enthroned as the focus of governance. ece-auto-gen Professor Moghaluhas been traversing the length and breadth of Nigeria to deliver a message of hope and his blueprint for upending the old order in his country's political scene. "The old guard and the establishment are well aware that the game is over for them. They know that their time is up. Getso and I have come to disrupt the old way of doing things while ushering a new, more productive and creative method of governance", Moghalu says. Moghalu will be coming up against incumbent President Muhammadu Buhari, former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, former minister and 'Bring Back Our Girls' co-founder Oby Ezekwesili, leadership consultant Fela Durotoye, former Governor Donald Duke and online publisher Omoyele Sowore, among70 others, in the battle for the number one job in Nigeria, Africa's most populous nation. Olawuyi said that the success was a sign of more victories to come for the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the 2019 general elections in Kwara. He said this while speaking with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Sunday at Omu-Aran, Kwara, while reacting to the outcome of the poll. NAN reports that Olawuyi polled 21,236 to emerge winner, while his closest rival, Mr Saheed Alatise of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), scored 18,095. This is a happy moment for me because we have been doing this for a long time. When your time has come, no one can stop you but at the same time, I give glory to God, because it is the best time Allah has created for me. My party believed in me to put me forward for the assignment and I thank God I have delivered, he said. Olawuyi, who described his party as the best in Africa, said he was never scared of the opposition because he is a grassroots politician that is loved by his people. He said because of the fact that his people love him and follow him with passion, he will always defeat his opponents in a free and fair election. Olawuyi said the state governments statement that the election was between the PDP and the security agencies was laughable because it was what they were used to. In the audio recording Saraki allegedly claimedthat he sponsored Buharis campaign in 2015. He allegedly said Use me as an example. In 2015, or maybe 2014-2015, when we left the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and began to work devotedly for the All Progressives Congress (APC), we went round. There is no state in Nigeria that I did not go to campaign for Buhari. Up to the time of the election in 2015 I was still campaigning. Even days before the Saturday election, out of 36 states, I paid money for the elections in 30 states. I disbursed several amounts, ranging from N200m to N400m. The states I didnt know anything about, were the states in the South-West. I was putting calls through to my bank and giving payment instructions. Fake audio Reacting to reports, Onemola described the audio as fake, adding that it was released by online henchmen and mercenary influencers. The new media aide to the Senate President also said that the audio recording is a doctored file meant to mislead the public. He made this known in a statement which he issued on Twitter from the handle, @OnemolaOlu. According to him, the Senate President has previously reiterated the reasons why he left APC, hence, the fake recording was the work of desperate agents of the ruling party, the APC. He said For the record: we always restrain from responding to inconsequential issues that we can otherwise ignore. However, in order to put this issue to rest so that we can move on to real issues, these are the facts: The audio recording that is being circulated online by known anti-Saraki henchmen is a doctored recording. It was probably part of the mix of manipulations that APC decided to employ for today's election in four LGAs in Kwara South. We will not allow people like @Ogundamisi and other mercenary influencers to create false and mischievous impressions that may easily be consumed by the otherwise unsuspecting public. Dr. Saraki, in his response to Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu in August 2018, stated emphatically that he left the APC because 'the minimum conditions for peace, cooperation, inclusion and a general sense of belonging did not exist'. Additionally, in that same response to Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Dr. Saraki emphasized that he never discussed any such personal and pecuniary benefits with anybody. Again, we still challenge that anybody who has contrary facts should come forward. ALSO READ:Oshiomole threatens to sue Saraki over bribery allegation Finally, we ask the public to understand that in their desperation to hang on to power, agents of the ruling party are stooping to new lows by doctoring and releasing such audio files. We expect more of such desperate moves. Fake news, remains fake news. Their lies remain lies. According to a post on Twitter, the APC guber candidate said the incident occurred on Friday, November 16, 2018. He also thanked God for protecting him, adding that stands of peaceful politics. Cole said Tragedy was averted Friday, November 16, 2018 at Old Bakana. Gun Men opened fire on my team while we were carrying out ward-to-ward consultation in the community. We thank The almighty for his protection now and always.I stand for politics of peace. I may be compelled to face danger but never fear it. To do anything truly worth doing, We must not stand back shivering and thinking of the danger, but jump in with gusto and scramble through as well as We can. 2 women killed Also, on Friday, November 9, 2018, Coles convoy killed two womenand injured another in Abua/Odual Local Government Area while he was on a ward to ward campaign. Vanguard reports that the driver was avoiding a bike rider when the car swerved and hit the women. ALSO READ: The Rivers police spokesman, Nnamdi Omoni, who confirmed the incident, also said that the APC guber candidate has reached out to the families of the deceased and injured. Canadian media had reported that the United Nations has quietly asked Canada to extend its role. When asked, Sajjan said that by July 2019 Canada will have fulfilled its promise to head the Mali mission for one year. AFP "We've said this for a year. We wanted to offer up support for what the UN wanted to do. One big ask they had was the concept of smart pledges," Sajjan told CBC. "Nations come, take a yearly responsibility. We have done that." Canada's peacekeeping mission in Mali began on July 1, 2018 in the northern city of Goa, replacing German peacekeepers. Currently there are 250 Canadian soldiers and eight helicopters deployed in the west African nation, in particular to carry out medical evacuations from the UN Mission in Mali (MINUSMA). AFP This is the first Canadian military peacekeeping mission since 1994 in Rwanda. Sending Canadian peacekeepers to Africa was a campaign promise by Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, who vowed to reengage Canada in UN peacekeeping missions. The word "friendship" hovers over Ali's head in bright red lettering while he cooks lamb skewers, his face a picture of concentration as the rich wafts of fragrant smoke lure in hungry customers. It is the first-ever Afghan eatery in Griffith -- a six-hour drive west of Sydney -- and a far cry from the pie and chips staples of the Australian bush. "I suggest to all of my friends, especially Afghan people, to come to Griffith, because here's very friendly," Ali, who asked that his surname not be used to protect family still in Afghanistan, tells AFP during a break from cooking. "Also we can find a job as well, because the population is not too much." A nation of immigrants, nearly half of Australia's 25-million-strong population was either born overseas or has at least one parent born abroad. The country takes in around 14,000 refugees annually, with one-off exceptions to allow additional asylum-seekers, such as a recent scheme for 12,000 Syrians and Iraqis. But harsh anti-asylum policies against boat arrivals and high-profile incidents of racism have given the country a reputation as inhospitable to non-white immigrants. There's been a spike in anti-immigration sentiment, according to the Lowy Institute think tank, despite the overall intake of migrants -- capped annually at 190,000 -- remaining stable. Lowy's annual poll found that for the first time this year, more than half the Australians surveyed said the number of migrants was "too high" -- up from 40 percent in 2017. The poll's authors said the shifting attitudes could reflect a lurch to the right, particularly as conservative politicians call for intake cuts amid urban pressures. 'Crying out for people' Rapid demographic changes in Australian cities over the past decade have caused disquiet as residents grapple with congestion and high house prices. AFP Yet at the same time many regional towns are "crying out for more people", according to population and cities minister Alan Tudge. His government is proposing that new arrivals live in smaller towns for a few years, in the hope they would make it their home. Critics say the policy is not enforceable, and add that migrants would struggle to integrate into rural populations amid language and cultural differences. But that is not what Jock Collins at the University of Technology Sydney, who is currently surveying 250 recently arrived families from Iraq, Syria and Afghanistan, has found. Collins says many migrants have positive feedback to share after being settled in smaller towns. In addition to job opportunities and a supportive environment -- "where the town goes out of its way to welcome refugees" -- the presence of other migrant communities can ease the transition, Collins says. "A lot of regional and rural towns are losing populations and in particular, the young people are leaving... so immigration can help fill that gap." Some immigrants also find it difficult to adjust to the busy rhythms of city life, making smaller towns an easier fit. Incentives like extended family visas -- which the conservative government has been cutting back on in favour of younger working-age migrants -- could also attract and keep refugees in the bush. Crocodile Ali One success story is Mingoola, a small rural township in New South Wales, on the border with Queensland, that was slowly dying as its population aged. AFP Desperate for an injection of new blood, the town finally found a match with refugees from rural east Africa who were struggling in Sydney. Similar praise has been heaped on Nhill, a town four hours' drive from Melbourne that's boomed since local poultry firm Luv-a-Duck found a Karen community, a minority group persecuted in Myanmar, willing to move there. Eight years on, business is booming and the Karen now make up 10 percent of Nhill's 2,000-strong population. "From a position of decline, these towns are now thriving," says Jack Archer of the Regional Australia Institute, which is pushing for a national strategy instead of isolated efforts to match needy towns with job-seeking migrants. Back in Griffith, refugee entrepreneurs are boosting local jobs. Ali's restaurant employs another refugee and a migrant from Malaysia, while his wife also helps with the cooking. In more than one way, Ali is altering visitor flows between cities and rural towns. One couple have travelled from Sydney three times to eat at the restaurant. Farmers will no longer have to risk the unknown when applying new technologies and systems to their businesses, thanks to Beef + Lamb NZ's new Future Farm. Built in North Canterbury, the Future Farm will trial new technologies and farm systems on a 1310ha hill country sheep and beef property. The farm will operate as a fully commercial livestock farming enterprise and feature state of the art monitoring, measuring and communications technologies. B+LNZ's general manager Richard Wakelin says the opportunity for the Future Farm is to educate farmers. "The opportunity is for groups of farmers to visit, have a look at what we're doing and ask questions." "We're aiming to have live feed cameras and web technology to enable [farm activity] to be witnessed as it happens." "It's harnessing the reigns of technology and media to help with that learning," Mr Wakelin says. Listen to the the full interview with Richard Wakelin above. Rural Exchange with Hamish McKay, Sarah Perriam and Richard Loe, 5-7am Saturday and Sunday on RadioLIVE with Carter's Tyre Service. Click here for all the ways to watch and listen. RadioLIVE. A booming horticulture industry in New Zealand has encouraged the introduction of a new course at Massey University in 2019. A three-year Bachelor of Horticultural Science is set to begin in February, and senior lecturer Dr Huub Kerckhoffs says it couldn't be happening at a better time. "If anything we should have done it earlier, but you have to go through the process of getting new degrees in." The degree is a combination of hands-on and academic papers, covering all areas of horticulture from stone-fruits to vegetables and flowers. "We've done some horticulture here at Massey, but always part of a bigger agri-science degree." "This was the opportunity to get a new standalone degree focused on horticulture at the school. "The industry helped us, and guided us to put it together, so there's a whole range of skills, plants, understanding consumer needs, soil, smart technologies... you name it." "It's a good rounded mix, and graduates will come out ready to be part of that vibrant industry," Dr Kerckhoffs. Listen to the the full interview with Dr Huub Kerckhoffs above. Rural Exchange with Hamish McKay, Sarah Perriam and Richard Loe, 5-7am Saturday and Sunday on RadioLIVE with Carter's Tyre Service. Click here for all the ways to watch and listen. RadioLIVE. A $50 million dollar milk spray dryer to be built in Hamilton next year will help New Zealand's advance in infant formula and specialty ingredients. The investment will support Pamu Farms (formerly Landcorp) partnership with Spring Sheep, add value within and beyond the farm gate, and grow the sheep milk industry. Spring Sheep has been milking for three seasons, and was established after recognising the global trend towards alternative dairy products. With a US$8 billion dollar industry in the United States, CEO Scottie Chapman says the introduction of sheep milking to New Zealand was a no-brainer. "New Zealand's really good at milking cows, we're really good at farming sheep - why haven't we put the two together?" "Now we're creating a new high-value industry for New Zealand around sheep milk," he says. The short-term goal is to set up an industry at a scale that allows for export to Asia, where the product is already popular. "We need to get our volumes up, be able to spray dry, and then create high-value products." Long-term, Mr Chapman says there will be a lot of opportunities. "As there's more exposure to sheep milk and more people understand it, there's going to be more and more opportunities for those growers as well." Construction of the spray dryer is expected to begin this month for start-up by November 2019. Listen to the the full interview with Scottie Chapman above. Rural Exchange with Hamish McKay, Sarah Perriam and Richard Loe, 5-7am Saturday and Sunday on RadioLIVE with Carter's Tyre Service. Click here for all the ways to watch and listen. RadioLIVE. New Zealands tourism industry continues to surge but local infrastructure and communities are feeling the strain. Economist Shamubeel Eaqub told Weekend Life on Sunday that areas like Queenstown are under unique pressure. "In places like Queenstown, they've got real problems. A quarter of the housing stock there is now listed on Airbnb." Shamubeel says building infrastructure to support growing numbers of tourists is particularly difficult considering the base of ratepayers remains comparatively small compared to the number of people seeking to use facilities. Queenstown has been a victim of its own success. It's still an extraordinary place to visit but it's getting very crowded and becoming quite hostile for its workers and citizens." Shamubeel also gave Trudi the latest on oil prices, whether well see some relief at the pump and mortgage rates. Listen to the full interview with Shamubeel above. Weekend Life - the Sunday edition, 10am-2pm Sunday on RadioLIVE and streaming live to the rova app on Android and iPhone. RadioLIVE. RUSSIA: A Type 2ES10 Granite twin-section electric freight locomotive manufactured by the Ural Locomotives joint venture of Sinara (51%) and Siemens (49%) has been undergoing haulage and energy efficiency testing on Russian Railways Oktyabrskaya Railway as part of a government programme to increase capacity on routes to ports in northwest ... 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 , We're sorry, this article is not currently available While everybody is talking about the vast potential of 5G, the uptake of such services in India depends on operators getting around 100 Mhz 5G spectrum. At the reserve price proposed by Trai, getting this spectrum will cost a telco around Rs 490 billion. Which amount could be difficult for operators to mop up, given the financial stress they are undergoing, says Kiran Rathee. Swisscom, Ericsson, Qualcomm and WNC successfully test a 5G smartphone prototype on a live 5G network. Photograph: Courtesy, Ericsson India on Twitter Imagine travelling in a car being driven by somebody sitting in a remote office or getting medicines or first aid delivered through autonomous drones! It may look like a science fiction movie but all of this will be a possibility by 2020 when 5G technology services roll out in India. Swedish telecom gear maker Ericsson has developed quite a few use cases involving remotely-connected cars and homes, as well as autonomous drones and virtual reality for the Indian market. The company, which has been allocated 100 Mhz of experimental spectrum in 3.5 GHz band (used for 5G services), showcased live demonstrations on 5G use cases during the recently-concluded India Mobile Congress. The company has been working on developing use cases around 5G at its Centre of Excellence in IIT Delhi. The department of telecommunications had awarded 100 Mhz spectrum for the centre in July for a period of three months and an extension for another three months has already been granted. In fact, Sharang Kaul, a postgraduate student of IIT Delhi, was remotely driving the car at IIT Delhi while sitting at Aerocity during the IMC. He was doing this with the network set up by Ericsson. Ericsson's 5G Centre of Excellence was established earlier this year at IIT Delhi to work on evaluating benefits of 5G technology in areas like rural connectivity, connected healthcare, industrial automation, public safety, video surveillance, energy and agriculture, among others. According to an Ericsson report, 5G-enabled digitisation revenue potential in India will be $27.3 billion by 2026. Indian operators can generate additional revenue of $13 billion if they take up roles beyond being connectivity and infrastructure providers to become service enablers and service creators. Ericsson's President & CEO Hans Vestberg shows a 5G chip at the Mobile World Congress in Barcelona, Spain, February 22, 2016. Photograph: Albert Gea/reuters.com Ericsson feels the largest opportunity will be seen in sectors like manufacturing, energy and utilities followed by public safety and healthcare. Some of the 5G use cases that could be implemented using the unique features of 5G technology include industrial control and automation, autonomous driving, safety and traffic efficiency services, hospital applications and medical data management. While everybody is talking about the vast potential of 5G, the uptake of such services in India depends on operators getting around 100 Mhz 5G spectrum. However, at the reserve price proposed by Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (Trai), getting 100 Mhz spectrum of 5G spectrum will cost a telco around Rs 490 billion. This amount could be difficult for operators to mop up, given the financial stress they are undergoing. Industry watchers feel getting a huge amount of capital to fund spectrum buys is going to be a herculean task for operators. Given the debt-laden balance sheets, banks are not likely to lend more money to them. As Indian banks are unlikely to offer funds to telecom operators for spectrum auction, they have to look at foreign banks and financial institutions to raise money. A steering committee, headed by Stanford University professor AJ Paulraj, too, feels that 5G deployment strategy in India faces conflicting considerations. "If we go for early adoption, the equipment is likely to be more expensive and being early, it will also be glitchy needing costly maturing. "On the other hand, early adoption will fast-track the country's embrace of 5G's benefits and increase opportunities to develop innovative use cases that support Indian needs. "Balancing these conflicts needs study," the committee said in its report. Unlocking 5G in India Photograph: PTI Photo Hitting out at the Congress and the Nehru-Gandhi family, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday claimed that Dailt leader Sitaram Kesri was not allowed to complete his term as Congress president and was 'thrown out of office' to make way for Sonia Gandhi. Addressing a rally on the last day of campaigning for the second and final phase of the Chhattisgarh assembly polls, Modi said four generations of a family ruled the country and 'benefitted from being in power', but the country did not benefit from their rule. "The country knows that Sitaram Kesri, a Dalit, was not allowed to complete his five-year-term as the Congress president. He was thrown out of office and to the footpath to make way for Sonia Gandhi as the new party chief," he said. "Earlier, Delhi had a remote-controlled government. The remote was in the hands of a family, which was afraid of the BJP," Modi said, targeting the Congress and the Gandhis. He challenged the Congress to select someone 'capable' as its president, who did not belong to 'that one family'. "Remember the days when four generations of a family ruled the country. What was the fate of the people? They only thought about the welfare of one family but never thought about the welfare of the people. How can we trust them that they will fulfil the aspirations of the people now," Modi said. He claimed that Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Raman Singh had to face a lot of challenges from the then Congress-led government at the Centre. "For 10 years, the Centre was ruled by a remote-control government, which never paid attention towards Chhattisgarh," the prime minister said. He praised the high voter turnout in Bastar in the first phase of the Chhattisgarh polls on November 12 and also in the panchayat election in Jammu and Kashmir and claimed that the people had given a befitting reply to those spreading terror. "Despite being threatened by Naxals with guns and bombs, a huge voter turnout was recorded in Bastar. The poor tribals have shown faith in democracy and given a befitting reply to bombs and guns," Modi said. "Similarly, yesterday, elections were held for the panchayats in Kashmir. Earlier, people used to skip conducting polls there. After Governor's Rule was imposed, we decided that the power of Kashmir should rest in the hands of the people of Kashmir. "Terrorists had given a bandh call in Kashmir, but look at the trust of the people of Kashmir in democracy as a voter turnout of around 60-70 per cent was recorded. They have given a slap on the face of separatism and terrorism. They have shown the strength of democracy," he added. Jammu and Kashmir recorded 74.1 per cent polling in the first phase of the panchayat polls held Saturday in 47 blocks -- 16 in Kashmir, 21 in Jammu and 10 in the Ladakh region. Lashing out at the Congress, Modi said. "The doors have been opened for the welfare of Kashmir. Who had stopped the Congress from doing this earlier? They played backdoor games with terrorists which will not be allowed anymore. We took courageous steps one by one." He also targeted Congress chief Rahul Gandhi over farm loan waiver, an issue that has taken centrestage in the Chhattisgarh polls. "As elections approach, the Congress plays a game of promises. But they cannot mislead the country anymore. They must answer what did they do for the welfare of our farmers when they ruled for four generations. "They kept the farmers in a pathetic condition during their 50-year rule. Had they strengthened the farmers, fulfilled their requirements, our farmers would have been prosperous," the prime minister said. "They are making false promises of loan waiver to the people of Chhattisgarh. The same promise was made to farmers during the Karnataka polls, but even after around a year has passed, the promise is yet to be fulfilled. "Instead, the (Karnataka) government is issuing warrants and arresting farmers against whom debts are pending," he added. Praising the Bharatiya Janata Party government under Raman Singh in the state, Modi said it had ensured soil health cards for 75 lakh farmers, adding in a sarcastic vein that the Congress had failed to provide health cards to humans. "Though the Raman Singh government is in power in the state for the last 15 years, it got the actual opportunity to work for the welfare of the state after the NDA government came to power at the Centre in 2014. Raman Singh had to fight for the rights of the state with the Congress government at the Centre," he told the gathering. Modi said Singh had sought support from the Centre, when it was under the Congress-led United Progressive Alliance's (UPA) rule, to fight Naxals, but the "remote controlled" government behaved as if Chhattisgarh did not exist. He added that if the BJP government under Singh remained in power for another 10-15 years, Chhattisgarh would feature among the top three developed states in the country. "Chhattisgarh has turned 18 now. This is a very crucial phase for the state. Just like parents care for the future of their children when they turn 18, I urge the people of the state to think about the welfare of the state and once again give Raman Singh a chance to serve," the prime minister told the crowd. Later, speaking in Chhindwara, Madhya Pradesh, Modi launched a frontal attack on the Congress, saying cheating was in the blood of the opposition party. "The Congress continues to misguide people. Cheating is in the blood of the Congress, but the people of Madhya Pradesh will not give importance to that party. "Is it the same Congress which praises the cow in Madhya Pradesh and mentions some schemes in its poll manifesto, but slaughters calves on the streets of Kerala and eats beef?" Modi asked the crowd. He was apparently referring to an incident in Kerala's Kannur last year, when a calf was slaughtered to protest against the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance government's notification on sale of cattle for slaughter. The Congress, in its manifesto for the November 28 Madhya Pradesh Assembly polls, talks about commercial production of 'gaumutra' (cow urine) and 'kanda' (cowdung cakes). Modi said his government had stopped the "theft" of the country's money to the tune of Rs 90,000 crore per year by detecting fake beneficiaries through technology. "I have been heavily abused by Congress leaders, but I know the reason behind it. The use of Aadhaar-based technology has detected six crore fake beneficiaries of government schemes. My government has stopped the annual theft of Rs 90,000 crore of the country's money," he said. Modi also targeted Chhindwara MP and Madhya Pradesh Congress president Kamal Nath over a video and his claims of development. In the clip that went viral on the social media, Nath had purportedly said the winnability of a candidate was the most important factor for him, rather than his character. The 230-member Madhya Pradesh Assembly will go to the polls on November 28 and the results will be announced on December 11. ***** Congress more of a family enterprise than political party: Shah BJP president Amit Shah on Sunday said the Congress had become more of a family enterprise aimed at dynastic service than a political party aimed at public service, taking aims at the opposition party after Prime Minister Narendra Modi dared it to appoint a head from outside the Gandhi family. In a dig at Congress leaders, including P Chidambaram who had named several party presidents hailing from outside the Gandhi family, Shah said in tweets that Modi's challenge had ruffled several feathers with 'many courtiers going out of the way to prove their loyalty'. Evidently, the prime minister's point had struck a raw nerve, he added. At a poll rally in Chhattisgarh on Friday, Modi had said if the the Congress appointed someone who was not from the (Gandhi) family as its president for at least five years, then he would believe that Jawaharlal Nehru had indeed put in place a truly democratic system in the opposition party. 'The Prime Minister is right. The Congress (Indira) since its inception in 1978 has been led by four members of one family for most of the years, thus making it more of a family enterprise aimed at dynastic service rather than a political party aimed at public service,' Shah tweeted. He was referring to the split in the Congress in 1978 following its loss in the 1977 parliamentary polls, with the Indira Gandhi-led faction recognised as Congress(I). As she returned to power in 1980, her faction was later recognised by the Election Commission as the real Congress. Two Congress chiefs, who were not from the Nehru-Gandhi family, were treated in the 'most shabby' manner possible in the recent past, Shah alleged. While P V Narasimha Rao's body, after his demise, was never allowed inside the Congress office, Sitaram Kesri, a towering leader, was 'roughed up by goons loyal to we know who', he added. The BJP president cited the examples of several 'non-family' Congress presidents to back his claim. 'Going further back in time, the likes of Babu Jagjivan Ram, S Nijalingappa, K Kamaraj were humiliated by one family. Neelam Sanjeeva Reddy, though senior, was not allowed to be president by one family. U N Dhebar was asked to step aside as Congress president for Mrs. Indira Gandhi,' he said. Shah claimed that Acharya Kripalani, a stalwart who worked closely with Mahatma Gandhi and Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, was 'humiliated' through the 1950s and 1960s. 'His crime- he moved the first motion of no-confidence against the Nehru Government,' he said. Following Modi's challenge, Chidambaram had hit back by listing out the names of Congress presidents from outside the Nehru-Gandhi family. With the Congress keeping open the issue of its leadership in Rajasthan, party stalwart and two-time chief minister Ashok Gehlot said on Sunday no post is a priority for him and that he will abide by the decision of the high command on the chief minister's post if the party comes to power. The Congress on Wednesday ended the suspense over whether Gehlot and Rajasthan state party chief Sachin Pilot would contest the December 7 assembly polls by deciding to field both of them. While Gehlot, 67, is a sitting MLA from Sardarpura, Pilot, 41, is contesting the state poll for the first time from Tonk. Pilot has been a former MP from Dausa and then from Ajmer. Not ruling himself out of the race for the top post in the state should Congress win, Gehlot in an exclusive interview to PTI said he would be open to any role Congress president Rahul Gandhi assigns him in the interest of the party. "I am ready for whatever role Congress president gives me. I am against any kind of lobbying for any position. I have never lobbied even when I faced dissidence as CM. If they (the high command) send me to Rajasthan in party interest, it will be their decision," the powerful AICC general secretary said. He said he is 'more than satisfied' with his long political career as a five-time Lok Sabha MP, three time Union minister and chief minister for 10 years. "No post is a priority for me. I am more than satisfied with my political innings and the question before me now is how to bring the party in power in Rajasthan first and then in the country under the leadership of Congress president Rahul Gandhi. I will be ready for any role I am assigned," he said when asked if he is in the race for chief ministership should Congress come to power. Asked whether the fact that all top state leaders contesting elections in Rajasthan will trigger a leadership tussle, after the polls, Gehlot said the 'issue of CM will be amicably resolved by the party high command which will take a decision on three grounds -- party interest, public and MLAs' sentiments'. "There will be no problem. The high command's decision will be acceptable to all... Whatever they decide will be acceptable to all," he said, accusing the BJP of raising the CM issue for political reasons. On whether there will be a new CM face other than him or Pilot, Gehlot said it will be the party high command's decision. He also said the decision on who the next CM will be will not be hampered by the presence of the entire top state brass in elections. Asked why all state leaders were contesting in Rajasthan, unlike in Madhya Pradesh, he said it is a decision which the Congress president has taken, and he welcomed it. "The politics in Rajasthan is different and the Congress leadership believes that all the leaders who wish to contest should do so," Gehlot said. "I want the party's flag to fly high both in Rajasthan and across the country, as the present atmosphere is dangerous for the country and people want the Congress to return to power both in the state and at the Centre." The All India Congress Committee general secretary said the party has a tradition of not declaring its CM candidate in advance and that tradition will be respected. He alleged that it was a BJP conspiracy to raise such an issue to create divisions within the Congress and the people understand this. "The BJP does not have any right to ask who the Congress CM face is, as they themselves did not have a state party chief for 75 days," Gehlot said. On giving tickets to parachute candidates, he said former BJP leader Manvendra Singh has been fielded against CM Vasundhara Raje based on a political strategy and is an exception. Gehlot said the Congress will soon declare its manifesto, which will spell out steps to tackle farm distress and to improve the law and order. There is a lot of anger against Chief Minister Raje that will favour the Congress, he claimed, adding that his party will provide 'good alternative governance with all-round development and ensure welfare of all'. He, however, admitted that Prime Minister Narendra Modi's campaign and BJP chief Amit Shah's organisational skills may help the Bharatiya Janata Party reclaim a bit, but said people of the state have decided to oust the Raje government in the state and the BJP from the country. IMAGE: BJP's Kerala state general secretary K Surendran being taken into preventive detention near Sabarimala by the state police when he came to visit the temple on Saturday. Photograph: PTI Photo Bharatiya Janata Party workers in Kerala blocked highways on Sunday to protest the arrest of party general secretary Surendran, who was taken into custody on Saturday while on his way to the Lord Ayappa shrine. The protesters, including women, squatted on roads, blocking traffic at various places, including in state capital, Kochi, Thrissur, Palakkad and in front of Kottarakara sub-jail, where Surendran has been lodged, and also the northernmost Kasaragod district. In all the places, the protesters were seen clapping and chanting 'Swamiyae Ayyappa'. Addressing workers at Thiruvananthapuram, BJP leader M S Kumar said police had so far not succeeded in bringing even a single young woman to the Lord Ayyappa Temple at Sabarimala after the Supreme Court on September 28 allowed women of all age groups to offer prayers at the shrine. While the Communist Party of India (Marxist)-led Left Democratic Front government's stand is that they were constitutionally bound to implement the court order, the main opposition Congress has said they are with the believers. The BJP/Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh and right wing outfits have made it clear that they would not allow any woman in the 10-50 age group to offer prayers at the shrine, where the deity is 'Naishtika Brahmachari' (perennial celibate). The Travancore Devaswom Board, which manages the shrine, will file a petition in the Supreme Court on Monday seeking more time to implement the court's Sept 28 verdict allowing women of all ages to offer worship at the shrine, board president A Padmakumar said. So far, no women in the 10-50 age group has sought police protection to trek the holy hills, though over 500 odd young women have made online bookings for darshan. Facing flak over inadequate facilities and severe restrictions for devotees at the temple complex, Padmakumar also said no unnecessary curbs would be there and the 'small issues' being faced now should be seen as 'starting troubles'. Briefing reporters at Thiruvananthapuram after a meeting with DGP Loknath Behara and M V Jayarajan, the Private Secretary to Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, he said the devotees would be allowed to perform the 'Neyyabhishekam' ritual from 03.15 am to 12.30 pm daily. "The police, board or government will not take any step causing hardships to the pilgrims", but police would take action against those coming to Sabarimala with an intention to protest, he said. More parking facilities and bio-toilets will be provided at Nilackal and Pamba, he said. Meanwhile, the State Human Rights Commission observed there was gross violation of human rights of the devotees and directed authorities to ensure all necessary basic facilities for them and sought a report within two weeks. The temple had opened Friday evening for the 64-day annual pilgrimage season as the stand-off continued over entry of menstrual age women into the shrine. Surendran and two others with him had been taken into preventive custody on Saturday night and brought to the Chittar police station, about 50 km from Sabarimala, after they forcibly tried to leave for the hill shrine at Sabarimala. Police had cited law and order issues and tense situation at the temple complex to deter him from going to Sabarimala. However, when they insisted, Surenderan and the others, all with the 'Irrumudikettu' (bundle of offerings for Lord Ayyappa) were taken into preventive custody. They were then produced before the Thiruvlla magistrate, who remanded them to 14-day judicial custody. Surendran was later taken to the Kottarakara sub jail. The BJP protest comes a day after the hartal called by the Hindu Aikya Vedi against the preventive custody of their leader K P Sasikala. She was later granted bail. When the Ayyappa temple had opened for monthly pujas in October and early this month, it witnessed a string of protests from frenzied devotees against the entry of young women. A few of them who made a bid to offer prayers, could not come anywhere close to the holy shrine. A 46-year-old woman, who arrived from nearby Kazhakootam to go to Sabarimala, was turned back from Chengannur Saturday, following protests from devotees. Meanwhile in Kozhikode, a worker of a right wing Hindu outfit was arrested in connection with the alleged attack on a CPI-M leader's son and his journalist daughter-in law during the shutdown, police said. Julius Nikithas and wife Saniyo Manomi, working with a leading Malayalam news channel, were attacked at Kuttiady as they were going to a hospital in a car to visit a patient. Police on Sunday said that a worker of a right wing outfit has been arrested in connection with the attack and a search was on to nab nine others. Nikithas, son of party district secretary P Mohanan, suffered head injuries and Manomi was also injured. The couple have been admitted to the government medical college hospital in Kozhikode. The CPI-M had alleged that they were attacked by activists belonging to the Sangh Parivar. Even as the rest of Kerala witnessed protests, a calm atmosphere at the Lord Ayyappa shrine in Sabarimala marked the second day of the two month-long annual pilgrimage season. So far, more pilgrims have arrived from other states than from within Kerala. The pilgrims offered prayers at the Lord Ayyappa shrine early Sunday, the second day of Malayalam month 'Vrischikom'. Though the devotees were relieved to get more time for 'darshan' due to less crowd, many were unhappy at not being allowed to spend some more time at the sannidhanam -- temple complex. Some pilgrims also expressed anguish over the fact that it took them over two hours to reach Pamba from Nilackal, which is just 18 km away. "We reached Nilackal at around 4 AM. But we had to wait till 6 AM to catch a bus to Pamba. Otherwise everything was fine for us. We had a good darshan," Coimbatore resident Palaniswami, who was heading a group of 21 people, told PTI. However, when PTI contacted the Kerala State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC) office at Pamba, they dismissed the devotees' claims about delay in service and said many buses were running with vacant seats. Police have introduced several restrictions this time, Palakkad resident Renish said, adding that 'devotees are treated as criminals by making them undergo strict security procedures'. "My mother, who is old, had to go through heavy security procedures. They checked our bags and even water bottles as if we are criminals," Renish said. Inspector General of Police Vijay Sakhare, in charge of the security of the hilltop shrine, had said on Saturday that security was tightened due to the recent incidents of violence. IMAGE: A member of an activist group participates in a demonstration calling for sanctions against Saudi Arabia while holding a photo of Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi outside the US State Department in Washington. Photograph: Kevin Lamarque/Reuters United States President Donald Trump has said he had spoken with the Central Intelligence Agency chief on the agency's assessment of the killing of Jamal Khashoggi and that there will be a 'very full report' by Tuesday, amid reports that it had held the powerful Saudi crown prince responsible for the murder of the dissident journalist. The death of 59-year-old Khashoggi, a onetime insider turned critic of Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and a resident of the US, has spurred a wave of international anger against Saudi Arabia and its ruler. In an interaction with reporters in California on Saturday, Trump said that he spoke with CIA Director Gina Haspel, who has been studying this case very closely. "It's a horrible thing that took place, the killing of a journalist...It should never have happened," Trump said. Asked about reports that the CIA had assessed involvement by the crown prince, the president said, "They haven't assessed anything yet. It's too early. That was a very a premature report." "We'll be having a very full report over the next two days, probably Monday or Tuesday," Trump said. He then said more definitely that there would be 'a report on Tuesday'. The report will address what 'we think the overall impact was and who caused it, and who did it'. "In the meantime we're doing things to some people that we know for a fact were involved and we're being very tough on a lot of people," he added. Khashoggi, a Washington Post columnist, was last seen entering the Saudi consulate in Istanbul on October 2 to obtain paperwork for his marriage. Saudi Arabia had offered a series of contradictory explanations for Khashoggi's death. After repeated denials, Saudi Arabia finally admitted Khashoggi had been murdered at the compound but blamed it on a 'rogue' operation. On Friday, the Washington Post reported that the CIA had assessed with high confidence the Saudi leader's role, based on multiple sources of intelligence. The CIA found that 15 Saudi agents flew on government planes to Istanbul and carried out the killing at the Saudi consulate, the report said, adding that it could complicate President Trump's efforts to preserve US ties with one of the closest American allies in the region. "The accepted position is that there is no way this happened without him being aware or involved," a US official familiar with the CIA's conclusions, told the daily. Saudi Arabia has denied any such linkage. Fatimah Baeshen, a spokeswoman for the Saudi Embassy in Washington, said that the claims in the CIA's 'purported assessment are false. We have and continue to hear various theories without seeing the primary basis for these speculations'. According to the report, it is CIA assessment that the crown prince who is the de facto ruler of the country would survive the crisis. Officially Saudi Arabia has blamed the brutal murder of Khashoggi at the Saudi consulate in Istanbul to rogue elements. Khashoggi was forcibly restrained and injected with a large amount of a drug resulting in an overdose that led to his death, alleged the Saudi prosecutors, who has sought death penalty for 11 of its officials. Turkish investigating agencies provided the CIA an audio recording that proves the brutal murder of Khashoggi. After his killing, one of those involved in it called Saud al Qahtani, then one of the top aides to the crown prince, and informed him that the operation had been completed, according to people familiar with the call. A conclusion that the crown prince was responsible for the murder of Khashoggi could endanger the US relationship with Saudi Arabia, The Wall Street Journal said. "The assessment that the Crown Prince ordered the murder is not surprising but it significantly undermines the administration's effort to whitewash the Saudi prince," Bruce Riedel, a former top CIA and White House official, who is now at the Brookings Institution think tank, told the journal. "It raises the question why the crown prince has not been sanctioned by the Treasury Department," Riedel said. "The CIA just concluded that MBS, the Saudi Crown Prince, ordered Khashoggi's killing. Every literate person knows that MBS continues to order the killing of thousands of civilians in Yemen. It's time for the US to stop supporting MBS's war in Yemen. Congress must act," Indian-American Congressman Ro Khanna tweeted on Friday. Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar courted a controversy over a remarks on rape incidents, but later said that his statement had been twisted and asserted there should not be any politics on the issue. At a function in Kalka town of Panchkula district on Friday, Khattar said, "The incidents of rape have not increased... Rapes used to take place in the past and even today as well. (Only) the concern (over such incidents) has increased." "The biggest concern is that in 80 to 90 per cent of rape and eve-teasing cases, the accused and the victim know each other. In many cases, they know each other for a long time and, on one day, when there is an argument (between them over some issue)... an FIR is lodged, saying: 'He has raped me'," Khattar had said. Hitting out at the chief minister, Congress leader Randeep Singh Surjewala had termed the statement deplorable. 'Anti-Women Mindset of Khattar Govt Exposed! Haryana CM Khattar ji makes an utterly condemnable remark. "Blaming Women for complete failures to control Rapes & Gangrapes? Deplorable!' Surjewala had tweeted. On Sunday, Khattar said, "(My) statement has been twisted. I had said which is on record and I will again state it that during investigation in such cases, it was revealed that about 80 per cent of incidents took place between known. But there is a need to bring awareness in the society. There should not be any politics on this issue." TORRINGTON Charlotte Hungerford Hospital (CHH) has completed a comprehensive, multi-year renovation and expansion of its Emergency Department at 540 Litchfield Street, Torrington, according to a press release. CHH administrators and board members began planning the $11M project in 2010 with construction completed in phases during the past three years, to ensure safe and uninterrupted patient care for patients, according to the release. The goal of the project was to improve patient privacy and comfort, reduce provide less patient waiting time, improve service patient flow and efficiencies, and better accommodate larger volumes through and technical advances in patient care, according to the release. This project demonstrates our commitment to the future. Our physicians and caregivers now have a state-of-the-art more improved physical footprint space and technologically advanced equipment at their disposal, complimenting which compliments their technical skills to provide the best and improves service and care. said Bill Bednarz, Administrative Director of Facilities and Support Services, in the release. The 18,000 square foot Emergency Department features a new more accessible entrance closer to Litchfield Street, updated parking, and improved areas for inbound and outbound ambulance and EMS traffic. Highlights include the addition of high visibility new technically advanced nurse stations, state-of-the-art treatment rooms, new space for storage, and designated areas for nutrition, resuscitation, bariatric services, EMS providers, HAZMAT operations, and financial counseling services. The entire Emergency Department now has 35 total treatment rooms, three isolation rooms, nine bathrooms and a three room area capable of flexing between medical and behavioral health needs. The new design has created more clear lines of sight between patients and practitioners, advanced telemetry and nurse call technologies, and an enhanced tube system. The CHH Emergency Department at 540 Litchfield Street is open 24/7 year-round and can be reached at 860-496-6650. CHH also operates an Emergency Department at 115 Spencer Street in the Winsted Health Center, Winsted, daily from 9 am to 9 pm, at 860 738 6650. Thomaston banker named association chairman THOMASTON The members of the Connecticut Bankers Association recently elected the officers for the 2018-2019 term, ending September 2019. Named Chair of the Association was Stephen L. Lewis, President & CEO, Thomaston Savings Bank. Lewis has been with the bank since 2006. He graduated from Villanova University with a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration. He then graduated from the University of Connecticut with a Masters of Business Administration. He has been an active board member over the years in many organizations. He resides in Burlington with his wife Kim and their two children. The other elected officers include: First Vice Chair Cynthia C. Merkle President & CEO Union Savings Bank, Danbury; Second Vice Chair Michael J. LaBella Market President, Connecticut TD Bank, N.A., Wilton; Past Chair Michael J. Casparino Market President, Northern CT Peoples United Bank, Hartford; AND President & CEO Lindsey R. Pinkham President & CEO Connecticut Bankers Association, In addition to the above listed officers, the Executive Committee consists of nine at-large members: Daniel L. Berta President Fairfield County Bank; Steven T. Cornell President National Iron Bank, Salisbury; Frank J. Gaudio President & CEO First Bank of Greenwich; Timothy P. Geelan President & CEO Guilford Savings Bank; Robert J. Granata President & COO First County Bank, Stamford; Jeff L. Hubbard New England Regional President KeyBank, New Haven; John E. Janco President & CEO Torrington Savings Bank; Susan L. Shields President & CEO The Milford Bank; and Thomas J. Villanova President & CEO Litchfield Bancorp. The Executive Committee also has two standing members as Co-chairs of the Associations Legislative Committee: Maureen A. Frank President & CEO Start Community Bank, New Haven; Martin J. Geitz President & CEO Simsbury Bank. Re-appointed to the professional staff headquartered in Farmington: Thomas S. Mongellow Executive Vice President & Treasurer; Colleen E. Clancy First Senior Vice President & Secretary The CBA represents state and federally chartered commercial banks, savings banks, savings & loans and trust companies in legislative, regulatory and general banking issues in both Connecticut and Washington. For more information, please contact Colleen E. Clancy, CBA, 10 Waterside Drive, Farmington, CT 06032, 860.677.5060 or clancyc@ctbank.com. Fuel provider launches new website OAKVILLE - Susan Santopietro, president of Baribault Fuel, a local family owned fuel and service provider who has been serving the community for almost a century, recently announced the launch of their newly designed website: www.baribaultfuel.com. The new website was designed with the customer in mind. It is more engaging, streamlined, brighter and easier to navigate. As a leader in providing heating fuel and HVAC service, Baribault Fuel felt it was important for the website to match their brand: community driven, forward thinking, and family focused. They have added new sections to their website that focus on community involvement, common FAQs, and a blog where users can find important tips, trick, and important information, members of the company wrote in a statement. As a family-owned business and long standing member of the community, we felt it was important for our website to reflect our team, knowledge of the industry, services we offer, and information that our customers will find useful, Santopietro said. Our website is a true reflection of our company and our dedication to the towns that we serve. We want our visitors to be able to find information quickly, understand the services that we offer, and be able to easily contact us should they have questions or need to arrange a delivery or service call. We are thrilled to share our new site with everyone! Baribault Fuel has been providing quality fuels and service to Oakville and the surrounding communities for more than 90 years. Baribault Fuel is located at 600 Main Street, Oakville. For further information, call 860-374-3284 or visit the website at www.baribaultfuel.com. Canaan Child Center receives grant CANAAN Canaan Child Care Center received a $2,000 grant to fund its nutrition and Warm the Children programs. The funds were awarded to the Child Care Center by the Archbishops Annual Appeal, through its Vicariate Outreach Program. Since 1981, the Archbishops Annual Appeal has been able to assist tens of thousands of people regardless of race, religion, or color across the Archdiocese of Hartford with health care, education, housing, emergency expenses, and in numerous other areas. It is through the Archbishops Annual Appeal Vicariate Outreach Program and the generosity of its donors that the Appeal is able to assist a wide array of community-based charities throughout Hartford, New Haven and Litchfield Counties. Canaan Child Care Center is a nonprofit organization serving Region One. We are an accredited School Readiness Site that provides quality care at discounted prices. We receive State funding to help families pay for child care. The funds provided by Archbishops Annual Appeal will allow the Child Care Center to provide healthy food choices to the children at the Center who need it, said executive director Fran Chapell. We can also ensure that every child has a warm coat and boots during the winter months. To learn more about, or support the programs at the Canaan Child Care Center, call at 860 824-0597. BANTAM In conjunction with the 100th anniversary of the WWI Armistice this year, American Legion Post 44 of Bantam will start their monthly Veteran of the Month ceremony by retiring the honor flag of WWI U.S. Army veteran Captain L. Cleveland Fuessenich, a Torrington man who served with the United States Army Yankee Division in France during the war. World War One artifacts will be on display, including a WWI machine gun. First Lieutenant Terry Ryan, a United States Army nurse who served with the 45th MASH unit during the Korean War, will be honored as Post 44s December Veteran of the Month. She continued her nursing career after her discharge and supported activities that recognized women veterans. Terry was the sister of Bantam resident Mary Curtis. The ceremony will take place in the Bantam Borough Hall, 890 Bantam Road/Route 202, at 10 a.m. Attendees are invited to stay for light refreshments with members of Post 44, the honorees families, veterans from other organizations and the general public following the celebration of these two notable veterans. Information: Post Commander, post44.bantam@gmail.com Thanksgiving luncheon set at OWTS TORRINGTON A Thanksgiving Luncheon will be served at Oliver Wolcott Technical High School on Thanksgiving Day, 11 a.m.-1 p.m. The lunch is free and no reservations are required. Free transportation is being provided, leaving from Trinity Church in Torrington at 10:30 a.m. Meals can also be delivered to those who are home bound/shut in. Call St, Pauls Lutheran Church, Torrington. at 860-482-3555 to order a meal to be delivered. Funeral directors collecting holiday donations For more than a decade, the funeral directors and suppliers of the Connecticut Funeral Directors Association (CFDA) have collected toys and funds and made personal contributions for the Connecticut National Guards Operation ELFs (Embracing Lonely Families) holiday drive. This year, CFDA will expand its holiday effort to also collect toys for Connecticut Childrens Medical Center. Through Dec. 5, 42 funeral homes across Connecticut will welcome donations of unwrapped toys and gift cards from the public. In addition, on Thursday, Dec. 6 from 8:30 a.m. -5 p.m., people can drop off these items to CFDAs 130th Annual Convention at the Red Lion Hotel (formally the Radisson Cromwell Hotel) at 100 Berlin Rd. (Rt. 372) in Cromwell. All gift cards, toys and funds collected by the Connecticut Funeral Directors Association will be delivered directly to Operation ELF and Connecticut Childrens Medical Center before the holidays. Operation ELF welcomes gift cards of any dollar value to grocery, department stores, home supply stores, gas stations, and pharmacies, as well as unwrapped toys for young people of any age. These items will be given to families of Connecticut National Guard soldiers and airmen who are deployed during the holidays and throughout the year. Connecticut Childrens Medical Center welcomes new and unwrapped toys that are appropriate for hospitalized infants, children, adolescents or teenagers and do not pose a safety hazard, such as those with sharp edges or small, removable or easily breakable parts. These toys will be distributed to patients around the holidays and at different times of the year. Donations of gift cards and toys may be dropped off during regular business hours at Cook Funeral Home at 82 Litchfield St., Torrington, 860-482-4456; and Gleeson-Ryan Funeral Home at 258 Prospect St., Torrington, 860-489-4104. Institute to hold holiday market, workshop WASHINGTON For those for something really unusual, take a trip to the Institute for American Indian Studies on 38 Curtis Road to shop for authentic Native American arts and crafts. At the Institutes annual Native American Holiday Arts and Crafts Market visitor will find a wide array of holiday gifts from local Native American crafters. The Native American Holiday Arts and Crafts Market will be held Nov. 24-25, Dec. 1-2, and Dec. 8-9. This special Native American Holiday Market will be open Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and on Sundays from 12 noon to 5 p.m. There is no admission fee. Here you will find something truly unique for everyone from Native American jewelers, and artists that offer their creations at a variety of price points. A highlight is the chance to meet and buy directly from the artists while learning about contemporary Native American art, crafts, and cultures. Just some of the treasures to be found here are decorative gourds, pottery, jewelry, rattles, artwork, flutes, and much more. Those with an an interest in archeology and Native American culture may stay on for the Litchfield Hills Archaeology Club Lecture Series, Sunday, Dec. 2 from 3-5 p.m. Dr. Nicholas Bellantoni, Associate Professor at UCONN and emeritus State Archaeologist, will be discussing his new book The Long Journey Home: The Repatriations of Henry Opukahia and Albert Afraid of Hawk. The book chronicles the repatriation of the remains of two Native men and the efforts of those involved in the process. Dr. Bellantoni will give a talk discussing his involvement in the project and the writing of his book. Copies of his book will be available in the gift shop for purchase and Dr. Bellantoni will be on hand after the lecture to answer questions and sign books. The Institute for American Indian Studies can be reached by calling 860-868-0518 or visit iais.org Elks hosting Evening with Frank and Dean TORRINGTON An Evening with Frank and Dean featuring the vocal stylings of Jack Lynn and Steve Kazlauskas and their uncanny singing impersonations of Frank Sinatra and Dean Martin, will be held Dec. 1 at Torrington Elks Lodge 372. The show is open to the public and will be in the Hungerford Ballroom, 70 Litchfield Street, Torrington. Admission is $20 a person with a cash bar available. This unique duo will be singing songs made famous by Frank and Dean, from the Rat Pack days and more, bringing back great memories. The doors open at 6 p.m. with the show at 7:00 p.m. Proceeds will go toward the Torrington Elks and Elks programs: including veterans, youth and Connecticut Childrens Hospital. Guests are encouraged to bring their own snacks. Coffee will be served at intermission of the program. For tickets call 860-489-6562 or 860-482-5562 or go to www.torringtonelks.com. FAIRFIELD Police are preparing warrants to arrest an unidentified woman on animal cruelty charges after the remains of five dogs were found inside a Prince Street home on Wednesday. The remains were discovered after the propertys landlord went into the home with a plumber to see whether water pipes there were frozen, Fairfield police Lt. Robert Kalamaras said. After seeing the carcass of one dog, the landlord called police, and they obtained a search warrant enter the building, Kalamaras said Saturday. Students can apply for the following scholarships. Note the deadlines for each opportunity. CHH Auxiliary offers scholarships The Charlotte Hungerford Hospital (CHH) Auxiliary is offering ten $1,000 scholarships to local students pursuing an education in a healthcare field. Two additional scholarships, the Doctor Alfred Fabro Award and the Doctor Joseph Curi Award will also be presented in the amount of $1,000 each. Applicants must be planning to matriculate at a college or institution of higher education for a healthcare degree when applying for a scholarship; acceptance into a certified health care educational program for the 2019-20 academic year must be verified prior to the scholarship award. Applicants must reside in a community served by Charlotte Hungerford Hospital. Applications and instructions for completing the application may be obtained by e-mailing chhscholarship@gmail.com. Area colleges and high schools also have applications available online through their Guidance Departments. All completed applications must be printed out and sent by mail, postmarked no later than March 1, 2019. Send finalized applications to the attention of Judith M. Hogan, 15 Minerva Lane Litchfield, CT, 06759. A letter will be sent to all applicants the first week of May notifying them of their status. Recipients of the scholarships are expected to be present at the award ceremony scheduled for May 7 at 7 p.m. For more information call 860-567-4381. Comcast invites students to apply for funding Comcast NBCUniversal invites high school seniors to apply for the Comcast Leaders and Achievers Scholarship Program. Comcast Leaders and Achievers are students who have been selected for their outstanding community service, academic performance, and leadership skills. The award, funded by the Comcast NBCUniversal Foundation, is a one-time, $2,500 scholarship to be used toward undergraduate education-related expenses. Since 2001, Comcast NBCUniversal has awarded more than $30 million in scholarships to approximately 28,000 students to help them pursue higher education. For this upcoming year, scholarship guidelines allow students to self-nominate. High school seniors who meet the eligibility requirements are encouraged to apply for the Comcast Leaders and Achievers Scholarship. To learn more about the program, visit https://www.scholarsapply.org/leadersandachievers. Direct all email inquiries to leadersandachievers@scholarshipamerica.org or call 1-800-537-4180. The application deadline is Friday, Dec .7 at 5 p.m. Applicants to the Comcast Leaders and Achievers Scholarship Program must have a demonstrated commitment to community service, outstanding qualities in character, integrity, and leadership; reside in one of the communities listed on the program website; plan to enroll in full-time undergraduate study at an accredited two- or four-year college or university in the United States for the entire 2019-2020 academic year; have a minimum GPA of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale (or its equivalent; be enrolled as a high school senior. and demonstrate financial need xxx TORRINGTON The holidays of November and December are traditionally a time for giving. However, sometimes that spirit of goodwill gets stuck pretty close to home. But on Saturday, evidence of the generosity of neighbor-helping-neighbor was evident as some 500 coats were donated by area residents to those less fortunate. About 150 people turned up at the St. John Paul the Great Parish hall on Water Street for a warm pasta dinner and to collect the coats as part of the fourth annual Rally Day to End Hunger and Homelessness in NWCT, a daylong event, featuring six activities, co-sponsored and organized by FISH/Friends in Service to Humanity of NWCT and the United Way of Northwest Connecticut. Prior to the luncheon and coat giveaway participants rallied at The Gathering Place for a group photo and then had the opportunity to tour the areas center for the homeless at 21 Prospect St. Some residents walked or drove two blocks to the FISH NWCT Food Pantry and Homeless Shelter at 332 South Main St. for another tour. Saturday evening at around 9 p.m. the day continued when confirmation students of Torringtons St. John Paul the Great Parish gathered for a Cardboard Box/City Sleep Out in front of St. Francis Church. Guests who have experienced hunger and homelessness were invited to join around a campfire and visit the young people taking part in order to share a message that there is no stereotyping those in poverty and that every story is unique. The event, timed in concert with the National Hunger & Homelessness Awareness Week, is held the week before Thanksgiving so that individuals can reflect about what each is thankful for, making it, according to organizers, the perfect time to share compassion with our neighbors who are experiencing economic crisis and desperate need. It is hoped that the greater northwest Connecticut community will then be influenced to take positive actions to eradicate homelessness and hunger. Last year, more than 900 coats were distributed at the Torrington Rally Day lunch and the next week in Winsted at The Open Door. This is an event to raise awareness of homelessness and hunger in the area, said Owen Quinn, former Torrington mayor and now executive director of the United Way of Northwest Connecticut. The poverty rate is in the 10 to 14 percent range but those who are considered ALICE (Asset Limited, Income Constrained, Employed) number in the 30 to 34 percent range. A real need exists among many people in the Northwest Corner for enough food, money to heat their homes, daycare, and travel to and from jobs. The food banks in towns like Winsted, Canaan, Harwinton, and Torrington, as well as FISH, do a wonderful job providing but more needs to always be done. Deirdre DiCara, executive director of FISH (Friends in Service to Humanity of Northwestern Connecticut, Inc.) concurred with Quinn. We undertake this effort each year to recognize the need out there and raise awareness that there are many people who need help, whether it with providing enough food to feed their families, shelter, proper clothing, or financial assistance, she said. Last year we had about 147 people for the luncheon and this year we are slightly above that. We gathered about 500 coats to be handed out to those in need. Tre Anderson said he was attending the luncheon to pick up a coat for a friend. This is really a blessing for the people, he commented on the event. It makes you have hope for the future. The luncheon was followed by a short awareness presentation. Speakers included DiCara, Quinn, Steve Caruso, FISH NWCT Board president, Nancy Caruso of Charlotte Hungerford Hospital, Michael Culmo of Mental Health Connecticut; Michelle Anderson of EdAdvance; Julia Scharnberg of the Northwest Connecticut Community Foundation; and Maria Gonzalez, Family Development Center manager of New Opportunities. Each speaker shared their service work for the hungry and the homeless of the area and brought personal insights into how community residents can help to impact and positively change lives. Scharnberg drew a round of applause when she noted that FISH was one of the first agencies to receive a grant from her organization, and that over the years some $641,000 had been awarded by the NCCF to four agencies; FISH, The Gathering Place, Friendly Hands, and the Community Kitchen. The Associated Press reports that high-ranking members of the Taliban have held three days of talks in Qatar with the U.S. peace envoy for Afghanistan, Zalmay Khalilzad. The report on November 18 said the former Taliban governor of Herat Province, Khairullah Khairkhwa, and former Taliban military chief Mohammed Fazl attended the talks with Khalilzad in Qatar where the Afghan militant group has a political office. Khairkhwa and Fazl were among five senior Taliban members released from the U.S. military detention facility at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba in 2014 in exchange for a captured U.S. soldier, Bowe Bergdahl. All five former Guantanamo Bay detainees are now based in Qatar and are thought to have enough influence with Taliban fighters in Afghanistan to broker a peace deal. The U.S. State Department has refused to comment on reported talks between U.S. officials and the Taliban. Khalilzad has been touring the region in recent days as the administration of U.S. President Donald Trump is stepping up efforts to settle the conflict after more than 17 years of war. He met with Afghan President Ashraf Ghani on November 18 in Kabul where he was expected to push for Ghani to put together his own negotiating team. Afghanistan's Taliban has long refused U.S. demands to negotiate with the Western-backed government in Kabul. Afghan media on November 18 quoted Khalilzad as saying that he hopes a peace deal with the Taliban would be reached before Afghanistan's next presidential election on April 20, 2019. "I am talking to all interested parties, all Afghan groups... and I think there is an opportunity for reconciliation and peace," Khalilzad told a news conference in Kabul, without referring explicitly to the talks in Qatar. "The Afghan government wants peace," the U.S. envoy also said. "The Taliban [is] saying they do not believe they can succeed militarily, that they would like to see the problems that remain resolved by peaceful means, by political negotiations." On November 17, U.S. General Joseph Dunford, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, said the Taliban, which controls more territory than any time since the U.S.-led invasion in 2001, is "not losing" and there is no "military solution" to ending the war. Dunford, the top U.S. military officer, said during a discussion at a security forum in Halifax, Canada, that the United States and its NATO allies were working to leverage military, political, and economic pressure to convince the Taliban to negotiate an end to the war. He said the U.S. believes the Taliban knows "that "at some point" it has to reconcile." "The key to success is to combine all that pressure to incentivize the Taliban" to negotiate, he added. With reporting by AP, Reuters, CNN, and Tolo News U.S. General Joseph Dunford, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, said the Taliban "are not losing" and there is no "military solution" to ending the war in Afghanistan. Dunford's remarks came amid U.S. and Afghan attempts to launch peace talks with the Taliban, which controls more territory than it has at any time since the U.S.-led invasion of the South-Asian country in 2001. "They are not losing right now, I think that is fair to say," Dunford said of the Taliban during a discussion at a security forum in Halifax, Canada on November 17. Dunford, the top U.S. military officer, said the United States and its NATO allies were working to leverage military, political, and economic pressure to convince the Taliban to negotiate an end to the war. "We do believe the Taliban know that at some point they do have to reconcile," he said. "The key to success is to combine all that pressure to incentivize the Taliban" to negotiate. After more than 17 years of war, the administration of U.S. President Donald Trump has stepped up efforts to settle the conflict peacefully. U.S. special envoy for Afghanistan Zalmay Khalilzad was appointed to start a peace process with the Taliban. He met with Ghani on November 10 after meeting with a Taliban delegation in Doha in October. Based on reporting by CNN and Tolo News Asia-Pacific leaders meeting in Papua New Guinea this weekend have been unable to agree on the final communique of a summit overshadowed by trade disputes between the United States and China. Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced the standoff on November 18, saying the 21 countries in APEC could not agree on the joint communique amid differences over trade policies. Papua New Guinea's Prime Minister Peter ONeill said at the end of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit in Port Moresby on November 18 that APEC leaders had "fruitful discussions and exchanged frank views" while recognizing "growing tensions" between trading countries around the world. O'Neill told reporters that "the entire world is worried" about tensions between China and the United States over trade. The Associated Press reports that a rejected U.S. draft version of a summit communique included language criticizing China for "unfair" trade policies. The deadlock at the summit came a day after U.S. Vice President Mike Pence traded accusations with Chinese President Xi Jinping over tit-for tat tariffs imposed by their countries. Pence said Washington was prepared to "more than double" U.S. tariffs already imposed on goods from China and vowed that Washington "will not change course until China changes its way." U.S. President Donald Trumps administration has imposed tariffs on Chinese goods worth billions of dollars, saying its tariffs are in response to Chinas "unfair" trade policies. China has retaliated by imposing tariffs of its own on U.S. goods and by accusing Trump of launching a trade war. Xi told the summit on November 17: "History has shown that confrontation -- whether in the form of a cold war, a hot war, or a trade war will produce no winners." Pence responded later on November 17 by accusing Beijing of intellectual property theft, providing huge subsidies for state businesses, and imposing "tremendous" barriers to foreign companies trying to enter the Chinese market. Pence also criticized China's global infrastructure drive, known as the Belt and Road Initiative, saying many of the projects are of low quality and will burden developing countries with loans they can't afford. Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Hua Chunying on November 18 rejected Pence's criticism, saying "no developing country will fall into debt difficulties because of cooperation with China." Pence told reporters that he'd had two "candid" conversations during the summit with Xi, who was expected to meet Trump at a Group of 20 summit at the end of November in Buenos Aires. With reporting by Reuters, AP, and AFP Iraqi police say a Muslim cleric has been killed outside his home after suggesting that demonstrators in the southern port city of Basra should take up arms over poor public services. Basra police say Wissam al-Ghrawi was shot and killed in front of his house in Basra's city center by unknown attackers late on November 17. He had been a prominent figure in recent demonstrations to demand clean water and reliable electricity in Basra. Basra, a key transit point for more than 90 percent of Iraq's oil exports, suffers from contaminated drinking water and regular electricity outages. Ghrawi had been filmed at a protest on November 16 saying that clerics would issue a fatwa within days on taking up arms. The video footage was shared widely on Iraqi social media. Based on reporting by AP and Reuters SKOPJE -- A few thousand people rallied in the Macedonian capital, Skopje, to protest against a landmark agreement with neighboring Greece over the countrys name. The participants gathered in front of the parliament building on November 18, calling for snap general elections. On October 19, lawmakers voted 80-39 voted to launch the constitutional-amendment process needed for the name change. The government of Prime Minister Zoran Zaev received cross-party support for the amendment to rename the country as North Macedonia despite fierce objection from opposition nationalists. Amendments are now being drafted to incorporate the new name into Macedonia's constitution, after which another parliamentary vote will be required to enshrine the changes -- most likely in January. The name change would end a long dispute with neighboring Greece, which in return would stop blocking Macedonia from joining NATO and the European Union. KYIV -- Activists for transgender rights were forced to disband a demonstration in Kyiv after counterdemonstrators assaulted several protesters and attacked a Canadian journalist trying to cover the event. The organizers of the event criticized Ukrainian police for failing to protect about 40 lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) rights activists who had planned to gather in Shevchenko Park on November 18 for a legally sanctioned march through the streets of the Ukrainian capital coinciding with International Transgender Remembrance Day. The demonstrators, who were holding rainbow flags and banners with slogans such as "Transphobia must be stopped," were forced to relocate to a nearby location after about 100 "religious radicals and far-right groups" arrived in the park for a counterdemonstration. The counterdemonstrators included members of the far-right groups Tradition and Order, Right Sector, and the Religious National Front. LGBT rights activists who moved their gathering place by two blocks to a location near Kyiv's University subway station were followed by a small group of counterdemonstrators who confronted them by shouting slurs and setting off smoke bombs. Ukrainian police did not try to remove the counterdemonstrators, but shoved the LGBT rights activists through turnstiles of the subway station while swearing at them and shouting slurs. The police officers then blocked the entrance to protesters to avoid further clashes. An RFE/RL correspondent saw two female activists who remained on the street being physically assaulted by the counterdemonstrators. The two women were attacked with pepper spray and were given first aid at the scene, according to the AFP news agency. Canadian journalist Michael Colborne was also assaulted with pepper spray and punched in the face by two counterdemonstrators near the metro station, suffering a swollen lip and cuts on his face from his broken glasses. Police said they have opened an investigation into the attack on Colborne, classifying the assault as hooliganism, and said officers were searching for the two suspects. Colborne tweeted that the attack against him was "further proof" that Ukraine "has a huge far-right problem," and that Ukrainian officials should "stop downplaying it." "Ukraine today: National Police opted to protect the right for (peaceful) assembly of far-rights and traditionalist[s] instead of Trans*march event," Ruslana Panukhnyk, executive director of Kyiv Pride and one of the organizers of the march, wrote on Facebook. In a tweet later on November 18, Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Kateryna Zelenko said that "attacks on journalists, like any manifestations of intolerance and violence, are considered unacceptable. We are awaiting the results of the investigation by law enforcement organs." Olena Shevchenko, director of the Ukrainian LGBT rights NGO Insight, said in a post on her Facebook page that "Ukraine seems under control of ultra-radicals." In June, no serious incidents occurred when thousands of activists marched in Kyiv to mark an annual celebration of gay and lesbian rights that had been marred by violence in the past. Police dispersed far-right protesters ahead of that march and detained more than 50 members of radical groups. With reporting by AFP Latvians have been marking the centenary of their independence with festivities across the country including music concerts, military parades, and fireworks. The presidents of Estonia, Lithuania, Finland, and Iceland on November 18 joined Latvian President Raimonds Vejonis to lay flowers at the Freedom Monument in the capital, Riga, and attend a military parade. The heads of state also attended a concert at the Latvian National Theater, where independence was proclaimed 100 years ago. "In these 100 years, we have fought for the independence of our state and have stood up for the freedom to determine our destiny. Today we can really be proud of the achievements of our country," Vejonis said in a video message. Latvia, along with Estonia and Lithuania, were part of the Russian Empire before declaring independence in 1918. The three Baltic states were independent until 1940, when they were occupied by the Soviet Union and annexed in an act never officially recognized by the United States. The countries, with a combined population of just 6 million people, regained their independence in 1991 and joined the European Union and NATO in 2004. They have expressed concerns about Moscow's intentions in the region, especially since Russia's seizure and annexation of Ukraine's Crimean Peninsula in 2014, and were rattled by U.S. President Donald Trump's campaign rhetoric in 2016 questioning NATO's relevance. Last year, the Western military alliance deployed four multinational battalions to Poland and the Baltic states as tripwires against possible Russian adventurism. Based on reporting by AFP and lsm.lv Moldovan President Igor Dodon joined his Socialist Party of Moldova (PSRM) in launching an election campaign on November 18. Supporters of the opposition party marched in the streets of Moldova's capital, Chisinau, ahead of parliamentary elections set for February 24, 2019. The elections will be held according to a new electoral law passed in September 2017, which critics say gives an unfair advantage to the country's two largest political parties. CHISINAU -- Thousands of people carrying red flags have marched in the streets of the Moldovan capital in support of the main pro-Russian opposition Socialist Party, ahead of next years parliamentary elections. Under the slogan "Our time is coming," the participants gathered on November 18 in Chisinau's Great National Assembly Square to cheer the kickoff to the party's campaign for the elections set for February 24. An Association Agreement between Moldova and the European Union came into force in 2016, but the Socialists favor the country joining the Russia-led Eurasian Economic Union. The Chisinau rally was attended by President Igor Dodon, who led the Socialist Party before being elected to his post in November 2016. Dodon has expressed confidence that the Socialists will win the upcoming polls, which will take place under a mixed electoral system introduced in 2017 despite mass protests in Chisinau and criticism from the EU and the United States. The system provides for half of the lawmakers to be elected on party lists and another half in individual constituencies. Critics say the electoral changes favor the country's two largest political parties -- the Socialists and the ruling pro-Western Democratic Party. However, supporters say the changes will make politicians more accountable. Moldova has had three governments since 2015, after the disappearance of $1 billion from the banking system sent the country into a political and economic crisis. On November 14, the European Parliament passed a resolution highly critical of Moldova, saying it had become a "state captured by oligarchic interests" that exert their influence over most part of Moldovan society. The European Commission later announced it was cutting its financial assistance to Moldova by 20 million euros ($22.7 million) per year for both 2017 and 2018. The financial assistance earmarked by the EU for the two years amounted initially to a total of 140 million euros ($158 million). With reporting by Balkan Insight Pakistani police say gunmen shot dead a former senior police officer in the southwestern city of Quetta. Quetta police chief Abdur Razzaq Cheema said the assailants fired on and critically wounded Naeem Kakar on November 17 in Quetta, the provincial capital of Balochistan Province. Cheema said the gunmen, who were on motorcycles, escaped the scene. Kakar was the former deputy inspector general of the provincial police's crime unit, which has been key in fighting militants and criminals. No group claimed responsibility for the attack, although similar assaults in the past have been blamed on Pakistani Taliban militants. Balochistan has also been the scene of a low-level insurgency by Baluch separatist groups. The incident came after the recent abduction and killing of senior Pakistani police officer Tahir Khan Dawar. Reported missing in Islamabad on October 26, his body was located in Nangarhar Province in Afghanistan on November 13. Based on reporting by AP, Geo TV, and Dawn It's been a bright spot for Russia's wobbly space industry: A contract, estimated at $1 billion, to launch 21 Soyuz rockets over the next two years carrying "micro-satellites" -- part of a U.S.-based company's plans to offer broadband Internet access over remote territories of the globe, including parts of Siberia. For the company, OneWeb, the effort was seen as a critical step in building out its "constellation of small satellites" and validation for investors who have put up nearly $2 billion. For Russia's space agency, Roskosmos, the contract was both a crucial source of private revenue, and a foothold in the burgeoning global market for small-scale satellite launches. Now, just months before the planned maiden launch, it appears that the Federal Security Service (FSB) may put a stop to it entirely. The daily newspaper Kommersant reported on November 13 that the FSB, Russia's primary security and intelligence agency, has serious misgivings about the micro-satellite venture. Citing unnamed government officials, the paper said the FSB feared that having an Internet provider whose signals would be transmitted via satellite would keep the agency from being able to filter and monitor Internet traffic. Spying Concerns Moreover, sources told the newspaper, security officials feared the satellites might be used to spy on sensitive Russian military sites. The Kommersant report echoed a similar report by Reuters, on October 24, that quoted an FSB official voicing precise concerns about satellite spying. Adding further to the questions about whether the launch will go forward, the Interfax news agency reported that the chief executive of the Roskosmos division that handles foreign commercial contracts, including the agreement with OneWeb, had been forced to resign after Roskosmos chief Dmitry Rogozin ordered an inspection of the division. E-mails sent to both OneWeb, and its launch provider, the European aerospace giant Arianespace, were not immediately answered. Founded by Greg Wyler, a former executive at Google, OneWeb aims to put hundreds of satellites in low orbit over the Earth to provide data communication in remote locations. The company is one of several making the effort, but it's attracted the largest amount of private financing, had started building assembly factories, and was the closest to actually getting its satellites off the ground. Key to the effort was contracting with Arianespace to arrange for the launches, using Russia's workhorse rocket, the Soyuz, launched primarily from Russian facilities at Baikonur and Vostochny, and several from the European Space Agency-owned site at Kourou, in French Guiana. At the time the contract was signed in 2015, the then-head of Roskosmos hailed it as "proof of Russia's competitiveness." The first launch, of a Soyuz rocket carrying 10 micro-satellites, was set for May 2018 from Kourou, but was then pushed back until year's end. It's now set for February 2019. Two years later, OneWeb set up a 60-40 percent joint venture with a Russian subsidiary of Roskosmos called Gonets that would handle Internet service within Russia. Earlier this year, Wyler told the industry publication Space News that the network of satellites would in fact have ground stations, through which Internet traffic would be channeled. But his comments suggested that there wouldn't necessarily be ground stations in every country where the Internet service was offered. "What we hear from regulators is they want to know the physical path of their traffic and they want to make sure it lands in a place where they have control and management of that data, just like every other Internet service provider in their country," Wyler was quoted as saying. "This doesn't mean the gateway needs to be in their country, but it means they need to know exactly which gateway their traffic will land at and they need the legal ability to control the router at the entry point into their national network. From a regulatory perspective inter-satellite links have been highlighted as a major concern." Stricter Control In recent years, Russia has steadily tightened control and surveillance of the country's once wholly unfettered Internet. Part of that effort has involved policing editorial content and, for example, prosecuting people for sharing on social media material deemed to be extremist under the country's broad anti-extremism laws. But Russian regulators have also moved to tighten technical controls, requiring major technology and Internet companies like Google or Facebook to physically house servers within Russia, giving Russian law enforcement a way to access them. That also includes use of a system known as SORM, which is essentially a filter -- a black box the size of an old video recorder -- that allows Russian security agencies to intercept or eavesdrop on Internet traffic. The URL has been copied to your clipboard The code has been copied to your clipboard. A planned transgender-rights rally in Kyiv was disbanded after far-right counterdemonstrators assaulted several of the event's participants on November 18. The radicals used tear gas against two female activists and assaulted Canadian journalist Michael Colborne, who was covering the protest. Botswana Diamonds is currently in talks with a major diamond producer interested in taking over a stake in Sunland Minerals previously owned by Alrosa. The Sunland joint venture was established in 2014 to test existing Alrosa exploration technology on Botswana Diamonds large data base. However, the Russians exited the joint venture company following changes in management and corporate strategy, which was now biased towards production and marketing. Company managing director James Campbell told Rough & Polisheds Mathew Nyaungwa in an exclusive interview that Alrosa had been a good partner, but no exploration joint venture lasts forever. He also commented on the companys new project in Marange, Zimbabwe through its partnership with Vast Resources as well as South Africas Thorny River, which is Botswana Diamonds most advanced project. Below are excerpts from the interview. Botswana Diamonds now wholly-owns Sunland Minerals, having acquired the 50 percent stake previously held by Alrosa. What is your take on their exit? We have had a good partnership with Alrosa. The blend of their deep technical skills, fresh approach and our local knowledge has worked well. However, no exploration joint venture lasts forever and following changes in management and thus emphasis at Alrosa they decided to move on. The exit was achieved in a most orderly and constructive manner. Given the work that you did together with Alrosa, do you envisage a strong potential for a commercial discovery in Botswana? Botswana remains Lion country for diamonds: not only from a prospectivity perspective, but also as Botswana is called the Switzerland of Africa due to its stability and investor friendly environment. It is the worlds [second] largest diamond producer and has many companies running active diamond exploration programmes. Botswana Diamonds plc has prime exploration ground in the Kalahari and Orapa regions and yes, we are exploring in these areas as we believe there is strong potential for a commercial discovery. When are you going to reveal your new Sunland joint venture partner? We hope to make an announcement soon, so we can commence work with the new partner early in 2019. Do you intend to offload half of your stake or you now want to be the majority shareholder? We envisage a partnership very much like we had with Alrosa. What is the potential of the modern alluvial diamond deposits and older conglomerates on the Heritage Concession in Marange, Zimbabwe? We believe the Heritage Concession has significant potential for modern alluvial diamond deposits. This was evident from the desktop study and supported by my recent field visit. What was noteworthy was the abundance of artisanal diggings which reflects the potential commerciality of the modern diamond deposits. What measures have you put in place to keep artisanal miners away from the concession? We will only be considering this post the geological mapping. We understand Vast Resources committed $1 million to the project. Do you have any plans to raise more capital? Not at this stage. Following a desktop review, the next step is field mapping supported by various remote sensing technologies. Assuming positive results, drilling and bulk sampling will follow. How confident are you of making Thorny River as your first diamond producing project? The purpose of the company entering into a mining agreement on Thorny River is twofold. First to begin to generate revenue and second to self-fund the delivery of a maiden resource for the company. The latter point is particularly important as most companies have to resort to raising equity for resource delivery and the plan for this project is to be self-funding. Is Botswana Diamonds gradually shifting from being an explorer to a diamond miner? Its still early days, but the company has a wide portfolio of projects covering Botswana, South Africa and Zimbabwe and spanning the resource pipeline from grass roots to advanced projects. Thorny River is the most advanced of these projects. Since you now have solid operations outside Botswana, are you considering changing your company name? We have not contemplated this although we are active across the sub-continent. Botswana remains our home and where we have our secondary listing. Mathew Nyaungwa, Editor in Chief of the African Bureau, Rough&Polished Amit Shah Dhamtari (C'garh), Nov 17 (PTI): BJP president Amit Shah launched a broadside against the Congress Saturday, terming the party an "ATM" that dispensed "false promises", instead of development, when problems were inserted in it. Addressing a rally here ahead of the second and final phase of the Chhattisgarh polls, Shah accused the Congress of not doing anything for the state (part of Madhya Pradesh earlier) during its 55-year rule in the country. He also lavished praise on the incumbent Raman Singh government for turning Chhattisgarh into a developed state from a "bimaru" (ailing or backward) one. "The Congress is known for making false promises. I say this several times, the Congress is such an ATM that if you insert a problem in it, you do not get development in response, but false promises," Shah told the gathering. The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) chief ridiculed the leaders of the Congress, including its president Rahul Gandhi, for "daydreaming" that the opposition party would form a government in the state. He alleged that the people of Chhattisgarh did not get adequate electricity under the Congress's watch and setting up a factory too was a pipe dream in the Naxal-hit state. Advertisement Shah accused the Congress of not doing anything "The same Chhattisgarh is taking India forward in the production of aluminium, steel, cement. Chief Minister Raman Singh has done that job," Shah said. Addressing another rally in the Kharsia Assembly segment in Raigarh district later in the day, the BJP chief said Chhattisgarh had come into existence only because of former prime minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee. The state was carved out of Madhya Pradesh in 2000 when Vajpayee was heading the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) government at the Centre. "The Congress was not in favour of the formation of Chhattisgarh. It was possible only after Atalji's government came to power at the Centre. Otherwise, the region would still have been a part of Madhya Pradesh," Shah said. He added that while Vajpayee had created the state, Singh had developed it during his 15-year rule. Shah junked the Congress's manifesto for the Chhattisgarh polls, calling it "Jhoot ka Pulinda" (a bunch of lies). "The Congress has been defeated in 14 states, where the BJP has come to power. Advertisement Chief Minister Raman Singh The Congress is a party that makes false promises and assurances, while the BJP is the only party that does development works," he said. The BJP chief claimed that when the Congress was in power in Chhattisgarh (from 2000 to 2003), it had neither purchased paddy from the farmers nor given them a bonus. He said it was the Raman Singh government which took such measures, adding that Chhattisgarh, a backward state once, had now attained the heights of development due to Singh and Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The election to the 90-member Chhattisgarh Assembly is being held in two phases. The first phase of polling for 18 seats was held on November 12. The second round of voting for the remaining 72 seats will be held on November 20 and the results will be announced on December 11. Blast in Amritsar Spokesman News Service: Amritsar: 18th Nov'18: The incident happened when two bike-borne youths fired and threw a grenade on the people gathered during a religious ceremony at Nirankari Bhawan in Adliwal village of Amritsar. DC Kamaldeep Singh Sangha said that three people were killed and several injured and IG border range Surinderpal Singh Parmar said 10 people have been injured in the blast, Advertisement The injured have been admitted in Guru Nanak Dev Hospital and Ivy Hospital of Amritsar, police said. An eyewitness said that the Nirankari followers were sitting in the congregation when two-bike borne men with their faces covered entered the premises and threw a grenade on them. (More details awaited) Captain Amarinder Singh Spokesman News Service: Amritsar: 18th Nov'18: Punjab CM Captain Amarinder Singh strongly condemned the Amritsar bomb blast and announced compensation of Rs. 5 lakh each to the kin of the deceased and free treatment of injured people. Advertisement My heart goes out to victims of the Amritsar bomb blast & their families. My govt will give Rs 5 lakh to kin of each of the dead and free treatement to injured. Have asked district administration to extend all help. Capt.Amarinder Singh (@capt_amarinder) November 18, 2018 Advertisement Three people were killed and at least 12 others have been injured in a blast. The blast occurred at the congregation of the Nirankaris in Adliwal village of Rajasansi town in Amritsar. An eyewitness said the explosions were triggered by two unidentified youths who threw the explosives into the Satsang. More than a dozen persons who sustained fatal injuries were rushed to various hospitals in Amritsar and are under treatment. Advertisement I appeal to the people of Punjab to maintain peace in wake of Amritsar bomb blast. I urge them not to panic and to remain calm. We will not let the forces of terror destroy our hard earned peace. Capt.Amarinder Singh (@capt_amarinder) November 18, 2018 Advertisement Capt also asked Home Secy and DGP of Punjab Police, DGP Intelligence and DGP Law & Order to rush to the spot to investigate. Captain Amarinder Singh also appeal to the people of Punjab to maintain peace in wake of Amritsar bomb blast. Safety of our schools There has been a robust debate in our community about the safety of our schools. I want to express my support for the approach the District has taken to safety as laid out in the New York State Project SAVE District-Wide Safety Plan for Saratoga Springs City School District 2018-2019 School Year. It involves collaboration, evidence, expertise, repeated review, improvement and innovation and seeks to be comprehensive. I strongly urge my fellow Saratogians to examine this document. One group that knows about school safety and informs that plan is the National Association of School Resource Officers. Here is a quote from written guidelines provided by that organization on their website not informal comments from an individual on the phone, but their official stance. Should schools arm teachers, or others who are not law enforcement officers? NASRO strongly recommends that no firearms be on a school campus except those carried by carefully selected, specially trained school resource officers, who are by definition active, sworn law enforcement officers Firearm skills degrade quickly, which is why most law enforcement agencies require their officers to practice on a shooting range frequently (as often as once per month), under simulated, high-stress conditions. Anyone without such frequent, ongoing practice will likely have difficulty using a firearm safely and effectively. In addition to maintaining marksmanship, ongoing firearms practice helps law enforcement officers overcome the physiological response to stress than can reduce the fine motor skills required to accurately fire a weapon. If anyone enters our schools with a firearm, they should have the highest level of up-to-date training, professional oversight, and full, explicit authorization of those in charge. In my opinion, the fact that school practices have not been meeting this standard for some time is very concerning, to say the least. Its certainly conceivable that Grounds Monitors who have been carrying firearms in our schools without full authorization should be disciplined, if not terminated. Having previously served in law enforcement most certainly does not make someone infallible, above the law or beyond school policy. Re-arming Grounds Monitors may seem like an obvious step, an easy, cheap solution. The National Association of School Resource Officers is clear in stating that it is not. If rigorous ongoing training really does matter, re-arming Grounds Monitors may cause false comfort or worse. In contrast to recent unauthorized practices, we should respect the expertise, ongoing training, professional standards, and accountability of active law enforcement officers. What they know, what they do, how they train, and how they are evaluated should be thought of as a fundamental premise for being armed in our schools. If the updated comprehensive security assessment drawing from analytical evidence and broad expertise indicates that more armed personnel is the best way to make our kids safer, we should spend the necessary money on School Resource Officers. I for one would happily pay more taxes if rational (non-ideological and non-self-interested) analysis points that way. Also a brief word about our discourse. First, I want to thank my neighbors on all sides who are passionate about our kids wellbeing. Everyone in our community cares about the safety of our children and some have spent a lot of energy trying to strengthen it. I am 100 percent confident that includes every one of our elected, volunteer School Board members. Any suggestion otherwise is pure nonsense and beneath the dignity or our civic discourse. Indeed, some of the rhetoric we have heard in public meetings is quite counterproductive, not to mention poorly informed, and in some cases just mean-spirited. There are even more absurd accusations and insults floating around on social media, as usual. I urge my friends on all sides to recognize that we all want the same outcome. The disagreement is about how to get there. Please stop with the juvenile harassment and harsh characterization of your neighbors who see things differently. In conclusion, I hope our elected officials, school administrators, law enforcement officials, mental health professionals, and educators will continue to work productively, collaboratively, and rationally to do what is necessary to make our kids as safe as possible. Be wary of anyone who thinks they have a simple solution. Please pay attention to the experts, those voices who are most informed, not the ones screaming the loudest. John Brueggemann Saratoga Springs 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." Demand for bioenergy to reduce CO 2 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), convened with the Government of Egypt in Sharm el Sheikh, 14-29 November. advertisement 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 CO 2 emissions. 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. advertisement "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). 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. Its been almost two weeks since San Francisco voters passed Proposition C, and the expected threat of a legal challenge to it potentially bankrolled by the business interests who opposed the measure has yet to materialize. Theres a reason for that: It might not have to. Prop. C, which seeks to tax the citys biggest businesses to fund services for the homeless, is already facing an existential threat that bloomed back in August. Thats when the Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Association sued the city over another ballot measure also titled Proposition C that sought to bring in about $146 million a year for child care services and early education by raising taxes on commercial rents. The taxpayers association, business groups and commercial property owners say the city violated the state Constitution when it allowed the child care measure to pass with a simple majority vote, rather than a two-thirds majority. Since the mid-1990s, any ballot measure that would raise taxes for a specific purpose has required a two-thirds majority to pass. But last year, the San Francisco City Attorneys Office issued a memo interpreting a recent state Supreme Court ruling to mean that tax measures put on the ballot by citizens needed only a simple majority to pass. The threshold is still two-thirds for tax measures put on the ballot by government officials. To date, San Francisco remains the only known city in the state to knock down the voter threshold for citizen-driven tax measures. San Francisco is alone in this, said Michael Coleman, a California municipal finance expert who works as the principal fiscal policy adviser both to the California Society of Municipal Finance Officers and the League of California Cities. Theres no other city attorneys office that I know of that has come up with a similar opinion. Since San Franciscos June election, three ballot measures the homelessness and child care initiatives and Junes Proposition G, which sought to raise teachers wages with a $298 parcel tax have passed, each reaching more than 50 percent of the vote. City Attorney Dennis Herrera went on the offensive in September, asking the courts to validate the use of a simple-majority threshold to pass Prop. G. Any decision could affect the two Prop. Cs as well. The city will begin collecting the tax revenue mandated by each of the three initiatives, but wont spend that money until the legal questions about the voter thresholds are resolved. That will probably take years, given the expectation among legal experts that the cases would probably be appealed to the state Supreme Court. For Herrera and his office, the stakes are high. Up to $500 million a year in funding for child care, homelessness and teacher salaries now depends on whether the courts agree with his singular reading of the state Supreme Courts intentions in whats known as the City of Upland decision. The San Bernardino County case doesnt touch explicitly on citizen-driven tax measures. Instead, the court ruled more broadly that citizens arent limited by the same constraints as government officials when putting measures on the ballot. A ruling against the city in one case could endanger all three propositions. But if the courts agree with Herrera, it could bode well for their survival. San Francisco has always been a leader, Herrera said in a statement sent by a spokesman. We have some of the sharpest legal minds and most dedicated people in the country. When the California Supreme Court spoke, we examined that decision and provided our clients with the best legal advice we could. This is about defending the will of the voters, he said. The court placed great weight on the difference between taxes emanating from a legislative body and taxes emanating from an initiative petition, said John Cote, a spokesman for the City Attorneys Office. The same reasoning should apply whether the issue is the type of election or the vote threshold needed. But in his survey of the state, Coleman said other attorneys and advocacy groups like the League of California Cities generally do not read it the way San Franciscos counsel has read it. They dont believe the Upland measure paves the way. Im not saying thats bad or wrong, but San Francisco tends to be out there testing the edges of the bounds of things. Thats the case here, he said. In an effort to invalidate the child care measure, the Jarvis taxpayers association suit argues San Francisco violated the state Constitution when it allowed the initiative to pass with a simple majority. Beyond that, it also maintains that the measure, placed on the ballot through a signature-gathering drive, was actually a stalking horse for a government-led goal. 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. Four supervisors Jane Kim, Norman Yee, Sandy Lee Fewer and Hillary Ronen originally joined together in an effort to put the measure on the ballot themselves, as city law permits. Passing the measure that way would have required a two-thirds majority because it was put on the ballot by the Board of Supervisors. But they withdrew their signatures in favor of a signature-gathering effort. Government action is government action however its brought to the table, said Laura Murray, a staff attorney for the Jarvis association and a lead lawyer in the case against the city. The case, Murray said, demonstrates what her group claims to be one of the most corrosive consequences of Herreras memo: the potential for city officials to use the lower, simple-majority threshold to launder government-led tax measures through the initiative process. This case makes it so clear what the potential is for collusion between city officials and citizens groups, Murray said. Yee insisted that the child care measure was driven by the community in the first place. He and the other three supervisors, he said, put the measure on the ballot themselves as a backup, thinking that, if the community cant figure it out, we have this alternative, he said. At the end of the day, (the community) figured it out and they got the signatures. We didnt want to leave any options off the table. Proponents of the three ballot measures and outside observers say theyre confident that, with Herrera and his team at the helm, the money that voters approved will be spent as planned eventually. The San Francisco City Attorneys Office is outstanding, said Darien Shanske, a professor at UC Davis School of Law who specializes in state and local taxation. For those who like the Upland decision and would like to see its logic (around voter thresholds) developed, having the San Francisco city attorney taking the lead is about as positive as it can be. Dominic Fracassa is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: dfracassa@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @dominicfracassa Liz Hafalia / The Chronicle Assemblyman Tony Thurmond, D-Richmond, declared victory Saturday in the close, costly and contentious race to become the next state superintendent of public instruction. Thurmond said in a tweet that his chief rival in the race, Marshall Tuck, had called to congratulate him. San Francisco Police Department Police Chief Bill Scott appears to be taking to heart the mayors call to keep large homeless camps from sprouting back up on the streets of San Francisco. On Wednesday, Scott and Lt. Tad Yamaguchi were returning to police headquarters from a meeting at City Hall when they noticed six men setting up an encampment at the corner of Alameda and San Bruno at Showplace Square, an area that until recently was overrun by dozens of tents. A century of mismanaging Sierra Nevada forests has brought an unprecedented environmental catastrophe that impacts all Californians. Thats not a tweet from President Trump, but the opening line of a February report by Californias Little Hoover Commission investigating fire danger in the state. The immediate crisis is visible to anyone who has traveled recently in the Sierra Nevada, especially in its southern range where mountainsides are brown with dying and dead forests, Commission Chairman Pedro Nava wrote in the cover letter for Fire on the Mountain, an 82-page report on the tinderbox nature of the states forests. The report outlines factors that have led to the current forest crisis, including years of poor or nonexistent management policies, and the recent drought and a beetle infestation that killed an estimated 129 million trees across the state trees that could go up in flames. The obstacles to progress are daunting and tremendously complex, the report said. Still, Nava was a bit taken aback by Trumps Nov. 10 tweet blaming the states gross mismanagement for the fires. My first reaction is that he really needs better advisers obviously they left a lot of things out, Nava told us. For example, the U.S. government owns nearly 60 percent of the forests that cover one-third of California and for the past 100 years federal policy has been to put out forest fires as quickly as possible rather than let nature take its course. The result is thicker forests that are just waiting to go up in flames. Still, its not just the federal policies that have created the danger. The report concludes that areas under state, local or private control carry their own set of conflicts as well. For example, plans for prescribed burning to rid the forests of dense ground cover often clash with regional air quality regulations, even as emissions from catastrophic wildfires nullify hard-fought carbon reduction accomplishments, it states. Plus, there are the familiar and old divisions between the lumber industry and environmentalists. The state has begun drawing up plans for better forest management. Lawmakers have also set aside $1 billion over the next five years for forest management programs. All of which will take time, and continued political will, to make any real changes. It took us 100 years to get to here, Nava said. It wont change overnight, but hopefully it wont take us 100 years to make it better either. For whom the bridge tolls: Saving money and saving drivers time are the two biggest arguments being put forth in the Bay Area Toll Authoritys plan to eliminate cash tolls on its seven bridges. But just how much money the changeover will actually save and just how much time drivers will save as a result of the bridges getting rid of toll takers is a bit hard to pin down at this point. For example, not having drivers stop and hand over money to toll takers is expected to pretty much eliminate the backups on the Antioch, Carquinez and Benicia-Martinez bridges. But, then again, none of them have significant backups. Planners estimate that getting rid of cash lanes could save drivers up to seven minutes on a westbound crossing of the Richmond-San Rafael Bridge and three to four minutes when crossing the Dumbarton and San Mateo bridges. The time savings for drivers battling rush-hour traffic on the Bay Bridge, where stopping to pay tolls is only part of the problem, remains to be seen. 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. You are still going to have to deal with 20 lanes of traffic funneling down to five lanes and the backup from people getting off on the San Francisco side, Metropolitan Transportation Commission spokesman Randy Rentschler said. So on one side or another you will still be sitting in traffic. Eliminating the need to run both cash and automatic payment systems will save the toll authority about $5 million a year. And the technology is available. Plus, going cashless has worked at other bridges including at the Golden Gate Bridge, which saw its backup disappear and saved $900,000 annually. When you look at the benefits going forward the time people will save waiting in line, the safety benefits from eliminating toll booth robberies and accidents leading up to the toll plaza and the backup those create its worth it, said toll authority member and Napa County Supervisor Alfredo Pedroza. With a price tag of $55 million for the new system, we certainly hope so. And finally: Police Chief Bill Scott appears to be taking to heart the mayors call to keep large homeless camps from sprouting back up on the streets of San Francisco. On Wednesday, Scott and Lt. Tad Yamaguchi were returning to police headquarters from a meeting at City Hall when they noticed six men setting up an encampment at the corner of Alameda and San Bruno at Showplace Square, an area that until recently was overrun by dozens of tents. Scott and Yamaguchi pulled over, searched the bicycles for any registration (none of the bikes was registered) and asked the group of men if they wanted to go to a Navigation Center or other shelter or meet with a social worker. The men refused the offer of help they didnt like the police attention either and eventually picked up and left. Whatever they left behind was soon gone, because were told Public Works came out and cleaned up the area. San Francisco Chronicle columnists Phillip Matier and Andrew Ross appear Sundays, Mondays and Wednesdays. Matier can be seen on the KPIX-TV morning and evening news. He can also be heard on KCBS radio Monday through Friday at 7:50 a.m. and 5:50 p.m. Got a tip? Call 415-777-8815, or email matierandross@sfchronicle.com. Twitter: @matierandross Diishan Imira started his business selling hair extensions out of the trunk of his car in Oakland. His startup, Mayvenn, has since grown to 51 full-time employees and a network of more than 50,000 stylists. The Oakland company is attracting attention after securing $23 million in a round of funding led by Essence Ventures, the owner of Essence magazine. Imira started the company after he saw that people often had to buy hair extensions at a beauty supply store, then take them to a salon, where a stylist would put them in. Inventory costs were a major barrier to stylists stocking and selling the extensions. He also saw an opportunity to empower his community by helping stylists tap into the multibillion-dollar hair extension market. We have all of these dollars that flow out of the community instead of being in it, so I wanted to help hair stylists capture those dollars, Imira said. Stylists can direct clients to an online Mayvenn shop, where they can order the extensions and have them shipped to their home. The average purchase is about $200, and the stylist receives a 15 percent commission, Imira said. Mayvenn has paid $20 million in commissions to stylists since it began operating in 2013. The premise of the whole business is the hair stylist has their own customers, Imira said. Lani LaFlare, a stylist in El Cerrito, said she puts in extensions for three clients a day, and typically one or two of those clients are using Mayvenn products. My clients love it, LaFlare said. They said its really convenient for them to order products, and shipping is really fast. With the new round of funding raised this month, Mayvenn will expand its wig line next year. It will also introduce a new kind of partnership with stylists, in which customers will buy extensions and get matched with a stylist who will put them in for free. Mayvenn is essentially paying for the customer to have their hair done, Imira said. We want to just continually invest in our customers and our stylists, Imira said. Weve done all the math, and we have a sustainable business doing it. Deal of the week: HealthLoop What it does: HealthLoop makes an app to monitor patient recovery. What happened: It was acquired by GetWellNetwork. Why it matters: Checking on patient progress is critical to recovery, and HealthLoop makes it easier to track the recovery process. Headquarters: Mountain View Funding: Undisclosed Air Quality Tracker Check levels down to the neighborhood Ratings for the Bay Area and California, updated every 10 minutes Employees: 11 to 50 Also trending: Nurx What it does: Nurx connects patients to physicians who review their information and write prescriptions for birth control or the HIV prevention medication PrEP. The medication is then shipped to the patients home. What happened: It expanded service into Alabama and added former Surgeon General Dr. Regina Benjamin to its board. To hear more To listen or subscribe: www.sfchronicle.com/startups Or search for "Startups of the Week" in your favorite podcast app. See More Collapse Why it matters: People in rural areas like the South have less access to birth control and HIV prevention medication, and Nurx makes it easier for people to privately consult with a physican and have medication sent to their home. We dont really see ourselves as a pill-delivery company, we see ourselves as a telemedicine company, CEO Hans Gangeskar said. We see a lot of this as a public health mission. Headquarters: San Francisco Funding: Over $40 million Employees: About 100 Sophia Kunthara is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: sophia.kunthara@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @SophiaKunthara Dire straits in Marin A former Mill Valley teacher who never thought shed need the food bank faces a hardscrabble retirement Dire straits in Marin A former Mill Valley teacher who never thought shed need the food bank faces a hardscrabble retirement Sheryl Boucher selects a tomato, a carrot, an onion, a chicken breast, a can of corn, a pear and a baguette from metal tubs set up on tables covered in red-and-white checkered tablecloths. A friend recently told her about this food pantry located inside the community room at the Hilarita Apartments, low-income housing in Tiburon, where anyone in the community can fill a bag with free groceries. Its a surprising location for Marin Countys newest food pantry. Through a window, Richardson Bay sparkles, and Belvedere, one of the Bay Areas most exclusive enclaves, is less than a mile away. The Hilarita complex climbs up a hill, and both the buildings and the landscaping around them appear carefully tended, as if to blend into their pristine surroundings. Situated on two islands, Belvedere is a city of 2,000 with a median household income of $178,000. Here, homes top out at $13 million for a six-bedroom. A mile further is a plot of land in Tiburon that recently made the news when it went on the market for $110 million. In this affluent area, you wouldnt think so many people would benefit from a program like the food bank, says Boucher, 72, who wears long necklaces over a drapey sweater. Her low voice has a slightly patrician air. Even in one of the wealthiest U.S. counties, her situation is not unique. One-third of seniors in Marin County live below the self-sufficiency standard of $27,000 per year to cover basic costs of living, according to the SF-Marin Food Bank. Overall, the median household income in Marin is more than $100,000, and the median home value is $1.1 million. Like in the rest of the country, there are pockets of poverty even in the wealthiest areas, says Edith Cadena of the SF-Marin Food Bank, which supplies food to pantries in the county. Boucher, who grew up outside Philadelphia as the daughter of a University of Pennsylvania professor, didnt expect to end up in this position; in fact, she used to donate to the food bank. She came to the Bay Area in 1968 because things were happening in San Francisco. She opened a preschool in 1979, but after it burned down in 2006, along with her home, she hasnt been able to get a teaching job since. To make extra cash, she is a caregiver for seniors more elderly than I. Boucher would not disclose her income from retirement savings and a small social security benefit, other than to say its mostly eaten up by the rent on her Mill Valley cottage, which increases every year by $100 a month. Shes constantly finding things to cut back on such as a newspaper subscription and is on waiting lists for subsidized housing. The retired preschool teacher had never considered accepting free groceries until August, when a friend told her about the Hilarita pantry. She now picks up groceries from the two nearby food pantries each week, which she says has saved her hundreds of dollars, and goes to a free lunch for Marin seniors every Friday. Its a social thing, and building community is important, she says of both the lunches and food pantry. A friend recently suggested she apply for CalFresh food stamps. That is another thing she never considered before, until things got difficult enough for her to change her thinking. I think a big piece is getting over your pride, she says. Im in dire straits here. Tara Duggan is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: tduggan@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @taraduggan - Two meals a day A San Francisco family tries to get by on two meals a day, and a higher paying job might make the problem even worse Two meals a day A San Francisco family tries to get by on two meals a day, and a higher paying job might make the problem even worse Karla Yamileth Bernal Flores is almost certain shes going to be offered a new job as a cook at Sacred Heart Cathedral Preparatory, the prestigious private school on San Franciscos Cathedral Hill. Not only would the hourly pay be $6 higher than her previous job, but the position would be full time instead of part time. It would be a huge improvement for her and her two young sons, especially after they recently spent a year at the Star Community Home homeless shelter. Shes excited. And yet, she is also nervous, because she knows the new income would make her ineligible for CalFresh formerly known as food stamps which currently makes up half of the familys food budget, and it would reduce the rent subsidy she receives from San Franciscos Prenatal Homeless Center. Shes not sure, all in all, that the new job will be a net gain. Its better, but it still wont be enough, says Flores, 27, rubbing her eyes over her high, wide cheeks. Its a gesture she repeats often, interspersed with ironic laughter. Since leaving the shelter, Flores has been sharing a two-bedroom apartment in San Franciscos Potrero Hill neighborhood with her sister. About half of the $3,000 rent is subsidized by the Prenatal Homeless Center. Together with their three young children, the two women live midway between the dilapidated Potrero Terrace public housing development and private homes valued at $2.5 million. The single mothers take turns caring for the children while the other works. Flores sister who did not want to be named for this story due to privacy concerns works the night shift, spending 6 p.m. to 3 a.m. cleaning the Mid-Market headquarters of Uber, the ride-hailing company with a $62 billion valuation. Flores works weekends, often through the night to earn overtime, as a cook at Star Community Home. Despite their hard work, they can afford to feed their own family only two meals a day: a late breakfast and early supper. If we had three meals a day we would run out of food, says Flores, alternating between speaking in English and in Spanish, through a translator. Dressed comfortably for a morning at home in a scoop-neck gray T-shirt and stretchy yoga pants, Flores heads to the kitchen while her son Khenan, 4, and niece Nicole, 8, spread out cards for a game on the polished dining room floor. It is 10 a.m. and they havent eaten breakfast yet. Im in a bit of difficulty right now, says Flores. I just bought mandarins. That was all I could afford. Because theyre running low on fresh groceries, Flores adds water to Krusteaz mix and serves the children pancakes with sliced bananas that her sister brought home from work a leftover perk for Uber employees. She grabs a graham cracker and a cup of coffee for herself, following a common pattern of parents in food-insecure families, who often feed their children first and skip their own meals. Flores and her sister each receive CalFresh benefits on the fourth of the month. Thats when they make a trip to Costco to buy eggs, milk and bulk foods that store or freeze well, like chicken drumsticks. After Costco, they go to FoodsCo in the Mission for fruit for the kids midday snacks, lettuce for tacos and other inexpensive produce. After the CalFresh benefits run out, Flores has budgeted $200 each month to spend on food. If Flores gets the new job, her new income of $22 per hour, or $3,813 per month, would mean losing CalFresh, because it would put her just above the eligibility cut-off of $3,464 for a household of three, or twice the federal poverty level. Yet by Bay Area standards, they would still be in poverty. Flores would actually need to earn an almost unimaginable $59 per hour to independently support a family of three in San Francisco, according to Insight Center for Community Economic Development, an Oakland anti-poverty research group. Relatively high wages compared to the rest of the country are a key reason that only 37 percent of the people who are considered food insecure in the Bay Area actually receive food assistance, according to Feeding America. For our working-class families, the minimum wage is going up, but is that comparable to food cost? No, its not. Its still not matching the cost of raising a family in the city, says Christina Velasco, former principal of Bryant Elementary, the 25th Street school at the border of the Mission and Potrero Hill where 98 percent of students qualify for free or reduced lunch. Flores son Oscar is among them. The amount it costs for a family of three, like Flores, to live in San Francisco without private or public assistance increased by 60 percent between 2014 and 2018, from $76,352 to $126,361, according to the Insight Center. While the minimum wage increased from $10.74 to $15 per hour during the same period, it still only adds up to an annual full-time salary of $31,200. As she cleans up breakfast, Flores notices that Khenan hasnt finished his milk. Each drop is vital, and she calls him back to finish. Despite her financial pressures, Flores is slowly setting money aside toward a small cafe specializing in the food of El Salvador, where she was raised. The 27-year-olds goal is to start the business before she turns 30 and to become independent of public benefits. I dont want to feel like people say I came here so the government can support me, says Flores. I would feel better because I wouldnt be a burden. Tara Duggan is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: tduggan@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @taraduggan WASHINGTON President Trump says he very easily answered written questions from Special Counsel Robert Mueller, though he speculated that the questions had been tricked up to try to catch him in a lie. Theyre all done, Trump told reporters at the White House early Saturday before leaving to visit the Butte County fire zone in California, adding that his responses will soon be submitted to Muellers team. We do that next week, he said, in what signals a new phase of the inquiry. 2 1 of 2 Jae C. Hong/Associated Press Show More Show Less 2 of 2 Chris Carlson / Associated Press Show More Show Less Gil Cisneros has won a GOP-held congressional seat in Orange County, completing an astonishing Democratic sweep of House races in a conservative bastion that for decades has been a nationwide symbol of Republican political strength. Cisneros, a former Navy officer making his first try for political office, beat Republican Young Kim of Fullerton, a onetime assemblywoman who had worked for retiring GOP Rep. Ed Royce. The victory leaves the entire county represented by Democrats in Washington. A meeting called for Saturday to discuss African Americans in city policy became a lively discussion on the black history surrounding the Jonestown massacre. James Taylor, a professor of political science at the University of San Francisco, gave a talk at the New Liberation Presbyterian Church in the Western Addition, focusing on what he said is the forgotten black history surrounding the 1978 Jonestown massacre. He drew parallels between the current African American departure from San Francisco and the mass murder-suicide in Guyana that killed more than 900 people the majority of them black Bay Area residents who were following Jim Jones, leader of the Peoples Temple. Pressure should be put on acting Mayor London Breed to install a monument to remember those killed, Taylor said at the event, which was organized by the Lower Fillmore Neighborhood Association. The Jonestown massacre became a taboo subject in the city, not only because of the loss of hundreds of lives, but also because of the subsequent political embarrassment. Before the tragedy, politicians who supported cult leader Jones ranged from Gov. Jerry Brown to former Mayor Willie Brown, now a Chronicle columnist. The erasure of Jonestown to me ... the erasure of the black people in Jonestown is not unrelated to the failures of the city of San Francisco, Taylor said. It also has to do with the black out-migration right now. As much as Jim Jones represented a real, deep evil, even without Jim Jones, the black community is still being erased. November marked 39 years since Jones ordered his followers to kill themselves by taking cyanide mixed with a sweet purple drink, forcing those who refused. The deadly event followed a visit by Rep. Leo Ryan, D-San Mateo, who went to Guyana to investigate the settlement but was shot by temple gunmen when he tried to leave. Among those shot and killed with Ryan were NBC photographer Robert Brown and reporter Don Harris, San Francisco Examiner photographer Greg Robinson and Patricia Parks, a temple member who wanted to leave. Jackie Speier, an aide to Ryan who now holds his seat in Congress, was severely wounded. The massacre has stayed with Yulanda Williams, now a lieutenant with the San Francisco Police Department, for years. As she listened to Taylor speak, she also called for a monument to be set up. Williams had been a member of the church and left the settlement with her family before violence broke out, she said. The ordeal became something to hide and deny, she said, and soon it wasnt discussed much in the city. When we first got back from Guyana, people said they could not understand how black people could be so foolish, Williams said. They made the survivors feel as though they were unintelligent. She suggested that a monument be placed at the post office in the 1800 block of Geary Boulevard the former Peoples Temple site. Nine hundred people lost their lives, and we dont even have a monument or statue or anything, she said. There should be a day of remembrance. The discussion became more heated as the group many of whom lost friends in the massacre debated Jones role as a leader, the role of the black movements of the 60s and 70s, and asked How did they get caught up in some madness like that? Jenna Lyons is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: jlyons@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @JennaJourno Those looking to score the cheapest airfares around this Thanksgiving holiday shopping season may have their patience tested. Between Black Friday, Cyber Monday and what some are calling Travel Tuesday or Travel Deal Tuesday a day that some airlines appear to be making their own when it comes to holiday bargains there are definitely deals to be had. Mark your calendar for Travel Deal Tuesday: The Tuesday after Thanksgiving is one of the latest shopping holidays to emerge, thanks in large part to Hopper, the airfare prediction and booking app that analyzes historical pricing data to identify flight bargains. According to Hoppers analysis, this day offered the most airfare sales in 2017, with deals on 20 percent of all domestic and international round-trip routes. Hopper first identified the trend in 2015 and has since branded the day Travel Deal Tuesday which falls on Nov. 27 this year. We were initially exploring Cyber Monday patterns when we stumbled upon this date that offered a greater volume of sales, said Patrick Surry, Hoppers chief data scientist. Hopper notifies its users when it finds what it considers to be a breaking fare sale. Last year, we sent more deal notifications on Travel Deal Tuesday than Black Friday and Cyber Monday combined, Surry said. The company believes that many airlines offer deals this time of year because demand for travel typically slows after Thanksgiving. It believes many travelers have already booked flights for the holidays, but have yet to determine where they may go for a winter getaway, or even a New Years holiday. The fall and winter is traditionally a slower travel time other than Thanksgiving and Christmas, so airlines are looking for ways to keep planes full, Surry said. Hopper also said that more airlines are getting behind the idea of Travel Deal Tuesday, with international carriers like Icelandair, South African Airways and Philippine Airlines agreeing to offer special rates this year. 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. 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 with the average airfare costs 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: 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 the best deals when matched against the median booking price for November compared with 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, Soderlund said. If youre waiting for a lower price to a particular destination and a sale fails to manifest Travel Tuesday could be your best bet. Even Skyscanner found that travelers who booked on the Tuesday after Thanksgiving in 2017 saved an average of 11 percent, compared with those who bought airfare on the Friday after the holiday. Bottom line, the holidays are a great time to book a vacation: There may not be a consensus on the best day to book, but all of these studies do indicate that, in general, the holiday shopping season does offer significant savings on flights, which hasnt always been the case. In general, the holiday sale period certainly appears to have changed over the past few years, Surry said. With the growth of Cyber Monday, consumers are increasingly expecting nonphysical goods and services available for purchase in the post-Thanksgiving sales, which could in part contribute to the increase in travel deals in the past few years. Hopper and Skyscanner also agree on several of the same destinations that will probably save travelers the most, with perennial international favorites like London, Paris and Tokyo expected to be among the most popular destinations booked during the week after Thanksgiving. For example, Hopper predicts that travelers can book a trip to Tokyo for 40 percent less than normal on the Tuesday after Thanksgiving, and Skyscanner expects fares to be at a 20 percent discount on the Friday. Domestic cities cited by both Hopper and Skyscanner as bargain destinations include Tampa, Las Vegas and Denver. To make bargain hunting less of a headache, Hopper, Skyscanner and Hipmunk all offer tools on their websites and mobile apps to track fares and be alerted to special deals. Surry expects that the trend of airlines offering bargain fares for the holidays will only become more prevalent as consumers demonstrate their willingness to purchase travel as part of their holiday savings strategies. Justin Sablich is a New York Times writer. A group of Oregon firefighters celebrated after freeing a doe caught in a power line, while helping with the Camp Fire. Members of the Mohawk Valley Fire Department of Oregon are in California as part of a larger group of Oregon state firefighters assisting Cal Fire in the Paradise area. A video posted to the Eugene Springfield Fire Instagram account showed a firefighter inching up to a doe with wire cutters, freeing the animal from entanglement in what was an apparent power line. When the doe is freed, the firefighters exchanged a round of high-fives. "While the Lane County Strike Team is working through Paradise, Ca putting out hot spots, the Mohawk Firefighters found a deer entangled in a power line and were able to cut him free," the video post caption reads. "Nice job Mohawk Fire Department." READ ALSO: Paradise native pens poem to her lost hometown It's just the latest kindness to animals that people have exhibited through these deadly fires, which have killed 71 people and left over 1,000 missing since it first started last week. As people were forced to evacuate their homes and the fire moved through the area, there have been a number of animals that have been found outdoors trapped or caught in precarious situations. One such example is two men from Paradise who helped rescue a mule when it was found caught in a backyard swimming pool. There have also been stories of firefighters coming across wandering donkeys fleeing the fire. READ ALSO: Do you recognize these pets displaced by the Camp Fire? SF SPCA looking for pet owners As for domesticated animals found wandering outdoors, there are groups trying to reunite found pets with their owners. The North Valley Animal Disaster Group is one of the groups organizing those efforts, setting up a temporary shelter for the large numbers of animals they're encountering. The San Francisco SPCA has also taken in a number of animals from the affected wildfire areas, and are caring for those animals in need of treatment for burn wounds. The shelter is currently posting photos of these animals on their Facebook page, in hopes owners will find their pets. Read Dianne de Guzman's latest stories and send her news tips at ddeguzman@sfchronicle.com. Start receiving breaking news emails on wildfires, civil emergencies, riots, national breaking news, Amber Alerts, weather emergencies, and other critical events with the SFGATE breaking news email. Click here to make sure you get the news. SPRINGFIELD, Ill. The death of an inmate after an altercation with correctional staff at Western Illinois Correctional Center in May has been ruled a homicide, according to an autopsy report provided to the Associated Press under a Freedom of Information request. Larry Earvin died from blunt trauma to the chest and abdomen, the death certificate from Clinton County in southern Illinois said. The 65-year-old sustained 15 rib fractures and two dozen or more abrasions, hemorrhages and lacerations. Surgery to remove a portion of his bowel appears to have followed the injury, the report says. SAN DIEGO As thousands of migrants in a caravan of Central American asylum-seekers converge on the doorstep of the United States, what they wont find are armed American soldiers standing guard. Instead they will see cranes installing towering panels of metal bars and troops wrapping concertina wire around barriers while military helicopters fly overhead, carrying border patrol agents to and from locations along the U.S.-Mexico border. Thats because U.S. military troops are prohibited from carrying out law enforcement duties. Whats more, the bulk of the troops are in Texas hundreds of miles away from the caravan that started arriving last week in Tijuana on Mexicos border with California after walking and hitching rides for the past month. Still, for many migrants the barriers and barbed wire were an imposing show of force. Angel Ulloa stood on Tijuanas beach where a wall of metal bars more than 20 feet high cut across the sand and plunge into the Pacific. He watched as crews on the U.S. side placed coils of barbed wire on top. A border patrol agent wearing camouflage and armed with an assault rifle part of a tactical unit deployed when there is a heightened threat walked in the sand below where the men worked. A small border patrol boat hovered offshore. Its too much security to confront humble people who just want to work, said Ulloa, a 23-year-old electrician from Choloma, Honduras, who joined the caravan to try to make his first trip to the U.S. Now, he and his two friends were rethinking their plans. They tried to apply for a job at a Walmart in Tijuana but were told they need a Mexican work permit. So they were considering seeking asylum in Mexico but were unsure of giving up their dream of earning dollars. Were still checking things out, he said. On Friday, people walking through one of the worlds busiest border crossings into Mexico passed by a pair of Marines on a 20-foot lift installing razor wire above a turnstile. The U.S. military has deployed 5,800 active-duty troops to the U.S.-Mexico border. So far, more are not expected, despite President Trumps initial assessment that 10,000 to 15,000 were needed to secure the border against what he has called an invasion of migrants. Most in the caravan of several thousand are families, including hundreds of children. Another 2,100 National Guard troops are have also been deployed since April as part of a separate mission. Like the military troops, they are not allowed to detain illegal crossers. Instead, they have been monitoring cameras and helping to erect barriers. Of the 5,800 soldiers and Marines, more than 2,800 are in Texas, while about 1,500 are in Arizona and another 1,300 are in California. All U.S. military branches, except the Coast Guard, are barred from performing law enforcement duties. That means there will be no visible show of armed troops, said Army Maj. Scott McCullough. Julie Watson is an Associated Press writer. WASHINGTON President Trump said there is no reason for him to listen to a recording of the very violent, very vicious killing of Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi, which has put him in a diplomatic bind: how to admonish Riyadh for the slaying yet maintain strong ties with a close ally. Trump, in an interview that aired Sunday, made clear that the audio recording, supplied by the Turkish government, would not affect his response to the Oct. 2 killing of Khashoggi, a columnist for the Washington Post who had been critical of the Saudi royal family. Its a suffering tape, its a terrible tape. Ive been fully briefed on it, theres no reason for me to hear it, Trump said in the interview with Fox News Sunday. I know everything that went on in the tape without having to hear it. On Saturday, Trump said his administration will have a very full report over the next two days, probably Monday or Tuesday. He said the report will include who did it. It was unclear whether the report will be made public. American intelligence agencies have concluded that the crown prince ordered the killing in the Saudi Consulate in Turkey, according to a U.S. official familiar with the assessment. The official spoke on condition of anonymity. Others familiar with the case caution that while its likely the crown prince was involved in the death, there continue to be questions about what role he played. Trump noted to Fox News Sunday that the crown prince has repeatedly denied being involved in the killing inside the consulate in Istanbul. Will anybody really know? Trump asked. At the same time, we do have an ally, and I want to stick with an ally that in many ways has been very good. A Republican member of the Senate intelligence committee said that so far, there is no smoking gun linking the crown prince to the killing. Sen. Roy Blunt of Missouri, who has received a confidential intelligence briefing on the matter, told ABC that its hard to imagine that the crown prince didnt know about the killing, but he said, I dont know that we absolutely know that yet. He said Congress will await the Trump administrations report in the next two days and that the U.S. will need to be clear about the ramifications of sanctions, given Saudi Arabias strategic role in the Middle East. For his part, Sen. Lindsey Graham, a Trump ally, said the crown prince has been a wrecking ball in the relationship between the U.S. and Saudi Arabia. I hate to say that because I had a lot of hope for him being the reformer that Saudi Arabia needs, but that ship has sailed as far as Lindsey Grahams concerned, the South Carolina Republican told NBCs Meet the Press. Intelligence officials have been providing information to Trump for weeks about the death, and he was briefed again by phone Saturday by CIA Director Gina Haspel and Secretary of State Mike Pompeo. Deb Riechmann and Jonathan Lemire are Associated Press writers. OAKLAND (BCN) With air quality warnings covering virtually the entire Bay Area, the City of Oakland said there remain available shelter beds at homeless shelters in West Oakland and in East Oakland. The city's year-round shelter at St. Vincent de Paul, 675 23rd Street in West Oakland, has beds available for the homeless tonight. Shelter beds can be secured through referral, reservation or via walk-up on a first-come, first-served basis. Contact St. Vincent de Paul directly at (510) 638-7600. Karen Boyd, communications director with Oakland's city administrator's office, said tonight that the 23rd Street shelter has had the shelter beds available since the beginning of the bad air crisis over a week ago. Across town, the East Oakland Community Project will make available 10 additional shelter beds starting tonight to allow more people to escape sleeping outside with the unsafe pollution levels. The beds can be accessed by walking into the Crossroads Shelter, 7515 International Blvd. These 10 East Oakland beds, Boyd said, are available for the first time tonight. For unsheltered people looking for a daytime indoor reprieve from the unhealthy air, St. Vincent de Paul will once again open its doors all day Sunday from 9:30 a.m. until 3 p.m. as a drop-in respite center. In addition, the Main Library, at 125 14th Street, is scheduled to be open tomorrow from 1 to 5 p.m. 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. REGIONAL(BCN) Some 5,000 images and 49 audio recordings from the Peoples Temple political activism in the 1970s will be among thousands of photographs and records made available to the public, thanks to a nearly $100,000 grant to the California Historical Society. The grant, from the National Historical Publications and Records Commission, will also help provide public access to ACLU of Northern California records and the papers of activist Mike Miller, the historical society announced today. Materials from the three archival collections come from hundreds of cartons of records and papers, tens of thousands of photographic negatives, slide and prints, and 49 audio recordings. An estimated 50,000 photographs in the collections document the social and political history of California in the 1960s, 1970s and 1980s. Jim Jones founded Peoples Temple of the Disciples of Christ, commonly shortened to Peoples Temple, in 1955. This Sunday marks the 40th anniversary of the Nov. 18, 1978 mass murder and suicide of 918 Americans, including 300 children, at Jonestown, the temple's remote settlement in Guyana. The California Historical Society is the chief repository of records documenting Jonestown and the Peoples Temple. The Peoples Temple Publication Department Records represent the largest collection of visual materials documenting the predominantly African American utopian movement in the U.S. and Guyana. The ACLU of Northern California records document the group's groundbreaking legal advocacy work in the 70s and 80s, including cases related to immigration, executive power and LGBT rights that were adjudicated all the way to the U.S. Supreme Court. The papers of Mike Miller document the activity of the community organizer in San Francisco, throughout California and across the country from the 1940s through the 2000s. Topics include the civil rights movement of the 1960s and the anti-urban renewal struggles of the 60s and 70s. Some of the photographs and materials can be viewed at https://hpastrategiccommunications.app.box.com/s/gpjfgilim7qmiyfv6wst7pig1lz6kxsx 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. Smoke from the Camp Fire in Butte County, which has cast a pall over the entire Bay Area for more than a week, isn't expected to dissipate significantly until at least Wednesday, according to the Bay Area Air Quality Management District. Almost the entire Bay Area Saturday had air quality that, because of the ongoing smoke pollution, was rated as "unhealthy for sensitive groups," which means an "air quality index" count of between 101 and 150. The exception, as of 10 p.m. Saturday, was a patch including Livermore and part of Pleasanton registered in the "unhealthy" range of 151 to 200 AQI. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency calculates the air quality index for five major air pollutants -- ground-level ozone, particle pollution (particulate matter), carbon monoxide, sulfur dioxide and nitrogen dioxide. "For the Bay Area, the main contributor to that count is fine particulates in the smoke," Kristine Roselius, a Bay Area Air Quality Management District spokeswoman, said. The AQI count is expected to rise today into the 151 to 200 range for almost the entire Bay Area. "Offshore winds are expected to push the smoke right back over the Bay Area" on Sunday, Roselius said. Air quality is expected to remain in the "unhealthy" range throughout most of the Bay Area until late Tuesday, before the expected rain arrives Wednesday or Thursday. It will be wind, Roselius said, and not rain that will give the smoke its big bump out of the area. The entire Bay Area remains under a "Spare the Air" advisory, banning outdoor burning and discouraging driving as much as possible and use of lawnmowers and other engine-driven tools and other machines. Alcatraz and other major visitor attractions in the Golden Gate National Recreation Area are closed this weekend due to that unhealthy air, the National Park Service said Saturday. "We hesitate to suspend any visitor operations but feel that this is the best way to provide for the safety and well-being of our staff and visitors during this difficult week," said Charlie Strickfaden, spokesman for the Golden Gate recreation area. Visitor facilities closed through Sunday in San Francisco are Crissy Field Warming Hut, Alcatraz Island, Fort Point National Historic Site, Lands End Lookout and the Golden Gate Bridge welcome center and caf. No access will be available to Alcatraz Island. The Presidio Visitor Center will remain open through the weekend, officials said. In Marin County, the sites closed are Muir Woods National Monument Visitor Center and concessions; Marin Headlands Visitor Center; and Point Bonita Lighthouse. Volunteer programs, outdoor walks and education programs are also suspended. Park officials will reevaluate park operations as conditions change. Vallejo firefighters were expected be at the scene into early this morning of a four-alarm fire at a combination business/residential structure in the 500 block of Georgia Street in the downtown area, firefighters said. The fire was initially reported just after 6:10 p.m. Saturday; by 6:35 p.m., a fourth alarm was called. No one was injured in the fire, Vallejo firefighters said, and no one was reported injured. The cause was under investigation as of 11 p.m. Saturday. Some 5,000 images and 49 audio recordings from the Peoples Temple political activism in the 1970s will be among thousands of photographs and records made available to the public, thanks to a nearly $100,000 grant to the California Historical Society. The grant, from the National Historical Publications and Records Commission, will also help provide public access to ACLU of Northern California records and the papers of activist Mike Miller, the historical society announced Saturday. Materials from the three archival collections come from hundreds of cartons of records and papers, tens of thousands of photographic negatives, slide and prints, and 49 audio recordings. An estimated 50,000 photographs in the collections document the social and political history of California in the 1960s, 1970s and 1980s. Jim Jones founded Peoples Temple of the Disciples of Christ, commonly shortened to Peoples Temple, in 1955. This Sunday marks the 40th anniversary of the Nov. 18, 1978 mass murder and suicide of 918 Americans, including 300 children, at Jonestown, the temple's remote settlement in Guyana. The California Historical Society is the chief repository of records documenting Jonestown and the Peoples Temple. Some of the photographs and materials can be viewed at https://hpastrategiccommunications.app.box.com/s/gpjfgilim7qmiyfv6wst7pig1lz6kxsx A 25-year-old San Jose man was arrested this week in connection with three incidents of indecent exposure over the past two months, police said Saturday. Sergio Villaverde Jr. was arrested Tuesday in San Jose without incident on suspicion of incident exposure and booked into Santa Clara County Jail, police said in a news release. Villaverde is suspected in three indecent exposure incidents that occurred between Sept. 25 and Oct. 15, during late afternoon hours, near Parkview Park and the surrounding area, according to San Jose police. Anyone with information about the incidents or other cases involving the suspect is asked to contact Detective Mario Shen of the San Jose Police Department's sexual assault unit, at (408) 277-4102. A driver was seriously injured Saturday afternoon when a red Toyota Prius veered off eastbound State Highway 24 near the State Highway 13 offramp, the California Highway Patrol said. The accident was reported about 3:42 p.m., when the car veered off the roadway, down an embankment and through a fence, ending up near the entrance to the Temescal Regional Recreation Area, and Lake Temescal, the CHP said. The drivers of at least three other vehicles stopped to help. The driver of the Prius was taken to an area hospital. More information on the driver was not immediately available. No other vehicles were involved, and no one else was injured, the CHP 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. Three firefighters who were injured this morning while fighting the Buzzard Fire in Santa Cruz County are in stable condition and expected to be released from the hospital shortly, Cal Fire said. The firefighters were injured while escaping a falling tree and treated at the scene before being taken to a hospital. The fire broke out just after 2:30 a.m. in the area of Eureka Canyon in Corralitos near Buzzard Lagoon Road in The Forest of Nisene Marks State Park. It was stopped at less than 2 acres and is 50 percent contained, according to Cal Fire. Ground crews and one helicopter will remain at the scene throughout the day. The cause of the fire is under investigation. 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. Two firefighters were injured this morning battling a two-acre vegetation fire in the area of Eureka Canyon near Buzzard Lagoon Road in Corralitos in Santa Cruz County. The injuries resulted from a falling tree, and the firefighters were treated at the scene by paramedics before being taken to hospitals for further treatment, Cal Fire said. No information was immediately available on the extent of their injuries. More than 50 firefighters responded to the fire, which began around 2:30 a.m. and is 50 percent contained. Ground crews and one helicopter will remain at the scene throughout the day. The cause of the fire is under investigation. 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. Were highlighting some of the activities Staten Island students are engaged in -- both inside and outside the classroom. STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- United Federation of Teachers President Michael Mulgrew visited Staten Island Technical High School last month to meet with students and staff. Mulgrew visited the New Dorp school to see recent projects in action, such as the award-winning solar car, which placed second in the nationwide competition 2018 Solar Car Challenge. He also discussed with faculty the schools Career and Technical Education (CTE) program and outreach program to middle schools on Staten Island and Brooklyn. Mulgrew visited several classrooms, such as engineerings and robotics, and the schools MakerSpace. Staten Island Techs MakerSpace, which rolled out during the 2016-2017 school year, allows students to hone their artistic, technical and engineering skills and make their ideas a reality. The concept was inspired by Stapletons Staten Island MakerSpace. View the photos above of Mulgrews visit to the high school. As part of our education column, In Class, we are highlighting some of the activities Staten Island students are engaged in -- both inside and outside the classroom. Heres a look at some additional recent education-related happenings. HONORING VETERANS St. Johns University held its annual Veterans Day ceremony on Nov. 9 to honor all U.S. veterans. The ceremony, held at the Grymes Hill campus, recognized the hard work and courage of those who have served. The event included a short invocation by a Campus Ministry representative. Joseph Sciame, vice president for community relations, officiated the event. The Kappa Sigma Fraternity also hosted a Military Heroes Dinner on Nov. 2. The Kappa Sigma Military Heroes Campaign is committed to supporting ongoing care for military veterans and their families. The campaign works to pursue opportunities and assist veterans with financial and organizational support. The keynote speaker was Col. Jack Jacobs -- a Medal of Honor recipient and a U.S. Army veteran who served during and after the Vietnam War. He is currently a military analyst for NBC/MSNBC and is a New Jersey Hall of Fame inductee. AUTHOR SHARES MEMOIR The Friends of the College of Staten Island welcomed Staten Island native Dolores N. Morris as the featured author at the annual Friends of CSI Literary Brunch last month. During the brunch, Morris presented her memoir, The Soldier That Wagged Her Tail, which tells the story of her father, William A. Morris Jr., and his service as an African-American soldier from Staten Island. Its an important book because it presents a part of history people dont know about African-American soldiers experiences in World War II, Morris said. It was the first time she presented the story without her father, who died earlier this year at 99 years old. I could hear sort of hear his voice as I was telling it, she said. It gave me a really good boost that I could continue to do this without him in this particular way, telling the journey of the book. Two veterans, who are CSI students, participated in readings from the memoir. The students were Derrick Reuben, a U.S. Army veteran who served as a combat engineer, and Naomi Gordon, who is currently serving in the U.S. Army Reserves with the 874th Transportation Unit on Staten Island. Literature is fundamental to education and the annual brunch allows us to shine a light on those who have contributed to the literary tradition, said Cheryl Adolph, CSIs executive director of Institutional Advancement and External Affairs. Dolores memoir is perfect in many ways and particularly meaningful because it pays tribute to all veterans and their service to our country. Morris is a sixth-generation Staten Island native and community advocate. She is known for her work in television at the Childrens Television Workshop, ABC Television, Walt Disney Television and HBO. Her career spans 30 years of producing award-winning family and childrens programming, winning three Peabody Awards, an Oscar mention and five Emmy awards. Dolores Morris poses for a photo with student veterans of the College of Staten Island at the 2018 Friends of CSI Literary Brunch, Oct. 21, 2018. From L to R: Derrick Reuben, Dolores Morris, Naomi Gordon, and Xavier Santiago. (Photo courtesy of College of Staten Island) Do you have a story idea for the In Class education column? Email education reporter Annalise Knudson at aknudson@siadvance.com. FOLLOW ANNALISE KNUDSON ON FACEBOOK AND TWITTER. STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- A Staten Island man is suing Carmel Richmond Healthcare and Rehabilitation Center, Dongan Hills for $10 million after his wife allegedly died under a do not resuscitate (DNR) order," which he says was forged, according to court papers. Carmel Richmond Healthcare and Rehab allowed the death of Maureen LaCapria, 67, because of a do not resuscitate healthcare order she allegedly signed. However, her husband husband, Rocco LaCapria, alleges in court documents that the order had the word void written across it. The husband also alleges that his wifes signature was forged on the DNR order. The court papers, filed in Manhattan Supreme Court, say LaCapria was fighting stage four colon cancer when radiation treatment caused her to become ill. Her husband said in court papers that she was eventually sent to Carmel Richmond Healthcare and Rehab. His wife was recently given oxygen before she entered a coma-like state, LaCapria said court documents. Legal papers say he asked the nursing home to send his wife back to the hospital, but they refused to do so. The facility didnt immediately respond to comment about the lawsuit. 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! Solomon Lew's Premier Investments has seized on a drop in Myer's quarterly sales to reiterate its call for a board spill, as part of a long-running campaign to gain greater control of the struggling department store's board. With Myer shares likely to resume trading on Monday after it reported a decline in sales late on Friday, Premier, which is Myer's biggest shareholder, repeated its call for a vote against the company's remuneration report at its annual general meeting next week, and a board spill. Myer shareholder Solomon Lew seized on figures showing sales declined in the first quarter. Credit:Photo: Jesse Marlow In contrast to Mr Lew's criticism, however, two of Myer's biggest shareholders defended the company's approach ahead of what is likely to be a fiery annual general meeting on November 30. Myer shares were put into a trading halt on Friday, following a report in the Australian Financial Review of leaked sales figures, and an initial response from the company that the Australian Securities Exchange deemed to be not detailed enough. Qatar Airways is tipped to walk out of the global Oneworld airline alliance, driven by a dispute with Qantas over the Middle Eastern carrier's aggressive push into Australia. The conflict came to a head last week when Qatar's chief executive officer Akbar Al Baker publicly accused Qantas of failing to act "in the spirit" of the alliance by lobbying against it being granted more flight rights into Australia. Qatar Airways CEO Akbar Al Baker has threatened to quit Oneworld before. Credit:Jessica Hromas I dont see any point in us continuing to stay a part of Oneworld when other partners see us as a threat", Al Baker said at an event in Spain last week, as reported by Bloomberg. Oneworld member airlines give each other's passengers perks like loyalty points, access to airport lounges, and share some booking capability. Melbourne start-up Phoria went from using virtual reality for real estate firms to working with kids with cancer in a "quintessential lightbulb moment". A family contacted the business after seeing it on TV as part of a virtual reality project in the property selling space. They asked whether the team could bring the high-tech headsets into hospital for their daughter, who was having cancer treatment. Staff at Phoria including founder Trent Clews-de Castella (centre). "It really flicked a switch in our minds how do we leverage this for good?" co-founder Trent Clews-de Castella says. The 'immersive technology' company, which started in 2014, has hit the $1 million revenue mark and is fast approaching $2 million. Clews-de Castella and co-founder Joseph Purdam say they've been able to grow the business by building virtual reality projects that have real life value and social good. Appointed in January, McBurney replaced Nigel Hadgkiss, who had resigned after he admitted to recklessly misrepresenting union rights to employers in breach of the Fair Work Act, with the Federal Court ordering him to pay a $8500 fine to the union. CFMEU national secretary Dave Noonan dismissed McBurney as a lawyer in a "pinstriped suit". Credit:Jorge Branco Dave Noonan, the national secretary of the CFMMEU's construction division, dismissed McBurney as a lawyer in a "pin-striped suit" who served an ideological, anti-union government agenda. McBurney, who was himself a union member in his AFL umpiring days, maintains that he is an impartial arbiter. "It's just as important for us to protect the right of union officials to enter a site, as it is to protect the right of an occupier to refuse," he said. Loading "Right of entry cuts both ways, that's the message I've been sending to industry." McBurney gave the example of Queensland developer Susan Menso, fined $110,000 by the full Federal Court in July for breaching this provision in 2015, as evidence that the system was working. "I intervened in that case and sought a penalty against her in favour of the union," the Commissioner said. And he argued the commission's efforts since it was re-established in 2016 after previous iterations were abolished under Labor were starting to bear fruit, with higher penalties kicking in as new cases made their way through the courts. The government's Building and Construction Industry Act 2016, which set up the ABCC after then prime minister Malcolm Turnbull called a double dissolution election, more than tripled the civil penalties that can be imposed on law-breaking unions to $210,000, or $42,000 for individual members. Industrial Relations Minister Kelly O'Dwyer credits the "tough cop on the beat" with helping to more than halve the rate of industrial disputes in this term of government. Earlier this month, a Victorian CFMEU organiser was forced to pay almost $20,000 to settle a first personal payment order after a landmark High Court case found that unions should not be able to foot the bill for members who repeatedly breached the law. "The threat of higher penalties will have an impact," McBurney said. "And we're already seeing an impact in terms of, now individuals are on notice that they'll have to pay. We hope that will make union officials think twice before breaking the law." "It takes about two years for most of these cases to wind their way through the court system," McBurney said. In March, the Federal Court hit the CFMMEU and 19 officials with $817,500 in fines over its "deliberate, flagrant and systematic" campaign of intimidation to force builder John Holland to sign a union agreement. Complex cases can take as long as four years, meaning if Labor wins the election and gains Senate support to abolish the Commission which employs 144 people its dismantling could take some time. McBurney rejected the union claim that the ABCC was impeding officials from upholding safety standards. "If there is a severe safety issue on a site, workers can ring Work Safe they don't have to give notice, and can come straight onto the site," McBurney said. "What concerns me is safety is abused for industrial objectives; it undermines the safety priorities of making these sites safe." The latest data from Safe Work Australia shows that 30 workers were killed in the construction industry last year, down slightly from 35 in 2016. In 2007, there were 48 workplace deaths in the industry. But Noonan said safety remained "the biggest issue in the construction industry". He called the regulator a "corrupt" institution that "ignores flagrant wage theft by contractors" and "fails to refer deadly, dangerous construction sites to the proper safety regulators". McBurney was at pains to emphasise his position was apolitical and that he would not be lobbying for the commission's survival. "I am appointed by the government and I serve the government of the day," he said. Of the Australian Council of Trade Unions' push for dramatic changes to the nation's industrial relations system, including industry-wide bargaining, he said: "There's absolutely a place for union membership in this country. But I can't accept an ignore the rules campaign. "Change the rules, yes, but not ignore the rules. Disobeying the law has no place in this country." Master Builders chief executive Denita Wawn described McBurney as "a black and white regulator" who was determined to ensure compliance "by both unions and employers". "We're very worried about the lawlessness that could well occur if the ABCC were abolished," she said. Ms Wawn said illegal industrial action on building sites drove costs up by about 30 per cent "and that flows on to consumers". Australian Industry Group chief executive Innes Willox said the ABCC played "a crucial role in bringing law to what would otherwise be a lawless part of business in Australia". Labor's Shadow Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations Brendan O'Connor said the government should be more focused on keeping people safe at work. The ABCC is unfair, undemocratic and unjustified," Mr O'Connor said in a statement. At his school in Sydney's northern suburbs, Felix Scholle, 12, is taught maths, biology, art, music and sport entirely in German. Felix's mother is German but he is still learning the language and does German as a foreign language at school. German International School Principal Lorenz Metzger, students Felix Scholle and Nadia Kuepper, and teacher Tanja Ritonnale. Credit:James Alcock However, the year 7 student at the German International School in Sydney's north said learning other subjects in it is surprisingly easy. "Learning maths in German is quite the same, biology is a bit harder because it requires a lot of remembering," Felix said. The multimillionaire founder of luxury fashion house Harrolds has avoided conviction for assaulting his elderly parents and trashing their home, despite pleading guilty. John Poulakis, 60, was handed a community correction order in Heidelberg Magistrates Court after pleading guilty to two counts of common law assault against his 89-year-old father and 81-year-old mother. He also admitted to one count of willfully causing damage to property. John Poulakis arrives at Heidelberg Magistrates Court in June. Credit:Joe Armao Barrister Philip Dunn, QC, told the court Mr Poulakis was deeply remorseful and embarrassed by his conduct on January 26, when he smothered his mothers face with a pillow and bashed his father before smashing windows, a coffee table and an entertainment unit. On behalf of his client, Mr Dunn issued an apology to Matina and Alekos Poulakis, who were left traumatised by the incident and did not attend last week's hearing. A security contractor has apologised to a Fairfax Media journalist who was accosted by security guards while reporting on an event in central Sydney on Friday night. Political reporter Michael Koziol was excluded along with other media from attending a gala dinner hosted by the peak body for barristers, the Australian Bar Association, at which former Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull was guest speaker. The Australian Bar Association's gala dinner was audible and visible from Barangaroo. Credit:Michael Koziol Because the event was held at Barangaroo venue The Cutaway, which has large gaps in its roof, Koziol was able to stand on a nearby public street and hear comments made by Turnbull. He was then confronted by security guards who had been contracted by the Barangaroo Delivery Authority and a woman who identified herself as the event manager. Pedestrians who pound the pavement in inner Sydney could face a shorter wait to cross the road under a push to ease crowding at busy intersections and make it safer to walk around the city. Faced with a growing number of residents and visitors traversing the city on foot, the City of Sydney is urging the NSW government to introduce a raft of measures that would boost pedestrian access. Pedestrians in Sydney's city centre complete about 1.15 million walking trips per day. Credit:Peter Braig Councillors unanimously supported a motion in September that called for action to reduce pedestrian delays and ease congestion on footpaths across the city. In a letter to NSW Roads Minister Melinda Pavey, lord mayor Clover Moore pushed for the roads authority to install red-light cameras at all intersections across the city's pedestrian-heavy core. A baby girl was declared dead shortly after she was found after midnight on a Surfers Paradise beach on Queensland's Gold Coast and a couple are in police custody being questioned. The infant, believed to be about nine months old, was found by a member of the public on the edge of the surf near Staghorn Avenue, on the Esplanade, about 12.30am on Monday. Detective Inspector Marc Hogan said the body was believed to have been in the water and did not have any visible injuries. Post-mortem results were expected on Monday afternoon. A combination of research power, financial backing, imagination and persistence is driving Queensland's rising reputation as Australia's home of medical technology start-ups. An industry report into Australia's start-up scene showed in 2018 Queensland had the second-highest number of start-ups in the country, many of them health and medical focused. Elliot Smith (centre) and the Maxwell Plus team from the Brisbane medical technology startup. And at a start-up convention held in Brisbane in October, 26 per cent of entrants into a start-up competition were in the medical technology sector. Early in November, the state's third Chief Entrepreneur, Leanne Kemp, described innovation as "the oxygen that flows within our blood ... the DNA of our communities". Filming on the second season of popular murder-mystery Harrow, featuring Welsh actor Ioan Gruffudd, is under way in south-east Queensland. It's not clear when filming on the ABC TV second series will conclude, but production is expected to break over Christmas. Harrow's unorthodox methods often get him into trouble during the first season. The first season of Harrow, starring Gruffudd as impulsive and intelligent forensic pathologist Dr Daniel Harrow, who lives in Brisbane, was warmly received in Australia, particularly with its backdrop of Brisbane city. The ABC Brisbane headquarters in South Bank was recently converted into police headquarters for filming, while other key locations around Brisbane are likely to be featured again in the second season. Tony Abbott has urged Prime Minister Scott Morrison to proceed with a controversial shift in policy on Israel despite a warning from Malaysia that the move could fuel terrorism and concerns from Indonesia over a $16.5 billion trade deal. Mr Abbott said the "rhetorical backlash" from Muslim countries in Asia was always going to happen but that this should not stop Australia showing its support for Israel by moving the Australian embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem. The comments are another strong show of support for Mr Morrison on the issue after another former prime minister, John Howard, also spoke up for the move on the weekend. Mr Abbott said west Jerusalem was recognised as the capital of Israel and was the logical location for the Australian embassy. London: The odds of a thaw when Xi Jinping and Donald Trump meet in a few weeks at the Group of 20 summit in Argentina just got longer. From left, Chinese President Xi Jinping, Papua New Guinea's Prime Minister Peter O'Neill, Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, and U.S. Vice President Mike Pence wave as they pose for a group photo at APEC Haus in Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea. Credit:AP With the China-U.S. trade war deepening, leaders of 21 Asia-Pacific nations meeting in Papua New Guinea failed to agree on a communique after arguments over issues such as reform of the World Trade Organisation. Plans for Trump and Xi to meet at the G-20 have raised hopes for some sort of rapprochement between two leaders who appear to admire each other personally. Trump has said he's optimistic heading into their chat. But the harsh rhetoric from Xi and Vice-President Mike Pence in Papua New Guinea, combined with the collapse of the communique, suggests a deal in Buenos Aries faces mounting obstacles. Paris: Thousands of French protesters hit out at higher fuel taxes and President Emmanuel Macron's economic policies in demonstrations across motorways on Saturday, sparking major log jams and several accidents, including a fatality at one road blockade. Dozens of people were also injured, as drivers tried to get around stoppages, after protestors in a grassroots protest movement dubbed the "yellow vests" took to motorway sliproads, tunnel entrances or airport access roads. A cyclist dressed in a Tweety Pie costume rides a bicycle on an empty road during a protest against fuel costs near Rodez, France, on Saturday. Credit:Bloomberg The demonstrations, coordinated on social media, were born out of a backlash against higher fuel prices, and echo complaints about a perceived squeeze in spending power and mounting dissatisfaction with Macron, who some view as out of touch with ordinary people. London: British Prime Minister Theresa May says she sees no alternative to the Brexit deal she presented last week, amid reports that some of her senior ministers want her to renegotiate the draft agreement before meeting EU leaders next weekend. "There is no alternative plan on the table. There is no different approach that we could agree with the EU," May wrote in a newspaper article. "If MPs reject the deal, they will simply take us back to square one. It would mean more division, more uncertainty and a failure to deliver on the vote of the British people," she added. She told Sky News on Sunday that the next seven days would be "critical" to the future of the country. Washington: Fox News host Chris Wallace went after President Donald Trump for his attacks on the news media in an interview that aired on Sunday, telling the President he is "seen around the world as a beacon for repression" because of his rhetoric. Chris Wallace of Fox News in 2016. Credit:AP The Fox News Sunday host told Trump that while other presidents expressed frustration with the news media, none had gone as far as Trump, who called them "the enemy of the American people". "Barack Obama whined about Fox News all the time but he never said we were the enemy of the people," Wallace said. Washington: US President Donald Trump has said he had spoken with CIA Director Gina Haspel on the agency's finding that Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman ordered the killing of journalist Jamal Khashoggi and that there will be a "very full report" by Tuesday. It was reported on Friday that the CIA had assessed with high confidence the Saudi leader's role, based on multiple sources of intelligence. The President said on Sunday he had no intention of listening to a recording of the killing of the Saudi journalist. In an interview on Fox News Sunday, Trump made clear that the audio recording supplied by the Turkish government would not change his decision on how to respond to the October 2 killing. Washington: A top White House official responsible for US policy toward Saudi Arabia has resigned a move that may suggest fractures inside the Trump administration over the response to the brutal killing of dissident Jamal Khashoggi. The official, Kirsten Fontenrose, had pushed for tough measures against the Saudi government, and had been in Riyadh to discuss a raft of sanctions the US government imposed in recent days against those identified as responsible for the killing, according to two people familiar with the conversations. Specifically, she advocated that Saud al-Qahtani, a top adviser to Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, be added to the list, and he ultimately was. The exact circumstances of her departure are murky, and it is unclear whether her advocacy for a hawkish response to the killing angered some in the White House. When she returned to Washington, according to the two people, she had a dispute with her bosses at the National Security Council, where she had served as the director for the Persian Gulf region. A representative for the council declined to comment. Fontenrose did not reply to messages seeking comment. LOS ANGELES Two former competitors in the Google Lunar X Prize are continuing to pursue commercial lunar landers that could launch as soon as late 2019. In separate presentations at the International Moon Village Workshop & Symposium here Nov. 5, representatives of PTScientists and Team Indus said they are working on versions of landers originally intended to compete for the now-expired prize. Team Indus, one of the finalists for the prize before it ended in March, says it has one "qualified" lander in storage now and is working on a much larger version. That lander, originally designed for the Google Lunar X Prize, is capable of placing 50 kilograms on the surface of the moon. [Google Lunar X Prize: The Private Moon Race Teams (Images)] That payload capacity, said Rahul Narayan, founder of Team Indus, is likely too small for most commercial purposes. The company is now working on a much larger lander, called Z-02, capable of placing 500 kilograms on the lunar surface. The lander, he said, would be compatible with various launch vehicles, including those operated by Arianespace, SpaceX and United Launch Alliance. PTScientists plans to land near the Apollo 17 landing site on its first mission, including dispatching a rover the Apollo 17 lunar rover. (Image credit: PTScientists) Narayan didn't give a schedule for building or launching that larger lander. He said after his presentation Team Indus would still like to fly the first lander, perhaps after making changes to increase its payload capacity to 60 to 70 kilograms. "We are pivoting our model from being operators of a mission to being a supplier or partners to other people who want to operate missions," he said. "We see ourselves as the people who will build the technology, build the design, do the qualification, and then be able to offer these services to international customers." Narayan also suggested that Team Indus could find a way to participate in NASA's Commercial Lunar Payload Services (CLPS) program, where the agency plans to buy payload space on commercial landers. The CLPS program requires prime contractors as well as those companies that build "space transportation vehicles" operate in the United States. However, foreign companies can partner with U.S.-led teams, as Japan's ispace has done on a CLPS proposal led by Draper. Narayan said Team Indus was partnering with a company on CLPS, but could not disclose details about that work at this time. PTScientists, a German team that failed to make the cut in early 2017 for the five finalists after the X Prize Foundation concluded it did not have a valid launch contract, is still working on its first lander, now scheduled for launch in late 2019. The company had grown considerably this year in preparation for the mission, said Torsten Kriening, chief commercial offer of PTScientists. The company had "survived" on 10 to 12 people for years, growing to 20 early this year. PTScientists is now up to 65 people. That first mission, which Kriening acknowledged could slip into 2020, will travel to the Taurus-Littrow region of the moon, in the vicinity of the Apollo 17 landing site. Two rovers on the lander will explore the region, including plans to examine the lunar rover left behind after the Apollo 17 mission, to see what condition the vehicle is in after nearly 50 years. Additional missions will follow on a cadence of about once every 18 to 24 months, he said. A second mission will travel to the lunar south pole region, and later missions will carry in situ resource utilization experiments. PTScientists is supported by a number of "blue chip" partners, including Audi, Vodaphone and Red Bull. "We can't do it alone. We are a small company," he said. Now, he said, non-space companies are approaching them about potential partnerships. For example, the rovers, are "Audi Lunar Quattro" vehicles, and Audi has already used the rovers in advertising. "We will have the fastest Audi on the moon," he said, "with a top speed of three and a half kilometers per hour." This story was provided by SpaceNews, dedicated to covering all aspects of the space industry. LONDON A British debris-removal satellite was deployed this summer from the International Space Station to help researchers figure out new techniques to clean up space junk that increasingly is becoming a hazard to the ISS and to other satellites. The experimental RemoveDebris mission in September successfully cast a net to catch a dead satellite in space. Next year it will try to capture the target with a harpoon. A harpoon that grabs orbital debris sounds like a cool idea, but putting up more hardware in space to clean up debris is probably not a sustainable proposition, said Fred Kennedy, the director of the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency's Tactical Technology Office. [7 Ways to Clean Up Space Junk] "If I have to bring out a harpoon for every piece of debris, I'm not sure I've helped. I may be contributing to the problem," Kennedy said Nov. 5 at the Small Satellites and Disruptive Technology Focus Day conference hosted by the SMi Group. An experimental RemoveDebris mission successfully deployed a giant net to capture a target satellite. (Image credit: Surrey Space Center) DARPA has studied the problem for years and concluded that some active removal of debris is needed but the long-term answer is self policing, Kennedy said. "If the industry is putting up a thousand satellites, they have to figure this out," he said. "All the mega constellations are aware, they are working that problem." The national security community and the civilian space agencies are trying to figure out how to better track debris as part of a larger space traffic management effort. But as broadband satellite companies start building their constellations, Kennedy said, they should have a plan to de-orbit their out-of-service spacecraft. "It would be much better if companies like SpaceX, OneWeb and Telesat would take care of the problem themselves and have a plan," he said. "I know they have thought about it." Their motivation is not just to make space safer for satellites but also to preempt an onslaught of regulations that might come in the future if debris continues to proliferate. The junk-grabbing satellite tested from the International Space Station has been five years in the making. "The challenge is quite substantial," said Luis Gomes, chief technical officer of Surrey Satellites Technology Ltd., the company that designed the RemoveDebris spacecraft. So much can go wrong when trying to grab objects in space, he said. "We continue to study and analyze." "At first we thought it was a crazy idea," said Gomes. The $20 million project is led by the Surrey Space Centre at the University of Surrey and co-funded by the European Commission. The RemoveDebris mission includes four experiments. In September it deployed a net developed by Airbus to capture a target cubesat. The next test is a vision-based navigation system from Airbus that uses 2D and 3D light detection and ranging technology to track a cubesat. The harpoon was developed by Airbus and next year will be fired at 20 meters per second to penetrate a target made of composite material. In the final experiment, RemoveDebris will deploy a large drag-sail to speed de-orbit into the Earth's atmosphere. Kennedy said these technology efforts are impressive but impractical. "Clearing all the debris out of LEO is expensive," said Kennedy. "That's what I fear. That this takes us to a place where I don't know if it's affordable." DARPA published a study in 2011 called "The Catcher's Mitt Study" that looked at the debris problem and its future growth. The report said that active debris removal would be needed at some point to maintain an "acceptable level" of operational risk. It noted that "failure to address this problem has significant implications for the success of future space missions due to the potential increased number of on-orbit collisions with non-trackable, yet lethal, debris fragments." This story was provided by SpaceNews, dedicated to covering all aspects of the space industry. A weekly feature in which we're trying to find the most compelling, best acted, written, directed and just generally great, memorable scenes that we've seen in past seven days on TV.I loved this season and the finale, especially. Ryan Murphy outdid himself with season 8; writing an absorbing tale of the never-ending conflict of good vs. evil. My pick for scene of the week is where Constance walks away from Michael after Mallory has run over him multiple times with the Range Rover. As he is lying there dying, he asks his grandmother to take him into the murder house so that he can live forever. She considers it for a moment, but then walks away; telling Michael to go to hell! She knew there was no "saving" him, sadly. Jessica Lange is simply superb as the long-suffering mother and grandmother to "the monsters."Cordelia sacrifices herself so Mallory can stop Michael. I love that she stood up for herself to the Antichrist and told him that her "sisters are legion". It was amazing.The fight scenes in this episode were extremely well choreographed and executed. In the vain of all great Marvel-Netflix scenes this one was just up there as well.This was such an emotional and powerful hour. The story of the partition of India, told from the perspective of individuals who lost everything as a result. One of the Doctor's companions, Yaz, wanted to travel to the past to find out more about her beloved grandmother, Umbreen. The things she's learned turned out to be so much more painful than she could ever expect. Umbreen's first husband was a good man who died on the day of their wedding, killed by the men working with his own brother to get rid of anyone who "didn't belong" in India anymore. The thing is the Doctor and her friends knew what's going to happen and in order to make sure that Yaz won't be erased from time, they had to step back and do nothing, allowing these events to happen. The moment I decided to highlight in the article is the part where Prem goes to confront his little brother, trying to reach him one last time while the Doctor and her companions watch the conversation from the distance only to walk away once the shot is heard. The look on the Doctor's face when we hear the gunshot was such a quick yet heartbreaking view. Knowing how important each life is for Thirteen makes this tragedy even harder to watch. The pain and hopelessness are also clearly affecting all her friends. It's truly an episode to remember when the Doctor doesn't get to save anyone and can only see the history run its course. Also, the dialogues and the music perfectly match the wonderful actors' performances. Kudos to the cast & crew for this memorable scene.I've been waiting and hoping for a Fallon/Alexis reunion since last season. Their relationship has become important to me and I want them to work things out, bond, and move forward. This was a nice moment of reconciliation from Alexis to come to apologize and even better when Fallon finally wrote her a check to get Hank off her back once and for all.Schmitt expresses his feelings. Meg Marinis' written words became a storm of emotions as Jake broke down Schmitt's emotion to the point of heartbreak, along the way they upped his nerdiness as a superhero ability and doing God's work in the progress by saving the most handsome Asian actor I have seen on TV. The interaction between Nico and Levi were all over the place and the way they expressed Levi's sexual awakening felt truly sincere. I read some statements from Jake Borelli regarding his own coming out so his performance came that closer to my heart. The next step for the Grey's team is to make these two regulars!!!! We need more of them on screen.Meredith praises Andrew for the job well done and he starts flirting with her. I think there is a good chemistry between Ellen Pompeo and Giacomo Gianniotti. In spite of what many fans may think, I root for them to be together - they both deserve some fun.Closing Montage with Oliver singing "All of me". Even though the vows were perfectly written and executed this scene brought me down to tears. Seeing Connor so happy and blessed with the tears in his broken face was a perfect way to end this episode.I haven't seen all the episodes of the show but I've been really enjoying this season so far. One of the main reasons why it's been working well for me has to be Constantine's character. He's still such a mystery for the team and the viewers, but during this hour at least one thing became very clear - he would do anything to save a child's life. He's been a great help to the Legends so far, helping them to send the magical creatures to hell but this time he was more focused on bringing back all the children attacked by the monster than fighting the Shtriga himself. When it looks like one of the kids might be too far gone Constantine shares some of his own life force to save the boy. The spell works but Constantine is left seriously injured as a result of this sacrifice. It says so much about his character if he's willing to risk his own life to save everyone else. I feel like we've only started to get to know him but I'm looking forward to seeing more of Constantine's journey on the show. Another great thing about the scene, Ray stands by Constantine's side, following his instructions to allow magic to heal the children. Once the spell is done and he's left all alone with his injured friend and the group of rescued kids, the teenagers he spent the episode teaching show up to help. It was such a lovely surprise, knowing his words truly reached those boys and when it mattered they showed up to save the day. I really liked how each member of the team had their role to play during this episode and Constantine and Ray both found their way to support the kids in the end. Kudos to cast & crew for this great hour.Ava talks about never having a childhood due to being a clone & keeping a picture of her 'parents' on her desk to try and feel normal.Ava and Sara kiss. Mini-Sara and mini-Ava were all kinds of adorable this week and the kiss mid-transformation was just the cherry on top.The ending scene where Corky is feeling as if all of her optimism is for naught. Corky is crestfallen when she finds out that a long-time friend actually did try to murder his wife. She had been convinced that he was innocent. He wasnt. Murphy reaches out to her, convincing her that the world needs more people like Corky and fewer pessimists like Murphy. This was very reminiscent of the original Murphy Browns Corky/Murphy dynamic. It is difficult for Murphy to reach out to people and to be a comfort, but it is this uncomfortableness that makes the scene and this relationship work so well. Also, seeing Corky get drunk on two shots of vodka before noon at Phils is too funny!Georgia takes care of Max. These two are so sweet, and though I loved the scene at the beginning where Ryan Eggold was shining with his charm, this scene where he's so vulnerable and he confesses his doubts to his wife was heartbreaking, plus her reassuring words echoing his earlier words about his patients showed some great writing there. He was taking care of everyone else all day and now it's time for someone else to take care of him.Georgia and Helen team up to make Max start treatment - At first I wasnt fond of Georgia's character. The way she has stepped up first defending and now taking care of her husband, she is quickly becoming one of my favorite characters of this amazing show. This was a wonderful scene where she and Helen tag teamed Max about starting his cancer treatments.So far this season has been somewhat less nuanced than previous seasons where two episodes in Jamie and Claire continue to brutally experience violence of the new world. Trying to help Rufus, a slave survive a counter attack against the slave overseer at Riverrun, only proves to be no-win situation. As if it wasn't bad enough Claire saved him through surgery after being strung up with a large hook embedded in his gut, but when she realizes that by doing so she risks the lives of many other people, including other slaves, she turns around and poisons Rufus with lovely talk of his sister over tea, only for his dead body to be taken, dragged through the yard, and strung up anyway. The only thing they can hope for is that they saved his soul and gave him a more peaceful death, but for me, even that still feels so wanting. It was an overall strong unsettling episode that accumulated to this scene with deep sense of nausea and loss of justice. Something hard to see, but important to remember.This weeks episodes were much weaker than the previous weeks. But episode 3 of season 2 of this hit or miss anthology series had the benefit of guest star Michael Shannon. He just makes everything he performs in that much better. In this episode he plays a Russian businessman meeting with his international internet date, portrayed by Judy Greer. Trying to impress her, he puts on a mini show with his comrades. And to see Michael Shannon doing a dance and rap performance in a thick Russian accent; well, what is there NOT to love? It was brilliant!Alexs reaction after Col. Haley reveals her true colors If theres one other character than Supergirl that has shown tremendous growth over four seasons its Alex Danvers. Theres no better illustration of this than her reaction to Colonel Haley showing her true colors revealing disdain for aliens at the DEO, in particular Jonn Jonzz. Season one Alex might have reacted badly and decked the Colonel, but this more mature and in charge Alex reacts perfectly, carefully choosing her words to defend Jonn as her mentor, former director and family. Then she wisely acquiesces to Haleys unlawful command to salute her, knowing if shed disobeyed, shed have been replaced. She used her wisdom, calm and maturity as a leader that Jonn has taught her to carefully pick her battle with this threat to the main mission of the DEO. Chyler Leigh kept Alex calm, collected and in control, but you could see the anger lurking behind her eyes, and the brain quickly processing how to react.This scene was so well choreographed and gripping. I couldn't look away. It just goes to show the lengths Hannah is willing to go to in order to protect this money because she could have gotten him to go in the other room and escaped out the door, instead she fought with him deliberately to keep him away from the money specifically. Then she winds up murdering him. The Perez family is starting to have a lot of bodies to keep tabs on.When I went back to choose the best scene of the episode I realized just how many moments would be worthy to highlight from this great hour. There was Nora learning her mother's story and the two finally bonding, Caitlin and Cisco's heart-to-heart, as well as Ralph's rescue and comic book trick, and pretty much every scene that showed the breathtaking (and truly scary) abilities of Rag Doll. As much as I would want to take a minute to appreciate all those scenes and more, I had no doubt which moment absolutely had to be included as Scene of the Week. Iris jumping off the roof to unlock Barry's cuffs and allow him to save them both was a true act of heroism and love. It was a completely crazy idea which could have ended in a terrible tragedy but the fact that Iris reacted in this way, without any hesitation shows just what an incredibly brave character she is. It also displays just how much faith and trust Barry and Iris have in each other, making them such a powerful and fantastic couple. I loved the impression that Iris has made on the other characters and the viewers. The effects of this scene were impossible to miss on the social media and I'm so glad to see Mrs. West-Allen at the center of this comic book rescue. It's also exactly the thing that Nora needed to see to finally understand her mother, to see who she truly is and reach out to her after all this time. Great scene and the episode overall. Kudos to entire cast & crew for this memorable hour!After Rag Doll pushes Barry off of a roof (tied to a chair and in power dampening hand cuffs of course), Iris dives head first off of said roof to unlock Barry's cuffs. Once free, his powers ignite, and he wooshes them to safety. He gives her that wide-eyed look and gratefully kisses his brave wife. What an awesome scene! It was a pure comic book rush and also fully captured the depth of the West-Allen love story all at once.Iris dives off the building to save Barry. That scene was the epitome of what WestAllen is to each other and how they are totally in sync. Iris had no hesitation and had 100% trust that Barry would return the favor and save her once free. It also showed Nora that her mother IS fearless and her devotion to Barry runs very deep.After getting knocked out after vibing to help Caitlin find her father, Cisco wakes up in the med bay with a concerned Caitlin sitting with him. What transpires next is a heartfelt scene between the two as a testament to their friendship. Danielle Panabaker and Carlos Valdes have always made Caitlin and Cisco strong supporting characters, but the sincerity and emotion they poured into this warm scene is perhaps their strongest and finest moment of the series. So touching and beautifully performed.I had to choose this scene because it genuinely shocked me. My jaw actually dropped. I suspected Rebecca would murder someone, that much was fairly obvious but I honestly did not expect her to brutally murder every single person in the bank. It was horrific, especially knowing what her powers are. The look on Reeva's face in particular was devastating. Rebecca's actions will have ramifications and consequences that will effect mutants all over the world. Reeva is a hard woman, but this was never what she wanted. I really felt for her and the other members of the Inner Circle in that moment, even in spite of my misgivings of some of their actions this season.This moment was so small, but so touching, how he said his father never thought he was worth the trouble, but he always knew he was because his brother always looked out for him, even when it made his life harder. Knowing how things turned out just makes it all the more heartbreaking and it made me miss the flashbacks. It's impressive how Steve is one of the best young characters on TV and we've seen so little of him, great job all around.It was just an amazing, heroic move.Kevin and Zoe admit they're falling in love with each other. I love that he told her he doesn't want to be like his parents and would like to know more about her but he'd gladly be the same way because he was falling in love with her. Zoe opening up to him about the sexual abuse she suffered at the hands of her father was heartbreaking but I'm glad she felt comfortable enough to do so.Rebecca sings for Jack. Why do these two make me so emotional? This scene gave me goosebumps. I really love seeing the start of their romance this season. Who Are You Now? picks up six years after Ricks (Andrew Lincoln) apparent death. I have a major problem with such a huge time jump especially now that we know Rick didnt die. I can see him struggling to get back to his family but unless hes died on the way back, shouldnt he have found a way to get back by now? The episode was written by Eddie Guzelian and was directed by Larry Teng. There were very few developments in this episode that I liked. So far, of the new characters, the only one who really impressed me was Dan Fogler as Luke. I did really appreciate and like the introduction of Lauren Ridloff as Connie and Angel Theory as Kelly for the much needed diversity that they add to the show. Nadia Hilker as Magna did not deliver a performance to impress. Lets dive into the episode though to further examine all the changesAs the episode opens, we see that even years on, Michonne (Danai Gurira) and Daryl (Norman Reedus) are still struggling with the loss of Rick. We get close ups of both their eyes as we used to Ricks. While Michonne hasnt gone completely off the rails she still has Judith (Cailey Fleming) and Rick Jr RJ (Antony Azor) to care for, but it does seem that shes given up trying to be a leader or really craft a system of laws. She has become nomadic again riding out scouting and for supplies as head of security for Alexandria. She is dead set against letting new people in and how is that honoring Carls wishes? And Daryl? Hes turned into a hermit? Turning his back on all the rest of his family? What happened to supporting Maggie (Lauren Cohen) and Hershel?At the Kingdom, Michonnes voice over underscores that Carol (Melissa McBride) has found a place to belong and is clearly in a very happy relationship with Ezekiel (Khary Payton). However, I really, really dont like what theyve done with her hair or Michonnes (and I dont believe that this is a look from the comics). Michonne finds comfort in talking to Rick which is really a clunky means of exposition. She tells Rick and thus us that the road ahead has become murkier and darker for her. She feels alone and desperate for something to show her a way forward.I did love her finding the little Sheriff figure a tiny beacon of light, calling to her. And did that camper look like the one that Heath went missing in? Daryl watching a bird take a worm out of a walker and then feed it to its babies cycle of life, anyone? was also a bit heavy handed for my taste. I just dont see Daryl retreating and keeping himself alive and not helping the others. Carol finding a tiny flower growing out of a crack in the pavement was a bit disturbing given the Lizzy history. But perhaps we can take that as an indication that Carol has finally healed and is able to move on. Michonne maintains that she hasnt given up and she never will but then we move to a shot of the bridge Ricks dream to unite the communities and it hasnt been repaired. So do we trust Michonnes words or what we see?Judith was not out in the woods by herself but in true Carl fashion has wandered off from the hunting party she was with. We see Rosita (Christian Serratos), Laura (Lindsley Register), Aaron (Ross Marquand), and Eugene (Josh McDermitt) all searching frantically for her. We also see that Aaron seems to have a bionic hand cant wait for the explanation on that! and Eugene is carrying the deer theyve killed.Judith introduces them to the people shes just saved. Rosita tells Judith they cant help and Judith should know that. Luke offers to whip the deer up into a nice Osso Buco, but Eugene insists they make stew more mileage for the masses and then Eugene is annoyed with himself because that tips them off that there are more of them. I really get the vibe that Luke and Eugene will either become friends or hate each other!One of my favorite moments in this entire episode is that when the walkers inevitably follow the newcomers, Eugene goes right to the front and is a killing-machine! Also? I AM digging his new braid its mullet to the max! In the end, Aaron relents and agrees to help them.Back at the Kingdom, things are falling apart, but Jerry (Cooper Andrews) remains as unflaggingly optimistic as always. I loved Jerry calling Carol My Queen and Carol using the Jerry on him! Jerry fills us in shes going to have to accept it at some point because she is married to the King and mother to the Prince!When one of the pipes burst, Jerry and Carol rush to help Henry (now played by Matt Lintz) to fix it. Ezekiel arrives and praises Henry for fixing it, but Henry is adamant that they need better tools and someone trained to use them. Its clearly part of an on-going argument that Henry wants to go and train with the Blacksmith at Hilltop. In this instance, Ezekiel is the consummate father he praises Henrys passion and honesty but tells him to watch his tone. Henry apologizes and not sullenly either.Carol and Ezekiel watch Henry training. Carol points out that Henry isnt wrong both he and the Kingdom are getting older and they do need someone to train with Earl. There is mention of a fair and Ezekiel maintains that he needs Henry for that. Carol points out that hell always find a reason not to let Henry go. I love the relationship between these two. She tells him that sometimes you have to let the cracks happen to let the light in which is painted on their bedroom wall, and I suspect it was painted by Ezekiel as he chuckles when she says it.Eugene reminds them all that they are in breach of the current security protocols. Theyve blindfolded the newcomers so they dont know where Alexandria is. Its clear that they have had bad experiences at other communities Cold Port which was a fossilized city of shit. Judith promises them that theyll be safe in Alexandria and takes Magnas hand. We finally get a view of the new Alexandria which looks even more like a western town. Theyve built a windmill and rebuilt the church. I also did love Gracie (Anabelle Holloway) running out to say hi to her Daddy Aaron.Michonne arrives home just after Siddiq (Avi Nash) has Yumiko (Eleanor Matsuura) taken to the infirmary. DJ (Matt Mangum), who we also see has survived the bridge fight and joined Alexandria like Laura, prevents Magna from going with Yumiko. Interestingly, Michonnes instincts are still good, and Magna is the only one she frisks. Eugene assures her that they were all frisked and gave up their weapons willingly. Aaron steps in and says he decided to bring them. Michonne tells him it wasnt his call to make and Judith steps in and says that she decided. God save me from precocious children. She needs to fade into the background of the story as soon as possibleAaron suggests that the newcomers fate should be a decision made by all of them. Gabriel (Seth Gilliam) suggests that they are brought before the council first thing in the morning. Michonne agrees and has them put in holding. Judith finds the Sheriff figurine on the ground and picks it up.At the Kingdom, it seems that Ezekiel has given in and is letting Henry go. I loved his hugging the boy and shaking the hand of the man. He then gives Henry some words of wisdom that his father gave him be respectful, be responsible, be kind and be safe. Henry assures his Dad that he will be. I didnt like the ominous feeling of foreshadowing when Henry said its not like youll never see me again because who would say that in that universe??? And then theres the stuff from the comicsEzekiel tells Carol hed feel better if he or Jerry went too. Carol insists that its important for him to tend to things there as the fair is important. Ezekiel is hopeful it will bring the communities back together again. Ezekiel worries that Henry is too much of a dreamer and Carol teases him about where Henry might have gotten that trait.The Council meeting is chaired surprisingly by Gabriel. Also on the Council are Aaron, Michonne, Siddiq, Laura, Nora (Tamara Austin), and someone I didnt recognize. Gabriel tells them that their community is fair but not soft. Gabriel asks who their leader is, and Magna is not a friendly witness asking what makes them think they have one in a truly sullen tone. Luke is much more forthcoming when asked if the group has always been together. Luke also breaks down a bit when talking about Bernie the one they lost yesterday.Aaron asks what they were before. Luke was a music teacher, Magna lies and says she was a waitress at a truck stop. Connie modestly says she was a journalist, but Kelly says she was more than that, exposing sleazy politicians and Kelly was just a high school student, stressing about stupid things.Gabriel asks who are they now, and Magna isnt sulky as she says a fighter. Connie says shes Kellys guardian angel, but Kelly says its the other way around. Luke says hes still a music teacher because education never ends. Gabriel asks what they did to survive Magna says anything she had to to survive. Connie says she never gave up, and Kelly says she grew up. Luke says he doesnt think he did anything special he feels like he was just lucky. In the right place, at the right time. He muses that if anyone had seen them before eating together at a restaurant, they would have assumed that they worked together because they dont seem to have anything in common except breathing, But thats a lot these days. Aaron nods and is ready to vote.Michonne, however, has a question. She says that as a community they want to be kind and charitable, but the decisions like the one they are about to make can come with a heavy price. Michonne asks to see Magnas left hand which is covered by a partial glove. Magna tells her to go to Hell. When Aaron asks what it is, Michonne tells him that its a prison tattoo for hard time. Michonne challenges her, and Magna says she has nothing to hide and Michonne tells her to take off the knife that she has hidden in her belt. Michonne tells the others that she remembers she clearly blames the attempt at bringing the communities together and the Saviors treachery for Ricks death. She tells them to take the vote she seconds the motion for the vote. When Magna wants to ask Michonne a question, Michonne tells her no as she walks out of the church.Gabriel is continuing to try to honor Ricks vision. Hes still wondering whats out there and tinkering with the shortwave radios did he scavenge these from the junkyard? Another pleasant surprise? That Rosita and Gabriel are an item!! Gabriel is sure that Michonne is wrong about the newcomers he thinks theyre good people, and even Rosita is willing to give Magna a chance. She suggests that Michonne just riled the crowd up on purpose prison isnt a story in and of itself.Gabriel wants to set up a remote relay. Rosita points out its a security breach, but she then offers to go and set it up with Eugene.Judith stumbles on Michonne talking out loud to Rick. Its clear that shes apologizing for doing what she thinks she has to to keep everyone safe even if it isnt exactly what theyd planned. She hears Judith in the hall and reminds her its almost time for her lesson.Meanwhile, it turns out that Carol has another stop planned before she and Henry go to Hilltop. Henry stupidly runs into a trap set my Regina (Traci Dinwoodie) and some of the other Saviors including Jed (Rhys Corio). Jed tells Carol that hell spare her life because she spared his in the past hell even let them keep the wagon, the horses, and Henrys stick. When Jed wants Ezekiels ring, Henry attacks him and Jed beats him up. Carol protects Henry and tells Jed to take the ring.Eugene takes Rositas willingness to break the rules for Gabriel as a sign of how much she cares for him and his breaking the rules for Rosita is exactly the same! Rosita doesnt want to talk to him about it. Eugene has really come a long way as he awkwardly and obliquely tries to argue his case. He tells her that she has other options, other fish in the seas as it were. He compares Gabriel as a man of fable with the other vague men of science who might be available Rosita pushes for whether he had someone specific in mind. They come across the tracks of a herd, but they seem to be going in the opposite direction as they are.Siddiq tells Magna that Yumiko could be back on her feet as early as the next day. Magna is clearly worried about her. She looks out the window at Michonne training Judith with her baby katana. Luke asks Siddiq if he was there from the start. Siddiq admits that he was a stranger that they took in but it was different then. Luke asks if theres a reason things changed, and Siddiq points out that there is always a reason.Judith moves on from sword lessons to math problems with Negan (Jeffrey Dean Morgan). Negan has cleaned himself up short hair and trimmed beard. Its clear that Negan is pumping Judith for information about whats happening this is clearly his biggest amusement and a clear and present danger to the community. Judith tells him about the strangers. In turn, Negan tells her about bringing home stray dogs when he was a kid until one day, he brought home the wrong dog. It killed all the other dogs and he never brought home another dog after that as the mean one seemed as friendly and grateful as the others.Judith gets the last zinger in as she tells him look how great things turned out for you! Shes also smart enough not to take his advice she only wants his help with her math because the numbers dont care if youre good or bad on the inside.Eugene gets the relay installed and it isnt until hes ready to come down that he notices the herd coming. Naturally, the horses freak out and take off. Eugene is way up a tower and it takes time to get down. When the final part of the ladder falls over the new and improved Eugene bravely and stupidly jumps! He wrenches his knee and Rosita gets him something to use a crutch.Carol sets up camp for the night with cans as an alert system. Henry is disappointed that Carol didnt even try and Carol, very disappointingly, says there was no point. Henry tells her that she taught him to fight for whats right and wants to know what changed. She tells him you and that one day hell understand. I have to say that I was pretty disappointed at this point that Carol had gone soft.But Carol hasnt gone soft. She sneaks back into the Saviors camp. She dumps all their gasoline around the sleeping members and to add insult to inflagration, she takes the gigantic match out of Jeds mouth. She tells him she could have given up the ring, but they had armor in their wagon from people she cared about who went out and never came back. She points out that they also hurt her son. He swears that shell never see them again, and she says I know. Because she sets them on fire! I loved the look on her face as she walked away Carol has found where she belongs but she has not gone soft!Magna doesnt want to take responsibility for her actions, saying Michonne set her up. The others thinks she should have ditched the knife. And she hasnt changed she took Yumikos necklace from the infirmary because it also had a hidden knife. Magna is sure they will die if they have to leave, but Luke insists theyll manage as they always have. Connie tells Magna not to be an asshole and I liked her even more and then she tells Magna not to fight Michonne. Connie is clearly insightful she sees that something bad has happened here too. Connie is sure it is a lost cause. Luke is concerned about the little kids. Hes fine to fight debate style but hes not endangering kids.Magna finally gives up the necklace but is clearly not happy. She goes to Michonnes and shes taken a knife from the necklace. Shes about to go into Michonnes house when RJ suddenly comes running down the hallway. Instead, she knocks on the front door and tells Michonne that she missed one and hands her the knife. Michonne thanks her, and Magna tells her that shes right about her. She has done things, terrible things and if she had all this she would trust her either. Michonne tells her that theyve all done thing terrible things or they wouldnt be there. Magna points out that its better than losing everything.Michonne closes the door to find Judith with Ricks gun! Shes protecting her family. Michonne insists that thats her job. Judith asks if thats why shes kicking them out. She insists that Rick would have wanted her to have brought them. Michonne smiles and says that both Rick and Carl would have been proud. Judith asks why she wont help them then, and Michonne tells her that shell understand some day in a nicely parallel scene to Carol with Henry. Judith, somewhat heartbreakingly, says that shes starting not to be able to remember Rick and Carls voices she hopes that Michonne still can and tells her that she knows she sometimes talks to them. It lays at Michonnes feet the responsibility to keep not only the sound of their voices alive for Judith but also what they were saying and trying to do though clearly, having brought the new people in, Judith remembers better than Michonne.Henry and Carol continue on, and Henry apologizes and thanks Carol. He also notices that shes got her ring back. As it turns out, Carol is going to see an old friend Daryl. I love the two of them smiling at each other.Michonne still has all of Ricks clothes, and as she puts on one of his shirts, we see that she has a new scar a giant X on her back. What can that mean?Yumiko apologizes for not being hurt worse so theyd have to stay longer jokingly. Luke thanks Siddiq and Gabriel for their help and hospitality and he thanks Judith too. Before they can leave, Michonne shows up again in Ricks shirt and tells them theres a change of plan. Michonne suggests that she and Siddiq take them to Hilltop to see if Maggie will take them in.Eugene cant keep going and is ready to sacrifice himself to give Rosita a chance to escape. Eugene is ready to finally bare his heart to Rosita, but she tells him not to make it weird and forces him to keep going. The slide down by the river and bury themselves in mud. As the episode ends and the herd passes, we see a lot of suspicious looking walkers with full heads of lovely, clean black hair and hear Dont let them get away yep. The Whisperers are officially here.In the end, my main objections are the big time jump, Michonne and Daryl acting out of character (unless something else happened that is explained by that X marking the spot on Michonnes back), and Matsuura and Hilker really underwhelming me. Id also like to see some of the characters who havent had a decent storyline get more to do before spreading the story even thinner with new characters. What did you think of the episode? Let me know your thoughts in the comments below! Jonathan Adler doesnt get out much to his Greenwich store. But when he does, he quickly makes himself at home which is easy, since he is surrounded by the wares that bear his name. This one is one of my all-time faves, the celebrity designer says of one of his 20 stores worldwide, while seated in his venice peacock blue Lampert sofa and sipping tea from one of his white Muse mugs a pair of lips on one side, a stache on the other. As he leans back on his Bargello needlepoint pillows, he ponders the essential aesthetic of this cosmopolitan suburb. Greenwich is one of those singular places on Earth that really signifies something, he says, resting his mug on a coffee table from his Peking collection. I think it resonates perfectly with my design ethos that I call modern American glamour. Adler is in Greenwich just a week after launching an exclusive collection, Now House, with Amazon. The pieces range from mid-century to modern, clean lines to plush profiles. Already an icon, Adlers latest collaboration offers him entry into even more homes, particularly those whose price points create a gap between attainment and aspiration. I always want people to find ways in to great design, and I think Now House is a great entry point, he says. Dressed in a gray sweater, white jeans and sneakers, he manifests a casual but crisp look not unlike the decor and furniture that surrounds him in the store or is featured in the new line. Its young and fresh and has more attractive price points. Its not the same as my line, but it is definitely a dotted line to my design DNA. Adlers brand is one built on irreverent luxury, the kind of mix that comes from a kid who first learns about the elegance and possibility of ceramics while wearing a Rush concert tee. That kid was Adler, back in 1978, just a decade or so after his birth. He says he spent his adolescence throwing pots in the basement of his New Jersey home eventually emerging to attend college and get a better handle on his pottery skills. Despite some early criticism that might have derailed others, Adler kept spinning the wheel. When he moved to New York City in the early 1990s, it was to work in the movie business. But the experience only made him long to become a full-time potter, a vocation he embraced in 1993. A year later, Barneys put in an order for his pots. In 1998, he opened his first store in SoHo (where his home, offices and studio are still situated.) And, voila, the rest is history. Adler values impeccable craftsmanship, but adores a cheeky spin. I think my style is what America is, he says. America is an irreverent country. We are new, fresh and open-minded and I think my design style is totally grounded in America. In a place such as Greenwich, that means a traditional home on the outside might revealing a surprising modern interior with pieces culled from Adlers collections, which tend to be clever, colorful, creative and whimsical. That to me is how America works, he says. I also think one of the reasons that perhaps Ive attained a modicum of success is because I dont think anybody wants to feel like their grandparents. It is a difficult balance to strike, to be in luxurious comfort, but not feel too much like a grownup. Nobody wants to feel like a grownup, he says, smiling. He still starts most ideas with a lump of clay, using the wheel and his hands to shape the initial structures that become the objects surrounding him and guests on a recent morning in his Greenwich store. Clay informs my sculptural approach to things. Hes also perfectly happy to find inspiration in pop references. Ive always been a student and lover of pop culture and I try to not censor my muses, he says. Whenever a muse alights, I am grateful, no matter where she comes from. Christina Hennessy is a freelance writer based in Connecticut. Twitter: @xtinahennessy The Kid is at the doctors office for his annual physical Tuesday and keeps asking the worlds most common medical inquiry. Am I getting a shot? My wife summons a timeless deflection: Well see. Am I getting a shot? The doctor tries misdirection: First, lets check how tall you are? The Kid and I briefly leave the room while they handle paperwork. Am I getting a shot? Oh yeah, youre getting a flu shot, I reply. The doctor turns into a magician again, vanishing while her assistant handles the dirty work. When it is over, he utters that perennial coda to the flu shot: Is that it? Of course, that comes after squirming, resistance and muttering of words I didnt know at 7. He does everything most grown-ups do when confronted with a flu shot except scroll the web for excuses. Serendipitously, I meet a few hours later with Dr. Michael Parry, the chair of Infectious Diseases for Stamford Health. To inject a dose of fun into our discussion of influenza, I take a shot in the dark. At my request, he types Why should I not get a flu shot? into a search field. This way we can address the truthers together. He quickly finds a typical online candidate: Eight damn good reasons not to get the flu shot. At least the first sentence of the posting doesnt blame the medical community. These days, there tends to be a more likely scoundrel ... Every year the mainstream media war drum beats for you to get vaccinated against the flu. The No. 1 damn good reason is likely one youve never heard: neurotoxic ingredients. Parry makes short work of this one, pointing out that the hospitals vaccines do not contain mercury or preservatives. He acknowledges that pharmacies may give shots containing mercury, but dismisses the amount as insignificant. I have more mercury in the fillings in my teeth and in my slice of tuna fish last night, he says. No. 2 challenges giving vaccines to pregnant women. Parry counters that not only are expectant moms at elevated risk for influenza, but the shot can provide passive immunity to a fetus all the way through the first six months of life. The third reason blames the media for vaccine-induced narcolepsy. This site is causing narcolepsy. No. 4 decries the lack of possible legal recourse. Were halfway through the list. Be honest, none of these are in your personal list of excuses, are they? Lets save time: Youve never complained about shedding the virus either (No. 5). No. 6 If you get the flu vaccine, expect to get the flu. Finally, an excuse I expect The Kid to use in the future. Admit it, youve considered this one yourself. The site revisits the anecdote of TV host Piers Morgan coming down with the flu days after getting a shot on Dr. Ozs stage. The problem is that it takes two weeks for the shot to work. How many people start feeling ill, get a shot in desperation, then reason that it didnt work. No. 7 Every year the experts guess. Parry explains the virus changes over the months while the vaccine is being made. So yes, there is a shift. His mother was an English teacher so Parry chooses his words with care. Shift is imprecise. He opts for drift. Whats not precise is the sites evidence for these good reasons. No. 8 begins Many people believe the Centers for Disease Control is beyond using propaganda ploys. I cant speak to the medicine, but be wary of any sentence that leans on the vague many believe. Parry never pretends a flu shot is a miracle cure: (Its) better than nothing and the vaccine is as close to innocuous as can be. Flu season runs from Oct. 1 to March 31 and he recommends getting the shot in October or November. Parry stresses that flu shots protect more than the recipient. He calls it cocooning, so healthy family members dont endanger vulnerable ones. The same principle applies within hospital walls. One of the many advantages of the new Stamford Hospital is that patients get single rooms. Gone are the days when one patient is diagnosed with the flu and the patient in the next bed is pissed off, Parry says with a healthy laugh. The hospital is not immune to staff members who resist the shot. Those who decline are required to wear a mask. A mask that reveals them. To dubious colleagues, Parry leverages the policy that time off for sick days count the same as vacation days: Wouldnt you rather spend time in the beach in the Bahamas than in the bed with the flu? There are, of course, far more serious reasons than lost time in the sand. Influenza is a very serious condition, Parry says. Last year there were 80, 000 deaths from the flu. An average year is 40,000 to 50,000. And 175 pediatric deaths. We end the truther exercise. Parry casually shows relevant slides rooted in academic research. He reads off one that reveals the shot reduces childhood deaths due to flu by 50 percent. That alone should end the discussion. But if the figure were just 1 percent, shouldnt that be enough when you ask, Am I getting a shot? John Breunig is editorial page editor of the Stamford Advocate and Greenwich Time. Jbreunig@scni.com; 203-964-2281; twitter.com/johnbreunig. Cue the eerie, unmistakable theme music. Flinch at the floating wooden doll, disembodied eyeball and unreliable timepiece. Brace for the narration in a voice sauteed in cigarette smoke. Next stop, the Twilight Zone. Picture, if you will, a series of leafy New England communities void of nonprofit agencies. Mental health services are not available. Access to affordable housing is elusive. Young children lack preschool opportunities. Stray animals cant connect with the humans who would rescue them. In other words, our communities would be devastated. You may not have noticed, but there was an erosion of services in Fairfield County in the wake of the recession that started more than a decade ago. Five years ago, Fairfield Countys Community Foundation launched a grass-roots effort to help nonprofits help themselves. The Giving Day initiative has been an inspiring success over those five years. It challenges members of our communities to donate to causes that resonate for them over a 24-hour period, beginning at midnight March 1. The minimum donation is $10. Those 55,000 donations, small and large, have added up. As awareness has grown, organizers have seen a 121-percent increase from the 2014 event to the $1.46 million raised in 2017. The $4.5 million collected has helped more than 650 nonprofits throughout the county, according to the foundation. Sponsored by Bank of America, the event is like a reality television contest in real time. Many incentives and prizes serve as carrots to motivate participating nonprofits to hit designated marks. During last years effort, for example, Ridgefield Chorale and Wilton Library each won $1,000 during a power hour. Stamfords Curtain Call theater has clung to the fundraising gold medal for each of the previous four campaigns, drawing $81,298 from more than 1,400 supporters last year and strategically winning contests such as a lunch is on us competition to pull in funds that might otherwise have been spent on lunch. If youre not interested in pitching in, you may want to declare a personal social media blackout during those 24 hours. Participants will flood your email, Twitter, Facebook and other accounts. More Information To give For more information, and to donate on Thursday, see www.fcgives.org See More Collapse But if youre engaged in your community, take a few minutes to consider the nonprofits that have influenced your life, whether its your local library or Kids in Crisis. Consider starting your own office contest. If you dont have the financial resources, think about volunteering. For a list of participating agencies and to donate go to fcgives.org. State support for many of these nonprofits has been dwindling during Connecticuts fiscal crisis in recent years. But heres some encouraging news about our home state. Connecticut has not traditionally been a generous state for charitable contributions when compared with the rest of the nation, usually near the bottom of philanthropy scorecards. Twelve months ago, we were 26th on WalletHub.coms ranking of states for charitable giving. In 2017, Connecticut rose to No. 10. Thats not science fiction; things can get better. F our young men in their 20s have been rushed to hospital after a quadruple stabbing in north London. Police and the London Ambulance Service scrambled to Fraser Road, in Edmonton, at about 6pm to reports of a fight. Once there, they found multiple men with stab wounds and all four have been taken to hospital. A spokesman for the police said one of the men has been discharged from hospital, but the conditions for the other victims is not known yet. Police said two cars at the scene, which had crashed into each other, were also found. A crime scene was put up on Fraser Road while the street was closed off for emergency services to look at. The violence comes just 24 hours after three men were injured after a suspected drive-by shooting on Gordon Road, just under one mile away. Gordon Road: officers were called at 6pm / @999london The spokesman added the police is treating both incidents as linked. A 16-year-old schoolboy was among those injured after police said a shotgun-wielding man drove up to a car and fired shots. The shooting happened at about 6pm and, according to officers, the victims were sat in a parked mini cab before they were approached by another car that drove alongside them. Police believe two men exited the car and one was armed with a shotgun. Two shots were fired into the mini cab where the men were sitting, leaving two 22-year-old men and a 16-year-old boy injured. None of the victims are in a life-threatening condition, although officers said one of the males has possibly life-changing injuries. No one has been arrested for the attack, or the stabbings in Edmonton. In a statement, police said: Police are keen to hear from anyone who witnessed this incident but has not yet come forward or anyone who can identify the suspects. D ominic Raab has hit out at Theresa May, suggesting she has failed to stand up to a bullying European Union over the Brexit deal. Mr Raab, who stepped down as Brexit secretary on Thursday saying he could not accept the terms of the deal done by the Prime Minister, told the Sunday Times the UK should demand an agreement that allows it to unilaterally leave any customs union. He spoke after two opinion polls suggested the week of chaos in Westminster has badly dented the Conservatives' election fortunes, with the Tories now trailing Jeremy Corbyn's Labour. Amid ongoing talk of a plot to replace Mrs May through a confidence vote, one of her ministers said there is still time for "more to be done" on the Brexit deal, despite an EU summit scheduled for November 25 to confirm it. Andrea Leadsom, the Brexiteer Commons' leader, said she supports the Prime Minister but suggested there is an opportunity before the special European Council meeting to get "the best possible deal for the UK". But Mr Raab told the Sunday Times: "If we cannot close this deal on reasonable terms we need to be very honest with the country that we will not be bribed and blackmailed or bullied and we will walk away. "I think there is one thing that is missing and that is political will and resolve. I am not sure that message has ever landed." Both Mrs May and Mr Raab are due to take their arguments on to television screens on Sunday morning. At the end of a bruising week for the Prime Minister, she used an interview with the Daily Mail on Saturday to tell her critics their alternative plans for Brexit would not solve the main problem - the North Ireland/Ireland border backstop arrangement. Dominic Raab quit his post as Brexit Secretary / AFP/Getty Images She told the newspaper: "People say 'if you could only just do something slightly different, have a Norway model or a Canada model, this backstop issue would go away'. It would not. That issue is still going to be there. "Some politicians get so embroiled in the intricacies of their argument they forget it is not about this theory or that theory, or does it make me look good." TODO: define component type apester Last week saw the departure of Mr Raab and work and pensions secretary Esther McVey, plus the launch of a high-profile insurrection on the backbenches to remove Mrs May from office. She responded by bringing former home secretary Amber Rudd, who quit over the Windrush scandal, back into Cabinet to replace Ms McVey. Meanwhile, Zac Goldsmith, the Richmond MP and failed Tory London mayoral candidate in 2016, revealed he has joined those who have sent a letter of no confidence in Mrs May to Sir Graham Brady, chairman of the 1922 committee of backbench MPs. Writing in the Sunday Telegraph, Mr Goldsmith said that under the PM's plan "in effect, Britain would remain in the EU, but without having any say". He added: "Had that been the choice, I personally would have voted to Remain. "The withdrawal agreement we have been presented with is unacceptable to Leave and Remain voters alike. "It has close to zero chance of making it through Parliament and with only five months remaining, we cannot afford to waste any more time on it." In an interview with the Mail on Sunday, Ms Rudd blasted attempts to force a no-confidence vote, warning it could make the Government "look a little unhinged". "I hope they go back into their corners and we can get on with doing what we're expected to do, which is delivering a Brexit I hope will protect the economy," she said. "They might have gone off a little early because it feels to me they're rowing back. "What could be madder at this stage, with seven days to go (to the Brussels summit) to undermine the Prime Minister. Such a mistake." In a sign the Tory civil war over Brexit is not calming, Middle East minister Alistair Burt warned rebels the "consensus" that pro-EU MPs should reluctantly respect the 2016 referendum result could break down if she is toppled. Mr Burt, whose role spans the Foreign Office and Department for International Development, attacked a tweet by Steve Baker, deputy chairman of the European Research Group, in which the latter promoted a lawyer's legal case against the agreement reached with Brussels. Mr Burt wrote: "Be very clear. If an agreed deal on leaving between the Govt and the EU is voted down by purist Brexiteers, do not be surprised if consensus on accepting the result of the referendum by Remain voting MPs breaks down. "Parliament will not support no deal." D ominic Raab has claimed he would support Prime Minister Theresa May in a leadership ballot - despite renewing his attack on her "fatally flawed" Brexit plan. Mr Raab said he supported Ms May's leadership just three days after quitting as Brexit secretary one of numerous Cabinet resignations which plunged the government into crisis. But he added she needs to "change course" on Brexit. Asked about Brexiteer Conservative MPs trying to topple Ms May by sending no confidence letters to 1922 Committee chair Sir Graham Brady, Mr Raab labelled it a total distraction and insisted he still supports her. He told the BBCs Andrew Marr Show on Sunday: It's a total distraction from what we need to do. We need to get Brexit over the line. We need to support our Prime Minister. "I have got huge respect for her. I wrote that in my resignation letter, it is not flim-flam. "I have worked very closely with her on Brexit and I think there is still the opportunity to get this right. Support the PM - but she must also listen and change course on Brexit." Mr Raab refused to give a direct answer when the presenter asked him if he would stand as leader, but promised he wouldnt be sending a no-confidence letter. TODO: define component type apester I have supported the Prime Minister all the way through her premiership, he said. I still do now. However, he reiterated his view that Ms Mays Brexit deal was fatally flawed. I think we got very close to a deal that would be faithful to the referendum, sensible and pragmatic. Dominic Raab arrives for his BBC interview on the Andrew Marr Show on Sunday (Will Oliver/EPA) / EPA But two or three of the changes rendered this deal fatally flawed. In good conscience, I didnt feel able to sign up to this. Mr Raab complained the deal takes a predatory approach to Northern Ireland that threatened the union. He added: We were close to a deal, and actually, if these two or three points were changed, I still think a deal could be done. But its very late in the day now, and we need to change course. Theresa May says changing leadership 'risks delaying Brexit' His backing of the Prime Minister came on the same day as a scathing Sunday Times interview in which he suggested Ms May failed to stand up EU bullying. Ms May herself appeared on Sophy Ridge on Sunday to defend her Brexit deal, and warned rebel backbenchers that a change in leadership would risk delaying the divorce. J eremy Corbyn today said that backing a second referendum on Brexit "is an option for the future" but "not an option for today" - pouring cold water over calls for Labour to back such a poll. The Labour leader also revealed that if there was another referendum he did not know how he would vote. It came as Mr Corbyn trashed the Prime Minister's divorce agreement, which he said means the EU "calls all the shots" in an interview with Sky News' Sophy Ridge on Sunday programme. He said it will make Britain poorer and will not guarantee workers rights. But he told how his party "couldn't stop" Brexit because of the parliamentary arithmetic. Mr Corbyn appeared on Sky News / PA He said: "We couldn't stop it because we don't have the votes in Parliament to do so. "There was a referendum in 2016, a majority voted to leave the EU, there are many reasons why people voted. I don't think you call a referendum and then say you don't like the result and go away from it, you've got to understand why people voted and negotiate the best deal you can," he added. TODO: define component type apester Mr Corbyn also admitted that he has not read all of the Brexit divorce bill, which runs to more than 500 pages long. He added that he had read many of the summaries and analyses. Asked about calls for a second referendum Mr Corbyn said: "It's an option for the future but it's not an option for today, if there was a referendum tomorrow what's it going to be on, what's the question going to be?" Mr Corbyn, on which way he would vote in such a referendum, said: "I don't know how I am going to vote, what the options would be at that time." It came as he appeared on the Sky News programme ahead of the Prime Minister claiming he could negotiate a better deal on Brexit than Mrs May. Jeremy Corbyn trashed the PM's Brexit deal on Sunday ( Sky News/PA Wire) / Sky News/PA Wire He said: "We are saying to the Government, you do not have a majority in Parliament for this., You don't have a majority of support in the country. You have to go back and do something better. "We have got to get in place a permanent customs arrangement with the EU." Mr Corbyn also trashed Theresa May's Brexit deal, telling Sky News that it was a "one-way agreement" in which the EU "calls all the shots". He said: "We'll vote against this deal because it doesn't meet our tests. We don't believe it serves the interest of this country, therefore the Government have to go back to the EU and renegotiate rapidly. T heresa May will this morning defend her Brexit deal in a live TV interview with Sky News following a week of high drama in Westminster. It comes as tensions within the Tory party continue to dominate the Sunday papers. A coup against the Prime Minister was boosted as Zac Goldsmith last night became the 24th Tory MP to go public with a no confidence letter in the Prime Minister. While former Brexit secretary Dominic Raab blasted the PM over the draft deal. But Amber Rudd, who made a dramatic return to the Cabinet earlier this week, said the move to oust Mrs May could make the Government "look unhinged". Here's what British politicians are saying in today's papers. Dominic Raab, the former Brexit Secretary / Alex Lentati Dominic Raab has hit out at Mrs May, suggesting she has failed to stand up to a bullying European Union over the Brexit deal. Mr Raab, who stepped down as Brexit secretary on Thursday saying he could not accept the terms of the deal done by the Prime Minister, told the Sunday Times the UK should demand an agreement that allows it to unilaterally leave any customs union. He told the Sunday Times: "If we cannot close this deal on reasonable terms we need to be very honest with the country that we will not be bribed and blackmailed or bullied and we will walk away. "I think there is one thing that is missing and that is political will and resolve. I am not sure that message has ever landed." Both Mrs May and Mr Raab are due to take their arguments on to television screens on Sunday morning. Zac Goldsmith has submitted a letter of no confidence in the PM (Photo by Leon Neal/Getty Images) / Getty Images Meanwhile, Zac Goldsmith, the Richmond MP and failed Tory London mayoral candidate in 2016, revealed he has joined those who have sent a letter of no confidence in Mrs May to Sir Graham Brady, chairman of the 1922 committee of backbench MPs. Writing in the Sunday Telegraph, Mr Goldsmith said that under the PM's plan "in effect, Britain would remain in the EU, but without having any say". He added: "Had that been the choice, I personally would have voted to Remain. "The withdrawal agreement we have been presented with is unacceptable to Leave and Remain voters alike. "It has close to zero chance of making it through Parliament and with only five months remaining, we cannot afford to waste any more time on it." Amber Rudd has returned to the Cabinet / PA In an interview with the Mail on Sunday, Amber Rudd blasted attempts to force a no-confidence vote, warning it could make the Government "look a little unhinged". "I hope they go back into their corners and we can get on with doing what we're expected to do, which is delivering a Brexit I hope will protect the economy," she said. "They might have gone off a little early because it feels to me they're rowing back. "What could be madder at this stage, with seven days to go (to the Brussels summit) to undermine the Prime Minister. Such a mistake." TODO: define component type apester T heresa May has hit back at critics of her divorce deal in a defiant interview on Sky News, declaring that changing Prime Minister "risks delaying Brexit". Mrs May, who has faced calls for a no confidence vote from Tory MPs since her draft deal was published on Wednesday, said ousting her would create "uncertainty". She added that the number of letters submitted to trigger the vote had not reached the 48 needed "as far as I know". In an interview for Sky News' Sophy Ridge on Sunday, she announced that she will visit Brussels this week as she revealed there is potential for changes to the current divorce deal. The PM hit back at her critics in the interview on Sunday / PA She told the programme that the next seven days would be "critical" to achieving a successful Brexit. And regarding a change of leadership, Mrs May said: "What it will do is bring in a degree of uncertainty. That is uncertainty for people and their jobs. "What it will do is mean that it is a risk that we delay the negotiations and that is a risk that Brexit gets delayed or frustrated." The Prime Minister appeared on Sky News this morning / PA Asked whether she has considered giving up following her toughest week, she said: "No, I haven't." She added: "Of course it's been a tough week. These negotiations have been difficult from the start. TODO: define component type apester "But this is not about me, it's about what's in the national interest." Ms May also defended her Brexit deal, saying the EU originally wanted to offer the UK an "off-the-shelf deal". "We fought that," Ms May said. "We stood our ground, we said no, we're the UK, actually we can have a better more ambitious relationship with you. Theresa May on Sophy Ridge on Sunday / Sky News/PA "It took time but they have come round to that, they said yes, we'll agree a more ambitious relationship with the UK than we at first thought we could give you." The Prime Minister also laughed off suggestions that the Irish backstop represented a "Hotel California" Brexit - from which you could never leave. Mrs May said the backstop is an "insurance policy", adding: "Both sides can say yes we agree that there are arrangements in place, that a deal that provides for the people of Northern Ireland and therefore that backstop is no longer necessary." Pressed over what the Government would do in the event a vote on the Brexit deal was lost in the Commons, Mrs May said: "There's a process that Parliament will go through, were it the case that the deal was lost then the government would come back with their proposals for what the next step was." It comes at the end of a bruising week for the Prime Minister, amid ongoing talk of a plot to replace Mrs May through a confidence vote. Her draft Brexit deal triggered Cabinet resignations, while Tory Brexiteers submitted letters of no confidence to Sir Graham Brady, chair of the backbench 1922 committee. Its thought 11 more letters are needed to trigger a confidence ballot among Conservative MPs. Meanwhile, Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn appeared on the same show ahead of the Prime Minister. He said backing a second referendum on Brexit "is an option for the future". Zac Goldsmith, the Tory mayoral candidate for London in 2016, revealed he was one of those MPs. He said of the Brexit deal: "It has close to zero chance of making it through Parliament and with only five months remaining, we cannot afford to waste any more time on it." A n Australian wedding magazine has had to shut down after it refused to feature same sex couples. Following the LGBT row, the founders of White magazine said they had no choice but to close because advertisers had left them. Luke and Carla Burrell posted an emotional farewell to readers on their Facebook, claiming they had been targeted by a flood of judgement, the BBC reported. The Christian couple wrote: Last year the Australian law was changed to allow same-sex couples to marry. Since then we have been asked repeatedly why our magazine had not yet featured all couples. Like many people, we have had to reflect on our beliefs, not to judge ourselves or others, but to intentionally make space for new conversations. Its a long and continuing journey, its not black and white, there are so many grey areas that need to be explored. Our greatest mandate is to love and the biggest question weve continued to ask ourselves throughout it is, how do we best love? White Magazine has always been a secular publication, but as its publishers, we are Christian. The statement added: Recently weve experienced a flood of judgement. The couple claimed they were put in a position by some who demanded they pick a side and the company has resulted in seeing a number of advertisers withdraw their sponsorship. They said this was out of fear of being judged or in protest. The post was met with mixed views on social media, with some praising the company for sticking to their principles, and some arguing the magazine is being homophobic. The posted ended with the company thanking contributors, supporters and readers throughout the last 12 years of its publication. U S President Donald Trump has said he does not want to listen to the vicious Jamal Khashoggi killing tape that was given to the US. In an interview with Fox News on Sunday, the President was quizzed about a number of issues, from mid-term election results to White House reshuffling, and was probed over the murder of the journalist. Mr Trump said he was told the tape was very violent and terrible and said he has been told what its contents were, but would not like to hear it himself. He said: We have the tape, I dont want to hear the tape. Theres no reason for me to hear the tape. When asked why, he replied: Because its a suffering tape, its a terrible tape. Ive been fully briefed on it, theres no reason for me to hear it, I was told I really shouldnt. He added: It was very violent, very vicious and terrible. Mr Trump said he expects a full report into the Washington Post journalistss death to be released on Tuesday. Turkey has long maintained that it was in possession of a recording of the death and said it had been shared with officials from Saudi Arabia, Germany, France, the US and UK. Mr Trump was also questioned about the alleged role of Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. He said: He told me he had nothing to do with it. He told me that, I would say, maybe five times. Mr Trump later posed: Will anybody really know? what happened to Mr Khashoggi. He maintained the US wanted to stick with Saudi Arabia as a close ally in the Middle East while interviewed, though. Saudi Arabia's crown prince Mohammed bin Salman ordered the killing of Jamal Khashoggi / Amir Levy/Reuters "He did have certainly people that were reasonably close to him and close to him that were probably involved ... But at the same time we do have an ally and I want to stick with an ally that in many ways has been very good, he said. During the interview, Mr Trump was also quizzed on his staff in the White House. Mr Trump said he is not committing to a previous pledge to keep chief of staff John Kelly for the remainder of his ter. He praised Mr Kelly's work ethic and much of what he brings to the position but added, "There are certain things that I don't like that he does." "There are a couple of things where it's just not his strength. It's not his fault. It's not his strength," said Mr Trump. Asked whether he would keep Mr Kelly in his post through 2020, the president offered only that "it could happen." Mr Trump had earlier pledged publicly Mr Kelly would remain through his first term in office, though many in the West Wing were sceptical. Mr Trump said he was happy with his Cabinet but was thinking about changing "three or four or five positions." One of them is Homeland Security chief Kirstjen Nielsen, whose departure is now considered inevitable. Mr Trump said in the interview that he could keep her on, but he made clear that he wished she would be tougher in implementing his hard-line immigration policies and enforcing border security. The list of potential replacements for Nielsen includes a career lawman, two military officers and former acting U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement head. H undreds of people have been injured as the France fuel protests continued into a second day. The BBC reported the injury toll has now exceeded 400 over Saturday and Sunday, while 157 people were arrested. It came as protesters from the yellow vest movement formed road blockades across the country. Pictures on Sunday from one blockade in Caen, Normandy, showed thick plumes of smoke in the air as protesters burned tyres and wood in the middle of the highway. People block Caen's circular road on Sunday / AFP/Getty Images Hundreds of thousands of people have been rallying against higher fuel taxes and president Emmanuel Macron's economic policies. People block the A63 highway in Canejan, near Bordeaux, on Sunday / AFP/Getty Images The protests have caused major traffic jams and several accidents, including one fatality on Saturday. A driver reportedly panicked when people surrounded her car, leading her to press the accelerator. A female protester died after she was hit. Protesters stand by a fire in Douchy-les-Mines, northern France, on Sunday / AFP/Getty Images Most of the injuries came as drivers tried to get around the blockades on motorway slip roads, tunnel entrances and airport access roads. In some cases, police have been forced to use tear gas to push back protesters. The demonstrations came amid mounting dissatisfaction with Mr Macron, who some view as out of touch with ordinary people. U S President Donald Trump has said his administration will release a full report about the death of Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi in the next two days. "We'll be having a very full report over the next two days, probably Monday or Tuesday," Mr Trump said. That will include "who did it," he said. It follows reports that the CIA believes Mr Khashoggi's killing was ordered by the Saudi Crown Prince. Officials said the United States has yet to reach a final conclusion over his murder. Reports had suggested the CIA concluded Saudi crown prince Mohammed bin Salman ordered the killing / AFP/Getty Images Reporters asked Mr Trump about the death of Mr Khashoggi, a columnist for The Washington Post who was killed on October 2 inside the Saudi Consulate in Istanbul. Saudi Arabia's top diplomat has said the crown prince had "absolutely" nothing to do with it. "The United States government is determined to hold all those responsible for the killing of Jamal Khashoggi accountable," the State Department said in a statement. President Donald Trump said a report into the journalist's death is due in the next two days / REUTERS "Recent reports indicating that the US government has made a final conclusion are inaccurate. There remain numerous unanswered questions with respect to the murder of Mr Khashoggi." The statement added: "The US government has taken decisive measures against the individuals responsible, including visa and sanctions actions. "We will continue to explore additional measures to hold those accountable who planned, led and were connected to the murder. And, we will do that while maintaining the important strategic relationship between the United States and Saudi Arabia." Intelligence officials have been providing information to Mr Trump about the death for weeks and he was briefed again by phone Saturday by CIA director Gina Haspel and Secretary of State Mike Pompeo as he flew to California. White House press secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders provided no details of his call but said the president has confidence in the CIA. Before his call on Air Force One, Mr Trump told reporters that when it came to the crown prince, "as of this moment we were told that he did not play a role. We're going to have to find out what they have to say". That echoed remarks by national security adviser John Bolton, who said earlier this week that people who have listened to an audio recording of the killing do not think it implicates the crown prince. Also before leaving on his trip, Mr Trump said Saudi Arabia was "a truly spectacular ally in terms of jobs and economic development". "I have to take a lot of things into consideration" when deciding what measures to take against the kingdom, he said. Mr Trump has called the killing a botched operation that was carried out very poorly and has said "the cover-up was one of the worst cover-ups in the history of cover-ups". But he has resisted calls to cut off arms sales to the kingdom and has been reluctant to antagonise the Saudi rulers. Mr Trump considers the Saudis vital allies in his Mideast agenda. But members of Congress are pushing Mr Trump for a tougher response to the killing. The administration this past week penalised 17 Saudi officials for their alleged role in the killing, but American politicians have called on the administration to curtail arms sales to Saudi Arabia or take other harsher punitive measures. Vice President Mike Pence told reporters travelling with him on Saturday for a summit of Pacific Rim nations in Papua, New Guinea, that the "murder of Jamal Khashoggi was an atrocity. It was also an affront to a free and independent press, and the United States is determined to hold all of those accountable who are responsible for that murder". Mr Khashoggi, a Saudi who lived in the United States, often criticised the royal family. Turkish and Saudi authorities say he was killed inside the consulate by a team from the kingdom after he went there to get marriage documents. A swimmer has died of a heart attack after he was stung by a stingray in Australia. Police said the 42-year-old man went into cardiac arrest at Lauderdale Beach, near Hobart in Tasmania. It happened on Saturday and the victim, who has not been named, suffered a puncture wound to his lower abdomen. Tasmania Police said: "Attempts to resuscitate the male were unsuccessful. In the immediate period prior to his death the male had been bathing in the waters a short distance from the shore. "He was removed from the water by friends prior to the arrival of emergency services. "It was reported he was unaccompanied in the water at the time of sustaining a puncture wound to his lower abdomen." The incident recalled the 2006 death of Steve Irwin while filming an underwater scene for a television series. A stingray's stinging barbs had pierced his heart. K ate Silverton waved goodbye to Strictly Come Dancing after the judges voted unanimously to save Graeme Swann at the annual Blackpool Tower spectacular. The BBC newsreader found herself in the dreaded dance-off for the first time in the competition after failing to win over the public with her American Smooth to Everlasting Love by Love Affair. Silverton, 48, paid tribute to her partner Aljaz Skorjanec, saying she will be "forever grateful" to him for getting her into ballroom dancing in 11 weeks. You know Im actually weirdly perversely, not that I would have wanted to go out, but on a night like tonight in such a place, I couldnt have asked for anything better really," she said on getting the boot. "I got to dance twice, went up in a hot air balloon twice, and I loved it twice. Saved: Oti Mabuse and Graeme Swann / BBC/Guy Levy "If I can just do a thank you to [Aljaz] because I am so lucky to have had you as my teacher. And as you said weve learnt so much from each other, weve become such good friends and you have just made this the most incredible experience. Weve had so much fun, weve worked hard but just thank you. Skorjanec said he was "incredibly proud" of such an "incredible woman". Loading.... I can say it has been eleven weeks, I have to say we started every single dance from scratch and I am so impressed," he said. "Every week going out there and delivering incredible performances, for someone that has never performed in her life I am so incredibly proud of you. You have taught me so much, youre such an incredible woman, youre an incredible mother and thank you honestly it has been an amazing series. Im never going to forget it and thanks to all of you who supported us. Strictly Come Dancing 2018 - Week Two - In Pictures 1 /15 Strictly Come Dancing 2018 - Week Two - In Pictures Ashley and Pasha BBC / Guy Levy Faye and Giovanni Guy Levy/BBC/BBC/PA Wire Joe and Dianne Guy Levy/BBC/BBC/PA Wire Katie and Gorka Guy Levy/BBC/BBC/PA Wire Dr Ranj and Janette Guy Levy/BBC/BBC/PA Wire Graeme and Oti Guy Levy/BBC/BBC/PA Wire Stacey and Kevin BBC Danny and Amy Guy Levy/BBC/BBC/PA Wire Lauren and AJ Guy Levy/BBC/BBC/PA Wire Kate and Aljaz Guy Levy/BBC/BBC/PA Wire Vick and Graziano Guy Levy/BBC/BBC/PA Wire Charles and Karen Guy Levy/BBC/BBC/PA Wire Seann and Katya Guy Levy/BBC/BBC/PA Wire Susannah and Anton Guy Levy/BBC/BBC/PA Wire Lee and Nadiya Guy Levy/BBC/BBC/PA Wire Ashley Roberts bagged the first perfect score of the series as she performed a flawless jive to Shake Your Tail Feather in the iconic ballroom with partner Pasha Kovalev. Head judge Shirley Ballas told the former Pussycat Doll she had pushed the envelopewhile Dame Darcey Bussell hailed the routine fantastic. Bottom of the leader board was Lauren Steadman whose Argentine Tango was branded "stompy". This week's musical number came from Take That who performed their new hit Out of Our Heads. New details on the filming of Star Wars Episode IX in Jordan have been revealed, indicating that Lucasfilm filmed in a location that was previously used in the 1962 epic film Lawrence of Arabia. A poster on r/StarWarsLeaks recently traveled to Jordan with a friend, with a shared interest to visit Wadi Rum with the help of a business associate. The associate in question was a logistics specialist who actually told them that filming for Star Wars Episode IX had wrapped there, so they stopped by the filming location. To prove they were there, they shared multiple images of the area where the crew resided off-set (which had yet to be taken down), which includes a logo containing the movies production code name, trIXie: In addition, the associate apparently showed the user some raw footage of various takes, which one of the crew members was able to record in secret. There were three brief scenes described, which are as follows: A Shot of Rey and Chewie being tossed in the air after an explosion (this was filmed against a medium sized green screen that hung in the air) the explosion was a practical effect and Rey was wearing a similar costume to (The Force Awakens); an almost identical shot of Finn and some other guy (maybe Poe?) no green screen this time and the explosion wasnt as big; [and] Rey doing some solo running, jumping, and swinging her lit lightsaber. Whats most interesting to me is the detail about the presence of a blue lightsaber, as this invites speculation. Its listed as being ignited in the scenes that were filmed, and while the color could be changed in post-production (since this is a prop and not a finished visual effect), theres a strong possibility that this could be a reforged Skywalker Lightsaber. Perhaps it thematically could serve as the overall arc of the sequel trilogy: The Force Awakens is a movie about the revival of the franchise (symbolized by the sudden reappearance of the Skywalker lightsaber), The Last Jedi deconstructs its mythology and is built around the idea of letting go (symbolized by the Skywalker lightsaber being fractured), and Episode IX could be about reconstructing things while learning the past (symbolized by the Skywalker lightsaber being rebuilt). As of right now, were only going off of this users word with the footage description, so only time will tell if the information given is accurate. While the information should only be taken as a rumor, the photos from the location which include the production logo lend the poster a bit of credence. With about 13 months or so until Episode IX, were sure to get more stories on the movie soon instead of having to deal with the current drought of information. The death of ambassador Mihnea Constantinescu is a great loss for Romania's diplomacy, the Foreign Affairs Ministry and the Diplomatic and Consular Corps having lost a respected colleague, but ambassador Mihnea Constantinescu will remain through all he has achieved in the history of the Romanian diplomacy and will continue to be a moral, professional standard, the MAE says in a release. "His career is intertwining with the birth and evolution of democratic, Euro-Atlantic Romania and he is a standard for what the Romanian state wished to become after the 1989 Revolution. The long of his diplomatic career, he carried out several significant projects and held various positions and important tasks that have defined Romania's voice internationally, thus contributing to managing Romania's major files of foreign politics, the release adds. "This is bad news for everything that means the Romanian diplomatic corps. Mr. Mihnea Constantinescu used to be one of the most respected ambassadors and a man of high professionalism, balance and special interest in promoting Romania's interests, regardless of the political colour of the parties at rule. (...) It is a great loss for the Foreign Affairs Ministry," the chuef diplomat Teodor Melescanu told a phone intervention at the private Antena 3 broadcaster. "Words are too poor to help me express my respect and appreciation for a dear man, an exceptional ambassador, a colleague hard to find and a true friend who anytime, anywhere and practically at any hour was there to give a piece of advice, to encourage you, to share his opinion, in a hard to find elegance, without forcing you to take it! He loved Romania and he loved the Romanian diplomacy, dedicating them his life and professional career!" says Deputy Prime minister Ana Birchall, in a Facebook post. "In great sadness I've learned that Mihnea Constantinescu passed away. I have lost today not only a former collaborator, but a close friend. I had the honour to work with, share thoughts and opinions together. He was a man that is entwining the definition of professionalism and common sense all together, having an important contribution to all of the files aiming at Romania. He was the person one could count on at any moment," the Senate's head Popescu-Tariceanu wrote on his Facebook page. "I've learned with endless sadness about the premature, unexpected passing away of ambassador Mihnea Constantinescu. For 20 years, he used to be a great counselor of King Mihai and mine, also an unreplaceable friend. He used to be one the most constant and strong, discreet and professional members of my House," reads the message of the Romanian Crown's Custodian. "This man was a gentleman, a personality of such an intelligence and fineness, a diplomat who used to work always in a discreet manner for our anchoring in the West. He was one of my friends within the MAE. He knew how to appreciate the culture, he would have wished a Romania where merit should have been recognised effortlessly, a better country led by intelligent, patriot people. I know he cherished the warmth of my friendship and I enjoyed the long of the years his sharp, calm, commonsensical distinction.God rest his soul!" former chief of diplomacy Teodor Baconschi wrote on his Facebook page. Mihnea Constantinescu used to be an intelligent, subtle, professional diplomat, an unmatched commonsensical person," former Foreign Affairs minister Cristian Diaconescu said in a release. "Mihnea was the one who has fully implicated in sustaining the anti-drug policies through the care for the National Anti-drug Agency (ANA)'s functioning at its maximum parameters when it came to the agency's human and financial resources, having for this several meetings with the CIADO (International Anti-drug and Human Rights Centre) leadership and the ANA's. Academician Constantin Balaceanu Stolnici, CIADO Romania president sends his condolence to the ambassador's mourning family," a communique by this body reads. Ambassador Mihnea Constantinescu passed away at 57, in a French hospital of Nice. The "sly guys" in energy who in the past were having huge profits with the cheap electricity from Hidroelectrica have not vanished, they are lurking at turning point and try to regain the lost privileges, the managing director of Hidroelectrica Bogdan Badea told AGERPRES in an interview. Badea said that Hidroelectrica, the biggest energy producer of Romania is having tough battles on all fronts with the interest groups that are trying to blood-suck again the state-run company. The contracts with the "sly guys" have been canceled in 2012, after the energy producer entered insolvency. According to Badea, the energy prices' rise lately manifested all around Europe following the high environment costs, but the difference in the invoice for an ordinary consumer is the equivalent of a cigarettes' package per month. Nevertheless, in his opinion should we wish for clean energy we must make sacrifice too in this respect. The Hidroelectrica head has also announced an ambitious over one billion euro investment programme in the next five years that includes the purchase of some wind and photovoltaic energy producers. According to the first nine months' outcomes, the year 2018 is very important to Hidroelectrica. The managing director estimates that by year-end, the gross profit will exceed the 2-billion lei psychological threshold as against 1.6 billion lei in 2017. Obviously, he added, in order to reach those results a very good programming of the production area is needed, a perfect planning of the maintenance works, so that they won't overlap as much as possible with the periods of flooding and the periods when the inner rivers' affluent flows are significant and electricity could be produced. The record profit means a maximum attention to the spending and a good production planning that must go hand in hand with the trading and sales department. We must sell and we must do it at prices as good as possible, because we operate in a competitive market and compete with both the energy producers and the market traders. This market is more dynamic than they are in other areas. Should we wish for a clean energy, we must make sacrifices in this respect, said Badea. And then I know that any change of price is reflected in the industry and in each others' pocket and one must see in what measure each of us is wiling to pay some extra money for this desideratum. The energy market in Romania is pretty mature, we are enough advanced as compared to other markets and I believe we are quite prepared as regards the European exigencies regarding the energy trading. It remains the matter when the market will get opened and the way each and every one will understand to position themselves, once we will operate in a regional market. Naturally, not everyone sees with good eyes Hidroelectrica's performances. And then a lot of speculation could occur. Perhaps there are groups that consider that Hidroelectrica should return to what it was before insolvency, when it sold energy that it had not, for privileged prices, was making investment with no economic sense, only to spend the money, the maintenance where it was not needed and so on. I have learned enough things of all that has happened before insolvency, I have also watched the long restructuring process that was necessary subsequently to insolvency and we don't want to find ourselves again in such situations. The "sly guys" are still lurking and as you probably see, heavy battles are still underway on all fronts with these "sly guys". Do not believe they have vanished, they are still out there and will try permanently to return to the privileges they used to have in the past. I'm happy that on 12 November the Romanian state has recorded a huge victory in its fight with these "sly guys" (the Swiss-based energy trader Alpiq has lost law suit to the Romanian state at World Bank's International Centre for Settlement of Investment Disputes (ICSID) in Washington for the annulment of its contract with Hidroelectrica, in 2012), and this is a positive signal. It is the duty of each of us to make things from the past never happen again. Eric S. MARGOLIS Asked if President Donald Trumps highly critical tweets about French president Emmanuel Macron were unpleasant and inelegant, Macron elegantly replied, `you summed up everything. Yes, they were unpleasant and inelegant, to put it mildly. Worse, Trumps tweet barrage came on the same day France was commemorating the murder of 130 Parisians by gunmen in 2015. A senior French press official claimed Trump lacked common decency. Making matters worse, Trump refused to show up at a graveside memorial for American GIs killed in the bloody, 1918 Belleau Wood battle. He went the following day to another memorial closer to Paris. A major faux pas, Monsieur le President Trump. You need some foreign policy pros instead of the amateur ideologues who have made a huge mess of the nations affairs and image. This row arose after Macron and German Chancellor Angela Merkel addressed the European Parliament in Strasbourg and called for a common European army to complement NATO. Earlier, Chancellor Merkel stated that Europe could no longer depend on the US for its protection. Merkels frank talk was clearly a slap in the face to the prickly Trump, whose aggressive policies have put the US in confrontation with Russia, China, Iran, Turkey, Venezuela, Cuba and much of the Muslim world. In effect, Germany and France, Europes two big powers, were declaring independence from US hegemony seven decades after the end of World War II. Many Europeans and certainly Germans consider their nations still militarily and politically occupied by the American Imperium. How else could the US National Security spy agency (NSA) get away with tapping Angela Merkels cell phone with nary a German protest? Given Russias military and financial feebleness (a defense budget less than one tenth of the US), what reason is there for a major US military presence from Spain to the Baltic and Black Sea? There are still US military bases in Italy, Spain, Portugal, Germany (34 bases), Belgium, Holland, Britain, Turkey, Denmark, Bosnia, Bulgaria, Romania, Kosovo, Greece and soon Poland. Large parts of Europe are still militarily occupied by the US. Amazingly, the European Union, the worlds most important economic power, has very little self-defense capability. Instead, the US-runs and finances the lions share of NATO. Just as during the old Cold War, the Warsaw Pact was run from Moscow, so NATO is directed by Washington, and is a major component of US global power. Nations that do not have their own military forces have very little sovereignty. Costa Rica is one charming exception. Great powers like France, Britain and Germany must command a good portion of their own military forces or join them in a common armed force. This is what Merkel and Macron were proposing, to Trumps fury. During the 1950s, Europeans agreed to NATO as much in fear of a recurrence of the horrors of two European wars as fear of Soviet invasion, though the latter was very real at the time. Even the Swiss built fortifications designed to stop an invasion by the Soviet Red Army, and France began work to up-gun and reinforce the Maginot Line defenses. The angry Trump fired back by reminding France that it was rescued in two world wars by the United States, had major economic problems, and could not trust the Germans. This is a favorite theme of French-hating, know-nothing conservatives and neocons. I suspect their hatred of France comes from being mistreated as tourists by rude waiters in Paris restaurants and sneered at by snooty French as uncultured boors and rustics. Trumps core supporters Evangelical Christians mostly regard French and other Europeans as degenerate, godless, Christian-haters. They conveniently forget, or dont know, that French soldiers and sailors delivered decisive victories over British forces during the American Revolution.A key cause of the French Revolution was national bankruptcy caused by King Louis heavy spending on military help to the US war of independence. When Im in Metz, France, I always go to salute the statue of the Marquis de Lafayette who led French forces helping the American Revolution.Without French help, Americans might be today caught up in the ghastly Brexit mess. NATO provides huge geopolitical influence to Washington and enormous amounts of military sales.Small wonder the US rages when any mention of an independent European military is voiced.The idea assails Americas domination of Europe and the use of NATO to impose its will on the Mideast, Africa and western Asia. Ironically, Trumps evident hatred for Europe and calls by his neocon Praetorian Guard for the US to dominate the entire globe have made Europe turn away from its old subservience to Washington and talk about real independence.But building true Euro-armed forces will be frightfully expensive and politically fraught.Watching EU squabbles over farm laws and other economic issues hardly inspires confidence.But the EU must have its own defense capabilities if it is to escape permanent thralldom to the United States. ericmargolis.com Caitlin JOHNSTONE WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange has been charged under seal by the Trump administration. This has been revealed by a purportedly accidental copy-paste error in an unrelated court document which used Assanges name, interestingly not long after it was reporte d to the Wall Street Journal that federal prosecutors have considered publicly indicting Mr. Assange to try to trigger his removal from the embassy because a detailed explanation of the evidence could give Ecuadorean authorities reason to turn Assange over. Insider sources have reportedly confirmed to the Washington Post that Assange has been charged. Because those charges are sealed, its impossible to know what they are or how theyre being justified. If you ask #Resistance Twitter, its because its #MuellerTime and Assange is about to be arrested under some mysterious charges involving WikiLeaks publication of non-government, non-classified emails in 2016. If you ask QAnon cultists, its because Donald Trump is planning to extradite Assange so as to rescue him and deal a fatal blow to the Deep State. If you ask people who actually know what theyre talking about, however, its most likely for WikiLeaks Afghanistan and Iraq war logs and/or last years CIA leak publications, and most likely using the Espionage Act. This would constitute a deadly blow to press freedoms, and arguably a greater leap in the direction of Orwellian dystopia than the Patriot Act. It also proves once again that Julian Assange was completely right. Ive had so, so many arguments with people this year about Assanges publicly stated rationale for remaining in the Ecuadorian embassy, where he was granted political asylum by Ecuadors previous government on the basis that the US was seeking his extradition. The refrain that he can leave whenever he wants is extremely common , with Assanges detractors insisting that hed never be arrested and extradited to the United States, and that he is instead hiding from ( non-existent ) Swedish rape charges. The narrative that Assange couldnt possibly be hiding from the same government which tortured Chelsea Manning has been aggressively promulgated by mainstream outlets like the The Guardian , as in this article by James Ball from earlier this year titled The only barrier to Julian Assange leaving Ecuadors embassy is pride, claiming that The WikiLeaks founder is unlikely to face prosecution in the US. Balls article includes the following galaxy-brained excerpts: Visitors, like fish, stink in three days. The problem for both sides is that neither wants to lose face: Assange wants to be a symbol of resistance against an overreaching US state, and does not want to admit his asylum was about his personal actions and not those of WikiLeaks. Ecuador does not want to suggest it made a mistake in granting Assange asylum. Ball was at best completely wrong, and at worst knowingly lying about the very real possibility of secret US charges. We know that the charges are from the US government, so theyve got nothing to do with any rape or bail violation allegations. But the narrative that Assange is a stinky, stinky weirdo hiding in a cupboard has been so aggressively promulgated by imperial propagandists like Ball its (for me at least) literally impossible to talk about Assanges plight on social media without some stranger coming up and spewing it all over the conversation. And its no mystery why that is. The alternative to making Assange the creepy rapist hiding from justice would be to acknowledge the possibility of what we now know for certain: that a vast, sprawling superpower, with so many extremely tight alliances that it is effectively the center of a globe-spanning empire, is working to extradite an Australian journalist from an Ecuadorian embassy in the United Kingdom so that it can punish him for publishing facts. Much, much easier to have him be the stinky cupboard man than the center of an assault on speech with implications stretching to all future generations and every corner of the globe. Julian Assange founded an innovative leak outlet on the premise that corrupt power can be fought with truth and transparency. Corrupt power responded by silencing, persecuting and smearing him. In so doing they succeeded in slowing down the leaks, minimizing the impact of publications, and nullifying Assanges ability to defend himself, and in exchange they have publicly proved that his thesis was, and is, absolutely correct. There is a power establishment which uses lies and secrecy to manipulate and deceive us, and it hates having the light of truth shone upon it more than anything. We know that for certain now. There is no doubt whatsoever. Julian Assange was never hiding from justice. Julian Assange is, and always has been, hiding from injustice. He has been proven right about his reasons for seeking political asylum from Ecuador, as he has been proven right about so very much before. medium.com A Ukraine-initiated resolution, condemning alleged human rights violations in Crimea, has been approved by the Third Committee (Social, Humanitarian & Cultural Issues) of the UN General Assembly (UNGA). The text is openly hostile toward Russia. The peninsula is supposedly annexed and occupied as a result of military conflict the term used for the first time to toughen the wording as compared to the two previous UN resolutions on the issue. Has anybody heard about combat actions in Crimea? Definitely not, but the authors of the document think otherwise. The resolution affirms that Crimea was seized and offers its readers concocted stories about detentions, tortures and the usual stuff about human rights violations. According to it, the rights of people in Crimea to have Russian citizenship with all the social benefits it implies, to vote or serve in the armed forces go against international law. It says minorities are oppressed and not allowed to speak their native languages, which is evidently not true. Many Western delegations have visited Crimea. None of them saw anything to show that were any problems with human rights or the plight of minorities. A group of German politicians visited the peninsula in February. What they saw made them call for lifting the sanctions against Russia. A delegation from Norway went to Crimea last month to express its satisfaction with the progress the region had made. This year, Matteo Salvini, Vice Prime Minister of Italy, told the Washington Post that he believes that Crimeas re-unification with Russia is legitimate and branded the Ukraines 2014 revolution as fake and funded by other countries. Mr. Salvini is a staunch opponent of the sanctions imposed by the EU on Moscow for incorporating Crimea the region he visited himself in 2014 after it became Russian. The Yalta International Economic Forum 2018 brought together a large number of high-level guests on April 19-21. In August, a Slovak delegation of businessmen led by Peter Marcek, a deputy of the National Council of Slovakia, was in Crimea to study business opportunities. The document calls on all international bodies to use the term the Autonomous Republic of Crimea and the city of Sevastopol, Ukraine, temporarily occupied by the Russian Federation. The Secretary General is to ensure the implementation of the resolution, which will be put to vote in December to be endorsed by UN General Assembly. The resolution was supported by only 67 votes, with 26 nations voting against, including Russia, China, India, South Africa and Serbia, and 87 abstaining. Totally, 108 out of 193 UN member states did not vote for it. The results deprive Ukraine of opportunity to affirm that its stance on Crimea enjoys wide international support. Last year, a similar resolution with a milder wording was endorsed by 70 states (26 voted against and 76 abstained). The first Crimea resolution in 2016 was backed by 70 UN members with 71 abstaining and 26 voting against. So, the approval has gone down a bit while the number of abstentions grew with the number of nations backing Russia to remain unchanged. As one can see, the support for Ukraines position is growing weaker. The principle of responsibility to protect (R2P or RtoP) adopted at the World Summit in 2005 is omnipresent in all UN documents. Suppose Crimea was Ukrainian today, would the people living there be protected? Its important to be impartial. No way could anybody accuse the famous British Chatham House think tank of having anything to do with Russian propaganda. Here is its report published on Nov.8 devoted to the threat coming from Ukraines radicals and the violence they spread. Its horrible. Even Atlantic Council admits Ukraines Nazi problem. It expressed its alarm in the report published in October. As a UN member, Russia was obliged to protect the people of Crimea from this threat. Thats what it did in strict compliance with its international commitment. Nazism on the rise in Ukraine is an acute problem for all. On Nov.15, the Third Committee approved a draft on combating the glorification of Nazism by a recorded vote of 130 in favor to 2 against with 51 abstentions. Guess what countries said no. The only ones to object were Ukraine and the United States. The UN resolution expresses concern over the influence and intensified activities of ultra right and neo-Nazi groups. It calls for the universal implementation of the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination. If Ukraine thinks the vote on Crimea was a victory, the vote on Nazi glorification was a big loss. Everyone can see where the threat comes from and who tried to obstruct the UN resolution, which was first of all targeted at Kiev, even if it did not say so directly. Also in December, the UNGA will vote on an Azov Sea resolution. The area has turned into a real flashpoint where a spark can easily ignite a big fire anytime. Here again, Ukraine pins its hopes on the West, hoping its pressure, not negotiations with Russia, will help solve the problem. Perhaps, the West exerts its influence to make push through a tough language Azov Sea resolution to condemn Russia. So what? Is Moscow in violation of the 2003 agreement with Ukraine on the Azov Sea? Certainly not, nobody says it is, even Kiev. Ship inspections are allowed under the document. The Azov Sea situation is artificially created by Ukraine to distract the attention of international community from whats happening in the country. Neo-Nazis gain prominence in Ukraine thats the gist of the problem. This fact is key to understanding why re-unification of Crimea with Russia was a step in the right direction. The people of the peninsula expressed their will in a referendum. One of the reasons the idea of re-unification received overwhelming support was the search for protection against the Nazi threat the problem addressed in the recent UN resolution that Kiev vigorously opposed. Russia fulfilled its international duty in line with the UN guiding principle, stating that all states have a responsibility to protect. The time is right for the UN to adopt a special resolution to condemn Ukraine as a state where neo-Nazism is thriving while the US and some other states, who sponsor the Ukrainian government, hush up the burning problem. Last week, Donald Trump disgraced himself before his French hosts, US and Allied military veterans, and the entire world by remaining inside the residence of the US ambassador to France and snubbing a memorial service for US dead in World War I. Donald Trump, who is undoubtedly the least intelligent man to ever occupy the White House, failed to understand the importance of the 100th centenary observations in France held to mark the armistice that concluded World War I. At the eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month in 1918, the guns along the Western front in France fell silent. The war was entirely preventable but had been spurred on by nationalist fervor whipped up by kings, emperors, prime ministers, and foreign ministers who sent armies into battle to fight for the honor of their nations. It was unbridled nationalism that led to World War I and it was nationalist feelings bent on revenge for being vanquished in World War I that ultimately led to World War II. Left unchecked, similar nationalist feelings being fanned today may lead to World War III. The irony of World War I was that the monarchs of warring parties Britain, Russia, and Germany were all related. King George V of the United Kingdom was the first cousin of German Kaiser Wilhelm. King George and Tsar Nicholas II of Russia were also first cousins. And the Tsar and Kaiser were third cousins. Nevertheless, the nationalistic passions between Germany and its ally, the Austro-Hungarian Empire of the Habsburgs; Serbia and its protectors Russia and France; and the Ottoman Empire, allied with Germany and Austria-Hungary; and the United Kingdom, later allied with the United States led to the first modern world war. In 1914, the ground was set for a conflagration. All that was needed to set off the tinderbox was a flame. That match was struck in 1914 when Archduke Francis Ferdinand, the heir to the Habsburg throne, and his wife, Duchess Sophie of Hohenberg, were assassinated in Sarajevo, in Austrian-ruled Bosnia, by a Serbian nationalist named Gavrilo Princip. Austria-Hungary not only blamed Serbia and a Serb terrorist group, the Black Hand, for carrying out the assassination but also implicated the Russian military attache's office in Belgrade, Serbia. Accusations that Serbia and Russia were behind the assassinations of the Archduke and Duchess were unfounded. Nevertheless, this conspiracy theory of 1914 eventually led to the direct deaths of almost 20 million people around the world. Add the 1918 Spanish Flu pandemic, which is believed to have been spread by troops returning home from the war fronts, and the indirect war dead count climbs to an additional 100 million. Compare the Sarajevo conspiracy theory of 1914 to several that exist today, including accusations that Russia perpetrated biological warfare attacks on individuals in England and that Russian forces shot down Malaysian Airlines flight 17 over Ukraine, and we see the same irresponsible allegations about state-sponsored acts of violence that triggered World War I. In 1914, warfare led to the use of chemical and, quite possibly, biological weapons. World War II, the cause of which is nested in World War Is aftermath, led to the use of nuclear weapons. It is unthinkable what a World War III might lead to. Since Russia was Serbias patron, the Austro-Hungarians believed Serbias protector, Russia, and even Romania were behind the assassination plot. Austria-Hungary declared war on Serbia. Since Russia and France were pledged to defend Serbia, they declared war on Austria-Hungary, prompting Germany to honor its alliance with the Habsburgs and declare war on Serbia, Russia, and France. Eventually, Italy, Japan, Portugal, Greece, and Britain entered the war in an alliance with Russia and France. The Ottoman Empire backed the Central Powers of Austria-Hungary, Germany, and Bulgaria. The United States entered the war in 1917 on the side of Britain and France. For all the warring parties, "the other" meant their nefarious enemies. Extreme nationalism took an ugly turn. For the Austrians and Germans, "the other" was the "barbaric" Slavs. For the British, French, Russians, Italians, and, eventually, the Americans, "the other" was the "beastly" Germanic "Huns." For the Ottoman Turks, "the other" was the nomadic, uncivilized, and cruel Arabs. The Greeks and Serbs, the other was the Ottomans Muslim hordes ready to re-occupy the Balkans and eradicate Christianity. And, so it went, until over 18 million military and civilian personnel were killed. World War I was the result of blaming the other for whatever atrocity could be conjured up by the propaganda machinery of the era. It was a case of extreme nationalism running rampant. At the end of the conflict, the royal houses of Germany, Austria-Hungary, Russia, and the Ottoman Empire fell, but the nationalistic blame game continued. Aspirant peoples, with nationalism as their trumpet, rose from the battlefields of World War I to demand independence. Some of these nations, including Poland, Czechoslovakia, and the Kingdom of Serbs, Croats and Slovenes (Yugoslavia), were recognized at Versailles. Others, like Kurdistan, the Emirate of Darfur, the Dervish State of Somaliland, Tuareg Confederation, Zayan Confederation of the Berbers, the Emirate of Jabal Shammar (moderate rivals of the Saudis), Balochistan, and Vietnam, were not granted independence, a decision that would lead to war outbreaks later in the 20th century. At the Paris Peace Conference of 1919, statesmen, including US President Woodrow Wilson, gathered to draw new borders, grant aspirant nations their independence, and establish an international body the League of Nations to serve as a place for dialogue to prevent war. However, the Treaty of Versailles also, inadvertently, laid the ground for World War II. Wilson could never convince the isolationist America Firsters in the Republican Party to commit the United States to membership of the League of Nations. Americas absence from the League denied the organization the universality it desired. Today, President Donald Trump is ripping up treaty after treaty, withdrawing from various United Nations agencies and agreements, and sending troops to the US southern border to meet a bogus threat that Central American asylum seekers are planning an invasion of the United States. Trump, who fancies himself as an American nationalist, has seen the other in women and children escaping political violence and economic stagnation in countries where dictators and death squads are propped up by the Pentagon and Central Intelligence Agency. Brutal reparations demanded from Germany by the victorious Allies at Versailles, as well as German disarmament, gave rise to someone who would blame the other for Germanys miseries, which were accentuated by the economic depression of the 1920s. For Adolf Hitler, a wounded veteran of the war to end all wars, the other was the Jews, aided and abetted by Bolsheviks and international bankers. Hitler blamed them all for Germanys surrender in World War I and its subsequent economic collapse. The world failed to learn the lessons of World War I. At a ceremony at the Arc de Triomphe in Paris to mark the 1918 armistice, French President Emmanuel Macron told the collected world leaders, including an uncomfortable Trump, that patriotism is the exact opposite of nationalism. Nationalism is a betrayal of patriotism. Macron hosted a November 11-13 Paris Peace Forum for 84 world leaders in Paris for the World War I centenary. They included Russian President Vladimir Putin, Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, British Prime Minister Theresa May, Moroccan King Mohammed VI, Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari, Israeli Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu, Qatars Emir Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. The forums itinerary, including a keynote speech by German Chancellor Angela Merkel, touched on topics ranging from climate change and rising nationalism to abusive corporations and human rights. In addition to skipping a ceremony at the Aisne-Marne American Cemetery outside of Paris, where the remains of thousands of American soldiers who died at the Battle of Belleau Wood are buried, Trump boycotted the Paris Peace Forum. Trump, like the doomed monarchs of early 20th century Europe, the fascist dictators who rose to power in the interbellum period, and the tyrants of today, blames the other for everything he can imagine. Trump wanted nothing to do with the Paris Peace Forum. His former chief strategist, Steve Bannon, is finalizing plans, along with Belgian, French, German, Austrian, Brazilian, British, white South African and Rhodesian, Hungarian, Serbian, Canadian, Australian, and fascisti Italian far-right wingers, to establish a Fascist International, called The Movement, in Brussels early next year. It is among these far-right wing politicians where Trump will feel most at home. One hundred years after the end of World War I, we should all have progressed to a point where we no longer pay heed to the Trumps, Bannons, and others who find always find blame in the other. Its almost done 50,000 flight hours and was revolutionary for its time. And now DC-3 ZK-AWP has made a landing into Tauranga for people wanting a little bit more character to their scenic flight. Built in Oklahoma City in 1945, the AWP is the only surviving Royal New Zealand Airforce World War Two veteran aircraft still operating today in a front-line service. With a wing span of 29 meters, length of 20 meters and height of almost 4.5 meters and powered by two Pratt and Whitney R-1830-92 engines with 1250 brake horsepower each, it was ideally suited to military service. There is no other form of transport- ship, train or any other that could match the DC-3, says Air Chathams pilot Keith Mitchel. And in 17 years time the DC-3 will have been in service for more than 100 years. He says the original DC-3 first flew in December in 1935 and was built by women during the World War Two, who would churn out one every three hours. During this time, she played an important role in ferrying troops back to New Zealand from as far as Japan. After World War Two it came to Korea and then Vietnam, and there was a real gun show. They put gatling guns down the side of the plane and it did something like 6000 rounds a minute obliterating everything on the ground. After a few more years of military service she was despatched to NAC in 1952 to enter civilian life as a passenger transport. She briefly migrated to Samoa from 1970-73 before returning to New Zealand to serve as a top dresser, freighter, aerial mapper and charter machine. AWP was purchased by Air Chathams in 2009 and has since been used for scheduled flights, charters, scenic flights and airshows. To book your own scenic flight in a DC-3 visit Classic Flyers. Bay of Plenty Our client has plenty of work in the pipeline and as such they are in need of hammerhands for an immediate start.The successful... View or Apply on GoodWork.co.nz New Zealand seafood company Sanford has announced it has a conditional agreement to sell its Tauranga based pelagic business to local company Pelco NZ Ltd. The assets included are three purse seine fishing vessels, processing equipment and pelagic quota in Fisheries Management Area 1. The quota sale reduces Sanfords overall quota holding under New Zealands Quota Management System from around 22 per cent to around 19 per cent of the total volume available for commercial catch. In value terms, the sale of quota represents 3.75 per cent of the companys quota book value. A number of jobs in Tauranga are potentially affected by the transition, but Sanford CEO Volker Kuntzsch says the company is working to minimise the impact on jobs. We know that if the assets are transferred, Pelco will be looking to hire staff or contract fishers who can support the business. "This is a significant consideration for us, as is our view that Pelco is a well-run family company with values similar to ours. We have dealt with them for many years and have always found them to operate with utmost integrity. Pelco founder and Managing Director Andy Rolleston says he's delighted to be potentially expanding Pelcos business in a way he believes will bring significant benefit to the Bay of Plenty economy and to New Zealands commercial fishing industry. We are a pelagic focused team and this is a great opportunity for us to grow. If this sale is agreed, were confident well be able to do that while fishing sustainably, which is very important to us and Sanford. "We have worked with them for many years and know their people well. If the sale is confirmed, we would hope to have positions to offer and would like to be able to welcome former Sanford staff who share our values. Volker says the potential sale is a logical fit with Sanfords strategy of focusing on value. Strategically, we are concentrating on areas that lend themselves to consumer-centric innovation and branding, while Pelco will benefit from economies of scale. "We believe that if this deal goes ahead, it will create more value for both companies and New Zealand as a whole. It then frees up capital to allow us to invest in areas that are a stronger strategic fit. An announcement confirming the sale or otherwise is expected in a matter of weeks. SYRACUSE, N.Y. -- As Jose Morales looked out at the approximately 150 people gathered in St. Lucy's auditorium, his lips stretched into a slight smile. Like everyone else, Morales, 63, came to get a bit of food. Al-Amin Muhammad and Eddie Mitchell put the Thanksgiving meal together to feed the homeless. And while Morales said he isn't homeless, "I'm at the bottom," he said. Morales smiled as he watched everyone eat and dance to the top-40 hits the DJ played. "There's no fighting, no arguing, people dancing," Morales said. "This is a good community." By Saturday at noon, when the Thanksgiving meal was scheduled to start, all 100 or so seats in the gym were filled. Well over 150 people attended. The event was supposed to last until 4 p.m., but so many people showed that volunteers started breaking down some of the tables with food by 1 p.m. Early on, the line for food stretched just outside the auditorium's front door. Mitchell, who runs a youth program called Team A.N.G.E.L. at the Southwest Community Center, said he never expected so many people to come. He and Muhammad threw the event together in two months. All of the food was donated or homemade, and volunteers from organizations like the Girl Scouts and Boy Scouts helped serve food. "It's overwhelming to see all walks of life come together -- old, young, working class, homeless," Mitchell said. Muhammad and Mitchell met each other three years ago through Clifford Ryans. Each are active in the Syracuse community. Muhammad runs We Rise Above the Streets, an organization that helps the homeless. Al-amin Muhammad runs We Rise Above the Streets, a group dedicated to helping the homeless. When Mitchell decided not to give away turkeys for Thanksgiving as he had in years past, Muhammad suggested the two host an event to feed the homeless. On Saturday, volunteers set up 12 tables, each with eight to 12 seats. Approximately another 12 tables with food lined the sides of the auditorium. Every Saturday, Muhammad serves food to the homeless. When Muhammad looked around the auditorium, he saw many of the same people. One of them was Morales. For the last decade, Morales said he's received disability. Diabetes and a "weak heart" have prevented him from working. Before receiving disability, Morales worked for a cleaning service in Queens. Once Morales left the job, his body "caved in," he said. Four years ago, he moved to Syracuse from New York City to be closer to his sister. Morales came with a shirt, jeans, sneakers and a pair of sweatpants, leaving everything else he owned. He has struggled to replace it all. A few weeks ago, Morales' brother-in-law told him about a group of people who gather under the bridge over West Onondaga Street to help the homeless and those in need. Morales ventured there in his motorized chair to meet Muhammad and a team of volunteers. They gave him 10 pairs of jeans, six pairs of shorts and shirts. Within the last two weeks, Morales said he's started going to CNY Works on James Street to learn to type and use computers in hopes he can put together enough skills to get a job. Jose Morales, 63 To get to CNY Works, he rides the motorized chair down Gifford Street, onto East Onondaga Street, turns left onto South Salina Street and finally turns right onto James Street. The whole trip, there and back, measures out at approximately 4 miles. More important: He can make the whole trip in one charge on his motorized chair. Soon, the route will change, though. His chair isn't powerful enough to make it through snow. He'll have to take the bus. "I'm feeling good about myself for the first time in four years," Morales said. On Saturday, Morales only had to ride a block to get to the event from his apartment building at 312 Gifford St. Morales ate there and took home a plate. He watched others dance. For just a little while, the event distracted him from some of his stressors. "I just want to go up now," Morales said, raising his right hand. "Not down." PARADISE, Calif. - Amid a throat-piercing haze, disabled retiree Michael French walked with effort across a parking lot to submit a DNA sample to California authorities that he hopes will help him locate his missing niece. French, 62, said he and other relatives have searched for Wendy since a fast-moving wildfire - the most destructive in California's history - swept through 11,000 homes and buildings in Paradise and adjoining mountaintop communities on Nov. 8, leaving at least 76 dead. "No one has heard from her at all. She has not made contact with us, so I am deeply concerned," French said. The family assumes the worst. As firefighters battle to contain the deadly Camp Fire, authorities intensified efforts to identify the lost and the dead. Teams of volunteers in white protective gear searched blackened ground and family members came to makeshift DNA centers where their mouths were swabbed to help identify victim remains. On Saturday, Butte County Sheriff Kory Honea said that the list of people unaccounted for was up to 1,276 and that 63 victims have been tentatively identified. On Friday authorities released more than 600 names in an effort to identify those who had been found by friends and relatives. The astonishing tally raised fears that the death toll would rise exponentially. On Saturday, Honea urged people to look at the list and contact the sheriff's office if they see their name on the list. The lengthy list confused even President Donald Trump, who tweeted Friday that "as many of 600" people could have perished in the flames. "Burned beyond recognition, they can't even see the bodies, it's incredible," said Trump, who is scheduled to visit the area Saturday, in an interview with "Fox News Sunday" anchor Chris Wallace. But as the names of the unaccounted for expanded into the quadruple digits, Honea cautioned that it's possible many of those listed are safe but had not called authorities to confirm. Some names on the list could be duplicates with different spellings, he added. "We have a significant event, an unprecedented event, where massive numbers of people were displaced and scattered all over Northern California," he said, explaining why it's been difficult to confirm the missing on the expanding list of names. Among those who had been found but were still listed as unaccounted for was Suzanne Heffernan's mother, Shirley Woodhouse. Heffernan had spoken with her parents as they evacuated their home in Paradise a week earlier, and she and her four siblings had been in close contact about their parents' welfare ever since. So Heffernan was surprised to get a call from a local sheriff's office on Thursday telling her that her mother, who is in her 80s, was on the list of people unaccounted for. One of Woodhouse's high school friends had added her. It's interesting, she said, "if outsiders and nonfamily members are adding people to the missing list." Authorities and residents of Paradise - a community of 26,000 residents nestled in the Sierra Nevada foothills - said the death toll will likely rise in this town where many came to retire and escape the bustle of the city, though it's unclear how high. Among the residents are many elderly or infirm who may have been unable to flee as the flames approached. Honea said it's "certainly within the realm of possibility that we will never know" the exact number of people killed in the blaze. "It is my sincere hope that we identify everybody who is missing and identify any remains," he added. "But that is the nature of this tragedy. ... This is a massive, massive undertaking." Despite days of searching the scorched acreage with the largest search-and-rescue team in state history, authorities said they have barely scratched the surface of the area that could contain human remains. That could mean a long wait for friends and relatives of the missing. Friday would have been Dorothy Lee Mack's 88th birthday, and her sister-in-law hadn't heard from her since the fire swept through the Ridgewood Mobile Home Park, where Mack lived at number 19. Mack is not one to give in easily, said her sister-in-law, Marian Mack. She survived polio when she was 10 and later a bout with cancer and two hip replacements. But Marian didn't know whether Dorothy would have heard the emergency officials who rushed among the mobile homes at about 6:30 a.m., ringing bells to wake their sleeping occupants. "It's been a terrible time," said Marian Mack, who sometimes visited on Dorothy's birthday. "We just have to wait and pray." The Camp Fire has consumed 149,000 acres - an area the size of Chicago - and is 50 percent contained. But multiple fires continue to rage across the state. In Southern California, the Woolsey Fire has blazed across an area from Simi Valley to the multimillion-dollar beach homes in Malibu. At least three people have been killed in that fire. More than 9,000 firefighters are working to contain the Camp and Woolsey fires with water tankers and helicopters, blazes that have destroyed more than 12,000 structures, according to Cal Fire. The National Weather Service has issued a red flag warning in the Camp Fire region for Saturday night into Sunday, meaning high winds could cause the flames to spread rapidly. Authorities are adding fire crews to help prevent the fire from growing. They're also widening efforts to identify human remains, posting "Rapid DNA" machines near fire scenes. The technology allows relatives to supply their genetic material through a cheek swab and compare it with a database of unidentified victims in less than two hours. The machines, about the size of a mini-fridge, are part of a new initiative that's being rolled out by law enforcement after receiving congressional approval last year. The FBI hopes to launch a pilot program for police to test suspects in booking stations and forward the results to state crime labs and the national DNA database early next year, the agency said. ANDE, a Waltham, Mass., company, is one of two companies approved to supply the quick-analysis machines to the government, and sent six of them to various fire command posts on Wednesday, chief communications officer Annette Mattern said. The DNA samples collected there will only be used to identify victims, she said, and those machines are not connected to the national DNA database. Authorities hope to encourage more relatives of the missing to use them. Only 17 DNA samples have been processed, they said. On Friday, displaced residents who are camping out in a Walmart parking lot in Chico visited an abandoned Sears store where the Federal Emergency Management Agency had set up services. Jeff Hansen, 37, waited for several hours to apply for emergency assistance for his nine-member family, including a 36-year-old brother with cerebral palsy who uses a wheelchair. He lost his house in Paradise, his workplace and one of his three cars in the fire. "Hopefully FEMA will help us," Hansen said. The center also became a spot for impromptu reunions, as displaced residents ran into friends and neighbors who they feared had died in the fire. Lindsay Nelson, 37, had been fretting for days about what happened to her 78-year-old drinking buddy, "Jay Jay." But when she saw him at the center, Nelson hugged him and snapped a photograph to post on Facebook. "No one had heard from him, we thought he was missing. So, so glad to see him and know he is okay," said Nelson, who had lived in Paradise but lost the home she was renting there. "This is such a relief. I don't want to hear any of my friends didn't make it, it would just be too hard with everything else going on." But with the death toll set to rise, Nelson is still bracing for the worse. "The fact is, everyone knows they will know someone who didn't make it," she said. "The fact is, we will need to build a memorial in Paradise." WASHINGTON (AP) -- President Donald Trump said there is no reason for him to listen to a recording of the "very violent, very vicious" killing of Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi, which has put him in a diplomatic bind: how to admonish Riyadh for the slaying yet maintain strong ties with a close ally. Trump, in an interview that aired Sunday, made clear that the audio recording, supplied by the Turkish government, would not affect his response to the Oct. 2 killing of Khashoggi, a columnist for The Washington Post who had been critical of the Saudi royal family. "It's a suffering tape, it's a terrible tape. I've been fully briefed on it, there's no reason for me to hear it," Trump said in the interview with "Fox News Sunday." ''I know everything that went on in the tape without having to hear it." On Saturday, Trump said his administration will "be having a very full report over the next two days, probably Monday or Tuesday." He said the report will include "who did it." It was unclear if the report would be made public. American intelligence agencies have concluded that the crown prince ordered the killing in the Saudi Consulate in Turkey, according to a U.S. official familiar with the assessment. The official was not authorized to discuss the matter publicly and spoke on condition of anonymity. Others familiar with the case caution that while it's likely the crown prince was involved in the death, there continue to be questions about what role he played. Trump noted to "Fox News Sunday" that the crown prince has repeatedly denied being involved in the killing inside the Saudi Consulate in Istanbul. "Will anybody really know?" Trump asked. "At the same time, we do have an ally, and I want to stick with an ally that in many ways has been very good." A Republican member of the Senate intelligence committee said that so far, there is no "smoking gun" linking the crown prince to the killing. Sen. Roy Blunt of Missouri, who has received a confidential intelligence briefing on the matter, told ABC that "it's hard to imagine" that the crown prince didn't know about the killing, but he said, "I don't know that we absolutely know that yet." He said that Congress will await the Trump administration's report in the next two days and that the U.S. will need to be clear about the ramifications of sanctions, given Saudi Arabia's strategic role in the Middle East. For his part, Sen. Lindsey Graham, a Trump ally, said the crown prince has been a "wrecking ball" in the relationship between the U.S. and Saudi Arabia. "I hate to say that because I had a lot of hope for him being the reformer that Saudi Arabia needs, but that ship has sailed as far as Lindsey Graham's concerned," the South Carolina Republican told NBC's "Meet the Press." "I have no intention of working with him ever again," said Graham, who is in line to be the next chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee. Intelligence officials have been providing information to Trump for weeks about the death, and he was briefed again by phone Saturday by CIA Director Gina Haspel and Secretary of State Mike Pompeo as he flew to California. White House press secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders provided no details of his call but said the president has confidence in the CIA. "The United States government is determined to hold all those responsible for the killing of Jamal Khashoggi accountable," the State Department said in a statement. "Recent reports indicating that the U.S. government has made a final conclusion are inaccurate. There remain numerous unanswered questions with respect to the murder of Mr. Khashoggi." The statement added: "The U.S. government has taken decisive measures against the individuals responsible, including visa and sanctions actions. We will continue to explore additional measures to hold those accountable who planned, led and were connected to the murder. And, we will do that while maintaining the important strategic relationship between the United States and Saudi Arabia." Before his call on Air Force One, Trump told reporters that when it came to the crown prince, "as of this moment we were told that he did not play a role. We're going to have to find out what they have to say." That echoed remarks by national security adviser John Bolton, who said earlier this week that people who have listened to an audio recording of the killing do not think it implicates the crown prince. Trump has called the killing a botched operation that was carried out very poorly and has said "the cover-up was one of the worst cover-ups in the history of cover-ups." But he has resisted calls to cut off arms sales to the kingdom and has been reluctant to antagonize the Saudi rulers. Trump considers the Saudis vital allies in his Mideast agenda. But members of Congress are pushing Trump for a tougher response to the killing. The administration this past week penalized 17 Saudi officials for their alleged role in the killing, but American lawmakers have called on the administration to curtail arms sales to Saudi Arabia or take other harsher punitive measures. Turkish and Saudi authorities say Khashoggi, a Saudi who lived in the United States, was killed inside the consulate by a team from the kingdom after he went there to get marriage documents. Can parents pass healthy bacteria to their babies by sucking on their pacifiers? New research suggests that parents who cleaned their babies pacifiers by sucking on it actually helps their children to prevent having allergic reactions. Cleaning Pacifiers A study being presented at the American College of Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology meeting in Seattle focuses on something parents of young children do everyday: clean pacifiers. In the study, researchers theorized that by cleaning the pacifiers by sucking on it, the parents are able to pass on health oral bacteria in their saliva to their young children, thereby helping the development of their immune systems. To conduct the study, researchers interviewed 128 mothers who were asked how they cleaned their childrens pacifiers, whether they sterilized it, washed with soap and water, or sucked on it. Of the lot, 30 mothers sterilized the pacifiers while 53 cleaned it with soap and water, and nine sucked on it. Immunoglobin E The researchers then compared the infants Immunoglobulin E (IgE) levels at birth, at six months, and at 18 months for each cleaning method, and found that the infants whose mothers sucked on their pacifiers had significantly lower IgE levels at 18 months, with the differences beginning to show at 10 months. IgE is a type of antibody that is related to the development of allergic responses in the body. Although there are certain exceptions, higher IgE levels are typically associated with higher risks for developing allergies and allergic asthma. Immune System Development The study is the first of its kind in the United States to study pacifier cleaning methods and IgE, but its results run similar to the results of a 2013 Swedish study, which also found a link between parental sucking on babys pacifier, and reduced risk in allergy development. That said, the researchers are not advising parents to suck on their babies pacifiers, as more research in needed to truly examine the correlation. Although we can't say there's a cause and effect relationship, we can say the microbes a child is exposed to early on in life will affect their immune system development, said study lead Eliane Abou-Jaoude, M.D. The study was funded by the Henry Ford Health System. 2021 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. Purchases made via links on our site may earn us an affiliate commission A little-noticed state task force is assessing the adequacy of public school internet access and other education technology, and what it would take to make Louisiana a national leader. "If we don't find a way to aspire to the highest level of technology in the classroom, we are going to get even further behind," said Sen. Conrad Appel, R-Metairie and sponsor of the legislation that launched the study. The early view is that, like lots of public school snapshots, technology in schools here is lagging. "We know there is a pretty good gap between where we are and where we need to be," said Tony Davis, a member of the state Board of Elementary and Secondary Education who is on the task force. Internet access, up-to-date computers and the availability of laptops for students varies from district to district because they are mostly on their own when it comes to classroom technology. Some school districts have half a dozen educational technologists. Others have none. More than 22,000 students lack the bandwidth needed for digital learning. Major gaps exist in whether students have computers and Wi-Fi at home, especially in a state where two out of three public school students live in low-income households. Among fourth-graders in Louisiana, 79 percent have computers at home, compared with 82 percent nationally, according to figures compiled by the National Assessment of Educational Progress. Even when the school has the hardware, there can be other hurdles. "What we see so often is a teacher in the classroom may have this amazing smart-board in the room but may not know how to connect it to the laptop," Davis said. "Or they can handle that piece, but they are just not good at the pedagogy in engaging students with the new tool," he added, a reference to teaching skills. The issue is especially pressing amid the rising presence of live-streaming in classrooms in place of teachers and a growing teacher shortage in Louisiana and nationally. The task force, which has held two meetings, includes representatives from the Louisiana School Boards Association, Louisiana Association of School Superintendents, Gov. John Bel Edwards' office, CenturyLink and other firms. The next meeting is set for Jan. 9. Ethan Melancon, policy and research manager for the Baton Rouge Area Chamber and a member of the committee, said his group wants to ensure that the state and region are competitive when it comes to technology and education. One way to do so, Melancon said, is to improve the ratio of students with access to computer devices. In the past, he said, technology was something that was cobbled together as demands grew. 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 "There is no comprehensive plan to move forward," Melancon said. How to finance upgrades in technology has sparked controversy in Louisiana before. Last year, the state Board of Regents offered high-speed internet access to school districts without charge. But the effort died amid complaints from some superintendents about possible hidden costs and commitments. A year ago, Edwards announced that improved internet availability could be provided to schools, also without charge, by partnering with a nonprofit California group called EducationSuperHighway. Doing so, officials said, would allow nearly 164,000 students to be connected with the minimum recommended bandwidth goals. Louisiana public schools in line for improved internet service at no cost to state thanks to non-profit partnership Eight months after a similar effort died, Gov. John Bel Edwards said Thursday that Louisiana has a plan to upgrade high-speed internet access Donald Songy, education policy adviser for Edwards, said the group's work is done. Now, 22,397 of the state's roughly 700,000 public school students need more bandwidth, according to the group. School districts spent nearly $106 million for technology during the 2016-17 school year, according to the state Department of Education. That includes $86 million for technology supplies, $11 million for hardware and $10 million for software. The department assists districts on discount pricing, workshops, cybersecurity and other areas. "Technology in our schools needs to be as common as water and electricity," the agency said in a written statement. The panel is supposed to submit a final written report to the House and Senate education committees by Dec. 1, 2019. Appel said he wants a draft ready for the 2019 race for governor and other campaigns to get the issue on the radar. "So that we can get buy-in from the candidates, gubernatorial and legislative candidates," he said. "That is my goal." The task force has been split into three workgroups of about five members each, including one that is studying the always prickly topic of how to pay for any major upgrade. Appel said he is downplaying cost concerns for now. "We just want to have a strategy," he said. Mixing education goals with re-election themes, Gov. John Bel Edwards said Saturday he is mapping plans to boost teacher pay to the regional average by 2022 on top of pay raises of $1,000 next year. Edwards also said that, since teacher pay raises are winning bipartisan support, he does not see reasons for any work stoppage, which has drawn qualified support from some members of the Louisiana Federation of Teachers. "I am not anticipating, quite honestly, any need for a walkout to make the point," the governor told reporters after a 30-minute address to the annual meeting of the LFT, one of Louisiana's two teachers unions. Edwards also used the friendly gathering to roll out re-election themes expected during his 2019 bid for a second term. He said the state has made huge strides in steadying state finances, overhauling the state's criminal justice system and expanding Medicaid. "They (voters) have to know you are better off than when you were elected," the Democrat said. "We can make that case," Edwards added. "That case can be made." U.S. Sen. John N. Kennedy, R-Madisonville, has said he plans to announce by Dec. 1 whether he will challenge Edwards. Without singling out any potential challengers, Edwards told the group, "You are going to hear some very backward-thinking people ask for your vote." Edwards and the LFT are longtime allies, and the group backed the then little-known state representative in 2015 when he launched his long-shot bid for governor. The governor's comments were interrupted by applause multiple times, including when he spelled out plans for the first teacher pay hike since 2013 amid recurring budget problems. Edwards announced in September that he would propose raises of at least $1,000 for teachers and other certificated personnel, and an increase of $500 for cafeteria workers, school bus drivers and other support employees. Pay boost for teachers to be pitched by Louisiana Gov. Edwards -- but others seeking more Amid teacher unrest and a widening pay gap with other states, Gov. John Bel Edwards plans to recommend an election-year salary increase of at But Saturday was the first time he detailed plans to boost salaries to the Southern regional average over a three-year period. Louisiana has about 50,000 classroom teachers. They are paid an average of $49,800 per year, which the governor said is $2,200 below the average spelled out by the Southern Regional Education Board. Edwards said he will detail his outline to reach that always-changing salary target by 2022 and that it can be done without a tax hike or slashing other state services because of Louisiana's improved revenue outlook. Teachers used to be paid the Southern average, but pay slipped below that mark during years of state financial problems. 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 Edwards also repeated plans to push for a 2.75 percent increase in basic state aid for public schools, which has been mostly frozen for the past decade. Details of any teacher pay increase is sure to spark controversy when the Legislature convenes on April 8. Proposed Louisiana teacher pay hikes already sparking arguments on who and how much While Gov. John Bel Edwards has proposed a $1,000 pay raise for public school teachers, early battle lines started forming Wednesday on whethe The state's other teachers union, the Louisiana Association of Educators, has proposed increases of at least $100 per month $1,200 annually. Some lawmakers prefer focusing resources strictly on teachers, not support workers, to reach the regional average sooner. The governor said pay raises are especially needed amid disturbing trends in public education. He said 35 percent of students are led by a teacher who is either uncertified or teaching outside their area of expertise. "For the first time that I can remember, we have teachers who are advising their children to do something other than teach," Edwards said. "That doesn't bode well for us." LFT leaders announced in May that, in a survey of its teachers, 60 percent said they would back a statewide walkout or strike to get a "significant" pay raise. 'Fed up': Louisiana teacher questionnaire finds support for mass protests, walkout; see full survey About 60 percent of teachers surveyed said they favor a statewide walkout or strike to land a "significant" pay raise, leaders of the Louisian Exactly what that would be is unclear. However, LFT President Larry Carter has called for multiyear increases to meet the regional average like the plan outlined by Edwards. Will Louisiana teachers walk out sometime this year? It depends on this factor, leader says Whether public school teachers walk off the job in the current school year depends on actions by Democratic Gov. John Bel Edwards and the Repu "No teacher groups, no individual teachers, have ever talked to me about a potential walkout," Edwards told reporters after his speech. The governor also called for a school resource officer in every school as part of efforts to ensure school safety. "Student safety is paramount, and I don't want to get to the point when you walk into a school you feel like you are walking in a penitentiary," he said. Those garish green Weed World vans have been popping up around the French Quarter and the CBD for a few years now, but have evidently become a more common sight recently. The vans are emblazoned with pictures of marijuana plants and are stocked with candies bearing names, such as Lemon OG Kush and Purple Haze, that ring an instant bell with stoners. The prices $5 for a lollipop, for instance reinforce the impression that this confection will give you more than a sugar rush. Thus Mayor Latoya Cantrell's flack says she is looking at ways to get the vans off the streets. One way might be to enforce the law. If Weed World products really are infused with ganja, that's distribution of a controlled substance. If the whole thing is a con, a license is still required for hawking candy on the streets, and Weed World doesn't have one either here or in New York, Chicago and other cities where green vans ply their trade. Since openly selling drugs on the street is asking to be sent to prison, it stands to reason that Weed World candies are just that. The company's employees have been busted several times in New Orleans for unlicensed selling, but no marijuana has ever been found in the gummy bears or brownies they offer. Two Weed World guys were arrested in New Orleans last month when smoke wafted from their van, but obviously they were not sampling company wares. You'd have to be pretty far gone to try lighting a lollipop. A Google search reveals that Weed World's owners are Bilal Muhammad, aka Dro Man, and Judah Izsraael, although the possibility cannot be discounted that none of the names is real. An alias makes a lot of sense if your business is illegal. Weed World was founded at the turn of the millennium in New York and claims to have more than 20 green vans spread around the country. Its purported mission is to campaign for the legalization and decriminalization of marijuana, but there would be some long faces around Weed World if that happened nationwide. The green vans would disappear from the streets if real dope could be bought at the store. Meanwhile, business appears to be brisk, so brisk that fines for illegal selling or parking are regarded as part of Weed World's overhead, according to NOPD, quoted in the press. Presumably, if the green vans are to be run out of town, citations will have to be more frequent and penalties more severe. Since Weed World pays no sales taxes, and sets its prices so high, however, it may be in no danger of running out of money any time soon. Ruthless and sustained law enforcement might do the trick, but NOPD is chronically understaffed and fake weed is far from the biggest challenge facing Cantrell. Still, it is unlikely that many people would buy Weed World wares if they didn't expect a greater sense of euphoria than they are going to get from a gummy bear. And even cinemas charge less for gummy bears than Weed World. Every drunk tourist who patronizes a Weed World van in the French Quarter is liable to feel ripped off. But pretty much everything in the French Quarter is a rip-off, so the effect on the tourist trade will be minimal. If the green vans spoil the tout-ensemble of the Vieux Carre, moreover, T-shirt shops aren't exactly easy on the eye either. And while Weed World candies are clearly overpriced, visitors to the French Quarter at night will wind up spending much more than, say, the $20 that will get them five lollipops. Indeed, one of the reasons for Weed World's success is that its vans crop up in areas full of tourists who have already spent heavily on booze. Another reason might be that most people would figure the authorities here and in other cities should be able to stop an unlicensed business selling overpriced wares on false pretenses without paying a dime in taxes. Former Domain chief executive Antony Catalano has launched an audacious, 11th-hour attempt to derail Fairfax Media's planned merger with Nine Entertainment Co ahead of a critical shareholder vote on Monday. Late on Sunday, Mr Catalano wrote to Fairfax chairman Nick Falloon, stating that he no longer supported the historic tie-up between the publisher of The Sydney Morning Herald and The Age, and the free-to-air network once controlled by Kerry Packer. Former Domain chief executive Antony Catalano has launched a last-minute attempt to buy a substantial stake in Fairfax. Credit:Wayne Taylor In the letter, Mr Catalano offered to acquire up to 19.9 per cent of Fairfax at above market prices, and pursue a "multi-pronged strategy" to generate more value for the publisher's shareholders by selling non-core assets, building the Domain franchises and pursuing other asset sales. Mr Catalano holds roughly 1 per cent of both Fairfax and Domain and would not be able to block the deal without a remarkable late groundswell of support from other shareholders. For example, in stark contrast to the free-for-all environment seen elsewhere, Apple only works with trusted publishers it has evaluated - a policy that screens out the bots, hoaxers and fake news purveyors that have infiltrated other platforms. And instead of allowing unrestrained algorithms to surface content for users, a practice which has also had disastrous knock-on effects, Apple employs actual human journalists to decide what gets placed in prominent sections of its service ( such as the day's top stories, and a tab for features, which are entirely curated and not personalised). Roger Rosner is vice president of apps at Apple. Misinformation can come out so quickly and spread so rapidly and thats something that we take pride in not allowing to happen says Lauren Kern, the platform's editor in chief, who is a former executive editor of New York magazine. Our mantra is that its better to be accurate than first. The smartphone era - which Apple helped create - has indirectly led to significant changes in the way many consumers access news. There has been a shift away from visiting the websites of news services directly, to surfacing stories following Google searches, or encountering them in Facebook feeds. This 'disintermediation' of audiences by digital platforms is one of the most difficult challenges traditional publishers have faced over the past decade. It is the very subject of a wide ranging enquiry by Australias competition regulator, a draft report from which is due in a matter of weeks. Apple did not provide a submission to the ACCC review, but it was mentioned by other media organisations in their missives to the regulator. (The ABC, for example, noted the sharp boost to audience the platform had delivered; while News Corp complained of its "severely restricted content and advertising requirements" and its "strict layout and design guidelines"). While many publishers have responded favourably to Apple News, they will be determined to avoid a repeat of the past, when many grew reliant on traffic from third party platforms they were also competing with in the digital advertising market. Lauren Kern, Apple News editor-in-chief "It'd be crazy to say there wasn't some wariness from publishers about participating in the platform," says Rosner. "[But]Apple News is different from our competitors. They are all about maximising advertising revenue. We don't do that same calculus. Our goal is to get people to read good stuff." (Fairfax publications The Sydney Morning Herald and The Age are on Apple News. Fairfax also has an advertising partnership with Google). Publishers on Apple News, get to decide which of their stories are published through the platform, and when notifications are sent to users. They can keep all of the advertising revenue generated from these stories, if they fill the inventory themselves. Or they can also outsource ad sales to Apple, in which the publisher keeps 70 per cent. It's a similar story with subscriptions -Apple takes a 30 per cent cut from any transaction that goes through the App Store. Loading Kern says that her team of editors around the world try to showcase ""unbiased, balanced content". "Well sourced stories, high quality journalism, all of the things that are celebrated at the Walkley Awards," she says. Apple is sponsoring the prestigious local journalism awards, which take place this Thursday, and will promote the winning entries in a dedicated hub on its news platform later this week. Unlike other digital platforms, which have struggled with perceptions of political bias, Apple seems to have no qualms about acting as the arbiter for the types of stories its users view. It also unashamedly tries to expose users to different world views in the sections of News that are human-curated. "The US is obviously is seeing a lot of division" says Kern. "It's something we think about a lot. With midterms [elections in the US] we focused on having publishers from different parts of the political spectrum." "In general outrage clicks well. People like to read within their own filter bubble. That's not something we want to encourage here," she says. Apple chief executive Tim Cook has not been afraid to criticise Facebook. Credit:AP Jane (not her real name) had fled from an abusive partner. She had slowly begun re-establishing her life with her two children, but money had been tight for some time. When her daughter fell ill, Jane had to take time off work to care for her, but as a casual worker she had no sick leave. She could not make payments on her debts, including utility bills. Power companies have rigged the game for years. Credit:James Alcock She was then threatened with having her electricity disconnected unless she got an appointment with a financial counsellor within two days. She telephoned the National Debt Helpline completely overwrought she didnt know what to do and didnt want to be disconnected. In the past week alone, customers of Momentum, Origin, AGL, Lumo and Simply Energy have called the National Debt Helpline in a similarly distressed state because they have all been told the same thing by their energy company. "Get an appointment with a financial counsellor in two days or you will be disconnected." I am a financial counsellor and for more than 12 months I and my colleagues on the helpline have been fielding such calls. Financial counsellors advise, support and advocate for some of the most vulnerable people in society. It is an under-funded profession and the demands on workers are endless. So while I welcome the opportunity to be able to support anyone who is in financial difficulty, energy retailers also have social obligations to support people in financial difficulty. They shouldnt outsource this to community workers. The Australian dollar's dramatic November turnaround is beginning to convince foreign-exchange traders that the currency's worst days may be behind it. It has been a sharp turnaround for the Aussie, which looked headed below 70 US cents just a few weeks ago. Credit:Louie Douvis Buoyed by signs of easing China-US trade tensions, improving terms of trade and a robust employment outlook, the Aussie has put the brakes on a 2018 slide that reached 10 per cent in October. In fact, it's the second-best performing Group-of-10 currency this month, behind only the kiwi. Speculators have taken notice, paring short wagers from a more than 3 1/2 year high. It's a stark reversal for a currency which until recently was the worst-performer among majors this year, weighed down by a dovish central bank seemingly intent on keeping interest rates at a record low for the long haul and a widening yield differential with the US. After a stellar jobs report last week, traders will look to the Reserve Bank of Australia's November 6 meeting minutes on Tuesday for further evidence that the currency has bottomed. School funding is based on many factors and it may surprise some people that religion is not one of them. Understanding four basic facts helps explain why. Firstly, it costs over $13,000 a year on average to educate a child in any school government or non-government. That would be unaffordable for most Australian families, especially if they have two or more children so state and federal governments provide some funding to all sectors to keep schools affordable. Secondly, all schools government and non-government are funded to the same benchmark, the Schooling Resource Standard (SRS). The SRS is made up of a base amount ($10,953 per primary student or $13,764 per secondary student) plus extra funding for six types of disadvantage. Thirdly, government schools will always receive more public funding than non-government schools because taxpayers fund the entire SRS amount in all public schools. In non-government schools, the SRS is only partly funded by taxpayers because parents are expected to make up the shortfall based on their ability to pay fees. The more parents can afford, the less public funding a non-government school attracts. What could be fairer? So a non-government school in Mosman one of Sydneys highest socioeconomic areas attracts only one-fifth of the base funding provided to the local government school. The Berejiklian government ignored the advice of its own environment officers in approving new native logging rules, including a warning about reduced koala protection, according to an internal submission. Documents obtained under freedom of information laws show the conservation unit of the Office of Environment & Heritage raised many concerns about the draft Integrated Forestry Operations Approval (IFOA). Dailan Pugh , spokesman for the North East Forest Alliance, in the Cherry Tree State Forest. Credit:Jacklyn Wagner One issue was the impact on the 300,000-odd hectare Comprehensive, Adequate and Representative (CAR) reserve system set aside in 1999 to protect old-growth forest considered to have high conservation value. The OEH team worried the informal protections could be eroded by inter-agency agreement without public consultation under the new rules. The proposed changes are "expected to significantly compromise the CAR reserve system over time", they said in their submission, obtained by the North East Forest Alliance. Loneliness is killing us. Its considered as dangerous as one of the greatest causes of premature death, smoking. Research by the Australian Psychological Society and Swinburne University, the first extensive national study on the topic, finds that one in four Australians is lonely. We have become increasingly aware in recent decades of the profound links between mental and physical wellbeing. Overall health and contentment depend on both, and mental and physical states can feed positively or negatively into each other, depending on support and treatment. Loneliness is a public health problem. Credit:Tribune Life Emerging from this realisation is that loneliness is not merely a universal source of human sadness that can lead to depression and anxiety, the most common forms of mental illness, but is an acute public health problem. Studies around the world show loneliness is associated with elevated risks of dementia and chronic disease, and with early death. It undermines the immune system and pairs with poor cardiovascular health. Loneliness is broadly defined as being distressingly unsatisfied with ones personal and social relationships. Often, this simply means too few people with whom to talk and share daily existence. It hits people of all ages, and men and women equally. A paralysed Canberra woman says she was left without the usual visits from her in-home carer for days after the collapse of local aged care provider Vivere. Vivere, a Fyshwick-based disability support and aged care provider, went into liquidation after abruptly closing its doors on October 26. The company received Commonwealth funding as a "provider of entry-level aged care services", with 30 to 40 clients in the Canberra region. Margot Harker has been affected by the financial collapse of Canberra company Vivere which provides in home care. Credit:Jamila Toderas The locally-owned and operated company had been providing services to people in the ACT and on the South Coast for more than a decade. It's understood staff were told in an email late on the evening of October 26 that the owners were going to "take a break and move on to other ventures". The email included the name of a third partner to contact "if you have any questions". Canberra Girls Grammar School is in discussions with the ACT government over parking fines given out to patrons of the school's fete last month. People who parked illegally at the Weetangera School fete were also pinged earlier this month, in what some have called a "mean-spirited" action by the government. The Canberra Liberals' spokeswoman on urban services Nicole Lawder said the fete fines should be waived. Maggie, Nina, 10, and Peter Pharaoh were fined $270 for parking in the middle of Melbourne Avenue with scores of other cars for the Canberra Girls Grammar Fete last month. Credit:Elesa Kurtz This was a very ungracious and unreasonable attempt at revenue raising. Where did the government expect the school community to park?" Ms Lawder said. Amy Dalgleish, Lower Largo, Fife, Scotland Simplistic responses not the answer Politicians seeking to make capital out of the tragic events in Bourke Street should look beyond the ugly and simplistic responses so clearly exposed by Professor Greg Barton (Comment, 11/11). Jan Hale, Torquay They hate us for what we are not No, John Ashton (Letters, 11/11), the Islamic terrorists don't "hate us for what we are" but rather "hate us for what we aren't" that is they hate anyone who isn't the right brand of extremist Islamist. Their hate includes those who supported the US Iraq policy (Australia and the UK), those who didn't (such as Germany and France), and even many Muslims who eschew their violent creed. This last group includes almost all of the 1 million Somalis who have fled the murderous al-Qaeda affiliated al-Shabaab in the past 10 years. Jan Newmarch, Oakleigh FORUM Lessons in power In relation to the article ("Labor's $160m republic ballot", The Sunday Age, 11/11), it was pleasing to note the commitment by Labor's spokesman on an Australian head of state, Matt Thistlethwaite, on "making sure there's a process to educate people about the constitution". Those who think a republic is simply a matter of substituting "president" for "governor-general" or "Queen" in the current constitution need educating that the real issues are the role and powers of the head of state, not the identity of the incumbent. Philip Howell, Wentworthville, NSW The right model The only question that should be asked is: Do you want a Republic? If the answer is yes, then as much time as necessary should be taken to determine the model that Australia wants. Les Aisen, Elsternwick Evolving answers Altruism and heroic self-sacrifice can be explained by evolution (Faith, 11/11), and it has little to do with the survival of the species, just the wellbeing of relatives and near acquaintances in small social groups. The fact that it has become expanded to include strangers is a sign of enlightenment. Humans have come to recognise that even strangers are human too. Wayne Robinson, Kingsley Life cycles I agree with David Sadedin (Letters, 11/11), motorists should take responsibility for cyclists, and cyclists for pedestrians. Last year I cycled around Tokyo in a tour group. It's a busy city with lots of traffic, but we were told "just stick together and avoid pedestrians", and spent hours whizzing across road crossings, on footpaths, pavements and roads in what felt like a fairly reckless manner. The trick is one simple rule: the larger vehicle is always assumed to be at fault in the event of accident the more vulnerable are protected by others having to respect their vulnerability. It works. Janice Keynton, Ashburton Timely strategy The new "national interest test" to be applied to university research projects ensuring alignment with Australia's security, foreign policy and strategic interests is not before time ("Security 'test' for uni research", The Sunday Age, 11/11). It comes as security agencies warn of threats of Chinese military expansion into international waters and China's Huawei and ZTE are disbarred from building our 5G mobile networks. Certain Australian universities appear to be in disconcerting thrall to Beijing. Not only is there concern at universities' fiscal over-dependence on the one income stream of Chinese international students, but Alex Joske's ASPI report states that more than 2500 Chinese military scientists have been sent abroad as students or visiting scholars in the past decade, and People's Liberation Army scientists are using civilian research fronts to obscure their military status. Deborah Morrison, Malvern East Testing times As a former teacher of VCE English, I can see some benefit in open-book VCE exams ("Fresh calls for open-book VCE exams", The Sunday Age, 11/11). It certainly challenges different skills: the ability to use resources efficiently, to access information quickly and to apply it appropriately to given tasks, to be creative unimpeded by the stress and anxiety that may occur from relying on memory and recall. The English course encourages students to take a unique perspective on texts. The open-book approach may produce responses striking in their similarity. The claim that VCE lends itself to cramming and memorising is then significantly overstated it is open-book that is more likely to produce responses that are mass-produced. Standards don't need to be watered down; we live in a competitive world and the VCE, in its current format, prepares students for this harsh reality. Noel Butterfield, Montmorency Fair please The suggestion of open books and internet access is silly and misses the point of what the exams are for. The use of the internet would be unfair given the variability of access and this would almost certainly disadvantage country students. Some students will be able to afford the quite expensive calculators and some won't. The reality of VCE exams not the political, do-gooder version is that they determine who meets a minimum for employers and that students are ranked for universities. The use of technologies does little to change the outcomes, as about 66 per cent of students will pass and somebody will be best and most will belower. Design a fairer system, please. Dennis Fitzgerald, Box Hill Total recall needed I agree with Reg Murray (Letters, 11/11). Instead of remembering military conflict in terms of the men who sacrificed their lives, we should be remembering (and not nearly so fondly) the governments whose failure to avert war or stubbornness to prosecute them led directly to the deaths of these men and also, as Graeme Lindsay (Letters, 11/11) points out, countless civilians. Anthony Hitchman, St Andrews Good aim I wondered how long it would be before someone would suggest that police would take time to aim, with precision, at the legs of an aggressor wielding a knife and rapidly descending on police with little goodwill in mind (Letters, 17/11). If the policeman involved were my son or husband, I would hope he would take all measures, in such a murderous threatening situation, to save his own life and that of others. Imagine being in the policeman's position. To shoot at rapidly moving legs would take a great deal of skill and it would not be a good time to miss. Jean Tansey, Berwick Bailed up If the government adopted the Liberals' bail policy, Hassan Khalif Shire Ali would not have been free. And if my grandmother had wheels, she'd be a bus. Henry Herzog, St Kilda East The big picture Yes, Australia should be making our own diplomatic decisions and stand by them as we need to be, and be seen as an independent country. But let's make these decisions with the full knowledge of their ramifications on our friends, neighbours and trading partners. We don't exist in isolation; we are a small part of this world, but a slightly bigger part of the region we live in. Our influence will diminish as others grow stronger, so the path we take cannot be governed by spur of the moment political decisions taken in ignorance. The picture is far bigger than the relocation of an embassy regardless of the rights and wrongs of its location and the Prime Minister should have known this. Bruce Cormack, Kilsyth Love of reading I love my job. I am a teacher/librarian in a primary school, but as Catherine Ryan (Letters, 14/11) expressed, I am an endangered species. My school is in East Coburg and my students are excited about literature and want my book recommendations. I take great pride in connecting each child with a book that will hook them into reading and nothing is more delightful than a reluctant reader with bright eyes asking for the next book in a series. Don't we all want to give our children the best opportunities and a safe, calm haven in a busy school? Josephine Natoli, East Kew Phish and chips So, workers are to be microchipped in Britain. Not for identification purposes in case they get lost (as in pets), but to "boost security and stop staff accessing sensitive business areas". What remaining rights and freedoms workers now have will be completely eroded if this plan goes ahead. I am appalled at the thought that these companies will be allowed to do this. A four-year-old boy was taken to hospital after being attacked by a large neighbourhood dog in Sydney's west on Sunday afternoon. Police and rangers struggled to detain a large black and white dog who had attacked a five-year-old boy in Quakers Hill on Sunday afternoon. Credit:7 News Sydney Emergency services were called to Jocelyn Boulevard in Quakers Hill about 1pm, where they found the boy with bite wounds to his neck. He was treated at the scene and taken to the Children's Hospital at Westmead in a stable condition, a NSW Ambulance spokesman said. The boy was standing on the footpath with his brother, talking to the neighbour, when the dog attacked, Acting Inspector Al John of the Riverstone Police said. Paul Jones (Letters, November 16) is misinformed. The alleged incident involving Jeremy Buckingham took place on August 26, 2011. The complainant contacted the Greens NSW office on April 10, 2018. The then acting state manager, with the complainant's agreement, that day contacted an independent, legally trained investigator. By 5pm, April 11, the investigation was under way, i.e. within 36 hours of receiving the complaint. Media pressure played no part in initiating the investigation. The Greens NSW responded expeditiously and in accord with our policies and concern for the victim. Sylvia Hale, Co-convenor, The Greens NSW Tired of shouting at John Howard on TV, I joined the NSW Greens in the 1990s. I have been a member of two Greens groups and convenor of both, so I guess I know where some of the bodies are buried. This attack on Buckingham by certain elements of the NSW Greens is the latest instalment in a vendetta against him that has been exhausting the party for years. Buckingham, for some reason lost in the mists of time, has acquired some enemies who are quite prepared to destroy the party in order to see him fall. The misuse of parliamentary privilege by Jenny Leong last week not only put her in the same category of David Elliott but has strengthened the party's detractors' claims of division, factionalism and irrelevance. Furthermore, she and her supporters have been used, unwittingly perhaps, as stooges in the ongoing battle and will attract the opprobrium deserved by the so-called Left Renewal faction of the party. Buckingham was exonerated by the independent review demanded by his opponents who, not satisfied with that outcome, have restricted the release of that report and continued to attack Buckingham as if the report was never undertaken. One of the four tenets of the Greens is a dedication to social justice, the main reason I joined. This surely includes the principle of "innocent until proven guilty". Left Renewal obviously finds this an inconvenient truth to be ignored for their own ends. Buckingham, however, goes to work every day for the Greens with boundless energy and dedication to Green causes. Stephen Ballantine, Green Point Base is symptomatic of the times Our nearest neighbour and lone former colony Papua New Guinea is experiencing an unprecedented health crisis inadequate human resources, the revival of polio after two decades of absence, a high incidence of tuberculosis and HIV, and medicines scarce in most rural areas. Life expectancy is almost certainly falling. Remarkable then, that as the budgetary provision for overseas aid is at its lowest level on record, we and the United States can think of no better contribution to PNG than to build a bigger and better naval base on Manus (Pence announces US-Australia military pact to expand Manus Island naval base, smh.com.au, November 18). So much for the co-operation part of APEC. So bitterly disappointing, but so symptomatic of the times. - John Connell, Bronte If Scott Morrison really wants to assist our Pacific Island neighbours he should offer aid as a gift rather than a loan (Morrison warns US of trade tit-for-tat, November 17-18). That would prove Australia has no intention of putting them in our debt in any way. - Meredith Williams, Dee Why Peter ONeill, the PNG prime minister, will no doubt avoid Canberra restaurants on his next visit. - Brian Jones, Leura Correcting a wrong A constitutionally recognised representative Indigenous body to Parliament is making up for lost time and correcting a wrong (An Indigenous voice to strengthen democracy, November 17-18). Imagine if it were possible at the start of British arrival what would have been avoided and what would have been salvaged. While that time is past, a measure of justice now can start to turn around the degradation of our Indigenous although so many have stood up and made a difference within the dominant system. - Gordana Martinovich, Dulwich Hill Stan Grant says this Voice to Parliament would be a profound expression of confidence in the countrys political system and would soothe bitter social divisions. I dont think history supports such a proposition. England, for example, was taken by the scruff of its neck by the Vikings, then the Romans, finally by the Normans. Harsh times ensued but, broadly, over these periods of 2000 years there was social and economic development. What I dont hear today from Indigenous leadership are policies that will change the state of their peoples education, health, housing and social integration to ensure a united Australian society. Two years ago Warren Mundine on the ABCs Q&A asked the audience to enquire what was actually happening to the $35 billion being spent on the Aboriginal population. I havent seen the answers. I suggest that such commentators should spend more time on this question. - Les Sisley, Bathurst Thought bubbles The idea of reversing the idea of moving the Australian embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem apparently needs to go through a thorough process of internal discussion and external negotiation and cant be a rushed decision, we are told by the Prime Minister, the Treasurer and the Foreign Minister. Pity the original thought bubble in October wasnt subject to discussion and review of any kind, it seems. But good that the cutting of funding to Food Bank was reversed within days. - Judy Sherrington, Kensington Tired of waiting As feelings and consciousness are subjective experiences, we can never know what if feels like to be another creature. Nevertheless, biologists and birdwatchers take a more pragmatic approach (Rhapsody in Blue, Spectrum, November 17-18). The satin bowerbirds seduction stage, so carefully planned and executed, may need to be repaired and renovated for up to eight years. Surely, the avian equivalent of the Kinks Tired of Waiting for You. - Pam Connor, Mollymook Beach Cost of living here Graham Lum (Letters, November 17-18) believes that non-Muslims would be up in arms if held responsible for the crimes of others. As an Irishman in Australia, we have had to put up with non-stop derisory comments and humourless jeers from the kind occupants of this huge island for decades now and so far havent resorted to arms. All we can do is put up with it. Its the cost of living here. - Tony Redmond, Wyong Flamboyant flowers Susie Packhams letter (November 17-18) about Piccolo Bar brings to mind a momentous day in 1978. My daughter had just arrived in this world and I was sitting next to her mother in the maternity ward when down the corridor came an enormous bunch of flowers so big that the only clue to its locomotion were two Italian black leather boots clicking along. It was Vittorio Bianchi being his usual flamboyant self. - John Grinter, Katoomba Price of jaywalking One of my international students was recently fined $74 for jaywalking in the Sydney CBD. Thats unfair. Ive jaywalked all my life and Ive never been warned, let alone fined. Earlier this year, I asked a ticket inspector why he didnt fine five people who had their feet on the seats of our train carriage. He told me management had given explicit instructions not to fine, only warn. If police officers are going to start fining jaywalkers, Id like to suggest a state government campaign along the lines After January 1, jaywalk, youll be fined. Feet on seats, youll be fined. After a few nasty fines, Im sure we jaywalkers will learn to do the right thing. - Brett Johnson, Erskineville Nine-carrot regards Id have loved to be in on the earnest police discussions regarding the banning of the Bohemian Beatfreaks music festival just to hear them saying Rabbits Eat Lettuce whenever they had to refer to those wascally organisers by name (Music festivals court fight after police pull plug, November 17-18). Nine-carrot regards ... Alicia Dawson, Balmain Weighty issue Now that the kilogram has been redefined, Im just wondering if I should send my scales back for realignment (Kilogram gets redefined, November 17)? And will it mean that Ive lost or gained weight? - Judy Christian, Castle Hill Sloppy words matter I agree wholeheartedly with your correspondents on the slovenly pronunciations we are increasingly hearing. A creeping Americanism that is driving me mad is "sh" for "s" when combined with two other consonants as in "shtrike", "shtrength" , "Aushtrayia". Helen Bersten, Roseville My family migrated to Australia from Paris when I was seven. English is my third language, after Swiss-German and French. Is there any danger that educated Australians might one day learn to pronounce difficult words, such as "straight"? Henri Szeps, Leichhardt Greens MP Jenny Leong is suing NSW Police under section 18C of the Racial Discrimination Act over a series of offensive Facebook posts made or "liked" by serving officers. Police have said "significant" action was taken over the posts but the Herald has learned a then sergeant named in the complaint, Jack Zaineddine, has since served in a higher ranking role. Greens MP Jenny Leong is taking NSW Police to the Human Rights Commission. Credit:Janie Barrett The March 2016 comments, first revealed by the Sun-Herald, were made by the sergeant after he changed his profile picture to an image of Ms Leong, who identifies as a Chinese Australian and has a Malaysian-born father. They included "Is it cause I so Asian?" and "2 dolla sucky sucky lub u long time". An Australian man has died after a falling rock severed his climbing ropes as he descended a peak near Mount Everest in eastern Nepal. Michael Davis, from Newcastle, was with a group of 15 climbers on Thursday when the freak accident happened on the 6812-metre Ama Dablam mountain in the Himalayas. Michael Davis died after a falling rock severed his climbing ropes in eastern Nepal. It was the 33-year-old's first trip to the worlds highest mountain range, but he had climbed two other peaks earlier in the five-week expedition. The Himalayan Times quoted expedition organiser Tshering Pande Bhote, the managing director at Top Himalaya Guides, as saying Mr Davis had fallen to his death below the highest camp on the mountain. Australia is doing well on many fronts, whether compared with other countries or our own history. At the same time, we are trapped in a state of akrasia knowing what to do in our best interests but steadfastly refusing to do so. In other words, short-termism. We have abundant fossil fuel and plentiful solar, wind and tidal resources. Why arent we leading the world in creating new energy-efficient industries and jobs? Why are we still distracted by a pointless and outdated fight between coal and renewables? We know where the population is growing and where people need to get from and to. Why do we let congestion waste about $20 billion a year in our capital cities alone? Were one of the richest countries on Earth with a great healthcare system. Why do we continue to spend more than a third of the combined federal and state health budgets on treating preventable chronic illness like obesity and diabetes? Most worryingly, just 30 per cent thought the public service remained frank and fearless. The majority said ministerial advisers played too great a role in governance (60 per cent), and 70 per cent thought the same of consultants. Just two in five felt they delivered projects well and made effective use of taxpayers money. Almost half said their institutions had become more political. Just two in five public servants felt they delivered projects well and made effective use of taxpayers money. I was shocked by the results, Shergold said recently. Australias public servants were suffering a crisis of confidence. Recently, as president of the Institute of Public Administration Australia (IPAA), he surveyed more than 800 IPAA conference attendees, mostly current and former public servants. Peter Shergold is worried. During the final years of the Howard government, Shergold sat at the apex of Australias federal bureaucracy as secretary of the Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet. Public faith in democracy in Australia is in decline, according to a range of recent surveys. He is not alone in expressing concern about the health of Australias democratic process: the system whereby elected officials, assisted by frank and fearless public servants, draft, explain and implement public policies that advance the interests of society. Shergold says there is a rising tribalisation of Australian politics and culture. In this post-truth world, the value of a skilled public administration, trained in looking at all sides of a political proposition in a considered and thoughtful manner, is no longer regarded as a civic virtue. Such gloom comes at the worst possible time, says Shergold. The foundations of liberal democracy appear to be increasingly fragile. Populist responses to complex public policy conundrums are becoming attractive to disillusioned voters in search of simple answers. But while political dysfunction is playing a role, deeper economic reasons also seem to be driving the results, says Cameron. Theres a perception that the government is run for big interests, and that politicians are looking after themselves rather than governing on behalf of the people they are elected to represent. There is a combination of factors leading to the decline in democratic satisfaction, says Dr Sarah Cameron, a political scientist at the University of Sydney. Voters have largely disapproved of the changes of prime minister that have taken place in between elections over the past decade, under both Labor and Liberal governments. And satisfaction with democracy is at its lowest ebb since the aftermath of the shock dismissal of the Whitlam government in 1975, according to the Australian Election Study, run out of the Australian National University. Slightly less than half of Australians aged under 45 agreed that democracy is preferable to any other kind of government, in a Lowy Institute poll this year. Just 5 per cent of Australians feel they have personally gained a lot from our record-busting economic run, according to a Community Pulse survey in April by the Committee for Economic Development of Australia (CEDA). The envy of the world, as it enters its 27th year of continuous economic growth, the Australian economy in November earned a place on the cover of The Economist magazine for the first time, in an edition titled Aussie rules: What the world can learn from Australia. The special feature extolled Australias economic success while expressing only mild perplexion at the revolving door of prime ministers Down Under. In recent elections, voters have become increasingly pessimistic about the state of the economy. In 2016, just 10 per cent of voters believed economic conditions in Australia had improved over the past year down from 43 per cent in 2004. These negative attitudes about the economy are related to dissatisfaction with democracy. When you step back and look at the aggregate, we have done really well. We have this brand of economic development which is a type of democracy where we make sure that we sustain growth but we have a really strong social compact that sustains our values. Yet this is unfounded, says Cilento. While there remain areas of entrenched disadvantage, particularly in Indigenous communities, most Australians have benefited from the fruits of economic growth, including low unemployment, rising incomes, tax relief and rising asset prices. When you step back and look at the aggregate, we have done really well. No matter how impressive we feel our track record of growth has been, very few people feel that they personally have gained much. Amid the scandals unearthed by the banking royal commission, Australians also made international headlines last month when they erupted with fury over the placement of corporate advertising emblazoned across the Sydney Opera House. The hostility to business is particularly troubling, says Cilento. Maintaining the competitiveness of business big and small is fundamental to future economic opportunities. We know that business investment plays a critical role in supporting improved productivity and, in turn, higher incomes. However, this is clearly not connecting to the aspirations of the community, even where the link is direct for instance, through shareholder returns to superannuation. More needs to be done to reduce this disconnect. The business case for reform Business is worried too. Business is clearly in no position to lecture anyone, says Jennifer Westacott, the chief executive of the Business Council of Australia. But it is very hard to get anything done. And its not just political instability. I think clearly that is part of it although Im always taken aback by how resilient our institutions are when we now have this more frequent leadership change. In contrast to the big reform era of the 1980s, Westacott says the problems facing todays modern economy are more nuanced. Loading I think the problem were trying to solve is not evident to people. So, we end up going down a path where people say, Why are we doing this again? I think sometimes things are just so complex. In the past, people have just trusted governments to get things done. Now, people arent just willing to say, These people in power know what theyre doing. That lack of trust means complexity becomes more difficult to manage. Westacott is scathing of the often very poor process by which public policies are formulated today, citing the lack of a business case for the NBN. Energy policy, she says, is a mess. When people float an idea it just seems to get killed. Jennifer Westacott The architect of the Coalitions abandoned National Energy Guarantee, the Energy Security Board chair, Kerry Schott, recently expressed similar frustration. I characterise the general state of affairs right now as anarchy, Dr Schott told an Australian Financial Review energy summit. Westacott backs a recent observation by economist Ross Garnaut that there had been a death of the independent centre in Australia. We havent seen a green or white paper for some time in Australia, she says. When people float an idea it just seems to get killed. They get asked, Are you going to rule this in or out? As you rule more and more things out, there is less freedom to reform. There is much at stake, she says. The simple reality is that wages have been not growing as fast as people want or need and thats directly linked, whether people like it or not, to productivity. Our productivity is poor and our productivity is driven by investment, which is driven by our competitive settings. We have to ask ourselves, as a business lobby, what do we really stand for? We want to see a stronger, better economy capable of caring for its people. Is that a bad thing? A basic competency issue In 2012, former NSW Treasury secretary Percy Allan oversaw the release of a study titled Public policy adrift. It rated 18 public policies against whether they met the Wiltshire test (devised by University of Queensland academic Kenneth Wiltshire) for good public policy development: including establishing a clear need for policy reform, creating a green paper identifying reform options, extensive public consultation, producing a white paper with reform recommendations, and having a strategic communication strategy to convince voters of the merits of a reform. Ten out of 18 policies assessed failed the test, including the NBN and the GFC stimulus Building the Education Revolution and home-insulation programs. Good policy is not a left-right issue; it is an issue of basic competency. Simon Breheny This year, the study was repeated in a novel fashion. In an Australian first, think tanks from opposite ends of the ideological divide the right-wing Institute of Public Affairs and the left-wing Per Capita - came together to assess the rigour of the development process behind 20 policies. There was striking agreement, with both think tanks identifying four policies, in particular, that showed an unacceptable level of rigour: the same-sex marriage postal survey, the decision to create a federal Home Affairs department, the NSW governments local council mergers policy and the Queensland governments laws on vegetation management. Good policy process from actually undertaking cost-benefit analysis to having a detailed plan for how a policy will be rolled out is not a left-right issue; it is an issue of basic competency, says the IPA's director of policy, Simon Breheny. Are we going the way of Washington, where advisers replace seasoned public servants? Credit:Bloomberg From Westminster to Washminster Allan, who now consults to the private and public sector, points the finger at the growing role of political advisers in perverting the policy process, crowding out the advice of public servants. The situation now is that ministers have more advisers in their private ministerial offices. Many of them are recruited from politically affiliated lobbying and polling organisations where the skill set is political analysis and marketing rather than policy making, says Allan. Australia has gradually moved from a traditional UK Westminster government to a polyglot Washminster model. Percy Allan Australia has gradually moved from a traditional UK Westminster government to a polyglot Washminster model that borrows from the Washington style of public administration. In Washington, Allan explains, top bureaucrats are political appointees: Its only from the middle to lower tiers of public service management that American public servants are recruited on merit, not political affiliation. In America, there is an army of senior public thinkers who move between the bureaucracy (when their chief is president or governor) and think tanks (such as the Brookings Institution when their party is out of power). This has advantages (e.g. bright people committed to a government's agenda are in charge of effecting policy) and disadvantages (e.g. ideologues take control of the administrative apparatus of public policy-making and override evidence and consultation in advancing solutions to complex problems). Kate Ellis, then a backbencher, and staff before the 2007 election. Credit:AAP Social medias perfect storm Tim Gartrell is the former national secretary of the Australian Labor Party who helped deliver Kevin 07 to power. He agrees there has been a hollowing out of the federal bureaucracy. I do think theres a problem, says Gartrell, who also points to the relentless rise of social media for the apparent breakdown in good public policy-making. Theres just less considered thinking about things, the speed and velocity of how things are decided. I hear less and less, We should sleep on this, we will make a better judgement in the morning. Its a worry. As interest wanes, politics makes more noise to be heard, only to further alienate the public. Peter Lewis But even as the media cycle has intensified, fewer Australians are truly engaged with politics, says Peter Lewis, the executive director of Essential Media, which has also conducted research showing dissatisfaction with Australian democracy. I think the results are a response to that fact that the structures that underpin our democracy are getting weaker. Fewer people consume news. Fewer people trust their public institutions. Fewer people think politicians represent their interests, says Lewis. As interest wanes, politics makes more noise to be heard, only to further alienate the public in the process. This creates a climate for easy solutions and hero figures to come in and clean up the mess. The House of Representatives, Canberra. Credit:Alex Ellinghausen So where to from here? Amid an increasing sense of policy chaos, a new microcosm is forming around finding ways to fix Australian democracy. Percy Allan just wants politicians to return to the old way of doing things, committing to an evidence-based policy-making process run more by public servants and less by political cabals. That involves establishing the known facts and stakeholder views about a situation, identifying the alternative policy options, weighing up their pros and cons, sharing that with the public and inviting its reaction, after which finalising a policy position to put before Parliament or effect by regulation, says Allan. The public has turned against government not so much over policy but the way policy is decided, announced and executed. Percy Allan Winning back public trust in the process of government is crucial, he says: I believe the public has turned against government not so much over policy but the way policy is decided, announced and executed. Peter Shergold agrees the public service needs to restore its policy advising capabilities while partnering more with business and community groups to get their views. In todays uncertain environment, he says, the ability of public administrators to serve successive governments in an apolitical manner has become significantly more important to the healthy functioning of the machinery of democratic government. A campaign is also needed, says Shergold, to restate the importance of a rigorous, independent public service as central to the operations of the maintenance of a civil society and as bedrock of democratic governance. Ian McAllister, a professor of political science at the ANU, and co-director of the Australian Election Study, offers some more radical solutions, including fixed four-year parliamentary terms and Senate reform. Australians rejected the idea of four-year terms in a 1988 referendum because they prefer to keep politicians on a short leash, McAllister says but governments need a chance to govern. [Four-year terms] would put less pressure on political parties to perform in the short term and give them more time to actually do something, and voters could either punish or reward them at the next election. Senate reform is also needed, says McAllister. Australia is one of only four countries globally where the upper house can veto legislation from the lower house the US, Switzerland and Germany being the others. It has long since ceased to be a representation of the states and territories. It's a microcosm of party conflict. That wouldn't matter, except it's extremely powerful. McAllister would also like to see reform of parliamentary procedures, including the appointment of an independent speaker and limits on question time. We need a process that says these are all just good ideas until people of goodwill come together and resolve to fix the system. Ralph Ashton Ralph Ashton is the executive director of the Australian Futures Project, a not-for-profit, charitable organisation formed with the mission to fix short-termism in Australia. The biggest thing that has to happen is there needs to be a recognition that the system even if its not broken is struggling to be functional in the current context, and thats because there has been rapid change and the system is under stress, Ashton says. My top solution is the meta solution. We need a process that says these are all just good ideas until people of goodwill come together and resolve to fix the system, even if it takes five to 10 to 15 years. We need to go beyond the natural human instinct of getting angry and looking to lay blame and realise that a lot of different people are responsible and, in some way, the world just changed. CEDAs Cilento agrees. She says public policy decision-making will need to become more transparent, involving more engagement with citizens, to restore public trust in democracy. I think that the way we are going to have to go about policy is different to the way we have in the past. Most of all, says Cilento, Australians need to avoid falling prey to excessive gloom about their future. We need to be more optimistic. We should have faith. We have fixed our future before. When you look back to the late 1970s, people would have thought the future was pretty bleak, and we fixed that. We just have to keep talking about it. Police are investigating two shootings in Melbourne's north on Saturday night. A Glenroy man was attacked after he confronted unknown offenders during an aggravated burglary outside a Gordon Court property about 10.30pm. A man was assaulted and shots fired at a Glenroy property overnight. Credit:Seven News Police believe the offenders then fired a number of shots into a parked car and house before fleeing the scene. The 58-year-old victim was taken to hospital with minor injuries. (CNN) Multiple sources tell CNN that a much-anticipated United Nations Security Council resolution calling for a cessation of hostilities in Yemen and for Saudi Arabia to allow humanitarian aid to reach millions of starving people was "stalled" this week after the resolution's sponsor, British Foreign Secretary Jeremy Hunt, met face-to-face with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. Two sources said the crown prince "threw a fit" about the resolution. Two other sources with knowledge of the discussion didn't go so far as to describe the crown prince as angry, though they didn't deny he was annoyed. Putting it into more carefully diplomatic terms, one said, "He didn't like the idea." According to the other source, the Saudis "have their reservations," but the source said it remained a courteous discussion. As part of a British effort to draft a Security Council resolution against the continued fighting and humanitarian crisis in Yemen, Hunt flew to Riyadh this week to sit down with bin Salman, who has faced intense criticism and scrutiny over the brazen killing of journalist Jamal Khashoggi in early October at the hands of officials in his inner circle. 'What is your plan?' Sources say Hunt took the draft with him and discussed it with the crown prince, who wanted changes or better yet, no resolution at all. Bin Salman, known in diplomatic circles by his initials, MBS, viewed the pending resolution as weakening the Saudi position in the conflict over Yemen and emboldening its Houthi rebel rivals. "MBS didn't like the resolution on principle," said a source familiar with the Riyadh meeting. But the message Hunt delivered was a strong one, a fourth source said, and came after he'd consulted with US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian. "'This is what Western powers think, and this is what you need to do. What is your plan to stop this?'" Hunt conveyed to the Saudi, according to this source, who added, "He heard what we said." In what's seen as a positive move, the Saudis have now agreed to facilitate Houthi negotiators' travel to Sweden for talks. Hunt left with the understanding that he would work on changes to the resolution with his team, as well as with his counterparts in the US and elsewhere. These allies share concerns that a bad reaction from Saudi Arabia to a strongly worded UN resolution could set back the start of a process to resolve the war in Yemen. Even so, one of the sources familiar with the Riyadh meeting said Western allies "are not inclined to act on all of MBS's recommendations." At a Security Council meeting on Friday, British Ambassador Karen Pierce said the UK would introduce the new resolution on Monday. The Department of State and Saudi Arabian Embassy in the US did not respond to requests for comment. The encounter puts in stark light the efforts of the UK, US and other allies to hold the kingdom's leadership accountable for serious alleged human rights violations, while still maintaining good working relationships with Saudi Arabia in the volatile region. The US and UK were the top two arms sellers to Riyadh in 2017, with $5.2 billion and $1.2 billion in sales, according to the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute. Babies like ghosts Hunt's meeting with the crown prince also underscores bin Salman's resistance to pressure on Yemen, which has become the world's worst man-made humanitarian disaster, as babies, children and adults slowly starve to death. The three-year conflict between the Saudi-led coalition and its enemies, Iran-backed Houthis, has devastated the country and killed at least 10,000 people. UN experts say the Saudi coalition's bombings of civilians are potential war crimes. The world body has also said the Saudis' partial blockade of the country means 18 million people don't have reliable access to food, creating the conditions for the worst famine in 100 years. The World Food Program warned Friday that the country is "marching to the brink of starvation." Its executive director, David Beasley, who just returned from Yemen, told reporters he touched babies who felt like "ghosts" due to starvation. The UK's willingness to make changes to the resolution to ease Saudi concerns drew sharp criticism from human rights advocates. "The Saudi sway over some members of the UN Security Council has become a serious liability," said Akshaya Kumar, the deputy United Nations director for Human Rights Watch. The UK for months has resisted bringing a UN resolution on Yemen and the US has been loath to criticize Riyadh for the destruction there. "It's absolutely mind-boggling that the world's most powerful body has chosen silence for months even as warnings of famine have mounted," Kumar said. "At this point, vague appeals to 'all parties' to improve their behavior won't work. Any resolution that doesn't specifically mention the Saudi-led coalition by name and call it out for its role in the carnage in Yemen won't have the required effect in Riyadh." In an effort to win an edge in any negotiations, Saudi Arabia has repeatedly tried to gain a definitive military edge before agreeing to talks. Khashoggi's killing, tied to bin Salman's inner circle, put Saudi Arabia on the defensive diplomatically, giving the US and UK an opening to press Riyadh. In late October, US Secretary of Defense James Mattis and Pompeo called on all participants in the civil war to agree to a ceasefire "in the next 30 days," amid criticism of US support for the Saudi-led coalition in the conflict. The administration will likely face greater pressure to restrict arms sales to Saudi Arabia and act on Yemen now that midterm elections have given Democrats control of the House of Representatives. The UK Foreign Office said in a statement that Hunt's trip, which also included meetings with the United Arab Emirates and Yemeni leaders, "helped improve understanding on steps that would lead to a cessation of hostilities. The Foreign Secretary had constructive discussions on pathways to achieve de-escalation and reduce tensions, and was clear that both sides would need to play their part in the confidence-building measures." The fourth source familiar with Hunt's discussions said the foreign secretary was in the region "to talk about a full sweep of issues in relation to Yemen" and as a result, also visited the UAE, a core member of the Saudi coalition. Hunt also spoke to the Saudi crown prince about the country's standoff with Qatar and about the need for accountability in Khashoggi's killing. On Thursday, the Saudi Public Prosecutor's Office charged 11 people and sentenced five to death for the Virginia resident's killing. One source with knowledge of the discussion between Hunt and the crown prince told CNN that such a meeting, between a British foreign secretary and the Saudi de facto head of state, is unusual; that based on diplomatic protocols, the foreign secretary would normally meet with a lower-level counterpart to talk over a pending action. 'Reality on the ground' The fourth source familiar with Hunt's meeting said the Saudis "have their reservations" about the resolution, "but it's a tool to get both sides to come to the table. And it does need to reflect the reality on the ground." One source with knowledge of discussions says the US has not been shying away from supporting the resolution, and that US Ambassador to the UN Nikki Haley has been enthusiastic about getting something done. The source said others in the US administration don't seem to be as willing as Haley to forcefully call out Saudi Arabia in this way. But MBS's serious pushback to a potential statement by the UN Security Council -- merely a resolution calling for humanitarian aid and stopping the fighting -- also shows that such moves have an impact at the highest level of Saudi government. "The Saudis are hugely sensitive -- ultra, ultra sensitive -- to international perceptions," a diplomatic source told CNN. "They hate criticism. And MBS brings a whole new level of paranoia about this." This story was first published on CNN.com, "Saudi crown prince's 'fit' delays UN resolution on war in Yemen." One of the instantly iconic images of the Duke and Duchess of Sussexs recent visit to Australia was of Harry embracing Gwen Cherne on the Sydney Harbour bridge climb after discussing the suicide of her veteran husband, Peter. This image, and Harrys advocacy around the mental health of service members, has renewed attention to military suicide, whether of serving service members or veterans. In 2015 more Australian military personnel and veterans took their lives than were killed in Afghanistan during 13 years of war. Prince Harry with fellow Harbour Bridge climber Gwen Cherne, the widow of a military veteran who took his own life. Credit:AP Research in Australia and the US also shows that male veterans are nearly twice as likely to die by suicide as their civilian counterparts. Although there is little data about female veterans in Australia, we know that American female veterans are nearly 250 per cent more likely to die by suicide than civilian women. Despite the increased public awareness about military suicide, much of the debate remains shaped by the myth that service members are more vulnerable to military suicide if they have served in combat roles during war. In short, there is a presumed connection between combat, trauma and post-traumatic stress disorder, and military suicide. However, the idea that service in combat is the biggest contributing factor to military suicide is a myth. There is almost no research showing a link between combat exposure and military suicide. In fact, multiple studies from Australia and the US have shown no association between serving in combat operations and vulnerability to military suicide. Surprisingly, available medical data indicates that service members who have never even deployed let alone served in combat may be at the highest risk of suicide. Building on this, several researchers have found that service members diagnosed with PTSD are actually less likely to die by suicide. "It is also likely that the complexity of the process will cause injured people to seek the assistance of a lawyer, for which no legal costs may be payable by the insurer." The company said it was particularly concerned by the requirement for injured people to pay an excess to the insurer for the assessment where the insurer considers there is no permanent impairment. Loading "We consider that this requirement disadvantages those injured people of lesser financial means. We also submit that enforcing this process and collecting/recovering excess amounts would be administratively difficult and expensive, to say nothing of the impact on the relationship between the injured person and insurer," its submission said. The excess is likely to be set at $500 or one-quarter of the assessment fee, whichever is higher. Asked whether the changes were fair, a government spokeswoman said the cost of a whole person impairment assessment could be in the thousands of dollars. "An excess payment for the independent assessment is only required where the injured person requests the independent assessment even though they are not considered to have any likely permanent impairment as a result of their accident," she said. "The excess payment is fully refundable if the injured persons whole person impairment assessment by an authorised independent medical examiner determines the injured person has some permanent impairment (eg more than 0 per cent)." The insurance group also hit out at the decision to cut income benefits for injured people who were at retirement age plus 26 weeks. The clause would mean an injured person who was older but working would receive no income replacement if they were unable to work because of it. "This is an unjust outcome for injured people who continue to work past retirement age by choice or need," the company said. The government spokeswoman said the cut-off was consistent with statutory motor accident schemes and workers compensation schemes in other jurisdictions, and had been included in the model chosen by the citizens jury. "At this point, people can access the Commonwealth age pension and/or their superannuation benefits to provide income," she said. "Older people with more serious injuries, and are not at fault, can still make a common law claim for damages including for any lost income." The scheme would also prevent injured people from claiming damages for lost earnings in the first year after the accident. The provision seems geared to prevent duplication, as there are income replacement payments available. But Insurance Group Australia told the inquiry it would mean there were people who were out-of-work for reasons like unpaid maternity leave would be locked out of recovering those lost earnings forever. It would also leave injured people out of pocket on superannuation. "We consider this outcome to be inconsistent with the citizens' jury objectives," the insurer said. The government spokeswoman said the requirement that injured people receive defined benefits for loss of income for the first year after an accident had been a design feature of the jury's chosen model. Save Log in , register or subscribe to save articles for later. Normal text size Larger text size Very large text size The security agents came for Adeham Abliz late on a Thursday night. That day, September 8, 2016, had been much like any other in the 59-year-old Uighur mans life in the city of Ghulja in north-western China. Abliz, a shopkeeper, had performed his five daily prayers, starting with fajr at dawn through to isha after dusk. He had wandered through the neighbourhood and brought home groceries after a day of fasting in the lead-up to the Islamic holiday of Eid al-Adha. He would not be allowed to finish dinner. Around 11pm, two officers in plain clothes arrived at the house. We need to talk to you about something. You need to come with us, they told Abliz, a devout Muslim who had provided religious teaching in the local community and kept religious texts in his house marking him as a subject of suspicion for the Chinese Communist Party. Abliz and his family resisted, demanding to know why he was being taken. Ignoring their desperate pleas, the two men escorted him outside and took him away. That was the last time I saw my father with my own eyes, says his daughter, Meyassar Adham. The same day, she had been granted a visa to join her partner in Australia. Advised by her migration agent to urgently get out of Xinjiang province, she left a week later, bound for the safety of the Adelaide suburbs. Advertisement Her father was promptly sentenced to two years in prison for his religious practices. In September this year, it became clear he would not be set free. Now 61, Abliz was transferred to a mass detention camp, joining hundreds of thousands in a vast re-education network established over the last two years in Xinjiang, known as East Turkestan by independence-minded Uighurs. In the camps, they are forced to renounce their religion and culture and adopt Communist ideology. Reports suggest people have been abused and tortured for failure to comply. Meyassar Adham fears for her father, who is detained in a mass detention camp in China. Credit:Alex Ellinghausen Adham, raising one child and pregnant with another, is haunted by the memories. For members of Australias 3000-strong Uighur community, the story is not unusual. Fairfax Media has conducted extensive interviews with more than a dozen Uighurs in Adelaide; all have relatives in detention and are struggling with the burden of knowing or not knowing the fate of parents, siblings, partners, grandparents, cousins, uncles, aunties and friends swept up in the unprecedented crackdown. Increasingly helpless and desperate, the Australian-based Uighurs felt compelled to go public with their stories and identities despite the risks. Their accounts while consistent with a growing body of information aired by journalists, academics, human rights groups and the United Nations are difficult to independently verify, given the lack of transparency around the Chinese governments activities. Advertisement There are common themes in many of the testimonies. A difficult departure from home seeking a better life; growing alarm from afar as the crackdown intensifies; contact with family becoming impossible as authorities prohibit contact with the outside world; sporadic warnings about the danger, sometimes conveyed in code or through third parties; scant details, desperately sought; children and elders left without people to take care of them. Horigul Yusuf came to Australia in 2005, reunited with her husband after seven years apart. The religious family had a long and difficult history with the CCP. In Adelaide, she joined the largest Uighur community in Australia about 1500 people across 300 families. All of Yusufs brothers have been detained in internment camps or sentenced to prison. The 52-year-old last spoke to her elderly parents on October 22, 2017. It was a short and sharp conversation, she says. Her parents warned her to cease contact. People threatened us and said if you contact relatives overseas, we will send you to prison. They forced us to sign a paper saying we wont be in contact, she recalls her mother saying during the call. Horigul Yusuf sheds tears as she speaks about her brother Abdulahad Yusuf. Credit:Alex Ellinghausen Horigul Yusuf's grief has affected her life in Adelaide's suburbs. Credit:Alex Ellinghausen Yusuf, a proud woman with intense, dark eyes, is visibly burdened by her familys struggle and overcome with emotion as she talks about it. Advertisement We live in this country freely and without difficulty. We can do whatever we want. But at the moment, its so hard for us. I cant even explain. I cant express how difficult it is. I dont want to socialise with anyone, I just want to be at home and think about my family, she says. The Uighurs have had an uneasy relationship with Chinese rule for centuries. In the decades following the collapse of the Qing dynasty in 1912, there were multiple and short-lived efforts to establish an independent state. Communist revolutionary Mao Zedongs forces then established control in 1949, incorporating Xinjiang into the Peoples Republic of China. In the decades since, the CCP has met ongoing resistance and extremism with an iron fist. Following outbreaks of unrest and a string of high-profile terror attacks, peaking in 2014, the Chinese government escalated efforts to curb Islamic practises and separatist sentiment. The authorities have banned religious clothing, including the face veil, and "abnormal" beards. Parents have been banned from giving their children names deemed religious. The government has rolled out an immense network of security cameras and identification and body scanners in public places as part of a highly advanced surveillance state. Police interrogate citizens at checkpoints, search phones for suspicious material, lock down access to once-bustling public places, and forcibly collect voice recordings and biometric data. Fears are growing the cutting-edge surveillance methods could ultimately be deployed across China and exported internationally. Fairfax Media recently visited Xinjiang, observing the all-consuming security apparatus in action. A Uighur woman and a child sit under China's national flag and a CCTV camera in Urumqi, Xinjiang. Credit:Fairfax Media Photos from Sayfudin Shamseden's photo album of relatives and friends who entered the internment camps. Credit:Alex Ellinghausen The centrepiece of the campaign has come in the form of the detention camps, now described as vocational training centres by authorities that, until recently, denied their very existence. Estimates about the number of detainees range from hundreds of thousands to a few million, with the United Nations highlighting reports of up to 1 million as credible. Advertisement The camps appear to vary across the region, with some detaining people 24/7 while others allow detainees to go home at night. Reports suggest the camps are filled on a quota basis, with people targeted by local authorities indiscriminately and without specific charges. Once the government focused its efforts on politically active and observant Muslims. Now the campaign captures all Uighurs and other minorities. Last week, Australia was among 13 governments to raise Xinjiang in a scheduled UN Human Rights Council review of Chinas record. Australias representatives outlined alarm at the numerous reports of large numbers of ethnic Uighurs and other Muslim groups held incommunicado and often for long periods without being charged or tried. The official statement warned the measures would exacerbate, not prevent, extremism. Since acknowledging the existence of the camps, the Chinese government has released propaganda material presenting an idealised image of the facilities, where happy trainees enjoy transformation through education. This week, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi urged the world to ignore gossip and said the measures would prevent terrorism. The CCP appointed a hardliner called Chen Quanguo as its top official in Xinjiang in 2016. Chen made his name as the party chief in the neighbouring province of Tibet, where he suppressed Buddhist resistance to CCP rule. Under his authority, security spending has expanded dramatically. Nursa Mehmetjan, a 45-year-old woman from Ghulja known as Yining in Chinese was on the cusp of escaping the deteriorating situation in early 2017. She got engaged to Adelaide man Muhammad Abdullah and was set to join him within months. Muhammad Abdullah with a photo of his missing fiancee Nursa Mehmetjan. Credit:Alex Ellinghausen But after a two-week rendezvous in Malaysia with Abdullah, Mehmetjan returned home and the Chinese government put a stop to her plans. First, she was interrogated and her passport was taken away. In February 2018, she was taken to a nearby camp where she remains. Advertisement The fire spread so fast, people barely had time to save themselves, let alone their pets. Loading Over the past week, first responders have carried thousands of injured animals out of the ashes to emergency veterinary hospitals. Many of them were found sitting in the smouldering rubble of their former homes, burned and dazed. At VCA Valley Oak Veterinary Centre in Chico, California, the staff cancelled regular appointments so doctors could focus on wildfire victims. Hundreds of pets, mostly cats, were dropped off over the course of five days. "We've run out of space," said Daniel Gebhart, the co-medical director at Valley Oak. He had about 20 animals under his care on Wednesday. Injuries include smoke inhalation, dehydration and severe burns, Gebhart said. The animals in the worst condition, with third-degree burns all over their bodies, have had to be euthanised. Fortunately, the vast majority of the animals that have come through Valley Oak's door have been saved, Gebhart said. Veterinarians administer pain medication to the burn victims immediately. They're given fluids, antibiotics and oxygen depending on the nature of the wound. "Once they're stable, we can debride and clean the wounds," Gebhart said. "We've been so emotional the past five days. It's so sad to see; they're in such terrible pain." The Small Animal Clinic at the University of California at Davis School of Veterinary Medicine took in 32 cats with burn-related injuries over a two-day period, according to the clinic's chief of emergency services, Steven Epstein. "Most of the injuries are related to actual burns, mainly to their feet," Epstein said. "A lot of foot pad injuries that take two to three weeks to heal." Their ear tips and faces also have been singed or even burned down to the skin in many cases. There might be lower-airway disease if they were breathing toxic gases. Some come in with burns in their nasal cavities or their mouths if they were surrounded by fire, which has another effect, Epstein says. "They need feeding tubes because they don't want to eat." Emergency room doctors often say human burn victims are the most difficult to care for because of the agony the injuries cause for the patient. Epstein said it's similar for veterinarians. And burns are "striking," he said, "since it's a very visual disease." First-degree burns might only take a few days to heal, he said. More severe burns take weeks to months. "My staff are very emotional right now," Gebhart said. They are stressed and fatigued, but caring for the community's animals is "the most important thing we can do." Of the nearly 2000 animals the North Valley Animal Disaster Group has taken into its shelters, most have been cats. But there have been hundreds of dogs, rabbits and chickens, and dozens of larger animals such as horses, goats, sheep and cows. Overwhelmed by animals, local veterinarians have been transferring the healthiest patients to the disaster group's shelters, which are set up at the Chico Municipal Airport and regional fairgrounds. Then comes an equally difficult task: connecting injured pets with their owners. Lucky animals have microchips, tiny implants that, when scanned, display their owners' contact information. Without microchips or tags, the identification process can be difficult because of the nature of the injuries. Whiskers are singed off. Ears are painfully burned at the edges. What fur is left is shaved to facilitate treatment. Some could be unrecognisable. Vets, rescue groups and volunteers are using social media to reunite pets with their humans. Multiple Facebook groups have launched since the wildfire started with the sole purpose of reconnecting Camp Fire survivors with their cats and dogs. Danz shared photos of Coco and Pebbles on her personal Facebook page. "If anyone sees them, please contact me," she wrote. Soon she had a small army of strangers and friends searching for her cats in photos tagged "found" - dozens of pets with bandaged paws, cone collars, whiskers burned down to nubs. The photos tagged "reunited" were rare flashes of hope. "One thing I've noticed in this tragedy is the kindness of others, even strangers," Danz said. "People I didn't even know would comment on my posts. I had this whole invisible team looking for my cats." A good Samaritan found Coco on the UC-Davis Facebook page. Her paws were burned in the fire and three were still wrapped when Danz saw her Thursday. An animal-control rescue team found Coco three streets away from her former home. "She is in good condition, though," Danz said. "She's eating and loves to be petted." By Huang Ge in Papua New Guinea BEIJING, Nov. 18, 2018 /PRNewswire/ --A Chinese President Xi Jinping warned against the rising trend of protectionism and unilateralism as he delivered a keynote speech at the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) CEO Summit in Port Moresby, capital of Papua New Guinea, on Saturday, the Xinhua News Agency reported. Chinese and foreign representatives who attended the APEC CEO Summit told the Global Times on Saturday that they were inspired by Xi's speech and countries across the world should strengthen cooperation to pursue inclusive growth through innovation instead of confrontation. Xi said that only openness and cooperation can create more opportunities and space for development, Xinhua reported. "Confrontation, either in the form of a cold war or trade war, produces no winners," he said. The president called for firm efforts to safeguard the multilateral trading system that has the WTO as its core, the Xinhua report said. "As rising uncertainty troubles the world market, China has made its resolute voice heard at APECA that the world is expected to strengthen cooperation, pursue common development and advance inclusive growth through innovation in technological fields, such as artificial intelligence and fintech, as well as cooperation models including the Belt and Road initiative (BRI)," said Tang Ning, founder and CEO of CreditEase, a Chinese fintech company. "If some countries set up barriers to cut off the close economic ties that exist between countries, this not only violates economic rules and the historical trends, but also does not meet the general aspirations of the people of the world," Tang said. "[Such a move] is short-sighted and will not succeed." "President Xi's speech was truly inspiring. He spoke of an important message that everyone should recognize a a world built on shared destiny, responsibility and prosperity," Joahnna Esquivias, an APEC Voices of the Future delegate from the Philippines, told the Global Times on Saturday. "I was very happy when he said that there are no winners in a trade war. Because this trade war is affecting not only the economies of China and the US but those in the peripheries," she noted. Xi pointed out that the world is encountering changes that have not been seen in a century and mankind has once again reached a crossroads. He stressed that the interests of all countries and the future of mankind hinge on choosing between cooperation and confrontation, between openness and closing one's door, and between win-win progress and a zero-sum game, according to the Xinhua report. Chen Yushu, managing director of the All-China Federation of Returned Overseas Chinese, told the Global Times that after listening to President Xi's speech, he was deeply impressed that today's world has become more interdependent and interconnected than ever before. "Economic globalization is the only way forward for the development of human society, and multilateral trade can bring about common opportunities for the growth of countries," Tang said. Tang noted that each country is part of the global cooperation chain as the world supply chain, industry chain and value chain are all closely linked. "For Asia-Pacific members, only by strengthening cooperation and achieving inclusive growth, will it be possible to bring benefits to these countries," he said. "I believe that if APEC becomes more open to regional integration through the BRI, economies will be more integrated. There's much potential and promise in APEC," Esquivias said. "I hope to see that in the near future." The lawn in front of the California State Capitol is seen dead in Sacramento, California on June 18, 2014 due to an ongoing drought. (Justin Sullivan/Getty Images) After Long Slide, Its Time for Republican Course-Correction in California The 2018 midterm elections were not kind to California Republicans. They lost numerous House seats and every statewide office, and fell below one-third in both the state Assembly and the Senate. So questions are naturally arising as to why and what to do next. The answer to both questions is largely the same. At the outset, we need to recognize that in this divided era, our red state/blue state divide is deepening as people vote with their feet to seek out like-minded environs. California is certainly more blue than it was 20 years ago, in significant part, because of those who have left California for greener red-state pastures. Part of the desire to leave relates to the policies of California Democrats. The state features the nations highest overall taxes and is the most regulated place on earth. California government debt exceeds $2 trillion and its infrastructure deficit is approaching $1 trillion. Crime is on the rise, and California schools continue to perform among the very worst in the nation. The states water policies are killing off farming and threatening to leave residents with 50 gallons a day rationinga 10-minute shower uses more than 20 gallons. Add to all of that the rising crime rates and the deadly mismanagement of forests. Those are a sufficient number of issues on which the Democrats have failed to govern. You would think the opposition party would be able to make great inroads with the voters because of that. Yet, it hasnt happened. Now that the election is over, and even before, prominent Republicans have suggested the need to try a new way. Former Assembly leader and former Republican Party Vice Chair Kristin Olsen recently wrote that the GOP is dead in California. A new way must rise. Similarly, former Assembly Republican leader Chad Mayes, former Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, and Ohio Gov. John Kasich have promoted a New Way California group, advocating moderate policies. They and others blame President Donald Trump for the losses and decry any Republican Party association with him. On the other hand, grass-roots advocates and organizations yearn for a return to conservative principles. They argue that the California Republican Partys failure to support conservative candidatesin the state that gave us Ronald Reaganhas been the downfall of the party. Many are loyal to the president and want their leaders in this state to embrace him. Their arguments arent new. For many years, a debate has raged among California Republicans as to whether to pursue moderate or conservative policies and candidates. So, what should California Republicans do? Ideas Work Historically, it is of little value for the minority party to adopt a label and offer it to voters. Labels dont actually indicate how a pothole will be filled, let alone how health care needs will be met. In this demanding divided era of impatience, voters want answers. Nor does it help for a minority party to become like the majority party. Here is where Schwarzenegger, Kasich, and Mayes are particularly wrong. California Democratic voters wont start voting for Republicans who adopt Democrat policies. The last 50 years have shown that Democrats vote straight party line with much greater regularity than Republicans and dont trust political conversions. A minority party acting like the majority party is like a race car driver staying right behind the lead car and expecting to win. It didnt work for House Republicans for 38 years between Eisenhower and 1994, and it wont work for California Republicans today. Beyond that, having one side of a party scolding the other side, if not attempting to run them off, is a most damaging exercise. You cant decimate your own and expect to grow. Trumps supporters arent going anywhere, and moreover, inter-party Republican fights dont appeal to voters. Ideas, on the other hand, do. California Republicans have done quite well when they have focused on defined, unifying ideas, not party fights. In the late 1970s, they ran on Prop 13the landmark property-tax reform measure that limited runaway tax increases. The same year, they supported the death penalty and the removal of state Supreme Court Justice Rose Bird, who refused to uphold the death penalty. They rode those issues into majority power in the Assembly. In 1994, California Republicans successfully backed a ballot proposition known as the Three Strikes sentencing law. That same year, nationally, Republicans ran on the Contract with America, which gave a fairly detailed roadmap of House votes to come. Not coincidentally, Republicans ended 38 straight years of Democratic Party control of the House that election. The common thread to those successes was that Republicans offered specific policies to specific issues and problems caused by Democrats. They didnt run simply by saying they will be moderate or conservative. Water and Taxes A host of California problems brought on by California Democrats is listed above. All of them are begging for answers. Of them, there is little doubt that water and taxes will be major issues in 2020. For years, I have advocated that Republicans in the state Assembly and Senate should craft a series of water-reform bills that would propose specific solutions to the various needs of the individual areas of the vast state. Water is a crossover issue. Whether youre a farmer or farm worker in the Central Valley, a rich landowner in Beverly Hills, rightfully fearful of fires anywhere, or simply want a lawn for your children, you want a stable water supply, regardless of what party you belong to. In the years to come, Democrats dont want to increase the supply, they want to ration it. Republicans should start today to make water solutions their brand. That isnt moderate or conservative, its sensible and needed. Beyond water, the left in California have Proposition 13 squarely in their sights. In 2020, an initiative will be on the ballot to cut Prop 13 in half, taking away protection for commercial property. That will amount to a tax increase on all Californians, because the law of economics dictates that business costs wind up in consumer pricesunless they lead to a downturn and business losses. Once the commercial property protection is gone, the left will turn their sights on residential protectionthey are already saying Prop 13 protects older white people at the expense of the poor. Every Republican candidate in the state immediately should pledge to support and save Prop 13. Tax reform is the Republican brand and it still workseconomically and politically. As to the concerns that the brand of the president more than complicates Republican efforts in this state, the water crisis isnt two years old and might last far beyond this presidency at this rate. Rather than crawl in a hole or attempt to exorcise Trump supporters, Republicans should work with the president to start solving problems where they can. It is also true that Republicans need to address the Democrat advantages in fundraising, political technology, and volunteers/get out the vote efforts. They also have neglected that. In the final analysis, a party does better offering and providing solutions than arguing over labels. The Republican Party exists because the Whig Party failed to provide a path forward to limiting and then ending slavery. The Republican Party can again provide solutions. Ideas work. Its time that California Republicans adopted them and gave voters a reason to vote for them. Thomas Del Beccaro is the author of The Divided Era and former chairman of the California Republican Party. Views expressed in this article are the opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Epoch Times. Arrests in Portland as Patriot Prayer Rally and Counter-Protesters Clash Six people were arrested in Portland, Oregon, on Nov. 17, as conservative Patriot Prayer rallygoers and counter-demonstrators clashed. Police said in a statement that during the days events, they received reports of multiple assaults. Projectiles were thrown at both demonstrators and police officers, they added. Officers observed sticks, glass bottles, lit road flares, bottles filled with a substance believed to be urine, and gopher gas used as projectiles, police said in the statement. Reporting on the days clashes, the Oregonian noted that about 200 people attended a rally downtown to support survivors of sexual assault. In the vicinity, Patriot Prayer member Haley Adams had organized a Him Too rally, in apparent reference and contrast to the #MeToo movement. The Him Too event drew about 40 participants. Adams said the gathering was to support men falsely accused of sexual assault, according to The Oregonian. Some guest speakers also reportedly made speeches that invoked the notion of freedom and a war on men. Police said their objective was to keep the known animosity between conservative Patriot Prayer demonstrators and counter-protesters from descending into violence. You may have heard there will be protests in downtown Portland today. (Shocking, I know!) Ill be keeping an eye on things for The @Oregonian and threading pertinent info here. Heres what to expect, via @shanedkavanaugh: https://t.co/hDD7KPFkHk 1/ eder campuzano (@edercampuzano) November 17, 2018 The Portland Police Bureau spent considerable time planning for todays demonstration and counter demonstration, said Chief Danielle Outlaw. We used significant resources and attempted to keep opposing groups apart, both when they were in the parks and as they traveled through downtown. Our goal was to keep all people in the community safe. Authorities had closed a section of Chapman Square in order to provide a cushion between the two groups so differing opinions could be voiced, with the potential for violence reduced. But once the Patriot Prayer rally ended, unidentified suspects began throwing bottles and flares, according to The Oregonian, and fights broke out. Police officers in riot gear separated the Patriot Prayer members and black-clad counter-demonstrators. Scuffles continued as Patriot Prayer members headed toward their vehicles, with police announcing a civil disturbance and urging demonstrators to leave the downtown area. The Oregonian reporter Eder Campuzano tweeted from the scene: Its a bit of a cat and mouse game at this point. Patriot Prayer members are holed up in the parking garage at 4th and Taylor. Counter-demonstrators are outside on 4th waiting. Its a bit if a cat and mouse game at this point. Patriot Prayer members are holed up in the parking garage at 4th and Taylor. Counter-demonstrators are outside on 4th waiting. pic.twitter.com/xnzVq5LnWm eder campuzano (@edercampuzano) November 18, 2018 Officers continued to separate Patriot Prayer group members from black-clad counter-demonstrators. Police have begun blocking stairwells up the parking structure, Campuzano wrote, arguing with counterdemonstrators and some independent media who try to go up. Several dozen counter-protesters at one point tried to confront rally organizer Adams, Patriot Prayer founder Joey Gibson, and Tusitala Tiny Toese. A purple-haired counter-protester later identified as Hannah McClintock, arrested on charges of harassment, can be seen in the video visibly upset. Crazy Liberal SJW (Hannah R McClintock) Screams at Trump Supporter (Tusitala Tiny Toese) in Portland. She has now been arrested (Portland, Oregon, November 17, 2018)#LiberalismIsAMentalDisorder pic.twitter.com/ISG5PfvQjn PolishPatriot (@PolishPatriotTM) November 18, 2018 Police announced that they used rubber ball grenades and stinger grenades in response to the violent and assaultive behavior of the crowd and after the crowd failed to disperse in response to police orders. The six people arrested are: Ruben A. Delahuerga, 25, on a charge of interfering with a peace officer. Betsy Toll, 68, on a charge of interfering with a peace officer. Elizabeth L Cheek, 33, on a charge of interfering with a peace officer. Brittany N. Frost, 35, on a charge of interfering with a peace officer. Gary Fresquez, 52, on charges of second-degree disorderly conduct in the second degree and two counts of interfering with a peace officer. Hannah R McClintock, 19, on a charge of harassment. Investigators said they would be conducting follow-ups that may lead to further arrests. Recommended Video: The Origins of Antifa Chapter Fifteen: The Communist Roots of Terrorism (UPDATED) The specter of communism did not disappear with the disintegration of the Communist Party in Eastern Europe The Epoch Times here serializes an adaptation from the Chinese of a new book, How the Specter of Communism Is Ruling Our World, by the editorial team of the Nine Commentaries on the Communist Party. Listen to the audiobook: Table of Contents Terrorism and Communist Revolution How Communist Regimes Export Terror The Communist Origins of Islamic Extremism a. Sayyid Qutb: The Marx of Islamic Extremism b. The Leninist Vanguard of Jihad c. The Communist Core of Islamic Extremism d. Qutb and the Rise of Terrorism e. How Communism Has Victimized Ordinary Muslims The Chinese Communist Partys Support of Terrorism a. The CCPs Support of Yasser Arafats Terrorist Activities b. The CCPs Ties to Al-Qaeda The Convergence of Terrorism and the Wests Radical Left Ending the Fundamental Cause of Terrorism References *** 1. Terrorism and Communist Revolution Since the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, the Western public has become familiar with the global terrorist movement and its representatives. Less well-known, however, is the close relationship between terrorism and communism. Communist ideology is rooted in hatred and struggle. It regards all aspects of the old society, including its laws and morality, as the vestiges of an oppressive ruling class to be overthrown by any means necessary. Thus, the communist movement has made terrorism an important tool in its pursuit of power and in spreading its ideology around the world. The terms terrorism and terrorist were first recorded in 1795 as a reference to the Reign of Terror during the French Revolution, which laid the foundation for the communist movement (see Chapter Two). [1] Vladimir Lenin relied on terrorism to bring the communists to victory in Russia. Marxist theorist Karl Kautsky, in his 1919 book Terrorism and Communism, gave a comprehensive overview of what would come to pass under the proletarian dictatorship that Lenin sought to establish. Reflecting on the violence of the French Revolution, Kautsky argued that Lenins Bolsheviks had inherited the terrorist character of the Jacobins. [2] Felix Dzerzhinsky, head of Lenins Cheka secret police, said in 1918, We stand for organizing terror this frankly should be admitted. [3] The Cheka, short for All-Russian Extraordinary Commission, was active during the Russian Civil War, when the Bolsheviks competed with both the anti-communist White armies and rival socialist factions. It employed kidnappings, torture, assassination, and the summary execution of class enemies on a large scale as part of Lenins repressions, which became known as the Red Terror. The Cheka sought to inflict maximum fear and pain on the enemies of the Bolsheviks. According to records and eyewitness accounts collected in The Red Terror in Russia, written in 1924 by Russian emigrant historian Sergei Melgunov, many of the Chekas victims were selected because they were property owners or nobility. They would be paraded out of their homes at night, forced to disrobe, and then shot. The bodies of those murdered by the Cheka, including women, children, the elderly, and the clergy, often bore evidence of sadistic abuse mutilation, burning, skinning, rape, decapitation, or even more hair-raising acts. According to Melgunov, while the Cheka boasted about its slaughter, the number of names published was a good deal smaller than the reality. [4] During the Red Terror, the Cheka alone is believed to have been responsible for the murder of tens of thousands or even hundreds of thousands of people. The Soviet communist regime regarded Dzerzhinsky as a revolutionary hero. The Cheka was renamed many times before finally becoming the Committee for State Security (KGB), but its agents were always informally known as chekists. From Dzerzhinskys death in 1926 to 1990, the square in front of Lubyanka the headquarters of the KGB bore his name. In the 1940s, a statue of him was erected in the square, where it stood until it was torn down in 1991. [5] Following the establishment of the Soviet regime, communist revolutionary movements around the world repeated the same pattern of red terror. As discussed in previous chapters of this book, Marxist-Leninist regimes have, without exception, relied on terrifying brutality to seize and maintain power. Violence and murder are but one component of communisms terrorist agenda. Even more destructive is how communism uses political and religious fervor to indoctrinate people with Communist Party culture, planting the seeds of deceit, hatred, and violence to be passed from generation to generation. Today, terrorism comes primarily in three forms: state terrorism under communist regimes; terrorist activity carried out abroad by agents of communist regimes with the aim of spreading violent revolution; and fundamentalist Islamic extremism, which in fact owes much of its ideology and methods to communism. 2. How Communist Regimes Export Terror While inflicting mass terror and suffering upon their own people, communist regimes support terrorist organizations abroad for the purpose of fomenting revolution or destabilizing rival states. During the Cold War, the Soviets actively supported a wide range of terrorist activities on a global scale. The Chinese communist regime also has supported terrorist insurrections abroad, spreading Maoist theories of revolution and crafting alliances with terrorist organizations, as well as rogue regimes that are major sponsors of terrorism. Stanislav Lunev, a former officer in the Soviet militarys Main Intelligence Directorate who defected to the West, said that the directorate was a primary mentor for terrorists around the world. [6] Many extremist groups that have staged anti-US attacks had ties with the Soviet security agency, the KGB. These include organizations like the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP), the Japanese Red Army, the Red Brigades of Italy, the Red Army Faction in West Germany, or various guerrilla groups in South America. The most influential form of modern terrorism, however, is the radical Islam nurtured by the Soviet bloc as a means of destabilizing the Muslim world. In the first half of the twentieth century, the Middle East belonged to the Western colonial sphere. As peoples in the region gained independence, the Soviet Union took the opportunity to boost its influence among them. Today, the Middle East finds itself in a complex and chaotic situation resulting from the contradictions between Muslim denominations, the ArabIsraeli conflict, the Cold War, the politics surrounding oil, and the clash of cultures between the West and Islam. As mentioned in Chapter Five, Ion Mihai Pacepa, the former lieutenant general and acting chief of communist Romanias foreign intelligence service, became the highest-ranking defector from the Soviet bloc when he escaped to the United States in July 1978. In his article Russian Footprints, Pacepa revealed substantial knowledge about communist support for terrorism in the Middle East. [7] He quoted Aleksandr Sakharovsky, the head of Soviet foreign intelligence, as saying, In todays world, when nuclear arms have made military force obsolete, terrorism should become our main weapon. Eighty-two aircraft hijackings were carried out in 1969 alone. Many of them were the work of the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO), which was supported by the Soviet Union and the Chinese Communist Party. Pacepa recalled that when he visited Sakharovskys office, he saw a sea of red flags dotting a world map. Each flag represented an aircraft hijacking. Sakharovsky told Pacepa that the tactic of hijacking was his own invention. The concept of Islamic socialism began to take hold during the Cold War, when the Soviet Union supported Arab states against Israel. Representatives included Yasser Arafat, who led the PLO from 1969 until his death in 2004, and Gamal Abdel Nasser, who served as Egypts second president from 1956 until his death in 1970. The PLO engaged in widespread terrorist activities with Soviet and Chinese communist support. Between 1968 and 1978, the Romanian security forces made weekly air deliveries of military supplies to Palestinian terrorists in Lebanon. Archives from the East German government show that in 1983, the East German foreign intelligence agency sent $1,877,600 worth of ammunition for Kalashnikov assault rifles to Lebanon. Czechoslovakia provided Islamic terrorists with 1,000 tons of Semtex-H, an odorless plastic explosive. In the early 1970s, Yuri Andropov, then-head of the KGB and later general secretary of the Soviet Communist Party, began a covert, meticulously planned propaganda campaign to sow the seeds of anti-Semitic and anti-American hate throughout the Arab and Islamic world. Pacepa and coauthor Ronald Rychlak, in their book Disinformation, called Andropov the father of a new disinformation era. [8] 3. The Communist Origins of Islamic Extremism While the Soviets and Chinese communists funded many terrorist organizations in the Middle East, actually introducing communism in areas with deeply held religious beliefs proved a steep challenge. The Soviet Unions efforts to directly export socialist revolution to the Muslim world met with mixed and often temporary results. While there were multiple Soviet-aligned states in the Middle East, only South Yemen and Afghanistan were under communist rule for varying lengths of time during the Cold War. In 1979, the Soviet Union launched an invasion of Afghanistan and occupied the country for ten years in an attempt to prop up the communist regime it had recently helped rise to power. In 1989, the Soviets gave up and withdrew from the country. However, while communism itself failed to establish control over the Muslim world, it did much to influence the creation and development of contemporary Islamic extremism. Following the 9/11 attacks, the threat of Islamic extremism gained prominence, with the actions of Osama bin Laden and his al-Qaeda terrorist group becoming front-page news. But the ideological source of bin Ladens Islamic extremism can be traced back to a man who has been described as the Karl Marx of radical Islam. [9] a. Sayyid Qutb: The Marx of Islamic Extremism At first glance, it may seem far-fetched to suggest a relationship between radical Islam and communism, given that Muslims believe in Allah and the prophet Mohammed, while communism is atheistic and aims to eradicate faith in religions. In fact, the theory and methods of modern Islamic extremism are closely linked to Marxism-Leninism. The pioneer of radical Islam and modern jihad was Sayyid Qutb, an Egyptian liaison for the local Muslim Brotherhood to the Communist International and the Egyptian communist party. [10][11] Qutbs ideas were steeped in communist logic and rhetoric. Born in 1906, Qutb studied socialism and literature in the 1920s and 1930s. He studied abroad in the United States for two years in the late 1940s and joined the Muslim Brotherhood after his return to Egypt. [12] Qutbism can be described as the pursuit of violence to destroy the old society dominated by jahiliyyah. As a religious term, jahiliyyah means ignorance of religious truth, and it originally referred to society before the spread of Islam. Qutb called upon Muslims to lay down their lives in the struggle against jahiliyyah, which would supposedly usher in humanitys liberation. To articulate his ideas on this struggle, Qutb reinterpreted both the meaning of jahiliyyah and the Islamic concept of jihad. Upon mention of jihad, many immediately think of holy war, but in Arabic, jihad simply means to struggle or to fight. In mainstream Islam, it can be taken to mean internal conflict (self-perfection) or defensive jihad. [13] Qutb, however, extended this definition to include proactive and unbridled use of violence in the holy war of jihad and laid out its theoretical foundations. [14] Qutbs philosophy held that any social system that abided by secular laws or ethics was an anti-Islamic jahiliyyah. He saw jahiliyyah as the greatest obstruction for both Muslims and non-Muslims, preventing them from fulfilling Islamic values and law. Even a society that claimed itself Muslim could still be jahiliyyah. Qutb considered the Egyptian social system in which he lived to be one in which jahiliyyah was dominant, so he believed it must be overthrown. [15] This interpretation of jihad and jahiliyyah mirrors the Marxist philosophy of struggle along class lines. Qutb claimed that the old society of jahiliyyah had been forced on people and, in the process, had robbed them of their freedom. These enslaved people analogous to the working class in Marxism had the right to wage jihad to overthrow the oppression of jahiliyyah. Qutb advocated jihad as the means of liberation for all mankind, Muslim as well as non-Muslim. [16] When Qutbs writings were published, many mainstream Muslim leaders thought he had gone too far and condemned his ideas as heresy. [17] Qutb had long had contact with Nasser, leader of the socialist-leaning Free Officers Movement and later the long-serving president of Egypt. In 1952, Nasser launched a military coup overthrowing the Muhammad Ali dynasty, Egypts pro-Western monarchy. This socialist-revolutionary coup was said to have been planned by Qutb and the Muslim Brotherhood together with Nasser. However, while Qutb hoped Nasser would establish an Islamic regime, Nasser instead took the path of secularization and in 1954 began suppressing the Brotherhood. Qutb and the Brotherhood prepared to assassinate Nasser, but the plot failed, and Qutb was imprisoned. He was severely tortured during his first few years in prison, but as conditions relaxed, he was allowed to write. Qutb wrote his two most important works In the Shade of the Quran and Milestones while incarcerated. These two books, covering his views on the Quran, Islamic history, Egypt, and Western society, laid out in full his advocacy of anti-secular, anti-Western extremism. At one point, Qutb was released from prison, but stayed in Egypt and was jailed again. In 1966, he was convicted and hanged for his involvement in the conspiracy to assassinate Nasser. Qutb walked proudly up to the gallows and toward becoming a religious martyr. Ayman al-Zawahiri, the leader of al-Qaeda following the death of bin Laden, believed Qutbs execution was what ignited the fire of jihadi extremism. [18] Islamic extremists often cite Qutbs teachings and regard themselves as his intellectual descendants, as observed by West Point counter-terrorism expert William McCants. [19] Middle East expert Hassan Hassan, in a 2016 report on the ISIS terrorist group, quoted a saying popular among ISIS supporters about the origins of the terrorist groups essential doctrine: The Islamic State was drafted by Sayyid Qutb, taught by Abdullah Azzam, [and] globalized by Osama bin Laden. [20] b. The Leninist Vanguard of Jihad Another Marxist concept Qutb borrowed was that of false consciousness, which refers to the ordinary masses acceptance of the rulers ideals and culture. The concept holds that this prevents the masses from perceiving their own oppression and overthrowing capitalism in favor of socialism. According to Qutb, those living under jahiliyyah dont realize that they are slaves, which is why they do not engage in jihad to emancipate themselves. [21] One of Lenins major works is a pamphlet titled Chto Delat? (or in English, What Is to Be Done?) in which he argues that the working class will not become conscious of the need for communism unless led to it by an elite group of revolutionaries. Faced with the same question in his crusade against jahiliyyah, Qutb looked to Lenin for his answer. Qutbs writings are replete with vocabulary familiar to students of Marxism-Leninism, such as vanguard, state, revolution, and the like. The situation and challenges Lenin faced at the time of writing the pamphlet mirror the circumstances faced by Qutb as he formulated his own radical ideology. Lenin placed all hope for a successful revolution on a proletarian vanguard party a highly disciplined elite organization charged with overseeing the revolution and guiding the masses and derided the notion that communism could succeed if its agents merely operated in society at large. Qutb copied this theory and replaced the Leninist political party with Islamic extremist organizations. Lenin, in his emphasis on the organization and the vanguard concept, identified a clear distinction between spontaneity and consciousness, and introduced the idea of party-building. According to Lenin, with only spontaneous action, workers can only make superficial demands, such as pay raises and eight-hour work days, as they lack the consciousness needed to liberate humankind. Lenin believed that external vanguards (usually comprising bourgeois intellectuals, who have the privilege of education) are needed to incite and indoctrinate the workers so that they come to believe that revolution is their only way out and that only by liberating all of humankind can they themselves be liberated. In order to fully realize the vanguard, a tightly knit political party is needed to arrange their activities and provide them with opportunities for underground work as professional revolutionaries. [22] Glenn E. Robinson, an associate professor at the Naval Postgraduate School in Monterey, California, and a research fellow at the Center for Middle Eastern Studies at the University of CaliforniaBerkeley, said of radical Islam: Modern jihadism is distinctively Leninist. Although for obvious reasons jihadi ideologues do not cite Lenin as an inspiration, their concepts and logic, especially Sayyid Qutbs, betray this influence. Having been educated in Egypt in the 1940s, Qutb would certainly have been exposed to Lenins writings. Two key concepts from Qutb come straight from Lenin: jamaa (vanguard) and manhaj (program). Lenins insistence on the centrality of the vanguards having a detailed and coherent program for undertaking and then consolidating the revolution was likewise echoed, with an Islamic tone, in Qutbs writings. Drawing from the essence of Leninism, Qutb advocated for the organization of a Muslim version of the Leninist vanguard party. Qutb made precisely the same argument for the Muslim world, Robinson wrote. The vast majority of Muslims were too caught up in and corrupted by the system of unjust and anti-Islamic rule to know how and when to take up arms against the state. A dedicated vanguard of jihadi cadres was needed to organize direct action against the state. [23] This vanguard, which consists of extremists, or what Qutb called true Muslims, has the revolutionary mission of liberating all Muslims and the whole of human civilization. The vanguard must strike hard against false Muslims, follow Islamic ideology as determined by Qutbs interpretation, establish a new nation based on this Islamism, and use violence to impose Islam on the rest of the world. In addition to the Leninist vanguard, Qutbs theory also includes utopian ideas like social equality and the elimination of classes. [24] Such points echo the stated aims of communism. After Qutbs death, his younger brother Muhammad Qutb continued to publish his writings. The book Maarakat ul-Islam war-Rasamaaliyyah, published in 1993, again highlights Qutbs communist inspirations. Qutb blatantly states that Islam is a unique, constructive, and positivist aqidah [creed], which has been moulded and shaped from Christianity and communism together, [with a] blending in the most perfect of ways and which comprises all of their (i.e., Christianitys and Communisms) objectives and adds in addition to them harmony, balance and justice. [25] c. The Communist Core of Islamic Extremism Class struggle is another Marxist idea central to Islamic extremism. Marx spent his whole life trying to work up conflict between the proletariat and the bourgeoisie to the point of no return so as to then solve the conflict through revolution. Islamic extremists operate in much the same way. Destroying the World Trade Center in Manhattan did not in itself do anything to help realize the united Muslim world that Qutb envisioned, but it served as a means of escalating the conflict between the Western and Muslim worlds. Terrorist attacks were meant to incite backlash in the West against Muslims, which would, in turn, incite Muslims to carry out more attacks. [26] The extremists methods mirror Marxs and Lenins promotion of conflicts between the proletariat and the bourgeoisie in order to create the conditions needed for launching revolution. Qutbs theories bear a far greater resemblance to communism than to traditional Islam. While the Islamic extremists profess to have a religious opposition to communism, they in fact absorbed the pure essentials of communist revolutionary doctrine. As journalist Chuck Morse has noted: The real enemy confronting the free world remains Communism. [R]adical Islam is nothing more than Communism cloaked in the traditional garments of Islam. The same Communist enemy that subverted Europe took root in the Islamic world and transformed large segments of the Islamic elite. [27] Finnish political historian Antero Leitzinger believes that modern terrorism was born around 1967, developing in concert with the international communist movement. As radical student movements ran amok in the 1960s, students from Muslim countries who studied in the West were connected to leftist thought and brought concepts such as violent revolution back home with them. [28] In 1974, Abdallah Schleifer, a Muslim convert who later became a professor in media studies at the American University in Cairo, met Zawahiri, the future leader of al-Qaeda. Zawahiri, who was studying medicine at Cairo University at the time, boasted that Islamic extremist groups had recruited many members from elite institutions such as medical and engineering schools. Schleifer said that these institutions had high concentrations of young Marxists during the 1960s, and that radical Islam was simply a new trend in student rebellion. Schleifer told Zawahiri: Listen, Ayman, Im an ex-Marxist. When you talk, I feel like Im back in the Party. I dont feel as if Im with a traditional Muslim. [29] Curiously, many observers associate Islamic extremism with fascism (Islamofascism) and, for various reasons, fail to mention its communist origins. Fascism is a form of national socialism, and socialism is the first stage of communism, as Lenin and others have said. Communism is international in scope, aiming for communist revolutions around the world. When considering Islamic extremism in terms of its overall approach and doctrine, it becomes apparent that it has more in common with communism. d. Qutb and the Rise of Terrorism Qutbs writings influenced many young Arabs, including Palestinian scholar and co-founder of al-Qaeda Abdullah Yusuf Azzam. [30] The 9/11 Commission Report both referred to Azzam as a disciple of Qutb and outlined Qutbs influence on bin Ladens worldview. [31] Qutbs brother Muhammad became a professor of Islamic studies in Saudi Arabia, and he was responsible for editing, publishing, and promoting the late Qutbs theories. Bin Laden regularly attended Muhammads weekly public lectures and read Qutbs books. Zawahiri said that when he was a youth, he repeatedly heard from his uncle about how great Qutb was and how he had suffered in prison. [32] In 1966, the year that Qutb was hanged, a fifteen-year-old Zawahiri helped form an underground cell that aimed to overthrow the government and create an Islamist state. Zawahiri wrote in his memoir: The Nasserite regime thought that the Islamic movement received a deadly blow with the execution of Sayyid Qutb and his comrades. But the apparent surface calm concealed an immediate interaction with Sayyid Qutbs ideas and the formation of the nucleus of the modern Islamic jihad movement in Egypt. [33] Later, Zawahiri joined the Egyptian Islamic Jihad group, formed in the 1970s, and became bin Ladens adviser, as well as an important member of al-Qaeda, eventually taking over the leadership after bin Ladens death. In the Sunni Muslim world, Qutb is the most prominent radical thinker. [34] Virtually all the major concepts and ideological innovations of the Sunni jihadi groups can be found in his works. [35] Although the various jihadi groups may differ in form, they all use violence to realize their political aims under the banner of Islam. [36] Terrorist acts like the 1981 assassination of Egyptian President Anwar Sadat by the Egyptian Islamic Jihad, and the attacks by Egyptian terrorist group al-Gamma al-Islamiyah against government officials, secular intellectuals, Egyptian Christians, and tourists in the 1990s, were all steps on the road to bring about Qutbs vision. [37] The radical jihadi groups that pursue Qutbs ideology are categorized as Salafi-jihadi terrorists. In 2013, there were nearly fifty Salafi-jihadi groups worldwide, with most based in North Africa and the Levant, according to a report by the US-based Rand Corporation. [38] Robert Manne, author of the book The Mind of the Islamic State: ISIS and the Ideology of the Caliphate, called Qutb the twentieth-century father of the political movement now called Salafi jihadism and a forerunner of the ISIS terrorist group, adding that while Qutb was not directly responsible for ISIS, he posted the first milestone on the road that would eventually lead there. [39] Among the various extremist Islamic organizations in existence, although they lack a unified vision and are given to ideological infighting, there is one trait common to the overwhelming majority of them: They have essentially inherited Qutbs aggressive form of jihad communist revolution in a different form. e. How Communism Has Victimized Ordinary Muslims Despite that extremist groups operate in the name of Islam, the biggest casualty is Muslim society. This is because the true motivation behind terrorism like that of communism is a desire for killing and destruction, whatever the superficial excuses. The 2017 report Islam and the Patterns in Terrorism and Violent Extremism, published by the Center for Strategic and International Studies, states that almost all of the human impact of extremist attacks is Muslims killing or injuring fellow Muslims. According to the report, a total of 83% of the [Islamic extremist] attacks and 90% of the deaths occurred in solidly Islamic countries, as did the vast majority of suicide attacks carried out on foot or using vehicles. If one looks at the five worst perpetrator movements in the world in 2016, four are Islamist extremist. A total of 88% of 2,916 attacks and 99% of 14,017 deaths that resulted from the top five perpetrators were caused by Islamic extremist groups. [40] The State Departments Country Reports on Terrorism 2018 records a total of 8,093 terrorist attacks that occurred in the world that year, causing 32,836 total deaths. Attacks were overwhelmingly likely to take place in Muslim-majority countries and areas: In 2018, terrorist incidents occurred in 84 countries and territories. About 85 percent of all incidents were concentrated in three geographic regions: the Middle East, South Asia, and sub-Saharan Africa. In order, Afghanistan, Syria, Iraq, India, Nigeria, Somalia, Philippines, Pakistan, Yemen, and Cameroon experienced the greatest number of terrorist incidents in 2018. Incidents in these 10 countries accounted for 71 percent of the overall total number of incidents and 81 percent of all fatalities from terrorist incidents. [41] By contrast, terrorist attacks in Western countries resulted in far fewer deaths. A 2019 report by the Cato Institute stated that foreign-born terrorists in the United States caused 3,037 of the 3,518 murders caused by terrorists in the United States from 1975 through 2017. This number includes the 2,979 people killed by the hijackers who carried out the 9/11 attacks. [42] 4. The Chinese Communist Partys Support of Terrorism The CCP has long supported terrorist activities abroad, including those of Palestinian terrorist leader Arafat. One of the first to apply the tactic of hijacking commercial airliners, Arafat targeted US forces and later became an inspiration for bin Laden. a. The CCPs Support of Yasser Arafats Terrorist Activities In 1959, Arafat started the Palestinian National Liberation Movement, also known as Fatah, and in 1988, he declared Palestine an independent state. Until his death in 2004, Arafat was the leading figure of various Palestinian militant organizations. He was also a favorite of the CCP, having visited China fourteen times and met with many Chinese communist leaders, including Mao Zedong, Zhou Enlai, Deng Xiaoping, and Jiang Zemin. In 1964, Arafat established al-Asifah (The Storm), the military wing of Fatah, after which he immediately went to Beijing to meet with Chinese Premier Zhou Enlai. Zhou reminded Arafat to pay attention to strategy and not to use counterproductive slogans such as those calling for the complete destruction of Israel. [43] In addition to providing weapons and financial support, Beijing often guided Palestine on how to wage conflict with the United States and Israel while expanding its influence internationally. The CCP also invited Palestinians to receive training in China. In January 1965, Arafat declared war on Israel in north Palestine using his guerrilla organization, and the PLO set up an office in Beijing that May. The Peoples Republic of China (PRC) afforded the PLO office diplomatic treatment and openly supported the PLO in various international arenas. In November 1988, when Arafat announced the independence of the Palestinian state, Beijing immediately acknowledged it and established diplomatic relations. Arafat and then-CCP General Secretary Jiang Zemin visited each other in 2000 and 2001, at a time when large-scale bloody conflicts broke out between Israel and Palestinian groups. Israel repeatedly condemned Arafat for his role in the violence. With the CCPs support, Arafat was able to contend with the United States and Israel while further destabilizing the Middle East. The PLOs member organizations were involved in various open and underground militant terrorist activities. They claimed that violent revolution was the only way to liberate the country. Arafat was very close to the leadership in communist countries and met with members of the Socialist International. Fatah was an observer in the Party of European Socialists. In 1970, the PLO carried out an assassination attempt on Jordans King Hussein bin Talal and a failed coup of the Jordanian government. In September of that year, the PLO hijacked five commercial planes four bound for New York and one for London in what is known as the Dawsons Field hijackings. One terrorist claimed that hijacking a plane had a greater effect than killing a hundred Israelis in battle. In 1972, the terrorist group Black September, a militant faction of Fatah, massacred eleven Israeli athletes during the Olympic Games in Munich. One of the terrorists was Ali Hassan Salameh, security chief of Fatah and one of Arafats most trusted lieutenants. In addition to the Israelis killed in the attack, a West German police officer also died. [44] The United States and Israel named Arafat as the instigator behind a number of terrorist attacks in the Middle East. In 1987, the White House designated the PLO as a terrorist organization and closed the PLOs information office in Washington. b. The CCPs Ties to Al-Qaeda For the vast majority of people around the world, the 9/11 attacks were a shocking tragedy. But in mainland China, from internet forums and chat rooms to university cafeterias, large numbers of people rooted for the terrorists, making comments such as Good job! and We strongly support the acts of justice against the United States. In a survey of 91,701 people on NetEase, a major Chinese internet company, only 17.8 percent of respondents expressed strong opposition to the terrorist attacks, while a majority of people chose opposition to the United States or the best is yet to come as their responses to the tragedy. [45] The Chinese who cheered about 9/11 had no relation to bin Laden or radical Muslims in terms of ethnicity, religion, or heritage, but the roots of their toxic thinking were the same. Like the Islamic extremists in their holy war waged against both the non-Islamic world and false Muslims said to be deluded by jahiliyyah, the CCP has spent seventy years poisoning the Chinese people with hatred of class enemies and indoctrinating them with twisted Communist Party culture. For the CCP, the commonalities of Islamic extremism and communism go beyond mere ideological overlap. The CCP maintained close ties with the Taliban and al-Qaeda after the Taliban seized power in Afghanistan, as well as during the time the Taliban provided protection for bin Laden. In 1998, after the United States attacked al-Qaeda bases with cruise missiles, the Chinese regime allegedly paid bin Laden $10 million for any unexploded missiles, presumably to steal the technology. [46] [47] At the same time, the CCP continued to provide sensitive military technology to state sponsors of terrorism. At the end of 2000, the UN Security Council proposed sanctions on the Taliban to force it to close bin Ladens terrorist training camps located on its territory, but the PRC abstained from the vote. Instead, it sent military personnel to support the Taliban immediately after the United States began airstrikes in Afghanistan. After 9/11, American intelligence officials reported that ZTE and Huawei, two major Chinese tech companies with links to the Peoples Liberation Army, were helping the Taliban military establish a telephone network in Kabul, the capital of Afghanistan. [48] On the day of the 9/11 attacks, Chinese and Taliban officials signed a contract to expand economic and technical cooperation. [49] In their 1999 book Unrestricted Warfare, two Chinese military officers discussed a hypothetical second attack on the World Trade Center in New York, following the 1993 failed bombing attempt, noting that it would open up a complicated dilemma for the United States. The authors also named al-Qaeda as an organization with the ability to carry out such an operation. [50] Whether or not the CCP had knowledge of 9/11 before it happened, the regimes concept of unrestricted warfare provided theoretical guidance for bin Ladens future operations. Additionally, in 2004, it was revealed that Chinese intelligence agencies had used shell companies in financial markets around the world to help bin Laden raise funds and launder money. [51] The communist camp faced total collapse with the fall of the Berlin Wall, and the CCP was left to face tremendous pressure from the free world on its own. Just as the United States and the free world began to focus their attention on condemning communist tyranny, 9/11 took place. Priorities changed dramatically, and the War on Terror began instead. This gave the CCP a reprieve and allowed communism to expand once again. The menace of radical Islamic terrorism compelled the United States to divert its resources and attention away from the continued threat of communism, preventing the free world from confronting the unprecedented abuses of the CCP. While the Western world waged war in the Middle East, a large-scale transfer of wealth quietly took place between China and the United States, allowing another communist superpower to rise where the Soviet Union had fallen. 5. The Convergence of Terrorism and the Wests Radical Left After 9/11, radical Western leftist intellectuals cheered the event and defended the perpetrators. Days after the attacks, an Italian playwright and Nobel laureate in literature said, The great speculators wallow in an economy that every year kills tens of millions of people with poverty so what is 20,000 dead in New York? [52] A professor at the University of ColoradoBoulder characterized those who had died in the World Trade Center as little Eichmanns (referring to one of the architects of the Nazi Holocaust), saying the victims were part of the technocratic corps at the very heart of Americas global financial empire and implying that the attacks were a just punishment. [53] On February 11, 2003, a month before the United States attacked Iraq, bin Laden released an audio recording through Al-Jazeera Television, saying that there [would] be no harm if the interests of Muslims converge with the interests of the socialists in the fight against the crusaders, and calling on people to fight against the US military in the streets. [54] Hoping to prevent the United States from carrying out military operations in Afghanistan and Iraq, and later to hamper its efforts in the War on Terror, various radical left-wing forces launched a large-scale anti-war protest movement. Most members of the prominent anti-war organization ANSWER (Act Now to Stop War and End Racism), founded in 2001, are socialists, communists, and leftists or progressives. Many of its founders had ties with the International Action Center and the Workers World Party, a communist radical organization aligned with the North Korean regime. ANSWER is thus a front-line force aligned with Stalinist communism. Also participating in the anti-war movement was Not in Our Name, a front organization of the Revolutionary Communist Party, which is a Marxist-Leninist party linked to the Chinese communist regime. [55] In his 2004 book Unholy Alliance: Radical Islam and the American Left, American scholar David Horowitz described the nefarious connection between radical leftists and Islamic extremists. According to his analysis, the radical Left around the world has served to indirectly defend Islamic jihadis. [56] During a meeting with Hezbollah officials, a prominent leftist professor said that the United States was one of the leading terrorist states. [57] An assistant professor of anthropology at Columbia University told a crowd of about 3,000 students that he personally would like to see a million Mogadishus, referring to the 1993 Battle of Mogadishu, in which alleged al-Qaeda-trained fighters killed eighteen US Special Forces soldiers. The professor also expressed hope that American soldiers would kill each other. [58] Some left-wing figures have aided terrorists directly. In 1995, Omar Abdel-Rahman was convicted for conspiring to carry out the 1993 World Trade Center bombing. One of his defense lawyers, Lynne Stewart, was sentenced to prison in 2006 for helping to smuggle messages from Abdel-Rahman to his followers in the Middle East that told them to continue their terrorist activities. Stewart became a political idol for the Left and was repeatedly invited to give lectures on college campuses. [59] Standing with terrorists against Western democratic society is part of the radical Lefts long march to destroy and take over Western society from within. The Left is willing to use any method that helps it achieve this goal. At a deeper level, though Western leftist ideology has no superficial relationship with Islamic extremism, their common roots lie in the hatred and struggle of the communist specter. 6. Ending the Fundamental Cause of Terrorism From the Paris Commune and Lenins institutionalization of violence to the CCPs state-sponsored persecutions, communism has always used terrorism to achieve its aims. Terrorists use violence to throw society into disorder, and use fear to bring people under their control. They violate the moral values held universally across humanity in order to achieve their ends. The roots of communism can be seen in the core ideas and methods of modern terrorist groups, as it is communist ideology that provides a theoretical framework for their evil agendas. Moreover, beyond the territories directly controlled by communist regimes, communism has manipulated a variety of groups and individuals to carry out terrorist acts, sowing chaos around the world and throwing up a diversionary smokescreen to confuse and misdirect its enemies. Radical Islamic terrorism has taken the spotlight in international conflict since the end of the Cold War. However, as the United States and its allies became embroiled in costly and protracted military campaigns in the Middle East, the Chinese communist regime quietly worked to become a superpower capable of challenging the free world. The chaos that prevailed in the Middle East and elsewhere distracted Western governments and the public from the resurgent threat of communism, as well as the unprecedented crimes against humanity being committed by the CCP despite its having greater economic and cultural ties with the West. Founded on hatred and struggle, communism is the fundamental cause of terrorism around the world. While the media focuses its attention on terrorist attacks that target Western society, the vast majority of those killed by Islamic extremists are ordinary Muslims living in Islamic countries. Similarly, the more than 100 million deaths caused by communism were nearly all of victims living under communist regimes. Until the toxic roots of communism are dug out, humankind will not enjoy a single day of peace. Only by recognizing the role of communism in the terrorist activities that plague our world, and by standing on the side of traditional moral values and faith, can this menace be defeated and the global war on terror be brought to an end. Read Next: Chapter Sixteen Updated March 21, 2020. Read the series here: How the Specter of Communism Is Ruling Our World References 1. Brian Whitaker, The Definition of Terrorism, The Guardian, May 7, 2001, https://www.theguardian.com/world/2001/may/07/terrorism. 2. Karl Kautsky, Terrorism and Communism: A Contribution to the Natural History of Revolution, trans. W. H. Kerridge (Manchester, United Kingdom: The National Labour Press Ltd., 1919), Marxists Internet Archive, accessed on May 5, 2020, https://www.marxists.org/archive/kautsky/1919/terrcomm/index.htm. 3. Felix Dzerzhinsky, as quoted in Michael Foley, Russian Civil War: Red Terror, White Terror, 19171922 (United Kingdom: Pen & Sword Books, 2018). 4. Sergei Melgunov, The Red Terror in Russia (United Kingdom: Hyperion Press, 1975), chap. 3. 5. Deborah Seward, Statue of Soviet Intelligence Chief Pulled Down, The Associated Press, August 22, 1991, https://apnews.com/863f51d5087d19bee14a280626730385. 6. Stanislav Lunev, Through the Eyes of the Enemy: The Autobiography of Stanislav Lunev (Washington, DC: Regnery Publishing, Inc., 1998), 80. 7. Ion Mihai Pacepa, Russian Footprints, National Review, August 24, 2006, https://www.nationalreview.com/2006/08/russian-footprints-ion-mihai-pacepa. 8. Ion Mihai Pacepa and Ronald Rychlak, Disinformation: Former Spy Chief Reveals Secret Strategies for Undermining Freedom, Attacking Religion, and Promoting Terrorism (Washington, DC: WND Books, 2013), 259266. 9. Paul Berman, The Philosopher of Islamic Terror, New York Times Magazine, March 23, 2003, https://www.nytimes.com/2003/03/23/magazine/the-philosopher-of-islamic-terror.html. 10. Raymond Ibrahim, Ayman Zawahiri and Egypt: A Trip Through Time, The Investigative Project on Terrorism, November 30, 2012, https://www.investigativeproject.org/3831/ayman-zawahiri-and-egypt-a-trip-through-time. 11. Robert R. Reilly, The Roots of Islamist Ideology, Centre for Research Into Post-Communist Economies, February 2006, 4. 12. Berman, The Philosopher. 13. Andrew McGregor, Al-Qaedas Egyptian Prophet: Sayyid Qutb and the War on Jahiliya, Terrorism Monitor 1, no. 3 (May 4, 2005), https://jamestown.org/program/al-qaedas-egyptian-prophet-sayyid-qutb-and-the-war-on-jahiliya. 14. A. E. Stahl, Offensive Jihad in Sayyid Qutbs Ideology, International Institute for Counter-Terrorism, March 24, 2011, https://www.ict.org.il/Article/1097/Offensive-Jihad-in-Sayyid-Qutbs-Ideology#gsc.tab=0. 15. McGregor, Al-Qaedas Egyptian Prophet. 16. Stahl, Offensive Jihad. 17. McGregor, Al-Qaedas Egyptian Prophet. 18. Dale Eikmeier, Qutbism: An Ideology of Islamic-Fascism, Parameters, vol. 37, issue 1, http://www.dtic.mil/docs/citations/ADA485995. 19. William McCants, Problems With the Arabic Name Game, Combating Terrorism Center, May, 22, 2006. 20. Hassan Hassan, The Sectarianism of the Islamic State: Ideological Roots and Political Context (Washington DC: Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, June 2016), 26, https://carnegieendowment.org/files/CP_253_Hassan_Islamic_State.pdf. 21. Roxanne L. Euben, Mapping Modernities, Islamic and Western, in Border Crossings: Toward a Comparative Political Theory, ed. Fred Dallmayr (Lanham, MD: Lexington Books, 1999), 20. 22. Vladimir Lenin, What Is to Be Done? in Lenins Selected Works, trans. Joe Fineberg and George Hanna (Moscow: Foreign Languages Publishing House, 1961), vol. 1, 119271, Marxists Internet Archive, accessed on May 5, 2020, https://www.marxists.org/archive/lenin/works/1901/witbd. 23. Glenn E. Robinson, Jihadi Information Strategy: Sources, Opportunities, and Vulnerabilities, in John Arquilla and Douglas A. Borer, eds., Information Strategy and Warfare: A Guide to Theory and Practice (London: Routledge, 2007), 92. 24. McGregor, Al-Qaedas Egyptian Prophet. 25. Abdallah al-Qutbi, as quoted in Impaling Leninist Qutbi Doubts: Shaykh Ibn Jibreen Makes Takfir Upon (Declares as Kufr) the Saying of Sayyid Qutb That Islam Is a Mixture of Communism and Christianity, TheMadKhalis.com, January 2, 2010, http://www.themadkhalis.com/md/articles/bguiq-shaykh-ibn-jibreen-making-takfir-upon-the-saying-of-sayyid-qutb-that-islam-is-a-mixture-of-communism-and-christianity.cfm. 26. Damon Linker, The Marxist Roots of Islamic Extremism, The Week, March 25, 2016, http://theweek.com/articles/614207/marxist-roots-islamic-extremism. 27. Charles Moscowitz, Islamo-Communism: The Communist Connection to Islamic Terrorism (Boston: City Metro Enterprises, 2013). 28. Antero Leitzinger, The Roots of Islamic Terrorism, The Eurasian Politician, no. 5 (March 2002), http://users.jyu.fi/~aphamala/pe/issue5/roots.htm. 29. Lawrence Wright, The Looming Tower: Al-Qaeda and the Road to 9/11 (New York: Knopf Publishing Group, 2006), 42. 30. Dawn Perlmutter, Investigating Religious Terrorism and Ritualistic Crimes (New York: CRC Press, 2003), 104. 31. National Commission on Terrorist Attacks Upon the United States, The 9/11 Commission Report (Washington DC: National Commission on Terrorist Attacks Upon the United States, 2004), 55, https://www.9-11commission.gov/report/911Report.pdf. 32. Wright, The Looming Tower, 3637. 33. Lawrence Wright, The Man Behind Bin Laden: How an Egyptian Doctor Became a Master of Terror, New Yorker, September 16, 2002, https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2002/09/16/the-mn-behind-bin-laden. 34. Glenn E. Robinson, The Four Waves of Global Jihad, 19792017, Middle East Policy 24, no. 3 (Fall 2017): 70, accessed via Research Gate on May 5, 2020, https://www.researchgate.net/publication/319160351_The_Four_Waves_of_Global_Jihad_1979-2017. 35. Robinson, Jihadi Information Strategy, 88. 36. Robinson, The Four Waves of Global Jihad, 85. 37. Anthony Bubalo and Greg Fealy, Between the Global and the Local: Islamism, the Middle East, and Indonesia, The Brookings Project on US Policy Towards the Islamic World, no. 9 (October 2005): 7, https://www.brookings.edu/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/20051101bubalo_fealy.pdf. 38. Seth G. Jones, A Persistent Threat: The Evolution of al Qaida and Other Salafi Jihadists (Santa Monica, CA: RAND Corporation, 2014), 6465, https://www.rand.org/content/dam/rand/pubs/research_reports/RR600/RR637/RAND_RR637.pdf. 39. Robert Manne, Sayyid Qutb: Father of Salafi Jihadism, Forerunner of the Islamic State, Australian Broadcasting Corporation, November 7, 2016, http://www.abc.net.au/religion/articles/2016/11/07/4570251.htm. 40. Anthony Cordesman, Islam and the Patterns in Terrorism and Violent Extremism, Center for Strategic and International Studies, October 17, 2017, https://www.csis.org/analysis/islam-and-patterns-terrorism-and-violent-extremism. 41. Bureau of Counterterrorism and Countering Violent Extremism, Country Reports on Terrorism 2018 (Washington, DC: Department of State, 2019), https://www.state.gov/reports/country-reports-on-terrorism-2018. 42. Alex Nowrasteh, Terrorists by Immigration Status and Nationality: A Risk Analysis, 19752017, Cato Institute, May 7, 2019, https://www.cato.org/publications/policy-analysis/terrorists-immigration-status-nationality-risk-analysis-1975-2017. 43. Shi Yanchun , Zhou Enlai yu Zhongdong [Zhou Enlai and the Middle East], Party History in Review, issue 1 (2006), 78, http://waas.cssn.cn/webpic/web/waas/upload/2011/06/d20110602193952375.pdf. [In Chinese] 44. Stefan M. Aubrey, The New Dimension of International Terrorism (Zurich: vdf Hochschulverlag AG an der ETH, 2004), 3436. 45. 911 kongbufenzi xiji shijian zhi hou: guonei yanlun zhaideng 911 [A Sampling of Chinese Public Opinion Following the 9/11 Terrorist Attacks], Modern China Studies, issue 4 (2001), http://www.modernchinastudies.org/us/issues/past-issues/75-mcs-2001-issue-4/596-911.html. [In Chinese] 46. Yitzhak Shichor, The Great Wall of Steel: Military and Strategy, in S. Frederick Starr, ed., Xinjiang: Chinas Muslim Borderland (London: Routledge, 2004), 149. 47. John Hooper, Claims That China Paid Bin Laden to See Cruise Missiles, The Guardian, October 19, 2001, https://www.theguardian.com/world/2001/oct/20/china.afghanistan. 48. Chinese Firms Helping Put Phone System in Kabul, The Washington Times, September 28, 2001, https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2001/sep/28/20010928-025638-7645r. 49. Shichor, The Great Wall of Steel, 158. 50. Qiao Liang and Wang Xiangsui , Chao xian zhan [Unrestricted Warfare], (Beijing: Zhongguo shehui chubanshe, 2005), chap. 2. [In Chinese] 51. D. J. McGuire, How Communist China Supports Anti-US Terrorists, Association for Asian Research, September 15, 2005, https://web.archive.org/web/20110914053923/http://www.asianresearch.org/articles/2733.html. 52. Daniel Flynn, Why the Left Hates America: Exposing the Lies That Have Obscured Our Nations Greatness (United States: Crown Publishing Group, 2004). 53. Ward Churchill [profile], Discover the Networks, accessed on May 5, 2020, http://www.discoverthenetworks.org/individualProfile.asp?indid=1835. 54. Transcript of Osama bin Laden tape, BBC, February 12, 2003, accessed on June 9, 2020, http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/2751019.stm. 55. Jamie Glazov, United in Hate: The Lefts Romance With Tyranny and Terror (Los Angeles: WND Books, 2009), 164165. 56. David Horowitz, Unholy Alliance: Radical Islam and the American Left (Washington DC: Regnery Publishing, Inc., 2004), 37. 57. Glazov, United in Hate, 159176. 58. Nicholas De Genova [profile], Discover the Networks, accessed on May 5, 2020, http://www.discoverthenetworks.org/individualProfile.asp?indid=2189. 59. Lynne Stewart [profile], Discover the Networks, accessed May 5, 2020, http://www.discoverthenetworks.org/individualProfile.asp?indid=861. The aftermath of cyclone Gaja is seen in Tamil Nadu, India Nov. 16, 2018. (SHABBIR AHMED/via Reuters) Cyclone Gaja Makes Landfall in South India, Kills 33 People Trump says previous reports 'very premature' NEW DELHIA cyclone made landfall in the southern Indian state of Tamil Nadu on Nov. 16, killing at least 33 people, uprooting trees and knocking down electricity poles after more than 80,000 people were moved out of its path to safety, officials said. Cyclone Gaja made landfall in the early hours of Nov. 16 but then weakened as it moved inland, K. J. Ramesh, director general of the state-run India Meteorological Department, told Reuters. So far, 20 men, 11 women, and two children have died due to the cyclone, an official from the Tamil Nadu State Disaster Management Authority told AFP. As of now, 177,500 people are housed in over 351 camps. Thousands of trees have been uprooted and livestock has also been badly affected, he said. The state government has set up more than 470 relief camps and had evacuated more than 80,000 people from their homes in vulnerable areas, said the official who declined to be identified as he is not authorized to speak to media. Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Edappadi K Palaniswami announced compensation of 1 million rupees ($14,000) for the families of those killed. Cryptocurrency miners on racks at the HydroMiner cryptocurrency farming operation near Waidhofen an der Ybbs, Austria on April 25, 2018. (Reuters/Leonhard Foeger/File Photo) France Hopes to Lure Crypto-Issuers With Gallic Stamp of Approval PARISWith hundreds of cryptocurrencies being issued every month, countries face a choice: Ban them, leave them unregulated, or come up with rules to tame them. France is pursuing the third option, which might be regarded as a Gallic middle ground. It wants cryptocurrencies to be issued in France as long as those backing them agree to be regulated. In doing so, it would be one of the first major countries to regulate so-called initial coin offerings (ICOs). If coin issuers sign up to regulation, the French argue they will be seen as more trustworthy by investors, helping the currency gain credibility in the long run. France will even offer certification if the issuer wants. Theres only one small catch: The French state will tax any profits. The [cryptocurrency] community is ready to pay taxes as long as they are not confiscatory, said Fabrice Heuvrard, an auditor working with a joint government-industry task force drafting accounting rules for ICOs in France. Firms usually launch ICOs to raise money for new platforms or to fund businesses that use cryptocurrencies and blockchain. Most coins issued in ICOs are used as a means of payments on websites, although some are traded on the secondary market. In its bid to lure the cryptocurrency community out of the shadows, France will introduce its new rules early next year. The goal is to establish a market in Paris for companies raising capital through cryptocurrency issuance and in the process grab a portion of the expanding business, raise tax revenue, and provide security to investors. CoinSchedule, a website tracking ICOs, estimates $22 billion has been raised via launches in 2018 alone. France is not alone in seeking to find a niche in the sector, although few economies are taking its approach. In Britain, most ICOs are unregulated, with the financial watchdog deciding on a case-by-case basis whether the issuance falls within its authority. The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission wants to bring ICOs under the umbrella of securities rules, but has not done so yet. In China and South Korea, there is a total ban on cryptocurrencies due to fears of fraud and speculation. On unregulated markets where no rules apply, investors are left totally unprotected if things go sour, and they often do. According to Coinmarketcap.com, there are 2,080 cryptocurrencies in operation. Yet DeadCoins.com has identified more than 900 that are no longer active, of which it says almost 200 qualified as scams. Under Frances regulatory proposals, authorities would verify who is behind a new coins issuance, check whether the issuers have a plan to hand back money if the project fails, and force them to abide by know your customer rules. Demand For Rules In France, firms have raised over $100 million via 15 initial coin offerings so far. Sixty-eight others are in the works, of which Impak Finance is one. It says Frances approach appeals. The different regulators have been hyper, hyper-proactive, said Paul Allard, chief executive of the Canada-based company, which intends to raise 400,000 euros ($456,000) via its French offering. The question of tax status is not yet settled, however. The idea would be to consider the amount raised as sales revenue and tax it accordingly. The question of value-added taxwhich is 20 percent in Francehas not yet been resolved, a finance ministry official said. The idea of government certification may be unattractive to some crypto enthusiasts who like secrecy, but there is a demand for regulation from many issuers, said Henry James, deputy CEO of Fincross International. A lot of token issuers are struggling against the stigma associated with cryptocurrencies: They are risky and present opportunities for scammers, he said. By Inti Landauro Grim Search for 1,276 Missing After Deadliest California Wildfire PARADISE, Calif.Authorities sifted through the charred wreckage of Californias deadliest ever wildfire on Sunday, searching for any signs of the 1,276 people now listed as missing after the Camp Fire tore through the mountain town of Paradise. The remains of 76 people have been recovered so far, 63 of whom have been tentatively identified pending DNA confirmation. Early on Sunday the blaze, which ignited on Nov. 8, was 60 percent contained, officials said, up from 55 percent Saturday. Rain is forecast for the area this week, potentially helping douse the flames but raising the risk of floods and mudslides, adding to the misery of 46,000 people under evacuation orders. Many refugees from the fire have taken up temporary residence with friends and relatives, while others have pitched tents or were camping out of their vehicles. The death toll far surpasses the previous fatality record from a single California wildfire 29 in the Griffith Park fire of 1933 in Los Angeles and already ranks among the deadliest U.S. wildfires since the turn of the last century. Eighty-seven people perished in the Big Burn firestorm that swept the Northern Rockies in August 1910. Minnesotas Cloquet Fire in October 1918 killed 450 people. In Paradise, the flames moved so fast that some victims died in their cars in a chaotic evacuation as gridlock formed on the two exit routes out of town. The Butte County Sheriffs Office said the list of the missing is compiled using information received from a special hotline, as well as emails and emergency-911 calls that came in during the first chaotic hours of the blaze. Authorities said some of those listed likely survived but have not yet notified family or officials, either because they lack phone service or were unaware anyone was looking for them. In Paradise, home to nearly 27,000 people before the Camp Fire struck, two forensic anthropologists for the University of Nevada, Reno, were helping firefighters on Saturday sort through the wreckage at a mobile home park for senior citizens. Firefighters peeled back the metal sheet of a collapsed roof as the anthropologists picked up charred bone fragments, sorting them into paper bags. Roger Fielding, chief deputy coroner with the Martin County Sheriffs Office, said each site was treated as a crime scene, with every step of recovery documented with photographs. Our job is to pick up any items that might reflect who this person might be, he said. Thousands Of Homes Destroyed Besides the toll on human life, property losses from the blaze make it the most destructive in California history, posing the additional challenge of providing long-term shelter for many thousands of displaced residents. At the latest count, the Camp Fire had destroyed more than 12,700 homes and other structures, authorities said on Sunday. Up to 4 inches (10 cm) of rain is expected to fall from late Tuesday through Friday in the Sierra foothills, the National Weather Services Weather Prediction Center said. Rain will also drop on San Francisco, helping to clear the air filled with unhealthy levels of smoke. Patrick Burke, a lead forecaster with the National Weather Services Weather Prediction Center in College Park, Maryland, said the rain will be a one-two-punch. Itll bring much needed relief to the firefighters and to the air quality, but theres a potential for dangerous mudslides wherever vegetation is burned away on slopes and hills, he said. Up to 2 inches of rain is also expected to fall on southern California this week, where the Woolsey Fire claimed at least three lives, Burke said. The Woolsey Fire was 88 percent contained on Sunday, authorities said. Full containment is expected on Thanksgiving Thursday. On Saturday, U.S. President Donald Trump visited Paradise and the scene of the Woolsey Fire. Trump has blamed the recent spate of fires on forest mismanagement, and he said he discussed the issue with California Governor Jerry Brown and Governor-elect Gavin Newsom. Scientists have said the growing frequency and intensity of wildfires in California and elsewhere across the U.S. West are largely attributable to prolonged drought that is symptomatic of climate change. The precise causes of the Camp and Woolsey Fires were under investigation, but electric utilities have reported equipment problems in the vicinity of both blazes around the time they erupted. PG&E Corp has said it could face liability that exceeds its insurance coverage if its equipment were found to have caused the Camp Fire. By Terray Sylvester Considering the number of hunters that participated, the rate for hunting accidents was low in Wisconsin and Indiana on Nov.18, 2018, the first day of firearm deer season. (Raymond Roig/AFP/Getty Images) Hunter Shot Dead in Michigan After Was Mistaken for a Deer A northern Michigan deer hunter was shot and killed by another hunter on Nov. 15, according to reports over the weekend. The Michigan Department of Natural Resources said that emergency personnel were dispatched to a hunting accident in Antrim County, Michigan, near the village of Alden, reported ClickonDetroit.com. Local business owner killed while deer hunting in northern Michigan. Justin Beutel of Sanford was shot on opening day of firearms season. Authorities say it appears he was shot by another hunter. @nbc25fox66 pic.twitter.com/TL5xohgwz7 Sarah Jaeger (@SarahJaegerTV) November 16, 2018 The hunter, 38-year-old Justin Beutel, was pronounced dead at the scene. First responders found him unresponsive and couldnt revive him, the report stated. Preliminary investigation reveals that Mr. Beutel was deer hunting on private property and was apparently shot by another subject hunting nearby, said Lt. James Gorno, a supervisor with the Department of Natural Resouces, in the report. The second hunter is a 45-year-old from Gaylord, Michigan. Gorno said the two men didnt know each other and were not hunting with one another during the time of the incident. According to 13WHAM-TV, the other hunter apparently mistook Beutel for a deer. ClickonDetroit reported that police are not identifying the man at this time. An investigation into the matter is ongoing, said officials. According to local news station WWMT, Beutel was wearing an orange hunters hat when he was shot. WWMT reported Beutel owned a motorcycle repair shop. I just cant believe it, James Reinke, who owned a business next to Beutels, told the station. Just a nice guy. He loved bikes and was really good at what he did. His wife, Whitney, said he was a hard worker who loved fishing and hunting. Other details arent clear. Antrim County is located on the northern part of the Lower Peninsula and has a population of only about 23,000. Last week, firearm deer hunting season started in Michigan as well as in many other states. Fatal New York Hunting Incident In New York state last year, a man was charged with manslaughter for shooting and killing a woman walking her dogs. Thomas Jadlowski, the hunter, was accused of hunting 40 minutes after sunsetillegal in the state. WGRZ last month reported that he pleaded guilty to criminally negligent homicide charges and hunting after hours. Hell be sentenced in January 2019. Two-Headed Deer Shot In Kentucky last week, the states Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources posted a photo of a man holding a buck with another bucks head attached to it. Bob Long said he saw large antlers before he took aim at the animal in Ballard County. However, what he found upon recovery was astounding, said the Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources. Deer Rut Double Take: Check out this unique Ballard County harvest!Bob Long saw big antlers when he took aim at his Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources Its unclear exactly what circumstances led up to this bucks carrying around another set of antlers and part of a decomposing carcass. Regardless, it was truly a rare harvest, the agency wrote on Facebook. The bucks antlers may have got stuck together after a fight. During the mating season, which typically lasts about three weeks, bucks are busy sparring with each other, rubbing trees, and creating scrapes, said the Pennsylvania Game Commission. During mating season, or the rut, sparring matches may help establish the dominance hierarchy among males. As the peak of the breeding season approaches, sparring matches may give way to full-blown antler fights. These generally take place between bucks of similar hierarchal status, said the Noble Research Institute. Kansas Official Tells Black Woman Hes Part of the Master Race, Governor Calls for Resignation Republican Kansas Gov. Jeff Colyer called on Leavenworth County Commissioner Louis Kemp to resign after he told a black woman at a public hearing that hes part of the master race. Racial and discriminative language have no place in our society, and most especially when spoken by someone holding a public office, Colyer said in his statement on the afternoon of Nov. 17. The inappropriate remarks made by Leavenworth County Commissioner Louis Klemp are unacceptable and do not reflect the values of the county which he represents. As such, I call on him to step down as county commissioner, he added. Triveece Penelton, the black woman in the video, was making a presentation about road development initiatives during the meeting, Fox4 reported. I dont want you to think I am picking on you because we are part of the master race, Klemp told Penelton. You have a gap in your teeth. We are part of the master race. Dont you forget that. He then said he didnt like any of the land use options she presented. The Leavenworth City Commission, meanwhile, sent out a statement that it unequivocally denounces the use of master race or any other language that has historic ties to racism, division, and bigotry in any setting at any time. Further, the city commission condemns the lack of decorum, professionalism, and common decency shown to the woman presenting to the county commission. Such behavior and treatment has no place in the Leavenworth community, is never justified, and should never be allowed, it added. On the Leavenworth County website, as of Nov. 18, Klemps photo was apparently removed. Klemps term ends on Jan. 15, 2019, according to The Associated Press. Fellow commissioners Robert Holland and Doug Smith called on him to resign, Fox News reported. Last year, Holland criticized comments that were made by Klemp about admiring Confederate General Robert E. Lee. Not everybody does them all because we have Robert E. Lee Oh, God Robert E. Leewonderful part of history, Klemp said at the time, KHSB reported. It bothers me that 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 later added. I was shocked. I was in disbelief, Holland told the Leavenworth Times. He should resign. I dont care if hes got two days left, he should resign. The city noted it has no authority to remove Klemp from office, but officials believe it is in the best interest of the Leavenworth community for Mr. Klemp to apologize and resign immediately, according to the statement. Klemp told KHSB-TV off-camera that the master race comment was a joke. He hasnt issued a public statement on the matter. Mark Loughry, the countys administrator, told the Kansas City Star that Klemp wasnt acting in a racist manner when he made the comments to the woman, adding that they both have gaps in their teeth. The use of the term Master Race, as ill-advised as it may be, was not a reference to Nazis or used in a racist manner in this instance, said Loughry. I am deeply sorry that one misconstrued comment by a member of our elected governing body has caused so much grief, sorrow, and hatred. Kanye West Donates $150,000 to Family of Security Guard Shot Dead by Police Kanye West reportedly donated $150,000 to the family of a security guard who was killed by an officer in Chicago, the rappers hometown. West gave the hefty donation through GoFundMe for the funeral of Jemel Roberson, 26, CNN reported. Bart Jackson, a representative for GoFundMe, confirmed to the news outlet that West did, in fact, make the donation. Sadly, Jemels life was tragically and unexpectedly cut short this morning as he tried to save others from senseless violence, the page creator wrote about the security guard. On Nov. 11, he was shot dead while trying to restrain a suspected gunman at Mannys Blue Room Bar, located in the Chicago suburb of Midlothian, and where he worked as a security guard. West hasnt issued a public statement on the donation. Kanye has spent a lot of time in Chicago over the last few months, TMZ reported on Nov. 16. According to witness accounts, a fight had erupted inside the bar and someone began firing a gun. Five people were shot, including the gunman, Sophia Ansari, a spokeswoman for the Cook County Sheriffs Office, told the New York Times. Roberson was wearing plain black clothing with no markings readily identifying him as a security guard, said Illinois State Police about the shooting, ABC News reported. Police also said he ignored commands to drop his gun. An attorney for the Roberson family, Greg Kulis, told ABC that witnesses told police officers he was a security guard. Then, the officer allegedly shot and killed the man. However, witnesses have disputed the account given by police. WGN-TV reported that he was wearing a hat with the word security and had a license to carry a firearm. He had somebody on the ground with his knee in back, with his gun in his back like, Dont move,' witness Adam Harris told WGN. Everybody was screaming out, Security! He was a security guard, Harris added. A spokeswoman for the Cook County Sheriffs Office told the station Roberson had a valid Firearm Owners Identification (FOID) card, but he didnt have a concealed-carry permit. Police in Midlothian described the shooting as the equivalent of a blue-on-blue, a friendly fire incident, according to the ABC report. The name of the officer who fired the fatal shot hasnt been identified. The mother of Roberson, Beatrice Roberson, sued for more than $1 million, listing the officer and the town of Midlothian as defendants, CNN reported. Friends said he was also a musician and played keyboard and drums at several churches around Chicago. He had plans to become a police officer. Every artist hes ever played for every musician hes ever sat beside, were all just broken because we have no answers, the Rev. Patricia Hill of Purposed Church told WGN. He was getting ready to train and do all that stuff, so the very people he wanted to be family with, took his life. My baby lost his father, his hero Avontae Boose, who is the mother of Robersons son, was quoted by CNN as saying. Jemel loved his baby so much. This was going to be my babys first Christmas with his dad and now hes going to miss out on everything, she added, according to The Associated Press. Missouri Teacher Says He Was Banned After Thanking Students Who Stood for Pledge of Allegiance A Missouri substitute teacher claims he was banned from working at a St. Louis area high school after a student reported him for bullying when he thanked those who stood up during the Pledge of Allegiance. Teacher Jim Furkin expressed appreciation to students for standing for the pledge but at least one student who declined to stand felt inappropriately singled out and complained, according to The St. Louis Post-Dispatch. Speaking before the Parkway School Board on Wednesday, Nov. 14, Furkin said that he was teaching an English class when the pledge came over the public address system. Always Some Who Dont Stand So I say, All right, lets go, and we recite the pledge, he said. There are always two or three who dont stand up because its not required. So at the end of the pledge I said, Thanks to all of you that participated in that. Im sure that all of those families who lost loved ones so that we could enjoy the freedoms we have today would appreciate the effort. A student allegedly asked to go to the counselors office following Furkins comment, The St. Louis Dispatch reported. School officials confronted Furkin in connection with the incident, and reportedly told him the student was hurt by his statement. Furkin said he apologized. I said, Oh, I didnt mean it that way, that wasnt my intent at all, Furkin told the school board. No Longer Welcome He said the next day he was no longer welcome. Furkin asked Parkway School Board officials to investigate his dismissal. All I did was thank that class for saying the Pledge of Allegiance and now Im told not to come back in the building anymore, he told the school board. Id like to know what happened, Furkin added. To me personally, the flag represents freedom, and theres a lot of price thats been paid for the freedom we have today, Furkin said. Thats all Im saying to the kids. Could somebody feel offended by that? I would hope not. But like I said at the (school board) meeting, when you say something, you dont know how someone else is going to perceive it. Video of his comments has been shared widely on social media, with many people expressing anger at the school district. A Pattern of Inappropriate Conduct School officials, meanwhile, said in a statement that Furkin had exhibited a pattern of inappropriate conduct and that he would not have been dismissed over a single incident relating to the pledge. While we cannot share details of individual personnel matters, we would not recommend that a substitute teacher be restricted from a school simply based on a single isolated incident such as this. Several factors, including prior concerns at other schools, would be taken into consideration before making a recommendation. Parkway Superintendent Keith Marty said, There has been an omission of important facts in this case. The truth is, we recommended that this substitute not return due to a pattern of inappropriate conduct. Marty said in the statement that Furkin had earlier been restricted from another Parkway high school for recording video of students without their permission in class and that he had violated appropriate teacher-to-student interactions by sharing his personal contact information with students. Furkin rejected the allegations, telling the St. Louis Dispatch that the district threw me under the bus, but that he would defend himself. The educator said that he did not record video of any students, but at the request of the regular teacher took a photo. He said he had been asked to take the photo so the regular teacher could identify which students werent taking part in an assignment. He also challenged allegations of violating rules around inappropriate teacher-to-student interactions. He said he shared his personal Twitter account with students after they asked about books he had written. According to the report, school board officials have offered Furkin the opportunity to work at a different school, but he declined. If Im being knocked out of the building, Im just done, he said. I dont want to sub anymore, take me off your rolls. I quit. Ive had it. A judge called the bed that Ellie-May died in on March 23, 2017, "quite literally a death trap." (Lancashire Constabulary) Mother, Stepfather Jailed Over Toddlers Death in Cage Bed A woman and her ex who strapped a 19-month-old girl down in a cage bed have been each sentenced to 10 years in prison, it was reported. The toddler, Ellie-May Minshull-Coyle, died after she was restrained in her bed in Preston, in northwest England, in an incident described as monstrous, the BBC reported. Ellie-May Minshull Coyle: Mother and ex-boyfriend guilty over death of toddler tied to 'cage' bed https://t.co/XgNcbDPHYc Sky News (@SkyNews) November 2, 2018 Lauren Coyle, 19, and stepfather Reece Hitchcott, 20, were convicted of causing or allowing the girls death. An autopsy in the March 2017 found her death was caused by forcible restraint by ligatures in a face-down position complicated by hyperthermia, the London Evening Standard reported. The cot she was sleeping in was made into a cage, and its sides were tied together. The bed you both created and used, night after night, was quite literally a death trap, Judge Justice Dove said in the report. The judge continued: On the night of March 22 and March 23, 2017, undoubtedly in escalating distress and agony, Ellie-May Minshull Coyle succumbed to asphyxiation while she was forcibly restrained in the cage. He explained to them: All the positive energy and joy, which she had brought into the world was extinguished on March 23 and it was extinguished by you both. The couple said they had difficulties getting the girl to sleep. They received advice from the girls grandparents, but they reportedly ignored it, the Standard reported. The two converted a Frozen movie-themed bed into a cage, placing sheets over the sides to prevent the girl from seeing outside, according to the news outlet. They also blocked out the windows in the room where the bed was located. The judge said the couple was aware of the risks posed by the makeshift bed. I accept Ellie-Mays death has had a clear and significant impact on you both but in circumstances where you both continue to maintain your denials of involvement there can only be limited signs of remorse, he added. Most Distressing Case Ellie-Mays biological father, John Minshull, issued a statement on the matter. Every day me and my mum think about Ellie and really miss her, we just wish we could give her a big hug and it breaks our hearts deeply, he stated. Now I cant be a dad to her no more, it destroys me inside, the BBC reported. John Jones, a lawyer representing Coyle, said the mother had been subjected to a social media hate campaign and was abandoned by her parents during the trial, the Standard reported. But Brett Gerrity, from the Crown Prosecution Service, told Sky News in early November, This is a tragic case in which a young and innocent child was treated in the worst possible way by those who should have kept her safe from harm. He added: During the trial, the prosecution proved that, by restraining Ellie-May in her bed, or knowing that she had been restrained in such a way, Lauren Coyle and Reece Hitchcott wilfully contributed to or directly caused her untimely death. And Detective Chief Inspector Zoe Russo described the investigation as the most distressing one shes had to deal with. To think of the suffering that this little girl was put through by those people that should have loved, cared for, and protected her is heartbreaking, she told Sky News. This was an entirely unnecessary, pointless, and avoidable death of a child. New Hope for Missing Madeleine McCann as Detectives Reveal Two New Leads Police have told the parents of missing child Madeleine McCann that they are hopeful for a possible break in the case as they pursue two new leads. Scotland Yard investigators working the case told Kate and Gerry McCann that they had two specific and active lines of inquiry, according to the Daily Mail. The missing girls parents were said to be greatly encouraged that detectives from the Operation Orange squadas the team investigating Madeleines disappearance is knownmay be closer to unraveling the mystery after 11 years of hunting for the childs kidnapper or kidnappers. Metropolitan Police officers had a sit-down meeting with Madeleines parents to tell them exactly where they were with their inquiries, a Whitehall source told the Daily Mail. They informed them they had two specific and active leads that still needed to be chased and that although the investigation was taking longer than they initially thought, officers said they were confident and hopeful they could get a result, the Whitehall source continued. More Funding for Investigation News of the two lines of inquiry comes on the heels of an announcement by British authorities last week that more funds would be made available to Operation Orange to continue the high-profile investigation. We have confirmed that Special Grant funding of 150,000 pounds ($194,000) will be provided to the Metropolitan Police Service for the six-month period, a Home Office representative told Sky News. After funding for the six-month period runs out on March 31, 2019, detectives will have to apply again for more funds. The British Home Office, the agency responsible for Scotland Yard, has so far allocated 11.75 million pounds ($15 million) of taxpayers money for the inquiry, according to the Daily Mail. Former Detective Says She Might Be Alive, Hidden A former investigator who worked to try to solve Madeleines disappearance is convinced that the girl is still alive, and that the case could see a breakthrough. The British girl was 3 years old when she disappeared in May 2007 from the familys apartment in Praia da Luz, Portugal, while they were on vacation. There is every possibility that Madeleine is still alive and could be being hidden somewhere and having no idea that she is at the center of a worldwide hunt for her, former detective David Edgar told The Sun in October; he was hired by the McCanns for three years before Metropolitan Police detectives took over. She could literally be anywhere in the world but my hunch is that she is in Portugal. He said he doesnt think the girl was taken across the border. The chance that she may have been smuggled out of the country without being detected is highly unlikely, Edgar said. There is someone in Portugal with an open knowledge of where she is and what happened. Its a baffling case, but I think its solvable. He said that someone who has a guilty conscience could eventually come forward. The best hope of a breakthrough, even after all this time, will be if and when someones conscience is pricked. It may be that the person responsible for Madeleines kidnap is dying and makes a deathbed confession, or someone close to that person comes forward after he or she has passed away, Edgar added. Madeleines parents have said that there is absolutely nothing to suggest that their daughter was harmed or killed. Gerry McCann told a BBC Radio 4 interviewer on Sept. 29 that hes convinced his daughter is still alive. I just want to hug her, to hold her, to crya lot. Never a day goes by when I dont think of Madeleine, he said, according to an Australian news service. Kate McCann said in the same interview that she believes it is unlikely her daughter was taken far from the place from where she disappeared. Ive always said Praia da Luz is the place where I feel closest to her. Thats where she last was and I dont think shes been taken a million miles from there, she said. Madeleine disappeared on the night of May 3, 2007, after being left alone with her younger twin siblings, Sean and Amelie, while her parents went out with friends. Portland Mayor Ted Wheeler Mutters He Cant Wait to Leave Office: Report Video: Protests erupt again in Portland Ted Wheeler, the mayor of Portland, Oregon, was overheard saying that he cant wait for the next 24 months to be over, suggesting he may not seek re-election. Wheeler, who has clashed with President Donald Trump over how to handle protests, was being heckled by a protester after finishing a speech at the Oregon Health Forum on Nov. 15. Thats when he made the comment, The Oregonian reported. If you know me, you know I mutter quite a bit, Wheeler said in a statement issued later on Nov. 15 in response to the comment, The Oregonian reported. Not one of my most redeeming qualities. I will make a decision next year with my family if I am running for re-election. Portland City Council voted down Mayor Ted Wheelers proposed ordinance that would have set the time, place, and other restrictions on demonstrations in the city, KATU reported. It cited prior violent clashes between groups of protesters, including the far-left group Antifa. The buck stops with me on all of this. I will be held accountable and I should be held accountable for our own performance on our own streets, Wheeler said on Nov. 15. Police: Six people arrested during downtown Portland demonstration https://t.co/IfbDBfemz3 pic.twitter.com/LQzyS7O2Wn FOX 12 Oregon KPTV (@fox12oregon) November 18, 2018 On Nov. 17, KOIN-TV reported that six people had been arrested during demonstrations in Portland. Groups like Antifa, the Portland Democratic Socialists of America, and Patriot Prayer demonstrated downtown. Wheeler Under Pressure Wheeler, meanwhile, received harsh criticism from the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agency regarding how it handled a monthlong protest by a group calling itself Occupy ICE. According to The Oregonian, a union representing ICE personnel asked the federal government and Oregon government to investigate Wheeler over his direction of the police response, or lack thereof. Make no mistake. They are coming after me because I am a vocal opponent of the administrations policy of separating kids from their parents, Wheeler said in a statement in response to ICEs comment. He faulted a lawyer who wrote letters to police not to respond to some calls for service during the anti-ICE demonstrations at the ICE field office in Portland. Wheeler, who also serves as Portlands police commissioner, said of the lawyer, Previous claims made by Sean Riddell have fallen apart upon further inspection and these claims, if investigated, will too. Meanwhile, the leader of Portlands police union, slammed Wheeler for how hes responded to Portlands rampant problem with the homeless. Our city has become a cesspool, Officer Daryl Turner, head of the Portland Police Association, said on Facebook. Livability that once made Portland a unique and vibrant city is now replaced with human feces in businesses doorways, in our parks, and on our streets. U.S. Sen. Bill Cassidy (R-La.) also called on Wheeler to resign from his position in a resolution that targeted anti-ICE protests and rhetoric. President Trump, meanwhile, slammed Wheeler in August. Last month, the mayor of Portland, Oregon, shamefully ordered local police to stand down, leaving federal law enforcement officers to face an angry mob of violent people, Trump said, according to Fox News. The Willamette Week, meanwhile, reported that Portland hasnt had a mayor seek a second term since Vera Katz, who had three terms, in 2004. Nancy Pelosi talks to journalists before heading into a Democratic caucus meeting in the U.S. Capitol Visitors Center in Washington, D.C. on Nov. 14, 2018. (Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images) President Trump Again Expresses Support for Nancy Pelosi While Some Democrats Work to Oust Her President Trump has reiterated his support for Democratic Party Rep. Nancy Pelosi to hold the highest position in the House of Representatives. The President tweeted on Nov. 17, I can get Nancy Pelosi as many votes as she wants in order for her to be Speaker of the House. She deserves this victory, she has earned itbut there are those in her party who are trying to take it away. She will win! I can get Nancy Pelosi as many votes as she wants in order for her to be Speaker of the House. She deserves this victory, she has earned it but there are those in her party who are trying to take it away. She will win! @TomReedCongress Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) November 17, 2018 Trump also tweeted how support for Pelosi right after the midterm elections. In all fairness, Nancy Pelosi deserves to be chosen Speaker of the House by the Democrats. If they give her a hard time, perhaps we will add some Republican votes. She has earned this great honor! Trump tweeted Nov. 7. Pelosi held the speaker position from 2007 to 2011, and is looking to get elected to the position again now that Democrats have a majority of representatives in the House. Democratic Rep. Seth Moulton has been vocal about opposing Pelosis bid to lead the House. The Massachusetts congressman has worked to turn some members of his party against Pelosi and has helped recruit Pelosi challengers, The Washington Post reported. Pelosi thus far does not have an official challenger and is preparing for the Jan. 3 vote. But a challenger supported by Moulton is thinking about running. Marcia L. Fudge, a Democrat from Ohio, might join the race as well, the Post reported. Mixed Views Among Democrats There are also Democrats pushing back against the resistance to Pelosi. Pelosi was the first female Speaker of the House and her allies want her to take the position again. Her lawmaker allies have been circulating a letter in which they have pledged to support her, The Hill reported. Despite Pelosi holding the precedent as the highest ranking female politician ever, her detractors at the forefront think that she doesnt represent diversity. 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 is an African-American woman, via Cleveland.com. 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. Pelosis supporters point to her track record and ability to accomplish things. No one has her legislative chops or wealth of experience, said Rep. Gerry Connolly, a Democrat from Virginia, via NBC News. She knows how to exhort, inspire, cajole, intimidate, and persuade. She never lost a vote on the floor as speaker. She worked tirelessly to bring us out of the wilderness. She has earned it. The Democrats who want to lessen Pelosis grip on party leadership suggest her race and length of time at the forefront are factors in their thinking. Fudge said she will decide if she wants to run against Pelosi after Thanksgiving, according to NBC News. Pelosis next step towards the role is a vote in the Democratic Caucus, a week after Thanksgiving, before the full vote in January that includes House Democrats and Republicans. Watch Next: Communists Detail Plans to Subvert U.S. Democratic Party The Communist Party USA explained plans on May 23 to subvert the Democratic Party, alongside socialist and communist organizations. Supreme Court to Examine Citizenship Question in US Census The Supreme Court will wade into the Trump administrations contested decision to ask individuals responding to the 2020 census if they are U.S. citizens. Opponents of restoring the citizenship question to the censusit had been part of it until the 1950s and is still part of the long questionnaire given to some participantssay its presence in the census will chill participation, making it less accurate and more expensive to conduct. Democrats claim adding the question will intimidate immigrants into not completing the census forms. For example, lawyers for New York state claim adding the question threatens billions of dollars in federal funding for the state, which has a large immigration population, and jeopardizes its representation in Congress and the Electoral College. The Trump administration says it only wants to make sure the count is accurate and that it includes citizens. The U.S. Department of Commerce, which administers the once-a-decade headcount, said earlier this year that the question will be added to census forms at the request of the U.S. Department of Justice to help identify possible violations of the Voting Rights Act. When the Census Bureau conducts the 2020 census, the public has a right to expect that the government will do everything in its power to get as accurate a picture as possible of the American body politic, Hans A. von Spakovsky, senior legal fellow at the Heritage Foundation wrote earlier this year. That includes, as Thomas Jefferson recommended, knowing how many citizens and noncitizens make up our democratic republic. When the change was unveiled, Democratic National Committee Chairman Tom Perez said his party would fight this attempt to undermine our democracy. This is a craven attack on our democracy and a transparent attempt to intimidate immigrant communities, Perez said. The census is a constitutionally-mandated count of all U.S. residents, not a political tool for Donald Trump to push his agenda and disempower Latinos and other people of color. Perez said restoring the citizenship question that the Obama administration took out of the census lets Trump and Republicans stoke fear so they can make immigrant communities invisible. In reality, they are guaranteeing an inaccurate count that lays the groundwork for sustained racial gerrymandering and jeopardizes critical resources for communities across the country. On Nov. 16, the Supreme Court agreed to hear the case, ordering the parties to file briefs on the merits. The high court set oral arguments for Feb. 19, 2019. In the case, the Census Bureau and its parent agency, the U.S. Department of Commerce, are being sued by a multitude of parties including the states of New York, Connecticut, Illinois, Massachusetts, Colorado, New Jersey, and New Mexico, the cities of Chicago, New York, Providence, and San Francisco, as well as by activist groups CASA de Maryland Inc., American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee, and New York Immigration Coalition. The high court is expected to decide whether those challenging the decision to include the citizenship question must rely exclusively on the administrative record detailing the governments decision-making process, or whether the intentions of the government officials participating in that process ought to be considered. The case arises out of the trial of a lawsuit already in progress in U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York. District Judge Jesse M. Furman set closing arguments in that case for Nov. 27 after making a preliminary determination that the Trump administration had been acting in bad faith. Furman said Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross and other federal officials could be deposed by lawyers for New York state. The status of that proceeding is now in question. The Trump administration has beaten back demands that Ross appear in the New York proceeding to give evidence. In October, the Supreme Court blocked the planned deposition of Ross but not of other federal officials. Those challenging the administrations inclusion of the question say Ross and others in the White House strategized about adding the question before the Justice Department formally submitted a request to include it. Dale Ho, director of the ACLUs Voting Rights Project, said that all relevant evidence should be considered. The Trump administration is terrified of having to explain on the record why it added a census citizenship question, and has repeatedly tried to shield Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross from answering questions under oath, he said. Simon Porter, 33, was sought by authorities in the aggravated assault of a child on Nov. 10, 2018, after police in Lawrenceburg, Tenn., were notified by physicians at Vanderbilt University Medical Center (TBI) Top 10 Most Wanted Suspect in Child Assault Case Captured Alabama officials arrested a suspect who was wanted for sexually assaulting a toddler in Tennessee, according to the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation (TBI) in a Nov. 18 update. Simon Porter, 33, was sought by authorities in the aggravated assault of a child after police in Lawrenceburg, Tennessee, were notified by physicians at Vanderbilt University Medical Center last week. The incident occurred on Nov. 10, WTSP reported. The TBI said Porter is now in custody. He was located and arrested by authorities in Scottsboro, Alabama. Thank you for helping us spread the word, according to a tweet from the agency. Fox13 in Memphis reported the assaulted boy is still hospitalized as of Nov. 18. The little boy was hurt pretty bad, said Lawrenceburg Police Lt. Blake Grooms, said WSVN. In the middle of a police investigation, Porter fled, they said. According to his wife, he took off and did not tell her where he was going. The last thing he told her [was] he was scared he was about to be arrested, Grooms was quoted by the WSVN as saying. Before his capture, the TBI had added him to its Top 10 Most Wanted List. There was a $2,500 reward for his capture. According to KSDK, he lived in Lawrenceburg and had connections in Giles County and White House, Tennessee, as well as in north Alabama. Mother Claims Innocence Barbara Wright, the mother of Porter, called on her son to surrender, according to WKRN in a report on Nov. 16. Son please bring yourself in. I love you so much son, I dont want you to get hurt. I dont want nothing to happen to you (sic). Do the right thing, you know you didnt do this, please bring yourself in, prove to them you are innocent, she told the station. Wright said her son is innocent, and she called on him to surrender and clear his name. Son, its going to be OK, just come in, and bring yourself in, they wont do anything to you if you bring yourself in, she said. A reporter asked her if hes dangerous, and she responded: No, hes not dangerous. He dont have no guns, no knives (sic). But Josh DeVine with the TBI said its a terrible crime. The crime for which this man is accused is horrific, he told WHNT. It is something that sits with you as a law enforcement agency. Its something that you want to make sure youre doing everything in your capability to make sure this man is brought into custody. Were actually looking through this mans history trying to determine if there might potentially be any leads in terms of people he might be associated with family members, previous employment, anything that might provide some clue as to where he might potentially be at this point, he told the station. Before the capture, officials said he might be driving in a 1997 green Chevy S-10 pickup truck that has a red tailgate and the Tennessee license plate 3G26Z9. Porter stands at about 5 feet 9 inches and has red hair and hazel eyes. If you have any information, call local officials at 1-800-TBI-FIND. Dong Jiahong, Chinese organ transplant professional, has been disinvited from attending the China-Israel Innovation & Investment Summit in Haifa, Israel, following allegations of his involvement in forced organ harvesting and murder of Chinese prisoners of conscience. (File Photo) China Transplant Expert Disinvited From Israel Conference Over Suspected Link to Forced Organ Harvesting Dong Jiahong, one of Chinas most famous transplant surgeons, has been disinvited from the ChinaIsrael Innovation and Investment Summit, following complaints about his suspected participation in forced organ harvesting from Chinese prisoners of conscience. The high-profile conference, organized by the Chinese and Israeli governments, is being held in Haifa, Israels third-largest city, from Nov. 18 to Nov. 20. As with the six previous summits, participants include Chinese ambassadorial staff in Israel and officials from the local city and Israeli governments, as well as experts and entrepreneurs in the fields of life science, cybersecurity, and artificial intelligence. Suspected Culpability Dong, a leading Chinese surgeon, planned to attend the conference as a medical specialist, but the Haifa Economic Cooperation (HEC) withdrew his invitation because of pressure from the International Coalition to End Transplant Abuse in China (ICETAC) and other groups. ICETAC is a worldwide coalition of lawyers, academics, ethicists, medical professionals, researchers, and human-rights advocates dedicated to ending forced organ harvesting in China. Reports by human-rights investigators and journalists since 2006 strongly suggest that the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) has been harvesting organs from thousands or tens of thousands of still-living prisoners, the majority being practitioners of the banned Falun Gong spiritual practice. Also believed to be among the victimswho are invariably murdered on the operating tableare Uyghurs, independent Chinese Christians, and Tibetans. On Nov. 1, Dong was listed by the World Organization to Investigate the Persecution of Falun Gong (WOIPFG) as a possible participant in forced organ harvesting. A WOIPFG announcement says that Dong Jiahong is strongly suspected of extracting organs from living Falun Gong practitioners. Dong, skilled in precision surgery involving hepatobiliary and pancreatic disease, is executive president at Beijings Tsinghua Changgung Hospital and chief expert of its hepatobiliary and pancreatic center. The hospital is affiliated with Tsinghua University, Chinas top-rated technical school. Last November, Dong became an academician at the Chinese Academy of Engineering. Prior to his current posting, Dong was head of hepatobiliary surgery at the elite 301 Hospital run by the Chinese Peoples Liberation Army. According to previous research, much of Chinas organ transplant abuse is carried out within the CCPs military and police apparatus. Warning Against Evil Teng Biao, a China human-rights activist and lawyer who now lives in the United States, told the Chinese-language edition of The Epoch Times that inviting a professional suspected of organ harvesting would damage the image and legitimacy of the ChinaIsrael meeting. At the same time, Teng believes that Israeli authorities sent a message to the CCP. For Dong Jiahong and his employers and managers, among whom are officials working for the CCPs propaganda organs and departments in charge of handling religions, as well as Chinese in the medical profession, this is a warning for them to stop committing evil, he said. Since March 2006, there has been an increasing number of investigations and reports alleging that the CCP uses its military and security forces to murder Falun Gong practitioners and other still-living prisoners of conscience for their organs. Insider testimonies have suggested that the authorities use the prison system as a living pool of organ donors to be killed on demand. Canadian human-rights investigators David Kilgour and David Matas released the results of their preliminary investigation in a 2006 report, titled Report Into Allegations of Organ Harvesting of Falun Gong Practitioners in China. In 2010, the two were nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize. Since then, Ethan Gutmann, an investigative journalist and author specializing in China; Arthur Caplan, professor of Bioethics at New York University Langone Health; and many others in the medical, human rights, judicial, and news fields have spoken out against the CCPs alleged forced organ-harvesting practices. Trump Says Report on Khashoggi Death Expected in a Few Days President Donald Trump said on Nov. 17 that his administration will get a report in the next two days about the death of Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi. Well be having a very full report over the next two days, probably Monday or Tuesday, Trump said Saturday. That will include who did it, he said. Reporters had asked Trump about the death of Khashoggi, a U.S. permanent resident, who was slain Oct. 2 inside the Saudi Consulate in Istanbul. Trump said that when it came to allegations that Saudi Arabias Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman may have been directly involved, as of this moment we were told that he did not play a role. Were going to have to find out what they have to say. The United States government is determined to hold all those responsible for the killing of Jamal Khashoggi accountable, the State Department said in a statement on Saturday. Recent reports indicating that the U.S. government has made a final conclusion are inaccurate. There remain numerous unanswered questions with respect to the murder of Mr. Khashoggi. The State Department will continue to seek all relevant facts. The statement made reference to recent reports, which cited anonymous sources, that the CIA had concluded that Prince Mohammed ordered Khashoggis murder. The CIA has not commented on the allegations. Saudi officials have denied claims of the crown princes involvement, saying instead that a group of rogue operators was responsible. Saudi Arabias top diplomat has said Prince Mohammed had absolutely nothing to do with it. Vice President Mike Pence told reporters traveling with him Saturday for a summit of Pacific Rim nations in Papua, New Guinea, that the murder of Jamal Khashoggi was an atrocity. It was also an affront to a free and independent press, and the United States is determined to hold all of those accountable who are responsible for that murder. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has said Turkey has disclosed audio recordings related to Khashoggis killing to officials from several countries. 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. 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. Sanctions 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 Khashoggis killing. 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 Prince Mohammed, 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. Saturdays State Department-issued statement added: The U.S. government has taken decisive measures against the individuals responsible, including visa and sanctions actions. We will continue to explore additional measures to hold those accountable who planned, led and were connected to the murder. And, we will do that while maintaining the important strategic relationship between the United States and Saudi Arabia. Saudi Prosecutor Reveals Details of Khashoggis Killing The spokesman for al-Mojebs office, Shalan al-Shalan, told a rare press conference in Riyadh that Khashoggi was killed inside the consulate and his body was dismembered and handed over to an unidentified local collaborator for disposal. The victims body hasnt been found. 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. 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. Reuters and The Associated Press contributed to this report. Epoch Times staff writer Ivan Pentchoukov contributed to this report. These cartoon images of the "Beijing Internet Police" started appearing on Sept. 1, 2007 every 30 minutes on computer screens run by 13 major portals based in Beijing, as a warning to internet users that they are being watched. (STR/AFP/Getty Images) When Technology Meets Tyranny As China heads full force into developing AI weapons, the West needs to take a stand Back in May 2014, Stephen Hawking, along with several other scientists, warned the world: Success in creating AI [artificial intelligence] would be the biggest event in human history. Unfortunately, it might also be the last, unless we learn how to avoid the risks. In the near term, world militaries are considering autonomous-weapon systems that can choose and eliminate targets; the U.N. and Human Rights Watch have advocated a treaty banning such weapons. Developing High Tech While the international press is being hyped up these days by the worlds first AI news anchora computer-generated host of Chinas state-run Xinhua News Agency, few are aware of an unnerving AI weapons development program at Beijing Institute of Technology (BIT), one of the top weapons research facilities in China. According to a recent South China Morning Post report, BIT has chosen 31 of the brightest students under age 18 from a pool of more than 5,000 candidates for its four-year experimental program for intelligent weapons systems. These young talents have also been filtered for their unwavering patriotism or loyalty to the party-state in order to be enrolled in this high-tech field. Nowadays, the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) isnt shy about its intention to dominate the globe both economically and militarily, and technology, stolen mostly from the West, is the necessary means to achieve its objectives. Since 2014, China has been hosting, each year, the so-called World Internet Conference, but this years conference fell a bit short in terms of its international impact as only one American executive from the chip maker Qualcomm showed up to speak, compared to last years crowded speaker list that included CEOs such as Tim Cook of Apple and Sundar Pichai of Google. The ongoing trade war between the United States and China has cast a dark shadow over this years conference as Western technology companies within China are now seeking a safe exit and new production sites outside China. For the past three decades, Western companies were hopeful of gaining a profitable market share in China, but that could only happen by paying a high cost in the form of technology transfers under pressure from local authorities. These forced technology transfers have effectively reduced the competitive advantage of Western companies over time. According to a 2017 report from the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative, Chinese theft of intellectual property of U.S. origin costs some $600 billion annually. To achieve the strategic plan of Made in China 2025a program for China to take a dominant position in ten high-tech fieldsChina has launched a series of annual trade fairs, such as the World Internet Conference in Wuzhen and China International Import Expo in Shanghai (both happening in November 2018), to attract major global companies to invest in China. But this year, Western companies are wary of business adventures in China. Local Area Network Over the past three years, the World Internet Conference has repeatedly drawn sharp criticisms from Chinese netizens who have been complaining that Chinas internet is, in reality, an intranet or a local area network, given the notorious Great Firewall system that filters and censors hundreds of sensitive vocabularies, including virtually all foreign social networks and media outlets. Some Chinese netizens have deplored the so-called World Internet Conference, given that their actual cyber world is confined to 9,600,000 square kilometers, the territorial size of China. Now with facial recognition technology and the so-called social credit systema comprehensive surveillance program that grades and penalizes Chinese citizens on their conduct, thus enforcing loyalty to the regimeChinese citizens are being closely monitored by Big Brother. In reality, more than 800 million internet users in China are living in an alternative cyber world in which the CCP controls all information, except for the few who are either technically able, or who resort to paid VPNs, to bypass the firewall. The two free American circumvention tools, Free Gate and Ultra Surf, are heavily censored in China, but both still manage to help hundreds of thousands of users gain access to overseas websites on a daily basis. Favoring Tyranny Why is Beijing so keen on internet censorship? Ai Weiwei, a dissident artist, perhaps explained it best: Censorship is saying: I am the one who says the last sentence. Whatever you say, the conclusion is mine. But the internet is like a tree that is growing. The people will always have the last wordeven if someone has a very weak, quiet voice. Such power will collapse because of a whisper. The idea that technology will help liberalize closed societies may not appear to be true in every case these days, particularly in China. In the article Why Technology Favors Tyranny, published in The Atlantic, Yuval Noah Harari offers a detailed narrative of how technology doesnt necessarily befriend liberal societies and, instead, favors tyrannies when cutting-edge technology becomes increasingly distant from the masses. While some of Hararis underlying arguments are subject to debate, he has raised some critical issues about how technology and AI are able to strengthen dictatorships, as well as the danger of the transfer of authority to machines. In Hararis view, the weak link of authoritarian regimes in the 20th centurythe desire to concentrate all information and power in one placemay become their decisive advantage in the 21st century, thanks to new technology such as AI. Harari seems to have a valid point that technology has beefed up the authoritarian control in closed societies these days. For tens of millions of Generation Z, also known as the Great Firewall Generation in China, they grow up being accustomed to a different set of cyber reality from those who live in the rest of the world. As Ma Jian, an exiled novelist, recently put it, George Orwells 1984 is completely and totally realized in China. The report by Australian broadcaster ABC, I dont know Facebook or Twitter: Chinas Great Firewall Generation Z cut off from the West, presents a chilling reality: the young Chinese internet users reach adulthood with a set of worldviews that differ markedly from those living in the rest of the world. The Great Firewall has apparently created two different parallel worlds on this planet. Western Companies Pitch In To make things worse, some Western technology companies have been willing to help sharpen the CCPs tools of repression, irrespective of internal opposition. When Pichai, Googles CEO, professed to the press: Technology doesnt solve humanitys problems, he seemed to imply that his Google can actually create humanitys problems, in light of its controversial Dragonfly Project, which is aimed at helping the CCP monitor internet users. Dont be evil had long been a Googles motto since 2000, but this code of conduct was quietly removed before Googles parent company, Alphabet, adopted a new motto do the right thing in 2015, apparently in an effort to shake off its evil reference. One might ask, Is Google trying a bit too hard to sell its soul in order to enter Chinas market? According to the Sydney Morning Herald report From student to drone swarms: how the Chinese Communist Party trains its cadres in Australia, some Australian universities, like those in Norway, Britain, and Germany, have been serving as innovation hubs for Chinas Peoples Liberation Army (PLA) researchers to master AI technology for military and combat purposes. The open sources of Western universities seem to serve well the PLA in its effort to upgrade its military equipment and scale up its war preparation. At a U.S. Senate hearing in February, FBI Director Christopher Wray warned that Chinese professors, scientists, students all participated in intelligence gathering. In 2015, the Obama Administration signed a U.S.-China Cybersecurity Agreement with Beijing, but three years later China is found to have breached almost every item of the agreement and has been relentless in its cyber espionage against U.S. institutions and companies. Despite ample evidence provided by U.S. intelligence agencies, Washington has yet to counter punch or retaliate against such widespread hacking from China. Critics point out that despite the comprehensive nature of the agreement, this pact is virtually unenforceable. There are no clear methods of inspection or verification. Even if it were a well-articulated agreement, few would hold their breath that Beijing will honor it, given its poor track record in the past. Tear Down This Wall Henry David Thoreau cautioned us long ago: Men have become the tools of their tools. Today, we ought to be particularly alarmed when the tools of technology are in the hand of any authoritarian regimethe new technology, more than ever, would serve to be far more formidable in enslaving humanity as a whole and creating an Orwellian society for all in the end. Many China watchers often compare Chinas Great Firewall with the Berlin Wall during the Cold War era. After all, both aim to keep the people under draconian control inside the walls while preventing them from reaching the outside world. On the 10th anniversary of the fall of the Berlin Wall on Nov. 9, 2009, German President Horst Kohler spoke out: The Wall was an edifice of fear. On November 9th, it became a place of joy. Now, mankind is eagerly waiting for another world leader, with the same determination and foresight of President Reagan, to say loud and clear of the Great Firewall of China: Mr. Xi, tear down this wall! Peter Zhang focuses his research on political economy in China and East Asia. He is a graduate of Beijing International Studies University, Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy, and of Harvard Kennedy School as a Mason Fellow. Correction: A previous version of this article misstated when German President Horst Kohler said, The Wall was an edifice of fear. On November 9th, it became a place of joy. He spoke those words on Nov. 9, 2009. The Epoch Times regrets the error. Views expressed in this article are the opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Epoch Times. Claire Watson Garcia knows the look. She has seen it for about 30 years. They stop at the door, peer around, and say, Is this the class for the utter, total, complete beginner ... , and before they finish, Ill say, Yes, this is the place, Watson Garcia says. And so it went that prospective students entered her class on a recent morning at Silvermine Arts Center in New Canaan, clutching drawing pads and small sacks of pencils and pens. Some students werent so utterly new, but they were all beginners to some degree. It is with those students in mind that she intentionally and deliberately set the title for her drawing class and the book it gave rise to. Drawing for the Absolute and Utter Beginner has been a popular class at Silvermine Arts Center, where she has taught for decades. It became a book in 2003. And, 15 years later, a revised edition by Watson-Guptill Publications, is now on the shelves. It is both funny and reassuring, she says of the title, which is meant to help people get past their fears. Many people have had a yearning all of their lives to learn to draw. It is an activity that we did easily as children and unless you have a bridge, say in middle school, where you learn to draw in a representational way, you become self-conscious. Then, one person in the class becomes the artist and you stop because you are not that one. Some people are blessed with a background where creativity was fostered and missteps were handled with grace and understanding. Far too many, however, put away those pencils, pens or crayons because they were made to feel they could never understand a visual language that can be spoken by nearly everyone who wants to get down on paper the scene that is unfolding before them. While some people have a better ear for art, and can more easily grasp the shapes and forms they are looking at, so as to replicate them accurately on the page, Watson Garcia believes everyone has the power to speak this visual lexicon. Everyone who wants to develop this skill can do it. It is an innate capacity. For this Ridgefield artist, the ABCs of drawing begins with a thin wire that students are encouraged to bend and re-bend, drawing a new model each time. Freeing and functional, the act of ruining and then recreating a shape gets to the heart of her practice mastery comes not in seeking perfection but a better perspective. The key is when you pay attention to the elements that make up a visual pattern and replicate that as best you can and then you see that it works, that it looks like the source material, then you can understand this is the way artists look at things, she says. They are noticing shapes that make up what they are looking at. Beginning with goof proof exercises, her method works in a sequence with each exercise building on the one before. They grow more challenging, she says, but they still remain within reach. The point is to keep building those skills, she says, which include constructive evaluations at the end of class, or, in the case of the book, end of the chapter. It teaches you a lot about how art is made when you can identify what works. Once you have learned it is not just technique, but also what to look for and concepts because there are definite principles in drawing then, you can continue to strengthen and build on that, she says. Just as she has learned from her students and honed her method accordingly, her books the first edition and the recent revision, relies extensively on examples of students work. The chapters also include notes from the aspiring artists. As they move from pencil to pen and then charcoal, and onto more difficult exercises, such as drawing the face in three-quarter view, their narratives reveal the struggles and challenges, as well as the rewards and successes of various techniques. The general response from many people is I hate what I have done or that stinks or I will never become an artist, she says. You have to rein that in. One does that, Watson Garcia says, by making a how-to book that does not focus entirely on the artist who penned it. The whole point is to offer someone hope that, one day, they will draw like those who have already mastered it. If all there is is this incredible artwork, the leap is just too great for a beginner to approximate. It all goes back to the title and her approach to making art accessible to anyone who wants the access. The key with adults who have no experience is to give them a method that is customized for them and specifically designed for their needs, she says. You can have a title for a book that gets people to pick it up, but unless this delivers a positive experience, you can forget about it. Christina Hennessy is a freelance writer based in Connecticut. Twitter: @xtinahennessy WASHINGTON - About a half dozen House Republican women gathered this week for a somber, post-election dinner. Exchanging thoughts about the brutal results for GOP candidates, they realized something depressing, according to one attendee. That small dinner group represented about half the total number of Republican women who would serve in the House next year. Just 13 GOP women have won election so far to serve in the next Congress, down from 23 this year. With a half dozen races yet to be resolved, the House GOP - the minority party next year - is all but certain to have the lowest number of women in its ranks since 1994. That drop off came amid a national political climate that saw female voters sharply break from Republicans. Women favored Democrats over Republicans for Congress, 59 percent to 40 percent, according to exit polls. It's set off an internal debate within the Republican Party about how to address this crisis, both in terms of appealing to female voters and then recruiting and retaining women in Congress. "I think the Republicans have to get off of defense on this issue," Rep. Liz Cheney, R-Wyo., said Friday in an interview. Cheney was the uncontested winner this week in the race for House Republican conference chairwoman, which puts her in charge of the party's communications and messaging strategy. She will become the party's highest profile woman in Congress, trying to rebuild and rebrand its battered image. Assuming the No. 3 leadership post, Cheney will reach a level no woman has ever before climbed among House Republicans. (The outgoing chair, Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers of Washington, is No. 4 in leadership ranks while Republicans are in the majority.) Cheney, who worked on Middle East policy in the State Department, brings a profile and level of clout among Republican women that has long been missing. But she does not see any need for course corrections on policies relating to women, arguing that Democrats create silos for female issues that treat women in a condescending way. "I've always felt like it was very paternalistic to do what the Democrats do," she said. "It's offensive to women." She believes that issues like security and a strong economy cut across gender lines and that if Republicans made that argument better, and had more women making that pitch, they would win more support. "We need more women running for office, no doubt," Cheney said. Rep. Elise Stefanik, R-N.Y., could not agree more. At a forum Tuesday for candidates running for leadership posts, Stefanik stood up and motioned to a room overwhelmingly filled with white male faces. "Take a look around," she told the GOP lawmakers. "This is not reflective of the American public." Stefanik said she then asked Reps. Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif., and Jim Jordan, R-Ohio, the minority leader candidates, what their plans were to recruit and elect more women. "I was struck that I really didn't get an answer," she recalled in an interview Friday. As head of candidate recruitment the past two years, Stefanik focused on finding women to run, landing more than 100 candidates. But many women flamed out in GOP primaries against male counterparts, and those that did break through could not swim above the Democratic wave in the general election. Just one new Republican woman, so far, will be sworn in for her first term in January. Yet when Cheney and Stefanik look across the aisle next year, they will see a record number of female Democrats, with at least 89 women. Donald Trump won two years ago despite more than a dozen women accusing him of improper conduct or sexual assault, charges he denies. After his win, the Democratic Party and liberal activists focused early on recruiting and advancing female candidates. The reaction to the #MeToo movement further encouraged Democratic women, culminating in the clash over sexual misconduct allegations against Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh and the GOP's treatment of his accusers. Kavanaugh denied the allegations. Trump mocked one of his accusers, Christine Blasey Ford, at a campaign rally while Republicans on the Senate Judiciary Committee released an explicit statement that purported to describe the sexual preferences of another woman who had accused Kavanaugh of misconduct. Cheney believes those Senate confirmation hearings galvanized conservatives and did not scare away Republican women in suburban battleground districts. She said the allegations, and how Democrats handled them, demonstrated they were "willing to play games" with a serious matter and the ensuing liberal protests "had the effect of really scaring people." Stefanik took a more nuanced view, believing that the terrible standing with women was pretty well baked before last month's confirmation vote. "We were having problems with women voters before that," she said. Emily's List, the political committee focused on electing women supporting abortion rights, spent $14 million in the primary season and another $23 million on their behalf in the general election. Republicans have several groups trying to emulate that approach, but nothing remotely as powerful as Emily's List. Stefanik, 34, and Cheney, 52, did not face financial hurdles in their first races. Stefanik was a domestic policy adviser in the Bush White House from 2006 through 2009 and worked on Mitt Romney's 2012 presidential campaign, providing her a ready-made network for her competitive 2014 campaign. Stefanik has decided to back away from her recruiting role at the National Republican Congressional Committee to focus solely on helping women win GOP nominations and then get elected. "I'm playing in primaries," she said. Cheney easily defeated several veteran Wyoming Republican men in her 2016 primary, tapping her family's national network to raise more than $2 million that year. In her new leadership role, Cheney sees her main focus as sharpening the party's message. She intends to do a lot more than just stand behind McCarthy, the incoming minority leader, to provide a better visual backdrop. She wants to go after Democrats for supporting a "socialist economic policy" like single-payer insurance and how such a national health program would limit women's medical choices. "That would be a disaster," she said. Cheney has hit what has previously been a glass ceiling for GOP women. No Republican woman, in the House or Senate, has ever moved up to party whip, leader or House speaker. It took her father, Richard Cheney, who served in the House from 1979 to 1989, more than eight years to get elected conference chairman. His daughter reached that leadership post after just two years. She plans to be a force for a while, with the potential to break some Republican glass along the way. "It's a very special place," she said. If you ever run into Steve Carell, please don't ask him to play Michael Scott again. The actor spent his "Saturday Night Live" monologue gently turning down requests from fans and former co-stars for a reboot of NBC's hit sitcom "The Office," which ended in 2013. It was Carell's third time hosting "SNL," but his first in a decade. It all began with a pretend audience member asking the simple question: "Will you ever reboot 'The Office'?" The host said no, so "SNL" cast member Kenan Thompson stood up and framed it as more of a suggestion. Carell explained that reprising his role as the lunatic Dunder Mifflin Paper Company manager would be like Thompson returning full-time to the Nickelodeon sitcom "Kenan & Kel," on which he starred with Kel Mitchell from 1996 through 2000. He wouldn't want that, right? Well, maybe he would: "That would be an honor," Thompson solemnly replied. HOUSTON RAPPER ON STAGE: Travis Scott raps, tells jokes on "SNL" One by one, former "Office" cast members popped up from their seats in the audience. "I need that money," said Ellie Kemper, who played secretary Erin Hannon on the show. "Let's get that money, Steve." When he declined, the "Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt" actress yelled, "You're a jerk!" Ed Helms, who played Dunder Mifflin salesman Andy Bernard, also argued in favor of a reboot. Maybe Carell didn't understand just how much money it would make them. "You wouldn't have to do all those sad movies anymore," Helms said, referring to Carell's recent roles, such as the panicked father of a teenage drug user in "Beautiful Boy." "SNL's" Aidy Bryant had also poked fun at this in a promo video for the episode, in which she told Carell that he was "kind of, like, a serious actor now. Are you ready to do comedy again? Because this is a comedy show." OPINION: Congressman-elect Dan Crenshaw on "SNL" mocking his appearance Those movies are done for pleasure, Carell said, not money. But this answer wasn't good enough for Jenna Fischer, who played the fan favorite Pam Beesley for all of the show's nine seasons. She asked Carell if he remembered the unheard words Pam whispered to Michael before he moved to Colorado. They were, according to her: "Steve, don't be a d---, do the reboot." "I don't remember that at all," Carell responded. Even his wife - Nancy, who also appeared on "The Office" as Michael's ex-girlfriend Carol - and their two kids showed up to try to convince him to do the reboot. But he wouldn't budge. The actor previously addressed the constant demand for an "Office" reboot in a recent interview with Esquire, in which he credited reruns and the show's easy accessibility on Netflix with having generated talk of bringing it back. "But apart from the fact that I just don't think that's a good idea, it might be impossible to do that show today and have people accept it the way it was accepted 10 years ago," he said. "The climate's different. I mean, the whole idea of that character, Michael Scott, so much of it was predicated on inappropriate behavior. I mean, he's certainly not a model boss. A lot of what is depicted on that show is completely wrong-minded. That's the point, you know? But I just don't know how that would fly now." Carell's co-stars joined him onstage as his "SNL" monologue drew to a close, and he teased the audience by saying that he had an announcement to make. Had he finally come around? "I am proud to announce officially," he said with a slight pause, "that we have a great show tonight!" CARLINVILLE The commitment of Carlinville High School students has paid off in a big way. The school is the recipient of a $10,000 grant for its achievements in the Energy Education Community Challenge, sponsored by Elevate Energy. The funds were provided by the Illinois Science and Energy Innovation Foundation. Carlinville students competed against other central Illinois high schools in a contest from March to October as they educated community members on reducing energy use and power bills. Activities included signing up for programs on energy efficiency, hosting or participating in platforms for community education, and reducing personal energy use. Carlinville finished a close second in the competition, behind Pana High School. We kicked off the program with an all-school assembly last spring, and students stepped up and took the lead, said Carlinville High School principal Patrick Drew. They made numerous home visits, and did a phenomenal job. Im very proud of them. Drew said the grant money will be used to build a shared Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) lab for the Carlinville middle school and high schools, to provide another opportunity at hands-on learning. Two other Carlinville organizations also received $2,000 grants for educating the most people in the contest. The recipients were the Sustainability Committee of Blackburn College and the Teen Advocacy Network, established by Carlinville High School senior Grace Traylor. Over 3,000 people in the area were educated on energy efficiency by high school volunteers, Blackburn, and the Carlinville community on the whole. Tom Emery may be reached at 217-710-8392. 8 hours ago 3 Under-The-Radar Stocks to Buy Now Add These Under-The-Radar Stocks to Your Shopping List Now Given the recent weakness in many of the former market-leading stocks, it might make sense to start focusing on lesser-known names. After all, with so many different companies and sectors to choose from, theres always a bull market to be found somewhere. Read Article (CNN) U.S. President Donald Trump on Friday raised the prospect of ending his escalating trade war with China, but signaled U.S. negotiators still want more a few more concessions from their largest trading partner. "China wants to make a deal," Trump said speaking to reporters in the Oval Office, when asked about an offer made this week by Beijing less than two weeks before the American President meets with Chinese leader Xi Jinping in Argentina at the end of this month. The Chinese government earlier this week made an initial offer on trade, which Trump said addressed 142 negotiating points. The offer followed a phone call last Friday between Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin and Chinese Vice Premier Liu He. "It's a pretty complete list, a lot of the things we asked for, but there are four or five things left off," said Trump, adding "we'll probably get them, too. But as you know it's a very complete list." Trump, who has made the U.S. economic relationship with China a centerpiece of his presidency, reiterated that he wants a deal both sides can be happy with. "I don't want to put them in a bad position," said Trump. "I want to put them in a great position. But it's called reciprocal. We have to have reciprocal trade. We can't have trade that's meant for stupid people." Those briefed on the bid described the proposal earlier this week as falling short of many of the core demands the White House has repeatedly said are must-haves in trade talks with Beijing, including addressing technology transfers and intellectual property theft, according to one of the people briefed. Instead, they described the proposal as a rehash of previous commitments Chinese leaders have publicly announced, like selectively lifting tariffs. This story was first published on CNN.com "Trump on China: 'Can't have trade that's meant for stupid people'" A Meal with Bart Duijkers Bart Duijkers is one of Phukets best-known hoteliers, restaurateurs, developers and entrepreneurs with extensive experience in all these sectors in Phuket dating back from his arrival here in 1989. He recently took over the highly successful 9th Floor Restaurant on the top of the Condotel building off Rat-U-Thit Rd in the heart of Patong. Community By Baz Daniel Sunday 18 November 2018, 02:00PM It was here that we enjoyed a superb supper created by Barts widely-experienced Consulting Executive Chef Anthony Reynolds and served by the beautiful 9th Floor angels the lovely waitresses who float about this elegant, clubbable space ensuring that every customer feels pampered. Since 2008 Bart has managed his own company, Basic Elements, which is focused on real estate, restaurants and fine wines. Basic Elements manages a wine wholesale and retail business (for importer BB&B), the 9th Group (the 9th Floor; the 9th Glass Wine Bar and Bistro; the 9th Grape on-line wine retailer; and the upcoming 9th Spoon Tapas Bar), plus a property brokerage. Bart is fluent in five languages, including Thai, and his philosophy of building and managing property complexes of high calibre goes back to when he started with Forum Hotels in Amsterdam in 1984 as an assistant office manager. His first Thailand appointment was as Resident Manager of the Amari Coral Beach Hotel in 1989, and he also spent three years as GM of the famous Boathouse Resort on Kata Beach. Bart was also a greenie long before it was fashionable and continues to be involved with several Phuket environmental projects. I asked Bart how recent changes in the economy, regulatory environment and arrivals patterns had impacted his businesses. Frankly it is somewhat negative. We have seen a decline in the type of sophisticated international travellers and also local residents who appreciate the fine dining of a group like the 9th Floor. A few higher-end independent Chinese and Asian visitors appreciate our service and standards and can pay the appropriate prices, but the vast majority of cheaper mass-market Asian arrivals are definitely not our market. Many previous longer-staying regular visitors who were our loyal clients are now avoiding Phuket because of restrictions such as no back-to-back tourist visas; draconian police stand-over tactics in Patong; and the general traffic and environmental decline. These well-heeled international visitors can go wherever they like and so they are voting with their wallets and staying in other tropical destinations like Sri Lanka and Vietnam instead. I asked Bart about the support that he gets from the public sector as an entrepreneurial businessman trying to boost Phukets attractiveness and (tax-generating) revenues. Its rather disappointing. We feel at odds with the current restrictive militaristic atmosphere. Laws such as the beach-chair ban, removing restaurants chairs and umbrellas from beaches may be improvements, but surely if you take something away, you have to put something else in place. For example, I am totally in favour of getting drinking drivers off Phukets roads, but you have to provide a reasonably-priced public transportation alternative if people want to go out at night. At present, if you elect not to drive to Patong in order to avoid police roadblocks, you are then faced with local taxi fares! So, Patong, the heart of our 9th Floor business, is increasingly becoming a no go area. I mentioned to Bart that in this ongoing series of articles Id discovered that attitudes towards Phukets future varied depending on how invested the respondent who I was dining with was in the island. Bart laughed at this and said, Well, I am deeply invested here. I not only have wide-spread business interests, but I am also raising a young family with children aged 20, nine and seven. So, Ive been committed to the success of Phuket for almost 30 years now, but currently I do feel that the world-famous Thai value and smiling brand is under threat as locals become more stressed and price gouging grows. Sitting in a fabulous restaurant like the 9th Floor looking out over the lights of Patong while being waited on by lovely Thai angels it was easy to think all is well with Phuket. But when I asked Bart for a succinct answer to the question of where Phuket is heading, he smiled ruefully and said, Personally, I remain optimistic, but the short answer is that only God, or perhaps Buddha, really knows! Bike Un Ai Rak - Governor invites all to participate Friday, Nov 16, at 10.30pm Phuket Governor, Phakaphong Tavipatana was the President of the Preparatory Meeting for Bike Un Ai Rak cycling event, which will be held in Phuket on Sunday Dec 9. culture By The Phuket News Sunday 18 November 2018, 01:00PM Governor Phakaphong Tavipatana presents the route of the cycling event Supoj Rotreuang Na Nongkhai, the Phuket Vice Governor and the head of the relevant government department, attended the meeting at the Kor Sim Bie Hall, Phuket Provincial Hall. The Governor said that Phuket was assigned by the Ministry of Interior to organise the regional activity for "Bike Un Ai Rak", organizing the event at the same time as Bangkok, on Sunday, Dec 9, at 3pm nationwide. For Phuket, the event will take the same route that was taken for the "Bike for Dad" course held on Dec 11, 2015, but will reduce the distance from 29km to 27km to avoid the construction route. The event begins at Phuket Provincial Hall. Cyclists will then turn left at Khao Rang Junction, then straight to the Patiphat Rd and Chao Fa East Rd. Thirdly, the participants will turn right at the intersection to enter Luang Por Cham Rd. This will take the cyclists past Wat Chalong (break point in the course) onto Chao Fa West Rd. At the Naka Ram intersection, the cyclists will turn right into Wirat Hongyok Rd, then Straight to Bangkok Rd and turn left to Phoonpon Rd. As the entrants enter Yaowarat Rd they then turn right to Thalang Rd right again to Phuket Rd. The cyclists then turn left at Surin Circus to Bang neaw intersection and go straight to Sapanhin From here the participants turn back to Sapan Hin public ground, Rusin Circus, entering Montri Rd. Finally theres a right turn at the Montri Narison intersection to Surin-Narison Intersection and turn to pass the finish line at Phuket Provincial Hall. Phuket has a scheduled rehearsal day on Sunday, Nov 25, and final rehearsal on Sunday. Dec 2. The Governor have invited all the people of Phuket to participate. Low water levels at Phuket reservoir spur concerns for drastic water-saving measures PHUKET: Water levels at Bang Neow Dum reservoir in Srisoonthorn, in central Phuket, are so low that officials are calling for residents to use water sparingly and hope that enough rain falls by the end of December to stave off drastic water-saving measures. natural-resourcesenvironmentconstruction By Tanyaluk Sakoot Sunday 18 November 2018, 11:00AM Water levels at Bang Neow Dum reservoir in Srisoonthorn are so low that officials are calling for residents to use water sparingly and hope that enough rain falls by the end of December to stave off drastic water-saving measures. Photo: Supplied Water levels at Bang Neow Dum reservoir in Srisoonthorn are so low that officials are calling for residents to use water sparingly and hope that enough rain falls by the end of December to stave off drastic water-saving measures. Photo: Supplied Water levels at Bang Neow Dum reservoir in Srisoonthorn are so low that officials are calling for residents to use water sparingly and hope that enough rain falls by the end of December to stave off drastic water-saving measures. Photo: Supplied Water levels at Bang Neow Dum reservoir in Srisoonthorn are so low that officials are calling for residents to use water sparingly and hope that enough rain falls by the end of December to stave off drastic water-saving measures. Photo: Supplied Water levels at Bang Neow Dum reservoir in Srisoonthorn are so low that officials are calling for residents to use water sparingly and hope that enough rain falls by the end of December to stave off drastic water-saving measures. Photo: Supplied Water levels at Bang Neow Dum reservoir in Srisoonthorn are so low that officials are calling for residents to use water sparingly and hope that enough rain falls by the end of December to stave off drastic water-saving measures. Photo: Supplied Residents and businesses specifically in the nearby areas, including Srisoonthorn, Baan Manik and Cherng Talay (see map below), are urged to use water sparingly amid concerns that rains will not replenish the reservoir sufficiently before the hot season. Somsawat Chaisinsod, Director of Phuket Provincial Irrigation Office, explained to The Phuket News this week that the Bang Neow Dum reservoir is currently just less than 45% full. The reservoir has a capacity is 7.2 million cubic meters, but it currently contains only about 3.25mn cubic meters. Of that, we are able to use only 3.14mn cubic meters as 0.11mn cubic meters of that capacity is useless. Its just mud, which we cant use, he said. We need about 5mn cubic meters or about 70% of the reservoirs capacity by the end of December to cope with the demand during the dry season (December-April), he added. My advice is for people and businesses in the affected areas to start storing water reserves so they can use it for their own needs in the first few months of 2019. If the water (in the reservoir) is not enough by December, I will need to raise this issue with all involved officials so we can come up with a plan of what to do, Mr Somsawat said. The high-ranking officials to be called in for action if need be included Phuket Governor Phakkaphong Tavipatana, the Director of Provincial Water Authority Phuket office, the Phuket Provincial Office of the Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation (DDPM-Phuket), and others, Mr Somsawat explained. Also people must understand that this is about climate change and that we have not had enough rainfall to refill the reservoir. Of the rain that has fallen across Phuket in recent months, little of it has flown into the reservoir, he said. We will do our best to make sure there is enough water for everyone until the dry season ends about May next year. By that time we should have mains water supply to the area supplemented by Bang Wad reservoir, Mr Somsawat added. An Asia-Pacific summit ended in tumult after the U.S. and China failed to agree on language in a final statement, the latest sign that a trade war between the worlds biggest economies wont end anytime soon. For the first time since leaders began attending the annual Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation meeting in 1993, no statement was issued after two days of talks in Papua New Guinea. The Pacific island nations prime minister, Peter ONeill, blamed two big giants in the room for the discord. The failure to agree on a largely symbolic statement lowers expectations for U.S. President Donald Trump and Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping to reach a breakthrough when they meet a few weeks from now at a Group of 20 summit in Argentina. Financial markets have swerved in recent weeks as investors gauge whether an end to the trade war is near. Tensions were already high heading into Sunday after Xi and Vice President Mike Pence traded barbs in back-to-back speeches a day earlier. Pence warned nations against taking Chinese loans, saying the U.S. doesnt drown our partners in a sea of debt, while Xi said implementing tariffs and breaking up supply chains was short-sighted and doomed to failure. The events in Port Moresby were unusual for a summit that is mostly regarded as a talk shop. The non-binding statements at the end of such gatherings consist of thousands of words covering anodyne topics such as urbanization, sustainable tourism, natural disasters and MSMEs (micro, small and medium enterprises). The first sign of trouble occurred when reports dripped out that Papua New Guinea police were called after Chinese officials attempted to barge into the office of the countrys foreign minister to influence the document. Chinese officials later denied the report, calling it a rumour spread by some people with a hidden agenda. Read more: Trudeau says he wont negotiate in public on future of LGBTQ rights in USMCA Trade war between U.S., China shows no sign of abating amid tough talk at APEC Trudeau to meet key Pacific trade partners at APEC leaders summit As reporters waited for an outcome, it became clear something was wrong. After the closing press conference was delayed, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau eventually confirmed that negotiations over the communique had collapsed. I dont think it will come as a huge surprise that there are differing visions on particular elements in regard to trade, Trudeau told reporters on Sunday. That prevented there from being a full consensus on the communique document. When Papua New Guineas ONeill finally spoke to the press, initially he said a formal statement would come at a later date, and he left without taking questions. Reporters then chased him through the building, resulting in a chaotic scrum. Eventually ONeill confirmed that the topic of World Trade Organization reforms was the main cause of the dispute, though he said it wasnt only the U.S. and China. Nations have been calling for key changes at the WTO, including around dispute settlement, while the Trump administration has threatened to pull out of the body if it doesnt treat the U.S. more fairly. Of course the whole world is concerned about the debate about trade relations between China and the U.S., ONeill said. This is a situation where both the countries need to sit down and resolve. And I believe the G-20 meeting that is going to be on very shortly will be an opportunity for the leaders to sit down and resolve those issues. The chaos of the closing press conference reflected the challenges of holding the summit in one of the regions poorest countries. A lack of hotel accommodation meant many delegates and journalists slept on a cruise ship. Port Moresby is notorious for being crime-ridden: The Lonely Planet says visitors are tempted to spend as little time here as possible. Both the U.S. and China sought to deflect blame. Wang Xiaolong, a Chinese Foreign Ministry official, said many countries raised issues about the WTO. He didnt elaborate on specifics. Frankly speaking we are in an early stage of discussing these issues, said Wang, director-general of the Department of International Economic Affairs at Chinas Foreign Ministry. Different countries have different ideas about how to take this forward. A U.S. official familiar with the talks said its inaccurate for China to say the communique was held up due to American concerns about the WTO. The U.S. agreed to language over improving the global trade bodys dispute settlement function, the official said, adding that the talks collapsed because China objected to a line that all other 20 economies had endorsed. This Is Not Frustrating At issue was a pledge by the governments to fight all unfair trade practices, which China thought was unfairly singling them out, said the U.S. official, who asked not to be identified as the discussions were private. The U.S. had agreed to a line on fighting protectionism, the official said, a concession designed to allow the communique to go forward. The U.S. official said it appeared as if China didnt want to reach a consensus, and Chinese negotiators applauded when it was announced that talks had collapsed. ONeill, Papua New Guineas leader, sought to look on the bright side. We had almost 21 economies agreeing to the issues, he told reporters. This is not frustrating. Read more about: Its probably a good thing if this comes as a surprise: during last months Ontario municipal elections, two small rural communities the Township of Algonquin Highlands and the town of Spanish elected new councils comprised entirely of women. Yawn. Because its 2018, right? This shouldnt even rank as newsworthy. And as news goes, Octobers gender breakthroughs registered as barely a blip: notable marginalia, at best, in an election saga dominated by the provincial governments dramatic downsizing of Toronto council. Hold on, though was this historic? After electing thousands of all-male councils, was this the first time Ontarios 444 municipalities produced even a single all-female council, let alone two? The CBC thought so, initially, in a piece proclaiming that voters in Ontario made history twice by electing two all-female councils. But its not actually true. Algonquin Highlands Mayor Carol Moffatt, who won re-election only to find herself surrounded by winning council candidates of the same gender, hailed the moment in an interview with CBC Radios Ontario Morning. Its a pretty noteworthy achievement in the face of political life in Ontario and were definitely proud to be a part of it, said Moffatt. The fact that we are all women is important, and on the other hand, it shouldnt have to matter but the fact that it shouldnt have to matter is exactly why it does matter. Moffatt, whose interest in Ontario history predates her mayoralty, didnt leave it at that. She did some digging and a few days later discovered and shared on Facebook the real facts: Ontario voters had done this once before. It happened in the village of Tweed, in 1967, where a woman by the name of Barbara Allen was elected reeve, leading Canadas first all-female council. And in 1967, unlike 2018, it was front-page news, drawing interest from across Canada and beyond. Looking back on the historical coverage today, the stories read like outtakes from an episode of Mad Men. All the women elected in Tweed now are gone, Allen herself was the last to go, dying in 2008 at age 78. But in an interview with the Star, Allens daughters Peggy and Jane delighted in recounting what they saw as teenage girls, 14 and 15, respectively, when reporters came calling, trying to make sense of the women of Tweed. It was pandemonium, it was crazy, said Peggy Allen. We were just incredibly proud of our mother. She was so cool. At the time, reporters wanted to know how she could be the leader of the community and fulfil her obligations as a housewife and a mother, Peggy said. And of course her response was, I married a liberated man. At the time people were taken aback by that, that she would be so bold. But it was true our parents had an equal partnership. They were partners in everything they did. Peggy and Jane Allen recall one especially vivid encounter with a film crew from the weekly CBC television newsmagazine The Way It Is. They filmed her doing domestic chores, things like cooking in the kitchen. Mother had long hair that she wore up in a bun, and they actually directed her to take her hair down and brush it for the camera. Whatever it was the CBC crew was trying to do had nothing to do with politics, Peggy said. We thought it was hilarious, What does this have to do with running the village? It just seems so strange now, looking back, that they would do that. But at the time, people were just so curious Was she a feminine woman? Was she able to fulfil her motherly, wifely duties? The CBC was hardly alone in its skeptical tone. Evan Morton, curator of the Tweed Heritage Centre, has a file thick with comparably dubious clips from the Star, the Globe, the Kingston Whig-Standard, the Peterborough Examiner, the Belleville Intelligencer, the Hamilton Spectator and TV outlets across the country. But the file in the Tweed museum has gaps. Some of the stories reference coverage of the gender breakthrough in the U.S., Scandinavia and Russia but the actual clips from foreign sources are missing. Another curiosity in that file is a the lyric sheet for a song titled Town Council Election written and recorded by Tweed musicians in honour of the occasion with a notation indicating it was Written for The Way It Is (CBC) aired on Dec. 10, 1967. Morton hopes the retelling of this story will lead him to access a copy of the program for the museum. Away down east theres a village called Tweed, the song begins. With a female reeve thats unique indeed. She leads the town with grace and ease. Barbara Allens the lady, the reeve of Tweed. Morton, the curator, has a personal connection to the story: his father, Garrett Morton, served for a whopping 50 years as clerk-treasurer of the village of Tweed. Thats Mortons late father in the photo with this article, administering the oath of office to the all-female council in 1967. He and many other older residents would have remembered a time before 1921, when women won the right to vote in Canada. My dad always said they were a good council as good or better than any other council we had, Morton told the Star. But you look through the file today and you realize just how much scrutiny there was. What I remember is that Barbara Allen spoke her mind. She was well-educated. She was ahead of her time, probably more liberated than some of the other women, and definitely more than many of the men. What Allens daughters also remember are plenty of jokes, many of them cruel. Though she won re-election multiple times, ultimately serving as reeve for more than a decade, men who ran against her found themselves anonymously harassed, presumably by other men. In one instance, one of Allens male political rivals received a pair of panties in the mail, said Peggy Allen. One of the elements of the job was to go on-site to survey construction of public works. And when Mother arrived for one of the first inspections, the crew gave her a hard hat that was decorated with hippie flowers. She was a good sport about it. She never responded negatively to any of those things. She laughed right along with them and said, You want me to wear the hard hat, Ill wear the hard hat and just maybe Ill add a few peacock feathers to it. Education, Jane Allen said, is what motivated their mother to run. Already a graduate of nursing when she started her family, Barbara Allen earned a bachelors degree during the early 60s, commuting part-time an hour each way on the back roads from Tweed to Queens University in Kingston. Her education continued even after her decade as reeve: she eventually earned a masters in neural linguistics and, at age 65, a PhD in sociology. The really big battle for mother was the long and bitter fight over closing local high schools and the amalgamation of school boards, said Peggy Allen. Tweed was so proud of its high school and rightly so. But in the 60s the trend was all about centralization, with smaller high schools closing and students being shifted into buses to travel to bigger regional schools. She was up against the idea of bigger is better, which was starting to change the face of rural Ontario. It was a huge battle and it ended in 1970, sadly, when Tweeds high school was closed. Allens daughters, after initial contact with the Star, read up on the coverage of last months election results. They extend empathy to Algonquin Highlands Mayor Moffatt and the other newly election female councillors, who, in the flurry of responses to their breakthrough, have encountered a handful of social media trolls. Among the cruel messages in circulation is, Congratulations on your coven. Said Peggy Allen: That kind of cruel joking was not uncommon in my mothers day and sadly, its still not uncommon. I think the obvious difference today is clearly the large majority sees this as something to celebrate, and that clearly wasnt the case in 1967. But the other difference is there was no social media in 1967 to amplify the angry few when they put a very nasty negative spin on things. Moffatt, in response, seems inclined not to feed the trolls by saying much about them. But she is clearly moved by the accounts from Tweed, circa 1967, and what the women there endured. The Tweed story is funny and sad at the same time, she said. In 1967 it clearly was acceptable to question the motives, abilities and priorities of women and that just goes to show how things have changed, said Moffatt. But, she added, things have to keep changing moving forward in hopes of a time when were all just people who are elected. Allens daughters, for their part, produced one especially important trove of letters to help tell this story personal correspondence from the early 1970s between their mother, Barbara, and famed Chatelaine editor Doris Anderson. Any Canadians who have ever heard the phrase #metoo and are unaware of Anderson owe it to themselves to learn about her. Placed alongside the Mad Men coverage of the women of Tweed, Chatelaines letters to Allen are a clarion call to stand higher still with a run for federal office. At the moment, there is exactly one woman member out of 264 federal members of Parliament, wrote Anderson in the opening salvo of June 10, 1971. We want to do something concrete about the imbalance and we are asking you and other outstanding women across Canada to join us. Anderson, who doubled Chatelaines circulation during her tenure as editor, placing the magazine on the front lines of the Canadian feminist movement, earned a cautious response. Allen felt she had already defied all possible odds, writing, It has taken 10 years to prove to people locally that I, not just women in general, can perform satisfactorily. In fact, my endurance locally in the heart of conservative Hastings County (the small c is deliberate) is somewhat of a minor miracle. The Chatelaine letters the recruitment for higher office continue. Allen takes up the challenge with a growing sense of excitement, feeling out a potential federal run. She discovers she actually has an excellent chance of entering Parliament, given the broad support throughout the community. But in the end, Allen begs off. Not for lack of ambition or will to bring change. But because, as she says in her final letter to Chatelaine, in the summer of 1972, I love being the Reeve of Tweed and deep down in my heart, dont want to be anything else. At least not for a while. So I backtracked and thanked all my friends for their kind words and encouragement. And here I am back at square one. I hope you dont think Im a chicken because, believe me, the second decision took far more courage than the first. OTTAWAThe federal government is prepared to order an end to rotating strikes by Canada Post employees if a collective agreement isnt soon reached, Labour Minister Patty Hajdu said Tuesday. We strongly encourage both sides to reach a deal and are prepared to table legislation if we do not see a resolution over the next few days, a step we do not take lightly, she said in a statement. Hajdu said the Liberal government has faith in the collective bargaining process and believes the best deals are reached at the bargaining table. She said it has supported and encouraged such an outcome by providing conciliation officers, appointing mediators and offering voluntary arbitrations. The government has also reappointed Morton Mitchnick as special mediator. Despite all of this, limited progress was made and we have exhausted our options, she added. Read more: CUPW Edmonton calls latest Canada Post offer a start Opinion | Heather Mallick: Why Canada Post doesnt deliver for Canadians Striking Canada Post workers hopeful on picket line as rotating strike returns to Pacific Processing centre Regardless of whether it gets a last-minute deal with its striking employees, Canada Post warned Canadians Tuesday that they can expect delays of parcel and mail delivery into the new year as a result of rotating walkouts. Businesses and individual customers can expect the worst delays in southern and southwestern Ontario because of a backlog of hundreds of transport trailers sitting idle at Canada Posts main Toronto sorting facility, the Crown corporation said. The postal service remains operational, but the prolonged and ongoing strike activity has not only caused significant backlogs, it continues to greatly reduce our ability to process and deliver mail and parcels across the country, a Canada Post spokesperson said in an email. Our focus across the country is to process and deliver as much as possible on a first-in, first-out basis. Canada Post is dealing with a fifth week of rotating strikes by its unionized workers as both sides remain apart in contract negotiations. Distribution centres in Vancouver, Edmonton and Montreal are also experiencing severe backlogs, and packages are backing up at border points, despite a plea from Canada Post to its international partners to halt shipments, spokesperson Jon Hamilton said. International items will require screening by the Canada Border Services Agency and we are working in partnership with them to manage the significant existing backlog. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau repeated his call Tuesday for both sides in the dispute to resolve their differences soon, making note of important Black Friday and Cyber Monday sales events that coincide with American Thanksgiving this coming weekend. We are, of course, very preoccupied with the fact that Christmas is coming, important shopping days are coming and we need to see a resolution to that, Trudeau said as he arrived in Ottawa for a meeting with his cabinet. The Canadian Union of Postal Workers on Monday turned down an offer for a holiday cooling-off period and a possible $1,000 bonus for its 50,000 members, saying it would only mean postal employees continuing to work under the same conditions the union is trying to have changed. Major issues in nearly a full year of bargaining have included what CUPW calls an injury crisis, along with gender inequality, overburdening and precarious work. The latest round of rotating strikes hit several Ontario communities Tuesday including Woodstock, St. Thomas, Chatham and three locations in Scarborough, as well as Prince George, B.C. Canada Post has apologized to its customers for the continued walkouts, and warned that it cannot now predict the exact length of delivery delays. This is likely to be the situation for the foreseeable future, meaning the next several weeks, including the peak holiday season and through January 2019, the company said. Read more about: HALIFAXWith a federal election less than a year away, Canadas defence minister is warning voters they will be targeted by online cyber-attacks and fake news as Russia steps up its efforts to undermine western democracies. We have taken this into account very seriously in our defence policy, Harjit Sajjan said in an interview with The Canadian Press. We need to further educate our citizens about the impact of fake news. No one wants to be duped by anybody. Sajjan made the comments while attending a defence and security conference in Halifax, where experts, military officers and politicians representing democracies from around the world spent a great deal of time discussing cyberwarfare. When we stand up for human rights, and when we stand up ... to nations like Russia who are going against the rules-based order ... you become a target, Sajjan said, adding that Canadas decision to protest Russias annexation of Crimea has also raised Russias ire. He said the Canadian government has a cybersecurity plan that includes establishing the Canadian Centre for Cybersecurity within the Communications Security Establishment, which is focused on collecting foreign signals intelligence. Read more: 2019 federal election a likely target for Russian meddlers, Comey warns Conservatives names former mayor to face Maxime Bernier in Beauce in 2019 New Democrats try to bolster donations with fundraising matching strategy Rose Gottemoeller, deputy-secretary general of NATO, stressed that Russia is not the only country using the internet to spread disinformation, citing a NATO report released Sunday that drew attention to North Korea, China and Iran. The report, presented Sunday to a NATO Parliamentary Assembly meeting in Halifax, was discussed by NATOs science and technology committee. U.S. Democratic congresswoman Susan Davis told the committee that Russian interference continued in the early stages of the recent U.S. midterm elections, although not on the scale seen during the 2016 election that saw Donald Trump elected president. Last year, Facebook said hundreds of dubious accounts, likely operated out of Russia, spent about $100,000 on some 3,000 ads about contentious issues such as LGBT rights, race, immigration and guns. Facebook later said an estimated 10 million people in the United States saw the ads. Gottemoeller, who previously served as undersecretary for international security at the U.S. State Department, said democracies have to be ready to defend themselves on the battlefield or in cyberspace. Theres a lot of creativity among the bad guys, she said in an interview Sunday. As an example, Gottemoeller pointed to the Canadian-led NATO Battle Group in Latvia, which has been subjected to a steady stream of fake news aimed at undermining the year-old mission. The Russians are pumping out a lot of reports about misbehaviour of Canadian troops and how expensive the (battle group) is for Latvia, she said, adding that Canadian soldiers have taken a proactive role by letting local residents know why they are there. Its a great example of how Canada ... has made a difference pushing back against disinformation. Pauline Neville-Jones, chairwoman of the U.K.-based Advisory Board to Cybersecurity Challenge, said Russian operatives use online algorithms to distribute false stories that are aimed at sowing division and distrust of democratic institutions. In the case of Canada, (the Russians) would find it very interesting to try to destabilize your relationship with the United States, said Neville-Jones, who was David Camerons national security adviser before he became prime minister of Britain. That gets at the sinews of western democracy. It gets at the sinews of NATO relationships. Neville-Jones said the rise of social media has eroded the influence of traditional media sources, which has left citizens more susceptible to cyber-attacks. The best defence against fake news, she said, is to seek other news sources. She said there was plenty of evidence of online interference in the 2016 U.S. vote, particularly from the Russians. Propaganda ... has been one of the things theyve always done, Neville-Jones said. They see international relations as a zero-sum game. If youre losing, then Im winning. Read more about: MONTREALHalf a dozen tractors rolled through the streets of downtown Montreal on Sunday as thousands of people marched in support of farmers who said theyre threatened by the new U.S.-Mexico-Canada trade agreement. Many in the crowd brandished signs and kitchen utensils and pushed shopping carts as they joined an hour-long march organized by Quebecs farmers union. The union, known by its French language acronym UPA, said Canada made unprecedented concessions in the dairy sector during negotiations for the USMCA deal. Union President Marcel Groleau argued that producers in Quebec have to pay higher wages and meet higher environmental standards than those in the United States and Mexico. He called on the Quebec and federal governments to support local products and make sure any new imports have to meet the same standards Quebec producers are bound by. The security of a nation depends first and foremost on its ability to feed itself, he said. Read more: Justin Trudeau calls trade deal a win, promises compensation for dairy farmers Heres whats new in the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement Unions and Democrats raise concerns about USMCA Canadian dairy farmers stand to lose 3.59 per cent of their market to U.S. producers under the new trade deal, although the federal government promised to compensate producers for their expected losses. The marchers, many of whom were bussed in from all over Quebec, stretched over several city blocks as they wound their way through Montreals downtown. They later filled a public square in the citys entertainment district, where booths were set up to hand out Quebec food products including apples and hot chocolate. Monia Grenier, a dairy producer and union representative from the Estrie region, said Sundays event was not a protest, but an appeal for solidarity. While she was disappointed with the Trudeau governments concessions on dairy, she said she understands theres likely no going back. Protesting and making noise isnt good anymore its about educating people the right way, she said. The union has been appealing directly to consumers, urging them to reject the new imports and support local producers. What we want is for people to stand with us and buy local, buy Quebec products as much as possible, Grenier said. It was a message that hit home with Rob Nadeau, who drove in from nearby Saint-Bruno-de-Montarville to attend the event. Nadeau said hes not opposed to the free trade deal, but would like to see products clearly labelled and foreign producers who import to Canada made to meet the same standards as our guys. While hes just a consumer, he said its in everyones best interests to advocate for their farmers. I think its important for everybody in Canada and if (a protest) happened in Ontario Id go do it there too, he said. Read more about: A coroners inquest will begin in Ottawa later this month for Cleve Gordon (Cas) Geddes and another is likely to take place next year for Justin St. Amour two young men with mental illnesses who both spent time in segregation in the Ottawa-Carleton Detention Centre, and then hanged themselves in the Ontario-run jail. From these inquests, juries will most likely make recommendations that have been made before, including not placing people with serious mental illness in segregation. They keep making recommendations but the province just keeps ignoring them, said Paul Champ, the lawyer representing the Geddes and St. Amour families. Its a tragedy that keeps on rolling. Last month, the Ministry of Community Safety and Correctional Services quietly posted an unprecedented volume of data on 3,086 inmates who spent time in segregation in Ontario jails over a two-month period earlier this year. It was part of a five-year-old settlement in an Ontario human rights case, in which Champ represented former inmate Christina Jahn. The good news is that there is now robust data that tracks vulnerable Ontario inmates placed in segregation. The bad news is nothing much has changed in five years. In fact, it has grown worse for people with mental illness, Champ said. In these overcrowded, understaffed jails, an inmate who presents with serious mental health problems is handled in the only way they know how, which is placing them in segregation, Champ said. There are more people with mental illness in segregation, and that is just inexplicable to me. The province has to respond. The numbers are grim. Nine inmates captured in the review of segregation placements for the months of April and May had been held for a year of consecutive days in segregation, or longer. Of those, four had a combination of mental health and suicide risk and watch alerts. A fifth had a mental health alert. Story Behind the Story delivers insights into how the Star investigates, reports, and produces stories. Of 3,998 placements in segregation, 778 were for periods longer than 15 consecutive days, a threshold beyond which the United Nations said segregation should be banned because of the proven psychological damage it can cause. Half of the inmates had mental health alerts on their files and more than a third had a suicide alert. The Ontario Human Rights Commission has reached out to the government and expressed its concerns with what the new data reveals. Chief rights commissioner Renu Mandhane, who prompted public outcry two years ago when she discovered inmate Adam Capay had been in segregation in a Thunder Bay jail for more than four years, said nothing has changed. But she credited the government for meeting its obligation and releasing the data, which has been anonymized. It is the most complete picture that we have of the circumstances of individuals held in segregation, said Mandhane, who wants the government to commit to a plan to deal with vulnerable inmates. What are their plans to address the long-term cases? Are they contemplating things like hard caps or prohibitions in certain classes of prisoners? We havent got a clear commitment from the government on that. Read more: Murder and segregation: the story of Adam Capay and Sherman Quisses Inmate in solitary for four years alarms rights commission Data reveal shocking numbers of Ontario inmates in solitary In response to questions from the Star, ministry spokesperson Brent Ross said in an email that the ministry and its staff work diligently to find alternative housing solutions for individuals who are declining to leave conditions constituting segregation. These can include moving an inmate to an institution where they feel more comfortable being out of segregation conditions; working to acclimatize an inmate through the use of behavioural contracts and slowly bringing the inmate out of segregation for longer periods; educating inmates about the advantage of step-down units in the hope they will choose to transition to that type of housing; and working with the inmate to identify the reasons they prefer to remain in segregation. In response to a request from the Star, the ministry separately released data on the racial makeup of Ontario jails for the same period as the segregation data. This allowed the Star to compare placements to baseline jail populations. In 17 of 24 institutions, the proportion of segregation placements for white inmates was greater than their share of the jails overall populations, and in seven jails the difference was greater than five points. For 15 of 24 institutions, the proportion of segregation placements for Indigenous inmates was also greater than their share of the jails populations, but only three had differences greater than five points. Jails in Kenora and Thunder Bay saw a lower proportion of Indigenous inmate placements compared to their overall population. With minor variances, the proportion of Black inmates was in line with the proportion of segregation placements for Black inmates. Another Star analysis of those in segregation, which compares the number of placements to lengths of placements by race, shows that in two Ontario jails Black inmates are kept in segregation for longer periods. At Maplehurst Correctional Complex, Black inmates represented 17.5 per cent of placements, but 26 per cent of the total length of segregation time. At the Toronto East Detention Centre, Black inmates represent 41.6 per cent of placements and 49.6 per cent of total length. Indigenous inmates in jails in northern Ontario show the opposite trend: the Star found they made up 32.5 per cent of placements but represented 16.4 per cent of the total length of time in segregation. Conversely, in the same north region, white inmates represented 60.9 per cent of placements and 78 per cent of length. The ministrys Ross told the Star the length of stay in conditions constituting segregation varies according to the individual and can be affected by a number of factors, including mental health, perceived vulnerability and injury. At no time is an individuals ethnic or racial background considered grounds for placement in conditions constituting segregation. The inmate held in segregation for the longest continual period was in for 598 days, at the Central East Detention Centre in Lindsay. The data shows him to be white, in his early 40s and with a mental health alert. Three other of the nine inmates held in segregation for a year or longer were also at that jail. Another of the nine, a male Muslim inmate in his 30s, was in segregation for 469 days at the same Ottawa jail where St. Amour and Geddes were housed. St. Amour, 31, died Dec. 8, 2016, in hospital after hanging himself. He had serious mental health issues, likely schizophrenia, and had spent time in segregation, Champ said. Geddes, who had schizophrenia, ended up in jail after a call for help. Geddes had stopped taking his medication, and his father was worried, Champ said. The police show up and he got really belligerent with them, which is what a guy with schizophrenia does, Champ said. He was arrested for uttering threats to police. In court, Champ said it was obvious to everyone that Geddes was mentally ill and he was ordered to undergo an assessment at Royal Ottawa Hospital. There were apparently no beds available, and he was sent to the detention centre and placed in segregation, Champ said. Seven days later, hes still there, and he hung himself, Champ said. Geddes died on Feb. 10, 2017. The inquest into his death begins Nov. 26 in Ottawa. There is no end to it, Champ said. At least now we cant say that people dont know what the scope of the problem is. Sigrid Geddes is preparing to testify at her little brothers inquest. Known by his nickname Cas, he was the youngest of six siblings and was an amazing human being, she said. He was loved by everybody he came in contact with, Sigrid added, describing Cas as handsome, charming, funny and a hard worker. When he got sick in his early 20s, no one could believe it, Sigrid said. He was addicted to marijuana, she said, noting that schizophrenia and cannabis do not mix well. Jail, she said, is no place for people with mental illness, let alone placing them in segregation. If you want to talk about basic human rights, this is a health issue, she said, adding she hopes more education will put pressure on the government to have a little bit more holistic care for people. Spokesperson Ross said the ministry has made significant progress on meeting the conditions of the Jahn settlement since the beginning of the year, when a consent order was signed. An independent expert on human rights and corrections has been appointed to assist with implementing the order and an independent reviewer is in place to monitor the ministrys compliance. The definition of segregation was also revised from being a specific area in a jail to a condition of confinement where any inmate is physically isolated and confined anywhere in an institution for 22 hours or more per day, said Ross. Prominent social conservatives within Ontarios Progressive Conservative party say their voices are being ignored at this weekends policy convention, once again exposing cracks in a coalition that helped propel the party to a massive election win earlier this year. Jack Fonseca of the social conservative group Campaign Life Coalition and Tanya Granic Allen, a parental rights advocate and former Tory leadership candidate, have both expressed frustration that dozens of policy resolutions with a social conservative bent were blocked from being debated by party members at the event in Etobicoke, Ont. The exclusion of the proposals has rekindled fears amongst some social conservatives that their voices will once again be marginalized, as they said the party had done under former Tory leader Patrick Brown. Our take on this is that liberal-progressive elements within the party establishment that are corrupt and against democratic rights of party members have filtered out policy resolutions that were submitted by grassroots members, Fonseca said, alleging party officials have rigged the debate. Fonseca said the rejected proposals, which run the gamut from denouncing the Liberal sex-education curriculum to protecting so-called conscience rights for physicians, are in some cases actual policies that Premier Doug Fords government is currently taking action on. Fonseca points to one resolution that would affirm support for requiring parental consent in order to grant a minor an abortion. Ford made headlines during his run for the Tory leadership by supporting the idea, at the time expressing his incredulity over other politicians fear of addressing the issue. Fonseca said that resolution wont be debated this weekend. Doug Ford said during the (leadership) campaign that he supported that kind of legislation, he said. He ran on that. It helped him. Fonseca said Ford himself should intervene and ensure social conservatives have a voice during the policy debate. If the premier doesnt, he risks damaging the coalition that helped him win the spring vote, Fonseca said. It will be seen by social conservatives as a betrayal by the party, he said. I seriously believe it would put at risk a second-term majority government for the Ford PCs. Granic Allen said a number of policy resolutions she submitted for debate were also rejected by the party. The majority of what one would describe as social conservative (policies) ... just simply didnt make it, she said. Youll have to quiz the party as to why. But of course, were very sensitive because weve seen something similar a year ago when we saw these policies shuffled away at the Patrick Brown convention. Granic Allen has had a tumultuous year within the party. After her bid to lead the Tories fell short, she was the only contestant who stood beside Doug Ford the night results of the vote were revealed. Months later, Ford removed her as a candidate for the party in the spring election after controversial social media messages she posted were made public. Granic Allen said she hasnt spoken to Ford since then. But she said many in the party hoped it had turned the page on the internal tensions that existed during Browns tenure as leader. On Saturday, Granic Allen proposed a policy resolution on the provinces sex education curriculum which was adopted by party members. The resolution says the Tories should recognize gender identity as a Liberal ideology and remove it from Ontarios sex ed curriculum. Party sources say while the resolution was passed, it is non-binding on the Ford government and passing it means it will be debated more formally at next years policy convention. The resolution was quickly condemned by NDP Leader Andrea Horwath. Im appalled that the Ford Conservatives would endorse a resolution that attacks trans people and their rights, Horwath said on Twitter. New Democrats stand with LGBTQ people against this dangerous position that drags our province backwards. Former premier Kathleen Wynne also slammed the resolution, calling it a direct endorsement of discrimination by Fords government and calling on the premier to denounce it. It is dangerous, reckless and irresponsible for a political party to endorse discrimination and tell people that how they identify themselves is not real, she said in a statement. Meanwhile, Ontario Infrastructure Minister Monte McNaughton, who has been a voice for social conservatives in the past, said Ford has worked hard to unite the party. I think when you look back in history, whether it was Mike Harris, Stephen Harper, Doug Ford, the most successful conservative leaders in our time have been successful in bringing that coalition together, he said. Premier Ford, I think, has done a great job as someone who is a fiscal conservative who stands up for families. Fords office did not respond to a request for comment. Western University political science professor Cristine de Clercy said every political party is a coalition of different factions, so the Tories internal struggles are no surprise. But this weekends policy convention will be Fords first challenge when it comes to reinforcing unity. Its time to pay the piper, said de Clercy. Mr. Ford has the difficult task of allocating a still relatively small basket of resources to quite a large demand for reward. Wilfrid Laurier political science professor Barry Kay said the divide between social conservatives and progressives in Ontarios Tories is a natural cleavage point. Many previous Tory leaders, including former prime minister Stephen Harper, have pushed social conservatives to the side in a bid to win more mainstream supporters. Those are losing positions, he said of many social conservative core issues. Harper made a calculation in federal politics that winning was more important than being a purist on social conservative issues. Kay said every conservative leader, including Ford, has the advantage of knowing social conservatives wont park their votes with other parties, even if they are ignored. My hunch is that the central PC party people...are just telling him (Ford) to smile at them and try to cajole them a bit but dont take them too seriously. Read more about: WASHINGTONU.S. President Donald Trump said there is no reason for him to listen to a recording of the very violent, very vicious killing of Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi, which has put him in a diplomatic bind: how to admonish Riyadh for the slaying yet maintain strong ties with a close ally. Trump, in an interview that aired Sunday, made clear that the audio recording, supplied by the Turkish government, would not affect his response to the Oct. 2 killing of Khashoggi, a columnist for The Washington Post who had been critical of the Saudi royal family. Its a suffering tape, its a terrible tape. Ive been fully briefed on it, theres no reason for me to hear it, Trump said in the interview with Fox News Sunday. I know everything that went on in the tape without having to hear it. On Saturday, Trump said his administration will be having a very full report over the next two days, probably Monday or Tuesday. He said the report will include who did it. It was unclear if the report would be made public. American intelligence agencies have concluded that the crown prince ordered the killing in the Saudi Consulate in Turkey, according to a U.S. official familiar with the assessment. The official was not authorized to discuss the matter publicly and spoke on condition of anonymity. Others familiar with the case caution that while its likely the crown prince was involved in the death, there continue to be questions about what role he played. Trump noted to Fox News Sunday that the crown prince has repeatedly denied being involved in the killing inside the Saudi Consulate in Istanbul. Read more: Trump administration denies reaching conclusion on Khashoggi CIA concludes Saudi crown prince ordered Khashoggis assassination U.S. sanctions Saudis, alleging involvement in Khashoggi murder Will anybody really know? Trump asked. At the same time, we do have an ally, and I want to stick with an ally that in many ways has been very good. A Republican member of the Senate Intelligence Committee said that so far, there is no smoking gun linking the crown prince to the killing. Sen. Roy Blunt of Missouri, who has received a confidential intelligence briefing on the matter, told ABC that its hard to imagine that the crown prince didnt know about the killing, but he said, I dont know that we absolutely know that yet. He said that Congress will await the Trump administrations report in the next two days and that the U.S. will need to be clear about the ramifications of sanctions, given Saudi Arabias strategic role in the Middle East. For his part, Sen. Lindsey Graham, a Trump ally, said the crown prince has been a wrecking ball in the relationship between the U.S. and Saudi Arabia. I hate to say that because I had a lot of hope for him being the reformer that Saudi Arabia needs, but that ship has sailed as far as Lindsey Grahams concerned, the South Carolina Republican told NBCs Meet the Press. I have no intention of working with him ever again, said Graham, who is in line to be the next chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee. Intelligence officials have been providing information to Trump for weeks about the death, and he was briefed again by phone Saturday by CIA Director Gina Haspel and Secretary of State Mike Pompeo as he flew to California. White House press secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders provided no details of his call but said the president has confidence in the CIA. The United States government is determined to hold all those responsible for the killing of Jamal Khashoggi accountable, the State Department said in a statement. Recent reports indicating that the U.S. government has made a final conclusion are inaccurate. There remain numerous unanswered questions with respect to the murder of Mr. Khashoggi. The statement added: The U.S. government has taken decisive measures against the individuals responsible, including visa and sanctions actions. We will continue to explore additional measures to hold those accountable who planned, led and were connected to the murder. And, we will do that while maintaining the important strategic relationship between the United States and Saudi Arabia. Before his call on Air Force One, Trump told reporters that when it came to the crown prince, as of this moment we were told that he did not play a role. Were going to have to find out what they have to say. That echoed remarks by national security adviser John Bolton, who said earlier this week that people who have listened to an audio recording of the killing do not think it implicates the crown prince. Trump has called the killing a botched operation that was carried out very poorly and has said the coverup was one of the worst coverups in the history of coverups. But he has resisted calls to cut off arms sales to the kingdom and has been reluctant to antagonize the Saudi rulers. Trump considers the Saudis vital allies in his Mideast agenda. But members of Congress are pushing Trump for a tougher response to the killing. The administration this past week penalized 17 Saudi officials for their alleged role in the killing, but American lawmakers have called on the administration to curtail arms sales to Saudi Arabia or take other harsher punitive measures. Turkish and Saudi authorities say Khashoggi, a Saudi who lived in the United States, was killed inside the consulate by a team from the kingdom after he went there to get marriage documents. Read more about: Who needs "Weekend Update" when we've got "The Ingraham Angle"? Kate McKinnon played Fox News host Laura Ingraham once again in the "Saturday Night Live" cold open, which took us through her version of the week's biggest headlines. First up were the deadly blazes throughout California, which McKinnon's Ingraham reduced to "tiny wildfires" that celebrities "are whining about ... while our heroic president is under constant attack from rain" - a reference to President Donald Trump's decision not to attend a World War I memorial ceremony during his recent trip to Paris. She then mentioned post-midterm claims that suburban women have "revolted" against the Republican Party, pushing them aside in favor of a theory that all Hispanic people voted twice. "You can't dismiss that idea simply because it isn't true and sounds insane," McKinnon's Ingraham said before reading out other ridiculous remarks such as, "Santa is Jesus' dad" and "If the earth is so warm, why are my feet cold?" McKinnon's castmates Cecily Strong, Alex Moffat and Leslie Jones swung by as Ingraham's guests. Strong appeared as Jeanine Pirro, a Fox News host whom McKinnon's Ingraham noted is eligible for a Pulitzer Prize, if not worthy. Pirro also shared outlandish fraud claims she heard in the Bass Pro Shops parking lot, one of which was Tyler Perry returning to the polls as Madea, the elderly black woman character he will soon retire. Other theories involved "stacking," when kids in a trench coat vote as an adult, and "Klumping," a reference to Eddie Murphy portraying multiple characters in "The Nutty Professor." Moffat played Facebook chief executive Mark Zuckerberg, who came on to address the recent New York Times report that claims his company hired an opposition research firm to "discredit activist protesters, in part by linking them to liberal financier George Soros." Poking fun at the common perception that Zuckerberg seems robotic, Moffat stood with his fingers intertwined and his arms outstretched. He had rehearsed his responses behind a table, he said with a strained laugh. "The idea that we knowingly employed a horrible company makes me laugh," he added. When asked about how Facebook might address demands for it to become more transparent in its practices, he attempted a joke and later dabbed a few times: "I can't be any more transparent. Have you seen my skin?" Jones steered the conversation back to politics, specifically to the fight for House speaker. She portrayed Rep. Marcia L. Fudge, D-Ohio, a potential challenger to Rep. Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif. "For years, the GOP has used her name against us," Jones' Fudge said, "but Republicans can never find a way to make fun of me, a middle-aged black woman named Fudge." She proceeded to call out Pelosi's age - "I'm not saying she's old, but her baby sister is a redwood tree," she said of the 78-year-old lawmaker - and compare her to the nun from a recent horror film of the same name. But in all seriousness, Jones' Fudge concluded, "the reason I should be speaker is that I can help mobilize the black vote." Alarms sounded. "Uh oh!" McKinnon's Ingraham exclaimed before explaining that Fudge's comment about the black vote "set off our Fox News the-country-is-changing alarm." Susan Good was sitting with a group of women in her home in Palm Springs, California, when one of them began lamenting the difficulties of aging. But it wasnt the usual script about aches, pains and skyrocketing cholesterol levels. She said that she felt invisible, recalled Good, who is in her 70s. The speaker felt generally silenced. Unseen. As if she had nothing to contribute to the world. This shocked Good. Invisible was the last word she would have used to describe this woman. She was very popular with a great personality, she said. But then the other women in the room echoed the same feelings. These were all women who had college degrees, were married or had a significant other, were well traveled and led very nice lifestyles, but every one of them felt invisible, she said. They felt invisible when they saw themselves in the mirror. They didnt feel pretty any longer. Nobody was looking at them. The word continued to haunt her, and she wondered if she could help address this prevalent feeling. So in 2015 Good, whose nickname is Honey, created a website for women 50 and older, HoneyGood.com, which offers advice on everything from pedicures to the stock market to grandparenting (she has two children, one stepchild and 26 grandchildren; a book, Stories for my Grandchild, comes out in February). But rather than keep her initiative strictly online, Good in September started Moxie!, a free private social network on her website where women could bond. The idea was for them to share their stories, concerns and triumphs not just with people in their same age group, but across generations. At her monthly Moxie! group in Palm Springs, now in its third year, women in their 60s munch on cookies and sip coffee while mingling with women in their 80s. At a recent gathering in Chicago, where she lives half the year, guests ranged from 29 to 93. We talk about money issues, blended families, widowhood, invisibility, Good said. We talk about problems between mothers and daughters. The only rule I have is that nothing leaves my home. Goods Moxie! group is one of a handful of informal, intergenerational womens gatherings that have started recently in cities around the country. Distinct from the Lean In circles started by Sheryl Sandberg, which tended to focus on career, these groups are filling a necessary void: As a January 2018 J. Walter Thompson trend report of women 53 to 72 noted, women in this age group are usually overlooked or ignored. In most other countries, young and old freely mix together, with several generations often living under one roof. But in the United States, that mostly happens in the workplace. Even so, millennials and baby boomers tend to stick with their same-aged cohort, rarely associating out of the office. This is a limited way of socializing that cross-generational groups seek to expand. A lot of people think if theyre mothers they can only be friends with mothers; if theyre single they can only hang out with single people, said Shasta Nelson, 41, author of Friendtimacy, a book about deepening friendships that was published in 2016. But research suggests that it doesnt matter what commonality we have, only that we find a couple of commonalities. If I say, Im in my 40s and I only want to meet people in my 40s, its as much of a predictor of friendship as saying I can only be friends with people born in September or who like Madonna or who have my name. According to Nelson, only three things are necessary for a relationship to flourish: positivity (it has to feel good); consistency (you have to be in touch on a regular basis); and vulnerability (you have to feel safe with each other). None of them has to do with age. A friendship is any relationship where two people both people feel seen in a safe and satisfying way, she said. Ten years ago, Nelson created GirlFriend Circles, a kind of match.com for women to meet online and take it offline if they choose. She later started Travel Circles, which helps women of all ages take trips to meet other women around the world. Angela Wilkinson, 48, a self-described suburban housewife in Middle America (in this case, Marion, Iowa), went to Greece, Italy, Rwanda and Peru with Nelson. With two sons now in their early 20s, one of whom has special needs, Wilkinson said she always felt isolated at home and unable to meet new people. Its hard to make friends as an adult, she said. I didnt have friends who were older or younger. On her trips with Nelson, she became close with two women, one of whom is 13 years older than she is, another who is 14 years younger. They have remained in touch and have even taken other vacations together. What helped bridge the age gap with friendship is when youre in a new situation or uncomfortable in some way its just a great equalizer, Wilkinson said. Were all in the same boat. On these trips everyones on these new situations. The age goes out the window. Ravi with the last remaining Northern White rhino Sudan before its death Crimes are an everyday occurrence. Crime scene investigations have often been vested with the Police but in the West, it is serious business. It would take years or even a lifetime for one to be qualified as a Crime Scene Investigator. Completing his 25th year in forensics and crime scene investigations is Ravi Perera, a Sri Lankan living in California, USA. Ravi has been one of the 12 individuals who were selected to follow training at the Forensic Academy of the Federal Bureau of Investigation in Quantico, Virginia. While solving crimes related to humans, Ravi has quite interestingly extended his expertise to solving wildlife crimes, especially at his work base in Kenya. As such, Ravi is also the founder of the Serendipity Wildlife Foundation which is an organisation that provides assistance in wildlife forensics and investigations. Ravi also has plans to extend his operations to Sri Lanka in the near future. In an interview with the Daily Mirror during a recent visit to Sri Lanka, Ravi shared his experience in the field of forensics and about lessons we can learn from Kenya. Excerpts: Q Why are you interested in forensics? My forensic career started 24 years ago and will be completing 25 years in a couple of weeks. The department that I worked for wanted to start a CSI unit. But during that time there was no CSI on TV and no one knew what CSI was. Then I said yes and from that point onwards there was no return. They sent me for schooling which included basic, intermediate and advanced CSI which I studied at the University of California, Long Beach. I also did my advanced certification which very few people have and I got quite interested in it that I did a double advanced certificate as well. I have done almost every type of training available and have been able to solve well over 5,000 crimes from basic vandalism to homicides. My department is one of the few that do traditional CSI including fingerprints, DNA, different types of evidence such as biological evidence, trace evidence, traces from hair or fibre and any type of body fluid. From there I was asked if I would like to be sponsored for the FBI Academy in Quantico. That is the ultimate that anybody could reach. So I asked whether I was qualified and one of my supervisors sponsored me as he thought I should take my education further. "I think education is very important and the Wildlife and Nature Protection Society (WNPS) is heading in the right direction. Education is the best way to go because in Kenya my drivers need to be certified before they go out there" Q What happened thereafter? Hence, I applied and there were thousands that have applied. The minimum qualification was that you had to have 10 years of experience. At Quantico they dont just teach the basics but teach everything at a higher level. I applied and for six months I completely forgot about it and gave up hopes when one day they suddenly called me and asked if I was ready to go in three weeks. I was so happy because out of the thousands who applied only 12 were selected from the whole of US. Then I also found out that Im the only person from the entire state of California that has been selected. It was the most memorable time of my life. I never expected it to be so advanced and there was so much to study. Sometimes classes would start at 6.30 am and would go on till 11.00 pm. The academy alone was bigger than Dehiwela and Mt. Lavinia combined. So you need wheels to go from one end to the other. It has its own crash track where they drive cars, crash it and we have to do the investigation and the photography. Everything was extremely hi-tech. My most exciting time was doing surveillance photography from helicopters and night vision photography which we would do with absolutely no light. Then we had the usual crime scene materials we would photograph including shoeprints, drug detection, surveillance on drug sales where our instructors would be the bad guys and we have to go in and pick our spot to take photographs of the way they come in, the drug transaction, etc. Q How did you get involved in solving wildlife crimes? On one of my visits to Kenya I was talking to people at the anti-poaching unit and I realized that they never had proper evidence when they caught people who were poaching, smuggling or trafficking. Evidence means to show the person associated with the crime or being at the crime scene or involved with the crime in some way. I told them what I do in the US and they invited me back to start working with them. The first thing that they found was that when someone shot an animal they wouldnt want to get caught with the weapon, so they ducked the gun under a bush. So even if there are 10 people they dont know who shot at the animal. Hence I introduced what is called Gunshot Residue Testing (GSR) which enables them to take that little testing kit, put it on their hands and detect who had fired the shot. That came in useful and we will enhance it in years ahead. I also taught them fingerprinting which was very useful. We started fingerprinting on tusks and we are still in the process of testing and we found some good methods. The tusks are porous and do not have a smooth surface. If it is a smooth surface we can get a good fingerprint. We started a project and it has proven to be successful and by next year we want to have the first wildlife crime fingerprint database only to associate people involved in wildlife crimes. This is going to be very unique. Q Out of the 5,000 odd cases you have gotten involved with, what were the most difficult cases to crack? That would be a lot of sex crimes and child abuse cases. Sometimes it will be a family member that they dont want to be arrested or prosecuted or they dont want to be a witness. If its a child then he or she cant make those decisions. There was a case where a camera was left behind at a crime scene and when I looked at the flash card there were no faces there. But in one of the photographs I saw a finger. So I took it back into the lab, analysed it for a couple of hours and got his fingerprint detail off his finger. It then turned out that this person was identified in a lot of crimes. There were operations including money laundering and gun trafficking which have been very exciting. But every case can be as exciting as another. In cases such as homicides we have to think like the criminal. Im also a Shooting Reconstruction Specialist and this is where we have to reconstruct the crime scene with the evidence that we have. "On one of my visits to Kenya I was talking to people at the anti-poaching unit and I realized that they never had proper evidence when they caught people who were poaching, smuggling or trafficking. Evidence means to show the person associated with the crime or being at the crime scene or involved with the crime in some way" Q Sri Lanka has a history of dragging criminal cases even with adequate evidence. What needs to be done is to streamline the process of getting hold of perpetrators as soon as possible? The most important thing is to preserve a crime scene when a crime happens. The evidence needs to be preserved and from videos and pictures I see in Sri Lanka I dont see that happening. The whole village, the next village and their relatives are looking down at the accident or dead body. I also see that in wildlife crime where a 100 people are gathered around a dead elephant. So if the elephant was killed by something we have lost our evidence there. If evidence is contaminated we cannot use it. Contamination means touching, walking in that area and taking evidence out. What we do is to secure it with crime scene tape so that no one can walk in. In that way we support the integrity of the crime scene. The collection of evidence needs to be done with a plan and a method by qualified people. The qualified people need to know exactly what they are doing and prior experience goes a long way. You also need to make sure that everything is safe when you enter a crime scene and you should enter with the bare minimum number of people. Q How often do these wildlife crimes get reported? In most instances they get reported by rangers who go on patrol or by the villagers that do a lot of walking, especially the tribesmen who can walk up to 20 to 30 miles on foot every day. Then again it could be a natural death, it could be caused by another animal or it could be a shooting. Sometimes we find animals hanging from snares and when it comes to snares its quite difficult to find a suspect. One of the key pieces of evidence we collect is from the cell phone. There is software that we use to extract evidence and do cell phone analysis and the information we get can be used as evidence to solve the crime. They can have a locked cell phone and delete files but we can still retrieve information. Q As opposed to Kenya, in Sri Lanka we have the human elephant conflict and villagers often see animals as threats. How could we push them for co-existence? Let me take an example about lions because lions are the animals that tend to affect people in Kenya the most. There is a programme in place right now where donors put money into a certain fund and if their cow is killed by a lion they get compensation. So they are not keen on killing the lion anymore. But sometimes they want to kill the lion because the cows, goats and sheep are valuable to them. Lions are the big killers, and this compensation programme has gone a long way and it has been implemented in tourism areas. Q Sri Lanka also has a compensation scheme but the money is not enough to construct a damaged house, leave aside the crops. So do you think it would work here? Compensation could work if the elephants destroy crops but where is this money coming from? It is very rarely that houses get damaged in Kenya and the cost of constructing a hut is quite cheap. In Sri Lanka, the farmers are not contributing to tourism as such. But the Masai warriors contribute because they are in the tourism area and tourists even visit their village. The money comes from lodgers, well-wishers and foundations who are interested in conservation. Because if a lion is killed, a luxury camp will not have their guests coming in, so they value the animal because that is part of their wealth. Q Since you are in the safari industry, how important is it to have nature interpretation programmes such as what has been initiated by the WNPS? I think education is very important and the Wildlife and Nature Protection Society (WNPS) is heading in the right direction. Education is the best way to go because in Kenya my drivers need to be certified before they go out there. Sometimes they may have to go to a guiding school for two years before they can be certified as a safari driver. You got to know exactly what youre doing, how you behave and even identify every animal and bird out there. But in Sri Lanka, I have had trackers who have never opened their mouth during the entire safari ride. That was when I realized that I dont need trackers but I can get the support from the jeep driver. Some of the jeep drivers are not qualified and know nothing about wildlife. So they can go in for a certification programme and perhaps have a sticker on their jeeps for guests to identify them as qualified drivers. and we dont have 100 to 200 jeeps coming in at once. Hence theres no blocking and theres space for everyone. "The most important thing is to preserve a crime scene when a crime happens. The evidence needs to be preserved and from videos and pictures I see in Sri Lanka I dont see that happening. The whole village, the next village and their relatives are looking down at the accident or dead body. I also see that in wildlife crime where a 100 people are gathered around a dead elephant. So if the elephant was killed by something we have lost our evidence there. If evidence is contaminated we cannot use it " Q How do you see the future of wildlife in Sri Lanka? That is if there is wildlife remaining for the future and if nothing is done right now, there wont be any wildlife in the future. If all the elephants get killed there will be nothing for the future generations. From what I read I dont see any positive outcomes. I dont live in Sri Lanka so I dont have first-hand experience; I dont go out to the jungles as a lot of conservationists or wildlife lovers do. I think its good that there are associations and individuals who have come forward to fight for the wildlife and be their advocate and that in turn makes a big difference. Ravi EDWARDSVILLE Nearly 50 children were officially united with their forever families Saturday at the Madison County Courthouse, in what has become one of the largest annual Adoption Day events in the nation. Participating counties use Adoption Day to not only allow the court to make the family unities official, but to allow adopting families to celebrate together. Its the third year Madison County has held the event. Last years 48 adoptions were the most of any county in Illinois, and the second most in the United States. Associate Judge Martin Mengarelli, chair of this years ceremony, estimated Saturdays number would be close to the same. He said the number of adoptions in any year can be related to the number of children who go through the court system. If a reunification with family cant happen, permanent adoption is sought. It all depends on the number of cases that we have coming in, and unfortunately, it seems as though over the last two years, our numbers have gone up quite a bit, Mengarelli said. But while there are few events in the courtroom that yield laughter and joy, courtrooms on Saturday had the opposite essence. Children were entertained by a magician, balloon artist and costumed characters. I think I have the most important docket in the courthouse, and today, to me, is the most fun you could ever have as a judge, Mengarelli said. To see the smiles on the childrens faces, on the parents faces, on the families faces, and know what theyve gone through to get to this point honestly, its the best part about being a judge. For most parents, its a day to breathe a sigh of relief after the completion of what can be a tedious and emotional process. Jonathan Walker, of Roxana, said he and his wife Kallie planned to adopt two foster children from the day they moved in, in December of 2015. It was finalized Saturday. We treated them as our own since the day they moved in, but its good to have closure and to finally have the same last name, he said. I think its a big deal for them to really feel that finality, in turn. The Walkers have four children of their own and have taken in other foster placements, but wanted to do more. Its hard, its emotional, Walker said. There are challenges, but the kids are worth it. At the end of the day, were doing it for the kids. Theres no other reason, no other alternative, but to give kids a home and the parents they deserve. God blessed us with children, and called on us to adopt more. Were blessed. James Kelso and Tracy Willis were already parents of seven, all adults, before adopting 15-month-old Jude on Saturday. My babys 21, so we talked about fostering, Willis said. But there was a lady who knew us, and she asked if we would take her baby. She had fallen on a hard situation. We prayed about it, and thats how we got Jude. They were even there for the delivery. My husband got to cut the cord, she said. Hes been with us since birth, Kelso added. We drove him home from the hospital. He said having the adoption finalized by the courts took a big burden off the family. Hes a good boy, he said. Mengarelli praised the hard work of the judges and staff from the circuit clerks office and sheriffs office who volunteered to work the event. Its amazing, he said. When we say we need people to do this, we have so many volunteers, we have to turn them down. Id like the people of Madison County to know that the court and this judiciary really cares about the kids, and were doing everything we can to help them. Alongside Mengarelli, Circuit Judge David Dugan, and Associate Judges Maureen Schuette, Sarah Smith, Ryan Jumper and Ronald Foster approved adoptions Saturday. Chief Judge David Hylla opened the proceedings. GLEN CARBON The Glen Carbon Police Department is once again giving assistance to the Caseyville Police Department. At the last regular meeting of the Glen Carbon Board, trustees approved a request from Police Chief Todd Link to donate a police vehicle to the Caseyville department. Link said due to the recent purchase of two new patrol cars, the departments 2012 Chevy Impala is considered surplus property and there is a need for vehicles in Caseyville. Instead of putting this up for auction and making $500 to a $2,000, we thought it would be better to assist the Village of Caseyville in replenishing their fleet of police cars, Link said. Caseyville Police Chief Tom Coppotelli has asked the department for the donation. Link said the surplus vehicle has reached the end of its serviceable life in the Glen Carbon Police Department. This isnt the first time the Village has assisted other police departments with the donation of surplus vehicles. In 2017, a 2011 Chevy Impala was donated to the Caseyville Police Department and in September the two 2008 Chevy Impalas were donated after a request was made from Livingston Police Department Chief Wayne Emshousen. Link said the Public Safety Committee approved the donation. Trustees voted unanimously to donate the surplus vehicle. In other police business, Link requested approval to purchase equipment to assist officers in the investigation of serious car crashes. He said a member of the Glen Carbon Police Department is assigned to the Metro East Crash Assistance Team (MECAT) and the department does not have the equipment needed. This special assignment allows the officer to respond and investigate fatal collisions throughout Madison, St. Clair and Monroe counties. Glen Carbon in one of seven departments participating in the task force, but we do not have our own equipment, Link said. The equipment, called a Total Station, is an electronic, optical instrument that is used to reconstruct accidents with computer technology. The purchase amount for the equipment is $20,520, which includes training. Link said the purchase would not affect the village budget. Currently there are three total stations in use for the task force. For this reason, the department would like to use the federal seized funds and DUI funds for the purchase of the total station of facilitating crash reconstruction, Link said. Trustees voted unanimously to approve the purchase. EDWARDSVILLE A Southern Illinois University Edwardsville senior was recognized during a ceremony on Saturday at the Old State Capitol in Springfield that is held each year to honor the top students from the states colleges and universities. The Lincoln Academy of Illinois 43rd Annual Student Laureate Convocation recognized excellence in curricular and extracurricular activities by one senior from each of the states four-year, degree-granting colleges and universities. This years honorees included Austin Cole Tuttle from Sherman, Illinois, a 21-year-old senior economics and finance major at SIUE. The medallion that Tuttle received as a Student Laureate is called the Order of Lincoln, and that holds special significance for him. It means a lot because Lincoln stood for something bigger than himself, and thats really important to me, Tittle said. Id like to stand for something bigger than just my own life. So to be put in the same sentence or to be associated with Lincoln in any way like that is really great. Tuttle hopes to begin a career in banking, either with a private bank or the federal government, upon graduation. I really appreciate that Ive had the opportunity to be a Student Laureate, Tuttle said. I come from just outside of Springfield, and it was a privilege to come back home and receive this honor. Southern Illinois University System Interim President J. Kevin Dorsey attended Saturdays ceremony and helped present the award to Tuttle. Its an incredible accomplishment and recognition for these students, and I think it helps tie the students to Lincoln and Illinois, and it ties Illinois to the students, Dorsey said. This is a wonderful building with its Lincoln history, and to have an event here is truly memorable. The Old State Capitol was the seat of Illinois government from 1839 to 1876 and many famous Illinoisans, including Abraham Lincoln, served as lawmakers or elected officials there. All of the Student Laureates were presented with a certificate of merit, a Lincoln medallion, and a $1,000 check from The Lincoln Academy. It affirms their tremendous dedication to academic scholarship and research, their devotion to community service, and the fact that these students really want to be change-makers to the world, said Lincoln Academy Chancellor Stephanie Pace Marshall. The Lincoln Academy is one of those organizations that can say those are exactly the things you would be doing if you lead in the spirit of Abraham Lincoln. In addition to honoring the states Student Laureates, The Lincoln Academy also selects present or former citizens who have made outstanding contributions toward the progress and betterment of humanity to be honored as Laureates of the Lincoln Academy and receive the Order of Lincoln, a process that has been in place since 1964. For more information visit www.thelincolnacademyofillinois.org. Touched by the compassion of the nurses who tended to her... New Delhi, Nov 18 (PTI) The ongoing rift with the government is set to play out at the RBI's crucial board meeting Monday, with the Finance Ministry nominees and some independent directors expected to take on Governor Urjit Patel and his team over issues ranging from MSME credit to the central bank's reserves, though both sides are in favour of reaching a common ground. While there have been reports and demands from some quarters for the Governor to step down, sources said Patel is unlikely to yield under pressure and will rather mount a strong defence of the central bank's policies regarding stringent NPA recognition norms as well as measures taken to ease credit supply to MSMEs. Patel and his four deputies, who all are members of the RBI's 18-member central board, will present a united front, while a few independent directors too are expected to support the central bank's mission to clean up bank balance sheets, sources said. The central board, headed by the RBI Governor, is expected to discuss issues mentioned in the agenda circulated to the board members in advance. Off-agenda items can also be raised in the meeting, with the chair's permission. The RBI's central board currently has 18 members, though the provision is that it can go up to 21. The members include Governor Urjit Patel and his four deputies as 'full-time official directors', while the rest 13 have been nominated by the government, including two Finance Ministry officials -- Economic Affairs Secretary and Financial Services Secretary. Sources said the government and Reserve Bank of India (RBI) are looking to reach at an agreeable solution with respect to relaxation of the Prompt Corrective Action (PCA) framework and easing of lending norms for the MSME sector. If not in this board meeting, the issue of relaxation of PCA framework would reach a resolution in the next few weeks, they added. As a result of the relaxation, some banks may come out of the PCA framework by the end of this fiscal. Of the 21 state-owned banks, 11 are under the PCA framework, which imposes lending and other restrictions on weak lenders. 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). Globally, PCA kicks in only when banks slip on a single parameter of capital adequacy ratio, and the government is in favour of this practice being adopted for the domestic banking sector as well. The RBI is also expected to consider a special dispensation for micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) 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 and plays a critical role in the economy -- needs some support after being impacted by demonetisation and implementation of the Goods and Services Tax (GST). However, the central bank has been averse to the government's demand as it considers the sectors to be vulnerable. Meanwhile, Finance Minister Arun Jaitley on Saturday said that growth must not be throttled by limiting credit availability and liquidity. It is necessary that the growth process does not suffer due to the cleaning up of the banking system from the "collectively committed sins" during 2008-14 when the regulatory mechanisms also overlooked high debt accumulation, he said. Amid growing tensions with the central bank, the Finance Ministry had sought discussions 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. In his first public comments since the spat between the RBI and the Finance Ministry came out in the open, Swadeshi ideologue S Gurumurthy had last week said the stand-off "is not a happy thing at all". Gurumurthy, who was appointed to the board of RBI a few months back, had said the capital adequacy ratio prescribed in India is 1 per cent higher than the global Basel norms. He also pitched for easing lending norms for small and medium enterprises, which account for 50 per cent of the country's GDP. Last month, RSS-affiliated Swadeshi Jagran Manch said the RBI Governor should work in sync with the government or resign. "The Reserve Bank of India Governor should work in sync with the government or otherwise resign," SJM's co-convener Ashwani Mahajan had said. PTI DP ANZ ABM New Delhi, Nov 18 (PTI) Prime Minister Narendra Modi will chair a meeting with top industrialists and policy makers on Monday to brainstorm on measures required to realise his vision of India breaking into the top 50 in the World Bank's ease of doing business index, sources said. The meeting 'Reflections on Ease of Doing Business' is being organised by the Department of Industrial Policy and Promotion as the government gears up for India's ranking to leapfrog on the 'Doing Business' index next year and boost the country's investment attractiveness, the sources told PTI. Industrialists like Anand Mahindra and top representatives from industry chambers CII, Ficci and Assocham, among others, would share their inputs and feedback for the roadmap required to move ahead in that direction, they added. Senior government officials from the team that worked on reforms to improve the ease of doing business parameters taken into account by the World Bank will also participate in the meeting. India's rank rose 23 places to the 77th spot in the 'Doing Business' rankings released on October 31. The surge in ranking came as a shot in the arm for the Narendra Modi-led government which faces strong dissenting voices from opposition parties ahead of the general elections next year. India was ranked 100th in the World Bank's Doing Business Report last year. PTI RSN ABM ABM o much is being written about President Maithripala Sirisenas political U-turn and the resulting chaos, both pro and against. Of all the regular political columnists, Tisaranee Gunasekara has written what is easily the best analysis, (Deranged, published by the Colombo Telegraph website on Nov. 11). Its a gem of an analysis. I am not saying this because it echoes my own fears, hopes and sentiments. This writer is neither a political analyst or columnist. Depending on others evaluations and opinions about the current crisis, I found myself swimming in murky waters until I read Tisaranees column. I have never met the writer and do not even know how she looks like. What I can see clearly is an analytical mind of the highest order, free of personal prejudice. If she is biased, its in favour of democracy and our rights to live and breathe freely in the country of our birth. Her language is exceptionally good and obviously shes extremely well read. In Deranged, she quotes from The Lord of the Rings by JRR Tolkien and refers to Homers epic poems. A political columnist doesnt have to be literary; but in a country where most journalists brazenly display their lack of reading and inability to present a cohesive argument (in whatever language), its both a delight and a relief to come across a writer who has such wide reading and intellectual depth. Her column would still be a gem even without those literary allusions. But they are the embellishments which make reading it such a delight. She starts with a quote from Tolkien Precious, precious, precious, Gollum cried and ends with a reference to Homer. Speaking about the battle that must be waged to protect our democratic rights, she writes: This battle requires the most inclusive tent. It is a battle that must be waged, and waged right, irrespective of the outcome. In the Odyssey that is history, Ithaca is only a way-station. That last sentence is something which should be hung as a slogan at the entrance of our parliament. It sums up, like nothing else written by any other columnist about the current crisis, the nature of the struggle which will have to be waged if we are not to lose our basic rights as citizens, not just now, or till December or till 2020, but for many centuries to come, for there will be more Ranil Wickremesinghes, Maithripala Sirisenas and Mahinda Rajapaksas in the eons to come. "What I can see clearly is an analytical mind of the highest order, free of personal prejudice. If she is biased, its in favour of democracy and our rights to live and breathe freely in the country of our birth" The writer has made a comparison with the presidents coup with Adolf Hitlers call to an election as soon as he became Germanys new chancellor through a backroom deal. She writes: They (the Nazis) understood that democracy can be killed best and easiest using the legitimacy a victorious election would bring. The comparison is striking. It doesnt matter that we do not officially have Nazis and fascists here. Its the thought processes which matter, the homophobia and hatred of political opponents, minorities and democratic institutions. I recall that one writer recently criticized Tisaranee for comparing Gotabhaya Rajapaksa to Adolf Hitler. I believe he has missed the point. When we compare someone to Hitler, it isnt about so-and-so being exactly like him. Its rather a way of saying that so-and-so has some of the traits, habits and thought processes which Hitler had. For example, one can argue that Gotabhaya has a nasty temper and liking for revenge, just like Hitler. If he hasnt, then he can prove me wrong if and when he comes to power again. Finally, for those who havent read either Tolkien or Homer: Gollum is an important character in Tolkiens The Hobbit. He lives on an island on a mysterious lake, a dwarf in size, and is known for his greed. The latter quality reminds you of someone? As for Ithaca, thats where Odysseus came from. He was sent by King Menelaus to bring back his eloped wife Helen from Troy. This took ten years of war (The Illiad), and it took Odysseus another ten years to return to Ithaca. Now you can figure out why Ithaca is only a way-station in the Odyssey that is history. Mumbai, Nov 18 (PTI) Neha Dhupia and Angad Bedi Sunday welcomed their first child, a baby girl. According to Dhupia's publicist, the actor was admitted to Women's Hospital in suburban Khar where she delivered the baby around 11AM. Both the mother and daughter are in good health, the publicist added. Dhupia, 37, and Bedi, 35, got married on May 10 this year in a private ceremony. The couple announced their pregnancy on August 24 through social media. PTI JUR RDS RDS Kathmandu, Nov 18 (PTI) India has provided financial assistance for the construction of three schools in Kaski district of western Nepal. One secondary school and two multiple campuses have been constructed in Kaski with the grant assistance from the Indian government, according to a statement issued by the Indian Embassy here. Minister for Culture and Tourism Rabindra Adhikari inaugurated Saraswati Tika Higher Secondary School at Lekhnath Municipality, built with the Indian assistance of Rs 37.10 million. Likewise, the construction of Laxmi Adarsha Multiple Campus in Lekhnath and Gupteshwor Mahadev Multiple Campus in Pokhara have also been completed under the grant assistance by India. Both the campuses were inaugurated by the Deputy Chief of Mission at the Embassy of India, Ajay Kumar. Laxmi Adarsha Multiple Campus has been built with Indian assistance of Rs 48.40 million while Gupteshwor Mahadev Multiple Campus has been constructed with a grant assistance of Rs 41.10 million. The newly-built infrastructures includes conference hall, computer lab, library etc. PTI SBP PMS PMS PMS Dubai, Nov 18 (PTI) Prime Minister Imran Khan arrived in the UAE on Sunday on a day-long visit to the Gulf country, where he is likely to seek financial assistance to minimise the cash-strapped Pakistan's dependence on an IMF bailout package. Khan, who is visiting the UAE for the second time in the last two months, met Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed, the Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE's Armed Forces, at the Presidential Palace in Abu Dhabi. He is accompanied by Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi and Finance Minister Asad Umar among other officials, the Express Tribune reported. "The purpose of the visit is to seek billions of dollars in aid as the International Monetary Fund (IMF) becomes unusually tough on Pakistan on the fiscal and monetary fronts, which is hindering early conclusion of talks," the paper said. Pakistan wants USD 6 billion financial assistance from the UAE in the shape of cash deposits and oil on deferred payments, it added. The two sides may sign a memorandum of understanding on the financial assistance package, the paper quoted a cabinet minister as saying. Finance Minister Umar, however, denied that there is any link between the IMF conditions and the PMs UAE visit. Last month, Khan had a stopover in Dubai on his return from Saudi Arabia in September. Saudi Arabia had agreed to provide Pakistan with a USD 6 billion rescue package during Khan's visit to the Gulf Kingdom. Early this month, Prime Minister Khan visited China, which reportedly agreed to provide USD 6 billion in aid to Pakistan. Khan will visit Malaysia later this week where he is likely to seek monetary assistance. 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 IMF by getting loans from "friendly" countries like Saudi Arabia, China and Malaysia as officials in Islamabad believe that the global lender could attach tough conditions. PTI RUP ZH ZH ZH ZH New Delhi, Nov 18 (PTI) Following are the top foreign stories at 1700 hours: FGN9 US-LD INDIAN 61-yr-old Indian shot dead by teenager in US New York: A 61-year old Indian-origin man in the US has been shot dead by a juvenile boy in a suspected robbery and carjacking incident in New Jersey, prosecutors said. By Yoshita Singh FGN21 CHINA-US-BRI China slams Pence; says no country in debt trap because of BRI Beijing: China on Sunday hit back at US Vice President Mike Pence for accusing it of luring developing nations into a debt trap through the loans Beijing offers for infrastructure, asserting that not a single country has been mired in debt because of cooperation with it.By K J M Varma FGN8 US-TRUMP-2NDLD KHASHOGGI Trump says there will be 'a report' by Tuesday on Khashoggi's murder Washington: US President Donald Trump has said he had spoken with the CIA chief on the agency's assessment of the killing of Jamal Khashoggi and that there will be a "very full report" by Tuesday, amid reports that it had held the powerful Saudi crown prince responsible for the murder of the dissident journalist. By Lalit K Jha FGN18 PAK-IMRAN-UAE Pak PM visits UAE to seek financial assistance Dubai: Prime Minister Imran Khan arrived in the UAE on Sunday on a day-long visit to the Gulf country, where he is likely to seek financial assistance to minimise the cash-strapped Pakistan's dependence on an IMF bailout package. FGN19 LANKA-TALKS Sri Lanka president seeks talks to end power struggle Colombo: Sri Lanka's President Maithripala Sirisena on Sunday called crucial talks with political leaders in a bid to end a power struggle with the prime minister he sacked last month.(AFP) FGN16 INTERPOL Interpol meets to select new president after China's arrest Dubai: Police chiefs from around the world gathered in Dubai on Sunday for Interpol's general assembly to select a new president after the agency's former leader was detained in China.(AP) FGN20 APEC-3RDLD SUMMIT APEC leaders divided after US, China spat Port Moresby: Asia-Pacific leaders failed Sunday to bridge gaping divisions over trade at a summit dominated by a war of words between the US and China as they vie for regional influence.(AFP) FGN12 US-WILDFIRE-TRUMP 'Sad' Trump visits fire-wracked California, blames mismanagement Paradise: President Donald Trump expressed sadness Saturday at the devastation caused by fires in a California town, but persisted in his controversial claim that forest mismanagement is responsible for the tragedy which has left 76 dead and more than 1,000 listed as missing.(AP) FGN22 TALIBAN-US-LD TALKS Taliban hold talks with US envoy in Qatar Islamabad: The Taliban have held three days of talks with US envoy Zalmay Khalilzad in the Gulf state of Qatar, where the Afghan insurgent group has a political office, a Taliban official and another individual close to the group said Sunday.(AP) RUP RUP Dhaka, Nov 18 (PTI) Bangladesh's former prime minister Khaleda Zia on Sunday challenged the seven-year sentence handed out to her in a corruption case for embezzling millions from a charitable trust in her late husband's name, claiming that she has been convicted "illegally and unjustly". The Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) chief challenged the trial court's decision four days after receiving the full text of the verdict announced on October 29. The 638-page decision and the 700-page appeal petition also include a petition for bail, said her lawyer Kayser Kamal after submitting the petition to the High Court on Sunday, the bdnews reported. The BNP chairperson has been convicted illegally and unjustly, he was quoted as saying by the daily. We have appealed for her sentence to be dismissed and for her release. A High Court bench will be formed to decide on the appeal. The trial court in its verdict in the Zia Charitable Trust graft case found the former prime minister guilty under the Prevention of Corruption Act 1947 and sentenced her to seven years in prison and fined her Tk 1 million. Zia, 73, has been in custody since February 8, when she was sentenced to five years in prison in another case related to embezzlement of funds of an orphanage named after her husband late president Ziaur Rahman. The latest sentence, which comes ahead of general elections in December, is related to the Zia Charitable Trust. According to the case, Zia and three others abused their power and collected USD 375,000 for the trust from unknown sources. The Zia Charitable Trust graft case was filed by the Anti-Corruption Commission in 2011. The judge granted the three other suspects in the case the same sentence for abetting corrupt activity under the Penal Code. The court order also allowed the government to seize the 70 decimals of land bought in the name of the Zia Charitable Trust. PTI PMS PMS Port Moresby, Nov 18 (AFP) Leaders from 21 Asia-Pacific nations battled to paper over gaping differences Sunday after an unusually sharp exchange of words between the group's two most powerful members, the US and China. Wrapping up a two-day summit, leaders will strive to craft a statement on the uncontroversial parts of their agenda -- pushing for deeper economic integration. But with just hours remaining, officials were still scrambling to forge enough of a consensus to issue a formal joint statement and were admiting privately that it might not be possible, amid yawning differences on trade policy. The annual gathering has been overshadowed by speeches on Saturday from Chinese President Xi Jinping and US Vice President Mike Pence, which appeared to represent competing bids for regional leadership. Pence warned smaller countries not to be seduced by China's massive Belt-and-Road infrastructure programme, which sees Beijing offer money to poorer countries for construction and development projects. The "opaque" loans come with strings attached and build up "staggering debt", Pence charged, mocking the initiative as a "constricting belt" and a "one-way road". He urged nations instead to stick with the United States, which doesn't "drown our partners in a sea of debt" or "coerce, corrupt or compromise your independence". In a speech to business leaders just minutes before Pence, Xi insisted the initiative was not a "trap" and there was no "hidden agenda" -- amid criticism that it amounts to "chequebook diplomacy" in the region. Xi also lashed out at "America First" trade protectionism, saying it was a "short-sighted approach" that was "doomed to failure". The feisty barbs on a gleaming white cruise ship moored in Port Moresby set the scene for a potentially fiery meeting between Xi and US President Donald Trump at the G20 summit in Argentina at the end of this month. But Xi and Pence, who both wore shiny, red shirts provided by the Pacific island did have a brief tete-a-tete Saturday night at the leaders' gala dinner. Some attendees voiced concern about the growing rivalry for influence in the region, with fears a trade war between the two rivals could cripple the Pacific Rim economy. "Business leaders do not want to speak out, but behind the scenes here, they are talking over dinner saying 'how has this happened'?" said Denis O'Brien, the billionaire chairman of Digicel. "It's a very forced situation, one country is trying to force all the other countries to change tariffs agreed over years," O'Brien told AFP. Trump -- and Russian President Vladimir Putin -- both decided to skip the gathering, leaving the spotlight on Xi who arrived two days early to open a Chinese-funded school and road in Papua New Guinea's dirt-poor capital Port Moresby. Xi has been the star of the show, front and centre at official photos whereas Pence has kept a lower profile, only deciding at the last minute to stay overnight in Port Moresby -- shelving original plans to fly in and out from Cairns in Australia. As if to counter Chinese largesse, the US, Australia, New Zealand and Japan on Sunday announced a project to boost electricity capacity in Papua New Guinea. The project aims to raise the percentage of the PNG population with access to electricity from 13 per cent to 70 per cent. And as the US and China vie for influence in the region, the statement dangled the prospect of similar projects for countries that "support principles and values which help maintain and promote a free, open, prosperous and rules-based region." With the official business of the summit relatively low-key, much of the focus has been on the unlikely venue of Port Moresby, which is hosting its first international event of this scale. The city is on lockdown with hundreds of police and military patrolling the streets of the notoriously crime-ridden capital. Warships are stationed just off the coast to provide security for the leaders, and delegates and media have been housed in enormous cruise ships due to a dearth of hotel rooms. (AFP) SCY SCY (Eds: Updating with details of Pence, Xi ) Port Moresby, Nov 18 (AFP) Leaders from 21 Asia-Pacific nations battled to paper over gaping differences Sunday after an unusually sharp exchange of words between the group's two most powerful members, the United States and China. With just hours of the two-day summit remaining, officials were still scrambling to forge enough of a consensus to issue a formal joint statement and were admitting privately that it might not be possible, amid yawning differences on trade policy. The annual gathering has been overshadowed by speeches on Saturday from Chinese President Xi Jinping and US Vice President Mike Pence, which appeared to represent competing bids for regional leadership. Pence warned smaller countries not to be seduced by China's massive Belt-and-Road infrastructure programme, which sees Beijing offer money to poorer countries for construction and development projects. The "opaque" loans come with strings attached and build up "staggering debt", Pence charged, mocking the initiative as a "constricting belt" and a "one-way road". He urged nations instead to stick with the United States, which doesn't "drown our partners in a sea of debt" or "coerce, corrupt or compromise your independence". In a speech to business leaders just minutes before Pence, Xi insisted the initiative was not a "trap" and there was no "hidden agenda" -- amid criticism that it amounts to "chequebook diplomacy" in the region. Xi also lashed out at "America First" trade protectionism, saying it was a "short-sighted approach" that was "doomed to failure". The feisty barbs on a gleaming white cruise ship moored in Port Moresby set the scene for a potentially fiery meeting between Xi and US President Donald Trump at the G20 summit in Argentina at the end of this month. But Xi and Pence, who both wore shiny, red shirts provided by the Pacific island did hold talks on Saturday night at the leaders' gala dinner. Pence told reporters on Sunday: "I spoke to President Xi twice during the course of this conference. We had a candid conversation." He told him that the US is interested in a better relationship with China "but there has to be change" in Beijing's trade policies. With fears that a trade war between the two rivals could cripple the Pacific Rim economy, some attendees voiced concern about the growing rivalry for influence in the region. "Business leaders do not want to speak out, but behind the scenes here, they are talking over dinner saying 'how has this happened'?" said Denis O'Brien, the billionaire chairman of Digicel. "It's a very forced situation, one country is trying to force all the other countries to change tariffs agreed over years," O'Brien told AFP. Trump -- and Russian President Vladimir Putin -- both decided to skip the gathering, leaving the spotlight on Xi who arrived two days early to open a Chinese-funded school and road in Papua New Guinea's dirt-poor capital Port Moresby. Xi has been the star of the show, front and centre at official photos whereas Pence has kept a lower profile, only deciding at the last minute to stay overnight in Port Moresby -- shelving original plans to fly in and out from Cairns in Australia. As if to counter Chinese largesse, the US, Australia, New Zealand and Japan on Sunday announced a project to boost electricity capacity in Papua New Guinea. The project aims to raise the percentage of the PNG population with access to electricity from 13 per cent to 70 per cent. And as the US and China vie for influence in the region, the statement dangled the prospect of similar projects for countries that "support principles and values which help maintain and promote a free, open, prosperous and rules-based region." With the official business of the summit relatively low-key, much of the focus has been on the unlikely venue of Port Moresby, which is hosting its first international event of this scale. The city is on lockdown with hundreds of police and military patrolling the streets of the notoriously crime-ridden capital. Warships are stationed just off the coast to provide security for the leaders, and delegates and media have been housed in enormous cruise ships due to a dearth of hotel rooms. (AFP) SCY SCY (Eds: Adding Rahul's quotes from Surguja rally) Koriya/Surguja (CG), Nov 17 (PTI) Congress chief Rahul Gandhi Saturday promised to waive farm loans in Chhattisgarh within 10 days of assuming power in the state and said the money for it would come from "the likes of Vijay Mallya, Nirav Modi and Anil Ambani". Stepping up his attack on Prime Minister Narendra Modi over demonetisation ahead of the second and final phase of the state polls, Gandhi alleged Modi made honest people suffer in 2016, but spared the rich. Addressing a poll rally in Koriya district, he alleged Modi had waived loans worth Rs 3.5 lakh crore of a few rich people, but not those of the poor farmers. "As soon as the Congress forms the government here, Modiji, you count 10 days. The Congress will waive the loans of each farmer in Chhattisgarh within 10 days," Gandhi said. He said BJP leaders had questioned the UPA government about the source of money for loan waiver. "Modiji, the money for loan waiver for Chhattisgarh's farmers will come from the likes of Vijay Mallya, Nirav Modi, Anil Ambani...We will take their money and implement the loan waiver," he claimed. "Liquor baron Mallya fled the country with Rs 10,000 crore of the banks, while Nirav Modi and Mehul Choksi fled with Rs 35,000 crore," he alleged Addressing a rally in Ambikapur, the prime minister had Friday claimed the Congress was "worried" because he took away all the money its "minions and friends" had stashed under their beds and in sacks in one stroke. Gandhi reiterated his charge the PM helped industrialist Anil Ambani get Rs 30,000 crore in the "Rafale scam". He said Modi "robbed the poor and the honest" through notes ban. "Modiji had said he would fight against black money. He had (recently) said those who had stashed money in their houses and or kept it hidden under pillows were thieves and that he had taken action against them. "I want to tell you (people) that you have not committed any theft. The person who has committed a theft is Narendra Modi. He made honest people stand in queues," Gandhi claimed. He said the Congress had always delivered on its promises, unlike the BJP. "The intention of the Congress is very clear. It never makes false promises. In fact, you can listen to my speeches of the last 15 years. I never made false promises. Whatever I promised, I fulfilled it," Gandhi said. He said the previous UPA government had brought in measures like the tribal bill, MNREGA and land acquisition bill. "On the contrary, Modi and Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Raman Singh did not fulfil the promises they had made to farmers," the Congress MP said. "In the last four-and-a-half years, Modiji has waived loans worth Rs 3.50 lakh crore of a few rich people, but he has not spoken about farm loan waiver. Similarly, Raman Singh has snatched the bonus of the farmers," Gandhi alleged. He accused the prime minister of remaining "silent" on the "corruption charges" against Singh and claimed that the names of Singh and his wife had surfaced in the alleged Rs 36,000-crore civil supply scam. The CM denied the allegations. "A Rs 5,000-crore chit fund scam was also perpetrated in the state. His (Singh's) son Abhishek Singh was named in the Panama Papers scandal, but no action was taken in any of these cases," Gandhi claimed. Gandhi alleged that Modi was not acting against Abhishek Singh in the Panama Papers case. "This, at a time when Pakistan has jailed its former prime minister Nawaz Sharif after his name cropped up in the Panama Papers," he said. Gandhi alleged the Raman Singh government has created two Chhattisgarh. "One belongs to the rich and the industrialists wearing suit-boot, while the other belongs to the common men, women, farmers and labourers. We do not want two Chhattisgarh but one, where everybody gets justice," he said. The final phase of polling for 72 seats will be held in Chhattisgarh on November 20. The first phase for 18 seats was held on November 12. The results will be announced on December 11. Addressing another rally in Darima village in Surguja district, Gandhi attacked Modi over his 2014 poll promise to bring back black money which was stashed abroad. "When will the money allegedly stashed in a foreign bank by Chhattisgarh chief minister's son be brought back? Modiji had vowed to fight against black money," he claimed. Abhishek Singh, the sitting BHP MP from Rajnandgaon constituency in Chhattisgarh, has denied the Congress' allegations as "baseless and politically motivated". Alleging Raman Singh's involvement in the "civil supply scam", Gandhi said, "It was mentioned in a diary recovered earlier that money was given to CM madam and Dr Sahab. Modi ji should tell who is this CM madam?" "It was referred to the wife of the chief minister with whom you (Modi) had shared stage and the Dr Sahab was referred to Raman Singh with whom you had given a speech from the same stage," he alleged. Gandhi said the entire country was questioning the prime minister's "honesty" over the "Rafale scam" and appealed to Modi to "break his silence" on the deal and Ambani. He said, "The Congress would develop Chhattisgarh not only as an agricultural centre of the country but of the entire world. Agriculture produce like fruits and vegetables will not only be sold in the country but will be exported." The Congress chief claimed the real objectives of notes ban were to convert black money into white and write off loans of corporates, after snatching the money from the poor. PTI TKP ENM NSK AAR Search ops on for 2nd day to trace boy who fell in sewer Patna, Nov 18 (PTI) The search and rescue operations were carried forward on Sunday to trace the 10-year-old boy, who fell into a sewer in the city on Saturday. The boy, Deepak, fell into the sewer through a manhole in Shri Krishna Puri locality here at around 1.30 pm while he was returning home after delivering lunch to his father. "A joint team of NDRF, SDRF and Patna Municipal Corporation carried out search operations throughout Saturday night to recover the boy. And the search operations are still continuing on the second day," Patna District Magistrate Kumar Ravi told reporters here. Ravi, who was talking to reporters after inspecting the spot, said that the narrow stretch along the sewer is used by people, though it is not a regular path. The path will be closed henceforth to avoid such incidents in future, he said. Talking to reporters earlier, Union Minister of State for Rural Development Ram Kripal Yadav termed the incident as "unfortunate" and alleged that such accidents are happening because the city expanded without any proper planning. The Patna Municipal Corporation does not have proper equipment to deal with such a situation, Yadav said, adding that old officials, who had knowledge about the drains, have retired and their successors are not aware of the drainage system. Local residents gathered at the incident spot in large numbers on Sunday and alleged that the manhole had been lying uncovered for months. PTI AR SBN SBN Speaker Karu Jayasuriya today informed President Maithripala Sirisena that he would not attend the all-party conference scheduled for this evening at the Presidential Secretariat in Colombo. A spokesman at the Speaker's Office said the Speaker would not attend the discussions on the basis that it would be among political party representatives. Lucknow, Nov 18 (PTI) Hitting back at the BJP's Uttar Pradesh chief, a disgruntled Suheldev Bharatiya Samaj Party Sunday challenged its NDA ally to dump it for daring "to call a spade a spade". "Why are you unnecessarily carrying us? If you have the courage, dump us. The government has no time for welfare activities for backward people, SBSP chief and senior UP minister Om Praskash Rajbhar said. Peeved over non-allotment of an accommodation to run the party office despite BJP chief Amit Shah's assurance, he told PTI here that it was clear that the BJP was not keen on carrying us along. We were also promised posts of chairman and two vice-chairmen in different corporations equivalent to the rank of minister and minister of state, but this too did not happen, he rued. Hence, it is clear that they (BJP) are unnecessarily carrying us," Rajbhar said in an interview. If that is the case, let the BJP dump us, dared Rajbhar, who is known for attacking the BJP quite often despite sharing power with the saffron party in Uttar Pradesh. His latest outburst comes barely a day after UP BJP chief Mahendra Nath Pandey, in an unusual attack on the SBSP, had termed Rajbhar a "necessary evil" and stated that comments made by the SBSP chief "should not be taken seriously". Rajbhar, who holds the portfolio of backward class welfare and divyangjan empowerment in the council of ministers headed by Yogi Adityanath, said, "The UP chief minister in the past few days spoke against us. If this is so, then why are they not removing us? "We belong to the vanchit varg (deprived class) of society. Today, a child of an officer or a leader does not want to study in a government primary school. Around 40-50 years ago, the schools which had produced brilliant doctors and scientists, their level has gone down significantly. "Now if we speak for basic changes in the education system, then it is said that we have gone mad. When we speak of quota within quota for the deprived class, our demand is mocked at, he lamented. Taking a jibe at Pandey, the SBSP leader said, "As per the UP BJP chief, more than 100 crore Hindus are with him. Despite this, they took out a motorcycle rally. Time will tell, how much support they are actually getting." On his party's ties with the BJP, Rajbhar said, "A decision in this regard will be taken at an appropriate time. Time will tell that whether we are with the BJP in the 2019 Lok Sabha elections or not." The SBSP chief also said, "As of now we are with the BJP, but we will continue to call a spade, a spade. We call a wrong act a wrong act. We are expanding our organisation. Let the elections come." In the 2017 UP assembly elections, the SBSP contested eight of the 403 seats and won four. Rajbhar became a cabinet minister. Asked about demands being made by various organisations to take the legislative route for construction of Ram temple in Ayodha, Rajbhar said that these are acts "only to provoke sentiments and gather votes". "When the matter is pending in the court, then why is there so much of irrelevant talk about this," Rajbhar said. Attacking the UP government for renaming Faizabad and Allahabad, Rajbhar had recently said it negated India's "Ganga-Jamuni tehzeeb" (composite culture). The SBSP leader had said that instead of changing names of cities, districts and railway stations, the BJP should start with changing names of its prominent Muslim leaders. "The BJP changed names of Mughalsarai and Faizabad. They say these were named after the Mughals. They have national spokesperson Shahnawaz Hussain, Union minister Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi, Uttar Pradesh minister Mohsin Raza - three Muslim faces of the BJP. They should change their names first," he had said. PTI NAV SMI GVS New Delhi, Nov 18 (PTI) Amid growing clamour for changing the names of cities, a bill which seeks to rechristen the iconic high courts of Madras, Calcutta and Bombay has run into trouble and a fresh one has to be introduced in the Parliament to do the same. The High Court (Alteration of Names) Bill, 2016, was introduced in the Lok Sabha on July 19, 2016 to change the names of Calcutta, Madras and Bombay High Courts to Kolkata, Chennai and Mumbai High Courts, respectively. However, the Tamil Nadu government has asked the Centre to rename the Madras High Court to 'High Court of Tamil Nadu' instead of 'High Court of Chennai' as proposed in the bill. While the West Bengal government wants the Calcutta High Court to be renamed as Kolkata High Court, the high court has itself "not agreed for revised nomenclature". In a written reply in the Lok Sabha in December, 2016, Minister of State for Law P P Chaudhary had said the old bill would have to be revised and a new bill introduced. "The central government has sought views from the state governments concerned and the respective high courts for finalising a fresh bill. No time frame can be fixed for finalising of the fresh bill and its introduction in Parliament," he had said. A senior Law Ministry functionary said "no forward movement" has been made in this regard and the fresh bill was unlikely to be brought in the Winter Session beginning December 11. The Calcutta High Court has the distinction of being the first high court and one of the three chartered high courts to be set up in India, along with the high courts of Bombay and Madras. It was formally opened on July 1, 1862. The 'Indian High Court Act' of 1861 vested in the Queen of England to issue letters patent to establish High Courts of Calcutta, Madras and Bombay. The Bombay High Court was inaugurated on August 14, 1862. The high court today has three benches at Nagpur, Aurangabad and Goa. The Bombay HC is one of the few institutions in Maharashtra that continues to carry the old name of the city. The state government renamed Bombay as Mumbai in 1995 and all institutions under it altered their names accordingly. The Madras High Court, which came into being around the same time, has one bench in Madurai. After Allahabad was renamed Prayagraj and Faizabad as Ayodhya, there have been multiple demands to rename cities, towns and districts. For instance, there are demands to rename Azamgarh district as Aryamgarh, Faizabad as Saket, Aligarh as Harigarh, and Muzaffarnagar as Laxminagar. PTI NAB IND IND New Delhi, Nov 18 (PTI) BJP president Amit Shah Sunday said the Congress had become more of a family enterprise aimed at dynastic service than a political party aimed at public service, taking aims at the opposition party after Prime Minister Narendra Modi dared it to appoint a head from outside the Gandhi family. In a dig at Congress leaders, including P Chidambaram who had named several party presidents hailing from outside the Gandhi family, Shah said in tweets that Modi's challenge had ruffled several feathers with "many courtiers going out of the way to prove their loyalty". Evidently, the prime minister's point had struck a raw nerve, he added. At a poll rally in Chhattisgarh Friday, Modi had said if the the Congress appointed someone who was not from the (Gandhi) family as its president for at least five years, then he would believe that Jawaharlal Nehru had indeed put in place a truly democratic system in the opposition party. "The Prime Minister is right. The Congress (Indira) since its inception in 1978 has been led by four members of one family for most of the years, thus making it more of a family enterprise aimed at dynastic service rather than a political party aimed at public service," Shah tweeted. He was referring to the split in the Congress in 1978 following its loss in the 1977 parliamentary polls, with the Indira Gandhi-led faction recognised as Congress(I). As she returned to power in 1980, her faction was later recognised by the Election Commission (EC) as the real Congress. Two Congress chiefs, who were not from the Nehru-Gandhi family, were treated in the "most shabby" manner possible in the recent past, Shah alleged. While P V Narasimha Rao's body, after his demise, was never allowed inside the Congress office, Sitaram Kesri, a towering leader, was "roughed up by goons loyal to we know who", he added. Modi, at a rally in Chhattisgarh Sunday, also alleged that Kesri was not allowed to complete his term as the Congress chief and was forced to make way for Sonia Gandhi. The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) president cited the examples of several "non-family" Congress presidents to back his claim. "Going further back in time, the likes of Babu Jagjivan Ram, S Nijalingappa, K Kamaraj were humiliated by one family. Neelam Sanjeeva Reddy, though senior, was not allowed to be president by one family. U N Dhebar was asked to step aside as Congress president for Mrs. Indira Gandhi," he said. Shah claimed that Acharya Kripalani, a stalwart who worked closely with Mahatma Gandhi and Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, was "humiliated" through the 1950s and 1960s. "His crime- he moved the first motion of no-confidence against the Nehru Government," he said. Following Modi's challenge, Chidambaram had hit back by listing out the names of Congress presidents from outside the Nehru-Gandhi family. PTI KR RC Amritsar, Nov 18 (PTI) Three persons were killed and 20 injured in a grenade attack on a religious congregation here on city outskirts on Sunday, an incident which the police are treating as a terrorist act. The incident took place inside the Nirankari Bhavan at Adliwal village near Amritsar's Rajasansi, police said. A religious congregation of the Nirankaris was being conducted inside the Bhavan at the time of the incident. The Sant Nirankari Mission is a spiritual organisation and the Bhavan here lies close to the international airport. The grenade was lobbed by two persons who had come on a bike and had their faces covered. The Director General of Police Suresh Arora, who along with senior police officers rushed to the spot, said the incident appears to be a terrorist act. He said that three people had died in the incident and 20 others were injured, two of them seriously. Inspector General of Police S S Parmar, who visited the incident spot, told reporters that about 200 devotees including many women were inside at the time of the incident. No CCTV was installed at the premises, preliminary investigations found, he said. After the incident, the Bhavan was sealed by the police and security was stepped up at other "Nirankari Bhavans" in the state. Chief minister Capt Amarinder Singh said the possibility of involvement of ISI-based Khalistani/Kashmiri terror groups could not be ruled out. Amarinder Singh said the state won't let the "forces of terror" to destroy the hard earned peace. Notably, Punjab had gone through dark days of militancy in the 1980s and early 1990s and faced few terror attacks in recent years including the one in Pathankot over two years ago. After the incident, the Chief Minister asked the Home Secretary, DG Police, DG Law and Order and DG Intelligence to immediately rush to Village Adliwal, Raja Sansi, to personally supervise the investigations into the grenade attack at Nirankari Bhawan. Amrinder Singh has also directed the police to immediately enhance security arrangements at all sensitive places in the wake of the explosion. Forensic teams have been rushed to the spot and all angles were being investigated, said the chief minister here, adding that the possibility of involvement of ISI-based Khalistani/Kashmiri terror groups could not be ruled out. Singh said his government was on top of things and would get to the bottom of the incident soon and ensure that the culprits are apprehended and brought to book. Nobody will be allowed to get away with trying to disturb the peace and harmony of the state, he warned. The chief minister has also announced a compensation of Rs five lakh each to the kin of the dead and directed the district administration to provide the best possible medical care, free of cost, to the injured. The chief minister said preliminary investigations had so far revealed that two men, one of them with a flowing beard, with covered faces, allegedly forced their way into the hall by brandishing a pistol. They detained the sewadar, lobbed the grenade into the prayer room, and fled on a motorcycle. A small crater was formed by the impact of the explosion, and was being examined by the forensic team. The safety valve of the grenade has also been found and was being examined, he said. The chief minister has meanwhile appealed to the people not to panic and maintain peace and law and order. Let us remain calm, he said, adding the government would ensure there is no chaos in the wake of the incident. Though the state had been hit by a series of cases of targeted attacks since 2015-16, this was the first attempt, in a long time, to disturb the peace in the state through indiscriminate killings, said the Chief Minister, adding it strengthened the belief that Pakistan was continuing with its nefarious activities to disturb the state's peace. He pointed out that 15 such terror modules had been busted in the past 18 months, with Kashmiri terror links also indicated in some instances, as evidenced in the arrest of Kashmiri students from Jalandhar and in the Maqsudan police station grenade blast case. Earlier, the DGP said that the incident appears to be a terrorist act. It (this incident) appears to be a terror angle. Because it is against a group (of people) and it is not against any individual. There is no reason to throw a hand grenade on a group of people so we will take it as a terrorist act. Till proven otherwise, prima facie we will take it as that, Suresh Arora told PTI. Notably, the grenade attack took place amid Punjab being on high alert following an input claiming that a group of six to seven JeM terrorists were in Punjab and were 'planning' to move to Delhi. Moreover, the security agencies were also on alert after four persons snatched an SUV from its driver at gunpoint near Madhopur in Punjab's Pathankot district a few days back. On Friday, Punjab police in Gurdaspur had even pasted posters of Zakir Musa, the chief of Jammu and Kashmir based Ansar Ghazwat-ul-Hind terror outfit with reported links to Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM). Army Chief Bipin Rawat had recently warned that attempts were being made to revive insurgency in Punjab and had even cautioned that people needed to be careful especially during the festival season to prevent anti-national forces from succeeding in their nefarious designs. PTI SUN CHS JMS VSD TVS TVS (Eds: Updating with Pb CM's official statement ) Chandigarh, Nov 18 (PTI) Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh suspected Sunday Pakistan's ISI-backed Khalistani or Kashmiri militants' role in the Amritsar terror attack that killed three persons and injured twenty others, and vowed that he would not let the "forces of terror" destroy the state's "hard-earned peace". The possibility of involvement of ISI-backed Khalistani or Kashmiri terror groups could not be ruled out (in the Amritsar terror attack)," said Amarinder Singh in an official statement, adding the forensic teams have been rushed to the spot and "all angles were being investigated". The chief minister said his government was on the top of things" and would "get to the bottom of the incident" soon and ensure that the culprits are nabbed and brought to book. Nobody will be allowed to get away with trying to disturb the peace and harmony of the state, he said. Three persons were killed and at least twenty others were injured when two motorcycle-borne miscreants hurled a grenade at a religious congregation of over 200 devotees inside a Nirankari Bhawan at Adliwal village near Amritsar's Rajasansi area Sunday, the police said earlier. In his statement, the chief minister said the preliminary investigations have revealed that two men - one of them with a flowing beard and both with their faces covered - forced their entry into the hall, brandishing a pistol. They detained the sewadar, lobbed the grenade into the prayer room and fled on a motorcycle on which they had come, he added. A small crater was formed by the impact of the explosion and was being examined by the forensic team, Amarinder Singh said, adding that the safety valve of the grenade too has been found and was being examined. Soon after the attack, the chief minister reviewed the law and order situation in the state and and asked the state home secretary, Punjab police chief and director generals, law & order and intelligence, to rush to Rajasansi in Amritsar to supervise the ongoing probe into the grenade attack, an official spokesman said here. Forensic teams too have been rushed to the spot and all angles were being investigated, said the chief minister. Strongly condemning the grenade attack after reviewing law and order in the state, Amarinder Singh vowed that he will not let the "forces of terror" destroy the hard-earned peace in the state. While making an appeal to the people "not to panic and remain calm," the chief minister tweeted, "We will not let the forces of terror destroy our hard-earned peace." "I appeal to the people of Punjab to maintain peace in the wake of Amritsar bomb blast. I urge them not to panic and remain calm," he added. Amarinder Singh's tweet followed soon after Punjab police chief Suresh Arora told PTI that the incident "appears to have a terror angle... we will take it as a terrorist act." In his statement, the chief minister added that police teams have been rushed to raid suspected hideouts of the assailants and multiple teams are investigating various angles to crack the case. The chief minister also directed police to immediately beef up the security at all sensitive places, including all Nirankari Bhawans, in the wake of the grenade attack - the first such indiscriminate act against innocent people in recent past. Punjab had been severely hit by pro-Khalistan militancy in the 1980s and early 1990s, but it faced few terror attacks in recent years, barring the one in Pathankot over two years back. Though the state had been hit by a series of targeted attacks since 2015/2016, this was the first attempt, in a long time, aimed at disturbing the peace in the state through indiscriminate killings, said the chief minister. This strengthened the belief that Pakistan was continuing with its nefarious activities to disturb peace in the state, he added. Amarinder Singh said 15 terror modules were busted in the past 18 months, with indications of Kashmiri terror links too in some instances as evidenced in the arrest of Kashmiri students from Jalandhar and in a case of grenade blast at Maqsudan police station. Punjab DGP Arora had earlier told PTI the grenade attack on the religious congregation on outskirts of Amritsar city appeared to be a terrorist act. It (this incident) appears to have a terror angle, because it is against a group (of people) and not against any individual. There is no reason to throw a hand grenade on a group of people, so we will take it as a terrorist act. Till proven otherwise, prima facie we will take it as that, he had said. Punjab had been on alert following an input saying that a group of six to seven JeM terrorists were in the state, possibly in Ferozepur area. The state had been put on alert after four persons snatched a SUV from its driver at gunpoint near Madhopur in Pathankot district last week. PTI SUN CHS VSD RAX RAX Srinagar, Nov 18 (PTI) A CRPF Jawan was killed in a militant attack in Jammu and Kashmir's Pulwama district on Sunday, police said. Militants lobbed a grenade and fired on a CRPF camp in Kakapora area of the district in south Kashmir Sunday evening, a police official said, adding the attack was successfully repulsed by the security forces. However, in the attack, a CRPF jawan identified as Head Constable Chandrika Prasad sustained injuries, the official said. Prasad was shifted to a nearby hospital where he succumbed to injuries. The official said as the militants were trying to flee the area after the attack, security forces immediately cordoned off the area and initiated searches. "Consequently, exchange of fire between security forces and terrorists took place till the last report was received," he said, adding further details were awaited. PTI SSB DPB Mahasamund (C'garh), Nov 18 (PTI) Hitting out at the Congress and the Nehru-Gandhi family, Prime Minister Narendra Modi Sunday alleged that Dailt leader Sitaram Kesri was not allowed to complete his term as Congress president, and was "thrown out of office" to make way for Sonia Gandhi as the new party chief. Addressing a rally on the last day of campaign for the second and final phase of polling for Chhattisgarh Assembly election, Modi said four generations of a family ruled the country and "benefited from being in power", but the country did not benefit from their rule. "The country knows that Sitaram Kesri, a Dalit, was not allowed to complete his five-year-term as Congress president; he was thrown out of office and into the footpath to make way for Sonia Gandhi as the new party chief," Modi said. "Earlier Delhi had a remote-controlled government. The remote was in hands of a family which was afraid of the BJP," he said, targeting the Congress and the Gandhis. Modi challenged the Congress to select someone "capable" as their party president who doesn't belong to "that one family". "Remember the days when four generations of a family ruled the country. What was the fate of people? They only thought about welfare of one family but never gave a thought about welfare of people. How can we trust them that they will fulfil aspirations of people now," Modi said. The prime minister claimed that Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Raman Singh also faced a lot of challenges from the then Congress government at the Centre. "For 10 years, the Centre was ruled by a 'remote-control' government which never paid attention towards Chhattisgarh," Modi alleged. PTI TKP ND VT BNM NSD Jaipur, Nov 18 (PTI) Miffed over being denied a ticket by the BJP for the upcoming Rajasthan Assembly elections, Ramgarh MLA Gyan Deo Ahuja quit the party Sunday and announced he will contest the polls as an independent candidate. Since last Sunday, when the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) released its first list of candidates for the December 7 polls, several party MLAs, including a state minister, have resigned. The party has so far declared 170 out of total 200 candidates in three lists. "My name was dropped by the party without taking me into confidence. I was not even told about the reason why my name was dropped. After pressure from my supporters and family members, I resigned from the party. I will now contest the elections from Sanganer seat," Ahuja said. "I had demanded a ticket from Sanganer after the other candidate was given the ticket from Ramgarh but the party did not fulfil my demand. Therefore, I decided to contest as an independent candidate," he said. Ahuja said he had sent his resignation to the state BJP president Madan Lal Saini. He said he will file his nomination papers on Monday and issues of 'gau raksha' (cow protection) and construction of a Ram temple on Ram Janmabhoomi will be on his agenda. Former BJP MLA Ghanshyam Tiwari had won from the Sanganer seat in Jaipur in the 2013 elections. He quit the BJP in June this year over his differences with chief minister Vasundhara Raje and floated his own party. PTI SDA DIV DIV Tripura to host 7th International Tourism Mart from Nov 22 Agartala, Nov 18 (PTI) Tripura will be hosting a 3-day tourism fair from November 22 to promote the tourism industry in the northeastern states of the country, a minister said Sunday. The 3-day long International Tourism Mart' would begin here from November 22 with an objective to promote tourism in the northeastern states. We are hosting the event with funding from the Ministry of Tourism," state Tourism Minister Pranajit Singha Roy told a press conference here. The International Tourism Mart is an annual event that is held in the northeastern states. Tripura will be hosting it for the first time this year. The estimated budget of the fair this year is Rs 2.6 crore. The minister said that at least 60 tour operators from 18 foreign countries including Bangladesh, USA, Canada, Australia, Japan, China, Thailand, South Africa and Russia would attend the fair and engage in dialogue with the state tour operators, attend seminars and visit different tourist spots of the state. "We want to promote tourism and reach out to the international buyers. Presence of the international tour operators would help achieving our objective of promoting tourism," he said. Singha Roy also added that cultural events would be arranged for foreign tour operators at Neermahal at Melaghar in Sipahijala district, located about 55 km from here. Neermahal, known as the water palace, was the summer palace of Tripuras last ruler, Maharaja Bir Bikram Kishore Manikya Bahadur, which was built about 100 years ago. Tripura, a princely state, which joined the Indian territory on October 15, 1949. "Union Tourism Minister Alphons Kannanthanam would attend the mart with 100 domestic tourist operators from the northeastern states," Singha Roy said. He also added that handicraft items of the states, tea, pineapple and traditional apparel would be given to the tour operators as gift for promoting tourism. PTI JOY JM JM Nilackal (Kerala), Nov 18 (PTI) BJP Kerala General Secretary K Surendran, who was taken into preventive custody as he tried to proceed to the Lord Ayappa Temple, was Sunday produced before a magistrate and remanded to 14-day judicial custody after he was charged with non-bailable offences. Surendran, who had 'Irrumudikettu" (holy bundle of offerings for Lord Ayyappa) was taken into custody from Nilackal Saturday night as he along with two others was on his way to the temple at Sabarimala. Surendran was asked by Superintendent of Police Yatish Chandra not to proceed towards Sabarimala but he did not heed.They were then taken into preventive custody and brought to Chittar Police Station on Saturday night. Early today, they were taken to Pathnamthitta district hospital and then produced before the Pathnamthitta judicial first class magistrate at his residence. The magistrate remanded them to 14-day judicial custody. Cases under IPC 353 (Assault or criminal force to deter public servant from discharging his duty) and 34 IPC (acts done by several persons for furtherance of common intention) were charged against them by police. Speaking to reporters, Surendran alleged that he was assaulted by police, not given water, food and medicines. He charged that the arrest was politically motivated and a retaliatory action by the state government. Protestors had gathered in large numbers in front of the Chittar Police Station last night soon after the BJP leaders and others were brought to the police station. BJP workers had protested in front of the state secretariat at Thiruvananthapuram and across the state including Kochi, Kottayam and Kannur against the police action. The BJP is observing a "protest" day Sunday and will be blocking vehicles on highways from 10 am. Kerala had observed a 12-hour hartal against the arrest of Hindu Aikya Vedi president P K Sasikala on Saturday. The Sabarimala Temple had opened for the two-month long pilgrim season on November 16. PTI UD ZH DV DV Industry stakeholders say ongoing political crisis major reason Majority of cancellations from India; slowdown in European bookings Jetwing says experiencing 20% drop in winter bookings Fate of planned tourism promotional campaigns hang in balance By Nishel Fernando Sri Lankas tourism industry stakeholders yesterday expressed concerns over the possibility of prospective tourists who would have visited Sri Lanka turning to other alternative destinations due to the prolonged political crisis, as tourist bookings for the crucial winter season are already showing a slowdown. Speaking to Mirror Business, key tourism industry stakeholders said that the current political crisis, which was triggered on October 26 with the ousting of Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe has led to a slowdown in future tourist bookings, particularly with the issuance of soft travel advisories by several countries such as the Unites States, United Kingdom and Australia. However, despite these developments only a few cancellations of tourist bookings have been recorded to-date, while most of the cancellations have been from Indiaparticularly South Indian tourists. Jetwing Hotels and Jetwing Travels Chairperson Shiromal Cooray said there might have been as much as 20 percent slowdown in tourist booking for Jetwing for the crucial winter period. More than the cancellations, what is worrying us are the future bookings, which have been rather slow. This is the crucial period where most tourists from Europe and North America complete their bookings for the upcoming winter period beyond December, she said. Her observations were echoed by The Hotels Association of Sri Lanka (THASL) President Sanath Ukwatte and the Sri Lanka Association of Inbound Tour Operators (SLAITO) Vice-President Nalin Jayasundera. In general, there has been a slowdown in future bookings. We cannot estimate by how much at the moment. The travel advisories and whats happening in Parliament will have a negative impact, theres no doubt about that. We are very hopeful that this issue will be resolved in the most democratic way as soon as possible, at the earliest, Ukwatte said. Jayasundera warned that if the current situation persists, there is a possibility of potential tourists who would have visited Sri Lanka, choosing alternative destinations. December is considered to be the peak for Sri Lankas tourism. Sri Lanka attracted over 244,000 tourists last December while from December to March on average Sri Lanka receives above 230,000 tourists per month. Quoting Tamil Nadu Tour Travel and Hospitality Association, The Times of India recently reported that one-third of the travellers or 2,000 out of 6, 000 tourists from Tamil Nadu had cancelled their October trips to Sri Lanka. Moreover, the media outlet reported that prospective Tamil Nadu tourists, largely travelling in groups to Sri Lanka are exploring other alternative destinations. Indians are more concerned, specially the South Indians. Even Europeans have been inquiring a lot. Theres a general concern, Cooray stressed. Tourist arrivals to Sri Lanka last month increased only by a marginal 0.5 percent year-on-year (YoY) to 153, 123 with arrivals from several key regions declining, recording the slowest growth rate for the year, despite Sri Lanka being ranked as the top country to visit in 2019 by Lonely Planet. Cooray and Jayasundera also expressed concerns on the implementations of the tourism promotion campaigns, as the country doesnt have a functioning tourism minister. Our concern is about the current instability becoming an obstacle to go ahead with planned promotional activities, which will have a further impact towards future bookings. Everything has come to a standstill. There is no tourism minister functioning at the moment, Jayasundera said. Sri Lanka earlier this month launched the new tourism brand identity So Sri Lanka at the World Travel Mart (WTM) in London. However, Jayasundera stressed that an advanced marketing campaign must be in place to convey the out-of-the-box new tourism brand identity. He also pointed out that Sri Lanka is missing out an opportunity to capitalise its ranking by the Lonely Planet to attract more tourists to the island nation. We have been nominated as the best destination to visit by Lonely Planet, which is a major endorsement. We could have capitalised a lot on that, if things were stable in the country, he said. The earlier administration of Sri Lanka Tourism Promotion Bureau (SLTPB) planned a US$ 350,000 advertising campaign on affiliated media of Lonely Planet, to capitalise Sri Lankas ranking. However, Ukwatte was hopeful that all planned tourism promotional campaigns would be implemented on time despite the status of the tourism ministry. We have planned to commence the global promotional campaign in three months time. So its very much on target. The tourism industry is a private sector-driven industry; we dont rely too much on the government. The SLTPB is functioning. Most of the promotional campaigns have been planned ahead, he said. Sri Lanka attracted little over 1.88 million tourists for the first 10 months of this year, up 10.6 percent year-on-year (YoY). Although tourism authorities were originally targeting to attract 3 million tourists this year, it is likely that Sri Lanka would end 2018 short of 2.5 million tourists. Tourist arrivals in 2017 hit an all-time high of 2.11 million, which represented a 3.2 percent growth YoY. Tourism revenues rose by a similar percentage to an all-time peak of US$3.63 billion. According to the provisional data released by the Central Bank, earnings from tourism during the first eight months of 2018 rose 12.5 percent YoY to US $ 2.93 billion. Agra, Nov 18 (PTI) Agra citizens, including young boys and girls, Sunday launched a massive cleanliness drive to rid the Yamuna of garbage dumped in it. Aimed at conserving heritage monuments along the Yamuna besides cleaningthe river itself, the drive, named River Connect Campaign, succeeded in fishing out tonnes of garbage, including up litter, polythene bags, plastics, immersed idols in the river, construction material, from the river during the day. Besides youngsters, senior citizens too actively participated in the river cleaning drive, working as volunteers of various voluntary organisations. Talking of the drive, River Connect Campaign member Jugal Kishor Pandit said, People have been dumping all sorts of domestic waste in the river. Thousands of idols were immersed in it." "After the water level went down, the garbage dumps have resurfaced and are attracting insects, mosquitoes and even bodies of animals are piling up on the river bed spreading the stink," he added. A large number of foreign tourists stop at the Etmauddaula view point park, near the tomb of I'timad-ud-Daulah, commissioned by emperor Jahangir's wife Nur Jahan for her father Mirza Ghiyas Beg, to take shots of the monument, said environmentalist Devashish Bhattacharya. "But what they see along with the monuments is a dying river with carcasses, litters and factory waste dumped in it. The government agencies hardly bother to clean up the area. The toxic effluents are corroding the foundations of heritage buildings. A very sad picture indeed!, he lamented. Green activists are planning to replace the garbage inside the river with greeneries all along its bank. There is an urgent need to plant trees along the river banks to keep the environment clean. We are planning to take up this challenge and will soon ensure there are greeneries all around the river instead of garbage in it, said green activist Vineeta Mittal. NGO India Rising president Sandeep Agarwal said, "We have been cleaning and painting public spaces continuously for past several years. We have now zeroed on this stretch of river and we intend to beautify it after getting rid of its garbage." PTI CORR RAX RAX Mumbai, Nov 18 (PTI) Shiv Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray Sunday sought to intensify the party's campaign for Ram temple in Ayodhya by giving a new slogan which called for the construction of temple before government. Thackeray held a meeting with senior party leaders to review preparations for his visit to Ayodhya on November 24 and 25. Sena leaders from outside Maharashtra too attended the meeting. "Har Hindu ki yahi pukar, pehle mandir fir sarkar (Every Hindu has one demand, the temple first and then government)," he said at a press conference which was held later. The Shiv Sena, which is the part of the BJP-led governments in both Maharashtra and the Centre, has been aggressively pushing for the construction of the temple since the party's annual Dussehra rally last month. The party has often taunted its ally BJP over the saffron party's "failure" to construct the temple in the last four years despite coming to power. Thackeray also asked party workers to conduct a 'maha aarati' (grand puja) on November 24 all over the state as well as in other parts of the country where the Sena has presence. He will be conducting 'Sarayu puja' on November 24 in Ayodhya. "All Sena workers will perform puja on the same day and same time in their respective areas," said Thackeray. PTI ND KRK AAR Hyderabad, Nov 18 (PTI) To assuage the discontent among partymen over the selection of candidates for the Telangana Assembly elections, a three-member team of the Congress Sunday held talks with those planning to enter the fray as rebels. Nearly 50 ticket aspirants who are "upset" with party's selection of candidates met the team led by Puducherry Chief Minister Narayana Swamy, Telangana Congress sources said. Karnataka Irrigation Minister D K Shiva Kumar and Puducherry Health Minister Malladi Krishna Rao are the other two members of the team. Miffed at being denied tickets, some Congress dissidents had announced last week that they will contest the December 7 elections as independents on at least 40 seats. The team held discussions with the dissidents. It tried to persuade them to drop the idea of contesting as rebel candidates and to work for the victory of those fielded by the party, the sources said. The dissidents were told that they will be "rewarded" if the Congress comes to power in Telangana, they said. PTI VVK DIV DIV The painful and pricey task of buying car tyres should become easier with the launch of a new online comparison service. Motokiki promises to simplify the process, allowing motorists to pick replacement tyres based on their efficiency and performance as well as price and the location of a fitter. The website has been co-founded by Debra Williams, a former chief executive of Confused.com, the first of the UK's online motor insurance comparison services. To check your tyres, try the 20p test. Push the coin into the tread and if the outer rim disappears the tyre is legal. If it is still showing then it is time to buy a new one Williams is applying the same 'whole of market' concept to tyre and fitter choice as Confused does for insurance and she says the aim is to improve the 'highly stressful' buying experience. There are plenty of pitfalls to consider when replacing tyres. Many people are unaware that if they buy their cars on finance they must use approved tyre makes. The same rule can also apply for the period a motor is under a manufacturer's warranty. Williams says: 'You could get a hefty bill for not returning a car on a finance deal with the correct tyres.' Motorists often buy new tyres based on price alone ignoring other issues such as noise level, fuel efficiency and performance in wet weather. Most people go to their nearest fitter to get tyres changed and never know whether it represents the best choice or price. Often a more expensive tyre saves money over the long term because it is more fuel efficient. There are online tyre replacement services available already such as BlackCircles and Lovetyres. But they select from their own stock of tyres and you need to tell them the size in advance. Motokiki promises to simplify the process of buying car tyres, allowing motorists to pick replacement tyres based on their efficiency and performance as well as price and the location of a fitter With Motokiki, owners tap in their car registration number which re- veals a picture of their motor with a list of permitted tyre sizes. By giving their postcode details, they get a list of the nearest fitters and those prepared to come to you. The website also reminds buyers whether they might need to consider the issues of warranties or financing before making their choice. Key details about the tyres on sale via the website are provided, including fuel efficiency, wet grip performance and external noise levels. The first two are graded from A to G (with A the best) and noise is shown by a three-wave icon (similar to the wi-fi symbol). A single bar is the quietest and three bars the noisiest, which meet the current legal maximum of permitted decibels. Motokiki says tyres lose energy when they are moving, causing so-called 'rolling resistance' which can use up as much as 20 per cent of a car's fuel. By switching from a G to an A grade tyre a motorway driver could save nearly 90 a year in fuel costs while an inner city motorist driving at lower speeds could save nearly 150. Keeping tyres properly inflated is also key to extending their life. According to the RAC, car owners should get at least 20,000 miles out of their front tyres and double that from the rear. But it depends on the quality of tyre, condition of roads used and the driving style of the vehicle owner Watch out for cowboy operators that sell bargain-priced used tyres. With the price of replacing four tyres often running into several hundred pounds, it can be tempting to fall back on these operators. But bargain basement fitters often store stock incorrectly or, worse, peddle tyres with dangerous bulges or chunks taken out of them. Road safety group Tyre Safe regularly highlights the issue of part-worn tyres. A thousand people a year are killed in accidents resulting from defective or under inflated tyres. Tyre Safe also wants it to be made compulsory for retailers and fitters to point out the efficiency labels to customers so they know what standard of tyre they are purchasing. According to the RAC, car owners should get at least 20,000 miles out of their front tyres and double that from the rear. But it depends on the quality of tyre, condition of roads used and the driving style of the vehicle owner. Unnecessary weight can take its toll on tyres. By removing roof racks and emptying boots of heavy clutter tyres will last longer and save on fuel. Motorists with tyres worn beyond the legal minimum can face a fine of 2,500 per tyre plus three points on their licence. If all four fail that could mean a 10,000 fine and the risk of disqualification. Insurers may also reject any accident claim if tyres are found to be beyond the legal minimum. To check your tyres, try the 20p test. Push the coin into the tread and if the outer rim disappears the tyre is legal. If it is still showing then it is time to buy a new one. Alternatively, use a credit card employing the outer rim nearest the magnetic strip as the gauge. You can also purchase a special gadget for the job. An Analogue Tread Depth Gauge costs 5 at Halfords. (San Francisco) AFP: Ride-share company Uber said that its net loss topped a billion dollars in the recently ended quarter as it pumped money into bikes, scooters, freight and food delivery. While a private company, Uber has taken to sharing quarterly earnings figures as it prepares for a keenly-anticipated debut on the stock market next year. Figures released by Uber showed the San Francisco-based company lost US$ 1.1 billion on revenue that grew to US$ 3 billion, while overall bookings notched up to US$ 12.7 billion. We had another strong quarter for a business of our size and global scope, Uber chief financial officer Nelson Chai said in a statement shared along with the earnings figures. 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. In the previous quarter, the smartphone-summoned ride service reported it lost US$ 891 million on net revenue of US$ 2.8 billion, with overall bookings of US$ 12 billion. Uber is eyeing a valuation above US$ 100 billion for its share offering due in 2019, which would be the biggest-ever in the tech sector, sources familiar with the plan said last month. The sources told AFP the global ridesharing giant is considering speeding up its plans for an initial public offering to the first half of 2019, rather than the second half of the year. Uber, which operates in over 60 countries, is already the largest of the venture-backed unicorns valued at more than US$ 1 billion, which until recently was considered rare without tapping stock markets. Its most recent investment - a US$ 500 million injection from Japanese auto giant Toyota was made at a reported valuation of US$ 72 billion. Uber offered no comment on the IPO plans. Uber is due to make a market debut by the end of 2019 as part of an investment deal with Japans SoftBank, which has a stake of some 15 percent. The ridesharing group last year hired a new chief executive, Dara Khosrowshahi, who has vowed to fix the companys work culture and business practices after a series of missteps and scandals over executive misconduct, a toxic work atmosphere and potentially unethical competitive practices. Uber has also expanded its services beyond car rides to freight hauling, delivering food, and sharing scooters or bicycles. As it expands its services, Uber is also seeking to become a major player in autonomous cars, and has agreed to buy and adapt vehicles from Volvo to begin operating self-driving taxis. POLA Orbis Holdings Inc., through its subsidiaries, develops, manufactures, and sells cosmetics and related products in Japan and internationally. The company operates through Beauty Care and Real Estate segments. The Beauty Care segment offers cosmetics; skincare products; health foods; and fashion products, such as women's underwear, women's apparel, and jewelry under the POLA, ORBIS, Jurlique, H2O PLUS, THREE, Amplitude, ITRIM, FIVEISM A THREE, and DECENCIA brand names. The Real Estate segment is involved in the leasing of office buildings and residential properties. The company also involves the management and operation of buildings. The company sells its products through department, directly operated retail, duty-free shops, Internet, and specialty cosmetics stores, as well as through door-to-door sales, and mail-order sales. POLA Orbis Holdings Inc. was founded in 1929 and is headquartered in Tokyo, Japan. Read More The development of the Rs.8 billion Access Tower 3 is facing delays due to the current political crisis, as the Urban Development Authority (UDA) is yet to award the lease agreement to Access Realties (Pvt) Ltd. despite the approval of the proposal by the Cabinet of Ministers in September. The Cabinet approved the proposal to award the bid to lease a 114.56 perch land, owned by the UDA to Access Realties (Pvt) Ltd., a fully owned subsidiary of Access Engineering PLC for Rs. 1,117.20 million under a 99-year lease for the development project on September 18. The technical committee appointed to evaluate the procurement recommended the bid to be awarded to Access Realties, after evaluating development proposals received from all three developers. Speaking to Mirror Business, Access Engineering PLC Managing Director Christopher Joshua said, due to delays in UDAs internal approval processes, Access Engineering is still awaiting for the letter of award for the lease agreement. According to a senior UDA official, the current political turmoil might be delaying the internal approval process of awarding the contract to the UDA. The UDA Chairman and directors have refrained from visiting the UDA premises due to lack of clarity created by the current political turmoil. The situation at UDA is not very clear to us, an official stressed. The third Access Tower would have 240,000 square feet of Grade A office space with other amenities, adjoining the second Access Tower. Access Realties is planning to invest around Rs.8 billion in the project, which includes the cost of the land. The plot is located on Mudalige Mawatha, Union Place, Colombo 2. Once we sign the lease agreement, we will complete the construction in three years, Joshua said. He noted that Access Engineering may carry out the construction, depending on the capacity. (NF) Three years northbound of 50 (the new 30), Im old enough to remember when the term jive turkey was as common as men wearing platform shoes and women all trying (and failing) to look like the one and only Farrah Fawcett (my second celebrity crush after Marcia Brady). With us now into Thanksgiving week, we are a country in such turmoil that we are deathly afraid to stray from narrowing choice of safe topics just to avoid the fun of the healthy political debate that should be as required as cranberry sauce. Adding to the tension is the outside noise from jive turkeys keeping the volume raised. A start would be to end the constant gobble-gobble of certain attention seekers. They have their pulpits i.e. blogs, Twitter accounts, microphones in front of their non-stop traps, etc. but that doesnt mean anyone is required to take in their sermons as gospel. For this pre-Thanksgiving public service, we will exclude elected officials and full-time employees of accredited media outlets, from the PNML (Pay No Mind List). As for the rest, get these noisemakers out of your life: 1) Michael Avenatti During minutes 10-12 of his 15 of prime-time exposure as Stormy Daniels lawyer, some saw him as an out-of-the-box Democratic presidential candidate who would actually bring some fight into the ring. His act has since worn thin, though. A recent poll of Democrats showed him with less than 1 percent support as a candidate in 2020. Bye, Michael. Hello, Richard Ojeda of West Virginia, a new gloves-off kind of a guy. 2) Steve Bannon For many of us, any chance to give the president half a chance was ruined in Charlottesville. That horrific August weekend in 2017 from the planning, to the chilling nighttime Nazi-to-English chants to the equal blaming of both sides afterward had the DNA of Bannon, then serving as White House Chief Strategist, all over it. He has since departed from that role. Thats the good news. The bad news? He still draws the same air as the rest of us, and has a full calendar of public speaking engagements to prove it. Aint that America for you and me? 3) Ann Coulter If we had a dollar for every idiotic thing this Cornell graduate has written and said just to grab back the attention she briefly enjoyed a decade ago, every homeless veteran would have shelter and every hungry child would be fed. She has a right to spew her nonsense liberals love America like O.J. loved Nicole, etc. but we have a right to ignore it. 4) Louis Farrakhan No denying the good he has done within the black community, with the Million Man March of 1995 serving as a highlight, but there is no denying the bad vibes puts out simply because he just wont let his raging anti-Semitism rest. With each incendiary remark (questioning what Jews did to Hitler to earn what they got), he loses any credibility in the mainstream let alone the mainstream black community. 5) Kardashians Not going to break it down to this Kardashian or that Kardashian. They are not even worth the time I just spent on them. 6) Ted Nugent Going back to the Classic Rock era, when people used the term jive turkey, this guy was just another B-level turkey mostly known for one song Cat Scratch Fever. It seemed nonsensical at the time, with lyrics just to serve as fodder for his half-decent guitar chops. Upon further scientific review, Cat Scratch Fever is an ailment with long-term side effects of brain damage. Nugent is entitled to extreme right-wing views, but a tough guy who admittedly did whatever it took to get out of going to Vietnam shouldnt be considered a cogent voice in the political debate. 7) Sarah Palin Oh, man, what was the late John McCain was thinking by adding someone with limited political experience (not even one full term as governor of Alaska and mayor of a small city) to the bottom of his presidential ticket in 2008? Right idea, going with a woman, but the wrong choice. Those who were bitter about Barrack Obama winning the presidency, and immediately and curiously demanded their country back, should trace their angst to Palin, as she may have cost McCain the election (I know it made my decision easy). She seemed to go away for a bit, but was empowered all over again by the outcome of the 2016 presidential election. Ugh! 8) Phil Robertson Ah, the Duck Commander of Duck Dynasty infamy. Remember that? The once formidable A&E Network chose to grab the low hanging fruit and produced a reality show about a family of duck hunters. You cant make this stuff up. His relatives grew beards to fit the facade and, with consequences we are still dealing with, western civilization went on life support as ratings soared. The show ended, and his kinfolk shaved their beards and went back to the real world. Meanwhile, Robertsons sense of self-importance continued when he became a right-wing Buddha often propped up by Bannon. If you hear this guys patented duck call (eye roll), please duck! 9) Melania Trump I have kept her off-limits, but no more. The first lady is suddenly sticking her beak in where it does not belong, ripping a page out of Nancy Reagans playbook (and we know why Mrs. Reagan had to become increasingly protective of her husband). Isnt it ironic that Mrs. Trumps stance is supposedly against bullying, especially cyber bullying? She not only condones it with her husbands 3 a.m. Twitter tantrums, but she is becoming one herself. Whats up with that? Three cheers for the Einstein Visa. 10) Kanye West Already public enemy No. 1 on the Glantz home front for that bizarre awards-show incident with Taylor Swift back in 2009 (Sofia was only 2 at the time, but she knows every detail the way I do about the JFK assassination that took place two years before I was born). Kanye being Kanye was a cover-up for clear untreated mental health issues. He lauded the presidents persona, earning a bizarre visit to the White House, and then changed what is left of his mind about his support. We are dealing with the ultimate jive turkey. And dont get me started on the music. Id rather listen to Ted Nugent. MINEVILLE More than 20 years ago, a man convicted of drug possession in Albany wandered out of a state prison in Essex County and was never found. Victor Figueroa was supposed to be headed to the mess hall at 10 a.m. on Feb. 6, 1997. Instead, he simply walked away from the Moriah Shock Incarceration Facility in Mineville. In the days that followed, upstate newspapers ran short wire service stories about the disappearance a far cry from the deluge of national media coverage after the 2015 escape of two convicted murderers from Clinton Correctional Facility. "Escape From Dannemora," a limited series about the breakout and ensuing manhunt for David Sweat and Richard Matt, is slated to premiere on Showtime on Sunday evening. Figueroa never got such fanfare. Yet he is the only state prison inmate who has never been found after an escape. When the Utica man disappeared from Moriah, located about 100 miles north of Albany, correction officers, troopers and police dogs scoured the area around the minimum-security men's prison. The searchers followed footprints that led from the facility to the only entrance of a shuttered iron mine across Fisher Hill Road. That's where as far as the state was concerned the trail ended. "Ultimately it was determined, based on the evidence, that the absconder had most likely fallen into one of the abandoned mine shafts and the risk to the well-being of the search crews was too great to continue," state Department of Corrections and Community Supervision spokesman Thomas Mailey said in an email. Figueroa's body was never recovered, but his escape led the agency to review its security procedures ahead of court appearances by inmates. He had snuck out of the Moriah prison shortly after being issued street clothes for an upcoming meeting with a judge. Now, inmates at the shock facility who are given civilian clothes remain under watch by a prison guard until they're transferred to court custody. Shock incarceration is a six-month boot camp where young, non-violent offenders are put through a military-style routine of exercise, work, education, substance abuse treatment and life skills counseling. Successful completion of the program can significantly shorten an inmate's sentence and radically lower their chance of recidivism. These minimum-security facilities stand in stark contrast to other state prisons picture a reconfigured forestry camp as opposed to the towering walls of maximum-security. Escapes in general, though, are rare in New York. State prison breaks peaked in 1994, with 31 escapes, but have declined ever since. Twenty people broke out between 2003 and 2010, but most were housed in minimum-security facilities or out on work details. There are more than 48,000 people currently in state custody, but in the past 30-odd years, less than 300 have successfully escaped. All of those prisoners have been found except Figueroa. Sign up for The Knick Get the latest news and some area history with our afternoon newsletter. He was serving a one- to four-year sentence for felony attempted drug possession, and escaped from the Moriah facility just three months into his sentence. It's unclear if he had a plan. The 21-year-old had been arrested the previous summer by Albany County Sheriff's investigators on an Adirondack Trailways bus leaving Albany for Utica. Investigators had boarded the bus at about 3:40 a.m. Aug. 1, 1996, in search of people carrying drugs. They asked every rider for identification and looked for "certain indicators," such as sweating or suddenly moving a bag, according to the Times Union's archive. Figueroa was busted with 60 packets of heroin. The details of his life before that are even more sparse. Figueroa was small in stature standing 5-foot-5 and weighing 135 pounds and had no tattoos. And he was living on Utica's Dudley Avenue, inside a two-story apartment building that is boarded up and abandoned on a Google StreetView photograph taken in September 2015. He had a seventh-grade education and no job, according to his arrest report. He was born in Puerto Rico and was unmarried. Attempts to locate and contact his family were unsuccessful. The state prison system doesn't even have Figueroa's mug shot on file anymore, but a dusty one exists in Albany County Hall of Records. He looks tired and alone. ALBANY -- The aroma of steaming rice and empanadas filled the ballroom in the Empire State Plaza's lower concourse while English and Spanish intermingled among the crowd - a sharp reminder of the Capital Region's vibrant, historic Hispanic community. The event, held by the Hispanic Coalition of New York, brought together 40 of the most accomplished Latinos under 40 years old from around the state. "For me, what I saw was 'How come we don't have more of a recognition of Hispanic, Latin Americans?" said Monica Arias Miranda, the founder of the Hispanic Coalition of New York. Now in their eighth year, the Rising Star awards aim to highlight the Hispanic culture and celebrate what Miranda sees as a misunderstood and "underrepresented" population. "The dialogue is that Latinos are rapists, murderers, and this thing about immigrants are coming to take. That is not what I know, what I see," Miranda said. "This is a group of 40 Hispanic Latinos and their families. They are giving more than what they're taking. This is the true representation of the Hispanic community across our state." Of the 40 award-winners, eight hail from the Capital Region. But the professions and lines of work for the recipients varied drastically. One winner, 28-year-old Carolina Motter Catarina, moved to the U.S. from Brazil three-and-a-half years ago to enroll as a Ph.D student at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute. Catarina studies bioprocess and biotechnology, and has worked to develop skin models that mimic human skin and can act as a replacement for animal testing, which is used for toxicology and screenings for products like makeup. "It's funny, because I feel like these are relatives, like when you go to these big family lunches," Catarina said of the event, and her inclusion in the Hispanic community as a newer resident in the Capital Region. "I'm always looking for opportunities to inspire students back home," she said. Another winner, George Lopez, 25, is a Troy native and works as the assistant director of undergraduate admissions for The College of St. Rose. Lopez attended Siena College and has also worked at Green Tech High Charter School as a college access coordinator. He said he hopes to continue pursuing a career in education, and has been working to make Saint Rose more of an active member within the Albany community, he said. Sign up for The Knick Get the latest news and some area history with our afternoon newsletter. "I feel like I've kind of been raised up my community, and a lot of these things, its just me giving back," Lopez said. "These are the small moments that I kind of realize, 'Oh, I'm not the only one that's out here doing work." The other local winners included Raquel Gonzalez, the deputy commissioner for administration for the state Department of Agriculture and Markets. Gonzalez overcame a troubled upbringing in New Jersey to receive a bachelor's and master's degree from George Mason University. Alfredo Balarin, the assistant director of student life at Hudson Valley Community College and the first Latino elected to the city of Albany Common Council, was also a recipient, along with Staten Island-native Justin Robert Luna, a manufacturer with General Electric. Others honored were Ruthie Belkis Young, an organizer with the 1199SEIU health care workers union, and Steffany Paniagua-Jones, an event manager with Prime Business Dining who was raised in the Dominican Republic. Yessenia Morales, a licensed practical nurse with Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield, is a pancreatic cancer survivor who has helped bridged the language barrier for health care patients in the Capital Region. For Lopez, the award was an honor that he says validated his career path, which he said can be difficult for young people to find early on. "Being a young person, there's a lot of uncertainty about what you're trying to do with your life," Lopez said. "So it's really cool to get recognized and it kind of creates a sense of an affirmation of your path, what you're trying to accomplish." Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea Chinese President Xi Jinping and U.S. Vice President Mike Pence traded barbs in speeches at a summit of world leaders Saturday, outlining competing visions for global leadership as trade and other tensions between them simmer. Pence said there would be no letup in President Donald Trump's policy of combating China's trade policy and intellectual property theft that has erupted into a tit-for-tat tariff war between two world powers this year. The U.S. has imposed additional tariffs on $250 billion of Chinese goods and China has retaliated. Pence reiterated Trump administration threats to more than double the penalties. "The United States, though, will not change course until China changes its ways," Pence said, accusing Beijing of intellectual property theft, unprecedented subsidies for state businesses and "tremendous" barriers to foreign companies entering its giant market. Pence announced the U.S. would be involved in ally Australia's plan to develop a naval base in Papua New Guinea, where the summit is being held. China has been intensely wooing Papua New Guinea and other Pacific island nations with aid and loans for infrastructure. "Our vision for a free and open Indo-Pacific will prevail," Pence said. The vice president harshly criticized China's global infrastructure drive, known as the "Belt and Road Initiative," saying many of the projects are low-quality and saddle developing countries with loans they can't afford. The U.S. democracy is a better partner than authoritarian China, he said. "Know that the United States offers a better option. We don't drown our partners in a sea of debt, we don't coerce, compromise your independence," Pence said. "We do not offer constricting belt or a one-way road. When you partner with us, we partner with you and we all prosper." Xi, who spoke before Pence, anticipated many of the U.S. criticisms in his speech. He said countries are facing a choice of cooperation or confrontation as protectionism and unilateralism spreads. Xi expressed support for the global free trading system that has underpinned his country's rise over the past quarter century to the world's second-biggest economy after the U.S. "The rules made should not be followed or bent as one sees fit and they should not be applied with double standards for selfish agendas," Xi said. Sign up for The Knick Get the latest news and some area history with our afternoon newsletter. "Mankind has once again reached a crossroads," he said. "Which direction should we choose? Cooperation or confrontation? Openness or closing doors? Win-win progress or a zero sum game?" Responding to a chorus of criticism of China's international infrastructure drive, Xi said it was not a trap or power grab. "It is not designed to serve any hidden geopolitical agenda, it is not targeted against anyone and it does not exclude anyone," Xi said. "It is not an exclusive club that is closed to non-members, nor is it a trap as some people have labeled it." Leaders of 21 Pacific Rim countries and territories that make 60 percent of the world economy are meeting in Port Moresby, the capital of Papua New Guinea, for an annual Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit. They are struggling to reach agreement on a joint declaration, particularly whether to push for changes to the World Trade Organization, which sets rules for trade and can penalize nations. WTO nations have been unable to agree on freer trade for years. London British Prime Minister Theresa May fought back against critics of her Brexit deal Saturday, telling opponents from within her party their alternative plans for Britain's departure from the European Union wouldn't work. May is battling to win over rebels in her Conservative Party and and to preserve her position as prime minister after a grueling week in which party members plotted to oust her and two Cabinet ministers quit within hours of her government striking the long-sought divorce agreement with the EU. In a public relations offensive, May revealed in a Daily Mail interview how her husband supported her during "a pretty heavy couple of days." Calling her husband, Philip, her "rock," May said when the Conservative revolt erupted Wednesday, the first thing he did was pour her a whisky. She also laid into political opponents, saying their ideas for resolving the biggest stumbling block in EU-U.K. negotiations avoiding a hard border between Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland after Brexit wouldn't resolve the problem. "People say, 'If you could only just do something slightly different, have a Norway or Canada model, this backstop issue would go away.' It would not,". "Some politicians get so embroiled in the intricacies of their argument they forget it is not about this theory or that theory, or does it make me look good," she added. While May appeared to have survived the week, her headaches are far from over. Disaffected "Brexiteers" think they have the numbers required to trigger a challenge to her leadership within days. They are aiming for 48 letters of no confidence, the number needed for a vote under Conservative Party rules. So far, more than 20 lawmakers have publicly said they submitted such letters. One of them, Mark Francois, complained that May's draft deal would leave Britain with the worst outcome "half in and half out" of the EU. He said it would never be approved in Parliament, where May's Conservatives are not a majority. Like Francois, many pro-Brexit Conservatives are pushing for a clean break with the EU and argue that the close trade ties between the U.K. and the EU called for in the deal would leave Britain a vassal state. Sign up for The Knick Get the latest news and some area history with our afternoon newsletter. As it stands, the draft agreement sees Britain leaving the EU as planned on March 29 but remaining inside the bloc's single market and bound by its rules until the end of December 2020. It also commits the two sides to the contentious "backstop" solution, which would keep the U.K. in a customs arrangement with the EU as a guarantee the Irish border remained free of customs checkpoints. British media reported several pro-Brexit senior Conservatives, including House of Commons leader Andrea Leadsom, were trying to persuade May to renegotiate the divorce deal in a way they find more acceptable. Leadsom told Sky News Saturday "there is still more to be done" to get "the best possible deal for the U.K." before Nov. 25 The deal also requires approval from Britain's Parliament before the U.K. leaves the bloc. Smartphone cameras are officially out of control. Not too long ago, the prospect of a handset with a dual-lens camera seemed ridiculous. Then, Apple introduced the iPhone 7 Plus in 2016, and everything changed. Google Pixel 3 Today, triple-camera phones are becoming more common LG's V40 ThinQ has three rear cameras, as do Huawei's recent flagship devices, including the new Mate 20 Pro. And it doesn't look as if phone makers will stop there. Samsung has introduced a four-lens module with its midrange Galaxy A9, and leaked images of the Nokia 9 purporting to show a spider-like five-sensor arrangement. But more lenses alone don't necessarily make a great phone camera. That's dependent on a number of factors, including the design of the optics, quality and size of the sensors and strength of the manufacturer's software algorithms. It turns out there are many different ways to build a camera even in a device as space-limited as a phone. And the various approaches phone makers have taken with the zoom capabilities of their devices are emblematic of that. MORE: Best Smartphone Cameras Available Right Now Some devices offer an optical zoom, while others make do with a digital zoom. But what does that distinction really mean? And how do dual cameras factor into the equation? Here's a deeper look at what's going on behind the scenes every time you zoom in, and which phones are best equipped for close-ups. Zoom types explained Let's start with the two types of zoom: digital and optical. Digital is what you'll find in most phones. There, the a portion of the existing feed from the camera is being cropped in on, or enlarged. In contrast, optical zoom (at least in the conventional sense) means movable lenses with changeable focal lengths that can achieve different perspectives with no loss of detail. Apple iPhone XS However, optical zoom is a little different as it pertains to phones. Because mobile camera stacks lack the space or mechanisms to move, optical zoom in a phone usually just means a different lens with another fixed focal length (often the telephoto that some models use to deliver Portrait Mode effects). That telephoto lens offers a narrower field-of-view compared with the standard lens, which is relatively wide. The iPhone XS, the XS Max, the Galaxy S9+ and the Note 9 are all examples of phones that employ this form of optical zoom. Apple iPhone XS and XS Max Recently, though, some phone makers have opted for a different tactic, either for devices that neglect to offer a second lens (such as the Pixel 3 and 3 XL) or do include multiple lenses, albeit with identical focal lengths (such as the OnePlus 6T). These handsets rely on software to enhance the accuracy and sharpness of digital zoom. Depending on the quality of the software, the results can occasionally rival those captured using a phone fitted with optical zoom. Google Pixel 3 The best example of this type of zoom-enhancing technology is the Super Res Zoom feature found in Google's most recent Pixel phones. An entry on Google's AI Blog goes into fascinating detail to explain precisely how Super Res Zoom works. But in layman's terms, whereas two-thirds of any image captured with a digital camera is technically a reconstruction, Super Res Zoom uses natural hand motion to fill in some of those gaps on the image sensor that ordinarily wouldn't capture certain color values. The result is digitally zoomed photos that are more detailed than those captured by conventionally cropping. Comparing the results Given the choice between optical zoom and even the most souped-up form of digital zoom, you're going to want to take the former. There's simply no replacement for optics. That said, it's astonishing how well some hardware manufacturers have closed the gap with their digital- zoom technologies. Take this comparison between the iPhone XS' optical zoom and the Pixel 3's Super Res Zoom, for example. Google's phone delivers a shot that's a bit noisier in the darker regions, but many of the details from the fabric on the bird, to the carvings in the pine cone, remain. Of course, each device approaches the challenge of lighting this scene differently, which makes it a bit difficult to suss out differences in zoom quality alone. Nevertheless, you probably wouldn't realize the Pixel 3 was working with a wide-angle lens if these images weren't labeled. On the other end of the spectrum, this side-by-side between the dual-lens Note 9 and single-lens iPhone XR taken at historic Washington's Crossing State Park in New Jersey illustrates the massive gulf between an optical solution and a pure-and-simple digital zoom, without any software to clean up the frame. The Note 9 cuts right through the snow and renders each letter on the dedication with remarkable clarity, whereas the iPhone XR stumbles with an overall blurrier and underexposed shot that resembles a JPEG blown-up in Photoshop. Ever since OnePlus moved from a telephoto secondary lens in the OnePlus 5 to a wide-angle one in the OnePlus 5T, the phone maker has had to rely on software to do the heavy lifting and make its 2x digitally zoomed photos look as clean as possible. We can see here that the OnePlus 6T, the company's latest smartphone, does an admirable job of keeping pace with the telephoto camera in the iPhone XS. If you look really closely, certain details like the suspension beams of the bridge and the green traffic light are a bit sharper through the iPhone XS' lens, but the difference isn't drastic. Bottom Line If having a camera with the most accurate zoom is important to you, we recommend the iPhone XS or the XS Max. The telephoto lens is irreplaceable, and in all other aspects, the iPhone XS is an excellent mobile shooter, to boot. If you're on the Android side of the fence, you can't go wrong with the Galaxy Note 9 a handset that also happens to be almost untouchable in low light. The Galaxy S9+ has an almost identical pair of cameras, making it a formidable stand-in for Samsung's 6.4-inch phablet, especially if you're hunting for something a bit more pocketable and a bit less expensive. OnePlus 6T However, don't discount digital zoom. When done right, it can certainly hold its own against the telephoto crowd, as the OnePlus 6T and the Pixel 3 and 3 XL demonstrate. Google's latest flagships, in particular, are currently reigning as our favorite smartphone cameras overall, and with the recent addition of Night Sight mode, they're set to become even better. The iPhone XR bears the unfortunate distinction of having a really, really great camera albeit one that is under-equipped when it comes to digital zoom. Apple's $749 offering desperately needs clever software-tuning to make its 2x shots at least comparable with those that OnePlus and Google are churning out. Credit: Tom's Guide Headphone deals are very easy to find most of the year. Retailers from Amazon to Walmart offer a variety of headphone deals on today's best headphones. And with the Black Friday season right around the corner, headphone deals are getting that much hotter. Currently, we're seeing epic headphone deals on premium models. For instance, you can get the AirPods Pro for $179 at Walmart. Meanwhile, Amazon is taking up to 40% off select Beats headphones. The sale includes models like the Beats Solo 3 and Beats Studio 3. Bottom line, if you're looking for headphones deals June is an excellent month to upgrade. Headphones deals and Black Friday Thanksgiving is almost here and that means now is the season for the best Black Friday headphones deals. Retailers from Amazon to Walmart are slashing the price of our favorite 'phones and earbuds. So far we're seeing discounts on devices from Sony, Bose, and Apple. Make sure to follow our Black Friday deals coverage for the best deals of the season. Best headphones deals right now Best headphone deals Wireless Headphone deals Sony WH-1000XM4: was $349 now $248 @ Amazon Sony WH-1000XM4: was $349 now $248 @ Amazon The Sony WH-1000XM4 are the best wireless headphones on the market. They offer remarkable noise-cancelling, superior sound quality, and a lengthy 30 hours of battery life (38 hours with ANC disabled). At $101 off, there's no reason not to pick up a pair. Check out Best Buy's listing in case Amazon sells out. Jabra Elite 85h: was $249 now $180 @ Amazon Jabra Elite 85h: was $249 now $180 @ Amazon With their powerful noise cancellation and record-breaking 36-hour battery life, the Jabra Elite 85h are among the best noise cancelling headphones you can get. While only $50 off, it's still one of the best headphone deals you'll find if you're looking for solid performance. Sennheiser HD 4.50 SE Headphones $179 @ Amazon Sennheiser HD 4.50 SE Headphones $179 @ Amazon These wireless headphones are a must-have for audio fanatics who want Sennheiser sound with noise-cancelling capabilities. The Sennheiser HD 4.50 feature an appealing and comfortable design, intuitive controls, and deliver an outstanding audio experience. Wireless Earbud deals Apple AirPods w/ Standard Case: was $159 now $129 @ Best Buy Apple AirPods w/ Standard Case: was $159 now $129 @ Best Buy The 2019 Apple AirPods feature a faster chip and longer talk time than the first-gen AirPods. If you're not willing to commit to a higher price-tag of the AirPods Pro, this pair of earbuds is the one for you. For a limited time, they're $30 off at Amazon, so make sure to act fast, while the deal is still active. AirPods Pro: was $249 now $179 @ Walmart LOWEST PRICE AirPods Pro: was $249 now $179 @ Walmart Apple's AirPods Pro are now on sale, saving you a total of $70. These premium earbuds are perfect for everyday use as well as exercise. The AirPods Pro offers active noise cancelling, water- and sweat resistance, and comes with a wireless charging case. Powerbeats wireless earphones: was $149 now $123 @ Walmart Powerbeats wireless earphones: was $149 now $123 @ Walmart With these earphones, your morning run will be enhanced thanks to their outstanding audio quality. Rivalling Apple's Airpods, the Powerbeats deliver pure sound reproduction, enhanced clarity and improved dynamic range. And you can easily pair it with your preferred Apple device, thanks to the pre-installed Apple H1 headphone chip. INDEPENDENCE, MO. (KCTV) -- The Independence Police Department is investigating a double-shooting that happened Sunday morning. Police dispatch says two victims were reportedly shot shortly after 5:30 a.m. in the 3800 block of South Sterling Avenue. The extent of the injuries are unknown at this time. No arrests have been made. UMKC professor used students as servants for decades | The Kansas City Star Kamesh Kuchimanchi traveled halfway across the globe to earn his Ph.D. alongside one of the University of Missouri-Kansas City's top researchers. Ashim Mitra's sterling reputation as a scientist wasn't the lone draw. Like Kuchimanchi, the professor was from India, and that was a comfort. Their common bond, Kuchimanchi hoped, would make America feel more like home. Sorry to waste space on this one but it might be one of the most useless instances of "journalism" our local paper has offered which reports the complaints of students that not even their parents bother to really listen . . . Read more if you dare: Feeding The Growing Kansas City Hobo Population KC church prepares to deliver hot meals to homeless Volunteers gathered Saturday at Trinity United Methodist Church to prepare hot meals for the homeless. Local Lady Lost & Found KCPD: Missing Kansas City woman found safe KANSAS CITY, Mo. - Kansas City, Missouri, police said Casey Collins, who had been missing since Sunday, "has been located and she is OK." Police said Collins, 27, hadn't been seen since Nov. 11 near U.S. 71 and Longview Road. An alert was issued Friday, because her family was concerned for her welfare. KCK Is A Dump KCK police pull 175 tires from illegal dumping ground KANSAS CITY, KS (KCTV) -- After identifying an illegal dumping ground in the Northland, the Kansas City, Kansas police pulled out 175 tires, which shocked even those who live nearby. According to the police chief, the dumping ground is in the area of 17th and Quindaro. Inner-Suburbs Ablaze Grandview apartment fire Friday evening displaces 9 people Allison Hill/KMBC SOURCE: Allison Hill/KMBC The Red Cross is helping nine people displaced by an apartment fire Friday evening in Grandview. Firefighters were called at 6:30 p.m. to the Douglas Place Apartments in the 13900 block of Grandboro Lane. Fire crews reported heavy fire to one apartment with heavy smoke and water damage to three adjoining apartments. Highway Pizza Chase Ensues Carjacked pizza delivery vehicle stopped in I-70 chase JACKSON COUNTY, Mo. -- Two suspects are facing charges after allegedly hijacking an eastern Jackson County pizza driver and leading police on a chase that ended in Kansas City. Oak Grove police officers say three people robbed a pizza delivery driver at gunpoint Friday night. Good Deeds In the Dotte Coats, turkeys, flu shots given away at 'Warm Up Wyandotte' event by Mary Rupert About 400 coats given away Saturday morning went fast at the Mercy and Truth Medical Mission's "Warm Up Wyandotte" event at 721 N. 31st St., Kansas City, Kansas. Next to go were the 200 turkeys given away - only 17 were left by 8:20 a.m. Music Newsie Playing The Same Tune Tim Finn's Top 5 Must See Concerts - 11/21 - In Kansas City This week's roster of notable shows includes a classic-rock hero on his farewell tour, a local blues heroine paying tribute to her hall-of-fame influences, and a new red-hot funky soul band from KC. Nov. 21 at Sprint Center: Twenty One Pilots with AWOLNATION and Max Frost The omni-genre duo from Columbus, Ohio, started in 2009.... No Criticism Of Local Football Allowed Does Bob Sutton deserve an apology from Kansas City Chiefs fans? Go back with me, back to January, when the Kansas City Chiefs defense couldn't stop the Tennessee Titans rushing attack and the team once again blew a lead in the playoffs. Immediately after that game, Chiefs fans were calling for Bob Sutton's head. We all wanted him fired because the defense lost us the game. A quick glimpse at some of the more important stories this evening . . .And this is thefor tonight . . . Celebrate Pilgrims Of Hyde Park Hyde Park Pilgrim Run - 5K Run & Walk Jump start your Thanksgiving morning with a fun 5K walk or run through historic Hyde Park in midtown Kansas City. Proceeds from this event will benefit the Community Programs of the Pilgrim Center. Newspaper Civil Rights Decree Half-naming The Paseo for MLK is a wholly lousy idea | The Kansas City Star The Kansas City Council on Thursday considered a proposal that would sorta rename The Paseo for Martin Luther King, Jr. Martin Luther King Jr. on the Paseo, it would be called. The council made no decision on this matter. But hey, why stop at that mouthful of a half-baked name? NYT On Kansas 'Master Race' Commish White Kansas Official's 'Master Race' Comment Draws Calls for His Resignation The governor of Kansas is among several officials calling for a white county commissioner to resign after he used the term "master race" while addressing a black consultant at a public meeting this week. Show-Me New Hope Josh Hawley will defend the First Amendment and religious liberty Among the crop of newly elected men and women headed to the Senate in 2019, one stands out for his record on religious liberty. Former Missouri Attorney General and Senator-elect Josh Hawley's (R-Mo.) strong track record defending America's first freedom can be traced all the way to the beginnings of his career. Another Season Of Hype Awaits KC Royals: Nicky Lopez Rookie of the Year candidate for Royals in 2019 When looking at the Kansas City Royals' position players for the 2019 season, the roster seems mostly set. That will make it difficult for recent fifth round pick Nicky Lopez to see immediate major league action, but MLB.com still pegged Lopez as KC's Rookie of the Year candidate next year. A perspective on achievement in the modern era:Closer to home, here's a few news links for our Sunday morning:is the song of the day and this is the OPEN THREAD for right now . . . Hispanic Heritage Month may have ended in October, but UMKC's Association of Latin American Students (ALAS) is still celebrating this month after earning a nearly $9,000 scholarship for DACA students. A group of UMKC students received scholarships this June from the Hispanic Development Fund. Takeaways and next steps for the single-terminal KCI project - Kansas City Business Journal It was an eventful day at City Hall when the Kansas City Council's Airport Committee debated a number of issues with the nearly $2 billion single-terminal project at Kansas City International Airport. Confused about where things stand now? A new ordinance was introduced to the Airport Committee. It's a long-shot but there is not doubt the current deal is falling apart. In the meantime, here's a look at the new airport which is mostly just drawings and no real progress toward construction: Gone are the days of alloy wheels. Even magnesium wheels seem antiquated now that HRE and GE have come forth with a prototype 3D-printed rim made out of titanium. The process of making these wheels is complicated, but the results are astonishing. Basically, you cant get such a design using a traditional CNC machine. HRE Wheels presents the first-ever titanium 3D-printed rims. Named HRE3D+, the rims are the result of a joint project with GE AddWorks and were made to showcase the possibilities available when additive manufacturing is employed to create state-of-the-art car wheels. A 3D-printed car cant be that far away into the future Titanium wheels? Where do we sign up?! Forget what you knew about machining titanium. Now, using Electro-Beam Melting (EBM) 3D-printing technology, you can create intricate designs like this one of the HRE3D+ using titanium. Two 3D-printing machines are used in the process. "This is an incredibly exciting and important project for us as we get a glimpse into what the future of wheel design holds," said HRE President Alan Peltier in a statement. "Working with GE Additives AddWorks team gave us access to the latest additive technology and an amazing team of engineers, allowing us to push the boundaries of wheel design beyond anything possible with current methods. To HRE, this partnership with GE Additive moves us into the future." The process of creating such a wheel starts off with a block of titanium thats melted layer by layer using the electron beam. Then, the resulting five main elements are put back together with a custom center section and titanium fasteners. HRE says that, in the case of a normal aluminum alloy wheel, "80% of the material is removed from a 100-pound forged block of aluminum to create the final product." On the other hand, "with additive manufacturing, only 5% of the material is removed and recycled, making the process far more efficient." Titanium is also tougher than aluminum or magnesium, isnt affected by corrosion, and is very light. "HRE prides itself on its commitment to excellence and superior quality in the marketplace. It was a natural fit for AddWorks to work on this project with them and really revolutionize the way wheels can be designed and manufactured," said Robert Hanet, senior design engineer at GE Additive AddWorks quoted in the same statement. The wheel manufacturer pointed out that, in the near future, building the whole wheel at once will be plausible which will further reduce the production time as well as costs. This will open the doors to a whole world of 3D-printed titanium wheels - and maybe other exotic metals. The prototype HRE3D+ wheel will be at HRE's stand as the company will take part between November 13th and 16th at the FormNext trade show in Frankfurt, Germany. Further reading Read more technology news. Source: HRE editorial@tribune.com Manmeet Singh Gill Tribune News Service Amritsar, November 18 Despite a substantial drop in temperature, dengue threat continues to trouble the district where 442 cases have been reported so far. The dengue count this time is almost double of those of last year when 222 cases had surfaced. Although the number of dengue patients in the district was quite low initially, it began seeing an upward slide in the last week of October. The department had reported only around 120 cases of dengue till October 20. Health officials stated that the disease was easily preventable if people cleaned their residences and surroundings. The sudden rise in dengue cases has left health officials worried. Officials said a close watch was being kept. The situation is expected to improve within a few days with a further dip in temperature. District Health Officer Dr Madan Mohan said, Despite efforts, being made to create awareness on dengue, we have detected dengue larvae breeding in refrigerators of at least two residences. People must clean their homes to prevent the disease. Dr Madan Mohan said that out of 442 dengue cases reported so far, a total of 105 were residents of the nearby Kapurthala district. But as their addresses mentioned in identity proofs are of Amritsar, they would be counted as patients of the district, he said. The health official stated that the use of mosquito repellents and other methods could save people from dengue. vermaajay1968@gmail.com SC Vasudeva Q. My son, who left India for Kuwait in 2014, has a PPF account since 2007. After his two years of stay in Kuwait, he got the PR of Canada and went there along with his family in 2016. We (the parents) are depositing some amount in his PPF account regularly. My query is: 1. Can the existing PPF account be transferred in savings account of post office. As this account is deemed to be closed. 2. Please guide if his presence is required to open a savings account in the post office. 3. If the interest will be considered as income and is it taxable? 4. Can we as parents withdraw the PPF before 15 years (which is due in 2023)? He has got Aadhaar and PAN. Veena Mahajan A. Your queries are replied hereunder: a) Your son having acquired the status of an NRI can maintain his savings account which will be designated as NRO account in which receipts and payments in Indian rupees can be made. b) In case your son does not have a savings account, his signatures for opening of a new account should be required so as to conform to the KYC details. However, you can check this aspect with the bank in which you intend to open his account. c) The amount of interest earned on NRO account would be taxable in India. d) The issue whether the amount deposited in PPF account of a NRI can be withdrawn before 15 years shall have to be checked up with the bank or post office where such account has been maintained and has to be closed on account of his NRI status. Q. I am a retired Punjab Government official and filing my income tax returns regularly and paying the income tax as admissible. My date of birth is 10-11-1938 and became 80 years old on 10-11-1918. I understand that I am now super senior citizen in financial year 2018-19 and will be eligible to avail the benefits of super senior citizen for the assessment year 2019-20. Kindly confirm my version. Please also explain the term Resident Super Senior Citizen (who is 80 years or more on the last day of the previous year), the Section, rule, or circular of the Income Tax Act, 1961, may kindly be quoted. Jagdish Singh A. You will be entitled to claim the benefits allowable to a very senior citizen. There is no section or rule which provides for such an interpretation. The acceptable interpretation is that a person should be 80 years of age as on the date of close of the financial year in respect of which income-tax return is to be filed. Q. I am a PSPCL pensioner. I am regularly filing my I-T return. I intend to sell my old house measuring 100 sq yards. The collector rate is Rs 3,500 per sq yard. Thus I will receive Rs 3,50,000 towards sale of house. Recently, I have got constructed my new house by taking home loan from a nationalised bank. Please advise my tax liability in case I deposit Rs 3,50,000 in the bank. Ramesh Kumar A. The amount of tax liability in respect of capital gain can be computed only if the cost and the year of acquisition of the old house is available. In the absence of such details, it is not possible to compute the amount of tax liability in respect of the amount of capital gain. You may deposit the amount of consideration on the sale of the old house amounting to Rs 3,50,000 in your bank account. Q. My son is immigrating to the US with his wife and two children. His immigration was sponsored by his elder sister (my daughter, a US citizen). Please guide me on the following issues: 1) How much foreign exchange his family can carry with them and in what form - cash or draft? 2) What are current rules under which I being his father, can remit funds for his help, as and when his family may need in future? What formalities I may have to go in for if such remittances are made through banking channels out of my own bank account and/or out of the bank account of my immigrant son? - AarPee A. a) A person wanting to emigrate can draw foreign exchange from authorised dealer (AD) category I bank and AD category II up to the amount prescribed by the country of emigration or $250,000. Remittance of any amount of foreign exchange outside India in excess of this limit may be allowed only towards meeting incidental expenses in the country of immigration and not for earning points or credits to become eligible for immigration by way of overseas investments in government bonds; land; commercial enterprise; etc. b) You, being a father and resident individual can remit up to $2,50,000 in a financial year to your sons foreign bank account under Liberalised Remittance Scheme (LRS). The said can be remitted as gift or as a maintenance of close relative abroad. The individual will have to designate a branch of an AD through which all remittances under this scheme will be made. The resident individual seeking to make the remittance should furnish Form A2 for purchase of foreign exchange under LRS. It is mandatory for the resident individual to provide his/her PAN to make remittance under the scheme. ROBINSINGH@TRIBUNE.COM Tribune News Service Chandigarh, November 18 Senior BJP leader and former Union Minister Harmohan Dhawan today formally joined the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) in the presence of its senior leaders from the Punjab unit. Though no official announcement of his candidature for the Lok Sabha seat was made today, leaders gave an indication that the party would field him in the next elections. A large number of Dhawans supporters were present at the function held at his residence in Sector 9. Dhawans decision to join AAP came after he met party convener and Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal last month. Addressing a rally, Dhawan attacked the BJP and the Congress, saying that both parties did not fulfil promises made to people before coming to power. Dhawan had joined the BJP before the last parliamentary elections and was denied the ticket for the Lok Sabha seat at the last moment. Thereafter, his relationship with local leaders of the party remained strained for various reasons. Dhawan said AAP would provide an alternative to the BJP and the Congress. AAP had fielded actor Gul Panag from the Chandigarh seat during the last Lok Sabha elections and had got over one lakh votes. Bhagwant Mann, MP, said the party would win the election from Chandigarh. Durgesh Pathak, a senior leader of the party, said Arvind Kejriwal would hold a rally in the city in January. ROBINSINGH@TRIBUNE.COM Tribune News Service Patiala, November 18 The police have registered a case against a man under the Punjab Prevention of Human Smuggling Act after a woman alleged that he took Rs 2.60 lakh from her on the pretext of sending her abroad for work and later sold her off to a sheikh. The woman, a resident of Jai Jawan Colony, said Sanjeev Khan, a resident of Pratap Nagar, duped her of Rs 2.60 lakh on the pretext of sending her to Dubai. She said the suspect sold her off to a sheikh in Dubai. She was later sold off to another person in Oman. She was also beaten up. According to the 34-year-old woman, she had gone abroad for work in October 2017. She has a 12-year-old son and lives with her mother after being separated from her husband years ago. She said, The travel agent first took Rs 2.60 lakh from me for sending me abroad. Later, I got to know that he sold me off to a sheikh. They made me work a lot and also beat me up. They mistreated me. She said she was later sold off to another man in Oman. I later went to a police station but the police did not help me. They told me that I was bought by the sheikh and they could not deport me to India. The woman returned India in July this year. She said she got in touch with her family and returned with the help of some officials in Chandigarh. The police have now registered a case against travel agent Sanjeev Khan under Section 420 (cheating and dishonesty) of the IPC and Section 13 of the Punjab Prevention of Human Smuggling Act. DSP (City-I) Yogesh Sharma said they were conducting raids to nab the travel agent. KP Nayar KP Nayar Foreign affairs writer AN increase in the Republican majority in the US Senate in the November 6 mid-term elections is good news for India. Democrats capturing the House of Representatives from Republicans is also good news for India. The Senate results hold out the tantalising possibility that Americas India policy, which has been adrift for two years, could, at last, get a sense of direction. A Democratic majority in the House of Representatives will if India plays its cards right act as a catalyst in moving the Trump administration away from its obsession with trade as the primary focus of ties with India. Democrats and Republicans are equally enthusiastic about India. Here is an instance of why India has no reason to worry about the outcome of the mid-term polls. Five years ago, the two rival political parties were in a standoff on Capitol Hill. The Senate was not clearing any appointments made by President Obama. Yet, Chandigarh-born Sri Srinivasan was confirmed by the Senate as a judge in the US Court of Appeals, the second most powerful court in the country. That too, by a unanimous vote of 97 to 0. Srinivasan became the first Indian-American to be made a Circuit Court judge. Only because he was of Indian origin, there was goodwill and no one on Capitol Hill said anything against him, even as the country was otherwise split down the middle. With Republicans increasing their razor-thin lead in the outgoing Senate to a working majority on November 6 although still short of the filibuster-proof 60 Senators in a chamber of 100 it is likely that several appointments critical to the Trump administrations India policy may be cleared by the new Senate. The last Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asia, of which India is the main component, resigned in January 2017. Trump, new to the White House, could not find a replacement for Nisha Desai Biswal, whose credentials in India-related diplomacy and development initiatives are outstanding. This important position of point person for India, which requires confirmation by the US Senate, remains unfilled to this day. Richard Verma also quit as US ambassador to India on the day Trump was sworn in as President. Because Trump could not decide who should succeed Verma, there was a diplomatically unusual spectacle of Modi visiting Washington in June for the PMs first meeting with Trump without a US ambassador in place in New Delhi. Prodded by Senator Mark Warner, Co-Chair of the influential Senate India Caucus, Trump nominated Kenneth Juster as ambassador to India, nine months after he assumed office. Because of Justers foundational role nearly two decades ago in transforming India-US high technology cooperation, the Senate quickly confirmed him. Had it not been for intervention by the Senate India Caucus, Roosevelt House, the residence of the US envoy in Chanakyapuri, may have been unoccupied even today. What is true of the Assistant Secretary of State for India and South Asia is true of other departments in the Trump administration. In several executive branches that are critical to India policy, it is the same story with Trump. Washington has witnessed a blame game between the legislative and executive branches about who is responsible for the huge number of unfilled posts in the administration. Just before the mid-term polls, Secretary of State Michael Pompeo said in a statement: There are more than 60 State Department nominees awaiting confirmation in the US Senate. That is more than a quarter of all the senior-level positions at the department. Senator Bob Menendez, the senior-most Democrat on the committee that clears presidential appointments, had a different view. This administrations continued inability to adequately or appropriately fill key national security positions puts our nation at risk. Pompeo retorted that the risk to the nation lay at the feet of Senator Menendez. We need our team on the field to conduct Americas foreign policy, and today I call on the Senator and his colleagues to stop this delay and obstruction now. Because the State Departments South and Central Asia bureau has been headless under Trump, Deputy Assistant Secretaries, next in the chain of command, have been playing musical chairs. There are five such posts, all of which are now staffed by acting officers. Since Trump became President, there have been two acting Deputy Assistant Secretaries dealing with India. In addition, four posts of ambassador in this bureaus jurisdiction, including Pakistan, are vacant. Such drift robs the administration of a vision and creative inputs into inter-agency dialogues, where US policies are crafted. This has had a cascading impact on all of official Washington. At the time of writing, in the Office of India Affairs in Foggy Bottom, the State Department headquarters, the post of Deputy Director is vacant. Three positions of India desk officers are vacant. So are jobs of political unit chief, two economic officers, a political officer and a foreign affairs officer. This listing of gross neglect by the administration in ensuring institutional continuity for prioritising India that was a hallmark of all previous administrations going back to Clinton in 1992 is by no means exhaustive. Had there been an Assistant Secretary, who had direct, personal access to the President, like Robin Raphel who was Clintons contemporary in his college days in England, Trump could have been persuaded to accept Indias invitation to be chief guest at the Republic Day next year. With a capricious and fickle occupant in the White House, the twin chambers of the US Congress are Indias best bet. The mid-term election results have done nothing to diminish this great asset to India-US relations. Vikash Narain Rai Vikash Narain Rai Former Director, National Police Academy, Hyderabad THE crucial lesson of Meeruts Hashimpura episode is that procedural justice must ensure distributive justice. Only then one can expect the rule of law harmoniously coexisting with the role of law. However, in Hashimpuras botched up law and order arena, the former had remained a mute witness from the distant most corner while the latter manipulated an independent momentum of denial and disbelief for most part of 31 years of investigation and trial. The Hashimpura conviction judgment is still not a verdict too late. It presents a judicially delivered acknowledgement that the venom of police bias towards the minority community is not a created secular myth. What is perceptibly known through researches and findings, regretfully seeps into the conduct of the police during communal situations. Punishment meted out, not justice It has taken Hashimpura trial so long to respond to the overwhelming evidence connecting guilty with the crime? A fair criticism is that punishment, and not justice, has been meted out. Should not the record number of custodial casualties (49) in a single instance of police brutality in post-Independence era and its cognisance by the highest court in early stages and unprecedented intervention of the NHRC at appeal stage, have culminated in handing over a better sense of justice to society? There is much more intrinsic at stake in this sinister episode for criminal justice system than an institutional challenge to rule of law, which every custodial killing is. The victims were kidnapped by an armed PAC contingent from the Meerut locality and the carnage was committed at two halts at Hindan canal, one of them falling in the jurisdiction of neighbouring Ghaziabad. Vibhuti Narain Rai, then SSP of Ghaziabad, had played his role in prompt registration of the FIR as the case was transferred at electric speed the same day to CBCID Lucknow on the direction of then CM, Vir Bahadur Singh. There was much hue and cry in the police, media and political circles but little headway in investigation. The same police officer, in the early 90s, joined as research fellow at National Police Academy (NPA), Hyderabad, and his pioneering research unearthed the fulcrum of polices minority bias in communally charged situations. His findings were disconcerting to then NPA bosses, who refused to publish the thesis. Who engineered it? The Hashimpura perpetrators had acted as if they were doing a service to the cause of disturbed peace in the area. The surcharged atmosphere in the wake of Rajiv Gandhis Shila Pujan in Ayodhya adding to the partisanship, the police hierarchy connived and politicians in power patronised. As Rai later noted, the highest-ranking police officer put on trial was just a platoon commander in the rank of Sub-Inspector, and in no position to take a decision of this magnitude on his own. His subordinates would have refused to execute such orders but for the impression that the plan had been okayed at much higher levels. Communal conditioning From where do our policemen get this communally loaded conditioning? Each individuals social background plays a part. The department ignores it while moulding them through the rigours of basic training, and the political climate in the field gives it a fillip when they start wielding power. Fresh entrants need to be relentlessly de-conditioned in order to unburden them off their ingrained socio-cultural biases. They are not groomed in democratic values nor their accountability yields any participatory space to community they are expected to serve. A suitably crafted unburden the burden training regimen would pave the way to initiate the process. However, it would need a decisive policy and institutional intervention to democratise the entire range of policing routine. Otherwise they are bound to continue to visualise their obligation towards law and human rights through a lens of power perspective only. The verdict has not answered the question: which institution of governance proved more anarchic, the political power or its law enforcement agency, the police? The judiciary on its own has not come out with any statement regarding remedial strategy. There may be new players at the helm but with the same orientation. The continued coverup through silence is in line with the broader state policy of partisanship through inertia, considered politically rewarding. The very next day after the carnage, another Muslim locality, Maliana, was burnt by goons in the presence of the police and PAC, claiming 73 lives. The trial has examined only five witnesses so far. Maliana had played the pattern of the 1984 riots and was to be repeated at a gigantic scale in the 2002 Gujarat pogrom. Seshachalam carnage To hammer the point of anarchy in governance, let us recall the massacre of 20 woodcutters by the Andhra police in 2015. In a brazen follow-up of political patronage to red sanders lobby, the hired woodcutters from Tamil Nadu were shot by the newly formed Anti-Smuggling Task Force in the Seshachalam forest. Like the five providential escapees in Hashimpura, there were three eyewitness at Seshachalam carnage as well. With the Hyderabad High Court and the NHRC stepping in and the politician in power putting up a joint front with the police, it will be another long-drawn stalemate in the quest for justice. The common trend is to visualise the police within the professional confines of its protecting, preventing and prosecuting roles. That it has a bigger participation profile in the realm of public order zealously controlled by political patrons is missed out. That is where its lack of democratic sensitisation proves fatal for society. The course of Hashimpura trial would suggest that the police, unfortunately, could not be more democratic in approach than the political power governing it. editorial@tribune.com Ravinder Saini Tribune News Service Jhajjar, November 18 The Directorate of Higher Education (DHE) has asked principals of government colleges in the state to take necessary steps for adjustment of 69 extension lecturers who got displaced due to want of workload in the colleges concerned. A list of such lecturers has been sent to principals of all colleges. Sources said the development came after guest lecturers approached the DHE, seeking their adjustment in other colleges at the earliest. Having being displaced, many lecturers had contacted their nearby colleges for adjustment, but without success. The DHE asked college principals to verify the credentials of displaced guest lecturers before adjusting them. It appealed to displaced lecturers whose names were not on the list to apply for their adjustment, the sources added. Despite availability of adequate workload, most college principals do not take much interest in adjusting displaced extension lecturers without recommendation, said an extension lecturer, adding that regular appointment on vacant posts left a considerable number of extension lecturers displaced. Rampal Badhwar, leader of the All Haryana Extension Lecturers Association, said despite regular appointments, a number of posts of lecturer were still lying vacant in colleges across the state. Badhwar claimed that principals had been adopting a lethargic attitude towards them and hence, the DHE should ensure adjustment of extension lecturers on these posts. He also asked the government to raise the salary of extension lecturers keeping in view their qualification. Guest teachers at the primary level and the postgraduate level and computer instructors in government schools on contract are drawing Rs 32,000, Rs 35,000 and Rs 36,000 per month, respectively. Extension lecturers are being paid Rs 25,000 per month despite being highly qualified, Badhwar pointed out. Most of the extension lecturers had not been paid for the past three months, though, as per standing instructions, they were supposed to get their salary before the 7th of every month, the association leader added. editorial@tribune.com Tribune News Service Chandigarh, November 18 Clouds of uncertainty are hovering over the employment of nearly 50,000 contractual and ad hoc employees of the Haryana Government. With the Punjab and Haryana High Courts six-month deadline to fill vacancies on a regular basis in place of the contractual and ad hoc employees ending on November 30, the contractual staff is in a state of tizzy. In fact, it is double whammy for the contractual staff as the Supreme Court, which was moved by the Haryana Government to challenge the May 31, 2018, judgment of the high court quashing the regularisation policies and setting the six-month deadline, is yet to hear the matter. As there are thousands of employees who had been appointed on ad hoc/contract/work-charged/daily wages to take care of the work being carried out by them in different departments, we direct that they be allowed to continue for a period of six months, during which the state shall ensure that regular posts, wherever required, are advertised and the process of selection is completed, the high court in its May 31 judgement had said. The high court had made it clear that under no circumstances would any temporary employee be allowed to continue thereafter. Unless there is a relief from the Supreme Court, over 50,000 contractual employees face the spectre of losing their jobs, Subhash Lamba, Sarv Karamchari Sangh(SKS) general secretary, said, demanding that the Khattar government should bring an ordinance for the regularisation of the services of the contractual staff. It may be recalled that the state government had prepared the draft Bill - Haryana Regularisation of Services Bill, 2018 - to be tabled in the Monsoon Session of the Haryana Assembly. However, taking a U-turn and with a view to exhausting the legal options before a Bill is brought before the Haryana Assembly against the May 31 HC order adversely affecting the contractual staff, the Haryana Government filed an SLP in the Supreme Court in September. The apex court is yet to be hear the SLP. Though the high court order had direct implications for 4,654 employees, the other contractual employees would also be affected as was clear by the HC order. A quick recap The state government had prepared the draft Bill -Haryana Regularisation of Services Bill, 2018 - to be tabled in the Monsoon Session of the Haryana Assembly. However, taking a U-turn and with a view to exhausting the legal options before a Bill is brought before the Haryana Assembly against the May 31 HC order adversely affecting the contractual staff, the Haryana Government filed an SLP in the Supreme Court in September. The apex court is yet to be hear the SLP. vermaajay1968@gmail.com Basmati rice, one of the country's key agriculture exports, is under a cloud. The tightening of the pesticide residue norms by the European Union (EU) has reduced the export volume by 58 per cent in January to July, 2018. The prospects of Iran, another major consumer of basmati, compensating for the loss of exports in the EU is also not too bright, primarily because of payment issues faced by exporters as well as the recent US sanctions on the country. Saudi Arabia also appears to be watching EU developments closely, though no final official notification has been issued yet. India produces approximately 8.7 million metric tonne of basmati from an area of 5.8 million hectare. Of this, approximately 4 million metric tonne of rice is exported to Saudi Arabia and Iran, besides the EU that account for around 7-8 per cent of the total exports. Some of the leading basmati exporters have taken cognisance of the developments and are proactively focusing on backward integration programmes with the growers to minimise pesticide residue contents as per the EU and US markets. However, there are many practical challenges coming in the way of meeting the stringent guidelines. Frequent changes in the EU Maximum Residue Limits (MRLs) and limited crop protection products to manage various pests and diseases are making it increasingly challenging to meet the norms. Another problem is with respect to production geographies, which are widespread and scattered, making follow-up and monitoring of the fields a difficult task, especially for companies in backward integration programmes, which account for not more the 3-4 per cent of total production area. Moreover most basmati export companies suffer from sound technical expertise with respect to MRLs as well as pests/disease management. They depend on external experts like agrochemical companies or government agencies. Because of the competition, most of these companies run individual backward integration programmes rather than working on a common platform. The purchase happens at the mandi level and the produce of different farmers is mixed together, thereby making traceability difficult. With the produce piling up in mandis, the testing of residue too is not foolproof. In order to save cost, the sample is drawn from a composite sample from an area of 50-60 acres. The uncertain global demand and supply situation only make the situation more difficult. Growers face fluctuating price with little incentive for quality production. Of late, only some exporters with background integration projects have started paying incentives for following the recommendations/ guidelines to reduce MRLs. There is also limited awareness about food safety and very poor understanding regarding Pre Harvest Interval (PHI) that is crucial when the duration of the chemicals on the plant breaks down through the biological process and the crop is free from any chemical residue. Often, during the higher incidence of pests and diseases, like Brown Plant Green Hopper or Blast attacks, farmer preference is for protecting the crop rather than following the export recommendations. Increasing cost of cultivation is also proving to be a major disincentive. The lack of uniform communication, among various stakeholders, also creates confusion among growers. There is a need for all stakeholders to come together to bring the sheen back in basmati exports. Designing a spray protocol, which will meet export requirements backed up with data, particularly for EU/US markets, will be very useful. Some companies undertaking backward integration have already initiated the value chain collaboration targeting EU exports. The spray protocol is designed on the basis of past experience and data support. Following up with residue tests, which will give the results regarding the residue compliance of the spray protocol helps and this should be a dynamic activity and needs continuous revision based on the changes in MRLs as well as residue tests. Collaborative projects with value chain companies (with dedicated field resources) to monitor fields and guide farmers about recommendations have already started and will go a long way in addressing the situation. Farmers can be provided with recommended products, aligning with the basmati exporters, which will prevent the influence of agriculture input retailers for non-recommended products has been a major obstacle in regulating MRLs. Alignment with other key stakeholders like APEDA, exporters association, basmati exporters, pesticide retailers etc. to promote awareness among farmers for using the right products with the right applications, awareness of food safety, pests and disease management and proper stewardship is the need of the hour. Greater penetration of application technologies will also help as traceability tools as well as knowledge source and record management. Taking a leaf from grape growers in addressing the MRL issues will also help. The writer is Vice-President, Business Sustainability, South Asia, Syngenta. Views expressed are personal vermaajay1968@gmail.com Basmati, a heritage produce of India's north-west region, requires special geographical indicators in terms of weather condition and soil type that exist in the region, including Punjab, Haryana, parts of Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand and Jammu. Basmati is grown in about 5.7 lakh hectare in Punjab, covering 90 per cent of the area. India is the largest exporter of basmati in the world with an estimated value of about Rs 27,000 crore. It exported about 4 million tonne of basmati in 2017-18 in major international markets such as the Arab world, the US, Europe, including over 130 countries. Punjab and Haryana contribute more than 60 per cent of exports. Basmati exporters had been facing a major problem with regard to higher minimum residue levels (MRLs) of pesticides in the rice grains exported to the US, Europe and Saudi Arabia, with traces of acephate (MRL in EU and the US is 0.01), carbendazim (0.01), thaiamethoxam (0.01 in EU and 0.02 in USA), tricyclazole (0.01 in EU, 3PPM in USA) and triazophos (0.02 in EU and 0.01 USA). This had led to the fear that the higher pesticide residue would adversely affect exports. Basmati-producing regions have typical tropical weather conditions with high temperature and humidity levels, which are potential breeding ground for insects and pests, and thus require large-scale application of pesticides. Any indiscriminate use of pesticide, however, leaves residues in grains. Alarmed at the rejection of consignments of basmati by the US, the EU and Saudi Arabia in previous years, the Punjab government, in collaboration with the Punjab Rice Exporters Association, embarked upon a campaign for pesticide-free basmati this Kharif season. Under the four-month-long sustained campaign, farmers and pesticide dealers were made aware about the ill effects of five agro-chemicals on basmati crop and to curtail their use. The efforts yielded positive results, which was clear from the analysis of basmati grains by approved pesticides laboratory at Modipurum. The Punjab Rice Millers & Exporters Association expressed satisfaction over the quality of basmati rice, free from the residue of chemicals. The lab results from Modipurum have shown that major pesticides such as acephate, carbendazim, tricyclazole, triazophos and thiamethoxam were within the internationally-recognised limits in the paddy samples sent from major basmati growing areas of Amritsar, Tarn Taran and Gurdaspur. The Department of Agriculture, Agricultural & Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA) and Punjab rice exporters had started comprehensive education-cum-awareness programme by organising more than two dozen workshops and thousand of village-level camps throughout the basmati belt of the state. In addition to media campaigns, one-to-one contacts with farmers were launched. The farmers were encouraged to adopt traditional methods of basmati cultivation by restricting the use of chemicals fertilisers and pesticides, especially to shun the five villain pesticides. A continuous surveillance on pesticide dealers was kept by the Department of Agriculture to ensure that there is no sale of these pesticides. The Punjab Agriculture Department constituted about 50 teams and the Basmati Exporters Association had set up teams with agriculture experts visiting all major basmati paddy village clusters in the Majha, Doaba and Malwa belts over the four months, giving them tips on the minimal use of pesticides. Teams of the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) visited paddy growing areas of Punjab and expressed their satisfaction over the pesticide-free basmati campaign. A team from the EU also visited Punjab and interacted with officials of the Department of Agriculture, besides visiting pesticide dealers and fields to understand the dynamics of basmati cultivation. The team has been requested to relax their very stringent standards of residue level to the levels fixed by the US and Japan. The maximum residue levels of the US and Japan are 3 PPM and 5 PPM, respectively, for tricyclazole pesticide while the same for the EU is 1 PPM, which is practically impossible to meet. The EU team promised to look into the matter. With the residue levels of pesticide in basmati falling within the limits, there has been greater demand for Punjab basmati in the national and international markets. As a result, prices of basmati have surged 25-30 per cent above last years level. The 1509 variety of basmati is being sold at Rs 2,700-2,900 per quintal and the 1121 variety is fetching around Rs 3,600 per quintal. Better prices of basmati have put a smile on the faces of farmers who will reap rich dividends this year, albeit it has been hard earned by them by making huge efforts and investment. The writer is Agriculture Secretary, Government of Punjab EUs new basmati import norms Tricyclazole (TCA), a fungicide, controls neck blast in rice EU reduced maximum residue limit for TCA to 0.01 mg/kg New MRL applies to basmati from December 30, 2017 Steps taken to ensure compliance editorial@tribune.com Arteev Sharma Tribune News Service Jammu, November 18 Resentment is brewing in the Ladakh unit of the BJP as the partys local leadership is not happy with the unwarranted interference of parachute leaders from Delhi and Jammu while neglecting them in key affairs related to the region. If party insiders are to be believed, the Ladakh leadership of the BJP was feeling humiliated due to the unwanted interference of the state leadership and leaders from Delhi in their day-to-day affairs which led to the resignation of former Chief Executive Councillor (CEC) Dorje Motup last month. The BJP again suffered a major setback this week when its tallest leader and lone Member of Parliament from Ladakh Thupstan Chhewang resigned from the party. Immature leaders were made the prabhari (in charge) of the Ladakh unit and those who themselves were facing a credibility crisis in Jammu were giving diktats to senior leaders of the region. More senior leaders are planning to quit the party in the prevailing circumstances, a senior party leader in Leh said, requesting anonymity. He said, Leaders from Jammu and Delhi are projecting only weak people and their favourites in Ladakh so as to maintain their control over the region. Every worker of the party is feeling suffocated and humiliated due to the unwarranted interference of these parachute leaders in Ladakh. Motup, when contacted, admitted that there were allegations against him after the partys civic poll debacle in Ladakh which forced him to resign from the CEC post. He, however, refused to comment on the crisis within the BJP in the region. As reported earlier, Chhewang had resigned from both the primary membership of the saffron party and as the Lok Sabha member this week. He was not happy with the Centre and the states approach towards the Ladakh region. He had openly resented the partys decision to forge an alliance with the PDP to form a government in J&K. The opponents, who are closely watching the political developments in Ladakh, took a swipe at the BJP for neglecting its local leadership. Thupstan Chhewang, who is the tallest leader in Ladakh, was humiliated and disrespected by the BJP for the reasons best known to them. The BJP cheated Ladakhi people with false promises. This resulted in its victory in parliamentary and Leh council polls but its downfall has begun with the debacle in the civic polls, Nawang Rigzin Jora, MLA, Leh, said. Feroz Khan, senior NC leader and chairman of the Kargil Council, said, At the time of resignation of Dorje Motup and joining of the new CEC, senior leaders of the BJP from Jammu were present in Leh. Definitely, Ladakhi people will not tolerate anyones interference in their routine matters. uttara@tribuneindia.com New Delhi, November 18 The Supreme Court has dismissed a plea claiming that a key witness in the sensational Kathua gang rape-and-murder case was allegedly tortured in custody by the Jammu and Kashmir Police in connection with a separate rape case. A Bench comprising justices AM Khanwilkar and Deepak Gupta rejected a petition filed by a close relative of Talib Hussain, a key witness in the Kathua case, on the ground that the petitioner failed to appear before it despite the court's order. In January, an eight-year-old girl from a Muslim nomadic community was allegedly abducted and gang raped in Jammu and Kashmir's Kathua district. Petitioner MA Khan had approached the top court alleging that his relative Hussain was tortured in custody by the state police after being arrested in connection with a separate rape case. Advocate Shoeb Alam, representing the Jammu and Kashmir Police, had last month denied in the top court the allegations levelled in the petition and had said since Hussain has been granted bail, the plea has become infructuous. On October 22, the court had asked Khan to appear before it on November 13 to respond to the application filed by his advocate seeking his discharge from the case. "Despite our order dated October 22, the writ petitioner (Khan) has chosen not to appear before this court to respond to the application for discharge filed by Sunil Fernandes, advocate on record for the petitioner. In the circumstances, the writ petition is dismissed for non-prosecution," the Bench said in its November 13 order. In his plea, Khan had alleged that Hussain was kept in illegal detention by police and was subjected to custodial torture. The apex court had earlier transferred the trial in the Kathua gang rape and murder case from Jammu and Kashmir to Pathankot in Punjab. The state police's crime branch had filed the main charge sheet against seven persons and a separate charge sheet against a juvenile in a court in Kathua district in the gang rape and murder case. PTI editorial@tribune.com Majid Jahangir Tribune News Service Srinagar, November 18 Two local militants of the Al-Badr were killed and a security man was injured in an early morning gunfight with security forces in Shopian district of south Kashmir on Sunday. The two militants, identified as Nawaz Ahmad Wagay of Zainapora, Shopian, and Yawar Wani of Batnoor, Pulwama, were killed a day after a 19-year-old Huzaif Ashraf was killed by militants by slitting his throat in the district. The gunfight triggered around 3.30 am when joint teams of police, Armys Rashtriya Rifles and 178 Battalion, CRPF, were carrying out a cordon and a search operation in Rebban, Zainapora, some 65 km from Srinagar, after an input about militant presence. The hiding militants tried to escape the cordon by firing indiscriminately, but they were engaged and killed in a brief exchange of fire, a security officer said. He said an AK rifle and a pistol were recovered from the encounter site. He said one constable of the CRPF was injured when he was hit by a bullet during the gunfight. The injured CRPF constable was shifted to Armys 92 Base Hospital in Srinagar, the officer added. A police spokesman said both the local Al-Badr militants were involved in a series of attacks on security establishments and civilian atrocities in the area. The killing of the two militants triggered a shutdown in Shopian and neighbouring Pulwama district. A large number of people attended the funeral of the two militants. Meanwhile, a militant hideout was busted in Shopian on Sunday. The hideout was busted by a joint team of the police and Army in the Yarwan forest area. Youth abducted, freed A youth, Sheeraz Ahmad, was abducted by unknown gunmen near his home at Memandar, Shopian, on Sunday morning. Later, he was released by the gunmen. There has been a spate of abductions and killings in the past 72 hours in Shopian. Eight persons have been abducted since Thursday. Of these six have been released, but two, including school student Nadeem Ahmed, have been killed by militants. shriaya.dutta@tribuneindia.com Tribune Web Desk Chandigarh, November 18 The couple landed in Mumbai on Sunday morning after their wedding in Italy. They walked in hand-in-hand in colour coordinated outfits at the Chhatrapati Shivaji International Airport. The duo wore Sabyasachi, who also designed their wedding trousseau. Ranveer wore a cream kurta and a red printed jacket and his wife wore a cream suit with a silk red dupatta and heavy traditional jewellery. WATCH:DeepVeer in Mumbai Deepika and Ranveer reached the latters house which was decked up with lights and flowers for Grah Pravesh. After reaching home, both of them came out and posed for the media. They also folded their hands and said, Thank you, after the journalists and camerapersons shouted, Badhai ho. Ranveer Singh and Deepika Padukones wedding at the Villa del Balbianello in Italy was a dreamy affair with two ceremonies a Konkani-style wedding on November 14 and a traditional Anand Karaj on November 15. The couple was dating for over 6 years before they solemnised their relationship earlier this week. While they kept a no-phone policy for the guests in attendance, both Deepika and Ranveer treated fans to the two wedding photographs. On the work front, Ranveer Singh next will be seen in Rohit Shettys Simmba and Deepika will play real life character of acid attack survivor Laxmi Agarwal in Meghna Gulzars directorial venture. shriaya.dutta@tribuneindia.com New Delhi, November 18 A two-year-old girl was allegedly kidnapped and raped by a man, who then left her near the tracks of Old Delhi Railway Station, police said on Sunday. The accused, a 24-year-old drug addict, identified as Anil, was arrested on Sunday morning, they said. The girl was allegedly kidnapped by the accused on the intervening night of Friday and Saturday while she was sleeping with her mother on a footpath in north Delhis Kotwali area, a senior police officer. Around 2.30 am on Saturday the woman found her daughter missing and started looking for her. As the search did not bear fruit, the woman approached police around 10 am on Saturday following which a kidnapping case was registered, he said. Around afternoon, the police learnt a baby girl had been admitted to a hospital in central Delhi and subsequently, she was identified as the one who was kidnapped from Kotwali, the official said. It was revealed that she had been sexually assaulted and the accused dumped her near the railway tracks from where she was rescued by a team of police personnel, he said, adding the girl underwent surgery and is now better. The police identified the accused by scanning CCTV footage. Following this, a trap was laid at various temples and gurdwara where street dwellers usually come for food and subsequently the accused was nabbed, the officer said. The accused used to collect garbage for a living and also worked as a waiter during wedding season. Three months ago, he was arrested in connection with a theft case in Haridwar, the officer added. PTI pardeepdhull@gmail.com New York, November 18 A 61-year old Indian-origin man in the US has been shot dead by a juvenile boy in a suspected robbery and carjacking incident in New Jersey, prosecutors said. Sunil Edla was shot to death by the 16-year-old suspect on Thursday evening outside his apartment in Ventnor city, Atlantic County Prosecutor Damon Tyner said in a statement. Ventnor City Police Department was informed on the night of November 15 about the shooting. Police located Edla on the sidewalk, with gunshot wounds. Edla had succumbed to his injuries by the time the police arrived. Edlas vehicle, a 2002 Subaru Forester, was missing from the scene. The vehicle was subsequently found by Atlantic City Police Officers in a different area. After the vehicle was located by the officers, the suspect was subsequently tracked with the assistance of the Atlantic City surveillance center. Further investigation by the Atlantic County Prosecutors Office, Ventnor City Police Department and the Atlantic City Police Department led to the identification and arrest of the suspect, a juvenile male, on the morning of November 16. Preliminary autopsy showed the cause of death to be multiple gunshot wounds and the manner of death homicide. The suspect was charged via Juvenile Complaint with murder, robbery, carjacking, unlawful possession of a handgun. He is being held at the Harborfields Juvenile Detention Center in Egg Harbor City. Im just speechless right now. They could have just taken the car and let him go, Edlas son Morrison Edla said in a report in NBCPhiladelphia.com. A report in the Press of Atlantic City said Edla, a father of two and grandfather, was a 30-year resident of Atlantic County and worked in Atlantic Citys hospitality industry. He was planning to travel to India to visit family in Telanganas Medak. He (Edla) was humble. He never argued. I helped him when he came to US in 1987. I was very close to him, his cousin Raj Casula said. Everyone was calling him and talking to him because he was leaving for India so soon, said Casula. Edla had planned a two-month trip to India to visit his mother for her 95th birthday and celebrate Christmas with family. Family friend Dave Nethagani said Edla was a kind man and active in the community. Edla was best known for playing piano during church services at Chelsea Community Presbyterian Church in Atlantic City. A neighbour said the killer ambushed Edla and shot him dead right after the grandfather had brought a child into his house. Surveillance video showed the teen riding up to Edlas home. The boy dropped his bike and hid as he waited for Edla to exit the house. Just before 8 p.m. Thursday, family members said, Edla was leaving his home to work the overnight shift at the North Carolina Avenue Rodeway Inn in Atlantic City. According to family, he started his car then went back in the house briefly. After walking back down the second-floor apartment stairs, he was shot on the sidewalk and left for dead. Ventnor police Chief Doug Biagi said an officer has been posted in the neighbourhood just to ease anybodys fears. PTI editorial@tribune.com New Delhi, November 18 India-Pakistan relations are chronically accident-prone, says former External Affairs Minister K Natwar Singh, who feels that the future lies in the past as the two countries carry too much baggage. He says Pakistans one-point programme is Kashmir but there is Kashmir fatigue in the world. Singh, 87, also says that India made a fundamental mistake by going to the United Nations on the Kashmir issue and asserted there is no solution to it as everything has been tried. The fundamental mistake was to go to the UN on the Kashmir issue. (Prime Minister Jawaharlal) Nehru was pushed into it by (Governor General) Mountbatten. We went to the UN under Chapter 6, which is on disputes. We should have gone under Chapter 7, which is on aggression, Natwar Singh said. He said every Indian Prime Minister and Foreign Minister thinks he can resolve the Kashmir issue and smoothen Indo-Pak relations. The fact is there is no solution for Kashmir, everything has been tried. The other fact is that Indo-Pak relations are chronically accident-prone. The future of Indo-Pak relations lies in the past. Both countries carry too much baggage... I dont see any change in our relationship. It is cheese and chalk... as simple as that. Its a great pity, he said. Natwar Singh said nothing significant should be expected from meetings between leaders of two countries. What could they talk? You cant give an inch, they cant give an inch. You meet and shake hands but there is nothing substantial. As I said, we have all tried. It is not realistic because if we really became very close friends, there will be a question mark on the existence of the country. Asked about the way forward, Natwar Singh, whose last diplomatic posting was as Indias envoy to Pakistan and then Secretary in the Ministry of External Affairs, said that status quo would continue. If Indo-Pak relations genuinely improve, became cordial and friendly, then the people of Pakistan will ask why do we need such a large army? The army is not going to give up. He said the army was an industry in Pakistan. We would like to have good relations with them. We will like to have a stable and strong Pakistan, but it is a very unstable country, he said. IANS Going to UN a mistake "The fundamental mistake was to go to the UN on the Kashmir issue. We went to the UN under Chapter 6, which is on disputes. We should have gone under Chapter 7, which is on aggression" K Natwar Singh, ex-union minister editorial@tribune.com Aditi Tandon Tribune News Service New Delhi, November 18 Curtains closed on the second and final phase of Chhattisgarh election campaign on Sunday with Prime Minister Narendra Modi attacking the Gandhis for running a "remote control government" in the past and disregarding the Congress' non-Gandhi president Sitaram Kesri, a Dalit. Hours after the PM said in Chhattisgarh's Mahasamund that the Congress locked down a Dalit party president Sitaram Kesri in a bathroom and later "threw him out on the footpath", the party rebutted the PM. Congress leader Manish Tewari tweeted: Kesri was a Bania OBC from Bihar and not a Dalit, but when has PM allowed facts or truth to stand in the way? Kesri was treated with due respect by one and all in Congress. Urging the Chhattisgarh voters to prevent Congress from coming to power, the PM said Congress was a party that unceremoniously ousted a Dalit president Sitaram Kesri to enable Sonia Gandhi to assume charge. "The whole nation knows that Sitaram Kesri, a Dalit from a marginalized community, was not allowed to complete his five-year term as Congress president and was unceremoniously ousted. The Congress can't tolerate a Dalit even for two years. So how can it appoint a non-Gandhi president for five years?" asked the PM. "The remote was in the hands of a family that was afraid of the BJP," PM said alleging that the Congress' first family "thought only about its welfare and not of the country". In another blistering attack, the PM alleged that the Congress played "backdoor games with terrorists but the brave BJP government has ended that". He was speaking with reference to a high voter turnout in Jammu and Kashmir panchayat polls despite terror threats and in Bastar recently notwithstanding boycott calls given by naxals. I congratulate the people of Bastar, the PM told a rally where he explained "lack of development in Chhattisgarh" in terms of non-cooperation of the Central Congress government with the state until 2014 when the BJP came. The final phase of Chhattisgarh election for 72 Assembly segments in 19 districts will be held on Tuesday. Jawan killed in blast editorial@tribune.com Naveen S Garewal Tribune News Service Hyderabad, November 18 Concerned over the developments leading to large number of dissidents in the Congress, the central party high command today sent a three-member team headed by Puducherry Chief Minister V Narayanasamy to Telangana, which met several rebel front leaders in the city. They prevailed upon the dissidents to give up their plans to contest as Independents. After the meeting, senior Congress leaders said They (dissidents) have been assured that they would be suitably accommodated once the Congress forms the government with the help of the Maha Kutami (grand alliance) partners. The two other members of the team delegated by the Congress high command are Karnatakas Irrigation Minister DK Shivakumar and Puducherrys Health Minister Malladi Krishna Rao. Sources said they appeared to have had some success, but it will take some more time to ensure that all 40-odd dissidents did not contest against the official party nominees. The nomination for the December 7 election comes to an end tomorrow (November 19) and withdrawals can be made till November 22. The coming week is expected to see the poll campaign pick up in Telangana with several top national leaders arriving here to address rallies. These include former Congress president Sonia Gandhi who is expected to address a political rally on November 23, a day after withdrawal of nominations. Prime Minister Narendra Modi and BJP chief Amit Shah are also expected to address rallies this week. The Congress is also preparing for a joint rally by Congress president Rahul Gandhi and Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu sometime next week. This will be Sonia Gandhis first visit to Telangana after the state came into being in 2014. She will address a public meeting at Medchal on the periphery of Hyderabad. Rahul Gandhi is expected to campaign in the state on November 28, 29 and December 3. Many in ticket race At least 90 ticket aspirants are disappointed at not being able to get the ticket, a senior Congress leader said. He said a three-member committee will stay put in Hyderabad till the withdrawal of nominations. It is expected to meet 40 to 50 dissidents. amansharma@tribunemail.com Naveen S Garewal Tribune News Service Hyderabad, November 17 Failing to secure a ticket for the December 7 Telangana Assembly Elections, at least 40 rebel candidates have formed a Rebel Front to contest as independent candidates. This is going to directly bite into the Congress vote bank and in turn effect the Maha Kutami (grand alliance). The rebels after giving an ultimatum to the party high command now say that they will fight it out. Led by former Ministers Boda Janardhan (who aspired for the Chennur ticket) and Vijayarama Rao, who wanted the Station Ghanpur ticket for the Congress, the rebel leaders met at the house of Janardhan and have been working out their own strategy. Janardhan told reporters that Maha Kutami (grand alliance) was handing out tickets to those who had defected from other parties and ignoring their own cadres. The alliance formed by the Congress is between it and the Telugu Desam Party (TDP), Telangana Jana Samithi (TJS) and CPI. Our demand is simple. We want justice. Now we have decided to form our own front and around 40 of our rebels will contest independently. If Congress loses, Telangana Pradesh Congress Committee (TPCC) president Uttam Kumar must take responsibility. He is the one who has meted out injustice and gave tickets to weak candidates, he said. Meanwhile, the Congress today released its third list of 13 candidates. This takes the total number of Congress candidate to 88 for a House that has 119 seats. It is not clear yet if the Congress will release another list as it was initially planning to contest 95 seats, but then said it could lower its participation to about 90. The local Congress leaders have also revealed that party president Rahul Gandhi and Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu were planning to hold a joint rally in Hyderabad at the end of the month to show the strength of the alliance. There are many Andhra settlers in Hyderabad and Naidu wants to take advantage of their presence to show his strength. Sources close to state Congress president Uttam Kumar Reddy said efforst were on to prevail upon the rebels to give up their move to contest as independents, some of them have been promised that they would be suitably adjusted if the Congress alliance forms the next government in Telangana. The situation will become clear after all the nominations are filed on November 19, the withdrawal takes place on November 22. pardeepdhull@gmail.com New Delhi, November 18 Nearly two years after the Real Estate Regulation Act (RERA) was enacted by the Parliament, six northeastern states have finally agreed to implement the law, paving way for protecting the interest of home-buyers in these states. Arunachal Pradesh, Meghalaya, Manipur, Mizoram, Nagaland and Sikkim had failed to notify RERA due to land and other issues. The development comes after a team of the Union Housing and Urban Affairs (HUA) Ministry visited the northeastern states on October 26 and held a workshop with their representatives and discussed the issues coming in the way of notifying the Act. Northeastern states have agreed to implement RERA. We are helping them in notifying the RERA rules, HUA Secretary Durga Shanker Mishra told PTI. Sources said representatives of these states had some issues about the implementation of RERA, but the ministry officials cleared all their doubts in the last months workshop. The Act, which provides proper protection to home buyers, was enacted by the Parliament in 2016. The states were given powers to notify their respective rules and appoint regulatory authorities. All states and Union Territories in the country had notified the rules under RERA, except the six northeastern states and West Bengal. The Act is not applicable in Jammu and Kashmir. According to the ministry, 33,750 real estate projects have been registered under RERA, while 26,018 agents have been registered across the country. Instead of implementing RERA, West Bengal had notified its own real estate lawthe Housing and Industrial Regulation Act, 2017 (HIRA). Mishra had written to the Bengal government, asking it to repeal its own act as there was already a central law on the subject. PTI amansharma@tribunemail.com New Delhi, November 18 The ongoing rift with the government is set to play out at the RBIs crucial board meeting on Monday, with the Finance Ministry nominees and some independent directors expected to take on Governor Urjit Patel and his team over issues ranging from MSME credit to the central banks reserves, though both sides are in favour of reaching a common ground. While there have been reports and demands from some quarters for the Governor to step down, sources said Patel is unlikely to yield under pressure and will rather mount a strong defence of the central banks policies regarding stringent NPA recognition norms as well as measures taken to ease credit supply to MSMEs. Patel and his four deputies, who all are members of the RBIs 18-member central board, will present a united front, while a few independent directors too are expected to support the central banks mission to clean up bank balance sheets, sources said. The central board, headed by the RBI Governor, is expected to discuss issues mentioned in the agenda circulated to the board members in advance. Off-agenda items can also be raised in the meeting, with the chairs permission. The RBIs central board currently has 18 members, though the provision is that it can go up to 21. The members include Governor Urjit Patel and his four deputies as full-time official directors, while the rest 13 have been nominated by the government, including two Finance Ministry officialsEconomic Affairs Secretary and Financial Services Secretary. Sources said the government and Reserve Bank of India (RBI) are looking to reach at an agreeable solution with respect to relaxation of the Prompt Corrective Action (PCA) framework and easing of lending norms for the MSME sector. If not in this board meeting, the issue of relaxation of PCA framework would reach a resolution in the next few weeks, they added. As a result of the relaxation, some banks may come out of the PCA framework by the end of this fiscal. Of the 21 state-owned banks, 11 are under the PCA framework, which imposes lending and other restrictions on weak lenders. 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 pointsnamely capital to risk weighted assets ratio, net non-performing assets (NPA) and return on assets (RoA). Globally, PCA kicks in only when banks slip on a single parameter of capital adequacy ratio, and the government is in favour of this practice being adopted for the domestic banking sector as well. The RBI is also expected to consider a special dispensation for micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) and non-banking financial companies (NBFCs) which have been facing liquidity issues. The government feels that the MSME sectorwhich employs about 12 crore people and plays a critical role in the economyneeds some support after being impacted by demonetisation and implementation of the Goods and Services Tax (GST). However, the central bank has been averse to the governments demand as it considers the sectors to be vulnerable. Meanwhile, Finance Minister Arun Jaitley on Saturday said that growth must not be throttled by limiting credit availability and liquidity. It is necessary that the growth process does not suffer due to the cleaning up of the banking system from the collectively committed sins during 2008-14 when the regulatory mechanisms also overlooked high debt accumulation, he said. Amid growing tensions with the central bank, the Finance Ministry had sought discussions 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. In his first public comments since the spat between the RBI and the Finance Ministry came out in the open, Swadeshi ideologue S Gurumurthy had last week said the stand-off is not a happy thing at all. Gurumurthy, who was appointed to the board of RBI a few months back, had said the capital adequacy ratio prescribed in India is 1 per cent higher than the global Basel norms. He also pitched for easing lending norms for small and medium enterprises, which account for 50 per cent of the countrys GDP. Last month, RSS-affiliated Swadeshi Jagran Manch said the RBI Governor should work in sync with the government or resign. The Reserve Bank of India Governor should work in sync with the government or otherwise resign, SJMs co-convener Ashwani Mahajan had said. PTI pardeepdhull@gmail.com Thiruvananthapuram, November 18 BJP workers in Kerala blocked highways on Sunday to protest the arrest of party general secretary Surendran, who was taken into custody on Saturday while on his way to the Lord Ayappa shrine. The protestors, including women, squatted on roads, blocking traffic at various places, including in state capital, Kochi, Thrissur, Palakkad and in front of Kottarakara sub-jail, where Surendran has been lodged, and also the northernmost Kasaragod district. In all the places, the protesters were seen clapping and chanting Swamiyae Ayyappa. Addressing workers at Thiruvananthapuram, BJP leader M S Kumar said the police had so far not succeeded in bringing even a single young woman to the Lord Ayyappa Temple at Sabarimala after the Supreme Court on September 28 allowed women of all age groups to offer prayers at the shrine. While the CPI(M)-led LDF governments stand is that they were constitutionally bound to implement the court order, the main opposition Congress has said they are with the believers. The BJP/RSS and right wing outfits have made it clear that they would not allow any woman in the 10-50 age group to offer prayers at the shrine, where the deity is Naishtika Brahmachari (perennial celibate). Surendran and two others with him had been taken into preventive custody on Saturday night and brought to the Chittar police station, about 50 km from Sabarimala, after they forcibly tried to leave for the hill shrine at Sabarimala. Police had cited law and order issues and tense situation at the temple complex to deter him from going to Sabarimala. However, when they insisted, Surenderan and the others, all with the Irrumudikettu (bundle of offerings for Lord Ayyappa) were taken into preventive custody. They were then produced before the Thiruvlla magistrate, who remanded them in 14-day judicial custody. Surendran was later taken to the Kottarakara sub-jail. The BJP protest comes a day after the hartal called by the Hindu Aikya Vedi against the preventive custody of their leader K P Sasikala.She was later granted bail. When the Ayyappa temple had opened for monthly pujas in October and early this month, it witnessed a string of protests from frenzied devotees against the entry of young women. A few of them who made a bid to offer prayers, could not come anywhere close to the holy shrine. A 46-year-old woman, who arrived from nearby Kazhakootam to go to Sabarimala, was turned back from Chengannur on Saturday, following protests from devotees. PTI editorial@tribune.com KV Prasad Tribune News Service New Delhi, November 18 In pursuance of Indias Act East policy, President Ram Nath Kovind on Sunday reached Vietnam, the visit aimed at strengthening comprehensive strategic partnership between the two countries at a time when Hanoi seeks to utilise New Delhis grant of line of credit for developmental purpose instead of defence. President Kovind will, on his first visit to a Southeast Asian nation, interact with President Nguyen Phu Trong, who assumed office last month after the death of Tran Dai Quang. President Trong is also the general secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam. During a visit by then President Quang this March, both sides urged for early signing of a framework agreement on the $500 million credit, with diplomatic sources suggesting Vietnam wanted to use it for developing infrastructure. Sources said at the heart of the problem is the 65 per cent public debt ceiling to GDP ratio by Vietnamese Parliament and current levels are just one percentage point short of the cap. In order to ensure that the spending does not breach the ceiling level, a number of measures have been put in place into the system that stretches decision-making process from earlier few months to a few years, sources familiar with bilateral relations told The Tribune. India and Vietnam have a robust defence cooperation that includes regular exchanges of senior-level defence delegations, cooperation between the two armed forces, port calls of naval and coast guard ship, capacity building projects, procurement of equipment, transfer of technology and cooperation in regional fora. Shift from Defence to infrastructure After its move to acquire high-speed patrol vessels for Vietnam Border Guards out of the $100 million line of credit provided by New Delhi, Vietnam has been unable to make use of another $500 million for defence industry even two years after it was announced. Now it wants to use the funds for infrastructure. uttara@tribuneindia.com Pawan Jaiswar Tribune New Service Amritsar, November 18 At least three people were killed and 20 injured in an explosion inside the Nirankari Bhavan at Adliwal village near Amritsars Rajasansi on Sunday, police said. Inspector General of Police S S Parmar,who visited the incident spot, told reporters that about 200 devotees, including many women, were inside at the time of the incident. DGP Suresh Arora said three people had died in the incident and 20 others were injured, two of them seriously. Some eyewitness accounts said two armed and masked persons, who were on a motorcycle, forced their way inside the Bhavan by pointing a gun at the person on duty at the gate. After they gained entry, they threw a grenade-like object at the congregation and escaped, said an eyewitness. A hunt is on to nab them, the IG said. He said about 200 devotees were inside the hall at the time of the incident. No CCTV was installed on the premises, according to preliminary investigations. READ: I saw a person throw something and run... and then a blast: Eyewitness CM Amarinder suspects ISI hand in Amritsar terror attack Rajnath speaks to Capt; vows to punish perpetrators of Amritsar blast Gagan, who was stationed at the gate when the two men came on a bike, said one assailant went inside with a crowd of followers, but the second one pointed a gun at his stomach and demanded to know what was happening inside. I told him it was a satsang. He went inside and set off the explosive, he told to The Tribune. Police are treating the attack as an act of terror. It's an act of terror and aimed at one particular group in Punjab. Its too early to say if it is joint action by Kashmiri and Sikh militants," DGP punjab Suresh Arora told The Tribune, adding it was too early to compare the attack with the 1978 attack on Nirankaris. After the incident, the Bhavan was sealed by the police and security was stepped up at other Nirankari Bhavans in the state. The Sant Nirankari Mission is a spiritual organisation. Punjab Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh condemned the attack. The Chief Minister has also announced a compensation of Rs 5 lakh each to the kin of the dead and directed the district administration to provide the best possible medical care, free of cost, to the injured. After reviewing the law and order situation, he directed the Home Secretary, DGP (Law and Order) and DG Intelligence to rush to Rajasansi for supervising investigations. Congress MLA Raj Kumar Verka, who visited the scene of crime, said it was a security and intelligence lapse, and blamed both central and state governments for the incident. Punjab was on an alert following an input claiming that a group of six to seven JeM terrorists were reportedly in the state, possibly in Ferozepur area. The state was put on alert after four persons snatched a SUV from driver at gunpoint near Madhopur in Pathankot district last week. With PTI inputs editorial@tribune.com PK Jaiswar Tribune News Service Amritsar, November 18 Three persons were killed and 22 injured in a grenade explosion inside Nirankari Bhavan at Adliwal village near Amritsars Rajasansi village on Sunday. DGP Suresh Arora called it an act of terror. He said a team of the National Investigation Agency would be reaching the city on Monday. The incident occurred despite the Punjab Police being on high alert after armed persons, suspected to be Pakistan infiltrators, snatched a vehicle in Pathankot a few days ago. Witnesses said two persons on a motorcycle, their faces covered, entered the complex along with the sangat (devotees). One of them pointed a gun at a sewadar, identified as Gagan, manning the entrance gate, and took him into a corner. He then called his accomplice waiting in the parking area. The latter rushed inside the hall and set off the explosion. There was a deafening sound. I saw people rushing out, many of them bleeding, said Gagan, adding that the assailants may have slipped away in the commotion. Gurbaz Singh, among those injured, said he was seated near the dais when he saw an object being flung. Soon after there was a blast. Both I and my wife Surjit Kaur were injured. My younger son Navpreet had a narrow escape. My elder son Lovepreet was at the joda ghar (place where devotees keep their footwear), he said. Gurbaz Singh said as he rushed his wife to a hospital, he saw two youths, both sporting a woollen shawl, escape on a motorcycle. Senior police and administrative officials reached the site within minutes. The Nirankaris did not allow the media inside. SPS Parmar, IGP, Border Range, said at least 200 devotees were inside the hall when attacked. There were no CCTV cameras. Education Minister OP Soni, Revenue Minister Sukhbinder Singh Sarkaria and Amritsar (West) MLA Raj Kumar Verka visited the site too. The latter called it a failure of the security and Intelligence agencies. DGP Suresh Arora, DGP (Law and Order), DGP (Intelligence) and the Home Secretary reached Rajasansi in the evening. He said security at Nirankari Bhavans across the state had been fortified. Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh did not rule out the possible involvement of ISI-based Khalistani or Kashmiri terror groups. He announced Rs 5 lakh each for the kin of the deceased. Terrorists role not ruled out Possibility of involvement of ISI-backed Khalistani or Kashmiri terror groups cant be ruled out Nobody will be allowed to get away with trying to disturb peace. Capt Amarinder Singh, Chief Minister He threw something and ran Each Sunday, I do sewa at the bhavan. I was on duty near the stage when I saw a person, who appeared young, with his face covered, throw something and run. There was a blast, smoke all over. Everyone ran for lives Simranjeet Kaur, witness Strongest possible action Capt Amarinder apprised me of the situation. Strongest possible action will be taken against the perpetrators of this crime. Rajnath Singh, Union HM editorial@tribune.com Tribune News Service Muktsar, November 18 With the arrest four persons, the Muktsar police today claimed to have busted a racket operating in the name of Babbar Khalsa International (BKI), which issued extortion letters to businessmen. The accused are identified as businessman Jaspal Singh Kang and his son Sandeep Kang of Sarabha Nagar in Malout and their aides Baljit Singh of Sukhna Ablu village and Raj Kumar of Panjawa village here. The police said Kang had suffered huge loss in his business, following which he hatched this conspiracy along with his son and two others. Sources said Jaspal, a commission agent, had a huge agricultural land and share in a shopping mall in Malout. Commission agent Raj Kumar Nagpal of Malout had received an extortion letter on October 25 purportedly issued on the letter head of BKI, demanding Rs 50 lakh. He reported the matter to the police and a case was registered on November 8. Muktsar SSP Manjit Singh Dhesi said, The accused had prepared three extortion letters in the name of BKIand sent to two businessmen, demanding Rs 50 lakh and Rs 5 lakh. An extortion letter of Rs 20 lakh too was prepared, which they had planned to send it to a commission agent of Panjawa village, but tore it. Talking to mediapersons, Jaspal Kang said, All I can say that I fell into bad company. He did not comment on the query whether he had suffered financial loss. editorial@tribune.com PK Jaiswar Tribune News Service Amritsar, November 18 The National Green Tribunals (NGTs) decision to impose Rs 50-crore fine on the Punjab Government for pollution in the Sutlej and Beas rivers due to uncontrolled industrial discharge has exposed the failure of the authorities concerned to tackle the problem. With negligible industrial units in Amritsar district, there is no major industrial discharge into the Beas and Ravi rivers. However, both are suffering from pollution caused by the flow of sewage from various townships, settlements and villages located along their banks. A majority of industrial units in Majha discharge their waste into the drains meant for draining out floodwater. Through these drains, the waste flows into the rivers. An official of the Irrigation Department said there were at least four main drains in the region Sakki Nullah, Hudiara, Kasur Nullah and Patti drain. Sakki Nullah starts from the Dinanagar area and ends in the Ravi near Rania village along the Indo-Pakistan border after passing through Dera Baba Nanak, Kalanaur and Ajnala. The Hudiara drain or Tung Dhab drain carries industrial and civic waste into the Ravi. The Kasur drain pass through Gurdaspur, Batala, parts of Amritsar, and Bhikhiwind (Tarn Taran) village near the international border before entering the Sutlej. The Patti drain also ends in the Sutlej. Earlier this year, Nagpur-based National Environment Engineer Research Institute (NEERI), had started a project to clean the Tung Dhab drain and convert its surroundings into a green space. However, it shelved its plan after its engineers found the drain carrying an alarmingly high level of effluents. Cabinet minister Navjot Singh Sidhu, who had envisaged the project, had blamed PPCB engineers, saying that he had planned it on the basis of their inputs. Gunbir Singh, chairperson, World Wide Fund (WWF) for Nature (Punjab), said as per the WWF report-2012, 13 drains culminated in the Beas river, while the number was 12 in the case of the Sutlej. This is very alarming. There are rules for everything, but no implementation, he said. Dr Chander Parkash, Assistant Professor, Punjab Technical University, said the Sutlej, prior to its confluence with the Beas at Harike, was a highly polluted river. It is only after the confluence that the quality of water improves a bit, he added. editorial@tribune.com Harshraj Singh Tribune News Service Ludhiana, November 18 Blackened water of the Sutlej river near Walipur Kalan village in Ludhiana district bears testimony to the havoc wreaked by the Buddha Nullah, once known as Buddha Dariya. Over the decades, successive governments have failed to protect the Sutlej from the polluted nullah that has killed many species of fish and other aquatic life. Dyeing units and other industries release untreated waste into the nullah. The Municipal Corporation, too, disposes of untreated sewer water into the nullah from different points in the city. The waste from dairy complexes located on the Hambran Road and the Tajpur Road is also dumped here. The sewage treatment plants (STPs) under the MC at Bhattian, Jamalpur and Balloke are not adequate to treat the entire sewer water of the city. A plan to upgrade these STPs has been hanging fire for the past several years, while the project to set up a common effluent treatment plant for industries is incomplete. The effluent treatment plant project for dairy complexes has also not seen the light of day. The residents of villages near the Sutlej, including Walipur Kalan, Ghumnewal, Talwandi Nau Abad and Gaunspur, have complained repeatedly that the nullahs toxic water is polluting not only the river, but also the groundwater in these rural areas. Many hepatitis cases have been reported in these villages, the residents claim. Following a complaint lodged with the National Green Tribunal (NGT) against the Punjab Government, claiming that Sutlejs polluted water was causing health problems for people in Rajasthan, officials had visited the nullah several times in 2014, but nothing was done on the ground to curb pollution. The state government had asked Engineers India Limited to prepare a report on measures to check pollution in the nullah, but the project never took off. Col Jasjit Singh Gill (retd), a representative of the Buddha Dariya Action Front, said, The MC itself is among the offenders. The Punjab Pollution Control Board (PPCB) and other authorities concerned are not serious about curbing pollution. The city also has no storm-water drainage system that can stop rainwater from flowing into the sewer system. Congress MLA from Ludhiana East constituency Sanjay Talwar says, We have appealed to the erring industries to stop polluting the water channel, but to no avail. There is a need to take strict action. Mayor Balkar Singh Sandhu admits that untreated sewer water is released into the nullah from some points as the STPs are yet to be upgraded. We are making efforts to check pollution in the nullah. We would also take action against polluting industries, he said. Despite repeated attempts, PPCB chief environmental engineer Pawan Garg could not be contacted. editorial@tribune.com Jupinderjit Singh Tribune News Service Chandigarh, November 18 Serving and retired police officials are looking at the grenade attack at a Nirankari prayer hall in Amritsar today as an attempt to provoke the community to indulge in retaliation and disturb peace. The state government and police machinery are suspecting it a handiwork of Kashmiri militants and Pakistan-sponsored terror modules active in Punjab. Questions are being raised on police intelligence and its efficiency. Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh said the possibility of the involvement of ISI-backed Khalistani or Kashmiri terror groups could not be ruled out. Police teams have been rushed to raid the suspected hideouts of the assailants and multiple teams are investigating various angles to crack the case. DGP Suresh Arora has commented that the attack is a clear act of terror and nothing more can be said at this juncture. Ludhiana Congress MP Ravneet Singh Bittu suspected the role of Sikh hardliners. He said: The role of Sikh hardliner Baljit Singh Daduwal and others who follow his ideology should be probed. The attack took place despite a red-alert in the state for last four days on the suspected movement of Kashmiri militant Zakir Musa of Ansar Ghawzat-Ul-Hind in Amritsar and Gurdaspur. Some officials on the condition of anonymity said the terror groups had earlier successfully targeted Dera Sacha Sauda, Shiv Sena, RSS and Christians, but had failed to provoke any retaliation from them. Todays attack on Nirankaris points out that the terror outfits based in Pakistan seem to be aiming to engage a new group, said a retired police official. Experts are already drawing a parallel between todays attack and the 1978 killings of Nirankaris, which had led to a decade-long period of militancy in Punjab. A senior police official said it might be too early to establish motive as Nirankaris had stayed away from controversy over their faith and conflict with Akal Takht. As per the Chief Ministers Office, preliminary investigations had revealed that two men, both with faces covered and one of them having a flowing beard, allegedly forced their way into the hall by brandishing a pistol. They detained a sewadar and hurled a grenade into the prayer room and fled on a motorcycle. A crater was formed by the impact of the explosion, and was being examined by a forensic team. The safety valve of the grenade has also been found. The Chief Minister said 15 terror modules had been busted in the past 18 months. Links with Kashmiri terror outfits were also found in some cases as was evident from the arrest of Kashmiri students from Jalandhar and grenade attack on the Maqsudan police station, he added. Peace under threat: OPPN editorial@tribune.com Aman Sood Tribune News Service Patiala, November 18 Local youth Shabnamdeep Singh, who was arrested by the Patiala police early this month, had been allegedly tasked by his handlers with throwing a grenade at a large gathering akin to Sundays grenade attack in Amritsar. The police had claimed to have busted a Pakistan-sponsored terror module with Shabnamdeeps arrest on November 1. Initial intelligence inputs suggest that the modus operandi in the Amritsar incident was similar to what was planned by Shabnamdeep and his aides before they were arrested with a hand grenade and a pistol. The youth has been questioned by intelligence officials and the Intelligence Bureau in the past almost three weeks to ascertain his links in Amritsar and Tarn Taran districts. A grenade and a pistol had been supplied to Shabnamdeep. He had also been given money, which was used to buy a new bike, said an official involved in the investigation. Patiala SSP Mandeep Singh Sidhu was tight-lipped about the investigation, but he confirmed that Shabnamdeeps grilling was in progress. State DGP Suresh Arora had said that Shabnamdeep was promised Rs 10 lakh for each terror act and was in touch with Nihal Singh. Nihal and a Pakistan intelligence officer were communicating regularly with Shabnamdeep. The latter was also in touch with Sukhraj Singh Raju of Nagoke village, Tarn Taran district, who was involved in burning of liquor vends and terror-related activities, for which he was receiving money from abroad. Sukhraj contacted Shabnamdeep for the delivery of weapons to carry out targeted killings and was recently arrested by the Amritsar police, the DGP had said after the Patiala arrest. amansharma@tribunemail.com New Delhi, November 18 Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh on Sunday spoke to Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh and took stock of the situation arising out of a grenade attack at a religious gathering in Amritsar which claimed three lives. Singh also vowed to take strongest possible action against the perpetrators of the crime. "Spoke to the Chief Minister of Punjab, @capt_amarinder ji who has apprised me of the situation in the wake of grenade attack in Amritsar. Strongest possible action will be taken against the perpetrators of this crime (sic)," he tweeted. The home minister said he was deeply anguished by the death of the innocent people in the grenade attack in Amritsar. "It is a reprehensible act of violence. My condolences to the families who have lost their loved ones in this attack and prayers for speedy recovery of the injured," Singh said. Three people were killed and at least 19 others injured in the grenade attack by bike-borne assailants at a prayer hall brimming with around 200 devotees at Raja Sansi village near Amritsar. - PTI editorial@tribune.com Vishav Bharti Tribune News Service Chandigarh, November 18 Early Christian missionaries in Punjab were fascinated by street disturbances in Rawalpindi, when some Hindus complained that an organised group had hurl abuse at the cow and rejected idol worship. The missionaries noted that this was due to an individuals effort to establish a new sect. They are called Nirankaris from their belief in God as spirit without bodily form. Though Nirankaris conflict with the Hindus can be traced to the early 1850s, they by and large remained at peace with the Sikhs for almost a century. The turning point in the Sikh-Nirankari relationship is believed to have come after Avtar Singh took over as the sect chief in 1943. He not only proclaimed himself Satguru but also introduced a book Avtar Bani and allegedly tried to copy Sikh symbols like starting the system of Sat Piare etc. He was successful in organising Nirankaris into a powerful sect. However, in his book A History of The Sikhs, Khushwant Singh noted that the fundamental difference between both was that the Nirankaris were worshiping gurus other than the 10 recognised by the Sikhs. However, the conflict reached its peak on April 13, 1978. Activists of the Akhand Kirtni Jatha and Damdai Taksal marched towards the venue of a Nirankari convention in Amritsar. It led to a clash that left at least 17 dead and a majority of them were Sikhs. The bloodshed was not a bolt from the blue. The seeds of that clash were sown much earlier, said Jagtar Singh, a Chandigarh-based senior journalist and author of Khalistan Struggle: A Non Movement. Earlier taking note of the aggressive Nirankari campaign, on November 28, 1973, the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC)passed a resolution against the Nirankari chief. The SGPC, in its resolution, appealed to the Sikhs to remain alert over the tactics of the then Nirankari chief Gurbachan Singh. That was the first organised intervention by the Sikhs. Even before Amritsar clash, some small skirmishes had already taken place at several places in Punjab. Sant Kartar Singh of Damdami Taksal was leading the campaign against the Nirankaris. Following the deadly clash in 1978, Akal Takht issued a hukamnama asking Sikhs to sever ties with Nirankari Sikhs. Later in 1980 in Delhi, Akhand Kirtani Jathas Ranjit Singh killed Nirankari chief Gurbachan Singh. Ranjit Singh was later nominated as Akal Takht Jathedar. The possibility of such conflicts spinning out of hands always remains when the state commits historical blunders and does not bother to correct them even after decades, said Jagtar Singh. editorial@tribune.com new Delhi, November 18 Senior Congress leader and former Ludhiana MP Manish Tewari today urged the Centre and Punjab to work closely for the preservation of peace in the state, describing the blast as the Pakistan ISIs attempt to reactivate the Khalistan file. As someone who lost his father to militancy in Punjab, Tewari said: What has happened today is definitely the ISI and Pakistans act. It shows Punjab is in their crosshairs again. The ISI has activated its Khalistan file again. The US which is looking to get out from the Afghanistan-Pakistan region wants Pakistan to rein in terror groups in both Afghanistan and Jammu and Kashmir. Pakistan has started clamping down on these groups in Afghanistan but doesnt want the proxy war in India to end. It is becoming clear that Punjab which was off the radar of Pakistan for nearly three decades is back in its crosshairs. The recent terror attacks in Gurdaspur, Pathankot and now Amritsar are ISI game plan. We must watch out, said Tewari, urging CM Capt Amarinder with a Twitter appeal, We must protect our peace. TNS amansharma@tribunemail.com Chandigarh, November 18 Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh suspected on Sunday Pakistans ISI-backed Khalistani or Kashmiri militants role in the Amritsar terror attack that killed three persons and injured 20 others, and vowed that he would not let the forces of terror destroy the states hard-earned peace. The possibility of involvement of ISI-backed Khalistani or Kashmiri terror groups could not be ruled out (in the Amritsar terror attack), said Amarinder Singh in an official statement, adding the forensic teams have been rushed to the spot and all angles were being investigated. The chief minister said his government was on the top of things and would get to the bottom of the incident soon and ensure that the culprits are nabbed and brought to book. Nobody will be allowed to get away with trying to disturb the peace and harmony of the state, he said. Three persons were killed and at least 20 others were injured when two motorcycle-borne miscreants hurled a grenade at a religious congregation of over 200 devotees inside a Nirankari Bhawan at Adliwal village near Amritsars Rajasansi area Sunday, the police said earlier. In his statement, the chief minister said the preliminary investigations have revealed that two men one of them with a flowing beard and both with their faces covered forced their entry into the hall, brandishing a pistol. They detained the sewadar, lobbed the grenade into the prayer room and fled on a motorcycle on which they had come, he added. A small crater was formed by the impact of the explosion and was being examined by the forensic team, Amarinder Singh said, adding that the safety valve of the grenade too has been found and was being examined. Soon after the attack, the chief minister reviewed the law and order situation in the state and and asked the state home secretary, Punjab police chief and director generals, law & order and intelligence, to rush to Rajasansi in Amritsar to supervise the ongoing probe into the grenade attack, an official spokesman said here. The chief minister will visit the grenade attack site in tomorrow afternoon for an on-the-spot assessment of the situation. He will also meet the injured. Forensic teams too have been rushed to the spot and all angles were being investigated, said the chief minister. Strongly condemning the grenade attack after reviewing law and order in the state, Amarinder Singh vowed that he will not let the forces of terror destroy the hard-earned peace in the state. While making an appeal to the people not to panic and remain calm, the chief minister tweeted, We will not let the forces of terror destroy our hard-earned peace. I appeal to the people of Punjab to maintain peace in the wake of Amritsar bomb blast. I urge them not to panic and remain calm, he added. Amarinder Singhs tweet followed soon after Punjab police chief Suresh Arora told PTI that the incident appears to have a terror angle... we will take it as a terrorist act. In his statement, the chief minister added that police teams have been rushed to raid suspected hideouts of the assailants and multiple teams are investigating various angles to crack the case. Amarinder also directed police to immediately beef up the security at all sensitive places, including all Nirankari Bhavans, in the wake of the grenade attack the first such indiscriminate act against innocent people in recent past. Punjab had been severely hit by pro-Khalistan militancy in the 1980s and early 1990s, but it faced few terror attacks in recent years, barring the one in Pathankot over two years back. Though the state had been hit by a series of targeted attacks since 2015/2016, this was the first attempt, in a long time, aimed at disturbing the peace in the state through indiscriminate killings, said the chief minister. This strengthened the belief that Pakistan was continuing with its nefarious activities to disturb peace in the state, he added. Amarinder Singh said 15 terror modules were busted in the past 18 months, with indications of Kashmiri terror links too in some instances as evidenced in the arrest of Kashmiri students from Jalandhar and in a case of grenade blast at Maqsudan police station. PTI vinaymishra188@gmail.com Paris, November 18 More than 400 persons were hurt, 14 seriously, in a day and night of yellow vest protests over rising fuel price hikes around France that claimed one life, Interior Minister Christophe Castaner said on Sunday. The injury toll, more than double the last tally provided on Saturday, followed what Castaner described as a restive night in 87 locations around the country where protesters had blocked roads to express their anger at a series of hikes in petrol tax. The injured, 409 in total, included 28 police, paramilitary police or firefighters. Castaner told RTL radio that 288,000 people had taken part in Saturdays protests at 2,034 locations countrywide. About 3,500 stayed out overnight, he added. The police questioned 282 protesters in total, 73 during the night, of whom 157 were taken into custody. Last night was restive... There were assaults, fights, stabbings, Castaner said. There were fights among yellow vest protesters. There was a lot of alcohol at certain venues, which led to this idiotic behaviour. Protest organisers have called for more demonstrations Sunday at about 150 locations countrywide, the minister added. Protests were reported Sunday several regions across France. On Saturday, groups blocked roundabouts, major highways and thoroughfares to express anger over increased taxes on fuel and their shrinking purchasing power under President Emmanuel Macron. Tempers flared at times as some drivers confronted the protesters or tried to force their way through the barricades. AFP vinaymishra188@gmail.com Port Moresby, November 18 Asia-Pacific leaders failed to agree on a communique at a summit in Papua New Guinea on Sunday for the first time in their history as deep divisions between the United States and China over trade and investment stymied cooperation. Competition between the United States and China over the Pacific was also thrown into focus with the United States and its Western allies launching a coordinated response to Chinas Belt and Road programme. You know the two big giants in the room, Papua New Guinea (PNG) PM Peter ONeill said at a closing news conference, when asked which of the 21 members of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) group could not agree. ONeill, who was chairman of the meeting, said the sticking point was over whether mention of the World Trade Organisation and its possible reform should be in the Leaders Declaration. APEC has got no charter over World Trade Organisation, that is a fact. Those matters can be raised at the World Trade Organisation. The multilateral trade order that APEC was established in 1989 to protect is crumbling as Chinese assertiveness in the Pacific and US tariffs strain relations in the region and divide loyalties. A Leaders Declaration has been issued after every annual APEC leaders meeting since the first in 1993, the groups website shows. ONeill said that as APEC host, he would release a Chairmans Statement, though it was not clear when. US President Donald Trump did not attend the meeting and nor did his Russian counterpart, Vladimir Putin. US Vice-President Mike Pence attended instead of Trump. Chinese President Xi Jinping arrived to great fanfare on Thursday and was feted by PNG officials. He stoked Western concern on Friday when he met Pacific island leaders to pitch his Belt and Road initiative. The United States and its allies, Japan, Australia and New Zealand, countered on Sunday with a $1.7 billion plan to deliver reliable electricity and the internet to PNG. The spat ramps up the stakes for a crunch meeting between presidents Donald Trump and Xi Jinping at a G20 summit in Argentina at the end of the month. Reuters Beijing slams Pence; says no country in debt trap because of BRI China on Sunday hit back at US Vice-President Mike Pence for accusing it of luring developing nations into a debt trap through the loans Beijing offers for infrastructure, asserting that not a single country has been mired in debt because of cooperation with it Vice-President Pence in his combative address at the Asia Pacific Economic Co-operation (APEC) summit in Papua New Guinea on Saturday said Chinas Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) is saddling developing countries with loans they cannot afford Touted as Xis ambitious project, the BRI initiative focuses on improving connectivity and cooperation among Asian countries, Africa, China and Europe. Xi also lashed out at America First trade protectionism, saying it was a short-sighted approach APEC future in doubt pardeepdhull@gmail.com Mexicali (Mexico), November 18 Hundreds of migrants from a caravan of Central Americans were stalled at the US-Mexico border on Saturday, where a handful said they welcomed recent Mexican offers of employment in the face of a hostile US reception. The Mexican government last week reiterated job offers to the migrants, saying that those who obtained legal status could occupy thousands of vacancies, most of them in the countrys maquiladoras, doing factory work. Since arriving at the border last week, they have been denied entry through the gates linking Mexico to the United States. Dozens of the mostly Hondurans waited in lines to bathe and washed clothes sullied from 2,600 miles of relentless travel. Several members of the caravan, which left the crime-wracked city of San Pedro Sula, Honduras, on October 13, told Reuters they would be willing to stay put in Mexico rather than face rejection across the border. If we had work, we would stay. This has been very tiring, said Orbelina Orellana, a 26-year-old Honduran mother of three, waiting at the Alfa and Omega shelter in the city of Mexicali, which borders Calexico, California. I cry a lot to not be able to feed them as Id like, Orellana said of her children. I just want an opportunity. Briefly stalled by Mexican riot police on a highway crossing between two southern Mexican states late last month, a dozen migrants told Reuters they rejected such offers, preferring to try their luck in the United States. But on Saturday, some said that thinking had changed. We had the idea to cross to the United States, but they told us it will be nearly impossible, said Mayra Gonzalez, 32, traveling with her two children. We cannot starve as we wait to find out if theyll give us asylum. Better to work, by the grace of God, here in Mexico. In a sharp reversal of longstanding U.S. policy, President Donald Trumps administration last week began enforcing new rules that curtail asylum rights for anyone who arrives without documents at the US border. Trump earlier this month deployed almost 6,000 troops along the long US border with Mexico. As they wound north through Mexico, the migrants were helped along by local authorities and residents who offered food, clothing and even free rides on daily treks that averaged 30 miles a day, much of it on foot. But that welcome became noticeably frostier as the caravan reached the border. In Tijuana, a city long accustomed to a population of migrants in transit, deportees and US pleasure-seekers, a clutch of local residents last week threw rocks at the migrants, telling them to go home. But some said the Central Americans could help boost the local economy. We are not against migration, Ulises Araiza, President of the Association of Human Resources of Industry in Tijuana, told Reuters. We know the situation that these people face in their country. But we also favor order so as to integrate them into the labor sector, because only in Tijuana do we have a demand in the maquiladora industry for 5,000 people. Reuters pardeepdhull@gmail.com Port Moresby, November 18 Leaders from 21 Asia-Pacific nations battled to paper over gaping differences Sunday after an unusually sharp exchange of words between the groups two most powerful members, the United States and China. With just hours of the two-day summit remaining, officials were still scrambling to forge enough of a consensus to issue a formal joint statement and were admitting privately that it might not be possible, amid yawning differences on trade policy. The annual gathering has been overshadowed by speeches on Saturday from Chinese President Xi Jinping and US Vice President Mike Pence, which appeared to represent competing bids for regional leadership. Pence warned smaller countries not to be seduced by Chinas massive Belt-and-Road infrastructure programme, which sees Beijing offer money to poorer countries for construction and development projects. The opaque loans come with strings attached and build up staggering debt, Pence charged, mocking the initiative as a constricting belt and a one-way road. He urged nations instead to stick with the United States, which doesnt drown our partners in a sea of debt or coerce, corrupt or compromise your independence. In a speech to business leaders just minutes before Pence, Xi insisted the initiative was not a trap and there was no hidden agendaamid criticism that it amounts to chequebook diplomacy in the region. Xi also lashed out at America First trade protectionism, saying it was a short-sighted approach that was doomed to failure. The feisty barbs on a gleaming white cruise ship moored in Port Moresby set the scene for a potentially fiery meeting between Xi and US President Donald Trump at the G20 summit in Argentina at the end of this month. But Xi and Pence, who both wore shiny, red shirts provided by the Pacific island did hold talks on Saturday night at the leaders gala dinner. Pence told reporters on Sunday: I spoke to President Xi twice during the course of this conference. We had a candid conversation. He told him that the US is interested in a better relationship with China but there has to be change in Beijings trade policies. With fears that a trade war between the two rivals could cripple the Pacific Rim economy, some attendees voiced concern about the growing rivalry for influence in the region. Business leaders do not want to speak out, but behind the scenes here, they are talking over dinner saying how has this happened? said Denis OBrien, the billionaire chairman of Digicel. Its a very forced situation, one country is trying to force all the other countries to change tariffs agreed over years, OBrien told AFP. Trumpand Russian President Vladimir Putinboth decided to skip the gathering, leaving the spotlight on Xi who arrived two days early to open a Chinese-funded school and road in Papua New Guineas dirt-poor capital Port Moresby. Xi has been the star of the show, front and centre at official photos whereas Pence has kept a lower profile, only deciding at the last minute to stay overnight in Port Moresbyshelving original plans to fly in and out from Cairns in Australia. As if to counter Chinese largesse, the US, Australia, New Zealand and Japan on Sunday announced a project to boost electricity capacity in Papua New Guinea. The project aims to raise the percentage of the PNG population with access to electricity from 13 per cent to 70 per cent. And as the US and China vie for influence in the region, the statement dangled the prospect of similar projects for countries that support principles and values which help maintain and promote a free, open, prosperous and rules-based region. With the official business of the summit relatively low-key, much of the focus has been on the unlikely venue of Port Moresby, which is hosting its first international event of this scale. The city is on lockdown with hundreds of police and military patrolling the streets of the notoriously crime-ridden capital. Warships are stationed just off the coast to provide security for the leaders, and delegates and media have been housed in enormous cruise ships due to a dearth of hotel rooms. AFP vinaymishra188@gmail.com Berlin, November 18 German Chancellor Angela Merkel and French President Emmanuel Macron met in Berlin on Sunday in a show of unity against rising populism in the era of US President Donald Trump. At their second meeting in a week, the two once again raised the idea of establishing a European army as a symbol of a united continent, a proposal that has raised Trumps hackles. Macrons visit comes a week after world leaders met in Paris to commemorate the end of World War I a century ago and marks Germanys Day of Mourning for victims of war and dictatorship. After a wreath-laying ceremony, Macron addressed the German Parliament-housed in the glass-domed Reichstag still bearing the scars of World War II-in the first speech by a French leader to the assembly in 18 years. Macron and Merkel are both committed pro-Europeans. As the world has remembered World War I, which ended a century ago this month, Macron has repeatedly invoked its horrors to drive home the message that rising nationalism is again destabilising the world. Macron and Merkel have proposed a European army that would operate within NATO, an idea Trump has mocked by tweeting that it was Germany in World Wars One & Two. How did that work out for France? While strong on symbolism, the Franco-German partnership and European reform push have been plagued by policy differences and the domestic troubles of the two leaders. AFP pardeepdhull@gmail.com Beijing, November 18 Despite being blocked in China, Twitter and other overseas social media sites have long been used freely by activists and government critics to address subjects that are censored on domestic forumsuntil now. As Beijing presses a campaign to throttle any remaining voices that stray from the Communist Party narrative, it is extending its reach to foreign sites outside of its Great Firewall of Internet censorship. People in China can use virtual private network (VPN) software to circumvent Beijings controls and access blocked foreign sites. But fearful that the platforms could be used to coordinate political activity, the authorities have launched a stealth crackdown over the past year. Chinese activists and other Twitter users say they have been pressured by police to delete sensitive tweets. Its a silent slaughter, said Yaxue Cao, founder of human rights site China Change. In some cases, Chinese authorities may be getting access to and deleting accounts themselves. Last Friday, Cao reported that the Twitter account of Wu Gan, a Chinese activist sentenced last December to eight years in prison for subversion, had been suddenly deletederasing more than 30,000 posts representing years of political critique and commentary. A Chinese Twitter user who requested anonymity told AFP that he was taken in by police over tweets critical of the Communist Party. After being held at a police station overnight, the user was made to hand over login information and watch police delete the tweets. You dont know what kind of crime theyll sentence you with. Theres no due process, so you feel scared, said the Twitter user, who was forced to write a letter of repentance and warned against further tweeting. Once they threaten you, youll do what they say. Twitter declined to comment when contacted by AFP. Under President Xi Jinping, China has increased scrutiny of social media platforms and sought to restrict access to VPN software. Authorities have not launched a full crackdown on VPNs, however, because both Chinese and foreign companies need them to do business. On Monday, the Cyberspace Administration of China said it had cleaned up 9,800 accounts on Chinese social media platforms like messaging app WeChat and the Twitter-like Weibo that it accused of spreading politically harmful information and rumours. The Internet regulator also chastised the sites for negligence and irresponsibility. Chinese Twitter users have been targeted beforeone was arrested in 2012 for joking about a building collapsing on a political meeting. But the recent police activity indicates a more concerted clampdown, triggered by an exodus of users from censored platforms that has resulted in a stronger Chinese Twitter presence, said writer and activist Li Xuewen. Its the latest trend, said Li, who was detained in 2017 over an online memorial to Liu Xiaobo, the Nobel Peace laureate and rights activist who died of liver cancer in police custody last year. Naturally, Twitter would become the target of the next round of attacks. Last month, Li received a call from police at his parents home in central Hubei province. They said higher-ups had sent orders to find him and ask him to delete tweets. Wen Tao, a friend of Chinese dissident artist Ai Weiwei, said he too was approached by police last month over his tweets and had heard of many similar stories. Activists (on Twitter) can communicate with each other and also to the outside world, in particular the Western media, said Emily Parker, a former journalist in China who wrote about its online activists in her 2014 book Now I Know Who My Comrades Are. Beijing is concerned about tools that could facilitate online organisation. Its thus not surprising that Twitter would get on authorities radar. Some Twitter users are let off with a warning, while others are told to delete tweets. But the police pressure could have a ripple effect as hollowed-out accounts or farewell tweets posted by activists under duress could cause others to self-censor. It is a huge setback for researchers and anyone who cares about the struggles of contemporary Chinese society, Cao wrote on China Change, describing Twitter as an open diary for Chinese dissidents. Li said he plans to cut back his Twitter activity, since speaking out these days is useless anyway. A user in southern Guangxi province, who was told to delete his tweets in September, said he is now cautious about what he posts. If Im not careful, Ill be asked to drink tea again, he told AFP, using a common euphemism for being called in by police. AFP pardeepdhull@gmail.com Washington, November 18 US President Donald Trump has said he had spoken with the CIA chief on the agencys assessment of the killing of Jamal Khashoggi and that there will be a very full report by Tuesday, amid reports that the CIA had held powerful the Saudi crown prince responsible for the murder of the dissident journalist. The death of 59-year-old Khashoggi, a onetime insider turned critic of Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and a resident of the US, has spurred a wave of international anger against Saudi Arabia and its ruler. In an interaction with reporters in California on Saturday, Trump said that he spoke with Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) Director Gina Haspel, who has been studying this case very closely. Its a horrible thing that took place, the killing of a journalist...It should never have happened, Trump said. Asked about reports that the CIA had assessed involvement by the crown prince, the president said, they havent assessed anything yet. Its too early. That was a very a premature report. Well be having a very full report over the next two days, probably Monday or Tuesday, Trump said. He then said more definitely that there would be a report on Tuesday. The report will address what we think the overall impact was and who caused it, and who did it. In the meantime were doing things to some people that we know for a fact were involved and were being very tough on a lot of people, he added. Khashoggi, a Washington Post columnist, was last seen entering the Saudi consulate in Istanbul on October 2 to obtain paperwork for his marriage. Saudi Arabia had offered a series of contradictory explanations for Khashoggis death. After repeated denials, Saudi Arabia finally admitted Khashoggi had been murdered at the compound but blamed it on a rogue operation. On Friday, the Washington Post reported that the CIA had assessed with high confidence the Saudi leaders role, based on multiple sources of intelligence. The CIA found that 15 Saudi agents flew on government planes to Istanbul and carried out the killing at the Saudi consulate, the report said, adding that it could complicate President Trumps efforts to preserve US ties with one of the closest American allies in the region. The accepted position is that there is no way this happened without him being aware or involved, a US official familiar with the CIAs conclusions, told the daily. Saudi Arabia has denied any such linkage. Fatimah Baeshen, a spokeswoman for the Saudi Embassy in Washington, said that the claims in the CIAs purported assessment are false. We have and continue to hear various theories without seeing the primary basis for these speculations. According to the report, it is CIA assessment that the crown prince who is the defacto ruler of the country would survive the crisis. Officially Saudi Arabia has blamed the brutal murder of Khashoggi at the Saudi consulate in Istanbul to rogue elements. Khashoggi was forcibly restrained and injected with a large amount of a drug resulting in an overdose that led to his death, alleged the Saudi prosecutors, who has sought death penalty for 11 of its officials. Turkish investigating agencies provided the CIA an audio recording that proves the brutal murder of Khashoggi. After his killing, one of those involved in it called Saud al Qahtani, then one of the top aides to the crown prince, and informed him that the operation had been completed, according to people familiar with the call. A conclusion that the crown prince was responsible for the murder of Khashoggi could endanger the US relationship with Saudi Arabia, The Wall Street Journal said. The assessment that the Crown Prince ordered the murder is not surprising but it significantly undermines the administrations effort to whitewash the Saudi prince, Bruce Riedel, a former top CIA and White House official, who is now at the Brookings Institution think tank, told the journal. It raises the question why the crown prince has not been sanctioned by the Treasury Department, Riedel said. The CIA just concluded that MBS, the Saudi Crown Prince, ordered Khashoggis killing. Every literate person knows that MBS continues to order the killing of thousands of civilians in Yemen. Its time for the US to stop supporting MBSs war in Yemen. Congress must act, Indian-American Congressman Ro Khanna tweeted on Friday. PTI A man who went to take in the sea breeze at Mayaro on his birthday was arrested by police. IT is with a great sense of appreciation that we commend the mayor and the City Council of S We currently plan to do a heap of train travel using a Three Country Eurail Pass over January/February 2019 through Switzerland, France and Germany. We've done extensive research regarding the pro's and con's of a Eurail Pass vs Swiss Pass vs Point-to-point and, at this stage, it is expected to be Eurail Pass travel. We're aware Eurail Passes have their fans but also plenty of detractors, so for the purposes of this question, please take the Eurail Pass as a given. The one-off we've come up against is this though. One of our trips will be from Zurich to Fussen. Most (though not necessarily all) of the routes surprisingly take you through one stop in Austria. Specifically, the route goes through St. Margrethen in Switzerland, across the border, stops at Bregenz in Austria, then continues to Lindau in Germany. There usually isn't a change of train. I guess the question is, given we pass through Austria without intention of stopping, en route from Switzerland to Germany, will our three country pass do it? I'd like to think it will, but I'd hazard to guess it won't. If we're travelling Eurail Pass I'm surmising our best solution is to buy a flexi ticket on DB from St. Margrethen to Lindau, which is only 8 Euros each. Given it is a flexi-ticket, I'm under the impression I could use it for any train on the route on the day of purchase, though I haven't looked into that in detail yet. That would be important as we may not know until we're en route just which train we'll be taking that day, so we may pre-book (or, if possible, grab a ticket at Zurich Station as we leave, if that's possible). Suggestions/corrections gladly received. "3) How would I go about finding a private driver?" Your hotel can arrange this for you. "And is this the best way to explore?" The answer depends on how you define the subjective term 'best'. It is best if you define the term in terms of flexibility. It is, however, not best if you define the term in terms of cost. "4) nightlife off the resort?" You will probably want to go to a place in downtown Montego Bay, for example the 'hip strip'. The Iberostar complex is at the far eastern end of Rose Hall, an eastern suburb of Montego Bay. It is about 11 1/2 miles, one way, from the Iberostar complex to downtown Montego Bay. The 'list' price of a taxi ride, one way, from the hotel to downtown Montego Bay is $us40. Always bargain with the taxi driver for the actual (lower) price of the trip. -:- 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. There is fraud in Floridas U.S. Senate race. Mitch McConnell just perpetrated it. Florida has still not certified a winner in the contest between Democrat Bill Nelson and Republican Rick Scott. Elections officials are recounting the vote after the initial tally showed the two separated by a mere 13,000 votes of some 8 million cast. But the Senate majority leader, re-elected to that position by his colleagues Wednesday, decided not to trouble himself with such technicalities. On Wednesday morning, he stood by Scotts side in the Capitol and declared Scott a senator. Were here this morning to welcome our six new Republican senators that allowed us to continue our majority, the Kentucky Republican said, introducing Scott and the five new duly elected Republican senators to the press. Governor Scott, CNNs Ted Barrett called out. Do you still contend that theres fraud going on in Florida with this recount? Scott, the current Florida governor, forced a thin smile and looked away. McConnells lips curled into a smirk. Aides shooed the cameras and journalists from McConnells office; the coming-out photo op for the new senator was done. Scott has leveled the stunning accusation, without evidence, that Nelson is trying to commit fraud to win this election. He has said his Democratic opponent, a three-term senator, is just here to steal this election. President Trump, seeing opportunity to trash another American institution, joined in, saying, also without evidence, that ballots are missing or forged and massively infected. He said officials in Broward and Palm Beach counties are trying to find votes for Nelson. The Florida Department of Law Enforcement, which is under Scott, has no active investigation of fraud. The Florida Department of State, also under Scott, has seen no evidence of criminal activity. A Broward County judge, rejecting Scotts request to impound voting machines, said those alleging fraud must provide evidence. But there is abundant evidence of something: an antiquated voting system that cant keep up. In Palm Beach, the elections supervisor said its outdated equipment overheated, causing figures to not add up as it attempted to meet the recount deadline of Thursday. Equipment problems in Broward also delayed the recount. There is deep cynicism in Republicans complaining about the lengthy recounts and, worse, suggesting fraud is the cause: They voted down funds for updated voting equipment for states. Senate Republicans on Aug. 1 blocked Vermont Democratic Sen. Patrick J. Leahys plan to send $250 million to states for cybersecurity and replacing outdated election equipment. A few weeks later, the bipartisan Secure Elections Act stalled in the Senate, in part because we didnt have the level of Republican support we needed, Rules Committee Chairman Roy Blunt, R-Mo., said. The $380 million Congress has authorized amid the Russian hacking (the first substantial funding since the aftermath of the 2000 election) is but a sliver of the $1 billion to $2 billion it would cost to get states voting systems up to date, according to Lawrence Norden of New York Universitys Brennan Center for Justice. Last weeks voting problems in Georgia, South Carolina, Michigan and New York, as well as Florida are a direct result of Washingtons neglect. You cant have it both ways, Vermont Secretary of State Jim Condos tells me. You cant scream about all the delays were having while also not stepping up and providing the resources we need. But Republicans prefer to scream fraud when the voting systems they starved inevitably break down. Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla., joined Scott and Trump, saying Democrats are trying to steal a seat in the U.S. Senate. McConnell pronounced himself concerned. 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. Maybe Scott will win when all the votes are counted. But, as Jeremy W. Peters of the New York Times observed Tuesday, even if Nelson wins, it is not unthinkable that Republicans would consider using their majority power in the Senate to refuse to seat Mr. Nelson and to give the seat to Mr. Scott instead. As if on cue, McConnell on Wednesday morning declared Scott a new Republican senator before bothering to learn the outcome of the election. Follow Dana Milbank on Twitter, @Milbank. - Shareholders says tax reduction by government will woo more investors to the project - Four mega investors among them Dormans and Nova Pioneer School have invested at the city - The city also eyes constructing 70,000 residential units to be hosted in six housing projects - In the past, it has been blamed for under declaring its taxes and questionable land transactions Shareholders at Tatu city have asked the government to consider further reduction of taxes for investors setting shop at at the Ruiru based special economic zone. Nick Langford, Kenya Country Head, Rendeavour, said the move will accelerate business activities at the development as it will woo more business partners to the project. Send 'NEWS' to 40227 to receive all the important breaking news as it happens. Nick Langford, Kenya Country Head Rendeavour said the move will accelerate business activities at the development as it will woo more business partners to the project. Photo: Tatu City. Source: Facebook Despite a chain of fraud related cases dogging the KSh 350 billion project, Langford said, at least four mega partners have opened doors at the zone. "There is a wave of a little bit adverse publicity...but then, people realised what we are doing here is such of massive contribution to the Kenyan economy. The land little issues and the land we have sold is all registered at the lands registry," said Langford who also defended project against tax evasion claims. READ ALSO: Rift Valley farmers threaten to storm state house with tractors over maize price Among the developers whose operations are running at the 5,000 acre compound include; Dormans, Crawford International School, Nova Pioneer Schools and Africa Logistics Properties. Other companies that have expressed interest at the facility are Chandaria Industries, Unilever, Kim-Fay and Maxam Kenya Limited. "The benefits of them investing here are in terms of reduced corporation tax, withholding tax is reduced as well and zero rated for Value Added Tax (VAT)," he added. Another project lined up for completion at the development is a 70,000 residential units suite to be hosted in six housing projects. Another project lined up for completion at the development is a 70,000 residential units suite to be hosted in six housing projects. Photo: Tatu city. Source: UGC READ ALSO: Tatu City row: Ahmednasir accuses CID boss of altering report In October 2018 the EACC and Parliament listened to claims where Tatu city development was put on spot for allegedly evading to pay taxes and under declaration of tax returns. Our investigations in 2015 found that Tatu City had under-declared tax returns by KSh 42.4 million. Kofinaf, which is also involved in the project had under-declared its returns by KSh Sh 275 million, KRA Commissioner General John Njiraini informed Parliamentary Committee on Lands. Do you have a hot story or scandal you would like us to publish, please reach us through news@tuko.co.ke or WhatsApp: 0732482690 and Telegram: Tuko news. Shosh Cecilia: Ladies Stop Dating Sponsors | Tuko TV. Source: Tuko.co.ke It was an invite only affair deep in Lesarai village, Samburu county that brought together close family friends as well as who is who in the political cycle and in media. The clear blue skies only meant the big day in the life of Samburu West MP Naisula Lesuuda and her husband-to-be Robert Koitaba Kiplagat will go smoothly as they awaited to exchange vows. Send 'NEWS' to 40227 to receive all the important breaking news as it happens. READ ALSO: MP Naisula Lesuuda to walk down the aisle one year after rumoured affair with Kipchumba Murkomen Samburu West MP Naisula Lesuuda and her husband Robert exchange vows. Photo: Abed-nego Loishamu Kiyai/Facebook. Source: Facebook READ ALSO: 10 sizzling hot photos of Murkomens alleged girlfriend Senator Naisula Lesuuda The dry Suguta town was a beehive of activities not only from traditional dancers who kept guests entertained but also constants deafening sounds of whirling helicopter rotors for this was not your ordinary wedding. First to arrive in chopper was Gatundu MP Moses Kuria in the company of media personality Jacque Maribe and Wajir county Woman Representative Fatuma Gedi and later KANU chairman who is also Baringo Senator Gedion Moi. TUKO.co.ke learnt the youthful MP and her fiance will have a destination wedding, which will have their guests housed in various hotels at a fee. Naisula and Kiplagat's wedding comes about nine months after the latter went down on one knee and slid an engagement ring on the former's finger. Their engagement came hot on the heels of claims that she was romantically involved with married Elgeyo Marakwet Senator, Kipchumba Murkomen. 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 Detectives from the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) on the evening of Saturday, November 17, stormed homes of Wajir Governor Mohamed Abdi Mohamud. The officers visited the governor's homes in Wajir and Nairobi in search of crucial documents in ongoing corruption probe into misappropriation of KSh 350 million from the county coffer. Send 'NEWS' to 40227 to receive all the important breaking news as it happens. READ ALSO: Supreme Court suspends nullification of Wajir governors election Governor Mahamed's homes in Wajir and Nairobi have been raided by anti-graft agency over corruption. Photo: Mohamed Muhamud Abdi/Facebook. Source: Facebook READ ALSO: Ugandan university disowns Wajir governor's academic papers During the operations which also saw wife of the head of county treasury arrested, several documents and material were recovered. Sources say the wife reportedly destroyed some documents so as to conceal substantial evidence of an alleged corruption. A similar raid has recently been conducted in home of Migori Governor Okoth Obado who is implicated alongside seven members of his family over alleged theft of KSh 2 billion from the county government's coffers. 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.co.ke - The farmers are pushing for maize price of KSh 3,600 per bag and nothing less - They gave the president a seven day ultimatum to the new announce price - The government had indicated it would buy 90kg bag of maize from farmers at KSh 2,300 - The farmers, however, argued selling maize at Ksh 2,300 would be a huge loss because current cost of farming had gone up Maize farmers from Deputy President William Ruto's stronghold have given President Uhuru Kenyatta a seven day ultimatum to announce new maize price at Ksh 3600 per 90kg bag or they will drive their tractors to state house in protest. Led by Chereng'ani Member of Parliament Joshua Kutuny and his Nandi Hills counterpart Alfred Keter, the maize farmers threatened to storm state house in Nairobi if the one week ultimatum would elapse before the new price is announced. Send 'NEWS' to 40227 to receive all the important breaking news as it happens READ ALSO: Government sets aside KSh 2.1 billion to clear maize farmers' debts, announce new prices next week MPs Joshua Kutuny and Alfred Keter and farmers (Left Photo :Star) from the Rift Valley region speaking to the press over the maize price saga. Source: UGC READ ALSO: William Rutos empty promises making us poor - maize farmers Speaking to TUKO.co.ke on Saturday, November 17, the farmers protested the government's suggested price and insisted the price per 90kg bag of maize should not be anything less than KSh 3,600. "We have given President Uhuru seven days to announce new maize price of Ksh 3,600 per 90 kg bag, failure to which we will drive tractors to state house until the new maize price is implemented, " the farmers said. READ ALSO: Uhuru's Brookside shunned in Rift Valley They argued selling their produce at Ksh 2,300 would leave them with huge losses since the cost of farming had significantly gone up. "Fertilizer price has gone up, cost of ploughing has also increased due to high cost of fuel, among other costs. So selling maize at 2,300 is a lose," one of the aggrieved farmers argued. READ ALSO: Farmers from Ruto's backyard say he's useless, quiet as government makes them poor This comes barely two weeks after the government announced new maize price at Ksh 2,300 for a 90 kg of dry maize. A section of the Rift Valley politicians went had also accused Ruto of doing little to address the woes facing maize farmers. The politicians claimed the DP had been making phone calls to cereal board bosses countrywide instructing them on who they should pay and who not to be paid. "Deputy president has been making phone calls to cereal boards dictating who should be paid, leaving vulnerable farmers in agony," the politicians claimed. READ ALSO: Rift Valley farmers receive wrong fertilizer from government ahead of planting season Uhuru had ordered Agriculture CS Mwangi Kiunjuri to immediately pay all farmers their cash. However, Tuko.co.ke understands not all maize farmers who supplied maize to the National Cereals and Produce Board (NCPB) have received their cash. Kiunjuri, who appeared before Agriculture Senate committee in August 2018 over the farmers issue, said the government was pushing for devolution of the cereals board to ensure efficiency of services to farmers. Story by Enock Ndayala Do you have a hot story or scandal you would like us to publish, please reach us through news@tuko.co.ke or WhatsApp: 0732482690 and Telegram: Tuko news. Kenyans React To Reinforcement of Michuki Rules - On Tuko TV Source: Tuko.co.ke - Koyier died at Aga Khan hospital on the afternoon of Friday - The Alliance Girls' student had been admitted at the hospital's ICU where she stayed for weeks - Doctors at various medical facilities she was taken to were unable to establish her ailment - Her parents reportedly spent over KSh 10 million in hospital bills Alliance Girls High School is mourning the death of one of its 2018 Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE) candidates, Nikita Sally Koyier. Koyier, who was supposed to be sitting the just concluded KCSE exams, had been battling a mysterious disease for weeks and succumbed to the unknown illness at the Aga Khan hospital in Nairobi. Send 'NEWS' to 40227 to receive all the important breaking news as it happens READ ALSO: Agony for family of Alliance Girls' KCSE candidate with mysterious illness as bill hits KSh 10.9 million Nikita Sally Koyier is a Form Four student at Alliance Girls' High School and was expected to be sitting for her KCSE exam. Photo:Talifique/Twitter. Source: UGC READ ALSO: Homa Bay KCSE candidate collapses, dies while playing with friends TUKO.co.ke on Sunday, November 18, established Koyier, daughter to Daystar University don Thomas Koyier whose story had captured the attention of the public, died on the afternoon of Friday, November 16. "Nikita had united well-wishers with many coming together to raise awareness over an unknown condition which had her hospitalised at the Aga Khan Hospital. Following her death, some members of the Daystar Community, as well as friends of the family flocked the Aga Khan Hospital where they held prayers," the university wrote in an email to the Daystar Community. READ ALSO: Tragedy as KCSE student collapses, dies after completing Maths paper The pretty-looking and brilliant teenage girl had been admitted at Aga Khan University hospital's Intensive Care Unit (ICU) where doctors battled to diagnose her strange disease and save her life in vain. She was admitted after she developed complications that began with a severe headache in September 2018 and which made it almost impossible for her to sleep. According to her social media friends, her family was expected to raise KSh 10.9 million in three weeks for her diagnosed and treatment. READ ALSO: Form Four student dies while dancing in exam warm up party As of Tuesday, November 6, Koyier's medical bill had reportedly hit KSh 6.7 million. "What's worse though is not the rising bill but the fact that doctors are yet to give a diagnosis which will bring the bill to at least KSh 10.9 million. Nikita needs our help in deed and in kind," a Facebook user, identified as Jacinta Mumbi, shared. 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. Faces of Kenya: Meet Kenyan Student Who Writes, Reads Upside Down - On Tuko TV Source: Tuko.co.ke - The Tanzanian fishermen were arrested for alleged trespassing - They were also accused of using outlawed fishing gears in Kenyan waters - The fishermen are set to be arraigned and charged in accordance with Kenyan laws - The arrest comes days after Tanzania authorities also arrested and detained Kenyan fishermen - Tanzania demanded KSh 1.5 million to release the detained Kenyan fishermen who included children Kenyan authorities have arrested and detained 16 Tanzanian fishermen for allegedly using illegal fishing gears in Kenyan waters. The Tanzanian fishermen were reportedly nabbed at Bamgot beach in Nyatike sub-county, Migori County on the night of Saturday, November 18, during a crackdown . Send 'NEWS' to 40227 to receive all the important breaking news as it happens READ ALSO: Tanzania government demands over KSh 1.5 million to release detained Kenyan fishermen Muhuru Bay Beach Management Unit chairman, Tobias Mragire, said the Tanzanian fishermen were arrested using the outlawed fishing gears in Kenya and trespassing. Photo: JamiiForums. Source: UGC READ ALSO: Ugandan soldiers arrest, detain 3 Kenyan police officers in Lake Victoria Reports seen by TUKO.co.ke on Sunday indicated the local authorities had launched an intense crackdown mostly targeted at Tanzanian fishermen in what seemed like a revenge after Tanzanian authorities locked up Kenyan fishermen. Muhuru Bay Beach Management Unit chairman, Tobias Mragire, was quoted by Citizen Digital saying the foreign fishermen were arrested not just for using wrong fishing gears in Kenya but also for trespassing. READ ALSO: Kenyan police manning disputed Migingo island chased like stray dogs by Ugandan counterparts Mragire confirmed the foreign fishermen were being detained at undisclosed location and would be arraigned and charged in court as in accordance with the Kenyan laws. The Tanzanian authorities had on Sunday, November 4, arrested and detained 36 Kenyan fishermen for alleged trespassing. READ ALSO: Uhuru sends strong message to Yoweri Museveni over the disputed Migingo Island The neighbouring country demanded KSh 1.5 million as condition for the release of the detained Kenyan fishermen. The Tanzanian authorities also wanted KSh 200, 000 for each of the boats which they also seized during the sting operation. Previous reports by TUKO.co.ke indicated the Kenyan fishermen included six children who were being held at Sota police station in Musoma. 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. Maasai People React to Western Snacks - On Tuko TV Source: Tuko.co.ke Only the official announcement on the date of the council will mean it has already been determined, Yevstratiy said. Press secretary of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the Kyiv Patriarchate (UOC-KP), Archbishop Yevstratiy (Zorya) has refuted media reports on holding a unification council on November 22. Read alsoKyiv Patriarchate says official date for Unification Council yet to be announced "I am not surprised that unknown anonymous 'announce' church councils on Facebook. I am surprised how many educated people, clergymen take such an 'ad' at face value and spread it!" Yevstratiy wrote on Facebook. "I officially declare: the information disseminated in the announcement doesn't correspond with reality. I have to repeat once again: only the official announcement on the date of the council will mean it has already been determined," he said. As UNIAN reported earlier, former press secretary of the head of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the Moscow Patriarchate, Archpriest Georgy Kovalenko told Radio Liberty's Ukrainian service a unification council was scheduled to gather on November 22 to announce the creation of a local independent Orthodox church in Ukraine. On November 13, Ukrainian President 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. In particular, 2,500 guys are calling up for Russian military service during the autumn military conscription, which began in October and will last by late 2018. About 12,000 Ukrainians have been recruited into the Russian army since the occupation of Crimea. Read alsoRussian special services attempt to recruit wives of Ukrainian military SBU "The occupation authorities encourage young Crimeans to join the ranks of the Russian army. About 12,000 Ukrainians from Crimea have replenished the Russian troops over four years, although this contradicts international humanitarian law. In particular, 2,500 guys are calling up for Russian military service during the autumn military conscription, which began in October and will last by late 2018," the Crimean Human Rights Group wrote on Facebook. As UNIAN reported earlier, Ukraine demands from Russia to stop calling up the residents of annexed Crimea for military service. The Crimean prosecutor's office asks the Crimeans to contact by phone or e-mail in case of receipt of military subpoenas. Two enemy troops were killed and another two 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 killed in action (KIA). "One Ukrainian soldier was killed in action in the past day. According to intelligence reports, two occupiers were killed and another two were wounded," the press center of Ukraine's Joint Forces Operation (JFO) said in an update on Facebook as of 07:00 Kyiv time on November 18, 2018. Read alsoAnother Ukrainian soldier killed in Donbas as fighting continues The Russian occupation forces opened fire from 82mm mortars at the Ukrainian positions near the town of Svitlodarsk, and the villages of Pishchane, Zholobok, Novotoshkivske, Orikhove, Vilniy, and Troyitske. In addition, the enemy used 120mm mortars near Zholobok, Vilniy and Svitlodarsk. What is more, the Ukrainian fortified positions near the towns of Maryinka and Krasnohorivka, and the villages of Berezove, Hnutove, Lebedynske and Shyrokyne were attacked with the use of small arms and grenade launchers. "Since Sunday midnight, Russian-led forces have attacked the Ukrainian positions near Hnutove, using heavy grenade launchers and small arms. No casualties among Ukrainian troops have been reported since the start of the day," the report said. The situation in the area of the Joint Forces Operation remains under control of Ukrainian troops. Russia's hybrid military forces mounted eight attacks on Ukrainian army positions in Donbas on November 18. "No Ukrainians soldiers were killed or wounded from 07:00 to 18:00 Kyiv time," the press center of Ukraine's Joint Forces Operation (JFO) said in an update on Facebook. Read alsoDonbas update: One Ukrainian soldier killed in past 24 hours The enemy opened aimed fire from grenade launchers of various systems, heavy machine guns and small arms at the Ukrainian positions near the towns of Svitlodarsk, Avdiyivka and Krasnohorivka, and the villages of Zholobok, Pavlopil, Vodiane and Hnutove. What is more, the enemy used 82mm mortars near Zholobok, as well as 120mm mortars near Svitlodarsk. The situation in the zone of the Joint Forces Operation remains under control of Ukrainian troops. MOSCOW (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 19th November, 2018) Poland is deliberately escalating tensions in the Russian-Ukrainian relations and fulfilling the US order to prevent launch of the Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline, Russian lawmaker Frants Klintsevich told Sputnik on Sunday. Earlier in the day, Polish Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki said that he would try to persuade Germany of the need to block launch of the Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline. From his point of view, Russia will attack Ukraine and may seize Kiev after Ukraine loses its role of a key gas transition country, which will happen due to the Nord Stream 2 construction. "There is clear definition for that: provocation," Klintsevich said adding that the Polish prime minister's remarks were made amid the Russian-Ukrainian tensions in the Sea of Azov and are aimed at the further escalation of tensions. "At the same time Poland is also fulfilling the order of the United States, which is strongly against the Nord Stream 2," the lawmaker noted. Klintsevich added that the Russophobia had become a state ideology of Poland. (@FahadShabbir) Sindh Governor Imran Ismail Saturday said that quality education was the key to progress and prosperity for every society. KARACHI, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 17th Nov, 2018 ) : Sindh Governor Imran Ismail Saturday said that quality education was the key to progress and prosperity for every society. Imran Ismail expressed these views while addressing as chief guest at Convocation-2018 of Sind Madarsa-tul-Islam University (SMIU) here. The Governor said that research based education was the need of hour and Sind Madarsatul islam has adopted this method beautifully. He said that in the era of technology, the qualified people can play a vital role in the progress and development of the country. He further said that Pakistan desperately needs such young blood which could not only compete the educated youth of the developed countries but would also be able to increase the respect of the country. Vice Chancellor of SMIU Prof.Muhammad Ali Shaikh and faculty members also spoke on the occasion. Later, the Governor distributed the degrees to new graduates and congratulated them. (@ChaudhryMAli88) DUBAI, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News / WAM - 18th Nov, 2018) The Ministry of Health and Prevention, MoHAP, has organised a workshop on Artificial Intelligence, AI, and how it can contribute to achieve the goals and objectives of the UAE strategy on Artificial Intelligence launched by the UAE cabinet in the year 2017. The initiative also aimed at encouraging efforts to use AI technologies to strengthen the efforts put forward to achieve the national KPI on decreasing mortality from cancer and cardio vascular diseases. Furthermore, participants were exposed to an atmosphere that promoted the culture of innovation and further inculcating it as part of one's daily practices in their respective fields of work. Dr. Yousif Mohammad Al Serkal, Assistant Undersecretary for the Hospitals Sector, said that AI has now evolved to be a basic need to develop results for work, while also assisting in the provision of health care that meets patient expectations and is in compliance with set international standards. He also emphasised that the use of AI and its related technologies falls in line with the UAE's thrust to promote a culture of innovation, which is an essential element in achieving the goals of UAE National Agenda 2021. According to Dr. Muna Kuwari, Director, Specialised Care Management at MoHAP, the workshop helped participants in defining their career and development objectives with the use of innovative solutions available via AI technologies. The workshop was attended by around 50 employees coming from different departments of the Ministry. During the session a number of projects that use AI were sketched out by participants to find innovative solutions to some work objectives. The workshop also included an introductory lecture on AI and methods to use across the healthcare field. Participants were trained on how to make full use of AI, including the introduction of several examples in the field of health. The proposed projects will be followed up to the implementation phase at the earliest possible. ABU DHABI, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News / WAM - 18th Nov, 2018) H.H. Sheikha Fatima bint Mubarak, Chairwoman of the General Women's Union, President of the Supreme Council for Motherhood and Childhood, and Supreme Chairwoman of the Family Development Foundation, highlighted the importance of holding workshops and campaigns to combat bullying in UAE schools. In her statement marking the launch of National Bullying Prevention Week campaign by the Ministry of Education, Sheikha Fatima said that the council has reduced bullying through a programme implemented two years ago in some 64 schools, in cooperation with the ministry, the United Nations International Children's Emergency Fund, UNICEF, and other partners. The Ministry of Education today launched its second edition of the anti-bullying campaign, running from 18th to 24th November 2018 and in conjunction with World Childrens Day, to equip students, educators and parents in the UAE with the skills needed to address bullying. The campaign is in collaboration with the Supreme Council for Motherhood and Childhood and in partnership with more than 25 local and Federal entities. Her Highness said that the campaign is considered the first of its kind in the Arab region, noting its importance in providing a safe environment for school students. She also pointed out that the week-long campaign was specially customised to suit UAE culture and customs, after reviewing and revising over 13 international programmes. Throughout the week, trained educators and consultants will visit public and private schools to facilitate a number of workshops, lectures and awareness events regarding the actions which can be taken when bullying is encountered in schools and the community. Workshops and lectures will be complemented by social media, cinema and tv advertising campaigns to share the strategies which students and their parents can follow when they encounter bullying. A significant focus of the campaign will also be allocated to raising awareness around how to help students to stop bullying others. Sheikha Fatima stressed that bullying is a common negative phenomenon in schools, which has dangerous effects on the safety and health of victims. She also affirmed that preventing bullying ensures the rights of children to education and protects them from all forms of violence, according to the Childrens Rights Agreement, the UAE Vision 2021 and the National Motherhood and Childhood Strategy, which have been adopted by the council. ABU DHABI, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News / WAM - 18th Nov, 2018) The board of Directors of the UAE Banks Federation, UBF, has discussed the latest developments in the UAEs banking sector as well as progress of key initiatives and activities during its recent meeting. Chaired by AbdulAziz Al Ghurair, Chairman of the UAE Banks Federation, the Board of Directors commended the laws and regulations issued recently, highlighting the positive impact they will have on the banking and financial sector as well as the national economy. The attendees expressed comfort with the robust performance of the banking sector as reflected in the strong key financial indicators supported by economy growth. They also reviewed progress on current key initiatives mainly cyber threats intelligence sharing platform 'Tasharuk', 'Ethical Selling practices' and 'customer complaints handling' frameworks, and digital Wallet. Furthermore, the Board commended banks support to the nationalisation strategy and SMEs finance, and endorsed future UBF's plans and initiatives on Digital transformation, blockchain, and fintechs. (@ChaudhryMAli88) ISLAMABAD, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 18th Nov, 2018 ) :Islamabad Ramana police recovered 530 cans of beer and 100 wine bottles during raid at a house in sector G-11 while 14 outlaws were also held from various areas of the city, a police spokesman said on Sunday. A team led by SP (Saddar) Umer Khan raided at the house of notorious bootlegger Malik Al-Tamash in sector G-11. The police team recovered 530 cans of beer, 100 wine bottles and also arrested a person Haibet Khan besides impounding a vehicle used for supply of wine. Another accused namely Akhtar was also arrested by Ramana police for having 250 gram heroin. Meanwhile, Kohsar police arrested Irfan Masih for having 360 gram hashish. Bhara Kau police arrested Owais for possessing 1.070 kilogram hashish and Shahid Iqbal for having 20 liter liquor. Margallah police arrested Kaleem Salamat and recovered 18 cans of beer from him while Karachi Company Police nabbed Raza for possessing 420 gram hashish. Crime Investigation Agency of Islamabad police nabbed Farhad for having 30 bore pistol while Industrial area police nabbed Saud besides recovery of 51 wine bottles from him. Sabzi Mandi police nabbed Nur Khan for having 450 gram hashish while Khana Police held Hasnain for possessing pistol. Nilore police arrested Ali Shah and recovered 262 gram hashish while Tarnol police recovered a stolen car (LOD-4336) from Azhar. Sihala police nabbed Sohrab and Abdullah for their alleged involvement in a theft case. Cases have been registered against these nabbed persons and further investigation is underway from them. ISLAMABAD, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 18th Nov, 2018 ) :Chairman Senate Muhammad Sadiq Sanjrani and accompanying delegation has reached Muscat on Sunday on an official visit to the Sultanate of Oman. Chairman Senate Muhammad Sadiq Sanjrani along with the delegation of Senate would attend military parade. The invitation of the visit was extended by Dr. Yahya bin Mahfoudh Al-Manthri, Chairman of the State Council, said a press release received here on Sunday. The delegation would meet with several senior officials in Muscat. They would also meet with the leadership of the upper as well as lower houses of Oman and sign a memorandum of understanding aimed at increasing the parliamentary cooperation. ISLAMABAD, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 18th Nov, 2018 ) :A blaze erupted at a towel factory in city's Gabol Town on late Saturday night and it engulfed most parts of the building. At least 10 fire fighting vehicles were engaged in the operation to douse the flames. The cause of the fire could not be determined as yet. Chief Fire Officer Imtiaz Afzal while talking to private news channel said, almost 85 percent of the flames had been doused. He told that his department was informed about the fire at around 3:45 am and by the time the blaze had already spread to most areas of the factory. Two fire fighters were also injured when a decrepit wall of the building fell on them during the operation. They were moved to hospital and their condition was stated out of danger. (@FahadShabbir) Speaker National Assembly Asad Qaiser Saturday said as a speaker he would prefer to approve such Laws and Ordinances which were ensuring the fundamental rights and beneficial for the general public. ISLAMABAD, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 17th Nov, 2018 ) :Speaker National Assembly Asad Qaiser Saturday said as a speaker he would prefer to approve such Laws and Ordinances which were ensuring the fundamental rights and beneficial for the general public. Talking to a private news channel, he said when he was speaker in Khyber PakhtunKhwa (KPK) Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf led provincial government made record legislation and approved 172 new laws. The Speaker said, " The biggest inspiration for me is the personality of Harzat Muhammad (PBUH) and his teachings for people, patience, brotherhood and humanity". As a custodian of the House, he said it was his responsibility to run the house in a balance way and give equal time to both treasury and opposition, besides instructing the members to maintain parliamentary traditions while expressing their views. If anybody violated the rules of the house and parliamentary traditions, he said, action would be taken against him. Replying to a question regarding which political personality fascinates him, the speaker said Prime Minister Imran Khan was the most inspiring personality because of his straight forwardness, truthfulness and honest approach towards Pakistan and its people. He further said Imran Khan had God gifted abilities to lead and handle the situations in difficult times, adding he had great hope that Imran Khan would take the country out of crisis and put it on the path of progress and prosperity. Responding to another question regarding expenses of the National Assembly, he said the government was taking austerity measures to reduce the budget of the house as twenty per cent of the total budget of the house had already been reduced. ISLAMABAD, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 18th Nov, 2018 ) :Special Assistant to the Prime Minister (SAPM) on Accountability Shehzad Akbar has said the government would continue the difficult process of accountability and would disclose details about looted national wealth of Rs 700 billion in next 50 days. Talking to a private news channel, he said agreements had been signed with different countries regarding money laundering. The government had information about the looted public money stashed in different countries, which would be back to Pakistan. He said legal process was under way to bring back looted money from abroad. It was a cumbersome process and would take time, however, the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf government would succeed in its endeavour, he added. Replying to a question, he said the Muttahida Quami Movement (MQM) leadership was involved in money laundering. Shehzad Akbar said a large number of Pakistanis had invested huge amounts in the real state sector of Dubai and Iqama (residential permit) was the big problem in the way of investigations into of laundering of money for the purpose. C:san-sbr/P:san/L:ihn/R:ihn/rpt (@ChaudhryMAli88) President Dr Arif Alvi Saturday said that the life and character of Holy Prophet Hazrat Muhammad (peace be upon him) were a beacon of light for the entire humanity and guaranteed human rights and peace in the society. LAHORE, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 17th Nov, 2018 ) :President Dr Arif Alvi Saturday said that the life and character of Holy Prophet Hazrat Muhammad (peace be upon him) were a beacon of light for the entire humanity and guaranteed human rights and peace in the society. Talking to a delegation of Ulema belonging to different schools of thought here at the Governor's House, he stressed the need for highlighting the essence of islam and projecting Islam's positive, benevolent and peaceful aspects. Governor Punjab Chaudhry Muhammad Sarwar was also present during the meeting with the Ulema. The president reiterated government's commitment to safeguard the Finality and honour of Prophethood (Namoos-e-Risalat), adding the government would consult Ulema to seek their effective role in avoiding the misuse of Tahaffuz-e-Namoos-e-Risalat and blasphemy laws. He urged Ulema to cooperate with the government to ensure that the holy beliefs of the Muslims were not misused to create conflicts, aggression and destroying peace in the country. President Avli said that no change in clause 295-C of the blasphemy laws was under consideration and the government could not even think of any such change in the law. He said the government was also not considering any proposal to recognize Israel. The president said that the process of registration of mosques and madrasas would be made more easy, adding that the registration process would be completed swiftly. Speaking on the occasion, Allama Ayub Safdar, representing the Ulema delegation, assured that they (Ulema) would extend all possible help to ensure peace in the country and cooperate fully to make Pakistan a welfare Islamic state. Punjab Governor Muhamad Sarwar also reassured Ulema that the government would protect 'Namoos-e-Risalat' by all means and no proposal regarding Israel recognition was under consideration. By James Fernyhough 15 November 2018 (The Australian Financial Review) Insurance giant IAG has warned a failure to reduce greenhouse gas emissions could result in a world that is pretty much uninsurable, with poorer communities likely to bear the brunt of the effects. In Australia, IAG said temperature increases of more than 3 degrees would expose greater swaths of Queensland to cyclones and flooding, while a rise of more than 4 degrees could make the risks to insurers prohibitive. Its a big question because it depends on reinsurance capital, but if you take some of the models that are being done on cyclone risk, for example, there could be more of Queensland exposed to cyclone and flooding in a 3-degree world, Jacki Johnson, IAGs group executive people, performance and reputation, told The Australian Financial Review. There is some commentary globally that in a 4-degree world, the world becomes pretty much uninsurable.This week 16 of the worlds biggest insurers, including IAG and QBE, launched an initiative with the United Nations to develop new risk assessment tools in an effort to make insurance accessible and affordable.Participating insurers, which also include AXA, Allianz, and Swiss Re, will work with climate scientists to develop a better understanding of the new and unpredictable weather events resulting from climate change.The focus of the initiative is on responding to climate change, rather than preventing it. However, Ms Johnson said the future of insurance depended upon limiting global temperature rises, which could only be achieved by a reduction in greenhouse gas emissions.We have been very vocal [on the fact that] something will have to change because you cannot continue to have the carbon emissions and think that the world will be insurable, she said.While the Paris agreement officially aims to keep global temperature rises below 1.5 degrees above pre-industrial levels, current policies would result in far higher temperature rises.According to Climate Action Tracker , a German-government backed initiative, under current policies global temperatures are on track to rise by 3.4 degrees by the end of the century.Will Steffen, professor emeritus at Australian National University and member of the Climate Council, predicted rises would be even higher.I suspect on current trajectories it will be more like 4 degrees. So were not on a good track at all, he told The Australian Financial Review. [ more ] Climate change on track to make world uninsurable: IAG The pilot group will develop analytical tools that they will use to pioneer insurance industry climate risk disclosures that are in line with the recommendations of the Financial Stability Boards Task Force on Climate-related Financial Disclosures (TCFD). This will require them to make use of the latest climate science, including some of the most advanced, forward-looking climate scenarios available.For generations, the insurance industry has served as societys early warning system and risk manager by understanding, reducing, pricing and carrying risk. Its message now is loud and clear: climate change risk is intensifying and is a serious threat to the insurability of communities and economies around the world, said UN Environment chief, Erik Solheim.An uninsurable world is a price that society could not afford. This is why UN Environment is working with leading insurers to understand and reduce risk, to seize unprecedented business opportunities in climate action, and to ensure an insurable, resilient and sustainable world. The recent report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) highlights the rapid, far-reaching and unprecedented changes needed to limit global warming to 1.5C. As rising temperatures accelerate sea level rise and catalyse extreme weather events, communities, businesses, cities and countries are facing new types and higher levels of risk.The Financial Stability Board, chaired by Bank of England Governor Mark Carney, mandated its Task Force to develop voluntary and consistent climate-related financial disclosures for use by companies in providing information to investors, lenders, insurers, and other stakeholders. The Task Forces final recommendations were submitted to the G20 in June 2017 and have four key pillarsgovernance, strategy, risk management, and metrics and targets.The tools and indicators that will be jointly developed and piloted by the Insurer Group will incorporate the latest scenario analysis to assess climate-related physical and transition risks in insurance portfolios. Insurance coverage incentivises risk reduction, puts a price tag on risk, de-risks investments, and serves as a financial shock absorber for communities, businesses and governments.While insurers are also major investorswith global assets under management of over USD 30 trillionthis initiative will focus on the assessment of climate risks in their core insurance portfolios and products.The more insurers understand climate risks facing the economy, the more they can make prudent decisions in managing risk and serving their clients, and the more efficient and stable our markets will become, said Michael Bloomberg, Chair of the Task Force and UN Special Envoy for Climate Action.The pioneering work of this group will pave the way for greater climate risk transparency and climate action by the global insurance industry, and its great to see that its consistent with our Task Forces recommendations.Reliable information on insurers exposure to climate risks will strengthen the stability of the financial system, encourage more and better disclosures from client companies across sectors, and help boost insurance products and investments needed to transition to low-carbon, climate-resilient communities and economies.The Insurer Groups work follows equivalent work by leading banks and investors, all convened by UNEP FI for the purpose of advancing financial sector know-how on climate change and the adoption of the Task Forces recommendations.Its outputs aim to support key platforms and initiatives, including the UN Secretary-Generals Climate Summit in New York in September next year to drive ambitious climate action needed to achieve the goals of the Paris Agreement on Climate Change.IAG Group CEO Peter Harmer emphasised the importance of global collaboration to establish the framework.The insurance industry has long understood the risk of climate change on our communities and customers, and it is vital that the financial sector works collectively to share our knowledge and create a framework for transparent and sustainable operations and reporting, Mr Harmer said.We look forward to working with our global industry peers in the UNEP FI PSI pilot, and contributing to the development of a set of standards to give investors and customers the ability to make informed decisions in the context of what IAG and our industry are doing to help combat climate change. Member companies of the Insurer Group The leading insurers that will work together with the UN are all signatories to UNEP FIs Principles for Sustainable Insurance (PSI), a global best-practice sustainability framework and the largest collaborative initiative between the UN and the insurance industry.The Insurer Group includes: Allianz (Germany), AXA (France), IAG (Australia), Intact Financial Corporation (Canada), Lansforsakringar Sak (Sweden), MAPFRE (Spain), MS&AD (Japan), Munich Re (Germany), NN Group (Netherlands), QBE (Australia), Sompo Japan Nipponkoa (Japan), Storebrand (Norway), Swiss Re (Switzerland), TD Insurance (Canada), The Co-operators (Canada), and Tokio Marine & Nichido (Japan). About UN Environment Finance Initiative (UNEP FI) The UN Environment Finance Initiative is a partnership between UN Environment and the global financial sector created in the wake of the 1992 Earth Summit with a mission to promote sustainable finance. Over 200 financial institutions, including banks, insurers and investors, work with UN Environment to understand todays environmental challenges, why they matter to finance, and how to actively participate in addressing them.www.unepfi.org About UN Environments Principles for Sustainable Insurance Initiative (PSI) Endorsed by the UN Secretary-General and insurance industry CEOs, the Principles for Sustainable Insurance (PSI) serve as a global framework for the insurance industry to address environmental, social and governance risks and opportunitiesand a global initiative to strengthen the insurance industrys contribution as risk managers, insurers and investors to building resilient, inclusive and sustainable communities and economies. Developed by UN Environment Finance Initiative, the PSI was launched at the 2012 UN Conference on Sustainable Development, and is the largest collaborative initiative between the UN and the insurance industry.www.unepfi.org/psi (@rukhshanmir) ISLAMABAD, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 18th Nov, 2018 ) :Jinnah Sindh Medical University Karachi won the All Pakistan Bilingual Declamation Contest held at Pakistan Air Force (PAF) academy Asghar Khan Risalpur, said a press release issued here on Sunday by Directorate of Media Affairs of PAF. Air Chief Marshal Mujahid Anwar Khan, Chief of the Air Staff, Pakistan Air Force was the chief guest on the occasion. Talented youth from 49 premier institutions of Pakistan participated in this contest. Air Chief awarded prizes to the winners. First prize in English was awarded to Sana Zehra from Jinnah Sindh Medical University Karachi, whereas second prize was won by Moomal Aziz from University of Karachi. In urdu debates, first prize was awarded to Abu Huraira from Cadet College Ormara, Gawadar, while second was given to Mahjabeen Saleem from Jinnah Sindh Medical University Karachi. All Pakistan Bilingual Declamation Contest has been a regular feature on the academic training Calendar of PAF Academy Asghar Khan since 1974. The declamation contest over the years has become a prestigious event for leading universities, colleges, and institutions from Karachi to Khyber. Enthusiastic teams gather at Pakistan Air Force Academy Asghar Khan from all over the country actively participate in the contest every year. ISLAMABAD, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 18th Nov, 2018 ) :The Jammu and Kashmir Liberation Front (JKLF) in Indian occupied Kashmir has paid tributes to Parvaiz Ahmad Billa and Shuhada-e-Aali Kadal on their death anniversaries. According to Kashmir media service , a JKLF spokesman in a statement issued in Srinagar said, "These martyrs have rendered sacrifices for our better and secure future and no Kashmiri can ignore their struggle and sacrifices." Paying tributes to the martyrs, he said struggle will continue till taking their mission to its logical conclusion. The spokesman said the martyrdom anniversary of Shuhada-e-Aali Kadal will be observed on November 19. "JKLF leaders along with other people will gather at Mazar-e-Shuhada Eidgah at 10:30 a.m and will participate in a remembrance-cum-prayers meeting," he said. In this connection, he said, a blood donation camp will also be held at JKLF office Abiguzar from 11:30 in the morning. The JKLF leaders, activists, students and well-wishers will donate their blood for the welfare of the needy, the spokesman added. (@rukhshanmir) PESHAWAR (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 18th Nov, 2018 ) :Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Minister for Environment and Forests, Syed Muhammad Ishtiaq Sunday said that water meters would be installed at cars washing stations to curb massive misuse of potable water in the province. In an exclusive interview with APP, he said Pakistan was confronted with a major challenge of water shortage and wastage of clean drinking water could not be allowed at car washing stations in the province. He said Environment Protection Agency has started action against those car washing stations, which were operating illegally or involved in wastage of water. Moreover, the agency wasissuing notices to concerned owners with direction to install water meters at earliest. The minister said the provincial government was committed to regulate this business by installing water meters at these stations at all cost and heavy fine would be imposed against violators. Millions of gallon of clean drinking water had been wasted at thousands of car wash stations due to lack of proper mechanism owing to lackluster approach of the past regimes in the country. The PTI government had taken a lead role by directing the owners of these stations to install water meters and upon failure heavy fines would be imposed besides sealing of the stations, he said. The massive misuse of water at most of these stations was not only causing dropping of ground water table but also leading to water pollution by draining chemically contaminated water in the sewerage lines. The draining of chemically contaminated water after washing of vehicles was also making negative effects on life of water species. Car wash business was being considered most lucrative as it involves comparatively smaller capital for setting up a station. In Peshawar, Rs 200 was being charged for washing car's body only while detailed service takes 400 rupees. During car wash, massive potable water was being wasted on most of these stations where water was being drilled via electric pumps, causing substantial economic loss to the national kitty in the water starved country. In populated areas, water connections for these stations were mostly offered from the main water supply line and domestic consumers were adversely suffer due to colossal use of potable water for cleaning of vehicles. As per international standards, about 40 per cent of the river flows were required to be stored whereas Pakistan had only 13.29 million acre feet (MAF) storage against required standard of 58 MAF, which should be a matter of great concern for policy makers and planners. The high population growth, misuse of water, climate change, poor water management, lack of political will and urbanization were the main reasons behind the water and energy crisis in the country. The government could collect a lot of money by bringing this profitable business under tax-net. The minister said ban on use of non-degradable plastic bags, which are a major cause of environmental and water pollution, has been imposed and strict action would be taken against violators. To curb environmental pollution, desertification and climate change, he said KP government would plant additional one billion saplings under Plant for Pakistan project of the Federal government under which 10 billion saplings would be planted in next five years. He said the campaign under plant for Pakistan would be launched in February next year and Billions Trees Afforstration Project under which one billion and 180 million plants were planted in last four years would be extended to tribal districts. Hospitals were directed to ensure disposal of waste imperative for clean environment," the minister said, adding heavy fine would be imposed on all those stone crushing machines operating in populated areas besides owners of cement and marble factors that failed to install filtration plants to control smoke emission. The minister urged people to use cloths made bags instead of plastic bags and help the government in making the environment clean and green. He said Environmental Tribunal was setup in Peshawar by the KP Government to dispose of cases on environmental issues. (@rukhshanmir) ISLAMABAD, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 18th Nov, 2018 ) :The police have chalked out an elaborate security plan for main procession of Eid Milad ul Nabi on 12th Rabi ul Awal (November 21) and strict patrolling will be ensured during procession and other religious gatherings in the Federal capital. According to police plan, the police including Rangers and personnel of other law enforcement agencies will perform patrolling and security duties on this occasion and main procession starting from Sector G-7 will be completely cordoned off through heavy deployment. Procession will start from sector G-7 (Sitara Market) and to culminate near shrine of Hazrat Sakhi Mehmud at Aabpara market after passing through various routes, the police source said. Following the directions of Senior Superintendent of Islamabad Police (SSP) Waqar Uddin Syed, he said all SPs, SDPOs, SHOs and other police officials will visit the routes of procession and ensure effective coordination among the security personnel performing duties. The police officials will guide the cops and boost their morale in accomplishing duties in a responsible manner. As many as 2000 cops including 250 traffic cops will perform security duties on the occasion while special teams of Rangers, CID and Special Branch police will assist in smooth performance of their duties. The police officers including SPs will also visit various police posts lying in the route of procession, check security duties and brief cops as how to ensure effective security. The route of procession has been divided into four various sectors and four SPs, seven DSPs and 24 Inspectors will lead security duties and monitor the security arrangements in various sectors. Islamabad Traffic Police (ITP) have also devised special plan to for smooth traffic flow and avoid inconvenience to the road users. SSP (Traffic) Farrukh Rasheed will lead 250 ITP's personnel on this occasion to ensure smooth traffic flow in the city and divert traffic on alternate routes. Close liaison will be maintained with organizers of procession and other gatherings in the city. Cooperation of organizers will be ensured with the police and law enforcing officials. Walk through gates will be installed at all the entry points of procession and metal detectors will be used for checking of participants. (@ChaudhryMAli88) LAHORE, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 18th Nov, 2018 ) :Punjab Chief Minister Sardar Usman Buzdar has proved himself a public leader while announcing mega projects and unprecedented steps for welfare and progress of people during his visit to Dera Ghazi Khan, Tunsa Sharif and Barthi. "Undoubtedly, CM Usman Buzdar is pride of South Punjab," these views were expressed by public representatives, political workers and dignitaries of the area at the end of the CM's visit. They said that the chief ministers used to come here in the past but only selected people could meet them but Usman Buzdar had set a new trend by meeting thousands of people and listening to their issues personally. They said that CM Usman Buzdar had proved that he believed in actions not claims. (@FahadShabbir) ISLAMABAD, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 18th Nov, 2018 ) :Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) has resumed operations on Muscat route after a gap of over one year as its flight PK229 took off from Lahore Airport on Saturday night for Oman, carrying around 141 passengers. "The decision to restore flights to Muscat was taken after anticipating high traffic flow on the route", Mashhood Tajwar, PIA spokesperson told APP on Sunday. He said District Manager PIA, Umar Nawaz Goraya adieu the passengers at Lahore Airport. The national flag carrier, he said, would operate twice weekly flights on Saturday and Sunday. With the introduction of these flights PIA will have a total of nine flights to Muscat with seven other operating from Peshawar, Turbat and Gwadar. Mashhood said PIA had also decided to restore its Sialkot-Sharjah route with twice weekly flights every Tuesday and Friday. "The fights from Sialkot will commence from this Tuesday (November 20) after which the airline will have five flights per week including three from Turbat", he added. The decision to widen the business network came directly from PIA President and Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Air Marshal Arshad Malik, who ordered the commercial department to follow a robust strategy to increase the airline's market access and revenues. "The national airline will rise to glory with the provision of facilities to passengers," Air Marshal Arshad Malik said in a statement. He said it was also being planned to start flight operationfrom Lahore to some more foreign destinations. ISLAMABAD, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 18th Nov, 2018 ) :Former Ambassador Sunday said United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Pakistan were enjoying brotherly, historical relations and the visit of Prime Minister Imran Khan to UAE had great importance and would be result-oriented. Former Ambassador Fauzia Nasreen talking in a Radio Programme said , UAE could support Pakistan in establishing industrial zones. The bilateral relations between the United Arab Emirates and Pakistan have acquired new dimensions at all political, economic and social levels emerging into trust-worthy strategic partnership and are still continuing, she added. UAE is as politically and economically important country as Saudi Arabia and China for Pakistan, she mentioned. She said in Pakistan, UAE surely has encouraged investment and helps in greater trade and commerce activities. UAE is one of largest investors in Pakistan but bilateral trade has been steadily growing over years and people-to-people contacts are constantly on increase, she adds. Ambassador said , Pakistan offers vast opportunities for foreign direct investments and joint ventures in infrastructure development, electricity generation, water desalination, agricultural based industries, insurance and real estate. Former Ambassador Mushtaq Ahmed Mehar also said, Prime Minister Imran's visit to UAE is of great importance as it would further enhance the trade relations with UAE. Pakistan is huge potential for foreign investments and foreign investors should be given incentives for investment, he said. Pakistani community working in foreign countries should also play their role as ambassadors of country. Dubai and Karachi are financial hubs of the region, he highlighted. It is expected that a remarkable economic package would be extended by UAE to Pakistan, he hoped. NEW DELHI, (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 18th Nov, 2018 ) :At least three people were killed and 10 others wounded Sunday in a blast inside a prayer hall of a religious sect in northern Indian state of Punjab, police said. The blast took place when a congregation of the Nirankari, a spiritual organization, was inside prayer hall of the Nirankari Bhawan in Rajasansi village of Amritsar city. "Three people were killed and 10 others wounded today in a blast inside prayer hall of a religious sect here," senior police official Surinder Pal Singh Parmar said. Police said the injured were immediately removed to Guru Nanak Dev hospital and Ivy hospital in Amritsar for treatment. Amritsar is known as the Sikh holy city in India. However, Nirankari is a different sect. Police teams have rushed to the spot to probe the matter. "Police have launched an investigation and are studying footage from CCTV cameras in the area, besides collecting samples of the blast," an official said. Local media reports quoting eyewitnesses said two masked bike-borne men came outside the Nirankari Bhawan and threw a grenade on the congregation. Bahrain government on Friday welcomed a decision of the U.S. Senate that rejected block on an arms sale worth around 300 million U.S. dollars to the kingdom. MANAMA, (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 16th Nov, 2018 ) : Bahrain government on Friday welcomed a decision of the U.S. Senate that rejected block on an arms sale worth around 300 million U.S. Dollars to the kingdom. The Bahraini Foreign Affairs Ministry said the U.S. Senate's decision reflects the strong ties between the two nations. The ministry said the historical and strong relations will continue to "establish security and peace regionally and internationally." U.S. Senator Rand Paul managed to secure a vote to proceed with a resolution to block the sale of weapons to Bahrain, which is a member of the Saudi-led coalition fighting Houthis in Yemen. However, on Thursday, the White House issued a veto threat against the Bahrain resolution, saying the sales of 120 Guided Multiple Launch Rocket System pods and 110 Army Tactical Missile System pods are intended to defend Bahrain. Bahrain, is home to the Fifth Fleet that has over 7,800 U.S. navy personnel. (@FahadShabbir) MOSCOW (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 18th November, 2018) Mass protests due to rising cost of living, low incomes, high fuel and food prices for fuel, accompanied by calls for the resignation of the government, took place in cities across Bulgaria, local media reported on Sunday. According to the Sofia Globe newspaper, four rallies were scheduled for Sunday in Sofia alone. Protests were also held in Plovdiv, Dobrich, Gabrovo, Montana, Yambol and other cities. The country's Interior Minister Mladen Marinov said that the government had announced part of the protests in the country through official channels and urged people to participate only in such protests. According to the minister, measures were taken to "guarantee peaceful protests for those who participate in them." About 2,000 policemen were sent to patrol the streets because of the protests, about half of them - in the capital of Bulgaria. By Amanda Mull 17 November 2018 (The Atlantic) The particulates in smoke dont destroy homes. They dont down trees. But in the case of wildfires, smokes impactsand dangerscan reach hundreds of miles further than the flames themselves. As of Friday evening, the Camp Fire raging in Butte County, north of the San Francisco Bay Area, has a death toll of 71 and has left more than 1,000 people unaccounted for. The fires smoke, meanwhile, has been endangering the health of millions of of Northern Californians.Northern California had some of the worst air quality in the world at the end of this week, with levels of hazardous airborne particulate soaring. With that has come a variety of public-health moves to keep residents safe in the regions most populated areas. There have been widespread school and university closures. Many businesses have urged employees to work from home. Some public transit in San Francisco has been made free, in an effort to keep people inside as much as possible if they must commute.In a region whose weather is usually pretty temperate, smoke days have become the Bay Areas version of snow days. But instead of a joyful respite from work, wildfire smoke mixes a blizzards large-scale logistical nightmares with the anxiety of worsening climate change and a class divide that plagues American public health. Three of the five largest fires on record in California have occurred in the past three years, all in the northern part of the state. For the regions residents, smoke days wont go away once the Camp Fire is contained.The risk posed by wildfire smoke is significant, and it goes far beyond a few days of coughing or headaches. According to Kristie Ebie, a professor of global public health at the University of Washington, the consequences of breathing wildfire smoke extend to other parts of the body because of the noxious nature of the tiny debris the smoke carries with it. That affects not only peoples lungs, but it gets absorbed into peoples systems, she says. Recent research shows that absorption can lead to cardiac arrest, stroke, and other deadly outcomes.With kids home from school, people working from home, and few safe ways to leave the house, Northern Californians are looking for any outlet available to find some relief. Its very challenging, because everyones cooped up, said Aubrey Hirsch as she sat on the floor of a Berkeley public library and built a Lego boat with her son, whose school closed on Friday. The boy was happy to be have the day off, but Hirsch, a writer, lost a day of work.Local officials have encouraged people to seek libraries as a safe destination for those who need or want to leave their homes, and especially for those who dont have in-home air filtration or air conditioning, which can help cycle out smoke that seeps in. On Friday morning, every seat at the Berkeley librarys regularly scheduled story time was full. [more] (@ChaudhryMAli88) DAMASCUS (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 18th November, 2018) A car explosion in the northern Iraqi city of Tikrit left two people killed and 15 more injured, a source in the Iraqi security bodies told Sputnik. "Two people died, 15 were injured as a result of the car explosion near a restaurant in the city of Tikrit," the source said. The source added that the incident had occurred in the center of the city. No organization has claimed responsibility for the attack yet. The situation in Iraq has been highly unstable for several years due to activities of the Islamic State (IS) terror group (outlawed in Russia). The jihadists are staging regular attacks on Iraqi troops and civilians. (@FahadShabbir) Beirut, (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 18th Nov, 2018 ) :Clashes on Sunday between Turkish-backed rebel factions vying for influence in the northern Syrian town of Afrin left 11 fighters dead, a war monitor said. Turkish troops and allied rebel groups seized the Afrin region from Kurdish forces in March after a two-month air and ground offensive. The Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said fighting in several districts "had left 11 dead and 27 wounded" after erupting on Saturday. Turkish troops stationed in the town imposed a curfew on civilians from Saturday evening in a bid to avoid bloodshed, the Observatory said. The clashes pitched the majority of the pro-Ankara rebels against a group of some 200 fighters who were accused of "disobeying" Turkish forces and "committing abuses", the monitor said. The main alliance of Turkish-backed rebels in Afrin wrote on Twitter that current operations were aimed at "pursuing outlaw gangs". Since Turkish troops and pro-Ankara Arab rebels captured the town from the Kurdish People's Protection Units (YPG), the United Nations and human rights groups, including Amnesty International, have documented widespread abuses. Half of the enclave's 320,000 residents fled, according to a report by the UN Commission of Inquiry, and most are unable to return. (@FahadShabbir) DAMASCUS (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 18th November, 2018) The Syrian authorities restored electricity supply in the eastern city of Al Mayadin after more than the 4-year blackout, local Syrian state television reported on Sunday. According to the al-Thawra newspaper, Al Mayadin is now supplied with electricity by 66MV power transmission lines. The city of Al Mayadin was liberated by the Syrian army along with the cities of Deir ez-Zor and Al Bukamal from the Islamic State (IS) terror group (outlawed in Russia) in November 2017. Syria has been engulfed in an armed conflict since 2011, with the government forces fighting against numerous armed opposition groups and terrorist organizations. As the Syrian government has regained control over most of the country's territories that were seized by terrorists, it is now focused on creating favorable conditions for repatriating refugees and recovering the infrastructure. Amman, (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 19th Nov, 2018 ) :Jordanian lawmakers on Sunday approved an IMF-backed income tax bill after amendments to a controversial draft of the proposed law that sparked a week of angry protests in summer. Thousands of Jordanians hit the streets in June to rally against austerity, rising prices and corruption, forcing the prime minister's resignation and the withdrawal of the bill. The proposed law on income tax was the latest in a series of policies adopted to cut national debt after Amman secured a $723-million loan from the International Monetary Fund in 2016. Austerity measures tied to the loan have seen the cost of basic necessities rise across the kingdom. The original bill, which the government approved in June, raised taxes on employees by at least five percent, and on companies by between 20 and 40 percent. These measures were left unchanged in the amended version approved on Sunday, according to state media. But the revised bill raises the threshold for households to pay income tax to 20,000 Jordanian dinars (28,000 Dollars) from a previous ceiling of 18,000 for 2019. The amended legislation also introduced exemptions of up to 2,000 dinars per family for basic expenses such as education and health, and 1,000 dinars per single person "applicable upon the delivery of receipts and invoices," state news agency Petra said. The new bill was approved by the lower house of parliament and must be also approved by the Senate before being ratified by the king in order to become law. With a lack of natural resources to boost state coffers, Jordan relies heavily on foreign aid and faces an unemployment rate of 18.5 percent. Stability in Jordan is seen as fundamental to the region and in the wake of protests Amman was offered a $2.5 billion aid package from three Gulf backers. More than $1 billion has already been deposited in the central bank by Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and Kuwait, a Jordanian government source said in October. msh/hkb/dv (@rukhshanmir) AMMAN (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 18th November, 2018) A parliamentary delegation from Jordan will start its visit to Syria on Sunday and meet with the country's leadership, including Syrian President Bashar Assad, Jordanian lawmaker Kais Zayadin told Sputnik. The visit will start on Sunday and will last for a two or four days, according to the preliminary information. "At the moment, there is no clear timetable [for a visit to Syria], but the program includes a meeting with Syrian President Bashar Assad, the Prime Minister [Imad Khamis] and the Speaker of Parliament [Hammouda Sabbagh]," Zayadin said. The lawmaker noted that the visit is not "formal" and is aimed at reinvigorating bilateral ties and achieving real results as the Jordanian delegation includes head of committees on energy and transport. DAMASCUS (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 18th November, 2018) More than seven million trees have been destroyed in the western Syrian province of Damascus as a result of the armed conflict, raging in the country for over seven years, Ali Saadat, the director of the Damascus Agriculture Department, said in an interview with the local Al Watan newspaper. "Losses in the Damascus province amount to 7,200,000 trees," Saadat said. He went on to say that farmers from the Damascus' Eastern Ghouta suburb had been allowed to engage in agriculture activities on 22,000 hectares out of its total 32,000 hectares, as mine clearance operations were currently being carried out on 10,000 hectares. Saadat also said that some of the Eastern Ghouta's farmers had been given around 6,000 seedlings, while 125 farmers had been recently provided with sets consisting of winter crops seedlings and irrigation systems, and 800 such sets had been distributed earlier. Syria has been engulfed in an armed conflict since 2011, with the government forces fighting against numerous armed opposition groups and terrorist organizations. As the Syrian government has regained control over most of the country's territories that were seized by terrorists, it is now focused on creating favorable conditions for repatriating refugees and recovering the infrastructure. (@FahadShabbir) ATHENS (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 18th November, 2018) Greek police detained 19 people, including four foreigners, for taking part in Saturday's unrest in Athens, local media reported on Sunday. On Saturday, the anniversary of the 1973 student uprising at the Polytechnic University was celebrated in Greece. According to the the Skai broadcaster, there are two minors among the detained foreigners, a 13-year-old Palestinian and a 17-year-old Romanian. Two other foreigners are 30-year-olds from Albania and Afghanistan. One of those detained is a 28-year-old Greek, who had previously been detained four times for participating in protests by the Rubicon anarchist organization. There are also three minors and a 25-year-old woman among the detainees. According to the broadcaster, the damage from the unrest is estimated at "many thousands of Euros. " In the courtyard of the Polytechnic Institute, dozens of benches, chairs and windows were broken, and many fire extinguishers were damaged. Large pavement areas were destroyed on the street, dozens of garbage cans were damaged and burned. The riots began after 7 p.m. (17:00 GMT) in the Exarchia district, where the Politechnio is located. Anarchist groups burned garbage cans, threw stones and Molotov cocktails at the police. The riots also occurred near the local police department. Police responded with stun grenades and tear gas. Anarchists used the territory of the Polytechnic University as a base, returning their after attacking police. According to the Greek legislation, police is not allowed to enter universities. HANOI (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 18th November, 2018) Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev arrived in Vietnam on a two-day official visit, a Sputnik correspondent reported on Sunday. On Monday, the Russian prime minister is scheduled to hold talks with his Vietnamese counterpart Nguyen Xuan Phuc and with secretary general of the Central Committee of the country's Communist Party, President Nguyen Phu Trong. According to the Russian government's press service, the parties will discuss trade, investment, industry and energy cooperation. They will also review implementation of major joint infrastructure, hi-tech, educational and humanitarian projects, including the conduct of the Year of Russia in Vietnam and the Year of Vietnam in Russia in 2019. DAMASCUS (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 18th November, 2018) The Russian servicemen have delivered humanitarian aid to the people with disabilities in the Syrian capital of Damascus, the Russian Center for Reconciliation in Syria said on Sunday. "We have conducted a humanitarian action in a specialized institute for the people with disabilities [in Damascus]. Within its framework, we donated wheelchairs, warm clothes and other basic necessities ... to the Syrian soldiers who took part in hostilities, as well as to the children who have became disabled during the war," the center's head Lt. Gen. Vladimir Savchenko told reporters. Syria has been engulfed in an armed conflict since 2011, with the government forces fighting against numerous armed opposition groups and terrorist organizations. Russia along with Turkey and Iran are guarantors of the ceasefire regime in Syria. Moscow is also supporting the government forces' struggle against terrorist groups and providing humanitarian aid to civilians. (@ChaudhryMAli88) Kampala, (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 18th Nov, 2018 ) :Suspected Congolese militiamen shot dead seven Ugandan fishermen and wounded another on Lake Albert, which straddles the two countries' border, police said Sunday. Uganda's deputy police commander in the region Amos Muhindo said the gunmen opened fire on the fishermen as they went to retrieve the body of a colleague killed by the same group earlier last week. "Seven Ugandan fishermen were shot dead by the Congolese militia on Saturday as they went into the water near Kaiso landing site (in Hoima district, Uganda) to search for the body of their colleague," he said. "One person survived and has been taken to Hoima hospital with gunshot wounds." He said the attack was reportedly carried out by five armed men in military uniform, adding that it was the third time in a week the alleged militia members crossed to the Ugandan side of the lake for illegal fishing and attacked locals. Tensions have soared on the lakes straddling the Democratic Republic of Congo-Uganda border in recent months as Kampala has increasingly attempted to crack down on illegal fishing, spurred by dwindling fish resources. Uganda has deployed the military onto the water and hundreds of Congolese fishermen have been arrested. In July, the armed forces of Uganda and the DRC clashed on Lake Edward, leaving two Ugandan soldiers and three civilians dead. Aside from illegal fishermen, armed groups which are rife in the conflict-torn eastern DRC also operate on the lake, robbing fishermen of their boats, engines and catch or seizing them and demanding ransoms. Speaking after the Angelus prayer on Sunday, Pope Francis expressed his sorrow for the massacre this week in the Central African Republic where dozens were killed and injured in a refugee camp and turned his thoughts to those affected by a raging camp fire in California. By Linda Bordoni Pope Francis on Sunday prayed for peace in the Central African Republic and he expressed closeness and said he is praying for the many victims of a devastating fire in California. Massacre in Central African Republic With sorrow I learned of the massacre that took place two days ago in a camp for displaced people in the Central African Republic, in which two priests were also killed the Pope said to the crowds gathered in St. Peters Square for the Angelus Prayer. UN officials said more than 40 people were killed and dozens wounded in Central African Republic on Thursday in an attack on a Catholic mission sheltering 20,000 refugees. The attack took place in Alindao, east of the capital Bangui. Thousands of people were forced to flee when the mission was set on fire. Let us pray for the dead and for the wounded the Pope continued and let us pray that the violence will cease in that beloved country that is in great need of peace. Fire in California Pope Francis then turned his thoughts to the hundreds of people affected by a devastating camp fire in California, United States. My special prayer also goes to those affected by the fires that are plaguing California, and to the victims of the frost on the east coast of the United States he said. The disaster in California has killed at least 76 people. Hundreds of searchers are sifting the rubble in the town of Paradise - that was burnt to the ground - looking for the dead, and nearly 1,300 people remain unaccounted for more than a week after the fire broke out. May the Lord receive the dead in His peace, comfort their families and support those who are engaged in rescue efforts the Pope said. World Day of the Poor During the Angelus, Pope Francis also told the crowds that, on the occasion of today's World Day of the Poor, he celebrated Mass in St Peter's Basilica a Mass in the presence of many poor people who were accompanied by associations and parish groups. Shortly, he continued, I will be sharing lunch with many of them in the Paul VI Hall and he said that similar initiatives of prayer and sharing are being promoted in dioceses across the world to express the closeness of the Christian community to those living in poverty. The World Day of the Poor, the Pope said which involves more and more parishes, associations and ecclesial movements aims to be a sign of hope and an encouragement to become tools of mercy in society. Lunch with the poor After the Angelus, Pope Francis joined some 1500 poor people and 70 volunteers for lunch in the Paul VI Hall. Listen to our report First row, from left to right: Vietnamese PM Nguyen Xuan Phuc, Indonesian President Joko Widodo, and Australian PM Scott Morrison at the APEC Leaders' dialogue with ABAC in Papua New Guinea, November 17, 2018. Photo: VGP PM Nguyen Xuan Phuc made the above remarks while addressing the annual dialogue between APEC leaders and APEC Business Advisory Council (ABAC), which was established in 1995. A part from huge economic benefits, the trade deal is expected to give a strong boost for Viet Nam to accelerate institutional reform, economic restructuring, and expansion of economic connectivity space, according to PM Phuc. In addition, the Viet Nam-EU free trade agreement is expected to be signed soon after the European Commission adopted the deal last month. With the two aforesaid deals, Viet Nam will participate in a network of 16 free trade agreements involving nearly 60 partners accounting for 61pc of global GDP and 68pc of global trade volume. PM Phuc emphasized that Viet Nams economic linkages have advanced to a new stage, bringing huge opportunities and benefits to the regional business community. In response to ABAC member enterprises questions on digital economy development, PM Phuc said the Government is actively building digital economy infrastructure and has adopted a number of policies to create a favorable environment for the development of digital economy. He called on regional businesses to actively engage in policy-making process and share their experience with Vietnam to develop a digital economy. A policeman evacuates a demonstrator on Nov 17, 2018 in Quimper, western France, during a nationwide popular initiated day of protest called "yellow vest" (Gilets Jaunes in French) movement to protest against high fuel prices. (Photo: AFP/Fred Tanneau) The injury toll, more than double the last tally provided on Saturday, followed a "restive" night in 87 locations around the country where protesters had blocked roads to express their anger at a series of hikes in petrol tax. The injured, 409 in total, included 28 members of the police, military police, and fire brigade. Castaner told RTL radio about 288,000 people had taken part in Saturday's protests at 2,034 locations countrywide. About 3,500 stayed out overnight, he added. Police questioned 282 protesters in total, 73 during the night, of which 157 were taken into custody. "Last night was restive... There were assaults, fights, stabbings," Castaner said. "There were fights among 'yellow vest' protesters. There was a lot of alcohol at certain venues, which led to this idiotic behaviour." Protest organisers have called for the continuation of demonstrations Sunday at about 150 locations countrywide, the minister added. On Saturday, groups blocked roundabouts, major highways and thoroughfares to express anger over tax rises on fuel, arguing it has shrunk personal spending power under President Emmanuel Macron. Tempers flared at times as some drivers confronted the protesters or tried to force their way through the barricades. In the eastern Savoie region, a woman trying to get her daughter to a doctor panicked after protesters surrounded their car and banged on the roof, accelerating into the crowd and killing a 63-year-old woman. The protesters are nicknamed "yellow vests" for the high-visibility jackets they wear. A direct service linking Ho Chi Minh City and Switzerlands city of Zurich is launched by the Edelweiss airlines of Switzerland. (Photo: aviationtribune.com) The A340-300 plane arrived at Zurich airport in the afternoon of November 16 to the warm welcome of representatives of the airline, the Switzerland Tourism, and the Vietnamese Embassy in the country. Speaking at the event, Ambassador Pham Hai Bang said that the route is expected to help boost the tourism development and trade between the two countries. For his part, member of the management board of Edelweiss Markus Dander spoke highly of the opening of the route. It will help tourists from Switzerland in particular and Europe in general to have more favourable conditions to explore the numerous points of attraction and relaxation in Vietnam which are becoming more and more popular among the tourist community in the region and the world. Edelweiss will conduct two return flights a week on this route, starting from Zurich on every Monday and Thursday, and from Ho Chi Minh City on every Tuesday and Friday. Each of the A340-300 planes has 314 seats, including 27 business-class ones. The carrier has been posting information on Vietnams famous tourist attractions like Ho Chi Minh City, Phu Quoc, Hoi An, Da Nang, Phan Thiet, Nha Trang, Hue and Ha Long Bay on its website to attract customers to the route. The opening of the Ho Chi Minh City Zurich air route lies within its expansion plan. Listen as top Washington correspondents discuss the Democrat's influence on President Trump's next two years as their majority widens in the House of Representatives. Join Moderator Paul Brandus along with Emily Tamkin of BuzzFeed News and Tom DeFrank of the National Journal as they discuss these and other Issues in the News on the Voice of America. Music Time in Africa is VOAs longest running English language program. Since 1965, this award-winning program has featured pan African music that spans all genres and generations. Ethnomusicologist and Host Heather Maxwell keeps you up to date on whats happening in African music with exclusive interviews, cultural information, and of course, great music -- including rare recordings from the Leo Sarkisian Library of African Music. An acrimonious meeting of world leaders in Papua New Guinea failed to agree Sunday on a final communique, highlighting widening divisions between global powers China and the U.S. The 21 nations at the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit in Port Moresby struggled to bridge differences on the role of the World Trade Organization, which governs international trade, officials said. A statement was to be issued instead by the meeting's chair, Papua New Guinea Prime Minister Peter ONeill. WATCH: Nike Ching's video report The entire world is worried about tensions between China and the U.S., ONeill told a mob of reporters that surrounded him after he confirmed there was no communique from leaders. It was the first time leaders had failed to agree on a declaration in 29 years of the Pacific Rim summits that involve countries representing 60 percent of the world economy. Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said there were differences between several nations, including China and the U.S. Draft versions of the communique seen by The Associated Press showed the U.S wanted strong language against unfair trade practices that it accuses of China. China, meanwhile, wanted a reaffirmation of opposition to protectionism and unilateralism it says the U.S. is engaging in. I dont think it will come as a huge surprise that there are differing visions on particular elements in regard to trade and those prevented there from being a full consensus on the communique, Trudeau said. Rising West-China rivalry The two-day summit was punctuated by acrimony and underlined a rising rivalry between China and the West for influence in the usually neglected South Pacific. China is a relative newcomer to providing aid, and its loan-heavy, no-strings attached approach has unsettled Western nations that have been the mainstay donors to developing nations and often use aid to nudge nations toward reforms. U.S. Vice President Mike Pence and Chinese President Xi Jinping traded barbs in speeches Saturday. Pence professed respect for Xi and China but also harshly criticized the worlds No. 2 economy for intellectual property theft, forced technology transfers and unfair trading practices. The U.S. has this year imposed additional tariffs on $250 billion of Chinese goods, and Beijing has retaliated with its own tariffs on U.S. products. The world, according to Xis speech, is facing a choice between cooperation and confrontation as protectionism and unilateralism grows. He said the rules of global institutions set up after World War II such as the World Trade Organization should not be bent for selfish agendas. Pence told reporters that during the weekend he had two candid conversations with Xi, who is expected to meet President Donald Trump at a Group of 20 summit at the end of this month in Buenos Aires. There are differences today. They begin with trade practices, with tariffs and quotas, forced technology transfers, the theft of intellectual property. It goes beyond that to freedom of navigation in the seas, concerns about human rights, Pence said. China rejects US criticism The U.S. is interested in a better relationship but there has to be change from Chinas side, Pence said he told Xi, who responded that dialogue is important. Chinas foreign ministry rejected the U.S. criticism that it was leading other developing nations into debt bondage. The assistance provided by China has been warmly welcomed by our partners in this region and beyond, Wang Xiaolong, a foreign ministry official, told a news conference. No country either in this region or in other regions has fallen into a so called debt trap because of its cooperation with China. Give me one example, he said. Countering Belt and Road In Port Moresby, the impact of Chinas aid and loans is highly visible. But the U.S. and allies are countering with efforts to finance infrastructure in Papua New Guinea and other island states. The U.S. has also said it will be involved in ally Australias plan to develop a naval base with Papua New Guinea. On Sunday, the U.S., New Zealand, Japan and Australia said theyd work with Papua New Guineas government to bring electricity to 70 percent of its people by 2030. Less than 20 percent have a reliable electricity supply. The commitment of the United States of America to this region of the world has never been stronger, Pence said at a signing ceremony. A separate statement from his office said other countries are welcome to join the electrification initiative provided they support the U.S. vision of a free and open Pacific. China, meanwhile, has promised $4 billion of finance to build the first national road network in Papua New Guinea, among the least urbanized countries in the world. It has been a year since Australians voted to legalize gay marriage in a historic postal ballot. Almost 5,500 same-sex weddings have taken place in the past year since marriage in Australia was redefined as "a union of two people," despite fierce opposition from religious and conservative groups. Sixty-two percent of Australians supported same-sex marriage in a nonbinding postal vote. Ban-Foo Leong marched with his partner in Sydney to celebrate the historic result a year ago. "It felt good that there was such huge support not from just the gay community but from wider communities. Time to scream and shout, you know. This is what we have been waiting for 21 years and that we could finally do it and be on equal terms with everyone else," he said. The law in Australia allowed Heather Richards and Sass Willows to marry just two weeks before Sass would die of cancer. "I am so thankful and grateful and blessed all of those things that we were able to make it by just a few days rather than miss out by just a few days. So, yes, now I can still say that Sass was my wife. I feel equal to other people who have lost their spouse," said Richards. One of Australia's most high-profile same-sex weddings was that of James Brechney and Stuart Henshall, who hope their ceremony at this year's Sydney gay and lesbian Mardi Gras will help younger people feel comfortable with their sexuality. "If we had a public wedding and it helped one kid be more accepting of who they are, and look at it and go 'Oh, I am OK, and I will be OK one day,' then it is all worth it," said Henshall. The law, though, divided Australia. While almost 8 million people voted in support of same-sex marriage, about 5 million opposed the reform. Paul Kennedy from the Coalition For Marriage said it was morally wrong. "There is no other institution that is as important as marriage anthropologically, biologically, historically that defines the relationship that best nurtures a man and a woman and their capacity to raise children," he said. But the reform has been embraced by the gay community. It's estimated that 10 percent of same-sex couples in Australia have married since the law was changed. The bill passed federal parliament on December 7, 2017, and became law the following day. Campaigners say it has been one of the most significant social changes in recent Australian history. California's governor expressed optimism Sunday that U.S. President Donald Trump would support the state as it battles one of the worst wildfires in its history. Following Trump's visit to California the day before, Democratic governor Jerry Brown said that the president has "got our back" and has pledged to continue to help in an interview with CBS' "Face the Nation" Sunday. "The president not only has signed a presidential declaration giving California substantial funding, but he said and pledged very specifically to continue to help us, that he's got our back," Brown said. "And I thought that was a very positive thing." Brown also suggested in Sunday's interview that California's wildfires will make the most ardent of climate change skeptics believers in the coming years. Trump visited California Saturday to get a close-up look at the widespread damage that raging wildfires have inflicted on the state. He flew from Washington to California and back to Washington in one day. "Nobody would have ever thought this could have happened," he said to reporters after walking through burned-out ruins in the Northern California town of Paradise. "It's like total devastation." At least 9,700 homes were destroyed in the flames and 76 people have died. More than 1,000 people are missing. The blaze known as the Camp Fire is now the deadliest one in California history. More than 5,500 firefighters are still trying to bring it under control. "I think people have to see this really to understand it," Trump said. Trump was accompanied on his visit by Paradise Mayor Jody Jones, California Governor Brown, Governor-elect Gavin Newsom, and Federal Emergency Management Agency head Brock Long. He pledged to the California officials the support of the federal government, saying, "We're all going to work together." He vowed also to work with environmental groups on better forest management and added, "Hopefully this is going to be the last of these because this was a really, really bad one." But when asked if the fire had changed his mind on climate change, Trump said, "No, no." He said he believes a lot of factors are to blame. The president also visited a local command center in Chico, California, and praised the firefighters and other first responders. "You folks have been incredible," he said, adding that those battling the flames are "fighting like hell." More than a week after the blaze erupted and raced through Paradise, the fire has burned about 590 square kilometers and is about 50 percent contained, officials said. Woolsey fire Late afternoon, Trump landed in Southern California, where the Woolsey Fire has burned nearly 390 square kilometers. Fire officials say the blaze had been about 60 percent contained by Friday. Evacuated residents are returning to the area. En route from Northern to Southern California, Trump told reporters he had not discussed climate change with Governor Brown and Governor-elect Newsom, both of whom accompanied him on the flight. "We have different views," Trump said. "But maybe not as different as people think." On the same issue, Brown told reporters, "We'll let science determine this over a longer period of time. Right now we're collaborating on the most immediate response and that's very important." Steve Herman contributed to this report. The Sunday deadline for the end of the Florida election recounts is approaching, with Republican Gov. Rick Scott continuing to hold a lead over Democratic incumbent Bill Nelson for a seat in the U.S. Senate. As of Saturday afternoon, Nelson trailed by about 12,000 votes, with no major changes expected. The Florida governor's race was essentially decided after a machine recount Thursday resulted in a 0.4 percentage-point lead for Republican Ron DeSantis over Democrat Andrew Gillum, enough of a margin to avoid a hand recount. Florida law requires a hand recount if a machine count finds the margin of victory is less than 0.25 percent. Gillum conceded the race Saturday afternoon, posting a video on Facebook in which he congratulated DeSantis on the win. DeSantis' campaign did not immediately respond to the announcement. Florida counties have until noon on Sunday to finish their hand recounts. The race for state agriculture commissioner between Democrat Nikki Fried and Republican Matt Caldwell also was undergoing a recount. On Friday, Stacey Abrams, the Democratic candidate in Georgia's governor's race, ended her challenge in the closely fought election but vowed to bring a lawsuit against what she called the state's "gross mismanagement'' of the vote. Abrams told a news conference on Friday, "Let's be clear: This is not a speech of concession" to Republican Brian Kemp. She acknowledged, however, that she had no further recourse under the law to fight the election results. In accepting Abrams' decision to end her campaign, Kemp said, "Hardworking Georgians are ready to move forward." He praised Abrams' "passion, hard work and commitment to public service.'' The close race drew national attention in part because of Abrams' effort to become the first African-American female U.S. governor. Election officials said voter turnout was nearly as high as it was in the 2016 presidential race. The number of attacks carried out by right-wing extremists in the United States has increasingly grown over the past decade, a new report said. The report, published last week by the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS), a Washington research group, found that these attacks doubled from 2016 to 2017. The CSIS research also used as examples of the new trend the recent pipe bomb attacks that targeted Democratic politicians and critics of U.S. President Donald Trump, as well as the mass shooting in October at a synagogue in Pittsburgh that killed 11 people. "There are several factors that are driving the rise of far-right extremism in the United States," Seth Jones, the author of the report, told VOA. "One is the rise in internet and social media use by far-right groups like neo-Nazis, 'sovereign citizens' and others. Second is the connection between a range of these groups and individuals overseas, particularly in Europe, in countries like Germany, Ukraine, Italy and even the U.K.," he added. Sovereign citizens refers to groups who plot attacks against government, racial, religious and political targets in the United States. "A third factor is some political developments in the U.S.," Jones said. "The rise really started before the current U.S. president was even campaigning for presidency, but there definitely has been an increase in the last two years or so. And it does look like individuals have at least been partly energized." Rise in attacks From 2007 to 2011, right-wing extremists committed five or fewer attacks per year. In 2012, that number rose to 14 and continued at a similar level through 2016. But the number jumped to 31 in 2017, the CSIS report said. Some analysts say the current political climate in the U.S. has had a major impact on the rise of right-wing extremists in the country. "This is the first time I've seen right-wing extremism thrive and grow under a Republican administration," said Daryl Johnson, a former domestic terrorism analyst at the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. "Far-right extremists increase their activities under Democratic administrations because they fear passage of restrictive gun laws, expansion of minority rights, increased taxation, [and] abortion rights and immigration rights strengthening," he added. There were 65 terror attacks in 2017 in the U.S., according to the Global Terrorism Database, a program of the National Consortium for the Study of Terrorism and Responses to Terrorism at the University of Maryland. It said right-leaning extremists carried out 37 of those attacks. U.S. law enforcement agencies, including the FBI, state and local agencies, have had a good record in taking down right-wing extremist groups, some experts say. The FBI's Joint Terrorism Task Force, which leads investigations into terrorist activity, has been working with federal, state and local agencies, although its focus has largely been on Islamic extremism since the Sept. 11, 2001, terror attacks on the East Coast. The U.S. Department of Justice also provides federal domestic terrorism training State and Local Anti-Terrorism Training which has served more than 142,000 law enforcement officers across the country. The U.S. Department of Homeland Security lacks a domestic terrorism unit to support state and local law enforcement with strategic analysis of national trends and training needs, according to some experts. Private sector cooperation Cooperation between the U.S. government and private sector to combat the online presence of extremist individuals and groups is of high importance, experts said. "If there are individuals on Facebook or on Twitter or on a number of other mainstream accounts that are violating terms of service of those companies, their sites can be removed, their information can be removed, videos can potentially be removed," Jones, of CSIS, said. Former DHS analyst Johnson agreed that the "private sector can fill important voids in monitoring domestic terrorism." "The private sector should also take the lead in helping extremist individuals to overcome the root causes of their radicalization," he said. Countering violent extremism In 2016, former President Barack Obama's administration worked with partners in the private sector on a program to combat the Islamic State group's extremist message on social media and the internet. The program, which was initiated by an affiliate of Google, sought to disrupt IS online recruiting efforts by targeted advertising algorithms and the use of YouTube's video platform to dissuade people from joining the terror group. "I think the same potentially can happen with the far right if there is cooperation in taking down some of the more violent language, encouragement of violence or close to encouragement of violence on some of these platforms," Jones told VOA. Countering Violent Extremism (CVE), a U.S. government initiative to deter Americans from joining violent extremist groups, should focus more on right-wing networks and groups, Johnson suggested. "Federal grant funding from the CVE program should be allocated to private sector groups involved in helping white supremacists, sovereign citizens and other extremists get out of these hate-based movements," he added. Republican Rick Scott has won Florida's U.S. Senate race, defeating incumbent Democrat Bill Nelson - ending two weeks of insults, lawsuits, charges, and counter-charges. Scott says Nelson "graciously conceded" the election Sunday after a mandatory hand recount gave the Florida governor a 10,000 vote margin. State election officials are expected to certify the results Tuesday. President Donald Trump tweeted his congratulations to Scott, saying he waged a "courageous and successful campaign." Nelson, the incumbent, will likely retire from politics. He held the U.S. Senate seat from Florida since 2000 after serving 12 years in the House of Representatives. Scott led Nelson on election night by about 15,000 votes, triggering an automatic machine recount that was also inconclusive. This led to a second automatic recount, this time by hand. In the meantime, both Democrats and Republicans filed number of lawsuits relating to the recounts, including one that said many ballots were not counted because the signatures did not exactly match the ones on file. There were also problems involving electronic counting machines and one recount coming up 800 votes short of the original tally. Trump accused Nelson and the Democrats of fraud and trying to steal the election. Federal judge Mark Walker berated all sides last week, saying Florida's inability to decide elections has made the state a global "laughingstock." He was no doubt thinking about the 2000 presidential election which had to be decided by the Supreme Court when a state-wide vote recount in Florida was turning into a mess of confusion. Two other Florida contests have also been decided after recounts. Democrat Andrew Gillum conceded the race for governor to Republican Ron DeSantis Saturday. Gillum was trying to become Florida's first African-American governor. Democrat Nikki Fried narrowly beat Republican Matt Caldwell in the battle for Florida state agriculture commissioner. With their grip on power set to loosen come January, Republicans in several states are considering last-ditch laws that would weaken existing or incoming Democratic governors and advance their own conservative agendas. In Michigan, where the GOP has held the levers of power for nearly eight years, Republican legislators want to water down a minimum wage law they approved before the election so that it would not go to voters and would now be easier to amend. Republicans in neighboring Wisconsin are discussing ways to dilute Democrat Tony Evers power before he takes over for GOP Gov. Scott Walker. And in North Carolina, Republicans may try to hash out the requirements of a new voter ID constitutional amendment before they lose their legislative supermajorities and their ability to unilaterally override vetoes by Democratic Gov. Roy Cooper. Republicans downplay the tactics and point out that Democrats have also run lame-duck sessions, including in Wisconsin in 2010 before Walker took office and the GOP took control of the Legislature. But some of the steps Republicans are expected to take will almost surely be challenged in court, and critics say such maneuvers undermine the political system and the will of the people, who voted for change. Its something that smacks every Michigan voter in the face and tells them that this Republican Party doesnt care about their voice, their perspective, House Democratic Leader Sam Singh said of the strategizing to control the fate of minimum wage increases and paid sick leave requirements. Statewide sweeps The moves would follow midterm elections in which Democrats swept statewide offices in Michigan and Wisconsin for the first time in decades but fell short of taking over their gerrymandered legislatures. That gives Republicans a final shot to lock in new policies, with Democrats unable to undo them anytime soon. Michigans new minimum wage and sick time laws began as ballot drives but because they were preemptively adopted by lawmakers in September rather than by voters, they can be altered with simple majority votes rather than the support of three-fourths of both chambers. One measure would gradually raise the minimum wage to $12 an hour and increase a lower wage for tipped workers until it is in line with the minimum. The other would require that employees qualify for between 40 and 72 hours of paid sick leave, depending on the size of their employer. It is unclear how the laws may be changed to appease an anxious business lobby. The Michigan Chamber of Commerce says mandatory sick time, 10 other states also require it, will place severe compliance burdens on employers, including those with paid leave policies currently in place. The group also is urging lawmakers to be pragmatic, not extreme and revisit the wage hikes that would make Michigans minimum the highest in the Midwest. Republicans seem unfazed by criticism that scaling back the measures would thwart the will of voters who resoundingly elected Democrat Gretchen Whitmer to replace GOP Gov. Rick Snyder, who reached his term limit. The Michigan Senates majority leader, Arlan Meekhof, said changes to the laws are needed to continue to keep our economy on track and not put a roadblock or hindrance in the way of businesses. Lame-duck sessions Lame-duck sessions, which are commonplace in Congress but rare among many state legislatures, are frenetic, as legislators rush to consider bills that are controversial or were put on the back burner during election season. Michigans 2012 session, for example, produced right-to-work laws and a contentious revised emergency manager statute for cities in financial peril, despite voters having just repealed the previous law. The lame-duck period may be especially intense this year in Michigan and Wisconsin because they are among just four states in which Republicans are losing full control the governorship and both legislative chambers. Lawmakers in the other two states, Kansas and New Hampshire, will not convene until next year. Six states with a split government now will be fully controlled by Democrats in 2019, and Alaska will be fully controlled by Republicans. On GOP agendas Wisconsin Republicans plan to consider a variety of ways to protect laws enacted by Walker. Those include limiting Evers ability to make appointments, restricting his authority over the rule-making process and making it more difficult for him to block a work requirement for Medicaid recipients. They might also change the date of the 2020 presidential primary so that a Walker-appointed state Supreme Court justice has better odds to win election. In North Carolina, GOP legislators may use the session for more than approving additional bipartisan Hurricane Florence relief. They are expected to implement a voter photo ID requirement passed this month by the electorate and to consider other legislation that the Democratic governor would be powerless to stop until Republicans can no longer easily override his vetoes come 2019. Two years ago, they reduced Coopers powers before he took office. He successfully sued over a law that diminished his role in managing elections. Other suits remain pending. Michigans outgoing governor, Snyder, hasnt weighed in on the plan to amend the minimum wage and sick leave laws, which would require his signature, unlike when they were passed. He is trying to persuade his fellow Republicans to boost and add new fees for environmental cleanup and water infrastructure upgrades, and he wants the Legislature to help facilitate a deal to drill an oil pipeline tunnel beneath the Straits of Mackinac. The agreement is opposed by Whitmer and the states Democratic Attorney General-elect, Dana Nessel. Supporters of the existing wage and sick time laws have been mobilizing to keep them intact. MI Time to Care, the campaign backing guaranteed paid time off for workers who are sick or need to stay home with an ill family member, launched ads, mailed postcards and went door to door before the election reminding people of their rights under the law that is scheduled to take effect in March. Chairwoman Danielle Atkinson said the sick leave proposal would have been approved in a landslide if it had been on the ballot. Its clearly why the Legislature moved to pass it, and now they should uphold it as the promise that they made to the voters, she said. French President Emmanuel Macron and German Chancellor Angela Merkel, both limping in the polls, are looking for common approaches to U.S. President Donald Trump and fixing the flaws in the euro currency. The two need a little mutual support right now given their respective political shakiness at home as Macron visits Sunday to take part in Germany's annual remembrance day for victims of war and dictatorship. Macron has seen his poll ratings sag at home and Merkel has been a lame duck since saying she wouldn't seek another term. Her conservative party has lost support in recent regional elections. Merkel has offered support for Macron's proposal for a European army, in the face of criticism from Trump. Both leaders have said Europe needs to depend less on others such as the U.S. for its defense. It's at least in part a response to Trump's disruption of the status quo in the NATO alliance by raising doubts about U.S. willingness to pay for other countries' defense. But ceremonial appearances and good words can't paper over persistent differences between their approaches to the European Union's economic issues. For example, Germany and France have apparently struck a deal on a common budget for the EU countries that use the shared euro currency, something Macron has been pushing for. German Finance Minister Olaf Scholz told the dpa news agency that the deal was to be presented to European finance ministers on Monday, and that he hoped it would find agreement. But the size of the budget mentioned by French Finance Minister Bruno Le Maire as 20 to 25 billion euros is far short of Macron's idea. The amount is only 0.2 percent of the eurozone economy, far short of the several percentage points of gross domestic product originally mentioned by Macron. The compromise underscores German reluctance to sign off on anything seen as transferring taxpayer money from richer countries like Germany to more fiscally shaky ones such as Italy or Greece. The two sides have also not agreed on a tax on digital companies such as Amazon and Google. The French and the European Commission have proposed imposing such a tax, but Scholz said the issue should be left with the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development, a forum of mostly developed nations. Since the OECD includes the US, and such a tax would hit U.S. tech companies, prospects for a deal there are less than clear. Macron was to speak in the German parliament Sunday on an annual day of remembrance for victims of war and dictatorship, a week after the 100th anniversary of the end of World War I, and then consults with Merkel on European and international issues. Merkel last week echoed Macron's call in an interview for a European army, a long-term prospect that drew tweeted criticism of Macron from Trump. Macron in fact was advocating that Europe do more for its own defense, putting him on the same page in many ways with Trump. At another point in the interview, Macron discussed hacking and other cyber threats and asserted that on that front, France must protect itself from China, Russia and even the United States. His concern about U.S. hackers had nothing to do with military threats or forces but drew an angry tweet from Trump regardless. Merkel said a European force would save money and agreed with Macron that Europe must be able to defend itself on its own. Despite the words of support, such a common army remains only a long-term prospect. While the Space Needle may be the most recognizable structure in Seattle, Washington, there is another spectacular and futuristic building nearby: Seattle's Museum of Pop Culture. Initially built as a tribute to the legendary Seattle rock musician Jimi Hendrix, it now celebrates American contemporary pop culture as a whole. One display is dedicated to the Marvel Comics Super Heroes, whose creator, Stan Lee, died at 95 earlier this week. Natasha Mozgovaya gives us a look. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Sunday welcomed a U.S. decision to vote for the first time against an annual U.N. resolution condemning Israel's occupation of the Golan Heights. "I would like to thank President [Donald] Trump and Ambassador [Nikki] Haley on this important and just vote that is completely in keeping with my policy," Netanyahu said at the start of a Cabinet meeting. "Israel will always remain on the Golan Heights, and the Golan Heights will always remain in our hands." The United States voted against the United Nations resolution on Friday, dropping its practice of abstaining. The non-binding text was adopted in a General Assembly committee by a vote of 151 to 2, with the U.S. and Israel the only two countries opposing the measure. Fourteen countries abstained. Haley called the resolution "useless" and "plainly biased against Israel", citing concerns about Iran's military role in Syria to oppose the measure. The vote continues U.S. practice under Trump of adopting firmly pro-Israel positions. In September, U.S. ambassador to Israel David Friedman said he expects the Golan Heights to remain under Israeli control "forever." Israel seized much of the Golan Heights from Syria in a 1967 war and later annexed it in moves never recognized by the international community. The resolution declares that the Israeli decision to occupy and annex the Golan was "null and void," and calls on Israel to rescind its moves. "Injustice is the perverse root of poverty," Pope Francis said Sunday at a Mass marking the Roman Catholic Church's Day of the Poor. Francis invited thousands of poor people to Saint Peter's Basilica for the Mass and he is scheduled to have lunch with them later. "The cry of the poor daily becomes stronger, but heard less, drowned out by the din of the rich few, who grow ever fewer and more rich," Francis said. He also made a reference to migrants when he called on people to pay attention to "all those forced to flee their homes and native land for an uncertain future." The leader of the world's Roman Catholics said, "Let us ask for the grace to hear the cry of all those tossed by the waves of life." Sunday is the second observance of the Day of the Poor, an event that Francis initiated last year. In addition to lunching with the poor after Mass, Francis has gathered a team of doctors who will provide free medical care to the poor. The French news agency, AFP, reports doctors treated 600 people last year at the first World Day of the Poor. Tonga has signed up to Chinas Belt and Road initiative and has received a reprieve from Beijing on the timing of debt payments shortly before an onerous schedule to repay loans was due to start. Lopeti Senituli, political adviser to Tongan Prime Minister Akilisi Pohiva, told Reuters by email Sunday that Tonga had signed a Belt and Road memorandum of understanding, and that the concessional loan had been deferred for five years. Tonga is one of eight island nations in the South Pacific that owe significant debt to China. The deferment came just as Tonga was set to commence principal repayments on the debt, which is expected to put severe strain on its finances. Chinas ministry of foreign affairs did not immediately respond to request for comment Sunday. Tongas financial reliance on China dates back just over a decade after deadly riots in the capital of Tonga, Nukualofa, destroyed much of the small Pacific nations central business and government districts. The government rebuilt the city with Chinese financing, and the roughly $65 million in Chinas initial loans to the island now exceeds $115 million, because of interest and additional borrowing. This represents almost one-third of Tongas annual gross domestic product, budget papers show. The issue of Chinese-issued debt has been at the forefront of the Asia Pacific Economic Co-operation summit in Papua New Guinea. On Saturday, U.S. Vice President Mike Pence criticized President Xi Jinpings flagship program, saying countries should not accept debt that compromised their sovereignty. While most Pacific island nations are not APEC members, their representatives were invited to attend events and have been engaged in talks with larger regional neighbors such as China and Australia. Chinas official Belt and Road website reported last week that Fiji had made a commitment to Belt and Road, joining the likes of Samoa and PNG. Nearly halfway through his four-year term in the White House, U.S. President Donald Trump says he thinks of himself in the top rung of American presidents. "I would give myself an A+," Trump said in an interview with Fox News Sunday. "Can I go higher than that?" But the U.S. leader, in a White House interview taped Friday and aired Sunday, made a rare acknowledgement of an error in judgment, saying he should have gone last Monday to Arlington National Cemetery to commemorate the country's annual Veterans Day honoring those who have served in the U.S. armed forces or are currently serving in one of its military branches. "In retrospect, I should have," Trump told interviewer Chris Wallace. The U.S. leader, who has yet to visit U.S. troops in any war zones overseas, also said, "There are things that are being planned. I will be doing that." He declined to say when such a visit might occur because of security concerns. In the November 6 nationwide congressional and state elections, opposition Democrats took control of the House of Representatives for the first time in eight years and captured key governor's races in industrial states that were vital to Trump's 2016 election as president. National political surveys show Americans disapprove of his White House performance by a 52.9 to 43.3 percent margin, according to an average of polls by Real Clear Politics. But Trump took no blame for the losses because his name was not on the ballot, even though he told several political rallies ahead of the elections that voters ought to look at the voting that way, as a referendum on his policies and performance during the first 22 months of his presidency. "I won the Senate and that's historic, too," Trump said. "That's a tremendous victory." Trump's Republican party could add two seats to its current 51-49 majority bloc in the Senate, when two close contests are decided. Trump said Republicans also "had a tremendous set of victories" by winning governorships in the southern states of Georgia and Florida and the midwestern state of Ohio, even as Democrats won governorships in other electoral battlegrounds, including the key midwestern states of Michigan and Wisconsin that had been held by Republicans. As for the electoral losses, Trump said, "I didn't run. My name wasn't on the ballot. I had people that wouldn't vote because I wasn't on the ballot." Trump is already deep in planning for his 2020 re-election bid, while a long list of Democrats are considering whether to seek their party's presidential nomination to oppose him. U.S. President Donald Trump says he has been fully briefed on an audio recording of the killing of dissident Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi inside Riyadh's consulate in Istanbul last month, but has no intention of listening to it because of the violence it depicts. "It's a suffering tape. It's a terrible tape," Trump told Fox News Sunday in a White House interview that was taped Friday. "It's very violent, very vicious and terrible," Trump said. Trump said Saturday the U.S. government would release its findings on the October 2 killing of Khashoggi on Tuesday. The State Department says no final conclusions have been reached, although some U.S. news accounts have reported that the Central Intelligence Agency has concluded that Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Riyadh's de facto leader, ordered the killing. Watch related video by VOA's Michael Bowman: Asked in the Fox interview if the crown prince lied to him about his involvement, Trump replied, "I don't know. Who can really know? But I can say this, he's got many people... that say he had no knowledge." Trump added, "He told me that he had nothing to do with it. He told me that, I would say, maybe five times at different points, as recently as a few days ago." Saudi Arabia has filed charges against 11 operatives accused of involvement in Khashoggi's killing and said it will seek the death penalty against five of them. Trump conceded that people close to the prince "were probably involved." But he said, "I want to stick with an ally that in many ways has been very good." Fox interviewer Chris Wallace asked Trump whether he would go along with moves in Congress to cut off U.S. involvement in the Saudi-led war in Yemen or halt arms sales to Riyadh, but Trump said it depends. "I want to see Yemen end," he said. "It takes two to tango and Iran has to end also. I want Saudi to stop but I want Iran to stop also." Trump was briefed Saturday on the U.S. investigation of the killing of Khashoggi by telephone by CIA Director Gina Haspel and Secretary of State Mike Pompeo while the president was aboard Air Force One en route to California to inspect the devastation from wildfires in the western state. The State Department said the U.S. government "is determined to hold all those responsible for the killing... accountable" but that "numerous unanswered questions" remain. The assessment by the CIA, first reported Friday by The Washington Post, contradicts that of Saudi Arabia, whose top prosecutor one day earlier exonerated the crown prince in the killing of Khashoggi. U.S. officials say the CIA concluded that 15 Saudi agents flew in a Saudi government aircraft to Istanbul and assassinated Khashoggi inside the Saudi consulate. Khashoggi, who wrote opinion columns for the Post and was a critic of the Saudi crown prince, was killed at the Saudi consulate while he was trying to get documents for his planned marriage to a Turkish woman. The Post said the CIA based its conclusion on multiple sources of intelligence, including a phone call that the prince's brother, Khalid bin Salman, who is also the Saudi ambassador to the United States, had with Khashoggi. In the phone call, Khalid told Khashoggi that it would be safe for him to go the Saudi consulate in Istanbul to retrieve the documents for his marriage. The paper said it was not known whether or not Khalid knew Khashoggi would be killed. Khalid denied in a tweet on Friday that he had spoken with Khashoggi. The last contact I had with Mr. Khashoggi was via text on Oct. 26, 2017. I never talked to him by phone and certainly never suggested he go to Turkey for any reason. I ask the U.S. government to release any information regarding this claim,'' he said. U.S. President Donald Trump is declaring that he "probably" won't sit for an in-person interview with special counsel Robert Mueller probing links between his 2016 campaign and Russia, suggesting that his written answers to the prosecutor's questions will be his final response. Trump told Fox News Sunday host Chris Wallace that in recent days he gave "very, very complete answers to questions I shouldn't have been asked. Probably this is the end." In an interview at the White House taped Friday and broadcast Sunday, Trump said his lawyers are completing answers to Mueller's two dozen or so questions, but that, "They're writing what I tell them. It wasn't a big deal." Trump's lawyers are expected to turn over his written responses in the coming days, although Trump attorney Rudy Giuliani said last week some of the questions created "more issues for us legally than others. Giuliani described some of the questions as "unnecessary, some were possible traps and that we might consider some as irrelevant. The questions concerned events leading up to the November 2016 national election, not the two-plus months while Trump was the president-elect, or of events during Trump's presidency, where Mueller is investigating whether Trump obstructed justice by trying to thwart the probe. Trump, in the Fox interview, renewed his long-standing attacks on the 18-month Mueller investigation. "It's a scam," he said. "There was no collusion." A day after the nationwide congressional elections earlier this month, Trump ousted Attorney General Jeff Sessions, who had long drawn Trump's ire for removing himself from oversight of Mueller's investigation. Trump replaced him with a loyalist, acting Attorney General Matthew Whitaker, who had, before becoming Sessions's chief of staff more than a year ago, suggested that a replacement attorney, such as he is now, could cut funding for Mueller's probe so that it "grinds almost to a halt." WATCH: Trump responds to critics Trump said he was unaware of Whitaker's commentary on news network CNN opposing the Mueller investigation before naming him as the country's top law enforcement official, but dismissed concerns about he will deal with the Mueller investigation. "He happened to be right," Trump said. "He said there was no collusion, he's right." But Trump he would leave it up to Whitaker, whom he described as an "astute politician," in how he oversees Mueller's probe, after Sessions had delegated Mueller oversight to Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein. "It's going to be up to him," Trump said of Whitaker. "I really believe he's going to do what's right." Some lawmakers, Democrats and Republicans alike, have demanded that Whitaker, because of his past attacks on the Mueller investigation, recuse himself from oversight, just as Sessions did. The former attorney general adhered to Justice Department rules requiring officials to recuse themselves from involvement in cases in which they might have a conflict of interest. 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. Democratic Congressman Adam Schiff, likely to head the House Intelligence Committee when Democrats take control of the House of Representatives in January, told ABC News, "The biggest flaw from my point of view is that [Whitaker] was chosen for the purpose of interfering with the Mueller investigation." Trump, who often brands political opponents with snarky nicknames, later said on Twitter, "So funny to see little Adam Schitt (D-CA) talking about the fact that Acting Attorney General Matt Whitaker was not approved by the Senate, but not mentioning the fact that Bob Mueller (who is highly conflicted) was not approved by the Senate!" Schiff, with his name spelled by Trump into a vulgarity, retorted, "Wow, Mr. President, that's a good one. Was that like your answers to Mr. Mueller's questions, or did you write this one yourself?" Whitaker has not publicly commented on his role in overseeing the Mueller investigation, although the Justice Department has said that he is consulting ethics officials about any concerns they may have. British Prime Minister Theresa May fought back against critics of her Brexit deal Saturday, telling opponents from within her party their alternative plans for Britain's departure from the European Union wouldn't work. May is battling to win over rebels in her Conservative Party and and to preserve her position as prime minister after a grueling week in which party members plotted to oust her and two Cabinet ministers quit within hours of her government striking the long-sought divorce agreement with the EU. In a public relations offensive, May revealed in a Daily Mail interview how her husband supported her during "a pretty heavy couple of days." Calling her husband, Philip, her "rock," May said that when the Conservative revolt erupted Wednesday, the first thing he did was pour her a whisky. She also laid into political opponents, saying their ideas for resolving the biggest stumbling block in EU-U.K. negotiations -- avoiding a hard border between Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland after Brexit -- wouldn't resolve the problem. "People say, `If you could only just do something slightly different, have a Norway model or a Canada model, this backstop issue would go away.' It would not. That issue is still going to be there," May said in the interview , published Saturday. "Some politicians get so embroiled in the intricacies of their argument they forget it is not about this theory or that theory, or does it make me look good," she added. While May appeared to have survived the week, her headaches are far from over. Disaffected "Brexiteers" think they have the numbers required to trigger a challenge to her leadership within days. They are aiming for 48 letters of no confidence, the number needed for a vote under Conservative Party rules. So far, more than 20 lawmakers have publicly said they submitted such letters. One of them, Mark Francois, complained that May's draft deal would leave Britain with the worst outcome _ "half in and half out" of the EU. He said it would never be approved in Parliament, where May's Conservatives do not have a majority. Like Francois, many pro-Brexit Conservatives are pushing for a clean break with the EU and argue that the close trade ties between the U.K. and the EU called for in the deal would leave Britain a vassal state. As it stands, the draft agreement sees Britain leaving the EU as planned on March 29 but remaining inside the bloc's single market and bound by its rules until the end of December 2020. It also commits the two sides to the contentious "backstop" solution, which would keep the U.K. in a customs arrangement with the EU as a guarantee the Irish border remained free of customs checkpoints. British media reported that several pro-Brexit senior Conservatives, including House of Commons leader Andrea Leadsom, were trying to persuade May to renegotiate the divorce deal in a way they find more acceptable. Leadsom told Sky News Saturday "there is still more to be done" to get "the best possible deal for the U.K." before the draft withdrawal agreement is signed off on Nov. 25 in Brussels. She didn't elaborate. The deal also requires approval from Britain's Parliament before the U.K. leaves the bloc. The U.S. State Department said Saturday that the government had not reached a conclusion about the killing of Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi. The Trump administration took issue with reports that, according to the Central Intelligence Agency, Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman ordered the killing of Khashoggi, a Washington Post columnist. The State Department called such reports inaccurate." CIA Director Gina Haspel and Secretary of State Mike Pompeo briefed President Donald Trump on the Khashoggi case by phone Saturday as he was en route to California. Later, while touring wildfire devastation in Southern California, Trump told reporters the U.S. government would release a report Tuesday about who killed Khashoggi. The statement from the State Department was issued minutes after presidential spokeswoman Sarah Sanders said Trump "has confidence in the CIA." The State Department also said the U.S. government "is determined to hold all those responsible for the killing ... accountable" and that "numerous unanswered questions" remained. The CIA assessment, first reported Friday by the Post, contradicted that of Saudi Arabia, whose top prosecutor one day earlier exonerated the crown prince in Khashoggis death. U.S. officials said the CIA had concluded that 15 Saudi agents flew in a Saudi government aircraft to Istanbul and assassinated Khashoggi Oct. 2 in the Saudi Consulate, where he had gone to pick up documents needed for his planned marriage to a Turkish woman. Brother's phone call The Post said the CIA based its conclusion on multiple intelligence sources, including a phone call that the prince's brother, Khalid bin Salman, who is also the Saudi ambassador to the United States, had with Khashoggi. In the phone call, Khalid told Khashoggi that it would be safe for him to go the consulate in Istanbul to retrieve the documents. The paper said it was not known whether Khalid knew Khashoggi would be killed. Khalid denied in a tweet Friday that he had spoken with Khashoggi. "The last contact I had with Mr. Khashoggi was via text on Oct. 26, 2017. I never talked to him by phone and certainly never suggested he go to Turkey for any reason. I ask the U.S. government to release any information regarding this claim,'' he said. Saudi officials have said the killing of Khashoggi was accidental and that Saudi officials were trying to force Khashoggi to return to the kingdom. Turkish officials have said the killing was intentional and have been pressuring Saudi Arabia to allow those responsible to be tried in Turkey. The Trump administration this week sanctioned 17 Saudi officials for their alleged roles in the killing. However, some U.S. lawmakers have called on the White House to do more, including reducing arms sales to Saudi Arabia. Trump has said the Saudi government tried to hide the killing in one of the worst cover-ups in the history of cover-ups.'' However, he has resisted calls to reduce arms sales to the Saudis. He has sought closer ties with Saudi Arabia to counter Iranian influence in the Middle East, as well as to increase arms deals between Washington and Riyadh. White House Bureau Chief Steve Herman contributed to this report. The cast of Scrubs at Vulture Festival. Photo: Joe Scarnici/Getty Images for New York Magazi At the Scrubs reunion panel during Vulture Festival Los Angeles, many stories were swapped about the origins of various jokes and which emotional arcs the actors recalled most fondly. Series creator Bill Lawrence also talked about a few story ideas that had to be cut once the show switched networks, and one character in particular that got hit by censorship was Roberto Maschios proudly sexual and strapping Todd. When we moved from NBC to ABC we were no longer allowed to show Rob in his banana hammock. We had to frame above his penis, said Zach Braff, with Lawrence adding, In the Bahamas episode he comes out and flexes on the beach, and we had to blow up that shot because it showed the banana hammock. But it wasnt just wardrobe that came under scrutiny. Lawrence also said the show had to scrap a whole story line about medical marijuana because the Disney-owned network didnt clear content about drugs. We only shot one thing ever that Bill had to throw out, Braff told the crowd. That many years ago they were like Medicinal marijuana? Get the hell out of here! And Lawrence had a conversation with studio reps about the issue that raised an interesting moral hierarchy. This is how screwed up network television is, he explained. We had this story about getting medicinal marijuana for somebody who was having trouble with chemo and cancer. So to make a point, I said, What if the patient was a virgin and decided they want to have sex for the first time and Carla and Elliot wanted to go looking for a male prostitute for him? They said, Oh, thats fine. We could get a prostitute, just not medicinal marijuana. To think of all men in bikini bottoms and weed-based narrative arcs Scrubs fans missed out on in those Disney years! Busy Philipps. Photo: Matt Winkelmeyer/Getty Images for New York Magazi The facade of teen dreamboat Noah Centineo was cracked earlier this month when Busy Philipps, taking full advantage of The Late Late Show With James Cordens group couch set-up, teased fellow guest Centineo about ghosting her friend after they chatted for a while on a dating app an anecdote that apparently worried Centineos posse. At her panel at this years Vulture Festival in Los Angeles, Philipps admitted she somewhat regrets poking fun at the Netflix golden boy about his Raya fling but also let slip that the girl he was talking to was actually, well, double his age. It was very unplanned that I brought that up on Corden and I did feel bad because he is a child, but a child was fully hitting up my 40-year-old friend, she recalled. On the show he was like, Oh yeah, youre right, I did that. He was very sweet about it, I just felt like it was very shitty of me. The Centineo story opened up a larger conversation about Philippss new talk show, Busy Tonight, and how she chooses to cover Hollywoods ever-churning gossip mill. The two things shell refuse to discuss for laughs? Divorces and celebrity children anything else dishy is up for grabs if its discussed in a non-derogatory way. (An anti-People way, if you will. Philipps wants you to know she hates Peoples clickbait nonsense!) I feel like you can talk about these stories and these things that people are interested in in ways that dont objectify the women involved, she explained. Were not talking about their looks or their clothing choices or their bodies, but we could talk about questionable engagement choices. And I think when people fuck up its okay to call them out on that. Lets just say Pete Davidson should probably avoid the show for the next few weeks. Constance Wu. Photo: Joe Scarnici/Getty Images for New York Magazi Thanks to Fresh Off the Boat and Crazy Rich Asians, Constance Wu has risen to success with record speed in Hollywood while remaining outspoken, which has also made her the target of trolls. In conversation at Vulture Festival Los Angeles with Vulture editor Alex Jung, Wu responded to some of those trolls, but also explained why she isnt bothered by their attacks. The actress has become the target of what Jung called MRAsians and Wu referred to as Asian incels: Asian men who have attacked her for dating a white man. A lot of Asian men are mad that one of my boyfriends was white, Wu explained to the audience, and they make this assumption that every single one of my boyfriends has been white based on the one boyfriend theyve seen on my social media, who is the boyfriend that I was dating when I first started my account, all the way up until after Fresh Off the Boat. Unless they think I was a virgin before I was 30, then yeah. Wu went on to explain that she doesnt make a point of responding to these attacks online, because she feels like clapping back to them isnt productive. I dont clap back online because I dont feel the need to defend myself, Wu said, noting that she feels comfortable in her self worth, and adding later that I am completely okay in my choices and why I make them Im very confident in that so if somebody needs to target me in order to be part of longer journey about how they feel about themselves or their place in the world, I think thats fine. Those attacks do hurt, Wu said, but I understand it enough, not to justify it, but just to understand. The conversation came in the context of Wu discussing how she asked to cut a line her Crazy Rich Asians character Rachel Chu says in the book about how she doesnt date Asian guys, with the exception of Nick Young. I do think that that is a topic that should have some story and its own voice, but I think what we were trying to do with Crazy Rich Asians is take that away and in fact not even dignify that argument by putting it in there, Wu said. In the book, I kind of thought it was used as a ploy, she continued, adding that author Kevin Kwan might not like her assessment, but in the book she says wow, Ive never dated Asian guys before, but Nick is different. To say somebody is an exception to the rule is to reaffirm the rule. Wu also said she has felt less of a need to be vocal on Twitter recently both because invective from trolls does sting, and because she feels that more people are talking about the issues she previously felt a need to speak up about, such as Casey Afflecks Oscar nomination in the context of sexual harassment allegations against him or the Matt Damon film The Great Wall perpetuating a racist myth. The actual footprint of the branch is getting smaller, the cost to operate it is getting smaller; but the power of the branch for the customer is just extremely important, Smith said. The other thing weve done is thin the network within the geographies that were in. So if there may have been three branches in a two-block radius, we might go down to two. And Ive developed, I think, a pretty robust playbook to make sure as we do that, we keep all of the customers and thats given us operating efficiency as well. He said financial returns on the first D.C. branch have been well beyond their expectations, really pleasing. 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 In this fast-paced thriller, a flight attendant wakes up next to a dead man and with no clue about what, if anything, she had to do with his demise. This is the ultimate airplane book, and not just because of its name. Entertaining and filled with inside info on the less-glamorous aspects of flight crews lives, it may even make you more politely attentive the next time youre asked to listen to that in-flight lecture on emergency water landings. M.C. Some illnesses are caused by bacteria. Bacteria are alive: Theyre very small you cant see them without a microscope but they take in nutrients, reproduce and die. Viruses can make copies of themselves only by hijacking the cells of the creatures they infect. When the flu virus is outside of your body lurking on a doorknob, for instance its dead by any definition. But once inside your body, it shows many of the characteristics of life. Viruses might even be the descendants of living organisms that shed seemingly necessary traits to live more efficiently (with a little help from our cells). There were two, a brother and a sister. When we finally got there, each of us was greeted by someone who would come up to us and say, Hi, I want to welcome you to Jonestown. And it turned out that my minders, thats what they were, were a brother and sister. Their last name was Tropp. Their backgrounds were virtually identical to mine. They were both white, Jewish, both had been educated at Ivy League schools, and we really had a lot in common. They had done their research, and they figured out who would present the best case for Jonestown. And I must say, they did. Even after everything happened, I still, because of them, I still have certain doubts. I mean some of the things that were going on there were actually good, if it hadnt been for the psychosis of one man and the trap he led them into. The Tropps werent there because they believed in miracles or snake oil. They were there because they believed it was a socialist community and a place where different races and religions could be together. He was recently employed by the Fairfax County Community Services Board as a nurse. The board helps county residents with mental health and substance abuse issues. He is no longer an employee of the board. One possibility, she said, was that it had been struck by a car. Eagles feed on the carcasses of animals that have themselves been killed on roads by autos. The approach of another auto may flush the birds, Shoemaker said, and they may fly into the vehicle, and incur an injury. Any NTSB conclusion about the explosions cause would be restricted by law from use as evidence in court, lawyers say. But the delay hinders the legal process in other ways. For one thing, the NTSB has custody of physical evidence such as burned wreckage of gas lines and meters that attorneys in the lawsuits want their own experts to examine. In the end, I was surprised at how poorly designed the reactor actually was, he told the New York Times in 1990. I wanted to write this book not only to show the real scale of this particular catastrophe, but also to demolish a few more secrets and deliberate misconceptions. Violence from patients is a big problem in U.S. health care. According to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, health-care and social assistance workers experience violent injuries that require days away from work at four times the rate of workers in the broader private sector. Assaults from patients can be particularly prevalent in high-risk settings, such as psychiatric units and emergency departments. The Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that psychiatric aides and technicians endure workplace violence at a rate 69 times greater than the national average. In a 2018 poll of more than 3,500 emergency physicians, 47 percent reported having been physically assaulted at work and 71 percent said they had witnessed another assault. A fifth-generation Floridian, Nelson, 76, grew up in Melbourne, Fla., along what would become known as the Space Coast after the construction of the John F. Kennedy Space Center. He trained as a lawyer and entered politics in 1972 with a successful bid for a seat in the state House. Nelson served six years there, then moved to Congress, carving out a role as a leader on space issues. In 1986, as part of a NASA program to bring nonprofessional astronauts to space, he joined the crew of the Space Shuttle Columbia and spent six days in orbit. Strategists say voters also seem to have different motivations as they pick which politicians they want to send to Washington, where many assume not much will get done, and which ones they want running their state and making decisions on taxes, the state budget and education that they feel have more impact on their lives. A vote for a politician headed to Washington was often closely tied to a voters feelings about President Trump, while many gubernatorial candidates were able to distance themselves from the polarizing president. During Sundays wide-ranging interview, Trump said that he is thinking about replacing people in three or four or five positions in his administration and that of those, maybe its going to end up being two. He declined to say whether Chief of Staff John F. Kelly will remain in his job through 2020, as previously indicated, saying only, I mean, it could be. Lets see what happens. Last year, the United Nations declared famine in some parts of the country and said millions more people were at risk. Already, billions of U.S. dollars have poured into food aid. The United States alone, the biggest donor, has given $1.78 billion since the beginning of the conflict, according to the U.S. Agency for International Development, including $336 million this year. In May, the Trump administration threatened to cut funding to South Sudan unless the countrys conflict ends. On Saturday, to reach the temple, devotees braved bus delays and a call by right-wing Hindu groups to close all roads, shops and businesses. It is sad that Lord Ayyappa had become [the center] of a controversy, but he will be here with us every step of the way, said Bhagyalakshmi, a 62-year-old devotee who uses only one name. She declined to give her views on the conflict but said that she is positive that whatever happens will be the gods will. Like most Americans, I had hoped that when you became president, you would rise to the occasion and become the leader this great nation needs, McRaven wrote. A good leader tries to embody the best qualities of his or her organization. A good leader sets the example for others to follow. A good leader always puts the welfare of others before himself or herself. Any individual who commits an offense against the host service code of discipline during the exchange assignment may be withdrawn from his or her assignment, according to the March 2018 order outlining the program. If the offense committed by U.S. Navy exchange personnel against the host service code is also an offense against the [Uniform Code of Military Justice], disciplinary action may be taken against the individual by U.S. Navy authorities. So Morrisons familiar accusation of complacency in parts of the Muslim community hovers, vague yet potent because theres votes to be harvested from fuelling suspicion and fear. Presumably thats why Victorian Opposition leader Matthew Guy pledged in Bourke Streets aftermath that under a Coalition government terror suspects would be banned from Melbournes CBD. I say presumably because Guys proposal strains logic. If an individual is dangerous enough to warrant banning from the CBD, why should we tolerate that would-be terrorist roaming Victorias other crowded places? But Morrison has some willing tango partners in what we lazily call the Muslim community, whose obfuscating response to his provocation almost proves the charge against them. Let me stress only some: local Somali leaders called Shire Alis actions terrorism, as did a number of Islamic groups Id never heard of. Still, the some includes prominent Islamic spokespeople. Prime Minister Scott Morrison visits Pellegrini's cafe in the wake of the Bourke Street attacks. Credit:The Age I can almost excuse Shire Alis grieving family for coming out with the obscenity that his knifing passersby and igniting gas cylinders in his car on Bourke Street during Friday rush hour was a cry for help. I cannot excuse otherwise intelligent commentators promoting the tired and disingenuous argument that lone-wolf terrorists must be of sound mind to be worthy of the label. Since declaring the caliphate in 2014, Islamic State chiefs have called on Muslims in the West to kill the infidels by whatever means possible a small number of foot soldiers responded to the call, the common denominator between them not good mental health but what Morrison accurately described as the radical and dangerous ideology of extremist Islam". Loading Yet some insist Shire Ali was just a troubled soul and not an Islamic extremist. There is no evidence that this individuals religious beliefs were a causal factor (in the violence), said the Islamic Council of Victoria, described on its website as the peak Muslim body representing an estimated 200,000 Victorian Muslims and over 60 member societies. Thats no evidence, apart from Shire Ali chatting to convicted terrorists, having relatives known to counter-terrorism authorities, being placed on a terror watchlist and seeing his passport cancelled on concerns hed join Islamic State in Syria. Other facts about his associations are reportedly subject to court suppression orders. Its hard to tell how many people the presumptuously named Muslims Australia actually represents, but they too lamented that when a Muslim commits such acts then all other possible factors are either downplayed or ignored. This is a privilege that is extended in most other incidents to such perpetrators. This is nonsense. A Muslim with a knife and even with a car packed with gas bottles does not a terrorist make. A Muslim with a knife and gas bottles with Shire Alis security profile probably does a terrorist make, just as the white supremacists who have acted out their hateful ideology in various countries shooting up mosques, synagogues, multicultural gatherings and black churches are unambiguously terrorists. In an interview with SBS Arabic24, Grand Mufti Dr Ibrahim Abu Mohamed rightly pointed out that religious leaders like himself are targets for extremists. He also said: Linking crime to religion is what frustrates us the most and the duty of politicians is to defuse conflicts rather than inflame them. We should not use the word terror to intimidate people the way other dictatorships do to oppress their own people. Loading While some defensiveness on the Grand Muftis part is understandable, his insistence that Shire Alis actions are entirely severable from religion, however warped the Somalis interpretation of religion, can be read as negating the Islamist threat. Terror is not just a word but a reality. Not just a tool dictators use to intimidate their own people, but a weapon of intimidation religious zealots use against free societies. Im not implying these imams or Muslim advocates detect troubled individuals in their orbit and choose not to inform the authorities about those ticking bombs, or that they condone terrorism. I share their indignation at the veiled suggestion that the community is collectively responsible for the actions of depraved individuals. Mistakes are rare, however, because the reports must be approved by so many people - often they'll be checked by the head teacher, year advisor, deputy and principal for errors or inappropriate comments. The structure of reports varies between schools. Some will list 20-odd syllabus outcomes ticked off by the child for each subject; "Jack acquired and communicated geographical information using geographical tools for inquiry," for example. A report card from the 1980s. Others will require a summary of 1000 words per subject about what the child did in class, finishing with a brief personalised comment at the end. "Jane enjoys investigating the history of Australia," reads one. But many parents say they find reports "sterile and technical," as one put it to the Herald. "They are next to useless as an indicator of your child's individual process or personality in the classroom," said another, who is also a teacher. Some schools are good at simplifying their language for parents. Others are less successful, which can lead to reports that are jargon-heavy and baffling for parents, said education expert Anna Fletcher from Federation University. "Where it possibly goes a bit awry is that part of the teacher's guidelines is they need to report back to the curriculum," she said. One education insider said modern reports were, in many ways, an improvement. "Personal opinions of teachers are no longer there - you can't say surly, or stupid, or uncooperative, they are not constructive comments," he said. "There's also an argument that old reports didn't give any useful knowledge. At least modern reports are attempting to say what kids can and can't do. The problem is that they are saying that in such technical ways, no-one understands them. "There's also a resistance to anything that would compare students' ability. For parents, it becomes technical and abstract, and a key piece of information - is my kid at the level that's expected? - is pretty hard to find or non-existent." Chris Presland from the Secondary Principals' Council said primary school reports were more difficult to write than high school ones, because they don't have examination and assessment marks to work with. A report card from the 1950s. "As a parent, I remember at primary school that you get reports back with 60 different things they were reporting on," he said. "It was almost like the schools try too hard to give parents too much information." In a survey this year, teachers told their union that school reports were becoming more about compliance than teaching. "Written student reports are becoming ridiculous and disconnected to who the child is," one wrote. Teachers wanted to communicate with parents, said NSW Teachers Federation deputy president Joan Lemaire. "But they feel restrained by policy requirements that focus on compliance not learning. "The format for reports also constrain teachers by requiring that comments must be a certain number of words. Teachers want to to use their knowledge of each individual student and their learning to help parents support their children achieve their best." Loading For the best part of a decade, schools across sectors and the country have been required by the federal government to use an A to E grading to indicate each year 1 to 11 student's mastery of the syllabus. Most schools re-name those gradings; 'limited' instead of E, 'sound' rather than C and 'outstanding' in place of A. This is called the common grade scale. The same definitions are used across the country. Teachers are given examples of the kind of work that would suit each grade to try to ensure schools measure their students in a standardised way. Unlike the old days, when letter grades were used to rank students, these grades don't compare students with their peers; they measure the student against the written syllabus requirement. Most get a C, which reflect "sound knowledge and understanding of the main areas of content". Jennifer Buckingham, an education policy analyst at the Centre for Independent Studies, said gradings had made reports clearer. "They are an improvement on previous years when it was a lot more vague," she said. "There's more external reference points than there used to be. "I think parents are starting to understand that Cs aren't such a bad thing according to the A-E standard - C is the expected level." Parents could also use interviews with teachers and NAPLAN to fill out the picture of how their children were performing. "NAPLAN gives you some sense of whether the school report card is an accurate assessment," she said. However, Maurie Mulheron from the Teachers Federation said the grading system was a straitjacket. "Parents don't understand what it means," he said. [We shouldn't] reduce a child's performance to simplistic numbers or grades." Mr Mulheron, once a teacher and principal himself, said reports should be simple, short and let teachers give straightforward feedback on how the child is progressing in relation to syllabus outcomes. "A comment should be three things - what the child is achieving, areas that need to be strengthened, and how you go about that." A spokesman for the NSW Department of Education said the state used the A-E scale as required by the federal government, and individual schools could choose to provide extra feedback. Reports must be written in plain language. Reports also need to include teacher comments identifying student strengths and areas for development; information about attendance and achievement; and information about a student's social development and commitment to learning. Campaigners fighting to preserve a corridor of banksia woodlands in Shenton Park are frustrated and fear for the future of Perths green spaces as their four-year battle nears its end. Bush Not Bricks Heidi Hardisty and Lyn Jennings have been pushing back against the encroachment of the Montario Quarter development into the neighbouring bush corridor, arguing units requiring parts of the bush be cleared could instead be incorporated into the main development, leaving the woodlands untouched. The Lemnos Street bush links two high profile areas of bushland. Credit:Google. They have been pushing their cause for the past four years, organising a parliamentary petition and protests in the course and demanding answers on the processes guiding planning approvals in Perth. The development has the support of the wider community and City of Nedlands, but it is the retention of the three hectares of banksia woodland that has been central to the fracas. Western Australia is following in the footsteps of major cities around the world like Sydney and Cape Town to attract tourists with a series of new thrill-seeking activities. Perth locals and visitors could soon be climbing and ziplining from the Matagarup Bridge and climbing the roof of Optus Stadium. The ideas were put forward by the state government as it urged tourism operators to propose unique ways to attract people to the new stadium precinct. Perth MP John Carey, Whadjuk Elder Roma Winmar, Premier Mark McGowan and Transport Minister Rita Saffioti near Matagarup Bridge on Sunday. Through Main Roads Western Australia and VenuesWest, the state government will open expressions of interest on Monday to tourism operators to activate the area. Australian voters are split on whether to cut the number of migrants coming from Muslim countries, as the Morrison government considers an overhaul of immigration and population rules within weeks. A special Fairfax-Ipsos survey finds only 14 per cent of voters support an increase in the number of immigrants from Muslim countries while 35 per cent believe the intake should stay the same. Australia's Prime Minister Scott Morrison at an APEC press conference on Sunday. Credit:AAP But another 46 per cent believe the intake should be reduced a lot or a little - a position backed by a clear majority of Coalition voters and one third of Labor voters. The exclusive poll was conducted after the Bourke Street terror attack by Hassan Khalif Shire Ali and amid growing calls from some conservative members of Parliament to cut migration from Muslim nations. So what does that mean for 2020, huh? You cant clone Jon Tester or Joe Manchin. And you probably wouldnt want to or youd get a bunch of mini-Manchins shooting holes in whatever happens to be the least popular policy of the moment. But we may want to clone Tammy Baldwin. In addition to the biggest Democratic House wave since Watergate, Democratic U.S. Senate candidates victories in at least seven states trump won in 2016 Arizona, Michigan, Montana, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Wisconsin and West Virginia. And this may be the promising sign from the midterm elections as we look ahead to 2020 especially when you consider that Republican Senate candidates won zero races in the states Clinton carried. However, despite these wins, Trump is still has a very good chance of winning a second election, argues Dr. Benjamin Waddell. He credits this advantage to the current White House occupants demographic advantage, which is a nice way of saying the states likely to decide the next presidential race are filled with a lot of white people. According to the Census Bureau, 76 percent of the population in Michigan is white, 82 percent in Wisconsin and 78 percent in Pennsylvania, Waddell writes. These numbers grow when we look at voting-age populations. Whites account for 79 percent of the voting-age population in Michigan, 86 percent in Wisconsin and 81 percent in Pennsylvania. His analysis is complicated by what actually happened in these states on November 6th. Democratic gubernatorial candidates in Michigan, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin also won with, respectively, 53.3, 57.7 and 49.6 percent of the vote. These three states gave Trump his slight, fluke electoral college win in 2016, as he pulled in just 47.5, 48.2 and 47.2 percent of the vote. So Trumps party lost three governors races and Senate races in the three states he needs for reelection. And one Democratic candidate for Senate Tammy Baldwin actually got 66,620 more total votes in an off-year year election than Trump did in a presidential year. Thats almost three times Trumps 22,748 margin of victory over Clinton in the state. Waddell focuses his analysis mostly on the states Democrats lost this year Indiana, Missouri and North Dakota. These are states where Trump is popular and Democrats are not and they have not been for a while. Trump is far more unpopular in Michigan, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin, mostly because he was never that popular here and only eeked out wins by depressing the vote and giving voters the false impression that it was safe to vote third party. But Waddell is right to note that Trump and the GOPs hold on the whiter states of America is tight and unlikely to be broken by current political trends. Whats also worth noting is that while Trumps racist anti-immigration policies, which sparked a backlash in the suburbs, fare far better in these less diverse states, Democratic policies are also very popular with these mostly white voters. And its not just Medicaid expansion, which keeps seeping into red states. Winning these voters over is definitely possible while still firmly rejecting Trumps nativism, but it does require Democrats recognizing that Republicans havent just gerrymandered our electoral maps, theyve gerrymandered our language. The word conservative is almost synonymous with Christian in many parts of America. Just saying small government invokes an entire worldview complete with some of dog whistles that invoke Americas worst traditions. This is no accident. This ceaseless brainwashing is built on the conscious effort of half a century of some of the most successful, invidious marketing ever. For hard core racists, nothing a party that stands for a more inclusive America says can win them over but few Americans admit to this sort of racism, even to themselves. Instead the scam of conservative marketing creates a culture that traps tens of millions of Americans into a political movement thats determined to work them until they die. Democrats can mock or shrug away the power of metaphor and repetition but then were just denying science the science of how brains work. In the latest FrameLab podcast, pioneering linguist George Lakoff makes the case that Democrats need to repeatedly invoke their values so voters can understand how progressive policies hang together in a coherent worldview. What values do Democrats offer voters? Lakoff nails it down to: In a democracy, you need a government that is of, by and for the people. And private life depends on public resources. Listen to the whole show to understand why this matters so much. And while Democrats shouldnt clone John Tester or Joe Manchin and their more conservative appeals to extremely Republican states, they have to look at what Tammy Baldwin pulled off in 2018, handily winning a swing state ripe with voter suppression whose voters are nearly 9 in 10 white. Targeted early with millions in outside spending by the Koch network, Baldwin ran as pragmatic progressive favoring Medicare for All along with other methods of expanding Medicare and our current health care system. And while Medicare for All isnt itself a statement of values it does summon to mind one of the most popular Democratic policies in American history and a key differentiator between the two parties only one is for all. Im not saying this is the simple solution to Democratic expanding their appeal. Im just saying Tammy Baldwin is definitely on to something and we should probably figure out what it is. [Image by WisPolitics.com] Other than the pot calling the kettle black about "shoddy accounting", what could be the motive for government forcing businesses to provide audited financials with their business license application? Could it be they want to measure what a new corporate tax will bring upon implementation? Maybe it should not be surprising this legislation was forced through Parliament without debate? What happened to the Green Paper on this subject? In fact, what has happened to following Parliamentary procedure with Bills? Successive Governments have now become like American presidents and their use of Executive Orders to circumvent the democratic process. It is very discouraging when a political party promises accountability while campaigning only to reverse course on several fronts once elected. Read more here... A 14-year-old boy from Fort Defiance was struck by an oncoming car on Saturday afternoon while crossing Route 11, according to Virginia State Police. The accident happened at the 1600 block of Lee Highway. A Volkswagon Jetta traveling northbound, driven by a 20-year-old from Weyers Cave, hit the boy just before 3:00 p.m. The boy was taken to the University of Virginia Medical Center for life-threatening injuries, police said. The driver of the Jetta was taken to Augusta Health for minor injuries. Police did not state whether there was a crosswalk where the crash happened. The crash remains under investigation and charges are pending, police said. Blog Archive June 2021 (1) May 2021 (77) April 2021 (77) March 2021 (82) February 2021 (68) January 2021 (64) December 2020 (67) November 2020 (66) October 2020 (66) September 2020 (67) August 2020 (74) July 2020 (83) June 2020 (92) May 2020 (86) April 2020 (104) March 2020 (105) February 2020 (74) January 2020 (75) December 2019 (75) November 2019 (70) October 2019 (89) September 2019 (69) August 2019 (81) July 2019 (77) June 2019 (73) May 2019 (110) April 2019 (110) March 2019 (102) February 2019 (85) January 2019 (123) December 2018 (116) November 2018 (112) October 2018 (121) September 2018 (107) August 2018 (150) July 2018 (163) June 2018 (190) May 2018 (145) April 2018 (112) March 2018 (124) February 2018 (113) January 2018 (164) December 2017 (150) November 2017 (144) October 2017 (169) September 2017 (171) August 2017 (135) July 2017 (131) June 2017 (147) May 2017 (160) April 2017 (138) March 2017 (156) February 2017 (143) January 2017 (203) December 2016 (208) November 2016 (185) October 2016 (173) September 2016 (194) August 2016 (232) July 2016 (225) June 2016 (238) May 2016 (231) April 2016 (215) March 2016 (246) February 2016 (226) January 2016 (252) December 2015 (230) November 2015 (250) October 2015 (234) September 2015 (222) August 2015 (253) July 2015 (275) June 2015 (279) May 2015 (223) April 2015 (226) March 2015 (243) February 2015 (258) January 2015 (281) December 2014 (292) November 2014 (296) October 2014 (413) September 2014 (472) August 2014 (506) July 2014 (483) June 2014 (488) May 2014 (512) April 2014 (497) March 2014 (531) February 2014 (482) January 2014 (535) December 2013 (482) November 2013 (441) October 2013 (416) September 2013 (491) August 2013 (521) July 2013 (491) June 2013 (470) May 2013 (457) April 2013 (426) March 2013 (420) February 2013 (414) January 2013 (489) December 2012 (433) November 2012 (504) October 2012 (469) September 2012 (430) August 2012 (427) July 2012 (360) June 2012 (336) May 2012 (362) April 2012 (322) March 2012 (263) February 2012 (224) January 2012 (291) December 2011 (295) November 2011 (325) October 2011 (330) September 2011 (319) August 2011 (333) July 2011 (318) June 2011 (387) May 2011 (373) April 2011 (389) March 2011 (375) February 2011 (335) January 2011 (400) December 2010 (445) November 2010 (395) October 2010 (312) September 2010 (262) August 2010 (277) July 2010 (323) June 2010 (386) May 2010 (360) April 2010 (333) March 2010 (351) February 2010 (336) January 2010 (384) December 2009 (353) November 2009 (300) October 2009 (308) September 2009 (350) August 2009 (298) July 2009 (255) June 2009 (203) May 2009 (193) April 2009 (186) March 2009 (197) February 2009 (173) January 2009 (148) December 2008 (181) November 2008 (197) October 2008 (236) September 2008 (304) August 2008 (314) July 2008 (273) June 2008 (27) May 2008 (1) April 2008 (6) October 2007 (1) May 2007 (1) April 2007 (6) March 2007 (2) February 2007 (1) October 2006 (1) September 2006 (1) August 2006 (4) July 2006 (4) June 2006 (1) July 2005 (1) May 2005 (2) March 2005 (1) June 2004 (2) May 2004 (1) April 2004 (4) March 2004 (2) February 2004 (2) July 2003 (2) June 2003 (5) Hey there, time traveller! This article was published 18/11/2018 (1101 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current. Debby Sillitos life is confined to six city blocks. The 54-year-old Winnipegger uses a walker to get from her home on Sargent Avenue to Ellice Avenue to volunteer at a local advocacy agency, to Notre Dame Avenue for small loads of groceries and to Portage Place mall for anything else. HANNAH OWCZAR PHOTO Debby Sillito has been on employment and income assistance since 1992 and can only afford to ride the bus when she receives free tokens from her volunteer employer. Sillito says she cant afford to go anywhere else because the $777 she receives from employment and income assistance (EIA) each month is spent on essentials, with nothing left over for bus fare. Sillito has fibromyalgia syndrome and suffers from chronic pain. She says she doesnt qualify for Handi-Transit. Between her illness and living in poverty, she says shes isolated. "When it comes to social inclusion, I dont have any," she says. "It makes me angry, quite frankly. I cant go and see the people I love, I cant go and see my friends, I cant even afford to see my grandchildren." Sillito, who has lived on EIA since 1992, only rides the bus when she receives free tokens from her volunteer employer, she says. "When youre on EIA, you have a choice whether to take the bus or to buy food because bus fare is almost six dollars (round trip) and you only get four dollars a day for food," she says. "If youre going to take the bus somewhere, thats a day and a half of food youre not eating. Youre asking to take food out of our mouths. Thats a reality to us." The most recent fare hike came after the province froze funding at 2016 levels, effectively ending a 50-50 funding deal it had with the city. The 25-cent fare increase raised the cost of a monthly bus pass to $100.10 for 17- to 64-year-olds who dont go to school. For the past two years, Sillito has been a volunteer advocate at Low Income Intermediary Project, a program that helps people navigate the EIA system. She says many of her clients also worry about how to pay for transportation. "I hate it when I have to (tell clients), youve got to come down here and sign papers, I cant sign them for you. Thats hard to say to somebody," she says. Affordable transportation is an important part of a poverty-reduction strategy, according to a 2017 Vibrant Communities Canada report. It reduces barriers for people living on low income in accessing supports and expanding participation in the community, the report says. Michael Barkman, chairman of advocacy group Make Poverty History Manitoba, is calling for subsidized or free transit passes for those living at the poverty line. "There are still so many aspects of support that are needed for people living in poverty. This is a good Step 1," he says. "Transportation is one of those essential needs for life. Its something thats needed whether to get to medical appointments or to get food." Calgary was one of the first Canadian municipalities to implement a low-income bus pass program. The program began as a pilot project in 2005 and was fully implemented three years later. Toronto, Ottawa, Edmonton, Hamilton and Mississauga are among other cities that have introduced low-income transit programs. In this falls civic election, Mayor Brian Bowman campaigned on a promise to introduce a low-income transit pass. The Fare Entry program in Calgary works on a sliding scale, meaning those who earn less pay less, based on income. Individuals aged 18-64 can qualify by providing proof of residency and income. Calgarians can qualify for three low-income rates, the lowest costing $5.15 for a monthly pass, the highest $51.50. Last year, in the first three months the sliding scale was implemented, 54 per cent of low-income passes were sold at the lowest rate, according to a 2017 City of Calgary community services report. This number exceeded earlier demand estimates by around 10 per cent. Financial relief and social inclusion are positive outcomes of having a low-income bus pass, according to a 2007 survey by Civics Research Co-operative. Half of those surveyed said money saved on transportation helped pay for food and shelter. Sixty-two per cent said they visited friends and family more often and nearly 60 per cent said they were able to keep a job as a result of the pass. Nearly eight in 10 Winnipeggers surveyed supported a low-income pass, according to a 2018 Probe Research report commissioned by the Amalgamated Transit Union Local 1505. The survey noted the potential cost of the program would be $10 million and would require hiring additional city staff. In light of this, 55 per cent of regular transit riders were still in favour of a low-income pass. A low-income pass could help end assaults on drivers, transit union president Aleem Chaudhary says. According to the union, most assaults on transit operators result from arguments about the fare. Between Feb. 14, 2017, and Feb. 14, 2018, Winnipeg Transit recorded 56 assaults on drivers, according to city records. "The majority of fare evasions are people who just dont have the money, unfortunately," Chaudhary says. "To make a fair and equitable society, we have to help people who dont have." Chaudhary says any dispute puts transit operators at risk. A low-income bus pass "gives people dignity when they get on the bus, rather than getting on the bus without any money and asking an operator to let them have a free ride," Chaudhary says. "It puts pressure on the people getting on the bus and might make them do something they dont want to do." Chaudhary says he doesnt think the pass will cost the city or province any more money. The city loses $5,000 to $7,000 per day due to fare evasion, according to the union. "Most people who dont have the means to buy transit fare are riding for free anyways, so what is the difference if they get a pass for free?" he says. "The province is already paying for a lot of bus tickets, like buying them for EIA. Its about using resources in a better way." Barkman says affordable transit isnt just a benefit to low-income passengers, but the city as a whole. "We should really advocate for transportation as part of the public good in general. There are so many successful cities where people from all sorts of socio-economic backgrounds take public transit," he says. "Healthy cities are ones that have a good public and active transportation system." Hannah Owczar is a journalism student with Red River Colleges creative communications program. Pepping up the players for a trip to the UNI Dome The Winterset High School competition gym was filled with good cheer from freshmen to seniors and boosters in between. They gathered on game day to Pep Up the coaches and players of the Husky football team, who would soon depart for their journey to the... Winterset falls in semifinals Winterset advanced to the Class 4A semifinals on Thursday night to face the Xavier Saints at the UNI Dome in Cedar Falls. Despite a valiant effort by the Huskies, Xavier defeated Winterset 40-14. Our boys fought hard, said head coach Zach Sweeney. We ran into... Telecom Italia S.p.A., together with its subsidiaries, provides fixed and mobile telecommunications services in Europe, South America, and the Mediterranean Basin. The company operates through Domestic, Brazil, and Other Operations segments. It offers fixed and mobile voice and Internet, and public telephony services, as well as products managed and developed for individuals and families; and voice, data, and Internet services and products, and information and communications technology solutions for small and medium-size enterprises, small offices/home offices, the public sector, large accounts, and enterprises in the fixed and mobile telecommunications markets. The company also manages and develops a portfolio of regulated and unregulated wholesale services for fixed and mobile telecommunications operators; provision of infrastructure for housing radio transmission equipment of mobile telephone networks; and development, engineering, building, and operation of network infrastructures, information technology (IT), real estate properties, and plant engineering. In addition, it engages in customer care, operating credit support, loyalty, and retention activities; and staff functions and other support activities. Further, the company offers office products and services for IT sector. The company was founded in 1908 and is headquartered in Rome, Italy. 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 The following companies are subsidiares of Bayerische Motoren Werke Aktiengesellschaft: 217-07 Northern Boulevard Corporation, ALPHABET (GB) Ltd., APD Industries plc, Alphabet Austria Fuhrparkmanagement GmbH, Alphabet Belgium Long Term Rental NV, Alphabet Fleetservices GmbH, Alphabet France SAS, Alphabet Fuhrparkmanagement, Alphabet Fuhrparkmanagement (Schweiz) AG, Alphabet Fuhrparkmanagement GmbH, Alphabet Insurance Services Polska Sp. z o. o., Alphabet International GmbH, Alphabet Italia Fleet Management S.p.A., Alphabet Luxembourg S.A., Alphabet Polska Fleet Management Sp. z o. o., Alphabet UK Ltd., Automag GmbH, BAVARIA-LLOYD Reiseburo GmbH, BLMC Ltd., BMW (GB) Ltd., BMW (P + A) Ltd., BMW (Schweiz) AG, BMW (South Africa) (Pty) Ltd, BMW (South Africa) (Pty) Ltd., BMW (Thailand) Co, BMW (Thailand) Co., BMW (UK) Capital plc, BMW (UK) Holdings Ltd., BMW (UK) Investments Ltd., BMW (UK) Limited, BMW (UK) Ltd., BMW (UK) Manufacturing Limited, BMW (UK) Manufacturing Ltd., BMW (UK) Pensions Services Ltd., BMW (US) Holding Corp., BMW (US) Holding Corporation, BMW AVTOTOR Holding B.V., BMW Acquisitions Ltda., BMW Amsterdam B.V., BMW Anlagen Verwaltungs GmbH, BMW Asia Pacific Capital PTE, BMW Asia Pacific Capital Pte Ltd., BMW Asia Pte. Ltd., BMW Asia Technology Centre Sdn Bhd, BMW Australia Finance Ltd., BMW Australia Ltd., BMW Austria Bank GmbH, BMW Austria Ges.m. b. H., BMW Austria Leasing GmbH, BMW Auto Leasing, BMW Automobile Distributors (Pty) Ltd., BMW Automotive (Ireland) Ltd., BMW Automotive Finance (China) Co, BMW Automotive Finance (China) Co., BMW Bank, BMW Bank, BMW Bank OOO, BMW Bank of North America, BMW Belgium Luxembourg S.A. / N.V., BMW Beteiligungs GmbH & Co. KG, BMW Brilliance, BMW Brilliance Automotive Ltd., BMW Canada Inc, BMW Canada Inc., BMW Car Club Ltd., BMW Car IT GmbH, BMW Central Pension Trustees Ltd., BMW China Automotive Trading Ltd, BMW China Automotive Trading Ltd., BMW China Services Ltd., BMW Consolidation Services Co., BMW Coordination Center V.o.F., BMW Credit (Malaysia) Sdn Bhd, BMW Danmark A / S, BMW Den Haag B.V., BMW Distribution S.A.S., BMW Drivers Club Ltd., BMW Espana Finance SL, BMW Espana Finance S.L., BMW Experience Centre Inc., BMW Extended Service Corporation, BMW FS Funding Corp., BMW FS Receivables Corp, BMW FS Securities LLC, BMW Facility Partners, BMW Fahrzeugtechnik GmbH, BMW Finance (United Arab Emirates) Ltd., BMW Finance N.V., BMW Finance S. N. C., BMW Financeira S.A. Credito, BMW Financeira S.A. Credito, BMW Financial Services (GB) Ltd., BMW Financial Services (Ireland) DAC, BMW Financial Services (South Africa) (Pty) Ltd., BMW Financial Services B.V., BMW Financial Services Belgium S.A. / N.V., BMW Financial Services Denmark A / S, BMW Financial Services Holding GmbH, BMW Financial Services Hong Kong Limited, BMW Financial Services Korea Co, BMW Financial Services Korea Co., BMW Financial Services NA, BMW Financial Services New Zealand Ltd., BMW Financial Services Polska Sp. z o. o., BMW Financial Services Scandinavia AB, BMW Financial Services Singapore Pte Ltd., BMW Financial Services de Mexico S.A. de C.V. SOFOM, BMW Finanz Verwaltungs GmbH, BMW Finanzdienstleistungen (Schweiz) AG, BMW France, BMW France S.A., BMW Group Benefit Trust Ltd., BMW Hams Hall Motoren GmbH, BMW Hellas Trade of Cars A. E., BMW High Power Charging Beteiligungs GmbH, BMW Holding B.V., BMW Holding Malaysia Sdn Bhd, BMW Hong Kong Services Limited, BMW Iberica S.A., BMW Iberica, BMW India, BMW India Financial Services Private Ltd., BMW India Foundation, BMW India Leasing Pvt. Ltd., BMW India Private Ltd., BMW Insurance Agency, BMW Insurance Services Korea Co. Ltd., BMW International Holding B.V., BMW International Investment B.V., BMW Italia S.p.A., BMW Japan, BMW Japan Corp., BMW Japan Finance Corp., BMW Korea Co, BMW Korea Co., BMW Lease (Malaysia) Sdn, BMW Lease (Malaysia) Sdn Bhd, BMW Leasing de Argentina S.A., BMW Leasing de Mexico S.A. de C.V., BMW Leasing do Brasil, BMW M GmbH Gesellschaft fur individuelle Automobile, BMW Madrid S.L., BMW Malaysia Sdn Bhd, BMW Malta Finance Ltd., BMW Malta Ltd, BMW Malta Ltd., BMW Manufacturing (Thailand) Co., BMW Manufacturing Co., BMW Manufacturing Industria de Motos da Amazonia Ltda., BMW Manufacturing LP, BMW Melbourne Pty. Ltd., BMW Milano S. r. l., BMW Motoren GmbH, BMW Motorsport Ltd., BMW Nederland B.V., BMW New Zealand Ltd., BMW Norge AS, BMW Northern Europe AB, BMW Operations Corp., BMW Philippines Corp., BMW Philippines Corporation, BMW Portugal Lda., BMW Receivables 1 Inc., BMW Receivables 2 Inc., BMW Receivables Limited Partnership, BMW Renting (Portugal) Lda., BMW Retail Nederland B.V., BMW Roma S. r. l., BMW Russland Automotive OOO, BMW Russland Trading OOO, BMW SLP, BMW Services Belgium N.V., BMW Services Ltd., BMW Sverige AB, BMW Sydney Pty. Ltd., BMW Technology Corporation, BMW Tokyo Corp., BMW US Capital, BMW Vermogensverwaltungs GmbH, BMW Vertriebs GmbH, BMW Vertriebszentren Verwaltungs GmbH, BMW Verwaltungs GmbH, BMW de Argentina S.A., BMW de Mexico, BMW do Brasil Ltda., BMW i Ventures, BMW i Ventures B.V., BMW i Ventures GmbH, BMW i Ventures SCS SICAV-RAIF, BMW of Manhattan, BMW of North America, BMW Osterreich Holding GmbH, BPF Midrand Property Holdings (Pty) Ltd., Bavaria Insurance Company Limited, Bavaria Reinsurance Malta Limited, Bavaria Reinsurance Malta Ltd., Bavaria Wirtschaftsagentur GmbH, Bavarian Sky S.A., BiV Carry I SCS, Bmw Intec Beteiligungs Gmbh, Bmw Leasing (Thailand) Company Limited, Bmw Roma Srl, Burohaus Petuelring GmbH, Cobalt Holdings Ltd., Cobalt Telephone Technologies Ltd., Content4all BV, Designworks / USA, DesignworksUSA, Digital Charging Solutions GmbH, DriveNow, DriveNow Verwaltungs GmbH, Encory GmbH, Financial Services Vehicle Trust, Herald Hezhong (Beijing) Automotive Trading Co., Herald International Financial Leasing Co., Here, John Cooper Garages Ltd., John Cooper Works Ltd., LARGUS Grundstucks-Verwaltungsgesellschaft mbH, MINI Business Innovation, MW Osterreich Holding GmbH, Mini Urban X Accelerator SPV, Multisource Properties (Pty) Ltd., OOO BMW Leasing, Oy BMW Suomi AB, PM Parking Ventures GmbH, PT BMW Indonesia, Park Lane Limited, Park Lane Ltd., Park-line Aqua B.V., Park-line B.V., Park-line Holding B.V., ParkMobile, ParkNow France SAS, ParkNow GmbH, ParkNow Suisse SA, Parkhaus Oberwiesenfeld GmbH, Parkmobile (UK) Ltd., Parkmobile Belgium BvBa, Parkmobile Benelux B.V., Parkmobile Electronic Parking Solutions Canada, Parkmobile Group B.V., Parkmobile Group BV, Parkmobile Group Holding BV, Parkmobile Hellas SA, Parkmobile International B.V., Parkmobile International Holding B.V., Parkmobile Licenses B.V., Parkmobile Ltd., Parkmobile Montgomery County, Parkmobile Software BV, Parkmobile USA, Procar Automobile Finanz-Holding GmbH & Co. KG, ReachNow, Riley Motors Ltd., Rolls-Royce Holdings plc, Rolls-Royce Motor Cars GmbH, Rolls-Royce Motor Cars Ltd., Rolls-Royce Motor Cars Na, SB Acquisitions, Societe Nouvelle WATT Automobiles SARL, Swindon Pressings Ltd., The Retail Performance Company GmbH, Toluca Planta de Automoviles, Triumph Motor Company Ltd., U. T. E. Alphabet Espana-Bujarkay, and bmw manufacturing thailand. There is not enough analysis data for Delphi Energy Corp. (DEE.TO). 4.3 Community Rank Outperform Votes Delphi Energy Corp. (DEE.TO) has received 216 outperform votes. (Add your outperform vote.) Underperform Votes Delphi Energy Corp. (DEE.TO) has received 118 underperform votes. (Add your underperform vote.) Community Sentiment Delphi Energy Corp. (DEE.TO) has received 64.67% outperform votes from our community. MarketBeat's community ratings are surveys of what our community members think about Delphi Energy Corp. (DEE.TO) and other stocks. Vote Outperform if you believe DEE will outperform the S&P 500 over the long term. Vote Underperform if you believe DEE will underperform the S&P 500 over the long term. You may vote once every thirty days. Previous Next The following companies are subsidiares of Bristol-Myers Squibb: 1096271 B.C. ULC, 345 Park LLC, A.G. Medical Services P.A., AHI Investment LLC, AbVitro LLC, Abraxis BioScience Australia Pty Ltd., Abraxis BioScience Inc., Abraxis BioScience International Holding Company Inc., Abraxis BioScience LLC, Abraxis BioScience Puerto Rico LLC, Acetylon Pharmaceuticals Inc., Adnexus, Adnexus a Bristol-Myers Squibb R&D Company, Allard Labs Acquisition G.P., Amira Pharmaceuticals, Amira Pharmaceuticals Inc., Amylin Pharmaceuticals, Apothecon LLC, B-MS Generx Unlimited Company, BMS Benelux Holdings B.V., BMS Bermuda Nominees L.L.C., BMS Data Acquisition Company LLC, BMS Forex Company, BMS Holdings Sarl, BMS Holdings Spain S.L., BMS International Insurance Designated Activity Company, BMS Investco SAS, BMS Korea Holdings L.L.C., BMS Latin American Nominees L.L.C., BMS Luxembourg Partners L.L.C., BMS Omega Bermuda Holdings Finance Ltd., BMS Pharmaceutical Korea Limited, BMS Pharmaceuticals Germany Holdings B.V., BMS Pharmaceuticals International Holdings Netherlands B.V., BMS Pharmaceuticals Korea Holdings B.V., BMS Pharmaceuticals Mexico Holdings B.V., BMS Pharmaceuticals Netherlands Holdings B.V., BMS Real Estate LLC, BMS Spain Investments LLC, BMS Strategic Portfolio Investments Holdings Inc., Blisa Acquisition G.P., Bristol (Iran) S.A., Bristol Iran Private Company Limited, Bristol Laboratories Inc., Bristol Laboratories International S.A., Bristol Laboratories Medical Information Systems Inc., Bristol-Myers (Andes) L.L.C., Bristol-Myers (Private) Limited, Bristol-Myers Middle East S.A.L., Bristol-Myers Overseas Corporation, Bristol-Myers Squibb (China) Investment Co. Ltd., Bristol-Myers Squibb (China) Pharmaceuticals Co. Ltd., Bristol-Myers Squibb (Israel) Ltd., Bristol-Myers Squibb (NZ) Limited, Bristol-Myers Squibb (Proprietary) Limited, Bristol-Myers Squibb (Shanghai) Trading Co. Ltd., Bristol-Myers Squibb (Singapore) Pte. Limited, Bristol-Myers Squibb (Taiwan) Ltd., Bristol-Myers Squibb (West Indies) Ltd., Bristol-Myers Squibb A.E., Bristol-Myers Squibb Aktiebolag, Bristol-Myers Squibb Argentina S. R. L., Bristol-Myers Squibb Australia Pty. Ltd., Bristol-Myers Squibb Axia Limited, Bristol-Myers Squibb B.V., Bristol-Myers Squibb Belgium S.A., Bristol-Myers Squibb Business Services Limited, Bristol-Myers Squibb Canada Co., Bristol-Myers Squibb Canada International Limited, Bristol-Myers Squibb Delta Company Limited, Bristol-Myers Squibb Denmark Filial of Bristol-Myers Squibb AB, Bristol-Myers Squibb EMEA Sarl, Bristol-Myers Squibb Egypt LLC, Bristol-Myers Squibb Epsilon Holdings Unlimited Company, Bristol-Myers Squibb Farmaceutica Ltda., Bristol-Myers Squibb Farmaceutica Portuguesa S.A., Bristol-Myers Squibb GesmbH, Bristol-Myers Squibb GmbH & Co. KGaA, Bristol-Myers Squibb Holding Germany GmbH & Co. KG, Bristol-Myers Squibb Holdings 2002 Limited, Bristol-Myers Squibb Holdings Germany Verwaltungs GmbH, Bristol-Myers Squibb Holdings Ireland Unlimited Company, Bristol-Myers Squibb Holdings Limited, Bristol-Myers Squibb Holdings Pharma Ltd. Liability Company, Bristol-Myers Squibb Ilaclari Inc., Bristol-Myers Squibb India Pvt. Limited, Bristol-Myers Squibb International Company Unlimited Company, Bristol-Myers Squibb International Corporation, Bristol-Myers Squibb Investco L.L.C., Bristol-Myers Squibb K.K., Bristol-Myers Squibb Kft., Bristol-Myers Squibb Luxembourg International S.C.A., Bristol-Myers Squibb Luxembourg S.a.r.l., Bristol-Myers Squibb MEA GmbH, Bristol-Myers Squibb Manufacturing Company, Bristol-Myers Squibb Marketing Services S.R.L., Bristol-Myers Squibb Middle East & Africa FZ-LLC, Bristol-Myers Squibb Norway Ltd., Bristol-Myers Squibb Nutricionales de Mexico S. de R.L. de C.V., Bristol-Myers Squibb Peru S.A., Bristol-Myers Squibb Pharma (HK) Ltd, Bristol-Myers Squibb Pharma (Thailand) Limited, Bristol-Myers Squibb Pharma Company, Bristol-Myers Squibb Pharma EEIG, Bristol-Myers Squibb Pharma Holding Company LLC, Bristol-Myers Squibb Pharma Ventures Corporation, Bristol-Myers Squibb Pharmaceuticals Limited, Bristol-Myers Squibb Pharmaceuticals Unlimited Company, Bristol-Myers Squibb Polska Sp. z o.o., Bristol-Myers Squibb Products SA, Bristol-Myers Squibb Puerto Rico Inc., Bristol-Myers Squibb Puerto Rico/Sanofi Pharmaceutical Partnership Puerto Rico, Bristol-Myers Squibb Romania S.R.L., Bristol-Myers Squibb S.A.U., Bristol-Myers Squibb S.r.l., Bristol-Myers Squibb SA, Bristol-Myers Squibb Sanofi Pharmaceuticals Holding Partnership, Bristol-Myers Squibb Sarl, Bristol-Myers Squibb Service Ltd., Bristol-Myers Squibb Services Sp. z o.o., Bristol-Myers Squibb Spol. s r.o., Bristol-Myers Squibb Theta Finance Ltd., Bristol-Myers Squibb Trustees Limited, Bristol-Myers Squibb Verwaltungs GmbH, Bristol-Myers Squibb de Colombia S.A., Bristol-Myers Squibb de Costa Rica Sociedad Anonima, Bristol-Myers Squibb de Guatemala S.A., Bristol-Myers Squibb de Mexico S. de R.L. de C.V., Bristol-Myers Squibb/Astrazeneca EEIG, Bristol-Myers Squibb/Pfizer EEIG, Bristol-Myers Squibb/Sanofi Pharmaceuticals Partnership, Bristol-Myers de Venezuela S.C.A., CHT I LLC, CHT II LLC, CHT III LLC, CHT IV LLC, CR Finance Company LLC, Cardioxyl Pharmaceuticals, Cardioxyl Pharmaceuticals Inc., Celem LLC, Celem Ltd., Celgene, Celgene A.B., Celgene AS, Celgene Ab (Finland), Celgene Alpine Investment Co. II LLC, Celgene Alpine Investment Co. III LLC, Celgene Alpine Investment Co. LLC, Celgene ApS, Celgene B.V., Celgene BVBA, Celgene Brasil Produtos Farmaceuticos Ltda., Celgene CAR LLC, Celgene CAR Ltd., Celgene Chemicals Sarl, Celgene China Holdings LLC, Celgene Co., Celgene Corporation, Celgene Distribution B.V., Celgene EngMab GmbH, Celgene Europe B.V., Celgene Europe Limited, Celgene European Investment Company LLC, Celgene Financing Company LLC, Celgene Global Holdings Sarl, Celgene GmbH [Austria], Celgene GmbH [Germany], Celgene GmbH [Switzerland], Celgene Holdings East Corporation, Celgene Holdings II Sarl, Celgene Holdings III Sarl, Celgene Ilac Pazarlama ve Ticaret Limited Sirketi, Celgene Inc., Celgene International Holdings Corporation, Celgene International II Sarl, Celgene International III Sarl, Celgene International Inc., Celgene International Sarl, Celgene K.K., Celgene Kft., Celgene Limited [Hong Kong], Celgene Limited [Ireland], Celgene Limited [New Zealand], Celgene Limited [Taiwan], Celgene Limited [UK], Celgene Logistics Sarl, Celgene Ltd, Celgene Luxembourg Sarl, Celgene Management Sarl, Celgene NJ Investment Co, Celgene Netherlands B.V., Celgene Netherlands Investment B.V., Celgene Pharmaceutical (Shanghai) Co. Ltd., Celgene Pte. Ltd., Celgene Pty Ltd, Celgene Puerto Rico Distribution LLC, Celgene Quanticel Research Inc, Celgene R&D Sarl, Celgene RIVOT LLC, Celgene RIVOT Ltd., Celgene RIVOT SRL, Celgene Receptos Limited, Celgene Receptos Sarl, Celgene Research Incubator At Summit West LLC, Celgene Research S.L.U., Celgene Research and Development Company LLC, Celgene Research and Development I ULC, Celgene Research and Development II LLC, Celgene Research and Investment Company II LLC, Celgene S. de R.L. de C.V., Celgene S.L.U., Celgene S.R.L., Celgene SAS, Celgene Sarl AU, Celgene Sdn Bhd, Celgene Services Sarl, Celgene Sociedade Unipessoal Lda, Celgene Sp. Z.o.o., Celgene Sro [Czech Republic], Celgene Summit Investment Co, Celgene Switzerland Holding Sarl, Celgene Switzerland II LLC, Celgene Switzerland Investment Sarl, Celgene Switzerland LLC, Celgene Switzerland Sarl, Celgene Tri A Holdings Ltd., Celgene Tri Sarl, Celgene UK Distribution Limited, Celgene UK Holdings Limited, Celgene UK Manufacturing II Limited, Celgene UK Manufacturing III Limited, Celgene UK Manufacturing Limited, Celgene d.o.o., Celgene sro [Slovakia], Celmed LLC, Celmed Ltd., ConvaTec Divestiture, Cormorant Pharmaceuticals, Cormorant Pharmaceuticals AB, Crosp Ltd., Delinia Inc., Deuteria Pharmaceuticals Inc., DuPont Pharmaceuticals, E. R. Squibb & Sons Inter-American Corporation, E. R. Squibb & Sons L.L.C., E. R. Squibb & Sons Limited, EWI Corporation, EngMab Sarl, F-star Alpha, FermaVir Pharmaceuticals L.L.C., FermaVir Research L.L.C., Flexus Biosciences, Flexus Biosciences Inc., Forbius, Galecto Biotech, GenPharm International L.L.C., Gloucester Pharmaceuticals LLC, Grove Insurance Company Ltd., Heyden Farmaceutica Portuguesa Limitada, IFM Therapeutics, Impact Biomedicines Inc., Inhibitex, Inhibitex L.L.C., Innate Tumor Immunity Inc., JuMP Holdings LLC, Juno Therapeutics GmbH, Juno Therapeutics Inc., Kosan Biosciences, Kosan Biosciences Incorporated, Linson Investments Limited, Mead Johnson (Manufacturing) Jamaica Limited, Mead Johnson Jamaica Ltd., Medarex, Morris Avenue Investment II LLC, Morris Avenue Investment LLC, MyoKardia, O.o.o. Bristol-Myers Squibb, Oy Bristol-Myers Squibb (Finland) AB, Padlock Therapeutics, Padlock Therapeutics Inc., Pharmion LLC, Princeton Pharmaceutical Products Inc., Receptos LLC, Receptos Services LLC, RedoxTherapies Inc., Route 22 Real Estate Holding Corporation, SPV A Holdings ULC, Seamair Insurance DAC, Signal Pharmaceuticals LLC, Sino-American Shanghai Squibb Pharmaceuticals Limited, Societe Francaise de Complements Alimentaires(S.O.F.C.A.), Squibb Middle East S.A., Summit West Celgene LLC, Swords Laboratories, VentiRx Pharmaceuticals Inc., Westwood-Intrafin SA, Westwood-Squibb Pharmaceuticals Inc., X-Body Inc., ZymoGenetics, ZymoGenetics Inc., ZymoGenetics LLC, ZymoGenetics Paymaster LLC, iPierian, and iPierian Inc.. There is not enough analysis data for CNOOC. 4.0 Community Rank Outperform Votes CNOOC has received 306 outperform votes. (Add your outperform vote.) Underperform Votes CNOOC has received 206 underperform votes. (Add your underperform vote.) Community Sentiment CNOOC has received 59.77% outperform votes from our community. MarketBeat's community ratings are surveys of what our community members think about CNOOC and other stocks. Vote Outperform if you believe CEO will outperform the S&P 500 over the long term. Vote Underperform if you believe CEO will underperform the S&P 500 over the long term. You may vote once every thirty days. Previous Next Cobham plc provides a range of technologies and services to commercial, defense, aerospace, space, and security markets in the United Kingdom, the United States, other European countries, Australia, Asia, and internationally. The company operates in four segments: Communications and Connectivity, Mission Systems, Advanced Electronic Solutions, and Aviation Services. The Communications and Connectivity segment offers equipment and solutions for the aerospace, avionics, satellite, radio, wireless, antenna, and mobile connectivity markets. The Mission Systems segment provides safety and survival systems for extreme environments; nose-to-tail aerial refueling systems; and wing-tip to wing-tip mission systems for jets, transport aircraft, and rotorcraft. The Advanced Electronic Solutions segment offers critical solutions for communication on land, at sea, in the air, and in space through off-the-shelf and customized products, which include radio frequency, microwave, microelectronics, antenna subsystems, and motion control solutions. This segment serves defense, radar, electronic warfare, X-ray imaging, medical, and industrial markets. The Aviation Services segment delivers outsourced aviation services for military and commercial customers through military training, special mission flights, outsourced commercial aviation, fly-in fly-out, and aircraft engineering services. Cobham plc was founded in 1934 and is headquartered in Wimborne, the United Kingdom. Read More Our portfolio of high quality UK commercial property is focused on London Offices and Retail around the UK. We own or manage a portfolio valued at A13.7bn (British Land share: A10.3bn) as at 30 September 2020 making us one of Europe's largest listed real estate investment companies. Our strategy is to provide places which meet the needs of our customers and respond to changing lifestyles - Places People Prefer. We do this by creating great environments both inside and outside our buildings and use our scale and placemaking skills to enhance and enliven them. This expands their appeal to a broader range of occupiers, creating enduring demand and driving sustainable, long term performance. Our Offices portfolio comprises three office-led campuses in central London as well as high quality standalone buildings and accounts for 65% of our portfolio. Our Retail portfolio is focused on retail parks and shopping centres, and accounts for 31% of our portfolio. Increasingly our focus is on providing a mix of uses and this is most evident at Canada Water, our 53 acre redevelopment opportunity where we have plans to create a new neighbourhood for London. Sustainability is embedded throughout our business. Our places, which are designed to meet high sustainability standards, become part of local communities, provide opportunities for skills development and employment and promote wellbeing. In April 2016 British Land received the Queen's Award for Enterprise: Sustainable Development, the UK's highest accolade for business success for economic, social and environmental achievements over a period of five years. Read More Energy Transfer Partners, L.P. engages in the natural gas midstream, and intrastate transportation and storage businesses in the United States. The company's Intrastate Transportation and Storage segment transports natural gas from various natural gas producing areas through connections with other pipeline systems, as well as through its ET Fuel System and HPL System. This segment owns and operates approximately 7,900 miles of natural gas transportation pipelines and three natural gas storage facilities in Texas. Its Interstate Transportation and Storage segment provides natural gas transportation and storage services; owns and operates approximately 11,800 miles of interstate natural gas pipelines; and has interests in various natural gas pipelines. The company's Midstream segment gathers, compresses, treats, blends, processes, and markets natural gas. It owns and operates natural gas and natural gas liquids (NGL) gathering pipelines, natural gas processing plants, natural gas treating facilities, and natural gas conditioning facilities. The company's NGL and Refined Products Transportation and Services segment transports mixed NGLs and other hydrocarbons; stores mixed NGLs, NGL products, and petrochemical products; and separates mixed NGL streams into purity products. This segment owns and operates various NGL pipelines, NGL and propane fractionation facilities, and NGL storage facilities. Its Crude Oil Transportation and Services segment engages in the transportation, terminalling, and acquisition and marketing of crude oil; and operates crude oil trunk and gathering pipelines. The company's All Other segment engages in the natural gas compression equipment business; provides natural gas compression equipment and compression services; manages coal and natural resources property, sells standing timber, and leases coal-related infrastructure facilities; and generates electrical power. Energy Transfer Partners, L.P. was founded in 1995 and is based in Dallas, Texas. Read More The following companies are subsidiares of Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft: 87 Leonard Development LLC, ABFS I Incorporated, ABS MB Ltd., Acacia (Luxembourg) S.a r.l., Accounting Solutions Holding Company Inc, Alex. Brown Financial Services Incorporated, Alex. Brown Investments Incorporated, Alfred Herrhausen Gesellschaft mbH, Amber Investments S.a r.l., Ambidexter GmbH, Ambidexter GmbH i.L., Argent Incorporated, BHW - Gesellschaft fur Wohnungswirtschaft mbH, BHW Bausparkasse Aktiengesellschaft, BHW Holding GmbH, BHW Kreditservice GmbH, BNA Nominees Pty Limited, BT Globenet Nominees Limited, BTAS Cayman GP, BTD Nominees Pty Limited, Baincor Nominees Pty Limited, Bainpro Nominees Pty Ltd, Baldur Mortgages Limited, Bankers Trust Investments Limited, Barkly Investments Ltd., Bayan Delinquent Loan Recovery 1 (SPV-AMC) Inc, Bayan Delinquent Loan Recovery 1 (SPV-AMC) Inc., Berkshire Mortgage Finance, Betriebs-Center fur Banken AG, Biomass Holdings S.a r.l., Birch (Luxembourg) S.a r.l., Blue Cork Inc, Blue Cork Inc., Borfield Sociedad Anonima, Breaking Wave DB Limited, Cape Acquisition Corp., CapeSuccess Inc., CapeSuccess LLC, Cardales UK Limited, Cardea Real Estate S.r.l., Career Blazers LLC, Career Blazers Management Company Inc, Career Blazers Management Company Inc., Career Blazers Personnel Services Inc, Career Blazers Personnel Services Inc., Career Blazers Personnel Services of Washington D.C. Inc. Washington D.C., Caribbean Resort Holdings Inc, Caribbean Resort Holdings Inc., Carpathian Investments Designated Activity Company, Cathay Advisory (Beijing) Co. Ltd., Cathay Advisory (Beijing) Co. Ltd., Cathay Asset Management Company Limited, Cathay Capital Company (No 2) Limited, Cedar (Luxembourg) S.a r.l., Centennial River 2 Inc., Centennial River Corporation, Chapel Funding, Charlton (Delaware) Inc, China Recovery Fund LLC, China Recovery Fund LLC, Cinda - DB NPL Securitization Trust 2003-1, City Leasing (Thameside) Limited, City Leasing Limited, Consumo S.p.A., Consumo Srl in Liquidazione, Cyrus J. Lawrence Capital Holdings Inc., Cyrus J. Lawrence Capital Holdings Inc., D B Investments (GB) Limited, D&M Turnaround Partners Godo Kaisha, D.B. International Delaware Inc., D.B. International Delaware Inc., DAHOC (UK) Limited (in members' voluntary liquidation), DAHOC Beteiligungsgesellschaft mbH, DB (Barbados) SRL, DB (Malaysia) Nominee (Asing) Sdn. Bhd., DB (Malaysia) Nominee (Tempatan) Sendirian Berhad, DB (Pacific) Limited, DB (Pacific) Limited New York, DB (Pacific) Limited New York, DB Abalone LLC, DB Alex. Brown Holdings Incorporated, DB Alps Corporation, DB Aotearoa Investments Limited, DB Asia Pacific Holdings Limited (in voluntary liquidation), DB Asset Finance I S.a r.l., DB Asset Finance II S.a r.l., DB Aster II LLC, DB Aster III LLC, DB Aster Inc., DB Aster LLC, DB Beteiligungs-Holding GmbH, DB Boracay LLC, DB Capital Investments Sarl, DB Capital Markets (Deutschland) GmbH, DB Capital Partners Inc., DB Capital Partners Inc., DB Cartera de Inmuebles 1 S.A.U., DB Cartera de Inmuebles 1 S.A.U., DB Chestnut Holdings Limited, DB Commodity Services LLC, DB Consorzio S. Cons. a r. l., DB Corporate Advisory (Malaysia) Sdn. Bhd., DB Covered Bond S.r.l., DB Credit Investments S.a r.l., DB Delaware Holdings (Europe) Limited, DB Direkt GmbH, DB Elara LLC, DB Energy Commodities Limited (in members' voluntary liquidation), DB Energy Trading LLC, DB Enfield Infrastructure Holdings Limited, DB Equipment Leasing Inc., DB Equipment Leasing Inc., DB Equity Limited, DB Finance (Delaware) LLC, DB Finance (Delaware) LLC, DB Finance International GmbH, DB Ganymede 2006 L.P., DB Global Markets Multi-Strategy Fund I Ltd., DB Global Technology Inc., DB Global Technology Inc., DB Global Technology SRL, DB Group Services (UK) Limited, DB HR Solutions GmbH, DB Holding Fundo de Investimento Multimercado Investimento no Exterior Credito Privado, DB Holdings (New York) Inc., DB Holdings (New York) Inc., DB Holdings (South America) Limited, DB IROC Leasing Corp., DB Immobilienfonds 1 Wieland KG, DB Immobilienfonds 2 KG i.L., DB Immobilienfonds 4 KG i.L., DB Immobilienfonds 5 Wieland KG, DB Impact Investment (GP) Limited, DB Impact Investment Fund I L.P., DB Impact Investment Fund I L.P., DB Industrial Holdings Beteiligungs GmbH & Co. KG, DB Industrial Holdings GmbH, DB Intermezzo LLC, DB International (Asia) Limited, DB International Investments Limited, DB International Trust (Singapore) Limited, DB Investment Managers Inc., DB Investment Managers Inc., DB Investment Partners Inc., DB Investment Partners Inc., DB Investment Resources (US) Corporation, DB Investment Resources Holdings Corp., DB Investment Services GmbH, DB Io LP, DB Litigation Fee LLC, DB London (Investor Services) Nominees Limited, DB Management Support GmbH, DB Managers LLC, DB Municipal Holdings LLC, DB Nexus American Investments (UK) Limited (in members'voluntary liquidation), DB Nexus Investments (UK) Limited (in members' voluntary liquidation), DB Nominees (Hong Kong) Limited, DB Nominees (Singapore) Pte Ltd, DB Omega BTV S.C.S., DB Omega Holdings LLC, DB Omega Ltd., DB Omega S.C.S., DB Operaciones y Servicios Interactivos Agrupacion de Interes Economico, DB Overseas Finance Delaware Inc., DB Overseas Finance Delaware Inc., DB Overseas Holdings Limited, DB PWM, DB Portfolio Southwest Inc., DB Print GmbH, DB Privat- und Firmenkundenbank AG, DB Private Clients Corp., DB Private Wealth Mortgage Ltd., DB RC Holdings LLC, DB Re S.A., DB Service Centre Limited, DB Service Uruguay S.A., DB Services Americas Inc., DB Services Americas Inc., DB Servizi Amministrativi S.r.l., DB Strategic Advisors Inc., DB Strategic Advisors Inc., DB Structured Derivative Products LLC, DB Structured Derivative Products LLC, DB Structured Finance 1 Designated Activity Company, DB Structured Finance 2 Designated Activity Company, DB Structured Holdings Luxembourg S.a r.l., DB Structured Products Inc., DB Structured Products Inc., DB Trustee Services Limited, DB Trustees (Hong Kong) Limited, DB U.S. Financial Markets Holding Corporation, DB UK Bank Limited, DB UK Holdings Limited, DB UK PCAM Holdings Limited, DB USA Core Corporation, DB USA Corporation, DB Valoren S.a r.l., DB Value S.a r.l., DB VersicherungsManager GmbH, DB Vita S.A., DBAB Wall Street LLC, DBAH Capital LLC, DBAH Capital LLC, DBCIBZ1, DBCIBZ2, DBFIC Inc., DBFIC Inc., DBNZ Overseas Investments (No.1) Limited, DBOI Global Services (UK) Limited, DBOI Global Services Private Limited, DBR Investments Co. Limited, DBRE Global Real Estate Management IA Ltd., DBRE Global Real Estate Management IB Ltd., DBRE Global Real Estate Management IB Ltd., DBRE Global Real Estate Management US IB L.L.C., DBRMS4, DBRMSGP1, DBUK PCAM Limited, DBUKH No. 2 Limited, DBUSBZ1 LLC, DBUSBZ1 LLC, DBUSBZ2 S.a r.l., DBUSBZ2 S.a r.l., DBX Advisors LLC, DBX ETF Trust, DBX Strategic Advisors LLC, DBO Vermogensverwertung GmbH, DEBEKO Immobilien GmbH & Co Grundbesitz OHG, DEE Deutsche Erneuerbare Energien GmbH, DEUFRAN Beteiligungs GmbH, DEUKONA Versicherungs-Vermittlungs-GmbH, DEUTSCHE BANK A.S., DG China Clean Tech Partners, DI Deutsche Immobilien Treuhandgesellschaft mbH, DIB-Consult Deutsche Immobilien- und BeteiligungsBeratungsgesellschaft mbH i.L., DISCA Beteiligungsgesellschaft mbH, DNU Nominees Pty Limited, DSL Portfolio GmbH & Co. KG, DSL Portfolio Verwaltungs GmbH, DTS Nominees Pty Limited, DWS Alternatives France, DWS Alternatives Global Limited, DWS Alternatives GmbH, DWS Asset Management (Korea) Company Limited, DWS Beteiligungs GmbH, DWS CH AG, DWS Distributors Inc., DWS Distributors Inc., DWS Far Eastern Investments Limited, DWS Group GmbH & Co. KGaA, DWS Group Services UK Limited, DWS Grundbesitz GmbH, DWS International GmbH, DWS Investment GmbH, DWS Investment Management Americas Inc., DWS Investment Management Americas Inc., DWS Investment S.A., DWS Investments Australia Limited, DWS Investments Hong Kong Limited, DWS Investments Japan Limited, DWS Investments Shanghai Limited, DWS Investments Singapore Limited, DWS Investments UK Limited, DWS Management GmbH, DWS Real Estate GmbH, DWS Service Company, DWS Trust Company, DWS USA Corporation, De Heng Asset Management Company Limited, De Meng Innovative (Beijing) Consulting Company Limited, DeAM Infrastructure Limited, Deloraine Spain S.L., Delowrezham de Mexico S. de R.L. de C.V., Deposit Solutions, Deutsche (Aotearoa) Capital Holdings New Zealand, Deutsche (Aotearoa) Foreign Investments New Zealand, Deutsche (Mauritius) Limited Port, Deutsche (New Munster) Holdings New Zealand Limited, Deutsche Access Investments Limited, Deutsche Aeolia Power Production Societe Anonyme, Deutsche Alt-A Securities Inc., Deutsche Alt-A Securities Inc., Deutsche Alternative Asset Management (France) SAS, Deutsche Alternative Asset Management (UK) Limited, Deutsche Asia Pacific Holdings Pte Ltd, Deutsche Asset Management (India) Private Limited, Deutsche Asset Management (Japan) Limited, Deutsche Asset Management (Korea) Company Limited, Deutsche Asset Management S.A., Deutsche Asset Management S.G.I.I.C. S.A., Deutsche Australia Limited, Deutsche Bank (Cayman) Limited, Deutsche Bank (Chile), Deutsche Bank (China) Co. Ltd., Deutsche Bank (China) Co. Ltd., Deutsche Bank (Malaysia) Berhad, Deutsche Bank (Suisse) SA, Deutsche Bank (Uruguay) Sociedad Anonima Institucion Financiera Externa, Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft, Deutsche Bank Americas Holding Corp., Deutsche Bank Bauspar-Aktiengesellschaft, Deutsche Bank Capital Finance LLC I, Deutsche Bank Capital Finance Trust I, Deutsche Bank Europe GmbH, Deutsche Bank Financial Company, Deutsche Bank Holdings Inc., Deutsche Bank Holdings Inc., Deutsche Bank Insurance Agency Incorporated, Deutsche Bank Insurance Agency of Delaware, Deutsche Bank International Limited, Deutsche Bank Investments (Guernsey) Limited, Deutsche Bank Luxembourg S.A., Deutsche Bank Luxembourg S.A. - Fiduciary Deposits, Deutsche Bank Luxembourg S.A. - Fiduciary Note Programme, Deutsche Bank Mutui S.p.A., Deutsche Bank Mexico S.A. Institucion de Banca Multiple, Deutsche Bank Mexico S.A. Institucion de Banca Multiple, Deutsche Bank National Trust Company, Deutsche Bank National Trust Company Los, Deutsche Bank Nominees (Guernsey) Limited, Deutsche Bank Nominees (Jersey) Limited, Deutsche Bank Polska Spolka Akcyjna, Deutsche Bank Representative Office Nigeria Limited, Deutsche Bank S.A. - Banco Alemao, Deutsche Bank S.A. - Banco Alemao Sao, Deutsche Bank SPEARs/LIFERs Series DBE-8011 Trust, Deutsche Bank Securities Inc., Deutsche Bank Securities Limited, Deutsche Bank Services (Jersey) Limited, Deutsche Bank Sociedad Anonima Espanola, Deutsche Bank Sociedad Anonima Espanola, Deutsche Bank Societa per Azioni, Deutsche Bank Trust Company Americas, Deutsche Bank Trust Company Delaware, Deutsche Bank Trust Company National Association, Deutsche Bank Trust Company National Association, Deutsche Bank Trust Corporation, Deutsche CIB Centre Private Limited, Deutsche Capital Finance (2000) Limited, Deutsche Capital Hong Kong Limited, Deutsche Capital Management Limited, Deutsche Capital Markets Australia Limited, Deutsche Capital Partners China Limited, Deutsche Cayman Ltd., Deutsche Colombia S.A.S., Deutsche Custody N.V., Deutsche Domus New Zealand Limited, Deutsche Equities India Private Limited, Deutsche Finance Co 1 Pty Limited, Deutsche Finance Co 2 Pty Limited, Deutsche Finance Co 3 Pty Limited, Deutsche Finance Co 4 Pty Limited, Deutsche Finance No. 2 Limited, Deutsche Foras New Zealand Limited, Deutsche Gesellschaft fur Immobilien-Leasing mit beschrankter Haftung, Deutsche Gesellschaft fur Immobilien-Leasing mit beschrankterHaftung, Deutsche Global Markets Limited, Deutsche Group Holdings (SA) Proprietary Limited, Deutsche Group Services Pty Limited, Deutsche Grundbesitz Beteiligungsgesellschaft mbH, Deutsche Grundbesitz Beteiligungsgesellschaft mbH i.L., Deutsche Grundbesitz-Anlagegesellschaft mit beschrankter Haftung, Deutsche Holdings (BTI) Limited, Deutsche Holdings (Grand Duchy), Deutsche Holdings (Luxembourg) S.a r.l., Deutsche Holdings (Malta) Ltd., Deutsche Holdings Limited, Deutsche Holdings No. 2 Limited, Deutsche Holdings No. 3 Limited, Deutsche Holdings No. 4 Limited, Deutsche Immobilien Leasing GmbH, Deutsche India Holdings Private Limited, Deutsche International Corporate Services (Ireland) Limited, Deutsche International Corporate Services Limited, Deutsche International Custodial Services Limited, Deutsche Inversiones Dos S.A., Deutsche Inversiones Limitada, Deutsche Investments (Netherlands) N.V., Deutsche Investments India Private Limited, Deutsche Investor Services Private Limited, Deutsche Knowledge Services Pte. Ltd., Deutsche Leasing New York Corp., Deutsche Mandatos S.A., Deutsche Master Funding Corporation, Deutsche Mexico Holdings S.a r.l., Deutsche Morgan Grenfell Group Limited, Deutsche Morgan Grenfell Group Public Limited Company, Deutsche Mortgage & Asset Receiving Corporation, Deutsche Mortgage Securities Inc., Deutsche Mortgage Securities Inc., Deutsche Nederland N.V., Deutsche New Zealand Limited, Deutsche Nominees Limited, Deutsche Oppenheim Family Office AG, Deutsche Overseas Issuance New Zealand Limited, Deutsche Postbank, Deutsche Postbank Finance Center Objekt GmbH, Deutsche Postbank Funding LLC I, Deutsche Postbank Funding LLC II, Deutsche Postbank Funding LLC III, Deutsche Private Asset Management Limited, Deutsche Securities (India) Private Limited, Deutsche Securities (Proprietary) Limited, Deutsche Securities (SA) (Proprietary) Limited, Deutsche Securities Asia Limited, Deutsche Securities Australia Limited, Deutsche Securities Inc., Deutsche Securities Israel Ltd., Deutsche Securities Korea Co., Deutsche Securities Mauritius Limited, Deutsche Securities Menkul Degerler A.S., Deutsche Securities S.A., Deutsche Securities S.A. de C.V. Casa de Bolsa, Deutsche Securities S.A. de C.V. Casa de Bolsa, Deutsche Securities Saudi Arabia, Deutsche Securities SpA, Deutsche Securities Venezuela S.A., Deutsche Securitisation Australia Pty Limited, Deutsche Services Polska Sp. z o.o., Deutsche StiftungsTrust GmbH, Deutsche Strategic Investment Holdings Yugen Kaisha, Deutsche Trust Company Limited Japan, Deutsche Trustee Company Limited, Deutsche Trustee Services (India) Private Limited, Deutsche Trustees Malaysia Berhad, Deutsche Wealth Management S.G.I.I.C. S.A., Deutsches Institut fur Altersvorsorge GmbH, Durian (Luxembourg) S.a r.l., EC EUROPA IMMOBILIEN FONDS NR. 3 GmbH & CO. KG i.I., Elba Finance GmbH, Elizabethan Holdings Limited, Elizabethan Management Limited, Emerald Asset Repackaging Designated Activity Company, Erste Frankfurter Hoist GmbH, European Value Added I (Alternate G.P.) LLP, Exinor SA, FARAMIR Beteiligungs- und Verwaltungs GmbH, FRANKFURT CONSULT GmbH, Fiduciaria Sant' Andrea S.r.L., Finanzberatungsgesellschaft mbH der Deutschen Bank, Franz Urbig- und Oscar Schlitter-Stiftung Gesellschaft mit beschrankter Haftung, Freddie Mac Class A Taxable Multifamily M Certificates Series M-037, Freddie Mac Class A Taxable Multifamily M Certificates Series M-039, Freddie Mac Class A Taxable Multifamily M Certificates Series M-040, Freddie Mac Class A Taxable Multifamily M Certificates Series M-041, Freddie Mac Class A Taxable Multifamily M Certificates Series M-043, Freddie Mac Class A Taxable Multifamily M Certificates Series M-044, Freddie Mac Class A Taxable Multifamily M Certificates Series M-047, Funfte SAB Treuhand und Verwaltung GmbH & Co. Suhl "Rimbachzentrum" KG, G Finance Holding Corp., G.O. IB-US Management L.L.C., G918 Corp., GAC-HEL Inc., GWC-GAC Corp., Galene S.a r.l., Gemini Technology Services Inc., German American Capital, German American Capital Corporation, Gladyr Spain S.L., Global Markets Fundo de Investimento Multimercado, Global Markets III Fundo de Investimento Multimercado - Credito, Greenwood Properties Corp., Grundstucksgesellschaft Frankfurt Bockenheimer Landstrae GbR, Grundstucksgesellschaft Kerpen-Sindorf Vogelrutherfeld GbR, Grundstucksgesellschaft Leipzig Petersstrae GbR, Grundstucksgesellschaft Wiesbaden Luisenstrae/Kirchgasse GbR, HTB Spezial GmbH & Co. KG, Hollandsche Bank-Unie, IOS Finance EFC S.A., ISTRON Beteiligungs- und Verwaltungs-GmbH, IVAF I Manager S.a r.l., IVAF I Manager S.a r.l., Immobilienfonds Buro-Center Erfurt am Flughafen Bindersleben I GbR, Immobilienfonds Buro-Center Erfurt am Flughafen Bindersleben II GbR, Immobilienfonds Mietwohnhauser Quadrath-Ichendorf GbR, Immobilienfonds Wohn- und Geschaftshaus Koln-Blumenberg V GbR, J R Nominees (Pty) Ltd, Joint Stock Company Deutsche Bank DBU, Jyogashima Godo Kaisha, KEBA Gesellschaft fur interne Services mbH, Kidson Pte Ltd, Konsul Inkasso GmbH, Kradavimd UK Lease Holdings Limited, LA Water Holdings Limited, LAWL Pte. Ltd., Latitude Australia Secured Personal Loans Trust, Leasing Verwaltungsgesellschaft Waltersdorf mbH, Leonardo III Initial GP Limited, Lindsell Finance Limited, London Industrial Leasing Limited, MEF I Manager S. a r.l., MEF I Manager S. a r.l., MHL Reinsurance Ltd., MIT Holdings Inc., MIT Holdings Inc., MPP Beteiligungsgesellschaft mbH, Maher Terminals Holdings (Toronto) Limited, Morgan Grenfell & Company, MortgageIT, MortgageIT Inc., MortgageIT Inc., MortgageIT Securities Corp., Motion Picture Productions One GmbH & Co. KG, NCW Holding Inc., Navegator - SGFTC S.A., Navegator - SGFTC S.A., New 87 Leonard LLC, Nordwestdeutscher Wohnungsbautrager Gesellschaft mit beschrankter Haftung, OOO "Deutsche Bank TechCentre", OOO "Deutsche Bank", OPB Verwaltungs- und Beteiligungs-GmbH, OPB Verwaltungs- und Treuhand GmbH, OPB-Holding GmbH, OPB-Nona GmbH, OPB-Oktava GmbH, OPB-Quarta GmbH, OPB-Quinta GmbH, OPB-Septima GmbH, OPPENHEIM Capital Advisory GmbH, OPPENHEIM Flottenfonds V GmbH & Co. KG, OPPENHEIM PRIVATE EQUITY Manager GmbH, OPPENHEIM PRIVATE EQUITY Verwaltungsgesellschaft mbH, OPS Nominees Pty Limited, OVT Trust 1 GmbH, OVV Beteiligungs GmbH, Opal Funds (Ireland) Public Limited Company, PADUS Grundstucks-Vermietungsgesellschaft mbH, PARTS Funding LLC., PB Factoring GmbH, PB Firmenkunden AG, PB International S.A., PB Spezial-Investmentaktiengesellschaft mit Teilgesellschaftsvermogen, PBC Banking Services GmbH, PCC Services GmbH der Deutschen Bank, PT Deutsche Sekuritas Indonesia, PT. Deutsche Verdhana Sekuritas Indonesia, Pan Australian Nominees Pty Ltd, Peruda Leasing Limited, Plantation Bay Inc., Plantation Bay Inc., Postbank Akademie und Service GmbH, Postbank Beteiligungen GmbH, Postbank Direkt GmbH, Postbank Filialvertrieb AG, Postbank Finanzberatung AG, Postbank Immobilien GmbH, Postbank Immobilien und Baumanagement GmbH, Postbank Immobilien und Baumanagement GmbH & Co. Objekt Leipzig KG, Postbank Leasing GmbH, Postbank Service GmbH, Postbank Systems AG, QR Tower 2 LLC, Quantiguous, R.B.M. Nominees Pty Ltd, REO Properties Corporation, RREEF, RREEF America L.L.C., RREEF China REIT Management Limited, RREEF European Value Added I (G.P.) Limited, RREEF Fund Holding Co., RREEF India Advisors Private Limited, RREEF Management L.L.C., RTS Nominees Pty Limited, Reference Capital Investments Limited, RoPro U.S. Holding Inc., RoPro U.S. Holding Inc., Route 28 Receivables LLC, Route 28 Receivables LLC, SAB Real Estate Verwaltungs GmbH, SAGITA Grundstucks-Vermietungsgesellschaft mbH, SAPIO Grundstucks-Vermietungsgesellschaft mbH, SCUDO Grundstucks-Vermietungsgesellschaft mbH i.L., SEDO Grundstucks-Vermietungsgesellschaft mbH i.L., SENA Grundstucks-Vermietungsgesellschaft mbH & Co. Objekt Kamenz KG, SIFA Grundstucks-Vermietungsgesellschaft mbH, SOLIDO Grundstucks-Vermietungsgesellschaft mbH, SP Mortgage Trust, SPINO Grundstucks-Vermietungsgesellschaft mbH i.L., SPV I Sociedad Anonima Cerrada, SPV II Sociedad Anonima Cerrada, STATOR Heizkraftwerk Frankfurt (Oder) Beteiligungsgesellschaft mbH, Sal. Oppenheim, Sal. Oppenheim Alternative Investments GmbH, Sal. Oppenheim jr. & Cie. AG & Co. Kommanditgesellschaft auf Aktien, Sal. Oppenheim jr. & Cie. Beteiligungs GmbH, Sal. Oppenheim jr. & Cie. Komplementar AG, Sechste Salomon Beteiligungs- und Verwaltungsgesellschaft mbH, Sechste Salomon Beteiligungs- und Verwaltungsgesellschaft mbH i.L., Service Company Four Limited, Sharps SP I LLC, Singer Island Tower Suite LLC, Somkid Immobiliare S.r.l., Stelvio Immobiliare S.r.l., Structured Finance Americas LLC, Structured Finance Americas LLC, Swabia 1. Vermogensbesitz-GmbH, Suddeutsche Vermogensverwaltung Gesellschaft mit beschrankter Haftung, TAKIR Grundstucks-Vermietungsgesellschaft mbH, TELO Beteiligungsgesellschaft mbH, TEMATIS Grundstucks-Vermietungsgesellschaft mbH i.L., TERRUS Grundstucks-Vermietungsgesellschaft mbH i.L., TESATUR Beteiligungsgesellschaft mbH & Co. Objekt Halle I KG i.L., TESATUR Beteiligungsgesellschaft mbH & Co. Objekt Nordhausen I KG i.L., TOSSA Grundstucks-Vermietungsgesellschaft mbH, TRIPLA Grundstucks-Vermietungsgesellschaft mbH, TRS Aria LLC, TRS Leda LLC, TRS Maple II LTD, TRS Oak II LTD, TRS SVCO LLC, TRS Scorpio LLC, TRS Tupelo II LTD, TRS Venor LLC, TRS Walnut II LTD, Tagus - Sociedade de Titularizacao de Creditos S.A., Tasfiye Halinde Deutsche Securities Menkul Degerler A.S., Tempurrite Leasing Limited, Thai Asset Enforcement and Recovery Asset Management Company Limited, Tianjin Deutsche AM Fund Management Co. Ltd., Treuinvest Service GmbH, Triplereason Limited, UKE Beteiligungs-GmbH, UKE Grundstucksgesellschaft mbH, UKE s.r.o., Ullmann - Esch Grundstucksgesellschaft Kirchnerstrae GbR, Ullmann - Esch Grundstucksverwaltungsgesellschaft Disternich GbR, Ullmann Ullmann Krockow Krockow Esch GbR, VCJ Lease S.a r.l., Vesta Real Estate S.r.l., VOB-ZVD Processing GmbH, WEPLA Beteiligungsgesellschaft mbH, WEPLABeteiligungsgesellschaftmbH, Wealthspur Investment Ltd., Whale Holdings S.a r.l., World Trading (Delaware) Inc., World Trading(Delaware)Inc., Zumirez Drive LLC, db PBC, and norisbank GmbH. iShares S&P 500 ETF's stock was trading at $275.41 on March 11th, 2020 when Coronavirus (COVID-19) reached pandemic status according to the World Health Organization. Since then, IVV stock has increased by 69.8% and is now trading at $467.61. View which stocks have been most impacted by COVID-19. H&R Block, Inc. engages in the provision of tax preparation and other services. The firm offers assisted income tax return preparation and related services through a system of retail offices operated directly by the company or by franchisees. It also develops and markets DIY income tax preparation software online, as well as through third-party retail stores and direct mail; and provides DIY tax services, including federal and state income tax returns, access to tax tips, advice and tax-related news, use of calculators for tax planning, and error checking and electronic filing. In addition, the company offers Refund Transfers and H&R Block Emerald Prepaid Mastercard, which enables clients to receive their tax refunds; Peace of Mind extended service plans; H&R Block Emerald Advance lines of credit; Tax Identity Shield that provides clients assistance in helping protect their tax identity and access to services to help restore their tax identity; refund advance loans; H&R Block Instant Refund; and H&R Block Pay With Refund services. The company was founded by Henry W. Bloch and Richard A. Bloch on January 25, 1955 and is headquartered in Kansas City, MO. Read More Horizonte Minerals Plc, together with its subsidiaries, engages in the identification, acquisition, exploration, and development of mineral projects in Brazil. The company primarily explores for nickel deposits, as well as cobalt deposits. It holds 100% interest in the Araguaia ferronickel project and the Vermelho Nickel-Cobalt project located in the south of the CarajAs mineral district in northern Brazil. The company was incorporated in 2006 and is headquartered in London, the United Kingdom. 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. Invesco FTSE RAFI Emerging Markets ETF's stock was trading at $17.35 on March 11th, 2020 when COVID-19 (Coronavirus) reached pandemic status according to the World Health Organization. Since then, PXH stock has increased by 27.3% and is now trading at $22.09. View which stocks have been most impacted by COVID-19. Protech Home Medical Corp. provides and rents in-home monitoring equipment and services for patients in the United States. It offers daily and ambulatory aides; power mobility equipment; INR self-testing equipment; BiPAP and CPAP machines, oxygen concentrators, and ventilators; oxygen therapy; sleep apnea and PAP treatment equipment; and home ventilator equipment The company was formerly known as Patient Home Monitoring Corp. and changed its name to Protech Home Medical Corp. in May 2018. Protech Home Medical Corp. was incorporated in 1993 and is based in Wilder, Kentucky. Read More 11 Wall Street equities research analysts have issued "buy," "hold," and "sell" ratings for Hugo Boss in the last year. There are currently 6 hold ratings and 5 buy ratings for the stock. The consensus among Wall Street equities research analysts is that investors should "hold" Hugo Boss stock. A hold rating indicates that analysts believe investors should maintain any existing positions they have in BOSS, but not buy additional shares or sell existing shares. View analyst ratings for Hugo Boss or view top-rated stocks. Shares of SPDR Bloomberg Barclays High Yield Bond ETF reverse split on the morning of Monday, May 6th 2019. The 1-3 reverse split was announced on Wednesday, March 13th 2019. The number of shares owned by shareholders was adjusted after the closing bell on Friday, May 3rd 2019. An investor that had 100 shares of SPDR Bloomberg Barclays High Yield Bond ETF stock prior to the reverse split would have 33 shares after the split. Unum Group is engaged in providing financial protection benefits. It operates through the following segments: Unum US, Unum International, Colonial Life, Closed Block and Corporate. The Unum US segment comprises of group long-term and short-term disability insurance, group life and accidental death and dismemberment products, and supplemental and voluntary lines of business. The Unum International segment engages in the operations of UK business, which includes insurance for group long-term disability, group life, and supplemental lines of business that include dental, individual disability, and critical illness products; Poland business primarily includes insurance for individual and group life with accident and health riders. The Colonial Life segment includes insurance for accident, sickness, disability products, life products, and cancer and critical illness products. The Closed Block segment consists of individual disability, group and individual long-term care, and other insurance products no longer actively marketed. The Corporate segment refers to investment income on corporate assets and other corporate income and expenses not allocated to a line of business; and interest Read More 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 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 Written by ACM *Strasbourg/Angelo Marcopolo/- This Afternoon's Debates in EU Parliament's plenary in Strasbourg, with German Chancellor Angie Merkel, Following closely the Latest Electoral developments, and in view of the Forthcoming ones, (particularly at EU level), raise an UnExpected Question : - And if the Real Situation in EU's Richest and most Populated Country, Germany, was the Contrary of what Most other Medias' Commentators claim ? Many notoriously argued, based mainly on a Series of Electoral Results and other relevant socio-political Developments throughout Germany and/or Other EU Countries, (including, particularly, the Latest Popular Votes in Bavaria and Essen : See ... + ..., etc), that the Time had come to Conclude that a Strategic Error in Policy needed a Change, pushing to Prepare a Transition of power holders. In fact, it depends on what they exactly meant by "Political Strategy"... (See Infra). On the Contrary, Today in Strasbourg, EU Commission's President Jean-Claude Juncker, reacting the 1st to Merkel's Speech in EU Parliament's Plenary, told her "that History will prove you Right !" Facts indicate that, yes, he could be Right... But Not for the precise controversial Point to which he was referring, (or, at least, Not for the Political Meaning that he, apparently, attributed to that)... Simply Because the Political Reality is that a Strategy wished, or, at least, Practiced consequently by Angie Merkel in recent times, is just Arriving to the point to Succeed ! - Indeed, all those, relatively recent, Placards in several CDU public Political Meetings in Germany, with the Key Word : "Die MITTE !", i.e. "the Center", curiously but ostensibly pictured several times behind her and others, have Now Become True : => Indeed, for the 1st Time in History, since the Adenauer's pioneer era (when he had Governed 2 or 3 times in a Coalition Together with a Rightist Party called then "Deutsche" : i.e. "Germans"), the Center-Right ChristianDemocrats (CDU) can (in theory) forge a new Majority Government of the Unity of the Right, (Both at Federal level and in most Regional "Landers"/Federated States), together with 2 Other Parties, standing one at their Left, and another at their Right Side : F.ex. "AfD" + "CDU/CSU" + "Liberals" (and/or "Freie Wehler", etc) ! >>> Nowadays, this New Reality has Become an UnQuestionable Fact : All Numbers of recent Electoral and/or Polls' Results clearly proved it : The German People has made Possible a Majority Government that would be based on a Unity of the Right. (F.ex., among Many other, Various Cases, also, most Recently in Bavaria, Hessen, etc : See http://www.eurofora.net/newsflashes/news/geramnybavariaelection2018.html + ..., etc). + Elsewhere in Europe, it's also an accomplished Fact : f.ex. in Norway, Austria, Bulgaria, Finland, etc., and in Various Formats, (Comp. f.ex. in Denmark, the Netherlands, Czech Republic, Belgium, etc). And, to return back to Angie Merkel : Is it a pure "Coincidence" that (at a Crucial Last Moment just before the Latest National Elections of September 2017) she openly Declared that her Favorite Prime Minister in the World is the Norwegian Erna Solberg ? ++ And, at the Same Moment, what a "Surprize" : - The Traditional Competitors for the 1st Place : the "Socialists", have Now Fallen so Low in Germany (and many Other EU Countries, including, f.ex., France, Greece, etc), as Never Before during the Last Half of a Century ! => So that, Nowadays, the ChristianDemocrats/EPP Center-Right of CDU/CSU (even if somewhat Weaker than its own Past) remains, obviously, the unquestionable 1st and (by far) Biggest Party in Germany, (both at Federal and throughout Landers' levels). +++ Moreover, it has now seriously Paved the Way (and prepared the Public Opinion) even for Various Other eventual Government Coalitions, including, particularly, also with the "Greens", (as, f.ex. in Baden-Wurttemberg, Hessen, etc., with 2 Attempts also at Federal Level on 2013 and 2017, etc), particularly if they return back to their Historic Roots, when they defended also Humans in front of Growing Risks of Abuse from some Bio-Genetic a.o. Technologies, (See, f.ex., inter alia, als : ..., etc). --------------------------- - It's true that Angie Merkel pointed, (Today at EU Parliament in Strasbourg), also at the imminent UK's "BREXIT", when she evoked a Series of Recent "UpHeavals" and/or Various "Crises" faced by the EU nowadays, - such as State Debts, International Terrorism, Conflicts at its Neighbourhood, a Huge "Tsunami" of Mass Asylum Seekers/Irregular Aliens (suddenly pushed inside an unprepared EU mainly by Turkish Smugglers and some Accomplices since 2015-2016), "Climate Change" Problems at International level, etc. - "For the 1st Time, an EU Member Country goes away", she observed, with lucidity. And, for anyone who simply Followed the Public Debates between the Brittish People at the Eve of that Fatal 2016 Referendum in the UK, it is Obvious that UKIP's Nigel Farage's "Thanks" to Chancellor Merkel, Today in EU Parliament's Plenary, wasn't only an Irony, but also a Fact : Indeed, that Controversial and UnPopular, Sudden Massive and Irregular Influx of more than 1,5 Millions of Non-Europeans, most of them with a very Different, sometimes even opposed Ideology, often Hastily "Islamized", (even "Chosen" by Turks for Socio-Political Aims, as EU Experts reportedly Denounced, according to mainstream German Medias), Often Influenced by "ISIS" Deadly Terrorists, who cowardly Targetted even Civillian People, including by Many Brutal Attacks throughout Europe and the USA, (etc), undeniably Influenced Negatively many Brittish Voters, (as Farage's infamous Photo-Posters illustrated on 2016). >>> But : Wasn't it, First of all, a De Gaulle's idea to Keep the UK Out of the EU, already since the 1960ies, (when he had Focused on a Franco-German push to Boost a European Construction, that he was Anxious Not to be Delayed or Undermined by some Euro-Sceptic Brittish Politicians) ? - And Merkel, precisely started her Speech, earlier Today at EU Parliament in Strasbourg, with a Timely reference to ..."1969", when a "German former President of EU Commission, Walter Hallstein", had spoken about an "UnPrecedented Boldness" to set up "the Corner-Stones" of the EU's "Foundations", which were, then, "Visionary Projects", such as, f.ex., "Shengen" (Free Movement and Security for EU Citizens inside the EU), "Common Market", "a Joint Currency" (as the "uro", later-on), etc. => Now, "50 Years Later", at the Eve of the forthcoming 2019 EU Elections, when Various Foreign "Interests in the Global area" add and are added to the above-mentioned UpHeavals (Comp. Supra), making it "even More Important for us, Europeans, to Unite Together" and mark certain Key Advances Forward, as Angie Merkel urged Today, (See Infra), obviously, it might be Better not to face again some well-known internal Hesitations, Delays,or even blunt Opposals, by some notorious UK Euro-Sceptics... The English People, and all the UK, certainly are an important, integral Part of Europe's History, Culture, Identity, Science-Technology, and Future, and "Eurofora" stands for a possible Return of London, Later-on, back in a Reformed EU, in one way or another, in the foreseable Future. + And UK's own GeoPolitical Interest, naturally is to become a Strategic "Bridge" at the Center of Relations between Europe and the USA, and Not merely a Far-Away External "Border" of one or another "Empire"... >>> But, withOut at least Some precious Time for the Franco-German core of the EU to SpearHead a Series of Crucial Advances Strengthening Europe, as those that Angie Merkel just enumerated in her Speech, earlier Today in Strasbourg (See Infra), how could things go on as smoothly and rapidly as necessary ? - To judge, it's enough to just have a Look at the Main Points listed Today by Chancellor Merkel hershelf, as the "3 Areas", where it's "particularly" important, and "Essential for the Success of Europe", to act with "Unity and Consistency" Nowadays : (A) "Foreign and Security Policy", including the preparation of a "European Army", a "System of Arms", etc.; (B) Strengthening "uroArea" and deepening EU's Economy, (including f.ex. by a common "Budget", the preparation of a "European Deposit Insurance", after necessary Reforms on "Liability" and Responsibility, a "Tax" also on Digital Big Foreign GAFA, etc); (C) Migration and Mass Asylum Issues, inspired by "Solidarity", but also "Agreement" and Monitoring of EU's External Borders, etc ; (Comp. Supra). Recent History, as well as various Spontaneous Reactions by certain MEPs Today (particularly on the 1st Point), remind that really "Bold" Moves (Comp. Supra) in these Directions, most probably could Not be made so easily, neither on Time, if all the UK "EuroSceptics" remained nowadays inside the EU and persisted to systematically Oppose most of such kind of measures... - "Only when Europe will have Become Stronger, it will be able to be Heard at the Global Level, and to promote its Values and Interests. The Times when we (EU) could Rely on Others, are Going". On the Contrary, Nowadays, "We, Europeans, have to take our Destiny more in our Hands, if we want to Survive as a Community", Merkel Warned. But for that to be really "Heard" by a majority of Brittish, EU must, First, mark some Decisive Advances Forward efficiently, asap, so that the UK would really Find an obvious Interest to later Return Back in an adequately Reformed and Developed EU, in the foreseable Future. + This became even More Obvious, Later this week (UPDATED), when, Echoing, but also Enlarging much Further, an earlier Merkel's call to Boost, particularly, "Digital" and "Mobility" Technologies in the EU, (including, f.ex., "Cell-Battery", "Chips","Quantum Computers", "Artificial Intelligence", and other "Innovations" at the "Base of our Industry", as she said, stressing that "We have the European Tools. We have all that in our Hands" ), => EU Parliament's Committee on Transports was the 1st to Vote in Strasbourg, on a Draft EU Regulation for the "Digital Europe" Programme of 2021-2027, several Largely supported Ambitious compromise Amendments : In order, not only to Add also "High Performance Computing Centers", "AI industrial applications installed in Machines, Sensors, Robots, Automotive, Space Technologies, etc", "Long-term Training and Research on IT", "Protection ...from Economic Espionage and Cyber-Attacks", with "robust and reliable Cyber-Security", (etc), but also to "reinforce the Strategic AUTONOMY of the EU", in this Key Area. - Meanwhile, Great "Britain ... is clearly a Part of Europe", and "there will be a Large Number of Opportunities for Cooperation, in which we can work Together, and that's what we Want to do", Angie Merkel stressed, Later-on, in her first Replies to MEPs' observations. --------------------------------------- - All "this does Not mean that Europe must be Everywhere", since "Not Every problem in Europe, is a problem for Europe", she acknowledged. => "But, Solidarity", which is part of "the Soul of Europe", (as Angie Merkel had already stressed in her 1st Speech at EU Parliament in Strasbourg, back on 2007, when Germany was Chairing the EU), "means that Europe is present Where Necessary, and, in that case, there is a Strong, Resolute and Efficient Action !", she pleaded in Conclusion, (while also Urging to Avoid Tragic Errors of the Past, as those who had led to the 1st World War, whose End had just been Commemorated by an International Top Gathering of Heads of State/Government last Sunday in Paris : See, f.ex. ..., etc). ----------------------------- + Believing that the Time is Ripe for the German Chancellor to Help Move in this Direction, the President of EU Parliament's Liberal Group, Guy Verhofstadt, former Prime Minister of Belgium, launched a vibrant Call for her to Resolutely Work Together with new French President Emmanuel Macron, in order to make "a "Leap Forward" in the European Construction nowadays. - Angie Merkel's Reply appeared typical for her usually balanced way to speak : - "You want us to be Visionary, particularly together with France, But also, of course, to guarantee that Visions become Reality, she pointed out. - F.ex., for "the European Council, at the End of 2018, soon 27 Votes will be necessary for Unanimous Decisions". So, there is a "Tension between Visions and Feasibility", in real Practice, which "should not be increased". That's why "I like, sometimes, to be Cautious, with the Formulation of Objectives, ...because the People ... hope that what we said, would be finally Implemented". So, "I take into Account what is deemed Possible in all those EU Member States, and for a Political Majority". Because "I have my own Ideas and Vision", but, "sometimes, Others .. are Apart", and we risk to be Divided, while, on the contrary, we "must be kept United", she explained. => In consequence, "Germany will Both plead for Ambitious Objectives" in Europe, "But, Also show Respect for Others, who are Not always ready to pursue the same things : That's also Part of the European Union", Merkel concluded Carefully. -------------------------------------------- However, at least in Certain Key Issues, Recent Developments indicate that she Could Dare be more "Bold", (according to the expression that the she had used from the Beginning : Comp. Supra) : - F.ex., on European Defense, the well-fought Election of EU Parliament's President Antonio Tajani, (an Experienced former Twice EU Commissioner, Top MEP and former Foreign Minister, etc), from the End of 2016, achieved, for the 1st Time in the last Decades, even withOut a Backing by the "Socialists", gave a Timely Opportunity to find out, (during a pre-Electoral Debate in Brussels), that, Nowadays, even a Political Group of Rightists, usually Accused to be "EuroSceptics", (that of ENF, with MEPs from France, Austria, Germany, Belgium, the Netherlands, etc), in fact, clearly said to be in Favour of the creation and Development of a real European Security and Defense policy ! + Moreover, the Recently Emerged, New Opportunities for a Governing Majority based on the Unity of the Right in Germany, (Both at Federal and often Regional Levels, f.ex. with CDU/CSU, Liberals, AfD and/or Freie Wehle, etc : Comp. Supra), obviously, also give to Merkel (and/or her Future Successors in the CDU/CSU), for the 1st Time, a Chance to eventually Free hershelf and the Country from some Controversial and UnPopular, painful Concessions that she had been Obliged to make to the Left in the recent Past : - F.ex., on the so-called "Double Passport" and "Dual Nationalities" from 2014, (notoriously a "Gift" mainly to a Turkish Lobby), which obviously added a supplementary Obstacle against Integration, (at that Same Time entrusted to a ...Tukish "Socialist" appointed Minister !), and Disappointed Many former CDU/CSU supporters. - Also on the Sudden, UnWarned Abandon of her former Support to the Natural Family, between a Man and a Woman, (normaly able to give Natural Birth to Children), resulting to the Imposal of Controversial and UnPopular "Same Sex Marriage" between Homosexuals, in the Summer of 2017, when she apparently Feared an eventual "Red-Red-Green" Majority of the Left in the forthcoming, then, National Elections, based particularly on such Issues, (which, on the Contrary, curiously Hindered a CDU/CSU Deal with the "Greens", as they had become) : A Measure that was Opposed by more than ... + 75 % of CDU/CSU MPs in the relevant Votes of the Bundestag, then, and Denounced even Today, in EU Parliament, particularly by the Representatives of the Conservative and the Rightist (ENF) Groups, (a Polish and a German MEP, the latter comming from the "AfD"). >>> On the Contrary, when Angie Merkel had made a Strong Appeal against "Multi-Culti", Ghetoes and Socio-Cultural "AppartHeid"-provoking Policies, added, in Parallel, also to a Strong Plaidoyerie, with a series of Practical Measures of Support, in Favour of "strong" Natural Families and Births, (etc), Back during the 2013 Electoral Campaign, as "Eurofora" witnessed on the spot f.ex. in LudwigsHafen on 8/2013, then, she had Marked a Big Popular Success : => Many People had lively Apploaded then, and Merkel managed to get almost +40 % of Citizens' Votes, reaching the Threshhold of an AUTONOMOUS MAJORITY, for the 1st Time in History ! (It's Only after MidNight, at about 3 o'Clock in the Early "Morning", that a re-Count suddenly claimed that she Lacked of just ... 4 MPs in order to form an Independent Government)... Nevertheless, "Eurofora"'s co-Founder, (who has Followed Angie Merkel since when she was the Leader of the Opposition, at Early 2005, f.ex. in Koeln, until Today, on 2018), was positively Surprized to See, soon After that Victorious Election of September 2013, during the subsequent EU Heads of State/Government's Summit on October 2013 in Brussels, a Brightly "Radiant" Merkel, make a Splendid Appearance among Journalists in her Press Coference there, with a Superb Style, Assurance and Dynamism, Clear Vision and a Will to Act Energetically in order to Help Solve certain Key European issues, from the Emerging, then, "Ukranian" Problem, up to (and Particularly supported then) the matter of an Ambitious EU's "Digital" Policy, (f.ex. Protecting Private Data against Mass Spying at Smart-Phones and at the Internet, particularly by Foreign Powers, etc., but also in order to Develop Autonomous European Digital Tools and relevant advanced Web Technologies, etc : A Topical Issue also Nowadays : Comp Supra)... Unfortunately, the Surprizing electoral Elimination on 2013 of CDU/CSU's Natural and Traditional Ally : the Small "Liberal" Party", (whose Leadership had been notoriously "Targeted" with unusual Hostility by former US President Barack Hussein Obama's Administration, particularly Because of its alleged Refusal to Accept a Military Invasion of Syria on 2013), Followed by an UnPrecedented personal Violent Incident at a notorious Global Tourism stronghold in Switzerland, (Contrary to the usually "Discreet" Areas where Merkel used to spend her Family Holidays until then), suddenly Wounded the German Chancellor's Leg, obliging her to rely on Crutchies, just Before an Exceptionally Vicious and Bloody Conflict breaks out in Ukraine, from the Beginning of 2014, throughout which it made Many Civilian and other Victims, while also dangerously Dividing Europe between EU and Russia, in a counter-productive way adversely affecting the Economy of Both, etc. To this was Added, from the Beginning up to the End of 2015 ("Anus Horribilis", as she later denounced herself), a Long and Growing Series of islamist Terrorist Attacks Brutally Targetting and Killing innocent Civilian People in several European Countries, (mainly France, Germany, Belgium, the UK, Denmark, etc), in Parallel to an UnPrecedented, Giant "Tsunami" of Mass Asylum Seekers/Irregular Migrants of more than 1,5 Millions of People suddenly infiltrating Europe mainly via Turkey, with some Local Complicities inside the EU, on 2015/2016+, which was Partly Stopped, at First by the Closure of the Western Balkans' Route, but Still persists elsewhere, including, particularly, to the over-burdened and congested Greek Islands, etc. In Parallel, Were Added also UnPrecedented Massive Aggressions and Mob Sexual Attacks with Brutalities, attempts to Rape, Violent Thefts, etc., against Young German Girls (often Children) and defenseless, isolated Women by Violent Groups of mainly Thugs recently imported Massively through Turkey (Comp. Supra), while Deadly Islamist Terrorist Attacks cowardly Targetting Civilian People continued also on 2016, 2017 and 2018, Extending a Long List of innocent Victims, which inevitably Influenced the Recent Elections in Germany, but also Elsewhere, in some Other European Countries, until recently. However, After the Latest Spectacular Changes in Germany's Political Landscape, (Comp. Supra), the Biggest Central Pilar of any Berlin's Government Coalition : the CDU/CSU of the Center-Right, even if partially weakened, has, Mathematically, got, for the First Time, from the German People, a Unique Occasion to practically Choose among Various Possibilities, including a Unity of the Right, with an eventual Majority in the colors of "Bahamas" Flag, (Black, Bleu, Yellow : CDU - AfD - Liberals : See http://www.eurofora.net/newsflashes/news/germanyfromjamaicatobahamascoalition.html + http://www.eurofora.net/newsflashes/news/germanpollsshowbigchange.html, etc). Theoretically, such moves might be done in the Future With, or WithOut Merkel, (who has notoriously Declared Nowadays her Readiness to Withdraw on 2021, after Leading the Government until the Next Elections), but, at any case, Thanks to Political Choices made during Her Guidance, (Comp. Supra). This would, Obviously, require Important Changes, particularly on Mass Migration Policy, that Frau Merkel might be Ready, or Not, to make personaly, Nowadays. However, she has Already Proven that she Knows how to Make even some Far-Reaching, sudden "U-Turns", if, rightfully or wrongly, she might Believe that it has become necessary for legitimate Wider Interests in the Society, (as has Shown, f.ex., the Popular March 2011 "Energy Shift" Away from Nuclear Power, but also the Controversial July 2017 pre-Electoral Move on "Same Sex Marriages", etc). And Angie Merkel has notoriously Acknowledged Recently, that some Errors were made in the Precipitation of that Sudden and UnPrecedented Pressure of 2015 about 1,5 Millions of Mass Asylum Seekers/Irregular Migrants mainly through Turkey : F.ex., since the Bratislava 9/2016 and Rome 3/2017 EU Summits, (See "Eurofora"s relevant NewsReports, made on the Spot, from Both these exceptional Events, at : ..., and : ...., etc), while Nowadays she stressed that, on the Contrary, EU's External Borders need a Stronger Protection, added to Development and Humanitarian Aid around Syria and in Africa, etc, (even if this might, probably, not be now considered as really sufficient by many). But, Moreover, this Time, many Essential Points on Topical Issues seem, Paradoxically, to be More "Easy", in Theory : Indeed, it would, Most Probably, be Enough for Angie Merkel to eventually Return, simply, Back to her own "Classical" Positions : - F.ex. against Turkey's controversial and unpopular EU bid (as she professed as Opposition Leader before the 2005 "GroKo" with the "Socialists"); against "Multi-Culti" and for a real Socio-Cultural Integration of Migrants in Europe, (as she Succesfully called to do, mainly between 2009 and 2013 European and National Elections, which made CDU/CSU very Popular); Back to her Defense of Natural Families, with Marriage between a Man and a Woman, normaly Able to give Natural Births to their Children, (as Back on her Most Succesfull 2013 Electoral Campaign : Comp. Supra, and Before a Last-Minute, precipitated U-Turn, at the Eve of 2017 Elections, on July 2017, which opened a way for the Controversial "Same Sex Marriage" between Homosexuals, to which 75% of CDU/CSU MPs were Opposed) ; Back to a Policy giving a Priority to Intra-European Population Migration for needs of the Economy, much More Easy to Integrate in the German Society, instead of relying heavily only on Extra-European Migration from Foreign 3rd Countries with Far-Away or even too "Rigid" Cultural Dogmas, too Hard to Integrate in Europe, (i.e., Returning towards European Migrants, f.ex. from impoverished and/or UnEmployment-striken Countries, as, f.ex., after the former "Central-Eastern" European Countries, also, nowadays, Italy, Spain, Greece, Portugal, etc, who had recently Started to Become the Majority of Migrants in Germany, as former Interior Minister, Thomas de Maiziere, a Merkel's close and long-time collaborator, had officially announced to the Medias), etc. After all, may be, the German Chancellor has Not yet Stopped to create certain key Surprises, when she might feel that Necessary... (../..) ---------------------------------- *** (NDLR : "DraftNews", as already send, Earlier, to "Eurofora"'s Subscribers/Donors. A more accurate, full Final Version, might be Published asap). *** New Hartford, N.Y. - St. Stephens Episcopal Church in New Hartford was the site for healing on Saturday for those in our area that have lost a loved one to suicide. National Survivors of Suicide Day is a day set aside by the United States Congress back in 1999 that has since been held annually on the Saturday before Thanksgiving. This year, the National Survivors of Suicide Day program locally was held at St. Stephens Episcopal Church on Oxford Rd. in New Hartford, and it came just days after a 16 year old transgendered boy from Waterville, named Jason Pomeroy, took his own life. The Very Rev. Joell Szachara, Rector at St. Stephens Episcopal Church, says the loss of Pomeroy has affected many people here locally, "I just think of the whole Waterville community and how it has affected everybody." Szachara says she was happy to host this year's National Survivors of Suicide Day program, "Whatever we can do, we open our doors and welcome anybody and everybody." Local Licensed Clinical Social Worker Linda Troutman Zelows was on hand on Saturday to talk to those that came to the event to seek help. Troutman Zelows says National Survivors of Suicide Day is a day when the friends and family of those who have died by suicide can join together for healing and support and a day that those that can provide help make themselves available to help in the healing process. Although the family and friends of Jason Pomeroy did not attend Saturday's event, Troutman Zelows wants them to know there are plenty of resources here in the Mohawk valley to help them try and cope with their loss. Amanda Nortz of New Hartford attended Saturday's program. She lost a family member to suicide 8 years ago. She says this was her first suicide survivor's event she's ever attended, "It's been a process, and I have a couple of friends recently that I've known that have opened up and said that they have had thoughts (of suicide) and so I wanted to come and learn a little bit on how I should handle it, find out what are some things to do and say, what are some of the proper agencies that they should call." Nortz says her heart broke when she heard about the 16 year old from Waterville this week and says her heart goes out to the his parents, "My heart breaks for you both and I wish, I wish it hadn't happened. I wish everything for you both. Words can't express enough how much I feel for both." Nortz says those who have lost someone to suicide, like herself, know when they are ready to talk to someone about their feelings, and she hopes the family and friends of Jason Pomeroy will open up because she says it does help, "I hope they can reach out to the help that's around. I'm sure that there are a lot of people that are going to surround them with love and I hope that they can take advantage of it because a lot of people care." As far as resources for suicide survivors, Troutman Zelows says there are a number of them. There is MCAT, the Mobile Crisis Assessment Team which is available 24/7. She says if you need someone to talk to, or to get information on where to go for help, just give them a call at (315) 732-6228. There is a also meeting that takes place once a month called the Suicide Survivors Group meeting. It's being held this Wednesday and every third Wednesday of the month from 6:30 P.M. to 8:00 P.M. at First Methodist Church in New Hartford. TIPPECANOE, Ind. (WLFI) -- A Lafayette teen is dead after a single-vehicle crash in Tippecanoe County Saturday evening. Tippecanoe County Sheriff's deputies said 17-year-old Cole Ungaro was traveling east on 100 North near 900 East around 5:30 p.m. when his car slid off the right side of the road. That's in the far eastern part of the county. According to deputies, Ungaro lost control of the vehicle and struck a tree from the driver's side. He was declared dead on the scene. Police said it's still unknown why he lost control but speed may be a contributing factor. Drugs or alcohol are not believed to be a factor. Ungaro was a senior at Faith Christian School. Police said the school will have counselors on hand on Monday, Nov. 19 to assist students during this difficult situation. Ungaro was wearing his seatbelt at the time of the crash. He was a member of the boys soccer team. Ungaro was the goalie for the Faith Christian squad that just won the sectional championship in the fall. His father is the coach of the girl's team. WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. (WLFI) -- Purdue international students came together for a Thanksgiving meal. On Nov. 17, Connection Point church transformed its lobby into a big dining room. Purdue's christian ministry group Chi-Alpha created the event, which served dinner to more than 300 students.The group partnered with the church three years ago when the event became too big to host at the university. Chi-Alpha Director Tiffany Patterson said it was important to show international students the love of God through this holiday of fellowship. We believe that God created every nation, every language, every people, every race and we believe that we're all really valuable to God and so we want to show people that. We want to show them love by introducing them to a typical American holiday, said Patterson. International students who attended the dinner said they enjoyed experiencing their first Thanksgiving. I feel like we're family the moment I just, you know, speak to them, said a Purdue freshman from Malaysia. A graduate student from China who wont be traveling home for the holiday said the dinner felt like a home away from home. It really makes me feel like it's a home to me, he said. I think its a good chance for international students to make friends with other students from different countries, he added. A student from Nigeria said shes celebrated Thanksgiving before but this was the first time attending the one hosted by Chi-Alpha. I dont think I was expecting just how many people would be here. It just feels like a big massive family meal, she said. Members of Chi-Alpha, Connection Point and River City church worked together to cook the food. U.S. President Donald Trump said Saturday the U.S. will issue a "very full report" on the murder of Washington Post columnist Jamal Khashoggi early next week. The report, which Trump said will be released either on Monday or Tuesday, is slated to assess what "we think the overall impact was and who caused it, and who did it." Trump earlier spoke with CIA Director Gina Haspel, who briefed him on the agency's findings in the case. Trumps said the CIA has not "assessed anything yet. Its too early, after the Washington Post first reported on Friday the CIA determined with high confidence Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman ordered Khashoggi's killing. The State Department also denied reports the administration has made a final conclusion, calling them "inaccurate." "There remain numerous unanswered questions with respect to the murder of Mr. Khashoggi," State Department spokeswoman Heather Nauert said in a statement. "The State Department will continue to seek all relevant facts. In the meantime, we will continue to consult Congress, and work with other nations to hold accountable those involved in the killing of Jamal Khashoggi." Khashoggi was killed shortly after he entered the Saudi consulate general in Istanbul Oct. 2. Saudi Arabia had offered shifting explanations for Khashoggi's disappearance before suggesting he was killed during a botched rendition operation by rogue agents. His body has yet to be returned to his family, which has been seeking its return, amid reports that it was chemically dissolved. The U.S. earlier this week sanctioned 17 people tied to Khashoggi's murder, including the Saudi Consul General in Istanbul Mohammad al-Otaibi. But bin Salman, the de facto Saudi leader, was not among the designated individuals amid widespread speculation the hit could not have been carried out without his consent. Nauert alluded to the U.S. action as well as previously announced visa penalties on the Saudi suspects, saying Washington has already "taken decisive measures against the individuals responsible." "We will continue to explore additional measures to hold those accountable who planned, led and were connected to the murder. And, we will do that while maintaining the important strategic relationship between the United States and Saudi Arabia," she said. Earlier Saturday, Senator Bob Corker who chairs the pivotal Foreign Relations Committee cast doubt that anyone besides bin Salman could have been responsible for ordering Khashoggi's muder. "Everything points to the Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia, MbS, ordering @washingtonpost journalist Jamal #Khashoggi's killing. The Trump administration should make a credible determination of responsibility before MbS executes the men who apparently carried out his orders," he said on Twitter, alluding to Riyadh's announcement that it would seek the death penalty for five of the 11 suspects charged with Khashoggi's murder. A senior security official was killed in a drive-by shooting in Yemens southern city of Aden on Sunday, according to a local resident. Three gunmen opened fire on Brigadier-General Fahd Gharama as he left his home in the city, killing him on the spot, the resident said on condition of anonymity due to restrictions on speaking to media. Seven people, including six female students, were injured in the attack. No group has yet claimed responsibility for the attack. Gharama is the deputy commander of the UAE-backed Security Belt forces in Aden. Aden serves as the temporary capital of the Yemeni government, which fled Yemen in 2015 after Shia Houthi rebels overran much of the country, including capital Sanaa a year earlier. Since mid-2015, Aden has seen bombings and assassination incidents targeting security and government headquarters, preachers, mosque imams, along with army and security officers. The language used by international media outlets on Palestine should be reworked and revamped to better help the Palestinian cause, said experts at a conference on Palestine on Saturday. The consensus came in a panel called Developing the Global Media Discourse on Palestine during the two-day Palestine Addressing the World Conference held in the Turkish city of Istanbul. Professor Azzam al-Tamimi, a Palestinian writer and researcher, said: The genuine truth should be highlighted while addressing the Palestinian cause by attributing the reasons for the conflict to its origins, which is the Zionist movement and its atrocities committed on Palestinian Land. He added that pro-Palestine discourse should not highlight the importance of creating a mere Palestinian political entity or even a Palestinian state but the origin of the problem resulting in the ethnic Zionist regime. He said this rhetoric should be used to found an international movement against the Zionist movement the same as the movement against the Apartheid regime originated in South Africa. For his part, Metin Mutanoglu, deputy director general of the Turkish Anadolu Agency, said that the Palestinian cause has a large presence in Turkish media outlets and newspapers. As Turkish people, we felt that the Israeli shells were hitting our homes when they were fired against the Palestinian people in Gaza, he said. He added: Everything that happens in Palestine has immediate effects here in Turkey, since people see the Palestinian cause as their own. TUPELO, Miss. (WTVA) - A former flight nurse for the North Mississippi Medical Center was honored Sunday. A plaque was dedicated in his name. Jim Spruiell died on Nov. 19, 2017, in a helicopter crash traveling to an Arkansas hospital. He was working for a company in Arkansas at the time. Spruiell worked for the North Mississippi Medical Center for about four years but held the title of flight nurse for over 20 years. He died with the title of Chief Flight Nurse. A former co-worker of Spruiell said he worked with him over 30 years ago in Houston, Mississippi. He expressed what it means to him to watch the dedication. I think its very fitting", Greg Stallworth said. "And I think what it does is, its a mentorship, in they can try to do what he did, and try to follow in his footsteps. And try to follow what he did to try to serve the community and try to serve people. And to be excellent at what he did. The recount in Florida has put the states election machinery to the test, and it has failed miserably: Almost 3,000 votes have vanished, the New York Times reported, while Florida recounts three state and three local elections that have yet to be called. The Florida secretary of state reported 900 fewer votes than were tallied originally, and that number is expected to balloon by 2,000 more votes when results from Broward County are reported. Although this number of votes would not necessarily swing the election from one candidate to another, its certainly enough to cause concern. For example, Palm Beach County supervisor of elections Susan Bucher told the Times that there may be boxes of uncounted ballots and dozens of precincts missing a significant number of votes in the recount. Bucher said this is due to a ballot-scanning machine that has become overworked and overheated. Hillsborough County and Miami-Dade County were also missing around 850 votes and 500 votes, respectively. Florida officials are claiming this is typical of a recount, but experts disagree. It is expected that as each set of results are due, the numbers will fluctuate some, Sarah W. Revell, a spokesperson for the Florida secretary of state told the Times. It is not indicative of a problem. E. John Sebes, founder of the non-profit Open Source Election Technology countered, telling the Times, This is a big deal. If you have an election margin of 0.21 percent and a variance of 0.12 percent, the variance of your machine count is half the margin you are trying to correct. Thats kooky. The Senate race in Florida between Democratic Senator Bill Nelson and Republican Governor Rick Scott, meanwhile, will get a hand recount, as the machine recount placed Scott in the lead by only 0.15 percent, well within the 0.25 percent margin to require it. This will be the first statewide hand recount in Floridas history. But while Nelson may gain a few votes, he is not expected to take the lead. There are dozens of sealed criminal indictments on the DC docket. Are they from Mueller? originally appeared on abcnews.go.com Nearly three dozen sealed criminal indictments have been added to the federal court docket in Washington, D.C. since the start of 2018. Sealed criminal court files are assigned a case number, but do not indicate the identity of the parties or the nature of the charges, so it is impossible for the public to discern what those sealed cases contain. But several legal experts told ABC News the number of sealed cases awaiting action right now is unusual. Fourteen were added to the docket since late August alone, a review by ABC News has found, just as the midterm elections were drawing near and longstanding Justice Department policy precluded prosecutors from taking any public action that could appear to be aimed at influencing political outcomes. And the inadvertent discovery on Thursday night of what appear to be secret charges pending against WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange has drawn fresh attention to the mystery. Legal experts told ABC News that the sealed cases could be tied to Special Counsel Robert Muellers ongoing investigation of Russian interference in the 2016 election and possibly part of a quiet effort to protect his investigation from any premature effort to shut it down. I assume that Mueller knew that once the election was over, there could be an existential threat to his investigation, said Matthew Miller, a former senior Justice official under former Attorney General Eric Holder. He knew the best thing to do was act before that. PHOTO: The U.S. Department of Justice in Washington, D.C., Nov. 7, 2018. (Zach Gibson/Getty Images) (MORE: Julian Assange, WikiLeaks founder, appears to have 'been charged' in federal court) A spokesperson for the special counsels office declined to comment on the investigation or the uptick in sealed indictments. Sealed indictments are often used in cases where a defendant is overseas and U.S. prosecutors dont want to tip off their target before they have a chance to make an arrest. But they can also be used to pressure someone to flip on a more important target, according to Kendall Coffey, who served as U.S. Attorney in the Southern District of Florida in the mid-1990s, especially if there was someone who presented the hope of providing proactive assistance undertaking conversations, especially recorded conversations with other suspects in the investigation. Story continues Mueller has used a sealed indictment before. The case against unpaid Trump campaign aide George Papadopoulos remained a secret for three months before charges of lying to investigators were eventually made public in October 2017. Only then, after Mueller's team secured a cooperation agreement, did the public learn the one-time foreign policy advisor would be the first from Trumps campaign to plead guilty in the probe. Brett Kappel, a veteran political law expert said he calculated that 16 percent of all the criminal cases filed thus far in 2018 remained under seal, a number he considered unusually high. And those were kept under seal much longer than usual, he said. They normally only remain sealed until the person who has been indicted has been apprehended, he said. The other major reason why a case is initially sealed is that publicly revealing the name of the accused would impede an ongoing investigation. Coffey said he did not know if the stack of secret charging papers had any ties to Mueller. But if they did, he said, they would have enabled the special counsels team to keep cases moving ahead of the midterms. If indeed Mueller had prepared cases for prosecution but did not want the announcement to impact on pending elections then a sealed indictment might have been the preferred method, Coffey said. And there was good reason, Miller said, for Mueller to lock in charges before the midterms. PHOTO: Acting Attorney General Matthew Whitaker attends the Annual Veterans Appreciation Day Ceremony at the Justice Department in Washington, Nov. 15, 2018. (Yuri Gripas/Reuters) (MORE: Trump met with legal team over 3 days to discuss responses to questions from Muellers office: Sources) Mueller can only indict someone with the approval of the Attorney General, and once the indictments have been approved and filed, any effort to withdraw charges would involve a judge. At the time, those approvals fell to Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein because Attorney General Jeff Sessions had recused himself from the Russia matter. But President Trump had sent strong signals he planned to replace Sessions after the elections with someone who might be more willing to curtail the probe into Russian election interference and possible collusion. The day after the elections, Trump appointed acting Attorney General Matthew Whitaker, who has previously denounced the Mueller probe. A Justice Department spokeswoman said this week that Whitaker is fully committed to following all appropriate processes and procedures at the Department of Justice, including consulting with senior ethics officials on his oversight responsibilities and matters that may warrant recusal. You cant prevent a new AG from blocking new indictments, Miller said. But if you were ready to move on cases, you could return a bunch of indictments under seal. If the stumbling block is approval from Muellers supervisors, you get that approval while you still have a supervisor who approves of your work. ABC News' Ali Dukakis and Soorin Kim contributed to this report. Editors note: This report has been updated to correct that there have been nearly three dozen, not more than three dozen, sealed criminal indictments added to federal court docket in 2018. Massive Texas Pothole Gets Its Very Own Christmas Tree Nothing can ruin an already hectic commute quite like a gaping pothole. And when it comes to gaping potholes, the small North Texas town of Decatur has a whopper. This week, following years of inaction, local resident Ashley Wiley decided to take matters into her own hands. Her solution? Planting a small shrub inside the three-foot crater. Its a pothole, Wiley told the Fort Worth Star Telegram. So why not put a pot in it? The vegetation vigilante even shared a video of the planting expedition on Facebook, which quickly garnered praise from her frustrated neighbors. "It's been there for 10 years," Wiley explained to the Houston Chronicle. "Everybody's been tearing up their vehicles. The day before I planted it, someone left their front bumper in the hole." Now, thanks to Wiley, not only have people been avoiding the pothole, some have begun decorating the little tree for the holidays, stringing it with lights and ornaments. A few people have even placed presents beneath it. Standing proudly in a shopping center parking lot off Farm Road 51, Decaturs very own Charlie Brown Christmas tree has become a bit of a local celebrity. It even has its own Facebook page and a catchy nickname, The Decatur Crater. WATCH: You'll Never Guess What Americans Spend On Potholes Each Year But despite her efforts, Wiley told the Chronicle that the parking lot where the treacherous pothole resides belongs to an out of state business-owner. And because its out of Wise Countys control, it may never get repaired. At the very least, the locals are getting a kick out of it. "A lot of people are coming together from the community and having a great laugh about it," she told the Chronicle. "It's much better than all the negative stuff you hear about in the news." November is National Adoption Month and the Saturday before Thanksgiving National Adoption Day. We asked adoptive parents and other experts: If you could do one or two things immediately to help people understand how crucial being open to and supportive of adoption, what would it be? If you could urge families to take serious steps to discern if this is something they can prudently take on, what would you have them do, read, see? Whats your chief hope for adoption in the public square and in the policy and legal spheres? Heres how they responded. Kathryn Jean Lopez Grazie Pozo Christie Adoption is the best answer to many vexing situations. Its not a perfect answer, because in human relationships nothing is perfect. But it is certainly the best answer. For instance, it is the finest answer to the question of what to do with a child who finds him or herself alone in this hard world, unprotected and unloved. It also happens to be the most loving answer to the problem of infertility, turning that very painful condition into pure gift, to parents and child. I would like to see a strong and concerted effort by the current administration to open the sluicegates of international adoption. In the United States, where many thousands of couples would like to adopt, there is a dearth of orphans available for adoption, but not so in other parts of the world. Countries with cultures that reject girl-children are especially important to access, as international adoption is a much better option for these girls than abortion, abandonment, and infanticide. Diplomatic efforts are needed, as well as real legal bulwarks against the corruption that too often stains the process of international adoption. Really, its a question of getting the government interested in facilitating this lovely work, and gaining the trust of foreign governments. In order for any kind of adoption (domestic or foreign) to be considered by potential parents, the culture of adoption has to be strengthened. The culture means the whole philosophical understanding of what it means to be a mother or a father, and who qualifies as a son or daughter. In parenting, biology is very important, but the willing leap of love that a soul makes when it takes another for his or her very own is just as powerful. Falling in love with a child born of another woman was the prettiest thing that has ever happened to me. It taught me things about God and love that I had never known before. This experience is exalting and ennobling and should be sung to the skies. Adoption is not a last resort but a vocation and a road to joy. Story continues Grazie Pozo Christie is a radiologist in Miami who serves as policy adviser for The Catholic Association. Kathleen Buckley Domingo The best way to encourage fostering and adoption is to ask! Often, peoples understanding is based upon hearsay, and misconceptions abound. Hearing directly from foster or adoption families and from social workers, judges, and agency leaders, they are introduced to children in need of homes from those who work with them daily. In this context, individuals and families are empowered to make an educated decision. Families are generous! Using this model in our Los Angeles parishes has resulted in over 600 families currently pursuing fostering after just a few months of intentional promotion. In addition, by educating parishes broadly, many people surface who can support foster families, even if they are not in a position to foster or adopt. Families discerning fostering or adoption should engage with families with personal experience. Local agencies hold events for prospective families to get to know foster families and foster youth. Online tools introduce us to foster youth and their experiences. It is important for families to understand the reality of fostering both the great rewards and the great challenges. Today, I recommend the movie Instant Family, which humorously but accurately portrays the generosity and strength needed to lovingly welcome foster children! Adopting and fostering children is a great public service and something that should be encouraged and incentivized in public policy and in law. The process for birth mothers to create and execute an adoption plan should be made as easy and supportive as possible. And, the process for becoming a foster or adoptive parent can be streamlined. In Los Angeles, there is such a great backlog of families waiting to be approved for fostering simply because the process is long and there is a disproportionately small staff. In the meantime, we have over 30,000 children waiting in our child-welfare system in L.A. County. Kathleen Domingo is director of the Office of Life, Justice, and Peace at the Archdiocese of Los Angeles. Holly Taylor Coolman I dont know of anything we do that is more important than to give kids a family and a home, a place to belong. We talk about so many ways that we can work for good in the world and there are many! but what could be more central than forming human beings to love and be loved? Every parent does that, but adoptive parents do it in a particular way, often with particular challenges. Given the numbers of kids who need families, I think we do best when we think of this challenge not only in terms of what individual families can do, but what communities can do. Communities of faith, especially, should consider the possibility of becoming adoption-friendly collaboratives in which families support one another in many ways. The single best option would be to speak with families who have adopted. We all have certain scripts in our mind for other big life options: school, marriage, travel. But most of us are missing the scripts that would allow us to think about adoption. We need stories through which we can begin to build a map of adoption: Whats possible? Whats hard? Whats great? Online resources have an important part to play. The Web can connect us to people, ideas, practical strategies, reading lists, and more. Two very important measures at present are (1) protection and expansion of the adoption tax credit (which is an important financial support for adoptive families) and (2) protection for adoptees from abroad in immigration law. Holly Taylor Coolman is a professor of theology at Providence College and adoptive mother. Andrea Picciotti-Bayer Everyone needs to feel loved. This need is enormous, however, for a child who has suffered abuse or neglect at the very hands of the people entrusted to nurture and love them. Sadly, the number of children lacking loving and stable homes has risen as the opioid crisis affects more Americans. Today, more than ever, many Americans are called to open their homes to suffering children in need. While temporary foster care is all that is needed for some, these initial safe havens often become permanent homes through adoption. But were seeing a terrible trend. Despite decades of service, many faith-based foster care and adoption organizations are closing their doors. They were given an ultimatum: Agree to place children in same-sex households or do get out of the foster-care and adoption-placement business entirely. While compliance is not a problem for many agencies, others cannot endorse same-sex households without contradicting their religious teaching on human sexuality and the family. Many have shut down rather than violate their deeply held beliefs. Some, however, are unwilling to go down without a fight. Catholic Social Services (CSS) in Philadelphia is an example. CSS partnered with the City of Brotherly Loves foster care system for decades. CSSs foster care is part of the Catholic archdioceses religious ministry. And they have been wildly successful. CSS-certified and -supported parents have subsequently adopted many of the children initially placed in their foster-care homes. I interviewed a number of these former CSS-supported foster children for the Catholic Associations amicus brief supporting CSSs suit against the city of Philadelphia. The stories are beautiful. From the first day, these children were treated as members of the family. From the first day, they felt loved. As more and more children in need pour into the countrys foster-care system children needing a safe haven from abuse and neglect, children yearning for a permanent home to call their own it is imperative to keep as many foster-care homes open as possible. Homes supported by faith-based organizations like CSS in Philadelphia need to remain open to answer their cries for security and love. Andrea Picciotti-Bayer is legal adviser at the Catholic Association. John M. Breen The biological connection between family members is one of the most powerful forces on earth. It binds parent and child together and gives the offspring of any couple an immediate sense of identity. The popularity of genetic testing today testifies to the power of this connection and sense of identity even with unknown ancestors across generations. But the most powerful source of connection and identity for any human being isnt biology. Its love. Its not a set of genetically determined characteristics. Its the recognition that one is loved, that ones existence and flourishing are supported by the sacrifice of someone else. For any child, whether born into a family or adopted, their sense of identity comes from knowing that they belong to the heart of another! Societys emphasis on the physical misleads some into thinking that adoption doesnt create a real family and is always second best. The truth is that both biological birth and adoption are to parenting what a wedding is to marriage: a momentous event that marks the beginning of something the full meaning of which lies ahead in the joys and sorrows, triumphs and challenges of a life lived together. Every child is a gift, but an adoptive parent realizes this in a more immediate way. You know that you did not bring this child into the world, yet you are now the person responsible for their well-being. The truth is there and stares you in the face. And you stare back at him or her at this perfect stranger, this perfect gift and you know in an instant that your heart is not your own. Love is thicker than blood and it conquers all the failures and disappointments that life presents. The resolution to an unplanned pregnancy is often seen in stark, binary terms: parenthood or abortion, an unfulfilled life punished with a baby or freedom. Adoption is too seldom considered, and when proposed is easily dismissed. We live in the Upside Down in which placing a child for adoption is regarded by many as a greater tragedy than abortion. This confusion must be overcome. Women who make the truly loving choice of adoption must be honored and supported, financially and otherwise, through crisis pregnancy centers and other institutions that attend to the needs of both mother and child. Only then can the world again be set right. John M. Breen is the Georgia Reithal Professor of Law at Loyola University Chicago. He and his wife Susan are the parents of two teenage boys whom they adopted as infants. Elizabeth Kirk Adoption, properly understood, is a response to brokenness, a means of healing, and ought always be in service to the child. But, in the popular imagination, adoption used to have a stigma, one earned through a complicated history and amplified by negative portrayals in novels, films, and sensational news stories. Particularly, those with the obligation of care for vulnerable orphans have never fared well in fiction from Oliver Twist to Harry Potter. Today, however, that cultural perception is changing. From the quirky, heartwarming depiction of infant adoption in Juno, to the deftly sensitive depiction of transracial adoption in the NBC series This is Us, to the upcoming feel-good film about adoption through foster care in Instant Family, the institution of adoption is experiencing a rehabilitation, even a celebration, and rightly so. Today, adoption is an institution that most people would describe as beautiful, selfless, and even noble. And yet . . . the choice of adoption is quite rare. To take domestic infant adoption for example: women facing a crisis pregnancy choose abortion over adoption by a ratio of 50:1. Let that sink in. There are approximately 1 million abortions annually in the United States, while by the most generous reports, there are less than 20,000 newborns placed each year for adoption. Women consider abortion a solution largely because they believe they have other competing demands (e.g., other children, a job, an education) and not enough support or resources (e.g., income or partner) to meet those demands. In other words, they do not feel they are able to parent. But instead of placing a child for adoption, women overwhelmingly choose abortion. The reality is that, despite positive social attitudes toward adoption, most women facing a crisis pregnancy do not consider it a meaningful option. Similar gaps between theory and practice could be described in foster care, where in 2015, more than 110,000 children across the nation waited to be adopted. We have a paradox of abstract esteem for the institution of adoption that goes hand-in-hand with the reality that it is a disfavored choice. We must do more in culture, policy, and law to change that reality. We must give pregnant women in crisis accurate, complete, and non-coercive information about adoption. We must ensure that a diverse group of providers, including faith-based organizations, are available to serve all vulnerable women and children. We need to do more to keep families in crisis out of foster care, and to promote efficient, timely permanency planning for those children in the foster-care system. We need to support post-adoption resources, especially for those families that welcome children with special challenges or needs. Each of us must ask: What can I do to respond to the plight of todays orphan the child at risk of abortion and the child languishing in foster care? Elizabeth Kirk is a lawyer, writer, and consultant who has a special interest in adoption law and policy. She also serves as an associate scholar with the Charlotte Lozier Institute. Rebecca Masterson Please let me introduce you to Johnny. Johnnys parents severely neglected him, and, on his third birthday, the state removed him from their care. He spent the following 14 years in temporary foster care. Thats when I entered the picture as Johnnys pro bono special-education attorney. A review of his file told me all I needed to know Johnny had been moved over 40 times. From foster placements to group homes, from county to county, he moved every few months, sometimes several times a semester. Credits went missing, progress was lost, and Johnny, as a ward of the state, had no one to help him. I quickly saw that when Johnny advocated for himself, he was labeled defiant. When he became upset that past school work vanished, he was labeled aggressive. When he expressed legitimate frustration at the system in which he was trapped, he was medicated. I took an interest in this young man. Johnny was whip-smart, eloquent, and motivated. But he had no marketable skills, no place to live, no family. Johnny knew that he was going to age out of foster care because no one wants me. After all, that had been the story of his life. He was scared to death. After being Johnnys advocate for six months, I couldnt shake the feeling. I tried to reason my way out of it: I already had one child with severe special needs. He needed a mom who could parent full time. I knew nothing about raising teenagers. And yet . . . Three months shy of his 18th birthday, Johnny formally became my son through adoption. In state care, Johnny had been diagnosed with seven psychological disorders, prescribed psychotropic medications, placed in special-education classes, and considered behavioral and violent. In the arms of my family, Johnny is off medication, has an accurate diagnosis of untreated PTSD, is in a mainstream classroom earning all As and Bs, and his most severe behavior is rolling his eyes when I ask him to take out the trash. No two stories will be the same. How will yours be written? Rebecca Masterson has two sons, both adopted, and serves as chief counsel and vice president of Generation Justice. Jedd Medefind We need to hear directly from people who needed a family but never got one: The young man who aged out of foster care and now has no place to go home to for holidays or the teenage orphan in another country who might have been adopted as a little girl but was prevent by bad policies. We should also hear reflections from a person who was welcomed into a loving family through adoption. Certainly, adoption can be messy. But when you hear these stories, you grasp why family is the most precious gift on earth. To help families, we should encourage anyone considering adoption to talk with at least a few others who are well down that road now. No single perspective is the complete picture, of course. But each will give an important window into the special joys and challenges of adoption. Likewise, a trustworthy adoption agency can also be a great ally in understanding the lay of the adoption landscape and what to expect, both in the adoption process and in the life-long adoption journey. Id also recommend the book, The Connected Child. The American people believe deeply in the importance of family, and most view adoption as a beautiful way for a child to become part of one. Id love to see this core American value reflected even more vividly in public leadership and policy over the years to come. In this U.S., this could look like governors championing foster care and adoption, improving their systems, and honoring both social workers and families that foster and adopt. Internationally, this could include a much more active U.S. role in helping other countries that want to prioritize the goal of family for their kids who lack it including earnest efforts to restore broken families, promote local adoption, and enable inter-country adoption when local families arent available. Jedd Medefind is president of the Christian Alliance for Orphans. Russell Moore For years, Ive called Christians to live out what the Apostle Paul calls the spirit of adoption (Rom. 8:15), by which weve been included into the gospel. That means, for many, welcoming others as we have been welcomed (Rom. 15:7) by adopting and fostering vulnerable children in need of families. Not every Christian, though, is called to adopt or foster. There are many who should not. Even so, every Christian is called to, as the Bible puts it, care for widows and orphans in their distress (Jas. 1:27). For some, adoption should be seriously considered. They have the means and the love, and theyve (again, as the Bible puts it) counted the cost of what it means to be family. Those who arent called or equipped to do this though are still necessary in carrying out ministry to orphans and their families. Adopting families need their churches. Some, as did my wife and I when we were a young, money-strapped couple adopting, need financial help to defray the often-enormous costs. Others need people to stay with their already-there children through the process, and to pray with them and support them. But as much as adopting and fostering families need their church communities at the front-end of the process, they need them much more in the years that follow. In every situation, no matter how joyous, of adoption or foster care, something has, by definition, gone wrong. Someone has died. Someone has left. Something has happened. Children then are facing, in many cases, varying levels of trauma or of special needs of diverse kinds. Caring for vulnerable children means churches learning to bear the burdens of the child suffering with fetal alcohol syndrome or who is born addicted to heroin or a thousand other potential issues. It also means providing respite care for families, called to this mission, but who are sometimes overwhelmed and feel alone. A first step would be to ask adoptive families in your congregation what they would think that other such families might need. That will indicate often what the church needs to do, even where families feel awkward asking for such help for themselves. On the legal and political front, those on the frontlines of adoption and foster-care work simply need, to start with, a government that doesnt actively work against the cause of children. That means, whatever your stance in the culture war, allowing Catholic adoption agencies to be Catholic, Evangelical adoption agencies to be Evangelical, and so on, even if you disagree with the theologies or worldviews of those groups on other issues. The country faces a crisis of children in need of families, and of children who need temporary measures until their families can be restored. Whatever one thinks of the views of those of us who are (small o) orthodox religious people, there just arent enough Unitarian and New Atheist adoption and foster-care ministries to meet that need. When we drive people out of caring for orphans because of their religious views, the religions are not the ones punished, the most vulnerable children among us are. Russell Moore is president of the Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission, the policy arm of the Southern Baptist Convention. Grover Norquist My hope my goal is that most Americans learn three numbers. How many children are available for adoption, but not yet placed in families, here in the United states. How many orphans throughout the world are available for adoption. And how many children are adopted by Americans each year. The number we do not know is how many families would wish to adopt. We know that when we hear the unemployment number is 9 percent that, we must do something. Simple numbers can drive individuals and families to say: I did not know there were so many children who needed families. The second, thought: Might our family be open to growing? will flow naturally for many. People need to know there is a crisis. Unlike other challenges say, a hurricane we know what needs to be done with children without families. We have seen it done. We, as Americans, have done it before. Grover Norquist is president of Americans for Tax Reform and an adoptive father. Branden S. Polk Our nation has a duty to care for our children it comes with being an American. It comes with being a human. Not one of us has been released from our moral duty to love, emotionally and in practice, those that are beaten, abandoned, and abused, even though many of us feel that we should be called to foster or adopt a child. We often treat this as a special assignment or mission for the most generous and kind among us. But in reality, we all have a role to play in either supporting, fostering, or adopting children in care. Together, Americans can ensure that our nations future is grafted into families, that the most vulnerable among us feel worthy of connection, no matter their age or background. The current foster-care and adoption circumstances are dire. I do not believe that a socially and morally conscientious society can afford to ignore this problem, and yet so many children remain in care. If I could immediately do one thing to help compel more engagement, I would make sure that all families on the fence about fostering or adopting were guaranteed robust social and spiritual supports, which would surely increase their retention and increase the recruitment of other families. Additionally, I would elevate the voices of youth in foster care more frequently through film, music, and media. Those most impacted by this crisis can provided valuable clarity on how to deliver effective supports. For children in care, the days drag on, and perhaps their hopes wain. The system is overloaded. Maybe its not hard for them to imagine aging out of foster care without a forever family. My hope for adoption policy is that decision makers will see this as a true crisis and an issue of conscience, putting aside all political differences in order to create nonpartisan solutions that free all of our hands to be altruistic helpers. Even so, if the politicians continue to have a hard time regulating, my hope is that our faith-based and community-based organizations will take up arms, setting aside our differences, on behalf of children and older youth who need and deserve amazing families. Branden S. Polk is senior associate for Justice and Child Welfare at the Clapham Group. Heidi Saxton This Christmas when my family will be making its annual pilgrimage to visit my mother-in-law in Florida, one less person will be coming with us. Our 18-year-old son, whom we fostered with his younger sister for nearly three years before adopting them in 2005, has chosen to spend the holidays with members of his birth family in Detroit. We will miss him terribly, but we also understand that we have a promise to keep: That he would be able to see his mother, as the judge decreed, after he turned 18. Can I go, too? my daughter asked. Not this year, we told her. This year its Christophers turn. She accepts this grudgingly, and soon is talking about the fun well have on the beach. Later, as were riding home in the car, she begins to process the situation out loud: I will always have two families. My birth family, and my real family. Instinctively I recoiled at this a bit. As much as I want my children to have a sense that the bonds we share are as secure and as permanent as those they share with the couple who gave them life, denying the bond they share with their first family is not the way to achieve that. We are your forever family, honey. You have two real families who love you your birth family, and us. You dont need to choose between us. She visibly relaxed. What I did not say because at this stage of her life, it would only confuse her is that family is something that over time is chosen by both sides. The infant who is baptized into the family of God, will one day choose for himself, often through the sacrament of confirmation. For the child who is surrounded by loving family even before she draws her first breath, that choice can be very natural and instinctive (though it may hit a few bumpy patches as she enters adolescence). For the child who has been adopted perhaps especially one who is adopted with clear memories of his or her first family that pull between two camps can cause confusion, ambivalence, and anxiety. We can support our children through this process, but ultimately the choice is theirs to make. Love that manipulates or controls only causes resentment. Children are not rights to be protected, nor are they prizes to be won. We are gifts to one another, brothers and sisters in Christ helping each other along heavens highway to join the forever family of the Father of us all. Heidi Hess Saxton offers resources for foster, adoptive, and special-needs families at Extraordinary Moms Network. She is an author and editor at Ave Maria Press. Jaymie Stuart Wolfe Take a look at what happens to kids who have no family support, kids who have never been told that they have value or shown that they are worth loving. Every time you see a young person who is involved in crime, struggles with addiction, drops out of school, is promiscuous every time you see a kid in trouble look deeper. What you may be seeing is how the adults in that childs life failed him. Are you open to being the one who doesnt? The single most important step to discerning adoption is prayer. Every family should ask God if adopting a child is part of His plan for them. Set your own thoughts, ideas, preconceived notions, and desires aside and listen. Then follow the path that opens up in front of you. Take one step at a time. Know that discernment doesnt necessarily end with a yes. If you can, find adoptive parents who can accompany you on the journey. My hope is that our society would do more to make adopting a child an option for families who dont earn a lot of money, for older parents, for parents who may have some health problems. We tend to disqualify people too quickly, and for reasons that have little to do with giving a child a family to grow up in. But we also need to give adoptive families more ongoing support to help them better understand what to expect and how to handle the challenges that may flow from adoption itself. Remember: Adoption is not a solution to a problem. Adoption is the next best option for a child who, for a host of negative reasons, does not have a family that can give him or her what every child needs. Jaymie Stuart Wolfe is author of Adoption: Room for One More? Sarah Zagorski We cant know what the adoption process is like until we engage with those who have already gone through it and encountered difficulties. We must listen to the stories of adoptive families and ask an adoptive family to share their experience prior to, during, and after adoption. It would also be helpful for these families to share the needs of their children after their adoption. Some adopted children have unique challenges such as broken attachments or grief to process. Any family that is ready to commit to a child for life should discern carefully what kind of adjustments their family could make. My adoption story was particularly complex, but a resource my adopted parents worked through was Wounded Children, Healing Homes: How Traumatized Children Impact Adoptive and Foster Families. Books like this help families have realistic expectations for their children while also helping parents learn how to care for a child with a complicated background. I would encourage families that are considering infant adoption to watch I Lived on Parker Avenue, a powerful documentary on how adoption saves lives. My chief hope is for more education on adoption to be in the public arena, in both public and private schools, and through advocacy organizations. Views of adoption are often negative, with only 51 percent of Americans viewing it as something positive for our society. Also, studies show there are many misconceptions discouraging birth mothers from placing their children for adoption. They often believe they will never see their child again regardless of the kind of adoption plan they make or that their child will have a difficult life. The truth is more than 90 percent of adopted children aged five and older have positive feelings about their adoption. Sarah Zagorski was adopted from foster care. A Hazara refugee who now calls the Australian outback home, Ali named his new venture the "Afghan Friendship Restaurant", a tribute to the warm welcome he says he received after moving to the town of Griffith five years ago. The 44-year-old father of three is among a growing number of refugees and migrants to Australia who have opted to live in the bush rather than among the bright lights, hustle-bustle and astronomical prices of Sydney or Melbourne. The word "friendship" hovers over Ali's head in bright red lettering while he cooks lamb skewers, his face a picture of concentration as the rich wafts of fragrant smoke lure in hungry customers. It is the first-ever Afghan eatery in Griffith -- a six-hour drive west of Sydney -- and a far cry from the pie and chips staples of the Australian bush. "I suggest to all of my friends, especially Afghan people, to come to Griffith, because here's very friendly," Ali, who asked that his surname not be used to protect family still in Afghanistan, tells AFP during a break from cooking. "Also we can find a job as well, because the population is not too much." A nation of immigrants, nearly half of Australia's 25-million-strong population was either born overseas or has at least one parent born abroad. The country takes in around 14,000 refugees annually, with one-off exceptions to allow additional asylum-seekers, such as a recent scheme for 12,000 Syrians and Iraqis. But harsh anti-asylum policies against boat arrivals and high-profile incidents of racism have given the country a reputation as inhospitable to non-white immigrants. There's been a spike in anti-immigration sentiment, according to the Lowy Institute think tank, despite the overall intake of migrants -- capped annually at 190,000 -- remaining stable. Lowy's annual poll found that for the first time this year, more than half the Australians surveyed said the number of migrants was "too high" -- up from 40 percent in 2017. Story continues The poll's authors said the shifting attitudes could reflect a lurch to the right, particularly as conservative politicians call for intake cuts amid urban pressures. - 'Crying out for people' - Rapid demographic changes in Australian cities over the past decade have caused disquiet as residents grapple with congestion and high house prices. Yet at the same time many regional towns are "crying out for more people", according to population and cities minister Alan Tudge. His government is proposing that new arrivals live in smaller towns for a few years, in the hope they would make it their home. Critics say the policy is not enforceable, and add that migrants would struggle to integrate into rural populations amid language and cultural differences. But that is not what Jock Collins at the University of Technology Sydney, who is currently surveying 250 recently arrived families from Iraq, Syria and Afghanistan, has found. Collins says many migrants have positive feedback to share after being settled in smaller towns. In addition to job opportunities and a supportive environment -- "where the town goes out of its way to welcome refugees" -- the presence of other migrant communities can ease the transition, Collins says. "A lot of regional and rural towns are losing populations and in particular, the young people are leaving... so immigration can help fill that gap." Some immigrants also find it difficult to adjust to the busy rhythms of city life, making smaller towns an easier fit. Incentives like extended family visas -- which the conservative government has been cutting back on in favour of younger working-age migrants -- could also attract and keep refugees in the bush. - Crocodile Ali - One success story is Mingoola, a small rural township in New South Wales, on the border with Queensland, that was slowly dying as its population aged. Desperate for an injection of new blood, the town finally found a match with refugees from rural east Africa who were struggling in Sydney. Similar praise has been heaped on Nhill, a town four hours' drive from Melbourne that's boomed since local poultry firm Luv-a-Duck found a Karen community, a minority group persecuted in Myanmar, willing to move there. Eight years on, business is booming and the Karen now make up 10 percent of Nhill's 2,000-strong population. "From a position of decline, these towns are now thriving," says Jack Archer of the Regional Australia Institute, which is pushing for a national strategy instead of isolated efforts to match needy towns with job-seeking migrants. Back in Griffith, refugee entrepreneurs are boosting local jobs. Ali's restaurant employs another refugee and a migrant from Malaysia, while his wife also helps with the cooking. In more than one way, Ali is altering visitor flows between cities and rural towns. One couple have travelled from Sydney three times to eat at the restaurant. It's "for the soup", he says, "they like my soup and because of that they come here." (Photo: ASSOCIATED PRESS) In a significant escalation of her activism-driven approach to politics, Rep.-elect Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.) has urged other progressives to mount primary challenges against some of the more conservative Democratic members of Congress. Ocasio-Cortez delivered the appeal in a phone call on Saturday with some 700 progressive activists organized by Justice Democrats, the group of alumni of Sen. Bernie Sanders 2016 presidential bid. Long story short, I need you to run for office, Ocasio-Cortez began her remarks. We all need to run at all levels of government, but I really hope that many of you join me here in Congress. Justice Democrats recruited Ocasio-Cortez to run and played a key role in her upset of Rep. Joe Crowley, a House power-broker, in New Yorks Democratic primary in June. Ocasio-Cortez then easily won the seat Crowley has held since 1999 in this months general election. The group is calling its new campaign #OurTime. The initiative asks Justice Democrats army of activists to help identify Democratic House incumbents who are demographically and ideologically out-of-touch with their districts, and identify people who might make good primary challengers to them. Joining Ocasio-Cortez in backing the #OurTime initiative is Rep.-elect Rashida Tlaib (D-Mich.). Justice Democrats inclusion of demographic criteria likely means that even some reliably progressive white Democrats who represent more diverse districts wont be safe from such challenges in 2020. The group already showcased that approach with its support for Ayanna Pressley, a black Boston city council member who unseated progressive Rep. Michael Capuano (D-Mass.) in a primary in September. Ocasio-Cortez and leaders of Justice Democrats say they are driven by a conviction that most current Democratic members of Congress are not up to the task of enacting the radical solutions to address the countrys and the planets most pressing problems. The most urgent of those crises, they said, include climate change, widening economic inequality and persistent racial injustice. Story continues There are some good people who want to push for stuff, but they dont have the backup right now to do anything big, said Saikat Chakrabarti, a founder of Justice Democrats who is headed to Washington to serve as Ocasio-Cortezs chief of staff. So we need new leaders, period. Weve got to primary folks. If we dont have folks who are mission-focused, and laser-focused on solving these gigantic problems, we just arent going to get them solved in time, he added. It is highly unusual for a member of Congress to support a massive number of primary challenges targeting party colleagues. But over the course of last weeks orientation on Capitol Hill for newly elected lawmakers, Ocasio-Cortez demonstrated she has little interest in adhering to traditional congressional norms of comity and deference. On Tuesday, Ocasio-Cortez attended the Sunrise Movements sit-in at the office of House Democratic leader Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) and endorsed the groups call for a select committee to address climate change that is comprised solely of members of Congress who have not received fossil fuel industry money. The committee envisioned by Ocasio-Cortez and the group would be charged with drafting a Marshall Plan-style Green New Deal to have the U.S. powered entirely by renewable energy by 2035. The committee idea has gained support from a handful of sitting House Democrats and newly elected ones. But the proposal and Ocasio-Cortezs support for it also elicited some public opposition from veteran Democratic colleagues, many of whom have senior committee posts and claim that a new panel is unnecessary. The investigative news site Sludge subsequently reported that each of the Democrats quoted as criticizing Ocasio-Cortez had received massive donations during the 2018 campaign cycle from fossil-fuel industry and electric utility political action committees and employees. To Ocasio-Cortez, the negative response to the idea of simply creating a committee tasked with drafting legislation only strengthens the case for more primary challenges to veteran incumbents. The resistance to the proposal points to the role that fossil-fuel industry contributions play even within the Democratic Party, she said. In another sign of her independence, Ocasio-Cortez has not yet joined the leaders of the Congressional Progressive Caucus which she is joining in endorsing Pelosis bid for House speaker. That gives Ocasio-Cortez some leverage in the bid to persuade Pelosi to establish the climate-change committee. The 29-year-old democratic socialist said she is aware she may already face political punishment for her participation in the sit-in at Pelosis office. If I made people mad, they could have put me on the dog-walking committee or whatever. They still might. But I knew that it was worth it, she said. In her remarks to the Justice Democrats, Ocasio-Cortez invited activists considering running for office to take a similar leap in the faith that history would be on their side. Know that they will come after you and that thats OK because at the end of the day, when you are on the right side of that long arc of history that bends toward justice, we will be able to tell our grandchildren that we fought for whats right, she said. This story has been updated with Rep.-elect Tlaibs support of the #OurTime campaign. Also on HuffPost NSA Surveillance Rep. Thomas Massie (R-Ky.), left, and Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.), center, exit the Senate floor after Paul spoke about surveillance legislation on Capitol Hill on May 31, 2015. National Anthem From left: U.S. Speaker of the House John Boehner (R-Ohio), Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.), Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.), House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) and Sen. Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.) place their hands over their hearts during the playing of the national anthem during a presentation ceremony for the Congressional Gold Medal in recognition of the American Fighter Aces' service to the United States at the U.S. Capitol on May 20, 2015. Congress honored the service of the pilots with the highest civilian honor Congress can bestow. Remembering Officers President Barack Obama (from left), Attorney General Loretta Lynch and Department of Homeland Security Secretary Jeh Johnson attend the 34rd Annual National Peace Officers' Memorial Service on Capitol Hill on May 15, 2015. Elton John Singer Elton John (right), founder of the Elton John AIDS Foundation, and Pastor Rick Warren (left) of the Saddleback Church, arrive to testify about global health programs during a Senate Appropriations Subcommittee hearing on Capitol Hill on May 6, 2015. Loretta Lynch Testimony U.S. Attorney General Loretta Lynch (right) appears before the Senate Appropriations Committee hearing on Capitol Hill on May 7, 2015. The committee is hearing testimony on the Justice Department's budget request for fiscal year 2016. Bernie Runs U.S. Sen. Bernard Sanders (I-Vt.) leaves after a news conference to speak on his agenda for America on Capitol Hill on April 30, 2015, after announcing he would run for U.S. president. Japanese Prime Minister Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe waves before he addresses a joint session of Congress at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C., on April 29, 2015. Subway Smiles Sen. Robert Menendez (D-N.J.), second from left, smiles as he rides a Senate subway with a member of the press, left, after a vote April 23, 2015, to confirm Loretta Lynch as the next U.S. attorney general. Hotdish Competition Members of the Minnesota delegation taste each other's entries during the Minnesota Congressional Delegation Hotdish Competition on Capitol Hill on April 22, 2015. Hotdish is a meal similar to a casserole. Advocating For Loretta Lynch House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) speaks while flanked by members of the Congressional Black Caucus during a news conference on Capitol Hill on April 22, 2015. Pelosi urged the Senate to immediately confirm Loretta Lynch's nomination as attorney general. Justice March Henry Singleton of New York City holds up a sign as U.S. Rep. John Lewis (D-Ga.) speaks during a rally to mark the finish of March2Justice on April 21, 2015, on the West Lawn of the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C. Dozens of marchers took part in an eight-day, 250-mile march from Staten Island, New York, to the nation's capital to demand congressional intervention to tackle "the national crisis of police violence." Special Guest Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed al-Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi, second from left, speaks with Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.), second from right, as they pose for a photo alongside Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.), left, and Sen. Ben Cardin (D-Md.), right, prior to a meeting at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C., on April 21, 2015. Gyrocopter At The Capitol Capitol Hill police officers and other officials lift a gyrocopter that landed on the U.S. Capitol's South Lawn, onto a trailer on April 15, 2015. A man identified as Doug Hughes, 61, illegally landed his aircraft on the Capitol lawn, triggering street closures around the building and prompting a police investigation. Hughes is described as a mailman, and a logo appearing to be that of the U.S. Postal Service was visible on the tail fin of the aircraft. Secretary Of State Parade U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry is trailed by staff and security while departing a meeting with members of the U.S Senate on the proposed deal with Iran at the U.S. Capitol on April 14, 2015. Kerry met with members of the House and Senate to discuss the ongoing Iran nuclear negotiations. Harry Reid's Retirement A large abstract painting of Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid of Nevada is visible on a wall next to a stuffed eagle in his office on Capitol Hill in Washington on March 27, 2015. Reid recently announced he will not seek re-election to another term. McCain Applauds Senate Armed Services Committee Chairman Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) applauds the final comments from fellow committee member, Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.), as they conclude a news conference on Capitol Hill in Washington on March 26, 2015, to discuss the situation in Yemen. Sen. Kelly Ayotte (R-N.H.) is at right. Ben Affleck Actor, filmmaker and founder of the Eastern Congo Initiative Ben Affleck testifies before a Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs hearing on "Diplomacy, Development, and National Security" on March 26, 2015. His wife, Jennifer Garner, looks on. Bill Gates Bill Gates testifies during the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on State, Foreign Operations and Related Programs hearing on "Diplomacy, Development, and National Security" on March 26, 2015. Twin Tears Golf legend Jack Nicklaus, left, and Speaker of the House John Boehner (R-Ohio) wipe away tears after listening to the remarks of Nicklaus' son Jack Nicklaus II during the elder Nicklaus' Congressional Gold Medal ceremony in the U.S. Capitol Rotunda on March 24, 2015. Nicklaus was lauded by family, friends and politicians for his many sports achievements and his philanthropy. Affordable Care Act Anniversary House Minority Whip Steny Hoyer (D-Md.) and House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) lead the way down the House steps for the House Democratic Caucus media event to mark the fifth anniversary of President Barack Obama signing into law the Affordable Care Act on March 24, 2015. Meerkat In The House Conference aide SoRelle Wyckoff films a news conference in the Capitol after a meeting of the House Republican Conference using the live streaming app Meerkat on March 24, 2015. Congressional Gold Medal Golf legend Jack Nicklaus, center, is presented the Congressional Gold Medal by, from left, House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.), Speaker John Boehner (R-Ohio), Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) and Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) in the Capitol Rotunda on March 24, 2015. Secret Service Talks To Congress Joseph Clancy, director of the U.S. Secret Service, testifies during a Senate Appropriations Subcommittee hearing on Capitol Hill in on March 19, 2015. Spring Cleaning Code Pink peace activists discuss a letter to Iran's leaders written by Sen. Tom Cotton (R-Ark.) outside his office in the Russell Senate Office Building on Capitol Hill on March 19, 2015. The group organized a "spring cleaning of Congress." Supreme Women House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) right, prepares to take a picture in her Capitol office with Supreme Court Justices, from left, Elena Kagan, Ruth Bader Ginsburg and Sonia Sotomayor, before a reception on March 18, 2015. The justices were in the Capitol to be honored at Pelosi's annual Women's History Month reception in Statuary Hall. When Irish Ties Are Smilin' From left: Rep. Peter King (R-N.Y.), Speaker of the House John Boehner (R-Ohio), President Barack Obama (D) and Irish Prime Minister Taoiseach Enda Kenny depart the annual Friends of Ireland luncheon on Capitol Hill on St. Patrick's Day 2015. Colonial Visit For Marijuana Dressed in colonial garb, Adam Eidinger and fellow D.C. marijuana advocates visit the office staff of Rep. Jason Chaffetz (R-Utah) at the Rayburn House Office Building on Capitol Hill on March 17, 2015, to protest the congressman's stand in regard to legalized marijuana in the District of Columbia. Legislative Director Amber Kirby Talley receives a pipe from Eidinger. Goldendoodle Shawna Blair, of the Senate Periodical Press Gallery, holds her dog George Clooney, a 4-month-old Goldendoodle, for Kate Hunter of Bloomberg News to pet in the Capitol's Senate Press Gallery on March 13, 2015. Code Pink Protesters from Code Pink hold up signs as Secretary of State John Kerry and Defense Secretary Ashton Carter arrive to testify before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee on Capitol Hill on March 11, 2015. Cruz Waves Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) speaks during the International Association of Fire Fighters Presidential Forum at the Hyatt Regency on Capitol Hill on March 10, 2015. Warren Talks Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) speaks during the International Association of Fire Fighters Legislative Conference General Session at the Hyatt Regency on Capitol Hill on March 9, 2015. Speaking On Gun Control Former astronaut Mark Kelly, husband of former congresswoman and handgun violence survivor Gabby Giffords, is joined by Reps. Mike Thompson (D-Calif.), Bob Dold (R-Ill.), Elizabeth Esty (D-Conn.) and Kathleen Rice (D-N.Y.) for a news conference about background checks for gun purchases in the Canon House Office Building on March 4, 2015. Selfie Time Rep. Sean Duffy (R-Wis.), shoots a video selfie as he heads to the House floor for votes on March 4, 2015. Giffords' Voice Former Congresswoman and handgun violence survivor Gabby Giffords (D-Ariz.) speaks during a news conference about background checks for gun purchases at the Canon House Office Building on Capitol Hill on March 4, 2015. Netanyahu Speaks Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu waves as he steps to the lectern prior to speaking before a joint meeting of Congress on Capitol Hill in Washington on March 3, 2015. House Speaker John Boehner of Ohio, left, and Sen. Orrin Hatch (R-Utah) applaud. Love HuffPost? Become a founding member of HuffPost Plus today. This article originally appeared on HuffPost. Andrew Gillum, the Democratic mayor of Tallahassee running for governor of Florida, on Saturday conceded the contentious race to his Republican opponent Ron DeSantis. Gillum appeared in a Facebook video with his wife, R. Jai Gillum, to acknowledge his loss by a margin of just 0.41 percentage points. We said that we would fight until the last vote is counted. We wanted to make sure that every single vote including those that were overvotes, undervotes as long as those were legally cast, we wanted those votes to be counted, Gillum began. And now that we are rounding that process out, R. Jai and I wanted to take a moment to congratulate Mr. DeSantis for becoming the next governor of the great state of Florida, he said. Gillum posted the video 11 days after the 2018 midterm elections, when tight margins between the two candidates triggered an automatic machine recount. Although the candidate conceded to DeSantis after the Nov. 6 election, he rescinded his words as it became apparent that a recount was necessary. The states similarly close U.S. Senate race between Democratic incumbent Bill Nelson and Republican Gov. Rick Scott remains officially undecided. A second, manual recount is underway in that contest, because the margin following the initial machine recount was still too narrow by state standards. Nobody wanted to be governor more than me, but this was not just about an election cycle, Gillum said in the video posted Saturday. This was about creating the kind of change in this state that really allows for the voices of everyday people to show up again in our government, in our state and in our communities. More than 4 million of you decided that you wanted a different direction for the state of Florida, he said, adding that he and his wife remain committed to the campaigns values. In a tweet following Gillums concession, DeSantis wrote, Now its time to bring Florida together. This was a hard-fought campaign. Now its time to bring Florida together. https://t.co/I1hB0vd3kb Ron DeSantis (@RonDeSantisFL) November 17, 2018 Related... Story continues Andrew Gillum Is At Home With His Blackness Andrew Gillum Withdraws His Concession In Floridas Governor Race Florida Officials Order Hand Recount Of Ballots In Tight Senate Race Love HuffPost? Become a founding member of HuffPost Plus today. This article originally appeared on HuffPost. Beirut (AFP) - Syrian regime forces retook control of the last southern holdout of the Islamic State group Saturday, as a monitor said air strikes killed dozens in a remaining jihadist pocket in the country's east. More than seven years into Syria's grinding civil war, multiple forces are battling to push IS out of its remaining scraps of territory in the country. On Saturday, regime forces retook the southern area of Tulul al-Safa as the jihadists pulled back into the desert after months of fighting, the Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said. Pro-government fighters regained control of the volcanic plateau between the provinces of Damascus and Sweida "after IS fighters withdrew from it and headed east into the Badia desert", Observatory chief Rami Abdel Rahman said. The withdrawal likely came "under a deal with the regime forces" after weeks of encirclement and air raids, he said. In recent weeks, air strikes on the Tulul al-Safa pocket had increased and hundreds of regime fighters were sent as reinforcements, the Observatory said. State news agency SANA reported regime forces had made "a great advance in Tulul al-Safa" and said they were combing the area for any remaining jihadists. That victory has whittled down the jihadists group's territorial control to a single pocket in the east of the country, where it faces a separate assault by US-backed forces. - Civilians killed in far east? - A Kurdish-Arab alliance supported by a US-led coalition has been fighting to expel IS from that far eastern patch near the Iraqi border since September. The Observatory said coalition air strikes early Saturday on the village of Abu al-Husn in Deir Ezzor province killed 43 people, including 36 family members of IS fighters. "It's the highest death toll in coalition air strikes since the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) launched its attack against the IS pocket" in September, Abdel Rahman said. Story continues Seventeen of those killed were children, he said, while seven of the dead remained unidentified. A spokesman for the US-led coalition confirmed strikes in the area of Abu Husn, but said they had not harmed any non-combattants. "No civilian casualties are associated with the strikes in question," spokesman Sean Ryan told AFP. "The coalition takes great measures to identify and strike appropriate ISIS targets in order to avoid non-combatant casualties," he said, using another acronym for IS. The Observatory says coalition air raids have killed 234 civilians including 82 children since September 10, when the SDF launched the offensive on the eastern IS holdout. It says 625 jihadists have been killed in strikes and clashes in the area during the same period. The SDF assault was slowed by a fierce jihadist fightback, and then briefly put on hold to protest Turkish shelling of Kurdish militia positions in northern Syria. - 'Careful advance' - SDF commander Redur Khalil said Saturday that operations were ongoing. "There has been an advance on the ground in the past days but it is a careful advance due to fields of landmines, trenches, tunnels and barricades set up by IS," he told AFP. IS overran large swathes of Syria and neighbouring Iraq in 2014, proclaiming a "caliphate" in land it controlled. But the jihadist group has since lost most of it to various offensives in both countries. Regime forces had been fighting IS in Tulul al-Safa since a deadly jihadist attack in July. That fighting has killed 240 regime fighters and 420 IS jihadists, the Observatory says. In the July 25 attack, IS killed more than 260 people, most of them civilians, in a wave of suicide bombings, shootings, and stabbings across Sweida province in the bloodiest assault on the Druze minority of the war. Followers of a secretive offshoot of Islam, the Druze are considered heretics by the Sunni extremists of IS. Syria's war has killed more than 360,000 people since it erupted in 2011 with the brutal repression of anti-government protests. Since 2014, the US-led coalition has acknowledged direct responsibility for over 1,100 civilian deaths in Syria and Iraq, but rights groups put the number killed much higher. Scores of demonstrators have taken to the streets across Ireland this week to protest after a defense lawyer held up a teenagers lacy thong in a rape trial to indicate consent, the Guardian reports. In her closing argument, lawyer Elizabeth OConnell asked the jury to consider a 17-year-olds underwear as an indication that she was open to meeting someone. Prosecutors said the teen was raped in a muddy ally 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? You have to look at the way she was dressed. She was wearing a thong with a lace front, OConnell said. The defendant was unanimously acquitted by a jury of eight men and four women at Corks Central Criminal Court on November 6. But the lawyers remarks sparked outrage far beyond the trial. Womens rights activists and others took to social media to protest victim blaming, and posted photos of underwear on Twitter with the hashtags #IBelieveHer and #ThisIsNotConsent. Protests also erupted in Belfast, Cork, Dublin and Limerick with hundreds of women and men calling for a national reckoning over how sexual assault cases are handled. Lacy but full or thong but not lacy, need someone to tell me which is less rapey... #ThisIsNotConsent pic.twitter.com/jiA61qF7gB maireos (@maireos) November 13, 2018 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 We stand in solidarity with survivors of sexual assault who are being grievously failed by our criminal justice system, Tara Brown of the National Womens Council of Ireland said Wednesday at a rally in Dublin. The type of clothes a victim was wearing has no place in our criminal justice system, and it had no place in determining what is consent. Story continues We have a responsibility to create a safe system for survivors of sexual assault, and we are repeatedly shown that we are a long way from achieving a victim-centered [prosecution] system, she added. On Nov. 13, Ruth Coppinger, a member of the Irish Parliament, held up a thong during a debate to call attention to what she referred to as rape myths. Noeline Blackwell of the Dublin Rape Crisis Centre told the Irish Independent that victim blaming is a rampant problem. These kind of mythologies and stereotypes around rape come up again and again in court cases, because the defense to rape is that the sex was consensual. So anything the defendant can do to suggest there was consent will be used, she said. Earlier this year, similar protests were ignited by the acquittal of two Irish rugby internationals accused of raping a 21-year-old woman, according to the Guardian. During the proceedings, a 19-year-old woman was cross-examined for eight days and her underwear was circulated in court. The case prompted a review into how Northern Ireland handles sexual offense cases. Buenos Aires (AFP) - The discovery of the wreckage of an Argentine submarine lost a year ago has revived a stalled probe into the cause of the undersea disaster that took the lives of 44 crew members. Families of the victims have called for the ARA San Juan to be refloated, an enormous undertaking that authorities cautioned was likely beyond their means. "We're talking about a vessel that, filled with water, weighs 2,500 tons," said the judge in charge of the investigation, Marta Yanez. Yanez said she would not risk raising the submarine "if that means causing it to break up." "I prefer to preserve the evidence in place," she said. But she has issued summonses to the Argentine naval officers who were aboard the Seabed Constructor when it found the submarine on Friday, a year and a day after it vanished in the South Atlantic with all aboard. Crushed from an implosion, the submarine was located at a depth of more than 900 meters (3,000 feet) in a desolate area of undersea craters and canyons 400 kilometers (250 miles) off the coast of Argentina. An underwater robot sent down by the Seabed Constructor, which specializes in ultra-deep water exploration, relayed 67,000 images of the sunken vessel. - 'First step' - Luis Tagliapietra, the father of San Juan crewmember Ensign Alejandro Tagliapietra, was among those on board the ship when it located the sub. "I don't have words to describe it, I feel profound pain and anguish," he said in a brief video carried by Argentine media. "But at the same time we know where they are and it is the first step to learn the truth of what happened." "It's a very hard day, an inconceivable, unreal day. But it is also the first step, which has taken a year, to reach the truth. We are not going to rest until we know what happened." Defense Minister Oscar Aguad met Saturday with the families of the victims and showed them photographs of the wreckage, including images of a propeller, the sub's torpedo-launching tubes and an upper section of the vessel lying on the ocean floor. Story continues "We are all destroyed here," said Yolanda Mendiola, the mother of crewman Leandro Cisneros, 28. "I still had hopes that they could be alive," Luis Niz, the father of a missing sailor, told reporters, even though President Mauricio Macri's government had declared two weeks after the sub's disappearance that there could be no survivors. - Stalled probe - Although an official investigation was opened a year ago, investigators have had little to go on until now. Nonetheless, Argentine navy chief Marcel Srur was removed from his post in December. Seabed Constructor, a jewel in the fleet of US-based exploration company Ocean Infinity, was headed Sunday for Capetown, South Africa for maintenance, the Argentine navy said. When that is completed, it will return to the area where the submarine was located. According to preliminary information released Saturday by the Argentine navy, the San Juan imploded two hours after its last communication with the Mar del Plata naval base, its home port, on November 15, 2017. The sound of the explosion was recorded and traced to the general area where the submarine was found. In a message, Macri promised to get to "the truth needed to honor and respect our heroes and their families." "A serious phase of investigation is underway to know the whole truth, a truth to which we've all been committed from day one," he said, announcing three days of national mourning. Families of the victims, staying at the Tierra del Fuego Hotel in Mar del Plata, were organizing a march Sunday in memory of the "44 hearts of steel." A swimmer died after a rare suspected stingray attack off an Australian beach while another two people were mauled in separate shark encounters this weekend. The 42-year-old's death came more than a decade after world-renowned "Crocodile Hunter" Steve Irwin was killed when a stingray barb punctured his chest while he was filming on the famed Great Barrier Reef. The man was in waters off Lauderdale Beach some 23 kilometres (14 miles) from Hobart in the southern island state of Tasmania Saturday when he "sustained a puncture wound to his lower abdomen... possibly inflicted by a marine animal", police said. He was brought onto the beach by friends but suffered a heart attack and was unable to be resuscitated, police added. "It's consistent with (a stingray injury) but further investigation and examination of the deceased may be able to give a bit more of a concrete fact on that," Tasmania Police Senior Constable Brett Bowering told the Sunday Tasmanian. "It's a pretty traumatic incident to see." Commonly found in tropical waters, stingrays rarely attack humans but their barbs, at the end of their tails, are coated in toxic venom which they use to defend themselves when threatened. - Two attacks - In the first shark attack of the weekend, a man taking part in a surf lesson off the east coast suffered serious cuts after an encounter on Saturday. The 24-year-old was wading waist-deep in waters off Seven Mile Beach some 130 kilometres (81 miles) south of Sydney when he "felt a forceful lashing motion against his legs", New South Wales Ambulance said. He had "significant cuts and haemorrhage as well as several puncture wounds to his wetsuit and right leg... and cuts to his hand", NSW Ambulance duty operations manager Inspector Jordan Emery told reporters Saturday. The beach was closed and authorities sought to identify the shark species involved. That attack was followed by another on Sunday off the north coast, when a teenage boy was bitten on his arm and leg while spearfishing, police said. Story continues The 17-year-old was spearfishing from a vessel off the coast of Arnhem Land in the Northern Territory when he sustained "significant injuries" to his arm, St John Ambulance told national broadcaster ABC. "Obviously there's quite a large amount of bleeding that's occurred," St John Ambulance's Craig Garraway said. He said shark encounters in the NT were unusual, adding: "I've been around a long time and I'll be honest, I can't remember a shark attack." The two attacks are the sixth and seventh off Australian beaches in two months, amid public debate about how to reduce the risk of encounters between sharks and the growing number of people using the ocean for leisure. Australia has one of the world's highest incidences of shark attacks, but fatalities remain rare. There have been 13 "unprovoked" shark attacks off the vast continent's coast this year, including one death after a swimmer was mauled by a shark in the Whitsunday Islands in early November, according to data from Sydney's Taronga Zoo. There were 15 attacks -- one fatal -- last year, and 17 encounters and two deaths in 2016, the data showed. New South Wales hosted an international conference with marine experts in 2015 after a sharp increase in attacks across Australia that year to 22, including the death of a Japanese surfer after his legs were torn off by a shark. The state, Australia's most populous, has trialled non-lethal measures such as aerial drones to track shark movements and "smart" drum lines that alert authorities to their presence. Lerch, who served 12 years with the U.S. Coast Guard and another 30 in the reserves, died on Sunday evening of cancer. Worms will be sent to the International Space Station in a bid to slow down the ageing process - Nasa A tiny transparent worm could be the key to finding out how to stop the frailty and ill health which often comes with old age. British scientists are sending tens of thousands of worms into space in a government backed project to see if two drugs can prevent or slow down muscle wasting brought on by microgravity. In space, the 1mm long c-elegans worms have nothing to push against to maintain their muscle mass and so quickly start losing strength, mirroring the effect experienced by elderly people back on Earth or those with conditions like muscular dystrophy. But researchers at Nottingham University are hoping that by either boosting the cell batteries - known as mitochondria - or improving their uptake of calcium, they can slow down the process or even prevent it entirely. The microscopic worms share many of the essential biological characteristics as humans and are affected by biological changes in space, including alterations to muscle and the ability to use energy. Dr Bethan Phillips, Assistant Professor, Clinical, Metabolic & Molecular Physiology, said: We know that microgravity accelerates the effects of muscle disuse similar to when elderly people are bedbound or are recovering from an injury. Skeletal muscle is linked to many systems in the body, such as the immune system, so the health implications are not just loss of movement they are far more widespread. The worms have similar muscle to human skeletal muscle so we can see if these pharmaceuticals have a beneficial effect which could eventually lead to new treatments both for astronauts and the elderly. Not only do the experiments offer hope for older people on Earth, but they will be vital to the success of future colonies on the Moon or Mars. Astronauts can lose up to 40 per cent of muscle mass on a lengthy mission, and 1.5 per cent of their bone mass for each month spent in space. Tim Peake was missing nearly 10 per cent of his bone volume by the time he touched down from his trip aboard the ISS. Story continues The experiment is one of several being funded by the UK Space Agency which has provided nearly 3 million ahead of the 20th anniversary of the International Space Station (ISS) on Tuesday. Tackling ageing is one of the governments grand challenges and it wants to add five extra healthy years of life by 2035. A team from Liverpool will also be sending tubes of human muscles grown from stem cells to the ISS to see if heat shock proteins could stop the inevitable decline of muscles. In the cells of older people muscles fail to get stronger even when they exercise, which researchers think could be because of inflammation in the body. The heat shock proteins may help to dampen down the impact, researchers believe. Professor Malcolm Jackson, from the University of Liverpool, said: Ageing is one of the greatest challenges of the 21st century and so the opportunity to use microgravity to help understand the mechanisms underlying age-related muscle loss is really exciting. There is some evidence that inflammation is behind the problems with ageing muscle and if we can find a way to stop that inflammatory response it could be beneficial. Sending cells into microgravity allows us to look at muscle ageing response in isolation without the other effects of ageing complicating the pictures. The University of Strathclyde will also receive almost 1.3 million to investigate how shaking a liquid in microgravity induces solid particles to accumulate and form highly ordered aggregates, instead of causing the floating particles to simply disperse. Science Minister Sam Gyimah said: This research will help those with muscle conditions to live longer, healthier, happier lives, and is a great example of our modern Industrial Strategy in action transforming life on earth through out-of-this-world research. Dr Graham Turnock, Chief Executive of the UK Space Agency, added: For 20 years the International Space Station has provided a unique laboratory for astronauts to carry out cutting-edge research. As we celebrate all that has been achieved over the last two decades this new funding puts UK academics at the forefront of future pioneering scientific research, allowing us to gain knowledge that will improve life on Earth. Rio de Janeiro (AFP) - A Brazilian judge has forbidden the country's biggest TV channel from broadcasting the contents of investigative documents about the killing of black rights activist Marielle Franco. Franco, a charismatic city council member in Rio de Janeiro and a champion of gay, transgender, and black rights, was shot dead along with her driver on March 14. The murder bore the hallmarks of a professional hit and triggered an international outcry. The TV Globo channel gained access to extracts from investigative reports last week, and said it had aired reports on two subjects though "without showing elements that can pose a risk to witnesses and to the investigation" -- in keeping with its editorial guidelines. Rio's prosecutor and the Civil Police, in charge of the Franco investigation, went to court to stop the channel publishing more. "Diffusion of contents linked to the investigation is prejudicial, in so far as it exposes personal data of witnesses and harms the investigation," Judge Gustavo Gomes Kalil in Rio said in a ruling published late Saturday on the O Globo newspaper website. The newspaper is part of the same corporate group as TV Globo. The channel said it would respect the order, but would lodge an appeal as it believed the ruling "seriously violated freedom of the press and the right of the population to information, especially on a case that has elicited great interest in Brazil and abroad." Brazil's Association of Investigative Journalists (ABRAJI) condemned what it termed "censorship." In early November, Public Security Minister Raul Jungmann said the government had received "serious accusations" from two witnesses of "a criminal organization" trying to obstruct the Franco investigation. It allegedly involves "public agents from various state entities, militia members and figures from the world of organized crime," he told a press conference, adding that the witnesses were given police protection. Franco was an outspoken critic of police brutality in Rio, and what she said was the targeting of blacks in its teeming, poverty-stricken slums, or favelas. The latest developments in the murky case come after the presidential election victory of far-right, former army captain Jair Bolsonaro, who has outraged many in Brazil and beyond with his derogatory comments against women, blacks, and gays. Samarra (Iraq) (AFP) - At least five civilians were killed in a car bomb blast in Iraq's Tikrit on Sunday, police and medical sources told AFP. The car had been parked near a restaurant in the northern city, about 175 kilometres (100 miles) north of the capital Baghdad. Three of the dead were women, the sources said, and another 16 people were wounded. There was no immediate claim of responsibility for the attack. Tikrit spent nearly 10 months under Islamic State group rule before Iraqi security forces retook it in the spring of 2015. Late last year, Iraq announced it had successfully ousted IS from the group's urban strongholds across the country. But jihadist cells still wage hit-and-run attacks. This month alone, a deadly string of attacks hit the capital and a car bomb exploded in IS's onetime capital Mosul, killing three. By Philip Wen, Jonathan Barrett and Tom Westbrook PORT MORESBY (Reuters) - Asia-Pacific leaders failed to agree on a communique at a summit in Papua New Guinea on Sunday for the first time in their history as deep divisions between the United States and China over trade and investment stymied cooperation. Competition between the United States and China over the Pacific was also thrown into focus with the United States and its Western allies launching a coordinated response to China's Belt and Road program. "You know the two big giants in the room," Papua New Guinea (PNG) Prime Minister Peter O'Neill said at a closing news conference, when asked which of the 21 members of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) group could not agree. O'Neill, who was chairman of the meeting, said the sticking point was over whether mention of the World Trade Organization and its possible reform should be in the Leaders' Declaration. "APEC has got no charter over World Trade Organization, that is a fact. Those matters can be raised at the World Trade Organization." The multilateral trade order that APEC was established in 1989 to protect is crumbling as Chinese assertiveness in the Pacific and U.S. tariffs strain relations in the region and divide loyalties. A Leaders' Declaration has been issued after every annual APEC leaders' meeting since the first in 1993, the group's website shows. O'Neill said that as APEC host, he would release a Chairman's Statement, though it was not clear when. U.S. President Donald Trump did not attend the meeting and nor did his Russian counterpart, Vladimir Putin. U.S. Vice President Mike Pence attended instead of Trump. Chinese President Xi Jinping arrived to great fanfare on Thursday and was feted by PNG officials. He stoked Western concern on Friday when he met Pacific island leaders to pitch his Belt and Road initiative. The United States and its allies, Japan, Australia and New Zealand, countered on Sunday with a $1.7 billion plan to deliver reliable electricity and the internet to PNG. PACIFIC THEATER Wang Xiaolong, a senior economic official with China's APEC delegation, said of the failure to agree on a joint statement that it was "not exactly a sticking point between any particular two countries". Most members affirmed their commitment to preserving the multilateral trading system and supported a robust and well-functioning WTO, he said. "Frankly speaking, we are in a very early stage of those discussions and different countries have different ideas as to how to take that process forward," Wang said. One diplomat involved in the negotiations said tension between the U.S. and China, bubbling all week, erupted when the Chinese government's top diplomat, Wang Yi, objected during a leaders' retreat to two paragraphs in a draft document seen by Reuters. One mentioned opposing "unfair trade practices" and reforming the WTO, while another concerned sustainable development. "These two countries were pushing each other so much that the chair couldn't see an option to bridge them," said the diplomat, speaking on condition of anonymity. "China was angered that the reference to WTO blamed a country for unfair trade practices." Pence said in a blunt speech on Saturday there would be no end to U.S. tariffs on $250 billion of Chinese goods until China changed its ways. On Sunday, as he left the PNG capital of Port Moresby, he listed U.S. differences with China. "They begin with trade practices, with tariffs and quotas, forced technology transfers, the theft of intellectual property. It goes beyond that to freedom of navigation in the seas, concerns about human rights," Pence told reporters. Pence also took direct aim at Xi's signature Belt and Road initiative, saying in his speech countries should not accept debt that compromised their sovereignty. "We do not offer a constricting belt or a one-way road," he said. CENTER OF ATTENTION The Belt and Road plan was first proposed in 2013 to expand land and sea links between Asia, Africa and Europe, with billions of dollars in infrastructure investment from China. APEC host PNG is home to 8 million people, four-fifths of whom live outside urban areas and with poor infrastructure, and found itself feted by superpowers. Xi opened a Beijing-funded boulevard, while Pence talked of a 400-year old King James Bible in the PNG parliament that he had played a role in bringing to the country. Australia, a staunch U.S. ally, has for decades enjoyed largely unrivalled influence among Pacific island nations. China has recently turned its attention to the region with a raft of bilateral financing agreements to often distressed economies. PNG Foreign Minister Rimbink Pato said his country did not need to pick sides. "For us, we welcome Chinese investment, we welcome U.S. investment. Our foreign policy is to be friends of all, enemies of none." (This story was refiled to change the reference to Wang Yi's title in paragraph 17) (Reporting by Philip Wen, Charlotte Greenfield, Jonathan Barrett and Tom Westbrook in PORT MORESBY; Editing by John Mair, Robert Birsel) Beirut (AFP) - Clashes on Sunday between Turkish-backed rebel factions vying for influence in the northern Syrian town of Afrin left 25 fighters dead, a war monitor said. Turkish troops and allied rebel groups seized the Afrin region from Kurdish forces in March after a two-month air and ground offensive. The Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said fighting in several districts had left 25 dead after erupting on Saturday. Observatory head Rami Abdul Rahman said that the heavy clashes were "unprecedented since the rebels seized Afrin". "The clashes provoked terror among civilians," he said, adding that "Turkish tanks patrols in the streets of the town". Turkish troops stationed in the town imposed a curfew on civilians from Saturday evening in a bid to avoid bloodshed, the Observatory said. The clashes pitched the majority of the pro-Ankara rebels against a group of around 200 fighters who were accused of "disobeying" Turkish forces and "committing abuses", the monitor said. The main alliance of Turkish-backed rebels in Afrin wrote on Twitter that current operations were aimed at "pursuing outlaw gangs". Since Turkish troops and pro-Ankara Arab rebels captured the town from the Kurdish People's Protection Units (YPG), the United Nations and human rights groups, including Amnesty International, have documented widespread abuses. Half of the enclave's 320,000 residents fled, according to a report by the UN Commission of Inquiry, and most are unable to return. - AFP The crushed wreckage of an Argentine submarine has been located a year after it vanished into the depths of the Atlantic Ocean with 44 crew members, in the country's worst naval disaster in decades. The Seabed Constructor, a ship owned by US search firm Ocean Infinity, made the discovery Friday, one day after the first anniversary of the disappearance of the San Juan. The ship had set out in September on the latest attempt to find the San Juan, whose disappearance cost the navy's top officer his job. There has been "positive identification of the ARA San Juan," at a depth of 800 meters (2,600 feet), the navy said on Twitter, confirming the vessel had imploded. The navy lost contact with the submarine on November 15, 2017, about 450 kilometers (280 miles) from the Argentine coast while it was traveling northward from the country's southern tip. Admiral Jose Villan, the navy's new head, said that the rough terrain on the ocean floor made it difficult for search vessels, which had already trawled the site, to find the sub. Pieces of the submarine that were 11, 13 and 30 meters long were spotted in "an irregular, moon-like zone with craters and canyons" naval Captain Enrique Balbi said at a conference, adding that the hull had been "crushed inwards." "I still had hopes that they could be alive," Luis Niz, the father of a missing sailor, told reporters, even though President Mauricio Macri's government had already declared there were no survivors. Part of the wreckage of the ARA San Juan, which vanished in the Atlantic Ocean last year Credit: Argentina's Navy Press Office/AFP "We are with the other relatives. They are going to show us the photos. They say that our youngsters are inside," said Yolanda Mendiola, the mother of crewman Leandro Cisneros, 28. "We are all destroyed here." Relatives are now asking for authorities to extract the submarine, though whether such an operation will be undertaken remains unclear. Relatives of the crew of the ARA San Juan submarine wait outside the navy base in Mar del Plata Credit: AP Photo/Federico Cosso "Raising the submarine to the surface is not impossible, but it is a very complex operation, and therefore very expensive," a naval officer told AFP, requesting anonymity. Story continues The discovery came the day after a somber ceremony, which Macri attended, at the San Juan's Mar del Plata base on the first anniversary of its disappearance. It also came just before the Seabed Constructor was to leave for maintenance in South Africa. Before setting off, the searchers decided to check an area which bad weather had previously prevented them from examining. By Letitia Stein TAMPA, Fla. (Reuters) - Democrat Andrew Gillum, who had sought to become Florida's first black governor, conceded on Saturday, after a recount showed he had no way of catching his Republican rival Ron DeSantis, an ally of President Donald Trump. Gillum, the 39-year-old liberal mayor of Tallahassee, had initially conceded the race on the night of the Nov. 6 election to DeSantis, a conservative former congressman. But Gillum later withdrew that concession when the results showed the two were close enough to trigger an automatic recount. "This has been the journey of our lives. We've been so honored by the support that we've received," Gillum said in a video statement. "Stay tuned, there will be more to come. This fight for Florida continues." DeSantis, 40, said on Saturday on Twitter, "This was a hard-fought campaign. Now it's time to bring Florida together." After a machine recount ended on Thursday, official results showed DeSantis with a lead of 33,683, or 0.41 percent. That margin appeared impossible for Gillum to overcome by Saturday. "We wanted to make sure that every single vote including those that were undervotes, overvotes, as long as it was a legally cast vote we wanted those votes to be counted," Gillum said in his video statement on Saturday. His stance echoed similar appeals from fellow Democrat U.S. Senator Bill Nelson. Numerous legal challenges were filed in Florida over how to deal with certain ballots and the deadlines for counties to review them. A recount is continuing in the race between Nelson and his challenger for the Senate seat, outgoing Republican Governor Rick Scott. After an electronic recount was completed on Thursday, Scott held a narrow lead. Officials have until noon on Sunday to tally any votes missed by electronic voting machines. That recount has become the subject of an intense political battle with Republicans including Trump claiming without evidence that the process was marred by fraud. Both parties and their supporters filed multiple lawsuits challenging the process, with Republicans urging a strict standard on which votes were counted while Democrats contested rules that they saw as disenfranchising voters. The drama of counties across the state recounting ballots brought back memories of Florida's 2000 presidential recount. In that election, the winner of the White House hung in the balance for weeks before the U.S. Supreme Court stopped the counting and Republican George W. Bush triumphed over Democrat Al Gore. (Reporting by Letitia Stein; Additional reporting by Julia Harte in Washington; Writing by Daniel Wallis, editing by G Crosse and Cynthia Osterman) Donald Trump told reporters he had President Donald Trump said on Friday he had "very easily" answered written questions from Robert Mueller, the special counsel leading the Russia probe, though he speculated that the questions had been "tricked up" to try to catch him in a lie. He said he hadn't submitted his answers to investigators yet. "You have to always be careful when you answer questions with people that probably have bad intentions," he told reporters in his latest swipe at the investigation into 2016 election interference and possible ties between Moscow and the president's campaign. The president did not say when he would turn over the answers to Mr Mueller, but his attorney, Rudy Giuliani, indicated it could happen next week. The special counsel has signalled a willingness to accept written answers on matters related to collusion with Russia. But Mr Giuliani has said repeatedly the president would not answer Mr Mueller's questions on possible obstruction of justice. During months of back-and-forth negotiations with the special counsel's office, Mr Trump's lawyers have repeatedly counseled the president against sitting down for an in-person interview. Mr Trump's written response, though not yet delivered, signals a new phase in the Mueller probe, the year-and-a-half-long investigation that has produced guilty pleas and convictions from several senior Trump aides even as the special counsel and the White House engaged in lengthy negotiations about how - or if - the president would testify. Though he spent hours with his attorneys, Mr Trump insisted: "My lawyers don't write answers, I write answers." The president's remarks were fresh evidence of his return to the ominous rhythms of the Russia probe after spending heady weeks enjoying adulation-soaked campaign rallies before the midterm elections. Despite Trump's insistence Friday that he's "very happy" with how things are going, his frustrations with the ongoing probe have been evident everywhere from his overheated Twitter feed this week to his private grousing that the special counsel may target his family. Story continues Adding to his grim outlook has been the barrage of criticism he's getting over his choice for acting attorney general and late-arriving election results that have largely been tipping toward House Democrats. "The inner workings of the Mueller investigation are a total mess," Trump tweeted Thursday as part of a series of morning posts. The investigators don't care "how many lives they can ruin," he wrote. A day later, he tried to put a rosier shine on the situation, telling reporters: "I'm sure it will be just fine." US President Donald Trump stopped at Beale Air Force Base en route to Butte County to tour Californian wildfire damage on November 17. He spoke with Air Forces 9th Reconnaissance Wing commander Colonel Andrew M Clark about the air quality and severity of the blaze: This is probably the worst fire weve seen in Northern California from a damage standpoint as well as the amount of smoke its putting into the air, Clark said. The California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection said the Camp Fire had grown to 149,000 acres and was 55 percent contained on November 17. At least 76 people had been killed in the fire. Credit: Department of Defense via Storyful Beni (DR Congo) (AFP) - Efforts to fight an Ebola outbreak in DR Congo's restive eastern Beni region were suspended Saturday after clashes just a "few metres" from a local emergency centre and the hotels of several response teams, the health ministry said. UN peacekeepers from the MONUSCO mission repelled an offensive by the Allied Democratic Forces (ADF) militia in Beni city's northern Boikene neighbourhood late Friday, a ministry statement said. The ADF, a shadowy armed group that has killed hundreds of people since 2014 and at least seven peacekeepers in clashes just this week, wanted to "attack one of MONUSCO's bases", the statement added. "We escaped death thanks to MONUSCO, which is very close to us in Boikene," a resident told the UN's Okapi radio. The health ministry said that "all field activities were suspended and the emergency operations centre remains closed" on Saturday, adding that Ebola health worker response teams had stayed in their hotels. Also on Saturday, the World Health Organization (WHO) said 16 of its staff members in Beni had been temporarily evacuated after a shell hit the building they were staying in. Michel Yao, WHO's coordinator for Ebola response operations in Beni, told AFP that no one was injured, adding that it was not known whether the shell came from the ADF or MONUSCO forces. Health Minister Dr Oly Ilunga Kalenga said he deplored these acts of violence and the outbreak "remains dangerous, particularly in Beni". Since August 1, the Ebola outbreak in Beni, home to up to 300,000 people, has killed 213 people. The UN has said unrest is hampering efforts to contain the disease in a region that has been troubled for decades by inter-ethnic bloodshed and militia violence. The ADF is an Islamist-rooted group that rose in western Uganda in 1995, led by Jamil Mukulu, a converted Muslim. Forced out of Uganda, it operates in the border area in the DRC's North Kivu province. A ceremony was held Saturday in Beni for six peacekeepers from Malawi and one from Tanzania who were killed in an operation against the ADF this week. Fifteen other peacekeepers were killed in an ADF attack on a MONUSCO base in Beni in December last year. Sweet, wide-eyed Mark Zuckerberg swears he didnt know anything. The Facebook CEO was shocked and appalled at the conduct of his company, he told reporters on a conference call Thursday, responding to a bombshell New York Times report that Facebook hired a D.C. opposition research firm called Definers Public Affairs which proceeded to undertake all manner of ethically fraught actions on its behalf. I learned about this yesterday, Zuckerberg said. Pressed to explain who, then, was aware of Facebooks relationship with Definers, he offered the verbal equivalent of a shrug: Someone on our comms team must have hired them. Chief Operating Officer Sheryl Sandberg echoed that denial in a note published later Thursday. I did not know we hired them or about the work they were doing, she said, but I should have. She really should have and it seems almost unbelievable she didnt. A TechCrunch breakdown of Facebooks communications team found numerous staffers linked to Sandberg formerly worked for Mitt Romneys presidential campaign alongside Matt Rhodes, who founded Definers after the campaign. This includes Facebooks Director of Policy Communications Andrea Saul, who worked for Sandbergs non-profit LeanIn.org for two years after the campaign concluded. Another possible link: Facebooks chief lobbyist, Joel Kaplan, worked in the George W. Bush White House at the same time as Rhodes and has strong ties to Sandberg. The two attended Harvard together and he reportedly consults with her on high-level strategy at Facebook including deciding to downplay Russian disinformation activities on the site, another bombshell allegation made in the Times report. (Facebook denies this). In addition to Sandbergs internal corporate ties to Facebooks communications and policy leaders, her claim of ignorance doesnt line up with basic executive oversight. Documents obtained by NBC show Facebook paid Definers $3.3 million for its services in the first quarter of 2018 alone. Assuming the relationship lasted longer than one quarter, thats one hefty annual expenditure for both a COO and CEO to know absolutely nothing about. Story continues Their denials also represent a 180-degree reversal of the companys own spin. Just one day earlier, before its top executives publicly professed their ignorance, Facebook sought to combat the story by painting its contract with Definers as mundane, common knowledge: Our relationship with Definers was well known by the media, the company said in a release, not least because they have on several occasions sent out invitations to hundreds of journalists about important press calls on our behalf. And finally, Sandbergs and Zuckerbergs portrayal of Definers relationship with the company as a little-known undertaking conflicts with Definers own description of it. While Definers disputed the nature of its work in a statement Friday, the firm said its work for Facebook included a large-scale news alert service that kept hundreds of Facebook staff informed. As a refresher, heres some of the work Definers reportedly carried out on Facebooks behalf: - Seeking to undermine and discredit Facebook critics in a group called Freedom From Facebook by linking them to the billionaire Jewish philanthropist George Soros, a common tactic on the far right thats fueled by anti-Semitism. Even worse, Soros didnt even fund the group. - Lobbying a Jewish civil rights group to then cast Facebook critics as anti-Semitic. (Zuckerberg and Sandberg are both Jewish). - Propagating disinformation about Facebook critics and competitors like Apple and Google via a verified Facebook page operated by Definers called NTK Network that was dutifully picked up and disseminated by far-right outlets like Breitbart. (A former Definers employee described NTK to NBC as our in-house fake news shop.) Related Coverage Facebook Reportedly Paid For Smear Campaign Against George Soros What Did 'Pod Save America' Expect? Mark Zuckerberg Responds To Times Facebook Report: 'I Learned About This Yesterday' Facebook Executive Sheryl Sandberg Calls Explosive NYT Report 'Simply Untrue' Love HuffPost? Become a founding member of HuffPost Plus today. This article originally appeared on HuffPost. Washington (AFP) - Facebook's chief operating officer Sheryl Sandberg on Friday pledged a "thorough" review of its use of a conservative consulting firm accused of using "black ops" style techniques to deflect criticism from the social networking giant. Sandberg dismissed a suggestion reported by NBC News that Definers Public Affairs acted as a "fake news" operation to help Facebook deal with a public relations crisis over its handling of Russian misinformation. "We absolutely did not pay anyone to create fake news. That, they have assured me, was not happening," Sandberg told CBS This Morning. "And again, we're doing a thorough look into what happened but they have assured me that we were not paying anyone to either write or promote anything that was false. And that's very important." She said she was unaware Facebook was working with Definers. Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg said Thursday he too was in the dark about the firm, which according to a New York Times investigation sought to link Facebook critics to liberal financier George Soros. The Hungarian-born US financier and philanthropist is a favorite target of nationalists and anti-Semitic conspiracy theorists. Sandberg said Facebook was no longer working with Definers but added that "at the time, they were trying to show that some of the activity against us that appeared to be grassroots also had major organizations behind them." "I did not know we hired them or about the work they were doing, but I should have," she in a post on her Facebook page. "I have great respect for George Soros -- and the anti-Semitic conspiracy theories against him are abhorrent." - 'Black ops' methods - Soros is a founder of the Open Society Institute, whose president Patrick Gaspard stepped up criticism of Facebook in an interview Thursday. "There are broad questions about the role that Facebook is playing in the integrity of our elections, our democracy," Gaspard told National Public Radio. Story continues "And frankly now that we know that they ran this black ops operation, there are questions about why they're following the model of people like Vladimir Putin. This is profoundly dangerous and disturbing." NBC News reported that a former employee of Definers, who asked not to be identified, described a website operated by the consulting group as an "in-house fake news shop" that sought to push stories into mainstream media. A letter to Zuckerberg signed by four Democratic senators expressed concern over the latest revelations and raised the prospect of tough regulation of social media. "We are gravely concerned by recent reports indicating that your company used contractors to retaliate against or spread intentionally inflammatory information about your critics," said the letter from Senators Amy Klobuchar, Mark Warner, Chris Coons and Richard Blumenthal. "In addition, the staggering amount of data that Facebook has collected on both its users and people who have not subscribed to or consented to use of the platform, raises concern that the company could improperly or illegally use its vast financial and data resources against government officials and critics seeking to protect the public and our democracy." Definers said in a statement Friday it did "basic media monitoring and public relations around public policy issues" for Facebook, as it does for many clients, and that it "was not hired by Facebook as an opposition research firm." "A fraction of our work with Facebook included providing research and background information about critics -- both on the left and the right," the consulting group said on its website. "This practice, standard across many industries, is based on researching public records and databases available to anyone." United Nations (United States) (AFP) - For the first time, the United States voted Friday against an annual UN resolution condemning Israel's occupation of the Golan Heights, dropping its practice of abstaining in the vote. The non-binding resolution was adopted in a General Assembly committee by a vote of 151 to 2, with the United States and Israel the only two countries opposing the measure. Fourteen countries abstained. US Ambassador Nikki Haley called the resolution "useless" and "plainly biased against Israel," citing concerns about Iran's military role in Syria to oppose the measure. "Further, the atrocities the Syrian regime continues to commit prove its lack of fitness to govern anyone. The destructive influence of the Iranian regime inside Syria presents major threats to international security," she said in a statement on the eve of the vote. Israel seized control of much of the Golan Heights from Syria in a 1967 war and later annexed it, in moves never recognized by the international community. The resolution declares that the Israeli decision to occupy and annex the Golan was "null and void," and calls on Israel to rescind that decision. Israeli Ambassador Danny Danon applauded the US shift, which he said was "another testament to the strong cooperation between the two countries." The administration of President Donald Trump has taken a strong pro-Israeli stance, defying UN resolutions by moving the US embassy to Jerusalem and cutting aid to the UN agency for Palestinian refugees. US ambassador to Israel David Friedman told an Israeli newspaper in September that he expected the annexed Golan Heights to remain under Israeli control "forever," and mentioned the possibility of US official recognition of the Golan as Israeli territory. During a visit to Israel in August, US National Security Advisor John Bolton said there were no discussions on such recognition. Story continues Israel and Syria, which has been embroiled in conflict since 2011, are still technically at war. Ahead of the vote, US diplomat Samantha Sutton said the US position on the status of the Golan Heights had not changed, but added that the resolution was out of touch with the situation on the ground. "This resolution does nothing to address the increasing militarization of the Golan and the serious threats that confront Israel from Iran and Hezbollah's presence in the area," said Sutton. The resolution was adopted by the assembly's fourth committee on decolonization. Nearly two weeks after the midterm elections, there are some final results from Floridas Senate and governors races. After a hand recount, Republican Rick Scott maintained his lead by a narrow 10,000 votes, and his Democratic opponent, Senator Bill Nelson, will hold a press conference Sunday afternoon at 3 p.m. to announce his concession. Before making a public announcement, though, Nelson called his opponent. I just spoke with Senator Bill Nelson, who graciously conceded, and I thanked him for his years of public service, Scott said Sunday. This will mark the end of Nelsons career in elected office, 18 years after he first served in the Senate. With Scotts victory, Florida will have two Republican Senators, Scott and Marco Rubio, for the first time in state history. Scott has been calling for Nelson to concede since Election Day and attended an orientation in Washington for new members of Congress last week. The Senate race news comes the day after Democrat Andrew Gillum conceded to Republican Rep. Ron DeSantis in the states gubernatorial election, which also went to a recount. Gillum ended the race by posting a Facebook Live video with his wife, R. Jai. After thanking his supporters, Gillum said, We said we will fight until the last vote is counted Now that we are rounding that process out, R. Jai and I wanted to take a moment to congratulate Mr. DeSantis on becoming the next governor of the great state of Florida. This was a hard-fought campaign. Now its time to bring Florida together, DeSantis tweeted in response to Gillums concession. Gillum also commented on Floridas elections, saying, Were going to everything that we can to make sure that over the coming weeks and over the coming months that we do what we can to perfect our electoral system. We need to update Floridas elections system and bring it into the 21st century. Floridas recount has been plagued by outdated and overworked machinery and missing votes. As the New York Times reported on Saturday, nearly 3,000 votes vanished in the recount. Lima (AFP) - Former president Alan Garcia has sought asylum in the embassy of Uruguay in Lima after being barred from leaving the country pending a corruption investigation, Peru's foreign ministry said Sunday. Garcia, who was twice president of Peru, is under investigation for bribes allegedly paid by Brazilian construction giant Odebrecht to secure contracts during his second presidency, from 2006 to 2011. Odebrecht has admitted to paying $29 million in bribes to Peruvian officials over the course of three administrations. A foreign ministry statement said it had been informed by Uruguay's ambassador to Peru that Garcia arrived at his residence Saturday night seeking asylum. A court order issued Saturday barred Garcia from leaving the country for 18 months while prosecutors investigate Odebrecht bribes to win a contract to build Lima's first metro line when Garcia was president. Garcia, who also was president from 1985 to 1990, has said he is the victim of political persecution, a charge rejected by President Martin Vizcarra, who insisted the investigation is being conducted independently by the judiciary and state prosecutors. "We did not intervene at all. They have complete independence," Vizcarra told reporters Sunday. WASHINGTON (AP) House Republicans who have spent the last two years arguing that there was bias in President Barack Obama's Justice Department are preparing to subpoena two key witnesses in the final weeks of their majority former FBI Director James Comey and former Attorney General Loretta Lynch. House Judiciary Committee Chairman Robert Goodlatte, R-Va., has notified colleagues that he will subpoena Comey for a closed-door deposition Nov. 29 and Lynch for Dec. 5, according to a person familiar with the subpoenas. The person declined to be identified because the person was not authorized to speak publicly on the matter. The subpoenas are part of an investigation by two GOP-led committees into decisions made by the department during the 2016 election, when Democrat Hillary Clinton was cleared in a probe into her email use and Justice officials launched an investigation into Trump's campaign and Russia. Both Comey and Lynch were in power during that time. Republicans on the House Judiciary and Oversight and Government Reform panels have argued that Justice officials were conspiring against Trump's election, and they have interviewed multiple current and former Justice officials behind closed doors in an effort to prove their case. It's unclear if Comey and Lynch will appear, or if Republicans would be able to enforce the subpoenas, since they lose the House majority in January. Goodlatte and the chairman of the Oversight panel, Rep. Trey Gowdy of South Carolina, are both retiring. Comey's lawyer, David Kelley, said Friday that Comey hasn't heard from the Judiciary panel since the committee requested an interview earlier this year and Comey told them he would testify in public. Comey offered his views on Twitter: "House Republicans can ask me anything they want but I want the American people to watch, so let's have a public hearing," he said. "Truth is best served by transparency. Let me know when is convenient." Story continues A lawyer for Lynch did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Democrats have strongly objected to the GOP probe, saying it is an effort to undermine special counsel Robert Mueller's Russia investigation. New York Rep. Jerrold Nadler, the top Democrat on the committee and its likely incoming chairman, said in a statement that Comey and Lynch had both indicated a willingness to answer the Republicans' questions voluntarily. "These subpoenas are coming out of the blue, with very little time left on the calendar, and after the American people have resoundingly rejected the GOP's approach to oversight if, indeed, 'oversight' is the word we should use for running interference for President Trump," Nadler said. Nearly two decades after the world learned about hanging chads, Florida is under scrutiny again as officials count and recount votes in three statewide races. Hanging chads are long gone from Florida, but many of the same issues that plagued the state during the 2000 election remain. As officials race to recount ballots, theyve had to deal with aging election equipment, poor ballot design and accusations of manipulating the election process for partisan gain. Some of the parallels between the 2000 and 2018 recounts are strikingly similar. The states governor again faces accusations of a conflict of interest. (Unlike then-Gov. Jeb Bush, who was the brother of a candidate, Gov. Rick Scott is a candidate himself for Senate.) In Broward County this year, there is speculation that a poorly designed ballot may have led voters to skip voting in the Senate race which lawyers for Sen. Bill Nelson (D) say could have cost him thousands of votes. The episode echoes the infamous butterfly ballot controversy in Palm Beach County, where a confusing ballot likely hurt Al Gore. Both recounts involve the actual machinery of the elections. In 2000 antiquated punch card machines produced the chads and election chaos. In 2018 the machines Palm Beach County used to conduct its recount malfunctioned, and it wasnt able to submit recount results in time to the state. Brenda Snipes, the supervisor of elections in Broward County, has come under scrutiny after her office missed the deadline to submit results to the secretary of states office by two minutes, refused to turn over ballot tallies and was slow posting election results. At the heart of the 2000 election controversy was a dispute over how election officials should judge the intent of a voter if the selection on a ballot was unclear. There were inconsistent standards across the counties. After 2000, the state stopped using punch cards and developed clearer standards for judging voter intent. Officials across the state are now leaning on those new standards as they manually recount ballots from voters who appear to have selected two or more candidates in a race or no candidate at all. Story continues The fundamental problems have not changed because theres no will to change them. When winners are elected in a system that works, thats an incentive not to rock the boat. Theres also not enough resources that a state will devote to election administration, said Rick Hasen, a law professor at the University of California, Irvine, who wrote about the 2000 Florida recount in his book The Voting Wars. Ned Foley, a law professor at Ohio State University, said that after a recount like Floridas in 2000, theres a push to fix the specific issues driving the dispute. But partisanship can prevent larger systemic changes to prevent similar meltdowns. Were seeing the problems with faulty technology right now. We havent replaced the machines, and Palm Beach cant finish because it cant run the machines fast, said Foley, who wrote Ballot Battles: The History of Disputed Elections in the United States. If we put more money and we didnt fight over these things so much, we would get better machines. We would have a good process to begin with. Hasen and Foley said the most striking difference between 2018 and 2000 was how quickly elected officials like Scott and President Donald Trump were willing to accuse election officials of acting in bad faith. The 2000 election, Foley said, showed Democrats and Republicans that post-election disputes over elections can really matter and pushed them to prepare to go to all out if a race is relatively close. The most disturbing element to what I see now compared to 2000 is it seems like weve got a deterioration of norms and culture. Theres more accusations about stealing in the context of a senators seat and a governors seat important, but its not the presidency, Foley said. They do fundraising off of this. ... It feeds off of the polarization that occurs off the last two decades, and it feeds the polarization. While the approximately 12,600-vote margin between Scott and Nelson is small, given the more than 8 million ballots cast, its much bigger than the 537 votes that separated George W. Bush and Gore. If a margin more than 12,000 votes causes so much controversy, its difficult to imagine what might happen in 2020. If you think about how divided the country is, you think about how polarized things are, when you go to the 2020 election, you can imagine if Trump and his Democratic opponent were within 12,000 votes of each other, how awful this would be, Hasen said. The rhetoric matters for the followers. People are hearing that the election is being stolen, he added. Theyre not paying attention to the details. Theyre going to believe the person who they support. Related Coverage Rick Scott Claims Fraud, Seeks Florida Law Enforcement Probe Of Election Officials Republicans Are Casting Doubt On Normal Election Processes For The Sake Of Winning Florida County Submits Recount 2 Minutes Late And State Rejects It Love HuffPost? Become a founding member of HuffPost Plus today. This article originally appeared on HuffPost. Ronnie OSullivan takes on Judd Trump in the final of the Northern Ireland Open Judd Trumps cue power and flair for a less-than-conventional pot is well-documented, and Ronnie OSullivan is only too aware of it. The pair are set to meet in the Northern Ireland Open final on Sunday after respective last-four wins over Eden Sharav and Mark Selby. And when discussing the threat posed by the left-handed Bristolian ahead of the their showpiece at Waterfront Hall, Belfast, the five-time world champion joked he will have to be on his guard as the balls fly around the cloth when his opponent has his hand on the table. Judd has been crashing balls off the lampshade all week its like attention all pockets when he gets going!, said OSullivan. They can go in from anywhere. Ill bring my crash helmet in just in case a few fly off the table and hit me on the head! Watch the Northern Ireland Open live on Eurosport and Eurosport Player, with analysis from Ronnie OSullivan, Jimmy White and Neal Foulds The CIA has reportedly concluded that Saudi Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman ordered the assassination of journalist Jamal Khashoggi in Istanbul a finding that contradicts Saudi government assertions that he was not involved. American officials have expressed high confidence in the agencys assessment, which is the most definitive to date, allegedly linking Saudi Arabia's crown prince to the killing, according to The Washington Post, which originally reported the story. The CIA found that 15 Saudi agents flew on government planes to Istanbul and carried out the killing at the Saudi consulate, the report said. The White House declined to comment on the matter, although such a conclusion would likely complicate efforts by Donald Trump's administration to preserve US ties with one of the closest American allies in the region. The CIAs conclusion about Crown Prince Mohammeds role was also based on the agencys assessment of the prince as the countrys de facto ruler who oversees even minor affairs in the kingdom. The accepted position is that there is no way this happened without him being aware or involved,the Post said an unnamed US official as saying. The crown prince has repeatedly denied any involvement or knowledge of the murder of The Washington Post columnist, who regularly criticised both the royal and his regime in the newspaper. Saudi Arabia has offered a series of sometimes contradictory explanations for Khashoggis death on 2 October. After initially denying it played any role in his death, the kingdom then went on to claim he was killed by rogue operatives in its consulate in the Turkish capital of Istanbul. Earlier this week, Riyadh said it would pursue the death penalty for five suspects charged with ordering and carrying out the killing. The Saudi public prosecutor said that Crown Prince Mohammad had nothing to do with the killing. The prosecutor said that the murder was carried out by a rogue negotiation team including members of Crown Prince Mohammad's security detail who had sought to abduct Khashoggi but decided to kill him when he resisted. Khashoggi's body was then dismembered and removed from the consulate. Story continues 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. Citing sources familiar with the matter, The Post claims that the CIA came to its conclusion after examining multiple sources of information. Another senior US official reportedly told US news channel CNN, that the conclusion is based on a recording provided by the Turkish government and other evidence. Among these was a phone call between the crown princes brother Khalid bin Salman the Saudi ambassador to the US and Khashoggi, during which he reportedly told the journalist that he would be safe to retrieve the marriage documents. The Washington Post, citing people familiar with the call, said it was not clear if Prince Khalid knew Khashoggi would be killed, but he made the call at his brothers direction. The prince swiftly tweeted a denial, shortly after the report was published. I never talked to him by phone and certainly never suggested he go to Turkey for any reason. I ask the US government to release any information regarding this claim, he wrote. As we told the Washington Post the last contact I had with Mr. Khashoggi was via text on Oct 26 2017. I never talked to him by phone and certainly never suggested he go to Turkey for any reason. I ask the US government to release any information regarding this claim. Khalid bin Salman (@kbsalsaud) November 16, 2018 He later published what he claimed was his full response to The Post, in which he said that he had met Khashoggi once in person, in September 2017 and they had communicated via text message after that. At no time did Prince Khalid discuss anything related to going to Turkey with Jamal, he said. Amb Prince Khalid bin Salman has never had any phone conversations with him. He added that people were welcome to check his phone records and mobile phone content to corroborate it. Unfortunately the @washingtonpost did not print our full response. This is a serious accusation and should not be left to anonymous sources. Our full response was the following: pic.twitter.com/vo1JcNAswx Khalid bin Salman (@kbsalsaud) November 17, 2018 A spokeswoman for the Saudi embassy in Washington also said in a statement that "the claims in this purported assessment are false. She added: We have and continue to hear various theories without seeing the primary basis for these speculations." On Thursday, the US Treasury Department having announced on Thursday that 17 Saudi nationals would face sanctions over Khashoggi's killing. The sanctions come under the Global Magnitsky Act, which relates to actions by foreigners outside of the US that threaten international stability. The Saudi officials we are sanctioning were involved in the abhorrent killing of Jamal Khashoggi, 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, Mr Mnuchin added. The sanctions did not target the Riyadh government, an important US security and economic ally and allowed Mr Trump's administration to stop short of any action that could affect US arms deals with Saudi Arabia worth billions of dollars. The report also came less than 24 hours after hundreds gathered beneath a grey, rainy sky for a funeral service to mark Mr Khashoggi's passing at a historical mosque in Istanbul, praying before an empty slab of marble where his missing body should have . His friends, colleagues, political fellow travellers as well as local and international media, crowded into the courtyard of the 15th-century Fatih Mosque on Istanbuls European side, to hold a jenaziya; the traditional Muslim prayer held before burial. Meet the newest member of the Biden family! Joe and Jill Biden adopted a German Shepherd named Major from the Delaware Humane Association on Saturday. The organization shared photos of the former vice president, 75, and his new four-legged family member on Facebook, including a photo of the pair spending time with one another at a local shelter. We are so happy to welcome Major to the Biden family, and we are grateful to the Delaware Humane Association for their work in finding forever homes for Major and countless other animals, the Bidens said in a statement obtained by CNN. Major, who joins Bidens other German shepherd named Champ, is from the litter of German shepherd pups that were surrendered and not doing well at all, according to the Delaware Humane Association. Once we posted about them for your help, Joe Biden caught wind of them and reached out immediately. The rest is history! the group said on Facebook. RELATED: Joe Biden Meets Joe Biden the Puppy RELATED: Jill Biden Reveals How She and Husband Joe Rebuilt Our Family After Tragedy in New Memoir The Delaware Humane Association also shared that the Bidens had been fostering Major. Today is Majors lucky day! Not only did Major find his forever home, but he got adopted by Vice President Joe Biden & Dr. Jill Biden! the organization happily announced. The Bidens first welcomed Champ on Christmas 2008 and the beloved pet lived at the Vice Presidential residence at the U.S. Naval Observatory ever since Inauguration Day. (Fun fact: Champ was the nickname Joes father had for him when he was a boy.) Dr. Biden previously told PEOPLE Champ had been several accidents on the carpets on the off-white carpeting the Cheneys had used in the Vice Presidential residence. Former Vice President Joe Bidens family has a furry new addition. Biden and his wife Dr. Jill Biden adopted a 10-month-old German Shepherd from the Delaware Humane Association (DHA) on Saturday, after fostering him for several months. The pups name is Major. DHA posted about the lucky dog on their Facebook page as the Bidens took him to his new forever home. Today is Majors lucky day! Not only did Major find his forever home, but he got adopted by Vice President Joe Biden & Dr. Jill Biden! the post said. The Bidens have gotten to know Major while fostering him and are now ready to make the adoption official. Best of luck and thank you for being one of our Friends for life! According to DHA, Major is from a litter of German Shepherd pups that were given up for adoption and are currently not doing well at all. Once we posted about them Joe Biden caught wind of them and reached out immediately. The rest is history! DHA said. The Bidens are proud owners of another German Shepherd named Champ. In a statement, the Bidens thanked the shelter for their help finding dogs permanent homes. We are so happy to welcome Major to the Biden family, and we are grateful to the Delaware Humane Association for their work in finding forever homes for Major and countless other animals, the statement read. Joe Biden walks out of the Delaware Humane Association with his canine pal Major. (Photo: Steph Gomez via Delaware Humane Association) Joe Biden is welcoming a furry new member to his family. On Saturday, the former vice president and his wife, Jill Biden, adopted a German shepherd named Major from the Delaware Humane Association, the animal shelter posted on social media. Biden and Major, two buds. (Photo: Steph Gomez via Delaware Humane Association) The Bidens had already been fostering Major for the shelter and decided to adopt him permanently. The Delaware Humane Association wrote that Major came from a litter of puppies that someone had surrendered to the shelter who were not doing well at all. After the shelter posted about the pups on social media, the former vice president caught wind of them and reached out immediately. The association said in a statement sent to HuffPost that all of Majors five siblings have also found homes. Major and his siblings when they were young puppies just surrendered to the shelter. (Photo: Steph Gomez via Delaware Humane Association) Multiple photos on the groups Facebook page show Biden posing with the dog, including one of the pair apparently looking at photos of Major when he was a small puppy. We are so happy to welcome Major to the Biden family, and we are grateful to the Delaware Humane Association for their work in finding forever homes for Major and countless other animals, said Joe and Jill Biden and the familys other German shepherd, Champ, in the associations statement. Champ, the Bidens' other German shepherd, at the Naval Observatory in 2012. (Photo: Win McNamee via Getty Images) When the family got Champ in 2008, Joe Biden received some criticism from animal welfare advocates for going to a high-volume breeder rather than a shelter or rescue group. On Saturday, though, many were praising the Bidens for opting to adopt from a shelter. Patrick Carroll, executive director of the Delaware Humane Association, said it was an honor to send Major to the Bidens. We wish the happy new family the best! This story has been updated with new photos and a statement from the Delaware Humane Association. Love HuffPost? Become a founding member of HuffPost Plus today. This article originally appeared on HuffPost. Amman (AFP) - Jordanian lawmakers on Sunday approved an IMF-backed income tax bill after amendments to a controversial draft of the proposed law that sparked a week of angry protests in summer. Thousands of Jordanians hit the streets in June to rally against austerity, rising prices and corruption, forcing the prime minister's resignation and the withdrawal of the bill. The proposed law on income tax was the latest in a series of policies adopted to cut national debt after Amman secured a $723-million loan from the International Monetary Fund in 2016. Austerity measures tied to the loan have seen the cost of basic necessities rise across the kingdom. The original bill, which the government approved in June, raised taxes on employees by at least five percent, and on companies by between 20 and 40 percent. These measures were left unchanged in the amended version approved on Sunday, according to state media. But the revised bill raises the threshold for households to pay income tax to 20,000 Jordanian dinars (28,000 dollars) from a previous ceiling of 18,000 for 2019. The amended legislation also introduced exemptions of up to 2,000 dinars per family for basic expenses such as education and health, and 1,000 dinars per single person "applicable upon the delivery of receipts and invoices," state news agency Petra said. The new bill was approved by the lower house of parliament and must be also approved by the Senate before being ratified by the king in order to become law. With a lack of natural resources to boost state coffers, Jordan relies heavily on foreign aid and faces an unemployment rate of 18.5 percent. Stability in Jordan is seen as fundamental to the region and in the wake of protests Amman was offered a $2.5 billion aid package from three Gulf backers. More than $1 billion has already been deposited in the central bank by Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and Kuwait, a Jordanian government source said in October. WASHINGTON (AP) The Latest on Wikileaks founder (all times local): 1:40 p.m. The Justice Department has filed charges under seal against WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange. That's according to a person familiar with the situation who spoke on condition of anonymity to The Associated Press because no charges have been publicly announced. It was not clear what the charges were or when they might be made public. The fact that charges had been prepared was disclosed in an errant court filing in an unrelated case that was recently unsealed and that contained Assange's name. The filing said charges and an arrest warrant "would need to remain sealed until Assange is arrested." A spokesman for the Eastern District of Virginia, which has been handling the investigation, has said the filing was made in error and was not supposed to have his name in it. 2:09 a.m. The Justice Department inadvertently named Julian Assange in a court filing in an unrelated case that raised questions about whether the WikiLeaks founder had been charged under seal. Assange's name appears twice in an August filing from a prosecutor in Virginia in a separate case involving a man accused of coercing a minor. The prosecutor wrote the charges "would need to remain sealed until Assange is arrested in connection with the charges in the criminal complaint and can therefore no longer evade or avoid arrest and extradition." It wasn't immediately clear why Assange's name was mentioned. A Justice Department spokesman said the filing was made in error. The Washington Post, citing people familiar with the matter, reported that Assange had indeed been charged. The Associated Press couldn't immediately confirm that. Warning: This post contains major spoilers for Widows. Perhaps we should have known that Widows wouldnt be simple. Author Gillian Flynn is the master of the mid-plot pivot, like her famous Gone Girl reveal. Now, shes managed to insert a gasp-worthy moment into her latest film. But the big twist in Widows, out Nov. 16, is not actually a Flynn invention. Flynn and director Steve McQueen adapted the screenplay from a 1980s British television miniseries by Lynda La Plante. The series was something of a phenomenon in England and also became a bestselling book. McQueen and Flynn updated the story to the modern era and changed the setting to Chicago, but kept much of the plot, including an important revelation: Veronicas husband is still alive. The surprise comes halfway through the film. Veronica has already recruited two of the other women left widowed after their husbands were killed in a shootout with policeLinda (Michelle Rodriguez) and Alice (Elizabeth Debicki)to help her pull off the last heist planned by her husband, Harry (Liam Neeson). They plan to use Bash (Garret Dillahunt) as their getaway driver until the gangster Jatemme (Daniel Kaluuya) kills him as a way of sending a threatening message to Veronica. She then heads to the apartment of the last widow, Amanda (Carrie Coon), to ask if her husband knew of any other getaway drivers. Amanda cautions Veronica against the heist, presumably because shes concerned about Veronicas safety. While Amanda is attending to her crying baby in another room, Veronicas dog sniffs at a doorway and begins to bark. Veronica walks over to him and sees a flask that belonged to Harry (and that the audience saw at the beginning of the film) on the table. She then realizes the dog is likely barking at the smell of Harry. She grabs the dog and runs out of the apartment. Sure enough, Amanda emerges from her babys bedroom and opens the door. There sits Harry. It turns out that politician Jack Mulligan (Colin Farrell) hired Harry to steal money from his opponent Jamal Manning (Brian Tyree Henry) in the alderman race. Harry betrayed the men in his crew and escaped with the money they stole from Jamal. Story continues In a recent interview with TIME, Flynn said that she usually keeps a notebook to keep track of the clues in her mysteries to make sure that if readers go back in search of clues, theyre all in the text. I dont remember doing that with this, she says. It was truly meant to be a surprise. But she and McQueen still did drop several hints that Harry might still alive throughout the movie. Heres a list: The shootout After a robbery goes wrong, Harrys crew races away in a van with the police in pursuit. Harry pulls the van into a garage so that they can switch cars and get away. But as they open the garage door, police cars are waiting outside. They begin to shoot, and the van explodes and flips over, killing everyone insideor so we think. Than van exploding in such a dramatic fashion is our first clue that something is amiss. As we see in later in a flashback, Harry placed a gas tank behind the van to ensure that the vehicle would blow up and the men inside would be killed. Veronica didnt expect Amanda to show up After shes threatened by Jamal and realizes she has to come up with the money her husband owes, Veronica asks all the widows to meet her at a spa. When she arrives only two of them, Alice and Linda, are there. Veronica mentions that she invited a third woman, Amanda. When Alice and Linda ask who Amanda is, Veronica replies, Lets hope it doesnt matter. Considering that their crew needs a fourth member, it would be strange for Veronica not to care that one of the women didnt show up. After all, she is threatening to blackmail the other two into pulling off the heist. Does Veronica perhaps already suspect that her husband Harry was having an affair with Amanda? Even if Veronica doesnt yet know her husband is alive, she still may not want to come face to face with his lover. Alternatively, Bash could have reported to Veronica that Amanda had a baby, so Veronica didnt want Amanda to become involved. The timing of Amandas phone call Amanda finally does call Veronica and ask to meet uplikely at Harrys behest. The timing of this phone call is an important narrative clue. Right before, Veronica is asleep dreaming about her relationship with Harryboth the good times and the bad. Audiences find out for the first time in this scene that the two lost a child. Harry says to Veronica, Dont make having a child with you my only regret. Veronica shoots back, Maybe you should have had a child with someone else. Then hed still be alive, nodding to the fact that their son died because of racist assumptions by the policemen who shot him during a routine traffic stop. Veronica wakes up to the phone call from Amanda, who we later find out does have a child with Harry. The call interrupting those memories connects Veronicas greatest heartachethe loss of her sonto Harrys affair. The death drove a wedge between them. Later, when Veronica has pieced the puzzle together and confronts her still-alive husband, she accuses him of wanting to go restart his life with his new, white family. That conversation between Veronica and Amanda When Veronica and Amanda finally do meet in a diner, theres a palpable tension between the two. Veronica begins to talk about Harry, saying that he never made a mistake before. His meticulous notebook supports the idea that hes a perfectionist. Perhaps Veronica has already begun to suspect that he did not make a mistake the night he died but rather faked his death. Amanda says, I guess, he was human after all. The comment suggests a familiarity with Harry and a hostility toward his wife, who stood in the way of their relationship. It also hints at his true mistakenot his death, but his affair. Amanda also says that she hopes Harry left Veronica enough money to move somewhere else and start over: Did Harry tell Amanda that she should encourage Veronica to leave so that she wont expose him? The phone call from the bowling alley After Jatemme beats up Bobby (Kevin J. OConnor), Harrys contact at the bowling alley, Bobby calls Veronica. He asks her if she has traded the notebook yet. Veronica lies and says yes. Thats good, says Bobby, as he looks over to a mysterious figure we cant see. Likely, this mystery man is Harry trying to protect Veronica by convincing her to hand over his plans to rob the Mulligan family to Jamal and Jatemme. The dog barking at the door Veronica shows up at Amandas house unannounced to ask whether her husband knew anyone who might be willing to act as getaway driver for the upcoming heist. While Amanda is calming her crying baby in another room, Veronicas dog runs to a closed door and begins barking and scratching at it. Recall that the dog did the same thing in Harrys hideout when he smelled Harrys jacket. The dog recognizes the scent of Harry and is trying to reach him. Veronica figures out whats going on and flees the house. Amanda opens the door to reveal Harry. We should have left sooner, she tells him. Now Veronica knows her husband is alive. She goes home and looks at her sons old room and recalls when her marriage began to fall apart after their childs death. She is tracing the steps that led to his affair. She can also guess that he overheard her conversation with Amanda and knows that she is pulling another job. When he confronts her at the end of the movie, she seems prepared for him mentallyand physically, as she is the one to shoot him. Harrys flask was sitting on Amandas table At the beginning of the movie, we see Veronica interrupt Harrys shower to toast him with a shot from his flask. Presumably, the flask is a gift or some sort of good luck charm. When Veronicas dog begins scratching at the door in Amandas home, Amanda spots Harrys flask on the coffee table in the hallway and begins to piece the puzzle together. No marriage is perfect At the end of the film, some viewerslike myselfmay have expected yet another twist: Amanda and Harry were in on it together. Given how lovingly they treated each other in the opening scenes of the movie, its hard to imagine that Harry would betray Amanda. But looks can be deceiving. Viewers discover over the course of the film that the couple lost a child, and Harry struggled to cope with both the death and the racism at play in the killing. The loss tore them apart. I do believe that love can live in the same space as betrayal, Viola Davis said in an interview with TIME about the end of the film. I had to make a strong choice of saying that I love this man. We creatively bonded. We sexually bonded. Its one of those romances that just clicks from the very beginning. When the betrayal happens, it makes it all the more devastating. And I believe that most crimes of passion are born out of love. I think thats where a lot of relationships live and thats why there is pain. If there were no love, there could be no devastation. Realistically what it means to dedicate yourself to a man who is not perfect, thats where the nuance lives. But theres still one surprise left: Amanda forms an unlikely friendship with Alicewho took a bullet to save Amandas lifeby the end of the film. Berlin (AFP) - The leaders of France and Germany meet in Berlin on Sunday to jointly remember the victims of European wars, presenting also a united front in countering global turmoil stoked by the mercurial US President Donald Trump. President Emmanuel Macron will visit France's former enemy turned key EU partner from 1000 GMT for a wreath-laying ceremony on its Day of Mourning for victims of war and tyranny, a parliamentary address and talks with Chancellor Angela Merkel. Macron and Merkel are both committed pro-Europeans and internationalists who have resisted rising populist, eurosceptic and anti-immigration forces in Europe and Trump's isolationist 'America First' stance. During their second meeting in a week, the pair will likely delve deeper into the idea of a future European army, a proposal that has raised Trump's hackles. As the world has remembered World War I, which ended a century ago this month, Macron has repeatedly invoked its horrors to drive home his message that rising nationalism around the globe is again destabilising the world. He has suggested building a future European army as a symbol of a united continent. The proposal has been backed by Merkel although Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte on Friday said France and Germany were jumping the gun, asserting that the continent's safety could be guaranteed only through NATO. On Tuesday the US leader mocked both European powers by tweeting that "it was Germany in World Wars One & Two - How did that work out for France?" and adding that "they were starting to learn German in Paris before the U.S. came along". - Weakened leaders - A week after world leaders attended the Armistice centenary events in Paris, Merkel and Macron are also due to meet again one-on-one to resume their dialogue on ways to boost the EU. Since their joint cabinet meeting on Europe in June, challenges have piled up, with Brexit nearing and a budget conflict escalating between Brussels and Italy. Story continues The talks also come at a time when both leaders are politically weakened, reducing the traditional driving power of the Franco-German engine at the heart of the bloc. As Trump gleefully tweeted days ago, Macron's once stellar approval ratings have dropped off into the mid-twenties. And Merkel, after 13 years in power, has in recent weeks announced the beginning of the end of her reign, by declining to stand again as leader of her centre-right Christian Democrats (CDU). She has vowed to serve out her fourth term, which runs until 2021, but many observers expect Merkel could be brought down earlier by infighting within her CDU or the unhappy three-party coalition she leads. All this has made substantial reform initiatives by the Franco-German power couple even less likely. There is already much frustration in Paris about Merkel's perceived foot-dragging on Macron's bold reform plans, especially forging a eurozone with a major common budget and finance minister. - Tricky questions - The joint army plan too faces tricky questions, among them post-war Germany's traditional reluctance to send combat troops abroad, and the fact that it is the parliament that must approve military missions. The next major political test for both Macron and Merkel will be European Parliamentary elections in May, when their centrist parties will do battle with populist and far-right forces. Macron's trip to Berlin first sees him join President Frank-Walter Steinmeier at 11:00 am (1000 GMT) at the "Youth for Peace" event where youngsters will present "100 ideas for peace". From 1130 GMT Macron, Steinmeier and Merkel will attend the ceremony at the Neue Wache, a neoclassical former Prussian military guardhouse that serves as Germany's Central Memorial for the Victims of War and Dictatorship. At 1230 GMT Macron delivers a speech in the glass-domed parliamentary chamber of the Bundestag, housed in the historic Reichstag building that still bears the scars of World War II. When Macron again meets Merkel at the chancellery at 1410 GMT, they will deliver statements to the media but not give a joint press conference. Valletta (AFP) - The masterminds behind the 2017 car-bomb murder of Maltese journalist and blogger Daphne Caruana Galizia have been identified according to unnamed police sources quoted by The Sunday Times of Malta. The report quoted high-ranking officers as saying that a group of more than two Maltese nationals had been identified as having ordered her killing. Three suspects are under arrest for having carried out the murder and facing trial, but the identity of whoever ordered it has remained a mystery. Caruana Galizia, who died on October 16 last year aged 53, sought to expose scandals from petrol smuggling to money laundering, implicating members of the government and organised crime. Her blog also launched highly personal attacks on Maltese politicians. Caruana Galizia's journalist son Matthew last month blasted what he called a "system of impunity" he said was protecting those who ordered her killing. Her son, who believes the murder was ordered by powerful figures, said it would "send a terrible lesson if only the people who pressed the button to detonate the bomb ended up in prison". Three men stand charged with her murder. Brothers Alfred Degiorgio and George Degiorgio as well as Vince Muscat were arrested on December 4 last year and charged with the murder. Their case is still pending. The Caruana Galizia family said on Sunday that they was not formally informed by the police that the suspected masterminds had been identified. EDINBURG, Texas (AP) A man who disappeared on the last day of his 2008 murder trial has been captured in Mexico and returned to Texas, authorities said. Hidalgo County prosecutors said in a news release Friday that 35-year-old Oscar Davila Rodriguez was returned to the U.S. Wednesday. The statement didn't include details about how or where he was captured. "The tireless work of dedicated law enforcement on both sides of the border ensured that justice was served," Criminal District Attorney Ricardo Rodriguez Jr. said in the news release. Oscar Davila Rodriguez was free on $100,000 bond during his murder trial in the 2005 killing of his 19-year-old ex-girlfriend, Nydia Maldonado. Authorities say he broke into her home in McAllen, stabbed her multiple times and strangled her. Though Rodriguez failed to appear for the last day of his trial, he was convicted of murder and sentenced to 40 years in prison. The trial was in Edinburg, which is about 15 miles from the Texas-Mexico border. Assistant District Attorney Michelle Puig, who served as lead prosecutor on the case, said Rodriguez' capture will bring closure to Maldonado's family. "Justice will finally be served and will give peace to Nydia and all those who loved her," Puig said. The 2008 trial was the second time Rodriguez was found guilty of killing Maldonado. Rodriguez, who was free on bond throughout his first trial because he had no criminal record, was convicted in 2007 and sentenced to 55 years in prison. He remained free when a judge threw out that murder conviction because a witness mentioned a polygraph test that was supposed to have been barred from evidence. Michelle Obama has an unyielding answer for anyone trying to persuade her to run for political office: shes not interested. The former first lady discussed her newly published memoir Becoming with television host Jimmy Kimmel in his eponymous show on Thursday night when he asked her about people goading her to pursue a political career. I know you said repeatedly you will not run for office, Mr Kimmel said, but has anyone ever really, like, seriously approached you and tried to convince you to run for office? All the time, Ms Obama responded, which prompted a round of applause from the audience. Mr Kimmel specified that he meant if any major political figure like her husband Barack Obama or 2016 presidential candidate Hillary Clinton attempted to talk her into it. The first lady said Mr Obama, the former US president, has been able to prevent influential politicos from approaching and persuading her to run. Barack keeps those people away from me, Ms Obama added. No, I havent had any serious conversations with anyone about it because its not something that Im interested in or would ever do. Ever. David Axelrod, Mr Obamas former chief strategist, even confirmed to Politico that there is a very low likelihood of the Chicago native ever running for office. I think I have as much of a chance of dancing in the Bolshoi Ballet in 2020 as the likelihood of her running for office, Mr Axelrod said. And in case theres an ounce of hope that Ms Obama might change her mind, the former first lady seems pretty darn clear in when writing her memoir, stating Ill say it here directly: I have no intention of running for office, ever. The Hague (AFP) - One of the last missing pieces of Byzantine art stolen from Cyprus in the 1970s was handed back this week by a renowned, and proud Dutch art investigator. Arthur Brand said Friday he handed back the sixth century depiction of Saint Mark during a private ceremony at the Cypriot embassy in The Hague. For Brand, dubbed the "Indiana Jones of the art world" because of his exploits to recover stolen works, the handover was a highpoint in his life-long interest in the Byzantine saint -- and the result of a nearly two-year chase across Europe. "This is a very special piece that's more than 1,600 years old. It's one of the last and most beautiful examples of art from the early Byzantine era," said the art sleuth. He showed AFP the mosaic hours before it was handed back. The Cypriot embassy and Church of Cyprus declined to comment when asked about the mosaic and the Cypriot Department of Antiquities did not respond to phonecalls. - 'Greatest moment' - After getting a tip from a prominent London art dealer, Brand travelled to Monaco in August. Through a series of intermediaries -- including several in the underground world -- Brand finally traced the missing mosaic to an apartment in the upscale city-state. "It was in the possession of a British family, who bought the mosaic in good faith more than four decades ago," Brand told AFP. "They were horrified when they found out that it was in fact a priceless art treasure, looted from the Kanakaria Church after the Turkish invasion," Brand said. The family agreed to return it "to the people of Cyprus" in return for a small fee to cover restoration and storage costs, he added. A week ago, Brand -- who was working with the Church of Cyprus -- returned to Monaco to collect the treasure, said to be worth five to 10 million euros ($5.7-$11 million). "It was one of the greatest moments of my life," the detective said. Story continues In 2015, Brand won world fame after finding two massive bronze statues made by Nazi sculptor Joseph Thorak that are referred to as "Hitler's Horses". He made headlines again a year later for helping to recover five stolen masterpieces from a criminal group in the Ukraine. - Looted art - Religious artifacts including mosaics were hewn from the church walls in northern Cyprus following an invasion by Turkish forces in 1974. They included a set of mosaics taken from the Panayia Kanakaria church, about 105 kilometres (65 miles) northeast of Nicosia. Many pieces ended up in the underground world of art smuggling and went missing for many years, while the Cyprus government and church campaigned ceaselessly to recover them. "The mosaics of Kanakaria are of immense importance in Christian art and world culture," said Maria Paphiti, a former department head at British auction house Christie's. The ensemble "is among a handful of artworks that escaped the menace of Byzantine iconoclasm" in the eighth and ninth century, Paphiti, an art historian and world authority on Byzantine art told AFP. - 'Last missing pieces' - Twelve mosaic fragments have been returned so far, notably one depicting the Apostle Andrew -- which Paphiti discovered among a collection of artworks in 2014. In 1989, four fragments depicting the upper part of Christ, two apostles and an archangel were handed back after a high-profile case in Indianapolis. Most of the mosaic fragments were recovered between 1983 and 2015, Paphiti said, but some pieces are still missing, including the lower part of Christ's body. "This is truly one of the last outstanding pieces to be returned," said Brand. "It is incredible to think that this piece of art survived for so long. It's part of the Cypriot peoples' soul," he added. St Mark is expected to return to the Mediterranean island within the coming days. German police made a major breakthrough in the recovery of stolen Cypriot art in 1997 when they raided the home of convicted Turkish art dealer Ayden Dikmen in Munich. Cyprus has been divided since 1974 when Turkey invaded and seized its northern third in response to an Athens-engineered coup to unite the island with Greece. Abuja (AFP) - Nigeria's President Muhammadu Buhari on Sunday put the fight against corruption at the heart of his bid for another four-year term, as official campaigning got under way for elections next year. Voters go to the polls on February 16, four years after Buhari's landmark victory which saw him become the first opposition candidate in Nigerian history to defeat a sitting president. The 75-year-old former military ruler goes into the vote with the power of incumbency but facing a groundswell of opposition to his record in office since 2015. At a campaign launch in the capital Abuja on Sunday he maintained he had delivered on his promises to improve security, the economy and tackle corruption. But he accepted there was still work to do so everyone can benefit, not just the few, adding: "Our choices will shape us, our economic security and our future prosperity. "Nigeria, more than ever before, needs a stable and people-focused government to move the agenda for our country forward." - 'Existential threat' - Soon after coming into office, Buhari pledged to recover what he said were "mind-boggling" sums of public money stolen during previous administrations. His anti-corruption campaign, however, has yet to secure any high-profile convictions while his opponents accuse him of mounting a political witch-hunt. On Sunday, he said graft remained "an existential threat" and that despite some gains, "there is still much ground to cover to stop systemic corruption". "We are committed to deepening the work we started this first term such that the nation's assets and resources continue to be organised and utilised to do good for the common man." Buhari also put job creation, diversifying the economy away from a dependence on oil, and education as central planks of his campaign. All three are seen as important as some 60 percent of Nigeria's more than 180 million people are aged under 30, and the country is expected to become the world's third most populous by 2050. Story continues - Two-horse race - Nigerian electoral law provides for 90 days' campaigning and Buhari is one of 78 candidates from 91 registered political parties contesting for the country's top job. However the campaign is expected to be a two-horse race between Buhari, of the All Progressives Congress (APC), and Atiku Abubakar, of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). Abubakar, a former vice-president under president Olusegun Obasanjo, is seen as having momentum, as disaffection with Buhari has grown within the APC in recent months. Buhari's response to an escalation of violence in the long-running resource conflict between farmers and herders in central states has been perceived as lukewarm. His political opponents -- even within the APC -- have accused him of using the security and anti-corruption agencies to target them, leading to a wave of defections. - Violence warning - Nigerian elections since the country returned to civilian rule in 1999 after decades of military control have been characterised by deadly political violence. The 2015 election was notable for being largely peaceful, despite threats of attacks from Boko Haram in the northeast. Security concerns, from the resurgent farmers-herders conflict to Boko Haram and bubbling unrest in the oil-rich south, along with political tensions are stoking fears this time round. Buhari urged all candidates and their supporters "to go about their campaigns peacefully and decently". "We have no other country, let us not set it ablaze because of politics," he added. Twenty-four countries and the European Union meanwhile called for "free, fair, transparent and peaceful elections" as campaigning began. "We urge all involved - political and non-political actors - to refrain from using hate speech and take a firm stance against violence," they said in a joint letter. The signatories, including the United States, Britain, France and Germany, said they were "gravely concerned" about vote-buying, intimidation and interference in recent state governorship elections and party primaries. In 2016, the conservative bastion of Orange County, California, voted for a Democratic presidential candidate for the first time since the Great Depression. Two years later, Democrats succeeded in capturing all seven of its congressional seats a stunning feat in what has traditionally been a seat of Republican power that catapulted both Richard Nixon and Ronald Reagan to the White House. The densely populated county which comprises cities like Anaheim, Santa Ana, Irvine, and Huntington Beach has been growing more diverse and less conservative for years. But what may have harmed its GOP House representatives most was President Donald Trump and his nativist rhetoric about immigrants and penchant for controversial remarks, which alienated both minorities and college-educated women there. Those forces finally combined in 2018 to wipe out the GOP in what was for decades the most Republican big county in America. It is a political failure of biblical proportions, said California Democratic strategist Garry South. Congressional districts in Orange County, Calif. in 2016 and in 2018 pic.twitter.com/TWRQ1pPzS4 Morning Joe (@Morning_Joe) November 16, 2018 Earlier this week, Democrat Katie Porter officially ousted Rep. Mimi Walters (R-Calif.) in the states 45th congressional district the first time a Democrat has won there since it was drawn 35 years ago. Porter, a law professor at the University of California, Irvine, is a progressive who supports single-payer with the backing of Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.). Walters attempted to cast Porter as an extreme and a radical by attacking her over her ties to Warren, but the attacks never stuck. Orange County is the New Blue, Rep. Ted Lieu (D-Calif.), who represents an area of Los Angeles, tweeted Wednesday after Porters race was officially called. Story continues Katie Porter, the Democratic candidate for the 45th Congressional District, waves to supporters after speaking on election night in Irvine on Tuesday, Nov. 6, 2018. (Photo: Digital First Media/Orange County Register via Getty Images via Getty Images) Meanwhile, in Californias 39th congressional district to the north, Democrat Gil Cisneros defeated Young Kim, a Republican, in the election to replace GOP Rep. Ed Royce, who did not seek re-election. Republicans invested millions behind Kim, a rising star who would have been the first Korean-American woman representative in Congress had she won. She held an early lead of several thousand votes on Election Day, but it evaporated as outstanding ballots continued to be counted there. Democrats also succeeded in flipping districts carried by Rep. Dana Rohrabacher (R-Calif.), the infamous Russia-friendly congressman, and Rep. Darrell Issa (R-Calif.), who led the Benghazi investigation before retiring this year. What is stunning about the Democratic gains in Orange County, also known as the cradle of conservatism, is not just how many seats they flipped but how they did it. In the states 48th congressional district, for example, wealthy real estate executive Harley Rouda defeated Rohrabacher by campaigning on progressive issues like Medicare for all, tuition-free college, and a $15-an-hour federal minimum wage. The Democratic sweep may have been foreshadowed by the retirements of longtime Republican stalwarts like Issa and Royce last year, but it took local GOP officials by surprise. Earlier this year, Orange County Republican Party Chair Fred Whitaker laughed off the notion of a blue wave in his backyard. They think were the new battleground ... Its a Hail Mary play. Its desperation, Whitaker said in an interview in March. Let the Democrats spend tens of millions of dollars here, he added. Let them die on the hill in Orange County. Correction: Young Kim would have been the first Korean-American woman in Congress had she been elected. Related Coverage Democrats In Key House Races Boast Massive Fundraising Advantage Democrats Win Back The House Of Representatives How Democrats And Republicans Made 2018 A Blue Wave (When It Almost Wasn't) Love HuffPost? Become a founding member of HuffPost Plus today. This article originally appeared on HuffPost. Photo: Shutterstock Demand and revenue at Pennsylvania law firms are on the ups, but it's being outpaced by above-average expense growth, a new survey says. In its legal industry flash survey for the first nine months of 2018, Citi Private Bank found revenue growth of 5.6 percent among the 12 Pennsylvania law firms surveyed, just slightly below the national revenue growth of 6.3 percent. However, when it came to demand, Pennsylvania firms saw a 3.6 percent increase, higher than the 2.5 percent growth nationally, according to David Altuna and Lisa Kohut of Citi. But along with above-average demand growth, Pennsylvania firms also saw above-average expense growth of 6.8 percent, compared with 5.9 percent nationally. "On average, Pennsylvania is seeing margin compression," Altuna said. That is largely due to increased compensation expenses among those firms, Kohut said. Pennsylvania firms saw 10 percent growth in compensation expenses, versus 7.5 percent growth nationally. Among all the regions where Citi surveys, Pennsylvania had the second-highest growth in compensation, Kohut said. That may be due in part to increased leverage. At the same time, Pennsylvania firms saw lawyer head count increase by 2.3 percent, while equity partner head count was down 1.2 percent. The wave of associate salary increases that hit this summer would have been fully reflected in this survey only for those firms that were among the first movers, Altuna noted. So firms that waited to implement raises until later may cause additional growth in compensation expenses. While some Pennsylvania-born firms that maintain a large presence here, like Dechert and Morgan, Lewis & Bockius, moved to increase associate salaries over the summer, others said they wouldn't be considering the issue until later in the year. Aside from compensation, other expenses among Pennsylvania firms were closer to average. Overhead expenses were up 4.4 percent, compared to 4.7 percent nationally. Pennsylvania firms saw rates increase by 3 percent, and revenue per lawyer grow by 3.3 percent. Productivity was up 1.3 percent. "From a top-line perspective, were bullish overall in terms of how the industry is going to turn out and Pennsylvania is fitting into that profile," Altuna said. "But we're concerned about where profit growth is going to turn out for the industry, especially in Pennsylvania." But it's not all troubling. Inventory growth is high nationwide, and Pennsylvania is no exception, with inventory growth of 8.1 percent. How those firms fare in collecting that inventory will shape the rest of the year. READ MORE: Demand, Revenue Continued to Grow in Third Quarter, Citi Survey Says Legal Industry Experiences 3 Quarters of Strong Demand and Revenue Growth Pa. Law Firms Watch and Wait After Milbank Salary Boost Pacora (Panama) (AFP) - Amid swirling sawdust and the smell of fresh paint, the inmates of a grim Panamanian prison are diligently preparing for the upcoming visit of Pope Francis, hoping for forgiveness and praying for freedom. The sound of nails being deftly hammered into wood mingles with music in the makeshift workshop of the overcrowded La Joya prison, northeast of Panama City. Around 30 inmates are busy making confession boxes that will be used by pilgrims to confess their sins to priests during the pope's January 22-27 visit to mark the Catholic World Youth Day festival. A painting on one of the walls at the entrance to La Joya seems oddly prophetic: "God impacts your life, let yourself be led to him." Inmates like Felix Salinas hold out hope that a papal visit will impact their lives in some concrete way. "I would ask him to give me a chance. A pardon at least. Because that is what we all want here," said Salinas, a 50-year-old driver locked up here since 2015. Justino Hernandez, 62 and a devout Catholic, is particularly looking forward to the papal visit, the first to the Central American country since the late John Paul II made the trip in 1983. "The most important thing is to tell him that we are all entitled to a second chance and to freedom, that he gives us the chance to get out of this place," he said. Hernandez is prepared to ask the pope's forgiveness "as many times as he wants." The pope's agenda has yet to be finalized, and though he has visited prisons before, there has been no suggestion that he will visit the inmates of La Joya. The 9,700 inmates packed into La Joya is double the prison's capacity. Conditions here have been condemned by human rights organizations. From 8:00 am to 4:00 pm, the prisoners cut out traced designs from wood panels, assemble crosses and then sand, paint and upholster the confessionals, under an instructor's watchful eye. Story continues It's unpaid work, but most detainees hope their reward will come from Francis noticing their handiwork, or at least being told about it, and then pardon them -- failing that, a papal blessing. - Surpassing expectations - The brightly painted confessional booths will be set up in a so-called "Park of Forgiveness," an area of the capital's Omar Park that will be dedicated to WYD activities. Most of the detainees have never done this kind of work before but it has been such a success that the prison has received orders to make 70 information kiosks and to prepare food bags for pilgrims. Sharon Diaz, deputy head of the Penitentiary system, told AFP that the project -- rewarded by a day's deduction from inmates' sentences for every two days worked -- has surpassed expectations. "They have taken on this task not only in a personal way but in a spiritual way too, and the surprising thing about this initiative is that these are people deprived of freedom who don't profess the Catholic faith, and yet have still been enthusiastic," said Diaz. The project's supervisor Luis Vega said "there are no complications with them. They are very cooperative." Authorities expect hundreds of thousands of pilgrims, most of them from Latin America, to visit Panama for World Youth Day. For one of the prisoners, Jesus Argueles, their project is a "grain of salt" in "something great worldwide, that's going to be happening here in Panama." "I feel that all this is a message from God," said inmate Melis Guerrero over the hiss of paint sprayers. "I have heard from many of them that they have hopes the pope will go to them, bless them, look at them and recognize that they made an effort to do this work," said Diaz. "They want to show their forgiveness and repentance to the pope." LIMA (Reuters) - Former Peruvian President Alan Garcia entered the Uruguayan embassy and applied for asylum, hours after being banned from leaving the country while under investigation for corruption, the Peruvian foreign ministry said on Sunday. Garcia entered the embassy and home of the Uruguayan ambassador in a residential Lima neighborhood on Saturday night and requested asylum, according to a statement from the foreign ministry. Garcia "has requested asylum from that country, in accordance with the provisions of the Convention on Diplomatic Asylum of 1954, of which Peru and Uruguay are parties," the foreign ministry said, adding the request "should be evaluated by the government of Uruguay." Officials at the Uruguayan embassy did not immediately respond to request for comment. Garcia's asylum request came hours after a judge ruled on Saturday to prohibit the ex-president from leaving the country for 18 months while under investigation for bribes allegedly received during the construction of an electric train in Lima by Brazilian company Odebrecht. Garcia, who mostly resides in Spain, arrived in Lima on Thursday to testify in the case before a prosecutor, who postponed the hearing and requested the former president be barred from leaving. The prosecutor in the case, Jose Perez, also accused Garcia of receiving $100,000 for taking part in a conference in Brazil, and said the money likely came from an Odebrecht fund, used to pay out bribes in several Latin American countries. The sweeping Odebrecht corruption scandal has implicated dozens of high-ranking officials across Latin America, who have been accused of taking bribe money in exchange for public works contracts. On Saturday, after hearing the judge's decision to ban his departure from the country, Garcia had said he was not afraid of the ruling and would answer all the accusations before the courts. "All this amounts to an escalation, in a move to start fires to distract from the unemployment situation in the country," Garcia told journalists from the doorstep of his home in Lima. Garcia held Peru's presidency twice, from 1985-1990 and again from 2006-2011. It is the second time that Garcia, 69, has sought asylum in a South American country while facing corruption charges. In 1992, Garcia applied for asylum in the Colombian embassy in Lima, while he was being investigated for corruption and illicit enrichment during his first term as president. (Reporting by Marco Aquino; Writing by Scott Squires; Editing by Chris Reese) Asia-Pacific leaders and their spouses gather for a Leaders of Asia-Pacific nations failed to agree a joint communique after a summit for the first time on Sunday after police had to be called when trade tensions between the US and China boiled over in Papua New Guinea. Insiders said the sticking point was US demands to include reference to reforming the World Trade Organisation and unfair trade practices - which Beijing took as an unsubtle dig. When Chinese diplomats turned up unannounced to persuade Papua New Guineas foreign minister to back their wording, things turned ugly. Rimbink Pato refused to meet them. Police were posted outside the ministers office after they tried to barge in, one source privy to summit negotiations told the AFP news agency, requesting anonymity. Instead of a leaders declaration backed by the 21 members of the the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (Apec), Peter O'Neill, prime minister of Papua New Guinea, said he would issue a chairmans statement. It marks the first time in Apecs 29-year history that its members have not been able to agree. Japan's Prime Minister Shinzo Abe (R) and the US Vice President Mike Pence arrive for a "family photo" Credit: Saeed Khan/AFP You know the two big giants in the room, Mr ONeill said diplomatically when asked which nations could not agree. East-West tensions were on display from the outset of the summit, with the two blocs manoeuvring for influence. Xi Jinping, the Chinese president, was feted by PNG officials when he arrived on Thursday to pitch his Belt and Road initiative to Pacific island nations. The programme offers investment in infrastructure to less developed countries. In response, Mike Pence, US vice president, warned smaller countries not to be seduced by Chinese money that comes with strings. The US and its allies, Japan, Australia and New Zealand, countered with a $1.7 billion (1.3 billion) plan to deliver reliable electricity and the internet to PNG. China came away with at least one success. A Tongan official said it had signed up to the initiative and had been given a five-year deferral on loan repayments, as Chinese officials insisted they did not add to the burden on small countries. The Duke of Cambridge thinks social media companies should be owning up to the responsibilities that come with the massive impact they have on our lives. Speaking at the BBC on Thursday, Prince William first praised social media companies for their "extraordinary" inventions, but urged them to wake up to the responsibilities that come with their "significant power." SEE ALSO: Prince William says online anonymity is 'really, really dangerous' in deeply moving video "As [the] list of unintended consequences grows, a culture of defensiveness is undermining the sector's relationship with the public," said Prince William. "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." Prince William also criticised social media for helping to create "profound feelings of loneliness and inadequacy," adding that they have "a great deal" to learn about responsibility. "You can reject the false choice of profits over values," he said. "You can choose to do good and be successful." The prince urged the social media giants to work together to fix the problems they've created. "Social media companies have done more to connect the world than has ever been achieved in human history," he said. "Surely you can connect with each other about smart ways to deal with the unintended consequences of these connections." Prince William and his wife Kate Middleton, The Duchess of Cambridge, have been active in making the internet and social media in particular safer and less toxic. In 2016 the couple launched a task force involving Facebook, Snapchat, Google, and the BBC to combat bullying, abuse, and harassment in the digital world. Prince William's brother, The Duke of Sussex Prince Harry, has also taken an active part in the fight against toxic online culture. In a historic statement in 2016, Prince Harry spoke out against the online harassment of his wife (then girlfriend), Meghan Markle. Miami (AFP) - Florida's outgoing Republican Governor Rick Scott has narrowly won a US Senate seat in a bitterly contested race with incumbent Bill Nelson, official results showed Sunday. Nelson conceded the seat he has held for three terms since 2001 after a machine and hand recount showed Scott had edged out the Democrat by just over 10,000 votes, or 50.05 percent to 49.93 percent, official final results showed. "Well, things worked out a little differently than Grace and I had hoped," Nelson said in a video message posted on social media. "It has been a rewarding journey as well as a very humbling experience. I was not victorious in this race, but I still wish to strongly reaffirm the cause for which we fought. A public office is a public trust." He warned of a "gathering darkness" in current US politics. A day earlier, Democrat Andrew Gillum conceded his hard-fought race to become the Sunshine State's first African American governor to his Republican rival, Ron DeSantis. That race had also gone to a recount. And Stacey Abrams, who aimed to become America's first black woman governor, said Friday she will not win her race to lead the state of Georgia, while still accusing her Republican rival Brian Kemp of voter suppression. President Donald Trump has repeatedly charged that Florida's elections were marred by vote fraud, but state and local authorities have said there is no evidence of wrongdoing. Scott received warm congratulations from the American leader after his win. "From day one Rick Scott never wavered. He was a great Governor and will be even a greater Senator in representing the People of Florida," Trump tweeted. "Congratulations to Rick on having waged such a courageous and successful campaign!" Scott, who governed Florida for eight years, called for unity. "We must do what Americans have always done: come together for the good of our state and our country," he wrote on his Facebook page. "My focus will not be on looking backward, but on doing exactly what I ran on: Making Washington Work." By Nelson Renteria SAN SALVADOR (Reuters) - At least 150 Salvadorans set off on Sunday from their impoverished Central American country in a U.S.-bound caravan, ignoring their likely rejection at the U.S.-Mexico border where a larger caravan of mostly Hondurans has been stalled for days. Guarded by police officers, the men, women and children of the gathering caravan marched through San Salvador's streets to Guatemala-bound buses, loaded with heavy backpacks, water and the knowledge of an arduous 2,700-mile (4,300-km) trek ahead to the U.S. border. The group from El Salvador was at least the fourth caravan to set off since a first, large-scale mobilization in neighboring Honduras, which departed on Oct. 13 from the crime-wracked northern city of San Pedro Sula. That caravan quickly grew to thousands as it moved north on daily 30-mile (50-km) treks. Many of its members were still winding their way on Sunday through Mexico toward the U.S border, where hundreds of early arrivals have been waiting since last week to cross. Ahead of the Nov. 6 midterm U.S. congressional elections, President Donald Trump denounced the large caravan as an "invasion" that threatened American national security and sent thousands of active-duty U.S. troops to the border with Mexico. Trump has not publicly focused on the caravan since the election. Inspired by the public spotlight on the larger caravan, Salvadorans organized themselves on social networks and the WhatsApp application to launch the latest effort. Among them was Manuel Umana, a 53-year-old farmer from the town of San Pedro Masahuat, who said he decided to join Sunday's caravan to escape MS-13, a brutal criminal gang that controls large parts of El Salvador and neighboring Honduras. "We are already threatened by the gangs where we live," said Umana, pointing to scars on his face he said gang members had inflicted five years ago. "We no longer can live with these people." His motives echoed dozens of migrants in the earlier caravans who told Reuters they were abandoning their homes to escape a toxic mixture of violence, corruption and economic insecurity. El Salvador and Honduras compete for the highest homicide rates in the world, according to official figures. Both countries rank among the poorest in the Americas. "It is very dangerous but we have no other alternative. We are determined to do what we need to do," said Umana, before leaving with the rest of the caravan from the Salvadoran capital's central Plaza Salvador del Mundo. Far to the north on Sunday, in the city of Tijuana that abuts California, hundreds of people from the larger caravan braced for planned protests from local Mexicans both in favor and against them. Just over the northern border, nearly 6,000 U.S. troops in recent days have stretched barbed wire to dissuade illegal entries. U.S. immigration authorities, meanwhile, barred passage to dozens of the migrants who in recent days formed orderly lines to enter through the San Ysidro Port of Entry connecting Mexico to San Diego. (Additional reporting by Lizbeth Diaz in Tijuana; Writing by Delphine Schrank; Editing by Will Dunham) Riyadh (AFP) - Saudi King Salman welcomed Iraq's new President Barham Saleh Sunday on his first official visit to the kingdom, amid a warming of ties between the Arab neighbours after years of strain. The king hosted a lunch and "discussed regional developments" with Saleh, the official Saudi Press Agency said, after the Iraqi leader's arrival in Riyadh following a visit to Saudi Arabia's arch-rival Iran. Saleh, a 58-year-old moderate Kurd elected to the largely ceremonial role last month, was on an overnight visit at the invitation of the Saudi monarch, an Iraqi official said. Separately, Iraq's Foreign Minister Mohammed Ali al-Hakim, who is part of Saleh's delegation, held talks in Riyadh with his Saudi counterpart Adel al-Jubeir, officials said. Ties between Sunni-ruled Saudi Arabia and Shiite-majority Iraq have been looking up in recent months, after years of tense relations. After former dictator Saddam Hussein's August 1990 invasion of Kuwait, Riyadh severed relations with Baghdad and closed its border posts with its northern neighbour. But a flurry of visits in recent months between the two countries has indicated a thawing of ties. In October 2017, Saudi budget airline flynas made the first commercial flight from Riyadh to Baghdad in 27 years. Iraq is seeking economic benefits from closer ties with the wealthy kingdom as it looks to rebuild after the defeat of the Islamic State (IS) group. Riyadh is keen to develop relations with Baghdad to counter the influence of regional rival Iran in Iraq. "Both literally and figuratively, Iraq finds itself stuck between two competing neighbours: Saudi Arabia and Iran," columnist Abdulrahman al-Rashed wrote in the leading Saudi daily Arab News on Sunday. "The tripartite relationship... is tangled and complex," he wrote. "It remains to be seen how senior officials in Iraq decide they want to define this relationship and deal with the two governments." Story continues Iran has been highly influential in Iraq since the toppling of Saddam in 2003, and it was a key partner in pushing back IS. But Iran has also been accused of interference that has caused factionalism and poor governance in Iraq. Saleh made his first official visit to Tehran on Saturday, where he met his Iranian counterpart Hassan Rouhani in a bid to boost bilateral trade. Washington (AFP) - Imagine an airport where thousands of planes, empty of fuel, are left abandoned on the tarmac. That is what has been happening for decades with satellites that circle the Earth. When satellites run out of fuel, they can no longer maintain their precise orbit, rendering them useless even if their hardware is still intact. "It's literally throwing away hundreds of millions of dollars," Al Tadros, vice president of space infrastructure and civil Space at a company called SSL, said this month at a meeting in the US capital of key players in the emerging field of on-orbit servicing, or repairing satellites while they are in space. In recent years, new aerospace companies have been founded to try and extend the lifespan of satellites, on the hunch that many clients would find this more profitable than relaunching new ones. In 2021, his company will launch a vehicle -- as part of its Robotic Servicing of Geosynchronous Satellites (RSGS) program -- that is capable of servicing two to three dozen satellites in a distant geostationary orbit, some 22,000 miles (36,000 kilometers) from Earth where there are about 500 active satellites, most in telecommunications. This unmanned spacecraft will be able to latch onto a satellite to inspect it, refuel it, and possibly even repair it or change components, and put it back in the correct orbit. Tadros describes it as "equivalent to a AAA servicing truck in geostationary orbit." And "it's financially a very, very big opportunity," he adds. Telecommunications giant Intelsat, which operates 50 geostationary satellites, chose a different option and signed a contract with Space Logistics, a branch of Northrop Grumman, for its MEV, a "very simple system" vice president Ken Lee told AFP is much like a "tow truck." When it launches in 2019, the spacecraft will attach itself to a broken down satellite, and reposition it in its correct orbit. Story continues The MEV will stay attached and use its own engine to stay in orbit. - Too much debris - On-orbit servicing could also help cut down on the perplexing problem of mounting space debris. Of the 23,000 space objects counted by the US military, just 1,900 are active satellites. The rest -- which move at speeds of some 12-19,000 miles (20-30,000 kilometers) per hour -- includes nearly 3,000 inactive satellites, 2,000 pieces of rockets (such as the second stages of rockets) and thousands of fragments produced by two key events: the deliberate missile explosion of a Chinese satellite in 2007, and the 2009 collision of an Iridium satellite with an aging Russian one. No short term solution has been identified for small-scale space junk, but some companies would like to be able to remove defunct satellites from orbit. Since 2008, France has required satellite operators to take steps to "deorbit" their spacecrafts by programming them to re-enter Earth's atmosphere in 25 years so that they burn up, according to Laurent Francillout, head of space security at the French National Center for Space Studies (CNES). When it comes to satellites in geostationary orbits, their end-of-life option is to go farther from Earth to a "graveyard orbit" 200 miles (300 kilometers) further away. "We are trying to promote these principles" in other countries, Francillout told AFP. A small Japanese company founded in 2013, Astroscale, is developing a system to approach and capture space debris and broken satellites. Though it doesn't have a clientele yet, director of operations Chris Blackerby anticipates the business would be "very viable." A test launch is planned for 2020. Airbus's future "Space Tug," planned for 2023, is being built to grab old satellites and push them down to 125 miles (200 kilometers) above Earth so they burn up. The problem of space junk is only getting worse. The number of satellites in space has already risen 50 percent in five years, according to the Satellite Industry Association, and growth continues. Meanwhile, debate is roiling in the United States over the need for better international regulation of space traffic, aimed at avoiding accidents and managing future conflicts. "We don't want the Wild West," said Fred Kennedy, director of the Tactical Technology Office at DARPA, the technological research arm of the Pentagon, noting that the United States, with its fleet of military satellites, is keen to establish sound practices beyond the boundaries of Earth. Bangui (Central African Republic) (AFP) - Three Central African military died in a shootout between soldiers in the town of Bambari in the centre of the restive country, a high-ranking military source told AFP on Sunday. Three other soldiers were injured in the gunfight which broke out Saturday and pitted members of military engineering units against each other, the source said. The altercation occurred only days after a peacekeeper died in an attack on a UN base in the CAR and a priest was burnt to death following sectarian clashes which claimed nearly 40 lives. The volatile country, whose territory is mostly controlled by rival armed groups, has been embroiled in deadly conflict for the last six years, leading to the displacement of more than a quarter of its 4.5 million inhabitants. "Everything started with an argument between military engineering units about the security and financial conditions in which they were carrying out their work," the military source said about Saturday's fight. The engineers had been deployed to Bambari to undertake work in preparation for World Food Day celebrations, which had originally been planned for October 16 but have been postponed twice because of violent incidents. The government controls only a small part of CAR's national territory. Armed groups clash in the provinces for control of resources, including diamonds, gold and livestock. The rebuilding of CAR's depleted national army is a priority for President Faustin-Archange Touadera who was elected in 2016. The UN has about 12,500 personnel deployed in Central Africa as part of its MINUSCA mission, one of the world body's largest peacekeeping forces. The UN Security Council voted Thursday to temporarily renew the mandate of the mission until December, amid heated debates about its ability to stem the unrest. Kiev (AFP) - Two activists were attacked with pepper-spray in the Ukrainian capital of Kiev on Sunday during a transgender rights march that was interrupted by dozens of far-right protesters. About 30 people were taking part in the demonstration, holding rainbow flags and banners with slogans including "Transphobia must be stopped" and "If you stay silent, they will come after you too". But far-right protesters lit smoke bombs and threw them into the crowd, an AFP journalist at the scene said. The two women attacked with pepper spray were given first aid at the scene, according to the correspondent. Police led the activists into a subway station and blocked the entrance to protesters to avoid further clashes. "Today's events have demonstrated that the level far-right radical aggression and violence is increasing in Ukraine," the organisers of the march wrote on Facebook. Canadian journalist Michael Colborne posted on Twitter that he had been punched in the face by a far-right radical while covering the rally. Homophobia is still commonplace in post-Soviet Ukraine even if Kiev authorities have allowed gay pride marches to take place, in contrast to neighbouring Russia. Transgender rights marches have taken place in previous years. Police detained more than 50 far-right activists who tried to disrupt a gay pride march in Kiev this summer. Around 5,000 people took part in that event amid heightened security. At the beginning of the year, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) made changes to its website pages on fracking. A watchdog group known as the Environmental Data & Governance Initiative tracked those changes across the EPAs site and just released a report documenting the groups findings. The result of the changes has left an official U.S. government website looking more like an extension of the fossil fuel industry than a federal agency with a mission to protect the environment. The most obvious EPA website change from the report is the very title of the fracking page. Previously called Natural Gas Extraction Hydraulic Fracturing, the EPA webpage on fracking is now titled Unconventional Oil and Natural Gas Development. One read on this change is that the EPA is looking to broaden the scope of the page to include additional methods to extract fossil fuels from within the earth. Another read on the matter is that its an effort to remove Hydraulic Fracturing or fracking from the lexicon a term that has an increasingly negative connotation. A Wayback Machine archive of the EPA's fracking page before and after the Trump administration made its changes. Image: Environmental Data & Governance Initiative The EPAs website on fracking as a whole now reads as if its intended audience is the fossil fuel industry as opposed to individuals concerned about fracking and its impacts. Other notable changes include a Convening stakeholders section emphasizing EPA partnerships with the oil and natural gas industry and the removal of content related to furthering the scientific community's understanding of frackings health and environmental effects. SEE ALSO: The EPA completely axed its climate change websites. But why are NASA's still live? Fracking is a method of removing natural gas and oil from shale rock. The process involves drilling into the ground and injecting the embedded rock with a high pressure water mixture in order to extract the gas. Fracking is extremely controversial due to a variety of environmental concerns such as the pollution of groundwater with the chemicals pushed into the earth. The fracking process has also been attributed to the creation of tremors within the earth. Story continues Environmentalist Josh Foxs 2010 documentary Gasland included a now-infamous scene highlighting the impact on those who live around fracking sites. The film shows a man lighting his tap water on fire as it pours out of his sink faucet, an apparent result of nearby fracking. Trumps first head of the EPA, Scott Pruitt, oversaw the agency during the website changes. Pruitt resigned in July following months of ethics scandals. For those hoping a post-Pruitt EPA will once again center science at the core of the organization and on its website Andrew Wheeler, who succeeded Pruitt as EPA head, is a former coal industry lobbyist. Donald Trump, the US president - AP Donald Trump has declined to say that Mohammed bin Salman, the Saudi Arabian crown prince, ordered the killing of journalist Jamal Khashoggi despite new reports that the CIA has reached that conclusion. The US president said on Saturday that he would get a briefing from the agency on the topic soon, adding: As of this moment we were told that he did not play a role. We're going to have to find out what they have to say. Mr Trump also called the Saudis "a truly spectacular ally in terms of jobs and economic development," and added that, when deciding how to act over the killing, he has "to take a lot of things into consideration". He later said he expected a full report on Monday or Tuesday. The State Department also released a statement saying the US government had not yet reached a final decision about who was responsible. The comments came the day after both The Washington Post and The New York Times reported that the CIA had intelligence linking the crown prince to the operation that led to Mr Khashoggis death. The crown prince has always denied involvement. Mr Trump aligned himself with the Saudis after taking office, seeing the country as a key ally in his determination to counter Iran's influence in the Middle East. He has appeared reluctant to directly criticise the crown prince. Mr Khashoggi, who wrote columns for The Washington Post and lived in Virginia, was killed in the Saudi consulate in Instanbul, Turkey, last month. A group of 15 Saudi officials were at the consulate when the killing took place. The Saudi stance on the killing has repeatedly changed, from initially denying that he had died at the consulate to claiming that he had been accidentally strangled. Now a Saudi public prosecutor has said the journalist was injected with a fatal amount of a drug and suggested the death penalty for five of those officials involved. The Washington Post, citing unnamed sources, reported that US intelligence agencies reviewed a phone call that the prince's brother, Khalid bin Salman, had with Mr Khashoggi. Story continues The newspaper said the prince's brother, who is the current Saudi ambassador to the United States, told Mr Khashoggi he would be safe in going to the Saudi consulate in Istanbul to retrieve the documents he needed to get married. The newspaper said it was not known whether the ambassador knew Mr Khashoggi would be killed. But it said he made the call at the direction the crown prince, and the call was intercepted by US intelligence. The ambassador responded on Twitter, saying: As we told the Washington Post the last contact I had with Mr. Khashoggi was via text on Oct 26 2017. I never talked to him by phone and certainly never suggested he go to Turkey for any reason. I ask the US government to release any information regarding this claim." MarketWatch THE MONEYIST Dear Quentin, Im in an interesting position that I need some help with. My in-laws live with my wife and me, and have done so for some time. We initially moved in with them so I could finish my degree (I did), and the arrangement worked for us. Washington (AFP) - US President Donald Trump is thinking of replacing up to five senior advisers but insists that his administration is "running like a well-oiled machine," according to an interview aired Sunday. "I have three or four or five positions that I'm thinking about," he told "Fox News Sunday" interviewer Chris Wallace. "Maybe it's going to end up being two. But I need flexibility." Denying recurrent reports of a White House in turmoil -- with pressure growing from the investigation into Russian meddling in the 2016 election -- he said that some staff turnover was normal. He declined, however, to repeat an earlier assurance that John Kelly would remain his chief of staff through 2020. "There are certain things I love what he does and certain things I don't like that he does. At that aren't his strength," he said, referring to Kelly. While crediting Kelly with "doing an excellent job in many ways," Trump said that "at some point he's going to want to move on. John will move on." He also said that "there's a chance" that Kirstjen Nielsen might be replaced as homeland security secretary. "I like her very much, I respect her very much," he said, before adding, "I would like her to be much tougher on the border (with Mexico). Much tougher." Trump also defended the decision Wednesday by the office of his wife Melania to issue a highly unusual statement suggesting that deputy national security adviser Mira Ricardel be replaced. Ricardel left that post the following day for assignment to an unspecified new position. The First Lady was reportedly peeved with Ricardel's involvement in her recent Africa trip. "I thought it was fine," the president said of his wife's intervention, adding of Ricardel, "She was with me for a long time, although I don't know her." The Fox interview was recorded on Friday. By Pete Schroeder WASHINGTON (Reuters) - President Donald Trump said Saturday he was not considering extraditing a U.S.-based Muslim cleric to Turkey as part of an effort to ease pressure on Saudi Arabia. "No, it's not under consideration," Trump told reporters when asked about potential extradition of Fethullah Gulen, who is wanted in Turkey over accusations he was involved in a failed 2016 coup. NBC News reported Thursday the Trump administration had explored whether it could extradite Gulen, as a way to persuade Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan to ease pressure on Saudi Arabia over the killing of journalist Jamal Khashoggi in the Saudi consulate in Istanbul last month. Trump has sought closer ties with Saudi Arabia, citing Riyadh's role in countering Iranian influence in the region, and billions of dollars in potential arms deals. The Justice Department had denied on Friday the matter had been discussed. On Saturday, Trump said he got along well with Erdogan, and spoke of a desire to improve relations with Turkey. He also described Saudi Arabia as "a truly spectacular ally in terms of jobs and economic development." (Reporting by Pete Schroeder; Editing by Ros Russell) Judd Trump will face Ronnie OSullivan in the final of the Northern Ireland Open Judd Trump sealed safe passage to the final of the Northern Ireland Open by overpowering Eden Sharav in the final four. World number five Trump emerged 6-3 victor as the pair went head-to-head for a place in the showpiece finale on Sunday. The winner will take on Ronnie OSullivan, who edged an 11-frame thriller 6-5 over Mark Selby in the other semi-final at the Waterfront Hall. And Trump admitted that he has felt the warmth of the Belfast faithful throughout the week calling on them for one more big show of faith. Obviously Ronnies been the big favourite this week, but I felt some good support I feel they really get behind you when they like you. Hopefully they can get behind me again [in the final] and I can win. Watch the Northern Ireland Open live on Eurosport and Eurosport Player, with analysis from Ronnie OSullivan, Jimmy White and Neal Foulds President Donald Trump told Fox News he wasnt aware Matt Whitaker was a sharp critic of special counsel Robert Muellers Russia investigation before he named him acting attorney general. In an interview that aired on Fox News Sunday, Trump told host Chris Wallace he didnt know Whitakers past remarks on the Russia probe, but that he didnt believe it would have any impact on the investigation. Hes right, Trump said about Whitakers past criticism of the probe. What do you do when a persons right? Repeating his constant refrain that there was no collusion between his presidential campaign and Russia, Trump reiterated that Whitaker happened to be right in criticizing the Mueller probe. Trump said he personally did not plan to get involved in any decision on the future of the investigation, but that it would be up to Whitaker on whether it continues. Trump tells Fox News Sunday he didnt know Matt Whitaker had been critical of Mueller before naming him Acting AG, but says he wouldnt stop him from curtailing the investigation. pic.twitter.com/IgbeDPplFq Sahil Kapur (@sahilkapur) November 18, 2018 Trump named Whitaker as acting attorney general as he announced on Nov. 7 that Jeff Sessions was stepping down from the post. Whitaker, a former federal prosecutor, had served as Sessions chief of staff. Lawmakers on both sides of the aisle have pushed back on Trumps appointment of Whitaker, who they worry could end or kneecap Muellers investigation into Russian interference in the 2016 presidential election and whether the president obstructed justice. Whitaker, during an interview with CNN in July 2017, suggested that a potential future replacement for Sessions wouldnt need to fire Mueller to stymie the investigation. I could see a scenario where Jeff Sessions is replaced with a recess appointment and that attorney general does not fire Bob Mueller, but he just reduces his budget to so low that his investigation grinds to almost a halt, Whitaker said at the time. Story continues In August 2017, roughly a month before his appointment as Sessions chief of staff, Whitaker penned an Op-Ed for CNN in which he suggested the Russia investigation was going too far and could be a witch hunt. Trump claimed last week that he hadnt met Whitaker prior to appointing him to head the Justice Department, despite having told Fox & Friends in October that he knew him. I can tell you Matt Whitakers a great guy, the president had told the hosts of his favorite cable news program. I mean, I know Matt Whitaker. This story has been updated with Trumps past comments about knowing Whitaker. Related... Matt Whitaker, Trump's Acting Attorney General Pick, Is A Major Critic Of The Russia Probe Trump Claims He Doesnt Know Matt Whitaker. That's Not What Kellyanne Conway Says. Trump Hammered On Acting Attorney General Matt Whitaker By Conservative Group Love HuffPost? Become a founding member of HuffPost Plus today. This article originally appeared on HuffPost. By Karen Lema and Martin Petty MANILA (Reuters) - Two years after Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte announced a divorce with old ally the United States in return for bumper business ties with China, he doesn't have much to show for it. Duterte left Beijing in 2016 with $24 billion of Chinese loans and investment pledges for his ambitious infrastructure overhaul, a few weeks after saying the Philippines was being treated like a dog by Washington and would be better off with China. But only a fraction of China's pledged support has materialized, exposing Duturte to criticisms he has been complicit in allowing China to pose threats to Philippines' sovereignty, and been left high and dry by Beijing. When Xi Jinping visits the Philippines this week, Duterte will need the Chinese president to put his money where his mouth is and help Duterte justify his geopolitical concessions to a historic rival, according to Richard Heydarian, a Manila-based defense and security analyst. "Otherwise, we can definitely conclude that there's really nothing much in the rhetoric and the Philippines has been taken for a ride," Heydarian said. "Duterte's naivety with China has been a slam dunk strategic coup for China, no doubt about it." Philippine's Budget Secretary Benjamin Diokno said it would be unreasonable to expect all the Chinese pledges to come through after only two years, but officials were hopeful intervention by Xi after his visit could help. "We're very optimistic this will, their head of state, will pressure their bureaucracy to speed up the process," he said last week. Duterte's signature "Build, Build, Build" infrastructure program, the centerpiece of his economic strategy, involves 75 flagship projects of which about half are earmarked for Chinese loans, grants or investments. But according to publicly available Philippine government documents reviewed by Reuters, only three of those - two bridges and an irrigation facility worth a combined $167 million - have so far broken ground. The rest, including three rail projects, three highways and nine bridges, are at various levels of planning and budgeting, or are awaiting Chinese government approval for financing, or the nomination of Chinese contractors. 'POSITIVE RESULTS' China's foreign ministry said major projects agreed by both sides "are proceeding smoothly and continue to achieve positive results". China wanted to boost trade and investment and "promote the early commencement of building of even more agreed upon projects," the ministry said in a statement to Reuters. Chinese committed investments in the Philippines in the first half of this year were just $33 million, about 40 percent of that of the United States and about a seventh of Japan's, according to the Philippine Statistics Authority, tracking a similar trend the previous year. Trade between China and the Philippines has picked up significantly, but data suggests mostly in China's favor. Chinese exports to the Philippines grew 26 percent in the first nine months of 2017 from the same period a year earlier, outpacing its imports from Manila, which grew 9.8 percent. Net foreign direct investment from China has, however, surged to $181 million for the first eight months of this year, from $28.8 million for all of 2017, according to the Philippine central bank. PRESSURE NEEDED Duterte has made a point of praising China effusively and confessing his "love" for Xi. He even jokingly offered his country to Beijing as "a province of China". Many ordinary Filipinos as well as international lawyers and diplomats are incensed by Duterte's refusal to even raise with China the Permanent Court of Arbitration's (PCA) 2016 award that ruled in the Philippines' favor, and invalidated Beijing's claim to most of the South China Sea. Instead, Duterte is seeking an agreement with China to jointly explore offshore gas at the disputed Reed Bank in the resource-rich and strategic waterway. Some lawmakers fear that could be tantamount to recognizing Beijing's claim to a site that the PCA ruling said China has no sovereign rights to under international law. Duterte has also been against Southeast Asian countries taking a united stand against China militarization and at a regional summit last week, he warned against causing friction, because the South China Sea was "now in their (China's) hands". Heydarian said if Duterte was unable to show an economic dividend from his China gambit, it could weaken his hand ahead of 2019 mid-term elections that might determine the success or failure of his presidency. To stand a chance of delivering on his policy agenda, Duterte needs his allies to command a majority in Congress and the Senate to ensure key legislation is passed to enable reforms aimed at generating revenue, attracting investment and creating higher-quality jobs. "If after Xi Jinping's visit, there's still no big move by China to invest in the Philippines, if China's militarization and reclamation will just continue unabated, you're going to have a situation where Duterte will come under extreme pressure," he said. "The opposition is going to use that to pin down Duterte and his allies as Chinese lackeys." (Additional reporting by Neil Jerome Morales in MANILA and Ben Blanchard in BEIJING; Editing by) United Nations (United States) (AFP) - The UN Security Council will on Wednesday vote to lift sanctions on Eritrea following a landmark peace deal with Ethiopia and a thaw with Djibouti that have buoyed hopes for positive change in the Horn of Africa. Diplomats say they expect the council to unanimously adopt a British-drafted resolution that would lift the arms embargo and all travel bans, asset freezes and targeted sanctions on Eritrea. The council slapped sanctions on Eritrea in 2009 for its alleged support of Al-Shabaab insurgents in Somalia, a claim Asmara has long denied. The draft resolution acknowledges that UN monitors have "not found conclusive evidence that Eritrea supports Al-Shabaab" and declares that the sanctions and arms embargo will end on the day of the adoption of the measure. Eritrea and Ethiopia signed a peace deal in July that ended two decades of hostility and led to friendlier relations with Djibouti, shoring up prospects for stability in the Horn of Africa. The draft resolution calls on Eritrea and Djibouti to continue efforts to settle a 2008 border dispute and asks Asmara to release information concerning Djiboutian soldiers missing in clashes a decade ago. At France's request, the council will hear a report every six months on Eritrea's efforts to normalize relations with Djibouti, where France, the United States and China all have military bases. - Look to the future - Ethiopian Ambassador Taye Atske Selassie said the end of sanctions will "definitely open up a lot of possibilities for Eritrea," drawing foreign investors and bringing Asmara back into the international fold. "The decision will give an impetus for us to look to what the future can offer to the people of the region while at the same time send a message for us to engage in solving current problems and challenges," the ambassador told AFP. Eritrea and Somalia strongly supported calls to end sanctions, and negotiations over the past two weeks focused on addressing concerns about Djibouti. Story continues "There were concerns by Djibouti," the ambassador said, "but these concerns are not insurmountable. We strongly believe that the leaders of these two countries are willing to deal with the issues." In his address to the General Assembly in September, Eritrea's Foreign Minister Osman Mohammed Saleh slammed the sanctions as "unwarranted," saying they had caused "considerable economic damage" and hardship for Eritreans. Eritrea gained its independence from Ethiopia in the early 1990s, and war broke out later that decade over a border dispute. A 2002 UN-backed boundary demarcation was meant to settle the dispute for good, but Ethiopia refused to abide by it. A turnaround began in June when Ethiopia announced it would hand back to Eritrea disputed areas including the flashpoint town of Badme, where the first shots of the border war were fired. The leaders of Somalia, Eritrea and Ethiopia met last week in northern Ethiopia to push for regional economic development. The draft resolution however maintains an arms embargo on Somalia, imposed in 1992. Douala (AFP) - A professor and staff member of the University of Buea in troubled western Cameroon have been kidnapped, a statement received by AFP on Sunday said. Charles Doumta, on the Health Sciences faculty, and George Ongey, who works for the research and cooperation office, were seized on Friday and November 10, respectively, the statement said without elaborating. "These acts are meant to intimidate, create fear and panic among staff and students and disrupt the smooth functioning of the academic year," Vice Chancellor Ngomo Horace Manga was quoted as saying in the statement, issued Saturday. The 12,000-student university is a historic centre of English-based learning in Cameroon, whose minority anglophone population is concentrated in the two western regions of Northwest and Southwest. A crisis erupted in 2016 over perceived discrimination at the hands of the francophone majority in areas such as education, the justice system and the economy of the West African country. Last year it developed into an armed conflict, with radicals declaring an independent state, the Republic of Ambazonia, which is not recognised internationally. They have attacked troops and police and torched other symbols of the central government in the former German colony, which was divided between Britain and France after World War I. Almost daily clashes now occur between security forces and separatists, who have organised themselves into scattered groups in the region's dense tropical forests. Early this month, armed men believed to be separatists abducted 90 students in Northwest Region, later freeing them in circumstances that remain unclear. Armed gangs are also operating in the troubled regions, taking advantage of the conflict to demand protection money from businesses and individuals. More than 200 troops and more than 500 civilians have died in regional fighting, according to non-governmental organisations. The conflict has also already displaced more than 437,000 people, UN data released in October showed. Kabul (AFP) - US envoy Zalmay Khalilzad said Sunday he hoped the Taliban and Afghan government would strike a peace deal within five months -- even as the militants inflict record high casualties on security forces. Back in Kabul after a second round of regional meetings that are believed to have included the Taliban, Afghan-born Khalilzad said he remained "cautiously optimistic" for an end to the 17-year conflict. The former US ambassador to Kabul has been spearheading American efforts to convince the Taliban to negotiate with the Afghan government. His appointment as US special representative for Afghanistan reconciliation in September was followed weeks later by a meeting with the group's representatives in Qatar. But there are growing fears that any progress towards peace could be derailed by the April 20 presidential election, which is expected to be fiercely contested and marred by violence. "I remain cautiously optimistic," Khalilzad told Afghan media at a briefing. "I hope that the Taliban and other Afghans would use the (presidential) election as a deadline to achieve a peace agreement before then -- that would be my hope." "The Taliban are saying that they don't believe that they can succeed militarily ... I think there's an opportunity for reconciliation and peace." The US embassy in Kabul sent a recording of Khalilzad's remarks to foreign journalists based in Kabul, who had not been invited to attend the briefing. Khalilzad's comments come as the Taliban step up attacks on Afghanistan's beleaguered security forces, which are suffering an unprecedented level of casualties. The death toll among Afghan soldiers and police is nearing 30,000 since the start of 2015, Afghan President Ashraf Ghani revealed this month -- a figure far higher than anything previously acknowledged. In a recent report, the US Special Inspector General for Afghanistan Reconstruction (SIGAR) cited the NATO mission in Kabul as saying this summer's toll had been worse than ever for Afghan forces. Story continues Recent Taliban attacks on ethnic Hazara-dominated districts in the southeastern province of Ghazni have left hundreds dead, forced thousands of families to flee their homes, and raised fears of sectarian violence. Most Hazaras belong to the Shiite branch of Islam, while the Taliban are Sunni and largely ethnic Pashtuns. Khalilzad said he recognised the "complexity" of the conflict, but insisted: "I would like to make as much progress as possible as soon as possible". His comments underscore an apparent increasing sense of urgency in the White House and among American diplomats for a deal to be done quickly. Washington is facing competition from Moscow, which this month hosted an international gathering on Afghanistan that was attended by the Taliban. Khalilzad called for the selection of negotiating teams to enable talks between the militants and Kabul to start. The hotly contested race for Georgias governorship has ended, more than 10-days after the polls closed, with Democrat candidate Stacey Abrams acknowledging she could not win but vowing to challenge the outcome. In a speech on Friday she hit out at her rival, Republican Brian Kemp who is Georgias secretary of state and the man in charge of the states election, for gross mismanagement of the process. While acknowledging she couldnt win in this election, she vowed to file a lawsuit against the state of Georgia to challenge these failures and safeguard future elections. Her campaign team have argued measures Mr Kemp introduced to toughen voter eligibility requirements resulted in massive voter suppression and wrongly left thousands of ballots uncounted. Ms Abrams said in her speech: To watch an elected official who claims to represent the people in this state, baldly pin his hopes for election on the suppression of the peoples democratic right to vote has been truly appalling. So lets be clear, this is not a speech of concession. Concession means to acknowledge an action is right, true or proper, as a woman of conscience and faith I cannot concede that. My assessment is that the law currently allows no further viable remedy. In the coming days, we will be filing a major federal lawsuit against the state of Georgia for the gross mismanagement of this election and to protect future elections, she added. Campaigners had been lobbying to stop Mr Kemp overseeing the race he was part of, saying his involvement violates the basic notion of fairness and even filed a lawsuit against him on election day. Ms Abrams, a 44-year-old attorney and former lawmaker, would have made history as Americas first black female governor. But Mr Kemp, a 55-year-old former businessman, will retain the governors office for the Republicans and responded to the concession with a call for unity. In a news conference on Saturday he defended his actions, saying Look, we have laws on the books that prevent elections from being stolen from anyone. He also congratulated Ms Abrams and said: She ran one heck of a campaign and I know she can be proud of that effort. Harare (AFP) - Here is a summary of key developments since Robert Mugabe was ousted as president of Zimbabwe a year ago after 37 years in charge of the southern African country. - Mugabe forced out - On November 21, 2017, 93-year-old Mugabe bows to mounting pressure and resigns in a letter to parliament, which was about to debate his impeachment. Military generals had seized power days earlier after he fired Vice President Emmerson Mnangagwa, amid concern Mugabe was positioning his wife Grace to succeed him. Cheering crowds race through the streets of the capital as the news spreads. Britain and the United States welcome Mugabe's departure. Mnangagwa returns to Zimbabwe from South Africa the following day, having fled after his dismissal two weeks earlier. - New president pledges polls - Mnangagwa is sworn in on November 24, setting out a programme that envisages a reversal of many of Mugabe's signature policies and promising that elections due in 2018 would go ahead. In February 2018, veteran opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai dies of cancer. His Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) picks former youth activist Nelson Chamisa to lead it into the election set for July 30. On June 23 a bomb explodes as Mnangagwa leaves the podium at a campaign rally for his ZANU-PF party in the opposition stronghold city of Bulawayo. He escapes unharmed but two bodyguards are killed. - First post-Mugabe vote - Long queues form outside polling stations on July 30 as thousands vote, turnout is estimated at 75 percent. Early the next morning, with vote counting under way, Chamisa claims he is "winning resoundingly". Mnangagwa says he is "extremely positive". As tensions mount, the election authority rejects opposition allegations of rigging. - Violence erupts - On August 1, the election commission announces that ZANU-PF has easily won most of the seats in parliament but does not give the results for the presidential vote. The opposition alleges fraud and its supporters take to the streets of Harare, with violence erupting. Soldiers fire live rounds and six people are killed. Story continues As international condemnation pours in, the government warns it will "not tolerate" unrest. - Mnangagwa declared winner - In the early hours of August 3, the electoral commission declares Mnangagwa the winner with 50.8 percent of the vote against Chamisa's 44.3 percent. Chamisa rejects the results as "fraudulent, illegal, illegitimate" and vows to challenge them in court. On August 6, 27 MDC members appear in court on violence charges related to the post-election protests. The MDC lodges a bid to overturn the election results on August 10. The Constitutional Court dismisses it on August 24 for a lack of evidence. Mnangagwa is inaugurated on August 26, calling for unity and a focus on the economic challenges facing the nation. He announces an enquiry into the election killings. - Cholera and crackdowns - The opposition walks out of Mnangagwa's inaugural address to parliament on September 18, when he announces measures to tackle the economic crisis and a deadly cholera outbreak. On October 11, police arrest scores of trade union leaders and activists ahead of national protests against price and tax hikes. The demonstrations would have violated a ban on public gatherings because of the spreading cholera. At a rally to mark the MDC's 19th anniversary, Chamisa insists on October 27 that he had won the July elections. This gathering had been banned several times, with police citing the cholera epidemic. On November 7 two government ministers under Mugabe appear in court on corruption charges. Public Security Minister Gilad Erdan has threatened to vote against a general NIS 2.2 million budget cut, to be discussed in the Knesset on Sunday. The cuts are intended to allow a pay rise for active and retired police officers and prison wardens, but according to Erdan will force us to lay off 700 police officers and wardens. Other ministries will also be influenced by this decision, however, the Public security ministry is to carry the heaviest load of the cuts. Deputy Health Minister Yaakov Litzman called Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and also protested the future cuts. In light of Avigdor Liebermans Wednesday resignation, Finance Minister Moshe Kahlon and Education Minister Naftali Bennett agree that a government with only a thin majority, of 61 MKs, is not worth maintaining. The two discussed possible dates for elections in a meeting on Saturday. With early elections now appearing almost inevitable in the wake of Yisrael Beytenu leader Avigdor Lieberman's resignation and Education Minister Naftali Bennett's demand for the defense portfolio , Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and other coalition leaders appear to be looking to lay the blame at the feet of someone else. Follow Ynetnews on Facebook STRONG> and Twitter Netanyahu, who has himself considered calling early elections, now wishes to continue with the current government until the end of its term in November 2019, rather than hold snap elections in March 2019. The prime minister met with Finance Minister Moshe Kahlon, who heads the Kulanu party, and Interior Minister Aryeh Deri, who heads the Shas party, on Thursdayboth of whom urged him to call early elections. Minister Bennett, Prime Minister Netanyahu and Minister Kahlon (Photos: Reuters, AFP, Dana Kopel) On Friday, Netanyahu met with Minister Bennett, who heads the Bayit Yehudi party, to discuss the latter's demand to be appointed defense minister after the position had been vacated by Lieberman. Bennett threatened to bring down the government if his demand is not met. The prime minister apparently told the education minister he was willing to give him the defense portfolio, "but there is no political support" for such a move. Netanyahu did admit to Bennett it would be difficult to maintain a government based on a narrow coalition that only has a one-vote majority in the Knesset. "I have problems in the Likud party with (MKs) Oren Hazan and Yehuda Glick, and in Kulanu I have issues with Rachel Azaria. It's hard to run a coalition like this," Netanyahu told Bennett. Bennett arriving at the Prime Minister's Residence in Jerusalem on Friday (Photo: Yoav Dudkevitch) At the end of the meeting, each side issued a statement about its content and results that contradicted the other. A Bayit Yehudi official explained that "it appears that in light of Minister Moshe Kahlon's insistence on holding elections as soon as possible, there is no possibility of continuing with this government. On Sunday, the coalition heads will coordinate the date for the elections." Meanwhile, the prime minister canceled the coalition heads meeting scheduled for Sunday morning, as well as a Likud ministers meeting. The blame game Bennett himself accused Lieberman of bringing down the government. "Not only did he destroy (Israel's) security and escaped responsibility, in the end he's bringing down the government as well," he said on Saturday night. "There's some blame game on who would be the doctor who declares the patient dead," he went on to say. "There's no government... we haven't had a government in two weeks now. A government that doesn't evacuate Khan al-Ahmar and erodes the deterrence is not a government and not the Right, that's why we're going to elections." The prime minister, meanwhile, claimed he has not yet given up the possibility of saving the coalition and preventing the government from collapsing. His close associates called on Bennett to show responsibility and not lend a hand to the premature end of the government. Ministers Kahlon and Bennett (Photo: Motti Kimchi) "It's important to make every effort to preserve the right-wing government," Netanyahu said, "and not repeat the historical mistake of 1992, when the right-wing government was brought down, a left-wing government was elected, and the Oslo disaster was brought upon the State of Israel." A statement released on behalf of Netanyahu said that "The prime minister told Minister Bennett that the rumors a decision has been made to go to elections are not true. The prime minister updated Minister Bennett that in the immediate future he will be taking on the defense portfolio, in light of the critical challenges the State of Israel currently faces. At the beginning of the week, the prime minister will hold talks with the heads of the coalition, and he trusts the sense of responsibility of the ministers, who won't make the historical mistake of bringing down a right-wing government." Netanyahu himself laid the blame on Kahlon. Minutes after the end of Shabbat, he tweeted: "If the Kulanu party doesn't bring down the governmentwe'll still have a government," adding, "All members of the Likud party are interested in continuing to serve the state for another full year, until the end of the term in November 2019." Kahlon rejected Netanyahu's attempts to pin the government's collapse on him, saying these were "media spins that don't work on me anymore... he can threaten his friends in the Likud party, but not me. I don't work for them." Kahlon rejected reports he had vetoed Bennett's demand to be appointed defense minister, saying "I don't appoint ministers, and I wasn't asked about it. I have no issue with Bennett or any other candidate." Finance Minister Moshe Kahlon (Photo: Ohad Zwigenberg) However, he reiterated his position that it would be impossible to run the country with only a one-vote majority in parliament, particularly in the final year of the government's term. "This would mean complete anarchy. I won't abandon the economy for two or three more months in the government," he said. Kahlon is expected to speak with Netanyahu again on Sunday in a meeting pushed from 9am to 6:30pm. "Maybe he'll pull a rabbit out of the hat during the meeting, even though I don't know of any such rabbits or any such hats. But unless there's a new rabbit to convince me, I'll support the law to dissolve the Knesset and move forward the elections," he said. Coalition officials said Kahlon and Bennett have coordinated their positions, and that they intend to lead a united front against Netanyahu, pushing for early elections that would be held on March 12 or 26. The two spoke at length on Friday, after the former's meeting with the prime minister, and reached the conclusion a narrow coalition could not survive. Senior officials in Shas tried to play sides, with one official saying "The Shas movement doesn't oppose going to elections. Shas is ready to go to elections at any date in light of the excellent achievements it had in the municipal elections. However, if the prime minister wants to continue with the current government, Shas would support that." Fight over massive cuts to government ministries But before the Knesset could be dissolved, Minister Kahlon will bring a bill proposal to the government's approval on Sunday to add some NIS 22 billion over the next 17 years to pensions for police officers and prison guards. The funding for the proposal is supposed to come, inter alia, from NIS 1.3 billion in cuts to government ministries. The move naturally faced objection and criticism from the different ministries, with many government officials viewing it as a "underhanded opportunism for campaign purposes." Public Security Minister Gilad Erdan (Photo: Motti Kimchi) While Public Security Minister Gilad Erdan supported the move and stressed that the new funding was agreed upon long before the current political crisis had erupted, and that it is based on a decision made by the labor court, he nevertheless objected to the proposal that would see his ministry bearing the onus of the cuts. Deputy Health Minister Yaakov Litzman, who doesn't vote on government decisions, and Agriculture Minister Uri Ariel also came out against the cuts to their respective ministries. The cuts will also fund the hosting of the Eurovision Song Contest in Israel next week, which will cost an estimated NIS 150 million. Hamas and Islamic Jihad continued to threaten Israel over the weekend despite the latest ceasefire agreement , as a delegation of senior Egyptian intelligence officials left the Gaza Strip after holding talks about a broader arrangement between the warring sides. Follow Ynetnews on Facebook STRONG> and Twitter During a memorial service for Hamas fighters killed in the firefight that erupted after the Palestinians uncovered a secret IDF mission in Gaza last week, Hamas leader in the Gaza Strip Yahya Sinwar pulled out a gunwhich he claimed belongs to an IDF soldier who participated in the operationand declared: "Next time, the barrage of rockets will reach Tel Aviv and its surrounding area." X Standing in front of the Egyptian mediators and hundreds of Hamas members, the Hamas leader continued to threaten Israel, making perfectly clear that his organization had no intention of holding its fire. Yahya Sinwar at the rally What did the Israeli leadership think when it allowed in fuel and Qatari funds? That we would sell out our blood for diesel and dollars? Theyve been disappointed, and their goals have failed, Sinwar asserted. Sinwar said he had spoken to the leader of Hamass military wing, Muhammad Deif, in the wake of the death of Nour el-Deen Baraka, the commander of the Khan Yunis Brigade of the Izz ad-Din al-Qassam Brigades, in the botched IDF mission. Deif asked me to say that Tel Aviv and the surrounding area are next. The first barrage to hit Tel Aviv will surprise Israel, he said. Nour el-Deen Baraka Adding that Hamas was determined to "break the siege and provide decent life to our armed people in Gaza," the Hamas leader sent a warning to the Israeli government: "I appeal to (Prime Minister) Netanyahu and to the next defense minister: Whoever tests Gaza will find only death and poison... Our missiles are more precise, have a greater range, and carry more explosives than in the past." The head of the Egyptian delegation, Ahmed Abd al-Khaliq, attended the rally. He was surrounded by photographers when he approached Baraka's children and kissed their hands. The Egyptian delegation left Gaza on Saturday. It arrived in the strip on Thursday for talks with the Hamas leadership in an effort to establish understandings between Israel and Hamas. During his speech, Sinwar also addressed internal Palestinian reconciliation efforts, which are also being led, among others, by senior Egyptian intelligence officials. "I call upon the brothers in Fatah, the Palestinian Authority, and all the national and Islamic factions, to sit around one table so we could share blood and make decisions together," he exclaimed. Hamas is not the only organization to spread hatred and intimidation over the weekend. The military wing of Islamic Jihad posted a video titled "Hell of Ashkelon," showing the launching of the rockets that hit a four-story residential building in Ashkelon last week. Islamic Jihad video "We promise more if you dare," a caption read at the end of the video. Islamic Jihad showcasing rocket X Some 8,000 Gazans showed up this weekend for the weekly Friday border protests against Israel. The IDF reported that the demonstrators maintained a safe distance from the fence, while burning tires and throwing stones. No attempts to breach the fence were reported. Gazas health ministry said 40 Palestinians were wounded by Israeli fire and tear gas, without giving a number breakdown. Witnesses said most of the injuries occurred in stone-throwing incidents at the usual five protest locations. Gaza border riots, Friday (Photo: AFP) One of the organizers behind the protests, Issam Hamad, explained that the Egyptians requested protesters stay back from the fence so as not to endanger the ceasefire. "The delegation of senior Egyptian intelligence officials has asked us to stay away from the fence in the next three weeks, so they could complete their mission. We are committed to fulfilling their request," said Hamad. Against the backdrop of tensions with Gaza, Al Khaleej news reported that an agreement is beginning to take shape, with the help of Egyptian and German mediators, over an exchange between Hamas and Israel of prisoners and missing persons. Israel reportedly has agreed in principle to release Hamas terrorists released in the Shalit deal who have since been arrested again in exchange for the return the bodies of IDF soldiers and the living Israeli citizens held in Gaza. Barghouti (Photo: Gil Yochanon) Mukhaimer Abu Saada, professor of Political Science at al Azhar University in Gaza, said that in an interim deal is being formulated between Israel and Hamas "that would be devoted to the release of Palestinian prisoners and the return of Israeli POWs and MIAs." "Hamas promised Fadwa Barghouti that her husband, Marwan, would be released in this deal, and Hamas will insist upon it. Its commitment to the release of Barghouti was given in writing to his wife," Saada added. A senior Israeli official vehemently denied this report. Meanwhile, deputy Hamas leader Khalil al-Hayya said that Israel was delaying the prisoner exchange deal because of its refusal to release the prisoners of the Shalit deal. The house of terrorist Ahmed Nassar Jarrar, the head of the terror cell responsible for the murder of Rabbi Raziel Shevah last January, has been rebuilt only eight months after being destroyed by the IDF during a raid. Follow Ynetnews on Facebook STRONG> and Twitter Jarrars home in Burqin, on the outskirts of Jenin, was razed during the manhunt for the terrorist last February, and a demolition order has never been officially issued. The IDF is currently examining whether the reconstructed house could also be legally torn down. The rebuilt house of Ahmed Nassar Jarrar Rabbi Shevah, a resident of the Havat Gilad outpost in the West Bankwhich is still in the process of being legalizedwas killed in a drive-by shooting attack near his home. He is survived by a wife and six children. Shevah was shot in the neck and evacuated in a critical condition to Meir Hospital in Kfar Saba, where he was pronounced dead. In February 2018, the Shin Bet received intelligence that Jarrar was hiding in a complex of buildings in the village of Yamun, 9 kilometers west of Jenin, in the West Bank. Ahmed Nassar Jarrar Upon arriving at the scene, troops from the Border Police's counter terrorism unit Yamam called on Jarrar to come out. When Jarrar finally came out of one of the building, he was armed with an M-16 assault rifle and a bag full of explosives, prompting the Israeli forces to open fire and kill him. Rabbi Shevahs wife, Yael, said she wasnt surprised by the news that the terrorists house had been rebuilt. Unfortunately, this doesnt surprise me. As long as there is no permanent policy of deterrence against terrorists, this type of things will keep happening. We need deterrence expulsion of terrorist families, house demolitions and much more," Yael said. Rabbi Raziel Shevah The defense establishment doesn't have a defined enforcement system to ensure demolished homes of terrorists are not rebuilt.The Civil Administration began the demolition procedures for the rebuilt house upon hearing the news. Matan Peleg, the CEO of the right-wing Im Tirtzu movement, which accompanies the Choosing Life forum of bereaved families, labeled the situation absurd. "There is no greater absurdity than seeing a terrorist's house being rebuilt without any obstacles. This brazen audacity stems solely from Israel's lack of deterrence when it comes to terrorism. If the house is not demolished within the next 24 hours, its going to pave way for more bloodshed. We must avoid it at all costs," Peleg stressed. The rebuilt house of Ahmed Nassar Jarrar The IDF Spokespersons Office emphasized the military did not have a demolition order in its possession at the time of the raze. "The house of the terrorist Ahmed Nassar Jarrar, who murdered Rabbi Raziel Shevah, was destroyed in February 2018 during operational activity to locate the terrorist without a demolition order, the statement said. Jerusalem's Ashkenazi Chief Rabbi Aryeh Stern has approved the burial of a Muslim man inside a Jewish cemetery after Muslim cemeteries refused to bury him over suspicions he sold a property in the capital to Jews a few years ago. Follow Ynetnews on Facebook STRONG> and Twitter Ala'a Qarash was one of six people killed in a collision between a truck and a minibus on Highway 90 two weeks ago. The Palestinians accused Qarash of being a "traitor" for allegedly selling property in Jerusalem to Jews, and Jerusalem's mufti, Ekrima Sa'id Sabri, determined Qarash did not deserve a proper burial at a Muslim site. The Jerusalem mufti based his ruling on a 1935 ruling by Haj Amin al-Husseini, the leader of the Arabs in Mandatory Palestine, known for his anti-Semitism and rejection of Zionism. At the time, Husseini ruled that "anyone who sells a house or land to Jews will not receive Muslim burial." Ala'a Qarash Sabri noted in his ruling that "anyone who sells (property) to Jews in Jerusalem's Old City is no longer part of the Islamic faith, we will not accept his repentance, and he will not be buried in a Muslim cemetery." After the accident, the bodies of the Arab casualties were brought to the Al-Aqsa Mosque on the Temple Mount for a special prayer, but the Waqf refused to allow Qarash's body into the mosque. For the same reason, many other mosques in east Jerusalem refused to hold Qarash's funeral service. The cemetery in which his family members are interred also refused to bury Qarash, and his family even decided against setting up a mourners' tent. He has since been temporarily buried outside the cemetery in Nabi Salih. When Rabbi Stern learned of the obstacles and humiliation Qarash's family had suffered, he issued an unusual ruling ordering to bury Qarash at a special plot at the Har HaMenuchot cemetery in Jerusalem for those without religious faith. "Since the Muslims themselves are unwilling to bury him, we must do something and right this wrong done to a man disgraced simply for his willingness to sell land to Jews," the rabbi explained. "We must give very positive treatment to righteous gentiles, and in this case this is someone who showed good will and was even willing to take a risk for the Jewish settlement," the rabbi further wrote. "We will do everything to bring Ala'a Qarash to a proper burial, and we will not allow disrespect of a man, be him Arab or Jewish," Baruch Yadid, the head of the Palestinian desk of the right-wing Im Tirtzu NGO, told Ynet. "The freedom of expression, the freedom of property and the freedom of religion have all been hurt in this unfortunate case, and we must right this wrong." Hamas claimed on Sunday that the botched covert IDF mission in Gaza a week ago, during which Lt. Col. M. was killed, was to plant listening devices in the strip. Follow Ynetnews on Facebook STRONG> and Twitter Senior Hamas official Khalil al-Hayya said the Israeli force that was exposed operating inside the strip seemed to be planting what appeared to have been listening devices, but the Palestinian resistance was able to thwart the mission. He called the incident "aggression that constitutes a clear violation of the ceasefire understandings." X In an interview with Hamas's Al-Aqsa TV, whose offices were bombed by the IAF last week , al-Hayya said it would not be easy to infiltrate Gaza, adding that the world must realize Israel was "the source of evil and of the lack of security in the region." "Israel thought Gaza was a safe place, and that it could sabotage it at any time it desires, but entering Gaza and undermining its security are forbidden," he continued. The alleged listenign devices found inside the force's vehicle During covert operational activity, an IDF Special Forces team entered three kilometers into the strip, reportedly traveling in a civilian vehicle. Hamas discovered the force and opened fire at the soldiers. During the firefight that ensued, one Israeli officer, Lt. Col. M., was killed and another was seriously hurt. Lt. Col. M. is the most senior IDF officer to be killed in Gaza since the 2014 Operation Protective Edge. A civilian vehicle the force allegedly used after it was bombed by the IAF The second officer who was wounded in the attack, a captain, was discharged from the Soroka Medical Center in Be'er Sheva over the weekend after his condition had significantly improved. Seven Palestinians were killed in the incident, including the commander of the Khan Yunis brigade . The skirmish led to a flare-up on the border, during which almost 500 rockets were fired from Gaza at Israel, killing a Palestinian man in Ashkelon. The IDF responded by bombarding over 150 targets in the strip. Australia and Malaysia have escalated their war of words over the possibility Canberra might move its Israeli embassy to Jerusalem Follow Ynetnews on Facebook STRONG> and Twitter Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison proposed the embassy move during a local election campaign last month, sparking concern from Indonesia and Malaysia. Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad raised the potential embassy switch in a meeting with Morrison in Singapore on Thursday, later telling reporters such a move could increase the threat of terrorism. Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad and Australian Treasurer Josh Frydenberg (Photos: AP, gettyimages) I pointed out that in dealing with terrorism, one has to know the causes, Mahathir said. Adding to the cause for terrorism is not going to be helpful. Some 60 percent of Malaysias population is Muslim. Australian Treasurer Josh Frydenberg responded Friday, saying Canberra would make its own decisions. Frydenberg, the son of a Holocaust survivor, also pointed out past comments that the leader of Muslim-majority Malaysia has made about Jewish people. He has called Jews hooked-nosed people. He has questioned the number of people that have been killed in the Holocaust. He banned Schindlers List as a movie being shown, Frydenberg told reporters in Melbourne. In an interview with the BBC last month, Mahathir said the problem in the Middle East began with the creation of Israel, and he defended his description of Jews as hook-nosed in his book, The Malay Dilemma. Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad (Photo: AP) They are hook-nosed. Many people called the Malays fat-nosed. We didnt object, he told the BBC. Mahathir also challenged historical accounts that 6 million Jews were killed in the Holocaust, saying the figure was 4 million. In 1994, Schindlers List became one of many films banned in Malaysia during Mahathirs previous time as prime minister, with the countrys film board rejecting it as Zionist propaganda. When asked by The Associated Press in an August interview about his past comments about Jewish people, Mahathir said we should be able to criticize everybody. Anti-Semitic is a term that is invented to prevent people from criticizing the Jews for doing wrong things, he said. Australias indication that it may follow the United States contentious move of relocating its embassy to Jerusalem from Tel Aviv was seen by many Australians as a political stunt. Critics called it a cynical attempt to win votes in a by-election last month for a Sydney seat with a high Jewish population. The seat was lost anyway, leaving the government ruling with the cooperation of independent lawmakers. Anti-Israel and anti-US protests in Malaysia (Photo: EPA) But on Friday, Frydenberg insisted shifting the embassy made sense, although it has also inflamed tensions with Australias closest neighbor Indonesia. Australia already recognizes Israels sovereignty over West Jerusalem. Its where the Israeli Parliament (the Knesset) is. Its where the Australian ambassador presents his or her credentials. It will be the capital of Israel under any two-state solution, Frydenberg said. Speaking on Friday, Morrison confirmed Mahathir had raised the subject of the embassy but declared that only Australia determines Australian foreign policy. I think what Josh said today was filling in the history of his (Mahathirs) record on various issues over time, Morrison told reporters on a visit to Darwin, where he is due to meet Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe. Make no mistake. I will not have our policy dictated by those outside the country, Morrison added. Morrison said a decision on the embassy would be made by Christmas, but rejected fears the plan had caused collateral damage by placing in jeopardy a proposed free trade agreement with Indonesia. I do not conflate the issues, Morrison told Australian Broadcasting Corp. radio. What we need to understand is that Australia has to set its own foreign policy and all I have said is that we would consider this question if we believed that it would advance the issues of the two-state solution. Indonesia is the worlds biggest Muslim-majority country, where tens of thousands protested against President Donald Trumps decision in May to move the US embassy to Jerusalem. A new Netflix series currently being filmed in Amman sparked anger in Jordan after it was revealed the Jordanian capital is being used as a stand-in Tel Aviv, where the show is set. Follow Ynetnews on Facebook STRONG> and Twitter According to Lebanese newspaper Al Akhbar, the American streaming company decided to film the project in Amman due to budgetary restrictions. The production is reportedly filming at some 50 different locations in the Jordanian capital. Photos from the set posted to social media show vehicles with Israeli license plates and street signs in Hebrew. Footage from the Netflix shoot in Amman A reporter from Al Akhbar asked the production company whether she could take part in the filming, but it was made clear to her that the nature of the show might not be acceptable for everyone." When the journalist asked the producers to elaborate further on the issue, she was told that not only were the Amman locations supposed to simulate Tel Aviv, but that in some instances it may be necessary for the actors to wear IDF uniforms. The newspaper noted the production at the local level is being handled by Jordanian company Desert Motion Pictures. The news caused uproar among Jordanians on social media, some of whom wondered why the issue is not getting a more widespread coverage in the Jordanian media. "They occupy not only our lands, but our minds as well. Why is no one talking about this?" asked one user. Israeli license plates on cars in Jordan on set of Netflix show (: ) X The Supporting Resistance and Fighting Normalization group sent a letter to the Jordan's Film Departmentin charge of authorizing film production throughout the countrydemanding explanations on the matter. "Netflix is filming in Amman, while presenting it as Tel Aviv. From the investigation weve conducted, the producers require those interested in joining the cast to wear the IDF uniform, stressed the organization in the letter. The organization also demanded to know why an Israeli film crew received entry permits to the archaeological site of Petra and the desert of Wadi Rum. El Al announced Saturday its intention to file a police complaint against passengers who attacked crew members on a flight from New York to Israel, which was delayed due to a snowstorm on the East Coast and landed in Athens to avoid desecrating Shabbat. Follow Ynetnews on Facebook STRONG> and Twitter The crew was taken to the airport at 3:30pm, in two separate shuttles from two hotels located in different parts of the city. One group arrived relatively quickly and began to prepare the plane for takeoff. But the second group was delayed by heavy traffic due to snow, and arrived at the airport five and a half hours latetwo and a half hours after the original flight departure scheduled time. Violent passengers on El Al flight from NY to TLV Religious passengers began to panic, fearing they will not be able to observe Shabbat properly. Some passengers asked to get off the plane, but the captain promised that the plane would arrive in Israel before Shabbat and that they will "soon take off." However, due to the heavy snowfall, the wings of the airplane had to be de-iced. After the plane was cleared of snow and began exiting the taxiway, it turned out that there was a long line of planes already waiting to depart. Finally, the flight took off at 11:45pm delaying the time of arrival to 4:55pm Fridayseveral minutes after Shabbat was to begin. An hour into take-off, after dinner was served, the passengers' lights were turned off. According to the passengers' testimonies, they went to sleep knowing the flight is scheduled to land at Ben-Gurion Airport. However, a few hours later the lights were turned on and the crew announced that the flight would land in Athens, Greece to avoid desecrating Shabbat. At this point a commotion began. According to one passenger, Shimon Sheves, former general director of the Prime Minister's Office, a group of ultra-Orthodox passengers began attacking the flight attendants. El Al plane (Photo:Danny Sadeh) "Suddenly, I hear a group of people, about 10 or 15 ultra-Orthodox passengers, yelling at the staff in a mixture of Hebrew and English. 'Liars, cheaters, you lied to us,' they screamed. It turns out they didnt want to board the flight in New York, but were told by the pilot that the plane is scheduled to land in Israel before Shabbat. Then, the captain announced the flight will land in Athens, adding that passengers who want to stay there over the weekend are free to do so. The religious passengers started shoving the flight attendants, so I got up and tried to help them. Some of the young girls were beaten up. "The ultra-Orthodox Shabbat-observant passengers shoved them with their hands! They want to keep the Shabbat, but they have no problem using their fists. I separated these madmen from the flight attendants, who burst into tears and moved to the other side of the plane," Sheves said. One of the flight attendants posted a Facebook post in which she describes what happened. "A lot of passengers, both secular and religious, began to get angry and began to verbally, and even physically, attack the crew... on the other hand, some wonderful passengers stood between the crew and the group of passengers in an attempt to protect them from the angry group," she wrote. "All this time, the crew chose to continue providing service, as much as possible, even though our eyes were filling up with tears. "It is important for me to show the beautiful side of our passengers: some passengers tried to help us distribute food, some helped us store trays, and some even burst into tears when they saw what we had to go through. There was even an ultra-Orthodox passenger who thanked us for getting to see Athens for the first time. "In retrospect, it became clear to us all that we should have stayed in New York, but if, as service providers, we come to work every day to do our job faithfully, there is no excuse for such behavior," she concluded. After landing in Athens, the passengers who wanted to board a flight to Israel had to wait three hours. Their cargo, on the other hand, was flown to Israel in the original plane, along with the entire crew. T., a 19-year-old from the Jerusalem area, where clashes with police is a regular occurence, decided four months ago in an unprecedented move to join the Border Police. On Wednesday he is expected to participate in a graduation ceremony from basic training where he will receive a combat pin. Follow Ynetnews on Facebook STRONG> and Twitter Although the teenager says it's "a privilege to serve my country, his family, especially his mother is less enthusiastic. She has an excuse prepared for anyone asking about his whereabouts. She tells everyone that I study at university, T. explained laughingly. 19-year-old T. during IDF basic training (Photo: Ohad Zwigenberg) Due to fears that his enlistment will be uncovered, the logistics of returning home on weekends are complex. "I leave the base wearing the uniform and change to civilian clothes at the central bus station. Then, a friend of mine picks me up and drops me off at the house," he said, adding, "Im not afraid for myself, but rather for my family. T. was born in northern Israel and when he was 4 years old, his parents moved to an area near Jerusalem. Since he is an only child, his mother had to sign and approve his service in a combat unit. Arab IDF soldier during basic training (: ) X When his father died of cancer eight years ago, T. became the sole breadwinner of the family. "My mother works a bit and also receives payments from the National Insurance Institute. I used to work as a waiter and at various hotels. At the age of 12, he knew he wanted to join the Border Police. "I thought about the place where I could contribute to the state and also move ahead in life, and the Border Police is the best place to do that, as far as Im concerned. T. says that his close friends and his mother were well informed about the enlistment to IDF, but he is not allowed to tell his neighbors. The 19 year old says he is aware that serving in the Border Police might lead him to the area where he lives in order to carry out operational activities there. 19-year-old T. during IDF basic training (Photo: Ohad Zwigenberg) "During a terror attack or any other events Ill take part in the fighting wherever Im required, but I would prefer not to be positioned to the area where I live, he stated. Following T.'s decision to enlist, three of his close friends decided to follow his footsteps, even though they are not obligated to serve. "After basic training I want to serve in the Border Polices Judea and Samaria Districtwhere the all the action is, T. says regarding his future plans. "Im proud to serve the country and its a privilege to protect it. This is my country just as much as of anyone else who lives here, the soldier concluded. BERLIN - Germany is shirking its responsibility for the Holocaust by dragging its heels on returning art confiscated by the Nazis, and failing to crack down on resurgent anti-Semitism, the head of the World Jewish Congress said on Sunday. Ronald Lauder told the Welt am Sonntag newspaper that other countries, including Britain, the United States and Austria had a far better record in documenting art in their collections that had been confiscated by the Nazi regime and returning any looted pieces to their rightful owners. The United States has extended the federal statute of limitations for seeking restitution of such art to six years from the time of "actual discovery" of its identity and whereabouts. Britain has put its entire collection of paintings online at Art UK, and is adding items daily, he said in an interview with the newspaper. Germany, by contrast, was moving too slowly to digitalize art collections and research initial owners, said Lauder, who also said he was concerned about neo-Nazi marches in parts of Germany. "One country that has done too little is Germany. Germany has a historic responsibility to do the right thing. We all know that the Holocaust had its origins there and was spread from there," he said. Germany's commissioner for culture, Monika Gruetters told an audience in Israel last month that she had tripled funding for research into the ownership of so-called 'lost art' and cited what she called major progress in understanding and addressing Nazi art theft. Lauder also said he was troubled by neo-Nazi marches and anti-Semitic slogans that had cropped up in the eastern German city of Chemnitz and the western city of Dortmund. Australia's trade minister said translation issues were behind the delay of a billion-dollar free trade agreement with Indonesia, downplaying a friction between the countries over Australia's possible Jerusalem embassy. "There were some translation issues still being dealt with last week," Simon Birmingham told Australia's ABC TV. "We will get all of those finalised and then when it suits both countries, we'll get on and get it signed," he said, adding that he hopes the accord will be signed in "the coming months". The deal, which is intended to boost trade in areas ranging from crafts to cattle, was concluded in August and has been expected to be signed by the end of the year. But Indonesia has said that Australia's recent proposal that it might move its Israeli embassy to Jerusalem might upset plans for the accord. Indonesia is the world's biggest Muslim-majority country, where tens of thousands protested against US President Donald Trump's decision in May to move the US embassy to Jerusalem. As state government technology leaders gathered in San Diego, Calif., last month for the National Association of State Chief Information Officers (NASCIO) Annual Conference, there were many hot issues on the minds of public- and private-sector executives. From the upcoming elections, to federal priorities, to state budgets, to addressing the escalation in cybercrimes, the conference halls were buzzing with important conversations.But one hot topic dominated conversations, and even stole part of the show, in my view. The compelling story of the new Georgia Cyber Center (GCC) repeatedly surfaced both on the agenda and also in different situations and circumstances.The NASCIO Annual Conference breakout session on the Georgia Cyber Center was packed with every seat filled and two-deep people lining the walls. After that session, questions kept pouring in. How did Georgia do it? Where did the resources (money and people) come from? Can this approach really help with the global cybertalent shortage? Can other states follow the same path? If not, how can state and local governments partner on cybersecurity?Speaking further with Steve Nichols , Georgias chief technology officer (CTO), it became clear that their GCC was unlike anything else happening around the country. The new center was formed with a wide mix of public- and private-sector participants, a truly compelling vision and tremendous potential for future opportunities and growth.I was delighted when Calvin Rhodes, the Georgia state government CIO, agreed to be interviewed on the record about more details behind the creation of the Georgia Cyber Center (GCC). That interview on the GCC can be found below.But before I get to the interview, here is a brief glimpse at some of the press coverage received on the Georgia Cyber Center, along with links to the website background information.: The state of Georgia strengthened its position as a national leader in cybersecurity when it broke ground June 19, 2017, on the Georgia Cyber Center in Augusta.Costing $100 million and boasting 332,000 square feet in two adjacent buildings, the center is the single largest investment in a cybersecurity facility in the nation to date. It represents a unique public-private partnership that includes Augusta University, Augusta Technical College, the University System of Georgias research institutions, the city of Augusta, the Georgia Bureau of Investigation, the Georgia Department of Defense, and other state, federal, and private-sector partners working together to meet workforce demand. (On the wider cyber problem) WRDW:Calvin C. Rhodes is the CIO of Georgia and executive director of the Georgia Technology Authority.Rhodes came to state government in January 2011 from Paladin Investments, a private investment company he established and has served as managing partner since 2009. Prior to starting his own firm, he worked for Fulton Paper Company for 27 years, serving most recently as executive vice president. Previously he held various positions within the company, including vice president of operations and chief information officer/vice president for information technology. He began his career with the company in its procurement area.Gov. Nathan Deal named Rhodes to lead the states public-private partnership IT transformation and consolidation effort. The initiative has strengthened security, modernized infrastructure and networks, improved reliability and increased transparency in the states IT enterprise. Building on its successes, the state is now evolving its service delivery model to enable state agencies to more easily benefit from changes in the IT marketplace. Rhodes and his team promote an enterprise approach to technology by establishing statewide policies, standards and guidelines based on industry best practices and federal requirements.You can read more background on Rhodes at the Georgia Technology Authority (GTA) website ): Georgias Cyber Center came about as a result of the confluence of an interesting set of circumstances. It all started with the U.S. Armys decision to consolidate its Cyber Command headquarters at Fort Gordon. That decision created a need for a workforce with skills in cybersecurity. Those skills are also needed by employers across Georgia and that decision created an exciting opportunity for Augusta.In addition to the U.S. Armys cybersecurity resources at Fort Gordon, which include the Cyber School of Excellence, Augusta University is designated as a National Center of Academic Excellence in Cyber Defense, thanks to its outstanding School of Computer and Cyber Sciences and Cyber Institute. Both the Department of Energy and the National Security Agency have locations nearby. Augusta is also home to theClubhou.se , a nonprofit incubator/accelerator with a proven track record of helping technology startups succeed.Two philanthropists and businessmen from Augusta, James M. Hull and William D. McKnight, see cyber as a growing issue, and they approached Gov. Nathan Deal with the idea that the state should invest in a cyber facility to support workforce development and encourage innovation and research.Gov. Deal announced plans for the Georgia Cyber Center in January 2017. We broke ground for the first building, the Hull McKnight Building, in June 2017 and opened its doors in July 2018. The Cyber Centers second structure, the Shaffer MacCartney Building, will be complete in December of this year.Its been a whirlwind of activity and achievement, made possible only through strong partnerships and a collaborative, coordinated effort from academia, state and federal government, the military, law enforcement, and the private sector. Working together, well be able to educate and train the next generation of cyber professionals and to develop innovative cybersecurity tools and solutions.CR: As I mentioned, the Cyber Center is built on partnerships. We have strong support and participation from academia, state and federal government, the military, law enforcement, and the private sector.Students from Augusta University and Augusta Technical College are already filling the labs and classrooms in the Cyber Centers Hull McKnight Building, eager to pursue their dreams and career goals. They can choose from certificate programs as well as undergraduate- and graduate-level programs in cybersecurity and cyber sciences. Augusta Universitys School of Computer and Cyber Sciences is actually housed in the Cyber Center. Students will gain the skills and experience that will make them valuable to employers seeking bright, well-educated individuals prepared to take on the ever-changing world of cybersecurity. Through both onsite and virtual course offerings, the center will also be able to train the industry's current workforce and develop talent to meet future workforce needs. In addition, the Cyber Centers Workforce Academy offers training for information security professionals in state and local government.CR: The Cyber Center addresses the skills gap with innovative programs and amenities that promote learning and innovation across all sectors. Here are a few examples:The Cyber Center is supporting cybersecurity companies through its incubator/accelerator program. The program is managed through a strategic partnership with theClubhou.se, an Augusta-based nonprofit organization dedicated to growing a culture of innovation and collaboration. The Clubhou.se has served more than 25,000 people in the Augusta area through its events and programs, and its grown more than 50 companies.The Georgia Cyber Range offers a safe computing environment for practicing incident response and other activities. The cyber range and its tools are available to students, industry, and government professionals.The Georgia Bureau of Investigations Cyber Crime Unit is housed at the Cyber Center, and local law enforcement professionals can take advantage of the GBIs expertise in digital forensicsThe Cyber Center features demonstration space to highlight cyber-research activities underway across Georgias university system, including basic and applied research at Augusta University.Build-to-suit Class A space is available for lease to industry-related companies. Companies within the Cyber Center can benefit from the facilitys resources and the convenience of co-location with state, federal, and industry-related partners. Were excited that Parsons Corp., a leader in engineering, construction, technical and professional services, is joining us as a partner and tenant.The Cyber Center features a 340-seat auditorium with state-of-the-art audio/visual equipment and excellent acoustics, making it ideal for multimedia presentations. The auditorium is available for STEM-related events in line with the center's mission. Space adjacent to the auditorium is suitable for exhibits and receptions. The center's multistory garage provides ample parking.CR: We look forward to finding ways to work with other state and federal government entities. The Georgia Cyber Range presents an excellent opportunity to do that. The Cyber Range is a heterogeneous computing environment used to practice incident response, conduct penetration testing, fuzz binaries across multiple processor architectures and more. It provides tools that help strengthen the stability, security, and performance of cyber infrastructures and IT systems. It is available to students, industry, and government professionals in education and training, product development, offensive activity and competition, detection and defensive competition, response and recovery, and evaluation and benchmarking.CR: The Georgia Cyber Center is uniquely positioned to address one of the biggest challenges in cybersecurity: workforce development. Cyber Ventures published a report noting that by 2021 there will be 3.5 million unfilled cybersecurity positions worldwide, up from 1 million openings in 2016. The U.S. alone is on pace to hit a half-million or more unfilled cybersecurity positions by 2021.The Cyber Center makes available a variety of certificate programs as well as undergraduate- and graduate-level programs in cybersecurity and cyber sciences through Augusta University and Augusta Technical College. Onsite and virtual course offerings are also available to professionals currently in the industry workforce and to those aiming to develop cybersecurity skills. Information security professionals in state and local government can take advantage of training through the Cyber Centers Workforce Academy.CR: As we envisioned the Cyber Center, we agreed that we wanted it to be different from any other similar facility in the nation. We didnt want to build just a cyberfacility we want to build a cyberecosystem.A few years ago, I was part of a delegation that traveled to Israel, a main hub for technology in the Middle East, particularly in cybersecurity. In fact, several of Georgias Fortune 100 companies have opened offices there. We were all intrigued by the cyberecosystem theyve created, and I was a member of a subsequent delegation from Georgia that studied it further. Israels military cyberunit has led to the growth of numerous cybercompanies and recently located to a university, where they have established a center of excellence. The combination of academic and military efforts encourages collaboration to further cyberinnovation and workforce development.We believe we are assembling the right partners and supporters across every sector to create an effective cyberecosystem here in Georgia.CR: As you might guess, the Cyber Center has generated considerable interest from other states. Im often asked about the success factors for an effort like Georgias. I think it starts with a for us, that was the U.S. Armys decision to locate Cyber Command at Fort Gordon and the economic development opportunity that decision presents. You need a, and we were fortunate that Gov. Deal envisioned, promoted, and funded the Cyber Center. He also provided a, giving us the flexibility to streamline procurement and contracting processes and find the right design and construction partners. We madea top priority as we worked to build strong relationships across government, academic, military and private sectors. Together, we are embracing athat also meets partners individual needs and interests. Finally, as with any ambitious initiative, success requiresto see it through to completion. The Israel Opera kicked off its 2018-19 season this month with performances of Werther, a dramatic opera in four acts by French Romantic composer Jules Massenet. Fittingly, the first production of the new season featured debut appearances in Israel by the three principals: the two lead singing roles and the conductor. Follow Ynetnews on Facebook STRONG> and Twitter Werther, based on a partially autobiographical novel by Goethe, has been performed by the Israel Opera before. This is a new production, created originally for several French opera houses. Some of the stage design crew even came over from Europe to Tel Aviv including the guest conductor from France, Alain Guingal, conducting the Israel Operas resident orchestra, the Israel Symphony Orchestra Rishon LeZion. (Photo: Buzzy Gordon) Also making their first appearances with the Israel Opera were Korean tenor Ho-Yoon Chung in the role of Werther, and soprano Maya Lahyani in the role of Charlotte. What makes Ms. Lahyanis long-awaited debut here particularly interesting is that she is Israeli; her career has been with the Metropolitan Opera in New York. (Photo: Buzzy Gordon) Werther is an opera that is notoriously short on plot, and even characters: there are only three other parts, besides the two leads, with any meaningful singing parts, and only one other Sophie, Charlottes sisterwith an aria. Even the arias sung by Charlotte and Werther are solos, though their story practically cries out for a duet. With such talents as Chung and Lahyani, a lovers duet would undoubtedly be a crowd-pleaser. (Photo: Buzzy Gordon) One of the most enjoyable moments in the opera was a Christmas carol sung by the children of the Moran Choir. It was over all too quickly, and had this audience member, for one, hopingin vain that we would have another opportunity to hear the gifted youngsters. (Photo: Buzzy Gordon) With such little action onstage, the production seeks to capture the audiences attention by staging live actors as still figures in paintings. Indeed, this stratagem made for a stunning tableau in the operas opening scene, as the actors including the children stood so stock-still that one wondered for the briefest instant whether they might be actually wax statues. As this artifice was repeated throughout the scene changes, however, the novelty soon wore off, and gave the impression of being no more than a gimmick. (Photo: Buzzy Gordon) Whatever life was breathed into the production came not only from the arias rendered so beautifully by the soloists, but also from the convincing acting by Chung and Lahyani, who portrayed tormented souls sinking simultaneously into despair, culminating in the moving final death scene. Werther runs at the Israel Opera in Tel Aviv through November 23. The next production, in January, 2019, will be Richard Strauss Salome, followed by Un Ballo in Maschera, Tosca, The Passenger, Cosi Fan Tutte and Simon Boccanegra. Simone O'Broin, a well-known international human rights lawyer and a prominent activist in the boycott movement against Israel in the UK, was caught on camera while inebriated, threatening to boycott the airline if the aircrew doesnt provide her with more wine. Follow Ynetnews on Facebook STRONG> and Twitter "I am the leader of the f***ing boycott movement," O'Broin shouted, referring to her anti-Israel activities. "If I say boycott f***ing Air India, done. Do you understand me? You cant give me a wee bottle of wine? she vented while gesturing aggressively. In the video, filmed by one of the passengers of an Air India flight from Mumbai, India to Heathrow, London last Saturday, the activist was seen cursing air hostesses and yelling racial slurs. BDS activist arrested after racist rant on Air India flight X Indian f***ing money grabbing bastard I will turn you inside f***ing out, you f***ing stupid c***s, she raged. The video quickly became viral once it was uploaded to the internet. Passengers testified that after the aircrew refused to provide OBroin with more drinksdue to being deemed too drunkshe stole a bottle of alcohol from the service area of the plane. It was reported that she was also prohibited from smoking during the flight. In one of the videos, O'Broin is seen terrorizing the passengers of business class, shouting, "I work for all you f***ing people. The f***ing Rohingyas, the f***ing people of all Asia, for you, Im an international criminal lawyer. Dont get any money for it by the way. But you wont give me a f***ing glass of wine, is that correct? According to witnesses, OBroins tirade went on for nearly five hours, during which she referred to herself as the Palestinian lawyer. The 50 year old previously worked for the anti-Israel Badil group and co-authored a paper with UN Special Rapporteur for human rights Richard Falkwho in the past accused Israel of genocide. Simone O'Broin drunken rant on Air India flight She was scary and out of control. It was exhausting. We were too frightened to sleep, at one point I was worried about the plane crashing it got so out of hand. My wife and I were so terrified that we held hands and my wife told me not to look at her, recalled an eyewitness quoted by the British Daily Mail. O'Brien, who was born in Belfast, was returning from her two-month vacation in Goa. She had been taken into police custody upon her arrival in the UK. She was arrested on suspicion of racially aggravated public order, common assault and drunk and disorderly conduct and taken to a west London police station. She was subsequently released and remains under investigation, stressed London Metropolitan Police in an official statement. The killers of Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi may have taken his dismembered body out of Turkey in luggage, Turkish Defence Minister Hulusi Akar was quoted as saying by broadcaster CNN Turk on Sunday. Khashoggi, a US resident and Washington Post columnist, was killed in the Saudi consulate in Istanbul on Oct. 2, sparking global outrage against the kingdom and its de facto ruler, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. Riyadh had offered numerous contradictory explanations for his disappearance, before saying Khashoggi was killed after "negotiations" to convince him to return to Saudi Arabia failed. Speaking at a panel as part of an international conference in Halifax, Canada, Akar said Khashoggi's killers may have taken the journalist's body parts out of Turkey in luggage. "One probability is that they left the country three to four hours after committing the murder. They may have taken out Khashoggi's dismembered corpse inside luggage without facing problems due to their diplomatic immunity," CNN Turk cited Akar as saying. Widespread budget cuts affecting all ministries were approved by the government on Sunday despite fierce objection by many of the ministers. Follow Ynetnews on Facebook STRONG> and Twitter The Treasury sought to cut NIS 22 billion ($5.9 billion) from government ministries over the next 20 years (until 2038). Most of the money will fund additional pay for police officers and prison guards, but some of it will also go toward funding aid for the Israeli communities on the Gaza border, hiring additional construction inspectors, and hosting the Eurovision Song Content. The government discussion on the budget cuts soon deteriorated into a shouting match between the prime minister's chief of staff and the director-general of the Finance Ministry. Government meets to vote on budget cuts (Photo: Reuters) While debating whether the Israel Public Broadcasting Corporation (IPBC) should fund the Eurovision out of its existing budget, or whether the Treasury should foot the bill, PMO bureau chief Yoav Horowitz called Finance Ministry director-general Shai Babad "a charlatan, a lying politician who is swindling us." After the discussion, Babad lamented the fact that "the PMO chief of staff chooses, and not for the first time, to act like a common politician just to make headlines, cursing during the government meeting while talking about things he is hiding the truth about and misleading the government and the prime minister. This behavior does not befit such a senior official in the public sector; this behavior has no place here." The meeting later broke for recess to allow Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Finance Minister Moshe Kahlon to hold consultations with senior Treasury officials. An hour later, the meeting reconvened and the government approved a cut of 1.3 percent out of each ministry's budget. Government meets to vote on budget cuts (Photo: Emil Salman) Most of the ministers' objections were over the funding of the Eurovision Song Contest, which is estimated to cost NIS 150 million. "I, along with Ministers Miri Regev, Uri Ariel and other ministers, opposed to giving additional budgets to the IPBC to produce the Eurovision," Interior Minister Aryeh Deri said. "I opposed it because of the expected mass desecration of the Shabbat, while other ministers opposed it because they believe the IPBC needs to fund the Eurovision's production out of its large budget, without receiving additional funds." Public Security Minister Gilad Erdan, who supports the overall move to raise the salaries of police officers and prison guards, still came out against the fact his own ministry will see the biggest cuts, since the Israel Police and the Israel Prison Service are both under the jurisdiction of the Public Security Ministry. Welfare Minister Haim Katz bemoaned the funds that would be lost to his own ministry, telling Erdan, "I won't allow little girls to descend into prostitution for your cops." The cuts would also affect the Welfare Ministry's program to lift families out of the cycle of poverty. Government meets to vote on budget cuts (Photo: Emil Salman) Deputy Health Minister Yaakov Litzman warned the budget cuts "could bring to the destruction of the Israeli health system." His ministry said the budget cuts could affect plans to reduce overcrowding at ERs, to reduce infection rates, to improve services at NICUs, to cut down waiting times for child development specialists, and more. "Today the Cabinet approved two important decisions," Prime Minister Netanyahu said following the budget cuts approval. "The first remedies the lack of tenure and employment security for those serving in the security establishment. This is good news for police officers, police retirees, the Prison Service, the Shin Bet and the Mossad," he explained. "The second important decision is reserving a budgetary source for aid packages to Sderot and the communities in the area adjacent to the Gaza Strip, as I as well as the finance and interior ministerspromised at our meeting with the regional council heads last Thursday," Netanyahu added. On Tuesday evening, shortly after the cabinet meeting ended and a cease-fire was reached between Israel and Hamas, Avigdor Lieberman realized that he could no longer serve in the position of defense minister. He even consulted with his wife Ella about the possibility of resigning. But the straw that broke the camels back came later that night. Spokesmen for the prime minister told several media outlets that the defense minister was in agreement regarding the implementation of the cease-fire. Follow Ynetnews on Facebook STRONG> and Twitter "Fake news," Lieberman responded. It was enough for him to go to bed as defense minister and wake up with his resignation announcement in hand. Lieberman announcing his resignation (Photo: Ohad Zwigenberg) In his first interview since his resignation, Lieberman claims that in recent months he has not received backing or support from Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who preferred negotiating with Hamas rather than destroying them. "At the last meeting, I presented the cabinet with a structured proposal of exactly what should be done, and to my surprise it even received (Education Minister Naftali) Bennett's support," he says. "But there was an attempt to push it aside and go another route, something I could not accept neither the cease-fire nor the transfer of money and fuel to Gaza." Lieberman was insistent that Hamas be dealt a very hard blow, without sending in ground troops, using the air force alone. "I will not go into all the details, but we have enough options to hit Hamas very hard without going into the Gaza Strip. Such plans were already submitted to the cabinet. What we need to understand is that at the moment, Hamas continues the violence and gets awarded to an extent I cannot accept. They get economic benefits such as Qatari fuel, salaries and open crossings, while continuing the violence on the border fence," he said. We sustained 44 wounded and one casualty, a greenhouses was burned in Netiv Ha'asara, a missile was fired at a bus. I cannot live with Hamas continuing the violence and altering it in accordance with their wishes while continuing to receive economic benefits, Lieberman said. I demanded that each concession to Hamas be reciprocated with a commitment to end the violence, because no one goes to the border protests by foot, everyone travels by organized buses that Hamas pays for. The second matter Lieberman spoke of was the POW's: We ought to have made every improvement in the economic situation dependent on the return of the POWs and MIAs. Everyone spoke about it, but as soon as Hamas could be pressured and leveraged at the last minute they got what they wanted without returning the POWs and MIAs." When asked why he decided to quit now, Lieberman responded: "I was not looking for reasons to resign. I made many attempts to convince and influence from within the cabinet, despite the price I was paying. The very same people in the cabinet who torpedoed my proposals for determined action against Hamas are the ones who would ask in the media the following day: 'well, what about Ismail Haniyeh? 48 hours have already passed. Residents of southern Israel protest their plight and government inaction (Photo: Gadi Kabalo) I was prepared to suffer a personal and electoral price, Lieberman continued, as well as damage to my reputation until the last two struggles I waged: transferring funds to Hamas and the cease-fire, which is a complete surrender to terror. So I had no choice and resigned. If I had remained in the job, I would not be able to look into the eyes of the families of Oron Shaul and Hadar Goldin nor at the residents of Sderot." Mafia blackmail fee At the press conference on Monday, Lieberman was careful not to attack Netanyahu personally. But as the time passed, the depth of the disagreement between Mr. Security Netanyahu and his defense minister became clear. "I tried to lead a clear line and an aggressive policy, but the cabinet did not accept my position," he says. "It is clear that if the prime minister had lent his support, the cabinet would have adopted it." When asked whether he was disappointed in the prime minister, Lieberman responded: "I do not think it's a matter of disappointment, it's a matter of worldview, because in the past, he talked and even wrote that it (a harsh policy vis-a-vis Hamas) should be the way, but when it came crunch time, he always found a reason why not to. And I am aware of all his explanations, Lieberman continued: There are always hidden factors, intelligence, there's the north, and there's east and west There's always a whole range of excuses. I too am privy to all the secret materials Netanyahu refers to; but they are mere excuses. Do you have an explanation as to why Netanyahu is not working to topple the Hamas government, as he promised? Lieberman: I am not a commentator and cannot provide explanations. The fact is that all the proposals that I have tried to convey over the past two and-a-half years were torpedoed and every time they try to rationalize. To remain in the position of defense minister means granting a stamp of approval to security policies which I oppose". The south has been suffering for seven months being on the receiving end of rockets and the government is trying to buy quiet. We obtain some quiet for the short term while damaging national security in the long run, a situation I cannot accept," he said. I asked Lieberman if he is accusing Netanyahu of yielding to terror and expressing flimsiness in the face of Hamas. "Those are the facts," he replied. "You cannot manage a security strategy for the State of Israel by buying quiet; that just allows Hamas to strengthen its forces. Hamas is much better equipped, much more powerful in terms of manpower, missiles and rockets, much more than it had before the Operation Protective Edge." Is Israel negotiating with Hamas? "There are no direct negotiations, but it does not matter. We convey messages through the Egyptians, through the UN envoy and via all sorts of mechanisms. The essential matter is that we are not prepared to deal terror a decisive blow, but rather prefer to surrender to terror." Is there a political solution to the Gaza Strip? "There is no political solution, and anyone who talks about diplomatic solutions must understand that it does not depend only on Israel. Look at the map of the Middle East: do you see a political solution for Iraq, Syria, Libya and Yemen? We live in a tumultuous region and not in Scandinavia". Hamas celebration in Gaza It is going to take a long time for the Middle East to settle down; a political solution is hogwash. What political solution can we talk about with Hamas? Hamas has stated that as far as they are concerned, there is only one political solution: the destruction of the State of Israel. They are not willing to renounce any clause in their covenant to destroy the State of Israel. Why do they invest so heavily in rockets and tunnels and not in electricity and water infrastructure? Not even one dollar of the Hamas budget goes to medication and electricity. They invest $270 million in rockets. The understanding reached by Netanyahu is not a political solution? "It's not a political solution, it's buying time, it's like paying protection fees to the mafia. As soon as the $15 million in cash crosses the Gaza border, there's no control over the money. Where does this money go? To the families of terrorists killed during the border riots. Talk instead of deeds After Lieberman's resignation, Netanyahu's associates accused him of "running away from responsibility." The press conferences attacking the defense minister did not stop for a moment. Deputy Foreign Minister Tzipi Hotovely described him as a "cynical politician" and said: "There is no citizen in the country who regrets his resignation." One Likud minister said: "Lieberman resigned because he was afraid to take responsibility for things that will happen in the future." PM Netanyahu (Photo: Emil Solomon) Lieberman replies that Netanyahu is the one running away from responsibility. "From my point of view, it would have been irresponsible to remain in the post of defense minister and implement the failed policy," he says. "The moment the prime minister made a decision to go towards a settlement, to transfer money to Hamas and to agree to a cease-fire that is an escape from responsibility. Netanyahu did not give me backing when I tried to crush the terror, which is irresponsible. That means neglecting the residents of the south to Hamass threats, he said. According to Lieberman, Netanyahu accuses others as a way of concealing the huge gap that exists between his words and his actions. "The prime minister voted in favor of the disengagement, I had no hesitation and voted against it," he recalls. "The prime minister advanced the Shalit deal and supported it, I voted against the deal, and today it is clear and understandable how wrong it was. The prime minister carried out the reconciliation and apology to Turkey (over the Marmara incident), I voted against it; and we can now see the results of the apology and the reparation payments that we paid" Of course the prime minister and his associates will now attack and defame me. I took that into consideration. I would not expect that after resigning my position in the face of capitulation to terror that the prime minister and his people would be proud of me. Look at my record, at how the prime minister voted versus how I voted," Lieberman added. Your resignation was a gift to Hamas. They gave out sweets and candy. "I told the truth, period. Unfortunately, sometimes the truth is unpleasant." Did it not annoy you? "You cannot talk in these terms; there are a lot of annoying things, that's not the point. I cannot act according to what Hamas will think." Your former MK, Sharon Gal, called you "Rambo Toy, a complete nothing, in public. Were you surprised? "Whoever spits into the well from which he drank I have only pity for him. Except for pity I did not feel anything, not even anger, he responded. With Sharon Gal (Photo: Alex Kolomoisky) He is not the only one. Minister of Education Naftali Bennett calls you "a failed defense minister." "I have heard him in recent days, very nervous and very stressed. I wish him good health and longevity." In recent months, Bennett and Lieberman have been waging a vicious war of words, with a lot of emotions and bad blood between them. Even before Lieberman's letter of resignation was ready, Bennett already issued his own ultimatum to Netanyahu: appointing him to the role of defense minister or the dismantling of the government and early elections. Lieberman is amused by this. "They asked me if Naftali Bennett could serve as defense minister, I said that if you can save the education system from him in return for his appointment as defense minister, it's worth it. Look at what's going on in the education system. All the public colleges are striking, 30,000 students are not studying, and more than a thousand senior lecturers are striking. Bennett is the education minister, does he even care about it at all?" What do you think of Bennett's ultimatum? "He is only interested in lucrative positions and headlines, but that's already Netanyahu's problem, not mine." Naftali Bennett (Photo: Emil Solomon) Like the Sharon government Lieberman already served as foreign minister and defense minister in the Netanyahu government. What role will he return in the next term? "Yisrael Beytenu will only join a right-wing government," he says, "even when we are no longer members of the coalition, we try not to issue personal attacks. We will decide solely on a policy basis and not persona ones. We are a secular right wing party. My goal is to get at least ten seats in the next Knesset. I believe that elections will be held in March. Will you recommend Netanyahu to form the next government? "I always recommend a right-wing government and right-wing policies, and what should be ensured after the next elections is that it will be not only be a right-wing government, but a government that implements a right-wing policy. The current government declares that it is a right-wing government, but it does not implement it." There is a paradox here. You criticize Netanyahu for his security and political policies, yet in the end you will return to the fold of his government. "We cannot be members of a government that is not right-wing, nor have we been afraid to be in the opposition, which is why I joined the government of Ariel Sharon, who said that Netzarim (in Gush Katif) is just like Tel Aviv, and when he decided on the disengagement we did not hesitate and went to the opposition. This government reminds me of the Sharon government, said Lieberman. Do you want to be defense minister in the next government? "I do not wish to divide the bearskin before it is hunted, he responded. First of all I want to win enough seats, and after we bring enough seats, we'll talk about government posts." In light of the lack of backing you received as defense minister, did you consider resigning from political life? "For me, politics is only an option and not an obsession. I have already left politics and returned. What I can tell you with certainty is that in the coming elections I will run as leader of the Yisrael Beytenu Party. Will I remain in politics afterwards? Only God knows, he concluded. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu addressed the public on Sunday evening in light of calls to disband the government, following Avigdor Lieberman's resignation. He asked ministers to act responsibly in light of recent Hamas attacks, and not to disband the government. "Youre only seeing a partial picture of the moves were making, Im committed to bring security to southern residents and to all residents of Israel," said the prime minister. Latest News Washington, DC - President Donald J. Trump Announces Intent to Appoint Personnel to Key Administration Post: Joan Virginia OHara of New York, to be the Executive Secretary of the National Security Council. Ms. OHara, a Special Assistant to the President, has served as Principal Deputy Executive Secretary and Deputy Chief of Staff of the National Security Council (NSC) since July 2018. Prior to joining the NSC, Ms. OHara served as Deputy National Security Advisor and Acting National Security Advisor to Vice President Mike Pence. She managed the Vice Presidents National Security Affairs Office and helped to advise the Vice President on a broad range of defense, security, and foreign policy matters. Prior to joining the White House in February 2017, Ms. OHara served in the House Homeland Security Committee for six years, most recently as General Counsel. She holds a B.A. from Loyola College in Maryland, an M.A. from San Diego State University-California State University, and a J.D., cum laude, from New York Law School. 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. Nana Yaa, the longtime girlfriend of late Kumawood actor, Abass Nurudeen, popularly known as Blinkz, has indicated that Abass was the third victim of his killer, Survivor, who was still at large following the dastardly act. Speaking in an interview with Zionfelix, Nana Yaa alleged that Abass' killer had already killed two people before committing the same offence by murdering Abass. Girlfriend of the late actor revealed that the killer, nicknamed 'Survivor', killed someone and absconded to Libya. According to Nana Yaa, the case was made a 'foolish' case by the family members of the killer. Late Abass Nurudeen. Credit: Supplied Source: Facebook READ ALSO: NDC delegates rushed to 37 Military Hospital after accident Nana Yaa indicated that the people living in the community failed to report such atrocities for some strange reason and it led to other deaths. The lady who claimed to have dated the late actor for four years, said that they were very fond of each other but they were sure not to put their relationship business out in the public. She went on to refute claims that Abass was a violent person as was reported and indicated that he was not part of a gang as was earlier reported. The lady said he had formed a group of talented actors and musicians and was looking to groom them. Nana Yaa alleged that family members of Abass' killer had vowed to ensure that his killer was not put behind bars. The police in Kumasi confirmed the death of the well-built actor revealing he died while trying to save his boss' wife. READ ALSO: Man who accused Anas of taking $50k bribe from him Dema Naa Hafiz Mohammed reported dead Preliminary investigations led Manhyia Divisional Commander, Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) Kwaku Buah, to believe that the stabbing incident happened at about 10:30 am on November 7, 2018.. He added that the stabbing incident happened after he (Abass Nurudeen) visited his boss' house at Akorem, a suburb of Kumasi. The deceased tried to intervene in an ongoing quarrel that turned into a brawl which later turned bloody. Abass was reportedly stabbed in the ribs and there was another cut on his back which caused him to fall and collapse. He was immediately rushed to the Manhyia Hospital where he was pronounced dead. Earlier, YEN.com.gh had published a viral photo of the people suspected to have committed the act. READ ALSO: Top young Ghanaian artiste will be shot and killed on stage - Eagle Prophet says in new video Watch: Street Quiz Ghana: What Would Be Your Message to the President Should You Meet Him? | 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 Many women have become so popular on social media because of the kind of body features they have. In Ghana Moesha Boduong is touted as the lady with the biggest backside but when it comes to the African continent she is not. There is a lady in Ivory Coast called Eudoxie Yao and she is now seen as the lady with the biggest backside in the whole of West Africa. READ ALSO: Meet Fatima Timbo, an Instagram model who is enjoying her beautiful life Eudoxie, from Abidjan, grinds her eye-popping figure around wearing skin-tight cat suits in a series of social media videos that have earned her thousands of followers. She is really a star as she is regular on local television shows. YEN.com.gh has gathered seven saucy photos of Eudoxie. READ ALSO: I have never dated Sister Derby - Criss Waddle 1. In this photo she displayed her 'tundra' 2. She has got everything to make any man fall for her 3. She slayed in beautifully in this photo 4. She is awesome in a traditional wear 5. Despite everything she simply look beautiful 6. She is not afraid to flaunt her beauty 7. She is arguably the woman with the largest backside in West Africa READ ALSO: Quit your marriage if your partner doesn't support your acting career - Christiana Awuni 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 - Government has started demolishing buildings to pave way for the construction of a national cathedral - The construction as proposed by the government has left Ghanaians divided - Some of the Ghanaians have criticised the government for the proposal and described it as a misplaced priority YEN.com.gh has seen photos of some buildings being demolished, which social media users have claimed that it was for the purpose of the construction of the proposed national cathedral. The demolition exercise was to pave way so as to have the proposed national cathedral build on that land. The edifices include residential facilities of Justices of the Court of Appeal, which according to reports, thousands of Ghana cedis was used in building. READ ALSO: Paul Pogbas brother attends Shatta Wales 'Reign' album concert in London (Photo) This means that the government has to acquire new residential facilities costing millions of Ghana cedis, for the Justices. READ ALSO: NDC delegates rushed to 37 Military Hospital after accident This development has angered most Ghanaians who believe this act by the government is simply a misplaced priority. For instance, a Facebook user, Sherif, said he doesn't want to believe the images, and described Ghana as a "sick country.": Suleman also cried that the act was a misplaced priority on the part of the government: Marc also complained that his community has no clinic, and would appreciate it if the government provides it with a clinic that the construction of the national cathedral: READ ALSO: Abass was the third person his killer has killed - Abass' girlfriend Alhassan described the act as very unfortunate: Abdalla also questioned if there was no other land on which the national cathedral could be build than this very one: READ ALSO: Get rich quick, wife snatching killing young people Mortuary man reveals Meanwhile, the proposed construction of a national cathedral by the government has left citizens divided. Some have argued that it simply does not make sense for the government to embark on such a project. It was reported sometime ago, how a Muslim youth group was asking for a national mosque, while traditionalist also requested for a national shrine. However, one of Ghana's popular pastors, Duncan Williams, has condemned those against the construction of the national cathedral. READ ALSO: Video: Rawlings and Nana Konadu dance to Ofori Amponsah's song at her 70th birthday party Ghana News Today: Mortuary Workers to Strike / Madina-Adenta Footbridge Demo | Yen.com.gh READ ALSO: Man who accused Anas of taking $50k bribe from him Dema Naa Hafiz Mohammed reported dead 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 government has introduced the tax stamp policy to locally manufactured textiles - This was announced by the Minister of Finance, Ken Ofori-Atta during the 2019 budget hearing - The move is to ensure that the products are quality, and also have their taxes paid before they enter the market The government has announced its decision to include locally-manufactured textiles to the tax stamp policy. The Tax Stamp Policy, which emanates from the Excise Stamp Act, 2013 (Act 873) was launched in Accra recently. Tax Stamps are small stickers with security features supplied by the government to some manufacturers and importers to be fixed on to their products before they are released onto the market. READ ALSO: Ghanaians angry as government demolishes beautiful buildings for construction of national cathedral For instance, when one buys a bottle of water, the tax stamp is fixed on the head of the bottle cover to show that its tax had been paid by both the company and consumer. The presence of the Tax Stamps on a product, therefore, provides enough guarantee of product authenticity, according to the government. They are also to show that the products are wholesome and also that the right taxes have been paid for it. Government has said it now plans to let the policy cover local textiles as a check against the influx of fake Chinese imitations and smuggling which is killing the industry. READ ALSO: Paul Pogbas brother attends Shatta Wales 'Reign' album concert in London (Photo) The Minister of Finance, Ken Ofori-Atta, made this revelation during the recent budget reading. According to him, the move will also ensure that smuggling and counterfeiting of textiles will be curtailed, while employment is boosted in that sector. He is quoted by Mynews.gh.com to have said: Ghana used to have a textile industry that employed around 30, 000 people, but in recent years the industry has fallen on hard times, and now the number employed is only around 5,000. It is Governments aim to help revive this industry, which could be a big source of employment. So, in order to curtail smuggling and counterfeiting, which have been undermining the industry, we will extend the tax stamp policy to the textile products, he revealed. Further, to make industry price-competitive, Government will zero-rate VAT on the supply of locally made textiles for a period of three years. READ ALSO: Abass was the third person his killer has killed - Abass' girlfriend Meanwhile, the textiles industry has witnessed hard times recently. For instance, YEN.com.gh reported the news of Akosombo Textiles Limited laying off some workers. The reason being that the company was struggling financially due to pirating and no support from the government. In a related development, the government has announced that it will spend a whooping GHC73.4 billion in 2019. READ ALSO: Get rich quick, wife snatching killing young people Mortuary man reveals Ghana News Today: Mortuary Workers to Strike / Madina-Adenta Footbridge Demo | Yen.com.gh READ ALSO: NDC delegates rushed to 37 Military Hospital after accident 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 top police official, ASP Boateng is in a critical condition after he was shot by some unknown people - The incident happened after he led a team to investigate a road block that had been mounted - One person has been arrested in connection with the shooting The police commander for the Asiwa district, ASP Dennis Boateng, has been hospitalized following an exchange of gunfire with unknown people. Information available to YEN.com.gh shows that his driver, as well as two community police unit personnel also sustained injuries. The incident occurred on Sunday, November 18, 2018, after ASP Boateng led a team to investigate complaints resulting from the mounting of a roadblock. READ ALSO: Heartbreaking video of school children standing for hours leaks online Shots were reportedly fired from the bush as he reached the place where the standoff was taking place. One suspect has been arrested in connection with the incident, and police officials are searching for the others. The Ashanti regional police commander, DCOP Kwasi Duku, rushed to the scene of the incident and has been briefed on what transpired. A week ago, unknown people attacked a farmer in the same town, as he sent his ward to school. YEN.com.gh understands that the 59-year-old victim, known as Obodai, met his assailants, who pounced on him and inflicted several injuries. His lifeless body was found on a bushy road with machete wounds to the head, shoulders, arms and other parts of the body. Three people have however been arrested in connection with the incident. READ ALSO: Mahama rushes to the 37 Military Hospital after serious accident almost claims the lives of NDC delegates Ghana News Today: Madina-Adenta Footbridge Demo | Yen.com.gh Use the comments section below to share your views on this story. Do you have a story to share or you have information for us? Get featured on YEN.com.gh. Message us on Facebook or Instagram Source: Yen Ghana Pretty South African actress identified as Kgomotso Christopher, has been uncovered and linked to the famous MTN customer care voice known by telco operators as Internal Voice Recording or simply IVR. Kgomotso Christopher, who was spotted in a video recording the popular you have insufficient funds please recharge among other services offered by MTN, is said to be an educated actress who graduated from Columbia University in New York, USA. While many network subscribers had unconsciously linked the voice to a white woman, Kgomotso Christopher who took to her twitter account to confirm the revelation indicated that she had been in the voice recording business for over six years. Kgomotso Christopher. Credit: Twitter Source: Twitter READ ALSO: Ghanaians angry as government demolishes beautiful buildings for construction of national cathedral She wrote; "Yep. I am glad you remember what Ive always said. Remember I said for long voicework was my main income stream because I had no fulltime acting workin fact it was this consistent MTN work I was referring to. I am sure some of them are. They still use the recordings made with the previous voice artist before I started doing the prompts in 2012 The recordings are called (ivr) internal voice recording. So the established style/tone of the recording voice. READ ALSO: NDC delegates rushed to 37 Military Hospital after accident I have done the voice for a while. But there were other artists who may be white who also did and those recording are still also used. Also, when I am not available, they use a similar voice, so the MTN phone voice stays consistent" Kgomotso Christopher. Credit: Twitter Source: Twitter After the revelation, radio personality, Lexis Bill, took to Twitter to reveal that he was aware that Jessica Opare Saforo of Citi FM also recorded some things for MTN. Ive heard @jessicacitifm on a few MTN commercials. Dont know if she does the ring back messages and prompts too but definitely @kgchristopher and Jessica are in an elite league of sweet African voices #Class #Legends." READ ALSO: Akua GMB sings her heart out to Uncle Ato's song amid divorce reports Watch: Street Quiz Ghana: What Would Be Your Message to the President Should You Meet Him? | 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 hennemusic archive Nov 2021 (84) Oct 2021 (119) Sep 2021 (119) Aug 2021 (87) Jul 2021 (82) Jun 2021 (99) May 2021 (104) Apr 2021 (82) Mar 2021 (87) Feb 2021 (80) Jan 2021 (71) Dec 2020 (89) Nov 2020 (81) Oct 2020 (113) Sep 2020 (89) Aug 2020 (99) Jul 2020 (110) Jun 2020 (77) May 2020 (128) Apr 2020 (118) Mar 2020 (108) Feb 2020 (85) Jan 2020 (118) Dec 2019 (94) Nov 2019 (74) Oct 2019 (116) Sep 2019 (107) Aug 2019 (83) Jul 2019 (86) Jun 2019 (108) May 2019 (105) Apr 2019 (98) Mar 2019 (95) Feb 2019 (106) Jan 2019 (91) Dec 2018 (117) Nov 2018 (110) Oct 2018 (132) Sep 2018 (118) Aug 2018 (116) Jul 2018 (106) Jun 2018 (92) May 2018 (112) Apr 2018 (99) Mar 2018 (96) Feb 2018 (90) Jan 2018 (90) Dec 2017 (84) Nov 2017 (85) Oct 2017 (102) Sep 2017 (95) Aug 2017 (95) Jul 2017 (83) Jun 2017 (76) May 2017 (90) Apr 2017 (72) Mar 2017 (75) Feb 2017 (62) Jan 2017 (76) Dec 2016 (80) Nov 2016 (97) Oct 2016 (101) Sep 2016 (103) Aug 2016 (113) Jul 2016 (92) Jun 2016 (108) May 2016 (112) Apr 2016 (111) Mar 2016 (118) Feb 2016 (97) Jan 2016 (112) Dec 2015 (104) Nov 2015 (98) Oct 2015 (119) Sep 2015 (129) Aug 2015 (111) Jul 2015 (122) Jun 2015 (140) May 2015 (114) Apr 2015 (148) Mar 2015 (149) Feb 2015 (120) Jan 2015 (123) Dec 2014 (130) Nov 2014 (180) Oct 2014 (179) Sep 2014 (189) Aug 2014 (181) Jul 2014 (203) Jun 2014 (192) May 2014 (221) Apr 2014 (205) Mar 2014 (223) Feb 2014 (217) Jan 2014 (203) Dec 2013 (179) Nov 2013 (189) Oct 2013 (214) Sep 2013 (185) Aug 2013 (160) Jul 2013 (183) Jun 2013 (205) May 2013 (211) Apr 2013 (203) Mar 2013 (213) Feb 2013 (158) Jan 2013 (172) Dec 2012 (172) Nov 2012 (186) Oct 2012 (199) Sep 2012 (166) Aug 2012 (178) Jul 2012 (145) Jun 2012 (162) May 2012 (186) Apr 2012 (154) Mar 2012 (161) Feb 2012 (170) Jan 2012 (187) Dec 2011 (226) Nov 2011 (194) Oct 2011 (288) Sep 2011 (199) Aug 2011 (180) Jul 2011 (133) Jun 2011 (132) May 2011 (157) Apr 2011 (140) Mar 2011 (186) Feb 2011 (196) Jan 2011 (214) Dec 2010 (206) Nov 2010 (201) Oct 2010 (146) Sep 2010 (109) Aug 2010 (80) Jul 2010 (41) Jun 2010 (39) May 2010 (44) Apr 2010 (39) Mar 2010 (34) Feb 2010 (31) Banker Phares is a John and Karen Mast Professor at SFA. He teaches financial planning and is board certified in estate planning and probate law. 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. Vanguard Senate President Bukola Saraki has been trending since Friday, after an audio of an address he gave to young supporters was leaked, by the activist, Kayode Ogundamisi.Continue reading What is the benefit of people that are campaigning for APC Saraki at Vanguard News Nigeria. The Nation GOVERNOR Abdullahi Ganduje of Kano State has sued the publisher of the online newspaper, Daily Nigerian, for three billion naira for alleged defamation in publishing video clips of the governor allegedly receiving about five million dollars in bribes from contractors Guardian Economists and corporate governance experts are united in their submission that alleged infractions in disbursements of N5.8b by the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), at the instance of Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, was a reflection of poor corporate governance, weak accounting and financial controls in government. The Sun Enugu Despite the publication of Chief Okey Ezes name as the governorship candidate of the Social Democratic Party (SDP) in Imo state, Dr. Casmir Anyanwu has declared himself the authentic candidate of the party. Anyanwu, who called on his supporters to ignore Ezes listing by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), maintained that Daily Trust (SERAP) has given Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, Chairman Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), 14 days within which to effectively investigate allegation that Senate President Bukola Saraki spent between N200m and N400m in every state, except the six South-West states, to influence the outcome of the 2015 elections for the All Progressives Congress (APC). Tribune FOLLOWING the kick-off of the presidential election campaign with the launch of Next Level campaign message by President Muhammadu Buhari, the presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Atiku Abubakar, has told the president Pakistan Aeronautical Complex Kamra Jobs 2018 Latest Pakistan Aeronautical Complex PAC Management Posts Attock 2021 Qualified and technical personnel for the positions of Aerospace Engineer, Medical Officer, Nurse, Laboratory Assistant, AFM Machinist, Boiler Operator, Draughtsman, Account Assistant, Upper Division Clerk, UDC, Supervisor, Lower Division Clerk, LDC, Midwife, Driver, Aya, Cook required for Pakistan Aeronautical Complex PAC in Kamra District Attock Punjab 2018. How to Apply on Pakistan Aeronautical Complex PAC Job Advertisement Apply as per details in job advertisement. In some cases, you may apply online at vacancies after registering at https://www.jobz.pk online. Note: Beware of Fraudulent Recruiting Activities. If an employer asks to pay money for any purpose, do not pay at all and report us at contact us form. Apply as per instuctions & dates mentioned in official job ad. Govt jobs may not be applied online here. Human typing error possible. Error & omissions excepted. SBP State Bank of Pakistan Job 2018 Chief Security Officer Latest State Bank of Pakistan SBP Security Posts Karachi 2021 SBP State Bank of Pakistan required the service of experienced, energetic and responsible person for the position of Chief Security Officer in Karachi Sindh 2018. How to Apply on State Bank of Pakistan SBP Job Advertisement Apply as per details in job advertisement. In some cases, you may apply online at vacancies after registering at https://www.jobz.pk online. Note: Beware of Fraudulent Recruiting Activities. If an employer asks to pay money for any purpose, do not pay at all and report us at contact us form. Apply as per instuctions & dates mentioned in official job ad. Govt jobs may not be applied online here. Human typing error possible. Error & omissions excepted. SBP State Bank of Pakistan Job 2018 in Karachi Latest State Bank of Pakistan SBP Security Posts Karachi 2021 Government of Pakistan State Bank of Pakistan SBP required the service of experienced and strong person for the posts of Chief Security Officer in Karachi Sindh 2018. How to Apply on State Bank of Pakistan SBP Job Advertisement Apply as per details in job advertisement. In some cases, you may apply online at vacancies after registering at https://www.jobz.pk online. Note: Beware of Fraudulent Recruiting Activities. If an employer asks to pay money for any purpose, do not pay at all and report us at contact us form. Apply as per instuctions & dates mentioned in official job ad. Govt jobs may not be applied online here. Human typing error possible. Error & omissions excepted. Security Guard Job 2018 For Dubai UAE Latest Al Jawad Recruiting Agency Security Posts Dubai 2021 A well known and reputed oversea company required experienced and energetic person for the post of Security Guard in Dubai United Arab Emirates UAE 2018. How to Apply on Al Jawad Recruiting Agency Job Advertisement Apply as per details in job advertisement. In some cases, you may apply online at vacancies after registering at https://www.jobz.pk online. Note: Beware of Fraudulent Recruiting Activities. If an employer asks to pay money for any purpose, do not pay at all and report us at contact us form. Apply as per instuctions & dates mentioned in official job ad. Govt jobs may not be applied online here. Human typing error possible. Error & omissions excepted. State Bank of Pakistan SBP Job For Chief Security Officer Latest State Bank of Pakistan SBP Security Posts Multan 2021 Qualified, experienced and well educated candidate for the post of Chief Security Officer required for a leading and well known State Bank of Pakistan SBP in Multan. How to Apply on State Bank of Pakistan SBP Job Advertisement Apply as per details in job advertisement. In some cases, you may apply online at vacancies after registering at https://www.jobz.pk online. Note: Beware of Fraudulent Recruiting Activities. If an employer asks to pay money for any purpose, do not pay at all and report us at contact us form. Apply as per instuctions & dates mentioned in official job ad. Govt jobs may not be applied online here. Human typing error possible. Error & omissions excepted. Technical Staff for Pakistan Aeronautical Complex PAC Latest Pakistan Aeronautical Complex PAC Medical Posts Attock 2021 Medical Staff, Assistant, Laboratory Assistant, AFM Metal Worker, AFM Instrument, Boiler Operator, Draughtsman and other staff required for Pakistan Aeronautical Complex PAC in Kamra, Attock. Skills Required Technical Support How to Apply on Pakistan Aeronautical Complex PAC Job Advertisement Apply as per details in job advertisement. In some cases, you may apply online at vacancies after registering at https://www.jobz.pk online. Note: Beware of Fraudulent Recruiting Activities. If an employer asks to pay money for any purpose, do not pay at all and report us at contact us form. Apply as per instuctions & dates mentioned in official job ad. Govt jobs may not be applied online here. Human typing error possible. Error & omissions excepted. Trojan Battery Company Jobs 2018 in Lahore Pakistan Latest Trojan Battery Company Distribution Posts Lahore 2021 A leading and well known Trojan Battery Company requires the services of experienced and strong persons for the posts of Distributors in Lahore Punjab 2018. How to Apply on Trojan Battery Company Job Advertisement Apply as per details in job advertisement. In some cases, you may apply online at vacancies after registering at https://www.jobz.pk online. Note: Beware of Fraudulent Recruiting Activities. If an employer asks to pay money for any purpose, do not pay at all and report us at contact us form. Apply as per instuctions & dates mentioned in official job ad. Govt jobs may not be applied online here. Human typing error possible. Error & omissions excepted. The organizers of the Paris Peace Forum asked me to convene a meetup to discuss whether globalisation can and, if so, should be rescued. A report [pro_ad_display_adzone id=4] [pro_ad_display_adzone id=6] On the 100th anniversary of the end of World War I, President Macron of France and his advisors took the initiative to convene the first Paris Peace Forum (11-13 November 2018). It is supposed to become an annual event that focuses on innovative global governance solutions, as an antidote to the rising tide of unilateralism that is increasingly undermining multilateral cooperation. The fear is that, if the current trend towards populism and combative nationalism continues, the world may witness another Great War, like World War I that marked the demise of the globalisation phase of the late 19th and early 20th century. I had the chance to participate in the Forum representing FOGGS. I met several colleagues from think tanks and academia, and from the United Nations, with many of whom I had worked in the past. The world of global affairs professionals is indeed small. But I also met some new people and attended a couple of crowded events with ministers, business people and other celebrities. In a much more modest way, I was asked by the Forum organisers to convene a small meetup to discuss the topic of my choice: Can globalisation be rescued? In the rest of this article I present the main results of that discussion, enriched with points raised at other events or in the corridors of the Forum. I thank all those who talked to me and shared their ideas. Globalisation has been failing us morally and financially, and it has been failing the environment and democracy. Should anyone shed any tears if it disappears? So, can globalisation be actually rescued, and if it can, do we really want to rescue it? One can easily see the failures of globalisation as practised in our neo-liberal and, increasingly, also post-liberal world. It is failing morally, with the huge income inequalities that it has generated; the 8 richest people in the world have as many assets as the poorer half of humanity, or about 3.6 billion people, according to Oxfam). It is failing the environment, with the advancing global climate disaster, widely spread pollution, destruction of biodiversity, etc. It is failing democracy, with the rise in populist and authoritarian regimes. And it is even failing financially, most notably in 2008 with the global financial crisis, which is expected to repeat itself sooner rather than later. Why should then anyone shed any tears if globalisation disappears? It is not so simple. Despite its many failures, globalisation has led in recent decades to a previously unseen lifting of people out of poverty and disease, notably in China and India but even Africa. Foreign investment and the resulting rapid industrialisation have created jobs and have improved the infrastructure of these countries, raising the standards of living of hundreds of millions of people. Free trade and cheap transport have brought the world closer together and have made previously exotic products readily available around the globe at reasonable prices. Neither the elites nor the regular people would like to see lost the positive aspects of globalisation. Neither the elites nor the regular people would like to see lost these positive aspects of globalisation. Despite that, the overall mood at this first Paris Peace Forum was not very optimistic. A lot of energy went into expressing concerns about the future, in view of serious problems identified in the functioning of national political systems, regional integration efforts like the European Union, and international organisations, notably the United Nations. There was a broadly shared view that there is a lack of leadership at all levels, in countries and organisations, which is exacerbating the problems. With the post-World-War-II liberal global architecture challenged, and with the US clearly declining, despite Mr. Trumps roaring, it was suggested that China may eventually step in. That, however, was not taken for granted, and the question remained whether, even if that happened, China would (be able to) introduce an alternative model of governance. It was noted that geopolitics is still alive, with claims on territories and resources, and spheres of influence, and could lead to increased tensions and even war. It was actually often remarked at the Forum that leaders at the beginning of the 20th century did not think that a war was possible but they were drugged into it by processes that they had set in motion and at the end realized that they could not control. Some technological advances seem to do as much harm as they do good for normal people, while generating ever bigger profits for large corporations and powerful individuals. If one expects a Deus ex machina to literally save the world, some technological advances seem to do as much harm as they do good. Instead of improving the lives of people across the board they often lead to more insecurity. Jobs are being lost to robots. Artificial intelligence in driverless cars or medical services makes decisions of life and death for humans. Big data processing seduces consumers and influences the choices of voters. And all this seems done in the service of ever bigger profits for large corporations and powerful individuals, with little attention paid to the needs of normal people and without any sense of common good in mind. Despite these failings, most discussants believed that the capitalist model would continue to shape global affairs, in some way or other. They favoured, however, a return to a managed system that would work better for all, with robust oversight of the international financial system the current International Monetary Fund is no match for that and stricter regulation for companies, including the breaking up of huge conglomerates. Such measures were at the disposal and were actually used by governments in the past, even the US and other capitalist Western countries, before the onslaught on the welfare state that started in the Reagan-Thatcher years. Some argued that multinationals should be given the right to vote in global governance structures. That said, for at least one of the discussants, it would make sense to accept that the biggest multinational corporations have assets and influence comparable to those of states, so they should be involved more formally in global governance structures, even with the right to vote, in the hope that would make them more responsible and transparent. A heartening element in all these discussions was the broad agreement that for the global governance system to improve the engagement of civil society and individuals should be stepped up. To that end, citizen education about the structures and processes of global governance, history taught from many different perspectives and a broader narrative for globalisation and humanity, like the one advocated by FOGGS, should become a priority, especially for young people. There is still hope, but it will take a lot of effort, dedication, good will and broad cooperation to turn things around for the better. Shenandoah, IA (51601) Today Sunny. High 62F. Winds SSE at 15 to 25 mph. Higher wind gusts possible.. Tonight Partly cloudy early followed by cloudy skies overnight. Low 44F. Winds S at 15 to 25 mph. Higher wind gusts possible. Lee Na-young/ Courtesy of eden9 By Park Jin-hai When describing Lee Na-young, the word "mystique" always seems to crop up. Despite the chic, modern and glamorous persona seen in TV commercials, the model-turned-actress has portrayed a surprisingly diverse and challenging range of characters. She portrayed a stalker in "Someone Special" (2004), a rape victim who attempts suicide in "Maundy Thursday" (2006), an emotionally tormented sleepwalker in Kim Ki-duk's "Dream" (2008) and a transgender photographer in "Lady Daddy" (2010). The past six years have been relatively quiet for Lee. Since her last film, "Howling" (2012), she has been absent from the cinema scene. In 2015, she surprised fans by tying the knot with top actor Won Bin in a wheat field in Jeongseon, Gangwon Province. Despite the couple's significant celebrity status, their married life has remained private. This November, Lee is making a welcome comeback to the big screen, breaking her six-year hiatus, with small-budget independent film "Beautiful Days." "Although it has been a long time since I've had an interview, I'm not nervous. Many people around me say I don't speak much, but it's not true. I really love to talk and even more about my acting work," said the 39-year-old, laughing comfortably and breaking the ice during a recent interview with The Korea Times. In "Beautiful Days," which opened this year's Busan International Film Festival in October, and is based on a true story, Lee plays a North Korean woman who fled the North in her teens only to be deceived by a broker, and sold to an old ethnic Korean man in rural China. Lee said the moment she read the short script, even though there were very few lines, she thought she must be part of the film project. "I liked the script. Even without much explanation, I could feel the character with my heart and understand her entirely. After the first read I made up my mind to accept the part," she said. "After watching documentaries directed by Jero Yun I was even more determined to be a part of the project. I heard he hadn't expected me to accept the offer, so he was surprised." The woman, whose true identity was kept vague in order to distance herself from who she was in North Korea like many other defectors was not given a name in the film. She is forced to leave the family home in China after her broker resurfaces and gives her an ultimatum she pay her debts or have her five-year-old son sold on the black market. After suffering sexual abuse at the hands of the broker and being forced to work nightspots in China, she manages to escape and comes to Seoul to work at a bar. Passion for independent films Lee's fondness for independent films and her passion for Yun's small-budget film led to her taking part in the project without pay "I like this kind of independent film stirring stories about a person's difficult path through life it provokes thought in the audience. After the long break, I pondered for a long time about my next project and then this film came to me. It was like destiny," the actress said. . The film follows the journey of her son Zhen Chen, who came to Seoul to search for his mother some 14 years later. Disappointed by his mother's life in Seoul and her seemingly cold and composed demeanor, Zhen Chen returns to China brokenhearted. But on his way back, he finds his mother's notebook detailing her tragic past. Lee, depicting the woman's life from her teens to her 30s, reflected on the differences she felt. "While I was playing the woman in her teens and 20s, I focused on the North Korean defector's hard life who took risks for their own survival. I heard many real stories of those women from the director who stayed in the northeastern Chinese city of Yanbian, home to some 2 million ethnic Koreans, for five years to research and interview defectors in preparing for his documentary. While I was acting I cried a lot because I felt their piercing pain in my heart," she said. "But the most challenging part was when I was acting the mother in her 30s. I had a hard time thinking of what kind of eyes the woman would have after going through all her ordeals and what emotions she would have after seeing her son 14 years later. I tried many tones to portray the woman and I thought it would be more like her if I held back my emotions as best as I could. In the edited version, the mother was even more composed." She said she would like to see more films like "Beautiful Days" in local theaters. "There aren't many films like ours. I would like to let audiences know that Korea has many unique films, too. I like my latest film, because I think it tells a human story using plain language," said the actress. "Without overtly being a family film, the theme of the meaning of family subtly permeates throughout the narrative." Unlike the title, the film ironically focuses on the terrible past of a female North Korean defector, whose life was never "beautiful," but it hints at hope in the end. "The scene in which the characters sit around the dinner table, simply sharing bean paste stew without a word, after such tragic incidents, embodies what it is to be a family. This is why I personally like the ending so much," she said. Discussing her thoughts on the future, she said: "I never plan ahead, but I do have a goal, which is to become an actress whose next move is always unpredictable, so that people wonder what new tone and ambience I will reveal." Lee Na-young is set to appear in the upcoming tvN rom-com "Romance Supplement" next year. Lee Na-young makes a comeback to the big screen, breaking her six-year hiatus, with small-budget independent film "Beautiful Days." Courtesy of Contents Panda Analysts call for adoption of 'super, multiple voting' for startups By Park Hyong-ki The debate on whether the capital market should allow companies here to adopt a dual-class share structure has been rekindled amid a growing number of short-term investors rapidly entering and leaving Korea. The country has maintained equal voting rights, or the "principle of one share, one vote" so far. This means founders and investors are entitled to exercise their power and control over business matters through votes based on the number of shares they hold. In mid-October, Financial Services Commission (FSC) Chairman Choi Jong-ku said perhaps, it was time to reconsider this and allow a dual-class voting system for startups so that their founders can "better protect themselves" against demands from short-term investors and hostile takeovers. Financial Services Commission Chairman Choi Jong-ku said, "It is time to reconsider allowing the dual-class share structure that can help startups protect against hostile takeovers." Yonhap This blog may be a labor of love for me, but it takes a lot of effort, time and money. For over 14 years and 30,000 articles I have been providing accurate, original news that would have remained unnoticed. I've written hundreds of scoops and sometimes my reporting ends up making a real difference. I appreciate any donations you can give to keep this blog going. By Park Ji-won A senior Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) official on Korean affairs secretly visited South Korea and met senior officials of the two Koreas, according to local media reports last week. Andrew Kim, chief of the CIA's Korea Mission Center (KMC), made his visit to Seoul and went to the border village of Panmunjeom on a four-day trip from Wednesday to meet officials of the two Koreas, and returned to the U.S. on Saturday. Kim was said to have mediated efforts by the U.S. and two Koreas to narrow differences on denuclearization ahead of U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo's planned visit to North Korea in late November, the reports said. Kim reportedly discussed the issue with South Korean government officials and lawmakers. The move came with denuclearization talks between North Korea and the United States stalled after Pyongyang asked Washington to offer corresponding measures in exchange for its agreement to dismantle some nuclear facilities. Kim, a Korean-American and a distant relative of Presidential National Security Adviser Chung Eui-yong, is known to be a close aide of Pompeo with a profound knowledge of North Korea. He has participated in most senior talks between the North and the U.S. this year. Kim met North Korean leader Kim Jong-un with Pompeo. Kim's four-day trip took place while North Korean Ri Jong-hyok, vice chairman of the Korean Asia-Pacific Peace Committee, and working-level officials visited Seoul for an international peace forum organized by the Gyeonggi provincial government. It is unknown whether the CIA's Kim and Ri have met. Kim is reported to have met senior officials from the North's United Front Department at Panmunjeom. Hyun Jeong-eun, chairwoman of Hyundai Group, arrives at a service area near the border between two Koreas in Gangwon Province, Sunday. / Yonhap By Park Ji-won Hyundai Group and North Korea held a joint event Sunday to commemorate the 20th anniversary of the inter-Korean tourism program at the North's Mount Geumgang. According to Hyundai Group, 100 South Koreans headed to North Korea to participate in the first celebratory event in four years at the scenic resort from Sunday to today. Eighty officials from the North's Asia-Pacific Peace Committee also participated in the event, which it co-organized with the South's tour operator. "We hope the event can be used as a linchpin to resume the tour program for peace and cooperation as early as possible," Hyundai said in a statement. Among South Korean participants were about 30 Hyundai officials, including Hyundai Group Chairwoman Hyun Jeong-eun and Hyundai Asan CEO Bae Kook-hwan, six incumbent lawmakers, former government officials, private experts, businesspeople and journalists. This was Hyun's third visit to the North this year. She joined the delegation accompanying President Moon Jae-in on his trip to Pyongyang for last month's summit. Hyun also visited Mount Kumgang in August to commemorate the 15th anniversary of the death of her late husband Chung Mong-hun, the former Hyundai Group chairman who played a key role in the resort business in North Korea. The event included a tree-planting ceremony, a performance and dinner on the first day and an inspection of the resort on the second day. The tour program was a symbol of thawing relations and economic cooperation between the two Koreas. However, it was suspended in 2008 after a North Korean soldier shot dead a South Korean female tourist there. Since the halt, the group has sought to resume tourist operations, but political tension between the Koreas did not allow that to happen. The two held the joint celebratory event almost every year from 1999 to 2014. But expectations have arisen that the program will be resumed following talks to reduce military tensions between Koreas. Sanctions being imposed on North Korea are preventing economic exchanges between two Koreas. North Korea has been asking for financial assistance from the United States and United Nations Security Council (UNSC), but Washington remains negative until Pyongyang takes more concrete measures on denuclearization. Government to strengthen regulations on alcohol By Kim Hyun-bin The government is set to designate no drinking zones near public areas and government offices nationwide by 2020, as part of efforts to curb damage caused by intoxicated people. The Ministry of Health and Welfare recently said it would seek to revise the National Health Promotion Act to designate alcohol-free zones similar to the current no smoking zones. It plans to ban the consumption of alcoholic beverages in government offices, medical facilities and public spaces such as libraries, as well as near youth facilities including schools, kindergartens and daycare centers. Local governments will also be allowed to designate parks and other public places as alcohol free areas through their own ordinances. The government sought to ban drinking in public places previously in 2012 and 2015 as well, but scrapped the plan due to a public backlash. "We believe the law revision will be passed due to high public support on drinking regulation these days," a ministry official said. In a survey released in September, 94.3 percent of the respondents were in favor of banning drinking near schools while 93.2 percent said they had a bad experience with a drunk person. The government also plans to apply stricter regulations on alcoholic beverage ads, to promote safe drinking and to better prevent drinking-related illnesses and injuries. According to the plan, ads portraying models drinking alcohol will be banned. Most local breweries use K-pop stars or hot celebrities, with scenes of them drinking the products. ? Currently, alcohol commercials are banned from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. only on television, but this will be extended to include internet protocol televisions (IPTV) and digital multimedia broadcasts (DMB). Also alcohol ads in public areas including subways, airports, harbors and commercial vehicles will be banned. A recent study found that celebrities in ads attract young people to drinking. The ministry is scheduled to submit the revised bill to the Assembly by early next year for implementation in the first half of 2020. "The new policy aims to prevent young people and vulnerable social groups being exposed to the promotion of alcohol consumption. We will do our upmost efforts to enforce it," Vice Health Minister Kwon Deok-cheol said. Drinking ban policies have become a worldwide trend. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), 168 countries have enforced such policies, and among them 102 ban drinking in parks and on streets. In England, a person can be arrested for offensive drunken behavior. In South Australia, a person can be fined for having an alcoholic beverage in certain public areas. Norway has banned all alcohol advertisements. According to the WHO, over 3 million people die each year due to alcohol-induced problems worldwide, and it listed alcohol as one of the top carcinogens along with arsenic in cigarettes and cadmium. According to Statistics Korea, a total of 4,809 Koreans died from alcohol-related causes in 2017, meaning 13 people a day. The death rate was the highest among those in their 50s, with 22.8 people out of every 100,000. According to a National Health Insurance Service report, over 9.45 trillion won ($8.3 billion) of social costs were spent due to drinking-related problems here, more than smoking which caused spending of 7.12 trillion won and obesity, 6.76 trillion won. The health ministry statistics shows that on average a man drinks over seven glasses and woman five per sitting. People who consume an average seven drinks or more for two days a week are considered to be heavy drinkers. One out of every 10 Koreans in their 20s falls into the heavy drinker category; 20.2 percent of these are university students. Twenty percent of men between 30 and 50 are heavy drinkers as well as 10 percent of women in their 20s. Data showed people had their first drink at 13.3 years old on average, nearly five years earlier than the legal age for drinking which is set at 19. Koreans consumed 8.7 liters of alcohol in 2016, 0.5 liters higher than the OECD average. H.M. Sultan Qaboos Bin Said, Sultan of Oman Omani Ambassador to Korea Mohamed Alharthy contributed the below article on the occasion of his country's 48th National Day. ED. It is with great pride, immense happiness, deep love and gratitude to the Builder of Modern Oman, His Majesty Sultan Qaboos, that Omani people celebrate the 48th National Day on the 18th of November 2018. H.E. Mohamed Alharthy, Ambassador of Oman The main focus of Oman's Renaissance has been on the creation of a modern nation based upon a system of laws and institutions that reflect the development of its society and state. The Basic Law of the State embodies all aspects and helped establish "the state of institutions and rule of law"and paved the way for wide-scale cooperation between executive and legislative institutions within a framework of equality, in earnest quest to facilitate citizens' access to justice.The achievements brought about over the past 48 years can be seen in all fields and on every yard of Oman's territory. His Majesty the Sultan established the pillars of a modern state on solid grounds of justice, equality, responsible citizenship and rule of the law as part of His Majesty's keenness on safeguarding the unity of the nation and the solidarity of citizens in every part of the country. Omani foreign policy as an oasis of peace Over the past 48 years, the wise leadership of Oman espoused a clear-cut stance that guaranteed the country's safety and made it an oasis of peace, security and stability that has earned the respect of all nations. H.M. Sultan Qaboos, since he assumed power in 1970, laid down strong foundations for a frank foreign policy based on principles of justice, peace, cooperation, and tolerance. In particular, the Omani foreign policy advocates dialogue and the settlement of conflicts through peaceful means and in a manner that achieves the common interests of all parties, besides mutual respect for law and the international charter. The principles of Omani foreign policy also seek to improve relations among neighboring states and the solution of all Arab and regional disputes as a means of paving the way for development and progress. These policies have had a tangible positive impact on Oman and its status worldwide, as the country has gained reputation as a bridge-builder and trusted mediator. Nizwa Fort-Mosque-Souq Sur Omani economy and investment opportunities The Omani economy fared remarkably well in terms of growth and diversification of sources of income by diminishing dependence on oil as the main source of government revenues. In the meantime, the execution of projects approved for the 9th Five Year Plan (2016-2020) is in full swing. Progress is also made in the National Economic Diversification Program and in preparation for Oman 2040 Strategy. This plenary action strategy is designed to promote Omani economy to greater spheres and transform Oman into an advanced regional logistics center, notably upon the completion of projects of the Special Economic Zone in Duqm. For better management of the economy, the government is going ahead with the reduction of public sector spending, the increase of revenues and the reduction of deficit in Budget 2019, while at the same time increasing foreign investments and activating the private sector and the tourism sector. The government is also keen to maintain and improve public services (health, education social welfare) in tandem with the country's economic and social development, and this earned Oman advanced positions in global indices issued by international institutions. For example, Oman won first place in the GTI (Global Terrorism Index) felicitating countries not involved in terrorism occurrences, as well as the Police Service Credibility index, Justice Autonomy Index, Road Quality Index, Ports Efficiency Index, Open Data Index and other indices, and this is testimony to the efforts undertaken by the government in economic, social and service sectors. The government is exerting great efforts in grooming Omani youth. Efforts in this direction include the National Youth Skills Development Program. The program aims to support the establishment of small and medium enterprises (SMEs) by encouraging youth to undertake them and facilitating their self-employment ventures as a means of boosting the national economy. These economic diversification moves coincide with tourism and investment activation programs being implemented in different governorates of Oman. As part of this, the system of tourism e-visa was introduced. This was a significant step undertaken within the context of tourism promotion, which is also enhanced by Muscat and Salalah tourism festivals program. Muscat International Airport is considered the biggest infrastructure project implemented so far. In a matter of a few months since the start of operations at the new airport in March 2018, Oman began to reap the yields of this mega project, and Oman's rating in the Global Logistics Index 2018 issued by the World Bank jumped five places ahead, compared to 2016, to the 43rd position internationally. The industrial areas and free economic zones in Oman offer various business opportunities, facilities and incentives for investors such as tax exemptions, simplification of procedures, the free use of currencies, exemption of revenues from income tax and other features. Free zones are gateways for attracting investment as well as local and foreign capital. Oman Royal Opera House Muscat Oman-Korea relations Oman and Korea relation goes back to more than a thousand years, when Omani merchants met their Korean counterparts on their way to China and Korea during the Shilla Dynasty way back during the maritime Silk Road where they exchanged frankincense from Oman and porcelain and silk from Korea. In modern times, Oman-Korea diplomatic relations was established in 1974. Since then, Oman and Korea maintained very friendly and cooperative relations and witnessed a remarkable development in various fields. It is expected to double in the coming years due to large engagements and investment opportunities and partnership between Oman and Korea. Oman regards Korea as a major trading partner and both countries engage in numerous economical exchanges and cooperation. Oman provides large quantities of Oil and LNG to Korea. On the other hand, Korea exports many industrial products, including automobiles, vessels, construction materials, hi-tech electronics and electric goods and appliances to Oman. Moreover, many Korean companies such as GS, LG, Daewoo, Hyundai, Doosan, Hanjin, Daelim, POSCO, and others are contributing to the development of Omani infrastructure and other major projects. Last Year Daewoo Engineering & Construction Co. and Samsung Engineering Co. clinched a contract worth a combined $4.75 billion from Duqm Refinery & Petrochemical Industries Company LLC in Duqm free economic zone. To reflect the strong ties, an exchange of high ranking visits from both sides has taken place. Last July, H.E. Lee Nak-yon, Prime Minister of the Republic of Korea, visited Oman and held meeting with His Highness Sayyid Asaad bin Tareq al Said and other government officials. The meeting exchanged cordial conversations and discussed aspects of the existing bilateral cooperation between the two countries in various fields of common concern and way to promote it to cover many fields. Then H.E. and accompanying delegation attended a business forum organized by KCCI and OCCI which discussed various business subjects and opportunities for private sectors of both sides. On the other side, in September H.E. chairman of Muscat municipality visited Korea and met with H.E. Seoul mayor, during the visit discussed way of cooperation and signed agreement of cooperation. Then H.E. chairman of Duqm free economic zone and accompanied delegation visited Korea and held ?Invest in Oman road show? in cooperation with Omani embassy and KCCI. The forum highlighted the business and investment opportunities available in Oman to Korean companies and investors. Oman also very often participates in most international events and conferences which take place in Korea throughout the year, most recently, H.E. Ahmed Almahrazy, minister of tourism participated in the 7th UNWTO Global Summit on Urban Tourism which took place in Seoul in September 2018. Omani embassy also take significant role to promote the public diplomacy through participation in most cultural festivals which are held in Korea besides holding its own cultural events including the photo exhibition, lecture series to Korean university and school students and the open house program in cooperation with Seoul metropolitan office at the embassy. These cultural and artistic events with no doubt play major role as a bridge which bring both nations closer for better understanding which in turn enhances the relation and cooperation between both countries. Based on this cooperative relations and exchange of visits and cultural activities shaped by economic necessity and investment opportunities and incentives, there is ample reason to expect the Omani-Korean partnership to reach new heights and cover more sectors including industries, tourism, logistics, mining and fisheries, as well as, technology, health care, education, energy, water, environment, and renewable energy. In addition, the area of cooperation is widely opened to enter into many joint ventures projects and investment whether in Oman or in Korea or any other country, and it is hoped that the private sector will play a major role in this partnership. In that, we would like to invite Korean companies to take the opportunity to participate in these projects and investments. The embassy is keen on providing support and cooperation to Korean companies and looks forward their participation and presence in Oman. This collaboration and partnership will witness more development and prosperous for both side which will double the trade volume in coming years. In closing, I would like to express my thanks and appreciation to the Korean people and government for their kindness, generous support and cooperation in promoting the good relations between our friendly countries. Thanks and appreciation also extended to the sponsor and The Korea Times which have made this supplement possible. I?m confident that our relations in the coming years will witness further enhancement of closer bonds of friendship and partnership between Oman and Korea. Ultimately, my heartfelt wishes to Korea to further success, progress, peace and for the Oman-Korea relation further development and prosperity. By Kim Hyun-bin The conclusion drawn by police that a disputed social network account belongs to the wife of Gyeonggi Province Governor Lee Jae-myung is growing into yet another political controversy for him. On Saturday, police announced that Kim Hye-gyeong, the wife of Lee Jae-myung owned the Twitter account that spread false information about her husband's opponents and rivals, including President Moon Jae-in, over the past several years. Police will forward the case to the prosecution today as a possible violation of Election Law. However, Lee immediately struck back at the investigation result, and his supporters also held a rally calling it an unjust probe. "The process to indict Kim is the work of political police to mislead the public and disgrace the couple. We will no longer be deceived," said the group in front of Bundang Police Station, Saturday. The ruling Democratic Party of Korea (DPK) said that it needs to wait for ruling by the judiciary. "They are denying the accusations, we need to watch how the case pans out" said Rep. Hong Ihk-pyo, a DPK spokesman. But Pyo Chang-won, a DPK lawmaker differed. "If the twitter user was Kim Hye-gyeong, Gyeonggi Governor Lee Jae-myung needs to take responsibility and resign," he said. The opposition parties including the main opposition Liberty Korea Party (LPK) are urging Lee and Kim to apologize to Gyeonggi Province residents. Yoon Young-seok, a spokesman for the main opposition Liberty Korea Party (LKP), said Lee and his wife have mocked the public. A prosecution investigation is expected to be launched against Kim after police forwarded evidence of her violating the Election law and committing defamation on Twitter, investigators said Saturday. She is accused of utilizing a controversial Twitter account under the name, "Hyegyeonggung Ms. Kim," to spread false information about her husband's political opponents over the past several years. A months-long investigation by the Gyeonggi Nambu Provincial Police Agency concluded that Kim has used the account since 2013. In December 2016, when Lee was competing with President Moon in the party primary for the presidential nomination, she falsely claimed that Moon's son Joon-young received special treatment when landing a public agency job in 2006 because of his father's position as a senior presidential secretary at the time. In April, she posted false comments against DPK Rep. Jeon Hae-cheol claiming he joined hands with an opposition party to better compete in the Gyeonggi Province governor election. Lawmaker Jeon first sought to reveal the owner of the Twitter account, but stopped his campaign last month. Police continued their investigation after a lawyer and 3,000 citizens signed a petition urging them to continue with the case. By Kim Jae-heun Seven out of 10 people found guilty of child abuse were only fined or put on probation from 1998 and 2016, according to a report from a state-run institute, Sunday. The latest document, released by the Korea Institute for Health and Social Affairs, showed that 339 out of 532 trials for child abuse, or 63.7 percent, during the given period ended up with suspended sentences, while assailants involved in 60 child abuse cases, or 11.3 percent, were fined. In 2010, only two out of 17 cases were criminals sent to jail, with 11 trials resulting in probation and fines. A total of 133 criminals were imprisoned for child abuse over the last 19 years, which accounts for only 25 percent of all cases, and the offenders served no more than three-and-half years' jail. The rulings were even worse for child abuse cases that led to death. Since 2001, 10 criminals among 32 indictments for the crime of child abuse have been sentenced to probation. Their crimes included involuntary manslaughter and foul play. However, these trends have been changing since 2014, when the special laws on child abuse were enacted after two brutal abuse cases in which a child as killed in Ulsan, South Gyeongsang Province, and another in Chilgok, North Gyeongsang Province. No offender has been granted probation since 2015 and sentences have increased to a maximum of 20 years. President Moon Jae-in shakes hands with his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping at The Stanley Hotel in Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea, Saturday. The two met on the sidelines of the APEC summit there. / Yonhap By Kim Bo-eun China and South Korea pledged to step up cooperation to move the process of North Korea's denuclearization talks forward and other pending bilateral issues. "South Korea and China hold the same strategic interests of peace and prosperity in Northeast Asia, so my hope is to boost cooperation in developing bilateral relations in the process of achieving peace on the Korean Peninsula," President Moon Jae-in said before the start of his summit with Chinese President Xi Jinping on the sidelines of last week's APEC meeting in Papua New Guinea. Xi said keeping bilateral relations "in the right direction" and "strengthening strategic communication was aligned with the mutual interests of both nations." "We should continue to play a positive role in maintaining lasting peace and prosperity in the region," the Chinese leader added. Moon shared with Xi the latest developments relating to inter-Korean relations and the progress in talks between North Korea and the United States on denuclearization. At the summit Xi expressed support for Moon's efforts for peace on the Korean Peninsula and added China will continue to play a constructive role in this process. The leaders also talked about an upcoming second summit between North Korean leader Kim Jong-un and U.S. President Donald Trump, as well as Kim's visit to Seoul, which could serve as a watershed in the peace making process. The second meeting between Kim and Trump is set to take place early next year. Cheong Wa Dae said it is hoping Kim will visit Seoul within the year, as he agreed with the President Moon at their third summit in September. Meanwhile, Moon invited the Chinese leader to Seoul and Xi said he was willing to make a visit next year "at a convenient time." The Chinese president also mentioned that he has been invited by the North Korean leader to visit Pyongyang. Xi said he is planning to visit North Korea next year. The Moon-Xi meeting also discussed the specifics of possible joint work to search for the remains of Chinese soldiers killed during the 1950-53 Korean War and the possible repatriation of the bodies. In addition, the leaders agreed to conserve sites in China where Koreans held the independence movement from the 1910-1945 Japanese colonial rule. The efforts would be made marking the 100th anniversary of the establishment of the Korean provisional government in Shanghai. The leaders agreed to further discussions so that the countries can negotiate a bilateral free trade agreement that would be mutually beneficial. They said their governments would make joint efforts toward tackling environmental problems such as fine dust. It was Moon and Xi's fourth meeting 11 months since the last one. The first meeting took place on the sidelines of the G20 meeting in Hamburg, Germany in July 2017. The second was held on the sidelines of the APEC meeting in Vietnam in November the same year, and the third took place when Moon made an official visit to China the following month. By Kim Jae-heun The backlash against the government's plan to expand the flexible work hour system is intensifying in the labor sector with the nation's two major umbrella unions going all-out to scrap it. Under the current flexible work hour system, workers only have to keep their working time under an average 52 hours a week for three months. The government plans to increase this to a six-month maximum. The Federation of Korean Trade Union (FKTU) held a rally in front of the National Assembly, Saturday, to protest against the government plan, denouncing it as an "anti-labor" policy that ruling and opposition parties are now discussing. About 30,000 FKTU members participated in the protest. "I cannot sit and watch the labor policy retreating and the government's income-led growth initiative failing. The FKTU will wage an all-out war if the government pushes ahead with its plans to expand the flexible work hour system and revise the minimum wage system," FKTU Chairman Kim Ju-young said in his opening speech. The Korean Confederation of Trade Unions (KCTU) is also set to stage a general strike, Wednesday, to protest against the plan. According to the KCTU, about 20,000 people are expected to participate. "The flexible work hour system only legalizes long hours of labor and it mass-produces temporary workers," said KCTU Chairman Kim Myung-hwan. Other KCTU executive members argued that several workers at public medical institutions still remained in their temporary positions, claiming President Moon Jae-in had forgotten his promise made at a candlelit rally last year. The Moon administration introduced the flexible work hour system at public institutions in July as part of efforts to create jobs and improve the quality of life for employees. The system went into effect at private and public companies with 300 or more employees. However, the labor sector argues that this could lead to a 7 percent decrease in laborers' income because they cannot receive extra money for overtime. It says a worker on 10,000 won ($8.9) an hour could lose 780,000 won in six months. Kim Jong Un's weapons - back in the spotlight Friday (November 16). The North Korean supreme leader has reportedly been inspecting a newly developed tactical weapon. That's according to state media, though the only evidence they fed out of the hermit state was a photo and a statement on its website. It's the first mention of a new development in its weapons program in months. The North Koreans said its new addition can protect the state like a steel wall, and that its development had been a special interest of Kim Jong Un's father. Kim hadn't visited a test site since his unprecedented summit with U.S. President Trump in June. It was all hand-shakes and smiles over the summer, when North Korea agreed to work towards denuclearization. Though what exactly that meant was unclear. The U.S. State Department doubled down on their trust in the country, saying in response to the new test, that the U.S. remains confident that promises made will be fulfilled. (Reuters) By Emanuel Pastreich, Layne Hartsell The relations between North and South Korea are changing so rapidly it makes your head spin. The pressing question is no longer what the next step in a process of reconciliation will be, but rather where the peninsula is heading in a political, economic and cultural sense. For the first time, the door is open to rapid institutional transformation of the "hermit kingdom" as new concepts and technologies are introduced. Moreover, that process will impact not only the North but also the South as the basic principles of what a country is are debated. The drafting of a unification constitution, the implementation of new approaches to government and the building of new infrastructure could make Korea an inspiring experiment that other nations can model. Yet, just at the moment that Korean families who have been cruelly separated for 60 years are reunited and efforts are made to reconnect rail services and to make cultural exchange possible again, the Korean media reports that multinational corporations are planning, behind the scenes, to establish an extractive economy that will generate quick wealth from the exploitation of North Korea's rich mineral resources and its cheap labor. The profits will not be for the benefit of impoverished North Koreans, or even of ordinary South Koreans, but rather for international investors. If we do not offer an alternative quickly, Wall Street, or its Japanese, or Chinese equivalents, will develop North Korea's economy according to the blueprint offered by post-war Iraq. But there is an alternative, a third way, which offers a path for North Korea to leapfrog dirty and exploitative "growth" to reach sustainable economic and political success. North Korea does not have to choose between following the backward economic policies of North Korea's labor party that have produced stagnation and poverty on the one hand and embracing consumption-based neoliberal "development" policy run by global investment banks and the consulting firms that they fund. That third way for North Korea is a collaborative economy, the embrace of the emerging global commons in education, politics, manufacturing and economics that is made possible by peer-to-peer (P2P) systems and commons-oriented production (e.g. Linux, Wikipedia). Because North Korea is essentially starting from scratch, it can adopt the internet of verification (such as blockchain and holochain) in a more comprehensive manner than has been done elsewhere in the world. Such economic innovations will be shared and participatory, in the sense that socialist economies were, but the decision-making process will be distributed throughout the entirety of society so as to avoid authoritarian politics and thereby empower communities to set priorities. This approach will allow North Korea to benefit from the advantages of internationalization without allowing international finance to dictate what North Korea will become. Concrete proposals for such a sharing economy that are a viable alternative to exploitative and extractive market economies have been implemented by the P2P Foundation in Amsterdam and the Commons Foundation in Seoul. North Korea can empower its people by integrating them into the global P2P economy that links individuals with their peers in South Korea, and around the world, so that they can realize their full potential through commons-based micro-manufacturing which is controlled neither by the state, nor by Wall Street. Rather than being exploited for cheap labor, or cheap mineral resources, North Korea can develop a model for positive globalization that is powered by people, and not by capital. The term "Corea as Commons" employed here suggests the fundamental conceptual shift required for such an integral view. The divided nation "Hanguk" is standardly referred to as "Korea" in English. Yet few are aware that this seemingly neutral term is colored by the Japanese colonial legacy. "Korea" was the Japanese version of the native term "Corea" that the Japanese employed when they introduced their colony to the West. The Japanese colonialism strategy that made "Corea" into "Korea" required the demolition of the shared communities for mutual support that once thrived in its villages by means of the Japanese equivalent of the enclosure acts that deprived most Koreans of their land and of their traditional means of production through the secret implementation of new laws and regulations. As opposed to the traditional concept of "hongik," "the spreading benefit through the greater community," the colonial period introduced ruthless competition to "Corea" and transformed it into "Korea." Choi Yong-gwan, founder of the Commons Foundation, explains, "The commons is not a new idea in Corea, but rather an economic model with a long history. The village contracts (hyanghak) of traditional Corea defined roles in the community, but did not assign absolute ownership. Those village contracts were destroyed during the Japanese colonial period. The deepening inequality born of inhuman competition and the resulting concentration of wealth started then." Corea as Commons could serve as a model for how wealthy nations can work together with those less developed in a constructive, not exploitative, manner by creating shared economies that are focused on citizens. Moreover, in a practical sense, because the commons economy is not about foreign investment on a massive scale, or about exploiting North Korean labor, it does not fix with the standard models for economic interaction described in the current United Nations (U.N.) sanctions against North Korea and therefore offers a window of hope. Getting North Korea on the right path Although the Western media standardly portrays North Korea as a bizarre, isolated and mysterious nation, the recent negotiations with South Korea about economic exchanges have revealed that it is almost like any developing nation struggling to find a place in a ruthless globalized order dominated by financial institutions. The innovation we are proposing does not consist of a particular technology, but rather of an open platform that gives North Korea access to knowledge, to technology, to expertise, and to financial resources from around the world that will permit it to make an economic transition without following under the domination of oligarchs such as emerged in Russia after the fall of the Soviet Union. North Korea has little of modern technology, but it also has little of the commercialism or the consumer fetishism that have ripped apart the cultures of other nations. It therefore offers unprecedented opportunities for institutional innovation of which other counties are not capable precisely because we start from zero. North Korea could require that all buildings employ solar power, that manufacturing allow for open-source innovations at the local level, that services be shared between families without a middleman, and that local government in North Korea be allowed to develop ties with other local governments in other countries for education and social exchange. In other words, North Korea's opening up could present a priceless opportunity to establish a healthy and mutually supportive P2P version of internationalization that benefits local communities. Similarly, North Korea can establish innovative financial systems that nourish local cooperatives employing cyptocurrencies and crowd funding as a means to build local economic autonomy while also allowing foreign investment in the form of crowd funding, or micro-investments by supporters around the world of $5-$50. North Korea can put together a shared economy wherein everything, from vacuum cleaners and saws, to washing machines and solar power generators, are held together in trust for the community. It can set up programs for the barter of services (from caring for children or the elderly to cleaning and cooking) that recognize contributions of all citizens. It can even pair elderly people with young people, farmers with city dwellers to create new cultural and economic synergy. North Korea lacks highways or dependency on automobiles and therefore cities with shared transportation, all electric transportation, or even urban planning that eliminates the need for automobiles, are possible in North Korea. We should also remember that the adoption of a commons, of a shared economy rooted in regional agriculture and micro-manufacturing is essential today in that it reduces the unsustainable overproduction that plagues East Asia and which not only promotes waste and economic disparity, but has also been shown to be a major factor behind military conflicts. South Korea's role in "Corea as Commons" South Korea should play a major role in North Korea's development, not only because it shares a common language and the common culture, but also because it has established powerful precedents for a P2P economy. South Koreans have displayed tremendous enthusiasm for participatory politics and economics, culminating in the "Candlelight Revolution" of 2016 that brought millions of citizens together to demand an end of corruption in politics. The Mayor of Seoul, Park Wonsoon, launched a government program to create local villages across the city four years ago that provides a powerful platform for a sharing economy. More recently, Mayor Park announced on October 5 that Seoul has committed $54 million to establish blockchain systems throughout Seoul and to train a new generation of experts who can use them effectively. Such inclusive digital communities are rapidly moving South Korea away from domination by large corporations and that effort can be rapidly extended to North Korea. Michel Bauwens, founder of the P2P Foundation, explains, "I've had the occasion to visit Korea at 18-month intervals, and I am struck on each visit by the rapid acceptance of the commons paradigm. Perhaps such a rapid shift is possible in Korea because of the strong tradition of land commons, a dynamic democratic movement, and a vibrant solidarity economy." What to do next? North Korea needs first and foremost a P2P advisory committee that focuses on the ethical implications of economic and technological change, and not on short-term profits. South Korean citizens' groups can play this role well, but it will be important to obtain advice from around the world about how to avoid the traps set for emerging economies. Above all, the P2P advisory committee must help North Korea stop the irresponsible exploitation of the extensive deposits of coal, uranium, iron, gold, zinc and rare-earths in North Korea (worth around $ according to the South Korean mining company, Korea Resources) that lie beneath its soil. One of the first recommendations of the P2P advisory committee might be a freeze on the exploitation of subsurface resources until Pyongyang possesses sufficient expertise to assess the long-term environmental impact of such efforts on its own, or through its P2P networks, such as the internet of verification. The vetting of all proposals for the mining of resources; for the building of transportation infrastructure; and for the development of urban spaces by a P2P network of experts could be the first step towards establishing a federated-bioregional society. Similarly, North Korea must avoid getting itself into heavy debt during the first stage of its opening to South Korea, and the world, so as to make sure that short-term returns for investors will never be a factor in planning, and to assure that there is no risk of capital flight.?"Corea as Commons" is a strategy that will help North Korea avoid a situation similar to the rise of oligarchs after the fall of the Soviet Union by empowering people to form community banks and create their own participatory financing mechanisms. North Korea does not have to be a mysterious, closed, inscrutable remnant of the Cold War that must catch up with the "advanced" industrialized world. Rather, North Korea can be an inspiring experiment, a space where blockchain technology, micro-manufacturing, sustainable energy infrastructure and a P2P approach to internationalization ushers in a new era for that nation, for Northeast Asia, and for the world. How conscription promotes gender inequality By Koo Won-Mo "Hacksaw Ridge," a 2016 Hollywood movie, depicted the heroic story of Desmond Doss, an American combat medic who singlehandedly rescued 75 men in one of the deadliest battles in World War II all without carrying a weapon. Doss didn't let his religion as a Seventh-Day Adventist get in the way of serving his country. He became the only conscientious objector to receive the Medal of Honor, the highest military decoration in the United States. Doss would not have received such an honorable recognition in South Korea. All able-bodied South Korean men from 18 to 35 are subject to mandatory military service. The Korean authority has rejected one's freedom of thought, conscience, or religion as justifiable reasons for refusing military service. It has imprisoned more than 19,300 conscious objectors more than the rest of the world combined since the end of the Korean War in 1953, according to Amnesty International. The situation changed in June when the Constitutional Court ruled an article of the Military Service Act unconstitutional because it failed to provide conscientious objectors with an alternative service of a civilian nature. The ruling marked a landmark step toward allowing everyone equal opportunities to fulfill his constitutional duty of national defense in a manner consistent with his beliefs. Furthermore, on Nov. 1, the Supreme Court made a landmark ruling that recognizes religious and conscientious beliefs as valid reasons for refusing mandatory military service. This is the first time the highest court has respected conscientious objection as a constitutional right in line with freedom of conscience. Yet, South Korea does not grant such equal opportunities to a substantial portion of its population women. Given the significance of national defense as a constitutional duty of all citizens and the government's past hard-line stance against conscientious objectors, it is peculiar that half the population is entirely exempt from conscription. Most arguments against the conscription of women, even that of the Constitutional Court in 2014, rest on the difference in physical capacity between genders. Disqualifying someone from the duty of national defense simply based on his or her physical capacity, however, is myopic at best. Many military posts do not require much physical strength as modern warfare relies heavily on advanced technologies. Besides, alternative service now being devised for conscientious objectors suggests that national defense is not necessarily limited to military activities. Then why should the burden of national defense, which benefits everyone, fall entirely on men? Proponents of universal conscription argue that the current system is unfair for men especially because it involves significant sacrifices at an individual level two years of disrupted college education and delayed professional career. But the current conscription is actually unfair for women because it perpetuates the centuries-long patriarchy and reinforces the deep-rooted gender inequality in South Korea. South Korea is largely a Confucian society. Confucianism teaches women's obedience toward men as a virtue. While archaic even by South Korean standards, Confucian patriarchal values remain deeply entrenched in South Korean society. Conscription perpetuates these values by serving as a sacred rite of passage for men. "Boys become men after serving in the military" is a popular maxim. While it is intended as benign encouragement for conscripts, it implicitly promotes the idea that men earn their rights in the society only by serving in the military military patriarchy at its height. Men who serve in the military often feel a sense of entitlement. This can be beneficial as it can lead to a greater civic engagement. The problem is that it has an unintended consequence of ostracizing non-participants. "You just don't know because you haven't served" is a line commonly used by South Korean men to disregard their female peers in a range of social settings including workplaces. The sense of entitlement leads to a false sense of superiority, which in turn strengthens the existing patriarchy. When the #MeToo movement took hold in South Korea earlier this year, many women came forward with their stories of sexual misconduct by men. The movement quickly escalated to a broader gender war sparking fierce online debates around gender equality. Many of these debates, however, reached a deadlock when the issue of conscription was brought up. For some men, the burden of conscription even entitled them to silence women over the grave issues of gender-based violence. Expanding the duty of national defense to include women cannot instantly solve these problems, but it will be a critical first step toward achieving greater gender equality in South Korea. In 2016, Norway expanded its conscription to include women, not because it needed more conscripts but because it aimed to improve gender equality. In 2017, Sweden followed suit by introducing universal conscription. These are testaments to the underlying social norms of gender equality in Norway and Sweden, which were ranked second and fifth most gender-equal countries in the 2017 Global Gender Gap Report published by the World Economic Forum. South Korea was ranked 118th. There will be challenges in implementing a gender-neutral national defense. It will take time. But having women as equal partners to men in national defense is crucial to advancing our views toward women's role in our society. We must start by working toward a societal consensus on universal conscription. If one's belief should not come in the way of serving one's country, neither should one's gender. Koo Won-Mo is a graduate student in public policy at Harvard University with a deep interest in the national defense issues of South Korea. He served as an aide to the South Korean minister of national defense during his three-plus years as an Air Force officer. The Rohingya Muslims have endured more than a year of savagery at the hands of the Myanmar military, which has burned their villages, killed and raped their people, and driven about 700,000 of them out of the country in what amounts to a campaign of ethnic cleansing. What refuge they could find has been in Bangladesh, in crowded camps near the seaside city of Cox's Bazar. Eager to move them out, Bangladeshi officials had planned with the Myanmar government to begin repatriating some Rohingya on Thursday, despite the strenuous objections of human rights groups that warned it wouldn't be safe. Those plans were put on hold when, not surprisingly, officials could find no one who wanted to return to the country where they had just been persecuted and tortured and had their homes destroyed. The repatriation efforts should not simply be paused; they should be abandoned until the Myanmar government, which has a shameful history of discrimination and violence against the Rohingya, reins in the military and provides for the Rohingya's safe return to their villages. And that does not include simply shuffling them from one miserable refugee camp in Bangladesh to another in Myanmar, where thousands of Rohingya already are forced to live in camps. According to reports from observers in Myanmar also known as Burma the government has been readying "transit camps" for Rohingya who return from Bangladesh. That's just wrong. People should be allowed to go back to their villages and housing should be rebuilt for them there. And they need the protection of United Nations or humanitarian-group monitors onsite. All this is part of an appalling humanitarian crisis that has long afflicted the stateless Rohingya, who have been denied citizenship in a country with a Buddhist majority population that resents their presence and considers them illegal immigrants. A deadly attack on several Myanmar government security posts by Rohingya rebels in August of 2017 set off the last epic round of violence. But the government's scorched earth response was orders of magnitude more brutal than the initial violence. Myanmar leader Aung San Suu Kyi's continued refusal to condemn the military's campaign of violence and to safeguard the Rohingya is unconscionable and appalling to all who have revered the Nobel Peace Prize winner. When Vice President Mike Pence told Suu Kyi at a summit of Southeast Asian nations that the violence that drove the Rohingya out of Myanmar was "without excuse," Suu Kyi gave a bristly response. Amnesty International recently stripped her of its highest award, saying that she no longer was a courageous defender of human rights. She needs to show the world that she remembers how to be one. The above editorial appeared in the Los Angeles Times. It was distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC. British Prime Minister Theresa May on Thursday defended the "Brexit" agreement she reached with the European Union as "a decisive breakthrough." A more honest description would be "making the best of a bad job," the bad job being the disastrous decision by 52 percent of voters in 2016 to withdraw the United Kingdom from the EU. No one is particularly happy with the deal May's government has cut, but if Brexit is going to go through, the agreement deserves to be approved by the British Parliament. That would allow the U.K. to leave the EU without an abrupt rupture in its trade with Europe and without jeopardy to the hard-won peace process in Northern Ireland. May shouldn't be deterred by defections from her Cabinet or the possibility of a challenge to her leadership from dissidents in the Conservative Party. Like many Europeans and, indeed, many U.K. residents, we'd like to see the whole Brexit deal undone in a national referendum or otherwise. But that seems increasingly unlikely. The 585-page agreement reached by British and EU negotiators doesn't permanently define future trade relations between the two parties. But it does provide for a gradual transition and contains complicated procedures to ensure that goods and people can travel freely between the Northern Ireland, which is part of the U.K., and the independent Republic of Ireland, which will remain part of the EU. The fact that both the U.K. and the Republic of Ireland were members of the EU contributed significantly to the Protestant-Catholic peace process in Northern Ireland. That's why preventing the return of a "hard border" between Ireland and Northern Ireland is essential. To that end, the agreement contains provisions that, under some circumstances, could allow EU rules to be imposed on Northern Ireland that don't apply to the rest of the U.K. Different treatment for Northern Ireland is anathema to some of May's critics, including members of the Democratic Unionist Party of Northern Ireland, which has formed a governing arrangement with May's Conservatives. One DUP member of Parliament warned that the deal would lead to "the breakup of the United Kingdom." But successive governments in London have recognized that Northern Ireland is a special case and that connections between the northern and southern parts of that island are important. For example, in 1993, Prime Minister John Major declared that the British government had "no selfish strategic or economic interest in Northern Ireland" and would accept the decision of the majority of the people of Northern Ireland about whether they wanted to remain part of the U.K. The British government reaffirmed that position in the 1998 Good Friday agreement. Brexit is a bad idea beyond its consequences for Ireland. It will hamper British businesses and deny the U.K. a voice in the political deliberations of the EU; it is a giant step backward for the post-World War II project of European integration. Sadly, there seems to be little chance that the voters will be offered an opportunity to reconsider their decision. That means the goal should be a separation that causes the least disruption and disorder. That is what May is proposing. The above editorial appeared in the Los Angeles Times. It was distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC. By Tong Kim A think tank report disclosing no new critical information about North Korea rarely creates a wave of repercussions, but that was the result of one on satellite imagery analysis of the Sakkanmol and a dozen other operating missile bases located throughout the North. The report was released by the Center for Strategic International Studies in Washington, igniting a public debate on North Korea, with an outburst of hawkish comments from many experts and politicians both Democrat and Republican. Some accused President Trump of being fooled by the North Koreans. Joseph Bermudez, one of the three authors of the report, grouped the identified operating missile bases into three belts extending from near the DMZ to the border with China to the north, each of which house ballistic missiles including ICBMs according to their ranges. The report was first published by the New York Times on Nov. 12, with the headline "In North Korea, Missile Bases Suggest a Great Deception." The story was picked up quickly by other major media outlets, questioning the North's commitment to denuclearization and President Trump's approach. Trump tweeted the story was "inaccurate" and "fake news." It came at a time when Trump lost the House of Representatives in the midterm elections, and a few days after the North's cancellation of a scheduled meeting between Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and his counterpart Kim Yong-chol planned for Nov. 8 in New York. Pyongyang was reverting to confrontational rhetoric, denouncing U.S. sanctions, and threatening to return to the "byongjin" policy of nuclear development. Are they losing their confidence in Trump's ability to deliver? The reported bases were not new to the U.S. and South Korean authorities. Technically, the North has not violated any agreement: There has been no agreement with the North on the operation or disposition of their missiles and missile bases; though Washington believes denuclearization should include the elimination of delivery systems of nuclear weapons. South Korea's presidential spokesman said the New York Times' descriptions such as "deception" or "undeclared" are not helpful when there is the need for dialogue to negotiate the nuclear and missile issues. Pyongyang has not agreed to declare their weapons arsenal. So far, there is no agreement that oblige them to declare their missile bases. In a new year's message in January, Kim Jong-un ordered mass production and deployment of missiles and nuclear weapons. However, the situation has changed with three inter-Korean summits and the historic U.S.-North Korea summit in Singapore in June. It is true that Trump said after Singapore that North Korea was no longer a nuclear threat to the United States. While it is reasonable to accept the threatening nature of the mere existence of deadly weapons in the hands of North Korea, we should also accept that the last 10 months have been more peaceful and hopeful for denuclearization than a year earlier when both North Korea and the U.S. were threatening to strike each other. After the Singapore summit, Trump suspended large-scale military exercises in recognition of the North's positive actions, including commitment to "complete denuclearization," no nuclear or missile tests, proceeding with the destruction of nuclear test sites, turning over of remains of the war dead from the Korean War, and restraining from saber rattling. On the optimistic side, Kim Jong-un's return visit to the South is still possible before the end of this year, according to Seoul's Unification Minister Cho Myoung-gyon, who gave an in-depth discussion at the Wilson Center, Nov. 15. Cho included all salient aspects of inter-Korean relations as they may relate to denuclearization and the U.S.-Korea alliance. There are indications that a U.S.-North Korea meeting may soon be held to revive the nuclear talks. Vice President Mike Pence told President Moon at the ASEAN summit that a second meeting between President Trump and Kim will take place after January 2019. Minister Cho said it is still possible to declare an end to the war within this year. He shared his insight that Kim needs it as a justification to move on in carrying out his denuclearization commitment. From the beginning, no one thought it would be easy to negotiate with the North. Many thought it would be a difficult long haul. Many others still think that the North will never give up its nuclear weapons. Even the South Korean unification minister did not exclude the possibility that the North might want to keep some of its nuclear weapons at the end. Seoul and Washington are rock solid in their unified position to keep sanctions on Pyongyang until after denuclearization. Will the North yield to the pressure, which is a hold up on the next step by the North? The answer is, unlikely. Tong Kim (tong.kim8@yahoo.com) is a Washington correspondent and columnist for The Korea Times. He is also a fellow at the Institute of Corean-American Studies. A soldier or policemen guards the West Gate, circa 1904. By Robert Neff Judging from circumstantial evidence (scant reports here and there), Friedrich Kalitzky was fond of three things: bicycles, alcohol and trouble. In the 1890s, when the bicycle craze was sweeping Korea, his shop was one of the first to sell bicycles and parts. He was also an avid bicyclist and enjoyed taking to the streets and speeding through the crowds of people, dogs, horses and bulls even after imbibing a drink or two or three or four. This penchant for speed and drink led to many encounters with Korean authorities especially the Imperial Guard. On July 2, 1901, just before noon, Kalitzky allegedly in a highly drunken state was riding his bicycle near the West Gate. As he raced down the hill gathering speed he noticed a member of the Imperial Guard sitting in the middle of the street enjoying his late breakfast or lunch. He rang his bell several times but the soldier refused to get up and move and Kalitzky was forced to swerve around him. In doing so, he lost control of his bicycle and plunged into one of the gutters that lined the streets. These gutters basically open sewers were extremely foul and Kalitzky was left with cuts and bruises on the right side of his body. His bicycle was destroyed in the accident. The cost to Kalitzky was immense. Bicycles were extremely expensive and one can imagine the loss of face he suffered was equally expensive (although well deserved). The soldier, realizing he would likely be held responsible, prudently melted away into the crowd of amused onlookers. Kalitzky demanded redress and made a formal complaint to the Korean government. Apparently it was not his first complaint or encounter, for he was referred to as "an old offender" but, nonetheless, the Korean officials could not risk offending a foreign government and so an investigation was made. For two and a half months the soldier's identity was sought but was never discovered. A scapegoat was needed. Kim Dae-seon, who was in charge of the guards that day, was found guilty of dereliction of duty (failure to maintain discipline of his subordinates) and sentenced to jail after receiving 80 lashes. The war between Kalitzky and the Imperial Guard had begun. Corporal punishment being carried out in the early 1900s. Daedong Elementary School. Capture from school's website By Hwang Jae-ho One out of 14 Koreans is in an international marriage more than 7 percent. This is numerical evidence that Korean society is becoming more accepting of international marriages compared with the past. Nowadays, we see celebrities who are married to non-Koreans, and fluent Korean-speaking foreigners through TV programs. Along with the media, many organizations have campaigns that might steadily change our perspective on multicultural families. In the past, we were used to distinguishing "the foreigners" through their skin color and thought they could not get along with Korean society. However, the bias and repulsion have certainly vanished in some areas. T here is a special elementary school in Seoul that has a majority of children who come from multicultural families. It is Daedong Elementary School, established in the 1980s. Daedong is in Yeongdeungpo and is designated a "World Citizens School" by the Seoul Education Office. Its reputation is famous among multicultural families. This week, I met the principal of Daedong, Choi Young-nam. Choi Young-nam, the principal of Daedong Q: Would you briefly introduce today's Daedong? The number of Chinese students at Daedong has dramatically increased compared with four to five years ago. Back in 2015, the ratio of multicultural children (who come from international marriages or foreign parents) was less than half. However, today we are recording 318 out of 445, which is about 71.5 percent. Among the 318, 95 percent of parents have Chinese nationality. We have 302 (67.9 percent) Chinese, 127 (28.5 percent) Koreans and 16 (3.6 percent) who come from other countries, including Southeast Asia. So the rumor that every Daedong student is Chinese is totally untrue. Q: How are you operating Daedong? Is there any particular way? I was appointed as the principal of Daedong on March 1 this year. I still remember that day. It was a pretty heavy burden for me to work in Daedong back then, because of Daedong's unique conditions. However, as I live my everyday with them I see Daedong children's manners and purity as a considerable merit. Also, how parents respect teachers actually comforts the mood in Daedong. Though the academic achievement might be slow, teachers and administration members feel very stable with the parents. Now my vision is to strengthen the weak. While thousands of Koreans are heading to China to learn Chinese, why don't we develop our special conditions to improve ourselves? My ultimate goal is to build Daedong into a place where children with various nationalities can light-heartedly come and learn. Q: Are there any difficulties caused due to cultural differences? I don't witness particular cultural collisions, but know there is big difficulty in the language barrier. In this sense, many of the students are in fact falling behind in the standard academic levels, in such as Korean or math. To overcome this inevitable barrier, we are having afterschool supplementary classes and operating a program at library where senior students can voluntarily read the books out loud to the juniors. This actually works very well and builds bonds among students. Besides the academic part, we are also having a "Let's Commend" program for healthy minded growing. In this little box of compliments, anyone from friends and teachers to parents can freely participate. We systemized this program that every week we select the most highly laudable student and officially share compliments through the school broadcast. Similarly, we united our greetings to each other as "love you." By doing so, we are encouraging and letting them know they deserve respect and being cared for. "Box of Compliment" Korea Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI) Chairman Park Yong-maan, second from left, and Japan Chamber of Commerce and Industry Chairman Akio Mimura, second from right, attend the 11th Korea-Japan Chamber of Commerce and Industry Summit Meeting in Hokkaido in this July 2017 file photo. / Courtesy of KCCI Japan's stance on forced labor ruling sees annual meeting in Busan cancelled By Park Jae-hyuk Business ties between Korea and Japan have been deteriorating because of Tokyo's hostile attitude toward a recent Supreme Court ruling here on forced labor during the colonial occupation, industry officials said Sunday. According to the Korea Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI), the Korea-Japan Chamber of Commerce and Industry Summit Meeting, which was due to be held in Busan Nov. 12 and 13, was cancelled because the Japan Chamber of Commerce and Industry (JCCI) wanted to put the issue on the agenda. "We wanted to talk about economic issues only, without mentioning political and social issues including the forced labor ruling," a KCCI spokesman said. "Japan did not accept our demand, so we cancelled this year's meeting." The spokesman said the annual meeting would probably resume in Japan in 2019. The two chambers take turns in hosting the meeting. "JCCI officials visited our office Nov. 8 and said they understood our decision on the Busan meeting," he said. "The two chambers agreed to try their best to resume the summit next year." It is speculated that the JCCI highlighted the forced labor issue, because incumbent Chairman Akio Mimura is an honorary chairman of Nippon Steel & Sumitomo Metal, the company ordered to compensate Koreans who worked as forced laborers during Japan's colonial rule of Korea between 1910 and 1945. On Nov. 7, Mimura called for prompt normalization of relations between Korea and Japan, saying Japanese firms had been able to build their factories here and do businesses, thanks to the Treaty on Basic Relations between Japan and the Republic of Korea signed in 1965. Japan has argued that it settled the forced labor issue on a government-to-government basis under the 1965 agreement, while Korea has urged Japan to compensate individuals. Other business lobbies in Japan, including the Japan Business Federation and the Japan Association of Corporate Executives, also said they were concerned about possible damage to business ties after the ruling. Against this backdrop, the Japanese Embassy in Korea held a meeting of Japanese businessmen in Korea, Nov. 15, to assure them that they did not have to compensate anybody. "The Japanese government's consistent position, as stated in various opportunities, is that (the matter) was completely and finally settled in the 1965 accord," Kohei Maruyama, a minister at the embassy, was quoted as saying. The Japanese Embassy allowed the Japanese press to observe the meeting, but banned the Korean press from entering. By Jun Ji-hye Samsung Electronics and SK hynix could become victims of the U.S.-China trade war, with the prolonged conflict between the nation's two major trade partners showing signs of spreading to the semiconductor industry. Officials of the two Korean memory chip makers are paying keen attention to remarks made by the Chinese antitrust authority, Friday, that it had made important progress in its probe into price-fixing allegations involving the world's three dominant DRAM memory chips makers Samsung Electronics, SK hynix and U.S.-based Micron Technology. Given that the remarks came amid intensifying trade tension between Beijing and Washington, officials here are expressing concerns over the possibility of China imposing stricter regulations or punitive measures, including fines, against Micron Technology, which could inevitably hurt Samsung Electronics and SK hynix as well. "If China wanted to take any actions against the United States with its recent investigation, it would not be able to only target the U.S. company as it would be too blatant," an industry source said Sunday. "This is why there is a possibility that Korean companies could become targets as well." According to Chinese media, the Chinese antitrust authority made the remarks during a media conference marking the 10th anniversary of the country's antitrust law, saying the authority had secured diverse data of the three companies and dozens of their partners. The authority said it was now reviewing legal proceedings. China has investigated price-fixing allegations since May, saying DRAM prices had risen sharply. It searched the offices of the three companies in Beijing, Shanghai and Shenzhen. The three semiconductor makers control the market for DRAM memory chips. Washington-Beijing tension in the semiconductor sector has grown since July when U.S. chipmaker Qualcomm gave up its proposed takeover of Netherlands' NXP after China refused to grant regulatory approval. Eight other jurisdictions, including the European Union and Korea, had approved the takeover deal worth $44 billion since it was announced in October 2016. China was the lone party that delayed the deal for nearly two years. Then in October, the Donald Trump administration cut off Chinese state-backed semiconductor maker Fujian Jinhua Integrated Circuit Company from U.S. exports of components and software. The U.S. Commerce Department said the export ban came because Fujian Jinhua "poses a significant risk of becoming involved in activities that are contrary to the national security interests of the United States." The measure is a serious setback to the Chinese chipmaker, which is seeking to mass-produce DRAM memory chips next year. "It is difficult to predict how situations will go because conflicts between the United States and China in the semiconductor sector are growing," said an official from a Korean company. "We are keeping an eye on developments." Models promote LG Electronics' V40 ThinQ smartphones at Nexon's booth that offer gamers the opportunity to try out mobile games during the Global Game Exhibition G-Star 2018, which kicked off Thursday and ended Sunday. / Courtesy of LG Electronics By Jun Ji-hye Samsung Electronics and LG Electronics have engaged in heated competition at the global game exhibition G-Star 2018, promoting their respective gaming products such as gaming monitors and mobile devices. The event kicked off in the southeastern port city of Busan Thursday and ended Sunday. Companies potentially get great results from promoting their products at G-Star as the event attracts thousands of visitors daily. The firms offer gamers opportunities to experience diverse gaming equipment while trying out games during the event that can be purchased afterward. LG Electronics appeared to implement a more aggressive marketing strategy, setting up its booth at the BTC hall and supplying its gaming monitors and smartphones to game firms participating in the four-day event LG Electronics set up a large-scale zone within the booth of game firm Nexon, installing 160 LG V40 ThinQ smartphones and 295 LG G7 ThinQ smartphones. Gamers were given the chance to utilize the V40 ThinQ to demonstrate "The Kingdom of the Winds: Yeon" and "Mabinogi Mobile" and the G7 to demonstrate other games. The company said the V40 ThinQ, featuring a vivid display and design optimized for games, was well received. "The V40 ThinQ will offer an optimal game environment so that aficionados can enjoy games more conveniently," said Ahn Byung-deok in charge of mobile marketing at LG Electronics. The firm also filled the 100-seat "PlayerUnknown's Battlegrounds" booth, set up by Kakao Games, with its UltraGear gaming monitors, unveiled at the IFA electronics show in Berlin this year. Samsung Electronics did not set up its booth during the event, but carried out indirect marketing activities by supplying smartphones and tablet PCs as well as gaming monitors to game firms. The firm's Galaxy S9 Plus, which was launched in March, and its tablet PC Galaxy Tab filled Netmarble's booth displaying "Blade & Soul Revolution," "A3 Still Alive," "Seven Knights 2" and "The King of Fighters All Star." Samsung Electronics' curved gaming monitors were also seen at the booth of Epic Games, the U.S.-based game company behind "Fortnite." Competition between the two companies in the sector is expected to intensify further as the market continues to grow. According to market researcher TrendForce, the global shipment of gaming monitors this year will be between 3.5 million to 3.7 million. This is about a 40 percent increase compared to last year's shipment of 2.5 million. The global gaming monitor market has seen rapid growth thanks to the growing popularity of online shooting games that usually require high-quality hardware. E-Learning Corgi focuses on distance training and education, from instructional design to e-learning and mobile solutions, and pays attention to psychological, social, and cultural factors. The edublog emphasizes real-world e-learning issues and appropriate uses of emerging technologies. Susan Smith Nash is the Corgi's assistant. Homeplus union members urge management to retract a decision to terminate contracts with subcontractors, during a press conference at the company's headquarters in Seoul, Thursday. / Courtesy of Korean Mart Labor Union Retailer also hit by disclosure of worker death By Park Jae-hyuk Homeplus is facing a backlash from subcontracted workers for a decision to terminate contracts with eight subcontractors, according to the discount chain's union, Sunday. The conflict is expected to intensify further as the death of a subcontracted worker in April was belatedly revealed the day the union held a press conference to criticize the contract termination. On Thursday, the union urged management to retract the decision to terminate the contracts during a press conference in front of the company's headquarters in Seoul. Homeplus sent a letter to the union in October to notify them that it would not renew contracts with five private security companies which will end Dec. 31. The retailer also informed three subcontractors of the expiration of contracts. According to the union, the number of subcontracted workers who work at Homeplus stores nationwide amounts to 1,700. "The recent decision on contract termination goes against a collective agreement. It's illegal restructuring," Joo Jae-hyeon, head of the union said at the press conference. "We will fight for the survival of subcontracted workers and store safety." On the day of the press conference, a local news outlet reported a 47-year-old subcontracted worker, who had worked at Homeplus' Gimpo Pungmu branch in Gyeonggi Province for more than 10 years, died at the store April 3. According to the news outlet, the employee of a facility management company named Maxerve was found lying on the floor in the store's HVAC systems room an hour after he left his office, complaining about chest pains. The bereaved family filed a complaint against the store manager with the police claiming poor first aid contributed to his death, although Homeplus claims he did his best to save the employee. The hypermarket chain also said its decision on the contracts was not illegal. "We just notified them that our contracts with subcontractors will expire this year," the company official said. Homeplus plans to hire 140 workers from private security firms as permanent employees. According to the retailer, most subcontracted workers are part-timers who have served as greeters. However, the union wants full time employment for all 1,700 subcontracted workers. It plans to hold rallies at Homeplus stores nationwide, to pressure management to accept the demand. In July, Homeplus changed the status of 430 long-time irregular employees to regular workers. "Despite the tough business environment, we made the decision to be in line with the government policy to only have permanent employees," Homeplus CEO Lim Il-soon said at that time. Jet Tila, 44, is a chef, instructor, writer and TV personality who has appeared on the Food Networks Iron Chef America, Chopped and Cutthroat Kitchen. Hes been evangelizing Thai food in America since the 1990s and was named culinary ambassador of Thai cuisine by the Royal Thai Consul General in Los Angeles in 2013. Along the way, hes battled Iron Chef Masaharu Morimoto, gotten matching tattoos with Alton Brown and taken the Guinness world record for largest-ever stir fry. Thai immigrant royalty Tilas parents arrived separately in Los Angeles in the 1960s as part of the first big wave of immigrants to the U.S. from the Southeast Asian country. His family would open the citys first Thai food grocery, Bangkok Market in Hollywood, in 1972. The store gave the nascent community a badly needed epicenter. Tila would later spend years working at the business, starting by sweeping the floors, then packing groceries and eventually operating the butchers band saw. Less than a decade after starting the market, the family opened whats believed to be the first Thai restaurant in West L.A. Advertisement Royal Thai Cuisine, at Pico Boulevard and Overland Avenue, was designed to appeal to bigger-spending American clientele such as studio employees at nearby 21st Century Fox. It was the cool studio lunch in the 1980s, Tila said. It was Americanized Thai. My dads version of Thai barbecue spareribs was really just barbecue sauce blended with pineapple. Uninspired youth Tila, which is short for his familys full name, Tilakamonkul, struggled to emulate his parents drive as first-generation immigrants. He couldnt focus as a student and dropped out of high school his senior year and got a GED. He then drifted for several years, working odd jobs such as a security guard, alarm installer and a deckhand for fishing charters. I was lost, Tila said. I never had any aim or direction. Despite that, he always had the family market to fall back on. He didnt know it at the time, but it would change his life. Finding a purpose By the 1990s, Thai food was well established in America. English speakers flocked to Bangkok Market to seek out kaffir lime leaves, fish sauce and curry paste. Tila invariably would be stopped in the aisles and asked about how to cook with different Thai ingredients. The inquiries became so frequent he decided to begin holding cooking classes at his mothers Cheviot Hills home. He had learned to cook at the family restaurant and also by his grandmothers side. Now he was teaching neophytes the famous Thai balance of hot, salty, sour and sweet flavors. His classes became the subject of a 1999 Los Angeles Times article that catapulted Tila from obscurity. I got 500 calls in the span of a week after it was published, Tila said. Thats when the light bulb went off this is going to be my career. Formal training Tila enrolled in culinary school and later got a job at a corporate food-service firm cooking for employees at the likes of Google and Yahoo. That taught me everything about scale and having a system, said Tila, who also contributed nearly two dozen articles to The Times food section. I was a high school dropout, but I had to know math. I had to know the food cost, the labor cost and how to prep ahead to feed 5,000 to 10,000 people. Battling the Iron Chef By 2008, Tila was running his first big restaurant, Wazuzu at the Encore in Las Vegas an experience he likens to getting an MBA. The exposure to Las Vegas celebrity chef scene eventually led him to an offer to battle Morimoto in an episode of Iron Chef America. The secret ingredient was seaweed. Tila would lose by only a couple of points, but the experience was unforgettable. They tell you before what the three likely secret ingredients are going to be, Tila said. So you have to write three five-course menus, shopping lists and prep plans. We worked 10 to 12 hours during the day and then trained three more hours after work. It was like preparing for war. Influencers Within a few years, Tila would become a Food Network mainstay. Its where he would meet two of his biggest influences: Alton Brown and Bobby Flay. Brown taught Tila how to entertain audiences on TV. Flay had a penchant for sitting Tila down and asking what he was working on and how he could do it better. I admire those two men, said Tila, who credits them for helping him break out of his shell. Culturally, being an Asian kid, you dont want to raise your hand and stand out, Tila said. They taught me to go get it. To find my voice. Not to be arrogant, but confident. Branding Chef Jet Standing out in an industry teeming with talent is essential, Tila said. I learned quickly that I wasnt just a chef, but a brand a product that could be licensed, sold and used to promote things, Tila said. I wrote recipes and packaged them into concepts. I created a logo that I could apply to my recipes and concepts. That logo meant Chef Jet made that recipe and I had to make sure the recipes were delicious. So when any of my guests in restaurants, campuses or cooking classes made them, there was brand recognition. Angling for a break To unwind, Tila fishes regularly in the South Bay with the friends he made two decades earlier as a deckhand. All those guys are boat captains now, Tila said. We chase tuna together. But mostly, Tila spends his free time with his wife, Ali Tila, 6-year-old daughter, Amaya, and 3-year-old son, Ren, in their Silver Lake home. Good timing I found my niche as an Asian chef at a time when there was huge demand for my expertise, Tila said. People needed to learn how to cook Asian at the home level and the commercial food-service level. I was at the right place at the right time with the right set of skills. Dear Liz: My husbands brother had a stroke and is now incapacitated. My husband needs to take over his finances. The bank will not accept the durable power of attorney that they set up 14 years ago because it is too old. Another bank asked me if it was set up less than six months ago, because that would avoid problems. How can you do the right thing if there are so many obstacles? Answer: Banks and other financial institutions have gotten so persnickety about accepting powers of attorney that some states have passed laws forcing them to do so and yet people still report having problems, even in those states! Many institutions want you to use their own forms, which may not be possible once someone is incapacitated. Even if the person is willing to fill out the form before the fact, using a financial institutions power of attorney can create problems if the language in those forms contradicts the persons other estate planning documents. Then theres the sheer hassle factor, especially if the person has accounts at multiple banks and brokerages. You may be able to break through this logjam by hiring an attorney to contact the bank. You can get referrals to lawyers experienced in this issue from the National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys. Advertisement When to merge 401(k) accounts Dear Liz: I have $640,000 in a previous employers 401(k) and $100,000 in my new employers plan. Do you recommend I merge the two? Both funds offer similar investment options. My only motivation is based on simplifying paperwork during retirement, although there may be other advantages I am not aware of. Answer: The choice of investment options matters less than what you pay for them. If your current plan offers cheaper choices, rolling your previous account into your current one makes sense if your employer allows that. If the previous employers plan is cheaper, though, leaving the money where it is can make more sense. Once you actually reach retirement age you can decide whether to consolidate the plans or roll them into an IRA. IRAs give you a wider array of investment options, but keeping the money in 401(k) accounts has other advantages. Larger 401(k)s often offer access to cheaper, institutional funds that arent available to retail investors in their IRAs. A 401(k) may offer more asset protection, depending on your states laws, plus you can begin withdrawals as early as age 55 without penalty if you no longer work for that employer. Many factors go into rental choice Dear Liz: You recently answered a reader who didnt want to keep and rent out the home she inherited with her brother. You mentioned that if he refused to buy her out, she could go to court to force a sale. Another option is to hire a property management company to provide a buffer between the siblings but also between them and the tenants. The house will provide a healthy income to both bro and sis. Answer: Actually, we dont know that. While Mom-and-Pop landlords can make a tidy profit with single-family homes in some areas, just breaking even is hard in others. In many high-cost areas of the country, rents arent enough to cover the considerable costs of ownership, especially if the property still has a mortgage. Even if its paid off, the house could need extensive repairs or be damaged by future tenants. Vacancy rates could be high in that area, and the property management company would still need to get paid. The siblings also will need additional liability insurance to protect against being sued. The sister could get a much better return from investments that require a lot less from her. Mutual funds dont call to tell you the roof is leaking or the furnace needs replacement. The home could turn out to be immensely profitable and still be a bad investment for a sister whos an unwilling business partner and who resents the brother who refused to buy her out when he had the opportunity. Liz Weston, certified financial planner, is a personal finance columnist for NerdWallet. Questions may be sent to her at 3940 Laurel Canyon, No. 238, Studio City, CA 91604, or by using the Contact form at asklizweston.com. Distributed by No More Red Inc. An ebullient woman bounds onstage, chattering in French so voluble it makes one want to go back in time to those high school foreign language lessons and pay more attention. This is Sophie (Corinne Shor), who has a French accent so thick you could cut it with a baguette knife. Full of bonhomie, joie de vivre and all those other French phrases meaning pure pleasure in life, she has recently deplaned in Minneapolis, shortly before the onset of a hard winter. It doesnt take long for Sophie to confide her very open secret to the audience, whom she invites to become her confidantes throughout the brief, rollicking, poignant I Am Sophie, a solo show directed by Susan Angelo, now at Pacific Resident Theatre. It seems that the very French, oh so ooh-la-la Sophie is actually Kate, a Minnesotan born and bred, complete with flat accent and droning intonation. Kate gravitated to Paris a couple of years earlier and returned as the extravagant, lively, irresistible Sophie whom she adamantly insists is the person she intends to be, now and forever. Advertisement A recent Saturday Night Live sketch touched on commonalities of things universally detested, including students who studied abroad and returned home with the accents of their host countries. Make no mistake. Sophies transformation is no mere affectation, but a deep, conscious choice that, as we later learn, keeps the drab, sad reality of her actual self at bay. But as others react with negativity and dismay, most painfully Sophie-nee-Kates cancer-stricken father, Shors play touches upon timely issues of what it means to transition into ones authentic self, despite facing opprobrium from society and loved ones. Sophie has been called home to run the family business during her fathers decline and, as inevitable loss follows, Shors initially comic play deepens into a harrowing portrait of personal grief. The overriding problem of the play, however, is that Shors intriguing central premise is presented so reiteratively that even the lighter-than-air, delightful Sophie wears thin on occasion. Still, Sophies pursuit of identity is no narcissistic exercise, but a fascinating journey into what constitutes an individual, and how one is defined not only by society but in ones innermost self. ------------- I Am Sophie Where: Pacific Resident Theatre, 705 Venice Blvd., Venice When: 8 p.m. Thursdays-Saturdays; 3 p.m. Sundays. Ends Jan. 27. No performances Nov. 22 and Dec. 20-27. Price: $25-$34 Info: (310) 822-8392 pacificresidenttheatre.com Running time: 1 hour, 25 minutes ------------ See the most-read stories in Entertainment this hour Movie Trailers calendar@latimes.com @LATimesMovies Joel Simon was on the phone catching up with his dad two years ago while his wife and kids watched the Golden Globes. Meryl Streep was accepting the Cecil B. DeMille lifetime honor, and when Simon, the executive director of the Committee to Protect Journalists, heard Streep say, We need the principled press to hold power to account, he told his dad hed have to call him back. Simon walked into the living room just as Streep called on the famously well-heeled Hollywood Foreign Press, the group that doles out the Globes, and everyone in the Beverly Hilton ballroom to support the Committee to Protect Journalists. We are going to need them going forward, and theyll need us to safeguard the truth, Streep said, speaking shortly before Donald Trumps inauguration. I was completely surprised, Simon said. Advertisement During Meryl Streeps acceptance speech at the Golden Globes, she condemned President-elect Donald Trumps campaign-trail comments about a reporter with a disability. Flash forward a year later and Simon was attending the Golden Globes when Hollywood Foreign Press Assn. President Meher Tatna announced that the group was donating $1 million to both the Committee to Protect Journalists and the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists. The CPJ a nonprofit that promotes press freedom and defends reporters at risk in repressive countries has an annual operating budget of about $8 million, so the HFPAs sizable donation, and the publicity accompanying it, goes a long way, Simon said. When it comes to the issue of press freedom, the [HFPA] is definitely putting their money where their mouth is, Simon said, adding that he asked Tatna to chair this years CPJ awards dinner, which will be held Tuesday in New York. Known primarily for the Golden Globes, the splashy, alcohol-friendly awards ceremony thats second only to the Oscars in ratings and media coverage, the HFPA has weathered barbs over the years as a group more interested in gifts and posing for photos with movie stars than celebrating and promoting the art of cinema. It wasnt that long ago when the HFPA came under fire for nominating the musical bomb Burlesque for best picture (comedy/musical) after enjoying a lavish Las Vegas junket that included a private concert by the movies star, Cher. The groups longtime publicist, Michael Russell, filed a lawsuit shortly afterward, claiming he had been fired after telling then-President Phil Berk that members were engaging in unethical and potentially unlawful deals and arrangements which amount to a payola scheme. (A settlement was reached in 2013.) Recent presidents have attempted to burnish the reputation of the HFPA, which consists of 88 active members representing 55 countries. Nominees for the Golden Globes, once driven by putting A-list talent in the Beverly Hilton Ballroom, have increasingly mirrored the choices of the critical mainstream and motion picture academy. Nutty nominations, like those for the lumbering thriller The Tourist, starring Angelina Jolie and Johnny Depp, appear to be well in the rear-view mirror. The HFPAs biggest strides toward respectability have revolved around its philanthropic efforts, work that often goes unnoticed. As a nonprofit, the group must donate a portion of its annual revenues generated from its broadcast deal to televise the Globes. (The HFPA and Dick Clark Productions signed an eight-year contract with NBC in September to continue broadcasting the ceremony, with the network paying roughly $60 million a year for the rights.) At its annual grants banquet in August, the HFPA awarded $3.25 million in donations to 80 groups, a wide spectrum of nonprofits including the Film Foundation and the Refugee and Immigrant Center for Education and Legal Services, an advocacy organization based in Texas. The HFPA gave Cal State Northridges department of cinema and television arts a $2-million grant in 2015, creating a scholars program for minority students. It gave the school an additional $60,000 at this years banquet. The group also recently donated $300,000 to organizations helping people affected by the California wildfires and the mass shooting in Thousand Oaks. We support so many wonderful grantees, and we have seen the impact of our donations, including those for under-served students, Tatna said. That vision, that philanthropy, is at the heart of what this group is about today. The Mumbai-born Tatna, a reporter for the Singapore daily the New Paper, suggested making this years donations to the Committee to Protect Journalists and the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists, believing the grants were a good fit for a group made up of international journalists. In this climate, what better time to support these organizations? she asked. They do such yeoman work. Its a worldwide phenomenon that authoritarian regimes think that they can manipulate the people by repressing journalism. In this climate, what better time to support these organizations? Meher Tatna, Hollywood Foreign Press Assn. President Announcing the donations during the Globes was also important, Tatna added, to help publicize the groups work. After Streep gave a shout-out to CPJ in 2017, individual donations to the group nearly tripled, going from $1 million to $3 million. Simon said this years $1-million donation came at a critical juncture when more journalists worldwide are imprisoned than at any other time in history. The grant enabled the CPJ to, among other things, bolster its emergencies program, which helps evacuate threatened reporters and supports their families when theyre jailed. Press freedom is declining around the world, and the United States, which was a key ally in defense of press freedom around the world, is no longer playing that role, so we have a lot of work to do, Simon said. And that donation and the visibility that came with it was a huge boost. Tatna said she hopes to announce similar donations to journalism groups at the 2019 ceremony, pending the vote of membership. Unfortunately, when you see what is happening around the world, the climate is not getting better, Tatna said. Supporting these groups is essential work. glenn.whipp@latimes.com Twitter: @glennwhipp Hello! Im Mark Olsen. Welcome to another edition of your regular field guide to a world of Only Good Movies. The 2015 film Creed was full of unexpected treasures as it revitalized the venerable Rocky franchise. Now the new Creed II hits theaters in time for the holidays, bringing back main cast members Michael B. Jordan, Tessa Thompson and Sylvester Stallone. Directing this time is Steven Caple Jr. as the film smartly builds on Rocky III, Rocky IV and Creed. Times critic Justin Chang called the film the rare sequel that doesnt wind up feeling like the same old mistake. Trevell Anderson also spoke to Jordan, Thompson and Caple about the project. You dont want to mess up something that is already good, Caple said of the challenges of the sequel. A film garnering attention ever since its premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival, Green Book is the fact-based story of a Italian American man (Viggo Mortensen) driving an African American musician (Mahershala Ali) on a tour of the Deep South in the 1960s. Advertisement As Kenneth Turan said in his review for The Times, Consider this a warning. You may be tempted to push back against Green Book, may be itching to proclaim it too pat, too obvious, too much of a setup job, but resistance, as they say, is futile. Its deeply embedded in this films DNA to make us feel good, and, really, what could be wrong with that? And for a different road trip movie, there is Hannah Fidells smartly silly comedy The Long Dumb Road, starring Jason Mantzoukas and Tony Revolori. For The Times, critic Michael Rechtshaffen called the pair a terrifically entertaining odd couple. There are still plenty of L.A. Times events focusing on awards season coming up, including a screening of The Kindergarten Teacher followed by a Q&A with actress Maggie Gyllenhaal on Monday, Nov. 19. For info on all these events, go to events.latimes.com/screenings Viola Davis, left, Cynthia Erivo, Michelle Rodriguez, and Elizabeth Debicki in Widows (Merrick Morton / 20th Century Fox) Widows Directed by Steve McQueen, who co-wrote the film along with Gillian Flynn, Widows is a sleek heist movie that is also a deeply felt look at how race, class and gender affect peoples lives. With a packed ensemble cast, in the film Viola Davis plays a woman forced to steal to pay off her husbands debts after he dies while committing a robbery. The cast also includes Elizabeth Dibecki, Michelle Rodriquez, Cynthia Erivo, Liam Neeson, Colin Farrell, Bryan Tyree Henry and Daniel Kaluuya. Reviewing for The Times, Justin Chang wrote, Widows doesnt muster much hope for men in general, who are always arguing and barking orders when theyre not stabbing and shooting one another in the back. Male power political, institutional, relational, physical is shown to be an oppressive force and a banal fact of life. Trevell Anderson spoke to McQueen and Flynn about their adaptation. As Flynn said, she was excited by the idea that you can keep the audience excited and use the engine of a heist thriller to kind of keep them on the edge of their seats while youre talking about really interesting issues of the day, in this case race and gender and poverty and big-city corruption. At Slate, Dana Stevens wrote, Theres little about this dark vision of urban corruption and do-it-yourself grand larceny thats fun, per se. But working with Gone Girl author Gillian Flynn, with whom he adapted the script from a 1980s British television series by Prime Suspect creator Lynda La Plante, McQueen has created a tense and satisfying action drama with a decidedly feminist bent. For the Associated Press, Lindsey Bahr added, The ensemble is a blast. Everyone gets their moment and you come away feeling like you really got to know most of them, but it is Davis and her unforgettably searing intensity (and killer wardrobe) who owns Widows from start to finish. Willem Dafoe as Vincent Van Gogh in At Eternitys Gate. (Lily Gavin / Elevation Pictures) At Eternitys Gate Directed and co-written by artist and filmmaker Julian Schnabel, At Eternitys Gate is a portrait of Vincent Van Gogh that attempts to capture the way he saw the world, adapting a deeply interior and subjective point of view. In the lead role, Willem Dafoe won the best actor prize at the Venice Film Festival. In his review for The Times, Kenneth Turan said, Dafoes work, the look in his searching, despairing eyes, feels beyond conventional acting, using intuition as well as technique to go deeply into the character, putting us in Van Goghs presence. For The New York Times, Manohla Dargis wrote, Schnabel is interested in this difficult, mercurial man and attentive to his hardships. Strikingly, though, his interest has a rare quality of tenderness to it, perhaps because, unlike most filmmakers who make movies about great artists, he is fundamentally preoccupied with art itself. At Vanity Fair, Richard Lawson added, Van Goghs struggle with the world was one of pushing it away, and trying to pull it close all at once. At Eternitys Gate is good at capturing that dizzying contradiction and the poor soul at its center. Actress Simone Missick, left, director Nijila Mumin, actress Zoe Renee and producer Avril Z Speaks of Jinn. (Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Times) Jinn The feature debut for writer-director Nijla Mumin, Jinn is a semi-autobiographical story of a high school girl (Zoe Renee) navigating her own identity after her mother (Simone Missick) converts to Islam. In her review for The Times, Katie Walsh wrote, Jinn is a familiar story, told in a cultural context rarely depicted on film, and Mumins approach is so lyrical and empathetic that it feels completely fresh and new. I spoke to the team behind the film ahead of its world premiere earlier this year as part of the South by Southwest Film Festival. As Mumim said, Growing up, the people I was around, I never saw them on screen. And I know they exist . To be able to show them in this light, in a real, textured, flawed light is important to me. At Vulture, Emily Yoshida wrote, Mumins script is pleasantly inquisitive, and its refusal to arrive at easy answers is its engine. Jinn is a special little film, one that never lets its complicated, contradictory characters become abstractions, but instead revels in all the disparate elements that make them who they are. Email me if you have questions, comments or suggestions, and follow me on Twitter @IndieFocus. SIGN UP for the free Indie Focus movies newsletter The Federal Aviation Administration building in Washington, D.C. (Andrew Harnik / Associated Press) In one low-impact crash after another, pilots and passengers in Robinson R44 helicopters were burning to death when the fuel tanks ruptured and burst into flames. Australian aviation regulators grew so alarmed that in 2013 they ordered all R44s grounded until their all-aluminum tanks were reinforced. Officials in New Zealand, South Africa and across Europe also took steps to make the helicopters safer, pushing for tank upgrades. In the United States, the Federal Aviation Administration took a less aggressive approach. Advertisement In 2014, the agency concluded that the R44 was statistically no more prone to fatal post-crash fires than other helicopters designed and certified by the government before 1994. It rejected a recommendation by the National Transportation Safety Board to make the tank retrofits mandatory. The FAA, whose mission is to provide the safest, most efficient aerospace system in the world, insists it aggressively monitors aircraft manufacturers and operators. The FAA does not hesitate to take action when circumstances warrant, it said in a statement to The Times. On several key safety issues that have dogged the R44, however, the agency has taken a more hands-off approach than its foreign counterparts. Loss of control, lack of attention One of the first major tests for the FAA involving Torrance-based Robinson Helicopter Co. occurred in the early 1990s. The NTSB investigated nearly three dozen fatal crashes in which pilots suddenly lost control, and after ruling out common mechanical failures asked the FAA to ground all Robinson helicopters pending further study. The FAA responded with Special Flight Aviation Regulation 73, which required extra instruction and special flight checks for pilots of the four-seat R44 and the two-seat R22. Among the topics it addresses is mast-bumping, which causes main rotor blades to break off or slice through the cockpit or tail cone. Since the adoption of the regulation in 1995, Robinson mast-bumping accidents have declined markedly, according to the FAA. The Times analysis of NTSB accident reports identified 10 fatal Robinson crashes since then in which investigators noted signs of mast-bumping. The problem also has persisted in New Zealand, which took a harder line after tallying 14 fatal mast-bumping accidents from 1996 to 2015, all in Robinson helicopters. In October 2016, its Transport Accident Investigation Commission placed Robinson mast-bumping on its watch list of top safety concerns, and several government agencies have since banned the use of the helicopters. The company has sought to lift the watch-list designation, insisting that mast-bumping accidents are entirely avoidable when pilots use good judgment and follow operating procedures. Our fleet of helicopters have flown 35 million flight hours worldwide, safety director Bob Muse told Radio New Zealand in March. If there was a design issue or a flaw in it, it would absolutely be right in our face. The New Zealand government hasnt budged. Foreign aviation authorities also have zeroed in on other Robinson flight-control issues and criticized the FAA for failing to address them. Ran Lapid, a former Israeli Air Force helicopter pilot who flew Boeing 747s for El Al Airlines, had logged more than 1,000 hours in R44s when the one he was flying on Nov. 24, 2009, crashed into the Mediterranean near Netanya, Israel. He and all three passengers were killed. Accident investigators found that one of the main rotor blades had delaminated, or separated at the seams of its stainless-steel skin. The damaged blade flapped down and cut off the tail boom. The failure occurred abruptly, during a normal cruise flight, leaving those on board the helicopter with absolutely no chance of survival, Israels Ministry of Transportation and Aviation Safety said in a 125-page report. It concluded that Robinson Helicopter Co. and the FAA had failed to remedy a known and potentially lethal condition. Three years before Lapids crash, four people died in a similar accident in the Dominican Republic. That crash was soon followed by another in which a failed R44 rotor blade sent a helicopter into the ocean in Fiji, killing the pilot. Those accidents and others were well known to the FAA, which responded in 2007 by directing Robinson operators to visually inspect and routinely test the blades by tapping them with a coin a quarter dated 1965 or later to listen for evidence of flaws in their bonding. The NTSB wanted the FAA to order Robinson to use a more reliable test, but the agency declined, saying the coin method was the best available. The Israeli investigation of Lapids crash found that the FAA and the company had adopted a certain degree of repression about the delamination issue. To a significant extent, both the FAA and the helicopter manufacturer were aware of the fatal failure instances that occurred in several of the accidents worldwide, but for various reasons, both provided explanations and diagnoses holding to the view that there was no catastrophic problem, the report stated. President Kurt Robinson disputed the Israelis conclusions and said his company, which attributed Lapids crash to poor maintenance, had issued service bulletins calling for blade inspections to detect flaws. To say we were repressing information, that is just unfounded and unfair, he said. The FAA declined to comment on the Israeli investigation, but a spokesman for the agency said its directives on testing Robinson blades shows we recognized an unsafe condition existed and took steps to address it. In December 2014, after at least a dozen blade failures around the world, the FAA determined that debonding continues to occur and ordered the replacement of blades on 1,290 affected R22s and 1,353 R44s, at a total cost to their owners of more than $122 million. An export status board at Robinson Helicopter Co. in Torrance. (Christina House / Los Angeles Times) Vulnerability of R44 tanks well known to U.S. regulators Nowhere is the FAAs approach more evident than in its response to Robinsons all-aluminum fuel tanks, prone to rupture in low-impact crashes and rollover accidents. The first of dozens of deaths and serious burn injuries occurred within months of the first R44 moving off the production line. On July 31, 1993, as Benjamin Venti Jr. took off at El Monte Airport with two passengers, the main control stick failed and his helicopter veered down, hit the runway and erupted into a fireball as it skidded along, NTSB records show. My son and his two best friends from college were killed, said Benjamin Frank Venti Sr. It was a horrible thing. Autopsies revealed that the pilot and one passenger died from burns and smoke inhalation. The other man was severely burned but died of a lacerated aorta. It took the company 16 years to begin building new R44s with more crashworthy tanks lined with flexible bladders. The next year, 2010, the company recommended the bladders as a voluntary retrofit for older R44s, at owners expense. It offered the parts for about $6,800, which Kurt Robinson said was below cost. He said the company could not have addressed the tank issue any faster because the technology was not available. Even today, some owners have not reinforced their tanks, Robinson said. The FAA has never ordered it. By contrast, Australian regulators took much stronger action after investigating two R44 post-crash fires. The first was near Sydney in February 2012, when the door of an R44 popped open during takeoff and the pilot reached out to close it and lost control. The tail rotor struck the ground, and the fuel tank breached and exploded. The fire spread quickly and its size and intensity gave no time for the occupants to successfully release themselves from the wreckage or for the bystanders to be able to extinguish the flames, Australias Transportation Safety Bureau reported. The next year, in March 2013, four retired Australian scientists burned to death in another low-impact crash south of Sydney when their R44 rolled over and caught fire after clipping some trees while landing. Regulators concluded that R44 accidents result in a significantly higher proportion of post-impact fire than other similar helicopter types. That April, they ordered all R44s grounded in Australia until retrofitted. In 2014. the NTSB called on the FAA to do the same in the U.S. By then, Robinson Helicopter Co. also had asked the FAA to mandate the upgrades. But the agency refused, based on its analysis of five years of data showing that R44s had no statistically higher percentage of fatalities as a result of post-impact fires than other helicopters designed and certified before 1994. That was the year the FAA required more resilient fuel systems for all newly designed helicopters. But it exempted models certified before 1994, including the R44. The NTSB criticized the FAA for comparing the R44 only to other models that also were built to potentially unsafe standards. Today the FAA stands by its decisions on the R44 tanks and all other Robinson issues. The FAA believes NTSB recommendations concerning Robinson helicopters have been effectively addressed, it said. This is the second part of a Los Angeles Times investigation. Read the first part. kim.christensen@latimes.com https://twitter.com/kchristensenLAT Camp fire death toll rises to 86 after burn victim dies in hospital By Alene Tchekmedyian Californias deadliest blaze on record has claimed 86 lives. (Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Times) The death toll from the devastating Camp fire in Butte County, Calif., rose to 86 after an 80-year-old man died of his burn injuries, authorities said Tuesday. Larry Smith of Paradise was burned Nov. 8 while attempting to put out flames that engulfed his car, the Butte County Sheriffs Office said. He was flown to the UC Davis Firefighters Burn Institute Regional Burn Center, where he died Nov. 25. Authorities also released the name of one other person who died in the blaze: Shirlee Teays, 90, of Paradise. Of the 86 people killed, 52 have been identified. Three people are still missing. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Three more Camp fire victims identified A recovery team searches for human remains after the Camp fire. (Marcus Yam / Los Angeles Times) The Butte County Sheriffs Office on Monday released the names of three more victims who died in the Camp fire. Authorities identified the following people and have notified their families: Rafaela Andrade, 84, of Paradise Don Shores, 70, of Magalia Jean Forsman, 83, of Magalia Of the 85 people killed in Californias deadliest blaze on record, 50 have been identified. Three people remain missing. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Woolsey fire victims identified as mother and son Firefighter Adan Rodriguez douses hot spots on Mulholland Drive last month. (Al Seib / Los Angeles Times) Los Angeles County coroners officials Monday identified a mother and son who died trying to escape flames in the destructive Woolsey fire. Shoushan Baklayan, 82, and her son Anthony Noubar Baklayan, 57, died in a car Nov. 9 in the 33100 block of Mulholland Highway in Malibu, coroners officials said. Authorities said that the younger Baklayan died of effects of thermal injuries; investigators have not determined a cause of death for his mother. The two were among three people who died in the blaze. The third victim has not been identified. The family released a statement through their spokesman, Brian Glicklich, in which they asked for privacy as they continue to grieve. The blaze, which erupted Nov. 8, ripped through nearly 97,000 acres in Ventura and Los Angeles counties, destroying 1,500 structures. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Authorities identify the remains of 3 more killed in Camp fire By B.J. Terhune Firefighters move heavy debris while searching for human remains at a destroyed residence 19 days after the Camp fire in Paradise, Calif. (Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Times) The Butte County Sheriffs Office has released the names of three more people who died in the Camp fire. Sheriffs officials said Wednesday that the remains of the following people had been identified and their relatives had been notified: Sally Gamboa, 69, Paradise Joy Porter, 72, Paradise Dennis Clark, 49, Paradise Californias worst wildfire killed 85 people when it tore through Butte County on Nov. 8. Officials say 10 residents are still missing. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Advertisement Authorities identify remains of 10 more people who died in Camp fire By B.J. Terhune Weeks after the Camp fire destroyed more than 18,000 structures in Californias Butte County, volunteers from search-and-rescue teams nationwide continue to look for human remains in the rubble. The names of 10 more victims of the Camp fire were released Monday by the Butte County Sheriffs Office, which has notified the next of kin. Helen Pace, 84, Paradise Gary Hunter, 67, Magalia Beverly Powers, 64, Paradise Sheila Santos, 64, Paradise Andrew Downer, 54, Paradise Lou Herrera, 86, Paradise TK Huff, 71, Concow Gordon Dise, 66, Chico James Garner, 63, Magalia Robert Duvall, 76, Paradise Californias worst wildfire has killed 85 people, and 11 residents in the Northern California counties where the blaze tore through in early November are still missing. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Camp fire death toll is revised to 85 Homes leveled by the Camp fire in Paradise, Calif. (Noah Berger / Associated Press) Authorities in Butte County revised the Camp fire death toll to 85 after investigators determined that, in three cases, human remains collected in multiple bags belonged to a single individual. Butte County Sheriff Kory Honea said investigators had identified 43 victims. For weeks, hundreds of searchers scoured 18,000 structures destroyed by the blaze looking for human remains, going over some areas more than once. Honea advised residents who head back to their neighborhoods in coming days to call the sheriffs office if they find bones or bone fragments. Investigators have accounted for all but 11 people reported missing in the wildfire. Crews have been working to clear tree hazards on public roads, but urged residents to be cautious because they have not assessed private properties. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Strangers from Paradise support one another in hotel lobby far from home By Angel Jennings Over the last few weeks, some Paradise evacuees have made a Best Western hotel home. They didnt know each other before the fire, though they lived in the same small town for years and frequented the same haunts. They have formed a little community at the Corning hotel around the waffle maker during breakfast, passing one another in the elevator and lounging in the lobby, Around the table, they trade stories of dodging embers and feelings of guilt. Together, they try to make sense of the tragedy that unites them. They are among thousands of Paradise residents who fled their homes the day the fire started and have not been allowed to return since. There is growing frustration at the pace of getting people back to see what is left of their properties as well as longer-term shelter plans for those who lost their homes. Read More Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Rain brings new dangers in Northern California areas burned in recent fires By Hannah Fry As a series of rainstorms begins to move across the state, officials in areas recently scarred by wildfires are on high alert for potential mudslides and flash flooding. The National Weather Service issued a warning of possible flash flooding in three counties in Northern California in advance of a storm expected to arrive late Wednesday. Forecasters predict the second in a series of three storm systems this week could drop more than an inch of rain on the Camp fire burn area in Butte County; the Carr, Delta and Hirz fires burn areas in Shasta County; and the Mendocino Complex fire scar in Lake County. Read More Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Advertisement Costs from Paradise fire will likely be in the billions, Zinke says U.S. Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke returned to Paradise, Calif., on Monday, saying the cost of Californias worst fires would probably be in the billions and that care would have to be taken in rebuilding the city. When we rebuild, having a frank discussion whether its appropriate to rebuild every place is an important part of the equation, he told the Associated Press in an interview. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Some victims of Paradise fire may never be found, officials say By Rong-Gong Lin II Authorities are coming to terms with the possibility that the search for victims of the Camp fire might never be complete and that some human remains wont ever be recovered. Is it possible that there could be a circumstance where someone was completely consumed by fire and therefore we wouldnt have something that we could collect? I would say it is within the realm of possibility, unfortunately, Butte County Sheriff Kory Honea said Monday. Theres nothing easy about this. This is just an unprecedented situation, he added. Read the latest here. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print New storms bring fresh anxiety in Paradise By Hannah Fry The first of three storm systems expected in wildfire-ravaged Butte County, Calif., dropped a smattering of rain Tuesday. Forecasters predicted about an inch of precipitation, saying the relatively weak system would sputter out by early Wednesday. But a stronger storm will roll in late Wednesday, bringing with it the potential for debris flows and up to 3 inches of rain through Thursday night. The Butte County Emergency Operations Center has prepared for the rain by clearing drainage culverts of debris, said Matt Gates, public information officer for the Paradise Police Department. The California Conservation Corps also has been working on erosion-control measures for mountain slopes filled with fire-damaged pine and chaparral. Ash doesnt absorb water, which complicates things, Gates said. A third storm could bring 2 to 4 inches of rain to the charred region from Friday through Sunday. Its the intensity that can cause debris flows, said Eric Kurth, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service. If the rain comes over time, theres some opportunity for it to absorb or gradually run off. When we have rapid runoff, thats when it can bring down entire hillsides. The soil in recently burned areas cannot absorb significant amounts of rainwater, so excessive precipitation can lead to fast-moving flows containing mud, debris and even trees and boulders. The devastation can be deadly and often comes without warning. The rain is also expected to complicate the already challenging search for human remains among the rubble of the Camp fire. Typically, crews scoop fire debris into a screen and sift it, looking for bone or bone fragments, but the ash and rain have mixed to form a clay-like substance, making the task nearly impossible. Officials have had to bring in water and gently wash away the clay to expose potential human remains in the charred mess. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Advertisement Mountain lion P-74 believed killed in Woolsey fire By Associated Press National Park Service officials say P-74, a young male mountain lion who lives in the area burned by the Woolsey fire, probably died. (National Park Service) Officials say a mountain lion tracked by researchers probably died in a wildfire that tore through Southern California communities and wilderness areas. The Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area tweeted Monday that theres been no signal from the GPS collar on the young mountain lion dubbed P-74 since Nov. 9. Thats the day the Woolsey fire swept into the central part of the Santa Monica Mountains northwest of Los Angeles. P-74 was a male born last year. Several other mountain lions and bobcats monitored by scientists in the area have been located. The huge fire charred a swath of national park land thats home to the big cats and popular among hikers, mountain bikers and horseback riders. The blaze burned 1,600 structures in and around Malibu and left three people dead. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print 88 dead and 203 still missing in Paradise fire zone By Rong-Gong Lin II The death toll from Californias worst fire jumped to 88 on Monday with 203 people still missing, officials said. Searchers have spent the last two weeks combing through the remains of Paradise, where much of the city was burned in the Camp fire. Officials said Monday that they had covered a good portion of the city. Its been a grim task, with most of the remains being found as just bones or bone fragments. The fire, which burned more than 14,000 homes in the Paradise region, was fully contained Sunday morning. A new rainstorm will move into the area in the coming days, and officials are worried that could make search efforts more difficult. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Officials believe mountain lion P-74 died in the Woolsey fire By Associated Press Lion P-74. (Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area) Officials say a mountain lion tracked by researchers probably died in a wildfire that tore through Southern California communities and wilderness areas. The Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area tweeted Monday that theres been no signal from the GPS collar on the young mountain lion dubbed P-74 since Nov. 9. Thats the day the Woolsey fire swept into the central part of the Santa Monica Mountains northwest of Los Angeles. P-74 was a male born last year. Several other mountain lions and bobcats monitored by scientists in the area have been located. The huge fire charred a swath of national park land thats home to the big cats and popular among hikers, mountain bikers and horseback riders. The blaze burned 1,600 structures in and around Malibu and left three people dead. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print 296 still missing in Paradise fire zone; 85 dead As of Sunday night, the number of people missing stands at 296 in Californias worst wildfire on record. The Butte County Sheriffs Department said the death toll was at 85. Searchers spent the day looking for remains in the Paradise area, where 14,000 homes were lost in the Camp fire. The number of missing has been going down as officials connect with people whose names are on the list. As of last week, it topped 1,000. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Advertisement Searching for anything that looks human: Grim work in Paradise continues By Cindy Chang At the Ridgewood mobile home park for senior citizens in Paradise on Sunday, more than 100 search and rescue workers in white jumpsuits and gas masks combed through the rubble with shovels and rakes. The surrounding pine trees were singed, ringing a neighborhood where every home had been reduced to charred, twisted wreckage. Last week, searchers found the remains of two people there, said Sgt. Dave Thompson of the Sonoma County Sheriffs Office. On Sunday, the grim, painstaking task yielded some bones, including those of two small dogs. But none were human. The searchers, many of whom are volunteers, also found a safe full of coins as they combed through Ridgewood and Ponderosa Mobile Estates next door. Were going trailer by trailer, piece by piece, turning it over for anything that looks human, said Thompson, who led an operation that drew searchers from counties such as Marin, Contra Costa, Shasta and Kern, as well as the National Guard and California Conservation Corps. Facebook photos before the fire of the Ridgewood community at Pentz and Wagstaff roads, where residents were 55 years and older, showed tidy mobile homes with well-kept gardens. The fire came over the ridge very fast, and senior citizens with limited mobility could have had trouble fleeing, Thompson said. As teams wrapped up their work, Thompson dispatched them to other neighborhoods to continue searching for people who lost their lives in the fire. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Disaster assistance operations are extended in Malibu and Agoura Hills Operations at disaster assistance centers in Malibu and Agoura Hills have been extended to keep helping residents affected by the Woolsey fire. The centers, located at the former Malibu Courthouse and the Conrad N. Hilton Foundation in Agoura Hills, are scheduled to be open through Dec. 8. Hours of operation are between 1 to 8 p.m. from Monday to Thursday, and 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Friday and Saturday. At the centers, residents affected by the fire can get help filing insurance claims and applying for assistance from the Federal Emergency Management Agency. They can also receive advice on how to clean up, repair and rebuild their properties. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Woolsey fire destroyed 1,643 structures in destructive siege of Ventura County and Malibu Destruction from Woolsey fire. (Los Angeles Times) The Woolsey fire destroyed 1,643 structures as it swept through Oak Park and Ventura County and into Malibu, according to a final report released Sunday. That makes it one of the most destructive fires in Southern California history, though it pales in comparison to the 14,000 homes lost in the Camp fire in Butte County. Hundreds of evacuees from the Malibu, Agoura Hills and Thousand Oaks areas spent the holiday weekend returning to their burned-out neighborhoods to survey their damaged or destroyed homes and to begin rebuilding their lives. Some were still debating whether to stay or leave. The Woolsey fire scorched more than 96,000 acres and left three people dead before it was fully contained on Thanksgiving Day, fire officials said. Pono Barnes, a spokesman for the Los Angeles County Fire Department, said firefighters are working on encouraging residents to prepare for winter rainstorms that could move over the burn area. The whole landscape in the area has changed, Barnes said. The vegetation that was there to hold the ground together was burned off. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Rain is helping firefighters battling Northern California fire, but a new storm could bring dangers By Ruben Vives Crews work in the wreckage of a structure destroyed in the Camp fire. (Associated Press) Light rains in the area have assisted firefighters in achieving 100% containment of Northern Californias devastating Camp fire, but most evacuations and road closures remain in effect. More than 1,000 firefighters remain on site, assisting with search and recovery efforts. Full containment came as a big relief for fire officials, who noted that the rain sped up the process. Full containment was originally projected for Nov. 30. We didnt get mudslides, so that was good, said Brigitte Foster, fire prevention officer for the Lassen National Forest and spokeswoman for fire officials regarding the Camp fire. We got enough to hamper down on the fire. The rains also gave officials the ability to reduce the number of fire personnel on duty and allow some to go home for the holiday weekend. We still have plenty of resources out there to work from the containment line and make sure there are no smoldering spots along the edge, Foster said. We still have search and rescue teams working in the area. And in preparation for residents being allowed to return to burn areas and assess property damage, crews were helping clear roadways and remove hazardous materials such as trees that could fall down. Its unknown when evacuees will be able to return. There are concerns about another storm approaching burn areas this week. Rain is expected to move into the Camp fire burn areas beginning Tuesday and continue through the end of the week, according to the National Weather Service. Up to 3 inches could fall in some lower elevations, forecasters said. On Wednesday, the same system is expected to deliver a half-inch to 2 inches in burn areas in Southern California. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Advertisement Woman returns to see ruins of Malibu drug treatment center: This place saved my life By Emily Alpert Reyes Along Trancas Canyon Road on Saturday, a woman snapped photos of the blackened wreckage of what was once an alcohol and drug treatment center. A wedge of scorched wall stood at a tilt, like a listing ship, peering over the Pacific below. Someone had taped business cards to a wall bordering the site, advertising a restoration business, but it was hard to imagine what could be restored. The woman, who declined to give her name, said she had been sober nearly seven months. This place saved my life, she said. She stayed in Newbury Park after she was evacuated, and it was the first time she had gotten a moment to see what had become of Creative Care Inc. There were people she had gotten to know there who are now living out of state and wanted photos. Its sad, she said. But its just material. I have sobriety. I have life, she said. And theyll rebuild. Read more here. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print 50,000 displaced by Northern California fire. Where will they go? By Anna M. Phillips Across Butte County a primarily agricultural area known for its walnut, almond and rice farms towns are struggling to absorb the roughly 50,000 people displaced by the Camp fire. Through no fault of their own, the evacuees arrival has worsened the states housing crisis and raised the possibility that they could be evicted from the region again, not by fire but by a scarcity of suitable dwellings. Hotels and motels from Sacramento to Redding are full. The vacancy rate in the rental market, which hovered around 3% before the fire, has fallen to near zero. Unable to find single-family homes in the area, evacuees have resorted to renting individual bedrooms, buying recreational vehicles and purchasing travel trailers. Others are simply leaving California for other Western states with a lower cost of living. Read more here. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Northern California fire now 100% contained; 85 dead, 249 still missing Destruction from the Camp fire. (Los Angeles Times) The worst fire in California history reached full containment Sunday morning, a milestone for a catastrophic inferno that killed at least 85 people with nearly 250 people still missing weeks later. The Camp fire is now 100% contained, California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection said Sunday, after burning nearly 14,000 homes and consuming 153,000 acres in and around Paradise in Butte County. Much of Paradise was lost in the fire, and search and rescue crews will continue looking through the ruins for more victims. At one point, there were more than 1,300 people listed as missing from the fire. But that number has been dropping in recent days. Over the weekend, it declined from more than 400 to 249 as officials were able to confirm more people on the list were actually alive. Several days of rain last week helped firefighters get a handle on the fire. Authorities expect the removal of ash and other toxic debris from the fire will be the largest such effort ever undertaken by state officials. The amount of debris is expected to dwarf the cleanup effort undertaken from last years Northern California fires. That effort led to more than 2 million tons of toxic debris removed from 6,000 properties in seven California counties: Sonoma, Napa, Lake, Mendocino, Butte, Yuba and Nevada, said Eric Lamoureux of the Governors Office of Emergency Services. County, state and federal governments jump start the process of removal of toxic ash and other debris, and can do so at no cost to the owner, Lamoureux said. Typically, about 80% of owners give the government permission to conduct the cleanup operations, with the rest opting to do it themselves. Read More Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Schools devastated by California fire struggle to get back to the business of educating students By Rong-Gong Lin II As this region still reels from the worst fire in California history, educators are faced with the challenging task of reopening schools even as the firefighters continue their work and searchers scour the area for more victims. They are working to identify replacement classroom space for schools that were burned to ashes during the fire. Paradise Unified School District was hardest hit, with multiple school buildings lost to the fires. Charter schools in the area also suffered. Read more here. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Advertisement Paradise fire search efforts pick up as firefighters increase containment The worst fire in California remained 95% contained Saturday morning. Rains helped put out the flames but also made it harder for firefighters to access some areas. The fireline that remains uncontained is located in steep and rugged terrain where it is unsafe for firefighters to access due to the heavy rains, CalFire said in a statement. With the rain passing, officials hope to intensify search and rescue efforts, with more than 400 still reported missing. The fire burned 153,336 acres and nearly 14,000 homes, with 84 dead. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Some Malibu residents still under evacuation order By Sarah Parvini In Malibu, some residents who evacuated from the Woolsey fire were still waiting to return home as officials worked to restore utilities and road access. That fire, which charred 96,949 acres and destroyed 1,643 structures, is 100% contained. Three people were killed. There is still a lot of work to be done, said Los Angeles County Fire Department spokesman Pono Barnes. Strike teams are in the area helping residents repopulate. Firefighters biggest job Friday was working with Southern California Edison and Southern California Gas Co., Barnes said. There was quite a bit of infrastructure damaged during the burn, he said. Edison is working to replace downed power lines and burned-out power poles. As many as 2,000 power poles have been replaced, he said. That is why we still have some evacuations in place, Barnes added. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print A wheelchair and gurney sit in rain amid devastation of Paradise medical complex By Gina Ferazzi The grim search for victims continued in Paradise on Saturday amid the rain. Times photographer Gina Ferazzi was struck by the image of an abandoned wheelchair and gurney in front of the destroyed Cypress Meadows post-acute medical facility. The rain is making the devastation in Paradise even more eerie and sad, she wrote. The rain is making the devastation in Paradise even more eerie and sad as abandoned wheelchairs and gurney still remain in front of the destroyed Cypress Meadows facility while search teams sift through ashes looking for human remains #CampFire pic.twitter.com/AyeD9io9FU Gina Ferazzi (@GinaFerazzi) November 24, 2018 Firefighters hand out #Thanksgiving dinners to victims of #CampFireParadise at Chico St @WCKitchen while Saphira Swisher, 6, prays before turkey dinner w/her family at a church shelter pic.twitter.com/o9Drj3dDeX Gina Ferazzi (@GinaFerazzi) November 22, 2018 Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Wildfire much worse because of climate change, new report finds By Tony Barboza Camp fires devastation. (Los Angeles Times) A new federal report found that climate change is taking an increasing toll on communities across the United States. It projects widespread and growing devastation as increasing temperatures, rising sea levels, worsening wildfires, more intense storms and other cascading effects harm our ecosystems, infrastructure and society. Among the findings: The area burned across the western U.S. from 1984 to 2015 was twice what it would have been if climate change had not occurred, according to analyses cited in the report. Earths climate is now changing faster than at any point in the history of modern civilization, primarily as a result of human activities, the report says. But the severity of future impacts will depend largely on actions taken to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and to adapt to the changes that will occur. The report comes as California faces a series of devastating wildfires that have claimed scores of lives and burned thousands of homes. Read more on the report here. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Advertisement Hes giving $1 million to help the high school students of fire-ravaged Paradise By Morgan Cook With many of their homes damaged or destroyed in the states most devastating wildfire on record, the students of Paradise High School face an uncertain future. On Tuesday, a man they have never met from a city more than 500 miles away will give them a gift he hopes will provide at least a small measure of security, support and comfort in a dark hour. Rancho Santa Fe businessman Bob Wilson plans to personally deliver a $1,000 check to each of the schools 980 students and 105 employees in Chico at a venue that has yet to be determined. Thats a total of $1 million for the wildfire victims to use as they see fit, no strings attached. Read More Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Camp fire now 95% contained, with help from rain Firefighters battling Californias deadliest fire on record continued to make progress Friday, with containment growing to 95% and the number of homes burned at nearly 14,000. The Camp fire has scorched more than 153,000 acres and killed at least 84 people in Butte County, according to California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection officials. But hundreds of residents are still missing, and thousands more have been displaced by the massive blaze. Read More Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Another Camp fire death recorded as rain lessens fire danger Rain falls Thursday on the site of a home destroyed by the Camp fire. (Justin Sullivan / Getty Images) Another day of searching, another grim finding. The death toll from the Camp fire rose by one Thursday to 84, on a day when rain seemed to halt further growth of the states deadliest blaze. By Thursday evening, the Jarbo Gap, where the fire probably started, had received just over an inch of rain in the preceding 24 hours, according to the National Weather Service. Rain totals varied across the region. The forecast calls for more. In the nearby town of Paradise, which was nearly obliterated by the fire, the forecast for Thursday night was more showers, heavy at times, with winds of 18 to 24 mph and gusts as high as 37 mph. Such winds would have fueled the fire just days ago, but instead they are harbingers of precipitation that is expected to drop three-quarters of an inch to 1 inch of rainfall Thursday night. Another 1 to 2 inches could fall Friday. The wet weather has helped bring containment of the fire to an estimated 95% as of Thursday evening. But it also brought damp, chilly discomfort to evacuees living in tents thousands of residents have been displaced and new worries about potentially deadly mudslides in burned areas. A flash-flood watch and wind advisory will remain in effect until 4 p.m. Friday. The rain also complicates the search for human remains, which could be washed away. Hundreds of people are still unaccounted for. Crews also are involved in another grim tally, figuring out exactly which homes and business burned. Officials have released a preliminary interactive map that shows the damage, house by house. Camp fire evacuees now have rain to contend with as they occupy tents in a Walmart parking lot in Chico, Calif. (Marcus Yam / Los Angeles Times) Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Malibu schools to reopen by early December; other schools aiming for Monday Air scrubbers at work in a Las Virgenes district school library. (Las Virgenes Unified School District) Schools in Malibu survived the Woolsey fire almost intact but they got very dirty, and cleanup efforts will keep campuses closed even as residents are allowed to return to their properties. The fire killed three people, burned 97,000 acres and destroyed 1,500 structures. Malibus four schools have been closed since Nov. 9, when they were included in the mandatory evacuation zones. The tentative date to reopen Webster Elementary is Nov. 28. Point Dume Marine Science School is scheduled to reopen Dec. 3. Juan Cabrillo Elementary School should be ready between Dec. 3 and Dec. 5, pending results of air testing inside and outside for traces of lead, asbestos and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs). Malibu High will be back in business between Dec. 4 and Dec. 10 The district had planned a swifter reopening but slowed down out of an abundance of caution, spokeswoman Gail Pinsker said. We are hearing from parents that they want thorough cleaning and testing, which we plan, but the cleaning and testing and waiting for results take a day to more than a week, she said. Three other districts in the region also had closed campuses. Schools in Conejo Valley Unified, Oak Park Unified and Las Virgenes Unified are aiming to reopen Monday. Residents who had to evacuate included Las Virgenes Supt. Daniel Stepenosky, who estimated that about 90 families with district students lost their homes, as did two staff members. In a video update on social media, he said that everyone is eager for schools to reopen: Everyone wants to get back to a state of normalcy, to be honest with you. To that end, a crew of 200 has been working for several days, and the district had brought in 300 air scrubbers and 300 hydroxyl deodorizers. Playgrounds that are not ready by Monday will be cordoned off. Stepenosky said that a full-court press will continue because the schools are really boring when theyre empty. A worker scrubs down surfaces at a Las Virgenes district campus. (Las Virgenes Unified School District ) Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Advertisement We can make ugly pretty again: The fighting spirit of Paradise residents By Laura Newberry Camp fire victims have a Thanksgiving dinner in Chico, Calif. (Justin Sullivan / Getty Images) Anna Longacre booked her flight home months ago. Back then, the 26-year-old Army sergeant imagined the comforts that awaited her Thanksgiving week, the things that never change no matter how far away from Paradise, Calif., the military takes her. The old cast-iron stove that warmed the entire house during winter. The small stone-fruit orchard that ran along the side and back. Her dads breakfast hash browns. Annas family had lived on their 3-acre lot in the Sierra Nevada foothills for 20 years. She moved away at 18 and has been stationed in Afghanistan, South Korea and Kansas. But her heart stayed in Paradise. Instead of being home Thanksgiving morning, she found herself in a cavernous auditorium at Cal State Chico, where turkey and fixings had been prepared for evacuees of Californias deadliest and most destructive wildfire. She dragged her dad, Bruce, with her. She wanted to get him out of her grandmas house in Chico, where theyd been staying with her mom and dogs. And she had heard celebrity chefs Guy Fieri and Jose Andres were making the food. It couldnt hurt to try and have a little fun, she thought, despite everything. The father and daughter were greeted by volunteers in plush turkey hats and handed sanitary wipes at the door. Read more here. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Stories of thanks and gratitude amid the devastation in Paradise By Laura Newberry A young Camp fire evacuee waits in line to receive a free Thanksgiving meal Thursday in Chico, Calif. (Justin Sullivan / Getty Images) As of Thanksgiving Day, the devastation logged by the Camp fire in Northern California was nearly 14,000 homes, more than 150,000 acres and at least 83 lives. Some of the thousands displaced by the fire, mostly from the town of Paradise, said they nonetheless counted themselves among the lucky and found things to be grateful for this Thanksgiving. Times reporters on the ground in Butte County asked people about the meaning of this holiday. Here are their stories. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Advertisement Authorities warn of fraudulent GoFundMe websites, other scams related to Paradise fire By Rong-Gong Lin II Butte County Dist. Atty. Mike Ramsey warned that scam artists are targeting Paradise fire victims seeking to rent housing. We have seen people who have no right to a particular apartment that go and rent out that apartment and take peoples money. Be very careful. Red flag: If its too good to be true, it is, Ramsey said. Another scam already happening are fraudulent GoFundMe websites seeking contributions for fire victims, he said. We encourage folks to go to the Butte County website to take a look at areas where you can legitimately and safely give your charitable dollars to, he said. He also urged residents to beware of scammers seeking to collect personal information under the guise of pretending to be insurance agents or a sheriffs deputy seeking to cross names off the list of the missing. It will be obvious that these are scammers, he said. Be very, very careful of giving any sort of personal information that will be financially disastrous to you, he said. There have been 11 cases of looting, he said, with suspects mostly interested in vehicles, such as motor homes, left behind by fire victims that fled. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Rapid DNA analysis is being used to identify dozens of California fire victims By Rong-Gong Lin II Rapid DNA analysis is being used to identify dozens of California fire victims burned beyond recognition. Of 83 victims, sheriffs officials have made tentative identifications on 58 of them, but they await DNA confirmation. Were working diligently to identify those individuals so that we can contact their next of kin and notify them, said Butte County Sheriff Kory Honea. It used to be that DNA analysis could take months before answers would firm up, but now DNA analysis can be done within a matter of hours, Jim Davis of Ande, a Massachusetts-based company that specializes in rapid DNA analysis, said at a press conference in Chico on Wednesday. Davis said his company has been asked by the sheriff to use its rapid DNA analysis method to help identify victims in a mass casualty incident the first time his company has been asked to do so for this purpose. Davis said hes working with the coroners office in Sacramento County to collect tissue samples from the autopsies of the deceased; 80% of the time, those samples are usable for DNA analysis. Butte County sheriff and California Department of Justice officials are coordinating the collection of DNA samples from living relatives. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print She lost her home and dogs in the Paradise fire. This Thanksgiving is difficult, but shes grateful to be alive By Laura Newberry Tamra Grays Facebook friends have started posting photos of their newly decorated Christmas trees. When she stumbles upon this display of normalcy, she can barely hold it together. Its hard to think about the holidays right now, she said as she sat at a table in the Chico Mall food court, where she and her husband were discussing their options with a home insurance company representative. I dont have a home to put a tree in right now. Gray and her husband, Scott, lived in their Paradise home on Oak Way for 20 years. What she will miss the most are the pine trees in her backyard and the cool shade they provided, a simple pleasure she could count on even when the mercury hit 100. At 10 a.m. on the day of the fire, Grays 19-year-old son, Dylan, came running down the street. He had gotten stuck in gridlock traffic on Wagstaff Road, and seeing the plumes of black smoke ahead of him, he ditched his car in the closest parking lot and darted home, the only one hes ever known. Theres a fire, we gotta get out, he shouted. They had not received an evacuation alert. Gray did not think the house would burn. They lived a block from a fire station. Before leaving, she touched a redwood keepsake box that contained her childrens first teeth. If I take this to a shelter, it could get stolen, she thought. She left it. The family also left three dogs behind, taking several others with them in separate cars. Grays thinking was this: if there was looting, the big dogs would protect the home. Gray found the animals remains when she returned to Paradise last week. She is consumed by guilt. Gray and her family -- four adults and two kids -- are staying in an RV as they search for a rental. Her 29-year-old daughter, Shannon, also lost her home in Magalia. I feel lost. I just feel so homesick and I cant seem to get past that yet, Gray said, tearing up. Its hard for me to think about where I want to be in the future. Just as she was being asked what she was grateful for on the eve of Thanksgiving, Grays teenage daughter, Victoria, bounded up to her in the food court with several shopping bags in her hand. I got you shoes, Victoria said, pulling out a pair of gray Champion slip-ons. They were on sale. Gray tugged off one of the brown Ugg boots she got at a shelter. She tried on a sneaker. Im grateful that my family made it out alive, Gray said, returning to the question. Its easy to answer that when its staring me right in the face. Its when Im alone that I go into a dark place. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Advertisement You could feel the heat from the flames: Paradise survivor describes horror, survival They called it their little green house in the forest. A two-bedroom mobile home with a birdbath out front on Skyway road where deer and bobcats roamed. It is likely gone, they think, because they have seen a map of the burn area a cloud of red over where they lived for four years. Steve Weathington, 67, and his girlfriend, Irene Schwab, 65, now lay their heads on green cots in an exhibit hall at the Yuba-Sutter Fairgrounds. Their possessions are few, but they made it out with their two trucks, two dogs and two cats. A fortune, they know, compared with what others escaped with. The morning the fire broke out, the couple had sat down to waffles and eggs when they noticed the sky was a smoky orange. Schwab went outside to settle a patio umbrella that was thrashing in the wind. A manager of their mobile home park had begun driving around, honking. Grabbing clothes, toiletries, medicine and the animals, Weathington hopped into his truck. Schwab followed behind in hers. It was burning on both sides of the road, Schwab recalled. You could feel the heat from the flames. It took them more than three hours to get to Chico, usually a 25-minute drive. They are grateful to be alive, to have had insurance on their home, to be capable and willing to start somewhere new. They may stay and find a place in Yuba City, a community theyve grown to appreciate. When they venture out of the shelter, an act of kindness is usually bestowed upon them. Waitresses have bought them dinner, a barber refused money for a haircut. They have picked out clothes for free and marveled over the donations that file in daily. We get a little teary-eyed because its really emotional, said Weathington, a retired commercial painter and U.S. Marines veteran, his eyes growing red. Still, the timing of everything is hard to take. The couple used to host Thanksgiving dinner for family with a spread of traditional fare, including pumpkin cheesecake and homemade biscuits. The holiday rings a bit hollow now, eliciting memories of what they once had. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Number of homes lost in Paradise fire approaches 14,000 as containment increases Firefighters continued to make progress with Californias deadliest fire, with containment rising to 90% but with number of homes burned now at nearly 14,000. At least 83 people were killed when the fire swept into Paradise two weeks ago, and hundreds are still missing, Rain helped firefighters, but the weather has made the search for victims more difficult. Precipitation has minimized fire activity and all fire lines continue to hold. Firefighters and resources continue to be deployed throughout the fire area to patrol and remove hazards, Cal Fire said Thursday morning. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Camp fire death toll increases to 83, while 563 still missing By Rong-Gong Lin II The remains of two more people were recovered in the Camp fire burn zone Wednesday, raising the death toll in the blaze to 83. One person was found in a structure in Paradise, while the other was located in a structure in Magalia, Butte County Sheriff Kory Honea told reporters at a news conference. Were working diligently to identify those individuals so we can contact their next of kin and notify them, Honea said, adding that investigators have tentatively identified 58 of the dead. Authorities have identified six more people who died in the blaze. They are: Teresa Ammans, 82, of Paradise Richard Brown, 74, of Concow Marie Wehe, 78, of Concow Kimber Wehr, 53, of Paradise Joseph Rabetoy, 39, of Paradise Joan Tracy, 80, of Paradise About 830 searchers will work on Thanksgiving to look for victims of the blaze, though the search could be suspended if rain triggers mudflows in the area. The number of people unaccounted for dropped to 563. A total of 2,052 people have been crossed off the missing-persons list. Thats a dynamic list, Honea said. You may see it go up or down depending on the information we receive during the course of the day. The blaze has scorched more than 153,000 acres and destroyed more than 18,000 structures, including 13,500 single-family homes. It was 85% contained. The heavy rain has minimized fire activity. That fire activity is almost nothing,said Josh Bischof of the California Dept. of Forestry and Fire Protection. Forecasters expect six inches of rain to fall across the burn area through Friday. Butte County Dist. Atty. Michael Ramsey said his office has put together a team to deal with price gouging. People are not allowed to jack up prices more than 10% of what they were before the fires, he said, adding that people can call (866) 323-6283 to report price gouging. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Rain pours down on tent city of Paradise evacuees, causing new problems (Ruben Vives / Los Angeles Times) Rain began to pound on the tent city of Paradise evacuees Wednesday afternoon in Chico, causing more problems for people who have already been through so much. Two women walked around holding a blanket, offering it to anyone who needed it. Standing alone, wearing a red hooded rain poncho, John Owens shivered. I dont know how much longer people can hang on like this, he said. Owens lost his home and car in the fire. He said he was clinging on to what he had left: his wife, his dog and a part-time manufacturing job. I told my boss I cant hang here for too long, he said. If its going to be like this, I wont last long. Ill have to quit my job and go to the shelter. Owens said he said he hasnt left because transportation to his job is best from where he is now. He said he has to commute between Chico and Yuba City. This stinks, he said. Despite the cold, wet weather that is coming down on him and others, Owens said hes grateful to be alive. You only got a short period of time on this place, he said, referring to Earth. You gotta have a good time. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Advertisement California fires: Volunteers out in force to make a horrible Thanksgiving a little better In Chico, where thousands of evacuees have gathered, its going to be a Thanksgiving like no other. Some people who had been living in tents at a Walmart parking lot began to move on, some going to shelters. Volunteers have also been out in force to help. Sierra Nevada Brewing Co. in Chico has been prepping a Thanksgiving meal that will feed about 2,000 people. The event is in conjunction with other groups who are putting together meals and it includes Cal State Chico and World Central Chicken. The meal will consist of turkey, pork, green beans, mashed potatoes and gravy. The meals will be served in waves starting at 11 a.m., then at 1 p.m., 3 p.m. and 5 p.m. Leslie Jessee, 33, tore sheets of foil and laid them in a stack as she prepped the turkey. She said she hopes the Thanksgiving meal will bring some sense of peace for the people affected by the fire. Nearby, Ken Grossman, the owner of the beer company, worked on making the gravy. On Thanksgiving I always make the turkey, the gravy and mashed potatoes for a big family, he said. This time, its a bigger family. Grossman said about 40 of his employees lost homes to the Camp fire. He also has friends who have lost so much. Hopefully family and friends will enjoy the meal, he said. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print California fires: Were just trying to get back to normal, whatever normal really is By Rong-Gong Lin II With the public still prohibited from entering the worst-hit areas of Paradise and Magalia, the towns were silent, save for the hum of generators. The gas station was shuttered. Ponderosa Elementary School abandoned. The blackened husks of cars were still visible across the town. At the site of a gym on Pentz Road, all that remained were the contorted remains of elliptical machines atop a pile of ash. Crews worked on repairing utility lines, forcing motorists to just one side of many roads, and continued the process of looking for any signs of human remains, despite the rain. Theyre looking for basically bone fragments. And theyre just systematically going from burned house to burned house, looking to see if theres anything, said Capt. Matt Bergstrand of the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection station in Magalia. A day earlier, a hearse was spotted in Paradise, accompanied by the California Highway Patrol. At the fire station in Magalia, things are still pretty devastating, Bergstrand said. Were just trying to get back to normal, whatever normal really is. I dont know what normal is really going to entail. A pretty big chunk of our area has been consumed. #paradise on Thanksgiving Eve. Quiet and wet. The acrid odor of smoke is throat scratching, lingering in the air. Crews are repairing utility lines, still searching for victims. pic.twitter.com/MeAqIYq3Yr Ron Lin (@ronlin) November 21, 2018 #paradise on Thanksgiving Eve. Quiet and wet. The acrid odor of smoke is throat scratching, lingering in the air. Crews are repairing utility lines, still searching for victims. pic.twitter.com/MeAqIYq3Yr Ron Lin (@ronlin) November 21, 2018 Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Stanley the giraffe is safe after the Woolsey fire, but Jillian Michaels isnt satisfied By Alejandra Reyes-Velarde Nicole Padilla, 17, of Diamond Bar feeds Stanley the giraffe at the L.A. County Fair. ( (Francine Orr/ Los Angeles Times)) The saga of Stanley the giraffe continues as yet another celebrity has made the animals welfare her mission despite his keepers assurances. Fitness celebrity Jillian Michaels is demanding that Malibu Wine Safaris move Stanley to a better home. In a letter to founder Dakota Semler, Michaels said that despite the Woolsey fires passing, the giraffe remains in danger as long as it is in on their property. Celebrities and tourists have visited Saddlerock Ranchs safari attraction for years to drink wine and snap selfies with the lone giraffe. But after the Woolsey fire, they used their clout to draw attention to the animals safety as the Woolsey fire roared toward the property. They and hundreds of nearby residents, strangers and animal lovers believed Stanley had been abandoned when Malibu Wine Safaris staff evacuated. A photo of the exotic animal on an open field with flames in the distance circulated on social media. Despite multiple statements made by the company, some people remained dubious. Due to the short notice given to area residents, the animals were not evacuated; instead, they were placed in an open dirt field that did not have much fuel to burn. Stanley is doing fine, said Bob Dunn after the fire passed through. Dunn, a close family friend who has helped care for the giraffe since its birth, said Stanley was completely safe. Hes healthy. Although many have moved on, Michaels isnt satisfied. Like millions of others, I saw and cannot shake off the picture of Stanley that showed flames approaching behind him, and I urge you not to keep him in the same path of danger, Michaels wrote. But fire or no fire, he needs to be moved to a place where he can thrive and hes not just waiting for the monotony of his life to be broken when someone offers him a treat. Michaels is backed by the animal rights group PETA, which has been working to identify alternate homes for the animals, should the Semlers comply with Michaels request. Giraffes special needs simply cannot be met at a roadside zoo like this, Michaels said in the letter, and if he hasnt already, he will soon begin to exhibit neurotic behavior resulting from captivity-related stress, frustration, and privation. Rebecca Smudzinski, a wildlife specialist with PETA, said young male giraffes like Stanley often travel in bachelor herds and roam large savannas. One in captivity is likely to display signs of stress, such as repetitive licking and pacing. The Woolsey fire exposed Stanleys sad, lonely life in that barren enclosure, she said. Hes got nowhere to go and nothing to do, and so he just waits for people to feed him. Organizations housing exotic animals are required to have a permit from the U.S. Department of Agriculture, which follows minimal standards set by the Animal Welfare Act. The permit includes an annual inspection visit to ensure the animal is taken care of properly. But that isnt enough, Smudzinski maintained. PETA wants the animal to be moved somewhere accredited by the Global Federation of Animal Sanctuaries or the Association of Zoos and Aquariums, which both require disaster plans to be reviewed and practiced regularly, she said. Michaels referenced Safari West in a Twitter post as an example of an organization that successfully saved exotic animals. Nancy Lang, co-owner of Safari West, said the organization was accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums and the California Department of Fish and Wildlife. The staff there meet annually with law enforcement, the Humane Society and others to discuss disaster plans and practice regular drills, and partner with organizations that offer their facilities in case of emergencies. When the Tubbs fire approached their property in 2017, they had little time to react, making an evacuation impossible. Lang said whether Malibu Wine Safaris did the right thing is impossible to say without knowing their circumstance. Some of Safari Wests animals were also placed in an open field with little fuel to burn. Its unclear what disaster plan Malibu Wine Safaris had in place, but its staff only had a couple of hours to act. Malibu Wine Safaris did not respond to multiple requests for comment. .@MalibuSafaris It's 100% possible to care for exotic animals in emergency situations. Read the attached @WhitneyCummings is spot on! And if you can't prepare properly for situations like this you have NO business keeping these types of animals. https://t.co/fB00qrtNzm Jillian Michaels (@JillianMichaels) November 15, 2018 Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Homes burned in the Camp fire could contain dangerous materials including radiation and residents should stay away, health officials say An aerial view shows destruction from the Camp fire. Homes not reduced to rubble could have high levels of carcinogens, officials warn. (Los Angeles Times) Butte County health officials are urging residents not to try to move back into homes damaged by the Camp fire in Paradise. Some residents have been allowed back into Paradise to survey their homes and collect any valuables still left. There is evidence from recent fires in California that homes and property destroyed by fire contain high and concerning levels of heavy metals, lead, mercury, dioxin, arsenic, and other carcinogens. Some property may have the presence of radioactive materials, the county said in a statement. Exposure to hazardous substances may lead to acute and chronic health effects, and may cause long-term public health and environmental impacts. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Advertisement Assessing the risk of mudslides in Malibu after California fires By Alejandra Reyes-Velarde If the expected rainfall on the eve of Thanksgiving day is intense enough, areas where the Woolsey fire burned would be more susceptible to mud flows than areas affected by the Camp fire, according to the U.S. Geological Survey. USGS researchers created a map that shows the probability that different fire-affected areas will experience mud flows if theres a storm that produces 24 millimeters of rain per hour, or a quarter of an inch in 15 minutes. We have historical information about where debris flows occurred, how big they were and the rainfall associated with triggering those events, said Dennis Staley, a research geologist with the USGS. The model also considers slope steepness, topography and fire severity. The dark red portions of the map indicate between an 80 and 100% chance of debris flows if rain reaches the assigned threshold for the map. Most areas affected by the Camp fire are colored yellow, indicating a 20% chance or less of debris flow. The Woolsey fire area on the other hand is mostly colored orange and red. The reason for the higher probability, Staley said, is that areas affected by the Woolsey fire are steeper than where the Camp fire burned. However, weather experts say rainfall in Southern California likely wont be intense enough for dangerous mud flows. Rich Thomas, with the National Weather Service, said there will only be about quarter to three quarters of an inch of rainfall total. Theres only a 10 to 20% chance the rain will become heavy enough to create mudflows, he said. There could be some minor debris flows, but nothing significant, he said. Rocks over the roadway, stuff like that. Still, Thompson said people should be prepared and pay attention to local authorities for evacuation orders. To the west, the area affected by the Mendocino Complex fire appears to be at higher risk, Staley said. In August, the Mendocino Complex fire consumed more than 450,000 acres, becoming the largest wildfire in state history. The areas steep terrain made it a challenge to firefighters and also increases the likelihood of mud flows. Heavy rain is expected this Thanksgiving holiday and debris flows will be a particular threat in the areas affected by the Camp, Carr, Delta, Hirz and Mendocino Complex fires, the NWS said. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print After fires, risk of Malibu mudslides will be high through the winter By Tony Barboza (Los Angeles Times) The first rain to fall over the burn-scarred areas of the Woolsey fire is expected to start Wednesday night. Forecasters are predicting it will be a weak storm, not intense enough to trigger significant flows of mud and debris although it could cause some minor rockslides and mudslides. But experts say stronger storms in the coming months have the potential to send life-threatening mudflows plowing through neighborhoods. That threat has authorities urging residents living on or below hillsides, in canyons and along stream channels to take steps to prepare their homes, keep an eye on the weather, quickly heed warnings and evacuation orders, and be ready to leave well before the rain arrives. If you can see burned hillsides from your house, you are threatened by debris flow, said National Weather Service meteorologist Eric Boldt, who works with emergency planners and other local officials to coordinate warnings. You dont want to be there when the rain starts. Theres just not enough time to wait and see what happens. Read more here. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Dramatic NASA images show destruction of California fires from space Burn zone for the Woolsey fire (NASA) Burn zone for the Camp fire (NASA) Satellite image of the Camp fire (NASA) NASA has released dramatic satellite images of the destructive wildfires in California. The data show the progression of the fires and how they burned homes, as well as satellite images of what they look like from space. See more here. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print How fires can lead to deadly mudslides Mudslides after fires (Los Angeles Times) Rain is forecast this week in the burn zones of Paradise in Northern California and the Malibu/Ventura County area in Southern California. This has prompted concern about mudflows. Soil in a burned area can be repellent to water, creating a flood-like flow on the ground that picks up rock and debris. In an area that has not burned, soil can become saturated. Pressure builds up underground, and soil starts moving and begins picking up mud and debris as it starts flowing downhill. Heres how hillsides that have been burned by wildfire become prone to flash floods and dangerous mudslides during heavy rains. How mudflows occur. (Los Angeles Times) Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Advertisement Remains found above Malibu are not those of a Woolsey fire victim, but from earlier death, officials say By Jeanette Marantos A broken skull and a few other bone fragments found in the scorched hills of Latigo Canyon on Saturday came from a human who died well before the Woolsey fire, Los Angeles County sheriffs investigators said Wednesday. A landowner spotted what appeared to be human bones Thursday as he was checking fire damage to his property off Latigo Canyon Road, about a mile north of Ocean View Road, near mile marker 6.92, Sgt. Marcelo Quintero said. The property didnt notify authorities about the bones until Saturday. Quintero said the skull was likely hidden by heavy brush in the area before the Woolsey fire, which scorched much of the land and several structures in the canyon above Malibu. Investigators believe the wildfire may have dislodged the remains from where they were stuck higher up the hilly terrain, and sent them tumbling down into the pathway where they were found, on property owned by the Ava and Cole Weintraub Family Park conservancy group. The skull was broken into pieces but we were able to piece it somewhat together, Quintero said. The anthropologists at the coroners office believe it definitely predated the fire. Coroners investigators believe the remains could been there between six months and 50 years, he said. They have some fire damage, he said, but no bite marks. We only have parts of a skull, parts of a jaw and possibly some cervical vertebra pieces, Quintero said. The Los Angeles County coroners Special Operations Response Team, or SORT, combed the area, hoping to find more remains. They did find additional bones, Quintero said, but they turned out to belong to animals. Were going to do our best to try to identify whoever this person was, he said. But its going to be a long shot, at best. Anyone with information should contact the sheriffs Homicide Bureau at (323) 890-5500. Those wishing to remain anonymous should call Crime Stoppers at (800) 222-8477. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Woolsey fire expected to be fully contained today Firefighter battling Woolsey fire last week. (Los Angeles Times) Firefighters are hoping to have full containment of the Woolsey fire sometime today. The fire, which killed three people, destroyed more than 1,600 structures and burned over 96,000 acres from Oak Park to Malibu, was 98% contained as of Tuesday night. People continued to return to their homes, but officials warned of possible rain in the burn areas later this week. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Storms could wash away remains of Camp fire victims, officials fear A pair of incoming storms are threatening to hamper recovery efforts in Paradise, Calif. In a worst-case scenario, the downpour could flood the ruins and wash away human remains, leaving authorities unable to find and identify every victim of Californias deadliest wildfire on record. Authorities fear bones could sink underwater, making them harder to spot and drowning any scent that cadaver dogs rely on to find them. Meteorologists say the Camp fire burn scar which is larger than the city of San Jose could see up to 6 inches of rain through Saturday, with the heaviest downpour expected overnight Thursday. The forecast has triggered a flash flood watch for possible rock slides and debris flows. Light showers were falling Wednesday morning with heavier rain expected later in the day. That rain is going to get in that ash, its going to turn into it a paste-like substance, said Monterey County sheriffs Cmdr. Joe Moses, who is helping in the recovery effort. Its going to stick to everything and slow things down. Read more here. First light showers hit Norcal this morning. Heavier precipitation is expected later this morning and afternoon. #cawx pic.twitter.com/UALB0iYUeX NWS Sacramento (@NWSSacramento) November 21, 2018 Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Paradise narrowed its main road by two lanes despite warnings of gridlock during a major wildfire By Paige St. John Paradise narrowed its main road through town as well as two other streets in recent years, hoping to slow traffic and improve pedestrian safety. The changes came despite warnings that a major fire would cause crippling gridlock during evacuations, a scenario that became grim reality when Californias worst wildfire swept into Paradise this month. Read the full story here. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Advertisement Paradise narrowed its main road by two lanes despite warnings of gridlock during a major wildfire By Joseph Serna After a fast-moving fire swept into town a decade ago, burning more than 200 homes and trapping thousands of fleeing residents on gridlocked mountain roads, a grand jury called on officials to improve evacuation routes. But six years later, the city decided to narrow a portion of the main road through town from four lanes to two as part of an effort in the downtown area aimed at boosting commerce as well as traffic and pedestrian safety. Read More Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Number of people missing in Camp fire jumps to 870 The number of people unaccounted for in the destructive Camp fire rose to 870 on Tuesday after investigators were able to work through a backlog of voicemails, authorities said. The surge comes as the death toll increased to 81, with two bodies recovered inside structures in the Butte County town of Paradise. Of the 81, authorities said they had tentatively identified 56 people. By Tuesday evening, investigators had also been able to locate nearly 200 people reported missing, raising the number of people checked off the missing-persons list to 1,864. The blaze has chewed through more than 152,000 acres and destroyed more than 12,600 homes. It was 75% contained. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Death toll from Camp fire rises to 81 as searchers continue their grim work A search-and-rescue team scans an area where there might be human remains. (Marcus Yam / Los Angeles Times) The death toll from Californias worst fire rose to 81 on Tuesday as the search continued for the missing. The fire has burned more than 12,000 structures, destroying most of the town of Paradise and other nearby communities. As of Monday night, there were nearly 700 people still missing. Rain is expected to hit the area tonight, complicating the search efforts. Joe Moses, a commander with the Monterey County Sheriffs Office who is assisting with search-and-rescue operations, said the rain is a concern for him and recovery crews. That rain is going to get in that ash [and] its going to turn it into a paste-like substance, Moses said. Its going to stick to everything and slow things down. In a worst-case scenario, if torrential downpours were to hit Paradise, the foundations could flood and wash human remains away, increasing the possibility that workers may be unable to locate and identify victims. This concern appears to be greatest in rural areas such as Concow. Authorities fear that bones may also lie underwater, making it harder for workers to spot them, and that the rain may wash away the scents that cadaver dogs seek out to find human remains. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print California fires: Anxiety and nightmares grip evacuees in Paradise fire zone Deborah Laughlin hasnt heard from her son in nearly two weeks. (Ruben Vives/Los Angeles Times) Inside the cafeteria of Bidwell Junior High School, 63-year-old Deborah Laughlin sipped on coffee and scooped up some apple pie. A lot was on her mind. Laughlin said she lost her home in Paradise. She had been living at Evergreen Mobile Home Park. Since the evacuations, she has been at the middle school, where the Red Cross operates a shelter. She said she registered with FEMA and hopes shell be able to get housing. I dont know what Im going to do, she said. I told the manager of the Red Cross: When you leave, Im going with you. Perhaps her greatest worry is her son, Shawn Evans, 40, whom she last heard from while he was evacuating from Magalia. She said he was driving on Imperial Way with his wife, who is eight months pregnant. I know where my husband is but I dont know here my son is, she said with teary eyes. Please dont tell me he died. Please. She said she is clinging to hope that her son is OK and that theyll be reunited soon. She said shes afraid about the storm that is approaching the region. Shes afraid because she knows theres still people who are missing, people who may have died in the fire. Im scared, she said. Im scared theyll be washed away and peoples remains will never be found. Sitting across was Anthony Salzarulo, 60, who had fought to save his home and five others in Concow. He said the fire was worse than any other blaze that had hit the region. Salzarulo lost his home to a fire 10 years ago. Sipping water, he said his home suffered some damage in the Camp fire, mostly to his solar panels and generator. He lost a bus and a car. When he was leaving the area, he saw animals that had died in the fire. A bobcat that had suffered burns walked near him. Hes had nightmares since. He heard about the storm approaching. He worries a mudslide may take out his home, and its made him anxious. He wants to go home. I hope I have a home after this storm because it sounds like its a pretty bad one, he said. He said the storm had added to his nightmares. I was dreaming that there was a tornado and all these things were sticking to me, he said. They were human bones. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Advertisement California fires: Heavy rains could wash away human remains in Paradise, searchers fear Devastation from the Camp fire. (Los Angeles Times) Four members of the Oakland Fire Departments Urban Search and Rescue Task Force removed a charred mattress spring and began combing through a mixture of ash, dirt, shredded wood and pieces of roofing tiles. Using their gloves to move around the blackened dirt, they looked for human remains. This is hard, one of the recovery workers said. But were trying. Let everyone know were trying. By Wednesday afternoon, the recovery work will get harder. Forecasters said thats when the rain will most likely start to come down over the Camp fire. Joe Moses, a commander with the Monterey County Sheriffs Office who is assisting with search-and-rescue operations, said the rain is a concern for him and recovery crews. That rain is going to get in that ash [and] its going to turn it into a paste-like substance, Moses said. Its going to stick to everything and slow things down. In a worst-case scenario, if torrential downpours were to hit Paradise, a town devastated by the fire, the foundations could flood and wash human remains away, increasing the possibility that workers may be unable to locate and identify victims of the fire. This concern appears to be more evident in rural areas such as Concow. Authorities fear bones could also lie underwater, making it harder to spot them and whatever scent cadaver dogs rely on to spot human remains could be drown out. But Moses doesnt believe the rain wont be too bad and they plan to see their mission through. The fire destroyed much of Paradise, burning more than 10,000 homes. Nearly 80 are confirmed dead, but nearly 700 remain missing in the worst fire in California history. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Woolsey fire victims file lawsuit against Southern California Edison By Alejandra Reyes-Velarde Only the top few feet of a utility pole survived the Woolsey fire as it roared over Kanan Road in Malibu. ( (Wally Skalij/Los Angeles Times)) Victims of the Woolsey fire have filed a lawsuit against Southern California Edison alleging the utility was negligent in failing to shut off power before the wildfire started, attorneys announced Tuesday. The lawsuit, filed Friday in Los Angeles Superior Court on behalf of 17 plaintiffs, alleges the company ignored warnings of extreme fire weather and only shut power off once the fire started. That delay contributed to the Woolsey fires destruction, plaintiffs say. The fire, which is currently 96% contained, killed three people and destroyed 1,500 structures, according to the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection. The cause of the fire remains under investigation. Attorneys are seeking compensation for plaintiffs damaged property, lost wages and attorney fees. The lawsuit claims that once the electricity was shut off on Nov. 12 four days after the fire started residents and firefighters lost water pressure, hampering efforts to battle the flames. That in turn heightened the safety risk for firefighters and homeowners who sheltered in place. R. Rex Parris, one of the attorneys on the case, references the utilitys preliminary report filed Nov. 12 with the California Public Utility Commission stating an electric substation experienced a disturbance two minutes before the fire, which started in the same area. The report is preliminary, said Edison spokesman Steve Conroy when the report was made public. We have no other information other than a line went out of service and we dont know why. In the report, the utility said a circuit in its Chatsworth substation near where the Woolsey fire started relayed two minutes before the fire broke out. This means an outage remains until it is safe to manually reenergize the circuit, Conroy said. This is not a Public Safety Power Shutoff; it is simply a safety feature to help mitigate wildfire risk. The lawsuit also blames Edison for potential damage to the environmental and public health caused by the burning of the Santa Susana Field Laboratory nuclear cleanup area, though some experts have said there was no damage. The state Department of Toxic Substances Control, which oversees the long-delayed cleanup of the former rocket engine testing and nuclear research facility, said fire officials believed the blaze did not present any risks other than those normally present in a wildfire situation. Edison said in an emailed statement that it cannot comment on lawsuits related to the Woolsey fire at this time and that it may take some time before an investigation into what caused the fire is completed. SCEs focus at this time is service restoration to customers still impacted in the Malibu area, and providing additional assistance to customers through the L.A. County local assistance centers, an Edison spokesman said. The utility said its offering support for customers looking to turn service on and off, waiving charges associated with extended bill payments and charges associated with relocating and starting new service. Parris said utility companies know of the dangers of high power lines running through fire zones, but that they do little to implement safeguards to prevent potential tragedies. When you have rules that are this important and you know people are violating them its inevitable that these catastrophic events happen, Parris said of Edison and other utility companies. Their view of safety is public relations. Victims of the Camp fire filed a lawsuit against Pacific Gas and Electric Co. also on Friday, alleging that utility is responsible for the fire that killed at least 79 people. ------ 2:05 p.m.: This article was updated with statements from R. Rex Parris. This article was originally published at 11:05 a.m. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Here are the latest evacuations, road and school closures, animal shelters and victim services Mandatory evacuations Malibu, from the Ventura County line east to Anacapa View Drive. Monte Nido West of Malibu Canyon Road. Liberty Canyon West to Decker Canyon and south to PCH For all evacuation areas click here. Road closures Highway 101 offramps from Valley Circle Blvd to Liberty Canyon Road Highway 1 southbound (Pacific Coast Highway) closed at Las Posas Road Bell Canyon Road at Valley Circle Boulevard Borchard at Los Vientos Drive Lynn Road at Reino Road Potrero Road between Rancho Dos Vientos and South Lewis Road Kanan Road between Westlake Boulevard and Lindero Canyon Road Falling Star Avenue at Kanan Road Potrero Road at Wendy Drive State Route 118 eastbound between Topanga Canyon and Yosemite Avenue Mureau Road, Calabasas Boundary to 101 Freeway Cornell Road, Mulholland Hwy to Kanan Road Encinal Canyon Road, Malibu Boundary to Mulholland Hwy Click here to see a full list of closures. Evacuation centers (Los Angeles Times) Camarillo Community Center 1605 E. Burnley Street, Camarillo (accepting small animals) Borchard Community Center 190 Reino Road, Newbury Park (accepting small animals) Goebel Senior Adult Center (obscured on map) 1385 E. Janss Road, Thousand Oaks (at capacity) Thousand Oaks Teen Center 1375 E. Janss Road, Thousand Oaks Thousand Oaks Community Center 2525 North Moorpark Road, Thousand Oaks (closed) Rancho Santa Susana Recreation Center 5005 Unit C Los Angeles Ave., Simi Valley (no animals accepted) Taft Charter High School 5461 Winnetka Ave., Woodland Hills Pierce College 7100 El Rancho Drive, Woodland Hills (Entrance off Desoto Avenue); Los Angeles County Animal Services (accepting large animals) Canoga Park High School 6850 Topanga Canyon Blvd, Canoga Park Palisades Charter High School (not displayed on map) 15777 Bowdoin St, Pacific Palisades School closures Cal State Channel Islands Cal Lutheran University (except for emergency personnel) Moorpark Community College Pepperdine University (Malibu and Calabasas campuses) For Ventura County school closures, please check the Ventura County Office of Education website https://www.vcoe.org/ Animal shelters Ventura County Fair Grounds 10 W. Harbor Blvd., Ventura, (at capacity); Ventura County Animal Services (805) 388-4258 Ventura County Animal Shelter 600 Aviation Drive, Camarillo (accepting small animals) Simi Valley Animal Shelter 670 W Los Angeles Ave., Simi Valley, (805) 388-4341 (accepting small animals) Pierce College 7100 El Rancho Drive, Woodland Hills (entrance off Desoto Avenue) (at capacity); Los Angeles County Animal Services Hansen Dam Equestrian Center 11127 Orcas Ave., Lake View Terrace (at capacity); Los Angeles County Animal Services Earl Warren Show Grounds (not on map) 3400 Calle Real, Santa Barbara (Check-in at Gate C off of Calle Real) (accepting large animals) Shelter Hope 193 N Moorpark Rd, Thousand Oaks, CA 91360 (lodging for evacuees and volunteers available) If you need large animal assistance, please call (805) 388-4258 N95 Particulate filter mask availability (Los Angeles Times) Goebel Senior Adult Center (obscured on map) 1385 E. Janss Road, Thousand Oaks Thousand Oaks Teen Center 1375 E. Janss Road, Thousand Oaks Rancho Santa Susana Recreation Center 5005 Unit C Los Angeles Ave., Simi Valley Borchard Community Center 190 N Reino Road, Newbury Park Camarillo Community Center 1605 E Burnley St., Camarillo North Oxnard Public Health 2240 E. Gonzales Road, Oxnard South Oxnard Public health 2500 S. C Street, Oxnard Channel Islands harbor master 3900 Pelican Way, Oxnard Las Posas Family Medical Group 3801 Las Posas, Suite 214, Camarillo Sierra Vista Family Medical Clinic 2700 E Los Angeles Ave., Simi Valley Moorpark Family Medical Clinic 612 Spring Road, Building A, Moorpark Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Some Camp fire evacuations are lifted as firefighters continue working to contain the blaze By Alejandra Reyes-Velarde The valley behind it blanketed in a thick layer of smoke, a train sits stopped near Butte Valley along Highway 70. (Kent Nishimura / Los Angeles Times) Officials lifted evacuation orders for several communities near Lake Oroville on Tuesday. The news comes as firefighters make progress in the battling the Camp fire, which as of Tuesday morning was 70% contained. The fire has consumed more than 151,000 acres and killed at least 79 people, according to the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection. Officials announced that residents of all Berry Creek zones can return home, except the areas northbound Encina Grande Road at Choc Taw Ridge Road, northbound French Creek Road at Stephens Ridge Road and northbound Highway 162 at Four Mile Ridge Road. Communities in the Cherokee Zone B zone can also return to the area, with the exception of areas northbound Red Tape Road at Condor Road, Rocky Top Road at Cherokee Road, Vinton Gulch at Cherokee Road, Crystal Pines Road at Cherokee Road and Highway 70 East of the West branch bridge. All residents of the Messilla Valley Zone B can return home. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Advertisement As California fire slowly is contained, air quality begins to improve in the north By Times Staff Latest smoke model indicates continued gradual improvement in air quality through Tuesday evening. Much better air quality is then expected by Wednesday when gusty winds and rain from a Pacific weather system clean the air. #CAwx #campfiresmoke pic.twitter.com/Vxd3cwZUQM NWS Bay Area (@NWSBayArea) November 20, 2018 The rain forecast for Northern California is expected to improve air quality in the region, which has experienced unhealthful air due to the Camp fire. Air quality improved somewhat Tuesday, but the smoke was supposed to dissipate more on Wednesday. The Camp fire burn zone could see up to 6 inches of rain through Saturday, which isnt unusual for that region, said Johnnie Powell, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Sacramento. In April, fire-ravaged Paradise, Calif., saw nearly 6 inches of rain in one day in what was its last significant storm. Strong inversions will allow wildfire smoke to continue to impact interior Norcal today although air quality is slowly getting better most areas. Rainfall spreading over Norcal on Wednesday should clear the air considerably. #cawx pic.twitter.com/LKa2b1d7uy NWS Sacramento (@NWSSacramento) November 20, 2018 Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print In Paradise, the grim search for bodies after California fire: Were finding remains in various states The search-and-rescue team took a break as it waited for an excavator to moved debris from a pair of charcoal gray vehicles sitting next to a burned home in Butte Creek Canyon in Chico. Nearby, a line of fire trucks and sheriffs vehicles drove past the group, their occupants waving. The sun was starting to dip. Monday was coming to an end. Since the Camp fire broke out on Nov. 8, authorities have been combing through crumbled homes and melted metal in an effort to locate and identify human remains. The fire has killed at least 79 people, and about 700 others are unaccounted for, a significant drop from a few days ago when the list was more than 26 pages and had more than 1,200 names, but still a daunting number. Now two storms are moving toward Northern California and are expected bring up to six inches of rain through Saturday, possibly hindering search operations. The pros and cons are that the weather will be in our favor to contain the fire, said Cal Fire spokesman Manuel Garcia. But the cons are that there will possibly be loose terrain, fallen trees, mudslides and downstream flows. The National Weather Service said the first of the storms will move into the region on Wednesday. The second storm will bring the heaviest rain on Thursday night through Friday morning. Forecasters said the soil in the burn area cannot absorb rainwater, which could lead to fast-moving flows of mud, debris and even trees and boulders up to several feet deep that can be deadly. Blocked roads caused by the storms as well as rivers of ash and debris could hinder search crews from conducting a massive search operation in a burn zone that is bigger in area than the city of San Jose. Tom Madigan of the Alameda County Sheriffs Department said that in some cases remains were so badly burned that they could not be recognized or just a few bones could be located. Were finding remains in various states, Butte County Sheriff Kory Honea said. I suspect there are some that will have been completely consumed. There is certainly the unfortunate possibility that even after weve searched an area, once people get back in there, its possible that human remains could be found. I know thats a very difficult thing to think about, but thats the difficult situation we find ourselves in today. Recovery workers in white jumpsuits and boots, firefighters, coroner employees and police chaplains from across the state have been working around the clock searching neighborhoods destroyed by the fire, but as the storms approach, the possibility of perhaps not finding everyone is starting to set in. A neighborhood reduced to ashes in Paradise. (Los Angeles Times) Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Firefighters boost containment of deadly Camp fire to 70% as residents prepare for rain By Hannah Fry Ryan Spainhower hugs his wife after he recovers a coin that they made during their honeymoon from the debris of his home. (Marcus Yam / Los Angeles Times) The deadly Camp fire grew slightly overnight to 151,373 acres as firefighters continued their efforts to get the blaze under control. The fire, which has claimed at least 79 lives and destroyed more than 17,000 homes and commercial structures, is 70% contained, the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection said Tuesday. At the same time firefighters work to control the blaze, residents in the burn area now face the potential for mudslides as a series of storms begin to make their way into the region. The National Weather Service issued a flash flood watch through Friday morning where the fire raged through Butte County. While the rainfall will help with the firefight, neighborhoods that were destroyed, and those downstream of them, could see mudslides and debris flows, authorities said. The burn zone could see up to 6 inches of rain through Saturday, which isnt unusual for that region, said Johnnie Powell, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Sacramento. In April, Paradise saw nearly 6 inches of rain in one day in what was its last significant storm. Best-case scenario, itll rain on it and nothing will move. Worst-case scenario, the mud will start moving, Powell said. We just have to wait and see what happens. All we know for sure is, its going to rain really hard. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print California fire burned more than 10,000 homes, but trees remained standing. Why? By Joseph Serna One of the many striking, horrifying in images from Paradise is that trees still stand next to homes incinerated by fire. Here is why. Fires that spread from house to house generate a force of their own. Embers, broadcast by the wind, find dry leaves, igniting one structure then another, and the cycle is perpetuated block after block. Break that cycle and the fire quits, and destruction can be minimized. Paradise never had that chance. Defensible space and hardened structures could not have kept the firestorm, carried on gusts clocking in the low 50s and feeding on the homes and low-lying vegetation, from reducing the town to ash. Most telling were the trees. Most of the pines that sheltered this community still had their canopies intact. The needles, yellowed from the intense heat, were not burned evidence that the winds that morning had pushed the fire along so fast it never had a chance to rise into the trees. But as a surface fire, it lit up the homes that lay in its path. Read more here. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Advertisement California fires interrupt TV production By David Ng Netflixs teen drama series 13 Reasons Why was in the midst of shooting its third season in Vallejo when the massive Camp fire and other blazes broke out in Northern California. The sets, which include a sound stage on Mare Island, werent touched by the conflagrations, but the pervasive smoke that has shrouded much of the Bay Area has forced the show to temporarily halt shooting. The Paramount-produced series is one of a number of TV and commercial shoots that have experienced disruptions because of the fires that have devastated California in recent weeks. Some prime shooting locations including Paramount Ranch, which serves as a set for HBOs Westworld, and the Peter Strauss Ranch in Agoura Hills have experienced extensive damage, rendering them inaccessible to crews. Large swaths of Malibu that are popular filming sites are also closed to production. Read more here. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print California fires: New disaster danger in Paradise is mud and ash flows The National Weather Service issued a flash flood watch through Friday morning where the Camp fire raged through Butte County, Calif. While the rainfall will help with the firefight the blaze is 70% contained and has burned 151,272 acres neighborhoods that were destroyed, and those downstream of them, could see mudslides and debris flows. The Camp fire burn zone could see up to 6 inches of rain through Saturday, which isnt unusual for that region, said Johnnie Powell, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Sacramento. In April, Paradise saw nearly 6 inches of rain in one day in what was its last significant storm. Best-case scenario, itll rain on it and nothing will move. Worst-case scenario, the mud will start moving, Powell said. We just have to wait and see what happens. All we know for sure is, its going to rain really hard. The soil in recently burned areas cannot absorb rainwater. Enough rain can lead to fast-moving flows of mud, debris and even trees and boulders that can be deadly for those in their path. The devastation often comes without warning. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Video shows pilots in dramatic Woolsey fire rescue of three people and two dogs The two pilots were dropping water on a flank of the destructive Woolsey fire the day after it broke out when they got a request to rescue people stuck nearby on Castro Peak in the hills above Malibu. Their fuel supply was dwindling and thick smoke filled the air around them. Eventually they found a flat spot to ground the helicopter, and one of the pilots hopped out. Moments later, he emerged with three people and two dogs. The dramatic mountain rescue, involving Los Angeles Fire Department pilots David Nordquist and Joel Smith, was captured in an 11-minute video the agency released Monday. Once the people and pets were in the plane, the pilots took off. Ah, that was close, one says after taking off Yeah, it was, the other replied. Thats enough excitement for me today. The other laughed. You and me both, brother. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print California fires: Paradise anxiously awaits rain and the dangers it might bring Calvin Daley, 66, sat listening to jazz on his battery-powered radio on the front porch of his two-story home in the charred hills of Chico. Tiny birds hopped from the burned branches of a pine tree to a bird feeder. Nearby, Pacific Gas and Electric crews repaired voltage lines, and other workers used an excavator to move aside hunks of melted metal that once were cars. Daley didnt evacuate. Instead, he hooked up three hoses, stationed them around his home and began dousing everything. Some people who stayed to fight for their homes died. He had at least three hours to work before the fire arrived with fury. He had no goggles, no mask, just jeans, a T-shirt and hoses. Sometimes, the water evaporated before hitting its target. His next-door neighbors home went up: My heart sank; I couldnt go over there and save it. Flames also claimed his wifes ski boat and his 1987 Dodge Ram. Also incinerated was the nearby Honey Run covered bridge. By 10:30 p.m. the fire had moved on. Exhausted, Daley woke himself every hour or so to check on hotspots. It was eerily quiet for three days, then the birds returned. Next door, the neighbors cats had survived. He began feeding them. As heavy rain approaches, hes worried contaminants will run into his well. He also worries for people who have lost homes, for people living in tents. He wishes it were summer. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Advertisement Legally blind and under evacuation: The unknown is the worst part At the Butte County Fairgrounds in Gridley, the five Thompsons live at the end of a row of green cots. Hot meals are served, snacks and water are readily available, as are toiletries and American Red Cross volunteers. Were having to turn stuff away, said M The rustle of dry grass and a lone wind chime are the only sounds. Its quiet, like a ghost town. Which it is. Well, truth be told, Hornitos does have about 40 people living here. On weekends, Richie Ortiz, a rancher, mans Plaza Bar, ready for a game of Liars Dice with whoever might wander in. Sometimes tourists detour on their way to Yosemite for a glimpse of California history, like the crumbling remnants of Domingo Ghirardellis first shop before he became a famous San Francisco chocolatier. Advertisement Ortiz, 67, will serve them a drink at the bar carved in 1852 and ring up their tab on the 1925 cash register. Its been almost 70 years since his father bought the Plaza, which dates to when this was a Mexican village, before it was a notoriously lawless Gold Rush town, before it was a mining and sawmill town, where men either died young (the mines) or lost fingers, hands and arms (the mill). All before it emptied out and became a place that holds Californias ghosts. Once a year, the graveyard on the hill brings the town back to life. The cemetery is part of life here, said Keri Ortiz, one of Ortizs nieces, an English professor at the junior college in Merced. Mrs. Turner is up there. When we were kids every Christmas, shed give us a coffee can full of cookies with waxed paper between the layers. And Miss Eugenia who ran the general store is there. I never met her, but my dad did chores for her when he was a boy. My mom wants to be buried there because she says that way people will visit her at least once a year. On Nov. 2 to be exact, when candles are placed in cut off plastic milk bottles (850 of them) that line the path leading up to the gravesites. People from all over gather in Hornitos plaza and, carrying candles, head up the hill. Dia de los Muertos Day of the Dead is a tradition likely celebrated here when the town was founded by Mexicans driven out of their nearby village by miners. But during the Gold Rush, a rich vein was found nearby and Hornitos was overrun with people from everywhere. In the 1850s, it became known as the wickedest spot in the motherlode, thanks to a profusion of brothels, bars and shootouts. The dead lost their day. Once a year, the graveyard on the hill brings Hornitos back to life. (Tomas Ovalle / For The Times) Then in the late 1800s, Dona Candelaria, a wealthy resident originally from Mexico, started the tradition of a procession to the cemetery, encouraging people of all religions and ethnicities to light a candle and remember. The first stop every year is to leave a candle on the grave of Candelaria, who died in 1903. This November, cotton-candy pink clouds turned rust and orange as the plaza filled with people. Neil Pauley, 79, was there with his daughters, sons-in-law and grandchildren who came from all over the state. As a boy, Pauley lived with his grandparents in Hornitos. They are buried in the first grave to the left when you enter the cemetery. Elizabeth Rowe came here by wagon train from Springfield, Mo. James Rowe was an Irishman who grew up in Sonora, Mexico. You gotta remember, in those days, the Irish were shunned and discriminated against as much as the Mexicans. So it was something that he became U.S. Marshal Rowe, Pauley said. He was startled by how vivid and tangible being back in Hornitos made his memories. My grandmother would sit under that tree right there, he said, pointing, just quiet. I wasnt invited and I wasnt uninvited. I was welcome. And Id sit by her peaceful-like. One day she said to me: What do you hear? Dont answer me out loud. Just listen to the morning. Keri Ortizs 14-year-old niece Kamille Dean spent part of the evening selling Hornitos T-shirts to raise money for the Patrons club, which has sponsored the event since the 1940s. But she saved time to leave a candle at the grave of a man she had never met: Augie Marino, who had pushed her grandmother, Lulu, out of the path of a car when she was just a little girl. Her other candle was for Manuela Ortiz, her great-grandmother who for decades had run the Plaza Bar. Manuela Ortiz had lost her memory to Alzheimers over the last decade and died this year. She held me as a baby. They told me stories about her since I was little. She was kind and welcoming, but she wouldnt take back-sass from anyone. She was her own person, Kamille said. Soon the plaza and the bar were filled with some 900 people. Richie Ortiz and Kamilles father, Derrek Dean, served drinks. Of course they had stocked up on Hornitos tequila. Some celebrants arrived with painted faces, in brilliant gowns and skeleton costumes. Women carried armfuls of marigolds. Richie Ortiz, left, and his brother Poncho are longtime Hornitos residents. (Tomas Ovalle / For The Times) For most of its history, the gathering in Hornitos centered on All Souls Day. It wasnt considered a sad night, but a somber one. A mostly white town walked silently to the cemetery to pray for the faithfully departed. Now, people with roots in Mexico drive up from the Central Valley, through gold foothills and past gray-green olive oak trees, to Hornitos, where they bring the traditions of Dia de los Muertos. The remembrance isnt just about praying for the departed, but inviting them back for a party. But like All Souls Day, the Day of the Dead is a Catholic tradition that holds that each person is connected to something that stretches back before them and will last after theyre gone. Imelda Cervantes, 50, who worked the almond harvest that had just finished, wore a crown of braids and flowers, rustling skirts and face paint that was part skull, part hearts and flowers and Aztec symbols. She said she would be giving thanks for all of her ancestors. Thomas Garcia, 61, a farmworker in a white cowboy hat and dress boots, said he was going to light a candle for Joaquin Murietta, the famed outlaw who once frequented Hornitos and symbolizes social justice for Mexican workers. Greetings were exchanged all over the plaza. Father Stephen! Hows retirement? Que pasa? You doing OK? Remember, nothing wrong with being single. When night fell, Father Michael Cox of St. Josephs Catholic Church in nearby Mariposa told the crowd that, despite a festive component, this was a sacred event and they should walk silently, in twos, up the hill. The crowd moved, with the considerable din of a large group of people told to keep quiet. Mothers made hushing sounds louder than babys cries. Toddlers sang songs to themselves. When the procession reached the steep hill before the graves, silence settled in. The church bell rang. A dog barked. The sky was inky, the stars stamped with a brilliance seen only away from city lights. The tiny white church glowed, the long line of candles flickered and the Milky Way was a stripe of powdery light over the tombstones. Pauleys family placed photos, including one of him as a small child holding his grandmothers hand, at his grandparents graves. There were offerings of food and drinks and flowers. They set up chairs around the gravesite, like a campfire. The grandchildren had painted faces and everyone was telling family stories. Pauley stepped away from the circle. He stood still, looking at the stars. He seemed to be listening. diana.marcum@latimes.com @DianaMarcum Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc (the second from the left) at a dialogue session in group with US firms (Source: VNA) These firms are running many investment, production and business projects in Vietnam in the fields of biotechnology, product quality inspection, health care, rare disease treatment and tobacco industry. The Vietnamese government leader congratulated the US enterprises on their successes in business in Vietnam, saying that they have earned credibility among people and businesses in Vietnam. The US-ASEAN Business Council (USABC) has worked closely with Vietnam, and supported Vietnam in promoting cooperation between Vietnamese and US enterprises, thus contributing to balancing the trade ties between the two countries, PM Phuc said. He noted that US firms have invested over USD12 billion in Vietnam so far, and the two-way trade hit over USD55 billion. The bilateral trade scale surged by 35 times in the last 18 years, with the USs export to Vietnam was up 37 percent - the highest level in recent year. According to the PM, there is plenty of room for the two nations to strengthen cooperation in the coming time, especially in trade, investment and business. He affirmed that the Vietnamese Government is willing to listen to proposals and dialogues from US investors during their operation in Vietnam. The US business representatives said they want to expand their investment in Vietnam in health care, hi-tech application in inspecting product quality, and in supporting Vietnamese farmers in improving economic value of the livestock industry. Touching upon a number of policies and Governments documents in health care, agriculture, livestock and tobacco industry, the business delegates said they wish to hold more dialogues with Vietnams authorities, especially State management agencies. They added that their firms are ready to arrange for US experts and scientists to join the Vietnamese Government in building State management policies for a number of specific sectors. PM Phuc affirmed that the Vietnamese Government always creates favourable conditions for foreign investors, including those from the US to operate in Vietnam, noting that Vietnam is constantly improving its policies and institutional system to be in line with international practices and comply with trade agreements that Vietnam has joined, towards opening the market for more foreign investors to enter Vietnam. Vietnam is open to feedback and recommendations from foreign investors so as to remove obstacles to production and business activities, the PM said and called on US firms to continue promoting their investment, production and business in the Vietnamese market./. If you lived in a neighborhood that was incinerated in a matter of minutes, what would you do when the smoke cleared? Would you say a prayer of thanks for getting out alive and vow never to return? Or would you tempt fate, knowing firsthand the destructive force of infernos driven by Santa Ana winds, and rebuild on the very spot? Too many Californians are becoming way too familiar with that very dilemma. Last week, I stood in the ashes of a mobile home park in the Malibu mountains, talking to a couple who had lost everything but hope to return one day. Richard Deamer, a retired Ventura psychiatrist, saw the column and wrote to tell me he and his wife, Ann, lost their house in last Decembers Thomas fire. Advertisement Our home was totally destroyed in five minutes, Deamer said. We had only 20 minutes to get out. For weeks, he and his wife were in a dither about whether to return. In medicine, we learn about risk-benefit situations, Deamer said. I think Ann and I feel the benefits of living in Southern California are still worth the risks. And so their new house, rising from the ashes of the former, is about half done. Is this a good example of what the lawyers call willful ignorance? Deamer asked. I guess that depends. As I said last week, I hope the obvious messages of the latest deadly fires are beginning to sink in. We need to be smarter about where and how we build in a state that cant make it through a calendar year without biblical catastrophes ranging from drought-driven hellfire to bursting dams to rivers of mud and boulders to the roiling of the ground beneath our feet. To understand what the Deamers did, and why, you have to go back a few years. It was 1974 and Ann and I were looking at houses during the last year of my training at UCLA, said Deamer, who had been a pilot and a U.S. Navy doctor assigned to counsel returning servicemen traumatized by their experiences in Vietnam. We came upon a nice little place on top of a hill. They were almost broke, Deamer said, but put $5,000 down on the $52,000 house, moved in, raised two daughters, and grew to love the neighborhood, as well as the stunning views of mountain and sea. On Dec. 4, at about 7:30 in the evening, Deamer looked to the southwest from his back deck and spotted trouble. I called 911 and said, I think I see a fire in the Santa Paula area. Has that been called in yet? Deamer said. Yes, it had been. Deamer went to bed as the winds whistled. Three hours later, Ann was rousting him. These are the victims of the California wildfires Rich, Rich, get up, weve gotta get out of here, she said. Deamer heard police on bullhorns ordering an evacuation. They grabbed some legal papers and photos. Deamer searched for their cat Saber, but the fire was approaching and they had to go. They drove past flames and through smoke to safety. The fire that raged through parts of Ventura and Santa Barbara counties, burning nearly 300,000 acres and more than 1,000 structures, destroyed the Deamers home. They knew by the next morning that it was gone, and drove up two days later to find nothing but ash. Over a three- or four-week period, we considered all the variables, Deamer said, and they went to see houses for sale in the area. But nothing felt right. I didnt want to live in another house and start over in a new neighborhood, said Ann. Richard, 77, said he and Ann, 76, still feel young at heart, and tied to years-long routines that were established up on that hill. But can it ever be considered safe up there, where Santa Anas howl? With recent droughts that could be tied to climate change, the Thomas fire could be a sign of more to come. On the other hand, its not as if the Deamers were living on the edge of a forest. There are grassy slopes nearby, but the Deamers hadnt seen a fire anything like this, and they wanted to believe there wouldnt be another in the years they have left. We looked at 43 years, raising our girls, and all the good times with neighbors, Richard Deamer said. People 20 years younger than us said, Were going to rebuild, what about you? Awhile back, as construction began, neighbors held a block party in a cul-de-sac. Now the frame is up on the Deamers place, but this house wont be built like the last. Were required now by the city of Ventura to fireproof it as much as possible, said Deamer, who was waiting on the delivery of shingles made of a concrete-like material. At the house, he showed me how the attic openings had been sealed, to prevent embers from flying in. The house will have sprinklers in every room, no combustible vegetation near the structure and no wooden fencing. The Deamers had good insurance, which covers the Oxnard apartment theyve been living in temporarily, and they wont lose money on the rebuild. But not everyone has chosen to return, or has been able to. Jeff Lambert, Venturas development director, said that about 50% of the lost homes have either been permitted for rebuilding or are in the review process. Theyll all have to meet the new, stricter city requirements for fire and seismic safety. Peter Partyka, a Los Angeles architect, told me he thinks new building restrictions are designed more to save lives than property. To save buildings, he said, wood frames should be avoided replaced with metals, cinder blocks and other non-combustible materials. We need to think differently, Partyka said about the layout of houses. A standard rectangle isnt as safe, he said, as a U-shaped design that serves as its own firebreak. And roof sprinklers would also help. Sounds great, but not everyone has the budget for fire-resistant features. In the 1993 Green Meadows fire near the Ventura County-Malibu line, architect Cory Buckner and her late husband, Nick Roberts, lost their home. They rebuilt on the same spot, and also later designed and built a smaller studio on the same property. It was rather costly to build, and not for everyone, said Buckner. The studio had no overhangs for fire to get under. It had metal siding, double-glaze windows and fire sprinklers. And the experiment worked. Last week, when fire returned, the house was destroyed, same as the one before it. The studio survived. Up on the hill in Ventura, the Deamers said they expect to move into their new house by March, and they cant wait. Theres hope, Richard Deamer said, referring to all those who are suffering through recent losses. What began a year ago, and knocked the Deamers low, has turned into a new lease. But if it happens again, Im not coming back, said Ann Deamer. Where would she go? As much as she loves California, she has a twin sister in Virginia, she said, and might move east. It rains there. LIVE UPDATES: The latest on the California wildfires Get more of Steve Lopezs work and follow him on Twitter @LATstevelopez Two dozen biologists with binoculars and telemetry equipment fanned out across the smoldering gulches and slopes of the Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area on Friday to take a preliminary accounting of the damage caused by wildfire to prime mountain lion country. It was arduous, dusty work, traipsing through shrub lands reduced to piles of white ash and denuded canyons. But the data they gathered were cause for cautious optimism. Of 13 mountain lions with radio collars they had been tracking before the Woolsey fire broke out, scientists confirmed that 12 were alive and moving outside of the burned areas in the vicinity of Point Mugu to the west, and from Malibu east to the 405 Freeway, scientists said. One lion, a sub-adult known as P-74, remained unaccounted for. Advertisement Though Southern Californias urban mountain lions have become a fixture in popular imagination, they are an imperiled breed living at the very limit of what is ecologically possible. Now biologists are watching, unsure of whats next in the area where many of the creature comforts that the large predators need to breed, hide and hunt deer were lost after the Woolsey fire roared through. The national recreation area has become an immense natural experiment, Seth Riley, a National Park Service ecologist, said. The big question now is this: What happens when a huge wildlife refuge hemmed by freeways and development abruptly loses more than half of its habitat to wildfire? For miles and miles in the Santa Monica Mountains, from ridgeline to ridgeline in all directions, the Woolsey fire exacted a heavy toll, burning 100,000 acres 88% of the areas federal parkland. It is a huge loss for an unlikely wilderness that has persisted for decades through dogged conservation despite surrounding urban sprawl. Bryan Nguyen walks a scorched trail in Liberty Canyon to see the damage caused by the Woolsey fire. (Al Seib / Los Angeles Times) Public access to the range was hard fought by a bipartisan coalition of conservation and civic groups starting in the 1960s. Their goal: a unique combination of city, county, state and federal land, together with beaches, trails and scenic corridors that would run from Griffith Park to Point Mugu in Ventura County. In 1978, Congress awarded their efforts by authorizing the Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area to provide open space in one of the nations most congested, polluted and park-poor regions. Over the past 40 years, its trails have become a destination for hikers, mountain bikers, bird-watchers and equestrians, its roads a fixture for car commercials and motorcycle clubs and its creeks a draw for busloads of schoolchildren from throughout the region. Today, the chaparral highlands and sandstone peaks offer panoramic views of stubble and ash. Entry is restricted to people credentialed to work in fire zones. The fire burned the life out of hiking trails some say rank with such iconic paths as the John Muir Trail in the Sierra Nevada range and the Appalachian Trail in the East. Completed in 2016 after a half-century of hard work and altruism, the Backbone stretches through 67 miles of sycamores, chaparral and sandstone peaks between Point Mugu State Park and Will Rogers State Historic Park. Officials said segments of the Backbone trail within the Woolsey fires footprint remain closed. Emily Pruitt, a spokeswoman for the National Park Service, said it is too early to know when burned sections of the recreation area will reopen. The fire destroyed at least 616 structures within the park, she said, and there are still a lot of potential hazards to be assessed. A sign near the entrance to the Corral Canyon Park recreation area stands amid a landscape charred by the Woolsey fire in Malibu. (Reed Saxon / AP) Properties with links to show business were destroyed. Among them were Paramount Ranch and sets used for HBOs hit series Westworld both popular destination points for day trippers who used the background for family photos and Instagram posts. Most ecologists say it will take 10 to 20 years for the Santa Monica Mountains to look the way they did before the Woolsey fire came through, said Mark Mendelsohn, a National Park Service biologist. Of course, that depends on rainfall and drought. When it comes to native species, he said, this fire means they are going to struggle, some more than others. One of the largest mountain lion populations in Southern California is confined within 275 square miles in an around the Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area, which is bordered by the Pacific Ocean, major freeways, housing and commercial developments and agricultural fields. Studies begun in 2002 suggest the pre-fire landscape may have reached capacity with about 15 to 20 mountain lions. Inbreeding is a serious problem among these big cats, which have extremely low genetic diversity. The males will fight and kill others for territory, which is vastly more limited after the Woolsey fire. A charred sign just west of Liberty Canyon Road and a stones throw from the 101 Freeway in Agoura Hills still stands in a critical wildlife corridor where conservationists hope to build a wildlife bridge. It would allow safe passage and help diversify the gene pool among the groups of mountain lions remaining in the Santa Monicas south of the freeway as well as in the Simi Hills and Santa Susana mountains to the north. Now, the site of what aims to be one of the most ambitious predator restoration projects in the United States is surrounded by miles of charred hills and mountains. Whenever conditions change, there will be winners and losers. Mendelsohn has witnessed plenty of heartbreaking evidence of both during recent surveys of the still-smoldering landscape. Some animals didnt make it, he said. But it was encouraging to see a deer in a completely charred forest, a tiny wren tit hunkering down in one of the few shrubs left standing, and a woodrat leap out from under a rock near where its nest had burned. It didnt take long for Mendelsohn to find the natural sounds he was searching for as he strode along a creek edged with singed reeds and brush in the Upper Las Virgenes Canyon Open Space Preserve area of Agoura Hills. It was home to an isolated population of federally threatened red-legged frogs discovered in 1998, and a place where biologists gather eggs used in reintroduction programs elsewhere in the recreation area. Five plopping sounds in the water gave me a sense of cautious relief, he said. Federal biologists are discussing proposals to capture the frog population, if necessary, in the event a large storm threatens to bury one of the species last outposts in Los Angeles and Ventura counties in mud and debris. There was good news in Topanga Canyon, where firefighters avoided dropping retardant that would have decimated a Malibu Creek habitat thats home to frogs, newts and protected fish such as Arroyo chubs and federally endangered southern steelhead trout. Topanga Canyon was spared, biologist Rosi Dagit said. I recently stood on a roadside pullout overlooking the stream and shouted, Thank god, you didnt burn! For now, and in the years ahead, biologists will focus attention on how the mobile, efficient predators at the top of the areas food chain are faring, and their impacts on recovering plant and animal populations. The GPS collar of P-74, a young male mountain lion who lives in the area burned by the Woolsey fire, has not transmitted data in days. (National Park Service) The surprise is that nearly all of the mountain lions with radio collars turned up outside of the fires burn area. It is not clear whether one or more of those mountain lions outran the fire to safer conditions, or just happened to be there by some amazing coincidence when the fire broke out, said Riley, the National Park Service ecologist. Questions remain about how these big cats already living closer to their peers than they are predisposed to will endure in even tighter confines. There may be repercussions, and not just for the mountain lion population. People really need to protect their animals, Riley said, now that there are fewer deer on the landscape. What started as a tiny brush fire became the states deadliest wildfire. Heres how Louis.Sahagun@latimes.com @LouisSahagun Firefighters continued to make progress Sunday against the deadly wildfires ravaging neighborhoods up and down the state, boosting containment as more residents were allowed to return home. A red flag warning remained in effect in parts of Northern California, where the Camp fire in Butte County has chewed through 149,500 acres, claimed at least 76 lives and destroyed 12,786 structures, according to the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection. The death toll has risen every day as search crews continued to sift through the rubble, while the list of people unaccounted for reached 1,276 Saturday night. Officials said the staggering number is far from precise and could include duplicates as well as the names of people who have not checked in with loved ones or authorities. A vigil for the victims was planned for Sunday afternoon at the First Christian Church of Chico. Advertisement By Sunday morning, the blaze was 60% contained. But forecasters expect gusty winds will bring in critical fire weather conditions across portions of the western slopes of the northern Sierra. Officials said smoke from the blaze would continue to bring poor air quality across the region through Tuesday. In Southern California, the Woolsey fire has charred 96,949 acres and destroyed about 1,452 structures. By Sunday night, it was 91% contained and Cal Fire said it expects full containment by Thursday. Evacuation orders were lifted for some parts of Malibu Colony Cove neighborhood on Saturday and others were expected to be allowed back into the community at 2 p.m. on Sunday, and still more on Monday. This link can be used to assist the public in determining what properties remain under evacuation: https://goo.gl/sUCR5v. But some people couldnt wait any longer to return home. Around noon on Sunday, Valerie and Edward Nalbentian walked north along the shoulder of Pacific Coast Highway near Zuma View Place in Malibu, heading to a home they said they knew had burned down. We havent seen it yet, Valerie said, her expression grim. But weve seen plenty of pictures. They had only had the Point Dume house for a year and a half, she said. In the aftermath of the disaster, the couple was preoccupied by trying to find somewhere to rent. In just a few days, she said, someone had hiked the rent on a place she was eyeing by $2,000 a month raising their prices amid the booming demand, she said. People are renting places without even looking at them because theres such a shortage, she said. A County Fire Department vehicle slowed alongside them and the driver asked if they needed a ride. The Nalbentians took him up on the offer, piling into the two spare seats for the sobering drive up to Point Dume. Further south, Mimi Goldfinger gazed up at the scarred hillside at the intersection of Latigo Canyon Road and Pacific Coast Highway, cradling a fluffy white dog in her arms. Before, she said, it was all lush. She and her husband Morris were waiting to return to their home in a gated community and find out whether it had survived. From their hotel near LAX, they had heard bits and pieces from the utility workers who had been dispatched to do work in the aftermath of the disaster and who were staying at the same Sheraton hotel as well as the security company their community had hired to patrol the area. They knew that other homes above and below had been destroyed, but I dont know about our house, Mimi said. She was wearing the black athletic pants she had on when she headed to the gym the morning that the fires broke out, before she discovered that the shops had no electricity and realized what was going on. When she got back to the house, Morris was packing up. I grabbed almost nothing, he said. The laptop, Mimi replied. And the dog, he added. And the daughter! Mimi said, smiling. Beyond the checkpoint at Malibu Colony Cove where deputies were turning back cars, some residents had nonetheless gotten back into their homes days earlier and were chafing at the restrictions placed on them coming and going around Malibu. Angelina Radden had returned to West Malibu with her mother a few days ago, after her landlord groused about her mother staying with her in her West Hollywood apartment with a big dog. Radden said her mother couldnt afford to stay in a hotel, so she had decided to head back. Shes very persistent, Radden said elliptically when asked how her mother had gotten back in. They had spent days cleaning the ash that had pervaded the house, down to its curtains. When Radden heard on Friday that Ralphs was open farther south, she went to get groceries only to find that the deputies would not let her come back in her car. She ended up leaving on foot instead. Radden was hiking back south Sunday morning along Pacific Coast Highway, planning to meet up with a friend past the road closure at Paradise Cove who would ferry her back to her car. You kind of feel like youre under house arrest, Radden said. You cant go anywhere or do anything. No one knows when anything is going to be reopened, she said. Their only answer is, We will let you back in as soon as its safe. Another resident, who declined to give his name because he worried that deputies would try to roust him from his home, said he had remained there through the fires. The man, a former firefighter, said the only tools he had to defend his home were a wet towel and a five-gallon bucket. He had driven down to Paradise Cove, where deputies were stopping cars, to get supplies from volunteers who were walking them to residents waiting just past the road closure. No level of government has provided anything to people out here, he said. Were trying to stay alive out here with no power and no gasoline to run generators. The food supplies are holding up because of volunteers. Lynn Jacob strode past him, heaving bags loaded with ice and other supplies back to her car. The aftermath of this disaster is a disaster in itself, she said. Jacob, a longtime West Malibu resident who had returned to her home Sunday, complained that no one was telling residents that if they went past the road closure at Paradise Cove they would be unable to come back. One of her elderly neighbors had gone to the grocery store without realizing she would be unable to return to her husband, Jacob said. She had to cry and cry. She went back three different times before she finally got through, Jacob said. Residents have ruefully started calling it the YOYO fire, she said, for youre on your own. When Jeff and Nan Thompson and their son Alex, a ruddy-haired 5-year-old with boundless energy, returned to their home atop a Malibu hillside, they were boggled by what had burned and what had not. Burned: bushes scorched black along their driveway, a metal grate steps from their living room windows and a nearby house that used to peer over them from the hills. Not burned: their butterscotch-colored house that looked over the scorched hillsides below, which seemed practically untouched, save for a scattering of Spanish tiles that had tumbled from its roof. They already knew it had survived, thanks to word from neighbors and television footage, but it still amazed Nan Thompson to see just how close the flames had come. She stepped carefully over the broken tiles to photograph bits of damage: a charred patch of the sprinkler system, a garage window that had shattered. Perhaps the strangest thing was their massive metal storage container, bigger than a dumpster, which had somehow been spun around and flung across the blackened land behind the house. The Thompsons feared it might tumble down the ravine, warning Alex not to get too close. Wheres the beehive that was under the container? Alex asked as he zipped back and forth, a toy dog in his hand. Its gone. All burned up, Jeff Thompson replied. Alex paused to take it in. The bees home is burned, he said before running to examine a piece of scorched wood. His father, still catching his breath from heaving a wheelbarrow up the steep ravine, peered at the hillside just under their home. He pointed to where he had cleared out brush around the house before leaving. That might be why, he said between breaths, it didnt burn. But the house had no water, so they would not be able to stay. They planned to pick up more clothes, maybe some toys, before heading back to the stretch of Pacific Coast Highway where they had left their car. Disaster assistance centers will be open Monday in Malibu and Agoura Hills to help residents replace records lost in the blaze, file insurance claims and apply for disaster assistance. President Trump toured the devastation on Saturday. Hopefully, this will be the last of these, because it was a really, really bad one, the president said. People have to see this to really understand it. A chance of rain later this week has crews bracing for possible mudslides in burn scars of both fires. Butte County could get four to five inches of rain from Tuesday night through the weekend, with the heaviest rain Thanksgiving night, said Eric Kurth, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service. Thats going to be spread out over a period of days not coming down all at once, he said. That may be a good sign. Typically, debris flows are expected when rain falls at half an inch per hour or more, said David Gomberg of the weather service. In Southern California, theres about a 50% chance of rain over the areas charred by the Woolsey fire as early as Wednesday, Gomberg said. Forecasters say the area could see a quarter to three-quarters of an inch of rain. It doesnt look like a real heavy rain producer, he said. In San Bernardino County its very high certainty youll get some rain, and going south into Ventura and Los Angeles counties, the probability weakens. Even so, forecasters warned of potential rock slides and debris flows across roadways below fire-ravaged slopes, especially along Highway 1 and canyon roads. Rain likely with potential mudslides and rockslides across roadways in #WoolseyFire and #HillFire burn areas Wed afternoon into Wed night , especially Highway 1 and canyon roads. #LArain #cawx pic.twitter.com/lMVd2dtYhh NWS Los Angeles (@NWSLosAngeles) November 18, 2018 alene.tchekmedyian@latimes.com Twitter: @AleneTchek UPDATES: 5:10 p.m.: This article was updated with more comments from Malibu residents. 2:35 p.m.: This article was updated with more comments from Malibu residents trying to return home. 1:50 p.m.: This article was updated with new comments from Malibu-area residents. 1:05 p.m.: This article was updated with new information Cal Fire. This article was originally published at 10:10 a.m. Jeff Evans steers his white Dodge Ram along a narrow dirt road, scanning the blackened trees and ashen ground for two skittish dogs. They come running when they hear the truck, and Evans offers them dog biscuits from the big red box of Milk-Bones he keeps on his floorboard. Good, he said, giving them a pat. Theyre doing OK. He can move along. Checking on the dogs is just one chore on Evans list. Hes one of a handful of people left in Concow, Calif., a mountain hamlet tucked deep in the woods that has been under mandatory evacuation orders since the Camp fire tore through here Nov. 8. If he leaves, he cant get back in. His neighbors stuck on the outside have been emailing him requests. Because the gas in the generator powering his electricity and his internet is limited, he hops online for a few minutes each day, answers their questions and gets going. Every single morning until the afternoon, Im huffing it, Evans said. Im going and going and going. Theres pigs to feed and goats and ducks and chickens. Not to mention the eight dogs hes rescued. Were stuck here anyhow, he added. We may as well do something valuable. A thin man with a bushy mustache and a quick laugh, Evans, 59, has become an unofficial keeper of Concow. Neighbors send him addresses and ask if he could please go see whether their houses burned down. Almost always, the answer is yes. From Chico, the nearest city outside the massive evacuation zone, thick smoke obscures the Sierra foothills towns and their devastation. Jeff Evans, center, chats with his dad, Chuck, as neighbor Gary Green moves propane tanks Friday in Concow, Calif. (Kent Nishimura / Los Angeles Times) Burned trees on a hillside in Concow, Calif. (Kent Nishimura / Los Angeles Times) Cars destroyed by the Camp fire sit outside a home along Yana Trail. (Kent Nishimura / Los Angeles Times) Top: Jeff Evans, center, chats with his dad, Chuck, as neighbor Gary Green moves propane tanks Friday in Concow, Calif. Left: Burned trees on a hillside in Concow. Right: Cars destroyed by the Camp fire sit outside a home along Yana Trail. (Kent Nishimura / Los Angeles Times) This week, a drive up to Concow, an unincorporated community of 710 people, included stops at closed intersections guarded by military police. At burned-out houses all along the way, search teams picked through the rubble for human remains, their white coveralls making them look like ghosts in the smoke. Evans, who owns a Chico pest control company, lives in a three-bedroom house at the end of a dirt road, his property abutting Concow Reservoir. Hes been there 22 years and still cant believe his luck. He can catch 6-pound bass right in his backyard. About a year ago, he moved his parents, Chuck, 91, and Janet, 82, in with him. Janet is hard of hearing and moves slowly with a walker. Chuck chops the wood and keeps the gutters clean. He told me I could move down here and retire and not have to do anything, Chuck said. That was a crock. About 7:45 a.m. on Nov. 8, Evans and his dad stepped outside and saw that the skyline was orange. Already, smoke filled the air. The wind was blowing hard. What started as a tiny brush fire became the states deadliest wildfire. Heres how Chuck drove a quarter of a mile north up Eleran Lane to Hoffman Road the only way out to see how it looked. He saw flames. They were trapped. He and Evans considered their options. Maybe they could get in the reservoir? No, Janet cant swim. Theyd have to protect the house. Evans, his dad and a few neighbors spent a frantic morning with tractors, rakes and shovels cutting firebreaks and tossing dirt on the flames that came from all directions. We kind of admitted to one another that theres a possibility that were not going to make it through this, Evans said. I mean, if you stood here and heard that sound, this freight train huffing and puffing just unbelievably loud we realized that this is volatile. He and his dad stopped for a few seconds to consider that they might die. Then they started working again. They didnt want to worry Janet, so they didnt tell her how bad it was. She sat inside, playing solitaire at the kitchen table. Evans said the fire burned his eyebrows. Its too bad it didnt burn your mustache, Chuck said with a crescendoing laugh. The next day, Evans drove a mile up Hoffman Road to the crossing at Concow Creek on the path they would have taken out. There were five abandoned vehicles and dogs inside. He took the dogs home and posted their pictures on Facebook. Their owners all contacted him, some weeping with joy, and told him the same story: At about the same time Evans father was telling him they were trapped, the drivers up the road became surrounded by flames. Suddenly, they saw a California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection pickup truck just ahead and heard a man calling out. Then, a canoe pulled up on the water. Theyd have to leave now. There was no room for dogs. A week after the fire, 11 dogs, including three of Evans own, crowded his kitchen floor, tails wagging. Some lay next to each other, sleeping. They were strangers, but they have been getting along. Evans thinks they get it. Jeff Evans is surrounded by some of the dogs he rescued. Kent Nishimura / Los Angeles Times A black collie mix named Bella has matted, singed fur all over her back and tail, and her eyes are burned. Evans found her at his friends house, cowering in a hole, scared as could be. She was tied to a long lead line in the yard while her owners were at work. Her doghouse burned down. She lived through that, Evans said, gently petting her face. Thats just mind-blowing to me. Shes such a good-hearted creature. Later that week, a group of donkeys wandered into the yard. Chuck gave them peppermint candies, and they followed him around. On Thursday afternoon, Evans started his rounds. He drove to the house of Glenn Madsen, Bellas owner. As others have been doing, Madsen told Evans to get into his house, which is still standing, to get food. When he pulled up, he was concerned: The gate was open and the generator was running. Did someone break in? He found his friend in the yard, working in a dust mask, and wrapped him in a hug. Madsen was sheepish about how he got there. Glenn, I saved everything in your freezer, Evans said. All the meats, theyre still frozen. Are you serious? Theyre in my freezer. So if I need, Ill eat them, but I think were going to do fine. So when its all said and done, Ill bring those back. Evans took half a bag of potatoes from Madsens house, and Madsen gave him 10 gallons of gas for his generator. Evans was relieved. Hed only had five gallons left enough for a day of electricity. Evans drove up the road and ran into another friend checking on a burned property. Hed gotten word that an older man theyd all helped look for had been found dead under his pickup truck. I expected it, Evans said with a sigh. He doesnt have the facility to drive too far, too fast. As he drove along Concow Road, he passed the burned husk of a four-door pickup. Someone died there, he said softly. He pulled into Camelot, a gated subdivision where houses were built in a tighter, planned grid that was meant to attract wealthy buyers but was too isolated to really do so. After the fire, Camelot is no more. Jeff Evans carries a container of gasoline he found at a Concow property Friday. Kent Nishimura / Los Angeles Times He checked a burned home where hed left food for a badly burned stray cat he had spotted a few days earlier. The food hadnt been touched. I think the cat died, he said, his voice breaking. Doggone it. I just hate to see animals suffer. Just up the road, he brightened up. There was another stray cat in good shape. He ran and grabbed two of the three cans of Fancy Feast hed left out and crawled down a culvert where the cat was hiding. Kitty, kitty, kitty! he called. Here you go, buddy. I love that, he said in the truck. I love that! In the week since the fire, hes gotten to know many of the multitudes of firefighters and utility workers, who now recognize him. Some bring him gas they find on others properties. He asks for the address so he can replenish it when the neighbors come back. But they say, Theyre never going to need it because theres nothing there, Evans said. On Friday, firefighters delivered him supplies sent from some friends on the outside: Canned goods, peanut butter, toilet paper, 10 gallons of gasoline. People around here get a reputation that theyre backward, and some look a little rough, Evans said. But you wouldnt find kinder people anywhere, he said. You dont judge a book by the cover in this neck of the woods, Ive gotta say, Evans said. Theyre damn good people. When Evans got home, his dad said some utility workers told him it would be at least Christmas before they got lights. But the dark up here isnt so bad, Evans said. You can see the stars. Support our journalism Please consider subscribing today to support stories like this one. Get full access to our signature journalism for just 99 cents for the first four weeks. Already a subscriber? Your support makes our work possible. Thank you. hailey.branson@latimes.com | Twitter: @haileybranson The 76 Station at the corner of Corral Canyon Road and Pacific Coast Highway in Malibu opened Saturday morning and quickly became a gathering spot for residents fill up, tell stories of their efforts to save one anothers homes and strategize on how to get by with limited utilities and spotty access to the outside world. Gas, were down to a few gallons, cashier Cynthia Valencia said, handing two bottles of water to a regular who said he didnt have his wallet. Pacific Coast Highway was blockaded a short distance to the east. Rumors were rife that even residents werent being allowed back in. Residents can get out. They cant get in, said Kelly Pessis, who drove up in a car loaded with food. Advertisement Its spotty, said her husband, Steve Breese, adding that access could depend on the officer at the checkpoint. Breese, a member of the volunteer Corral Canyon Fire Department, had driven alongside his wife in a truck full of generators. He and others credited volunteers with helping limit damage in Corral Canyon only 17 homes burned down, he said. The Woolsey fire, however, destroyed more than 1,000 structures. Grace White sat on the stone wall of the gas station, waiting for a man named John to bring her dinner. She said John, who also had credentials, had improvised a service for ferrying residents back and forth through the checkpoint. On this trip, he had a rendezvous with a friend of Whites who had purchased provisions. Her husband got bad news on the phone: Their friend had been turned around and wouldnt be able to meet John. While waiting, White and other residents had exchanged vivid memories of the Friday night a week earlier, when the fire blew into El Nido, the lower of Corral Canyons two communities. As the firestorm approached, a woman named Caroline and a Marine named John teamed up on the firefighter hose the community had purchased after the 2007 fire. They split the fire, White said. Their efforts, and a lucky shift in the wind, saved many homes, she said. After the water pressure failed early Saturday morning, she said, spontaneous teams of residents used hand tools to put out embers and rip burning decks and railings away from houses. Those who remained then pulled together to get through the week. Everybody opens their house, White said. Were sharing showers. Some shared frozen food: We get to eat steaks, she said. Her husband, who didnt want his name used, found it ironic. Its weird camping out at home, he said. Theres no electricity. We just read and go to bed at 8 oclock. Shortly before noon, Chris OKeefe, in shorts, a Hawaiian shirt and sandals, walked up from the beach with a fishing rod and a cooler with his catch, four Calico bass. A sheriffs deputy on Corral Canyon Road stopped him when he couldnt produce a picture ID. Ive lived here 40 years, OKeefe said. I have fish on ice that I caught for my mother. The deputy was unmoved. OKeefe said he and his mother had been burned out in 2007 and rebuilt. Their house survived this fire. Itll be fine, he said. Ill get a ride. Its entertaining. By noon, the gas had run out. Station attendants blocked the pumps with yellow tape. Later, Anita Lam parked outside the station while her husband waited at the house up the canyon. With her baby in the car and a pepper gun at her hip, she propped her laptop on the trunk. She had made trips like this that morning to use the internet. This time was to check a propane service call. She learned that the driver couldnt get through because of the presidents arrival to survey the damages. I dont know why Donald Trump needs to come here now, she said. doug.smith@latimes.com Twitter: @LATDoug A somber President Trump toured the devastation of Californias deadly wildfires Saturday, striking a chord of unity as he vowed to marshal the power of the federal government to help recovery efforts in a state he has long criticized. Trump seemed visibly shocked as he visited the charred landscapes of the Camp and Woolsey fires, which have killed more than 70 people and left 1,200 others unaccounted for, destroyed more than 12,700 structures and largely erased the picturesque town of Paradise in the Sierra Nevada foothills. Hopefully, this will be the last of these, because it was a really, really bad one, Trump said. People have to see this to really understand it. As big as they look on the tube, you dont see whats going on until you come here. Trump was joined in his afternoon visit by Gov. Jerry Brown and Gov.-elect Gavin Newsom as they put aside political tensions to discuss how to join forces to help the state recover and prevent future wildfires. Advertisement The president vowed to help California 100% and did not repeat controversial and hotly contested remarks he made last weekend that blamed the disasters on Californias fire and forest management. I think everybodys seen the light, he said. Were all on the same page now. Its all going to work out well. Trump even had warm words for Brown, a political nemesis who has loudly criticized him on climate change, environmental regulations and immigration. Ive known Jerry for a long time but I think weve gotten closer today than weve got over the last 20 years, Trump said. We both want to come to the right conclusion. And the right conclusion is we have to get these forest fires to stop. Brown, for his part, thanked Trump for putting a spotlight on the tragedies, and Newsom praised him for issuing major disaster and emergency declarations, which will provide federal funding to cover up to 75% of Californias cost to remove debris, conduct emergency activities and provide transitional sheltering. The Trump administration also has issued three grants to provide similar levels of funding to states to cover the costs of assistance to California. On Saturday, authorities announced that eight more bodies were found the day before in Butte County and the number of people unaccounted for jumped from 631 to 1,276. Authorities are continuing to comb through 911 calls, emails and other reports of missing people. Butte County Sheriff Kory Honea said, however, that the list of the missing is dynamic and may include people who were counted twice, whose names were misspelled or who may not know they were reported missing. Trump also met Saturday with survivors of the mass shooting in Thousand Oaks in a private meeting at Point Mugu Naval Base. A gunman opened fire at a local bar on Nov. 7, killing 12 people before taking his own life. Trump did not address his views on gun control, but he called the shooting a horrible event in a great area. It was just his second trip as president to the nations most populous state. He made his first visit in March to inspect border wall prototypes outside San Diego. To survivors of the blazes, Trumps visit was welcomed, criticized or largely ignored amid the urgent need to find shelter, arrange schooling, seek financial help and worry about pets left behind. At a disaster recovery center at the Chico Mall, hundreds of survivors of the conflagration that destroyed Paradise stood in line to replace documents and apply for federal aid. Pam Kopping, 46, still gets the chills when she thinks about her escape: ash falling like rain, smoke so thick she could hardly see or breathe. She and her two sons, ages 6 and 10, are fortunate to have a place to stay with an aunt in Chico, but they are scrambling to figure out whether the childrens charter school will resume classes. Those concerns weighed more heavily on her mind than Trumps visit. Im so thankful to be here, she said. Another survivor, Pam Weaver, recalled the surreal scene on the day the Camp fire broke out: talking to her sister on the phone about last years wildfires in Santa Rosa then seeing embers flying everywhere outside her window. She had to evacuate and later learned she had lost her home. Weaver said the presidents visit makes her feel like her town is not forgotten. I think its going to make the community feel like theyre important, she said. But Sean Bandstra, 43, was one Trump supporter who was offended by the presidents comments blaming California fires on mismanagement. Thats the first thing he comes up with? Bandstra said. I could do without him. A similar scene played out in Malibu, where dozens of federal, state and local agencies set up tables inside a Los Angeles County courthouse to help residents with aid. Carol Bretonne, 78, stood behind more than a dozen people to find help to rebuild her Malibu home. It was the second time she lost everything. A 1978 blaze destroyed her house. A year later she started construction on a new one, which was charred by the Woolsey fire. She worried about the high cost of debris removal, which her insurance doesnt cover. She was still grieving the loss of her neighborhood and, a week later, her mother, who died of old age. The double tragedies left her unconcerned about Trumps visit. What is he going to do? she asked. He doesnt do anything. Carrie Armstrong, 57, of Topanga Canyon spent six days holed up in her nieces Van Nuys apartment with her cat and dog. She returned, grateful to be alive, with her home still standing. The worry has turned to anger as she thinks about Trump visiting her home state. Hes only visiting because he got so much flak and negative feedback from his tweet blaming the state for the disaster, she said. Hes still the president, she said. He shouldnt speak so badly about people [in crisis]. He hates California. Steven Cordrey, 52, stood nearby. He lost his house in the 1994 Malibu fires but said this time was worse because he has not been able to get any information about his house. Its 2018! he said, his voice shaking with emotion. This is a travesty. We have not been allowed in [his neighborhood] for nine days. Were treated like criminals when I go to checkpoints to ask. He believes he spotted rubble where his home once stood when Caitlyn Jenner posted a video from her hilltop home that panned across the neighborhood. Thats how all of us found out, he said. Nine homes. Nine neighbors. Thats not OK thats how we found out theres no neighborhood and nobodys there. Despite the tremendous devastation in the Malibu hills, Cordrey said Saturday that some things remained the same: surfers catching waves, trees tinged with fall colors swaying in the wind, and the sun reflecting off the rippling ocean. Its very surreal, he said. Because where were at, there is nothing. In Topanga, people streamed in and out of the post office to pick up mail as they struggled to return to normalcy. Ryan Victor, 47, was among the thousands of area residents forced to flee their homes when the fire began nine days ago. First on his list: Pick up the pile of mail that had accumulated since he evacuated from his Topanga home. As he went about his errands, he said that he had become numb to Trumps rhetoric, but that this was different. The idiotic things that come out of his mouth doesnt register much anymore, he said. But Im outraged over the hypocrisy. He noted the presidents accusatory tweet, followed by what now seems like a show of support and compassion by visiting. With him, as long as he signs the check to help with the recovery and doesnt withhold federal funds for forest management, thats all that matters, Victor said. Everything else is just a lot of noise. Jesse Gordon, 49, said he opposes many of Trumps policies and thinks his visit could be positive, but it would take more than that to make a difference. Trump could redeem himself through action by supporting and crafting policies that protect the coast, parks and addresses climate change, he said. Its not about pointing the finger, he hopes Trump learns. Its what can we do to keep us all safe in this planet that is changing so quickly and dangerously. Last week, Trump upset Californians after tweeting that forest mismanagement was to blame in large part for the fires. There is no reason for these massive, deadly and costly forest fires in California except that forest management is so poor, he tweeted. 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! Rep. Doug LaMalfa (R-Richvale), who was traveling with the president Saturday, briefed reporters shortly before Air Force One landed in California about the significance of forest management, according to a White House pool report. The president wants to get something done on this, LaMalfa said. We need to be a lot more aggressive. LaMalfa dismissed criticism of the presidents earlier tweet on forest management as having more to do with its timing and politics than the substance of the argument. He said that forest management does not mean clear-cutting but rather thinning and creating buffers around populated areas. Without forest management, things can go wrong, he said. Trump continued to talk about forest management Saturday. Weve got to take care of the floors, you know the floors of the forest. Its very important, the president said. He also alluded to Finland, saying that country focuses on raking and cleaning. They dont have any problem and when it is I know everyone is looking at that. The reference to Finland puzzled some, because its ecosystem is so different from Californias. Trump, however, made it clear Saturday that his embrace of California and its environmental values will only go so far. Asked about whether his views on climate change had shifted, the president said no: I have a strong opinion, he said. I want great climate. And the political polarization toward him is also not likely to change. On the way to Point Dume, some utility workers held a sign on the side of the road that read: Make America great again. Another cardboard sign read: Not my President. Times staff writers Nicole Santa Cruz in Paradise and Noah Bierman in Washington contributed to this report. ben.poston@latimes.com angel.jennings@latimes.com doug.smith@latimes.com alejandra.reyesvelarde@latimes.com teresa.watanabe@latimes.com Veteran Alabama law enforcement officer Mark Pettway grew up in a black neighborhood called Dynamite Hill because the Ku Klux Klan bombed so many houses there in the 1950s and 60s. Now, after becoming the first black person elected sheriff in Birmingham on the same day voters elected the communitys first black district attorney Pettway, 54, sees himself as part of a new wave of officers and court officials tasked with enforcing laws and rebuilding community trust fractured by police shootings, mass incarceration, and uneven enforcement that critics call racist. In a state where conservative politicians typically preach about getting tough on crime, Jefferson Countys new sheriff ran and won on an alternative message. He favors decriminalizing marijuana, opposes arming school employees, supports additional jailhouse education programs to reduce recidivism and plans for deputies to go out and talk to people more often, rather than just patrolling. Going forward we need to think about being smarter and not being harder, said Pettway, a Democrat. Advertisement While the nations law enforcement officers are still mostly white men, and groups including the American Civil Liberties Union and Black Lives Matter call for sweeping changes in the criminal justice system, minorities appear to be making gains nationwide. In Pettways case, strong turnout by African American voters, combined with national concern over police shootings of unarmed people of color, helped him defeat longtime Sheriff Mike Hale, a white Republican, says Angela K. Lewis, interim chairwoman of political science at the University of Alabama at Birmingham. Winners in other cities attributed their success to similar factors. Houston voters elected 17 black women as judges in the midterm. Even before the election, nearly the entire criminal justice system in the Georgia city of South Fulton was run by black women, including the chief judge, prosecutor, chief clerk and public defender. Theyre offering more chances for criminal defendants to avoid convictions through pretrial programs and increased use of taxpayer-funded lawyers to protect the rights of the accused. Chief Judge Tiffany C. Sellers of South Fultons municipal court says officials also explain court procedures in detail to defendants, many of whom havent been in court before and are scared. Black and brown people often feel disenfranchised from the system, and I want them to understand what is going on, Sellers said. At the end of the day they may not like what I did with their case, but at least they know I explained things to them. Midterm voters in five North Carolina counties elected black Democratic sheriffs for the first time, including Gerald Baker in Wake County. He defeated a longtime Republican incumbent by campaigning on ending the countys participation in a Trump administration program to detain people suspected of being in the country illegally. He also advocated greater police accountability. The message resonated in a county where a deputy and two highway troopers were charged in the beating of a black man earlier this year. Kyron Hinton suffered injuries including a broken nose, multiple dog bites and a fractured eye socket. If we make a mistake out here in the actions that we take, then we should take responsibility for those things, Baker said in an interview after the election. Yet despite gains by people of color, officials like Baker still represent a minority in U.S. law enforcement. A Justice Department report released in 2013 showed that law enforcement agencies had become more racially and ethnically diverse over a 26-year period, yet the nations overall law enforcement community remained overwhelmingly white and male. Local police departments, which typically patrol inside city police jurisdictions, were about 73% white, the report said. Sheriffs offices, which usually patrol in less urban areas and often operate county jails, were even whiter about 78%. The report said research found that African American, Latino and Asian American communities were all underrepresented within police agencies relative to the populations they served. The disparity was greatest among blacks in areas where black population is proportionately largest, the report said. In Birmingham, Sheriff-elect Pettway of Jefferson County says he wants to increase hiring of minorities and women after he takes office in January. The departments roughly 680-person staff should better reflect the countys population, which is almost evenly split between blacks and whites, he said. Some of Pettways positions track those of the National Organization of Black Law Enforcement Executives, which has about 3,000 members from all levels of police work. The group opposes arming teachers and held a conference last year aimed at broadening communication between police and community members. Pettway says he plans to increase the use of police body cameras, which he said was a big selling point during his campaign. People loved that, he said. With all the things that have been happening in law enforcement, people wanted accountability. Maj. Gen. Jefferson Burton of the Utah National Guard took the folded American flag from the first sergeant and slowly walked between the casket and Jennie Taylor. He knelt and said a variation on the words war widows have heard for decades. Grateful nation. We present this flag. Token of appreciation. For the record: An earlier version of this article said that the Barboza family had a son killed in Iraq. He was killed in Afghanistan. It was quiet in the cemetery. Taylor cried. Then Burton went back. The first sergeant had another flag waiting for Burton. Burton said the same words. This time, Utah National Guard Maj. Brent Taylors mother, Tamara, was handed a flag. Advertisement But Burton wasnt even close to being finished. Megan Taylor Brent Taylors 13-year-old daughter heard the words and got a flag. Five more times, Burton would make the walk to the first sergeant, who was waiting with a flag to be presented to a child. Lincoln and Alex dressed in dark suits got flags. So did 7-year-old Jacob and 5-year-old Ellie. Jonathan, the 2-year-old, got a flag, too. You could see the tears welling up in Maj. Burtons eyes, Tamara Taylor said. It was so hard on him. Burton said that in more than 35 years of military service, hed never handed out so many folded flags at a funeral. The toughest one, however, he didnt present to a person. It was simply placed in a baby basket. Caroline Taylor will turn a year old next week. Stephen Taylor, Brent Taylors dad, said thats when it hit him: Nine flags plus one for him. Man, it hurts, he said. U.S. Army Maj. Brent Taylor, a 39-year-old father of seven, was buried Saturday afternoon in North Ogden, the town where he was born and which he called home for much of his life. It was the town he became mayor of and the town where he seemed to know most everyone. Earlier this month, Taylor was killed in Afghanistan, reportedly by a member of the Afghan defense and security forces. The funeral service drew about 1,000 people to Weber State University in nearby Ogden. The funeral procession to the cemetery in North Ogden was lined with hundreds of flags placed along the side of the road by Boy Scout troops in a drizzle Saturday morning. Jerry Erickson, who works with Boy Scout Troop 52, said theyd planted flags three times: once for Taylors arrival, once for his ceremony and once for the funeral procession. It was the least they could do, he said. It was, he said, really all they could do. Its our way of showing what he meant, Erickson said. Connie Stowe, who owns Kirts along a main drag of North Ogden with her husband, closed their restaurant when the procession went by. Kirts remade its marquee for the day of the funeral. It read: Maj. Brent Taylor: Yours & Your Familys Sacrifice Never Forgotten. Ryan Wilcox, who helped bless Caroline at a ceremony in January, said Kirts was a favorite place for him, Brent Taylor and another buddy to meet for lunch. Sometimes, though, Wilcox said, they would gather at Hug-Hes Cafe or Straw Market. The caveat, Wilcox said, was they always had to meet in North Ogden. Mayors rules. The meetings usually once a month were strategy sessions centered on parenting stories or tips. Taylor had a mini-farm, with a small tractor, that he was convinced would help teach his kids about the value of hard work. But he was also a fun father, who helped build a luge track in a friends yard that was on a slope. Wilcox said that since Taylors deployment, the group had stopped meeting. He was so central to it, Wilcox said. He said the group will start meeting again this time to also talk about ways to help out Taylors children. Itll be hard without him, Wilcox said. But by meeting, it will be like hes there, too. Taylors funeral, which lasted for 90 minutes, was attended by a mix of people from the town, punctuated by rows of military personnel in full dress. Utah Gov. Gary Herbert, who had ordered flags flown at half-staff for the funeral, attended. So did Sen.-elect Mitt Romney and Utah Atty. Gen. Sean Reyes. The slain soldiers father conducted the service, choking up briefly when he introduced himself. I dont want to fail Brent, he said. Army Capt. Derek Taylor delivered a eulogy for his brother that he struggled to get through without crying. As he started, he told the crowd hed practiced it without losing his composure, but his 15-minute speech saw him reach for tissues, and he sometimes winced with anguish as he relayed anecdotes. Whenever I had a phone conversation with him, he always ended with, I love you, Derek, Taylor said. You could feel his sincerity. But Derek Taylor also provided some moments of levity. He talked about his brother never being punctual including a time when everyone was supposed to gather at their parents to help clear a creek crick, as he pronounced it and everyone showed up except Brent. When they were finished, Brent came walking down a large hill with a smile on his face and a shovel over his shoulder. Brent Taylor was also remembered for being generous and ambitious. He ran for mayor of North Ogden in 2009 and won reelection twice. In the midst of his third term, he was deployed for his fourth tour in Afghanistan in January. Under Utah law, Taylor, as a member of the National Guard, could go despite holding public office. While he was doing that, he was also nearing completion of his doctorate at the University of Utah in international relations. The University of Utah has said it will award him the degree posthumously next spring. Burton, who spoke at the funeral, said: I dont know when he slept. Wilcox said that one winter during a snowstorm, Taylor went out and started plowing the streets of North Ogden so workers could have holiday time with their families. Then Wilcox remembered what Taylor did for the Barboza family. They had a son killed in Afghanistan almost 10 years ago, and Taylor, their neighbor, hauled a 50-pound metal yellow ribbon to the front yard of Pedro Pete Barbozas parents home to show support for them. When the Barbozas learned of Taylors death, Nolberto and Rodrigo Barboza took the yellow ribbon out of their yard, drove it a couple of miles to Taylors house and put it up in their yard. I knew what pain the family was going through, Nolberto said in Spanish as his daughter Aurora Alamillio translated. The Barboza family, who live in Southern California, attended the funeral, with Aurora driving four family members 13 hours from Glendale. The service also centered around Taylors faith and membership in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. A video that played before the service included testimonials about his devout nature. Stephen Taylor said after the graveside service he knew his son was in a good place and took comfort in that. But when he walked up to the silver casket, he stared at it. Then he patted it and lightly ran his hand over the smooth top. He said he was thinking about his daughter-in-law. From behind his sunglasses, he tried to hold back tears. He said he needed to tell his son something. I said, Stay with Jennie. Shes going to need you in the coming months and years, he said. She just lost her best friend in life. Please look out for her. david.montero@latimes.com | Twitter: @davemontero Harvey Levins salacious gossip juggernaut TMZ reported Wednesday that Michael Avenatti, nattily dressed lawyer for femme fatale Stormy Daniels, had been arrested on domestic violence charges. The article instantly set off alarms. Initially it claimed the victim of Avenattis alleged abuse was his estranged second wife, Lisa Storie. Storie soon issued a statement denying TMZs tale. For good measure, Avenattis first wife also said publicly hed never laid a hand on her. TMZ changed estranged wife to woman without flagging the correction. No woman has yet corroborated that Avenatti was violent with her. Why pay attention to this kind of Jerry Springer stuff when our benighted nation seems to be slouching toward constitutional crisis or civil war or both? Advertisement There is increasingly no difference in the carnies of TMZ, the carnies of pseudo-news and the carnies of the White House. Well, because as usual in Trump times salaciousness and statecraft are one. There is increasingly no difference in the carnies of TMZ, the carnies of pseudo-news and the carnies of the White House. Indeed, Levin is a great friend of President Trump. Part of the reason the TMZ report on Avenatti seemed suspect, even to Avenattis many skeptics, is that Trump is known for enlisting his tabloid pals in nefarious schemes, and siccing them on his political and personal foes. Time for a refresher. Reports are that David J. Pecker of American Media and the National Enquirer, Trumps onetime bosom buddy, helped buy the silence of another of Trumps adulterous skin-mag girlfriends in 2016. Pecker was investigated by the U.S. attorney in New York for these payments which may have counted as illegal contributions to Trumps campaign for president but then was granted immunity to testify. Michael Cohen, the presidents former attorney, of course, pleaded guilty on charges related to his own involvement in the porn star payoff racket, and he is now fully cooperating with federal prosecutors. All of this is to say that an embattled Pecker, whose company is reportedly in disarray and lost its top outside counsel Tuesday, is for now not someone Trump can turn to for anything much. But TMZs Levin may be. TVs Young Turk Cenk Uygur calls Levin a clear, biased, Trump-supporting clown, and doesnt put it past him to push a whole-cloth fictional hit job on Avenatti, Trumps despised rival. Uygur isnt alone. Jacob Wohl, the outlandishly batty conspiracy theorist who recently tried to use his smoke-and-mirrors company Surefire Intelligence to frame special counsel Robert S. Mueller III for fabricated sex crimes, seemed to take credit for Avenattis arrest on Twitter. In a retweet Wohls company boasted: Surefire Intelligence strikes again. Now Avenatti tweets that hes coming for Wohl. Others say he should bring down TMZ. Come for. Bring down. This is all very gentlemanly and professional. Whats weird is that Avenatti and Levin are birds of a feather. Theyre both California natives: from Sacramento and L.A., respectively. Theyre unapologetically vain. They have BAs in political science, and JDs from venerable law schools. And they both regard the United States of America as a 3.797-million-square-mile reality TV set. And with a reality TV president in place, both Avenatti, in Tom Ford suits, and Levin, in an overdeveloped gym body, have sighted a road to broader relevance: politics. Avenatti has suggested hell run for president. Levin has suggested hell get Kris Jenner elected president. (No kidding.) Avenatti styles himself as a fighter, the presidents arch-foe and a lawyer for the truth who has signed up as clients everyone from victims of Trumps family separation policy to people claiming to be witnesses to misconduct by Supreme Court Justice Brett M. Kavanaugh. In short, he chases every ambulance smudged with Trumps bronzer. Levin, meanwhile, runs TMZ (with its edifying division on celebrity butts), hosts the hard-hitting Objectified for Fox News (about celebrities possessions) and, according to Bloomberg Businessweek, is keeping his brand relevant by hustling the Kardashians into politics, where the screen time really is these days. All this crossing of streams the future of the republic, the rule of law and the Kardashians is not just morally unsanitary; it might be lethal for the body politic. And center stage are various tacky guys including former White House communications director Anthony Scaramucci and former Trump campaign manager Paul Manafort in overpriced suits with glittery cuff links. None of them could be trusted to Venmo you $10 for pizza. Levin is said to be casting the next election, hoping to find the next president by her Instagram numbers. Avenatti is always telling a gaggle of microphones, just wait, Ill reveal something big soon. Enter the Fray: First takes on the news of the minute In this integrity desert, theres a real opening for someone with a sense of history, keen intelligence, actual principles and an understated style. So far, only one of Capitol players fits this bill, but hes not auditioning. Hes not politicking. And hes certainly not rolling with Kris Jenner. Hes Mueller. He wears what GQ called a sartorial no comment of gray or blue suits with white shirts and recessive ties. On Friday, as hopeful citizens watched his office like the Delphic Oracle for an Trump-Russia indictment we had convinced ourselves was imminent, Mueller kept his own counsel. His timing is, as always, his own. Hes never commented on Avenatti or Levin or, for that matter, Cohen or Wohl or Trump lawyer Rudolph W. Giuliani but he allegedly has some thoughts on their style. As a rule, he once told an FBI colleague, he believes French cuffs are the province of drug lawyers. When this is over, I hope we see cuff reform, on top of everything else. Twitter: @page88 Thong Chanh Manixay, Deputy Minister of Home Affairs, presents a third-class Issara Order to MoNRE Deputy Minister Nguyen Thi Phuong Hoa (R) at the conference The information was announced at a conference, co-organised by the Vietnamese Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment (MoNRE) and the Lao Ministry of Home Affairs in Hanoi on November 16th to review the project on the work. The project was part of an agreement on cooperation in economy, culture, education, and science-technology signed by the Vietnamese and Lao governments in 2012. Costing nearly VND184 billion (USD7.9 million) funded by the Vietnamese Government, the project was implemented from 2014 to 2017. The database and the map having a scale of 1:50,000 feature a total area of more than 170,000 km2 of the central and northern regions of Laos. Phan Duc Hieu, Director of the MoNREs Department of Survey, Mapping and Geographic Information, said the project completed all sections on schedule. He said his department has handed over to the Lao National Geographic Department all associated equipment, software, and a guidebook for the management and exploitation of the database. Thong Chanh Manixay, Deputy Minister of the Lao Ministry of Home Affairs said the success of the project reflects the friendship between Vietnam and Laos as well as the good coordination between the MoNRE and his ministry. He said it helped Laos build its own topographic database and train highly competent personnel in charge of running the database in the coming time. On the occasion, the Lao ministry presented a third-class Issara Order to MoNRE Deputy Minister Nguyen Thi Phuong Hoa. It also awarded the first, second and third class Labour Orders to nine groups as well as other orders, medals, and certificates of merit to more than 50 individuals to honour their contributions to the success of the project./. Burwell vs. Hobby Lobby. Masterpiece Cakeshop vs. Colorado Civil Rights Commission. Obergefell vs. Hodges. Supreme Court cases involving the role of religious beliefs in civic life have repeatedly made headlines in recent years. Such conflicts, of course, are not new. Last week marked the 50th anniversary of the Supreme Courts decision in Epperson vs. Arkansas, which struck down the states ban on teaching evolution in public schools. Tennessee vs. Scopes (the so-called monkey trial) is perhaps more famous. But teacher John T. Scopes lost that 1925 case, and in 1928 Arkansas following Tennessees lead enacted its own ban on teaching evolution. It was 40 long years before the U.S. Supreme Court finally validated the demand of a teacher Arkansas Susan Epperson that students get a complete and accurate science education, including evolution. The Epperson ruling did not, however, end interference with the teaching of evolution. Over the years, there was a series of efforts to require that the teaching of evolution be balanced with alternatives dressed up to seem scientific first biblical creation, then creation science and finally intelligent design. Each, in turn, failed to pass constitutional muster. The legal situation is clear: The government cannot prohibit the teaching of evolution nor can it require teachers to muddy the teaching of evolution by presenting non-scientific alternatives. About 60% of the surveyed teachers reported downplaying evolution, covering it incompletely or ignoring it altogether. Advertisement Goodness knows the science is settled, too. No credible scientist doubts that evolution is the theoretical and practical core of biology, with more evidence emerging from a rich array of research fields with every passing year. Claiming that evolution remains an open question is as scientifically preposterous as suggesting that the jury is still out on whether matter is made of atoms. And yet teaching evolution is still challenging in many communities in the United States. Opposition arises because many people mistakenly believe that accepting evolution is incompatible with their religious faith. This point of view is widespread: In a rigorous national survey published in 2008, more than 20% of public high school biology teachers reported experiencing pressure to downplay evolution. Public battles over the teaching of evolution still erupt almost every year at the state level. In Arizona, the outgoing superintendent of public instruction, Diane Douglas, last year advocated that intelligent design be taught alongside evolution in public school science classrooms. She then asked a creationist to help revise the states science education standards. These proved to be unpopular moves, though. Douglas didnt make it past the primary when up for reelection this year. Around the country, state legislatures routinely consider measures aimed at undermining evolution education. Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi and Tennessee have anti-evolution laws on the books. With evolution still a matter of political controversy, its understandable that a teacher who wants to cover evolution forthrightly might feel some trepidation, or a teacher who is inclined to skip the topic might feel justified. Indeed, about 60% of the surveyed teachers reported downplaying evolution, covering it incompletely or ignoring it altogether. So it is not enough to include evolution in state science standards, textbooks and local curricula. To ensure students learn about evolution, we first need teachers who have a confident grasp of evolutionary biology. It is a concern that only about half of the high school biology teachers surveyed held a bachelors degree in biology and only around 40% had taken a course specifically in evolution. Many states are incentivizing science teachers to achieve more rigorous qualifications, but it will take time to undo decades generations even of evolution avoidance. Enter the Fray: First takes on the news of the minute from L.A. Times Opinion Science teachers also need to know how to handle subjects that are at best misunderstood and at worst deeply distrusted by a segment of their community. When it comes to managing conflict in the classroom, virtually none of them are explicitly prepared. Such preparation is not impossible; successful strategies are being developed, refined and employed. For example, in teaching evolution, providing explicit instruction on the nature of science is extremely effective; it helps students recognize that science and religious faith are different, but not mutually exclusive, ways of understanding the world. Encouragingly, American attitudes are changing in a way that offers hope for decreased resistance to the teaching of evolution. In 2015, the Pew Research Center reported that while 37% of those older than 65 thought that God created humans in their present form within the last 10,000 years, only 21% of respondents between the ages of 18 and 29 agreed. Eppersons efforts in 1968 were heroic: She risked her job, her reputation and potentially her safety to stand up for the teaching of evolution. Many dedicated science teachers are willing to work to improve evolution education, but they need the support of all of us who value the integrity of science education, to create a world in which teaching evolution no longer requires heroics. Ann Reid is the executive director of the National Center for Science Education. Follow the Opinion section on Twitter @latimesopinionand Facebook To the editor: Benjamin Bahney believes we need to put more restrictions on the sale of semiautomatic guns if we are to reduce the number of mass shootings. Lets look at a few historical facts. Several models of powerful, effective semiautomatic pistols were on the market by 1900. Semiautomatic shotguns and high-powered rifles came along a little later. After World War II, huge numbers of semiautomatic military pistols and rifles came on the surplus market at very low prices and were available by mail order, yet mass shootings were almost unheard of (there was one in 1949 in New Jersey, another at the University of Texas in 1966, and one at a San Ysidro McDonalds in 1984). These days, atrocities of this sort have become almost monthly occurrences. I wish I could offer a good explanation for this horrible fad perhaps the perpetrators have a desire for internet notoriety. Advertisement Whatever the causes, it doesnt seem right to blame a technology that has been ensconced in our culture for well over a century. Jan M. Libourel, Long Beach .. To the editor: Gun control and the purchasing of semiautomatic firearms are hot political topics. Bahney has many thoughtful proposals. With a paradigm shift, perhaps gun control could be thought of as treating an addiction. Social scientists could then develop programs similar to drug and alcohol treatment. Double-team with the policymakers, and perhaps the continued killings will halt. Merle Stern, Corona del Mar .. To the editor: What kind of a country do we live in that we have to fear for our lives unless we have a gun? Americans accept the constant violence in this country as normal. Is that because we value our personal freedom so much? Or do we just want the freedom to protect ourselves from each other? No matter how bad it gets in our schools, synagogues or movie theaters, so many U.S. citizens are unwilling to give up their right to bear arms. People will always find a way to kill if they want to badly enough. What we as a society dont have to do is make it easier for them by giving them easy access to firearms. Eventually, Americans may see the light and decide to get rid of guns completely. If China, with 1.3 billion people, can prevent private citizens from owning guns, why cant we? Is it because we have a democracy and China doesnt? In Britain, private handgun ownership is prohibited, and its difficult to own many other kinds of firearms. Guess what? Its a democracy. Benny Wasserman, La Palma Follow the Opinion section on Twitter @latimesopinion and Facebook The section of California election law governing absentee ballots lays out a principle that grows more important every year: The rules shall be liberally construed in favor of the voter. The idea, that government officials should generally err on the side of counting someones vote, is what motivated lawmakers to loosen the rules for tallying absentee ballots almost 68% of all votes cast in the June primary. First, the Legislature required ballots arriving in the mail three days after an election to be counted if postmarked by election day. In 2015, a provision was added giving voters extra time if they forget to sign their absentee ballot envelope. Otherwise, that ballot wasnt counted. Californias ballots are counted slowly, and thats by design Advertisement This rule has kept politicking in some of this elections closest races going well past Nov. 6. The law says an election official cant reject the ballot if the voter provides a signature by the close of business on the eighth day after the election. But what about after that? Can an elections office accept an absentee ballot signature after the eighth day? Last week, Secretary of State Alex Padillas office sent county registrars an advice memo that says, in essence, to remember the rules should be liberally construed. In the absence of a direct mandate to reject a vote-by-mail ballot if submitted after 5 p.m. on the eighth day after the election ... our recommendation is for a county elections official to accept an Unsigned Ballot Statement up to the point in time where it would interfere with the duties of completing the countys official canvass, wrote Steve Reyes, Padillas chief counsel. The phrase the point in time where it would interfere is, as you might expect, not defined. On Thursday, the campaign manager for a Republican Assembly candidate in Orange County asked the California Supreme Court to intervene. The filing states that some registrars have decided to accept the absentee signature fixes from voters as late as Dec. 1, and argues that the 2015 law is clear and unambiguous in setting a Nov. 14 deadline. That later deadline has candidates in some razor-thin races scrambling to get those absentee ballot mistakes fixed and with strong Democratic turnout in this election, those votes could tip even more races into the partys column. If youre wondering how the campaigns know which voters ballots had a signature problem, its because county elections officials gave them a list. Here too the secretary of states office offered guidance: If your office has created such a list of voters, our office has not identified any statute in either the Elections Code or the Government Code that would prohibit the release of this information, Reyes wrote in a Nov. 9 memo. That same day, the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee, which has been deeply involved in pushing several Democrats over the top against Republican House candidates, asked an Orange County judge to force the local registrar to hand over the list. Some of the close to 2,000 names were released by a temporary ruling, but last Wednesday the judge changed course and denied the release of any additional voter information. Los Angeles County, which had about 3,900 absentee error ballots in its first report, was one of the counties that did provide voter names to campaigns. Elections officials in other counties have viewed campaign contact after Nov. 6 as off limits. Part of the confusion may lie in a separate state law governing mismatched signatures, one that explicitly allows voters more time to make fixes. Still, the practical lesson from all of this is that candidates may want a fast result in an election, but theyll work any available options to ensure that every last vote is counted. john.myers@latimes.com Follow @johnmyers on Twitter, sign up for our daily Essential Politics newsletter and listen to the weekly California Politics Podcast Thank you for the Fly Guy column about the ugly incident on Ryanair that occurred on Oct. 19 [Ugly Rant Goes Unstopped, by Elliott Hester]. I felt that the airline didnt handle the situation correctly. As an African American woman, its stressful enough navigating some spaces traveling, with air travel specifically being one of them. To hear someone being treated that way (and her family feeling the need to be apologetic) was very upsetting. I cringed listening to that hateful man. It also brought forth an anger within that l dont like feeling either. When the professional (flight attendant) steps in and handles the situation correctly, it helps the situation and puts the hateful person on notice that the behavior will not be tolerated. That is much appreciated. That didnt happen with Ryanair, but it should have happened immediately. Advertisement Thank you for a column that so eloquently explained this. Lynette Kelsey Riverside Take taxi to doc, not van In February, I took my family to a resort on Mexicos Playa del Carmen, just south of Cancun. On the last day of our trip, I developed a 104-degree fever and asked to be seen by the hotel doctor. He said I should go to the clinic and ordered a van for me. He said repeatedly that this would cost me nothing. I said I could take a taxi, but he kept saying the van wouldnt cost anything. I got in the van and went to the clinic. Weeks later, I got a bill for $937. I objected and wrote letters to the ambulance company and the hotel. Dead silence. I finally paid the bill. I later spoke with a person at the ambulance company, which is based in New Jersey, and I repeated my story. She told me that she hears similar stories all the time and that it was the fault of the hotel, not the ambulance company. This fraud appears to be commonplace, but no one seems to do anything to stop it. In case this happens to you: Take the $6 taxi. I hope this helps someone else avoid this crazy charge. Kate M. Neiswender Blue Jay travel@latimes.com @latimestravel Thanksgiving plans still up in the air? To borrow from Paul Simon: Its not too late to make a new plan, Stan. Gabe Saglie, senior editor for Travelzoo, a website for member-exclusive travel offers (membership is free), steered me toward four cities where you can find deals. It turns out Thanksgiving is a holiday when last, last minute isnt so bad, Saglie said. Thats partly because most Americans head home for turkey, not to an urban playground just for the fun of it. Business travel coming to a halt means San Francisco and San Jose will see good availability and lower prices, Saglie said, and leisure spots such as San Diego and Las Vegas should have last-minute deals. But what about airfare? Nonstop flights of an hour or less may be the best last-minute option, said Rick Seaney of FareCompare.com, a site for finding bargain fares. Advertisement Here are some of the cheaper thrills youll find. San Francisco Union Square hotel: Sir Francis Drake has a $162 per night rate (about 60% off the regular rate) Nov. 21-25 from Travelzoo. That package includes free Wi-Fi and eliminates the $25 daily resort fee at the Drake, known for its 180-degree view from the Starlight Room and the Powell Street cable car stop in front. Nearby fun: Grab a ride on a cable car ($7). The Powell Street line goes to Nob Hill and Fishermans Wharf. Enjoy a free cocktail in the Drake lobby during the 5-6 p.m. social hour. Shop till you drop in Union Square. And snap some pictures of the sea lions lolling about at Pier 39. Info: San Francisco Travel San Jose Downtown hotel: Fairmont San Jose has a prepaid, non-refundable rate averaging $188 a night (15% off for prepayment) for a Nov. 21-25 stay. (Other good rates are cancelable, including a $189-a-night AAA rate.) Rates often run $450 or more a night. Nearby fun: The Fairmont is walking distance from several attractions, including the Tech Museum of Innovation (general admission $25), the San Jose Museum of Art ($10 adults) and the Winchester Mystery House ($39 for main tour). Less than 3 miles away: the free San Jose Municipal Rose Garden, which is beautiful year-round. Info: Visit San Jose San Diego Downtown hotel: Hotel Republic, part of Marriotts Autograph Collection, opened last year. Travelzoo has a $109 a night offer for a Nov. 21-25 stay. Extras include free Wi-Fi and $25 valet parking (a 50% discount). Hotel Republics rooftop bar is popular for stellar views and cocktails. Nearby fun: Hotel Republic is walking distance from eateries and breweries in Little Italy and nightlife in the Gaslamp Quarter. And in nearby Seaport Village, you can eat, shop and grab a San Diego Seal Land and Sea Tour discounted to $32 ($10 off) until Jan. 16. The San Diego Zoo ($54 for adults) is open on Thanksgiving and less than 4 miles from the hotel. Info: San Diego Tourism Las Vegas South Strip Hotel:You can find Luxor Las Vegas for $75 a night for a two-bed queen room Nov. 21-25 for Travelzoo members. This is a better deal than I found on Kayak.com or on Luxors website. Nearby fun: Head downtown to discover Las Vegas history through a neon or mobster lens at the Neon Museum (tickets from $20) or the Mob Museum (from $26.95). Grab the free tram from the Luxor to Mandalay Bay to see marine predators at Shark Reef ($25 for adults). Info: Visit Las Vegas travel@latimes.com @latimestravel In the rush to make your Thanksgiving flight at LAX, you skipped breakfast so you could arrive early. Your strategy paid off, but now youre hungry. Lucky for you, the worlds fifth-busiest airport has upped its culinary game in the last decade with far better options than the so-so in-flight snack box. The airport, which turned 90 in October and is in the middle of a $14-billion makeover, often feels like one big traffic nightmare. The variety of the 99 restaurants, bars and coffeehouses spread over nine terminals is the one bright spot, with L.A. faves such as Lemonade, Chaya, Campanile and Border Grill. Almost all of LAXs best dining options are beyond airport security screening. Many are clustered in the posh Tom Bradley International Terminal, affectionately known as TBIT. Advertisement Heres an insider tip: Once you pass through screening, you can terminal-hop to find a restaurant you like, provided youre willing to go the distance. Signs will point you from, say, Terminal 4 or 5 to TBIT. (You cant connect from terminals 1 to 3 because of construction projects.) If you want to skip lines, download the Grab app on your smartphone or tablet, order a meal and pay before you arrive. Then head to the restaurant once you clear security and pick up your meal. Not all restaurants are available on Grab, but Fords Filling Station, Homeboy Cafe and Loteria Grill are. The options have elevated what we think about airport food. Here are suggestions for some basic as well as hard-to-find items: Champagne wishes Petrossian Caviar & Champagne Bar. (Kirk McKoy / Los Angeles Times) Starting your vacation with caviar and Champagne is an extravagant but doable idea. Petrossian, the company that brought caviar to Paris in the 1920s, has operated an airy Caviar & Champagne Bar in the international terminal since 2013. If you dont know caviar, the waitstaff will be happy to school you. For an introduction, order a Petit Petrossian 12 grams of transmontanus, or white sturgeon, caviar served with blini and creme fraiche ($48) and add a glass of bubbly ($15 to $30). They also sell a Picnic in the Sky that comes with a tote, salmon and 30 grams of the caviar of your choice, starting at $205. Wine-tasting Vino Volo, in the TBIT, is an unpretentious wine bar where you can sample a flight before your flight. A trio of California Kings brings together a Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon and Zinfandel for $16; the Fireplace Reds flight takes you around the world with a Malbec from Argentina and blends from South Africa and California ($15). Wine by the glass ($9 to $20, for most varieties) goes well with small plates of burrata and red pepper salad or smoked salmon rolls ($11 to $17). Healthful fare L.A.-based Real Food Daily brings the best of its plant-based menu to the airport. Its also a safe bet for travelers seeking gluten-free, nut-free and soy-free dishes. You can build a healthful bowl by choosing a grain (brown rice, quinoa or soba noodles), greens (kale or other vegetables), and a protein, (marinated tofu or a veggie burger patty). It costs $11.75 to $16.45, depending on how many items you add to your bowl. The menu includes comfort foods such as vegan Not-Chos, a spicy mess of chips, beans and cashew cheese ($16.45), and a steaming bowl of miso soup ($6.95). Nearby food truck Food & Bounty serves up healthful fare for meat eaters such as chicken or pork rice bowls ($14) and kale Caesar salad with chicken ($17). Both are in Terminal 4. Earthbar, in terminals 3 and 6, serves protein smoothies such as the Muscle Up, with banana, almond butter, almond milk, protein powder and L-glutamine ($9.95). Beaming in Terminal 1 traffics in organic superfoods and cold-pressed juices, and power shots such as Vitality, with turmeric, lemon and ginger ($5.29). Cocktails and kombucha Komboucha is on tap at Farmers Market. (Kirk McKoy / Los Angeles Times) James Beach, a neighborhood bar in Venice, has landed in a quiet corner of TBIT. Bartenders serve a fair number of margaritas and mojitos, but the signature drink is the Venice Beach Adult Lemonade made with lemon vodka, lemon juice, sugar and soda ($13). Other vacation-mode options include a Champagne Julep ($13) made with brandy, mint leaves, sugar and cava, or a Bellini ($12) made with white peach puree and cava. If youre looking for a different kind of bubbly, in Terminal 5 Farmers Market to-Go, an offshoot of the 80-year-old landmark at 3rd and Fairfax in Los Angeles, serves kombucha on tap in pineapple, peach and watermelon flavors. A 16-ounce cup costs $5.99. Burger mania Two noteworthy L.A. burger joints have successfully made the journey to LAX. Umami Burger leads the pack with a small and endlessly packed counter at the international terminal. Choices are limited, but you can score a truffle cheeseburger ($15.50) and sweet potato fries ($6.25). Cassells Hamburgers, which opened in L.A. in 1948, has a spot in Terminal 1. You can also find Burger Bar in Terminal 4, Built Custom Burgers in Terminal 2 and the New York City phenom Shake Shack in Terminal 3. Pizza, pizza, pizza Sammys Wood-Fired Pizza. (Kirk McKoy / Los Angeles Times) Sammys Wood-Fired Pizza & Grill, which opened its first site in 1989 in La Jolla, brings six-slice pies to Terminal 4. A basic Margherita goes for $15.49, and a New York-style pizza with mushrooms, pepperoni, Italian sausage and tomato sauce costs $16.95. Youll find build-your-own options at TBITs 800 Degrees Pizza, which lets you choose toppings such as pine nuts, arugula, roasted garlic, truffle cheese or rosemary ham for your pizza baked in a wood-burning stove. Pizzas, one with a gluten-free crust, start at $10.60. Wpizza by Wolfgang Puck in Terminal 6 serves a breakfast pizza ($16.50), calamari ($13.95) and traditional pizza pies as well. Mexican Loteria Grill in terminals 5 and 7 offers a wide-ranging menu with items such as guava and cream cheese empanadas ($4.59); breakfast tacos with scrambled eggs, chorizo, guacamole, salsa and extra add-ons ($8.59); and burritos with fish, citrus chicken or vegetarian fillings ($14.29 to $6.79). For a sweet finish, top off your meal with dulce de leche churro bits ($8.25). Coffee & tea There are plenty of places to get caffeinated at LAX; Starbucks and Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf serve their trademark concoctions at several terminal locations. Lamill Coffee, a Silver Lake hangout, serves coffee options and an impressive list of teas, such as bergamot and chai milk teas (iced or hot, $5.90-$7.50) as well as its most popular seller, Hong Kong black tea, and more ($3.60 to $6.80). Its in the north concourse of the international terminal. Sandwiches French dip sandwich from Coles. (Kirk McKoy / Los Angeles Times) You can grab a sandwich at just about any terminal, but Coles brings its French-dip creations to Terminal 4. Beef, pastrami, pork and turkey dips are on the menu ($11.65 and up) as well as garlic fries and Coles slaw, both $5.65. For a quick grab and go, youll find Deli & Co. stops in terminals 1 and 3 with offerings such as a chicken, bacon and avocado wrap for $11.43 Sweets If you want dessert to share on the plane, Vanilla Bake Shop in the international terminal sells a six-pack of cupcakes ($27) and a gift box of colorful macarons ($25). Individual macarons ($2.35 each) come in all sorts of flavors, such as passion fruit, hazelnut, vanilla bean and red velvet. In Terminal 4, Homeboy Cafe, part of the L.A. food empire created by Father Gregory Boyle to train and provide jobs for former gang members and formerly imprisoned men and women, makes scones ($4.48), Danish pastries ($3.97), croissants ($3.99) and other bakery items from scratch. Check out LAXs Dining Guide, which shows airport locations of each restaurant. mary.forgione@latimes.com @latimestravel President Trump, under increasing pressure from lawmakers to punish Saudi Arabia in the killing of prominent journalist-critic Jamal Khashoggi, sided Sunday with the kingdoms de facto ruler, distancing himself from reported U.S. intelligence assessments that the crown prince had ordered the assassination. In an interview aired on Fox News Sunday, Trump also said he had decided to skip listening to a very vicious and terrible audio recording of the Oct. 2 slaying of Khashoggi at the Saudi consulate in Istanbul. As ever more grisly details about the writers death have emerged, Trump has by turns professed incuriosity and squeamishness, telling Fox interviewer Chris Wallace there was no reason for him to listen to the purported death tape provided by Turkish authorities to Western governments. Its a suffering tape, its a terrible tape. Ive been fully briefed on it, theres no reason for me to hear it, he said. Advertisement Trump also continued his steady criticism of the investigation being led by special counsel Robert S. Mueller III into Russian interference in the 2016 election, signaling that he would not object if Matthew Whitaker, his newly appointed acting attorney general, tried to rein in Muellers probe. And he fired off a vulgar tweet aimed at a prominent Democrat who criticized Whitakers appointment, referring to Rep. Adam Schiff (D-Burbank) as little Adam Schitt. Saudi Arabia has acknowledged that its agents killed Khashoggi, and officials there have said they will seek the death penalty against five Saudis involved. But they have denied that Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman had any advance knowledge of the plan. Those denials have been widely discounted by U.S. officials as well as by other Western governments. The CIA has concluded with high confidence that the crown prince authorized last months premeditated killing of the 59-year-old writer, according to multiple news reports. The president previously accused the Saudis of one of the worst cover-ups in the death of Khashoggi, a Virginia resident who wrote opinion columns for the Washington Post. But in recent days he has swung back to defending the kingdoms rulers, suggesting that the evidence did not definitely establish the crown princes culpability. Will anybody really know? Trump asked in the Fox News interview. He said the crown prince had personally told him maybe five times as recently as a few days ago, that he played no role in the killing and that he has many people now that say he had no knowledge. He did not specify who those individuals were. The Khashoggi episode, and Trumps refusal to cast public suspicion on the crown prince, has once again spotlighted his reluctance to accept intelligence findings that conflict with his political or personal agenda. That pattern became clear from the earliest days of his administration, when he pushed back against assessments that Russia had interfered in the 2016 presidential election. In the Fox interview, Trump again derided Muellers Russia investigation. Trump said Whitaker a loyalist he named as acting attorney general after pushing out Whitakers former boss, Jeff Sessions had full authority in overseeing the Mueller probe. If Whitaker sought to somehow curtail the special counsel, he said, its going to be up to him. I would not get involved, Trump said. In the Khashoggi case, Trump has consistently emphasized Saudi Arabias role as a purchaser of American weaponry, linking that to what critics say are exaggerated claims of U.S. jobs stemming from the arms sales. The Trump administration has bet heavily on Saudi Arabias usefulness as a mediator in the Israel-Palestinian conflict and as an ally against Iran. The administration has cultivated tight links with the Saudis, particularly the 33-year-old crown prince. Trumps son-in-law Jared Kushner, in particular, forged a personal relationship with the young king-in-waiting. In the Fox interview, Trump again sounded the theme that the desert kingdoms usefulness outweighed qualms about its policies and actions, including Khashoggis killing. We do have an ally, and I want to stick with an ally that in many ways has been very good, the president said. The interview aired a day after Trump promised a very full report over the next two days on the killing and described the CIAs reported conclusion as premature. But anger at the Saudis has been building on Capitol Hill, with some of the harshest criticism coming from leading Republicans. Sen. Lindsey Graham of South Carolina said Sunday of the crown prince: I have no intention of working with him ever again. Graham, interviewed on NBCs Meet the Press, said it was impossible for me to believe that the crown prince did not know in advance of the killing. That view was echoed by Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.). I think the evidence is overwhelming that the crown prince was involved, Paul said on CBS Face the Nation, adding: I dont think we can sweep this under the rug. Democrats have been far more vocal from the outset in demanding accountability from the Saudis, in the form of tougher sanctions and a curtailment of arms sales and cooperation in the disastrous Yemen war that the crown prince has spearheaded. Schiff, the senior Democrat on the House Intelligence Committee, said on ABCs This Week that he could not discuss the briefing he received on CIA findings, but its very difficult for me to conceive of the murder of a prominent journalist and critic being carried out without the crown princes knowledge. That, he said, should have major repercussions for the U.S.-Saudi relationship. Our friends dont murder journalists, said Schiff. But at least one senior Republican suggested the intelligence findings left some room for doubt about the crown princes role. Sen. Roy Blunt (R-Mo.), a member of the Senate Intelligence Committee, said it was appropriate to wait and see whether Trump decides to widen economic sanctions already levied on 17 lower-ranking Saudis by punishing the prince himself. I think a smoking gun would certainly help, if you actually did have that specific thing that is unlikely to be out there or unlikely to be found, where someone gave a specific direction and you know that happened, Blunt said on ABCs This Week. A dozen tumultuous days after Democrats gained control of the House of Representatives, Trump who last week made unproven allegations of voter fraud, railed against the Mueller investigation and skipped a solemn World War I remembrance at a historic French battlefield offered a rare expression of regret for one action: his widely criticized decision to forgo a Veterans Day commemoration at Arlington National Cemetery. The cemetery is only a few miles from the White House, and the visit is a presidential staple. I should have done that, Trump said in the Fox interview, excusing his absence by citing an extremely busy schedule and other factors. laura.king@latimes.com @laurakingLAT Mexico may soon legalize marijuana, a radical shift for a country whose prohibition on narcotics has been at the heart of its long and violent war against drug traffickers. Legislation submitted to Congress last week by the party of leftist President-elect Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador would regulate cannabis, allowing it to be grown, sold and consumed for recreational use. Proponents of legalization say it would reduce bloodshed in Mexico by weakening drug cartels and freeing up police officers and prosecutors to focus on more serious crimes. But the proposal has critics, including the Catholic Church, which holds significant sway in Mexican politics. A poll in Mexico last year showed a majority of respondents opposed legalizing marijuana. Heres more about where the legalization effort stands and what may come next. Advertisement What has happened so far? The bill presented to Congress comes on the heels of two crucial Supreme Court rulings that in effect overturned Mexicos ban on the recreational use of marijuana. The rulings, issued Oct. 31, found that individual liberty to choose whether or not to consume the drug outweighs any potential downsides. The effects provoked by marijuana do not justify an absolute prohibition of its consumption, the court said. The rulings followed similar decisions in three other cases. Under Mexican law, five like rulings establish jurisprudence. Morena, the political party founded by Lopez Obrador, controls both houses of Congress, and political analysts believe the bill has a good shot at passing probably sometime next year. But that wont happen without a fight. Morenas governing coalition includes a smaller, conservative party that has opposed legalization in the past. And while polls show Mexicans warming to the idea over recent years, a 2017 Consulta Mitofsky poll found 56% still oppose it. Mexican soldiers burn seized cocaine and marijuana in the city of Acapulco. (David Guzman / EPA/Shutterstock) Why now? The legalization debate is playing out against a backdrop of record-breaking levels of violence. There were 31,174 homicide victims in 2017, more than in any year since the government began releasing such data more than two decades ago. This year, Mexico is on track to surpass that record. Lopez Obrador, who was elected in a landslide during the summer and takes office Dec. 1, campaigned on a promise to end the violence. He has declared Mexicos military-led war on drugs a failure and has said he will consider a number of radical new approaches. They include amnesty for some nonviolent criminals involved in the drug trade, the creation of truth-and-reconciliation commissions and the decriminalization of some drugs. His pick for interior minister, Olga Sanchez Cordero, is a Morena senator and a former Supreme Court justice who has been a vocal advocate for legalizing marijuana. She co-wrote the proposed marijuana legislation, which blames the countrys escalating violence on what she called Mexicos prohibitionist drug policy. According to the bill, law enforcement officials have been unduly focused on prosecuting low-level marijuana offenses, often at the expense of investigating more serious crimes. It says 62% of Mexicos prison population in 2012 had been convicted on drug charges the majority of them for possession, cultivation or sale of marijuana. What would the law allow? The new law would allow individuals to grow up to 20 marijuana plants and produce up to 17 ounces of the drug each year, or roughly 1,440 joints. Growing cooperatives of up to 150 people would be allowed, along with the right to smoke marijuana in public. Edible products would be banned. The sale of marijuana would be limited to adults and in locations regulated by a federal institute yet to be created. The government would charge an as yet undetermined tax on marijuana sales. Legalization has been broached before. Former President Vicente Fox has been a vocal advocate of the idea and this year joined the board of directors of High Times, a magazine for marijuana advocates and aficionados. In 2016, President Enrique Pena Nieto proposed a bill that would allow Mexicans to carry up to an ounce of marijuana, or about 84 joints. That bill stalled in Congress, although lawmakers did approve the use of medical marijuana in some cases. Would the changes actually reduce violence? The drug trade generates between $6 billion and $8 billion a year in Mexico, according to the Rand Drug Policy Research Center, which estimates that 15% to 26% of that comes from marijuana. Legalization of pot in several U.S. states appears to have hurt the marijuana import business, with seizures by U.S. Customs and Border Patrol falling during the last decade, even as seizures of other drugs went up. Last year, 861,231 pounds of marijuana were confiscated at U.S. ports of entry, down from 2.4 million pounds in 2013 and 4.3 million pounds in 2009. Some illegal drug producers have moved on to other crops, such as poppies, which flower across violence-ridden states such as Michoacan and Guerrero, and drug traffickers have switched to synthetic drugs such as crystal meth and fentanyl. Cartels are also increasingly shifting to nondrug-related criminal activities, such as human smuggling, fuel theft and extortion. Security experts say more homicides are connected to those illicit activities than to marijuana, which means legalizing marijuana is unlikely to be a panacea for Mexicos violence. How else would legalization of marijuana matter? Legalization would bring Mexico in line with Canada and several U.S. states that have dropped prohibitions against the drug in recent years. But it could put Mexico at odds with the U.S. federal government, which still classifies cannabis as a Schedule I narcotic, and which has invested billions of dollars in programs aimed at reducing the flow of drugs from Latin America. Opponents of the bill have warned that it could lead to more addiction. According to a federal survey, 6% of Mexicans said they smoked marijuana in 2011. That number rose to nearly 9% in 2016. Those figures are still much lower than drug consumption rates in the U.S., where a 2017 study by the National Institute on Drug Abuse found that nearly 40% of high school seniors had used marijuana over the last year. Proponents say legalization could benefit Mexico in another important way: tourism. Mexicos $20-billion-a-year tourism industry represents about 7% of the countrys gross domestic product. Mexican Tourism Secretary Enrique de la Madrid said this year that he thinks it is absurd that we have not taken the step toward legalization. He said legalization should start first in Quintana Roo and Baja California Sur, states home to the resorts of Cancun and Los Cabos. Both of those regions have seen a dramatic increase in homicides in recent years, in part as a result of battles for control of local sales of cocaine, marijuana and other drugs. kate.linthicum@latimes.com Twitter: @katelinthicum They reached the agreement during a meeting between Vietnamese Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Pham Binh Minh and his New Zealand counterpart Winston Raymond Peters within the framework of the APEC Economic Leaders Week in Port Moresby, capital of Papua New Guinea. The Vietnamese deputy PM suggested New Zealand increase the number of Vietnamese citizens participating in the annual working holiday programme and thanked the countrys Parliament for approving the non-refundable official development assistance (ODA) provision for Vietnam in the 2018-2021 period. Winston Raymond Peters spoke highly of Vietnams ratification of the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP), saying it reflects the countrys determination to continue comprehensive renovation and intensive international integration. The CPTPP will offer a chance for New Zealand to strengthen its trade and investment cooperation with Vietnam, he said, vowing to work closely with and support the Southeast Asian country in the implementation of the agreement. The two sides agreed to coordinate closely at multilateral forums, including the ASEAN, the APEC and the UN. They emphasised the importance of maintaining regional security, stability and order on the basis of international law as well as ensuring security, safety and freedom of navigation and overflight, and trade activities that do not hinder peace and development in the region. Home > Archives (2006 on) > 2018 > On the gathering Cuba speaks for Itself! at the Riverside Church, (...) by Archishman Raju The magnificent Riverside church is in Harlem, a part of Manhattan that has been a historic part of African American culture and resistance. Entering the church, one is struck by a sense of awe and wonder. Places of worship have a spiritual character to them and it is the spirit of struggle that one feels in this church. It is here that Rev. Dr Martin Luther King Jr. made his speech on April 4, 1967, Beyond Vietnam, calling for an end to the American war on Vietnam. It must have been a sight that those in my generation can only imagine, as he called for action to face the fierce urgency of now. Dr King saw the war not as a mistake, or an aberration, but as a symptom of deep-rooted and systemic problems in American society. He saw the struggle for peace as essential and the African American struggle for liberation as part of world revolution. I enter the church on September 26, 2018, 50 years after Dr Kings assassination, to hear the new President of Cuba, Miguel Diaz-Canel, address a crowd of more than 2000 people. There is excitement in the crowd and a hum of conversation fills the space. Many have been here before, to hear Fidel Castro speak in 2000 or Nelson Mandela in 1990. Possibly a few people were even present for that historic speech in 1967. Today, in different times, the Cuban President is given a warm reception as he enters. First, however, there is a surprise in store. Venezuelas President Nicholas Maduro makes a surprise visit to the church. There is no announcement initially but the news of his presence spreads like wildfire in the crowd and people jump to get a glimpse of the Venezuelan leader. Madurooo!, the woman next to me screams, and soon the crowd is chanting. Shouts of Viva Maduro! and Viva Chavez! fill the room. President Maduro makes a small speech, saying he felt compelled to visit this historic cathedral in Harlem. He says that Venezuela is the victim of imperialist aggression, but the Bolivarian revolution will stand strong. His speech is followed by the statements of two doctors from the United States who were trained in the Latin American School of Medicine. Cuban doctors are famous around the world for the selflessness and dedication of their service. These are US doctors who were trained in Cuba and have come back fulfill the precondition for their scholarship: to serve the poor in the United States. Their speech is followed by a piano recital before the main event of the evening, the speech by President Diaz-Canel. President Diaz-Canel speaks to the heartfelt emotion being felt in the gathering. A miracle is taking place here tonight, he says. It is Harlem that provided a place for Fidel Castro to stay in 1960. My best friends in America are in Harlem, Fidel would say. As he mentions the friendship of Fidel and Harlems very own Malcolm X, nods and shouts go out in the crowd. Some carry a long history within them. In Hotel Theresa in Harlem, Fidel met Nasser, Nehru and Khrushchev, the President reminds us. Tonight, he said, we will speak about solidarity. Cuba does not have many resources, but we practice solidarity by sharing what we have and through the sacrifices of our people. Our greatest endeavour was our solidarity with Africa. Indeed, it took the imagination of Fidel and the courage of the Cuban people to decide to send troops all the way from Cuba to defend the national revolutionary struggle in Angola against the brutal apartheid regime of South Africa. Cuba contributed to the ending of apartheid by striking it a strong moral blow. Cuba stands for peace, said the President, for this is the commitment of those who have suffered from colonialism, racism and neoliberalism. Cuba has had its own struggles. There is an economic blockade on Cuba for the past 60 years. Nevertheless, Cuba has continued to fight, and it is indebted, said the President, to international solidarity. The President ended his speech beautifully, saying: This is what friends do when they get together after a long time; share old memories. In our case, memories of our father. The spirits of Fidel and Chavez are with us. As he ended, the crowd roared and stood up in excitement and applause. It indeed felt like we had returned to older days, when solidarity was so natural for the darker nations and peoples of the world. This brief time was filled with hope, excitement and with deep emotions. Stepping outside, one could not help but remember, under the imposing buildings of New York City, the chaos and confusion that reigns today. It seems as if it is for this moment that Dr King had chosen the words he spoke in 1967: Now let us begin. Now let us rededicate ourselves to the long and bitter, but beautiful, struggle for a new world. We must fight against the economic blockade on Cuba. We must oppose the economic sanctions and imperialist aggression on Venezuela. We must believe that a people can make their history, and a people can make their own fate. It is this that sets us apart from the racist and colonialist assumptions that have been with us for far too long. All of us with conscience must rise in support of Cuba and Venezuela and continue the long struggle against imperialism. Hasta La Victoria Siempre! Archishman Raju is a Research Fellow in Physics and Biology at Rockefeller University. He is a member of the Saturday Free School in Philadelphia. Home > Archives (2006 on) > 2018 > #MeToo movement rumbles on in India by L.K. Sharma More and more Indian women are coming forward to recall and record their traumatic experience of having been preyed upon by their male bosses. Because of the fresh complaints, the #MeToo movement still grabs a headline, though the TV studio discussions have stopped. The cases of man-woman interaction, consensual or non-consensual, may soon be superseded by the report of another surgical strike against the beef-sellers or a march demanding the building of a Hindu temple. The women victims who broke their silence initially belonged to the worlds of print and visual media, films, advertising and public relations. Now even a respected corporate entity in the hotel industry faces the charge of ignoring a sexual harassment complaint by a woman employee who felt compelled to resign her job. Some more media men have figured as accused in the latest news stories. A professor has been forced to resign because of students complaining against his use of inappropriate language. Akbar fightback The #MeToo movement in India led to the resignation of M.J. Akbar as junior External Affairs Minister following allegations made by women journalists based in India, the UK and US. However, Akbar continues to be a member of the Upper House of Parliament. It is not known whether the ethics panel will take up the Akbar case because of the allegations of sexual harassment made against him by more than a dozen women journalists who at one time or the other worked under him when he used to be an editor. The Editors Guild of India is considering the future of Akbars membership of the organisation. Akbar also continues as Vice-Chairman of the Executive Council of the prestigious Nehru Memorial Museum and Library. This body has just been overhauled by the government so that new members can cooperate in changing the profile of the institution in order to diminish Nehrus legacy. Akbar filed a defamation suit against one of the woman journalists and during the first court hearing accused her of maligning him and damaging his reputation by levelling false allegations against him. Court cases go on for months and years! In a new case, another Indian woman journalist alleged that Akbar raped him when she worked in India as a reporter on The Asian Age of which Akbar was the editor-in-chief. Pallavi Gogoi wrote a first-person article in the Washington Post giving a detailed account of rape, repeated sexual abuse, and violent behaviour. Akbar and his wife issued separate statements accusing the woman journalist of telling a lie. Gogoi is currently the Chief Business Editor at National Public Radio in New York. Gogoi alleged that Akbar raped her in his hotel room where she was called to discuss her report for the newspaper. She tried to fight him when he ripped off her clothes but was overpowered by a powerful man. Instead of reporting him to the police, I was filled with shame. I did not tell anyone about this then. Would anyone have believed me? I blamed myself. Why did I go to the hotel room? She said she had shelved the most painful memories of her life for 23 years but decided to speak out in the wake of all #MeToo accounts by many journalists whom Akbar has threatened to sue. Akbar said in a statement that he and Gogoi had entered into a consensual relationship spanning several months. This consensual relationship ended, perhaps not on the best note. Responding to Akbars statement, Gogoi said on Twitter: A relationship based on coercion, and abuse of power, is not consensual. I stand by every word in my published account. Indian male psyche If Gogoi had hoped to get peace by breaking her long silence, she was mistaken. Her fear at the time of her alleged rape seems justified because her Washington Post article has caused an avalanche of hostile comments that will prolong her misery. There is enough material in these posts to study the Indian male psyche! Most of those who have rushed to post comments on Gogois allegation have accused her of telling a lie. On reading these posts, she might wonder whether she is a woman of good character. Some have expressed grave reservations about the #MeToo movement itself and at least a couple of comments accuse the Washington Post of being anti-Indian! Those who feel threatened by women will be glad to note that a backlash has begun. A newspaper or the TV channel supporting the government may sponsor a public opinion poll, asking the readers or viewers to reply to the question: Is Gogoi telling the truth? The posts doubting Gogoi and assassinating her character will convince Akbar that he still retains credibility. He knows of the unofficial moral police in India that hounds couples in public places or attacks girls in beer bars. Akbar should feel elated that the character-building police owing allegiance to a political outfit, has not been unleashed on him. Akbar may feel victimised by the #MeToo movement, but he is lucky to be in the right political party at the right time. Imagine his fate if he were a Minister in the Manmohan Singh Government! Akbar would have had to quit his office much earlier. As a BJP Minister said earlier, the Modi Government is not like its predecessor, who used to make its Ministers resign on public demand. Ruling party does no wrong Had Akbar been a Congress Minister, Narendra Modi, as the Gujarat Chief Minister, would have created public outrage against Akbar through powerful speeches. Modi would have supported Akbars alleged victims and condemned the immoral Congress. Working up public outrage is an art and not all political parties are able to create mass hysteria. Had Akbar not been in the ruling BJP, Modis handmaidens in the media would have gone mad with anger. They would be spitting fire and fighting tooth and nail for gender justice! They would have ridiculed Akbars claim that the women were making up stories of rape and sexual harassment as part of the campaign for elections next year! A prominent Hollywood Hindu operating from America would have circulated a video of a Pittsburgh #MeToo leader citing the importance of character in the Hindu religion and committing her moral and financial support to the sisters exposing the male pigs of India. Had Akbar been a Minister in the Manmohan Singh Government, the Sanskari (of good character) women politicians would have shaved their heads in protest and held a demonstration outside Akbars residence. One woman politician would have gone on a fast. Some, even those married outside their religion, would have warned the pious Indian women against Love-Jihad. Overnight, a retired intelligence officer, would have floated a Mahila Manch to intensify the struggle against immoral males. The Manch would have appealed to Akbars wife to join the movement instead of following the wives of British politicians who stand by their husbands through thick and thin The head of the Sadhu-Sant Samagam Pvt. Ltd. would have issued a Hindu fatwa against Akbar. The newly minted intellectuals would have argued in the TV studios against Akbar by quoting some Western feminists. A State Assembly would have passed a resolution changing Akbars name. Akbars luck Being associated with the right political party at the right time, Akbar escaped a wider protest movement despite his name and fame. Initially, activists associated with his own party were raring to throw stones, but secret instructions reached the affiliated moral armies and youth organisations to ignore the subversive Indian #MeToo movement. Social media got filled with hundreds of posts deriding the women complaining of sexual harassment. Akbar, who knows political dynamics intimately, surely thanked himself for not being a Congress MP and having crossed over to the BJP at the right time. He thanked his party for coming to the aid of an embattled junior Minister and MP. Akbar perhaps sees the silver lining. He has become an object of envy in the eyes of the men obsessed with the paintings of the Mughal emperors ruling their harems. Akbar won a defamation case in the UK earlier and if he wins this one in India, another brilliant book will come out of his computer. He would, of course, make no laudatory reference to Nehru to avoid the book being pulped on public demand. The Akbar Case has led to a discussion on the personal lives of eminent men. Some say that one should continue to enjoy Akbars articles and books without bothering about what kind of a person he is. Even Akbars alleged victims have admired the brilliant journalist. So many women in their twenties were swayed by his talent. That matters more than the mundane certificates issued to him by the newspaper proprietors who hired him from time to time. Some political analysts have detected the conspiracy by a few liberal women to create political instability in India that needs at least a 50-year-long rule by the current ruling party. Some women have published on-the-other-hand kind of pieces on the #MeToo movement in order to protect the Modi Government. They are releasing information on the personal lives of the politicians belonging to the anti-Modi camp and indulging in whataboutery. Their social media messages are designed to exonerate Akbar in the peoples court and make him electable as a BJP candidate in the parliamentary polls next year. The argument that a great journalist is not a model human being has been accepted by many voters. Professors of Poetry? Raymond Chandler is cited to convey the message that if you like someones writing, do not meet the writer! A newly-minted sarkari (official) intellectual is trying to make the literate Indians look at Akbar in a new light. He argues that genius has a dark side and the wife of a genius has a horrible tale to tell. He quotes W.H. Auden who said that real artists are not nice people. All their best feelings go into their work and life has the residue. Martin Amis says there is no value co-relation between the life and the work. The said intellectual tells his TV interviewers every night that an individual ought to be judged by his art and professional achievement, not by his private conduct. He illustrates his point by referring to the personal life of V.S. Naipaul. He tells the nation that a great writer has the licence to be a misogynistic monster! He reminds his TV audience of what an eminent Englishman said during the campaign for the election of the Oxford Professor of Poetry: Only poetry matters, not a teachers record of sexual harassment of girl pupils. The sarkari intellectual says the Supreme Court should not pass a law that cannot be implemented and the #MeToo movement should not raise a demand that cannot be met. Citing human nature, he asks the people not to pick on Akbar since there are no men of character when women are concerned! He lists a number of eminent persons who were admired for their work even though the #MeToo movement would call them depraved. He points out that Chaucer was a rapist. Golding was a failed rapist. Shakespeare was syphilitic. Byron was a serial seducer. Tolstoy was repellent. Shaw was a philanderer. So was Burns. Dickens liked girls of his daughters age. Conrad married a substitute mother. A married Graham Greene had endless affairs. Auden smelt. Ted Hughes was a domestic tyrant. Derek Walcott was a lecherous professor. The sarkari intellectuals campaign to increase public understanding of the male species is having the desired effect. One of the alleged victims gifted with a poetic sensibility, who had complained of sexual harassment, understood that an extra-marital affair is a font of creativity. She withdrew her complaint and declared that what had happened was consensual. She said it was her private tribute to a creative person, her modest contribution to promote Indias literary talent! (Courtesy: www.opendemocracy.net) The author is a senior journalist and writer who worked in India and abroad (notably Britain) in several major newspapers. Now retired, he is a free- lancer. Home > Archives (2006 on) > 2018 > Dissolution of the Liberal-Democratic State In a collection of commentaries on contemporary issues, titled Idea of India Hard to Beat; Republic Resilient (2016), this writer had stipulated that whereas it no longer seemed inevitable that capitalism would collapse with finality under the weight of its own contradictions, it did seem, in the Indian context, that inevitability now attaches to the Constitution of India after seven decades of the practice of parliamentary democracy. (https://www.amazon.in/Idea-India-Hard-Beat-Resilient-ebook/dp/B01D0YGKUG) The zeitgeist that now confronts us obliges me to eat those rather precipitate words. We may no longer wish away the grim reality that the political Rightwing in India which came to power through constitutional legitimation is now making bold to let out an agenda that makes mockery of that form of legitimation. The Sangh can be seen to be engaged in two, conjoint, projects: one, to transform the pluralist nation into a monochromatic one in which, as Golwalker had required (We, or Our Nationhood Defined), all non-Hindus are being pressed to view themselves as Hindus (Ram ke Vanshaj), and to show a primary allegiance to Hindu forms of culture and religious practice; and, concomitantly, to displace the primacy of electoral majority by cultural-religious majority as the political foundation of the state. These objectives have been dictating a dual form of praxis to the ruling dispensation: one, to continue to pay lip-service to the constitutional regime for continued legal legitimation, and, two, to patronise social fascios on the ground charged with the task of putting the terror of god into polities who remain loyal to pluralism. It should not be hard to recognise that this dual agenda is starkly sourced in the Europe of the 1930s. At the governmental level, not surprisingly, this historical project has required a systematic ideological subversion of state institutions, and a relentless infusion of manpower among them equipped to operate that subversion, and to generate a mass mayhem as a supporting edifice to that subversion. Even more profoundly, the Sanghs deter-mined putsch against the liberal-democratic state calls upon it as a first far-reaching task to overthrow the educational edifice of liberal-democracy by junking its books, scholarships, institutional practices in schools, colleges, universities, dislodging pedagogic principles and the staff that have been operating those principles in classrooms, seminars, conferences, and peer-group outlets. This overhaul and appropriation then prepares the human resource ground for the manning of other institutions of state which bolster government policies and control the lives of citizens, especially of those who remain recalcitrant. Thus, what we have been seeing with respect to police thanas, the CBI, the IB, the CVC, the Election Commission, the RBI, the ED etc. falls into this pattern of transformation. The less said of Governorships here, of course, the better. Yet, even the most pessimistic of political obsevers may not have envisaged that a day would come when the Supreme Court of India would receive the sort of defiance that is now underway, be it in the Sabarimala case or the imbroglio about the Ram Mandir issue. The public defiance at Sabarimala indeed seems to draw a parallel with the recent acquittal by the Supreme Court of Pakistan of a young Christian woman from the charge of blasphemy. As we know, Islamists in that sibling country are everywhere up in arms against that Supreme Court verdict, and the unfortunate family is now obliged to seek asylum in America. Sabarimala likewise seems to define our own version of blasphemy wherein women of menstrual age are seen to engage in blasphemy by wishing to exercise their fundamental right to pray at the shrine as per our own Supreme Court verdict. In either case, the state appears to think it best to strike some form or other of a rapproachment with the protesters, hoping face-saving procedures may be arrived at. At home, everyday, various scions of the Sangh make it boldly known that the Supreme Court, which is hearing merely contentions about a title suit to the particular site at Ayodhya, had either better give a verdict desired by the Sanghand before the coming General Electiions to the Parliamentor else the Hindu Naton will take matters into their own hands. A repeat of the 1992 putsch has been openly threatened. One would have thought that, as happens in Europe and America, the liberal polity at large would sense the moment and be seen on the streets on behalf of the liberal-democratic state, regardless of discrete political party affiliations. Indeed, it might be argued that the moment calls for the mounting of an Indian Peoples Front. Such, however is the pusillanimity of the political spectrum with respect to the Ayodhya issue that there seems little hope of any such thing happening in answer to the attempted usurpation of the state as we have known it. As far as one can see, the Opposition tactics appears to be to dub the putsch as a diversion from livelihood issues and hope that the electorate at large will see the matter in such light. Vast sections of the immiserated populations, immiserated by governmental policies since the last general election, will indeed see through the mayhem but, if history is anything to go by, such tactics may teeter on the thin ice of complacence in parts of the Union fairly decisive to electoral outcomes, even as the Southern and Eastern parts of India remain unimpressed by an Aryan/Brahminical event. It is of course open to Opposition parties who, after all, together represent some 69 percent of the last electoral verdict, to approach the custodian of the constitutional regime, namely, the President of India. Were this to happen, it would be highly instructive to find out how the Rashtrapati views the challenge that now confronts, for example, the Supreme Court where its decisions no longer seem binding either on sections of the polity or on state protagonists charged to oversee their implementation. We recall that post the failure, the willful failure, of the erstwhile Kalyan Singh Government in the Uttar Pradesh of 1992 to honour its sworn commitment to prevent harm to the then mosque at the disputed site, a clutch of State governments run by the Bharatiya Janata Party were dismissed from office. Conversely, to return to the main burden of this piece, were the present ruling establishment to return to power at the Centre, it may be a forgone conclusion that transformation now in progress at the levels of the nation and the state could proceed with unchallenged alacrity to their desired culmination. The resilience of the Republic, of which I had written, may indeed now be under a strain that could prove terminal, and such an eventuality would be more the failure of the now dithering or cowed majority than the success of a resolute minority. The author, who taught English literature at the University of Delhi for over four decades and is now retired, is a prominent writer and poet. A well-known commentator on politics, culture and society, he wrote the much acclaimed Dickens and the Dialectic of Growth. His book, The Underside of ThingsIndia and the World: A Citizens Miscellany, 2006-2011, came out in August 2012. Thereafter he wrote two more books, Idea of India Hard to Beat: Republic Resilient and Kashmir: A Noble Tryst in Tatters. PINOYS IN PAPUA. President Rodrigo Roa Duterte and several members of his Cabinet stand at attention during the singing of the Philippine national anthem during his meeting with the Filipinos based in Papua New Guinea at the Filipino Community Center in Port Moresby on Nov. 16, 2018. Presidential Photo President Rodrigo Duterte, attending the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation Summit in Papua New Guinea, said another topbut unidentifiedgovernment official would be fired by him on his return to the Philippines, Malacanang said Saturday. The President, who cut short his three-day visit to Papua New Guinea, is expected to arrive Sunday morning in Davao City. He came from Singapore where he participated in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations summit. Presidential Spokesperson Salvador Panelo declined to name the official but said the government official was involved in graft and corruption. In his speech before Filipino community in Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea, Duterte said he would try to stop corruption and needed to return, because there would be another official to be fired.I will really remove you. Sorry," Duterte said during a meeting with the Filipino community last Friday night. In line with his campaign to weed out corruption in the bureaucracy, Duterte said he had fired several officials including a Cabinet member whom he caught lying during a Cabinet meeting. The President was originally scheduled to attend the APEC economic leaders summit on Nov. 17 and 18 to push for closer economic integration in the region. The Palace released a revised itinerary of the President and was scheduled to leave Papua New Guinea and arrive at the Davao City international airport on Sunday morning. The Palace assured that despite the Presidents absence in some APEC events, the Philippines continued to support the chairmanship of Papua New Guinea. On the drugs campaign, the President said in his speech I have remaining three (years). I hope that I can put in place something. There are over 40,000 Filipinos in the country, according to the Department of Foreign Affairs. Duterte assured the Filipino workers in Papua New Guinea that the administration had gained momentum in fighting corruption and illegal drugs.Moreover, he said he had also fired several members of his government, including police personnel, who were accused of abuses and wrongdoings but acknowledged that it continued to be a problem. Do you know why illegal drugs continues? Because its money and its very hot, Duterte said, stressing that several police personnel were drug coddlers themselves. Last week, Duterte said he wanted the entire government machinery to participate in the administrations aggressive crackdown on illegal drugs. I will issue a memorandum circular directing the entire government machinery to mobilize its assets and to take an active role in governments anti-illegal drug campaign nationwide, Duterte said. The President said he also wanted to create a task force on anti-illegal drugs composed of different law enforcement agencies. What we have is the moving forward to eradicate illegal drug trade, activate a National Anti-illegal Drug Task Force, Duterte said. He said the task force would be composed of the personnel assets from the Philippine National Police, Armed Forces of the Philippines, Bureau of Customs, Philippine Coast Guard and other agencies of the government. In the same speech before the Filipino community, Duterte downplayed his move to endorse election bets overseas, saying election rules did not apply since he was in a foreign land. In his speech, Duterte expressed support for Senate bet, former police chief Ronald dela Rosa, saying the nation needed someone like him. The President then went on to defend his move, saying any campaign rule would not apply to him because he was not in the Philippines. President Rodrigo Duterte has ordered his top officials to talk with National Democratic Front of the Philippines leaders Fidel Agcaoili and Luis Jalandoni next week, Presidential Adviser for Peace Process Jesus Dureza said Sunday. President Duterte has tasked Secretary Salvador Panelo and me to meet with them in an informal chat, Dureza said in a statement. The planned meeting with NDFP leaders Fidel Agcaoili and Luis Jalandoni may take place next week in Manila. Dureza said the meeting will likely take place when he returns next week as he is heading to the United Nations. I am now on my way to head the Philippine delegation to the United Nations General Assembly in New York, so the planned meeting may take place upon my return next week, Dureza said. Presidential Spokesman Salvador Panelo confirmed to the Manila Standard that he will be present in the meeting. Yes, Panelo said when asked if he had been tasked by the President to represent the Duterte administration in a bid to push through the talks with the representatives of the communist rebels. But the Palace has yet to issue a statement on what topics the government will bring to the table. Agcaoili serves as the NDFPs chairman and Jalandoni serves as its senior adviser. The meeting will take place after the two negotiators announced they will return to the Philippines for possible talks with the President following the arrest of NDFP consultant Vic Ladlad. An earlier statement said Agcaoilis trip here would be in connection with their work in the Joint Monitoring Committee under an agreement with the government that seeks to preserve human rights during armed conflict.He said his group, which includes NDFP panelist Coni Ledesma, had also been invited to meet with the new Norwegian Ambassador to the Philippines. In this regard, we welcome the opportunity to meet with the President unless he does not want to or his military is against it, Agcaoili said. Last week, Duterte said he was open to meeting with the NDFP negotiators. He said he had already called for a cluster meeting to facilitate the talks with the NDFP negotiators. When I go back after Papua New Guinea and Singapore, I will make the announcement. We will talk again, Duterte said. Duterte is out of the country attending the 33rd Association of Southeast Asian Nations Summit in Singapore and the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation meetings in Papua New Guinea. He ordered Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea to head the Executive department in his stead. Dureza had earlier assured the NDFPs high-ranking officials that they would not be arrested on their return this month. Last time I checked, there was no pending warrant of arrest for Fidel Agcaoili and Luis Jalandoni, so they will not be arrestednot unless they will break some laws in our country, Dureza said. * Citizens of Russia and Cuba will be allowed to stay on each other's territory up to 90 days per six months without a visa from December 21 instead of 30 days previously, the Russian Foreign Ministry said Friday (November 16). * Visiting Chinese President Xi Jinping and Papua New Guinea (PNG) Prime Minister Peter O'Neill agreed on Friday to establish a comprehensive strategic partnership between their countries, featuring mutual respect and common development. * US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo had met with the Unification Minister Cho Myoung-gyon of the Republic of Korea (RoK) to coordinate on issues related to the Korean Peninsula, the State Department said Friday. * Forensic recovery teams pressed their search for more victims in the flame-ravaged northern California town of Paradise, the Unied States, on Friday as authorities sought clues to the fate of about 1,000 people reported missing in the state's deadliest wildfire on record. Remains of at least 71 people have been recovered so far in and around a Sierra foothills hamlet that was home to nearly 27,000 residents before the town, 175 miles (280 km) north of San Francisco, was largely incinerated by the deadly Camp Fire on the night of November 8. * Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan and US President Donald Trump agreed in a phone call on November 16 that all aspects of the killing of Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi should be uncovered, the Turkish presidency said. * Ireland's prime minister said on November 16 his government would find it very difficult to avoid imposing a hard border on Northern Ireland if Britain crashes out of the European Union without an exit agreement. * Addressing the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Business Advisory Council in Port Moresby on November 17, Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison declared that his government will fight against rising trade protectionism. * Chief of Islamic Hamas movement in the Gaza Strip, Yehia Sinwar, warned Israel on Friday not to wage any future military offensive on the enclave that his movement has been ruling since 2007. * German Chancellor Angela Merkel on Friday clarified her refugee policy during her visit to the eastern city of Chemnitz, a place regarded as the center of several severe xenophobic protests months ago. * Chinese President Xi Jinping and eight Pacific island countries' leaders and officials met in the Papua New Guinea (PNG) capital on Friday and agreed to elevate their relations to a comprehensive strategic partnership featuring mutual respect and common development. * Stephen Barclay was appointed new British Brexit secretary on November 16 to replace Dominic Raab, who resigned on November 15 over the draft Brexit agreement between the United Kingdom (UK) and the European Union (EU). * At least 14 Palestinians were shot and wounded on Friday by Israeli soldiers' gunfire in eastern Gaza Strip during 34th weekly "Great March of Return", medics said. * The Croatian government said in Zagrep on November 16 that the Global Compact for Safe, Orderly and Regular Migration (GCM) is acceptable to Croatia and that the Interior Minister will represent the country at the next month's conference in Marrakech, a city in western Morocco. * Sri Lanka's parliament on Friday passed a no-confidence motion on the government as Speaker Karu Jayasuriya took a vote under heavy police presence. * Canada is considering sanctions over the death of Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi, Foreign Minister Chrystia Freeland said on November 15. * The Republic of Korea's top nuclear envoy will visit Washington next week to discuss issues on the denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula and the settlement of lasting peace, Seoul's foreign ministry said Friday. * European Central Bank (ECB) President Mario Draghi on Friday said the ECB expect the economic expansion in the euro area to continue in the coming years, albeit a loss in growth momentum has been observed recently. * The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has approved a US$300-million loan to promote sustainable agriculture systems and protect the ecology in the upper and middle reaches of China's Yangtze River. * Authorities from Mexico and the United States met in the Mexican border city of Tijuana to coordinate plans prior to the arrival of massive caravans of Central American migrants, the Interior Ministry said Friday. * Venezuela and Russia are seeking to expand bilateral cooperation, including in the agricultural and mining sectors, a Venezuela senior official said Friday. * Russia successfully launched Progress MS-10 cargo ship toward the International Space Station (ISS), Russian state space corporation Roscosmos said Friday. * Heads of the coalition factions in Israeli government agreed that the Israeli parliament (Knesset) elections would be advanced from November 2019 to March 26th, 2019, the Hebrew-language "Ynet" reported on Friday. * At least two people were killed and 10 others injured in a bomb blast in Pakistan's southern port city of Karachi late Friday, local media and police officials said. World Trade Organization At Risk In the past two years, the Trump administration has started trade wars against China, its major trade partners, and security allies. In the absence of united opposition by advanced and emerging economies, the next target will be the World Trade Organization. As the White House began to escalate the U.S.-Sino trade war last April, President Trumps trade adviser Peter Navarro was asked on CNN whether the United States is planning to leave the World Trade Organization (WTO). A controversial advocate of American neo-protectionism known for his China-bashing books and documentaries, Navarro said that a lot of problem has been the World Trade Organization, which is over 160 countries, and a lot of them simply dont like us and so we dont get good results there. When Navarro was asked whether the U.S. will ultimately leave the WTO, he dodged the question saying that it was a provocative question. But it was a fair question. Historical shift After all, the U.S. was the key architect of the WTO; the 164-member international organization established in 1995 that replaced the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT), which was created in 1948. Today, the WTO oversees global trade rules and resolves trade disputes on the basis of international trade law and practices. It covers some 98% of global trade. Since the postwar era, successive rounds of trade liberalization have promoted a dramatic expansion of trade. So the average most-favored nation (MFN) applied tariff of TWO members fell from 25% in 1994 to less than 10% today - before the Trump era. Unlike previous postwar and post-Cold War administrations, the Trump trade hawks seem to believe that the WTO does not add value to the U.S. economy. As a candidate, Trump called WTO trade deals a disaster proposing that the U.S. renegotiate or pull out from such agreements. As president, Trump has made it very clear that his administration prefers bilateral agreements to exploit US economic muscle; not multilateral deals that rely on international rules. While the White House has targeted all major economies that currently have a trade surplus with America - including Canada, Mexico, Germany, the European Union, Japan, and South Korea - its primary effort has been to break Chinas opposition to Washingtons new managed trade. Through the Cold War, Washington promoted global economic integration - world trade, investment, and migration - which served to contain the Soviet Union. After the end of the Cold War, voices stressing Americas unipolar clout in security (the Bush neoconservatives) and trade (Trumps trade hawks) have advanced - at the expense of those emphasizing the importance of realist diplomacy and international alliances. The WTO is just the latest, though very symbolic, target of those who see America as a victim of "unfair" trade in contrast to the historical record. How the China MES debacle heralded the attack against the WTO Trump's trade hawks began to criticize the WTO during the 2016 campaign, when they first targeted China and Trump declared in Iowa, China is not a market economy. But that was preceded by the refusal of former President Obama, the EU and Japan to grant China its market economy status (MES), even as the key clause in Chinas 2001 agreement to join the WTO expired on December 11, 2016. Indeed, Trump has benefited immensely from the decisions of those who now criticize his decisions. The key issue in the MES debacle was the WTOs Western member states desire to inflate tariffs against Chinese goods. When China joined the WTO on December 11, 2001, it was written into the agreement that member states could treat China as a non-market economy. Due to the size of the Chinese economy, government intervention, and state-owned enterprises, advanced economies argued that Chinese domestic price comparisons must be ignored and constructed values should be used to gain a true picture of the Chinese economy - which allowed them to impose heavy anti-dumping duties on the basis that China's low prices did not reflect market reality. Since the early 2000s, the surrogate figures have permitted wide discretion and manipulation of price data, which was then used as the basis for anti-dumping charges; i.e., tariffs up to 40% higher than normal anti-dumping duties. On the campaign trail, Trump exploited precisely such figures when he pledged he would introduce 45% tariffs against Chinese products. It was this revision of history which emerged amid the U.S. pivot to Asia developed by former President Obama and former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton - that paved the way for the White Houses effort to undermine the postwar international trading regime. In the Trump White House, not only China but all emerging and developing economies are potential targets, as evidenced by the Trump administrations criticisms of emerging economies claims of special treatment under WTO rules for developing countries. A world without the WTO? The bottom line: Since the unipolar 'America First' doctrine cannot accommodate the multipolar WTO, one has to go. But the first steps came before the Trump era. The White House has suggested that the U.S. may simply ignore WTO rulings that are not in its favor, amid alleged concerns that dispute settlement infringes on U.S. sovereignty. Moreover, from the time of the Obama administration, the U.S. has been blocking new appointments to the WTO's Appellate Body (AB); i.e., the seven-member body responsible for appeals. As more judicial terms are set to expire, the AB may no longer meet its quorum after December 2019. Its a tactic that serves the White Houses strategic goals. Officially, none of these measures are acknowledged. Still, the Trump administrations overall approach has sparked questions regarding the future of U.S. leadership and participation in the WTO, as well as the role of Congress in U.S. trade policy. Although unease about the America First doctrine has now surfaced, many are still signing bilateral deals with the U.S. As long as this happens, the Trump administration will continue to divide and rule its allies. There is a way to respond to the Trump challenge, but that requires unity and cooperation among and between the major advanced and emerging economies. In the absence of effective Democratic opposition, a sustained effort by President Trump to withdraw the U.S. unilaterally from the WTO if legal under U.S. law would devastate Americas foreign trade, debilitate the WTO and has potential to pave the way to the kind of horrors that led to the creation of the postwar WTO in the first place. Dr Steinbock is the founder of the Difference Group and has served as the research director at the India, China, and America Institute (USA) and a visiting fellow at the Shanghai Institutes for International Studies (China) and the EU Center (Singapore). For more information, see http://www.differencegroup.net/ 2018 Copyright Dan Steinbock - All Rights Reserved Disclaimer: The above is a matter of opinion provided for general information purposes only and is not intended as investment advice. Information and analysis above are derived from sources and utilising methods believed to be reliable, but we cannot accept responsibility for any losses you may incur as a result of this analysis. Individuals should consult with their personal financial advisors. Dan Steinbock Archive 2005-2019 http://www.MarketOracle.co.uk - The Market Oracle is a FREE Daily Financial Markets Analysis & Forecasting online publication. The Time to Prepare For the Next Financial Crisis is NOW Global growth is officially dead. The markets picked up on this first, with Copper, Lumber, Industrial Metals and other economically sensitive asset classes collapsing starting in May. Looking at those charts, it was easy to single out the Fed as the culprit, since the Feds hawkishness had ignited the $USD which in turn put pressure on commodities. However, whats happening now is much bigger than just the Fed. Between June and August, two of the stock markets that are most closely aligned with global trade (South Korean and Germany) topped. And when I say, topped I mean they TOPPED and then proceeded to collapse. Looking at those charts going into October, you could have argued that this was due to the Fed and the Trump trade war. Indeed, had the Fed STOPPED its hawkishness and the Trump administration managed to cut a deal with China last summer, its quite possible that the financial markets would have corrected, but we wouldnt have had a full blown meltdown. However, neither of those things happened. The Fed made it clear its going to hike until something breaks. And China, for whatever reason, has decided it would rather risk economic collapse, than appear weak against the US. Which is when October hit at which point it became clear that whats now unfolding is no longer due to just trade tariffs and rate hikes. By the time October ended, an astonishing 89% of global assets were in the red for the year. There is only one way to interpret that kind of bloodbath: were officially at the end of a credit cycle that began in 2009. The good times are officially over, and the bad times (the next crisis) is about to begin. If you are not already preparing for this, NOW is the time to do so. On that note, we are putting together an Executive Summary outlining all of these issues as well as whats coming down the pike when the Everything Bubble bursts. It will be available exclusively to our clients. If youd like to have a copy delivered to your inbox when its completed, you can join the wait-list here. https://phoenixcapitalmarketing.com/TEB.html Best Regards Graham Summers Phoenix Capital Research http://www.phoenixcapitalmarketing.com Graham also writes Private Wealth Advisory, a monthly investment advisory focusing on the most lucrative investment opportunities the financial markets have to offer. Graham understands the big picture from both a macro-economic and capital in/outflow perspective. He translates his understanding into finding trends and unde74rvalued investment opportunities months before the markets catch on: the Private Wealth Advisory portfolio has outperformed the S&P 500 three of the last five years, including a 7% return in 2008 vs. a 37% loss for the S&P 500. Previously, Graham worked as a Senior Financial Analyst covering global markets for several investment firms in the Mid-Atlantic region. Hes lived and performed research in Europe, Asia, the Middle East, and the United States. 2018 Copyright Graham Summers - All Rights Reserved Disclaimer: The above is a matter of opinion provided for general information purposes only and is not intended as investment advice. Information and analysis above are derived from sources and utilising methods believed to be reliable, but we cannot accept responsibility for any losses you may incur as a result of this analysis. Individuals should consult with their personal financial advisors. Graham Summers Archive 2005-2019 http://www.MarketOracle.co.uk - The Market Oracle is a FREE Daily Financial Markets Analysis & Forecasting online publication. Michael "Mick" Blodnick, longtime president and CEO of Glacier Bancorp, was honored with the Kalispell Chamber of Commerces Great Chief Award on Nov. 16 during the organizations annual banquet and auction. Blodnick, who retired in 2016 after nearly 40 years with the bank, is the 47th person to receive the chambers annual award, which recognizes those who have given back to the local community throughout their careers. By Justin Franz When Butte natives Bert and Mike Robins lost their business partner and brother-in-law Ron Ueland in May, they never for a moment thought of shutting down the company they owned together, Intercontinental Truck Body Co. https://www.itbusa.com/ Thats according to Bert Robins, who explained that the company was in a major transition at the time of Uelands death. The company had just moved from its previous home in Conrad to the Arbiter Building in Anaconda, located east of town off Montana Highway 1, with several former Conrad employees in tow. ANNIE PENTILLA [email protected] https://mtstandard.com/news/local/cinderella-story-manufacturer-breathes-new-life-into-industrial-anaconda-building/article_63be10ee-c79a-5468-acd9-14af74d34280.html From the Ueland businesses live on in wake of leaders unexpected passing series The government forces in crackdown against militants, launched a well-coordinated offensives against Taliban in Chakhat Payen area of Ashkamesh district in the northern Takhar province early Saturday and besides recapturing several villages also killed five militants forcing the militant group to flee the area, provincial police spokesman Abdul Khalil Asir said. According to Asir, no security personnel have been harmed in the ongoing operations. Similarly, fighting between security forces and the Taliban group in Khan Abad district of the neighboring Kunduz province claimed the lives of 10, including seven Taliban insurgents and three police personnel on the same day Saturday. Five more insurgents and three more security personnel sustained injuries in the fighting which lasted for few hours, Kunduz police spokesman Inamudin Rahmani said. Moreover, during operations against Taliban hideouts in Khogiani district of the eastern Nangarhar province launched Friday ( November 16) night, the government forces killed 30 militants and injured several others, according to a statement of provincial administration. The Afghan forces' operations, backed by fighting aircraft, have also killed 21 Taliban fighters and injured four others in Qarabagh district of the eastern Ghazni province since Friday, said an army statement released Saturday. Clashes in Afghanistan have intensified as the warring sides have obviously been attempting to gain more grounds and consolidate positions ahead of snowfall and freezing winter in the mountainous country. Chinese President Xi Jinping (R) meets with Indonesian President Joko Widodo in Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea, on Nov. 17, 2018. (Xinhua/Pang Xinglei) PORT MORESBY, Nov. 17 (Xinhua) -- Chinese President Xi Jinping met with Indonesian President Joko Widodo here on Saturday and reached a series of important consensus on deepening ties. The meeting took place on the sidelines of the ongoing Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Economic Leaders' Meeting, which was held in Papua New Guinea's capital city of Port Moresby. Both China and Indonesia are major developing countries and emerging economies and they share similar position in many fields, said Xi, adding that the Chinese side is willing to maintain high-level communication with Indonesia and guide the development of bilateral ties from a strategic height and long-term perspective. Noting that the two countries have signed a memorandum of understanding last month on the Belt and Road Initiative and Indonesia's Vision of Global Maritime Fulcrum, Xi called on the two sides to actively push forward relevant cooperation. China attaches importance to the Regional Comprehensive Economic Corridor initiative proposed by President Widodo, and is willing to launch substantive cooperation with the Indonesian side in this regard at an early date, said the Chinese leader. China is ready to receive more imports from Indonesia, and advance bilateral cooperation on finance, e-commerce and cultural exchange, Xi said. China is willing to work with Indonesia to promote the optimization and upgrading of relations between China and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), push for more progress in East Asia cooperation, and strengthen bilateral communication and coordination within multilateral frameworks including the United Nations, the World Trade Organization and the G20, Xi said. He said that China will enhance communication and coordination with Indonesia within the framework of APEC, so as to achieve positive progress at the APEC meeting this year, continue to push for the economic integration in the Asia-Pacific, and inject new impetus into the economic development of the Asia-Pacific region and the world. Widodo, for his part, congratulated China on the success of the just-concluded China International Import Expo, and thanked the Chinese side for its help in the relief work after the earthquake and tsunami recently hit Indonesia. The Indonesian president said that he was pleased to have reached a series of important cooperation agreements and consensus with China, hoping to strengthen bilateral cooperation in a wide range of fields. Indonesia supports the development of ASEAN-China relations, and is ready to strengthen communication and coordination with China in international and regional affairs, said the Indonesian president. The New York Times has seemingly carelessly stepped on a thin ice by issuing a piece titled Are Jared and Ivanka Good for the Jews? and apparently fell through it by provoking a storm of criticism on the social media. A pretty long piece issued by the Gray Lady appears to be in fact another thinly veiled jab at President Donald Trump as it mostly focuses on the fact that Trumps presidency somehow led to the rise of anti-Semitism in the US while his staunchly pro-Israel policies did not found support even among some parts of the US Jewish community. Read more All these issues are carefully wrapped up in the speculation on the fact that his essentially Judaist daughter and the Jewish son-in-law, who both act as the presidents advisors, do not make the situation any better including for themselves and the US Jewish community, which is divided over the whole issue. Regardless of whether the role Ivanka Trump and Jared Kushner play for the US Jews was up to the debate, the New York Times attempt to speculate on an increasingly complicated topic of intra-ethnic relations mixed with an already pretty much dividing issue of Trumps policies apparently backfired. After all, even though the online community might be divided on some issues, it mostly agreed that the NYT piece on this issue was no good. Many commentators said that the NYT actually does not understand the Jewish communities, as if it is visiting Mars, as one professor put in a tweet. Others called the headline disgusting and actually accused the media outlet of anti-Semitism. Some ridiculed the very idea of such piece by calling it absurd. Members of the US journalist community also joined the overall wave of criticism by saying the article is beyond questionable and calling its headline outrageous. A number of prominent members of the US Jewish community and Israeli media figures rallied to Ivanka and Jareds defense by saying that posing a question that the NYT actually asked would be wrong. Some also said that the piece is in fact just another attack by the liberals on Trump and his inner circle. Apart from the backlash, the NYT received over its choice of topic, some people on the social media also criticized it over an entirely different perceived bias, i.e. the lack of women in its choice of people the media quoted in its article. Like this story? Share it with a friend! Experts in Romania are examining a painting to determine whether it is Pablo Picassos Tete dArlequin which was lifted from a Dutch museum in 2012 as part of the theft of the century. In one of the most dramatic art heists ever accomplished robbers swiped seven paintings, worth millions of dollars, by Picasso, Monet, Gauguin and others from Rotterdams Kunsthal museum six years ago. The Romanian mastermind of the break-in and three of his accomplices were convicted of theft in 2013 but none of the artworks were ever recovered. It was believed that at least three of the works had been burned in a bid to destroy evidence. READ MORE: No Louvre lost: Insta model claims revealing outfit got her barred from art gallery (PHOTOS) However, prosecutors announced a major breakthrough on Sunday saying that a novelist said she found the Picasso under a tree after receiving an anonymous tip. The piece was handed into the Dutch embassy in Romania on Saturday. Anti-organized crime prosecutors are investigating the circumstances under which a painting signed by Picasso worth roughly 800,000 ($913,440) was found on Saturday evening in Tulcea county, they said in a statement, Reuters reports. Investigators are now working to authenticate the painting. Dutch media dubbed the heist the theft of the Century after it took place in 2012. Dramatic security camera footage released at the time of the heist showed the robbers entering the museum through a back door. Moments later they emerged from the building carrying the valuable works. The police previously said the works were destroyed after the thieves failed to find a buyer. One of those convicted, Olga Dogaru, told investigators she burned the paintings in her stove to protect her son, who was the alleged leader of the operation. She later retracted the statement. READ MORE: Picassos secrets: Cutting edge tech reveals what lies beneath Crouching Woman (PHOTOS) The other works stolen were Matisse's La Liseuse en Blanc et Jaune, Gauguin's Femme devant une fenetre ouverte, Meijer De Haan's "Autoportrait", Monet's "Waterloo Bridge, London" and Charing Cross Bridge, London and Lucian Freuds Woman with Eyes Closed. Like this story? Share it with a friend! Ultra-nationalist mobsters thwarted a transgender parade in the Ukrainian capital Kiev, spraying tear gas at participants and brawling with riot police who apparently failed to protect the gathering, local media reported. Ukrainian LGBT activists planned to march through downtown Kiev on Sunday, but the event intended to commemorate transgender victims of hate crime never took place. As people began to gather outside one of the citys metro stations, they were confronted by far-right radicals, who had previously threatened to target the parade. At one point, a nationalist mobster used pepper spray on the LGBT crowd, injuring two people, according to local media. The standoff became more violent when the radicals began throwing smoke bombs at the activists. The attackers were also heard yelling nationalist slogans such as Glory to the nation, death to the enemies, and Ukraine above all. There was a large police presence at the event, but when the situation became more tense, the security forces seemed incapable of separating the two groups. The event in support of transgender people coincided with a massive counter-demonstration organized by radicals in central Kiev. In the middle of the far-right rally, an unknown assailant attacked a reporter from Ukraines NewsOne outlet, spitting in the mans face live on air. In a separate incident last September, a female NewsOne reporter was hit in the face in Kiev, while reporting on another right-wing protest. Far-right groups, which played a key role in the violent 2014 coup in Ukraine, dont seem to be losing their influence amid worsening economic downturn and radicalization of the countrys politics. Read more The ultra-nationalist thugs have no qualms about using violence against those who they consider enemies, including LGBT activists, ethnic minorities and media representatives, who they claim support Russia. As Ukraine is seeking closer ties with Europe, the countrys authorities have officially pledged their support for sexual minorities, and have advocated LGBT rights. Previously, the Ukrainian parliament approved an anti-discrimination law banning sexual-orientation discrimination at work, but those measures seem to have had little impact on the ground. No LGBT public event in the country occurs without provocation by nationalists. A gay parade in Kiev this June was called off after just 20 minutes, as more than a hundred radicals tried to attack the activists. They shouted Shame on you and Ukraine is no Sodom, as they clashed with police, resulting in more than 50 arrests. Like this story? Share it with a friend! A vintage fighter plane that saw action during WWII and the Korean War crashed into a parking lot during a re-enactment show in Texas. Two people died in the incident. The P-51 Mustang went down on Saturday in Fredericksburg, Texas, during the WWII Pacific Combat Program event organized by the National Museum of the Pacific War. The museum later confirmed on Twitter that both passengers on the plane, one of which was a military veteran, had been killed. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) said the vintage airplane was completely destroyed and several automobiles were also damaged. The names of the victims have been withheld, and it is also unclear what may have caused the crash. The National Transportation Safety Bureau (NTSB) will lead an investigation into the fatal incident. Texas state authorities have also sent forensic teams to the scene. The P-51 Mustang was first built by North American Aviation in 1940 and was flown by the US Air Force in World War II and during the Korean War. As many as 15,000 fighters were assembled during and after WWII, and they remained in service with some militaries until the early 1980s. READ MORE: Pilot killed as US T-38 supersonic military jet trainer crashes at base in Texas The crash happened just days after a T-38 Talon supersonic training plane crashed at Laughlin Air Force Base in Texas, leaving one pilot dead and another injured. The T-38 crash was the fifth accident involving the same aircraft model in the last 12 months. Think your friends would be interested? Share this story! Germany's Alexander Zverev produced a superb performance to defeat Swiss superstar Roger Federer in straight sets to book his place in the final of the ATP Finals at the O2 Arena in London. Zverev and Federer went back and forth, holding serve in each of the first 11 games before the 21-year-old German finally broke Federer to love in game 12 to claim the first set 7-5. READ MORE: Djokovic confirms controversial Saudi match is off after Nadal injury Federer came storming back early in the second set to break Zverev in game three to edge ahead. But the German broke back instantly to level the scores at 2-2 and keep the upper hand over the Swiss star. The pair could not be separated through the rest of the set as they held serve all the way to a nerve-tingling second-set tie-break. A Federer mistake at 4/5 saw him drop his racquet then volley into the net to give Zverev two match points. Federer saved the first, but a superb backhand volley from Zverev converted the second to give the German a huge victory. READ MORE: From ball boy to sports sensation: Russian star Karen Khachanovs rise to the tennis elite The match lasted 95 minutes and saw Zverev level the head-to-head results between the pair at 3-3 as he surged into the final of the tournament. The German will now face the winner of the second semi-final between Serbia's Novak Djokovic and South African Kevin Anderson. Chinese President Xi Jinping (R) meets with his South Korean counterpart Moon Jae-in in Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea, on Nov. 17, 2018. (Xinhua/Huang Jingwen) PORT MORESBY, Nov. 17 (Xinhua) -- Chinese President Xi Jinping met with his South Korean counterpart Moon Jae-in here Saturday, calling for deepening the strategic cooperative partnership between the two countries and strengthening communication on the Korean Peninsula issue. The consensuses reached between the two heads of state have been implemented effectively over the past year, and the bilateral ties have steadily improved and developed, Xi told Moon on the sidelines of the 26th Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Economic Leaders' Meeting in Port Moresby, the capital of the Pacific island country of Papua New Guinea. Xi urged the two countries to continuously deepen their strategic cooperative partnership and jointly make positive contributions to lasting peace and prosperity in the region. The two sides should continue to give full play to the guiding role of high-level leaders, respect the core interests and major concerns of each other, strengthen communication, build and consolidate mutual trust, and properly handle sensitive issues, the Chinese president said. He called for greater efforts from both sides to jointly promote the Belt and Road Initiative, accelerate the second-phase negotiations of the bilateral free trade agreement, and optimize and upgrade their mutually beneficial cooperation. Xi also proposed that the two sides strengthen coordination and cooperation within multilateral frameworks such as APEC, G20 and the China-Japan-South Korea trilateral meetings. For his part, Moon extended congratulations on the success of the first China International Import Expo, which was held in Shanghai a week ago. The bilateral relations are now showing a trend of quick recovery, with exchanges and cooperation in various areas picking up markedly, he said. The South Korean side is willing to make joint efforts with the Chinese side to deepen cooperation, thus benefiting the two peoples, Moon said. On the Korean Peninsula issue, Xi said that the situation on the peninsula has shown positive changes over the past year, and the peninsular issue has on the whole gone back to the right track of dialogue and consultation. Facts have proven that our endeavors are effective, he said. With the leadership of President Moon, South Korea has been committed to promoting the easing of tension on the peninsula, and carrying out reconciliation and interaction activities between the south and north, Xi said. China supports efforts by the two sides to continuously improve their relations, Xi said. Currently, the Korean Peninsula situation is at a crucial stage, he said, noting that China and South Korea should enhance communication, and coordinate with each other to advance the process of denuclearization and push for the establishment of a peace mechanism on the peninsula. The key is that all parties concerned should meet each other halfway, show flexibility, continue their talks and make the talks yield results, Xi added. Moon said that South Korea and China share common interest in safeguarding peace and stability in Northeast Asia. The South Korean side thinks highly of and very much appreciates the vital role of China in promoting the easing of Korean Peninsula situation and the settlement of the peninsular issue, he said, adding that South Korea stands ready to coordinate and cooperate with China more closely in this regard. 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. The Association for Adults with Developmental Disabilities was recently awarded a $40,000 grant from the MontcoStrong 2021 Non-Profit Resiliency Grant Program. The grant will provide operational support that will allow the association to continue fulfilling its mission. For almost 50... Pennsylvania Horticulture Societys Harvest program ends season with almost 19,000 pounds of produce donated and $30K raised to fight food insecurity Education Montgomery County Community College will present the spring installment of the interview/talk show program Issues and Insights April 20 from 12:30 to 2 p.m. in Science Center room 214, 340 DeKalb Pike, Blue Bell. The programs will be simulcast to the Colleges West Campus in South Hall room 216, 101 College Drive, Pottstown. Dr. Kolsky will offer a humorous presentation, Carrots, Sticks and Politics: A State of the Nation and the World Message. In this speech, he will provide his interpretation of domestic and international politics and then welcome questions from the audience for discussion. Issues and Insights, is free and open to the public. For information, contact Dr. Thomas Kolsky, professor of political science, at 215-641-6380 or tkolsky@mc3.edu. Montgomery County Community Colleges STEM Scholars Program will host a STEM Jam! open house April 25 from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. in the Advanced Technology Center at the Colleges Central Campus, 340 DeKalb Pike, Blue Bell. The drop-in event is designed for students interested in learning more about careers in science, technology, engineering and mathematics. Activities will include STEM program information and career advising, STEM speakers throughout the day from industry and academia, micro-helicopter and robotics competitive obstacle courses and demonstrations and static models of STEM student and faculty work. For more information about STEM Jam! or STEM programs at MCCC, contact William Brownlowe at wbrownlowe@mc3.edu or 215-641-6644, or Robin Zuhlke at 215-619-7440 or rzuhlke@mc3.edu. Temple Ambler, located at 580 Meetinghouse Road, presents the following events: International Club Global Bazaar April 15 from 5 to 8 p.m. The Ambler Campus International Club invites all students, faculty, staff and the community to celebrate a multitude of diverse cultures, which will be showcased at the organizations Global Bazaar. This family friendly event will highlight cultural traditions and celebrations in Asia, Europe, the Middle East, South American, North America and Africa through music, entertainment, food and informative displays developed and presented by students at the Ambler Campus. Young visitors will be provided with passports, which they may get stamped at each country they visit. Prizes will be awarded to world travelers who talk to cultural representatives, answer questions about the countries theyve visited and take part in fun-filled activities designed to help them learn about the rich diversity of cultures found throughout the world. Refreshments will be served. The event is free. For more information, call 267-468-8108 or e-mail tuc36466@temple.edu. EarthFest 2011 April 29 from 9:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. More than 75 exhibitors, including the Philadelphia Zoo, The Franklin Institute, the Academy of Natural Sciences, the Elmwood Park Zoo and the Insectarium, will take part in EarthFest 2011. School students of all ages are invited to attend and develop displays of their own. EarthFest partner the Pennsylvania Horticultural Society also offers its Kids Grow Expo, featuring the Junior Flower Show, as part of the event. For more information, call 267-468-8108 or e-mail duffyj@temple.edu. Annual Spring Plant Sale May 7 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. The plant sale an Ambler Campus tradition dating back to the early 1900s will feature woody plants and perennials in portable sizes, hardy trees, shrubs, and vines, native plants that are attractive to wildlife, herbs, and hanging baskets. There will also be numerous special plants for sale to highlight Amblers special anniversary year. Garden books and garden tools will also be available for sale. Students, staff, and volunteers from the Department of Landscape Architecture and Horticulture and the Ambler Arboretum Advisory Committee will be available to answer questions. All proceeds from the Spring Plant Sale will support the Ambler Arboretum Fund and the Pi Alpha Xi National Honor Society. Information: 267-468-8001 or judy.shatz@temple.edu. Learn more at www.ambler.temple.edu/anniversary. June Homecoming/Louise Bush-Brown Garden Dedication June 5 from 12:30 to 2 p.m. (June Homecoming), Bright Hall Lounge; 2 p.m. (Garden Dedication), Ambler Campus Formal Perennial Gardens. Tickets June Homecoming: Participant $18 per person; Sustainer $25 per person; Benefactor $40 per person. The 2011 June Homecoming, sponsored by the School of Environmental Design Alumni Association, will include the Alumni Association annual meeting and luncheon. June Homecoming will be followed by the formal dedication of Temple University Amblers Formal Perennial Gardens as the Louise Bush-Brown Formal Gardens. During this 100th anniversary of the campus, Temple University Ambler and the Ambler Arboretum of the Temple University is honoring Louise Bush-Browns many contributions to the history of the campus by formally dedicating the gardens in her honor. During the program, campus Executive William Parshall will welcome guests, Ambler Arboretum Director Jenny Rose Carey will speak about the Bush-Browns and the history of the garden, and an official ribbon cutting will be held for the Louise Bush-Brown Formal Garden. Following the ribbon cutting, guests are invited to take a tour of the gardens, which will wend their way to the Campus Greenhouse for the School of Environmental Designs annual Plant Auction. Information (Garden Dedication): 267-468-8001 or judy.shatz@temple.edu. Information (June Homecoming): 215-482-0722. Learn more at www.ambler.temple.edu/anniversary. Northview Garden Tour and Fundraiser for the Ambler Arboretum June 12 from noon to 5 p.m. Call for reservations. Tickets: $15 per person or $20 at the door. In addition to the gardens of the Ambler Arboretum of Temple University, Arboretum Director Jenny Rose Carey has a garden oasis all her own right in Ambler Northview. Visitors will have the opportunity to take self-guided tours throughout the many gardens, where garden experts will be available to answer questions about the various designs. The Ambler Keystone Chapter of the Womans National Farm and Garden Association will also provide tea and refreshments. All proceeds from the tours will support the Ambler Arboretum of Temple University. Information or to register: 267-468-8001 or judy.shatz@temple.edu. Learn more at www.ambler.temple.edu/anniversary. The Senior Adult Activities Center of Montgomery County, 536 George Street, Norristown, will hold the following events: SAAC Adult Day Care, an alternative to Nursing Home Care is available for information call 610-275-1960 Volunteers are needed for Meals on Wheels Program (call the number above) SAACs Fifth Avenue Boutique opens Monday through Friday from 10 a.m.-1:30 p.m. Exercise with Theresa will be held every Monday, Wednesday and Friday at 1 p.m. Dance class is held every Monday at 10 a.m. Tai Chi is held every Monday at 10 a.m. Yoga is held every Tuesday at 10:30 a.m. Line Dancing is held every Thursday at 10:30 a.m. Dancing with Joan is held every Wednesday at 10:30 a.m. Sculpture Class is held Wednesdays from 2 to 3:30 p.m. Why Should I Learn Spanish? will be held Wednesdays at 10:30 a.m. Generations On-Line computer classes for seniors will be held Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. 4 p.m. computers are available during those hours. Health Living will be held every Tuesday at 1 p.m. Boomer U will hold the following events. Boomer U is located at 45 Forest Avenue, Ambler. Registration & payment is required for all events: 215-619-8863. Pilates Class is held Wednesdays and Fridays at 9:30 a.m. First class is free; please bring a mat. For information call 610-291-5376. Blue Bell School of Dance, 921 Penllyn Blue Bell Pike, Blue Bell, hosts Argentine Tango Classes and a Milonga dance party every Friday evening. Lessons start at 8:30 p.m. followed by dancing at 9:30 p.m. Andrew Conway, master Argentine Tango dancer, instructor and performer and his partner Linda Chase will instruct. All levels welcome and no partner is needed. Refreshments will be served. Fee is $12 per person and includes lesson and dancing. Information: 215-634-1101 or www.amoretango.com. The Montgomery Hospital Medical Center will offer the following classes: Childbirth Education Class- all parents are invited to participate, including those who are delivering at other hospitals. For more information on maternity services or classes, call 610-270-2020. CPR and First Aid Courses are offered for beginners to experiences health care providers. Call 610-270-2313. The Ambler SAAC (Senior Adult Activities Center), located at 45 Forest Ave in Ambler will hold the following events: Tai Chi every Monday and Thursday at 11 a.m. Yoga is every Tuesday at 1 p.m. and Friday at 10:30 a.m. Strength and balance training every Wednesday at 10 a.m. Armchair Aerobics is held every Monday at 10 a.m. Gourmet Weight Wise every Thursday at 12:30. Fitness Center and Pool Room open daily 8 a.m.-4 p.m. The Diabetes Education Center will offer day and evening classes each month. Health insurance pays for diabetes education classes. Preregistration is required. Call 610-270-2301. For Kids & Families The Ambler Kiwanis Club will host its annual Easter Egg Hunt April 26 at 10 a.m. in Ambler Borough Park, located just off of the intersection of Hendricks Street and Valley Brook Road. Members of the Wissahickon Key Club will assist Kiwanians in hiding thousands of wrapped chocolate eggs in a designated area of the park. Also hidden will be plastic colored eggs, which are redeemed for prizes. Elementary school children are separated by age. Upper Dublin Parks & Recreation will hold its 21st annual Storybook Egg-Stravaganza April 15 fom 6 to 7:30 p.m. at the Upper Dublin Township Building. Toddlers and preschoolers love this annual event where photo opportunities with favorite friends abound! Treasures are collected from UDP&Rs assortment of lifesize cutouts of favorite cartoon characters from Disney, Sesame Street, Nickelodeon and other well-known animation. Children can have their picture taken with Bugsy OHare; bring your own camera. And dont forget a basket for goodies! $7 for UD residents; $12 for non-residents. Pre-register at 215-643-1600 ext. 3443. Splash Week is a free week-long program that teaches children and families basic swimming skills and water safety practices. All YMCA branches will host multiple classes each day from April 11 to 15. For more information, contact the Ambler Area YMCA at 215-628-9950. Healthy Kids Day is April 16 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. The day is filled with fun, engaging and artistic activities that cultivate healthy living as part of the YMCAs larger efforts to help more kids and families become physically active. All activities are free and open to the community. For more information, contact the Ambler YMCA at 215-628-9950. No reservation is required. The Ambler Area YMCA has added several new programs for area youngsters. Classes are held late afternoons or evenings on various weekdays. For more information, visit philaymca.org or call 215-628-9950. Basic Beading: Ages: 10+. Wednesdays 7 to 7:45 p.m. This class will teach you the fundamentals of wiring and stringing along with how color can be used to create unique and vibrant beadwork design. You will create various jewelry including earrings, bracelets, charm pendants and much more! Supplies will be provided. Bringing your own jewelry pliers or tools would be a plus. Messin with the Masters: Ages: 8-12. Thursdays 7 to 7:45 p.m. Learn about some of the worlds greatest artists. You will be inspired to create your own Starry Night with oil pastels and tempera paints, a tissue paper painted Monet garden, a Picasso head using scraps of paper, a Georgia OKeeffe clay flower bowl and a Rousseau jungle collage. Super Scientist: Ages: 5-7. Mondays 4:30 to 5:15 p.m. Well be concocting chemistry experiments such as making slime, mixing potions and having fun with magnet magic. Your budding little scientist will enhance his/her creative thinking and motor skills and to top it off will learn that science can be serious fun. Wacky Junk Art: Ages: 8-12. Thursdays 6 to 6:45 p.m. Why throw it away! Instead join us to make household junk into aliens from outer space, wacky specs, crazy hats, body masks or a recycled train. Globe Trotters: Ages: 4-6. Tuesdays 4:30 to 5:15 p.m. Youre never too young to start thinking globally. Each week, we explore a new country through crafts, games, music, stories and even some taste-testing. A perfect introduction to our great big world! Crazy about Crafts: Ages: 5-7, Thursdays 4:30 to 5:15 p.m. Let your childs creative juices flow with our fun arts and crafts projects each week. Fine motor skills and creative thinking skills will be enhanced with this crafty class. Come out and join the Ambler Area YMCAs Teen and Junior Leaders Club. Participants are given the freedom to plan community service projects year round and truly make a difference in the lives of people in need. Those in Teen and Junior Leaders also attend leadership retreats all along the East Coast three times a year and meet other leaders who are doing the same great work in their respective areas. Dont miss out on this inspiring opportunity. Teen Leaders, ages 13-17, meet every Wednesday from 6 to 7:30 p.m. Junior Leaders, ages 10-12, will begin in the spring and will meet every Monday. For more information, contact Mike Miles, Teen Director, 215- 628-9950 x 1540 or mmiles@philaymca.org. Did you know that the new Ambler Area YMCA holds childrens birthday parties at its site for members and non members as well. The Ambler Y does all the work from start to finish and birthday parties include a personalized cake, ice cream, beverage and paper products. Parties are held on Saturday and Sunday afternoons and include two party hosts to lead activities, set-up, clean-up and assist with serving. You can have a Splash Party for children ages six to 12 in the new zero depth entry pool with water slide and spray fountains. Up to 25 children have exclusive use of the pool area with 30 minutes in the party room. Sports Parties are offered for kids ages four to 12 with age appropriate activities and games, and sports such as floor hockey, soccer, basketball or dodge ball. Children ages three to five years of age will enjoy parties in the Family Active Center with use of the Moon Bounce and organized activities, such as parachute play and songs. For information, 215-628-9950 ext. 1583. Community Events at the Ambler Y: -YAchievers YMCA Achievers is a developmentally based, extracurricular, educational and team mentoring program designed to help students in grades five through 12 prepare for fulfilled livelihoods in college and beyond. Participation is free and all students in this program receive a free YMCA membership. Registration for the 2009 program begins now. You do not need to be a YMCA member to utilize these special services. Call 215-628-9950 to register. Greater Norristown Art Leagues Childrens Weeklong Summer Art Camps will be held at 800 West Germantown Pike in East Norriton, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Monday through Friday throughout the summer. The cost per session is $125 per student for ages 6 and up. Jo Ann Cooksey Bono teaches an introduction to basic drawing skills and techniques from 10 a.m. until the lunch break each day. In the afternoon sessions, Mary Vogel Lozinak involves the students in hands on projects such as collage, papermaking, T-shirt printing, 3D design and sculpy clay. Fridays Graduation Day includes an art show, awards ceremony and reception for parents, siblings, grandparents and friends. All supplies are included. Students provide their own lunch. A refrigerator is available and the building is air-conditioned. This is the 15th year to run this successful program. Both instructors are professional artists with State Police and Child Abuse Clearances. To register, call Jo Ann at 610-279-1008, or register on-line at www.gnal.org. Health Dresher Physical Therapy is hosting an interactive seminar discussing its Golf Assessment Progam April 30 from 10 a.m. to noon at Dresher Physical Therapy, 1075 Virginia Drive, Suite 200, Fort Washington. Physical therapist Chris Miller, certified through the Titleist Performance Institute, will discuss why your body may be the most important piece of golf equipment you invest in and how this can drastically improve your game. $10 in advance; $15 at the door. Call 215-619-4545 to reserve your spot. The Chestnut Hill Center for Enrichment, Center on the Hill and Chestnut Hill Hospital will host a Senior Health and Resource Fair April 14 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Chestnut Hill Presbyterian Church, 8855 Germantown Ave. The event is free. For more information, call 215-248-0180 or e-mail chseniors@cavtel.net. The Ambler Senior Adult Activities Center is hosting Help Yourself to Health, a new six-week workshop for older adults with ongoing health conditions such as arthritis, diabetes, high blood pressure, anxiety, heart disease and others. The free workshop will take place at the Ambler Senior Adult Activities Center, 45 Forest Ave. on six Thursdays, May 12 through June 16 from 9:30 a.m. to noon. Although there is no charge to participate, registration is required. To register, call 215-619-8863. The Ambler Senior Adult Activities Center is sponsoring an eight-week program called A Matter of Balance: Managing Concerns About Falls. Presented by the Montgomery County Health Department, this workshop will be held on Tuesdays, May 3 to June 21 from 10 a.m. to noon at the Ambler Center, 45 Forest Ave. If you pre-register by April 27, the fee is only $5! Registration at the first class is $10. (Checks should be payable to SAAC and will benefit our Meals on Wheels program that serves homebound seniors.) A workbook will be provided and refreshments will be served. Call 215-619-8863 to register or for more information. Fort Washington Wellness Center classes are ongoing. There are several offered during lunch or right after work, for your convenience: Boot Camp from noon to 1 p.m. on Monday; Zumba is MWF from 11 a.m. to noon and Friday at 4 p.m.; there are 25 cycling classes; Ashtanga and Vinyasana Yoga and Pilates; and a group Womens Strength Training class M-F from 10 to 11 a.m. Questions, call Cathy DeMarco at 215-641-1245. Following the success of other local area programs, Impact Sports and Upper Dublin Parks and Recreation are delighted to team up again to offer a spring program for the 2011 season! Upper Dublin area children ages 3-5 years old can attend a Sports Program featuring their favorite sports games; soccer, rugby, hockey, track and field, basketball, and more. The program will start on April 27 and run through June 1. Cost for the program is $85 for the six weeks. The classes will be running 12- 1 p.m.; 1- 2 p.m.; 2- 3 p.m. For more info or to register, call Upper Dublin Township on 215 643 1600 or visit their website a http://www.upperdublin.net. Spring Aquatic Programs UDHS Pool: -Summer is just around the corner Community Aquatic Programs at the UDHS Pool can help get you into shape! Programs begin in March; preregistration is required. Shallow Water Aerobics Two 5-week programs, Wednesday nights, 8-8:45 p.m., $40R/$50NR. Adult Swim Instructions Two 5-week programs, Wednesday nights, 7-8 p.m., $50R/$60NR -Open Rec Swims are fun for the whole family! Come out on Fridays from 7-9 p.m. or Saturdays from 1-4 p.m. and enjoy use of the pool and diving area. Fridays are offered through June 17; Saturdays are offered March 12-May 21. -Join a growing group of adult lap swimmers and water walkers. Lanes are set aside evenings and weekends for use; lanes are shared. Monday Thursday from 7:30-9:30 p.m.; Fridays from 7-9 p.m. and Saturdays (March 12-May 21) from 1-4 p.m. -Private Swimming & Diving Lessons for ages 3-adult are offered at the UDHS Pool through a partnership with the Upper Dublin Aquatic Club (UDAC). Visit the UDAC website for more information, www.udac.us, and click the link to UDHS Private Lessons. -Looking for local programs for US Masters Swimming (adults) or Water Polo (all ages)? UDAC and UDSD are working together to develop programs that will be offered at the UDHS Pool. Add your name to Interest Lists by emailing slohoefer@upperdublin.net. emails will be sent about clinics and program start dates. Questions about Community Aquatic Programs at the UDHS Pool, group use of the pool or pool rental? Contact Susan Lohoefer, Facility & Community Affairs Manager at slohoefer@upperdublin.net or call 215-643-8800 x8994. SilverSneakers Fitness Program. The Healthyways SilverSneakers Fitness Program is a result-oriented program that enables older adults to take charge of their health. The program is an innovative blend of physical activity, healthy lifestyle and socially oriented programing. Members of the program are eligible for a free YMCA membership, with use of the pool and exercise equipment, along with customized classes designed for older adults who want to improve their strength, flexibility, balance and endurance. If you are a subscriber to Independence Blue Cross (Personal Choice 65 PPO) or Keystone 65 HMO, Bravo Health, or Health Options Programs (HOP), call the Ambler Area YMCA, 215-628-9950 or Hatboro Area YMCA, 215-674-4545. You can also visit www.silversneakers.com. Zumba Fitness offers Zumba dance/fitness classes at Academy of Dance and Music/BBAD Studio located at 1524 DeKalb Pike in Blue Bell (behind Sherwin Williams). Classes are offered three times a week: Tuesdays at 6 p.m., Thursdays at 6:30 p.m. and Saturdays at 8 a.m. For a free trial pass for your first class, email us at info@danceandmusic.biz or call 610-277-2557. For more info, visit our site at www.academyofdanceandmusic.org. Chestnut Hill Health Systems presents the following Health Education Programs: FITNESS CLASSES Golden Yoga: A Breathing, Stretching and Relaxation Class. Fridays, 2:30-3:30 p.m. Lea Auditorium, Chestnut Hill Hospital, 8835 Germantown Ave. Registration for four classes at a time required. Golden Yoga is Classical Yoga, adapted by the SKY Foundation, to accommodate those who have difficulty getting up and down from the floor. The program includes postures, breathing, relaxation and meditation techniques, all performed while sitting in a chair and standing. Registration required. Call 215-247-3029. Cost: $20 for 4 classes per month. Tai Chi: Tuesdays & Thursdays, 8:30 9:30 a.m. Springfield Residence, 8601 Stenton Ave. Classes, for the novice or beginner/intermediate student, are designed to improve balance, power, posture, coordination, flexibility and mental focus. Slow, gentle movements are modified to most everyones abilities. For more information or to sign up for a free introductory class, call 215-882-2804. Cost: $8 per class/paid monthly. SUPPORT GROUPS Weight Loss Surgery Support Group: Fourth Wednesday of the month, 7-8 p.m. Williams Conference Room, Chestnut Hill Hospital, 8835 Germantown Ave., Philadelphia. Join us for a monthly get-together where well share information for those interested in weight loss surgery, learn from guest speakers discussing current news on issues including lifestyle modification, nutrition and exercise and provide ongoing support for those who have completed surgery. Registration required. Call 215-753-2000. Breast Cancer Networking Group: Fourth Tuesday of the month 5:30 7 p.m. Williams Conference Room, Chestnut Hill Hospital, 8835 Germantown Ave., Philadelphia. A free, confidential support group for women living with a diagnosis of breast cancer designed to provide a forum for sharing information, feelings and concerns associated with breast cancer. Facilitated by Tish Wakefield, LCSW, Oncology Social Worker. Registration required. To register or for more information, call 215-248-8047. New Moms Support Groups Tuesdays 10:30 a.m. 12 p.m.; contact Jeanine ORourke, MSW or 2:30 4 p.m.; contact Susan Schack, Ph.D Volunteer Conference Room, Chestnut Hill Hospital, 8835 Germantown Ave. The Center for Postpartum Depression at Chestnut Hill Hospital is pleased to offer two new support groups to support new moms. Both groups will be run by experienced mental health professionals who really get it when it comes to new motherhood and juggling relationships, extended family, work/family balance and self-care. If you are experiencing new mom challenges that often heighten anxiety and involve hormonally driven depression, join us for an informative and supportive forum to connect with other moms. Infants are welcome. $30 per session (flexible based on need). Registration is required. Call Dr. Schack, 646-265-2484, or Ms. ORourke, 215-206-2931. Man to Man Prostate Cancer Support Group Third Thursday of the month 8-9 a.m. Williams Conference Room, Chestnut Hill Hospital, 8835 Germantown Ave. A networking group for men diagnosed with prostate cancer designed to provide education, support and encouragement. Spouses and partners welcome. Harry M. Baer, MD, Chief, Urology Division, will host Ask the Doctor. Registration required. Call 215-248-8325. Contact the Senior Center by phone 215-248-0180 or email (chseniors@cavtel.net) with your questions about these programs or any of our on-going activities and classes. Holy Redeemer HomeCare and Hospice seeks compassionate and emotionally mature volunteers to provide support to local hospice patients and their families in Bucks, Montgomery and Philadelphia counties. Volunteers may also assist with pet therapy and administrative work within the hospice department and are requested to have daytime availability. Hospice patient care volunteers visit with patients in their homes or nursing facilities once a week for two to three hours. They provide emotional support and companionship to patients and family members, assist with errands or provide respite for caregivers. Bereavement volunteers support the families of hospice patients following the loss of a loved one, while administrative volunteers assist with typing, mailings and/or filing. Hospice care workers provide a great service to families and loved ones of hospice patients. Many volunteers also report a great deal of personal satisfaction as a result of their services. Patient care and bereavement volunteers complete an application and attend an 18-hour volunteer training program that covers the medical, psychological and spiritual aspects of hospice volunteering. Day and evening training programs are offered. To sign up for volunteer opportunities in Pennsylvania, contact Holy Redeemer Volunteer Coordinator Jean Francis at 215-698-3737 or email jfrancis@holyredeemer.com. Librarytalk Upper Dublin Public Library, 805 Loch Alsh Avenue, Ft. Washington, 215-628-8744 www.upperdublinlibrary.org APRIL CHILDRENS PROGRAMS: Storytimes: Please register in the library. o Wee Ones: 0 to 23 months Thursdays and Fridays 10:30 to 10:50 a.m. o Tiny Tots: age 2. Wednesdays 10:30 to 10:50 a.m. and Fridays 11 to 11:20 a.m. o Jr. Book Lovers: ages 3 to 6. Tuesdays 10:30 to 11 a.m. o Bedtime Storytimes: 7 to 7:30 p.m. April 20 and 27. Wear your jammies, bring your teddy & hear Miss Barbara read bedtime stories! For ages 3 to 6. APRIL TEEN PROGRAMS: North Hills Library Teens April 28 from 4 to 6 p.m. Movie Matinee APRIL UDPL ADULT PROGRAMS: NEW! ESL Conversation Group. Tuesdays from 7 to 8 p.m. Interested in practicing your English in a safe and caring environment? Come to our conversation group and improve your skills! Please register with Kay Klocko at 215-628-8744 or kklocko@mclinc.org. One-on-One Computer Mentoring. Get personalized assistance from experienced computer volunteers! Sign-up for a one-hour session. Limit one session per month. Please register contact info above. Book Groups Please register with Kay Klocko 215-628-8744. o Daytimers: April 21 at 1:30 p.m. Tired of book groups where you all read the same book? Read any fiction or non-fiction book on this months theme: Explorers. Please register. Meetings: Annual Meeting of the Friends of UDPL: April 14 at 1 p.m. Board of Directors: April 20 at 7 p.m. Blue Bell Library www.wvpl.org Upcoming Events: The Wissahickon Valley Public Library, 650 Skippack Pike (Route 73) in Blue Bell, is diagonally across from the Blue Bell Inn. Call 215-643-1320 or visit their website at www.wvpl.org. For children and teens at Blue Bell: * Story times with guitar music by Miss Michelle, the singing librarian. * Mondays at 10:30 a.m. for all ages. * Wednesdays at 4:30 p.m. for all ages. * Fridays at 10:30 a.m. for all ages. * Family Movies, new releases, second Saturdays of the month at 1:30 p.m. * May 14 Despicable Me * June 11 Alpha and Omega * Special Events * April watch for date of spring/Easter events * April 14 at 4:30 p.m. Junior Lego Club for children ages 3 through 5. Parents and caregivers need to stay with children. * April 14 at 7 p.m. Jeopardy for ages 11 to 18. Test your book and library knowledge for prizes. Sign up to be a contestant. No sign up to be in the audience. Snacks provided. * April 16 at 1 p.m. Adult Mystery Book Group discussing The Beekeepers Apprentice by Laurie King. * April 16 at 1:30 p.m. Childrens event for One Book, Every Young Child celebration. Story and craft for book Whose Shoes? * April 19 at 7 p.m. and April 26 at 1:30 p.m.- Adult book group discusses The Professor and the Madman by Simon Winchester. Group led by Adam Button. * April 30 through May 3 Friends book sale with about 10,000 items for sale for children, teens and adults. * May sign up for Science in the Summer * June sign up for Enrichment Programs for Elementary-Age children * June sign up for Summer Reading, all ages For adults at Blue Bell: * Daytime Book Discussion Group fourth Tuesday, Jan April at 1:30 p.m. * April 26 The Professor and the Madman by Simon Winchester * Night-time Book Discussion Group third Tuesday of each month at 7 p.m. o April 19 The Professor and the Madman by Simon Winchester * Art Series with Dr. Sheldon Weintraub, docent at The Barnes and speaker at local colleges o April 27 at 2 p.m. The Art of Looking at Art-Is She Nude or Is She Naked? *Mystery Book Discussion Group, third Saturday of the month at 1 p.m.; new mystery theme each month; www.wvpl.org/programs * Yoga on Mondays at 1:30 p.m. $20 for eight classes; $5 per drop-in class. * Tai Chi on Mondays at 3 p.m. with Dr. Kurt Findeisen. $20 for eight classes; $5 per drop in class. * Philadelphia Museum of Art presents class on their Marc Chagall exhibit, April 13 at 2 p.m. * Giant Book Sale, April 29 May 3 o Starts with almost 10,000 items for children and adults! o Held during library hours. o Preview for members of the Friends of the Library, April 28 at 7 p.m. o Join the Friends and attend the preview sale. Modest fee to join. * Blooms at Blue Bell Gardening Series o May 11 at 1 p.m. Summer Bulbs by PA Horticultural Society * Knitting group Mondays and Wednesdays at 10 a.m. Work on your project or observe and learn. The groups continue year-round in the community room. * Socrates Cafe discussion group every Monday at 7 p.m. You pick the topic to discuss each week. No sign-up, nothing to read. * Bridge every Friday at 12:30 p.m. New players welcome. * Mah Jong every Wednesday at 1 p.m. New players welcome. *Chess every Wednesday at 7p.m. for adults and teens 14 and older. * Movie Matinee showing recent releases every Thursday at 2 p.m. April 14: Maos Last Dancer; April 21: Welcome to the Rileys; April 28: Conviction; May 5: Inception; May 12: Inside Job; May 19 The Kings Speech; May 26 The Fighter; June 2 Rabbit Hole; June 9 Black Swan; June 16 127 Hours * Ongoing like-new, year-round book sale for adults & children during library hours * Library opening at 10 a.m. Monday through Saturday! Ambler Library, a branch of the Wissahickon Valley Public Library, 209 Race St., 215-646-1072. www.wvpl.org. All the following events occur at the Ambler Library. * Story times with guitar music by Miss Michelle, the singing librarian. * Tuesdays at 10:30 a.m. for all ages. * Thursdays at 4:30 p.m. for all ages. * For adults: * Beading Group meets the first and third Monday of every month at 1 p.m. Work on your own projects or come to watch and learn. * Free Family History Lookup with Connie Briggs. Email Connie for an appointment at the Ambler Library. conniebriggs@comcast.net * Special Events: * April 14 at 1:30 p.m. Book Group discusses Skeletons at the Feast by Chris Bohjalian. * April 19 at 7 p.m. Travel to Paris with world traveler Harry Balin. Tea and scones at 6:30 p.m. * April 21 at 7 p.m. Art with Sara for children in fourth through seventh grades. *May 2 at 6:30 p.m. Discuss the movie Lone Star with Temple Professor Lisa Hawkins. Watch the movie ahead of time. *May 10 Robert Capucci discusses Art into Fashion. Tea and scones served at 6:30 p.m. Program at 7 p.m. *May 12 at 1:30p.m. Book Group discusses The Imperfectionists by Tom Rachman. *May 17 Tour the gardens of Devon and Southwest England with Lois McMullen. Tea and Scones at 6:30 p.m. Program at 7 p.m. *June 13 at 6:30 p.m. Discuss the movie Blade Runner with Temple Professor Lisa Hawkins. Watch the movie ahead of time. Meetings and Lectures The Unisys Blue Bell Retiree Group will meet in the Church on the Mall in the Plymouth Meeting Mall April 14 at 1:30 p.m. Kathy Sacket Young, director/trainer with the North Penn YMCA, will speak on Keeping Fit in Retirement. For more information, contact Membership Committee Chairperson Jerry Feldscher at 610-275-3538 or President Al Rollin at 215-368-4833. The next FWBA meeting will be April 28 at the Hilton Garden Inn Fort Washington. Networking begins at 11:30 a.m.; meeting from noon to 1 p.m. Leon Singletary, Principal, First Contact HR and FWBA Executive Board, will present: Social Media: How to Use It To Get More Business. Lunch is provided courtesy of the Hilton Garden Inn Fort Washington. Members are welcome to bring a guest. An RSVP is requested by return email or 215-628-0313. Big Brothers Big Sisters Southeastern PA is hosting a information sessions over the next few weeks on how to become a Big Brother. The information sessions will take place: April 16 at noon, April 19 at 8 a.m. and April 28 at 6 p.m. All sessions will be held at the groups Norristown Office,t 530 DeKalb St., Norristown. For more information, call 610-277-2200. The North Penn Chapter of the Institute of Management Accountants (IMA) normally meets on the third Tuesday of each month from now until May. Meetings are held at the William Penn Inn on Route 202 and Sumneytown Pike, Upper Gwynedd, PA. Social hour starts at 5:30 p.m., dinner is served at 6:30 p.m., and the technical program begins at 7 p.m. Cost with reservation is $28 for members. Members without reservations and guests pay $30. Students with reservations pay $15. Reservations may be made by noon on the Monday preceding the meeting by phoning 215-371-1854 or emailing the reservation to northpennima@yahoo.com northpennima@yahoo.com. Information about the North Penn Chapter is available at http://northpenn.imanet.org/. LeTip, a professional organization of men and women who are dedicated to the highest standards of competence and service meets every Tuesday at Cedar Brook Country Club, 180 Penllyn Pike, Blue Bell at 7 a.m. -meeting officially starts at 7:16 a.m. and ends at 8:31 a.m. Our purpose is the exchange of business tips, leads, and referrals. Each business category is represented by one member and conflicts of interest are disallowed. Guests are welcome to visit any of our breakfast meetings. Every third Thursday of month, Sunrise Assisted Living of Blue Bell (795 Penllyn Pike, Blue Bell, PA 19422, 215-619-2777) serves as a satellite site to 148th Legislative district PA congressman Mike Gerber from 10 a.m. to noon. Stop by for help needed with things such as disability placards and license plates, vehicle registration, utilities issues, birth/death certificates,property tax/rent rebates, etc. Notary services arranged by appointment. The Eastern Montgomery County Chamber of Commerce is an action-oriented organization dedicated to promoting its members and the economic health of eastern Montgomery county. The Chamber is committed to serving as a catalyst by uniting business, community agencies, government and education to make our county a great place to live and work. For information, call 215-887-5122 or visit www.emccc.org. Do you have a fear of public speaking? Blue Bell Toastmasters Club can help. We meet from 7 to 9 p.m., on the second and fourth Tuesday at the Marriott Courtyard, located on Route 202, directly across from the Montgomeryville Mall. Learn how to improve communication and leadership skills in a friendly and supportive environment. Guests are welcome. Admission fee: $5. For more info, visit www.bbtoast.org. The PennSuburban Chamber of Commerce will hold the following meetings (for reservations to any of the following, email info@PennSuburban.org) -Breakfast News Network, 7:30-8:45 a.m. at Normandy Farm Hotel (1401 Morris Road, Blue Bell, PA 19422) $15 members, includes full buffet breakfast. Join us for a networking program at Normandy Farm Hotel every Thursday morning for breakfast, business news, informative speakers, and plenty of networking. The cost includes a full breakfast buffet. Copies of the business cards will be made available to those who would like them. The BNI, Fort Washington Chapter meets every Monday at The Hilton Garden Inn, 520 Pennsylvania Ave., Fort Washington for a networking meeting. Meetings are from 11:30 a.m. until 1 p.m. Visitors are welcome. The only cost to attend is the cost of your meal. For information or a reservation to attend, please call Luanne Cram at 215-947-7784, or visit our Internet site at: http://www.BNIDVR.Com and click on the menu item Find a Chapter. For the past seven years, people have enjoyed participating in WVWAs Adopt-a-Tree program. Individuals can support the Association in its reforestation efforts by purchasing native trees to be planted. Supporters can plant their adopted tree or have WVWA volunteers will plant it. Trees cost $30 each. If you would like to volunteer or purchase a tree(s), please contact: Bob Adams at Bob@wvwa.org or call: 215-646-8866 for more information. Check www.WVWA.org for directions and maps. Sustainable Upper Dublin, http://sustainableupperdublin.org, meets the first Thursday of each month at 6:30 p.m., at the Upper Dublin Township Building, 801 Loch Alsh Avenue, Fort Washington, PA 19034. Please send any questions to suec@sustainableupperdublin.org or call 610-996-6316. To learn more about Sustainable Upper Dublin, view or join the discussion at http://googlegroups.com/group/sustainableupperdublin. Special Events The Mattie N. Dixon Community Cupboard will hold its first nutrition class April 19 at 10 a.m. at the Community Cupboard, 150 N. Main St., Ambler. Lynne Sinclair, a nutritionist from Abington Memorial Hospital specializing in diabetic nutrition, will conduct the class. Topics will include healthy eating, beneficial foods, recipes, making meals with every day foods, and how to use unfamiliar produce. A healthy snack will be provided.The class is is open to all residents in Montgomery County. The Historical Society of Fort Washington presents The History of Conshohocken April 19 at 8 p.m. at the Clifton House, 473 Bethlehem Pike, Fort Washington. Jack Coll will present an illustrated program on the history of the Borough of Conshohocken. Coll is a longtime resident of Conshohocken and a member of the Conshohocken Historical Society. He is co-author with his son, Brian, of the Arcadia Then and Now Series book Conshohocken. He has also done books Conshohocken and West Conshohocken Sports and Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Italian Feast. He has taken many photos for the Conshohocken Record and the Norristown Times Herald. This program is free. Refreshments will be served. For additional information, call 215-646-6065. Taste of the White House Soiree featuring former White House Chef Walter Scheib will take place April 29 at 6 p.m. at Manufacturers Golf & Country Club in Fort Washington to celebrate HealthLinks 10th anniversary and honor its founders, the Eugene Jackson Family. The evening will heat up with a Chef Meet & Greet, followed by a specially selected presidential menu. Gala tickets are $150 per person. Proceeds benefit HealthLink, a free clinic providing compassionate, quality medical and dental care to uninsured, working adults in Bucks and Montgomery counties who fall in between the health care cracks. Go to http://tasteofthewhitehouse.charityhappenings.org to make reservations online or lend support through sponsorship. For event information, call 267-699-0124 or email jmarushak@healthlinkmedical.org. The Wissahickon Valley Watershed Association will hold an open house at the Evans-Mumbower Mill April 17 from 1 to 4 p.m. The Mill is at the corner of Swedesford and Township Line Roads in Upper Gwynedd. The open house is free but donations are welcome. For more information, call 215-646-8866 o email info@wvwa.org. The Eastern Montgomery County Chamber of Commerce will host Breakfast With Your County Commissioners and State Representatives April 21 from 8 to 9:30 a.m. at the Holiday Inn Fort Washington, 432 W. Pennasylvania Ave. Commissioners: James R. Matthews (Chairman), Joseph M. Hoeffel (Vice Chair), State Representatives: Todd Stephens (District 151) and Josh Shapiro (District 153). Register onlineat www.emccc.org. $10 for EMCCC member; $20 for non-members. Upper Dublins Districtwide Allied Art Show will be held April 27 from 5:30 to 9 p.m. in the Upper Dublin High School Athletic Complex. The Rev. Alfred Muli, chaplain at Fort Washington Estates, will be the featured speaker at the Kiwanis sponsored breakfast observing the National Day of Prayer May 5 at 7 a.m. at the William Penn Inn. The breakfast is open to the public ($15). Reservations can be made by calling 215-646-4356 or by emailing georgesaurman@Juno.com. The Upper Dublin Shade Tree Commission invites people to participate in its spring bare root planting events, sponsored in part by Upper Dublin Parks & Recreation and Friends of Robbins Park. On April 9, zix trees will be planted at the Evelyn B. Wright Park & Community Pool, 401 Logan Ave., North Hills, at 9 a.m., followed by the planting of 10 trees at Sheeleigh Park, Loch Alsh Avenue and Douglas Street, Ambler, at 10:15 a.m. On April 29, students from Upper Dublin High School will join the Pennsylvania Horticultural Society to plant 16 trees in Robbins Park, Butler Pike and Meetinghouse Road, Ambler, to help launch the societys Million Trees campaign. This event will occur in conjunction with Temple Amblers EarthFest. Experienced tree-tenders are sought to assist the students. For more information,contact Ron Ayres at 215-653-0421 or 215-483-4348. The Friends of the Wissahickon and the Wissahickon Valley Watershed Association are teaming up once again to clean the Wissahickon Creek from top to bottom April 30 from 9 a.m. to noon. This spring marks the 41st anniversary of Wissahickon Valley Watershed Associations annual Creek Clean Up, and the second year that FOW has teamed up with WVWA. Volunteers of all ages will clean the creek, the surrounding trails and the many tributaries of the Wissahickon Creek. Armed with bags, volunteers will be assigned to sections of the creek. Following the clean up, all volunteers are invited to WVWAs Talkin Trash picnic in Fort Washington State Park, with food provided by Whole Foods Market of North Wales. The pavilion is located on Mill Road in Flourtown. To help out in Montgomery County, all volunteers must be pre-assigned a section of the Wissahickon Creek to clean. Please contact Bob Adams, WVWA director of stewardship, at 215-646-8866 ext. 14 or bob@wvwa.org. To work with the Friends of the Wissahickon in Philadelphia, meet at the pavilion along Forbidden Drive, a short distance south of the intersection of Forbidden Drive and Northwestern Avenue. Limited parking is available along Northwestern Avenue and other nearby streets. Volunteers are encouraged to bike or carpool to the event. To participate, register at www.fow.org. Contact Kevin Groves with questions at 215-247-0417 ext. 105 or groves@fow.org. Montgomery County Community Colleges International Club invites the community to the second annual International Festival April 20 from 5 to 9 p.m. at the Central Campus, 340 DeKalb Pike, Blue Bell. The rain date is April 26. The International Club will transform the outside quad area into multicultural celebration with various performances by dancers, singers and musicians. Artists will share their artwork at various display tables. Activities include games, raffles, Easter egg decorating and henna tattoos. Students will have samples of international cuisine at tables representing different countries and will serve food from various local ethnic restaurants. Throughout the evening, volunteers will accept donations and will raffle gift baskets and prizes to raise funds for Habitat for Humanity. Donations of food, international clothes and prizes are needed. Volunteers, including artists and performers, are welcome. For more information or to sponsor an activity, contact Gillian Nel, International Club president, at gnel9277@students.mc3.edu or 267-974-0163. The Arts and Humanities Division at Montgomery County Community College is partnering with the Philadelphia Writers Conference to host Memoirs Matter: How Life Stories (Including Yours) Can Transform Your Relationship to Literature April 23 from 1 to 3 p.m. in Advanced Technology Center room 101, 340 DeKalb Pike, Blue Bell. The event is free and open to the public. In the first part of this two-hour seminar, professor and author Robert Waxler will explain how writing his two memoirs affected his life as well as his relationship to literature. In the second part, blogger and workshop leader Jerry Waxler will present a sequence of steps to help writers find their own story. For information, contact Dana Resente at dresente@mc3.edu. The Maple Glen Garden Club will hold its fourth annual Plant Sale on May 7 from 8 to 11 a.m. Perennials, shrubs, vegetables and native plants grown by the club members will be sold. The club uses the plant sale proceeds to fund community projects, a college scholarship and community plantings. The sale will be held in the 500 block of Coach Road, Horsham, as part of a neighborhood garage sale. Plants will be sold at bargain prices. For more information, email MapleGlenGardenClub@gmail.com. The Relay for Life Craft Show is looking for local crafters to participate in show, which will be May 21 from 11:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. on the Wissahickon High School track, 521 Houston Road, Ambler. There is a $10 entry fee, and 20 percent of sales are donated to the American Cancer Society. Participants will receive a 6-foot table under a tent. For information, contact Joanne at joannescoles@comcast.net or Mindy at mcamsilver@comcast.net. Spring House Estates is hosting its annual book fair on April 18 from 4 to 7 p.m. and April 9 from 8:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Included will be hardback and paperback used books. Spring House Estates is located at 728 Norristown Road, Lower Gwynedd. The PennSuburban Chamber of Commerce will present the Penn Suburban/Hatfield Joint Business Card Exchange April 20 from 5 to 7 p.m. at Univest Bank Lansdale Area Financial Service Center, 120 Forty Foot Road, Hatfield. The event is free. To make reservations, visit PennSuburban.org/Events. Join Univest National Bank and Trust Co. for a spring-inspired Business Card Exchange at its newest office in the Hatfield Pointe Shopping Center. Come out and meet members of Univests executive management team while enjoying fine food and beverages. 13th Annual Community Reading Day Kick-off Breakfast Get Together April 26 from 8 to 9:30 a.m. at the North Wales Area Library, 233 Swartley St., North Wales. The event is free. To make reservations, visit PennSuburban.org/Events. For more information, contact the chamber office at 215-362-9200 or info@pennsuburban.org. Join presenting sponsor Verizon, chamber staff and fellow members for the Community Reading Day volunteer get together. The Community Reading Day program allows volunteers to read a designated book to second-grade students throughout 38 area public and private schools and present the book as a gift to each class. Even if you are not a volunteer, you are cordially invited to stop by to network, enjoy coffee and pastries. Ambler Mennonite Church is hosting a Spring Craft Show and Flea Market May 21 from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Rain date will be May 28. The community is invited to shop the great craft booths, find some gifts and deals, as well as enjoy home baked goods and tasty lunch specials. Childrens activities are planned. All vendors are encouraged to contact the church at 215-643-4876 or AmblerMennonite@verizon.net. Advertising, signage, customer parking and a shuttle to auxiliary parking at nearby lots for vendors will be provided. 10 foot by 10 foot spaces can be rented for $5 each and tables for an additional $5 each. All proceeds from space and table rentals go toward school kits for children around the world. The church is located at the corner of East Mt. Pleasant Avenue and North Spring Garden Street, Ambler. The Wissahickon Valley Watershed Association presents The Life & Times of Aquatic Insects in the Wissahickon Creek April 16 from 1 to 3 p.m. Join WVWA for a hands-on program. RSVP required: www.wvwa.org or 215-646-8866. WVWA member fee: $5 per person / $15 per family. Non-WVWA member fee: $10 per person / $20 per family. The photography exhibition Natures Palette by photo-artist Judy Miller will run March 18 to May 19 at the Art in the Storefront gallery, 41 E. Butler Pike, Ambler. JPRN Networking For People in Transition & People Who Can Help Them Unemployment remains high. JPRN, the Jarrettown Professional Relationship Network can help. Are you trying to network your way to a new job? Do you have expertise or contacts that can help people in transition? Is your company or organization looking for people in the area? This is a free outreach program to support those seeking work, involve people with contacts and networking know how, and involve local companies. Meetings held monthly at Jarrettown United Methodist Church, Limekiln Pike. Pennsylvanias Low-Income Home Energy Assistance (LIHEAP) grant program is now open for the 2010-11 heating season. Grants are based on income, family size, type of heating fuel and region. Additional information, such as specific income limits, and applications for LIHEAP grants are available online via the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania Access to Social Services (COMPASS) website at www.compass.state.pa.us. Applications are available at most public officals district offices, county assistance offices, local utility companies and community service agencies, such as Area Agencies on Aging or community action agencies. Begin your holiday shopping at Upper Dublin Parks & Recreation! Entertainment books for 2011, Philadelphia North, are now on sale at $30 each. Regal/United Artists movie tickets are on sale for just $7.50 each, and tickets to the Adventure Aquarium, Baltimore Aquarium, and the Philadelphia Zoo are also available. Discounted ski vouchers to area mountains will be arriving in December; call 215-643-1600 x3443 for more information. Upper Dublin Parks & Recreation office hours are Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. RSVP of Montgomery County and the Wissahickon Valley Public Library have partnered again to offer the public their popular free mock interview sessions. The mock interviews are conducted by RSVP volunteers who are retired professionals, some of whom were in hiring positions themselves. Packets of information which include a sample employment application and interviewing tips with mock interview questions are available at the library to pick up prior to a scheduled mock interview or will be sent via email once the interview is scheduled. To schedule your interview, please contact Janis Glusman at RSVP 610-834-1040, ext. 16. The library is also offering a free resume review service. Bring in your current resume and the professional reference staff will assist you with hints and tips on capturing your work history accurately. Registration for Upper Dublin Parks & Recreation summer playgrounds, Camp B.I.G. and Small Folks, X-Zone, and sports camps has began. Register online at www.upperdublin.net/store, or at the UDP&R office, 801 Loch Alsh Avenue, Fort Washington. Call 215-643-1600 x3443 for more information. Upper Dublin Parks & Recreation and Danielles Espresso Cafe presents Mornings at Mondaug Bark Park April 16 and May 21 from 8:30 to 10:30 a.m. Meet fellow dog lovers. These events include complimentary coffee, treats for people and pups and raffles/giveaways. Upper Dublins Annual Spring Flea Market will be held June 4 from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. Reserve a table, or come and shop. Tables are $15 for UD residents, $20 for non-residents. This successful event occurs rain or shine. Refreshments available. Call 215-643-1600 ext. 3443 to register for a table. Regal movie tickets available for purchase at Upper Dublin Township Parks & Recreation. Reduced rate: $7.50 per ticket. Some restrictions apply. Call 215-643-1600 x3443. Whitpain Township Parks & Recreation movie tickets $7.50 Regal Cinemas, United Artist & Edwards Cinemas on sale throughout the year Monday Friday from 9 a.m. 4 p.m. Whitpain Township Parks & Recreation Camp Sign-ups for Stony Creek Day Camp Stony Creek Tracers and Park n Tots. Register on-line at www.whitpaintownship.org OrCome to Township Building with check or Visa MasterCard Monday Friday from 9 a.m. 4 p.m. For additional information call 610.277-2400 ext. 374 Upper Dublin Parks & Recreation offers exciting new programs for the fall: -Returning favorites include UK Elite Petite Soccer, Tiny Dancers, Kiddie Tennis, Fun-nastics, Messy Playtime, Little Chefs, and more. Babysitters Training will be offered in November and December. Continuing Adult Fitness Classes include Cardio Circuit, Core & More, Yoga, Boxing, and Adult G.Y.M. For more information call 215-643-1600 x3443. Register for programs online at www.upperdublin.net/store. Music and Theater The community is invited to a Cantors Concert April 16 at 8 p.m. Congregation Beth Or, 239 Welsh Road, Maple Glen. Listen and hum-along to the Yiddish, pop tunes and classical music performed by Congregation Beth Ors own Cantor David Green and his special guest, Cantor Irvin Bell, from Temple Beth Israel in Deerfield Beach, Fla. The cantors will be accompanied by Mark Sobol and his Klezmer musicians. Tickets are $18 in advance and $25 at the door. RSVP with payment to Barb Murtha, 239 Welsh Road, Maple Glen, PA 19002, or call 215-646-5806 ext. 220. Gwynedd Friends Coffeehouse will host the Jameson Sisters May 14. Doors open at 7:30 pm, performance at 8:00 pm. Gwynedd Friends Coffeehouse is located at the corner of Rte. 202 & Sumneytown Pike, Gwynedd. $5 suggested donation. Light refreshment available at a modest cost. For further information, call 215-393-9576 or visit gwyneddmeeting.org/coffeehouse.html. Celebrate patriotism through song with Gwynedd-Mercy Colleges choir, the Voices of Gwynedd, as it presents Hear America Singing April 15 at 8 p.m. The choir will perform song selections from all over the country, including Georgia on My Mind, New York State of Mind, and a medley including Philadelphia Freedom and Allentown. The performance will end with When the Saints Go Marching In to acknowledge the choirs upcoming tour in New Orleans. Hear America Singing will take place in the Julia Ball Auditorium, located in St. Bernard Hall. Parking is available in lots A, C and D. Admission is free. The Choristers will present Anton Dvoraks Stabat Mater April 16 at 7:30 p.m. at Upper Dublin Lutheran Church in Ambler. The choir will be accompanied by a 41-piece orchestra. Tickets are $20 for adults, $15 for senior citizens, $10 for students and children are free. Tickets will be sold in advance or at the door. For more information, call 215-542-7871 or visit TheChoristers.org Religious News The Staircase Gallery at Or Hadash: A Reconstructionist Congregation in Fort Washington will feature the work of Emily Ennuat-Lustine. The artist will be showing paintings and graphics inspired by her own personal spiritual journey and quest for meaning. Some of the works to be shown have been inspired by Biblical Psalms and writings. Her work has been shown at Abington Art Center, Cheltenham Arts Center and Old City Gallery of Jewish Art among others. The exhibition is open Friday evenings starting Feb. 18 after Shabbat services. Gallery hours are: Mondays through Thursdays 10-4:30, Fridays 10-3 and following Shabbat Services and Sundays 10-1. The synagogue is located at 190 Camp Hill Road in Fort Washington. For additional information contact the synagogue office at 215-283-0276. Reunions St. Matthews High School Conshohocken Class of 1961 is looking for classmates. For details, contact Greg Marincola at 215-646-2239, 215-740-1296 or gregcola@comcast.net. Olney High School Class of 1971 is Lloking for classmates for a 40th reunion Oct. 28. For details, contact Judy at ohsclassof71@yahoo.com or 215-870-7572. Abington High School Class of 1961 is seeking classmates for a 50-year reunion to be held Oct. 14-15, 2011.Visit the website, www.abington61.com, for details or call 215-947-1779. Overbrook High School class of January 1956 is having a 55 year reunion on May 22, 2011 at the Bala Golf Club in Philadelphia. For information please contact overbrookreunion56@comcast.net Germantown High School Class Of January 1961 is looking for classmates for 50th year reunion to take place in May of 2011. Please contact: 215-362-9148, 856-577-0659 or samdelcomo@comcast.net The June 1961 class of Germantown High School is holding their 50th reunion on May 15, which will be a brunch. For further details please contact Linda Dorfman Alten at lindaalten@yahoo.com or call 215-441-8411. Support New Life Presbyterian Church in Dresher, will host GriefShare, a special seminar and support group which will run on Monday evenings from 7 to 9 p.m., from March 7 through June 6. At each meeting there will be a DVD about the grief process, discussion and reference to a grief workbook. Preregistration is required to secure a place in the group and to purchase a GriefShare notebook (for a one-time fee of $15). The notebook goes along with the 13-week schedule covering such topics as: living with grief, the effects of grief, and stuck in grief. For more information or to register, call: Sandy Elder at 215-884-5149. PUPS (People Understanding Parkinsons) A self-help group for those adjusting to a new diagnosis or dealing with the early stages of Parkinsons Disease. Meets fourth Tuesday of the month from 1 to 2:30 p.m., at Abington Health Center, Schilling Campus, Willowood Building, 2510 Maryland Road, Suite 251, Willow Grove. For more information or to RSVP, contact Lorna at 215-542-2931. The North Penn Visiting Nurse Associations Meals on Wheels program is looking for volunteers to pack or deliver meals to the elderly and infirmed. Meals are packed and delivered mornings, Monday through Friday. You can volunteer for as many days per week or month as you would like. Packaging meals requires approximately 2-1/2 hours of your time each day and involves making sandwiches, packaging food into individual serving containers and packing coolers with the meals. Delivering meals requires approximately 1-1/2 hours of your time each day and involves loading coolers into your car and delivering a route of approximately 10 to 15 stops. The Meals on Wheels program is also in need of emergency, winter-weather volunteers to pack and deliver meals in bad weather. North Penn VNA is located at 51 Medical Campus Drive in Lansdale and delivers meals in the Lansdale, North Wales and Blue Bell areas. For more information or to volunteer, please call Bridget, North Penn VNA Meals on Wheels coordinator at 215-855-8296. Elkins Park Area CHADD (Children and Adults with Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder) meets the first Tuesday of every month, 7- 8:30 p.m., at Einstein at Elkins Park Hospital in Elkins Park. For information on CHADD or ADHD, please see our website www.chadd.net/249 or call Claire Noyes at: 215-779-6656. Center for Loss and Bereavement, 3847 Skippack Pike, Skippack (610-222-4110) www.bereavementcenter.org Offers professional counseling for individuals, couples, children and families dealing with issues of loss and bereavement. Six-week adult support groups: Newly forming young adult grief support group every other Wednesday, 7 8:15 p.m. (free of charge); Monthly loss of child support second Mondays, 7-8:15 p.m.; Six-week young loss of spouse/partner Thursdays, 10-11:15 a.m.; Other groups scheduled as interest is shown for suicide loss support, adult loss of parent, motherless daughters, adult loss of sibling, coping with chronic illness and disability and mens loss of spouse. Nellos Corner Family Bereavement program offers peer grief support groups for ages 4 through teen and their caregivers Every other Tuesday or Wednesday (free of charge) Local chapter of Parents of Murdered Children also meets at the Center. Registration required. Call for further information. CHADD is a national organization for children & adults with Attention-Deficit/ Hyperactivity Disorder, providing education, advocacy and support for individuals and their families with AD/HD. Einstein at Elkins Park Hospital, 60 Township Line Road, Elkins Park, PA 19027, will host children & adults with Attention-Deficit/ Hyperactivity Disorder on the First Tuesday of each month 7 8:30 p.m. Free, no childcare provided. The Jewish Federation of Greater Philadelphias Kehillah of Old York Road is sponsoring a free Caregiver Support Group for individuals who care for an elderly person with cognitive and/or physical impairments. The group meets at SarahCare Adult Day Care Center, 101 Washington Lane, Suite G-6, Jenkintown, Pa., on the first Wednesday of each month. Patty Rich, Chinese President Xi Jinping (R) meets with his Chilean counterpart Sebastian Pinera in Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea, on Nov. 17, 2018. (Xinhua/Bai Xuefei) PORT MORESBY, Nov. 17 (Xinhua) -- Chinese President Xi Jinping met with his Chilean counterpart Sebastian Pinera here Saturday, vowing to lift bilateral ties to a new height. The meeting occurred on the sidelines of the ongoing Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Economic Leaders' Meeting, held in Papua New Guinea's capital city of Port Moresby. Chile was the first South American country to establish diplomatic ties with China, and the bilateral ties have long taken a lead among China-Latin America relations, said Xi, hoping bilateral cooperation could enter a new stage under current circumstances. Xi extended congratulations to Pinera on his second term as Chilean president, saying China-Chile comprehensive strategic partnership, under the guidance of the two heads of state, would open up a new chapter, achieve new development and make more contributions to overall China-Latin America cooperation. China and Chile have already signed the inter-governmental agreement on the Belt and Road Initiative, and the next move in this regard is to define key areas and projects and strive for early harvest, said the Chinese president. Xi stressed the role of bilateral cooperation mechanisms, adding that the two sides should take the opportunity of upgrading of the Free Trade Agreement (FTA) to expand the scale of trade, optimize trade structure, deepen investment cooperation, and press ahead major interconnectivity projects. Xi proposed holding a series of celebrations as the year of 2020 marks the 50th anniversary of establishment of China-Chile diplomatic relationship. China is willing to step up cooperation with Chile in areas like technology and Antarctic affairs, he added. China supports Chile hosting APEC Economic Leaders' Meeting next year, and will work jointly with Chile to push forward the construction of the Free Trade Area of the Asia-Pacific, said Xi. Pinera highlighted the solid foundation and robust development of Chile-China relations, saying that China is Chile's biggest trade partner and major investment source country, and that the FTA upgrading provided a broader prospect for further cooperation. Chile will work with China to enhance high-level exchanges, deepen cooperation in areas like trade, investment, infrastructure, technology, and join hands to promote the Belt and Road construction, uphold free trade and build an open world economy, said Pinera. Pinera said Chile hopes to maintain communication and coordination with China and make next year's APEC meeting a success. The Board of Regents for Higher Education unanimously voted Thursday to send a comprehensive primer summarizing the make-up, value, and challenges facing the Connecticut State Colleges and Universities system to Gov.-elect Ned Lamonts administration and new members of the General Assembly. The white paper, drafted by CSCU President Mark E. Ojakian and his staff with input from officials from the 17 institutions in the CSCU system, makes the point that the system is directly tied to the states economic future, and that years of state funding cuts and declining enrollment are serious threats to its success. The report explains that the system, composed of Connecticuts four state universities, 12 community colleges, and the online Charter Oak State College, serves more than 140,000 undergraduate and graduate students. More than 95 percent of students are Connecticut residents, and more than 76 percent of them are working in state within nine months of graduation. The system educates 40 percent of all higher education students and 68 percent of all public higher education students in Connecticut. For every dollar students invest in their education, the report says, they will earn $6.60 in higher future earnings, with an average annual rate of return of 22.2 percent. For every $1 of public funding of CSCU, the state will receive $3.80 in added tax revenue and public-sector savings, the report says. Investing time, energy, and resources in our students is an investment in the future of our state itself, the report says. The report says that many of the systems students are the children of working and middle-class residents, many of whom are first generation college students. Sixty percent of students are women, and increasingly, the system is serving older, non-traditional students. Over the last five years, the percentage of students of color at the community colleges has increased from 43 percent to 48 percent, from 26 percent to 30 percent at the universities, and from 32 percent to 34 percent at Charter Oak State College. While a large number of students receive state or federal financial aid as of fall 2017, 48 percent of community college students and 35 percent of university students received federal Pell grants, and more than 8,000 students received close to $20 million in state Roberta B. Willis Scholarship awards more students are taking on significant debt to pay for their education. The report also outlines the challenges the system faces, most notably several successive years of cuts in funding the system receives from the state. The single greatest challenge facing our institutions has been insufficient funding to meet the critical investments needed to allow our students and our institutions to thrive, the report says. According to the report, since 2015, budget cuts, rescissions, lapses, and holdbacks have reduced CSCUs state appropriations from close to $352 million to $286.2 million, a 19 percent reduction. The budget cuts have been compounded by a 9 percent reduction in overall enrollment since 2013, which has led to a decline in tuition and fee revenues. The report outlines various initiatives the system already has undertaken to address its financial challenges, most significantly its Students First plan, which seeks to consolidate the 12 community colleges into one singly-accredited institution by 2023. The plan, which calls for a more regionalized structure that consolidates leadership and other administrative positions, will bring the system an estimated $28 million in savings. The report also outlines several free or reduced-rate tuition models that the system is looking at to keep education affordable and to incentivize completion. Those ideas include holding tuition and fees flat at current rates, which would require a state investment of $15.7 million in the 2019-20 fiscal year, and $31.9 million in the 2020-21 fiscal year. Other ideas include a tuition/fee flat rate guarantee for full-time students for the duration of their enrollment; a rate guarantee for students who have completed an associates degree and are transferring to one of the systems four-year institutions to pursue a bachelors degree; refunding a percentage of students educational costs upon graduation; offering the last semester of students education free; establish a student loan forgiveness or tax credit program for students who go on to work in the nonprofit, public sector, or high-demand fields; and establish a statewide promise program that guarantees a fully paid college education to students who graduate with a specified grade point average from a public high school in the state. Ojakian told the board Thursday that the report was an effort to show the new administration and legislature who we are and what we are, and to be candid about the challenges the system faces, as well as its role in helping the state out of its financial hole. We really believe we are the engine that drives the future of the state of Connecticut, he said. WALLINGFORD Families spent the afternoon Saturday playing Thanksgiving-themed games and activities at the annual Turkey Palooza at the Wallingford Family YMCA. There were physical activities in the gym and board games and arts and crafts in the community room. The event was free with the donation of a non-perishable food item. Rob Newton, YMCA family and teen coordinator, said the food items would be sent to Masters Manna, a local food pantry and resource center. Weve been doing this for about ten years now, Newton said. Its all about building up family relationships and getting them to come down and spend time together. Newton timed children in the turkey dinner run, an obstacle course race featuring Mr Feathers, a toy stuffed turkey. Samantha Welch, a Wallingford resident, cheered on the sidelines of the gym as she watched her 7-year-old son Landon participate in the turkey dinner run. Welch is a Y member. We tend to utilize programs like this just to continue the bond and open up opportunities for him, Welch said. Welch added that the event also taught her son about the importance of giving to others. The fact that they have the donations is so important because it reminds the kids, Welch said. They learn from reminders and they learn from role models and thats what the YMCA is, theyre role models. Cassandra Allen, Y youth and teen outreach director, said the activities were designed for different age groups. I want to see the families playing together, having a good time and having a great afternoon where they can be together and enjoy each others company, Allen said. jroman@record-journal.com 203-317-2420 Gurbir Singh By Express News Service Its been a winter of discontent for the Indian aviation industry. InterGlobe Aviation, owner of IndiGo Airlines, posted a loss of Rs 652 crore for the July-September quarter, as compared to a profit of Rs 552 crore in the corresponding quarter last year. Jet Airways reported losses for a third straight quarter with Q2 suffering net standalone losses of Rs 1,297 crore. Hammered with losses of Rs 1,323 crore and Rs 1,036 crore respectively in the previous two quarters, the airline lost 70 per cent of its listed market value this fiscal. SpiceJet, which had bucked the trend last year with a small Rs 105 crore profit for Q2, also went into the red with a `389 crore loss for this July-September quarter. IndiGo, the poster boy of Indian aviation that has steadily reported profits, has seen its stocks wilt over 35 per cent this year after a Bloomberg analyst poll had predicted a much lower loss of Rs 391 crore. By the end of the financial year, the industry is expected to post a combined loss of Rs 13,000 crore, and the panic is palpable. Its not that market demand is poor. India, with a growth rate of 16 per cent in passenger traffic, is among the fastest-growing aviation markets. IndiGo grew nearly 17 per cent to a revenue of Rs 6,185 crore in Q2 this year. SpiceJets revenue too went up nearly 4 per cent. UNFORSEEN HEADWINDS Unfortunately, much like Bollywood, there is a sexy lure to aviation from the outside, which is dangerously deceptive. People have got into it without factoring in unexpected headwinds and long gestation periods. The short history of private aviation in India is littered with corpses East-West Airlines shut in 1996, Damania Airways in 1997, Paramount folded up in 2010 and Kingfisher Air in 2012. After seeing some profits in 2016 and 2017 on reducing fuel costs, this and other unpredictable factors are plaguing the industry again. Aviation Turbine Fuel (ATF) is out of Goods and Services Tax, and Central and state excises pile up to over 40 per cent in taxes. Fuel accounts for as much as 34 per cent of the operating costs of airlines in India, compared to a global average of around 24 per cent. Depreciation of the rupee too has been hitting aviation big time, since nearly 30 per cent of the non-fuel costs spare parts, aircraft leasing, ground handling and maintenance are paid in dollars. So, while airlines reported an increase in revenue, they were simultaneously crippled by spiraling operational costs. In SpiceJets case, Q2 expenses rose 32 per cent to `2,300 crore, compared to an increase in revenue of just 3.7 per cent. And capping it all is the inflexibility to increase ticket prices! The break-neck growth, new destinations and searing competition between the airlines has kept prices down, while the new 2016 aviation policy opening up regional routes has put severe restrictions on how much airlines can charge. CONSOLIDATION AHOY! Spokespersons for the airlines have been putting up a brave face, explaining that an increase in end-of-the-year seat sales and steady easing in fuel prices herald better days ahead. However, the malaise is deeper. Revenues are not able to keep pace with fleet expansion and growth costs, and the repeated need of capital infusion is taking most of these airlines into irrecoverable positions of debt. Jet Airways, the oldest and one of the largest fleets with 124 aircrafts, is a case in point. Offloading equity to Etihad Airways gave it breathing room for a while. But now, the airline is stuck with over `8,000 crore in debt. The tightening noose of default and delayed salaries has left it with few options. A consolidation process, the only way out, has begun. Tatas, always keen on the airline business and having been stumped politically in the past by Jet, are back on the batting track. Ironically, it is the Tatas who will now call the shots with either a complete buyout or a merger with their Singapore JV, Vistara Airlines. Air India has a more difficult problem. Though the government has been pushing for its privatisation, its bloated debt of `48,000 crore and 22,000 employees make it a near impossible business proposition. It is not only a question of deep pockets. The experience of Jet and others shows airlines, as a standalone business even by the astute and politically connected Naresh Goyals and Ajay Singhs, are difficult to sustain. Larger, storied conglomerates with more sustainable reserves are probably the face of Indian airlines in the future. What necessitates consolidation Spokespersons for the airlines have been putting up a brave face, explaining that an increase in end-of-the-year seat sales and steady easing in fuel prices herald better days ahead However, revenues are not able to keep pace with fleet expansion and growth costs, and the repeated need of capital infusion is taking most of these airlines into irrecoverable positions of debt David Fickling By Express News Service Jet Airways India Ltd has already played a part in the decline of Etihad Airways PJSC. Could Tata Sons Ltd be the next business empire to enter its dangerous web? The Union government has sought Tatas help to rescue the struggling airline, people familiar with the matter told Anurag Kotoky and Bhuma Shrivastava of Bloomberg News this week. The conglomerates board would want state banks and Indias airports to take a haircut on some of Jets commitments to them before going ahead, one of the people said. That caution over this bout of national service is hardly surprising. Jet has built up a substantial position in Indias domestic aviation market: Its the biggest full-service carrier and the largest outright after the terrifyingly dominant budget carrier Interglobe Aviation Ltd, better known as IndiGo. Still, the smaller positions that Tata has staked out in joint ventures with Singapore Airlines Ltd and AirAsia Berhad are a much more sensible way of taking on the challenges of making money from getting India airborne. Etihad thought its bottomless pockets would be enough to offset those problems and give it a toe-hold in one of the worlds fastest-growing markets. The bet turned out to be as bad as its other purchases of stakes in struggling airlines, and may yet result in a stricken Etihad in turn being swallowed up by its rivalrous compatriot Emirates. The main problem for the countrys aviation sector is that its sandwiched between a profitable and ebullient budget carrier with a market share north of 40 per cent IndiGo and a perennially loss-making but still substantial state-owned airline, Air India Ltd.Squeezed from both the sides, the industry suffers such strong downward pressure on ticket prices that even a rate of passenger growth thats outstripping the capacity of Indias domestic aircraft hasnt been enough to drive up average fares. Its a very bad idea for a full-service carrier ever to engage in a price war with a budget airline, given that it must hand out free food and drinks and generally treat its passengers like human beings. But thats more or less what Jet has been doing against IndiGo and SpiceJet for the best part of five years. No wonder its revenue is hardly ever enough to cover costs. The approach of Tatas existing aviation ventures its fancy Vistara operation with Singapore Airlines and the cheap and cheerful AirAsia India has been to carve out relatively niche positions with ties to international carriers. Put together, these two have less than 10 per cent of the market, compared with more than 15 per cent for Jet and its tiny Jet Lite budget carrier. Still, that cautious approach is probably better than going head-to-head with IndiGo, SpiceJet and Air India, the dangerous space in which Jet is playing.One option would be for Tata to swap its position in the struggling AirAsia India for a stake in Jet, which is probably a better fit for Vistara. Just such a deal is being worked on, The Economic Times reported Friday, citing people familiar with the matter. Thats not going to be enough, though. Indias aviation market has been struggling for years, and Jet is in a singularly difficult position to make money. All but a handful of routes are short-haul, and the low-income marginal customer isnt very inclined to pay extra for 90 minutes of pampering, so budget carriers have a built-in advantage. The passengers who are prepared to pay for full-service quality typically find that Jet is a bit better than the cancellation-prone, complaint-heavy Air India, but not quite enough to command a consistent premium. Right now, Indias aviation market resembles that of the US from the 1980s to the 2000s. There are too many carriers fighting for space, and a discount carrier a la Southwest Airlines Co. is quietly demolishing the business models of the major players. The crisis in North America was ultimately resolved by the major airlines consolidating into a cosy cartel thats been able to pump out extraordinary profits once it stopped competing so hard for customers. But squashing Jet and Vistara together isnt going to be nearly enough to achieve that outcome while SpiceJet, IndiGo, Air India, AirAsia India and GoAir are still duking it out for supremacy.Tata Chairman Natarajan Chandrasekaran should tread carefully. The current market is great for value-conscious passengers. For circumspect investors though, its still a bloodbath. (Bloomberg Opinion) Sunitha natti By Express News Service The faceoff between the Reserve Bank of India and the government might end at least for now with board members, including government nominees, expected to reach a consensus on Monday. Such a move also eliminates the need for invoking Section 7, of the RBI Act, 1934. Both sides, sources said, could find a middle ground on controversial issues, including the transfer of surplus reserves, for which a technical committee will be appointed and a resolution could be passed. On the economic capital framework, we hope to get everybody to agree to appoint a technical committee, sources told The New Indian Express. The move can prevent the public brawl from getting murkier and divert the attention on RBI accused of hoarding surplus while the latter, clearly indicated that raiding its rainy day funds, however mighty they are, is harmful. ALSO READ: Signs of RBIs exasperation and frustration pervade ongoing tussle Appointing a committee will reform RBIs surplus distribution policy, but it pertains to future provisions and profit transfers. It will thus be interesting to see how the government will persuade the central bank to part with existing excess, a significant part of which was acquired at an average Rs 45 per dollar. It is also unclear if the proposed committee will recommend RBI to part with existing surplus. Sources said the capital framework is over 25 years old is up for review as the government believes RBIs provisions are way too high. We are determined to keep the temperature down... theres an understanding. Meanwhile, of the 12 items on the agenda, the board hopes to find consensus on at least four-five issues including bank credit to MSMEs, and relaxing PCA norms. There are some solutions that can be found and for others, we may appoint experts, he explained adding, We should find at least three areas of agreement. ALSO READ: If we are to improve gowth rate, we need certain level of credit, says Arun Jaitley ahead of RBI meet At 10 am Monday, the RBI board will begin the days proceedings in earnest. Its a history-altering meeting, but the 18 wise members will probably sit uneasily alongside as they confront choices between autonomy and accountability, responsibility and regulation, and independence and the institutions performance. The assorted technocrats, economists and bureaucrats had fundamental disagreements during a stormy meeting held 27 days ago, which stretched beyond nine hours and ended inconclusively. The war of words that followed saw much bad blood, widening the gulf between Mint Street and the North block, and risking the credibility of RBI, even as economists and commentators re-grouped a la Freshwater monetarists vs Saltwater economists in the US championing opposing economic theories to choose between right and wrong. The ongoing standoff also sparked off wild speculation that the government called for Governor Urjit Patels head, reducing all crucial issues as relative trifle. It all started with the manifestation of the governments accumulated concerns, prompting it to wage a war by stealth on the central bank, and threatening to invoke Section 7 of the RBI Act, 1934. Still, the closed and cosseted institution that it is, the RBI refused to accept the bureaucratic wheeze and surprisingly opted for rule-breaking, with Deputy Governor Viral Acharya calling the government out in the open. A public spat played out, where wisdom and maturity should have prevailed, if not leading to a constructive dialogue or a lively debate. Experts say its important not to repeat the same mistake and yet expect a different outcome at Mondays meeting. Section 7 of the RBI Act allows the government to give such directions to the RBI as it may, after consultation with the governor of the Bank, considered necessary in the public interest. The government is said to have sent three such missives seeking relaxations under PCA norms, on the February 12 circular, and on bank lending to MSMEs, who got choked as the IL&FS crisis precipitated a liquidity squeeze. Several bank chiefs informally concede the high-handedness of RBIs stringent norms mandating one-day loan defaults as NPAs, while others question the governments conflict of interest as it owns both public sector banks and RBI the handmaiden of governments finance pressing the need to separate both regulation and banking as independent authorities. Then there are critical issues about RBIs regulatory actions, which are viewed as arbitrary. Perhaps, its about time to raise the bar of transparency and accountability, abandoning in bits, if not at one go, the central banks obsession with secrecy. Finally, at the heart of the tussle is the `9.6 lakh crore surplus, which all agree is the highest among all central banks. One may cite the governments demand for profit transfer as for the good of the country, but in reality, it may be eyeing reserves that can be used to plumb the fiscal deficit in order not to push back the date by when public finances will be back in the black. Though the government later clarified that its fiscal math is on track, the request for reserves continues. Unsolicited advice poured in on why raiding RBIs balance sheet should be avoided, while some accused the central bank of hoarding a surplus. However, few ponder over the need for a guide on how to stack up and use those almighty reserves. Most central banks provide for a specified percentage of profits to be transferred to reserves before dividends are paid. For instance, in France, its 5 per cent of net profits, while in Russia and Indonesia, its 25 and 30 per cent. India has no such internal benchmark, be it for contingency or revaluation reserves. All said, RBIs autonomy is caged within the framework of the RBI Act, 1934 as several previous Governors have observed while fighting against governments to protect its autonomy. While the unfolding drama is extraordinary any way you slice it, the Board, which includes government nominees, should act wisely to get it right for posterity. Who said what RBI Deputy governor Viral Acharya Governments that do not respect a central banks independence sooner or later incur the wrath of financial markets. Subhash Chandra Garg, DEA Rupee trading at less than 73 to a dollar, Brent crude below $73 a barrel, markets up by over 4 per cent during the week and bond yields below 7.8 per cent. Wrath of the markets? Lot of misinformed speculation is going around in media. Governments fiscal math is completely on track. There is no proposal to ask RBI to transfer 3.6 or 1 lakh crore, as speculated. Former RBI Governor Raghuram Rajan (to a channel) The RBI is something like a seat belt. As a driver, the driver being the government, it has the possibility of not putting on a seat belt. But, of course, if you do not put on your seat belt you get into an accident and the accident can be quite severe. Congress president Rahul Gandhi Rs36,00,00,00,00,000. Thats how much the PM needs from the RBI to fix the mess his genius economic theories have created. Stand up to him Mr Patel. Protect the nation. Industrialist Rahul Bajaj If the 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...The point is he (Patel) has shown some spine at last. It was not there earlier. By UNI BINA: Despite anti-incumbency in air, the Bharatiya Janata Party looks set to retain the Bina seat in coming Vidhan Sabha election, scheduled on November 28. Once a small town with 1.80 lakh voters, this assembly constituency, a part of Sagar Lok Sabha, was once only known for Bina Railway junction, an important station and a large Western Central Railway set-up here. However, the setting up of Bharat Oman Refinery Corporation, a joint venture of Indian and Omani Government and a thermal power plant by JP group has put this small hamlet on the map of development. The BJP has repeated its sitting MLA Mahesh Ray who is credited with many developmental projects in the area. The town, which once used to be a nightmare due to heavy traffic congestion, now boasts of a two-lane wide road network. ''There is round the clock power supply for lighting and irrigation purposes which is considered as the biggest relief for farmers'', a farmer Rajendra Upadhyay of nearby Gada village said. ''The city infrastructure have been recalibrated, basic amenities have properly been improved, every house and street has pure water supply and it is now a crime free city laced with CCTV cameras at all important points across the town" former BJP office-bearer Ranjana Sarraf proudly told UNI. ''Our leader Mahesh Ray had executed many development projects for the areas in past also as Bina Municipality chairman,'' she added. The Congress party has fielded Janapad Parishad member Shashi Kathoria, a candidate with a clean image. He accuses the BJP MLA of not supporting the long-pending demand for declaring Bina as a separate district. "The decision for setting up a refinery and power plant were finalised long back but the BJP is taking credit for it", a local Congress worker said. ''The state Government had assured that after commissioning of the Bharat- Oman Refinery, the local youths would be given preference in jobs but that was never fulfilled", he further said. ''The farmers are suffering and they are not getting Minimum Support Price (MSP) and the 'Bhawantar'(difference in rates) was also not given by the government'' a Congress supporter Mahendra Singh Thakur said. ALSO READ: 'On losing path, BJP exploring new names to replace Shivraj Singh as floor leader in Madhya Pradesh' Farmers face a constant shortage of good quality seed and fertilizer, alleges Mr Thakur. Notwithstanding the charges levelled by the Congress leader, a local auto driver Adiya Tiwari said that setting up of two major industries here, have opened avenues for locals. ''Earlier, there were hardly 100 autorickshaws in the city but now the number has shot up to over 3000 such vehicles and most of them are plying on the routes leading to refinery and power plants. This has created a large number of the employment here", said Tiwari. The business community feel that demonetisation and issue of GST is not a major factor here. Though they admit that maintenance of this centralised tax system is little cumbersome, they are happy that now they will not have to pay bribe to sales tax and income tax departments. A sizable section of voters accept that Shivraj Singh led Government in the state has performed well especially in last five years. However, though the BJP has taken care of weaker sections, the middle class was deprived of these free bees. This section also feels that if this Government now lacks new ideas. "This is a time to seek a change in the state as the Government could not come up to the expectations of all sections of society. Others should now be given a chance", a local cloth merchant S K Jain said. Advocate KK Tramkar feels that the BJP Government could not check corruption in the administration and it is especially prevalent at a lower level right from Sarpanch level to MLA level. "The Government policies for the farmers are good but badly planned and executed which was seen during the procurement of grains by the Government. Those who paid bribes, their agriculture produces were weighed and quickly procured by the Government's agency or authorized agencies and those who did not pay bribe had to wait for many days", Mr Tramkar said. He, however, added that though the voters desire for change in the Government they do not have alternative. ''The voter of Madhya Pradesh have not forgotten the misrule of the Digvijay Singh led Government in the state in the past", the advocate added. The youths of town also support the change of guard in the state but they do not find a suitable alternative in the Congress who could lead the state to a new height. "Had the Congress announced Jyotiraditya Scindhiya as Chief Ministerial candidate, things would have dramatically changed for them in the state" Ravi Kushwaha, a local college student said. In a nutshell, the general mood in this constituency runs contrary to the overall mood for change in the state. Anuraag Singh By Express News Service BHOPAL: The opposition Congress demanded on Sunday that Prime Minister Narendra Modi be booked for violating the electoral model code of conduct, by making false statements about Madhya Pradesh Congress Committee president Kamal Nath at a poll rally in Chhindwara district on Sunday. A state Congress delegation led by party's state unit media convener Narendra Singh Saluja met Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) of MP, VL Kantha Rao in Bhopal in the evening and submitted a complaint alleging that the PM, while addressing an election rally in Chhindwara earlier in the day made false statements about a video in which the state Congress chief Kamal Nath says that he is ready to give party tickets to goons, criminals, fraudsters and corrupt persons, if they are worthy of winning polls. "There is no such video in which the MP Congress chief is seen saying that the party will give ticket even to goons, criminal, cheater or corrupt person, if that person is winnable. A few days back, a doctored video was tweeted by BJP leaders, including the CM Shivraj Singh Chouhan. The Congress party has already complained to the CEO MP as well as the state police cyber cell in the matter on November 4 and investigations are underway," said Saluja. "As the PM of the country, Narendra Modi should have never made such false statements. We demand that a case of model code of conduct violation be lodged against the PM for making false statements at the poll rally," said Saluja. Earlier in the day, PM Modi while addressing the poll rally in Chhindwara (the Lok Sabha constituency of nine-time MP Kamal Nath) asked the crowd whether they have seen the video in which the state Congress chief is seen saying that he's ready to give tickets even to goons, criminals, fraudsters and tainted persons, if they are winnable. "Will you allow the state to be pushed into hands of such leaders," Modi had questioned the crowd. On November 3, a slew of BJP leaders, including CM Shivraj Singh Chouhan and union minister Giriraj Singh tweeted a video in which Kamal Nath was seen endorsing fielding even those candidates who had criminal records, provided they were winnable. The Congress had subsequently complained the matter to the Election Commission and state police, alleging that the video was doctored to defame Kamal Nath and the party. The video has been sent for forensic examination subsequently by the authorities. ABOARD XUELONG, Nov. 17 (Xinhua) -- China's research icebreaker Xuelong docked in Australia's port of Hobart Saturday morning to replenish supplies, the last time it will do so before sailing to the Antarctic. The icebreaker, also known as the Snow Dragon, is on China's 35th Antarctic research expedition. During the stay in Hobart, the research team will upload supplies including fuel and food, as well as some research equipment, said Han Yanji, an official in charge of general management of the Antarctic mission. Some 26 researchers will also board the vessel here, said Han. The ship is scheduled to leave Hobart Sunday evening and sail toward China's Zhongshan Station in Antarctic, said Shen Quan, captain of Xuelong. The ship has traveled some 5,000 nautical miles (about 9,800 km) since it set out for this mission from Shanghai on Nov. 2. According to its plan, the research expedition will work on facility maintenance and upgrading at China's Antarctic stations, conduct a maritime environment investigation, and make preparations for the construction of a new research station on Inexpressible Island. By Express News Service NEW DELHI: The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Saturday released its third list of eight candidates for Rajasthan in which the party has dropped six sitting MLAs. Having announced names of 170 candidates so far, the ruling party has dropped 49 sitting MLAs, including three ministers. The saffron party is yet to release names of nominees for 30 seats and sources withing the party said the leadership may be keeping an eye out for the Congress list. The last date of filing nominations is November 19. BJP functionaries familiar with developments party chief Amit Shah held multiple meetings with senior members on Thursday and Friday to finalise the list. Shahs strategy for Rajasthan has been to axe MLAs who may be facing anti-incumbency based on reports from the states ground workers. The partys organisational secretary, Ram Lal, is learnt to have held parleys with leaders of the state unit, including Om Mathur and the Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje. Even while the BJP is seemingly running into rebellion from the sitting MLAs who have been dropped, the saffron outfit continues to stick with the strategy to axe the incumbent legislators with aims to beat the anti-incumbency factor in the state. The BJP chief and his key aides have held several meetings in the run up to the Central Election Committee meeting last week to arrive at a strategy for the state which involves pitch new faces as Rajasthan has traditionally voted out the incumbent government. PS NISSIM By Express News Service Paulo Coelho has created a distinct style of fiction: a framework of a quest story, usually set in an exotic place, which serves to deliver little homilies and life philosophies through the narratives of the various characters in the stories. In his newest book, Hippie, Coelho uses his framework to talk of the titular counterculture movement, and show how the lessons of those days are still relevant. In fact, he uses his own life experiences to make his point. In order to delve into multiple mindsets, he uses the third person narrative instead of the typical autobiographical first-person. Hippie is set in the late 70s. Paulo, a young Brazilian, arrives in Amsterdam, looking to find deeper spiritual meaning in his life. He strikes up an acquaintance with Karla, a Dutch girl, who is looking for an adventure. Shes just seen ads for a Magic Bus, a cheap tour that will take them over land through Europe, the Middle East, and finally to Nepal. But she needs someone to go with her. Shes been unable to love anyone with her whole soul so far, and wants to understand why. Paulo looks like someone she will be able to enjoy travelling with, so she tries to persuade him to go with her on the bus. Eventually, he does. Paulo and Karla are part of the Hippie subculturethe subaltern movement of the 70s that was born of excessive authoritarianism and pressure to conform. Drugs, rock n roll, and funky clothing are the most recognisable components, but Coelho the writer uses the opportunity to also remind us of the spiritual underpinnings of the movement: the longing for peace, the wish to understand what makes us human, and the paradoxical intention to stop the world and just get off for a while. These people are actively escaping from parts of their life that are suffocating them: the police state in Paulos case, and the feeling of ennui in Karlas. All these aspects of the movement have been forgotten in favour of the weird fashion, but are more relevant than ever in todays fast-paced world. Paulo and Karla both eventually find what they are looking for, in unexpected ways. The other travellers on the bus also have their own stories. There is the driver, an Indian, whos wise beyond his years. There is the father who has asked his daughter to lead him on this new adventure. And there are other encounters along the way, with philosophers, mystics and policemen. Readers will find the expected philosophical musings: there are the learnings from the Hippie subculture, from the Hindu and Sufi philosophy that Paulo, the character, is trying to absorb, and from other characters encounters. Karla, in parallel, is rediscovering what it means to love, and her lessons come from her own decisions. Typical of Coelho, Karla is a strong, independent character who wins the readers heartId think of her as the real protagonist of the book. Read it both as a recent-historical novel and as a pithy inspirational book. By PTI WASHINGTON: College students prefer being deprived of food over parting with their smartphones, a study has found. The findings, published in the journal Addictive Behaviors, suggest that smartphones can be more reinforcing than food for college students. ALSO READ | Third-party apps result in data leak from smartphones "In this study, we provide evidence for the first time that smartphones are reinforcing," said Sara O'Donnell, a scientist at University at Buffalo in the US. "We also found that when deprived of both food and smartphones, students were much more motivated to work for the time to use their smartphone, and were willing to part with more hypothetical money to gain access to their phone," she said. The researchers wanted to explore whether smartphones could function as reinforcing behaviour, the same way that food, drugs and alcohol are reinforcers. "The frequency with which we use our cellphones every day is astounding, with estimates ranging from five to nine hours a day," O'Donnell said. In the study, 76 college students ranging in age from 18 to 22, had no access to food for three hours and no access to their smartphones for two hours. During that time, they either studied or read newspapers. After that, the students could use a computer task in order to earn either the use of their smartphones or 100-calorie servings of their favourite snack food. As smartphone time or food was earned, the amount of work needed to earn either one increased. The researchers measured smartphone reinforcement in two ways. One was a hypothetical questionnaire that asked how many minutes of smartphone use an individual would purchase at increasing prices. The other was a behavioural index of reinforcement that measured the amount of work (ie the number of mouse button clicks) an individual would expend to use their phone, where the number of clicks needed to use the phone increases over time. The more hypothetical money and work the students were willing to spend to be able to use their smartphones reflected a higher reinforcing value, O'Donnell said. "We knew that students would be motivated to gain access to their phones, but we were surprised that despite modest food deprivation, smartphone reinforcement far exceeded food reinforcement across both methodologies," she said. Harpreet Bajwa By Express News Service AMRITSAR: Three people were killed and 20 were injured in a bomb blast inside Nirankari Bhavan at Adliwal village near Rajasansi in Amritsar on Sunday. According to the sources, two bike-borne masked persons forced their way inside the sermon grounds by brandishing a pistol at a volunteer deputed at the gate of the Bhawan. The hall is just eight kilometres from the Amritsar international airport. The accused threw a hand grenade at the people attending the religious congregation where close to 250 persons were in attendance and then fled away. The volunteer identified as Gagan said that one of the assailant went inside with a crowd of followers and the other one pointed a gun at his stomach as he wanted to know what was happening inside. "I told him it was a 'satsang'. He went inside and after which there was an explosion," he said. The high-impact blast caused a crater, which is 3" in diameter, and is being examined by the forensic team. The team has also found the safety valve of the grenade. "There were no CCTV installed at this Bhawan, but we are analyzing the footages of adjacent buildings and looking for clues to identify the attackers. The bodies of the victims have been sent for post-mortem,'' said a police official. The injured have been admitted in Guru Nanak Dev Hospital and Ivy Hospital in Amritsar. The condition of four of the injured is said to be in a critical state. An eye-witness who was the part of the congregation said the attackers also had weapons and entered the Nirankari Dera on gunpoint. Though the youth were chased by people till a distance, they still managed to escape. "The face of attackers was covered. Everything happened in a short span of minutes. They got in, threw the grenade and fled,'' said another eyewitness. Inspector General of Police (Border Range) Inspector General SPS Parmar said that three people died and at least nineteen people were injured in the blast. He, however, denied any connection of the incident to terrorist Zakir Musa, who was reportedly spotted in the city last week. "It is too early to compare the attack with the 1978 attack on Nirankaris,'' said Punjab DGP Suresh Arora and he added that is also early to say if it is joint action by Kashmiri and Sikh militants. "But it is an act of terror and aimed at one particular group in Punjab. There is no reason to throw a hand grenade on a group of people. There was no specific input about any possible attack on Nirankari Bhavan," he further added. Every Sunday devotees gather at this place for prayers. The Nirankari Bhawan (Sant Nirankari Mission is a spiritual organization) has been sealed off and only higher officials and the forensics team are present inside the premises. A massive search operation has been launched to nab the suspects, for which a SWAT team has also been deployed. Following this incident, the security has been stepped up at other Nirankari Bhavans across the state. The attack took place amid a high alert issued by the Punjab Police after six to seven Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM) terrorists had reportedly entered the state. The state was put on alert after four persons snatched an SUV from its driver at gunpoint near Madhopur in Pathankot district last week. The Punjab Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh while condemning the attack announced a compensation of Rs 5 lakh each to the kin of the deceased and directed the district administration to provide the best possible medical care, free of cost, to the injured. My heart goes out to victims of the Amritsar bomb blast & their families. My govt will give Rs 5 lakh to kin of each of the dead and free treatement to injured. Have asked district administration to extend all help. Capt.Amarinder Singh (@capt_amarinder) November 18, 2018 Congress MLA Raj Kumar Verka, who visited the spot after the blast said it was a security and intelligence lapse and blamed both central and state governments for the incident. Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh tweeted that he spoke to Punjab Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh who has apprised him of the situation in the wake of grenade attack. Deeply anguished by the death of innocent people in a grenade attack at Amritsar in Punjab today. It is a reprehensible act of violence. My condolences to the families who have lost their loved ones in this attack and prayers for speedy recovery of the injured. 1/2 (@rajnathsingh) November 18, 2018 History By PTI NEW DELHI: Severely admonishing the RBI and the PMO, the Central Information Commission has again directed them to disclose the list of wilful defaulters and Raghuram Rajan's letter on bad loans. In an exhaustive 66-page order, the panel pulled up the Prime Minister's Office for not complying with its directive to disclose the letter from former RBI Governor Rajan on bad loans. Information Commissioner Sridhar Acharyulu said, "If there is any objection based on any exception, the PMO should have pleaded such provision and justify their denial. " He said the PMO refused to comply with the direction of disclosure of action on Rajan's letter on "grounds which are not legal, which is unfortunate". Acharyulu was hearing the plea of one Sandeep Singh who had sought details of bank loan defaulters. The commission had earlier issued a show cause notice to RBI Governor Urijit Patel for "dishonouring" a Supreme Court judgment and CIC directive on disclosure of the list of wilful defaulters. The PMO has a "moral, constitutional and political duty" to tell the citizens of India as to who are the defaulters and what action has been taken to recover the huge loans advanced to them by banks, from out of taxpayer's money, he said. The commissioner said several categories of information were declared by the RBI as not disclosable as part of their 'disclosure policy' and the RBI calls the exceptional clauses under the RTI Act as 'enabling' provisions. "It is against the RTI Act, the collective intention of Parliament, affront to democracy, reflecting disrespect to the Supreme Court's directions in RBI v Jayantilal N Mistry case. The RBI has a strong legal team with experienced legal experts and meritorious graduates from National Law Schools, yet has audacity to openly defy RTI Act, CIC directions and judgment of the Supreme Court," he said. He said as per law, in each RTI request, the CPIO and First Appealing Authorty (FAA) of the RBI need to justify the denial under exceptions prescribed under sections 8 and 9 of the RTI Act. "But any public authority cannot declare that it will never give such information as declared by the RBI. Exceptional provisions under the RTI Act cannot straight away enable a public authority to deny in advance," he said. Acharyulu said in spite of the Supreme Court's direction that Section 22 of the RTI Act will override the RBI Act and other Acts, the RBI again quoted those Acts and declared that it would not give information. "The RBI has totally ignored the provisions of the RTI Act," he said. This non-disclosure in the name of disclosure' policy is also in contradiction of various office memorandum and guidelines issued by the Department of Personnel and Training under the RTI Act, he said. "If the RBI does not respect the SC orders and denies the citizens right to information, it will result in perpetuation of financial regime of secrecy that is potential enough to facilitate financial frauds and allow fraudulent rich and influential business persons to flee the country, as witnessed in recent times," Acharyulu said. He again directed the PMO to disclose the names of the defaulters, action taken for recovery of loans in response to Rajan's letter and the policy, if any, about recovery from defaulters including high-profile ones. Acharyulu also urged parliamentary committees such as Public Accounts Committee, Committee on Finance and Committee on Estimates to deliberate the issues raised in this case as they are also seized of such matters. "The commission directs the office of this CIC to present the copy of this order to concerned officers of Parliament who are responsible for placing such papers before respective committees within one week from the date of issue of this order," he said. He rejected the submission of the representative from the PMO who had informed the CIC that the RTI application in this particular case had been filed by the applicant with the Directorate General of Employment and Training (DGEAT) and no copy of the said RTI was received in the PMO from either the applicant or on transfer from any other public authority. Acharyulu said, "The PMO contended that as the original RTI application, first and second appeals were not filed with the PMO, the direction to provide information was not maintainable and hence the compliance question does not arise." "The commission cannot agree with this kind of attempt to deny the substantive part of information access by unreasonable procedural interpretations without any legal basis. There is no provision in the RTI Act that prevents the Information Commission from directing any public authority to provide information if that is possibly available with them," he said. He said information pertaining the identities of loan defaulters and action taken against them is an issue of larger public interest. "The stand taken by the PMO, in this case, will not serve any public interest, and compel the citizen to start his effort ab initio, by filing an RTI request with PMO, treating as a separate unconnected public authority and reach the ultimate level at the CIC or up to the Supreme Court, if the government prefers to litigate with the citizen and ultimately it has to give that information. "This was not the intention of Parliament in passing the RTI Act, 2005 that aimed at creating a practical regime and not procedural tangles to delay and deny the access to public information," he said. By UNI SHIMLA: Something is rotten in the department of education and Himachal Pradesh as two major scams were unearthed recently including Rs 250 crore scholarship and Rs 80 lakh prospectus scam. SP Shimla confirmed on Saturday that a FIR was lodged into Rs 250 Crore Scholarship scam at Shimla. Earlier Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur confirmed on Friday about early FIRs into scholarship scam in the state occurred during last Virbhadra Singh government, in which several officials of the department could be involved. CBI, going to probe the matter soon, might register number FIRs in this mega scam, sources told UNI. In another major scam which also point fingers on the current BJP rule of the state to keep going Rs 80 lakhs prospectus scam in the International Centre for Open learning of HP University also called ICDOL or DCC. HPU authorities were forced to put an ICDOL official Babu Ram under suspensions following his alleged involvement in the prospectus scam. The employee did not deposit the ICDOL funds raised after sale of prospectus to the tunes of more than Rs 80 lakhs. The scam unearthed by a sleuth of Audit Controller General of Himachal Pradesh as the major scam could not have satisfactory reply from university so far. The employee involved in scam was operators of private buses. The vice chancellor and other senior officials also may be universities accountability is yet to be established in the scam. . University authority placed the employees under suspension, university official had confirmed. Soon after taking charge as state chief minister Mr Thakur had assured that his government would not work with any political vendetta and those involved in the scams and corruptions would not be spared. The fresh inputs says that CAG has further extended the probe into prospectus scam as the order has been issued by concerned authority to extend the sale and purchase of Prospectus upto 2000. In fresh development the involved and errant officers reportedly deposited Rs 40 Lakh with the University treasury after the pressure from the high ups. University sources confirmed that CAG sought the detail of all records regarding sale and purchase of prospectus after 2000. Since the scam took place under the scanner of university and state audit department, the size of scam could be in Crores. University officials have not lodged any FIR against those involved in the prospectus scam so far which pointed that there could be role of senior officials of ICDOL and university as well. By ANI AMBIKAPUR: Stepping up his attack on Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Congress President Rahul Gandhi has challenged the former to participate in a debate over the details of the Rafale fighter jets deal signed with the French government. Speaking to media here on Saturday, Gandhi claimed that the Prime Minister will not be in a position to answer his questions over the alleged scams in the deal. ALSO READ | Rafale deal: Opposition slams lack of sovereign guarantee "I challenge Modi Ji to come on stage anywhere, anytime and debate over Rafale with me for just 15 minutes. I will talk about Anil Ambani, HAL, French President's statements and the pricing of the jets. I will say that Defence Minister said clearly that it's Prime Minister who did it. The Prime Minister did not follow the procedure. The CBI Director was removed at 2 am. He will not be able to answer my questions," he said. Reiterating his claim, the Congress chief said that Prime Minister Modi's demonetisation drive has benefited few of his "businessmen friends" in the country. ALSO READ: Mr Modi personally increased benchmark price of Rafale jets by 3 billion euros: Rahul Gandhi Talking about the unemployment crisis ensuing in poll-bound Chhattisgarh, Gandhi said that the incumbent Chief Minister Raman Singh has failed to provide employment in the state despite ruling for 15 years. "Raman Singh has been in power for the last 15 years and Prime Minister Modi has completed four and a half years in government at the Centre and both the governments have failed to fulfill their promise to generate employment opportunities for the youth," he said. Gandhi added that once the Congress party comes to power in the state, government job vacancies will be filled. "After Congress government comes to power, government job vacancies will be filled and it will also stop the practice of outsourcing of jobs, which is being done in BJP-ruled Chhattisgarh", he added. He also promised that within 10 days after coming into power, the Congress party will waive off the loans of Chhattisgarh's farmers. "Secondly, you all were told that you will get a bonus. For the last two years, you have not been getting the same. Not only we will resume this practice, but we will also compensate for the bonus of these two years, which BJP failed to do," he said. The first phase of voting in Chhattisgarh was held on November 12, while the second phase is due on November 20. The counting of votes will be held on December 11. By PTI KOLKATA: West Bengal BJP president Dilip Ghosh claimed on Sunday his convoy was attacked by Trinamool Congress supporters in Dankuni area in Hooghly district, a charge rubbished by the ruling party. Ghosh alleged his convoy was targeted after he and other state BJP leaders were returning from a rally at Moshat in the district. TMC Hooghly district president Tapan Dasgupta denied any role of party supporters in the incident. "The BJP is enacting a drama once again," Dasgupta said. Some BJP leaders, including Birbhum MP Joy Banerjee, were injured in the attack, Ghosh said. "Today (Sunday), there was a massive rally in the area. Local TMC leaders got afraid due to the huge turnout and attacked our convoy. Several of our workers have been injured," he claimed. The BJP Hooghly district leadership said it will lodge a police complaint against the incident. In recent months, there have been several attacks on Ghosh's convoy in different parts of the state. Hooghly SP Sukesh Jain could not be reached for comment on Sunday's incident. By UNI BAHRAICH: Uttar Pradesh police has arrested former MLA Dileep Verma, husband of BJP lawmaker from Nanpara seat Madhuri Verma for thrashing a Dalit tehsildar. Officials said here that Verma was arrested on Saturday night. Earlier, an FIR was registered under sections 323, 332, 352, 504, 506 of the IPC and relevant sections of 3(1)of the SC/ST Act against the leader before his arrest. According to the incident, Verma first reportedly manhandled a tehsildar, misbehaved with the deputy SP rank officer and later sat on dharna demanding action against the officers. Reports said that Verma has reached local tehsil office on Friday morning. He first went to SDM Siddharth Yadav's chamber but after learning that the officer is on leave, Verma entered into tehsildar Madhusudan Arya's room. Later, after some dispute, Verma reportedly manhandled the officer, snatched the gun of the security guard and left the place hurling abuses on the victim. Verma then reached Kotwali police station where he misbehaved with the circle officer of Nanpara, Vijay Prakash, and also staged a dharna demanding action against the government officials. He claimed that it was the tehsildar who assaulted and threatened him with dire consequences. However, the staff of the tehsil office, after learning about the incident also came on road and staged a huge demonstration asking to immediately register a case against Verma, to arrest and send him to jail for manhandling two local government officers. Chinese President Xi Jinping (4th R, front) poses for a group photo before a banquet held for leaders and representatives attending the 26th APEC Economic Leaders' Meeting and their spouses in Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea, on Nov. 17, 2018. (Xinhua/Xie Huanchi) By PTI KOLKATA: The West Bengal government is committed to curbing traffic offences, its initiatives have significantly reduced road accidents in the state, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee asserted on Sunday. On the occasion of 'World Day of Remembrance for Road Traffic Victims', the CM said her campaign - 'Safe Drive, Save Life' - has earned the praise of the Supreme Court. "Today is World Day of Remembrance for Road Traffic Victims. Our government is committed towards reducing incidents of road accidents in #Bangla. Our #SafeDriveSaveLife campaign has reduced such incidents significantly, earning praise of the Supreme Court," Banerjee tweeted. The state government launched the campaign in 2016 as part of its initiatives to inculcate a "sense of safe driving and responsible road behaviour" among people. The World Day of Remembrance for Road Traffic Victims is observed on the third Sunday of November every year in memory of millions of people who died in road crashes and their families. Shankkar Aiyar By The general principle of government budgets is to focus on where the money needs to gowith nary a care for where the money went. Ronald Reagan once quipped that the government always needs the money it gets. Equally, governments always find a need for which they dont have money. For some time, like many regimes, this government has been engaged in an expedition to find money. There are many theories on the where, what, when, how and why of the treasure hunt. On November 6, 2018, India was informed that the finance ministry had asked the Reserve Bank of India for a portion of its reserves. Then, on November 9, Subhash Garg, Secretary Economic Affairs, tweeted a denial. Normally government denials signal confirmation. The figure doing the rounds is Rs 3,60,000 crore. The Rs 3 lakh plus figure has been a constant since the 2016 demonetisation. It was believed that note cancellation will deliver a windfallthe then advocate general, Mukul Rohatgi, told the Supreme Court that between Rs 4 and Rs 5 lakh crore will not return. As it turned out, 99 plus per cent of the cancelled notes returned to RBI. The second hope balloon was a rapid rise in revenues following the introduction of the GST, which is falling short of targets. The moot question is what does the government want Rs 3.6 lakh crore for? Two narratives are viral. One is about the need for a blitzkrieg of sops after the five-states polls, to be announced in the run-up to the interim budget. The second narrative revolves around the competing crises and compulsions in the economysimply, filling the hole in the bucket. What could be on the agenda? For a glimpse of sop expectations, consider these ideas. Given the estrangement of the farmers from the ruling party, the focus is on the rural economy. Loan waivers are done and dusted. The evolving new idea that has caught the imagination of the cadre is the income schemefirst conceived by the Telangana Rashtra Samiti in Telangana. Launched in May 2018, the Ryuthu Bandhu scheme delivers Rs 4,000 per acre to each farmer who owns land during the kharif and rabi seasons to buy inputs. The idea had featured in the BJP manifesto for Karnatakaincome support of Rs 10,000 to 20 lakh dry land small and marginal farmers. The Telangana government has allocated Rs 12,000 crore for the scheme. The math for 30 states would depend on farmer/acre data, but the figure could well be more than the annual food subsidy. The critical aspect here is that this entails a recurring allocation. The other favourite is to design an electorally efficient income transferlike the concept of universal basic income for the bottom 75 per cent of the populace which made a cameo appearance in the Economic Survey of 2016-17. Since the costs would be prohibitive (around 4 per cent of GDP), it was also suggested that the government roll back other social programmes. To paraphrase Milton Friedman, there is nothing as permanent as a government programme and the politicos know it. The alternative is to do a limited UBI or a one-time income transfer. The 10 crore families identified for Ayushman Bharat could well serve as the target group and would cover the farmer families too. The kitty of Rs 3.6 lakh crore could deliver up to Rs 30,000 a year to each family. So is the moolah for the sop raga? The one caveat to be remembered is that voters rarely recall what was done and parties prefer to promise to draw votes. You could also argue that the war chest will not be needed this year but after the results, when the promises need to be fulfilled. The intensity of the spat between North Block and Mint Street reflects an emerging systemic financial crisis. On the face of it the economy grew at 8.2 per cent in the first quarter, half-yearly data on direct taxes are said to be up by 16.7 per cent, advance tax collections are up 30 per cent for individuals and 16.7 per cent for corporates, and the finance ministry claims it could surpass the disinvestment target of Rs 80,000 crore. Notwithstanding the assertions by the government, there is a lingering worry that there could be a major mismatch and a gaping hole in the fiscal deficit. The fears are fuelled by two worrisome factorsthe rumble about the rise in unpaid dues of the Centre and states to utilities, power, affordable housing and infra companies, receivables of FCI, and the rise in the food subsidy bill and a possible top up of the Ayushman budget. On the income side, there is the worry about GST collections, and the persistence of loss compensation to states. This leaves scant headroom for the government to intervene in a crisis. The state of the banking sector now including the NBFCsis such that credit delivery is daunted by availability and haunted by the ghost of defaults. If growth is to be sustained, banks need sustenance and supportwhich translates into recapitalisation and loosening of shackles. Above all there is an emerging crisis. Already hydro, thermal and renewable power producers are at the brink of defaultstate governments owe power producers over Rs 40,000 crore. The housing sector is nearly comatosethanks to the Molotov cocktail of delayed permissions, poor liquidity and ill-designed GST. The buzz in Mumbai is that visiting Cabinet ministers have been informed that the crisis could result in Rs 1 lakh crore of NPAs and lakhs of jobless labourers. Given the spectre, Rs 3,60,000 crore may well be the initial down payment to put out the fire. It may be a good idea for the BJP to dwell on policy failures and solutions before they draft the manifesto for 2019. shankkar.aiyar@gmail.com T J S George By The avatars of Donald Trump and Xi Jinping aim at making China the leader of the world. They have almost reached their targets. Under Trumpavatar, the policy of America First has led to US withdrawal from global engagements, be it Nato or the Trans-Pacific Partnership, leaving the field open to an assertive China. For its part, Xiavatar has been pushing the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank and the Belt and Road Initiative across continents while concentrating at home on military modernisation and advanced cyber technology. Chinas advances on the frontiers of science have been astonishingor frightening, depending on the angle of vision. To put this in perspective, recall the fact that Mao Zedong proclaimed the birth of the Peoples Republic of China in 1949, two years after India became independent. Maos Cultural Revolution etc. took China backward for nearly three decades. Its forward march began only in 1978 with Deng Xiaopings reforms. That is, after India had gone through the prime ministerships of Jawaharlal Nehru, Lal Bahadur Shastri and Indira Gandhi, and the Emergency backlash had put Morarji Desai in the prime ministerial chair. Such a late start, and where is China today? Such an early start, and where is India now? China has reached the point where it is challenging the US for world leadership. Its official military budget for 2017 was $190 billion (US, $590 billion, India, $50 billion). Its focus is on science and technology in military research. A Scientific Research Steering Committee was set up last year in addition to the Academy of Military Science, the National Defence University and the National University of Defence Technology. R&D resources put emphasis on nuclear fusion, hypersonic technology and multipurpose satellites. The annual report of the US Defence Secretarys office on China in August said: China has the political will and fiscal strength to sustain a steady increase in defence spending, supporting the continued modernization of the PLA (Peoples Liberation Army), the development of a military-civilian fused defence industry, and the exploration of new technologies with defence applications. China ignores conventional ethics in its determination to be the leader of the world. For years now hundreds of Chinese have been going to American universities for higher studies. Most of them return to China to let the motherland benefit from their freshly acquired expertise in various subjects. There have also been reports of Chinese specialists stealing industrial secrets from American companies. According to the Australian Strategic Policy Institute, some 2,500 military scientists, researchers and engineers were sent in the last decade to western universities to conduct research, sometimes in areas like navigation technology, quantum physics and cryptography. It is known that China has been investing heavily in AI (Artificial Intelligence) with plans to become the world leader in that sector by 2025. It has openly said that AI is a strategic technology. It also puts emphasis on indigenous manufacture. Already it is turning out armed drones and a string of ultramodern weapons. An aircraft carrier has been commissioned. China has become the worlds third largest exporter of arms, after the US and Russia. Until now, America was developing its military prowess to meet the Russian challenge. Now the benchmark is the Chinese challenge. China thinks long term. More importantly, China thinks culturally and historically. For the US and Russia, for example, military planning is related to political and strategic one-upmanship. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof. For China, it has to be sufficient unto eternity. Communism or no communism, the historical memory of Chinas imperial overlordship, with neighbouring states maintaining tributary relationship with it, is alive. Imperial China considered itself the centre of the world. Times may have changed, but the notion of a superior destiny gives China an inner power other nations lack. This is the context in which the extraordinary powers Xi Jinping acquired through constitutional changes must be judged. The 19th party congress last year gave him powers that only Mao had before. Significantly, it was the same party congress that proclaimed something no party congress had done beforethat it was right for China to return to the days when it was the worlds leading power in trade. This, from the Chinese viewpoint, is precisely what Xi Jinping is doing with determination. His assertion that the whole of South China Sea is Chinas backwaters bears the stamp of his power and of his readiness to take on the world. The task will be easier with the help he is receiving from the mixed-up, confused Donald Trump. Say hello to the Grave New World. Prabhu Chawla By In the universe of faith, atheists and believers are planets apart. Like two shores of a rapacious cosmic river, the twain shall never meet. The irony is that idol bashers with iconoclasm in mind choose to live but not let live, as the Sabarimala quandary has exemplified as shameful decibels of defiance. The latter are intent on creating a parallel mythology of protest in the national consciousness, thereby seeking the romantic legitimacy of revolution. Ever since the Supreme Court lifted the ban on the entry of women aged between 10 and 50 years into the sanctum sanctorum of the temple, the atmosphere of devotion has been vitiated by the very public and publicized conflict between activists asserting their fundamental right to enter places of worship irrespective of tradition and associated emotions. The siege also reflects the resolve of the traditionalists to prevent Sabarimala from being converted into just another destination on the temple tourism itinerary for fun and games in the name of freedom of movement. The polemics of entitlement are in the dock with secularisms surgical strikes on Sabarimala. Right is not on trial here. The standoff is about challenging the very foundation of a religion. The advocates of defilement lack the credentials to be believers in religion or tradition. They are professional warriors for causes. They perceive Hinduism and its symbols as great dangers to Indias unity. Gender discrimination is constitutionally and morally unacceptable in civilized society. Protests against it should come from within the community. The apex court delivered its verdict on the basis of Constitutional provisions. It has to be followed in both in law and spirit. But when the actors in question who are expected to benefit from the judgments egalitarian spirit are not in conformity with its intent, how can anyone from the outside be allowed to force themselves into the frame and hurt the sentiments of supplicants? Is it mere coincidence that not one of the headline-grabbing, fearlessly feisty and aggressively agnostic womens organisations including the Left-leaning ones have stayed away from publicly asking authorities to forcibly implement the court orders? The answer is No. Because the paradox is that the struggle for womens entry into the temple is being led not by pilgrims who revere Lord Ayappa but by monomaniacs who arent even remotely connected with the idea and institution of Sabarimala. While the vast majority of Malayalee women have taken the judicial verdict as an offence to their tradition, a bunch of westernized libtards has chosen to stand up to the god, who is a loner by legend: a solitudinous divinity in the infinite state of vanaprashta. Ignoring the groundswell of popular fury in Kerala, including that of women from other faiths who support Sabarimalas autonomy, a gaggle of prime-time TV anchors, foreign-educated opinion writers, a section of the church and Islamic fundamentalists have rallied for a cause which doesnt exist. One Trupti Desai stuck in an airport lounge and afraid to face protesters does not make a feminist moment. The absence of massive and mass support in favour of the speedy implementation of the Court orders indicates most Keralites approve of keeping the status quo intact and respecting the customs followed by the temple establishment. None of the pro-entry campaigners who got close to the shrine steps are ostensibly devout. Of the dozen-odd women, two were journalists, two were liberal Muslims in addition to sundry members of NGOs and political parties. Ironically, the Muslim women have no history of championing their sisters right for unrestricted access to mosques. One of them confessed to have lost faith in her religion because of the prevailing gender discrimination. Some werent even from the state; feminisms temple storm trooper, Trupti, had landed with six non-Keralite women. Despite armed security, no taxi or hotel was forthcoming to help complete Mission Sabarimala by means fair or foul. A successful legal gladiator, she is not a regular temple attendee. Her modus operandi relies on populist symbolismfile a case or lead a morcha that ends up with her penetrating the precincts of a shrine that disallows female entry. Other high-profile female activists who have broken preventive barriers also have few religious affiliations. Annoyed by the opportunism of intrusion and interference of non-believers, traditional rivals Congress and the BJP have come together on the issue. Their objective is to both isolate the CPM and its LDF partners while delivering a decisive blow to subversives who are out to transform the states cultural and religious character. Never before in the history of Kerala has popular power stood so united to prevent a state-sponsored assault on religious unity. The comrades, unbelievers and idolaters are using state machinery to ensure multitudinous temple visits by women. However, the women in communist families are conspicuous by their total silence. Still, the Kerala government not only provided 200 cops as security to one of the rebels but also disguised her in police uniform to fool the faithful. Previously, senior police officers were ordered to accompany a couple of women activists up to the entry point to the shrine. It took a determined group of Ayappa disciples and priests to valiantly protect violation of temple tradition. The Left governments repeated attempts to enforce the judicial verdict failed because it is unable to create a consensus on the issue. It made matters worse by telling the High Court that Sabarimala was a secular shrine. It also requested the judges to take the opinion of the Wakf Board, Muslim organisations, Vavar Trust and Christian and tribal organisations before delivering their final verdict. If this was not inflammatory enough, the submission reportedly claimed that there were two schools of thought regarding Sabarimala; one claiming it was a tribal place of worship, and the other that it was once a Buddhist shrine. Every divine sanctuary defines the nature and habitat of its omniscient occupant. Following its prescribed form of worship represents personal choice. Deities cannot be converted into objects of public ownership by avant-garde attention seekers opposed to the basic foundation of faith. Sabarimala is one of the million temples dotting the length and breadth of Bharat. Damaging the chords of devotional and emotional mass connectivity will inflict disaster and doom on the democratic spirit. Hareesh Polavarapu By Express News Service ANANTAPUR: In a narrow escape, a person saved himself from being run over by a goods train by lying down on the tracks just in time as the train passed over him. The man lied still with bated breath as the train passed without causing him harm. As the train passed away, the man calmly rose to his feet and walked away not before getting an earful from the passengers, who watched the train passing over the man with shock, at the platform. The incident took place in Anantapur railway station on Saturday afternoon but came to light after the video, which was shot by a passenger on his mobile phone, went viral. WATCH: According to railway police and witnesses, the Lucknow-Yeshwantpur train halted at the Anantapur railway station and the person, whose identity could not be known, got down from the train. The train came on the platform no 2 and the person intended to proceed towards platform no 1 preferred to cross over the tracks instead of taking the foot over bridge. However, a goods train was already stationed on platform no 1. The person tried to reach the platform by ducking underneath the gaps between the compartments of the goods train and went ahead. The train pilot, who was unaware of the person crossing to the other side from underneath the train, pulled out the train from the station. Caught in a fix, the person lied down on the tracks and stayed still as the train accelerated past the station. "The person stayed still for nearly a minute as the train passed over him and luckily he came out unscratched,'' a railway police personnel, quoting the eye-witnesses, said. As the person stood to his ground after the moved past him, the passengers on the platform were shocked to see him emerge from the tracks and gave an earful to him for crossing the tracks from underneath the train instead of the available foot over bridge. The shocked person calmly walked away out of the railway station and even the police were not informed about the incident. The incident was reportedly shot by a vendor at the platform no 2 of the railway station and it went viral on Sunday. By Express News Service KOZHIKODE: Categorising Ayyappa devotees as a separate religious denomination and giving them the right to manage their own affairs in matters of religion under Article 26(b) of the Constitution is the only viable solution to resolve the Sabarimala impasse, Opposition leader Ramesh Chennithala has said. Chennithala said such a move would require a Constitutional amendment. On whether the Congress, as principal Opposition party at the Centre, would raise this demand, Chennithala said the party had only 45 members in Parliament. The initiative should come from the BJP. When they do that, we will ask our party to spell out its stand, he said. Police raj in Sabarimala Condemning the police raj in Sabarimala, he said the onus of the smooth conduct of the pilgrimage rested with the state government, but it had failed miserably. Hartal uncalled for Chennithala said the Sangh Parivar has taken the people of the state hostage by calling a hartal in the early hours of the day, which was totally uncalled for. Regarding the detention of K P Sasikala, Chennithala said he believes she had gone to Sabarimala to deliberately create trouble. By Express News Service BHUBANESWAR: Proceedings in the Odisha Assembly were disrupted for about two hours on Saturday as Congress members created a ruckus over diversion of funds meant for tribal development towards rehabilitation of ruling party workers. The issue cropped up during question hour when ST and SC Development Minister Ramesh Majhi was replying to a question from Prafulla Majhi (Cong). Congress members rushed to the well of the House shouting slogans as the Speaker ignored their demand to seek a clarification from the Minister. They alleged that the State Government was giving appointment to only BJD workers in tribal development councils. Congress members led by Opposition chief whip Taraprasad Bahinipati tried to climb up the podium of Speaker Pradip Amat. Unable to run the House, the Speaker adjourned the House till 12 o clock. Bahinipati told mediapersons outside the House that the Opposition will bring a breach of privilege notice against the Minister for misleading the House over the issue. BJP member Rabi Naik alleged that the Minister gave wrong information. This is unfortunate, he added. The Minister said the Union Ministry of Tribal Affairs had sanctioned `274.09 crore in 2018-19 as Special Central Assistance (SCA) under tribal sub-scheme (TSS) and as per provisions of Article 275 (1) for all round development of scheduled tribes. Majhi said `485.18 lakh was sanctioned by the State Government for taking up infrastructural development works including construction and repair of school buildings and hostels, construction of additional class rooms in schools, construction of roads and supply of drinking water. By Express News Service CHENNAI: Fisheries Minister D Jayakumar took stock of the damage caused by cyclone `Gaja in Nagapattinam fishing harbour on Saturday. He went in a fibreglass boat with officials and assessed the situation in the harbour. He said, We have formed at least six teams with deputy directors of fisheries department to assess the situation. We will complete the assessment and pay the compensation accordingly. When asked about the demand for relief, he said It is understandable. Several thousands of electric poles have fallen. Officials are clearing them. Restoration of electricity will be speeded up. The government will seek funds from the Centre for relief. Meanwhile, leaders of various political parties have urged the State and Cental governments to act fast to extend all possible assistance to the people affected by cyclone Gaja in delta districts. DMK president M K Stalin visited Vedaranyam on Saturday. He visited the relief camp at Gandhi Nagar and interacted with people. He told newspersons, It was only yesterday I appreciated the number of works done ahead of the cyclone. But, the ground reality is different. The relief works need to be speeded up. One person from each of the families of the deceased victims should be given a government job, he said. MDMK general secretary Vaiko said the government should complete the enumeration of damage caused to standing crops, trees, hutments etc., and provide compensation at the earliest to coconut and banana growers and farmers who cultivated paddy. DK president K Veeramani said the Centre should declare the impact of cyclone Gaja as a disaster. Whatever the State government could do, it would not suffice. The Centre should send its team to assess the damage and extend generous financial assistance to the affected people at the earliest. PMK founder S Ramadoss said many farmers in Vedaranyam, Mannargudi and surrounding areas have lost their investment in agriculture which they had made out of earnings for more than a quarter century. Routine compensation to crops and cattle stock will not suffice this time. Pattukottai, Vedaranyam and Mannaargudi areas should be declared as areas hit by disaster. Gaja claims six lives in Kodai Dindigul: The cyclonic storm, Gaja, that ripped through central Tamil Nadu on Friday has claimed the lives of six persons in Dindigul district. When four construction workers died in a landslide in Chinnapallam, a tourist from Kerala, identified as Neelima died in Kodaikanal when a tree fell on her car and another man, Karuppasamy died when a tree fell on him in Odanchattiram. The deceased construction workers have been identified as Ravi (50), Rajendran (50), Karthi (21) and Soundarajan (40) of Zahir Ammmal Palayam in Salem district. New low pressure to bring more rain Chennai: Close on the heels of cyclonic storm Gaja, a new low pressure area is forming in Bay of Bengal, which is expected to bring more rain to Tamil Nadu. A cyclonic circulation over South Andaman Sea and neighbourhood has formed and under its influence, a low pressure area is likely to form over central parts of south Bay of Bengal by Sunday evening, said meteorological officials. For the next two days, Chennai will be generally cloudy with light rain, added officials from the meteorological department. Ajay Moses By Express News Service HYDERABAD: Banking on its pro-women agenda, the State BJP has fielded a woman to oppose the might of Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao in his backyard - Gajwel Assembly constituency of Siddipet district. BJP Mahila Morcha president Akula Vijaya is all set to battle it out against KCR on an underlining fact that the TRS-led government had no women minister in its cabinet. There are nine women ministers in the Union cabinet but there isnt one in KCRs cabinet in the past four years, pointed out Vijaya while speaking to TNIE over the phone from Gajwel after filing her nomination. Women know the injustice that is being done to them. The women are looked down upon, she added. The main contestation point to get into the elections is to highlight the fact that 2BHK houses have not been given. Its every womans dream to secure a house and it was promised by KCR. But the promise hasnt been fulfilled with several spending days in anticipation of the 2BHK houses, she reasoned. But the Gajwel turf is a foreign constituency for Vijaya. In 2014 Assembly elections, she fought against KCRs son IT minister KT Rama Rao in Sircilla. She was bundled out with 14,473 votes and stood third among other contestants with TRS and the Congress taking first and second place. Now, with her latest nomination at Gajwel, her chances of winning are bleak. Considering the fact that she would not just be facing the might of the TRS supremo but also the Congress Vanteru Pratap Reddy who lost with 19,218 votes. But Vijaya is unfazed with that. My groundwork at Gajwel has already been done. There are enough people who are fed up with the TRS government and the injustice it does to the women, she argued. Interestingly, Vijayas candidature to Gajwel has been strongly opposed by BJPs local candidates. The issue has escalated to such levels that there were protests seen at BJP head office for the last two days. Their contention was to give party tickets to local candidates, not non-local. NEW YORK, Nov. 17 (Xinhua) -- China Southern Airlines will launch its first non-stop flight from Los Angeles to Shenyang on Dec. 18, connecting the U.S. west coast with northeast China. China Southern "will serve to strengthen and open new opportunities for economic, cultural and trade exchanges between the two countries with the new route," Hou Ming, head of China Southern Airlines North America, said at the launch ceremony in New York City on Friday night. China Southern Airlines currently has weekly direct flights from Los Angeles to Guangzhou, from San Francisco to Guangzhou, and from San Francisco to Wuhan. The airliner is also operating daily direct flights from Vancouver to Guangzhou, and weekly direct flights from Toronto to Guangzhou and flights depart from Mexico City via Vancouver to Guangzhou. The Los Angeles-Shenyang will increase the capacity between North America and China by approximately 10 percent, Hou said. China Southern, which has a fleet of around 800 aircraft and transported 126 million passengers in 2017, was named among the most valuable airline brands by Brand Finance, an international consultancy. By PTI HYDERABAD: A 42-year-old man, said to be TRS worker, allegedly committed suicide here leaving behind a purported suicide note, urging voters to re-elect TRS chief K Chandrasekhar Rao as Telangana Chief Minister. He also urged them to re-elect MLA Vivekananda, police said Sunday. The man had earlier made a vain attempt to commit suicide during the separate Telangana agitation. The body of T Guruvappa was found hanging Saturday in a small room in Nizampet area, police said. Ashwini M Sripad By BENGALURU: Asha (name changed) a high school student in a small village near Chitradurga alerted the child helpline about two of her seniors, who are hardly 15 years old, getting married at a village fair. She called 1098, a helpline number, a day before the marriage was to take place, and the officials concerned went to these girls houses and stopped it. The incident was on air at the Namma School Radio (NSR) station, started by like-minded people eight years ago, which has penetrated across 35 government and private schools in Karnataka. The radio station provides a platform for children to showcase their talents, interact with elders in their villages or any resource people, and demonstrate many multi-dimensional approaches. Instead of creating awareness among villagers about child marriage, the radio station believes that sometimes, the littlest voices have the biggest things to say. Varsha from Nagavalli Government school in Tiptur (Tumkur district) spoke about plastic menace. I interacted with a few elderly people in my village about the food quality in their times and how the quality of food had come down. We got an opportunity to speak to the elders, and the same has been broadcast, she said. Her friend Varshita spoke about birds in her villages. Girish Kumar, the man behind setting up the station, was with TV media for several years and had experience in HAM radio. It started when I visited a government school at the Naduvinakere village in Tiptur taluk of Tumkur district. Most of the media is city-centric and not children-centric. That is when we thought of using radio to attract children to school and with their help, reach the elders in the village, he said. Kavitha Kammanakote, another team member says as most of the media is urban centric, they are trying to make it more rural centric. Everything rooted to the village farmers, womens self-help groups or nature, will be spoken about by children. They anchor it, she said. They choose smaller village and government schools, where they conduct week-long workshops. They are taught about the basics of radio, the use of radio and the technical aspects. After three to four days, they will be introduced to a smaller device, Personal Pi, that has basic buttons to record, pause and upload, which will be connected to earphones Girish explained. The curator or the editor from Namma School Radio team will edit and upload the same on their website. The people in villages with basic handsets could also tune in. Kanu Sarda By NEW DELHI: For Dipti Sharma, who is employed at the Delhis Patiala House Court, the time between 3 and 4 pm is very crucial on all working days as she is busy compiling the days developments to be sent to the Delhi High Court. In order to manage the plaguing problem of pendency of cases, the Delhi High Court, in its new set of guidelines for promotion of subordinate judges, has made it compulsory that every judge should send daily reports of their days proceedings in a prescribed format by 4 pm each day. Earlier, such reports were sought on monthly basis. But to fix the accountability of every judicial officer, we had decided to seek reports on a daily basis and monitor their progress. We have given two targets to lower judiciary to fight pendency cases pending for 10 years and five years respectively and then fix the target dates for disposal of each case. We are quite satisfied after witnessing the positive outcome, said a judicial officer associated with the disposal committee. According to the guidelines, there will be five parameters on which the performance of the judge will be ascertained excellent, very good, good, satisfactory, and poor. For the assessment, not only quantity but quality too will matter as per the new norms. A magistrate court in Delhi, to get the excellent report, will have to record testimonies in 8 to 10 cases apart from the miscellaneous cases and at least the disposal of two contested cases on merits. For very good performance, the judge has to record the statement of 6 to 8 individuals and disposal of miscellaneous cases and two contested cases on merits. Similarly, the performance parameter remains the same for appellate courts. A monthly analysis would be done by the team of district court monitoring which then shares the report with the CJI. With the backlog touching 3.3 crore cases in India, there are 2.84 crore cases pending in the subordinate courts, the backlog clogging the HCs and Supreme Court is 43 lakh and 57,987 cases, respectively. Anand ST Das By PATNA: Pappu Yadav, the firebrand MP from Madhepura and founder of the Jan Adhikar Party (JAP), finds himself in the middle of a dilemma as the 2019 Lok Sabha elections near. The five-term MP is busy preparing the JAP, to play it big in 2019. Unlike Bihars 2015 Assembly polls, in which the JAP contested against the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) and the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD)-led Grand Alliance and failed miserably, he now appears keen to be part of the latters alliance. But, Tejashwi Yadav, who controls the RJD, is against him. Despite winning the prestigious Madhepura seat as an RJD candidate in 2014 by beating JD(U) veteran Sharad Yadav, Pappu was expelled from the RJD in May 2015 for anti-party activities. His apparent tilt towards the BJP had angered his then patron Lalu Prasad, who is the RJD chief and Tejashwis father and is currently serving a jail term following his convictions in the fodder scam. Pappu, who has been organising numerous public campaigns and rallies across Bihar over the past few months, has closed off the possibility for a place in the NDA with his strident attacks on the alliance and Bihars Nitish Kumar-led state government. The BJP also feels that it does not need a leader like Pappu in its ranks. The NDA in Bihar feels more confident of itself after Kumars JD(U) returned to its fold last year. It does not need any direct or indirect help from outsiders, said a BJP leader. Tejashwi is evidently wary of Pappus clout among a section of the RJD and his persona as a strong-arm politician. Sources in the RJD said while Lalu is willing to let JAP join the Grand Alliance due to the partys rising support base across Bihar, Tejashwi is staunchly against it. Lalu realises Pappus worth. Despite expelling him, he did not petition the Lok Sabha Speaker to terminate his membership. Lalu gave Pappu a party ticket in 2014 even though his affidavit mentioned 24 criminal cases. But the party is now led by Tejashwi, said an RJD leader. Helping hand Pappus wish to join the Grand Alliance may be realised with a little help from the Congress. He recently met Congress Bihar in-charge Shaktisinh Gohil in Patna and party president Rahul Gandhi in New Delhi. Sumi Sukanya Dutta By Dr Soumya Swaminathan, the deputy director of the World Health Organisation, is upbeat about the Indian governments Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana scheme, which aims to provide medical insurance of up to `5 lakh per poor family each year. Swaminathan, an Indian paediatrician and clinical scientist who joined the WHO last year, also believes that the private sector plays an important role in healthcare delivery in India, but needs stricter regulation. In an interview to Sumi Sukanya Dutta, Swaminathan spoke on a host of issues ranging from air pollution plaguing north India to the rising of Indian women against sexual harassment at workplace. PMJAY is an excellent scheme. It is high time that India made serious efforts to cover the entire population with high quality healthcare, especially for those who cannot afford to pay the rates in private sector. We know that in India, 65-70% healthcare expenditure is out-of-pocket and that affects the poor the most; so, financial risk protection is a good idea, she said. As for the #MeToo movement against men who harass women in the workplace, she felt that though only a minority has spoken up so far, its a critical first step at setting things right. Men should feel they are accountable and that this kind of behaviour cannot be accepted. Dr Soumya Swaminathan, an Indian paediatrician and clinical scientist, joined the World Health Organisation (WHO) as its deputy director-general (programme) last year. Prior to that, she served as secretary of the department of health research, Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, and director general of the Indian Council of Medical Research. On the sidelines of the second annual Women Leaders in Global Health Conference 2018 in London, organised by the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, Dr Swaminathan spoke to Sumi Sukanya Dutta on a host of issues ranging from air pollution plaguing north India to the rising of women against sexual harassment at workplaces. The Indian government has launched two significant health schemes this year: the Pradhan Mantri Jan Aarogya Yojana (PMJAY), which aims to ensure cashless hospitalisation of up to `5 lakh for 50 crore people, and building 1.5 lakh health and wellness centres. But there are also concerns on whether the government will be able to achieve what looks good on paper. What are your views? PMJAY is an excellent scheme. It is high time that India made serious efforts to cover the entire population with high quality healthcare, especially for those who cannot afford to pay the rates in private sector. We know that in India, 65-70% healthcare expenditure is out-of-pocket and that affects the poor the most; so, financial risk protection is a good idea. The other aspect which is equally important is developing quality primary care centres where people can go with simple illnesses and since it also focuses on prevention, it will help reduce hospitalisation cases. Both the schemes need to be given equal weightage and importance. But do you think India has the kind of resources doctors, trained manpower, funding etc. to build a quality primary healthcare system? Doctors, for instance, do not even want to go to small towns to work. We have doctors, nurses, everything its a question of giving the right kind of training to workforce and deploying them effectively. Every primary care centre cannot be equipped with a doctor and there is a shortage of allopathic doctors as well, but nurses can do the jobs required at those centres. In many countries, nurses have three years of community health-work training that enables them to take care of the primary healthcare needs. And then, there has to be a good referral system. The district hospital is where all the specialists should be available. At lower levels, it is possible to deliver quality healthcare services even without doctors, with nurses and other types of health workers. So that model has to be followed. But it requires a lot of training and supply-chain management. It has to be ensured that drugs and diagnostic services are available at these centres; technology such as digital health records, telemedicine etc. has to be adopted. Air pollution has emerged as a major crisis in India. Recently, the WHO organised its first conference on the same where a lot of noise was made regarding the health issues emanating out of it. Would you have a message for India? A national action plan on pollution is urgently required in the country now. Pollution should be treated as a public health emergency. Rates of pollution being seen across north India are a big public health hazard and its not something that one city or state can handle, because the causes are multi-factorial. There has to be a programme developed collectively by the Centre and state governments. Mayors of cities need to take responsibility as well, as cities are where pollution gets concentrated. But rural areas are equally affected; the agriculture ministry needs to be involved. Ministries of road transport, heavy industries and various other ministries have a major role to play. The health ministry can only be an advocate as the pollution affects health, but the causes are coming from different sectors. The pollution is particularly bad for young children who are growing up in this environment. Its affecting their brain development; pregnant women are developing problems; its shortening the lifespan of people. Breathing in Delhi is like smoking two packets of cigarettes a day. There is no time to waste now and it is known what is to be done. Its just a matter of implementing those measures seriously. In recent times, a lot of anger has built up against private healthcare providers in India. There have been government reports implicating large hospitals of over- billing and malpractices. Yet, many feel the government is not doing enough to regulate the sector. Your views? Private sector does need to be better regulated it plays an important role in healthcare delivery in India and can play a constructive role because the government alone wont be able to cater to all healthcare needs. Also, the private sector has many centres of excellence; people from across the globe come to India (to those centres) to access healthcare in the country. But its an issue of governance; of having ethics in practice and forming certain rules and regulations. The Clinical Establishments (Registration and Regulation) Act, 2010, was brought in with that aim, but most states have not adopted it. They need to do that to be able to better regulate the sector. The private sector should also keep in mind that it is not like any other industry because healthcare cannot be oriented around a profit-only motive. It is their duty also to ensure not to use exploitative tactics. There is also a need to reform medical education in the country. What are the new programmes or interventions you have started or are about to start at the WHO and what are their likely impacts on India? In January this year, we revised and adopted 13th general programme of work 2019-2023 which is structured around three interconnected strategic priorities to ensure healthy lives and well-being for all at all ages: achieving universal health coverage, addressing health emergencies and promoting healthier populations. We will focus on many low- and middle-income countries, including India, particularly on the first component of the programme. The last few weeks have seen a large number of women taking to social media under #MeToo movement to out the men who have sexually harassed them at some point at work. What do you think about the whole campaign? For long, women have had to keep silent and even now, only a minority has spoken up, but at least others will get courage from it. (Sexual harassment at workplace) is a very difficult experience for a woman to go through. And its not only the physical experience, but a feeling of being dehumanised when you are treated as an object, which deeply affects your dignity, self-respect and self-esteem. It can do a lot of damage to a woman. Even then its very difficult for a woman to name her oppressor, especially if he is in a powerful position. So, we really have to respect these women who have spoken out and have also faced a lot of backlash on social media and in their own circles. But its a critical first step at setting things right. Men should feel that they are accountable and open to scrutiny and that this kind of behaviour cannot be accepted. By PTI WASHINGTON: US President Donald Trump on Sunday said he is doing a great job and gave himself 'A plus' for successfully running the country. "I think I am doing a great job. We have the best economy we have ever had," Trump told Fox News in an interview aired on Sunday. "I would give myself, I would - look, I hate to do it, but I will do it, I would give myself an A+, is that enough? Can I go higher than that?" he said. Responding to a question in a wide-ranging interview the US President said, "We are doing really well. We would have been at war with North Korea if, let's say, that administration continued forward". On North Korea, he also said that before leaving the office, his predecessor Barack Obama had advised him that the North Korea was one of the top challenges for the country. Trump said Obama had offered him some important guidance in the White House shortly after his 2016 election. ALSO READ | Have been briefed on Khashoggi tapes but advised not to listen it: Donald Trump "I think North Korea's been very tough because you know we were very close. When I took that over -- President Obama right in those two chairs, we sat and talked and he said that's by far the biggest problem that this country has," Trump told the news channel. "And I think we had real decision as to which way to go on North Korea and certainly at least so far I am very happy with the way we went," Trump said referring to the fact that his diplomacy with the North Koreans. US President Donald Trump. (Photo | Twitter) Early this year, Trump became the first US president to hold talks with the North Korean leader Kim Jong Un. As a result of the summit meeting in Singapore, North Korea has agreed to a pathway of denuclearization. There has been no missile tests and nuclear tests. The rhetoric and threats from the North Korean leaders against its neighbours and the US has almost ended for the past several months. Trump takes credit for his successful diplomacy with North Korea. ALSO READ | California fire: President Donald Trump visits Chico, 76 dead 1300 still missing During his interview, Trump told the Fox news that his supported candidates won in the mid-term elections against the candidates for whom Obama had campaigned for. "I won against President Obama and Oprah Winfrey and Michelle Obama in a great state called Georgia for the governor," Trump said, referring to defeated Democratic candidate Stacey Abrams' top surrogates, to the news channel. "And it was all stacked against Brian (Kemp), and I was the one that went for Brian, and Brian won," he said, adding that and same with Florida. "Look at Florida. I went down to Florida. (Republican) Senate candidate) Rick Scott won, and he won by a lot. I don't know what happened to all those votes that disappeared at the very end. "And if I didn't put a spotlight on that election before it got down to the 12,500 votes, he would have lost that election, OK? In my opinion he would have lost. They would have taken that election away from him. Rick Scott won Florida," Trump said. By IANS SAN FRANCISCO: Without absolving Facebook's "mistakes" in the way it handled Russian trolls ahead of the 2016 US presidential election, a former security chief of the social network has said that others -- US spy agencies, lawmakers and the media -- also made mistakes. Facebook has been under the scanner of US lawmakers ever since the activities of Russia-linked accounts that tried to spread misinformation and sow seeds of discord came to be known. Sharing his side of the story in a Washington Post opinion piece on Saturday, Alex Stamos, who served as Chief Security Officer at Facebook until August, admitted that Facebook "should have responded to these threats much earlier and handled disclosure in a more transparent manner". His views appeared three days after a New York Times report said that Facebook knew about the Russian activities as early as spring of 2016, a claim denied by the social networking giant. The Times report also blamed Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg and COO Sheryl Sandberg of ignoring warning signs and then trying to conceal them from public view. Stamos agreed that Facebook "stuck to a public-communications strategy of minimisation and denial". But he also blamed the US spy agencies for their failure "to provide actionable intelligence" on Russian trolls. "The massive US intelligence community failed to provide actionable intelligence on Russia's information-warfare goals and capabilities before the election and offered a dearth of assistance afterward," Stamos wrote. Stamos criticized the lawmakers for their "failure to establish facts, effectively oversee the executive branch and provide for the common defence. "We must also remember that in the summer of 2016, every major media outlet rewarded the hackers of the Russian Main Intelligence Directorate (GRU) with thousands of collective stories drawn from the stolen emails of prominent Democrats," he wrote. Stamos said that no one at Facebook ever told him not to examine Russian activity, nor did anyone attempt to lie about the company's findings. "It is time for us to come together to protect our society from future information operations. While it appears Russia and other US adversaries sat out the 2018 midterms, our good fortune is unlikely to extend through a contentious Democratic primary season and raucous 2020 election," Stamos wrote. By UNI ANKARA: The dismembered body of Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi could have been taken out of Turkey, where he was murdered, in suitcases, with those transferring the body taking advantage of their diplomatic immunity, Turkish Defence Minister Hulusi Akar said. "They [Saudi nationals suspected of having murdered Khashoggi] left Turkey in three or four hours after the murder. Perhaps, they have secretly taken out Khashoggi's dissected body in suitcases, facing no problems because of their diplomatic immunity," Akar said at the Halifax International Security Forum on Saturday, as quoted by Turkish newspaper Yeni Safak. ALSO READ | Have been briefed on Khashoggi tapes but advised not to listen it: Donald Trump Khashoggi, a Washington Post columnist, known for his criticism of Saudi policies, went missing on October 2 after entering the Saudi consulate in the Turkish capital of Istanbul. After initially denying any knowledge of Khashoggi's whereabouts, Riyadh admitted later in October that the journalist had been killed in a fight inside the consulate. On Thursday, the Saudi Prosecutor General's Office said that the journalist had been killed with a drug injection, and his body had been dismembered and taken out of the consulate, adding that a total of 21 people had been detained in relation to the case. Earlier on Sunday, US President Donald Trump announced that he would receive a full report on the murder of Khashoggi on Monday or Tuesday. By Associated Press WASHINGTON: WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange will not willingly travel to the United States to face charges filed under seal against him, one of his lawyers said, foreshadowing a possible fight over extradition for a central figure in the U.S. special counsel's Russia-Trump investigation. Assange, who has taken cover in the Ecuadorian Embassy in London, where he has been granted asylum, has speculated publicly for years that the Justice Department had brought secret criminal charges against him for revealing highly sensitive government information on his website. That hypothesis appeared closer to reality after prosecutors, in an errant court filing in an unrelated case, inadvertently revealed the existence of sealed charges. The filing, discovered Thursday night, said the charges and arrest warrant "would need to remain sealed until Assange is arrested in connection with the charges in the criminal complaint and can therefore no longer evade or avoid arrest and extradition in this matter." A person familiar with the matter, speaking on condition of anonymity because the case had not been made public, confirmed that charges had been filed under seal. The exact charges Assange faces and when they might be unsealed remained uncertain Friday. Any charges against him could help illuminate whether Russia coordinated with the Trump campaign to sway the 2016 presidential election. They also would suggest that, after years of internal Justice Department wrangling, prosecutors have decided to take a more aggressive tack against WikiLeaks. A criminal case also holds the potential to expose the practices of a radical transparency activist who has been under U.S. government scrutiny for years and at the center of some of the most explosive disclosures of stolen information in the last decade. Those include thousands of military and State Department cables from Army Pvt. Bradley (now Chelsea) Manning, secret CIA hacking tools, and most recently and notoriously, Democratic emails that were published in the weeks before the 2016 presidential election and that U.S. intelligence officials say had been hacked by Russia. Federal special counsel Robert Mueller, who has already charged 12 Russian military intelligence officers with hacking, has been investigating whether any Trump associates had advance knowledge of the stolen emails. Assange could be an important link for Mueller as he looks to establish exactly how WikiLeaks came to receive the emails, and why its release of the communications on the same day a highly damaging video of Trump from a decade earlier surfaced publicly appeared timed to boost his campaign. Assange, 47, has resided in the Ecuadorian Embassy under a grant of asylum for more than six years to avoid being extradited to Sweden, where he was accused of sex crimes, or to the United States, whose government he has repeatedly humbled with mass disclosures of classified information. The Australian was once a welcome guest at the embassy, which takes up part of the ground floor of a stucco-fronted apartment in London's posh Knightsbridge neighborhood. But his relationship with his hosts has soured over the years amid reports of espionage, erratic behavior and diplomatic unease. Barry Pollack, a Washington lawyer for Assange, said he expected Ecuador to "comply with its obligations" to preserve asylum for him, though he acknowledged a concern that the county could revoke his asylum, expel him from the embassy and extradite him to the U.S. "The burden should not shift to Mr. Assange to have to defend against criminal charges when what he has been accused of doing is what journalists do every day," Pollack said. "They publish truthful information because the public has a right to know and consider that information and understand what its government and institutions are doing." The charges came to light in an unrelated court filing from a federal prosecutor in Virginia, who was attempting to keep sealed a separate case involving a man accused of coercing a minor for sex. The three-page filing contained two references to Assange, including one sentence that said "due to the sophistication of the defendant and the publicity surrounding the case, no other procedure is likely to keep confidential the fact that Assange has been charged." It was not immediately clear why Assange's name was included in the document. Joshua Stueve, a spokesman for the Justice Department's Eastern District of Virginia said, "The court filing was made in error. That was not the intended name for this filing." The filing was discovered by Seamus Hughes, a terrorism expert at the Program on Extremism at George Washington University, who posted it on Twitter hours after The Wall Street Journal reported that the Justice Department was preparing to prosecute Assange. The case at issue concerns a defendant named Seitu Sulayman Kokayi, a 29-year-old teacher who has since been indicted in Virginia on charges of enticing a 15-year-old girl to commit sex acts and to produce child pornography. There doesn't appear to be any connection between Assange and Kokayi. The since-unsealed document, a motion filed in late August asking to keep Kokayi's case secret, mentions Assange in two boilerplate sections, suggesting a copy-and-paste error or that his name was inadvertently left in a template used for the common filings. The filing suggests prosecutors have reason to believe they will be able to arrest and extradite Assange. Ecuadorian officials say they have cut off his high-speed internet access and will restore it only if he agrees to stop interfering in the affairs of Ecuador's partners, such as the U.S. and Spain. He is allowed to use the embassy's WiFi, though it is unclear if he doing so. Officials have also imposed a series of other restrictions on Assange's activities and visitors, and ordered him to clean after his cat. Carlos Poveda, Assange's lawyer in Ecuador, said he suspects Ecuador has been maneuvering to kick Assange out of the embassy through the stricter new living requirements it recently imposed. He said possible U.S. charges, however, are proof his client remains under threat, and he called on Ecuador's government to uphold Assange's asylum protections. He said Ecuador would be responsible if anything happened to Assange. With shrinking options an Ecuadorian lawsuit seeking to reverse the restrictions was recently turned down WikiLeaks announced in September that former spokesman Kristinn Hrafnsson, an Icelandic journalist who has long served as one of Assange's lieutenants, would take over as editor-in-chief. In a brief interview in Reykjavik, Iceland, Hrafnsson called the U.S. news "a very black day for journalism." By PTI KARACHI: A senior police officer was gunned down by unidentified militants in Pakistan's restive Balochistan province, police said. Muhammad Naeem Kakar, who served as a deputy inspector general of police, was going home after offering prayers when the militants struck. DIG Quetta, Abdul Razzaq Cheema, said the attackers fled unhurt from the site. No group has claimed responsibility for the attack but Cheema said it was difficult to say whether it was a targeted killing or a result of personal enmity. Police officers in the troubled Balochistan province have frequently been targeted by militants. Kakar was a senior officer having served as DIG special branch and on other important positions in the province. In recent years, most targeted attacks against policemen have been claimed by the Lashkar-e-Jhangvi or the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan. BEIJING, Nov. 17 (Xinhua) -- China has confirmed new outbreaks of African swine fever in four provincial level regions, the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs said Saturday. On a farm in Shanghai, 50 pigs were confirmed infected with the viral disease and 11 confirmed dead, the ministry said, citing a China Animal Disease Control Center report. Outbreaks were also confirmed in the provinces of Jiangxi, Yunnan and Sichuan, with at least 23 pigs confirmed dead, it added. Local authorities have initiated an emergency response to block, cull and disinfect the affected pigs. African swine fever is a highly contagious, viral disease that infects pigs but not humans or other animals. China reported its first case of the disease in August in Liaoning Province. Later outbreaks were reported in several other provincial regions. By UNI LONDON: More than 6,000 environmental activists, affiliated or sympathetic to the protest group Extinction Rebellion (ER), blocked the five iconic bridges into central London on Saturday to demand immediate government's actions on climate change. "I think people are realizing the extent of the crisis that they are in, and frustrated with a government that is doing [nothing]," Robin Boardman-Pattison, a coordinator with ER, told Sputnik during the road block at Blackfriars Bridge. He pointed out that the government had been ignoring demands of environmental groups for decades. "We've been trying for so long. Thirty years we've known that the climate crisis threatens human lives, threatens species across the world and the government has done nothing about it. We've increased carbon emissions by 60 percent and they're still rising People are not going to take it anymore. They're fed up. I'm fed up. I'm thinking about my future here and they're just throwing me into the abyss," Boardman-Pattison said. ER have so far staged a week-long period of protest, occupying the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy on Monday. Saturday's action involved over 6,000 activists, according to the group, with police officers believed to have made around 80 arrests. The activists claim to have repeatedly demanded a meeting with state officials, something they argue should lead to the formation of a full "citizen's assembly" to legislate against environmentally harmful policies. According to the protesters, this is required because the UK government's energy policy is "nonsensical" in the face of now widely reported ecological crisis, an argument all the more controversial following the authorities' decision to restart fracking operations in Lancashire last month. "It's absolutely counterproductive. In fact it's nonsensical and it shows the strength that corporate power has over our government, because the science is completely against [fracking]," Boardman-Pattison said. Last month, the Cuadrilla energy company resumed its fracking works in Lancashire that were suspended in 2011. The company admitted that its activity was likely to have caused two earthquakes outside Blackpool. In 2014, it applied for a permit to resume fracking with the Lancashire county council, which gave its consent despite public protests. Cuadrilla once again suspended its activities in late October after a new 0.4-magnitude seismic activity at the site of the fracking works, which however were soon resumed. By PTI LAHORE: Opposition Pakistan People's Party accused the defence ministry of refusing to tell the Senate that under which law the country's powerful intelligence agency Inter-Seevices Intelligence (ISI) was functioning. PPP Senator Farhatullah Babar speaking at "Pakistan: The Way Forward" in the 4th International Faiz Festival at Alhamra Arts Council here on Saturday said politics of resistance was being diminished because of "aliens (a reference to military establishment) and weakness of politicians". "When the Senate asked under which law the ISI was functioning it was told that 'it is secret and sensitive' and couldn't be shared with it (Senate)," Babar said. He said the time had gone when there would have been a 'direct attack' on democracy in the form of martial law. Left wing politician and former head of Human Rights Commission of Pakistan Afrasiab Khattak has said the country was in crisis under he leadership of Prime Minister Imran Khan. and this (PTI) government had been installed under a 'stopgap arrangement' in which a number of technocrats had been included. "In the next phase there will be a government of technocrats," he said. By PTI MALE: Prime Minister Narendra Modi has assured all possible help to new Maldivian President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih in fulfilling his government's pledges to the people and suggested an early meeting of officials to work out the details according to the needs of the strategically vital Indian Ocean island nation. According to a joint press statement after talks between Prime Minister Modi and President Solih here on Saturday, soon after the 54-year-old Maldivian Democratic Party leader was sworn-in as the seventh president, the two leaders expressed confidence in the "renewal" of the close bonds of cooperation and friendship between the two countries. India-Maldives ties came under strain under former president Abdulla Yameen who was perceived to be close to China. Some of his decisions, including the restrictions on work visas for Indians and signing of a new Free Trade Agreement with Beijing also did not go down well with New Delhi. In his inaugural address, President Solih made it clear that he will endeavour to "fortify" the existing ties the Maldives has had with India and other regional countries. "The Maldives will hereupon bolster its shared role to retain enduring peace and harmony of the Indian Ocean," he said. In the joint press statement, both leaders agreed on the importance of maintaining peace and security in the Indian Ocean and being mindful of each other's concerns and aspirations for the stability of the region. The statement noted that President Solih briefed Prime Minister Modi on the "dire economic situation" facing the country as he assumed charge. In his speech, Solih said that he was taking on the presidency at a time when the country is in a precarious financial situation. "The treasury has endured a colossal blow owing to reckless mega development projects undertaken purely for political gain. Large-scale embezzlement and corruption has dwindled the coffers of the state by billions of rufiyaa," he said. The press statement said that Prime Minister Modi and President Solih discussed ways in which India can continue development partnership, particularly to help the new government in meeting its pledges to the people of the Maldives. "In particular, President Solih highlighted the pressing need for increased housing and infrastructure development as well as for establishing water and sewerage systems in the outlying islands," the statement said. Prime Minister Modi assured President Solih of India's firm commitment in assisting the Maldives to achieve sustainable social and economic development. He also conveyed India's readiness to extend help in every possible way and suggested that both sides should meet at the earliest to work out details as per requirements of the Maldives, the statement said. Prime Minister Modi also welcomed the expanding opportunities for Indian companies to invest in the Maldives in different sectors for the mutual benefit of both countries. Recognising that nationals of both countries travel extensively between the two countries, the leaders also agreed on the need for facilitating easier visa procedures, the statement said. The two leaders also expressed their commitment and support for increased cooperation in combating terrorism both within the region and elsewhere, it said. Prime Minister Modi, who was the highest-ranking foreign leader at the swearing-in ceremony, said he had "productive discussions" with President Solih. "Congratulations to Mr@ibusolih on taking oath as the President of the Maldives. Wishing him the very best for his tenure ahead. Looking forward to working with him to strengthen bilateral relations between our nations," Modi tweeted before returning to New Delhi. By PTI COLOMBO: An all-party meeting called by Sri Lanka's President Maithripala Sirisena failed to make any breakthrough on Sunday to end the raging political crisis set off by his controversial decision to remove prime minister Ranil Wickremesinghe last month. Sirisena later dissolved Parliament, almost 20 months before its term was to end, and ordered snap election. The Supreme Court on Tuesday overturned President Sirisena's decision to dissolve Parliament and halted the preparations for snap polls on January 5. ALSO READ | Sri Lankan president Maithripala Sirisena seeks talks to end power struggle The crisis talks came after Sri Lanka's parliament witnessed unprecedented violence as lawmakers threw furniture and chilli powder at each other. The lawmakers on Friday approved a second vote of no confidence against Rajapaksa but Sirisena refused to accept it, saying his advice was not followed. Sirisena on Sunday called an all-party meeting which ended without making breakthrough, Wickremsinghe's United National Party (UNP) said. This was the first time that Sirisena, Wickremsinghe and Rajapaksa met face to face since the crisis erupted on October 26. Wickremesinghe has maintained that his sacking by Sirisena was unconstitutional and illegal and he was still the prime minister. "We placed our cards on the table. We told Rajapaska that if the Speaker's rulings are wrong, they can move a motion to challenge it and get it passed. Response from President Sirisena was nil," Lakshman Kiriella, a senior UNP leader, said after talks which lasted for over 2 hours. In this Monday, Nov. 5, 2018, file photo, Si Lankan President Maithripala Sirisena waves to supporters during a rally held outside the parliamentary complex in Colombo, Sri Lanka. (Photo | AP) "We told President we have the majority. We are in a position to present the affidavits we signed," Ajith P Perera, another UNP leader said. The JVP or the People's Liberation Front stayed away from Sunday's meeting. The party in a letter to Sirisena said that he was the creator of the crisis so he should end it. The party said it had no reason to attend the meeting. Speaker Karu Jayasuriya, who on Wednesday announced there is no prime minister or government following a no-confidence motion against disputed prime minister Rajapaksa, also boycotted the meeting. Sirisena and Jayasuriya are at loggerheads ever since Jayasuriya decided to summon parliament on November 14 despite Sirisena's dissolution of the the assembly to hold fresh elections. The chaos on Friday in Parliament forced the Speaker Jayasuriya to summon police inside the House. ALSO READ | All you need to know about Sri Lanka's escalating political turmoil Jayasuriya, using a microphone, conducted the proceedings while standing on the floor of Parliament, which for the second time passed a no-confidence motion against Rajapaksa and his government by a voice vote. Jayasuriya first offered to take the vote by name, but was unable to do so because of the commotion and opted for a voice vote. He then adjourned the house until Monday. After the second vote against Rajapakse, Wickremesinghe demanded that his government be restored, but there has been no response from Sirisena yet. Wickremesinghe's party meanwhile asked Facebook to safeguard the identity of its supporters on the social media platform, fearing information sharing with what it calls the country's "illegal" government can lead to a crackdown against the users. By Associated Press KABUL: Afghan authorities say a roadside bomb has killed two local officials in the eastern Logar province. Shah Poor Ahmadzai, spokesman for the provincial police chief, says that the acting district chief and intelligence director in the Baraki Barak district were killed in the blast late Saturday as they were heading toward the district headquarters. The Taliban claimed responsibility for the attack. The insurgents carry out near-daily attacks targeting security forces and government officials, including by planting roadside bombs, which often kill civilians. The Taliban have seized control of nearly half the country in recent years. By PTI COLOMBO: Sri Lanka's President Maithripala Sirisena on Sunday held an all-party meeting to end a political crisis set off by his controversial decision to remove the country's prime minister last month. The crisis erupted when President Sirisena suddenly announced he had sacked prime minister Ranil Wickremesinghe and installed Mahinda Rajapaksa in his place. Sirisena later dissolved Parliament, almost 20 months before its term was to end, and ordered snap election. The Supreme Court on Tuesday overturned President Sirisena's controversial decision to dissolve Parliament and halted the preparations for snap polls on January 5. The crisis talks came two days after Sri Lanka's parliament witnessed unprecedented violence as lawmakers threw furniture and chilli powder at each other. This is the first time since the crisis erupted on October 26 that Sirisena, Wickremsinghe and Rajapaksa met face to face. The JVP or the People's Liberation Front stayed away from Sunday's meeting. The party in a letter to Sirisena said that he was the creator of the crisis so he should end it. The party said it had no reason to attend the meeting. Speaker Karu Jayasuriya, who on Wednesday announced there is no prime minister or government following a no-confidence motion against disputed prime minister Rajapaksa, also boycotted the meeting. Sirisena and Jayasuriya are at loggerheads ever since Jayasuriya decided to summon parliament on November 14 despite Sirisena's dissolution of the the assembly to hold fresh elections. After the second vote against Rajapakse on Friday, Wickremesinghe demanded that his government be restored, but there has been no response from Sirisena yet. LONDON, Nov. 17 (Xinhua) -- British Prime Minister Theresa May revealed Saturday how she ended one of the busiest days of her time in Downing Street by going home to do the washing. May spent the weekend contacting leading Conservatives, seeking to win support for the draft Brexit agreement agreed earlier this week by the majority of her front bench ministers. So far a threatened challenge to May has not materialised, with political commentators saying the required 48 names needed among MPs to trigger a vote of no confidence had not yet been reached. More leading supporters rallied to May's support, with environment minister Therese Coffey saying in a radio interview Saturday that May would win a vote of no confidence very convincingly. Coffey said she was confident May has delivered on the result of the 2016 EU membership referendum, adding the withdrawal agreement is only temporary. Media reports in London also said Saturday that five leading ministers are hoping to persuade May to make changes to her draft Brexit proposals. The five ministers were named widely in media reports as Andrea Leadsom, leader of the House of Commons, Environment Secretary Gove, International Trade Secretary Liam Fox, Transport Secretary Chris Grayling, and International Development Secretary Penny Mordaunt. They specifically want to change the part regarding the arrangements for the border between Northern Ireland and Ireland which has been one of the main sticking points in talks with Brussels. Meanwhile, in an exclusive interview with the Daily Mail newspaper Saturday, May gave a rare glimpse of life behind the scenes for Britain's most important politician. Describing her determined demeanor during the interview as a "picture of calm under the circumstances", the newspaper asked May about the day this week when she faced hours of questions in the House of Commons, and was told that four of her ministers, including her Brexit Secretary had resigned. May, who is diabetic and relies on insulin, had an air of steely composure as she talked candidly about her marriage, her faith, and how she copes with plotters within her own Conservative Party. She said of her week: "It's been a pretty heavy couple of days", admitting to the Mail that when she went up to her Downing Street living area late on Wednesday the first thing her husband Philip did was to pour her a whisky. May told the Mail she could not survive the pressure cooker of politics without her husband at her side. "I always say he is my rock. It's hugely important to have somebody there who is supportive of you, not involved in the intricacies of politics, but there to provide human support," said May candidly. The couple met when they were both at Oxford University when, according to May, he was as politically ambitious as she was. "He thinks what I am doing is important for the British people, though he doesn't put it like that. He says 'Keep going, this matters, keep doing the right thing,'" added May. May also said her husband feels the pain of the vicious personal attacks on her by Conservative Party critics even more than she does. She told the Mail: "It's often harder for the other half because they are watching it and feel protective and think 'Why are they saying that to my wife?' He does feel some of the hurt himself -- he's bound to. We've been married for 38 years, that's a long time." After talking about the domesticity of home and family life, May, said the Mail, went onto the defensive when the topic turned to Brexit. When challenged over claims that the European Union (EU) would be able veto Britain leaving the EU customs union, May retorted: "No, no, no, no. In the future we will leave customs union." Eliot Hall features rusticated brick piers and an elaborately shaped portico at its front facade. The Fung Ping Shan Building at the University of Hong Kong is a three-storey building with a red-brick facade, carved granite ornaments, a prominent glass dome on the roof and a symmetrical elevation. The Government today declared the exteriors of Fung Ping Shan Building, Eliot Hall and May Hall at the University of Hong Kong as monuments. The declaration, under the Antiquities & Monuments Ordinance, was gazetted today. Fung Ping Shan Building was opened in 1932 as a library for Chinese books thanks to the generous donation by the late Fung Ping-shan. It was renamed the University Museum & Art Gallery in 1994, before its new wing in the TT Tsui Building opened to the public in 1996. Designed by Leigh & Orange, the three-storey Fung Ping Shan Building has a red-brick facade, carved granite ornaments, a prominent glass dome on the roof and a symmetrical elevation. The overall design also reflects distinctive architectural features, including a fan-shaped floor plan. Most of its old finely carved hardwood doors and windows with original brass fittings are still in place. Eliot Hall was opened in 1914 as the second student residential hall under the direct management of the university and it was named after the first Vice-Chancellor of the University Sir Charles Eliot. May Hall was opened in 1915 to become the third student residential hall under the direct management of the university and it was named after the second Chancellor of the University and the 15th Governor of Hong Kong Sir Francis Henry May. Both halls, designed by Denison, Ram & Gibbs, have elegant facades featuring a rich variety of architectural elements, including curved pediments over the entrance doorways, rusticated columns, doric capitals, window cills, cornices and balustrades. Click here for details. Director of Health Dr Constance Chan and Controller of the Centre for Health Protection Dr Wong Ka-hing visited Pentecostal Yu Leung Fat Primary School in Fanling today to observe schoolchildren receive vaccinations against winter influenza. The vaccination service is being provided under the Department of Healths School Outreach Vaccination Pilot Programme, which has been underway since October 22 to reach out to 184 primary schools to help students prepare for the winter influenza season. Dr Chan said: "Today's vaccination activity was performed by a Government Outreach Team. About 740 pupils, over 80% of the total number of pupils, consented to receive seasonal influenza vaccination at the school. We are pleased to see that the outreach vaccination arrangement has been smooth and the school and parents have been very supportive of the activity. Home-school co-operation is of vital importance to raising vaccination coverage." As it takes about two weeks for antibodies to develop in the body after vaccination, Dr Chan reminded parents to consider vaccination for their children as soon as possible. In addition to the programme, the department has also rolled out the Enhanced Vaccination Subsidy Scheme Outreach Vaccination this year. Under the this programme, schools can invite participating doctors from a list on the Centre for Health Protections website to arrange outreach vaccination service at their campus. No tendering will be required by the schools and no extra service fees will be charged by the doctors to schools or students. Dr Chan called on primary schools, kindergartens and childcare centres which have not participated in the pilot programme to arrange outreach vaccination as early as possible for their students through the enhanced programme, which has been underway since October 10. As of November 9, 109 doctors had signed up for the enhanced programme, she said, adding 91 primary schools and 87 kindergartens and childcare centres will arrange outreach vaccinations under it. Click here for details on the vaccination programmes. Chief Secretary Matthew Cheung Hong Kong is a cosmopolitan city with over 260,000 non-Chinese ethnic minorities of diverse backgrounds. The Indian, Pakistani and Nepalese communities have established roots in Hong Kong for more than a century. Generations of ethnic minorities have contributed greatly to the social, economic and cultural development of Hong Kong. However, owing to cultural difference and language barriers, they usually form separate community clusters, among which there is little interaction. I am delighted to see that the federation, which is the first of its kind, is formed to unite various ethnic minority communities in Hong Kong and pursue the common goal of contributing positively to the betterment of Hong Kong. I note that the federation has members from the Indian, Pakistani, Nepalese and Bangladeshi communities and welcomes other ethnic minority communities with open arms. The current-term Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government is committed to building an inclusive and caring society to bring together people from different backgrounds to live and work here. In view of the increasingly diverse needs of our ethnic minority communities, we have set up a Steering Committee on Ethnic Minority Affairs, chaired by myself as the Chief Secretary, to enhance cross-bureau collaboration and will be spending over $500 million starting from 2019-20 to strengthen support on all fronts for ethnic minorities. We are committed to providing support services to help ethnic minorities integrate into the community. To facilitate barrier-free access to these services, the HKSAR Government will improve the Administrative Guidelines on Promotion of Racial Equality for application to all government bureaus and departments as well as related public organisations providing services to ethnic minorities. At present, the Home Affairs Department has commissioned non-government organisations to operate eight support service centres for ethnic minorities which provide a wide range of services, including language classes, integration programmes and counselling services. Over 96,000 people can benefit from these centres each year. Starting from 2019-20, the services of these centres will be further strengthened, particularly those services catering for ethnic minority new arrivals and youths. One of these centres, the CHEER Centre, provides translation and interpretation services to connect ethnic minorities to public service providers. Additional funding has been earmarked to enhance its existing services for seven ethnic minority languages and introduce new services in Vietnamese. To encourage interaction and exchange between the ethnic minority and local communities, we will engage all relevant stakeholders such as ethnic minority organisations and district organisations to organise more district-based activities. We wish that these activities can help break the ice between ethnic minority and Chinese residents. We are also mindful of the needs of some ethnic minorities for support in seeking employment. Some of them may still grapple with challenges such as language barriers and cultural differences when finding jobs. Over the past years, the Government has implemented various measures to promote employment for the ethnic minorities. The Labour Department seeks to provide employment support services which cater for the needs of ethnic minority job seekers. Dedicated services such as special counters, resource corners and tailor-made employment briefings are in place at all job centres. Experienced employment officers who are familiar with the local employment market can offer them personalised employment advisory services, such as job search advice and job matching services. Free interpretation services are also provided for job seekers who can neither speak Chinese nor English to facilitate their access to Labour Department's employment services. In parallel, riding on its employer network spanning different industries and occupations, Labour Department actively canvasses suitable vacancies for them. It also organises inclusive job fairs targeting at ethnic minority job seekers to enhance their employment opportunities. The Labour Department has also implemented the Employment Services Ambassador Programme for Ethnic Minorities to encourage trainees of the Youth Employment & Training Programme who are proficient in ethnic minority languages to undergo six-month on-the-job training at job centres, industry-based recruitment centres and job fairs. The programme aims to help the Labour Department better serve ethnic minority job seekers while enhancing young trainees' work experience and benefiting their job search in the open market. The Labour Department has so far employed 127 young trainees since the launch of the programme. I must stress that the Government spares no effort in maintaining close connection with the ethnic minority communities and relevant service providers to explore new avenues to explore new opportunities for ethnic minorities. To further capitalise on the community network and experience in serving the ethnic minorities, the Labour Department will launch a pilot programme in conjunction with NGOs to provide one-stop employment services for ethnic minority job seekers through a case management approach to help remove hurdles to their employment and upgrade their skills. To facilitate our non-Chinese speaking community's access to public services, we have published a leaflet on the support measures for ethnic minorities in English, Chinese and six ethnic minority languages. To build a harmonious and inclusive society, Government's effort alone is not enough. We need the support of the community. We will launch the second phase of the Member Self-recommendation Scheme for Youth next month. I would like to take this opportunity to invite aspiring ethnic minority youths to actively participate in the scheme and bring your voice into the Government. Chief Secretary Matthew Cheung gave these remarks at the Inauguration Ceremony of the Federation of Hong Kong Ethnic Communities on November 16. PORT MORESBY, Nov. 17 (Xinhua) -- Chinese President Xi Jinping delivered here Saturday a keynote speech titled Jointly Charting a Course Toward a Brighter Future at the APEC CEO Summit. The following is the full text of the speech: Jointly Charting a Course Toward a Brighter Future Keynote Speech by H.E. Xi Jinping President of the People's Republic of China At the APEC CEO Summit Port Moresby, 17 November 2018 Honorable Prime Minister Peter O'Neill, Chairman Isikeli Taureka, Members of the business community, Ladies and gentlemen, Good Morning! It gives me great pleasure to come to the picturesque city of Port Moresby and meet with you on board Pacific Explorer. As we brave the rough waters of the global economy and confront the many risks and challenges, it is all too befitting that we have come together on this ship to chart the course for future development and cooperation. The theme of this CEO Summit, "Inclusion in the Age of Disruption: Charting a Common Future", couldn't be more important. The world today is going through major development, transformation and change. While economic globalization surges forward, global growth is shadowed by protectionism and unilateralism. A new revolution in science, technology and industry is in the making; but old driving forces are yet to be replaced by new ones. The international landscape is undergoing profound changes, but imbalance in development is yet to be addressed. The reform of the global governance system is gathering momentum, but improving its efficiency remains a major challenge. The changes we are encountering in the world are unseen in a century. Changes create opportunities, but more often than not, they are accompanied by risks and challenges. Mankind has once again reached a crossroads. Which direction should we choose? Cooperation or confrontation? Openness or closing one's door? Win-win progress or a zero-sum game? The interests of all countries and indeed, the future of mankind hinge on the choice we make. A review of the world's modern history clearly shows that different choices would lead the world onto different paths. In the Asia-Pacific, the establishment of APEC is such a success story. Its birth and growth echoed the historical trend of openness and integration, our region's fervent desire for development and our people's need to meet challenges through cooperation. Openness and cooperation in the Asia-Pacific has not only boosted its prosperity but also injected vitality into the vast ocean of global economy. Today's Asia-Pacific has the world's most dynamic and promising economy, which is recognized as a key engine driving global growth. However, not all that happened in the past are success stories. Mankind has learned lessons the hard way. World War II, for instance, plunged mankind into the abyss of calamity in the last century. Not far away from where we are meeting now are the sites of the fierce Battle of the Coral Sea and the Battle of Guadalcanal in World War II. Today, this part of the ocean has long restored its peace and calm, but never should we forget the lessons of history. An ancient Chinese philosopher observed that one needs to clean the mirror before taking a look at himself and that one should learn the lessons of the past before making decisions of the day. In reviewing history, we should draw its lessons to prevent the recurrence of past tragedies. Facing the surging historical trend, we need to ask ourselves: How can we steer the right course for global economic development? How can the international community find an effective way of conducting global governance? I believe it is imperative that we keep the following focuses: First, we should focus on openness to create more space for development. Economic globalization is the sure way for the human society to achieve development, and the multilateral trading system has created opportunities for us all. In today's world, countries' interests are so closely intertwined, and the global supply chain, industrial chain and value chain are so closely connected. We are all links of the global chain of cooperation; increasingly, we are becoming one and same community with shared interests and a shared future. This is the working of the laws of economics, a fact no one can change. We need to gain a keen appreciation of this underlying trend of our times and view the changing world for what it is and, on that basis, respond to new developments and meet new challenges in a responsible and rules-based way. Attempts to erect barriers and cut the close economic ties among countries work against the laws of economics and the trend of history and run counter to the shared desire of people around the world. This is a short-sighted approach and it is doomed to failure. Each era faces problems of its day. Problems themselves are not to be afraid of; what truly matters is for us to take a right approach to resolve the problems. Resorting to old practices such as protectionism and unilateralism will not resolve problems. On the contrary, they can only add uncertainties to the global economy. Only openness and cooperation can bring more opportunities and create more space for development. This is a well proven historical fact. One who chooses to close his door will only cut himself off from the rest of the world and lose his direction. APEC is a pioneer in building an open global economy. As the Bogor Goals are set for 2020, we should set our sights on post-2020 cooperation and endeavor to build a free trade area of the Asia-Pacific (FTAAP). We should say no to protectionism and unilateralism, uphold the WTO-centered multilateral trading system, make economic globalization more open, inclusive, balanced and beneficial to all, and expand converging interests and share opportunities through opening-up and cooperation. Second, we should focus on development to deliver more benefits to our peoples. More than anything else, we should strive to deliver better lives to our people. Every country is entitled to an equal right to development; and no one has the right or the power to stop people in developing countries from pursuing a better life. We should strengthen development cooperation and help developing countries eliminate poverty so that people in all countries will live better lives. This is what fairness is essentially about; it is also a moral responsibility of the international community. We should make the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development a part of our national development strategies, promote coordinated advances in the economic, social and environmental fields, pursue inclusive development in keeping with our respective national conditions, and forge equal and balanced global development partnerships. Developed countries should honor their commitments on official development assistance and increase support to developing countries. We should give priority to development in international economic policy coordination and have a clear focus on development when adopting policies and rules on trade and investment, IPR protection, the digital economy and other areas. By doing so, we can create more opportunities and a more enabling environment for the development of all countries as well as robust drivers and a stable environment for global growth. The principle of "special and differential treatment", which is a cornerstone of the WTO, is not to be challenged. Otherwise the very foundation of the multilateral trading system will be shaken. Third, we should focus on inclusiveness and promote interactions. We live on the same planet. It is home to more than 200 countries and regions, 2,500-plus ethnic groups and over 7 billion people. Trying to erase their differences will not work. Such differences are not a hindrance to exchanges, still less a cause for confrontation. Diversity and interaction between different civilizations, social systems and paths can provide strong impetus for human progress. We should reject arrogance and prejudice, be respectful of and inclusive toward others, and embrace the diversity of our world. We should seek common ground while putting aside differences, draw upon each other's strengths and pursue co-existence in harmony and win-win cooperation. When it comes to choosing a development path for a country, no one is in a better position to make the decision than the people of that country. Just as one does not expect a single prescription to cure all diseases, one should not expect a particular model of development to fit all countries. Blindly copying the development model of others will only be counterproductive, so will be any attempt to impose one's own development model on others. Fourth, we should focus on innovation to tap new sources of growth. Breakthroughs are being made one after another in frontier areas such as information technology, life sciences, smart manufacturing and green energy, and new materials, new products and new business forms are replacing existing ones at a faster pace. Big data, 3D printing and artificial intelligence, which we read about only in science fiction in the past, are now part of our daily life. The future is already with us. In a boat race, those who row the hardest will win. If we do not move proactively to adapt to the surging tide of new scientific revolution and industrial transformation, we risk missing valuable opportunities or even falling behind the times. What we should do is to lose no time in making every effort to explore new growth drivers and development paths, and remove all institutional obstacles holding back innovation. We should boost innovation and market vitality and deepen international exchanges and cooperation on innovation so as to better meet our respective and common challenges in development. The sweeping new scientific revolution and industrial transformation will have a profound impact on the mode of production, way of life and values of human society. The need to strike a balance between equity and efficiency, capital and labor, technology and employment has become a common challenge for the international community. If not handled properly, this issue will further widen the wealth gap between the North and the South. We should gain a keen understanding of the complex dimensions of this issue and make the right decision. This will enable us to steer the new scientific revolution and industrial transformation in the right direction. Scientific and technological innovations should meet people's needs. Every country is entitled to benefit from such innovations made through both their own efforts and international cooperation. Scientific and technological innovations should not be locked up or become profit-making tools for just a few. The IPR regime is designed to protect and encourage innovation, not to create or widen the scientific and technological divide. We should develop policy institutions and systems that are responsive to the new scientific revolution and industrial transformation, and foster an enabling environment for international cooperation that will deliver the fruits of innovation to more countries and peoples. Fifth, we should focus on a rules-based approach to improve global governance. With the painful lessons of two world wars in mind, countries established the global governance framework underpinned by the United Nations and composed of the IMF, the World Bank, the WTO and other institutions. This framework, while not an ideal one, represents an important step in human history. Indeed, it has been pivotal to global peace and development in the past decades. We must strengthen rules-based global governance if we are to achieve stability and development. Rules should be formulated by the international community, not in a might-is-right way. Once the rules are made, they should not be followed or bent as one sees fit, and they should not be applied with double standards for selfish agendas. For the system of global economic governance to be equitable and efficient, it must keep up with the times. We should advance the reform of the global governance system on the principle of conducting consultation and collaboration for shared benefits. This reform should be advanced on the basis of equality, openness, transparency and inclusiveness. Developing countries should have more say and greater representation in this process. Disagreements should be resolved through consultation. Attempts to form exclusive blocs or impose one's will on others should be rejected. History has shown that confrontation, whether in the form of a cold war, a hot war or a trade war, will produce no winners. We believe that there exist no issues that countries cannot resolve through consultation as long as they handle these issues in a spirit of equality, mutual understanding and accommodation. Ladies and gentlemen, Friends, In 1978, China embarked on the great journey of reform and opening-up. Over the past 40 years, the Chinese people, with vision, hard work and perseverance, have forged ahead and taken a historic stride. We have stood up, become prosperous and grown in strength. We the Chinese nation are moving forward toward great rejuvenation. -- Over the past 40 years, the Chinese people have blazed a new trail and made solid progress. With enterprise and grit and through self-reliance, we have turned China into the world's second biggest economy, making tremendous advances in our country's development and the improvement of people's lives. It is the relentless efforts of the Chinese people that have made China what it is today! -- Over the past 40 years, the Chinese people have embraced the world with open arms. China has pursued its development through opening-up. As a result, China's import and export of goods have grown by 198 times and those of services by over 147 times. China has attracted more than US$2 trillion in foreign investment. It has become the world's biggest trader of goods, the biggest tourism market and a major trading partner with over 130 countries. -- Over the past 40 years, the Chinese people have pursued development with a single focus and made lives better for ourselves. Guided by a people-centered development philosophy, between 1978 and 2017 China raised its per capita disposable income by 22.8 times, lifted 740 million people out of poverty and doubled the number of jobs created. We have achieved free compulsory primary and middle-school education nationwide and established the world's biggest social safety net. Thanks to these accomplishments, our people now feel more secure and have a greater sense of fulfillment and contentment. -- Over the past 40 years, the Chinese people have pursued our own development to achieve development for all. China has stayed on the path of peaceful development, got actively involved in global economic governance, and actively supported other developing countries in their development. We have implemented responsible macroeconomic policies and contributed a significant share of global growth. We have played our part in responding to the Asian financial crisis and the global financial crisis. By so doing, China has contributed its vision and input to building a community with a shared future for mankind. Five years ago, I announced the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), which aims to enhance connectivity among countries and regions, promote interconnected development, and create new space for global growth. This initiative has won wide international endorsement in the past five years. China has signed BRI cooperation documents with over 140 countries and international organizations, and a large number of cooperation projects have been launched under this Initiative. Let me make this clear: the BRI is an open platform for cooperation. It is guided by the principle of consultation and collaboration for shared benefits. It is not designed to serve any hidden geopolitical agenda, it is not targeted against anyone and it does not exclude anyone. It is not an exclusive club that is closed to non-members, nor is it a "trap" as some people have labeled it. Rather, the BRI is a major and transparent initiative with which China shares opportunities and pursues common development with the rest of the world. In April next year, China will host the second Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation in Beijing, and we welcome members of the Asia-Pacific business community to this event. As we look back over the four decades of reform and opening-up, we in China are more convinced than ever before that only through reform and opening-up can China develop itself. Going forward, China will take an even more responsible approach, be even more open and inclusive, and strive to achieve even higher quality of growth. By doing so, as it develops itself, China will make greater contributions to the common prosperity of the world. China will continue to significantly expand market access, strengthen IPR protection, and do more to increase imports. Since the beginning of this year, China has announced a host of new measures for further opening-up, which include the following: creating a more attractive investment and business environment, significantly lowering the tariffs for 1,449 consumer goods and 1,585 industrial goods, further cutting the tariffs for automobiles and auto parts to 13.8 percent and 6 percent respectively, and eliminating tariffs on all imported anti-cancer drugs. With a new round of tariff cuts coming into effect on 1 November, China's overall tariff rates have been reduced to 7.5 percent, lower than the majority of developing countries and beyond the commitment China made upon its accession to the WTO. China has released a new negative list on foreign investment, and will further open up finance, automobiles, aircraft, ships and other sectors. According to a recent World Bank report, China has moved up over 30 places in the ease of doing business ranking over the past year and is among the economies with the most significant improvement. China views all companies, both Chinese and foreign, as equals. China welcomes and encourages fair competition among them, and will fully protect their legitimate rights and interests. A week ago, the first China International Import Expo (CIIE) was successfully held in Shanghai. It was attended by 172 countries, regions and international organizations, over 3,600 companies, and more than 400,000 Chinese and foreign buyers. Deals worth US$57.8 billion were sealed. The Hongqiao International Economic and Trade Forum, held as part of the Expo, attracted over 4,500 leading personalities from various sectors around the world. With such actual steps, China has demonstrated its commitment to trade liberalization and opening-up of its market. I wish to welcome you all to the second CIIE to be held next year. I am confident that the large market of China, with a population of close to 1.4 billion, will be a source of dynamic growth for the global economy. Many of you present today have witnessed, contributed to and benefited from China's reform and opening-up, and have forged a special bond with China. The business community is an important force driving the economic development of the Asia-Pacific and the wider world. As entrepreneurs, you should bring out your best and ride the waves of economic globalization. I hope you will continue to share your insights with decision makers, encourage countries to adopt positive and practical policies and carry out extensive economic and technological cooperation. Together, we can open a new horizon for the common development and prosperity of the Asia-Pacific and the world at large. Ladies and gentlemen, Dear friends, We APEC member economies are brought together by the Pacific Ocean. I was looking at the vast ocean when I boarded the ship, and it struck me that we are all indeed fellow passengers in the same boat. Let us keep the steering wheel steady and paddle in the right direction so that the ship of the global economy will brave winds, break waves and sail to a brighter future. Thank you! (Newser) Joshua Quick is being hailed as a heronow, if only he would agree. "I want to offer my gratitude to everybody," said the second-year Florida State University law student Friday at a meeting of FSU's board of trustees, per the Tallahassee Democrat. "Thank you all for the recognition I don't feel I deserve." FSU President John Thrasher and the board promised at least $30,000 of their own money to pay Quick's school costs for his actions during the Nov. 2 hot-yoga shooting in Tallahassee. "We are going to start an effort to take care of the rest of his time at our law school," said Thrasher, who expressed hope the board would give more. "I want you to know how much gratitude we have for what you did." story continues below Quick has stayed humble about his actions that day. On Good Morning America, Quick said he only struck shooter Scott Beierle with his own gun because the weapon had stopped firing, per USA Today. The 40-year-old assailant pistol-whipped Quick until bloodied, but the student kept fighting: "I jumped up as quickly as I could, ran back over and next thing you know, I'm grabbing a broom, anything I can," said Quick. "And I hit him again." Quick's actions allowed others to escape the studio where two womenDr. Nancy Van Nessem, 61, and student Maura Binkley, 21were murdered in cold blood and five were wounded. "I want to thank that guy from the bottom of my heart," says survivor Daniela Garcia Albalat, "because he saved my life." (Beierle demeaned women in YouTube videos.) (Newser) Andrew Gillum has ended his race for Florida governor, Time reports. In a Facebook video, the Democrat conceded the race Saturday after finding himself 30,000 votes behind Republican Ron DeSantis in a legally mandated machine recount. DeSantis' margin was above the 0.25 percentage points required for a manual recount, notes NPR. story continues below "This has been the journey of our lives. We've been so honored by the support that weve received, Gillum says in the video, per CNBC. We know that this fight continues, in spite of the outcome of this election." Gillum conceded on election night but retracted his concession a few days later when absentee ballots narrowed DeSantis' margin. (The Florida Senate race is headed for a manual recount.) (Newser) A privately-owned vintage World War II Mustang fighter airplane that had participated in a flyover for a museum event crashed into the parking lot of a Texas apartment complex Saturday, killing the pilot and a passenger, authorities said. Texas Department of Public Safety Sgt. Orlando Moreno confirmed the two people on board had died in the crash in Fredericksburg, about 70 miles north of San Antonio, but he did not identify them, the AP reports. The aircraft was destroyed and several vehicles in the parking lot damaged, Federal Aviation Administration spokesman Lynn Lunsford said. Photos from the crash site showed pieces of the plane on top of parked vehicles. There were no immediate reports of injuries or deaths on the ground. story continues below The P-51D Mustang fighter was returning after performing a flyover during a living history show at the National Museum of the Pacific War, museum director Rorie Cartier told the AP in an email. Fredericksburg is home to the museum. The museum said on Twitter that one of those in the plane was a military veteran. "We are extremely saddened by the unfortunate accident this afternoon that claimed the lives of two wonderful people. We express our deepest condolences to the families of both on board," Cartier said. The Mustang was first built by North American Aviation in 1940 and was used by the US military in World War II and the Korean War. The National Transportation Safety Board and the FAA said they would investigate. (This man crashed a plane into his own home.) (Newser) A young man who gave a teenager drugs, watched her OD, raped her, and joked about her dead body via text received his sentence Thursday: less than three years. Superior Court Judge Linda Krese said Washington state law restricted the sentence she could give a first-time offender like Brian Varela, 20, in the death and rape of 18-year-old Alyssa Noceda, per the Herald. Krese described herself as "surprised, even outraged" by the 2-year, 10-month sentence, saying car thieves have gone away for longer. "I'm not sure the legislature really contemplated something like this." The nightmare story dates back to February, when Noceda went to a mobile-home party near Martha Lake, Wash., and snorted crushed pills along with a little concentrated THC in Varela's room. A minute later, says Varela, she collapsed. story continues below Filled with a fatal combination of what tests later showed to be fentanyl and alprazolam (a generic Xanax), Noceda lay there while Varela texted coworkers pics of her partly nude body. Varela texted "LOL," a friend wrote back "Bro you killed her," and Varela responded, "But not joking she od bruh" and said he hardly cared because he was assaulting her "to pass the time." Varela later packed her in a crate, used her thumbprint to hack her iPhone, and created a Snapchat post implying she had run away. Varela said two things in court: "I'm sorry for my foolish actions. Whatever I get is what I deserve." Initially charged with first-degree manslaughter and second-degree rape, per the Herald, he reached a plea agreement in September knocking each charge down a notch. (A lawyer referred to a teen's lacy thong in her rape trial.) (Newser) President Donald Trump is name-calling Democratic Rep. Adam Schiff for saying Matthew Whitaker's appointment as acting attorney general is unconstitutional, the AP reports. Trump says Schiff shouldn't complain that Whitaker wasn't confirmed by the Senate because neither was special counsel Robert Mueller, who's investigating 2016 election interference and possible ties between Moscow and Trump's campaign. The Justice Department appoints special counsels. Critics contend Trump illegally sidestepped procedure by appointing Whitaker over Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein, who's been confirmed. story continues below Trump's tweet calls Schiff "little Adam Schitt." Schiff's response: "That's a good one. Was that like your answers to Mr. Mueller's questions, or did you write this one yourself?" Trump on Friday claimed that he, not his lawyers, wrote answers to questions from Mueller. Trump says he'll submit them soon to Mueller's team. Schiff, the incoming House Intelligence Committee chair, has said Democrats might look into whether Trump used "instruments of state power" to punish news organizations. (Read more President Trump stories.) WASHINGTON, Nov. 17 (Xinhua) -- The United States and Ukraine announced on Friday that they would set up three working groups, including one focused on security, with an aim to "withstand Russian pressure." The announcement came after U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and Ukrainian Foreign Minister Pavlo Klimkin met on Friday as part of the 2018 U.S.-Ukraine Strategic Partnership Commission Meeting in Washington, DC. The three working groups planned include one focused on security, another on the rule of law and humanitarian issues and the third on the economy and energy, the two sides said in a joint statement issued through the U.S. State Department. The groups will meet regularly to discuss areas of mutual concern and advance joint objectives, they said. The United States confirmed its commitment to maintain sanctions against Russia related to its behavior against Ukraine, while Ukraine reaffirmed that joining the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) remains a strategic priority. Russia has yet to respond to the announcement. Relations between Kiev and Moscow have been deteriorating since early 2014 over Crimea and armed conflicts in eastern Ukraine. The two sides have put in place sanctions against each other, while the United States has also put in place sanctions against Russian individuals and entities, citing what it said was Russian aggression against Ukraine, which Moscow denied. Moscow also accused Ukraine of unfriendly actions against Russian citizens and entities. The U.S. State Department has also said that it might impose another round of sanctions on Russia over the latter's alleged involvement in the nerve agent attack on a former Russian spy in Britain in March. The strategic alliance between the Kingdom and the US was highlighted as the US Senate discussed the proposal to block arms sale to the Kingdom. The US Senate rejected a longshot effort to block $300 million in arms sales to Bahrain, as the bills opponents stressed the island nation was a critical ally hosting an American naval base. The effort, led by Republican Senator Rand Paul, failed as the US Senate voted 77 to 21 to table the measure, essentially killing it. Critics of the bill warned that punishment of Bahrain would be misplaced, especially as 7,800 US military personnel are deployed there on a base that hosts the US Navys Fifth Fleet, which helps protect American interests in the region. Bahrain is strategically located between Saudi Arabia and Iran, they highlighted. Canadian rock legend Neil Young has criticised US President Donald Trump for his gross mismanagement comment regarding the California wildfire. The wildfire is currently raging in northern and southern California and has claimed Youngs home, reports hollywoodreporter.com. He broke the news with a post on the Neil Young Archives, in which he blasted Trumps reluctance to act on climate change and for the presidents steadfast denial of scientific evidence. Young wrote: We are vulnerable because of climate change; the extreme weather events and our extended drought is part of it. Los Angeles County firefighters attack flames approaching the Salvation Army camps in Malibu Creek State Park during the Woolsey Fire on November 10 near Malibu. Local residents are up against something bigger than we have ever seen, he continued. Its too big for some to see at all. Firefighters have never seen anything like this in their lives. I have heard that said countless times in the past two days, and I have lost my home before to a California fire, now another. Young, a Canadian citizen cant vote in US elections, but he remains a tireless campaigner on environmental issues. He has maintained the years-long rift with Trump. The rockers post references Trumps controversial tweet which blamed gross mismanagement for the devastating wildfire, which have displaced hundreds of thousands of Californians. Trumps comment has been condemned by a wave of professionals from the music community, including Katy Perry, Lady Gaga, John Legend and entrepreneur Scooter Braun. Young concluded his open letter by saying: Imagine a leader who defies science, saying these solutions shouldnt be part of his decision-making on our behalf. Imagine a leader who cares more for his own, convenient option than he does for the people he leads. Imagine an unfit leader. Now imagine a fit one. A British supermarke t chains viral commercial about an orangutan left homeless because of deforestation from palm oil planting was slammed as a cheap publicity stunt by a major industry body yesterday. The Christmas ad -- which features a cartoon orangutan telling a little girl that its jungle home had been destroyed -- has racked up millions of views on social media and sparked the trending hashtag #NoPalmOilChristmas on Twitter. The multi-billion-dollar palm oil industry was not impressed by the Iceland ad, dubbed Rang-tan, which calls for consumers to be aware of the environmental impact of the worlds most widely used vegetable oil. Banning palm oil is not the solution. Boycotting is not the solution, Darrel Webber, chief executive of the Malaysia-based Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil (RSPO), said yesterday. Retailers margins are very small these days. The cheapest way to get publicity is the best way for them, he added. Frozen food specialist Iceland has previously announced it would stop using palm oil, found in everything from margarine and biscuits to soap and shampoo, over concerns that it causes widespread environmental destruction. We have not removed palm oil from our own label food as a marketing gimmick, but to raise public awareness of the continuing destruction of the rainforest, Iceland managing director Richard Walker said in an email to Bloomberg News. Papua New Guinea (PNG) was committed to cementing friendship with China, promoting the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) cooperation and building a mutually beneficial bilateral relationship, PNG Prime Minister Peter O'Neill told Peoples Daily during a recent interview. The remarks were made before Chinese President Xi Jinpings state visit to PNG and his attendance at the 26th APEC Economic Leaders Meeting in Port Moresby, capital of PNG. President Xi is a very good friend of PNG, O'Neill remarked. He said that he had visited China and met with President Xi many times since he took office 7 years ago, and established profound friendship with the latter. The PNG government supported Chinas proposals on UN reform, climate change and multi-lateral trading system, the Prime Minister noted. ONeill told Peoples Daily that the PNG government attached great importance to its relations with China, saying the two countries enjoyed mutual sincerity on both governmental and non-governmental levels, stable bilateral relations, as well as smooth cooperation in multiple fields. PNG is committed to the one-China policy. Im certain that we all have the same beliefs and values about the issues that President Xi Jinping pursues and supports in international community, ONeill noted. PNG is Chinas largest trading partner and investment destination among Pacific island countries, and China remains PNGs third largest trading partner in the world. By October this year, Chinas foreign direct investment (FDI) stock in PNG has reached $3.04 billion. In addition, about 40 Chinese enterprises have conducted business in PNG, creating substantial employment for local community. Its pleasing to know that Chinese business community is starting to take interests in Papua New Guinea and start to invest in PNG, he said, believing Chinese enterprises injected new energy to PNG market and promoted local economy. China had lifted over 700 million people out of poverty during the past 4 decades, a miracle in the human history of poverty reduction, ONeill noted. We can learn from the success of China and build our own country better, he said. PNG had abundant mineral, energy, fishing and agricultural resources needed for economic development, but lacks capital, technologies, and experience, the Prime Minister said, adding that the country hoped to improve the livelihood of its people under the assistance from China. ONeill noted that China made admirable achievements, saying the BRI was a great initiative in that many countries in the region could benefit . PNG was a developing country, and the BRI could satisfy the countrys urgent demand for construction capital and experience, ONeil noted. PNG not only has joined the Asia Infrastructure Investment Bank, but also is the first Pacific island country to sign the memorandum of understanding on Belt and Road construction. ONeill said that PNG supported the Belt and Road construction as it offered access to infrastructure-building capacities that his country needed and could improve the standard of living for PNG people. The APEC meeting is held in Port Moresby. The Prime Minister said PNG was grateful to China for supporting the hosting of the APEC. As China-PNG cooperation proves effective and the friendly relationship between the two countries is further deepened, ONeill believes President Xis visit will push a new development of bilateral relations. The North East Development Association, a political group, has passed a vote of confidence on the All Progressives Congress administration and called for the re-election of President Muhammadu Buhari in 2019.The group made the called in a statement jointly signed by its Chairman and Secretary, Mohammed Bulama and Bitako Umar, and issued to News Agency of Nigeria in Bauchi on Saturday.It said their decision was garnered through consultation with all the stakeholders in every sector of the region, influenced by brain cracking, arguments and counter arguments as well as careful researched efforts which formed the basis that the APC administration led by Buhari qualified for re-election.It said: This is because the history of governance in Nigeria, APC under President Buhari has done tremendously well in the sub-region.According to the statement, Buharis laudable projects had direct bearing on the lives of people in the North East and Nigerians.It explained that their support was based on the presidents numerous achievements in the areas of security, corruption, agriculture and economy, among others, in the region and the entire country at large.The group said the need for a second term was in order to also sustain the ongoing war against corruption and effective management of Nigerias resources.It said: Buharis re-election would ensure continuity in the positive affairs of the nation.The people of the region must also play their parts in the task of nation-building by supporting President Buhari-led governments effort at moving the country forward.The group reiterated that its decision was based partly in recognition of the laudable achievements of the president and his team in the last three years.We resolved that the region would remain committed to the unity of the entity called Nigeria, despite we have our son who is jostling for same seat. By Sharon Faliya Cham In 1999, not long after Obasanjo became President, the Christian community of Odi in Bayelsa State murdered... By Sharon Faliya Cham In 1999, not long after Obasanjo became President, the Christian community of Odi in Bayelsa State murdered some Mobile Policemen sent there on a peacekeeping mission. But Christian President Olusegun Obasanjo didnt waste time in ordering heavily armed soldiers to go there and wipe off that Christian community as punishment for the murdered Mobile Policemen! But Christian President Olusegun Obasanjo didnt waste time in ordering heavily armed soldiers to go there and wipe off that Christian community as punishment for the murdered Mobile Policemen! Some six or seven years later, another Christian community called Zaki Biam in Benue State murdered some soldiers sent there on another peacekeeping mission. The murder was so gruesome that they cut off the heads of some of the soldiers and stuck them on the tips of their spears, and then danced round the community with them in a primitive manner as if we were in the Africa of 1326 AD! Well, Christian President Olusegun Obasanjo didnt also waste time in sending heavily armed soldiers to this Christian community to wipe off the community in vengeance for the gruesome murder of those gallant soldiers! But what do we have today under Muslim President Muhammadu Buhari? An Army General on a trip from Abuja to Bauchi was allegedly ambushed and murdered by a very primitive community also claiming to be a Christian community in Jos, Plateau State, after which they dumped his car in a deep water pond, and then buried his corpse in a shallow grave from which they removed it and dumped it in a well after it dawned on them that the shallow grave has been discovered by military Intelligence! The only thing that made the difference here is the kind of Commander in Chief the Nigerian military currently has in power. While an impulsive and disruptive Commander in Chief would never ever waste time in avenging his murdered General by wiping off everybody within the area of the murder, a cool headed, rational and compassionate Commander in Chief like Buhari will calculate the factor of innocent people and other collateral damages within the area of the murder, and then order the military or the Army in particular to exercise restraint and allow the natural course of justice to take place! Yes, 120 lawyers! That should tell you that those primitive murderers may be enjoying the support of certain powerful persons and groups who have up till now not condemned the gruesome murder of that General. Ladies and gentlemen, this is why today, under President Buhari, instead of the Dura Du community to have been wiped off (by now) by angry soldiers over the gruesome murder of their General, we merely have the terrorists or murderers of the General hiring 120 lawyers to defend them in court!Yes, 120 lawyers! That should tell you that those primitive murderers may be enjoying the support of certain powerful persons and groups who have up till now not condemned the gruesome murder of that General. Now, if President Buhari were an ethno-religious bigot the way some corrupt, bigoted hate-preaching pastors would want you to believe, the fact that the murdered General was a Muslim would have gingered or propelled him to wink at the Army to invade that community and have it wiped off the way Obasanjo did to Odi and Zaki Biam, or the way Goodluck Ebele Jonathan had Bama town in Borno State incinerated in 2012 on the ground that people in the town killed some soldiers sent there to fight Boko Haram! Not even a word of condemnation or commiseration was heard from ex-senior military officers of those people, and neither have we heard any from their Paramount traditional ruler! Only Governor Simon Lalong and the leadership of COCIN Church were left moving around, visiting families of the murdered General as well as visiting the Defence headquarters and the President to apologise and calm frayed nerves!Now, if President Buhari were an ethno-religious bigot the way some corrupt, bigoted hate-preaching pastors would want you to believe, the fact that the murdered General was a Muslim would have gingered or propelled him to wink at the Army to invade that community and have it wiped off the way Obasanjo did to Odi and Zaki Biam, or the way Goodluck Ebele Jonathan had Bama town in Borno State incinerated in 2012 on the ground that people in the town killed some soldiers sent there to fight Boko Haram! Something tells me that the people of Odi and Zaki Biam are currently envious of the Berom people of Dura Du who killed a whole Army General and still got the privilege of having their community intact till date plus the awesome privilege of 120 lawyers to defend their killer squad that murdered the General. But as we all know, both Odi and Zaki Biam communities never had the privilege of hiring 120 lawyers to defend their own killer squads unlike their Berom brethren who both have this privilege and the other privilege of even addressing press conferences to attack and question the Armys search of the General they allegedly ambushed and murdered in their bloodied community! This can only happen under a very thoughtful, compassionate and patient President and Commander in Chief! Yet, this is the same President that bigots and vain people in Nigeria who have not hidden their love and admiration for all the rogues that plundered and ruined Nigeria love to label as a tyrant or dictator, which leaves you wondering whether the words tyrant and dictator have acquired different meanings from the meanings of the despots and rogues who ruled and ruined Nigeria from 1999 to 2015, or are we to blame the rottenness of education, morality and religious values that took center stage during those 16 years of plunder and debauchery for this penchant of calling white black and black white? By Nathan Emmanuel The report of the House of Representatives Ad-hoc Committee on Emergency and Disaster Preparedness indictin... By Nathan Emmanuel The report of the House of Representatives Ad-hoc Committee on Emergency and Disaster Preparedness indicting Vice President, Yemi Osinbajo and Engr. Mustapha Maihaja, the Director General of the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) is an eloquent proof of the deeply ingrained decadence in the Nigerias legislative process where investigations are carried out based on personal premonitions and flagrant animosity. In its report, the House Committee alleged that the sum of N5.8 billion was illegally approved and released in June 2017 via a memo raised from the Office of the Acting President, directing the Honourable Minister of Finance and the Accountant General of the Federation to so act. The House Committee also concluded that the payment made was in contravention of approval of the National Assembly. This conclusion suggests a covert attempt to paint the exalted government of integrity of President Muhammadu Buhari and his undiluted erudite Professor of Law, Vice President Yemi Osinbajo. The facts available show that there is a big gulf between the report of House Committee and the reality, suggesting a failed attempt to discredit the efforts of a government that is making frantic efforts towards ameliorating the plights of Nigerians in North East region who were and still are, in dire need of humanitarian interventions. To uncover the political intrigues and scheme behind the House Committees report, there is need put in the right perspectives the circumstances that compelled the Federal Government to give approval to the said amounts at the time. In North East Nigeria, security and humanitarian conditions had deteriorated considerably, due to violent upheavals caused by the Boko Haram insurgency. Fleeing populations and host communities were confronted with acute food shortages resulting from successive poor harvests and abandoned farmlands, minimal cross-border cash crop trade and lost economic opportunities. More disturbing was the Cadre Harmonise analysis of August 2016 which placed the figure of food insecure people in Borno, Yobe and Adamawa states to about 4.4 million, out of which 1.1 million people were reported to be severely food insecure in Borno and Yobe States. Furthermore, in April 2017, a warning was given by the United Nations World Food Programme (UN WFP) that it would be reducing its vital support to about 1.8 million Internally Displaced Persons by as much as 85 per cent, due to corresponding reduction in funding by the donor countries. Around the same time, the United Nations Commission for Refugees in Geneva had also issued a warning of growing risk of mass death from starvation among people living in conflict areas, including Nigeria. All these developments signified that ruthless danger was imminent, as the humanitarian crisis in the North East was hurriedly advancing towards a more catastrophic proportion. Food security in any country calls for concern, not only of the home government but of the international community. This is more so when the nation faces a grave humanitarian crisis in an entire region. In the North East, international aid agencies and non-governmental organisations were very active in providing food and medical aid, thereby contributing substantially to the humanitarian relief efforts in the region. No responsible government will stay aloof while her citizens progressively move towards being consumed by humanitarian crisis. In response to these threatening developments, and to further avoid further deterioration of the food supply situation in the North East, the Federal Government of Nigeria (FGN) immediately swung into action by conceiving a strategic food intervention plan, to increase supply to the affected States and, in the process, bring down the general prices of food items. To this end, a meeting on Emergency Food Delivery to the North East was held at the Office of the Vice President on 13 May, 2017 with the following personalities in attendance: The Vice President (then Acting President), Honourable Minister of Finance, Honourable Minister of Budget and National Planning, Honourable Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Governor, Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Deputy Chief of Staff to the President, Senior Special Assistant to the President (Office of the Chief of Staff), Special Assistant to the President (Planning & Coordination) and the Special Assistant to the CBN Governor. This group later metamorphosed to the Presidential Committee on Food Security and Intervention in the North East. Based on the information received from the United Nations World Food Programme, the meeting established that a gap of 45,000 Metric Tons of food assistance was imminent and made immediate arrangements to fill the gap. To ensure effective distribution of the grains to displaced persons in the region, the then Acting President Yemi Osinbajo established an Emergency Food Intervention Project Team, consisting of the Director General, of NEMA and representatives of the National Security Adviser (NSA), Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Chief of Naval Staff (CONS), Chief of Air Staff (COAS), Department of State Security (DSS), Nigeria Police and the Presidency. The Committee also worked with respective State Emergency Management Agencies (SEMAs) as well as humanitarian agencies, such as World Food Programme, International Committee of the Red Cross, and the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs. Fortunately, the CBN Grains Reserve Programme, which had already started, provided a good basis for solving the problem. Before this time, the CBN Governor had provided loans to private sector companies to procure, store and maintain grains as part of a price stabilisation programme, and through this, a total of 30,905 Metric Tons of Maize, Soya beans and Sorghum were procured. Since the CBN only provided loans for the grains acquisition, the companies concerned had to be paid before they could be made to release their stock of grains for distribution in the North East. It was also agreed at this meeting that the NEMA and the SEMAs of the North East should be saddled with the responsibility of designing logistics for the distribution of these food items. After consultations, analysis and submission of necessary documents, the Director General of NEMA submitted a Memorandum to the Acting President on June 2, 2017 with an approval, release and utilisation of the sum of N829 Million. With all these important figures, curious minds would want to know what the grouse of the House of Representative Committee on Emergency and Disaster Preparedness is. The Committee reported that procurement rules were not adhered to. Does that mean that a House Committee that is made up of lawmakers is not conversant with Section 43 of the Public Procurement Act which makes provision for emergency procurement, in which case the procuring entity is allowed to engage in direct contracting for goods and file a report thereafter with the Bureau of Public Procurement? The House Committee report also suggests that taxes from these transactions were deliberately waived. It is wrong to assume that taxes and interests accruable to government from these transactions in food items were deliberately ignored or waived by neglect. Of course, we expect that any loans advanced to any of the companies would be recovered with the agreed interests and that any profits made by such companies would be liable to tax in the usual manner. It will, therefore, amount to double taxation. The House Report also suggests that the grains were never delivered to the target states. This part of the report shows the desperation of the Committee to give dog a bad name in order to hang it. Facts available indicate that those grains were distributed to the beneficiary states. In fact, in order ensure effective distribution of the grains, an Emergency Food Intervention Project Team was established, consisting of the Director General of NEMA and representatives of the National Security Adviser, Chief of Defence Staff, Chief of Army Staff, Chief of Naval Staff, Chief of Air Staff, Department of State Security, Nigeria Police and the Presidency. In addition, the Federal Government also worked with respective State Emergency Agencies, as well as Local and International Non-Governmental Organisations, including World Food Programme, International Committee of the Red Cross, and the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, in the distribution of the items to the intended beneficiaries. As a matter of fact, Vice President Yemi Osinbajo was personally present in Maiduguri, Bornu state when the food distribution was flagged off on 8th June, 2017. Moreover, robust monitoring and evaluation systems were entrenched to ensure transparency and accountability of the entire process. With all these overwhelming facts and evidences, do you think Vice President Yemi Osinbajo and the Director General of the National Emergency Management Agency, Engr. Mustapha Maihaja deserve to be crucified and vilified? You be the judge!! Olu Onemola, aide to Senate President Bukola Saraki on new media, says a trending audio recording of his principal is fake. In the rec... https://t.co/H4OJz3cXk1 For the record: we always restrain from responding to inconsequential issues that we can otherwise ignore. However, in order to put this issue to rest so that we can move on to real issues, these are the facts: #Thread November 17, 2018 The audio recording that is being circulated online by known anti-Saraki henchmen is a doctored recording. It was probably part of the mix of manipulations that APC decided to employ for today's election in four LGAs in Kwara South. Olu W. Onemola (@OnemolaOlu) November 17, 2018 Dr. Saraki, in his response to Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu in August 2018, stated emphatically that he left the APC because the minimum conditions for peace, cooperation, inclusion and a general sense of belonging did not exist". Olu W. Onemola (@OnemolaOlu) November 17, 2018 Olu Onemola, aide to Senate President Bukola Saraki on new media, says a trending audio recording of his principal is fake.In the recording, Saraki was quoted as saying he spent between N200 million and N400 million in each of 30 states on the election of President Muhammadu Buhari in 2015.The senate president also purportedly accused Buhari of punishing the people of Kwara state by starving them of appointments.But in a series of tweets on Saturday, Onemola said the recording was released by online henchmen and mercenary influencers.He said it is a doctored audio file meant to mislead the public.For the record: we always restrain from responding to inconsequential issues that we can otherwise ignore. However, in order to put this issue to rest so that we can move on to real issues, these are the facts, he tweeted,The audio recording that is being circulated online by known anti-Saraki henchmen is a doctored recording. It was probably part of the mix of manipulations that APC decided to employ for todays election in four LGAs in Kwara south.Dr. Saraki, in his response to Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu in August 2018, stated emphatically that he left the APC because the minimum conditions for peace, cooperation, inclusion and a general sense of belonging did not exist.Additionally, in that same response to Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Dr. Saraki emphasized that he never discussed any such personal and pecuniary benefits with anybody. Again, we still challenge that anybody who has contrary facts should come forward.Finally, we ask the public to understand that in their desperation to hang on to power, agents of the ruling party are stooping to new lows by doctoring and releasing such audio files. We expect more of such desperate moves. Fake news, remains fake news. Their lies remain lies. Egypt's civil aviation ministry has said that Cairo airports check-in systems are functioning normally after three hours of disruption this morning. Minister of Civil Aviation Younis El-Masri toured the airport and inspected the airlines who were manually handling passengers while the issue was underway. All delayed flights had left Cairo by 10am local time, according to the statement. The statement said that all services are back to normal and that all flights are on schedule. The disruption in the check-in systems on Sunday morning was caused by a technical breakdown in the communication channels between the global booking systems and the check-in systems, an earlier ministry statement had said. The disruption affected terminals two and three, and a seasonal terminal. A specialised technical team had been tasked with dealing with the situation and providing all necessary facilities for passengers. Search Keywords: Short link: Pope Tawadros II re-consecrated a newly renovated St Marks Coptic Orthodox Cathedral in Cairo on Sunday, marking fifty years since the building was first inaugurated. In a sermon last week, the pope stated that the celebration of the cathedrals golden jubilee would be limited to liturgical prayers only, due to what he described as "painful events" of the incident of the monastery of St. Samuel. Seven Copts were killed and 15 others injured when armed men attacked their bus near the Upper Egyptian monastery earlier this month. The cathedral was under heavy security for the consecration ceremony. During the service, a number of bishops anointed the icons of saints with holy myron oil. Bishops The pope then conducted prayers, and anointed parts of the inner sanctuary with oil. Pope II In his sermon, Tawadros said that the cathedral was built in 1965, the era of Pope Kirollos IV and President Gamal Abdel-Nasser. He said that it had officially opened in 1968 with the presence of Ethiopian Emperor Haile Selassie and President Nasser. Old one "We were keen to show some of the events that took place during the past fifty years, especially the attacks, so for example we have an icon for the martyrs of Libya, as well as the names of some of the martyrs of Alexandria, Tanta and the Monastery of St Samuel," said the pope, referring to new icons in the cathedral. He added that it now has a total of 200 icons. 4 The cathedral, located in Cairo's Abbasiya district, has been the Coptic Orthodox Churchs papal headquarters since Pope Shenouda III decided to reside there in 1971. 5 Search Keywords: Short link: Egypt's Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly met on Sunday with his Ethiopian counterpart Abiy Ahmed on the sidelines of the 11th African Union Extraordinary Summit in Addis Ababa, delivering a message from President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi on enhancing bilateral relations between the two countries, Al-Ahram Arabic website reported. The prime minister affirmed Egypt's keenness on bolstering the level of relations between the two countries to a full partnership, noting his country's readiness to exchange expertise in the field of constructing new cities and roads in Ethiopia, in light of the development plan adopted by Addis Ababa. He also stressed the necessity that the partnership between both countries should ensure the fulfilling the aspirations of the two brotherly people in development and in preservation of their water interests. The Ethiopian premier affirmed his country's commitment to completing technical negotiations in the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance file, based on the agreement and mutual understanding reached in 2015. Abiy stressed his personal concern with preserving the rights of Egypt and all the African countries associated with the Nile with the river, noting that both sides agreed during their meeting to start bilateral negotiations within the next two weeks to reach an agreement on unsettled points. During his participation in the meetings on behalf of El-Sisi, Madbouly said he agreed with his Ethiopian counterpart on establishing a trilateral Egyptian, Sudanese and Ethiopian fund, via a meeting between the governors of the central banks of the three countries to finalise the agreement. Madbouly noted that Egypt has actively participated in the preparatory committees of the current summit, stressing that Egypt supports the efforts to reform the African Union's organisational structure. The Egyptian prime minister noted that that the environmental aspect was one of the fundamentals of the current African dialogue, as well as the restructuring of the African Union Development Agency. In August, Egypt and Ethiopia agreed to overcome obstacles in negotiations over the disputed dam project Addis Ababa is building on the Blue Nile that Cairo fears will diminish its water supplies, Egypt's foreign ministry said. During the August talks, officials discussed efforts to implement a 2015 agreement signed by Egypt, Ethiopia, and Sudan over Nile water rights and addressed decisions made by the officials of the three countries during talks in May, which broke months of deadlock. These decisions include setting up a scientific study group to consult the nations on the process of filling the reservoir of the 6,000-megawatt dam and that the leaders of the three nations will meet every six months for consultations Search Keywords: Short link: The Franco-Egyptian Health Forum is set to take place in Cairo on Monday to discuss the government's strategy to develop the country's health sector. The forum will bring together experts, companies and decision-makers from France and Egypt in a series of three round tables dedicated to the implementation of universal health insurance, the forthcoming reform of the pharmaceutical sector and French expertise in the field of health. The forum is organised by the Health Group agroup of French companies working in the Egyptian health sector in cooperation with the French Embassy, and with the support of the French Development Agency, in partnership with Al-Ahram Hebdo newspaper. The forum aims at "building an ever stronger Franco-Egyptian partnership in the health sector... these two days will allow French companies to promote concrete solutions to support the Egyptian authorities in the reform of the health and social protection sector," a statement by organisers of the forum read. The forum will be held under the auspices of the Ministry of Health and Population and the Ministry of Finance. The event will be attended by Egypt's ministers of finance, investment and international cooperation, health and population, higher education, scientific research, as well as the ambassador of France in Egypt Stephane Romatet. Search Keywords: Short link: Team Members were getting ready for a special event: A temporary bar was placed in the middle of the Music Plaza: New York: Event lights were placed near the New York Public Library facade: Hollywood Rip Ride Rockit: The rest of New York looks just as great at night: Team Members were getting ready for a special event:A temporary bar was placed in the middle of the Music Plaza:New York:Event lights were placed near the New York Public Library facade:The rest of New York looks just as great at night: ------------------- ADVERTISEMENT ------------------- ------------------------------------------------------------------ Optimus Prime was directing us to San Francisco: While walking toward that area, we noticed some temporary kiosks: Fast & Furious: Supercharged is still... well, operation, I guess?: Disaster: London: Springfield: A shop is now located under the awning that used to function as the exit ofLondon:Springfield: Universal Studios Florida is a great theme park to visit both day and night. This afternoon, we will share with you a few photos we took while visiting the park after dark, highlighting some of our favorite themed areas to explore after the sun goes down. We hope you'll enjoy the pictures!And that is all for now. Before concluding, remember to like us on our official Facebook page and follow us onfor live updates from the parks. If you'd like to make a donation to OTPN, feel free to use the "donate" button on the sidebar. Thanks for your support. 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. Egypt's Defence Minister Mohamed Zaki inspected on Sunday the counterterrorism centre in Cairo for the Community of Sahel-Saharan States (CEN-SAD), which has been established based on the recommendations of the 2016 CEN-SAD meetings in the Red Sea resort town of Sharm El-Sheikh. Zaki heard a detailed explanation about the centre's facilities, which is constructed on 61,900 m2 and equipped with the latest advanced equipment and technologies. Egypt's Armed Forces finished setting up the counterterrorism centre last June. The centre is aimed at improving counterterrorism cooperation and bolstering security, economic and political ties between member countries. The Community of Sahel-Saharan States was established in 2018 and aims to bolster regional security, economic cooperation and sustainable development within member states. Member states agreed to carry out regular counterterrorism exercises during their latest summit in 2017 in the Ivory Coast. Search Keywords: Short link: Members of Governments Economic Management Team (EMT) have been on a public education roadshow on the 2019 budget since its reading in Parliament on Thursday. The 2019 Budget is themed A stronger Economy, for Jobs and Prosperity. It outlines six (6) priority areas while highlighting how the Akufo-Addo Administration has restored macro-economic stability in its first in 22 months in office. EMT members including Finance Minister Ken Ofori-Atta and Senior Minister Yaw Osafo Marfo have been leading the charge in providing further explanations and responding to citizens questions since Thursday afternoon. Finance Minister Ken Ofori-Atta was a guest on Accra based Peace fms morning show programme, kokrokoo on Friday and on JOYfms Newsfile on Saturday Morning. Senior Minister, Yaw Osafo Marfo also participated in the late afternoon current affairs programme on Asempa fm on Thursday as well as on Friday Morning on Peacefms Kokrokoo. The Trade Minister Alan Kyeremanten took time to explain and answer questions on the 2019 budget on Adom fms Dwaso Nsem while Professor George Gyan Baffour, Minister for Planning, responded to audience questions for nearly an hour on TV3s New Day. Minister for Monitoring and Evaluation Dr. Anthony Akoto Osei featured on Citi Fm and Citi TVs programmes to provide perspectives on the 2029 Budget. Minister for Information, Kojo Oppong Nkrumah says the move is part of efforts to boost governments information dissemination on policies and programmes. He said a simplified version of the budget has also been converted into six (6) local languages and will soon be put out to engage citizens further on a citizens budget roadshow. The objective is to ensure deeper information dissemination and feedback in the governance process. We expected that these exercises will help deepen understanding of the budgeting and national economic management process. He said. The Citizens budget roadshow will he held in selected districts across the country through durbarsand town hall meetings. 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 Nigerian psychiatrist, Dr Maymunah Kadiri has advised married women to have regular sex with their spouses in order to prevent depression and be happy. Kadiri, who is the Medical Director of Pinnacle Medical Services gave the advice in a recent interview saying sex is not just to nourish a womans body, but it is also beneficial to her mental health. As women, there is need for us to make our spouses our best friends if we want to be mentally healthy. Studies have shown that women who have more active sex and in long term relationships were less likely to be depressed than women who went without sex. So, more sex is important and essential. It is a remedy to curing women from having persistent headache. Low sexual drive, which leads to depression, should be looked into. A woman can be depressed when that sexual drive that she used to have is no more there. Frequent active sex can play good roles toward womens sense of well being and quality of life, Kadiri said. She explained that sex was not just for procreation and to have children, adding that it could create bonding, good companionship and sound sleep. Kadiri, popularly called celebrity shrink, urged women dealing with depression to frequently indulge in sex, while boosting their self-esteem. Source: lindaikejisblog Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video The Womens University in Africa has appointed Ghanaian Professor, the 1st Female Vice Chancellor, Prof. Naana Opoku-Agyemang as Chancellor of the University. The colorful event took place at the Celebration Center, Harare on Friday October 26, coinciding with the Universitys 14th graduation ceremony. It attracted ministers of state, parliamentarians, vice chancellors, members of the diplomatic corps, partners and friends of the university, alumni, with graduating students, parents and guardians in attendance. In her acceptance speech Professor Naana Opoku-Agyemang thanked the Womens University in Africa for bestowing such a distinctive honour on her, which she shares with all the communities of family, friends, colleagues, staff and students who are part of her lifes journey. She described the effect of the recognition as sobering, the invitation most unexpected. She pledged to support the university in advancing the dreams of the two visionary founders- Professor Hope Sadza and Dr. Fay Chung, who took action to create a pathway for women to access higher education in many areas of importance to self and country. She explained that the shifting terrain of higher education in Africa and the evolving economic order required that universities maintain a careful balance between knowledge and skills acquisition in curriculum review and delivery. The congratulatory message from the University, read by the Chairperson of the Board of Trustees, celebrated her ascension to the position of Chancellor. "As your personal achievement and honor, the Board of the Womens University in Africa, in nominating you, Professor Opoku-Agyemang, as the third Chancellor, considered your vast contributions to education in your own country, Ghana; in Africa and the world over. You are a courageous woman, renowned researcher and scholar capable of repositioning WUA in its endeavour to prove its fitness of purpose in the context of globalized higher education and a Pan African university with world-wide footprint. He continued; Chancellor, with your intellect and experience, I am confident that you are able to inspire and lead this great institution to sustained success. We pledge to work with and support you as you set a new direction and tone for the University. As you put WUA on a renewed path for the future, I wish you success together with the University Board, Council, Management team, and the entire university community. "I therefore wish to thank you for accepting this nomination and the responsibility as the titular head of the Womens University in Africa. "Chancellor, I wish to, once again, congratulate you on your inauguration as the Chancellor of WUA, and recognise in advance the significance of the contribution you will make in this position to this University, to Zimbabwe and Africa at large. Makorokoto, Congratulations In an interview with zifmnews.com, Professor Opoku-Agyemang said she will continue to articulate the institutions vision and translate it into action to ensure quality education for students. Dr Fay Chung, co-founder of the University, said the institution was pleased to be encouraging the spirit of pan Africanism, diversity and African unity through appointing a Ghanaian chancellor coming after the previous Chancellor who was from Zambia Chung said they always look for women who have excelled and have well known experience in the field. Professor Opoku-Agyemang brings a lot of experience to the institution as she is currently the President of the Forum for African Women Educationalists (FAWE) and chairperson of the Africa Board. A professor of Literature, school of Humanities and Legal Studies at the University of Cape Coast, the Professor served as Minister for Education in Ghana from 2013 to 2017. Professor Opoku-Agyemang holds a BA (Hons) in French and English, a Diploma in Education from the University of Cape Coast; A Diploma in Advanced Studies in French from the University of Dakar; an MA and PhD in Literature from York University, Toronto, Canada and she is the recipient of many international awards. 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 Former President John Dramani Mahama has asserted that within just two years in office, the "swelling stench of corruption" under the Akufo-Addo led NPP government, is so overpowering that it assaults one's senses even from the corridors of power. According to him, the current administration is a failure when it comes to curbing corruption, since none of the president's appointees involved in the act, have faced prosecution. Addressing members of the opposition party at the NDC's 9th National Delegates Congress Saturday, Mr Mahama slammed the president for turning his governance into a "clearing house of his appointees accused of corruption". Most appallingly, the President has become a clearing house for clearing his appointees. He has on several occasions cleared his appointees when allegations of corruption have been made against them. Indeed, it was a very low day for Ghana when the President peddled a falsehood on a panel at the recent Africa Investment Forum that all allegations of corruption made against people in his administration have been investigated and cleared by independent investigative bodies, that was an obvious untruth," he said. To him, the NPP's fight against graft pales in comparison to that of the NDC, as the former's words spoken when in opposition, does not in any way match their actions so far in government. In the fight against corruption, the NDC has a better record in terms of regime accountability , the NBPP has proven in government that it is always reluctant to pursue their own despite the swelling sketch of corruption around their administration. All Ghanaians have received so far is lip service in the fight against corruption, a special prosecutors office their flagship Anti-corruption instrument remains starved of funds, personnel and logistics to do its work, he stated. He further opined that President Akufo-Addo has failed the litmus test when it comes to fighting corruption. As I said in Ho last year and I quote, it does not take bravery to prosecute one's political opponent, the true test in the fight against corruption is holding your own people accountable when they go wrong and so far the president has failed this test," he posited. Making reference to the NDCs massive defeat in 2016, former President Mahama indicated it was best for the party to be in opposition, which has paved way for Ghanaians to know which party has the wherewithal to move Ghana forward. "....we must, therefore, put our best foot forward to rescue Ghana from the abysmal performance of Nana Akufo-Addo and the New Patriotic Party. This congress represents the hope and aspirations of our country. It is a divine calling to which we must answer. The grassroots of our party, the hardworking farmers, fishermen, artisans, teachers, nurses, other public sector workers, the business and investment community have all seen the clear difference between us and them. We cannot fail all these people," the former President said. Source: Elizabeth Semiheva Bedi/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 Central Regional Chairman of the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) says the partys best bet to winning the 2020 elections is former President John Mahama. According to Allotey Jacobs, no other flagbearer aspirant is capable of holding the fort for the party, stressing that anyone who does not support the former president to win the position practices sorcery. Until Mahama will hold somebodys hand and say that Im done so vote for this man,' everybody will go for him. 90 per cent of the votes are for John Mahama. If you dont support Mahama, then you are either a witch or a wizard, he told Joy News. Mr Jacobs was speaking at the partys congress grounds at the Trade Fair Centre in Accra where delegates have gathered to vote for national executives to lead the party into the 2020 elections. A congress to elect flagbearer aspirants has been scheduled for December but Mr Jacobs says the former president has already won the battle. He is not perturbed that Mr Mahama presided over the partys most shocking defeat in 2016. For him, the former president has no challenger. Heroes or commanders who fall, rise up to win battles so that is not the end of Mahama. It is rather the beginning of Mahama and greater things for the NDC, he said. He is convinced that once elected flagbearer, Mr Mahama will win the 2020 elections hands down. 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 During a high-level regional conference in Cairo on Sunday on developing the performance of UN peacekeeping operations, Egypt renewed its commitment to continuing its role in peacekeeping operations in the world. Egypt's Deputy Foreign Minister for African Affairs Hamdy Loza affirmed that Cairo worked to develop peacekeeping missions during its last UN Security Council membership. The senior Egyptian diplomat also called for an effective UN role in all stages of peacekeeping and peace-building, using all available means at the disposal of the international organisation. "There is a need to move forward this commitment within a framework that promotes integration and harmony by all actors in peacekeeping missions," Loza said in a speech before the gathering, organised by the Cairo International Centre for Conflict Resolution, Peacekeeping and Peace-building (CCCPA). He reviewed the role played by Egypt in this regard as one of the seven largest countries participating in peacekeeping missions. UN Under-Secretary for Peacekeeping Operations Jean-Pierre Lacroix lauded the role played by Egypt in the UN peacekeeping operations as one of the largest contributing countries. In press statements on the sidelines of the conference, the UN official said the gathering provides a chance to express recognition of Egypt's efforts in peacekeeping operations and expand cooperation between the UN and contributing countries. The diplomat said the visit to Cairo aims at probing ways of fostering cooperation between Egypt and the UN, reaffirming support for all efforts to boost African capabilities, especially in fighting terrorism and achieving peace. Egypt ranked third in the United Nations peacekeeping operations largest contributing countries for the current period, according to the Department of Peacekeeping Operations (DPKO). There are a total of 729 Egyptian officers and police personnel serving in UN peacekeeping operations in various countries, the Ministry of Interior said in 2017. Search Keywords: Short link: The 9th National Delegates Congress of the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) is still in progress with the delegates currently casting votes for their prospective candidates. Voting which began in the evening of Saturday, November 17, 2018, travelled into Sunday. And even after 14 hours of voting, some constituencies in the Brong Ahafo and Ashanti Regions, are yet to take their turn as at 8:00am, Sunday. This situation nearly resulted in chaos with delegates from the two regions, openly expressing resentments over the conduct of party officials in charge of the voting process. The Brong Ahafo Regional delegates, in particular, felt sabotaged by the party executives. Clearly unhappy with the turn of events, about 50 delegates from the Brong Ahafo region, left the Congress grounds in a fit of anger. Speaking in an interview with Nana Yaw Kesseh on UTV and PeaceFM, Alhaji Bermah Moro, Sunyani East Dep. Treasurer, accused the NDC National Organizer, Kofi Adams, of being the mastermind behind the political machinations against the Regions left to vote. According to him, Kofi Adams has ulterior motives to frustrate and prevent delegates from the two regions to exercise their franchise. "But he wont succeed. We will vote no matter what. We won't cower and give in to such political elimination by rough tactics. No matter how long it takes, we will wait and vote today," he stated emphatically. "It is just common sense to have delegates from outside Accra, cast their vote first. How can you allow Greater Accra, Eastern and Central Regional delegates, who are closer to the venue in times of regional proximity, to do theirs before us (B/A delegates)?" he quizzed. Peacefmonline.com will seek the reaction of Mr Adams regarding this accusation. As at the time of filing this report, he was on the dais coordinating the voting process. Delegates drawn from constituencies in three other Regions: Ashanti, Brong Ahafo and Volta are expected to vote before counting begins, somewhere after 9am. About 15,000 people, made up of 9,350 delegates and 5,650 observers, thronged the Accra International Trade Fair Centre to decide the fate of the 65 candidates vying for various positions. Two constituencies barred Two constituencies; Affram Plains South and Kade, both in the Eastern Region will not take part in the congress for the reason that they have not been able to hold elections at the branch level. Also barred from the elections are some foreign branches of the party, for the same reason. The affected constituencies and branches are only attending the congress as observers, and not as delegates. Meanwhile, counting of votes and possible declaration of victors, is likely to be around 4pm. 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 It could perhaps go into the history books as one of the longest running voting process for an internal election by a political party in Ghana. After nearly 15 hours, casting of votes at the 9th National Delegates Congress of the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC), currently ongoing at the Trade Fair Center, has ended. What a relief this must be to delegates and officials alike. Voting started on Saturday at about 6pm, but as at 7am, there was still no clear end in sight to the process which was rather being done piecemeal. Sabotaged??? Chaos nearly erupted with delegates from two regions, the Ashanti and Brong Ahafo, openly expressing resentments over the conduct of party officials in charge of the voting process. The Brong Ahafo Regional delegates, in particular, felt sabotaged by the party executives. Clearly unhappy with the turn of events, about 50 delegates from the Brong Ahafo region, left the Congress grounds in a fit of anger. In an earlier interview with Nana Yaw Kesseh on UTV and PeaceFM, Alhaji Bermah Moro, the Sunyani East Dep. Treasurer, accused the NDC National Organizer, Kofi Adams, of being the mastermind behind the political machinations against the Regions that had not cast their vote. According to him, Kofi Adams has ulterior motives to frustrate and prevent delegates from the two regions to exercise their franchise. "But he wont succeed. We will vote no matter what. We won't cower and give in to such political elimination by rough tactics. No matter how long it takes, we will wait and vote today," he stated emphatically. "It is just common sense to have delegates from outside Accra, cast their vote first. How can you allow Greater Accra, Eastern and Central Regional delegates, who are closer to the venue in times of regional proximity, to do theirs before us (B/A delegates)?" he quizzed. Thankfully, at 9:34am, party officials in charge of organising the elections, officially declared an end to the voting process. Sorting out and counting of the ballot papers is the next on the agenda. Over 28 delegates from each of the 275 constituencies, and a total 9,350 delegates, 5,650 observers thronged the Trade Fair Centre, La, for the Congress. Ten (10) positions are up for grabs with a total of 65 candidates vying for the various positions. The positions are: National Chairman,Vice-Chairman,General Secretary, Deputy General Secretary,National Organiser, Deputy National Organiser, Communications Officer, Deputy Communications Officer,National Executive Committee members and the Zongo Caucus Coordinator. So far, the race for National Chairman and General Secretary have been adjudged the most keen. More soon... 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 KAABONG Talking about Kidepo Valley National Park, what strikes many peoples minds are the elephants, Giraffes and other wild animals. However, beyond this, the park is an excellent home for seeing a wide array of common birds and specials, including the sought-after Jacksons hornbill and endemic Karamoja Apalis. This wide wild natural habitat has created the ideal conditions for the highest diversity of birds and it is the perfect place for you to watch and admire the most beautiful and rare birds Kidepo valley national park is a bird-watchers paradise. The park has two rivers-Kidep and Narus; which disappear in dry seasons leaving just pools which attract rare species of birds that have been attracting hundreds of tourists to the National park. Wake up early in the morning and stand at Apoca rest camp lodge to get a panoramic view of Narus and Namamukweny Valleys, observe the migration of the birds and you will notice hundreds of tourists scrambling to observe the spectacular picturesque of the birds. The Apoka Rest Camp [lodge] and Park Headquarters overlooking southern Narus Valley is a great spot to begin your birding experience and the attractive Silverbird and small bands of Yellow-billed Shrike, frequent the thorn trees around the camp as do a number of other widespread species such as the Vinaceous Dove, Hoopoe, Nubian Woodpecker, Mosque Swallow, the Ruppells and Superb Starlings, Scarlet-chested Sunbird, Little Weaver and Red-cheeked Cordon-bleu. A small permanent water hole at the edge of the camp attracts swallows and a variety of seedeaters including the Yellow-rumped Seedeater and is visited at night by the Four-banded Sandgrouse, Elephants, Buffaloes, and occasionally Lions. Clappertons Francolin, Black Coucal, African Moustached and the Broad-tailed Warblers, Marsh Tchagra and Crimson-rumped Waxbill may be seen in the rank grass along the normally dry stream bed adjacent to the camp or along the track to Apoka lodge. According to the assistant warden in charge of tourism Mr Stephen Nyadru, Kidepo valley national park is the perfect place for tourists looking for bird watching tours. So, if you love nature, you better book your place here and do not forget to take your camera and binoculars with you, said Mr Nyadur Mr Nyadru says Kidepo Valley has a very impressive bird list of over 470 species, the second-highest population of any Ugandan reserve, following only Queen Elizabeth National Park. He explained that when it comes to Birding, Kidepo Valley National Game Park stands out, this invaluable natural resource has been visited and revisited and the extra-ordinary features on it shape its outstanding beauty, which remain a myth to those who have not visited it and a secret to those who have visited it. He revealed that the park is planted on rocks, overlooks expansive grassy plains dotted with big rocky outcrops and flanked by steep jagged mountains with the summit ridges of Napore range, Taan hills and Natera hills, part of Nyangea, Morongole and Zuulia forest reserves that attract many birds. He added that the Park consists of shallow valley systems, with a dry mountain terrain; in the South-west is the Narus Valley, bordered by the Napore range to the north-west, South of Kidepo Valley is the Morungola range, north is Mount Lotuke in Sudan. Mr Phillip Akoronymoe, a birder and a local tour guide at Kidepo valley national park said if you are looking to get a feel of nature, but you dont want to get so far from the touch of birds, go for a nature walk at Kidepo Valley National Park. Many journalists love coming here to relax, watch the sun set as well as some of the bird species not found anywhere else in Africa, Mr Akoronymoe said. He explained that more than 60 birds found in Kidepo valley national park havent been recorded in any other Ugandan park. No comprehensive survey has been done, so visitors could easily see some species not previously recorded for the park. Kidepo is especially good for spotting raptors, with 56 species on record. Migratory birds are present throughout the year, Mr Akoronymoe added. Mr Johnson Masereka, the conservation area manager says Kidepo Valley National Park has 28 species from the Somali-Masai and SudanGuinea Savanna biomes and that the species are endemic to this area in the country. With a record of 470 species in total, the park has the second-highest bird record of any Ugandan protected areas, after Queen Elizabeth National Park. It supports some of the rarest species in Uganda, such as Black-breasted Barbet and Karamoja Apalis, Mr Masereka said. Mr Masereka said at Kidepo valley national park a rare species of birds are attracted daily that also attract hundreds of tourists to the area and that visitors stand at the panoramic view of Apoca rest camp lodge to observe migration of the birds. When the PML Daily visited the area, hundreds of tourists were waiting to observe the spectacular picturesque of the birds at Apoca lodge. Kidepo valley is quite rich with bird life, some of the birds species include; the Kori bustard, Abyssinian ground hornbill, secretary bird, ostrich, carmine, Yellow-billed and Jacksons hornbills and these are usually seen in the mornings, said Mr Akoronymoe. SCENIC VIEW Some of the beautiful birds fly past the Narus valley but they dont land. It is believed they pass through Turkana before migrating through Uganda to Tanzania. The parks altitude ranges between 914m and 2,750m above sea level and contains two rivers Kidepo and Narus. Mr Okoronymoe says Apoka Rest Camp is a great spot to begin your Kidepo birding experience and that birding can also be done on the fringes of the Narus and Namamukweny Valleys. And among the birds seen are the Abyssinian Roller, Purple Heron, Abyssinian Ground Hornbill and Clappertons Francolin, which is found only in Kidepo. The activity can be arranged both in the morning and evening, Mr Okoronymoe said. The birds can be observed from vantage points identified across both Namamukweny Valleys and Narus valleys as they leave the Park, added Mr Akoronymoe. Mr Akoronymoe says when tourists come, they are taken for the nature walk and that the main reason for nature walks is to help them capture the imagination and creativity of the wild game giving them a particular pursuit. Tourists end up creating some kind of collection of whatever interests them. They get to make their own guide, booklet, or collection from their discoveries, said Akoronymoe. And the best way you can watch birds is to go for a nature walk. Although from the bird species recorded, Kidepo is especially good for Spotting Raptors. Migratory birds are also present from November to April every year, Akoronymoe said. The best time to watch birds Mr Akoronymoe says the best time for visits to watch birds are; March-April for all the specials and many transit migrants, although good all year round. He added that a visitor at Kidepo could also wander along the splendid Kidepo Valley river banks and see the attractive Borassus palm forest. One could also meet the Ik tribe during the pre-arranged hikes to Morungole Hills. He explained that the birdlife in Kidepo is good year-round, but at its best from March to April for all the specials and the many migrants and migratory birds are in the valley from November to April. Birds at Kidepo valley national park Kidepo Valley has a very impressive bird list of over 480 species, the second-highest population of any Ugandan reserve, following only Queen Elizabeth National Park. Some of the birds at Kidepo valley National park Abyssinian roller Abyssinian scimitarbill Black-breasted barbet Chestnut weaver DArnauds barbet Fox kestrel Golden pipit Greater kestrel Jacksons hornbill Karamoja apalis Northern carmine bee-eater Purple grenadier Pygmy falcon Red-throated bee-eater Rose-ringed parakeet Rufous chatterer . White-bellied go-away bird Other things to watch -Insects and entomology. Tourists are advised to bring along a magnifying glass, a variety of small vials or containers for collecting samples and a pack or box to hold everything in. -Eco-system nature walks. The nature walk can focus on eco-systems such as tide pools, forests, woods, ponds, rivers, streams, oceans, prairies, or just about any other type of eco-system or sub-system. -Rocks and minerals. Mr Akoronymoe says the ultimate goal is to collect small pieces of a variety of minerals and rocks. -Micro-biology. During the nature walk, you will also explore tide pools, streams, ponds or other water systems like marshes. -Animal watching. Tourists will be amazed by the variety of creatures they will discover such as squirrels, pigeons, mice and chipmunks Related A previously unknown cache of 40 handwritten Naguib Mahfouz short stories were recently unearthed by the journalist and literary critic Mohamed Shoair, who found them in a box of papers given to him by Mahfouzs daughter Umm Kalthoum. Many had been published during Mahfouzs lifetime (1911-2007), but what made this a sensational discovery is that 18 of them have never been collected. Under the title Stars Whisper, therefore this is the title of one of the stories, chosen by Umm Kalthoum a new book is now being published by Dar Al-Saqi, who are launching them on 11 December, Mahfouzs 107th birthday. Translated by Roger Allen who also translated several Mahfouz books: Mirrors (1999), Autumn Quail (1986), Karnak Cafe (2008), Khan al-Khalili (2009), and The Final Hour (2010) they will appear in English next autumn. Stars Whisper Shoair had been researching for Sons of Gebelawi: Biography of the Forbidden Novel (Cairo: Al-Ain, 2018), the first part of a biographical trilogy about the late Nobel laureate. Much has been written on Mahfouz, Shoair concedes, but the man is an iceberg and none of whats available trally goes beyond its tip: Its an honour to be one of those who explore his work in depth. Critics generally focus on his better-known work, but all that he did in the 1980s and 1990s, for example, remains untouched. What is more, however, Mahfouz was a private person who kept his personal life separate from his writing, he used to say I only exist in my text, but what Im trying to do is look for him outside that text, to see how his life informed his writing. This is an attempt to reread and rediscover his work. To see Mahfouz as a historian of Egypt The Cairo Trilogy accurately documenting ideological, social, political and artistic life in 1919-1952, for example would be reducing great literature to anthropological source material. More pertinent, Shoair believes, is the technique, the language and the space between reality and imagination. Using that biographical approach, Forbidden Novel focuses on Mahfouzs most controversial work, Shoair explains:I started by searching for the manuscript and though I never found it I did find other manuscripts and important documents, including a file containing 40 stories with the words An attempt. Length, type and treatment to be decided scratched out and replaced with Stories to be published, 1993-1994. This meant in book form. But, because Mahfouz was busy first with the publication of his Echoes of an Autobiography (1994) and then with the October 1994 attempt on his life by religious extremists, no book materialised immediately. Two years later Al-Ahrams Nisf Al-Donia magazine started publishing some stories, tagged The latest from the Nobel laureate. One story, The Arrow, appears in a General Egyptian Book Organisation collection of stories from 1996 as the latest by Mahfouz. All except for 18 one of which, The Buckthorn in the Old Fort, was never published at all are included in Mahfouzs last two collections, The Last Decision (1996) and Echo of Forgetfulness (1999). The stories had been completed before Mahfouz was attacked with a knife, but he was hesitant to publish them in book form, Shoair believes, because they were in a new style, unknown in Arabic literature, and critics had not noticed those of them that appeared in the press. Some commentators have argued that, since he wouldve collected them if hed wanted them to be published, Stars Whisper may be a violation of the late writers autonomy. But Shoair feels that, since there is no doubt that Mahfouz was happy with their quality, there is no reason to think he wouldve been averse to seeing them in book form. Besides, if posthumous publication always respected the writers wishes we would have none of Kafkas works can you imagine! thats true of many other writers, too. The stories in Stars Whisper are set in the alleys of grassroots Cairo Mahfouzs favourite mythological world and populated by lunatics, astrologers, saints, runaways from blood feuds, star-crossed loves, overbearing circumstances and imams as well as fituwwas (or chivalrous strongmen who protect the neighbours). These characters occupy the space between the basements where the poorest live and the haunted Old Fort, the highest point on the horizon. Their evocative names bear and eventually bare their destinies. Like Sons of Gebelawi, these stories revolve around the passage of time and Mahfouzs greatest faith is as always in those characters who can emanate light in the darkness, who pick out the melody within the noise, as shoair puts it the artists. Manuscript As a literary institution Mahfouzs opus should be as complete as possible. The stories fit seamlessly into the writers legacy, they belong with Fountain and Tomb (1975) and Echo of Forgetfulness (1999): They follow the same childhood thread but with more symbolism and maybe greater wisdom. Even the title, Stars Whisper (Hams Al-Nujoum), echoes that of Mahfouzs first short story collection, Madness Whispers (Hams Al-Junoun), published in 1938. Maybe this journey from madness to the stars, Shoair says, actually summarises Mahfouzs life and literature. Be that as it may, the new book definitely brings the authors career full circle. The book will feature reproductions of the manuscripts which demonstrate Mahfouzs editing process, especially evident in this case since his handwriting was greatly affected by the knife attack, which occurred after they were written and before they were published. Mahfouz spent years editing the stories until he was satisfied additional proof that he wouldnt have objected to publication. Shoairs next book will be called Naguib Mahfouzs Manuscripts: Mahfouz used to call himself the king of shredding because of how often he used a shredder. He did not keep manuscripts of his work, and that is why even the parts that were cut from the published versions of Karnak Cafe (1974) and Love in the Rain (1973) cannot be found. But some papers did survive, mostly by accident, and these will be my focus. The book will compare manuscripts of Miramar (1978), The Dreams (2004) and Echoes of an Autobiography (1994) to the published versions, and explore an unpublished early novel that was a rehearsal for the Trilogy as well as diaries from various periods:I have 14 manuscripts to date, but Im still looking and willing to expand the book.They reveal the secrets of Mahfouzs creative process, his relationship with his texts and characters and his writing rituals. I am almost done, with only revision and the appendices remaining, but these are very difficult tasks in themselves. I expect it will be published in early 2019. Shoairs journey into Mahfouzs life and work has been a joy, he says, but also a dilemma because it is like a journey through the Great Sand Sea: Once you pose one question ten more questions come up. But maybe Mahfouz is the journey of my life. I doubt if it will add to Arabic literature as such, my enjoyment and the readers are satisfying enough. *A version of this article appears in print in the 15 November, 2018 edition of Al-Ahram Weekly under the headline: Buried treasure Search Keywords: Short link: 'Never the same again:' Gifford looks back 5 years after tornado Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said he would make a last-ditch effort on Sunday to avoid the collapse of a coalition government weakened by the resignation of his defense minister. With political pundits predicting an early election in March, Netanyahu, head of the right-wing Likud party, was to meet later in the day with his finance minister, who is leading a charge within the coalition toward a snap poll. The minister, Moshe Kahlon of the center-right Kulanu party, will urge Netanyahu to set an election date promptly, Kulanu officials said. Defence Minister Avigdor Liebermans resignation, announced on Wednesday over what he described as the governments lenient policy toward an upsurge of cross-border violence with Palestinian militants in the Gaza Strip, left the government with a majority of only one seat in parliament. Netanyahu described his planned meeting with Kahlon as a last attempt to prevent the collapse of the government. Addressing his cabinet on Sunday, Netanyahu said it would be unnecessary and wrong to go to an election during this sensitive period for our security. ROCKETS, AIR RAIDS Kahlon said on Hadashot TV news on Saturday that it was impossible to run a coalition with control of just 61 of parliaments 120 seats. Kahlons call was echoed by members of the nationalist Jewish Home whose head, Naftali Bennett, asked to succeed Lieberman as defense chief but was turned down by Netanyahu on Friday. On Sunday, Israeli media reports said Netanyahu was now prepared to offer Bennett the post in a bid to keep Jewish Home in the coalition. Such a move, the unconfirmed reports said, would also be aimed at forcing Kahlon to consider the risks to his own party, which also courts nationalist voters, in being portrayed as the main factor behind the collapse of a rightist government. A poll published on Wednesday by Hadashot showed Likud falling from 30 to 29 parliamentary seats after months of polls that have shown it gaining power. Netanyahus re-election chances could also be affected by a series of corruption cases against him in which Israels attorney-general is weighing his indictment. An election would complicate promised moves by the United States toward reviving Israeli-Palestinian peace efforts that collapsed in 2014. The Trump administration has said it would unveil a peace plan soon. *This story was edited by Ahram Online. Search Keywords: Short link: Bruno Mars wound up his 24K Magic World Tour on a high note by announcing a charitable donation - he plans to provide 24,000 meals to Hawaiian residents in need on Thanksgiving Day. The Honolulu-native announced earlier this week that he has given the funds to the Salvation Army via the Hawaii Community Foundation. The Salvation Army's Hawaiian & Pacific Islands Division conducts a Thanksgiving Dinner meal program every year. This year's program falls on November 22. Bruno Mars connected the number of food beneficiaries with the name of his song, album and tour, 24K Magic. Mars had previously donated $1 million to help people affected by the Flint water crisis in Michigan last year. For comments and feedback contact: editorial@rttnews.com Entertainment News Think a minuteThis is a true story about a talented girl named Mary. She was 14-years-old when she started taking singing lessons. Later she traveled from city to city as a performer. She married a newspaperman, but their marriage did not last. In fact, neither did Marys second marriage, nor even her third. Marys real love was show business. She wanted to become a star more than anything! So she went to New York City where she soon became popular in all the night clubs and bars. In fact, Mary became known across America as a woman who knew how to entertain men. But there was a news reporter named Lowell Thomas who had known Mary as a completely different person years earlier. He remembered her well because as a 12-year-old boy hed had a big crush on this sweet, lovely young lady. So it was with great interest that Lowell Thomas watched through the years as Mary became famous as the lusty lady who entertained in the illegal bars and night clubs across America. As he watched her change, so also did his boyhood crush and vision of her change from the wonderful young woman he had first admired: his Sunday School teacher. Someone said: A hypocrite is someone who is not himself at church. Remember, A pretty face can cover an ugly heart only for awhile. Sooner or later our true colors will show through. We end up doing what we do because of what we really are inside. Remember, even though other people may not know, God knows the person you truly are inside your heart and mind. So are you daily living what you say you believe in? Do you walk your talk? Does the book of your life match its cover you show to others? Deep in your heart, what do you really love and live for? What is your real character that no one except God your Judge can clearly and completely see? Remember, that is exactly why He became a human being to die and save you from your sinful heart. Today, wont you ask Jesus to forgive you for your bad heart that we all have. Only He can forgive you and start changing your character from the inside out. Then, when your true colors show through, they will match His truth that you say you believe and live by. Just think a minute Dear Editor, Just for the record, I didnt dish out this information just to insult the believers. I did it to enlighten those that want to know the other side of the coin if you will. I pursue knowledge and understanding based on the hidden knowledge that is in the bible as the scriptures said in Hosea; to paraphrase; My people have perished for lack of knowledge, hence knowledge is power. To understand the mystery of God, you have to study Syncretism that unify all knowledge and understanding including; Religion, Philosophy, Mythology, Astrology, Nursery Rymes, Science etc,etc. Theyer all one science called the wholly science. These stories are not literal, theyre all literary, to keep you thinking out of the box; hence its philosophical, metaphorical, Analogical, and Allegorical. And if you look back in history, the ushering in of the enlightenment era in the 16th century was based on this knowledge. The book called The Hermetica that was translated from Latin to English by Marsilio Ficino that transformed the world to the abundance of knowledge that sparked the renaissance in Florence Italy and soon spread out all around the world. The heroes of this era like; Giovani Pico Della Mirandolla that wrote The Oration On The Dignity of Man. which becomes the Philosophys manifesto wrote 900 page thesis before Martin Luther, went to Rome to challenge the Cardinals of Rome on a debate that all the Myths, Religion, Astrology. Science etc,etc were all one of the same and can be Sycretized to bring out the marvelous wonders of the mystery of God. What happened to these heroes that tried to enlightened the world? They all faced the burning stakes of hell by the mother church of Rome. The last person they burned alive was Giordano Bruno on Feb, 17 , 1600 AD. The churches dont want people to be enlightened, so long as they are drowned with blind faith of ignorance and paid their penance or tithing is good enough for them. Remember, part of the bible have been cooked up by the elites to justify their position in history. To the believers that dont do any research and just went along by way of faith that their religion pound on their unconscious mind not to ask questions and just believe that someone will come from the sky in the flesh to save you when in fact the story of Jesus was a metaphor of spiritual and intellectual story of enlightenment to save yourself from your ignorance vs enlightenment. I have written extensively about Astro-theology before and I dont want to keep repeating myself like a broken record when people dont want to hear it anymore. But the basis of our religions today is based on Astrology. The twelve Spoke Wheel of God. This is called the Philosopher stone, The Key or the code to decode the mystery of God which is knowledge based. In Masonry its called the royal Arch. The story of Jesus with his twelve apostles is in it, The story of Jacob and his twelve sons is in it, Moses and Abraham is in it. Music, alphabet, alchemy, mathmatics, physics, chemistry. Everything is in the 360 decrees circle of the sun. The pathway of the sun on the ecliptic which the Egyptians called it all is Atum. the Christians called it Adam is basically the Atom of creation. I am the Alpha and the Omega. I am the beginning and the end according to the scriptures. This is the word of God that made flesh. John 1:1 states, In the beginning was the word, and the the word was with God, and the word was God. Then God moved to address one of the most infamous quote ever uttered in the universe; Let there be Light. hence, Gods Sun the only begotten of the father was born. Alpha is the ascension of the sun from (aeries the Ram) the zero point of the equanox line of precession or the equatorial line. Omega is when the sun is going below the scales of Libra, known as judgement day or the death of the sun only to begin the cycle again. Thats why I know that the story of Jesus is a metaphor that unites all knowledge and understanding of truths that has its own merit to stand alone as the scripture says that the letter of the word (physical Jesus) kills, but the spirit (spiritual) of the word gives life. Most people dont get the deeper esoteric meaning of these stories. The case in point that drives in the heart of the beautiful metaphor in the scriptures that teaches us a lesson that is still resonating today is when the people of the book were shouting out and demanded that Barrabas (the murderer) to be released and sacrifice Jesus, the one that came to enlightened them is the paradox of our time today. People would rather look the other way and dont want to confront the truth. Look at our Samoan politicians today and all the politicians around the world. People will still vote the crooks in because they just go along with what the controlled fake media said instead of using their christ within them to know instead of believing. Our land is about to be taken over by the International Banksters, the same people that brought Christianity to Samoa and the believers they indoctrinated are still silent about the whole thing until their pocket books got affected by the taxes implemented by the govt.. Only now that they are going against the government because the government is taking their fare share of the taking from the poor people in the name of God. To the believers out there, dont get disappointed when a one world religion will slowly creeping in to take away your rights from you and the physical Jesus that you have been waiting for never showed up to save you. The spiritual Consciousness has been here but you have rejected that because you were waiting for the (material) Jesus to appear ; hence, the letter of the kills but the spirit of the word gives life. They have taken away the AD from the Calendar because the mythological Jesus of Christianity, Pieces the fish for the last 2000 years is over. The motto of Pieces is , I doubt and I believe, banded by a band, one fish facing one way and the other facing the other way and replaced it with the anagram of CE, Common Era. lots of religions are changing their songs and scaling down on some of their responsibilities, Im pretty sure the believers in the back of their minds are wondering whats going on, but rest assure that they are slowly morphing your belief system to align with the true God of nature. The sign that were in now is Aquarius. The motto of Aquarius is I know. no more doubt and believe in the old way. Its surety and knowing that will carry us to the next 2000 years. Leituala Roger Brunt Think a minuteIn 1946, the United States Army showed to the public its brand new 30-ton computer called the ENIAC. All the credit for this invention was given to two men, John Mauchly and J. Eckert. But it was actually a group of six women who programmed the computer and made this complex machine work. None of those six women were acknowledged for their amazing work and achievement. Only recently have historians made known this injustice and given these women the credit they earned. Sadly, throughout history women and mothers often have not been given the honor and recognition they deserve. Yet the great French leader and conqueror Napolean said: The future of a child is usually the work of the mother. History seems to prove it. In fact, many of the greatest men and leaders of the world have proudly admitted that they became strong men because of their mothers teaching and example. They were proud to be mamas boys! Some of these great men were U.S. Presidents, including George Washington, Abraham Lincoln, Teddy Roosevelt, Franklin Delano Roosevelt, Dwight D. Eisenhower, John F. Kennedy, and the list goes on and on. George Washington, the first President of the United States, said: All that I am I owe to my motherI credit all of my success in life to the moral and intellectual training I received from her. It is clear throughout history that women and mothers are some of the most important, powerful people in the world, proving true the saying: The hand that rocks the cradle is the hand that rules the world. Jesus Himself showed that women are just as important to God as men. So if you are a woman, ask your Maker to help you see and value yourself the same way He does. If you are a man, ask Jesus to help you show honor and respect to your wife, and mother, by treating her the way God Himself does, and commands you to. Just think a minute CITY COUNCILS DEL MAR The Del Mar City Council will meet in closed session to discuss litigation and property negotiations at 11 a.m. Monday in council chambers, 1050 Camino del Mar. In regular session at 4:30 p.m., the council will discuss an ordinance to regulate and prohibit expanded polystyrene and non-recyclable plastic disposable food service ware, and a draft ordinance to prohibit plastic straws and make non-plastic straws available only upon request. The council will also hear a report on the locations to be included in the Safe Rail Trail and Pedestrian Crossing Feasibility Study, and a report on the North County Transit Districts plan to conduct a safety study that may recommend rail corridor fencing along the Del Mar bluffs. ENCINITAS Advertisement The Encinitas City Council has canceled its regularly scheduled meeting for Tuesday. ESCONDIDO The Escondido City Council is scheduled to meet in closed session at 3:30 p.m. Nov. 28 in council chambers, 201 N. Broadway, and in regular session at 4:30 p.m. OCEANSIDE The Oceanside City Council is scheduled to meet in closed session at 3:30 p.m. Nov. 28 at City Council Chambers, 300 N. Coast Highway, and in regular session at 5 p.m. POWAY The Poway City Council has canceled its meeting scheduled for Tuesday. SAN MARCOS The city of San Marcos is taking applications for vacancies on its Parks & Recreation Commission, Planning Commission, San Marcos Community Foundation, Traffic Commission, Budget Review Committee and San Marcos Creek Specific Plan Oversight Committee. Application deadline is 5:30 p.m. Dec. 13. For information and requirements, visit www.san-marcos.net/your-government/commissions-boards-committees. Contact the City Clerks Office at (760) 744-1050, ext. 3100, or cityclerk@san-marcos.net. VISTA The Vista City Council is seeking applicants for its 2019 scheduled vacancies on these boards and commissions: Central Vista Business Improvement District Advisory Board; Community Development Block Grant Advisory Committee; Community Safety Commission; Investment Advisory Committee; Parks & Recreation Commission; Planning Commission; Public Arts Commission; Sales Tax Oversight Committee; Senior Citizens Affairs Commission; Traffic Commission; and Youth Advisory Commission. Application deadline for incumbents is Jan. 31; for all other applicants, Feb. 10. Youth applications are due May 1. Applications are available from the City Clerks Office, 200 Civic Center Drive, or from the City Commissions, Boards & Committees web page at cityofvista.com. Contact City Clerk Kathy Valdez at (760) 643-5320 or kvaldez@cityofvista.com. laura.groch@sduniontribune.com It appears likely that Sam Abed has lost his bid for a third term as Escondidos mayor. Although ballots are still being counted, Abeds small lead on election night over challenger Paul Mac McNamara has disappeared. McNamaras tally has increased every day. By Friday, he was ahead by 550 votes out of more than 34,000 cast. Most political observers say the election is over. If the results hold, the political makeup of what has been a very conservative City Council for the better part of two decades will have been turned on its head. Consuelo Martinezs decisive win over longtime conservative Councilman Ed Gallo means a far more liberal majority will now control the city. How did it happen? The numbers suggest one strong possible answer: the Latino vote. Advertisement Latinos are the majority in Escondido and have been for roughly 10 years, according to estimates. But they have never turned out in great numbers at the polls. In 2011, there were fewer than 11,000 registered Latino voters in Escondido. As of now, according the county Registrar of Voters, there are almost 19,000. In 2014, the first year that Escondido started electing council members by geographic district, Martinez and Gallo faced off for the first time in the race for the District 1 seat. That area in the center of the city was created to have a minority-majority demographic in response to a threatened lawsuit that would have contended that Latino voters were not given a fair chance to elect one of their own. A low-turnout midterm election, Gallo beat Martinez by just 69 votes. In that election, a total of just 3,259 people voted in the district. This year, with votes still being counted, already 4,488 District 1 voters cast ballots. Of the nearly 19,000 registered Latino voters in the city, 8,262 are registered as Democrats as opposed to just 2,923 as Republicans, with the rest declining to state a preference and a few aligning themselves with fringe political parties, according to Registrar of Voters statistics. As of Friday, Martinez was beating Gallo by 1,154 votes. It is fair, many believe, to assume that most of the people who voted for her also voted for McNamara. Or perhaps they voted against Abed, whose staunch criticism of illegal immigration and sanctuary cities and support of the rule of law rankled many. Abed was also a member of the council in 2006 when the city tried to pass an ordinance that would punish landlords who rented to undocumented workers, and he gathered headlines when he vocally opposed placement of a shelter for unauthorized immigrant children in the city in 2014. On Friday, Abed, 66, a real estate development consultant who immigrated to the United States from Lebanon in 1987 and became a U.S. citizen in 1990, was not conceding the race, but he sounded resigned to the fact that he likely will lose. I really appreciate the support from the residents of Escondido through my 14 years in public service, he said. It was an honor to serve them and maybe continue to serve them. I will respect the vote and the will of the people. Abed said the election results had everything to do with political partisanship and the number of people switching allegiance to the left, including Latinos, than it did with the policies of the current council he has championed. He also said he thought the closeness of the race was partly due to a national anti-incumbent wave that he got caught up in. However, that doesnt seem to be the case on a local level. In San Diego County, there were eight contested mayoral elections.Seven of the eight incumbent mayors easily won re-election in Carlsbad, Chula Vista, El Cajon, Encinitas, Imperial Beach, Poway and Vista. Abed said he has no regrets and said he will always stand for his core principles. I will not change my philosophy and my love for this country and I will always believe in the rule of law and personal responsibility, Abed said. Im not going to change my philosophy to get re-elected to any position. He also said he doesnt think his well-publicized visit to the White House in May, at the presidents invite, to participate in a roundtable discussion about Californias sanctuary city position hurt him. Carl Luna, a political science professor at San Diego Mesa College, said Abeds apparent loss is part of the purpling of North County. The demographics of North County are changing, Luna said. The suburban vote and the Latino vote are breaking against the long-held Republican majorities. Escondido City Councilman John Masson, a conservative who was re-elected easily in his District 2 race, said he was flabbergasted by Abeds apparent loss. I just dont understand it, he said. Truly, I think our citys been doing well and that were heading in the right direction. For it to flip like that seems like an anomaly. I dont know. He said whats clear is that Democrats got out the vote. Councilman Mike Morasco, who usually aligns himself with the Abed majority on most issues, agreed. I believe the Democrats were very successful in registering people and getting them out to vote and I think the Republicans sat on their hands and stayed home, Morasco said. But we wont know that until all the numbers are in. But thats my take with what weve been able to see so far. He said many in the city have been surprised by how tightly the mayors race has been contested. I think the shift is going to be a significant one for the city as a whole in regards to the direction weve been going regarding growth and prosperity, improved safety, improved infrastructure and fiscal accountability, Morasco said. And its a giant question mark about whats now going to happen in the City of Escondido. Morasco said one big thing McNamara had going for his candidacy is that he is a retired Marine Corps colonel. I know a lot of people, such as myself, when you see a retired Marine officer running for office, there is a tendency to look and support that individual, he said. McNamara, still reluctant to claim victory as it could be a week or two before the final results are in, said hes pretty sure the Latino vote played a significant role in the election. Part of our strategy was to help get the Latino vote out, he said. Without looking at the numbers, I think we did. If official results favor McNamara, who describes himself as a moderate Democrat who leans to the left on social issues and to the right on fiscal matters, he would join Martinez and Councilwoman Olga Diaz, the lone Latina on the current council, who has often found herself on the losing side of 4-1 votes. jharry.jones@sduniontribune.com; 760/529-4931; Twitter: @jharryjones With solid bond victories in the midterm election, Carlsbad and Vista Unified School Districts are getting ready to upgrade aging school facilities and tighten security on their campuses. According to election returns posted Friday, a week and a half after election day, Carlsbads $265 million bond initiative, Measure HH, passed with 61.44 of voters approving the expenditure. Vistas $247 million school bond proposal, Measure LL, passed with 62.75 percent of voters in favor. Both exceeded the 55 percent threshold needed for passage. Were thrilled to have the support of the community here in Carlsbad to modernize our campuses, Carlsbad Superintendent Ben Churchill said. This means we can bring all 15 of our school sites up to the standards that our community expects. Vista Unified School District Superintendent Linda Kimble said school officials are grateful for the communitys vote in support of school improvements. Advertisement We know they wont be disappointed, she said. In both cases, the districts plan to certify the elections at school board meetings next month, or early next year, and then proceed with the first round of bond sales in the spring. Measure HH would authorize Carlsbad Unified School District to issue $265 million in school bonds over a 30-year period, at an annual cost of $34 per $100,000 of assessed property value. An analysis by the San Diego Taxpayers Association concluded that its total cost, with interest and principal, would be $508 million. Churchill said officials expect to issue the first bond series, for $82 million, in April or May, and anticipates bond rates around 4.1 percent. Thats based on the most recent sale of general obligation school bonds in California, according to Carlsbads financial advisor, Piper Jaffray. That first series will pay for upgrades to some of the oldest elementary schools, finish modernization of Carlsbad High, and add campus security features to all sites, Churchill said. Magnolia, Hope and Kelly Elementary Schools are first in line for renovation, he said. At each campus, construction crews will remove aging portables, replacing some with new brick-and-mortar buildings, and others with new relocatable buildings. All three campuses will get expanded parking, parking lot solar facilities and battery storage to improve energy efficiency, and upgraded roofing, restrooms and heating and cooling. At Hope and Kelly, he said, the renovation will expand their multi-purpose rooms, kitchens and libraries. Magnolia will get a complete remodel. At Magnolia, well be taking it down to the studs, he said. We want to maintain the footprint of that school site, but modernize it and bring it up to current standards. Carlsbad High School will see the second phase of a remodeling plan that began with the previous school bond, Proposition P, which passed in 2007. The next round of improvements at Carlsbad High will include renovating the science building with new restrooms, cabinetry, lab tables, and technology infrastructure. Well be working with industry partners to make sure that were outfitting our science labs with industry standard equipment, he said. The first phase of bond construction will also cover security enhancements, including fencing, security cameras and visitors management systems. Churchill said the district has selected architects for the projects, and will do community stakeholder meetings to seek input on the plans in February. Construction will start in 2020, and should conclude by 2022, he said. In Vista, three-quarters of the $247 million raised through Measure LL will pay to replace portable structures that make up more than half of the districts classrooms. The balance will cover upgrades to security and technology systems. At a cost of $30 per $100,000 in assessed value per year, it will cost $506 million over the life of the bonds, including interest and principal, according to the taxpayers association. Officials are planning to issue the initial, $66 million bond series around March, and expect to start construction in the summer. We have about five shovel-ready (Department of State Architect) approved projects, said Donna Caperton, assistant superintendent for business services with Vista Unified. Before then, the board will certify the election, work with the underwriter and recruit members for the bond oversight committee. The committee will include representatives of the school district, community members, the taxpayers association, builders and contractors, labor organizations, chambers of commerce and parent teacher associations. The first campuses on the list include Beaumont Elementary, which will see 17 portable classrooms replaced with permanent structures, Caperton said. Bobier Elementary will swap out 21 relocatables for new, permanent classrooms. At Vista High School, 53 portable classrooms are slated for removal. Once those are out of the way, the school will undergo a full makeover, with realignment of the entryway, Title IX upgrades to the girls softball fields, and expansion of the parking lot. The project will constitute a major redesign of the campus, which is transitioning to a personalized learning model of education. In 2016, the school earned a $10 million XQ Genius grant to develop the high school of the future. As part of that process, students have a say in their projects and assignments, learn at their own pace, and study in classrooms equipped for group work and collaboration. With personalized learning, you have flexible design, so you have to make sure its truly functional, Caperton said. deborah.brennan@sduniontribune.com Twitter@deborahsbrennan Imperial Beach is surrounded by water. It has the Pacific Ocean to the west, San Diego Bay to the north, and the Tijuana Estuary to the south. Because of this, the city is particularly vulnerable to sea-level rise. And that makes it an ideal candidate to test a program that could become the model for how coastal cities throughout California prepare for the impacts of climate change. Last week, city officials and scientists from the Scripps Institution of Oceanography at the University of California, San Diego announced the deployment of a flood-alert system. Mark Merrifield, director of the Center for Climate Change Impacts and Adaptability at Scripps and a leading sea-level rise expert, said the new model could help cities throughout the West Coast. Advertisement This is a new system, its a new approach, he said. I dont think any other city in California has something similar and we hope that it develops into a template of how cities might go about gathering the information they need to prepare for sea-level rise. In Imperial Beach, a 2016 Sea-Level Rise Assessment found that storm-induced dune erosion, coastal flooding, and tidal inundation threaten the citys wastewater systems, pump stations, roads and oceanfront properties. Although the city knows that flooding occurs during unusually high tides, they dont always know where exactly its going to occur, what parts of the city will be effected, or how long the flooding will last. Thats where Scripps comes in. Their new system will track quantitative pieces of information Imperial Beach can use to plan for flooding events, Merrifield said. In August, scientists installed a wave buoy about two miles offshore to measure wave height, period and direction. In coming weeks, they will install a tide gauge at the end of the Imperial Beach Pier to measure tide heights and water levels. Scientists also will install a series of pressure sensors 32 feet into the ground near the shore to assess nearshore wave model predictions and pressure sensors in the beach to test wave run-up predictions in flood-prone areas. Researchers will use these devices to gather near real-time data to help Imperial Beach understand what factors are contributing to flood events so they can prepare to manage potential emergencies. These tools will also help assess future flooding risks as sea levels continue to rise, Merrifield said. Scripps is funding this program through a $250,000 contribution from the David C. Copley Foundation. Serge Dedina, Imperial Beach mayor and UC San Diego graduate, said the program was an example of putting cutting-edge research methods into action for the benefit of local communities. It is an honor for the city of Imperial Beach to partner with Scripps Institution of Oceanography to be the first city in California to install sea-level rise monitoring technology along our beautiful beach as part of our efforts to monitor and adapt to rising sea, he said. This new program has already attracted the attention of regional agencies. Port of San Diego Chairman Rafael Castellanos said systems like the ones in Imperial Beach could help the port prepare for sea-level rise. Systems that we are seeing here today will greatly assist the Port and other organizations with readiness planning, he said. The Port, which manages 34 miles of waterfront along the San Diego Bay, is conducting a sea-level rise vulnerability assessment. Earlier this year, it signed an agreement with the U.S. Navy to align their sea-level rise planning efforts. It was the first agreement of its kind on the West Coast. The Port has major assets on its land that must be protected, Castellanos said. The San Diego Airport, shipyards, cargo terminals, cruise ship terminals, are just some of the facilities that are critical to our economy, our security and our way of life. Contact Gustavo Solis via Email or Twitter For a few months back in 1987, Ed Gillet was a global media sensation. With little money or supplies, no support crew and an off-the-shelf sea kayak, the 36-year-old San Diego adventurer paddled alone nearly 2,500 miles from Monterey Bay to Maui in 64 days. No one has ever equaled his feat, before or since, despite numerous failed attempts. Yet while the 67-year-old Clairemont residents name is legendary in kayaking circles, it has long since disappeared from the public eye. And thats by design. Gillet, a longtime local high school teacher, said he wearied quickly of the misunderstandings and media circus that followed his trip so he went silent for more than a quarter-century. Advertisement Then in 2013, he got a call from longtime Canoe & Kayak Magazine writer/editor Dave Shively. He persuaded Gillet to tell his story at last, first in the magazine a few years ago, and now in Shivelys just-published book The Pacific Alone: The Untold Story of Kayakings Boldest Voyage. A photograph taken of Ed Gillet on June 25, 1987, as he set out from Monterey Bay on his solo sea kayak crossing to Hawaii, which took 64 days. (Courtesy of Ed Gillet) Gillet said he trusted Shively with his story because the 37-year-old author is not only an expert at the language of kayaks and the sea, he also understands why Gillet felt compelled to test the limits of his endurance 31 years ago. Back then, I was portrayed as this crazed loner who pulled the whole thing off by luck, Gillet said. I got tired of trying to explain it. The thing is, I did it for the hell of it. It was where I was at the time. Shively first heard about Gillet in 2012, when a Bay Area kayaker named Wave Vidmar asked the magazine to sponsor his attempt to re-create Gillets 1987 crossing. Widmar aborted his attempt in stormy weather after just one day. A year later, a pair of Oakland air marshals attempted the same crossing together. They, too, failed within 24 hours. They were obsessed with Ed Gillets trip and they didnt make it past day one. I figured out the real story wasnt them, it was Ed, said Shively, who is content director for TEN: The Enthusiast Networks Paddlesports Group in Carlsbad. In the first 10 minutes of talking to him about his approach to the trip, I was hooked. This was an incredible story. Shively used Gillets personal recollections as well as the weathered and much-treasured journal Gillet kept during the Pacific Ocean crossing to craft the 165-page book. Gillet said he once tried to write his own book but couldnt capture his emotions the way Shively has. I could never re-create to my satisfaction the feeling of exhilaration and terror at the same time. It was like walking a tightrope, he said. Dave had that psychological distance to approach it and the writerly craft. Dave Shivelys The Pacific Alone: The Untold Story of Kayakings Boldest Voyage. (Courtesy photo) The first time Gillet traded a boat for a kayak was in 1981 and he was blown away by how quietly the craft moved through the water, allowing him a more intimate connection with the environment. Over the next six years, he paddled nearly 20,000 miles up and down the Americas, from Peru to Alaska. After dangerous encounters with soldiers, smugglers and angry villagers on the coast of Chile and Ecuador in 1984, Gillet decided to plan an epic trip where he could avoid people altogether and the idea for the California-to-Hawaii trek was born. The trip was never designed to set a world record, land sponsors or attract media attention. It was simply a voyage Gillet felt he could afford and was capable of accomplishing while still pushing the extreme limit of his physical and mental abilities. Back then, there was no Internet for research. For tips and advice, Gillet devoured the few books and magazine articles he could find on solo sea-crossings. It was challenging. I was never a meticulous planner, he said. When I planned kayak trips, I just threw stuff in and then threw in some more and off I went. On a kayaking trip in Sausalito in October 1985, Gillet fell in love at first sight twice. First, when he met his future wife, Bay Area competitive rower Katie Kampe, and later when he saw a 20-foot yellow tandem Tofino sea kayak made by Czech-born craftsman Mike Neckar. In 1986, Kampe relocated to San Diego to move in with Gillet. She ran a small rowing business near Shelter Island, while he led group kayak trips to pay off the Tofino and other equipment for his trip. A few months before his voyage, they got married at Torrey Pines State Park and opened a new business, Southwest Kayaks. Self-portrait of Ed Gillet taken on day 45 of his dCalifornia-to-Hawaii solo sea kayak adventure. His story is told in the new book The Pacific Alone by Dave Shively. (Ed Gillet) Gillet said he could never have accomplished what he did without the strength and support of his wife, a lifelong sailor and adventurer herself, whose father was a silver star Army colonel. Her dad was tough as nails and she comes from that hard-as-nails tradition, Gillet said. With zero fanfare, Gillet paddled out of Monterey Bay on June 25, 1987. His Tofino, later nicknamed Dolphin, was riding low in the water with 600 pounds of gear and food. His goal was to reach Hawaii in 45 days max. His pack included two plastic sextants to navigate by the stars, a battery-powered knot-ometer to measure speed, a borrowed seawater purification system for drinking water, two cooking stoves, a weather radio, a navigation calculator and five watches. There was no GPS system, no ship-to-shore phone and the emergency beacon he installed to reassure Kampe of his progress shorted out nine days into the voyage. Shively said Gillets trip is unique in how truly disconnected he was from the outside world and how he accomplished the trip on a scant $7,000 budget. Today, some people distort the process by making it so high-tech, Gillet said. I wanted a trip with purity. It doesnt cost a lot of money to be pure. Most solo sea crossing attempts from California usually fail quickly in the rough coastal waters known as the potato patch. During the first week, Gillet struggled with stormy seas, extreme cold, saltwater sores, seasickness, lack of sleep and multiple equipment failures. On day 8, he decided to give up and turned his kayak toward San Diego. But that moment of resignation lasted only a few hours. It works on your mind. Things seemed way too marginal, he said of the hardship in his first week. Then I thought, what the hell? When was I going to get to do this again? This is it. Its all or nothing. So I turned around. On Day 13, the gray clouds finally lifted and by day 32, the long-anticipated trade winds began to blow, dramatically increasing the distance he covered each day. It was thrilling and beautiful out on the open sea and he cherished the solitude. When the winds died, Gillet would increase his paddling to 16 hours a day. Because he could never stretch out completely in his kayak, he slept very little. By day 49, fatigue, anxiety and despair caught up with him and he vowed that if he survived, he wouldnt ever talk about the trip. There was something sacred about it, he said. Ed Gillet, 67, and Dave Shiley, 37, at the Torrey Pines Glider Port in La Jolla on Wednesday. Shively has written The Pacific Alone, a book about Gillets legendary 64-day solo voyage by sea kayak from Monterey to Maui in 1987. (Eduardo Contreras / San Diego Union-Tribune) Gillet said that whenever he became overwhelmed at the sheer number of miles ahead, he would take a break and eat. Focusing on his meal, one bite at a time, allowed him to think and live in the moment. As food stores ran low, he was lucky to catch the occasional mahi-mahi from a school that followed his kayak for hundreds of miles. Eventually, he rationed himself to 500 calories a day, ate his toothpaste and ran out of food on day 60. Three days later, he spotted the mountains of Maui and paddled for 40 straight hours to arrive at Kahului Bay at dawn on Aug. 27. Although he was 19 days late, Gillet expected to see his family waiting onshore, unaware that the beacon had malfunctioned and they had no idea where he was or even if he was still alive. So, he pulled the kayak ashore, called his family from a nearby hotel lobby, bought $22 of ice cream and snacks and settled under a tree to relish the moment. I was more at peace in that moment than Ive ever been in my life, he said. It was complete happiness being there. I couldve camped on the beach for days. As word of his arrival spread, Gillet was featured in local and national newspapers. The Tonight Show with Johnny Carson flew him, Katie and the kayak to L.A. for a TV appearance. He gave the occasional lecture and slide show. Then, after a few months, he simply stopped. He was tired of the stupid questions (How did you go to the bathroom? Where did you land at night?); reminded about how close he came to death; and troubled by the worry hed caused his family. Although the great solo adventuring was over, Gillet continued leading group kayak trips for the next 20 years. Kampe was diagnosed with cancer at an early age and has had many health challenges over the years. In 2001, they closed their kayak shop. Gillet is in his 18th year of teaching English and advanced placement literature, now at Eastlake High in Chula Vista. The Dolphin kayak now hangs in a place of honor at the Mission Bay Yacht Club. Sometime in the not-too-distant future, Gillet and Kampe plans to sell their home and buy a boat that will be their home for the rest of their days. They plan to start with a year in the Sea of Cortez, then explore the Atlantic Ocean and beyond. I want to simplify my life, Gillet said. Im looking for a more peaceful and quiet life. I want to get back some ground level of being in nature again. The middle of the ocean is a miraculous place to be. Theres no lights and a globe of stars over your head. I want to voyage on the ocean again. The Pacific Alone can be purchased at Barnes & Noble bookstores, REI stores, on Amazon.com and on Booksamillion.com. pam.kragen@sduniontribune.com Edward Gallagher was something special, even by the punishing standards of the Navy SEALs. Both a lifesaving medic and a crack sniper, he was repeatedly decorated for valor and for coolheaded leadership during 19 years of combat deployments. After his latest tour, fighting Islamic State militants in Iraq, he was named the top platoon leader in SEAL Team 7 and nominated for the Silver Star, the militarys third-highest honor. But now, less than a year later, Special Operations Chief Gallagher, 39, is locked in the brig, facing charges that during that same deployment his eighth he shot indiscriminately at civilians, killed a teenage Islamic State fighter with a handmade custom blade, and then performed his re-enlistment ceremony posing with the teenagers bloody corpse in front of a U.S. flag. The Navy has charged Gallagher with premeditated murder, attempted murder and nearly a dozen other offenses, including obstruction of justice and bringing discredit upon the armed forces. If he is convicted, he could spend the rest of his life in prison. Gallagher denies all the charges. Advertisement The case has sent waves through the secretive world of the SEALs, who prefer to operate behind the headlines in an atmosphere of silent professionalism. And the case could widen as the investigation implicates other SEALs who did not report what they knew. A lieutenant has already been charged. The chiefs arrest has also shaken his family, who cannot square the list of war crimes with the sailor they have long known. This is not who Eddie is, said his wife, Andrea Gallagher. He is a lifesaver. He is that guy who runs into the burning building when other people are running out. In a two-day preliminary hearing at Naval Base San Diego that concluded Thursday, prosecutors presented accounts from several other SEALs in Gallaghers platoon describing his behavior as reckless and bloodthirsty. They said he fired into civilian crowds, gunned down a girl walking along a riverbank and an old man carrying a water jug, and threatened to kill fellow SEALs if they reported his actions. Some platoon members were so distraught by the chiefs actions, investigators said, that they tampered with his sniper rifle to make it less accurate, and fired warning shots to scare away civilians before the chief had a chance to shoot them. They said they spent more time protecting civilians than they did fighting ISIS, Special Agent Joe Warpinski of the Naval Criminal Investigative Service told the military court. Gallagher sat in the courtroom in dress uniform during the hearing, his face deeply creased and tanned from years of combat duty. He did not testify. His lawyer, Phillip Stackhouse, said the charges were baseless. He said the only evidence that the chief had killed anyone came from accounts offered by a few SEALs who were disgruntled because they could not meet their leaders demanding standards. I promise you, we will call many more SEALs who will say none of this ever happened, Stackhouse said. The purpose of the hearing, known as an Article 32 hearing, was to determine whether the case should proceed to a trial. Both sides said they believe it will, probably in 2019. The son of a West Point graduate and career Army officer, Gallagher enlisted in the Navy as a medic in 1999 and deployed to Iraq, attached to a Marine infantry unit. Then he decided to become a SEAL, and was one of the few Navy medics ever to complete the Marines demanding scout sniper school. He finished his SEAL training in 2004. His combination of skills put him in high demand. He deployed frequently with different teams, steadily advanced in rank, and built a record studded with awards for exemplary conduct and valor, braving fire to kill enemies and save friends in Iraq and Afghanistan. His eighth deployment, from February to September 2017, was to Mosul, Iraq. Some of the SEALs who served under him told investigators that at first they were excited to be led by someone with Gallaghers reputation, but they soon started to see him as unhinged. He fired his rifle about 10 times as often as other snipers, they said, even at times when there seemed to be no targets. Every single sniper in the platoon said he was not a good sniper, Warpinski told the court. The chief was hard on his platoon, investigators said, berating and punishing SEALs who he thought were not aggressive enough. Gallaghers lawyers said that hard feelings in the platoon over his actions had led some SEALs to concoct stories in the hope of forcing him from command. In May 2017, Iraqi forces captured an enemy fighter who had been wounded in an airstrike. Video images show the bleeding fighter, who was thought to be between 12 and 17, being brought to the SEAL platoon on the hood of a truck, and Gallagher and others cutting away his clothing to give medical aid. Photos of the fighter appeared to show that medics had put tubes used to treat a collapsed lung in his side and cut an emergency airway in his throat. Navy investigators said that one SEAL medic was kneeling over the fighters head, treating him, when Gallagher walked up and, without saying a word, took out a handmade knife and stabbed the teenager several times in the neck and side. Investigators said two other SEALs gave similar accounts. Members of the platoon then posed for photos with Gallagher as he held the teenagers head up by the hair with one hand, and held his knife in the other. Photos show Gallagher then raising his right hand to perform a re-enlistment ceremony over the body, while another SEAL member holds a U.S. flag. Soon after the episode, investigators said, Gallagher texted a photo of the body to a fellow SEAL member with the message, I got him with my hunting knife. Stackhouse, the defense lawyer, said the teenager had probably died of the serious injuries he suffered in the airstrike, and that no evidence had been offered showing any stab wounds. As for the photos taken afterward, posing with the body, Stackhouse said, these types of pictures are not unique; theyve been in every Iraq case Ive ever done. Investigators say several SEALs in the platoon spoke to commanders about the episode, but that no action was taken. Some of them reported it to higher leadership in December 2017, and again in April, when a criminal investigation was opened. In September, when the Navy became aware of what prosecutors said were efforts by the chief to intimidate witnesses, he was arrested and put in pretrial confinement. At the hearing Thursday, Navy prosecutor Chris Czaplak said the chief had done damage beyond murder. Does the public still believe we are the good guys, because Chief Gallagher decided to act like the monster the terrorists accuse us of being? he said. He handed ISIS propaganda manna from heaven. His actions are everything ISIS says we are. Philipps writes for The New York Times. Related Trump calls CIA assessment of Khashoggi murder premature but possible President Donald Trump said he would not listen to a recording of the killing of Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi even as an upcoming report on the slaying threatens to put him in a diplomatic bind: how to admonish Riyadh for the slaying yet maintain strong ties with a close ally. Trump, in an interview that aired Sunday, made clear that the audio recording, supplied by the Turkish government, would not change his decision on how to respond to the Oct. 2 killing, which U.S. intelligence agencies have concluded was ordered by Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. ``Because it's a suffering tape, it's a terrible tape. I've been fully briefed on it, there's no reason for me to hear it,'' Trump said in the interview with ``Fox News Sunday.'' ``I know everything that went on in the tape without having to hear it.'' Reporters asked Trump, as he toured fire damage in California on Saturday, about the death of Khashoggi, a columnist for The Washington Post who was often critical of the Saudi royal family. Saudi Arabia's top diplomat has said the crown prince had ``absolutely'' nothing to do with it. ``We'll be having a very full report over the next two days, probably Monday or Tuesday,'' Trump said. That will include ``who did it,'' he said. It was not clear if the findings of the report would be made public. Trump told ``Fox News Sunday'' that Crown Prince Mohammed had repeatedly denied being involved in the killing inside the Saudi Consulate in Istanbul. The president declined to say if evidence that the crown prince, with whom the Trump administration developed close ties, was involved with the killing would alter relations with Riyadh. ``Well, will anybody really know?'' Trump said. ``At the same time, we do have an ally, and I want to stick with an ally that in many ways has been very good.'' Intelligence officials have been providing information to Trump about the death for weeks and he was briefed again by phone Saturday by CIA Director Gina Haspel and Secretary of State Mike Pompeo as he flew to California. White House press secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders provided no details of his call but said the president has confidence in the CIA. ``The United States government is determined to hold all those responsible for the killing of Jamal Khashoggi accountable,'' the State Department said in a statement. ``Recent reports indicating that the U.S. government has made a final conclusion are inaccurate. There remain numerous unanswered questions with respect to the murder of Mr. Khashoggi.'' The statement added: ``The U.S. government has taken decisive measures against the individuals responsible, including visa and sanctions actions. We will continue to explore additional measures to hold those accountable who planned, led and were connected to the murder. And, we will do that while maintaining the important strategic relationship between the United States and Saudi Arabia.'' Before his call on Air Force One, Trump told reporters that when it came to the crown prince, ``as of this moment we were told that he did not play a role. We're going to have to find out what they have to say.'' That echoed remarks by national security adviser John Bolton, who said earlier this week that people who have listened to an audio recording of the killing do not think it implicates the crown prince. Trump has called the killing a botched operation that was carried out very poorly and has said ``the cover-up was one of the worst cover-ups in the history of cover-ups.'' But he has resisted calls to cut off arms sales to the kingdom and has been reluctant to antagonize the Saudi rulers. Trump considers the Saudis vital allies in his Mideast agenda. But members of Congress are pushing Trump for a tougher response to the killing. The administration this past week penalized 17 Saudi officials for their alleged role in the killing, but American lawmakers have called on the administration to curtail arms sales to Saudi Arabia or take other harsher punitive measures. Vice President Mike Pence told reporters traveling with him Saturday for a summit of Pacific Rim nations in Papua, New Guinea, that the ``murder of Jamal Khashoggi was an atrocity. It was also an affront to a free and independent press, and the United States is determined to hold all of those accountable who are responsible for that murder.'' * This story was edited by Ahram Online. Search Keywords: Short link: November 18, 1923 The San Diego Union The San Diego Union-Tribune will mark its 150th anniversary in 2018 by presenting a significant front page from the archives each day throughout the year. Sunday, November 18, 1923 In 1923 Ed Fletcher unveiled the Pacific coast milestone of a southern transcontinental highway in San Diego's downtown plaza and read a message of congratulations from President Coolidge. The final link in the Washington D.C. to San Diego route a stretch of highway between El Centro and Yuma, Arizona was completed in 1925. Part of the highway later became U.S. Route 80. Here are the first few paragraphs of the story: PRESIDENT MARKS END OF HIGHWAY Col. Fletcher Unveils Marble Monument in Plaza When Coolidge Touches Button in National Capital. THE conclusion of 15 years of effort for a southern transcontinental highway was celebrated here yesterday afternoon when President Coolidge, with the assistance of Col. Ed Fletcher, unveiled the Pacific Coast Milestone of the Lee transcontinental highway. Shortly before 1:45 oclock yesterday afternoon the President in his Washington office, touched an electric button that rang a gong in the plaza here. At the signal Col. Fletcher, vice president of the Lee Highway association, unveiled the handsome marble milestone and read the Presidents message. STONE IS S.D. MARBLE The ceremonies were brief, but impressive. Besides his reading of the Presidents message to San Diego, Col. Fletcher made a few remarks of his own, and he was followed by Mayor Bacon and Admiral A. H. Robertson, each of whom spoke a few words appropriate to the occasion. The milestone which marks the Pacific terminum of the Lee highway is a solid piece of San Diego county marble, donated by the Verruga Marble company. It is located in the plaza to the east of the fountain and bears on its east face the shield of the Lee highway and the designation as the Pacific end of the highway, which starts at Washington, D.C. On the western face is a bronze tablet bearing testimony to the high regard of San Diego citizens for Col. Fletcher, whose activity has played an important part in the establishment of the highway. The stone was draped with a flag, which at the tap of the gong, was hoisted to a staff erected on the speakers platform. The massed bands of the Sciots, which had assembled at the milestone for the ceremony, played the national anthem, and as the last strains died away Col. Fletcher read the following message from the President: RECALLS HARDING It is a pleasure to comply with the request of your Lee Highway association and the city of San Diego to send a message for the dedication of the Pacific milestone. President Harding was to have dedicated the Pacific milestone, and had planned to make an address at San Diego on this subject of highways. Perhaps, then, I may appropriately recall something of what he said in dedicating the zero milestone in Washington on June 4, last. Referring to the highway system, which at all times have served to unify society and promote civilization, he spoke of our national highway system of 200,000 miles of modern improved roads, together with more that 2,000,000 miles of rural highways, which yet remain to be improved as rapidly as economic conditions shall justify. President Harding emphasized the necessity to utilize every form of transportation to the utmost practicable extent, and commended the various associations which have fostered the good roads movement. Particularly, he thanked the Lee Highway association for erecting the zero milestone, the Pacific milestone, and others which have been made official bench marks of the United States coast and geodetic survey. Just as the zero milestone marks the point of the initiation of this splendid transcontinental highway, so the Pacific milestone marks the place of its contact with the Pacific. The southern trans-continental highway is already, in a large part, finished. A relatively small mileage remains to be brought up to the best present day standards, but I am informed that most of these sections are included in the system of federal-aid roads, and that in a near future the necessary links will have been forged. When they are finished, this highway will stand as one of the continuous transcontinental routes available at all seasons of the year for easy transportation. In accepting this monument, it is fitting to express thanks to the citizens of San Diego, the Imperial Valley, of Yuma, Ariz., and the state of California for their particular contributions. The Lee highway association has done a work of national unification in opening up this route between the national capital and southern California.The monument may well be dedicated to the purpose of marking the meeting place of the splendid highway with the waters of the Pacific, in the hope that it may hasten the coming day of a perfected system of highway communication throughout the entire nation. View anniversary front pages online at sandiegouniontribune.com/150-years. For more from the Union-Tribune digital archives, go to newslibrary.com/sites/sdub. Searching is free, with registration. A fee is required to view full stories. President Trump said California can learn from Finland on how to fight fires. But the fires that burned Paradise and parts of Southern California are significantly different from the forest fires that hit Finland last year. In an interview this week, Jonathan Pangburn, a fire behavior analyst for the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection, said the Camp fire started in a rugged hillside area of the Plumas National Forest but quickly became an urban fire, burning blocks of homes in the town of Paradise at a time. These are the victims of the California wildfires Advertisement It started out as a vegetation fire. When it reached the incorporated area, which is definitely a lot more urban and developed of an area, he said, it turned into a building-to-building fire ... no longer carrying through most of the vegetation, especially in the upper canopies in the trees. It was not a crown fire through the Paradise area. As more structures caught fire, the situation just got worse. Homes lost in Paradise (Los Angeles Times) They put off so much heat, and so much debris in terms of burning embers that flow to other buildings, that its really a structure-to-structure ignition at that point. And thats what we saw, unfortunately, in the Paradise area, Pangburn said. Indeed, in the aftermath, homes were burned out but many trees remained. The Paradise fire has burned more than 10,000 structures and killed at least 71 people, with more than 1,000 still unaccounted for. It was fueled by intense winds gusting above 70 mph. The region has not had significant rainfall since May. Trump has erroneously suggested that poor forest management is to blame for the destruction wrought by the Camp fire as well as the Woolsey fire, which burned through suburban Southern California from Oak Park to Malibu. More than 800 structures were lost and three people died. The Woolsey fire was not near any forest. On Saturday, Trump continued to talk about forest management, particularly forest floors. Weve got to take care of the floors, you know, the floors of the forest. Its very important, the president said. He said Finland focuses on raking and cleaning and doing things, and they dont have any problem, and when it is I know everyone is looking at that. A heat wave this summer caused huge forest fires across Europe, including Finland. Fires scorched forested areas in Lapland, a remote northern province near Finlands border with Russia, forcing evacuations of summer cottages. One big difference: Rainfall since May at Jarbo Gap in Butte County, near where the Camp fire started, was at 0.7 inches. The May-November rainfall in Rovaniemi, Laplands capital: 15.76 inches. Finland and California also differ greatly in their winds, said meteorologist Geoff Fox in Irvine. Californias Santa Ana winds are dry, desiccating vegetation as they whip through canyons and passes. They dont exist in Finlands relatively flat country, Fox said. Experts agree that overgrown forests in California pose a heightened wildfire threat in some parts of the Sierra Nevada. But although Paradise is near forestland, the wind-whipped Camp fire tore across areas that burned in 2008 lightning fires and were also later logged. It is not fueled by heavy timber. UPDATES: 6:10 p.m.: This article was updated with more information on differences in climate between California and Finland. 5:35 p.m.: This article was updated with more background information on the Camp fire. This article was originally published at 5 p.m. Joe Rivano Barros flew into Mexico City on Nov. 6 with a vague mission. Barros, 26, had been sent by the Refugee and Immigrant Center for Education and Legal Services (RAICES), a Texas-based nonprofit. His brief: help the Central American refugees trudging north to the U.S.-Mexico border. He soon discovered, though, that the caravan was not a united, cohesive, one-size-fits all outfit. These refugees come from various nations Honduras, Nicaragua, El Salvador, Guatemala and represent numerous ethnicities and religions. And then theres La Comunidad, the self-bestowed name of about 80 LGBTQ people. Advertisement They were fleeing violence because of their gender identity, Barros said. They were also facing violence in the caravan itself. RAICES stepped in. So far, it has spent more than $10,000 on La Comunidad, transporting them to Tijuana, then providing housing and food as they seek asylum in the U.S. We are people, hard working people that are just looking to follow our dreams, said Crystal, 23, a transgendered woman from Honduras. We are not invading the United States. We are trying to do everything legally. These refugees and their North American guardian angels have traveled a bumpy road and the end is nowhere in sight. Cat calls In the weeks before the U.S. midterm elections, the migrant caravan was a political pinata, portrayed by one side as a national security threat and by the other as the tragic consequence of Washingtons misguided polices toward Central America. Entering this crisis was sure to be controversial. That was fine with RAICES. The group was founded in San Antonio in 1987 by Stacey Merkt and Jack Elder, the latter a Vietnam veteran who with an earlier nonprofit had been convicted of transporting undocumented Central Americans into the U.S. Under the current executive director, Jonathan Ryan, RAICES made news by fighting a 2016 Texas law making it a felony to shelter unauthorized immigrants. This year, the Trump administrations zero tolerance border policy, which separated migrant children from their parents, inspired a RAICES fundraiser that brought in $12 million. Rapid growth has made this Texas largest immigrant-focused legal aid group. Donations and grants for 2011 had totaled a lean $371,000; by 2015, that figure had grown 10-fold. When Barros arrived in Mexico City, he was not without resources. He tapped the nonprofits account for $6,000 to rent two buses to take La Comunidad to Tijuana. The 30-hour journey was nonstop, except for bathroom breaks and halts for meals. There were cat calls and apparent discrimination at almost every stop, Barros said. Everywhere you go. When the group arrived in Tijuana on Nov. 11, they moved into a three-house, 17-bedroom complex surrounded by a brick wall (the rent for four nights: $3,500). Some neighbors confronted the migrants as they stepped off the bus, telling them they were unwelcome. These are people who dont belong here, one said, in a tense moment captured on video. Others, though, visited with food and blankets. And people drove down from San Diego with toilet paper, olive oil, toys for the kids, Barros said. The group, which included a half dozen teens and three toddlers, grew antsy behind the high walls, but they were discouraged from leaving the compound. They want to wander out, not be cooped up, Barros said. But Tijuana is a dangerous place, especially for trans women, who get confused with prostitutes. On Thursday, the party moved into a large community center. Then they stood in line at the San Ysidro port of entry, formally beginning the asylum process. Assassins Under federal law, people seeking asylum in the U.S. must be able to show they fled their homes because their race, religion, nationality, political opinion or membership in a particular social order led them to fear persecution. Each case is going to be different, said Cristian Sanchez, 28, an immigration lawyer for RAICES. Ive seen some strong cases. Sanchez and another RAICES lawyer flew into Tijuana last week to interview La Comunidads asylum seekers. They had help from other agencies Al Otro Lado, a U.S.-Mexican legal aid group; World Relief, an international aid society founded by American evangelicals; and the Santa Fe Dreamers Project, a New Mexican group that advises immigrants on the law. As Sanchez quizzed the migrants, they responded with questions of their own: How long will we be detained? What do you think of my asylum petition? Will I be able to stay with my family? Most are aware that the Trump administration takes a harder line on refugees and asylum-seekers than its predecessors. On Friday, Al Otro Lado joined a lawsuit arguing that Washington has a Turnback Policy, illegally restricting the number of asylum-seekers. Everyone is aware of that, Sanchez said. Crystal, the trans woman from Honduras, understood that the asylum process was rigorous and, even if she were admitted to the U.S., bias against LGBTQ people is a fact of American life. But the difference is that in Honduras gangs grab us and prostitute us out, she said. In the United States, theres definitely discrimination but Americans wont round us up and prostitute us. That wasnt the only hazard she faced at home, Crystal said. Sicarios assassins wanted to kill me for being a trans woman, an LGBT woman. She left Honduras on Oct. 23, carrying only the clothes on her back, a toothbrush and toothpaste. The 12-day journey to Mexico City was accomplished on foot and via the occasional hitched ride. Her feet blistered, her face burned, her cloths were drenched by rain. Wed sleep on the streets, in parks, beneath trees, she said. The majority of us got sick, with coughs and flu. Other migrants insulted her, pushed her aside when she was in line for food, threatened to beat her. One night, she saw a sleeping trans woman grabbed by the hair on her head and slammed into a vase. The RAICES-chartered bus trip from Mexico City to Tijuana was easier on the legs, but Crystal remained jittery. The rare stops always came with a soundtrack of jeers and shouted threats. It was very stressful, she said. Crystal, a chef who specializes in Italian and French cuisine, consoled herself by imagining a new life in the U.S. I want to work and buy my own house and help my mom, she said. I would like to own my own business. Crystal holds onto that dream at night, lying across a double bed with three others, all awaiting the U.S. governments decision. Forty years ago, on the Friday before Thanksgiving, something very strange happened. A special television event that had been billed as a dazzling lineup of stars, animation, adventure, music and visual effects turned out to be two hours (including commercials) of The Star Wars Holiday Special. In a way it made sense. It was the golden age of the variety show, and the cast of Star Wars, which had blown up the cinematic universe the year before, had made appearances on the Bob Hope Christmas Special, The Richard Pryor Show and Donny & Marie. It wasnt entirely without precedent that the most popular movie of the previous year would have a variety show of its own. Even so, it wasnt quite what fans, or television viewers, were expecting. The show opened with Wookiees. Ten minutes of Wookiees. Yes, Chewbacca had a family, and they lived in a rad treehouse loft with thick green shag carpeting on a planet called Kashyyyk. Wookiees speak Wookiee, not English, and there were no captions, so it was 10 full minutes of grunting and miming, which is a lot. Advertisement There was something of a plot Han, played by Harrison Ford, and Chewie had to get home in time to celebrate Wookiee Life Day. But then Harvey Korman appeared in drag as an alien Julia Child. Bea Arthur sang, tended bar at the Mos Eisley Cantina and danced with Greedo. Diahann Carroll showed up for a virtual reality number, and Jefferson Starship played a hologram concert in a box. Luke (Mark Hamill) and Leia (Carrie Fisher) made appearances but so did Art Carney. Boba Fett was introduced in an animated sequence, and at the end, the Wookiees donned red robes, grabbed orbs, and marched into the sun. Princess Leia sang. This happens. (YouTube) Not surprisingly, the special was never aired again; neither was it ever officially released by Lucasfilm. It took on an urban-legendary status, occasionally popping up in bootleg VHS trading groups; Carrie Fisher once joked that she had a copy to play at parties when I wanted everyone to leave. Over the years, as Star Wars morphed from film to franchise, much has been written about its regrettable holiday special. And now, to mark its 40th anniversary, theres even a play about its making. Everybody went into it with good intentions, said Andrew Osborne, author of Special, a semi-factual retelling of how it all went down that opens at L.A.'s Theatre of Note on Dec. 14. Most of the writers and crew were coming from a disposable pop culture perspective, he said, and while George Lucas was hard at work creating a richly textured and expansive science fiction universe, everyone [at CBS] was like how do we work in more musical numbers? It all started with the merchandise, or lack of it. When Star Wars premiered, no toys had even been developed. Christmas 1977 came and went without the fans getting to play Jedi and Stormtroopers at home, a situation Fox wanted to correct by Christmas 1978. But if the studio was going to sell toys, it needed something to remind kids how much they loved their heroes from a galaxy far, far away. Everybody agreed that a television special was a good idea, said Jonathan Rinzler, who worked closely with George Lucas at Lucasfilm. Lucas was very busy in 1978. Expectations were high for the sequel, and he was moving his production company to Northern California. So he didnt have time to get very involved with the special. He came up with the general concept, Rinzler said: He wanted to expand on the Wookiees and introduce Chewbaccas family; with concept artist Joe Johnston, he designed a Clint Eastwood-style bounty hunter named Boba Fett. Then, according to first-person accounts, production was turned over to CBS, who put the project in the hands of veteran variety show writers and producers. The first director got frustrated with the budget and fast-paced production schedule of television, and quit. The costumes were so thick and bulky that the actors sometimes passed out. By the end, the whole thing had run out of money: The Wookiees in the final scene were shot wearing Chewbacca masks. Harrison Ford talks with Carrie Fisher during a break in the filming of The Star Wars Holiday in 1978. (George Brich / AP) Osborne compares it to the variety show version of Murder on the Orient Express: Everybody participated a little bit in the murder. He was 10 years old when Star Wars premiered, and hed had the date of the holiday special circled on the family calendar for weeks. And then: Almost immediately, from the opening credits, I started thinking, Wait, why is Bea Arthur in this? Why is Jefferson Starship in this? The Boba Fett cartoon widely considered one of the few highlights came in just shy of the hour mark in the special. After that, Osborne said, his family flipped to The Love Boat. (They werent the only ones: The special came second to Love Boat in the Nielsen ratings that night for the 8-9 p.m. hour, and second to Part 2 of the miniseries Pearl from 9-10.) Richard Woloski, who with his wife, Sarah, co-hosts several Star Wars podcasts, was 9 years old when he watched it live; he remembers thinking: This is all were gonna get until 1980, we better enjoy it. And he did sort of. I enjoyed it. I was confused. In the ad for the holiday special, it said Han and Luke battle the Empire and get Chewie home before the Wookiee holiday. So I was like, when does this battle take place? The most important message of Life Day, he said, was clearly, Buy toys. I told my mom, OK, when the commercials come on, grab a pen and paper and write down everything that you see, he recalled. It worked on me like it was supposed to. Tricia Barr, co-author of Ultimate Star Wars and Star Wars: The Visual Encyclopedia, was about the same age when the special aired and while the Wookiees made a big impression on her, the familiar movie characters and the musical acts were all mashing up in this really weird way. Back in that time in the 70s, television was a little weird and wacky anyways, Barr said. Is this where you imagined Chewbacca lives? (YouTube) Eventually, the holiday special made it to YouTube, where it has found new life with many watching it, Osborne says, like you look back on your portrait in a high school yearbook. At the time its mortifying but looking back its like, fine, everyone looks goofy in it. For a lot of people, that portrait was The Star Wars Holiday Special. He was inspired to write Special, he said, by trying to imagine who or what had happened to bring such a thing into existence. As a lifelong Star Wars fan who had jarring memories of the holiday special, I always thought that it would be such an interesting story with so many interesting personalities involved, he said. In his research, one thing that jumped out at him was how many people were actually involved in making it and how all of them have actively distanced themselves from it since then. Because a lot of those first-person anecdotes contradict each other, and some people have refused to talk about it at all, he describes the play as a true-ish version of events kind of a tall tale version of it, with six actors playing dozens of parts. As for people who have never seen the holiday special for themselves, I wouldnt tell my friends who arent into Star Wars to watch it, Barr said. But if you really want to know Star Wars history, then you should definitely check it out. Tweet me some Wookiee grunts @jessica_roy. Crumbling sidewalks and millions of dollars in injury lawsuit payouts are prompting San Diego to explore drastic action, potentially including a requirement that property owners fix nearby damaged sidewalks before they can sell. Other proposals include property liens, waiving permit fees to encourage sidewalk repairs and educating property owners about their responsibilities and that the city is willing to split the cost of most repairs with them. City officials may also create a master plan for tackling an estimated $39 million in needed sidewalk repairs so they can track their own progress and establish an ongoing maintenance program to limit additional payouts in coming years. The proposals, which the City Councils Infrastructure Committee endorsed during a recent public hearing, come after more than $11 million in injury payouts during the last five years in lawsuits over damaged sidewalks. Advertisement The city is facing steadily greater liability as more people ride bicycles and electric scooters on sidewalks, where even the smallest lip can cause a relatively high-speed crash with significant injuries. This is a massive problem all over the city, Councilwoman Lorie Zapf of Bay Ho said during the committee hearing. The cost of having them not repaired often far exceeds the cost of repairing them up front. Zapf said a key part of the problem is that most homeowners dont know that the sidewalk adjacent to their property is their responsibility under state law. The new proposals, which city officials said they hope to enact this winter, come after a plan created last fall by Councilman David Alvarez of Barrio Logan was rejected based on concerns it would sharply increase the cost to the city and its taxpayers. Alvarez wanted to accelerate repairs with a 90-day deadline to fix reported sidewalk damage and to eliminate the responsibility of homeowners to share the cost of fixing damaged sidewalks next to their property. Supporters said shifting all costs to the city and away from homeowners would simplify a confusing policy and avoid the inaction that often comes when homeowners cant afford their portion of the repair bill. City Attorney Mara Elliott, however, said a specific requirement like the 90-day deadline would make the city vulnerable to lawsuits when its not met, with plaintiffs pointing out that the city violated its own policy. She also criticized the proposal to relieve property owners of repair costs, saying it would be a windfall for their insurance companies at taxpayer expense. Other cities have done exactly the opposite in recent years, she wrote in a memo. So the citys Independent Budget Analyst spent several months studying how other California cities handle sidewalks and issued a report written by Jillian Kissee, a financial and policy analyst. The reports most significant policy proposal was requiring property owners to fix any damaged sidewalk adjacent to their property before they can sell, which would be modeled on a similar policy in Pasadena. Alvarez expressed concerns that local real estate agents and some property owners would aggressively fight the policy, but said it seems like an effective solution. If it gets us to a point of protecting the citys long-term liability but also making sure our sidewalks get fixed, I think we should look at that, he said. San Francisco and San Jose have similar policies, Kissees report said. They put a lien on a property with damaged sidewalks and allow cash-strapped homeowners to incrementally pay the city back for repairs. In addition, San Francisco allows individual homeowners to participate in competitive bids the city issues for larger sidewalk projects, typically reducing the cost of repairs. Another proposal would waive San Diegos $1,600 permit fee when an individual homeowner decides to fix damaged sidewalk near their property without the citys help. Councilman Mark Kersey of Black Mountain Ranch, chairman of the councils Infrastructure Committee, suggested the city could establish a permit holiday for a limited time to encourage accelerated sidewalk repairs. Kissees report also recommended San Diego more aggressively publicize its 50-50 cost-sharing program for sidewalk repairs. The city devotes about $300,000 per year to the program, but could allocate more if there was higher participation. City officials said 48 property owners took advantage of the program last year. Another problem is lack of staff devoted to sidewalk repair projects, which prevented the city from spending a significant chunk of the $12 million included in the citys capital improvement budget last year. Additional staff could also follow up on sidewalk damage that is the responsibility of homeowners to ensure that either the damage had been repaired or that city officials are aware of the problem and the associated liability risks. Finally, Kissee proposed the city set clear goals for tackling the $39 million repair backlog so progress can be tracked, budget allocations can be tailored to the plan and an ongoing maintenance scheduled can be created. She also recommended the city conduct a follow-up assessments of all of its sidewalks, a review that was conducted in 2015 for the first time in decades if ever. Alvarez said repairing sidewalks comes with benefits beyond avoiding payouts, noting that people using strollers and walkers also struggle with damaged sidewalks. Its a real quality-of-life issue, he said. The new policy proposals follow a series of significant payouts by the city for sidewalk injuries. The city paid $4.85 million to Del Cerro resident Clifford Brown in spring 2017 for a 2014 crash in which he tore spinal cord ligaments and lost several teeth when he and his bike were launched 28 feet by tree-damaged sidewalk. That settlement, the largest in city history for a case involving sidewalks, was unusually big because of Browns medical bills, his need for future medical care and the possibility he wont be able to work again. Last March, the city paid $1 million to Edward and Mary Jo Grubbs for injuries Mary Jo suffered when she tripped on uneven sidewalk in April 2016 on Park Boulevard at Madison Avenue in University Heights. In another notable suit, a jury awarded Cynthia Hedgecock, the wife of former mayor Rodger Hedgecock, just under $85,000 last December for ruptured breast implants she suffered during a 2015 sidewalk fall. An attorney for Hedgecock said the city behaved with negligence and carelessness by not repairing a 2.5-inch concrete lip in a public sidewalk in Pacific Beach that was caused by a tree. Councilwoman Zapf said she was upbeat about the citys new proposals, but said that the problem will never be fully solved. A lot of these seem almost like an act of God, she said, noting that much of the damage is caused by the root structure of trees expanding under sidewalks. We want trees, but they have roots. david.garrick@sduniontribune.com (619) 269-8906 Twitter:@UTDavidGarrick A man suffered burns on his back when a three-car garage went up in flames at a Bonita home on Saturday. No information about his condition was released. He was taken by medics to the UC San Diego Medical Center burn unit, a fire official said. The blaze on Alta Loma Drive near Bonita Mesa Road was reported shortly after noon. The detached garage was engulfed in flames as fire crews from Chula Vista, National City, Bonita and San Diego got there. Someone had been working inside the garage before the fire started, but the cause of the fire was under investigation, Chula Vista fire Battalion Chief Darrell Roberts told OnScene TV. Advertisement Roberts said the 900 square-foot garage and everything in it was destroyed. Firefighters kept the flames from spreading to nearby trees. pauline.repard@sduniontribune.com Twitter: @pdrepard A motorcyclist died after a collision with an SUV at the north end of the Sunrise Highway, south of Julian, Saturday afternoon, officials said. A man in a Toyota 4Runner called 911 about 1:50 p.m. and told the California Highway Patrol he had hit a motorcycle and the rider was under his vehicle. The collision occurred at the intersection of the Sunrise Highway and state Route 79, between Julian and Lake Cuyamaca, according to the CHP website. Cal Fire tweeted about half an hour later that the rider had died before being taken to a hospital. Advertisement Westbound traffic on Route 79 was blocked during the crash investigation, until about 5 p.m. pauline.repard@sduniontribune.com Twitter: @pdrepard Four men are suing the Metropolitan Transit System, one of its code compliance inspectors and a private security contractor over allegations that the trolley personnel assaulted them, used excessive force and violated their civil rights, according to a lawsuit filed earlier this month. The suit also alleges a failure by the agency to train, supervise, investigate and discipline security personnel, and that MTS has created a de facto policy of sending untrained security guards into the community to act like police officers. To support the allegations, the lawsuit points to Manny Guaderrama, a 30-year veteran of the San Diego Police Department, who now heads the Metropolitan Transit Systems security force. Guaderrama is named as a defendant in the lawsuit, as is Universal Protection Service, the private security firm that contracts with MTS to provide armed security guards on trolleys and buses. Advertisement An MTS spokesman said the agency could not comment on pending litigation. Officials from Universal Protection Service did not immediately reply to an email seeking comment. Guaderrama did not immediately return a phone message. Those suing the transit system include Felipe Vedoy, a man who was beaten on an MTS trolley by security contractors in 2014 an incident caught on video that led to the firing of the officers. One of the other plaintiffs is a security officer who worked at a building near a trolley stop in the Lincoln Park area. Clarence Courtney tried to intervene when a code compliance inspector and security contractor named in the lawsuit were allegedly assaulting another man, and was roughed up in the process, the suit says. The other plaintiffs, all of whom are from San Diego County, are Keith Stewart and Prather Johnson. All four men allege that the same MTS code compliance inspector a man whose full name is not known to the plaintiffs used excessive force against them in similar incidents on Feb. 17, April 26 and June 20. On two of the three occasions, the compliance inspector was accompanied by a security officer from the private company, whose full name is unknown to the plaintiffs. He is identified in the lawsuit only by a last name. The excessive force is evidenced by them forcibly taking plaintiffs to the ground without any reasonable suspicion nor probable cause to believe a crime was committed, attorney Doug Gilliland wrote in a complaint filed Nov. 7. The force was used without warning, when plaintiffs were not an immediate threat to the safety of the officers or others, and while plaintiffs were not resisting nor attempting to evade arrest by flight. The lawsuit also accuses Guaderrama of playing a role in turning code compliance officers and security contractors into what the plaintiffs and their attorney call a de facto police force. By calling himself the Chief of Police, MTS knew or should have known that Guaderrama fostered the belief in security and code compliance officers that they were a police force and could take actions against citizens as police officers, the lawsuit says. MTS spokesman Rob Schupp said Guaderrama didnt adopt the title on his own. Mannys title is Director of Transit Enforcement/Chief of Police, Schupp wrote in an email. Guaderramas predecessor held the same title. Code compliance inspectors and contracted security guards are not police officers. Code compliance inspectors can write citations, but dont carry guns. The security contractors employed by Universal Protection Service dont write citations, but can carry a gun if theyre licensed by the state. A code compliance officers job is to make sure citizens are not riding the trolley without paying for a ticket, the lawsuit says. Security and code compliance officers do not have the training of police officers. The lawsuit also alleges Guaderrama fostered a code of favoritism and nepotism (that) included a failure to meaningfully supervise, investigate and discipline his security officers for acting as police officers. As evidence of this claim, the lawsuit cites an incident from 2012 in which Guaderramas then-23-year-old son was accused of assaulting two women and committing other crimes during a drunken tirade in Pacific Beach. Other officers accused Alex Guaderrama of receiving preferential treatment he was driven unhandcuffed in the front seat of a patrol car to meet his mother, rather than being taken to jail because of his fathers position as a San Diego police captain. Alex Guaderrama ultimately pleaded guilty to four misdemeanor charges, including battery and assault, and was placed on probation for three years. Guaderrama and other top police officials denied his son received preferential treatment. Twitter: @Alex_Riggins (619) 293-1710 alex.riggins@sduniontribune.com Mary Josweg is a 21st century Catholic, but she sounds an awful lot like the 16th century Protestant reformer Martin Luther. The church needs to get cleansed, said Josweg, 69, a parishioner at St. Patricks in Carlsbad. I believe in Jesus as the son of God and Creator of the world I happen to be Catholic. But the organization that I belong to is totally corrupt. Josweg was among the thousands of Catholics who attended eight listening sessions convened by San Diego Bishop Robert McElroy in October and November. He got an earful. People are no longer following blindly, said Harley Noel, 85, a parishioner at St. Johns in Encinitas. Now, the heirarchy cant I hate to say pull the wool over peoples eyes, but its hard for them to run and hide. Advertisement Across the nation, Catholics have questioned and criticized church leaders, frustrated by months of distressing headlines: In July, Cardinal Theodore McCarrick was forced to resign, after reports surfaced that he had sexually abused seminarians and altar boys. In August, a Pennsylvania grand jury revealed the rapes and molestations of more than 1,000 children by 300 priests. In September, the San Diego diocese added eight priests to its public list of men credibly accused of sexually abusing minors. In October, Cardinal Donald Wuerl resigned as archbishop of Washington, D.C., amid accusations that he had turned a blind eye to predatory clerics when he served as a bishop in Pennsylvania. More damaging revelations may be coming. San Diegos Irwin Zalkin and other lawyers are urging California Attorney General Xavier Becerra to investigate California dioceses, following the lead of civil authorities in Pennsylvania, New York, Florida and other states. While most of these outrages occurred decades ago, many are only now being exposed. McElroy and others say this demonstrates the effectiveness of the 2002 Dallas Charter, reforms adopted by the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops to prevent the sort of sexual scandals revealed by the Boston Globes Spotlight series. The Dallas Charter, though, had a glaring oversight it did not hold to account bishops who had shielded abusive priests or were themselves accused of similar crimes. When the U.S. bishops met in Baltimore last week, the agenda included measures to increase episcopal accountability. But the Vatican, reportedly favoring reforms for bishops around the world, ordered the Americans to postpone any independent measures. This slow, spotty response has frustrated the faithful. In September, the Pew Research Center found that 62 percent of U.S. Catholics disapproved of how the church has handled the sex abuse scandal. When McElroy launched his listening tour a month later, many in attendance were skeptical and angry. I thought it was horrific, Josweg said of McElroys Oct. 17 listening session at Church of the Nativity in Rancho Santa Fe. I was outraged that people were not screaming at him. It is such a cover-up. They never talk about the cover-up, all they talk about is it has gotten better, that the police are now called whenever a child is molested. Recent news, Madeline E. Lacovara wrote in the Jesuit magazine, America, underlines the perceived ongoing failure of the institutional church itself. This loss of trust in the leadership of the church makes this the most significant crisis confronting the church since the Reformation. Yet this is a different church than the one Luther critiqued in 1517 with his 95 theses. The largest Christian denomination in the world, the Roman Catholic Church includes worshipers of every race, nationality, political party and sexual orientation. The crisis has exposed divisions in the pews. Some argue that the scandals reveal a lavender mafia of powerful gay clerics. Others insist it illustrates the need for married and female priests. There are those who say the liberalizing changes wrought by Vatican II and Pope Francis have undermined the churchs timeless teachings. Many point to clericalism, saying the ingrained habit of giving church leaders absolute, unquestioning obedience has allowed problems to fester. Youve got the Pius X group, the ultra-right who want to go back to the Latin Mass, said Harley Noel. And youve got the ultra-left, they want everything free and easy. Given the nature of this flock, it may take divine intervention to bridge the gap. Youre dealing with humanity, Noel said. God knows, weve had enough problems with humanity. Sexual morality At the Church of the Nativity, men and women sat at 40 or so tables. After the bishops contrite remarks this was a horrific abandonment of the responsibility the church had for the safety of children a spokesperson at each table rose to ask a question. How do we get younger people back to church? The bishop admitted this is a difficult task: Young people see the hypocrisy... Are there clear moral teachings in the seminaries? Yes, McElroy insisted, plus extensive screening of candidates. Most important is their relationship with God, the bishop said. Another essential quality, he added, is the ability to live out a life of celibacy. The mention of celibacy seemed to open the floodgates. The next questions all focused on the sex lives of church employees, whether clerical or lay. Would engaging in homosexual acts with another consenting adult end a priests career? It could. Its a serious violation of his vow of celibacy, McElroy said. But I am not prepared to say that any single action between consenting adults would mean automatic dismissal. Should the church employ people living unchaste lives? Why do so many preachers seem to be accepting sin, instead of rejecting sin? McElroy listed the churchs three essential teachings on sexual morality. First, we are called to live all the virtues of Jesus Christ all the virtues. Chastity is one of them. But chastity is not the central virtue of Christian life. The central virtue is to love the Lord God with your whole heart and to love your neighbor as yourself. Second, in Catholic moral teaching, any sexual activity outside marriage between one man and one woman is considered sinful. Third, while violence and hatred against LGBT people exists in a dark corner of the church, it is antithetical to the gospel of Jesus Christ. He referred to recent attacks on Hillcrests St. John the Evangelist, an LGBT-friendly parish, and its pastoral associate, Aaron Bianco. A gay man, Bianco had been deluged with angry and obscene email after several conservative Catholic web sites criticized his role and, in one case, published his home address and family photographs. Two days before the Church of the Nativity meeting, the church was broken into and vandals spray painted an anti-gay slur on a wall. Bianco resigned, effective Oct. 31. Ive heard from many people, priests and lay people all across the globe, telling me they support me, they are behind me in the work I am doing in the church, Bianco said. These organizations that promote this hate, they have given me more power than Ive ever had. Octopus tentacles Within the church, some authorities insist the clergy abuse scandal can be traced to a single source: homosexuality. The deeper problem, wrote Janet Smith, a professor of moral theology at Detroits Sacred Heart Major Seminary, lies in homosexual networks within the clergy which must be eradicated. These cabals, Archbishop Carlo Maria Vigano wrote in a letter critical of Pope Francis, act under the concealment of secrecy and lies with the power of octopus tentacles, and strangle innocent victims and priestly vocations, and are strangling the entire Church. A new group, Concerned Catholics of San Diego, makes a similar argument. There are a lot of Catholics who are concerned about a homosexual agenda in the church, said Daniel Piedra, 33, a Concerned Catholics leader. The group advocates that people who have deep-seated homosexual desires or tendencies should not be allowed to be priests. Most, but not all, victims of predator priests have been boys. But the real problem is rooted in power, argued Mark Peters, not sexuality. Both the criminal priests and the bishops who covered for them abused their power, said Peters, chairman of the University of San Diegos Clergy Abuse Task Force. That corruption, protecting your own privilege, he said, my feeling is that is the same regardless of orientation. Lay people, Peters said, increasingly demand a larger role in governing the church and ending the culture of clericalism. Thats giving undue privilege to members of the clergy, he said, and perhaps putting them inappropriately on a pedestal and not having that sort of oversight. The church has survived similar crises. In medieval Europe, noted Mark Mann, a professor of theology at Point Loma Nazarene University, many priests had common law wives or concubines, while some popes sired children. In fact, Pope John XI (931-935) was rumored to be the son of Pope Sergius III (904-911). Sexual impropriety runs through the history of the church, and I wouldnt want to single out Catholics, Mann said, noting that the Nazarenes and other denominations have had their own sexual abuse scandals. This is true of organizations where people have power over others. The full scope In her America article, Lacovara advocated specific reforms: opening diocesan archives to investigators; removing from power bishops guilty of sexual misconduct or covering for guilty priests; consulting lay people before appointing a bishop; and giving women a greater role in church governance. Can there be any doubt that responsible women would have understood and advised bishops that no other interests could have justified exposing children to sexual abuse? she asked. This is a many-faceted problem in a remarkably diverse church. The solutions, like the faithful themselves, run the gamut. Jim Chodzko, a parishioner at St. Johns in Encinitas, would bring in lay people who are active in the church and give them full access to all church information on this, study the problem in its full scope. Full disclosure, he said, is paramount: Jesus would not be saying, Lets not say this, or Weve got to be careful. Female priests and married priests would help, Mary Josweg said. And she echoed Chodzko: no more secrecy. What does Pope Francis say, Lets pray and be silent? I say we should pray and not be silent. Lets get to the point here. (In September, the pontiff advised prayer and silence when confronted by those seeking scandal.) Concerned Catholics Piedra wants answers to specific questions, about specific incidences of possible misconduct in the diocese. The bishop has been quick to defend all of his priests but we hear of ongoing incidents in the seminary. Bianco would like to see acceptance of all believers, regardless of sexuality. The call of Jesus is to welcome all people into community, he said. It is not the responsibility of the church to say you are not welcome. I understand that there are people who believe that homosexuality is sinful. I do understand that. But if we were to go through and look at whats been done by everyone in the pews, we would have to kick everyone out of the church. Msgr. Dennis Mikulanis, pastor of San Rafael Parish in Rancho Bernardo, would like everyone to have some faith. The way forward is for people to realize in the history of the church there have always been bad times and bad apples, he said. But its Christ and faith in Christ and service to Christ that is the mark of true Christians and, in this case, true Catholics. The listening sessions ended Nov. 5. The diocese is preparing a report, a spokesperson said, complete with recommendations. Saudi King Salman welcomed Iraq's new President Barham Saleh Sunday on his first official visit to the kingdom, amid a warming of ties between the Arab neighbours after years of strain. The king hosted a lunch and "discussed regional developments" with Saleh, the official Saudi Press Agency said, after the Iraqi leader's arrival in Riyadh following a visit to Iran. Saleh, a 58-year-old moderate Kurd elected to the largely ceremonial role last month, was on an overnight visit at the invitation of the Saudi monarch, an Iraqi official said. Separately, Iraq's Foreign Minister Mohammed Ali al-Hakim, who is part of Saleh's delegation, held talks in Riyadh with his Saudi counterpart Adel al-Jubeir, officials said. Ties between Sunni-ruled Saudi Arabia and Shia-majority Iraq have been looking up in recent months, after years of tense relations. After former dictator Saddam Hussein's August 1990 invasion of Kuwait, Riyadh severed relations with Baghdad and closed its border posts with its northern neighbour. But a flurry of visits in recent months between the two countries has indicated a thawing of ties. In October 2017, Saudi budget airline flynas made the first commercial flight from Riyadh to Baghdad in 27 years. Iraq is seeking economic benefits from closer ties with the wealthy kingdom as it looks to rebuild after the defeat of the Islamic State (IS) group. Riyadh is keen to develop relations with Baghdad to counter the influence of regional rival Iran in Iraq. Saleh made his first official visit to Tehran on Saturday, where he met his Iranian counterpart Hassan Rouhani in a bid to boost bilateral trade. Search Keywords: Short link: What if San Diego runs out of land for new homes? Could people live on man-made islands off La Jolla and use hover boards to reach the beach? Sounds sort of crazy. But its the kind of idea that might get a look at UC San Diego, where graduate students have been asked to forecast the regions near-future challenges and to suggest ways of dealing with them. Its all part of San Diego 2049, a new campus-wide contest in which competitors learn to think like futurists with help from some of the schools most famous sci-fi authors, including David Brin and Vernor Vinge. The contests name was drawn from Blade Runner 2049, a sci-fi movie that vividly depicts San Diego as a repository for Los Angeles trash roughly 30 years from now. Advertisement The contests organizers arent encouraging students to envision San Diego as a dystopia. But they want them to produce a memo from the future that focuses on emerging issues things like housing shortages and the effects of climate change. We want to train students to anticipate the future and become problem solvers, said John Ahlquist, the UC San Diego political scientist who came up with the idea on a recent sabbatical. The competition is being run by the universitys School of Global Policy and Strategy, and the Arthur C. Clarke Center for Human Imagination. Theyll award a prize to the winning team next spring in what could become the first of many contests. The school hasnt announced what the prize will be, but says it will have broad appeal. Students also can earn a certificate in Speculative Design for Policy Making, if they compete effectively. The university has suggested many possible topics, from the potential impact of low-cost gene editing to redrawing national boundaries, such as the US-Mexico border. But virtually any idea is acceptable, as long as it involves imagining a world thats different from the one students live in today. And that includes building offshore housing colonies something thats already being done in China. Predicting the future is difficult; imagine trying to figure out what will follow smartphones. But the world building exercise might be a bit easier at UC San Diego, one of the nations largest research universities. Our grad students kind of live in the future, said Patrick Coleman, assistant director of the Clarke Center. They spend a lot of their life trying to anticipate things, which is very challenging. Theyre hungry for a more structured way to do that. GPS faculty will mentor the students. And competitors will receive advice from noted alumni. Brin who is well known for his thoughts on what it means to be human will visit campus in January. Upcoming visitors also include Rose Eveleth, a futurist who hosts Flash Forward, an influential podcast. Throughout the program, students are taught sophisticated forecasting methods to develop robust scenarios, clarify problems, and develop solutions in a rapidly changing, emergent near-future, GPS says in a statement about the contest. Essentially, they are world building: constructing and contextualizing an imaginary future world. Students will be given a lot of options for presenting their visions and solutions. It could be an actual physical prototype object, if theyre working in that environment, Ahlquist said. It could be a song. Imagine theres an advertising campaign; maybe theres a jingle. Im guessing that were going to get a lot of written material, so there could actually be a law or policy document. Courtney Geigle, one of the competitors, is jazzed by the mere idea of world building. We have e-commerce stores and our supply chain runs through China, said Geigle, a graduate student in GPS. Theres a trade war going on with China, and lots of scenarios about how it could play out. World building helps us to collectively think about what could happen, and how we would respond. Elected leaders pulled fast one on voters Re Ballot language for Measure L didnt mention doubling of pay (Nov. 13): Here we go again. Politicians are again taking advantage of the sneaky wording on the ballots just like they did on the pension funding years ago. With a $71 million gap in the next budget they sneak in an unjustified ridiculous raise to themselves. In the business world, you get raises based on your performance. What has this city government accomplished? Hepatitis crisis, failure on stadium plan, hundreds of miles of our streets unrepaired, unsolved homeless crisis, lead in the water of our schools, convention center fiasco, totally out of control and abusive water department, park equipment for our children rusted, damaged and dangerous, no regulations for scooter companies for use of the scooters in our streets, and on and on and on. Advertisement Ask me if they would get a raise in the business world. Enough is enough. What a shame for the city of San Diego. Victor Ravelo Marina District Thanks to voters for supporting Measure L Thank you to the several hundred thousand San Diegans who supported Measure L (comprehensive ethics reform) on Nov. 6. In the most polarized of times, Measure L attracted perhaps unprecedented bipartisan support. Supporters included both the San Diego County Democratic and Republican Central Committees, the League of Women Voters and the San Diego County Taxpayers Association. Over 21 years of advancing these bold reforms, we found support grew dramatically the more voters learned about them. Measure L passed with 78 percent support. Attracting quality individuals into local government depends only partially on making public service more cost-affordable; a second component is ending the culture of consistently dumping on officeholders. These individuals have selflessly taken time away from their families and their careers to serve our community. That should be applauded, not denigrated. Bob Ottilie Author, Measure L 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. Smart women picked Trump as best option I am amazed at the audacity of Michelle Obama in her recent Good Morning America interview in which she wonders why so many women rejected an exceptionally qualified female candidate and instead chose a misogynist as their president. She somehow overlooks the simple truth behind why many women such as myself voted for Donald Trump: his policies, which he has carried out as promised in the past 22 months, in spite of all of the contrived accusations and opposition from Democrats. Sadly, Mrs. Obama has fallen prey to the same false assumption as Hillary Clinton when she stated that women who voted for Trump did so solely under pressure from their husbands. No, women were smart enough to study the issues and decided on their own whose policies were best for America, and then voted for Trump. Advertisement Gay L. Rudek San Diego Former first lady fails to unite us Michelle Obama said I stopped even trying to smile at Trumps inauguration. Shame on Michelle Obama for inciting negativity. I may not have voted for her Husband, but once he was elected our commander in chief I was respectful of his position as our president. Because I love this country. Because I have hope for whomever takes on the position. She is wrong and a huge part of hurting this country. As a former first lady she is held to a higher standard, and she failed. Whether you believe what the current president is doing is right or wrong he deserves to be given the same courtesy of those that have served before him just as her husband was given that opportunity. Robin Fries San Diego 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. 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. A meeting between Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Finance Minister Moshe Kahlon on Sunday aimed at resolving a coalition crisis ended "without results" and they will meet again this week, Kahlon's spokesman said. "The meeting between the finance minister and the prime minister ended without results," the spokesman said in a statement. "The two agreed to meet later in the week." Netanyahu was to give a public statement at 8:00 pm (1800 GMT). Netanyahu's right-wing coalition was thrown into crisis Wednesday after Defence Minister Avigdor Lieberman's resignation over a controversial Gaza ceasefire deal, leading to speculation over whether early elections have become inevitable. After Lieberman's withdrawal along with his Yisrael Beitenu party, Netanyahu's government was left clinging to a one-seat majority in the 120-seat parliament. Key coalition partners say that is unworkable even though elections are not due until November 2019. Netanyahu has sought to delay calling elections. Search Keywords: Short link: Clashes on Sunday between Turkish-backed rebel factions vying for influence in the northern Syrian town of Afrin left 11 fighters dead, a war monitor said. Turkish troops and allied rebel groups seized the Afrin region from Kurdish forces in March after a two-month air and ground offensive. The Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said fighting in several districts "had left 11 dead and 27 wounded" after erupting on Saturday. Turkish troops stationed in the town imposed a curfew on civilians from Saturday evening in a bid to avoid bloodshed, the Observatory said. The clashes pitched the majority of the pro-Ankara rebels against a group of some 200 fighters who were accused of "disobeying" Turkish forces and "committing abuses", the monitor said. The main alliance of Turkish-backed rebels in Afrin wrote on Twitter that current operations were aimed at "pursuing outlaw gangs". Since Turkish troops and pro-Ankara Arab rebels captured the town from the Kurdish People's Protection Units (YPG), the United Nations and human rights groups, including Amnesty International, have documented widespread abuses. Half of the enclave's 320,000 residents fled, according to a report by the UN Commission of Inquiry, and most are unable to return. Search Keywords: Short link: The exhibition groups more than 300 exhibitors with over 10,000 visitors expected The 28th edition of the International Middle East and Africa Electricity and Energy Exhibition (Electricx 2018) kicked off Saturday at Egypt's International Exhibition Centre with the participation of more than 20 countries from Africa, Europe, Middle East and Asia. Deputy Electricity Minister Osama Assran opened the three-day exhibition which comes in conjunction with the Solar-Tech Exhibition and the Middle East Fire, Security and Safety Exhibition and Conference, attended by a number of the ministry's officials. This year's edition of Electricx is held under the auspices of Minister of Electricity Mohamed Shaker. The exhibition groups more than 300 exhibitors with over 10,000 visitors expected. Search Keywords: Short link: Press Release November 18, 2018 RETURN OF BALANGIGA BELLS SHOWS DEEP RP-US FRIENDSHIP - GORDON Senator Richard J. Gordon welcomed the official turn over by the United States government of the Balangiga Bells, the church bells taken by the US Army from Balangiga, Eastern Samar in 1901, saying the return of the bells shows the deep respect and friendship between the Philippines and the United States. "We welcome the return of the Balangiga Bells. In achieving this monumental task, the importance of people to people relationship was highlighted, as well as the can do attitude of our people who worked for the return of the bells and the willingness of the Americans to do the right thing. It also shows the maturity of the respect and deep friendship between our countries," Gordon said. "The long-sought campaign for the return of the bells finally succeeded. Returning the bells, which are part of our natural heritage, would finally correct a wrong that has been done to the country," he added. The turnover ceremony was held at the Warren Air Force Base in Wyoming, where Philippine Ambassador to the US Jose Manuel "Babe" Romualdez joined U.S. Defense Secretary James Mattis. Following the turnover, the two Wyoming bells will be shipped to a facility in Philadelphia for restoration, before sending them to South Korea, where the third bell is located in a U.S. military museum. The three bells are expected back in the Philippines before the end of the year. Gordon also thanked the US government for recognizing the enduring friendship between the two countries and for honoring the Filipino soldiers who fought for their side during the World War II. He had worked behind the scenes with retired US Navy Capt. Dennis Wright and Adm. Dan Mckinnon and the Church through his cousin, Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle, for the return of the bells. Wright and Mckinnon were both stationed in Subic Bay Naval Base when he was Mayor of Olongapo. The return of the Balangiga bells was among the constant demands of President Duterte from the US government. Historians believe one of the bells signaled an attack Filipinos launched against American soldiers stationed in Balangiga town in Samar on September 28, 1901. The attack, reportedly in retaliation for oppressive treatment the Filipinos received, killed 48 American military men. Accounts then said the foreign soldiers destroyed the town in response, killing thousands of Filipinos in what is now called the Balangiga massacre. The American troops seized all three bells from the Balangiga Church, and a 1557 cannon as war booty. APEC leaders seek unity after US, China spat Port Moresby, Nov 18 (AFP) Nov 18, 2018 Leaders from 21 Asia-Pacific nations sought common ground Sunday after an unusually sharp exchange of words between the group's two most powerful members, the United States and China. Wrapping up a two-day summit here, leaders will strive to craft a statement on the uncontroversial parts of their agenda -- pushing for deeper regional economic integration. But the annual gathering has been overshadowed by speeches on Saturday from Chinese President Xi Jinping and US Vice President Mike Pence which appeared to represent competing bids for regional leadership. Pence warned smaller countries not to be seduced by China's massive Belt-and-Road infrastructure programme, which sees Beijing offer loans to poorer countries for construction and development projects. The "opaque" loans come with strings attached and build up "staggering debt" for poorer countries, Pence charged, mocking the initiative as offering a "constricting belt" and a "one-way road". He urged nations to stick with the United States, which doesn't "drown our partners in a sea of debt" or "coerce, corrupt or compromise your independence". In a speech to business leaders just minutes before Pence, Xi insisted the initiative was not a "trap" and there was no "hidden agenda" -- amid criticism that it amounts to "chequebook diplomacy" in the region. And Xi lashed out at "America First" trade protectionism, saying it was a "short-sighted approach" that was "doomed to failure". The feisty barbs on a gleaming white cruise ship moored in Port Moresby set the scene for a potentially fiery meeting between Xi and US President Donald Trump at the G20 summit in Argentina at the end of this month. But Xi and Pence, both resplendent in shiny red patterned shirts provided by the Pacific island did have a brief tete-a-tete Saturday night at the leaders' gala dinner. However, some voiced concern about the growing rivalry for influence in the region amid fears that a trade war between the two rivals could cripple the Pacific Rim economy. "Business leaders do not want to speak out, but behind the scenes here, they are talking over dinner saying 'how has this happened'?" said Denis O'Brien, the billionaire chairman of Digicel. "It's a very forced situation, one country is trying to force all the other countries to change tariffs agreed over years," O'Brien told AFP. - Cruise ship diplomacy - Trump -- and Russian President Vladimir Putin -- both decided to skip the gathering, leaving the spotlight on Xi who arrived two days early to open a Chinese-funded school and road in Papua New Guinea's dirt-poor capital Port Moresby. Xi has been the star of the show, front and centre at the official photos whereas Pence has kept a lower profile, only deciding at the last minute to stay in Port Moresby overnight -- shelving original plans to fly in and out from Cairns in Australia. With the official business of the summit relatively low-key, much of the focus has been on the unlikely venue of Port Moresby, which is hosting its first international event of this scale. The city is on lockdown with hundreds of police and military patrolling the streets of the notoriously crime-ridden capital. Warships are stationed just off the coast to provide security for the leaders, and delegates and media have been housed in enormous cruise ships due to a dearth of hotel rooms. Divided APEC leaders battle for unity after US, China spat Port Moresby, Nov 18 (AFP) Nov 18, 2018 Leaders from 21 Asia-Pacific nations battled to paper over gaping differences Sunday after an unusually sharp exchange of words between the group's two most powerful members, the United States and China. With just hours of the two-day summit remaining, officials were still scrambling to forge enough of a consensus to issue a formal joint statement and were admitting privately that it might not be possible, amid yawning differences on trade policy. The annual gathering has been overshadowed by speeches on Saturday from Chinese President Xi Jinping and US Vice President Mike Pence, which appeared to represent competing bids for regional leadership. Pence warned smaller countries not to be seduced by China's massive Belt-and-Road infrastructure programme, which sees Beijing offer money to poorer countries for construction and development projects. The "opaque" loans come with strings attached and build up "staggering debt", Pence charged, mocking the initiative as a "constricting belt" and a "one-way road". He urged nations instead to stick with the United States, which doesn't "drown our partners in a sea of debt" or "coerce, corrupt or compromise your independence". In a speech to business leaders just minutes before Pence, Xi insisted the initiative was not a "trap" and there was no "hidden agenda" -- amid criticism that it amounts to "chequebook diplomacy" in the region. Xi also lashed out at "America First" trade protectionism, saying it was a "short-sighted approach" that was "doomed to failure". The feisty barbs on a gleaming white cruise ship moored in Port Moresby set the scene for a potentially fiery meeting between Xi and US President Donald Trump at the G20 summit in Argentina at the end of this month. But Xi and Pence, who both wore shiny, red shirts provided by the Pacific island did hold talks on Saturday night at the leaders' gala dinner. Pence told reporters on Sunday: "I spoke to President Xi twice during the course of this conference. We had a candid conversation." He told him that the US is interested in a better relationship with China "but there has to be change" in Beijing's trade policies. With fears that a trade war between the two rivals could cripple the Pacific Rim economy, some attendees voiced concern about the growing rivalry for influence in the region. "Business leaders do not want to speak out, but behind the scenes here, they are talking over dinner saying 'how has this happened'?" said Denis O'Brien, the billionaire chairman of Digicel. "It's a very forced situation, one country is trying to force all the other countries to change tariffs agreed over years," O'Brien told AFP. - Cruise ship diplomacy - Trump -- and Russian President Vladimir Putin -- both decided to skip the gathering, leaving the spotlight on Xi who arrived two days early to open a Chinese-funded school and road in Papua New Guinea's dirt-poor capital Port Moresby. Xi has been the star of the show, front and centre at official photos whereas Pence has kept a lower profile, only deciding at the last minute to stay overnight in Port Moresby -- shelving original plans to fly in and out from Cairns in Australia. As if to counter Chinese largesse, the US, Australia, New Zealand and Japan on Sunday announced a project to boost electricity capacity in Papua New Guinea. The project aims to raise the percentage of the PNG population with access to electricity from 13 percent to 70 percent. And as the US and China vie for influence in the region, the statement dangled the prospect of similar projects for countries that "support principles and values which help maintain and promote a free, open, prosperous and rules-based region." With the official business of the summit relatively low-key, much of the focus has been on the unlikely venue of Port Moresby, which is hosting its first international event of this scale. The city is on lockdown with hundreds of police and military patrolling the streets of the notoriously crime-ridden capital. Warships are stationed just off the coast to provide security for the leaders, and delegates and media have been housed in enormous cruise ships due to a dearth of hotel rooms. APEC leaders divided after US, China spat Port Moresby, Nov 18 (AFP) Nov 18, 2018 Leaders from 21 Asia-Pacific nations failed Sunday to bridge gaping divisions at a summit overshadowed by a war of words over the US and China as they vie for influence in the region. For the first time in the history of the APEC grouping, leaders were unable to agree on a formal written declaration amid sharp differences over trade policy. "The leaders agreed that instead of a traditional leaders' declaration, they would leave it to the hands of PNG as the chair to issue a chair statement on behalf of all the members," said Zhang Xiaolong, a spokesman from the Chinese foreign ministry. Canada's Prime Minister Justin Trudeau admitted there were "different visions on particular elements with regard to trade that prevented full consensus on a communique document." The annual gathering, held for the first time in Papua New Guinea, was overshadowed by speeches from Chinese President Xi Jinping and US Vice President Mike Pence, which appeared to represent competing bids for regional leadership. Pence warned smaller countries not to be seduced by China's massive Belt-and-Road infrastructure programme, which sees Beijing offer money to poorer countries for construction and development projects. The "opaque" loans come with strings attached and build up "staggering debt", Pence charged, mocking the initiative as a "constricting belt" and a "one-way road". He urged nations instead to stick with the United States, which doesn't "drown our partners in a sea of debt" or "coerce, corrupt or compromise your independence". In a speech to business leaders just minutes before Pence, Xi insisted the initiative was not a "trap" and there was no "hidden agenda" -- amid criticism that it amounts to "chequebook diplomacy" in the region. Xi also lashed out at "America First" trade protectionism, saying it was a "short-sighted approach" that was "doomed to failure". The feisty barbs on a gleaming white cruise ship moored in Port Moresby set the scene for a potentially fiery meeting between Xi and US President Donald Trump at the G20 summit in Argentina at the end of this month. But Xi and Pence, who both wore shiny, red shirts provided by the Pacific island did hold talks on Saturday night at the leaders' gala dinner. Pence told reporters on Sunday: "I spoke to President Xi twice during the course of this conference. We had a candid conversation." He told him that the US is interested in a better relationship with China "but there has to be change" in Beijing's trade policies. With fears that a trade war between the two rivals could cripple the Pacific Rim economy, some attendees voiced concern about the growing rivalry for influence in the region. "Business leaders do not want to speak out, but behind the scenes here, they are talking over dinner saying 'how has this happened'?" said Denis O'Brien, the billionaire chairman of Digicel. "It's a very forced situation, one country is trying to force all the other countries to change tariffs agreed over years," O'Brien told AFP. - Cruise ship diplomacy - Trump -- and Russian President Vladimir Putin -- both decided to skip the gathering, leaving the spotlight on Xi who arrived two days early to open a Chinese-funded school and road in Papua New Guinea's dirt-poor capital Port Moresby. Xi has been the star of the show, front and centre at official photos whereas Pence has kept a lower profile, only deciding at the last minute to stay overnight in Port Moresby -- shelving original plans to fly in and out from Cairns in Australia. As if to counter Chinese largesse, the US, Australia, New Zealand and Japan on Sunday announced a project to boost electricity capacity in Papua New Guinea. The project aims to raise the percentage of the PNG population with access to electricity from 13 percent to 70 percent. And as the US and China vie for influence in the region, the statement dangled the prospect of similar projects for countries that "support principles and values which help maintain and promote a free, open, prosperous and rules-based region." With the official business of the summit relatively low-key, much of the focus has been on the unlikely venue of Port Moresby, which is hosting its first international event of this scale. The city is on lockdown with hundreds of police and military patrolling the streets of the notoriously crime-ridden capital. Warships are stationed just off the coast to provide security for the leaders, and delegates and media have been housed in enormous cruise ships due to a dearth of hotel rooms. Argentine submarine wreck found one year after disappearance Mar del Plata, Argentina, Nov 17 (AFP) Nov 17, 2018 The crushed wreckage of an Argentine submarine has been located one year after it vanished into the depths of the Atlantic Ocean with 44 crew members, in the country's worst naval disaster in decades. There has been "positive identification of the ARA San Juan," at a depth of more than 800 meters (2,600 feet), the navy tweeted, confirming the vessel had imploded. Experts say raising the submarine would be an enormous undertaking costing a billion dollars or more. Defense Minister Oscar Aguad said Argentina had "no means" to do so. Relatives of the dead sailors were seen hugging each other, holding their heads in despair and crying inconsolably. The Seabed Constructor, a ship owned by US search firm Ocean Infinity, made the discovery Friday, one day after the first anniversary of the disappearance of the San Juan. The ship had set out in September in the latest attempt to find the San Juan, whose disappearance cost the navy's top officer his job. The navy lost contact with the submarine on November 15, 2017, about 450 kilometers (280 miles) from the coast while it was traveling northward from Ushuaia, at Argentina's southern tip. Admiral Jose Villan, the navy's new top commander, said that the rough terrain on the ocean floor made it difficult for search vessels, which had already trawled the site, to find the sub. Pieces that were 11, 13 and 30 meters long were spotted in a "moon-like zone with craters and canyons," said Navy Captain Enrique Balbi, adding that the hull had been "crushed inwards." Aguad met earlier with family members to show photos taken by an underwater robot. They showed a propeller, the sub's bow with torpedo-launching tubes, and an upper section of the vessel lying on the ocean floor. "We are all destroyed here," said Yolanda Mendiola, the mother of crewman Leandro Cisneros, 28. - 'Never forget' - "I still had hopes that they could be alive," Luis Niz, the father of a missing sailor, told reporters, even though President Mauricio Macri's government had declared two weeks after the sub's disappearance that there could be no survivors. A small group of family members protested outside the naval base Saturday, holding a banner emblazoned with the number "44" -- for the lost crew members. Another banner declared, "44 Hearts of Steel -- Never Forget!" Lawyer Sonia Krescher questioned the timing of the sub's discovery, saying it was "weird" coming after the one-year anniversary of its loss. "We are going to ask them to refloat it," she said. "We need to see the bodies and know what happened." Added Cecila Kaufmann, who lost her husband Luis Leiva, "Now that they've found it, they need to give us back our loved ones." The discovery came the day after a somber ceremony, attended by Macri, at the San Juan's Mar del Plata base. It also came just before the Seabed Constructor was to leave for maintenance in South Africa. Before setting off, the searchers decided to check an area which bad weather had previously prevented them from examining. - Massive search operation - The Seabed Constructor, equipped with cameras that can submerge 6,000 meters below the surface, was set to receive a $7.5 million reward for finding the missing sub. Ocean Infinity was also assigned the task of hunting for Malaysia Airlines flight MH370, which vanished without trace in March 2014 en route from Kuala Lumpur to Beijing. Experts say the submarine would have been crushed by water pressure once it dropped below about 600 meters. They believe that water seeped inside through a defective snorkel valve, triggering the tragedy. The San Juan's loss was the first major tragedy to hit Argentina's navy since the Falklands War against Britain in 1982. Argentina's navy has been criticized for its clumsy handling of the case since first reporting the San Juan -- one of the country's three submarines -- was overdue at Mar del Plata on November 16, 2017. It took naval officials days to acknowledge that the old, German-built submarine had reported a problem with its batteries in its final communication. And it took them 10 days to say there had been an explosion on board, which experts said was likely linked to the battery problem. An air and sea search involved 13 countries followed. Argentina has spent more than $25 million in its search operation. Authorities have opened a criminal investigation. Families of the missing crew still want answers, but Saturday at least brought the biggest one. "What I feel," said Luis Tagliapietra, "is a mixture of immense sadness and the feeling of a battle won. "We found them." Three soldiers killed in C. Africa army shootout Bangui, Central African Republic, Nov 18 (AFP) Nov 18, 2018 Three Central African military died in a shootout between soldiers in the town of Bambari in the centre of the restive country, a high-ranking military source told AFP on Sunday. Three other soldiers were injured in the gunfight which broke out Saturday and pitted members of military engineering units against each other, the source said. The altercation occurred only days after a peacekeeper died in an attack on a UN base in the CAR and a priest was burnt to death following sectarian clashes which claimed nearly 40 lives. The volatile country, whose territory is mostly controlled by rival armed groups, has been embroiled in deadly conflict for the last six years, leading to the displacement of more than a quarter of its 4.5 million inhabitants. "Everything started with an argument between military engineering units about the security and financial conditions in which they were carrying out their work," the military source said about Saturday's fight. The engineers had been deployed to Bambari to undertake work in preparation for World Food Day celebrations, which had originally been planned for October 16 but have been postponed twice because of violent incidents. The government controls only a small part of CAR's national territory. Armed groups clash in the provinces for control of resources, including diamonds, gold and livestock. The rebuilding of CAR's depleted national army is a priority for President Faustin-Archange Touadera who was elected in 2016. The UN has about 12,500 personnel deployed in Central Africa as part of its MINUSCA mission, one of the world body's largest peacekeeping forces. The UN Security Council voted Thursday to temporarily renew the mandate of the mission until December, amid heated debates about its ability to stem the unrest. Madrid, November 18, 2018 (SPS)- Sahrawi human rights activist Aminatou Haidar warned Saturday, in Madrid, of the worrying humanitarian situation in the occupied territories of Western Sahara, denouncing the Moroccan suppression and the violations of Sahrawi peoples rights. Speaking in the 43rd European Coordinating Conference of Support to the Sahrawi People (EUCOCO), Aminatou Haidar warned that the situation in the occupied territories of Western Sahara is worrying and that the Sahrawi populations dont have a normal life at all, because of, she denounced, the repressive practices of the Moroccan authorities and their colonial policy towards the Sahrawi civilian population. This Moroccan repression policy, she said, is illustrated through banning of all free expression forms and the excessive use of force against all forms of peaceful protests organized by the Sahrawi people on their own land. She welcomed the support of the Sahrawi peoples friends, particularly in Europe, to reveal the human rights violations perpetrated by the Moroccan regime against the Sahrawi people and to shed light on the plundering of their natural resources by Morocco and its western allies. Thanks to this mobilization, the European Parliament made in the past few years unfavorable opinions concerning the renewal of the fisheries agreement between the Moroccan State and the European Union, she said, regretting the fact that some EUs countries, notably Spain and France, disagreed with the decisions of the Court of Justice of the European Union (CJEU) concerning the natural resources of Western Sahara and sought by all means to circumvent them. (SPS) 062/SPS/APS Madrid, November 18, 2018 (SPS) - Tens of thousands of Sahrawis and members of the Solidarity Movement demonstrated today in Madrid to condemn the Madrid tripartite agreement and demand that the Spanish state take on its historic responsibilities. The demonstrators marched through the streets of the Spanish capital, chanting slogans in support of the Saharawi people's struggle, holding Sahrawi national flags and banners demanding the Spanish state to shoulder its responsibilities towards its former colony. The final statement of the demonstration condemned Morocco's violation of human rights in the occupied territories of Western Sahara, especially the mistreatment of Sahrawi prisoners of conscience in the Moroccan prisons. It also condemned the European Commission's attempt to bypass the last decision of the European Court of Justice, which affirmed beyond any doubt that Western Sahara is a separate territory from Morocco, which has no sovereignty over it. The statement also called on the Spanish companies involved in the marketing of Sahrawi products through Morocco to stop plundering the wealth of an occupied people. The statement called on the European Commission to negotiate with the only representative of the Sahrawi people, the Polisario Front, and to sign economic and trade agreements with it as it represent the entire Saharawi people. It also called on the United Nations Mission for the Referendum in Western Sahara (MINURSO) to include human rights monitoring in the occupied territories within its mandate. Finally, the Solidarity Movement expressed its sincere appreciation to the Spanish people for their continued support for the Sahrawi people's right to independence despite the government's failure and its complicity with Morocco. (SPS) 062/SPS Addis Ababa (Ethiopia), November 18, 2018 (SPS) - President of the Republic, Secretary General of the Polisario Front, Brahim Ghali, has met with African heads of state and government on the sidelines of the 11th extraordinary summit of the African Union. The President of the Republic met with his counterparts of South Africa, Botswana, Zimbabwe and Namibia. He also met with the heads of the delegations of Nigeria, Seychelles and Angola. The talks focused on the latest developments of the Western Sahara issue on the African and international scene, as well as the bilateral relations between the Sahrawi Republic and these countries and the exchange of views on issues of common interest. In this regard, the President of the Republic evoked the United Nations efforts to complete the decolonization of the last colony in Africa, recalling the decisions taken by the AU through the establishment of an African troika mechanism in its capacity as United Nations partner in the settlement of the conflict and the appeal of the UN Security Council to the parties to the conflict, the Sahrawi Republic and the Kingdom of Morocco to enter into direct negotiations in good faith and without preconditions for the solution of this long conflict. (SPS) 062/SPS/TRA Elon Musks SpaceX recently announced that a Japanese billionaire will be the first moon tourist wholl fly into space aboard the companys Big Flacon Rocket in 2023. Now this intriguing field has taken a fresh turn with the launch of an online aggregating platform for booking a seat on spaceflights. The platform is the brainchild of Shuttle, a web and mobile-based booking agent for spaceflight created by a 24-year-old entrepreneur named Avery Haskell. Shuttle was launched out of the Alchemist Accelerator and was co-founded with cybersecurity expert and Wickr co-founder Nico Sell. Space is my first love, says Haskell. Ive always wanted to be an astronaut and help more people become astronauts. I thought it would be cool to get more people to go to space and get more people interested in space travel. The offerings on Shuttle will range from trips on Virgin Galactic costing upwards of $250,000 to more affordable packages that will include a zero-gravity flight on a modified Boeing 747 priced at just under $5,000 per seat. Our mission is to open space up to everyone, Haskell added. We want to get more people to space so that the price goes down and so that more people can see earth from space and become private astronauts. Shuttle will gradually add more packages on offer which will include bookings for space hotels. The company aims to become the hub that aggregates all commercial space travel related bookings. The recent death of Shelagh Tennant, the 60s wild child noted for being the person who helped bring The Beatles to Spain, has shocked the expat community of the Costa del Sol. The 75-year-old former model and owner of Shelagh's Bar, one of the first English pubs in Torremolinos, died last Friday after a short battle with cancer. Shelagh's Bar was one of the liveliest venues in Torremolinos during the 1960s and attracted both local expat residents and a string of visiting celebrities. Shelagh arrived in Torremolinos in the early 1960s with her mother, Marion Wrottesley, a socialite that married the heir of a barony and hobnobbed with everyone from The Rolling Stones to Somerset Maugham and the Kray Twins. At the age of 20, Shelagh defied family opposition by marrying David Tennant, brother of Lord Glenconner. Some years later, she married restaurateur, Ajit Kuner. The life of Shelagh, described by one tabloid as 'indecently charming', was celebrated at a special tribute party in Torremolinos in June. Around 100 friends and family and several representatives of the business and cultural fabric of Malaga, gathered to reminisce about a period that most remembered as 'the golden years of Torremolinos'. The event was organised by Torremolinos Chic, an online platform dedicated to preserving the history of Torremolinos. In a post on its Facebook page, Torremolinos Chic referred to Shelagh as the "protagonist of the best years of Torremolinos". Jose Luis Cabrera, coordinator of Torremolinos Chic, told SUR in English, "Friendship is not just measured by time. I knew Shelagh for little more than two years, yet in that time she showed me how to deal with life. It was two years of fun. It was a privilege to share this time with her, and especially to attend her last party in June. She will never be forgotten." Lyn Volgarino, who had known Shelagh for more than 40 years, said, "This is very sad news. Shelagh was an important character in the history of Torremolinos. Her bar was one of the main places at that time. It really was the place to be." Her funeral was held in the International Cemetery in Benalmadena on Saturday.